He knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for him. He heard the catcalls and whistles because they were meant to be heard. The name Luthor was an incentive, not a deterrent in this place. Lex kept his back to the wall for just that reason.

Lex could more than hold his own in a fight. But if they came at him en masse, as he fully expected them to, there was no way that he could win. The only time he was safe was at night, with the cell doors locked shut.

The waiting finally stopped almost two months after his incarceration and in the most cliche place possible: the showers. That there was no one there when he arrived, so he turned to leave, but the exit was blocked. He grinned at the men facing him, letting all his rage at being unjustly imprisoned surface. For a moment, it actually stopped them in their tracks, but only for a moment.

"Hey Luthor, how's it going?"

Lex shrugged at Jamison, the ringleader, and answered, "I've had better years. You?"

The big man grinned. "I'm having a pretty good year, actually. Gonna bag me a rich bitch."

"Really? You think so?" Lex asked easily.

When Jamison nodded, Lex attacked. His foot slammed into the other man's crotch, then he spun and delivered a round house to Jamison's crony, Harris. They both dropped like stones and the fight began in earnest. For several minutes, Lex actually held them back, but then the tide washed over him. Pain exploded across his skull as he was thrown head first into the tiled wall.

Several punches and kicks landed on his midsection wreaking havoc on his body, then, impossibly, he heard a shout of fury and Clark's voice, "Get off him!"

His attackers turned to deal with the interloper, whoever it was, and Lex struggled to breathe. He had to get up before they returned, but the agony spoke of a definite potential for internal injuries. He heard the meaty thud of fists against flesh, the grunting of pain and struggled to get up. Hands gripped his shoulders and Lex flinched.

"Lex, oh God, Lex, are you all right?"

Gasping with the effort to turn over, Lex finally managed it and fell back in shock. Clark. It really was Clark staring down at him with worry. He was blond, though, and his eyes a bright, bright blue so as to appear almost colorless. "No, no, no, no! Clark! God, what are you doing here!?"

Clark smiled gently and answered, "It's Damien, and saving your life again, what's it look like?"

His brain really didn't want to grasp that Clark was there. Reaching out, his hand cupped Clark's face and he almost flinched again to find it was him.

"Look, we don't have a lot of time because the guards are on their way and I'll probably get thrown in solitary or something."

"Clark, why are you here?" Lex demanded, gaining strength through the force of his panic.

In answer, Clark seized his lips in a hot kiss. Lex moaned at the plundering, opening his mouth and aching instantly for more.

Clark pulled away and whispered fiercely, "I love you, Lex! I'm going to protect you until we can prove that Lucas killed Lionel."

Lex struggled to assimilate what was happening, but wasn't succeeding too well. He watched as a hard expression crossed Clark's face and the young man set him down to move to Jamison's side. He wrapped a hand around the bigger man's throat and squeezed until Jamison's eyes were bugging out and he was struggling uselessly to breathe. "Luthor is mine. If anyone touches him while I'm cooling my heels, you're dead. Do you believe me?"

Lex nodded in shock right along with Jamison. Then the guards arrived and dragged Clark away from the shuddering, gasping inmate.

* * * *

The difference in how he was treated after Clark's threat from before, was painfully obvious. He was still ignored, but there were no longer any threats of violence, implied or explicit. His time in the infirmary had been painful, but restful.

When Clark returned from his week in solitary, Lex watched his progress across the yard. It was still bizarre to see the blond head instead of the dark locks, but it was unmistakably Clark. The young man stopped at the edge of the area and scanned it, obviously looking for Lex.

A few of the larger, muscle-bound men stopped him to talk for a few minutes. Lex was startled when Clark laughed at something. Startled not because he laughed, but because it sounded just like his Clark, the Clark from the farm, the Clark who didn't somehow beat up a dozen hardened convicts or successfully threaten other veteran murderers into submission.

Clark said goodbye to his newfound friends and headed straight for Lex. Leaning against the wall, Lex waited. It was only a few more seconds before Clark stopped in front of him. A strangely uncertain expression surfaced on Clark's face and they stared at each other silently.

Lex's mouth twisted into a reluctant grin as he asked, "So Clark, what brings you to my neck of the woods?"

Clark grinned, relieved, and answered, "Just in the neighborhood, you know."

"Thought you'd stop by?"

"Something like that."

Lex sighed. "I assume this is your brainchild, though I see distinct signs of Chloe Sullivan all over it."

Nodding, Clark agreed, "She made up my cover. Just in time, too. I thought they were going to kill you!"

"They wouldn't have killed me, Clark, just make me wish I was dead," Lex said softly.

"Oh."

Lex saw the realization of what would have happened dawn on Clark's all too-expressive face. "Christ, Clark, this is no place for you!"

"You, either," Clark retorted.

"I'm here for a reason, you're not."

"Lex, please," Clark whispered, pained. "I had to do something!"

"I told you to forget about me."

"Never."

Lex groaned at the heartfelt statement. It looked like the farm boy was still very much present. Sighing again, Lex said, "You do know that you're nuts, right?"

Nodding happily, Clark asked, "Can I tell you the plan now?"

Unable to restrain his own grin, Lex agreed, "You can tell me the plan now."

"Great!"

Lex listened with growing disbelieve to the worst, most dangerous piece of lunacy ever graced with the title of 'plan.' Apparently, Clark was just going to hang around and protect him until Chloe and Mr. Small proved that Lex was innocent.

"Clark, this is..."

"Damien."

"Damien, this is insane! I could be in here for years!" Lex exclaimed.

Clark's jaw jutted out stubbornly. "Which is why I need to be here!"

"Absolutely not. I forbid it."

"What're you going to do? Tell on me?"

Lex nodded and hissed, "Damn right! Clark, this isn't a game! When Jamison gets his courage back, he's going to come after you!"

"I have to show you something."

"Clark..."

"Damien!"

"Damien, there's nothing you can show me that will prevent me from getting you out of here."

"Just come on."

Irritated, Lex followed Clark across the yard, ignoring the smirks and knowing looks. Just because he wanted to fuck and be fucked by Clark didn't mean that he wanted the whole prison thinking him weak.

They stopped in front of his cell and Lex asked, "What now?"

Clark looked around to make sure no one was watching, then reach out and pulled two bars apart.

Lex's jaw dropped and he just stared as Clark put the metal back in place as if it was rubber. "Uh..."

Clark grinned. "Yeah. So? See? You don't need to worry about me."

Lex was still staring at the bars. "Do that again."

With a smirk, Clark moved to a different pair and repeated the action.

"Clark...is there something you want to tell me?" Lex asked, finally dragging his gaze from the bars to Clark.

Clark leaned forward and whispered into Lex's ear, "I never pictured telling you like this, but, I'm an alien."

Which really does explain a lot, Lex thought, stunned.

"Lex? Are you, um, is this okay?"

The uncertain tone reminded Lex that even though Clark was an alien, he was a young one and obviously worried that he'd just lost his best friend."Why didn't you tell me?"

"I want to, so many times, but my folks...it's the only thing they've ever really asked from me, you know? I couldn't disappoint them."

"What do they think about all of this?"

"They don't know."

Lex took a deep breath, trying to forestall the hysterical laughter trying to escape. Here he was, in prison, with an alien not even old enough to buy alcohol, and Clark was feeling guilty about lying to his parents? "What do they think you're doing?"

"Um, you sent me to Europe to get away from the press," Clark explained, not meeting his eyes.

"I see." What a fucked up mess. Lex sighed heavily. "How close does Chloe think they were to getting evidence to clear me?"

"She wasn't sure, but there were a couple of really strong leads."

It didn't escape Lex's notice that despite hiring the best lawyers and investigators that money could buy, his fate rested in the hands of a college freshman.

"Lex? What're you thinking?" Clark asked anxiously.

Lex looked up at Clark and started laughing. No hysteria, thankfully, just a slight case of bitterness. "Just that I should've had Chloe work on this from the beginning and save myself a bundle."

Grinning, Clark agreed, "She's good to have on your side."

Wiping at his eyes, Lex asked, "So, after she proves my innocence, you just bust out?"

Clark nodded and commented, "Hopefully it won't be that long."

"With the way my life's been going? Don't hold your breath."

* * * *

Now that he didn't have to worry about death by beating and rape, the nights were the longest and worst part of Lex's imprisonment. If Clark were in his cell, that would be a different story, but he was all the way down the other end of the floor. They did everything together except sleep, and fuck. Clark hadn't so much as touched him aside from that first kiss on the day of his arrival and that had been almost three months ago.

Not for the first time, his hands slipped down his body and Lex gripped his cock, thankful that he didn't have a roommate. He imagined it was Clark holding him tight, Clark licking and pinching at his nipples as he stroked Lex, hard, as hard as he could without actually hurting him. How hard would that be?

Lex's hips moved restlessly as he deliberately teased himself, ruthlessly putting himself off again and again, Clark's name a hitched whisper as he turned onto his stomach and ground into the mattress. He humped hard into it, again and again, imagining Clark's tight ass surrounding his cock. Finally, his balls tightened and wouldn't be put off any longer.

He came, groaning Clark's name and panting desperately.

* * * *

Clark moved up behind Lex and whispered into his ear, "That was so hot. Do it again tonight."

Startled, Lex turned and looked up at him, unable to figure out what he meant at first. Heat flushed through him as he realized what Clark was talking about. "You heard me?"

"I listen to you every night, just in case."

Lex was going to say something when he noticed guards walking towards them with purpose and stiffened. Fear raced through him when he saw the warden with them. "Clark..."

Clark turned around, straightening when the entourage stopped in front of them.

"Mr. Kent, you'll have to come with us," the warden said.

Fear changed to terror as Lex's eyes met Clark's. They'd found out, somehow, that Clark wasn't Damien LaSalle.

The warden smirked at Lex and continued, "Your brother says hello."

Oh, fuck no. Lex sagged weakly against the wall, unable to say or do anything as the guards each took Clark's arm. For a second, he thought that Clark would fight them, saw the younger man tense to do so. Then he relaxed and looked intently at the warden and said, "Lucas Luthor isn't going to be a free man for very long. I suggest that you make sure that Lex stays unharmed if you want to keep your job when he's out of here."

Calm, the warden asked, "What makes you think he's ever leaving?"

Then Clark was gone, pulled away roughly by the uniformed men and Lex was alone. His eyes met Jamison's, who was a short distance away, and Lex felt his stomach bottom out. He was a dead man, it was that simple.

Lex prayed that the end wouldn't be too painful.

* * * *

Lex jerked awake, struggling violently at the hands that held him down.

"It's me!" Clark hissed into his ear.

Shocked, Lex blinked until his eyes were used to the darkness enough to make out Clark's face. "Clark?"

"Yeah. C'mon, I'm getting you out of here," Clark ordered, gently pulling him to his feet. He held out a bag and continued, "Get changed, quick."

"But..."

"Now."

Not really wanting to argue, Lex shut up and nodded. After getting out of the prison clothes, he followed Clark through the opening in the cell door that he'd made. Clark put them back in place and he almost laughed, thinking about how the guards would wonder how he'd gotten out of a locked cell.

They moved swiftly through the dark corridors, Clark in the lead as he did whatever it was he did to make sure they didn't run into any guards on the way out. Lex had the vague scientific itch to test Clark in a real lab, but shoved it aside to think about later. Right now nothing mattered except getting out of the prison.

When they reached the secured exit that led to the outside, Lex was shocked to find everyone out cold and looked at Clark. "What did you do?"

Clark grinned and answered, "Laughing gas. They had a lot of fun before I knocked them out. And Chloe figured out how to disable the security cameras, too, so we won't be seen leaving."

Shaking his head at the boyish grin, Lex commented, "If you and Chloe ever went to the dark side, I think the world would be in a lot of trouble."

"Really?"

Lex snorted at the pleased question and ordered, "Lead on. I want to get out of here."

It felt very strange to just walk out of the prison as though it were an everyday occurrence. He honestly hadn't ever expected it to happen, certainly not after Clark was taken away.

When they got outside, Clark hesitated then asked, "Do you trust me?"

"Of course," Lex answered right away. "Why?"

Clark scooped Lex into his arms and said, "Because they're starting to wake up and we need a fast getaway."

Before Lex could ask what he was going to do, Clark started running and then pushed against the ground. Lex clung to Clark as they ascended into the night, eyes clenched shut.

Clark chuckled and assured him, "I'm not going to drop you."

"I know, I just...I like to fly inside airplanes, not like a bird," Lex answered, not opening his eyes. "This is a little too...ah...au natural."

Warm lips touched his head as Clark laughed out loud.

* * * *

Clark touched down to the ground outside a mid-sized town that was big enough to have hotels, but not big enough that anyone would think to look for Lex there. Clark had been all for leaving the country, but Lex had put his foot down, well, figuratively speaking. It was one thing to fly over solid ground and another to be hours over the ocean.

They walked to a nice, but not too nice, hotel where Clark paid for a couple of days in advance. Once in their room, Lex collapsed onto the bed, the excitement and tension and fear of the last couple of days catching up to him. He listened as Clark called Chloe.

"No, everything went fine. Yeah, I know, better that you don't know where we are, just in case. They did? Already? Wow, that was faster than we thought. Great! I'll talk to you tomorrow!"

Lex shifted, looking at Clark. "What's going on?"

With a shit-eating grin, Clark answered, "The evidence that Chloe and Mr. Small brought to the District Attorney has convinced them to issue an arrest warrant for Lucas. As well as thirteen other officials and prison personnel."

"What evidence? And if it was that close, why did you break me out?" Lex demanded.

"I wasn't going to risk it," Clark said seriously. He reached over and took Lex's hand. "You're too important to take chances with."

Warmth flushed through him and Lex brought Clark's hand to his mouth, kissing the rough knuckles one by one.

Clark rolled into a prone position, facing him and blatantly wrapping a leg around Lex's hips to pulled them together. "God, Lex, I was going crazy. Even worse than the first time because I didn't really know what would happen then and..."

"It didn't happen," Lex broke in. He silenced the rest of the words with a long, deep kiss, pushing his tongue into Clark's mouth.

Clark moaned, his mouth opening willingly as he rolled onto his back, pulling Lex on top. It wasn't really how Lex had pictured their first time together, when he'd allowed himself to even think about it, but right now he was so hard that he couldn't not do this. Clark's hands gripped his ass, kneading the muscles and pulling at him.

Shifting his legs to either side of Clark, Lex began rocking against the hard cock he could feel, even through two layers of fabric. They were both too far gone, too desperate, to have enough coordination or patience to get out of their clothes. And it added an extra layer of tightness, pinning him in place as surely as Clark's hands.

"Fuck! Clark, God, love you," Lex gasped, jerking against the hard body beneath him, just before his cock released.

Groaning, Clark's leg tightened around Lex with brutal force as he came, making Lex gasp in pain. Fortunately, Clark's leg fell aside almost right away, the younger man dazed by his orgasm. Lex breathed heavily, feeling complete and yet hungry for more as he lay plastered to Clark's chest.

Clark's arms wound about Lex's shoulders and they kissed lazily, sweetly. Pulling back a little, Clark stared up into Lex's eyes and whispered, "I love you."

* * * *

The press was having a field day, which was why Lex had insisted that Clark stay at home with his folks in Smallville. Mr. Small was at his side as they pushed through the throng towards the limo that waited at the curb. He'd not only gotten his conviction overturned, but could tell that the city was holding its collective breath while he decided whether or not to sue for wrongful imprisonment

Chloe had exposed a circle of corruption that started with Lionel and ended with Lucas. In the middle were elected officials, appointed officials and city prison employees. Her career as an investigative journalist now rivaled that of Lois Lane, despite the age difference.

All Lex wanted was to get home and find his center again, held in Clark's arms and surrounded by the support of his new family. When Chloe and Clark had explained what was going on to the Kents, Lex had suddenly found himself with adopted parents as surely as Clark. Though not thrilled that Clark and Lex were together, Jonathan had offered his unconditional support, stating only that he knew they would have a harder life than he wanted for them and offered his hand.

Knowing that meant the world to Clark, Lex had taken the hand and found himself pulled into a rough, quick embrace and found it meant the world to himself.

When the door finally closed behind them, and the reporters' shouts faded away, Lex leaned back with a sigh.

"You look tired."

Lex's eyes snapped open at Clark's statement. Snorting, he commented, "I should have known you wouldn't stay put."

Clark grinned and moved from his seat to Lex's and pulled his lover onto his lap. "Yep."

Mr. Small smiled and questioned, "So what are you two going to do now that Lucas is in jail and you're free again?"

Looking at Clark, Lex answered, "Try to rebuild our life."

Clark's smile was brilliant as he lightly gripped Lex's shirt and pulled him in for a kiss, sealing the statement. Lex sighed into his lover's mouth and put aside the bitterness, concentrating instead on the love in his life. He'd have gone through worse than that to be where he was right now, though he was human enough to be grateful he hadn't.