FIC: Something New (10/?)
Name: Something New
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smallville
Summary: Clark/Lex sort of rewrite of the series with much less Clark/Lana. Much.
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the rights to Smallville ... but I won’t get it.
Chapter Summary: Lex thinks Clark is his brother.
Author’s Note: I recently started watching Torchwood, which made me an avid Jack/Ianto slash writer. Now, though, when I rewatch Smallville, all I can see is potential slash storylines! What has Torchwood done to me? Haha. Anyway, I’ve had Clex bunnies in my head for so long that I have writer’s block so, to alleviate that problem, I decided to write a Clark/Lex story. I’m not rewriting every episode, instead I’ll be writing chapters that encompass three or four episodes (as I don’t want to write the fights etc.). Hope you’ll stay with me through it!
Beta: skullgirl013 .
Chapter Note: This chapter is for episodes 2.08: Ryan and 2.09: Dichotic.
Previous Chapter(s): Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9
Author’s Note: I’ve noticed Chloe/Lana subtext inching its way into my writing. I swear to god I did not intend for it to happen.
Chapter Ten
Hurt
Clark had been pretty much floating around in a half-comatose state for the past two weeks. Not comatose enough for his parents to notice and ask questions, and not comatose enough for him not to do homework, but enough that he spent most of his days brooding in the barn.
One of the rare times he was actually in the house the phone rang with a frantic Ryan on the other end of the line, begging him for help.
It was this that snapped him from his comatose state. He wasn't sure, however, what he was thinking when he demanded the receptionist tell him where Ryan was. Or when he broke the kid out of Summerholt. Kidnapping is a bad thing, apparently...
But not as bad as turning up on your ex’s - he still wasn't used to calling Lex that - doorstep with a kidnapped kid and puppy dog eyes.
“Clark,” Lex said, eying Ryan, who Clark was holding in his arms. “What are you doing here?”
Clark hesitated for a moment before replying, “I need your help.”
Lex stepped to one side. “Come on in,” he said, gesturing that Clark should come into his office. “You know I’ll always help you.”
Clark gave him a grateful smile and put Ryan down on the sofa. “Thanks, Lex,” he said, slightly awkwardly. “I wouldn't ask but...”
“It’s fine.” Lex gave him a smile. “Anyone for hot chocolate?”
Ryan grinned and nodded.
Lex passed a blanket over and Ryan wrapped it around his shoulders, shivering. As Lex walked off to get the drinks, Ryan looked at Clark. “What’s going on with you and Lex?” he asked. “You don't seem as comfortable around him as you were.”
Clark sighed. “It’s complicated, Ryan,” he said. “Some things happened and we’re working through it.”
Lex walked back in at that moment, carrying hot chocolate, in a fancy glass, for Ryan. “Here you go, Ryan,” he said, sitting down beside him. “How you doing?”
As Lex asked Ryan questions and they talked, Clark watched his friend. Lex wasn't meeting his eyes still. Clark sighed.
“Clark, can I talk to you for a moment?” Lex asked, when Ryan finished talking.
When Clark and Lex got out into the corridor outside the office, Clark said, gratefully, “I appreciate you taking Ryan in. If I took him home, my parents would've freaked.”
“Yeah, kidnapping has that effect on people,” Lex said, irritably. “Clark, why did you break him out if they were only keeping him for observation?”
“Look, I didn't have a choice. They were treating him like a lab rat. It was terrible,” Clark argued.
“Clark, you abducted a minor. They'll trace him to you and then to me. We're both in a serious amount of trouble here,” Lex told him.
“I shouldn't have involved you,” Clark said, with a sigh. “I'll find someplace else to hide him.” He made to walk away but Lex caught his arm. A shock went through him and he stopped walking. Lex pulled his hand away, fast.
“Ryan's staying here, at least for tonight,” Lex said. “Tomorrow I'll talk to my lawyers in Metropolis and see what our options are.”
*
When Lex said ‘trouble’, Clark had no idea just how much trouble Lex meant.
Juvenile time didn’t sound fun, at all. But Ryan was worth the risk.
He asked the sheriff for one night and brought Ryan back to the farm the next morning. He’d been there less than five minutes when Doctor Garner turned up.
“Please don't let him take me, Clark,” Ryan begged.
“Jonathan, Martha; Dr. Garner's agreed to drop the kidnapping charges if you turn over the boy,” Sheriff Ethan said.
“Come on, Ryan. We need to get back to Metropolis,” Doctor Garner said. Clark and Jonathan stepped between him and the boy. “Sheriff, I'm Ryan's legal guardian and I have the paperwork denoting such. Please do your job.”
“Come on, Doctor,” Jonathan said. “Having custody of a child is not the same thing as having a pink slip to a car. Can't you see he doesn't want to go with you?”
“Ethan, please,” Martha begged.
“The choice is yours Mister and Missus Kent,” the doctor said, nastily. “You can lose one boy here today or both of them. I believe kidnapping comes with some juvenile time.”
Ethan started to apologise to the Kents when Lex’s Porsche pulled up. Clark watched him climb out of his car and walk across, calling out, “Sheriff, before you do anything take a look at this. It's a temporary restraining order giving the Kents custody of Ryan until the situation can be reviewed.”
Clark’s face broke out in a grin, which he offered to Lex. Lex didn’t look at him. “You want to try judicial roadblock, you go ahead,” Doctor Garner said. “I'll have Clark arrested.”
“You could, but I have a counter-suit ready to be filed,” Lex said. He looked at Clark, finally, and offered him a small, slightly strained, smile before looking back at Doctor Garner. “Metropolis D.A. is very interested in looking into Summerholt's research practice, especially involving minors held under duress.” He looked at him, smugly. “Your move, Doctor.”
“This isn't over,” Doctor Garner said. He looked round at Clark. “Your rich friend saved you today, Clark,” he snarled. He looked at Ethan. “Sheriff,” he said, as he walked away.
Clark smiled gratefully at Lex. “Thanks, Lex,” he said.
“No problem, Clark,” Lex replied. “You know there isn’t much I won’t do for the Kent family.”
Clark lifted his arm a tiny bit, meaning to clap Lex on the back, but then he changed his mind and took a step back. “I appreciate it.”
“Yes,” Martha agreed, looking between them both, an odd expression on her face. “Thank you, Lex.”
Jonathan half-grunted a thank you. Lex offered him a smile, knowing that was the best he’d get.
Clark hovered for a moment, then looked at Ryan. “Uh, how about you and I go to the Talon and see Lana, hm?” he offered.
Ryan glanced at Lex then back at Clark. “Okay,” he agreed.
*
Much ice cream cake and jail-break partying, as well as Ryan’s double bombshells that Lana was moving away and that Pete was stressing out about revealing Clark’s secret by mistake, later, Ryan went to Lex’s mansion while the Kents were absent and passed out on the floor.
Clark sat with him in hospital as he slept.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, as Ryan’s eyes fluttered open. “How's your head?”
“It still hurts a little,” Ryan said, weakly, as Clark passed him a Warrior Angel comic. “The newest issue,” he said, smiling.
“Yeah, they had it at the gift shop,” Clark said. He smiled and pointed at the cover. “So what's up with the, uh, floating balloon?”
“It's Warrior Angel's aerodrome,” Ryan explained. “A floating fortress where he can get away from his troubles on earth.”
“Sounds like something everybody should have. I'm not sure about the floating part, though,” Clark said, with a grin.
“Why not?” Ryan asked.
“I have this little fear of flying,” Clark admitted.
“I didn't think you were scared of anything,” Ryan said.
“There's a lot of things I'm scared of,” he told him. Losing Lex forever scares me more than flying. “I guess I just put on a brave face.”
“Yeah. Me too,” Ryan told him.
Clark smiled fondly at him. “My parents said the doctor's gonna run some more tests,” he said.
“They don't need to. I know what's wrong with me,” Ryan confessed. “I read Doctor Garner's mind.”
“What is it?” Clark asked, worriedly.
“There's a tumour in my head, Clark. It's getting bigger.”
Clark stood up to leave. “I'll tell the doctors!”
“They know,” Ryan said, quietly. “I'm dying Clark. And no one can save me.”
*
They may not be together anymore, but one thing Clark knew was that he could always rely on him to provide what he needed. His warnings not to spend his time away from Ryan in his last days chilled Clark to the bone, but he still found the surgeon that Lex had recommended.
Which ended in nothing.
Ryan had a few more days. Nothing more.
“Whatcha reading, buddy?” Clark asked, walking into the hospital room and sitting down next to the boy. He eyed the comic in Ryan’s hands. “The infamous aerodrome, huh?”
“Every year for my birthday, I'd wish for my own aerodrome so I could fly high above the earth. Up there, all my problems would seem so small and far away,” Ryan told him.
Don't leave me.
“It's a good idea except for the flying part,” Clark replied.
Please. Don't leave me.
“This is one of Lex's favourites. Would you give it back to him?” Ryan asked, offering the comic to Clark.
“No, you give it to him. When you get out of here,” Clark told him, firmly.
“I know I said you should be careful of Lex,” Ryan said, slowly. “I was wrong. I never told you how much he admires and loves you. Promise me you'll keep an eye on him after I'm gone. Promise me you’ll look after and love him too.”
“Ryan, don't talk like that, all right?” Clark said, panicked. “You're not going anywhere.”
“Clark -”
“Look, you just don't give up hope, Ryan,” Clark said. “There's more doctors we can see.”
“Clark, you're not listening to me,” Ryan told him. “The doctor said he bought me a few extra days. I want to spend that time with my friend.” He grabbed his head, pained.
“Ryan, what's wrong?” Clark said, worriedly. “Ryan! Ryan, what's wrong?”
“It's so loud in here,” Ryan whimpered.
“All right,” Clark said. “Look, I'll take you somewhere quiet, all right?”
Ryan nodded, tiredly.
Please don't leave me.
*
As Clark bundled the comics into his hands and looked at the plastic-covered hospital bed he had to fight back tears. It wasn't fair that he had to lose him. He was the closest thing he had to a little brother. It hurt so damn much inside.
He walked back home slowly, dropping the comics on the table as he walked into the kitchen.
“I’ll take them back to Lex later,” he told Martha.
She looked up. “Clark, is everything okay between you two? You and Lex, I mean?”
Clark shrugged. “Been better,” he said.
“You seemed really ... off ... around each other. Did you two have a falling out?”
Clark shrugged. “Sort of,” he said.
Martha sighed and stood up, walking across to her son. “Clark, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Course, mom,” Clark said. “I’m just ... I’m going to go up to my room and ...”
“I’m sorry about Ryan,” Martha offered, for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I know, mom.” Clark put his arm around her and kissed her hair. “I know.”
*
Time passed slowly, even when it was broken up by helping Lana move into Chloe’s house.
“So, how are you feeling?” Clark asked as Lana piled her stuff out of his truck.
“Uh, excited and terrified at the same time, if that makes any sense,” Lana replied, with a fond smile at him.
“Well, it is a big change,” Clark said.
“Huge. And not just for me,” Lana replied. “Even though she agreed to it, Nell was kind of upset that I decided to stay in Smallville.”
“It's not easy when someone you love leaves,” Clark said, quietly.
Ryan.
Lana gave him an odd look and, for a horrible moment, Clark thought she might think he meant her.
“So, that looks like it's, uh, everything, if you need to get your truck back,” Chloe said, walking towards them both, smirking.
“You know, I lucked out. My mom called and said she was gonna take off early,” Clark said. “Help finish up the chores. So you want to celebrate?”
“I wish I could,” Lana said, apologetically, “but I've got to get changed and take a shift at the Talon.”
“Yeah, and I only have like a second to grab a bite before I need to run over to the Torch,” Chloe said, equally apologetically.
“Oh.” Clark sighed. “When you two are scheduled to take a breath, give me a call.”
“Will do,” Chloe said, picking up a box.
“Thanks Clark,” Lana said, picking up the other one.
“Yeah,” Clark said, slightly annoyed.
“Bye,” Chloe said, as they walked off. “This is gonna be so great,” Clark heard her say.
He couldn’t help thinking a two-headed monster had just been created.
The day just got worse when he returned home to find his dad with a broken leg, which took the whole family to the hospital.
Outside of his dad’s room, he saw Lex talking to a female nurse who, Clark suspected, would be rather attractive to Lex. She seemed his type. He felt a strong pang of jealousy.
“Lex, what's going on?” Clark asked, wondering why his friend was there in the first place.
“Mister Luthor and I were just discussing the state of small town medicine,” Doctor Bryce said, as she walked away.
Lex watched her go, a horrible - to Clark - look on his face. When he looked back at the Kent boy he said, “How's your dad?”
“He's okay,” Clark said. “It's my mom I'm worried about. She blames herself for the accident.”
“Well, your mom's taking on a lot, and she's trying to find a balance. Believe me, it's not always that easy.”
Clark smirked. “I guess I'm just lucky she didn't take a nine iron to a meter maid's car,” he said.
“You heard about that.” Lex had the good grace to look ashamed.
“The town is called Smallville,” Clark said, with a larger smirk.
“I was having a bad day,” Lex said, quietly.
“Yeah.” Clark’s smirk faded. “How come?”
Lex sighed at him and looked away. “I’ll ... see you later, Clark.”
Did you miss me?
“See you, Lex,” Clark called after him.
His week didn’t get any better when Chloe and Lana started dating the same guy who was able to split himself in two. And he had to save them both. Again. Even though they’d been treating him like a jealous boyfriend.
“I got your message,” Clark said, slightly annoyed, as he walked into the Talon to see Chloe and Lana sat, waiting for him. “Is everything all right?”
“We've been up all night talking...” Chloe said.
“You were the number one topic of discussion,” Lana told him.
“This can't be good,” Clark said, blandly.
“Actually, we wanted to apologize to you for the way we've been treating you. Even though you did technically use us as bait,” Chloe said, the last bit not just a bit snarky.
“I didn't count on it getting out of control,” Clark said, apologetically.
“The point is,” Lana jumped in. “You warned us about Ian, and we didn't listen.”
“Yeah, you thought I was jealous,” Clark said. “I know that you each have your issues with me, but you have to understand that I would never let anyone hurt you.”
“We know that, Clark,” Lana told him, quietly.
“I just find it interesting that you guys would give Ian all the latitude in the world, and I would just be immediately dismissed.”
“After all the times you've been less than honest with us, can you really blame us for having some doubts?” Chloe snapped at him.
“You want honesty. The truth is that I expected more from both of you,” Clark told her, annoyed.
“And we expected more from you,” Lana said. “We made a mistake. But it was ours to make.”
“So, what do we do now?” Chloe asked, quietly.
“Well, first we can stop treating me like the jealous boyfriend, since none of us have actually dated and -” He caught Chloe’s eye. “- it’s doubtful any of us actually ever will.” Chloe nodded her understanding. Lana looked confused. “You wanna be friends? Let’s be friends.”
“Is that what you really want?” Lana asked, softly, a note of pleading in her voice. She wanted him to say she didn’t want that.
“Yeah. It is.” Clark started to walk away. “Good night.”
As he left, he heard Lana say to Chloe, “Why is it that unlikely that we’ll date?”
He glanced around to see Chloe bury her face in her coffee, stand up, and walk quickly away. He smiled to himself as he left.
Next: Chapter 11
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smallville
Summary: Clark/Lex sort of rewrite of the series with much less Clark/Lana. Much.
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the rights to Smallville ... but I won’t get it.
Chapter Summary: Lex thinks Clark is his brother.
Author’s Note: I recently started watching Torchwood, which made me an avid Jack/Ianto slash writer. Now, though, when I rewatch Smallville, all I can see is potential slash storylines! What has Torchwood done to me? Haha. Anyway, I’ve had Clex bunnies in my head for so long that I have writer’s block so, to alleviate that problem, I decided to write a Clark/Lex story. I’m not rewriting every episode, instead I’ll be writing chapters that encompass three or four episodes (as I don’t want to write the fights etc.). Hope you’ll stay with me through it!
Beta: skullgirl013 .
Chapter Note: This chapter is for episodes 2.08: Ryan and 2.09: Dichotic.
Previous Chapter(s): Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9
Author’s Note: I’ve noticed Chloe/Lana subtext inching its way into my writing. I swear to god I did not intend for it to happen.
Chapter Ten
Hurt
Clark had been pretty much floating around in a half-comatose state for the past two weeks. Not comatose enough for his parents to notice and ask questions, and not comatose enough for him not to do homework, but enough that he spent most of his days brooding in the barn.
One of the rare times he was actually in the house the phone rang with a frantic Ryan on the other end of the line, begging him for help.
It was this that snapped him from his comatose state. He wasn't sure, however, what he was thinking when he demanded the receptionist tell him where Ryan was. Or when he broke the kid out of Summerholt. Kidnapping is a bad thing, apparently...
But not as bad as turning up on your ex’s - he still wasn't used to calling Lex that - doorstep with a kidnapped kid and puppy dog eyes.
“Clark,” Lex said, eying Ryan, who Clark was holding in his arms. “What are you doing here?”
Clark hesitated for a moment before replying, “I need your help.”
Lex stepped to one side. “Come on in,” he said, gesturing that Clark should come into his office. “You know I’ll always help you.”
Clark gave him a grateful smile and put Ryan down on the sofa. “Thanks, Lex,” he said, slightly awkwardly. “I wouldn't ask but...”
“It’s fine.” Lex gave him a smile. “Anyone for hot chocolate?”
Ryan grinned and nodded.
Lex passed a blanket over and Ryan wrapped it around his shoulders, shivering. As Lex walked off to get the drinks, Ryan looked at Clark. “What’s going on with you and Lex?” he asked. “You don't seem as comfortable around him as you were.”
Clark sighed. “It’s complicated, Ryan,” he said. “Some things happened and we’re working through it.”
Lex walked back in at that moment, carrying hot chocolate, in a fancy glass, for Ryan. “Here you go, Ryan,” he said, sitting down beside him. “How you doing?”
As Lex asked Ryan questions and they talked, Clark watched his friend. Lex wasn't meeting his eyes still. Clark sighed.
“Clark, can I talk to you for a moment?” Lex asked, when Ryan finished talking.
When Clark and Lex got out into the corridor outside the office, Clark said, gratefully, “I appreciate you taking Ryan in. If I took him home, my parents would've freaked.”
“Yeah, kidnapping has that effect on people,” Lex said, irritably. “Clark, why did you break him out if they were only keeping him for observation?”
“Look, I didn't have a choice. They were treating him like a lab rat. It was terrible,” Clark argued.
“Clark, you abducted a minor. They'll trace him to you and then to me. We're both in a serious amount of trouble here,” Lex told him.
“I shouldn't have involved you,” Clark said, with a sigh. “I'll find someplace else to hide him.” He made to walk away but Lex caught his arm. A shock went through him and he stopped walking. Lex pulled his hand away, fast.
“Ryan's staying here, at least for tonight,” Lex said. “Tomorrow I'll talk to my lawyers in Metropolis and see what our options are.”
*
When Lex said ‘trouble’, Clark had no idea just how much trouble Lex meant.
Juvenile time didn’t sound fun, at all. But Ryan was worth the risk.
He asked the sheriff for one night and brought Ryan back to the farm the next morning. He’d been there less than five minutes when Doctor Garner turned up.
“Please don't let him take me, Clark,” Ryan begged.
“Jonathan, Martha; Dr. Garner's agreed to drop the kidnapping charges if you turn over the boy,” Sheriff Ethan said.
“Come on, Ryan. We need to get back to Metropolis,” Doctor Garner said. Clark and Jonathan stepped between him and the boy. “Sheriff, I'm Ryan's legal guardian and I have the paperwork denoting such. Please do your job.”
“Come on, Doctor,” Jonathan said. “Having custody of a child is not the same thing as having a pink slip to a car. Can't you see he doesn't want to go with you?”
“Ethan, please,” Martha begged.
“The choice is yours Mister and Missus Kent,” the doctor said, nastily. “You can lose one boy here today or both of them. I believe kidnapping comes with some juvenile time.”
Ethan started to apologise to the Kents when Lex’s Porsche pulled up. Clark watched him climb out of his car and walk across, calling out, “Sheriff, before you do anything take a look at this. It's a temporary restraining order giving the Kents custody of Ryan until the situation can be reviewed.”
Clark’s face broke out in a grin, which he offered to Lex. Lex didn’t look at him. “You want to try judicial roadblock, you go ahead,” Doctor Garner said. “I'll have Clark arrested.”
“You could, but I have a counter-suit ready to be filed,” Lex said. He looked at Clark, finally, and offered him a small, slightly strained, smile before looking back at Doctor Garner. “Metropolis D.A. is very interested in looking into Summerholt's research practice, especially involving minors held under duress.” He looked at him, smugly. “Your move, Doctor.”
“This isn't over,” Doctor Garner said. He looked round at Clark. “Your rich friend saved you today, Clark,” he snarled. He looked at Ethan. “Sheriff,” he said, as he walked away.
Clark smiled gratefully at Lex. “Thanks, Lex,” he said.
“No problem, Clark,” Lex replied. “You know there isn’t much I won’t do for the Kent family.”
Clark lifted his arm a tiny bit, meaning to clap Lex on the back, but then he changed his mind and took a step back. “I appreciate it.”
“Yes,” Martha agreed, looking between them both, an odd expression on her face. “Thank you, Lex.”
Jonathan half-grunted a thank you. Lex offered him a smile, knowing that was the best he’d get.
Clark hovered for a moment, then looked at Ryan. “Uh, how about you and I go to the Talon and see Lana, hm?” he offered.
Ryan glanced at Lex then back at Clark. “Okay,” he agreed.
*
Much ice cream cake and jail-break partying, as well as Ryan’s double bombshells that Lana was moving away and that Pete was stressing out about revealing Clark’s secret by mistake, later, Ryan went to Lex’s mansion while the Kents were absent and passed out on the floor.
Clark sat with him in hospital as he slept.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, as Ryan’s eyes fluttered open. “How's your head?”
“It still hurts a little,” Ryan said, weakly, as Clark passed him a Warrior Angel comic. “The newest issue,” he said, smiling.
“Yeah, they had it at the gift shop,” Clark said. He smiled and pointed at the cover. “So what's up with the, uh, floating balloon?”
“It's Warrior Angel's aerodrome,” Ryan explained. “A floating fortress where he can get away from his troubles on earth.”
“Sounds like something everybody should have. I'm not sure about the floating part, though,” Clark said, with a grin.
“Why not?” Ryan asked.
“I have this little fear of flying,” Clark admitted.
“I didn't think you were scared of anything,” Ryan said.
“There's a lot of things I'm scared of,” he told him. Losing Lex forever scares me more than flying. “I guess I just put on a brave face.”
“Yeah. Me too,” Ryan told him.
Clark smiled fondly at him. “My parents said the doctor's gonna run some more tests,” he said.
“They don't need to. I know what's wrong with me,” Ryan confessed. “I read Doctor Garner's mind.”
“What is it?” Clark asked, worriedly.
“There's a tumour in my head, Clark. It's getting bigger.”
Clark stood up to leave. “I'll tell the doctors!”
“They know,” Ryan said, quietly. “I'm dying Clark. And no one can save me.”
*
They may not be together anymore, but one thing Clark knew was that he could always rely on him to provide what he needed. His warnings not to spend his time away from Ryan in his last days chilled Clark to the bone, but he still found the surgeon that Lex had recommended.
Which ended in nothing.
Ryan had a few more days. Nothing more.
“Whatcha reading, buddy?” Clark asked, walking into the hospital room and sitting down next to the boy. He eyed the comic in Ryan’s hands. “The infamous aerodrome, huh?”
“Every year for my birthday, I'd wish for my own aerodrome so I could fly high above the earth. Up there, all my problems would seem so small and far away,” Ryan told him.
Don't leave me.
“It's a good idea except for the flying part,” Clark replied.
Please. Don't leave me.
“This is one of Lex's favourites. Would you give it back to him?” Ryan asked, offering the comic to Clark.
“No, you give it to him. When you get out of here,” Clark told him, firmly.
“I know I said you should be careful of Lex,” Ryan said, slowly. “I was wrong. I never told you how much he admires and loves you. Promise me you'll keep an eye on him after I'm gone. Promise me you’ll look after and love him too.”
“Ryan, don't talk like that, all right?” Clark said, panicked. “You're not going anywhere.”
“Clark -”
“Look, you just don't give up hope, Ryan,” Clark said. “There's more doctors we can see.”
“Clark, you're not listening to me,” Ryan told him. “The doctor said he bought me a few extra days. I want to spend that time with my friend.” He grabbed his head, pained.
“Ryan, what's wrong?” Clark said, worriedly. “Ryan! Ryan, what's wrong?”
“It's so loud in here,” Ryan whimpered.
“All right,” Clark said. “Look, I'll take you somewhere quiet, all right?”
Ryan nodded, tiredly.
Please don't leave me.
*
As Clark bundled the comics into his hands and looked at the plastic-covered hospital bed he had to fight back tears. It wasn't fair that he had to lose him. He was the closest thing he had to a little brother. It hurt so damn much inside.
He walked back home slowly, dropping the comics on the table as he walked into the kitchen.
“I’ll take them back to Lex later,” he told Martha.
She looked up. “Clark, is everything okay between you two? You and Lex, I mean?”
Clark shrugged. “Been better,” he said.
“You seemed really ... off ... around each other. Did you two have a falling out?”
Clark shrugged. “Sort of,” he said.
Martha sighed and stood up, walking across to her son. “Clark, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Course, mom,” Clark said. “I’m just ... I’m going to go up to my room and ...”
“I’m sorry about Ryan,” Martha offered, for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I know, mom.” Clark put his arm around her and kissed her hair. “I know.”
*
Time passed slowly, even when it was broken up by helping Lana move into Chloe’s house.
“So, how are you feeling?” Clark asked as Lana piled her stuff out of his truck.
“Uh, excited and terrified at the same time, if that makes any sense,” Lana replied, with a fond smile at him.
“Well, it is a big change,” Clark said.
“Huge. And not just for me,” Lana replied. “Even though she agreed to it, Nell was kind of upset that I decided to stay in Smallville.”
“It's not easy when someone you love leaves,” Clark said, quietly.
Ryan.
Lana gave him an odd look and, for a horrible moment, Clark thought she might think he meant her.
“So, that looks like it's, uh, everything, if you need to get your truck back,” Chloe said, walking towards them both, smirking.
“You know, I lucked out. My mom called and said she was gonna take off early,” Clark said. “Help finish up the chores. So you want to celebrate?”
“I wish I could,” Lana said, apologetically, “but I've got to get changed and take a shift at the Talon.”
“Yeah, and I only have like a second to grab a bite before I need to run over to the Torch,” Chloe said, equally apologetically.
“Oh.” Clark sighed. “When you two are scheduled to take a breath, give me a call.”
“Will do,” Chloe said, picking up a box.
“Thanks Clark,” Lana said, picking up the other one.
“Yeah,” Clark said, slightly annoyed.
“Bye,” Chloe said, as they walked off. “This is gonna be so great,” Clark heard her say.
He couldn’t help thinking a two-headed monster had just been created.
The day just got worse when he returned home to find his dad with a broken leg, which took the whole family to the hospital.
Outside of his dad’s room, he saw Lex talking to a female nurse who, Clark suspected, would be rather attractive to Lex. She seemed his type. He felt a strong pang of jealousy.
“Lex, what's going on?” Clark asked, wondering why his friend was there in the first place.
“Mister Luthor and I were just discussing the state of small town medicine,” Doctor Bryce said, as she walked away.
Lex watched her go, a horrible - to Clark - look on his face. When he looked back at the Kent boy he said, “How's your dad?”
“He's okay,” Clark said. “It's my mom I'm worried about. She blames herself for the accident.”
“Well, your mom's taking on a lot, and she's trying to find a balance. Believe me, it's not always that easy.”
Clark smirked. “I guess I'm just lucky she didn't take a nine iron to a meter maid's car,” he said.
“You heard about that.” Lex had the good grace to look ashamed.
“The town is called Smallville,” Clark said, with a larger smirk.
“I was having a bad day,” Lex said, quietly.
“Yeah.” Clark’s smirk faded. “How come?”
Lex sighed at him and looked away. “I’ll ... see you later, Clark.”
Did you miss me?
“See you, Lex,” Clark called after him.
His week didn’t get any better when Chloe and Lana started dating the same guy who was able to split himself in two. And he had to save them both. Again. Even though they’d been treating him like a jealous boyfriend.
“I got your message,” Clark said, slightly annoyed, as he walked into the Talon to see Chloe and Lana sat, waiting for him. “Is everything all right?”
“We've been up all night talking...” Chloe said.
“You were the number one topic of discussion,” Lana told him.
“This can't be good,” Clark said, blandly.
“Actually, we wanted to apologize to you for the way we've been treating you. Even though you did technically use us as bait,” Chloe said, the last bit not just a bit snarky.
“I didn't count on it getting out of control,” Clark said, apologetically.
“The point is,” Lana jumped in. “You warned us about Ian, and we didn't listen.”
“Yeah, you thought I was jealous,” Clark said. “I know that you each have your issues with me, but you have to understand that I would never let anyone hurt you.”
“We know that, Clark,” Lana told him, quietly.
“I just find it interesting that you guys would give Ian all the latitude in the world, and I would just be immediately dismissed.”
“After all the times you've been less than honest with us, can you really blame us for having some doubts?” Chloe snapped at him.
“You want honesty. The truth is that I expected more from both of you,” Clark told her, annoyed.
“And we expected more from you,” Lana said. “We made a mistake. But it was ours to make.”
“So, what do we do now?” Chloe asked, quietly.
“Well, first we can stop treating me like the jealous boyfriend, since none of us have actually dated and -” He caught Chloe’s eye. “- it’s doubtful any of us actually ever will.” Chloe nodded her understanding. Lana looked confused. “You wanna be friends? Let’s be friends.”
“Is that what you really want?” Lana asked, softly, a note of pleading in her voice. She wanted him to say she didn’t want that.
“Yeah. It is.” Clark started to walk away. “Good night.”
As he left, he heard Lana say to Chloe, “Why is it that unlikely that we’ll date?”
He glanced around to see Chloe bury her face in her coffee, stand up, and walk quickly away. He smiled to himself as he left.
Next: Chapter 11