Making his choice he said, "Lex, you are not at all the rash, arrogant, son of a... Lionel... that I first believed you to be. You have done a great deal to make me realize that, and I am sorry that I have made it so difficult for you to do so. But, even so..."
He quickly held up a hand to forestall Lex's waiting comment and continued: "Even so, you, yourself don't know all of Clark's secrets, and that's not to say that we don't trust you -at least it isn't any longer. But, we recognize in a way that you can't how difficult it is to know and keep his secrets. And, in keeping those secrets, we know what is at stake and how dangerous it is to simply know that.
Based on Clark's faith in you, we've decided to give you the benefit of the doubt and consider telling you more than you already know... in time. Similarly, based on your faith in your friend, we might consider telling him as much as you know now, but even that will take time. So, I'm sorry son, but I'm afraid the answer's no."
"But," Lex stared at Jonathan as though trying to convince him with his gaze that Bruce could be trusted. He could; Lex knew that, but it was Bruce's place to share that information.
"Lex," this time it was Bruce, shaking his head with a look that brooked no argument as he continued, "You're asking a bit too much from both of us. Even if Mr. Kent were willing to spill his bag of secrets on the basis of your endorsement on the first meeting, I certainly would not be willing to entrust my secrets to him so quickly. Perhaps I should mention that him doing so on our first meeting would almost guarantee that I wouldn't ever admit to my little adventures.
I know that you hate lying and having to maintain illusions and deceptions to protect yourself, but until you don't have the old bastard taping your every conversation, key-logging your computers, and wiring your current homestead with every form of listening and viewing device to be found or the market... asking anyone to let their guard down isn't only risky... it's suicidal.
I'm sure that's not what you want for Clark or his parents... or me."
Chastened, Lex nodded even as he complained, "It would just...
He quickly held up a hand to forestall Lex's waiting comment and continued: "Even so, you, yourself don't know all of Clark's secrets, and that's not to say that we don't trust you -at least it isn't any longer. But, we recognize in a way that you can't how difficult it is to know and keep his secrets. And, in keeping those secrets, we know what is at stake and how dangerous it is to simply know that.
Based on Clark's faith in you, we've decided to give you the benefit of the doubt and consider telling you more than you already know... in time. Similarly, based on your faith in your friend, we might consider telling him as much as you know now, but even that will take time. So, I'm sorry son, but I'm afraid the answer's no."
"But," Lex stared at Jonathan as though trying to convince him with his gaze that Bruce could be trusted. He could; Lex knew that, but it was Bruce's place to share that information.
"Lex," this time it was Bruce, shaking his head with a look that brooked no argument as he continued, "You're asking a bit too much from both of us. Even if Mr. Kent were willing to spill his bag of secrets on the basis of your endorsement on the first meeting, I certainly would not be willing to entrust my secrets to him so quickly. Perhaps I should mention that him doing so on our first meeting would almost guarantee that I wouldn't ever admit to my little adventures.
I know that you hate lying and having to maintain illusions and deceptions to protect yourself, but until you don't have the old bastard taping your every conversation, key-logging your computers, and wiring your current homestead with every form of listening and viewing device to be found or the market... asking anyone to let their guard down isn't only risky... it's suicidal.
I'm sure that's not what you want for Clark or his parents... or me."
Chastened, Lex nodded even as he complained, "It would just...
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