Fic: Against All Odds (3/?)
Title: Against All Odds
Authors: hils and lexalicious70
Paring: Clark/Lex with hints of Clark/Rod and Clark/Rod/Lex
Spoilers: None
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sequel to Highway to Hell and So Long Sylvia. In the aftermath of the alien encounter Lex receives some startling news
WARNING: MPREG!
Previous parts here
Two months later
Lex and Clark flew over the city of Metropolis together, hand in hand. The city lay sprawled out below them in a massive carpet of bright lights, and the air that bathed Lex's face was clean and crisp. Next to him, Clark grinned brightly, dark curls tumbling back over his forehead from the wind streaming through them. He pulled them both down in sharp dip and Lex gasped as his stomach lifted, and then dropped, and then began to churn.
"Clark . . . gonna . . . uhhnhh." Lex groaned in his sleep, and then snapped awake suddenly as the churning didn't abate with his dreams. He kicked free of the sheets and stumbled into the bathroom, where he slid across the tiles on his knees like a seasick break-dancer, and vomited hard into the toilet.
Clark started awake at the sound of puking coming from the bathroom and hurried in as he had done every morning since he'd started spending the night regularly. The washcloth was just where he'd left it last time and he quickly applied some cool water and began to gently swipe it over Lex's neck.
Lex moaned and clung hard to the sides of the commode as he vomited again, and then heaved a third time, though his stomach was already empty. He felt the cool touch of the cloth against his neck and managed to open his eyes. They still felt sticky with sleep.
"Clark," he croaked. "Don't . . . look."
Clark gave a gentle smile and he crouched down beside his friend and lover. "Lex, how many times have we done this together? The sight of your puke is not going to send me running away, I promise."
"Don't know why not. It's . . . uhhnh!" Lex dry-heaved a few more times, and then groped for the chrome square button that flushed the toilet. He gulped and winced at the burning sensation in his throat and sinuses. "Disgusting," He muttered.
Clark placed a kiss on the top of Lex's head before handing him a glass of water so he could rinse out his mouth.
"Thank you, Clark." Lex rinsed and spat, his legs feeling useless for the moment, his stomach still clenching miserably, although it seemed to be done rebelling for the moment.
Clark smiled and helped Lex to his feet, taking a moment to rub his hand over the small bump that was now showing at Lex’s belly. "Come back to bed? It's still early."
Lex nodded and walked back to the bed with Clark. He waited for Clark to get in and then slid in beside him, nestling close, encouraging Clark to hold him without actually asking him to.
Clark smiled and wrapped his arms around Lex. Neither of them had actually spoken about it, but this had become their morning routine. Lex would get up to puke, Clark would take care of him, and then they'd snuggle in bed until Clark had to leave for school or to go home.
"I was dreaming about us," Lex said softly as he rested his head on Clark's chest, his head tucked under Clark's chin.
Clark chuckled and dipped his head to place another kiss on Lex's head. "And it made you puke? Not a good sign."
"It wasn't the dream. It's what we were doing." Lex sighed and rested his hand on the mild swell of his growing belly.
"Oh?" Clark asked curiously, placing one of his hands on top of Lex's "What were we doing?"
"Flying. You were holding my hand, and we were flying. Over Metropolis."
"In a helicopter or a plane?" Clark asked
"Neither." He pulled away a bit and looked Clark in the eye. "It was you. You were flying us."
"Me?" Clark shuddered. "That doesn't sound like much fun. I'm scared of heights."
"I know," Lex nodded. "But you never know what might happen in the future."
"True," Clark agreed. "Hopefully it won't involve flying though."
"You actually looked very handsome, with your hair all windblown." Lex grinned.
Clark laughed. "Yeah, I can just imagine it all big and poofy. Very attractive."
Lex chuckled and then rubbed his belly gently. "Getting big," he said suddenly. "Clark . . . pretty soon we'll have to leave Smallville. At least until the child comes." He squeezed Clark's hand. "I also think the time has come to tell your parents the truth."
"I...they're not going to like it, Lex."
"I imagine they won't," Lex nodded. "But they deserve to be told the truth."
Clark sighed. "I know, but this is huge, Lex. Even bigger than the whole alien thing. I don't know how I'm going to tell them."
"I'll be with you." Lex squeezed his hand.
Clark smiled and squeezed Lex's hand back. "Thanks."
"Well . . ." Lex disentangled himself from the sheets. "No time like the present, I suppose."
Clark's heart clenched in his chest as he watched Lex dress. This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done and he was just grateful that he had such a wonderful man to come with him and support him.
Lex pulled on a pair of jeans and one of Clark's white tee-shirts, as most of his clothes no longer fit him well.
Clark loved to watch Lex dress, and he loved the way he looked in his new choice of casual dress. There was a serious risk of them ending back in bed if he dwelled on it for much longer so he quickly got up and got dressed. "Breakfast first?" He asked, hoping to delay this a little longer. "If you think you can keep it down."
"Perhaps some tea and toast." Lex smiled; Clark insisting that breakfast was important and Lex wriggling out of eating in the mornings had been an ongoing game for them ever since Clark had started spending the nights with him. "If I get first crack at the paper."
Clark chuckled. "If it means you eat something, you can read whatever you want."
Lex grinned and put an arm around Clark's waist as they left the room. A part of him was amazed, as it had been for months now, about how easily he had slipped into this domestic lifestyle. He had never imagined himself being able to live with anyone, or sleep with them for any other reason than temporarily satisfying his sexual needs. But Clark was different. Clark filled spaces in Lex that had been empty for a long time.
"So," Clark asked as he sipped his juice. "Anything interesting in the paper?"
"Let's see." Lex scooped up the paper and snapped it open. "Hmm . . . the crime rate is up in the city, and the mayor wants to organize a special task force to address the problem." Lex turned the page. "My father's stocks are up, and there's speculation about why I haven't been seen in public for some time."
Clark sighed. "What are you going to tell people, Lex? I mean it's one thing being honest with my parents but what about everyone else, especially your father."
Lex nodded. "Which is why we need to get away until the baby comes."
"You can't just disappear, Lex. People will come looking for us."
"Perhaps I can plant a story in the Planet."
"Saying what?"
Lex shrugged and poured himself a cup of tea. "Perhaps that I've gone on some kind of medical sabbatical."
"You think your father will believe it? He won't ask any questions?"
Lex sighed. "That is a problem."
"We'll think of something, Lex. Maybe we should talk to my parents first."
Lex nodded. "All right." He sipped his tea slowly, conscious of his quivery stomach.
Clark sighed. "I still have no idea how we're going to tell them."
Lex smiled. "Don't worry, Clark. I know you're faster than the bullets from your father's shotgun."
"Don't make jokes, Lex, please."
"I'm sorry, love," Lex smiled and went over to embrace Clark gently. "It'll be okay, I promise."
Clark closed his eyes and leaned into Lex's touch. Somehow when Lex said everything was going to be alright, Clark believed him.
"Come on." Lex gave him a squeeze and took his hand. "No use putting it off."
Clark took a deep breath and gave Lex's hand a squeeze. "Ok, let’s go."
* * *
"Hi boys," Martha greeted warmly as Clark and Lex entered the kitchen. "How's the studying going?"
"Quite well, Mrs. Kent, thank you." Lex didn't miss the mild surprise on the redhead's face at his wardrobe.
"Clark...uh, you must have gone out early this morning. You missed breakfast."
"I ran into some trouble with my paper and ran over to ask Lex a question. But he fed me." Clark kissed his mother on the cheek. "I promise."
Lex looked around the room, relaxing slightly when he didn't spy any shotguns. "Uh, is Mr Kent around? Clark and I need to talk to you about something."
Martha nodded. "He's right out in the barn; he should be in any minute." She brought a pitcher of orange juice to the table and looked at Lex curiously. "You both look so serious, are you all right?"
"Can you just get dad, mom?" Clark asked, helping Lex into one of the chairs and pouring him some juice. "We really need to talk to you."
"Sure." Martha walked out, and Lex sat down at the counter. Although he'd been conditioned long ago to never show outward emotions, his heart was pounding.
"Are you as scared as I am?" Clark whispered as he sat down beside Lex
"Probably." Lex nodded, and then sat up as Jonathan came into the kitchen. "Morning Clark, Lex. What's up?"
Clark took a deep breath. It was time. "Dad, mom, I think you guys should sit down for a minute."
Jonathan washed his hands at the sink and then sat down at the table. "All right Clark, shoot." He smiled at his son.
"Ok...uh....I don't know how to say this." He took Lex's hand in his, drawing from his strength. "You all know that I'm...different. Well, something else about me is...different. Lex and I..." He looked at him helplessly, trying to find the words for what they had.
Jonathan's eyes widened as his son took Lex Luthor's hand. "Clark?"
He forced himself to look his dad in the eye. "Dad, Lex and I are in a relationship, and we have been for the last two months."
Martha gasped aloud and put both hands to her mouth, her blue eyes wide and shocked. Jonathan stared at Clark in disbelief, and then his gaze swung to Lex as his eyes narrowed. "You." He snarled, and Lex barely had time to get to his feet before Jonathan jumped up so fast that his chair toppled backwards. Lex backed away, and Jonathan grabbed him by the collar and pulled him forward. "I knew it."
"Dad, stop!" Clark cried, his eyes wide with fear. "Let go of him!"
Lex squirmed in Jonathan's grip and tried to pry the big work-rough hands from his collar. "Mr. Kent listen--"
"I'm done listening to you, Lex." Jonathan dragged Lex over to the door and opened it wide. Martha stepped forward. "Jonathan! What are you doing?"
"What I should have done a long time ago!" Jonathan's hands moved to the back of Lex's neck and the waistband of his jeans. Lex could feel the momentum gathering in the big man's arms, and he curled both hands around his belly to protect his baby from the fall he knew he was about to take.
"Dad, stop! He's pregnant!!!"
The words were out of Clark's mouth before he even registered it, and he prepared to wrench his father away from Lex if that's what it took.
Jonathan froze and looked at Clark over his shoulder. "What? What did you say, Clark?
"He's pregnant, dad. And it's my baby. That's what I was trying to tell you. Please, don't hurt him." There were tears in Clark's eyes as he willed his father to listen to him. Any longer and he was going to grab Lex and run far, far away.
Martha stepped forward and gently pried her husband's hands from Lex's clothes before she shooed Lex gently back toward Clark. Jonathan sat down heavily in a chair and gazed up at his son. "Clark. It's-- it's just not possible. You must be mistaken."
"There's no mistake, dad. Look at him." He wrapped his arms protectively around Lex and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Martha took a step forward. "Lex? Is that why you're wearing--" She looked down at the young man's belly, mostly hidden by the big shirt. "May I see?"
He resisted for a moment, his heart still pounding in his chest and his blood cold with adrenaline. The kindness in Martha's eyes was his undoing, though, and he turned slightly in Clark's arms so that she could lift the hem of his shirt.
Martha bent down slightly and put a hand to the gentle swell of his belly. "My God," she whispered. "How is this possible?"
"It's not possible!" Jonathan snapped.
"Someone did this to him," Clark explained, keeping his arms wrapped around Lex. "A Kryptonian appeared and said that Lex had been impregnated with my baby. I don't know how, but it's mine."
"They used another man. A vessel . . . a policeman named Rod. But it was Clark's DNA. Look . . . I don't expect you to believe or understand any of this, Mr. and Mrs. Kent. But what you can believe is that I love your son, and I want him in my life."
"I don't care what you say, anyway!" Clark said with just the faintest hint of adolescent rage. "I love Lex and I'm staying with him!"
Jonathan stood up. "Clark . . . you're seventeen years old! You're still in school!"
"And I'm going to be a father," Clark countered. "Didn't you always tell me to face up to my responsibilities? Well, I am!"
Jonathan's lips thinned and he glared at Lex. "This town would have been a whole lot better off if you and your father had died during the meteor shower." He spun on his heel and slammed out the door. Lex closed his eyes and hung his head.
Clark looked at his mother helplessly as he drew Lex close and ran comforting hands up and down his arms.
"That went well." Lex sighed as he rested his forehead against Clark's chest.
"Mom..." Clark said, looking for any sort of comforting words or reassurance that he could get. Despite his earlier outburst he did care what his parents thought, and he wanted their support even if he couldn't get their approval.
Martha came over and touched Lex's shoulder. "Lex . . . I'm sure he didn't mean that. He's just . . . he's upset, and confused. This is a lot for one person to take in. Give him time."
Clark pressed another kiss to the top of Lex's head. "I can't believe dad was actually going to hurt him."
Lex squeezed his eyes shut. The logical part of him knew that Martha was right, but those words had hit him like a punch to the gut. Martha sighed. "Clark . . . try to understand.”
"How am I supposed to understand, mom? He's my father and he tried to hurt Lex, and even if he wasn't carrying my child, that's still awful."
"I'll talk to him, sweetheart. Just . . . stay here for a minute." She ran outside after Jonathan, and Lex looked up at Clark. "Well. At least he didn't wring my neck."
"Are you ok?" Clark asked, eyes filled with concern. "If you want we can just leave. I won't put you in danger, even with my own dad."
"I know how important your parents are to you, and I know how much you want to make them understand and approve."
"Not if it means risking you or the baby, Lex. You're both more important to me than their understanding."
"Your mother might be able to convince him to give a second chance, Clark. Let's wait and see."
Clark sighed and drew Lex close to him. No matter what happened, he would protect Lex with his life if it came to it. "I'm sorry this has happened," he whispered. "I really thought they'd be more understanding. I mean they've been raising an alien for the last fourteen years."
"Alien is one thing. For your father . . . I think alternative lifestyles are quite another."
"Yeah, I just...never thought he'd be so narrow-minded about it."
"Maybe he just needs time." Lex rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly with two fingers. "Clark, I need to sit down."
Clark's eyes widened. "Are you ok? Do you need me to call the doctor? If he's hurt you or the baby..."
"Clark, it's all right . . . I'm fine. I just tire easily these days. Just need to sit for a moment."
"Of course!" He kept his arms around Lex and guided him over to the chair, helping him to sit down. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"
"Perhaps just a glass of water, thank you." Lex nodded and rubbed his belly gently. The door slammed as Martha came back in, followed by Jonathan.
Clark was at Lex's side in an instant, glass of water in hand as he eyed his parents warily. Jonathan sighed and looked the two young men over.
"Your mother has informed me that I'm being an insensitive and narrow-minded clod.”
Lex fought hard not to smirk, and buried it in his glass of water.
Clark simply nodded. He wasn't going let his father get off that easily. "Are you going to apologise to Lex?"
Jonathan's lips thinned as he looked down at Lex. "I'm still not sure how I feel about you seducing my teenaged son, Lex."
"Dad!" Clark yelled, interrupting. "It wasn't like that!"
Lex nodded in agreement. "I never forced anything on Clark, Mr. Kent."
"Yeah, well, I know how you Luthors work. You twist words until you get what you want."
"And you're unable to look at me without seeing my father's visage." Lex got to his feet.
Clark stayed close, ready to whisk them out of there if Lex gave the word. "Lex isn't his father, dad, and if you want us to remain part of this family you're going to have to accept that."
"Clark . . . what about your school, son? And . . . if you've always been . . . this way, what about Lana? What will you tell her?"
"I'll get a tutor if I have to, and since Lana broke up with me, I don't see that what I do is any of her business any more."
"Clark, dating another man is not the way to get Lana's attention!"
Lex grinned widely at that and looked up at Clark.
Clark let out a growl of frustration. "Dad, this has nothing to do with Lana! I love Lex and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Even if there was no baby I'd still love him. Why can't you grasp that?"
"Because you've mooned over her for as long as I can remember!" Jonathan snapped back. "This is-- it's a shock, son!"
"I know," He said, allowing his tone to soften. "But you have to understand that this isn't a phase, or a rebound or anything like that. Yes, I used to have feelings for Lana, or I thought I did. But I never knew what love really was until I met Lex."
Jonathan ran a hand through his dark blonde hair and sighed softly. "Clark, I . . . " He looked down at Lex. "You're so young. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I'd never let Clark get hurt, Mr Kent," Lex said softly. "I know the word of a Luthor doesn't mean much to you but I swear on my mother's grave it's the truth."
Martha looked up at Jonathan expectantly. She knew that Lex tried his hardest to be truthful, and a promise made on his beloved mother's grave was nothing to dismiss.
Jonathan sighed. "It's going to take some getting used to..."
"Believe me . . . no one knows that more than us." Lex took Clark's hand.
Finally Jonathan simply nodded. "I have chores to finish."
Lex watched as Jonathan walked out, and then looked up at Clark.
He shrugged. "That's as close to a blessing as we're going to get from him." He looked over to his mother and smiled. "Thanks for talking to him mom. It means a lot to both of us."
"I just want you to be happy." Martha smiled and then looked down at Lex. "Besides . . . that's my grandbaby in there."
Clark smiled, finally daring to move away from Lex and embrace his mother. "I love you, mom."
"I love you too Clark, and I want you to be happy. That's all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
"I am happy mom," Clark smiled, moving over to stand with Lex again. "I know dad is worried about school but I am going to have to leave soon, just for a while. We can't let anyone find out about Lex."
"Leave? Clark . . . where will you go?"
"I don't know yet. Somewhere no one will look for us, especially Lionel."
"You have to understand that I can't let my father find out about this, Mrs. Kent. If he discovers it, nothing will stop him from experimenting on me."
"But, Lex, you're his son! That's his grandchild in there too."
"He'll never see it that way, and I won't allow him to destroy our child. We have to go into hiding until I deliver."
Martha frowned. "Does this mean we won't be able to come and see you until after the baby is born?"
"We can come to see you once in awhile if we're careful, mom." Clark smiled at her.
That was enough for her. The thought of being cut off from her son for months was too much to bear. "Alright, Clark, but I want to promise me you'll be careful. Both of you."
Lex smiled. "We'll be careful, Mrs. Kent. I promise I won't let anything to Clark."
Martha moved over to Lex and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "You need to take care of yourself too, Lex, ok?”
He nodded. "I will, I promise."
* * *
Later, as he drove Clark back to the mansion, Lex's thoughts turned around and around in his head until it began to ache. Could he truly hide from his father? And if so, where? Lionel had nearly bottomless monetary resources and if Lex vanished on him, Lionel would exhaust those resources to get him back.
"You're quiet, Lex," Clark said as they drove. "What are you thinking?"
"That I'm not sure where we can go that my father won't find me."
"We'll find somewhere, Lex, somewhere he'll never think of looking."
"The question is, where is that?" Lex's eyes glanced at the freeway entrance sign as they passed it, and he frowned. "Granville, twenty miles," he muttered.
Clark's eyes widened. "Rod!"
"Rod?" Lex downshifted the Porsche and glanced over the road, ready to swerve to avoid something that might puncture his tires.
"No, not here," Clark explained. "I mean that's where we can stay. Your father has no idea who Rod is, and he did say he wanted to be involved with the baby."
"Hide out in Granville with him, you mean?" Lex considered this, and then smiled. "Perhaps it wouldn't occur to him to search right under his nose."
"We should call him, or do you think your dad will trace the call?"
"We'll pay him a visit, as I don't exactly trust my father to not be bugging my calls." Lex turned the car around.
* * *
"Uh! Bad boys, bad boys . . . whatcha gonna do . . . “Rod bopped his head in time to the theme from Cops, which played on the small television in his kitchen as he threw together a turkey sandwich on the table nearby. He turned to rattle through the fridge, his upturned butt still moving to the beat.
He came up with a big jar of kosher dills and set it on the table as twisted the lid off. He grabbed one and munched on it, one eye on the tv as he tossed three pickles on top of the turkey. "Cops is filmed on location with the men and women of law enforcement. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty . . . in a court of law!" Rod intoned with the tv announcer, and slapped the other piece of bread onto his sandwich. "God," He took a bite of the sandwich and hopped up onto the counter, legs swinging. "I love this show."
Three bites into his sandwich and Rod was distracted by a knock at his front door. "Damn." He hopped down from the counter and brushed crumbs from his white tank top. "This better be good!" He said loudly, and opened the door.
"Hi," Clark said with a meek smile. "Remember us?"
Rod sighed and rolled his eyes a little. "Christ. Why me?" he muttered, and then opened the door wider. "Don't just stand there boys, come on in. You want a sandwich?"
"I'm ok," Clark replied.
"Suit yourself." Rod nodded, and glanced toward the television with mild longing. "So, uh . . . what's up?"
"We, uh...we need to ask a favour." Now that they were here, Clark wasn't so sure this was a good idea. Whether he was in control of himself or not, Rod had still assaulted Lex.
"A favour?" Rod finished his sandwich and licked pickle juice from his fingers, and then wiped his moustache with the back of one hand. "All right, shoot."
"Well..." He trailed off and looked at Lex. This really should be his call. If Lex wasn't comfortable with the idea then they'd go somewhere else.
Lex gave Clark a gentle smile and stepped forward. "We need someplace to stay where we won't be found, Rod. Can you help us out?"
"Hmm. Well . . . I'll tell you what. I reckon I owe you a favour, since I got the better of you during that whole alien thing. I got this little place out back? It's nothing special, but it's got a roof and four walls."
"That's all we need," Clark said with a smile. "Are you sure it's ok?"
"Hey, sure. Like I said, I owe ya one." He eyed Lex's belly. "So. How's the . . . “He waved a hand at the bump.
Lex rested a hand on his stomach. "All good so far."
"We just have to make sure Lex's dad doesn't find him, so it's important no one knows he's here," Clark added.
"Still not sure how I feel about being a human turkey baster. Or how they put your junk in me." Rod scratched his head and then shrugged. "It's a little bitty thing . . . I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who knows about it."
Clark frowned and couldn't stop himself from looking at Rod's crotch. "No one else knows about it? Wow. And-I’m sure the size of it is, uh . . .fine?”
"Kid, what the hell are you--" Rod followed his gaze, and then shook his head. "No! I'm talking about the house out back! Jeez!"
Clark's eyes widened. "Ohh! I'm sorry!"
Lex tried not to smile, and Rod scratched a hand through his short hair. "Yeah, I'm kinda ADD, so try and keep up, kid." Rod went over to a dusty key rack and took down a ring with two keys on it. "C'mon, I'll show it to you. The house." He added in clarification, and glanced back at the tv one more time. "Hey! Commercial! Let's go!"
Clark had to keep hold of Lex just to prevent him from being knocked over as they were practically barrelled through the door.
Rod jogged into his backyard about fifteen paces and then pointed to a small building in his left. "See it there?"
It was small, Clark observed, but they were desperate and it was certainly the last place Lionel would think to look for them. He glanced at Lex. "What do you think?"
Lex's eyes roved over the building. "It should do."
Rod unlocked the front door and pushed at it, but it stuck. He braced his shoulder against it, and then shook his head. "Damn thing . . .” He stood back and gave it a hard kick, and Lex flinched back as the door slammed open.
Clark instinctively wrapped an arm around Lex as he shrank back from the door. "Uh...does it always do that?"
"Nah." Rod grinned. "I just like kickin' doors open." He flicked on the lights. "I've kept the electricity up ‘cos sometimes I use the fridge back here."
Clark, his arm still wrapped around Lex, leaned forward and peeked inside. There was a bedroom and a small kitchen area, plus a small living room, but that was it. Things were going to be cramped for the next few months.
"Not bad, huh?" Rod stomped on a roach that went skittering across the kitchen floor, and then wiped the heel of his boot on the side of the wall.
Clark wrinkled his nose, starting to think that staying here simply wouldn't be healthy for Lex. In his condition he needed things to be clean and hygienic. "It's...uh..."
"It needs a good cleaning," Lex said bluntly, growing pale as he spoke.
Rod swung around, and then frowned at Lex.
Lex's face was white, his eyes fixed firmly on the splattered remains of the cockroach. "Would you excuse me for a moment?" He disentangled himself from Clark's arms and ran back outside, where he was noisily vomited in the bushes.
Rod flinched. "Whoa." He glanced up at Clark, who pinned him with a glare. Rod sighed. "Okay, so maybe it does need a little touching up. I'll see what I can do, all right?"
Clark ignored him and followed Lex outside. "Are you ok?" He asked, rubbing gentle circles on Lex's back.
"Bugs," Lex gasped, and vomited again. "Can't . . . I've never been able to . . . "
"We'll go somewhere else," Clark said, glaring at Rod who had come outside to join them. "It'll be ok."
"Look man, I didn't know your glitch. Just give me a chance, and I'll have it fixed up for you!" Rod sighed and toed the dirt with the toe of his boot. "I want to help you out. Really."
"Look," Clark said as he continued to rub Lex's back. "I appreciate the help, we both do, but Lex can't stay here. He needs somewhere clean and...bug free. If he gets sick, it could harm the baby."
"I can clean it up, Clark! At least give me a chance!"
"We don't need to move in right away," Lex said, wiping his mouth and standing up. "I have things I need to arrange anyway. If we came back in a week, would that work?"
"A week? Sure!" Rod nodded and ran a hand over his head again. "I can whip it into shape before then. And listen, I didn't know stomping that bug would make you go all pukey. Sorry about that, seriously."
"It's quite alright," Lex said. "Lately all I seem to be doing is vomiting. Nothing to do with what you did."
"Cool. All right then . . . give me a week, and I'll have this place turned into a regular love nest!" He turned, grabbed a broom, and attacked the cobwebs in the doorway.
Clark couldn't help but smile as Rod went to work. He really did seem eager to help them. "Do you want to go back to the mansion? You need to take your vitamins and get some rest."
Lex nodded. "I need to get off my feet, yes."
Clark wrapped an arm around Lex's waist, lending him his strength. "Rod, we're going to head back to Lex's. See you in a week?"
Rod nodded. "Sure, sure! I'll have it ready guys, you'll see!"
"Thanks, Rod. See you soon."
Lex allowed Clark to lead him back to the car. "Rod's an unusual guy."
Clark nodded. "That's an understatement."
Lex smiled a little. "I truly believe he means well. Until then though, where are we going to stay?"
Clark sighed. "I don't know. I guess we'll be ok at the mansion for now. I don't think your father suspects anything...does he?"
"He rarely comes to the mansion anymore, unless I do something to publicly humiliate him . . . like breathing."
Clark gave his arm a squeeze. "We can stay under the radar for a week while we plan what we're going to tell people."
Lex nodded as he got into the car. "We should be able to keep him at bay for at least that long."
"I'll be there to keep you safe, and make sure you eat and sleep enough."
Lex gave Clark a tired smile. "My hero."
"Always."
Chapter 4
Authors: hils and lexalicious70
Paring: Clark/Lex with hints of Clark/Rod and Clark/Rod/Lex
Spoilers: None
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sequel to Highway to Hell and So Long Sylvia. In the aftermath of the alien encounter Lex receives some startling news
WARNING: MPREG!
Previous parts here
Two months later
Lex and Clark flew over the city of Metropolis together, hand in hand. The city lay sprawled out below them in a massive carpet of bright lights, and the air that bathed Lex's face was clean and crisp. Next to him, Clark grinned brightly, dark curls tumbling back over his forehead from the wind streaming through them. He pulled them both down in sharp dip and Lex gasped as his stomach lifted, and then dropped, and then began to churn.
"Clark . . . gonna . . . uhhnhh." Lex groaned in his sleep, and then snapped awake suddenly as the churning didn't abate with his dreams. He kicked free of the sheets and stumbled into the bathroom, where he slid across the tiles on his knees like a seasick break-dancer, and vomited hard into the toilet.
Clark started awake at the sound of puking coming from the bathroom and hurried in as he had done every morning since he'd started spending the night regularly. The washcloth was just where he'd left it last time and he quickly applied some cool water and began to gently swipe it over Lex's neck.
Lex moaned and clung hard to the sides of the commode as he vomited again, and then heaved a third time, though his stomach was already empty. He felt the cool touch of the cloth against his neck and managed to open his eyes. They still felt sticky with sleep.
"Clark," he croaked. "Don't . . . look."
Clark gave a gentle smile and he crouched down beside his friend and lover. "Lex, how many times have we done this together? The sight of your puke is not going to send me running away, I promise."
"Don't know why not. It's . . . uhhnh!" Lex dry-heaved a few more times, and then groped for the chrome square button that flushed the toilet. He gulped and winced at the burning sensation in his throat and sinuses. "Disgusting," He muttered.
Clark placed a kiss on the top of Lex's head before handing him a glass of water so he could rinse out his mouth.
"Thank you, Clark." Lex rinsed and spat, his legs feeling useless for the moment, his stomach still clenching miserably, although it seemed to be done rebelling for the moment.
Clark smiled and helped Lex to his feet, taking a moment to rub his hand over the small bump that was now showing at Lex’s belly. "Come back to bed? It's still early."
Lex nodded and walked back to the bed with Clark. He waited for Clark to get in and then slid in beside him, nestling close, encouraging Clark to hold him without actually asking him to.
Clark smiled and wrapped his arms around Lex. Neither of them had actually spoken about it, but this had become their morning routine. Lex would get up to puke, Clark would take care of him, and then they'd snuggle in bed until Clark had to leave for school or to go home.
"I was dreaming about us," Lex said softly as he rested his head on Clark's chest, his head tucked under Clark's chin.
Clark chuckled and dipped his head to place another kiss on Lex's head. "And it made you puke? Not a good sign."
"It wasn't the dream. It's what we were doing." Lex sighed and rested his hand on the mild swell of his growing belly.
"Oh?" Clark asked curiously, placing one of his hands on top of Lex's "What were we doing?"
"Flying. You were holding my hand, and we were flying. Over Metropolis."
"In a helicopter or a plane?" Clark asked
"Neither." He pulled away a bit and looked Clark in the eye. "It was you. You were flying us."
"Me?" Clark shuddered. "That doesn't sound like much fun. I'm scared of heights."
"I know," Lex nodded. "But you never know what might happen in the future."
"True," Clark agreed. "Hopefully it won't involve flying though."
"You actually looked very handsome, with your hair all windblown." Lex grinned.
Clark laughed. "Yeah, I can just imagine it all big and poofy. Very attractive."
Lex chuckled and then rubbed his belly gently. "Getting big," he said suddenly. "Clark . . . pretty soon we'll have to leave Smallville. At least until the child comes." He squeezed Clark's hand. "I also think the time has come to tell your parents the truth."
"I...they're not going to like it, Lex."
"I imagine they won't," Lex nodded. "But they deserve to be told the truth."
Clark sighed. "I know, but this is huge, Lex. Even bigger than the whole alien thing. I don't know how I'm going to tell them."
"I'll be with you." Lex squeezed his hand.
Clark smiled and squeezed Lex's hand back. "Thanks."
"Well . . ." Lex disentangled himself from the sheets. "No time like the present, I suppose."
Clark's heart clenched in his chest as he watched Lex dress. This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done and he was just grateful that he had such a wonderful man to come with him and support him.
Lex pulled on a pair of jeans and one of Clark's white tee-shirts, as most of his clothes no longer fit him well.
Clark loved to watch Lex dress, and he loved the way he looked in his new choice of casual dress. There was a serious risk of them ending back in bed if he dwelled on it for much longer so he quickly got up and got dressed. "Breakfast first?" He asked, hoping to delay this a little longer. "If you think you can keep it down."
"Perhaps some tea and toast." Lex smiled; Clark insisting that breakfast was important and Lex wriggling out of eating in the mornings had been an ongoing game for them ever since Clark had started spending the nights with him. "If I get first crack at the paper."
Clark chuckled. "If it means you eat something, you can read whatever you want."
Lex grinned and put an arm around Clark's waist as they left the room. A part of him was amazed, as it had been for months now, about how easily he had slipped into this domestic lifestyle. He had never imagined himself being able to live with anyone, or sleep with them for any other reason than temporarily satisfying his sexual needs. But Clark was different. Clark filled spaces in Lex that had been empty for a long time.
"So," Clark asked as he sipped his juice. "Anything interesting in the paper?"
"Let's see." Lex scooped up the paper and snapped it open. "Hmm . . . the crime rate is up in the city, and the mayor wants to organize a special task force to address the problem." Lex turned the page. "My father's stocks are up, and there's speculation about why I haven't been seen in public for some time."
Clark sighed. "What are you going to tell people, Lex? I mean it's one thing being honest with my parents but what about everyone else, especially your father."
Lex nodded. "Which is why we need to get away until the baby comes."
"You can't just disappear, Lex. People will come looking for us."
"Perhaps I can plant a story in the Planet."
"Saying what?"
Lex shrugged and poured himself a cup of tea. "Perhaps that I've gone on some kind of medical sabbatical."
"You think your father will believe it? He won't ask any questions?"
Lex sighed. "That is a problem."
"We'll think of something, Lex. Maybe we should talk to my parents first."
Lex nodded. "All right." He sipped his tea slowly, conscious of his quivery stomach.
Clark sighed. "I still have no idea how we're going to tell them."
Lex smiled. "Don't worry, Clark. I know you're faster than the bullets from your father's shotgun."
"Don't make jokes, Lex, please."
"I'm sorry, love," Lex smiled and went over to embrace Clark gently. "It'll be okay, I promise."
Clark closed his eyes and leaned into Lex's touch. Somehow when Lex said everything was going to be alright, Clark believed him.
"Come on." Lex gave him a squeeze and took his hand. "No use putting it off."
Clark took a deep breath and gave Lex's hand a squeeze. "Ok, let’s go."
* * *
"Hi boys," Martha greeted warmly as Clark and Lex entered the kitchen. "How's the studying going?"
"Quite well, Mrs. Kent, thank you." Lex didn't miss the mild surprise on the redhead's face at his wardrobe.
"Clark...uh, you must have gone out early this morning. You missed breakfast."
"I ran into some trouble with my paper and ran over to ask Lex a question. But he fed me." Clark kissed his mother on the cheek. "I promise."
Lex looked around the room, relaxing slightly when he didn't spy any shotguns. "Uh, is Mr Kent around? Clark and I need to talk to you about something."
Martha nodded. "He's right out in the barn; he should be in any minute." She brought a pitcher of orange juice to the table and looked at Lex curiously. "You both look so serious, are you all right?"
"Can you just get dad, mom?" Clark asked, helping Lex into one of the chairs and pouring him some juice. "We really need to talk to you."
"Sure." Martha walked out, and Lex sat down at the counter. Although he'd been conditioned long ago to never show outward emotions, his heart was pounding.
"Are you as scared as I am?" Clark whispered as he sat down beside Lex
"Probably." Lex nodded, and then sat up as Jonathan came into the kitchen. "Morning Clark, Lex. What's up?"
Clark took a deep breath. It was time. "Dad, mom, I think you guys should sit down for a minute."
Jonathan washed his hands at the sink and then sat down at the table. "All right Clark, shoot." He smiled at his son.
"Ok...uh....I don't know how to say this." He took Lex's hand in his, drawing from his strength. "You all know that I'm...different. Well, something else about me is...different. Lex and I..." He looked at him helplessly, trying to find the words for what they had.
Jonathan's eyes widened as his son took Lex Luthor's hand. "Clark?"
He forced himself to look his dad in the eye. "Dad, Lex and I are in a relationship, and we have been for the last two months."
Martha gasped aloud and put both hands to her mouth, her blue eyes wide and shocked. Jonathan stared at Clark in disbelief, and then his gaze swung to Lex as his eyes narrowed. "You." He snarled, and Lex barely had time to get to his feet before Jonathan jumped up so fast that his chair toppled backwards. Lex backed away, and Jonathan grabbed him by the collar and pulled him forward. "I knew it."
"Dad, stop!" Clark cried, his eyes wide with fear. "Let go of him!"
Lex squirmed in Jonathan's grip and tried to pry the big work-rough hands from his collar. "Mr. Kent listen--"
"I'm done listening to you, Lex." Jonathan dragged Lex over to the door and opened it wide. Martha stepped forward. "Jonathan! What are you doing?"
"What I should have done a long time ago!" Jonathan's hands moved to the back of Lex's neck and the waistband of his jeans. Lex could feel the momentum gathering in the big man's arms, and he curled both hands around his belly to protect his baby from the fall he knew he was about to take.
"Dad, stop! He's pregnant!!!"
The words were out of Clark's mouth before he even registered it, and he prepared to wrench his father away from Lex if that's what it took.
Jonathan froze and looked at Clark over his shoulder. "What? What did you say, Clark?
"He's pregnant, dad. And it's my baby. That's what I was trying to tell you. Please, don't hurt him." There were tears in Clark's eyes as he willed his father to listen to him. Any longer and he was going to grab Lex and run far, far away.
Martha stepped forward and gently pried her husband's hands from Lex's clothes before she shooed Lex gently back toward Clark. Jonathan sat down heavily in a chair and gazed up at his son. "Clark. It's-- it's just not possible. You must be mistaken."
"There's no mistake, dad. Look at him." He wrapped his arms protectively around Lex and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Martha took a step forward. "Lex? Is that why you're wearing--" She looked down at the young man's belly, mostly hidden by the big shirt. "May I see?"
He resisted for a moment, his heart still pounding in his chest and his blood cold with adrenaline. The kindness in Martha's eyes was his undoing, though, and he turned slightly in Clark's arms so that she could lift the hem of his shirt.
Martha bent down slightly and put a hand to the gentle swell of his belly. "My God," she whispered. "How is this possible?"
"It's not possible!" Jonathan snapped.
"Someone did this to him," Clark explained, keeping his arms wrapped around Lex. "A Kryptonian appeared and said that Lex had been impregnated with my baby. I don't know how, but it's mine."
"They used another man. A vessel . . . a policeman named Rod. But it was Clark's DNA. Look . . . I don't expect you to believe or understand any of this, Mr. and Mrs. Kent. But what you can believe is that I love your son, and I want him in my life."
"I don't care what you say, anyway!" Clark said with just the faintest hint of adolescent rage. "I love Lex and I'm staying with him!"
Jonathan stood up. "Clark . . . you're seventeen years old! You're still in school!"
"And I'm going to be a father," Clark countered. "Didn't you always tell me to face up to my responsibilities? Well, I am!"
Jonathan's lips thinned and he glared at Lex. "This town would have been a whole lot better off if you and your father had died during the meteor shower." He spun on his heel and slammed out the door. Lex closed his eyes and hung his head.
Clark looked at his mother helplessly as he drew Lex close and ran comforting hands up and down his arms.
"That went well." Lex sighed as he rested his forehead against Clark's chest.
"Mom..." Clark said, looking for any sort of comforting words or reassurance that he could get. Despite his earlier outburst he did care what his parents thought, and he wanted their support even if he couldn't get their approval.
Martha came over and touched Lex's shoulder. "Lex . . . I'm sure he didn't mean that. He's just . . . he's upset, and confused. This is a lot for one person to take in. Give him time."
Clark pressed another kiss to the top of Lex's head. "I can't believe dad was actually going to hurt him."
Lex squeezed his eyes shut. The logical part of him knew that Martha was right, but those words had hit him like a punch to the gut. Martha sighed. "Clark . . . try to understand.”
"How am I supposed to understand, mom? He's my father and he tried to hurt Lex, and even if he wasn't carrying my child, that's still awful."
"I'll talk to him, sweetheart. Just . . . stay here for a minute." She ran outside after Jonathan, and Lex looked up at Clark. "Well. At least he didn't wring my neck."
"Are you ok?" Clark asked, eyes filled with concern. "If you want we can just leave. I won't put you in danger, even with my own dad."
"I know how important your parents are to you, and I know how much you want to make them understand and approve."
"Not if it means risking you or the baby, Lex. You're both more important to me than their understanding."
"Your mother might be able to convince him to give a second chance, Clark. Let's wait and see."
Clark sighed and drew Lex close to him. No matter what happened, he would protect Lex with his life if it came to it. "I'm sorry this has happened," he whispered. "I really thought they'd be more understanding. I mean they've been raising an alien for the last fourteen years."
"Alien is one thing. For your father . . . I think alternative lifestyles are quite another."
"Yeah, I just...never thought he'd be so narrow-minded about it."
"Maybe he just needs time." Lex rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly with two fingers. "Clark, I need to sit down."
Clark's eyes widened. "Are you ok? Do you need me to call the doctor? If he's hurt you or the baby..."
"Clark, it's all right . . . I'm fine. I just tire easily these days. Just need to sit for a moment."
"Of course!" He kept his arms around Lex and guided him over to the chair, helping him to sit down. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"
"Perhaps just a glass of water, thank you." Lex nodded and rubbed his belly gently. The door slammed as Martha came back in, followed by Jonathan.
Clark was at Lex's side in an instant, glass of water in hand as he eyed his parents warily. Jonathan sighed and looked the two young men over.
"Your mother has informed me that I'm being an insensitive and narrow-minded clod.”
Lex fought hard not to smirk, and buried it in his glass of water.
Clark simply nodded. He wasn't going let his father get off that easily. "Are you going to apologise to Lex?"
Jonathan's lips thinned as he looked down at Lex. "I'm still not sure how I feel about you seducing my teenaged son, Lex."
"Dad!" Clark yelled, interrupting. "It wasn't like that!"
Lex nodded in agreement. "I never forced anything on Clark, Mr. Kent."
"Yeah, well, I know how you Luthors work. You twist words until you get what you want."
"And you're unable to look at me without seeing my father's visage." Lex got to his feet.
Clark stayed close, ready to whisk them out of there if Lex gave the word. "Lex isn't his father, dad, and if you want us to remain part of this family you're going to have to accept that."
"Clark . . . what about your school, son? And . . . if you've always been . . . this way, what about Lana? What will you tell her?"
"I'll get a tutor if I have to, and since Lana broke up with me, I don't see that what I do is any of her business any more."
"Clark, dating another man is not the way to get Lana's attention!"
Lex grinned widely at that and looked up at Clark.
Clark let out a growl of frustration. "Dad, this has nothing to do with Lana! I love Lex and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Even if there was no baby I'd still love him. Why can't you grasp that?"
"Because you've mooned over her for as long as I can remember!" Jonathan snapped back. "This is-- it's a shock, son!"
"I know," He said, allowing his tone to soften. "But you have to understand that this isn't a phase, or a rebound or anything like that. Yes, I used to have feelings for Lana, or I thought I did. But I never knew what love really was until I met Lex."
Jonathan ran a hand through his dark blonde hair and sighed softly. "Clark, I . . . " He looked down at Lex. "You're so young. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I'd never let Clark get hurt, Mr Kent," Lex said softly. "I know the word of a Luthor doesn't mean much to you but I swear on my mother's grave it's the truth."
Martha looked up at Jonathan expectantly. She knew that Lex tried his hardest to be truthful, and a promise made on his beloved mother's grave was nothing to dismiss.
Jonathan sighed. "It's going to take some getting used to..."
"Believe me . . . no one knows that more than us." Lex took Clark's hand.
Finally Jonathan simply nodded. "I have chores to finish."
Lex watched as Jonathan walked out, and then looked up at Clark.
He shrugged. "That's as close to a blessing as we're going to get from him." He looked over to his mother and smiled. "Thanks for talking to him mom. It means a lot to both of us."
"I just want you to be happy." Martha smiled and then looked down at Lex. "Besides . . . that's my grandbaby in there."
Clark smiled, finally daring to move away from Lex and embrace his mother. "I love you, mom."
"I love you too Clark, and I want you to be happy. That's all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
"I am happy mom," Clark smiled, moving over to stand with Lex again. "I know dad is worried about school but I am going to have to leave soon, just for a while. We can't let anyone find out about Lex."
"Leave? Clark . . . where will you go?"
"I don't know yet. Somewhere no one will look for us, especially Lionel."
"You have to understand that I can't let my father find out about this, Mrs. Kent. If he discovers it, nothing will stop him from experimenting on me."
"But, Lex, you're his son! That's his grandchild in there too."
"He'll never see it that way, and I won't allow him to destroy our child. We have to go into hiding until I deliver."
Martha frowned. "Does this mean we won't be able to come and see you until after the baby is born?"
"We can come to see you once in awhile if we're careful, mom." Clark smiled at her.
That was enough for her. The thought of being cut off from her son for months was too much to bear. "Alright, Clark, but I want to promise me you'll be careful. Both of you."
Lex smiled. "We'll be careful, Mrs. Kent. I promise I won't let anything to Clark."
Martha moved over to Lex and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "You need to take care of yourself too, Lex, ok?”
He nodded. "I will, I promise."
* * *
Later, as he drove Clark back to the mansion, Lex's thoughts turned around and around in his head until it began to ache. Could he truly hide from his father? And if so, where? Lionel had nearly bottomless monetary resources and if Lex vanished on him, Lionel would exhaust those resources to get him back.
"You're quiet, Lex," Clark said as they drove. "What are you thinking?"
"That I'm not sure where we can go that my father won't find me."
"We'll find somewhere, Lex, somewhere he'll never think of looking."
"The question is, where is that?" Lex's eyes glanced at the freeway entrance sign as they passed it, and he frowned. "Granville, twenty miles," he muttered.
Clark's eyes widened. "Rod!"
"Rod?" Lex downshifted the Porsche and glanced over the road, ready to swerve to avoid something that might puncture his tires.
"No, not here," Clark explained. "I mean that's where we can stay. Your father has no idea who Rod is, and he did say he wanted to be involved with the baby."
"Hide out in Granville with him, you mean?" Lex considered this, and then smiled. "Perhaps it wouldn't occur to him to search right under his nose."
"We should call him, or do you think your dad will trace the call?"
"We'll pay him a visit, as I don't exactly trust my father to not be bugging my calls." Lex turned the car around.
* * *
"Uh! Bad boys, bad boys . . . whatcha gonna do . . . “Rod bopped his head in time to the theme from Cops, which played on the small television in his kitchen as he threw together a turkey sandwich on the table nearby. He turned to rattle through the fridge, his upturned butt still moving to the beat.
He came up with a big jar of kosher dills and set it on the table as twisted the lid off. He grabbed one and munched on it, one eye on the tv as he tossed three pickles on top of the turkey. "Cops is filmed on location with the men and women of law enforcement. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty . . . in a court of law!" Rod intoned with the tv announcer, and slapped the other piece of bread onto his sandwich. "God," He took a bite of the sandwich and hopped up onto the counter, legs swinging. "I love this show."
Three bites into his sandwich and Rod was distracted by a knock at his front door. "Damn." He hopped down from the counter and brushed crumbs from his white tank top. "This better be good!" He said loudly, and opened the door.
"Hi," Clark said with a meek smile. "Remember us?"
Rod sighed and rolled his eyes a little. "Christ. Why me?" he muttered, and then opened the door wider. "Don't just stand there boys, come on in. You want a sandwich?"
"I'm ok," Clark replied.
"Suit yourself." Rod nodded, and glanced toward the television with mild longing. "So, uh . . . what's up?"
"We, uh...we need to ask a favour." Now that they were here, Clark wasn't so sure this was a good idea. Whether he was in control of himself or not, Rod had still assaulted Lex.
"A favour?" Rod finished his sandwich and licked pickle juice from his fingers, and then wiped his moustache with the back of one hand. "All right, shoot."
"Well..." He trailed off and looked at Lex. This really should be his call. If Lex wasn't comfortable with the idea then they'd go somewhere else.
Lex gave Clark a gentle smile and stepped forward. "We need someplace to stay where we won't be found, Rod. Can you help us out?"
"Hmm. Well . . . I'll tell you what. I reckon I owe you a favour, since I got the better of you during that whole alien thing. I got this little place out back? It's nothing special, but it's got a roof and four walls."
"That's all we need," Clark said with a smile. "Are you sure it's ok?"
"Hey, sure. Like I said, I owe ya one." He eyed Lex's belly. "So. How's the . . . “He waved a hand at the bump.
Lex rested a hand on his stomach. "All good so far."
"We just have to make sure Lex's dad doesn't find him, so it's important no one knows he's here," Clark added.
"Still not sure how I feel about being a human turkey baster. Or how they put your junk in me." Rod scratched his head and then shrugged. "It's a little bitty thing . . . I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who knows about it."
Clark frowned and couldn't stop himself from looking at Rod's crotch. "No one else knows about it? Wow. And-I’m sure the size of it is, uh . . .fine?”
"Kid, what the hell are you--" Rod followed his gaze, and then shook his head. "No! I'm talking about the house out back! Jeez!"
Clark's eyes widened. "Ohh! I'm sorry!"
Lex tried not to smile, and Rod scratched a hand through his short hair. "Yeah, I'm kinda ADD, so try and keep up, kid." Rod went over to a dusty key rack and took down a ring with two keys on it. "C'mon, I'll show it to you. The house." He added in clarification, and glanced back at the tv one more time. "Hey! Commercial! Let's go!"
Clark had to keep hold of Lex just to prevent him from being knocked over as they were practically barrelled through the door.
Rod jogged into his backyard about fifteen paces and then pointed to a small building in his left. "See it there?"
It was small, Clark observed, but they were desperate and it was certainly the last place Lionel would think to look for them. He glanced at Lex. "What do you think?"
Lex's eyes roved over the building. "It should do."
Rod unlocked the front door and pushed at it, but it stuck. He braced his shoulder against it, and then shook his head. "Damn thing . . .” He stood back and gave it a hard kick, and Lex flinched back as the door slammed open.
Clark instinctively wrapped an arm around Lex as he shrank back from the door. "Uh...does it always do that?"
"Nah." Rod grinned. "I just like kickin' doors open." He flicked on the lights. "I've kept the electricity up ‘cos sometimes I use the fridge back here."
Clark, his arm still wrapped around Lex, leaned forward and peeked inside. There was a bedroom and a small kitchen area, plus a small living room, but that was it. Things were going to be cramped for the next few months.
"Not bad, huh?" Rod stomped on a roach that went skittering across the kitchen floor, and then wiped the heel of his boot on the side of the wall.
Clark wrinkled his nose, starting to think that staying here simply wouldn't be healthy for Lex. In his condition he needed things to be clean and hygienic. "It's...uh..."
"It needs a good cleaning," Lex said bluntly, growing pale as he spoke.
Rod swung around, and then frowned at Lex.
Lex's face was white, his eyes fixed firmly on the splattered remains of the cockroach. "Would you excuse me for a moment?" He disentangled himself from Clark's arms and ran back outside, where he was noisily vomited in the bushes.
Rod flinched. "Whoa." He glanced up at Clark, who pinned him with a glare. Rod sighed. "Okay, so maybe it does need a little touching up. I'll see what I can do, all right?"
Clark ignored him and followed Lex outside. "Are you ok?" He asked, rubbing gentle circles on Lex's back.
"Bugs," Lex gasped, and vomited again. "Can't . . . I've never been able to . . . "
"We'll go somewhere else," Clark said, glaring at Rod who had come outside to join them. "It'll be ok."
"Look man, I didn't know your glitch. Just give me a chance, and I'll have it fixed up for you!" Rod sighed and toed the dirt with the toe of his boot. "I want to help you out. Really."
"Look," Clark said as he continued to rub Lex's back. "I appreciate the help, we both do, but Lex can't stay here. He needs somewhere clean and...bug free. If he gets sick, it could harm the baby."
"I can clean it up, Clark! At least give me a chance!"
"We don't need to move in right away," Lex said, wiping his mouth and standing up. "I have things I need to arrange anyway. If we came back in a week, would that work?"
"A week? Sure!" Rod nodded and ran a hand over his head again. "I can whip it into shape before then. And listen, I didn't know stomping that bug would make you go all pukey. Sorry about that, seriously."
"It's quite alright," Lex said. "Lately all I seem to be doing is vomiting. Nothing to do with what you did."
"Cool. All right then . . . give me a week, and I'll have this place turned into a regular love nest!" He turned, grabbed a broom, and attacked the cobwebs in the doorway.
Clark couldn't help but smile as Rod went to work. He really did seem eager to help them. "Do you want to go back to the mansion? You need to take your vitamins and get some rest."
Lex nodded. "I need to get off my feet, yes."
Clark wrapped an arm around Lex's waist, lending him his strength. "Rod, we're going to head back to Lex's. See you in a week?"
Rod nodded. "Sure, sure! I'll have it ready guys, you'll see!"
"Thanks, Rod. See you soon."
Lex allowed Clark to lead him back to the car. "Rod's an unusual guy."
Clark nodded. "That's an understatement."
Lex smiled a little. "I truly believe he means well. Until then though, where are we going to stay?"
Clark sighed. "I don't know. I guess we'll be ok at the mansion for now. I don't think your father suspects anything...does he?"
"He rarely comes to the mansion anymore, unless I do something to publicly humiliate him . . . like breathing."
Clark gave his arm a squeeze. "We can stay under the radar for a week while we plan what we're going to tell people."
Lex nodded as he got into the car. "We should be able to keep him at bay for at least that long."
"I'll be there to keep you safe, and make sure you eat and sleep enough."
Lex gave Clark a tired smile. "My hero."
"Always."
Chapter 4