MISSING/WANTED
One spine, last seen jumping out the window of a Smallville High School classroom.
Call Chloe: 555-4567
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Expectant mother. Should be showing, is not.
Please call Kent Farms 555-1234
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Friendship of legends. Have been short-shrifted with a pms-y teenage boy instead.
Call A.J. 555-SEXY
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Desperately ISO television show about burgeoning superhero and his best friend, the bald one, not the other one. Has been replaced by medieval torture inflicted via bunnies and whinging princesses. Will pay top dollar for the return thereof. Please call Zahra at 555-THIS-STUFF-SUCKS
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Smallville
Judas: Chivalry is Dead
The first time Clark kissed Lex, Lex was dead, so technically it didn’t count. But it could have. Their first kiss could have led them down an entirely different path, and Clark could have saved Lex instead of sealing his fate.
If Lex had died:
If Lex had trusted his eyes instead of his ears:
If Clark had told the truth:
Then things would be different now.
But that’s not what happened. So ‘if’ doesn’t matter.
*
Clark rescued Lex, and in return Lex let him lie.
Protection for rebirth.
Blindness for hope.
Deceit wrapped in chivalry and flannel.
As far as exchanges go, Lex had made far less profitable deals.
It seemed a fair trade at the time.
But it wasn't as though Lex didn't know.
*
The second time Clark kissed Lex, Lex was fully functional and aware. The second kiss definitely counted, and it tasted of hot chocolate, coffee and amaretto, but it left a bitter taste on the back of Lex’s tongue.
He ignored it. He shouldn’t have.
*
If Lex had demanded the truth:
If Clark had given it:
If they had actually trusted each other:
But they didn’t.
So it doesn’t matter now.
*
All of Clark’s kisses tasted of grass and earth, and restraint.
No matter how deep Lex dove, every kiss seemed to come up short.
The withholding of information tasted like rotten fruit.
*
Clark saved Lex, a lot.
Clark lied to Lex, a lot.
It grew old.
It tasted old.
Eventually Lex decided to start saving himself.
*
Nothing ever dies.
Everything is reborn, recycled, reused.
Lex is a scientist.
He knows this.
Theoretically, the atoms of Judas still exist.
*
The first time Lex kissed Helen she tasted of lipstick and cinnamon, but there was no aftertaste.
If she was going to betray him, he wouldn’t know it until it happened.
If she didn’t trust him, he couldn’t taste it.
That was an improvement.
Lex had no intention of sacrificing himself for some boy in a cornfield.