Empires are not brought down by outside forces, they are destroyed by weaknesses from within.

[daddy_luthor]

Lionel stood at the window of the padded cell for a long time, watching his only son struggle in his own mind, his hands in his pockets. He stared at Lex's blank look and idly moving lips, unable to look away if only so the doctors and nurses around him wouldn't see the emotion in his eyes. A Luthor didn't show emotion to those undeserving, it was

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[capable_of]

Today on his way to the compound, Lex took the long route down by the ocean. He hoped the calming sound of the waves would help relieve his ever increasing nerves, caused by the almost constant headaches and lack of sleep. It was beginning to wear on him - that and hiding it from Anatoly who would only worry over nothing. Something was eating at him, Lex only had to figure out what

[daddy_luthor]

"Lex." Lionel said with surprise as he spotted his son down the beach. This was not the pale, gaunt shell of a person he'd left in the care of Belle Reve only moments before. This Lex was strong and whole, if a little worn around the edges. He had more color then Lionel had ever seen, though he was still paler then most, and he was dressed in casual clothes, something Lionel hadn't seen him do in years, since Princeton.

Lionel wondered for another moment, and only a moment, if that no-good doctor had slipped him some of Lex's drugs. But no..again he remembered that she didn't have the mental fortitude to even consider crossing him. So if it wasn't the doctor's fault and Lionel couldn't be hallucinating, it must somehow be Lex's fault.

"Lex, what have you done now?"

[capable_of]

"Hello to you too, Dad." Lex said before bursting into maniacal laughter, his tiredness adding a layer of hysteria to it. Of course it was his fault, a whole magical fucking island that was unexplainable by anyone from any number of worlds was his fault. Love you too, Dad he thought bitterly, though he kept his features neutral if slightly tight

[daddy_luthor]

What was Lex going on about? Brought where? And an airplane...

Lionel rolled his eyes and his tone turned condescending. "Now Lex, you were rescued from that island months ago. You must stop using that as an excuse to fall down on the job. Now, just tell me what you did and we will fix it so we can go home and get you the help that you clearly need!" He took a few steps forward, closing this distance between them in long strides and holding out his hand to put it on Lex's arm.

[capable_of]

Lex recognized the gesture for what it was and yanked his arm back in a more blatant movement then he normally would deal with his father but at this point, it got the job done and that's all he cared about. His patience was wearing thin and he could not afford to lose it when dealing with his dad. "Dad, this is not my fault. Look around you. How in the fucking world could I get you from Kansas to a tropical island in the blink of an eye? Not even all the strangeness in Smallville could do that!" He took a moment to take a deep breath, a moment of weakness yes, but a necessary one. And he had to resist the urge to rub his neck. "Look, try to follow and for once, believe me. This place blows Smallville out of the water when it comes to the unexplainable. It brings people from different places and times here magically

[daddy_luthor]

The only thing Lionel believe about Lex's whole speech was that Lex certainly believed it. Lex had believed he hadn't been alone on that other island as well. How in the world was he supposed to believe such a ridiculous story and from a man who was known for hallucinating when under extreme stress? But...it seemed Lionel had no other choice at the moment.

Not trying to touch Lex again, he put his hands out in a calming gesture. "Alright Lex, calm down. Show me what you're talking about. Prove it and I'll believe you." Or he would try anyway. Try, until he could get down to bottom of all this and get Lex back to Bell Reve where he so clearly belonged.