The Worst Case

After having gotten off the plane, they had roughly twenty minutes before they reached the LuthorCorp's London headquarters complex. During the ride to the complex, Lex had been presented with new things to consider in the full briefing that he'd undergone during the ride to the complex. The problem was that several of those things he hadn't even been aware his father was involved. Surprised was not his response, more like... a feeling of having been kept in the dark on some town gossip. Nothing important that he should have known what with not being a chief executive for the company, but still feeling left out all the same, for some reason.

The problem his father had vaguely told him about had been bothering him ever since they left; a non-fatal injury was hardly something that Lionel needed to personally oversee. The real situation was much larger than what his father had presented to him on the previous Friday, an accidental injury to an engineer who was working some military bound equipment that the British Navy had commissioned them to build. Lex understood now why it was important for his father to make the trip overseas. Lionel didn't want to let any government officials into the small glitch they'd run into, so the problem would have to be resolved quickly. Lionel was unwilling to fall behind schedule. To remain on their set schedule, LuthorCorp must begin construction on a new ship.

Only hoping the damage to the company's operations could be repaired quickly, Lex was surprised that his father had given him control of the meeting. He was expecting to spend the trip bored out of his skull while having to tag along with his father. Even though Lex had barely been thoroughly versed in the situation, Lionel had simply sat back to listen. Ah, a test. It was the invitation for his son to join him as a partner in LuthorCorp coming back to the fore. A test to see if Lex would cut his father's throat and try to sweep LuthorCorp out from under Lionel if they were equals in the company.

Lex, knowing his father, wouldn't think for a moment that he could do that right away. Not while his father was watching him like a hawk because he was so emotionally charged by the idea. Lionel would assume Lex would want to take control immediately if he had a chance. The idea was one thing, but Lex knew he wasn't ready to have it all under his control, despite how much appeal that control held for him.

Ten models of the new design of the British's naval observational and alternately submersible ships were being constructed; very technologically advanced. It would be a good thing on LuthorCorp's records, and to draw other countries to try to bargain for them to divulge the blue prints. Another possible scenario, was for doing such a good job with the Britain's equipment, that other's wanted LuthorCorp's experienced technicians to handle the new machines' creation or conception.

"Since the British government has done the much appreciated act of granting us certain powers, and the authority to carry out this particular task, it is of the extreme importance to the company that we not let them down by falling behind schedule." Lex stood almost in place, knowing his father would sense his irritability if he began pacing incessantly back and forth in front of the conference table. Limiting himself to gestures as he spoke, "Punctuality, and all that, you know." He finished, smirking, and earning himself a few chuckles from the assorted businessmen in the room.

Keeping the tone of the meeting as light as he could, Lex continued throughout his explanation of the entire situation, making sure everyone knew what was taking place. "The bad news about this is ... there is no room to work on two machines simultaneously in Britain," Lex said, actually drawing a look of confusion from two men present. That made him glad that he was being thorough, and he only wished his father could have seen this. Perhaps not, though, since he was still rather fidgety.

He hadn't conducted business in Europe for Lionel before, much less himself, so he was tentative about cultural differences in speech and whatnot. Sure, he spent enough time in these countries to know all about those sorts of things, but this was business. "We've decided to push things aside in another location, and moving the materials for this project there, assuring that we won't fall behind schedule."

LuthorCorp would be stupid enough to have fallen behind on such an important contract. The British government was a good establishment to befriend at this point, and would be beneficial for Lex if he wanted to go international with LexCorp, using his father's and his own ties to them.

"Consequentially, LuthorCorp's main euro bases, particularly here in London, have been under stress with our London & Divisional Factories; they've slowed their production dramatically, threatening to drive profits down. And that, I don't believe, is productive to any of our futures."

"The move to Edinburgh, Scotland," he realized he'd never actually mentioned where they were moving a part of this project to. "Will be accompanied by Lionel Luthor, we've made this trip personally to handle the situation, sorting out the malfunctions in operations procedures that made this situation come about from the start. Also, cutting out any unnecessary expenses to bring production back up to its former levels, or even exceeding expectations. It would be duly noted in our books and the men responsible for it would not go unnoticed."

"We will not fail with this," Lionel said, standing up from his seat. "It must be flawless in the eyes of the public and government organizations from inception to finale." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his sunglasses. After settling them on his features, he faced the rest of the conference, "Make it work, we'll be counting on you."

The meeting concluded effectively with that final provided incentive from the boss of the multi-national corporation himself. Their discussions, and the reception of the records for them to go over personally themselves had all went over well and Lionel was pleased. Lex nodded courteously to the other men in the room before turning to his father's waiting form. Lex held out his arm for his father, "Dad?"

Lionel let a smile crease his face as he grasped onto his son's arm, being guided out of the room. Father and son quietly discussed the day's events concentrating mainly on the meeting, making their way downstairs. As they entered the public eye, their conversations drew to a halt, unwilling to have others listening in. After getting into their waiting car, they settled in for the drive back to the hotel.

@>*~

Once again guiding his father through the halls, they made it back to their room. Unlocking the door, he guided Lionel through, locking it behind himself. Still guiding his father through the room they made their way around the apartment, which was already becoming very familar. The first time he had seen it, he had thought it so small compared to the castle but gradually he became use to it until the two bedroom apartment became that second home away from home. Not that anything would replace the castle but while here in London it would have to do. Really it wasn't that bad. It had a small kitchen area, the living room area was nice and big enough to also suffice for a temporay office when matters such as this required attention away from the rush of the corporate office. Several couches lined it making it a comfy place for relaxing or for entertaining, not that he and his father had done much of that so far. His father's grip on his arm tightened as they neared his room where it lay on the otherside of the living area. Opening the door he left his father there knowing the old man could find his way now.

Some decorative modern furniture speckled the apartment, and no hotel room for Luthors would be complete without a bar, located along the other wall, near the door to Lex's assigned bedroom. He made his way purposefully towards it, leaving his father to blindly search his way to the couch. No pun intended.

"You know," he began conversationally, allowing himself a lengthy pause as he made a drink for his father, carrying it over to the older man, who'd apparently found a seat for himself. Lex settled into one of the chairs before continuing, "Scotland isn't fully self-governing, nor is it a sovereign nation yet. We'd better not have a fuck up there, or else we'd have even more serious problems with possible conspiracy ideas from the Brits, or breech of trust agreement law suits."

He sipped his drink, letting it coat his taste buds, and making a calculating expression grace his face before swallowing, seemingly approving. "Oh, Lex," he passed off the threat of what Lex had pointed out to him, "Don't worry. I'm ... proud of your efforts today in handling the situation." It sounded almost strained, but the fact that he had said it, and even more so that it seemed strained, was all the more reason to lean towards believing it.

"Although, now we should accompany the metals to Edinburgh. I think it would be best if we stayed in London, but made short trips over to make sure it's being set up correctly. We have no room for error on this project any longer." He was already irritated at this minor setback. He would be utterly angry if this fell through his fingers.

"Thanks, Dad," Lex replied, almost taken aback by his father's praise. He'd sought it for most of his life, but he had been hearing his father's approval more than he'd ever had in his life during the past year or two. At least it seemed to be a step in the right direction for their relationship.

Silence descended on them, before Lex decided to make a move. "You alright out here?" He asked his father, before continuing, "I'm tired and distraught and in need of rest. I'm sure you can fend for yourself while I have a nap."

"Oh, yes. Yes." He said, his voice riddled with irritation at being looked after, as he swatted the air in Lex's general direction. "Go ahead," he continued more gently, not so much dismissing his son as acknowledging his departure from his company, "I'll be fine." Lionel wasn't secure with his loss of vision yet, but he was getting better, especially around Lex.

Lex was the only person he trusted not to stab him in the back, even considering the ups and downs of their relationship thus far. Well, that wasn't exactly true. He knew Lex could be ruthless in business at times, but to over throw his own father, or have the company given to him; which would he choose? It would be a better option for them both if they kept the Luthor tradition of handing down the company. If Lex ever had any doubts about not being the heir to the billion dollar fortune of Lionel's, he need not worry.

Lex rolled his eyes at his father before excusing himself fully, going into his own room and locking the door. Now that his father was blind, he wasn't exactly going to worry about Lionel walking in on him, and seeing him nude in the slightest. Not like he would have cared before either way, but, you know.

He sighed, lying back on his bed. He'd been there all day, plus the time difference making it seem like he'd been there for a week, and he felt tired. To add to it, he hadn't even called Clark. He groaned. Not because he didn't want to talk to his boyfriend, but because he wouldn't want to get off the phone. Even if he was a multi-millionaire, he didn't want to rack up a huge phone bill for calling back to the United States.

He scoffed lightly, thinking that when he became president, he'd make sure he got free phone calls. Just so he could call Clark whenever he wanted to, from wherever he was. He sighed again, just imagining that Clark was sitting at home, glaring at the phone, daring it not to ring.

He would bet that his younger lover would sit up all night waiting for his call, but since he'd promised he'd call, he would. Wouldn't want Clark to glare so hard that he set the phone on fire by accident, would he? He was sure Jonathan wouldn't like that shock to his house's electrical system. Oh, Lex would pay for its repair, not as if Clark's father would take the offer.

Considering how the farmer was starting to warm up to him, it was a possibility that the older man would accept. Not that he wanted to have Clark set a fire on purpose just so he could use his money to spruce up the ol' Kent Farm house. He simply meant that he *would*, if it came to it.

Lex continued his musing on his relations with his boyfriend's father as he dialed the number to the Kents. Clark answered immediately, not even half a ring later with, "Lex?" Lex laughed into the phone still able to become amused at the teen, even in his physically drained state.

"What's so funny?" Clark asked defensively, a slightly confused pout crossing his features. Not like it would do him any good when his boyfriend was on the other side of the world, but he could still try.

Lex rearranged his body on the bed and snuggled down into his pillow as much as he could and still manage to speak coherently. "Nothing, Clark." He dismissed it, having been silly and unimportant. "How are you doing?"

Clark sighed into the phone before switching it to his other ear. "I'm doing okay," the pout sufficiently carried through with his voice, "I mean, it still sucks that you had to go, but I know why."

Lex frowned up at the ceiling as he listened to Clark's voice. "Clark, I told you this before," Lex never thought he'd reassure his lover enough with the rate they were going with this. "I'd have stayed with you instead of coming here if I had a choice, but unfortunately, I didn't."

"I know that, Lex," Clark replied, almost able to keep the whine out of his voice. He was trying; he was. It was hard with being away from him, though. "Let's not talk about it anymore. Anyway," he quickly changed the subject, letting his brain forget that they were a million miles away from each other. "How was your day? Jetlag caught up with you yet?"

"Like you wouldn't believe. I lost seven hours somewhere over the Atlantic. I feel like I've already been here for a week," he paused to let out a sigh, "And I'm beginning to rethink my career as a businessman after spending about two hours in a meeting."

Clark laughed. "Sounds fun." Even despite their separation, Lex managed to cheer him up and he was glad for it. He just hoped that he wouldn't slip back to his previous depressed state tomorrow.

"Oh, yeah. Oodles," Lex agreed sarcastically. "I'll make sure to take pictures to show you later."

Clark laughed again; Lex had said 'oodles.' "What time is it over there anyway?"

"Well, I'm about seven hours ahead, so it's about eleven here." Lex rolled over onto his side and glanced at the clock. Yep, it's eleven fourteen.

"Darn," he said before glancing down at his watch, "It's only four here. So, has your father been behaving himself?"

"Amazingly, yes," Lex replied, noting another quick subject change. "But it won't last long. I think the jetlag has gotten to him too. Tomorrow he'll be bitching and moaning about life in general again, I'm sure. How was school?"

"Same as it always is. Boring, homework up the wazoo and Chloe giving me the evil eye." Clark shrugged, and much like his pout, it wasn't carried through, leaving the motion pointless, but at least he knew he did it.

"Why'd she do that?" Lex asked, curious. He knew that Chloe had poked into Clark's life before, and it wouldn't be a wise decision to do it again, for her sake.

"Cause I was chauffeured to school," Clark said incredulously. 'Why else,' he thought, shaking his head. "She wasn't impressed, anyway. Plus, when she asked me about it, I told her I was seeing you off. I got the eye all day for it," Clark laughed, amused.

"Just be careful," Lex warned, and, yes, knowing that Clark didn't want to hear it, but it wouldn't hurt to say it again. "You don't want everyone knowing about us yet. Technically, you're still jail bait, so I could get into a lot of trouble. Even though your parents know we're dating."

"Lex, we only really dated for a week," he reminded his boyfriend. "Plus, we're..." He paused, swallowing. He tried to say it sometimes, but it just wouldn't come out of his mouth. "*Doing things*, now."

Lex chuckled quietly to himself. Trust Clark to make sex sound cute and adorable. "Yes, Clark, we are. But besides us and Pete, no one knows." It was just as well that no one *should* know. They both valued privacy and it would be terrible if it were to be invaded.

"I know that, Lex." The pout was back, and Clark really wanted to *do things* with Lex right now.

"Well, Love, I really wish I could spend all night on the phone with you, but we have an early meeting tomorrow and I'm very tired. I'll call you again as soon as I can, alright?"

"Aww, Lex," Clark whined, unable to squash his disappointment down, but giving in, because he knew he had to go. "Okay," he relented. "When?"

"I don't know, Love, within a few days hopefully." He hoped it wasn't too long. Days passing without some contact with Clark would majorly blow. "I love you."

"I love you too, Lex. Don't forget me now," he added, almost sounding worried.

"Never, Love," Lex said tenderly, making sure it wasn't taken lightly. "Talk to you later."

"Night, Lex."

"Good-night, Clark." He listened for the soft click that signaled the disconnection of the call before hanging up the receiver. After having undressed, he laid down in the bed, wrapping the covers around him, letting sleep claim his weary body.

@>*~

Clark woke up and stretched, groaning grumpily as he levered himself to a sitting position on his bed. He hadn't talked to Lex yesterday and it was horrible. School had been better, at least, but not by much. He grimaced at himself in the mirror above his dresser before trudging out of his room to the hallway. Martha, downstairs was glad that she didn't have to pull her son out of bed today. She knew he was having a hard time, though, but work had to be done. Glancing up at the ceiling above her when she he heard Clark's heavy footsteps around his room, she smiled and turned her attention back to her task.

The hallway being as far as he got and Clark stood leaning against the wall, bracing himself using his head. He didn't want to do anything but stay in bed today. He hiccupped softly when he pulled away from the wall before starting on his way downstairs. He didn't care about appearances this morning; he just wanted to eat and do his chores and possibly get a small nap in before school if he hurried.

Martha raised an eyebrow in passive attention to her son, hearing the steady paced footsteps stop in the hall. She frowned outright when she heard frantic stumbling back down the hall and seemingly into the bathroom. Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Clark threw the seat of the toilet up only seconds before what little he'd eaten the previous day came rushing up through his throat. When he finished, he let his head drop with an echoing thud onto the porcelain. Moaning as he felt his stomach acids churning around inside him and slowly burning their way back down his body.

He looked thoroughly more miserable when he actually made it downstairs than he had when he first got out of bed. He slumped down into his chair at the table, and looked at his mother, who had trained a concerned eye onto him and his hair that was sticking up at odd angles.

It wasn't that he felt ill because of throwing up, just that he had felt miserable already and the vomiting hadn't helped. Martha brought over the plate she'd dished Clark's breakfast up on, and set it in front of him before pulling out a chair beside him. Sitting down, she watched as he slowly pulled the plate towards him and ate at just the same pace, and all the while looking like crap.

It was too quick of a trip for Clark in the bathroom, and the only other deduction she could come up with was suspecting that he had thrown up. He hadn't mentioned anything about it, though, so maybe she was wrong? He just hoped he could get over it. Not wanting to alarm his parents, Clark didn't mention to his mother that he had just puked his guts out.

Never think you can slip something past your mother, Clark. Martha was paying attention; it was her job. He had become more moody in the last few days then he ever had before, even for a teenager and their typical mood swings. He'd never really been *this* type of moody before. Maybe he was just upset because Lex was away?

They had never been apart for this long before, at least not without more frequent phone calls. What they had in public was as close to dating as they could get in a place like Smallville, knowing that they couldn't be openly affectionate without causing problems with the law.

Jonathan reached the top of the stairs leading up to the porch in front of their house. Pulling the door open, he walked cheerfully into the kitchen, smiling at his wife. He had gotten an early morning start on the normal everyday chores that had to be done before he had even eaten breakfast. Glad that he'd done it; now he'd have time for more relaxing things. "Morning, Clark. Sleep well?"

Clark finished chewing the food he'd shoved carelessly into his mouth before replying, "Eh, it was okay." Martha added talking with a full mouth to the list of unusual behaviors her son had shown in the short time he had been awake.

His parents waited for more from him, but all Clark did was scoop more food into his mouth, almost simply complacent to ignore them for the rest of the morning. Jonathan eyed his son for a moment, frowning at the disheveled appearance he presented. "You know, sweetheart," Martha cut in when she saw that Jonathan was about to say something about their son's condition. "Lex will call again. I'm sure he's just been very busy."

Clark looked up at his parents to respond this time. His eyes looked tired and he seemed to be waking up a bit now that he'd gotten some food into him. "I know, Mom. It's only been two days since he last called," he tried not to let the hopefulness of another phone call from Lex show, but he failed. "I've just been a bit tired. I think I'm still getting used to him not being here, though." He sighed, finished with his breakfast, excused himself rather quickly and went outside to take care of his morning chores.

Jonathan followed Clark with his eyes until his son was out of the house and down the steps of the porch. Turning to his wife, he pursed his lips and let his forehead crease slightly before speaking. "Is it just me, or is something not quite right with him today?"

"I think he's just upset," she supplied her only explanation for the moment. She moved to clean up Clark's plate, taking it back to the kitchen and setting it on the counter beside the sink. "He'll get over it soon," she continued, pouring herself a cup of coffee and sitting down at the table across from her husband. "I hope," she added, taking a sip out of her cup.

@>*~

"Hey, Clark, wait up!"

Clark slowed his walk down the school hallway, which surprisingly wasn't too cluttered with bodies, and looked over his shoulder to see Pete a little further down the hall. "Hey, Pete," he said, sounding rather morose, but otherwise glad to see his friend. "What's up?" Perhaps there was some interesting news or gossip floating about that would improve his mood.

"You all right, man?" Pete looked at his friend, concern clearly written on his features. "You look like you haven't slept for days," he said, falling into step beside Clark.

"I'm fine," he replied. He had been saying that a lot lately, but it was a lie. Oh, well. Just another one to add to the web he was already weaving. "Just been a bit tired lately. You seen Chloe around?"

"Yeah, she's still in the Torch office going over next week's spread. Why?" Pete asked as he let Clark pass through the doorway before him, and following him into the class room.

"Just wondering," Clark shrugged before settling himself into his seat. "She said she wanted to talk to me. I don't know what about, but hopefully it's not about me and you know who."

"Yeah," Pete laughed. "She'd start asking you to set her up with interviews." Pete teased him about his relationship with the billionaire until the teacher entered the room and the class began. At least it drew a smile out of him, though.

@>*~

Clark walked down the hall towards the Torch office with a twinkie in hand. Since he had been feeling a bit nauseous earlier that morning, he hadn't been able to eat much at breakfast. It seemed his appetite was returning, now, and he was hungry. He'd caught sight of the vending machine from the corner of his eye, and was drawn towards it with a sudden craving for twinkies. After practically ransacking the machine of its content of all of the twinkies he could afford with his pocket change, he filled his pockets with what he couldn't hold in his hands. He turned and carried on towards the Torch to meet up with his friend.

After stuffing the rest of the confection made of nothing but sugar into his mouth, he crossed through the doorway and stopped right next to Chloe. She looked up from her computer monitor and smiled brightly at her friend. "Hey," she greeted him, swatting him playfully on the arm. "I'm surprised you actually stopped by; you've been avoiding me all week."

Clark fought the urge to look down at the floor as he scuffed his shoes against it. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I've just been busy with things at home and kind of got side tracked." She didn't look as if she bought it, but it was good enough for now. "So, what'd you want?"

"Well," she said, dismissing Clark and his never quite good enough answers, "I was wondering if you would hang out with me at the Talon for a bit. I need some coffee and a break from this stubborn article."

Clark set his bag down on the table in front of him and proceeded to rummage around inside for another twinkie. "Yeah, sure. Now?" He asked, unwrapping the small cake.

"Actually, I have to hand this other article I've completed in to Principal Reynolds before he leaves for the day. So, how 'bout I meet you there in, say, fifteen minutes?"

"All right, I'll see you there," Clark said as he tossed the wrapper into the waste basket and stuffed the twinkie into his mouth. After a small wave back to Chloe, he headed out the door.

Chloe watched him leave and shook her head in amusement when he was out of sight, turning back to her work. "I'm surprised he isn't as big as a house with all the junk food he eats," she muttered to herself as she walked out of the office and headed to the principal's office.

@>*~

Clark looked around, desperately trying to find an empty table once he'd gotten inside the Talon. It looked like the advertising for the two for one pricing had finally worked out for Lana. The Talon was unusually crowded for this time of day, especially since that whole mouse situation had run them all out of there a week ago.

Spying an empty table far back in the corner of the coffee shop, Clark readjusted his hold of the strap holding his back pack up on his shoulder. He made his way towards the table like a man on a mission. Just as he sat down in the booth and placed his bag on the ground next to his feet, he looked up to see Lana standing right beside him. He was slightly startled by the immediate attention he'd drawn. "Hey, Clark," Lana greeted him cheerfully. "What can I get you?"

He watched her stand there, waiting for his order with her pencil poised to write down his selection. "Um," he stopped to think for a moment. He hadn't been having a good time with doing that lately, and Lana wasn't helping. "Hot chocolate with triple whipped cream, please," he said, grabbing a napkin from the dispenser and fiddling with it. Chloe didn't help either, though.

Lana quirked an eyebrow at her friend and smiled. "Okay. One hot chocolate, triple whipped cream coming up," she said, smiling at him before turning around and heading back towards the counter to fill out his order.

Clark sat back in his seat, and let out a heavy sigh as he waited impatiently for Chloe to show. He didn't really want to stay at the Talon in case Lex called him tonight. He'd be *very* upset if he missed his boyfriend's call. It must have been almost ten minutes that he'd waited for his friend. It felt like it, at least. Just as he was about to give up and go home to sit by his phone, Chloe walked into the coffee shop.

He watched her look around for him and almost wanted to melt into the seat so she wouldn't see him. Darn, she saw him. Walking towards his table she plopped down into the seat opposite Clark and smiled at him.

"I almost thought you ditched me," Chloe said as she waved a hand towards the front counter, insistent that she draw Lana's attention.

Clark sighed quietly to himself and looked out the window to his side, rolling his eyes slightly. He really didn't want to be here right now. "Yeah, well. I said I would come and I did. What did you want anyway?"

"Like I said before," Chloe said, leaning forward onto the table between them. "I haven't seen you for a while and I wanted to spend a little time with my friend." Clark smiled tightly at Chloe before taking a sip from his mug of hot chocolate Lana had just set down in front of him. Chloe turned her attention from Clark to Lana. "I'll have a cappuccino, please."

Lana smiled down at Chloe before heading back to the front counter. Clark licked at a bit of whipped cream that had ended up on his upper lip. "So..." Clark began, raising an eyebrow at his friend and waiting for her to get to what she really wanted.

"So," she repeated, not particularly liking the defensiveness Clark was taking with her wanting to spend some time with him. Not caring whether Clark wanted to talk about what she did or not, she continued, "I want to know what's up with you and our resident billionaire."

Chloe frowned, concerned at the slight spray of hot chocolate that ended up across the top of the table between them. Clark coughed twice as he grabbed another napkin to wipe at his nose. "Chloe," he started firmly, "There is *nothing* going on between me and Lex. I don't know why you keep pushing this, or what you think you see, but we're just friends."

She didn't believe that for one moment, Clark realized, as she leaned back and folded her arms across her chest. "Uh huh. So, why'd you see him off to wherever he went if you two are 'just friends'?"

Clark sighed, feeling roughly between talking to a skeptical child, and simply wanting to scream. "Chloe, I'd have done the same for you or Pete if I wasn't going to see you for a long time," he said, taking another sip of his hot chocolate. Of course, he wouldn't have done it if they had left so early in the morning, but she didn't need to know that.

Well, she did actually believe what Clark had just said. She wasn't entirely buying his front, though. It was too defensive. "Right." Terse, but she didn't know what to say now. Clark remained seated with her in tense silence until he finished his drink. He said good-bye and waved to Lana courteously before he left the Talon. He had some phone watching to do, waiting for Lex to call.

@>*~

Lex sighed as he relaxed into one of the sofas that adorned the room. His father decided he'd have dinner without his son, so Lex was now free to work in peace. Lionel was with an assistant, so he'd be fine. The older man didn't want to spend the time joined at the hip as much as Lex did, so that was good. If it kept going like this, with Lionel not even with him, why was he even there? He'd be damned if he was going to spend the trip *actually* tagging along with no real purpose when he could be at home with Clark.

Setting his computer down on his lap, he started it up and signed into the wireless network. All of his computers were still wired into the LuthorCorp network. Maybe he should change it over to LexCorp? Though his father still owned and operated a lot of things in his life, if he didn't have to pay for internet service, he wasn't going to. It was no threat to him being on the same network as his father at the moment, so no worries.

Online, Lex logged into the LuthorCorp mainframe computer that served so many connected terminals simultaneously in the large complex organization that was LuthorCorp. He entered his user name and password, completing his access to the super user level, and opened the technical report on what went wrong with construction. Lex settled in to read, and he was just getting comfortably into it. Well, as much as you could comfortably get into this sort of thing, when he was interrupted by a little bloop signaling that he had received a new email.

Curious, since he barely ever got email that he wasn't expecting, he put his reading on hold and went to check the message. It was from Clark. He smiled and opened it.

'Dear Lex,

I really hate you right now. Leaving me here while you're off doing business and I'm stuck here alone and bored. Before you remind me about my age and school stuff, I just wanted to tell you I know all this already. I'm still mad at you, though. :o( Nothing much is really happening except I'm lonely without you here. You know this really sucks, right? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I still miss you and I'm here counting down the days until you come back. I love you lots!

Love,
Clark.'

Lex grinned at the message on his screen. Clark always managed to cheer him up, from his silly innocent smiles, to his dorky emoticons in his emails. He pressed the reply button and began his return message to his boyfriend. The two previous nights were good with the phone call to his boyfriend right before he went to sleep. He had been wondering when Clark would realize he could send email after email to him at any time.

@>*~

Clark exhaled the deep breath he'd taken as he leaned down against the fence post. He was trying, at least. His normal chores had gone okay, along with only minor complaining. Now he just couldn't concentrate. Jonathan had been looking at his son out the corner of his eye, wondering what was up with him. Just when he decided he'd ask what was bothering Clark, his son turned to him. "I'm gonna go to the house. I gotta pee," Clark said, almost desperate for an excuse to leave. His father nodded and he briskly made his way towards the house.

Clark watched until his dad wasn't looking before he changed course and zipped into the barn, and up to his loft. They were almost done with the work anyway, so Jonathan just shook his head when his son hadn't returned yet; knowing that Clark had been moody and lazy lately. He let it go even though that sort of attitude didn't belong on a farm with work to be done.

Lying on his couch in the loft, Clark balanced a plate of cookies on his chest. His mother had brought them up, attempting to lure him into conversation with them. He wasn't falling for it, though. He'd accepted the sugary goodness and shooed his mother back to the house. Martha had just frowned and tsked at him before reluctantly leaving. She had wanted to talk, but apparently he didn't.

Unaware of how late it had became, his quiet time was interrupted by footsteps coming up the stairs to his loft. Had he drifted off to sleep? Seeing Pete walking towards him when he opened his eyes, he wiggled himself back to sit up more.

Pete began to laugh, "Look at you!" He said, gesturing to his friend. Clark had the plate, now empty, and cookie crumbs scattered around his chest. He looked down at himself and absently brushed at them.

"What?" He asked, sounding almost angry to Pete. His friend shrugged and sat himself down on the chair at Clark's desk. Clark frowned at his friend when he didn't receive an answer, but he was drawn back to the plate in front of him. Martha had noticed he was craving more sugary things, and even if they weren't healthy for a normal person, that much sugar certainly wouldn't hurt Clark. If there was anything she could do to make her son happy, it was give him sugar.

Clark lifted the plate, checking to see if any cookies had migrated under it. He sighed forlornly when he realized he'd really eaten them all. He set the empty plate down on the floor and sat up. Looking to Pete, who was watching him incredulously, he asked, "Will you get me some more cookies?" He almost let the puppy dog eyes loose, but remembered this was Pete he was talking to.

Again, Pete laughed, drawing a slightly upset frown out of Clark. "What's with you?" Pete asked, leaning over to punch Clark in the shoulder playfully. Clark felt like he was sulking but he didn't care. He crossed his arms over his chest; Pete was laughing at him.

Okay, confusion had dawned. Pete cocked his head and looked at his friend. Clark had been acting weird at school ever since Lex had left, and it was beginning to be a little extreme. Being a moody teenager was one thing, but this was bad.

"You all right, man?" Pete asked, more concerned this time, he just hoped there were no meteor rocks around, maybe purple ones, that were making Clark act differently.

"I'm fine, Pete!" Clark snapped, "Now go away." Pete's eyebrows climbed high as he witnessed a moody and frustrated Clark flop himself back down on the couch.

"Alright, dude. See you at school," he wasn't going to argue with a moody Clark, or hold it against him. As he made his way down the steps, he just hoped this would pass and he'd have his normal friend back. At least as normal as Clark ever got when he wasn't acting like this.

Clark sighed into the pillow at the end of the couch and shut his eyes. Okay, so he'd basically told Pete to fuck off. That wasn't good, but he didn't really care right now. All he wanted to do was lay on his couch and eat more cookies.

@>*~