Oh, Such Pain

Oh, Such Pain
Flora Winters
I do not own any of the wonderful characters from Smallville or Pet Shop of Horrors.
Summary: A new pet shop has opened its magical doors in Smallville and its mysterious owner has his beautiful mismatched eyes set on wreaking devastation and mayhem on whoever sets foot within its threshold.
Pet shop of Horror/Smallville Crossover
M/M
Language
Chapter Two

Lex sat on his sofa trying to get some work done while Clark still slept in front of the fire. He tried to type and discovered he could not even begin to concentrate on his task. Something must have happened and Clark must have felt like this was the only place he could come to. The thought that Clark would still come to him even after all the trouble the two of them had been through with each other made Lex feel warm inside.

His attention was drawn away from his boring task when Clark suddenly rolled over and was now facing Lex. His breath caught in his throat when he saw how perfectly angelic Clark looked in his sleep. He watched Clark fumble in his sleep to scratch his nose and could not help but snort.

This was not a good sign. Clark had made him smile twice and snort all in a few hours without saying one word in conversation. He set his laptop down on the table and went to kneel down next to Clark. He decided that it was time that he woke his farmboy and got him home before his parents began to get suspicious that something might be up. Even though Chloe called them nothing ever escaped the notice of the Kent’s.

He reached out and gripped a golden shoulder that the t-shirt did not cover and began to gently shake Clark in order to get him to wake up. Green eyes fluttered open behind long dark lashes and looked at Lex in confusion until realization hit.

“Have a nice nap,” Lex asked in mild amusement at how flushed Clark looked.

Clark nodded his head and realized that he was half dressed and fought not to blush at how bold he had been earlier. How long had he been here? Was the storm over?

“Are you feeling okay,” Lex asked and Clark looked up at him and nodded looking a little timid as if he might bolt at any minute.

“I should call my parents,” Clark whispered and Lex stopped him by putting his hand on Clark’s chest.

“I had Chloe take care of it,” Lex told him and Clark suddenly looked like he wanted to cry.

“How long have I been here,” Clark asked in concern looking around trying to find a clock.

“About two hours,” Lex told him as he crawled over to stoke the fire.

“Two hours,” Clark thought to himself, “He let me stay?”

He looked over to see one of Lex’s servants walk in with what looked to be his jeans and he felt a strong pang in his heart. Lex has his clothes dried?

“Thank you Stephen,” Lex said politely, “Please put them on the sofa.”

Stephen did as he was asked and left the room in complete silence for Lex to ask Clark, “What made you come here out of the blue?”

“I don’t know,” Clark said and Lex turned from the fire to look at his sad face, “I missed you.”

“Missed me,” Lex asked in a snort, “You’re here every other day accusing me of some evil deed or cover up.”

“I’m sorry,” Clark said getting to his feet, “I’ll leave.”

He got up to put his pants on when Lex was suddenly on his feet as well, “I’m not asking you to leave Clark.”

“You didn’t have to,” Clark said while slipping his jeans on faster and more graceful than Lex had ever seen him move.

Lex was a little taken back by the bite in his voice. Clark looked stricken and he collapsed on the sofa with his face in his hands, “I just missed you.”

Lex just stood there in silent shock at how broken Clark’s voice was.

“You were my best friend Lex,” Clark said into his hands biting back the tears that wanted to escape their green prison, “What happened?”

Lex let out a long sigh and he suddenly felt very tired. He walked over and sat down next to Clark wondering if he was crying, “Secrets and lies.”

“I was asked today why I was not joining in the volleyball game with my friends,” Clark told him as if he didn’t want to hear that, “I told him they were not my friends.”

“You have tons of friends Clark,” Lex said while hiding his jealousy.

“No I don’t,” Clark said, “All I have is Chloe, Lana, and loud mouth Lois who I can barely tolerate for more than two minutes a day.”

Lex felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart for not being mentioned until Clark asked, “Have I lost you Lex?”

Lex cocked his head to the side and looked directly at him, “I’m right here.”

Clark slightly grinned, “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Lex said while gripping his shoulder affectionately and Clark seemed to glow from within, “My door is always open to you Clark. You are the one good thing I have here in Smallville that seems to keep me grounded.”

Lex had never thought in a million years that Clark would come to him, but he did. He thought it had all been destroyed when his dad told Clark about his “secret room” dedicated to the mystery that is Clark Kent. With the look of pain in Clark’s eyes when he turned to face Lex that day made him wish that poison had killed. Thinking he had lost Clark’s friendship forever hurt worse than any amount of poison ever could.

Suddenly Clark hugged him close and after a few seconds of shock Lex just melted into the warm embrace. It just felt as natural as breathing to be held in the arms of the one who brought him to life.

Clark reluctantly pulled away and smiled warmly, “I better go before my parents get suspicious.”

“Yeah,” Lex said while the both of them got to their feet, “I’ll call Chloe to come get you so it does not look strange that you come home by yourself when you’re suppose to be with her after all.”

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

“Does this suffice for your column Miss Sullivan,” Count D asked while offering her some more sweet jasmine tea of the highest quality.

“It suffices,” she said while politely shaking her head and gently sat the expensive looking tea cup she had been drinking out of down on the table, “Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you Count D.”

“My pleasure,” Count D told her with a secret smile that could kill if he chose and a polite bow, “This was very entertaining.”

Chloe smiled and petted the strange Q-Chan that was a very rare breed of rabbit and bat. She had no idea such a thing was possible but with genetics nowadays anything was possible.

“I have to be going,” she said when she looked down to see her cell vibrating with Lex’s number flashing, “It was a pleasure Count D.”

Q-Chan chirped and Count D bowed to her again and she did the same. He watched her walk out and smiled as Q-Chan fluttered over to perch on his shoulder, “Too bad I could not sell her anything.”

After a few minutes of straightening up the table he began to pour himself another cup of yummy tea. He reached over to pick up a delicious doughnut when he heard the bell jingle as another patron entered the shop. He cocked an eyebrow at Q-Chan and smiled evilly as magical incense permeated the air.

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

“So,” Chloe asked from behind the wheel of her car, “Care to explain why Lex asked me to lie to your parents for you today?”

After a few seconds of not getting a response she looked over to see Clark looking out the window as if he was mesmerized by the passing landscape. She elbowed him in the ribcage which made him yelp in surprise and he turned to look at her in concern, “What?”

She rolled her eyes and laughed, “You are so out of it Spaceman.”

“What is it,” he asked still thinking about Jason. How in the hell was he going to look at him tomorrow in gym?

“Why did I lie to your parents today,” she asked again.

Clark looked at her and realized that he really could not keep this to himself, “Pull over.”

“What,” she asked looking very surprised, “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to freak out and kill us when I tell you,” he said starting to get exasperated already.

“Okay,” she said pulling over to the side of the road into the gravel putting on the blinkers, “What happened?”

“Remember when I lost me cell phone today,” he asked and she nodded, “It was in the locker room in my locker.”

“You had me pull over for that,” she asked starting to put the car back into drive only for him to stop her.

“I discovered Jason in the shower crying,” he quickly said.

Than sparked her interest and she removed her hand from the gear shift looking at him with all ears, “Do tell.”

“He must have been in there for most of fourth period,” Clark told her as car passed, “He was really pink.”

“Get on with it Clark,” Chloe shouted about to bust.

“I handed him a towel and he wrapped it around himself,” Clark said, “And he started to get out with the power suddenly went off and he fell.”

“It spooked me to,” Chloe said, “And?”

“He fell into my arms and we both fell to the floor to lay there,” he told her and then he started to blush.

“What,” she asked seeing the blush.

“Hard,” Clark whispered.

“Yeah,” Chloe said, “Usually when you fall it is hard.”

“No,” Clark said shaking his head keeping his eyes hidden from her, “He was hard.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes at him and they slowly opened wide in realization, “Oh!”

“Yeah,” Clark said quickly, “That hard.”

Chloe ran this over in her head and the more she did the worse it got. Images of Jason trying to take advantage of Clark sped through her mind and the images just kept getting worse and worse. No wonder Clark had fled to Lex in shock.

“Did he try anything,” Chloe hissed like an angry cat, “Cuz I have my ice pick in the trunk.

“No,” Clark shouted, “Nothing like that!”

She narrowed her eyes in rage, “We’ll go to Lana,” she said looking to see if anyone was coming so she could make a u-turn, “She can hold him down while I kill.”

“Chloe,” Clark said quickly holding her by the shoulders, “He did not do anything.”

“Are you lying to me,” she asked really looking into his bright green eyes, “People in this situation tend to lie.”

“No,” Clark said, “I’m not lying. It was so dark we could not even see each other.”

“I thought he was into Lana,” Chloe said trying to calm down.

“She broke up with him today at school,” he said.

She shook her head, “Umm, wow,” she said, “No wonder he was in the shower.”

“He was sitting there under the hot spray of water with his knees pulled in tight,” he told her, “It was like he was trying to sink into the wall.”

“Snow Queen strikes again,” Chloe said, “Maybe she found out he wasn’t all straight?”

“No,” Clark said shaking his head, “It’s the Isobel problem. She needs space.”

“Wait,” Clark suddenly said and then asked, “What do you mean not all straight?”

“He might be bisexual,” Chloe said with a slight smile, “And likes you.”

Clark flashed back to the scene in the pool where Jason was floating really close to him telling him to come to him if he ever needed to talk. He thought Clark an outsider and wanted to befriend him, maybe. Him being bisexual would explain the erection, but why him? He was nothing to look at.

“What are you saying Chloe,” Clark asked looking up at her with soft puppy eyes, “Are you implying I’m “different?”

“I love you Clark,” she said taking his big hands in her small ones, “But you didn’t run through a storm to seek comfort from me.”

Clark took in a deep breath and turned his head away from her to keep a tear from falling. Chloe put a soft hand to cup his golden cheek and he whispered, “Please don’t tell anyone about this.”

She took his chin and turned his face so he was looking right at her, “I will never do anything to hurt you Clark,” she said while taking off her seatbelt to hug him, “No matter what.”

“I’m sorry Chloe,” he whispered sadly, “All these years letting you think,” but he was cut off.

“You were afraid of what people might say or do if they found out,” she told him, “You were protecting yourself from the ugliness that is in people to reject and harm that which is different.”

“You’re an amazing person Clark,” she told him, “And I’ll be here, there, wherever if you need me.”

He didn’t know what to say. He had never thought in a million years someone would be able to find him out. He had been so afraid of what people might do and yet Chloe still loved him. He just hugged her tight as a car full of students passed yelling at the top of their lungs at them, “Yeah!”

The both of them looked at each other and snorted. Chloe could not help herself, “So,” she asked pulling back out onto the road to head towards the farm, “Was he big?”

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

“Clark,” Martha said as she put dinner on the table just as he came walking in through the door, “Where have you and Chloe been all day?”

“You had chores to do son,” Jonathan said looking up from the tax books, “Was there some kind of trouble?”

“Smallville,” Lois called out as she came down the stairs in yet another of his shirts, “How was school?”

“Out, no trouble, fine,” he said looking to each of them and took a seat at the table.

“Have you ever thought of just wearing black Clark,” Lois asked, “I could even do your makeup.”

“Nice to see you to Lois,” he said sarcastically noticing that his mother was smirking at Lois’s comment while Lois took a seat next to him.

“Out where,” Jonathan asked putting the books away.

“We had a project to do,” Clark lied smoothly, “So we went to the library.”

“Library,” Martha asked looking at Jonathan in confusion, “Chloe said you were helping her with an interview.”

“At the library,” Clark said quickly said, “That was the project.”

That seemed to satisfy Jonathan even though Martha knew better. A mother always knew when their child was lying to their face and thinking they were going to get away with it. She and Clark were going to have a talk later.

Clark jumped when Lois suddenly sneezed out of the blue, “I thought you said you were going to keep the dog outside?”

Clark looked to see a big black German shepherd race into the kitchen to pounce on him. He went over backwards into the floor with the dog licking his face madly.

Jonathan started laughing as he looked over the table, “I changed my mind,” he said, “Thor is not destructive, just playful.”

“He is very well housetrained,” Martha said making sure he did not get near the food, “All he wants is attention.”

Clark was thrilled as he got up for the big dog to sit back. Clark cocked his head to the side and grinned goofily as he hugged Thor, “This is cool.”

“Right,” Lois sneezed with a sneer, “I’m dying here and emo boy is laughing.”

“Emo’s don’t laugh,” Clark said while playing with Thor’s pointy ears, “They’re too busy being depressed and talking about how their lives are one big black abyss of nothing.”

Lois sneezed again and looked at the elder Kent’s and Martha took pity on her and let Thor outside while they ate. Clark smiled to himself. He now had a secret weapon to keep Lois at bay when he wanted to be alone.

He crawled to his feet and picked his chair up. He smiled broadly at Lois who rolled her eyes as he went to wash his hands at the sink.

“Where did you get him,” he asked putting soap in his hands.

“The new pet shop while you were at school today,” Jonathan said, “From a Chinese man named Count D.”

“Really,” Clark asked thinking back to Lana, “Was there any contract?”

“Yes,” Martha said, “It was so strange.”

“What were the terms of the contract,” Clark asked taking his seat at the table again.

“No food from the table, give him lots of room to run around, and burn this incense,” Jonathan said.

“And if any of the terms in the contract are broken,” Clark finished for his dad, “The pet shop cannot be held responsible for any of the consequences.”

“Yeah,” Martha said setting down to dinner, “Which is why we let him when we have meals from now on so we wont be tempted to feed him.”

“You don’t really think something bad will happen do you,” Lois asked, “Even though I am glad he is out.”

“Human food is not healthy for pets,” Clark said, “At least that is what Pete use to say, but he always fed his dog cheeseburgers.”

Lois rolled her eyes, “That incense smells weird.”

“Funny,” Clark thought, “I like it.”

“Anyway,” Jonathan said, “You now have someone to keep you company out in the loft of a night son.”

Clark smiled, “Do I need to burn that incense out there to?”

“Count D provided a burner for the house and the loft,” Martha said, “And he told your father to come back for more incense when we run out.”

“Freaky,” Lois drawled.

“I’m just shocked you actually bought a dog,” Clark told them, “Out of the blue.”

“I went to check the place out,” Jonathan said, “And when he showed me Thor I couldn’t say no.”

“What did you think of Count D,” Clark asked.

“He was formal, polite, eccentric,” Jonathan said and then thought for a moment, “Very eccentric.”

“Dig in all,” Martha said.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Later that night Clark sat the strange looking incense burner down on his desk. He pulled out the little silk pouch that was filled with the sweet smelling incense and placed some inside the burner. He looked around for some matches and then rolled his eyes and used his heat vision. He took in a strong whiff of it and smiled while he watched Thor lay down next to the couch.

He was about to walk over and pet him when he heard someone walk into the barn. Thor got to his feet sniffing the air and Clark went to the steps to see in shock that Jason was walking up them only to stop where he was when he saw the large black dog.

“He’s not going to eat me is he,” Jason asked with a bright smiled hiding his fear not of the dog but of Clark.

“Not unless you give him a reason to,” Clark said reaching down to put Thor to let him know that everything was okay, “Thor is a good boy.”

“May I come up,” Jason asked while watching the dog and Clark nervously.

“Okay,” Clark said while turning to go sit on the couch and Thor followed to lie at his feet.

“I thought we should talk,” Jason said while looking around, “Nice place.”

“My dad calls it my Fortress of Solitude,” Clark told him starting to feel a very nervous, “What did you want to talk about?”

“What happened today,” Jason told him leaning back against the railing and then laughed nervously, “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“Would you like to sit down,” Clark asked showing him that there was plenty of room on the couch.

Jason nodded his head and slowly made his way over as Clark said, “Animals know when you’re afraid.”

“He’s not what frightens me at the moment,” Jason said and then froze in his tracks looking as if he was suddenly lost, “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

He quickly turned to leave and Clark got to his feet, “Its okay,” he said, “I’m not freaked out or mad at you.”

Jason slowly turned around to look at him to see if he was lying, “Then why did you run?”

“I don’t know,” Clark said honestly.

“There must be a reason Clark,” Jason said.

“I got scared,” Clark said looking down at his bare feet, “I have never been in a situation quite as intense as that before.”

“I’m an outsider as you pointed out today, “Clark said walking over to look out his window, “Nobody ever sees me but my best friends and sometimes even they don’t.”

“I see you,” Jason said starting to get really nervous. What the hell was going on? Lana was right. Clark Kent is a fucking enigma. He knelt down next to Thor and started to pet him so the big dog would get use to him.

Clark smiled on the inside, “Why did you speak to me like that in the pool today?”

Jason looked up from Thor at Clark’s broad back and found that it was easier to talk to him this way, “You reminded me of myself,” he said, “Always alone and always being afraid that if people knew your secret they would turn on you in a heartbeat.”

“What secret,” Clark asked wondering if he was too afraid to hear the answer.

“I’m gay Clark,” Jason whispered but Clark heard him loud and clear.

“You dated Lana to protect yourself,” Clark asked wondering if he should be mad about that and then thought if he did then he would be a hypocrite.

“Yes,” Jason said sadly and then thought, “In more ways than one.”

“I can’t blame you,” Clark said, “I’ve done the same thing.”

Jason smiled slightly, “Depressing isn’t it?”

“I actually thought of going Goth,” Clark said trying to lighten the depressing atmosphere they had created, “But I thought it would be weird to actually ask my parents for money to buy makeup.”

Jason snorted, “Eyeliner is a bitch.”

“Seriously,” Clark asked in laughter, “I would poke my eye out.”

“Garters and fishnets are not fun,” Jason said, “They look good but tear and rip so easily.”

“You were Goth,” Clark asked trying to picture the now Jason Teague all in black and really pale makeup with eyeliner.

“Oh yeah,” Jason said, “Drove my parents crazy. What on earth would their snotty circle of friends think of such a thing?”

“I think my parents would flip out and never let me leave the farm,” Clark said.

“What’s that smell,” Jason asked looking around for the source, “Incense?”

“Yeah,” Clark said walking over to show him the burner, “The owner of the pet shop told my parents that this incense has to burn for Thor.”

“Strange,” Jason said eyeing the burner that somehow looked familiar and then looked back at Thor, “He is a handsome dog.”

“He is isn’t he,” Clark said watching Thor stretch lazily and wag his tail, “And he knows it.”

Thor barked and Jason laughed, “Yes, yes he does.”

“So,” Jason said turning back to look at Clark, “We cool?”

Clark grinned, “We cool.”

Jason got to his feet and walked to the stairs and turned back to look at Clark, “I’ll see you in class tomorrow then.”

“Yeah,” Clark said smiling, “See you.”

“See you, Clark,” Jason said and left the barn.

Martha stepped out of the shadows with silent tears in her eyes as she watched Jason leave. Her baby had been all alone with this for such a long time. She wanted nothing more than to run up those steps right now and hold him tight telling him that everything was okay. She knew she couldn’t do that because Clark was very sensitive about having his privacy invaded.

She wiped her eyes and made herself smile as she went up the steps to see Clark scratching Thor on the belly playfully, “Who my super dog,” he asked in a baby voice, “Who my super dog?”

Martha snorted and Clark looked up at her from his position on the floor, “Mom?”

“I came to say night,” she said walking over as he got to his feet so she could hug him, “And to say that I love you.”

“I love you to,” he said holding her tight, “Very much.”

She let him go, “Don’t be late for school tomorrow,” she said, “I have to open the Talon early so I wont be here to see you off.”

“I won’t,” he said as Thor licked his hand, “I’ll stop in tomorrow during lunch and say hi.”

“Night sweetheart,” she said petting Thor and then made her way back to the house.

Clark just stood there in his Fortress of Solitude not feeling so alone anymore, “Thanks mom.”

999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

“D,” Leon shouted, “Get the fuck out of here!”

“Leon,” D cried out, “Stay back!”

“Leave him alone you fucking bastards,” Leon shouted as he was thrown to the ground to be held down by two men.

“Leon,” D cried only to be silenced with a harsh slap to the face.

“You bastard,” Leon hissed.

“You brought this on yourself Count,” the man said and fired his gun right in Leon’s face.

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

D screamed as he watched that beautiful face explode into blood and bone fragments all in a matter of seconds. He shot up out of his bed with his beautiful eyes wide open in tears. His hair was blowing madly around his pale face like black whips as he fought to calm himself.

“Damn them,” he roared like a violent storm as thunder rumbled overhead, “Damn them all!”

TBC…

Flora Winter’s Playing Around Part Three

Leon: I fucking died!

Count D: Yes you did and all of humanity is going to pay for it.

Leon: You can’t blame all of humanity for what a few guys did.

Count D: I’m a God Leon. If I have to suffer all of humanity will suffer along with me.

Leon: (pouts)

Clark: (walks in and Count D and Leon hide behind a desk that magically appeared out of no where.)

Clark: My life is like a paper bag blowing in the winds of chaos.

Jason: I’m wearing my mother’s pants and my ass looks great.

Clark: I wake up every morning and wonder what does it all mean?

Jason: My lumps, my lumps, my lovely manly lumps.

Lex: Maybe you should go to the doctor and get that looked at.

Chloe: You might have cancer.

Clark: If only I could cut myself.

Count D: (whispers to Leon) Destroying them is going to be so much fun.

Leon: They’re just kids.

Count D: Your point?

Leon: Never mind. You’re beyond reasoning with.

Count D: I’m glad you’ve noticed. When a God sets his or her mind to accomplishing a goal nothing can sway them of track.

Leon: Who wants a chocolate covered strawberry?

Count D: (pounces and stuffs his face with yummy) Go on and review so I can thwap my dear Leon.

Leon: Don’t listen to him. You all know how crazy he gets when he has the sweets.

Count D: (thwaps) Review or I shall take my godly wrath out upon your mortal heads!

Leon: (slowly backs away from the enraged Count)