Green

Green

Flora Winters

I do not own Smallville.

Summary: Something bad is going down in the small town of Smallville and it’s all Lex’s fault. He has always been too curious for his own good. If only he had not tripped and fallen that day while snooping around the Kent farm when the elder Kent’s were out of town and Clark was at school.

Chapter 4

Lex was sitting in his study listening to the thunder outside while looking at some things on his laptop. He loved whenever it stormed in Smallville. He sometimes even fantasizes about rolling around on the wet grass with a certain farmboy while the heavens rage above them. He was running over some Luthorcorp documents when his phone began to ring. He picked it up to see that it read Farmboy.”

“Hello,” he answered while getting up from the computer to get himself a blue bottle of water.

“Hi Lex,” Clark said a little sadly, “It’s Clark.”

Lex snorted, of course it is, “Hello Farmboy.”

Clark rolled his eyes, “Remind me to punch you the next time I’m allowed to come see you.”

“What do you mean,” Lex asked a little confused, “When you’re allowed to come see me again?”

I’m grounded, “Clark groaned.”

“Grounded?”

“Yeah,” Clark said rolling over on his bed.

“What’s that?”

“Its where,” Clark started and then realized Lex was playing with him, “Oh shut up! You know what grounded is.”

Lex laughed while he struggled with phone in hand and trying to get the bottle open at the same time, “Sorry Clark,” he said finally getting the damn thing open, “What did you do?”

“I got caught in the pool at school.”

Lex stopped for a minute, “And the big deal would be?”

“It’s off limits,” Clark said sadly, “When class is not in session.”

Lex snorted, “That has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.”

“Well,” Clark said, “It was being grounded or getting suspended which would have made my parents kill me.”

“Suspended?”

Clark pinched the bridge of his nose, “Yeah.”

Lex could not believe what he was hearing. How dare some stupid bitch try and suspend his farmboy, “Do you want me to pull some strings?”

Clark’s eyes went wide as he looked at the ceiling, “Lex,” he said warningly.

“I’m kidding,” Lex laughed.

Clark sighed heavily, “What are you doing?”

“Checking some orders,” Lex said but was standing at the window watching the lightning strike overhead, “Why?”

“I just thought that I would sneak out my window and come see you,” Clark said.

Lex could not believe his good little farmboy had just said something like that. Clark was becoming the regular little rule breaker. Maybe he really was being a bad influence on the boy. Even though Clark’s little plan sounded very delightful Lex had to take the high road, “I don’t think that would be a good idea Clark.”

“I might as well do something,” Clark joked, “To make me deserve to be grounded.”

“How about this,” Lex told him, “You play nice and when Friday rolls around you get down on your hands and knees and beg your parents to let you come to Metropolis with me.”

Clark’s eyes widened, “That sounds like a lot of fun,” he said, “But, what would we do?”

Lex laughed, “Clubs, women, drinking, drugs, and whatever the hell else we want.”

Clark’s mouth fell open in horror until he heard Lex laughing on the other end at his silence, “I’m just kidding Clark. Oh my god that was funny. I wished I could have seen the look on your face,” Lex howled, “We would go to an art gallery more likely then hang out at the penthouse and watch movies and play video games while ordering pizza.”

Clark closed his mouth because a fly almost flew into it, “I would like that a lot,” he said, “But I’m not sure even if I begged on my knees my parents would let me. They looked so disappointed. I never want them to look at me like that again Lex.”

“I know Clark,” Lex said while sitting down on the sofa, “Your parents love you so much.”

“I’m sorry Lex,” Clark said softly.

“Clark,” Lex asked, “Are you crying.”

“No,” Clark said sniffing back some tears, “I’m not crying.”

“It’s ok Clark.”

“No, no it’s not Lex,” Clark said, “Here I am, pitiful little Clark throwing his stupid teenage problems at you when you have so many of your own. You’re right, I should be grateful, at least my parents love me.”

Clark gasped when he realized what he had just said and at Lex’s silence over the other end, “I’m sorry Lex.”

“Don’t be,” Lex said blinking back some tears, “You are so lucky Clark. At least your parents care enough to ground you. All my dad ever did was slap me on the wrist and tell me next time don’t get caught. I would give up everything to have had parents like yours.”

Clark gasped, “You would give up everything?”

“To have parents like yours,” Lex finished for him.

“I had no idea you felt that way.”

“I look at you with your parents Clark,” Lex told him, “Your dad hugs you and means it. Your mom kisses you and it makes you glow. My mom did that once, but my dad was always so distant and uncaring.”

“I’m sorry Lex,” Clark said when he heard him sniff, “Lex, are you crying?”

“Yes,” Lex said and then smacked himself cross eyes, “No,” he blurted out dumbly, “Of course not. Luthor’s don’t cry.”

Clark shook his head while looking at his poster of some football player on his closet door, “I hate it when you talk like that.”

Lex blinked, “Like what?”

“Like you’re an evil son of bitch like your father,” Clark said without thinking.

Lex felt like someone had just slapped him across the face while punching him in the gut, “Clark Kent,” he all but yelled over the line, “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Clark snorted, “I’ll sneak over.”

“No,” Lex said sternly, “I don’t want you in anymore trouble.”

“But Lex,” Clark whined, “I’m bored.”

Lex rolled his eyes. He bet that insufferable farmboy was pouting with those damn puppy dog eyes on full blast, “I want you to have a good chance at going out with me on Friday.”

Lex noticed Clark’s silence, “To hang out.”

Clark kicked himself for thinking Lex wanted it to be a date, “Ok,” he said, “I’ll see what I can do. An art gallery does sound nice.”

“There will be lots of food,” Lex said, “So you can stuff that face.”

Clark snorted, “I love food.”

“I know,” Lex said, “If it was not for you most of the food here would go to waste.”

“Are you saying I’m a pig?”

“Yes,” Lex said, “That is exactly what I’m saying.”

Clark laughed out loud, “You are so mean to me.”

“What are friends for?”

Clark laughed and then shook his head, “I think I hear my parents, I need to go.”

“I will talk to you later,” Lex said sadly because he had to go.

“Yeah,” Clark said, “Goodnight Lex.”

“Goodnight farmboy.”

They each hung up the phone and just sat there with it to their ears and both of them whispered, “Love you.”

Lex closed his eyes and put his phone down on the seat. He got up to go pour himself a glass of scotch while Clark puts his head under his pillow wondering how the hell he was going to get his parents to let him go with Lex to Metropolis.

Jonathan and Martha had both been listening from outside the door the entire time. Martha had to stop Jonathan from trying to break in several times, especially when he had called Lionel a son of a bitch. He had never heard Clark talk like that before. He knew he was not allowed to use words like that. Then Jonathan had to smile as he thought, “Unless they were true.”

Martha smiled and he knew that smile. It meant that she had some evil plan in mind to make Clark never want to break rules again. He pulled her close to him and held her. They both knew they had raised a good kid who they both loved very much.

Lex was standing in front of the window holding the scotch to his cheek. The sky was really dark and the wind was blowing madly. He realized how alone he felt in this cold castle, but there was some small relief to know that he had Clark’s friendship to warm the place up.

He put his glass and down and left the room to go take a nice long bath. He really wanted to take a bubble bath. He had not had a bubble bath in years, and he felt like now was a good time to just put everything and hold and indulge him self. After all, he had kept Clark from sneaking out and breaking more rules.

The memory of his mother running a bubble bath for him came to mind which made him smile. She had been such a kind and tender woman who had loved him more than anything. The memory brought a smile to his face while he drew the water for it. He then picked up a fancy bottle and added the expensive formula to the water, and then removed his clothes.

He got into the big tub and the hot water chased the cold away. He completely submerged himself up to his neck in bubbly hot water. Memories of bubbles were all around him as he remembered how his mother would pick up some of the bubbles with her soft pale hands and blow them at him. He would squeal in delight which would make her laugh. He closed his eyes and pictured her smiling face as she sent waves of bubbles at him.

The hot water felt good and was starting to loosen his tight muscles. Clark came to his mind. He had that goofy grin on his face which made Lex weak in the knees. He really loved that farmboy. He let out a sigh, “If only.”

“Pitiful insect,” a dark feminine voice whispered.

Lex’s eyes snapped open, “Whose there?”

Nobody answered.

He looked around and saw that no one was in the room, and he had locked the door. His security would have informed him if there was an intruder. He must have been thinking so hard that the silence was playing tricks on him. He looked around once more to make sure and then went back to his thoughts.

Clark was smiling at Lex and helping him up on the rocks. His hands were so big, and he looked so cute when he was confused, his beautiful farmboy.

“Pathetic,” the voice hissed.

Lex stood up having water roll off him as he wrapped a towel around his waist. He stepped out the tub shouting, “Whose there?”

He looked all around the room, and there was nobody in there with him.

“Where the hell is that voice coming from the,” he asked himself.

“Within you,” the voice whispered.

Lex slowly looked up into the mirror at his own reflection. Lightning flashed and his reflection changed to that of the beautiful woman from his dreams. She was smiling coldly at him. He stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. He scrambled back up to see his own frightened face staring back at him.

He ran a hand over his wet scalp and sighed. Maybe he had been working too hard and needed a break. He quickly dried himself off and left the room to go to bed. He was feeling really tired and just wanted to sleep. He went to his bedroom and locked the door behind him.

He went to turn off the lights and decided he would leave them on. It was not that he was afraid of the dark. It’s just that he was afraid of what could be hiding in it.

Lex snorted, “Stupid castle with its stupid ghosts.”

Why couldn’t his dad ever buy anything normal?

He pulled the covers up to his neck and just lay there thinking. Soon after his eyes started to get heavy and sleep took him. He had been very right. There was something scary in the dark. In the darkness of his dreams a very beautiful face smiled.

Clark was really nervous when he made his way down the stairs to breakfast. He knew that his parents were really disappointed in him, but he really wanted to go to Metropolis with Lex on Friday. He was going to do everything in his power to make it happen to.

“Good morning sweetheart,” his mother said to him as he poured milk into a glass instead of drinking it straight from the carton. She winked at Jonathan who hid his face with the morning paper, “Morning son.”

Clark smiled at his parents and took the plate of food his mom with a thank you. His mom had made him the magical Kent omelet. Clark looked at his mom and she just smiled at him. He dug in and moaned, “Oh my god this is good.”

Jonathan put the paper down, “When you get in from school you will finish your homework, complete all your chores , and clean that sty you call a room.”

Martha made a light cough and Jonathan quickly added, “You will also clean the upstairs bathroom as well. It’s a mess. What do you do in there hurricane Clark?”

Clark bit back a snappy remark and said oh so very politely, “Ok dad.”

Martha smacked her arm as if a fly landed on it and Jonathan added, “And your closet.”

Clark closed his eyes, “Just think about Friday,” he thought to himself as he said, “Ok.”

“Now,” Martha said, “Finish your breakfast. You miss the bus way too often to be healthy.”

Clark sighed and finished his great omelet. He hugged his dad bye and kissed his mom on the cheek before dashing out the door in a blur of blue. He got to the road just in time to see the bus pulling up. He heard Chloe scream, “Oh my god I won,” when he got on.

He looked at her, “What did you win?”

She quickly hid then ten dollars and smiled, “I won who could blow the biggest bubble.”

He cocked his head to the side, “But you’re not chewing any gum.”

“Well duh Clark,” she sighed, “I spit it out.”

Clark looked at her as if he didn’t quite believe her but decided to let it go. He sat down hoping that today would go by fast. He had to show his parents that he was not a ‘bad’ kid.

The bus pulled into the school lot and Clark followed his two best friends inside the school, “Mom and dad grounded me,” he told Chloe.

“My dad told me no phone, no car, no television, and no computer for three weeks,” she said, “I’m going to die Clark and it’s going to be your fault,” she said punching him in the back.

He play stumbled forward and then doubled over in pain. Lana must be close.

Chloe looked at him with concern, “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

“No,” he said looking really pale, “I guess breakfast did not agree with me.”

Pete laughed, “You always get sick in the mornings,” Pete said, “What does your mom feed you?”

Clark grinned through the pain and snapped, “Nosy people who ask too many questions.”

Pete rolled his eyes and told them both later. He spotted some hot chick and had to go frisk her. They both watch him run up to her and she smiled and took his arm. Chloe shook her head, “How does he do it?”

“Magic,” Lana said as they both turned around to see her smiling, “Hi Clark.”

Clark smiled, “Hi.”

“You look a little green Clark,” Lana said, “Feeling ok?”

“I’m fine,” he said, “Just a little tired.

She frowned, “I’m sorry,” and then looked at Chloe laughing, “Oh my god Chloe you were such a mess yesterday.”

Clark grimaced as he watched Chloe extend her razor sharp talons, “What do you mean mess?”

Lana leaned in and whispered completely oblivious to the danger she was in right at that second, “There’s this poster down the hall with you on it with your eyeliner running down your face.”

Clark wanted to super speed the hell out of there. He did not know whether from the pain of the necklace or Chloe. She looked like she wanted to eat Lana’s flesh and drink her blood.

Lana the cracked the hell up, “I’m just kidding Chloe,” she howled, “Pete dared me to day it.”

Chloe counted to ten, “Don’t kill her,” she chanted, “It’s not worth the blemish on your record.”

“Well, got to go,” she said, “Pete owes me twenty dollars. He said that I did not have the balls to do it. I sure showed him.”

She waved and walked off to find Pete. The farther that damn necklace went the better Clark began to feel.

Chloe gave him a look that made him want to pee himself right then and there. She stalked over to stand next to him, “I want them both dead.”

She glared after Lana and left Clark at his locker. The bell rang, “Crap,” Clark yelled, “I’m late!”

Lex woke up to find his bed sheets wrapped around him like a cocoon. He wiggled back and forth trying to get out but got to close to the edge and fell with a smack against the hard wood floor.

He laid there dazed and still trapped in the sheets. He carefully pulled himself free and got to his feet going over the past night events in his head.

It had been storming, Clark called, made plans for Friday, took a bath, saw a ghost, and that’s when the chills went down his spine. The ghost did look just like the woman from his dream. He thought that maybe he had had just a bit too much to drink and just hallucinated the whole encounter, but he only had one glass. Maybe there had been something in the water or in the air that made him go a little loco.

He decided to just give up on finding an explanation for his supernatural encounter for the time being and got dressed. He had a ton of work to do today and not enough time to screw around and worry about green headed ghosts.

He walked into his office and just sat down when his phone began to ring. He heard the doors open and in walked his father.

He looked up and cursed as his father laid a file on the desk, “What’s this?”

“It is a list of workers I want you to fire at the plant,” Lionel said, “Today.”

“Excuse me,” Lex said looking at his dad like he had grown a second head.

“You heard me,” Lionel growled, “Do not make me have to repeat myself.”

Lex looked the file over and simply said, “No.”

“You will do as I tell you son,” he said, “I am your father Lex. You have no choice or say in the matter.”

“It’s my crap factory,” he said, “I’ll do as I please.”

Lionel glared at his son coldly, “What did you just say to me?”

Lex threw Lionel’s words back at him, “Do not make me repeat myself dad.”

Lionel’s nostrils flared, “You got away with your little temper tantrum the other day son,” he said and promptly smacked Lex out of his chair with a closed fist. Lex fell to the floor with a thud. Lionel just stood there across the desk looking at his hand as if he had never seen it before in his life. What he just did, it sort of felt good.

Lex moaned from the floor and then wrath took over. He was about to get up when he felt something in him snap. It was like a gate had just been opened and green light flowed through, and he just felt himself float away.

“Lex,” Lionel called out from the other side of the desk. He blinked and Lex was sitting right back in his chair where he had been moments earlier. Lionel was a little spooked at how quickly his son had appeared. He had his eyes closed as if he was in deep thought.

“You brought that on yourself Lex,” Lionel said as Lex touched a finger to his busted lip and spoke in a language that Lionel could not identify.

Lex’s eyes snapped open and Lionel took a step back. His son’s eyes were the brightest green he had ever seen. They were so green they looked electric. His mouth dropped as he watched Lex’s busted lip heal as if my magic. A dark smiled crossed Lex’s lips.

He stood up and walked around the desk to look at the worm that dared to strike him. He stalked towards Lionel who noticed how his son was walking with a regal feminine grace.

He stopped a nose length from Lionel and be saw those unearthly eyes up close. This was definitely not his son. As if lighting had struck him, Lionel found himself being lifted off the floor by his neck as if he weighted nothing.

“Pathetic ape,” his son roared, “You dare to strike us!”

Lionel was thrown across the room as if he was a plastic toy. He hit the wall with a grunt and fell to the floor. He looked up to see whatever the hell it was glaring at him as if he was a mere bug. He shivered from the gaze it was giving him, “Lex?”

The creature cocked its head to the side that reminded Lionel of how a serpent looks at an egg, “He’s not here right now.”

Lionel slowly got to his feet, “What are you? Who are you?”

He gasped as he watched it glide across the floor only to smack him to the ground hard. Lionel rolled over to gaze into those electric green eyes. A cruel smile danced across its face and a cold voice whispered like a cruel wind blowing across a wasteland, “We shall give you to the count of five to leave this place,” it hissed, “Or, we shall remove your spine.”

Lionel’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“One.”

He got to his feet and ran out of the room.

“Two.”

He ran down the stairs almost falling.

“Three.”

Through the lobby he raced.

“Four.”

Lionel opened the door and ran into his son’s body with a scream as it leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Five.”

TBC