Chapter 8: The Plot Thicknes....
The next morning when Clark woke up he seemed to be in a melancholy mood, and he couldn't seem to shake it. The words and dismissal from Lex still played in his mind as he started at the laptop screen trying to the do the homework that his tutor had requested of him. He was brought out of his musing on why in the world he would need to remember that the current ambassador to Tokyo, Japan is Howard H. Baker, Jr., by the ding that notified him that he had a new e-mail in his inbox. Clark flipped the screen to see that it was his tutor.
From: Anothy.Giovanni@MetU.edu
Subject: How's it going?
Clark,
Haven't heard from you in a couple of days, is everything all right over there? Things here have been way crazy and for good reason too, it seems that there is some sort of battle between Lex Luthor and Lionel Luthor over at LuthorCorp. Don't know all the details but it should be good to watch, wish I were a fly on that wall. Anyway, I was planning to come over today after my last class, is this all right? Let me know.
Clark smiled a bit at Tony's words; his tutor had been a surprise to him when they had met. He had given Clark a once over and deemed him worthy of his friendship, friendship that Clark was going to desperately hang to for the time being.
From: Clark_Kent@KentFarms.net
Subject: RE: How's it going?
Tony,
A visit would be fine. Didn't know that you followed all things Luthor. Been busy trying to figure out why in the world I would need to remember whom the US ambassador to Tokyo, Japan is.
On a different note, I have a situation that I need you help in. A friend came to visit me yesterday, and it seems that they are disgusted with me or something, I was taken out and they just sort of ignored me the whole time, it hurt to know that they would do this to me. I just don't know what to do, should I still even worry about them or just sort of move on as they have so obviously done to me?
We can talk more when you get here.
See you in a bit,
Clark had a sad smile on his, at what he told Tony. He knew that Tony wouldn't judge him too harshly since he seemed to always be knee deep in some scandal or another. Clark was jarred out of those thoughts by another ding of the computer. There was another e-mail from Tony confirming that he was coming over. Clark worked on his homework until it was time for Tony to come and visit. Clark was jarred out of his thoughts about the square root of a number by the ding and bang of the computer and door to his room.
“Clark!” Tony said by way of greeting. Clark had to smile at how excited that Tony always seemed to be.
“Tony” Clark said with a small smile on his face.
“So let's just jump into the issue you wrote me about, and then we can move on to tutoring. How's that sound?” Tony said as he brought a chair next to Clark's bed.
“Sure….well I don't know why I got so….so….emotional about it all. I guess I should have expected what happened.” Clark said looking sadly out the window. Tony on the other hand was looking hard at Clark's profile and thoughts were flying through his head about the young man sitting on the bed next to him. Tony could tell that there was more going on then Clark was willing to tell him, but he would wait to make his move for the younger man, when the time was right, which it seemed it wasn't right now.
“Clark, look at it this way if they were your true friend they wouldn't care what you looked like or anything else like that. They would enjoy their time with you and from what I understand they do not enjoy their time with you. I would say let them go.” Tony hoped that with these words that Clark would move on from whoever was affecting the young man so.
“I guess you are right, mom said almost the same thing. It still hurts, you know? I just thought that maybe this was something more, I don't know I guess call me a crazy romantic at heart but I just felt that there was something more there.” Clark said blushing and looking sad at the same time. Tony was reeling from the information just given to him, he had an idea that Clark felt more for his “friend” than he was letting on, but to get this bit of information from the source like this was great for him. Two hours later, Tony Giovanni walked out of Clark's room with a huge smile on his face, being gay and being in the same room as Clark could always get parts of Tony's body hard. Tony was daydreaming of what he would do with the body that lay in the room he just left, when he ran into Ava.
”I'm sorry.” Ava gushed as she looked around the floor for someone.
“Are you looking for someone?” Tony drawled just a bit.
“Uh, no.” She mumbled while continuing to look around.
“Are you sure?” Tony questioned the young woman in front of him. He had seen her a couple of times down at the front desk, but couldn't decide on whether she was an employee or volunteer.
“Well since you asked……have you seen a guy by the name of Clark Kent?” Ava asked looking hopeful.
“I am Clark's tutor.” Tony had to shake his head at how stupid the person in front of him was.
“Really? Well have you seen Lex Luthor come in today at all?” Ava asked getting a big smile on her face.
“Now why would Lex Luthor be visiting Clark?”
“He is Clark's best friend, supposedly.” Ava said with a smirk. If she had her way they wouldn't be friends for too much longer.
“Really, Clark hadn't told me.”
Dr. Julie walking by them, giving them both the evil eye broke up the conversation. She didn't like the way that the two were talking, and with Ava and Tony one never knew who would get hurt in the end. She just hoped that it wasn't Cark. Clark on the other hand sat on his bed is a small but sad smile on his face. The words from both Tony and his mother ringing in his ears, he knew that he needed to decide if Lex was worth the pain that would eventually come from being the older man's friend. Clark had thought in the beginning that it would be a priceless thing, but the more he thought about it the more he wanted to just avoid the Luthor heir, Clark was brought out of his thoughts by Dr. Julie arriving to his room.
“Clark”
“Dr. Julie” Clark said with the same sad smile on his face.
“How was your outing, yesterday?”
“Oh well you know” Clark said as vaguely as he could.
“That good, huh?” Dr. Julie asked concerned. When Lex Luthor had walked into Clark's room like he not only owned the place, but also knew the person inside, she was a bit jealous of Clark. Lex Luthor was the sexiest man on the planet; well at least according to ‘People Magazine.' But when she saw the happiness that lit up Clark's face, she knew that she had to set aside her jealously and allow Clark to go with Lex, when it was her who wanted to go with the bald billionaire. Now things weren't looking too good for Clark, and that made the mother in her want to cry.
“Well” Clark said not really knowing what to say. He has seen how starry eyed she got when Lex was around, and telling her about what happened would only make him feel worse about the situation.
“Clark you can tell me. Patient/doctor and all that” Dr. Julie said, hoping that she could help the young man sitting in front of her.
“It seems that Lex was…disgusted with me or something.” Clark said with tears coming to his eyes once again. Damn he hated chemo; it made him so emotional over the most stupidest things ever.
“Clark are you sure?” Dr. Julie asked with concern in her voice.
“Yeah, pretty sure. When he doesn't even get off his cell phone with his father on the other side it is pretty clear to me.” Clark said crying a bit harder. For some reason telling this to Tony didn't seem like a good idea, but telling Dr. Julie it felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“Clark, well I must agree on that, but that doesn't mean that Mr. Luthor is angry and/or disgusted with you.” Dr. Julie said sitting on the bed next to Clark.
“I guess….” Clark said unconvinced that Lex wasn't disgusted with him.
“Look Clark just let things happen; maybe something really big is going on between the two of them. You know them better than I do, but this whole city knows that when Lionel Luthor wants something, he will get it regardless of who and what it affects. It could be something as small as Mr. Luthor being here in town and not telling his father, you don't know, so don't borrow trouble young man.” Dr. Julie said with as much confidence as she could muster, she knew that Clark was counting on her for this.
“You know, I think you are right, but I don't think that I am going to go out of my way anymore for him.” Clark said with a determined edge to his voice.
“Then don't, you do what you want and if Mr. Luthor is a good friend he will apologize and everything will be fine. Now you get some rest you aren't looking too hot.
Don't let this bother you, as I can see that it has.” With those words Dr. Julie walked out of Clark's room with thoughts on how to get through to Mr. Lex Luthor that he had truly hurt Clark's feelings. She realized while talking to Clark, that Clark had more than just friendly feelings for Lex Luthor if the hurt in his eyes was any indication. She knew that she had to be the one to bring to two together, but she just didn't know where to start. As she made her way back to her office she saw Tony sitting on some couches near the bank of windows that were near her office. As she glanced as him, an idea started to form in her head; one that she was sure would work. Now she only had to make sure that Ava stayed out of the way. As she headed Tony's way, she thought about how she would phrase her next few words so that Tony didn't suspect that she was planning to set up Clark and Lex.
“Mr. Giovanni, what a pleasure.” Dr. Julie said in a sugary sweet voice.
“Dr. J” Tony replied as he turned to address the doctor. A glint in his eye made its self-known, and Dr. Julie knew then that she had the boy at her back and call for Clark.
“So how is Clark?” Tony asked in a concerned tone.
“Oh as fine as can be considering his situation. I wonder could I ask a favor of you?” Dr. Julie said as he watched Tony's eyes light up with the prospect of a favor from her.
“Sure Dr. J, any thing.”
“I was wondering if you could try and take Clark out again in the next couple of weeks. I think that him being cooped up with no real way to go out is hurting his progress more than we know. So I was thinking that you could take him to the science museum around the corner.” Dr. Julie smiled and hoped that the next part of her plan would work, but she wasn't sure on how to get Lex Luthor to the museum at the same time as Clark and Tony.
“Sure thing, I think that they are even showing a movie and giving a lecture about the history of language which I am sure that Clark would like, if I am not mistaken.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea!” Dr. Julie gushed in what she hoped was a pleasing manner; if the smile on Tony's face was any indication then she had gotten it right.
“Well I will check and see when the movie and lecture will occur and ask Clark out then. How does that sound?” Tony said with a smile on his face, his chances to go out with Clark on a date making him a very happy man.
“You do that and in the mean time make sure that Clark gets plenty of rest while you are here. He has another treatment coming up and I want him in peak condition for it.” Dr. Julie said and she made her way to her office to set the next part of her plan in motion.
“Sure thing” Tony agreed and then made his way toward the elevators. Tony could only hope that Lex Luthor wouldn't be coming around anytime soon, so that he could run his plan to get into the young man's pants.
The next weeks days found Clark paying homage to the porcelain god due to his chemo treatment. He could only hope that things would get better soon, and with those thoughts came thoughts of Tony and the semi-date that he had with the college student. Clark couldn't believe when Tony came bounding in with a flyer about a lecture and movie about the history of language that would take place at the Natural Science Museum just around the corner from the hospital. When the words, “it's a date” came out of Tony's mouth, a grin formed on Clark's face, Clark had realized in his time with Tony and Lex, even though it was limited to Smallville, that maybe women weren't his cup of tea. Clark had to smile at the thought now, as he sat on the floor of the in suite bathroom, Lex would be shocked at the revelations that he had been coming to while in the hospital. One of the first being that he would stickup for himself from now on, he had gotten tired of the small group of people that he called “friends” walking over him like he was a doormat, the second thing was that he was going to go to college for something that he loved and that was languages. He had seen on a documentary on PBS one day, about a new and emerging field, called Archeo-Anthro-linguistics, Clark has been amazed at what Anthropologist and Archeologist could infer with just language about the past. It had taken Clark days to find a university that had the program and from there he had set him mind to becoming an Archeo-Anthro-linguist. His mom and dad couldn't have been prouder when Clark had shown them the college campus and the degree plan. With Clark's vast knowledge of languages, it would be the best degree plan for him. Clark was bouncing in excitement because the speaker was also the chairman and director of the department at the college, Clark couldn't wait to meet the man.
“Clark!” was yelled into Clark's room as he thought about the lecture that would occur in just a few days from now.
“In here” he yelled back, as he could tell it was either Dr. Julie or his mom. When the door opened a concerned face of Dr. Julie met his.
“Still not feeling well?” She asked concern evident in her face.
“Yeah” Clark said as another round began. Dr. Julie left the room only to return a few minutes later with a needle in hand.
“This should help….” she said by way of explaining things.
“Okay” Clark said as he stuck out his arm for her to stick the drug in his IV that seemed to be permanently attached to him. Dr. Julie placed the needle in the IV and made sure afterwards that the drug was doing it's job. As Clark rose from the floor, Dr. Julie saw this as the right time to see how Clark was feeling about Lex. It had been a few weeks since Clark had even spoken the name Lex Luthor and that was only in relation to the Cancer Center and the gala that they were planning for Christmas.
“So Clark, have you spoken to Mr. Luthor, lately?” Dr. Julie knew then that she had hit a sore spot for the young man when his face fell at the mention of his name.
“No” was Clark's response.
“I just wondered, since….” She really hated to say that Lex had stopped by to enquire about Clark's health and progress and didn't even speak to the young man in question, but she had to get her plan into action and the only way to do that was to get Clark so mad at Lex, that the next time he saw Lex he would explode in his face.
“Since what?” Clark asked in confusion, he had no idea on why he would speak with Lex now or even in the future since Lex seemed to have made it clear on how disgusted he was with Clark.
“Oh well, he stopped by the other to enquire about your health.”
“You didn't tell him anything did you?” Clark asked angrily, he just couldn't believe that Lex would do that to him.
“Of course not, that would break all sorts of rules and I like my job.”
“Oh, okay then. Do you know why he asked and didn't come to visit me?” Clark asked hurt, he had tried to get over Lex but it always seemed that as soon as he became okay with not speaking to the older man he would do something that would make Clark think of him again, and that was one thing that Clark didn't want to do, was think of Lex again.
“He said something about having a meeting and was just stopping by, I didn't even think that he didn't stop in to say hello to you. I did think it was odd though that he asked about your health, but didn't think anything of it. Sorry about that.” Dr. Julie said trying to hold in the smile that she was wanted to beam at Clark. Everything was working out well so far, if Lex had taken the hint that Clark would be at the lecture in a few days time, things would be smooth sailing from then on in.
“It's okay, I just didn't think he even worried about me anymore.” Clark said with a small sad smile on his face. He was happy that Lex was worried, but also sad that Lex didn't come and visit him.
“Well let's change the subject, so I hear from Mr. Giovanni that you are going to a lecture in the next couple of days. What's it about?” Dr. Julie acting interested.
“Oh, about the history of language, Dr. William DuCane from Brown University is going to give the lecture. I just can't wait!” Clark said with as much as excitement as a kid in a candy store.
“Well I hope that you have fun.” Dr. Julie said bemused by the fact that Clark was so excited about something that most took for granted. She hoped that he would enjoy himself.
“I plan to, I have been writing Dr. DuCane about his lecture and the university for about a week now and I just can't wait to meet the man.” Clark said as he sat on his bed and smiled at his doctor. He was so glad to be getting out of his room and to go to something that he would truly enjoy that he didn't know what to do with himself. The next few days flew by for Clark, he couldn't seem to sit still with the excitement of upcoming lecture. Little did he know that Lex Luthor was thinking the same thing about seeing his best friend again.
The day of the lecture dawned clear and cold, as the Kansas winter had begun to take hold of the state, with it's cold. The early morning sunshine was an indicator that today would be a good day for going out. Clark sat in his bed looking out of his window with a smile on his face; today would be the first time in weeks that he would be allowed out. Clark was jarred out of his thoughts by Dr. Julie calling his name.
“Clark, glad to have caught you.” She said as she made her way into the room.
“Dr. Julie” Clark said as he shifted in bed a bit.
“Are you ready to go today? Not feeling bad or anything like that, right?” She asked hoping that Clark would still be going.
“I feel pretty good.” Clark said as he made to get out of bed.
“Don't get up on my account.”
“But it is almost time to go, what should I wear?” Clark said laughing a bit. It felt so good to act almost normal for the first time in a while. He had thought that when Lex came to visit that he would relax Clark, but that had been a complete wash.
“Well that fashionable flannel plaid is all the rage now, how about that?” Dr. Julie said laughing as well.
“You are so in luck.” Clark said as he pulled out the one flannel shirt that he had from when he checked in.
“Well there you are, go and get ready. Mr. Giovanni will be here shortly.” Dr. Julie said as she made her way down the hall and to her office to check in on Mr. Lex Luthor and his whereabouts. Clark got dressed in silence, thinking about the outing that was about to occur, he was jarred out his thoughts by a knock on the door.
“Come in!” Clark yelled from the small in suite bathroom.
“Clark?” Tony called out in to the main room of the suite.
“In here, be out in a second” Clark said before opening the door to the bathroom showing Tony his first glimpse of Clark in normal clothes. Tony's mouth dropped open at the beauty that stood before him; even with no hair Clark was a work of art. His broad chest covered in red flannel and his long legs encircled in jeans. Clark blushed red at the look of appreciation he got from Tony.
“Tony” Clark said trying to not bring attention to the situation any more than he had to.
“Clark, you look good but you need a hat.” Tony said as he made to look for a hat and get his hormones under control. Clark chuckled a bit before pointing out the black beanie on the bed.
“It's there…” Clark said as he walked over to the bed and then put the beanie in question on his head.
“Duh” Tony said blushing for the first time in years. There just seemed to be something about Clark that made him act like a teenager again and that was something he was beginning to like.
“Ready to go?” Clark questioned while he shifted foot-to-foot. He was really beginning to like the attention and time that Tony had been spending with him lately, and he didn't want to mess things up by being too “high school” as Chloe would have termed it, if she would have been present.
“Yeah let's get going; we gotta take the subway. The entrance is just down the street.” Tony said walking out of the room with Clark right behind him. They both ran into Ava at the entrance to the hospital.
“Clark” Ava screeched reminiscent of Lana Lang back home in Smallville.
“Ava” Clark said eyeing the door.
“Have you seen your friend lately? And where are you two off to?” Ava said grabbing hold on Clark's arm.
“I don't know who you are talking about and Tony and I are going to a lecture at Baker University.” Clark said removing Ava's grasp on him.
“Oh well then” Ava said angry that Clark didn't seem to understand who she was talking about and that he wasn't going to see him today.
“Gotta go” Tony said pulling Clark with him out the door before Ava could even utter another word.
“Thanks” Clark said as they made the short walk over to the subway entrance/exit to ride to Baker University.
“What's her deal, and who was she talking about? That friend that wasn't too great to you when them came to visit?” Tony said his curiosity getting the better of him.
“She has been like that since I got here and that is the same friend. I don't really want to get into that today, okay?” Clark said looking down at his feet as thoughts of Lex popped up in his head.
“It's fine Clark, just wondered. She just seemed awfully interested if you had seen them so I thought maybe she knew them. No worries, man.” Tony said patting Clark on the shoulder, and about moaning from the strong body beneath his fingers. The ride to the East side of New Tory was short, and the boat ride to Hell's Gate, left Clark with an overwhelming urge to vomit. Clark was glad when he stepped off the boat and onto the light rail train car, to get his baring back. The light rail ride was over quickly and it dropped Clark and Tony off at the main entrance to the university. They then walked to Rice Auditorium, where the lecture would be held and afterwards the meet and greet would be held at the Science Museum next door. When Clark walked in he was amazed at the amount of people milling around the auditorium looking for seats.
“Why so many people?” Clark asked as he followed Tony down the aisle to what Clark could only imagine were their seats.
“Quite a few classes here and at MetU are giving extra credit for coming and listen to the man speak.” Tony said getting comfortable in his seat.
“Oh, okay then” Clark said looking around the auditorium again before turning around quickly to face the front. Tony noticed and question Clark as to why.
“Something wrong there, Clark?” Tony said concerned that they would have to cut their visit short.
“Oh no, yeah …I mean I don't really know. That friend I was talking about is here.” Clark said trying to become invisible, it wasn't working because soon after Clark spoke the words, a bald headed man came down the aisle to sit next to Clark.
“Clark” Lex said moving past Tony and eyeing him in distaste.
“Hey” Clark said not even making an effort to get out of the way for Lex.
“Something wrong?” Lex said hoping that he and Clark could talk about the last time there saw each other. Things had not ended the way that he wanted, due to his father calling and being his royal pain in Lex's life as per usual.
“No” Clark said shortly to Lex, hoping he would get the clue that he didn't want to talk to the older man.
“Clark we will talk, there is something that I have wanted to talk to you about from my last visit.” Lex said getting as comfortable in his seat as he could. He noticed that Clark had yet to take off his jacket, and became concerned.
“Clark why don't you take off your coat?”
“It's okay” Clark said deciding on whether or not to listen to Lex or not. The overwhelming heat of the jacket won to listen to Lex, so Clark was soon shedding the jacket.
“Flannel” Lex said smirking at Clark. Clark had to smile a bit at Lex's word. He did always seem to brighten Clark's day any time he was around. Tony watched his all with envy in his eyes. Clark was to be his, not this loser who thought that he was a wannabe Lex Luthor with his baldhead and what looked like an expensive suit. Before Tony could comment on the man's wannabe status the lecture began, with Clark hanging on to the lecturers every word. Lex and Tony both could only smile at the happiness that was coming from Clark due to the lecture. The lecture soon ended with Dr. DuCane excusing himself to the museum where people could mill around the new exhibit and speak with the speaker himself.
“Clark” both Tony and Lex said at the same time. Lex sneered at Tony, and wondered why the guy would even bother with trying to talk to Clark. It was obvious to Lex that Tony wasn't interested due to him sleeping the whole lecture.
“Go ahead” Lex said still thinking that Tony was no someone Clark needed to be friends with, something about the young man rubbed Lex wrong.
“Clark do you think you are up to talking to the guy or do you need to go back?” Tony said trying to sound concerned, but it came off as something totally different. Clark frowned at the angry tone in Tony's voice, and had to wonder if it was directed at him or Lex.
“I was planning to talking to Dr. DuCane, I made plans to speak with him last week.” Clark said grabbing his coat and standing up. Tony curled his lip in distaste at having to stay at Baker University any longer, due to its location and high tuition only the super rich and super smart could come here. It had been a dream of Tony's as a small child to come to Baker University for his psychology degree he was now working on at MetU. Clark never noticed the disgust that was written on Tony's face, but Lex did and didn't like it one bit. All three men walked out the auditorium and over to the museum in quick steps due to the cold.
“Cold?” Lex asked eyeing Clark's body as he shivered due to the cold.
“Yeah” Clark said rubbing his arms with his hands.
“How about I get you some hot cocoa and you can find Dr. DuCane.” Lex said waiting for Clark to veto or not veto the idea.
“Sounds great” Clark said as he then made his way over to a small crowd of people talking to Dr. DuCane. Tony on the other hand followed in Lex's wake.
“Excuse me” Tony said his anger and distaste coming across perfectly clear.
“Yes?” Lex said eyeing the man while he continued to walk to the bartender's booth to get Clark some hot cocoa. He would have to have a talk with Susannah, his cook, to make Clark some homemade hot cocoa, which the boy loved when he visited the castle.
“Who do you think you are?” Tony hissed as they stopped at the booth for the cocoa. What Tony did not see was the bartender pale in recognition on who he was serving.
“I think that I am Clark's friend, and you would be who?” Lex said before turning to the bartender to order Clark's cocoa. Tony barked a laugh at the absurd way the guy in front on him was acting. It was one thing to dress and look like Lex Luthor, but is something else to try and act like the man.
“Tony Giovanni” Tony said with a hint of pride in his voice. In Queensland Park's little Italy, his family ran the area.
“Ah” was all Lex said before grabbing the cocoa and making his way toward the towering figure that was Clark Kent.
“Hey” Tony said grabbing Lex by the arm, which made the people around him gasp quietly and start to whisper at the audacity of the young man to lay his hands on Lex Luthor.
“Yes” Lex sneered in distaste, this young man was really beginning to get on his nerves.
“Who are you?” Tony said standing close to Lex while hissing in his face.
“I am Lex Luthor, or in your case call me Mr. Luthor.” Lex said smirking as Tony's face as a look of disbelief flew across it.
“I don't believe you!” Tony hissed just a bit louder.
“Believe what you want, but I really don't care what you believe. Now if you will excuse me I have some cocoa to deliver to Clark.” Lex said turning back around and making his way toward Clark once again.
“You lie!” Tony yelled as he jogged up to Lex again. Lex on the other hand had, had enough of this tyke messing with him. Lex whirled around sloshing the cocoa on the ground, but Lex didn't notice.
“And why do you think that I am not Lex Luthor, heir apparent to LuthoCorp and owner and president of LexCorp?” Lex said staring at Tony with his eyes of hard steel blue-gray. Clark on the other hand had heard the commotion from his small group of people waiting to speak with Dr. DuCane personally and saw that something was not right with Lex and Tony, so he made his way over. As he got closer, he could tell that Tony had done something to piss off Lex and that was never a good thing.
“You can't be Lex Luthor, I mean why would a billionaire like him hang out with a hick farm boy like Clark?” Tony said with anger rolling off him. Clark frowned at the cruel words, but didn't speak due to Lex speaking first.
“First and foremost, Clark Kent is not a hick farm boy as you so quaintly put it and secondly Lex Luthor can hang out with whoever the hell he wants.” Lex said giving the now cold cup of cocoa to a passing waiter.
“Whatever!” Tony hissed at Lex before starting again.
“I mean come on! Lex Luthor friends with a high school student, and a dorky one at that, body of a god I will give you but besides that I don't think that Lex Luthor would even associate with some one like Clark. I have seen his parents and let's just say that they are hick farmers if I ever saw them. Lex Luthor you are not, if you even think that Clark and the Kents are better than farmers.” Tony ended his rant with a smile on his face, thinking that he had solved the riddle of the man in front of him. Lex Luthor would never go beneath himself and Clark was definitely that. Clark was about ready to cry, until he heard Lex's next words.
“You are an overgrown child, Clark and his family are ten times better than you could ever think to be. I have met both of Clark's parents and I am proud of the fact that they are content with what they have. You will cease your slander of the Kents good name or understand why so many fear me.” Lex said his body tight with anger and condemnation for the man in front of him.
“Are you threatening me? You a wannabe Lex Luthor, threaten me?” Tony said laughing at the thought that the man in front of him could anything to him.
“You are crazy, they should put you in Belle Reve along with the rest of the crazies that come out of Smallville.” Tony said then laughing in Lex's face. Most of the people that had collected to watch the exchange were wondering how the young man could the audacity to even say those things to Lex Luthor.
“Threaten you? I am just warning you on the hazards of saying the wrong thing to the wrong people. As for you assumption that I am crazy, my father might agree with you on that, but that remains to be seen.” Lex stopped his speaking as a waiter delivered a fresh cup of cocoa to Lex. Lex turned and noticed that Clark was standing behind him with a hurt look on his face.
“Clark” Lex said as he made his way over to the large teen was standing his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“What is wrong with me, Lex?” Clark said his voice laced with pain and hurt from the words that Tony spoke.
“Nothing and your family and I know that. He isn't worth it Clark, don't do this to yourself.” Lex said placing the cup of hot cocoa near by just in case it was needed
“But….”
“No buts Clark. That boy is a jerk and only wanted to be your friend for your beauty. And I am sorry for the way that I acted the last time you saw me. My father was being a real bear for me not telling him I was in town.” Lex said with his quirky little half smile.
“Lex” Clark said in a strained voice. Lex could tell that Clark needed all his support right now, and to hell with the public.
“Clark, come here” Lex said opening his arms for Clark to walk into. As soon as Lex closed his arms around Clark, he could hear a quiet sob coming from the teen.
“It's okay Clark” Lex said rubbing Clark's back and the crowd left with one look to Lex's face. Tony stood there shocked that Clark had heard his words. He would now have to work harder to get the boy in his bed.
“Lex, Lex, Lex, Lex” Clark said over and over as he cried out his pain and frustration of the last few weeks and months.
“Clark, come on. Do you still want to talk to Dr. DuCane?” Lex whispered into Clark's ear. Clark just nodded his head from Lex's chest.
“Okay, well come on.” Lex said letting go of Clark.
“Okay” Clark said as he wiped his eyes and gave a small smile to Lex. He left better, but he knew that he had to talk to Lex about everything since it seemed that Tony was only his friend for one reason, and that was sex.
“Lets go, do you still want that hot cocoa?” Lex said waving a hand to the now cold again hot cocoa.
“No” Clark said as he grabbed Lex's hand to drag him over to where Dr. DuCane stood by himself, due to some other professor taking glory for something.
“Dr. DuCane?” Clark said hesitantly, while squeezing Lex's hand for confidence that he didn't feel.
“Yes?” Dr. DuCane answered in a British accent.
“My name is Clark Kent….” Clark said but was stopped by a large smile on the other man's face.
“Mr. Kent how nice to meet you. I was beginning to wonder if you made it, with your sickness and all.” The man said while looking at Clark and Lex.
“And who might this be with you?”
“Dr. DuCane this is Lex Luthor” Clark said leaving the door open for Lex to speak if need be.
“Well okay, it works for me.” The said totally uncaring on who Lex was.
“So you said in your e-mail that there was a special early admissions program, what's it about?” Clark said hoping that he would meet the criteria for the program.
“Well first off how old are you?” Dr. DuCane said as he began to walk toward a small seating area that was free.
“Seventeen, sir.” Clark said following with Lex's hand still in his.
“Good, good. The minimum age to enter the program is sixteen. What year are you in at school? Junior, senior?”
“Hmmm, sophomore.” Clark said embarrassed once again for being so old and only a sophomore in high school. Most people assumed it was due to him being held back, but it was due to his lack on knowing the English language. He could only hope that Dr. DuCane did not think the same thing.
“It there a reason why?” Dr. DuCane asked interested in the reason why such an intelligent young man was held back. Lex was also interested to hear Clark's reason for being held back.
“Well, I was not born here” Clark started out taking his hand from Lex's. The lost heat made Clark want to whimper.
“Then where were you born? Out of state?” Dr. DuCane asked while trying to figure out the young man in front of him.
“Out of country…Montenegro to be precise.” Clark said looking at his hands now. Lex paled at the words, since he had said all those things about the country just weeks before when Clark was at the penthouse. He felt terrible and made the decision then and there to make it up to Clark with whatever mean necessary.
“Ah, so you started school late due to your lack of knowledge on the English language. Hence why you speak so many languages to begin with. English isn't your main language. Do your parents speak…what do they speak in Montenegro again? Serbian or Albanian?” Dr. DuCane asked looking at Clark with the most excited look on his face. It had been years since he had been able to find an apprentice that could live up to his standards, and so far Clark fit the bill.
“I speak both, since I was raised in a small town that spoke mostly Albanian, but since Serbian is the main language we also knew that as well.” Clark said blushing at the confession he was making. He had wanted to tell Lex in private, but maybe this way would be better due to the people here that would prevent Lex from going off on him for not telling him sooner. He did after all have his reason for not telling Lex in the first place, and he would tell him those fears in private.
“Amazing!” Dr. DuCane exclaimed; he and his cohorts had spoken at length about Clark and whether it was all a lie. But now meeting the young man he knew he had to get Clark in the program, and lying was the last thing that Clark would do.
“Yeah, sure” Clark said looking at the small statue that was behind Dr. DuCane. Clark was shocked when he felt Lex put his hand in Clark's and squeezed it to reassure Clark that everything was okay.
“Clark is there anyway that you could come to the campus in the next few months. I want to try and get you fall admission, but we need to start working now. There is the application process, testing and of course your course of study to be decided on, but of course I will take you on and be your mentor, but I have no doubt that Marie and Brain will want to mentor you as well…” Dr. DuCane went on to mumble about what was to be done at the visit. Clark watched the man as he began to write, but was startled out of his watching by Lex.
“Do you want to go?” Lex whispered into Clark's ear. Clark just nodded his head as he continued to watch the man that was now on his cell phone speaking rapidly to someone.
“Do you think that Dr. Rowley will let you go anytime soon?” Lex said while eyeing the man in front of him, thinking up a way to go with Clark to the university.
“I don't really know; it is awfully far away. I would think that either mom or dad should come just in case.” Clark said feeling down at the prospect of being told “no” by his parents.
“Let's see first,” Lex said before being cut off by Dr. DuCane.
“Clark is there anyway that you can come in say about a month? Both Marie Sayers and Brian Pettimoore will be available next month to meet with you.” Dr. DuCane said about bouncing in his seat at the thought of Clark on campus and in the program.
“I'll have to check with my parents first, but if they let me go I might need a chaperone to come with me.” Clark said looking to Dr. DuCane for ideas on how best to handle that.
“I'll be happy to come with you Clark” was heard from behind the trio sitting down. Clark turned and saw Tony standing there looking sorry for what he had said. Neither Clark nor Lex believed him.
“No, I don't think that will be necessary Mr. Giovanni.” Lex said turning back to Dr. DuCane.
“Lex” Clark said with his tone that said; we will talk. Lex just nodded and continued to talk to Dr. DuCane while acting as if Tony wasn't even there.
“Would Clark need to bring anything with him?” Lex said in his business tone of voice, which Clark knew he couldn't fight against.
“Oh I will check with the admissions people to see and send Clark an e-mail with a list of all the paperwork we would need.” Dr. DuCane said while looking at his phone as he chirped.
“If you will excuse me. I have to take this call.”
“By all means” Lex said gesturing to DuCane to answer his phone. As Dr. DuCane walked away Tony took his spot.
“Clark, I'm sorry for what I said. It was just that he got me so mad.” Tony said with a puppy dog look on his face.
“That still doesn't mean it was right” Clark whispered to his hands that now had become the most interesting thing in the area.
“Clark” Tony started but was cut off by Lex.
“Mr. Giovanni it would be in your best interest to just leave. I will make arrangements for Clark to have another tutor since you seem unable to be un-bias to the situation.” Lex stated in a no nonsense type of way.
“Now look here, I brought Clark here and I plan to take him back to the hospital. And furthermore it isn't up to you what Clark is gong to do, it is up to him.” Tony said sneering at Lex, still thinking that he was a wannabe.
“Clark” Tony said in his most charming voice. Clark could only shake his head at the unasked question in Tony's voice.
“Mr. Giovanni will you leave Clark alone?” Lex asked in his most non-threatening voice.
“Look here you wannabe, I will talk to Clark for how ever long I want to.” Tony said now shouting and drawing a crowd to their sitting area.
“Tony, Lex will you just stop!” Clark whispered about in tears at the way the two men were fighting over something so stupid. Both Tony and Lex looked at Clark and saw the sadness on his face. Lex was immediately whispering reassuring words and apologies, while Tony sneered at the delusion that Clark had that Lex was really the Lex Luthor.
“Isn't that quaint? Two loonies in a pod…Clark you do realize that, that isn't Lex Luthor, right?” Tony said sneering at the two in obvious distaste. Both Clark and Lex looked at Tony as if he had grown a second head, and so had most of the crowd that had gathered to see the wrath of Lex Luthor come down upon the young man that so obviously disliked Lex. All comebacks were cut short by words from a fourth person.
“You obviously do not know my son very well, now do you?” Lionel Luthor said while the crowd parted from him to make his way toward the trio sitting down. Clark paled at the voice, while Lex began to grind his teeth. Couldn't his father let him have some happiness before coming and ruining it by the “Luthors have no feelings” routine that had been drilled into him since birth, Tony on the other hand had paled at the vision of Lionel Luthor standing before him, laying claim to the bald man that he had just claimed wasn't Lex Luthor.
“Hmmm” Tony said unable to say anything to the man standing before him.
“As I thought” Lionel said before turning to eye his son and “best friend” as Lex usually said, but Lionel knew different. He had seen the way that both young men would sneak glances at each other while the other wasn't looking and he had agree with Lex's choice since Clark had been very good for his son in the years since his exile to Smallville.
“Lex…Clark” Lionel said his voice warming just a bit at the scene of them sitting together on the couch. Both young men were in shock at the tone that Lionel was using with them in public.
“Father” Lex said while nodding his head. Clark on the other hand was glancing at his hands again due to the fact that Lionel Luthor had made it very clear to him that he was not good enough for his son.
“Mr. Luthor” Clark mumbled while continuing to look at his hands. He did not notice the look that Lex gave his father due to the way that Clark was acting.
“What brings you here, father? If I may ask…” Lex said watching his father for any sort of indication that he was about to do something that would in the end humiliate both Clark and himself.
“It was brought to my attention that you were here, son.” Lionel said standing in front of his son with his wild mane of hair blowing in an invisible breeze that only seemed to affect Lionel and his hair. Lex had wondered on many occasions whether his father had an entourage of people that followed him around with fans just to blow his hair and coat around while he was in the presence of others.
“And that is the reason for your presences today?” Lex asked while eyeing his father.
“Son…” Lionel said in a disapproving manner. If there was one thing that Lionel Luthor could do, it was anger his son.
“Father” Lex said before he felt Clark's hand placed in his.
“Let's go” Clark whispered to Lex while never looking up from his hand that sat in his lap.
“Father it was nice to see you again, after such a short duration but I must be going.” Lex said as he stood with Clark's hand in his in a death grip.
“Alexander” his father said now angry that he was being pushed aside.
“Father” Lex said while directing Clark toward the exit of the building.
“We will talk Alexander, the gala is only a few weeks away and you have yet to find a date. I find his unacceptable” Lionel was cut off by Lex's words.
“Bye dad” and with a wave both Clark and Lex were out the door before Lionel could respond.