So, I've been on a Smallville kick lately! I love it!

And now that I'm older, I've seen some tension between Clark and Lex.

And then, my mind went into over-drive.

Thus, this was made.

No, I don't own Smallville or its characters (wouldn't mind owning Clark Kent AKA Tom Welling, just saying). Just a fan. No copyright intended.

…

Clark wasn't sure how he and Lex became friends so fast. Sure, he had saved the man's life, but that was just what Clark did.

And Clark might have been the innocent farm boy, but he wasn't stupid.

He knew the main reason Lex, a man in his early 20's, hung around with a teenage boy like himself; he wanted to know what Clark's secret was.

Clark wanted them to be friends, but he didn't like that Lex was so suspicious; when he voiced these frustrations to his mom and dad, they both responded the way he knew they would.

"I told you those Luthors only care about their selves," his dad grunted, clearly aggravated; Clark knew his opinion of them wasn't going to change any time soon.

"Lex just wants to understand you Clark. He probably feels like he can't really be your friend until he does," his mom said, rubbing his shoulder. "Lex respects boundaries, unlike his father. And he seems to really care about you. Don't let your worries stop your friendship."

Clark nodded and left the kitchen, heading to his loft in the barn to think.

…

Lex looked at his drink, the contents swirling around like his thoughts.

A part of him, he was sure, really did truly care for Clark.

But the bigger part of him, the Luthor part, wanted to know what it was that Clark was hiding.

Because there was something there.

And he knew that Clark would be extraordinary.

The Luthors loved extraordinary.

And, he hoped, once they got over this bump in the road, that nothing could hold them back.

…

"I'm thinking of getting you a bell," Lex commented, making Clark turn to see him standing behind him in his loft.

"It would be convenient," Clark chuckled, sitting down on the sofa he kept up there. Lex seemed to mull over something before sitting down next to him. Clark stiffened slightly and looked kind of pale all of a sudden.

"Clark, are you okay?"

"Fine," he got out, looking around for the source of his pain; there must have been a meteor rock somewhere. Lex looked at him strangely before standing up and shrugging out of his jacket. Clark spotted it then; on Lex's pale wrist was a black wristband, and embedded in it were bright green jewels.

Pieces of the meteor.

"Interesting… wristband," Clark got out, the pain stronger now.

"Yeah, found it in the town market. It's supposed to have parts of a meteor," Lex commented, looking at it. Clark nodded and bit back the gasp of pain that was so close to shaking him. "You really don't look well Clark," Lex said, raising the arm with the wristband and placing his hand on Clark's shoulder; Clark jumped and fell off the couch, looking at Lex in alarm. "Clark…"

"Leave."

"What?"

"Get out of here!" Clark cried out, backing away from Lex as fast as he could.

"No. Are you sick? I can help!" Lex said, getting down on the floor and moving slowly towards Clark. "Just tell me what's wrong." Clark fell flat on the floor as Lex neared; the wristband was killing him.

"Take… off."

"What?"

"Wrist…band," he got out, rolling on his side. "Please." Lex looked down at his arm and pulled the band off.

"This is hurting you?"

"Please!" Lex looked at the pale teen in front of him before pulling back his arm and tossing the band as far as he could. He watched it sail out the window before looking at Clark, who was taking gasping breaths.

"Please Clark; tell me what's wrong with you." Clark looked into the concerned face of Lex and just shook his head.

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me," Lex said, holding out a hand to help Clark up. Clark just eyed him before grabbing his hand. "Whatever it is Clark, your secret's safe with me."

Clark looked at him before moving to the window of the loft and peering through his telescope.

"Do you ever feel like there's this whole other side of you that you can't let anyone know about?" Clark asked, not looking up from his telescope. Lex moved closer to him and bracingly put a hand on his back.

"All the time."

"If you could tell anyone your deepest, most well hidden secret, who would you tell?"

"I would tell someone I could trust," Lex said, running his hand up and down Clark's back, making the teen shiver. "Someone I care about, that way I wouldn't feel so alone anymore."

Lex could tell he was playing with fire, that he should just back away; but he was so close, he could feel it. Once Clark told him what he wanted to know, they could only move forward. He was practically aching for that freedom; then, he could help Clark forget about Lana, and anyone else who made him think he was abnormal.

"Clark," he said in a soft tone, pulling the farm boy from his telescope and turning him to face him; Clark wouldn't meet his eyes. "Whatever it is, I don't care. You're still going to be Clark Kent, the kid who saved my life."

"You think of me as a kid?" Clark asked, slightly hurt; he knew that there was a significant age difference, but he always felt like they had a true connection of some type. Lex gave him a wry smile and chuckled.

"Clark, I think of you as so much more. But we'll discuss that another time. Talk to me Clark. Let me into your world."

Clark opened and closed his mouth for a moment before shaking his head.

"I can't."

"Please. It'll be okay Clark. Let me in where no one else can go. Let me see who the real Clark Kent is."

"… I'm not… normal."

"I kind of figured that myself. But how are you not normal? Please Clark." Clark was silent, but Lex saw a wall come up in those stunning hazel eyes.

"You don't care about me," Clark said, stepping away from him. "You never have. You just want to know… YOU DON'T CARE!" Clark wasn't sure where this anger was coming from, but it had come in spades.

"Clark, I do care about you. But I can't do anything about it until you tell me. Unlike your precious Lana, I won't take the Kent charm as an excuse anymore!" Lex was now mad too. Clark looked like a wounded puppy, and Lex hated himself for that.

"Don't bring Lana into this."

"I can help you forget her," Lex said quietly, moving so he was standing in front of the taller guy. "Just give me a chance." Clark eyed him and shook his head. "Please."

"I think you should go."

"Fine," Lex said, seeing the resolution in Clark's eyes. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me." Lex grabbed his jacket and turned swiftly on his heels; he was all business again. Clark watched him go until he couldn't see him anymore, and then punched the wall in rage.

Damn Lex Luthor for messing up his mind.

…

So, how was the first chapter? Was it good, bad, neutral, don't really care?

Let me know!

Thanks for reading, and see you soon.

-JustMe133