Title: Bred in the Bone
Author: Coren Lee
Email: coren@tiscali.co.uk
Rating: NC-17
Challenge: Wave #19 Jet-setting. Lex needs to get away from the castle. Why? Does it have to do with the holidays? Where is he going? Will he invite Clark?
Notes: The story starts off with the canon version of Red and then veers significantly AU. Thanks to Jazzy for a wonderful beta! None of these characters belong to me, no copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Still under the influence of red Kryptonite, Clark returns the Ferrari to Lex after his night out with Jessie. Lex is having a frustrating time with his father, and he invites Clark to jet off to England with him to give them both some time away from Smallville. Alien!Clark - be warned!

Chapter One

Lex hadn't slept particularly well last night. He wasn't exactly concerned about Clark's weird behavior, but he was intrigued by the sudden change from shy, retiring farm boy to slick, sophisticated urbanite. Okay, well maybe not urbanite in reality, but certainly Clark's appearance and manner last night owed more to Metropolis than it did to Smallville.

Lex loved mysteries and there was no doubt that Clark Kent kept him more than well provided in that regard, but this latest mystery made Lex uncomfortable. Clark, for all his strange appearances and disappearances and his knack of being on hand to save people from the mutant of the month, never came across as being anything other than a wholesome, country reared teen. His god-like looks certainly set him apart from his peers, but strangely, no-one apart from Lex seemed to notice. Maybe all that practice at ignoring meteor mutants and other strange happenings had trained Smallville folks to ignore anything that didn't actually impact on them or their livelihood.

But - the new Urban Clark who wanted to borrow the Ferrari to rock Lana's world, well that guy was a total stranger to Lex. He didn't even look like Clark. No primary colored flannel or jeans, but an elegant outfit in black and plum and a coat that Lex would have been proud to have in his own wardrobe. It was Clark's body language that really gave away the difference, though. Usually he gave the impression that he was awkward and clumsy, but Urban Clark held himself with pride, and his presence filled the room in a way that Farm Boy Clark's presence never did.

Dammit, Lex was starting to get hard just thinking about it!

The combination of Clark’s looks and an arrogance that exuded confidence and power had hit Lex like a sledgehammer last night. He'd always been attracted to Clark, but the boy's shyness and insecurity had never given him the least encouragement to try anything. Clark standing in front of him radiating power and - okay let's be honest - sexual energy, was incredibly tempting. It had taken all of Lex's self-control not to respond to Clark's request for the Ferrari with 'forget Lana, take me!' instead of handing over the keys.

Lex had checked the garage as soon as he was dressed, but there was no sign of the car. Maybe Clark had taken it back to the Kent Farm last night, but somehow Lex doubted it.

If Urban Clark was still in control of the body, then it was likely that he would wake up in a strange bed with one or more people who had less self-control than Lex when faced with such a god. A sharp pang of jealousy caught him unawares, and he fervently hoped that the car was safely at the Kent Farm, and Farm Boy Clark was back in control of the body. Much as Urban Clark might appeal to him, he didn't want to share Clark with anyone, not on any level.

Wow. That was a surprise. When had Lex gotten so possessive about his best friend? He wasn't even possessive over lovers, so how had that snuck up on him without warning?

Caught up in that astounding revelation, Lex walked into his office and tripped over a cable that had no business being there. As he stumbled and then righted himself, he realized that the cable wasn't the only thing that had no business being there. His space had been invaded by what looked like an army of furniture movers, carpenters, and other tradesmen that were moving with professional ease and speed to give his office a complete makeover.

Trying to avoid being knocked or shoved as they all worked at a furious pace, he made his way over to the centre of operations, where, like a spider at the centre of a web, sat his Father. Blindness had not diminished his capacity for work or his ability to multitask, and as Lex watched in silent annoyance, Lionel directed first one person then another to carry out his wishes.

"What's going on?" he asked, repressing the anger and trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Ah Lex, good morning, I didn't think you'd mind if I made a few adjustments to the office to make myself more comfortable."

Lex counted to ten, and took two deep breaths before he trusted himself to speak. Lionel knew him too well, and he couldn't afford to let his voice give him away.

"What I mind, Father, is not being consulted," he snapped.

"Well," huffed Lionel, "if that's how you feel about it, I'm sorry I ever thought to try to make my life a little more bearable." He grabbed some papers and his optical reader, and marched out of the room with as much dignity as ever, people parting before him as the Red Sea parted before Moses.

Lex felt intensely frustrated. He'd just lost another round to his Father, and this time it was in front of a room full of employees. Damn, he hated these stupid games! It didn't help that he also felt guilty about being so short-tempered over this. He knew his Dad was making a real effort to overcome his blindness, and he ought to try to be more accommodating.

Lionel's Personal Assistant was still hovering by the desk, unsure of whether she should run after Lionel, or wait to see what Lex had to say. Her indecision only served to anger him more, but he managed to restrain himself, guilt winning out over annoyance. "Let him have whatever he wants," he muttered, and then turned to stride out of what was once his personal domain before he started throwing things. Or people.

He got as far as the door when he was brought up short by a large figure standing in front of him.

"Get the fuck out of my way," he snarled, and then looked up to see a pair of green eyes looking back at him with some amusement. Obviously Urban Clark was still at home. Farm Boy Clark would have blushed and stammered and melted back into the hallway within seconds. This one was just standing there, a little smirk twisting those luscious lips of his.

"What's up Lex?"

"Follow me," he muttered, "I've got to get out of here before I kill someone."

Clark allowed him past, and then fell in alongside as Lex strode down the hallway. "Did you bring the Ferrari back?"

"Yeah, but I want to keep it a bit longer if that's alright."

"Why? Don't get me wrong Clark, I don't mind if you keep it forever, but what are you going to do with a Ferrari on a farm?"

"I'm not going back to the farm."

Lex stopped in surprise, and Clark reached out to grip his arm as they collided and he almost knocked Lex over.

"Thank you," he said absently as he regained his balance and tried to regain his composure at the same time. "What do you mean you're not going back to the farm?” Lex asked astounded, “What about your parents? What about school? Your friends?"

"Lex, I'm almost seventeen years old and ever since the Kents adopted me, the furthest I've been from home is Metropolis. How many places had you visited by the time you were my age? I'm not going to hang around here and be a donkey on the Kent Farm for the rest of my life. I want to go places, do things. As for school, I'm so far ahead of those morons that I could graduate tomorrow."

Lex was speechless, not a condition for which he had much experience. He realized he was just standing there with his mouth open, and from the amused look on Clark's face, he guessed that stunned amazement was probably a good description. Mind you, that could also have something to do with the fact that Clark had not yet released his grip and Lex was all too aware of a strong, warm hand wrapped around his forearm. Come on Lex, he thought to himself, focus!

"Well, what about Lana? Did you rock her world?"

He regretted saying that as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Clark dropped his arm and leaned back against the hallway wall with his arms folded in front of his chest.

"Lana's yesterday's news," he scoffed. "I dropped her and went off with Jessie, but she wasn't much better."

Okay. Jessie. Who the fuck was Jessie? She wasn't even a blip on the radar yesterday and yet last night Clark dumped Lana for her?

"So where's Jessie now?" Lex hoped she wasn't roaming around the mansion anywhere. Running into the girl who popped Clark's cherry would prove that it was possible for this day to get worse.

"I've no idea," Clark shrugged, "I kicked her out last night. She was getting on my nerves with her constant whining about being in danger and having to hide from the cops. I mean, I heard her the first twenty times, I didn't need to keep hearing it."

How to ask if he kicked her out before or after having sex with her, mused Lex.

"Anyway, I didn't want to have sex with her," Clark added.

Lex knew a grin was spreading across his face. There was no way in hell he could stop it.

Clark grinned back at him. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing, it’s just been an odd morning, and standing here in my hallway discussing your sex life - or lack thereof - just raised the stakes on weird and bizarre, that's all. Come on, let's escape upstairs to my bedroom, at least we can be private there. I keep expecting Dad to come tapping down the hallway here, and it's creeping me out."

Chapter Two

Clark followed Lex up the stairs, admiring the casual elegance that Lex always seemed to project, no matter what the circumstances. He moved with a leisurely grace that masked the strength that lived just beneath the skin, strength that Clark had seen put to practical and effective use on several occasions. Lex had just told him that he was angry enough to kill someone and yet here he was, casually walking up the stairs as if he hadn't a care in the world. Clark envied Lex his poise, and decided that he could do no better than to model himself on his best friend.

In fact, thinking about it, wasn't that what he'd already done? His new clothes would fit right into Lex's wardrobe, even down to the plum colored shirt and long black coat, and the electronic stuff at home? Thinking over his purchases, he had unconsciously copied the brands that he knew his friend favored.

Lex led the way into his bedroom, but in Clark's view a bedroom was something that had a bed in it, and maybe a chest of drawers and a closet. This suite of inter-connecting rooms was bigger than the entire Kent farmhouse. The color scheme was red, gold and russet, and just being there made Clark feel contented and strangely at ease. He slipped off his shoes and socks and sank his toes into the soft, deep carpet. He had to be careful not to damage it, but the sensation was so luxurious he could never resist.

He was aware that Lex was watching him, probably trying to put all the pieces together. Lex's brain never stopped inputting, categorizing, and processing data. It was one of the things that he admired most about his friend.

Clark had already decided that it was time to share all his secrets, but he hadn't yet worked out the best way to handle it. Lex could take just about anything in his stride, but an alien life form was going to be a new one even for him and he must have limits somewhere.

It suddenly occurred to Clark that Lex was the only person he really wanted to share his secrets with. He had to hold himself back with all of his other friends, but not with Lex, who had a genius IQ and an ability to read people and situations that bordered on the magical.

Not to mention a body that just oozed sexual magnetism.

Huh. Whoever would have thought that Clark Kent, poster boy for clean family living, would be lusting after his best male friend? More to the point, now that those pesky insecurities that always plagued him were miraculously out of the way, there was nothing to stop him from acting on his feelings and desires.

Thinking about it as he luxuriated in the feel of the soft, thick carpet beneath his feet, he came to the conclusion that Lex was responsible, albeit unwittingly, for spoiling him for anyone else. Lana turned out to be a huge disappointment. Outside of her safe haven in Smallville she became a nervous little rabbit, and he could see just how ordinary and uninteresting she really was. Against Jessie, Lana looked like a pretty, empty, doll. Then there was Jessie. On the surface she was up for anything and a real bad girl. Scratch the surface though and she was just as dull and boring as Lana. Neither of them could carry a conversation and he just wasn't interested in their bodies. Holding Lana or Jessie was like holding a soft cuddly toy, and what he desperately wanted to feel against his body was firm muscle and sinewy strength.

He gave Lex an appraising look, taking in the long, elegant, limbs and casual ease with which he moved.

"So Clark, have you got anything you want to tell me?"

That's my Lex, thought Clark with a feeling of affection, straight to the point. He accepted the bottle of water that Lex offered, and took a swallow while trying to think of the best way to approach this. Perhaps straight to the point would work for both of them. He put the bottle down on a table, and took a deep breath then spoke.

"I'm an alien."

Lex's face shifted into that emotionless blank expression he adopted when he needed to keep his thoughts private.

"All those things I can do that I could never explain to you? It's because I'm not human."

Lex was still staring at him with that same blank expression, but his eyes revealed an inner turmoil that was at odds with his calm exterior.

"Lex? Say something."

"…"

"Lex?"

"…"

Clark tried to emulate the way that Lex moved with a leisurely grace, and sauntered across the room. Standing well inside Lex's personal space - something his normal self would never have dared - he reached out and took Lex's hand in his own.

"Lex? Don't tell me that you didn't guess at least part of this. You're too intelligent not to have worked out some of it."

Clark stared into those beautiful blue-grey eyes, and twitched a smile when he saw the pupils dilate. Lex was breathing hard too, and trembling ever so slightly.

"Lex? I have something else to tell you as well. Or, maybe I should just show you this one."

Clark closed the space between them, and wrapping one arm around Lex's waist, the other behind his head, he leaned in and put his lips against the mouth that had been teasing him ever since his awareness of Lex had been upgraded from friend to potential lover.

At first he felt no reaction at all, but then suddenly it was as if someone had flicked a switch and Lex came alive in his arms. The response to his kiss would have taken his breath away if he'd needed to breathe, and he felt his body assaulted with an overwhelming array of physical reactions. The reality of Lex in his arms was so much more than Clark had ever imagined. He wasn't a vapid, soft toy like Lana or Jessie, he was strength, and sinew, and muscle, and oh god, the taste of him was indescribable.

Time ceased to have any meaning. They could have been kissing for seconds or hours, Clark had no idea. When they finally broke apart, Lex was panting as if he had just run a marathon and even Clark felt weak at the knees. They stumbled towards the closest sofa and slumped into the soft cushions. In a small part of his brain Clark was aware that the aggression he'd been feeling since he first put on his class ring had eased off, as if the passion that he felt with Lex had siphoned it off into another direction. He briefly wondered why that hadn't happened last night with Jessie; all he felt with her was irritation.

"Fuck Clark," gasped Lex, "when you decide to come clean, you don't hold back, do you?"

"So, you're not mad at me?"

"Yes, I'm mad at you! But I'm also glad that you finally stopped lying to me - about everything."

"Not quite everything yet, but give me a couple of minutes and it will be everything, I promise."

"What else is there? ‘Cause I've got to tell you, I don't think anything is going to top the alien gig. Unless it was the kissing; yeah maybe the kissing can top the alien gig."

Clark felt a smug grin plaster itself on his face at the realization that he had caused the supremely self-possessed Lex Luthor to lose his cool so completely.

"It's mostly what I can do. You know about the strength, and I think you've guessed that I'm also pretty fast."

Lex nodded.

"Right, well I can also see through things - I call it x-ray vision - and I can shoot laser beams out of my eyes. I call that heat vision. Not much in the way of imagination I guess, but these things suddenly came on line without warning, and trying to control them was bad enough without also trying to think up imaginative names to describe them.”

"Is that it?"

"More or less. I don't really need to breathe," he shrugged, "but I've never done anything about exploring how long I can keep it up."

"Jeezus Clark, how could you keep all this secret? I suspected some things, but never anything like this. Does anyone else know?"

"The Kents, obviously, and also Pete Ross."

"Fuck, Clark, you told Pete Ross? And yet you couldn't tell me? Well thanks a lot!"

Lex looked so pissed off that even with his new found self-confidence Clark hastened to reassure him. "I didn't want to tell Pete, but he found my space pod and I kind of had to tell him about me to convince him to hide it again."

"Whoa, space pod? What space pod? You have a space pod?"

"Yeah," chuckled Clark, "I have a space pod. You wanna come and see my pod sometime?" he said suggestively, looking up at Lex through his eyelashes. Clark had never realized how much fun it could be to play this teasing game with Lex.

"Oh yeah, I want to see your pod, space boy! But right now I want you to tell me why you kept lying to me, why you never trusted me."

"I never wanted to lie to you. I've always trusted you, you know that, right? But you also know how the Kents are about Luthors. They made me promise never to say anything to you, made me swear all kinds of oaths that I would always keep this secret from you."

"So what changed? I mean, I know that something is different. You're different. What is it? It's not just that you're an alien is it? Though God knows I never imagined that sentence coming out of my mouth."

"No, it's not just that. Ever since I put on my class ring it's like all my fears, all my insecurities, all the stupid things that keep me from being truly myself, well they just don't matter anymore. I have a theory…" Clark paused.

Lex was giving him his undivided attention, staring at him with an intensity that was unusual, even for him.

"What's your theory?" prompted Lex.

"It's kind of hard to think of anything with you looking at me like that. It's like you want to devour me from the inside out."

"I do, and I promise I will get onto the devouring very shortly, but right now I want to hear about your theory. I may have spent months fantasizing about your body but I want your mind too. I want everything that you are so, tell me your theory," insisted Lex.

"Right. My theory." Clark gave himself a mental shake. The thought that Lex had fantasized about his body - for months! - and a promise of being devoured very shortly was doing strange and unsettling things to his libido, but he could wait. Really, he could.

"I have a really bad reaction to the green meteor rocks. If I'm around them, I get sick and feeble, and I think if I was exposed to enough of them they might even be able to kill me."

"So that's why those jocks were able to make you the scarecrow? That green rock around your neck?"

Clark was impressed that Lex had remembered such a small detail.

"Yeah, exactly. The Kents found me just after the meteor shower, so I guess the meteors are from the same place as me. There has to be some connection otherwise they wouldn't affect me so strongly. Anyway, I think maybe the stone in this ring is meteor rock. It doesn't make me sick and weak like the green, it makes me more who I am really meant to be. I've spent my entire life trying to fly under the radar and not be noticed but as soon as I put this ring on, it just didn't matter any more. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted to get out there and live a little. I wanted to act on my desire for you, Lex."

Lex’s expression changed to one of hurt and frustration.

"If you wanted to act on your desire for me, what was that about rocking Lana's world, Clark?" he demanded. "When you came here last night I wanted you to you want me, but you were still chasing after Lana. And then this Jessie? What was that about?"

"Are you jealous of them? You don't need to be, they're nothing compared with you, Lex." He leaned forward and ran his tongue along Lex's jaw line. "It's you I want," he murmured, licking his way around to the back of Lex's head. "It's you I'm with, and it's you and I that are going to be the stuff of legends. They're nothing, believe me."

Chapter Three

Lex wanted to believe him so badly that it hurt. The licking was driving him mad and the feel of a hot horny alien - alien! - in his arms was doing things to his dick that would need attention very, very soon. He slipped his hands under Clark's shirt and ran his hands over warm, smooth skin. He felt like he was melting, every nerve in his body alive with the desire he felt for his best friend. He'd never been intimate with anyone he cared for; he was always careful to restrict his sexual encounters to people who were attractive, but for whom he held no affection.

Clark though, Clark was something different. He engaged not only Lex's sexual desire but also his emotions. He didn't just want Clark's body, he wanted his soul and he wanted his love. He'd never experienced this with anyone and while he knew that it should have freaked him out, somehow it all felt so right.

Clark was nuzzling his shoulder, gently moving his shirt out of the way to get access to his collar bone, slowly moving down towards nipples that were becoming more and more sensitive with each languorous lick of Clark's magical tongue. Lex moaned with pleasure, arching back to offer his body. Nothing would stop him from enjoying this to the full. Nothing, that is, except the sight of his Father looming over him, one of his lackeys standing slightly behind him.

"Lex my boy, is this really the time to indulge in such carnal pleasures? Don't you have a company to run, hmmm?"

"For fuck's sake Dad, these rooms are private. You've already taken over my office, what, you want me to move out of my bedroom as well?" he snapped.

"What I want, Lex, is for you to undertake your responsibilities without the distraction of a pretty face. You can just stop whatever you're doing with this insignificant whore and accept your role in life for once! I sent you here to keep you away from gold digging little tramps like this, and yet somehow you always manage to find a new one. For goodness' sake, grow up and act like an adult for once. Send her on her way and come down to the office, I want to talk to you."

Lex glanced at Clark, to see how he was taking Dad's rant. Amusement and… huh, was that a touch of wickedness he saw flickering in his eyes?

"Sorry Lionel, I'm not going anywhere, and Lex is far too busy to come down and speak with you." Clark released his hold on Lex, and stood up.

Wow. Urban Clark had balls, and no mistake. Lex had to see how this was going to play out. He just had to warn Clark…

"Clark, don't say anything you'll regret."

There, that should do it. Clark's bright enough to know what Lex was warning him about.

"Oh, I'm not going to regret this Lex," Clark smiled at him, before turning back and staring at Lionel.

"Lex doesn't want you here, and I don't want you here, yet here you stand. Personally I think Lex should have left you to die when the tornado hit, but he's a better man than me. He's a better man than you too, Lionel, which is why you are going to fuck off out of his face right now, because I don't want him to have to save your life for the second time. Do I make myself clear? Leave now, and you can walk out on your own two legs. Keep annoying Lex and you'll never walk again."

"Clark? Clark Kent?" Lionel looked surprised. "I never realized the Kents had raised such an aggressive thug of a son. You speak your mind though, I'll give you that," said Lionel.

"Yeah, well, just don't let the door hit you on your ass on your way out."

"Lex, get rid of this uncouth creature and meet me downstairs… aaagh!"

"Lionel, you weren't listening. I said, LEAVE NOW. What part of that wasn't clear to you?"

Lex could see that Clark had a tight grip around Lionel's arm. Ooh, that's got to hurt, he thought. Lionel was struggling to pull away, but he might just as well have tried to break free from steel chains. Lex had to intervene before his Dad realized there was something unusual about the strong hands that held him captive.

"Let him go Clark, I'm sure he'd like to leave us alone now."

Lex was gratified to see that Clark immediately released his hold. Let his Dad ponder the kind of influence that Clark's immediate compliance implied. Of course it went both ways; he would just as quickly agree to anything Clark asked of him but his Dad didn't need to know that.

"Lex…"

"Dad, trust me. You do not want to push Clark on this. He's really not happy with you right now. If I were you, I'd do as he suggests and leave. I have everything under control at the Plant. Just go, please."

"This isn't over Lex," he warned.

"Dad, it's never over where you are concerned," sighed Lex.

"Mr. Kent, no doubt we will meet again," Lionel snapped as he turned and with the aid of his lackey, made his way out of the room.

Jesus fucking Christ, was he never going to be free of his Dad?

"I meant it you know."

"Hmmm?"

"If he doesn't get out of your face, I'll *make* him leave you alone."

Lex was sure that he shouldn't find it so arousing that Clark had gone all caveman and protective over him. And could meteor rock really cause such a massive personality change? Where was the sweet-natured farm boy who just wanted to help everyone? He couldn't imagine that boy even standing up to Lionel, let alone saying that Lex should have left him to die.

"Whatever happened to mild-mannered Clark Kent, good old Kansas-reared farm boy?" he teased.

"He's gone Lex, he's never coming back. Maybe I'm right and this ring has something to do with setting the real me free, but now that I've experienced it there's no way I'm letting that timid farm boy rule my life again."

Clark dropped back beside him on the sofa, and the intensity of his gaze was a little disturbing. Lex was sure he could see red lick flickering at the centre of his pupils, and despite how alluring this new powerful, Clark might be, something was really off about it and it was starting to worry Lex.

"You know, magical rings rarely end well in books and movies," mused Lex.

"I think I'm a bit too tall to be a hobbit, Lex."

"True, and Kansas in no way resembles the Shire."

"Have you ever been to New Zealand?"

"Yes I have, but that's not the Shire you know, it's just where they filmed the movies. The real Shire is in Oxfordshire in England, heart of Middle Earth."

"There's a real Shire?"

"There's a real Shire, and it's beautiful. I spent quite a lot of time in and around Oxford when I was at school in England, and I loved it."

"You see, that's what I'm talking about. I've led such a sheltered life that I didn't even know there *was* a real Shire, let alone visited it."

Lex got one of his blinding flashes of intuitive genius.

"The security system here has never stopped you, has it Clark?"

"Whoa, way to change the subject Lex!"

"It never even picks you up, why is that?"

Clark shrugged. "I told you, I'm fast."

"How fast?"

There was a sudden breeze, and Clark disappeared in front of his eyes. Before he had time to process the fact that he'd gone, he was back again, holding a bowl from the kitchen in his hand.

"What the fuck…" stuttered Lex.

Clark gave him a beaming smile, and held out the bowl. "From the kitchen," he said.

Lex took the bowl and stared at it. "The kitchen? You just ran all the way down to the kitchen and picked this up?"

"I told you I was fast."

Lex tore his eyes away from the bowl and saw a very smug looking Clark staring back at him.

"Jeezus Clark, that's not just fast, that's… um, I'm not sure if there's actually a word to describe what that is."

"So, why did you want to know about me getting past your security system?"

"Are you serious about wanting to see more of the world instead of going back to the farm, going to school?"

"Lex, I have never been more serious about anything in my life."

"Come with me to England then, we'll visit the Shire."

Clark looked stunned; for a brief moment Lex saw a glimmer of his old friend peeking out from behind the cool, arrogant veneer of urban sophistication.

"If I don't get away from Dad for a while I'm going to lose my temper and do something I'll regret," he admitted. "We can take the LuthorCorp jet and be in England in a few hours. I'm assuming you don't have a passport?" he paused and looked at Clark.

"Never had any need for one."

"Right, well with your speed, you still don't need one. When we land and get processed through immigration, you just run through and meet me the other side. No-one will ever know you were there."

"Seriously?"

"Clark, I have never been more serious about anything in my life," he parroted back, a smirk teasing his lips. "Go and grab whatever you need from the farm and meet me back here as soon as you can. I'll get the helicopter to take us to the airport in Metropolis. The pilot can file the flight plan while we're on our way. We can spend a day or so in London, and then head off to Oxford."

"Can we continue with this on the plane?" murmured Clark, caressing Lex's nipple and nibbling at his jaw line.

"You'd better believe it," gasped Lex, "you are in for one hell of a ride my friend."

Chapter Four

Clark drove the Ferrari back to the farm, figuring it would be easier to pile the bags in the trunk than try to carry them while running. The Shire! He was really going to leave Kansas, leave the USA, and travel somewhere that he had previously thought existed only in fiction. He wanted to see London too, but more than anything he wanted the freedom to be with Lex, and do all the things with him that were running around in his imagination.

He was dropping the last bag in the car when the Kents came running over.

"Son, you need to listen to us," pleaded his Dad. "That ring you're wearing, it's what's making you act this way."

"Yeah?"

So, his pet theory seemed to have some substance to it. He slammed down the lid of the trunk and tried to walk around to the driver's side, only to find Jonathan and Martha standing in his way.

"Please honey," begged Martha, "Pete told us that Chloe discovered the manufacturers used red meteor rock. It must affect your personality like the green meteor rock affects your body."

"Really," he said, lifting his hand and admiring the ring.

"Clark, please take it off," she said. "You aren't going to be normal again unless you do, and it's likely that the effects are going to just keep getting stronger the longer you're in contact with it."

He pushed past them, ignoring the little grunt of pain from Jonathan and gasp of shock from Martha. He pulled open the door to the Ferrari and slid into the driver's seat.

"You know," he said conversationally, "normal is really overrated. My only regret is that I never discovered this stuff earlier. Take it off? No. Freaking. Way."

"Clark! Clark! Where are you going?" shouted Martha as he revved up the engine.

"I'm going to get a life," he said, as the wheels spun and he took off in a cloud of dust.

Lex was waiting for him in the forecourt at the mansion as he screeched to a halt, a couple of suitcases at his feet. At Clark's raised eyebrow he grimaced slightly.

"Dad's prowling around inside, and I don't want him to get a clue about what we have planned until it's too late to stop us."

At that moment a couple of Lex's staff came outside. One picked up Lex's cases, and the other headed to the trunk of the Ferrari to take care of Clark's luggage.