Author:  Cassandra

Title: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Rating: R

Pairing:  Clark/Lex

Disclaimer: Clark and Lex don't belong to me.  I'm just borrowing them.

Feedback address:  zinelady@hotmail.com 

Note: My first Smallville fic and part of the Second Wave ClexFest at:

http://www.kardasi.com/Lexclusive/ClexFest 

Summary:  Clark finds out that Lex has been lying.  Lex pays the price.

Challenge: What if Lex had been sent to Smallville by his father to investigate the 
strange goings on, and he made friends with Clark to try and find out his story. 
They fall in love, but then Clark discovers why Lex is there and feels betrayed. (hergerbabe)

Thanks to my Betas: phil, Moss and CJ, you were great. 

Warning: spanking, hurt/comfort

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

"I can't believe it!" Clark protested, causing Lex and Lionel Luthor to whip around to see him standing in the open doorway to Lex's study.

Thinking back over the conversation he had just had with his father, Lex quickly got up and went over to Clark.  He needed to calm this situation down and quickly.  Clark wouldn't understand.

"Clark, it's not what you think..." Lex put his hand on Clark's arm, but the teenager shook it off.

"What, *your* father didn't actually send you here to spy on the citizens of Smallville, to find out the 'scoop' behind all of the mysterious happenings going on?" Clark accused, standing there with his hands clenched in fists.  "You weren't supposed to get us to trust you so we would tell you all the town's secrets?  What was the problem, Lex?  You didn't think you could get the adults to look beyond the Luthor name, so you befriended the most gullible teenager you could find?  And to think I trusted you!"

Each of the accusations cut deep into Lex.  He had thought Clark had more trust in him.  It was true that his father had sent him here, but his reason for staying had long since changed from the investigation that his father had ordered to the relationship based on love and desire that he shared with Clark; a relationship that was now in danger.  He had wanted to tell Clark the truth about his initial orders, but he had hesitated because of fear of how Clark would react.  His fears were evidently well founded.

"If you have nothing to hide," Lionel said calmly from the chair where he was sitting, "then it should make no difference to you why Lex was sent to Smallville."

Clark's face turned pale and then reddened.  Lex knew at least one of the secrets that Clark kept.  It was the same secret Lex had to keep from the public and especially his father.   To be outed as a homosexual in small town America might not be the worst thing that could happen to a teenager, but the resulting scandal that Clark Kent was the underage lover of playboy Lex Luthor would not be easy to live down in Smallville.  If Lionel found out that Lex was 'fucking' Jonathan Kent's son, there would be hell to pay.

"You wouldn't know anything about friendship or trust.  My father was right about you," Clark glared at the elder Luthor.  "I should have listened to him and never gotten involved with a Luthor."  The last word was spat out.  Clark turned to look at Lex, his bottom lip trembling slightly and his eyes full of hurt.  "I thought we were friends."

With that, he turned and disappeared through the door.

"Clark, let me explain," Lex called after him.

"Lex, let him go," Lionel said, waving his arm in dismissal.  "You have more important things to worry about right now."

"If you want me to stay in Smallville to get any more information on what's really going on, I need to go stop Clark now," Lex reasoned with his father.  "If he tells just one other person, my cover will be shot."

Lionel looked as though he would object, but finally waved his arm at Lex.

"Go on then.  I guess it would be better for the good citizens of Smallville not to find out your real motivations just quite yet.  We can finish our discussion tomorrow before the meeting at the plant."

Lex nodded and left.  Of course, Clark was nowhere to be found in the castle.  Lex really hadn’t expected him to stick around.  He ordered his Porsche to be brought up.

Lex decided to check at the farm first.  Usually when Clark wanted to think, he did it in his loft.  He knocked on the door to the house, but no one was home.  He looked around and noticed the pickup was missing.

"Clark?" he called as he entered the barn.  "You up there?"

He didn't get an answer, but that didn't mean that Clark wasn't there.  If his lover was really that upset with him, he might be refusing to answer.

Lex climbed the stairs, but the loft was empty.  Where was Clark?

As he was descending the stairs, he heard the screen door to the house slam loudly and he paused.  That had to be Clark.  Neither of the elder Kents would slam the door with that much force.  That meant that Clark was still upset with him.  Clark had to have seen the Porsche in the driveway. 

Lex hesitated to leave the barn.  When Clark didn't find him in the house, he would come to the barn...that is, if he wanted to talk to Lex.  The barn would be safer.  Not as many breakables.  No kitchen knives...although there were pitchforks and all sorts of tools.  Maybe he'd better go outside. 

Before Lex had a chance to follow his plan, Clark came into the barn, stopping when he saw Lex on the stairs.

"What?  You didn't get enough of our secrets, so now you're snooping around the barn?" Clark challenged.

"Clark," Lex shook his head.  "Please let me explain."

"I don't want to hear any more lies, Lex," he spat out.  "That's all you've been telling me, lies!"

"It wasn't a lie when I told you that I love you," Lex said, walking down the stairs to stop in front of Clark.

"Don't use that word!" Clark ordered.  "You never loved me."

"Yes, I do," Lex insisted, putting his hand on Clark's arm, stroking it.  He *had* to get through to Clark.  "I love you more than anything in this world."

"You sure have a funny way of showing it!" Clark sneered, shaking off Lex's hand as he took a step back.  "Sneaking behind our backs for your father."

"Clark, it's true that my father sent me here to find out what was going on in Smallville," Lex admitted.  "He had heard about the mutations and wanted to know more.  He thought he might be able to take advantage of them somehow if he could figure out why they happened in the first place." Lex glance away to escape Clark's accusing stare.  "It's true that I sent him newspaper clippings and eyewitness reports of what I've seen.  You have to admit we've seen some crazy stuff."  He looked back into Clark's eyes, begging him to believe him.  "But I never sent him any information about you or your family other than the fact you saved my life.  You have to believe me, Clark.  I love you."

"I'm not sure what I believe," Clark shook his head, his expression showing confusion, but that at least gave Lex hope that Clark was listening to him.  "You lied to me, Lex!"

"Can you honestly say you've haven't lied to me?" Lex countered.  "I've kept your secrets even though you haven't shared them with me.  I never told my father any of the amazing things I've seen you do.  I'm not blind, Clark, and I'm not stupid.  I can put two and two together."

Lex saw fear on Clark's face.  He reached out his hand to touch Clark's arm again.  The muscles were stiff but at least Clark didn't shake him off again.

"I don't know if I can trust you," Clark repeated.

"I don't know what I can do to prove to you that I'm sorry that I lied to you," Lex shook his head, trying to think of a way. 

Lying came easily to Luthors.  After his mother died, the lying became second nature, something his father expected him to do in the line of business.  'Never let the enemy know what you're really thinking.' 

But Lex remembered the last time his mother had caught him in a lie.  He still remembered the consequences.  The spanking she administered was almost a relief after experiencing his mother's disappointment and anger.  He couldn't sit down comfortably for days.  That was the last time he had been spanked.  After she died, no one care enough to punish him in that way. 

The headmasters at his boarding schools were not allowed to touch him.  His father had much more cruel ways to express his displeasure of his son's actions.  Nothing so crude as physical punishment would do for Lionel Luthor's son when emotional and psychological torture was so much more entertaining.  Personally, Lex would rather have been spanked.

Could he let Clark do that to him?  Could he allow himself to be that vulnerable to his lover?  Clark was the only person that Lex felt comfortable touching him in any way now.  He looked at Clark and decided.

"Would it help if you punished me?" Lex asked, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.

"Punish you?" Clark asked, surprised.  "What do you mean punish you?"

"You never got turned over your father's knee when you were younger and you threw a tantrum or something?" Lex asked, watching Clark's face turn red.

"W-well," Clark said, stuttering.  "Maybe once or twice when I was really young.  But usually they just put me into time-out or grounded me."

"Well, it's kinda hard to ground an adult, especially in Smallville," Lex said reasonably, "since there's no place to go except the Talon."  Lex could imagine telling his dad that he couldn't go out on for a business dinner because he was grounded.  It might be worth it just for the entertainment value.

"You were spanked as a child?" Clark asked, his eyes wide.

"Well," Lex cocked his head, grinning at Clark's expression.  "My mother spanked me.  It was done and then I was forgiven.  My father's punishments, though not physical, were never so merciful or so brief."  The grin turned into a grimace at remembered punishments.

"I'm sorry," Clark said, frowning.  "I feel so lucky that I had such great parents."

"My mom was great," Lex protested.  "It was my dad that was a bastard.  I didn't like being spanked, but I knew that she only did it because she loved me."

"I'm still glad that I had my dad instead of yours," Clark said.

"You are lucky, Clark," Lex agreed.  "Never forget it.  So what about it?  Do you want to punish me?"

"Let me get this straight," Clark said, raising his eyebrows in query.  "You're asking me to spank you?"

Lex grimaced.  Put like that it sounded crazy, like some bad porno movie.  He wasn't so sure now that this was a good idea, but he had made his bed, and he wasn't going to back out now because it was lumpy.

"If you think it would help, I'm willing to try anything," Lex said.  "I did lie to you."

"And if after I punish you, I still can't forgive you?" Clark asked.

Lex flinched inside, but tried not to show it.  The thought that Clark might not be able to find a way to forgive him weighed heavily on his mind.

"I hope that won't happen, but I'll leave that to your discretion.  I really don't want to lose what we have.  If you decide you don't want to be my lover, I hope we can still be friends."   Lex waited to hear Clark's decision, forcing himself to not to fidget.

Clark looked away for a long moment, and then turned back to Lex.

"Okay, I'll do it.  When and where?" Clark asked.

Lex released the breath he didn't release he had been holding.  He hadn't thought any further than getting Clark to agree.  He considered waiting until he could get back to the castle, but it was only fair to do it in Clark's territory...and he didn't want to chance meeting up with his father again.

"When are your parents getting home?" Lex asked.

"They went to Metropolis," Clark said.  "They won't be back until later tonight."

"Can we do it upstairs?" Lex asked.

"All right," Clark agreed.  "You want anything to drink or eat first?"

Lex almost laughed.  Martha had definitely taught Clark his manners.  Who else but Clark would ask him if he wanted refreshment before receiving his punishment?

"No, thanks," Lex said.  "Maybe afterwards.  Right now, my stomach is full of butterflies.  I'd just rather get it over with."

Clark led the way up the stairs.  He looked around before deciding to sit on the couch.

"Is this okay?" Clark asked, unsure.

Lex nodded.  Clark obviously needed some guidance when it came to dispensing a spanking.

"Clark, just some advice?"  At Clark's relieved nodding, Lex went on.  "You need to take control when you spank someone.  What position do you want them in? Do you spank them with your hand, a paddle or a belt?  How hard?  You need to decide how many and stick to it no matter how much they cry out."  Lex couldn't believe that he was teaching Clark how to beat his ass.  It was surreal.  "Not only should you be supplying the punishment, but also the catharsis for the person being punished.  Be firm, but not *cruel.*"  Lex made sure to emphasize the last word.

"Wow, that's a lot to remember. How do you know this?" Clark asked curiously.

"I had some friends that were into domestic discipline," Lex explained, remembering his months at Oxford.  "I dabbled, but was never drawn to that lifestyle.  I did learn a lot, though."

"I don't know if I can do this right," Clark said uncertainly.

"I have confidence in you.  Just be firm but not cruel," Lex repeated.

"Okay, I want you over my lap," Clark instructed.  But as Lex moved toward the couch, Clark held up a hand.  "I want your pants down."

Panicked at the thought of baring his ass for Clark to spank, Lex froze where he was.  Lex Luthor didn't blush, ever, Lex told himself.  Clark wouldn't make him take his underwear off as well.  Finally, Lex unbuckled his belt and started to push his slacks down.

"Those boxers, too," Clark ordered.  "I want to be able to see your skin to make sure I'm not hurting you too much."

"I'm sure you won't hurt me too much Clark," Lex protested.  "I really don't need...."

"This is not up for debate, Lex," Clark said sternly.  "If the boxers aren't down, I don't spank you.  I am not going to take a chance of hurting you too much."

Lex sighed and pushed his slacks all the way off.  Clark was really getting into the 'take charge' portion of the punishment.  The underwear soon followed.  He'd rather have them completely off than to have them hanging on his ankles like a little boy being punished.  But then again, that's exactly what was happening, he thought. 

Fortunately, Clark didn't comment on it and Lex made himself as comfortable as possible over his lover's lap.  What blood that hadn't already raced to his face earlier went to his head as it was hanging down.  Normally, being in this position half naked with Clark would turn him on, but fortunately his penis decided to behave itself for once. 

Lex grabbed hold of Clark's calf to give his upper body support while his legs lay diagonally on the couch.  He could tell his ass was tilted up in the air, a perfect target for Clark's large hands.  Why had he ever come up with this harebrained idea?!  Lex forced himself to take a deep breath.  'Lex Luthor did not panic' was his mantra.

"How many?" Lex asked, wanting some goal to reach.  He could take anything as long as he knew when it would stop.

"I don't know," Clark said.  "How long have you kept this secret?"

Lex thought back and counted.  "Six months.  But six isn't very many for a hand spanking."

"Well, six months is twenty-six weeks," Clark calculated.  "Twenty-six it is."

"Then again, I'm sure six would be fine," Lex said quickly, thinking that he couldn't survive twenty-six blows from Clark's large hand.  "Better yet, maybe that grounding would work."

"I don't think so," Clark said, adjusting his grip so that Lex was not able to move at all.  "Ready?"

Lex nodded and felt Clark's hand rest on his ass cheeks, as though he couldn't resist caressing them.  The next moment, the touch disappeared and Lex heard a loud 'crack', followed by a sharp pain in his posterior.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, involuntarily.  He hadn't meant to cry out at all, but that hurt!  Clark hesitated for a moment, but when Lex didn't say anymore, he started spanking Lex in earnest. 

Clark was no weakling that was for sure.  He spanked like a pro.  First the right side, then the left.  By the time Lex counted ten, his ass felt like it was on fire.  He tried to keep still, but he could not help but squirm. 

Clark paused to readjust him to a more secure position.  Lex felt Clark's hand lightly rub over his buttocks.  Even the light touch was painful and he hissed.

"Are you okay?" Clark asked.

Lex couldn't reply.  He just nodded and held on tighter to Clark's leg.

"Lex?"  Clark's voice was uncertain.

"I'm fine," Lex gasped out.  "Finish it."

The spanks got closer together and seemed harder.  Lex grunted with each blow, trying to keep from crying out.  Finally, he couldn't restrain his cries.

"Owwww," he yelled as Clark spanked his left cheek in the same damn spot three times in a row.  "Ahhhh!  I'm sorry.  I'll never do it again!"

By twenty, the fire had turned into an inferno.  Words had stopped, but Lex couldn't prevent sobs from escaping.  Nothing in his life had prepared him for the utter devastation that came with Clark beating his ass.  Lex felt the pain of Clark's disappointment in him spread throughout Lex's body with each blow.

Lex could tell that the last six blows weren't as hard as the earlier ones, but even they were a torment against his already hypersensitive skin and he howled in pain.  Clark pulled him up into his arms as soon as he administered the last spank, hugging Lex as he sobbed into Clark's chest.  He knew that he was getting Clark's flannel shirt soaked with his tears, but he couldn't seem to stop crying.

"Please don't leave me!" he cried out.

"Shhh," Clark said, rubbing Lex's back soothingly.  "It's all over.  I won't leave you.  I could never leave you.  I love you too much."

Lex hiccupped and sniffed as the words got through to him.  Clark still loved him?  He hadn't completely fucked up?

"Really?" Lex asked, wiping his eyes and looking up at Clark.  "You'll forgive me?"

Clark cradled Lex's cheek in his hand, tenderly wiping away the last of his tears.  Lex was surprised that Clark's hand was cool against his hot face.  After spanking him so hard, Lex would have thought Clark's hands would be hot and stinging.  It was just another piece of the puzzle that was Clark Kent.

"Yes, I forgive you.  How could I not?" Clark said, smiling at Lex before his expression turned serious.  "But don't lie to me again."  Lex heard the warning in the words.

"I'll do my best," Lex nodded.  "But a lifetime of training is hard to overcome."

"I know," Clark said.  "Once you're used to hiding, it's hard to stop.  But if we are going to have a relationship then we need to be honest with each other."  Clark suddenly wouldn't meet his eyes.  "That's why I need to tell you my secret, even though Dad is probably going to ground me when he finds out."  Clark cleared his throat nervously, still not looking at Lex.  "You may not be able to forgive me when you find out what I've been hiding from you all these months."

"Clark, you don't have to," Lex said gently, putting his hand on Clark's cheek and making Clark turn to look at him.  "I know you have your secrets.  I really want to know everything about you, but not at the expense of your relationship with your family."

"Lex, I can't demand that you be honest with me without being honest with you in return," Clark said earnestly.  "Just let me tell you the whole story before you start asking questions, okay?"

Lex nodded and Clark told him an outlandish story.  It sounded like something from a Twilight Zone episode.  Halfway through, Lex realized that his mouth was hanging open and closed it with a click of his teeth.  Lex didn't understand why he was so surprised.  Smallville was full of mutants that could become invisible, cause fire or leech the heat out of your body.  What was an alien thrown into the mix?

Clark finally finished and said,  "Have I totally scared you off?"

Lex shook his head, looking at Clark in silence.

"Lex, say something."  Clark's voice was a little desperate.

"So, I did hit you with my car?" Lex asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes," Clark admitted.

"And all those other times you've saved me or one of your friends, you were using your powers?" Lex continued in the same tone.

Clark nodded.

"And every time I asked you about them, you lied to me?" Lex asked, his voice raising a bit.  He cocked his head and looked directly in Clark's eyes.

Clark lowered his head and murmured a quiet, "Yes."

"And you just finished trashing my ass for lying to you?" Lex said, shaking his head in amazement.

Clark looked up at Lex.  "Yes, but you're the one that suggested it," he added quickly.  "I just went along with your suggestion."

"I suppose if I insisted on the same punishment for you, it wouldn't work," Lex mused.

"No," Clark shook his head.  "You'd end up hurting your hand more than you would me."

"Was that why your parents usually gave you timeout or grounded you."  It was all starting to make sense to Lex.

"After Mom broke her favorite hair brush on my butt, they gave up," Clark admitted sheepishly.

Lex laughed.

"So you're not mad at me?" Clark asked meekly.

"I ought to be," Lex said in mock seriousness.  "My butt hurts.  I'm probably not going to be able to sit down tomorrow morning at the meeting that dear old Dad has called."

"Oh, God, I'm sorry Lex," Clark said, trying to pull Lex up so he could look at his ass.  "I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"

"It's kind of late now to be concerned, isn't it?" Lex said ironically, but when he saw the contrite look on his lover's face, he went on.  "No, you didn't hurt me too much, Clark.  And I did ask you for it, so don't feel guilty.  I lied to you.  I deserve it."

"But I'm still sorry I hurt you." Clark hugged him.

"It's worth it, Clark," Lex said truthfully.  "I was scared that I had lost you.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that you trust me enough to tell me your secret.  I promise that I'll protect it and you.  I won't let anyone hurt you or your family.  But you have to promise me something."

"What?" Clark asked.

"You have to let me know if anyone like Phelan tries to hurt you again," Lex said sternly.  "I can help you, but I have to know you need help."

"I will," Clark promised.

"You're strong, but you still can be hurt.  As long as you have people you care about, you are vulnerable.  My father taught me that at an early age," Lex said sadly.  "That's another thing Clark.  You can't let my father know about your abilities.  No matter what he does or says to me, you can't let him find out about you!"  Lex had to make sure that Clark understood.

"But if he hurts you--"

"Stay away from him, Clark," Lex ordered firmly.  "If he's around, don't come around.  If he knows that I care for you, he'll use you against me.  It's even more important now, that we keep our relationship a secret.  If he finds out that we're lovers, he'll have you investigated down to what kind of toothpaste you use."

"All right," Clark said soothingly.  "I'll stay away from him."

"Good, see that you do," Lex nodded.  "Or I'll have to come up with some creative punishment for you."

"You still owe me a punishment for lying to you," Clark said glumly.

"Yes, I do," Lex agreed.  "And I think I've come up with a suitable punishment."

"What?" Clark asked tentatively.

"You've been lying to me for six months...that's twenty-six weeks," Lex paused as Clark nodded agreement.  "I do believe that you should be my slave for twenty-six hours, pampering me and fulfilling my every whim."

Clark's face lit up.  "But I thought this was supposed to be a punishment?  How can doing what I love doing be considered a punishment?" 

Lex could imagine what was going through Clark's mind, twenty-six hours of mind-blowing sex.  He hated to burst his bubble, but Clark did have a punishment coming.

"Because I'm going to be keeping you on the brink of coming for the whole twenty-six hours until you've served your sentence," Lex said with an evil grin.

"Lex!" Clark whined.  "That's cruel and unusual punishment!"  Lex was amazed how well Clark could pout.

"It's not my fault that you're such a hard ass."  Lex laughed at the pained expression on his lover's face.  In a few moments, Clark was laughing with him. 

 END