Title - Silence
Author - Becky
Email – beckyoco@googlemail.com 
Rating - PG
Challenge: Heat - Jonathon shoots Lex.
Summary - Making a different choice.

It was silent in the corridors. 

Clark had always known that being a Luthor meant a lot of things.  Being a Luthor meant you did get a whole wing when you were sick.  Being a Luthor meant you did get the privacy you demanded and being a Luthor meant you were always alone. 

No-one knew he was here, sneaking past the security and blurring past the cameras, knowing that no-one will come to check on Lex, breathing aided by a respirator, blood soaked bandage still clinging to his chest. 

When the shot rang out he though he was going to make it.  Faster than a speeding bullet was something he’d always believed, and may be should have used his heat vision, blast it out of the air to nothing.  Make it harmless.  

He froze though, did nothing.  Watched as it pierced him fire from the gun of his father, shouted an impotent “Lex!” as it tore its path through the air. 

It was the blood that moved him in the end.   Watching it pool around his best friends body, his father looking on in smug satisfaction and for a split second her forgot all about her powers, thought he was pleased that Lex was dying.  That’s what made him go, launch forward and knock him off his feat, crash into the woman and hit until they both lay unconscious on the floor. 

He ran to the hospital and no-one questioned it.  Maybe if it wasn’t Lex and maybe if it wasn’t Clark more would have been said but the willful blindness of the doctors won through again, rushing him off to surgery and sending Clark home. 

He hadn’t gone though.  With Desiree and his father locked together in Lex’s basement, unable to risk the truth coming out until Lex could rebut it. 

For two days he moves only when the nurses come, hides out of their sight.  Watches them speak in hushed whispers about how Lex was healing too fast, but that the major damage might be permanent. 

On the third day, Clark says sorry a lot.  Sorry that he didn’t stop it and sorry that he never told.  Makes a thousand promises if Lex could just get better the way he was and everything was fixed. 

He doesn’t wake up then.  Clark promises more, gives more.  Tells Lex everything while he sleeps his dreamless sleep. 

On the fourth day, Lex came woke up. 

Clark still by his side, whispering his sorry into the blank white covers of the hospital sheets. 

Lex tells him that it’s not his fault and that lots of people go through this all the time.  Lex tells him its not even the first time he’s been shot.  It doesn’t make Clark feel better though, gripping the comforter and saying that he could have saved him. 

Lex just laughs more and tries to get out of the bed, telling him that he’s survived worse. 

Lex wants Clark to know it’s not his fault and Clark insists that it is. 

Lex asks Clark to give one good reason how it’s his fault.  Clark tells him he should have been quicker. 

Lex smiles then, because he knows that Clark is too hard on himself.  He tells Clark that you can’t save everyone and asks how his father is. 

Clark doesn’t tell Lex that his father is still trapped in the basement with Desiree because he doesn’t really like to think about it and because he hasn’t been back there since Lex was shot and he really doesn’t want to face his father right now.  

Clark thinks about Nicodemus flowers and how they altered a persons state.  About how Lana was so caught up in her new personality that she would do anything.  And with Desiree, how his dad and Lex were completely ensnared and there was nothing he could do about it. 

About how it didn’t affect him.  About how he was different.  Again. 

Clark heard the doctors say that Lex would probably never walk again but he hasn’t told Lex yet.  He doesn’t think Lex will react to that news too well and knows his mother would tell him that its best to wait until he’s on his feet again. 

The morbid chuckle soon turns to despair when Lex sits up to ask what’s wrong.   So like Lex to ask about Clark first. 

Clark tells him that he’s just happy that he is doing better and Lex doesn’t look entirely convinced though.   Clark thinks he should let it go and go back to sleeping but he knows that Lex won’t do that.  Lex likes to find the truth and will pursue it relentlessly.  It’s one of the things he both loves and hates about him. 

Lex asks if maybe he should call the nurse if Clark needs some water, a hidden glint in his eye that Clark just catches and he knows if he wants to stay he might have to give up that particular secret. 

Lex smiles here and there, tries to pry with gentle coaxing tempered with understated humour but Clark knows that this one might be even harder to tell him than the other. 

He tells Lex he’s going for a walk, that he’ll be back in ten minutes and most importantly that Lex should stay in bed and rest until he returns.  Clark tells him not to move, that he’ll open the blinds so Lex can look out at the city.   Lex just nods slightly, flopping back willlessly into the hard pillow as Clark leaves.   

There was beauty in the Metropolis evening sky.  No stars to speak of, the disadvantage of a city, but filled with dusky hews of blue and grey and shining red and yellow haze. 

The park is just across the street and Clark can still see the hospital when he enters.  Clark runs for a while.  Six times around the park before the little girl empties her bag of bread, she doesn’t notice.  No-one does. 

Looks up and sees Lex, holding his chart, looking down and smiling and Clark run’s too fast back up to the room. 

Clark tries to speak when he’s sees Lex standing, leaning against the window frame and looking upon the expanse of the park.  Clark tries to ask how it’s possible and why and how and why, but no sounds seem to be forthcoming, standing mute as Lex walks over to him, like it’s the most casual thing in the world. 

He murmurs something that Clark shouldn’t be able to hear, wouldn’t, if he didn’t recognize the echoed speech of a legendary friendship.  He doesn’t sound angry and Clark can only think that’s a good thing. 

Lex throws the chart on the bed in disdain and tells Clark that they are different from other people. 

Clark thinks that Lex’s voice is borderline insane right now, like he might just suggest they take over the world together the next time he speaks. 

He doesn’t. 

Instead he takes Clark’s hand and presses it to his own.  He tells Clark that they belong together and steps even closer. 

He whispers that only they can understand each other and Clark agrees in his head and his heart, even though he doesn’t manage to move. 

When Lex kisses him he doesn’t know why he’s never considered this before because he wants it now and forever. 

Lex tells him that he knows his secret now.  That they can be different together. 

It sounds to Clark like Lex wants something that lasts for a thousand life times.  Clark looks at him then.  Not even a breath away. 

He thinks that maybe he doesn’t mind that at all.

End