Chapter Seventeen: Long Overdue

Even though he remembered the destruction prior to Ash Wednesday, having seen Zod rip through walls like paper, Lex Luthor was not prepared for the sight that awaited him when he returned to the mansion.

His home of six years had been nothing less than routed. An entire section of the building had collapsed and the lawns were crisscrossed with fissures, broken glass from every shattered window and other signs of violence. Standing outside, studying every piece of smashed brick, broken window and other bit of destruction, Lex couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. His father had taught him to rein in his emotions, practically from birth; however, seeing this scene filled him with a profound sense of loss.

This had been his home for the last six years. Lex was rather surprised by how attached he had become to it. This place had been the scene of much tragedy and much happiness but Lex had still hoped to raise his child here with Lana.

“Lex, are you alright?” Lana came up along side of him, recognizing the pain she saw in his eyes as he stared at his home.

They had returned to Smallville only a short time ago, after Lionel had called them while they were on route to Hawaii, informing them that everything to do with Zod and Kal-El was over. Lionel didn’t give many details only to say that Lois Lane had managed to destroy the device that Zod was using to reshape the world in the image of Krypton. She had been hurt badly in the process but apparently, what she had done was enough to free Oliver and Clark from being vassals of the Kryptonians. Lana, who had seen first hand such a transformation, knew that much of the story was true.

“Seeing the place like this…” Lex said dropping his gaze, unable to look any more.

“I’m sorry Lex,” Lana tried to be comforting but she hadn’t lived here long enough to grow an emotional attachment to the place.

“I know it’s just a place,” he replied, lifting his eyes to hers. “But it’s been my home for the past six years I sort of got attached to it.”

“I know,” Lana nodded in understanding. She had felt similarly when she left Aunt Nell’s farm for the last time. “We can always rebuild it Lex,” she suggested. “If that is what you want, why don’t we?”

Lex lifted his eyes to the building, “I don’t know Lana,” he sighed. “Maybe, it is time to let this place go. Maybe we should start our family someplace else…?”

Lana did not know what to say to that and was almost grateful that they were interrupted so she didn’t have to. A car drove into the driveway from the main track and Lana recognized the truck immediately as belonging to Clark Kent. However, he wasn’t alone. In the seat next to him was Oliver Queen. Lana glanced at Lex and saw his jaw tightening.

“Lex, let’s hear them out.”

“Why not?” Lex snorted, his hand moving instinctively to his throat where there was still ugly bruises of Clark’s fingers against his skin. Most of his injuries had been superficial but Lex could not forget how intently both men had tried to kill him. “I can’t take the moral high ground after Dark Thursday can I?” He took her hand and flinched at the white scar in the centre of her palm where Zod had driven a poker straight to it.

*****************

“This is going to be fun,” Oliver gave Clark a look as they climbed out of the vehicle and saw Lex and Lana surveying the damage done to the Luthor Mansion.

“Be nice,” Clark ordered under his breath. “Damage control, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Oliver waved his hand dismissively at Clark before the two men approached Lex and Lana. Despite himself, Oliver could not help be struck by how much destruction he as Zod and Clark had been able to inflict on the grand looking mansion during their last battle. It would take a massive overhaul to return this building to its former glory but Lex had the money to do it.

“Back to the scene of the crime?” Lex asked snidely as they both approached.

“Okay we deserve that,” Oliver retorted, giving Clark another look at why this was not a good idea. “Look, we’re just here to say sorry Lex. We don’t remember much what happened but judging by everyone’s colorful descriptions, it wasn’t pretty.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Lex tried not to look at Clark or notice the way Clark was looking at Lana. “You killed a lot of people and injured just as many.”

“No more than you did when you were taken over by Zod, Lex,” Clark had to interject. “We didn’t come here to fight,” his gaze fixed on Lana’s, “we came here to apologize.”

“Sure Clark,” Lex said sarcastically. “Go ahead and apologize for nearly killing us both.”

“Lex,” Lana interrupted and gave her fiancé an imploring look, “please.”

“Look Lex,” Oliver broke into the conversation before this became ugly. “I came here for more than just a social call. Could we please talk in private?”

Lex raised a brow at that, not liking the idea of leaving Clark alone with Lana but knew that she would be displeased with him if he tried to be too possessive. With a sigh, Lex realized he had little choice but to give Oliver the audience he requested and reminded himself that it was he whom Lana was marrying, not Clark Kent.

Still even now, old habits died hard.

“Of course,” Lex turned to Lana and tried not to throw Clark a dark look. “Lana could you give us a moment?”

“Sure Lex,” Lana said happy for the trust, “Clark, how about some coffee in the guesthouse? Apparently that’s still standing.”

Clark was happy to oblige and found that he was pleased that they could talk as friends despite everything that happened. Neither spoke however, until they reached the small garden framing the walk to the front door of the guest house. Clark knew he was being paranoid but he had no desire to talk honestly with Lana with any structure belonging to Lex over his head. It was not an issue of jealousy but prudence. Lex’s liking for surveillance equipment was a little too intense for Clark’s comfort.

“Lana, let’s talk here,” he said moving toward the grass under one of the tall trees at the far end of the garden.

“Alright Clark,” Lana studied him, guessing he had more to say than just a simple apology. For once she held back the questions until he was ready to speak. Besides, if there was one thing Lana had learnt by now, Clark Kent would not tell her anything unless he wished to.

How many times had he done this? Clark wondered as he stood his ground and looked across the space between them, trying to tell her the truth but never quite managing. For how it had turned out between them, Clark knew that he had much to account for. Perhaps if he had trusted her, things might have turned out different. Or perhaps they would still be apart but at least the truth wouldn’t be hanging above them like the Sword of Damocles.

“Lana…” he started to speak.

“You’re Kal-El, aren’t you?”

Clark stared at her. “What?”

“You are Kal-El,” Lana stated firmly. “You’ve always been Kal-El. Fine did something to you when he used Oliver but you are Kal-El. When those two Kryptonians came here from the black ship a year and half ago, they were looking for Kal-El. They weren’t looking for someone who just showed up, it was someone who was already here.”

The urge to lie was overwhelming but Clark could not do it. He could not lie to her, yet again. Exhaling the breath he had held while he debated the decision which really, he had made before this, Clark met her eyes and nodded.

“Yes,” he answered softly. “I’m Kal-El.”

Lana blinked, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted of her shoulders. It had been so long since she had been free of it that its absence left her somewhat drained. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked, a pained look on her face.

“Lana you have to understand,” Clark explained in a speech he had prepared for five years but never had a chance to use until now. “From the moment I could walk, my parents taught me never to reveal the secret. I didn’t know I was Kal-El until our freshman year. All I knew what that I was different and because I was different, people could come and take me away if they knew it. At first, I hid it from you because that’s what my parents taught me to do but the more different I became, the more powers I started to show, I became afraid that you wouldn’t understand.”

“Clark I loved you more than I will ever love anything again,” Lana declared without hesitation. “I would have understood. I wish you had given me the chance.”

Loved. She said loved. Clark ached a little at hearing that even though he knew how he felt for Lois was eternal. “I’m sorry Lana,” he apologized sincerely. “You’ll never know how sorry I am. I just didn’t want you to think I was some kind of freak.”

“Clark, you’ve been there every time I was in trouble,’ she looked at him with affection, knowing that she would always love him but their time was past. They both knew it. “Now for the first time I understand how you could be there all the time or why every time someone was in danger, Chloe, Peter, your parents, even Lex, we somehow managed to survive. You’ve been there for all of us. You should have given us the benefit of the doubt.”

“I know,” he couldn’t disagree there. He had underestimated how Pete and Chloe had reacted greatly and now it appeared he had underestimated Lana too.

Lana reached for his hand and squeezed it tight, “thank you for trusting me now. It’s too little too late but I appreciate the gesture. I hope you know that I’ll never betray that trust Clark,” Lana stared at him with a look that he knew to indicate that she meant it. “Whatever happens, I’ll protect your secret, just as you’ve always protected me.”

”Thank you Lana,” Clark said feeling so much regret because she was right, he should have given her the benefit of the doubt but it was too late now. That moment was past and both of them had embarked on different paths.

Their futures whatever it might be would run in a parallel course but they would never run together.

*****************

“You okay?” Oliver asked as Clark drove them back to the farm.

The Boy Scout had been quiet after they left the Mansion and Oliver guessed he was still dealing after his talk with Lana. Man he was glad that he was an arrogant little snot when he was a teenager and was incapable of having that serious a relationship with any girl. Still, Clark was with Lois now, a thing that Oliver was getting used to even though he knew it was unfair that he should feel jealous. He had more or less moved on when this whole thing with Zod had started and what feelings he had on the matter was mostly a hint of regret at what might have been.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Clark answered throwing a glance his way before facing the road again. “How did things go with you and Lex?” He asked, not wishing to discuss this subject because it was still too raw.

“Good,” Oliver answered, recognizing the tact and going with it. “Lex has agreed to join the disaster relief initiative I’m setting up with Wayne Enterprise, Kord Industries and a few other corporations.”

“Its good that they’re helping,” Clark replied thinking about the aftermath of Ash Wednesday and how much work was still left to recover from the disaster.

“Well not all us corporate types are like Lex,” Oliver threw him a grin. “Lucius Fox is a good man even if he is only running Wayne Enterprises for that idiot Wayne and the Wayne Foundation does good work. Ted Kord’s been pouring a lot of money into helping the underprivileged so he was more than happy to get on board.”

“Great,” Clark commended, impressed that Oliver knew how to work the system to help people less fortunate than him. “Hey did Lex have any questions about Zod?”

“A few but you were right,” Oliver answered, “he did buy the amnesia story.”

“I figured he would since he used it himself,” Clark retorted unsurprised that Lex had made inquiries. “Did he say anything about the footage at Luther Corp or the mansion?”

“Not much,” Oliver answered. “Then again, you know Lex. He wouldn’t tell us even if there was anything to tell.”

“True,” Clark nodded, knowing Lex all to well after the last few years. “Lana is going to let me know if he decides to pursue this.”

Oliver raised a brow, “Really?”

“Yeah,” Clark looked pensively ahead once more. “I told her the truth about me. Well most of it anyway. I don’t think it was that much of a surprise to her but she was really good about it.” Letting out a heavy sigh, he threw a glance at the other man. “I really messed up there Oliver. I should have told her a long time ago.”

“Hey Clark,” the older man patted him on the shoulder. “You can look back at all the mistakes you’ve made and regret them but they don’t change with time and the more you keep looking, the more you forget the good times and remember only the bad. You and Lana have walked away friends. Most people don’t even get that much. You’ve got Lois now,” Oliver surprised himself by being able to say that without any resentment, “take what you learnt from Lana and make it work this time.”

“I intend to,” Clark answered firmly because if this entire experience with Zod and red kryptonite had taught him anything, it was how much Lois loved him and what she had been willing to do to save him. Not only Lois but Chloe too and underestimating the people that he cared about was not a mistake he was making again any time soon.

“Hey Oliver,” Clark spoke up as the Kent farm came into view. “You’re a good friend you know.”

Oliver threw Clark a grin, “thank you Clark. I know it would have been simpler for you to kill Zod when he took over my body but I appreciate the lengths you went to get me back.”

“Hey it was my fault to begin with,” Clark pointed out.

”It was,” Oliver smirked, “but now that you got this flying thing down, I do have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?” Clark looked at him suspicious. “What kind of favor?”

Oliver grinned. “Have you ever been to Star City?”

EPILOGUE