Title: Unstoppable
Chapter 29
Buffy heard Clark come back into the room and realized that she and Lex needed to stop before things got out of hand again. Which could happen so easily it wasn't even funny. With one last nibble on Lex's lower lip, she pulled gently away. Her eyes communicated her frustration and desire, but they both knew that this was for the best. Even if they didn't like it.
She sat back down on the divan when Clark gave her the coat and her socks. She slid on her socks then her shoes and knew that this really was the end of their day together. They needed to get going in order to get Clark home on time.
As Buffy pulled on her shoes, Clark moved into Lex's personal space. They watched each other for a few moments before Clark dipped his head down for a kiss and Lex rose to meet him. Hands found hips, fingers curled into heavy wool as mouths explored for one last time.
There was acceptance in Clark's embrace. Acceptance and acknowledgement that Lex could want someone other than him. Whatever it was he'd felt for Clark when all this started was nothing compared to what he felt now. This... this was love. A kind of love Lex had never known.
It humbled him. Changed him. Molded him into what he hoped would be a better person.
Someone that his mother would be proud of. Buffy sat back and watched her lovers once again. A small smile lit her features, one of acceptance and contentment. She'd never before pictured herself in a relationship where she could accept watching her lover kiss and touch and make love to someone else. But this situation was unique in her experience in so many ways that she'd ceased questioning it almost immediately. She just enjoyed what they had, the three of them together.
And she knew that she would never feel any jealousy about Clark and Lex's relationship between them. Just as she could be with them individually, they could be together without her. She might be a little upset if they left her out of something major, but she didn't think they would do that. She trusted them, perhaps more than she had with anyone since Angel. She had and would share everything that she was with them...
She hadn't done that with anyone since her 17th birthday.
One last melting kiss and it was Lex who stepped away. He touched Clark's cheek briefly, combed his fingers through his hair before murmuring, "I love you... both of you."
Voice so low that Clark probably didn't hear him. And Buffy definitely didn't. Which was for the best... for now. Lex kept moving, grabbing a coat off of his bed and when he spoke again, it was in a conversational tone that carried through the room. "Clark... which car? I'll let you pick this time."
He'd only caught part of what Lex said earlier. Mainly the part about loving him and that was enough to keep him from begging to stay. Now Lex was offering him the run of the garage and that meant... "You know which one I want. Only... Buffy can sit in my lap, right? Or are you going to let me drive?"
Laughing, Lex took Buffy's hand and led her out of the bedroom while Clark followed on their heels. "She can sit in your lap. You don't get to drive that one until you're eighteen."
"Right. Like that made you a safe driver." The laughter was helping. As was the banter. It eased the way as they walked down the hall toward the main stairs. "Buffy, you shouldn't get in any car with Lex behind the wheel..."
Buffy laughed. "Don't say that until you've seen me drive. If I had a car with the kind of power I'd really like..." She trailed off wistfully. It was a joke between Buffy, Willow, Dawn and Xander that Buffy liked speed. Her friends joked that she should never be allowed to own anything with an engine larger than a V4.
But as a kid, she'd always loved the fancy car her dad drove. When they were alone, he'd sometimes taken her out on the Interstate and into the desert where he'd sped off down the empty road. Gone from 0-100 in about ten seconds, and she laughed the entire time.
"Uh-oh... another speed demon." Clark's lop-sided smile drew another laugh from Lex along with a companionable shove against Clark's shoulder. Together they walked down the stairs, Clark's arm sliding around Lex's waist before they made it to the landing.
"Girl after my own heart," Lex replied even as he leaned against Clark. There was no one in the halls and no one in the foyer as they walked past. Upon reaching the garage, Lex flicked on the lights before stepping out into a gleaming array of cars.
Three Porsches - one grey, one silver and one so dark a purple that it appeared black. Four Ferraris - black, dark green, screaming red and the same deep purple. The Aston Martin with lines so sleek nothing on earth could compare to it. The silver Jag that his father had insisted be added to his stable because at least it looked close to normal.
A Lotus in the back that Lex let no one near, not even Clark. The dark blue Mercedes that he used for trips to Metropolis as well as the limo that Lex fully intended on them spending several entertaining hours in.
Finally - over in the far corner beside the red truck that Jonathan Kent wouldn't let Clark keep was the car that they both loved. The Lamborghini. Dark as midnight in a starless sky. Powerful, sleek lines that screamed sex... hours and hours and hours of sex.
"Oh my God..." Buffy was beyond awed. In this one garage stood every car she'd ever wanted, some of them in several models and colors. And they were headed right towards the Lam, apparently a favorite of theirs. And hers, too... she loved the way it looked, the image that it presented, and one of the most powerful engines ever put in a car, as far as she was aware.
She let her hand slide from Lex's so he and Clark could continue walking as she just took a moment to let her gaze wander around the room. Her interest in cars was something she'd kept hidden from most of her friends, back in Sunnydale. It was a private thing, really. But for once, she indulged it despite the other people in the room and just took a minute to stare.
Lex stopped after a few steps and turned to watch Buffy as she looked at each of his cars. He signaled Clark who also stopped, then came back to stand beside Lex. Buffy reached out toward the grey Porsche, her hand hovering in mid-air as though afraid to touch. That would not do. "Touch anything you like, Beauty. Anything at all."
Clark's arm wound its way around Lex's waist again, his thumb hooking into a belt loop. He grinned, knowing exactly what Buffy was going through. Her reactions mirrored his own the first time Lex had brought him down to the garage. A garage with a floor so clean you could eat off it. Cleaner than any showroom Clark had ever been in. Max, Lex's mechanic, kept the place absolutely spotless.
Her fingertips brushed lightly over smooth metal as she walked between the gray Porsche and the dark purple Ferrari. She traced over the lines of both cars, and nodded to herself. Neither of the cars was more than three or possibly four years old. Relatively new machines, kept in top shape from all appearances. She knew she didn't really have time to look around at everything, but she wished she could.
Buffy looked over at Lex and Clark with a smile and shook her head. "Lex, in one place you have every car I've ever wished I could have," she told them with a wry smile. "I'm a closet car nut along with a speed demon." She winked at Clark as she applied his description to herself. "And I'd love to be able to look around sometime, if you don't mind."
"Mi garaje et su garaje. I'll even let you drive some of them." Lex's laughter was silenced abruptly by a kiss from Clark. A deep kiss that left both of them a little shaky as they broke apart. "Is the Lam acceptable for now?"
Clark was already halfway to the key-board while Lex waited for an answer. He knew they were going to take the Lamborghini. Why would anyone want to be in anything else?
"Absolutely," Buffy replied, returning to Lex's side. "A Lam was always on the top of the list," she said with a smile. "I mean, come on. Just look at it!" And that was an explanation in and of itself. It had to be one of the sexiest cars in existence.
Though this whole thing about her sitting on Clark's lap in the Lam was a new twist. But definitely not an unpleasant one. Fortunately - or maybe unfortunately - the drive to the Kent's would be too short for them to do much. They couldn't get themselves into any 'trouble' really. Not enough time.
Clark snagged the keys and in a burst of good humor as well as sheer freedom, he super-speeded back to Lex's side. He handed the keys over to Lex who shook his head and laughed again. This was the most he'd ever heard Lex laugh. Just another sign that Lex was relaxing around them, letting go of the iron control that made him unapproachable.
It was good to see Kent having fun. To watch the weight that he carried around every day slough off of his shoulders. This was probably the first time he'd ever had the chance to be normal - well, normal for him - around anyone besides his parents. Clark had been an adult for far too long. It was time for him to be a kid. Holding the keys in his hand, Lex studied them for a minute before tossing them back to Clark. "Heads up, Kent. You drive."
Stunned, Clark stared at Lex, unaware that his mouth hung open in amazement. Lex never let anyone drive the Lamborghini... not even Max and he was the mechanic. Despite being blown away by the very thought of being behind the wheel, Clark did catch the keys.
Buffy looked back and forth between Clark and Lex, enjoying the exchange. She wondered what prompted Lex's change of heart about letting Clark drive and decided to ask, just for curiosity's sake. "Change of heart, Lex?" she asked lightly. She took his hand and led the way around to the passenger side of the car. They really did need to get going if they were going to get Clark home on time.
The car only had two seats, and it didn't matter to her whose lap she sat on. She could be comfortable either way. But she did like the idea of getting to spend a few more minutes close to Lex before they had to say good night.
"I trust Clark," was all Lex said as he opened the door and settled into the passenger seat. He eased the seat all the way back at the same time that Clark was adjusting the driver's seat. Lex's quiet statement drew a broad smile from Clark, followed by a quick kiss.
Lex eased all the way back into the seat and waited for Buffy to join him. The position could be innocent or it could be what he hoped, a reminder of what they'd already done. This wasn't the safest mode of transportation but... it was Sunday night in Smallville. Which meant no traffic and the town's personal savior was their driver.
Buffy smiled and accepted Lex's invitation. She slid onto his lap and wriggled a bit until she got settled. Her arm wrapped around his neck and she kissed him gently.
She didn't care if the position was dangerous or not - she trusted Clark to be careful in a relatively dangerous situation. And she wanted to enjoy the time she had with Lex... even if all they could do was tease each other. It reminded her a little of the last year with Angel; but unlike then, they knew they would be able to be together again. There just wasn't time now for it, was all.
Closing the door, Lex slid one arm around Buffy as he punched in the code for the garage door. It slid aside silently while Clark started the Lamborghini. The car was almost as silent, the engine purring as it was guided out into the spring evening.
The vibration didn't hit until Clark was on the main road. The Lam had a few tricks up her sleeve and that subsonic vibration was one of them. Lex could feel it in his bones, warmth spreading through his overly used body and reviving him. He moved Buffy a little so she could feel the same thrum of power as Clark shifted into second gear and then third.
The look on Kent's face was classic. Sheer delight and an absolute love of speed. With a flick of button, Lex lowered the driver's window so the rushing wind could catch Clark's hair as they hurtled through the night.
Buffy snuggled against Lex, enjoying the way the vibration of the car thrummed through her body. It both soothed and excited her, and it was even more obvious why the Lam was described as sex in car form.
She tilted her head back and leaned it against Lex's shoulder. Her hands found his and twined their fingers together as she wrapped their arms around her body. She liked being near him, being held by him, the feel of his arms around her. She felt similarly about Clark, but she knew better than to tease the driver.
"That's it, you convinced me," she murmured in his ear. She was half serious, half teasing, and her tone was light and happy. "If I ever win the lottery or anything, I'm definitely getting one of these cars..."
"I'll introduce you to my buyer," Lex murmured in her ear as he nuzzled the lobe. Pity they had to go straight to Clark's. The Lam was best on the open highway and just the thought of screaming down it with Kent at the wheel and Buffy straddling his lap was enough for certain parts of his anatomy to wake up.
Some other night he'd introduce both of them to fine art of automotive sex. Nothing like getting a blowjob at 90 miles an hour... although it came with one hell of a fine if you got caught.
He could outrun this car... barely. But there was something about controlling it, harnessing all that power in the mere turn of his wrist that was better than running. And the vibration was out of this world. The seat cradled him, the leather sliding up between his legs in a way Clark hadn't understood until tonight. No wonder Lex guarded the Lam jealously...
Buffy smiled and twisted her head to catch Lex's lips in a kiss. She shifted her hips backwards just a bit more and wiggled; she could feel him, hard and pressed into her ass, and wished once more that they had more time. Teasing him now was probably a very cruel thing to do, but she couldn't help herself. He'd stop her if he wanted to, she knew. So unless he said otherwise, she stayed as close as she could.
Something about the rush of the wind in her face and through her hair combined with the vibration of the car and the hard body pressed against her back was incredibly exciting. She ought to be exhausted, but she wasn't; her body was awake and aroused and she didn't care that she was going to have to talk to Clark's parents shortly. She was living in the moment, in the sensual reality of now. Later would come in its own time.
Five minutes into the ride and he was more than ready for this. One hand slid up under her sweater, cupping a satin and lace-covered breast. The other dipped in between her thighs, the heel coming to rest against the rise of her sex. Tomorrow was too far away.
Lex popped the button of her jeans while Clark made the final turn toward the Kent Farm. Warm fingers slid down her stomach, the tips stroking soft curls as Lex murmured in her ear. "I never wanted a woman like I want you."
Clark checked the dash clock; they still had a few minutes. He could over-shoot the driveway, turn at the intersection and circle back around with plenty of time to reach the front porch before nine. His sensitized hearing was in full swing, the pop of the button and half-slide of a zipper alerted him to what was going on in the passenger seat. He didn't need to look.
Lex's words warmed her heart and made her melt into his arms. In the past, Buffy might have had trouble believing someone who said that to her... but she was already his, so had no reason to lie about it. Plus, she could hear the ring of truth in his voice, and she believed him without question.
Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck gently; there wasn't much of his body she could reach, with her body pressed against his. But she could, and did, answer in a soft voice, "I've never wanted anything as much as I want you both, want this relationship. I love you." Her entire body tingled under his hands and she didn't have words for how much she wanted him in that moment.
Perhaps part of it was the press of time, but mostly it was just that she couldn't remember the last time she felt anything as good or as strongly as she felt with and for them. The emotional high made her giddy and needy, and she still wished that this day could go on forever.
Kissing her was not a simple matter but Lex was nothing if not talented. His mouth sought hers, tongue dipping in to tease and then trace the contour of her lower lip. Lex pulled that lip in between his own, sucked on it... bit it even as his hands moved. Fingertips coated in a matter of seconds... he would at least carry her scent after she was gone.
The down-shift was smoother than glass and Kent was turning the car. Lex looked up and frowned when he realized that the scenery zipping by was not the driveway to the family farm. Apparently Clark had over-shot. He checked the clock, triangulated the distance involved and declined to comment. They still had enough time for this little detour... barely.
Buffy whimpered softly and arched into Lex's touch. She didn't care what they could or couldn't finish; she'd survive, had before. She just wanted to feel him touching her, to know once more with absolutely no doubts in her mind that she was wanted. Her lips sought Lex's for one more long, passionate kiss.
Though she wasn't familiar enough with the area to know where they were or to recognize the scenery in the dark, her internal clock told her that they had to be close. So she clung to Lex, to the way he made her feel, the way he tasted in her mouth, and tried to imprint the sensations and emotions onto her memory so she could hold onto them through the night.
Cool air slithered across his skin as Lex leaned back further in the seat. He reached for the control, caught it with his fingertips and felt the seat smooth out almost horizontal. When Buffy shifted against him again, Lex rose up into that touch with a thrust of his own. Silk and wool encased his cock, too many layers between them.
Another smooth turn followed by a straight-away. Clark could be his driver anytime. Silent beside them, both hands on the wheel although he was shooting glances their way every few seconds.
When they went horizontal, Buffy was very tempted to flip over so she could touch and kiss Lex properly. At the same time, she didn't want to even think about his hands leaving her body. She tried to think, to make some kind of decision, and while she thought about it she arched her back again, pressed her hips downward just a little harder and adopted a slight side-to-side swaying motion to rub against him.
There were way too many clothes in the way... but she didn't think there was enough time to do anything about it. She also caught Clark's eye a few times when he glanced at them, and her smile promised him similar treatment sometime when he wasn't driving.
That sway and the firm press against his cock was almost too much. Sheer torture at this point and Lex clenched his jaw to keep from begging. Begging her to come back to the house with him, begging Clark to do the same. It wasn't possible. They all had responsibilities.
Another turn and Clark's hand left the wheel by the time it was completed. He ran it over the top of Lex's head, soothing him with that single touch. "Soon, Lex, soon."
With a soft sigh, Buffy realized that she'd better stop. She gently pulled Lex's hand out of her pants so she could flip over on top of him. Her arms went around him and her face nestled in the crook between his neck and shoulder. "I'm sorry if I pushed too much," she whispered in his ear with a gentle kiss against his skin. She probably should've known better; pushing the limits had never really been her style.
She tried to make her body relax, to mute the hum of desire that tingled beneath her skin. It wasn't working very well, but she tried.
"Shh, Beauty. I enjoyed every moment." Lex hushed her with a kiss and Clark made the final turn back toward the farm. The fields whizzed by, the road illuminated by the moon and the slice of headlights.
Lex leaned back to look up at her and his mouth quirked into a half-smile even as he brought his fingers up to his nose. He breathed deep, never turning his gaze away from her and that smile broadened only to disappear as those fingers slipped into his mouth. Her taste bloomed on his tongue, spreading warmth through every inch of his body.
Buffy propped herself up on her arms to watch. Her lips parted slightly and her breath came faster again as she watched his fingers slip into his mouth. He smiled around them and he had a look of pure pleasure in his eyes.
It only took a moment for her to put the pieces together and realize that was the hand that had been pressed into her sex. He was tasting her again, albeit indirectly, and obviously enjoying every minute of it. "You can do more of that tomorrow, if you want," she whispered to him. "Anything you like, I promise." What she was offering was no little thing, but she trusted him.
Lex would never demand more than she was capable of, and she would willingly give him anything she could. Clark too, for she trusted him the same way. She'd already given herself to both of them, literally... this new promise wasn't really any different from that.
Last long suck on his fingers before letting go. His other hand cradled the back of her head as Lex drew her down for one more kiss. A kiss that became words against her lips, vibration and air and promise. "Be thou my chalice and I'll never want for drink again."
Oh man, was Lex ever smooth. Clark wasn't sure how those words were affecting Buffy but they had him hard. He shifted in the seat, trying to adjust without being too obvious about it. In doing so, he almost over-shot the driveway again. A quick turn of the wheel had them on the right track.
"Always," Buffy murmured back. She kissed Lex once more, long and sweet, as she felt the car slow to a stop. They had arrived, she knew it. And reluctant as they all were, the evening had to come to an end. Forcibly; if they didn't have Clark inside in mere minutes, he could be in trouble.
Slowly, reluctantly, Buffy sat up. She straightened her clothing and fastened her jeans again. Slim fingers raked quickly through her hair, attempting to restore order to the wind-blown and mussed strands. She wasn't thinking clearly, really, but she did know that parents only had so much patience for lingering outside to say good night. This sucked. She didn't want to say good night.
Exiting the car, Clark circled around so he could help them out. He'd stopped at the beginning of the drive so he could switch places with Lex. His parents really wouldn't approve of his being behind the wheel of the Lam.
When the door opened, Lex blinked in surprise. They weren't up by the house. Instead he could make out the main road and the mailboxes while Clark held out his hand to Buffy to help her out. "Smart move, Kent."
"Glad you approve." Clark's smile flashed for a moment, right before he pulled Buffy into his arms for a kiss. Long and slow and deep, using everything he'd learned to make it as memorable as possible.
Buffy melted into Clark's arms, her fingers brushing carefully through his soft hair as she pressed close to him for a long moment. He took her breath away, hazed her mind over for long minutes. When he finally released her and she recovered, she reached up to caress his cheek with her fingertips. "You know that around your parents, we have to behave. I'll have to pretend to be more like an older sister than a lover," she told him gently.
"If I say anything to upset you or make you feel like a kid, please know I don't mean it. I never could. But if we don't want them to know, we can't behave like we have been all day." She softly pleaded with him, hoping he would understand. It was only for the sake of holding onto what they shared, keeping it secret so it couldn't be forbidden. Because not being able to see him would tear her apart.
Clark nodded, taking it all in. Everything she said made perfect sense. His parents wanted to protect him, even if it meant keeping him from the people he loved.
There was another set on hands on him now. Lex's, warm and protective as the rest on his shoulders. "We love you, Clark. Don't forget that or lose sight of it. Whatever happens."
"Don't worry, Lex. I'm the Fort Knox of secrets." Clark cupped Buffy's chin, rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip before turning toward Lex. Who kissed him. Arms around his neck, mouth pressed tight against his own, tongue finding and tangling with his. Hard body, hard kiss and this time it was Clark who was dizzy and breathless when Lex released him.
Buffy smiled and gave them a moment to themselves. To let them reconnect before they all had to part. Then she stepped closer and slid her hands into each of theirs. "We'll all always have each other. None of us is more than a phone call away, and it will help to talk even if we can't all get together at the moment. We can do this. We really can." She was reassuring herself as much as she was them, but she did believe it.
For once, she actually believed without question. They could do this. And she had something to hold close to her heart, to keep her going from day to day. Even if she didn't see them daily, she had this.
Lex nodded and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. He'd move heaven and earth to keep them together. After a moment Clark nodded, then looked up at the house where the porch light had just come on. "We need to go."
"Get in." Quiet order given while Lex rounded the hood and slid into the driver's seat. When Clark hesitated, Lex pinned him with a look. "Easier to explain to your parents the two of you getting out of the Lam then you running up there with Buffy. Now get in."
"He's right," Buffy said softly. She kept her hold on Clark's hand and tugged him towards the car. "Go on, get in. In the dark, they won't be able to tell that I'm sitting on your lap." She waited for Clark to get into the car and then settled on his lap. She kissed him once more, very softly and briefly, then faced forward. Already she could see shadows in the doorway and it was obvious that Clark's parents were watching for them.
The seat was upright again by the time Clark slid into it. He spread his legs a little so Buffy could fit between them and as soon as the door was shut, Lex clicked on the ignition and the lights illuminated the driveway. He drove slowly up to the house, stopping on the far side of the new truck as Jonathan Kent pushed open the front door.
Checking the clock, Lex opened his door and made his way toward the front porch. They were exactly on time, a fact that was reflected in the elder Kent's posture and the down-grade of his usual disapproval. "Evening, Mr. Kent."
"Lex," Long slow drawl of his name as Jonathan looked over Lex's shoulder towards the truck. He couldn't exactly see what car Lex had driven but whatever it was, it had one hell of a powerful engine. He'd heard it coming all the way up the drive. "Is my son with you?"
"Yes. He and Ms. Summers both." Not looking back over his shoulder, Lex climbed the steps and leaned against one of the posts with his hands buried in his pockets. There was a half-healed cut over Jonathan's left eye as well as a few bruises left over from his encounter with the storm the week before. "Clark said you got hurt. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Buffy smiled at Clark's touch on her hip, helping steady her as she climbed out of the car. She was listening to Lex talk to Mr. Kent, and even she could hear the vague disapproval in the older man's voice. He had the sound of a man who believed a thing without having a truly good argument to support it.
"Come on, baby," she whispered to Clark as he closed the car door behind them. "Let's go rescue Lex from your father." "Good idea," Clark murmured. He moved past Buffy, jogging towards the porch in time to see his father square up with Lex. There had never been anything subtle about his dad's disapproval of his best friend.
"Thank you but no. Clark and I can handle everything." Jonathan took a step toward Lex, intent on confronting about the reporter he'd found in the cellar the day of the storm. He'd bet that farm that Luthor was the reason why Nixon was there in the first place.
The sound of rushed footsteps caught his attention as well as Lex's. Clark was moving toward them at a quick pace, smiling as he came. For a second there was a strange look of Lex's face that Jonathan couldn't place but it slid smoothly away as Clark's hand landed on the rail. Luthor's cultured tone rolled out into the night as he greeted the wayward son. "Hey, Clark. Glad you could join us."
Behind Clark was a young woman. The same young woman who'd walked out of the barn with him earlier. She was tiny and as she drew nearer, Jonathan was struck by just how pretty she was. Short blond hair, sweet tentative smile and so small that she was practically swimming in Martha's old coat.
Buffy smiled at Jonathan, a little hesitant but comfortable because Clark and Lex were there. When she saw him notice her and turn to watch her approach, she decided to take advantage of the opportunity to stop the argument that had been brewing. "You must be Mr. Kent? I'm Buffy Summers," she introduced herself. She held out her hand to him with another bit of a smile. Her hand was carefully relaxed; she had a lot of practice at not betraying her strength.
Standing among the three large men, Buffy immediately felt tiny. Shorter, slimmer, more delicate. If she didn't have her own strength to fall back on, she'd probably be intimidated. Even prettier close up. As he took her hand, he noticed Clark edging a little closer while Lex remained perfectly at ease. Clear sign that Clark was interested in the girl. He acted the same way around Lana for the last few years and Chloe too up until the dance.
Jonathan couldn't fault his taste; she was a beautiful young lady. But too old for his son. He'd met her sister earlier in the day when Lana brought her by. They'd been out exercising some of Nell's horses and Dawn was full of questions about Clark. Even disappointed that his son hadn't been at home.
"Nice to meet you. Would you like to come in for a minute?" Martha would want to talk to her. Maybe get a feel for her situation as well as more of an understanding of Dawn's interest in Clark. Despite knowing that his son was growing into a fine young man, Jonathan was never comfortable when new people took an interest in Clark.
Lex took that invitation as his cue to leave. "I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow, Clark." He patted Clark on the shoulder and jogged down the steps. "Ms. Summers, it was a pleasure. Good night."
"Good night, Mr. Luthor." Buffy took her cue from Lex and didn't use his first name. Small-town formality would take a little getting used to. After saying good night to Lex, she turned to answer Mr. Kent. "I'd love to come in for a bit, Mr. Kent. Thank you," she said. She'd promised Clark she would talk to his parents, and she intended to keep that promise.
Jonathan nodded even as he held the door open for her. "Martha? We've got company," he called out.
Turning back toward the porch, he caught Clark staring down the driveway at disappearing taillights. Lex hadn't wasted anytime in taking off which was for the best. "Come on. Clark. Let's not keep your mother waiting."
Something inside of him was screaming. Those fading lights were all he had of Lex and it hurt to see him go. Clark shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumping before he faced his father and a waiting Buffy.
When Buffy passed Clark to walk up the steps, she purposely brushed against him. It was unobtrusive, but meant to be comforting. She knew he didn't want Lex to leave; neither did she, but they had to go on as they might have if today hadn't happened. She smiled and murmured a 'thank you' to Jonathan when he held the door open for her. She'd been right, chivalry wasn't quite dead in Smallville.
She let herself be ushered into a comfortable-looking living room, where she met with an attractive older woman. The woman smiled and held out her hand, saying, "Hello, young lady. I'm Mrs. Kent."
Buffy took Martha's hand carefully, saying, "Pleased to meet you, ma'am. I'm Buffy Summers." The greeting was much more formal than Buffy was used to, but she recalled Clark's manners and Riley's and knew that her inner-city casualness would likely only get her into trouble in a place like Smallville.
"Nice to meet you too, Buffy," Martha replied with another smile. She, too, had seen Dawn earlier but though Buffy was very obviously older, she was smaller than her sister. Tiny, delicate-looking frame with pretty hair and deep eyes that were very like Clark's. But Martha couldn't help but notice the sorrow and pain that lurked in hazel depths, and she wondered what had caused it.
In effort to make the girl more comfortable, Martha went into mother-mode. "Can I get you something to drink? Juice or cocoa?" she offered, leading the way into the kitchen.
"Everything all right, Clark?" Jonathan asked quietly, so not to disturb his wife and their guest. His son wasn't his normal self. Which wasn't that surprising after having spent an evening with Lex.
Yes, Lex had leveraged an employee buy-out of the plant and saved a great deal of jobs. But the plant closure had been his fault in the first place. Incompetence, his father had claimed... which made little sense, after his recent talk with Gabe Sullivan. It seems the plant was turning a profit for the first time in years when Lionel announced the closure.
Besides... Lex was strange. Far too intense for someone his age and the way he looked at Clark set off every parental alarm bell. The Luthor boy was smart, very smart and if anyone was going to figure out Clark's secret it would be him.
"I'm okay, Dad. Just a little tired, I guess." Crossing the room, Clark opened the fridge and grabbed the milk bottle. He had it halfway to his mouth when he saw his mother frown. Sighing, Clark pulled down a glass and filled it to the brim.
He missed Lex and soon Buffy was going to be gone too. Some of his powers were so dumb. Why couldn't he have something useful like being able to make time stand still?
"Cocoa sounds lovely, if it's not too much trouble," Buffy replied easily; a warm drink would be nice. She slid the old coat off her shoulders and held it for a moment. Then she added, "And thank you for lending me the coat. Where should I put it?" She was offering to put it away, which seemed appropriate since she'd been so generously allowed to borrow it.
Martha had taken the milk bottle from Clark and set a saucepan on the stove when Buffy mentioned cocoa. "It's no trouble at all, and you can give the coat back to Clark. He knows where it belongs." The girl obviously had manners trained into her, and Martha decided she liked that. Of course, she was likely on her best behavior since this was her first time here, but it was good to know that Buffy knew when manners were important.
It gave her a good opinion of the young woman her son had taken an interest in, to all appearances.
Buffy handed Clark the coat with a smile meant just for him, carefully kept from his parents' view. Then she returned to where she'd been standing earlier, near the kitchen table. She bit her lip and wondered for a moment just how to broach the topic she wanted to talk to them about. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent... if you have a little while, could I talk to you about something please?"
Her voice shook a little as she asked the question, and Buffy realized that she was nervous about telling them. Telling Clark and Lex had been one thing; this was something else entirely. She had no idea how the Kents would react to her story, but she'd promised Clark. And Clark would be here, which would help her immensely.
*****
Go back to the Smallville page.
Authors: Lex's Lady & Mistress Ace
E-mail: winter@sapphire-dragon.net & rosewood@inreach.com
Feedback: It's the icing on the cake. We write because the story demands to be told. Feedback lets us know if we struck a chord with you.
Distribution: Our website, of course, www.fandomwriters.com. The list archives are welcome to it also. Anyone else, please ask first. We'd like to know where our fic is going.
Rating: NC-17 (eventually – or maybe quickly depending on the whim of the muses)
Category: Crossover, Romance, Angst
Spoilers: All of season 1 of Smallville and season 6 of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
Pairings: Buffy/Clark/Lex, m/f, m/m
Disclaimer: We don't own the characters at all (however much we might wish we did). Buffy and all references to BTVS are property of the great god Joss Whedon, et al. Clark, Lex and the Smallville storyline belong to Miller-Gough et al. We're just borrowing them for a while. We promise to put them back unharmed and perhaps a little happier.
Notes: ** denotes internal thought, * = italics.
Summary: What if the Summers girls moved to Smallville? What if Buffy discovered that Clark had a secret and thought he could use a confidant?
Dedications: From Em: To Ace, for her never-ending support and her willingness to work on this with me. She writes both Clark and Lex in a way I could never hope to achieve, and I couldn't possibly have done this on my own.
From Ace: To Em for reminding me why I love Buffy. To Beth for being my Smallville watching partner even when the scripts were awful. To the whole Clark/Lex list for opening my eyes to the potential here. And finally to Christina for her great story; Runaway Trains at 3 A.M. which was part of our inspiration. You can find it at: this site.