Brothers And Heroes part 29
1/22/06 10:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyHeroes in effect. Changes happen and life moves on. ;)
Lex unpacked his bags—more of a dumping out of his suitcases on the floor than an actual unpacking of items. He looked around the blue painted room—his room, whenever he visited Uncle Jon’s. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew in a long shaky breath.
Shuffling his feet on the corny old red and blue braided rug, flopping down on the wide old fashioned bed, grinning at the plaid cowboy curtains at the window, just—just being in the room made it easier to breathe. He dropped back on the bed and rolled until he was crammed safely against the wall. The cool plaster felt good against his face, and even the smell of the wall was strangely soothing. He decided it would be all right to close his eyes for a few minutes, they were heavy and dry and just a few minutes would make all the difference….
His eyes flew open with a bone jarring full body jerk and he gasped before he remembered—it’s all okay now. The sun was setting, throwing shadows tall on the opposite wall and someone had lit a tiny lamp on the room’s desk, just strong enough to function as a night light—probably some left over from Clark’s baby days.
He swung his legs around and the second his heels hit the floor, he groaned. He was stiff and sore, felt like he’d been beat in his sleep, and his skin burned in places like fire.
He fished his kit out from the pile on the floor and trudged slowly to the bathroom, an occasional hiss escaping him when he bumped something on the way. He blinked and yawned, rubbed his gummy eyes and noticed the shadow blocking the bathroom door way was Clark. He was grinning from ear to ear and looking…shiny, Lex thought. That’s a perfect word for Clark. Shiny.
“Lex!” He bounced forward. “Are you taking a shower? Taking a bath? Brushing your teeth--” He stopped abruptly and blushed. “Geez, I’m sorry…we ate already, Mom wouldn’t let us wake you up—um—but she fixed you a plate.” He edged away from Lex. “I’m talking too much.”
Lex smiled. “Thanks Clark. Would you tell Aunt Martha I’ll be down in a minute, please?” He held up a towel. “Shower,” he said. Clark blushed bright red and nearly ran for the stairs.
Lex chuckled as he shut the door behind him. He pulled off socks and pants and dropped his shirt on top and shoved the whole pile against a wall. He barely waited for the water to warm before hopping in the shower; ground his teeth when the water woke up abused nerve endings and made his back feel like it was covered in flame. The pain subsided as the water ran warmer and warmer and his muscles unkinked. With his body’s stiffness slowly easing came a fracture in his self-control, tears flowed. Best time to cry, in the shower, one part of his mind calmly noted while the rest of him broke and sobbed. He pushed the palm of his hand hard against his mouth; let his body shake as he fought to keep quiet and get the aching misery out at the same time.
By the time he was out of the shower, clean, dry and calm again, he was more than ready for dinner. He felt as if days had passed since he’d last eaten and the thought of Aunt Martha’s fried chicken and green beans actually made his stomach rumble. He hurried downstairs to the kitchen and was relieved, disappointed that no one but his Aunt was in the kitchen.
His plate was waiting for him at his place. Aunt Martha was in her seat, swirling a tall glass of iced-tea in her hands. “Lex,” she smiled and set her glass down, held out a hand to him and he came to get his kiss. Warm dry lips touched his temple lightly, so very soft hands held him against her cheek and his hard won control nearly cracked again.
“Sit. Eat. All of it and no excuses, you hear?”
He nodded and smiled, not trusting himself to speak and dropped into the chair. God, she didn’t even need to tell him that, he was so hungry that the sight and smell of food made his mouth flood. He ate steadily, silently, gratefully, for a minute or two, completely content and then Aunt Martha spoke.
“Your dad called right after he sent you on your way.”
He hesitated and then continued, chewing thoroughly and thoughtfully before swallowing. He said, “Yes?”
“He told us everything.” She sighed, and a world of worry was in the sound. “Everything.”
Lex put his fork down carefully and wiped his lips and hands before folding the napkin into a tight triangle. He stared into his plate and said, “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Lex, ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t begin to cut it. What you did was so wrong--I know I don’t have to spell it out for you.” She shook her head. “I am disappointed in your actions, Lex. Your mother would be disappointed.”
Lex felt sick. “I know. I know that, don’t…it was easy and nothing bad happened so it was easy to do it again and —I wasn’t thinking…”
“Jonathan and I have always thought of you as one of ours. What you did hurts just as much as if it’d been Clark or Bruce. We...we just can’t understand why you would involve yourself in that kind of mess. Your father went to great lengths to describe what you did, he left nothing to the imagination.”
He could feel the blood rush from his face; cold fingers clenched in his chest and choked him. “Aunt Martha, I…did he tell you about…the party, the guy….” His voice trailed off into a strained whisper.
“Like I said, your father told us everything. I suppose he thought we should be aware of what happened,” but the twist of her lip said she doubted that was his reason at all.
Something ignited in him and he jerked his head up to meet her eyes. “I’m not ashamed of him. Harry loves me.”
She winched and sat back in her chair. “You aren’t allowed to have contact with him—the boy’s father’s orders, as well as your father’s.”
“I know. It doesn’t matter. We’re in love. Nothing can change that.” He stood. “I can leave if you want me to, Aunt Martha, I can go back to Metropolis.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near that--that-- I wish I could…” her lips pressed in a thin angry line. She shook her head. “Now let me tell you what is going to happen, Lex. You’re going to watch your step; you’re going to follow our rules, you’re to obey me without question. You’re about to live the life of a…a…monk! Got it?”
“I’ve got it,” Lex said. I’m a dead man, he thought. She went on, “I don’t care about the boy—I mean, I don’t care that it is a boy. But I care if you hurt yourself or others and think it’s love. People do horrible things to each other all the time in the name of love, Lex…do you understand me?”
He tried really hard to speak, to tell her yes, but in the end could only manage a weak nod. She had no idea how completely right she was.
She huffed a little and stood. The talk was over. “Finish your dinner Lex. Bruce is waiting for you out in the loft. I guess he wants you guys to sleep out there tonight.”
She stopped and hugged him hard. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, really I am. I know how awful it feels to be in love and feel like the world is against you. I hope that…that everything works out for the two of you.”
Lex was almost dizzy with relief. At least Aunt Martha was still on his side. Out of everything she said, the fact that she cared shone like a beacon. She understood him. It was amazing, incredible—and she even seemed to forgive him for fucking up spectacularly. Not like his dad. God—he’d really thought he was going to kill him, he seriously did. He’d never been so scared in all his life. His eyes prickled with tears he didn’t dare shed now. Aunt Martha still loved him; so he was pretty sure that meant Uncle Jon at least didn’t hate him. Now he’d have to talk to Bruce. Maybe Clark as well.
Lex unpacked his bags—more of a dumping out of his suitcases on the floor than an actual unpacking of items. He looked around the blue painted room—his room, whenever he visited Uncle Jon’s. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew in a long shaky breath.
Shuffling his feet on the corny old red and blue braided rug, flopping down on the wide old fashioned bed, grinning at the plaid cowboy curtains at the window, just—just being in the room made it easier to breathe. He dropped back on the bed and rolled until he was crammed safely against the wall. The cool plaster felt good against his face, and even the smell of the wall was strangely soothing. He decided it would be all right to close his eyes for a few minutes, they were heavy and dry and just a few minutes would make all the difference….
His eyes flew open with a bone jarring full body jerk and he gasped before he remembered—it’s all okay now. The sun was setting, throwing shadows tall on the opposite wall and someone had lit a tiny lamp on the room’s desk, just strong enough to function as a night light—probably some left over from Clark’s baby days.
He swung his legs around and the second his heels hit the floor, he groaned. He was stiff and sore, felt like he’d been beat in his sleep, and his skin burned in places like fire.
He fished his kit out from the pile on the floor and trudged slowly to the bathroom, an occasional hiss escaping him when he bumped something on the way. He blinked and yawned, rubbed his gummy eyes and noticed the shadow blocking the bathroom door way was Clark. He was grinning from ear to ear and looking…shiny, Lex thought. That’s a perfect word for Clark. Shiny.
“Lex!” He bounced forward. “Are you taking a shower? Taking a bath? Brushing your teeth--” He stopped abruptly and blushed. “Geez, I’m sorry…we ate already, Mom wouldn’t let us wake you up—um—but she fixed you a plate.” He edged away from Lex. “I’m talking too much.”
Lex smiled. “Thanks Clark. Would you tell Aunt Martha I’ll be down in a minute, please?” He held up a towel. “Shower,” he said. Clark blushed bright red and nearly ran for the stairs.
Lex chuckled as he shut the door behind him. He pulled off socks and pants and dropped his shirt on top and shoved the whole pile against a wall. He barely waited for the water to warm before hopping in the shower; ground his teeth when the water woke up abused nerve endings and made his back feel like it was covered in flame. The pain subsided as the water ran warmer and warmer and his muscles unkinked. With his body’s stiffness slowly easing came a fracture in his self-control, tears flowed. Best time to cry, in the shower, one part of his mind calmly noted while the rest of him broke and sobbed. He pushed the palm of his hand hard against his mouth; let his body shake as he fought to keep quiet and get the aching misery out at the same time.
By the time he was out of the shower, clean, dry and calm again, he was more than ready for dinner. He felt as if days had passed since he’d last eaten and the thought of Aunt Martha’s fried chicken and green beans actually made his stomach rumble. He hurried downstairs to the kitchen and was relieved, disappointed that no one but his Aunt was in the kitchen.
His plate was waiting for him at his place. Aunt Martha was in her seat, swirling a tall glass of iced-tea in her hands. “Lex,” she smiled and set her glass down, held out a hand to him and he came to get his kiss. Warm dry lips touched his temple lightly, so very soft hands held him against her cheek and his hard won control nearly cracked again.
“Sit. Eat. All of it and no excuses, you hear?”
He nodded and smiled, not trusting himself to speak and dropped into the chair. God, she didn’t even need to tell him that, he was so hungry that the sight and smell of food made his mouth flood. He ate steadily, silently, gratefully, for a minute or two, completely content and then Aunt Martha spoke.
“Your dad called right after he sent you on your way.”
He hesitated and then continued, chewing thoroughly and thoughtfully before swallowing. He said, “Yes?”
“He told us everything.” She sighed, and a world of worry was in the sound. “Everything.”
Lex put his fork down carefully and wiped his lips and hands before folding the napkin into a tight triangle. He stared into his plate and said, “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Lex, ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t begin to cut it. What you did was so wrong--I know I don’t have to spell it out for you.” She shook her head. “I am disappointed in your actions, Lex. Your mother would be disappointed.”
Lex felt sick. “I know. I know that, don’t…it was easy and nothing bad happened so it was easy to do it again and —I wasn’t thinking…”
“Jonathan and I have always thought of you as one of ours. What you did hurts just as much as if it’d been Clark or Bruce. We...we just can’t understand why you would involve yourself in that kind of mess. Your father went to great lengths to describe what you did, he left nothing to the imagination.”
He could feel the blood rush from his face; cold fingers clenched in his chest and choked him. “Aunt Martha, I…did he tell you about…the party, the guy….” His voice trailed off into a strained whisper.
“Like I said, your father told us everything. I suppose he thought we should be aware of what happened,” but the twist of her lip said she doubted that was his reason at all.
Something ignited in him and he jerked his head up to meet her eyes. “I’m not ashamed of him. Harry loves me.”
She winched and sat back in her chair. “You aren’t allowed to have contact with him—the boy’s father’s orders, as well as your father’s.”
“I know. It doesn’t matter. We’re in love. Nothing can change that.” He stood. “I can leave if you want me to, Aunt Martha, I can go back to Metropolis.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near that--that-- I wish I could…” her lips pressed in a thin angry line. She shook her head. “Now let me tell you what is going to happen, Lex. You’re going to watch your step; you’re going to follow our rules, you’re to obey me without question. You’re about to live the life of a…a…monk! Got it?”
“I’ve got it,” Lex said. I’m a dead man, he thought. She went on, “I don’t care about the boy—I mean, I don’t care that it is a boy. But I care if you hurt yourself or others and think it’s love. People do horrible things to each other all the time in the name of love, Lex…do you understand me?”
He tried really hard to speak, to tell her yes, but in the end could only manage a weak nod. She had no idea how completely right she was.
She huffed a little and stood. The talk was over. “Finish your dinner Lex. Bruce is waiting for you out in the loft. I guess he wants you guys to sleep out there tonight.”
She stopped and hugged him hard. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, really I am. I know how awful it feels to be in love and feel like the world is against you. I hope that…that everything works out for the two of you.”
Lex was almost dizzy with relief. At least Aunt Martha was still on his side. Out of everything she said, the fact that she cared shone like a beacon. She understood him. It was amazing, incredible—and she even seemed to forgive him for fucking up spectacularly. Not like his dad. God—he’d really thought he was going to kill him, he seriously did. He’d never been so scared in all his life. His eyes prickled with tears he didn’t dare shed now. Aunt Martha still loved him; so he was pretty sure that meant Uncle Jon at least didn’t hate him. Now he’d have to talk to Bruce. Maybe Clark as well.
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![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
1/23/06 03:27 am (UTC)Do you *know* that?
*sniffle*
*clings to Lex*
Arrrgh!!
*sniffle*
*hugs for you, though*
(no subject)
1/23/06 06:00 am (UTC)*hugs you*
Here, have a hankie *pats you*
better?
(no subject)
1/23/06 04:59 am (UTC)My poor woobie, this is just torture, I tell you, TORTURE!!!
*sigh*
More?
(no subject)
1/23/06 06:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/23/06 05:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/23/06 06:03 am (UTC)Okay.Lex is 18, Bruce is 16 and Clark is 13--but it is really kind of fuzzy age wise. I am writing them a little older in tone,so maybe that's confusing?
(no subject)
1/23/06 06:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/23/06 06:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/23/06 08:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/25/06 04:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
1/23/06 11:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
1/25/06 04:52 am (UTC)Woobie
1/25/06 12:24 pm (UTC)I always love your Martha.
(no subject)
8/29/06 12:31 am (UTC)See? I think about the wierdest things.
And part of me really kinda wants to know just what the heck Lionel TOLD Martha, and just how much of it was really really true, or just exaggerated.
Okay. Gotta read the next. :)
(no subject)
11/10/12 07:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/10/12 09:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/10/12 09:37 pm (UTC)