For Anatoly, Homeplot Party

The party for Anatoly's birthday had been planned for that night, as if he'd been expected home. The island had to be behind this, the timing was too perfect and not surprisingly, this thought didn't comfort Lex one bit. There were dignitaries and other important people, anyone who needed to be seen at the celebration for the current country hero, much like the parties he'd had to attend back home so people could be seen with the Luthor heir. It was nothing like the quiet, humble birthday he'd had planned for Anatoly on the island. And at least then, he would have been able to be near the man he loved. Here...he was regulated to watching from a distance.

At least this was better then the small family gathering he'd had to endure before hand. Watching Anatoly with his family and not being allowed to leave the room by the Russian's request had been worse then any torture Lionel had ever devised. Anatoly may not have been the best father or husband but the happiness that radiated off of all of them during that moment of togetherness had just about broken Lex's heart.

So that's what he did, keeping to the walls and watching over Anatoly like the handler he was pretending to be. It was easier to think like a handler then think of anything else, as he was barely keeping it together as it was.

He wondered if Anatoly would even notice if he slipped back to the hotel for the night?