(no subject)

[capable_of]

Before going into the hut to break the horrible news to Anatoly, Lex paused to lean against the outer wall of the hut to collect himself. This week had been trying enough hiding the headaches and insomnia from Anatoly. And now, the worst possible thing had happened in that the last person he ever wanted to see again had just arrived on the island. Of all the times he needed his wits, why were they suddenly failing him?

He'd spent a good hour getting his father settled in the Compound. He knew his father didn't believe him and was treating him like he was going to break. The one time Lionel had caught him rubbing a particularly bad ache in his neck, Lex swore his father almost looked concerned. That would have been first, at least as far as Lex could remember. And was enough to seriously creep him out.

Finally Lex took a deep breath and went inside, straight to the scotch bottle. There was at least one upside to the this week, as if the island had anticipated his need. He poured a large cup of scotch, drained it, winced slightly at the burn and then began refilling it again as he said, "My father is here."

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[chesspolitik]

Anatoly's smile upon seeing Lex return quickly faded as he heard the terrible news. His experience with Lionel during that strange weekend where he and Lex had been in Smallville had been traumatizing enough, and he had no desire to deal with him again. Unfortunately, it seemed the island had other plans.

He took a deep breath as he rose from his chair and went to put his arms around Lex in a comforting gesture, not knowing what he could say. 'I'm sorry' didn't quite fit, and it didn't seem the time or place for an exasperated rant about the island's perverse sense of humor.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Sipping this one a bit slower, Lex closed his eyes as he leaned back into the embrace. Of course, he could hear his father's voice in the back of his head, louder then ever, telling him how week it was to seek comfort from others, how it made him reliant on others when he should have complete control of himself. He leaned the cup against his forehead, hoping the smooth surface would help the ever building headache.

"I don't know what to do." He admitted softly, painfully. Of all people, Anatoly would know how much that admission took out of him. He was in so much pain and so very tired..."I don't know how to deal with him here."

[chesspolitik]

"We'll think of something," Anatoly murmured as he tightened his hold, understanding very well how much it hurt Lex to admit to such a thing out loud. Showing vulnerability was a good way to be hurt and to have others hurt - staying silent wasn't just the best defense, it was the only defense.

"Together. You don't have to do this alone. I won't let you do it alone," he continued, brushing a kiss against Lex's cheek.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

And that was how Lex could love Anatoly. He understood Lex, while being less jaded enough that he didn't see any of himself in the Russian. Or at least the parts that terrified him.

Lex turned into the kiss, so he could look Anatoly in the eyes. "I won't..." his voice broke, the past few days wearing on him and oh was his head hurting, "I won't let him hurt you again. I promise." And that earned him another long drink from the Scotch in his hand. Then he laughed bitterly. "He blamed me you know. The island is my fault."

[chesspolitik]

In truth, Anatoly wasn't worried about Lionel hurting him. Here, the man only had the resources he came with and he somehow doubted that a group of hired thugs and an abandoned warehouse were among them. It was Lex that he was worried about.

"Your fault?" He laughed incredulously. "How could this place be your fault? It existed long before either of us got here. He'll learn, soon enough. And if he doesn't? He can blame things on you all he wants, but it can't change the truth."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex laughed again. "You under estimate him. He's very good at blaming me for things. Sometimes, he's even right." He'd mentioned Julian to Anatoly in passing, but only that he had a little brother who had died. He'd never mentioned how he'd been the one to kill him and how his father had refused to love him since. Of course his father's appearance would rip open old wounds he'd forgotten on the island...

Another big gulp of scotch, as he heard Lionel's clear voice in his head, Luthors do not feel sorry for themselves. "It doesn't matter. He's here. Now I...we have to deal with it. It's not going to be easy." He looked down at his cup then at Anatoly. "He doesn't know about you."

[chesspolitik]

"That's surely for the best," Anatoly said quietly, reaching for Lex's free hand. "I suspect dealing with him will be difficult enough without giving him more ammunition."

He pulled Lex into another kiss. "Where is he now, in the crash room?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Leaning his forehead against Anatoly's for a moment after the kiss, Lex sighed and drained his cup again. The alcohol was starting to help numb his brain, which is what he really needed. He poured another cup, but it only filled half way before what had been a half full bottle of scotch a few minutes ago was now empty. Oh well...it was for a good cause.

"No. I showed it to him but he wouldn't stay there. I managed to find an empty room for him. I left a note in the council office, but other then that, I'll let him take it up with them." Lionel's apparent disgust of everything in the compound had felt like a insult to the happy life Lex had built.

God his neck hurt. He took a drink of scotch, before putting the cup down so he could rub his neck, not caring if Anatoly saw. He was too run down to care.

[chesspolitik]

"Let me," Anatoly said, moving behind Lex and dislodging his hand so he could replace it with his own. He massaged the other man's neck gently, occasionally pressing kisses to the back of his head. He hated seeing Lex like this, so visibly stressed and tired, and knowing there was very little he could do to help.

"It'll be all right. He can stew by himself for awhile. We'll stay here and get some rest and deal with him in the morning."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

The message was heavenly and Lex couldn't help a small moan. Maybe he could do this, with Anatoly at his side. He couldn't let his father win and ruin his life once again. He drained his glass, set it down and then wrapped his arms around Anatoly's waist. "Take me to bed. Please." Because he was so tired, there was an obvious pleading tone in his voice. "I need you to help me center. Help me focus. So I can fight him. So he won't take this from me..."

There was a stabbing pain between his eyes, but it was easier to ignore while in Anatoly's arms.

[chesspolitik]

"Of course, Sascha," Anatoly murmured in Russian as he led Lex to the bed and firmly sat him down. He knelt in front of him, pulling his head down for a passionate kiss then started to unbutton Lex's shirt. "Let me take care of you now."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"Tolya..." Was Lex's soft reply as he did just that, let Anatoly take care of him and the situation for the moment. A hand went to Anatoly's curls, doing a lot to calm him. He needed to save his strength because tomorrow...tomorrow he had to go to war, one he thought he'd left in Smallville. And he was a year out of practice, the two mysterious days are home not counting.

He really hoped he could sleep tonight. The headaches, the forgetting things...it was getting to the point it was beginning to scare him and a good night's sleep would do wonders, before Anatoly noticed. If he hadn't already.

[chesspolitik]

As Anatoly undressed Lex and got him settled under the covers, he couldn't help but worry. He hadn't seemed his usual self lately, and it was getting troublesome enough that he'd been weighing whether or not he should drag him into the clinic for someone to look him over. This situation with Lionel could only make things worse.

Still, there was nothing to be done for it now. It was just another thing to be dealt with in the light of the day. What Lex needed at this very moment was to be held and reassured, and that he could do. He stripped off his own clothes then crawled into the bed, pulling the younger man into his arms.

"You have me. I'm here," he reminded him softly. "And I am not going anywhere."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Despite the scotch and real need for sleep, Lex barely caught a few minutes here and there. His head was throbbing, as was his back oddly, but he'd refused to move and disturb Anatoly. That had been the one good thing about the whole night, sleeping in the comfort of the Russian's arms gave him some strength, though he didn't know if it would be enough.

That morning had been rough. From hiding how absolutely tired he was from Anatoly to forgetting where Aeneas was, Lex wasn't sure he was ready to face his father again. But, it had to be done and with Anatoly at his side, he made his way to the compound. He should have insisted he do this alone, to protect Anatoly from his father...but Lex honestly didn't think he had the strength.

[chesspolitik]

There had been worse mornings in Anatoly's life; this was but a blip on the radar screen. They would get through this. Anatoly clung to that thought as he made his way to the compound, an arm wrapped protectively around Lex's waist.

"I'm not letting you go," he reassured Lex again, squeezing him tightly. "No matter what he says. Don't forget that."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

As they reached the door of the compound, Lex turned to give Anatoly a tight smile. "I know." He said softly, leaning into the man's arm before stepping out of it. While he appreciated the gesture, it wouldn't do him any favors in front of his father. And he needed every advantage that he could get, especially since he felt almost twitchy.

"Time to go to war." He said more to himself as he took a deep breath, then headed towards the room where he'd left his father the day before. He knocked on the door as his other hand rubbed his neck. "Dad, it's me."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly nodded, taking a deep breath of his own. Perhaps the reality of the situation had sunk in for Lionel, and he would be less belligerent now. He knew better than to expect this to happen, but he couldn't help but hope.

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

When there was no answer, Lex frowned and knocked on the door again before opening the door. "Dad?" Once the door was open, Lex could only stand and stare at the room, that looked virtually untouched, just like it had when he'd showed it to Lionel the day before. "I...I don't understand..."

A hand went up to rub his forehead to sooth the raging headache that had just gotten worse.

[chesspolitik]

"What is it?" Anatoly asked curiously, moving closer. He saw the empty room and stared in confusion. Hadn't Lex said he brought Lionel here?

"Where is he? Are you sure this is the right room?"

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex shook his head, which was more jerking it back and forth. "I..." He stopped before he admitted that he wasn't sure. Pushing past Anatoly to step back into the hallway, Lex looked around to confirm was he remembered then nodded. "Yes! This is the room I brought him too!" He moved to stand in the middle of the room, hand on his head. "But this doesn't even look slept in."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly shivered, the thought of a Lionel whose whereabouts were unknown deeply unsettling. It was easier to prepare and set your defenses when you knew where he might be. It might not be safer but it certainly felt like it, at least to Anatoly's mind.

"Perhaps he just left to find somewhere else more to his liking."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"Maybe." That had to be it. He couldn't just disappear, not right after he arrived. That was...beyond twisted, even for the island. "I guess we better go look for him. At least I know he had to stay in the compound. There is no way he'd dare sleep outside, even in a hut."

He pulled Anatoly in for a quick, selfish kiss before heading for the door, rubbing his back. This was getting ridiculous...

[chesspolitik]

"Or perhaps the dinosaurs ate him," Anatoly muttered darkly as he followed Lex. "But no, they surely have more taste than that."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

"If only we would be so lucky." Lex grumbled, with a small chuckle. "Not to mention, he'd only give them indigestion..." Then he sighed and rubbed his neck. "We better split up. Cover more ground that way."

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly nodded, thinking that sounded like a reasonable idea. He hated to leave Lex alone when he was so stressed, but it had to be done if they wanted to track down Lionel before he started trouble. "You look around here and I'll see if he's out by the beach."

[capable-of.livejournal.com]

Lex nodded, thinking perhaps a quick trip to the clinic for some pain and anti-anxiety meds were in order. He was so twitchy, his hands were almost visibly shaking and his head was killing him. He kissed Anatoly one more time, saying softly, "I know he's here...he has to be..." It's more to reassure himself rather then Anatoly, reassure himself that after the last week, he wasn't making this up.