Day Twenty-Four: The Twelve Smallville Days of Christmas

It was twelve days before Christmas and Lex wasn't giving any particular thought to the holiday. He walked into his office just as he did every morning. However, there was something different about today, because on his desk was a small package that hadn't been there the night before.

It was wrapped - not especially neatly - in cheap Christmas paper covered with rotund snowmen. There was no tag, no indication at all who had left it there.

Lex briefly considered calling his security team in to dispose of the parcel, but it looked so festively harmless that, eventually, he decided against bothering them. The only crime the package seemed to be committing was against good taste. The cavorting snowmen had appalling dress sense!

Sitting down at his desk, Lex pulled the package towards him. It didn't explode immediately, nor did it appear to be ticking, so Lex relaxed a little. Carefully, he began to slit open the copious amounts of scotch tape holding the wrapping in place. Finally, the last piece was removed and Lex was able to see what was inside his present. It was a smallish box and the garish writing declared the contents to be a pair of X-ray glasses, exactly the kind that used to be advertised on the back of his vintage 1960s Warrior Angel comics. When Lex opened the lid it did indeed contain the promised item.

Lex sat back and pondered the possible meaning of the anonymous gift. He had no clue as to who might have sent it. Was it just a joke on someone's part? Lex lifted the glasses from the box, turning them over in his hands and studying them. They were exactly what they appeared to be - a cheap novelty.

With great care, Lex put everything back together before opening his desk drawer and setting the package inside. He would bide his time and see if anyone owned up to leaving it for him.

Closing the drawer again, Lex turned his attention to work.

***

The following morning Lex once again walked into his office to be greeted by a package on his desk. No one had said anything to him about the first gift so he was still in the dark about who'd sent it. Sitting down, he studied the second offering.

This one was a completely different shape, larger and quite flat. The wrapping was just as tasteless as the previous day, adorned with obscenely grinning Santas on a silver background.

Lex opened this present as carefully as he had the first, looking for any clue as to the sender. He could find none. When the paper slid away Lex found himself staring at the cover of a Warrior Angel comic.

He studied it more closely. It was issue number eighty-nine in which, if Lex recalled correctly, Warrior Angel had defeated Dragon-Eye, a being who could shoot beams of fire from his eyes. Lex knew that he already owned two copies of this issue; it wasn't an especially rare one. His collector's eye also quickly noted that the comic was in poor condition. It was creased and even had a small tear on the cover.

Lex set the comic book down on his desk and considered the evidence. Plenty of people knew about his Warrior Angel collection - his staff, his father, Clark Kent and even Bruce Wayne. But why would any of them give him just this particular issue? Lex was sure he had to be missing something, but he didn't know what. Yet.

As he had the day before, Lex carefully folded the paper back around the gift and stowed it in his drawer before getting down to work.

***

On the third day, Lex had no doubt he would find another package awaiting him. He wasn't disappointed. It was a smaller parcel today, wrapped in metallic paper decorated with stylized sprigs of holly. Lex considered that an improvement over the previous wrappings. He made sure not to tear it, despite his curiosity about what the latest gift would be.

He blinked in confusion when he uncovered what turned out to be a dog whistle. Lex didn't own a dog, nor had he ever done so. Blowing the whistle confirmed that whatever sound it made was beyond his hearing. Lex then spent a few anxious moments wondering if he'd just summoned a pack of rabid, mutant dogs to the mansion, but time passed without the intrusion of any green-fanged canines so he relaxed again.

The latest present didn't seem to bring him any closer to solving the mystery of the gift giver, so Lex carefully added it to the growing collection in his desk before firing up his laptop and getting on with his day.

***

Day four brought a larger package again, wrapped in white paper on which chubby angels frolicked. Lex amused himself for a few moments by trying to guess the contents, but the choice of gifts so far seemed completely random and he had to admit that he had no idea what to expect. He slid a nail under the tape, finding himself eager to open it.

Inside it was a small print, unframed. The subject was one Lex recognized easily - Atlas bowed down under the weight of the world that he carried on his broad shoulders.

Lex traced the figure in the picture with a fingertip. He could admit to feeling more than a little kinship with Atlas and he wondered if that was the message the print was supposed to send. He reviewed the other gifts in his collection, hoping that he might find the connection between them. If there was one, it still eluded him.

Placing the paper back around the picture, Lex opened the drawer to put this present with the others. Abruptly, he aborted the movement, pulling the print free of its wrapping again. Getting up, Lex walked across to the shelves near his desk. Carefully, he propped Atlas against a vase, where he could watch over Lex.

Lex reasoned that, if he left this gift on view, perhaps the person who had given it to him would notice it and give themself away by their reaction. Pleased with his cleverness, Lex went back to his desk to check his email.

***

To Lex's disappointment, there'd been no reaction to the Atlas print the previous day. There was, however, a fifth package on his desk the next morning. Lex could tell it was a book without opening it; his fingers could feel the distinctive shape under the dark blue paper covered with silver snowflakes.

He wasted no time before slitting the tape to reveal the title of the book. It was a copy of The Guinness Book Of World Records 2005. Lex's hands smoothed over the gold cover. He could appreciate something that celebrated the biggest and best the world had to offer.

Lex frowned suddenly as his fingers explored the book. Someone had been careless enough to crease the corner of one of the pages. Lex couldn't allow that - books were meant to be treated with respect - so he opened it to the damaged page.

As he straightened the creased paper, Lex noticed that a section of the book had been highlighted. The fluorescent yellow stood out against the white of the page. Looking at the book more closely, Lex realized the turned down corner had been no accident; he'd been meant to find this. He read the marked paragraph. It was about the world's fastest human and Lex reread the information several times. Clearly this was a message for him, but to his frustration, Lex still couldn't fathom its meaning.

In the end he leafed through the book for several hours, work forgotten for once. Always, Lex came back to the highlighted page. Finally, with considerable reluctance, Lex rewrapped the book and added it to the previous gifts in his drawer.

***

On the sixth morning, Lex hurried down to his office in his robe. He wanted to know what present would be waiting for him, so he didn't waste time on dressing.

Plain gold metallic paper covered the smallest package Lex had yet received. He could hear something rattling inside when he picked it up. His ingrained carefulness only just held as he unwrapped the box without tearing the paper.

Lex frowned when he revealed the contents. He tipped the warped piece of metal into his palm and stared at it. He had to study it for several minutes before he finally recognized it as a shotgun shell, albeit one that had been crushed totally out of shape. Further investigation led Lex to the conclusion that whatever had happened to the shell had been done without firing it.

Sitting back in his chair, Lex considered the latest offering as connections began to form in his brain. His eyes widened as he finally placed the last time that he'd seen something like this. In the room - now dismantled - that had held all the evidence he'd collected about his car crash, and every other strange occurrence he'd experienced in Smallville, he'd had a number of spent bullets. All of them had been twisted and flattened almost beyond recognition.

Lex felt excitement race along his nerves as he turned the shell over in his hands. The similarity in the damage was clear. Lex began to think through the implications of his discovery. Until now he'd assumed the items he was receiving were, in some way, about himself, but what if he'd been wrong?

Work was the last thing on Lex's mind as he opened the drawer, pulling out all the previous gifts and spreading them across his desk. He was almost certain now that he knew who the packages were coming from, but what exactly were they meant to tell him?

***

Lex was in his office earlier than ever on the seventh day. Another small package sat on his desk, wrapped in red paper covered with gold bells. For once Lex didn't bother with the tape, simply ripping at the wrapping with his fingers. Inside was a box from one of the tackier gift shops in town. When he lifted the lid, Lex couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. He was positive now that his theory was correct.

He shook the cheap key-chain out onto his desk. A luridly green, fake meteor rock hung from it. Lex was sure Clark was the only person who would have bought this for him and he was also convinced that he knew why. Clark had finally decided to come clean about his secrets, but in typically Clarkian fashion he couldn't simply tell the truth. No, instead the gifts were designed to show Lex that Clark was another of Smallville's mutants. Lex had long had his suspicions, but he'd almost given up on the possibility of Clark ever owning up to it. Wonders would never cease.

Lex sat back in his chair, feeling happier than he could remember being in a long time. He wondered if this was the last present he would receive, if Clark knew he would figure it out from this one. Lex decided to wait one more day, just to see. He was, if he were honest with himself, enjoying the anticipation of his new morning ritual.

***

Day eight brought a small but heavy package wrapped in silver metallic paper. Now that he was sure he'd unraveled the mystery of the gifts, Lex took his time removing the wrapping, drawing out the moment.

Whatever he'd been expecting to find inside the latest parcel it wasn't the collection of metal disks he got. Lex had no idea what they were, nor could he figure out how they fitted with the other presents. He had, after some thought, concluded that the previous offerings were indications of Clark's mutant abilities. This item seemed out of place.

Lex left the box on his desk to ponder on later as he turned his attention to the work he'd been neglecting in favor of the fascinating puzzle Clark was doling out to him a piece at a time. When his cook brought his lunch she noticed the open box and asked Lex why he needed lead curtain weights. He found he had no answer to that question.

***

On the ninth morning, Lex's gift came in the form of a longish cylinder. Apparently Clark had run out of different types of paper to use as he was back to the fat snowmen from the first day. When Lex undid the wrapping he found himself looking at a copy of the Smallville Ledger from the day of the meteor shower.

Even though the latest present added weight to his Clark as meteor mutant hypothesis, Lex didn't examine the newspaper further. Just reading the date on the front made him shudder and he hurriedly shoved it into his drawer underneath everything else he'd received.

As he read his email, Lex wondered once more how long this game would continue. Was Clark waiting for Lex to let him know that he'd guessed he was behind the gifts? Again, Lex decided he could wait another day to find out.

***

Clark had chosen the paper decorated with holly for his tenth package. It was a medium sized parcel and Lex opened it with his customary care.

If he'd had any lingering doubts about Clark being the mystery gift giver they were dispelled by the contents of the box. At first glance it contained a perfectly normal toy car, a silver Porsche, but there was more to it than met the eye. Lex lifted it out and stared at the reminder of what was probably the most significant day of his life, meteor shower notwithstanding.

The windscreen of the model had been broken and its roof had been neatly peeled back. It was a perfect match for the original, which was now no more than a cube of crushed metal. It was the answer Lex had been seeking since that fateful day on the bridge. He now knew without doubt that he'd hit Clark as his car crashed into the water. Yet they'd both lived to tell the tale.

A picture of Atlas and a crushed shotgun shell - Clark was, it seemed, not just strong but indestructible. Lex sat at his desk for a very long time staring at the mutilated model of his car.

***

Lex had convinced himself that the toy Porsche was the final gift, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a blue-with-silver-snowflakes wrapped shape on his desk on the eleventh morning. Taking a seat he picked up the package, half expecting to find a tag on it, but there still wasn't one. Surely Clark didn't think he could remain anonymous after the preceding day's offering.

Lex took his time with the unwrapping, but it quickly became obvious that there was a DVD under the paper. He turned it over to see the title and came face to face with E.T. For a moment Lex found himself grinning at the choice of film, but then certain facts began to come together in his mind. Each gift so far had told Lex something about Clark... His mouth dropped open and his fingers grasped the DVD convulsively.

Clark wasn't a meteor mutant after all. Clark was Smallville's very own E.T.! No wonder he'd guarded his secret so closely.

The scientific part of Lex's brain was working at lightning speed. He could think of a hundred questions he wanted to ask Clark. God, the possibilities...

It was only after he'd spent several hours scribbling down various hypotheses and the experiments that could be used to test them that Lex suddenly stopped and threw down his pen. This wasn't some nameless specimen he was dealing with. It was Clark, his best friend.

Ashamed, Lex realized exactly why Clark had been so hesitant to tell him his secret before now. And he'd just come so close to proving Clark had been right not to. Decisively, Lex ripped up the pages of notes he'd made and took them across to the fireplace. He tossed them in and watched the flames consume them. Clark had trusted him with the most important thing in his life. Lex wanted to be worthy of that trust.

When everything had burned down to ashes, Lex went back to his desk. The DVD went into the drawer with everything else and then Lex locked it, pocketing the key. He'd have to get rid of all the gifts. He couldn't risk anyone else making the same connections he had.

***

On the twelfth day there was no gift wrapped present on Lex's desk. There was, however, something - or rather, someone - waiting for him in his office. Clark turned, a nervous expression on his face, as Lex came into the room.

"Merry Christmas, Lex," Clark said, watching as Lex took a seat.

"No gift today, Clark?" Lex asked.

He wasn't sure what he ought to be saying. What precisely could you say when it turned out that your best friend was an alien? Lex had the feeling there wasn't any kind of precedent for him to fall back on.

Clark looked down at his hands. He was picking nervously at the hem of his red plaid shirt. "When did you work out that they were from me?"

"I was almost certain after you gave me the shotgun shell," Lex said with a faint smile. "The meteor rock key-chain clinched it for me, though."

"Why didn't you say anything right away?" Clark glanced up through his lashes, curiosity glimmering in his green eyes.

"I worked out that the gifts were telling me things about you and I wondered what else you were going to reveal. Besides, I was enjoying unwrapping the presents every morning," Lex admitted. He paused. "I was so sure I had it all figured out... And then you gave me that DVD."

Clark ducked his head again. "I'm sorry. I couldn't think of a better way to tell you that... Well, that I'm not exactly from around here."

Lex laughed softly. "It was certainly unexpected. I really thought you were a meteor mutant." His expression turned serious. "Why did you tell me? Do you realize how dangerous my knowing could be? What if my father finds out?"

Looking up, Clark met Lex's gaze steadily. "I've always hated lying to you, Lex, and I didn't want to do it any more. I'm eighteen now; I can make my own choices."

"You realize your parents won't like this particular choice," Lex said carefully.

"I know." Clark sighed. "But it's not their decision to make now. I trust you, Lex. I don't want to keep any more secrets from you."

Lex leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "Thank you, Clark, I think that's the best gift that anyone's ever given me."

Clark's face lit up with his broad grin. "I still have one more secret to tell you, Lex, and one more present for you, if you want it."

"What else can there possibly be to tell me?" Lex regarded him curiously. "After finding out that you're an alien I would have thought that was everything."

"Not quite." Clark got to his feet and walked round the desk. He crouched down next to Lex, looking straight into his eyes. "About that other gift I mentioned..."

Lex nodded. "What is it, Clark?"

Reaching up slowly, Clark curved his hand around Lex's face. He stroked Lex's cheek gently fingers warm against his skin.

Lex almost stopped breathing at the careful touch. He waited in silence, not wanting to break the moment.

After a brief hesitation, Clark leaned towards Lex. When their lips were almost touching, Clark breathed, "It's me..."

Lex gasped, wondering if he was misinterpreting Clark's intentions. Instantly, Clark began to pull away. Before he could go too far, Lex slid a hand round the back of Clark's neck, tugging him close again.

"I was wrong," Lex said as he threaded his fingers into Clark's hair. "This is the best present anyone has ever given me."

With that he leaned in and pressed his lips to Clark's, kissing him slowly and thoroughly.

Clark gave a muffled sigh and opened his mouth to Lex's questing tongue. He reached down, fumbling for something in his jacket pocket, though Lex couldn't see what it was. He found out when they finally came up for air. Looking up, Lex found that Clark was holding a rather battered sprig of mistletoe above their heads.

Lex grinned and bent forward to steal another kiss, letting the pleasure of their lips connecting warm him.

"Do you know the best thing about all those packages?" Lex asked when his mouth was no longer otherwise occupied.

Clark shook his head.

Licking his lips, Lex gave Clark a lazy smile.

"It was the anticipation," he said, drawing out each word. "Unwrapping each one, very slowly, until I found out what was inside."

Lex drew the fingers of his free hand down the front of Clark's shirt, teasing at each button in turn before moving on without undoing them.

Clark whimpered. "Really?"

"Oh yes," Lex breathed softly. His hand began to repeat the journey and there were two anticipatory sounds as the first button popped open. "Merry Christmas to me..."