"Now fly." He whispers.

Do you believe a man can fly?

Sure, in a plane.

And he's dieing, as his best friend twists a kryptonite dagger in his back.

I could've sworn I hit you

If you had I'd be dead.

And then he stands, for a moment, teetering, and for a moment, he looks into the eyes of his friend and murderer, and sees the monster that has always been thee, unbound and roaring, and eating Lex from the inside.

We all have a dark side, Lex.

But I can feel mine creeping around the corners.

And he feels only pity as he falls.

…their capacity for good…they only lack the light to show them the way…capable of great deceits…

I don't want anything to come between our friendship.

Once upon a time a maniac had hit him with a Porsche, and they had fallen into the water together, and they had come out of it together. But now, Lex had already fallen, and now that Clark was falling there was no one to pull him out either.

You saved my life Clark, it's the least I can do.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

To stand between Lex and the consequences of his decisions.

"Good bye, Lois."

I hate that you know me like that.

And then he leaves her, the love of his life, his savior.

The world doesn't need a savior, and neither do I.

…hear them crying for one.

What would you do without me, Smallville?

Lex had told him the story of Atlas once, the Greek Titan who held the world on his shoulders. But Clark was no Titan, with the Kryptonite growing between his fingers.

It's always you, Clark. She sobbed into his shoulder, clinging to him, shaking with fear and relief.

Watch over her for me, Whitney asked.

I promise.

Lana's face lit up with childish delight and the glow of the impromptu movie screen.

Pass the popcorn.

Don't let them take me.

You're safe now.

I think you are so amazing. And she smiles, despite everything.

You are here for a reason.

I'm in love with you.

So he keeps pushing, just a man with kryptonite between his fingers.

Because they are worth it.

It's so easy to fall. Like flying; the speed, the freedom, all the same. Only there's no effort in falling, it's simply letting go.

…tied more of these than your mom.

Storms are a part of life here.

No matter what happens I want you to know that I'm still your friend.

It was hitting the ground that was the hard part.

Clark Kent sits at his desk in the Daily Planet newsroom and listens to Lex Luthor's heartbeat as the Coast Guardsmen hand him over to the police officers waiting at the docks.

Damn you Superman, he whispers as the handcuffs click.

"Don't give up on me yet, Clark."

The guard chucks an opened envelope at his feet and mutters bastard under his breath as he slams the door of the jail cell closed again. Lex doesn't bother to care, just picks up the envelope in puzzlement and removes the small note inside.

It was addressed to the maniac in the Porsche and signed Superman and consisted of only one line.

Drive slower.

The slip of paper falls from his frozen fingers. Not Clark, anybody but Clark.

Hello conscience, so this is the breaking point.

If you did I'd be dead.

How ironic.

Not Clark.

That night he holds the stolen gun an inch from his temple.

I don't want anything to stand in the way of our friendship.

"I'm sorry Clark." He whispers, and cocks the gun. I'm so sorry.

As he pulls the trigger the wall behind him seems to explode, and an instant later Clark is standing in front of him, one hand against his temple as the crumpled bullet hits the floor.

I saw your car go over…I pulled you out.

"What are you doing?" Lex asks, choking on the concrete dust gathering in his throat.

Don't give up on me yet.

"I won't." Clark whispers, as the sound of the guards' feet echo down the hall.

Our friendship will be the stuff of legends.