"Dad!" Lex called, in English, as he returned to the penthouse apartment of Traitor Towers. Dad's assistance during the invasion had been more than adequate to secure the best Metropolis had to offer to any human. "You home?"
The lack of response suggested a negative, but Lex checked each of the rooms first before dropping down in front of the flat screen television. Kryptonians didn't use them, but Dad was very particular about making sure Lex had access to human pursuits as well as Kryptonian ones. This was top edge human technology, developed after the Kryptonians came, and Dad was strangely proud of it. Lex thought it was pretty cool, too, and turned it on. They didn't get a lot of channels, just broadcast since the cable workers were not permitted inside the Kryptonian sector to install it. Lex hoped the humans lobbying for placing satellites for entertainment and communication uses would be successful because a satellite receiver he would probably be able to install himself.
Lex opened his history book and turned to ABC, which was playing afternoon cartoons. Dad disapproved, so Lex kept the remote close by so he could switch to PBS to watch something educational should he come home early. Of course, even the cartoons were educational in their own way. He wouldn't know English nearly as well without them. Sometimes he put on the closed captioning, just to practice reading the human language.
By the time Dad did get home, the 6:00 news was running and Lex had finished all but his chemistry homework. Lionel joined him on the couch and they watched the rest of the news together. The Kryptonians did not censor the human broadcasts, though they did monitor them, and there was the usual talk of protests and rallies for independent rule, none of which would ever be successful. Free speech was granted to the humans of the planet. Free access to technology with even remotely weapon-like applications was not. Even though the Kryptonians themselves proved nearly invulnerable to any sort of attack, they took keeping the peace seriously and did not want the humans developing new ways to kill each other either.
The news anchor moved on to the next topic, listing out a few crimes and accidents that the Supermen stopped or prevented. 'Supermen' was the word the humans had taken to calling the peace keeping force of Kryptonians that patrolled the cities and countryside. When the sportscaster started talking about the latest Sharks game, Lex turned off the television and asked what was for dinner.
Sometimes Dad would surprise him with a traditional human dish, but tonight was normal food. They ate quietly, the conversation limited to the trite phrases of asking after each others' day. Only once the meal was cleared away did Lex venture a new topic. It had been bothering him for months and last week he thought he had found a solution. He'd taken a full seven days to sit on it and perform additional research on both the internet and every other source of human culture he could find. There remained only one source left to consult.
"Dad, I have a problem."
He raised an eyebrow in interest. "What kind of problem, son?"
First, explain the issue. Perhaps Dad had an alternate solution he hadn't considered yet. It wouldn't hurt to explore new options while he was at it. "I go to a Kryptonian school," he began, watching his Dad's face to see if he had any idea where he was leading with this. As yet, apparently not. Dad just waited for Lex explain further because he knew that the Kryptonian school was something they both wanted for him. Lex would learn more there than at the very best human university. "So everybody there is Kryptonian except a few other humans who aren't worth the air they breathe." Dad nodded slowly, still not reaching the conclusion that Lex would like him to reach without explicitly stating it. "So, the only girls I know are Kryptonian girls," Lex added.
Understanding, now. Finally. "I'm sure Kryptonian girls are perfectly attractive to you."
Okay, not complete understanding, clearly. "That's not the problem. I'm an unevolved ape-man to them. I can't even fly." Now he got it. "They laugh at me if I even suggest a study date. Some of them are already promised to somebody. For all that the Kryptonians are a civilized race, they are a patriarchal society and there is no way any of the girls in my school would be interested in me for anything more than a date for curiosity's sake. I'm human." He used the Kryptonian word for his race, lacing it with the derision most Kryptonians used when speaking it. "I'm at the top of the food chain for the humans on this planet, but we're still far below what they'd be looking for in a husband or even a steady boyfriend."
Dad scratched thoughtfully at his chin through his beard. "Perhaps we could find you a human girl from outside. I'm sure -"
"No," Lex interrupted. "You weren't listening. We're at the top of the food chain among humans. If anybody is going to make that jump into fully integrating with the Kryptonians, it'll be me. I can do it. I'm smart enough, I go to their exclusive school and hold my own. Dad, you want me on par with them, right? I can't hold myself back by getting involved with a human girl with paltry human ambitions. I have to marry up."
"But Lex, you just said -"
Lex shook his head. "I said no Kryptonian girl would give me the time of day."
Dad closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples. "Lex, as far as I can tell, the Kryptonians have no concept for understanding homosexuality. I've seen no evidence that it even exists among them."
Lex rolled his eyes. "The only way I know heterosexuality exists is that there are pregnant Kryptonians. Dad, I'll be the one who gets fucked. I'm human. I have a pleasure sensor in my ass. That's scientifically indisputable. The mechanics for the Kryptonian aren't hugely different. They're smart, they can handle the differences."
Dad frowned, thinking it over. After a few moments, he began nodding slowly. "A Kryptonian husband will do you well. As you said, we're human and we've reached the ceiling of human acheivement under Kryptonian rule. Even as a consort of a low-level Kryptonian, your status can only increase and pave the way for more upward movement. It's a good plan, if you can find a Kryptonian willing to have you. You are sure you can be involved with a man like that?"
Nodding, Lex confirmed, "Positive." His father did not need to know that Lex had gotten himself off last night by shoving his own fingers up his ass, but the surety of his voice made Dad give him a speculative look. It was possible he guessed as much.
"Hmm," Dad murmured, pacing the room slowly before activating his comm. "Torval-Dar."
After a moment, Lex's doctor's concerned voice answered, "Lionel-Luthor. Is your son unwell?"
"No, no," Dad assured, "nothing of the sort. I merely had a concern and hoped you might have an answer. I realize Lex is beginning to grow out of the range of pediatric knowledge, but I thought you might know something of the subject based on any discussions you might have had with other doctors who treat humans. Have you ever heard of Kryptonians having intercourse with humans?"
There was a breif hesitation then, "I seriously doubt that will ever be more than an academic concern for your son. I've seen little indication that Kryptonian women are even attracted to humans."
"I apologize," Dad corrected himself quickly, "I meant males. Lex recently indicated that he believes he's homosexual." As Kryptonian didn't have a direct translation, Dad used the English word. Torval-Dar had a fair grasp of the language, so presumably he'd be able to figure out what it meant if he didn't already know.
"Homosexual," Torval-Dar repeated, sounding baffled, so perhaps not.
Lex stood straighter as his father's gaze happened to meet his. This was the first big test: see whether a medical professional thought it was even possible for Kryptonians to be with humans as they were suggesting. "Yes," Dad continued, explaining, "It's not unheard of among humans for a small percentage to be attracted to those of the same sex." This was a bit more Machiavellian than simple random chance, but Lex had convinced himself that men could do it for him. Whether that was because he actually had been born to that percentage or because he simply didn't have any acceptable female options probably wasn't important in the long run anyway. He would only ever know a man's attentions and to be perfectly frank, after a week's worth of intense fantasies and self-touching, he really didn't mind.
"Ah," the doctor said, still sounding a bit taken aback. "I've, ah, seen no indication Kryptonian males would find human males attractive, either."
"Let us be blunt, Doctor," Dad cut in, "Unless Kryptonians are far more different from us than outward appearances would suggest, young males of the species are interested in having sex and will not be terribly particular about whom they have it with provided interest is returned and they have a hole to put their dick in. Lex is interested in being that hole."
Lex scowled at his father for making him sound like a sex crazed slut but didn't comment because, really, that had been what prompted him to think about all this in the first place. He'd wanted to get laid, pure and simple.
Torval-Dar hummed uncomfortably. "Well, I suppose, it is remotely possible some young Kryptonians may be interested in using him to, ah, test out their equipment before beginning a sexual relationship with a Kryptonian female. Societal norms, however, will prevent any kind of meaningful relationship with a Kryptonian for him. I would strongly recommend discouraging such behavior and suggest he keep to his own species. He will only be disappointed and hurt."
That sounded like xenophobia to Lex and Dad seemed to agree because he pressed, "But supposing he did pursue sexual encounters with Kryptonian males, would he be physically at risk while having intercourse? Kryptonians are very strong and he is not entirely indestructable even with all the treatments he has been given."
"To be honest, Lionel-Luthor, I do not know. Again, I recommend against this course of action."
Dad nodded, though Torval-Dar couldn't see it. "Thank you, Doctor, that will be all." He severed the connection and looked at Lex. "Is there anyone at school you have your eye on, or should I try to find someone for you with my contacts?"
Lex didn't entirely trust him not to sell his ass to the highest bidder so he lied, "There's a couple guys at school I want to ask first, see if they're interested."
"Very well. Keep me apprised."
Lex nodded, wondering idly if any other parent in the universe would have responded to the situation the way Dad had. For perhaps the first time, he was maybe a little bit glad that Mom had died during the invasion. He was pretty sure she wouldn't approve. Dad did, though, which was something of a minor miracle, which he was chalking up entirely to fact that it was an innovative way to advance human awareness, not to mention the Luthors' personal status, in the parts of society entirely off-limits to humans.
