The world spins madly on [for leader_of_man]

[imthehalibut]

Clark didn't know how this happened. He couldn't remember if he had explicitly invited Lex or if Lex had finagled a roundabout invitation. Grace was worried and she had reason to be. Lex Luthor hadn't been Clark's best friend in the past. Not when he was convinced that the farmboy had extra power. But with Lionel Luthor's resurfacing, Lex had as

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[lex_luthor]

Currently Lex Luthor’s luck in friendships were few and far between. He had, however, met a meager handful of acquaintances at least, but nothing to truly merit a meaningful relationship of shared thoughts and apparently charming exchanges concerning a duffle and some pillow shams.

Nevertheless, Clark Kent was granting him a chance and quite possibly another round of disappointment and allegation, but Lex, in some indefinable sense of reasoning, was more than willing to give this another go. He figured there was a sort of masochistic quirk barred away in some barren, dark crevice of his mind.

Resourceful doesn’t even begin to describe his means in locating Clark Kent’s apartment. In fact, it was a matter of a few tossed queries and a casual search endeavor that he was able to find it. Upon doing so, he took the climb and the chance making his way to the new and likely improved Fortress of Solitude, a definitive rapping announcing his presence.

[imthehalibut]

Clark was brought out of the Lost finale when he heard the rapping against his door. Looking up, he figured it was Lex making good on his - whatever they had agreed on, anyway. Standing up, Clark made his way to the front door. Once more glance back at the television and he saw there was a commercial. Turning back, he opened it.

"Lex," he said, taking a breath.

It wasn't that he was surprised. After all, they had made a pseudo-plan. At this point Clark couldn't remember where the plan had stemmed from, however. He was -- well, happy didn't describe what he felt when he saw Lex right in front of him. He couldn't exactly describe the feeling.

"Come in," he added, stepping aside. Someone had invited or been invited. It would be rude not to.

[lex_luthor]

Lex wasn’t a nervous sort, but when Clark pulled open the door and brandished a look that was a cross between rethinking his motives for allowing this to happen and perhaps uncertainty, all signs of composure started to wane. He shifted, cleared his throat and adjusted himself absently to at least front some fashion of poise.

“Clark,” he mimicked, airing quite possibly the same concern.

Upon the invitation, his inquisitive nature bested him like it had so many times in the past and instantly his eyes began to wander the nooks and crannies of Clark’s apartment as if he were searching for something-anything that would appease his curiosity. Turning, once he was inside, to face his once best friend, Lex let slip something akin to that of a smile. “So you do handle well on your own. I’m impressed.”

[imthehalibut]

"I'm not incapable, Lex," he said, closing the door. Turning to face his ex best friend, Clark leaned against the door. He too scanned his apartment. He hadn't cleaned but it hadn't been dirty in the first place. Not much was out of place. The only hints of real style came from Grace, Lois, and Chloe's influences.

Returning his attention to Lex, his weight shifted as he crossed his arms. His attention wandered to the wedding going on...on the screen, anyway, and he tilted his head. Giving up on the TV he looked back at Lex. He wasn't sure what to say.

"No blanket," he admitted with a shrug.

[imthehalibut]

"I will," he replied, setting the fedora on his head. Smiling, he looked down. "I'll be sure to report back with all of the reporter get-ups I see. I could even have Grace take pictures -- though, I don't think they would appreciate it," he mused.

Stepping forward, Clark looked down. Lex was in his way but it wasn't like Clark to say that. Unbeknownst to him, his glance down could have been completely misinterpreted. Thinking back, he heard the familiar character screams in Lost. He was glad Martha had sprung for TiVo.

Instead of asking Lex to move, he cleared his throat, looking down again.

[lex_luthor]

Lex nodded to this. “It’s not like they don’t do it often enough themselves. I’m sure they’ll get over it.” It was common knowledge that Luthors were firm believers of the ‘get over it’ notion.

There was a spot ingrained in the flooring that he found his gaze locked idly with. It wasn’t too terribly interesting, and yet behind him characters and drama ensued while suddenly before him, an all too eager reporter needed past. Pulling back from the door frame Lex wandered now toward the kitchen, steely eyes tracing the woodwork of the cabinets. The apartment was rather quaint, he had to admit.

[imthehalibut]

Clark smirked and followed Lex down the hall. Glancing at the television, Clark crossed his arms and focused on the last few minutes of Lost, entirely lost now, ironically. Finally, the news came on and he turned to face Lex.

"So, what do you think of the apartment?"

[lex_luthor]

There was a slow glance over Lex’s shoulder toward his respective host and his beloved entertainment center. A sly smile spread across his face. Clark was lost. No matter how drab and simple he claimed himself to be, there was something more to him, some hidden facet of truth behind those baby blues. Inching into that frame of mind once more, Lex fought back another wave of queries, quandaries, assessments, ponderings-all in favor of civility.

Tagging the counter top inattentively with his fingertips he let himself wander further, stopping at a window to gaze into a Metropolis that appeared to be level with him. This made him uncomfortable.

Thoughts interrupted like Clark’s commercial breaks-“It’s nice. It suits you. How long have you lived here anyway?”

[lex_luthor]

Lex could tell that Clark wasn’t settled by this new arrangement either. He figured Clark would probably go back to being his less anxious self after his Luthor guest was long gone, but for now he had to deal with him. The billionaire found this all somewhat amusing.

“You know, Amazon’s pretty bad about doing that too,” he said matter-of-factly. “You okay, Clark?”

Lex assumed he should have left well enough alone, but he’d gotten this far so he might as well tread deeper.

[imthehalibut]

"I'm fine," he said, looking to Lex, and shifting to face him. "You sat down. It was...surprising." It wasn't unwelcome. It wasn't terrible. He didn't attack Clark but, it had been unsettling nonetheless. "Are you okay?" he asked back.

[lex_luthor]

Lex looked from the couch back to his comrade sitting alongside him. An eyebrow perked as he attempted to levy the situation. “Well,” he began prudently, “most people sit on couches.”

He sat back and watched the reaction unfold. “I’m perfectly fine. I’ll bet you’re mother’s proud of you. Reporter for the Daily Planet, living in the City of Tomorrow, making it on your own...”

[imthehalibut]

"She is." Clark remained forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked back at Lex. "And yeah, they do." He scratched at the spot above his eyelid quietly. That was true. Lex had wanted to sit down...so he did. Clark couldn't help but keep his eye on Lex and the quiet settled over them as he relaxed back on the couch.

[lex_luthor]

Lex nodded along with Clark’s words. He followed them through a timeline of recollection, thinking on the events that occurred throughout Martha’s term. She’d left a definite impact and it was almost saddening to hear that she had finally withdrawn to retire.

Upon mentioning Grace, it was almost as if Clark had read his mind, and Lex was quick to the defensive, putting forward a graceful front. “It’s just that I hadn’t ever heard of her,” he stated in all honesty. “And Perry. As in White? Enlighten me. What does your boss have to do with your family?”

He disregarded Clark’s query for the sake of attending to his own.

[imthehalibut]

"As in White," he replied, turning to fully face Lex. He was now sitting with his feet on the couch but it was his place and he felt like he needed to keep an eye on him, literally. "Mom's been dating him for the last eight years." He knew it would surprise Lex and that brought him some joy he couldn't quite define.

[lex_luthor]

Lex’s eyes widened in surprise-the reaction Clark had intended came as predicted. “Oh really?”

There was a mild laughter that ensued before he shook his head. “Full of the unexpected as usual.” Not exactly eloquently put, but it merited the truth.

[imthehalibut]

"That's me, Lex. Unexpected," he said, laughing. "You aren't the only one who was surprised. But, she's happy and that's all that matters." He settled back, also happy for a second sharing a real moment with Lex.

[imthehalibut]

Lex had answered a question with a question and that bothered Clark but they were being honest now so how couldn't he be. Taking a breath, he stood his ground.

"I thought you were," he replied, crossing his arms.

[lex_luthor]

“I was simply responding to you,” Lex came forward a bit, standing directly before Clark now. “Perhaps our puns confused our assessments. Are you okay, Clark?” He stood, briefly gauging his friend before he reached out and touched the side of Clark’s face.

[imthehalibut]

Clark didn't know what to do. He was okay. He was alive. He was an alien. He was in the same room with Lex Luthor and he was pretty sure that Lex Luthor had admitted to flirting with him because he thought Clark had been. But of course, Clark had had no idea. He wasn't actually great at flirting. ANd he had to be told about Chloe straightforwardly back in high school.

He was speechless but unmoved.

Lex's hand against his cheek both surprised and confused Clark as he realized just how close they really were. Yet, he didn't move.

[lex_luthor]

His hand slid downward, palm warm and unobtrusive, daring to test unexplored waters. Clark didn’t seem to refuse, much less withdraw from the simple gesture, yet Lex could decipher something from his friend that he couldn’t before. He was not only older, but eager, and curious, more so than he had ever been. This was both dangerous and intriguing to Lex.

His fingers curled around Clark’s neck now where he applied a gentle pressure, guiding Clark toward him. Lex slowly laid his arms around him, holding Clark in a pleasant embrace. “I’ve missed you.”