FIC: The Subtle Joys of Interior Decorating, PG Clex Part Two
Title: The Subtle Joys of Interior Decorating
Pairing: Clex, Chloe/other
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: futurefic, AU after S3
Spoilers: S1-S3
Summary: After a long rift in their relationship, Lex and Clark have come together at last, but domestic bliss isn’t always happily ever after. Lex moving into Clark’s place is unacceptable. Clark moving into Lex’s place… is going to mean some changes for both. Guest starring Augustine the Hairless and Wonton-El.
betaed by the lovely miche_connor :D
Clark did put away what he needed out of his boxes and shoved the rest into a closet. He didn’t want a fight, and the sooner his old family meshed with the new family, the better.
“I have Auggie locked in his new room,” Lex announced, walking out into the foyer. Clark stood there with Wonton on a tightly held leash.
“You sure this will work?”
“No, but it’s what the vet advised.” He moved forward slowly, crouched down to the dog’s level, and extended his hand.
Wonton growled. Clark flinched. His dog had never been aggressive before.
“Great. He loves me.”
“Give him time to get used to you.”
Lex sighed and waited. Clark let the leash go a little bit slack. Wonton put his ears down and refused to go near Lex.
“Maybe Wonton and I should have our dinners on the opposite sides of a door…”
“Lex.” Clark let the leash go. The dog backed up. “Well, maybe not a bad idea.”
Clark knelt down beside him and started to scratch Wonton’s ears. “C’mon, boy. Lex won’t hurt you. He’s my friend. I bet you can smell me on him.”
“That’s probably very comforting to a dog,” Lex commented sarcastically.
“Makes you my mate.”
“Maybe if I were carrying puppies-“
“Stop.” Clark crooned into his dog’s ear for a bit longer, trying to get him to relax. Eventually, Wonton began stepping gingerly forward. Clark stayed close to him and watched his love and his dog interacting. Wonton moved so slowly. Clark could see Lex pushing back his impatience. Wonton sniffed.
“How’s that, boy?” Lex said in a very low, even voice. His eyes darted up to Clark’s nervously. Clark nodded encouragingly, and Lex continued to wait. Wonton finished sniffing him and trotted back to Clark without another look back. Clark frowned apologetically. “It’s more than I expected.”
***
Lex wiped his brow and looked in the refrigerator for his morning juice while he discussed the closing of this deal from hell.
“Just make sure you have everything in order for the meeting. I want this done.” Lex glared at the contents of the refrigerator, which somehow to spite him did not consist of orange juice. “I don’t mind much about that… no.”
Clark came in and sleepily rubbed his eyes. For a boy who had been forced to get up at the asscrack of dawn throughout his childhood, Clark certainly seemed to sleep in most of the time. Well, in comparison to Lex, who started almost every day at 5:00 am. That was, on days when he went to bed at all.
Clark tottered over and tried to grab Lex around the waist. Lex twisted away.
”Not now. No… not you. Just get those files together. I’ll have a last look at everything when I come back in.”
“Haven’t you been to work yet?” Clark frowned. He opened the refrigerator, looked inside, made a “hmphing” sound, then blurred before Lex’s eyes. Lex sighed and tried to wrap up his phone call. Clark was back just as he turned it off with a bag of groceries. “Did you come home last night, Lex?”
“Did you get juice?” Lex peeked inside the bag. Clark heaved a little trying to hold back his anger.
“Yes. I got juice. When is this deal over?”
“This afternoon. Thank Zod.” Lex shook his head as he plucked out the juice and moved to pour himself a glass. Clark started putting away the groceries.
“You can’t not sleep, Lex. It’s going to make you crazy.”
“I need to get this done.”
Clark stood behind him again and put a tentative hand at his love’s hip. Lex grimaced at Clark’s hesitance and grabbed Clark’s big arm and pulled it around himself.
“I know.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“How often do you put your health in danger?”
Clark nosed the bump on the back of Lex’s head. He remembered a time when that used to make Lex mad, when he touched it or even looked at it or mentioned it. Clark hadn’t realized at the time that it felt intimate to Lex to let people molest his scalp. Now he seemed to move into the movement, to enjoy it. “Point. But… fate of the world.”
“This is important.” Lex bristled.
“Don’t, babe. I’m not saying it’s not.” He made gentle kisses along the back of his neck. Lex seemed to calm. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fucking exhausted, and there was no juice when I went looking for breakfast. However, Superman fetched some for me, so… I’m better now. Saved the day.”
“Juice is breakfast? I’m going to have to take you down to the farm for a real breakfast.”
“Shotgun shells aren’t part of my diet.”
“Aw.” He maneuvered Lex around a little bit, careful to leave him room to pull away if he wanted. Lex didn’t seem so very angry. Mostly tired and annoyed. Clark gave him a gentle kiss, and Lex kissed back hungrily.
“When this deal is through, we’re going to have sex for three hours.”
“Three hours, huh?”
“If you can last that long.” Lex grinned. He gave Clark’s ass a squeeze and headed into the bedroom to get his suit.
“I’ll conserve my strength!” Clark hummed to himself as he went about preparing his breakfast. Less stress for Lex was good for them all. They had been trying to give Wonton and Auggie “visits” but the two of them seemed determined not to like one another. Somehow Auggie kept escaping his room. That was a smart, if evil, cat.
“MOTHERFUCKER!!”
Clark was in the room before his heart made another pump. Lex was standing beside the chair next to their bed with the most revolted expression on his face. He looked like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin.
“What’s wrong?!” Clark rushed to his side, and Lex brushed him off as he backed away from the chair. Clark looked over and saw Lex’s green Armani draped over the side. There was a rip along the sleeve and side and… drool?
“Your animal ate my Armani!”
“What? Auggie’s the one on the bed!”
Lex turned around and looked at Auggie who was tilting his head and looking at them with an expression that seemed a bit surprised and annoyed that he’d been disturbed. Lex looked back at Clark. “Auggie couldn’t get that much saliva on anything. So either your dog did it, or you have a lot of explaining to do!”
Wonton picked that moment to bound into the room and start slobbering on Clark’s hand. Auggie jumped to the night stand and hissed loudly. Lex moved to calm his cat, but not quickly enough, and feeling defensive, Auggie scratched him across the face.
“Clark, put that thing away!”
“He’s not a thing! Jesus, Lex! He’s a dog! He’s going to chew things!” Clark tried to restrain Wonton, who was now barking happily at Lex and Auggie. He wanted to play. Lex and Auggie most certainly did not want to play.
“Hold him!” Lex ordered. He managed to scoop Auggie up in his arms and left to put him back in his room. Clark knelt to Wonton.
“Come on, you can’t be doing things like that, huh? You’re making Lex mad, okay? You know not to chew things! What’s wrong with you?”
Wonton barked and looked over to the ruined suit proudly.
“Don’t be mean,” Clark admonished. Lex stormed back in, snapping a latex glove onto his hand with his teeth and carrying some cleaning supplies under one arm. Oh, god the glove.
Wonton growled at him. Lex whipped around and gave him such a fierce glare that Wonton fled the room whimpering. Clark drew nearer, afraid that Lex might start swiping at him like the cat. When he met the man’s eye, however, Lex’s face was completely blank as he gingerly picked up the suit and stuffed it in a plastic bag as well as he could one-handed.
Clark had been about to yell back at him for getting so angry at his dog over something so dumb, but instead he felt sheepish and guilty and it showed. Auggie had yet to shred anything. Lex was controlling his pet. Clark wasn’t. “Your… face, Lex.”
“It’ll heal. There is saliva in my room. Dog saliva in my bedroom, and it must be cleaned up,” he told Clark quickly.
Clark tried not to let the internal grimace at that sentiment show. Lex had been living alone for a long time. He wasn’t used to mess. “Let me. I’ll clean it up. You have to get back to work.”
Lex almost looked torn. As through he needed to make this right and proper himself.
“Babe, let me take care of it. My dog, my mess. I’m sorry he wrecked your suit.”
”I can buy another,” he muttered.
“Better disinfect that scratch.” Clark had to take the cleaning supplies out of Lex’s hand. He kissed him on the brow and jerked his head in the direction of the bathroom. Lex stood stiffly for a moment then relented and went to the bathroom.
“One of his Soft Paws came off.” Lex explained, dabbing the scratch on his cheek with alcohol. “I fixed the tip. I’ll call Domovoi about cleaning the bedroom.”
“I’ve got it.”
”He’ll go over it when you’re through. Clean the whole room.”
Clark skewed his brows and shook his head. Lex must have spent all of those years alone honing his OCD. “I’m sure. How’s the scratch?”
“It’ll be fine.” Lex came out and headed to the bureau. Clark stepped towards him, and Lex stepped backward. The drool. He was contaminated. Clark sighed.
“I’ll put this in the trash and take a shower.”
“Thank you.”
“Do my lips offend you?”
Lex turned from the bureau, confused. Clark set the bag aside, lifted into the air, and kissed Lex’s lips without touching him anywhere else. Lex flushed, hotly, embarrassed.
Now Clark felt guilty again. Why couldn’t he get this right? He had navigated Lex’s moods better when they were enemies. “If you’re gone before I get out of the shower, have a good meeting, okay? You’ve worked hard for this.”
Lex nodded briskly, having already turned back to the bureau to pick out another suit.
***
Rather than get started on their sex-a-thon, when Lex returned home that evening, he mostly wanted to sleep. Domovoi hadn’t finished “disinfecting” their bedroom yet, so Lex shucked off his work clothes and trudged to the sitting room where there was a comfortable sofa. He was so happy that the deal was over he started humming Bach to himself and shimmied and grooved down the hallway. If only they had clubs with modernized classical music. Hm. Now there was a thought.
“Gotcha!” Clark grabbed him from behind. “Naked Lex, all mine.”
“Naked Lex very tired.”
“I figured you would be.” Clark flipped him up into his arms and carried him into the sitting room. “So… I have a pillow and blanket, all fresh from the laundry. And I took an extra shower after work. Perfect for snuggling and recuperation from work.”
Lex rubbed his brow. Clark sighed. “Okay, what am I doing wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Have you turned into a woman lately? What is wrong with you?” Clark dropped him onto the couch.
“That’s… great, Clark. Your mother would love your respectful attitude towards women.”
“You’re telling me that nothing is wrong when something is obviously wrong. You’ve never been the passive aggressive one.” Clark sat on the arm of recliner.
“You asked what you were doing wrong. I assured you that you are doing nothing wrong. You’re fucking perfect.” Lex grabbed the soft, white clothes laid out for him and began to put them on without looking at Clark. Clark slowly moved to the couch. When Lex didn’t protest, Clark sat beside him and started arranging pillows.
“Are you mad at me about this morning?”
Lex turned his head and stared at him. “What did you do this morning?”
“My dog chewed your Armani.”
“Yes. But you didn’t chew my Armani. Why would I be angry at you?”
“Um.”
“You didn’t let him out, did you?”
“Um. Well…”
Lex sighed. “Nothing to be done about it now. I saw Auggie as I came in. They’re out now?”
“Uh… seem to be.”
Lex rubbed his legs. “I don’t know that it’s wise to just let them out. Not because… they don’t know each other well yet.”
“They seem to be tolerating one another. Auggie hides where Wonton can’t reach. And Wonton doesn’t usually chew things. I don’t know what’s got into him.”
Lex’s expression was dark and menacing. Until he yawned loudly. Clark couldn’t help himself; he wrapped Lex up into a cuddly bear hug. Lex leaned into him. “How about we talk about this after I’ve slept?”
“Great idea.” Clark kissed along his head softly and eased Lex down with him. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over the two of them. They snuggled under the covers together.
“Mmm.” Lex arched his back into Clark’s body. Clark felt himself getting hard from Lex’s presence and the noises he was making. He started to whisper into Lex’s ear, but he had fallen asleep already. Devil. Clark lay there with him, stroking his soft scalp, until he began to nod off himself.
They both awoke abruptly to barking and yowling. Then there was howling from Lex and growling from Wonton, and before Clark knew it, both he and the dog were shut out of the room as Lex coddled his precious cat.
“You’re a cock-blocker, you know that?” Clark said to his dog. Wonton just looked up at him with a big doggy grin on his face. The same one that said, “I almost caught the rat!” Clark scratched his ears a little and then pulled him back to his room. Wonton kept whining and complaining and scratching at the door with his newly plastic tipped nails. “I’m sorry, boy, but you can’t hurt that cat!”
Clark returned to the room and knocked hesitantly. “I put Wonton away.”
Lex appeared after a few moments, still hugging that unsightly beast, and said, “You sound like you’re taking care of leftovers.” Clark grinned at the joke. Lex was not smiling, though. At least he was trying. “You can come in. He cannot.”
“He’s in his room. I promise.”
Lex stepped back from the door. “He attacked my cat.”
“He’s a dog. He was just playing.”
“Auggie has heart problems. ‘Playing’ like that could kill him.” Lex laid back on the couch and let the cat curl up next to him.
“I know. I’m sorry. I should have made sure he was back in his room.”
“S‘okay,” Lex muttered. Clark tried to climb onto the couch with Lex but Auggie hissed a little as he approached. Lex was already fast asleep again. Every time Clark tried to come near, the megalomaniacal cat swiped at him. He was afraid the commotion would wake Lex, so he just left to change into his suit and do some early patrolling.
Auggie looked at him smugly. Great. Another cock-blocker.
***
It was hard to believe her to be the scruffy creature Lex had pulled out of the proverbial gutter one night when she’d by-passed his security and stolen his favorite car. Her hair was still short, but coiffed gracefully with a part to the side. Her clothes were crisply ironed, probably Chloe’s doing. A dark blue suit made her skin seem even whiter and her large, round eyes darker. Their hazel had always been rich, golden and imposing. Their shape could have let themselves to innocent expressions, but she never used them for that purpose. In dark colors, she looked like a demon, although gorgeous. Lex had always dressed her in unrelieved black when she was in his employ. Lex had a penchant for collecting strays.
“You clean up pretty well, Mercy.”
Mercy lifted her chin and her glass. “To seeing the value beneath the surface of things.”
Chloe smiled and put her hand on Mercy’s leg. She lowered her head a bit and grinned. “The question is: how did you manage to clean up Clark so well?”
Clark bowed his lips and shook his head at her as though dumbfounded. “Lex showed me this thing… they call it a comb.”
“How does Lex know what a comb is?” Mercy laughed. Lex curved his lips slightly.
“I know of many things in theory.”
Mercy and Lex began to discuss business. She was set up in Gotham currently trying to take care of LexCorp’s business on the east coast. It was tricky to keep business moving over there without stepping on Wayne Industries’ toes, but Mercy was sharp and slick, and working with Batman at night helped her case where collaboration was concerned.
“Oh, darn it.” Clark turned his head. “I have to go.”
“The restroom’s over there, farm boy,” Mercy said. “Oh, oh. You need help?”
Clark narrowed his eyes. “Probably not. It’s a fire. I’ll beep you if it’s anything else.”
Clark hurried outside to change in the limo. Lex swirled the wine in his glass and looked up at the girls. Chloe shrugged.
“Welcome to the bulk of my teenage years. At least you know where he is.”
Lex rubbed the side of the glass with his thumb and looked faintly worried.
“He’ll be fine, boss,” Mercy said, creasing one brow. Lex smiled a little. She always called him that, even though she knew they were on a familiar basis.
“I think it’s hard for you to understand. Your significant other isn’t out there deliberately putting himself in danger every day.”
“Maybe not in a costume. I bet Clark worries about you sometimes too,” Chloe pointed out.
“No doubt. I don’t get in as much trouble as I used to, though.”
Chloe chuckled. “I remember a time when he was saving your butt every week.”
“Lex doesn’t need people to save his ass,” Mercy argued. Lex shrugged.
“When I was younger… before you met me, I was a bit of an idiot when it came to taking care of myself.”
“It didn’t help that every mutant Kansas and alien that swung by our solar system seemed to be gunning for him. Between you and Lana, you sure kept Clark in shape.” Chloe grinned.
“Can’t have a fat Superman.” Mercy laughed. Lex nodded and poked at his dinner with his fork. After about twenty minutes, he knew Clark wouldn’t be making it back for dinner, and he might have to stay with the girls or rent a room. And here he thought he would be the absent one in the relationship. Lex didn’t mind so much, actually, but his heart tightened whenever he knew Clark was out there by himself.
Invulnerable didn’t mean immortal.
Lex finally breathed a sigh of relief when Clark ran up to them as they walked down the streets of Gotham. Lex took his arm without a word and smiled faintly. Little moments like this calmed him and made him think this arrangement might not fall apart like it had with everyone else he’d let into his life.
***
Clark came home to the sound of yelling. Lex was going fucking ballistic. He came into the bedroom to see Lex grabbing his dog by the scruff of his neck.
“What the hell is your problem?” Clark yelled before he could think. He grabbed Lex and tossed him aside. Lex landed hard against the wall and looked up at him with wide angry eyes. Clark pinned him back with a fierce glower. “Don’t touch my dog!”
”Clark-“
“God, Lex, why can’t you get along with anyone but that fucking hideous cat of yours?” Clark demanded, picking Wonton up and storming out.
“Clark!” Lex ran out into the hall. Then looked around the penthouse. Auggie followed him, mewing questioningly. Clark was gone. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Lex leaned against the wall and got out his cell phone to call him. Clark wasn’t answering. Lex looked around trying to decide what to do. He went to the cabinet for his latex gloves, opened the box with one hand, and pulled the glove on with his teeth.
He headed to the room where Wonton had chewed his prosthetic hand to uselessness and began to clean.
***
The Kents looked to one another in surprise as they heard a car drive up. Jonathan heaved his old bones up from the couch and went outside to see a Lamborghini there.
“Uh… Martha? We got company.”
She came up beside him. “Lex?”
The man stepped out of the car and staggered. Then stretched his legs. When he straightened and started to walk towards them, the end of his left arm hidden in his pocket, Martha could see the strain on his face. He was worried. Distraught, in spite of the smile plastered on for their sake. “Jonathan, something’s wrong.”
“Yeah, hell’s frozen over,” Jonathan muttered. Martha gave him a look and headed outside to meet Lex.
“Hey, there. Long time no see. How are you doing?”
“Have you seen Clark?” Lex asked abruptly. “I wouldn’t bother you but… he’s not answering his phone and…”
“Oh my.” Martha raised a hand to her chest. “How long has he been missing?”
”He’s not missing. I just don’t know where he went.”
Jonathan stepped up and frowned deeply. “What now? So, nothing happened when he was out flying? What is it then?”
“We…” Lex’s face was a blank mask again. “Fought. I went out to talk to him but you know how he does. He was gone before I even got off the floor. And he’s not answering the cell. I’ve left five messages already, but…” He looked down. “Sorry to bother you.”
He started to walk away but Martha caught his shoulder. “Honey, you don’t have to go! You look tired. Why don’t you come in here and wait awhile? I was just about to get started on dinner.”
“No, you don’t need to do that, I’ll be fine. I’ll just head back home.” Lex gave a tight fleeting smile, and Jonathan felt like a complete ass. Clark had told him how uncomfortable Lex felt around them. This was just stupid.
“You kidding? You drove three hours out here and y’gonna drive three hours back?”
Lex looked off against the horizon. “I could stay the night at the castle.”
“Or y’could stay here.” Jonathan ran Lex’s words over his mind. He could see a yellowish mark where something had just healed on his face and had noticed the slight limp and the way he was holding his shoulder. “What the hell do you mean you got up off the floor? Why the hell were you on the floor?”
“Jonathan, what-?” Martha looked between them.
“You hurt? What happened?”
Lex stepped back skittishly, and Jonathan looked even angrier. Lex had straightened his back and looked very alert. The old man tried to calm his voice. “You can tell us, Lex.”
Lex checked his cell phone again. No messages. Fuck that Clark. The bald man shrugged. “Clark pulled me to the side, and I fell. That’s all. I’m fine.”
“Good then. Come on in.” Jonathan walked behind him and pushed him a little.
Lex’s confusion was apparent as he looked at Jonathan. It was hard to see Mr. Kent as protective of him after all of these years. “Oh, wait. Sorry, I left Auggie in there.”
Lex turned and jogged back to his car.
“Auggie?” Martha asked. Her mouth went from a circle of surprise to a smile. “We finally get to meet the little dictator of the apartment.”
Lex came up from the car seat carrying the black, irritated cat. He slammed the door shut, and Auggie clung to him, pitifully meowing in protest of the new environment.
“You brought the cat?”
“I was holding him when I got in the car. I didn’t think I’d end up here. I wasn’t… really thinking. I just wanted to find him and explain. Oh, um.” Lex shook his head apologetically to Martha who seemed to want to pet the cat. She didn’t even blink at his stump. Of course the mother of Superman probably took the freakish in stride. “He doesn’t really like people.”
She held out her hand, and Auggie sniffed it. Then leaned his head into her hand, begging her to pet him.
“That has never happened,” Lex remarked in astonishment.
She stroked her fingers gently along his head as they walked into the house. “Oh, I think he can tell when people don’t like the way he looks. Poor dear. He’s just very sensitive. People must mistake him for being antisocial.”
“I think that’s true. He likes Clark, but he also likes to aggravate him. He gets jealous.”
“Clark? I’m sure. Auggie gets to be close to you all he time.”
Lex broke into a grin. “I meant Auggie of Clark.”
“Maybe both ways. It’s hard opening your life up when you’ve been alone for a long time.”
“I think Clark is a little more used to being with other people than we are.”
Jonathan shook his head as the three of them went inside. “So what happened? Why’d you fight? And why’s Clark so upset that he can’t answer the damn phone and has you this worried?”
Lex came inside and let Martha hold Auggie. The cat was a bit freaked out, but he seemed to like her. “I yelled at his dog.”
Jonathan furrowed his brow. “I’m not getting this pet thing. Round the farm, we just feed the animals. They tend to themselves.”
“When you live in the city, it’s different,” Martha explained. “He’s mad at you for yelling at Wonton? Really?”
Lex tried to think about it. “I yelled at him, and… I took him by the scruff of his neck, because that’s what the books tell you to do to get a dog to obey. We have dominance problems. He growls at me when I walk by, and he’s tried to nip me a few times.” Lex groaned. “I can’t believe we’re fighting over a dog.”
“Nah. I think Wonton is probably growling at you because he’s afraid. I dunno why it is, but I’ve never seen a dog not a little bit scared of you, Lex. Or maybe he’s feeling protective of Clark.” Jonathan walked into their circle. “But he can’t be allowed to snap at you, no matter what. Clark’s gotta train him better.”
Lex shrugged.
“Why do you think Clark got so upset about it?” Martha sat on the couch and let Auggie curl in her lap. He started to purr. “It’s not like him to throw you around, even if he is upset.”
“He was just trying to separate us.” Lex thought of the times when Clark had thrown him around… best not to discuss their sex life in front of the parents.
“He thought you were gonna hurt the dog,” Jonathan surmised.
“I wouldn’t hurt his dog.” Lex asserted. His hands were in his pockets again. “I was angry, though.”
“He snap at you again?”
“No, he…” Lex’s cheeks reddened a little. “He chewed my hand.”
“He bit you?” Martha asked in alarm.
“No… the prosthetic. I lost my temper.” Lex sighed. “Yeah, I can see where Clark might of thought I’d lose it. I can seem a bit Jekyll and Hyde when I’m angry.”
Martha shook her head. “I certainly can see why you’d be angry. Maybe we can give Wonton a little more training. Asserting dominance is okay in some situations, but I think maybe you want to get him chewing on things he knows that are his.”
“We’ll see if Clark comes back first.”
“Lex, Clark won’t leave you over a spat like this,” Martha assured him. Lex shrugged, and the look of hopelessness on his face made her want to cry. “Why don’t I start dinner, hm? Sit down and relax. It’s been a long day for you.”
She tried to ease Auggie out of her lap and received a disgruntled hiss. She raised her hands to the air in surrender. Lex rolled his eyes. “Don’t let him intimidate you. He has plastic caps on his claws. Just stand up, and he’ll be compelled to make other lounging plans.”
Martha followed his advice and stood. Auggie scrambled off and looked annoyed.
“Maybe y’should’ve bought a friendlier cat,” Jonathan suggested acerbically. Lex sat down and looked at Auggie expectantly. The cat sniffed indignantly then crawled into his lap as though he were doing him a favor.
“I didn’t buy him.”
“No?” Martha asked, brushing off her pants.
“No, he was a gift.”
“Nice gift.” Jonathan laughed. Lex shrugged again and meticulously stroked the cat.
“From some of my employees.” He looked up to answer the questions in their eyes. “A foreign company was about to buy out this small family owned business. It had grown pretty large and losing it would mean most of the town would be out of a job. I upped the bid, and after I bought the company, I let everyone keep their jobs, with a few LexCorp professionals hanging around to help them find ways to increase productivity without laying anyone off or killing themselves. It’s an ideal situation for a buy out. Anyway, when I came to visit… uh… they decided to get me a gift, so everyone at the company put in a little money for this bald cat. Brought him out in this basket with a froofy purple bow on him.”
“Oh my.” Martha looked as she realized exactly how badly Lex might have taken that.
“Whoever came up with the idea must have thought they were brilliant. Anyway, I was standing there, probably flaring my nostrils or something equally as terrifying, when one of the women made a somewhat audible comment to the effect that she wasn’t surprised I didn’t want an antisocial hairless freak in my life.” Lex smiled slightly and rubbed Auggie’s nose. The cat leaned into his finger. “What can I say? I felt for the poor little guy. Attractiveness is overrated anyway.”
“That’s so sweet,” Martha gushed.
“I don’t know that it’s sweet,” Lex protested. But she was already grinning, as she went into the kitchen. Jonathan snorted
“You’re destroyed your image with her, mister. That woman loves her strays.”
“I’m fond of strays myself.”
***
When Clark was finished walking and playing with Wonton, he took him back to the penthouse and locked him in his room. Wonton complained a bit but was too tired to romp around much more.
“Lex…?” Clark called. He’d left so abruptly. He hoped Lex wasn’t sitting alone, drinking and upset. He should have calmed down; when he thought about it, he’d overreacted. But Clark had been so angry he didn’t want to start yelling things he couldn’t take back. Lex sure seemed mad. Clark wondered what Wonton had chewed this time.
“Uh… Lex?” Clark started going from room to room. Lex wasn’t there. Where would he go? Gotham maybe. He didn’t really have any friends close by. Clark pulled out his cell phone and checked his voicemail. There were six messages. Oh, fuck.
He pressed the ‘ok’ button.
”Clark, where the fuck did you go?? I’m sorry, just come back and we can… talk about this?”
“Clark, it’s me again. You know the best way I can think of to handle a fight is to run away… I’m sorry, just please call me. I worry about you when you’re out, and… fuck. Call me.”
“Clark, for fuck’s sake, why aren’t you answering? Are you okay? I didn’t… did I hurt the dog? I thought getting him by the neck didn’t hurt him… Is he okay?” A car horn blared. Lex had been out looking for him. Clark covered his mouth and sat down to listen to the rest of the messages.
”Clark, please answer your phone. Please forgive me. I’ve been trying; I promise that I have. I just… it’s hard… I’ve been alone for so long. I know I can be a freak, but I’m trying to put that part of me away… Please. Call me.”
“This is getting ridiculous. Call me, Clark. We can work this out like reasonable adults. Don’t let me think you’re laying dead somewhere.”
”I don’t know what else to say. I’m… sorry this didn’t work out. I’m sorry I failed at this. It...” Lex took a shaky breath. “Please, just tell me to my face, okay?”
Clark listened to the messages again and opened his mouth in horror. He had to find him.
***
Clark had called Mercy, and Bruce, and to his great embarrassment, Lana, who had talked his ear off and made insinuations about their relationship. God, Lex was going to be so mad that he’d told her they had a fight.
Or he would if he still wanted to be in a relationship with him after this mess. Why hadn’t he just stayed and let Lex explain? Of course he wouldn’t have hurt his dog. Lex loved Clark. He wouldn’t hurt anyone close to him. Clark kept checking back at the apartment, but when it started getting late Clark gave up and decided to head over to his parents’ for some advice. He hoped Pa wouldn’t be too smug about it.
Clark touched down just outside the house and gawked at Lex’s Lamborghini. Lex must have been beyond freaked out. Normally Clark couldn’t drag him here. He almost hesitated before walking into the house. This was going to be bad. He listened inside the house.
“-won’t lie and say I wasn’t worried about you and Clark together after all that fighting,” his father said.
“I won’t either,” Lex admitted dryly. Clark x-rayed the house and saw his mother take Lex’s hand across the table.
“I think we need to… all try. I’m an old man. But stubbornness is no reason to keep the family apart.”
“Sweetie, no matter what, I want you to believe that you’re welcome here,” his mother pitched in.
Clark decided he couldn’t possibly let Lex worry any longer.
“Um… hey, Ma, Pa,” Clark announced himself as he walked into the house. Auggie came up to him quickly and twined his body around his legs. His parents came out of the kitchen. He could smell the coffee. Lex followed slowly.
“Hey,” Lex said softly. He stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes uncertain. Clark walked up and hugged his mother, then his father, keeping his eyes on Lex.
”Good to see you, son.” Jonathan said. Clark nodded. He looked over at Lex. They locked eyes and couldn’t speak. Lex put his hand behind his head and opened his mouth silently, unsure of what to say.
Finally he spoke, and his voice cracked. “Clark, if you’re going to leave me, please just leave. Don’t draw it out. Don’t think you’re sparing my feelings. It’s worse this way.”
“Come help me with this.” Martha pulled Jonathan into the kitchen.
“I’m not going to leave you! Over a fight? A stupid little fight? A dog?”
“You’ve had one foot out the door since you moved in!”
“You are paranoid and crazy. I love you. What makes you think that?”
“Why the fuck haven’t you unpacked?” Lex shook his head and looked agitated. “I don’t understand it. If you didn’t want to be with me, why did you suggest we move in together? Am I that good a fuck?”
“Do not talk about yourself that way. You’re not a fuck. You’re not a freak. You’re not an object. You’re not deformed. I… there’s a reason why I haven’t unpacked.”
Lex stared back at him. Then shrugged, at a complete loss.
“Lex, I just… My clothes, my habits, my schedule, my dog… I just don’t fit into your life”
Lex boggled. He spread his hand in aggravation. “You don’t fit in my life? Are you fucking serious? You are my life!”
“I…” Clark flushed at the sudden emotional admission. Lex was usually so subdued about how he felt.
“How do you think I survived this?” He held up his stump for effect. Clark flinched.
“You survived because you were strong,” Clark said emphatically.
Lex shook his head. “I survived because you gave me something to live for. That’s the only reason. You think money and power are what are keeping me tied to this planet? Not a chance.”
Clark closed the space between then and held Lex. “I’m not going to leave you so easily.”
“You have before.”
Clark clutched the back of Lex’s head. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I’m so crazy that you don’t feel comfortable in the place that is supposed to be your home.” Lex leaned back in his arms so he could look Clark in the face. “I’ve tried to control it…“
“We…”
“Yeah.”
Clark kissed him tenderly, lingering on Lex’s bottom lip.
“Are you ready to come home?”
Lex sighed. “If he’s ready, I guess.”
“He’s in his room.” Clark took Lex’s hand and led him into the kitchen. “Hey, Ma. Sorry for keeping you guys up late.”
“Don’t worry about it. We enjoyed the company.” She smiled. Jonathan put his arm around his wife.
“Don’t be strangers, boys. Be sure to come by for dinner on Sunday, hm, Lex?”
“I uh…” Lex ducked his head and grinned widely. Clark shook him a little bit. “I will. Thank you.”
“So, I guess we’ll fly home.”
“We will not. Do you want a cat on you at 3500 feet?”
Clark laughed. “Doesn’t Auggie like to fly?”
“Auggie doesn’t even like to ride in the car. He flattens his ears and yowls the whole way.”
“Oh, poor little guy!” Martha crooned.
“Are you telling me we have three hours of cat to look forward to?” Clark practically whined.
“Depends on whether you or I are driving.” Lex smirked. Neither the years nor the amputation had slowed Lex’s driving.
Jonathan told them to be careful, and they headed back home. Auggie yowled most of the way, but allowed Clark comfort him a just little bit.
***
“I’m going to kill you, Superman.” Lex dropped his cell phone on the couch.
Clark looked up from the floor where he was eating assorted pastas from Aria’s Bistro with Chloe and Lois. “What did that bastard do now?”
“He told one of my former rivals that I had a fight with my boyfriend.”
Lois cackled. “What did you do, Smallville?”
“Just a dumb fight. I couldn’t find you. I was worried.”
“Think of calling him, brain trust?” She took a big bite of the alfredo. Clark sneered at her.
”Yes… well. After I got his messages, I felt like such an ass I just wanted to talk to him face to face.” Clark tried not to look too embarrassed. “Actually, it didn’t occur to me to call until I’d been looking awhile.”
Lex sat beside them and put some of the angel hair pasta with pesto sauce on his plate. “We both overreacted. It’s pretty much fine now. Except for psycho-exes calling me incessantly. In fact, we’re going to redecorate.”
Lois laughed so hard she bent over crying. “Oh, god.”
“Shut up!” Chloe exclaimed. “I think this is great.”
“I’m just…” Lois tried to calm herself.
“Spit pasta on my rug and die, reporter woman.” Lex spoke with ultimate seriousness.
“I’m imagining the plaid wallpaper,” She managed finally. Chloe grabbed a bread stick.
“Not just the wallpaper. The sofa.” She waved the bread stick around and spoke in a cutesy tone. “Little plaid end tables.”
“You’re going to tempt me to do this. I’d make it look good.” Lex pushed the pasta around on his plate. Clark reached over and stole a forkful of his pesto.
”There will be no plaid room. I hardly ever wear plaid anymore.” He raised the fork up and held it to Lex’s mouth.
“Oh, kill me now.” Lois curled her lip. She and Chloe both leaned over simultaneously and pretended to gag. Lex looked at them, opened his mouth, wide and took the pasta off the fork. He chewed carefully, raising a napkin to his mouth and wiping facetiously. “Serious. You’re too clean to eat? This place is like a picture of neatness. How do you live with him, Clark? I saw your apartment. You’re a slob.”
“I think it’s cute.” Clark laughed. Lex pinched his mouth sourly.
“I am not cute. I’m stiff and cranky. I’m like a grandpa.”
Clark grabbed him and held Lex closely. “You are not. You flirt with every one you meet, completely unintentionally. You love that damn cat so much it’s ridiculous. You dance naked through the penthouse.”
Lois blinked. “Is that on the record? That’s hot.”
“You’re adorable. Deal with it.” Clark took Lex’s ear in his mouth and sucked on the lobe. Chloe giggled.
“Hey! You two have company!” Lois complained. She seemed more amused than upset, however. Clark pulled away and tried to behave himself, but made them all laugh by making cow eyes at Lex as they ate. Lex encouraged Chloe to tell him about the news in Gotham, and Lois talked a little about the new guy she was dating.
When they’d left, Clark followed Lex to the kitchen to clean up the plates. “You sure you want to redo the penthouse just for me?”
”You live here. I want it to reflect the both of us.” Lex shrugged. Clark elbowed him away from the sink and started to pre-rinse the dishes for him. “The designs I have now, I’ve had them for years, Clark. I was very alone during that time. It’s time for a change.”
“I don’t want to force you to change too much.”
”You had to move to live with me. To out yourself to distract from your other secrets.” Lex took the dishes from Clark and set them in the dishwasher.
“I can’t imagine you guys all living in that cold crappy apartment of mine.”
“We could have found another place together.”
“Asking you to accommodate more people in your life and a change of setting… too much.”
“I don’t know…”
“You’ve been through so many changes already. I think if I took you too far out of your routine, you would get too stressed.”
Lex sighed.
Clark kissed him as he handed him another plate. “You’re quirky. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. Don’t... feel like you have hide the crazy. That’s like… the most fun part about living with someone. I get to know those little parts of you that you hide when you’re trying to lure me in.”
“You want the crazy? Are you serious?”
“You show me yours; I’ll show you mine.” Clark grinned.
“Mine’s bigger than yours,” Lex warned. Clark pressed his forehead against Lex’s.
“Well, I’m pretty secure. I think I can handle that.”
They kissed again and finished the dishes together. Moving back to the sitting room, they bumped one another’s hips and laughed a little bit.
“Should I…” Clark asked. Lex nodded. He moved away from him.
They both let their pets out and headed back to the sitting room. Lex picked up a bottle of wine and two glasses. Clark repositioned the pillows on the floor, and Lex pulled out the swatches and paint chips and curled up between Clark’s legs. Clark spread them out in front of them and looked critically. Auggie came up next to them and sat on the swatches.
“Oh, you nuisance.” Lex pulled the complaining cat into his own lap so they could continue to look over the color schemes and make some decisions about how they were going to change the penthouse.
“I like the blue in the master bathroom,” Clark said. “How many rooms are we going to change?”
“I’m not sure. Whatever we like, I suppose. We need a larger cabinet in the master bathroom, though. For your shaving supplies.”
“And a shower caddy.”
“You’re so complicated. You… hairy freak.”
“Yeah. Me and my crazy hair.”
Lex grinned, flipping through the pages and sipping his wine. After a moment, Wonton came in. He sniffed around the swatch books for a bit then dropped into a pile of soft brown fur, with his head on Clark’s knee. Auggie sniffed at him but turned his head and decided he wasn’t worth his attention.
“I need to get Won some new toys,” Clark muttered. He stroked Lex’s new prosthetic. “So I can get him to stop chewing on important things.”
“I need to learn not to leave things where the dog can chew them.”
“Still.”
“Well, why don’t you get him new toys?”
“Dog slobber.”
“Ugh. Just keep it out of my sleeping space,” Lex conceded. “He has to have toys.”
“See, Wonton? He’s in your corner.” Clark scratched behind his ears.
“He still doesn’t like me.”
“He’ll come around. As soon as he realizes you aren’t replacing him.”
“What exactly do you do with your dog?”
”Ew, Lex.” Clark laughed into his shoulder.
“You know you love me.”
Clark kissed his neck and looked seriously at the swatches. Clark had never designed anything before, but he was sure that Lex would guide him and take his lack of taste into account when he made his suggestions. This was what he had been wanting when they moved in together. Curled up with each other, doing things as a pair, loving each other because of their differences and oddities. It wasn’t perfect and it wasn’t easy, but it was so wonderful to be able to share themselves with one another.
Clark figured he would really enjoy interior decorating, if it meant he could have more nights like this with Lex.
Pairing: Clex, Chloe/other
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: futurefic, AU after S3
Spoilers: S1-S3
Summary: After a long rift in their relationship, Lex and Clark have come together at last, but domestic bliss isn’t always happily ever after. Lex moving into Clark’s place is unacceptable. Clark moving into Lex’s place… is going to mean some changes for both. Guest starring Augustine the Hairless and Wonton-El.
betaed by the lovely miche_connor :D
Clark did put away what he needed out of his boxes and shoved the rest into a closet. He didn’t want a fight, and the sooner his old family meshed with the new family, the better.
“I have Auggie locked in his new room,” Lex announced, walking out into the foyer. Clark stood there with Wonton on a tightly held leash.
“You sure this will work?”
“No, but it’s what the vet advised.” He moved forward slowly, crouched down to the dog’s level, and extended his hand.
Wonton growled. Clark flinched. His dog had never been aggressive before.
“Great. He loves me.”
“Give him time to get used to you.”
Lex sighed and waited. Clark let the leash go a little bit slack. Wonton put his ears down and refused to go near Lex.
“Maybe Wonton and I should have our dinners on the opposite sides of a door…”
“Lex.” Clark let the leash go. The dog backed up. “Well, maybe not a bad idea.”
Clark knelt down beside him and started to scratch Wonton’s ears. “C’mon, boy. Lex won’t hurt you. He’s my friend. I bet you can smell me on him.”
“That’s probably very comforting to a dog,” Lex commented sarcastically.
“Makes you my mate.”
“Maybe if I were carrying puppies-“
“Stop.” Clark crooned into his dog’s ear for a bit longer, trying to get him to relax. Eventually, Wonton began stepping gingerly forward. Clark stayed close to him and watched his love and his dog interacting. Wonton moved so slowly. Clark could see Lex pushing back his impatience. Wonton sniffed.
“How’s that, boy?” Lex said in a very low, even voice. His eyes darted up to Clark’s nervously. Clark nodded encouragingly, and Lex continued to wait. Wonton finished sniffing him and trotted back to Clark without another look back. Clark frowned apologetically. “It’s more than I expected.”
***
Lex wiped his brow and looked in the refrigerator for his morning juice while he discussed the closing of this deal from hell.
“Just make sure you have everything in order for the meeting. I want this done.” Lex glared at the contents of the refrigerator, which somehow to spite him did not consist of orange juice. “I don’t mind much about that… no.”
Clark came in and sleepily rubbed his eyes. For a boy who had been forced to get up at the asscrack of dawn throughout his childhood, Clark certainly seemed to sleep in most of the time. Well, in comparison to Lex, who started almost every day at 5:00 am. That was, on days when he went to bed at all.
Clark tottered over and tried to grab Lex around the waist. Lex twisted away.
”Not now. No… not you. Just get those files together. I’ll have a last look at everything when I come back in.”
“Haven’t you been to work yet?” Clark frowned. He opened the refrigerator, looked inside, made a “hmphing” sound, then blurred before Lex’s eyes. Lex sighed and tried to wrap up his phone call. Clark was back just as he turned it off with a bag of groceries. “Did you come home last night, Lex?”
“Did you get juice?” Lex peeked inside the bag. Clark heaved a little trying to hold back his anger.
“Yes. I got juice. When is this deal over?”
“This afternoon. Thank Zod.” Lex shook his head as he plucked out the juice and moved to pour himself a glass. Clark started putting away the groceries.
“You can’t not sleep, Lex. It’s going to make you crazy.”
“I need to get this done.”
Clark stood behind him again and put a tentative hand at his love’s hip. Lex grimaced at Clark’s hesitance and grabbed Clark’s big arm and pulled it around himself.
“I know.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“How often do you put your health in danger?”
Clark nosed the bump on the back of Lex’s head. He remembered a time when that used to make Lex mad, when he touched it or even looked at it or mentioned it. Clark hadn’t realized at the time that it felt intimate to Lex to let people molest his scalp. Now he seemed to move into the movement, to enjoy it. “Point. But… fate of the world.”
“This is important.” Lex bristled.
“Don’t, babe. I’m not saying it’s not.” He made gentle kisses along the back of his neck. Lex seemed to calm. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fucking exhausted, and there was no juice when I went looking for breakfast. However, Superman fetched some for me, so… I’m better now. Saved the day.”
“Juice is breakfast? I’m going to have to take you down to the farm for a real breakfast.”
“Shotgun shells aren’t part of my diet.”
“Aw.” He maneuvered Lex around a little bit, careful to leave him room to pull away if he wanted. Lex didn’t seem so very angry. Mostly tired and annoyed. Clark gave him a gentle kiss, and Lex kissed back hungrily.
“When this deal is through, we’re going to have sex for three hours.”
“Three hours, huh?”
“If you can last that long.” Lex grinned. He gave Clark’s ass a squeeze and headed into the bedroom to get his suit.
“I’ll conserve my strength!” Clark hummed to himself as he went about preparing his breakfast. Less stress for Lex was good for them all. They had been trying to give Wonton and Auggie “visits” but the two of them seemed determined not to like one another. Somehow Auggie kept escaping his room. That was a smart, if evil, cat.
“MOTHERFUCKER!!”
Clark was in the room before his heart made another pump. Lex was standing beside the chair next to their bed with the most revolted expression on his face. He looked like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin.
“What’s wrong?!” Clark rushed to his side, and Lex brushed him off as he backed away from the chair. Clark looked over and saw Lex’s green Armani draped over the side. There was a rip along the sleeve and side and… drool?
“Your animal ate my Armani!”
“What? Auggie’s the one on the bed!”
Lex turned around and looked at Auggie who was tilting his head and looking at them with an expression that seemed a bit surprised and annoyed that he’d been disturbed. Lex looked back at Clark. “Auggie couldn’t get that much saliva on anything. So either your dog did it, or you have a lot of explaining to do!”
Wonton picked that moment to bound into the room and start slobbering on Clark’s hand. Auggie jumped to the night stand and hissed loudly. Lex moved to calm his cat, but not quickly enough, and feeling defensive, Auggie scratched him across the face.
“Clark, put that thing away!”
“He’s not a thing! Jesus, Lex! He’s a dog! He’s going to chew things!” Clark tried to restrain Wonton, who was now barking happily at Lex and Auggie. He wanted to play. Lex and Auggie most certainly did not want to play.
“Hold him!” Lex ordered. He managed to scoop Auggie up in his arms and left to put him back in his room. Clark knelt to Wonton.
“Come on, you can’t be doing things like that, huh? You’re making Lex mad, okay? You know not to chew things! What’s wrong with you?”
Wonton barked and looked over to the ruined suit proudly.
“Don’t be mean,” Clark admonished. Lex stormed back in, snapping a latex glove onto his hand with his teeth and carrying some cleaning supplies under one arm. Oh, god the glove.
Wonton growled at him. Lex whipped around and gave him such a fierce glare that Wonton fled the room whimpering. Clark drew nearer, afraid that Lex might start swiping at him like the cat. When he met the man’s eye, however, Lex’s face was completely blank as he gingerly picked up the suit and stuffed it in a plastic bag as well as he could one-handed.
Clark had been about to yell back at him for getting so angry at his dog over something so dumb, but instead he felt sheepish and guilty and it showed. Auggie had yet to shred anything. Lex was controlling his pet. Clark wasn’t. “Your… face, Lex.”
“It’ll heal. There is saliva in my room. Dog saliva in my bedroom, and it must be cleaned up,” he told Clark quickly.
Clark tried not to let the internal grimace at that sentiment show. Lex had been living alone for a long time. He wasn’t used to mess. “Let me. I’ll clean it up. You have to get back to work.”
Lex almost looked torn. As through he needed to make this right and proper himself.
“Babe, let me take care of it. My dog, my mess. I’m sorry he wrecked your suit.”
”I can buy another,” he muttered.
“Better disinfect that scratch.” Clark had to take the cleaning supplies out of Lex’s hand. He kissed him on the brow and jerked his head in the direction of the bathroom. Lex stood stiffly for a moment then relented and went to the bathroom.
“One of his Soft Paws came off.” Lex explained, dabbing the scratch on his cheek with alcohol. “I fixed the tip. I’ll call Domovoi about cleaning the bedroom.”
“I’ve got it.”
”He’ll go over it when you’re through. Clean the whole room.”
Clark skewed his brows and shook his head. Lex must have spent all of those years alone honing his OCD. “I’m sure. How’s the scratch?”
“It’ll be fine.” Lex came out and headed to the bureau. Clark stepped towards him, and Lex stepped backward. The drool. He was contaminated. Clark sighed.
“I’ll put this in the trash and take a shower.”
“Thank you.”
“Do my lips offend you?”
Lex turned from the bureau, confused. Clark set the bag aside, lifted into the air, and kissed Lex’s lips without touching him anywhere else. Lex flushed, hotly, embarrassed.
Now Clark felt guilty again. Why couldn’t he get this right? He had navigated Lex’s moods better when they were enemies. “If you’re gone before I get out of the shower, have a good meeting, okay? You’ve worked hard for this.”
Lex nodded briskly, having already turned back to the bureau to pick out another suit.
***
Rather than get started on their sex-a-thon, when Lex returned home that evening, he mostly wanted to sleep. Domovoi hadn’t finished “disinfecting” their bedroom yet, so Lex shucked off his work clothes and trudged to the sitting room where there was a comfortable sofa. He was so happy that the deal was over he started humming Bach to himself and shimmied and grooved down the hallway. If only they had clubs with modernized classical music. Hm. Now there was a thought.
“Gotcha!” Clark grabbed him from behind. “Naked Lex, all mine.”
“Naked Lex very tired.”
“I figured you would be.” Clark flipped him up into his arms and carried him into the sitting room. “So… I have a pillow and blanket, all fresh from the laundry. And I took an extra shower after work. Perfect for snuggling and recuperation from work.”
Lex rubbed his brow. Clark sighed. “Okay, what am I doing wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Have you turned into a woman lately? What is wrong with you?” Clark dropped him onto the couch.
“That’s… great, Clark. Your mother would love your respectful attitude towards women.”
“You’re telling me that nothing is wrong when something is obviously wrong. You’ve never been the passive aggressive one.” Clark sat on the arm of recliner.
“You asked what you were doing wrong. I assured you that you are doing nothing wrong. You’re fucking perfect.” Lex grabbed the soft, white clothes laid out for him and began to put them on without looking at Clark. Clark slowly moved to the couch. When Lex didn’t protest, Clark sat beside him and started arranging pillows.
“Are you mad at me about this morning?”
Lex turned his head and stared at him. “What did you do this morning?”
“My dog chewed your Armani.”
“Yes. But you didn’t chew my Armani. Why would I be angry at you?”
“Um.”
“You didn’t let him out, did you?”
“Um. Well…”
Lex sighed. “Nothing to be done about it now. I saw Auggie as I came in. They’re out now?”
“Uh… seem to be.”
Lex rubbed his legs. “I don’t know that it’s wise to just let them out. Not because… they don’t know each other well yet.”
“They seem to be tolerating one another. Auggie hides where Wonton can’t reach. And Wonton doesn’t usually chew things. I don’t know what’s got into him.”
Lex’s expression was dark and menacing. Until he yawned loudly. Clark couldn’t help himself; he wrapped Lex up into a cuddly bear hug. Lex leaned into him. “How about we talk about this after I’ve slept?”
“Great idea.” Clark kissed along his head softly and eased Lex down with him. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over the two of them. They snuggled under the covers together.
“Mmm.” Lex arched his back into Clark’s body. Clark felt himself getting hard from Lex’s presence and the noises he was making. He started to whisper into Lex’s ear, but he had fallen asleep already. Devil. Clark lay there with him, stroking his soft scalp, until he began to nod off himself.
They both awoke abruptly to barking and yowling. Then there was howling from Lex and growling from Wonton, and before Clark knew it, both he and the dog were shut out of the room as Lex coddled his precious cat.
“You’re a cock-blocker, you know that?” Clark said to his dog. Wonton just looked up at him with a big doggy grin on his face. The same one that said, “I almost caught the rat!” Clark scratched his ears a little and then pulled him back to his room. Wonton kept whining and complaining and scratching at the door with his newly plastic tipped nails. “I’m sorry, boy, but you can’t hurt that cat!”
Clark returned to the room and knocked hesitantly. “I put Wonton away.”
Lex appeared after a few moments, still hugging that unsightly beast, and said, “You sound like you’re taking care of leftovers.” Clark grinned at the joke. Lex was not smiling, though. At least he was trying. “You can come in. He cannot.”
“He’s in his room. I promise.”
Lex stepped back from the door. “He attacked my cat.”
“He’s a dog. He was just playing.”
“Auggie has heart problems. ‘Playing’ like that could kill him.” Lex laid back on the couch and let the cat curl up next to him.
“I know. I’m sorry. I should have made sure he was back in his room.”
“S‘okay,” Lex muttered. Clark tried to climb onto the couch with Lex but Auggie hissed a little as he approached. Lex was already fast asleep again. Every time Clark tried to come near, the megalomaniacal cat swiped at him. He was afraid the commotion would wake Lex, so he just left to change into his suit and do some early patrolling.
Auggie looked at him smugly. Great. Another cock-blocker.
***
It was hard to believe her to be the scruffy creature Lex had pulled out of the proverbial gutter one night when she’d by-passed his security and stolen his favorite car. Her hair was still short, but coiffed gracefully with a part to the side. Her clothes were crisply ironed, probably Chloe’s doing. A dark blue suit made her skin seem even whiter and her large, round eyes darker. Their hazel had always been rich, golden and imposing. Their shape could have let themselves to innocent expressions, but she never used them for that purpose. In dark colors, she looked like a demon, although gorgeous. Lex had always dressed her in unrelieved black when she was in his employ. Lex had a penchant for collecting strays.
“You clean up pretty well, Mercy.”
Mercy lifted her chin and her glass. “To seeing the value beneath the surface of things.”
Chloe smiled and put her hand on Mercy’s leg. She lowered her head a bit and grinned. “The question is: how did you manage to clean up Clark so well?”
Clark bowed his lips and shook his head at her as though dumbfounded. “Lex showed me this thing… they call it a comb.”
“How does Lex know what a comb is?” Mercy laughed. Lex curved his lips slightly.
“I know of many things in theory.”
Mercy and Lex began to discuss business. She was set up in Gotham currently trying to take care of LexCorp’s business on the east coast. It was tricky to keep business moving over there without stepping on Wayne Industries’ toes, but Mercy was sharp and slick, and working with Batman at night helped her case where collaboration was concerned.
“Oh, darn it.” Clark turned his head. “I have to go.”
“The restroom’s over there, farm boy,” Mercy said. “Oh, oh. You need help?”
Clark narrowed his eyes. “Probably not. It’s a fire. I’ll beep you if it’s anything else.”
Clark hurried outside to change in the limo. Lex swirled the wine in his glass and looked up at the girls. Chloe shrugged.
“Welcome to the bulk of my teenage years. At least you know where he is.”
Lex rubbed the side of the glass with his thumb and looked faintly worried.
“He’ll be fine, boss,” Mercy said, creasing one brow. Lex smiled a little. She always called him that, even though she knew they were on a familiar basis.
“I think it’s hard for you to understand. Your significant other isn’t out there deliberately putting himself in danger every day.”
“Maybe not in a costume. I bet Clark worries about you sometimes too,” Chloe pointed out.
“No doubt. I don’t get in as much trouble as I used to, though.”
Chloe chuckled. “I remember a time when he was saving your butt every week.”
“Lex doesn’t need people to save his ass,” Mercy argued. Lex shrugged.
“When I was younger… before you met me, I was a bit of an idiot when it came to taking care of myself.”
“It didn’t help that every mutant Kansas and alien that swung by our solar system seemed to be gunning for him. Between you and Lana, you sure kept Clark in shape.” Chloe grinned.
“Can’t have a fat Superman.” Mercy laughed. Lex nodded and poked at his dinner with his fork. After about twenty minutes, he knew Clark wouldn’t be making it back for dinner, and he might have to stay with the girls or rent a room. And here he thought he would be the absent one in the relationship. Lex didn’t mind so much, actually, but his heart tightened whenever he knew Clark was out there by himself.
Invulnerable didn’t mean immortal.
Lex finally breathed a sigh of relief when Clark ran up to them as they walked down the streets of Gotham. Lex took his arm without a word and smiled faintly. Little moments like this calmed him and made him think this arrangement might not fall apart like it had with everyone else he’d let into his life.
***
Clark came home to the sound of yelling. Lex was going fucking ballistic. He came into the bedroom to see Lex grabbing his dog by the scruff of his neck.
“What the hell is your problem?” Clark yelled before he could think. He grabbed Lex and tossed him aside. Lex landed hard against the wall and looked up at him with wide angry eyes. Clark pinned him back with a fierce glower. “Don’t touch my dog!”
”Clark-“
“God, Lex, why can’t you get along with anyone but that fucking hideous cat of yours?” Clark demanded, picking Wonton up and storming out.
“Clark!” Lex ran out into the hall. Then looked around the penthouse. Auggie followed him, mewing questioningly. Clark was gone. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Lex leaned against the wall and got out his cell phone to call him. Clark wasn’t answering. Lex looked around trying to decide what to do. He went to the cabinet for his latex gloves, opened the box with one hand, and pulled the glove on with his teeth.
He headed to the room where Wonton had chewed his prosthetic hand to uselessness and began to clean.
***
The Kents looked to one another in surprise as they heard a car drive up. Jonathan heaved his old bones up from the couch and went outside to see a Lamborghini there.
“Uh… Martha? We got company.”
She came up beside him. “Lex?”
The man stepped out of the car and staggered. Then stretched his legs. When he straightened and started to walk towards them, the end of his left arm hidden in his pocket, Martha could see the strain on his face. He was worried. Distraught, in spite of the smile plastered on for their sake. “Jonathan, something’s wrong.”
“Yeah, hell’s frozen over,” Jonathan muttered. Martha gave him a look and headed outside to meet Lex.
“Hey, there. Long time no see. How are you doing?”
“Have you seen Clark?” Lex asked abruptly. “I wouldn’t bother you but… he’s not answering his phone and…”
“Oh my.” Martha raised a hand to her chest. “How long has he been missing?”
”He’s not missing. I just don’t know where he went.”
Jonathan stepped up and frowned deeply. “What now? So, nothing happened when he was out flying? What is it then?”
“We…” Lex’s face was a blank mask again. “Fought. I went out to talk to him but you know how he does. He was gone before I even got off the floor. And he’s not answering the cell. I’ve left five messages already, but…” He looked down. “Sorry to bother you.”
He started to walk away but Martha caught his shoulder. “Honey, you don’t have to go! You look tired. Why don’t you come in here and wait awhile? I was just about to get started on dinner.”
“No, you don’t need to do that, I’ll be fine. I’ll just head back home.” Lex gave a tight fleeting smile, and Jonathan felt like a complete ass. Clark had told him how uncomfortable Lex felt around them. This was just stupid.
“You kidding? You drove three hours out here and y’gonna drive three hours back?”
Lex looked off against the horizon. “I could stay the night at the castle.”
“Or y’could stay here.” Jonathan ran Lex’s words over his mind. He could see a yellowish mark where something had just healed on his face and had noticed the slight limp and the way he was holding his shoulder. “What the hell do you mean you got up off the floor? Why the hell were you on the floor?”
“Jonathan, what-?” Martha looked between them.
“You hurt? What happened?”
Lex stepped back skittishly, and Jonathan looked even angrier. Lex had straightened his back and looked very alert. The old man tried to calm his voice. “You can tell us, Lex.”
Lex checked his cell phone again. No messages. Fuck that Clark. The bald man shrugged. “Clark pulled me to the side, and I fell. That’s all. I’m fine.”
“Good then. Come on in.” Jonathan walked behind him and pushed him a little.
Lex’s confusion was apparent as he looked at Jonathan. It was hard to see Mr. Kent as protective of him after all of these years. “Oh, wait. Sorry, I left Auggie in there.”
Lex turned and jogged back to his car.
“Auggie?” Martha asked. Her mouth went from a circle of surprise to a smile. “We finally get to meet the little dictator of the apartment.”
Lex came up from the car seat carrying the black, irritated cat. He slammed the door shut, and Auggie clung to him, pitifully meowing in protest of the new environment.
“You brought the cat?”
“I was holding him when I got in the car. I didn’t think I’d end up here. I wasn’t… really thinking. I just wanted to find him and explain. Oh, um.” Lex shook his head apologetically to Martha who seemed to want to pet the cat. She didn’t even blink at his stump. Of course the mother of Superman probably took the freakish in stride. “He doesn’t really like people.”
She held out her hand, and Auggie sniffed it. Then leaned his head into her hand, begging her to pet him.
“That has never happened,” Lex remarked in astonishment.
She stroked her fingers gently along his head as they walked into the house. “Oh, I think he can tell when people don’t like the way he looks. Poor dear. He’s just very sensitive. People must mistake him for being antisocial.”
“I think that’s true. He likes Clark, but he also likes to aggravate him. He gets jealous.”
“Clark? I’m sure. Auggie gets to be close to you all he time.”
Lex broke into a grin. “I meant Auggie of Clark.”
“Maybe both ways. It’s hard opening your life up when you’ve been alone for a long time.”
“I think Clark is a little more used to being with other people than we are.”
Jonathan shook his head as the three of them went inside. “So what happened? Why’d you fight? And why’s Clark so upset that he can’t answer the damn phone and has you this worried?”
Lex came inside and let Martha hold Auggie. The cat was a bit freaked out, but he seemed to like her. “I yelled at his dog.”
Jonathan furrowed his brow. “I’m not getting this pet thing. Round the farm, we just feed the animals. They tend to themselves.”
“When you live in the city, it’s different,” Martha explained. “He’s mad at you for yelling at Wonton? Really?”
Lex tried to think about it. “I yelled at him, and… I took him by the scruff of his neck, because that’s what the books tell you to do to get a dog to obey. We have dominance problems. He growls at me when I walk by, and he’s tried to nip me a few times.” Lex groaned. “I can’t believe we’re fighting over a dog.”
“Nah. I think Wonton is probably growling at you because he’s afraid. I dunno why it is, but I’ve never seen a dog not a little bit scared of you, Lex. Or maybe he’s feeling protective of Clark.” Jonathan walked into their circle. “But he can’t be allowed to snap at you, no matter what. Clark’s gotta train him better.”
Lex shrugged.
“Why do you think Clark got so upset about it?” Martha sat on the couch and let Auggie curl in her lap. He started to purr. “It’s not like him to throw you around, even if he is upset.”
“He was just trying to separate us.” Lex thought of the times when Clark had thrown him around… best not to discuss their sex life in front of the parents.
“He thought you were gonna hurt the dog,” Jonathan surmised.
“I wouldn’t hurt his dog.” Lex asserted. His hands were in his pockets again. “I was angry, though.”
“He snap at you again?”
“No, he…” Lex’s cheeks reddened a little. “He chewed my hand.”
“He bit you?” Martha asked in alarm.
“No… the prosthetic. I lost my temper.” Lex sighed. “Yeah, I can see where Clark might of thought I’d lose it. I can seem a bit Jekyll and Hyde when I’m angry.”
Martha shook her head. “I certainly can see why you’d be angry. Maybe we can give Wonton a little more training. Asserting dominance is okay in some situations, but I think maybe you want to get him chewing on things he knows that are his.”
“We’ll see if Clark comes back first.”
“Lex, Clark won’t leave you over a spat like this,” Martha assured him. Lex shrugged, and the look of hopelessness on his face made her want to cry. “Why don’t I start dinner, hm? Sit down and relax. It’s been a long day for you.”
She tried to ease Auggie out of her lap and received a disgruntled hiss. She raised her hands to the air in surrender. Lex rolled his eyes. “Don’t let him intimidate you. He has plastic caps on his claws. Just stand up, and he’ll be compelled to make other lounging plans.”
Martha followed his advice and stood. Auggie scrambled off and looked annoyed.
“Maybe y’should’ve bought a friendlier cat,” Jonathan suggested acerbically. Lex sat down and looked at Auggie expectantly. The cat sniffed indignantly then crawled into his lap as though he were doing him a favor.
“I didn’t buy him.”
“No?” Martha asked, brushing off her pants.
“No, he was a gift.”
“Nice gift.” Jonathan laughed. Lex shrugged again and meticulously stroked the cat.
“From some of my employees.” He looked up to answer the questions in their eyes. “A foreign company was about to buy out this small family owned business. It had grown pretty large and losing it would mean most of the town would be out of a job. I upped the bid, and after I bought the company, I let everyone keep their jobs, with a few LexCorp professionals hanging around to help them find ways to increase productivity without laying anyone off or killing themselves. It’s an ideal situation for a buy out. Anyway, when I came to visit… uh… they decided to get me a gift, so everyone at the company put in a little money for this bald cat. Brought him out in this basket with a froofy purple bow on him.”
“Oh my.” Martha looked as she realized exactly how badly Lex might have taken that.
“Whoever came up with the idea must have thought they were brilliant. Anyway, I was standing there, probably flaring my nostrils or something equally as terrifying, when one of the women made a somewhat audible comment to the effect that she wasn’t surprised I didn’t want an antisocial hairless freak in my life.” Lex smiled slightly and rubbed Auggie’s nose. The cat leaned into his finger. “What can I say? I felt for the poor little guy. Attractiveness is overrated anyway.”
“That’s so sweet,” Martha gushed.
“I don’t know that it’s sweet,” Lex protested. But she was already grinning, as she went into the kitchen. Jonathan snorted
“You’re destroyed your image with her, mister. That woman loves her strays.”
“I’m fond of strays myself.”
***
When Clark was finished walking and playing with Wonton, he took him back to the penthouse and locked him in his room. Wonton complained a bit but was too tired to romp around much more.
“Lex…?” Clark called. He’d left so abruptly. He hoped Lex wasn’t sitting alone, drinking and upset. He should have calmed down; when he thought about it, he’d overreacted. But Clark had been so angry he didn’t want to start yelling things he couldn’t take back. Lex sure seemed mad. Clark wondered what Wonton had chewed this time.
“Uh… Lex?” Clark started going from room to room. Lex wasn’t there. Where would he go? Gotham maybe. He didn’t really have any friends close by. Clark pulled out his cell phone and checked his voicemail. There were six messages. Oh, fuck.
He pressed the ‘ok’ button.
”Clark, where the fuck did you go?? I’m sorry, just come back and we can… talk about this?”
“Clark, it’s me again. You know the best way I can think of to handle a fight is to run away… I’m sorry, just please call me. I worry about you when you’re out, and… fuck. Call me.”
“Clark, for fuck’s sake, why aren’t you answering? Are you okay? I didn’t… did I hurt the dog? I thought getting him by the neck didn’t hurt him… Is he okay?” A car horn blared. Lex had been out looking for him. Clark covered his mouth and sat down to listen to the rest of the messages.
”Clark, please answer your phone. Please forgive me. I’ve been trying; I promise that I have. I just… it’s hard… I’ve been alone for so long. I know I can be a freak, but I’m trying to put that part of me away… Please. Call me.”
“This is getting ridiculous. Call me, Clark. We can work this out like reasonable adults. Don’t let me think you’re laying dead somewhere.”
”I don’t know what else to say. I’m… sorry this didn’t work out. I’m sorry I failed at this. It...” Lex took a shaky breath. “Please, just tell me to my face, okay?”
Clark listened to the messages again and opened his mouth in horror. He had to find him.
***
Clark had called Mercy, and Bruce, and to his great embarrassment, Lana, who had talked his ear off and made insinuations about their relationship. God, Lex was going to be so mad that he’d told her they had a fight.
Or he would if he still wanted to be in a relationship with him after this mess. Why hadn’t he just stayed and let Lex explain? Of course he wouldn’t have hurt his dog. Lex loved Clark. He wouldn’t hurt anyone close to him. Clark kept checking back at the apartment, but when it started getting late Clark gave up and decided to head over to his parents’ for some advice. He hoped Pa wouldn’t be too smug about it.
Clark touched down just outside the house and gawked at Lex’s Lamborghini. Lex must have been beyond freaked out. Normally Clark couldn’t drag him here. He almost hesitated before walking into the house. This was going to be bad. He listened inside the house.
“-won’t lie and say I wasn’t worried about you and Clark together after all that fighting,” his father said.
“I won’t either,” Lex admitted dryly. Clark x-rayed the house and saw his mother take Lex’s hand across the table.
“I think we need to… all try. I’m an old man. But stubbornness is no reason to keep the family apart.”
“Sweetie, no matter what, I want you to believe that you’re welcome here,” his mother pitched in.
Clark decided he couldn’t possibly let Lex worry any longer.
“Um… hey, Ma, Pa,” Clark announced himself as he walked into the house. Auggie came up to him quickly and twined his body around his legs. His parents came out of the kitchen. He could smell the coffee. Lex followed slowly.
“Hey,” Lex said softly. He stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes uncertain. Clark walked up and hugged his mother, then his father, keeping his eyes on Lex.
”Good to see you, son.” Jonathan said. Clark nodded. He looked over at Lex. They locked eyes and couldn’t speak. Lex put his hand behind his head and opened his mouth silently, unsure of what to say.
Finally he spoke, and his voice cracked. “Clark, if you’re going to leave me, please just leave. Don’t draw it out. Don’t think you’re sparing my feelings. It’s worse this way.”
“Come help me with this.” Martha pulled Jonathan into the kitchen.
“I’m not going to leave you! Over a fight? A stupid little fight? A dog?”
“You’ve had one foot out the door since you moved in!”
“You are paranoid and crazy. I love you. What makes you think that?”
“Why the fuck haven’t you unpacked?” Lex shook his head and looked agitated. “I don’t understand it. If you didn’t want to be with me, why did you suggest we move in together? Am I that good a fuck?”
“Do not talk about yourself that way. You’re not a fuck. You’re not a freak. You’re not an object. You’re not deformed. I… there’s a reason why I haven’t unpacked.”
Lex stared back at him. Then shrugged, at a complete loss.
“Lex, I just… My clothes, my habits, my schedule, my dog… I just don’t fit into your life”
Lex boggled. He spread his hand in aggravation. “You don’t fit in my life? Are you fucking serious? You are my life!”
“I…” Clark flushed at the sudden emotional admission. Lex was usually so subdued about how he felt.
“How do you think I survived this?” He held up his stump for effect. Clark flinched.
“You survived because you were strong,” Clark said emphatically.
Lex shook his head. “I survived because you gave me something to live for. That’s the only reason. You think money and power are what are keeping me tied to this planet? Not a chance.”
Clark closed the space between then and held Lex. “I’m not going to leave you so easily.”
“You have before.”
Clark clutched the back of Lex’s head. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I’m so crazy that you don’t feel comfortable in the place that is supposed to be your home.” Lex leaned back in his arms so he could look Clark in the face. “I’ve tried to control it…“
“We…”
“Yeah.”
Clark kissed him tenderly, lingering on Lex’s bottom lip.
“Are you ready to come home?”
Lex sighed. “If he’s ready, I guess.”
“He’s in his room.” Clark took Lex’s hand and led him into the kitchen. “Hey, Ma. Sorry for keeping you guys up late.”
“Don’t worry about it. We enjoyed the company.” She smiled. Jonathan put his arm around his wife.
“Don’t be strangers, boys. Be sure to come by for dinner on Sunday, hm, Lex?”
“I uh…” Lex ducked his head and grinned widely. Clark shook him a little bit. “I will. Thank you.”
“So, I guess we’ll fly home.”
“We will not. Do you want a cat on you at 3500 feet?”
Clark laughed. “Doesn’t Auggie like to fly?”
“Auggie doesn’t even like to ride in the car. He flattens his ears and yowls the whole way.”
“Oh, poor little guy!” Martha crooned.
“Are you telling me we have three hours of cat to look forward to?” Clark practically whined.
“Depends on whether you or I are driving.” Lex smirked. Neither the years nor the amputation had slowed Lex’s driving.
Jonathan told them to be careful, and they headed back home. Auggie yowled most of the way, but allowed Clark comfort him a just little bit.
***
“I’m going to kill you, Superman.” Lex dropped his cell phone on the couch.
Clark looked up from the floor where he was eating assorted pastas from Aria’s Bistro with Chloe and Lois. “What did that bastard do now?”
“He told one of my former rivals that I had a fight with my boyfriend.”
Lois cackled. “What did you do, Smallville?”
“Just a dumb fight. I couldn’t find you. I was worried.”
“Think of calling him, brain trust?” She took a big bite of the alfredo. Clark sneered at her.
”Yes… well. After I got his messages, I felt like such an ass I just wanted to talk to him face to face.” Clark tried not to look too embarrassed. “Actually, it didn’t occur to me to call until I’d been looking awhile.”
Lex sat beside them and put some of the angel hair pasta with pesto sauce on his plate. “We both overreacted. It’s pretty much fine now. Except for psycho-exes calling me incessantly. In fact, we’re going to redecorate.”
Lois laughed so hard she bent over crying. “Oh, god.”
“Shut up!” Chloe exclaimed. “I think this is great.”
“I’m just…” Lois tried to calm herself.
“Spit pasta on my rug and die, reporter woman.” Lex spoke with ultimate seriousness.
“I’m imagining the plaid wallpaper,” She managed finally. Chloe grabbed a bread stick.
“Not just the wallpaper. The sofa.” She waved the bread stick around and spoke in a cutesy tone. “Little plaid end tables.”
“You’re going to tempt me to do this. I’d make it look good.” Lex pushed the pasta around on his plate. Clark reached over and stole a forkful of his pesto.
”There will be no plaid room. I hardly ever wear plaid anymore.” He raised the fork up and held it to Lex’s mouth.
“Oh, kill me now.” Lois curled her lip. She and Chloe both leaned over simultaneously and pretended to gag. Lex looked at them, opened his mouth, wide and took the pasta off the fork. He chewed carefully, raising a napkin to his mouth and wiping facetiously. “Serious. You’re too clean to eat? This place is like a picture of neatness. How do you live with him, Clark? I saw your apartment. You’re a slob.”
“I think it’s cute.” Clark laughed. Lex pinched his mouth sourly.
“I am not cute. I’m stiff and cranky. I’m like a grandpa.”
Clark grabbed him and held Lex closely. “You are not. You flirt with every one you meet, completely unintentionally. You love that damn cat so much it’s ridiculous. You dance naked through the penthouse.”
Lois blinked. “Is that on the record? That’s hot.”
“You’re adorable. Deal with it.” Clark took Lex’s ear in his mouth and sucked on the lobe. Chloe giggled.
“Hey! You two have company!” Lois complained. She seemed more amused than upset, however. Clark pulled away and tried to behave himself, but made them all laugh by making cow eyes at Lex as they ate. Lex encouraged Chloe to tell him about the news in Gotham, and Lois talked a little about the new guy she was dating.
When they’d left, Clark followed Lex to the kitchen to clean up the plates. “You sure you want to redo the penthouse just for me?”
”You live here. I want it to reflect the both of us.” Lex shrugged. Clark elbowed him away from the sink and started to pre-rinse the dishes for him. “The designs I have now, I’ve had them for years, Clark. I was very alone during that time. It’s time for a change.”
“I don’t want to force you to change too much.”
”You had to move to live with me. To out yourself to distract from your other secrets.” Lex took the dishes from Clark and set them in the dishwasher.
“I can’t imagine you guys all living in that cold crappy apartment of mine.”
“We could have found another place together.”
“Asking you to accommodate more people in your life and a change of setting… too much.”
“I don’t know…”
“You’ve been through so many changes already. I think if I took you too far out of your routine, you would get too stressed.”
Lex sighed.
Clark kissed him as he handed him another plate. “You’re quirky. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. Don’t... feel like you have hide the crazy. That’s like… the most fun part about living with someone. I get to know those little parts of you that you hide when you’re trying to lure me in.”
“You want the crazy? Are you serious?”
“You show me yours; I’ll show you mine.” Clark grinned.
“Mine’s bigger than yours,” Lex warned. Clark pressed his forehead against Lex’s.
“Well, I’m pretty secure. I think I can handle that.”
They kissed again and finished the dishes together. Moving back to the sitting room, they bumped one another’s hips and laughed a little bit.
“Should I…” Clark asked. Lex nodded. He moved away from him.
They both let their pets out and headed back to the sitting room. Lex picked up a bottle of wine and two glasses. Clark repositioned the pillows on the floor, and Lex pulled out the swatches and paint chips and curled up between Clark’s legs. Clark spread them out in front of them and looked critically. Auggie came up next to them and sat on the swatches.
“Oh, you nuisance.” Lex pulled the complaining cat into his own lap so they could continue to look over the color schemes and make some decisions about how they were going to change the penthouse.
“I like the blue in the master bathroom,” Clark said. “How many rooms are we going to change?”
“I’m not sure. Whatever we like, I suppose. We need a larger cabinet in the master bathroom, though. For your shaving supplies.”
“And a shower caddy.”
“You’re so complicated. You… hairy freak.”
“Yeah. Me and my crazy hair.”
Lex grinned, flipping through the pages and sipping his wine. After a moment, Wonton came in. He sniffed around the swatch books for a bit then dropped into a pile of soft brown fur, with his head on Clark’s knee. Auggie sniffed at him but turned his head and decided he wasn’t worth his attention.
“I need to get Won some new toys,” Clark muttered. He stroked Lex’s new prosthetic. “So I can get him to stop chewing on important things.”
“I need to learn not to leave things where the dog can chew them.”
“Still.”
“Well, why don’t you get him new toys?”
“Dog slobber.”
“Ugh. Just keep it out of my sleeping space,” Lex conceded. “He has to have toys.”
“See, Wonton? He’s in your corner.” Clark scratched behind his ears.
“He still doesn’t like me.”
“He’ll come around. As soon as he realizes you aren’t replacing him.”
“What exactly do you do with your dog?”
”Ew, Lex.” Clark laughed into his shoulder.
“You know you love me.”
Clark kissed his neck and looked seriously at the swatches. Clark had never designed anything before, but he was sure that Lex would guide him and take his lack of taste into account when he made his suggestions. This was what he had been wanting when they moved in together. Curled up with each other, doing things as a pair, loving each other because of their differences and oddities. It wasn’t perfect and it wasn’t easy, but it was so wonderful to be able to share themselves with one another.
Clark figured he would really enjoy interior decorating, if it meant he could have more nights like this with Lex.