Secrets, Lies, and Misunderstandings

[mahaliem]

Okay - here is my baby. Be kind to it. It's posted in two entries because of its size.

It's my Clex Fest Wave 10 Entry. The subject of this wave was college. The aspect of college life that I was assigned - theater.

I've gone back and forth about posting this on my lj because... um... it's NC-17.

Many thanks to my wonderful betas, capnzebbie, kitkat3979, and fishsanwitt. An extra big thank you to fishsanwitt, who worked and worked and worked on this story. I cannot express my gratitude enough for all of their help.



Secrets, Lies, and Misunderstandings

Clark lifted his face from his hands and glared at Pete. "It's all your fault."

Snorting with laughter, Pete shook his head. "Oh, man, it so is not. You got into this one all on your own."

Briefly, Clark considered hauling his friend up off his dorm bed and tossing him out the window. If he didn't use his powers, his parents wouldn't object, would they? Actually, if his father found out the circumstances, he might even approve.

"I wouldn't be taking this theater class if it weren't for you." Clark altered his voice to mimic Pete's. "Come on, Clark. We'll meet lots of pretty girls. An easy 'A' and an easy lay, all at the same time."

"Hey, when I saw that it was at least half guys, I dropped out. You could've done the same."

"My father doesn't like me dropping classes. He believes that once you make a commitment, you should stick with it."

Pete shook his head disbelievingly. "It's a class, not a relationship." A huge grin spread over his face. "Only in your case, it's both."

Clark's face disappeared back into his palms. "Shut up, Pete."

"I can't believe the theater is even putting on this play. I know it was written by a student and supposed to be all modern and shit."

"Please shut up," Clark groaned.

"But a gay love story?"

Clark groaned again. If he froze Pete with his breath, then Pete couldn't talk. Right now that sounded like a really good idea.

"With Clark Kent as one of the leads."

No, freezing was too good for the jerk. It wouldn't hurt enough. A blast of laser eyes that turned him into cinders might be overkill. Maybe he could just grab Pete, fly above Metropolis, and drop him. Yes, that was the perfect plan.

"I can't wait to tell Chloe," Pete chortled.

"You're not telling anyone." Clark stood up and towered over Pete. "Ever."

Pete let out another snort. "Don't you want all of your friends and family there, watching you on Opening Night?"

"No! I don't want anyone knowing about this play. Or about my role."

"So you're staying in the closet, then?"

"It's not funny. If anyone finds out, I'll die."

"Fine, fine." Pete nodded his head in agreement, though his eyes still sparkled with amusement. "I won't tell anyone about you being gay. It'll be our secret."

"Thanks, Pete. If my dad ever found out about the gay thing, he'd kill me."

* * *

In the hall outside Clark's dorm room, Lex slowly backed away without knocking, his mind awhirl with what he'd just heard.

Clark Kent was gay.

* * *

Pete walked out of his and Clark's room, checking his watch. Chloe was going to kill him. He was supposed to meet her and there was no way he was going to make it across campus in time. He'd spent too much time ribbing Clark about his role in the play.

"Ross!"

Looking around, Pete was surprised to see Lex Luthor, standing propped up against one beautiful piece of machinery, his legs crossed and his hands shoved into the pockets of his coat. Pete was too busy eyeing the luscious car to pay much attention to him and he physically ached with a desire to get behind the wheel.

He walked over, wondering if he could talk Luthor into letting him just sit in it for a second.

"Hey. That's some car."

"Thanks. I've been waiting for you. I'd really like to talk to you about something."

"Sorry," Pete said, not sorry at all. "I'm kind of in a hurry to meet Chloe at the library."

"How about I drive you there and we talk on the way?"

A thrill shot through Pete. Now he understood why Clark always seemed so ecstatic every time Luthor stood outside Smallville High School, waiting for him. Part of him envied his friend for all the times he got to ride in one of these beauties. Not wanting to appear too eager, he just shrugged and said "Sure."

Sliding into the car was a sensual delight. The smell of leather surrounded him, the finish gleamed and the instrument panel sparkled. The seats seemed to contour to his back and ass - and when the engine roared to life, Pete had to bite back a moan of appreciation.

He was so intent on the sensations that he missed what Luthor had said.

"What?"

"I said that I know Clark's secret."

Oh shit. The thought that Lex knew Clark was an alien snapped Pete out of the haze he'd been in. "How... how did you find out?" he stammered.

"That's not important. What is important is Clark. I'm worried about him."

"You don't have to be. Clark's doing fine."

"Fine? Hiding what he is? Worried that people will find out? That doesn't sound fine to me. Not by a long shot."

"Listen, I've known about this since high school."

Pete thought he saw Lex start at that bit of information, but he only gave a short, jerky nod of acknowledgment.

"The best thing you can do for Clark," Pete continued, "is to let him know that you figured out the truth. If he wants to talk to you about it, fine. Be there for him. But don't you even think of exposing him."

Lex pulled next to the curb outside the library and turned to give Pete a hard look. "I would never tell anyone about Clark's secret."

Pete hopped out of the car, and then turned to face him. "That's good. Because sometimes this secret can be really hard to keep."

As Lex drove away, Pete took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Turning around, he almost walked into Chloe.

"What secret, Pete? What were you and Lex talking about?"

Man, Clark was really going to kill him if Chloe found out, too. Wracking his brain, he came up with a quick lie.

"Clark doesn't want anyone to know, but he's doing real bad in his classes." At Chloe's puzzled look, Pete hurriedly continued. "He's almost flunking out, in fact."

"And how's Lex involved?" Chloe asked.

"Um... Luthor said he'd tutor him."

"Why didn't Clark ask me?" Chloe's bottom lip puffed out in a pout. "I could've helped."

"Clark's biggest problem is in Chemistry and Lex owns those labs. He's got rooms full of test tubes and beakers and stuff."

"Oh."

"It's a secret, okay? No telling anyone. Clark doesn't want it to get back to his parents. Understand?"

At last Chloe gave him a little smile and nodded and Pete let out a silent sigh of relief. He'd managed to keep Clark's secret once again.

* * *

Lex surveyed the penthouse. Clark was going to be there any minute and he wanted everything to be perfect. His housekeeper, Mrs. Bickford, had left dinner warming on the stove. White wine, even though Clark didn't tend to drink, was cooling in an ice bucket. All that remained was for the candles to be lit.

Maybe... maybe it's too much, Lex thought. He and Clark had been having dinner at pizza joints, greasy diners, and an occasional fast food franchise once a week for the past few months. If he all of a sudden sprang this kind of treatment on him, Clark would probably freak. He'd waited too long for a chance with Clark to blow it now.

Quickly, he grabbed the candlesticks and shoved them into a cabinet. He didn't know where they were supposed to go, but he was pretty sure Mrs. Bickford would be able to sort it out in the morning. He placed the wine on a shelf and dumped the ice in the sink, turning on the hot water so that it would melt faster.

He looked at the prepared dinner. Should he dump it? See if he had peanut butter and jelly somewhere?

A knock at the door cut off his train of thought. It was too late to do anything about it now. Flicking off the hot water, Lex made his way to the door. Nervously, he wiped his palms on his trousers before opening it.

"Clark. Glad you could make it."

As his friend stepped inside and turned to take off his coat, Lex eyed him appreciatively. The jeans appeared to be old and perhaps a tad too small for Clark, hugging his form in a way that was quite interesting. The white dress shirt was one Lex had rarely seen, but liked.

"Putting off laundry day again?" he asked, quirking his lips.

Clark grinned. "How'd you guess?"

Entering the kitchen, Clark sniffed the air. "Smells great." Making his way to the stove, he lifted lids. Turning to face Lex, he smiled widely. "Now when Mom asks if I've eaten any vegetables this week, I can tell her more than just the usual mushrooms, onions, and olives.

Lex was glad he hadn't gone with the peanut butter and jelly, after all.

* * *

Sitting on the black leather couch sipping a Scotch, Lex watched as Clark was once again slain by the forces of evil.

Tossing aside the game controller of the Playstation, Clark shook his head despairingly. "I give up. No matter what I do, I can't beat them. The more I kill, the more others pop up to take their place."

"I'm sure you'll get the knack of it someday."

Clark picked up his soda, took a huge gulp, and then put it back on the coffee table before eyeing Lex. "Okay, what is it?"

"What's what?"

A large sigh escaped Clark. "Lex, I know you. You want to talk to me about something. I have to assume it's something fairly important, because otherwise, we'd have eaten at Lou's Pizzeria." He leaned forward, a concerned expression on his face. "Is it your dad?"

"What? No." Lex hastily shook his head. "Maybe I just thought we should have a meal where the main ingredient wasn't grease."

Clark continued to stare at Lex.

If this had been a business meeting, Lex would have met his eyes and kept silent. It was important not to be the first one to give in. But this was personal, extremely personal, not business, and Lex really did want to talk about it.

Taking a deep breath, he began. "The other day, I went by your dorm room. I overheard you and Pete talking. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but... but I thought you should be aware that I know."

"You know... what?" Clark asked, confusion evident.

"I know about... how did you put it?" Lex's voice dropped lower. "The gay thing."

"Oh." Clark's faced suffused with color. "Oh, crap."

"Clark, I'm your friend. It doesn't change anything."

Actually, Lex was sincerely hoping it would change a lot, but he wasn't going to tell Clark that. Since he'd heard the exchange between Clark and Pete, his brain had been skipping around chanting, "He's gay! He's gay! He's gay!" Then there was the happy little dance he'd done in the shower every morning, since the discovery, which he would never, ever, admit to anyone, even under torture.

"I am so going to kill Pete," Clark growled.

"Clark, I told you I overhead the two of you talking. Pete didn't tell me."

"You don't understand. The gay thing is all Pete's fault."

Lex's heart plummeted. Clark was in love with Pete?

"I'm not sure how you can blame Ross."

"It's easy." Clark leaned closer to Lex. "We were going to do it, together. You know Pete. He's such a hound dog. He thought it'd be an easy way to get laid. But then he backed out, the creep, and I'm stuck being gay."

"Do you want me to kill him for you?"

Clark laughed at Lex's offer, unaware that Lex was very close to being deadly serious. Growing up in Smallville had definitely warped those kids, Lex thought, for them to have such a strange attitude towards their sexuality. Maybe it was the possibility of being killed by a mutant or becoming one that made them want to 'seize the day', so to speak.

In any case, Pete Ross had played with Clark's emotions. The only thing that kept Lex from setting up a contract immediately was the fact that Ross hadn't actually done anything physical with Clark.

"No, but I appreciate the thought, Lex." Clark shrugged helplessly. "I just don't know how I'm going to get through the next few months, though. I mean, I've never done anything like this before and I'm way out of my depth."

Taking a deep breath, Lex slid one hand onto Clark's knee. "If I can help you in any way, please let me know. I'm not entirely without experience."

Clark's brow furrowed. "You never told me."

"It wouldn't really come up, now would it?"

"And you were good at it?"

Lex bit his lip, clamping down on his desire to let Clark know exactly what he could do. The temptation to seduce Clark with words - lure him with erotic images of past exploits was great. And it would be so easy. But Clark was first, and foremost, his friend. Instead, Lex simply shrugged. "Well, I like to think so."

* * *

A few minutes later, Clark bade Lex good-bye, promising that he would give him a call if he needed any help.

Clark had never suspected that Lex had any acting experience.

* * *

Lex pulled into a space not far from Clark's dorm and hopped out of his car. He still couldn't believe that Clark had called him. He'd listened to Clark stutter and stammer for several minutes before finally discerning that Clark was wondering if he could take Lex up on his offer from the other night.

Although Lex had a day filled with scheduled appointments, he automatically cancelled them when Clark had suggested that they meet that afternoon at his dorm.

As he approached the entrance, he almost bumped into Chloe, on her way out.

"Lex, fancy seeing you here." Her eyebrow arched as she looked him over. "You seem like you're in a good mood. What's up?"

"Nothing," Lex swiftly denied. "I'm just here to see Clark."

"Ah, I understand completely."

Lex's smile disappeared. "You do?"

"Yes and I want to let you know that I think it's great that you're helping Clark out like this."

Lex's mouth dropped open for a moment before he realized that he probably looked like an idiot and quickly shut it. He couldn't believe Chloe thought it was a good idea for him to help Clark adjust to being gay. Especially since he suspected that she still harbored feelings for him. Chloe, however, was too busy talking and hadn't noticed his shock.

"I'd help Clark out myself," she explained, "but I just don't have the equipment that you do."

Okay, the mouth was dropping open again.

"And don't worry. I won't say a word to Clark's parents." Chloe made a zipping motion across her lips.

Gathering his wits, Lex managed to choke out "Thank you."

"No problem." With a tiny wave, Chloe strolled away, leaving a still-stunned Lex Luthor behind.

Chloe was definitely much more open-minded than he'd ever given her credit for.

* * *

Hearing the knock on his door, Clark hurried to open it. When Lex stepped inside the dingy dorm room, Clark was glad he'd spent some time running around, picking things up. Lex always seemed so clean, neat, and sort of shiny. He'd mentioned it once to Chloe and she'd laughed but agreed that Lex was fairly luminous.

Although he was more mature now than when he'd first met Lex in Smallville, there was still a part of Clark that believed Lex knew everything. He'd heard an untold number of lectures in history, science, and philosophy while playing pool, watching DVDs or just hanging out with him - lectures that had definitely helped last semester when he'd taken a course in ancient history. The fact that Lex was now going to help him learn how to act the part of a gay man simply confirmed his belief that Lex knew absolutely everything.

Ignoring the chair at Clark's desk, Lex prowled around the small room, picking up his Chemistry textbook and flipping through it as if to check its accuracy, all while asking about the class. After a few minutes of this, the conversation stuttered to a halt.

"You called and asked for my help," Lex said, raising his eyes to meet Clark's.

"I did." Clark plopped down on his bed. He expected Lex to seat himself at the desk, or sit across from him, on Pete's bed, but instead, Lex sat next to him.

"What seems to be the matter?"

"It's about what we talked about the other day. The whole idea makes me pretty nervous."

"That's quite understandable. You have to deal with a whole different mindset. A paradigm shift."

"Yeah, I guess so."

Clark felt Lex's hand on his arm, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "It will be fine."

"I just... I just don't know what to do." Clark let out an exasperated sound. "I mean, I can memorize what to say, but, how to act - that's what's killing me."

"It's probably better that you don't work on memorizing anything. You should act naturally. Let words flow out of you."

"Act naturally. Right."

"Clark - gay, straight, bisexual - everyone's basically the same. The only real difference is who you happen to be attracted to."

Clark could feel the warmth of Lex's body next to him and it gave him a weird feeling, almost as though there were green kryptonite nearby. Kryptonite that didn't hurt him, but was simply content with making his blood pump like crazy and his body hypersensitive.

Out of the corner of Clark's eye, he could see Lex watching him with friendly concern. This was going to be so embarrassing and for a moment, Clark wasn't sure if he'd actually have the guts to tell Lex the main reason he'd asked him over. But Lex was his best friend, as well as older and sophisticated. And it wasn't as if Clark could ask Pete to help him out.

"Lex... there's one thing I'm pretty nervous about."

"What is it?"

Clark leaned forward, placed his hands on his knees and stared at his feet. The thought struck him that he really needed to get a new pair of sneakers. This last pair had made the trip to Smallville one too many times. The bottoms were wearing thin and the tops were kind of--

"Clark?" Lex prompted, next to him.

Feeling as if butterflies, not regular ones, but great big mutant ones, were thumping around in his stomach, Clark managed to force out a word.

"Kissing."

"Kissing?"

Oh god, Lex was staring at him now. Clark swallowed hard.

"Yeah, I'm going to have to kiss a guy sometime soon."

"I suppose you will, but--"

"I don't know how!" Clark wailed, interrupting Lex.

"Clark, you have kissed before, right?" There was amusement in Lex's voice. Clark could hear it and part of him was not too happy that his friend was finding the situation in any way funny. "I mean, I know that you and Lana never... but you did get to kissing, didn't you?"

"That was with Lana. She's a girl," Clark added sullenly, just in case Lex didn't remember that pertinent fact. "It's guys I don't know how to kiss."

"The basic mechanics are the same with a male or a female."

"I was sort of hoping..." Clark glanced at Lex for a moment. "Never mind. It was a stupid idea."

"What were you hoping, Clark?"

"I was thinking that maybeyoucouldhelpmeout."

There was a huge silence. Clark could swear that the silence was so big, it extended out into the hall, through the dorm, and into the outside world. It was a monster of silence, a tsunami of silence, a Twilight Zone-type silence. At last, when Clark wasn't sure he could stand it anymore, Lex spoke.

"You want me to kiss you?"

Not trusting his voice, Clark nodded his head rapidly, positive that he resembled one of those kitschy head-bobbing dogs people put in cars.

Strong, cool fingers touched Clark's flushed cheek, turning his head so that he faced Lex. Lex's thumb stroked his bottom lip, massaging it, before pushing down gently, making his mouth open slightly. His thumb then traveled down to Clark's chin and forced his head to tilt and angle to a more acceptable position.

Clark could feel Lex's other hand glide up his arm to clutch at his shoulder and the thought raced through his head that he didn't know what to do with his own hands and he began to panic. Should he touch Lex, too? Hold on to him? And where?

All brain activity stopped when Lex's mouth touched his.

There was none of the usual softness that Clark was used to during a kiss. The grip on his shoulder wasn't gentle, but unyielding. The fingers that trailed up to his hair didn't thread through it, tentative and exploring. They were demanding, grasping the back of his skull to anchor him more thoroughly.

The lips. The lips weren't covered with pink gloss that reminded him of strawberries and wax. They were firm and their taste tantalized him, causing him to take the kiss deeper, as he sought more of it. It was warm and spicy, promising, but elusive. He chased it further into Lex's mouth, wanting more. Needing to know that taste, to define it.

It was when Lex's tongue pushed back against his that Clark's eyes popped open, not quite remembering ever shutting them, and he broke away, gasping.

"I...I..." Clark's brain was still trying to grasp the fact that he'd had his tongue in his best friend's mouth.

"See?" Lex's mouth quirked into a small smile and Clark could feel himself focusing on those lips despite trying desperately not to. "I told you it was basically the same with a man as it is with a woman."

Clark shook his head. "That was nothing like kissing a girl."

* * *

"Ross!"

Pete glanced to where Lex was emerging from the dorm and sighed. He didn't like the guy. Just because the two of them now shared the secret of Clark Kent's alien origins, it didn't mean that they were going to start being friends or anything.

At the look on Lex's face, Pete decided that being friends was definitely not on his agenda. There was tightly controlled anger in his expression and he wondered what had happened to piss off Luthor.

"I need to talk to you. Now."

Pete watched as Lex scanned his surroundings. Lex spied a small stand of trees not too far away that appeared to be empty of students at the moment. With a jerk of his head, he indicated for Pete to follow him and stalked towards the trees.

As they entered the shaded area, Pete couldn't stay quiet.

"What crawled up your butt, Luthor?"

"I talked to Clark the other night."

"So?"

"So he told me how you abandoned him not so long ago."

Pete's mind flashed to the day he'd told Clark that he was tired of keeping the secret that his best friend was an alien. That he was leaving Smallville. To cover his feelings of guilt, he went on the attack.

"What's that got to do with you?"

"I don't like seeing Clark hurt. It makes me angry."

Was Luthor threatening him? Pete shook off a feeling of impending doom. "Listen, when I first found out that Clark was different, it was kind of fun. I liked being the only one that knew. Then, more and more, I kept having to bite my tongue. I found out that I couldn't handle it anymore. That's why I left Smallville."

"I'm surprised that Clark's even friends with you after that."

Pete shrugged. "Sometimes I can't believe it either. He's a good guy and I won't hurt him again."

Lex continued to stare at him, a stare that seemed to see right through him. Finally, he seemed to accept Pete's statement as truth.

"Fine. Just remember that I will kill you if you try to take advantage of his secret to sleep with him."

What the...?

Mouth hanging open, Pete stood stunned at Luthor's statement as Lex stalked away. Moments later, Lex pulled away in his lovely, powerful car and Pete was still standing where Lex had left him, in shock.

* * *

"Do you think those two are doing it?"

Clark pointed at the two characters on the screen and Lex turned his attention to the DVD for a moment. He hadn't been paying much attention, too intent on the feel of Clark, lying with his back against Lex's chest, his hips between Lex's legs, and his knees and feet hanging over the opposite arm of the couch.

It'd been almost eight weeks since their first kiss and they'd never discussed their relationship. Heck, Lex wasn't even sure they were in a relationship other than being friends. Clark still seemed shy and embarrassed and Lex certainly wasn't going to rush him and scare him off. He knew Clark was just getting used to the idea of being gay.

Despite not wanting to discuss things, Clark made it clear that he thought it would be very helpful if they continued to kiss. However, the kisses hadn't progressed the way Lex had expected them to - into hot and heavy sex - but had almost devolved into a slow comfortableness between them. There was more touching, ranging from quick brushes of their hands to Lex's current (and favorite activity) - cuddling.

Once more, Lex tried to focus on Clark's question.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Clark, but I've met the actor on the right and he gave no indication of being gay."

"Why? Because he didn't flirt with you?"

"Well..."

Lex let his voice trail off suggestively and received a playful smack on the arm that was curled over Clark's stomach.

"That's not what I meant, anyway. Do you think that the characters, not the actors, are doing it?"

"The books only imply a deep and profound brotherly love. In other words, no sex."

"I know that. But if the characters were real, do you think they'd be doing each other or not?"

"Every chance they got," Lex stated emphatically.

Clark laughed. He continued to watch the screen. "So - that's how I should look at someone if I want everyone to think I'm in love, right?"

"What - deep, soulful looks? The visible yearning to be with that person for all time?"

"If 'be with' is a euphemism for having bed-pounding sex."

It was Lex's turn to laugh.

The laugh was choked off as Clark flipped over from his position so that his knees pressed down on the cushion between Lex's legs and he murmured, "I think I should practice those looks."

Barely breathing, Lex watched as Clark propped himself up on his hands and slowly edged closer until his face hovered above Lex's. He could feel Clark's gaze roaming over him, heating his skin, making him ultra-aware of his body. He could feel his heart beating heavily as he pulled in air and he sensed the blood rushing through him, most of it headed southward.

And Clark, Clark was looking at him hungrily. The thought crossed Lex's mind that the only other time he'd ever seen that particular expression on Clark's face was when they'd walked into the Kent home one afternoon, to be confronted by Martha baking for the annual pie-baking contest. Unable to hold it back, Lex burst out laughing.

Clark's expression changed, mutating into a smile. "What - aren't I convincing you that I'm hot for your body?"

"You know me, Clark, I always like secondary confirmation."

With those words, Lex reached up playfully, grabbed hold of Clark's hips, and yanked downward. At the contact of their groins, and the feel of a hard bulge wrapped in denim pressing into the wool of his trousers, Lex's eyes widened. He'd been teasing. He hadn't realized that Clark had actually been affected.

The smile melted from Clark's face and it suffused with color as he tried to scramble off Lex, but Lex tightened his hold, wrapping his legs around Clark to keep him in place. Clark continued to make abortive, frantic movements. Movements that caused their erections to push and rub against each other.

As if finally realizing the results of his actions, Clark stilled. Their eyes met.

"Clark," Lex said raggedly.

After a long pause, green eyes still locked onto blue, Clark slowly shifted his hips. This time they both gasped at the sensation. He repeated the movement a second time. Then a third. The fourth time, he ground down at the same time. A low groan rumbled through him and was answered by a similar groan from Lex.

Clark began taking in huge gulps of air, as if he'd been drowning and had only just managed to break the surface.

"Shush, shush," Lex whispered, soothingly, letting his left hand skate over the muscles of Clark's back while his right hand clutched the nape of his neck, slowly, relentlessly pulling Clark's head closer so that their foreheads met. "It's all right. It's all right."

Eyelids that had fluttered closed, snapped open at Lex's words. Seconds later, Clark was on his feet, looking around the room, close to panic.

"I've got to go. I've got to... where's my jacket? I..."

Feeling chilled and bereft at the absence of Clark's body on his, Lex managed to stand. He ran a hand over his head as he tried to get his brain to function properly. What the hell had happened? Instead of voicing the question, he simply said, "I think you left your jacket in the dining room."

Clark stumbled out of the room and Lex followed him a moment later, stopping him at the door.

"Clark, I'm sorry."

"You're apologizing to me? It was my fault." Clark kept glancing around the room as if searching for the words he needed. "You're doing this to help me out and I'm grateful, but..." Like a dam bursting, the words began flowing out, crashing into one another. "You're my friend, Lex and I don't want to lose that friendship, no matter what, and I really don't think we should do this anymore because then something might... might... might happen and make it so we aren't friends any more and if it did, then I couldn't take it and... and I think you shouldn't help me anymore."

Lex stared at Clark, and then slowly nodded his head. He spoke slowly and quietly, in an effort to calm his friend.

"I understand. What do you plan to do now?"

Clark studied the floor as he shrugged on his coat. "I don't know. I guess I could go to a gay club or something. Maybe learn a few things there."

"No!"

At Lex's outburst, Clark's gaze flashed to his face, questioningly.

"I mean," Lex continued, "I understand your reasoning, but it might be better if you don't go alone. I'll go with you."

"You will?"

"Of course. We're still friends, right?"

After a short pause, Clark gave him a jerky nod.

"I'll be away this coming week on a business trip, but the Saturday after that, we'll go out, okay?" Lex put his hand on Clark's arm and studied his face. "You won't go without me, will you?"

"No. No, I'll wait."

"Good."

* * *

Clark knew, as he left, that he probably should've said 'No' to Lex's suggestion that they go together to a gay club. It wasn't a good idea. Not at all.

He'd only been trying to get used to the physical aspects of being with another man so that he wouldn't jump every time one of the other actors touched him and Lex was being such a good friend to help him out. Unfortunately, Clark had been surprised at how incredibly aroused he'd become. When he'd practically started humping Lex, Lex really should've punched him, instead of being so understanding.

A warm wave of shame spread through Clark at the memory. It didn't obscure the fact that his cock was getting hard again at the thought of having Lex under him.

* * *

Chloe plopped her cafeteria tray down and slid into the seat next to Clark. She glanced at his overflowing tray. Did the boy really need three pieces of pie? Stabbing a leaf of lettuce and a slice of tomato with her fork, she looked at her friend. He'd greeted her, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

A Chemistry textbook sat unopened at his elbow. That's probably what the problem is, Chloe thought. Clark was still worried about his grades.

"Clark," Chloe ventured, "how are the lessons coming?"

Clark blinked at her, looking a bit stunned.

"You know - with you and Lex," Chloe prompted.

If anything, Clark appeared even more stunned. "How do you know about that?"

Chloe finished chewing the bite of her salad, and swallowed, before answering. "Pete told me."

"Pete told you?"

Chloe gave him a 'what's your problem?' look. "Sheesh, Clark. You act as if it's some deep dark secret or something. You don't need to be embarrassed. Everyone needs help sometimes. I'm just glad that Lex is around to give it to you."

"I don't think most people need this type of help," muttered Clark. He grabbed his glass of milk and began to drink.

Despite the fact that Clark was acting weird, Chloe was determined to find out how the tutoring sessions were going. "So," she said, leaning forward, "does Lex's equipment live up to its reputation?"

Clark's hand jerked wildly, spilling milk everywhere.

Grabbing handfuls of napkins and ignoring the stares from students at nearby tables, Chloe began to help Clark mop up the mess.

"It has a reputation?" Clark asked, and she idly wondered if he was coming down with something because his voice was cracking.

"Sure - bigger, better, able to produce fantastic results."

"Um..."

Clark must not be feeling well, Chloe decided. His face was all red and blotchy and he appeared to be having trouble breathing.

"F-f-from what I can tell, the reputation's probably accurate," he finally managed to stammer out.

"Do you think that Lex would let me do a story on it sometime? Maybe take a few pictures?"

"God, Chloe! Are you nuts? Have you even heard of the word 'privacy'?" Clark leapt up from his chair, grabbed his tray, and stormed off.

Yes, the boy is definitely ill, Chloe thought as Clark left. Not only had he gone off about the idea of Chloe photographing Lex's lab, which she really didn't see as that much of a privacy violation, but he hadn't even finished his pie.

* * *

Pete couldn't believe his eyes. He looked a second time, then a third. Finally, he couldn't hold in his feelings anymore.

"These lines are so cheesy, this play should be called 'Velveeta'."

Clark looked up from his script to glare across the dorm room at him. "Are you going to help me learn my part or just complain?"

"Hey, if there's a choice, then complaining is fine by me. This is awful. No one would believe this crap."

Pete watched as Clark tossed his copy of the script down on the bed. "I know. You haven't even seen page eighty-seven yet."

Curious, Pete flipped through the pages. He read for a minute, and then shook his head in disgust. "Oh man, now this is worse than bad. Are you sure the guy who wrote this isn't from Smallville and has some weird mutant power?"

"And what power would that be? The ability to make people groan at the written word?"

Pete tilted his head, thinking. "Maybe it's not so bad out loud."

"It sounds worse. Believe me."

Clark took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were wide with hurt and confusion, as if his heart were breaking. "I thought you loved me. That's what you told me. I never would have given myself to you otherwise."

Pete stared at Clark for a long moment before bursting into laughter. "Oh man. I can't believe you were able to say that with a straight face."

"Hey," Clark protested, pretending to be affronted. "I'm an actor." His mock offense melted into a smile. "Beside, it's not all that hard. I just remember when you told me the truth about Santa Claus when we were eight."

"Is that what Luthor's teaching you to do? To use your own experiences?"

Clark's smile disappeared. "Um... not quite."

"So what's he teaching you, then?"

"Just... you know... how to move and stuff."

"You mean like hitting the right spot?"

"The word is mark," Clark choked out, blushing furiously.

Pete's brows furrowed. Clark wasn't telling him something. Having learned from experience, though, Pete didn't push. Clark would shut up tighter than a clam then.

He turned his attention back to the script in his hand. "So, what part are you having trouble with?"

"Page fifty-eight." Clark's voice dropped an octave. "It's the seduction."

Turning to the correct page, Pete found the character he was voicing and began to read the lines.

"Do you know how much time I spend thinking of you?" Pete said, making his voice deep.

"You do?" Clark answered, picking up on his cue.

"Every day, I imagine where you might be. What you might be doing. And I wish I was there, doing it with you."

"I didn't know you felt that way about me. You never said..." Clark paused, realizing that he'd flubbed the line, then started over. "I didn't know you felt that way about me. When we knew each other, years ago, you never said anything."

Pete couldn't stop a wide smile from spreading over his face at the lousy dialogue, but he managed to keep from laughing as he spoke the next line. "What was I suppose to say - that I wanted you? Desperately? You were too young. You weren't ready to hear it. Are you ready for it now?"

"I'm confused. I don't know what to think."

Putting an exaggerated leer on his face, Pete said, "Then stop thinking. Feel."

Suddenly, there was a loud pounding at the door. Clark and Pete glanced at each other, both taken aback at the way the door was shaking, unsure of who it could be.

Clark opened it to find Lex Luthor on his threshold, breathing hard.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Lex sneered at Pete.

* * *

Three days later -

Clark sat at a table in the dim interior and wondered what the heck he was doing there. Outside, the night was cool, clear, and peaceful. The club was anything but.

Loud music pounded out a beat, making Clark's head throb. The lighting near the bar wasn't bad, but the flashing overhead was beginning to give him a headache. He hated the way he'd been looked at and sized up when he'd first entered, and some of the crude approaches made him squirm uncomfortably in his chair as he shook his head 'No'. In fact, Clark decided that he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

If asked, he would completely deny that the real reason he wanted to leave was currently in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with someone other than him.

Lex had been acting a bit odd since he'd returned from his trip. The night he'd shown up at the dorm and they'd gone out to dinner together, he'd seemed withdrawn until the subject of Pete had come up. Clark knew that Lex and Pete had never liked each other, but Lex had gone off the deep end that night, giving Clark all sorts of vague warnings about his friend. He'd even offered to talk to the Met U administration about getting Clark assigned a different roommate, which Clark had turned down flat.

When he'd walked Clark up to his room after dinner and Pete had been there, Clark could have sworn he'd heard a growl issue from Lex. Consequently, he'd decided it might be a better idea if he ran over to Lex's and they went to the club together from there.

Picking up his glass of soda from the club's worn and scarred table, Clark raised it to his mouth, only to discover that it was empty. Glancing around guiltily to see if anyone was looking, Clark pulled Lex's untouched Scotch over so that it sat in front of him. Then, feeling brave, he raised the glass to his mouth, and defiantly gulped it down.

If Lex was going to spend all of his time on the dance floor, flirting with those other guys instead of Clark, then he deserved to lose his drink. When the waitress appeared at Clark's elbow, he ordered two more of the same and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't card him.

The music changed and Clark straightened up, expecting Lex to reappear momentarily. When he didn't, Clark scanned the dance floor. Lex was no longer partnering the blond he'd left the table with, but was instead with a tall brunet, who seemed to have never heard of the concept of personal space.

Downing the drinks rapidly when they arrived, Clark mused that x-ray vision was rather useful in seeing past the undulating bodies so that he could continue to watch Lex.

The brunet put his mouth next to Lex's ear and Clark felt a frisson of anger rumble through him. Lex's partner must have said something amusing, for Lex laughed and Clark wondered if the guy would be as funny with his stupid hair set on fire (courtesy of his heat vision). When the brunet's hand slid from Lex's hip to the roundness of his ass, Clark jumped to his feet and headed over to put a stop to it. If anyone was going to paw his date, it was going to be him.

Clark tapped Lex on the shoulder. "I think this is our dance."

Lex spun around and his eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know you danced, Clark."

"There are a lot of things I can do that you don't know about."

"Why don't you show me?" The smile Lex gave him was so knowingly wicked that it sent Clark's blood rushing southward.

"Hey!" The brunet Lex had been dancing with put his hand on Clark's chest and pushed. "I was here first."

Even knowing that he shouldn't do it, that using his powers in this type of situation was all kinds of bad, and oh god, if it got out, how would he ever explain to his father what he was doing in a gay bar defending his right to dance with Lex Luthor, Clark did it anyway. He grabbed the guy's arm and flung him off, sending him tumbling through the crowd.

Lex had a 'Wow, how did you do that' expression on his face. When Clark clasped him in his arms, pulled him close and murmured 'Mine', that expression disappeared, to be replaced with lustful appreciation.

"Dance with me." Clark let his mouth brush against Lex's ear as he spoke the words and was rewarded with a quiver that ran down Lex's spine.

* * *

Clark decided that dancing was wonderful. It was the perfect excuse to have his hands on Lex. To feel hipbones under his palms. To feel Lex's warm breath against his throat. To feel their bodies press and glide against each other. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. He needed more.

His hands moved from Lex's hips to his ass and pulled him closer. Then, closing his eyes, he ground against him. When Lex ground back against the growing bulge in Clark's jeans, he let out a low, broken sound of need.

"Maybe we should stop."

Lex's words penetrated the fog of lust that was threatening to overwhelm Clark and his eyes snapped open.

"You said you didn't want this," Lex continued.

"I want it." Clark lowered his head until their foreheads met. "I think I've wanted this forever."

Lex stared at him for a long moment, then wrapped his hands around Clark's neck and kissed him hard. Kissed him with fierce, desperate and pent-up longing that had been buried deep and was now breaking through barriers, unstoppable. A kiss that spoke of anger and frustration at countless lies and misunderstandings. A kiss with the memory of long days, weeks, and years of loneliness. A kiss that hinted at quick, dirty, hard sex in filthy alleyways and long, passion-filled nights on soft mattresses and silk sheets.

When the kiss ended, Clark's eyes fluttered open. Lex was staring at him. Staring at him just like he had when Clark had breathed air into his lungs, on the banks of a river years before and he'd come back to life. Only this time, it was Clark who felt as if he'd just awakened from the dead.

* * *

The journey to Lex's penthouse was a haze of tormenting touches and kisses that only inflamed the ache inside Clark, making him want more.

As the front door closed behind them, Clark looked at Lex, suddenly nervous. Lex smiled, then leaned forward, his mouth ghosting over Clark's ear and murmured, "Just follow my lead."

Clark worked to get air back into his lungs, as Lex spun around and headed to his bedroom, his hips swiveling, enticing Clark forward.

Entering behind him, Clark saw that Lex was unbuttoning his shirt, which was already halfway off, his chest gleaming between the folds of fabric. Moving closer, Clark pushed Lex's hands away and took over the task, making sure to touch as much skin as possible as he pulled the edges apart, then dragged the ends of the shirt out of Lex's trousers.

When Lex returned the favor, Clark took in a shaky breath and held it as he felt nimble fingers brush against him. Only when Lex slid a hand up underneath one side of his shirt did he let it out, ragged and hoarse. Those same fingers spread out over the exposed flesh, teasing and taunting one of Clark's nipples, rolling it between thumb and finger for a moment before being replaced by lips.

"F-f-fuck," Clark moaned.

Lex chuckled, then moved to the other side of Clark's chest. Clark had the terrible thought that if things continued at this pace, he'd end up disgracing himself. Already, it was too intense, so intense that he wouldn't be surprised if the fly of his pants burst.

He pushed Lex back. Lex 's face rose in surprise. Clark pushed again, harder, sending Lex sprawling on the bed.

"Too slow."

With those words, Clark dropped to his knees and eagerly reached for Lex's pants, flipping open the top button, then yanking the zipper down, the metallic noise loud in the quiet room, and the only other sound their own harsh breathing.

From the moment Clark's hands touched Lex's ass, he'd suspected that Lex was going commando and was now delighted to discover that he'd been right. Lex's erection, freed from its confines, sprang out.

Clark wrapped his hand around Lex and luxuriated for a moment in the feel of him. He'd never held a cock, other than his own, before and he took the opportunity to explore it - the round softness of the head, the ridges and veins running down, the stretch of skin over hard flesh. A warm musky scent greeted him as he nuzzled closer. When he snuck his tongue out to give the head a lick, Lex shuddered in response.

Not exactly sure how to go about it, Clark mentally thanked Pete for his addiction to porn because at least he'd seen it done on film. He did know that he wanted to taste Lex. Taste all of him. Wanted all of him.

Opening his mouth, Clark took Lex in.

Clark knew what he was doing wasn't perfect. There seemed to be way too much saliva and he'd tried to go too deep and gagged twice. He'd been careless and scraped his teeth against sensitive skin and he still hadn't got the rhythm going smoothly, but from the babble coming out of Lex, it couldn't be too bad, either.

Lex was saying filthy, dirty things. In between curses, and moans, entreaties and calls to gods, were mutterings about Clark's mouth and lips and tongue and what Lex wanted to do to them and what Lex wanted Clark to do with them, until it all dissolved into heated repetitions of Clark, Clark, Clark.

Then Lex stiffened and arched, letting out a loud groan that seemed to go on forever, expelling more hot harsh air than one person's lungs could possibly hold. His head rolled back and his eyes closed, as he gritted his teeth and his hands clenched Clark's hair.

Clark felt a pulse under the skin of Lex's shaft and his mouth was flooded with liquid. Surprised, some of it dribbled out his mouth messily before he decided to swallow. And he kept swallowing, only removing his lips from Lex's cock when he was positive that Lex was done.

Unsteady, and feeling harder than he'd ever been in his life, Clark wiped his hand across his mouth and then rose to his feet. He looked down at Lex, who had collapsed back onto the covers. Clark would've thought that he was dead, but Lex's chest was heaving and, his gasps, as he sucked air into his lungs, were jagged and sharp.

Unsure of what he should do, Clark took a step back and Lex's eyes snapped open.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Clark froze.

"Get out of those clothes and come here, Clark. It's my turn to show you what I know."

Shedding his jeans, Clark did as he was told.

* * *

Lex had wanted to draw out his first time with Clark. To make sure it lasted as long as possible. To take time to enjoy the view that Clark presented to him and to explore the expanse of golden skin that lay before him. He wanted to map each flow of muscle with his fingertips and to catalogue each inch with his tongue. To memorize the heated flesh so well that, on cold, lonely nights, he would be able to call it to mind in such exact detail that it would warm him.

Clark was having none of it.

Clark wanted it all and wanted it now. He begged so prettily, pleas dripping from his mouth as sweat formed into droplets and slid down his body. The sight inflamed Lex so much that he abandoned his plan of teaching him the intricacies of making love and instead focused on the mechanics of fucking. There would be plenty of time to take things sweet and slow. Tonight was going to have to be hard and fast.

When Lex shifted, so that he could reach the condoms and the lube, Clark seemed to panic. His eyes widened, as if he were afraid that Lex had changed his mind. His hand flashed out and grabbed Lex's wrist, holding him still.

Lex brought his other hand up to cup Clark's face. Soothingly, he stroked his cheek. "Shush. I'll take care of you. I just need a few things."

Clark quieted, though his body still hummed with tension. Lex guided Clark's hands to the bars of his brass bed. As Clark gripped the bars, muscles straining, Lex said quietly, "Try to relax."

Retrieving the items from the drawer, Lex moved back, letting his free hand glide down Clark's face to his neck. It wandered over his chest, taking a moment to tease a nipple, before moving on to the hard muscles of Clark's abdomen. Finally, his hand came to rest on a hipbone as he straddled Clark's thighs.

Lex was glad that he'd already come, while he'd watched Clark unbutton his pants and pull down zipper. He'd seen Clark naked before. They'd been best friends for years and Clark had joined Lex in his hot tub and sauna countless times.

This was the first time he'd seen Clark erect.

Now, it didn't seem to matter that he'd already climaxed. The sight of Clark - feverishly hard and aching - made Lex's spent cock twitch and begin to harden again.

Unable to fight back his need to taste, Lex bent and swallowed Clark down.

An electrified spasm ran through Clark's body. "Fuck!"

There was the rending of metal. Lex ignored it as he'd ignored so many anomalies about Clark. Placing his hands on Clark's hips, he held him still as he continued to work his throat.

Lex was good at this particular activity. He'd been told that on numerous occasions and he'd certainly had enough practice, so when Clark's hands fell onto his shoulders, pushing him away, he looked up.

Clark's head was thrashing from side to side. "No. I want... want..."

"What do you want, Clark?" Wrapping his hand around the glistening cock, Lex stroked it firmly and heard an answering whimper.

"You. Want you."

It took only a moment to roll the condom down Clark's length and slick him up. A few more minutes and Lex was stretched. He wasn't as prepared as he probably should have been. It'd been a while since he'd done this and Clark's cock was as large as the size of his other extremities would indicate.

Rising up, Lex reached back to hold Clark in position, then slowly began to sink down. With a cry that splintered the air, Clark surged up into him. Lex let out an answering yelp of pain as his body was invaded.

The body beneath him stilled immediately.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

As Lex let the pain wash over him, he shook his head at Clark's burbling apologies. "No. It's okay. Just... just give me a minute and I'll be fine." Closing his eyes, he took a couple of deep breaths. When the exhalations stopped coming out shaky and wavering, he moved his hips a fraction. Under him, there was a quiver of reaction, but Lex ignored it to tentatively shimmy his hips.

Opening his eyes, he could see Clark watching him intently, as if searching for signs of internal injuries. His hands were clenched into fists and as Lex undulated slightly, he could see muscles rippling in Clark's chest and arms in an effort to keep still.

Lex still felt much too full, but the soreness had disappeared, as had the general feeling of discomfort, to be replaced by pleasure. He let his hands drift over Clark's abdomen and watched in fascination as the flesh quivered in reaction. There was so much raw, aching power under him, at his mercy, that the thought itself was a rush.

Slowly, Lex lifted up a few inches and then let himself slide back down Clark's length. He did it a second time.

Clark' eyes snapped shut.

"Open your eyes." Lex let his body rise and fall again.

Clark shook his head.

"Open your eyes, Clark."

When those eyelids stayed shut, Lex leaned down and whispered, "You're inside me, Clark. You're deep inside me."

This time when Lex moved, Clark hesitantly moved with him, almost as if against his will.

"You said you wanted me," Lex murmured huskily. "Take me, Clark."

"I don't want to hurt you again," was the groaned reply.

Lex smirked. "I've survived two wives who wanted to kill me and who knows how many attacks by mutants. I don't think you're going to fuck me to death." He pressed down and rose up again. "Now open your goddamned eyes and take me."

He watched as Clark swallowed hard and his eyes fluttered open. In approval, Lex began to move more vigorously. When he felt dots of pain on his hips, where Clark's fingers grasped him, Lex refused to let even a wince escape.

Clark's body was painted with sweat, gleaming in the dim light as he sought to possess Lex entirely. After what seemed too short a time for Lex, he felt a pulsing deep within and watched Clark's face contort with pleasure as he let out a shout of completion that echoed off the walls.

With Clark still embedded in his ass, Lex wrapped a hand around his own, now fully erect cock. As he stroked himself, another, larger hand joined his. Soon Lex was convulsing, spilling come over their fists.

He lay down on Clark's chest in exhaustion, stickiness smearing between them.

"Lex?"

Too tired to move, Lex responded with a muffled "What?"

"I lo... " There was a long pause. "I... I really liked that."

Raising his chin, Lex looked at Clark's face. The boy was blushing. After all they'd done, confessing to having enjoyed it was causing Clark to turn beet-red.

Lex smiled. "I aim to please."

"You did."

"Good."

"In fact... " Clark shifted. The cock in Lex's ass was once more hardening.

Maybe, Lex thought, as Clark began to rock into him, he'd been a bit hasty when he'd said that Clark wasn't going to fuck him to death.

* * *

The phone rang and Lex rolled over and grabbed it. "Luthor."

As the person on the other end spoke, he swung his legs over the side and listened intently.

"Damn it. Everything was settled. The only thing left was for them to look over the final documents and sign. What the hell happened?" More explanations poured over the line. "Where the hell is Nelson? Why hasn't he handled this?"

There was the sound of stirring behind him and the mattress shifted. Lex did his best to ignore it, to focus on the matter at hand. It didn't work.

Last night, drifting off to sleep, Lex had imagined having coffee and rolls out on the balcony with Clark the next morning as they read the newspaper together; then, perhaps taking him somewhere quiet and intimate for lunch. They'd spend the day together, talking, walking around Metropolis, before having an intimate dinner. Somewhere, shoe-horned into this schedule, Lex had also planned on several wild, heart-stopping bouts of fucking

None of that was going to happen now.

"Fine. Contact Anderson. Tell him to get the jet ready. I'll be there in forty-five minutes."

Hanging up the phone, he stood, and then turned to face Clark.

"I'm sorry. I have to go."

Clark, hair tousled and eyes still sleepy, was propped up on his elbows looking at him. "I heard."

Lex wished, at that moment, for a lot of things. He wanted not to have to leave. He wanted Nelson to get over his food poisoning. He wanted the contract to not be nearly as vital to his company as it was. Mostly, he wanted Clark to stop eyeing the bottom half of the pajamas he'd donned, as if he could see underneath them, so that he could concentrate on what he needed to say.

"There's just enough time for me to take a shower, grab a cup of coffee, and pack a bag. I don't know how long I'll be gone."

Sitting up, the sheet that had been wrapped around Clark's chest dropped to his waist. Lex watched it fall, and then swallowed hard before continuing.

"After I leave, why don't you make yourself at home. In fact, you could stay here while I'm gone." Lex's voice became husky. "The thought of you in my bed might get me back here faster."

A naughty smile played over Clark's lips. "You mean the thought of me like this? he asked, gesturing with his hand. "Or the thought of me like this?" Clark whipped off the sheet.

It took half a second for Lex to decide that he could wash on the plane, coffee was overrated, and what clothes he wasn't able to pack in a few minutes could be purchased when he got there.

Even with these adjustments to his schedule, Lex was still twenty minutes late getting to the plane.

(continued at http://www.livejournal.com/users/mahaliem/71020.html)