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Chapter Text

Lex was filling a business report on his laptop when the door to his office suddenly burst open. He glanced up from the screen, curious to find out who had seen fit to pay him a visit without notifying him in advance this time. To his dismay, it seemed the world had forgotten how to schedule appointments. He deemed it was most likely another one of his father's robots sent to test Lex's capabilities - these apes had no manners whatsoever.

Any signs of annoyance left his body as his eyes met Clark's broad frame.

"Lex. I'm sorry, but I'll have to keep the Ferrari a bit longer. I'll send it back when I get myself set up," the farm boy said while stepping into the room as confidently as if the whole mansion belonged to him. The billionaire took in his friend's new outfit and discovered that, to his confusion, it consisted entirely of dark clothing. Something must have triggered such an abrupt change of style.

And he was dying to find out what the something was.

"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Clark. What's going on?" He watched as the boy made himself comfortable on the leather chaise lounge chair by wiggling on it for a bit and then heard a content sigh. Lex couldn't help but make a mental note in his head, reading that his best friend sounded and looked incredibly sexy lying like that in his office. If he had an x-ray vision, he would surely have to fight an urge to look under Clark's hood by then.

"I left home," the boy announced casually as if the same scenario happened a hundred times already before.

His strange behavior caught Lex's attention. "What happened?" he asked, genuinely interested in the boy's answer. "Did you have a fight with your folks?" Because that was the reality youngsters had to endure daily, right? At least, that was what Lex heard.

"My parents don't understand me." The billionaire expected to hear that - this sentence was another part of the teenage lore he got to observe so often ever since he moved to Smallville - and it was the predictability of the statement that made him even more confused because Clark was usually anything but predictable. "Truth is, there's nothing that's there for me in Smallville."

"What about Lana?" It seemed hardly possible that he would oh so suddenly give up on chasing the love of his life.

"She's old news. I got a new girl, Jessie."

"Kinda sudden, isn't it?"

"Look, you're the one who's always telling me I have to find my destiny. One thing's for certain: it's not here in Kansas." I am, Lex admitted in his head, but that's only because I don't know any better. He was always glad to provide advice to Clark, and many times, he wished his friend wouldn't listen to him.

"So you just pack your stuff, and you're off."

Clark slowly lifted himself up on the lounge, staring Lex in the eyes menacingly.  "You have no idea what I'm capable of." The threatening tone was slightly arousing. Never had Lex felt like that around his friend, and he wanted to explore this new side of him more.

"Really? Why don't you fill me in?"

The farm boy got up on his feet. "Let's just say that when I'm to show the world what I can do, I'll have everything what I have ever wanted. I may be ever richer than you." His gloating amused Lex. What he was saying was absurd, of course, but it pleased the other to hear it. Clark could be confident, daring, dangerous... Who would have thought? And it appealed to Lex more than it should.

On the other hand, leaving this town along with the wonderful family Clark had here, that Lex envied him so much, was absolutely irrational. He couldn't let him do it. This reckless action would ruin his friend's life, no matter if he realized it at the moment or not. So, he decided to buy himself some time to stall Clark in the office while Lex would contact the Kents. "Maybe you're right to get away from your folks. Maybe I should do the same. If my father wants the mansion so much, he could have it. I've never wanted to live in Smallville anyway."

They stood face to face now, and the room around Lex seemed to heat up.

"You can come with me."

"Nobody's using the penthouse in Metropolis. We could stay there."

Although Lex had Clark exactly where he wanted him, he found himself unhappy with the outcome of his ruse. For a brief moment, he imagined them living together as roommates and felt a pang of longing for that fantasy to come true. His friend's next words didn't help with his decision at all: "Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. I like the sound of that." The two simple sentences were able to spin Lex's world around. Could it be that Clark felt the same connection? That he also desired close proximity of their bodies?

"Let me just tie up some loose ends at the office. Make yourself at home; I'll be right back." Lex left Clark alone in the office. Throughout the entire conversation, the billionaire was able to tame his emotions, keeping them under the surface, but as the door closed behind him, he could no longer hold them in. He had to stop in the middle of descending the stairs to catch a breath and steady his tell-tale heart. The devil on his shoulder screamed in his ear not to let that opportunity go. Clark wanted to leave with him. Not Lana, not the Jessie girl he mentioned, but Lex. He has never felt this wanted and perhaps never will.

His conscience disagreed, pulling him to the Kent farmhouse to do the right thing. Being selfish wouldn't bring any good neither to Lex nor to Clark.

However... Lex could always blame it on the boy. Clark wanted to leave, wouldn't let him warn his parents, and threatened to hurt him if he did, so he decided it would be better for Clark to have someone to look after him. Looking at it like that, Lex was basically the victim and did a selfless good deed on top of it.

The corner of his lips twitched up, and instead of getting in his car to drive to the Kents, he headed for the phone in the library. It was time to make use of his sick days.

***

They flew down the road in Lex's Ferrari with Metropolis in mind as their final destination. The billionaire was behind the wheel while Clark sat restlessly by his side, occasionally sticking various parts of his body out of the roofless car. He encouraged Lex to drive faster, as if the scandalous pace they already reached wasn't enough. And Lex liked it at first until the bridge came into view. Remembering Jonathan Kent's words after the unexplainable accident made him slow down to a bit more tolerable speed. This time, he might not be so lucky, and both he and Clark could end up dead. If his companion noticed it, he didn't comment on it.

Clark slumped down on the seat with a final shout. He was suddenly quiet. When Lex realized why, he corrected his posture and adjusted the shades on his nose. He was being observed.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Clark asked with a cocky smile.

"Why do you ask?"

"It's a simple yes or no question. There should be no problem for you to answer it. So, why don't you try again?"

It was an open challenge. A test to see if he would break if pressured and pushed enough. However, this game was not nearly as difficult as those pulled by his father. Clark might play tough now, but he lacks experience. "I am not a painting put on display in a gallery to admire, am I?"

His friend tutted with disapproval. "I see that nothing can make you give a straight answer. I think that's quite telling." The implication about Lex's sexuality was blatant, and it took the young man off guard. "I must agree with you, though. You are not to admire." Hearing that was like a deep stab into Lex's heart. He couldn't understand why it hurt so much when comments like this one used to be his daily bread until he stopped caring - perhaps because it wasn't the content that mattered but the speaker. When Clark opened his mouth yet again to add something, Lex expected the dagger to twist in the wound, but it never did. "But you look like a piece of art."

"What does it even mean?" he asked before he could think his response through.

"Whatever you want it to mean," Clark answered simply, ending the conversation. The rest of the ride he spent by messing with the radio, listening to the music, singing, and moving into the rhythm, all the while not sparing Lex a single glance.

Things were getting more and more interesting. If his interest in Clark to this day was described as an obsession, then there would be no dictionary entry for what he felt right now. It was a pull, a bond, an unexplainable need to explore every inch of Clark inside out.

Although it hadn't been that long since he'd last been in Metropolis, Lex couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. Memories popped up in his head - of the first expensive car he bought and the first girl he had sex with on the passenger seat, of the nights he would spend in clubs and the painless mornings when he benefited from the fact that alcohol could never make him sick, of zero consequences his actions carried out when it came to the Luthor public image, but also of Lionel's punishments for never being good enough and the hours of self-loathing when he had to keep persuading himself not to take his life.

The city was a lure, and Lex's dark side was a fish. There goes the decent life I was trying to lead in Smallville, he thought bitterly.

One look at Clark's astonishment when Lex pointed at the highest skyscraper in the luxurious area, telling him that the apartment was located on the very top floor was all it took for him to stop doubting their trip. To give his friend the time of his life moved up on the list of his priorities.

Compared to the family mansion, the penthouse looked less lifeless and more like a home. The key reason for this is that he left most of his possessions here as a way of abandoning his old life. Anything that held any emotional value stayed here, except for some trinkets like the lead box or the watch his mother gave him that he couldn't part with. There were also other personal things he didn't care about, like his trophies from various science contests, his framed diplomas or sex toys (luckily, he was decent enough to tuck the last group of items away into a locked drawer in his bedroom, because otherwise, he wouldn't survive the embarrassment).

Most of the furniture was customized to serve his needs perfectly, which basically meant they had added cushioning for comfort. The couch and armchairs were littered with fluffy blankets, and he definitely planned to take at least one to Smallville to help him endure the cold nights at the impossible-to-heat-up mansion. Clark scrutinized everything in the apartment. His stoic expression made it impossible for Lex to tell if he was pleased with what he saw or not. The billionaire decided to leave him to it and went to the kitchen. He knew well that there was no food in the fridge (and if he'd left something there by accident, it wouldn't be edible by now anyway) but remembered that he had stored menus of restaurants with food delivery services. He took two of each and brought them to the living room where Clark was waiting - shirtless.

It took all Lex's willpower to avoid staring at the perfectly shaped abdominal muscles. His eyes darted to the menus in his hands. "We still have some hours to spare, so I thought we could grab dinner and hang out in here for a bit."

When Clark took the food catalogs from him, there was no other reason for his eyes to be cast down, so he had to find another way to accommodate to the new situation. He looked up, holding eye contact for dear life as he made his way to sit on the couch.

"It's hot in here, don't you think? Why don't you undress a little?"

Lex wasn't used to anyone flirting with him like that, and so he was at a loss for words when it came to it. He usually wasn't shy, but the hunger he saw in Clark's eyes made him insecure. Sure, his friend had never laughed at him before for his looks. The bald head didn’t seem to bother him either. Then what made Lex hesitate? What was going on?

He cleared his throat, once again turning his attention to the menus. "I would suggest something potassium-rich, like avocado salads. There's also a great sushi place around the corner. It wouldn't take them too long to deliver our order."

"Sushi sounds fine," Clark whispered in Lex's ear. It startled the other because he didn't hear him approach. His hands made their way to the white collar of his new roommate's shirt and began to unbutton it. In a surge of sudden panic, the billionaire touched Clark's bare chest in an attempt to push him away. God, that thing was firm! He quickly snaked away from the couch, grabbing his phone on the way. "I'll go make the call."

Once in the kitchen, he backed away from the closed door as if being near physically affected him. He has never felt so thrilled and yet so vulnerable. Lex noticed a notification on his phone. It was a message from Lionel, as well as three missed calls.

[Dad, Today 5:54 PM]
Are U w/Clark, Lex? Martha Kent came look for him at the ma nsion. U better gimme a call soon.

Judging by his father's blindness and the careless way the message was typed, it indicated that Lionel’s assistant, Tony, transcribed it. Lex bit his lip. It wouldn't be much of a problem for him to track them down to Metropolis. They disappeared at the same time, which surely raised suspicions. Remembering his plan B, he pushed the worries to the very back of his head. Nothing bad could happen.

Throughout the call to the sushi place, he half-expected Clark to barge in to try to seduce him again. Luckily, it never happened, and when he came back, Clark had his dark T-shirt back on. "You're no fun!" he called at Lex with a pout. "Although..." Only then did the billionaire notice that his friend was playing with something. "Judging by this, you're just playing hard to get."

When the dildo came into his view, Lex almost died on the spot. "Where did you get that?" he asked as if he hadn't known the answer already. Clark only shrugged and reached out his hand, seemingly handing over the toy, but as soon as Lex's fist wrapped around it, he moved it in a way that looked as if Lex was jerking it off. It made them both burst out laughing. No matter how stupid that joke was, it cleared some of the tension between them. Clark finally let go of the dildo so Lex could put it away in the nearest drawer. "I will have to ask you to stay away from touching my things."

"So you admit it was yours?" Clark sat up on his knees, leaning on the backrest of the couch with his elbows so that their heights were equal.

"You'd make a wonderful journalist. This was a textbook definition of twisting someone else’s wor-"

"Are you secretly into guys?"

If there was tea in his mouth, Lex would probably spit it all over Clark. What the fuck?! He had never switched into a defense mode faster. "What about your secret, Clark? Mind to share the one that will grant you everything you've ever wanted?"

"Hmm. It's not the right time. At least not yet, and not here."

"Nice excuse," Lex scoffed bitterly. Their bickering was interrupted by the delivery ringing at the door. "Stay," he raised his pointer finger at his friend, commanding him like a dog. Despite the annoyed expression on his face, he was enjoying these interactions between them. Was Clark always capable of dirty talk? Could it be that he'd been holding back this whole time? No matter what the answer was (and Lex was going to get it out of Clark eventually), he promised himself to stay decent about it. Rape is something he wouldn't want to have on his record.

Lex lowered his guard around the delivery guy, and he regretted it very soon. Two strong hands sneaked out from behind and wrapped around his waist lovingly. Again, he didn't hear any footsteps that would indicate Clark coming closer. "What a pleasant surprise, darling!" the boy exclaimed, and with fake joy written all over his face, he took the bags from the very confused man at their doorstep. He peeked inside and smiled at his friend. "Aww, you even ordered my favorite! Thank you, my love." Clark then kissed Lex on the cheek. The billionaire tried hard to suppress the rush of heat that was coming up to his cheeks. He patted his front right pocket, just to find that his wallet was missing. "What are you looking for?"

"My wallet."

"It's in my pocket."

The delivery guy's patience was running out, and Clark's implication made him roll his eyes and look slightly away.

"My hands are full. You got to pull it out by yourself." The boy cocked his hip to the side to make it easier for his friend to access the said pocket. Lex made a face that was supposed to say: 'Are you out of your fucking mind? The guy is right there!' Clark had no audacity, and instead of at least trying to look apologetic, he made a kissy face. The task wasn't an easy one and required a lot of concentration, so he knew when to stop going further into the pocket. At first, he thought he could just cheat his way out of it by pulling the wallet by the corner with only two of his fingers, but the space was tight, so he had to finger it and stretch it to get the thick (Damn you, golden and platinum cards!) wallet out. What was more, he was on the clock.

The tips of his fingers slid down the leather and inched further in until they sensed the edge of the stuck object under them. He was finally able to pull it out easily and safely, but against his better judgment, he ended up moving some more. His middle finger poked something semi-hard and firm through the fabric. When it moved slightly, Lex pulled the wallet out as quickly and carefully as possible.

Getting the credit card out was a challenge because he couldn't stop thinking about his hand's encounter with a foreign entity in the Pocket Realm. It was a long time ago since he had the opportunity to touch another man's business, and God knows he missed it. However, could he conquer the shame that came with it?

The delivery guy was rewarded with a generous tip as compensation for the torture he'd been pulled into by Lex's and Clark's little game. Right as the door shut behind the man, Lex turned around. Seeing that their food was safe on the table, he didn't hesitate anymore to jump at his friend and tackle him down. They laughed and rolled around like idiots for five minutes, teasing each other. Lex made sure that they kept it innocent.

Neither of them uttered a word about the close proximity they eventually settled in on the couch - with their arms and knees brushing every time one of them moved. It was comforting. Soon, their heartbeats and deep breaths became one.

"I really thought you were going to betray me after you left me alone in your office," Clark spoke up after he finished his sushi box. "You could have driven off to tell my parents, but you didn't."

Lex took a napkin from the table to wipe his lips into it, hoping to buy some time before answering. "Why would I do that to my only friend?" He tried to hold intense eye contact with Clark.

"I dunno," the other one shrugged. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

The billionaire just smiled at that. He looked at his watch and suggested they got a move on.

"Where are we going anyway when Club Zero no longer exists?" From what he'd heard, it must have been a wild place. Lex hardly ever shared any stories, but there was this one time a few months ago when the billionaire got kidnapped and hung by his feet for something that happened at the Club years ago, and after Clark saved his ass, for like the hundredth time already, he uttered a tale or two.

"There used to be a very popular club in New York called The Tunnel Nightclub. Me and some of my old acquaintances loved the place so much that when it closed in 2001, we decided to make a monetary contribution to its reopening, this time in a slightly different location. I don't own the place anymore, but I can assure you they'll treat us like royalty," Lex answered, winking at the end. He always wanted to impress Clark with his reputation rather than his money. After all, he didn't wish to buy his friendship, and the boy too, always seemed genuinely interested in their wholesome interactions rather than gifts. The billionaire did him a favor here and there, but it was usually to make someone else happy, like Pete or Lana.

Conveniently, the elevator opened right into the penthouse. They got in and traveled to the underground parking lot to retrieve the Ferrari. The New Tunnel Nightclub wasn't far, but arriving with style is always important, and getting there on foot would look plain awkward. They could afford to make an entrance. He was sure it was something Clark was looking forward to.

They could hear the music right as they climbed out of the car. It was nothing more than a simple beat at first, but as they got closer, more complicated sounds joined in, getting louder and louder until one couldn't hear the words of the other. Lex had to shout when they wanted to know their names at the entrance. Inside, there were UV lights everywhere, so the skin of everyone looked slightly purple, and their teeth appeared pearl white. The colors on everyone's clothes glowed, adding a slightly psychedelic tone to the overall atmosphere.

Clark looked amazed, and Lex smirked, proud of himself for choosing the right place. They hit the dance floor with drinks in their hands. Being considered the responsible one of the pair, Lex bought them drinks that he knew were low on alcohol - after all, Clark was still underage.

The billionaire thought he had everything under control until a lean girl in a tight red dress forced herself into his friend's personal space, her hands touching him everywhere like an octopus that was trying to figure out a puzzle. He knew damn too well what her business was but let it slide if she was only dancing with Clark. His stance changed when she lifted herself on her toes, whispering something in the boy's ear.

It enraged Lex.

He stomped towards them, gaining the attention of both with a loud 'Hey!' and without bothering to face the girl, he grabbed Clark by the wrist. "Let's go somewhere else."

His companion disagreed. "Hell no! This place is lit! I'm not going anywhere." He smiled up at the woman in red and moved towards her and past Lex, not caring when their shoulders hit.

"It's non-negotiable. We're leaving," Lex tugged at his arm a little roughly to emphasize the emergency.

"Get the fuck away from him, freak!" the girl shouted, shoving him away from Clark.

Freak. It's been a long time since anyone dared to call him that. He took a deep breath. "Listen, Barbara, stop trying your old tricks here, or I swear I will send an anonymous tip to the police that you're selling drugs to kids." The words seeped through his clenched teeth. He wouldn't let it happen. He couldn't. Drugs were the beginning of a painful downfall that he'd prevent anyone from experiencing if he got the chance. It was an instinct.

"What?! My name is not Barbara, I don't know you, and I sure as hell don't deal drugs." Her eyes flicked from Lex to Clark several times before she muttered: "Assholes..." loud enough for them to hear. She left by pushing through the gap between the two men, breaking the bond as their hands disjointed.

Everything was spinning around Lex as he realized his mistake - it wasn't his old dealer, Barbara, had never been. She didn't look like her at all! His mind must have made it up, but why? He couldn't understand, and it was making him sick. Bathroom. Without any explanation, he bolted into the restrooms, bumping into several people on the way. All the colors around made his double vision even worse, so he decided to close his eyes. Blindly, he eventually reached the door to which he’d been running.

His heart was beating like a drum. The only way to calm him down that he could think of was to splash icy water on his face. He collected some tap water into the palms of his hands. It felt nice when it hit his skin, and he couldn't help but spread it all over his bald head, not caring that the collar of his expensive shirt was getting wet. When he was done collecting himself, his eyes flickered up to his reflection. It almost looked as if he'd been crying.

What is wrong with you today? he addressed the doppelganger standing in the mirror. The door opened, and Clark walked in. Lex rubbed at the bridge of his nose - he usually did it out of frustration. His eyes were closed as he sighed: "I never should have brought you here. It was a mistake."

Clark's reaction couldn't have been more inappropriate. He chuckled, amused by what his friend said, and then took a step closer so he was standing right behind Lex. "Why?" His breath on Lex's neck sent shivers down his body, and he instinctively gripped the sink with more force. Two hands landed on his hips, and they moved up and down his sides. "Because you threw a jealousy fit? That can't possibly put me off. I still want you. And I know you secretly want me to want you, too."

Lex shook his head. "You were the best man at my wedding just a couple of days back. It might have been brief, but I had a beautiful wife. Before that, I dated Victoria Hardwick - who I also found attractive. Stop implying that I- that I'm into guys because I. Am. Not."

"So you've been married to a woman, and how did that end up, huh? You loved her, and she manipulated you like a puppet. As far as I know, Victoria was the same." Clark leaned in to suck at his friend's neck. It made Lex moan softly. "Women had disappointed you too many times. Don't you think it's time to switch teams?" He thrust his hips against Lex's ass. The billionaire's cheeks were flushed as he realized the solid erection pushing at him from behind. Just the thought of Clark's cock being hard from simply touching Lex was beyond his comprehension - usually, it took a lot more effort from his side to make his girlfriends fuck him. "I have something they don't. And I've seen all the naughty things in your bedside drawer, so there's no point in denying that you're at least curious about gay sex."

"Clark-" The boy grabbed him by his chin, turning his head, and then interrupted Lex by capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue explored every bit of Lex's mouth. Together, they tasted heavenly. Several drunk people walked in and out of the bathrooms, but the billionaire felt enchanted all over again, his mind was focused solely on Clark. He was gripping the lapels of the boy's jacket as if his life depended on it. "Tell me what you want."

They pulled away for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. For once, Lex felt desired. The looks Clark was giving him made him squirm because he wasn't used to such open adoration. Whenever he dated anyone, it was always about them and not him. He was skinny and elegant, but it was never enough. He wasn't beautiful. Clark was the only one (beside his mother) who made him feel like he was.

"I want you inside me." Please... he added in his head. Luthors never begged. At least not aloud. "But... not here. The car would-" Lex stopped himself and bit his lip as Clark squeezed his ass with his big hand.

"The car it is, then," the boy behind him grinned.

Chapter Text

The lack of a roof on the Ferrari didn't give the two kissing lovers much privacy, but it was certainly cleaner in the car and the street was less crowded than the club. Their panting mixed with the rustling of the leaves. Lex was trying to keep as quiet as possible and kept failing. Every time Clark did something unexpected to him – when he twisted his nipple, for instance – a loud moan erupted from his throat. He couldn't help it and felt embarrassed about his inability to control these 'animalistic' instincts. The first time it happened, he was quick to cover his mouth, but Clark immediately removed the hand from his lips, saying that he wanted to hear every sound.

Lex was impatient with the smooching. This was his wettest dream coming true after all, and he longed for a cock to finally fill him up. He started ripping Clark's clothes off. The farm boy understood the signal for what it was and undressed Lex with the same vigor. Despite the chilly night air, they were both hot and covered in beads of sweat.

Getting their pants off was a struggle because of the limited space the backseats offered them. Once freed of the tight jeans, Lex decided to get to the position he assumed would be the most comfortable for Clark, which meant with his face down and ass held up in offering. He didn't want it that way but was afraid that the boy would refuse to have sex with him otherwise. This way, he could imagine it was a beautiful girl he was fucking and not Lex. What happened next startled him.

"You want it this way? Dude, I was hoping to see your reactions. How can I know you're enjoying it when you're hiding from me, hmm?" Clark objected. Hearing that, Lex carefully turned around to be on his back instead with raised eyebrows in wonderment. "That's much better," the boy purred, cupping Lex's cheek to pull him in for yet another kiss. "Any red flags?"

"Touch my head and I'll kill you."

"I like it when you talk dangerous."

Four fingers, two on each side hooked around the waistband of Lex's boxer briefs and pulled down until the underwear ended under the seats, allowing the billionaire's erection to spring free. He had been getting harder and harder with every little compliment Clark uttered so effortlessly now and then. While he always suspected to be bisexual, he had never known that a praise kink was his thing. How many things can he discover about himself during one evening with Clark?

His thoughts were interrupted by a poke at his rim. He heard the boy chuckle at his startled reaction. A wet finger moved around his entrance, teasing him. Lex somehow failed to register when Clark opened the bottle of lube that was always at hand in the car's glove compartment. Then, without any warning, the finger slid inside. "Ah!" It stayed there until the hole stopped clenching and relaxed. They had little non-verbal signal to give each other and Lex was suddenly very glad that they chose this position and could communicate with each other. If it wasn't for Clark's look full of fascination as he explored every inch of Lex with his eyes, he would have begged them to stop a while ago.

Although he already fingered himself several times in the past, this time, it felt different. Firstly, it was someone else doing it. Secondly, the someone could as well be a Greek God of Sex. Lastly, whereas Lex's fingers are long and can reach deep into his hole, Clark's are thicker and able to stretch him wider.

It almost felt too selfish, but then he noticed the visible bulge and the wet spot on Clark's boxer briefs. Seeing it made the worries dissolve. The pleasure seemed to be equal on both sides.

Two fingers in, third ready to join. They were perfectly slick and moved smoothly in and out. Each time, they reached a little deeper. It almost seemed as if they were searching for somethi- "Fuck!" Clark hit the prostate, and it felt as if Lex had been struck by lightning. The same thing repeated two more times. "Shit, Clark. If you- Ah, God! - keep this up, I'm- fuck - 'm going to cum."

"No. You gotta hold it for me."

"F-for you..." Lex was screwed. So much screwed. "Always." It might have been just the sex, the excitement, or the alcohol in his blood that he started to feel something odd. He knew what it was, and he wanted to shout it out so the whole world would know that he was in love with Clark. He started to laugh at the thought, but the joy died down when yet another realization downed on him – the fingers were gone from his ass. In fact, Clark wasn't touching him at all. Or looking at him for that matter. Could it be that the boy just now understood the mistake he was making by getting involved in sex with Lex?

"Lex? You... Sorry." His eyes were cast down. Shame. Resentment. Regret.

The billionaire must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights at that exact moment because the sudden U-turn the events took seemed beyond shocking to him. Knowing that his underwear was too far from his reach, he first went to grab his pants and a shirt and quickly dressed himself. Right as it was possible, he climbed out of the car, leaning inside one last time to retrieve the bottle of lube and the rest of his clothes. Strangely enough, there was a ring with a red ruby under his sock. He paid it no mind. It could belong to anyone. You're a manwhore, after all, Lex. The voice in his head wasn't a good sign.

"I'm an asshole. Fuck, fucking-!" He sat behind the wheel and fed the glove compartment with everything he'd collected. His hands were shaking violently as he tried to turn the key in the ignition, which he didn't manage until a fourth try. Not wanting them to crash and make matters even worse than they already were, he did his best to drive safely. It included not only keeping to the speed limit but also letting his tears flow freely, to avoid having his vision too blurry to drive.

At some point, he dared to look into the mirror to check on Clark who was now fully dressed. His eyes met with two red-rimmed eyes and hot cheeks. Something was telling him that he wouldn't get out of this fuck-up without losing Clark's friendship and everything else that might have been between them. He doesn't love you back. Never will.

The elevator ride was awkward at best. Neither of them dared to say a thing or to come closer to the other, so they stood silently in the opposite corners of the limited space like misplaced pillars. When the door opened, Lex and Clark simultaneously took a step out and then stopped, waiting for the other to move to keep the distance. Lex eventually waved the farm boy inside, too scared that if he walked into the apartment first, Clark would close the elevator door behind him and flee.

What to do now when the perfect night is spoiled?

Lex pointed at the door leading to his bedroom: "You can sleep there."

Clark looked anywhere but at him. "Where will you sleep?"

"I'll crash on the couch. It's fine," he shrugged.

"Umm, could I... take a shower, somewhere?"

It wounded Lex deeply when it dawned on him that Clark was probably desperate to scrub clean every inch of his body that merely touched the billionaire, because, unlike him, Lex wanted to feel and smell Clark on him as long as he could. Although, he might grab a change of fresh clothes...

"Of course. It has an ensuite bathroom, so, you're free to use it." Lex went to the bedroom, opened several drawers, then chose an outfit for himself and picked out two towels for Clark to use along with a body wash. His friend didn't seem to mind the lack of a shampoo that Lex couldn't offer to him for a painfully apparent reason. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Actually, there is," Clark said a little unsure. "Do you have a key from the bedroom?" You scare him. He'll feel safer behind the locked door. Lex didn't even have to lie when he apologized for not having one. "Oh, okay... Then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Good-" The door was shut in his face before he could answer. Lex ran his hands down his face, feeling the dried-up tear traces under his fingers. Although he managed to calm down during the ride, the strong emotions were slowly crashing down on him. Thinking about what happened gave him a headache. Even if Clark never told his parents about the 'accident', would Lex be able to look in Jonathan's and Martha's eyes ever again? They were like his family. A family he no longer deserved.

The light in the bedroom went off. Clark went to bed. Very likely, he was as restless as Lex, but for a whole different reason.

He knew that, at some point, he would drive Clark away. It happened every time that he got just a little bit closer to someone. No matter how much he tries, the darkness within him eventually takes the lead and everything goes to hell. Always. If only he learned how to tame it when it was impossible to make it go away.

There was a bottle of vodka in the mini-fridge, which he noticed before when he checked it for edible food. It was heavy in his hands. Holding it was like feeling the weight of his sins.

A minute later, he was out the door, riding the elevator to the ground floor. By the time he reached his car, he was done writing a message to his father.

[You, Today 1:17 am]

Tell the Kents that Clark is in my apartment in Metropolis. You know the address. As for myself, don't look for me.

Lex's thumb hovered over the 'send' button. He changed the word look for search at the last minute before finally hitting it because it sounded less provocative considering Lionel's blindness.

He cast one last look at the Ferrari. No. It held too many memories. The billionaire took a swig of vodka, walked around the vehicle with a sad smile, and continued walking wherever his feet might get him. As for his heart, he ordered it to shut up, and if it disobeyed him, he would find the means to make it do what he wanted.

***

A deafening whistle woke Lex up. Blood rushed to his head as he hurried to sit up, which increased the pain in his temples. He was much happier when he wasn't aware of it. His eyes were too sensitive, and he had to cover them from the dazzling rays of the sun. To say that Lex was feeling unwell would be an understatement. Why was it so cold? Where's his jacket? A blurry image of a statue that looked a bit like Clark wearing it popped up in his head. Oh, that's where he left it.

"Good morning, sunshine," a big guy standing over him grumbled. Something about Lex must have displeased him. Slowly, the sounds around him became clearer - they were the sounds of a busy street - and his vision settled on the man to take a better look at who he was - a police officer. "I received complaints from the good citizens of Metropolis that a homeless person was lying in a ditch right next to the main road."

"Well, that person isn’t me. I have a house. You see that?" Lex attempted to point at the LuthorCorp headquarters in the distance, missing it by two inches. "I'm the CEO of that circus."

"Dude!" the police officer threw his arms up with exasperation. "Even if you were the President of the United States, I couldn't let you stay here. Either get up, or I'll have to arrest you." He quirked an eyebrow at Lex when he made no move to comply. "Seriously? You've been warned." Lex watched him reach for the handcuffs. A moment later, he struggled against a knee being pressed against his lower back and two hands that were forcing his arms to bend behind him.

"Stop! Don't touch me! You're going to lose your badge over this, I'll make sure of it!" Lex shouted. He hated being arrested. It was humiliating, especially for a person of his social status. "I said stop touching me!" The officer pulled him up by his shoulder until he was standing on his feet. Lex prayed for someone to rescue him from this situation. And his pleas were heard, and the divine powers sent him a guardian angel.

"Lex?" Marta rushed to his aid. No matter how irrational it would be, he wished for nothing else than to collapse into her arms, but as he made a move, the officer responded with a painful tug at the cuffs. Despite that, he didn't have to wait long for comfort. Ms. Kent reached out to cup his cheek, letting him lean his throbbing head into the warmth her palm offered. "What happened to you, my boy?"

"Madam? Are you this man's mother?" Lex flinched away from her as he heard the officer's question. She wouldn't want a son like me.

"I am Lionel Luthor's, his father's, personal assistant and advisor, which means he relies on my words a lot. So, it's up to you which version of your story I tell him. Either the one where you tried to arrest his son or the one where you successfully found the heir to the largest family empire in Metropolis. Your choice." Her blackmailing technique was impressive. There was danger in her eyes that he had never seen before. After a few weeks of working for Lionel, he already managed to turn her into a Luthor. Lex wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

He hissed as his hands got released from the tight metal cuffs and rubbed at his red wrists. "I better not see you again," the police officer warned him.

"Likewise..." Lex muttered. Once the man was out of sight, the billionaire turned to Martha. He couldn't look her in the eyes. Does she know what I did? It made him think that his rescue would cost him dear - and the Kents were known not to take money as a proper payment method. Martha opened the car door for him, motioning that he may climb in. The very thought of being locked up in the car, unable to run away when the danger gets too great made him nauseous.

"Are you going to take me to my father?" he asked eventually, dreading the answer.

"Do you want me to?" He shook his head vehemently at that. "Sweetheart, I wouldn't do anything you don't want me to. All I want is to make sure that you're taken care of. I... I've been worried about you." Lex looked up, searching for any hints of lying. "Let me be here for you." He scoffed, about to comment on it, but as if Martha could read his thoughts, she quickly added: "Even if you're thinking that you don't deserve it."

Lex shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another, before taking the first careful step towards the car. Once he was seated, Martha squeezed his shoulder, assuring him one more time that he was okay. God, he really needed to hear it.

The ride was quiet. Too quiet for Lex's liking, because it represented an opportunity to give in to bad thoughts. He sat stiffly, with the seat belt dutifully fastened, side-eyeing the radio. Martha seemed to pick up on the cue, because a minute later he saw her reach there, turning it on. The car stopped at the red light, giving her time to fumble with the button. She ended up on a station with classical music that had Lex relaxed. "Is this okay?" she asked with a smile. To his own surprise, he returned it with an affirmative hum, while closing his eyes just for a moment, enjoying the sweet symphonies.

At one point of the ride, the road got bumpy, which awoke Lex from his slumber. With his eyes still closed, he furrowed his brows as a strange feeling dawned on him. One of his hands curled around his stomach instinctively. It felt bloated. His breathing got faster, and his hand shook as he shakily attempted to unbuckle himself. He was so engrossed in panic that he hardly registered the car slowing down or Martha pulling him out.

On his knees, in the middle of the cornfield where it all began, he found himself throwing up.

"That's good. Let it all out, Lex. Let it out," Martha whispered to his ear, all the while rubbing soothing circles in between his shoulder blades as his body convulsed with each new wave of nausea. The woman stopped touching him once it seemed to be over, which suddenly made him emotional, and he started crying. She did it out of obligation. Now that you're fine, she can continue to be repulsed by you and your actions. Then all at once, the voices in his head shut up as something heavy landed on his back - Martha's jacket. She maneuvered him to sit next to her on the side of the road. "How are you feeling, darling?"

The aftertaste of vomit lingered inside of his mouth, and yet... "Much better than I've been these past days."

"Days? You've been gone for two weeks."

That long? It didn't feel real, but not entirely impossible. He was drunk to the max 99% of the time, so he had no idea when the days started and ended. The unbearable shame made him blush. And it only worsened when he heard her say: "Clark told me what happened between you two."

Despite the self-loathing that had been bubbling inside of his chest ever since that Ferrari accident, he suppressed all the selfishness that wanted to surface and said: "Is he okay? I know I scared him... He must be shaken by the things that could have been if he didn't manage to stop me in time."

"He feels sorry, but for a different reason than you think."

"What reason it is then?"

She seemed to contemplate her answer. "I'm afraid that's something Clark would rather tell you himself. I can only assure you that he's not mad at you." It should have brought him some comfort, but it didn't. Not the tiniest bit of it. Not mad simply wasn't enough. He liked Clark. Wanted him to like him back. How could they ever go back to being just friends? Lex wasn't capable of living his life the old way anymore. Two weeks spent at the many Metropolis bars, drinking, dancing, and fucking to his heart's content - nothing could make him forget Clark. At the end of each day spent in decadence, he felt more incomplete. Whether he liked it or not, his heart had been stolen by the stupidly handsome farm boy. "Lex?"

He must have spaced out. Looking up, he snapped back to focus. "Yes?"

"Do you think you can make it to the car?"

Lex took a deep breath and then nodded. With a little help from Martha, he was back inside the vehicle, once again leaning comfortably into the seat. Martha drove slower this time, careful not to upset Lex's stomach again. He appreciated it, even though he doubted that there was anything left in his body that could be expelled.

Exhausted, vulnerable, pathetic. This had to be his new rock-bottom record, especially for the fact that Martha Kent felt obligated to take care of him. On the other hand, it's been too long since he'd last been comforted by the simplest of touches. A squeeze on the shoulder here, a soft press to his knee there. It provoked conflicted feelings.

When they stopped in front of the farm, he pried his eyes open, finding himself feeling remarkably better. Getting out of the car and walking to the house was much easier than it would have been some hours ago. The new-found energy didn't last long, though, and he happily accepted the invitation to sit on the couch. He was already familiar with this process of his body shutting down on itself. It happened that evening when he drove off the bridge or anytime someone tried to kidnap or kill him. Although he would never admit it out loud, deep inside he was rather fragile and part of him shattered every time he felt emotionally shaken up.

His head grew heavy, and he had to lie down because there was no use in trying to fight with his heavy eyelids....

Wait.

There were voices. Not the vicious, biting ones that no one else but him could hear, but real voices coming in from the kitchen. He propped himself up on his elbows, attempting to identify the speakers. There was Martha, Jonathan and... Clark. The discovery shouldn't have been nearly that surprising. After all, they all lived there. In the home he invaded.

Lex got up with a grunt, heading for the door. Where would he go? It didn't really matter as long as it would be far away enough from the Kents. Suddenly, he froze, sensing someone's intent gaze on his back.

"I don't think you should be standing."

Turning slowly, he contemplated whether he should flee or stay. The farm boy was frowning and dared to look sad, and worried. Clark made a tentative step forward, and Lex's back hit the door. No one dared to move after that.

"Please, can we talk?" he asked, patting a spot next to him on the couch. On the table sat a plate with steaming soup that wasn't there before. Lex felt his mouth fill with saliva fast, but he knew that the throbbing in his head wouldn't allow him to eat it.

With his arms crossed over his chest. For comfort or to look tough? He had no idea what the right answer was. Otherwise, he made no move towards his friend. "I'm listening."

Clark was about to raise an obligation but eventually decided against it. "It wasn't me who you left with to Metropolis." It sounded insane. "I mean, it was me. Technically." He struggled to explain himself, reaching for the back of his neck to rub away the frustration. "I wasn't thinking clearly, and it was all just too much... the things I was saying."

The younger boy's cheeks were red, and flushed even more as Lex dared to ask: "Do you regret what happened between us?"

"I do." At that moment, when he comprehended the simplest meaning of those two words, the world could burn to ashes, and he wouldn't care about it one bit. In fact, his whole world was destroyed by this hurtful rejection.

Biting down the tears forming in the corners of his eyes, Lex nodded. "I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry, Clark. You won't ever see m-"

"I regret that I didn't let you know about my feelings for you sooner and that it took a weird teenage rebellion phase for me to confess." Lex looked up through his glassy eyes. Clark was smiling at him softly. "Stay? Please? I promise it's okay. Or... if you don't want me anymore..." It could have easily been an emotional trap, a wicked game for them to play. His heart decided that the answer didn't matter and commanded his legs to push forward.

They both sat down at the same time. After a beat of silence, Lex whispered: "I want you... been looking for you these past two weeks."

"You searched anywhere but in the place where you could find me," Clark smirked knowingly. The other admitted it to be true, even though he didn't realize it at the time he was playing hide and seek. "Do you still feel sick? The soup will help you. Mom made it."

"I don't, but it hurts."

"Your stomach?" The farm boy's hands hovered above his sides uselessly, probably wishing to soothe any pain away by touching the place where it was coming from.

Lex closed his eyes. "M' head," he almost whined. It was the worst hangover he had ever experienced. If he woke up with his head exploded in the morning, he wouldn't be too surprised. Clark wrapped his arms around the billionaire, pulling him down by his shoulders to a lying position so that his head would be in the younger boy's lap.

"That okay?"

The other nodded weakly, curling in on himself. Clark's left hand moved up and down his arm, while the other hesitated about where to settle. There was one possibility, but it was a red flag. Biting down his lip, he experimentally brushed his fingers along Lex's head. Seeing how it made the billionaire squirm ever so slightly made him drop any further attempts.

"Sorry. I know it makes you uncomfortable. It's just that my mom used to caress me when I had headaches as a kid. I thought it could help you too." Nowadays, Clark only ever felt pain when he happened to be near the meteorites. However, there were times early on in his development when his head would start hurting as it was adjusting to life on another planet. It was not like he could break the whole explanation to Lex, so the slightly omitted truth had to do.

Suddenly, Lex moved to squeeze the hand and muttered something inaudible.

"Excuse me, what was it?"

"It's helping..." Hoping that he understood the dropped hints, he moved to touch the tender skin on Lex's head. This time, the reaction was much more satisfying. The corner of the billionaire's lip tugged up and he pushed his head a little further into Clark's lap with an approving hum.

The End