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"Any moment now Lex could uncoil and destroy anyone, everything. Especially Clark. But Lex thought that Clark was the destroyer tonight."

Chapter 1

The Kansas summer was early, bringing with it a crackling heat and a sky the blue of dreams or fantasies. The roads were already dusty kicking up clouds as cars cruised away from the high school.

Clark had called shotgun. He sat folded in tightly even though the front seat was pushed back as far as it could go. Pete was in the rear, behind Chloe where he could have some leg room. Chloe was driving with the air conditioner cranked.

"So, what are your plans for this summer, Kent?" Pete rubbed his hands together, raised an eyebrow and attempted an evil expression.

Clark watched the fence posts chase one another out of view. "I don't have any plans...just helping out around the farm," he shrugged.

"But Clark, man! This is your last summer before college! You've got to do something, you know, young, wild, crazy!" Pete gesticulated broadly with his hands, trying to pump some enthusiasm into Clark.

Clark laughed, turning to look back at his friend. "Well, what are your young, wild and crazy plans for this summer, Pete?"

"This should be good," Chloe piped in, turning on her blinker and swiveling her blonde head to check her blind spot.

Pete leaned forward to get a better look at Clark, "Well, I figured I'd get you and a few other guys to chip in for gas, drive down to the coast and pick up some hot, bikini clad girls." Pete grinned gleefully.

Clark just shook his head. It was kind of ironic that Pete used to rib him for not noticing Chloe's crush...but it turned out Pete really shouldn't talk about being observant.

Snort from Chloe. "Clark, pick up girls? Um, where have you been the last three years, Pete?"

Clark blushed, turned back to the fence posts and their endless game of tag.

"What?" Pete asked Chloe, leaning even further forward, straining in his seat belt.

Chloe turned the steering wheel to the right. "Nothing. God, you'd think you were blind."

"What's she talking about, Clark, man?" Pete looked confused, spreading his hands wide in an appeal for clarity.

Clark just shrugged and kept his eyes out the passenger window. Chloe turned up the radio a little to better hear a new U2 song.

Chloe was a good friend. The only person, outside of his family, that he had sort of "come out" to regarding his relationship with Lex.

But it wasn't like Clark had told her, Chloe just figured it out and started referring to Lex in ways that let Clark know that she knew and that she was okay with it. Like how she was always asking if he had plans with Lex before suggesting they do something together. It drove Pete nuts when she did that.

Clark was relieved that Chloe had never directly confronted him on it. That would've been too awkward for both of them. And it would've brought into question the whole idea of telling Pete, which Clark hadn't been ready to do.

Pete was a good friend too. It wasn't that Clark wanted to keep his relationship with Lex a secret, but he wasn't sure if Pete would accept him the way Chloe had. And, besides, Pete was as smart as Chloe. He should have been able to catch on. Clark supposed Pete just didn't want to see.

They had reached the long dirt drive heading down to his house. Chloe pulled over to the side of the road. Clark turned to her then, "What are your plans for this summer, Chlo'?"

"Well, Lex did swing that big internship for me at the Daily Planet..." Chloe turned on the mega-watt grin. "So I'll be getting up at 4:30 a.m. every morning and driving into Metropolis."

"Whoa, that sucks." Pete commented.

"Then I'll be driving back every night, getting home around 8:30 p.m. So, as you can see, I'm not going to be available to join you guys in the `young, wild, crazy' quest."

"Bummer." Pete intoned, not really too bummed at all.

Clark frowned, concerned, "That's a lot of travel, Chloe. Maybe I could ask Lex to let you stay in his penthouse over the summer? It's really, really nice."

Chloe shrugged, non-committal, "Speaking of Lex...his car is up at your house." She inclined her head in the direction of the farmhouse.

Clark turned in his seat and saw that indeed Lex's Ferarri was parked beside his mom's Honda Accord. Clark felt his face break into a goofy grin, "Huh! He's been in Metropolis on business, I thought he wouldn't be back until tomorrow!"

Pete groaned in the backseat, "Clark, man, do you know how weird it is that you know Luthor's schedule like that? I mean do you know how that looks?"

Chloe sighed and rolled her eyes.

"No, Pete. How does it look?" Clark asked innocently, gathering his book bag and folders from the floor.

"It looks bad, man. It looks bad." Pete muttered as Clark opened the door and got out.

Clark ignored him and leaned back in the car to look at Chloe, "I need to get that poster board for my Art History project out of the trunk, Chloe."

Chloe opened the driver's door and got out too. She popped the trunk allowing Clark to get the poster board out. She then grasped Clark's arm briefly before turning to get back in the car, "You're going to have to tell him sometime, Clark. God, I don't know how much longer I can take him being so dense."

Clark sighed, squinted into the sky for a second, looked down and nodded, "Pete's a smart guy, Chloe. He knows. He's just in denial. But, you're right, I'll tell him...soon."

Chloe narrowed her eyes at him in a vague threat, "Soon, Kent!" And she spun around to hop back in the car with Pete.

Lex was sweating in his business suit; the shirt stuck to his back where it had been pressed into the leather of the car seat. When his business meetings let out early in Metropolis, he had hopped into his Ferarri, the silver one, and made directly for the Kent's house.

The air conditioning blasting inside the Ferrari had not provided enough defense against the brilliant sunlight, so that when he knocked at the kitchen door he was sweaty, sticky and eager to get out of the sun.

Martha smiled genuinely at the sight of him, something Lex wasn't sure he'd ever get used to, and let him in to the sunny, spicy smelling kitchen. "Lex! Come in."

Lex was relieved to see and feel several fans blowing full blast. He gravitated toward a fan and held his wrists out to the breeze.

"Clark's not home from school yet," Martha watched him stoop to let the current from the fan race over his face and scalp. "But he'll be home before long; do you want to wait?"

Lex straightened up, nodded, "Actually, I came by to speak with you, Mrs. Kent."

"Really? Okay...well, have a seat." She gestured at the table.

Lex stripped off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves and settled into his now usual place at the Kent kitchen table.

"Can I get you a drink, Lex?"

"Coffee would be great, Mrs. Kent."

"In this heat?"

The pretty smirk that Martha found nearly as appealing as Clark graced Lex's lips, "Unfortunately, Mrs. Kent, my addiction knows no bounds."

Martha smiled indulgently, "Oh, really? Well, let me grab both of us a mug and we'll talk."

Lex watched the red head move across the kitchen admiring her figure. Clark's mom really was attractive, he thought. Jonathan was a lucky man. But that was disturbing. Think about nice things, Lex, quick! Clark's smile, Clark's hair, Clark's hands, and ahhh...that's better.

Martha was surprised that Lex was here to talk with her. Thoughts of potential problems with her son flickered through her mind. As she retrieved two mugs from the cabinet, she sneaked an appraising look at Lex. Hmmm. Lex seemed too relaxed for anything like that to be the case.

Martha had seen the two young men together enough to know that if there was a problem with Clark it would be written all over Lex. Very vaguely, yes, and you'd have to look to see it, yes, and most people would never know, yes, but she would be able to see it.

Martha finally chalked up Lex's desire to speak with her to there being a first time for everything.

Slipping into the seat across from Lex, Martha handed him coffee made just the way he liked it. Lex rewarded her briefly with one of his rare smiles. Less rare when he was around Clark, certainly, she thought to herself, but still rare enough.

Lex cleared his throat after taking a sip of the coffee, "Thanks, Mrs. Kent."

Martha waited patiently for Lex to begin; she let her eyes wander over his delicate features. Still a little too thin, need to make sure he eats more, she decided.

"Clark turned 18 last month." Lex began, looking down into his mug.

Martha nodded, "Yes, Lex, you were at the party, remember?" She teased him gently.

The corner of his lips turned up slightly, "Yes. Well, next year he starts at Met U. with the journalism scholarship he worked so hard to win."

Martha nodded, ducking her head a little trying to catch Lex's eye.

He smiled slightly and looked up at her, "I remembered that several years ago, Clark mentioned he'd never been to Disney World." Lex paused, cleared his throat again, "I promised him that I'd take him sometime."

Martha took another sip of her coffee and found that she was slightly frowning. "Well, Lex, if you are asking if you can take Clark to Disney World..." she let it trail off. She wasn't sure what to say or what she even thought of the proposition. Jonathan wouldn't like it.

"Well, yes, that was what I was thinking. As a reward for the scholarship...and most seniors do take a trip the summer before college. I considered proposing Europe, amongst other things, but I finally decided that a trip to see the Mouse was best."

Martha cocked her head, "Disney World over Europe? May I ask why?"

Lex laughed and Martha thrilled at one of the rarest of Lex sounds. "Well, Mrs. Kent, would you believe me if I said I wanted to take him while he was still young enough to enjoy it?"

Martha laughed, "Maybe."

"There is that.. but...also...Clark lets me be more..." Lex looked down at his coffee again. If Martha didn't know better she would say he looked suddenly shy. "Ah, well, let's just say Disney World is the place for Clark."

Martha smiled, "So maybe you want to take him while you're still young enough to enjoy it?"

Lex's crooked smirk played on his face, "Maybe."

Martha shrugged, "Okay. I'll have to speak to Jonathan about it."

"Of course." Lex leaned back in the seat, stretching his legs out before him. "But may I ask...since I know that you have the ear of Mr. Kent...what your opinion is?"

"Lex...I'm not sure. If it weren't for the whole matter of expense, I would say your chances were good." Martha pursed her lips a little and cocked her head thoughtfully; "Clark is 18 now. But I'm not sure how Jonathan will feel about your paying and, obviously, it isn't a trip we could afford."

Lex nodded.

"What trip can't we afford?" Clark asked from the screen door.

Martha looked at Lex with a frown. Lex acknowledged her attempt at telepathy with a sharp nod.

Lex smiled, "Clark! You're home earlier than I expected. I thought you'd be yacking with your friends in Chloe's car for another 15 minutes or so." Lex knew that sometimes the group of friends would get so wrapped up in one of Chloe's theories that they might sit in her car for half an hour just talking.

Clark strode across the room. "Chloe pointed out your car. I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow?" Clark sat his book bag and the poster board down on the counter, crossed to Lex and crouched down next to him.

Lex shifted to look at Clark, "Finished up early." Lex wanted to caress the young man's face but he was always restrained regarding physical affection in front of Clark's parents.

Clark, however, didn't always share Lex's restraint. The young man leaned forward, grabbing at Lex's shirt a little and buried his head briefly in his boyfriend's chest whispering, "I missed you."

Lex's hand sneaked a brush through the boy's hair before Clark leaned back and shifted into the chair next to Lex. "I was only gone for 4 days, Clark," Lex chuckled.

"I know. What? Are you saying you didn't miss me?" Clark pretended to pout.

Lex shook his head and sipped more coffee, "Don't make me smirk any harder, Clark. My face might stick that way."

Martha sat admiring them. They really looked lovely together. She wished Jonathan could see this, see them the way she did. She sighed a little thinking about her husband's valiant struggle against his bigotry, not only his hostility toward Lex but his red-blooded, American male homophobia.

Clark gently stole Lex's coffee and took a sip. "Hey! Get some of your own." Martha chided.

"I like the way you make it for Lex." Clark replied.

Martha sighed, "Alright, I'll make a mug for you, just leave his alone."

Martha stood up and proceeded to make another mug of coffee for Clark. Clark stole three more sips from Lex's mug before she returned with his own cup.

"So," Clark leaned back with a you-are-so-busted look on his face, "what trip?"

Lex looked at Martha who sighed. She rolled her eyes a little and offered, "Lex wanted to know if we would approve of you going with him to Disney World for a summer trip."

"Yeah! Cool!" Clark looked excitedly at Lex, "You promised me once, remember."

Lex chuckled turning to Martha, "See, I knew he wouldn't forget that I had promised. I'm just glad I didn't promise something complicated."

Martha laughed and then sobered, "Well, I haven't spoken to your father yet Clark."

Clark looked at her and frowned, "What's to discuss? I'm going."

Lex sighed, "Clark I really don't want to alienate your father any further."

Clark shrugged, "He won't give his permission, Lex. Don't kid yourself. The fact of the matter is I am 18 and I can make my own decisions about my summer break. And I'm going." Clark sipped his coffee looking defiantly at Lex and Martha.

"Greeaat." Lex muttered.

The Talon was crowded with the Friday after school crowd. Clark was hanging out with Chloe and Pete until Lex came to pick him up for a movie.

"So, Clark, man...you made up your mind yet about going to the coast with me? Bikinis, Clark. Girls, Clark." Pete was giving his ladies man look that Clark always found amusing.

Clark chuckled and resorted to simply shaking his head.

Chloe clanked her coffee cup down and gave Clark a look before saying, "Pete, when is the last time you and Clark picked up girls together, hmm?"

Pete laughed and rubbed his chest, "Chloe, I am the quintessential ladies man. Clark just needs a few pointers. The women love me. Tell her Clark. I rock, right Clark?"

Clark choked a little on his coffee. "Sure Pete, you rock."

"See, I rock. And I'm gonna teach Clark to rock too. We just need some sun, some surf and, oh, about a hundred women who want to get laid."

Chloe looked harshly at Clark, "Damn it, Clark." She stood up jerking her bag and backpack over her shoulder. "I'm leaving. I can't deal with this shit."

Clark slumped, looked down at his coffee as Chloe gathered her stuff and stormed out of the Talon.

Pete sat incredulous, "What crawled up her ass and died? Did she get all femi-nazi on us or something?" Pete grumped, watching Chloe do her best to slam the door behind her.

Clark sighed. The time had come. He ran his hand through his hair. "Pete, we need to talk."

Pete turned to him, all smiles again, "Yeah we do, we need to talk about you getting off that farm and going to the beach with me!"

"No Pete, we need to talk about something else entirely."

"God, Clark. You're spending too much time with Lex, you sound all serious. What's up, man?"

"Well, it is about Lex." Clark fiddled with the rim of his coffee mug.

"Man, I've been meaning to talk to you about him. You've got to stop hanging around him so much. People are talking."

Clark looked up, "And what do people say, Pete?"

Pete shifted, uncomfortable. "I don't want to say, man. It just creeps me out."

Clark leaned in a little closer, asked earnestly, "And if the things people say are true? What then?"

Pete went very still. "Clark. What are you trying to say?"

Clark sighed again. Deep breath, "Pete, remember when you were dating that girl, Andrea? And you always had to tell her where you were and what you were doing and who you were with?"

Pete looked at him confused now. "Yeah, but what's that got to do with anything? Andrea and I broke up last year."

"Yeah, I know. Um..." Clark frowned, "Remember how you were mad at me one day because I called Lex to tell him I was going to the movies with you and you said, `Man, you and Lex sound like me and Andrea'?"

Pete was barely breathing, muttered, "Yeah...I remember."

"And how I said, `Do we, Pete?' and you just turned away?" Clark continued.

Pete was looking more and more like he might puke. "Clark, just tell me what the hell you are trying to say, because you are freaking me out, man."

Clark was suddenly pissed, "Pete, why do I even have to tell you? You know! You know that you know! Just the other day when Chloe was dropping us off you mentioned me knowing Lex's schedule...why would I know his schedule, Pete? Why?"

Pete was angry now too. He leaned forward in Clark's face, said bitterly, "Just fucking tell me, Clark. Just have the balls to fucking tell me."

Clark had never seen Pete this angry. Not laughing, joking, fun Pete.

Clark leaned even closer to Pete and hissed, "I'm with Lex, Pete. In that way, Pete. I have been for the last 3 years. My parents know. Chloe figured it out on her own. But you just wouldn't get a clue."

Pete stared at him, mouth opening and nearly closing wordlessly. Finally Pete stood up from the table, "GO TO HELL, KENT!"

"I'm already on my way there, Pete!" Clark called after him, watching as Pete slammed through the door of the Talon.

Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck! That wasn't how it was supposed to go. That wasn't what he'd meant to say. Clark buried his face in his hands taking deep gulping breaths.

Chapter Two
Airplane

"First Class Passengers for Flight 184 to Orlando, Florida may now begin boarding."

Clark looked over at Lex who was wrapping up last minute business on his cell phone. Clark was eager to get on the plane. This was going to be his first flight ever, and he was excited. Lex glanced over at him as he continued to issue commands to his assistant, Mitch.

"Mitch, one last thing, make sure that the hotel has my list of prefered snacks for the room. You know that I don't want to be stranded without them."

Clark rolled his eyes and snorted. Lex without his Snickers Bars was a very nasty Lex. He was still amazed that the multi-billionaire was addicted to such low-grade commercial chocolate. "I mean I could understand an addiction to Ghiradelli, Lex, but Snickers?" Clark had commented once. "Clark, Ghiradelli sucks." Lex had replied.

Clark leaned forward putting his elbows on his knees trying to catch Lex's eye. Lex glanced over at him again and Clark mouthed silently, "Come on. Let's go."

Lex sighed, "Okay, Mitch, I'm leaving the rest up to you," and snapped his cell shut.

"Ready?"

Clark grinned, "Ready."

Lex handed the airline employee their tickets. She scanned them and handed back the stubs. Clark followed Lex down the boarding ramp. The ozone smell of the pressurized air leaked into the loading area and Clark's sensitive ears were nearly overwhelmed by the whir of the engines.

Lex checked their ticket stubs as they entered the first class cabin area. Clark frowned, "Ah, you've got the window seat."

"You can have it." Lex hastily replied.

"Cool! Thanks."

"No problem."

Clark settled into his seat, running his hands over the leather. "Wow. This is nice, Lex."

Lex nodded, "Not as nice as the LuthorCorp jet."

"Why didn't we take that, again?"

"Because I wanted you to experience the proletarian means of flight."

"Lex, we're in First Class, this is hardly proletarian."

"Yeah, I know. But I couldn't bear to go coach."

Clark shook his head and chuckled, "You're really spoiled, you know?"

Lex agreed, "Yeah I know." He was rummaging around in the little carry on bag he'd brought with him.

Clark looked over at him studiously. It was unlike Lex not to rise to the bait. He noticed that Lex was paler than usual and his hands were visibly shaking. Then Lex found what he was looking for and pulled out a bottle of pills and a bottle of water.

"Lex?"

"Mmm?" Lex opened the pill bottle and took out two blue pills.

"Are you okay?"

Lex nodded. His hands still shaking. More passengers were boarding now, heading back to the coach area behind the curtain. Clark nodded as a woman looked down at him and smiled.

"Lex, what are you taking?"

"Valium."

"Why?"

"..."

"Why, Lex? What's going on?" Clark was really concerned now.

Lex put the pills in his mouth and downed them with water, shrugging as his shaking hands put the cap back on the bottle. "Did I mention I'm terrified of flying?" He mumbled under his breath.

Clark looked at him in shock. "No you didn't mention it."

Lex shrugged, started rummaging in his carry on bag again. This time he pulled out a CD player and headphones. "Listen, Clark, here's the deal. I put on these headphones and you don't talk to me until we're in the air. Okay?"

Clark's eyes were big, "Okay." He watched as Lex took some deep breathes and ran his hands over his scalp.

"Um, Lex?"

"Yeah?"

"You can hold my hand if you want..."

Lex nodded. "Maybe." He donned the headphones, leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes, breathing slowly and deeply.

Clark watched him for several minutes as more people boarded the plane. When he realized that Lex really wasn't going to move from that position until they were in the air, Clark turned and looked out the window.

Men and women in uniforms with glowing batons were motioning the carts carrying luggage back and forth across the tarmac. He again turned to watch the people bustling onto the plane, jostling one another, carrying their luggage carefully, trying not to whack anyone in the head as they passed on the way to their seats.

Lex was like marble. Still, so still. The music from Lex's headphones was loud in Clark's ears. He could make out every lyric.

Clark looked back out the window to watch luggage being loaded into the plane adjacent to theirs.

He thought about Pete and how Pete would make fun of him flying first class with Lex. Or maybe he wouldn't. Maybe Pete wasn't going to be making fun of him ever again.

Clark had tried to call him once after incident at the Talon, but Pete told his father to tell Clark he was busy. Pete had managed to get his mother to drive him into school and had avoided all things Clark there as well. In addition, Clark was missing graduation to go with Lex. So things had been left pretty badly between the two of them.

Graduation. His mom and dad hadn't been too happy at him missing that. But Clark didn't really care to go. He felt like his life in high school had turned into a huge lie anyway. No one there really knew him except for Chloe and Pete, maybe Lana...and even they didn't really know him.

The plane started to reverse. Clark's hearing picked up the quickening of Lex's heartbeat. He turned to look at his boyfriend and found his outward appearance to be identical to the last time he'd checked.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain, John Gracy. Thank you for choosing American Airlines for your travel today. We will be arriving at our final destination, the headquarters of M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E, also known as Orlando, Florida, in approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes, including a brief stopover in Atlanta. The air today looks clear and smooth, little to no turbulence. It should be a smooth ride folks."

"Dear God, we're going to die, the pilot's an idiot." Lex muttered.

Clark whispered, "It's okay, Lex."

Lex growled, "I said don't talk to me until we're in the air."

Clark was too concerned about Lex to be hurt.

The flight attendants held Clark's focus as they demonstrated what to do in an emergency. With Lex not paying the slightest bit of attention, Clark felt like he should watch for both of them.

Finally, Clark leaned back into his seat as the plane accelerated down the runway. The pressure felt nice and he was rather enjoying the sensation when he heard a tiny moan escape Lex's throat. He glanced over and saw that Lex had uncurled his arm, unclenched his fist, proffering a hand to Clark.

Clark took the cold, trembling hand into his own and squeezed gently.

The plane had reached cruising altitude when Lex finally dislodged his headphones and moved. Clark pulled his gaze away from the clouds and turned to him.

"You okay?"

"Just need some liquor now and I'll be fine. Where is the airline attendant?"

"You can't drink liquor with Valium, Lex." Clark protested.

Lex smirked, "Watch me."

"Leeex..." Clark fairly growled.

Lex lifted his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, you win for now. But only because I need to use my energy to concentrate on keeping the plane in the air."

Besides, apparently Toby had given him the good shit, because this so-called "Valium" was buzzing the shit out of him. He almost wasn't afraid. Yeah, right. But still, the buzzing was nice.

"Lex, you're crazy."

"I know. I'm fucking nuts really, but a plane hasn't crashed with me in it yet, so I'll keep doing it my way."

Clark decided a change in subject was in order. "I noticed you're listening to David Bowie."

"Yeah, Hunky Dory. One of the best rock albums of all time."

"Really? I always thought David Bowie was, you know, kinda gay."

Lex lifted an eyebrow, "Clark, you're kind of gay."

Clark rolled his eyes and explained, "I didn't mean that kind of gay. I meant gay like lame. Like dorky."

"David Bowie is not lame. He walks completely limp free. Homosexual? He is now married to a model and has a baby with her, but his sexuality is still questionable, I suppose. Gay as in happy? I have no basis to judge. And dorky? Absolutely not. The man is a sexual predator and he made fey cool. Regarding his music...pre-Ziggy Stardust. Pure genius."

"Pure genius?" Clark scoffed.

"His lyrics are based on Nietzche and pop culture icons. `Andy Warhol looks a scream, hang him on my wall'...who else can sing that lyric and get away with it?"

"I'm not sure he gets away with it, Lex."

"Oh, yes, he does indeed. And besides, I've got Warhol on several walls. I can pretend it is a personal shout out."

Clark shrugged. "Warhol Schmarhol."

"What!?! Are you questioning the genius of Warhol now?" Lex looked at Clark in mock rage.

"Of course not. Who would question a man who never did any of his own work? Of course he's a genius. I wouldn't dream of questioning it." Clark rolled his eyes.

"Where did you learn about Warhol?"

"Internet."

"You were looking up Warhol on the internet? Why?"

"Art History Project. And it turns out I have a lot in common with him."

"Really? Like what?" Lex couldn't imagine what Clark had in common with Andy Warhol.

"Well, he was kinda gay and I'm kinda gay and, I don't care what you say, David Bowie is kinda gay. Gay as in lame."

Lex smirked. "Whatever."

Clark smiled that goofy, playful grin, "And you're kinda gay."

"Not gay as in happy, that's for sure. Not until this idiot lands this plane anyway."

Chapter 3
Hotel

Paparazzi had been waiting for them when they disembarked. Bulbs flashed as they walked through the airport.

"How did they know to be here, Lex?" Clark grumbled, disconcerted by the invasion.

"Someone at the Metropolis Airport tipped them off. Ignore them, Clark."

A limo had picked them up to transport them to the Disney Dolphin Hotel where Lex had reserved a penthouse suite.

In the limo, Lex let his limbs sprawl and leaned his head back against the seat. His thin arms and legs were casually graceful, his face almost gentle in repose.

Clark sat back and enjoyed looking at him. The usual tension of Lex's body had slipped away as it did after really good sex. Clark leaned over and whispered, "You're sexy when you're relaxed like this."

"The Valium has hit me pretty hard," Lex smiled. "It's nice though. Feels good."

Clark smiled back gently, "I don't need to worry about you abusing this stuff do I?"

"No."

"Good. Well, in that case, I'd say you wear Valium very well." Clark whispered.

Lex laughed, raising an eyebrow. "I could stand to wear it more often if it turns you on."

Clark shook his head, frowning discouragement, "No, Lex. Your father sending you off to the Betty Ford Clinic would not be sexy."

"Oh, but break outs are always fun and you'd help me break out, right, babe?"

Clark blinked in surprise. That was interesting. Lex had never called him anything but Clark. And after three years of hoping Lex would pronounce love for him, Clark often found himself grasping at straws when it came to verbal declarations of affection. And this "babe" thing was more like a bone.

It should have made him happy. But the edges of a dark feeling started to descend.

Did Lex mean it the way Clark wanted to take it, or was it just the drugs talking? And were drugs better than Clark's best blowjob? Because no matter how hard he had made Lex come, he'd never called Clark "babe" before. Strange to be jealous of a chemical in his lover's bloodstream.

"Struggling with that one, aren't you?" Lex whispered.

Hmmm. Clark narrowed his eyes at his lover, then turned to look out the window as they pulled up to the hotel. He took in the pink and blue façades rising in a pyramid shape. Raised his eyes to look at the massive blue dolphin sculpture gracing the top of the building.

"Wow, Lex, this is really nice."

"Glad you approve."

"Did you hire all the beautiful women to be here, too?" Clark asked innocently.

"What?" Lex leaned over Clark to look out the window. What appeared to be a hundred tall, thin, lovely women of various ages were everywhere in groups and clusters. Each wore identical t-shirts reading, "NYC Modeling Contest" and pinned to each girl's back was a number.

Clark pushed Lex out of the way so he could see again, "Umm....I'll take number 72 over there...the red head. I have a thing for red heads you know." Clark teased.

Lex humphed.

"Especially bald red heads. They're the best."

Lex glared at him.

The limo driver helped them with their luggage and bellhops immediately began loading their bags onto carts. Lex tipped the limo driver, handed the bell captain some cash and walked directly into the hotel.

The lobby was overwhelming to Clark whose only experience with hotels were more along the lines of a Motel 8, sometimes a Best Western or a roadside Quality Inn if his parents had enough money.

Clark stood next to Lex as he checked in and left instructions with the front desk regarding how to handle or direct phone calls to his room. Mitch was supposed to channel only the most urgent matters through to Lex. And since the press apparently knew Lex was in Orlando, he spoke with the concierge regarding how the hotel staff was to handle his stay.

Also, Lex wanted to go about somewhat incognito so he issued additional directives about maintaining their security and privacy while at the amusement parks themselves. Clark listened in awe; he had never known what an amazing amount of manpower went into Lex having a semi-normal vacation.

Lastly Lex indicated that any requests made by his friend, Mr. Kent, were to be treated as though they came from Lex himself. The concierge smiled at Clark and shook his hand.

"What is going on with all of the numbered women here?" Lex asked the concierge conversationally, watching as she pulled various files containing their passes into any and every attraction that Disney had to offer.

"Ah, modeling convention. They are competing for a contract with NYC." The concierge sighed and flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder, "So many of them are party girls though. We've had several, er, incidents."

Lex smiled indulgently, "Well, to be young is to be free is to be high."

Clark and the concierge looked at him oddly. Clark wondered how long it took for Valium to wear off.

"Your bags have already been taken to your room, Mr. Luthor. If there is anything else we can do for you or Mr. Kent, please let me know immediately." The woman smiled and offered her hand. Lex shook it graciously.

With that Lex led Clark across the vast lobby to the elevators.

"Mom? Hey! We're here."

Lex shut the bathroom door and leaned against it to eavesdrop on Clark's conversation.

"Mom, is Dad on the other extension?"

The answer was obviously in the negative because, "Mom...this place, this hotel...wow. It's amazing. I'll take pictures so you can see. It is just...well you know Lex." Clark gushed.

Lex didn't hold back the grin on the other side of the door. There was no one to see; it was okay to smile.

"Yeah, the flight was okay...I wish they would've given me more peanuts though. I was pretty hungry... No I didn't ask for more... No I didn't tell Lex...Yeah, he would've asked for more.... I know...I'll stop being so shy one day.... It's served me well so far...Tell you about the room?...Okay, um, well the view from the balcony overlooks this fake beach and there are amenities like, um, a refrigerator and a coffee machine...yeah, but it is the quality of it that is impressive, like the bed sheets are 200 thread count like at Lex's house...uh...I mean..."

Lex could almost hear Clark blushing at his slip and started hiccuping back laughter.

By the time Lex had his near giggling fit under control, Clark was rattling off the phone number of the hotel, "And our suite number is 1210...huh?... No we aren't in separate rooms...We're in a suite....I didn't tell you because I thought you would just know...Well, don't tell Dad....No...No, I'm not going to do that Mom.... That's insane, Mom."

Clark lowered his voice some more but Lex could still make it out.

"I am NOT going to ask Lex to get another room just so there is the appearance of there being two rooms...No...There is a couch here that folds out into a bed, tell Dad that's where I'm sleeping... Well, no, I'm not going to be sleeping there...I'll be sleeping in the bed, Mom...with Lex, Mom...God!...Either tell Dad to deal with it or don't tell him at all. You decide... Fine... Well, I love you too... Yeah, I'll have fun. I promise. Bye."

Lex stepped back into the bedroom. "Everything okay, Clark?" Lex asked casually, hands in pockets. Clark was thumbing through the Room Service menu.

"Yeah, just hungry. It's past lunchtime, huh?" Clark looked at his watch.

"I guess."

"You're never hungry." Clark muttered. He threw down the room service menu and motored over to the little fridge. It was full of Snickers Bars. Just like Mitch had ordered.

"Toss one of those over to me, Clark." Lex called.

Clark threw a Snickers and Lex caught it deftly in his hand.

Clark pulled out a little card that was stashed beneath the candy bars while Lex tore open the wrapper and took a big bite.

"Oh my God, Lex! Don't eat that candy bar!" Clark sounded panicked.

Lex quickly spit the bite he'd taken out into his hand. "What!?!"

"Its $8, Lex!"

"Fuck!! Clark! Damnit, I thought it was poisoned! Or had a razor blade in it or something! Fuck!"

Clark looked up from the price card. He tried desperately not to laugh at the site of Lex holding a big, slick handful of half-chewed chocolate, caramel and nuts. His lips trembled with the effort and Lex could see it.

"I'm sorry, Lex, but that is tyranny! That's price gouging!" His voice shook with barely repressed laughter.

Lex closed his eyes and counted to ten like they advised in the child abuse prevention commercials. Must. Not. Abuse. Clark.

He opened his eyes when he felt Clark's hand wrap around his forearm. He watched as Clark bowed his dark head down, extended his tongue and licked the chocolate-y mess out of his palm. Lapping to make sure he got as much as possible.

"That's gross, Clark."

Clark grinned wickedly. "Didn't want to waste any of an $8 candy bar. Besides, it's just your spit, Lex."

Lex shook his head and turned to go to the sink in the bathroom to wash the sticky residue from his hands. "Clark, I am ordering you not to look at another price tag or pricing schedule for the rest of this trip."

Clark followed him, nodding obediently, "Okay. I'm sorry."

Lex turned on the faucet and opened expensive smelling hand soap. "And I would think you would know by now that your apologies have never been a turn on of mine."

"I know, Lex, I'm sor..." Clark blushed, "Heh."

"Now, the bashful looks are one of my turn ons." Lex smirked drying his hands on a plush cotton towel.

Turning, he rested his hands on Clark's hips and pulled them to his own. Clark responding with his usual ardor, wrapped his arms around Lex and ducked his head to nibble at his lover's neck. Lex moaned as he felt pressure building in his cock and he pressed closer. Clark began to breathe more rapidly sliding his hands down to grasp Lex's ass. The older man turned his head in to suckle Clark's neck and lick around his angular jaw.

"Ummm, Lex?" Clark breathed in his ear.

"Yeah?" Lex rocked into Clark's thigh, increasing the friction against his tightening crotch.

"I'm hungry."

Lex stopped mid-rock, steadied himself a little and pulled back frustrated, sighing, "And to think you used to beg me not to stop."

"Sometimes I still beg, Lex." Clark replied softly, uncertain if Lex was angry.

Lex shrugged dismissing Clark's contrition, moved to straighten his clothes and finally looked up to meet Clark's eyes.

"Well, what do you want to do? We can order room service." Lex stated dully. He was tired. Flying always wiped him out and then there was the effect of the so-called "Valium".

Clark looked at his boyfriend closely. He took in how exhausted Lex was. Dark under the eyes, still too pale. Lex needed a nap.

"Okay, Lex, sure. Let's have room service. Then you can nap and I'll go look around the hotel. Or go down to the pool."

Lex ambled into the bedroom and dropped onto the king-sized bed. "Perfect, babe. Thanks."

And there it was again. Babe. It made Clark tingle. Yet his desperation for it turned the tingle into something that made him sick. He stood frozen by the bed as a weird paradox of emotion ran through him.

Lex was already drifting off. Clark picked up the room service menu and was gently closing the door to the bedroom behind him when Lex called out, "Oh and Clark, don't forget to tip the room service guy...give him 20%..."

Clark paused. He knew that about the tipping, "Okay, Lex."

Clark flopped down on the couch in the living room of the suite and perused the room service menu again. He decided on a Club Sandwich, french fries and cheesecake for dessert. He knew Lex wouldn't wake up to eat. He'd just have to make sure his boyfriend had a good dinner. Lex tended to take food for granted.

Clark dialed room service and ordered the food before flipping on the television. He watched the channel that described in glorious detail all of the adventure and activities that Disney World had to offer with eager anticipation. As the television began a segment on their Hotel, Clark decided that after lunch he would go down to one of the pools to soak up some Florida sun.

Clark pulled his T-shirt off and leaned back into the deck chair. The humid air was oppressive on his skin and the hot sun seemed an almost physical force pressing against him. Clark closed his eyes memorizing the sensations.

After several minutes, he opened them again to scrutinize the many women with numbers pinned to their suits sunning and swimming in the pool. The whole hotel was swarming with models or model wannabe's.

He thought of Pete and grinned. Pete was going to be so envious when he found out Clark had spent a week in a hotel full of models. He could just picture Pete working the scene, rubbing his chest and putting on his ladies man face. His smile faded.

"Nice suit," a feminine voice purred next to him.

Clark shyly eyed the young woman in the chair next to him. She had a number pinned to her suit.

"Thanks." he mumbled, taking in her red hair and dainty freckles.

He really did have a thing for red heads. Not really a surprise considering his mom and Lex were both had red hair, he thought. Of course Lex didn't really have any hair, Clark continued to himself.

He looked down at his swim trunks. They were new, as were nearly all the clothes still in the luggage in the suite.

Clark had received $2,000 from his grandparents for graduation, money they had saved to help him with college. However, since Clark had won the journalism scholarship, he was able to put most of the money in the bank for the future.

He had determined that it would be logical to use $500 of it to buy new clothes to wear when school started. He didn't want to attend classes in his old blue jeans and faded flannel. So he had asked Lex to go with him to some trendy stores he knew about from Pete and Chloe.

Clark loved all of the new clothes. They felt good on his body. Not to mention, Lex had nearly purred every time Clark had come out of a dressing room in them.

But his dad didn't like them and had taken it as additional proof of Lex's influence on his son. Jonathan had even made a nasty comment about Clark looking "bought". Martha had nearly throttled him over that. Clark had been hurt. It was a bad memory.

"So, you here alone?" The red head queried.

Clark, startled out of his reverie, looked around confused. Dear God, she was talking to him! "Um...no. I'm here with a friend."

"Ah. You and your friend want to hook up tonight?"

"Hook up?" Could he sound any more lame? Pete would be so pissed if he were here.

"Yeah, you know. Go out someplace, get drinks. Maybe, uh, get to know one another better."

"Get to know you better? I don't know you at all..." Man, Pete would so kick his ass.

The girl laughed. "Honest. I like that." She sat up a little and turned toward Clark, "I'm Melissa."

Clark nodded, "Um...nice to meet you?"

Melissa grinned, "You too."

Clark looked around the pool again, "So, you want to be a model or something?"

"My mom wants it."

"Oh."

"What's your name?" Her head cocked a little to the side.

"Clark."

"Cool name. Retro."

"It was my mom's maiden name."

"Nice." She smiled and sat up fully.

"Thanks."

Melissa reached down on the other side of her lounge and pulled up a bag. After scooting stuff around in it for awhile she pulled out some lip-gloss. Clark watched her apply it.

"It tastes good...wanna sample it?" Melissa asked playfully with a raised brow.

"Huh?" Realized he'd been staring at her mouth, "Oh! No." And he felt the blush.

Melissa shrugged, putting the lipgloss back in her bag.

"Listen, if you want to meet up later, my girlfriends and I are gonna be at Jelly Roll to see the dueling pianos. It'll be fun."

"You don't even know me. Besides, I'm kind of involved." Clark allowed his eyes to stray down to her breasts and then down to her thighs.

"With your `friend'?"

Clark nearly nodded before he remembered what Lex had told him about reporters posing as just about anything to get information on Lex Luthor. He remembered the paparazzi at the airport.

"No." Pause. "Why are you so interested?"

She laughed, "Um, have you looked in a mirror recently? You're really something to look at! And I bet you'd be nice to touch too..."

Clark blushed, "Thanks for the compliment. But, I've got to go."

"But you just sat down."

"Yeah, well," Clark shrugged, "bye."

Clark stood up pulled his T-shirt back on and nodded curtly to Melissa as he walked back into the lobby of the hotel. He looked at his watch. Lex had been napping for over an hour...it would be safe to return to the room.

That's when he realized that he had forgotten to bring the elevator security key in order to access the penthouse suites.

Clark wandered around the huge lobby until he found the concierge desk. Great. The woman who had helped Lex earlier was apparently off duty because a dark, thin man was at her place behind the desk.

Clark approached the desk. "Hello. I'm Clark Kent. Mr. Luthor is expecting me back in the room and I forgot the key for the elevator to reach the top floors." He smiled sincerely.

The concierge looked up and gave him a slow once over, a sly smile spreading over his features, "Expecting you back in the room? I'm sure he is."

The man allowed his eyes to again sweep slowly up from Clark's feet, linger on his crotch and continue up to his face. The smirk was disgusting, "I'm sure he's paying you well for your time, wouldn't want to keep such a man waiting."

Clark`s body was plunged into ice water while his face burned with solar heat. Anger, hurt and absolute rage instantly rattled his whole body.

He turned on his heel and blindly set out across the lobby. After realizing that he was going the wrong direction, he noticed a wooden phone booth built into a wall containing a complementary phone for guest use. He unhooked the handset and dialed the suite.

One ring. Two rings and, "This better be good, Mitch." Lex answered the phone sharply.

"Lex, it's me."

"Clark?"

"Yeah. I'm down in the lobby."

"Did you forget your key?"

"Yeah. Will you come get me?"

"Just go ask the concierge we spoke with earlier to give you another one."

"She's not there. Some guy is there."

Lex sighed, "Well, go ask the guy to give you one."

"I did."

"And he wouldn't give you one? He probably just needs me to give permission. I'll call down there."

"No, Lex. Don't."

"Why?"

"..."

"What's wrong, Clark?"

"I didn't stick around long enough to see if he would give me a key."

"Why?" Lex sounded confused.

"Just come down here and get me, Lex. Please." Clark's voice was trembling now.

"Okay, Clark." Lex's voice was soft and concerned, indulgent. "I'll be right down."

"I'll be by the elevators."

Clark hung up the phone and rubbed his hands over his head. He felt filthy inside.

He crossed the lobby very purposely not looking in the direction of the concierge desk. He stood next to the elevators and finally one opened containing Lex. Clark leapt on. Lex started to get out.

"No, Lex. Let's go up. I wanna go up." Clark clutched his arm sounded pleading.

Lex looked out of the elevator and caught the eye of the man at the concierge desk. The man nodded graciously. Lex pulled back in and rode up with Clark.

As soon as the door to the suite was shut, Clark threw himself down on the sofa. "Okay, Clark, out with it." Lex stood next to the couch looking down at him with his arms crossed over his chest.

"He implied I was a prostitute." Clark managed after a moment.

Lex's eyes flared and cooled into slate, hard and gray. "He did what?" Lex spit out.

"Well, he gave me this look and said `I'm sure he's paying you well, wouldn't want to keep him waiting'." Clark mimicked the smarmy voice the concierge had used and twisted his lips in imitation of the smirk.

"And you didn't fucking punch him?"

Clark shook his head. "No."

Lex was furious. Clark watched his lover's body turning into bundled energy, coiled, ready to strike.

Suddenly Lex sat down next to him on the couch, brushed the damp, dark curls off his forehead, leaned over and kissed it. "I'll be right back, Clark. I'm going to take care of this. Okay?" Lex's tongue flicked behind his sharp, barred teeth as he gritted it out.

Clark nodded. He knew that Lex's vengeance would be sharp and painful.

The door slammed as Lex left to kick concierge butt. Clark thought about feeling sorry for the guy but decided against it. Sometimes you just reap what you sow.

Chapter 4
Jelly Roll

Clark unpacked all of their clothes while he waited. Lex had such nice stuff. Clark fingered and stroked the clothing, looking at the brands, trying to remember them for future reference. Italian names, French names...

Clark eventually decided to shower in preparation for the evening. Whatever vengeance Lex was exacting for the lack of respect the concierge had shown not only to Clark, but indirectly to Lex as well, was taking longer than Clark had expected. It had been nearly two hours since Lex had left the suite.

He turned the shower to warm, tested it with his hand out of habit. It wasn't like it could burn him anyway. Stripping off his new swim trunks and T-shirt he stood naked in front of the huge bathroom mirror. He studied his image in the glass.

Dark, dark hair curled even more tightly in the steam from the shower. His eyes peered into the ones looking out from the mirror. Hazel, green, shifting colored eyes. He never knew what color to tell people when they asked. Lex, drunk one night, had called them the color of purity. Whatever that meant. Lex sometimes got a little sentimental when intoxicated.

Clark let his eyes fall to his lips then follow his throat down to the line of his chest. Dark, small nipples with dark hairs just around the edges. Sometimes Lex pulled and twisted those hairs when he was feeling vicious. Clark would pretend that it hurt. Eyes glided down further to his stomach, ripped muscles that were effortless and permanent. Just below the navel started a trail of black hairs increasing in density and thickness until it reached the dark mat of curled pubic hair.

What had that girl said? Melissa? He looked like he'd be nice to touch. Yeah. He knew Lex certainly liked it.

And suddenly he remembered the smirky, smarmy, slimy face of the concierge and he felt dirty again. His father's reaction to the new clothes from Metropolis came unbidden to his mind. He recollected Pete saying, "It looks bad, man..."

He shook his head and climbed into the shower, turning it a little hotter. Hot enough that Lex would complain if he were in too. Maybe he could wash this off. Maybe he could just act out that cliché of after-school specials about rape and sex and try to scrub the filthy feeling out of his soul with soap and water. He didn't even try. He knew his damn skin wouldn't even turn red from the friction of a good scrub down.

He needed to escape this feeling. He was on vacation. With Lex. He wanted to have fun. What was the place that girl, Melissa, had mentioned? Jelly Roll. She said that it would be fun. Hmmm. Maybe. Had to get some food into Lex and then they would go have fun. Yeah.

"Clark?"

Clark peeked out of the shower. Lex smiled at him. "You look yummy wet, Clark."

Clark smiled back warmly, "So what happened, Lex?"

"Let's just say that he'll be lucky to get a job working in porn." Lex was unbuttoning his shirt. "Let me in there, Clark."

Clark remembered when seeing Lex unbutton his shirt had made him hyperventilate. It was still sexy, the way Lex always was, but it was gentler now. He could stand it, he could watch it and know he'd live through it. Which was good because he'd spent a year thinking he might die from his attraction to Lex and that can be pretty tough on a guy.

Clark finished up his shower and hopped out leaving the water running for his boyfriend.

Lex was in his boxers and socks, "What? This isn't going to be a joint venture?" Lex asked with his seductive smile hopping on one foot as he pulled off a sock.

Clark shook his head, really not interested in sex right now. "No, I wanna get out of here. Let's go out...go someplace fun. This is Disney World, let's start having fun now."

"Having fun was sort of what I had in mind, Clark." Lex lowered his lids suggestively.

Clark ignored him and walked out of the bathroom calling over his shoulder, "Hurry up, Lex. You need to eat dinner."

Lex sighed. This vacation was not going as planned. He and Clark should have fucked at least twice by now. The kid was losing his libido...or maybe Lex was just losing attraction for Clark. He examined himself in the mirror. He was only 24, he looked good.

"Even so, it won't be long now. Probably just a few more months," he muttered aloud to the gray eyes peering back. "Enjoy him while you can." He was horrified to see that his face was sad, that his eyes revealed the distress this thought brought to his heart. Shit. His game face was slipping. Gotta work on that.

He finished stripping and jumped into the steaming shower.

Clark's hairs stood on end when he heard Lex's scream and a large crash. Within an instant he was in the doorway looking at his boyfriend on the floor of the bathroom. Lex looked up at him in pain. "Shit, Clark, how fucking hot do you like your showers?"

Clark knew immediately that the older man had gotten in without testing the temperature, had slipped and fallen when leaping out of the scalding shower. "Oh God! Are you okay?"

Lex's left side was bright red. Clark turned the shower to cold, grabbed his boyfriend off the floor and shoved him into the cold water to cool the burn. Lex squealed and squirmed but Clark held him fast. "I'm sorry. We don't want it to blister."

After several minutes, Clark pulled a shaking, shivering, blue Lex out of the shower. Examined him thoroughly using his vision. Confirmed that there was no damage to the lower layers of skin. There would be no blistering. Clark picked up a soft towel and ever so gently toweled his lover dry.

"I'm so sorry, Lex. I'll be more careful next time." Clark whispered.

Lex just nodded. The distance between them palpable in the air. Something Lex could reach out and finger if he wanted to. Feel the shape of the secret, all of its ridges and textures. But he didn't. He never did. Anymore. It was something that he just let hang there, let Clark feel too. But it was part of them, part of their relationship and he knew that, had known that for awhile now.

Lex finally looked into Clark's eyes. "Let's get some food. I'm hungry now."

Walking along Disney's Boardwalk after dinner, Clark wished he could wrap his arm around Lex. He felt protective of him after the shower incident. But Lex had made it clear that Clark was not to "out" them. He was a little pissed off about that. Not sure why Lex wanted to hide their relationship, but Lex said it was too soon.

Three years together, Clark was finally of legal age and it was still "too soon". It was things like that, that caused Clark to wonder about the future of their relationship. And speaking of the future of their relationship, why the hell didn't they ever discuss that?

"Where to now, Clark?" Lex asked, hands stuffed in his pockets as he strolled next to Clark.

How did he look so sexy just...walking? Clark wondered for the thousandth time. Thankfully the hyperventilation and dying stage of their relationship was past or Clark would have "outed" them right then and there.

"Jelly Roll." Clark stated firmly.

"Jelly Roll?"

"Yeah. Dueling pianos."

"Um. Okay...you're the boss."

Lex was feeling indulgent, his own protective feelings engaged by the encounter with the now defunct concierge.

Lex had felt a great deal of pleasure in ruining the smug young piece of shit's life. He believed he was giving Clark the greatest acknowledgement that he could in that moment. Lex had protected him, exacted vengeance for him. Someone, even if it wasn't Clark, would feel that mark forever. It had felt...right.

Clark seemed to know where they were going. Indeed, he had consulted a map earlier and picked a restaurant near the bar that Melissa had mentioned. He wondered if she would be there...if she would think he wanted to "hook up" since he had come after all. Allowed himself to wonder briefly what hooking up with her would be like. He felt an surprising shiver of lust rush through him.

"Cold, Clark?" Lex asked oddly.

Clark shook his head. He knew that Lex knew he never got cold. They never discussed why. Just like they would never discuss the shower. That was where their relationship had settled. He knew Lex was sensing something off about him, sensing the strange resentment he'd been feeling ever since this afternoon with the concierge. Or had it started by the pool talking to Melissa?

"You know Lex, I don't think I'm gay." Clark commented.

Lex's footsteps didn't even hitch but Clark couldn't miss the infinitesimal pause before, "Okay, Clark."

Wished it were longer.

"I think I like women."

"Good, Clark."

What the hell was wrong with Lex? Shit. Was that it? Was that all Lex was going to say?

"Well, I thought you should know."

"I'm glad you told me." Lex answered his voice rather quiet. But that was all.

They walked in silence. As they approached their destination, women and men spilled out of the bar, piano music played and many voices were raised in song. The modeling convention seemed to have moved to Jelly Roll because malnourished, long feminine limbs were everywhere.

As they pushed their way past the crowd surrounding the entrance into the bar, Lex worked on maintaining his game face.

He wasn't expecting it so soon, maybe once Clark got to college, he had thought. Lex had expected that Clark would meet a girl, want to try to have a normal life. But this! This was just out of the blue.

Lex tried to calm himself, whispering under his breath, "Don't fuck this up." Lex was thankful that Toby had given him the good shit instead of Valium. He would take some tonight when he got back, try to block this out.

Lex noticed Clark looking down at him and met his eyes calmly, calling out over the noise, "I'm going to get a drink, Clark. Want anything?" Clark shook his head. Lex moved across the room to the bar, losing his companion in the process.

Two pianos were set up on two separate raised stages. One pianist played "Hungry Like the Wolf" while models pressed up to the second piano, bribing with tips and kisses and flashes of skin, begging the pianist to play their request next.

Lex accepted his rum and coke from the bartender and started a tab. He was going to need a lot of drinks tonight with Clark being so weird.

Lex leaned against the bar and sought Clark out in the crowd. Seeing his lover's dark head over the throng wasn't hard. Clark was talking to someone, tilting his head down, and shouting over the noise to be heard. Hmmm. Interesting.

The crowd parted and Lex saw a girl, long red hair and pale white hands entwined in Clark's shirt trying to pull him to her, trying to get him to dance with her. Clark was laughing and shaking his head.

Lex narrowed his eyes. Like a physics problem the pieces of the day and evening congealed in his mind. Clark had been out of the room for less than two hours today, yet he had obviously arranged to meet this girl here tonight.

Oh dear fucking God...he slammed his drink feeling the burn hit his stomach. More. Now. He turned to the bartender and ordered vodka straight up.

"Hi." A blonde. Another model wannabe. Fuck, not his type, but fuck, okay.

"Hello. Having fun?" Lex smiled the seductive smile. Yeah, that was the one to use.

"Pretty good time." She yelled over the noise. The other pianist was now playing, "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie.

Lex bent down close to her ear, "I like this song."

"Yeah?"

"Major Tom was a junkie."

"Huh?" The music and noise was too loud, she hadn't heard him.

"Nothing," He shouted in her ear, touching her shoulder, "Want to dance?"

Suddenly Clark was next to him, grabbing his arm, "Lex have you started a tab?"

Lex looked up at Clark and turned back to the blonde, "Maybe later we'll dance."

She smiled and nodded. She pointed at a group of girls several tables over, "That's my table, I'll be over there."

Lex smiled the seductive smile again, making sure Clark saw. Yeah, take that, bastard. Yeah, that felt good, felt better.

Clark looked at him accusingly. "You were flirting with her." A statement. Hurt. Good.

Lex shrugged, "Yeah."

The red head was weaving her way over. Clark looked at her and smiled as she reached him. "Th's your friend, Clark?" She asked drunkenly, leaning into him, clutching at his shirt again like she might paw it off.

"Yeah. Melissa, this is Lex. Lex, this is Melissa."

Lex took her hand and smiled politely.

"Why won't your friend dance with me?" Melissa, all alcohol and cigarettes, shouted over the pianos.

Lex shook his head, pretending to laugh with Melissa, "I have no idea."

Clark's stomach clenched. Lex was pushing this, Lex wasn't giving in and Clark needed him to give in. Just a little. Well, maybe a lot.

"Come on then, I'll dance with you." Clark said, taking hold of Melissa's hips and maneuvering them out towards the floor.

Lex ordered another drink, downed it rapidly. Paid the bartender because he knew he couldn't stomach another thing.

"Groove is in the Heart" was being played now by the first pianist. Really amusing if you considered it...the song was never intended in this way.

But Lex wasn't considering it because all he could consider was Clark and this red haired female and they were dancing. He watched as Melissa pressed against Clark, closer and closer. Her hands were touching him. Touching Clark. Touching his Clark. Godfuckingdamnit. Clark was leaning into her. Pressing into her. Pulling her hips against his. Her hands everywhere. In his hair. In his fucking hair. No. Fuck! Those pale hands gripping his hair, pulling his head down. Pulling Clark's beautiful head down. Kissing him. Kissing Clark. NO!

Lex slammed the glass on the bar and before he had really considered it he was next to Clark pulling him out of the redhead's arms.

"Come on. Now. We're leaving."

Clark looked shocked. His lips smeared with red lipstick. He looked into his lover's eyes and was surprised and sickly thrilled to see that Lex's walls and barriers had failed him. Anger, anguish, despair, pain were right there. Right there on his face.

Lex turned away from him and made for the door. Clark followed, drawn as though by a magnet. He didn't even say goodbye to Melissa.

The walk back to the hotel was utterly silent. Clark followed a step or two behind Lex. His mind whirling with the possible outcomes. He didn't know what Lex was thinking and he was terrified to ask. Maybe he'd taken this whole thing a little too far. Yeah, just a little.

Clark closed the suite door behind him. Lex was standing looking out the door to the balcony. Clark just stood there. Shit. This was not good. And the kiss hadn't been right anyway. Not like Lex's mouth on his. But how did he say that now?

Suddenly Lex was advancing on him, pushing Clark back against the door. His face an open, vulnerable mess. Clark gasped in awe of the wreck there.

"Never. Never again, Clark. I can't. I won't. You can't."

Lex was on him them, biting, clawing, kissing, pulling him down to the floor. Clark kissed back, licked, responded but let Lex be the aggressor. He needed this, needed Lex to claim him this way.

And Lex couldn't breathe for claiming him. The older man's breath ragged, harsh. The full focus of Lex bent on hurting, marking, and somehow owning Clark. And suddenly Lex was sobbing. Fuck. "You're mine. Mine, mine." Whispered, sobbed into Clark's ear. Clark's arms around him.

"Shhhh. I'm yours. Shhhh, Lex." Clark soothed and stroked and kissed. And this, this demanding and granting of ownership was perhaps the closest he would get to an acknowledgement of love. He didn't know if that was enough.

Chapter Five
Magic Kingdom

Clark could see that Lex was in denial and that the way things had ended last night would be relegated to the same heap as the other unmentionables between them.

He had expected to wake up this morning still in Lex's arms but his boyfriend had been up, showered and issuing commands to Mitch, pacing in his boxers. Lex hadn't stopped yet.

Clark spread butter over the pancakes delivered to their suite and thought he might start looking at the real estate in Egypt as well. Well, make that looking at more real estate, he and Lex owned vast tracts there already.

Last night had frightened him deeply. He had been so selfish. He had broken Lex and still not gotten what he wanted. Broken Lex. Frightening in and of itself. Terrifying.

Their lovemaking had gone from ferocious to redemptive and sweet, but all of it painful. It was like a dam had broken inside Lex. Even once the sobs recessed, replaced by moans and yelps of passion, tears had flowed. Clark could still taste the salt of those tears on his tongue when he woke up.

"Terminate the contract with SubCore." Lex calmly directed, flipping through a file and sipping orange juice. Clark began to eat his breakfast. Lex eyed the forkful of syrupy pancakes rise to Clark's mouth.

"Let Rebecca handle that." Lex continued to Mitch. "Okay. Cancel those reports from Sullivan and re-order the inspections." Another gulp of juice, "That it? Okay." Lex flipped the cell closed and silently watched another forkful of pancakes disappear into Clark's mouth.

He looked up into Clark's eyes and smiled a little, testing it out. "Which park do you want to go to first?"

Clark, his mouth full, grinned around the food. "Magic Kingdom!" Clark's teeth flashed in the morning sun. Clark had already dressed in a new pair of jeans and a light weight red designer t-shirt.

"Okay. Sounds good." And the older man smiled almost shyly at Clark before clearing his throat, "Well then, I need to get ready so we arrive at the park before it gets too hot."

Lex returned from the bathroom with a bottle of 40SPF sunscreen and flipped the t.v. from Clark's cartoons to CNN Business New Briefs. Lex kept his eyes on the screen listening to stock reports as he poured a generous portion of sunscreen into his hand. He began to apply the lotion, starting with his arms.

Clark, finishing his pancakes, admired the twisty muscles beneath Lex's smooth, hairless, white skin. He really should help him apply that; he could use his vision to make sure he didn't miss a spot.

Lex smoothed the cream all around his lower legs and feet. "Want my help, Lex?" Clark asked.

The older man nodded, "I'm just going to get the parts that might be exposed. Would you mind getting my head and the back of my neck? Those are the most important parts to make sure are covered." Lex was smearing the lotion all over his face, over his eyelids, forehead, cheeks, chin.

CNN discussed the volatility of bank stock in light of the current interest rate reductions. Clark shook the cool lotion into his palm and tenderly applied it to Lex's smooth scalp. He ran his hands in circles making sure to hit every square millimeter. Caressed the little squiggly veins along the side of his lover's head, the veins that pulsed visibly when Lex was angry, impassioned, turned on.

Clark added more lotion to his hand and smoothed it down Lex's firm neck and down into his shoulders, over the light freckles. Lex studied the television screen making little noises of disagreement when a fat man with a very obvious toupee espoused certain economic views.

A little more lotion and Clark was certain he had covered every inch of Lex's head, neck, shoulders and behind his ears. He pulled his hands away from the smooth skin reluctantly.

"Don't forget my ears." Lex said, still absorbed in the t.v.

Clark put more lotion on his fingers and gently massaged the shells and lobes of Lex's ears. They were really lovely ears. Clark thought they should be girl's ears they were so dainty and pretty. He smirked, Lex wouldn't like that.

Clark finished with the ears just as Lex finished his upper chest. The older man snapped the t.v. off and moved to the closet. Clark watched as Lex donned a long sleeved light colored linen shirt, a pair of linen pants and a pair of open weave shoes. Clark smiled in appreciation of the relaxed, airy presentation.

Lex grabbed a hat from the closet, "Let's hit the park, Clark. I believe Mickey is waiting to meet you."

Clark reached out and drew his boyfriend into a kiss.

Cinderella's castle was bright and glittering in the sunlight. The park was packed with people. Lex and Clark had been escorted through a back entrance to avoid the paparazzi at the front. Lex was sure there were more in the park. He would just have to be certain that he and Clark weren't photographed in any compromising positions.

Clark smiled broadly taking in the fake facades of Main Street. "This is just too cool. Have I thanked you yet, Lex?"

"Oh, about a 1,000 times." Lex smiled, still pleased.

After walking only a short way, Clark spotted an old-fashioned ice cream shop, "Let's get ice cream!"

"Clark, it's 9:15 a.m. and you just had pancakes. You'll get sugar shock."

"You sound like my mom."

Lex chuckled, "Okaaay. But don't say I didn't warn you when you are puking on some ride."

Clark hesitated, "Now you really sound like my mom which is just not sexy."

"I wasn't aiming for sexy, I was aiming for reasonable."

Clark's eyebrows drew down and his eyes reflected something unreadable. He spoke quietly, "Have I ever told you how much I really don't want to fuck my mom, Lex?"

Lex caught the tone this time. "Let's start this conversation over." Lex smiled up at Clark, "Okay, Clark, I've got an idea, let's get some ice cream."

"Reasonable idea, Lex." Clark joked, determined not to let Lex's earlier tone rankle.

After waiting in a surprisingly long line for ice cream considering the time of the morning, Lex and Clark sat down at a table on a breezy porch area with a map of the park.

"So, what strategy do you want to employ in tackling the park, Clark?"

Clark spooned a huge spoonful of rich double-fudge chocolate ice cream into his mouth. "Strategy, Lex?"

"Yes, we can't just hit it scattershot, we might miss something important." Lex smoothed the map out on the table using the napkin dispenser and salt and pepper shakers to help hold it down. "Now, my suggestion is that we take it one section at a time moving in a clockwise motion from left to right." Indicating the map, Lex continued, brow furrowed seriously, "So, we would hit Adventureland, followed by Frontierland, moving on to Fantasyland and ending up in Tomorrowland."

Clark snickered looking at Lex in amusement, "That's a lot of lands."

"Yes. You're right. Maybe we should further dissect this down into days. So today we could do Adventureland and Frontierland and tomorrow we could go counter clockwise taking Tomorrowland and Fantasyland."

Clark's eyes were huge as he tried to keep from laughing.

"I'm serious, Clark, if you don't go about this strategically you won't have a good time."

"Okay, Lex." Clark agreed good naturedly putting another huge spoon of chocolate in his mouth. He thought that it was more likely that Lex wouldn't have a good time if they didn't have a strategy. Even suspecting that for Lex, part of the fun was the strategy.

Lex suckled a tiny spoonful of the light pear ice cream he had ordered, "Okay, then. How do you want to do it?"

Clark shrugged, "I just want to go on some good rides. What do you want to do?"

Lex said, "The only thing we will need to do twice is the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. It's my favorite."

"Okay." Clark shoveled the last of his ice cream, noticed Lex had only dented his much smaller portion. "When was the last time you were here, Lex?" Clark asked looking out over the milling crowd.

"Um, when I was eleven. My nanny brought me. Pam. And my mom." Lex had swiped a pen from the cashier and was now busy circling things on the map. "But Mom was already sick. So we couldn't do too much. She got tired." Lex marked another spot on the map. "I was going to come back in college with some acquaintances in order to experience the place fucked up on drugs, but never got around to it."

Lex nibbled another spoonful of the pear ice cream. "Okay, here's the plan. We'll go with my original idea and see how much of this park we can conquer in a day. Tomorrow we might want to go to Epcot."

Clark nodded with amusement at Lex's war-like references to their day at the Magic Kingdom.

"Yeah, definitely want to conquer the Magic Kingdom and subjugate all the fantasy creatures for our own evil purposes before moving on to Epcot." Clark chuckled.

Lex nodded, "Yeah." Grinned and ate another small spoonful of ice cream. "And don't forget MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom. More subjects to subdue."

Clark couldn't understand Lex's love for the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. He thought it was pretty cool and all but there were no moving parts to ride.

"Clark, don't you admire the industry and intelligence it took to set up this whole thing stranded on an island? Look at this water system." Lex's countenance reflected the closest to childlike excitement Clark had ever seen.

"Um, Lex. It was a movie. It was all fake. No one ever lived in this treehouse."

Lex gave him a dirty look. "Hey, I'm not planning on spoiling your fun, why are you spoiling mine?"

"Sorry." Clark looked at Lex obligingly, "Yeah, it's cool."

Lex made him go through it twice pointing out the same things both times. "This is where..." recapping scenes from the movie.

It was only on the second go around that Clark put two and two together. He paused next to the Swiss Family Robinson's mother's "room" considering the hairbrush sitting out like it had just been used.

"Did your mom like this movie?" He tried to sound casual.

Lex also studied the hairbrush for a few long seconds. "Yes, she loved Swiss Family Robinson." Lex replied his voice barely husky. "We used to watch it together."

Clark nodded and now he really liked the Treehouse too. "Wanna go through a third time?" he asked.

Lex looked over at him, "Yeah."

Lex was hot and somewhat tired. The day had been fun so far. Clark's capacity for openhearted joy, even in the wake of last night's moodiness and drama, was refreshing.

Clark had eaten his way through the park. He had had four of those ice creams shaped like a Mickey Mouse head covered in chocolate, two hot dogs and a hamburger. Lex had a Snickers bar to fend off hunger.

Clark turned to him suddenly with a devious grin as they left Frontierland. "I want Mickey Mouse ears."

Lex shook his head, "No Clark. This is a bad idea." Lex wasn't sure what the idea was, but with that smile Lex knew it was a bad one.

Clark raised an eyebrow at him and purposefully strode into one of the Disney paraphernalia stores that were everywhere. Shit.

Lex entered the store pulling his hat off. Clark already had the Mickey ears in hand and was paying for them with some crumpled bills he had in his pockets. Lex was grateful that Clark didn't put them on.

As they walked out into the sun, Clark suddenly placed the Mickey Mouse hat on Lex's head. "Looks good!" Clark could barely exclaim before Lex knocked it off.

"Lex!" Clark bent and picked it up. "Come on Lex, the ears flatter the bald head, really."

Lex walked off, ignoring him, donning his own hat. "Where to, Clark? Want to do the Haunted Mansion?"

"Okay." Clark tried to let go of his disappointment that the Mickey Ears were apparently not going to be riding on Lex's head. Maybe tonight. In bed. Ooh. Kinky.

But as they approached the Haunted Mansion they saw that the line was extremely long. "Let's come back to it." Lex suggested.

"Does that fit in with the strategy?" Clark asked.

"Sure. Divide and conquer."

"Lex, that doesn't really make sense in this situation."

"Yes, well, no one's perfect."

Clark quickly referred to the park map, "Oh! We aren't too far from It's a Small World. Let's do that one."

Lex groaned. "Okay."

"What? It's no good?" Clark asked disappointed.

"No, we'll do it. You can't go to Disney World without doing It's a Small World, I guess."

"It's part of the strategy. You know, conquer, subjugate and take over the world," Clark laughed.

Lex was ready to scream from the trite song before they even got on the ride. The line was longer than he could believe and full of sniveling, whiny kids. There seemed to be more young children in the Fantasyland section of the park.

As the little boat cruised "around the world", getting hung up way too many times, Lex watched Clark. Sometimes the 18-year-old looked more innocent than Lex had ever been and now was one of those times.

Lex considered the events of the night before. He felt ashamed when he thought about his weakness. He had committed to himself from the beginning that when Clark was ready to pull away, he would let the boy go. Better that way. But last night he hadn't been able to follow through.

Clark felt his boyfriend watching him and turned to look him full in the face. He held the Mickey Ears up, leaned in and whispered, "You know what?"

Lex whispered back, "What?"

"I'm gonna make you wear these ears while you fuck my brains out tonight." Clark smirked looking directly into Lex's eyes.

Lex deftly grabbed the ears and threw them out of the boat into the water. "Oops, Clark, looks like you lost your ears."

"Lex!"

"But it's a small world Clark, maybe you can jump out and find them." Lex cackled meanly.

Clark frowned, hurt, "I would but they said to keep inside of the ride at all times."

"I'm sorry, Clark, but your plan was just too evil and had to be stopped."

Clark frowned the rest of the ride despite all the happy children singing from all over the small world. Lex pretended not to notice.

Chapter Six
Haunted Mansion

"Okay Clark, now that we've conquered the world, let's try the Haunted Mansion again." Lex was in a good mood.

Clark, still pissed about his Mickey Mouse ears being thrown in the oceans of It's a Small World, was silent. He was pouting, and he knew it.

"Come on, Clark." Lex chided, "Don't be mad. I'll get you some more ears on our last day, okay?"

"Why on our last day?"

"So that you can't trick me into wearing them during sex somehow. That's just...wrong."

"That's just sexy, Lex. You...naked...in nothing but Mickey Ears? It turns me on."

"Clark, I'm seriously disturbed by your kink."

"You're one to talk Lex considering the drawer full of kidnapped flannel shirts you have in your bedroom."

"They will be returned to you safe and sound if you follow my instructions to the letter and provide me with the ransom." Lex chuckled.

"Which is?"

Lex smirked, "You can't afford it."

"Try me." Clark's voice was dark with frustration, angry at Lex's condescention.

"Your soul."

"You've got that, Lex." Clark said seriously, suddenly stopping in his tracks.

Lex didn't stop, shook his head and chose to ignore Clark's tone. "You're too young to give that away, Clark. The flannel shirts are mine until you can afford the ransom."

Clark started moving again but didn't bother to try to catch up with Lex entirely. His mood was darkening fast. First the ice cream, then the Mickey Ears and now Lex's sanctimonious attitude about his soul.

Too young to give it away...well, Clark thought, he hadn't been in possession of his fucking soul since he breathed it into Lex 4 years ago. Damn him.

And Lex really should be paying attention, Clark thought. He wanted Lex to stop walking right now. Stop and tell him that he fucking loved him.

But Lex strode easily in front of him, getting further and further ahead.

Tears of frustration welled up. God, maybe he really was just a kid if he was going to get emotional like this. He stopped, stooped over pretending he was tying his shoe.

When his eyes had cleared, Clark stood up and stalked up behind Lex. Lex needed to make it clear. Clark needed to be sure that the possession and passion and commitment was mutual.

They approached the Haunted Mansion in silence. The line had significantly dwindled. There was, however, a tangle of women with long limbs and numbers pinned to their clothes.

"Clark!" Red hair, long arm waving.

Lex heard Melissa's voice like a punch to his solar plexus. God this vacation really was not going as planned.

Clark glanced at Lex, before turning to the girl prancing up to him, "Hey Melissa."

"I hope I didn't do something wrong to make you leave in such a rush last night." She looked up at Clark who tried to fight his admiration of her cheerful freckles and green eyes.

Lex interjected, "No, I just wasn't feeling well."

Lex's cell phone rang. Damn. He glanced at Clark who was still just looking at Melissa.

"Excuse me." Lex walked away about 5 feet and snapped the phone open, "Mitch this better be a goddamn emergency."

The line started moving and Melissa grabbed Clark's hand to pull him along with her. "You don't want to lose your place in line...he'll catch up in a minute."

Clark followed her reluctantly. This was uncomfortable. He felt like running into Melissa was a harbinger of more trouble.

As he looked back over his shoulder at Lex, suddenly he felt a small hand on his chest. "Where are you from?" Melissa's lovely mouth purred the question, her white hand running over his shirt.

"Smallville, Kansas." His knees felt a little trembly at her touch.

"Ah, corn-fed, no wonder you look so tasty." She smiled naughtily.

Clark was surprised again at the shiver of lust that spiked through him. Temptation, right here. He'd never experienced real temptation, sharp like this, before.

He glanced over his shoulder again and saw Lex still on the phone with Mitch, gesticulating sharply. Uh oh. It must be bad. Must be a big problem.

"Where do you go to school?"

"Metropolis University." She didn't need to know he had just graduated high school.

"Do you play sports?" She ran her hands down his arms, feeling the muscles beneath the skin.

Clark shivered, "Nah, not really my thing."

Lex appeared on the other side of the rail. "Clark, there's a problem that is going to take my attention for the next several hours."

"What's going on?"

"Long story. Listen, we need to go back to the hotel, I'm sorry."

"He can stay here with me and my friends." Melissa offered.

Fucking bitch, Lex thought. He looked over at her and smiled politely, "If he wants to, sure." Lex looked up at Clark who wasn't meeting his eye.

"I better go with my friend, Melissa. It was good to see you again."

Melissa grabbed his wrist, "No, Clark, come on. Please, it'll be fun! Your friend won't mind, he's gonna have to work anyway."

Clark watched her mouth as she spoke, flashing little white teeth and pink tongue. He wondered what it would taste like without the alcohol and cigarettes of last night.

"Come on Clark, you're too young to be all cooped up inside a hotel room on a day like this, stay here with me!" Melissa cocked her head a little seductively.

Yeah. That hit home. Too young to give his soul away is what Lex said, right?

Lex saw his boyfriend's decision before Clark said anything. "Clark, she's right. Meet me back in the suite at 6:00, okay?"

And Lex turned on his heel before he changed his mind. Before he punched that bitch in the face. Before he lost his shit again.

Clark watched Lex walk away. Bastard. So, that was it? After last night he could still just walk away? That was nothing like what Clark needed. Goddammit. Lex could just keep his own fucking soul then.

Back at the hotel, Lex finished with Mitch more quickly than anticipated. The methane leak had been discovered, contained and remedied before the media got wind of it. That meant Lex wouldn't have to issue a press statement regarding LuthorCorp's emphasis on safety, yadda, yadda, yadda.

He grabbed what would have been a shaving kit for anyone else but for him was simply the bag in which he carried medication and grooming supplies. He pulled out the bottle of Toby's good shit and shook out two pills.

He stumbled over to the bar and poured a scotch. Throwing the pills down his throat, he chased them with the liquor. The burn felt good. He knew this would be a killer buzz before long.

He grabbed a Snickers bar from the fridge and stepped out onto the balcony, the afternoon sun was on the other side of the building so it was shady, breezy. Lex dropped into the chaise lounge. Stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankles, watched the breeze in the palms and concentrated on draining his glass.

Clark's going away, he was thinking. Lex shook his head and sipped again. Gone. Alone. "Shut the hell up," he whispered to himself.

Lex was angry, not at Clark, never at Clark, at himself. He had let Clark get by with so much. He had let that big, huge distance stay there between them. The secret and the lies that had a shape that Lex already knew. He had given up control to a kid. He had let a child be in charge of how far he would take things. He'd made a huge strategic error.

Time passed and Lex didn't refill his drink. He sat on the porch until 6:00. Then moved inside to sit on the sofa. He turned on CNN and pretended to watch.

The door opened at 6:47. One look at Clark's face made Lex really glad Toby had given him the good shit.

Clark smoothed his hands over his hair, "Hey, Lex." Clark hoped he sounded casual.

"Hey, Clark." Lex's voice was dull, distant.

"Sorry I'm late. Lost track of time."

"That's okay." Lex reminded himself to breathe. Breathe.

"Did you get the emergency resolved?" Clark asked with what he hoped sounded like normal concern.

"Yeah."

"Good, great."

Lex forced his eyes from Clark's face, dragged them back to the t.v. "Why don't you shower, Clark? We'll go get dinner."

"Sure. O-Okay." Clark fumbled. He stumbled toward the bathroom, shut and locked the door behind him. Clark could barely breathe. His chest was constricting painfully.

Lex turned the volume up and up and up on the t.v. then bent over on himself and struggled to stifle the cutting sobs.

The kid couldn't lie worth a damn, never could. One look at him and Lex had known. Clark had fucked her.

The shower was as hot as he could get it. The boy pressed his hands against the wall and pushed his forehead hard into the tiles, wracking sobs shaking him.

His ears, so damn sensitive could hear the television blaring...and beneath that could hear Lex's half-sobs...and beneath that could hear the heartbeat of his lover...and beneath that blood rushing through veins. Rush, rush...Rush rush. Alive, warm blood rushing through Lex's fragile form in a rhythm more familiar than Clark's own. It was home.

What had he done? Oh God. And Lex knew. Clark could hear his love, his lover, his heart in the other room, could hear the heaving breaths, hear him struggling not to cry. Lex knew. God!

Clark crouched down on the shower floor letting the steaming hot water slam into his body.

He hadn't intended for it to go that far when he went back to Melissa's room. No, he couldn't lie. He had fully intended for it to go that far and maybe even further.

Who was he? This person wasn't him.

Clark had been on her bed, half-naked, touching her and letting her touch him.

It wasn't good enough to say that he wasn't thinking straight when he pressed his fingers into that hole so different from Lex's. It wasn't an acceptable answer.

But now he knew, more than he had ever known anything, that he only wanted Lex. Melissa's skin had tasted good, but not like Lex's. Her hands had been talented, but they weren't Lex's hands.

He knew too late. Crying Lex's name as he spilled into her mouth. The aftermath of his orgasm was a fevered, rabid death, an instantaneous realization, even as she was still swallowing his seed. He had committed an atrocity on Lex, on himself and, for that matter, on Melissa.

He had just wanted to see.

See what? See what it was like with a girl? See if he was really Lex's?

Well, there was no doubt now. He was. He was as good as sold.

But he had betrayed Lex. Utterly and completely. And he couldn't even figure out why. Not now. Not now that he would never do it again.

And there was barely any comfort in the fact that he hadn't gone entirely through with it. He'd gone through with enough. Way too much.

He'd ruined everything. It was over. It had been so heartless and...cruel.

Clark tried to stop sobbing.

So he was Lex's. Bought by some sort of addictive need, some sort of terrible love. Owned. Helplessly and eternally fucking owned. And now deserving of nothing in return.

What had he done? He was lost.

Rush, rush...Rush, rush. Home. Home.

Chapter Seven
Dinner or What Should Have Been

They hadn't discussed it. Clark had come out of the shower trembling, ready to confess everything. Lex had simply walked past him to the shower calling over his shoulder for Clark to dress for dinner, ignoring the red eyes and swollen lips. And Clark, terrified, had complied.

Dinner was quiet at first. The events of the day hung in the air between them on a blade. Adding to the weight of the big one they had silently agreed to ignore years ago. But this new weight was making it tremble as though it might fall.

Clark watched Lex release his fork and lean back in his seat. In the candlelight, this man he loved was delicate looking. Clark felt adoration clench in his chest.

He knew that anyone looking at Lex right now might mistake this loosely coiled form as harmless...and they would be so positively wrong. Any moment now Lex could uncoil and destroy anyone, everything. Especially Clark.

But Lex thought that Clark was the destroyer tonight.

They were having a conversation. Neither of them really knew how. Clark had brought up the subject, searching for a way back into Lex. He had asked again about the fear of flying.

Lex managed to artfully dodge conversation about his "weakness".

Clark took a breath and tried another door to see if it was locked as well. "Lex, so, I was just curious, is Hunky Dory like your `flying' disc or do you change the disc every time?"

Lex sipped his water, "Depends on my mood everytime."

"And what was it that told you Hunky Dory was the right disc this time?"

The corners of Lex's lips smoothed up a bit. "I don't really know, love, just a feeling I had." in a voice that said that he probably damn well did have a specific reason but he wasn't going to share it.

And `love'? Love? Clark was stabbed.

He let his fork drop to his plate as he felt the silver giving slightly under his increased pressure. He ran his eyes over Lex who regarded him casually, almost warmly. Looking well fucked when Clark hadn't even touched him.

Anger was starting in his stomach overarching some of his guilt. "Lex, did you take more Valium?"

Lex's features turned even cooler, ice crept into his eyes, "Yes."

And how could Clark blame him? Yet it didn't help what was going on here. Didn't help with the unwelcome emotional meltdown Clark seemed to be having the last several days.

Three years. Three years Clark had waited for Lex to acknowledge that he loved him and now he was just throwing this pet name on the table like it was easy and right and meant oh so little. Like it wasn't even hard. Like Clark didn't just nearly fuck some complete stranger today.

Clark's features were tightening and Lex watched with ice at the corners of his eyes.

"Don't toy with me, Lex." Clark threatened.

Lex lifted his brow, "Toy with you Clark? You usually like that."

Clark wiped his mouth hard with his napkin before fairly spitting; "You know what I mean, Lex. You called me `babe' a couple of times and now you're calling me `love'? You're trying to hurt me."

Now Lex looked confused, "What the hell are you talking about, Kent? I'm trying to hurt you?"

Clark felt some tears start to sting in his eyes, "Why did you choose the Hunky Dory disc, Lex?"

Lex pretended to look even more confused, "This is about the disc I chose to listen to on the plane?"

Clark looked at him angrily, brokenly.

Lex sighed. What the fuck was going on here? Why was he the one being grilled?

"Alright. I really don't know. Maybe because he's kinda gay?" Lex tried. Nothing from Clark, there. Great.

Lex pressed on, "And you're kinda gay and I'm kinda gay...maybe it just seemed appropriate. Or maybe I just wanted to hear `Kooks'."

Long pause while Lex waited for a reaction that never came, "There was no hidden agenda, Clark."

"You said on the plane that Bowie got married to a woman, some model and had a baby." Clark managed in a slightly strangled voice.

He's saying something more here, Lex thought. Damn, Toby for giving him the good shit instead of just Valium.

"I'm not planning on getting married to a woman, Clark. The choice of disc was not code for `Lex wants to marry a woman.'"

"No, I know that. I was just pointing out that on the plane you implied that Bowie is not kinda gay."

Lex shrugged, "Well, like I said, the jury is still out on his sexual preference. Personally, I think he is a gay relapse waiting to happen."

"A gay relapse?"

Lex nodded, sipping his water.

"You make being gay sound like a disease."

Lex paused, sat his water down and looked into Clark's eyes.

"Clark, are you ready for this? Because I'm getting ready to lay the shit on pretty thick." Lex smirked.

Clark nodded.

"Clark, if you are my disease, I don't want to be cured." Lex started cackling even as the remarks left his lips; it was just too bad, too lame.

And apparently it was a mistake. An ill timed joke. Because Clark was standing up. Throwing his napkin on the table. "I'm going back to the room."

"Clark, wait!" Lex knew he wouldn't and was already making moves to pull cash from his wallet. Throwing much more than enough to cover the dinner onto the table he hurried to the elevators but Clark must have already caught one because he was no where to be seen.

Clark speeded up the stairs to the penthouse. He was out on the balcony seconds after entering the stairwell. He figured it was probably a mistake to have so superfluously used his gifts, considering Disney World was riddled with security cameras, but he couldn't really bring himself to care.

Clark's hearing picked up Lex's footsteps down the hall from the elevator, the fumbling with the door. He briefly considered taking a swan dive off the balcony to avoid his lover. And some truly corrupt part of him considered doing it in front of Lex, just to hear, just to see if Lex would scream for him or not.

The balcony door slid open. Lex gingerly stepped out into the balmy air.

"Clark?"

Clark straightened his shoulders but kept his back to his lover.

"Clark. I didn't realize you were so sensitive to pet names. I won't use them any more."

Lex could've kicked himself as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

A strangely hollow voice drifted on the breeze, "Why don't you love me, Lex?" Clark bowed his head and shut his eyes.

A noise like drowning issued from Lex's throat and soft, quick steps later he was at Clark's elbow trying to turn the boy to face him.

"Clark." Lex drawled his name a little the way that usually made Clark feel warm inside. This time he was filled with despair.

Lex tried again, "Clark, what do you think last night was about?"

"Ownership, control. Not love." Clark kept his head down, his eyes shut.

More tugs and Clark finally turned to his lover and opened his eyes.

Lex gazed into the depths of the hazel kaleidoscopes and tried to look his feelings into Clark.

"Can't I just show you, Clark? It's so much easier when I just show you." And he lifted onto his toes to capture the lips so sad and full in the dark before him. Clark pulled away.

Lex watched him go inside into the bedroom and then followed to find a sobbing Clark face down on the bed. Lex sat on the edge and tentatively ran his fingers through the boy's dark curls. The humid Florida air had kinked Clark's hair into ringlets.

Clark lay prone and allowed the soothing. His sobs gradually hiccuping down to a pained expression and tears.

Finally Lex spoke. "Why do you need me to say it, Clark?"

"Because I want you to...because it will make it real."

"Clark if it isn't real enough already...then it never will be. You know that."

Clark absorbed this in silence. Lex's cool fingers continued ghosting over Clark's hair. Smooth, cool, soothing fingers.

Lex cleared his throat, "Have you ever been in my position, Clark?"

Clark looked confused so Lex continued, "Where someone was pressuring you to say or do something?"

Clark remembered Pete at the Talon. He nodded miserably rolling onto his back to get a better look at Lex. The calming, cold fingers brushed the hot tears off of his cheeks.

"What happened?" Lex asked.

Clark closed his eyes. "He wanted me to say something that he should have just fucking known."

Lex's fingers hitched at the obscenity.

The older man nodded, "And how did you feel?"

"Resentful." Clark replied.

Lex nodded, "Yeah."

Clark pondered some more. "Because he shouldn't have made me say it. It just made him angry too."

Lex vaguely wondered what the hell Clark was talking about; decided it must have something to do with Jonathan. He would ask later.

"Right. And why was he angry when you told him what he wanted to hear?"

Clark's watery eyes blurred with confusion. "I...I don't really know."

Lex smiled gently, "Well, how would you feel...what would you think if I told you what you wanted to hear me say right now?"

Clark closed his eyes. He imagined Lex relenting. He visualized Lex leaning over and whispering, "I love you."

To Clark's surprise, the imagined victory was hollow. He examined his thoughts and feelings more closely.

"It would be worthless."

Lex nodded, "Yes. Why?"

"Because I would feel like you didn't really mean it. Like I manipulated it out of you."

Clark opened his eyes and looked at Lex, "Or worse, it wouldn't mean as much to me because you didn't just tell me on your own. Because I had to force it out of you. It wouldn't feel good."

Lex nodded again. Clark thought about Pete. Realized he owed his friend an apology. God it was so complicated. Everything, really. And now, after what he'd done...

Clark looked up into Lex's eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Lex looked meaningfully at Clark, "And I'm sorry, too."

Clark pulled him down to his chest, tucking the bald head under his chin and listening to the heartbeat.

"Lex, I need to tell you something about today." Clark whispered.

"I already know. You are forgiven, this time. But never again." Lex whispered back.

"Why? I don't know that I could forgive you." Clark couldn't comprehend.

"Because I can't lose you right now Clark...not right now." Lex muttered leaving it unstated that he fully expected to lose Clark someday and probably soon.

Chapter Eight
Space Mountain

They did not make love. Lex waited for Clark to initiate but Clark felt too tainted to share his body that night.

Lex soothed Clark, shushing and petting him until Clark noticed the vibrating tension of his lover. And then Clark relieved Lex with gentle kisses and whispered words. They fell asleep sprawled together.

The morning sun woke Clark first. He lay pressed up against Lex's side in the king-sized bed. He resisted the urge to stretch, pressing closer and listening to Lex breathe, listening to all of Lex.

Resting against his lover Clark pondered his betrayal. He searched his mind for the exact moment there had been no thought of turning back. Felt sick as he realized it had been earlier in the game than he cared to admit.

It had been the moment Lex turned and walked away.

And suddenly it was clear to him.

Clark rolled away from his boyfriend. "Lex, wake up."

"Mmmm?" Lex murmured moving back towards Clark's body heat.

"Lex, wake up. I need to tell you about it."

Lex stiffened, awake now. "No, Clark. I don't want to hear about it." He pressed his head down further into the pillow. "Tell Pete about your experience with the girl if you...must share."

Clark grimaced, "No, not that, Lex."

Lex yawned, rolled to face Clark frowning, "Then what?"

"I need to tell you about the other it. The big it. The one we never talk about."

Lex held infinitely still. Even his blood seemed to slow down in anticipation. After a long moment, Lex sat up scrubbed at his face and scalp, looked Clark in the eye, "No."

"No?" What? That was Lex's response? No?

"But Lex, our relationship will never progress if I don't tell you, if we don't talk about it."

Lex groaned, rolled out of bed. He began pacing in his boxers. His stillness from just moments before converted into energy and action.

"Don't you understand, Clark? Our relationship isn't going to progress!"

Clark felt the blow physically. But Lex loved him. Clark was sure of that.

"Why!?!"

Lex was tired of the emotional turmoil of the past several days; he was frantic with it.

"Because you are going to leave me, Clark! You're going to go off to college and meet a nice girl. Nicer than the one from yesterday. You're going to fall in love and get married and have kids! And when those kids turn 16 they are all going to get trucks from the lecherous old man who still pines for you and you are going to make them fucking return them to me! Because that is our destiny Clark! That is how this ends up!"

"Lex, you obviously don't know jack shit about my destiny." Clark muttered, eyeing Lex with frustration. "Besides, I hadn't pegged you for a coward, Lex."

Lex stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly, "I know about all the things we don't discuss. I don't need to hear the truth Clark, because I already know it."

"You don't know, Lex. You just think you do."

Lex waved his hand at him impatiently, "Do you think I'm blind or stupid, Clark?"

"You think I'm a mutant, but I'm not."

Lex's hand was over his boyfriend's mouth trying to prevent the words from coming out. Clark easily pried the hand away.

"Lex, you are just scared. I know why you don't want me to tell you. It keeps you separate, isolated from me, from us. It allows you to feel safe."

"Safe? Safe to know that the person you care about is going to leave?"

"Yes! How safe is it, Lex, to say that I'm going to leave? That our relationship will never progress? It's a whole hell of a lot safer to hold me at arm's length like that than to chance that I might stay. Because what if you let yourself believe that and then I don't."

"No one has." Lex replied.

"Like I said, I didn't peg you for a coward."

Lex exhaled sharply and sat down on the bed, hunched inward.

"Lex, I know the idea of our future scares you, any future where you would have to be open and vulnerable, where it isn't about ownership and control but about love and choice..."

Lex stared at the floor.

Clark tried to move to catch his boyfriend's eye to no avail.

"By the way, Lex, I've made my choice. I made it last night, and it isn't going to change. Now you have to make yours." Clark watched Lex close his eyes as though trying to shut it all out.

Clark continued, "So I'm taking away your excuse to keep me at arms length and from now on this relationship will thrive or fail based on it's own merit."

Lex looked up, "Clark, did someone come and possess your body during the night? Because ...you don't sound like yourself." Another ill-timed attempt at humor.

Clark rolled his eyes. He moved to kneel in his underwear on the floor in front of his love. He grasped his boyfriend's chin and said, "Lex. I'm an alien."

Lex smiled sadly, "I know."

Clark was genuinely surprised.

Lex waited for it to register before continuing, "I've known for a long time, Clark. If you want to know how..."

Clark peered into his eyes, "I can guess."

Lex shrugged, that sad crooked smile still lingering, "So, see, you didn't have to say it. I already knew."

"Yes. I did have to say it. Because I would never have done what I did yesterday if we had been being honest with each other." Clark shook his head, "I'm not excusing myself, I'm just not going to let it happen again. From now on... honesty...on my part at least."

Clark let go of his lover's chin. Lex's eyes fell carefully to the carpet. "And in that vein, Lex, I have to be honest with you some more."

Lex looked up at him again, mute, wondering what else there could be.

"I didn't have sex with Melissa."

Lex felt his face betray him in a flood of relief.

Clark saw it, paused and gathered some courage, "She did suck me off." Clark blushed and continued, "I called out for you."

Lex shifted uncomfortably not sure how he felt about that.

Clark pressed on. "All I can say is that I'm sorry. It will never happen again. Ever. I've made my choice." Clark lifted his chin in what he hoped looked like confidence.

Lex swallowed, "Okay."

"Just `Okay'?"

"What else can I say, Clark? I've already said never again."

Clark shifted back, sat on the floor. "So, Lex, that leaves you. What is your choice?"

Lex smiled, tired, "I guess I have to give you the flannel shirts back. Looks like we've sold our souls."

Clark leaned in to hold him close, "You've had mine since I breathed it into you four years ago, Lex."

"Clark, don't consider yourself lucky." Lex warned.

Clark laughed, "Don't worry. I don't."

"So, Clark, I guess, I choose you. I choose this."

Clark pulled Lex down against him, kneeling, pressed together in their underwear.

"Oh, and Lex?" Clark nuzzled the side of his lover's head, licking the curve of his ear.

"Mmmhmmm?" Lex pressed into his tongue.

"I like the pet names."

"Good." Lex turned his head and nipped Clark's jaw line.

Chapter Nine
Alien Encounter

Clark lifted them both up onto the bed and this time no one was the aggressor. Neither was claimed or claiming. It was about love and choice.

Clark, propped on one elbow, trailed a hand over Lex's chest having moved a leg over his love's lower body to press in closer. Lex gazed at him lifting a hand to finger the curls next to the young man's temple.

Clark returned the emotional look for a long time. Finally he his allowed eyes to trace the sharp, fragile curves of Lex's nose, brow, cheeks and chin, lingering on his lover's scarred lips, slightly parted.

He brought his gaze back to meet Lex's before dropping his head to press a tender open mouthed kiss to his partner's lips. Lex felt the warmth of it seep down his throat filling his chest, constricting his breath. He surrendered to it and, oh, those were tears welling behind his lids.

After several sweet seconds, Clark released his lover's lips and pulled back again. Seeing the tears in the open, intense gaze he whispered, "Okay?" Lex barely nodded, returned the whisper, "Perfect."

Lex brushed his hand delicately across Clark's face, traced over the dark brows, brushing over the lashes of Clark's shuttered lids, sneaking into the curls to grasp and press the lips back to his. Gentle lips, gentle tongue, licking lovingly and, somehow, with devotion. And this was right and more than perfect.

While deepening the kiss, Lex felt Clark place a warm palm on his solar plexus. The warmth seemed to radiate into him, heating, spreading up and down, filling each hollow with passionate gentleness. Fear shot through him at this utter collapse of barriers. Clark felt the tension and whispered against his mouth, "Shh, Lex. Shh, it's okay."

Clark shifted to press his forehead to Lex's, looked deeply into the older man's eyes, swallowing the breaths from his lips, seeking to re-establish the connection the fear had momentarily weakened.

The heat between them had softened Lex's normally crystal eyes.

Clark whispered, "Lex, are you with me?"

The eyes softened entirely into swirling water, Lex nodded, "I'm with you," voice rough. And he was...open, there, with Clark, entirely.

Gentle smile on Clark's face as he dropped small wet, tiny sucking kisses on Lex's temple, cheeks, the corner of his mouth. Tiny licks to the scar on his lip. Clark moved on to the fragile looking throat.

Lex applied his own ardent, wet kisses to Clark's shoulder and neck, barest use of teeth, gentle. Clark began to move down Lex's chest, kissing towards his stomach.

Lex rasped, "No, Clark."

Clark stopped, lifted his head to look into Lex's face.

"No, I want you up here, with me, for the whole thing."

Clark nodded. He wanted this connection too, this bond, to breathe one another`s breath. Clark slid back up, on top of Lex now, covering him.

"And, Clark?"

"Yes?" Clark breathed.

"Let's get the lubrication now so we don't have to stop later."

Clark laughed a little, "Good to think ahead."

"Yes."

Clark rolled off Lex allowing his hand to trail over his lover's body as he moved off the bed. "In your shaving kit?" he asked.

"Uh huh." Lex replied, rolling onto his side to watch Clark walk to the bathroom, disappear briefly; return to view, cock so hard it was barely bouncing. Clark placed the tube on the bedside table.

Lex rolled onto his back again. Clark sat on the bed next to him, stroked his face, kissed him gently.

"I love you, Lex."

Lex grabbed Clark's hand and pressed it to his lips imparting a long, tender suckling kiss to the hollow of the palm.

Clark watched Lex's face, saw the eyes close, brows drawn down in concentration as Lex channeled all of his love through his mouth, into Clark's palm. Clark thought he could feel it travel up his arm filling him. Lex's mouth released the palm, his eyes meeting Clark's again.

"Always, Clark," voice hoarse with emotion.

Clark covered Lex with his body again, the older man's cock strong and pressing into his stomach.

Lex parted his legs allowing the boy's lower body to fall between. He relaxed into the feel of the length of them pressed together. His breathing shallow from the weight of this invulnerable body covering him, protecting him.

Clark's head ducked to the hollow where neck and shoulder meet and took a deep breath smelling him intently.

"Lex, you smell so good."

He licked the curve, softly kiss, licked, nibbled. Lex moaned rocking his lower body up into Clark.

"Clark, I want you."

Clark kissed Lex's earlobe, "I want you too."

"No, I mean..." Lex gasped as Clark shifted so that his cock was trapped by a hip bone creating a warm hollow of sweet friction, "No, I mean, I want you...in me."

Clark was lightly surprised. Lex was usually on top. Clark nodded, "Okay."

Clark rolled off of his lover and sat up to reach the tube on the bedside table. He squeezed some of the cold gel into his hand and leaving the tube in the bed for easy reach. They would need more. It had been several months since Lex had taken him in.

Clark slicked up his palm and lay down on his side next to Lex. Lex bent his legs up for easier access.

Nuzzling his head into Clark's chest, Lex watched Clark's hand move down and grasp his cock. His hips bucked randomly, the intimacy having made him too sensitive.

Dropping tender kisses onto Lex's cheeks and scalp, Clark stroked the hot shaft several times then dropped down to gently smear lube onto Lex's balls. They clenched tight to the base of his shaft at the attention.

Lex moaned; babbled something about Clark's name and Jesus and things that didn't seem to be words. Clark pulled the sack gently to forestall orgasm.

"Stop for a second, Clark." Lex managed to mutter.

Clark pulled his hand away, shifted to look into Lex's face. Lex was fighting for self-control.

"It's okay, Lex, let go." Clark whispered.

Lex shook his head, "No, I want to be with you the whole time."

Clark studied Lex's face, his eyes and understood. Lex wasn't struggling to resurrect barriers; he was struggling to make sure they stayed down.

When Lex could gaze into Clark's eyes, intense, present, he whispered, "I'm ready."

Clark reached for the tube added more lubrication. Concentrating on not breaking eye contact with Lex, he directed his hand under Lex's legs between the taut cheeks.

Clark stroked the cleft before permitting his fingers to circle the tight, puckered skin around the entrance to his lover's body. Brief exploration, carefully stroking before pressing his middle finger against the hole gaining entry. Lex was very tight.

Clark watched Lex's eyes roll back in his head. He held his finger very still and felt the muscles clenching, adjusting. Lex was back staring into his eyes. Clark began to move the finger gently, the muscles contracted, clasping at the finger.

Clark leaned in to kiss Lex's lips. Lex relaxed, sucking and licking in return.

While deepening the kiss, Clark pressed another finger into the tight hole. Lex tensed, he was too tight. Clark didn't move the fingers as he waited for his lover's body to accept him.

Lex held as still as possible, feeling his body grabbing at the fingers. He moaned into Clark's moist, warm mouth. Clark whispered, "You're so beautiful, Lex."

Gasping for breath, Lex muttered, "No, babe, you're the one that's beautiful."

Clark began to gently move his fingers, scissoring, trying to stretch Lex's strained hole. Lex hitched his knees up higher to allow Clark's hand easier entrance.

Lex tangled fingers into the dark hair, pulling Clark closer in the kiss. Lex tasted the sweet saliva of his lover and arched against the hand working to open him.

As the burn began to fade, Lex felt Clark rocking into his hip. He broke the kiss to reach for the tube of lubrication. Fumbling with the tube, he squeezed a little into his palm. Clark shifted his hips to allow Lex access.

Eye contact again and Lex grasped Clark's turgid cock in a slicked up hand. Clark shook at the touch. His fingers stilled in Lex. He tried to brace himself, understood how Lex had felt earlier as a wave of pure pleasure threatened to sweep him away.

"Lex, wait. Wait." He grunted, eyes closed, hips bucking uncontrolled into Lex's palm.

Lex released him, "Stay with me, Clark," he whispered.

Clark nodded, gasping for air. When he could breathe again he opened his eyes. And his lover's eyes were right there, so warm.

Clark pressed a third finger into his partner. Lex mewled, face twisting a little in pain. His breath was panting as Clark's hand worked in his ass.

"I'm sorry you're so tight, babe." Clark whispered trying out the pet name.

"No, it's good. It's okay. I can stay with you better."

Clark crooked his fingers finding the prostate easily, Lex jerked and almost came.

"Don't Clark...too close." Panting, Lex looked into his eyes, "I'm ready. Please."

Clark nodded. "I don't think I should take my fingers out until just before, you're so tight I'm afraid you'll close up."

Lex nodded, understood. He reached for the lubrication and squeezed a generous amount into his palm. Clark's hips convulsed as Lex smoothed the lubricant onto his lover's rigid cock.

Quickly he positioned himself between Lex's thighs. Lex grasped his own knees and pulled them higher.

Clark withdrew his fingers from Lex's ass, wiping them quickly on the sheets as he placed his cock against Lex's closing hole. He looked up to his lover's face and pressed in a little. Lex maintained eye contact but his face twisted and his back arched. Clark held very still staring into Lex's eyes. Lex took shallow breaths, waited for the burn to fade.

Clark felt his lover relax enough to push in some more. The stretch evident on Lex's face but his lover never turned his eyes away. The heat from them burning into Clark's own, expanding to eclipse all other understanding other than the love Lex was trying to send to him.

He pressed again. Clark could feel Lex's internal pulse points pounding against his encased cock. He groaned, it felt too good. It was so right, so intimate, and strong.

"Now, Clark, all the way." Lex moaned.

Clark pushed in and felt his balls touching Lex's ass. Lex cried out, eyes rolling back.

"Lex, okay?" Clark whispered urgently.

Lex clutched his lover's hips in a wordless command to stay. Now Clark was panting in an effort not to move. Lex pulsed and arched beneath him. Eyes closed.

"Don't move, Clark, just hold me like this." Lex whispered.

Clark bent down covering his lover, the angle pressing him even more tightly into Lex.

Lex opened his eyes, "Clark, this feels good. Don't move."

Clark groaned. Lex's ass was clutching at his cock making it jerk. Clark tried to relax on his lover. Breathing shallow, the only movement Lex's body rhythmically tightening in time with his ass muscles.

"Clark, tell me you know," Lex whispered, tears in his eyes, a groan and a grind up into Clark's passive form, "how I feel..."

Clark's lips quirked into a smile and his own eyes filled, "I know Lex."

Lex wrapped his hands into Clark's curls and kissed him with tender passion.

Clark moaned, whispered, "I'm moving now, Lex" into his mouth. Lex grunted an acknowledgment and kept sucking on the red lips when Clark pulled out a little and thrust gently back in.

Lex released Clark's head, "Harder, let's finish this, but stay with me."

Clark nodded, starting to feel the coil of inevitable orgasm. He hefted his weight up on one arm so that he could still see Lex's face as he stroked. He reached a hand between them to clasp Lex's cock and set a gentle but strong rhythm. Lex bit his lips, arched his head back but kept his eyes focused on Clark.

The momentum increased, Lex's hands scrambling over his lover, clutching, caressing but always their eyes locked together.

Finally, after what seemed like forever and yet all too soon, Lex's face began to crumble, "Clark! Oh, God, Clark, I..." and words were gone as Lex came hard.

More than the spasming muscles around Clark's cock, the open look of love on Lex's face brought Clark over the edge. Clark sobbed out his lover's name as he came, collapsing on Lex's chest.

Lex stroked Clark's back as the young man cried hot tears onto his chest.

"Shh. Always, Clark, always," he whispered.

Chapter Ten
Peter Pan's Flight

The paparazzi were at the airport. Lex scowled. It wasn't entirely unexpected but he had hoped to keep the information regarding when he would be getting on the plane from being leaked. He didn't really need the extra aggravation of flashbulbs popping in his face.

"Mitch, kill the memo we discussed. Put a new proposal together and we'll review it when I get back." Lex was wrapping up his last minute call to Mitch before boarding, "Oh, and by the way, excellent work warding off the paparazzi," the sarcasm probably burning a hole in Mitch's ear on the other end of the connection. Lex snapped the cell phone closed.

"That wasn't nice, Lex. He's going to be all twisted up about that. Probably thinks you're gonna fire him." Clark said around a bite of his huge Toblerone candy bar.

"Good. Maybe next time he'll do a better job." Waved his hand angrily at the ragged looking men with cameras. "Really, this is pathetic. I pay him well to prevent this. Next time we'll take the private LuthorCorp jet."

Clark nodded. It was easy to forgive Lex his attitude when you knew he was terrified.

And if it weren't for the paparazzi, Clark would have hugged Lex. But they had discussed the inevitable problems should his relationship with Lex make the front page of the papers. They had decided it was preferable not to come out publicly as a couple at least until he was settled in college.

The airline employee announced that it was time for first class passengers to board Flight 119 to Metropolis, Kansas. Clark helped gather the few carry on bags and followed Lex to hand over their tickets.

On the plane, Clark automatically took the window seat and Lex took the aisle. Clark watched as his boyfriend repeated what Clark now understood to be a ritual.

Lex rummaged in his carry on bag pulling out the pill bottle and some water. He shook out two pills of Toby's good shit and downed them quickly. He screwed the lid back on the water and put it and the bottle of pills back in his bag.

Clark made a mental note to flush the rest of the pills when they got back home.

Lex then pulled out his CD player. He looked over at Clark and smiled a little weakly. Clark smiled back. Lex donned the earphones, crossed his arms over his chest and became utterly still.

Clark monitored him for several minutes and then turned his head to look out the window while people loaded to the coach section of the aircraft. He kept his ears tuned to Lex, however, supervising his every breath. Heart rate steady, only a lot faster than usual.

Different CD this time. One of Clark's favorites's actually. Peter Gabriel's "Passion". It had been playing the first time he and Lex had taken their love making beyond the heavy petting arena. Clark smiled feeling sentimental wondering if that is why Lex had chosen it.

After several minutes he turned to look at Lex again only to find his lover's eyes open and staring at him. Clark smiled at him gently and mouthed, "OK?"

Lex pulled the headphones off, "Did you know Peter Gabriel was the original lead singer for Genesis?"

Clark, surprised that Lex was moving and speaking at this juncture, shook his head, "No. But I'm disturbed that you know anything about Genesis. Phil Collins just sucks."

Lex clenched his trembling hands together, "Agreed. I watched some `Behind the Music' thing in the hotel while you were napping yesterday. You had one of my arms underneath you so I couldn't get free to find the remote."

"You could have moved me." Clark laughed.

"You were too pretty to be disturbed." And Lex looked almost bashful for an instant.

"So you tortured yourself with a Genesis `Behind the Music' for my sake? Better than Hallmark." Clark grinned.

Lex raised a hand to his scalp and smoothed it over smiling shakily in return. The area around his mouth was pale.

Clark wondered why Lex was talking instead of doing his closed-eyed-breathing thing. Clark's hand briefly stroked Lex's arm in a soothing way, discreet due to the line of people streaming past their seats.

Lex took a deep breath and continued, "Anyway, Peter Gabriel's "Passion" is the music from The Last Temptation of Christ, did you know that?"

Okay, Clark was pretty sure Lex was starting to speak in code here. Breaking up his plane ritual to ask about Pete Gabriel and The Last Temptation of Christ obviously meant something else entirely.

He shifted so that he could look at Lex; this needed his full attention.

Clark, again shook his head, "No I didn't know. Did you just learn this yesterday?"

"Of course not. " Lex sounded irritated at that.

Irritable, scared Lex, kinda sweet really. Clark took a breath and tried again, "I didn't know. That's interesting. Why bring it up?"

"Have you seen The Last Temptation of Christ?" Now Lex was intent, his eyes starting to crystallize.

Clark took a deep breath, "Again, that would be a no, Lex. I was a little young when it came out and all I remember is the controversy over it."

Lex nodded and started to put his headphones back on looking a little disappointed. Suddenly he stopped and let the headphones drop back into his lap.

"At the end it was about Jesus on the cross. I found you once on a cross, remember?"

"It's not something I'm likely to forget, Lex."

Lex was intense, "Satan came to Jesus on the cross and tempted him. Offered him a normal life, something entirely different from his destiny of crucifixion and the salvation of mankind."

Clark continued to watch Lex closely.

Lex continued, "Jesus experienced it as though it were real. He felt every emotion. He had a wife, children. Sex. And in the end he chose the cross."

Clark's eyebrows drew together and he looked down at Lex's trembling hands where the earphones pounded out hypnotic beats and rhythms. He looked up and Lex was still staring at him.

"Don't you see what I'm saying Clark?"

"You are saying that you really did have some ulterior motive in listening to `Hunky Dory' on the trip down."

Lex snapped at that, "Fuck you, Clark. That is not what I'm saying."

Clark heard his lover's heart rate skyrocketing and felt terrible for being snarky with Lex when he was already vulnerable.

Lex was putting the headphones back on looking decidedly pissed.

Clark put his hand on the older man's arm to stop him. "I'm sorry. Listen..." Clark shifted, leaned over and whispered tenderly in Lex's ear, "You aren't a very heavy cross, Lex."

"But I might become very heavy. I'm not a good man." Lex closed his eyes sadly.

Clark grasped Lex's head and pulled it close to his mouth, witnesses be damned, "And don't flatter yourself, you aren't my only cross."

Lex pulled back and looked into Clark's eyes, "But you can choose, now, to put this cross down."

Clark sighed, "But, I'm not choosing to do that, Lex. You have to trust me."

The captain came over the intercom announcing their destination and the general flying conditions. The attendants went through their motions showing how to put the oxygen mask on in case of an emergency.

Lex sat staring at his headphones through all of this. When the plane began taxiing toward the runway Lex looked at Clark again, "Hey, Clark."

"Yeah."

"If the plane was going down and you had to choose between saving me and say, saving that baby over there, who would you choose?"

"Damn, that's morbid Lex."

"Yes, but I want to know."

Clark sighed and rubbed his hands over his hair. "God Lex. That's just terrifying. Why would I have to choose? Maybe I could save everyone."

"No, that's not the game. The game is you have to choose...so it's me or the baby. Who would it be? Who would you choose?"

"This game sucks."

"Tell me."

"You. `Cause the baby would go to heaven, and you'd definitely be going to hell."

"I didn't realize you believed in heaven and hell, Clark."

"Lex, let's not talk about the plane crashing, okay?"

"Why? Am I making you nervous?"

"Yes."

"Really?" Lex looked surprised.

"Yes." Clark fidgeted in his seat astonished that Lex had indeed frightened him.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well. Good."

Lex turned off the CD player and leaned over to put it in his carry on bag. He sat back in his seat and looked over at Clark as the plane started to pick up speed. He reached out and took Clark's hand. Clark smiled at him before turning to look out the window.

"Hey, Clark?"

"What?"

"Look at me."

Clark turned, "What?"

"I love you."

"..."

"Clark?"

"Holy shit, Lex. I...I love you too."

"Good."

And the plane was rising into the air.

Epilogue

(One Week Later)

Clark waited alone at a corner table. He wasn't sure Pete would show up. The phone conversation had been rather stilted, but Pete had agreed to come.

Clark sipped his coffee a little nervously. He tried to distract himself by thinking about stopping by Lex's on the way home to help get his help in making decisions for classes this fall at Met.U.

Things were going along well between them so far. Lex was trying to determine how best to run Plant No. 3 from Metropolis so that he wouldn't be far from Clark. Clark was still trying to cope with his father's dismay that Clark might live in Lex's Metropolis penthouse instead of in the dorms.

"Clark, man."

Clark looked up to see Pete standing there. "Pete! I'm glad you came. Thanks."

Pete shrugged and sat down across from Clark, "Of course I came."

"So how have you been?" Clark asked stupidly. God this was awkward. He had never been in a fight with Pete for this long or over something this big.

"So-so."

"Look, Pete, I want to apologize to you," Clark began.

"Nah, Clark, man, I should apologize to you. I shouldn't have just walked away like that. I was wrong to do that."

"Pete...I was wrong too. I should have told you a long time ago about me and Lex. It is just that it is all so complicated. A lot more complicated than I even really knew how to explain."

Pete nodded, looked into Clark's eyes, "I wasn't thinking, Clark. I didn't think about how hard it would be to just `come out' in Smallville, even to your best friends."

Clark nodded, "But Pete, I'm not..."

Pete held up a hand, "Wait Clark, let me finish, okay?"

Clark nodded. Pete took a deep breath, "Chloe talked with me about it. She helped me to see that while, yeah, you should have told me a long time ago and, yeah, you should have told me in a better way..." Pete looked up to see how Clark was taking that. Clark nodded in agreement. "I still owed you more than I gave. I should have heard you out."

Clark took a breath to respond when Pete again held up his hand, "Wait. I want you to know that I'm not going to stop being your friend. I just don't plan to get naked around you ever again. Ever. Again."

Clark had to laugh at that and Pete did too. When their chuckles had died down Pete said, "Okay, your go now, Clark."

Clark looked down into his coffee taking a deep breath, "I'd really like a friend I can talk to about what's been going on, Pete. But I understand if you can't do that."

Pete tapped his own chest with both hands, "It's me...Pete. I rock, remember? We can talk. Just don't give me details. I can live without the visuals."

Clark smiled, "No visuals. I promise."

Pete mock wiped his forehead, "Phew!"

"Do you mind if I start now?"

"Start telling me stuff now? Um...sure. Yeah." Pete looked a little nervous.

"First off, I'm not gay, Pete."

"Um, Clark, you let Lex do stuff to you...you do stuff back. That's gay, man."

"Okay. We'll go with that definition. But the thing is...I'm only gay with Lex. Otherwise I like women."

"That's..." Pete was dumbfounded.

"I know. Bear with me, Pete. I wish things were more clear cut."

"So, you're like bi?"

"Maybe. I don't think so. No. I mean, really, it is just Lex. Only Lex."

Pete quirked his eyebrows. "Wow. Well, that brings up a lot of questions from my perspective, Clark."

"Believe me, Pete, it brought up a lot of questions for me too. " Clark sipped his coffee. "I'm supposed to go over to Lex's this evening, but I've got no plans this afternoon..."

Pete nodded, "I'm open."

"Well, then fire away. Any and all questions answered." Clark smiled at his friend determined to be as honest as possible.

Clark had left Pete thirty minutes earlier. He was relieved that his friend had been so open-minded. They had discussed some things that had obviously freaked Pete out, but he had remained cool.

Clark strolled into Lex's office. It was empty. Hmm. He checked his watch. 6:35, he was actually 5 minutes late.

Looking around he saw that Lex had left a note on the pool table.

Mitch fucked up at the plant.

Be back in 30 minutes after killing him.

Want to help bury the body?

Wait for me. I love you.

Lex

Clark laughed a little. Whatever Mitch had done, it must not have been too bad if Lex was joking about it. He read the last part again, "Wait for me. I love you."

"I'll wait, Lex. I love you too." Clark whispered to the empty mansion. Then he carefully folded the note and put it in his pocket.