Notes: Fizzabith is a beautiful human being.
That's all. She just is. This story will also one day fit into my College Clex
series “Adaptation.” It's a stand-alone here for the challenge though.
***
Clark
was in the middle of a nightmare. A non-stop nightmare where the drinks were
magically refilling themselves and Clark wasn’t able to leave the loud
chatter of who was sleeping with who now and who could down another tequila
shot. It was the only reasonable, logical explanation and he was going to wake
up any second. He squeezed his eyes shut hoping that would trigger the waking
up portion of the evening. Any. Second. Now.
“Kent,
you falling asleep on us?” Josh yelled from the opposite end of the table.
“Nah,
he’s just needing another drink!”
“No!
No no to the more drinks!”
Clark
said hurriedly, his eyelids flying open, but it wasn’t heard over Josh and
Rick’s yells for the waitress.
“More
beerrrrrrrr!” Josh called out again, rolling the last syllable and
Clark
wondered if he was asking anyone in particular or anyone who happened to be in
listening range. In that case, it would be all of Metropolis.
The beer appeared, much to
Clark
’s chagrin. A mug was shoved in front of him by at least two of the guys and
he stared down at them while trying to figure out how he could extract himself
from the whole group without looking like a complete hayseed. If he said he
had to call his mom it wouldn’t fly well, nor would the fact that he had two
midterms coming up and he hadn’t opened the plastic wrapping on any of the
nice shiny textbooks for those either. It might have been salvageable if
he’d attended the class over the past couple of weeks at all but that was a
moot point too.
Clark
was here and stuck with a bunch of loud football players in various states of
intoxication with no out in sight. How had Chloe ever persuaded him to make
friends with these guys so they’d be able to have someone in with the
Metropolis
University
football team to find out if some of the players were taking bribes from
school officials?
The
problem was that he liked some of them. Sort of. He felt a little badly that
he was only befriending them for his and Chloe’s story. They were fun. Well,
sometimes. They liked to have fun. Maybe too much? Shut
up, shut up, shut up!
Clark
told the obnoxious echoing voice. Oh, great. Was this even normal, having
mental conversations with yourself? It’d become a regular thing he did as of
late, and considering he didn’t have many people to actually talk to lately,
it wasn’t all that pathetic. Or wait. Didn’t that make it even more sad?
He’d
gotten so used to being able to talk to Lex at home. They had the best
conversations, about anything and everything. Last semester Lex had taken
Clark
out to bars and taught him how to play pool, and
Clark
had taught him how to play darts, even as they talked about whatever Greek
analogy or metaphor Lex always somehow managed to work in their topic of the
night. They lived off of ordered pizza and Chinese and watched bad movies and
good movies mixed for a ‘variety of walks of life’ as Lex liked to call
it. But since their second semester had started, Lex had been going out on
dates or he headed to the library to study night after night and when he came
home at all he usually just crashed. Maybe he’d gotten a little too
dependent on Lex and Lex had gotten annoyed. One of these days,
Clark
would figure out why Lex had developed an allergy to their dorm.
Either
fucking way, he decided, he wasn’t ready to completely demolish what little
social standing he might have with them and completely ruin his and Chloe’s
story possibilities, so he had to think of something that would enable him to
get out of here and go home at…Clark checked his watch through his sleeve
again so they wouldn’t see his clock-watching. At
10:47
on a Friday night.
This
was ridiculous. He could say he just wanted to go home and it wasn’t like he
was going to be tarred and feathered. Drinking just didn’t hold the same
kind of appeal for him as it seemed to for half the campus and his mom’s
constant utterances of “
Clark
, drinking never causes anything but problems” kept ringing in his head like
some obnoxious mantra. His mom would be so proud if she knew. But she never
would because
Clark
would crawl on hot coals embedded with little chunks of kryptonite first. He
would tell Chloe that he knew they weren’t going to say anything
incriminating tonight, it was one of those ‘get insanely stupid and drunk
and hit on women all night long’ nights.
Clark
had tried to get all of them talking on several of those nights and failed
miserably. He’d made up his mind to do this, making those “Just say no!”
teachers in elementary schools get a little thrill in their cozy little beds
back in Smallville without really understanding why, so he rose from the table
abruptly, the chair squeaking and groaning loudly on the floor and he
shuddered. “Um. I feel kinda sick.”
“You
only had four beers and some shots,
Kent
! Sit your ass down!” That was Jason. Little prick.
Clark
hadn’t liked him from the beginning. Also, ‘some’ shots was well—a lot
of shots. Enough shots to fell another guy who was actually human, and it was
a talent that had impressed the guys enough to give him an opening.
Clark
allowed his head to roll slightly and slumped his back a fraction. “No,
guys. I’m really crashing now. I’m gonna head home. See you all later.”
He called, even as he did a little sway on the floor. He could see the door
now and it was a beautiful thing. Lex wouldn’t be home, some girl had left a
message on the machine saying how much she was looking forward to seeing Lex
tonight. Empty apartment all to himself.
Clark
was wondering why he wasn’t thrilled about that when he was hijacked on the
way to the door by Jason.
“Man,
if you’re that far gone, I’ll help you to the car.” Jason said right in
Clark
’s ear.
“Fuck,
I’m not going to drive. I’ll walk to campus.”
“You’re
such a goodie,
Kent
.”
Clark
tried to pull away from Jason’s grip on his arm, but Jason wasn’t having
any of it, and he steered him around another corner of the bar, a dark, dank
area the size of a couple of the booths and completely hidden away from the
rest of the building unless someone took the exact turn Jason had. Jason
shoved him hard to the floor, and
Clark
looked up at him, taken aback. Jason fell to his knees beside him and put a
hand on
Clark
’s chest.
“Like
Coach Myles said, we work hard and nobody gives us any credit for shit.
You’ve got to take what you’re entitled to,
Kent
. I think I’m entitled to those pretty lips wrapped around my cock right
now.” Jason said harshly, his short laugh echoing in the dim, dirty corner.
Clark
rolled out of the way in surprise. He’d thought Jason was probably going to
kick him, smash his fist into him a couple of times and break a hand for his
trouble, but at least he’d be talking while he was doing it so Clark could
get a few more details on Coach Myles.
Jason
was fast though, and
Clark
’s brain was still having a little trouble keeping up with this wholly
unanticipated series of events so Jason was able to get a hold of
Clark
and he proceeded to flick open the button to
Clark
’s jeans.
Clark
froze, shocked. But he didn’t care if Jason was going to be talking during
this since it Was Not Going To Happen.
Clark
opened his eyes, about to inform Jason of that little fact when Jason was
lifted from him bodily and smashed into the wall with a sickening yet
strangely appealing thud.
Clark
stared at the back of his would-be savior. What the hell was Lex doing here?
“Lex?”
Clark
asked from the floor, but Lex’s attention was completely focused on Jason,
crumpled against the wall. Oh, fuck. The kid had opened his pants when
Clark
hadn’t been looking and he’d been so distracted by what Jason had been
saying he hadn’t even heard him.
Clark
shuddered, easing his shoulder up from the ground.
“Did
you put something in his drink?” Lex asked icily.
This
was so out of control now.
Clark
started to rise, to tell Lex but, well. Jason had this coming, and
Clark
was kind of curious to see how Lex was going to react. His roommate had a
definite temper.
Clark
leaned back into the ground, watching through hooded lids.
“What
the hell did you do to my friend?” Lex demanded shortly, still looming over
Jason.
Clark
thought he looked intimidating, his long black duster—wait, why was Lex
wearing a duster? Lex never wore dusters. He should wear them more often. He
looked hot.
Friends
did not think their friends looked hot,
Clark
felt his face flush as he realized it.
Well,
maybe they did when their friends were Lex Luthor. But it was more the tone of
his voice that was more fascinating than anything. “You listen to me,
through whatever junk you’re on right now. If you ever come near this kid,
ever, and I mean if you see him in a fucking hallway you will turn around and
go the other direction, or you will be seeing my face again. Believe me when I
say you don’t want to see me again. Is that understood?” Lex was speaking
so softly now
Clark
could see Jason was straining to hear through his panting on the floor.
Clark
thought it was over and was feeling pretty good about the whole situation when
Lex shifted suddenly and kicked Jason—
Kicked him in a place that just wasn’t ever meant to be kicked.
Clark
had to swallow back the laughter. Oh, God. Lex was priceless. Jason screamed
and rocked himself on the ground, sobbing drunkenly.
Lex
was kneeling on the ground next to
Clark
now. “Hey, hey. You’re okay. Let’s just get you out of here. You drank a
lot, didn’t think you had it in you.” Lex murmured softly, pulling
underneath Clark’s arms to help him up, and Clark was now propped up against
Lex’s chest, his head falling on Lex’s shoulder. Damn. Leather. Lex was
wearing a black leather duster.
Why
exactly wasn’t he telling Lex that he was fine? He opened his mouth but Lex
chose that moment to bend over further and tug at the zipper of
Clark
’s pants, closing them back up again.
“Mmmftt.”
Clark
mumbled in Lex’s ear instead. He’d imagined that Lex’s finger had
stroked slowly along the side of the zipper. Right. Right?
He
had to have imagined it, just like he was imagining the fact that the mere
thought of Lex touching him was making him hard.
Clark
groaned softly to make sure Lex’s attention was on his face and not in other
places.
“
Clark
, my car’s outside. The valet is bringing it out to the back now.”
Clark
hadn’t heard any directions issued to anyone about bringing Lex’s car out
to the back. Maybe Lex had nodded at someone. Lex had a powerful nod that made
people automatically do things for him
Clark
had seen over the past few months.
“Lex?
Can we just leave already? This place is so banal.”
Clark
recoiled at the irritated, feminine voice just behind them now. Cringed and
smirked to himself that she’d mispronounced ‘banal’. It struck him too
now. Why was Lex here? The place was definitely not on Lex’s normal
list of places to patron.
Clark
waited for Lex’s inevitable reassurance to the girl that he was just
bringing
Clark
back to the dorm and he’d return shortly.
He
wondered why he felt so disappointed.
Instead
of the anticipated dismissal, Lex said: “Phoebe, I apologize. I won’t be
able to come over this evening after all. The valet has already called a taxi
for you, it will be arriving very shortly, so don’t worry.”
“What?”
The word was practically hissed by Phoebe.
Clark
was completely bewildered at this point. What the hell was Lex doing? He could
just have dropped Pheobe off in his car too while he drove Clark home, or he
could drop Clark off back at their dorm room
and continued his outing with her and none of this was making any sense
at all now and Clark really wanted that beer back now.
“Who
the hell do you think you are, calling me a cab?” She screeched and
Clark
felt Lex’s stiffening at her high pitch.
Clark
didn’t know what possessed him, but he burrowed closer into Lex’s body and
three things happened all at once.
One,
Lex immediately stilled, his body softening against
Clark
’s a second after.
Two, Clark raised his eyes to see exactly what Lex was giving up tonight and
Jesus, was Lex insane? Phoebe might not have a particular talent for
pronunciations of English words, but her mouth looked like it’d be able to
compensate in far better ways.
And
three, Phoebe stared back down at them on the floor and promptly flung the
contents of her glass at Lex’s face, clomping off in her pencil thin heels
that
Clark
suspected might just break from the pressure.
Clark
was expecting Lex to be upset over losing his partner for the evening. Lex
simply looked down at him and asked “How are you feeling?” even as he
eased
Clark
up and supported him with an arm around his waist. Lex was far stronger than
Clark
had suspected.
“I’m
okay.” He replied, inhaling deeply. Lex knew he’d drunk a lot though, so
Clark
wasn’t sure exactly how drunk he was supposed to actually be.
He
was somber and vacant on the way home so
Clark
wouldn’t have to deal with any questions about alcohol tolerance from Lex.
Lex continued to bodily pull Clark with him up the stairs to their dorm, and
Clark helped even as he staggered in what he hoped was a decent approximation
of the level of intoxication he ought to have.
They
finally reached their room, not bothering to turn on the lights on the way in
and
Clark
slowly slid away from Lex to collapse onto his bed. He thought Lex would leave
but apparently Lex wasn’t finished taking care of him tonight. Lex proceeded
to ease
Clark
’s long sleeved shirt off and
Clark
heard it hit the floor softly.
Clark
’s skin tingled oddly at the places Lex’s hands touched after it was
bared. Lex tugged at
Clark
’s jeans, and
Clark
forced his breathing to even out as he half-heartedly arched his hips a
fraction to help Lex. Lex pulled down
Clark
’s blanket and tucked it around
Clark
’s waist, rising to stand up again.
Clark
focused on the spot on the wall where the ‘Justification for Higher
Education’ poster Lex had given him in its ever tasteful frame was hung. No
tacks or putty for Lex Luthor, never.
Lex
ran his other hand over his scalp agitatedly, smoothing over the back of his
neck. The moonlight bounced off his bare scalp and the black leather.
Clark
’s gaze followed him lazily but he pretended to start drifting off as Lex
sat down next to him again on the bed. Jesus. His breathing echoed with
painful loudness in the room.
Lex
spoke so softly that
Clark
had to focus beyond his loud breathing to hear. “You’re here, you’re my
roommate, you’re one of the few people I’ve ever been able to call a
friend, Clark.”
Clark
waited for the “God, but you’re a boring farmer’s son and next year
I’m finding another roommate to replace your sorry ass” addendum, steeling
himself as best he could. Lex was always avoiding him now, and he’d thought
they’d been getting along so well.
Clark
had heard horror stories about college roommates but Lex was great. Lex just
didn’t reciprocate what
Clark
felt. He probably went around to his friends complaining what a dork the kid
from Smallville was and how he didn’t know why in hell they’d been roomed
together.
“And
you also walk around in really tight jeans, and too small towels, and I can
hear you when you shift in your sleep from my bedroom.” Lex finished
whispering tonelessly.
Clark
almost came in his boxers at the tone of Lex’s voice.
Oh.
Oh.
Clark
couldn’t take anymore surprises tonight. Alien or not, there had to be a
limit before his system collapsed completely. What was Lex saying? Maybe
lightning would hit and strike him down mercifully now. Or a hole would open
up in the ground. Why couldn’t he live in Sunnydale on television where that
actually could possibly happen?
“I’m
sorry,
Clark
. I won’t say anything, because I know it isn’t going to accomplish
anything and it’ll only make things awkward between us.”
It
was easier to reach up blindly and kiss Lex than to try and explain anything.
Lex
pulled away with a jolt, and
Clark
imagined that his blue eyes were completely confused and worried. He wished
the lights were on so he could know. “No, Clark. You’re drunk and for once
in my life I’m going to do the right thing by someone else. I’m even
enough of a jerk to say these things when I know you won’t even be able to
remember them in the morning. God.” Lex said bitterly. “Goodnight.” Lex
finished as he stalked out of the room, Clark staring after him dumbfounded.
So.
Wait. Did all this mean he was gay? He was from another planet, he had
superpowers, he was Chloe Sullivan’s go-to guy for tell-all exposes of any
sort and yeah. He…was gay.
And
the person who happened to be the man who’d helped him figure that one out
happened to be his friend, roommate, and heir to the Luthor fortune all rolled
into one attractive, brilliant package.
His
mom had never spoken truer words when she’d said drinking caused nothing but
problems. It didn’t blunt anything for him; instead
Clark
got more truths in one night than most people got in a lifetime.
Clark
sighed and rolled onto his side, abruptly remembering what Lex had said about
being able to hear him.
He was so self-conscious over that little fact he was awake and unmoving all
night and the next morning set about faking a vicious hang-over for two
reasons. The first, of course being that he ought to have one, and the second
was that he was hopeful Lex might feel inclined to pity him and hang out a
little bit.
Clark
Kent, winner of the most pathetic being in the universe contest, right here.
Lex empathized with a force
Clark
hadn’t been expecting and had mixed up a truly nauseating cocktail of nasty
smelling things. He’d refused to tell
Clark
exactly what was in there, saying it was better if
Clark
didn’t actually know.
Clark
trusted Lex implicitly on this one, and downed the drink, his eyes watering as
he did so.
Clark
rubbed at the bridge of his nose and shuffled over to the bathroom, feeling
Lex’s eyes on him the whole way. He suspected he would need entire tubes of
toothpaste to get the taste out of his mouth.
Clark
rinsed four times with mouthwash and finally noticed a slight lessening of the
aftertaste. He turned on the shower to its highest setting and sat in it as it
pounded against his skin, even more grateful than before that they’d somehow
ended up in one of the few rooms with a shower that wasn’t communal. He
leaned his head between his knees, trying to decide how to make all of this
okay again. He didn’t know what to do with the newfound knowledge that Lex
thought of him that way.
He didn’t know what to do with the fact that it was more than reciprocated.
It could all so easily be passed off as
Clark
had been drunk and that was what Lex was counting on, obviously. Otherwise he
might never have said anything to
Clark
at all.
Clark
knew they could just move along with the status quo firmly in place and
they’d simply regress to Lex avoiding the dorm, and
Clark
along with it like the plague.
Lex
knocked on the door and
Clark
called for him to come in automatically.
“I
wasn’t sure if you had a towel in here since we just did laundry.” Lex
said and
Clark
peeked out to see Lex put a towel on the counter. “Take a nice long one.
It’ll make you feel better.”
“Actually,
Lex? I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the towels are kind of small.”
Clark
called, leaning his head out between the shower curtain. Lex stood frozen in
the doorway but he turned to meet
Clark
’s eyes.
Clark
didn’t feel like regressing this morning.
“And
I’d hate to do anything to mislead you on exactly what I feel. I want to be
very direct.” With that
Clark
stood, opening the shower curtain slowly, the water dripping down his body as
the water continued to fall.
--The
End--