Fic: A Peridot Revelation
Title: A Peridot Revelation
Author: Hils
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Words: 3,558
Summary: Seeing Lex and Lana together brings a surprising revelation to Clark. Spoilers for Fade.
Written for 10_hurt_comfort. The prompt was ‘jealous’.
Thanks to danceswithgary for the beta and to acampbell for helping me through some plot points
O! beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
~William Shakespeare, Othello
Clark can feel his gut bitterly twisting and churning inside him as he looks through the medical centre window at Lex and Lana. The two people who have meant most to him through his teenage years and they’re together now, leaving Clark excluded and alone. It hurts more than he could ever imagine.
The first time he saw them together it had been such a shock that he hadn’t been able to do anything other than stumble out of the mansion and get as far away as possible. Now, seeing them again, Lex pale and helpless while Lana strokes his arm and holds his hand, Clark can barely contain his rage.
For years he’s desired Lana, worshipped her, and when he couldn’t be honest with her about his secret, she’d broken up with him. He couldn’t tell her he’d lied to her to keep her safe, but it didn’t matter. She’d moved on quickly, as she always did, and now she was with Lex.
It would be easy to blame Lex. To add an accusation of stealing Lana to everything else Clark had accused Lex of up to now. However, standing here, isolated from the two of them, Clark is surprised to find that most of his rage directed at Lana. It wasn't just for leaving him, but for stealing Lex too.
The rational part of Clark’s brain knows that his friendship with Lex was over, long before Lana came into the equation, but right now all he can feel is the inexplicable urge to march in there, toss Lana out and take her place at Lex’s side. It's a startling revelation to Clark and he knows he would never act on it, but the longer he stands here looking at them together, the more danger there is of him doing something he’ll regret.
Lex is his friend and no one else had the right to him. Now here Lana is, constantly touching him as if she owns him. What could she possibly have to offer him other than looking pretty hanging off his arm? That would never be enough for Lex. He needs someone with a bit of substance. This thing, with Lana, Clark will never understand.
Suddenly she’s in front of him and chattering away like everything is ok, and Clark can barely stand to look at her. Instead, he focuses his attention on Lex.
“Clark?”
He has no idea what Lana has been saying to him but she has obviously asked him a question and is waiting for an answer.
“How is he?” Clark asks, deciding that a change in subject is the best route to go.
“Luckily, his trachea didn't collapse, and the doctor sedated him for the pain.”
Clark nods, his anger momentarily diverted from Lana to whomever it was that had done this to Lex. His friend could have been taken from him, without Clark ever telling him how he really feels. It is a frightening notion and he tries not to think about it. Lex is still alive and they still have a chance.
“Do they know who did this?”
Clark hopes not, because whoever it is would be in serious danger from him otherwise.
“I gave them a full description.”
“You were there?”
Of course, she was there. Lana is incapable of being alone for more than five minutes at a time.
“I was returning some books and I walked in on the attack.”
Oh, how easily the lies fall from her lips. Ironic considering her need for the rest of the world to be honest with her at all time. Clark feels the anger twisting inside him and has to force himself to look away from her again.
“What did he look like?”
His body goes rigid as Lana describes Lex’s attacker. He knows who did it now and he grows cold with the realisation that he is at least partially responsible for this. If he hadn’t told Graham about Lex and Lana…
He makes his excuses and speeds away to Graham’s apartment.
* * *
Graham actually smiles when Clark walks in. It’s been a long time since he’s felt the urge to hurt someone but he’s dangerously close now and he has to lock his hands at his sides to stop himself from lashing out.
“You tried to kill Lex.”
Graham shrugs. “It’s what you wanted isn’t it? To get him out of the way, so you can be with your girl? I was doing you a favor, since plasma TVs clearly aren’t your thing.”
Clark shakes his head. “You’re sick. I would never want anyone to be hurt because of me, especially not Lex.”
Graham raises an eyebrow. “Ah. That explains why you weren’t interested in Gia. You should have said something, man. I know plenty of hot guys I could have fixed you up with.”
“You don’t get it! It doesn’t matter what I feel for Lex, or Lana. You can’t go around killing people just because you feel like it. I’m taking you to the police.”
The lamp is swinging towards him before he knows it, and shatters against the arm he throws up instinctively to protect himself. Graham looks impressed rather than surprised.
“Looks like I’m not the only one with a secret.”
Then he just melts away and disappears. Invisible. Well, it explains how Graham managed to attack Lex in his own home without being seen. A quick scan of the room shows Clark that Graham is already gone.
Now the problem is how to find an invisible man.
* * *
Chloe’s revelations both startled and scare Clark. Graham kills people for money, and Clark had befriended him in a desperate attempt to find a replacement for Lex. Clark almost laughs at the notion. There is no one on this earth capable of replacing Lex Luthor.
Clark paces just out of sight of Lex’s room in the Medical Center, seriously hoping that now Graham’s secret has been revealed that he’ll leave Metropolis and never come back. There’s still a chance he’ll come back and try to finish the job on Lex though, which is why Clark is here.
He knows Lana is still in there with Lex. He doesn’t need his x-ray vision to tell him that and right now, he’s torn between going in there so he can be with Lex, and staying outside so they can have their privacy. His feet are moving towards the door before he’s even fully aware of it.
Lana’s head shoots up as Clark steps inside and closes the door quietly behind him. She looks tired and for a moment, Clark almost wants to give her credit for staying with Lex all this time. Then he remembers that she doesn’t actually have anywhere else to go.
“How is he?”
Lana’s clearly making a conscious effort not to touch Lex in front of Clark and for that at least, he is thankful.
“He still hasn’t woken up but he should any time now.”
“Do you mind if I sit with him for a while?”
He doesn’t actually care if she minds or not but he is still the son of Martha and Jonathan Kent and he can hear his dad’s voice in his head telling him never to forget his manners.
Lana looks at him for a moment with uncertainty, as though she’s trying to deduce whether Clark has some sort of ulterior motive for being here. If only she knew. She smiles, and it’s that fake smile Clark knows she puts on when she wants to pretend that she’s being the kind, sweet girl people expect her to be. She clearly doesn’t want to leave Lex but can’t bring herself to say so.
“Sure,” she says, rising to her feet. “I could use some coffee. Will you come and find me if he wakes up while I’m gone.”
“Of course.”
He has no intention of doing any such thing until he and Lex have had a long talk, but it gets Lana out of the room. He slides into the seat she’d been occupying and takes Lex’s hand in his. It’s soft and warm and touching him feels so right. Clark isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to bring himself to let go.
Lex mumbles incoherently and turns his face slightly so that it’s facing Clark, eyes flickering beneath the lids.
“Lex?”
A couple of blinks later Lex’s eyes are fully open, clouded with the remainder of the sedative he’s been given.
“Clark?” Lex’s voice is raspy and ragged and it makes Clark even angrier with Graham for hurting Lex like this.
Lex blinks again and Clark sees the return of the cold Luthor stare he’s become used to over the last few months.
“Come to accuse me of attacking someone’s rope with my throat?”
Clark figures he had that one coming and lets it slide, getting to his feet and pouring Lex a glass of water.
“The doctor says you’re not supposed to talk but that’s probably not going to stop you, right?”
Lex accepts the glass with a nod and his voice is stronger once he’s had a drink. “Very astute, Clark. I guess you were paying attention back when we were friends. Now, do you want to tell me why you’re here? I’m guessing either you want something or you’re going to hurl wild accusations at me.”
Lex isn’t wrong about Clark wanting something.
“I know about you and Lana.”
He hadn’t quite intended to blurt it out like that but it’s out there now and Clark is surprised at how good it feels to be open with Lex about it. Reading Lex, as usual, is all but impossible. He’s an expert at keeping his face neutral.
“I can’t see that it’s any of your business, Clark. You had your chance with Lana and it didn’t work out.”
Clark frowns. “Lex, I know you. You don’t love her. Please, this is making me crazy. I didn’t know what I wanted until I realised I’d lost it. You have to help me.”
Lex snorts. “Clark, I am not going to break up with Lana for you. She makes me happy. Do you hate me that much that you’d deny me this?”
Clark captures Lex’s hand in his, causing Lex to hiss in pain as he squeezes a little too hard. “I don’t hate you, Lex, that’s why I’m here. Lana can’t make you happy. You’re just next in line. Lana needs someone to worship her and right now, you’re it. She’ll move on eventually, when someone she thinks is better comes along. Believe me, I know.”
Lex pulls his hand away and massages the bruised skin.
“So you think I should just give her up and let her be with you? There was a time when I would have considered it, when I’d have done anything to make you happy even if it meant making myself miserable. Not now, though. Our friendship is too far gone for that.”
Suddenly, Clark realises that Lex is totally misunderstanding what he wants. Lex honestly thinks Clark is here for Lana.
“Lex, what if I asked you to give up Lana for something else? Something I know you’ve wanted for as long as we’ve known each other.”
This, at least, seems to spark Lex’s interest. “And what might that be?”
“Me.”
Before Lex can question anything further Clark leans over and presses a kiss to Lex’s dry lips. Lex freezes for a moment but can't suppress the soft moan as his eyes flutter closed and he deepens the kiss. There’s too much distance between them, Clark decides, and he all but climbs onto the bed, sliding his hand underneath Lex’s hospital gown and stroking the smooth skin he finds underneath it.
“Mine!” Clark growls as his tongue flicks out to swipe at the raw skin on Lex’s throat. “No one touches you now but me, Lex. No one. Do you understand?”
“I’ve always been yours,” Lex whispers, hands raking through Clark’s thick hair. “You just never let me get close enough. All I ever wanted was for you to trust me. I’d have given you everything.”
“I’ll tell you everything, Lex, I promise. As soon as you’re better and we’re somewhere more private.”
He pulls back and presses a soft kiss to Lex’s lips. Lex isn’t looking at him now and that worries Clark.
“Lex?”
“Are you sure you want to know the truth about me, Clark? I’ve done a lot of things that don’t rate too highly in the Kent moral code.”
Clark kisses him again. “Trust me, Lex. Whatever you’ve done we’ll work though it. Besides, it’ll probably seem like nothing compared with what I have to tell you.”
Lex nods again and leans up to kiss him. It’s a hungry kiss and it causes Clark to whimper.
“I need you, Lex. I need to taste you.”
A groan is all Lex can manage, but Clark takes it as permission to continue and starts to work at the drawstring of Lex’s pajama pants.
“Oh my god!”
Clark freezes on top of Lex and his head turns slowly towards the door. Lana stands there, eyes wide with a hand cupped over her mouth.
“Lana…”
Her face twists with disgust and then she is gone, her the heels of her shoes clicking rapidly on the floor as she runs, until they fade away into nothing. Clark swears softly under his breath. He’d wanted to hurt Lana so badly when she was with Lex, but now that he’s been presented with the reality of it, he feels faintly sick with guilt.
“She’d have found out eventually,” Lex says quietly.
“I know,” Clark replies. “I wish it had been another way, though. I know how much it hurts to see someone you care about with someone else.”
The mood broken, Clark slips off the bed and regains his seat beside the bed. He doesn’t even notice the door to the room has opened again until Lex is springing from the bed with a speed that takes Clark by surprise. He has a gun in his hand and Clark doesn’t even want to know where Lex was hiding it. He stands protectively in front of Clark, which strikes him as slightly amusing and incredibly touching at the same time.
Lex has his head cocked to one side and is straining to listen for anything that will give away Graham’s position.
“Lex,” Clark says quietly, but Lex raises a hand to silence him and then fires. The first few shots damage the minimal décor in the room, but finally there is a grunt of pain and blood spatters on the floor. Lex grabs Clark’s arm and tugs.
“Come on, we need to get out of here!”
They’re halfway across the room when Lex cries out in pain and falls to the floor. Clark has him back on his feet in an instant, but before Lex can reach for the fallen gun, Graham materialises and picks it up.
“Run!” Lex yells, trying to push Clark out into the hallway. This has gone on long enough. Clark places himself between Graham and Lex. He can feel Lex behind him, trying hard to pull him away and failing miserably.
“Clark! What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s OK, Lex. Just trust me and stay behind me.”
“He’ll kill you!”
Graham stares at the two of them, his face creased in pain as his hand presses against the bullet wound in his chest. Clark’s eyes meet Graham’s. They both know the bullet won’t hurt him, and there’s no way Graham can get to Lex with Clark in the way. So when Graham fires anyway it comes as a surprise to Clark. The bullet bounces harmlessly off his chest and Clark hears Lex gasp behind him. A second later Graham collapses. The threat is gone.
Clark turns to face Lex who stands rooted to the spot, pale and trembling.
“He shot you.”
Carefully and gently, Clark pulls Lex into his arms and strokes his back. “It’s OK, Lex. I’m fine.”
“No, Clark. He shot you! I always knew there was something different about you but this…” He takes a shaky breath. “You should be dead.”
Clark pulls him a little nearer. “I told you I had a lot to explain. Come on, you’re in shock. I’ll help you back into bed and then I’ll call the police.”
Lex is struggling in his arms then, and Clark is forced to let him go to stop him from hurting himself. “Don’t patronise me, Clark. This has nothing to do with me being in shock. You promised to be honest with me so please, just give me this one thing now. What are you?”
Clark sighs. “I’m not human, Lex. I came to earth in the meteor shower. The first one, I mean. My mom and dad found me in a field when I was a baby and decided to keep me. Is that enough for you?”
Lex nods slowly. “Thank you, Clark. I had my suspicions I admit but it was almost too incredible to believe. I understand what I huge secret this is and I promise you I will do everything in my power to keep it safe. Thank you for trusting me with it.”
Then he sags and Clark hurries over to catch him before he falls. “I wasn’t patronising you just now, Lex. I would never do that. I just thought it would be easier if I told you when you were feeling better. Come on, you need to rest.”
Lex smiles weakly as Clark helps him back into bed. “This is Smallville, Clark. I’ve seen an amazing number of strange things since I moved here. You’d be surprised at what I can cope with.”
Clark pulls the blankets up over Lex and then kisses him. “It doesn’t surprise me at all, Lex. You’re the strongest person I know.”
Lex chuckles, “High praise indeed, coming from someone who just got shot and doesn’t have a mark on him.”
Clark lowers his eyes and smiles, his cheeks tinged red. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I wanted to, lots of times.”
“It doesn’t matter Clark. We both made our fair share of mistakes in the past. We have plenty of time to make them right in the future.”
There is a bruise blossoming on Lex’s cheek where Graham hit him and Clark reaches over to stroke the tender skin. “I know it’s wrong to feel this way but I can’t help but feel glad that he’d dead after what he tried to do to you, and what he did do to lots of other people.”
Lex smiles and presses a kiss to the tender skin of Clark’s wrist. “It’s OK to feel that way, Clark. It’s natural when people you care about have been threatened. Besides, you’re not the one who shot him.”
Lex’s voice has taken that soft, neutral tone that he uses when he’s trying to hide how he’s really feeling. Clark tries to lighten the burden he thinks Lex is carrying. “Lex, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. You were protecting yourself, and me.”
“Oh, I don’t blame myself, Clark. I have absolutely no regrets about my actions. I’d do it again if I was given the opportunity, even knowing what I do about you. He knew your secret, Clark and it would have only been a matter of time before he found a way to exploit that. I told you I’d do anything to protect my friends. It’s part of who I am. Can you handle that?”
Clark stares at Lex for a moment, his eyes flitting over to Graham’s body for a moment and he tries to comprehend what Lex was telling him. He would willingly kill to keep Clark’s secret safe. That was a pretty huge responsibility to bear, for both of them.
“Lex…I don’t know what to say to that. I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re never put in that situation but, please, promise me that if you ever feel that you’re in that position that you’ll talk to me first. I don’t want you to lose yourself trying to keep me safe, and I know you’re not a murderer. Please promise me, because I can’t lose you to this. It’ll destroy me.
Lex is quiet for a moment and Clark worries that this has already torn them apart. Then Lex takes Clark’s hand in his. “You’re a better man than I could ever be, Clark. I give you my word that any decisions about your secret we’ll make together.”
Clark smiles. “You are a good man, Lex. I’ve seen it in you. You just lose your way a little sometimes.”
Lex returns the smile and squeezes Clark’s hand. “Well, I have you to guide me now.”
“Always.”
Author: Hils
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Words: 3,558
Summary: Seeing Lex and Lana together brings a surprising revelation to Clark. Spoilers for Fade.
Written for 10_hurt_comfort. The prompt was ‘jealous’.
Thanks to danceswithgary for the beta and to acampbell for helping me through some plot points
O! beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
~William Shakespeare, Othello
Clark can feel his gut bitterly twisting and churning inside him as he looks through the medical centre window at Lex and Lana. The two people who have meant most to him through his teenage years and they’re together now, leaving Clark excluded and alone. It hurts more than he could ever imagine.
The first time he saw them together it had been such a shock that he hadn’t been able to do anything other than stumble out of the mansion and get as far away as possible. Now, seeing them again, Lex pale and helpless while Lana strokes his arm and holds his hand, Clark can barely contain his rage.
For years he’s desired Lana, worshipped her, and when he couldn’t be honest with her about his secret, she’d broken up with him. He couldn’t tell her he’d lied to her to keep her safe, but it didn’t matter. She’d moved on quickly, as she always did, and now she was with Lex.
It would be easy to blame Lex. To add an accusation of stealing Lana to everything else Clark had accused Lex of up to now. However, standing here, isolated from the two of them, Clark is surprised to find that most of his rage directed at Lana. It wasn't just for leaving him, but for stealing Lex too.
The rational part of Clark’s brain knows that his friendship with Lex was over, long before Lana came into the equation, but right now all he can feel is the inexplicable urge to march in there, toss Lana out and take her place at Lex’s side. It's a startling revelation to Clark and he knows he would never act on it, but the longer he stands here looking at them together, the more danger there is of him doing something he’ll regret.
Lex is his friend and no one else had the right to him. Now here Lana is, constantly touching him as if she owns him. What could she possibly have to offer him other than looking pretty hanging off his arm? That would never be enough for Lex. He needs someone with a bit of substance. This thing, with Lana, Clark will never understand.
Suddenly she’s in front of him and chattering away like everything is ok, and Clark can barely stand to look at her. Instead, he focuses his attention on Lex.
“Clark?”
He has no idea what Lana has been saying to him but she has obviously asked him a question and is waiting for an answer.
“How is he?” Clark asks, deciding that a change in subject is the best route to go.
“Luckily, his trachea didn't collapse, and the doctor sedated him for the pain.”
Clark nods, his anger momentarily diverted from Lana to whomever it was that had done this to Lex. His friend could have been taken from him, without Clark ever telling him how he really feels. It is a frightening notion and he tries not to think about it. Lex is still alive and they still have a chance.
“Do they know who did this?”
Clark hopes not, because whoever it is would be in serious danger from him otherwise.
“I gave them a full description.”
“You were there?”
Of course, she was there. Lana is incapable of being alone for more than five minutes at a time.
“I was returning some books and I walked in on the attack.”
Oh, how easily the lies fall from her lips. Ironic considering her need for the rest of the world to be honest with her at all time. Clark feels the anger twisting inside him and has to force himself to look away from her again.
“What did he look like?”
His body goes rigid as Lana describes Lex’s attacker. He knows who did it now and he grows cold with the realisation that he is at least partially responsible for this. If he hadn’t told Graham about Lex and Lana…
He makes his excuses and speeds away to Graham’s apartment.
* * *
Graham actually smiles when Clark walks in. It’s been a long time since he’s felt the urge to hurt someone but he’s dangerously close now and he has to lock his hands at his sides to stop himself from lashing out.
“You tried to kill Lex.”
Graham shrugs. “It’s what you wanted isn’t it? To get him out of the way, so you can be with your girl? I was doing you a favor, since plasma TVs clearly aren’t your thing.”
Clark shakes his head. “You’re sick. I would never want anyone to be hurt because of me, especially not Lex.”
Graham raises an eyebrow. “Ah. That explains why you weren’t interested in Gia. You should have said something, man. I know plenty of hot guys I could have fixed you up with.”
“You don’t get it! It doesn’t matter what I feel for Lex, or Lana. You can’t go around killing people just because you feel like it. I’m taking you to the police.”
The lamp is swinging towards him before he knows it, and shatters against the arm he throws up instinctively to protect himself. Graham looks impressed rather than surprised.
“Looks like I’m not the only one with a secret.”
Then he just melts away and disappears. Invisible. Well, it explains how Graham managed to attack Lex in his own home without being seen. A quick scan of the room shows Clark that Graham is already gone.
Now the problem is how to find an invisible man.
* * *
Chloe’s revelations both startled and scare Clark. Graham kills people for money, and Clark had befriended him in a desperate attempt to find a replacement for Lex. Clark almost laughs at the notion. There is no one on this earth capable of replacing Lex Luthor.
Clark paces just out of sight of Lex’s room in the Medical Center, seriously hoping that now Graham’s secret has been revealed that he’ll leave Metropolis and never come back. There’s still a chance he’ll come back and try to finish the job on Lex though, which is why Clark is here.
He knows Lana is still in there with Lex. He doesn’t need his x-ray vision to tell him that and right now, he’s torn between going in there so he can be with Lex, and staying outside so they can have their privacy. His feet are moving towards the door before he’s even fully aware of it.
Lana’s head shoots up as Clark steps inside and closes the door quietly behind him. She looks tired and for a moment, Clark almost wants to give her credit for staying with Lex all this time. Then he remembers that she doesn’t actually have anywhere else to go.
“How is he?”
Lana’s clearly making a conscious effort not to touch Lex in front of Clark and for that at least, he is thankful.
“He still hasn’t woken up but he should any time now.”
“Do you mind if I sit with him for a while?”
He doesn’t actually care if she minds or not but he is still the son of Martha and Jonathan Kent and he can hear his dad’s voice in his head telling him never to forget his manners.
Lana looks at him for a moment with uncertainty, as though she’s trying to deduce whether Clark has some sort of ulterior motive for being here. If only she knew. She smiles, and it’s that fake smile Clark knows she puts on when she wants to pretend that she’s being the kind, sweet girl people expect her to be. She clearly doesn’t want to leave Lex but can’t bring herself to say so.
“Sure,” she says, rising to her feet. “I could use some coffee. Will you come and find me if he wakes up while I’m gone.”
“Of course.”
He has no intention of doing any such thing until he and Lex have had a long talk, but it gets Lana out of the room. He slides into the seat she’d been occupying and takes Lex’s hand in his. It’s soft and warm and touching him feels so right. Clark isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to bring himself to let go.
Lex mumbles incoherently and turns his face slightly so that it’s facing Clark, eyes flickering beneath the lids.
“Lex?”
A couple of blinks later Lex’s eyes are fully open, clouded with the remainder of the sedative he’s been given.
“Clark?” Lex’s voice is raspy and ragged and it makes Clark even angrier with Graham for hurting Lex like this.
Lex blinks again and Clark sees the return of the cold Luthor stare he’s become used to over the last few months.
“Come to accuse me of attacking someone’s rope with my throat?”
Clark figures he had that one coming and lets it slide, getting to his feet and pouring Lex a glass of water.
“The doctor says you’re not supposed to talk but that’s probably not going to stop you, right?”
Lex accepts the glass with a nod and his voice is stronger once he’s had a drink. “Very astute, Clark. I guess you were paying attention back when we were friends. Now, do you want to tell me why you’re here? I’m guessing either you want something or you’re going to hurl wild accusations at me.”
Lex isn’t wrong about Clark wanting something.
“I know about you and Lana.”
He hadn’t quite intended to blurt it out like that but it’s out there now and Clark is surprised at how good it feels to be open with Lex about it. Reading Lex, as usual, is all but impossible. He’s an expert at keeping his face neutral.
“I can’t see that it’s any of your business, Clark. You had your chance with Lana and it didn’t work out.”
Clark frowns. “Lex, I know you. You don’t love her. Please, this is making me crazy. I didn’t know what I wanted until I realised I’d lost it. You have to help me.”
Lex snorts. “Clark, I am not going to break up with Lana for you. She makes me happy. Do you hate me that much that you’d deny me this?”
Clark captures Lex’s hand in his, causing Lex to hiss in pain as he squeezes a little too hard. “I don’t hate you, Lex, that’s why I’m here. Lana can’t make you happy. You’re just next in line. Lana needs someone to worship her and right now, you’re it. She’ll move on eventually, when someone she thinks is better comes along. Believe me, I know.”
Lex pulls his hand away and massages the bruised skin.
“So you think I should just give her up and let her be with you? There was a time when I would have considered it, when I’d have done anything to make you happy even if it meant making myself miserable. Not now, though. Our friendship is too far gone for that.”
Suddenly, Clark realises that Lex is totally misunderstanding what he wants. Lex honestly thinks Clark is here for Lana.
“Lex, what if I asked you to give up Lana for something else? Something I know you’ve wanted for as long as we’ve known each other.”
This, at least, seems to spark Lex’s interest. “And what might that be?”
“Me.”
Before Lex can question anything further Clark leans over and presses a kiss to Lex’s dry lips. Lex freezes for a moment but can't suppress the soft moan as his eyes flutter closed and he deepens the kiss. There’s too much distance between them, Clark decides, and he all but climbs onto the bed, sliding his hand underneath Lex’s hospital gown and stroking the smooth skin he finds underneath it.
“Mine!” Clark growls as his tongue flicks out to swipe at the raw skin on Lex’s throat. “No one touches you now but me, Lex. No one. Do you understand?”
“I’ve always been yours,” Lex whispers, hands raking through Clark’s thick hair. “You just never let me get close enough. All I ever wanted was for you to trust me. I’d have given you everything.”
“I’ll tell you everything, Lex, I promise. As soon as you’re better and we’re somewhere more private.”
He pulls back and presses a soft kiss to Lex’s lips. Lex isn’t looking at him now and that worries Clark.
“Lex?”
“Are you sure you want to know the truth about me, Clark? I’ve done a lot of things that don’t rate too highly in the Kent moral code.”
Clark kisses him again. “Trust me, Lex. Whatever you’ve done we’ll work though it. Besides, it’ll probably seem like nothing compared with what I have to tell you.”
Lex nods again and leans up to kiss him. It’s a hungry kiss and it causes Clark to whimper.
“I need you, Lex. I need to taste you.”
A groan is all Lex can manage, but Clark takes it as permission to continue and starts to work at the drawstring of Lex’s pajama pants.
“Oh my god!”
Clark freezes on top of Lex and his head turns slowly towards the door. Lana stands there, eyes wide with a hand cupped over her mouth.
“Lana…”
Her face twists with disgust and then she is gone, her the heels of her shoes clicking rapidly on the floor as she runs, until they fade away into nothing. Clark swears softly under his breath. He’d wanted to hurt Lana so badly when she was with Lex, but now that he’s been presented with the reality of it, he feels faintly sick with guilt.
“She’d have found out eventually,” Lex says quietly.
“I know,” Clark replies. “I wish it had been another way, though. I know how much it hurts to see someone you care about with someone else.”
The mood broken, Clark slips off the bed and regains his seat beside the bed. He doesn’t even notice the door to the room has opened again until Lex is springing from the bed with a speed that takes Clark by surprise. He has a gun in his hand and Clark doesn’t even want to know where Lex was hiding it. He stands protectively in front of Clark, which strikes him as slightly amusing and incredibly touching at the same time.
Lex has his head cocked to one side and is straining to listen for anything that will give away Graham’s position.
“Lex,” Clark says quietly, but Lex raises a hand to silence him and then fires. The first few shots damage the minimal décor in the room, but finally there is a grunt of pain and blood spatters on the floor. Lex grabs Clark’s arm and tugs.
“Come on, we need to get out of here!”
They’re halfway across the room when Lex cries out in pain and falls to the floor. Clark has him back on his feet in an instant, but before Lex can reach for the fallen gun, Graham materialises and picks it up.
“Run!” Lex yells, trying to push Clark out into the hallway. This has gone on long enough. Clark places himself between Graham and Lex. He can feel Lex behind him, trying hard to pull him away and failing miserably.
“Clark! What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s OK, Lex. Just trust me and stay behind me.”
“He’ll kill you!”
Graham stares at the two of them, his face creased in pain as his hand presses against the bullet wound in his chest. Clark’s eyes meet Graham’s. They both know the bullet won’t hurt him, and there’s no way Graham can get to Lex with Clark in the way. So when Graham fires anyway it comes as a surprise to Clark. The bullet bounces harmlessly off his chest and Clark hears Lex gasp behind him. A second later Graham collapses. The threat is gone.
Clark turns to face Lex who stands rooted to the spot, pale and trembling.
“He shot you.”
Carefully and gently, Clark pulls Lex into his arms and strokes his back. “It’s OK, Lex. I’m fine.”
“No, Clark. He shot you! I always knew there was something different about you but this…” He takes a shaky breath. “You should be dead.”
Clark pulls him a little nearer. “I told you I had a lot to explain. Come on, you’re in shock. I’ll help you back into bed and then I’ll call the police.”
Lex is struggling in his arms then, and Clark is forced to let him go to stop him from hurting himself. “Don’t patronise me, Clark. This has nothing to do with me being in shock. You promised to be honest with me so please, just give me this one thing now. What are you?”
Clark sighs. “I’m not human, Lex. I came to earth in the meteor shower. The first one, I mean. My mom and dad found me in a field when I was a baby and decided to keep me. Is that enough for you?”
Lex nods slowly. “Thank you, Clark. I had my suspicions I admit but it was almost too incredible to believe. I understand what I huge secret this is and I promise you I will do everything in my power to keep it safe. Thank you for trusting me with it.”
Then he sags and Clark hurries over to catch him before he falls. “I wasn’t patronising you just now, Lex. I would never do that. I just thought it would be easier if I told you when you were feeling better. Come on, you need to rest.”
Lex smiles weakly as Clark helps him back into bed. “This is Smallville, Clark. I’ve seen an amazing number of strange things since I moved here. You’d be surprised at what I can cope with.”
Clark pulls the blankets up over Lex and then kisses him. “It doesn’t surprise me at all, Lex. You’re the strongest person I know.”
Lex chuckles, “High praise indeed, coming from someone who just got shot and doesn’t have a mark on him.”
Clark lowers his eyes and smiles, his cheeks tinged red. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I wanted to, lots of times.”
“It doesn’t matter Clark. We both made our fair share of mistakes in the past. We have plenty of time to make them right in the future.”
There is a bruise blossoming on Lex’s cheek where Graham hit him and Clark reaches over to stroke the tender skin. “I know it’s wrong to feel this way but I can’t help but feel glad that he’d dead after what he tried to do to you, and what he did do to lots of other people.”
Lex smiles and presses a kiss to the tender skin of Clark’s wrist. “It’s OK to feel that way, Clark. It’s natural when people you care about have been threatened. Besides, you’re not the one who shot him.”
Lex’s voice has taken that soft, neutral tone that he uses when he’s trying to hide how he’s really feeling. Clark tries to lighten the burden he thinks Lex is carrying. “Lex, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. You were protecting yourself, and me.”
“Oh, I don’t blame myself, Clark. I have absolutely no regrets about my actions. I’d do it again if I was given the opportunity, even knowing what I do about you. He knew your secret, Clark and it would have only been a matter of time before he found a way to exploit that. I told you I’d do anything to protect my friends. It’s part of who I am. Can you handle that?”
Clark stares at Lex for a moment, his eyes flitting over to Graham’s body for a moment and he tries to comprehend what Lex was telling him. He would willingly kill to keep Clark’s secret safe. That was a pretty huge responsibility to bear, for both of them.
“Lex…I don’t know what to say to that. I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re never put in that situation but, please, promise me that if you ever feel that you’re in that position that you’ll talk to me first. I don’t want you to lose yourself trying to keep me safe, and I know you’re not a murderer. Please promise me, because I can’t lose you to this. It’ll destroy me.
Lex is quiet for a moment and Clark worries that this has already torn them apart. Then Lex takes Clark’s hand in his. “You’re a better man than I could ever be, Clark. I give you my word that any decisions about your secret we’ll make together.”
Clark smiles. “You are a good man, Lex. I’ve seen it in you. You just lose your way a little sometimes.”
Lex returns the smile and squeezes Clark’s hand. “Well, I have you to guide me now.”
“Always.”