Clex Fanfic: Convalescence (NC-17), Chapter 1
Title: Convalescence
Author: BabyDee1
Pairing: Clex
Rating: NC-17, this chapter PG-13
Warnings: M/M Sexual situations later on (Slash)
Timeline: Season 5-ish
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: When Clark falls ill after uncovering loads kryptonite at the Kent Farm, Lex welcomes him to the Mansion to, um… recuperate. *wink-wink* ;-)
Feedback: …Always. :-)
Based on an awesome prompt by phillydragonldy in the 2016 svsunkenships challenge. Be sure to check out the other amazing works on the Com!
No banner as yet, but as always, open to any generous donations! :-D
Chapter 1
There was a woolly, dry taste in his mouth.
Clark grimaced and attempted to swallow, but his tongue seemed stuck shut to the roof of his mouth. He made an effort to blink, but his eyelids felt heavy and uncooperative. Eventually he managed to crack open one eye a sliver, wincing and closing it again as the brief flash of light invaded his pupil like a vicious assault.
His senses seemed to be coming online one at a time. He was lying in bed, that much was clear; but the slick, smooth fabric of the sheets against his skin felt most unusual. Vaguely he became aware of the ticking of an unfamiliar clock to go with the unfamiliar bed. His nostrils, however, picked up the faint aroma of a woodsy, musky scent that he had only ever associated with one person.
“Lex?” he whispered, his voice a faint croak.
He heard a chair creak, and then a warm palm rested on his forearm. “I’m here, Clark.”
“What am I -?” his voice gave out from the lack of moisture, and he coughed as he struggled to sit up.
“Here, let me help…” Lex’s arms went around him and lifted him to a sitting position, so that his back was supported by the plush pillows against the headboard.
“Drink this…” a cup was pressed to his lips, and he gratefully took large sips of cool water. Once his thirst was eased, he risked opening his eyes again, and stared straight into the cool grey gaze of Lex Luthor.
Lex smiled, looking relieved. “Good to have you back.”
“I don’t understand…” he paused and took a deep breath as a sudden queasiness came over him. When his stomach settled, he glanced around and realised he was within the plush confines of the Luthor Mansion. “What am I doing here?”
“You don’t remember?”
Clark shook his head, feeling more than slightly lost.
“Chloe brought you in yesterday. You were sick.”
“Sick?”
“Mmm. Green around the gills, and quite unconscious. You really don’t remember what happened?”
“Not sure. I was working on the storm cellar expansion, and…” A hazy vision of green mist swirled in Clark’s brain. The mere memory triggered his gag reflex, and he instinctively covered his mouth, prompting Lex to reach for the sick bucket and hold it under his face. And not a moment too soon. Clark heaved and retched as a foul-tasting fluid forced its way up his throat and out of his mouth.
“Take it easy,” Lex whispered, rubbing his back with a reassuring hand. Clark heaved and heaved until there was nothing left to bring up, feeling both strangely comforted and extremely embarrassed at having his back stroked by Lex whilst puking his guts out.
Lex lifted the glass of water to his lips again for him to rinse his mouth out, which he did. Once he was done, Lex took the bucket to the bathroom. Clark could hear him dutifully washing away the contents; shortly after, he returned with the empty bucket in one hand and a warm washcloth in the other, which he handed to him.
“Thank you.” He wiped his face down with a shaky hand and took deep breaths, feeling slightly alive for the first time since he’d opened his eyes.
“No trouble. I take it you remember now?”
Clark paused. “Only that that I was working in our storm cellar,” he finally replied. And accidentally came across a shit ton of kryptonite.
“Lex nodded. “That’s right; you were.”
“So… how did I end up here?”
Lex took a breath. “According to Chloe, you hit a trapped gas pocket and inhaled some noxious fumes,” he explained. “You must have passed out almost immediately, and kept breathing them in, because she didn’t find you until well over a day later; by which time you were nearly comatose.”
“And she brought me here?”
Lex shrugged. “I was as surprised as you were, believe me. But she said something about your family not trusting hospitals, and assured me that you’d be fine once you’ve had time to rest and recover.”
Clark nodded. “I see.” Since Pete had left, Chloe was the only person outside of his family who knew his secret, and he appreciated her doing everything she could to protect him. He wasn’t sure why she’d brought him here, considering Lex’s never-ending curiosity about his life; she must have been truly desperate.
“Where’s Chloe now?” he asked.
“Out of town on a Daily Planet assignment, otherwise she’d have taken you to her place and looked after you herself. Not that I’m complaining.”
Clark glanced down, feeling sheepish. A little bit of gratitude wouldn’t go amiss. “Thank you for taking care of me, Lex. I really appreciate it.”
“Like I said, it’s no trouble. I’m just curious as to why you attempted to carry out what is clearly a two, maybe even three-man job all by yourself. What the hell were you thinking, Clark?”
Clark averted his eyes from Lex’s piercing gaze. It was hardly a stretch for one strapping young Kryptonian; at least, it wouldn’t have been if he hadn’t uncovered insane amounts of meteor rocks and dust, and been unable to get away from them.
“I guess I wanted to surprise my parents for when they get back from Topeka,” he admitted. “Dad’s not been at full-strength since the heart attack, and… well, the truth is, we can’t really afford to take on new staff.”
“And you didn’t think of asking me for help?”
Clark frowned. “I can’t go running to you for a bailout every time we need a farm hand, Lex.”
Lex’s jaw tensed. “I meant with the digging, Clark.”
“Oh - you personally? Well, um...” Clark swallowed. “I just never… well, farm work isn’t exactly your forte, is it?”
Lex shot him a withering look. “I did it well enough when I was living with you, didn’t I?”
Clark smiled. It was true; his father had not taken kindly to Lex’s unexpected appeal for shelter at the Kent Farm when Lionel had taken possession of the Mansion and left him homeless. Jonathan Kent had thrown Lex straight into the deep end of farm life, but to his surprise, Lex had rolled up his sleeves and done everything that had been asked of him; from mucking out stalls and baling hay, to chopping firewood, all without batting an eyelid. Jonathan had been suitably impressed.
“I mean, I realise that my money’s never been good enough for you and your family,” Lex continued dourly. “But if you can’t ask me to at least lend a helping hand, then you may as well not bother calling me your friend.”
“I’m very sorry, Lex,” Clark replied tritely. “I should have come to you.”
Lex smiled. “You’re forgiven, as long as you do as I say while you’re convalescing here.”
Clark smiled wryly. “Doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice; I’ve never felt this shitty in my life.”
“That must have been some serious gas that knocked you out,” Lex said. “If you want, I can get someone to test it-”
“That won’t be necessary,” Clark said shortly.
Lex looked slightly taken aback, and his eyes became flinty. “Suit yourself.”
“I just don’t want you to waste your resources,” Clark hastily added. “Based on the general geological area, it was probably something nitrous. I just got too much of it, that’s all.”
Lex shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
An awkward silence followed, during which Clark mentally berated himself for overreacting yet again to an offer of help from Lex. Fortunately, a more pressing need quickly made itself evident.
“Listen Lex, I um… I kinda need to use the bathroom, so…”
“D’you need my help?”
“Oh, no. No, I’ll be fine.”
“You sure about that?” Lex asked. “You’ve been bedridden for over 24 hours, your legs will barely be able to carry you.”
“Oh. Didn’t think about that.”
Lex smiled. “It’s okay. Listen, I’ll run a bath for you, and then help you over once it’s ready. How’s that sound?”
Clark made a wry face. “Really good, and so embarrassing.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” Lex chuckled. “The least I can do is look after whilst you’re sick and your folks are out of town.”
“But I don’t want to keep you from your work, and this must be a huge inconvenience…”
Lex sighed. “Fine. Call it payback for all the times you’ve saved my life. That better?”
Clark sighed and smiled. “If you insist.”
***
Chapter 2…
Author: BabyDee1
Pairing: Clex
Rating: NC-17, this chapter PG-13
Warnings: M/M Sexual situations later on (Slash)
Timeline: Season 5-ish
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: When Clark falls ill after uncovering loads kryptonite at the Kent Farm, Lex welcomes him to the Mansion to, um… recuperate. *wink-wink* ;-)
Feedback: …Always. :-)
Based on an awesome prompt by phillydragonldy in the 2016 svsunkenships challenge. Be sure to check out the other amazing works on the Com!
No banner as yet, but as always, open to any generous donations! :-D
Chapter 1
There was a woolly, dry taste in his mouth.
Clark grimaced and attempted to swallow, but his tongue seemed stuck shut to the roof of his mouth. He made an effort to blink, but his eyelids felt heavy and uncooperative. Eventually he managed to crack open one eye a sliver, wincing and closing it again as the brief flash of light invaded his pupil like a vicious assault.
His senses seemed to be coming online one at a time. He was lying in bed, that much was clear; but the slick, smooth fabric of the sheets against his skin felt most unusual. Vaguely he became aware of the ticking of an unfamiliar clock to go with the unfamiliar bed. His nostrils, however, picked up the faint aroma of a woodsy, musky scent that he had only ever associated with one person.
“Lex?” he whispered, his voice a faint croak.
He heard a chair creak, and then a warm palm rested on his forearm. “I’m here, Clark.”
“What am I -?” his voice gave out from the lack of moisture, and he coughed as he struggled to sit up.
“Here, let me help…” Lex’s arms went around him and lifted him to a sitting position, so that his back was supported by the plush pillows against the headboard.
“Drink this…” a cup was pressed to his lips, and he gratefully took large sips of cool water. Once his thirst was eased, he risked opening his eyes again, and stared straight into the cool grey gaze of Lex Luthor.
Lex smiled, looking relieved. “Good to have you back.”
“I don’t understand…” he paused and took a deep breath as a sudden queasiness came over him. When his stomach settled, he glanced around and realised he was within the plush confines of the Luthor Mansion. “What am I doing here?”
“You don’t remember?”
Clark shook his head, feeling more than slightly lost.
“Chloe brought you in yesterday. You were sick.”
“Sick?”
“Mmm. Green around the gills, and quite unconscious. You really don’t remember what happened?”
“Not sure. I was working on the storm cellar expansion, and…” A hazy vision of green mist swirled in Clark’s brain. The mere memory triggered his gag reflex, and he instinctively covered his mouth, prompting Lex to reach for the sick bucket and hold it under his face. And not a moment too soon. Clark heaved and retched as a foul-tasting fluid forced its way up his throat and out of his mouth.
“Take it easy,” Lex whispered, rubbing his back with a reassuring hand. Clark heaved and heaved until there was nothing left to bring up, feeling both strangely comforted and extremely embarrassed at having his back stroked by Lex whilst puking his guts out.
Lex lifted the glass of water to his lips again for him to rinse his mouth out, which he did. Once he was done, Lex took the bucket to the bathroom. Clark could hear him dutifully washing away the contents; shortly after, he returned with the empty bucket in one hand and a warm washcloth in the other, which he handed to him.
“Thank you.” He wiped his face down with a shaky hand and took deep breaths, feeling slightly alive for the first time since he’d opened his eyes.
“No trouble. I take it you remember now?”
Clark paused. “Only that that I was working in our storm cellar,” he finally replied. And accidentally came across a shit ton of kryptonite.
“Lex nodded. “That’s right; you were.”
“So… how did I end up here?”
Lex took a breath. “According to Chloe, you hit a trapped gas pocket and inhaled some noxious fumes,” he explained. “You must have passed out almost immediately, and kept breathing them in, because she didn’t find you until well over a day later; by which time you were nearly comatose.”
“And she brought me here?”
Lex shrugged. “I was as surprised as you were, believe me. But she said something about your family not trusting hospitals, and assured me that you’d be fine once you’ve had time to rest and recover.”
Clark nodded. “I see.” Since Pete had left, Chloe was the only person outside of his family who knew his secret, and he appreciated her doing everything she could to protect him. He wasn’t sure why she’d brought him here, considering Lex’s never-ending curiosity about his life; she must have been truly desperate.
“Where’s Chloe now?” he asked.
“Out of town on a Daily Planet assignment, otherwise she’d have taken you to her place and looked after you herself. Not that I’m complaining.”
Clark glanced down, feeling sheepish. A little bit of gratitude wouldn’t go amiss. “Thank you for taking care of me, Lex. I really appreciate it.”
“Like I said, it’s no trouble. I’m just curious as to why you attempted to carry out what is clearly a two, maybe even three-man job all by yourself. What the hell were you thinking, Clark?”
Clark averted his eyes from Lex’s piercing gaze. It was hardly a stretch for one strapping young Kryptonian; at least, it wouldn’t have been if he hadn’t uncovered insane amounts of meteor rocks and dust, and been unable to get away from them.
“I guess I wanted to surprise my parents for when they get back from Topeka,” he admitted. “Dad’s not been at full-strength since the heart attack, and… well, the truth is, we can’t really afford to take on new staff.”
“And you didn’t think of asking me for help?”
Clark frowned. “I can’t go running to you for a bailout every time we need a farm hand, Lex.”
Lex’s jaw tensed. “I meant with the digging, Clark.”
“Oh - you personally? Well, um...” Clark swallowed. “I just never… well, farm work isn’t exactly your forte, is it?”
Lex shot him a withering look. “I did it well enough when I was living with you, didn’t I?”
Clark smiled. It was true; his father had not taken kindly to Lex’s unexpected appeal for shelter at the Kent Farm when Lionel had taken possession of the Mansion and left him homeless. Jonathan Kent had thrown Lex straight into the deep end of farm life, but to his surprise, Lex had rolled up his sleeves and done everything that had been asked of him; from mucking out stalls and baling hay, to chopping firewood, all without batting an eyelid. Jonathan had been suitably impressed.
“I mean, I realise that my money’s never been good enough for you and your family,” Lex continued dourly. “But if you can’t ask me to at least lend a helping hand, then you may as well not bother calling me your friend.”
“I’m very sorry, Lex,” Clark replied tritely. “I should have come to you.”
Lex smiled. “You’re forgiven, as long as you do as I say while you’re convalescing here.”
Clark smiled wryly. “Doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice; I’ve never felt this shitty in my life.”
“That must have been some serious gas that knocked you out,” Lex said. “If you want, I can get someone to test it-”
“That won’t be necessary,” Clark said shortly.
Lex looked slightly taken aback, and his eyes became flinty. “Suit yourself.”
“I just don’t want you to waste your resources,” Clark hastily added. “Based on the general geological area, it was probably something nitrous. I just got too much of it, that’s all.”
Lex shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
An awkward silence followed, during which Clark mentally berated himself for overreacting yet again to an offer of help from Lex. Fortunately, a more pressing need quickly made itself evident.
“Listen Lex, I um… I kinda need to use the bathroom, so…”
“D’you need my help?”
“Oh, no. No, I’ll be fine.”
“You sure about that?” Lex asked. “You’ve been bedridden for over 24 hours, your legs will barely be able to carry you.”
“Oh. Didn’t think about that.”
Lex smiled. “It’s okay. Listen, I’ll run a bath for you, and then help you over once it’s ready. How’s that sound?”
Clark made a wry face. “Really good, and so embarrassing.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” Lex chuckled. “The least I can do is look after whilst you’re sick and your folks are out of town.”
“But I don’t want to keep you from your work, and this must be a huge inconvenience…”
Lex sighed. “Fine. Call it payback for all the times you’ve saved my life. That better?”
Clark sighed and smiled. “If you insist.”
***
Chapter 2…