FIC: Something New (7/?)
Name: Something New
Rating: R
Fandom: Smallville
Summary: Clark/Lex sort of rewrite of the series with much less Clark/Lana. Much.
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the rights to Smallville ... but I won’t get it.
Chapter Summary: Clark still can't stop thinking about touching Lex...
Author’s Note: I recently started watching Torchwood, which made me an avid Jack/Ianto slash writer. Now, though, when I rewatch Smallville, all I can see is potential slash storylines! What has Torchwood done to me? Haha. Anyway, I’ve had Clex bunnies in my head for so long that I have writer’s block so, to alleviate that problem, I decided to write a Clark/Lex story. I’m not rewriting every episode, instead I’ll be writing chapters that encompass three or four episodes (as I don’t want to write the fights etc.). Hope you’ll stay with me through it!
Beta: skullgirl013 .
Chapter Note: This chapter is for episode 2.02: Heat.
Previous Chapter(s): Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6
Author’s Note: This episode ended up in two chapters ... if only because of the amount of fantasising going on. Fun fun! ^^
Chapter Seven
Never - Part 2
It was like the universe was conspiring to make Clark’s life unlivable. He couldn’t be part of a running team, or have play-fights, or take part in sports. Nor could he think about sex as a whole, it seemed.
When his dad walked into the barn he was sat down, brooding.
“Clark? I thought you'd be in school already,” Jonathan said, walking over.
“I'm not going,” Clark told him. Before he could say anything he continued, “It happened again at the Talon.”
“What, another fire?”
“It was worse than before. I was afraid it wasn't gonna stop...and the fire department said the fire looks suspicious... and what can I say, they're right!” Clark threw up his hands.
“Come on, you and I both know that you didn't mean to start any of these fires,” Jonathan said.
“Dad, Lana was there... if I'd have hurt her...” He trailed off. If he’d hurt anyone...
“Look, son...” Clark pushed past him and walked to the other side of the barn. “Clark! Hey... come on... Clark... look at me.” He pulled Clark around to face him. “Son, I think I have a pretty good idea what's triggering this thing.”
Lex. Thoughts of sexy naked sweating damp Lex...Oh god.
*
As Clark rammed a scarecrow into the ground his dad said, “Alright. Rule number one: Always practice away from the barn. Come on.”
They walked around to face it. “Dad, I don't get it. I thought the whole point was to stop this from happening.”
“Well, in order to find the off switch, first we need to find the on switch, right?” Jonathan said. “Alright, now, I want you to remember exactly what you thinking about the first time it happened.”
Clark looked at his dad sideways. “Dad... this might be easier if I was...”
“Alone. Yeah...”
As Jonathan walked away across the farm, Clark looked at the scarecrow and took a deep breath under the sweltering heat of the sun beating down on him.
Heat. Lex all hot, sweaty and naked, lying on Clark’s bed. He walks in, approaches him, runs his hand up his body, ankle all the way to shoulder, bends down, kisses him slowly. Licks the inside of his top lip. Lex’s lips part, inviting Clark in.
Clark climbs on the bed, straddles Lex’s lap, skin to skin, looks down at the hairless man beneath him, runs his hands up Lex’s smooth chest.
His lips follow the path his hands took, up to Lex’s neck. He bites gently, Lex’s back arches, he trails his tongue up and bites Lex’s ear, slides his lips across Lex’s cheek, meets Lex’s mouth with his own, slides his tongue inside.
Lex grabs his hair, thrusts his hips up at Clark.
Clark’s eyes burned. He blinked, aimed at the scarecrow and fired the fire at it. The scarecrow went up in flames.
Well, I know my weakness...
Not like he didn’t already. He sighed and looked at the next scarecrow.
Oh well, at least he had an excuse to fantasise now.
*
Clark stared at the foil over the bowl of microwave popcorn and concentrated.
“Five scarecrows, two water barrels, and our mailbox later...” Jonathan said, proudly.
Clark turned around, grinning. “Dad, you were right. Once I understood what triggered the heat, I was able to control it without thinking about...” He stopped. “Sex.” The popcorn exploded.
“You sure about that, son?”
“Trust me,” Clark said. “Next time I have a date, I'll be able to go out without setting anything or anyone on fire.”
“Well, that's a relief,” Jonathan said.
Clark grinned. “I'll be fine,” he said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me...” He opened the cupboard under the sink, pulled out two bags of candles and grinned at his parents.
By the time night rolled around Clark had filled the barn with unlit candles and was aiming his heat vision at them one at a time. He’d lit most of them when he heard a voice he never expected to hear call out.
“Hey, Clark... you in here?” Missus Luthor called out, ascending the stairs. “It's a little hot in here for candles, Clark.”
Clark jumped up, surprised and a little awkward. “Mrs. Luthor...”
“Only at school,” she said in her simpering voice. “The rest of the time, I prefer Desiree. I went by the house... but nobody was home, and then I saw the light in the loft...”
“My parents went into town...” Clark said, taking a step back. Desiree was dressed in an incredibly provocative red dress. Clark had a feeling she wasn't there to talk about homework.
“Well, actually, I came by to see you,” she said, taking a step towards him. He countered it with another step back.
“Really?”
“ You see, most girls like older men, but not me,” she said. “I like younger guys. What they lack in experience they make up for in passion.”
“Is that right?” He wondered why Lex didn’t feel that way as he took another step back.
“Yeah. I saw you... staring at me the other day in class...
“I wasn't ... I’m sorry ... I ...”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I was actually flattered.” She put her hand on his shoulder as he fell back onto the sofa and half-straddled his lap. “As a matter of fact, I was hoping we could work on our... student teacher relations.”
“You're married to my best friend,” Clark stammered as she placed her mouth near his and breathed on him seductively, her hands trailing down his thighs and ... He jumped up. “I don't know what you expected here tonight, but Lex is my best friend. I'm not gonna do anything to hurt him,” he told her, firmly.
“I don't know what came over me,” she said. “Please don't tell Lex about this, OK? I am so sorry.”
She ran off down the steps and Clark blinked, sitting down.
Why was it always the women who came onto him?
*
“Oh, so the new Missus Luthor has an alias. That's interesting,” Chloe said, clicking buttons on her computer.
“Are you just looking this up for me because of how I feel about Lex?” Clark asked, cautiously.
“Hell no!” she told him. “If I can uncover some dirt on the new Missus Luthor I could secure my whole future in journalism, Clark.”
Clark nodded.
“But your feelings do, indeed, make me more determined.” She shot him a small smile.
“What would you say if I told you Miss Atkins a.k.a. Alison Sanders, showed up at my loft last night and... tried to seduce me?” Clark asked, slowly.
“I'd say you were living the voyeuristic fantasy of every male student in this school. Clark, she just married Lex.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I know you know what I mean about Lex. Why would she possibly be interested in you?”
“Thanks Chloe,” he said, with a sigh. “Look, she was dissing Lex. Saying he was the only thing standing between her being with me.”
Chloe pulled a face. “Okay, you know,” she said, “this is quickly going from merely nauseating to genuinely disturbing.”
“Chloe, I'm not making this up,” Clark said. “She's got some strange hold on Lex.”
“Gee, I wonder what that could be.” Chloe raised a pointed eyebrow.
“I'm serious. It's more than the fact that she's good looking.” He stood up.
“Clark, this is Lex Luthor we're talking about. Don't you think he considered all the unfortunate possibilities before saying 'I do'?”
Clark nodded. “He does consider these things. He thought us through before telling me to -”
“Take a flying leap?”
“No. Before telling me to back off a bit. He pointed out I was fifteen and he was twenty-one.”
“The unfortunate possibilities regarding you are more unfortunate than a woman. Maybe he only thought them through with you.”
“I dunno.” He picked up his back “But I'm gonna find out. I'm gonna go talk to him. Will you keep digging?”
“Yeah, sure,” Chloe said. “Where there's smoke there's fire. Excuse the aphorism.”
Clark raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing as he left.
*
When Clark walked into the Luthor mansion he didn’t expect to be expected.
“You can save the awkward silences. Desiree told me everything,” Lex said.
“Lex, I really don't know what to say.” Clark walked across to the pool table and watched Lex play.
“All my life, I've had to second-guess the intentions of others. I'd reached the point where I'd started to think friends were a luxury I couldn't afford,” he said. “Till I met you Clark. From the day you pulled me out of that river, you've been the one person I could trust completely.”
Clark blushed. “I’m really ... glad you feel that way, Lex.”
Lex looked away. “Maybe that's why I find your infatuation with my wife so... troubling.”
Clark blinked at him. “My infatuation? Lex, I don't know what she told you, but she came on to me,” he said, blankly.
“Oh, you expect me to believe that?” Lex asked. “Come on... I saw the way you looked at her the other day. She told me you've been eyeing her in class...”
Clark raised an eyebrow. “The other day I was looking at you, not her. And we both know that I wouldn't be eying her ...”
“Clark, can we not bring this up again? I’m married now.”
“No, Lex... you have to see this.” He pulled Chloe’s findings from his bag and pointed at the page. “Your wife's real name is Alison Sanders. She grew up in Smallville. I bet she didn't tell you that, did she?”
“No.”
“Well, if she didn't tell you the truth about that, how can you believe anything she says?” Clark demanded.
“She's my wife and I love her!” Lex shouted. “To be honest, I was hoping for an apology, not more insinuations. I thought our friendship meant more to you, Clark.”
“It does...” Clark said, quietly. “You know I -”
Lex turned away. “You can let yourself out.”
He walked. As he got to the door Desiree entered the room. “I don't know what you're doing to Lex, but I'm not dropping this,” he hissed.
*
The next day after he found out that Lex had bought Lana out and decided to close the Talon he made a decision to tell his parents about Desiree.
“Can I talk to you guys?” he asked, stepping into the kitchen.
Martha and Jonathan looked up. “Course, Clark, what do you need?” Martha asked.
Clark hesitated. “Can we, uh, sit down?” He pointed at the living room. His parents exchanged glances but walked in and sat on the sofa nonetheless. Clark sat in the chair opposite.
“You know the new biology teacher? Lex’s new wife?” he asked, slowly.
“Of course, Clark,” Jonathan said.
“Well ... she’s doing something to Lex. I don't know what. She’s influenced him to sell the Talon, she’s turned him against me and she’s threatened me.”
“Clark, why didn’t you -”
“That’s not all of it.” Clark looked at his hands awkwardly. “She came onto me.”
“What?”
“She came into the barn while you guys were away and tried to seduce me.” He blushed and continued looking at his hands. For a moment he didn’t think they’d believe him.
“Clark, why didn't you tell us about this earlier?” Martha gasped.
“I... I didn't know what to say,” Clark stammered. “I guess I was embarrassed.”
“Well, I dunno know what we can do about the Talon,” Jonathan said. “I mean, it's not against the law to sweet-talk your husband into making a bad business decision.”
There was a knock on the door and Jonathan stood up as Martha exclaimed, “No, but trying to seduce a teenage boy is! I'm calling the school board, first thing in the morning, and getting this woman suspended!”
Clark looked round to see Sheriff Ethan walk in. “A teacher down at the high school, Mrs. Luthor, claims she saw Clark set her car on fire.”
Clark blinked. “What...?” He wondered if Desiree was feeling threatened by him and, even in the midst of the crisis, Clark felt a little bit happy at the thought.
“That's three suspicious fires in as many days, Clark. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you into custody until we can sort this out.”
Panic rose up in him. “Mom, Dad! This is a mistake!” Clark exclaimed.
“We know,” Martha told him, gently.
“Clark! I want you to do what Ethan says. We'll figure this thing out, I promise,” Jonathan said.
“Just turn around, son,” Ethan told him.
Clark turned around and put his hands behind his back to be cuffed.
If this was all because of his feelings for Lex, she must feel really threatened.
*
Jail was not fun.
Clark was now sure of this.
Even though Chloe and Lana were there, telling him all about Desiree, Clark did not like jail.
“So she tried to seduce me to kill him,” Clark said, after Chloe and Lana told him all about Desiree. “Why'd she think I'd do it?”
“Pheromones!” Chloe said, as though it was the answer for anything.
“Chloe...” Clark sighed.
“Clark, she was in the throes of major passion when the meteors hit!” Chloe exclaimed. “If her pheromone levels were enhanced, she could get a guy to do whatever she wants! Lucky for us, Clark Kent seems to be immune to the opposite sex.” She raised an eyebrow at him and he blushed and looked away from them both. Lana just looked confused.
He realised, as his two friends left, that his dad had gone to see Desiree.
He groaned.
He had to get out of the cell.
He looked up at a spot on the wall and sighed.
Naked Lex... Naked sweaty Lex... Naked sweaty writhing Lex...
Less than a minute later the fire alarms were going off.
*
When Clark burst into Lex’s mansion less than ten minutes later, Jonathan Kent was literally about to shoot Lex.
He melted the bullet in mid air.
He didn’t even have to think about Lex that time. Lex was in front of him, after all.
He ran over and pulled Jonathan away from Lex before he could shoot again, slamming him into the wall. Clark didn’t want to hurt his father, but he didn’t want his father to kill Lex, either. While he was preoccupied with his dad, Desiree smashed one of Lex’s expensive bottles of brandy on his back.
And then set fire to him with a lighter.
His back went up in flames.
“Lex!” Clark shouted, jumping up as Desiree ran to the door. He heated the door handle then turned to Lex.
“Clark!” Lex shouted, writhing around the flames.
Clark grabbed the nearest curtain and threw it over Lex’s back, knocking them both to the ground as he smothered the flames. As soon as he’d put the flames out he rolled Lex onto his back, running his hands over his chest to make sure he was still in one piece. When he realised he was he rocked back onto his ankles and sighed with relief, offering Lex a tired smile.
Lex returned it and flopped back onto the ground, breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” Clark asked, quietly.
Lex nodded. “I’m fine...”
*
Clark was rocking on his hammock in his loft when Lex found him.
“Clark. I was hoping I'd find you,” he said, as he walked up the stairs.
“Hey Lex. How you feeling?” Clark climbed off the hammock.
“Like I'm waking up from a bad dream,” Lex admitted.
I know how you feel. “You really loved her, didn't you?” Clark asked, slowly.
“I thought I did.” Lex sighed. “I filed for an annulment, which my lawyers tell me should be final in a couple of days. I'll let the police deal with Desiree.” Lex walked to stand by the window and Clark followed.
“And when that's finished?” Clark asked, carefully.
“Try to be more cautious. I let my passion get the best of me. I won't make that mistake again.” Lex looked round.
“Lex... I don't think having passion is such a bad thing,” Clark said. He shrugged. “If it’s aimed at the right person ...”
“You're right, Clark. Passion for life and work and friends is great. As long as you keep it in check.”
Clark sighed. “Just for friends?
Lex shrugged. “Sometimes if you have passion for the most trustworthy of friends... it can be enough. Or it can become more.”
Clark nodded as Lex turned to walk away.
The sound of shoes hitting the floorboards stopped. Clark turned around to see Lex looking at him.
“It occurs to me that we never saw Die Hard Three. Or that chick flick you were so adamant I should see. What was it called, again?”
“Chocolat,” Clark said, with a small smile.
“Got any plans for tomorrow night?” Lex asked.
“Not really,” Clark replied.
“Okay.” Lex smiled at him. “Bring any homework you have and some chips. I’ll bring the movies.”
Clark grinned. “Seven?”
“Make it seven-thirty.”
Lex started to walk away then stopped again. “For the record,” he said. “I missed our movie nights.”
Clark smiled. “Me too.”
Next: Chapter 8
Rating: R
Fandom: Smallville
Summary: Clark/Lex sort of rewrite of the series with much less Clark/Lana. Much.
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the rights to Smallville ... but I won’t get it.
Chapter Summary: Clark still can't stop thinking about touching Lex...
Author’s Note: I recently started watching Torchwood, which made me an avid Jack/Ianto slash writer. Now, though, when I rewatch Smallville, all I can see is potential slash storylines! What has Torchwood done to me? Haha. Anyway, I’ve had Clex bunnies in my head for so long that I have writer’s block so, to alleviate that problem, I decided to write a Clark/Lex story. I’m not rewriting every episode, instead I’ll be writing chapters that encompass three or four episodes (as I don’t want to write the fights etc.). Hope you’ll stay with me through it!
Beta: skullgirl013 .
Chapter Note: This chapter is for episode 2.02: Heat.
Previous Chapter(s): Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6
Author’s Note: This episode ended up in two chapters ... if only because of the amount of fantasising going on. Fun fun! ^^
Chapter Seven
Never - Part 2
It was like the universe was conspiring to make Clark’s life unlivable. He couldn’t be part of a running team, or have play-fights, or take part in sports. Nor could he think about sex as a whole, it seemed.
When his dad walked into the barn he was sat down, brooding.
“Clark? I thought you'd be in school already,” Jonathan said, walking over.
“I'm not going,” Clark told him. Before he could say anything he continued, “It happened again at the Talon.”
“What, another fire?”
“It was worse than before. I was afraid it wasn't gonna stop...and the fire department said the fire looks suspicious... and what can I say, they're right!” Clark threw up his hands.
“Come on, you and I both know that you didn't mean to start any of these fires,” Jonathan said.
“Dad, Lana was there... if I'd have hurt her...” He trailed off. If he’d hurt anyone...
“Look, son...” Clark pushed past him and walked to the other side of the barn. “Clark! Hey... come on... Clark... look at me.” He pulled Clark around to face him. “Son, I think I have a pretty good idea what's triggering this thing.”
Lex. Thoughts of sexy naked sweating damp Lex...Oh god.
*
As Clark rammed a scarecrow into the ground his dad said, “Alright. Rule number one: Always practice away from the barn. Come on.”
They walked around to face it. “Dad, I don't get it. I thought the whole point was to stop this from happening.”
“Well, in order to find the off switch, first we need to find the on switch, right?” Jonathan said. “Alright, now, I want you to remember exactly what you thinking about the first time it happened.”
Clark looked at his dad sideways. “Dad... this might be easier if I was...”
“Alone. Yeah...”
As Jonathan walked away across the farm, Clark looked at the scarecrow and took a deep breath under the sweltering heat of the sun beating down on him.
Heat. Lex all hot, sweaty and naked, lying on Clark’s bed. He walks in, approaches him, runs his hand up his body, ankle all the way to shoulder, bends down, kisses him slowly. Licks the inside of his top lip. Lex’s lips part, inviting Clark in.
Clark climbs on the bed, straddles Lex’s lap, skin to skin, looks down at the hairless man beneath him, runs his hands up Lex’s smooth chest.
His lips follow the path his hands took, up to Lex’s neck. He bites gently, Lex’s back arches, he trails his tongue up and bites Lex’s ear, slides his lips across Lex’s cheek, meets Lex’s mouth with his own, slides his tongue inside.
Lex grabs his hair, thrusts his hips up at Clark.
Clark’s eyes burned. He blinked, aimed at the scarecrow and fired the fire at it. The scarecrow went up in flames.
Well, I know my weakness...
Not like he didn’t already. He sighed and looked at the next scarecrow.
Oh well, at least he had an excuse to fantasise now.
*
Clark stared at the foil over the bowl of microwave popcorn and concentrated.
“Five scarecrows, two water barrels, and our mailbox later...” Jonathan said, proudly.
Clark turned around, grinning. “Dad, you were right. Once I understood what triggered the heat, I was able to control it without thinking about...” He stopped. “Sex.” The popcorn exploded.
“You sure about that, son?”
“Trust me,” Clark said. “Next time I have a date, I'll be able to go out without setting anything or anyone on fire.”
“Well, that's a relief,” Jonathan said.
Clark grinned. “I'll be fine,” he said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me...” He opened the cupboard under the sink, pulled out two bags of candles and grinned at his parents.
By the time night rolled around Clark had filled the barn with unlit candles and was aiming his heat vision at them one at a time. He’d lit most of them when he heard a voice he never expected to hear call out.
“Hey, Clark... you in here?” Missus Luthor called out, ascending the stairs. “It's a little hot in here for candles, Clark.”
Clark jumped up, surprised and a little awkward. “Mrs. Luthor...”
“Only at school,” she said in her simpering voice. “The rest of the time, I prefer Desiree. I went by the house... but nobody was home, and then I saw the light in the loft...”
“My parents went into town...” Clark said, taking a step back. Desiree was dressed in an incredibly provocative red dress. Clark had a feeling she wasn't there to talk about homework.
“Well, actually, I came by to see you,” she said, taking a step towards him. He countered it with another step back.
“Really?”
“ You see, most girls like older men, but not me,” she said. “I like younger guys. What they lack in experience they make up for in passion.”
“Is that right?” He wondered why Lex didn’t feel that way as he took another step back.
“Yeah. I saw you... staring at me the other day in class...
“I wasn't ... I’m sorry ... I ...”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I was actually flattered.” She put her hand on his shoulder as he fell back onto the sofa and half-straddled his lap. “As a matter of fact, I was hoping we could work on our... student teacher relations.”
“You're married to my best friend,” Clark stammered as she placed her mouth near his and breathed on him seductively, her hands trailing down his thighs and ... He jumped up. “I don't know what you expected here tonight, but Lex is my best friend. I'm not gonna do anything to hurt him,” he told her, firmly.
“I don't know what came over me,” she said. “Please don't tell Lex about this, OK? I am so sorry.”
She ran off down the steps and Clark blinked, sitting down.
Why was it always the women who came onto him?
*
“Oh, so the new Missus Luthor has an alias. That's interesting,” Chloe said, clicking buttons on her computer.
“Are you just looking this up for me because of how I feel about Lex?” Clark asked, cautiously.
“Hell no!” she told him. “If I can uncover some dirt on the new Missus Luthor I could secure my whole future in journalism, Clark.”
Clark nodded.
“But your feelings do, indeed, make me more determined.” She shot him a small smile.
“What would you say if I told you Miss Atkins a.k.a. Alison Sanders, showed up at my loft last night and... tried to seduce me?” Clark asked, slowly.
“I'd say you were living the voyeuristic fantasy of every male student in this school. Clark, she just married Lex.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I know you know what I mean about Lex. Why would she possibly be interested in you?”
“Thanks Chloe,” he said, with a sigh. “Look, she was dissing Lex. Saying he was the only thing standing between her being with me.”
Chloe pulled a face. “Okay, you know,” she said, “this is quickly going from merely nauseating to genuinely disturbing.”
“Chloe, I'm not making this up,” Clark said. “She's got some strange hold on Lex.”
“Gee, I wonder what that could be.” Chloe raised a pointed eyebrow.
“I'm serious. It's more than the fact that she's good looking.” He stood up.
“Clark, this is Lex Luthor we're talking about. Don't you think he considered all the unfortunate possibilities before saying 'I do'?”
Clark nodded. “He does consider these things. He thought us through before telling me to -”
“Take a flying leap?”
“No. Before telling me to back off a bit. He pointed out I was fifteen and he was twenty-one.”
“The unfortunate possibilities regarding you are more unfortunate than a woman. Maybe he only thought them through with you.”
“I dunno.” He picked up his back “But I'm gonna find out. I'm gonna go talk to him. Will you keep digging?”
“Yeah, sure,” Chloe said. “Where there's smoke there's fire. Excuse the aphorism.”
Clark raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing as he left.
*
When Clark walked into the Luthor mansion he didn’t expect to be expected.
“You can save the awkward silences. Desiree told me everything,” Lex said.
“Lex, I really don't know what to say.” Clark walked across to the pool table and watched Lex play.
“All my life, I've had to second-guess the intentions of others. I'd reached the point where I'd started to think friends were a luxury I couldn't afford,” he said. “Till I met you Clark. From the day you pulled me out of that river, you've been the one person I could trust completely.”
Clark blushed. “I’m really ... glad you feel that way, Lex.”
Lex looked away. “Maybe that's why I find your infatuation with my wife so... troubling.”
Clark blinked at him. “My infatuation? Lex, I don't know what she told you, but she came on to me,” he said, blankly.
“Oh, you expect me to believe that?” Lex asked. “Come on... I saw the way you looked at her the other day. She told me you've been eyeing her in class...”
Clark raised an eyebrow. “The other day I was looking at you, not her. And we both know that I wouldn't be eying her ...”
“Clark, can we not bring this up again? I’m married now.”
“No, Lex... you have to see this.” He pulled Chloe’s findings from his bag and pointed at the page. “Your wife's real name is Alison Sanders. She grew up in Smallville. I bet she didn't tell you that, did she?”
“No.”
“Well, if she didn't tell you the truth about that, how can you believe anything she says?” Clark demanded.
“She's my wife and I love her!” Lex shouted. “To be honest, I was hoping for an apology, not more insinuations. I thought our friendship meant more to you, Clark.”
“It does...” Clark said, quietly. “You know I -”
Lex turned away. “You can let yourself out.”
He walked. As he got to the door Desiree entered the room. “I don't know what you're doing to Lex, but I'm not dropping this,” he hissed.
*
The next day after he found out that Lex had bought Lana out and decided to close the Talon he made a decision to tell his parents about Desiree.
“Can I talk to you guys?” he asked, stepping into the kitchen.
Martha and Jonathan looked up. “Course, Clark, what do you need?” Martha asked.
Clark hesitated. “Can we, uh, sit down?” He pointed at the living room. His parents exchanged glances but walked in and sat on the sofa nonetheless. Clark sat in the chair opposite.
“You know the new biology teacher? Lex’s new wife?” he asked, slowly.
“Of course, Clark,” Jonathan said.
“Well ... she’s doing something to Lex. I don't know what. She’s influenced him to sell the Talon, she’s turned him against me and she’s threatened me.”
“Clark, why didn’t you -”
“That’s not all of it.” Clark looked at his hands awkwardly. “She came onto me.”
“What?”
“She came into the barn while you guys were away and tried to seduce me.” He blushed and continued looking at his hands. For a moment he didn’t think they’d believe him.
“Clark, why didn't you tell us about this earlier?” Martha gasped.
“I... I didn't know what to say,” Clark stammered. “I guess I was embarrassed.”
“Well, I dunno know what we can do about the Talon,” Jonathan said. “I mean, it's not against the law to sweet-talk your husband into making a bad business decision.”
There was a knock on the door and Jonathan stood up as Martha exclaimed, “No, but trying to seduce a teenage boy is! I'm calling the school board, first thing in the morning, and getting this woman suspended!”
Clark looked round to see Sheriff Ethan walk in. “A teacher down at the high school, Mrs. Luthor, claims she saw Clark set her car on fire.”
Clark blinked. “What...?” He wondered if Desiree was feeling threatened by him and, even in the midst of the crisis, Clark felt a little bit happy at the thought.
“That's three suspicious fires in as many days, Clark. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you into custody until we can sort this out.”
Panic rose up in him. “Mom, Dad! This is a mistake!” Clark exclaimed.
“We know,” Martha told him, gently.
“Clark! I want you to do what Ethan says. We'll figure this thing out, I promise,” Jonathan said.
“Just turn around, son,” Ethan told him.
Clark turned around and put his hands behind his back to be cuffed.
If this was all because of his feelings for Lex, she must feel really threatened.
*
Jail was not fun.
Clark was now sure of this.
Even though Chloe and Lana were there, telling him all about Desiree, Clark did not like jail.
“So she tried to seduce me to kill him,” Clark said, after Chloe and Lana told him all about Desiree. “Why'd she think I'd do it?”
“Pheromones!” Chloe said, as though it was the answer for anything.
“Chloe...” Clark sighed.
“Clark, she was in the throes of major passion when the meteors hit!” Chloe exclaimed. “If her pheromone levels were enhanced, she could get a guy to do whatever she wants! Lucky for us, Clark Kent seems to be immune to the opposite sex.” She raised an eyebrow at him and he blushed and looked away from them both. Lana just looked confused.
He realised, as his two friends left, that his dad had gone to see Desiree.
He groaned.
He had to get out of the cell.
He looked up at a spot on the wall and sighed.
Naked Lex... Naked sweaty Lex... Naked sweaty writhing Lex...
Less than a minute later the fire alarms were going off.
*
When Clark burst into Lex’s mansion less than ten minutes later, Jonathan Kent was literally about to shoot Lex.
He melted the bullet in mid air.
He didn’t even have to think about Lex that time. Lex was in front of him, after all.
He ran over and pulled Jonathan away from Lex before he could shoot again, slamming him into the wall. Clark didn’t want to hurt his father, but he didn’t want his father to kill Lex, either. While he was preoccupied with his dad, Desiree smashed one of Lex’s expensive bottles of brandy on his back.
And then set fire to him with a lighter.
His back went up in flames.
“Lex!” Clark shouted, jumping up as Desiree ran to the door. He heated the door handle then turned to Lex.
“Clark!” Lex shouted, writhing around the flames.
Clark grabbed the nearest curtain and threw it over Lex’s back, knocking them both to the ground as he smothered the flames. As soon as he’d put the flames out he rolled Lex onto his back, running his hands over his chest to make sure he was still in one piece. When he realised he was he rocked back onto his ankles and sighed with relief, offering Lex a tired smile.
Lex returned it and flopped back onto the ground, breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” Clark asked, quietly.
Lex nodded. “I’m fine...”
*
Clark was rocking on his hammock in his loft when Lex found him.
“Clark. I was hoping I'd find you,” he said, as he walked up the stairs.
“Hey Lex. How you feeling?” Clark climbed off the hammock.
“Like I'm waking up from a bad dream,” Lex admitted.
I know how you feel. “You really loved her, didn't you?” Clark asked, slowly.
“I thought I did.” Lex sighed. “I filed for an annulment, which my lawyers tell me should be final in a couple of days. I'll let the police deal with Desiree.” Lex walked to stand by the window and Clark followed.
“And when that's finished?” Clark asked, carefully.
“Try to be more cautious. I let my passion get the best of me. I won't make that mistake again.” Lex looked round.
“Lex... I don't think having passion is such a bad thing,” Clark said. He shrugged. “If it’s aimed at the right person ...”
“You're right, Clark. Passion for life and work and friends is great. As long as you keep it in check.”
Clark sighed. “Just for friends?
Lex shrugged. “Sometimes if you have passion for the most trustworthy of friends... it can be enough. Or it can become more.”
Clark nodded as Lex turned to walk away.
The sound of shoes hitting the floorboards stopped. Clark turned around to see Lex looking at him.
“It occurs to me that we never saw Die Hard Three. Or that chick flick you were so adamant I should see. What was it called, again?”
“Chocolat,” Clark said, with a small smile.
“Got any plans for tomorrow night?” Lex asked.
“Not really,” Clark replied.
“Okay.” Lex smiled at him. “Bring any homework you have and some chips. I’ll bring the movies.”
Clark grinned. “Seven?”
“Make it seven-thirty.”
Lex started to walk away then stopped again. “For the record,” he said. “I missed our movie nights.”
Clark smiled. “Me too.”
Next: Chapter 8