Clarks’ dream always starts the same way. He arrives in time to see Pete and Chloe nosedive off the edge of the cliff in Pete’s car. But he doesn't save them. He's too late, and he watches as the car hits the ground and bursts into flames, his two best friends trapped inside. 

He wakes up, strangled scream caught in his throat, and it always takes him a minute to remember that it's just a dream. Pete and Chloe are both recuperating at their respective homes, recently released from the hospital after those things were taken out of their bodies. Clark had arrived in time to catch the car mere seconds before it hit the ground, mixture of relief and anger coursing through his body at the sound of his infected friends’ whoops and laughter. 

He almost got there too late. Almost. If Lex hadn't pulled his shirt off.... 

Forbidden thoughts threaten to arouse and suffocate, but he pushes them away. Overwhelming pull of desire and fear of what if? 

 But he won’t go there. He can't think about that. It’s something he won't even let himself dream about; something that would have lost him his two best friends, and had probably cost him his friendship with Lex, forever. 

So he avoids the subject. Avoids Lex. And gets very little sleep in the process. 

Lex, on the other hand, dreams about it every night. Can’t help but think about it every minute of every day, whether he’s at work, home, or anywhere else. Distraction becomes something so hard to come by that he’s starting to look forward to his father's surprise visits. It’s the only time he can keep his mind off of Clark. 

But his father hasn't shown up today and a lonely game of pool would only make matters worse. So he stupidly shows up here, thinking he could use the conference as a distraction; using the excuse that it’s good to keep his employees on their toes, never knowing when the boss would drop by. 

It doesn’t take long, however, before Lex is bored and very aware that that is precisely the reason he never attends these things. 

All he wants now is to get the hell out of here, get in his car, and find Clark. He knows this isn't a good time to think about him, knows he should at least try and pay attention to the meeting, but he just can't help it. His mind, drowning out something about putting together new research teams, is already in the past.   

 Lex walks in the barn and sees Chloe in Clark's arms; the scene does something to him his father only dreams of doing. It wasn't so much Chloe, he didn't really care how she looked at Clark, only that she was touching him, and more importantly that Clark was touching her. And that he was looking at her with that same hungry expression. He barely registers Pete sneering at him over the loft railing. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" 

Clark rolls his eyes and puts Chloe down. "You are. Not that it matters. What do you want, Lex?" Clark says, his attention on Chloe as she jumps on Pete’s back. 

"Just a moment of your time, if it’s not too much of an inconvenience." 

"Only a moment? Somehow I thought it would last longer." Clark says suggestively to Pete and Chloe. The two teens snicker and share a knowing glance.   

But Lex doesn’t car because Clark is looking at him now. Lazy, half smile on his face that subtly screams out danger. The air suddenly so charged with electricity you could practically hear it crackling. 

Lex can't look away, but Clark breaks eye contact when he turns to Pete and Chloe, Cheshire cat grin in place.  

"I'll catch up with you later guys." He says, slapping Chloe on the butt as she walks by with a pout. She giggles and hooks her arm in Pete's.  

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She throws over her shoulder and runs to the car as Pete groans and chases her. 

Clarks attention is back on Lex, his smile seeming a bit more dangerous than it was a second ago and their eyes are locked once again, but this time they're all alone, and Lex suddenly feels like prey.  

Clark takes a slow step towards him. "So what was it you wanted, Lex?" 

"Clark? Is everything okay? You're not acting like yourself." Lex responds standing his ground. 

"On the contrary, Lex, I've never felt better. And this is more me than you have ever had the privilege of seeing before." He takes another step forward, and when Lex doesn't say anything, fills in the silence. “You know what, Lex?" He asks not giving Lex a chance to answer.  "I'm glad you stopped by when you did. Another few minutes and you would have missed me." 

"I would have just caught you some other time." Lex allows Clark to advance. He isn’t sure where this conversation is going, but he doesn’t like the look in Clarks’ eyes. 

"No, no." Clark says shaking his head, his smile growing smug. "This is good. Just a few more minutes and we both may have missed this opportunity. Any other time..." He trails off shrugging. "No. This is good."  

"Clark, what did you take?" Concern is in his voice, and he’s unable to hide the fear that's taken root in his stomach. 

"Take? I didn't take anything, Lex. And you're not exactly one to talk." Clark mocks as he finishes off the distance between them. Lex could walk away, step back, at least put some space between them. But he never steps back from his father, and this is Clark. He has no reason to step back from Clark. At least, he never had one before, but the look in Clark's eye is one Lex has seen before. Only once. This time, however, there’s something more in that look. Something he can’t quite put his finger on.  

Anger. Amusement. Hunger? 

The last thought startles Lex and he goes to step away, but Clark has his wrist in a vice grip and Lex can’t break loose.  

Lex shudders, the smirk plastered on Clark’s face a chilling imitation of his own, but that isn’t the reason he’s shaking. Clark’s looking at him the same way he was looking at Chloe, yet somehow, it’s more intense. The thought is something Lex thinks he’s imagining as he looks at the hand binding his, and wonders if Clark can feel his wild heart beat.  

He gives another experimental pull, but Clark won’t budge.  

"Where are you going, Lex? You haven’t told me what you've come for, yet. You wanted a moment of my time, here I am." Clark sweeps his free hand across the barn. "We're all alone, no one here to disturb us."  

Clark's gaze is piercing. Sparks of red flash in hazel eyes and Lex isn’t sure it’s a play on light. Heat practically radiating off Clark’s skin, and he thinks they'll be burn marks on his wrist if Clark doesn’t let go soon. Tries to pull free of his grasp again, but only manages to bring Clark closer. 

"Clark, let me go. You need help." 

Clark leans in, and Lex could swear he feels lips touch his ear when Clark whispers, "No, see, it's you that needs help, Lex. And I'm here to give to you." Hot breath sends shivers down Lex’s spine, and he almost misses what Clark is saying. Nearly jumps out of his skin when Clark puts the hand not gripping his wrist on his hip.  

"Clark! What are you doing?" 

"I'm helping you, Lex." Clark mumbles right before he bends his head down and licks a stripe on his neck.  

This time Lex does jump, but Clark holds him down, and it's starting to hurt. Turns his head to tell Clark as much and stops short when Clark's mouth connects with his. It's not the way he always fantasized it would be like. No soft, tentative brushes, but hard, teeth clashing, tongue delving, heat. He tries to resist, but Clark is relentless, both hands now digging into his hips, and Lex is sure he'll have bruises there tomorrow, but he doesn't care. Clark is kissing him. He shouldn't let this happen. Knows it's a mistake, but he can't move Clark, no matter how hard he pushes, and he's only dreamt of this from the moment Clark brought him back to life. Can't help but eventually give as much as he’s being given. And he's going to need to come up for air soon, but if he dies now, it won't be a bad way to go. 

Clark's hands start to roam when he feels Lex give into the kiss, freeing the older mans hands. He’s pulling Lex’s shirt up and caressing the skin on his back, and it drives Lex crazy that Clark is touching his skin, but he's not touching Clark. Starts to unbutton Clark's shirt but Clark's not giving him enough room, his hands traveling south, and Lex is just too close, so he just grabs hold and pulls as hard as he can. Buttons go flying into hidden corners of the barn where they'll never be found again, and Lex’s hands finally find what they were seeking. Hard, toned muscles that ripple every time he runs his hands over them, and he can’t get enough. Knows he’s out of control, but this is Clark.  

His Clark.  

“Mine,” Lex growls before biting Clarks’ neck and is rewarded with a moan and a shove that connects his back with a support beam. Clarks’ whole body pressed up against him now, his hands back on Lex’s hips, and when his teeth sink into Lex’s neck, Lex can’t help but buck up.  

It’s not until Lex feels Clark grind into his hip that he truly loses it. Has to see Clark naked now, and it doesn’t matter that anyone could walk in at any moment.   

Slides his hands up to Clarks’ shoulders and pushes the shirt off, protesting as Clark momentarily lets him go to shuck the shirt to the ground. But his hands are back on him in a flash and just as he lets out a sigh of relief, they're gone again. 

And that's when the dream finally gives way to reality, Lex thinks as someone’s voice drones on about employee stock options. He remembers how Clark had stood there in front of him, shirt off, mouth bruised and swollen, eyes wide. Lex knew then that the whole thing was a mistake. They had stood there speechless for what felt like forever when Clark had finally tried to speak. But all he got out was Lex’s name when his eyes suddenly got impossibly wider and he sped off, a whispered apology hanging in the air behind him. 

In Lex's dream, things don't end that way. 

But the meeting is over and it’s time for him to finally go home. Not that there's any comfort in that. Lex can still feel Clark’s fingers digging into his hips; he can still remember how Clark smelled, how he tasted. 

It doesn’t take long for Lex to realize that it isn’t just that moment that he misses. He misses Clark. A feeling he hasn’t felt for many people, most having sailed through his life without so much as a ripple. 

Clark had left behind a tidal wave. 

But Clark’s gone; went as far as hastily leaving any room Lex entered; face averted, acting as if Lex hadn’t called his name. He would call the house or drop by, but he’s sure Clark would be conveniently out or unavailable. He knows it may be a very bad idea, but he needs to see him. He needs to know if Clark, like the other two teens, has forgotten all about their little interlude. 

Bumping into him outside of the Talon is simply a matter of good timing. 

“Lex. Uhhh, hi. How are you?” 

Lex takes a second to take in the boys’ deep blush and in that moment knows that Clark, unlike the others, hasn’t forgotten a thing. Not surprising considering Clark isn’t like anyone Lex had ever known.  

“Don’t even try for a minute to tell me you don’t remember what happened, Clark.” 

“I, uhh, I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lex, but can it wait? I have to-“ 

Lex grabs Clark’s wrist and when the boys’ eyes grow wide he knows he’s getting his point across. “We need to talk.” 

“Lex, I-“

 “Not here.” Lex squeezes Clarks’ wrist but doesn’t let go. He tilts his head to the car parked beside him. “Get in.” 

Clark swallows hard, staring at the car, and gives a weak nod when it’s clear Lex isn’t going to take no for answer. Clark knows he could take off as soon as Lex lets go, could pull free, and Lex would never know he was gone until it was too late. But Lex deserves an explanation. Or at the very least an apology. So when Lex does let him go, he gets in the car, and tries to make himself as small as possible throughout the silent ride to the mansion. 

Clark’s slouched form tells Lex this is going to be hard. The boy looks so miserable that Lex starts to think this may be a bad idea. Perhaps he should just let things be and allow the friendship to slip away. Perhaps there’s no helping what has happened in the past and no healing to be had in their future, but Lex still wants to try. He pulls into the driveway, puts the car in park and turns to his anxious passenger. 

“Clark. Whatever it was that happened, whatever you were or weren’t on, that’s not why you’re here. I just want to talk.” 

When Clark nods but refuses to look up, Lex decides taking him home may be the best solution. Letting go is hard, but watching Clark suffer wasn’t part of the plan; except that Clark is suddenly out of the car and heading inside. So Lex follows suit, daring to hope that this is his chance at making things right. 

As soon as he gets inside Clark turns around and immediately begins to apologize. 

“I’m so sorry, Lex. I know I’ve been avoiding you but I di –” 

“Whoa. Hold on, Clark. That’s no— Wait. What exactly are you sorry for?” 

“What am I sorry for, you—? Lex, god, I practically attacked you.” Clark reddens at his own words, but refuses to look away. 

“So, you’re sorry you came on to me?” And if a note of disappointment slips through, there’s nothing Lex can do about it but hope that Clark doesn’t notice. 

But Clark notices, his features warring between shock and embarrassment. He can’t believe what he’s hearing. Can’t believe they’re even having this conversation. Something so surreal it makes him dizzy, and is it getting hotter in the room? 

“Lex, what…You can’t be serious. I almost rap— “ 

“No.” 

“What?” 

“You almost did nothing of the sort.” 

Clark swallows and shakes his head. “Don’t. Don’t try and make this okay. You pushed me away, Lex. You tried to stop me and I wouldn’t stop. Th— “ 

“As I recall, Clark, I wasn’t the only one with a tongue shoved down my throat.” 

Lex watches as Clarks embarrassment wins, blush deepening, and he can’t help but wonder if the rest of his body is just as flushed. 

When Clark doesn’t respond, Lex turns to get a drink before continuing, his back to Clark. 

“Like I said, I didn’t bring you here for apologies. I know you weren’t affected by whatever those things were that were pulled out of Chloe and Pete’s bodies, but you were  riding high on something, Clark, and like you said, I’m not one to talk. However, it was you who backed out at last minute, and I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve been avoiding me like the plague ever since. All I want is to ask you to not let what happened back there affect our friendship.” Lex stops, bringing the glass to his lips. When Clark stays silent, he goes on. “Obviously you weren’t yourself, an— “ 

“Actually, I remember telling you the very opposite.” Clark whispers, so softly Lex almost misses it. 

Lex turns, not sure if he heard right, only to find Clark caught in an internal struggle. Pure anguish at whatever thoughts plague his mind. He identifies the look with one he’s seen before when Clark is trying to find a way out of telling the truth. 

He always knows when Clark is lying, and he doesn’t think he’ll be able to handle one now. 

“Clark?” 

Clark’s not looking at Lex. Brow furrowed, head down, and when he finally speaks it’s obvious he’s still not sure of how to proceed. 

He raises his head only to stop at Lex’s chest, unable to meet his eyes.

“… I wasn’t on anything, Lex. No, don’t. Just, just let me talk okay?” 

Lex closes his mouth and nods slowly, curiosity burning in his eyes. 

“I didn’t take anything. I mean, I was.... It’s complicated.” 

“… I swear, Lex, one day I’ll be able to explain everything, but for right now… The way I was acting, It didn’t, I didn’t have that thing in my body, but I might as well have. Whatever it was that— well, it had the same effect as those things.” Clark sighs in frustration and finally looks up at Lex. “The reason I ran off wasn’t because of, what we were doing.” Clark stumbles.  “Chloe and Pete, they were infected. I knew that were going to get themselves in trouble. I had to go and find them. I had to stop them from doing anything stupid. Another second longer, if you hadn’t taken off my shirt….” Clark pales as he thinks of what may have happened had he not reached his friends in time. 

When Lex opens his mouth, Clark cuts him off again. “I can’t really explain it all right now, but it wasn’t… me leaving… it wasn’t me regretting anything.” Clark continues, his now eyes studying his feet. “Of course, I may regret saying that in a minute when my brain catches up with my mouth, but— mmph.” 

Clark is nearly knocked to the ground when Lex’s mouth connects with his. Lex’s hands pulling at his hair, and Clark isn’t sure where to put his hands or what it was he’d said, just that this wasn’t the response he was expecting. 

“Have you been in the caves recently?” Clark asks breathlessly when Lex comes up for air. Sudden worry fills his eyes as he scans Lex’s neck for the creature responsible, and when he finds nothing, worry is quickly replaced by confusion. 

“I don’t understand.” 

Lex smirks, hands still tangled in his hair, body temptingly close.  

“What’s not to understand? I brought you here, thinking that I had somehow brought this behavior out in you; thinking I had to apologize to you, and hoping that you wouldn’t let what happened ruin our friendship. Instead, I get an apology I’m not sure you owe me, and a confession I thought I would only hear in my dreams.” 

“You’ve dreamed about this?” And it sounds like a ridiculous question in view of the position they’re in, but Clark has a hard time wrapping his mind around it. 

“Don’t think too hard, Clark. Your hands knew what they were doing before, you just have to learn to relax, and let them do what they do best. And I promise you they know exactly what to do.” He has to laugh when he can feel Clarks’ blush, and rests his head lightly on the boys’ shoulder. 

“Hey! No laughing.” Clark gripes as he wraps his arms around Lex. 

The embrace has Lex pulling back just enough so that he can take a good look at Clark. 

“Say the word, Clark, and this is all forgotten.”

There’s a warning there that Clark is just barely able to make out. He knows that whatever this is, whatever is going on between them, there’s no going back once he commits. Lex will never again look the other way when it comes to Clark and his secrets. It’s all or nothing and Lex is giving Clark one last chance to back out. 

He takes a minute to search Lex’s eyes; there’s a burning there that makes him anxious, but Lex isn’t asking him anything, either. At least not yet. He just wants to make sure that Clark knows that for this work, the truth will have to come out. Eventually. 

Lex is trying to be patient and that alone speaks volumes. 

Clark looks a little deeper and sees something he’s never seen before. Lex is holding his breath. Lex is nervous. And it could be fun to drag this out, but Clark thinks maybe Lex has waited long enough. 

“You know, Lex, when you said we had a destiny, I never thought you meant it quite this way.” 

Lex laughs again, not bothering to hide his relief. He studies the boys eyes, just as Clark has done to him, to be sure that his meaning came through clear, and sees a combination of nervous fear and acknowledgement. 

A combination he’s sure is reflecting in his own. 

“Trust me, Clark. This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”   

Lex is not going to pretend he isn’t curious about what exactly had brought the animal out in Clark, that faithful day. And he swears that Clark was this close to telling him something huge. 

But all of that could wait. 

In time, he knows that Clark will have to fess up to everything. Everything Lex is sure he already knows about the boy.   

Clark no longer dreams of what might have happened had he not reached Pete and Chloe in time. Nor does he avoid Lex. 

He now has better things to dream of. 

And he makes sure to bump into Lex, as often as possible.

End