Author: Marag and
Terpsichore
Title: Sleeper
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Boy meets
Girl. Boy gets Girl. Boy wonders what all the fuss was about.
Boy schmucks head first into the clue bus.
Challenge: Lana decides to
corner Clark (sexually). Clark runs like the wind... right to Lex.
Disclaimer: Yeah right
- it's not like they belonged to Millar or Gough when they dreamed it up.
Feedback address: clearasmud@sympatico.ca and
terpsichore@bellsouth.net
Homepage URL: www.angelfire.com/falcon/insanityoutlet
Sleeper
Marag and Terpsichore
Lana Lang looked at Whitney,
really looked at him, for the first time while eating pizza.
She wasn't sure if she liked
what she saw.
Whitney was typical of a
small town: no ambition, no real future, just a vague dream about professional
football.
Whitney would simply grow up,
eventually take over management of the department store; at least until a
Wal-Mart moved in and shut them down, and live out his life just like his
father and grandfather.
Maybe he'd drink. Small town football hero living life
vicariously through his sons. Get a job
coaching the Crows. Pretending not to
laugh when some poor wimp is found crucified in a cornfield. Heart Attack at 50.
His wife at his side; raising
the children, ignoring the infidelities.
Suddenly, blindingly, Lana realised that no matter what her future held,
becoming Mrs Whitney Fordman was not part of it.
Lana looked at herself, and
for the first time in a long time felt so much the small town virgin princess
she knew everyone thought she was.
Lana put down her knife and
fork, her taste for pizza gone.
…Her taste for Whitney gone.
Laughter from another table
caught her attention. Chloe and Pete were there, together with Clark and Lex.
How sweet, a double date
The realisation of that
thought jarred her back to reality.
/'a double date'. Oh.
My. God.?/
Clark and Lex??
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
Clark was...
…hers?
Whitney asked a question and
Lana agreed without knowing what he had said; she hoped she hadn't just agreed
to have sex with him.
Whitney had been pushing
lately. he wanted more, and it's not like she could remain a virgin
forever. But somehow...
She glanced over at Clark
Lex was whispering something
into his ear - his lips seemed to be almost touching Clark. Clark closed his eyes as he listened and Lana
felt a slow anger building in her soul
Whitney shifted beside her,
and Lana realised that he had finished so it was time to go. Lana never had desert or coffee but he could
have asked. He never did.
Clark had a chocolate sundae
in front of him now
Lex reached over and stole
the cherry from the top and ate it without a second glance.
Lana decided she hated Lex
Luthor. No one should be able to do
irony with that much ease.
Whitney put his arm around
her with a possessiveness that usually made her feel protected, but tonight
made her feel trapped.
They walked by the other
table, and Pete and Chloe waved. Clark
looked up, smiled quickly, then went back to his sundae.
Lex looked her in the eye;
"I've won" his expression said.
No, she thought to herself,
not just yet Lex Luthor, not just yet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whitney pulled the truck over
just before the turnoff to her house.
He didn't ask, he just
assumed; he'd always been right before because Lana knew the rules - you get to
play innocent, but you still had to put out a little - you let it happen and he keeps his mouth
shut and keeps it from going too far.
You get to keep your virginity, and your reputation.
You still get to be a
Princess.
His tongue in her mouth felt
fat and slimy as he pawed at her. No finesse; he made her feel like a football.
She didn't stop him
Whitney had a temper, but she
knew how to control him.
"Whitney please, it's
late, Nell will be wondering where I am."
"Yeah, so?"
She pasted a smile on her face,
she knew it made her look vapid, but if it got her out of the truck she didn't
care.
"Whitney, don't be
silly, I have to get home."
Whitney huffed out an
obscenity, but he started the truck and drove her to her door.
"I had a nice time,
goodnight." Lana was out the door
and into the house before Whitney had a chance to open his mouth.
Lana didn't sleep well that
night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neither did Lex.
Something about the look Lana
had given him earlier had made him pause.
Lex firmly believed in the
adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". For the most part, the Talon accomplished
that.
He'd been watching Lana
watching Clark - he had not liked
what he had seen.
There was most assuredly
trouble in paradise. Quarterback looked
like his usual Cro-Magnon self. but something about the Princess seemed out of
the norm. It was one thing to have to
cope with Clark and his puppy love, but he'd be dammed if the object of his
obsession was allowed to look at him the same way.
Clark can look,
that can be tolerated
Lana is NOT
allowed to look back - that is
unacceptable
The surge of possessiveness
that often came with such thought presented itself in the usual manner.
Lex closed his eyes and
reached for his erection. There was no
fantasy, no finesse - just random
thoughts of Clark - his hand instead of
Lex's; hard, a little rough…
…fast…
…possessive…
Lex arched his back, eyes and
jaw clenched tight.
"Mine, Goddamnit, Clark
is mine you bitch."
He pulled harder, faster - needing to come - needing to come now !
He felt the familiar tingle
and new he was close. He let his hand
become Clark's mouth…
…and came violently, Clark's
name a scream trapped in his throat.
Sleep still was a long time
in coming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lana watched as Clark helped
his mother load up the truck, laughing at some comment she'd made. When had Clark gotten so handsome?
Lana sighed as she felt a
beefy hand on her shoulder...
Clark’s hands were huge, but she
bet they were gentle. Not like
Whitney's.
"Hi Whitney, are you
finished at the store?"
"Yeah. Are you ready?"
Lana took one last look at
Clark. "Yes, I guess I am."
"C'mon then."
Lana followed Whitney to the
truck "So, where to?"
"I know just the
place." Whitney put the truck in
gear and pointed it out of town towards the clearing the kids all referred to
as the Crop Circle.
Lana suspected where they
were going but stayed silent. Last time
he had touched her, she had felt nothing save a vague sense of disgust.
Maybe this time it would be
different.
When Whitney stopped the
truck and slid across the seat to pull Lana to him she didn't resist.
Whitney tasted stale. Faintly of beer and cigarettes and sweat and
Lana pulled back reflexively.
"Lana, what is your
problem?"
"Nothing, nothing
Whitney, um, have you been smoking?" Lana pasted a smile on her face to
take the accusation out of her words. She tried to ignore the hand still on her
breast.
"Yeah. So what. It calms me down. Let's get back to what we were doing."
"What are we doing
Whitney?"
"I'd think you could
figure that out, Lana." Whitney
squeezed the breast under his hand and slid his free hand high up on Lana's
thigh.
Lana managed not to pull away
from the groping hands. She couldn't
hold back a shudder. Whitney didn't
notice.
Whitney's hand slipped from
her breast and he lifted the hem of her shirt, tracing a return journey
underneath the fabric
The feel of his bare sweaty
fingers on her nipple was the breaking point. She couldn't do this.
"Whitney - no"
"Lana! Stop being such a fucking tease. You do this
every damn time we come out here. I am going to die of blue balls."
Whitney's fingers tightened
on both her breast and her thigh.
"No - please - I don't
want to do this now."
"You never want to do it
‘now’. It's always 'You know that I want to save myself' or
'Later Whitney' - only so far, Whitney.
'That's enough, Whitney'. 'Wait, Whitney'." His voice was mocking, "You get off on it don't you? Getting me
worked up and then cutting me off."
"If you loved me..."
"Shit!" Whitney backed into the driver's seat. "Same song, same verse, never ending… If
you loved me you would.... If you loved me you wouldn't.... That's always your
argument. You always fall back on that one." Whitney hit the steering
wheel with one fist.
"Oh Whitney, you don't
understand. Nell always says..."
"I understand alright.
You're an uptight prude, which is really a laugh since your role model is one
of Lionel Luthor's whores."
"Nell and Lionel may
have had a relationship, but that has nothing to do with us. Look Whitney, I've been thinking…"
"Yeah, right. Since
when?" He muttered under his breath
Lana paused, but didn't
outwardly react; Clark wouldn't treat
her like this. Clark worshipped her.
"Whitney, I think we
need some time apart... Maybe we should see other people"
"What?!? Are you breaking up with me?"
"I'm not breaking up,
just suggesting maybe we need some space, try to become friends again."
Whitney snorted but didn't
say anything.
"I'm not saying we have
to date other people.."
"Who is it?"
"What? Who is who Whitney?"
"Who's got your panties
in a twist? Who are you dumping me for?
'Cause what ever pretty words you want to use, that's what you're doing."
"It's not like that -
we're friends, just friends"
"Who?"
Lana pulled back a bit at the
rage in his voice.
"You are so full of SHIT
Lana. Just friends. Right.
You think we should date other people.
You won't let me touch you. It's
obvious your hot for somebody, and it's not me, because you never give me
any. Ever."
Lana turned away. "There is no one else. I just think I need to spend time with other
friends, without a boyfriend."
Whitney barked a humourless
laugh. "Right. Lana Lang. Alone."
"It's not like that Whitney.
You know that I just want to save myself for someone special."
"I thought I *was* your someone special."
"I'm standing in your
way Whitney. You want to get out of
Smallville you want a future in the big world."
"You've always known
that."
"I'm just a small town
girl."
"Why does that suddenly
make a difference now?"
"I don't want to be your
biggest regret. I love my life here, I
can't imagine ever leaving; the land is in my blood. You'll move on. I'll be left behind." Lana was pleased as the sincerity in her
voice, she didn't want to hurt Whitney; not really. She just wanted Clark.
Lex can't have him.....
Whitney snorted again and
looked away. "That's not what
you're worried about. I'm standing in your
way. Your way to somebody else."
"I'm sorry,
Whitney."
"Whatever,
Lana." Whitney started the
truck. "You explain this away any
way that will make you feel like a Princess, but I know what a bitch you can
be."
The truck skidded slightly as
Whitney turned back onto the main highway.
Lana wondered where Clark
was.
"Who are you thinking
about, Lana?"
"He's not... there's no
one else"
"HE who?"
"Who?"
"You said ‘He's’ not.
‘He’, who?"
Lana gathered her
thoughts. "The only people I hang out
with are you, Clark from time to time, and of course.... Le... my boss. Not that many ‘He's’ in my life."
Whitney looked over at
Lana. "Lex? Lex Luthor?
You've *got* to be kidding me!"
He began to laugh, genuine
laughter. "If that's who you mean,
you haven't got a shot."
Lana wondered if she should
be insulted or relieved. "Oh? What makes you so certain of that?" If he thought she was after Lex, he'd leave
Clark alone.
Whitney glanced at her, a
smirk stretched across his face.
"Face it, honey. You maybe be the best thing going in
Smallville but, I've seen the type of women that Lex gets. You don't stand a chance. You aren't even close to being in that
league. Lex Luthor. What a fucking joke."
"Whitney, I'm sorry if I
hurt you, but what I feel for Lex is something you just couldn't understand."
/Contempt/ she finished to herself.
Whitney pulled the truck to
the side of the road. They were still
about a mile from Lana's house.
"Whitney?"
"First, I'm not stupid. I think even you know that there's no way you
could get Luthor. I don't believe it's
him you're after. Which just leaves
Clark Fucking Kent and if you think you're going to get him you are truly
delusional, sugarplum, cause I may not know Lex Luthor well, but I do know that
he doesn't share. You aren't even a good
liar. A lousy kisser. And yeah, you're breaking up with me for your
own reasons, but I've got a feeling you’re doing me a favour." Whitney reached across the seat and opened
the passenger door. "Goodbye
Lana."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lana took a
moment to check her hair, then got out of the car and walked to the door of the
Kent farm with a confidence she honestly didn't feel.
"Hi,
Mrs Kent, is Clark busy?"
"Lana? Clark is in the barn, but isn't it a little
late for you to be here?
"I
know, but I really needed to see Clark - I hope that's okay?"
Knowing her
innocence let her get away with things, Lana was still pleased when Mrs Kent
sent her out to the barn.
Pasting what
she hoped was a sincerely worried expression on her face she headed up to the
barn/loft where she knew Clark hid.
"Clark,
are you up here?"
"Umm,
yeah. Lana?"
"Hi."
"Hi." Clark stood at the top of the stairs and
looked down at her. "What's wrong? You ok?"
"Yes. I just, well, l I needed to talk to
someone"
"Oh! Uh, c'mon up."
The smile
was genuine. "Thanks."
Lana looked
around; it was a barn, but it was a strangely comfortable place to be… or maybe
that was just because Clark was here.
Clark
stuffed his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. "You want to have a seat or
something?"
"Um,
yeah, thanks." Lana took a seat,
and took a deep breath to gather her resolve.
She knew she was taking a chance here.
"Clark, I wanted to tell you
something. It shouldn't be hard, but it is."
"What
is it Lana? Are you ok?" Suddenly Clark was all concern, crouching in
front of her, an earnestly worried look on his face.
Lana decided
it was the sexiest thing she had ever seen.
She reached out and gently ran her hand along Clark’s face.
"Whitney
and I broke up. He said... well to be
fair, we both said things to each other, and this time there is no going
back." The hand stopped and cradled
Clarks cheek.
“Wow."
Lana ran her
thumb along Clark's cheekbone.
"It's
for the best"
Clark pulled
back slightly, but not very far.
"Are you okay?"
"I know
Whitney and I want different things out of life. It hurts, but not as much as I thought it
would."
"That's
rough, Lana. I'm sorry."
The thumb
continued to caress, Clark wasn't reacting much, but he wasn’t pulling away
either.
"There's
more Clark, and I feel a little foolish"
Clark
reached out and rubbed her shoulder soothingly. "What is it?"
The warmth
of his touch was incredible, it was all Lana could do not to purr.
"Whitney
thinks, well… he thinks there is someone else."
"Is
there? Sorry, none of my business.
Lana, he didn't, well, he didn't *do* anything did he? I know Whitney has a temper."
Lana leaned
in to the hand on her shoulder.
"No, but I'm a little afraid he might hurt… hurt the person he
thinks I'm interested in. I mean I'm
not - not interested in that person but
it was easier not to correct him; to let him think there was someone else. I didn't want to hurt him, and he just jumped to conclusions… and I let
him."
Lana let her
had drop. She really did feel like an
idiot. She knew that Whitney didn't for
a second believe her tall tale of trying for Lex, but Clark, well if he
discovered and misunderstood…
"Who
Lana? Who does Whitney think...?"
"Lex."
"Lex?!?" Clark stood up fast and backed away a couple
of steps. "You let Whiney think
that..."
He took a
deep breath and his eyes narrowed.
"Lana, you don't like Lex do you?"
"No!"
"You
just let Whitney think you did."
Clark ran his hand through his hair and took another step back.
"Even
if I thought for a second I was in his league, well, I'm hardly his type, am
I?"
Clark turned
to look at her again, "What does that mean?"
Lana looked
up into confused, angry eyes. //Oh. My.
God. He doesn't know//
"Nothing. I'm sorry Clark. I.. it
was easier to let Whitney believe"
"Lana. Just."
Clark sighed. "Shit."
"Lex can
take care of himself."
Clark barked
a laugh. "Right. Like he hasn't been beat up by this town
enough. Now you've sicced Whitney on
him."
Lana stood
up. "I'm so sorry, but I was less
worried about Lex than about..."
Lana sighed
and walked over to Clark and put a hand flat on his chest.
"Whitney
won't be able to get into the castle, so he's fine toni... Lana?"
"You
see Clark, there is someone, someone very important to me, and I didn't want
Whitney to hurt him."
Clark
blinked and looked down at the hand on his chest.
Lana smiled
sheepishly up at Clark. "I guess I
should go."
"Lana?"
Lana slid
her hand up his chest and around his neck.
Standing up on tip-toes, she put pressure on Clark's neck to bring his
head down to hers.
"Lana,
what are you.. mmmmppphhh."
Clark's
words were cut off as his lips met Lana's. His hands went automatically to her
hips and he held himself very, very still.
Lana. Kissing.
Him.
Everything
he wanted.
But...
Lana had intended
to keep the kiss chaste, but when she felt Clark's hands on her hips she felt a
surge of passion and opened her lips for him.
Clark
deepened the kiss for a second.
He hoped
Whitney wouldn't try anything with Lex before he could warn him.
Maybe he
should go see Lex first thing in the morning.
Movement of
Lana's tongue brought him back to the moment.
He was
kissing Lana.
Kissing Lana
, and thinking of
…of
Lex.
He slowly
lifted his head and took a deep breath and pressed a kiss onto Lana's forehead.
"Wow,
Clark that was... amazing"
"Lana. I, uh..." Clark backed up a step.
"What's
wrong Clark?"
"Nothing! Nothing.
It's just that it's late.
And..."
Clark backed
up another step.
Lana followed,
invading his personal space, there was no real need to keep a distance now.
"Won't
Nell be wondering where you are?"
"Oh, I
guess it is late."
"Yeah. Late."
"I'll
see you tomorrow?"
"Sure. Maybe.
You're working right? We'll come get
some coffee tomorrow afternoon."
"We?"
"Huh?"
"You
said ‘We’. Oh God, Clark you're not
dating Chloe are you. Oh Clark, it never
even occurred to me....."
"What?! No! I
meant Lex. Now that Whitney is after
him.... Maybe we shouldn't come by the Talon after all."
"Please
come, I'd like to see you."
"I
don't want Whitney getting the wrong idea about Lex."
"Clark? Was I wrong?"
"Hmmm?