Moonstone

Lex Luthor went up the steps to Clark's loft with lightness in his step. He was glad to be seeing his friend again. It would be just the two of them because he knew that the Kents would be out of town for at least the evening. It left him alone with Clark. Clark, his lover, he mouthed the words, rolling them over his tongue, tasting it. It was...delicious.

Lex leaned against the top railing for a moment gazing at Clark. Even with his insipid dress, Clark had an air about him that Lex found irresistible. But Lex was never about resisting temptation. He tended to relish that which he shouldn't have.

The sun was just slipping below the horizon casting the barn in shadow. The moon was full tonight and would shine directly into the loft. "Clark..." Lex intoned to the figure watching the sunset.

Clark jerked around to look at him in surprise, as if he wasn't expected. Lex had been waiting for this night for months. He knew Clark had been too. Although tonight Clark would end up being his in a way Clark had never imagined.

Lex stalked over to Clark, his very stance warning Clark of what was to come. He would warn his friend at least in manner if not in words, but if Clark stayed, if he accepted what was to come Lex was more than agreeable to take what was his.

When Lex was standing in front of him, he looked Clark over carefully, flicking a stray curl of hair out of Clark's eyes. When Clark reached up to grab Lex's hand, Lex jerked away. "No touching. Not allowed." Clark's eyes flashed in hurt but he nodded his acceptance

"Strip." Lex ordered.

Clark fumbled with the buttons on his shirt hastily to comply with Lex's order.

"Slowly." Lex added.

Lex let himself relax against the wall in the shadow, with his hands in his pocket, as Clark stripped in the light of the rising moon. Sometimes he liked to strip Clark and let Clark strip him. He so enjoyed the feel of Clark's hands on his body, but this time it was about something other than lust, although that was present too.

For a moment, Lex simply admired Clark in the half-light all lines and planes, light and shadow. Just looking was making him hard. Of course Clark was hard already, his cock hard against his belly, hard for him.

Soon, perhaps too soon Clark stood there, waiting for Lex. Lex knew that Clark was wondering what was coming next. Lex didn't want to telegraph what was coming next too completely, although he was sure that Clark knew at least knew most of it.

Lex toed his shoes off as he unbuttoned his shirt. He slowly walked towards Clark in his socking feet. He let his shirt slip off his shoulders and the light silk floated to the floor. Lex approached Clark and ran a finger over those lush lips. When Clark tried to suck it into his mouth, Lex shushed him.

Clark reached for his lover wanting to hold and touch. Lex stepped back. Clark moaned in distress. "Later, sweetheart. You can touch me later." He stepped behind Clark and put his hands on Clark's back.

"Wha--What are you doing?" Clark asked hesitantly.

Lex leaned over to whisper into Clark's ear. "I thought you knew, sweetheart. I'm going to fuck you. That's what you want isn't it?"

Clark arched, leaning into Lex's touch. "Yesssss, please."

Lex ran his hands over Clark's shoulders and rubbed them down his back. When he got to Clark's ass, Lex squeezed hard. "I'm going to fuck you so hard..." Clark moaned, but didn't reach out to touch Lex again. Lex reached his hand up and threaded his fingers through Clark's hair, jerking Clark's head back and twisting it so Lex could reach Clark's mouth.

"You're MINE. You belong to ME." He growled before kissing Clark viciously.

Clark whimpered at his touch. "You. Only you."

Lex twisted Clark around and pushed him back, only to have him sit with a thump on the coffee table behind him. Lex pushed Clark down onto his back and only then let him touch. He didn't say a word when Clark reached out to balance himself by holding onto Lex. Clark grabbed at him in alarm, but Lex knew what he was doing.

Lex towered over Clark, lying supine on the table. "Spread 'em." He rumbled from deep in his chest. Clark did and Lex reached into his pocket to get the lube.

With the tube in his hand, Lex unfastened his pants and let them drop. He stepped out of them and kicked them aside. He squeezed a generous amount of the lubricant on his left hand and dropped the tube on the floor at the end of the table.

Lex put one hand on Clark's chest and put his other between Clark's legs.

"Do you know how hot you look?" Lex asked Clark, while pressing a finger inside him. Lex leaned down and kissed Clark deeply, reaming Clark's mouth with his tongue. When Clark cautiously put his hands on Lex again, Lex said nothing. Lex nuzzled below Clark's ear, indicating that Clark was allowed to touch.

"So hot, all light and shadow." Lex murmured in Clark's ear while stretching him, preparing him.

"You're mine. I want you to remember that." Lex kissed Clark again, sucking his lower lip into his mouth and biting. He never bit hard enough to break the skin but the reaction from Clark was what Lex was looking for.

"Pleeessssee" Clark begged. Lex agreed.

Lex pulled back enough to be able to coat his cock with lubricant and in one smooth motion he breeched Clark, entering him completely in one stroke.

Clark gasped and moaned. "More."

Lex thrust into Clark brutally, again and again. "Remember, Clark. Remember who you belong to."

"YOU." Clark cried out.

"SHOW ME." Lex said savagely. "SHOW ME."

And Clark did, so very prettily. He leaned his head back and bared his neck, submitting. All so very pretty. And Lex reacted, instinctively.

As his hands clenched Clark's hips, clinging so tightly they should pierce the skin, Lex felt himself start to change. He felt his face twist and stretch. The muzzle that he knew would stretch out from him made him want to howl in pain but he did not. He felt his bones twist and change. He felt his teeth grow and elongate to great fangs, the fingers on his hands evolve into talons, and yet he still gripped Clark tightly his fingers cutting into Clark's flesh.

Then he smelled the blood. Lex reacted biting Clark deep in the neck, feeling the gush of Clark's blood down his throat. Clark's blood, hot, coppery, thick. It tasted of sunshine. Clark screamed his release, coming hard when Lex's canines ripped into his throat.

Lex's tongue came out and licked at the blood that bubbled from Clark's skin and the combination of the blood and Clark's own orgasm drove him over the edge as well.

Clark was his--now--forever. Never could they be parted in deed or word. Clark had given Lex his essence.
~~~
Lex Luthor woke with a start, nauseous, covered in sweat, with a wet, sticky, mess in his shorts. What the hell was that?? And what the hell did it mean??

Lex shook himself awake and sat up warily. It wasn't the first time he'd had an erotic dream about Clark. But this was something different. Not so much the blood play, he had been involved in such play before. But the violence and amount of blood was...unsettling, not to mention the transformation. He had never dreamed about changing into something else, much less a wolf, a hairless wolf at that. He shook himself again and took off to the bathroom. He needed to wash and settle himself before trying to sleep again.

He turned the shower on before he stripped. The heat melted his muscles in the shower. He hadn't realized that he was so tense from his dream. He let himself relax and tried to ignore it. A dream is just a dream and has no underlying meaning.

He finally realized he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep so he dressed to go down to the office. Before he left the room he picked up the moonstone pendant that was his mother. He didn't know what had possessed him to take it out of the case in his dressing room but last night.... He shrugged. Another mystery in the oddity that was Smallville.

There was always work to be done.

The next few days he got little sleep, each time he closed his eyes he feared that he'd have another dream.

Today however was different.

"Hurry, Clark, it's not too far now." Lex glanced back at Clark following him up the hill. They had an agreement, he led the way and Clark carried everything they would need, not that it was a hardship. Clark carried the backpack with a great deal of ease. Lex turned and jerked his long coat away from the brambles that had the audacity to snag on the edge.

Clark grinned at that. "You know you should wear something more practical."

"Today is not about practical. Today is about possibilities." Lex shot back at Clark. He hurried ahead up the steep grade of the dirt path. As he gathered speed, so did Clark until they came to the clearing almost at the top of the grade. "See." Lex said. "I told you there was a cave. And look." Lex stretched his arms wide and turned about. "The view."

The view truly was spectacular. A wide ledge in front of an open cave high up on the mountainside gave a clear view of the land below. His land. Lex pulled off the thin gloves he'd worn on the hike up the hill and tucked them in his coat pocket.

Clark shrugged the pack off and put it on the ground. "It's beautiful." Clark whispered as if he was afraid of disturbing the calm.

"Not near as beautiful as you." Lex said as he stepped up to Clark from behind.

Clark tossed the backpack down and approached the ledge. "I had no idea." He totally ignored the comment made by Lex.

Lex pressed his chest into Clark's back. His hands came around Clark to nimbly undo the buttons on the boy's shirt. "Look out there." He whispered the order into Clark's ear. "The sun will be down soon and I think the dying rays bathe the world in gold." He knew the words were poetic but he also knew they would capture Clark's attention far better than the words he truly wanted to say.

Skillful fingers crept under Clark's shirt then burrowed beneath his t-shirt. He felt Clark stiffen slightly but Lex continued. Lex's fingers ghosted across nipples that tautened at his touch. Undressing Clark was one of Lex's great pleasures and he had never been one to deny himself what he wanted. He still was rather surprised that Clark accepted it. So shy in many ways, Clark seemed to accept that Lex wanted him, that Lex enjoyed Clark's body.

As the sun dipped lower, stealing the light and, to a certain extent, the heat of the day Lex realized that he couldn't really savor the moment as much as he wished. He needed to hurry a bit.

One hand came out from under Clark's shirt and Lex tugged at the cuff of Clark's jacket. Clark shrugged and the jacket fell off of Clark's shoulder, Lex slipped it down and had to remove his other hand to complete the process.

The jacket was tossed aside and soon followed by Clark's long sleeved shirt. He didn't know why Clark wore such awful clothing but Lex never expressed any disdain for the selection. The most he would ever say was that Clark might look better in something else.

As Clark watched the sun slowly set at the edge of the ledge, Lex continued to strip him. Instead of taking Clark's t-shirt off, Lex reached into his pocket and removed a butterfly knife. With a flick of his wrist, it opened. Lex carefully slit the back of the shirt, using the knife to slit the collar at the neck neatly. With a slight tug, the remains of the shire floated down. Another flick of his wrist and the knife was closed and returned to the pocket of Lex's coat.

Lex's hands went to Clark's waist and the buckle was undone. Lex tugged on Clark's jeans and as they were lowered, Lex went to his knees with them. Clark toed off his shoes and stood in his socks with Lex at his feet.

Lex slithered around to kneel in front of Clark. Lex slowly lowered Clark's boxers and nuzzled his nose in Clark's crotch.

"Lex," Clark breathed out heavily. "You don't have to..."

"I know." Lex sighed. "I want to." And he did. Lex slid Clark's boxers down, nudged his ankles, and, when Clark raised his feet, pulled his boxers off and tossed them aside.

Lex licked the underside of Clark's cock, making Clark shiver. Most people saw giving head as a position of subservience. Lex didn't. He saw it as a position of power. It was amazing what men would promise when you had their cock in your mouth. And when the tables had been turned, Lex had had the fortitude to tuck himself back in and walk away. A strength that had been very hard fought to gain.

But this act had nothing, well, almost nothing, to do with power. It had to do with pleasure, Clark's pleasure and Lex's willingness to give it to him.

Lex didn't want to hurry but it had taken longer to get to the site than he had remembered and he wanted to finish before it was full dark. With one hand on Clark's hip and the other stroking his balls, Lex enthusiastically brought Clark off. Clark almost buckled when he came, but Lex braced him and pulled him down gently into his lap.

"Umm." Clark hummed and pulled Lex close to kiss, tasting himself on Lex's lips. "Like that."

"Thought you might." Lex thought about the leather gloves he'd tucked in his pocket. Perhaps one day he'd keep them on. It would certainly be different to have the only skin that touched Clark be his mouth.

"Not fair." Clark complained.

"Hmm?" Lex questioned.

"You're still dressed."

And Lex was still completely dressed, with Clark naked before him. Lex smiled at Clark. "Why don't you do something about that?"

Lex let Clark remove his coat and shirt but stopped him when Clark came to his pants. "Shoes." Lex commented. "But first..." Lex reached over and nimbly took one of the sleeping bags from the pack. It took a very few moments for him to have it loosened and opened out flat on the ground.

Clark was busy untying Lex's shoes and taking them off as Lex shook out the sleeping bag. With it on the ground, Clark shifted onto it and Lex dropped his pants and shorts, tossing them aside. Lex sat with his knees folded beneath him and wove his hand in Clark's thick hair, pulling Clark towards him, into his lap.

Lex kissed Clark deeply, ignoring his aching erection. Now was not the time to lose control.

"What do you want, Sweetheart?" Lex asked quietly. The sun was almost beneath the horizon and dusk was settling in, turning the world purple around him. Soon it would be full dark and, even with the moon up, they would need some light, or at least as far as Lex was concerned, Clark would need some light.

"You, just you." Clark replied.

It had been warm during the day, although they wore jackets to for protection against inclement weather. The breeze that had stolen the warmth of the sunlight was now calm but Lex knew the night was a thief that stole both heat and light. He needed neither but knew Clark needed both.

"I'm here. Anything you want." He told Clark as he petted Clark's hair.

"Can I..." Lex felt Clark's hand floating over his erection, gently, almost teasing.

"If you want." Lex wouldn't push Clark. He knew Clark liked to be touched but was hesitant to touch in return. Lex kept petting Clark's head as that dark thatch of hair moved down Lex's chest, kisses peppered here and there.

When he felt Clark's hands give gentle pressure on his knees, Lex spread his legs, not really knowing where this was going. Clark had occasionally stroked him to completion but with Clark, it was sometimes a case of all give.

Lex was pleasantly surprised to feel Clark's lips on him and he groaned. He knew this was going to be over far too fast. He felt Clark hesitantly suck and stroke. He put his hands on Clark's shoulders and braced himself to stop from thrusting into that mouth. "C-C-Clark." He gasped out. "I'm going to..." He wasn't able to complete the warning before coming. He was surprised again, that Clark swallowed as well.

Lex kept one hand on Clark's shoulder and the other he put behind himself to brace himself as he leaned back. "You didn't have to do that." He gasped out.

"I know." Clark said laying his head on Lex's thigh. "I wanted to."

As Lex was getting his breath back, partly lost from surprise, partly lost from his orgasm he reached over and pulled at the other sleeping bag. He opened it and tossed it over Clark.

Clark was soon drowsing on Lex's thigh. Lex let his sight shift to true sight. He saw Clark's true spirit overlay the figure of the boy laid out before him. A wolf, brave, strong, loyal. Clark was all these things and more. Lex's hand tightened slightly on Clark's shoulder as he straightened himself up. He kept it in human form by will alone, when he saw his fingers start to elongate into claws and scales appear on his skin. It had been years since he had lost control over his shape. He wanted to shift and stretch his wings to soar over the land that was his. In the darkness, he knew Clark couldn't see his eyes shift to their true shape, slitted eyes in the darkness. Lex didn't want to scare him. He gazed over the land that he controlled. Nothing that lived lived without his permission. Not human, not animal, not even a blade of grass. It didn't matter that they didn't know. All that mattered is that it was.

And this child, this boy child was his. His spirit roared. The day would come when together they ruled. And nothing could stand against them.

Lex woke up in a cold sweat. He couldn't shake the image out of his mind. The dragon towering over the wolf. He didn't know where the dreams were coming from but he wished they'd stop. He rose and started his day, knowing he wouldn't be sleeping any more tonight.

~~~

Lex sat before the fire with a brandy in his hand, trying to avoid the necessity of dining and preparing for bed, wondering what the phone call from Clark meant. Clark had called earlier asking if he was busy this weekend. At his negative reply, Clark told him that he'd be over this evening, if that was okay.

Lex would never refuse a request from Clark; so Clark was due to arrive sometime this evening. Clark had not said when, nor had he been willing to tell Lex what he was planning.

Lex heard a soft knock on the library door, the door cracked open and a dusky head poked through. "You okay?" He heard a soft voice ask.

"Sure Clark, come on in." Lex replied, never taking his eyes off the flames.

Clark soon came into view and squatted down to where his eyes were level with Lex's. Lex raised his head slightly to look into concerned eyes. "You look like shit." Clark said.

Lex couldn't deny it. He knew with dark circles beneath his eyes and sallow skin he looked less than his best. He expected that his hand was shaking slightly at the sight of Clark but he carefully didn't look.

"And good afternoon to you." Lex drawled out.

Clark hung his head slightly but pressed onward. "Are you still having trouble sleeping?"

"Unfortunately, yes." For some undefined reason, Lex wished he'd never said anything to Clark. Earlier this week, Clark had commented on the circles under his eyes and Lex had told him. But then he'd also assumed that the problem would be short lived.

"Well, hopefully, I can help." One of Lex's eyebrows went up at the announcement. "You see, I figured a change of pace might help."

"And what did you have in mind?" Lex was a little...intrigued. Unfortunately, he also was a little uneasy. The way Clark's mind worked there was no telling what he was planning.

"A little camping trip. I brought all the stuff. I figured that we could camp out in your back yard." Clark grinned at him.

His back yard? The several hundred acre estate's back yard? Lex didn't really think so.

"Unfortunately," Clark continued. "The weather decided not to cooperate. It's raining and I don't know how much experience you have in camping but camping in the rain is no fun at all."

Lex thanked whatever gods there were for small favors. "So?" He questioned, knowing that a little thing like rain would not likely put Clark off from whatever goal he had.

"So.... How about we camp out here?" The question hung in the air. "Mom sent food. I've got popcorn and stuff for s'mores." Clark told him hopefully.

"Camp out in the library?" Lex asked, trying to make sure he understood Clark correctly.

"Sure." Clark saw the hesitation in Lex's face. "I brought everything we need."

Lex was skeptical.

"Everything?" Lex questioned.

Clark nodded. "All we have to do is move the furniture away from the fireplace."

Lex looked around and realized that if the furniture were moved back they would have an appreciable amount of room right in front of the hearth. He suppressed a sigh. "Very well." Clark flashed him a grin and took the brandy glass from his hand.

Lex started to get up from his chair only to see Clark standing in front of him with his hand out. He gave Clark a half smile and let his friend help him up. "Why don't you put this up," Clark handed him the glass. "And I'll start moving the furniture."

Lex looked Clark over, dark jacket over plaid shirt over dark blue undershirt, faded blue jeans and scuffed track shoes. To Lex, outwardly, Clark looked no different than he had a hundred times, but somehow he looked very different.

"Lead on, McDuff." Lex put the glass on the side bar and went back to help Clark move the sofa.

He jumped as he saw Clark pull on the end and slide it across the wooden floor. "Clark!!" Lex shouted sharply. But then he realized that he didn't hear any scraping sounds that indicated that the floor was in the process of being scratched.

He strode over to look.

"Lex, it's got those...slidy things on the feet." Clark leaned down to show him. "Mom's got them too. They protect the floor and make stuff easier to move." He glanced at Lex's rueful face. "I bet you didn't know."

"No. And watching you pull that across the floor almost stopped my heart." He gave Clark an aggrieved look that Clark knew was faked if Clark's expression said anything at all.

He stood across the room watching Clark shuffle things around until he was satisfied everything was in its proper place. Lex put his hands in his pocket to watch. He liked to watch Clark working.

His fingers came into contact with a slender chain. He'd forgotten he'd slipped the pendant and chain into his pocket in the morning. He took it out to look at it. Lex didn't know what it was about the pendent that called to him. Perhaps it was merely the memories of his mother. Perhaps it was something else.

"Hey!" He heard. Lex raised his head up in time to catch the sleeping bag thrown at him.

Lex slipped the pendent back into his pocket and joined Clark in front of the fire. "What now?"

"This." Clark unrolled the sleeping bag on the floor in front of the fireplace. "I brought one of those foam plastic cushion things for you."

"Won't you need it?" Lex asked him. "I mean, you're the guest."

"Nah. I've slept worse places than this." He grinned at Lex. "At least I won't have to worry about some rock trying to dislocate my kidney while I sleep." Clark frowned at Lex. "Unless you're going to get some for..." Lex could see Clark search his memory for the correct word. "Ambiance."

"No, I don't think that will be necessary." He finished rolling out the bag on the floor. "What now?"

"We eat." Clark got a thermos out of the cooler he had brought and poured Lex a cup of chicken soup. "Mom said if you weren't sleeping well you should eat light. Besides, I have hot chocolate and marshmallows. Then we eat s'mores and tell ghost stories." Clark paused before pouring himself a bowl of soup.

"Since you're not sleeping well maybe we should forgo the ghost stories." At that moment lightening flashed and the thunder rolled, making the windows shake.

"Maybe we better." Lex said as he sat down and accepted the cup from Clark. "Your mother's chicken soup?" He asked as he inhaled the perfume of the broth.

"Um-hum." Answered Clark. "She said some soup, some cocoa and some company may help."

Lex sipped at the soup and thought. "Maybe." He thought for a few seconds and it reminded him that he wanted to ask a question. "What are s'mores?"

"You're kidding?" When Lex shook his head, Clark leaned his head back and shook it. "Poor deprived person. S'mores are graham crackers, chocolate bars and roasted marshmallows. They're gooey and sweet, and the perfect thing to end a meal over a campfire."

Lex wasn't too sure of this gourmet treat but nodded anyway. Clark poured him a cup of cocoa and put miniature marshmallows on top. "These marshmallows?" Lex asked.

"No, regular sized ones. I brought barbecue forks to roast the marshmallows on." Clark stretched out on his sleeping bag with the soup in front of him along with the cocoa. "Come on. Relax."

Lex immersed himself in the soup and cocoa, listening to the storm outside and the crackling of the fire inside. The quiet of having Clark here was calming and perhaps would help him sleep.

Clark finally asked. "Do you want to make some s'mores now?"

"I don't know." Lex turned over onto his back and contemplated the ceiling.

Clark was quiet for a while. "Do you want to talk about them?"

"No." Lex said instantly. "It's not something I want to remember."

"What did you have in your pocket?" Clark asked, changing the subject.

"What?" Lex turned to look at him.

"You were looking at something and put it in your pocket." Clark stared at him.

Lex wriggled around a bit and pulled the pendent out of his pocket. "This. It was my mother's. It's moonstone." He handed it to Clark.

Clark looked over the simple pendent carefully. "Hmm. There's something written on the back." Clark tilted it to where the light from the fireplace shone on the silver back. " 'Dreams are for dreamers'." He turned it over in his hand. "What does it mean?"

"I don't know. She died before she explained it to me." Lex returned his gaze to the ceiling.

"You know when I was younger I used to collect rocks." Lex turned to look at Clark. "I got interested in their meanings. Like you know that ruby tiepin, I've seen you wear? Ruby is a symbol of success, devotion and integrity. It would protect you from witchcraft. It also is supposed to express passion and love. The Celts thought it made you invulnerable." He grinned at Lex. "That's the only gem I've ever seen you wear. Except that ring."

"That ring is Alexandrite. What does it mean?" Lex asked intrigued.

"Well, different sources give different meanings. Let me think." Clark closed his eyes for a moment. "Well, it changes color and it's supposed to make you more confident in yourself. It was discovered in 1830 so it doesn't have any ancient meanings."

"And the moonstone?" Lex asked.

"The moonstone." Clark looked carefully at the stone. "Moonstones are the stones of dreams. At one time, it was thought to be moonlight solidified. It's supposed to drive away nightmares and give prophetic dreams. Give peace of mind."

Lex snorted at the thought. "It hasn't been working for me. It's like it attracts nightmares."

"Have you been wearing it?" Clark asked.

"No. It's been on my bedside table. Why?"

Clark leaned over to him. "Why don't you wear it?" He said as he fastened the pendent around Lex's neck. "It won't hurt. And maybe it will help."

"Maybe." Lex said as he fingered the unusually warm metal. "Anyway, s'mores?"

They chatted and laughed as Clark taught Lex the intricacies of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, Lex indignantly saying he liked his marshmallows burned black, but listening intently at how it was supposed to be done. All too soon, it was quite late and they were both full and tired. Clark took some wet wipes out of the cooler and tossed them to Lex. "Let's clean up and get some sleep."

Lex looked at the packets. "Clark, I do have running water."

"I know. It's the camping experience, but since we're inside I'm not going to insist we dig latrines." Lex just shook his head at the comment but cleaned up anyway.

He watched Clark tuck all the debris in another bag. "I have trash cans as well."

"Pack in, pack out, my dad says." The lid was put on the cooler and it was pushed aside. "We can sleep in our clothes." Clark said as he started to untie his shoes, "or I usually sleep in my shorts. What would you rather do?"

"Shorts I suppose, since I don't suppose you're going to let me run upstairs and get something to sleep in." Lex started to untie his shoes, took them off and pushed them aside.

"Nope. Camping experience." Clark grinned again. The room was dark and the only light came from the fireplace, as they had turned the lights off long ago. The fire had burned down to a low glow and with the screen closed they were in no danger.

Clothes were shed and soon they both were settled down in warm sleeping bags. Lex swore that his smelled like Clark. As if to answer an unasked question, Clark spoke up. "I gave you my bag and I took my dad's. I thought you might feel better about it."

"Thanks, Clark. I don't think I could have slept knowing this was your father's sleeping bag."

"You know on camping trips when you get to bed, everyone tells ghost stories but I think we better just get some sleep. Pleasant dreams, Lex." Clark told him as he snuggled down.

"I hope so, Clark." Lex settled down and fell asleep easier than he had in some time.

~~~

Clark was dying. Lex knew it and held his people back. He went to the devastated area alone amid the glowing green stones scattered about. Clark, an older Clark, wearing only the tattered remains of his garish clothing faced him without even the strength to stand, blood oozing from numerous wounds on his body.

"Why, Clark, why? Why did it have to come to this? I said our friendship was the stuff of legends. It could have been. It should have been." Lex raged at his former friend. "And you left."

"I never left." Clark said woodenly. Lex ran his hand across his head and down the back of his neck. "I was afraid."

"YOU LEFT! And I never knew why." Lex whirled on him. "What did you have to be afraid of?"

"Me. I was afraid of me. I was young and scared." Clark's voice whimpered down to almost inaudible. "And in love with you."

"NO. No." Lex said again softer. "You couldn't have been. You couldn't..."

"Yes, and when I finally realized what it was I felt, it was too late." Clark collapsed on the ground his face a deadly green color.

"No." Lex finally approached Clark. "It can't be." He whispered. "This was all for nothing? I never wanted to turn you away. Always, you could always come to me."

"Not this time, Lex. Too far gone, hurt too much." Clark's eyes were closing and Lex grabbed him, cradling Clark's head to his chest. "Love you, Lex. Always have." Clark's eyes closed a final time and Lex roared in anguish. It was never meant to be like this. He wasn't supposed to die.

Lex woke screaming in a blind panic.

"NO. NO. NO."

He felt arms around him and a familiar voice chanting. "I've got you. Don't worry. I've got you."

Lex twisted around to face Clark. He put his hands on Clark's shoulders. "You're alive." He pushed Clark down, his hands roving over Clark's face and torso, checking for the injuries that he had dreamed so vividly about. Lex pushed the sleeping bag open and checked down Clark's legs, even to his feet. "You're here and you're alive."

He sat back on his heels and stared at Clark in the semi-darkness. He leaned over Clark's supine body. "Alive."

Clark reached up and pulled Lex down on to his chest. "It must have been a very bad dream."

Lex didn't answer, just nodded.

"Want to tell me about it?" Clark asked rubbing small calming circles on Lex's bare back.

"No, I...no." Lex answered. After a few minutes of getting his breath back, Lex pushed himself up to look at Clark in the face. "Clark, do you think I'm a monster?"

The question took Clark's breath away. "How honest do you want me to be?"

Lex swallowed. "As honest as you can be."

"I think," Clark bit his lips and stared at Lex. "Anyone can be a monster. You can. I can. Even someone like Lana. But possibility is not is. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lex thought it over. "You mean I'm not now, but I could be in the future." At the thought of the future, he clasped at the pendent suspended from the chain about his neck. "Prophetic dreams...I wonder."

Clark put his hand over Lex's. "You had a bad dream, a very bad dream, from the looks of it. But the future is what we make it, not what is decreed."

Lex nodded and lay back down on Clark's chest enjoying the feeling. With Clark's arms around him, he was starting to drift off again when he felt soft lips on the top of his head.

Lex pushed himself up on his elbows and stared at Clark. "Clark?" He questioned.

Clark didn't say anything, but stroked Lex's baldhead. Lex remembered his dream and momentarily was frozen, not knowing what he should do. Finally, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Clark's lips. He stroked Clark's lips gently waiting for a response.

Clark opened his mouth slowly, his hands never leaving Lex's back and head. Lex deepened the kiss slightly, tasting Clark, teasing Clark's tongue, inviting it to come out and play. Teasing, teasing, gentle, gentle, Lex softened the kiss and pulled back to look into Clark's eyes.

Lex shifted so most of his weight was on one arm. He took his left hand and stroked the hair out of Clark's confused eyes. "Are you okay?" Lex asked. At Clark's hesitant nod, Lex continued. "Do you want this?" It was almost too cliché for words but Lex didn't want there to be any doubt.

Clark's answer was to lean up and plant another kiss on Lex's lips, still hesitant but defiantly a 'yes'. Lex continued the kiss and deepened it. Playing and tasting, he gently explored Clark's mouth, and hoped to be able to explore his body at sometime in the future. It didn't escape Lex's attention that Clark's hands were on him but stayed carefully above the waist.

Lex wiggled and shifted. He could feel Clark's erection against him and knew he was getting hard as well. Lex leaned down to kiss Clark again and as he did so, he thrust against Clark, hard, the resulting friction causing heat to skitter across already sensitive nerve endings. Lex hissed in reaction and felt Clark's fingers tighten momentarily on his skin. He thrust again and felt Clark return the action, clumsily but with vigor.

Clark didn't seem inclined to talk and Lex wasn't going to push him to do something Clark was hesitant about. Lex reached back and pushed one of Clark's hands down to plant it firmly on his ass. At the same time, he thrust against Clark, trying to get a rhythm. At Clark's age, he didn't think it would take too much for Clark to come.

He was right. Not too long later, Clark whispered, "Oh, my God," and clenched Lex's ass hard enough to leave bruises the next day. Lex didn't really care, because he was coming too. Watching the amazement spread across Clark's face was enough to push him over the edge.

Lex collapsed again on Clark's chest, his own chest heaving, trying to get stolen breath back. If dry humping felt this good, Lex wondered how good it would feel if they could get skin to skin. Lex gulped for breath and pushed himself up to look at Clark again. Lex pushed sweat dampened hair from Clark's eyes, recalling that he had never seen Clark sweat before but apparently he did during sex.

Lex didn't see fear or anger in Clark's eyes so he kissed Clark again with a little trepidation. He was relieved when Clark returned it fervently.

Lex settled down again on Clark's chest. "Clark, we need to get up and shower."

"Later." Clark murmured. That suited Lex just fine.

"We need to talk about this." He had a lot to tell Clark. The first thing was don't run. Whatever differences they might have, they could be worked out somehow.

"Tomorrow." Clark said.

"Tomorrow." Lex agreed. "We can finish our camp out." Lex felt something pulled over him and slowly he drifted off into a restful, dreamless sleep, the first one he had in weeks.