Title - Truth Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
Author - Karen Colohan
Series - Smallville
Pairing - Clark/Lex
Rating - NC-17
Beta - the ever lovely Barbara
Summary - Written for the Smallville cliche - a pairing of your choice  gets drunk (one or both) and lets slip some truths they hadn't  mentioned before. They end up having sex, but the next day forget all  about it. Or did they?
Part of the Cliche fuh-q-fest at:  http://www.kardasi.com/Cliched/index.htm 
Feedback addy - kcolohan@sidsplace.win-uk.net

Truth is in the Eye of the Beholder

Clark Kent was heavy. There was no escaping the fact; especially  when he was drunk enough to be practically incapable of supporting  his own weight. As he was right now.

Chloe had never seen Clark really drunk before. Pete had managed  to get him mildly tipsy once or twice back in Smallville, but Clark  didn't seem to make a habit out of drinking, under normal  circumstances.

For some reason Clark had abandoned his usual scruples at the  party tonight, downing beer after beer. When Chloe had asked him  why, he'd simply shrugged his shoulders. Then he'd taken another  long drink before mumbling something about it being the sort of thing  normal students did, so why shouldn't he.

Based on her long friendship with Clark, normal wasn't the first word  that sprang to Chloe's mind to describe him. And if this was the  result, she hoped this attempt at normalcy would be short lived.  Chloe didn't think that she'd survive the experience of trying to steer a  seriously inebriated Clark back to his dorm room on a regular basis.

On the plus side, a drunken Clark was turning out to be an unusually  chatty Clark. He was currently regaling Chloe with his opinions of a  certain bald billionaire of their mutual acquaintance. She was  somewhat surprised, though, when Clark's enthusiastic ramblings  suddenly took a different turn.

"Don't you think Lex should wear tighter pants?" Clark asked  dreamily as Chloe pointed him up the stairs that led to his room.

"What?" Her eyes widened at the apparent non sequitur.

"You must have noticed, Chloe," Clark slurred. "Lex has a great ass  and it would look really good in tight pants."

Chloe was immensely grateful for the fact that Clark's room was only  just down the corridor. The conversation had definitely just taken a  turn towards the weird.

"When did you start taking notice of Lex's ass?" she asked, curious  nonetheless.

Clark licked his lips. "I used to love watching him bend over the table  when we played pool together. We played pool a *lot*." Clark  giggled. "I used to call him Sexy Lexy."

Chloe's mouth dropped open. "You didn't!"

"Oh, not to his face." Clark's expression turned mournful. "Just in my  dreams."

Clark Kent had *dreams* about Lex Luthor. The kind in which the use  of the name Sexy Lexy was appropriate. That was definitely veering  in the direction of TMI, Chloe decided as she propped Clark against  the wall while she fished in his jacket pocket for his room key. She  found it and hurriedly pushed Clark inside, flicking the light switch  before closing the door behind them. 

"I think you should get some sleep, Clark," she said firmly, guiding  him across to his bed.

He flopped down onto it, sprawling back bonelessly.

"Did you know that Lex rhymes with sex?" Clark said, peering up at  her from under his lashes. "Lex, sex. Sex, Lex. See?" He paused for  a second before adding, "Why do you think Lex would never have  sex with me, Chloe?"

Chloe made a strangled sound. This was certainly not a conversation  she'd anticipated having with Clark. After all his years of Lana fixation  a secret crush on Lex was the last thing she would have expected  him to admit to. God, it was just as well Clark had never got this  drunk before, Chloe thought with relief. 

The fact that she hadn't answered his previous question didn't seem  to deter Clark.

"D'you think Lex likes me?" he asked, his green eyes wide and  somewhat unfocused as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Of course he likes you, you've been friends for years," Chloe  assured him.

"No." Clark frowned. "D'you think he *likes* me, likes me?"

Ah, they'd returned to this again. Chloe considered the question.  Thinking back, she realised it was perfectly possible to interpret a lot  of Lex's behaviour towards Clark as subtle flirting, especially in the  early days of their friendship. Mentally readjusting her picture of Lex  and his intentions, Chloe had to admit that it led to some interesting  possibilities.

"You know what, Clark," Chloe said finally. "I'm not sure I'm the best  person to ask about that, but I know someone who would be. Why  don't you just wait there while I go and find out."

Clark curled more comfortably on his bed, smiling drunkenly at her.  "Thanks, Chloe, you're a good friend. The best."

Despite the fact that she'd got over her crush on Clark a long time  ago, Chloe found herself swallowing a lump in her throat. She dug  into Clark's jacket pocket again, coming up with his cellphone. She  knew he had Lex on speed dial. It was the second number, right after  Clark's parents. Turning away from the sight of Clark, all mussed hair  and wide eyes, Chloe hit the button to call Lex.

It was answered on only the second ring. Lex sounded wide awake  and more than a little concerned. "Clark? Is something wrong? Why  are you calling so late?"

"Hi, Lex, it isn't Clark," Chloe began.

"Chloe?" Lex interrupted before she could get any further. "Why are  you calling? Has something happened to Clark?"

The anxiety in Lex's voice over that possibility pretty much answered  the whole liking issue, Chloe decided.

"Not exactly," she replied with a sigh. Behind her, Clark chose that  moment to reprise his earlier refrain.

"Lex, sex! Sex, Lex!" he sing-songed happily as Chloe held the  phone out in his direction for a moment.

"That's what happened," she said when she brought the cellphone  back to her ear.

"Is Clark *drunk*?" Lex sounded shocked.

"Just a bit..." Clark's singing continued in the background,  punctuated by soft giggles. "Lex, I really think you and Clark need to  have a little talk. Can you come over?"

There was the briefest of pauses, then, "I'll be there in five minutes."

The line went dead before Chloe had the chance to say anything else.

Glancing over her shoulder, Chloe whispered, "I think that means he  likes you, Clark. I really do."

Lex was as good as his word, knocking on the door of Clark's room  barely five minutes later. Chloe wondered just how many traffic  violations he'd notched up to manage it. She was glad that he'd  arrived, though, because Clark seemed to be getting restless.

He'd dragged himself off the bed a couple of minutes earlier and was  now stumbling around the room a little uncertainly. Every so often  he'd stop and remove a piece of clothing, tossing it carelessly onto  the floor. So far Clark had taken off his jacket, his shoes and socks  and his blue flannel shirt. Chloe was starting to get a little worried  about just how far he intended to take this striptease.

Lex immediately looked past Chloe towards Clark when she let him  in. She saw his eyes widen as Clark grabbed the hem of his T-shirt,  pulling it up over his head. As the move revealed Clark's bare, tanned  chest she couldn't really blame him. 

Clark seemed to get tangled up in the white material for a second,  his muscles flexing as he struggled with it. Then his head popped  free and Clark dropped the shirt onto the floor with the rest of his  discarded clothes.

With an obvious effort, Lex dragged his attention back to Chloe.

"Thank you for calling me," he said quickly. "I think I can handle this  from here."

Chloe eyed him speculatively. "Did you know that Clark has had a  thing about your ass for years?" she asked mischievously.

She was rewarded by the incredibly rare sight of Lex Luthor blushing.

"Chloe..." he hissed in protest.

"Ask Clark why he used to enjoy playing pool with you so much,"  she added as she headed for the door. Pausing on the threshold,  Chloe became more serious. "Look after him, Lex."

"Don't worry, I will. I think you know that, Chloe," Lex assured her.

She met his gaze for a long moment. Lex certainly sounded sincere;  he looked it too. Satisfied, Chloe nodded. Then she closed the door  behind her and left Lex alone with Clark.

***

Lex heard the door shut and immediately put Chloe out of his mind.  His only concern now was Clark, his obviously inebriated best friend,  who had been declaiming his appreciation of Sexy Lexy just a short  while before. Clark, who had, apparently, been harbouring a  fascination for Lex's ass for the past few years.

And, really, figuring out why Clark had to get very drunk to admit to  that should have been lower down Lex's list of priorities than it  currently was. He really ought to be trying to find out what had  prompted Clark to get drunk in the first place. It wasn't like him at all.  Nevertheless, Lex's mind kept coming back to the fact that Clark  seemed to be having a lot of thoughts about him that revolved around  his ass and sex... After that, pretty much everything else tended to  be of secondary importance.

Turning back to Clark, Lex found that he was now attempting to undo  his jeans. In his current state he appeared to be having a little  difficulty with the zipper, though. When Clark looked up, frustration  written across his face, his gaze finally landed on Lex. His  expression brightened at once and he gave up on trying to unzip his  jeans. Instead, he weaved somewhat erratically across the room.

"Lex!" he exclaimed happily.

Before Lex had a chance to reply he found himself being swept up in  a surprisingly enthusiastic hug. Clark pulled him in close, grinning at  him with drunken affection as he patted Lex's back firmly. After a  moment's hesitation, Lex returned the hug, assuming that Clark  would release him once he'd done so.

It didn't happen. Clark's arms remained resolutely wrapped around  Lex's waist, holding him against the warm, half naked body. It was  enough to make Lex's cock sit up and take notice and he took slow,  deep breaths, willing his erection not to become any more  noticeable. Pressed this close to Clark there was no way that he  wouldn't be able to feel it and Lex didn't want to do anything to make  him feel uncomfortable. Although, after what Chloe had told him, Lex  wasn't so sure that would be the case.

Damn, Clark's timing really was crap, Lex thought ruefully. This  simply wasn't something they should be getting into when Clark was  drunk. It was a conversation that would call for a clear head on both  sides.

Lex's train of thought was rudely interrupted when Clark suddenly  squirmed against him, the fluid movement of his hips making it  perfectly apparent that Lex wasn't the only one being affected by  their proximity.

"Hey, Lex," Clark said in a quiet voice. "Chloe said I should ask you  if you like me."

Lex raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Of course I like you, Clark.  We're friends, aren't we?"

Clark sighed. "That's what she said too, but I didn't mean that. I want  to know if you *like* me, Lex."

He added emphasis to the question with a quick thrust of his hips.  The extra pressure on his cock made Lex groan softly.

Immediately, Clark pulled back, looking anxious. "Lex, are you  okay?"

Lex stared at him, puzzled. "I'm fine, Clark. Why would you think  otherwise?"

"The sound you made - I thought maybe I'd hurt you." Clark sounded  unexpectedly remorseful. "I don't want to hurt you, Lex."

"You didn't, Clark." Lex rubbed his arm in a quick gesture of  reassurance. "I know you wouldn't."

Clark stared down at his feet. "So do you?" he asked.

"Do I what?" Lex felt as if he were losing track of the conversation.

"*Like* me," Clark replied impatiently. "I like you - a lot. I have  since... well, since we were in Smallville, a long time."

Clark moved closer again, his arms encircling Lex in a looser  embrace this time. One hand slid down to rest on Lex's ass, the  strong fingers flexing, as if Clark wanted to do more than just touch.

"I do like you, Clark," Lex began, trying not to move or do anything to  encourage Clark.

Fuck, he really wished that he hadn't rediscovered his conscience  because having Clark's hand there felt really good. But Lex was  determined not to take advantage of Clark while he was drunk. That  path was bound to lead to a whole heap of regrets come the morning  and a return to sobriety. Besides, Lex still didn't know why Clark had  done something as out of character as getting this inebriated.

"Mm, that's good," Clark said, sounding pleased with himself as his  fingers continued to stroke Lex. "Does that mean we can have sex  now?"

"Jesus, Clark!" Lex gasped. "Don't you think this is all a bit sudden?  Why now?"

Clark was pouting, his lips full and red, positively begging to be  kissed. "I want to, Lex. And you're here, so you must want to as  well. Isn't that why you came?"

"I came because Chloe was concerned about you," Lex said gently.

"I thought you said you liked me." Clark's voice wavered and Lex  despaired of resisting that and the wide, liquid eyes that fixed on him  pleadingly.

"I told you that I like you, Clark," Lex repeated patiently. "I meant it,  and I'm not saying that I don't want to have sex with you. I just think  we should take our time and not rush into anything."

"Can we make out then?" Clark asked, looking more hopeful.

God, the boy had a one track mind, Lex thought wryly, and none of  this was helping to calm his own arousal. It was amazing that his  restraint had lasted this long.

"Maybe," Lex conceded, "but first I want you to tell me something."

Clark thought for a second and then nodded. "Okay," he said.

"What's all this really about?" Lex asked. "What made you want to  get drunk tonight?"

Clark shrugged. "I felt like it. I just wanted to be normal."

"Normal?" Lex frowned.

"Yeah." Clark sighed. "Students get drunk, right? It's a normal thing  for them to do."

Lex thought back on his own experiences. Getting drunk had been  the very least of the things that he'd done in his time as a student. "I  suppose it is," he agreed.

Clark nodded again, as if this was the response he'd been looking  for. "Good."

It didn't really answer Lex's question, but he suspected that it was  the best he was going to get out of Clark, at least for now. It also  opened up a whole array of new questions, such as why Clark didn't  feel as if he were normal in the first place. Lex had a few theories of  his own on that subject, but this didn't feel like the right time to  pursue them.

"Now can we make out?" Clark asked, pulling Lex tightly against him  once more.

Without waiting for a reply, Clark bent his head and pressed his lips  to Lex's. He was a little off target, only catching the corner of Lex's  mouth. Clark pulled away, angled his head a little more, then moved  in again. This time his lips closed fully over Lex's, the touch hot and  wet as Clark's tongue slid across Lex's mouth, seeking entrance.

Lex moaned low in his throat as he got his first real taste of the  mouth that had breathed life back into him on that fateful day in  Smallville. There was no longer any real possibility of him resisting  and he parted his lips, allowing Clark's tongue to slip between them.  It carried the sharp tang of alcohol with it, but Lex didn't really care.  Clark was kissing him, a little sloppy in his enthusiasm, but  determined and hungry.

Clark seemed happy with Lex's surrender and his hands began  tugging at Lex's shirt. With a couple of false starts he managed to  untuck it from Lex's pants, sliding his hands up underneath it to  explore Lex's bare skin.

With another groan, Lex reciprocated, moving to touch the warm  expanse of Clark's back and the taut muscles of his chest and  stomach. Clark appeared to like that too, Lex could feel the hard  length of his cock pressing into his hip. Unable to resist, Lex trailed  one hand down to trace the outline of it through Clark's jeans. Clark  bucked against him, pushing frantically into the curve of his palm.

Pulling his mouth free, Clark buried his face in Lex's shoulder,  murmuring his name brokenly. "God, Lex," he gasped finally. "I want  you naked now."

His fingers quickly went to work on making that a reality. Lex felt  material tear as Clark hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt, careless in his  haste. That was the least of Lex's concerns, though.

"Are you sure about this, Clark?" he asked urgently as his hand  found the partly undone zipper of Clark's jeans and slowly slid it the  rest of the way down.

Clark undid Lex's pants with considerably less finesse.

"Lex, you worry too much," he breathed, nipping at Lex's neck as he  swiftly went about stripping him. "I'm sure. I want you, just like I  always did, and I'm not letting you get away from me this time."

The big hands pushed Lex's pants and boxers over his hips, letting  them slip down to his ankles. While Lex untangled himself from  them, kicking off his shoes and socks as well, Clark quickly stepped  out of his jeans and underwear.

Glancing across at him, Lex felt his breath catch in his throat at his  first sight of Clark fully naked. He was nothing short of gorgeous and  Lex wasted no time in closing the space between them.

Clark caught hold of him by the shoulders, carrying out his own  visual inspection. The green eyes were dark with hunger as they  surveyed Lex slowly from head to toe, missing nothing.

"Mm, I always knew you were sexy," he said when he was done.  "But if I'd known you looked this good..." Clark licked his lips, then  pulled Lex towards him, rubbing against him enthusiastically.

Lex could feel Clark's cock sliding alongside his own, spreading pre- come across his stomach. He reached between them, curving his  fingers around it. It filled his palm nicely and Lex gave it a few slow  strokes. Clark moaned happily, his own hands trailing down to clasp  Lex's ass, which still seemed to fascinate him.

This time it was Lex who sought out Clark's mouth. He pushed his  tongue inside as he kissed Clark with considerable heat. At the  same time he tightened his hand on Clark's cock, jacking it faster.  Clark was moaning almost constantly, small sounds in the back of  his throat. Lex let his lips slide away from Clark's, reaching up to  whisper directly in his ear.

"Bed, now, Clark!"

Almost before he'd finished speaking, Lex found himself being  tackled onto the bed, Clark's heavy weight on top of him. He gasped  as the breath was knocked out of his lungs. Immediately, Clark rolled  them over so that he was on his back with Lex draped across his  chest.

"Was that what you had in mind?" Clark asked, his eyes sparkling.

Still trying to get his breath back, Lex simply nodded.

Clark spread his legs, cradling Lex between them. The position left  their cocks pressed firmly against one another. When Clark rocked  up into Lex they both groaned at the sensation.

Bracing himself, Lex began to thrust his hips, feeling his cock drag  across the rough hair at Clark's groin. Enjoying the difference  compared to his own smooth skin, Lex ground down, trying to get as  much of his body in contact with Clark's as possible. Clark seemed  to appreciate the contrast too, rubbing against Lex with each thrust  of his own.

After a couple of tries, they found a rhythm that suited them both,  moving faster as they sought completion. Clark urged Lex on, sliding  his hands back down to their favourite resting place on Lex's ass.

"You feel so good, Lex," Clark moaned as he bucked against him  over and over again. "Wanted you for so long, but I didn't know how  to make a move. So glad I didn't wait any more."

Clark's fingers slid into the crack of Lex's ass, stroking carefully  across his hole as their bodies continued to rock together. Lex  squeezed his eyes shut at the added stimulation, throwing his head  back and panting with effort.

"Fuck, Clark, so am I," Lex hissed as the tip of one of Clark's fingers  circled the entrance, not quite pressing past the ring of muscle.

With his other hand, Clark reached up, cradling the back of Lex's  head. Then he urged him down so that Lex's weight was resting fully  on Clark. He seemed to like that, giving a pleased sigh as he began  to thrust harder against Lex.

The added pressure on his cock was all that Lex needed. His hips  jerked wildly and then he was coming hard, spilling onto Clark's  stomach. His cock slid through the slick mess as he kept on moving  against Clark, riding the feelings flooding his body with pleasure. Lex  was still very aware of the blunt fingertip that was teasing his ass in a  tacit promise of even more.

Suddenly, Clark went still under him. Looking down, Lex saw his  face contort, eyes closed and lips parting in a silent gasp. Clark gave  one last sharp thrust of his hips and then Lex felt wet heat on his  skin as Clark came. The hands touching him tightened  spasmodically for a second, just on the edge of pain, then relaxed  again. Clark shuddered a few more times and Lex felt a final spurt of  come spread between them.

When Clark stilled, his eyes opened slowly, looking up to meet  Lex's. There was a dazed expression in them as he pulled Lex down  for a long, thoroughly satisfying kiss. There didn't seem to be a  corner of Lex's mouth that Clark's tongue didn't lay claim to.

Lex discovered that he rather liked this possessive side of Clark, the  big, warm hands resting on his scalp and his ass showing no  intention of letting go.

"Tired now," Clark muttered when he finally released Lex's mouth.  "Stay."

Lex suspected that he didn't actually have a lot of choice in the  matter, but he really didn't feel much like moving anyway.

"I'll stay," he agreed.

"'m glad," Clark responded sleepily. He rolled again, this time settling  them so that they were curled together side by side on the narrow  bed. "Night, Lex."

It didn't take either of them long to fall asleep.

***

Clark slowly surfaced from sleep, feeling as if he'd just woken from a  dream that he couldn't quite remember. Something felt odd about his  bed. It took him a second to realise that it was because he wasn't  alone in it. Looking down, he saw a smooth, bald scalp and a set of  very familiar features. Lex... But, how? Clearly something important  had happened, but Clark's brain was positively foggy on the details.  He sat up abruptly, his cheeks heating with embarrassment as he  noticed that he was naked... as was Lex.

Beside him, Lex was blinking himself awake, obviously having been  disturbed by Clark's movements. His lips curved into a smile as he  looked up at Clark, but his expression froze at whatever he saw on  Clark's face.

"I should go," he said without preamble, turning his back to Clark as  he sat up, pushing at the sheets and apparently not at all bothered  by his nakedness. 

"Lex, wait!" Clark reached out, cautiously placing a hand on Lex's  shoulder. He swallowed hard when Lex flinched at the touch. That  wasn't good. "What happened?"

"You got drunk," Lex said stiffly, but he stayed where he was, as if  he were waiting for something. Clark wished he knew what.

"How did you get here?" Clark definitely didn't recall having any plans  to see Lex the night before.

"Chloe called me. She was - concerned," Lex replied.

Ah, that made sense, at least Clark thought it did. It still didn't  address the whole nakedness issue, though. Or the fact that Lex had  just spent the night in his bed. Clark really wished he could  remember how that had happened.

"Did we...?" His voice wavered so Clark swallowed and tried again.  "Lex, did I do anything - inappropriate last night?"

Lex's back stiffened again and Clark really wanted him to turn around  so that he could see his face.

"Define inappropriate," Lex said evenly.

"Well..." Clark thought about it. "We're both naked."

"Yes."

Okay, so Lex wasn't going to give him any help here.

Clark glanced down at his stomach. His skin felt taut, as if  something had dried on it. Oh...

"I feel - kind of sticky," he ventured.

"You're not the only one." Lex began to move away again. "I need a  shower."

Clark tightened his grip. He wasn't going to let Lex run away from  this.

"Oh God, we didn't..." Clark was coming up with a very limited  number of reasons for their current situation.

"Didn't what?" Lex's voice was cold.

"Have sex," Clark blurted out.

"We're back to definitions again, Clark," Lex informed him.

"What do you mean?" Clark frowned.

God, they had; they must have. Now he couldn't remember anything  about it and Lex had apparently found the whole experience so  horrible that he didn't want to talk about it. Shit, this really wasn't  how Clark had envisaged this eventually happening, back when they  were both in Smallville. And he had always thought in terms of when  it happened, not if. He'd been sure that Lex was interested in him...  Oh damn, what if he'd done something weird and alien? Maybe *that*  was why Lex wasn't talking.

"Lex, tell me what we did," he insisted.

Lex sighed. "You don't have to worry, Clark. It was just a little  frottage between friends. That's all."

"Thank God!" Clark closed his eyes in relief. That explained the  stickiness on his stomach too. It took him a moment to realise that  Lex had finally pulled away from him and was now searching for his  clothes on the floor. "Lex...?"

"I really think that I'd better leave now." Lex's voice was bleak.

"What?" Clark didn't understand... Oh, Lex must have misunderstood  the reason for his relief. Clark scrambled off the bed, moving to stop  Lex from dressing. "No! Lex, I didn't mean it like that. I'm glad you're  here. I - I just, well, I'd like to be able to remember our first time when  it happens."

Finally, Lex turned and looked directly at Clark. There was still an  expression of uncertainty on his face, but it was tempered with a  dawning hope. "Then - did you mean the things you said last night?"

Clark sighed, trying to get past the fog in his brain. "I'm not really  sure what I said. I'm sorry. Though I do vaguely recall something  about Sexy Lexy and the way Lex rhymes with sex." Clark grimaced  at that, though he was glad to see the faintest glimmer of  amusement in Lex's eyes at his words.

"You said that you'd wanted me since we were in Smallville," Lex  said carefully. He appeared to be watching Clark for a reaction.

Clark felt his own face brighten and he smiled. "I told you that? I'm  glad, because it's true. I just never found the right time to tell you  before."

Lex regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded. "Good."

"It is?" Clark slid his hands up Lex's arms, letting them rest lightly on  his shoulders.

"Yes," Lex replied, reaching up to touch Clark's cheek. "Because I've  wanted you for just as long."

"Oh," Clark breathed, leaning into the warmth of Lex's palm against  his face.

"How do you feel about making up for lost time, Clark?" Lex asked  softly.

Clark drew Lex towards him. "When did you want to start?"

"How would now suit you?" Lex's fingers slid up into Clark's hair,  ruffling the dark strands.

Clark let himself be pulled down into a kiss.

"It sounds perfect," he murmured against Lex's lips.

The End