I've only been working at LexCorp a few months before my supervisor, Larry, decides to 'test my mettle', as he puts it, and sends me upstairs to the inner sanctum of LexCorp. According to Larry's friend Steve, who works in accounting, who'd heard it from Megan in the PR department, Lex Luthor had gotten really angry with someone during a meeting late that afternoon, destroying a portion of the computer network in the executive boardroom in the process.

Larry sits in my office, gossiping about our boss while I pull together some things I think might be needed to make the repairs. Most of what he tells me I already know - after all, no one can live in Metropolis very long without hearing stories about Lex Luthor. And I've lived in the city all of my life.

I tune Larry out as I consider the tales I'd grown up with. Lex Luthor had been a wild child in his teens, experimenting with every vice known to man, not to mention the ones he'd invented. Drugs, alcohol, out-of-control parties that were only halted when the police were called in, and endless sex in the backrooms of nearly every club in town - nothing was left undone.

Finally, when Lex was twenty-one, Lionel Luthor had reached the end of his patience and banished his son from Metropolis. Lex was sent out to Smallville to manage one of the LuthorCorp plants. From the rumors that filtered back to Metropolis, Lex made a big splash on his first day there.

Literally.

Supposedly, Lex had been driving along one of the local highways - way too fast, as usual - and lost control of his Porsche. He'd gone off a bridge, nearly taking one of the local teens with him, and ended up in the river. The boy, whose name escapes me right now, jumped in and saved him.

Ironically, other than announcements in the society page about his two marriages and subsequent divorces, that was the last Metropolis heard from Lex for the next few years.

Four years after his exile, Lex made a triumphant return to his hometown, moving the headquarters of his company into the newly constructed LexCorp Towers. Metropolis waited with bated breath for a renewal of his old ways, but Lex surprised everyone. It appeared as though he'd left his misspent youth behind him.

Over the next six years, LexCorp flourished under his leadership, soon becoming the richest company in the country. Lex himself remained mostly behind the scenes, attending only those events that would benefit either his company or his many philanthropic endeavors the most.

Speculation about his love life ran rampant through the upper echelon of society. When Lex went to a party, a beautiful, leggy brunette would be draped over his arm, glittering in diamonds and wearing haute couture. However, it was never the same woman twice. Ever.

Matrons introduced their debutant daughters to him, hoping to entice him, and he would obligingly dance and flirt with each girl. Nobody ever caught his attention - he was polite to everybody, but would escape from the parties afterward, alone.

Guys tried to get his eye as well. I remember one man in particular who everyone thought might have had a chance. Bruce Wayne from Gotham was easily Lex's equal in business and wealth, not to mention being extremely attractive with his dark, brooding looks and cat-like grace. For about six months or so, they were seen everywhere together - posh restaurants, hockey games as well as museum exhibits, to mention only a few places.

I actually had dinner with them once. My boyfriend Richard had taken me to La Boheme, a trendy eatery near the university. It was my twenty-first birthday, and Richard had made reservations months earlier; otherwise, we'd have never gotten in.

While we were waiting for our food, the maitre d' walked past our table, followed by Lex and Bruce. It turned out that Bruce had gone to college with Richard, and he stopped to say hello to my lover. Before I knew what was going on, Richard had asked them to join us, and suddenly we were dining with two of the most powerful billionaires in the country.

I have to admit, they intimidated me. The three of them seemed to have a lot in common, so I didn't talk much at dinner, but let the three other men carry the conversation. I merely sat there and engaged in one of my favorite pastimes - people watching.

Lex was very pleasant and teased both Bruce and Richard equally. He even flirted a little with me, until he noticed Richard's jealous reaction. He gave me a smile and a friendly wink, and then turned his attention back to Bruce.

From the sultry looks and little touches that Bruce gave Lex, I figured that had Lex wanted him, he could have had him in a Gotham minute. Bruce was definitely in love with Lex, but from what I could tell, Lex thought of him as only a friend. I kind of felt sorry for Bruce that night.

Several weeks later, Bruce returned to Gotham, and that was the last time Metropolis saw him.

Rumor about town during those six years had Lex living with a secret lover in his penthouse above LexCorp. No one was ever able to find out the truth, not even that pushy reporter from the Daily Planet, Lois Lane, and Lex neither confirmed nor denied it. And the security surrounding Lex was just too efficient for anyone to be able to infiltrate.

Everything changed about a year ago.

Lex disappeared from Metropolis for a month or so, and when he returned, he was a different man. Anger radiated from every inch of his body as he took over the helm of LexCorp again. Lex had been a ruthless but fair businessman before, but now he was absolutely merciless in his corporate dealings. Endless numbers of people were left destitute as he took over company after company, slashing the work force without notice or remorse.

Worst of all, every one of LexCorp's charitable works was halted. Metropolis University had to cut back on their scholarships when their funds dried up, and at least two homeless shelters and a foster home that I know of had to close their doors permanently.

As unemployment increased and the situation worsened in the city, the mayor first tried to appeal to Lex himself. When none of his efforts succeeded, Mayor Robertson turned to the one person he hoped would be able to help.

Superman.

Superman - wow, now there's a story in and of itself. Appearing out of nowhere about three years ago, he quickly became the city's savior. From muggings to helping little old ladies cross the street, murder to rescuing kittens stuck in trees, nothing seemed too big or too small for Superman's attention.

Everyone was struck with hero-worship - even me, cynic that I am.

Well, everybody, that is, apart from Lex Luthor.

Their public war quickly became legendary around town over this past year. Whenever Lex would announce at a press conference another shady or downright illegal move of LexCorp's, Superman would show up and the battle would be on. Screaming, yelling, name-calling, throwing heavy objects - there were absolutely no holds barred.

Except for one.

No matter how upset Superman got with Lex - and believe you me, he got plenty angry - he never physically challenged him. It was as though he was restraining his power, not wanting to injure or kill Lex. And no one could figure out why. After all, he was Superman - he could easily subdue Lex if he wanted.

Suddenly realizing that my office has gotten quiet, I glance over at Larry, who is looking back at me with an amused expression on his face. "You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?" he asks with a chuckle.

I wince as I shake my head and mutter, "Sorry."

"Doesn't matter." Larry stands up and nods toward the box of equipment sitting in front of me on the desk. "You go on up and fix Mr. Luthor's computer. It's getting late; I think I'll be heading home." He saunters off whistling while I struggle to pick up the box. I walk over to the elevators and punch in the code that will allow me access to the main offices.

After the elevator arrives on the executive floor and the door opens, I step out and look around in awe at the opulence surrounding me. Three of the walls are paneled in a dark mahogany wood; the fourth is floor to ceiling windows. The cream-colored marble floors are covered with several Oriental rugs; the rich colors in them complementing the deep purple leather sofa and armchairs in the waiting area. There is a sleek modern desk near the door, with an icy-looking blonde woman sitting behind it. She eyes me suspiciously.

"May I help you?" she asks coolly. Her name is Mercy, according to the nameplate on her desk. Talk about a misnomer. From the looks of her, I don't think she even knows the meaning of the word.

"Umm, hi, Mercy. I'm Jens Sorensen, from IT. I'm here to repair the computer in the boardroom." I flash a friendly smile at her, hoping to thaw her attitude a bit.

It doesn't work.

She holds out her hand. "May I see your security pass, please?"

I grin apologetically as I juggle the box around so I can reach into my pocket for my pass. I give it to her and wait rather impatiently while she studies it. The stupid box is starting to get heavy.

Finally, she hands it back to me and gets to her feet. "Follow me," she orders, and opens the door behind her. "Mr. Luthor, the guy from IT is here to repair the computer." She turns to me and waves me inside.

I walk past her into Lex's office, getting my first up-close look of my boss in years.

Being gay, I can appreciate the male form in almost any variation. And man, I really appreciate the sight in front of me right now.

An inch or two taller than me, he has a sleek, animalistic grace and an energy about him that is simply indescribable. He is pacing around his office when I enter, shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows and his necktie loosened, exposing his fragile-looking neck. I snort to myself at that thought - I sincerely doubt there is anything fragile about this man.

I find myself squaring my shoulders and sucking in my stomach, like I have a chance of getting Lex Luthor's attention.

I know, I know. Not a snowball's chance in hell, right?

I am in a committed relationship with a boyfriend whom I love very much. I also know that Lex is so far out of my league, it isn't even funny.

A guy can still dream a little, can't he?

I smile my best smile and introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Jens."

He narrows his eyes at me, frowning. "Don't I know you?" he asks.

I blink at him in surprise. I can't believe he actually recognizes me, considering how many people he meets daily in his business dealings. "Uh, yeah, kind of. My partner and I had dinner with you and Bruce Wayne about four years ago. At La Boheme."

Lex nods. "Yes, I remember. You were in school at the time, studying computer programming."

Wow, I'm impressed. No wonder he's so successful. If he can recall a lowly college kid from a chance meeting years ago, then nothing must escape him. He must be hell to deal with in the boardroom.

"That's right, Mr. Luthor," I reply.

"And now you're working for LexCorp."

I grin and shrug. "Yeah, I started a few months ago."

His head tilts to one side as Lex stares at me. "Do you like it here?" he asks, sounding as if he's actually interested in my answer.

I carefully weigh my response, trying to decide just how truthful I should be with him. On one hand, I truly enjoy the work that I am doing here, and my co-workers are great. On the other hand, I'm really uncomfortable over some of the things that I've heard about LexCorp. And of course, I don't want to admit to the CEO of the company that I've been listening to gossip about him and his business practices.

Damn, I hate being in situations like this.

Lex seems to grasp what's going on inside my head. He gives me a wry smile and says, "I guess that wasn't exactly a fair question, was it? If you tell me yes, then I might think you're kissing up to me. And no wouldn't be a very diplomatic thing to tell your boss, not if you want to keep your job."

I return his grin with one of my own. "Yeah, it is kind of a conundrum." I gaze around the office, holding up the cardboard box slightly in silent inquiry. "Umm, maybe I should get started on the network now."

"Yes, you probably should. You don't want to piss off your boss, now, do you?" Lex says lightly. He points to an arched doorway, the room beyond lit only by filtered late afternoon sunlight. "There's the boardroom. I have a feeling you'll be able to figure out where the problem lies."

I enter the large room, twisting the dimmer switch to raise the lighting. I instantly see what Lex meant by that last statement. Numerous wires were lying on the carpeting, obviously having been pulled from the wall. Beside them lay pieces of a smashed laptop, along with a broken remote control. I grimace at the sight as I set the box down on the long conference table. I have my work cut out for me.

I begin unloading the box, humming softly to myself as I set out my tools and various spools of wire. Lex's office goes quiet after a while; I guess that he's probably gone for the evening.

Intent on my project, I'm startled when there's a deafening thud from the other room, then the sound of raised voices. I creep over to the archway, keeping out of sight to shamelessly eavesdrop on the argument.

"For God's sake, Superman. Can't you just leave me the fuck alone?" Lex snarls angrily.

Oh, wow. Lex and Superman are fighting - and I'm the only one around to hear. I thought their battles only took place in front of an audience. I ignore the sharp jabs my conscience is giving me and press my ear closer to the wall, holding my breath so I can hear better.

"No, not until you listen to me. Why the hell won't you let me explain?" Superman's voice sounds rough, almost anguished. What on earth was going on?

I flinch at Lex's laugh. It's bitter and angry and wounded, all at once. "Explain what, exactly? How my lover was sleeping around on me? No thank you. I'm not interested in hearing all of the sordid little details."

"For the last time, I didn't cheat on you! "

Whoa, hold on! Lex Luther and Superman were lovers? Holy shit!

A long pause follows Superman's impassioned statement, punctuated by several loud thumps and crashes. Finally, Lex hisses, "Here, look at this. And this. And look at this one as well. Each one of these goddamned photos shows you fucking a different guy. Try to explain that to me, Superman."

To my amazement, Lex's voice breaks at the end of his sentence, as though he's about to cry.

When Superman speaks again, his tone is gentle. "I wish you wouldn't call me that, Lex."

"What am I supposed to call you, Superman, when you're standing in front of me in that ridiculous costume, looking like a sanctimonious asshole."

There is a rustling sound, then Superman asks, "Is this better? Can you use my name now?"

"Whatever, Clark," Lex says quietly, resignedly. "It doesn't really matter."

Clark? Who is Clark? I can't resist; I peek around the edge of the doorframe, hoping to catch a glimpse of Superman's alter ego.

Lex is seated behind his large desk, but it's the man standing in front of him that catches my eye and makes my mouth go dry. My gaze sweeps along his body, starting at the dark curls on top of his head, down past the flannel-clad broad shoulders and a trim waist to the most perfect ass I've ever seen. He has incredibly long legs that are lovingly encased in worn denim, and when I look at his feet, I have to wonder if there's any truth in the correlation between big feet and...

"I have something I want to show you, Lex. Will you look at them? Please?"

When Lex nods reluctantly, Clark walks around the desk and I finally can see his face. I instantly recognize him - he's Clark Kent, the Daily Planet reporter who's partners with Lois Lane. I also remember something else - the name of the boy who saved Lex Luthor from drowning all those years ago was...

Clark Kent.

I don't have a chance to think about it much. Clark lays a folder down on the desk and opens it, spreading the papers out fan-like in front of Lex. He remains silent, allowing Lex to examine them carefully. After a moment or two, Lex glances up at him. "Clark?" he whispers in a husky voice.

Clark places a hand on Lex's shoulder and squeezes as he says, "I found these about a week after you left. Your father hired the models and had the photos taken, and then had a graphic designer manipulate the pictures to make the one guy look like me."

Lex moans quietly, "Oh, God." He hides his face in his hands, his whole body trembling.

Kneeling beside Lex, Clark reaches up and tugs on Lex's head, pulling it around to face him. "I'm so sorry, Lex."

"You're sorry? Why are you apologizing to me? My father set out to destroy us, to destroy our relationship, and I was the one who believed him. I'm the one who should be apologizing." Lex jerks away, jumping to his feet to prowl around the office. He finally turns to Clark, hands held out in supplication. "Why are you here, Clark? If I was you, I would be long gone, not trying to fix this."

Clark approaches Lex slowly, grasping both hands firmly in his own. "I love you," he says simply.

The two men stare at each other for what feels like an eternity to me, then Lex slumps forward into Clark's embrace. Clark's arms tighten around Lex's slim body, and he buries his face in Lex's neck.

When Lex whispers, "Take me home, Clark," he raises his tear-streaked face and nods. Lifting one hand, he tenderly wipes a tear from Lex's cheek. The next instant they're gone and I'm left alone in the office.

I quietly return to my work, deep in thought. I soon come to the conclusion that I could be in serious trouble for overhearing the conversation between Lex and Clark. Lex is ruthless, and I sincerely doubt that he - or Clark - wants anybody to know about either their relationship or Clark's identity. After all, they've kept it a secret for this long. I can only pray that Lex has forgotten that I was in the other room.

The next morning, I walk into the office and my hopes of being forgotten are dashed when I'm greeted with the message that Lex wants to see me. Immediately. My heart is in my throat as I ride up in the elevator, and my fears aren't alleviated when Mercy doesn't speak to me, but merely gestures for me to go on in.

Lex is sitting at the desk, feet propped up on the edge as he reads through a LexCorp report. He tosses down the folder when I enter and stands. "Good morning, Jens," he says pleasantly, and invites me to sit.

I'm grateful for the chair; my knees give out and I sink down onto it. "Good morning, Mr. Luthor. Larry told me you wanted to see me?" I flinch when I hear my voice squeak at the end of my sentence.

Lex smiles at me as he takes his seat again. "I just wanted to thank you for finishing the repairs so quickly, Jens. You did excellent work."

"Thank you, Mr. Luthor." I bite my lip worriedly before blurting out, "I signed a confidentiality agreement, you know. I won't say anything."

Lex leans back in his chair, a faint smirk dancing on his lips. "I know you won't, Jens. After all, you do enjoy working, don't you?"

I nod as I wipe my damp palms on my jeans.

"Good." Lex gets to his feet and stretches out his hand for me to shake. "I'm glad we had a chance to talk."

I give him a shaky smile and escape back down to my cubicle as soon as I can.

Six months later, I receive an envelope through the inner-office mail. When I open it, I discover a typed letter stating that I have been promoted and given a substantial raise. At the bottom of the letter is a handwritten note that simply says, "Thank you."

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