The Color of My Heart

Clark burst through the mansion’s study doors. “Lex, I came as soon as I got your message.”

Lex was standing next to the fire, a drink in his hand. “Clark, come in. We’re going to celebrate.” His demeanor was anything but celebratory though as he took another glass of brandy from the mantle and handed it to Clark. “Cheers,” he prompted, downing the rest of his drink.

Lex set the glass on the coffee table before sitting down on the sofa. He leaned into the cushions, arms spread across the back and legs stretched out on the coffee table. A hollow thud filled the quiet room as his shoes slapped the glass top.

Clark set his untouched glass next to the empty one and sat down across from Lex on the other sofa. “What are we celebrating?” he asked cautiously.

Lex tipped his head, studying Clark for a beat. “Dr. Garner’s success.” Another beat. “I remember the seven weeks I lost.”

Clark’s stomach clenched and more lies were ready on his tongue.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“I…con--” Clark lowered his eyes and shook his head wearily. After everything Lex had been through, because of him, he couldn’t do it anymore. No matter what his parents thought of Lex, he wasn’t lying to him anymore. “No. I can’t.”

“I see.” Lex stood again, pacing behind Clark, his cold tone making Clark shiver despite the heat of the fire. “Though I can’t say I’m really surprised, Clark. You did do everything you could to keep me from continuing Dr. Garner’s treatment. And now I understand why.”

“What do you remember?” Clark asked, consciously prying his fingers from the sofa cushion before he tore the leather. Though it didn’t really matter, regardless of whether Lex knew about Lionel or Clark. Either way, Lex knew Clark had lied. Clark almost hoped Lex knew both secrets so everything would be out in the open finally.

“Chloe helped me uncover evidence that my father and Morgan Edge murdered my grandparents and Dad drugged me to make me appear insane,” Lex replied flatly. “You tried to help me prove it, but when I saw you stop that car with your body, you let them take me away so anything I said about what I knew about you would be disregarded as just more ravings by a mad man.”

So everything was on the table then. “Lex…” but Clark hesitated. Saying he was sorry just seemed grossly inadequate.

Lex leaned over the sofa so his lips were only inches from Clark’s ear. “You left me in that hellhole to protect your secret.”

Clark’s head jerked away. “No! I did try to get you out.” He swallowed hard, the guilt threatening to choke him. “But it was too late.”

Lex walked around the end of the sofa, hands pressed on the arm as he bent down and looked Clark in the eyes. “Well. I think that’s the first time since we met that you didn’t deny the truth. Or are you just planning to have me locked up as a delusional nutcase again?”

Clark gaped at him. “No! Lex, you have to believe me, if there was another way--”

“You could’ve trusted me,” Lex barked.

“I didn’t want you to get hurt,” Clark shot back.

“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”

Clark ran his hands through his hair. “I was only trying to protect you,” he said weakly. “All my life I’ve worried about someone finding out my secret and hurting the people I care about to get to me. Don’t you understand? I thought it was safer for you to not know.” When Lex turned his back, Clark wanted to reach out to him, but the slim body was rigid and emanating waves of anger. “Lex, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice raw and desperate. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Lex rolled his head back, cracking his neck from side to side to relieve some tension before he turned again. His hands were in his pockets and it was a deceptively cordial stance, but Clark knew better and still kept his distance. “I know. I don’t blame you for protecting your family,” Lex finally said. “And I don’t blame you for not trusting me. I am my father’s son.”

“No, Lex,” Clark cried vehemently, “you’re nothing like him. When I knew what he planned to do to you, I knew you would never do anything like that to me. And I tried to stop him, but I…I couldn’t save you.”

Lex closed his eyes for a moment. “It’s okay, Clark.” He opened his arms and closed the gap between them, wrapping Clark in a tight hug. “I know all you’ve ever wanted was to save me from myself,” he murmured against Clark’s temple.

Clark sighed in relief, hugging back and gratefully accepting his friend’s forgiveness. It should’ve been enough, he didn’t deserve that much even, but deep in his heart he still couldn’t help hoping that someday Lex would want to be more than friends. Now that Clark didn’t have to lie to him anymore.

“I have something for you, Clark.” Lex walked over to his desk and picked up a small gift wrapped box.

Clark looked at it curiously, but shook his head. “I can’t--”

“It’s not another truck,” Lex cut him off, holding it out.

“Obviously,” Clark laughed nervously. He accepted the box, but just held it. “I still shouldn’t—my parents--”

“Your parents aren’t here. And they have nothing to do with this,” Lex chided impatiently. “Just open it. If you don’t like it, give it back. But it’s your decision, not theirs.”

“But why—after I--”

“All I needed to know was that you do trust me, Clark, and that we’ll always be friends. This is hardly the same magnitude of knowing your secret, but it is a heartfelt token of how much you mean to me.”

Clark smiled shyly and nodded, carefully pulling the bow off. He slipped the ribbon off next and lifted the lid of the box. A silver watch was nestled inside, the dark face gleaming in the firelight. “I do like it, Lex,” Clark said.

Lex reached inside and removed the watch, deftly unhinging the clasp and holding it open. “Give me your hand.”

Clark extended his arm and Lex slipped the watch over his fist, fastening it to his wrist. Desire twisted in Clark’s gut when Lex’s fingers softly stroked his forearm, the sensation spreading warmth deep into his bones and throughout the rest of his body.

His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the red face of the watch, seconds ticking slowly by as he realized exactly what he was feeling.

“Red kryptonite,” he laughed, reveling in the high.

***

Clark looked up at Lex, smiling sharply. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

Lex studied Clark’s transformation, marveling at the new man standing before him. He ignored Clark’s smug attitude and sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs and spreading one arm across the back of the sofa as he causally picked at a piece of lint on his slacks with his other hand. Clark still hovered over him like hawk and Lex had to admit the steely gaze was a turn on.

“I wouldn’t have given you such a meaningful gift if I wasn’t sure, Clark.” Clark crossed his arms and waited, obviously indulging him. “I didn’t just get the missing memories back,” Lex continued. “Dr. Garner’s procedure sort of shuffled other memories around, helping me see things more clearly. You. Our relationship. With a little investigating I realized exactly what’s been going on here, right under my nose. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the red meteor rocks seem to lower your inhibitions and let you be who you are really meant to be. And in the instances you’ve been exposed to them you keep attempting to leave Smallville and strike out on your own.” He cocked his head, leaning it to rest on the hand of his bent arm across the back of the sofa, and his eyes flicked over the watch. “Why do you think that is?”

“It’s a drag being every meteor freak’s whipping boy,” Clark replied, buffing the expensive watch face against his jeans and smirking when Lex glared at him.

“Don’t worry, Clark, that won’t be a problem anymore. I’ve just finalized my plans to return to Metropolis and I’m taking you with me.”

“You want to take me to Metropolis.” Clark raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Now that I remember what happened to my grandparents…and Julian--” Lex faltered briefly, the unwelcome memories flooding back abruptly. He ruthlessly pushed the pain away and focused on his plan. “Together we can destroy my father and LuthorCorp--Metropolis will be ours. This is our destiny, Clark.”

“Our destiny. Together,” Clark repeated, his face showing obvious pleasure at the idea. He perched himself on the arm of the sofa, probably thinking it was a benevolent concession on his part, and nodded for Lex to go on. “I’m listening.”

Although Lex pursed his lips together, he was sure the corners still turned up a bit. He shook his head, picking up Clark’s discarded drink. After he took a sip he gestured for Clark to sit beside him and said, “First, tell me the rest of your story.”

When Clark slid down, flowing onto the cushion beside Lex like liquid sex, his arm stretched along the sofa back, parallel to Lex’s, and his fingers brushed Lex’s shirt sleeve.

Lex returned the touch, rubbing his thumb over the watch band. The fact that they were both deliberately avoiding bare skin, for the moment, didn’t escape him. “What did you call that?” he asked, gently tapping the watch face with a perfectly manicured nail. “Red something.”

Clark smiled slyly. “I thought you had it all figured out,” he teased. “Knew all my secrets.”

“I didn’t say that. I know I’m still far from understanding the big picture so explain it to me.”

“Why should I? I could just leave right now and do it all myself. Get rid of your father. Have the run of Metropolis.” The red meteor rock made Clark less than subtle as he grew more excited and blatantly raked his eyes over Lex. “What’s really in this for me?”

A smile played over Lex’s lips and he moved closer, pressing his hand to Clark’s chest. The steady heartbeat thumped heavily against his palm and he carefully watched Clark’s reaction to his touch. “Clark,” he drawled slowly, letting the rich sound hang thickly in the air between them.

Clark’s reaction was exquisite, licking his lips and staring hungrily at Lex’s mouth.

Lex had waited so long for this. This was the real Clark, finally free from his parents’ influence and following his own instincts. Lex only had glimpses of Clark like this in the past, when he was wearing the class ring and had been involved with that girl, Jesse, but Lex had missed his opportunity then, and again over the summer when Clark had been in Metropolis on his red ring crime spree. Lex’s investigators had dug up plenty on Clark’s activities while Lex had been rotting on that island and he truly believed this was why fate had helped him survive and brought him back to Clark. They were destined to be together.

Lex reached up with his other hand, twining his fingers in Clark’s thick hair and pulling him close enough to feel the heat rising from his skin. “Every other time you tried to leave, wanted to make a new start in Metropolis, you ended up coming back. Why?”

“Lex,” Clark warned impatiently, fingers suddenly stroking the collar of Lex’s shirt, grazing exposed skin.

“You want me,” Lex answered for him. “You’ve always wanted this, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” Clark admitted, eyes flashing dangerously. “And we’re going to be together now.”

“Yes,” Lex hissed, a beat before Clark ripped his shirt open. Clark’s brutal lack of finesse made Lex painfully hard. “We’re going to be legends,” he promised as greedy lips devoured him.

***

Lex woke when stifling heat seemed to surround him and for a moment he wondered if Clark’s heat vision had set the bed on fire. When he opened his eyes, the early morning light was pink and yellow on the horizon and Clark was wrapped tightly around him, an alien furnace. He stretched, noting the well-rounded ache of all the major muscle groups, and moaned as the sweet pain blended with the sharper sensation of Clark’s teeth scraping against a nipple.

Clark looked up as he licked the taut nub. “I didn’t break you after all. I checked,” he said blithely as he stroked a garish bruise on Lex’s belly.

“You can try again later,” Lex responded, viciously leashing his desire.

First, he wanted to take Clark home. He took Clark’s wrist and pulled it to his lips, kissing the skin next to the watch band before looking at the time. If they left now, they would be in Metropolis for brunch.

Champagne brunch, back in bed.

“Ready to go?”

***

The Porsche was parked in the drive and Lex was leaning against the driver’s door, gazing up at the mansion, when Clark stepped out into the crisp morning air. He bit into his apple and held it between his teeth as he shrugged into his new suit coat. He liked the new clothes Lex bought him and he liked Lex’s obvious approval as his eyes roamed over Clark even more.

Clark jogged down the steps and poked Lex’s sunglasses higher on the bridge of his nose before kissing him. “Can we go to Corbusier for dinner tonight?” he asked with a toothy grin.

What better way to start their new life together than to truly celebrate at the best restaurant in Metropolis, before making love all night again. In their penthouse. He wanted Lex to fuck him on the balcony while they looked down on the city.

“Yes, Clark, if you will please just get in the car already.”

Clark used his super speed to dart around the car and dive in. “Come on, Lex,” he teased, leaning out the window and beaming at his lover’s stunned face.

“Show off,” Lex muttered, sliding into the driver’s side. “I see we’re going to need some rules about--” he paused, staring at Clark’s bare wrist.

Clark laughed at Lex’s openly nonplussed face. “Relax.” He put his hand on Lex’s thigh and squeezed possessively. “I just felt bad about abandoning my parents like this so I left the watch as a going away present. They can probably sell it and buy a new tractor.”

“Two,” Lex replied, but still looking ashen.

Clark sighed, grabbing Lex’s head and placing a loud smacking kiss on his bald scalp. He held Lex’s face in his hands, smiling adoringly. “Nothing will ever come between us again, Lex, I promise. I’ll always protect you.”

He reached out and turned the key in the ignition. The car roared to life before settling to a soft purr as it idled and Clark sat back in his seat, waving at the road before them.

“Let’s go.”

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