Title: Bittersweet
Rating: PG-13
Challenge: CLFF Wave 23 Sing – (Prompt #4: Guest who just cut their first CD?)
Notes: This story uses and is based on the song "Umbrella" by Rihanna. Many thanks to the fabulous Ms. Jayne for the beta assist.
Summary: "Lex listened as Clark put emotion into his singing. His voice took on a deep, almost raspy quality that made the words come to life, and for a brief moment it felt as if the words had been written just for them."

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"Clark?"

"Yeah," Clark said as he briefly glanced up from his breakfast to meet Lex's eyes.

Momentarily thrown by his friend's attractiveness, the words seemed to tumble over themselves and out of Lex's mouth. "Have I ever told you that you have really nice hair?"

Lex quickly took a small sip of his overly priced, sinfully sweet coffee. There was no way in hell that Clark was going to make him blush. Yes, he'd slipped and asked the question, once again finding himself struck temporarily dumb by his friend's seemingly effortless beauty. That didn't mean he had to feel self-conscious.

"Maybe if I burn my tongue on this coffee, I'll stop embarrassing myself," Lex thought as he did just that.

Clark saw the blush rising up his usually cool friend's neck, and he almost felt sorry for him. Almost. If Lex wanted to play, he was game. Clark put his fork down and pushed his plate out of the way, sliding his chair back from the table. Refusing to break eye contact with Lex, he worried his full bottom lip between his teeth and ran his fingers through his hair, raising his arms in a manner that caused his designer tee to hitch and reveal a tantalizing strip of belly.

"I've created a monster," Lex thought as he sat there with both hands wrapped around his cup to hide the sudden trembling of fingers that longed to reach out and touch.

Placing his hands in his lap and releasing his lip, Clark broke out Facial Expression Number Eight which Lex liked to call "Deliciously Tousled Confusion."

"You really think I have nice hair, Lex?" Clark asked while perfectly controlling his DTC.

Clark was radiating sexuality that no one could resist. The game was over before it even began. It only took twenty seconds for Lex Luthor to lose when faced with the almost unnatural good looks of the man before him.

"Damn, Clark," Lex sighed in defeat as he broke eye contact to stare into his coffee. He felt his cheeks heat; most likely causing his face to turn an undignified shade of pink.

"Did I win?" Clark asked with a wink. He pulled his chair back to the table to finish his meal. "I always win," He thought as he smiled down at his food, stealing a few quick glances to Lex as his friend tried in vain not to smile, not to appear flustered, and not to let Clark see for the thousandth time just how deep in love he was.

As the minutes seemed to fly by, Lex grew to value the time that they were sharing together more and more. Life had taken unexpected turns for both of them in the last year. The ability to successfully coordinate schedules for something as simple as a breakfast together during the week had become nearly impossible. Yes, Lex was a busy man, and his work demanded a lot of him. But Clark had become an almost overnight celebrity, and his career seemed to demand so much that little was left for anything else.

Some nights when Lex's only companion was a glass of scotch or when his only activity was contemplating the myriads of things on his schedule for the next day, he'd consider their lives together if he hadn't pushed Clark to pursue his talent. He'd think about nights filled with Clark instead of alcohol, piles of documents, or silence. And on the nights he would think like that, he would soon feel ashamed, realizing he couldn't and shouldn't have Clark all to himself. Clark was special. Clark had a gift. He possessed a talent totally and completely unrelated to his ancestry, the meteor showers, or Smallville.

Clark could sing.

"Understatement of the year," Lex thought while picking at his muffin as he listened to Clark hum some pop song Lex had heard continuously on the radio all summer but had never really paid attention to. Lex was about to ask him the name of the song when he heard someone shriek "Oh my god!" followed by two teenaged girls screaming in unison "IT'S HIM!"

Lex was just about to move to the next table over to allow the girls time with the man that he knew they had posters of plastered on their walls when Clark's eyes begged him to stay.

He had to grab onto the table to prevent their drinks from being spilled as the two young fans rushed up to meet CJ Kent in person. CJ Kent with his dark, tousled hair and emerald green eyes. CJ Kent with his heart stopping smile and equally stunning physique composed of lean, muscular lines and angular features. CJ Kent with the deep, melodic voice that drew people in and placed them under his spell.

Lex would sometimes ask himself, "Would they still love him if they knew? Would they still flock to him if they’d known the shy, slightly clumsy farm boy who'd worn flannel shirts and oversized jeans? Would they have done just about anything to have a moment with the boy that once possessed eyes so full of sadness, but who would still do anything to make his friends and family happy?" As Lex sat watching Clark give up the remaining few moments of freedom he’d probably have for the rest of the day while wearing unadulterated happiness on his face, he knew the answer to all of those questions would have been "yes."

Lex sat and watched as the girls smiled and giggled while they received hugs from Clark and took turns taking pictures with him. Lex watched while his friend’s meal grew cold as a few more diners moved in to ask for autographs. He found himself wondering if Clark would like something to go as Clark gave up his mealtime to greet fans.

After a while, he noticed that it was nearing 8 a.m., and he knew that they both had places to be and there were people waiting for them so that their respective businesses of the day could begin.

In true Luthor fashion, Lex stood from where he’d been sitting and quickly, yet with gentleness that he’d learned from Clark, took control of the situation.

"I’m sorry everyone, but Mr. Kent has an appointment that he’s going to be late for if he doesn’t leave now."

It was only then that the star struck patrons realized that they’d interrupted the meal of Metropolis’ favorite son. Taking the patrons' moment of shock as their opportunity to exit, Lex placed a fifty dollar bill on the table and, grabbing Clark’s elbow, made a move for the door.

With the door closing behind them, Lex knew that his time with Clark was almost over, but he wasn’t quite ready to let go.

"You want to make a run for it?" Lex asked as he grabbed Clark’s hand.

"Wha... What are you talking about, Lex?" Clark asked, looking around to see if they were being followed.

They weren’t.

"Humor me," Lex said, pulling on Clark’s arm and starting to run. Clark’s legs automatically followed suit to avoid hurting his friend. There was a small alley three stores down and upon reaching it, Lex pulled Clark inside, pushing him against the stone wall.

"Lex, you've lost your mind. You know that, right?" Clark asked, smiling and looking into the eyes of the man now standing close enough to him that their breaths mingled and their bodies almost touched.

The happy expression on Lex’s face faltered. Clark placed his hands on both side of Lex’s face and placed the lightest of kisses on his mouth. Lips separating, Lex wrapped his arms around Clark’s waist and allowed his head to rest on the slightly taller man’s chest, absorbing what he could while he could.

"Do you know when you’ll be able to take some time off?" he asked, still maintaining his hold on Clark.

Clark squeezed Lex a little tighter. He didn't want to let go either. "I’ll have a few days off at the end of next month before the tour begins."

"I miss you so much," Lex said, smiling self-deprecatingly at himself. "I’m jealous of your fans. Do you think you could stand another groupie?" He asked, looking up and attempting to waggle his eyebrows but failing. He hated having to share his heart with the world.

"I miss you, too," Clark said, trying to keep what he was feeling from showing on his face. There were times when he wanted to give it all up and go back to the life he'd had before. There were times when all he wanted to do was go to the mansion and shoot pool or be lectured on ancient civilizations or listen to stories about long dead men. There were times when he wanted to lay in bed with the person he loved and not worry about schedules, appointments, or bookings.

But then he would think about singing. Singing gave him an outlet that he’d never had before. It was something that gave him a strong sense of connecting with people. He would feel the vibrations from the fans stomping their feet on the bleachers or on the ground as they chanted his name and it would make his skin tingle. His ears would sometimes buzz from the influx sound. And as the curtains would open and the lights would focus on him, he'd be consumed by something that felt so strong that it could only be compared to flying.

He and Lex often went weeks without seeing or touching each other, and he’d wanted to quit. But Lex, too, knew what it felt like to fly, and he refused to allow Clark to give up that release. Singing had become as much a part of Clark as helping people in need.

And so they both learned to make the best of the time they had together.

Lex released Clark and using his cell phone called for his driver.

"He should be here in a minute or two. He’s only a few blocks away from here," Lex said as he cleared his throat and slid the slim phone back into his pocket.

"Do you need a ride?" Lex asked, slowly making his way out of the alley with Clark walking by his side.

"No, I’m good. My driver should be parked in front of the restaurant by now."

"Clark?"

"Yeah."

"Will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"You were humming this song back in the restaurant. What was that?"

Clark smiled to himself as she shoved his hands into his pockets. He knew what Lex wanted and he didn’t mind giving it to him. Clark gently cleared his throat and took a deep breath and flew for Lex.

"You have my heart

And we’ll never be worlds apart

Maybe in magazines

But you’ll still be my star

Baby cause in the dark

You can’t see shiny cars

And that’s when you need me there

With you I’ll always share

These fancy things will never come in between

You’re part of my entity, here for infinity

When the war has took its part

When the world has dealt its cards

If the hand is hard, together we’ll mend your heart"

Lex listened as Clark put emotion into his singing. His voice took on a deep, almost raspy quality that made the words come to life, and for a brief moment it felt as if the words had been written just for them.

As predicted, it only took a few minutes for his driver to arrive and Lex once again found himself looking back as Clark disappeared in the distance.

"Driver?"

"Yes, Mr. Luthor?"

"Turn the radio on, please."

"Which station?"

"The local pop station."

"Yes, Mr. Luthor."

Lex sat back and closed his eyes. Maybe if he listened long enough either a CJ Kent song or the one Clark sung for him would come up. Maybe if he listened long enough he’d be able to ignore the pain in his chest.

Maybe.

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