Title: Stretch and Follow Through

Author: Supercaptain182

Genre: Future fic

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Leaving to grow

Author Note: A special thanks to theclexfactor for the beta!

There was a full schedule in his planner, but only one slot was empty.
His secretary normally filled in his dates, yet this one slot in
particular was his own. Lex prided himself in seeing trends; forward
progressions in business, technology style. It paid to always think
ahead, to notice what was going on around him and from that extrapolate
the necessary data to come to reasonable conclusions.

Since this was one of the few things he did for himself, the clear
emptiness of the time slot was glaring.

Things had settled between them after years of fighting into an
established détente.

This absence of sorts seemed to be breaking their pact. He sat back,
thinking, how his mortal enemy had managed to slip away, beyond his
grasp.

The most obvious detail was the fact that no one, none of his mortal
enemy's so-called caped compatriots talked about him or his absence.

He wondered if they had become wise to his bugs. He had almost as many
in their hovering hideaway as Batman. They couldn't have caught on.

If this wasn't some hush-hush mission to space, he could-most likely
would find it in himself to forgive. If it wasn't, then he would
take it as he saw it. A breach of contract, the end of the détente.

Then, the real games could start.

Possibly the most amicable divorce he'd ever had.

Clark had always accused him of leaving and allowing his mistakes to
flourish in his wake. Not this time, the carousel of those that came and
went had ultimately stopped the day he and Clark Kent, aka Superman, aka
the only friend he had ever known had transcended the standard confines
of a love-hate relationship. It was never Lex who left all along. This
time no one could accuse him of leaving anyone or anything behind, Clark
included.

He has his minions searching the skies for any sign of Superman. Night
after night, he reviews the tapes in hopes that he finds what he's
looking. Soon the sky offers no help, neither does the planet.

When Lex actually deigns to visit Clark's ramshackle apartment, he
finds it's vacant. The owner of which has apparently vacated it some
time ago. A fine sheet of dust covers the countertop, and Lex wonders if
Clark stood at the island in the kitchen thinking this plan up to drive
Lex crazy.

Seeing the apartment feels so much more hollow than seeing one of his
wives' suitcases by the door. It's a loyal relationship he has
with Clark, constant hate, constant pushing of the other's buttons,
constant fucking on a scheduled basis until Clark decided to hightail it
away from Metropolis and Lex. Knowing that this relationship has come to
an end by the evidence, or lack thereof, he has to know why, because
he's Lex Luthor and he's not ready to call it quits. If he has a
choice in this.

He'd always hated the Watchtower. Contrary to popular belief,
he's never been against the so-called superheroes. He's just
against moral self-righteousness. Lex used to spend days thinking of
ways to screw with Superman. Clark was so tightly wound back then.

Those good old days. He stopped himself from reminiscing, because he
hated feeling maudlin.

He liked screwing with Superman, but loved messing with Batman. His lust
for messing with Batman came from an equal mixture of respect, hate,
boredom, and jealousy. Territorial jealousy truly.

He had Mercy spread the rumor. It was almost too perfect how it landed
in Bruce's lap. It couldn't have been any better if he'd
gift wrapped it with a tiny bat emblem on the knot of the big red bow.

So, he sat at his desk a night later, engrossed in nothing more than
solitaire, but pretending otherwise with a look of supreme concentration
on his face.

"Luthor."

"Batman." Dropped his mouse and slid deeper into his plush
leather desk chair. "I'd offer you a drink, but that would be
morally reprehensible of me to give a drink to someone who is as
agitated as yourself."

The scowl behind the cowl deepened. Good, Lex thought. "Cut the
crap. What's this I hear about you looking to buy irradiated cores
for your ray gun?"

Lex smirked sexily, knowing that he was only grating Batman further.
"Didn't you hear? That was just a rumor." The information
had been well supported, but if one truly dug deep, they'd find that
the whole plan rested on nothing but dense air. "I am glad you are
here. There's something else I would like to discuss with you."

"I don't have time for your games, Luthor."

"So says the man that's dressing up like a bat and trapezing
across the known galaxy." He stood and walked around his desk.
"If you haven't guessed why you're here I'll make you
aware of the reason now. Superman and I—let's cut to the case,
Clark and I have a--" An arrangement? A Special relationship?
Clandestine intimate relations? "A working relationship. One that
can not possibly work without him and I maintaining a certain level of
communication. Do you see where the problem is?"

This was one of those rare moments when Lex knew he was truly at a
disadvantage. Even the white glint off of Batman's teeth told him so
in resounding volumes. "Luthor, what would make you think I would
tell you anything?"

"It was a hope."

"You should know better now. Hope doesn't last long for people
like you."

"You wound me, Batman." Wound him anymore and he'd break his
non-aggression pack with Superman. But Superman wasn't here nor
anywhere else. It would be so easy to have Mercy and Hope test their
theory on who could make the Bat fly higher.

He hesitated for too long. The Batman was gone. One source checked,
several more to go.

Several months ago, a new weather satellite was launched with the
specific purpose of providing updated and real-time imagery and data for
hurricanes and other fast moving tropical systems. Meteorologists around
the world were heralding the satellite as moving storm predictions even
closer to an exact science. The government and insurance companies were
just relieved that they didn't have to pay for it.

A donation by LexCorp.

A hefty donation which left them all amendable to whatever terms—in
Lex's case, not asking many questions about Lex's philanthropy,
and allowing LexCorp to make and perform the necessary maintenance.

The satellite served their purpose. As Lex scrolled through the time log
and bank of images, he was dismayed that satellite had served his
purpose, but had not found the object of his inquest.

Lex started through the collection of images dating back to a week
before their first skipped appointment. There's an image of a tiny
speck of blue and red against a wall of light as the Fortress's door
opened and closed, disappearing into the solid white blanket of artic
nothingness. Superman flew away suddenly, the vector and speed not even
his systems could calculate.

"Where are you, Clark?"

The tape played over and over. Red and blue on white and blurring into
the inky blackness filled with glittering stars. As Lex turned away from
the video and stared out across the expanses of Metropolis, he was
filled with mild amusement. The first thing on his mind was whether
Clark was bowing out on their deal. Surely, any sane criminal, or
mastermind his case, would be relieved to have Superman out of their
hair, but this thing between him and Clark far exceeded the limits of
hero and villain.

All their history had led to this. The testament of which had Mercy
commenting about his excessive irritability and Hope teasing him about a
certain man in tight blue tights.

His horniness was at Mt. Everest proportions and that in itself was
wreaking havoc on his business life. At least, he didn't have to
contend with one of his wives plotting to kill him, because his level of
distraction was high enough to allow a well orchestrated plan to do some
damage.

As much as he was worried about his rising passions, the part of him
that he had long believed Lionel had beat into submission wondered
frequently if Clark were okay. His two personalities aside, neither had
been seen in weeks. Clark did possess superior strength and a will that
was equally as indomitable, yet like everything in life, he had
moments—which Lex had seen first hand in the middle of steamy hot
couplings atop various surfaces in his offices-- that anything could be
broken, if put under the right amount of pressure.

Fragility didn't come easy to anyone, especially not someone who in
some places on Earth and in the universe considered him to be a god. Not
that Clark would ever think that way. That was more of Lex's avenue
anyway.

But being fragile and weakened was entirely possible for Clark. He'd
worked on many schemes to serve just that purpose.

"Boss, what's next?" Mercy leaned on his desk and looked
more than terribly bored. Hope looked surprisingly eager. Her last
tango with Nightwing left her with the guts to take on `Big Daddy
Bat' as she liked to say.

If they were as bored as he was miserable, she could take care of his
last source of information on Clark. "Assignments ladies," Lex
said with the same smile he reserved for old battles with his father and
the old days when he'd whip out a surprise ray gun just for the look
of frustration on Clark's face. Mercy and Hope knew all too well
what that smile said.

"Mercy, since you look so eager for a challenge, go question Ms.
Lane about a certain Boy Scout in blue that's missing." Mercy
actually looked slightly less pleased in her own way. "If you two
find yourself in a sticky situation, just start talking about Jimmy
Chos. If I know Lois, she'll take to that train of thought like a
pit bull to a bone."

Mercy saluted coyly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Lex turned his attention on Hope. She was barely staying off the tips of
her toes from the bouncing her heels were doing. "You have the
opportunity to fulfill a little promise I gave to a certain bat."

Hope smiled coldly with that slightly manic glint shining in her eye.
Lex almost felt bad for Batman. Then again, Flying Rodent Man was
keeping Superman—Clark, from him and he didn't take kindly to
others keeping what belonged to him.

He hadn't stuck around for Mercy's phone call. Halfway to
Smallville, his phone rang. The ring seemed to grow more irritable as
Mercy must have been after tangling with Lois Lane.

"Mercy."

"It's called `Exit Strategy', Lex. Talking about Jimmy
Cho's with Lois is like giving a pit bull heroine laced steak."

Lex chuckled lightly. Thankfully almost too low for Mercy to hear.
"So Ms. Lane was less than forthcoming I take it?"

Mercy snorted matter of factly into the phone. "Understatement of
the year. She knows something for sure. Unless, I break her
fingers--" Mercy prompted. Her stoic excitement came in loud and
clear.

"Now, Mercy—the world would be a better place with Lois
Lane's fingers broken, but I'm afraid that would only lead to
her mouth getting more exercise." Lex finished the call much to
Mercy's chagrin and continued on the steady path to Smallville.

On certain days, he purposefully blocked those memories of living in the
small town, which now seemed even smaller in light of how things had
come to pass. The world—the universe, was all far more expansive,
exciting, and dangerous than the tight confines of his place of exile.

It had never been meant for him. Therefore, Lionel found the perfect
punishment for him. For Clark, it was just the opposite. It was the open
land with high flowing sunshine to his gilded cage. Clark couldn't
leave Smallville, any more than he could actually stop being a hero.

Lex simply hoped that Clark would be in Smallville. He didn't often
hope, so he could afford to hope for this.

********************************************************************

The farm house is just as yellow and smiling with pleasance and blooming
flowers as ever. The occasion called for something nostalgic. A silver
Porsche. Of course, not the silver Porsche, but a fine up to date model
with seats he was sure would make Superman forgive for any future death
rays to come.

As Lex exited the car, he was greeted with the smell of fresh cows and
flowers. Two scents that battled furiously and only came to a truce with
the onset of night. He hadn't been here in years.

The front porch was still white. The porch swing still looked just as
comfy. It used to be all he ever wanted. His gaze fell liberally, each
spot held a memory. There were still good times buried under the
mountains of bad ones.

There was no Jonathan Kent to glower at him. Scowl and search him with
his eyes and question his intentions. Funny, all those things that
worried Jonathan then, were perfectly legal now, and definitely legal
between he and Clark. Maybe, he wouldn't feel as thrown by
Clark's disappearance, if Clark knew that too.

It seemed highly inappropriate to just knock. After years of fighting,
climbing this porch that seemed to have been untouched by time, but
maintained by Martha Kent's constant attention, made him feel
nervous and eager in a way that he hadn't felt since he was twenty
one. After years of friendship, followed by tense years of all out
belligerent warfare, and then later still years of strained peace with
the added benefit of fucking , to simply walk up to this door and knock
politely seemed anticlimactic.

His arrival should be heralded by a bang, a boom, something
semi-spectacular.

When Clark opens the door, it takes all his will to not lean in the
door. But seeing Clark standing in the doorway in wrinkled jeans, a
t-shirt that had failed to catch up with his expanded musculature;
unnoticeably barefoot to anyone other than Lex with hair longer than
even his longest days when he started college, beautifully curled and
flirting with the hard lines of Clark's shoulders, Lex found himself
a bit thrown.

Lex reacted quickly. "I'm assuming finding you here means
I'm getting Metropolis and you're keeping Smallville?"

Clark's forearms bulged and stood out prominently against the red of
his t-shirt as he folded his arms. "What are you talking about,
Lex?"

Reading Clark's body language was one thing, having Clark call him
`Lex' and not `Luthor' meant the forecast for his visit
was looking up.

Lex leaned on the railing with the comfort of years passed and lazily
gazed about the farm before turning his attention back to Clark.
"I'm assuming that your sudden vacancy of all parts of your life
in Metropolis indicates that you've decided to remove yourself from
our arrangement. Suitable reasons for your departure would include an
impending apocalypse, finally seeing Lois for what she is, and Martha
being ill. Since, I am sure your mother isn't ill. Thus, there goes
a reason for you to return here. So, I'm looking at this in the same
way I view one of my divorces."

"Obsessively?" Clark sighed.

"No, unlike with my wives, you and I didn't come to any certain
terms as with a pre-nuptial agreement. I have no problems with you
keeping Smallville, while I'll take good care of Metropolis."

Clark stared at Lex like he'd lost his mind…again. "If
you're going to put it that way, come inside."

It was too early to feel some kind of victory. Though, an invitation to
be closer to Clark was pretty damn good, he still wasn't expecting
lemonade and cookies upon his entry into Martha Kent's home.

The place was just as he remembered, if possibly a little more ordered.
Clean, homey, with the same country rustic furnishings. The only
difference was the sight of an open laptop and boxes, set about like
kneeling supplicants, around the recliner Clark sat in.

"What are you doing?"

The laptop was securely across Clark's lap with his fingers poised
to resume typing at any minute. "It's called retiring. Between
the JLU and the rest of heroes in Metropolis, I think I can finally step
back from the limelight. As Dr. Phil would say, it's time for
personal growth, Lex."

He shuttered and rolled his eyes at the mention of that man. He
sometimes wondered if he too had antagonized Clark to the point of
insanity. The thought was both soothing and disturbing. "A little
warning would have been nice."

"Sure, Lex." Instead of asking Lex why he'd come, Clark left
the room. Lex sat quietly, refusing to crane his neck to see what Clark
was doing. Obsessed, yes. Nosy, no. Those were two different things in
the Luthor handbook. Clark returned with two glasses of cool, and
without a doubt pleasantly sweet, lemonade.

"Give me details about this `retiring' bit?" Lex asked.

"I left Smallville to grow. Now, I'm doing the same for
Metropolis." Clark chuckled. "It feels like I've
grown…" He searched for the word. "A lot. I've seen this
world, and others, and parts of the universe that would blow the average
person's mind…" Lex made a note to ask about the mind-blowing
areas of the universe later. "I think it's time to reflect."

Apparently, Clark felt that explanation was self-explanatory enough.
Another sign that Lex's influence was positively rubbing off on
Clark, among other things. Lex slid off the arm of the sofa to sit
within the comfortable confines of the Martha Kent's homemade
pillows. "What are you writing?"

"Superman's memoirs…my memoirs." Clark typed away.
"I don't know if these will be ever published or just kept for
my own eyes…it just seems like I need to write all this down."

What could Lex say to that? He watched Clark type away, a look of pure
open concentration spread over his face. It was entertaining to watch
Clark's pink lips being worried between his teeth, or the
oscillating dilation of his green eyes as Clark remembered intense
battles. Coloring of his cheeks could only indicate the aftermath of
those intense battles, late night fly-bys, rooftop tussles, and then the
even fiercer memories of hot bruising kisses, desperate hands, and the
flow of hands over silky skin covered in a light sheen of sweat.

Lex threw his head back and reining in the desire to sigh. Those
memories really should have been a reality in the moment.
"You've made me so goddamn codependent." He whispered.

Clark looked at Lex for a long moment, before returning to writing.
"That's not what I expected to hear…The last thing
actually." Clark mumbled to himself.

The next afternoon he'd shown up, though not after waiting for
Clark's mother to leave and counting the minutes that her little car
was a safe distance away from the farm. Martha Kent had an uncanny way
of making him feel twenty one again. She had an amazing ability to read
him then. Lex really didn't want her to read his mind now, because
he was having enough trouble as it was keeping some of the more
raunchier memories out of mind.

He'd again taken up residence on the living room sofa with his
requisite glass of lemonade. Lex snapped his phone shut. With a self
satisfied smirk, he gazed over at Clark and waited for Clark's ultra
perceptiveness to turn his way. "You need to tell Lois to stop
smoking."

"Why?"

"Have you ever wondered what the Middle Ages smelled like?"

"Umm…no?"

"Just think about the combination of too strong coffee, cigarettes,
and afternoon sushi."

"You just compared Lois's breath to the Middle Ages."

"I know what I just did, Clark. Sometimes, I wonder if you ever
truly appreciate all that I go through on your behalf. I had to consort
with some of the most unsavory--"

"Unsavory? Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle--"

"Au contraire, if someone had let his whereabouts be known, then I
wouldn't be waxing eloquently about my closer encounters of the
strange and over-caffeinated kind."

"I never realized that I had to check in with you." The check in
part was said with a definite insertion of air quotes. Lex simply rolled
his eyes.

"Well, actually you don't. It's simply easier to know where
you are…and what you're doing. The mischief you get into is
staggering. Don't fault me for being concerned. "

"And what are you doing?"

"I'm a constant angel, Clark. Scout's honor."

"Scout's honor….my bright red butt."

Lex wouldn't dare point out that the aforementioned muscle had been
looking extremely fine the last time they had had an encounter.

Like old times, they were back in the loft. Clark sat at his desk,
diligently typing away, recounting tale after tale of his heroics. Yet,
the question that had yet to be answered was one that brought him back
day after day.

"Why did you leave me?" Lex asked from the couch.

"Why did you?" They could talk about secrets and lies all they
wanted to now. This was the moment. The time that he would have sold his
soul for back when Smallville was the center of his world and the
mystery of Clark Kent was almost as important as taking down Lionel.

Clark breaks his concentration from his computer. "Anyway,
what's it to you? I can tell you if you think trussing me up in the
suit and pushing me off the building will help, you're dead
wrong."

"I knew under that mild mannered veneer you were a feisty little
shit." He's not sure if Clark's genuinely irritable because
of his constant interruptions. But, Clark engaging him verbally, and
with attitude he might add, was surprisingly sexy. Hopefully this change
wasn't due to Clark's former partnership. Being around Lois for
too long might have had deleterious consequences. Further investigation
would prove whether he'd have to perform some sort of personality
exorcism.

Lex reclined on the sofa watching Clark with ease. The sight was very
appealing, it always had been.

"I wanted to leave without any attachments."

"Attachments?" Lex repeated. "You and I are more than
attachments to each other. If I have to spell it out for you, then
that's very sad. We are living up to the Stuff of Legends.
There's no denying that, while there have been bumpy spots in our
relationship, you and I have more than transcended the level of
attachments."

"So, what are we?" Clark asked distractedly.

Lex sniffed indignantly and also a bit hurt. For someone so smart, Clark
could be surprisingly dumb. This time that denseness actually stung a
bit. "Since, you're in such an introspective mood, I'll let
you figure it out."

Clark left his computer to lean against the old battered couch. A
breeze whiffed through the loft as the summer rains began to beat out a
refreshing cadence against the earth. This time Clark gazed at Lex
speculatively.

"You have a habit of showing up right after my mother leaves. Are
you afraid of her?" Clark teased.

No, Lex was not afraid of Martha Kent. Just the possibility of being
totally undone by her cooking and the prompting look in her eye which
lured him to tell his secrets, namely how long he and Clark had been
having carnal relations and why Lex hadn't done anything about
Clark's absence sooner.

"Contrary to what you believe, I do have a life. I just have perfect
timing unlike someone else in this room. Your mother would agree with me
by the way." He took some satisfaction in that little fact. "
And me being afraid of your mother? Never, I'm simply adhering to a
strict diet, and I simply don't want the temptation of your
mother's irresistible confections standing in my way of total
health."

Clark simply looked at him. "Keep telling yourself that." He
said and turned on his heel and left.

***********************************************************************

Lex showed up again. "I should get viewing rights."

"Really? What entitles you to that?"

"I helped make you who you are and I'd expect there would be
some mention of our entanglements." Lex smirked. "I just want
you to deliver your story with as much verisimilitude as possible."

Clark quirked a brow in fascination. Lex's sudden desire to protect
the truth was very amusing. "If necessary, I'll get my legal
department to write something up?"

Clark rolled his eyes. "First of all, you can't control
Superman's story. Second of all, stop treating this as a divorce,
because it's not and this is starting to get a bit creepy. I'm
not one of your wives, Lex."

"How could I forget? You never tried to kill me, but you did keep me
on my toes." Lex said with a lascivious grin.

As silence descended over the room again, Clark resumed his steady
tapping away at the keyboard. He had just about eased back into his
writing groove when Lex's voice stopped him.

"Why haven't you tried to kill me?"

"Because it's wrong…"

"No, wearing bad suits and believing flannel is the only acceptable
fashion choice is wrong. Try again."

"Don't you have work to do? A company to run? JLU members to
screw with or taunt?" The only one he wanted to screw with was right
here.

"Not really. I'm trying this new thing called `taking a
vacation'."

"Your minions must think the apocalypse is near."

"Employees, Clark. Minions are an entirely different breed of
worker. I doubt my employees are worried. If anything, they'll be
jumping all over each other coming up with something spectacular for my
return. It's only an exercise in corporate responsibility sharing.
It'll be fun to watch the underlings scramble. Mercy gets a kick out
of it and she has a sense of humor like a cold stone. "

He'd taken up his spot on the couch again. With the anticipated
moments of silence coming and staying longer than Clark had predicted,
he continued to type while Lex remained silent. Deep into his story of
his first visit to outer space, Lex piped up, drooling woefully.
"I'm bored."

"Good. Go do some work."

Lex completely sidestepped the suggestion. Hauling himself up, Lex
stalked over to Clark. Casually leaning on the corner of Clark's
desk, Lex calculated his position perfectly to allow his cologne to be
in ideal sniffing distance, not that Clark needed the help.

"Let's play pool."

The tip tap of Clark's fingers on the keyboard trickled down to a
mild pick and peck, once he looked up at Lex. "When was the last
time you visited the mansion?"

"It's been a while."

Clark wondered as Lex rested against his desk, standing with the same
ease and grace as always. Of course, Lex had calculated this—his
visits, his posture, all timely, noticeable and immaculate like his
black suit and purple dress shirt. Lex watched Clark's eyes
intently, watching the dilation and contraction of the pupils.

"If you let me finish this chapter, then I'll be right
over."

Lex considered the offer impassively. "Very well." Suddenly, he
dipped low, bringing his scared lips within millimeters of Clark's
ear. "You have five minutes." The stream of warm air died and
reignited with Lex's added note. "You're probably wondering
why I gave you five minutes. Superspeed, remember? This is the only
moment when I want your finger moving faster than the eyes."

He pulled back and sauntered out of the loft and down the stairs. Clark
stared after him, knowing that his face was burning brightly. All those
thoughts he'd wanted to commit to paper were certainly harder to
grasp after Lex's attempt to fellate his ear.

Maybe, there was something to Lex missing him. From the look on his
face, it wasn't so one-sided.

**********************************************************************

Lex racked the balls and Clark got the first hit. The balls clicked.
"Like me, like my ambiguous practices."

"So you left Metropolis and came back to Smallville in hopes that I
would be here?"

"Something like that." Lex supplied.

"My question is why?"

"Because…you know, Clark." Lex trailed off as he lined up
his next shot.

"No, I don't."

"I left Metropolis so that I could look back at my life. I can see
that you are it. Ray guns and cat of nine tails of death and all, you
are still it.That's why I won't grant you a divorce."

"Lex, we are not married."

Lex didn't contest Clark's denial. "What did you do?"

"Me?" Lex asked innocently. "No, what did you do….or
should I say fail to read?"

Lex took his shot while Clark stared bemused, and watch triumphantly as
the ball sank into the pocket. "Your turn." Lex said simply,
walking around the table.

No one was better than him when it came to dropping bombshells and
walking away gracefully from the fallout. Clark's eyelids hovered
lowly as he mentally reviewed what had been in the contract he'd
signed with Lex.

"Lex--" Clark said with the same slow tone that came when either
Lex was holding a ray gun or sliding to his knees to do wicked things to
Clark with his tongue.

"Clark."

Clark walked cautiously around the pool table. His cue still in hand,
approaching Lex like he was preparing himself for possible kryptonite
exposure. "I'm not mad." Clark reassured. "I just want
to know what you mean by `what I did'."

Inside, he was grinning ecstatically, knowing that Clark had been baited
perfectly. "You should really appreciate my efforts to find
you." Lex said in a matter of fact tone.

Clark's brows rose. "Oh, really?" Nothing that Lex could say
at this point could be anymore surprising.

"Yes, really. I even talked to Batman….If I wasn't convinced
that he should be locked up in Arkham, then I'm convinced now.
He's a bit--"

"Intense." Years of working with the man in a variety of places
still led to the same conclusion. Batman was one intense man.

"No, I was going to say a nut actually. Plus, he has a crush on
you."

"No….Really?" The newspaper had always speculated that
Superman and Wonder Woman had a thing. When truth be told, it was
obvious that Batman was hoping for some one on one time with Superman.
Opposites attract, Lex's ass. Clark and Superman were spoken for
even if Clark had failed to realize it yet.

"Yes. He may have the emotional reach of a petulant three year old,
but his whole `I keep you at arms distance and pretend to intimidate
you' act is nothing more than an adult version of `I hit you
because I like you'."

Lex almost forgot how much he liked to listen to the sound of
Clark's laugh. At times like this, it was so open and flowing. He
poured himself a drink, thankful that the mansion's bar was still
stocked fairly well, and called down for a Coke for Clark.

Like old times, he waited for Clark to make his move.

************************************************************************

Lex figured it was time to change strategy. He'd made Clark curious,
he'd even flirted a bit more. Now, it was time to allow Clark to
come to him after all. The occasion had warranted going back to old
favorites: a black suit with crisp purple shirt.

He sat behind his desk, computer up and running a mad game of solitaire
when the double doors opened. Clark stood there in tight worn blue jeans
and a red t-shirt that was brighter than all shades of red had a right
to be. It was skin tight and perfect to Lex's estimation. The
perfect tautness to encourage maximum nudity once Clark was in his
reach.

Clark walked up his desk, and around to sit on the corner. Of course, he
bluffed by closing the screen to his engaging virtual card game. Things
between them were hotness after a bit of teasing on his part.

"I'll make you a deal. You'll get full disclosure on the
novel if-- "

"If?" Lex purred intentionally. Spinning his chair around, he
was a little more than a few inches away from touching Clark's knee.
The heat radiating off of him was the lively sort he craved to remove
the chill the castle gave him since his return.

Clark smiled softly. He could always trust Lex to make the unflappable
flap and quiver by his voice alone. "If you tell me what brought
you here."

Lex considered the offer. From the look in Clark's eyes, those
frayed green edges, blurring into shades of blue, as he moved closer.
Clark was equally in need of his touch. "Haven't you wondered
why I haven't remarried or why you haven't allowed Lois
or…Batman to get too close?"

Clark remained silent. Inching his face closer to Lex's as he
considers Lex's question. He smiled finally, giving Lex a reason to
watch every part of the action with more intense scrutiny, from the new
light in his eyes to the reddening of his lips and the brightening of
his cheeks as lips pulled back to show a full set of pretty teeth.

"I thought you figured out that attempted murder didn't make for
a healthy relationship." Another inch is ticked away between them.
Lex could feel the warm winding waves of air

Lex edged just a bit closer to Clark. "Try again."

Clark inched closer still. Lex knew better, but the effect of
Clark's changing emotions had a startling effect on his eyes. Summer
light poured into the office, casting multicolored shadows over Clark,
making him look beautiful in washed out shades of rainbow. "I think
you said it before, Stuff of Legends and all. With all the stuff
that's happened between us, I figure no one else would have us
without trying to extort, murder, or help either of us scheme against
the other…Somehow, you've made this legally binding…and
maybe, I'm okay with that."

"If you had figured that out sooner, there would have been no reason
for you to leave."

"This book made me realize that you've been around for more than
your fair share of moments in my life. Maybe…" Clark's lips
hovered just out of reach of Lex's own. The moment had finally
arrived, the control to not swoop in and steal a kiss from those lips
was taking more control than Lex realized he could possess around Clark
after so long.

"Maybe, it wasn't as necessary to look back and wonder what
events changed me. The day you crashed into me was enough. I don't
think I've stopped growing since that day." He said before
ducking his head.

Lex ran a hand up the smooth contours of the tight shirt and then up and
over the long column of Clark's neck. His fingers had missed this,
like a pilgrim getting a sacrament, he felt whole right down into his
soul. "I do believe you're flirting, Kent."

"Well, I'm glad that I haven't gotten too rusty, Mr.
Luthor."

Their lips slid together. Lips soft and warm, so pliant beneath his own,
Lex found that the trip was worth it. He surged forward just a bit more
to grasp onto Clark's tongue. Every other fantasy on his list could
be crossed off as he heard Clark moan in their kiss.

For years, he'd waited to kiss Clark in the mansion's office.
From friends to enemies to contractually bound lovers, the path might
not have been ideal, but the result was more than fine.

Clark pulled back, much to Lex's chagrin, and evaded Lex's
attempts to reconnect their mouths. His lips formed a small smile and he
chuckled lowly. "I can just imagine you stalking me until you found
me. Mom said you really must love me then."

Lex turned away, his face heating in embarrassment. Visions of Martha
Kent fawning over his efforts to find Clark flashed in his head, along
with the utterance of how `cute' his search had been. Luthors
weren't cute.

"Luthors are cute…or Lex Luthor is very sexy." Clark
muttered before diving in to kiss the side of Lex's face and his
neck.

Lex shook his head lightly. "I can't believe you talked to your
mother about me."

"Lex, this is Smallville after all. People have known you've
been back in town and she's seen your car in the drive while we were
in the loft, Mr. I'm Scared of Your Mother."

Luthors didn't snort, but if they did this moment would have been
opportune."Keep talking, Kent. I'll whip out the death ray and
no matter what the contract says, it will be classified as rough
play."

Their lips joined for another kiss. Slow and seductive, any further
witty comebacks were silenced by the slide of lips over lips. "No,
more death rays until you make an honest man of me and not just on
paper. Mom wanted me to give you that message by the way."

Lex took the opportunity to silence Clark with a soul searing kiss and a
firm grope starting at his waist. "I'm amendable to those
terms."

"Good, you have viewing rights whenever you want them." Good,
Lex though, he'd be taking Clark up on those in about five minutes.

There weren't many people that could command so much respect from
Lex. Martha Kent was one of the very few that could bend him to her
will. Make an honest man or alien of Clark, technically that was already
done. He only needed to retrieve the ring from its special place of
safekeeping. Unsurprisingly, that was next to his kryptonite ring.

Keeping your wedding ring next to your intend's deadly weakness was
the Luthor way of being sentimental and just a bit kinky. Not many
enemies could say they could sleep comfortably by their enemies.

Funny, Lex left Smallville to stretch his wings and conquer the world.
Instead, he had to return there to find the very center of his world.

Lex contorts his face into a mask of seriousness. "I'm invoking
Article Seventeen of our agreement."

Thrown by Lex's sudden change, Clark asked, "What's
that?"

"T-shirts are strictly forbidden in the mansion." Lex decreed.

"I guess I'll have to rectify that, since I don't want us to
resume hostilities." A flash of red and then there's nothing but
golden skin for Lex's eyes' delight.

To this day, the t-shirt has never been found and Lex has a completely
different type of viewing rights.

The End