Reasons
Fandom: Smallville
Sequel/Series: sort of a sequel to ‘Wait’, but can be read on its own
Pairing: CLex
Rating: R for language
Category: futurefic, established relationship, angst
Archive: list archive
Notes: of all things inspired by an episode of ‘Malcolm in the Middle’
Warnings: I deny all knowledge of season 2, so forget canon
Disclaimer: not mine
Summary: Lex isn’t feeling the love
“Clark?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened to that letter I asked you to post?”
Clark winced. “Uh,” he wracked his brain, “Oh gee, Lex, I don’t know, I’m sorry. Was it important?”
“Was it important?” Lex muttered, “Wasn’t the fact that I asked you to post it for me important enough?” He just managed to stop himself from snapping.
“I’m sorry, Lex, I guess I forgot,” Clark sighed, looking up at his lover apologetically.
Lex chewed the inside of his lip, trying to hold onto his temper, after all, what was one more forgotten favour? “Fine, whatever.”
@>*~
“Lex, you here?” Clark frowned, looking round the apartment. The red light on the answer-phone indicated a message so he pressed the playback button.
“Clark, it’s me. I’m assuming from the news you’re going to be awhile, so I’m staying at work. Call me if you get in.”
The message cut off abruptly and Clark stared at the machine uncomprehendingly. “*If* I get in?” he whispered. No ‘baby’, no ‘I love you’… Lex must really be mad.
Okay, so he’d been working as Clark Kent *and* Superman a lot lately, but what was he supposed to do? Let people die in an earthquake? Clark sighed and picked up the phone, prepared for a cold reception.
@>*~
“Fuck!” Lex swore angrily, swiping all the food off the table in a fit of hurt fury. This was the final straw.
Over the last year with Clark making a real name for himself as Superman, he was constantly out saving someone, battling someone, whatever. Their relationship seemed to have taken a backseat.
But it had all got too much, and now! Now Clark had forgotten their anniversary. He had *never* forgotten before, in fact, Clark was usually the sentimental one, planning out whole days of celebration.
With their recent difficulties, Lex had made an extra effort, cooking dinner himself. the centre piece of the now destroyed table setting, had been a small velvet box, containing a platinum wedding band.
But now? Well, what was the point? How could he hope to compete with the whole world?!
Tears sprang to Lex’s eyes and he stumbled out onto the balcony, needing the air suddenly. The rain was a welcome addition to his misery. He sat down in a puddle of cold water and hunched over, head resting on his knees as his tears joined the rainwater trickling down his face.
@>*~
“Shit,” Clark muttered, fumbling with his keys, “Shit.” Of all the days to be late! Finally, he got the door open and he entered the apartment hesitantly. “Lex?”
There was no reply, so Clark ventured further inside. “Lex? Are you in?” he called, “Please, Lex, I’m sorry.”
Frowning, Clark quickly checked the apartment with a sweep of X-ray vision. “Oh shit!” he whispered at the sight of the dining room and hurried in. “Oh Lex.”
Spotting the small box, Clark bent over and picked it up. It was then that he noticed the breeze and he turned to the French windows. The soaking wet, huddled figure of his lover nearly broke his heart and Clark ran outside to wrap himself round the smaller man.
“Lex, oh God, you’re freezing,” he whispered. “Come inside before you catch your death.”
Lex lifted his head slowly and stared at his lover, shrugging him off. He laughed bitterly, “So, this is what I have to do for some attention from you, huh? Need rescuing?”
Clark sucked in a hurt breath, “That’s not fair, Lex.”
“Isn’t it?” Lex snapped, “You do realise what day it is, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Clark nodded, “And I’m…”
“Don’t!” Lex interrupted him angrily, “Don’t you dare say you’re sorry again! I’ve had enough of getting nothing from you but apologies.”
Clark swallowed back his own hurt in the face of his lover’s heartbroken anger.
“Lex, please,” he whispered, “I have a responsibility…”
“Bullshit, Clark,” Lex snapped, “That’s bullshit! You don’t have any responsibility to the world.”
“But I do to you?” Clark asked quietly.
“No, damn it,” Lex shouted, “To *us*! To us.” His voice broke on more tears.
Sitting down heavily, Clark had to swallow hard against the sudden lump in his throat. “I… but I…”
“You’re never here, Clark. I never see you, I never sleep with you, I never talk to you. I miss you, damn it,” Lex whispered.
“I don’t know what to say, Lex,” Clark said quietly, trying to hold onto his own tears.
“If you don’t know what to say to me, them maybe you should go,” Lex sobbed. Heartache filled his chest and he almost couldn’t breathe, but he couldn’t go on like this.
“No. No, I can’t leave you,” Clark shook his head rapidly in denial.
“Tell me why,” Lex said hoarsely, “Give me reasons to hold on, Clark, seven reasons why you love me, why you can't leave me, because I’m not sure I can take this anymore.”
Clark blinked, trying to think rapidly. Being put on the spot, always made his mind go blank.
“Clark!” Lex felt his lip tremble and he stared pleadingly at his lover. He didn’t want to let go, he loved Clark with every fibre of his being.
“I… I love the fact that you only smile properly for me,” Clark started hesitantly, “I love the way you bury your face in my neck when you sleep.”
Lex’s rigidly cold body relaxed a fraction and Clark sighed. He desperately wanted to fix everything and get Lex inside and warm again.
“I love that you put up with my father.”
Lex felt a smile start to tug at his lips and his breath hitched a little. “I love that you try and protect me from mine,” he whispered.
“I love the way you just hold me and let me cry when I can’t save everyone,” Clark continued, putting his arm back round the older man. “I love the way you stumble round like a zombie in the morning until you have a cup of coffee.” Clark leaned in closer, “I’ve missed that.”
“I’ve missed you bringing me my coffee,” Lex whispered, putting his head on Clark’s shoulder.
“I love the way you never treated me like a kid. You always listened to me, talked to me like an adult.”
“You were…” Lex paused, “You *are* my best friend.”
“I love the way you love me. You make me whole, Lex, without you I, I wouldn’t make it.” Turning, he wrapped his arms round Lex and buried his face in his shoulder. “I love you, Lex, nothing’s more important to me than you.”
“Oh Clark,” Lex sighed, wiping his tears away, “I love you too. I just need you more than I think you realise.”
“I… I do now, and I won’t ever forget,” Clark whispered.
“You better not.” Lex finally smiled. “In fact, open the box.” He’d spotted it on the ground next to Clark’s feet.
Clark picked it up and opened it carefully. “Oh my God, Lex,” he breathed, “Really?”
“Yes, really. I love you and I want you to have something with you to remind you that you’re mine, okay?”
“Very okay, Lex,” Clark sighed, holding out his hand for Lex to slip the ring on his finger. “God I love you so much.”
Epilogue/Sequel
Superman wasn’t around as much anymore. So, when he finally appeared to help out a major flood, the press focussed immediately on the appearance of a wedding ring.
Lois Lane in particular, as she’d noticed her partner wearing a ring that was identical…
But no one got interview that day, Superman flew away without a word once the disaster was contained.
It didn’t stop the articles, filled more with speculation about who Superman could be married to, if indeed he was, than with news of the flood. Some even suggested Lois Lane.
Lois left others to speculate, she alone had one hard fact; Superman’s secret identity.
@>*~
Ringing the doorbell repeatedly, Lois added impatient knocking to the door of the apartment. She’d actually had to break into personnel to get hold of Clark’s address, she wasn’t about to give up now.
“I’ll get it, or we’ll never get any peace.” She heard through the door.
It opened, finally, and Lois couldn’t quite help gawking at the sight of a slightly flushed Lex Luthor, dressed in a pair of black, silk boxer shorts.
“What?!” Lex snapped, then he stiffened, “Ms. Lane, what do you want?”
Recovering herself, Lois straightened her shoulders. “I came to see Clark Kent, do I have the right apartment?”
Lex sighed, “Come in.” He turned to lead the way into the living room. “Clark? You have a visitor.”
“What?!” Lois heard Clark call back.
“But no one knows I live… Lois!” Clark stopped in the doorway in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same question,” Lois frowned at the sight of Clark dressed in a robe, and by the looks of it, not much else. “Are you rooming with Lex Luthor?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Lex drawled, walking over to the door to drape himself over his lover.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?! Superman and Lex Luthor?” Lois spluttered.
Clark’s eyes widened in shock, “Wh-what?!”
“Oh come on, Clark,” Lois shook her head, “The ring?”
“Shit,” Lex muttered.
“No,” Clark stopped Lex from berating himself, “It’s okay, only Lois would notice something like that. Nobody else notices Clark Kent.”
“How’s that okay?” Lex asked, “*She* noticed and now she knows!”
“*She* isn’t going to say anything,” Lois interrupted in annoyance.
“But?” Lex asked, waiting for the inevitable catch.
“But, I would like an exclusive interview with the happy couple, Lex Luthor and Clark Kent,” Lois chuckled to herself, “Cat’s going to spit blood.”
Lex’s lips tightened, but he raised a questioning eyebrow at his lover.
“It’s okay with me,” Clark replied.
“Then it’s okay with me,” Lex added with a nod. “Now, if you don’t mind, Ms. Lane, we were rather busy.”
“I’ll bet,” Lois smirked, looking them both up and down appraisingly.
“Don’t push your luck, Ms. Lane,” Lex said coldly and gestured towards the door, “Clark will let you know when it’s convenient for you to come round for the interview.”
“Yes Sir!” she snapped sarcastically. But she quickly headed for the door. Outside, she pressed her ear to the wood.
“Now then, where was I?” She heard Luthor chuckle.
“Oh God, Lex.” Clark groaned.
With a shudder, Lois pulled away from the door quickly. Then she shrugged. It was a bit of a wrench to find out that Superman was Clark Kent *and* gay, but hey, at least she had an exclusive.
end
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