The Worst Case

'The Worst Case'
by: Christine and Carrie


Having been sitting in the loft for almost an hour now, they still had not gotten too much work accomplished during that time. Succumbing to absentmindedly attempting to get anything written, Clark sat and listened to Pete talk about his latest girlfriend. The two of them had chosen each other as partners to work on a creative writing assignment on a nonfiction and/or science fiction piece of their choice. Sex was a strange thing to talk about between them, now that Pete knew his secret. His friend had all sorts of ideas in his head, of him getting girls pregnant, producing squirmy alien babies with tentacles and purplish in color. So, what else would they have come up with for their project? In the end, they had chosen an alien reproductive structure. As strange as it may seem as a subject to anyone else, it was right up their alley.

They had gotten off topic long ago and were now basically just hanging out, rather than working on their school work. Pete, surprisingly, still had a book open in his lap about human reproduction. Although he seemed more focused on reading gross descriptions about female innards than on their alien woman they were planning to create, Clark at least hoped he was retaining some of the information. At least they were still trying to get some work done on it. Clark sat on the couch, laughing at the picture Pete's words were creating in his mind. Folding the last side of his paper airplane up, Clark lifted it and looked at it appraisingly. He had torn a page of old notes from his school book to make the plane out of; you could still see his writing, although disjointed, on the folded paper. Hearing the low mechanical hum of an engine growing louder as it came nearer to the barn, Pete shut the book in his lap and sat up from his slouched position. "Ooh, sounds like your boyfriend's here!"

Clark laughed at the look on Pete's face, listening to the engine having been cut off, and the sound of a distant car door slamming shut carried through the barn. He threw the plane at Pete, still smiling, and hoping to keep the mood light while his two friends were in the room together. Pete was not exactly comfortable on the issue of Clark being involved with Lex as more than just a friend, but he had understood what Clark had told him about their relationship. It had made Pete feel better to know that, he wasn't sure he wanted to know Clark had been checking him out in the showers at school in gym class. He was not shallow, though, and he was not going to end his friendship with his best alien bud just because of said alien's sexual orientation.

Apparently, Clark had found that Lex was the only human male specimen on Earth that he found sexually appealing, and that also failed to make Pete feel comfortable about the situation. He didn't trust Luthors, and wouldn't want his friend to put trust in someone like Lex just to have it used and abused, then thrown away. Although still wary of Luthors, the more time he spent around Lex, and Lex and Clark together, he could see how much they liked and cared about each other.

"Clark?" He didn't want to tell him. In the four months that they had been together, there was never a single fight or disagreement ... or lengthy separation between them. Lex sighed as he made his way through the barn. He knew what he was going to ask, too; if he could come with him. 'No, Clark, you're still in school. You can't come.' That was all he had to say to him, but he doubted it would end at that. Clark would protest and say his grades were good enough. Lex really did not want to do this.

"Up here, Lex," Clark called back. Lex started up the stairs, steeling himself for the upcoming conversation. Holding back a sigh and putting a false smile on his face when he saw Pete sitting across from Clark. He knew it was going to be hard to break the news to Clark on this in the first place. Not to mention if he had to have Pete there as well, witnessing the sudden dive from a cliff that Clark's heart was about to endure.

"Hey, Pete," he said, smiling at the younger boy, and moving to take a seat beside Clark.

"Lex," Pete replied in a strained tone. It may not have come out as pleasantly as he knew Clark would have liked it, but at least he was trying.

Clark ignored the tension hanging between the two of them, and smiled at his boyfriend. "I thought we were meeting at your place later today? Not that I'm complaining about you being here, but what's up?" He asked, scooting a little closer to Lex to sneak in a little peck on his cheek. He tried not to show too much affection around Pete, he was just glad he hadn't lost his friend over everything already.

"I have something important I need to tell you," Lex began, turning to look at Pete for a moment. "In private," he finished.

Pete rolled his eyes, but got up from his seat on the hay covered floor. "I'll be outside, communicating with the cows," he said as he made his way to the stairs, walked down them and headed outside.

Clark let out a laugh at his friend before turning to Lex. "So, what did you need to tell me that's important?"

Lex turned slightly so he was facing Clark and took hold of his hand. "Clark, you know that I love you, right?" Clark didn't say anything, he just nodded. "Well, I found out a little while ago that my father is having some problems with one of his companies in London. Normally, he'd just have one of his flunkies go and take care of it for him, but this is a major problem. I can't go into much detail about it, but anyway," he paused, taking a deep breath at what he was about to say to his lover. "He needs to go over there personally and take care of it. The only thing is he doesn't feel secure enough to go by himself, so he asked me to go with him."

Clark frowned thoughtfully at Lex for a moment, wondering what was bad about that. "Well, that isn't so bad. I mean, I knew before we started our relationship that there would be times you'd have to go away on business for a while." He stopped talking as he took in the upset look on Lex's face, "What's wrong?"

"Clark, I'm going to be gone for at least five months," Lex replied, squeezing his lover's hand tightly, bracing himself for what he knew was coming.

Clark blinked his eyes a few times to clear away the sudden tears that threatened to spill forth. "Um, okay, I understand, I guess. When do you leave?"

"Monday morning."

Clark swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in his throat. "Lex, that's only two days away."

"I know, Clark. Believe me, if I had known sooner I would have tried to get someone to go in my place. It seems, how ever strange, that my father only trusts me to go with him on this last minute trip," Lex replied, clearing his throat. Did his father really think that little of his son's business ventures that Lex could just drop them at will to scuttle off to his father's side?

Clark let go of Lex's hand and stood up from his seat on the couch. "Let me go with you. This way..." he began, but found himself interrupted by Lex shaking his head gently.

"You can't, Clark." As much as it hurt to say no to him, it was what he had to do. "You're still in school, and you know your parents would never allow it. They've already been great to even allow us to be in a relationship. I doubt they'd approve of this."

"Lex," Clark said, tears finally spilling out his eyes, leaving streaks down his cheeks. "I...how..." He trailed off, unable to form any words coherently. The suddenness of the situation he found himself thrust into was taking its toll out on the younger man.

Lex moved closer to Clark and wrapped his arms around his lover. "Clark, I know. If it was up to me, I wouldn't hesitate to stay here with you, but my father needs me. Yes, he's been a royal pain in my ass since he moved in, but he's still my father and I have to help him." Lex sighed as he felt his young lover sob uncontrollably into his shoulder. "Love, we'll still be able to keep in contact with each other." Almost unsure of what he should do to reassure the other man, he rubbed tentative hands over Clark's back, "There's the phone and emailing each other and even the postal system."

Clark pulled away and brought a hand up to wipe it across his tear stained face. Nodding, he said, "I know, Lex. But we'll only have two days together before you leave and knowing your dad, he'll probably be trying to take up all your time."

Lex sighed and held his boyfriend closer to him. There wasn't really anything either of them could do about it now.

@>*~

Clark woke up earlier than usual and sped around his room to pick out the clothes he wanted to wear before getting into them. He had a bunch of chores he had to do today before he could meet Lex at the hotel a few blocks from the Talon. They had agreed to spend as much time as possible together before Lex had to leave for his extended business trip. His parents thought that the two of them were just dating and most of Smallville just thought they were really close friends. Only Pete and they knew there were more elements to their relationship then a few discreet dates here and there.

After Lex had left last night, he told Pete what had happened and how he felt. Pete tried to be there for Clark emotionally as best as he could, but their relationship still made him a bit uncomfortable so Clark couldn't really go into detail about everything. Pete had left an hour after Lex and Clark had gone back to his house to tell his parents what had happened. His father was still irked about the whole dating thing, but still trying his damnedest to be there for his son while his mother smiled sympathetically and hugged him.

Finished dressing, Clark sped down the stairs and out of the house, making it look as if there had been a gust of wind twirling through the house. Clark had to feed the cows, mend the fence surrounding the perimeter of the farm and fix the tractor. Of course, he sometimes wished they'd have taken the money Lex had offered them so they could simply buy a new tractor and never have to fix it again.

Using his speed the entire time, Clark finished with his chores in less then thirty minutes when usually it would have taken his father two days to do everything. It was a good thing he loved his parents so much or he would have run away a long time ago. There was just too much work for a seventeen year old to do. Running back into the house, Clark sped back up the stairs to his room, undressed and headed to the shower. He had twenty minutes to meet Lex and he didn't want to be late.

Coming down the stairs, he paused to say bye to his parents. His mother was in the middle of pouring coffee into a cup for his father. "Have fun, Clark, but remember to be home by midnight, okay?"

"Alright, Mom. Thank you for letting me spend these last couple of days with Lex. I'm sure he appreciates it just as much as I do. Lionel has been in a really foul mood since last night according to Lex," Clark said as he kissed his mom on the cheek and waved good-bye to his father before bolting out the door.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Martha," Jonathan said as he took the offered cup from her.

Martha took a seat next to Jonathan at the kitchen table. "I do. They're only dating, Jonathan, and Lex won't even be in the same country for the next five months. I think them spending a little time with each other until Lex leaves won't hurt anyone." Jonathan just grumbled into his coffee cup and took a sip.

@>*~

When Clark had gotten into the hotel, he made his way up to the floor where their assigned room was to be located. Alternately looking at the number on his key, to the numbers on the doors, he stopped at 204 and tested the door knob; he found it locked. He was almost afraid to think that Lex wouldn't be there, or wouldn't show up at all. He squashed those thoughts down and slid the key into the lock, and opened the door.

Stepping into the room, he smiled when he saw Lex was already there waiting for him. He shut and locked the door behind him as he tossed the key over to the dresser at the side of the room. He felt a rush of happiness and at the same time, doubt, at seeing his friend. He didn't want Lex to leave. "Hey," Lex said, getting up from his seat and meeting Clark half way. Lex pulled Clark into a quick but warm hug, before giving him a soft kiss.

Pulling back and taking Clark's hand, Lex led them over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. The next few moments passed almost in complete silence as they sat in each other's arms, looking almost sad. "Are you sure I can't come with you?" Clark asked, with a vague pleading tone to his voice. He didn't want to be without Lex for that long.

"Clark," Lex said, looking up into Clark's eyes, "I don't want you to compromise your academic marks for me." He took hold of Clark's hand, looking at him seriously. He hated to leave, too, but again it was what he had to do. Leaving his father alone at the castle was one thing, but alone across the Atlantic was another, especially now that Lionel was blind and even more untrusting of people than he was before.

Clark sighed, looking back at Lex and trying not to break out the puppy dog eyes. "All right," he said, reluctantly. "I'm going to miss you so much, though," he ducked his head and looked at his shoes, absently shuffling them back and forth against each other. "We've never been apart before."

"I know," Lex gently settled his hand on Clark's cheek, turning the younger man's head back towards him. "It'll be fine." He held Clark's eyes for a moment, making sure that he believed those words before saying anything more. "I promise, Clark," he said as he guided Clark's face towards his, pressing his lips softly against the teen's.

Clark sighed into Lex's mouth as he returned the kiss, letting his hands run up and down his lover's back. Lex pushed against Clark until he was lying on top of the younger man, barely having broken the kiss. Breaking apart only for much needed air, Lex sat up to remove his shirt, while Clark scooted further back on the bed, until the top of his head was just near the headboard.

Lex slowly lowered himself back on top of Clark, knowing his weight wouldn't hurt him in the slightest, but he didn't want any of this to be rough. Picking up where they had stopped kissing before, Clark raised his torso up off the bed to help Lex with the process of removing his own shirt. Tossing it to the side somewhere, Lex continued, alternating between his lover's lips and peppering kisses along Clark's jaw and neck.

Bringing his hands up, and back down Lex's back, he wiggled one of them in between their bodies, moving towards the fastenings. Lex moaned lightly into Clark's neck when he felt his zipper being drawn down before a warm hand slipped inside his pants. Lex moved his lips back to Clark's and gave a soft lingering kiss to them as he sat back on his knees. He reached for Clark's own button and zipper, becoming quite intent on having his lover's pants tossed aside as well.

Clark lifted his hips slightly, lifting Lex along with them, as Lex smoothed his hands over Clark's hips, drawing the younger man's jeans down to his thighs. Clark moaned softly when Lex's hand wrapped around his erection and stroked once firmly before letting go. Lex grinned down at him and stood on his knees to push his own pants down his own thighs. Lex rolled off Clark to lie beside him, pushing his pants the rest of the way off with his feet before shoving them off the side of the bed.

Clark sat up quickly and pulled his jeans off, letting them pile onto the floor in a heap before turning back to his boyfriend. Lex was lying on his side with his head propped up on his hand, smiling at him. Clark leaned over, lying himself back down as he started into another warm open mouthed kiss, letting Lex's tongue into his mouth as the older man pushed him onto his back again, climbing onto him.

Clark slowly spread his legs, moving them from underneath Lex, and letting the older man settle between them, gasping lightly as Lex's hard erection came into contact with his own. Clark lifted his legs enough to wrap them around his lover's lower back, hooking them there by crossing his ankles. Lex let up from kissing long enough to reach over to the side and grab the tube of lubricant from the top of the night stand. Clark pulled his legs forward, spreading his knees to the side and trying not to pull Lex down too far. Lex came back, tube in hand, and continued kissing Clark with as much passion as he could.

Lex broke the kiss once again, bracing himself on his elbows on either side of Clark's head as he flipped open the tube and squeezed a small amount onto his fingers. Pushing himself up, he reached his hand down between their bodies, seeking out Clark's opening, and pressing a finger inside once he came into contact with it. Gasping, Clark tossed his head back, pushing it into the bed at the feel of Lex's finger slowly pushing into him, finding his pleasure spot. Lex withdrew his finger, and rubbed slow circles around Clark's opening before replacing the one finger with two, scissoring them as fast as he could without denying his lover the pleasure he deserved.

Leaning down to resume their kissing, Lex removed his fingers from within Clark before sitting back on his heels. Clark unclasped his ankles and Lex gently lifted Clark's legs toward the younger man's chest. Clark grabbed hold of his legs behind his knees, opening himself wider as he watched through his parted legs to see Lex slick his cock with his lubed hand. Lex leaned down over Clark, lining his cock up to Clark's wet hole, and looking down into Clark's eyes before slowly pressing himself inside. At the slow insertion, Clark let out a soft moan, which Lex could vaguely make out the words 'love you,' as he pushed forward until he was all the way inside.

Planting a tender kiss onto Clark's lips, Lex wrapped his arms underneath Clark's shoulders and began to thrust, slowly at first, just little teasing thrusts that had Clark babbling incoherent nothings. Lex continued his slow, loving thrusts as he buried his face into Clark's neck, nibbling gently on the tanned flesh right below his ear. Clark let go of his legs, wrapping them around Lex's lower back, pushing every once in a while on Lex to make him go deeper, all the while mumbling his desire for the older man.

They continued making love until neither one of them could hold out much longer, the passion driving them higher until finally giving into it, Lex’s thrusting grew faster and faster into his lover. Clark moved his hands from around Lex's neck and brought them above himself, wanting to keep his strength away from Lex as the pounding strokes hit his prostate repeatedly. Hearing the sound of wood cracking breaking into the quiet sounds of their coupling, they laughed softly, and Clark flicked his tongue out of his mouth, sliding along Lex's chin.

Bending his head to latch onto the tongue, Lex drew it into his mouth and it developed into a deeper kiss before it broke, leaving them panting for breath. Lex rose up onto his hands as his strokes into Clark's body became harder and harder. Lex leaned to his left, noting Clark's occupied state with the headboard, and put his full weight onto his arm. He brought his right hand into contact with Clark's weeping erection and squeezed gently.

Clark's fingers gripped the wood tighter, providing a creak to accompany with his groan at the feel of Lex stroking his cock. He frowned slightly and grimaced as he felt his forehead become sprinkled with little splinters of wood. Lex kept his thrusting up, feeling the slow tingle in his balls as his orgasm made its way through his body. A twist of his wrist on Clark's cock, and the teen cried out in time with the headboard caving in on itself as his orgasm ripped itself from his body.

Lex lifted the cum soaked fingers of his right hand up to his lips, licking once, twice, before putting his hand back on the bed, leveling himself out again. He managed a couple more thrusts, becoming jerkier as he went on before giving in to the quivering and gripping muscles of Clark's body as they milked Lex's own orgasm from him. Collapsing onto Clark's chest, Lex lay there for a couple of minutes, focusing on regaining his breath, panting as if he just finished running in a marathon. He lifted his head weakly to see Clark covered in what looked like saw dust and a happy sated smile on his lips. Lex laughed unabashedly as he slowly pulled out of the warm depths of Clark's body and rolled over onto his side.

Clark sat up when Lex rolled off him and shook the wood shavings from off his head as best he could before lying back down and snuggling up to Lex's side. "It's a good thing I love you so much, Clark, or I'd have made you pay for a new headboard," Lex teased before letting out a yawn.

Clark quirked his upper lip in an amused expression. "I love you too, Lex. But it's your own fault." Lex playfully swatted at him before making himself comfortable, hoping that the next day would be as good as they could possibly make it before he had to leave.

@>*~

Sunday had gone very well, with minor whining and puppy dog eyes from Clark pleading to let him go with Lex. Lex was hoping he wouldn't break, and give in to Clark's wishes, knowing that Jonathan would come after him with his shot gun if he dragged his son off across the world. There had been a few tense times throughout the day, but all in all it had been wonderful. No interruptions, and time alone with each other; it was good. Even if the hotel wasn't their first choice of where to spend said time, it was better than nothing.

Meeting Lex early on Monday morning, Clark had almost made his lover late for the plane by delaying the departure from the hotel. After they left, Lex drove them to the castle to pick up a few things he wanted to carry with him personally. He had never been too keen on having his personal things carted to the plane along with the rest of his luggage. Clark had latched onto his hand the entire way, pouting whenever Lex had to let go to shift gears.

When six o'clock rolled around, Lex couldn't persuade Clark to go home; the younger man insisted he was going to spend as much time as he could before Lex was in the air. He only wished he could fly across the ocean with him, ensuring a safe trip. He couldn't bear to lose Lex now that he'd found him, and apparently latched on for good.

Pulling out the school and age factors of the situation again, Lex finally agreed for Clark to accompany him to the airport before having his chauffeur drive him to school. Clark had reluctantly accepted the ride to school, but part of him was just feeling lucky to have the lingering smell of Lex on the seat of the car. Good-byes and lingering kisses, along with promises of love were the last things they had together before being left equally alone for the next five months.

Clark sighed as he walked into Smallville High, noting Chloe's curious look moved from the car he'd gotten out of, and back to him before she sidled up beside him, walking into the school. "What's with the escort?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow and looking at him suspiciously. Sometimes she really could be annoying, but he shouldn't take it out on her.

"I was at the airport with Lex," knowing that she'd wonder why he was with the billionaire that early, even if it was just a friendly thing. "He left for Europe this morning." Yeah, males get up at five in the morning, superspeed through their chores and meet their equally male friend at the airport at six in the morning, saying good-bye to him. Hoping that she wouldn't think it was that odd, considering they were in Smallville. Darn, though. He didn't want her thinking he was a mutant who had become obsessed with Lex, or something.

"Huh," was her eloquent response. Letting out a sigh of relief, glad that she wasn't going to push it for at least right now, saying he'd see her later quickly before splitting away from her and trudging down the hall to his locker.

He groaned upon reaching his locker, opening it and shoving his homework that he'd finished up on Friday night into it. He sighed, moving to grab the book for his next class. Letting his head smack into the wall above his little storage place in the school before he frowned upon realizing how stupid what he just did had been. "Hey, Clark," he heard Pete call from the immediate vicinity behind him. "What's going on?"

Pete's locker wasn't too far away from Clark's when he saw the taller boy's attitude. Then after Clark's head hitting the wall seemingly on purpose, Pete grabbed his books and quickly made his way over to his friend. Clark felt a bit better that his friend was there, but not by much. He at least pulled his head away from the wall and surreptitiously eyeing it to make sure he hadn't pressed a Clark Kent's forehead shaped indent into it.

Hearing his friend's knowing chuckle at the action, Clark turned to face him, leaning against his locker and sighed, looking heart broken. "Hey," he said despondently, looking at Pete and trying for a weak, half-assed smile at best, but all that came out was a pathetic grimace.

"You don't look so good," Pete said, raising his eyebrow questioningly and hoping Clark could shed some light on what was bothering him, since he obviously didn't mean he looked physically ill. He knew Clark wasn't the most open person for sharing his problems, but he could at least attempt to draw something out of him. He knew there were only a few things that could make Clark's mood take this sort of nose dive; a fight with his parents, or a fight with Lex.

He scoffed half under his breath and tried to cover it with a cough, not wanting to upset Clark by his opinion of whom his friend chose for a boyfriend. Even when he was open to trying to get to know Lex, the times that the older man had made a bad impression were still outnumbering the good times. He just hoped it was nothing serious, and that Clark hadn't gotten hurt or anything.

Clark looked at him and sighed again, pushing away from the side of the hallway and starting towards his first class, maybe school would help him take his mind off Lex. Pete shook his head at his friend and followed, catching up to Clark. "So, what happened between you guys on Friday?" Not that he really wanted details, but if it was bothering Clark, then he wanted to help.

Clark shrugged and continued simply looking dejected and sad. "Nothing," Clark said, easily forgetting the great time he'd had with Lex over the weekend, and only focusing on the fact that they would never have a good time like that until Lex was back. That was a long time in Clark's book. "He left for five months starting this morning," he finished, turning into the classroom.

Pete sat down in his desk, which was opposite from Clark's in the aisles, "Man, that sucks." He could imagine that it would suck, if his girlfriend was going to be away for that long. Pete had no problem with it being Lex who was away; Clark would have more time for him, but he wasn't going to be selfish about this. He wanted to cheer Clark up, and not make a rift between the two of them. "But you can call and stuff, right?"

"Yeah," Clark replied, settling into his desk. Today was going to be a long day. He wasn't really in the mood for trying to concentrate on boring school work, or having to socially interact with anyone other than Pete and maybe Chloe today. Lana would be too self-obsessed to be able to sympathize for him, and he didn't want her to know about him and Lex. Chloe, well, she'd just pry into his life, wanting to know all the dirty details or something. Yeah, he'd just stick with Pete for the next few days, hoping he cheered up and was able to return to even his normal life; just without Lex.

Pete turned to his own books, sensing that Clark wasn't really up for anything more than sitting there bored and untalkative for the rest of the day. The bell rang, and Clark sighed as students began to enter the room. Today was going to be a long day.

@>*~