Clark couldn't look at Lex shmoozing across the way because if he did, he was going to lose it. Already, the grin was threatening to overwhelm him and yeah, it would just do a lot for his already so polished image for him to be grinning like a loon for no apparent reason. There was a reason, of course, it was just one that no one knew about.

Lex loved him.

It was really true, even if he himself had trouble believing it. They'd been together for seven months, two weeks and three days. He wasn't obsessed because he didn't remember the hours and minutes. Glancing at his watch, Clark groaned to himself and muttered, "I am obsessed. Four hours and twenty three minutes."

"What's four hours and twenty three minutes?"

Jumping in surprise at Chloe's question, not having heard her approach, Clark stammered, "Uh, just, nothing really."

Arching a golden eyebrow at him, she asked, "So that was just a random outburst of no particular significance."

Flushing, Clark nodded and answered, "Exactly. Excuse me, someone needs a refill...somewhere."

Escaping her bemused look, Clark moved quickly towards a table that might need some help.

* * * *

Lex snickered to himself as Clark flushed and ran from the girl who was his best friend. It was just so easy to fluster Clark that most of the time, he didn't even have to work at it. Sometimes, he didn't even have to be present for it to happen, like just then. Though talking to a couple of the regular customers, Lex hadn't missed the quasi-dreamy look that had crossed Clark's face just before Chloe had cornered him.

Excusing himself graciously, he followed Clark towards the back and did some of his own cornering, snagging Clark's belt and pushing his lover against the wall.

"Lex!" Clark hissed. "Not here!"

Grinning in earnest now, Lex stole a quick, hard kiss and said, "Yes, now! I just had to kiss you."

Clark groaned. "You pick the weirdest times to be romantic. And the most awkward."

With a wink, Lex released him, saying, "Just part of my charm."

Rolling his eyes, Clark grabbed the box of sugar packets that he'd apparently come back for and left. Lex watched him go, eyes glued to the ass of his dreams, then shook his head and went back to talking to the customers. With Lana out of town at her aunt's, it was up to him to keep things sociable. God knew that Clark wasn't going to do it. Lex was pretty sure that 'mingling' was a curse word so far as the younger man was concerned; one of the worst ones, at that.

* * * *

Lex watched as Clark, Chloe and Pete chatted around a table in the corner. Ostensibly, they were discussing school work. In actuality, Lex was sure, the only time school was mentioned was when they were complaining about it. Leaving the counter, Lex went to join them, standing behind Clark and absently stroking the back of his lover's neck as he said, "Just thought you should know that I intend to close on time tonight. No more late-night cappucino sessions, guys."

Pete laughed, but Chloe was frowning.

"What's the matter, Chloe? Going into withdrawal?" Clark teased.

Chloe's lips tugged into a grin and an innocent look crossed her face. "Not at all, Clark."

All the guys frowned at that. The expression usually preceded something very bad for one of them and on bad days, for them all.

"Clark, you want to help me in the kitchen since Rina went home sick?" Lex asked, tweaking the shoulder under his hand.

Clark grinned up at him and teased, "You just don't want to get dishpan hands."

"You caught me, now come on."

Getting to his feet, Clark said, "I'll be back in a few minutes, guys. Don't go anywhere."

Chloe settled deeper into her seat, arms crossing over her chest and still grinning. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere."

Shaking his head at the odd statement, Lex herded Clark towards the kitchen. The door swung shut behind them and he immediately pushed Clark against the wall and pulled him in for a long, deep kiss. Clark submitted eagerly for about ten seconds, a record for an almost public place, then gently pushed Lex away.

Lex groaned and complained, "You're no fun, Clark."

"Tell that to my parents if anyone catches us," Clark reminded pointedly.

Grumbling, Lex said, "I hate this, you know."

"It's only another few months until I'm legal, then we don't have to hide anymore," Clark promised, rubbing Lex's arm soothingly.

"Yeah, yeah."

Clark grinned suddenly and said, "I'm rubbing off on you to talk like that."

Snorting, Lex pushed him towards the sink. "Get to work, kitchen-boy."

"Is that a fantasy I hear?"

Lex chuckled. "I'm going to make sure everyone's all set out there. Don't be too fast or Chloe'll get suspicious. I already don't like the look on her face."

With a mock-shudder, Clark agreed, "Me, too."

Shaking his head in amusement, Lex returned to the main area.

* * * *

Later, when the Talon was mostly empty save for Chloe, Pete and a few diehards who obviously didn't want to go home on a non-school week, Clark emerged from the kitchen. Glancing around the main room, he found Lex bent over the counter, leaning on his elbows frowning at what looked like the schedule for the rest of the week.

Moving silently, Clark snuck up behind his lover and fitted their bodies together, whispering into Lex's ear, "This is a stick-up."

Voice rich with amusement, Lex asked quietly, "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

Without thinking, Clark leaned the rest of the way forward and kissed Lex on the ear. Then he froze, realizing what he'd just done. Naturally, Chloe let out a shriek of, "I knew it!" which had everyone staring at them in two seconds flat.

"Fuck!" Lex hissed.

Clark could only agree as he backed quickly away from Lex and looked up at Chloe's running jump that landed her directly in front of them.

Pointing an accusing finger at them, Chloe exclaimed, "I knew it!"

"So you just shrieked to the entire township," Lex snapped coldly.

"Lex..."

Leaning over the counter, Lex practically snarled, his voice never rising above a conversational tone and all the harder for it, "Thank you so much for ruining the first PDA of this relationship by calling such flagrant attention to it that Clark will probably never do it again."

Flushing, Chloe stammered, "I didn't mean to..."

Lex eyed her like a lab specimen. "You never do. Get out."

"But..."

"Get out!"

Thoroughly humbled, Chloe turned and left, Pete trailing after her like a comforting blanket to absorb all her hurt feelings.

It wasn't long before the rest of the customers, all five of them, hurried out the door as well. Clark smiled apologetically as they left, offering free coffee the next day for the trouble. Locking the door, Clark shut the blinds and turned to face his still irate lover. Fondness rose, as well as love, as he watched Lex pace in front of the counter like a caged lion.

"What are you grinning at?" Lex demanded. "Chloe just outed us!"

Shrugging, Clark pointed out mildly, "No, I just outed us. She just made sure that everyone noticed."

Running a hand over his smooth head, Lex asked, "What are we going to do? Your father is going to castrate me and then kill me!"

Clark crossed to him in a second, pulling him into a strong embrace. Lex didn't even bother to struggle. Capturing Lex's mouth in a long, sweet kiss, Clark tried to convey his love and apology before pulling back. A somewhat smug feeling came over him at the way Lex's eyes remained closed for a couple of seconds after.

When Lex's eyes returned to normal, Clark smiled and said, "First of all, I'll protect you from Dad because I'm sure as heck not going to have my favorite toy broken."

Lex snorted. "Thanks, Clark, your sentimentality knows no bounds."

"You're welcome," Clark replied, grinning. "Second, it was going to happen in a few months anyhow. I guess, subconsciously, I wanted it to happen sooner."

Sighing deeply, Lex gazed at him and asked, "Are you going to be all right with this? It's a while before graduation."

"I can handle it," Clark assured him.

A reluctant smile finally graced Lex's face, chasing away the anger as he said, "I keep forgetting that you can handle anything."

Leaning forward again, Clark murmured against Lex's lips, "As long as I have you, I can."