The first thought in Clark's mind when he woke up was: "Lex is home!"

It was several minutes, and many repetitions later, before he could wipe the silly grin off his face enough to make a run for the bathroom. There was no law against smiling for no reason, especially in the Kent house, but his parents had already commented on his odd, anticipatory behavior over the last couple of days.

He couldn't, after all, explain that his not-quite-boyfriend was coming back from a twenty-three day trip in Europe.

Turning on the shower, he stripped and hopped into the tub, face turned towards the spray. The pounding water felt good and he sighed deeply. He thought about the coming night and wondered if anything would happen between him and Lex. He wasn't sure if he wanted it to or not. On the one hand, he'd been fantasizing about it for months and was more than ready. On the other, he liked they how they were togther and almost didn't want to take it to the next level.

The next level...Clark sighed as his hand gripped his cock and began stroking. He'd gotten hard the second Lex had crossed him mind and now he felt full and aching. How would Lex hold him? Would he tease? Probably. But he could just as easily be commanding, take Clark's breath away as he stroked harder, and faster, and tighter...

Clark groaned, biting his lip as he came to keep the rest of himself silent. Shaking a bit from the intensity, he half-chuckled as he started washing up. If just the idea of being with Lex brought him off so quick, he was almost scared to think about how the reality would feel.

Joining his parents at the table for breakfast, thankful that it was Saturday and he was only expected to hang around for chores, Clark started piling food onto his plate. He was starving now that the wait was over.

"Glad to see your appetite's come back," Martha teased.

He nodded and devoured a pancake before reminded, "Don't forget I'm camping out tonight to watch the meteor shower."

Jonathan grinned and reached across the table to push Clark's hair the wrong way. "How could we? You've been carrying on about it for a week now."

Only a little embarrassed, Clark said, "I just want to make sure."

It wasn't even a lie because he would be camping out under the meteor shower. Clark was just 99% positive that he'd been busier watching Lex than the stars. The doorbell rang, interrupting his thoughts. From his parents' surprised looks, he guessed that they weren't expecting anyone either. "I'll get it."

Jogging to the front door, Clark was startled to find Pete grinning at him from the other side. Their friendship had pretty much been salvaged from the argument a few weeks before and they'd spent a lot of time together over the last couple of weeks; especially when school let out. "Hey, Pete. What's up?"

"Nothing. Just thought I'd see if you wanted to hit the movies with me and Chloe today," Pete asked.

Clark knew that there was no way he'd be able to pay his friends anywhere near the attention they both demanded, so he shook his head. "Sorry, Pete, I've got plans."

"What plans?"

"Clark's going to watch the meteor shower tonight," Jonathan said, moving past Clark outside. "Close the door before you let all the bugs in."

Clark shut the door, joining Pete on the front porch.

"Yeah, but that's the whole day away."

"I still have a lot to get ready," Clark hedged.

"Like what? It'll take you a micro-minute to pack."

"Go on, Clark," Martha urged from the other side of the screen door. "I'll even let your chores slide today."

Pete grinned at him and said, "You can't pass up that kind of opportunity."

Of course he couldn't, not if he didn't want it to look really suspicious. Forcing a smile, Clark agreed, "Sure. Let me just get changed."

"No problem, man. I'll be waiting."

Clark nodded and headed back upstairs. Closing his bedroom door, he pulled out the cell phone Lex had given him and hit 1.

It rang three times before Lex answered, groggy, "Clark? What's wrong?"

Smiling at the sleepy-warm tone, Clark answered, "Nothing. Well, not really wrong."

"It's too early for twenty-questions. What's going on?" Lex mumbled, clearing his throat.

"Pete is dragging me to the movies with Chloe and Mom is pretty much shoving me out the door," Clark answered.

"Damn. So you're not coming over?"

"No! I mean, yeah, I am. Just not 'til later. I'll be thinking about you all day."

Lex chuckled and said, "That earns you nothing, my friend."

Grinning, Clark teased, "Nothing?"

"Well, maybe a little something."

"A little something what?"

"I'm going back to sleep now, Clark. Have a nice time with your friends."

Laughing, Clark said, "Night, Lex."

"Good night, Clark."

With an unusually sappy feeling in his heart, Clark speed-changed into jeans and a less raggedy t-shirt, then slipped the phone into his pocket and headed downstairs.

* * * *

Lex groaned several minutes later when he realized that there was no way he'd be able to get back to sleep. The time-change and the flight from Europe had kept him awake for nearly twenty-four hours, but it was plain that his mind didn't care about that. He looked at the clock and wondered if it would be safe to call Clark to get a general idea of when he'd be able to come over.

Rolling out of bed, he moved slowly to the bathroom where he took care of his morning ablutions. Before getting into the shower, he stared at himself in the mirror for several minutes, pondering the oddity of his appearance. No hair. None. Anywhere. For the first time in years, he wondered if that would be a turn on or a turn off for another person.

For Clark.

Because Lex had given in. He'd drowned in the flood of attention and care that Clark had washed over him since making his declaration over a month ago. Considering the sheer determination of the young man, Lex was a little surprised that he'd lasted as long as he had. Their conversations, though taking place long-distance, had ranged from intimate to horsing-around.

Clark had ended each and every one with a soft, 'I love you,' and really...who could withstand that kind of conditioning?

Not that Lex had tried all that long to do so, but he had made a concerted effort towards the beginning. From the moment that he'd woken on the bank of that river, with Clark's mouth sealed to his own and forcing the breath of life into him, Lex had known that his world would be changed. Good friends first, then some hard times, then some bitter times, and then back on keel, the legendary friendship had survived every test that fate could throw at them.

And there had been some doozies, too.

Shaking his head, Lex made a minor grimace at his reflection and stepped into the shower. It was going to be interminably dull until Clark made it to the castle, but he had enough work to keep himself occupied in the meantime.

* * * *

"Hey, Pete, I forgot napkins," Chloe exclaimed.

Pete snorted rudely and said, "You always forget napkins. Get them yourself."

"Please? You're on the aisle."

Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Pete got to his feet and walked down the stairs of the theater grumbling to himself.

Once he was out of earshot, Clark was pounced on by Chloe as she demanded, "Spill!"

Both eyebrows rose as he asked, "Uh, spill what?"

"What're you and Lex doing tonight?" she asked eagerly, careful to keep her voice low.

Having seen that look on many girls as they discussed dates, Clark cleared his throat and said, "Nothing."

"Yeah right. Hurry up before Pete comes back. You know you're dying to tell someone."

Which, unfortunately, was true. Being unable to confide this to anyone, especially not his parents, was killing him. After a split second debate, 'she's not going to tell,' vs. 'Lex'll be pissed,' Clark spilled. Leaning close, he said, "We're going to camp out under the meteor shower tonight."

"Oh wow. That's romantic," Chloe sighed.

Clark grinned. "Assuming the bugs don't eat him alive, I'm hoping it'll be very romantic."

"Does he know, or are you surprising him?"

"Surprising him."

"Ooh. Clark, I take back everything I ever said about you being a clueless doofus."

Snorting, Clark muttered, "Thanks, Chloe."

Pete came back just then and dramatically handed over the napkins. "There. Happy?"

Chloe beamed up at him. "Ecstatic. Thanks, Pete."

He seemed taken aback by her enthusiasm and flushed a little as he sat beside her. "No problem."

Hiding a grin, Clark wondered if maybe he should drop a few hints to another of the clueless doofuses in Chloe's world.

* * * *

To Clark's surprise, the day went by quickly. From the movies, they had a late lunch and hung out, just talking. He excused himself to the men's room part way through the meal so he could call Lex. Taking a corner of the back hall that hid him from view, he waited for Lex to pick up, which he did on the second ring.

"Clark?"

"Who else?" Clark teased lightly.

Lex snorted and replied, "Too many people. Are you coming over now?"

Grinning, Clark asked, "Impatient much?"

"I'm dying of boredom and might be forced to take my frustration out on the staff if you don't show up soon," Lex warned in a dire tone.

"Well we wouldn't want that, now, would we?"

"Definitely not. So?"

Clark sighed and informed him, "I'm in the middle of eating lunch with Chloe and Pete. I'll probably be here another hour, then another hour before I get home. After that, it'll be a hop, skip and a jump."

Lex echoed the sigh. "I don't suppose you can give me a hint about what to expect when you do finally get here?"

"Not a chance."

"Fine."

"You'll like it," Clark assured him, grinning at the irritated tone. "Promise. I've got to go before Pete comes looking for me."

"Okay. I'll see you in a couple of hours, then."

Clark hung up and tried to wipe the stupid grin from his face, but wasn't very successful. He couldn't help it. Thinking about Lex did things to his self-control; as in, blew it out of the water.

Pete gave him a weird look when he returned to the table and asked, "What's with you?"

"Nothing," Clark replied, sitting beside Chloe.

"Right."

"So, Pete. Are you going to come visit me in Metropolis this summer?" Chloe broke in, leaning forward.

Clark breathed a sigh of relief as Chloe successfully diverted Pete's attention. He wasn't sure which would freak Pete out more; that he liked Lex Luthor, or that Lex was a guy, but figured that it would probably be both. He expected a freak-out of much bigger proportions than the one where Pete had found out about him being an alien.

"Hey guys, mind if we head out?" Clark asked about a half-hour later. His thoughts kept roaming and he knew that it was only a matter of time before Pete noticed, even with Chloe's skillful intervention. He was a little surprised at how well she'd taken to the idea of him and Lex together, but had the guilty suspicion that as long as it wasn't Lana, Chloe didn't care who he went out with.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Chloe announced, digging through her purse for money. "I have a ton of things to get done before I head off to Metropolis."

Frowning in confusion, Pete agreed, "Uh, sure."

They said goodbye to Chloe at her car, making sure that she got in it and drove away, before heading for Pete's. The drive back to Clark's home was silent and, he thought, uncomfortable. It was like Pete knew he was up to something, but couldn't figure out what and hadn't decided to ask about it yet. He was probably waiting for Clark to let him in on it.

"You want to hang out tomorrow?" Pete asked suddenly as they approached the Kent's driveway.

Clark glanced at him, but Pete's eyes were on the turnoff as the car slowed down. "I'm going to be over at Lex's tomorrow."

"Oh. I thought you two weren't hanging out anymore."

"Well, he's been in Europe for a few weeks."

"Yeah, but even before that."

Hesitating, Clark said, "I was just trying to be more fair to you guys by spending more time with you. I mean, I wish we could all just hang out together, but Lex is uncomfortable around you. So I have to divvy up my time, you know?"

Pete pulled up behind Jonathan's truck and stopped the engine, looking at Clark in disbelief. "Lex is uncomfortable around me?"

Clark nodded and said, "Yeah, of course. You're always giving him these looks like you expect him to pull out a gun and shoot people. He'd never show it, but it hurts. That's why he never sticks around if you show up."

"Lex is hurt by me?" Pete asked, still plainly disbelieving. "Clark, it's…Lex."

Irritated, Clark nodded again and said, "Exactly. It's Lex. Who is a lot more conscious of how and what people think about him than anyone would believe. C'mon, Pete, we've had this discussion. Lex isn't his father, and he never will be if I have anything to do with it."

"And what makes you think that you've got any say in it?" Pete demanded.

Clark took a breath, knowing that he couldn't let Pete know about it, not just yet. "Because I'm his friend, Pete. Just like I'm your friend. There is enough of me to go around, you know."

For a second, Pete just stared at him. Then the anger drained and he snorted. "Yeah. I guess there is. Have fun at the meteor shower, man."

Smiling as he opened the door, Clark said, "Thanks! I'll catch you later."

He waved as Pete backed down the driveway then headed for the house. He was home early enough that if he showed up at Lex's, it would definitely be a surprise.

* * * *

Frustrated and bored was never a good combination, as far as Lex was concerned. Especially when the reason for both emotions was one and the same. Interesting how he was never bored when Clark was around, despite the differences in their age. He wondered if Clark was mature for his age, or if he was immature for his. Maybe they just met in the middle.

Snorting at the thought, Lex eyed the chessboard and pondered his next move. It was a game that he and his father had been playing for six months and was driving him crazy. Lex knew that he was losing, could see it coming from seven moves away, and there wasn't anything that he could do to stop it. He'd been over and over it in his head but couldn't think of a way out.

An all too appropriate metaphor for his life.

"Hey."

Startled at Clark's voice, Lex twisted around to find the young man standing a couple of feet away, a hiking backpack resting against his thigh. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he looked positively edible. Shoving that thought away for later, Lex greeted, "Hey, yourself. What's with the backpack?"

Grinning, Clark answered, "That's part of the surprise. Go get changed, and wear something sturdy."

"Like I own anything sturdy?" Lex countered, standing and walking to him.

"Jeans, sneakers and a shirt that's not silk should do it," Clark teased.

Lex took his hands and tugged Clark closer, putting them on his hips. "I have a better idea."

"Yeah?" Clark asked, eyeing his mouth.

Restraining a grin, Lex suggested, "Let's stay in. I'm sure we can think of something to occupy our time."

Clark swallowed heavily then took a deep breath and stepped back. "I have this all planned out, so no doing. You're going to have to get over this outdoors phobia thing and I'm just the person to do it."

Lex chuckled and said, "All right, but don't say I didn't ask."

Eyes rolling, Clark motioned for him to get a move on, so Lex did. He jogged upstairs and got changed. If the jeans were a bit snug and left little to the imagination, well, that was Clark's problem. Grinning to himself, Lex shoved on sneakers, grabbed a light jacket, and went back downstairs.

Clark was standing by the chessboard, looking down at it intently. When Lex joined him, Clark asked, "Which are you?"

"White."

Nodding, Clark lifted a white knight and moved it before Lex could protest. Then his protests fell silent as he took in the new position and saw all kinds of alternatives for winning suddenly become available. Stunned that he hadn't seen such a simple, but devastatingly effective move, Lex looked up at Clark, who was shifting nervously. "I've been trying to figure that out for a month."

Smiling shyly, Clark said, "I know. I remembered it the last time I was here and saw you hadn't moved, so I figured you were stumped. Who're you playing?"

"My dad," Lex answered absently. Clark had remembered the exact placement of the board for over a month? "Clark, how did you remember it?"

Clark shrugged. "I can see things in my head. My mom thinks I've got a photographic memory."

Surprised that he hadn't known that, Lex asked, "Really? That must come in handy."

With a rueful grin, Clark confirmed, "It does for tests. Sometimes I get so nervous that I have to reread the whole thing in my mind to find an answer. I'm always the very last person to finish."

"One of the burdens of greatness," Lex teased, tweaking his shoulder.

Clark snorted and picked up the hiking backpack. "Right. Let's go."

"Clark, are you sure I can't tempt you into staying here tonight?" Lex asked hopefully.

In answer, Clark put his hands on Lex's shoulders and pushed him towards the door with the command, "March."

* * * *

Lex was in great shape, he knew that. He worked out every day, fenced, and was generally a very athletic man. But by the time Clark finally called a stop in the middle of some field that was in the middle of nowhere, Lex was more than ready for the break. Working out in a gym and hiking through rough terrain were nothing alike.

It was dusk by then and the stars were just starting to peep into existence for their nightly show. Sitting on the ground, Lex watched as Clark efficiently set up camp around him. He'd obviously done this plenty of times before, probably with his father.

Clark tossed him a sleeping bag and ordered mischievously, "Make yourself useful."

Flipping him the bird, Lex got to his feet and unzipped the sleeping bag, laying it by the circle of rocks that was obviously going to be a fire. He sat on the sleeping bag and waited for Clark to finish. It was full dark when Clark finally had a small fire going.

He crashed to the ground beside Lex and put his head in Lex's lap, smiling up at him. "Hi."

Lex grinned and ran fingers through damp hair, replying, "Hi."

"So I was thinking."

"Uh oh."

Clark ignored the teasing and continued, "I was thinking that you need a vacation."

Lex arched an eyebrow at him, but kept stroking his fingers through the soft hair. This was easily going to become an addiction, being able to touch Clark like this. "Oh?"

"Yeah. I mean, when was the last time you had a break?" Clark asked.

Thinking about it, Lex answered facetiously, "Aside from my wedding?"

Clark glared at him.

"Sorry," Lex apologized. "Bad taste. But really, I think that I did so much partying when I was being a shit that I don't need any more of it."

"I'm not talking about parties, I'm talking about a vacation," Clark corrected patiently.

"As in…?"

"As in going somewhere and lying on a beach, or being a tourist, or hanging out at the mall. Just for fun."

Lex smiled and said, "Just for fun? Then I'd have to say that I'm on vacation right now."

Sighing, Clark asked plaintively, "Are you being deliberately difficult?"

"Probably."

"Lex…"

Lex moved his fingers to stop further words, resting them lightly on the full lips. "Maybe I'll think about it…if you go with me."

Surprised, Clark pulled Lex's hand away and asked, "Go with you?"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm seventeen and my parents would freak?"

Chuckling, Lex said provocatively, "All young men need a chance to sow their wild oats, your Dad knows that."

Even in firelight, Clark's blush was visible.

Thoroughly enjoying the awkwardness, Lex leaned down and lightly kissed him. The lips were as soft and warm as he remembered and it was infinitely sweet. When he pulled back, Clark's eyes were closed and his tongue traced his lips, as though to capture Lex's taste there. He hardened a bit at the unconsciously erotic sight and sighed deeply. "Being out here, alone, is probably a very bad idea."

Clark's eyes opened and a smile blossomed as he said, "Don't worry, I'm strong enough for both of us."

Lex was going to put that statement to the test when Clark sat up and continued, "Let's eat, I'm hungry."

Thrown by the rapid change, Lex mentally caught up a few seconds later and grinned. If Clark wasn't going to satisfy one appetite, then the other would obviously have to make do.

Dinner consisted of chicken salad sandwiches and soda, though Lex had to admit that it was excellent. "I'm going to have to get you mother to teach my chef how to make this."

Clark laughed and said, "Even I can make it, Lex, it's not a big deal."

"You cook?" Lex asked in surprise.

"Kind of have to," Clark teased. "We don't have a live-in, remember?"

Grinning back, Lex replied, "Sure you do, and her name is Mom."

As conversation ranged from topic to topic, never settling for long on one, it occurred to Lex that this was his first real date since he was a little younger than Clark. Actually talking to someone and getting to know them, not expecting anything at the end of it, but hoping for something, anything the other person was willing to give.

It was sweet, and bittersweet all at the same time. He was a little irritated at himself for being so shallow over the years, but set it aside to concentrate on Clark. Which was not a hardship, by any stretch of the imagination. As always, Clark was easy to be with and they never seemed to run out of things to talk about.

When there was a quiet period, it was always comfortable and filled in other ways. The night was alive with sounds that Lex hadn't ever heard with such sharpness and clarity. The crackle of the fire, bullfrogs, crickets, owls, some kind of chirping thing that sounded like a bird, but Lex was pretty sure it wasn't. "What is that noise?"

"What noise?"

"That peeping thing."

Clark grinned. "It's a peeper."

Eyes rolling, Lex said, "That's not very informative."

"It's an itty-bitty frog," Clark explained. Then he looked at his watch and suggested, "Hey, the show's about to start, why don't we get comfortable?"

"What show?" Lex asked curiously.

"Meteor shower at 12:13 tonight."

Lex tensed at the explanation. "Meteor shower?"

After a frozen moment, Clark groaned and apologized, "I'm sorry, Lex. I didn't even think that you might not want to see it. I just, I thought it would be romantic. You know, lying under the stars and watching them streak by."

"My last meteor shower wasn't nearly so ideal," Lex stated, getting more tense at the thought of being out in an actual meteor shower.

"I'm sorry," Clark repeated. "If we pack up now, we can make good headway before it starts."

"But we'll still be outside, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

Lex took his hand and forced himself to relax. "You don't have to keep apologizing. And uh, since we'd be outside anyhow, we might as well be comfortable."

Looking hopeful, Clark assured him, "They're nowhere near the earth tonight, Lex, just barely close enough to see. You don't have to worry. I would never let anything happen to you."

For a long moment, Lex stared into Clark's eyes, a dark green that echoed the nature in full bloom around them. He heard the vow in Clark's words and, somehow, knew that Clark would be true to his word. He'd already saved Lex's life twice, after all, there was no reason to think that Clark would do anything to jeopardize it now. "I know."

The smile Clark gave him was brilliant and he exclaimed, "Great! Let's get settled!"

Unable not to return the smile, Lex shook his head and agreed, "Why not?"

* * * *

Clark cursed himself for not considering that Lex would, naturally, be skittish about being out in a meteor shower. Thankfully, Lex was able to get over it and, within a few minutes, they were stretched out on the sleeping bag. Clark slid his arm under Lex's head, providing a pillow and a subtle point of contact.

They were silent as the first of the stars began the trek across the sky. Clark heard Lex's sharp inhalation at the start of the shower and moved closer, curling around his friend for comfort. Lex shifted back so that Clark mostly surrounded him and it felt so good that he never wanted to let go. The stars took their time, streaking in faint arcs through the blackness.

"Do you ever wonder where they wind up? Or where they're from?" Lex asked softly.

Clark thought about his own origins and answered honestly, "A lot, yeah. You?"

"I try not to," Lex admitted, shivering a little. "When I think of meteors, I think of explosions and pain. I can't help it."

Putting his arm over Lex's chest, drawing the other man flush against him, Clark murmured, "I'll never let anything hurt you again, Lex, I promise."

Lex relaxed at his words and turned to face him. In silence, their lips met, slow and easy, no pressures or demands or need, just friendship and comfort. Clark sighed in contentment when Lex broke it off only to burrow tight against him. He shifted them forward a bit so that he could pull the sleeping bag around them.

Clark felt the moment that Lex drifted into sleep and felt a deeper warmth than mere lust run through him. Lex trusted him, really trusted him to fall asleep in his arms. His joy was marred only by the knowledge that he hadn't returned the favor by telling Lex about himself.

With a long, drawn out sigh, Clark continued to watch both the sky and his lover, wondering which would win out for his life and his secrets. Finally, Clark couldn't resist the scent and heat of Lex lulling him into sleep and his eyes closed.