Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lex Luthor was on house arrest.

Being a millionaire could get him out of trouble only to an extent. The public wanted justice for the deception, manipulation, and terror he put Metropolis through. Framing Superman as if he was a villain had to be punished. So, yes, he bribed the government to keep him out of solitary confinement in a maximum security prison but the catch was that he would be on house arrest.

The sentence was, at the moment, indefinite.

It had only been a few months.

Lex stayed inside his high rise apartment obediently. He considered it a courtesy — as if the ankle monitor he had on wouldn’t alert the authorities the second he took one step out of his apartment. After all, he was doing the government a favor — as if he didn’t actually commit a couple heinous crimes with the ultimate plan being to kill Superman.

He was still privileged with having control of his vast networks. Well, he had someone else in control right now, someone he could trust just enough to follow the rules and not turn on him.

He couldn’t use any electronic device. It was more so for his own safety and the safety of Metropolis than as punishment; if he saw how the public showed their love for Superman tenfold, he would do everything in his power to burn the world down. It was intense how much the people of Metropolis appreciated their hero. With everything that Superman had done, especially in a time where everyone was deceived, people wanted him to know that they wanted him around, that they respected him, that he was their hope for humanity. Lex would have a meltdown.

He often stared at the view of the city through the ceiling high windows as he plotted his next moves. They were all dependent on him getting out of house arrest, which he wasn’t sure when that would end. How would he kill Superman this time? Maybe go bigger this time. That was what he thought. Why do a small war when he could go for a world war? The sky was the limit for him. He pondered on that thought while taking in the breathtaking view. Or, he thought about it while watching his reflection through the glass.

There was no denying how hateful Lex could be. He was envious and angry of what Superman was capable of. He wanted revenge, the kind that would put an end to Superman forever.

Despite his calm expression in the glass, a small twitch of his upper lip allowed his irritation to slip through ever so slightly. He breathed out deeply through his nose and began pacing alongside the windows. He remained deep in thought, so deep in thought that he could envision the way he would finally have Superman on his knees begging to live. Wouldn’t that be nice? Having Superman use his last breath just to ask Lex for mercy…

Those thoughts continuously ran rampant through Lex’s mind day in and day out. Sometimes he thought he could see Superman near him with how vigorous his hatred was.

He turned towards the windows again, his eyes far away as he lived through his imagination, seeing Superman floating just outside his window. It felt like it was about to be a righteous moment.

“One day…” Lex said through his teeth as he stepped closer to the window, the vision of Superman in front of him glowing from the setting sun.

Even in all his glory, red cape swaying in the wind, symbol of peace on his chest, Lex thought that the hero was vulnerable. Nothing more than an “it” that could be dealt with. He placed his hand on the glass slowly as the illusion of the hero floated closer; it felt warm, as if he was touching the Kryptonian. It was like feeling life — feeling the goodness of humanity, what it meant to actually be alive. There was hope, kindness, and peace, all from just the gentle heat at his fingertips.

“One day, I’ll get you…” Lex muttered with calculated control of his anger.

The Kryptonian was there, looking into his eyes, watching with curiosity. The gaze was so soft and kind. Almost as if the Kryptonian was taking pity on Lex. There was even a bit of sadness in those blue eyes, one that Lex couldn’t recognize. And if he could, he wouldn’t care.

“Lex.”

That deep voice sounded soothing. Reassuring. Friendly.

But it just rose a white hot pit in Lex’s stomach, burning him from the inside out as his hatred almost bubbled over. His heart stung with so much animosity that it began to beat faster.. He frowned deeply as he realized that Superman was actually floating in front of him. The only thing separating the two of them was the glass window. His fingers curled against the glass into a fist and he sneered at the man in front of him.

In one splitting second, Lex snapped. “Get the fuck away from me!” He screamed at Superman. His eyes were wild with hatred. His nose flared and he growled through his teeth as the Kryptonian continued that doe-eyed stare that he despised with every bone in his body.

It took a second, but Superman looked away, slightly saddened by the response. His eyes gave away his disappointment. Then he took off into the sky without a word, leaving Lex to his deserved solitude.

Another month had gone by of complete and utter silence.

Lex was still on house arrest but the lifestyle was still lavish compared to any one else's. He had a gorgeous place to live with so much space and an amazing view. No headache of the world, no responsibilities on his shoulders. He had nothing to do — the ankle monitor made sure that he couldn’t go anywhere or do anything too far away from his apartment. Sure, he couldn’t get five star meals cooked for him, but the occasional delivery of groceries was more than enough for him to get by. As rich as he was, he was capable of doing things for himself. Self care, exercise, meals, he did all of that in his own space, on his own time.

It should be a relaxing time.

Yet, it was anything but relaxing.

Lex spent the last thirty days reliving a nightmare.

He didn’t forget that Superman came to see him. It was hard to forget something that gave him such a visceral reaction. The amount of anger that was burning through him took days to fade away. Even then it wasn’t enough. Lex had nightmares of Superman coming back and staring at him as if he were an animal in a cage. It was horrifying to him. Those soft blue eyes filled with pity and sadness just watching his every move. Lex couldn’t get the image out of his head.

The sun was at the horizon with a glowing halo of light around the skyline. The sky turned a shade of orange from the sunset. Lex sat on his white couch — the only color of the furniture in his apartment — and watched the sun set. It was the only thing he could do — for his safety and the safety of others. The days have been quiet and all he had to keep him company were his thoughts.

Over and over again, he was reminded of Superman floating at the window.

What would he do if it were to happen again?

He scoffed to himself.

Superman is lucky that he has powers. Well, Superman was lucky that Lex didn’t have the powers that he did. He’d be a menace to society — as if he didn’t already prove that he was when he made up the Boravian conflict just so he’d have an excuse to kill Superman.

“So close…” He muttered to himself and sighed. His plan almost worked out perfectly.

He rested his head onto the arm of his chair and kept his eyes on the glass windows to watch the sun set. That was his only form of entertainment. The winter season was approaching and Lex wore a thin long sleeve shirt with a matching pair of sweatpants to keep himself warm in his apartment. After a few months, he got used to dressing more casually — wearing a suit while in solitude wasn’t that appealing, especially since no one could see how finely tailored everything was.

That was right…No one could see him.

He couldn’t thrust himself into the spotlight.

Again, he sighed quietly to himself and closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened them only to find himself staring at an S emblem on Superman’s chest.

It was so quick. First there was nothing there except the skyline, and then there was Superman floating at the window with a halo of orange light behind him. Lex’s first reaction was a powerful grimace that almost left him shaking. His anger was getting the best of him and all it took was two seconds for that to happen. He was on his feet immediately and he stormed up to the glass to look Superman dead in the eyes.

“Lex,” Superman said calmly, just as he did a month ago.

Those blue eyes were still soft and kind, like they always were. But for it to be directed at Lex was…odd. It was confusing and infuriating. Lex didn’t know what to do.

So, again, he screamed at the window, hoping that he could scare Superman off with sheer hatred and anger.

This time it didn’t work.

“Lex, you must be…lonely.” Superman sounded apologetic. His eyes fell and he contemplated saying more. His cape blew in the wind just like the soft curl that fell across his forehead. His expression became more saddened as he looked at Lex again. “They should at least let you have some interactions-”

Lex didn’t let him finish. “Go the hell away!” He yelled fiercely, his voice filled with his rage.

“Is there something I can do?-”

“You can die! Right now!”

He meant his words. Lex would never hold back, and he certainly wouldn’t sugarcoat anything about Superman. He wanted to see the Kryptonian dead. He wanted nothing to do with the hero. He wanted to exist in a universe where Superman didn’t exist — although his hatred was his sole purpose for being alive.

Superman was surprised to hear Lex’s harsh words. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped just a bit to show his shock. But it didn’t last that long. Despite him trying to regain his composure, there was a sadness in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. Lex picked up on it immediately and it aggravated him more. His hands balled up by his sides and he grit his teeth as Superman continued to give him that soft doe-eyed look that he hated so much.

“You could do anything,” Lex said through his teeth, “anything at all, even bring me a peace offering, and I’d still find a way to have you dead. My disgust for you won’t wane just because of your pathetic excuse for remorse.” That hatred could only get worse. Lex took a step closer to the glass, his breath lightly fogging up the window, his blue eyes fixed into a piercing glare. “You’ll get what’s coming to you, Superman.” Lex said as a warning.

He couldn’t wait for the day that he would be a free man. He’d take Superman down and the world would be a better place for it.

The sight of the Kryptonian made him sick to his stomach. So, Lex abruptly turned away and stormed off to another room where he couldn’t be watched any longer.

A peace offering sounded like a good idea — Lex was actually not joking about what he said to Superman a month ago.

Lex was standing on his balcony, arms crossed and a horrible scowl on his face, staring at a white box in front of him. It was being presented to him by the alien he despised with every fiber of his being. By the logo on the box he could tell what Superman was trying to give him.

“You had an interview with Lois Lane where you said you liked these.” With a kind smile, Superman extended his arms to give the box to Lex, but the young man barely budged. His hands were clenched so tight against his biceps that his nails were digging into his skin. Superman waited, still a smile on his face, with visible hope that Lex would soften up a bit.

He didn’t.

“I thought it would be a great way to start over-”

“‘Start over’?” Lex scoffed at the statement. “Are you fucking stupid? Does your mind not comprehend human interactions? What makes you think I would even give consideration to the idea of not despising you for a single second?”

Superman still had a smile on his face, his dimples showing in his cheeks. He blinked once. Then he extended his arms again as if to make another attempt at his “peace offering”. Lex couldn’t understand how this alien could be so dense. It was almost shocking how Superman couldn’t pick up on clear social cues that showed he wasn’t liked.

In reality, Superman was being persistent. Everyone knew that Lex hated him. They’ve seen what that hatred made him capable of. Superman wanted to change that, though.

Hence the “peace offering” — donuts from a place that Lex mentioned he liked; the interview was years ago, and Lex didn’t think that Superman had the capacity to remember anything from a day ago.

Donuts would be a nice treat, though.

The groceries Lex usually got delivered were just enough to touch on every food group and give him the recommended daily serving of calories. He used to keep himself in top shape, only ate the best of the best and trained himself to be at his peak. He ate the same meals over and over again, and though he didn’t hate it that much, a bit of variety wasn’t a bad idea.

And the donuts were his favorite…

Quickly, Lex snatched the box out of Superman’s hands and turned away abruptly to go back inside.

“We could share-” Superman tried to make his suggestion but Lex was already inside his apartment and didn’t dare turn back to give Superman another glance.

The peace offerings came monthly. Donuts, take out, brunch — the finer things Lex was used to. How did Superman know all the places that Lex used to frequent? He had no idea. He didn’t think Superman could read so how would he know to look back at some interviews with Clark Kent and Lois Lane? What was he getting out of this? Lex was hardly ever pleasant when presented with something different that he liked. In fact, he was reluctant to even eat it. Most of it went into the trash, and he made sure to have Superman watch him toss it out.

Only once did he take a bite out of a glazed donut that was brought to him one morning. Superman saw him do it, too; there was a light in his eyes that actually made Lex gag but Superman didn’t care.

After that morning, the offerings became more frequent. Superman was staying around longer and nudging for conversation with Lex. The pleasantries were one sided. Lex would keep his arms crossed and let Superman spew whatever nonsense he wanted for only a minute before calling him an imbecile and walking away. There was only one time that Superman made it into the apartment. It was just one foot and Lex practically lost his temper at the Kryptonian the second that he was past the door frame. There wasn’t much that Lex could actually do to the hero but Superman was polite and respected boundaries.

He really was trying to start over with Lex.

Did he think they got off onto the wrong foot? It wasn’t that simple. Lex’s dislike was deeper than that. His anger and envy was his sole purpose for living. Killing Superman was the one goal that could bring him peace. That wasn’t going to change.

But by the twelfth month of house arrest, the visitations became daily.

Interactions with Superman were the only ones that he could look forward to — not that anything actually happened besides him throwing insults and giving a monologue about how much better he is than Superman. Still, the hero came to see him and hung on to every insult that came out of Lex’s mouth with an annoying smile. And Lex, well he felt some satisfaction being able to run mental laps around Superman. He easily used his intelligence as a way to show that he was the better man — as if his meltdown from jealousy and insecurities didn’t actually happen — and he wouldn’t stop until his dying breath.

It came to a point where Superman was actually able to take more than three steps into Lex’s apartment. It physically pained Lex to have this alien walking around his living room and admiring…well, not much. The aesthetic was minimal. White furniture, silver accents, glass windows. It was beautiful and expensive. While Superman browsed around the open floor plan — cape swaying, each step of his loud enough for Lex to follow, a quiet “hmm” now and again — Lex remained on his pristine white couch, hands balled up into fists and resting on his lap. He tried to control his outbursts but he was irritated. Just the sound of Superman made him feel ill. Letting him into his apartment was definitely a mistake but it was too late now. On the glass coffee table was a small white box that had assorted donuts, untouched. Lex didn’t even look to see what was inside. He didn’t want it, he swore he wasn’t even curious about it. However, it had been months of sweet treats and comfort food, and his guard was slightly broken down enough to pique his interest.

He leaned forward and lifted the opening of the box to reveal four donuts, all of them different. There was one that was a plain glaze all around and without anything else on it. The other colorful sweets made his teeth tingle thinking about them. But it was the glazed donut that he reached for and took out of the box. Reluctantly, he took a bite. He couldn’t deny it, the donut was his favorite. It didn’t appear that way on his face but mentally he was trying to remind himself that the finer things in life was not a hand glazed donut.

“Do you like it?” Superman’s voice came from behind.

Lex was startled by the question. He forgot that Superman was actually wandering in his apartment. “What-” He sputtered, mouth full, sugar glaze around his lips, and he turned back around to the sound of Superman’s voice.

For the first time, he looked like a deer in headlights.

“The donut. Do you like it?” Superman had a triumphant smile on his face as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. He was already proud of himself even before hearing Lex’s denial.

Abruptly, Lex turned back around on the couch and finished chewing the piece he had in his mouth. “You didn’t make it, so it's fine.” He grumbled to himself. Superman could hear him. “I could do without the unnecessary sweets.”

“I’ve heard that the ‘cookies and cream’ donut is popular.”

Typical. Lex rolled his eyes. He figured that Superman was always in people’s business when he wasn’t supposed to be. “It’s not their best work.” Lex said without hesitation.

“Noted.”

It was silent for a few seconds. Then to Lex’s surprise, Superman fell into the empty space on the couch beside him. It was a jarring moment to be so close to the alien again especially when he didn’t expect it. Lex was mid-bite when he looked over to Superman with a confused expression. This was the first time that he saw Superman casually fling himself onto his couch and he didn’t have a pleasant feeling about that.

Lex muttered his question through the dough in his mouth. “What are you doing?” Though muffled, Superman could understand him. The alien looked towards him, just as confused.

“Is there something wrong?”

Well, yeah. Lex had a list of a billion things he could rattle off all because Superman was the cause of it — as usual. His brows furrowed. His jaw tightened, teeth tearing into his donut as a bitterness rose into his throat.

But then…it just subsided.

That burning pit in his stomach waned and Lex was staring blankly at Superman without the same hatred that fueled his existence. That anger and envy began to settle away after a few weeks of persistence. Seeing Superman everyday, hearing that annoying voice, dealing with that horrible personality first hand — all reasons why Lex was used to him now.

Coming to this realization didn’t send Lex into a panic. Instead, he was more calculated than that. Despite his temper, he knew some things weren’t worth getting upset over. Instead, he would raise his guard up and kick Superman out of his space. After all, there was no reason for him to think that Superman actually had any humanity.

Lex finished his donut. Then he opened his mouth to tell Superman to get the fuck out of his apartment. “Superman-”

He just didn’t get to finish before he was cut off.

“It’s Kal-El.”

“Huh?”

“Kal-El. My Kryptonian name.” A small smile curved on his lips as he looked towards Lex. His blue eyes glowed from the light of the setting sun. He seemed overjoyed to share a part of him.

“I know that already.” Lex said dryly. Coldly. Heartlessly. He didn’t care what Superman’s name was. He didn’t care where he came from or what his life was like. Lex was hardly fazed by the soft smile or sweet eyes that gazed at him. “You can leave.” He was calm as he looked away.

He had enough of staring at Superman’s chiseled face and stupid curl on his forehead. The red and blue suit was getting annoying, too.

He focused his gaze on the glass coffee table, on the donuts, on the light that came through the windows. Anywhere that wasn’t Superman.

The weight on the couch became lighter. The warmth that Lex could feel slowly went away. It was cold again when he was the only one sitting on the couch. He wouldn’t go chasing after that warmth. He wouldn’t go chasing after Superman even though he was the only person to keep him company during house arrest. He could feel those sweet blue eyes still gazing at him with a weird fondness. He tried not to acknowledge it. He tried to make it seem like it didn’t bother him, but it did.

He hated to admit it, but the company was decent. Nice even.

Complete solitude, although tolerable, wasn’t beneficial for social creatures. Lex almost contemplated taking back his words. Just almost though.

Superman quietly turned away and headed towards the glass balcony door. “Goodnight, Lex.”

The visits were daily.

Superman would show up to Lex’s balcony at sunset every day with his interesting ideas of peace offerings. Lex had to finally give him a list of acceptable things to bring because donuts would not keep him in top shape. He definitely wanted Superman to stay away from the sandwich shop everyone knew was a hazard. The list actually made it easier. Superman knew what Lex liked right from the source.

It was odd. There were a lot of emotions Lex had to deal with and it didn’t help that he was constantly bombarded with Superman’s presence on a daily basis.

His anger didn’t give him heartburn anymore.

Still, some of the things Superman did or said irritated him to no end.

But…his rants wouldn’t last as long.

Lex started to leave the balcony door unlocked recently. He’d find the peace offerings on his coffee table and Superman would stand by the couch waiting for permission to sit down. Surprisingly. Lex, as usual, used that to fuel his superiority complex. Though, deep down, he was starting to be okay with the idea of Superman coming over. It took almost a year and a half to get there but it happened. Now Superman spent more time with Lex than either of them thought they could. They’d argue about which place in the city had the best food — Lex would never take Superman’s recommendations but the alien was persistent and tried to prove his point often.

The peace offerings turned into dinners that they would share in the evenings.

They sat on the couch together and ate while watching the sunset. Once the sky was filled with stars, Superman would leave Lex to his solitude. And Lex would count the hours until the next evening when he’d be able to have another annoying conversation with someone he’d grown to tolerate.

Another box of donuts rested on the glass table this evening.

The sky was a darker orange without any clouds in sight. The rays of the sun reflected off the surrounding high rise buildings, brightly penetrating Lex’s apartment and casting a glowing orange hue on the walls.

The box was half empty with traces of sugar glaze on the spots where donuts were missing.

Of course, there was some glaze around Lex’s lips after scarfing down three of the glazed donuts. It was hard to hide that he liked them. Well, at this point, he wasn’t trying to hide it. There was something so care free about a man enjoying something he considered a guilty pleasure. There was one more glazed donut left but he decided to show some amount of self restraint, especially while Superman was watching him.

That happened a lot more lately — Superman would stare and Lex would catch him doing it. That was also odd. No, it was downright weird. Lex almost always snapped and told Superman to stare at the wall instead.

This time, Lex didn’t have much to say.

He wasn’t that irritated this evening, though if he saw the smile that was creeping onto Superman’s face, that would change.

The burning pit in his stomach he used to get was nothing more than a flicker now. Superman didn’t anger him that much. Irritated and aggravated were better words to describe how he felt when Superman so much as breathed. But pure unadulterated anger wasn’t it anymore.

After another painful minute of being watched, Lex finally turned to give Superman what he wanted — just a little bit of eye contact to show that he was engaged. Lex’s eyebrows were furrowed with a crease in the middle, his frustration visible while Superman looked strangely content. Must’ve been a decent day for him, Lex thought sarcastically to himself.

“What is your problem?” He finally asked when Superman didn’t look away. His tone was abrupt and sharp, and it finally forced Superman to look down at the couch he was sitting on. He was slumped into his space, his massive frame kept to the very edge so as to not encroach on Lex’s space.

“There’s glaze on your face.” He tried to conceal a laugh but didn’t do very well. It was his smile that gave him away. The dimples in his cheeks were big from his growing amusement.

Lex, on the other hand, almost instantly became bewildered by the thought of having food on his face. He used his hands to wipe the glaze off his cheeks and around his lips quickly. The last thing he needed was the perfect image of himself being ruined. He was sure that he got all the glaze off with just a few swats of his hands, and he played it off as if there was nothing on his face in the first place.

Then he felt a soft touch on the side of his cheek. His neck snapped to the side to stare at Superman with wide eyes as he realized that his fingers were on his face. Lex could feel flesh. He could feel warmth. And part of him didn’t like that it was coming from the Kryptonian. Saying it confused him would be an understatement. His entire world was thrown for a loop just as Superman got the last bit of glaze that was on his cheek; softly, gently, his thumb passed over Lex’s skin. His touch was actually soothing considering the strength that Superman carried. However, the way that it was calmly actually sent Lex into unrest.

It was the first time that he was being touched by the Kryptonian. It was like crossing an unspoken boundary.

And Superman continued to look at him with fond eyes.

Lex felt his heart sink into his stomach. A lump got caught in his throat and he couldn’t speak. His body was almost out of his control as he watched Superman with surprise from just a single touch.

Everything moved in slow motion.

Yet, it wasn’t slow enough for Lex to realize what was happening in the moment. Before he knew it, there was a warmth that touched his lips. His mind, for the first time, had gone completely blank. Superman had leaned in to kiss him — to actually place his lips on Lex’s in a gentle show of affection. So gentle. Just barely a peck, but enough for Lex to know what he was doing. His eyes fluttered as he tried to push through the mental block. When he thought he had control, the lips that pressed to his became firmer as if to kiss him with intent. It just became more difficult for Lex to think through that.

The warmth was overwhelming.

He could feel Superman’s breath on his skin. Feel the softness of his face. Feel the subtle movements of his lips as he leaned in more. Lex remained rigid as he let Superman kiss him. His breaths were hesitant, his heart was beating so hard that he thought it was going to blow through his chest, his skin was burning hot from the embarrassment of it all. Lex wasn’t one to get flustered. However, his face was turning red and that wasn’t something he could control. It was jarring and confusing.

Superman was still kissing him, gradually becoming more enthusiastic with the hopes that Lex would return the feeling. Lex was still stunned by the display of affection. Kiss after kiss, his lips slightly parting enough to get a taste of Superman on his tongue, he noticed that he made no efforts to push Superman away. None at all. In fact, he took a soft breath in between another kiss, taking Superman’s air to soothe the flutter of his lungs, and somehow he felt…at ease. Once Superman pressed his lips to his again, Lex held his breath as if anticipating something different.

There was never a time that he would anticipate this, however.

He never thought that he would feel Superman’s tongue at the corner of his lips. He didn’t think they’d be sharing air. He didn’t think he’d feel Superman’s nose lightly graze his cheek, or his lips lightly pulling on his own. He just didn’t think.

It was the longest moment of his life.

By the last few seconds, Lex’s eyes finally closed. Briefly he had lost himself in the experience, enough that he thought whatever life he was living wasn’t real.

And then the warmth was gone.

His lips felt surprisingly cold. A stinging sensation was left behind as if he ached to have whatever was on him back again. He fought hard against the urge to bite his bottom lip, to taste the last reminisce of Superman on him, a reminder of the kiss — his wet lips. He opened his eyes slowly and saw that Superman was watching him just as before with a fondness that he was aware of but couldn’t explain.

For once, Lex Luthor was at a loss for words.

Chapter Text

For one week, Lex kept the balcony door locked.

Every evening, just as the sun was setting, Superman would show up but could never come in. In reality, he could shatter the entire apartment with a flick of his fingers, but it seemed like he was respecting a new boundary that was drawn up. Lex would watch from inside, expression almost lifeless, and he wouldn’t budge to open the door. The symbol of hope and peace would float close enough to the glass, his presence overwhelming as it always was; red cape swaying in the wind, S emblem at the center of his broad chest, the chiseled physique that everyone knew well…Lex knew the sight of him, knew every detail of him. This alien was not unfamiliar to him. He kept that same cold demeanor while watching Superman with his arms crossed and his posture straight. There was no question that Lex had no plans on backing down. He’d wait until Superman would leave, which wouldn’t take very long once he realized that they wouldn’t be able to talk.

Lex had nothing to say after their first kiss. For the first time, he was broken. Usually, a man quick on his feet, cunning, very much in control of every situation, he couldn’t handle what just happened in that moment. The night ended in silence and ever since then, he refused to discuss what that was. Every night that Superman came afterwards, he looked like a wounded puppy just begging for love and affection, which didn’t actually move Lex that much.

The memory of that night was fierce.

Lex could still feel it. Every time he thought about what it was like for Superman to kiss him, he could feel everything about it. He was reminded of how quickly he was stunned, how stiff his body became with the first kiss, how hard it was for him to mentally recover from being ambushed that way. It literally turned his world upside down and he hadn’t been the same since then. Always thinking about Superman being close to him, how warm he was, how his massive frame could just cover him whole. Thinking about the sweet taste on his tongue when he opened his mouth just enough for the kiss to deepen. The softness of Superman’s skin, the kindness of the kisses, the way he could feel the eagerness grow every second.

Was it wrong that he wanted it to happen again?

Was it wrong that he wouldn’t mind one more kiss? Did Superman feel that way, too? Did he want to know if Superman felt that way?

For his and Superman’s safety, the balcony door remained locked.

That is, until Lex’s curiosity got the best of him.

He wondered how long Superman would continue to show up even after being denied. Never letting him into the apartment had to have been a blow to his ego — well, it would’ve been to Lex, that was for sure. Maybe Superman wouldn’t handle the rejection well after so many days and would leave him alone. Lex actually hoped he would be left alone. He just couldn’t forget how the last year and a half started. There was persistence in the Kryptonian. Lex could probably scream at him, and it wouldn’t be enough to deter him away, especially after what happened just a week ago.

The tenth day, Lex contemplated hard about what to do. The sun was beginning to set behind the skyline. The light radiated in his apartment, coloring the white sterile walls a similar shade as the sky. It was almost that time when Superman would come to visit him. Lex stood right at the balcony door, staring at the lock on the handle, and quietly wondered to himself what he should do — he was going through mental turmoil to the point that he might actually have a mental breakdown. He was trying to find a calculated solution to the problem but there was nothing strategic that could be done about emotions that were out of whack. It was pointless to think through it all. And that was the part that Lex hated the most. There was always a solution to every problem, always an answer or a backup plan — this time, Lex didn’t have one in mind.

He despised that.

After ten minutes, he caught a glimpse of red and blue in the sky. Just a single glance of the flying superhero in the distance was enough to make his heart speed up. He didn’t have a solution yet and the urgency of the situation was beginning to stress him out.

He had to make a decision before…

He saw soft blue eyes staring at him through the glass. Superman was here and he was waiting. Still had that wounded puppy look, still desperate and longing. He remained as poised as he could be but there was only so much Superman could hide from what he was feeling.

Lex looked up at him through the glass, his eyes as dull as they could be to not show emotion. He was good at that, making it seem like he was in control of everything. On the inside though, he still tried to go through every scenario that he could for every action he could take. There had to be a calculated answer. And yet, he couldn’t find one. Superman was here, and he was waiting, just as he did every day for the past ten days. He had the same soft look in his eyes, the same pathetic, needy expression that hardly got Lex to even open his mouth to speak. It was insufferable honestly. Lex didn’t like being stared at like that. He didn’t like that expression being directed towards him. Something had to give.

He looked down to the door handle as his hand hesitantly moved towards it. The calculations didn’t stop as he got closer and closer to grasping the silver handle. Warning screams and loud protests went through his mind, and despite everything in his body telling him to keep the door locked…he unlocked it.

At that second, the screaming in his mind finally stopped, and there was complete silence.

A rush of wind took him by surprise. In the blink of an eye, he was no longer standing by the balcony door. Something had him by his sides and moved him so fast that he didn’t realize it until his back was pressed against the wall. His view of the sunset was obstructed. He saw black hair and a flushed cheek. There wasn’t enough time for him to protest; just as he opened his mouth, he was suddenly bombarded by the warmth of Superman’s lips on his.

The kisses weren’t the same as before.

This time they were more desperate, more greedy, more selfish. Lex couldn’t even catch his breath with the way Superman stole kisses.

Lex’s hands balled up against Superman’s chest and he tried to shove him away. He used all the strength he had against the man of steel, and it was just enough for him to pull away briefly. “Sto-” He was quickly cut off by another kiss, his voice muffled by the way Superman took over his mouth eagerly.

It was kiss after kiss after kiss. Lex thought he was about to be devoured. He could barely keep up with Superman’s enthusiasm and desperate desire. All he could manage was half a breath before he felt Superman’s lips between his.

Large hands continued to grasp his sides, thick fingers tracing along his ribs. Those same hands held him to the wall and made sure he couldn’t move away. Then there was the weight against Lex’s body, enough to crush him but it didn’t get that far. Lex was tall, just as tall as Superman, yet the hero still managed to make Lex look half his size. He felt small and that was something he hated. His own hands pressed to Superman’s shoulders, but he couldn’t find the strength to push him away. He was lightheaded; the lack of air and his heart pounding so fast didn’t make it any better. Superman was unrelenting, too. Their chests were pressed together, same as their hips. Lex could almost feel every one of Superman’s muscles moving. It wasn’t much of a distraction, especially when Superman had his mouth on his.

It was overwhelming.

It was intense.

Hell, Lex felt like he was on fire.

It took everything he had but he was finally able to shove Superman off him. The second the kiss broke, Lex gasped for air like his life depended on it. His blue eyes were fixated into a glare towards the hero that staggered back just a few steps away from him — it was courtesy that Superman gave him space, he was polite in that sense because Lex knew that he probably didn’t feel much. Superman looked just as tense, breathing heavily while gazing at Lex with determination in his eyes. Lex brought his arm up to his face, using his sleeve to wipe his mouth. He made a show of it, too, making sure that Superman watched as he got off the remnants of him — his saliva— on his face.

There was disgust and anger in Lex’s cold eyes.

He hated all of it.

Fuck him! He screamed in his head. Fuck him, fuck him, fuck him! The look on his face basically dared Superman to try coming near him again.

The silence between them was deafening. Only shallow breaths could be heard between them.

Then, swiftly, Superman took the few steps forward that would close the distance between them and leaned in to kiss Lex again without hesitation. This time, Lex saw it coming — saw the determination and desire in Superman’s eyes just as his face was tilted slightly upwards to accept the kiss. Both Superman’s hands held his face, thumbs caressing his cheeks, fingers spread on his jaw and neck. The kisses were rougher. Messier. Sloppier. This was what desperation and infatuation truly looked like.

Lex was back against the wall with Superman’s body pressing on his. Those massive hands left his face and held his sides again, this time lower to his slender hips, grabbing him and bringing him more forward as the kisses deepened.

Lex had already closed his eyes.

He lifted his arms and wrapped them around Superman’s neck.

Another month of brooding behind a locked door went by.

It was punishment.

Whether it was for him or Superman was unclear, but it was meant to hurt one of them.

Lex kept the balcony door locked and the cycle continued just as it did before. Superman came at sunset, holding his peace offerings — various things he knew that Lex liked — but those cold blue eyes never changed. There was anger behind them and yet Superman still looked at him as if that anger wasn’t there; he just wanted to be let in with the hope of discussing what had happened before. Lex stood in front of the glass, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face, and angrily waited for Superman to go away. He always refused the impending discussion. He’d rather claw his ears off than talk about feelings with Superman.

It was hard to admit but Lex was confused.

Two times did he experience the most thrilling kiss of his life — a fact that he would take to hell with him.

He just couldn’t figure out why.

He never gave Superman the chance to explain himself. The idea of talking about it was furthest from his mind. In fact, he pretended like none of it happened. It was probably some fake reality that was made to break him down anyway. He wasn’t going to let something like this destroy his mental fortitude.

As far as he was concerned, he did not kiss — make out with — Superman twice. He didn’t get curious about it or think about it. He didn’t wonder when he’d get the chance to do it again. He didn’t care.

The third time happened despite Lex’s poor attempt at keeping his composure.

It was the box of donuts that made him unlock the door; it had been weeks since he could indulge in something not part of his routine, but it was against his better judgement. Or maybe he was using the peace offering as an excuse to let Superman in. After all, Superman had been bringing donuts for him frequently. The visits were unrelenting. Superman was persistent with his kindness and Lex finally couldn’t take it.

So, he unlocked the door, and their third time became real once Superman was inside.

There was no talking beforehand, no arguments or explanations. Just Superman grabbing Lex by his waist the second he stepped foot into the apartment and Lex letting him do it without a word of protest.

They ended up on the white living room couch and they stayed there as the sun disappeared from the sky. Neither of them saw a need to separate from each other. Instead, they kissed until the stars appeared in the night sky.

Lex, unsurprisingly, got very comfortable on top of Superman. It was his rightful place, so he thought. However, figuratively didn’t quite encompass what it was like for Lex to physically be on top of him. He had multiple opportunities to feel Superman’s body. He knew of the incredible strength Superman possessed. He knew almost everything about him, everything that made Superman who he was — the powerful hero that everyone relied on. Thus, it was no surprise that Lex actually felt a sense of euphoria being on top of him. It was where he belonged.

He loved every second of having Superman beneath him.

To him, it was submission. It meant that he had power over Superman.

And it was true, Lex really did have some power over him.

However, he chose to ignore that he was the one lying on top of Superman. One muscular arm was around his waist, holding them together

For the first time, they actually broke the kiss for longer than thirty seconds since the time Superman showed up. Lex didn’t go too far away. He could see the way Superman was staring up at him with fondness in his eyes. What Lex liked about the view was being able to look down at him. But the look in Superman’s eyes, the affection and kindness, it almost made Lex sick. He had a feeling that Superman had something to say with the way he took in a soft breath.

“Shut up.” Lex said before Superman could speak.

Whatever it was, Lex didn’t want to hear it.

His hand was on Superman’s chest covering up the S emblem. His fingers scraped along the threading as if he wanted to peel it off. He let his eyes wander for a second, staring at Superman’s chest and how small his hand seemed compared to the Kryptonian’s broad build. Slowly, he found himself looking up higher again, taking in the soft expression Superman had on his face; those eyes really were captivating, and Lex couldn’t stop himself from falling in them. As he leaned closer, Superman shifted to eagerly meet his lips for another kiss.

Neither of them realized how long they spent kissing on the couch.

They stayed in the same spot, the same position, and just enjoyed the silence that came with making out. Well, Lex enjoyed the silence. Not to mention that he was resting on top of Superman the entire time. It was fuel to his superiority complex which, surprisingly, kept him quiet and pleasant enough for Superman to hold him.

What would it be like to have Superman submit?

Lex dreamed of that for a long time. He wanted nothing more than to be on top, to be the best and adored by everyone because of it…

His inner fantasy stopped once he felt a large hand slide underneath his loose shirt to rub along his back. He scoffed at the attempt for such soft movement, but it was to hide the way his body was seconds away from stiffening up. He did not expect Superman’s fingers at his mid back, definitely not like this. Suddenly, Lex was really in the moment; everything seemed to click in his mind at the very second, he felt the heat on his back.

Then it was the slow nudge of Superman’s knee on his crotch.

He wasn’t expecting that at all.

This is…unpleasant, he thought to himself, yet his body betrayed him quite easily. And it seemed like Superman noticed. That hand was reaching higher on Lex’s back, and it pulled his shirt up, too.

“No…” Lex mumbled between a hot kiss to his lips. The taste on his tongue made him salivate. As his hand balled up on Superman’s chest, he returned that same hot kiss with aggression. He didn’t want Superman to think he could shift the power scales between them. Lex was on top, and he wanted to stay there.

The arm around him tightened. To him, it was enough strength to hold him in place, yet for Superman it was probably nothing. Lex could feel the weight under him moving upwards. The arm around him easily held him to the metahuman’s body so they’d move together on the couch. Superman could carry Lex in one arm without having to think about it, so this was easy for him; it took no effort at all for Superman to move him off his lap and place him on the couch. Almost like a doll. And that was what infuriated Lex to his core. He moved his arm onto Superman’s shoulder, letting his fingers run through his dark hair before sharply clenching to grip tight on the curls. All that did was make Superman kiss him harder, taking his breath away every single time their lips touched.

The anger rose in Lex fast, almost bubbling into his throat as he growled.

His other hand grabbed Superman by his jaw and his fingers pressed into his bones as if he was seconds away from clawing Superman’s face off. At least then, Superman slowed down. The pull away was agonizing slow and Lex figured he was trying to savor this moment between them. His eyes opened, heavy lidded with his hazy gaze hidden under his eyelashes. Their lips hovered over each other’s, Lex’s nose just barely brushing his cheek, their foreheads touching.

He waited a second. A few seconds.

Superman licked his own lips. He was waiting. Impatient, but obedient as Lex’s fingers held his head in place.

Lex was in control again.

“You either go down on me or get the fuck out. Your choice, metahuman.” Lex’s voice was low and serious. He was cold on purpose. He wanted Superman to understand that it was either him in control or none of this would happen.

“My choice, huh,” Superman hummed quietly. “Okay…”

It sounded as if Superman liked being given a choice. Lex just raised an eyebrow at the amused tone. He expected Superman to decline. He expected a flustered comment about how things like this should be done by people in love. He expected Superman to be a sap about it. In the end, what Lex expected the most was for Superman to decide to leave.

So, he was surprised when, after a gentle kiss to his lips, Superman slid off the couch and kneeled on the floor. He was perfectly positioned between Lex’s legs, muscular arms resting on his lap and his hands touching the front of his pants.

He can’t be serious. Lex planned to call his bluff, if that was what this was.

There was also a tiny part of him that hoped that Superman wouldn’t leave. Just the idea of a blowjob seemed…interesting. Lex didn’t care if Superman was good with his mouth or not. What he cared about was that Superman was on his knees in front of him. That was the perfect sight for him, and that was something he wasn’t going to take for granted. If this moment was going to happen — Superman already had his hand in Lex’s pants — Lex wanted to enjoy every single second of it.

So, he spread his legs a little wider just as he felt the warm hand wrapping around his cock, and rested his arms on the back of the couch. The living room was dark, but the city lights were enough for Lex to see those blue eyes staring up at him. Then, they closed.

And Lex suddenly felt a wetness that kissed his tip.

With one heavy breath, he leaned his head back as the warmth swallowed his entire length.

Now this was the kind of life he could get used to.

Having Superman on his knees was what turned Lex on the most. Every time he peaked under his eye lids to see Superman sucking him off, a shiver so good went up his spine that he thought his soul might float up to heaven. He really could get used to this. And as much as he didn’t want Superman to know that he was enjoying every second of this — something he wanted to take to the grave with him — it was immediately difficult to muffle the sounds that came out of his mouth.

He could almost ignore the fact that the alien he despised over a year ago was giving him a blowjob.

A snarky comment was on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to play cool, to make it seem like this was nothing more than just a blowjob. But, unfortunately, Lex had to admit that feeling the inside of Superman’s mouth was actually kind of good. Fuck, it was really good. Rather than the snide remark, he let out a quiet moan from his parted lips.

His hands slid into Superman’s hair, fingers curling tightly as he always did when he touched him. There was this urge for him to bring that mouth further on his cock, to be swallowed whole just like a few seconds ago. Just the thought of it made his cock throb with desperation. And as if Superman could read his mind, he lowered himself more, his face pressing into Lex’s lap as his jaw relaxed. It was criminal how much Lex could feel inside Superman’s mouth.

Oh, the things he could do to him…

His fantasies took flight the second the suggestion entered his mind. He rolled his hips slowly, following the rhythm of Superman’s movements. He wanted to stay deep in the warmth that almost held his entire length. He wanted that tongue to press up against his skin harder. He wanted to be so deep that he could feel the tightness of Superman’s throat around him. Lex had to bite his lip hard to keep himself from moaning out again; he felt it in his throat, the impending sound of his ecstasy. He didn’t want to give Superman that satisfaction but hell, he was certainly getting close to losing it.

Maybe it would be easier to deal with if Lex continued to remind himself that this was nothing more than just physical contact. It might help to think of Superman’s mouth as just another hole to use. But that wasn’t what turned Lex on. Superman really wasn’t just another hole for him to play with. It mattered that it was Superman sucking him off while kneeling between his legs. He probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much if it was anyone else.

Lex opened his eyes slowly and looked at the view of the city through the glass windows. He could see the stars in the sky despite the lights. For a brief second, he admired the luxury that he had. Then his attention was brought back to what was important. Superman was sucking him off so good that Lex couldn’t even focus. That was dangerous. It made goosebumps rise on his skin the same way trouble would. Somehow, that just turned him on more. He bit his bottom lip again and let his fingers rub in Superman’s hair.

A thick along the underside of his length sent shivers up his spine. Lips wrapped around his tip, sucking gently before taking in more of his cock again. The movements were rhythmic but slow. Deep. The attention that he showed Lex’s cock was overwhelming. Just as he was. Lex felt like he was drowning in heat and he couldn’t deny how fucking good it felt.

He was able to tug on Superman’s hair to pull his head back. There was a low shine of blue eyes that looked up at him again. Lex watched as his cock fell out of Superman’s mouth, wet and glistening from his saliva. This was the first time he wished to see all of Superman; he wanted to see every detail of his expression, what his face looked like after being deep in his throat. Lex could imagine it, the low haze in Superman’s eyes, the way his wet lips would be slightly open as he drooled over his cock.

The thought of it made him cum.

With a soft moan and an excited jerk of his cock, he released the sweet flame that was building inside of him. His fingers flexed again, keeping Superman from moving away.

Satisfaction wasn’t enough to describe how Lex felt cumming on Superman’s face. It was pure, unfiltered bliss. And he wouldn’t mind doing it again.

Lex didn’t have access to his electronics. Well, he could’ve bribed government officials to put his stuff back where they found it, but at the time his anger was so raw that he needed complete solitude. It was for the best that he couldn’t watch the news or see any of what was happening with his company — it wasn’t often that he could get in touch with the people he left in charge of his corporation, and it certainly wasn’t easy to trust daily for the past year and half to make sure his stocks didn’t completely tank. No laptop to search his accounts, no phone, no TV, no anything — except on Tuesdays since he bribed the officers who were watching his building daily. The only thing that really kept him entertained was the flashing red light on his ankle monitor.

On Thursdays, Lex had his groceries delivered. Today’s newspaper was included, which wasn’t something he requested.

Lex knew better than to look at anything from the Daily Planet.

“‘Superman does it again. Another end to an intergalactic threat that could’ve put the human race at risk. What would we do without our hero’…” The words were laced with venom as Lex read the paper out loud. It was like drinking thick poison that was meant to suffocate him.

His jaw clenched as he bit back his anger. His fingers balled up the first page of the paper and he tossed it across the dining room table.

The last thing he needed was to read how much Superman was adored in Metropolis.

He skipped to the third page of the paper, hoping to find something more interesting but his expectations were low. Without him being active in the world, there was nothing interesting going on. Life had to have been boring without him.

The open floor plan of the dining room led into the living room. The ceiling high windows surrounded Lex on all sides with the view of the city beside him. He had his feet on the desk as he flicked the page of the paper to the other side. Despite the mighty lifestyle he had, his casual appearance demonstrated that he had nothing to show for it at the moment. House arrest didn’t exactly describe luxury. Then again, things could definitely be worse. It was just that Lex didn’t care.

“You don’t have to sound disgusted,” Superman was sitting on the living room couch, slumped over with a hot piece of pizza in his hand. There were two large pizza boxes on the coffee table. The box on top was already opened with one slice of pizza left. Superman muttered something under his breath, something Lex couldn’t hear but it didn’t matter since he wasn’t paying attention.

“Disgusted is an understatement.” Lex answered half-mindedly as he skimmed another article. Nothing too interesting there. He flipped to the next page. “Huh.” He read a smaller headline to himself.

Not interesting at all. In fact, it was more boring than watching paint dry.

“Who actually hired Clark Kent?” Lex scoffed, unimpressed with what he was reading. “His writing is stagnant and insufferable. I’d rather poke my eyes out than try to follow whatever he’s trying to say.”

“You know, I kinda like the guy. And his writing isn’t so bad.” Superman was defensive with his response almost immediately. Lex picked up on the slight irritation, however that wasn’t his main focus.

“He probably has the literacy of a ten year old and that’s being generous.” Lex continued as his eyes scanned the bottom half of the page. It didn’t take much for him to grasp what the article was about. He just thought it wasn’t executed that well. “Farm boy seriously thought he could do an adult job, didn’t he? He’d have better luck doing something that didn’t involve the English language.” Lex said his insults casually. They just rolled off his tongue as if it was a specialty of his.

His arrogance came from the fact that he knew he was the smartest person in this city. Probably even the entire world. He could outsmart anyone he wanted — he was going to ignore the situation that led him to house arrest.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit mean?” Superman asked.

“Mean would be throwing a thesaurus at his head. He probably wouldn’t even know what to do with it, that idiot.” Lex said as he flipped to the next page.

“We shouldn’t be calling people idiots.”

“That’s the problem with the world. No one wants to say the truth.” The newspaper crumpled between Lex’s fingers. He balled the pages up and tossed them over his shoulder. “People will pretend, lie, and walk on eggshells rather than say the obvious truth. False statements to appease someone’s fragile emotions is a waste of everyone’s time.” Lex ranted as he got out of his seat. He walked around the dining room table and rambled more about his dislike of holding back when it would be more fun to just burst someone’s bubble.

It was no surprise how cold Lex could be. It was no surprise that he was selfish, cunning, and vengeful. That was who he was at his core — a man so full of himself that the rest of the world didn’t matter, so evil that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He was a calculated man, only making moves and taking risks that benefitted him. Lex Luthor was a force to be reckoned with.

He made his way into the living room while giving his monologue to a very dense and emotionally distracted Superman. For a second, he forgot that the hero was sitting in his living room and eating a whole box of pizza by himself.

He stopped mid-sentence and looked down at Superman.

Once again, he found himself being watched by soft blue eyes. It didn’t make things better that Superman was mid-bite of two pizzas stacked on top of each other. There was an innocence in the way he looked at Lex. Almost dumbfounded and confused, but also endearing because Lex was finally showing him attention.

Lex found it annoying.

“What?” Lex finally asked.

As Superman finished his bite, a long string of cheese being pulled from the slices, he brought his hand up a little in a gesture as to offer Lex a bite of his pizza. Lex raised an eyebrow without taking Superman up on his offer.

“Okay,” Lex sighed obnoxiously and brought his hand to his face, “why are you stress eating here? You could go anywhere else to deal with whatever it is in private.” His frustration was just as easy to read on his face as Superman’s. He didn’t particularly care about anything Superman had to deal with. He also didn’t like to see that frustrated expression on his face. Well, he didn’t want to see it if he were being honest.

Superman chewed his food and cleared his throat upon being put on the spot. “Nothing.” He looked to the side. “Just having some…lady issues…”

That was surprising to hear.

It had only been two weeks since Lex had Superman on his knees for him. It was an thrilling moment for Lex and he thought about it more than what would be occasional. Two weeks had gone by and Lex had to physically hold himself back from saying something derogatory every single time he saw Superman. That was definitely a monumental challenge. Luckily, Lex liked a challenge. However, Lex also wasn’t being deprived of the physical contact that he —desperately — thought about. It had been one week since they continued their make out sessions on the white living room couch. It had been three days since Lex let Superman touch him. The conflicting emotions were a lot to deal with. Usually, Lex could throw away anything that was unnecessary for him, and that included affection and infatuation. But lately, it was hard to feel like himself, especially when Superman would always come to see him every evening. There came a point where he expected to be whisked off his feet and pinned to the wall while kissed like his life depended on it. By then, he knew it was time for some distance.

Yet, he heard Superman’s words, the comment about having “lady issues” and it almost rose his temper in a way that he hadn’t felt in a long time. Lex almost saw red. Almost. Like a flick of a switch, that emotion — the mix of anger and confusion — disappeared into thin air.

“So, the harem is real?” He asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

“N-no! That’s not-” Again, Superman cleared his throat as he stammered for words. “There’s no harem, Lex.”

“Well, you don’t have to convince me.” Lex responded sarcastically. “I don’t care what you’re going through. Don’t sulk here.” He was blunt. There was a bit of irritation behind his words.

Why would Superman even mention a problem with a woman to him? Lex hoped that Superman didn’t feel safe or comfortable enough to tell him his problems. He wasn’t one to confide in. He certainly was one to talk about relationships with. But he also wasn’t one to share his things…and for a brief second, almost too short to even notice, he thought Superman was his only and no one else’s.

Then again, Lex would never, ever care what Superman did in his romantic life, if he even had one.

And honestly, Lex hoped that any relationship Superman had would fall apart violently.

He swore he wasn’t jealous.

Lex was staring at an unopened box of donuts.

He wasn’t the type to give in. He wasn’t a push over or a doormat. It was hard to make him do anything he didn’t want to do. Yet, he was staring at the box through the glass balcony door.

Lately he was resistant to opening up to Superman. Sure, he had a life changing blow job one time, and a few make out sessions after that, but he didn’t want Superman to get the idea that things between them were neutral — as if the “life changing” blow job didn’t make up for the years of bickering, fighting, and Lex’s hatred for Superman. As much as he wanted to keep that hatred in his soul, Lex found himself letting go more easily. More than a year and a half to warm up to Superman, and he was at the point where…he could tolerate him.

That didn’t mean he’d always open the balcony door.

He was cautious.

Skeptical even.

His eyes looked at the box of donuts then to Superman’s face. Then back to the white box Superman held in one hand. Lex wanted to be sick of the sweets. He wanted to be sick of the peace offerings and the soft look in Superman’s eyes. What he was really sick of was how easily he gave in. This was a daily routine he had gotten used to and that was what he hated the most.

He unlocked the door and opened it.

It was a sign that Superman was being let in. Figuratively, not physically. With one hand, Lex took the box of donuts will keeping Superman from taking a step in with the other. His touch was rough as he pressed on Superman’s chest, but to the man of steel it felt like a gentle touch. Still, he took a step back at the resistance with a confused expression on his face. The box was out of his hand so that meant he could come inside, right? Lex didn’t budge.

“Don’t you have ‘lady issues’ to deal with?” Lex asked him, the bitterness seeping out of his voice from his unsuccessful attempt at hiding it. He caught himself quickly, however, and tried to play it off as neutral curiosity.

His heart was racing, though.

It was anger.

“I…I’m confused…” Superman admitted.

“Clearly.” Lex wasn’t amused.

He turned away and took his box with him. At that point he didn’t care whether Superman stayed or left. He brought his sweet treat to his kitchen and set it down on the white marble counter before opening it up. His excitement was hard to see, but he did like the donuts.

“I want to tell you something.” Superman tagged along and ended up in the kitchen as well. He appeared as a massive monument of color surrounded by a sterile environment. Lex hated it. Without even a glance towards the Kryptonian, he sighed obnoxiously.

But he didn’t say no.

There were four glazed donuts in the box. That was what had his attention. They were perfectly hand glazed, just like usual, as if these donuts were made specifically for him. In his mind, he thought they were. He didn’t notice how Superman was going through an internal crisis about what he was going to tell him. Well, if Lex did notice he certainly didn’t care.

He took a bite of the donut.

Only something so delicious could make being on house arrest tolerable. Lex may have been a man of complex pleasures, but he could admit when something simple in life was worth it.

“I’m Clark Kent.”

The words pulled him out of his sweet-filled trance in a split second.

His eyes immediately looked over to Superman’s face. “The fuck you are.” He said loudly through a full mouth of donut.

“I’m serious.”

There wasn’t much for Lex to do with that information. He was on house arrest for heinous crimes and wasn’t getting outside any time soon…for a second, he thought about it — a quick plan to ruin Superman and his secret identity, Clark Kent, but it didn’t feel good. Well, it didn’t give him the same thrill that it would’ve had this past year and a half didn’t happen. He was expecting an adrenaline rush with his racing thoughts…he didn’t get that.

His surprise waned.

He finished his donut.

“Why are you telling me this?” He asked, apathetic.

“Because I want you to know more about me,” A soft smile spread to the Kryptonian’s lips, a genuine and kind gesture he hoped would also get Lex to open up. With a quiet chuckle, he added, “And not from your creepy habits of stalking me,” he found it funny now. Not so much back then when Lex was a threat, but now things were different.

A lot different.

Lex could feel it, too.

He didn’t laugh at the comment though. He looked at the counter for a second, thinking to himself as he tried to process what was happening. Superman was opening up to him willingly, that was exactly what was happening. There was no other way to describe it.

He looked up again and fixated his gaze at Superman. The kitchen counter gave them enough space between them that Lex didn’t tense up from the idea of him being too close. But Superman looked back at him with pleading eyes, wanting a positive response. Yet, his expression began to give away that he knew Lex wouldn’t give him the response he was looking for.

Just as Lex knew Superman, Superman knew him, too. And if Superman wanted Lex the same way Lex wanted him, they’d both have a problem to deal with.

There was something about vulnerability that didn’t make Lex feel good.

He remained resistant.

“Leave,” Was all he said.

That didn’t deter the Kryptonian; his expression didn’t fall at the sound of Lex’s voice. Instead, he smiled with a sadness behind his eyes. The symbol of hope and peace had more persistence in him, Lex could see that. He wished that Superman wasn’t the type to pull himself back up from a devastating blow. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, he knew that Superman would continue to come around.

So, it wasn’t that much of a surprise when Superman walked around the counter to come over to him, wrapped his arm around his waist, and pulled him into a gentle kiss.

Despite what he was used to, their kiss didn’t last long. He could only take one breath before the warmth around his lips disappeared. He almost leaned forward as if to chase another kiss, to keep Superman near him because that was what he was used, too. He wanted it. His mouth was open for it. His lips were tingling. His body was aching for it. But Superman pulled away further from him and soon that warmth was gone. The sudden realization came that he wasn’t going to be kissed again, and he was…disappointed. His eyes opened slowly once it really set into his mind.

“Goodnight, Lex.” Superman said quietly and turned away to head towards the balcony door. All Lex could do was watch him leave in silence.

He never imagined a time when a goodbye kiss from Superman would actually have him yearning.

Chapter Text

It was an interesting change of pace.

For the past two years, Lex had been comfortable with seeing Superman as the hero everyone in Metropolis knew and loved. He was so used to the flowing red cape, the blue suit, the stupid grin on Superman’s face when he was able to help someone. He knew that stupid curl, those bright blue eyes, the chiseled body no one would stop talking about. Lex had studied Superman for years, knew every single detail of the Kryptonian to the point that there was nothing Superman could hide from him.

So, it was very different for Lex when he was staring at someone he never had on his radar.

Clark Kent. A representation of an average guy who wanted to get the truth for the people of Metropolis. He was large, muscular, his clothes outlined his muscles despite not clinging to his skin. His frame could easily overshadow two people. His demeanor was different, smaller in a way, as if he slouched more to appear friendlier in size. Then there was the goofy grin and messy curls around his face. The big glasses. The playful, nerdy personality…Clark Kent was not who Lex imagined to be Superman.

It was interesting. Perplexing. It wasn’t often that Clark came over…well, it wasn’t often that Superman came to Lex in that persona…maybe once or twice in the past couple months. When he did it, Lex found himself surprised to see someone so different at his balcony door. Part of him almost missed seeing Superman the way that he was — it was his obsession for the past five years that drove him to miss what he was used to, he didn’t actually miss Superman.

Lex didn’t say much about the persona.

He didn’t complain or ask too many questions.

He pretended like he didn’t care. Most of the time, it worked. Lex didn't care. Then there were days when he was caught off guard by how different the Kryptonian was. Was this actually who he had been chasing after for all these years? How could he have been so obsessed but miss…this?

Superman…Clark came at the same time as he always did. He held a box of glazed donuts in his hand and presented them to Lex. Just as he always did. There was a genuine smile on his face, his dimples appearing in his rosy cheeks. His eyes were shining behind those glasses he wore. Today he had on a white collared shirt and black slacks, which was much different than the red and blue suit that Lex was accustomed to. Somehow, the difference in wardrobe accentuated how large Clark actually was. Yet, the sheer size of him wasn’t that intimidating when he had such a goofy smile on his face. Lex was cautious. He eyed Clark for a few seconds before reaching for the peace offering.

That was how the days, the weeks, went.

The intimacy continued, too.

Clark had a habit of making a move before Lex could say anything to him. It was easier that way — be quick so Lex wouldn't have time to process what was going on. But Lex was faster when it came to thinking. Not so much when it came to his emotions. He easily became stunned when Clark pressed him against the wall and kissed him like the world was ending. His mind was reeling. Spinning. Spiraling. Large hands always had him by his waist and all he could do was scream in his head about the conflicting emotions.

Each time didn't get any easier.

Lex got hungrier for physical touch. Whether it was infatuation for Clark or just the need to have contact with someone while being on house arrest, he would never try to find out. In the moment, he craved warmth and the only other living being that came to see him was Clark. Lex would say he was settling, but there wasn’t much that he could get in the first place.

The couch was a comfortable spot for them. It was part of their routine — Clark would come in, grab Lex by his waist, and bring him against the wall to plant a greeting kiss on his lips. Then when against the wall became boring, Clark would whisk Lex off his feet and bring him to the living room couch. They'd kiss well into the night then do it again the next day — if Lex was in the mood to let him in his apartment.

This evening, Lex straddled on Clark's lap without so much as a complaint. As long as he was on top, he kept quiet.

At first, Lex was reluctant to wrap his arms around Clark's neck. But after a few minutes, it became like second nature with how easily he moved his arms. His fingers ran through Clark's thick curls roughly, gripping tight and pulling his head back until he heard the soft whimper against his lips. Desperation sounded sweet from the Kryptonian. There was a flicker of a devious smile on Lex's face, a sense of satisfaction made his heart flutter as he heard the soft gasps against his lips.

Clark was so easy to manipulate.

At least Lex thought so.

All he had to do was move his hips once to rub up against Clark, and that sent a life changing shutter down his spine so good that even Lex could feel it. Damn, he was just so easy. Easy to read, easy to understand, easy to get flustered. Lex licked his lips and went for another kiss, taking the lead as Clark needed a second to think through his own emotions. Lex didn't give it to him, though. Another rut of his hips and Clark almost groaned from the sensation.

This was usually as far as they got, a heated make out session. Sometimes Clark would get on his knees for Lex, but it didn't go further than that. So, for the first time, Lex actually entertained the idea of taking their intimacy a bit further.

Slowly, he kept his hips grinding against Clark's until he could feel the subtle erection in his pants. It was slow growing, but growing nonetheless. Lex was feeling the heat, too. He could hide some things about what he was going through, but his erection was palpable. He leaned his weight onto Clark, kept his arms wrapped around his neck, and continued to roll his hips and grind against Clark's lap.

It was the first time Lex heard Clark moan.

A full moan. His voice deep with desire and lust.

Clark leaned his head back against the couch and Lex got to see the expression on his face, the look of pleasure and confusion and surprise. Lex didn't mind getting off on it. In fact, he found it a little…seducing. He couldn't decide whether it was the pathetic look on Clark's face or the sounds he was making that was getting him hard. Regardless, Lex actually liked it and he knew that he liked it.

He needed to experience more.

Clark had found his composure and Lex was ready to take it away from him again. Just by the look in his eyes the second Clark lifted his head again, there was this desire to make him fall apart.

Large hands had him by his waist. Slowly, he could feel those hands sliding to the small of his back, pressing him closer to the body underneath him as if there was any space left. Then he felt the tug that brought his hips roughly into Clark’s. He was grinding into the growing erection and couldn’t stop. Lex smiled into the kiss as another pathetic moan left Clark’s lips. He could feel the twitch of Clark’s erection through his slacks. And that was from Lex rubbing his own erection on his. In the moment, he didn’t care that this was happening. He just wanted to hear more of those soft whimpers from Clark’s lips. The kisses were barely silencing and that was what made it more enjoyable. The quiet air was filled with the sounds of their heavy breaths and their clothes ruffling as they rutted against each other.

There came a specific point where Clark seemed to lose all control.

Lex knew it was happening.

Their kiss broke. Clark’s hands latched on to Lex tighter as his head pressed into his shoulder. Lex tugged on his hair, using that to balance himself as he kept rolling his hips into Clark despite his shaking. The moans were louder now. More desperate. Shaky. Lex could feel Clark’s sloppy movements, the way his hips stuttered and dragged while trying to keep pace. The erection was thick. Lex wondered how close he was. By the sound of his voice, Clark wasn’t that far from reaching his peak. Lex leaned his head into Clark’s hair and kept the rough movements going as Clark moaned into his shoulder.

The sounds were going straight to Lex’s crotch. No wonder he was starting to feel lightheaded. He swore that he wasn’t that into it but there was no denying it. He truly got off on being on top of Clark — on top of Superman. He thrived on making him moan.

And he was about to make Clark cum, too.

There was nothing more satisfying than having complete control.

The second that Clark’s breath hitched, and his hands gripped hard onto Lex’s waist was the second Lex knew that got Clark to that edge. He could feel it, the abrupt bucking of his hips, the shaky breathing, the way Clark’s muscles were tensing and relaxing so quickly from the influx of pleasure. Lex could only imagine what it must have felt like. It had to have been a real pleasure. After all, Lex wouldn’t have done this under any other circumstance — as if they hadn’t gotten close over the past couple months and Lex wasn’t getting excited for physical touch. His ego was swelling. He figured this had to have been a life-changing moment for the Kryptonian, to know what real lust and satiation felt like. Oh, it must have been so good.

Lex felt a shiver going down his spine. Goosebumps rose on his skin, and he was taken over by a strong heat that surrounded his entire body. His cock twitched hard underneath the restriction of his clothes. Every time Clark dragged his hips through his orgasm, Lex became more obsessed and infatuated. He pulled on Clark’s hair to lean his head back again, and his gaze immediately fixated on Clark’s flushed cheeks and foggy glasses. He looked so dazed and that was what Lex enjoyed the most.

Lex leaned in and kissed Clark with no hesitation. The high tension running through Clark began to settle down and Lex used that as a reason to lean into him more. He wasn’t that much for affection but usually with Clark, he had a tendency to rest his body on his. At the moment, he saw it from a place of power. But it was really that Lex was comfortable. He actually felt…safe in Clark’s arms — not that he would admit it. His body did for him though. The kisses deepened and it was as if Lex couldn’t breathe without him.

How long did it take him to open up this way?

He could freely wrap his arms around Clark and grind his hips on his. No sense of hatred or envy. In fact, Lex was thinking about how warm Clark’s body was, how strong his arms were, how wet his lips were…

Before he knew it, Clark’s arms held him tighter. And then they were off the couch. Clark lifted himself up with Lex perched on his arm. The kisses didn’t stop. Lex didn’t want them to. He didn’t care if Clark threw him against the wall, he had plans to just latch on to his clothes and keep everything going. The movements passed him by, gentle and easy, as if he was floating. As if Clark was floating with him. Lex never enjoyed being carried or moved around the way Clark did it, but right now it was at the back of his mind.

It was the first time that Clark ever went into Lex’s bedroom. Just as sterile as the rest of his apartment — white walls, minimal decorations, plain colored furniture and ceiling high windows — it gave a chilling sensation just to walk in. That was the last thing on either of their minds at the moment. There was never really a need for them to come to Lex’s bedroom. After all, they spent all of their time on the living room couch and didn’t have any problems with it. Plus, it was a more private space for Lex, his last area of solitude now that he let Clark into his life more. His bedroom was highly personal. Sacred. Now Clark entered the room as something completely foreign, standing out against the white walls and view of the city from the windows. He stood tall just past the doorway with Lex’s on his arm, effortlessly holding him up. And if Lex were to see the way he was being carried in the mirror, he’d be appalled. However, his mind was elsewhere as he was being kissed and escorted to his bed. Part of him forgot that Clark was taking them elsewhere. So, he couldn’t hide his surprise when he was suddenly let go; he fell back onto his bed, landing in the perfectly made white sheets, head resting on his pillow.

His eyes opened briefly. He looked at the ceiling before seeing Clark come into view above him. It felt unreal gazing up at him this way. He was on his bed and Clark had gotten in with him, too. It was…odd. Odd enough to make his heart race and his breathing to pick up. Clark came closer, leaning in with a tender embrace to kiss Lex with the same passion. And just as before, they were desperately pressed against each other again, humping against the friction of their clothes. This time, the intent was to get Lex off.

When that wasn’t enough — when Lex was rubbing more against Clark’s thigh and gripping his hair tightly in his fingers — Clark slid his hand between their bodies, his fingers lightly tugging at the front of Lex’s pants. Swiftly, he slid his hand into Lex’s pants without hesitation, his palm kneading into his erection. The sweet movements were hypnotizing; Lex had to roll his hips to the pace of Clark’s hand working him. He became more eager when he felt Clark’s hand sneak underneath his underwear. Fingers wrapped around his cock, first slowly stroking him before picking up pace.

There was so much to focus on. So much stimulation and sensations. Lex was usually good about processing a lot of information at once. This was different. Clark’s kisses were unrelenting, filled with so much warmth and passion that Lex needed him to breathe. Even as he sunk further into the bed, Lex was distracted by the way Clark licked and nipped at his lips. His mind was being pulled in a different direction, his focus now on his hips, his cock, the way Clark was rubbing against him. Then he was back to thinking about the kisses. Then his pleasure, his lust and desire. Lex’s mind was all over the place and it surprisingly felt so good.

His body tensed as he reached his impending orgasm.

His back almost arched off the bed, that was how close he was getting. Now it was his turn to pull away to catch his breath. There was a familiar warmth that pressed to his cheek, the same softness he knew well; Clark didn’t stop the hot kisses he planted on Lex’s flushed skin. The tickle of his hair, his eyelashes, his nose grazing his skin. Lex was overwhelmed. Though, he’d say it was a good feeling, at least for a moment. His entire body felt engulfed in the warmth. He clung to it, made sure it couldn’t leave him.

Clark breathed against his jaw. Lex tensed again, back curving just as before into Clark’s body. Their hips continued to rut together, Clark’s hand was picking up pace. It was almost as though he knew the progression of pleasure in Lex’s body. And it was true, Clark could feel his heartbeat, his racing breaths, even the littlest twitch of his fingers. Lex already knew this. Yet, it was so surprising for Clark to be in sync with him. This was a rare moment for him and he wanted to savor everything it was giving him.

His orgasm came at just the right second.

Everything seemed to fall into place. The world made sense. Lex almost felt enlightened. All it took was a decent hand-job and a few kisses for him to reach his peak. It felt fucking amazing. It sounded like it was amazing for him, too.

His hands gripped Clark tight, using him as a tether to reality as he experienced a second of pure bliss. His hips stiffened as his cum spilled on to the sliver of skin not covered by his shirt. The grip on his cock was firm and still kneading the pleasure out of him. His fingers clawed on Clark’s shirt as his hips jerked forward more. Fuck, he liked this more than he thought he would. He liked that Clark was kissing and biting his neck while rutting into him. He liked the heat of his breath, the fervor of his touches, the desperation in every kiss.

Shit, Lex’s heart was fluttering.

It wasn’t from the orgasm he just had. It was Clark showing him so much physical attention that had him blushing, moaning, and — if he dared to actually admit it — falling in love.

Lex was staring straight at Clark in the evening.

Arms crossed, expression unamused.

His eyes were like piercing shards as he gazed back at Clark. There was a threat on his tongue, and it took a lot for him to hold back. He barely ever did when it came to Clark. Most of the time, everything that went wrong was because of Clark — well, because of Superman, but now Clark was included. Lex had no problem pinning the blame of everything on Clark.

Right now was the complete opposite.

Lex was trying to make it seem like he wasn’t seething on the inside. He tried to make it seem like his body wasn’t filling with heat from anger and jealousy, that his heart wasn’t racing, that his hands weren’t clenching so tight that his nails were digging into the inside of his palm. Clark probably knew everything that was going on with him. Hell, the absence of an expression was enough to show that Lex was actually being consumed by his anger. But Clark stood in the middle of the living room and waited for a response from Lex.

It was going to be a mixed response.

One second ago, Clark told Lex that he was seeing Lois Lane. As in being in an actual romantic relationship with her. And what appalled Lex more was that Clark looked intimidated with saying that to him.

Why?

Probably because Lex wasn’t going to handle it well. He may have been good at hiding his emotions for the most part, but there was something about Clark that elicited a vigorous response from him at times. Anger was usually one of those responses.

“You’re telling me this because…?” His voice was apathetic, almost devoid of life.

Clark cleared his throat and looked away nervously. It wasn't a good sign when Lex talked to him that way. It seemed like Clark was trying to choose his words wisely. “Because…well, we’ve been…” Unfortunately, Clark didn't stand a chance against Lex's cold glare.

“We’ve been what?” Lex wanted him to just come right out with it.

They went through a lot in two years. They went through so much that even Lex’s emotions about Clark changed. He let him into his apartment, into his life, gave him a glimpse of what he was like personally. Clark knew him physically, intimately, and in ways that no one had ever got to know him.

Did Lex think he was the only one?

Was that what he wanted?

No! He yelled in his mind. He didn’t care what Clark did with his personal life. He didn’t care who he was with or what was happening. He swore to himself he didn’t think about Clark at all. But it was obvious he was jealous and irritated. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, how no other human would be able to tell that he was about to explode with rage, Clark knew.

“She was the one who told me to…Lois suggested that I explore my feelings for you.”

Lex’s brows furrowed immediately, and his fingers clenched even tighter. What Clark said wasn’t reassuring. In fact, it made Lex more defensive. “You’ve been gossiping about me to your girlfriend?”

“No, Lex, it’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? Because it sounds like you and Lois Lane discussed whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish with me.”

Clark paced around the living room as he became increasingly more flustered. “‘Accomplish’ isn’t the way I would describe it.” He responded as if he was being interrogated.

“How would you describe it?” Lex retorted sharply.

“Lex-”

“A task? Part of a checklist?” Lex was frustrating him on purpose. If he had to be emotionally unstable, then Clark would be, too. The more he made it seem like their relationship — or lack thereof — was impersonal and insignificant, the more upset Clark got.

“I like you, Lex,” Clark blurted out. It was a futile attempt to make Lex understand where he was coming from.

Lex told himself he didn't care. He remained as stoic as he could as he responded without missing a beat. “So, the woman you’re having sex with recommended that you try to do something about that?” He was angry, no doubt about that. He was skeptical and unsure and cautious of everything Clark was saying to him.

“N-no, I’m- Lex, I’m not having sex with her. We’re taking things slow.”

Lex didn’t believe that one bit. It was his anger that made him skeptical. And despite feeling his rage making his skin boil, he remained as stoic and expressionless as possible. He didn’t move as much. Didn’t bat an eyelash at the comments. Just a furrow of his eyebrows for a second before his expression was apathetic again.

It was a defense mechanism if anything.

Why should Clark know that he was aggravated? Well, Clark definitely knew, based on his growing fear and panic in his eyes, but Lex deluded himself into thinking that he was hiding it well.

“I’m telling you this because…” Clark cleared his throat again and finally looked at Lex. “I’m telling you because I want you to know that I like Lois and that I like you. A lot.”

Lex rolled his eyes.

“And I want to be closer with you.”

He raised an eyebrow, but was still unimpressed. The silence persisted between them, an unsettling feeling for Clark. Lex, however, was waiting to see if Clark was going to continue letting out his feelings — as if it actually mattered.

The silence became deafening.

Then Lex asked, “You want to fuck me?”

“T-that’s a bit vulgar, don’t you think?” Clark sputtered from being caught off guard.

There were plenty of things that were vulgar, and Lex would take a minute to list all of the things they’ve done together up until this point. All of it was vulgar. There was no denying that. Lex kept his mouth tightly shut as he waited with a heavy glare to his cold eyes. He stood on the other side of the couch with his hands tightly clenched. Any tighter and he'd make himself bleed. His silence was unnerving.

With a flushed face and embarrassed determination, Clark responded, “Yes.” Again their silence persisted. Lex stared back at him with a hollowness in his eyes.

He had to hide his emotions.

He did everything he could to keep it to himself.

Clark was smart. And he wasn't human. Lex knew, deep down, that Clark knew every emotion he was going through without even having to take a step closer. Clark probably knew that Lex was second away from erupting into flames, too. His heart was racing. Pounding. Thumping so hard that even he could hear it. He swallowed thickly as he continued to glare at Clark, putting on this facade of strength and unwavering determination when in reality Lex was on the verge of giving in. The way Clark looked back at him didn’t help the rising emotions. Those blue eyes were fierce and powerful. They were hungry and desperate. All of a sudden, even behind the embarrassment, Clark looked at Lex like he would do anything just to have him to himself.

Oh, he wanted Lex so fucking bad and Lex could feel it. Clark really did want to fuck him.

Lex had no idea what to say to that.

The balcony door remained locked for a few days.

Lex had a lot to think about. Being on house arrest made it easy to contemplate things that were weighing on his mind.

The light on the ankle monitor would flash red now and again, alerting whatever federal agents that were watching him that he was still where he was supposed to be. He couldn’t leave. He didn’t have anyone to yell at and berate. It was just him and his thoughts. And the ankle monitor.

He couldn't leave.

So every evening, he was stuck staring at the one person who would come see him.

Sometimes, Lex would just stay at his couch and pretend Clark wasn't waiting at the balcony door. Other days, he would stand there contemplating if he should open the door or not. Clark would have this wounded puppy look in his eyes and it was infuriating for Lex. But it almost broke him — just a little. Lex spent a lot of time trying to convince himself that what he felt for Clark was nothing more than a flicker of indifference. He wanted to believe he didn't care about Clark, that he didn't care that Clark was involved with someone else, that he wasn't the only one to experience Clark as he was.

Lex was a selfish man. Thus it took a lot of energy to tell himself that he didn't care.

Then he remembered that Clark said he wanted to fuck - in a more polite way but he still answered Lex’s question. Yes, Clark really did want to have an intimate relationship. They've been doing that already, but Lex figured that it meant more to Clark than it did him…

To have sex would be…interesting.

On the day Lex finally decided to open the balcony door, Clark surprisingly respected the physical boundary that was already set. He was the type of man to show his love through touch and emotions, so Lex could see the pain that came with restraint. Not that Lex cared.

Well, he told himself he didn’t care.

Lex sat on his couch with a brooding expression on his face. He didn’t realize that expression he had on his face was what made Clark be cautious with him in the first place. Still, Lex wasn’t in the mood to be coaxed into a gentler side of himself. Clark sat next to him, as he always did, but didn’t say a word. Not yet. Lex was deep in thought, and that could be seen by the far away look in his eyes.

Then he tilted his head to the side and asked, “How did you get Lois Lane?” There was less curiosity in his voice and more skepticism. He didn’t think that Clark, of all people, actually knew what it meant to be in a relationship.

“That’s what you want to talk about?” Clark was genuinely surprised. His eyes widened by Lex’s question. He cleared his throat and looked away. “I told her the truth.” He admitted.

“You’re greedy.” Lex said plainly. “You think you can have everything in the world, don’t you?” He mumbled his question to himself as he looked down at his hands.

He only knew a fraction of that greed that Clark had. Lex’s greed was material. He wanted everything in the world. He wanted adoration and love and everything everyone had to offer him. He deserved it. He felt like he definitely deserved it more than Superman…He didn’t let his anger get the better of him at the moment — surprisingly.

“I can be greedy sometimes.” Clark agreed.

“And selfish.” Lex added as he crossed his arms.

There was a box of donuts on the coffee table. Clark was always kind enough to get Lex something he wanted. Lex would be in a better mood when Clark brought him various sweets; he was considerate and kind, things Lex knew that he himself wasn’t. Yet, he didn’t find anything wrong with what he said.

“I am selfish.” Clark agreed with that, too. His tone was lighthearted and friendly as he leaned a little bit closer to Lex. If there was fear anywhere, he didn’t show it. Probably by the way Lex loosened the grip of his fists and his heart slowed a little was comforting.

Lex didn’t realize that he had softened up once again.

Even when Clark’s shoulder gently nudged against his, he didn’t seem to notice that his bad mood just shifted. It was settling to feel the warmth of Clark’s body on his again. It was oddly calming. Lex didn’t move, but he let Clark lean his head onto his own. The soft curls of Clark’s hair tickled his skin; all he could do was imagine running his fingers through those curls like he had done before.

Then he wondered what it would be like to feel vulnerable enough to lean his head onto Clark, too. Was that what it was? Did Clark feel vulnerable? Lex didn’t ask.

He just looked at the view of the city through the ceiling high windows as the sun set.

They sat in silence for a little while.

Lex didn’t mind it.