Author's Note: I'm going to try my hand at another Smallville fic. Hopefully this one will work out, as I don't have plans to make it overly long. Anyway, enjoy! [and review]
Sighing gently, Clark dropped his keys into the small glass bowl that sat on the small glass table by the door to his apartment. Nearly everything in Clark's apartment was small and made of glass, reminding him of how fragile things were, how fragile he was now, how fragile He used to be.
Clark shook his head, trying to clear away thoughts of Him. It had been years since he had seen Him so why was it so hard to forget Him? As Clark slipped out of his coat, he also ignored the voice in the back of his head that eerily sounded like his mother as it said 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. Though, that sounded like something his mother would say.
Finally closing the door behind himself, Clark walked over to the bar in the kitchen and pressed play on his answering machine.
"Hey, Smallville. It's Lois. Perry wants you to come in today since you haven't in the past-" Delete.
"Clark, honey, it's Mom. I know you said you couldn't come this weekend but-" Delete.
"Chloe here! Look, Clark, I just wanted to tell you I'm coming in this month and was hoping to see you since it's been-" Delete.
"Why haven't you answered any calls? Or seen any of your friends? How long has it-" Dele...wait a minute, who was that?
Clark, having been listening to the messages absentmindedly as they were just repeating the same things since nearly five months ago, rewound the last message to the beginning. A smooth, male voice came out of the speaker, making Clark's chest clench.
"Why haven't you answered any calls? Or seen any of your friends? How long has it been since you've done anything more than go to the park? Clark, if you listen to this, call me. I know it's been a long time but I'm worried abo-"
The answering machine beeped, signaling the end of the message, before playing the next one, which seemed to be a continuation.
"-You. I haven't changed my private number. I expect to hear from you within the week."
One last, long beep signaled the end of all the messages. Clark stood there, staring at the machine in disbelief.
As if in a trance, he picked up the receiver and dialed the number that was still imprinted into his memory, despite the years of not calling it. A soft ringing was heard from the other end until an equally soft click let Clark know that the call had been answered.
"Lex Luthor."
Clark cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice from shaking. "Lex? It's Clark. You told me to call if I got your message."
A hitch in Lex's breath could be heard from his end. "Yes. That was nearly a week ago. I was about to give up on you. After all, it wouldn't be the first time you haven't come through."
"I'm sorry," Clark apologized. Why was he apologizing? He hadn't done anything to Him! "Was there something you needed, Lex?"
"Yes," Lex repeated, his voice sounding much more confident now. "I need to see you. May I come over tonight?"
"Tonight? Lex, it's nearly midnight."
"I don't want to lose sight of you again. It took me three weeks to track you down this time."
Clark sighed, "All right. I suppose I don't have to give you the address."
"Of course not," said Lex. "I'm already here. Open the door, Clark."
Setting the phone down, Clark walked unsteadily over to the door, opening it wide. Lex stood there, cell phone in hand, staring at him with cool eyes.
"Lex," Clark greeted. "Come in."
He stepped away from the door, letting Lex enter the apartment, then closed it quickly.
"Clark," Lex sighed. He scrutinized the younger man, running his eyes over and over the broad shoulders, long legs, and pale face. "It's been awhile."
Clark nodded, holding his hands behind his back to hide the faint tremors skating down his body. "I'm not sure why it can't be a while longer."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm s-saying, what are you doing here?" Clark cursed internally at the stutter, hoping that Lex didn't catch it.
"I told you I needed to see you."
Sighing, Clark moved over to the plush couch, careful to avoid hitting the glass coffee table, and sat on the edge. "Very well. Make yourself comfortable."
Lex followed Clark's example and sat gingerly on the couch. "I have some questions."
Laughing nervously, the other man wrung his twitching hands together. "If I remember correctly," he said softly, putting all his effort into not stuttering again, "I wasn't ever any good at answering your questions."
Waving his hand nonchalantly, Lex continued, "I'm not talking about those questions, Clark. I got the answer to those questions a long time ago. These are new questions, more important questions."
Ignoring the fact that Lex apparently had figured out everything Clark had fought to keep secret while they were friends back in Smallville, he said, "Do your worst then."
"Why have you been avoiding everyone? Why have you practically quit your job? What keeps you going to the park? Why did you let me come here, after all this time?" Lex shot off question after question, making Clark's head spin.
Clark decided to start with the easiest and go from there. "I keep going to the park because it reminds me of things that I used to have, things I use to do. Most of all, it reminds me of everything I wanted to leave behind. I haven't been avoiding everyone, I've been busy. I didn't quit my job, I relocated. I let you come here now because-" 'I love you.' "-I knew you would've with or without my permission."
Looking skeptical, Lex sat back and semi-relaxed into the couch. "Busy doing what?"
"Planning."
"For?"
Pain filled Clark's eyes, his lips forming around words that weren't what he wanted to say, but what he was supposed to say. Instead, he let a completely baseless lie slip out from his lips, "I'm moving, Lex."
Relief slid across the older man's face, his body finally fully relaxing at the ignorance of what Clark didn't say.
'I'm dying, Lex.'
A/N: Sooo...I'm pretty sure this will be continued. I have an ending planned already, I'm just not sure what to put in between this and the ending. Maybe you should review and give me some ideas? Please review!
~s.