"Morning. Did you sleep well?" Bruce closed the distance between them and brushed his lips against Clark's.
"Slept great now that I'm back in my own bed." He slid closer to Bruce and mouthed a kiss against his jaw. "Even better since I have you in my bed. You?"
Bruce brought a hand up from under the covers to twine in Clark's hair and pull him flush against his chest. "I always sleep better when you're with me." He silenced Clark's laughter with a kiss pushed him onto his back.
"I noticed a few improvements to my apartment." Bruce hummed in response and traced a path across the five days worth of stubble on Clark's face. "How'd you convince the owner to let you rip the place apart?"
"I bought the building."
Clark laughed. "You bought the building?"
"Had to know you were safe."
"So how safe am-" Clark gasped as Bruce's hand slid down to stroke the skin on his inner thigh. "Am I?" he finished.
"Bullet proof windows," he grabbed onto Clark's nipple with his teeth and tugged, eliciting a small moan and an upward thrust from the other man. "Titanium lining in the walls, floors, and ceiling. And," he grinned. "I gave you the open concept living area you've been talking about for months and hadn't done anything about yet."
Clark laughed and stroked a hand up and down Bruce's side, tickling lightly and reveling in the feel of the resulting shiver. "I've been busy, and you've met the old owner. Do you really think he would have let me pull down walls? Keep doing that!"
He sucked another kiss onto the flesh above Clark's hip bone. "He did strike me as being... difficult to deal with. Until he saw my offer." His mouth moved over to the other hip.
"Well, I hope," he broke off with a swift intake of breath. "I hope the new owner's easier to deal with."
"I don't foresee you having any problems with him." He flicked his eyes up to glance at Clark before leaning forward to take his cock into his mouth.
Clark arched upwards into the heat of Bruce's mouth. "At least I got my new kitchen out of it," he managed to choke out.
Bruce pulled back long enough to flash a quick grin. "And your building is now rent-controlled. With utilities included."
Clark laughed. "You made that much noise?"
Bruce reached for the lube in the bedside table drawer. "I did rip apart the whole interior of your apartment and put it all back together again in less than five days. And I had all the building's windows replaced. They were old and definitely not weather proof."
"They all bullet proof?"
"Can't in good conscience have your neighbours getting hurt if someone tries to come after you again." He trailed a slicked finger against Clark's body and pressed forward, sinking in to the first knuckle.
"Mm, no, can't have that." His eyes fluttered shut as a second finger joined the first and stroked smoothly in and back out. "Has—oh—has Harley given anything up?"
Bruce bent his body forward over Clark's and pressed a kiss to his lips. "No more talking about work."
"So how's the weather been?"
Bruce laughed as he pulled his fingers out and slicked his cock. "It's been sunny, which is a nice change from the weather in Gotham."
Clark's breath hitched as Bruce pushed slowly into him. "Bruce, please."
"Please what?"
"Paint my kitchen a different colour?" he said, laughing.
Bruce thrust into his body harder and faster. "What's wrong with the colour it is now?"
"Nothing. I just want to see you half naked and covered in paint." He leaned up and pulled Bruce in to kiss him again, licking at his lips until his mouth opened beneath his own.
Bruce's hand found Clark's cock and stroked. Clark threw his head back into the pillows and Bruce took advantage of his exposed neck, biting the soft skin just behind his ear. "Clark, I was so scared. So fucking scared."
"I know, I know."
"I can't—oh, that feels good—can't lose you, Clark. I'd fall apart without you."
"You're not going to lose me," he said, hands grasping either side of Bruce's face and forcing him to keep eye contact. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He stopped the other man's response with a bruising kiss.
Clark's climax came swiftly, intensely. Bruce kept his pace, watching as his lover came back down, felt his body relax until he was slack beneath him. He wrapped his arms under Clark's shoulders, using the leverage to thrust deeper, faster, harder.
Clark smiled, green eyes half closed, and mapped Bruce's body with his hands, brushing his fingers over scars long faded to almost nothing, and finding all the spots he knew Bruce liked to be touched. He drew his legs up, and groaned at the sensation caused by the change in angle.
"You redecorated the living room."
Bruce laughed but didn't falter. "Do you like it?"
"I do. You kept my father's chair."
Bruce kissed him. "Wouldn't dream of-" he paused, breath catching as he dropped his forehead to Clark's chest and moaned. "Removing it," he managed to say before pushing in one last time and pausing as his body shook.
Clark ran a hand through dark, sweaty hair. "Thank you," he murmured.
"Love you so much, Clark." He let himself fall onto the bed, head resting on Clark's chest and one arm draped across his waist.
Clark opened his mouth to respond and froze. Someone was unlocking the door to his apartment. Two people came inside, one pausing to punch in the security code in the new alarm system. He didn't even know the code yet.
"There's someone here."
Bruce sat up, tense and alert. "Who?"
Clark closed his eyes and sighed. "Chloe and Lois," he whispered. "Why do Chloe and Lois know the alarm code and not me?"
Bruce chuckled quietly. "Chloe has a key and her own password. You still need to set yours. Your mother and I are the only other ones who have access. You should put some clothes on and stop Lois from trying to come in here to wake you up."
"Oh no, no way. She's seen me naked enough for one life time." Clark scrambled out of bed and pulled open the top drawer of his dresser, leaving Bruce to lay back and pull the sheets up to his waist while admiring the view.
"Smallville?" Lois called out. Clark's eyes widened comically as he flipped to x-ray vision and saw Lois starting to head down the hall.
"I'll be right out, Lois!" he yelled a little too loudly, hoping she'd stop and go back to the kitchen where Chloe was making coffee.
"Hurry up," she called back as she turned around.
"You'll have to tell me one day just how many times Lois has seen you naked. Not to mention why. I'd like to know if I have to have her killed or not."
Clark glared at him. "This isn't the time to be making jokes," he hissed, pulling on a pair of boxers and heading for the door. "Stay here and be quiet!" He turned the knob and paused, coming back to press a swift kiss against Bruce's amused smile, and then he was gone.
"It's barely 7 a.m., what are you two doing here? Clark asked as he padded barefoot into the kitchen and came to a stop behind Chloe, one hand going to her waist to steady her as she stepped up onto the stool Clark kept in the kitchen for her.
"Perry's demanding you come into work now, or he'll fire you." Chloe pulled three mugs out of the cupboard and set them on the counter. "We all know he's bluffing, but you should probably put in an appearance anyway." She stepped off the stool and turned around, small arms circling his waist and holding on for a moment before letting go.
"You still look pale, and your cheeks are all flushed. Are you alright?"
He shrugged and flashed a smile at her. "I'm fine, promise."
"You know, Smallville, you really should invest in new boxers sometime this decade," Lois said from her spot at the kitchen table.
He leaned back against the counter and glanced down at his faded Met U boxers. "What's wrong with them?" he asked, looking back up.
"You graduated how many years ago?"
"Four."
"Exactly. I think it's time to retire those."
"I like them. They're comfortable."
"Comfortable isn't going to get a woman into your bed, Clark!" She threw her hands up in mock exhaustion. "When was the last time you went on a date? Two years ago? What are you, a monk? With a body like that, Smallville, you should have women throwing themselves at you."
"Women like you, Lois?" Chloe asked, setting coffee down in front of her cousin.
"I can't be held responsible for that. It's not my fault that Superman is sexy, and it's not my fault that Clarkie here, in all his glorious geekdom, happens to be Superman."
Chloe raised a hand, cutting Clark's retort off. "Everybody play nice. Clark, go shower and get dressed. Don't shave; the stubble makes it look like you really have been out sick. Lois, drink your coffee and become a human being so we can get to the office and suffer through Perry's inevitable lecture while there's still some caffeine in our systems."
The mutual mumbling of "fine" was followed by Clark heading back to the bedroom, coffee in hand, while Chloe joined Lois at the table.
Bruce was dozing in bed, the sheet only partially covering his body. Clark leaned over and rubbed his scratchy cheek against Bruce's. "Shower with me?" he asked as blue eyes flicked open and found his gaze.
"Only if you promise to lock the door," Bruce grinned.
"Of course. Wouldn't want Lois or Chloe to wander in and catch us mid blow job, would we?"
"Tease."
"Come on, the coast is clear."
Ten minutes later Clark strode back into the kitchen, freshly washed hair curling around the tips of his ears, glasses in place, wearing black dress pants with a plain grey t-shirt and matching black jacket in hand.
"For someone with super speed, you sure take your time in the shower."
"You didn't give her decaf by accident, did you?" Clark asked, looking at Chloe.
"Very funny Smallville," Lois retorted. "Let's go before Perry has a fit."
o o o o o
"Would you leave me for him?"
Lex looked up to find Lana standing the doorway of his office the next morning. "What are you talking about?"
"Clark. We overheard you talking last night. I knew. It was something I tried not to dwell on, but I knew. I thought I was alright with hearing you say it out loud, but I'm not, Lex. I need to know. Would you leave me for him if you were given the chance?"
Lex was silent for a moment, just watching her. She'd drawn her shoulders up and held them, tensed, as if waiting for a physical blow. She waited for him to answer, eyes fixed unwaveringly on his. Lana really was everything to him, when he thought about it. She may not have been his first choice, but she was the one who had believed in him when everyone else turned their back and walked away.
"I need you to be honest with me, Lex. Please give me that much at least."
"Lana." He rose and came around his desk as she stepped further into the office. "He doesn't love me, you know that don't you?" He pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Answer the question," she whispered.
"I love you."
"Would you leave me for him?"
"Yes."
She nodded against his chest, a tear falling down one cheek as she listened to his heart race under her ear. He shifted, titling her head up to meet her eyes.
"It won't happen. You asked me to be honest, and telling you it won't happen comes with that. You're my wife. You've made me a better man. I can't let go of what I feel for him, but it has nothing to do with how I feel about you."
"Do you really believe one has nothing to do with the other?" She was angry now and trying to hide it.
"I do."
"Then you're a fool, Lex." She pulled out of his embrace.
He moved back to the other side of the desk and sat down, visibly throwing up walls around himself that Lana hadn't seen in years. He watched her expectantly.
"I love you, Lex, but I can't be here right now."
"It's not safe anywhere else. Not yet."
"Then I guess you'll just have to have me followed." She turned and strode out of his office.
His cell phone rang, and he thought about just not answering it. A glance at the caller ID told him it was his head of security. He grimaced and flipped open the phone.
o o o o o
Chloe had escaped Perry's office after ten minutes when her cell phone started buzzing and she'd begged off in order to talk to a contact for her current story. Lois and Clark were still in the line of fire 20 minutes later when Lex and what looked like his entire security team burst on to the floor. Lex headed straight for Perry's office after catching a glimpse of Clark through the window.
"Luthor, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Perry roared.
Still ten feet away, Lex spoke. "Clark, you need to come with us right now. Edge is—"
The sound of screaming drew their attention out into the bullpen. Morgan Edge was striding off the elevator surrounded by a mass of armed men. Lex's security detail was already moving to block the office from them when the Joker appeared at Edge's side.
"Now, now, everyone. There's really no cause for panic. We're here for one reason and one reason only." Edge reached the centre of the office and raised his hands as if trying to calm the panicking reporters surrounding him. "As long as you all shut up, sit down, and don't try anything, you'll be fine. If someone would be so kind as to tell me, please, where is Clark Kent?"
Clark rose from the couch in Perry's office and strode towards the door. Lois stopped him halfway. "I don't know about you, Smallville, but I'm not in the mood to get my head blown off today."
"I'm not going to let him hurt anyone, Lois."
"That doesn't mean you have to let him hurt you, either, Kent," Perry spoke up.
"Ah, Mr. Kent, there you are." Edge had appeared in the office doorway. Clark tried his best not to flinch when he felt the presence of kryptonite, but failed. Edge turned back to the bullpen for a moment. "Lex, why don't you join us?"
Lex was ushered into the office by two of Edge's men; he reached back to shut the door behind them. He closed the blinds, cutting off the sight of his security detail and their standoff with the Joker and the remaining attackers. It wouldn't do to let them know what was happening when he killed their boss.
Edge raised an eyebrow at him. "I like my privacy," Lex shrugged. "It's been a long time, Morgan. I was assured that you were dead."
"I was, for a time. But that's not what we're here to discuss, now is it? It seems that the Justice League has taken what is not theirs, and that has angered my business partner. Trust me when I tell you that angering him is not something you want to do." He paused and looked thoughtfully at Perry. "Mr. White, have a seat. You might as well stay for the show."
"Let's not play games, Morgan. We're all adults here. Tell me what you want and I'll make it happen." Lex looked dangerously calm.
"Lex, my boy, you know what I want; Harley Quinn's release and the death of Superman." He turned to face Clark. "It seems my initial attack wasn't quite enough to take down the man of steel, was it, Kal?"
Clark glared in response.
"I assume we don't have much time before the Justice League arrives, so let's get down to business. Arrange for the girl to be released and I'll make sure his death is quick and painless."
"What makes you think I have the power to do that?"
"You're the most powerful man in Metropolis, Lex."
"I'm not going to just hand him over to you."
Edge laughed and turned quickly to face Clark, pulling a gun from his shoulder holster and firing off a shot before anyone, even Clark, could react. The kryptonite bullet slammed into Clark's thigh and lodged in his femur. The pain was bright and instantaneous, flooding from his leg through the rest of his body before he had wholly registered the shot in the first place.
"Yes, Lex, I think you are. Otherwise Kal and I are going to have a little fun right here, for everyone else to see."
Outside the office people were screaming. Smoke was starting to stream in under the door. Edge and his men pulled masks over their mouths and noses as the others in the room began to choke.
"That's our cue to vacate the premises. Lex, think about my offer. It's only good until we reach the elevators." He jerked his head towards Clark. "Grab him, and let's go."
Lois launched herself off the couch and onto Edge's back, arms coming around his neck and tightening, legs gripping his side to keep from being thrown off. "I don't think so," she growled.
Lex and Perry launched themselves into the fray, but Perry was pushed to the ground when Edge managed to shake Lois off and send her flying into him. Lex took out one of the black-clad attackers before a blow to the back of his head from the other took him down to his knees. Edge and the remaining man grabbed Clark and pulled the panting, struggling man towards the door.
"Morgan!" Lex shouted from the floor.
"I'm not done with you yet, Lex. Don't make me kill you now." He opened the door and passed Clark's semi-conscious form off to those waiting outside. "Her too," he shouted to the men, and Lois was picked up off the ground, kicking and clawing until one of them drove the butt of his gun into the back of her head.
"No, Morgan, you're definitely done." The first bullet from Lex's gun caught him in the neck, the second in the shoulder, and the third through the heart. Edge tumbled to the ground, falling partially on top of Perry. His men left him behind as they dragged a now unconscious Clark and Lois through the mass of panicked people.
"Kent," he choked. Perry leaned down, the only one close enough to hear him. "Kent is Superman. Tell," he coughed, blood and spittle marring the once transparent material of the mask. "Tell them all." He fell back, eyes blank, wide, staring. Dead.