Uncomplicated, a smallville fanfic

Title: Uncomplicated

Author: Mecca Sturino

Disclaimer: Not mine. Yep, that's it. Neither Clark nor Lex are mine. Probably better for them both that way.

Author's Notes: It was the plot bunny that wouldn't go away! I guess this is technically pre-slash. It was supposed to be slash, but Angie was watching me with wide puppy-eyes and I just couldn't write it. Stupid dog. First Smallville story, and second slash-y story.

"What is *that*?" Lex asked, glaring at Clark.

Clark, adjusting his hold on the wiggling puppy grinned innocently, the look ruined by the mischief in his eyes. "A dog?"

Lex rolled his eyes, stepping fully into the room. "Oddly enough I was aware of that. Moreover, I suspect *you* knew I was aware of it, and were ignoring the real question. Which is 'Why is there a puppy in my kitchen?'"

"She's for you." Seeing Lex open his mouth to reply Clark hurried on " Last night I was sitting thinking and I decided that you really need a puppy."

"You really have strange thoughts, Kent."

Taking his compliment from the tone rather than the actual words Clark replied, "Thank you," smiling up at Lex from his position sitting on the floor and holding the fidgeting puppy to the other man.

Sighing, Lex took the squirming, *drooling* puppy, heedless of the ruin it was about to inflict on his suit. Giving the suit up for a loss, he sat down on the floor, knee to knee with the wildly grinning Clark. He looked the puppy, the goofiest-looking mutt he'd ever seen, and he suspect Clark may have picked it out for just that reason. Hesitantly, he petted the furry head, rewarded with a lick of a sandpaper tongue across his hand. Clark cracked up. Lex mock glared at him, whispering to the puppy. "It's okay. He's much better once he has his medication."

Turning his attention to the sobering Clark he asked his friend. "Okay, now why did you decide I need a dog."

"You just…you need someone to love, Lex." Clark rushed out. "Uncomplicated."

"You're uncomplicated." Lex pointed out, before his brain caught up with his mouth.

Clark smiled, seemingly not completely processing that comment. "Yeah. There is that. But you also need someone who you can just go…cuddle with." Lex slammed a lid shut on that thought before it even had a chance to fully form. "And I figured you didn't have a dog when you were a kid. Every kid needs a dog."

Lex didn't know what to say. A rare occurrence. Finally. "Thank you, Clark." Recovering quickly. "What's his…her? name?"

"Nothing until you've decided."

"But how will he learn to respond to something that long?" Lex said, matching Clark's earlier tone of innocence almost perfectly.

After a moment Clark chuckled, getting the joke. "She's a bitch."

Lex covered the dog's floppy ears. "Clark!" he admonished. "You'll hurt her feelings."

Clark rolled his eyes.

"Octavia?" Lex thought out loud.

Clark shot a look at the obviously –and intentionally- plebeian dog. "Or not."

"Shh, Clark. I'm thinking here." After a moment, he smiled. "Angie."

"You're naming the dog Angie?" Clark questioned.

"Are you questioning my dog naming skills?"

"No, no. Nothing like that." Clark lied.

"Good." Lex stood, bringing the puppy with him, held up between the chest of his-yep, ruined- suit, and one arm. The other he slung around Clark. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" Clark questioned, moving with Lex even as he asked.

"Outside. I think Angie has need of the facilities. And you're going to tell about dogs."

"Well, they have four legs…" Clark began.

"Smart-ass."

The End