Firstly, I'd like to say a big Thank You to RaeLynn Skye, MoonAssassin13, MRP1, mistressKC - wanteddeadoralive and MidnightWolfofHell for all reviewing ) You guys make it all worthwhile.

Secondly, I'd like to apologise for the long wait for this chapter and also for the fact that it's a little rushed. btw Raelynn Skye: I am indeed from the little island I like to call Britain – and the fact that everyone else calls it that too is not entirely coincidental ; ) I'm just wondering what gave me away ) hehe

Inadvertent Confessions

Lex stared at Clark's beautifully sincere smile. Relief washed over him. He didn't really understand what Clark had just said, but he knew, and the smile confirmed, that it meant he hadn't lost him. And that was enough for now. He smiled back without a word.

They got out of the car and began to walk towards the mansion, leaving a valet to put the expensive car away in the huge garage.

"So, where're we gonna do this?" Clark said, keeping pace with Lex, but glancing nervously at him.

"I've had a room prepared which should suit our purposes."

Clark blushed: if anyone had overheard that exchange they'd get the complete wrong idea! Clark tried to push thoughts of making it the right idea from his brain and followed Lex in silence.

"Can we make a stop at the kitchen first?" Clark asked, when his stomach impolitely informed him that it was feeling empty and neglected.

Lex chuckled "You're always hungry, Clark." He turned to the boy and smiled "what do you want? I'll have them bring it up to the lab."

"Is that sanitary?" Clark wondered aloud. Lex rolled his eyes. Clark grinned.

"Fine!" Lex said "we'll do it your way… we'll go all the way back down to the kitchen, even though we're almost at the lab and get you some food, even though you probably won't be any less hungry afterwards… and even though I haven't seen any evidence of all the things you've told me about yet!"

Clark would have been worried, except that they were walking towards the kitchen as Lex ranted… and although the rant was uncharacteristic, Lex was smiling, so it was all ok and only a joke.

After much too long down in the kitchen they headed to the lab, Clark still carrying his drink, having given up on Lex's patience.

In their make-shift lab Lex stood before a work bench, which was slightly higher than waist level and pulled the tape out of the envelope in front of him. Clark was sitting on the bench behind Lex trying not to stare at his arse and drinking fruit juice through a straw: he had succumbed to the fact that he was definitely gay and fancied the pants of his best friend and was now taking full advantage of the unfortunate situation.

"What does it mean 'glad you took my advice'?" Lex asked staring at the words, written in loopy cursive on the label of the tape.

"It says that?" Clark blurted, choking on a mouthful of fruit juice, coughing, and trying not to spit too much towards Lex. He didn't have a clue how, but whoever the sender was, they knew he'd jerked off to the picture. And Lex was going to find out…

"Yup. And on the other side it says 'have fun & enjoy…'" Lex smirked, remembering Clarks comment about the writing on the envelope being squiggly; "Is that referring to the previous message: what was it…? Something about enjoying the photo, wasn't it?" Lex said as he reached for the envelope and pulled out the photo.

For a moment he just stared at the faultlessly motionless, perfect monochrome bodies, their flawless faces turned towards one another, lustful stares and luscious lips in place: both were shirtless, leaned in each others arms against the edge of the photo: it was quite a perfect picture. Very captivating and very… beautiful?

Then Lex shook off his stupor and remembered that he was looking at a picture of himself with his best friends… and that his reaction shouldn't be one of lust, appreciation, desire… or any other, much too positive, response.

He snapped back to reality and his Luthor mask went up, despite the fact that Clark was behind him and hadn't seen any of his reactions so far. He turned the picture over and quickly read the note: 'hope you enjoy getting off to this.'

"Yup, that's what it said" he added unnecessarily, raising his eyebrows in shock.

Well, who would have thought! He certainly hadn't suspected… yeah he'd joked a little, but he hadn't really thought… He grinned to himself still not turning to look at Clark, who, from the lack of sound, was either already gone or as motionless as his picture self.

He turned to Clark, his face a blank mask. He wasn't giving away anything; after all, he didn't know if the message on the label was true: since the photo was fake, the person who wrote the note wasn't exactly a trustworthy source.

Clark stood wide-eyed and scared-looking, and Lex felt a little sorry for him. He almost couldn't bite back the rising tide of a laugh: Clark's expression of mortification with a hint of terror was so adorable. He decided to gloss over it for now.

He considered what he should say to make things all better:

'Its okay, Clark; a lot of guys have same-sex fantasies. And we're gorgeous guys! Who wouldn't wank over a photo of us like that? I mean, that photo is really sexy.' …No that probably wouldn't make Clark feel more comfortable… plus if he hadn't jerked off over the photo he'd be disgusted with Lex for being so ok about it, think he was gay, be homophobic (knowing Lex's luck) and want to leave…

Or he could go the other way:

'It's okay Clark; I know the writing is just as false as the picture. I know you'd never do anything like that.' …but then if Clark really had- and wow that was a heavenly image- it would make him feel terrible and dirty that Lex was condemning it. This was difficult… and the silence was extending so far into the distance that tomorrow had a clear view of them… so he definitely had to say something now.

"It's okay Clark; whatever you did or didn't do, I don't mind, not that I consider it my business: the photo was sent to you, not me." That sounded a little harsh he thought, so he added a comforting smile. Clark still looked terrified but he was a little less tense, so Lex continued "I'm not homophobic…" So if you did, it's not an issue he added silently "…I hope you aren't either." So if you didn't, I hope you won't hate me, and not just for thinking it's ok.

That wasn't quite what Lex had intended to say; it came out sounding much more personal than he'd intended it to be. He ended up shuffling his feet slightly, looking down and echoing Clark's blush.

Clark looked up suddenly and stared at Lex staring at his shoes. Lex had just revealed something very personal… Clark was sure he'd just said, without actually saying, that he was gay. He didn't want Lex to think he was disgusted or scared or anything so he spoke up.

"I'm not homophobic." He said "but I'm not sure I'm gay… I mean you're the only guy I've ever… you know…" Blush, blush, blush! Inadvertent confession! Sirens went off in Clarks head and he stopped short: he had only just discovered he was gay and already he was confessing!

Lex almost smiled. Clark really had 'enjoyed' the photo. It struck him that he really should feel more uncomfortable having a conversation like this with Clark, but he just didn't. It felt exciting and almost right. Clark wanted him: that felt right.

"So! Shall we listen to the tape, then?" Lex said after a thought filled pause.

'It had better be worth it' Clark thought, his chest filled with dread 'because it's already caused way too much trouble: Lex knows I fantasised about him and that I might be gay and I know he is… or at least I think I do'

Lex pushed the tape into the player and pressed the button. It clicked into action.

"It's okay Clark; whatever you did or didn't do, I don't mind, not that I consider it my business: the photo was sent to you, not me. I'm not homophobic; I hope you aren't either."

"I'm not homophobic, but I'm not sure I'm gay… I mean you're the only guy I ever… you know…"

They both stared at each other open-mouthed as their conversation played back to them from a tape that had been in front of them when they had said those very words.

"What the fuck!" Lex said staring at the tape player. Neither of them moved as the tape continued.

"So! Shall we listen to the tape, then?"

What next…?

"What the fuck!"

The colour had drained from Lex's face, but he said nothing this time. Clark stared back at him with wide-eyed disbelief. After another pause the tape continued.

"So…" Clarks voice "you're gay then?"

…what's going to happen next! find out in the next exiting instalment of 'The Right Direction'

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