The buzz of the intercom woke Lex from his post-coital doze. He had to untangle himself from the green silk scarf in order to answer. Draco lay sleeping beside him in the bed, his light snores lifting the white-blonde hair hanging over his face.

"Yeah?" Lex said into the receiver once he'd picked up the call.

"A Mr. Clark Kent to see you, sir," the servant said over the line.

"Let him wander around. I'll be down shortly. Also, have my guest's bags brought up and put in the room next to mine."

"Mr. Malfoy had no bags, sir."

Lex glanced at Draco, but decided to wait to ask about it. "Okay. Direct the staff that Mr. Malfoy will be staying and you are to do as he instructs, within reason."

"Very well, sir."

Lex hung up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The sun had sunk low in the sky, casting long lines of orange-gold onto the hardwood floor through the gauzy-curtained windows. He rubbed a tired hand over his face, rose, and headed into the en suite bathroom.

The mirror above the dual sink painted a reflection of satiation. Fading red marks circled his wrists and his lips looked slightly swollen. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the bathroom light.

"I just had sex," he said matter-of-factly to his reflection. A large, self-satisfied smile spread across his reflection's face.

Draco stirred as Lex dressed in a zippered fitted pullover and trousers, both black. Propping his head up with a hand, Draco's half-lidded gaze held a predatory glint as Lex sat on the bed to put his socks and shoes on. "Where are you going?"

"My friend Clark is here," Lex replied.

"Hmm." Draco rolled onto his back and stretched. Lex drank in the long, lean lines of his lover's – he had a lover! – pale, nude body. Heat flared in his belly. "I'd best put on some clothing if we have guests."

Lex felt himself grinning at the use of the term "we". "I would've had someone bring up your bags, but you don't appear to have brought any."

"Hand me my trousers," Draco instructed, as he reached for his wand on the night table. Lex retrieved the clothing from the floor and from the pocket Draco removed a thumb-sized rectangular box. He handed it to Lex. "Put that on the floor."

"What is it?"

Draco smirked. "My trunk. Engorgio."

A flash of white light came from the tip of his wand and hit the tiny box. The box enlarged with a jump, becoming a steamer trunk with the initials DLM engraved in silver on the front. Lex didn't let his astonishment show. Much.

"Do you mind if I use your bath?" Draco asked, lazily twirling his wand as he sat propped against the headboard.

"The bathroom's there." Lex motioned towards the open doorway. "I'll be downstairs."

Draco inclined his head. Lex dared a quick kiss on his lips and then left the bedroom.

Downstairs, Lex found Clark in the war room, crouched in front of the scale model of the siege of Troy. He felt a stirring of attraction upon seeing Clark, who reminded him of a Greek statue come to life, but the fire of need that ignited the instant he laid eyes on Draco was missing. Perhaps if Draco hadn't appeared, Clark would have one day been Lex's lover. Now, however, he'd just be a pretty friend with a fascinating propensity for rescuing people. "Save any lives on the way over? You keep it up and you could make a career of it."

Clark straightened and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "I was just dropping off your produce. Sorry my parents gave you a hard time."

"Ah, if push came to shove, I would have arm-wrestled them for it." Lex had gotten the cold shoulder from Jonathan Kent when he'd phoned to place a standing order with Kent Organic Farm that morning. The missus must have talked some sense into Jonathan about the value of money, even if tainted by the Luthor name.

Clark gave him a tight, uncomfortable smile and shifted his gaze to the model. "Planning an invasion?"

Lex walked over beside Clark and picked up the Trojan horse. It was exquisitely detailed. "My father gave this to me when I was nine."

"Cool gift."

"It wasn't a gift. It was a strategy tool." Lex put the horse back on the path to the city gates. "My father equates business with war. Take the battle of Troy. It started because two men were in love with the same woman." He glanced sidelong at Clark. "Kind of like you and the quarterback. That's why he strung you up in that field, isn't it."

"If we're at war, Whitney's pretty much won her," Clark said, unable to hide the defeat in his voice.

"You lost one battle, Clark. That's all. Besides, I don't believe Lana's as infatuated as you think."

Clark scoffed, picked up a foot soldier, and touched the carved sword. "The guy's the captain of the soccer team. The whole town treats him like a god. Game over."

"If you hadn't pulled him out of that burning truck, your problems would be solved." Lex smirked at the look Clark gave him. "I'm kidding, of course. Don't worry, Clark. I've got your Trojan horse."

Lex walked over to the fireplace mantle, picked up a small lead box, and showed it to Clark. He opened the lid, revealing the necklace with the cheap gem inside. Clark took a step back, looking a little green around the gills. "Clark, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Clark said, shoving his hands in his back pockets. Lex glanced down at the necklace and then closed the lid. "That's a cool box. What's it made of?"

"Lead. My mother bought it in a Kasbah in Morocco. A little guy told her it was made from the armor of St. George, the patron saint of boy scouts." Lex traced his finger over the worn, unrecognizable seal on the top. "She gave it to me before she died. I think she was trying to send me a message."

Lex pushed aside the heartache that always appeared when he thought of his mom and offered the box to Clark. Clark appeared taken aback. "I can't take that," he said.

"What is it about the Kents and gifts?" Lex wanted to chuck the box at Clark's head. Instead, he held it out patiently. "It's yours. Hand it to Lana. Tell her what happened. Trust me, once she opens it, you'll win her heart. That necklace gives you the power. All you've got to do is use it."

Clark took the box reluctantly. Lex withheld his sigh of exasperation. He tried to do something nice as a way to pay Clark back for saving his life and Clark wouldn't cooperate. Either the teenager was too angelic or too stupid to accept what was being offered.

"Do you have time for a game of pool, or do you have to get home?" Lex asked, glancing at the ornate clock on the mantle. He didn't know how long Draco would be in the shower.

A grin slid unconsciously across Lex's lips. There was a naked man upstairs in his shower, washing up after having a lot of sex with Lex. Lex tugged at his zippered collar, lowering it more, as heat rose from his skin in memory.

"Uh, Lex. You're looking kind of happy all of a sudden." Clark cocked his head curiously. "Almost… glowy."

Lex skimmed a hand over his scalp and tried not to blush, or blurt out his recent deflowering to Clark. "I have a guest visiting and I was thinking of introducing you."

Clark smirked slyly. "A female guest?"

"No. Definitely not female," Lex said. "But it is what you're thinking."

Clark blinked several times. "You're gay?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Lex replied bluntly.

"Er, no. Of course not." Clark didn't sound too convincing. "I've watched Will & Grace."

Lex felt suddenly very disappointed, like he'd just lost the bid on a duplicate Warrior Angel comic he'd wanted to acquire. "I'm glad to find you're not a homophobe," he said blandly. "Draco may be here a while."

"Who you date is your own business." Clark focused on the lead box in his hands, lightly hitting the side of it with his palm. "I'd like to meet him, but I'd better get home for dinner. Mom and Dad are waiting for me."

"I understand. I wouldn't want your meal getting cold."

Clark smiled faintly and held up the box. "Thanks. I'll get this back to you soon."

"It's a gift, Clark. Keep it." Lex slid his hands into his pockets. "Tell your parents I said hello."

"Okay. Uh, bye." Clark gave him another smile and left.

The war room seemed to dim without Clark's presence and regret settled in Lex's chest. He hoped Clark's reaction was simply a first time introduction to someone gay and the awkwardness that occasionally went with it. He'd hate to lose a friendship before it really began.

"There you are."

Lex turned as Draco entered the room from another door. Draco's hair was slicked wetly back and he was buttoning the cuff of his blue shirt. "Where's your friend?"

"He had to leave."

"You sound despondent." Draco stopped in front of Lex and corralled him against the model table. "Did something happen?"

"No. Not really." Lex took his hands from his pockets and slipped them around Draco's waist. "Sometimes you just don't know your friends."

"Friends are overrated." Draco lowered his head, intent vivid in his eyes. "Now, lovers, on the other hand…"

Lex opened for the kiss, eyelids falling shut. His mouth warmed beneath Draco's and tendrils of sexual heat coiled in his gut. He hadn't thought he could get it up for the fourth time, but his body was proving him wrong.

Draco's stomach rumbled loudly and they laughed into each other's mouths. Draco broke off and gave him a rueful grin. "I suppose we'd best find nourishment. We need to keep up our strength."

"Cook should have dinner almost ready."

"Good." Draco stepped back and smoothed the front of his shirt. "Afterwards, I'd like to explore the town. I need to find out if there are other wizards in the area. That is, if I'm welcome to stay?"

"You can stay as long as you'd like," Lex said.

He secretly hoped it would be for a long time.

-tbc