The Beanery was busy for a weekday night. Lex found two seats open near a low round table and claimed them. Draco had gone to the bathroom to fix his wind-blown hair from the drive. Indian Summer had hit Smallville and the warmth of the late October air had allowed Lex to put down the convertible top on the ride.
Lex sat, opened his briefcase, and removed a stack of files. Embarrassed by his "fall", Lionel had given Lex until noon tomorrow to lay off twenty percent of his workforce at the plant. Lex was not happy with the demand. Why did Lionel bother putting Lex in charge of the plant if he wasn't going to let Lex run it as he saw fit?
"Your name is on the wall in the toilet," Draco said, as he sat elegantly on the orange chair beside Lex. He hitched up his trouser leg and propped his ankle on his opposite knee. "Apparently, boys in this town have dirty thoughts about your baldness."
Lex smirked. "What about you?"
The look Draco gave him made him very hot under the collar. "I'll act them out later."
Arousal tickled Lex's spine, even though he was sated from their lovemaking session prior to reviving Lionel. Draco chuckled as Lex sifted through his files.
Despite the seemingly magical pull between them (his body was obviously tricking him and being demanding to make up for the years of denying it sex), Lex was finding the time he spent with Draco fully clothed and not touching as equally enjoyable as the time spent in bed. Intelligent and tart-tongued, Draco could hold a conversation without involving money or wanting something from Lex. He asked for very detailed explanation of "muggle" culture and objects and answered any of Lex's questions about the Wizarding world with extensive description. They also enjoyed playing fierce games of chess and cards. Lex was comfortable around Draco in a way that he hadn't been around anyone and, for once, he wasn't worried about being stabbed in the back. It was a nice feeling, one he didn't want to lose anytime soon.
Lex's musings were interrupted by the waitress's shadow spilling over his open files. "Hi, Lex. What can I get you?"
Lex looked up in surprise, to see Lana Lang, Lionel's mistress's niece and Clark Kent's current crush, wearing an apron with a notepad in hand. "Lana, what happened? Did Nell put you out on the street?"
"I decided to join the workforce," Lana said with a smile.
"Good for you. I'm sure you'll be employee of the month in no time," Lex said, leaning back in his chair.
"Right now, I hold the record for most dishes broken in a single day."
"Better bring my cappuccino in a Styrofoam cup, then," Lex joked.
Lana jotted his order down and looked at Draco. "And what can I get you?"
"Whatever he's having, darling," Draco said, flashing her a gorgeous smile.
Lex hid his grin as Lana tucked her hair behind her ear, flushing lightly. Draco got that reaction from nearly all the girls and some of the guys, too. It was the accent combined with his good looks. Lex pretended he didn't swoon when Draco's attention was directed at him.
"Are these checks together or separate?" Lana asked, writing down his order.
"Together," Lex said. At her curious glance, he introduced them. "Lana, Draco. Draco, Lana."
"A pleasure," Draco said.
"It's nice to meet you, too," Lana responded.
"Lana and I go way back," Lex said, with a teasing grin. "We met while I was demonstrating the breast stroke to another girl."
"Really?" Draco drawled with an upraised eyebrow.
"It was quite educating to see," Lana said dryly, causing Draco to chuckle.
"I'm sure it was. Lex excels at the sport." Draco reached over and put his hand on Lex's knee. "Though, I find that Lex is best at the dogpaddle."
Lana's eyes widened. "Oh!"
Lex felt the heavy blush spread over his face and bare scalp. "Draco…"
Draco's gray irises danced devilishly. "It's the truth."
"You two are—" Lana gestured between them and crossed her fingers.
"Hn, yes." Draco squeezed Lex's knee and returned his hand to his side. "You'll be seeing us together for a very long time, if I have my way."
"Seeing who together?" Clark said, appearing behind Lana, wearing a red football jersey.
"Lex and Draco," Lana said, half-turning to Clark. "Our new resident couple."
Lex shifted on his seat, feeling pleased and embarrassed at once. He glanced warily at Clark, but Clark didn't appear to be uncomfortable like last time.
"Ah." Clark sank into the seat across from Lex and Draco. "How are things going here?"
"Today is one of those days I just want to scream," Lana said, holding her hands like claws.
"Well, for what it's worth, I think it's cool you got this job," Clark said.
"I'm sorry I'm not going to get to see you play tomorrow. New girl gets the worst shifts." Lana poised her pen over her notepad. "So, can I get you anything?"
"Uh, maybe a cup of coffee. Black."
"Coming right up!" Lana chirped, spun on her heel, her hair fanning behind her, and bounced away to fill their orders.
Clark looked at Draco, looked at Lex, and looked at Draco again. "Hi. I'm Clark. You must be Draco, Lex's friend."
"Lover, actually," Draco said with a haughty tilt of his chin. "And intended, once I request permission to court him."
Clark was taken aback. Lex glanced sidelong at Draco and realized Draco was staking claim. A silly grin crossed Lex's face as his heart did somersaults. Clark wasn't interested in him that way, but it was nice to be wanted possessively.
"You two are that serious, already?" Clark said.
Lex heard the thread of concern in Clark's voice. It also made him feel good. He'd really like to keep Clark as a friend. "Is that a problem?"
"Of course not." Clark tugged at the front of his jersey, looking somewhat abashed. "I just— Chloe made me read things about you and I didn't think you were the type to settle down."
"My exploits have been greatly exaggerated by the press, Clark," Lex said, an understatement, considering he'd lost his virginity only a few weeks ago. "Besides, sometimes you simply know when you've met the right person. It's like… magic."
Lex looked at Draco and received an amused smirk in return.
"Then, uh, congratulations?" Clark said.
"Thanks," Lex said. "It means a lot that you're okay with it."
Clark ducked his chin in an aw-shucks way. It reminded Lex that Clark was only fifteen. "You're my friend. As long as you're happy, I'm good."
"I'm happy," Lex said assuredly.
"Then, I'm good." Clark glanced up from beneath his bangs, with a small smile.
"And I'm going to throw up," Draco declared.
Lex chuckled and Clark appeared embarrassed. Leaning forward, Clark tapped the files on the table. "What are you working on?"
Lex sighed in displeasure. "Trying to figure out which poor bastard should get the ax. My father wants me to cut twenty percent of my workforce."
Clark winced in sympathy. "Any way around it?"
"Once my father's made his mind up, he's not easy to turn around."
"I still think you should cause an explosion at the plant," Draco said, smoothing the material of his trouser leg. "It creates a win-win situation."
"An explosion?" Clark said.
Lex shook his head. "All my employees are covered by life insurance policies. If they die on the job, their families get large settlements. An explosion at the plant would cut twenty percent of my workforce and the employees families will still have money to live off of, therefore, my dad gets screwed while still getting his way."
Clark's eyes grew huge. "You're not going to do that, are you?"
"Of course not," Lex said. Draco scoffed and examined his nails. Lex rolled his eyes. "I'm going to pick five hundred names out of a hat, instead."
-tbc