Someone sent me a reply after I posted the first chapter on , saying they were lost and confused. I'll try to get some of the issues cleared up in this chappie.

DISCLAIMER: Why am I tormented so?

Chapter Two

Terror sang through Clark's nerves, setting him on edge and getting ready for attack-- his or someone else's. The morning brain-fog had kept Clark from remembering, for a few minutes, the previous night's events. But not even sleep could erase the fear and wariness that had been branded into his mind.

Slowly, as the young man took in his surroundings, he began to remember where he was. A less welcome memory, his reason for coming here, to Lex's apartment, accompanied the first. He shuddered and tried to block out the memory, instead turning his thoughts to the sleeping man whose arms were still wrapped gently around his waist.

When Clark had graduated, he and Lex had not been on the best of terms. Their friendship was dissolving under their colossal lack of trust in each other. Even so, Lex could see no reason to remain in Smallville when Clark went off to college at Metropolis University. Though they were only a fifteen-minute drive away from each other, they rarely saw each other anymore, and phone calls were nearly as scarce.

The sudden rift in their relationship didn't sit well with either man, but pride wouldn't allow either of them to be the first to apologize. Both silently cursed the mistrust and over-done pride that had been bred in them by their fathers.

Last night sure as hell changed that, thought Clark, snuggling back into the warmth of the body behind his. It calmed his still-frayed nerves, and he felt safe, knowing Lex was there. Even though they hadn't been very close over the past year, year and a half? Lex was still the person he could count on when things went wrong. Hell, he'd welcomed him back with open arms last night, when Clark revealed who he was. And despite the curiosity he knew his friend had felt, the only questions he'd asked had been purely in concern for him.

Clark sighed. Behind him, Lex shifted. Then the older man groaned, "Remind me that high-fashion couches aren't for sleeping on, next time. It's hardly meant for sitting on, much less laying on."

A small smile tugged at Clark's cut lips, cracking open the wound again. He ignored the slight pain, but Lex noticed when a tiny bead of blood formed next to the dried blood clinging to his lip. Lex frowned, and again assessed what he could see of his friend's condition. "C'mon, Clark, let's get your cuts cleaned up, before they get infected."

Clark considered protesting that he didn't get infections, but then remembered his wounds had been inflicted by kryptonite, and God only knew what would come of that. Besides, with the look on Lex's face, he figured nothing would dissuade him from trying to make sure Clark's injuries were all properly taken care of. So he let the older man drag him into the bathroom and apply more first aid stuff than Clark had ever known existed.

"Yowch!" Clark exclaimed, pouting when some disinfectant Lex was applying stung in one of the many gashes on his chest.

"Sorry Clark," Lex said, trying not to show how amused he was at the sight of his friend pouting, "but these cuts need to be cleaned."

More pouting.

"I think Martha would agree."

That ended that. Lex swore that woman had every man she met under her thumb. The Martha Kent glare of 'Mother-knows-best' got anyone in their right mind to dang well do as she said and not argue. Besides that, Clark didn't really want to explain how he got hurt in the first place.

Finally Lex had finished cleaning all the wounds he could see. "You go ahead and take a shower. I'll leave some clothes for you in my room, and we'll bandage everything up when you're done."

Clark nodded and Lex left.

He turned on the water. When it was scalding hot, he stepped in and let it wash over him, easing the ache that had formed in his muscles from being so tense for so long. He shampooed his hair before scrubbing his skin raw with a soap-soaked sponge. Finally, when the water was almost cold an hour and a half later, he let the soap slide off under the spray, then turned it off and stepped out. He dried off and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Lex's room was adjoined to the bathroom, and within a minute or so he was wearing pants that were obviously too big for Lex but still a little small on him, and a shirt that Lex would drown in if he ever tried to wear it, but fit Clark pretty well. Out in the living room, Lex was sitting in an armchair that looked only slightly better than the elegant but uncomfortable couch they'd slept on.

He was just getting off the phone when Clark wandered in. He smiled up at Clark, and said, "I was just getting off the phone with one of my guys. I took the liberty of asking him to get some of your clothes and things from your dorm." Rather than feeling as if his privacy had been violated, he felt relieved. "If you don't mind, I want you to stay here with me for a while." Clark nodded. "Oh, and I had that suit burned. Figured you wouldn't want to see it again."

Tears welled in Clark's eyes. Damn. Lex thinks of everything. "Thanks Lex."