fandomcorner | Fic: Self-Help for Superheroes

Title: Self-Help for Superheroes
Author: Hils
Rating: PG
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Lex/Clark
Words: 1,650
Summary: Written for the

old_school_clex Clothes Swap Challenge. Sometimes the answer can't be found in a book
Thanks to

danceswithgary for the beta

The women at the library knew his face by now. They pretended not to, but he didn’t need to use his enhanced hearing to pick up on the giggles and whispers that started every time he walked through the door. It was embarrassing, but he’d learned the hard way that blushing only seemed to make it worse.

It wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t afford to buy these sorts of books, especially in the quantities that he seemed to need. If life, relationships and the world weren’t so complicated, he wouldn’t have to be here at all. But here he was, in the same section of the library, again. He must have read every book here at least once, and he was still no closer to getting the answers he needed. There was something missing, but he didn’t know what it was yet. His eyes scanned over the titles, hoping that this time the perfect book would be here for him.

How to Win Friends and Influence People – Read it.

Change Your Life in Seven Days – Read it.

Purpose-driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? – Read it, oddly enough did not cater to aliens.

How to Talk to Anyone – Read it, and he still turned into a klutz whenever he was near Lana.

How to Make Anyone Fall in Love with You

He stopped, his fingers brushing over the garish yellow cover with a big, red heart in the middle. This one was new…and it was exactly what he needed.

The giggles grew louder as he approached the counter, especially when they saw what he was checking out. The only person not laughing was the red-haired woman who took the book from him so she could enter it onto the computer.

“I can’t imagine you’d have any trouble getting people to fall in love with you,” she said with a shy smile as she typed.

Clark blushed and returned the smile.

“Okay,” she said, handing the book back to him. “It’s yours for two weeks.”

“Thanks,” he looked at her name badge. “Krista. That’s a pretty name.”

She giggled and ducked her head. “Thanks.”

As he left the library he wondered why it wasn’t that easy with everyone.

* * *

To show someone that you’re interested in them you first need to show you understand them. Try walking in their shoes a while and it might give you a new perspective.

Clark frowned and set the book aside. That was easier said than done, but so far, everything else he’d tried had gotten him nowhere. Maybe it was time to try something new.

* * *

It was a little after lunch when Lex arrived at the Kent farm, having acquired some free time between one meeting and the next. He'd found himself heading there more and more often whenever he had some time to spare. It was much easier to relax in the peaceful surroundings on the farm, and there was no chance of his father dropping in for an impromptu visit.

He entered the barn, hoping that his friend was home. Clark had told him months ago that he was welcome here, even if Clark was out, but the time was so much more enjoyable if he had his friend to talk to.

Before he was even on the first step up to the loft he heard Clark talking, or rather shouting, and he hesitated, not wanting to walk in on some family argument.

“I don’t want to hear excuses,” Clark snapped. “I wanted those reports on my desk first thing this morning. Get them to me in the next hour, or you’re fired!”

Lex frowned. The voice was definitely Clark’s but the words weren't. He braced himself, ready for another of Clark’s dramatic changes in personality that would never be explained, and he finished climbing the stairs.

Of all the things he expected to see when he reached the top, the sight that actually met him hadn’t even made it on the list.

Clark was wearing a suit, new from the looks of it. The jacket and pants were black, and he was wearing a lilac shirt and dark purple tie underneath. Lex’s frown deepened. If he didn’t know better, he’d say that Clark was auditioning to be the next Luthor-in-training.

“Clark…?”

Clark’s whirled around, almost losing his balance in the process. His eyes widened as they met Lex’s, and he glanced down at his clothes before letting out a small whimper.

“Lex…I…I can explain this.”

A smirk curled on Lex’s lips as he entered the room, and then faded as Clark flinched away from him. “Practicing for drama class, Clark? Or just looking to impress my father?”

“What? No! I…."

Clark’s shoulders slumped in defeat, and any excuses he might have had died on his lips. He glanced back up at Lex, who was looking at him expectantly. He should have known it was a bad idea. Stupid book!

“It’s…” he finally said. “It’s just that you’re so confident, and you always know what to say. I thought if I tried to be you that I might get better at it.”

It wasn’t the worst lie he’d told by a long shot, and as Lex’s face softened, he knew that it had done the trick, and Clark allowed himself to relax a little.

“Trust me, Clark. You don’t want to be like me. If you’re looking for confidence-building techniques, I can recommend a few books or there are some good online seminars. Do you have your laptop in here?”

The computer had been a gift from Lex, and after Clark had pointed out to his parents that it would help with his schoolwork, they allowed him to keep it on the provision that Lex get some extra goods from the farm each week.

“Yeah, it’s over on the desk.”

Lex crossed the room and switched on the machine. While he was waiting for it to boot up, his eyes roamed over Clark’s cluttered desk until they landed on the book that was resting on top of a pile of papers. With an amused smile, he picked it up and turned back to face Clark.

“Your latest efforts to win over Lana?” he asked, holding up the book.

Clark’s eyes widened for a moment, and he blushed a deeper red than Lex had ever seen before. “Uh…yeah.”

“Clark, you are not going to learn about women from some book.” Lex flipped it open to the bookmarked page, and then read aloud, “To show someone that you’re interested in them you first need to show you understand them. Try walking in their shoes a while and it might give you a new perspective….”

He trailed off and looked back at Clark, whose eyes were fixed firmly on the floor.

“Clark?”

No reply.

“Clark, look at me.”

“I can’t.”

Lex crossed the room and placed a gentle hand on Clark’s arm. “Please look at me.”

After a moment's pause, Clark finally raised his head and looked Lex in the eye. What Lex saw there, the raw pain and longing, told him everything he needed to know.

“How long?” he asked softly.

Clark gave a small shrug, his eyes fixed back on the floor. “I’m not sure, it just sort of happened.”

Lex smiled and rubbed his hand up and down Clark’s arm, trying to reassure him. “You could have just told me. You didn’t need to do all this, although I’m flattered that you did.”

“I just…I just wanted you to like me,” Clark said in a small voice, suddenly sounding every bit the teenager that Lex sometimes forgot he was.

“I do like you, Clark. Surely you know that.”

Clark shook his head. “Not in the way that I like you, though.”

Lex raised an eyebrow, cupped Clark’s chin in his hand, and raised his downcast face so that their eyes met again. “Did it ever occur to you to ask me how I felt?”

Clark tugged his head out of Lex’s hand and gave an exasperated sigh as he found his voice again. “No, it didn’t. Why would it, Lex? You’re a rich, successful billionaire who can have his pick of anyone. Why would you want a dumb farmboy?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Lex asked in return. “Clark, do you know how many friends I have? Not people who are interested in my money or fame, but real friends.”

“Uh…”

“There’s just you, Clark, and I’ve never wanted anything more than that. You’re kind, supportive, and you’re perfectly willing to tell me when I’m doing something stupid. What more could I want?”

“I…”

Lex silenced him with a kiss. It was soft and gentle and perfect. Suddenly, it seemed insane to Lex that he hadn’t done this sooner.

“I can tell you precisely how long it’s been since I fell for you,” Lex whispered when they parted, gently brushing a hand over Clark’s cheek. “Ten months, two weeks and five days. Ever since I woke up on the riverbank and saw you looking down at me.”

Clark smiled and pressed another soft kiss to Lex’s lips. “Well, I guess the book did what it said it would. We would never be having this conversation if you hadn’t caught me in this stupid suit.”

“It’s not stupid,” Lex said, adjusting Clark’s tie and stepping back so he could admire him fully. “You look good…although I’m not sure the colors are you. Maybe a navy jacket, blue shirt and red tie, instead.”

“Yeah,” Clark agreed. “I like primary colours.”

“I noticed,” Lex said with a grin. “Since you’re all dressed up, why don’t I take you out for an early dinner? A first date.”

“I’d like that,” Clark smiled.

“Good. Shall we go? And while we’re out, you can tell me how it felt to be a Luthor.”

Clark’s laughter echoed out into the early evening.

The End.