fandomcorner | Fic: Let's Start The New Year Right

Title: Let's Start the New Year Right
Author:

hils
Rating: PG
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Words: 1411
Summary: Lex's first New Year in Smallville
Written as a pinch-hit for

danceswithgary as part of

clexmas
Thanks to

lexalicious70 for the beta work

Three months in Smallville was an eternity, and Lex was struggling to decide whether this was a good thing or not. Certainly parts of him missed his old lifestyle of clubs and parties, but then equal parts of him relished his new life and the chance for a fresh start. Conflicted was definitely the word.

“Hi, Lex, ready for me to thrash you at pool?”

He couldn’t help but smile as Clark Kent breezed into the room, all smiles and carefree attitude. If he was grateful for anything about his new life in Smallville it was that Clark Kent was at the centre of it.

“Hello Clark,” he replied with a grin. “So, you think that because I taught you a few techniques that you’re an expert now?”

“Oh, I don’t need to be an expert to beat you,” Clark replied with a laugh.

“Your overconfidence will be your downfall, young Kent.”

Clark frowned although there was a twinkle in his eyes. “Lex, have you been watching Star Wars again? You sound like the Emperor and it’s creepy.”

Lex raised an eyebrow. “Would you prefer me to say ‘overconfidence your downfall will be’?”

“No…that’s just weird.”

Lex laughed and picked up a pool cue. “Come on, let’s play.”

* * *

“What are you doing for New Year?” Clark asked halfway through the game. “We’re having a party at the farm if you want to come?”

Lex smiled. He loved how carefree Clark was. There was no agenda here. No need to show off his latest acquisition or use the party to discuss business. Clark was just Clark, and this was the first normal friendship Lex had ever had. It wasn’t about money or power; it was just about two people spending time together.

“I would love that,” Lex replied. “But unfortunately my father has booked the mansion for his annual party and I’ll be expected to mingle with potential new business associates.”

Clark frowned. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

“No, I don’t suppose it will be.”

Clark lined up his shot and knocked one of the balls into the pocket. “Can’t you get out of it?”

“I would like nothing more,” Lex replied as he added some chalk to the end of his cue. “But unfortunately the business needs come before my own.”

“That sucks.”

Simply put but accurate, Lex thought to himself.

“Yes,” he agreed. “It does.”

* * *

The party was in full swing and Lex was bored. One couldn’t tell to look at him, of course; years of training from his father had seen that no one ever knew what Lex was really feeling. He smiled politely at the wife of some rival business owner and sipped his champagne, pretending to be interested in how much she’d spent on food for her Christmas dinner. When he was sure nobody was looking, he stole a quick glance at his watch. Still a couple of hours until midnight. Damn.

He didn’t even notice his father slink up beside him until a voice purred in his ear.

“Enjoying the party, son?”

“Of course,” Lex replied in the neutral tone he always tried to employ when addressing his father.

“Really?” Lionel’s lips quirked as they always did when he felt he had the upper hand in a conversation. “No place else you’d rather be?”

Lex sighed. “Dad, if you’ve got something to say why don’t you just come out and say it.”

“No, no,” Lionel said with a predatory sneer. “I’m just glad you’re happy to be here. Come one, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Lex felt his father press the palm of his hand into the small of his back as they moved through the room. An innocent gesture to anyone who observed it but to Lex it was all about control.

“Lex, this is Katherine Coulby. I’m sure you know her father, owner of—“

“Owner of Penlin Inc,” Lex finished. “Of course.”

He knew what this was, of course. Lionel clearly had his next target in sight, and Lex was clearly the means of getting to it. He might as well change his job title to ‘whore’.

Katherine smiled and fluttered her eyes at Lex. “I’ve heard so much about you already Lex. Only good things, of course.”

Lex forced a smile into place. This wasn’t the first time he’d done this and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. “Well, that’s very kind of you, but you shouldn’t listen to everything people say.”

She let out a tinkling laugh. “Modest, too.”

“Would you like to dance?”

She nodded and let him lead her onto the floor. As he pulled her close to him, her warm body pressed against his, he had never felt more alone.

* * *

The countless glasses of champagne he’d consumed had left him feeling slightly numb but at least a little more content. It wasn’t long until midnight now and Katherine had already made it clear who she wanted to kiss the New Year in with. He supposed it could be worse. She was pretty enough, although from their conversations, he’d ascertained that there was little below the surface.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Lex sighed and reached for another glass of champagne.

“And here I was worried you were going to be bored,” a teasing and familiar voice said, almost causing Lex to choke on his drink.

“Clark? What are you doing here?”

His friend was dressed in a smart red shirt with a navy jacket. It was the first time he’d ever seen him out of plaid, and he looked good.

“I thought since you were going to be at this boring party instead of with me, I’d come here to wish you a happy New Year.” He smiled and wiped his hand over Lex’s cheek, where Katherine had apparently left a lipstick stain. “But you seem to be having fun.”

“It’s not fun, Clark,” Lex explained. “It’s business.”

Clark regarded Katherine for a moment, who was in a deep conversation with her father.

“So, you’re not having fun?” He finally asked.

“I wouldn’t call it that, no.” Lex replied.

“Good,” Clark smiled. “Because I came here to rescue you.”

Before Lex could object Clark was steering him out of the room and into his truck, which was waiting outside.

“Clark, are you insane?”

“Possibly,” Clark replied with a grin. “I just hated the idea of you being alone and miserable.”

“I wasn’t alone,” Lex pointed out.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes,” Lex replied softly. “I do.”

He glanced out of the window and was surprised to find that instead of heading to the farm as he’d expected they were, in fact, going in the opposite direction.

“Clark, where are we going?”

Clark simply grinned and continued to drive.

* * *

When they pulled to a stop, it was so dark outside that Lex couldn’t actually tell where they were. Clark got out of the truck and Lex followed. He could hear the sound of water gurgling before he saw the bridge.

“I just thought you’d want to be somewhere quiet,” Clark explained. “And this is where we first met so…”

Lex smiled and walked over to stand beside Clark. “It’s perfect.”

They stood there in silence, leaning against the bridge and listening to the water.

“I’m glad you’re my friend, Lex,” Clark finally said softly.

“I feel the same way about you, Clark. Thank you for rescuing me. It’s getting to be a habit, considering how we met.”

Clark smiled. “I just want you to be happy.”

Maybe he was feeling emboldened by the champagne or just touched by Clark’s words but Lex placed his hand over Clark’s and stroked his fingers. “I don’t think I’ve ever really been happy, Clark. Until I met you.”

Slowly they turned to face each other and as Lex leaned forward Clark closed the distance and their lips met in a soft and gentle kiss.

Lex sighed. It was warm and tender and like nothing he had ever experienced before. It just felt right.

They pulled back at the first sound of fireworks going off and Clark smiled as he turned to watch the sky light up over Lex’s house in the distance.

“Happy New Year, Lex.”

Lex slipped his hand into Clark as they watched the fireworks together. “It’s certainly off to a good start.”

The End.