Veritas

by a campbell

Clark Kent/Lex Luthor

Spoiler for Truth

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Today’s not that day.”

Clark folded Chloe to his chest with a grin, relieved that all was well once again.

“Clark. Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but there’s one more thing you need to know. Maybe you can help.”

***

It was dark by the time Clark arrived at the mansion. No lights in the library except for the blaze on the hearth.

“Whoever it is, go away,” Silhouetted, Lex stared into the fire without turning around. Clark smiled sadly; his heart twisted with tenderness as he stepped closer through the gloom.

“Lex,” Lex turned at the sound of his voice, appearing for a brief moment more vulnerable than Clark had ever seen him before the customary cool mask was back in place.

“Clark,” Lex began again. “If I’d known it was you…”

Clark waved a hand in dismissal as he moved to Lex’s side. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come clean with you about what happened with Chloe at the plant. I just didn’t want her to get hurt. She’s suffered a lot already, and--”

Lex glanced in his direction but didn’t meet his eyes. “Do you really think I’d have let her get hurt?” The flicker of shadows masked Lex’s expression but Clark caught the tension in his voice.

“She didn’t mean to get so pushy, honest. Please forgive her. I have.”

“I’m not angry,” Lex sighed with resignation as he reached for the poker and stirred the ashes. “It’s not worth it.”

“Lex.” Clark reached to cover the hand that held the poker with his own, giving it a brief squeeze before grasping the utensil and setting back down on the hearthstones. “I hope you still won’t be angry when I tell you that she told me what you said to her when she--.”

He broke off as Lex turned abruptly away, suffering through a long silence before Lex whistled, low under his breath. “She had power, that’s for sure.” Lex looked away again toward the window and the darkness outside.

Clark grasped Lex's chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned Lex's face back toward his. “Maybe you’ll never be able to get your dad to say he loves you,” he murmured. “But I do. If that helps at all.”

Then, encouraged by the moist warmth of Lex’s expression at his words, he leaned in for a kiss.

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