Melted Desires
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating: Currently PG-13
Summary: After meeting at a Fondue Party, Lex decides that he's going to do everything in his power to melt Clark's defenses.
Author's note: Got this idea after going to a Girl's Night Fondue party in early 07. Went again recently, so I figured I should work on it while it was fresh in my mind.
Last Updated: July 22, 2008
****
"Are you going to do that all day?" Chloe
Sullivan snapped as her best guy friend plopped down in a chair next to her at
their favorite Metropolis café. He'd been following her around like a mopey
puppy all day and she was tired of it.
"Do what?" Clark Kent asked, only half innocently. "I'm just having lunch with
my roommate."
"Clark, you're huffing and whining. And somewhat stalking me." She took a bite
of her sandwich and went back to reading about a car show in the latest issue of
Baker Street News. Thursday afternoons were her only respite from class and
work, and she certainly didn't want to spend today's break with a bellyaching
farm boy.
"I am not!" He protested loud enough to cause several of the other patrons to
look their way.
She simply ignored him, pretending to read an article about the recent car show
at the Speedway. It didn't really interest her, but she read it anyway in hopes
that Clark would finally get the idea and leave her alone.
Instead, he sat there, staring. Trying to give her those damn puppy dog eyes. No
one in their right mind could ignore those, and Clark knew it. She was going to
have to resist. Just once. 'I can do this.' She told herself as she tried to
figure out what the deal was with these car shows and why they were all so
popular.
"HEY!" Chloe exclaimed when she saw Clark reach over towards her plate. "That's
my cookie!" She smacked Clark's hand, causing him to drop the cookie on the
table. Smiling, he picked the cookie back up, licked it and put it back on her
plate. "What are you, like, five? That's disgusting."
"So, can I have it then if you're not going to eat it?" He asked.
"Only if you go buy me another one."
"If I get you another one, do I have to go with you to this dumb thing tonight?"
"Clark, you owe me." She stated. "You're going to this mixer. To get in I have
to bring another single person with me, and I'm choosing you."
"But you know how badly these things go for me. I'll do anything else to repay
you for-"
"No. You're going and that's final."
"Why me?" He asked. "You have tons of other single friends you could bring."
"Yes, but this is fancy and kind of important, and I don't trust them."
"What about Lois?"
"Oh, well, she got her own invite, and she's already got someone lined up to
bring with her."
"Great. Not only do I have to go, but I have to listen to *her* all night." He
stood up from the table, and started digging in his pockets for change to buy
Chloe another cookie.
"Clark, I promise you won't regret going." She told him.
"But you said it was fancy. I already regret going."
"Well, if it helps, the dress is semi casual."
"Semi casual, but it's on St. Marten's Island, so that means I need a suit more
expensive than this month's tuition."
"No, the suit you wore to your Aunt Minerva's funeral will work." She said.
"That's the one with the tiny pinstripes, right?"
"That's a funeral suit!" He exclaimed. "That would be odd."
"No one is going to know."
"Those people know things like that."
"It's not *those* people, it's other students from Met U."
"Snobby students." Clark huffed, as he went up to the counter for the
replacement cookie. He was pissed that he'd let Chloe talk him into accompanying
her to this dumb singles Fondue mixer. He didn't even know how to Fondue. The
only thing he knew was that it involved cheese and chocolate and maybe he'd have
to go read up about it before his next class. Anything involving chocolate
couldn't be all that bad. He paid for three cookies, shoving one in his mouth as
he walked back to the table.
"Please don't do that tonight." Chloe commented on Clark's typical food
behavior. "Food is meant to be savored, not shoved in your mouth faster than you
can blink."
He shrugged and set her new cookies down in front of her. "It's my food." Clark
grabbed the original cookie and took a few tiny bites. "There. Is that better?"
"Now you're just mocking me."
"Am not." He took another small bite. "I'm savoring the cookie."
"My cookie."
"Not anymore." The remaining piece of cookie disappeared so fast that Chloe
wondered if he'd swallowed it whole.
"Boys are so weird." She mumbled to herself. "Please promise me that you'll
behave."
"Not only will I behave, but I'll also sit in the corner where I won't be seen
or get in your way."
She rolled her eyes. "You can't bring homework either. You need to mingle and
meet people other than me."
"What's wrong with being with you?" He smirked and sat back down next to her.
"Don't you get bored just hanging out in your dorm room, studying and playing on
the computer?" She asked.
"Not really." He replied. "Besides, I don't really have a lot of extra time
right now for socializing."
"Sure you do, you just don't spend that time doing anything other than reading."
"What's the problem again?" He hated when she bugged him about this. Clark had
always been a loner and enjoyed the company of a good book more than other
people. With the exception of his parents, Chloe, and a few select classmates,
he saw no point in meeting new people. They always either made fun of him for
being too smart, or did something to betray him.
"Don't you want to meet that someone special, Clark?" Chloe asked softly. As
independent as she tried to make people think she was, she still wanted somewhat
of a domestic life. "Get married, have kids, all that jazz?"
"Dunno. Never really thought about it." He replied. "Not that gays can even get
married in Kansas. Or have kids together."
"You don't have to get married here. And you can adopt." She objected.
He shrugged and stared longingly at Chloe's cookies. "I guess I'm not really
concerned about it yet. I just want to get done with school first."
"Then what? You'll move back to live on your parent's farm?"
"What's wrong with that?" He asked. "It's going to be mine someday and I want to
be involved with what's going on there."
"But you said last week that you loved the city, and a herd of wild horses
couldn't get you to move back."
"Actually, I said herd of wild cattle couldn't drag me back, but I was mad at my
dad when I said that." He smiled. "I'd go anywhere for wild horses."
She shook her head, not understanding his love of these certain four legged
creatures. Suddenly, though, she had an idea. "Isn't that fancy Thorlu Ranch out
on St. Martin's? Maybe we could leave early tonight and drive past."
"But you don't get out of class until six. By the time we get over to the
Island, it's going to be dark."
"No, it won't be. It will be dusk and you can see the pretty little ponies
running around in the sunset." She lied. It would probably be dark by the time
they got there, but she had to get him to stop whining about this.
"Or, maybe someone who's part of the Thorlu Country Club and goes to our school
will be there. It's all about networking, Clark."
"Networking, huh?" He said cautiously.
"Networking." She repeated, then added "I should be ready at six forty-five or
so. Can you meet me at Lois' apartment then?"
"Sure thing." His eyes were semi-glazed over as he stood up to leave, and she
knew his mind would be on those horses for the rest of the day. "See you later."
"Later, Clark." Smiling at her small victory, she slowly munched on one of her
cookies, thoroughly exited about tonight.
****
"Smallville!" Lois exclaimed from her bedroom. "Sit down! I can hear you pacing
again."
"It's seven-thirty!" Clark yelled back as he plopped onto one of her
slip-covered couches. He'd been here for over forty minutes and was beyond ready
to leave. Usually he didn't mind when the cousins took a little bit longer to
get ready for some event, but tonight it was bordering on excessive.
"We don't have to be there for another hour, Clark." Chloe said from her spot on
the other end of the couch. She'd declared herself finished about ten minutes
ago as she emerged from the bathroom dressed in an elegant floor length forest
green formal. Her long blonde hair was tied back, held up with a silver and
emerald barrette that perfectly matched her earrings and necklace. Next to her,
Clark couldn't help but feel way underdressed in his plain suit and dark
burgundy tie.
"I know that, but if we don't go, then we'll never get home." He replied.
"I thought you were in a better mood about going tonight."
"That was until I had to wait *forever* for you two to get ready."
"What did you expect, Clark?" Chloe laughed.
"I know, but dude!" He said. "I'm about ready to leave. I have schoolwork to
do."
"Whatever," Lois said, appearing in the doorway to the living room. "You don't
have class for another four days so what are you worried about? Wait until the
night before to do your homework - just like every other normal student."
Clark looked over at her, about to make a retort when he noticed that she was
wearing nothing but a skimpy black lace bra and panty set. "Lois!" He exclaimed,
looking down at his feet. "I didn't need to see that!"
"It's not like it does anything for you, big guy." Lois replied, "So what's the
big deal?"
"But it's *weird*" Clark said. "I don't really want to have nightmares tonight."
Chloe couldn't help but giggle. "Are you almost ready, Lois? I'd kind of like to
get there at a decent hour."
"Just need your help getting into my dress." She said. "Unless Clark would
rather help?"
"No," Clark replied. "I think I've seen enough for the evening, thanks."
Standing up, Chloe grabbed Lois' arm and dragged her back into the bedroom. "We
gotta hurry," Clark overheard her say. "I'm afraid he'll leave if we don't."
"He knows better than to do that." Lois threatened.
She was right. Clark knew better than to leave. For whatever reason, he could
tell this stupid party was important to Chloe, and if he didn't go, she didn't
get in. He'd never hear the end of it from either of the cousins if that
happened. Spending a few hours at a boring snob party would be less annoying
that to have to listen to them grumble about his sudden disappearance. He stood
up, moving over to the small bookshelf near Lois' TV. Surely she had at least
one book that could keep him occupied for a while.
He hadn't gone though her books earlier because she nearly always had a hissy
fit when he touched anything of hers. But right now he didn't care. He needed to
occupy his mind with something other than trying to make an excuse to leave. Her
shelf held mostly cheesy romance novels with a few old random textbooks
scattered in between. Nothing caught his eye, so he went back to pacing the
room, wishing there was a magazine or newspaper or something lying around. Most
of the time the coffee table was littered with them, but tonight the place
seemed unusually clean. He paced a bit more, then headed for the kitchen. He was
starving and didn't think he could wait until they got there to eat. One little
snack wouldn't hurt.
The refrigerator held mostly condiments, some sliced cheese, and a few
tupperware containers with questionable contents. Closing the door, he noticed
an apple on the counter. He washed it off and went back into the living room,
taking a bite as he plopped back on the couch. Just as he was about to take
another bite, there was a knock on the door.
"Smallville!" Lois yelled. "Can you get that? I'm still not decent."
"Didn't bother you earlier!" He barked back.
"Guys cut it out!" Chloe responded, popping her head around the corner. "Clark,
please get the door. I promise, we'll be out in just a few seconds."
"Fine fine." He said.
"And be nice." Chloe warned before disappearing again.
But Clark didn't want to be nice. Lois' boyfriends and guy friends were all just
as annoying as she was. This one was no doubt just the same, and if this guy so
much as leered at Chloe, Clark would kick his sorry little butt. Taking another
bite of apple, he heaved himself off the couch and slowly walked to the door.
When Clark opened the door, he nearly choked on the piece of fruit in his mouth.
The man on the other side of the door looked nothing like Clark had expected. He
wore a very expensive looking suit, with a dark blue tie and matching pocket
hankie. He was bald, but it seemed to suit him. The second Clark looked into the
steel blue eyes in front of him, he thought he would melt. This stranger was the
most gorgeous man Clark had ever seen in his life, and all he could do was
stare.
"Is Lois here?" The man in the hallway asked, looking quite amused.
"She's naked." Clark responded, still staring.
"I promise to stay in the living room if you let me in."
"Huh?" Clark asked. He blushed when he realized he'd been listening to the other
man's voice, but not what was actually being said.
"Is it okay if I come in?" The man repeated.
"Yeah, sorry." Clark stepped back and let him enter. "They'll be just a few more
minutes."
"I'm Alexander, but feel free to call me Lex." He held out his hand to shake,
but instead, Clark handed him the apple. Lex Luthor looked down at the apple and
back up at Clark curiously. "Thanks." He took a bite of the apple and handed it
back. "Are you accompanying Miss Sullivan this evening?"
"Friends." Clark said, staring hard at the apple.
"If you two were more than friends, then you wouldn't be going to this singles
mixer tonight would you?"
"Yeah."
"Pretty good apple you've got there, huh?" Lex asked, taking this opportunity to
take a closer look at Clark. Chloe's friend seemed nice even if he was a bit
off. He was definitely good looking and was sure to hook up with someone
tonight. That was if the boy could manage to say more than one word at a time.
"Yeah." But Clark couldn't look up. He felt dizzy and short of breath and he
could hear his heart hammering in his ears. He really hoped he wasn't about to
throw up in front of Lois' friend.
"Are you ok?" Lex took a step towards Clark. "Maybe you should sit down, you
look really pale." He put his hand on Clark's arm, trying to lead him to the
couch, but Clark pulled back as if he'd been burned.
"Sorry," Clark said when he saw Lex's surprised expression. "I just… I, yeah.
Sit." He moved over and sat down on the arm of the couch.
"Can I get you some water or something?" Lex asked, trying not to hover.
"Water please." Clark managed to say.
Lex walked into the kitchen, surprised at his own actions. Hell, he didn't even
know the guy's name, but Lex actually felt worried about the man in the other
room. It was just a glass of water, but it sure seemed like more. Lex found a
cleanish cup, filled it with water, added two ice cubes and returned to the
living room.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lex handed over the water.
Clark nodded and mumbled a quick thanks, before gulping down nearly the entire
glass.
"Good," Lex smiled and whispered "Because you cannot leave me alone with these
two all night." And Lex was serious. He loved Lois to death, but only in small
doses. Besides, he thought that maybe once Chloe's friend got to talking, the
night might actually turn out to be fun.
"They're not that bad." Clark laughed and took another bite of apple.
"But this is-"
"We're ready!" Lois exclaimed after she and Chloe came back into the living
room. Clark jumped at the intrusion, causing the remaining water in his cup to
spill on his thigh.
"Lovely." He started to stand, but Lex stopped him.
"I'll get you a towel, don't move." Lex headed back for the kitchen, leaving
Clark to the stares of two very curious girls.
"I got a little dizzy a minute ago." Clark tried to explain.
"You're not trying to get out of this are you?" Chloe asked.
"No, I really did-"
"Is that my last apple?" Lois interrupted.
"I-" Clark stammered.
"That was my breakfast for tomorrow!"
"Well," Lex returned to the room, handing Clark the dishtowel. "If tonight goes
as well as you hoped, then perhaps you won't even be here tomorrow morning."
"That's not the point." Lois huffed, putting her hands on her hips.
"It's an apple for craps sake." Clark told her. "Not even a good one."
"Just because it's not organic doesn't-"
"GUYS!" Chloe yelled. "Quit it already!"
"She start-"
"Clark!" Chloe said.
"Ah, so the mysterious stranger does have a name." Lex smiled at Clark.
"You didn't introduce yourself?" Lois frowned at Clark.
"I-"
"It's good to finally meet you, Miss Sullivan." Lex said, trying to veer from
another argument. He kissed the back of her offered hand. "You ladies both look
wonderful this evening."
Clark glanced briefly at her strapless burgundy dress, and thought she might
have looked nice, had she not been... well... Lois.
"As do you, Clark." Lex added.
Feeling himself turn red, Clark busied himself with drying the spot on his
pants.
"Thank you, Lex. You look quite dashing yourself." Chloe bubbled.
Lois rolled her eyes. It was just Lex. There really wasn't anything special
about him. Other than he was bald. And rich. And smart. And a smart ass, but he
kinda was their ticket in tonight. The mixer that they were going to was at the
newest hottest Fondue restaurant on St. Martin's Island. The students hosting
the party claimed that it was for all students, but truth was, you had to know
someone to get a proper invite. So one night after six hours and several bottles
of scotch, Lois had managed to convince Lex that they just *had* to go to this
party. She didn't care how much he hated these people, she wanted to finally be
able to get into Melted Desires, and perhaps have a good time with some rich kid
afterwards.
"Oh!" Chloe exclaimed. "Before we leave, I want to get some pictures."
"Can I maybe borrow your hairdryer before we do that?" Clark asked. "This water
spot is in a weird place."
"Aww, come on Clark. No one will even notice." Lois smirked.
"How about I take pictures of the girls," Lex looked over at Clark. "While you
go dry your pants."
"Good idea." Chloe began showing Lex how to operate the camera as Clark
disappeared into the bathroom.
He closed the door, and sat down on the toilet, putting his head in his hands.
He couldn't believe how stupid he'd been around Lois' friend. Lois' hot, sexy,
gorgeous friend. Clark shook his head. He wasn't a romantic kind of guy, but he
knew he felt something the second he'd seen Lex. Something that had made Clark's
brain go numb and his body go tingly. Last time Clark had felt a connection with
someone, it had ended badly. Very badly, and he was not going to let that happen
again. But it wasn't like getting with Lex was a possibility anyway. Clark had
heard things about Lex from Lois, and Lex definitely wasn't into other guys.
Clark flipped on the hairdryer and began drying the spot. Not two seconds later,
someone was banging on the door.
"Hurry up!" It was Lois. "For whatever reason Chloe wants pictures of you, too."
He ignored her, and finished drying his pants. Once he was done, he took a deep
breath and went back into the living room.
"Ready, sunshine?" Chloe asked him. "I wanna get you and Lois together first,
then we'll-"
"Um, why?" Clark asked.
"You ask that every time." Lois said, pushing him over in front of the
fireplace. "She has some weird notion that we look cute together or something."
"I never said that!" Chloe protested. "I just like taking pictures of my two
bestest friends."
"I dunno," Lex said. "You guys act like you're an old married couple and you two
do look pretty cute in your matching maroon."
"What*ever*" Lois smirked. "Clarkie here isn't like that."
"Like what?" Lex asked.
"He doesn't like girls." Lois whispered loudly. "But don't tell anyone tonight,
or they'll probably kick us out."
"Lois!" Clark said.
"Trust me when I say that Clark certainly won't be the only guy there that's not
looking at the women." Lex looked over at Clark and smiled.
Lois turned to Lex. "Are you tellin' me that this party is going to be full of
straight girls and a bunch of gay guys?"
"I tried to tell you." Lex said. "You were too worried about getting me drunk to
even listen to what I was saying."
"So Clark here has a better chance of hooking up than we do?" Chloe asked.
"Quite possibly."
"Fuckin A!"
"Now, Lois." Clark said. "You're certainly not going to get a guy with that
mouth."
"Shows what you know." Lois responded. "Some guys like dirty talk. Right, Lex?"
"If it's done properly, yes."
Clark shifted in his spot, trying his best not to think about where the
conversation was going. "Are we done with the pictures yet?"
"I want to get a few of you and Lex," Chloe said, "and then the couples and one
of the group."
"Hurry up, then." Lois pushed Lex into her spot next to Clark, then took a seat
on the couch.
"Get closer." Chloe said. "Quit acting like you're strangers."
"But we are." Clark stepped sideways, moving a little closer to Lex.
"We don't have to be." Lex whispered into his ear.
Clark turned towards Lex, surprised and a little confused. A flash went off, and
both blinked, then refocused their attention towards Chloe.
"Look at me this time! And for crap's sake - SMILE."
As Chloe took picture after picture, posing and reposing the boys, the two grew
more comfortable and relaxed. Clark wondered, though, if she was ever going to
stop. This was a lot of pictures, even for Chloe. Not that he didn't enjoy being
near Lex. The light touches on Clark's back and the slightly spicy peach scent
that surrounded Lex was driving him crazy.
Clark couldn't and wouldn't fall for it. Even if Lex wasn't as straight as Clark
had previously thought. Even if Lex was utterly sexy and flirting with him and-
"Sorry, what?" Clark asked, his daze broken as he realized someone was talking
to him.
Lex smiled. "Your stomach seems to be protesting the photo shoot."
"I think mine is too." Lois stood from her spot. "You done yet, Chloe?"
"I didn't get the couples!"
"If we don't corral Clark out of here soon, I'm thinking he's going to eat me
out of house and home."
"Not that you have anything here to eat." Clark said.
"That's because your ass always-"
"Why don't we get a few quick group shots then go?" Lex interrupted.
"Fine." Lois moved to stand beside Lex, while Chloe positioned the camera on the
counter, then started the timer.
It took several tries before Chloe finally got one that was acceptable for her
standards. "I don't want to look like a blur!" She'd said between takes. Clark
finally ushered them out the door, exactly one hour and twenty-seven minutes
after he'd arrived.
****