Clark's brain woke in careful stages. First he got that warm feeling of waking to the safety of someone's arms around him, one he hadn't felt since he was 7 and stopped crawling into his parents' bed at night. The hot flush of embarrassment followed when he realized he was poking that someone with his morning erection. A hitch in their breathing gave him the final clue, starting a slow build of heat that made his cock twitch as he realized that the smooth chest under his cheek was Lex's.

Lex released a tender sigh and shifted in his sleep, his cock painting a wet trail across Clark's chest even through the thin silk of his boxers. Clark's brain went straight into his pants, and he began to softly mouth Lex's temptingly arched throat. He mostly tasted the inside of his own mouth, but the sweaty saltiness of Lex's sleep-slackened skin crept through the mustiness of morning. He bit down gently and was rewarded with a moan, and a tightening of Lex's arms around him.

Somehow all his fears and worries had become firmly lodged in the part of his mind that was still fast asleep, because for once all he could think about was the man in his arms. Clark let his hands roam, one over Lex's back and one unerringly finding the nipples he'd been wanting to play with for just about forever. His fingers traced the wrinkle-marks left by the sheets, intrigued by the resilient dampness of Lex's overheated skin.

"Mmm, Clark," said Lex softly, hips undulating slowly, rubbing his silk-covered cock against Clark's stomach in a way that made all his nerves come tingling to life. Clark kissed his way down Lex's neck, across his collarbone and down again to finally taste one nipple. The sweat-taste was brighter here, faintly metallic, and Lex moaned Clark's name again, louder this time.

"Love you, Lex," Clark whispered, the air from his words making the nipple peak irresistibly. Clark nibbled with care, blunt teeth barely denting the flesh, the scrape making Lex buck in his embrace. Hands still weak from slumber threaded through Clark's hair, tugging ineffectually. Clark took the hint and came up for a kiss, the sourness of morning breath eclipsed by the sweetness of the moment and the spicy heat that spiked in his veins when his cock bumped up against Lex's balls.

The kiss went on for long minutes, unhurried hands drawing lazy patterns over skin and cloth, fingers dipping into waistbands but neither of them pushing, cocks gliding together in a sensuous dance as the thrusting of their hips matched languid rhythms. Clark felt the heat building slowly, radiating out from his groin until even his toes and hair seemed alive with electricity.

He wished for a moment that they could stay there forever, just doing this, but then Lex's teasing fingers brushed over the head of his cock. His back arched, and lava began a slow, inexorable crawl up his spine; his mind chose that moment to supply the information that Lex's was the first hand not his own ever to touch him there. The heat crawled faster, his balls drawing up and his ass tingling as Lex's other hand splayed out over the small of his back.

Clark let one hand wander down the back of Lex's boxers, fingertips trailing down into the cleft as he pulled Lex's hips toward him, matching thrust for thrust and trapping them briefly together. His other hand cupped one jutting hipbone, not quite brave enough to touch the straining column of Lex's erection. Lex, it seemed, had no such compunctions, and his nimble fingers took the signs as encouragement, firmly grasping Clark's cock.

The fingers felt cool, the palm searingly hot where it cupped him. He thrust helplessly into the grip, arching his back as the heat climbed up past his shoulders and exploded into his skull. His eyes felt itchy and hot, but he couldn't bring himself to stop touching Lex long enough to care. He was so close, so lost, and he blinked frantically and bit his lip as Lex's mouth found his pulse and stayed there.

Clark's desire was building to an inexorable peak, his cock and ass felt like fire, his balls and, strangely, his eyes felt like they would boil over if something didn't give soon. He croaked out something, maybe Lex's name, and stared sightlessly out over Lex's head as the dam broke. Hot come flooded over Lex's hand, over both their stomachs, and another kind of heat blasted from his eyes. The wall behind Lex burst into flame just as Clark managed to close his eyes and bury his face, now sobbing, into the pillow.

He shoved Lex away, turning him so he'd see the fire, so he'd do something. Further action seemed impossible to Clark, his body drained by orgasm and his mind awash with all the previously dormant fears. He curled up into a ball, his ears filled with static and his eyes resolutely clamped shut. Some part of him heard Lex shouting, catalogued in flashes Lex leaving the bed, doing something by the wall, sprinklers coming on.

Clark rolled on his back, allowing the stagnant water to wash the tears from his face and the semen from his stomach. By the time someone arrived, the fire was out and they were both soaking wet. Lex had even had the presence of mind to make it look like he'd been awakened by the fire, opening the doors to both their rooms. Clark barely had the intelligence to stand, looking bedraggled and confused, behind his boyfriend.

"You'll have to excuse Clark, he's not a morning person," said Lex. It was the first thing Clark's mind really processed, although he knew there had been conversation before this.

He was starting to shiver with reaction, and he managed a soft, "Thank you," when the fireman threw a dry blanket over his shoulders.

"Do you have any idea what started the fire?" asked fireman, obviously repeating himself for Clark's benefit.

"I... No, the sprinklers woke me up," he replied, barely able to form the lie with his lips. Lips that had so recently been on Lex's.

His eyes strayed over to Lex, shrouded not in a blanket but clean towels, obviously getting ready to shoo everyone out so they could dress. The sprinkler system was sophisticated enough that only the one room had been drenched, and Clark's stomach sank when he saw the sodden boxes containing, among other things, his much-belated homework.

"Why don't you go to my room, Clark, you can take a shower there while I deal with these gentlemen," said Lex, loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Clark nodded numbly, going through the open doors to see the bed mussed as if by sleep and a hasty awakening. He shook his head, marveling at Lex's ability to think in a crisis, and shut the door behind him. He dripped his way into the bathroom, barely remembering to shed his sodden shorts before climbing into the blessedly warm shower.

One of the many luxuries of the mansion was infinite hot water, and Clark shamelessly took advantage of it, standing under the spray until the last traces of lethargy began to fade. The fire-from-the-eyes thing was new, but not insurmountable, and he had one very bright ray of hope -- he came with Lex in his arms, and Lex himself had walked away unscathed.

Holding that one thought shining in the forefront of his mind, he began to wash up, wondering just how late for school he was going to be. He was just realizing that Lex's shower had an alarming lack of shampoo when he heard a knock at the door. "Clark, it's me!" came the faint but familiar voice through the door.

"Lex, come in!" Clark replied, adding, "I don't suppose you brought shampoo with you?" when he heard footsteps approaching.

"Shampoo *and* clean clothing, in fact," said Lex, one bare arm appearing, shampoo in hand. "Um... I don't suppose... I mean, if you wouldn't mind..."

Clark smiled, amused at hearing his normally glib boyfriend at a loss for words. He slid the glass door open and dragged Lex into the shower, resolutely ignoring the flash of sheer terror when a completely naked Lex landed in his arms. "I'd love to," he replied, grinning.

He captured Lex's lips for a kiss, this time tasting mostly of water with a bitter hint that Lex had snagged a cup of coffee while Clark was showering. "Mmmm, coffee," said Clark, "Hope you brought me some, I'm going to need it if I'm going to be alive at school."

Lex laughed. "It's in the bedroom. But there's no school for you today, I've already taken care of it. I used the fire as an excuse to give us both a day off..." Lex trailed off, looking uncertain.

"What is it, Lex?" Clark asked, cradling him gently.

"Well, if you think... we talked about it before... er, what I mean is, I'd like to spend the day in the lab. Testing." Lex was looking down, his face pale under the heat-flush from the forgotten shower.

Clark bit his lower lip, thinking. If he had a new power to explore, and Lex wanted... "Well, I guess there's no time like the present to get started. I, um, I want you to know... the fire thing, that's new... I mean I never..." he trailed off, shrugging, then let out a goofy grin as a thought crossed his mind. "I guess it's just a lot hotter with you than by myself?"

Lex laughed and kissed him, going on his toes to bring their mouths in perfect alignment. Clark felt his cock perking back up at the slick slide of Lex's muscular body against his own, entranced by the way it was now nestled in the hairless curve of Lex's thigh and hip. He let his hands carefully cup Lex's head and pulled back for a brief moment to ask, "I didn't hurt you, though, did I? I mean, I set the room on fire, but..."

Lex looked thoughtful for a moment and then his face lit up as the implications dawned on him. "No, Clark, you didn't hurt me. The only pain I suffered was not getting to come when you did." The grin on Lex's face showed he was teasing, but it gave Clark an idea.

Clark let his hand finally wander down to cup Lex's slowly hardening cock. Clark, as usual, had gone instantly hard, and he reveled in the feeling of Lex growing full and heavy in his hand. He cradled the soft, lightly-furred balls with his other hand. Clark closed his eyes as Lex's hands twined in his hair, and they kissed deeply. Lex seemed to be pouring all his passion into the kiss as he pulled them backwards out of the spray.

Clark moaned softly when Lex leaned against the shower wall and pulled up one leg, hooking it around Clark's back and tilting his hips up invitingly. Clark let his fingers wander back, finding the smoothness of Lex's skin alien and intoxicating. The rough pucker was almost a surprise when he reached it, radiating heat that drew his questing finger towards the center like a moth to flame. Lex arched and threw his head back, moaning, "Yes, Clark, yes. Pleeeeeeease."

Clark circled the hole gently at first, not wanting to hurt Lex, but was finally unable to resist pressing a fingertip inside. The heat there was incredible, and Clark felt that welling in his spine again, despite the cock bobbing untouched between his legs. He kept his eyes shut tightly as he sank to his knees, jacking Lex smoothly as his lips and teeth explored Lex's fluttering abs and curving hipbones. He brought his hand to his mouth, getting his finger completely slick with spit before going back to that fascinating opening.

His finger worked its way into Lex's body by maddening inches, and he let his mouth follow the curve of Lex's hip down to where it met his thigh. Lex's leg was thrown over Clark's shoulder, inviting exploration, and he replied by sucking one of those silken balls into his mouth. At the same time his probing finger finally found the spot he'd been seeking and pressed oh so gently. Lex shouted and came almost instantly, startling Clark as the hot drops of come rained down over his fist and cheek.

He pulled his finger out gently as Lex slid down the wall, collapsing into a sated heap. Clark was left kneeling with one of Lex's ankles still dangling on his shoulder and a deep, hot ache at the back of his eyeballs and the base of his spine. He wanted to see his lover so badly, but he didn't dare open his eyes.

He spoke in a hoarse whisper, "Lex, god, I want to taste you so badly." He trailed fingers through the come on his cheek and brought fumbling fingers up to Lex's mouth, letting him taste himself instead. Clark's other hand went down to jack himself off, needing the tension to break, needing to touch and feel and most of all *see*. Lex sucked the come off Clark's fingers, then pulled his chin up so Clark's touch trailed down his throat.

Clark laid his palm over Lex's chest, feeling the heart still pounding beneath the fragile cage of Lex's ribs. "God, Clark, you're so... Come for me, please," said Lex, voice full of languid desire.

That was enough for Clark, and he felt the energy escaping his body any way it could. Hot drops spattered out over his fist and he clenched his eyes tight. Deprived of its earlier outlet, the heat shot back down his spine almost like a second orgasm and he cried out, pulling his hand back from Lex and sitting back on his heels as it washed over him.

When the last pulse left him and he felt his body cooling again, he looked to the side and carefully cracked an eyelid. When nothing happened, he opened his eyes all the way and looked over at his lover. Lex seemed the epitome of debauchery just then, slumped and pale against the dark tile, legs spread wide, eyes half-lidded, and chest covered in the white pearls and pools of their mixed seed.

Clark surreptitiously x-rayed Lex's chest, finding no damage at all. He took a look at the arm and saw even that was almost healed, barely a shadow of the fracture left for him to find. He returned his vision to normal as Lex slid his foot sensuously down Clark's chest and said, smiling, "Do I check out, Dr. Kent?"

"Indeed," was Clark's laughing reply. They met and kissed, both leaning in with the same idea, and when they pulled back Clark added shyly, "Even your arm is almost better."

Lex's smile widened and he struggled to stand, saying, "Well, that's a relief. One more good thing from the meteor shower, I guess."

Clark dipped his head at the familiar wash of misplaced guilt, and stood to give Lex a hand up. "I..."

"Sssh," Lex interrupted, laying a finger over Clark's lips. "I'm fine, and I'm happy to have had the chance to know you." Lex's cheeks flushed brighter as he added, "And to love you. Now, let's get clean."

Clark kissed Lex gently and said, "I love you, too, you know," before turning and grabbing the forgotten shampoo, deliberately bending over to give Lex a nice long look at his ass.

"Tease," said Lex, grabbing the soap and dunking himself under the spray.

They washed and rinsed mostly in silence, the occasional bit of tickling and horseplay necessarily restrained in the slippery shower. When they were both clean and rinsed and out of excuses, they turned off the water and stepped out, bracing themselves to face the world. They dried off quickly, and Clark found his clean clothes folded on the edge of the sink, but chose to follow Lex's example and brush his teeth naked, prolonging the surreal quality of their shower idyll.

Lex gave Clark a mint-flavored kiss and left him to finish up and dress himself, having left his own clothes in his walk-in closet. Their sodden underwear in hand, Clark emerged a few minutes later to see Lex in the mouthwatering combination of the worn jeans from this weekend and a form-fitting cadet blue sweater. His normally hidden physique was highlighted by the tight clothing, and Clark felt an unexpected shock of desire when he spotted Lex's still-bare feet.

Lex pushed the sweater up his arms and turned to see his boyfriend. Clark walked towards him, wearing a pair of the brand-new jeans, silk boxers that fit snugly enough to belong to Lex, and carrying the button-down shirt that simply wouldn't button. His hair was still damp, Lex's bathroom also lacking in a blow-dryer, and kept dripping on his shoulders and back. Lex looked as poleaxed as Clark felt, his eyes drawn down to where the miracle of teenage physiology was already giving Clark another erection.

Clark blushed and said, "This shirt doesn't fit, and if you keep looking at me that way we'll never get anything done today."

Lex flushed and laughed, "You caught me. OK, why don't you have something to eat and I'll see if I can't find something more your size?" He relieved Clark of his burdens and motioned to a tray sitting on one of the dressers, holding a covered dish, a carafe of what Clark fervently hoped was coffee and a large glass of orange juice.

Clark realized he was ravenous for more than just Lex and lifted the cover to find scrambled eggs, pancakes and bacon still gently steaming despite the delay. He poured himself coffee and attacked the food with such single-minded intensity that he'd finished all but a few bites by the time Lex emerged with an oversized cream-colored cableknit sweater.

"Here, this should fit you, it's always been too big on me," said Lex, with an amused glance at the nearly empty plate. "Hungry, were we?"

Clark blushed, but managed to retort, "Well, I'm not use to having so much exercise *before* breakfast. Mom usually lets me eat before my chores."

Lex laughed and kissed Clark's syrup-sticky mouth, then made an appreciative noise and proceeded to lick the syrup off his lips and chin, and even found a few stray drips on his chest. Clark moaned and pushed him away when he started to go lower, saying, "Lex! We have... things to do today. Before your mouth can go where it was headed, remember?"

Lex smirked and straightened up, saying, "Well, you can't blame a guy for trying. Finish up and let's go downstairs, then."

Clark wolfed down the last few bites, washed it down with the juice and asked plaintively, "Will there be more coffee down there?"

Lex grinned and poked him, saying, "Of course, but didn't your mother ever tell you caffeine will stunt your growth?"

Clark glanced significantly down his long frame and said, "And that would be a problem, how?"

Lex followed the glance, lingering suggestively on Clark's crotch as he said, "Oh, no problems here." Clark blushed furiously and followed his sauntering boyfriend down into the depths of the castle.

to be continued in Out, Chapter 13: A Friend in Need