Compensation
by mako
Part 2
He probably would have gotten an academic scholarship in no time flat.
"Damn. My pen ran out." Clark shook the offending instrument. "Could you get
me another one off the desk, please?"
"Yes, Master," Whitney smirked, with a lick to Clark's ear.
He rose from the bed, searched the desk and peeked into a long wooden box that
resembled a pen case. Was shocked to see the gleam of gold and upon closer
inspection his mouth dropped.
"Jesus, Clark. This is amazing," said Whitney. He held up a solid gold Rolex
watch, lamplight glinting off its polished surface. "Where the hell did you
get it?"
Clark quickly got up, took the watch away and snapped it back into its case.
"It was a gift."
"That's some gift. Why don't you wear it?"
Clark shrugged, his mouth set into a tight line. "It's a little ostentatious
for Smallville High, don't you think?"
"I know some guys who would kill for a watch like that."
"Maybe I'd like to avoid that as well," said Clark, strangely agitated. "Did
you find the pen? They're right in the coffee can there."
"Got one." Whitney looked at him searchingly, worried. "Are you upset? I'm
sorry I opened that box. I didn't mean to pry."
Green eyes met his, too bright in the loft's dull light. "No, I'm not upset,"
said Clark softly. "Not with you." He smiled weakly. "It's been sort of
stressful for everyone these past couple of months. I guess I'm not immune to
the pressure, no matter how hard I try."
Whitney reached out and embraced Clark tightly. "It'll be all right. I know
your parent's farm is having some trouble but it'll work out. I'll be right
here and whatever you need, we'll figure out a way to get it." He carded his
fingers through the dark silk that framed Clark's face. "Together. You and
me."
"Sure," said Clark quietly. "You and me."
He was shaking a little but Whitney held him closer, strangely pleased to be
able to offer comfort instead of the other way around. He was good at that; at
least he'd had a lot of practice over the years with Lana.
"We should finish our homework," Clark sighed against his hair.
"Nah." Whitney tugged on his hand and they landed together on the bed, pages
of looseleaf crunching beneath them. "I think we should study something else
for a while."
Clark just laughed in reply.
[][][][][][]
The Talon's antique sconces threw a sickly yellow pall over everything and Lana
Lang's pretty face wasn't an exception. Whitney reached out across the table
and took her hand, stroking it gently. "I'm really glad we could come to an
understanding about this."
Lana nodded. She'd seemed oddly content in recent weeks, a strange
cat-that-ate-the-canary look shading her normally ingenuous eyes. "I'm really
sorry that we ... " She sighed. "I dunno. Just sort of fizzled out like this.
It makes me kind of sad."
"Me too. But I'm glad we can still be friends," he replied, emphasizing the
last word. "I really want that, Lana." Whitney smoothed the soft skin of her
wrist with his thumb. "I'd rather break up like grown-ups than have some ugly
fight just to force the issue."
"Yeah, you're right," she said, brightening. "This is a very mature way to do
it, isn't it?"
"We're half-way to the old age home I'd say," he laughed.
"I've always felt older than I am," she said dreamily. Another sly cat-smile
and Whitney leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"Thank you for all the happy times, Lana," he said sincerely, as he rose from
the table.
"Thank you too, Whitney," she replied sweetly.
Another brotherly peck against her hair and Whitney made his way to the door
passing by a familiar face, the slim, compact body beneath clad entirely in
black. Whitney normally didn't bother to take too much notice of the man, but
this time was the exception.
Because Lex Luthor staring him with a look that could only be defined as one
thing.
Hatred. Pure, unadulterated hatred.
The sort of hatred that sent chills straight down one's spine and Whitney felt
it like an ice water bath splashed over his soul. He shivered and quickened
his pace, glancing back to see if he'd been imagining things.
But Lex was talking into his cell phone, drumming his fingers lightly against
the table, his face the usual mask of boredom.
Ah, he had been imagining things, Whitney told himself as he leapt into his
truck and finally made his way onto the road that led to Clark's house. He was
getting paranoid in his old age, he thought wryly, or maybe that's the way the
younger Luthor dealt with everyone, being the Devil's son and all.
Whitney kept driving, humming along with the radio, happy in the knowledge that
a gorgeous Clark Kent nestled in his arms was only minutes away.
But for some reason, the chill remained.
[][][][]
The walk from Fordman's store to the Talon was about a twenty-minute hike but
it went much faster at the pace of Clark's long strides.
Whitney had to stretch to keep up but that didn't bother him in the slightest.
It was wonderful being at Clark's side, feeling their arms brush every few
steps, knowing that in less than an hour they'd be tangled together in bed,
naked and loving.
The thought warmed Whitney to his toes and to think, it was only a month ago
he'd been so sure his life had ended. But here he was, happy, hopeful and madly
in love with a gentle, perfect angel who cared about him, whose desire matched
his own.
It was almost too good to be true.
"I'll just be a few minutes," said Clark when they reached the coffeehouse.
"I've got a few things to talk with Lex about and then we can go. Would you
mind waiting here?"
"Nope." He leaned against the locked delivery door. "Give the talented Mr.
Luthor a big hello from me."
Clark nodded absently before going inside. "It won't take long."
Whitney smiled, then stared out onto the darkened street. Watched the cars
pass every few minutes and it wasn't long before he remembered he'd left his
best jacket in there the night he'd broken up with Lana.
He'd been in such a hurry to leave and with that Luthor asshole giving him the
evil eye ...
Whitney bit his lip thoughtfully. He could just sneak in, snatch the jacket
from the lost and found coat rack up front and sneak back out. No one would
know, it would only take a second and ...
He gingerly opened the door and tiptoed inside. Saw his coat hanging off the
far rack and almost had it in hand when two voices distracted him.
The familiar voices of Clark and Lex Luthor. Fighting.
Fighting in tones that were at once familiar -- and furious. He was taken
aback at the raw passion in Clark's voice and he couldn't help but lean in and
listen to his lover speak as he'd never heard him before.
Primal, hot and enraged. "I can't believe what you're doing with Lana."
"That's just business, Clark."
"Just business? If that's just business, I'd hate to think what that says
about you."
A long pause followed. Whitney swore he could feel a chill coming in through
the walls and Lex's voice was like winter, icy and bitter.
"I not the one fucking the quarterback who tied me to a pole in a field and
left me to die like an animal. Amazing how forgiving you can be when it suits
you."
"He doesn't lie to me, Lex. While you ..."
"While I what? That situation was unavoidable! I did the best I could and
your father is alive and well ... thanks to me."
"He wouldn't have gotten sick in the first place if you hadn't ..."
"That wasn't me."
"Jesus Christ, Lex! Is every word out of your mouth a lie?
"Tell me one thing. Do you love him, Clark? Do you have with him what we had?
What we still and will -always- have? If you say yes, I won't be only liar
here."
"Whitney would never hurt me. Not like you did."
"That's because he can't hurt you. Because deep down, you don't care."
"That's bullshit, Lex. You don't know anything about him or us."
"I know you. " The ice left Lex's tone and a smooth, seductive summer heat took
its place. "I know that you're standing here right now, wishing I'd kiss you,
wishing I'd bend you over that table and ..."
"That's enough." Slightly strangled voice. "I told you we're through and I
meant it. I loved you, but ..."
"You still love me. You'll always love me."
"Glad to see your ego remains intact." Clark sounded weary. "It's over, Lex.
Stay with Lana, maybe it'll be good for both of you. I'm staying where I
am."
"For now. But we are far from over, my friend. You and I ... we have
something that no one can ever come between. Be it love or hate." The voice
turned impossibly soft for the man that was Lex Luthor. "I want it to be love,
Clark, I truly do. If you'd come back to me, back to us, I'll give you
anything you want. Anything. Name it and it's yours."
"You can't give me what I want."
"Try me."
"I want the truth, Lex. All the time. Every minute of every day, with no
conditions, omissions or excuses. Can you look me in the eye and say you'll
give that to me? Can you?"
Whitney held his breath as the clock behind him ticked the seconds away.
Ten ... fifteen ... and on the twentieth, Lex answered.
"No. I can't."
"Then I can't come back to you."
Such terrible sorrow in those words and Whitney could hear Lex's labored
breathing, as his voice lowered to a hoarse whisper.
"Then listen carefully, Clark." The rasp turned into something dark. "I will
do whatever it takes to get you back -- in my life and in my bed. I mean
whatever it takes, for however long it takes. Nothing's going to stand in my
way and you will come back, because you know in your soul that neither one of
us has a choice."
"I don't know anything of the sort. Goodbye, Lex."
Said with finality, and Whitney stumbled back as Clark's footsteps echoed
closer. Turned and ran out the door, praying he didn't fall and break
something.
Except that something inside was already broken.
[][][][][]
The next six hours were spent staring at the ceiling of the loft with Clark
draped over his chest, sleeping soundly. Whitney began to count the beams,
immediately lost track and started again, only to go back to the same maddening
thoughts.
Lana with Lex.
He should have known, shouldn't he? All those dreamy and snide little smiles.
All those hours spent in the Talon, ostensibly working, obviously doing
something else with someone who made her feel "older than her age."
That filthy son of a ...
His mind careened in the other direction.
Clark with Lex.
Well-cut new clothes. Sad, distracted looks. Fucking gold Rolexes for God's
sake. And a singular promise to take Clark back, no matter what the cost.
Whitney clutched Clark tightly to his chest, his heart hammering.
No. That wasn't going to happen. Lex could have Lana, he could have anything
in this world he wanted except for Clark. Clark was his and there was nothing,
no amount of power or money that could change that.
Lex Luthor would simply have to compensate himself for his own loss.
Forever.
Whitney closed his eyes and forced his breaths out in even, steady beats. Felt
dawn's rays brush against his eyelids and Clark stirred against his chest but
he put his hand on the damp forehead, soothing him back to rest.
"Shhhh, love," he murmured. "Go back to sleep. I'm here."
A sleepy murmur followed. "Lex?"
Whitney's chest tightened brutally but he bit back the agony. "Yes, angel.
I'm here. Whoever you want me to be ... I'm here. Always."
And Clark returned to the darkness, smiling.
[][][][][][]
end
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### The End ###