Sunset Orange and Purple Hearts
(The Rainbow Sherbert Remix)

Author: Lainy

Original Story: Sunset Orange and Purple Hearts by Lady Angel

Summary: "It might be worth the wait."

Rating: PG-13

Fandom: Smallville

Dedication: to, of course, the original author, without whom (funnily enough) I couldn't have written this without. As always, to my pal Meagan, just for being her sweet loveable self, and always giving me her unwavering support. And to my sis, iluv, for not only putting up with my bullshit, but sticking it on my own web page. Thanks doll! *g*

Notes: okay, first off, my spell checker's broken, and I'm a shocking speller, so there are probably many, many spelling errors in this piece. Second of all, I felt guilty as sin for changing even this short story. Lady Angel is a damn good writer - go read her stuff. Now! And lastly, I live in Australia, and the whole 'legal age' thing is vastly different here. I didn't really go into it much in this piece, but if I've made any truly horrendous mistakes, could someone let me know? It's the only way I'll learn *g*

Lex inhaled deeply, angry with himself. Twenty-three years old and still nervous about flying in helicopters. And no, it did not make him feel any better knowing that he could jump out of an airplane with nothing but a parachute and a air-board without so much as an accelerated heart beat. He and helicopters just did not get along. But he would be damned if he missed another of Clark's birthdays. And he'd be doubled damned if he missed tonight. Because, tonight, Lex didn't have to share Clark with anyone. Not his parents, not his friends. No one except Clark and Lex. He let out a small sigh as the chopper touched down near the Kent farms.

Clark was standing over by the barn, covering his eyes against the flying dust stirred up by the propellers of the helicopter. Lex jumped out, and waved the pilot away, glad to be rid of the shaky flying contraption. The pilot waved in return, then took off again, heading back towards Metropolis.

"I don't know why you even pretend to be normal, sometimes," Clark grinned at Lex as the dust began to settle again. "Rocking up to my doorstep on my twenty-first birthday in a helicopter? What kind of person does that?"

"The Lex kind," Lex replied without a hint of his usual smirk. Clark laughed.

"You mean that really endangered species with a knack for nearly getting themselves killed?" he teased.

"That'd be the one," Lex smiled indulgently.

"So...what're we going to do tonight? You weren't very specific with plans over the phone," Clark pointed out.

"I've arranged for a limo to pick us up about," Lex glanced at his watch, "now."

Sure enough, as if by some prearranged signal, they spotted a limo driving down the Kent's driveway. Clark grinned as the driver pulled up in front of them.

"You sure know how to make a guy feel special," he commented as the driver opened the back passenger door for them.

"After you, Clark," Lex's expression was what one could only describe as innocently polite.

***

"We're going to the mansion?" Clark's voice registered his surprise. "We both leave Metropolis for my birthday, and we end up surrounded by the same pampered superficiality we were trying to avoid?"

Lex smirked. Clark had certainly changed in the two years since Lex had seen him. They had kept in touch via email and telephone of course, but there was an air of confidence in Clark now that hadn't been apparent over the phone, or through his messages. He used bigger words now too.

"It has a certain nostalgic air, don't you think?" Lex pointed out. Clark just smiled bemusedly.

***

Clark held out longer than Lex had thought he would. They had finished the supper Lex's old cook had prepared them, and were sitting together on one of the soft leather couches located in one of the more comfortable 'living' rooms, sipping drinks before the birthday boy broached the subject.

"Alright, Lex, what is this?"

Lex flickered a sidelong gaze in his direction, raising an eyebrow in silent question.

"This," Clark gestured around the room with his glass. "Bringing me here. Feeding me. Giving me drinks. It's almost as if..." he trailed off, as if unwilling to venture forth just what he thought it was like.

Lex was silent for a moment, before finally replying, "All my life I've never had to wait for anything, Clark. My father taught me that if you really wanted something, you went out and got it. But I've been waiting for something ever since I got to Smallville, and you know what?"

"What?" Clark couldn't help but ask.

"I believe it might be worth the wait."

"What are you waiting for Lex?" Clark asked, trying to ignore that annoying little flutter of hope in his chest.

Lex turned to fully face Clark, capturing the other man's gaze with his own. He made sure he had Clark's full attention before going on.

"I was waiting for you, Clark."

Clark felt he may never breath again, as he finally realised that the reason Lex had never tried to kiss him was because he wanted Clark to initiate it. Lex wanted Clark to be sure.

Clark was sure.

No sooner had Lex's words registered their meaning in Clark's mind, than he was leaning across the small distance separating the two of them, and gently pressing his lips against his friends. They were warm and soft, softer than Clark had expected, and they tasted slightly of the meal that they just ate, slightly of the brandy Lex was drinking, and slightly of something else that Clark guessed was uniquely Lex. Clark's tongue flickered out to get a better sense of this tantalising new taste, and suddenly found his tongue dueling with Lex's as the other man opened his mouth to welcome Clark in.

The kiss that had started out so gentle soon developed into a much more heated exploration of each other's mouths, until they finally broke apart, gasping for air.

"Well, was it worth the wait?" Clark grinned at the slightly dazed expression on Lex's face he had never seen before. That he had put there.

"Better than I could have imagined," a small smile tugged at the corner of Lex's mouth. "But why don't you come over here, and I try again? Just to be sure."

So Clark did.

end

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to their owners/creators/copyright holders. This fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.