Word Count: 965
Pairing: Clex
Fandom: Smallville, AU

~Fic~


“Hi,” Clark’s use to the greeting that he gets every day now.

“Hi,” Clark smiles and closes the door behind him, pocketing his set of keys as he holds his briefcase in hand. “How are you today?”

“I’m good,” Lex smiles back and Clark can tell how tense he is, a normal sign when Lex is around strangers. “How are you?” He asks politely nonetheless.

“I’m good as well. Did you eat dinner already?” Clark glances over to the table and sees the empty soup bowl for himself before Lex even answers.

“Yes, tomato soup and grilled cheese.” Lex grins and flicks off the television, setting the remote on the table as he gives his full attention to Clark. “A nice lady made it for me.” He pauses, “Clark?” Clark nods his head and removes his jacket. “She told me to tell you that there are cookies in the cabinet.”

“Okay, would you like a cookie now?” Clark asks as he sets his briefcase down under the coat rack.

“Can I have milk too?” Lex prompts as he watches Clark intently.

“Of course you can, Lex.” Clark opens the cabinet and grabs the container filled with cookies. He also grabs two glasses and the milk out of the refrigerator, deciding that he would skip dinner in favor of dessert. Besides, he never really has the stomach for a lot nowadays.

Lex is frowning by the time Clark sits next to him on the couch. “That lady kept calling me that too.”

“That’s because it’s your name, Lex. Well, your full name is Alexander, but we like to call you Lex. And that lady’s name is Hope like mine is Clark.” Hope sticks around still to help Clark out. Mercy wasn’t able to handle seeing Lex in such a state and Clark understood. She’s still around but she protects him from afar now.

“Oh, okay,” Lex hesitantly takes a cookie and bites into it. “Are you my friend, Clark?” Lex asks, refusing to meet Clark’s eyes and it breaks Clark’s heart for the millionth time to see Lex trying to hide how scared and uncertain he is. Clark understands that it’s apart of who Lex is, was. He could never let anyone know that his defenses were down, that he was afraid because he was in a strange world that he couldn’t remember.

“Yes, Lex, I’m your best friend.” Clark smiles but can’t help but still feel empty inside. Lex tilts his head up to look at him and Clark can’t help but look at the scar over Lex’s left eye. Not even his powers could heal the damaging effect of a kryptonite knife to the head.

“That’s good because I woke up this morning and felt like I was alone. Since you’re my friend, you’ll stay with me and make sure I’m not alone, right?” Lex looks up to meet Clark’s eyes now, trying to determine if what Clark said next would be a lie or not.

“Of course, Lex, I’ll never leave you alone.” Clark knows that Lex, even as he is, can tell that the smile is forced but the words are true.

“Why are you crying?” Lex asks, placing his glass of milk on the table in front of the couch.

“Because I want to hug you, Lex,” Clark replies as he sets his glass and the cookies down on the table as well.

“Friends hug, right?” Lex asks, uncertain. Clark nods and earns a smile from Lex as he holds his arms out. “Alright, then you can hug me.”

Clark doesn’t need to be told twice. He wraps his arms tightly around Lex and feels Lex’s hand on his back, his left hand moving up to his hair. Clark takes as much comfort from Lex hugging him back and stroking his hair as he can, even though he knows that Lex is only touching his hair because he’s confused by it like he is everything else since his permanent memory loss.

When they finally pull away, Lex’s hand is still in his hair. “I can’t get my hand back,” He frowns as he tugs at his hand. Clark doesn’t bother with saying ‘ow’ or faking any discomfort at the tugging, Lex won’t remember anything of this experience long enough to become curious.

“Your ring is caught in my hair,” Clark reaches behind his head and feels for Lex’s hand. He finally untangles his hair and holds Lex’s hand in his own, unable to let it go. He smiles at Lex and Lex smiles back and glances down at his hand in confusion as Clark reaches for his other hand.

Clark knows that Lex’s mind is trying to piece together why they both are wearing the same ring on each of their left hand as Clark rolls the pad of his thumb over the shining band. But he doesn’t have the heart to try to explain it anymore to Lex. Not when he’d just have to explain it all over again tomorrow and the next day and the next day. That’s one thing he can no longer do because he always ends up getting his hopes up only to wake up the next morning to Lex screaming.

Clark kisses Lex on the temple, right below the scar and Lex frowns. “Do friends kiss like that?” He asks, trying to understand like he has tried to understand everything since he forgot his life. Even with his head injury, he’s still Lex; still trying to figure out everything, still the man Clark loves.

“We do,” Clark answers. “But we’re not normal friends. We’re friends with a destiny, Lex, a wonderful destiny.” He’s crying again but Lex doesn’t ask any questions this time, he merely pulls Clark into another hug and holds him.