Title: Afternoon Inversions

Author: Lacey McBain

Website: http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/mendc/fanfichome.htm

Rating: NC-17

Summary: Lex seeks inner balance through yoga, and Clark tests the limits of his concentration in interesting ways.

Author Notes: Meteor-sized thanks to Angry Hamster and earthseed for the quick and thorough beta work. Notes: Written for the Zodiac Challenge (Leo) - "Blowjob of the Year"

Disclaimer: I don't own them, but if I did I would use them to distract myself.

*Inversions [headstands] - http://www.headmap.org/index/unlearni/esoteric/kundal_1.html

The yoga head stand helps reverse the involuntary outflow of energy--it is viewed as a way to deal with excess sexual energy, moving it from the sexual region towards the head. If you feel particularly horny try a headstand to try and calm your mind. Inversions are supposed to have a generally positive effect on the body.*

"Hey, Lex!" Clark pushed open the door to Lex's office at the mansion, and was greeted by an empty leather chair.

"Lex?"

Lex's laptop was humming quietly, there was an open blue water bottle on the desk, and a pair of bare feet almost at eye level against the wall beside the pool table.

Clark chose to investigate the latter.

"Lex? What the hell?"

He crossed the room to find Lex pressed against the wall in what appeared to be a headstand. He was wearing loose charcoal grey sweats that Clark had never seen before, and a dark grey t-shirt that had slipped down to reveal a set of very nicely-defined abs and pale, lightly freckled skin. Clark felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Lex?" Clark knelt down and tilted his head.

"I heard you the first three times, Clark," Lex said quietly, no sign of anger in his tone, but perhaps the slightest hint of amusement. He didn't open his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look--"

Clark didn't let him finish. "It looks like you're standing on your head, smart ass. You know that's not what I meant."

"Temper, Clark. Yoga depends on finding an inner balance."

Clark smiled and tried out his best Yoda impersonation: "So, finding the inner balance you are, hm?"

"Yoga, not Yoda, Clark."

Clark stood back and looked at Lex's body appreciatively. It was the definition of zen--all straight lines and smooth perfection--like a single stalk of bamboo or the downward stroke of a Chinese character. His breath was as cool and even as the rhythm of lapping waves. The room was so silent, Clark could hear their hearts beating, his a little faster when he let his eyes linger too long on one spot.

"You might find the practice of yoga to be beneficial."

Clark waited. There was a telltale twitch at the corner of Lex's mouth. He felt he was being played and was helpless to resist.

"How so, Lex?"

"It might help you with your own sense of ... balance." The twitch had become a smirk, and Clark saw the tiniest shake in Lex's legs. Ah, so balance wasn't so easy to maintain--even for Lex. Clark wondered if Lex's feet were ticklish.

"I said I was sorry about your vase."

"It was fifteenth-century Chinese porcelain, Clark," Lex said, his smile just a little too large. Lex started to laugh, struggling to maintain his balance.

"You bastard! It was a cheap knock-off you bought last time you went to Hong Kong and you know that," Clark said, and now he was laughing too. He reached out a careful hand to steady Lex's legs against the wall. Lex's body felt warm under his hand--warm, and solid.

Every time he accidentally broke something, Lex launched into the item's long and detailed history. He'd almost died from embarrassment the first time while Lex was explaining that the plate he'd just shattered on the tiled floor had once belonged to the Russian royal family--until the housekeeper had interrupted Clark's torture with a well-placed question about whether Lex would like another one ordered from Ebay. To match the other eleven in the kitchen.

Lex had flushed at being caught--not just caught, but turned in by his housekeeper who had a soft spot for Clark. Clark had threatened to make him watch every Three Stooges film ever made if he did that to him again. Which, of course, Lex did. But Clark was learning how to read Luthor, and it wasn't that hard a language when he applied himself, although the inflections could be murder. And Lex was learning to like Larry, Moe, and Curly--as long as Clark didn't call him Curly. There were concessions on both sides.

After that, Clark never believed the descriptions unless he got confirmation from the staff, although he'd been genuinely sorry to learn that the picture frame he'd cracked with an overzealous pool shot had actually been brought back from Switzerland by Lex's mom. It hadn't been entirely his fault, what with Lex man-handling his pool cue in an overtly sexual gesture. But Clark had felt bad about the frame more than anything because Lex hadn't even tried to be creative--just told him it was old and nothing special. A sure sign of evasion: hide what really matters; act like it has no value so no one will notice and try to take it away, destroy it. One of Lionel's lessons learned too well.

Clark had bought Lex another frame for the picture. It wasn't crystal and it wasn't from Switzerland, but it was brushed pewter and tasteful and very, very Lex. Lex had looked at him suspiciously when he'd given him the dark blue box with the silver ribbon. It wasn't his birthday, and Clark could see him cataloguing the possible occasions, wondering if he'd missed something, if he should have a gift for Clark. Lex wasn't very good at receiving without giving something back. Just like Kents weren't very good at accepting gifts at all, although Clark tried because he knew it was important to Lex. And besides, he liked presents.

Lex had known when he'd opened it what it was meant to replace while acknowledging that it wasn't replaceable. He'd known immediately, and the emotions that had played across his face could have been seen from space if anyone had been watching. It was in moments like this that Clark wished for a camera to record that face, those eyes, those imperceptible shifts in shadow and skin that could light up a room.

Clark longed to force his parents to sit down and watch it, watch him, and say: there, that's Lex. That's who you think I need to be afraid of. The man who believes that people will hurt him if they see who he really is, who cherishes the gifts from his dead mother and couldn't care less if I break fifty vases--even if they were fifteenth-century porcelain--because Lex understands that love and friendship aren't about the things. Or the money. Or the trucks. He just doesn't always know how to show it when other people are watching, so he gives what he can and it shouldn't matter that he has so much more to give.

Clark realized Lex was speaking to him in an amused tone. "I wouldn't need cheap knock-offs if you'd learn to find some balance."

Clark almost had to concede Lex had a point--almost--but he didn't have to like it. Clark stood up and tossed his backpack and his jacket on the couch. He slipped his shoes and socks off.

"Are you staying?" Lex inquired.

"Do you want me to?" Clark asked, and he moved back to squat down by Lex, still perfectly balanced, eyes closed, breath like the rise and fall of shadows.

"You already know the answer to that."

Yes. Clark knew, but he didn't like to presume. Even in this. Perhaps especially in this because he knew Lex loved him, more than Lex loved anyone except maybe his mother. Lex had been completely honest with him about everything, and Clark had asked for time to figure out what he wanted. He knew that Lex would do anything for him whether it was good for Lex or not. Clark liked to let Lex know that there were options, that he didn't have to keep giving in order to keep him --didn't have to do anything except be himself. It was hard for Lex to accept.

"I don't like to presume," Clark said.

"I like it when you presume. That's what friends do."

Which wasn't exactly true, but Clark understood what Lex meant. Lex wanted easy, familiar, comfortable. He liked it when Clark didn't treat him like a Luthor, as if there were rules and procedures and ways of dealing with him, which there were. Lex didn't like to be "handled," as if he were an object that had to be managed, coerced, kept in line. He appreciated that Clark treated him like family, like home, like someone who he was comfortable enough to get mad at and not have it be the end of everything, comfortable enough to sit with and let silence be all the conversation they needed. Lex wanted family, and Clark could give him that. He understood that kind of love, loyalty--more than he understood the quicksilver need of passion, desire, want. But Lex understood those, and Clark knew Lex could teach him about a different kind of love. Adult. Wild. Forever.

Clark moved quietly, knew this would be a true test to see if he could move quicker than Lex could respond. He'd have to use just a hint of speed, maybe a half-second of floating, but he could do it, he knew he could do it without hurting either of them or wrecking anything in the room. He scanned for nearby breakables, relieved to see that there weren't any. Lex was learning too.

Clark knew he was treading close to that line that his parents were always warning him about. So close that he was walking on it, and thinking about crossing over at any minute. He and Lex had been walking that line for a long time, riding it back and forth like one of those unicycle-riding bears that straddled the highwire in perpetual motion. Even though they were both afraid of heights, both afraid to fly, the need to do so was burning through that rope as if it were made of paper.

For Clark, the line was growing more and more inconsequential--like a strip of tape stretched down the centre of a room, or a child's line of chalk that washed off the sidewalk with a heavy rain. He wanted to rub out the line and redraw a circle--a circle that would wrap around him and Lex, keeping the rest of the world out. Another kind of fortress.

Lex had told him everything, given him everything--had opened every file, every room. He had propped open every closet and paraded his skeletons past. Told him every dirty secret that anyone might reveal to Clark in hopes of driving a wedge between them. Lex had decided a preemptive strike was in order. He'd been sure that Clark would leave if he saw all of him--equally sure that it was the only way he would ever get over his all-consuming love for Clark.

Clark had surprised him, and Lex was not an easy man to surprise. Clark had taken every confession, every secret, every truth and weighed them carefully in his hands as if they were precious. Had listened to all of it, and understood what Lex was doing. Had listened to what Lex was saying with his body, with his restless hands, with eyes that couldn't hide anything, at least not from Clark.

Clark had forgiven Lex for what he could, absolved him of the things that ate at his soul, and simply held him through the rest. Clark had given back what he could. Friendship and a promise of more when he was older, ready, able. Lex didn't ask for his secrets, had stopped asking, and Clark had told him that they would be his when it was his decision to make. Lex understood about needing approval and love from parents, needing protection even from the people you loved or who loved you. Lex was grateful to have whatever Clark was willing to give, and Clark had sworn to himself that he would give Lex everything ... in time.

"You're awfully quiet, Clark," Lex said softly, bringing Clark back to reality.

"Just thinking."

"Care to share?"

Clark smiled and assessed his position relative to Lex. He hoped he could do this without hurting them both. He leaned in close, rested his head on the floor next to Lex's, felt Lex's breath hitch slightly as he sensed the proximity. That tiny catch in Lex's breath made Clark's heart race. For maybe the first time, he knew exactly what he wanted, and even if he failed, he knew that there were worse things than ending up on the floor with Lex in a tangle of limbs.

"Keep your eyes closed, Lex."

"What are you up to, Clark?"

Lex was curious; he could feel Clark's breath so near his face. Lex tried to stay relaxed and balanced because it was the only thing keeping him from pushing away from the wall and pulling Clark into his arms. Clark had asked for space, for time, for friendship and Lex wouldn't push, although his body wanted to, ached to touch him. Lex had learned new words for longing and all of them felt the same as pain.

"Stay still," Clark whispered. Lex felt a strange breeze, and he knew that was part of Clark's mystery. He thought he had almost all the pieces now, the mystery solved, but there was still a measure of delight in pretending that he didn't entirely know. Clark needed to play the game until his parents could let him go, let him love who he wanted, tell who he wanted. Lex knew that the time was coming, and it would be soon--whether Clark's parents wanted it or not. Whether they approved or not.

Lex felt Clark's breath on his face again, but it was different, closer. He really wanted to open his eyes because he had the strangest sense of closeness and he wanted to see if the entire world had turned upside-down or if it was just him.

"Lex." Clark's voice was practically against his mouth, and Lex was speechless with wonderment and awe. Fuck, would Clark ever cease to amaze him?

"Lex, open your eyes."

Lex did, and he was still upside-down against the wall where he'd been balancing, meditating his way to a saner life, but now his view was obstructed--no, enhanced--by a pair of brilliant green eyes that were laughing back at him from the same upside-down position. It was weirdly like standing up because the view was almost the same, and Lex wanted to laugh because this was so incredibly ridiculous for them both to be standing on their heads in his study, three inches apart. Clark was grinning at him like a fool, an adorable fool with weird super-powers and a kinky sense of fun.

"Hey, Lex." Clark said, his lips so close that Lex wanted to just lean in and kiss him, except it was impossible to lean without falling.

"Clark."

A slight shift and Lex felt Clark lift himself up slightly--almost like he was floating--and then the whole of his body was pressing back against Lex's. Still upside-down, still against the wall, and Lex stopped believing in the power of gravity when all the blood that had rushed to his head seemed to get other ideas and rushed to a decidedly more uphill position. Apparently, Clark's hormones had found a way to defy gravity too because Lex could feel Clark's cock pressed hard against him, their bodies not quite lined up, but close enough for it still to be better than anything Lex had ever felt. Lex could stretch his toes and rub them along Clark's bare feet, and that was surprisingly good, and friendly, and comfortable. God, their relationship was weird.

"Are you trying to tell me something, Clark?" Lex said. Clark was clearly floating now. He seemed to have much better control upside-down and airborne than walking across a room full of breakables, and somehow that made sense too. Lex felt soft lips press against his, a nose mashing awkwardly against his face until Clark got the angle right. Even then it felt strange because Lex was kissing down when normally he would've leaned up, but when the world was upside-down and Clark Kent was kissing him, he wasn't sure that any of it mattered.

"Yes." Clark's mouth was soft and breathless against his. Clark's kisses were light and chaste because there wasn't that much room to move or breathe or do anything other than balance, but God, it was more than he'd ever had of Clark and it was everything.

"Do you trust me, Lex?"

"You know the answer to that."

"I don't like to presume."

"I trust you with my soul, Clark," Lex said. Life was cheap and so was talk, but Lex had shown Clark all of his darkness, all the demons he struggled with, and Clark had stayed. Clark had promised to help him learn to be a better man. To be his friend. To love him--even when he failed.

Lex felt strong hands touching his shoulders, fingers slipping just behind them where his body met the wall.

"Then let go. I won't let you fall."

And Lex looked into the green eyes of the boy that he loved and let his balance shift. Felt Clark's hands go around him, his arms, and Lex felt his head lifting off the floor. He fought the instinct to reach out for something, and just let Clark hold him, hold both of them, upside-down, inches off the floor, not touching anything but each other.

"Shit, Clark. You're amazing." Lex was grinning like a kid. "Just tell me this isn't going to end in head trauma where I forget how fucking incredible this is."

"No head trauma unless it's an accident. I'm still figuring this out."

"How long have you been able to do this?"

"I've been floating for a few years, mostly when I wake up, but I started practising and now I can control it better. Most of the time."

"This is going to look really strange if someone walks in on us, you know."

"I locked the door."

"Oh, and that won't seem strange at all."

"Are you complaining, Lex?"

"No. Absolutely not." Lex was sincere. He was also getting bolder, slipping his arms around Clark's waist and pulling him closer. "So, does this mean your parents have decided you can trust me?"

"It means I've decided I don't want to pretend there's nothing happening between us. I want you to know everything about me. Everything."

"I already know everything I need, Clark. I know I love you." Lex was surprised how naturally the words came out. It wasn't the first time he'd said them, but it had been awhile. He had promised himself that he would be honest with Clark, but he also wouldn't push. Whatever Clark was willing to give would be enough.

"But, Lex ..."

"Clark, I know. Or at least I've got it narrowed down to two likely possibilities, and neither one is a problem." Lex took a deep breath and smiled. "Alien or meteor mutant, but I suspect it's the first."

"And you're okay with that? Really?"

"Fuck, Clark, we're floating upside-down talking about our future and there's nowhere I'd rather be. What do you think?"

"I think you're okay with it."

"You may be a super-powered alien from the planet ..."

"Krypton."

"Krypton, I like that--but you're also my destiny and I want you more than anything. But only if you're ready. If you're sure. Because once you come to me, I'm not letting go. I won't be able to."

"I know that, Lex. I'm eighteen, I'm graduating in a few weeks, and I've been thinking about this for a long time. Since we met. I wanted to be sure, and now I am. I want to go to Met U, I want to find a way to use these gifts I have, and I want you. Not necessarily in that order."

"Good." Lex leaned in to kiss Clark warmly, feeling him respond in a hundred different ways all along the paths where their bodies were touching.

Three months later

Lex heard the sliding door to the balcony of the penthouse open and close quietly.

"Clark?" he called, not opening his eyes. He found it best to maintain his balance in this position, upside-down against the wall, if he kept his eyes closed.

"Your caped crusader returns!" Clark called triumphantly, and Lex felt a slight rush of air around him. He rolled his eyes. Since Clark had gotten that ridiculous suit and learned to fly, Lex had learned to be patiently indulgent. If Clark wasn't so damn cute when he was playing superhero, it would have been considerably more difficult.

"Lex, you know I can tell when you're rolling your eyes, even if they're closed."

"Don't abuse your x-ray vision," Lex said knowing that Clark didn't need superpowers to read him most of the time. Generally it was a comforting thing, but sometimes it still scared him to admit that someone knew him that well.

"No x-ray vision required," Clark said. "Although I have to say that I like you in lavender silk boxers." Clark sounded triumphant as Lex flushed in spite of himself; no one else on the planet could make Lex Luthor blush.

"Don't you have anything you should be doing, Clark?" Lex asked politely. "Helping dowagers across the street, rescuing underage felines from trees, writing papers?"

"It's Saturday, Lex. My homework is done, all kittens in the Metropolis area are accounted for, and I'm not helping any more old ladies since I got whacked with an umbrella last time."

"Well, just give me a few minutes to forget about all the idiocy I've had to deal with today and then we'll do something, okay? Can you entertain yourself for ten minutes?"

"Sure, Lex," Clark said. There was another rush of wind and Clark was gone. Lex felt a tiny pang of regret. Things were so much better with Clark close.

Lex smiled. He didn't think he'd ever get used to Clark's powers, but more than that, he doubted he'd ever get used to Clark being part of his life here in Metropolis. A huge part of his life. Clark spent as much time at the penthouse as Lex did, and Clark's overnight visits were becoming more and more frequent. They were both finding it hard to stay away from each other, in spite of the agreement that Clark needed his own time and space to get the most out of the college experience. Lex didn't want him having any regrets because he'd committed to someone too young, although Lex wasn't exactly encouraging him to see other people. He didn't think he could deal with a less than monogamous Clark now that they were sleeping together.

Lex felt a shiver run through his body, as if a slight breeze had wafted over him. He tried to push all of his tensions away, let his mind empty of all its negative thoughts: a board meeting that had been less than pleasant; lunch with his father; a drastic dip in stock prices; the realization that Christmas was coming and that meant dealing with the Kents, and Smallville.

He felt a slight tug at his waist as something soft and satiny fell around his face. His eyes flew open.

"Clark?"

Lex could just glimpse a blue-suited figure hanging upside-down above him, the red cape draping down to the floor in front of Lex's eyes.

"Damn cape," Clark muttered, hands neatly working the clasp of Lex's belt.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I'd help with your stress relief." Lex felt the belt whisked away, sure hands unbuttoning his pants. Clark's breath was warm against Lex's bare stomach where his shirt had come untucked. Lips brushed against his skin, and Lex had to struggle to maintain his balance.

"That's not going to help me relax, Clark."

"Sure it will." Lex could feel Clark's grin pressed against his bare skin. He wanted nothing more than to reach up and tangle his hands in Clark's hair, but considering he needed his hands to prevent his neck from being crushed, he felt it best to stay still and see exactly what Clark had in mind.

He felt the cape sliding up and over his face, up the length of his torso, as Clark moved upwards pulling Lex's pants with him. Lex heard them land lightly on the floor behind him. Clark pressed light kisses into the pale flesh of Lex's legs as he slid back down, coming to rest with his mouth nuzzling at Lex's pale lavender boxers. Lex felt his cock jump beneath the soft fabric, felt his body tense and sway.

Clark's hands were immediately against him, keeping him upright, not letting him fall.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Clark," Lex murmured, even as Clark started to slip his boxers down--or was it up? It was hard to tell when one was upside-down. Lex felt cool air against his skin as his boxers disappeared, freeing his erection.

"It's a great idea," Clark whispered, sliding his tongue over the tip of Lex's cock. He watched in satisfaction as Lex grew harder with every small stroke of his tongue.

"I won't be able to stay like this," Lex whispered, his legs already starting to quiver with anticipation and the strain of holding himself still with Clark's tongue lapping at him in warm, even strokes.

"Then let go," Clark said, and he wrapped large warm hands around Lex's hips and gently lifted him away from the wall, the floor, still upside-down but in no danger of falling. Lex let his body lean into Clark's as Clark slid his mouth around the head of Lex's cock and gently sucked.

"God, Clark," Lex groaned. "How can you do that and not ..."

"Drop you?" Clark said breathlessly

Lex moaned what might have been a "yes."

"Because I'd never drop you. And because you feel absolutely weightless like this. Like there's no gravity for either of us, and that's a fucking amazing feeling, Lex," Clark said softly. He nuzzled his lips against Lex's balls and inhaled the deep musky scent that made him feel at home. A lick. A nudge with his lips. A soft whimper from Lex. "Remember when we were fooling around in the pool?"

Lex nodded, not knowing if Clark could tell or not. He remembered that feeling of having Clark's wet body wrapped around him, touching everywhere, moving everywhere, with nothing holding them except the water. The experience had been surreal, and absolutely amazing.

"This feels the same to me. The air holding us up and being able to touch you without touching anything except you. As if we're the only two things that exist."

That was a concept Lex could get used to. Clark's tongue was back, stroking the length of his shaft. Lex reached out and tangled his hands in Clark's hair, pulling Superman's straight locks back into the unruly mess of dark curls that was Clark. Lex felt Clark's hands stroking lightly against his back, always a solid hand on him somewhere--his back, his hip, keeping him anchored. Clark would never ever let him fall. Lex revelled in the feeling of floating with Clark's hands touching his skin, Clark's mouth making him hard and wet and eager, and Lex let the world fall away from him and concentrated on the only thing that mattered: Clark, and what he was doing with that beautiful mouth.

Lex closed his eyes and let himself float into Clark, let Clark take him inside and suck greedily, tongue sliding along the underside of his cock, looping over the tip, licking at the leaking slit that tasted of salt and sweetness.

Clark moved Lex against him with his hands. There was no friction, no support for Lex to push against except Clark and so he let himself be swallowed whole. Clark's mouth was everything good and warm and safe, wrapping itself around him, teasing him, urging him to let go. Lex let everything melt away until there be nothing but pleasure and heat and the feeling of floating, unbound, unfettered, graceful and free.

Lex was grasping, pulling at Clark's shoulders, his hair, wanting to make that connection stronger because there was nothing else around him but Clark. Lex was sliding into Clark's mouth, deep and wet, and Lex's whispered moans became pleased grunts that begged for more, and more, begged for Clark to please, suck him ...

"Harder ... oh, yes ... there, Clark ... God, like that ... Yes, so fucking beautiful ... Your mouth, God, your mouth ...Clark, suck me, suck it ... God, yes! Yes, Clark. Yes!"

Lex felt lightning hit his spine and burst through him into Clark's throat. Clark sucked and swallowed gently, hands rubbing, soothing, holding him cupped and safe even though the world was spinning lazily out of control around them, upside-down and far away. Lex felt boneless now, tension and stress poured out of him, nothing against his body but Clark's hands, barely there and both of them weightless and floating.

Lex felt himself effortlessly rolled onto a horizontal plane, Clark floating on his back as if this were the ocean, red cape tossed up and over them like a blanket. Clark nuzzled against Lex's bare scalp, planting soft kisses, whispering words of love.

"I love you, Lex." No more than a whisper, but that was all Lex needed, and he pressed a sleepy kiss against the chest beneath him, sky-blue and perfect.

"Me too," Lex whispered. "Thank you."

The arms around his waist tightened snugly, happily, and Lex wondered if they could float like this forever, if Clark would ever get tired of this because Lex was certain he never would. He wondered if Clark knew that he was setting the bar awfully high with blowjobs that defied gravity. He would never, ever be able to live without this boy.

And maybe, just maybe, that had been Clark's plan all along.

THE END