A Helping Hand

Oliver woke in a dark room. The wall was cold against his back, and he was sitting on hard, bare stone.

He jerked his hands upwards, only to have his left wrist jarred painfully backwards, held in place by a silver cuff closed tightly around his arm. Frustrated, he slammed his fist back against the wall, and threw his head back, grunting angrily at the trickle of blood he felt sliding down his neck.

"Now, don't hurt yourself, Oliver."

Lex. Oliver's lip curled up in disgust. "You're pathetic. You think you can keep me here? It's going to be pretty obvious when I don't show up to my board meeting here in a couple of hours, Lex."

Lex grinned. "I don't doubt it. However, they're not going to look for you here."

Oliver winced against the smug smile on Lex's pale face. "Clark will." He muttered softly. And cried out in pain as a shining black shoe snapped out against the thigh.

"Clark isn't going to look for you." Lex murmured softly. "He's going to be very busy. You see, once I leave here, I'm going to him. I'm going to take him into my bedroom, and I'm going to peel the clothes off of his lovely body." Lex smiled, his eyes hazy as he stared off into a seeming nothingness. "I'm going to lay him out, and taste every inch of that skin, and then, Oliver...then, I'm going to make love to him until he passes out."

"You're demented." Oliver growled, his face pinched in a scowl.

"I'm just being honest, Oliver," Lex purred. "Do you know...when Clark's asleep, he looks even sweeter, even more innocent? One wouldn't think it possible...those beautiful eyes give off such a pure, angelic aura. But, when he's asleep, he just lays himself out...let's himself be completely open and vulnerable. It's a thing of beauty." Lex bit his lower lip, and looked down into furious brown eyes. Smirked.

He walked towards the door, and paused in the doorway, looking over his shoulder. "I would say I'd tell Clark you said 'hello', but you know...I just don't think your name is going to come up."

The door slammed on Oliver's reply, and he hissed as he dug down into the pad of his boot. Dug out a thin, long pin. Started in on the cuffs, and felt the snap as the head of the pin broke off in the chamber.

"Damn it!" He screamed. "God, Clark." He slumped against the wall, squeezing his eyes shut.

------------------------------------------------------

Clark walked into Lex's office, guilt lacing every inch of his body. Stepping over towards Lex, he winced as the slender man turned towards him with a wide, welcoming smile.

"Lex, I have something I need to tell you." Clark whispered.

Lex shook his head, and held out a hand, laying it over Clark's shoulder. Pulled the younger man in close, and brushed his lips across Clark's throat. "No, you don't."

"Lex-"

"I already know you went to see Oliver Queen." Lex said, nipping sharply at the golden skin along Clark's jaw line.

Clark pulled back, a shiver raising the hairs along his arm. "How did you know that?"

A slim brow rose on Lex's forehead. "Ask a silly question..."

"Right." Clark said quietly. "Okay, well, he kissed me. And, I kissed him back."

Clark felt the tension thrum through Lex's shoulders. Felt the stiffness harden the fingers splayed across his skin. "You got confused. With what happened yesterday, it's perfectly understandable. We'll set some boundaries now, and we'll just forget Oliver Queen ever existed."

"Lex, I don't think-"

"Clark." Lex lifted Clark's face with tender hands. Looked into anxious eyes that were swirling into a deep, bottle green. "Do you love me?"

Clark's answer was immediate. "Yes, I do."

Lex smiled. "I know. And, I love you. Nothing else matters. Nothing is going to interfere with our being together...finally. Not any situation, not any person..." a pale finger slid underneath the collar of Clark's shirt, "not any thing."

Relaxing in Lex's arms, Clark leaned into him. Sighed against a smooth scalp, and pressed his lips against the skin. "Oh, Lex..." He felt his mind swimming, warmth flooding through him, and he let himself fall, pushed into the couch's deep cushions. Accepted Lex's wet mouth with a soft moan, and felt his strength fall away.

Nothing...nothing but him, and Lex...and...a noise.

There was a soft noise...somewhere. He stretched out with his senses, listening carefully.

And heard it clearly. Ollie.

He pushed himself up, and looked into wary blue-gray eyes.

"Lex, what have you done?"

"Clark, listen to me-"

"Mr. Luthor?"

Lex whirled around, eyes blazing. Furious, at the interruption. He straightened himself, and stalked over to the opened door. Spoke briefly with a dark suited, anonymous man, and sighed loudly. His head twisted around to look into Clark's stunned face.

"Get out." He spat at the generic employee. Waited, eyes closed, for the door to shut. Took a deep breath, and stepped towards Clark's trembling form. He held out a hand as Clark clamored off of the couch, nearly tripping over his feet. "Clark-"

"You were going to make love to me. Here. Now. You've got him chained up, somewhere, and you were just going to fuck me. Like you didn't even know. Like nothing had happened." Clark's voice broke, his head shaking jerkily as he fought to clear his mind.

"Clark, I was trying to protect you." Lex said carefully, walking towards him slowly. "I love you."

Clark's eyes slid shut. "I know you do, Lex." He said, his voice nearly silent. "I know it. And, I love you. Through all of this...your darkness; I've never really been able to stop. But," he looked up, his eyes pained, "this is wrong. You can't do things like this. I can't stand by and be a part of it."

And Lex watched, shoulders rigid and taut, as Clark disappeared from his sight. His nails dug into his palms, and he felt the warmth of the blood dripping down his fingers. Calmly, he walked over to his desk and picked up a pristine, lavender handkerchief. Wiped off his hands, and looked down at his smooth, unmarred palms.

"You'll still come home to me, Clark." He whispered.

---------------------------------------------------

Whipping through the tunnels was easy, knowing Lex would already be looking for him on the cameras. He reached Oliver's cell in a matter of seconds, and was wrenching open the door and peering inside.

"Ollie?"

"Clark!" He could see Oliver's smile even in the darkness, and he jogged over to him, snapping the freshly welded metal with a finger.

Their hands grasped together as Oliver clutched onto Clark, pushing himself up as Clark pulled. They stumbled together, and Oliver felt Clark's startled breath against his mouth.

"Thanks."

Clark smiled softly. "Anytime." He slid and arm around Oliver's waist as the blonde man wavered on his feet. "C'mon. Let's get you out of here. Somewhere safe."

Oliver swallowed hard, shaking his head as he fought back a laugh. "I can't believe you came."

Green eyes shot up, to lock onto his. "You can't honestly think that I would've left you here? Not once I'd found out?"

"No, it's not that, Clark." Oliver rushed to reassure him. "It's just...I thought you'd be...busy." He choked back a rush of rage as Lex's words taunted him.

And felt Clark lean in, his mouth against his face as he sighed. "I'm so sorry, Ollie."

Oliver lifted a weak hand, and slid it over Clark's stunning face. Brushed his lips over Clark's, and shook his head. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I never should have started this. Got you involved." Clark held him tight against him, and continued on, moving until they were outside, in the crisp air.

Oliver felt the wind ruffle through his short hair, and moaned into the breeze. And whispered, "I would have been involved one way or the other, Clark. That the way it is when you're in love, and you want to make that person happy, no matter what."

Clark groaned, and sat Oliver down carefully on the ground. He whirled around, staring off into the sky. "I love him, Ollie. I really do. Despite anything and everything."

Oliver bit his lip hard, sucked back a wave of anguish. Steeled himself against the pain, and blinked. Forced himself to say it. "Okay. I know that, Clark. But, you can't tell me that there isn't some part of you...you can't say that you don't love me. I know you do. I knew when we were together, all that time. Tell me, Clark. Tell me. Just..."

Clark's dark curls were flying around his face as he turned around. His eyes were a brilliant, shining bluish green, and he looked so sad. "It doesn't matter."

"It does."

"I gave myself to him."

Oliver smiled. "I'm the Green Arrow, remember, Boy Scout? I steal from the rich for the greater good." He watched the shaky grin cross Clark's lips, and took a quiet breath in. "Just tell me."

"Yes, I love you. I love you both."