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Lex had taken Clark to see the museum when Victoria arrived. It was almost immediate how Lex dismissed Clark to talk to Victoria alone. He wasn't sure about the reason, but the whole situation made Clark feel unsettled, and that seemed to worsen when he started to notice the intimate moments the two of them shared. It was clear to Clark that Victoria wanted Lex, and based on what he could overhear, it became clear that she wanted to take him away from Smallville. It was hard for Clark to be certain, but he could see how Lex acted when he wasn't around her. He didn't want to lose his friend, or at least that's what he told himself when his own behavior started to shift.
It was hard to believe that this is all it took for Clark to act like a man who watched their wife cheat on him, but his behavior was undeniable. Lex took notice of this shift within the first week. He could see the looks he carried whenever Victoria was around. He could see how his new situation with Victoria bothered Clark, but it wasn't for the reason he assumed. Lex knew that Victoria was a beautiful woman. It didn't come as a shock that someone like Clark could be attracted to her, but this behavior Clark had shown had started to irritate him. He would have assumed that friends meant more than an attractive woman, but when it came down to it, Clark was still a teenager and a hormonal one. He could understand that to an extent.
“Should I be concerned about your behavior whenever Victoria is around? I have taken notice.” Lex noted as he decided to address the situation as the two of them had lunch, doing his best to phrase his words in a careful manner. “I understand that she is what one would consider a—”
“I don't care for her much.” Clark interrupted before his friend had the chance to finish, deciding to combat this question with one of his own. “What is this whole situation between the two of you?”
“Business mostly.” Lex responded in an honest sense, taking a breath before he continued. “It would be a lie to say that there isn't a bit of pleasure on the side, but I feel that is to be expected with our history.”
“So it isn't serious.” Clark reiterated as he chose to take what he wanted from the context, unable to hide his disappointment when he saw the look he received in return. “Wonderful.”
It wasn't hard to tell that the implications that their relationship was more serious than he stated bothered Clark a lot, but he didn't expect him to act like this. He looked like he wanted to hurt someone. Lex tried to understand, but this wasn't how friends should behave over a woman. Lex started to address that fact, but before he could, Clark started to ask some more intimate questions. It was so unexpected, and it crossed numerous lines.
“Have you slept with her?” Clark asked with far more intention than he meant to have, not bothering to back down once he started. “Is that the reason that—”
“Clark, that isn't any of your business.” Lex interrupted before he had the chance to finish, deciding that it was best to be honest once he saw the look the other man held. “Yes.. Yes, I have. It's kind of how it works.”
Lex watched as Clark's behavior continued to worsen, and that's when he decided to confront the issue head-on. It was hard for him to watch, and the whole question about his sex life made it clear that this issue wouldn't die if he chose to leave it alone. He had to deal with this now.
“I understand that Victoria is an attractive woman, but I feel that this crush has started to become a bit out of hand.” Lex noted as he tried to address the situation, unable to miss how frustrated his friend became as he continued. “I would hate for a woman to come between us.”
“Lex, I don't have an interest in Victoria. I don't even like her existence.” Clark snapped as he slammed his hands on the table, watching as his friend’s expression shifted into a more confused state. “How hard is that to understand?”
Lex had to admit that this admission came as a shock to him, but he guessed that it wasn't uncommon. Clark cared a lot about his friends. The idea that someone could take a friend from him must have scared him. Lex could understand, and once he knew that this was about him and not Victoria, he became much more relaxed. He cared about Clark. He didn't want to think that he would leave him for a woman. He would remain his friend.
“Clark..” Lex started before he hesitated, taking a breath before he started once more. “You're my friend.”
“She wants you to move back to Metropolis.” Clark noted with an overall sense of hatred, letting his feelings overcome him as he spoke again. “She wants to steal you from me.”
“I'm not leaving, and even if I did, we'd still see each other.” Lex assured in a much calmer tone than he had used before, unable to miss how the other seemed close to a breakdown. “Clark.. Clark, don't act like that.”
“You like her more than me.” Clark remarked, like he had stated a fact, his frustrations and hatred mixing with all his other emotions. “Admit it.”
“I think that how I feel about you and how I feel about her are different.” Lex explained as he tried to deal with the situation, doing his best to be as patient as he could. “I'm sure you can understand that.”
“I don't want it to be different.” Clark snapped as he moved to his feet, pacing a bit as he tried to explain. “Fuck, this is hard..”
“Clark, I don't understand.” Lex reasoned as he watched his friend with interest, moving to his feet as well in order to calm him down. “Clark—”
However, before he had the chance to finish his sentence, Clark kissed him. It was an action that he knew would cause issues for him. He could see the looks others held as they witnessed the kiss. It could ruin him. Clark wasn't scared that he would lose his friend. He was scared that Victoria would take his chance to be with him. Lex didn't know what to think or how to feel, but he knew he had to handle it where others wouldn't witness it.
“Clark, I think we should talk outside.” Lex whispered in a much harsher tone than he had ever used towards him before, unable to miss the stares of those around him. “I would hate to end up shot because you decide that is how you wish to tell me you have such feelings.”
“I'm sorry.” Clark whispered back as he took note of the stares too, not bothering to hold back as he was pulled to the exit. “Lex—”
“I'm not mad.. I need a moment.” Lex interrupted as he offered the other man some assurance, taking a breath to calm himself as he considered the fallout that was bound to occur from this event. “Let me think.”
“I wasn't thinking.” Clark remarked as he crossed his arms around his chest, doing his best to offer comfort to himself. “I wanted to make it clear since—”
“Yeah, I understand that, but this is a small town and word travels fast. What happened there will be twisted to hell and back. I don't know about your parents, but my father won't be so thrilled about the homosexual activity he finds out his son has been up to.” Lex ranted as he started to spiral, shaking his head as he let how bad this was soak in. “First the situation with Victoria, and now this.. Fantastic.. I better call my PR team so they can handle this.”
“Lex?” Clark questioned as he tried to end the spiral, not missing how the other man started to send out a number of messages on his phone. “I know it's a bad time, but—”
“Victoria is leaving.” Lex responded as he shook his head, unable to miss the smile he received over this news. “Don't smile. You've caused a mess.”