Summary: Clark defends Lex again, only this time it's not to Jonathan; it's to his entire journalism class.

Disclaimer: They're not mine.

Category: Pre-slash (Clark/Lex), drama, friendship

Spoilers: Clark's a Kryptonian and Lex knows, not much reference to the show or actual episodes otherwise.

Author's Notes: I imagine this story to be in a universe somewhat like the one created by Ruby in the stories Promise and Not Yet (two of my all-time favorite CLex stories, go read them if you haven't!). The only exception is that in my story Chloe is at Met. U with Clark and gets along with Lex.

I am indebted to Ruby for her help in cleaning this up, I am looking for a beta but she generously offered to help me out for the time being. Many, many thanks to the fabulous Ruby!

I definitely take full responsibility for any errors.

Any feedback would be very helpful, but this is my first fic ever, so please be gentle.

Infamous

Chloe slouched down further in her seat beside Clark. They were seated near the front of the massive 500 plus person lecture hall that their "Journalism 312" class was held in.

They were supposed to be learning about writing headlines and cutlines, or journalism ethics, or verifying documentations, or anything else relevant to their chosen career paths. Along with his teaching, the professor give examples from his experiences 'back in the day' when he was a reporter; which would always lead to a story about his run-ins and dealings with the evil Luthors. So today, once again, Professor Reynolds was ranting about the immorality of Metropolis's resident playboy Lex Luthor, unaware that his best friend sat in his class fuming.

They were barely five minutes into the lecture this time, so they still had fifty-five minutes more to endure. Chloe just hoped Clark could keep his cool until the end of the class, when he could release some of his pent-up aggression, as usual, by ranting to her about evil Professor Reynolds.

Chloe never minded Clark's after-class ranting, she liked Lex well enough herself to be offended at Professor Reynolds bias against the Luthors. Not that Lionel didn't merit such antagonism, but Lex certainly didn't. She saw how hard he had been trying to break away from his father's influence and image, and redeem himself in the eyes of the world, as he was already in the eyes of Clark.

Clark, for his part, had a tight grip on the arms of his chair, trying desperately not to crush the armrests or otherwise do damage that would be noticeable to either Chloe or the other class members. Faulty workmanship and old facilities was an excuse he could only use so often to explain his accidents and he preferred to keep it for emergencies (besides, this was one of the new lecture halls on campus).

So Clark tried to distract himself in class as he usually did, it just wasn't working too well today. When he was bored in class or trying to distract himself as he was today, Clark would attempt to be his own thesaurus, coming up with words and their synonyms for as long as he could.

Clark loved words, which was a good thing since he was studying journalism. Clark was sure he knew more words than most of the students at Met. U. One time he had been waiting for Lex to finish a business call at his office at Lexcorp when he had accidentally speed-read through and memorized the dictionary. It was a good thing Lex knew his secret, because otherwise Clark would probably have freaked out about it. Instead he had told Lex and Lex had been intrigued and eventually made him laugh about it.

Lex always made him feel better about being his freakish self. Clark figured it was something to do with Clark's abilities and Lex's love of superheroes and comics, but then again, who ever heard of a superhero with speed-reading abilities. Not too likely.

Even as a journalism student Clark didn't often get to use his knowledge, doing so always brought comments on his papers that said 'trying too hard' or 'don't use obscure verbiage' and 'speak to the common people.' So generally Clark tried to tone down his vocabulary. But today he was sitting in his Journalism 312 class trying to distract himself so that he would not actually use his heat vision to fry his professor to a crisp. Not that this was an unusual occurrence in this class, in fact, every week Clark was forced to endure the same agony. Professor Reynolds really had no clue how often he had been at risk from a fiery death.

Today, Clark's attempts to distract himself were ineffective; he just couldn't focus his thoughts as usual. Frying Professor Reynolds made him think of words like immolation, combustion and flammable, which made him wonder why flammable and inflammable had the same meaning. Usually adding "in-" as a prefix to a word made it mean the opposite of the original, like effective and ineffective (as were his attempts to distract himself) or consistent and inconsistent (consistent being the inevitability of the professor's weekly Luthor rant). But then famous and infamous weren't exactly opposites either.

Infamous… that brought him right back to the lecture he was trying to avoid listening to, on the infamous Lex Luthor.

Every week he went to Professor Reynolds lecture with a feeling of dread in his stomach. He was sure if he wasn't Kryptonian he would have developed an ulcer by now.

Professor Reynolds definitely thought Lex was infamous. Clark could quote some of the weekly topics of the Luthor rant by heart after being in the class for two months now. The Luthors were criminals hiding in plain sight… most likely with mafia connections, the Luthors had probably paid off every official in town, they owned the Metropolis Police force… blah, blah, blah. On and on it went every week.

Clark figured that Lionel or perhaps even Lex in his wilder days had done something very nasty to Professor Reynolds to earn his eternal enmity. And if it was Lionel, well, even Clark could not begrudge the professor his hatred of Lionel, Clark has a violent dislike for the man himself. But Lex was another story; Lex had changed and was trying so hard to clean up his image.

What Clark hated the most was the fact that every person in the class was getting a biased view of Lex and most of them would then go out into the world as journalists. Just what Lex didn't need were more gossip-hungry journalists with a hate-on for him.

Everyone who knew Clark knew he was fiercely loyal to his friends, so Chloe knew how hard it was for Clark to keep quiet in class every week. But this week Clark was affected even more than usual. Clark knew this was because his feelings for Lex were in his thoughts anyways. Clark had been doing some hard thinking lately.

He had always known that he and Lex had a special bond. He even had some inkling that it included feelings that made him think of Lex in more than just 'friendly' ways. He had just assumed that eventually he or Lex would do something and things would progress in the 'more than friends' direction. But that just wasn't happening. Clark had flirted and teased and Lex had flirted back but never indicated there was more to the flirting than just good fun and Lex's ability to flirt with everyone and everything, even inanimate objects. Clark always had sexy images of Lex appear in his head whenever he saw one of those blue bottles of water.

Clark had never actually come out to his parents or friends and admitted he was gay (if that's what you called it when he wasn't even human). He figured there was time enough for that if he and Lex ever got into a relationship. But maybe Lex was waiting for Clark to actually come out and say it. Maybe Lex thought Clark wasn't seriously interested in having a relationship with him.

These were the thoughts that had been troubling Clark all week. 'Maybe Lex needed Clark to take a stand, in more ways than one,' Clark thought.

Clark slowly stood up and cleared his throat, interrupting the professor's diatribe against Lex's 'profligate' ways.

"Er, uhh, excuse me professor?" Clark called out.

Professor Reynolds had never been interrupted in his rant before and he turned to look at Clark, whose seat was quite close to the front of the lecture hall.

"Yes?"

"Um, excuse me professor. I uh… I mean no disrespect. But I don't think you should be speaking that way about the Luthors."

"I am sure you have a valid reason to hate the Luthors and I have no problem with you hurling invectives at Lionel Luthor, as I actually have reason to believe he is the devil." A few people in the classed tittered softly at that remark.

"But Lex Luthor has really reformed in the last few years. He is somewhat of a philanthropist actually, if you have been following current news."

"He's sponsored many charities, given money to Cancer research, even donated money to the children's hospital, and founded the Lillian Luthor Children's Charity. He's endeavoring to become a businessman whose reputation is completely above-board and without any hint of corruption. I am sure you are aware also, of the large amount of money he donated to this university, as you are currently lecturing in one of the new buildings built with the funds."

"Lex may have been wild in his younger days, there's no denying that, but how is that different from any other spoiled rich kid, and can you really blame him with a father like Lionel. His attempt to clean up his image and divorce himself completely from any association with his father should earn him some points."

"I really must respectfully ask you to refrain from accusing Lex of criminal activities which have no basis on fact and for which you have no evidence. I am sure you wouldn't want your students to learn about journalistic bias from you but instead about journalistic objectivity and integrity. Surely as a journalist yourself you can look at both his past and his present and see for yourself how he has changed?"

Clark knew his face was beat red and he actually felt slightly faint and breathless. He didn't think he'd taken a breath during that entire speech. He knew he had probably over 500 eyes on him at the moment but he was so angry that he didn't care. At the same time his parents had always taught him to respect authority figures so he tried to be delicate and respectful when basically publicly reprimanding his professor.

'He would never pass this class now,' he thought. 'Oh well, when I fail out of University I can get a job at Lexcorp.'

Clark knew that later he would be mortified to remember that he had done this, but Lex deserved better. He deserved to have his good deeds acknowledged, not be forever remembered by and reminded of his wild youth.

Clark felt like shrinking down into his seat as he waited for his professor's response, but he forced himself to remain calm and look his professor in the eye. He had nothing to be ashamed of; he was defending Lex, one of the best people he knew.

Professor Reynolds seemed a bit stunned. He blinked a few times and then opened his mouth to reply:

"Really, Mr… ?" the professor said expectantly.

"Kent"

"Mr. Kent, I am sure it is very nice of you to assume the best of everyone," the professor bit out, "but I can assure you that I have had dealings with both of the Luthors and I know what I am talking about. Perhaps you should return to your seat and keep your opinions to yourself."

"No sir, perhaps you should keep your opinions to yourself and let the facts speak for themselves. Lex has been reformed for the past five years, regardless of your past dealings with him. You denigrate him in front of all these people and aren't allowing for him to be able to change or attempt to improve himself."

"Surely you did things when you were a kid that you aren't proud of now, surely you've learned from past mistakes. Why can't you allow that Lex has too?"

"Mr. Kent, people like the Luthors don't learn from their mistakes, they just pay people off to forget about them and make them go away."

"That's not true sir. Lex is a good person, one of the best I know, and I don't think it speaks well of you that you are so prejudiced against him that you can't see the truth."

"Oh, so you're claiming to know Lex Luthor now, are you? Read all about him in the rag mags and decided you're best friends huh? Now who's deluding themselves?" the professor said maliciously.

"I doubt that Lex Luthor would hang out with anyone not in his elite and wealthy crowd," the professor said slyly, as he looked at Clark's well-worn clothes and ratty backpack with disdain.

"Then again I'd have to say how wrong you are, Professor. Lex doesn't judge people by their wealth or lack of it, as you seem to do."

"Hah, you know Lex Luthor? Not likely," the professor laughed again.

At this point Chloe stood up. "You're wrong professor. Clark does know Lex and so do I. Clark and Lex have been best friends for years."

"Really? So you're both buddies with Lex Luthor then? He's just a regular guy that you call up and chat with, go hang out with. Heh."

"No, he's not a regular guy, he a great guy and a great friend. He's loyal and trustworthy; he's certainly not a prejudiced bigot like you."

"Really, Mr. Kent? Why don't we just call him up for a little chat then?" and Professor Reynolds pointed to the big conference phone that sat on his desk at the front of the room. (The phone was used to conference call various guest lecturers who were reporters around the world; enabling the students to ask questions to journalists actually working in the field.)

Clark hated to give in to such blatant tactics, he was practically being dared to 'prove it' but now he really wanted to prove Professor Reynolds wrong, so he gave in.

"Fine," Clark said as he worked his way past the other students seated in his row and down the aisle to the front.

The professor hit a few buttons on the phone and a dial tone sounded. Clark dialed the number to Lex's private line. Lex's secretary Laura answered the phone promptly.

"Hi Laura, this is Clark. Is Lex busy right now?"

"Hi Clark, he's in a meeting with some gentlemen from Tokyo, but I know he wouldn't mind you interrupting him."

"No, No, Laura, please don't interrupt him if he's busy," Clark said but it was too late, she had already transferred him to Lex's desk.

"Lex Luthor"

"Hi Lex, It's me."

"Oh hey Clark," Lex said warmly. "Aren't you supposed to be in your journalism class right now?"

"Uh, yeah Lex, actually I, uh, I am in my journalism class right now."

"You are? Then why are you calling me?"

"Actually, uh, I'm so sorry, I'll explain this to you later, but uh, you're on speaker phone in front of the entire class and uh…"

Now that Clark actually had Lex on the phone, he realized he didn't want to say why he had called him. Lex would get angry, and while yes, Lex was reformed, he was also very protective of his friends and Clark didn't want Lex doing anything to Professor Reynolds (as if the guy needed any more reasons to hate the Luthors).

But Clark was a bad liar, and not very good at thinking on his feet, while Lex, on the other hand, was very astute and good at figuring things out.

"Is someone giving you a hard time, Clark? Tell me what this is about."

Clark didn't want to lie outright to Lex, so he said "Don't worry Lex. There's no problem. We just wanted to ask you about the, uh, yeah, the Lillian Luthor Children's Charity. Could you tell us a little bit about it? The class is very interested in it."

"Nice try Clark, but don't bother. I can only imagine why you are calling me in the middle of class. Someone said something nasty about me and you tried to defend me didn't you? I appreciate your efforts Clark, but some people only remember the bad about me and can't see past my misspent youth."

At this point Chloe decided to pipe up and let Lex know what was really going on, since it seemed that Clark never would. Unlike Clark, Chloe thought Professor Reynolds deserved whatever he got after all the agony he'd put Clark through over the past two months.

"Hey Lex, it's Chloe here"

"Hi Chloe, can you tell me what's going on?"

"Sure Lex, our professor, Professor Reynolds was going on about the evils of the Luthors and Clark decided to defend you. When he got to the part about being a good friend the professor was very skeptical about Clark actually knowing you, so he practically dared Clark to call you. Now that everyone knows Clark was telling the truth about knowing you, hopefully they will also believe the rest of what Clark was saying, but it's doubtful. Anyways, that's it Lex. I imagine we can let you get back to your meeting now, right Clark?" She said hopefully.

"Yeah, Chloe. Lex, thanks for helping me out and so sorry to bother you and bring you into this, you'd better get back to your meeting now."

"No problem, Clark, anything for a friend. Bye Clark. Bye Chloe."

"Bye Lex," they chorused together.

And with that the connection closed. The entire lecture hall sat still in their seats, stunned by how wrong Professor Reynolds had been proven.

Clark moved back to his seat by Chloe and sat down.

"I'm sorry we had to go through that Professor. I wish we didn't have to, but I hope that you can at least believe some of what I've said about Lex now. And I'm sorry I interrupted your lecture, please accept my apology and please continue."

"Well, Mr. Kent, now that I have your permission to continue I believe I will," he sneered, to cover his embarrassment.

Clark sighed dispiritedly, he felt as though it had all been for nothing and he slouched down further into his seat. He was now seriously contemplating dropping this class, which was a required course for his Journalism major, and perhaps switching majors.

Maybe Lex was right; maybe he should have majored in science instead. At least then the subject of Lex might never come up. But that wasn't true was it? Lex was a scientific genius and Lexcorp was coming up with breakthrough research all the time. There was nowhere he could go that Lex's name wouldn't come up. Usually that would have made Clark happy but today it just made him depressed.

It was true that Clark liked to believe the best of people, but this class was starting to destroy his faith in humanity – and journalists in particular. Did anyone try to see the good? Did anyone believe in innocent until proven guilty anymore? Clark just didn't think so.

He tried to listen to the rest of Professor Reynolds's lecture, as the professor endeavored to stay on topic for the duration, with no further tangents or angry outbursts. Finally the lecture was over and, just as the professor was about to dismiss them, the door at the back of the lecture hall opened and the professor looked up.

He gaped as he stared at the newcomer and the rest of the class turned to look.

There stood Lex Luthor, looking cool and suave, and oh so metropolitan. He smiled and waved at Clark and Chloe.

"Class over?" he asked, looking at the professor.

Lex walked down the aisle to the front of the room.

"Professor Reynolds, I was wondering if I might have a word with you?" he asked smoothly.

He looked over at Clark and Chloe "I'll see you guys outside in a minute, okay?"

He then turned back to Professor Reynolds, who shouted to the class "Class dismissed."

As the students filed out, everyone, including Clark and Chloe, kept shooting furtive glances back as Lex and the professor stood whispering at the front of the room. Clark hung back letting others leave ahead of him as he unashamedly used his super-hearing to listen in on their conversation.

Lex was saying something about the school's Dean, Lex's large donation of money to Met. U and scholarships he had funded over the years.

"I would hate to think this would have any effect on Clark's education or his ability to continue in your class. I understand that this class is required for Journalism majors and I will speak to the Dean personally about having you replaced if this affects Clark negatively."

"You may have noticed Clark likes to see the best in people. This makes those around him strive to live up to his expectations. I may have changed my wild ways, but I have no qualms about doing damage to your reputation by speaking to the Dean. As it seems you have no qualms damaging mine to an entire class of impressionable students. If I hear anything further on this matter, or hear about my name being spoken again in your classroom, I will have my lawyers contact you with a Slander suit."

"Make no mistake, I have no wish to do this; please do not force me to. Do we have an understanding?"

Professor Reynolds nodded to Lex. "Yes, Mr. Luthor."

Lex nodded tersely at him and turned to leave. As he walked up the aisle towards the slowly exiting students, Lex met Clark's eyes with a smile. Lex knew Clark had listened in on the conversation and didn't mind. Lex knew where he stood with Clark.

When they met in the aisle they turned to leave together, along with Chloe who had waited with Clark.

"So Lex," Clark asked with a smirk, "how was your meeting?"

"Very short," said Lex with a genuine smile. "Do you guys want to go to lunch, since I'm here now?" Lex asked.

"Sure Lex," Chloe and Clark said together.

Clark put his arm gently around Lex's shoulders and gave them a squeeze "Thanks Lex."

"No problem Clark, as I said anything for a friend."

Clark grinned to himself as they walked out the doors into the sunshine, the steps of the building were lined with students who were obviously watching and waiting for Lex to come out. The Lexcorp limo was parked at the curb out front and the chauffeur was waiting patiently at the side of the car, ready to open the door for them.

Clark smiled to himself. Lex always made him feel special, just being in his presence made Clark's day better, but today Lex had made him feel like the most important person in Lex's world. What Lex didn't know was that Lex was also the most important person in Clark's world and it was time he knew that. Clark would be sitting down to have a long talk with Lex later today and maybe then Clark could thank Lex with more than a hug.

Clark felt elated at his resolution to advance things between him and Lex. Today was turning out to be a great day after all.

Clark turned to Lex "Let's go to Santori's, okay Lex? I feel like having Italian."

"Sure Clark, whatever you say."

The chauffeur opened the door for them and they all climbed into the limo. Well, actually Lex got in quite gracefully; Clark had followed Chloe into the limo, tripped and almost taken her down to the seat with him. He righted himself quickly while Chloe snickered at him.

"Klutz," she whispered to him.

"Just trying to cop a feel Chloe," he joked. "You can't blame a guy for trying."

"Ha, ha Kent. If I didn't know you played for the other team I'd be flattered," she laughed.

Clark blinked a few times to get past his shock. Well, it looks like it wasn't going to be as hard to come out to his friends as he thought. Maybe his parents had guessed it too and that would save him the agony of telling them, with his luck, probably not though. Oh well, any embarrassment he felt in telling his parents would be worth it if he got to be with Lex.

He looked over to find Lex sitting very still with a questioning look on his face. Perhaps he was waiting for Clark to refute Chloe's remark, but Clark just smiled at him and winked.

"Later," he mouthed to Lex while Chloe's head was turned. Lex gave Clark's body a thorough going over, with a sensuous look on his face, when their eyes met Lex held Clark's gaze and smirked back at him.

Oh yes, Clark thought, this day was turning out amazingly well. He couldn't wait to get Lex alone, the anticipation buzzed through his body as he settled back into the comfortable seats in the limo.