A few things to note:

1) Assume everything is slash. If it's not, I tried to remember to tell you, or I made sure they mentioned it right away in the notes.  If it's incest, or something rather off the generally beaten path, I'll mention it directly. Additionally, I'm a hardcore OTP girl here, so somewhere around 98% here are Clark/Lex (Clex) recs. As for sorts of fics you might find--well, I love the Rift, I love the angst fics, I love the domestic and denial fics, and I worship the lengthy epics--so I rec it all.

2) You'll see several repeat names on here, because a) a lot of these were instant recs on my journal, and I copied them over to this page, and b) we all have our favorite authors.

3) *** denotes a story I am especially enamored of; a story that I consider an absolute *must* read in this fandom. In other words: personal favorites that I think have universal appeal. Some are angsty, some are humorous, almost all are AU or future-fic. I use no other classification system other than the cute little asterisks.

4) I don't tend to frame my recs around a technical or structural point--my goal here is to entice *you* to read them, thus, I'm going for either a tiny, interesting summary, or I'll try and show the feelings the story evoked in me:  i.e., this story made me so happy! I cried! I hated that Lex/Clark/Random Character was an idiot but Author A made it totally believable! And so on. Oh, and I am redundant and use words like 'awesome' and 'hot' on more than one occasion. I don't have the time I wish I had to write extensive recs, and you'll notice that I tend to quote directly from the story often. I prefer to have someone read passages actually from the story and see if anything calls rather than me do a rushed job of it. There might be passages that I actually like *better* than what appears here, but if I feel they'll somehow spoil the story for you I'm not putting them up.

5) It strikes me that if the SSA ever goes down; this fandom is screwed. In short, SSA, you are *never* allowed to go down. Or I'll be reduced to trading "favors" to people who have these stories saved somewhere, man.

6) I will blatantly admit that I like hearing from people who read my recs pages. I get giddier when people friend my recommendations blog on journal than when they friend *me*, sadly. (It's this weird thing with validation. Just go with it.) So if you want to offer input on how useful you're finding these pages, that'd be neat. I love hearing if there's anything I can do to improve them, or if you're liking how I've got it structured already.

There are 275 recs on this page as of December 10, 2007. All links were updated.

7) In the summer of 2006, please realize that the SSA changed its domain from .com to .net. Any broken links anywhere, just replace the .com to .net and that should fix your URL issue.

You can find additional resources, including other recs sites on my Smallville Resources Page.

SMALLVILLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Yeah, I don't know how I didn't stay curled in that fetal ball position either, but this story is the coolest thing. I kept having to get up, dance around to crazy pop music for a bit, sit down, read a few more pages and get up again. It took forever to read, but it was the greatest rush. How this fandom does not have more apocalypse fic is beyond me, but maybe we should blame Jenn for that. It's hard to outdo branding, you know?

(Coda-ish: Calm in the House)

A Life More Ordinary by Jenn: Lex, Clark, roommates in Metropolis. Clark decides to move out, and Lex is just the tiniest bit thrown. It's that time-honored tradition where two people are in love with one another and neither of them fully realizes it.

And the pastrami line made my heart ache.

NEW

All the Trappings of Love by Pru | Future-Fic/Humor | PG-13

"I actually...owe all of Metropolis an apology," I say quickly.

These guys look like they're out for blood. I can hear the whispers, all of them. Superman forced himself on Luthor? Sweet God! Someone out there is writing down the words "attempted rape," I can feel it.

And oh shit, I'm going to chicken out on the last part.

"And...I've got to go...fight something," I finish awkwardly and fly away.

Right through the ceiling.

Chloe's going to kill me. She wrote a great speech.

A Nice, Friendly Game by Koi: The summary says: Quarantine at Lex's house, with bondage.

I like how you're not even reading this page any longer. ....if you somehow are? Lex finds out Clark's a worthy opponent, even without reading Machiavelli. Super fun fic.

And Dark Our Celebration Was by Hth: Hmm. Okay, goes something like this:

You: *lalalalala* *reads*

...later...

You: *pounds chest* Ow. Ow, start beating again heart! Owwwwwww!

*whimper*

And Desire Shall Fail by Hrd: Overlord!Clark, concubine Lex, a classic premise. What I like about this story is that the author really hits her stride about midway, and from there on out, it's a fantastic ride. Very well done.

An Englishman in Smallville by Rivka T: Hilarious interactions during this BtVS and SV crossover.

An Ordinary Day by Elizabeth | Future-Fic | PG-13

You're a hard one to catch, Clark. Difficult to pin down, one might say. But now you're here. And you won't be leaving, will you? (Though of course I applaud you for trying.)

I have a story to tell.

There we go. I suspect I finally have your attention. How long has it taken, to get you here like this? To have you really listening to me? (Clark, you have no idea.)

And now we're off and running because you look away, so angry. Like you can see anything anyway. I had the blindfold and gag made special just for you. It's not easy finding tailors who will work with Kryptonite, you know.

"Clark, stop. Stop! Please."

It is the please that gets his attention. Not because Lex never says it. He does. To the servants and when he orders coffee at the Talon and even to Clark's Mom when he asks for white tulips or artichokes for one of his parties. But he never says it the way other people do, as if it's a magic word, as if he might not get what he wants if he doesn't use it.

Only now that's exactly how he sounds. And that's-- that's just profoundly wrong. Because Clark understands what it means. Lex is scared. And that's colder than anything else ever could be.

"Oh, God."

A Picture of Home by Wendi | Humor/Drama | R

Clark choked, swallowing too much chicken, half chewed, and pounded a fist against his chest as he barked laughter between coughs. "No, no. He doesn't care about the cold. He's hungry. Lex, you smell like *food*."

Lex is cleansed. The Spike has this amazing ability to pack *so* much into very brief pieces. Neat read.

Lex has become a calamity junkie, scouring the papers, devouring world news on a wall of tvs in his study, adding up each catastrophe. A hundred is the magic number although once it was ninety-two, another time a hundred and eleven. Just to be safe, he starts to prepare now at ninety, leaving meetings that run late, skipping business dinners and parties, kicking all staff from his condo by sunset.

As the Night the Day by Dana and Alax: RentBoy!Clark fic, and a blast to read. Great sex, good characterization, and you can't put it down once you've started.

If anyone were to look for a model of the unspoiled Kansas farmboy, this boy, Clark Kent, would surely be chosen as the one who easily outshone every other candidate. Innocence, goodness, all but radiate from him, attracting some and confusing many.

Bloodletting by Shalott. Lex/Lois/Clark?. (Question mark not a typo, no.) Very hot, very intense, and you're all, it's so short.

‘He’ used to be ‘they’.

Lex used to make Clark part of ‘they.’
 

Sequel: Inland

Goddamn Clark and his secret powers anyway. Whatever they were. So what? The boy could see through table tops now?

"Lex, it's a glass-topped desk. Not the best place to hide."

Lex propped himself up against the leg of the desk and pulled the bowl of whipped chocolate into his lap. "I'm not hiding."

*giggles*

An absolute must read, and not because I held the "metaphorical knife to her metaphorical throat" or whatever nonsense she says that I made her write this. The conversations between me and her listing all the times she tried to prostitute that boy off might lessen us in your eyes, but we're okay with that. Sequels: Visiting Hours and Arc (in progress)

(Prequels: Scions, Born Slippy, Hibernacula)

Eleven Letter Words by Helena Handbasket: This is that legendary series known for having the best math sequence of all time.

(The other four installments are all linked in the last one: Quietus Interruptus)

End of Innocence by Edie: So. Very. Hot. And there's even Lexana in here. Wow.

NEW

Fake Palindromes by Teot - Clark/Lex

Chock full of sex, sex, more sex and oh, yes, blackmail and bets. Pleasing!

NEW

Fall Into by Lyra Sena: This story has beautifully balanced descriptions without it becoming bogged down in the prose. You can lose yourself in the story so easily. It's just--I'm going to be redundant and say that it's *beautiful*, and it's everything you'd ever want a first kiss story to be.

Lex straightens the collar of Clark’s shirt, tugs the robe around his shoulders, smoothing the fabric. It’s coarse, and the cheap polyester scratches at the tips of his fingers. He looks over Clark’s shoulder and he can see tiny particles of dust falling through the sun-filtered air, and for a moment, he wishes he could, too.

Fall like that. Just let go and drift with no meaning, or choosing.

Like a dream that only ends when Lex wakes up contented – the kind of dream he rarely has. The one where lines blur and shapes collapse, the one that only makes sense in cover of night, before morning brings reality.

The one that tastes like sugar haze.

*points* Can't you just feelbreathetaste this?

"What about you, Lex?" Lana flipped her hair over her shoulder. "What do you like in a woman?"

Lex seemed to grow uncomfortable under the girls' scrutiny. He sat up and ran his finger over the rim of his coffee cup.

"The qualities I value in a person..." He glanced at Clark. "...are intelligence, compassion, and honesty."

Clark stared at the floor, conscious of the fact that he was neither intelligent nor honest. Though one might term him compassionate. If one was feeling generous.

"Beauty doesn't matter to you then?" Clark found himself saying.

"It's certainly a plus. But I don't believe beauty lies at the heart of attraction."

"That doesn't make any sense, Lex," Lana complained. She sat back in a huff, crossing her arms over her breasts. "Attraction is all about beauty."

First Times by Spyhop: Drool-inducing porn.

NEW

For Better or Worse by Mahaliem. Superman and Lex get married fic!

NEW

From Faithless Skin and Freefalling by Vylit. Wonderful, intriguing story--prompt was this: Lex/Chloe/Superman (or Clark), futurefic where Chloe and Lex are a couple and sexually dominate Superman or Clark through the use of Kryptonite, any other kinks as author desires.

Genesis by Sarah T.: Incredible Post-Visitor fic. Helen's p.o.v. and it's perfect.

Getting the Picture by Lenore: Fun, and sweet with a tricky! Lex and a confused and befuddled Clark.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," Lex said, softly enough that it almost hid the vulnerability. "You'll have to tell me what you like."

"Easy," Clark said and bent to kiss the bridge of Lex's nose. "I like you."

"Flattering, but not entirely helpful," Lex said with a trace of lemon in his tone.

"Lex," Clark said with perfect, misleading honesty, "you've never done anything to me in bed that I didn't enjoy."

Amazingly logical and brilliant; with an extremely powerful Clark characterization. And she *nails* that ending like nothing else.

Good Vibrations: The Toy Story by Joyfulgirl41 and Stone Princess: Mmm. Clark and Lex and Lex's purple vibrator.

Got a Room by Spyhop: Oh, gosh the soap line.

Greater than the Sum by Emelerin: A lovely Post-Rift fic. It's her first story, and a great one to kick off what will hopefully be many more.

Hail to the Chief by Lenore: President!Lex fic. He's doing things and putting himself at risk, and of course Clark can't have that. And then you find out the reason why all this is happening in the first place and you sigh and coo and love Lenore.

Heart Attack at 23 by Rhiannonhero: It should be patently obvious by now that I love well-written cliché fic.

Heart of Darkness by Garryowen: This story asks: What if Clark's ship landed on a deserted island instead of Kansas? Hugely romantic, fascinating settings, great narration.

Hideaway by Rivka T: Rivka's on a roll--beautiful story, gorgeous scenery, strong, strong writing, and just so romantic. Clark and Lex take a vacation together. On a beach. Oh, they're still enemies, but Lex agrees to take a vacation because Clark's cracking up with the whole Superman gig. There may or may not be beach sex. I shall not spoil it for you.

Huitlacoche by Velvetglove: (Remix of Beth's "Better Than Creamed Corn"): As you grew older, people wanted to confide in you. In fact, they insisted. You weren't part of the popular crowd, but you got along with most of your classmates. Problems with your little sister were mostly to do with her annoying hero worship and the way she'd sit outside your bedroom door, just waiting for you to come out or invite her in. People told you that you were a good listener, that it was a valuable trait. You weren't always listening though. People just talked at you, whether you wanted to hear them or not.

*shivers*

Ice by Meredith Lynne It might be cold in the setting of this story but it certainly makes me feel warm. There is some gorgeous prose, great first time sex and a look at what makes Clark and Lex tick in addition to all of that. A wonderful read all around.

I (forget) by Elizabeth: Lionel/Lex, written in this almost--detached voice. Clinical, but never cold.

Immortality by Grail: Well. Take "And Dark Our Celebration Was"' rec, multiply that by approximately 35.98 million, and hey, you've got this. Amazing, cool, fascinating story. (But there should be a support group for this story. *cough*)

Invasion of the Body Snatcher by Stone Princess: Missing scene from 'Transference.' What--you know you were all thinking it. No--not Martha/Lionel. Lex/Lionel. *beams*

Inversion by Lenore: Okay--so I know I had some questions about this story--basically, okay, how did they get here kind of questions, but I decided I didn't really care. It's neat and I liked it. If he were raised by your parents and you were raised by Lionel, you wouldn't grow up to be different people? Trust me, you'd be rich and miserable, and he'd be wearing flannel. --Lucas, Prodigal

I Was A Kryptonian's Sex Slave by Te: A story you can always come home to.

Jailbird by Aelita: Funny as heck with a wonderful Lex, and Clark in drag. What more could you ask for? Oh, and just beautiful lines, like this:

Lex doesn't seem to mind, his breathing frantic, as he keeps whispering in Clark's ear, senseless things about beauty and obsession and madness; soft seductive murmurs of being wasted following the lights of the dead, lying stars and deserts full of empty souls.

I think that's one of my all-time favorite lines anywhere.

Clark jerked upright in his bed, looking around for what had woken him. Had he been floating again?

"Lex."

Who was that? Turning his head back and forth, he scanned the room, but even using his x-ray vision revealed nothing. "Who said that?" he said, becoming increasingly creeped out.

"I did."

He saw movement under his sheets and whipped the covers off.

"Let me out of here. We need to talk."

No. It couldn't be. Hastily he pulled down his pajama bottoms. He watched aghast as his cock sprang up, the head bent toward him as if it was looking at him.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life by Zahra: Kal's a DJ. Fresh, different story.

La Vie devant Soi by Melo: It sounds like a moan in the middle of the night, like a car crashing against a bridge, like two destinies finally set up right.

Lay Me Down by Chicklet: Another sweet fic with a good mood to it and fun, fun lines like this:

"So you're storing up energy for tonight?" Lex drapes his pants across the valet and turns to climb into bed. It's like sleeping next to a living, breathing solar-energy panel. A solar-energy panel who saves the world on a regular basis. Take that, Greenpeace.

Leave No Scar by Nifra Idril: All I'm going to say on this one is that Nifra needs to write more of Lois Lane. A lot more.

Le Dormeur du Val by Pun: So this story should give you hope for a few reasons. One of which would be that she started writing this in Season Two and kept at it through the years. I vaguely recall seeing comments in her journal saying "You need to finish Sleepy Clark!" "Punny! Finish that story! It's sooooogoooood."

And those people were *so* right. I was holding my breath through the whole middle section of this, it was just that beautiful. Then I was getting pissed off right along with Lex, and I found myself vaguely wanting Clark to don some kind of black superhero costume and just freak all of Metropolis out and juggle a bomb or something.

A wonderful, wonderful read.

Lex Luthor Stars In: "The Thing That Ate Smallville!" by Ingrid M.: In which Clark talks to sentient jell-o. Kind of. It reminds me of that great Simpsons episode where Lisa accidentally creates a little world in a dish. Good times.

Libera Me by Lexalot: This story had an excellent period feel to it--a great, romantic setting. Fun ending.

He didn't know much about livestock, but he was pretty certain cows didn't fly. He was also sure running over teenagers usually killed them, so perhaps the laws of science didn't function normally in Smallville.

The cow let out a weak "moo," and promptly rolled off the crushed metal. As Lex stared at the remains of his car he remembered why he hated this town.

He dialed the only phone number he knew in Smallville.

"Hello?"

"A cow just crushed my car," he said blandly.

This is the funniest story. Ever. I know. You're saying--Madelyn, you've already *said* that about at least two other stories here. And I was right both those times too. We won't say any of this is mutually exclusive. Shh.

Live Wire by Bren Antrim: Clark likes tasers. Go figure. It makes sense, actually.

Local Call by Grail: In which Clark is an evil phone whore. And phone sex, obviously.

Looking Glass by Jenn: Clark and Lex grow up raised by Lionel...and Martha. Slightly warped family dynamics going on in here, but that only makes it more delicious for me.

Love is Blind by Karen Colohan: The author takes Clark's blindness from 'Whisper' and runs with it. Very nice.

Love for Sale by Lenore: Hugely long, hugely detailed, hugely enjoyable hooker!Clark and the billionaire who grows to love him. The ending is absolutely brilliant and still makes me glow.

Love You More Than Lint by Rose Emily: It's funny, adorable and a great light-hearted read.

"You should talk about it," she said, fixing him with a glare.

Chloe had never mentioned having an English cousin, but the resemblance at that moment was uncanny.

"I beg your pardon?" he feinted, pulling out his silent earphones and going for the 'I'm slightly dim' look.

Macellum by Sylvia | AU | R:

One of my favorite AU's of all time. Inversion fic--Clark is Lex's brother; and *wow*, how much would I give for a sequel to this? I think a lot. Sylvia teased mercilessly with this story and then Livia messed with my head more with Altville. It turns out that I have a huge love for inversion fics like this and "Macellum" will cause you to have one too.

I'm also being selfish with this rec--the story is beautifully open ended and I very much want for more people to write to her and tell her how incredible the story was and just beg for a sequel.

Smallville might be Lian's Macellum, but it was Lex's Gaul. Come back with your shield or on it - and if you do come back victorious, make sure to bring your army, because the Emperor does not like competition.

If he wanted to see Rome again, a Caesar in Gaul needed allies. At this point in time, theoretically at least, Lex was available for an alliance, even a long-term one. If Lian played his cards right. If Lex was at all interested...

Of course he would be interested. He'd have to be an utter fool not to be. Lian would make a very serviceable army, after all.

The silence stretched. Lian wondered why he'd never before noticed how slim and... well, slinky Lex's hips were.

Damn it, this was not helping.

Make Yourself Welcome by Spyhop: Adorable Drunk!Clark.

This story sucked me into being like--a participatory type person on LJ. So y'all can blame Livia for that. She's utterly brilliant, and there are so many scenes in this story that kill me. I used to use this as a highly effective reward system for doing my papers. Every such-and-such an amount of time/words, I'd get to refresh Livia's journal to see if a new section was up. One time my computer died and all I could load were chat windows, and I called up a friend of mine to get on AIM, copy the whole chapter for me and send it through the window.  *That's* how *good* this story is. To this day, I still get shivers picturing him in that tight black suit...*trails off*

It's crack in its purest form.

But Brainiac hadn't infiltrated the Watchtower in order to gain access to the JLA.

It had wanted access to their files. And it had found what it needed: a human in a position of power over other humans, with access to technology and communications equipment. A human who was physiologically far above normal, but not publicly known to be so. An unnaturally resilient body, resistant to illness and quick to repair itself physically in case of injury. It was all documented in the JLA's files, with a special addendum added by Kal-El for the eyes of selected comrades only.

Kryptonite mutation.

It was almost ironic, that Brainiac should have created its own escape route, all those years ago. Had Brainiac not been a bodiless intelligence... it might possibly have smiled.

Marble by Julad: Clark and Lex are *smart*. So *smart*. This story captures the sorts of things they could do if they were on the same wavelength.

Marry Into The Family by Julad: I think I was confused the first time I read this, because I remember going back and re-reading it and laughing so much more the second go-around. It's told through flashbacks that repeat, and it's quirk-ish, but good fun. It begins with this:

Lex sips at his spoon and thinks, it's amazing how chicken and corn soup can change a person. He's born again, baptized with aromatic amber, seeing the world with gleaming clarity and a hint of coriander.

"It's not a tactic," he says mildly, "and I don't care whether or not it you believe it. As my employer, you need to be notified of these matters, so consider yourself informed."

Clark is staring in disbelief, spoon halfway to his open mouth. Lionel stands over him, soup untouched, going purple in the face. Lex feels a tingling sensation he suspects might be happiness.

"Marry?" Lionel shouts, voice rising an outraged octave as it traverses each word. "That's the most absurd thing you've ever bothered to try on me. Alexander Joseph Luthor? Marry? A Kansas schoolboy?"

"Lex!" Clark shouts, jumping to his feet as well. "Were you planning to ask me about this?"

Maybe Baby by Jas Masson: Lex temporarily reverts back to his childhood. Cuteness ensues. Or, as Clark would put it: Little fluffy bunnies playing with puppies weren't this cute. And Protective!Clark. All very happy-making.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis... by Punk | Drama/Future-Fic | NC-17

"Fucking Republicans. That tool Wu is supporting the measure 49 tax cut. He says now that we have Superman, crime is at an all-time low and we no longer need such a large police force."

You feel a sudden stab of guilt. Your most recent anti-crime spree is only going to encourage that kind of thinking.

"Who does he think he's going to call to report all those death threats he undoubtedly gets? Like Superman has time for him." Her fingers zip over the keyboard. "I doubt they have this problem in Gotham. Hey, check this out. Batman rescued a busload of orphans from The Joker and Harley Quinn last night."

"Orphans," you mutter. That freaky showoff.

*small voice* Mommy?

Merrily on High by Emelerin: Wow. Clark is such a *dork*, and this is something precious and swoon-worthy.

Mizuage by Rhiannonhero: Wrong. Seriously hot. But...did I mention the wrong? And yet...still so very hot. Just go read, you'll see my quandary.

Mother Hen by Alax: Lex is sick, and Clark looks after him. So cute. Sit down with a cup of cocoa and a blanket and some rain/snow outside and soak it in.

Nereus Who Tells No Lies by The Spike: With a Lex that will never stop thinking, beautiful imagery and this line: "I never learn, he tells the universe.", why are you still reading this?

Are you back now? See, ^^^that? Is the atmosphere I was originally going for in my Island!Lex story. I don't think that is possible anymore with how my story has morphed, but if I could have written the incarnation of Lex that is going to come out of the waters of "Nereus", I would be a proud woman indeed.

No Angel Came by Rivka T: Spoilers for "Spell". A really well done look at Lex during the piano scene. You're there in every moment. And if you download the song playing in that? (Schubert - Impromptu in E-Flat, Op. 90, No. 2, played by Vladimir Horowitz), it *blows your damn mind*.

*clears throat*

Oooh, that’s hot. Hey. Wait. That’s the wrong pairi--*narrows eyes*--but!
Bruce! Eeeeeee, he knows!
Lex *warned* you, buddy.
But—but—Lex—and—what? Wait. No, what?
NOOOOOOOO! I don’t *believe* you, Rivka! *cries*
BATARANG YAY!
And then *stifled voice* and there, so you see how that happened, OMFG!

This is just an incredibly cool detailed piece with deft juggling of three separate points of view.

No Matter What He Tells You, He's Not a Dolphin by Mahaliem

*squeaks* Of course Clark falls for the plumber line.

Nonstop to Nowhere by Kat Reitz and Tzigane: I'm a sucker for Clark and Lex growing up brothers fic. *vague hand motions* I don't know why that is, exactly, but it's not at though I'm alone. It's the fault of authors like these for making it so *interesting*.

Not to Be by Joyfulgirl41: This story answers two challenges (the Highlander Title Challenge and Five Things Challenge). It's wonderfully well with cool twists weaved throughout, especially in the first one.

Of Epistles and Epiphanies by Nifra Idril | Future-Fic/AU | NC-17 

I’ll say it again, just for good measure: I miss you. Let me be clear that I don’t miss the lying or the hypocrisy. I do, however, miss your company. Your friendship, I suppose.

Oh, What a World by Tiffany Rawlins: Very well written and hot. I--suck at reccing things with good porn. I mean--it's well written and it's hot and you should just stop reading whatever the hell I'm saying and go read the porn, damn you

(Sequel: The Sink That Ate Christmas)

On a Clear Day You Can See The Corn by Tamalinn: This is a rewrite of Sleeping Beauty, which happens to be one of my two favorite fairy tales. Liz paints a fantastic setting.

Also, I think Peteyweather might just be the best fairy tale name ever.

Back at the farmhouse, the fairies proceeded to arm Prince Lex with enchanted weapons.

"You're going to meet Joreficent," Chloe said, "So it's important that you have the means to defeat him." With that, she handed Prince Lex the Sword of Truth.

"Joreficent will attack you. You need to be able to protect yourself," Lana added, and handed him the Shield of Justice.

Peteyweather piped in, "You'll need to look cool." He tied a bolt of red fabric around Prince Lex's neck. "So this is the cape of the American Way."

That always seemed so out of place when Clark thought it. “Jump Lex’s bones.” It was something Pete would say…if Clark ever told him about the whole “I want Lex so badly I can taste it and it tastes like unrequited love and sexual frustration,” thing.

*snickers*

On a Sunday Afternoon by Nifra Idril: The frustration had, by this point, become pretty easy to handle. Clark had two years of experience, after all. More, if you counted the year and a half before he decided to acknowledge the fact that he did, in fact, want to jump his best friend’s bones.
 

Only Human by Jenn: Clark kidnapped and hung from the ceiling. Lex, with a whip. This fic makes me happy in just a multitude of ways.
 

Over Coffee: Lex and Martha in a kitchen. Makes me smile.

Paradigm Shift by Sally Bradstreet: In which there is a BtVS crossover.

Past Grief by Te | Future-Fic/AU | NC-17  | (Te's Past Grief Commentary) One of the first stories I ever read in this fandom, and I think the fact that I read all the traumatizing fic first helped my staying power. At a certain point you get to that pinnacle of: Oh, just--*bring* it, Smallville. You can't do jack shit anymore.

And then you hit something like "Bound", but eh. You win some, you lose some. Fantastic, mind-blowing story that stayed with me.

He remembers that it was Lex who'd said it first: "You're alone."

He remembers that it wasn't enough of a question.

A statement of fact, accompanied by the most fascinating look of horrified wonder. Lex's hands had cupped one of his own, and Clark remembers their warmth and surprising hardness.

He was always surprised by Lex's hardness back then. It just hadn't fit with the rest, even when it seemed like it should.

He doesn't quite remember what Lex had said, because so much of his hearing had been focused on the steady, maddening beeps and hisses of all the equipment surrounding his mother.

His mother.

Personal Call by Shellah: It's exactly what it sounds like.

Petals of Love by Artemis: Featuring naked Clark on the Luthor estate, giving paganism a good try. And so damn hot. When Lex says "Invite me in" and keeps repeating it--so. hot.

Philalexandreia by Arysteia: This story was written for TimIan's Tower-On Drabble Challenge, and I read it when it first came out from that page and loved it. Anyone can write a drabble—it’s 100 words, you can usually make *something* work, but it takes someone with a real gift to make those 100 words pack a punch and make you give a damn about something that is so concise by definition. And to take ten groups of 100 words and string them together so that they actually flow and make sense and don’t leave you feeling unfulfilled is an amazing thing.

It’s even more difficult when you’re writing a story with a pairing people are unused to reading, and you have to build their rapport with readers sometimes only being aware of the parallels from the show peripherally. The author succeeded very well with this as Philalexandreia’s ten drabbles segue perfectly into one another. She shows the strong relationship, the inherent bond between these two men. This is perfectly exemplified here, in the seventh drabble which happens to be the one I personally thought was the strongest:

The women have barely retired when the pledges start. Crude. Bawdy. Time-honoured.

The king’s new bride is younger than his son, and beautiful.

Alexander is pale, uncomfortable, but he’s at his father’s side. This is a day for family.

One voice sounds over the clamour.

“To a new heir. A true heir.”

Alexander’s shaking, but Philip looks away. Hephaistion hates him more in that moment than ever, but he pities him too. The king looks old, and he’s completely misread the situation. Alexander’s presence was an olive branch, the last that will be offered.

The time for family is over.

I love the rhythm of that whole section, and you can picture it all so vividly--I can so see the expressions on their faces throughout, so that was impressive.

Aside from some rumours of a wild teenage past, President Luthor is surprisingly clean. He's a philanthropist, an environmentalist, a devoted husband, and by all accounts the perfect son-in-law.