Affectionately called, Lex is an idiot

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Lex was cold.

There was really no other thought going through his head at the moment. Or really, it summarized everything well, with the shivering, and chattering, and coughing, and overall ache that went along with being so very cold.

He had been on his way to see Anatoly for another of their Russian lessons. Not wanting Anatoly to have to cart all the learning materials they had acquired up to the compound, Lex had insisted on continuing to come to his hut, now yurt, despite the change in weather. And he was prepared for it, in boots, thick pants, heavy shirt, sweater and coat, gloves and even a scarf in glaring primary colors. The only thing he'd forgone was a hat but that was thanks to Luthor pride. He never covered his head, never hid his difference so no one could use it against him. Plus, the fact he had it meant he couldn't sick.

Up until the island but Lex had conveniently forgotten that one small detail.

He'd told himself he'd just stop for a minute to take a rest. A Luthor would not be beaten by cold weather and Lex was determined to make it to Anatoly's yurt. Leaning against a tree, he closed his eyes and just huddled in on himself for a moment. A moment that turned into many long ones.

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[chesspolitik]

Though he would never admit it out loud, the Russian lessons with Lex were the highlight of Anatoly's week. While it was true he enjoyed his friend's company, he had come to find that he enjoyed the teaching as well.

As the appointed hour for their lesson passed, Anatoly grew anxious. Lex was late, which was not like him, and while there was no doubt a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, he couldn't help but worry.

Finally, unable to sit and wait any longer, he threw on his greatcoat and hat, and headed outside, towards the compound. He'd either find Lex there, or someone who might have seen him.

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Lex knew he should move. It wasn't smart to stay in one spot, in fact it was dangerous. But he couldn't bring himself to move another step.

He slid down the tree till he was sitting at the base, arms hugged around him and knees drawn up to his chest as if making himself as small as possible would help keep him warm. It was so easy to just duck his head and sit there and not move...

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Anatoly might have missed him if it weren't for the scarf. But the bright color had caught his eye and when he drew closer and saw the distinctive bald head, he knew why Lex had been late.

Cursing profusely, he hurried to his side and knelt beside him. "Lex?" He shook him, none too gently, afraid that he'd come too late. "Lex, look at me."

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The swearing had been a distant noise but Lex looked up when Anatoly started to shake him. His head, nose and ears were bright red and his lips were starting to look blue. "Anatoly?" He said softly, though it took about all the energy he felt he had left.

[chesspolitik]

He was awake and conscious, this was good. It might be all right yet. He took a deep breath. He needed to be calm and collected and get Lex inside and warm. Everything else could wait.

He held his arms out to him. "Can you stand? You need to get inside."

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Lex frowned as he seriously considered this. Then he nodded slowly. "I think so." It took him a moment but he finally took Anatoly's arms and used the help to stand, despite the protests from his body. This resulted in a strangled cry that be kept behind clenched teeth. "Shit..." he swore softly as made his legs move, leaning heavily on Anatoly.

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Anatoly immediately wrapped an arm around Lex's waist, supporting as much of his weight as he could. "That's it," he murmured encouragingly. "We'll go back to my yurt and get you warm. Can you walk?"

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Instead of talk, Lex had to concentrate on moving his feet, so he just nodded. If he were more aware, he'd be embarrassed at how he was clutching at Anatoly but it was the only way he was staying upright as each step was met with a clenching of teeth.

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Anatoly murmured encouragingly as they made the slow journey back to the yurt. The anger over Lex doing something so appallingly stupid as to leave the compound without a hat would show soon enough, but his immediate concern was to get him safely inside.

"Just a few more feet, and we're there."

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Lex was barely conscious at this point, the ache giving way to cold numbness as he just followed Anatoly along, one foot after the other.

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Once inside the yurt, Anatoly lost no time in directing Lex over to the bed and sitting him down. After seeing how close he was to the verge of unconsciousness, he swore softly. What a damned fool. There was no other word for it.

Gently, he got Lex's coat off, along with the scarf, gloves and mittens. Another moment and he had under the covers and the blankets piled over him. Then, wondering if that was going to be enough, he pulled off his own outerwear and crawled in after him. The warmer the Lex was, the better, and what kind of friend he be if he didn't do all he could to help.

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A part of his brain registered Anatoly undressing him and getting him into bed. A part of him even registered that Anatoly had crawled in next to him. But they were both overwhelmed by the overwhelming feeling of cold, numb and aches warring with the sudden warmth of being inside, under blankets and close to a person.

Before he feel into total unconsciousness, Lex whispered Anatoly's name as he had a passing thought that he wondered if freeing was like drowning. Would he fly?

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Anatoly hesitated for a moment then squeezed Lex's shoulder. "I'm here," he said, though he wasn't sure he'd even been heard. "It's all right."

He laid on his side for a long while, watching over his friend, alert for any change in his condition. But he was not superhuman or proof against the comfort of warm sheets, and soon enough, his eyes closed and he fell asleep, his hand still pressed against Lex's shoulder.

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Hours later, Lex woke up slowly. He laid there for a long time, just registering everything in his head. The last thing he really remembered was walking to Anatoly hut and just becoming so overcome with cold that he couldn't move. He vaguely remembered Anatoly's voice.

Now, he knew he was somewhere warm. But while warm, he still felt an overall ache in his body, especially in his lungs, throat, limbs and nose. He hadn't felt this downright sick since...before the meteor shower. He knew was inside, undercovers and most importantly, there was someone laying next to him.

Finally, he opened his eyes and looked into the sleeping face of Anatoly. He couldn't help thinking back to another time he'd opened his eyes into the face of someone who'd saved his life in the face of his own idiocy. And just like that last time...he felt a connection. A deep one. All the testing and touches, they led up to this moment of clarity.

Struggling with the blankets for a moment, Lex slowly brought his hand up and lightly brushed the curls out of Anatoly's face with a small smile on his chapped lips.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly stirred at the touch, his eyes slowly fluttering open. He caught Lex's eye, and for a few moments, he could do nothing but gaze at him. "I don't know whether to hug you or shake you."

Holding off on doing either for the moment, he took Lex's hand, wincing at how it still felt and held it to his chest - for warming purposes, of course. "How are you feeling?"

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Catching the look, Lex just looked back into brown eyes before he managed a more impish smile despite how he felt. "Your not the first one to feel that way, believe me." Of course, the soft voice turned into a small fit of coughing that he muffled by turning his head into the pillow.

When he turned his head back, he took a moment to marvel at how warm his hand felt against Anatoly's chest. "I feel like something ran over me in a freezer." He ran his tongue over his lips, as he paused a moment to rest his rasping voice. "I apologize, it's been years since I've been anything close to sick. I'd forgotten what it feels like."

[chesspolitik]

"I suspect you're going to find out," Anatoly said wryly. He rubbed gently at Lex's fingers, trying to bring some warmth back into them. "Whatever possessed - no. I am not going to yell."

Not while Lex was recovering, at least. As angry and worried as he had been, he was just relieved that Lex was here, safe if not quite sound. Illness was a minor thing, considering what could have gone wrong.

"But if you ever do anything like that again, freezing to death will be the least of your worries."

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Lex had the decency to look properly ashamed of himself, the blush making his already red cheeks brighter. "My father always did say my pride would be the death of me."

He watched Anatoly rub his fingers for a moment, before he spoke softly again. "Thank you." There was an emotion in his voice the he wasn't sure he could name, but was there all the same.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly paused for a moment to let the hand he'd been holding go so he could take care of the other one. "There's nothing to thank me for."

He met Lex's eyes again. "You are my friend, my closest friend, perhaps. How could I do anything less?"

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Lex swallowed a lump in his throat that had nothing to do with how much it hurt from the no doubt mild case of hypothermia he had. "Then I have a lot more to thank you for. Because close friends are something I've never really had." Till Clark. And even then, Lex knew he was already closer to Anatoly then he'd ever been with the teenager.

Anything else Lex meant to say was buried in a fit of coughing that erupted as he covered his mouth with the hand Anatoly had just released.

[chesspolitik]

Alarmed at the coughing, Anatoly sat up, still holding Lex's hand to his chest. "Would you want me to get you some tea? It might help with the coughing."

Hopefully, the cough was just a side effect from being outside for so long, and not a signal of anything more serious.

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As much as Lex really didn't want Anatoly to leave, the mention of tea sounded positively heavenly. He nodded since he wasn't sure if he could speak with out coughing at that moment.

The coughing also made him feel extremely weak again and he just wanted to curl under the covers and go back to sleep. But of course, instead he tried to sit up. "Please?" He finally asked in a soft, rough voice.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly hated to leave, particularly with Lex looking as miserable as he was, but the tea wouldn't make itself. "I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."

Reluctantly, he let go of Lex's hand and slid out from underneath the covers and prepared for the journey outside. "And you'll stay here, I hope, and not try venturing outside again?"

He didn't think that was likely, but then, he hadn't thought anyone would leave their head uncovered in the snow, so there it was.

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Giving up on sitting up, Lex instead curled up into the blankets again, already half asleep again. It could be noted later that he'd curled up right into the warm spot Anatoly had left without even noticing. "I promise, I won't move from this spot." He said in his soft raspy voice as he yawned and closed his eyes again.

[chesspolitik]

Pensively, Anatoly glanced down, pulling the covers a little closer around Lex. His hand hovered briefly over his forehead, but he refrained from actual contact. Lex needed rest, and he needed to get the tea.

"I'll be back soon," he said again, then left, gently shutting the door behind him.