“ no, eve. ” there's an edge of frustration to his voice, but not with her, with himself for failing so miserably at this. he runs a hand along his jaw, the look on her face setting off an ache in his chest. clark rises from his seat, approaching her slowly as he lowers down in front of her chair, his hands reaching for hers. “ look at me, please, ” he says, his voice a soft rumble. “ you are not anyone's ... sloppy seconds. you're amazing and beautiful and smart and ━ ” he pauses, the space between his brows creasing.
“ and you don't see it. ” his thumb absently brushes over the back of her hand. he knows the need for love must be eating her up inside. why else would she seek it out from men like lex and jimmy? men so different, yet so similar in the meager morsels of attention they throw her way. “ you know, you see a lot of potential in people. what they could be, the sort of treatment they might deserve. you give people a lot of love. that's not a flaw. it's not something that would ever change how i feel about you. ”
sure, maybe he can't exactly revel in having feelings for lex luthor's ex-girlfriend, but it doesn't deter him, either. lex resides in a cell in a maximum security prison. he can't hurt eve, and clark would never let him, even if he could.
“ don't you think that you deserve to focus on yourself for awhile? to love eve? ” his lips pull into the beginnings of a smile. “ because, from where i'm sitting, i think that would be the easiest thing in the world for you to do. ” he squeezes her hands.
“ and if you want me around while you figure things out ━ ” and after you've broken up with jimmy, he adds silently. “ then just say the word. ”