Title: "Clark Kent" (College AU - Part Seven) Pairing: Karl Urban/Orlando Bloom (Harry Sinclair/Sean Bean) Rating: PG-13 Summary: Orlando can't concentrate in class. Disclaimer: Never happened. Notes: Written for the Comment_Fic Free For All post - my prompts were 'never again' and Harry/Orlando. "And if we discount Adam Smith's theory that selfishness drives true economic growth, then what would be the motivating factor in today's markets...?" Professor Sinclair turned from the blackboard and stared straight at Orlando. "Mr. Bloom? Any thoughts?" Thoughts? Oh yeah, Orlando had a lot of thoughts. Hosts of thoughts, even. Especially on modern economy theory (it was his major, after all). Well, most of the time he had thoughts. That he could articulate, even. In front of people. And sound intelligent and like he'd studied and knew what he was talking about. But then, most of the time, he didn't have Professor Sinclair looking at him. Y'know, like, looking. In that way that he did. With those big golden eyes of his that were framed by those stupidly long lashes (not that Orlando studied them or anything, because that would be weird, studying a professor's eyelashes, even if they were long and black and perfectly framed his eyes and such.) Not to mention Professor Sinclair was always looking at him with that half-smirk, half-smile on his ridiculously chiseled face like he sort of knew that Orlando had a lot of dirty thoughts about him and didn't mind so much and was maybe even amused by it. And, uh, yeah. Who needed coherency? It was sort of like when Karl laughed, like truly deep down belly laughed at something, and his face just lit up from within and his beautifully remarkable eyes (even more beautiful and more remarkable than Professor Sinclair's) sort of crinkled in that really adorable way that they did, and every time it happened, all Orlando could do was stare at Karl in a sort of stupefied trance and imagine burrowing into that laugh and never coming out. Professor Sinclair's stare wasn't quite that awe-inspiring, and Orlando certainly didn't want to burrow inside him and never come out (although he did have the odd fantasy about trapping Professor Sinclair against his desk and kissing his brains out, but he didn't think that counted, since Karl'd had loads more graphic style fantasies about having phone sex with Professor Bean), but it was still enough of a sucker punch to make him lose the power of speech whenever Professor Sinclair called on him in class. Which he tended to do a lot. Orlando was certain he did it on purpose. "Mr. Bloom?" "Uh..." Orlando bit his lower lip. He could feel the heat suffuse his cheeks. It always happened when Professor Sinclair looked at him. Every. Single. Time. He thought he should be used to it by now. "I'm, uh..." "Well, I think that Adam Smith was full of it." Karl, who was sitting beside him, gently nudged at Orlando's foot – part sympathy, part 'I've got this' – and gave Professor Sinclair his best Class-Valedictorian-In-Training look. "Everyone knows Richard Malthus' theories are the true heart of modern economics." Orlando never loved Karl more than in that moment. Karl was totally his own personal superhero, only dressed in a UGA sweatshirt and faded jeans with a hole in the knee and beat to hell Converse. At least Karl had the superhero glasses. Although Karl was far sexier than Clark Kent. And Orlando bet that Clark Kent didn't know enough about classical economic theory to intelligently debate on the subject with a man as distractingly hot as Professor Sinclair, either. And Clark Kent also didn't have a beautifully shaped mouth that perfectly fit against Orlando's, but that was sort of beside the point. "I see." Professor Sinclair gave the two of them a level look, like he totally knew that Karl was covering for Orlando yet again, then turned back to the blackboard. "Since Mr. Urban's brought up Mr. Malthus, let's go ahead and talk a little about how classical theory was starting to change in the late 19th century..." Karl leaned over and squeezed Orlando's knee under the desk. "You still with us?" he murmured. "Yeah," Orlando nodded, taking a slow breath. He placed his hand on top of Karl's and laced their fingers together. Grounded himself. "Thanks." "Eh, you do the same thing for me in Professor Bean's class." "I swear, I don't know how they live with each other and all of that...hotness. They should be in gay porn," Orlando stated firmly. An expectant silence greeted him instead of the low chuckle he'd been going for. With a sinking heart, he looked up. Professor Sinclair was looking back at him. With the smirk in full effect. Fucking fucking fuck... "While I'm sure the idea of gay porn is a lot more interesting than what we're currently discussing – and I am flattered, by the way," Professor Sinclair said, while Orlando just sank in his chair and wished for the floor to swallow him whole, "I doubt the rest of the class is as interested in your fantasies, fascinating though they may be, so let's just stick to the topic at hand, shall we?" Professor Sinclair ended his speech with a rather exaggerated wink in Orlando's direction. Karl smothered his laugh by coughing. The rest of the class didn't even bother with that lame cover-up. Orlando resisted the urge to flee the room like a teenage girl. He already knew he was never going to live this down. Onto Dream Logic Main College AU page If you enjoyed this fic, please leave feedback here. Thanks!