Possession (NC17)

[zelda]

I debated about putting this in the Crossover section, but I decided to stick with NC17 for now.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from DC comics or Smallville. This is for purely entertainment purposes.

Plot: Don't want to give it away, but this is a dark fic. Set in the near future and Lex has moved a little further down his path and his motivations are unclear. Even to his friends.
Chapter 1

Lex Luthor contemplated the table in front of him, then he glanced up at the man who sat across from him. Marcus Vashenko was second-generation Ukranian and son of the leader of one of Gotham City's organized crime families. The Italians ran New York and New Jersey, the Irish had a pretty firm hold on Boston, but Gotham was falling prey to the import of the Ukranian and Russian influence. Marcus, who was the third child and second son, was a shithead. He had little power, and only his family's name to back him up. He used both more liberally than allotted. Lex was looking forward to knocking him down a few pegs. They were seated at an elegant table in the middle of a game hall in an underground club. For the young, rich, and seedy, this place was the equivelant of their fathers' country clubs.

The club had a dance floor, a bar, and several game rooms for the gamblers among Gotham's rich and careless. Between the two men lay a chessboard, around them were their various bodyguards and entourages. Lex had a guard and a comapnion, Bruce Wayne; Marcus had several guards, a pair of twin girls who didn't look legal, and a couple of snappily-dressed, useless looking idiots who "oohed" and "ahhed" over each move that Marcus made. Bruce, looking dark and stoic as usual, barely raised an eyebrow over their antics. He knew that the Ukranian fool was about to get taken for a lot of money that he could easily afford. The music from the dance floor poured into the room when the door opened up to admit a slight, feminine form. Lex kept his eyes on the board until he heard a familiar voice.

"You'r father's on the phone." A pair of green eyes dashed over Lex's and darted away. A slim hand placed a tiny phone in the palm of the fool seated across from him. Marcus smirked and spoke briefly in Ukranian, which he obviously thought was affording him some privacy. Lex had a high IQ, but his greatest gift was his near-perfect recall. He didn't have a photographic memory, but he wasn't far from one. He didn't speak very good Ukranian, but he understood it enough to catch the gist of the conversation happening in front of him. Marcus was supposed to be somewhere that he wasn't and he didn't feel like complying. After a few short, terse words, he handed the phone back to Chloe Sullivan who turned away from the table.

"Yes sir, yes, as soon as possible." She hung up the phone and walked over to where the twins were standing. The two girls had tilted hads and identical vacant expressions until she whispered to them. Then the girls seemed to sharpen up a little and nodded. Marus tore Lex's attentions from the blonde wo was pretending she didn't know him back to himself.

"You seem to be hesitating over your next move, Luthor." Marcus had barely a hint of an accent, but he was raised in the states so it wasn't surprising. "I'm sorry if my phone call broke your concentration." He threw a disgusted glance over his shoulder. "My assistant was told not to interrupt us." Chloe didn't exactly wilt under his gaze, but she did look away.

"She didn't interrupt my concentration at all," Lex replied. "But why do you need an assistant to babysit you while you're out?" The other man shrugged and began eyeing the twins who seemed to be thrusting their chests out in his direction.

"She belongs to my family, and she hates to come here." He moved his pawn forwrd a space, he wasn't playing recklessly tonight, but with a conservative edge that made Lex suspicious. "I like to watch her uncomfortable." He smiled at Chloe who just stared back. "She's entirely too willful." Marcus' attention was obviously on the twins and not on their chess game. Lex noticed Bruce moving in Chloe's direction. He sidled along the wall but the bodyguards moved over to flank her on either side. Apparently she wasn't just a posession, but a valuable one. Chloe didn't appear surprised at the guards' actions; she just stood and kept her eyes on Marcus who was splitting his attention between the board and the twins.

"So how about raising the stakes a little?" Lex nodded at the pile of cash that lay beside the chessboard. He and Marcus were currently about equal in the number of games won. Tonight, the board seemed to be in Marcus' favor. More of Lex's chessmen were hostage by the Ukranian's edge of the board than Lex had of the other man's.

"You want to lose a little more money tonight?"

"What's a little money when you have other things of value?" Lex let his eyes wander over the twins. Physically, they were delicate like two tiny, dark-haired, little dolls with perfect little faces. "I was thinking of putting up my ferrari in exchange for...say...your two friends." Bruce looked a little more alert and shot him an annoyed expression, but he didn't interfere. Marcus chuckled.

"As much as I adore the girls," he began. "They're here of their own free will." He frowned. "And I don't want your ferrari." Marcus made his move and Lex watched as the man's knight made a surprisingly clever attack.

"So what's the story with your blonde?" Lex made his move and lost his rook. "How did she come into your family?" he kept his tone light. "Is she an hierloom, passed down from the pain in your grandfather's ass to your dad's, now to yours?" They both laughed and Lex moved again. Marcus moved his bishop in to check Lex's king. Lex cursed under his breath.

"Nah," Marcus replied. "She just ended up with us in a trade off." Lex didn't push but moved his king out of danger. "She belongs to my Dad, but he pushed her onto me to make my life miserable." He moved again and smiled. "Checkmate." He and Lex shook hands over the table and Marcus swept up the cash and nodded to his entourage. The idiots massed around, stroking his ego, and the twins took turns giving his round cheeks little kisses. They all walked to the door with Chloe leading the way, talking again on her cell phone. When they'd left, Bruce spoke up.

"What was that all about?" He nodded at the chessboard. "I haven't seen you play so sloppy since school." Lex shrugged and looked out the door at the departing people.

"I guess I just wanted to see what the score was."

"Easy for you to say," Bruce remarked, giving him a dirty look and shouldering him aside. "It was my fucking Ferrari."

Lex followed his friend out of the club. Bruce wasn't really angry. He had more money to waste than God, and he'd obviously been intrigued by Chloe's position. He was a clever man, moreso than Lex knew he gave him credit for. And he'd picked up on Lex's interest immediately. He didn't mention it on the drive back to Wayne Manor. Before they retired for the night, he had a nightcap with Bruce. "So who's the girl?" Lex didn't insult the man by trying to deny knowing her.

"Someone I knew from Smallville." Bruce's dark brows rose with interest. "Haven't seen her in a few years, but she kinda dropped off the radar. Didn't figure her for the type to end up in bed with the Ukranians."

"The Vashenkos have been known to make posessions of people in the past." Bruce regarded the ice in the bottom of his glass mournfully before his manservant, Alfred, discreetly poured him some more brandy. "Usually the family member of an enemy." Lex looked at him with curiosity. Bruce shrugged. "I've had my run-ins with the shadier side of the city from time to time. But since I don't have any family, and a little too much money for their usual tastes, they tend to leave me alone."

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious about what you're going to do about this girl."

"Nothing." Lex finished his drink and bid his friend goodnight. "She got herself involved with the mafia, it's her problem now; and not something I care to look into any more."

*


Chloe wasn't certain what woke her from sleep in her room at the Vashenko compound, but she opened her eyes, certain that she wasn't alone. Gritting her teeth, she told herself that she'd known this would happen at some point, she had just been hoping it wouldn't. She turned over and saw a dark figure in the corner of the room beside her bed. She gasped but a gloved hand came over her mouth and masculine weight pressed her back to the mattress.

"I'm not going to hurt you." The deep voice had a husky edge. Chloe could see very little in her darkened room, her drapes had been pulled and there was no light coming in from the window. "I'm going to take my hand away and I just want you to answer some questions; I don't have a lot of time." Chloe nodded and the weight on her body eased off as the hand covering her mouth lifted. She could've screamed; the Vashenkos guarded her as they did their other possessions. She didn't; instead she sat up, clutching the covers to her breasts.

The dark figure sat back on the edge of her bed. It was a man, she figured that by the voice and size, but she couldn't tell what he looked like.

"Who are you?" Her voice was rough from sleep.

"That's not important." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Okay, I don't want to tell you."

"That's better." She scooted back and rested her back against the headboard. "What do you want to ask? And why did you feel it necessary to break into the compound in order to ask it?" She looked around her. "How did you get in here, anyway?"

"I'll ask the questions."

"Uh, no."

"I don't really think you're in much of a position to argue." The slightest edge of amusement entered his voice. He was threatening in a different way than Boris Vashenko was.

"Oh, I disagree." She crossed her arms. "I've been threatened by lots of people over the years and you need some lessons on menacing." She put her fists on her hips. "I know menacing."

"This is where I disagree, Miss Sullivan." The man traced a finger along her foot and when she started to slide it away, he held it in an iron grip. "I didn't come here to give you more fear, but I can if I don't get what I want." Chloe's playful bravado faded. She'd been counting on him not being there to kill her, but it didn't mean he couldn't leave her with some injuries as a message. It wouldn't be the first time.

"What do you want to know?" He released her foot and she pulled her knees up to her chest. "I don't really have any information on the Vashenko's business practices."

"If I wanted to know about their business," the man said dryly, "I'd read the obituaries." He moved to lay on his side, adopting a casual pose at the end of her bed. She saw that his face was covered by a mask with two eyeholes. It looked odd, Halloweenish, but more than just a little intimidating. "I want to know how you came into their possession."

[Queen Of Tact]

hmmm this looks like it could be a very good fic... I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Chloe go into know.... post more soon....



CC

[June]

Originally posted by zelda@Jan 24 2005, 01:41 PM
She saw that his face was covered by a mask with two eyeholes. It looked odd, Halloweenish, but more than just a little intimidating. "I want to know how you came into their possession."
Awe, I love Bruce Wayne, like really, really, really love Bruce Wayne. And you know what I love even more than Bruce Wayne... Batman, and his obsession with the blondes. But even more than that I love Chlex, and Zelda, I love your chlex stories.

I knew it wouldn't be long until you started a new fic, I was hoping anyway. So glad you did, I enjoy reading everything from you. Great start.

[zelda]

A/N: There is some smut in this chapter, but no Chlex yet. This is a dark fic, just to remind.

Eight months earlier:

Chloe sat in the living room of Boris Vashenko. He was eyeing her carefully over his cup of coffee. She'd dressed carefully in business attire and even had her briefcase with her. It had been searched, of course, but her privacy was the least of her worries.

"I know you make deals like this, Mr. Vashenko." Her voice was stady. "I'm just trying to make an exchange." She looked him squarely in the eye.

"And what's your connection to the boy and his mother?" Boris's deep voice filled the room, though he spoke in low tones. "I know you're not family to them."

"I owe Nick. And now I'm trying to repay the favor."

"He owes me a lot of money."

"I know." She didn't whine. "And you know that his mother can't possibly pay it." She paused. "If Nick and his mother work off his debt you just have two, uneducated pairs of hands to do manual labor or whatever it is you do." She brushed the thought aside. She knew very well what he did, but she didn't want him to think it interested her. "I'm offering myself in exchange."

"Why would I want you?" Boris regarded her across the room. "What do you have to offer me?" She blushed and swallowed the lump in her throat. "And don't be coy, I already have a mistress and I don't care for blondes." She hid her relief.

"Not that I listen to rumors or anything," she began, "but I know that you appreciate intelligent help. And I can be that for you for a period of six months."

"You think highly of yourself."

"I'm not exactly sweatshop material; I'm educated, resourceful, and I know that you like the idea of possessing people." She'd taken a big chance by saying it out loud. If she offended him, he could take it very badly. Instead, he smiled.

"You wish to belong to the Vashenko family?"

"No, I wish for billions of dollars and no split ends." She looked him in the eye. "But I'm willing to belong to your family, and work for you in exchange for letting Nick and his mother off the hook."

"Do you truly understand what you are asking?"

"Do you know what you'd be refusing?"

Boris had laughed heartily. She knew, with a mixed sense of dread and relief, that she had him. Boris Vashenko had grown up with no possessions until he'd gone into crime. He'd clawed his way to power and moved to the states where he'd set up the family business. He was now partially retired with his son, Sasha, holding most of the power. He have influence and command respect. And he had an odd fixation, a fixation that Chloe intended to exploit. He liked to own people.

"Let me think about this, then I give you my answer." He gestured for her to leave and she fought the urge to ask about Nick. She doubted that he was dead yet, otherwise he'd have been found already.

The next Twenty-four hours passed with Chloe trying to comfort Nick's mother, Jenna. She hadn't told the woman what she'd said to the man, just that she'd attempted to make a deal with Boris. Jenna didn't ask the specifics and Chloe knew that although the woman wasn't mean-hearted or uncaring, she would've traded anything for her son...even Chloe.

Chloe was at work at the magazine where she was a columnist when her desk phone rang. She answered it and followed the instructions she was given. She left her purse, her coat, her keys, and walked out of the building without a word to anyone. A limo waited by the curb and she got in without question. She knew she was being tested. Boris wanted to know that she would drop everything for him and she did.

Chloe was taken to the compound and introduced to Sasha. Sasha was a younger, taller, bearded verion of his father. He asked her about her job, and her family. She answered every question quickly and humbly. Then a guard had brought Nick into the room. When she saw him, bruised and bloodied but alive, she ran to him and embraced him.

"What're you doing here?" The Sixteen-year-old was having trouble talking around his torn lip. He allowed Chloe to kiss his face gently. "Where's Mom?"

"Take the boy home to his mother." Chloe knew that her offer had been accepted.

"Get out of town and take care of your mother," Chloe whispered to him. "Don't worry about me." Nick looked distressed but didn't have the option of asking anymore questions as he was taken out of the room.

"You belong to us now." Sasha didn't look very interested in her. "You will live in a guest room upstairs for a period of one year." Chloe had expected this. Sasha knew she wouldn't balk at the extended time period after she'd seen Nick's face. "My father made the deal, but you will work for me."

"In what capacity?"

"I need someone to look out for my son." Sasha offered her tea and dismissed everyone in the room except for his guard. "He has guards for his safety, but I want you to keep an eye on his activities and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."

*

"So you've been living here ever since?" The man sitting on Chloe's bed looked surprised, or at least, she figured he did. She couldn't see his expression.

"Yeah, I didn't go back to my job or my apartment. I can call my father from time to time, but I can only see him on the holidays." She shrugged. "Nick's safe and I only have four months left."

"Why do this?" He gestured around the simply furnished room. "What was with you and the kid, anyway?"

"He saved my life. I owed him." The man nodded. "And besides, it could've been a lot worse."

"You tell yourself that to sleep at night?" His voice had an edge to it now. "Are you sleeping with Marcus? Is that part of the arrangement?"

"Not so far," she answered. "But technically, they reserve that right." She swallowed. "Boris makes the final call, and anyone who wants me has to go through him first."

"And you'd submit?"

"You say that like I have a choice." Her voice was bitter and she started to slide out of bed. Large hands held her knees and stopped her.

"Stay put." She stayed put. "So Marcus doesn't sleep with you?"

"Marcus is too into the twins to be interested in anything but making me miserable." She looked at the drapes and felt a tiny tear slip out of the corner of her eye.

"You're lying." A gloved hand caught the tear and fingers closed on her chin. "Has he touched you?"

"Why do you care?" She started to move away from him and this time, when he tried to stop her she opened her mouth to shout. The man was too fast, however and she found herself pinned to the mattress with his hand covering her mouth again.

"If you try to scream again, I'll hurt you." He fastened his hand around her throat. "Answer the question."

"Yes. Whenever we're alone, he finds some excuse to grope at me without crossing the line, but he's going to do it eventually when he thinks his grandfather won't find out, or won't care."

"Like after your year is up."

"He's already hinted as much."

"No more indentured servitude, but no more protection." The man was lying on top of her and didn't seem bothered by their close proximity during the interrogation. "Well, that's all I wanted to know for now." He wasn't wearing any cologne that she could detect, but his breath held a hint of brandy on it. He was staring at her and his hand flexed on her throat, as if he contemplated squeezing the breath from her. "I'll be seeing you around." Then he stood and lifted his hand, a brief, bright flash of light came from whatever he was holding and Chloe was temporarily blinded. When the spots cleared form her vision, he was gone. She guessed that he'd left through the window, but she hadn't heard anything.

Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce entered the house through the caves and went to the console where he'd placed Chloe's file. Since he'd seen her three days earlier at the chess game, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. He removed his mask and tossed it on the desktop. He needed a different look. Something that was a little scarier, then maybe girls like Chloe wouldn't be quite so...he searched for the right word to describe her. Snarky. Right, if he had a scarier look, girls like Chloe wouldn't get so snarky with him when he woke them up in the middle of the night.

Bruce tapped a few buttons on the console and brought up the cameras in the manor. He selected the one for the guest suite. He figured that by Three AM, Lex would be finally asleep after the long night they'd had. Instead, he raised his eyebrows at the sight and sounds that greeted him. Lex wasn't in bed, exactly. He was sort of half on the bed, more hanging onto the side while he fucked the brunette that he'd brought home. Bruce wondered if this was round two, of if Lex really had the stamina he was rumored to possess. From the sounds that the woman was making, she looked about ready to come and Bruce zeroed in on her face as it contorted. His cock twitched in his pants. He was already a little stiff from his close proximity to the goofy little blonde; he really needed to learn a little self-control or he was really going to embarrass himself sometime.

Lex was talking dirty and Bruce turned up the volume just a little to catch what he was saying.

"Yeah, that's right, Bitch. Take what Daddy Lex gives you." Bruce held back a chuckle when Lex slapped her round bottom as he pounded away behind her. The girl was clinging to the satin sheets and trying to held herself still. The slippery sheets were working against her though and she kept sliding forward, unable to control her movements. It was how Lex liked it. He wanted to be the one to control everything. Bruce shut off the console when the girl finished and Lex pulled out of her to jerk off on her back. He did not need to go to sleep with visions of his friend's dick in his head. He wondered about the other eccentric billionaire. He wondered how he could just not care about someone he'd known who was in trouble.

*

Lex glanced at the clock beside the bed he was in. Its numbers proclaimed it to be very close to Four in the morning. The sweat from his earlier exertions had dried and his companion was sleeping soundly beside him. Too bad, because he was getting another erection. He debated waking her for another round but decided that he didn't like her company enough. He also wasn't usually this hot and bothered so many times in one night but he didn't have to wonder at the cause. Chloe.

Seeing the girl he'd known from Smallville had been a surprise. Once she'd graduated from highschool, she'd left town and put some serious distance between herself and his father. She couldn't blame her for cutting ties with him as well. her connections with him had brought nothing but grief. Now, however, she'd apparently found herself some new trouble. He'd looked into the Vashenko family business after the last Chess game with Marcus. He wondered why he hadn't seen Chloe with him before; he figured it was because she was avoiding him. Not that he could blame her for wanting to avoid the humiliation of seeing someone from her old life while she was in slavery. Such a proud girl to be reduced to a possession.

Lex stroked his hardening length at the thought of owning Chloe. What would it be like to own her? To completely dominate her without raising a hand. The possibilities were nearly endless in Lex's imagination. He could force her to walk down the street in the nude, he could order her to suck off his friends while he watched; just to make her do it. But those thoughts didn't excite him as much as the idea of keping her all to himself. He wouldn't have to chain her to his bed, she'd be bound by ownership, without rights. He reached for the brunette, shaking her gently to wake her. She mumbled in slight protest when he pushed her under the covers but her mouth closed on him just the same. He watched the rhythmic rise and fall of the sheets as she sucked him and imagined ordering Chloe to vote for whichever presidential candidate he wanted. Just for kicks.

[lexchloe]

First off :yay: :yay: new Zelda fic!!!! Just read the first two updates, very interesting start. I love the Chlex and ultimately want them to hookup but right now Lex seems like a bit of a dick although I do admit I am curious to see how Chloe would handle being his 'posession' !!! Bruce on the other hand seems....mmmmm. :biggrin: More soon please.

[randa]

:yay: im so excited!! its a new zelda fic!!

okay, just loved this cause its all dark and stuff. and i know i should probably not like lex right now, but i gotta kick out of the last line! :biggrin:

more soon


randa

[hfce]

Wow Lex is a real ass in this one. But you did say dark. She might as well stay with the mob. More please.....


Hope :)

[nokchan]

Lex stroked his hardening length at the thought of owning Chloe. What would it be like to own her? To completely dominate her without raising a hand. The possibilities were nearly endless in Lex's imagination. He could force her to walk down the street in the nude, he could order her to suck off his friends while he watched; just to make her do it. But those thoughts didn't excite him as much as the idea of keping her all to himself. He wouldn't have to chain her to his bed, she'd be bound by ownership, without rights. He reached for the brunette, shaking her gently to wake her. She mumbled in slight protest when he pushed her under the covers but her mouth closed on him just the same. He watched the rhythmic rise and fall of the sheets as she sucked him and imagined ordering Chloe to vote for whichever presidential candidate he wanted. Just for kicks.

Am I very twisted if I kinda thought this was :drool: .. you know?

Well update!

And YAY a new zelda fic!

[autumngold]

Damn Lex is mean in this story!! I hope that Bruce can save Chloe from Marcus, I think that he would be nicer to her than Lex!! Thanks for the new story!! Can't wait for more!! :crygreen: :chlexsign4: :crygreen:

[§åß®îNå]

I like how you have developed the characters, Chloe is so brave and loyal towards her friend Nick, she just kick ass! her story with the mafia clicks perfectly.

I like the idea of Lex being so bothered by just seing Chloe after all these years. I cant wait to read more of his dark and possessive attitude. Oh and having Bruce Wayne is also a bonus.

Im enjoying this fic a lot! very refreshing and I just love future fics like this one.
Is just so interesting that makes you want to read more and more!

[kitten]

Originally posted by zelda@Jan 24 2005, 10:56 AM

Chloe was at work at the magazine where she was a columnist when her desk phone rang. She answered it and followed the instructions she was given. She left her purse, her coat, her keys, and walked out of the building without a word to anyone. A limo waited by the curb and she got in without question. She knew she was being tested. Boris wanted to know that she would drop everything for him and she did.



"So Marcus doesn't sleep with you?"

"Marcus is too into the twins to be interested in anything but making me miserable." She looked at the drapes and felt a tiny tear slip out of the corner of her eye.

"You're lying." A gloved hand caught the tear and fingers closed on her chin. "Has he touched you?"

"Why do you care?" She started to move away from him and this time, when he tried to stop her she opened her mouth to shout. The man was too fast, however and she found herself pinned to the mattress with his hand covering her mouth again.

"If you try to scream again, I'll hurt you." He fastened his hand around her throat. "Answer the question."


Oh, Chloe, you're a magnet for trouble and for some reason you're too proud to ask for help. I hope she gets more cautious because the paragraph where she just walks into a car was chilling.

And I know you were probably referring to the Lex and brunette smut, but damned if Bruce Wayne breaking into a gal's bedroom doesn't seem pretty hot, too. He reminds me very much of Lex when faced with a Chloe in trouble.

Great opening chapters. I'm intrigued by everything, especially the idea of a grown-up Chloe risking herself to save a teenager in a situation that has parallels to her own past with Lex. How many years after graduation from Smallville High is this set?

[Thessaly]

Originally posted by zelda@Jan 24 2005, 02:56 PM
"Yeah, that's right, Bitch. Take what Daddy Lex gives you."
Oh God. I can see it now, "Chlex: The Musical". It was a hard knock life for Orphan Chloe until she was plucked from an evil compound and (ahem) possessed by a mysterious bald billionaire who liked her to call him Daddy.

In conclusion and in no particular order, "Dearie, dearie me", "Yaaay, zelda", "Get off Lex, you brunette trollop", "Oooh, Bruce, you scamp" and "More pleeeeease!"

Thessaly

[zelda]

A/N: Okay there are scenes of violence and hints of past violence.
Lex faced Bruce at the breakfast table after sending his companion home. She'd been very tired so she hadn't complained, probably eager to get home before he tried to have her again. She'd been a pretty good sport about the whole thing, only complaining about their last round making her a little sore. Bruce hadn't commented on Lex's choice in women until asked.

"So what did you think of Julia?" Lex sipped his coffee and thanked Alfred who placed a plate in front of him. Bruce regarded him over the newspaper he'd been reading.

"I'm sure she's a lovely girl," he said, noncomittally. Then added a jibe. "Nicer when she's had some sleep." Lex caught the comment and laughed.

"She'd have probably been game for an additional partner if you'd been interested." Bruce put down his paper and raised an eyebrow at his friend. "What? Don't you like brunettes?"

"Sure I like them just fine," Bruce answered, "but I don't like to share." He sipped his own coffee. "Given my druthers, I prefer clever blondes to vapid brunettes."

"Ahhhh." Lex sat back and crossed one ankle over his knee. "I wondered when we'd get back to the subject of the enchanting Chloe Sullivan."

"She didn't seem to want to talk to you." Bruce took a bite of toast and chewed thoughtfully. "Did you two part on bad terms?"

"In order to 'Part' we'd have needed to be together," Lex said. "And we were never an item." He narrowed his eyes at his friend. "But I didn't tell you about her, so I wonder what makes you think she's clever? I mean, she got herself into trouble with the Ukranaians. You've got to be pretty stupid to do that." Bruce didn't answer. "You've done some checking on her, haven't you?"

"I just wonder why you weren't more interested in what happened?"

Lex shrugged.

"Hey, she gets out in four months, I'll ask her then." He realized his mistake as soon as he'd said it. Bruce grinned evilly.

"And just how do you know that she 'gets out' in four months?"

"Okay, so I asked around a little. She and I were actually...friends once."

"You gonna do anything about the current situation?" His blue eyes cut into Lex's. "Or do I have to." Lex smiled and sipped his coffee.

"I think I might make an offer to Boris Vashenko. Another trade-off for her." Bruce's features darkened a little but he just nodded. "I'm going to go back to the game room tonight and see what I can do with Marcus."

"Count me in, but we take your car."

*

Chloe had just finished dressing when there was a soft knock at her door. It was opened by one of the gaurds and Sasha walked in. She started to stand up but he gestured for her to remain seated. He treated her like a favored pet more than an employee. He smiled briefly and sat in one of the other chairs.

"Good morning, Mr. Vashenko."

"Good morning, Sullivan," he replied. "It has come to my attention that Marcus has been spending a lot of time at the game room in that club he goes to." Chloe nodded.

"He plays chess there with Lex Luthor."

"You know this Mr. Luthor?"

"I know of him." Sasha frowned and she felt her mouth go dry.

"You know I hate it when you are less than truthful with me, Sullivan." He gestured with his hand and Chloe stood up, raising her shirt over her head and turning around, placing her hands on the vanity. She kept it on her arms in front of her and automatically bit down on the fabric while Sasha loosened his belt. "I know you appeared as a witness in court against his father, and you tell me that you only know of him?" His accent always got heavier when he was angry. The first lash of the belt hit her ribcage and she bit down hard to keep from crying out. after the fifth, Sasha stopped. "Tell me what you know about him."

"Why do you-" her words were cut off by another lash from the belt, Since she'd let go of her shirt, she couldn't hold back the cry that escaped her lips. Then she gasped out her answer. "We had a common friend and a common enemy, we weren't even close friends. I just helped him put his father in jail for a while." Sasha's cool palm soothed over the marks he'd left on her. After eight months of this, she still hated herself for craving the gentle touches he gave her. She knew it was like Stockholm Syndrome, and though she certainly didn't love the man, she was forced to rely on him for protection, instruction, and approval. When he punished her, it was never sexual, and when he soothed her, it was like being petted as a dog.

"What would his interest be in Marcus?" Chloe knew better than to say she didn't know. She improvised.

"It depends on what Lex thinks he can get out of Marcus." No lash came, but Sasha didn't pet her either. She took it as a signal to continue. "I haven't spoken to him in years, but from what I can recall, Lex could be really sneaky about getting what he wanted. He would always use subterfuge. Anything he asked for directly was refused by his father so he'd find ways around that."

"He sounds like a clever man, do you admire him?"

"He protected me once, and he failed me once, I can't trust him completely, but I do appreciate his resourcefulness." She debated about satisfying her curiosity. "Has he been troubling to Marcus? They seemed to be friendly."

"Do you watch them play chess?"

"Not usually," she replied. "Marcus doesn't like me in the room when he plays. He says I bring him bad luck." Sasha laughed and Chloe releaxed a little. "I usually wait in the hall with one of the guards."

"My son seems to find you very fascinating." The cool hands were over her head now. He pulled her shirt back down and smoothed it carefully. "He has asked his grandfather about you many times." Chloe stiffened and turned around to face Sasha. "My father has refused, but with Marcus' birthday coming up, he might just say yes." Chloe fought to keep her facial expressions under control. "But I don't think you want that."

"I know that I belong to your family, and if Boris says yes, I can belong to anyone he wants." She raised her chin, unable to stop her words. "And other than your little 'discipline sessions' you can't touch me either." She knew that Sasha had become interested in her after about six weeks into her captivity. He'd become protective of her in regards to the other staff members and family members. Eventually that changed to something bordering on obsession. Since he couldn't fuck her, he beat her instead. He knew he was creating a bond between them, the pain he inflicted made her crave the comfort he gave afterward. She was a slave with no options but to submit to whatever she was dealt. Today was no different, and her mouth got her a visit from the family doctor and the inability to do anything but lay on her stomach.

*
Bruce sat back like before and watched as Lex systematically allowed Marcus to win the first round of chess. He also encouraged the other man to drink large quantities of alcohol. Bruce excused himself and went to look for Chloe but didn't find her in the club. He returned to the table and gave Lex a look.

"So where's your little blonde watchdog tonight?" Lex eyed the board, as if concentrating. "Is it her night off?" Marcus barked with laughter, spraying Lex with droplets of spittle. He wiped them away discreetly.

"That stupid bitch doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. She won't be up and around for a couple of days."

"What did you do to her?" Bruce had stepped away from the wall.

"I didn't touch her," Marcus looked disappointed. "My father is the only one to punish her." He seemed to realize that he'd revealed personal information and shut his mouth, eyeing the dark-haired man carefully. "Why do you care so much?"

"Just trying to figure out how well Lex's Rolls is going to be treated," he said. "Best way to figure that is to see how a man treats his other possessions." Marcus' cell phone rang and he answered it. Bruce took the opportunity to step into Lex.

"Get it done quick, I'm going now." Lex didn't dare to argue. "I'm going back to the bar, anyone want a refill?" He didn't wait for the replies, but made his exit. As soon as he was clear of the room, Bruce pelted down the hallway and out of the club. He knew that Lex would be driving over to the compound so he hailed a cab. He got out within a block of the compound and slipped into the bushes. he had worn all black for a reason, and his shoes were discreete climbing shoes that looked fairly normal at a glance. He knew that Lex would have questions about how he'd gotten in, but he'd tell him that he bribed the guards or something.

Chloe lay on her bed, feeling the soaked material of her shirt cling to her skin. It wasn't blood, no the doctor had cleaned the injuries she'd sustained from the leater belt, but he'd given her nothing for pain so she was soaked in sweat. She didn't hear anyone enter her room, but again felt the presence of someone else. Fear made her move quickly and she bit her lip to hold back her cry of pain as her torso twisted to see who was there.

"Who are you?" The man in her room was tall, probably a little over six feet. He had broad shoulders, dark hair, and a hard jawline. He stepped forward and she shrank back, wincing in pain as she did. He stopped and held out his hands, palms out. Chloe was panting with exhaustion and her arms were trembling.

"I'm not going to hurt you Chloe." his voice was soft but familiar. "I came to take you out of here."

Chloe nearly wept with relief and frustration. "You can't," she said, struggling off the side of the bed. "If I run, I forfeit my end of the bargain and my friend dies." She backed away from him when he came closer. "Please, I can't go with you." She was dizzy and tired and standing up made all the blood rush away from her head. She swayed on her feet and Bruce walked up to catch her before she fell. "God, don't touch me!' She said as his hand came in contact with her lower back.

"I'm here to help."

"Who are you?" Tears ran down her cheeks and she fought back sobs of frustration. "Why come now?" She was pale and breathing heavily. Bruce knew the signs of shock. It could be from trauma or injuries, he didn't know, but she was about to drop.

"My name is Bruce Wayne, and I can help you." Chloe fainted but he managed to catch her before she hit the floor. There was a knock at the door as Bruce was lifting her body onto his shoulder. The first guard through the door got a foot in the middle of his chest and flew into the second. Hoisting her slightly to adjust for her weight, he headed for the window when he heard the click of a hammer being drawn back on a pistol.

"Stop!" ordered the voice. "Drop the girl and turn around." Bruce fought his rage back into the little ball where he kept it inside and turned around calmly. He knew Sasha Vashenko on sight. "I said put her down."

"What did you do to her?"

"What I do to Sullivan is none of your fucking business." The other two guards were regaining their feet and once they had their weapons drawn, Vashenko put his away and started forward. The look in his eyes was one of desperation. "Just give her to me." He held out his arms.

"Not in this lifetime."

"Kill him." The two guards raised their pistols before another voice broke in, speaking Ukranaian. They spoke too rapidly for him to understand, but when Boris Vashenk came into view, he knew that Lex had come through.

"But she belongs to me-us." Sasha said, correcting himself quickly.

"No," came another voice in the hallway. Lex stepped into the room, looking around it with disdain. "She belongs to me now." Lex was cool and barely gave Bruce a glance. "I made an arrangement with your father to trade her for something else."

"What?" Sasha looked at Boris.

"Your foolish son." Boris had spoken in his native language, but this time Bruce understood. "We let the girl go with them, and then Marcus comes home."

"You deal with these men?"

"The guards told me the truth, Marcus got himself into this mess, he is unhurt-"

"And I'd be well within my rights to deliver him in the same condition that my acquisition is in." Lex spoke rough but understandable Ukranaian. "Should I do that?"

"Take your slut and go." Lex slapped Sasha with an open palm. "You strike a member of the Vashenko family?" Sasha was red-faced, more from embarrassment and rage than from pain.

"You might be able to get one of us," Lex said calmly, gesturing for Bruce to take Chloe out the door. "But no family would ever try and take both Luthorcorp and Wayne enterprises on." He smiled. "If one of us dies, the other will wipe out everyone in your whole family," he paused, "Right down to the babes in arms."

"Over one little girl?" Boris eyed him.

"It's about honor," Lex said. "I owe her one." He let Bruce pass by him carying his precious burden, Sasha's eyes followed the blonde's limp form. "Guess I can do whatever I want with her now, can't I?" he taunted. Sasha spit on his shoe.

"I think you'll find I've left a lasting impression." Boris took his son's arm and restrained him while the two men and Chloe left.

Bruce carried her down to the Rolls where he got into the back seat with her. Lex sat in the passenger seat and Alfred drove.

"Should we stop at the hospital, Master Bruce?"

"No, just get the medical supplies from home and bring them to my room when we get there." It was dark and Bruce didn't dare to check her injuries in a moving vehicle.

Lex's stomach was tied in knots. He didn't know what had disturbed him more, the sight of Chloe's limp form with a few smears of blood coming through her shirt, or the look on his friend's face while he held her. Bruce was attached already. He was always weak when it came to the wounded doves. It might make taking Chloe away more difficult. The game had been easy enough, he'd just maneuvered Marcus into a spot where he'd had to offer up himself or look like a coward. Then Lex had taken him with three quick moves and beaten feet over to the compound. Once they were inside the gates of Wayne Manor, Lex called the Vashenko compound and just barked out where to find the youngest son. Lex had hired extra hands to take Marcus to a warehouse downtown and now that they had Chloe, the men would leave him there for his family to find.

Bruce carried Chloe gently, feeling the stickiness of blood soak through her shirt. She was starting to come around and Lex tagged behind, silently observing. She moaned when he set her down on his large bed, then he rolled her onto her stomach. He ripped the t-shirt from the collar to the hem in the back and parted the two sides. Lex sucked in a breath at the angry-looking wounds on her back.

"Leather belt." Lex walked around the other side of the bed and took off his jacket. "Looks like he really worked her over." The welts were various lengths and depths. Some were merely raised and red while others had broken the skin. The worst ones were on her shoulders where it looked like the skin had been torn from the edges of her shoulderblades. Alfred cleared his throat from the doorway and Bruce nodded him in. He approached carrying a tray laden with first aid supplies. Bruce first sprayed on antiseptic with pain-releiver to take the edge off her discomfort. She started to wake.

"Lex, hold her arms and talk to her, just don't let her move." Bruce was already opening packets of gauze and he handed Alfred two vicodin and asked him to get some water. Lex didn't bother to ask where he got the prescription painkillers. One billionaire to another, they both knew they were esy to come by. Chloe opened her eyes and turned her head. She felt hands on her upper arms and tried to move.

"It's okay, Chloe." The voice was familiar. "You're safe now." Her eyed focused on a familiar face. She whispered his name; he smiled gently. "Yeah, I guess it's been a while. We didn't get to talk the other night." He kept his voice calm. "I'm here with Bruce and we're going to take care of your back, so just try not to move." Alfred returned with the glass and a straw. Lex took his hands away from her arms and told her to open her mouth. She did and he popped the pills in and pressed the straw to her lips. She swallowed but kept her eyes on him.

"What's going on?" Her eyes were bright and her skin was hot, he guessed that the fever was making her a little confused. "Where am I?"

"You're in my house." Chloe turned her head to look at Bruce. "Hi," he said, quietly. He was distracted for a moment, then began asking her questions. "Were you given medical treatment at all?"

"The Vashenko's doctor," Chloe said, haltingly. "He wiped up the blood and gave me a couple of pills, he said it was antibitotic." She was forcing the words out. Lex and Bruce exchanged glances. She was fighting the urge to remain silent. Given that she'd been a possession for eight months, Bruce was impressed that she was able to say anything at all. He waited until the pankillers started to work, then he washed her back gently with soap and water. He re-applied the antiseptic spray and lightly dressed the wounds with gauze pads. Since so many of them ran together, he didn't try to attach them to her sensitive skin with tape, but allowed the antiseptic to stick the pads to her and used lighter, gauze bandages to cover them.

Chloe had stayed still, but still hadn't slept. She was trembling with exhaustion but couldn't seem to loose consciousness. Bruce hated to give her more drugs. He called his psychiatrist, a man he'd seen as a little boy and the Doctor came over immedately. Even in the middle of the night, good doctors still made housecalls.

"Thanks for coming." Bruce shook Dr. Banks' outstretched hand. He was a little man, non-threatening and kind. He'd been as much helt to an angry and grieving boy as possible.

"You sounded like you needed me." Bruce filled the man in on the basics of Chloe's physical condition as well as what emotional damage they'd been able to figure out. The man asked to be alone with Chloe and spent several minutes coaxing a few answers out of her. He'd dealt with a lot of abuse and before leaving her, though he knew it must have hurt, he gently lay a hand on her back and petted her. The gesture made the tension drain away and she fell asleep.

"What's the verdict?" Lex introduced himself and the doctor hesitated. "Doc, I'm technically responsible for her and as far as she sees it, I'm her owner. I need to know how to help her.

"Since she doesn't have any family, and you are..." he prompted significantly.

"Uh, her fiancee,' Lex answered, catching the doctor's drift.

"Right, well, Miss Sullivan is most likely suffering a modified form of Stockholm Syndrome. She actually mentioned it to me and said she knew that what she was dealing with could have effects."

"You mean she's in love with Sasha?" Bruce's voice was a fierce whisper.

"Not exactly, but for eight months, she's had no choice but to rely on him to meet her basic needs. I'm guessing she's had no real affection from anyone in those months and with the beatings, she's been even more starved for some kind of relief. She managed to tell me that Sasha would treat her like a pet, doling out abuse with one hand, and soft touch with the other. Since she's barely had any other contact that she'll talk about, I'm guessing that the two are tied together."

"So you got her to sleep by petting her?" Lex looked at the bedroom door.

"Yes, for now it worked because she'd been recently abused." He took off his glasses and polished them. "I couldn't begin to do more than scratch the surface of what she's going through. The fact that she can even speak out, even a little, against her captors is remarkable."

"She's always been smarter than the average bear," Lex said. "If she knew what was happening to her, she might have been able to put her issues more into her conscious mind rather than letting them program her."

"How do you know so much about mind control?"

"I've been brainwashed." He looked at the doctor and Bruce who stared at him. "I got better."


A/N: Before anyone sends upset posts, there have been many studies dome on the effects of long-term abuse and power. The way Chloe feels, and the way her hang-ups will come out is not that far off from what psychologists have found. keep in mind, eight months of this when you have no way to fight back cane make a lasting impression.

[autumngold]

I've heard exactly the same things about abusive situations. How horrible for poor Chloe!! Thank goodness Bruce and Lex came to her rescue!! However, is Lex still planning to treat her like a slave? If so, I hope she can stay with Bruce!! Excellent update!! :worship2: :chlexsign4: :worship2:

[Impress]

interesting so far. While I'm an avid Chlexer, I have to say that I want Chloe with Bruce if Lex is still planning on being an ass.

[Gina41283]

wow, i've taken psychology classes and you pretty much hit the nail on the head with that thing. This is a great story and I can't wait for the next update. ^_^

[kitten]

:biggrin:

I'm very happy Chloe is free, but I hope Lex and Bruce don't use her recent traumas as a way to control her. I loved the contrast between the Batman rescue and the Luthor wheeling and dealing. Two gorgeous, wounded, sneaky men, both of them for Chloe.

[lexchloe]

That was :ohmy: :ohmy: :worship2: . The way you described Chloe's emotional trauma and how she'd come to rely on the drops of affection handed to her despite the abuse was totally realistic. glad that Bruce and Lex (he does care) came through. But 2 friends, one girl, both with different intentions, I forsee trouble ahead. Hope they can help her through this though. More soon please.

[Reese]

"Count me in, but we take your car."

OK, so there wasn't a whole lot of funny around but that part cracked me up :)

Amazing story so far! I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes. Such a great job of developing the relationship between Chloe and Sasha that I'm *really* looking forward to seeing how Bruce and Lex will deal with the after effects.

Reese

[zelda]

A/N:Okay, nothing too scary will happen in this chapter, just a little insight into Chloe. The ending may make some people angry and feel free to vent it if you wish, but just keep an open mind.

Chloe's injuries healed quickly with the help of Bruce's hovering attention. Her private sessions with his psychiatrist helped her to at least voice all of the pain and frustration and helplessness she'd been bottling up for close to a year.

"Tell me about Nick." Dr. Banks and Chloe were seated in Bruce's study, the doctor in an easy chair, and Chloe on a cushy ottoman. She still preferred not to have her back against anything.

"Nick Sawyer and his mother lived in my building when I first moved to Gotham," Chloe began. "I spent a lot of time at the apartment because I could do a lot of my column work from home." She smiled. "That's a nice way of saying that the magazine didn't want to give me a desk just yet. But anyway, Nick was barely fourteen when I moved in and he used to show up at my door from time to time."

She relaxed a little bit at the memory. "He was a good kid, and his mother worked second shift so she wasn't at home during the evenings. I didn't usually have other plans so Nick would come over and watch television or use the internet. He was a good boy and cleaned up after himself."

"Did you have other friends in Gotham?"

"No, I really just knew the people from work, and I didn't spend enough time actually inside the building to get to know anyone."

"Sounds like the big city life was different than what I understand you came from."

"Well, I was born in Metropolis, but Smallville brought out a lot in me that I try to keep with me."

"You left Smallville, there had to be something you wanted to leave."

"Yes, the good times were great, but the bad things that happened to me were all very traumatic. I suffered a lot of injuries at the hands of various citizens. Eventually, the small-town values stayed there, but I could never predict when a single individual was going to deviate from those values and try to hurt me."

"You've given it a lot of thought."

"When you're a captive, you tell yourself that you don't miss home. Eventually, you have to give yourself reasons for it."

"So....Nick."

"Right, well the building we lived in was kinda old, and I was sleeping one night when a fire started on the floor below me. I had no idea what was happening until my apartment was filled with smoke. Nick was only fifteen at the time but he ran upstairs to get me." She shuddered with the memory of the thick smoke that had come up through her vents and through her open window. "It was hot and smoky and I couldn't see anything. I called out to him because I heard him shouting through the door. The last thing I remember is him kicking down my door."

"A fifteen-year-old?"

"Pretty impressive. But according to the firefighters, he'd hoisted me over his shoulder lke he's seen in the movies and got me to the elevator." When he gave her a look she shrugged. "I know, use the stairs in case of emergency, but as strong as he was, he still wouldn't have made it down five flights carrying me."

"It was incredibly heroic."

"It was more than Id have ever expected him to do for me."

"That's whay you went to the Vashenkos?"

"He risked everything for me, I had to try and help. Besides, I was sure I knew what I was getting into." Her voice was tinged with bitterness. "I had a vision in my head of being a servant in a velvet prison. Someone who would have to wear scanty clothes and polish shoes on my hands and knees." Her voice broke off and she wiped away a few tears.

"Sounds like you had been watching some movies."

"I guess at first it was better than I thought. I was given the illusion of freedom because I went out in public all the time. I just had to stay with Marcus and do little errands like an assistant and report back to his father if he was getting into trouble. Since he knew why I was there, he usually tried to avoid it, but eventually his interest took a diffrent turn."

"Marcus?" The doctor looked at her curiously.

"Yeah, he approached me a few times and said he was going to ask his grandfather if he could 'have' me, but for some reason Boris always said no. I saw very little of Boris himself, but in a strange way, I liked him. he was like an omnipotent being." Her shoulders slumped and Dr. Banks held out a tissue for her. She blew her nose and rubbed her eyes. "In the strange little world where I lived, he was like a small God."

"I can see how it would appear that way to you." She didn't look happy. "Miss Sullivan," he began.

"Please, call me Chloe, I haven't heard my first name spoken in a long time. It was always 'Sullivan' or 'You' or even "Bitch'."

"I'd be happy to call you Chloe." He smiled gently. "How is your back feeling?"

"Itchy, but better." She got up and paced. "This is all so unreal to me, I mean, one minute I'm a prisoner to a crime family, the next, I'm being rescued by an old friend and a complete stranger." She slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "But still, it feels the same. Bruce bought all my clothes, I still feel like a prisoner, and I know that I've just changed owners."

"You know you're not a prisoner here."

"Maybe not in reality, but I don't think I know how to be anything else yet."

"Have either of the men tried to make any sexual overtures towards you yet?" Chloe shook her head violently. "Are you afraid that they might?"

"Not exactly afraid," she answered. "But my feelings about sex have changed over the past few months. I had the trendiest clothes so I could be seen in public with Marcus, but I spent so much time trying to avoid...turning anyone on."

"You said you felt protected by Boris."

"Right, but he could have chosen to give into the demands of anyone who asked, and I'd agreed to their terms. I'd have been stuck."

"Do you think it's luck that you got out without becoming intimate with anyone?" His tone was slightly scolding.

"No." She clenched her hands into fists. "I know that Boris didn't really care about me. I was just another thing to hold over his son and grandson." She started to cry. "I hate feeling meaningless." Dr. Banks stood up quietly and walked to her. He gently put his hands on her shoulders.

"You are anything but meaningless, Chloe. You've survived an experience that would put most people into an institution. And you've done it with your wits about you." He squeezed gently and felt a different kind of energy run through her body. She wasn't afraid of him, but his comforting touch was bringing up her fight or flight response. He slowly backed off, not wanting her to feel as if she repelled him. They continued to talk, but he could tell that the touch, however subconscious, had triggered something in her.

When the session was over, he ordered her to go swimming to stretch her bruised muscles and maybe she'd feel better. When she'd left, Bruce came in.

"How's she doing?"

"Remarkably coherent about her situation. Without a true confidant for eight months, she probably spent time internalizing her own struggle. You said she was educated, she most likely used it to her advantage to keep a hold over what was happening." The doctor looked troubled.

"What is it?"

"I'm only going to say this because Chloe said I could disclose to you what I felt necessary or helpful." He pressed his lips together. "I think she only said that to please you, but nevertheless, I'll take the loophole."

"Just tell me."

"Her ability to recieve touch is skewed. Deeply enough that the slightest sign of affection seems to trigger stress in her that seems to worsen over time. It's like she's done something wrong and is just waiting for a parent to come home and punish her." The doctor clenched his fists angrily. "I see a lot of things in my work, but it never gets easier when you hit a wall like this."

"A wall?" Bruce's brow furrowed. "You mean she can't get past this?"

"I mean I can't talk her past her physical blocks. She needs something else to help her."

"Like what?"

"I work with people who have sexual problems as well as just physical." he looked at the cieleing. "I need to consult with some former patients."

"Doc, what's wrong with her?"

"Bruce, that question is too big to answer right now. I'm not saying not to touch her, just be careful, sometimes trying to help can harm." He headed for the door, "I'll be gone for the next week and a half, you can reach me by phone and Chloe can call me anytime."

Bruce walked to the private swimming pool and watched as Chloe swam laps. He still sickened when he thought about her old injuries, the scars that had been revealed under the fresher welts. She told him, while under the influence of the painkillers, that she never went out in the sun because she was afraid that a tan would reveal the scars more. She was probably right.

Chloe noticed him and waved, but didn't stop swimming. Bruce waited patiently for her to finish. She eventually came to rest at the edge of the pool and slipped her goggles up on top of her head. There were marks around her eyes from the goggles that made her look like a racoon. They would fade quickly and he was reminded of how resilient the human body could be when it wanted. The human mind was just as determined to protect itself and he was fighting the protections that she'd put in place herself.

"Feeling better?" Bruce bent down beside the pool. She shrugged, avoiding his gaze directly. "How's the back?"

"Healing up, but the exercise helps too."

"I talked to Dr. Banks, he said he'll be out of town for a little while, but you can reach him by phone and he'll be calling to check up on you." Chloe looked alittle tense at first, then she seemed to force herself back under control.

"Um, I know you don't want to hear any more thank-yous, but I just want to tell you how much help Dr. Banks has been." She scissored her legs and boosted herself out of the water to sit next to Bruce. She wore a simple, red racing suit that zipped up the back, covering her fully. "I've really never met anyone like him before."

"You're not getting a case of transference are you?" Bruce reached up automatically and ran a palm over her wet hair. "Cause he's happily married with three grandkids." Chloe chuckled, but he could see the tension in her shoulders. He remembered the doctor's warning and was about to say something when a voice cut in from the behind them.

"How's the water?" Lex was leaning against the doorway, hands in pockets, pose casual.

"Great," Chloe said, turning toward him. "You should come swim." Lex shrugged and removed his jacket and watch. Then he walked to the edge of the pool and dove in. Chloe laughed and Bruce joined her. Lex came up for air in front of his two friends. He grinned evilly at Bruce.

"Come on, Man, the water's fine." When Bruce balked he raised an eyebrow at Chloe. "Guy's so stiff all the time, he needs to know how to relax." With a quick movement, he lunged upward and siezed his friend by the shoulders and hauled him into the pool. In spite of her earlier nerves, Chloe laughed at the two men wrestling in the water in their expensive suits. Lex had Bruce in a headlock and was dunking him under the water and shouting for him to say 'Uncle'.

"Chloe, you've gotta help me here!" Bruce was flailing around dramatically. With a giggle, Chloe stood on the side of the pool and launched herself at the pair. Lex released Bruce and caught the flying female body, closing his hands around her hips. Her momentum carried them both underwater in a tangle of arms and legs.

For a moment, Chloe forgot everything. She was back in Smallville with Pete and Clark, this was just another summer day at the lake and they were going to goof around and tease Clark about his shyness. Then Lex's hand slipped around her waist and he stood up, pulling her with him. Bruce was laughing and Chloe was tucked under Lex's arm like a package and she squirmed to get free.

"Alright," lex said, rubbing his hand uover his face. "I say we call it a draw." He ruffled Bruce's hair affectionately and shifted so that Chloe was in his arms securely. He started walking towards the shallower end of the pool slowly, bearing her weight as she went from buoyant to heavy. She had an arm slung around his neck and was twisting one finger around inside her ear, trying to get the water out. Bruce and Lex were chatting amiably about a football game that was going to be playing on television that night.

Chloe was fine, then her weight settlled fully against Lex who lifted her out of the water and walked up the shallow steps of the enormous pool. She was dangling from his arms and he tightened his grip his grip on her ribs and knees, pulling her close to his chest. It was very close to an embrace. It was friendly, and gentle, and far too intimate. She started to shake. Lex didn't seem to notice as he set her on her feet and tossed a towel at her head. She walked out of the room without another word leaving the men to talk football.

Bruce started to interrupt Lex's tirade about the Gotham Knight's Quarterback but he held up a finger to get him to wait. When the sound of running feet had faded with the slamming of Chloe's bedroom door, he turned to his friend.

"She freaked a little," Bruce said. Lex nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I think she started to feel normal for a little while, I noticed her reaction but I didn't want to alarm her by bringing it up in front of you." He stripped off his shirt and shoes, then slung another towel over his shoulder. Bruce did the same and they stood in their sodden trousers and wondered what to do.

"Do you think, I should give her a sleeping pill or something?"

"I don't think so," Lex replied. "While I was in Metropolis, I boned up on everything I could read about the Dominant/Submissive lifestyle."

"You think she's into that stuff?"

"Not intentionally. But she's been programmed to recieve affection only as a reward for abuse. She's convinced, on a subconscious level, that if she's feeling good, there has to be something bad that she's done and needs to be punished for it."

"Like when she'd had the beating and the doctor petted her like a dog, she was finally able to sleep."

"I don't want her to be doped up all the time," Lex said, adamantly. "My Mom was, even wbefore she got sick. It was Dad's way of handling her."

"So what do we do?" Bruce sat heavily in a metal chair. "Pet her to sleep?"

"Actually, I think that would be counter productive." Lex saw Bruce's sharp look but continued. "I know that this isn't going to sound good, but I think she needs something else from you." The dark-haired man shook his head.

"Lex, I've tried a few kinky things in my life, but I've never been into beatings."

"You've got her room wired, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Can you check on her and see how she's doing?" Bruce was embarrassed that Lex had figured out about the cameras. They changed into dry clothes and went up to his study and he turned on his computer. He had her room wired for sound and visual. The color picture came up immediately and they saw Chloe walk out of her bathroom, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. She was pacing nervously, laying down on the bed, getting up, walking around some more, and eventually twisting and pinching at her arms and legs. "Do something, Man," Lex said. "She's going to hurt herself if you don't do something."

"I don't have the slightest idea how to hurt someone without really hurting them." He looked at Lex. "But you do." He watched the other man harden his face into a mask. It was his business face. He stormed out of the room and down the hall.

Chloe dug her nails into her thighs, waiting for the pain to give her the relief she needed, but she couldn't bring herself to hurt enough. She told herself over and over again that she was free. She wasn't in the compound anymore. She was allowed to rest. She could dream, she could eat, she could talk without fear. But the wall she'd built up wasn't crumbled by a few affirmations and a couple of therapy sessions. She knew she was going to be in for another sleepless night.

She flung herself onto her bed and buried her fingers in her hair, giving a fierce tug. She knew Bruce was watching. She had a privacy screen and a bathroom for purposes of changing, and she knew that the camera was there for her own good. It actually helped her to wean herself from the idea that she was a prisoner.
She couldn't act normal, not even when she knew he could be watching. She cried into her pillow until she heard the door open.

"Stop crying." Lex's voice was sharp, but not angry. He was silhouetted in her doorway. She sniffled and swallowed her tears. He slid his jacket from his shoulders as he watched from across the room. Chloe's stomach clenched with fear and anticipation.

"What are you doing here?"

"You can't ask for help, but I'm giving it anyway." She couldn't see his face, but Lex watched her closely. He slowly began to unbuckle his belt and her saw her breathing increase and her eyes were riveted by the motion of his hands. he slid the leather out through the loops in his trousers and crossed the room, closing the door and leaving her in darkness.

[crankychick]

"You can't ask for help, but I'm giving it anyway." She couldn't see his face, but Lex watched her closely. He slowly began to unbuckle his belt and her saw her breathing increase and her eyes were riveted by the motion of his hands. he slid the leather belt out through the loops in his trousers and crossed the room, closing the door and leaving her in darkness.

Color me open-mouthed and worshipful. :worship2: :worship2: I'm fascinated by the reprogramming of Chloe, zelda.

[kitten]

:drool:

I'm a sick little bunny, but BDSM and Lex trying to give Chloe some peace is a very hot idea. I like that Bruce is reluctant and Lex steps up to give her what she needs even if it's unpleasant. I hope she understands it, though. I don't want her to turn against him.

[lexchloe]

:ohmy: :ohmy: ........speechless....... :worship2: :worship2: :worship2:

[autumngold]

I feel so sorry for Chloe!! I wish that Lex didn't have to hurt her to help her!! Thanks so much for the update!! This is a very facinating story!! But sad too!! :crygreen: :chlexsign4: :crygreen:

[AlabamaWorley]

I am thoroughly fascinated by your story, to the point that I'm not even reading for the Chlex. I just want to know what happens next and how the boys finally help Chloe... and what Batman might do to the sick bastids that did this to her in the first place.

[hfce]

This is hard but I know its necessary for Chloe to heal. :crygreen: :crygreen:



Hope :crygreen:

[Reese]

OK.

So.

Wow.

I'm feeling a little dirty about the fact that I'm really into the idea of Lex stepping up to the plate, if you will, to help Chloe in this way. And I'm bordering on obsessed with the idea of Bruce and Lex trying to help her in their own way. It's like she's getting help/attention from the Light and the Dark Side of life. And I'm also finding the Bruce/Lex friendship an interesting one as well.

Granted, this could be a *very* touchy subject in fic but being that you're handling it with such respect, it's instead just a damn enjoyable read :)

Reese

[Zannie]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I'd be all for Lex using his enormous brain capacity to come up with a way to help Chloe heal that didn't involve continuing a cycle of abuse (even if it's done for different reasons). I understand the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing, but it seems like common sense would dictate that continued violence is not the way to help Chloe overcome the effects of violence. Surely transfering Chloe's psychological dependence and submission to someone else isn't what we want from this situation.

Granted, I am speaking purely from the perspective of common sense--and I'm more than willing to admit that I'm simplifying complex, nuanced matters--and, in addition, my knowledge of modern pychological theory is superficial at best. Honestly, I have no alternative strategies to suggest at the moment. My knowledge of human psychology comes only from experience, but it just feels wrong to me intuitively, which makes me wonder about how likely this strategy is to be successful.

That said, I'm biased about the Lex's actions here for two reasons. One: I'm dubious from the start about a good portion of contemporary psychological theory and practice, just in a general sense. And two: I'm already suspicious of and resentful toward Lex in this fic--because of his fantasies in the second chapter about possessing Chloe. He's very likely to enjoy his method of "helping" Chloe. Although I've never had any BDSM inclinations myself, I have no problem with it between consenting adults. Chloe is not, in this situation, in any state to give real consent (at least, in my opinion).

*sighs* I shouldn't be so concerned about fictional characters in an imagined situation.

None of this, however, is criticism of the fic, zelda. So far, this is a fascinating and compelling read. I'm with AlabamaWorley at this point, and I'm not reading it for the Chlex--mostly because I think Lex here is a creep. Although the situations are not ones I typically enjoy, I'm intrigued about how you'll deal with these difficult issues and progress the characters toward healing . . . assuming that's where you are taking them.

[zelda]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I'd be all for Lex using his enormous brain capacity to come up with a way to help Chloe heal that didn't involve continuing a cycle of abuse (even if it's done for different reasons).

I appreciate the thought that you put into your feedback, and it is definitely a touchy subject. I would also encourage you to hang on a few more chapters. You are right about Lex's motives being unclear. That was intentional.

As far as helping Chloe, when you see how he handles the situation more light may be shed on his logic. Also, Bruce and Lex are not psychiatrists and are just kind of guessing about how to help her.

[dreamingincolor]

This is a unique story as far as clex shipping goes for the most part, although I don't like this lex too much, I still find it somewhat intriguing. Right now it feels a lot like a bruce/chloe story cause he's the good guy. Although maybe you can just have a chlex with a not so happy ending. Anyways I really liked the part where lex tells the doctor and Bruce that he was brainwashed and then says "I got better." that was hilarious to me for some reason.

[zelda]

I really liked the part where lex tells the doctor and Bruce that he was brainwashed and then says "I got better." that was hilarious to me for some reason

I think yu might have been the only one to get that joke. It was a nod to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[randa]

so intriging and intense
your doing an amazing job with this subject

more soon


randa

[Thessaly]

Originally posted by zelda@Jan 26 2005, 01:00 AM

I think yu might have been the only one to get that joke. It was a nod to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
"She turned me into a newt!" Classic.

As far as the story goes... Oh. My. God.

Although I can see Zannie's viewpoint (and I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't leave psychiatric reprogramming to a billionaire who's heading for a career as an evil criminal genius and another who goes out dressed as a bat), I'm afraid I'm going for the lowest common denominator. The prospect of slightly kinky dual-billionaire smut. Sorry. That's just the kind of girl I am.

More please?

Thessaly

[zelda]

Warning: Contains some violence

Lex’s feet made soft noise crossing the floor. Chloe squeezed her pillow tightly to stop her hands from shaking. She immediately broke out in a sweat but managed to find her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been through a lot these past few months,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and running a hand along her back. “You have a lot of issues to work through and as your new owner, it’s my responsibility to make sure your basic needs are being met.”

“I’m perfectly happy-” Chloe’s comment was cut off by a stinging smack on her bottom, not from the belt, but from Lex’s palm.

“Don’t lie to me, Chloe.” He rested his hand in the spot he’d just struck. “You’re trapped by your own survival instincts and a few weeks of rest and therapy can’t unchain you from yourself.” He leaned closer, and to Chloe surprise, he slipped the belt into her hands, closing her fingers around it. “I know you’ve hit a wall, you can’t sleep because you’re waiting for punishment from someone with power.” Her hands tightened on the belt as another slap came down on her bottom. “It’s not your fault that you need help getting through this.” He continued to rain down spankings, enough to sting, but not enough to bruise. “And you’re not alone anymore.”

“I-” She started to speak but caught herself and bit down on the leather.

“Tell me what you want.”

“Harder.” She whispered the word as tears of shame rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t bear to be touched without a little pain.” The words rushed out of her so Lex said nothing but he grasped her hips and pulled upward till her knees were under her. Then, when Chloe offered him the belt he told her to keep it. “But Sasha always used it.”

“I’m not Sasha.” It was the only thing he said before delivering half a dozen hard blows to her backside. “Tell me when it’s enough.” He said through clenched teeth. “Cause I can do this all night.”

After three more, she called halt and he stopped. “We’ll talk in the morning. Go to sleep.” Chloe slept.

Lex left the room and walked to the guest room down the hall. He was so hard he felt like he was about to pop. He went immediately into the shower and turned the water to cold. He wasn’t usually into more than a little bit of kinky play, but the need that Chloe had displayed to him, the vulnerability when she’d asked him to hit her harder had been an enormous rush of adrenaline. He really could have kept up the spanking all night, but it would have been followed by something that Chloe wasn’t ready for.

When Lex got out of the shower, Bruce was sitting in the easy chair across from the bed.

“Did you watch?” Lex’s tone wasn’t accusatory, but it still put Bruce on the defensive.

“Yeah.” He was tense. "Do you do that kind of thing a lot?"

"Do you break into heavily guarded compounds to rescue damsels in distress on a regular basis?" The corners of his mouth twitched. Neither really wanted to get into that discussion. Lex pulled on a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. "What is it about her that draws you?" He looked Bruce squarely in the face. "Why do you find her so damned fascinating that you couldn't walk away from her?"

"Could you have walked away?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you helping now?" Bruce walked around the bed. "If you find her so unimportant, why go through the trouble of trying to cure her?" He glanced behind Lex and into the bathroom.

"What?"


"The shower was running for close to thirty minutes." He placed a hand on Lex's arm before the other man could pull away. "There's no steam, and you feel like a frog." His tone was accusatory. "Is that why you came here? To be her new owner?" Lex turned his face away. "You liked what you did for her."

"Hey, at least I didn't use the belt."

"That would leave marks, and you don't like skin to be marred by scarring or bruises." Bruce wasn't shaking or getting hot, he was becoming cold. Lex hated it when he did that.

"You said it yourself," Lex turned away and grabbed the towels and tossed them in the hamper, "you can't do it. You're too good -hearted to raise your hand to a shapely ass, even when she's begging for it." He got in Bruce's face. "I'm not a good man, Wayne. You've known that for a while; so why did you ask me to help you with this little game?" He leaned closer. "Cause you like to watch me work. You can't let your darker side out because you're afraid it'll get the better of you. I've embraced mine, but I don't let it control me."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I could've fucked her tonight and she'd have loved it." Bruce's palm hit him in the center of his chest and he staggered back a few steps. He didn't stop talking. "I could've had her six ways till Sunday and she'd have thanked me for it."

"Shut up!"

"You didn't know her before. What makes her so compelling to you now is the fact that she seems so delicate." Lex spread his arms wide. "Come on, then take a shot at me if you think it'll defend her honor. She's one of the strongest women I've ever met, and she should never have been a submissive to anyone's domination.” He cursed under his breath. “Such a fucking waste."

"Stay away from her."

"She belongs to me now, Man." Lex was laughing without humor. "You can't do this without me, and she doesn't trust you. You think you can win her over with flowers and candy. She needs someone to bring her back to life and you can't do that by coddling her."

"Are you so sure you won’t break her by continuing this?"

"A woman like Chloe Sullivan is unbreakable. That's why I find her so compelling. She outlasted American soldiers who've been brainwashed over a few weeks. She won't break if you give her a taste of the back of your hand. She needs it." He stepped close and lowered his voice. "She craves it." He looked Bruce over. "Bet she'd love to see you loose control of your dark side."

Bruce didn't continue the discussion; he knew when Lex was messing with his head. He also knew better than to believe everything he'd just said. Lex's motivation was always up for discussion. Bruce couldn't blame him; he'd been accused of the same. He wondered sometimes if he and Lex weren’t two sides of a coin, they both had some deep and twisted damage inside them, they both had high potentials and histories of violence, and they both kept themselves under strict control.

Bruce thought about Chloe. Why did she affect him enough to break into her bedroom at the compound. He went back to his study and turned on the monitor. She was sleeping, not peacefully, but she was sleeping.


Lex went to bed, the cold shower had taken the edge off his lust, but he'd need a woman soon or he'd loose it with Chloe. He remembered the woman she'd been. More woman in a high school girl's body than even his father could handle. That's probably why Lionel had hated her so much, probably why Lex did too, at least a little bit. Now she was his. He could walk down the hall right now and tell her to stick her ass in the air and she'd let him do whatever he wanted with her. But where was the challenge in that? He’d have to be careful that he didn’t waste this opportunity by admiring her too much.

[lexchloe]

Ok Lex :devil: is officially a dick!! While I too want to bring the old Chloe back I am not loving Lex's methods or his motivation.


"Why do you find her so damned fascinating that you couldn't walk away from her?"

"Could you have walked away?"

"Yeah."



That seriously hurt but is so in character with this Lex. Really want to know where he's going with this and how Bruce figures in. More soon please.

[Zannie]

. . . yeah, that's what I thought, Lex. Asshole isn't even a strong enough word for him.

Well, zelda, I can't believe it, but you've officially made me hope for something I never thought I'd want--I hope Lex never ends up with Chloe. Because, unless this fic spans over a year's time, I'm just not thinking Lex is going to be able to change enough for me to not hate him.

Powerful read throughout. Looking forward to seeing what you're going to do with this. Hopefully, it will involve some Lex torture (and not in a sexy way).

[autumngold]

I'm so glad that Lex didn't use the belt on Chloe, even though I'm sure that he wanted to. Will Chloe be able to stand up against the sexual pressure that Lex is going to bring into play? As much as Lex is creeeping me out, I also think
Bruce is a real jerk by always sitting and watching everything on video! Thanks for the update!! :chlexsign4:

[hfce]

I think Both Lex and Bruce are dicks. Bruce is no innocent in this. Lex was right he is letting Lex do the dirty work. While he can remain the clean one he hopes Chloe falls for. I have advice for Chloe. Get yourself well and runaway from both of these dicks. They dont deserve you at all. I will accept Lex when he goes through serious theraphy of his own. If not he can go to hell and take Bruce with him. :tease:


Hope :cool:

[AlabamaWorley]

I am completely fascinated by the way you are playing Lex and Bruce off of each other. You've definitely given them two very distinct characters. What they will manage to accomplish for Chloe has yet to be seen, but you're giving us some deep stuff on the way there.

[Kit Merlot]

I just started reading this story, and it is fascinating, yet disturbing. The underlying violence is very dramatic--so well done on that score!

I don't know who I'm rooting for in this fic, and that also disturbs me.

I like this story :biggrin:

[zelda]

Bruce was in the gym, jumping rope. He used exercise to help him focus his mind while adrenaline was pumping through him. Adrenaline was the ultimate high, but it also came with the price of tunnel vision. Man wasn’t meant to face down multiple foes when he was juiced up. Bruce intended to train himself past it, so he used some of the meditation exercises he’d learned and applied them to his workouts so that he’d be able to retain his awareness of his surroundings when in the middle of a fight.

Bruce knew when Chloe started down the hallway. He knew when she stopped at the door to watch him. His back was to her but he knew she stood still. Why was she watching him?

“Chloe?” He swung the rope to the side and turned to face her in one movement. She looked startled.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Please, come in.” He picked up a towel from a nearby bench and wiped his forehead with it. He wore just a pair of jogging pants and sneakers and his chest was bare. He pretended not to notice Chloe looking at him. He wasn’t ashamed of his body, quite proud of it, in fact. And he hadn’t too many scars yet; which might make suspicious of what he did to get so many injuries. “What can I do for you?”

“I was just taking a walk.” She shrugged, but her eyes kept sneaking peeks at him. “I haven’t been here before.”

“I’m usually alone in here.”

“I can go,” she said, turning around.’

“No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Bruce stepped over to her and took her hand. “Come in.” He squeezed her hand. “As long as you’re here, why don’t you help me a little? ”He grabbed a gray, Gotham University athletics shirt and pulled it over his head.

“What can I do to help?” Before she’d finished the sentence, Bruce had grabbed he shoulders and swept her feet out from under her.

Chloe landed on her back with a grunt. Though there was a tumbling mat on the floor, the landing wasn’t exactly soft.

“You can fight back.” Bruce stood over her calmly. His expression was as stoic as it ever was. She just looked up at him with an expression of acceptance and shrugged.

“Whatever.” She got to her feet and stood, gazing at him warily, but not defensively. She was flat on her back again,, this time her landing had been harder. “What are you doing?”

“Besides wiping the floor with you?” Bruce placed his foot against her stomach and used it to push her along the mat; effectively wiping the floor with her. His face hadn’t changed. “Just waiting.” He turned around and took a few steps away from her while she stood up again, rubbing her behind.

“For what?” She put her hands up when he turned, but he seemed to move with the speed of a demon and the top of his foot connected with her back, tossing her forward onto her face.

“For you.” He hooked his foot in her elbow and flipped her onto her back. Chloe scooted backwards, but Bruce just grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. Her hand struck out wildly, slapping at his hand. “That’s not going to help.” Then she lifted her foot and kicked him in the shoulder. He rolled back and to the balls of his feet. She scrambled up to face him, her heart pumping. This time, she was in a crouch.

“What will help when I have no chance of beating you?” He made a few feints at her with his fists and she started to move quicker, watching his face. He managed an open-palmed slap that landed on her cheek. It didn’t do more than sting, but it made her angry. Then he followed with the back of his fist against her ribs. She left her torso open for attack and he struck her midsection with his knee. Just enough to startle, not enough to hurt.

“Help yourself.” He swept her feet out from under her and she was on her back again. This time, he sat on her stomach while she flailed her fists and hands, accomplishing exactly nothing.

“How?” Chloe was crying with frustration. Bruce fastened his hand around her throat and leaned close.

“Get tired of being beaten.” He got up and offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. “Get stronger. Stop hiding. Heal yourself.” Her expression was still frustrated and angry. “Go take a swim,” he snapped.

“I don’t want to,” she snapped back. He turned to face her and she started to shake but didn’t back down.

“Then you don’t have to.” Bruce turned his back on her and picked up the jump rope. After about a minute, he heard her footsteps coming around to the treadmill where she got on and started walking briskly. He smiled. He thought he had a glimpse of the old Chloe. The one Lex seemed to know.
*
Lex took Chloe out of the Manor when he returned from a week in Metropolis. Chloe had been staying at Bruce’s for almost six weeks. She still had a lot of issues and he still administered the occasional spanking when she requested it. She was, however, getting stronger. Both physically and emotionally. When he brought up the idea of dinner outside the Manor, she got nervous again. Bruce watched his friend with interest. Lex never told him about his plans, but he always had them.

“Where did you want to go?” Chloe asked.

“Where do you want to go?” Lex looked at her with a smile. “Lady’s choice.”
Chloe was at a loss. She hadn’t been outside the gates of Wayne Manor since the night she’d been liberated from the Vashenkos. And while she’d been with them, they had never asked her where she wanted to go. It was sudden, and more than she could handle. She took a few deep breaths.

“I don’t want to go out to dinner.”

“Alright,” Lex said. “But get dressed, because we’re going for a walk.” Chloe got up obediently. “If you want to.” She stopped and looked at him. Then she looked at Bruce. “Don’t look to him for approval, I’m the one who asked, and you have free will. You don’t need permission.” Her forehead wrinkled and she walked out of the Library and to her bedroom where she picked up the phone and dialed Dr. banks’ phone number with shaking fingers. “Hang up the phone.” Guiltily, Chloe dropped it on the floor.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it.”

“Yes you can.” Lex leaned against her doorway. “Just one step at a time.” He nodded to her closet. “I want to go into the city, and I want your company. Will you get dressed?”

“Is Bruce coming?”

“Nope, he has a late meeting with some business associates.” He didn’t grit his teeth when she asked about his friend, but he wanted to.

Chloe went to her closet and Lex noted that she chose running shoes, jeans, and a sweatshirt. She wanted freedom of movement. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and stood in front of him.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

As Chloe watched the gates to Wayne Manor get smaller in the Ferrari’s side mirror, she focused on her inner calm like Dr. Banks had taught her. ‘I’m allowed to do this.’ Had become her Mantra. She had to remind herself several hundred times a day that she didn’t need permission to go to the fridge and get a snack, or to call her father. She reminded herself that she didn’t have to hide when she found herself closed in her closet without remembering how she got there.

Chloe remained frustrated with what she saw as her own lack of progress. When the thought of seeing her father filled her with a sense of panic instead of joy. On his last birthday she’d eaten dinner with him in Gotham City and gone to a movie. He’d thought it was a nice evening with just the two of them, but he hadn’t realized that the patrons who surrounded them were guards, and that the audience in the theater had been about twenty percent Vashenko employees.

Having only two keepers gave a feeling of freedom that was frightening. There was a certain security in having no choices. It was one of the hardest things that Chloe had faced. The fact that she had forgotten what it was like to have free will. The simple act of picking a restaurant for herself and Lex had almost sent her into a panic attack. Riding in the small car didn’t feel claustrophobic; just the opposite. Chloe felt exposed and unprotected with just Lex beside her.

Being in close proximity to a crime family had had its dangerous side, and more than once, Chloe had been targeted for elimination as a message. Once she’d been dragged out of the limo and into an alley where two men had started slapping her around. They’d both been shot dead, splattering her with blood . Chloe had been hustled back to the compound where Boris had made one of his rare appearances and actually showed concern for her. She knew that it was messages like these that had her so confused now. She had never doubted her safety from anyone outside her little Ukranian world, as long as she’d been their possession.

Chloe stole a look at Lex. He glanced at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“It just seems strange to be out with just one person.”

“Are you afraid?”

“A little.” More than a little. “Are we going downtown?”

“Yup.” Then he looked at her. “You haven’t asked me about Smallville. Not the whole time I’ve visited you. I do still live there occasionally.”

“I guess I didn’t know what to ask.”

“Everything’s pretty much the same.” He grinned. “I still read the school newspaper, but other than the occasional glimmer of intelligence, it’s not nearly as good as when you ran it.”

“Really?” She smiled back. “I looked it up online a while back, but it didn’t seem too bad to me.”

“No meteor stories.”

“Maybe people have gotten wise and decided to avoid the glowing green rocks.”

“Nah, we still get the occasional freak here and there.” Lex launched into a story about an employee who could breathe fire and went postal when he was fired for embezzling.

“Embezzling?”

“Yeah, he was an accountant.”

“Lex?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Talking?”

“Helping.”

“If I told you that I was doing it because it’s the right thing to do, or because I wanted to help you, or because I felt like I owed it to myself to do something good, would you believe me?”

“I’d want to.” She reached out and placed her hand over his on the stick shift. “I really would.” There was something almost patronizing in her manner, something like the old Chloe would've done. He frowned and pulled into a parking spot on the street in front of a row of boutiques.

"If you think Bruce isn't hot for you, you're not thinking." Chloe removed her hand from his and tucked it into her lap. "So," he said, changing his tone to one that was light and shallow, "has Bruce been giving it to you lately?" Chloe opened the door to the sports car and got out, walking away as quickly as possible, blinded by the tears that stung her eyes. She heard Lex shouting behind her and started running.

Chloe pushed through the late afternoon crowds, ducking and stumbling until she felt her arm wrenched around. She had her palm ready to slap Lex but it wasn't his face she saw. Raw fear bubbled up in her throat when she recognized Viktor, one of the Vashenko's soldiers. He held her and stared at her face for a moment, as if he, himself couldn't believe his luck.

"I didn't actually think I'd see you here."

Chloe demanded that he release her in Ukranian. He just smiled and started to drag her away. She thrust her knee up into his groin and stomped on his foot. He grunted and doubled over, but as a mafia soldier, it would take more than that to break his grip. Chloe started yelling and clawing and punching any part of him that she could reach. She succeeded in making everyone around her back away instead of coming forward to help. This was Gotham City, not Smallville. Then Viktor's weight fell forward onto her legs, sending her to the sidewalk, landing on her hands and scraping her palms. Then Lex was standing above her, re-holstering his pistol with which he'd clubbed the soldier. His face had a dark expression as he hauled her to her feet and pulled her, crying and stumbling behind him.

Lex all but threw her into the passenger seat of the car and squealed the tires pulling away from the curb. His face was tight with anger and he turned to the basket case in the seat beside him.

"Don't ever run away from me again." Chloe was too upset to answer. Lex took a few turns at breakneck speed and put them onto the highway where he opened up the ferrari's engine. "Damn it! What did you think you were doing?" She just cried in response. "Answer me!"

"Asshole!" She shouted the word as loud as she could, her voice getting shrill. Then she started slapping at him and kicking her feet furiously. Lex held up his arm defensively, slowing his speed and pulling over to the side of the highway. As soon as the vehicle was stopped, Chloe tried to get out again, but this time, Lex was ready. He clamped a hand on her wrist and dragged her, kicking and flailing, over the console and out the driver's side. He wrestled her around the the other side of the car and let her tire herself out. She was beyond reasoning and logic. She wasn't using whole sentences or making any real physical progress in her goal of damaging him. She just swore a lot and slapped and swung, pushing herself off balance and making herself hoarse.

"Stop it." Lex finally cut in and leaned against her, trapping her between himself and the car. He gripped her wrists tightly and looked at her puffy, scratched palms in the dying light. "Why are you pissed at me?"

"D-do you think I was b-born yesterday?" Her voice was hitched with sobs as she tried to get her breath back; her face was red and streaked with tears. "Viktor said he didn't think he'd actually see me there."

"You understand Ukranian?"

"Duh, Motherfucker." She stared at him like he was an idiot. "Lived with them for eight months. Talk about complete emmersion." She tried to pull away but Lex didn't let her. "He was expecting me, waiting for me. You told him I was going to be there."

"I wasn't expecting you to take off like a lunatic and go running into his arms."

"You admit it!"

"I admit that I lured him there, but I wasn't going to let him come within fifty feet of you."

"Why would you bring me to him?" Her face held the same righteous anger that he'd been waiting for. "Why would you put me back in the path of that fucking family."

"I wanted you to be angry, Chloe." He gave her a small shake. "I wanted you pissed at him for making you feel afraid, weak, and mostly I wanted you furious because he makes you beg me for pain just so you can have some peace."

"I'm not weak!"

"Yes you are," he shouted back at her. "You're fragile, and pitiful, and so soft that one little improper implication from me made you abandon safety to go throw a fit."

"I was not throwing a fit, I was trying to get away from you."

"Right, because that wasn't just the biggest hissy fit ever thrown in an Italian sports car."

"Fuck you."

"My pleasure." Lex's lips slammed down on Chloe's with a ferocity that surprised them both. Their teeth knocked together and Lex felt his lip split against one of hers. He didn't relent in his goal, however. He leaned his whole body into the kiss, pressing his chest to hers and his hips to her pelvis. If he could have branded her with his mouth, he would have. To his surprise, she was responding just as ardently to his actions and her tongue was fighting with his for dominance.

Chloe broke the kiss and pushed away. She was out of breath and her hands were clutched in lex's shirt where she held him away from her.

"Take me back to the Manor." She fumbled with the latch before opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat. Lex paced around outside the car for a few minutes before getting behind the wheel. he pulled them back onto the highway and drove for about ten minutes before reaching their exit. As he steered off, he spoke.

"We need to talk about this."

"No we don't."

"You're just the Queen of denial."

"Yeah, well you're the Sultan of Sulk, so don't throw stones at my kingdom."

"Sultan of--What the Hell are you talking about?"

"As soon as we got on the subject of my feelings for Bruce, you got all snotty like a sulky little boy. Then you had to go and act like a dick and got me pissed off so I got out of the car." She turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "The way I see it, this whole fucking thing is your fault."

"You swear a lot."

"I wasn't allowed to for eight months, I guess you broke the dam."

"Lucky me."

[hfce]

Well that was intense. :huh: I am glad the old Chloe is coming back. But I hope she doesnt go run to Bruce. She needs to go to the gym and use a punching bag. And watch Alias to get some pointers on how to fight back and never let anyone touch her again without her permission.



Hope :cool:

[randa]

i like that the real chloe is peaking her head out now, her sparks coming back


more soon

randa

[AlabamaWorley]

I am loving this story. Bruce's tactics were sweet in a tough love kind of way, while Lex's were somewhat scary, but most likely the best way he knows how to help. This is probably one of the most stimulating fics around here, psychologically speaking.

I have to pause right here, though

"You're just the Queen of denial."

"Yeah, well you're the Sultan of Sulk, so don't throw stones at my kingdom."


That was hilarious.

[June]

I liked bruce's way of dealing with the situation a lot better than Lex's. And while the scene in the car with the kissing and the split lip was hot, I'm not sure if I want them to go down that path just yet. I really like this story, it's dark and different and I think I'm going to like where you take it, hell, I know I am. I can't wait to read more, this is a great chapter.

[autumngold]

Intense update!! I love that Lex is jealous, although he probably doesn't recognize it as that, of Chloe and Bruce!! Why doesn't Lex take Chloe to Metropolis to get her away from Vashenko's henchmen? Post again soon!! I can't wait to see what you have planned next!! :worship2: :chlexsign3: :worship2:

[lexchloe]

:worship2: Great update, this story is really drawing me in. So far Bruce methods of helping our girl seem a lot better than Lex's. Glad to see a little bit of the old Chloe coming through though even if I'm not liking how Lex is handeling things.
I agree with June , I think Chloe needs to be her real self before they go down that road and Lex would have to stop being such a dumbass.

[asharnanae]

:biggrin: this fic is totaly smokin. Its dark, gritty, and apsolutly wonderful. The abundance of kinky weirdness and deveance is just breath takeing.

Please continue, I have found my new drug fic of choice! And I am sooooooo adicted!

:worship2:

[Blu_FireFly81]

OMG, this fic is totally hot!

I mean I can’t get enough to this story, everything is soooo perfect, the emotions, characters, setting everything had me speed reading on just to see what happens, I haven’t enjoyed a fic like this in a severely long time.

Just continue ASAP!

:chlexsign4:

:worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2:

[SinnerSaint]

Okay , I know I am going to end up stoned for this....but if Lex keeps being such an ass I don't want Chloe with him. Bruce seems actually like he would be better for her.

[vardaquareien]

Wow...this fic is just...wow.

I find it really hard to review this simply because it has me thinking so much. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/vardaquareien/Smilies/hmm.gif It's so complicated that I can't form concrete opinions. I need to wait and see how things progress. All I know is that you are a wonderful writer who has written a sensational story. The psychological situation in this fic is handled realy well and I can't wait to see how it's going to turn out.

Congratulations on such a thought provoking piece of writing. :clap:

[oropheria]

Hah! Finally gained the courage/ire to de-lurk!

First of all, I really enjoy this fic. It's got a lot of psychological interplay that doesn't get much attention in fic (including mine - eep!) and it's very internally consistent. That's akin to me :worship2: :worship2: so go you! Plus whatever Thessaly sez, cuz it's funnier than anything I can think of right now. :suckup:

Second, I don my asbestos underoos to say this, but I think Lex is exactly what Chloe needs here. Or at least the combination of Bruce and Lex is. But Lex has to be in the mix. It's unavoidable, and it doesn't mean he's a bad guy or undeserving of Chloe-shaped goodness. {Dangit, that pitchfork is sharp! Let me finish!}
Lex is not only the Sultan of Sulk :pclol: he's the Master of Mixed Motivations. I can see him walking away from Chloe's sitch if he didn't see some advantage in it for himself and I can also see him getting off on thinking of Chloe as that advantage. But like he told Bruce in typical elliptical fashion in the post shower scene, he's not being the worst possible guy here, just honestly his caring, messed up, coveting self. Chloe here is unconquerable even though she's currently damaged and that both inspires and infuriates Lex. So he's comfortable being the black hat and letting Bruce be Ann Landers-ish.
Chloe has just been the accepting if not enthusiastic prisoner of some seriously dangerous and manipulative people for the better part of a year. You can accept and survive almost anything, but the truly difficult part is regaining your normality on the other side. Chloe needs Lex's boundary pushing darkness just as much as Bruce's Clarkysweetness - yes, the boy has secrets *cough*giantBAT*cough*, but he's the :angel: of the fic, and we're all here because that Chloe-plus-the-nice-vanilla-guy pairing doesn't do it for us in some way or another... or maybe it's just me... Anyway.

So I'm hoping Chloe gets her snark back and proceeds to have a lot of great if mentally messed up sex along the way... with Lex. In all his :newdevil: ness.

Re-lurking for your protection, the Duchess of Degree Burns signs off. :biggrin:

[dreamingincolor]

wow oropheria, is really good at analyzing things. I like the whole master of mixed motivations thing and I can definitely see where she is coming from.

[Kit Merlot]

Okay, Lex is trying to push Chloe back into being her kickass self, but it is going to take time.

And I like that Lex doesn't think her feisty spirit is gone--just buried.

Also, I am more afraid of what Sasha is going to try to do to Chloe then Viktor, or Boris or Marcus. Sasha is obsessed with her. And I will remain afraid for Chloe's safety.

Very compelling stuff.

[zelda]

A/N: Okay there is a discussion in this passage regarding an old piece of literature entitled Clarissa: History of a Young Lady It is one of the longest works in English literature and I don't recommend it be taken lightly. The basic premis is that a scoundrel called "Lovelace" befriends the beautiful and virtuous sister of the woman who spurned his marriage proposal. In the guise of rescuing her from her family who wishes her to marry someone she doesn't want, he more or less imprisons her.

Clarissa never submits to any of his advances and he eventually becomes obsessed with having her. he drugs her and rapes her. Then proposes marriage as her only solution to being "Dishonored" she still refuses and dies penniless and alone.

The entire novel is made up of letters between Clarissa, her friend Anne, Lovelace and his friend, Belford. Each person tells of the events that have happened and describes the situations in detail.


Bruce was waiting for them when they got home. Chloe got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. She stomped past Bruce on her way into the house.

“No dinner?” Bruce asked Lex who looked just as cross as Chloe. “I take it the trip didn’t go well.”

“Depends on how you look at it.” Lex’s clothes were rumpled and he appeared slighty- battered. “She certainly came out of her shell.”

“What did you do?”

“Long story.”

*
Chloe was in the Library when Bruce found her an hour later. She was curled up in front of the empty fireplace, staring at an unopened book. He walked over without speaking and peeked over her shoulder at the title, “Clarissa: History of a Young Lady”.

“You like Samuel Richardson?”

“Not really,” Chloe replied. “I had to read passages from this monstrosity back in my AP Lit class.”

“That ‘Monstrosity’ that you’re holding is a very old copy.”

“I wasn’t planning to tear it apart or anything.”

“I wouldn’t really care if you did. I found that book to be insanely boring. Not that the plot lacks in interest, but it just drags on for so long.” He nodded to the book. “I think it is inflicted upon the young more for it’s historical importance rather than it’s content.”

“Richardson seems to really like dwelling on the misery that Clarissa endures. He takes such joy in relating how much she’s suffering because she’s so perfect.”

“People have often speculated about Richardson, himself and possible Masochistic tendencies in his real life. But I think that the lure of the novel was originally so ground-breaking because of the first person point of view of all of the characters and the painfully raw display of the darkness that comes from within the human soul.”

“Did you get some insight into the darkness of the human soul?” Chloe turned and sat, cross-legged, in front of Bruce’s chair. “And did you find the book, in it’s first person interpretation by each character to be completely truthful?”

“Truthful?” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, I think so, why do you question the truthfullness of a work of fiction?”

“I got in trouble for bringing this up in class,” Chloe said, raising her shoulders up to her ears sheepishly. Then she pinned him with an odd stare, as if assessing him. “Don’t you think that the events in the novel, since all told by each character, to possibly be subjective?”

“I guess I didn’t think of it that way.”

“Reporter’s mind, I suppose.” She stood up and went to the window. “Always looking for another spin on the story.” She set the book down on a table. “I guess it is pretty cut and dry, virtuous girl tries to escape the pressures of her family because she wants independence. Then falls victim to a vengeful bastard with a handsome face and an offer to help.” She placed her palm on the glass. “Two men, comparing notes on her, manipulating the situation for nothing more substantial than amusement. She’s the perfect sympathetic victim.”

“Do you think that’s how she saw herself?”

“She ended up dying in poverty because of her virtue,” she said, quietly. “A true martyr dies alone. Not surrounded by admirers and worshippers.” She lay her forehead against the cool glass. “I understand her reasons now for not marrying the man who held her prisoner. But back then, don’t you think it would have been wiser to marry the guy and live a long life as his widow after poisoning him?”

“Don’t you think that it would have been wiser to keep your mouth shut and not get beaten bloody by Sasha?” Bruce stared at the back of her head. She didn’t turn around to face him. “There is no one on earth or in fiction who compares to you.” She dropped her chin to her chest and he could see her face crumple. “No one has had the exact same experiences that you’ve had, and you’ve nothing to base your behavior on for ridicule.”

“It’s just…” she trailed off as her voice broke and she fought to hold back her tears.

“What?” he asked. “Is it what Lex did today?” Bruce was beyond angry for taking such a risk with Chloe’s safety. “Is it me? Do you think we’re playing some kind of game? Each of us pitting you against the other?”

“Lex got jealous at the mention of your name. Then he said things to deliberately hurt me. I ran off and that’s when I saw Viktor.”

“In his defense, he was right to try and get you out of the house; and though I don’t agree that a confrontation between yourself and anyone related to the Vashenkos was healthy, I do understand his logic.”

“What would you recommend?”

“I think you need to see your Dad.” Chloe turned to him at those words. Her face was streaked with tears and more flowed freely. “I think you’re afraid and ashamed for being in a position of weakness. I think you are holding on to too much blame for what happened because you offered yourself as a sacrifice.”

“I don’t know if I can face him.”

“You talk to him on the phone. Surely he knows something is going on with you.”

“He doesn’t know details, but I’ve made it clear that I’m safe and he doesn’t have to worry. But I spent months trying to convince him that I didn’t have time for him in order to keep him from finding out about my situation.”

“How have you explained your presence here?” Bruce stood up and walked to where she stood at the window.

“Just that you’re a friend and we work together. I told him you were letting me stay here on temporary assignment.”

“I can go along with that.”

“You want me to invite him here?”

“I think it will do you some good to visit with him.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead. “Call him tomorrow. He can stay in any one of the zillion empty rooms here.” He smiled at her warmly and she smiled back. Then she asked an unexpected question.

“Bruce, this isn’t an offer, just a question…Do you want to have sex with me?”

“Chloe, I’m Thirty-years-old, I spend most of my free time by myself and I don’t get a chance to date much. You’re a beautiful, gutsy, intelligent woman. I’d have to be gay not to want to have sex with you. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to try and put the moves on you.”

“Oh.” Chloe absorbed his reply. Then she stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips gently to his. She only lingered a moment. The contact was fleeting and she was gone from the library with the quiet rustling of feet.

Bruce stared down at the book that Chloe had set down on the table. He though about Lex and himself and the comparison that she’d made between them and Belford and Lovelace, the two main, male characters of the novel. He opened the book to a random page and glanced at it. What he and Lex were doing was helping Chloe. They weren’t playing her off each other. The passage he opened was a letter to Lovelace from Belford.

“I would not, for a thousand worlds, have your crimes to answer for.”

How much, Bruce wondered, did his continued presence in Chloe’s life effect the way Lex treated her? Would he have stepped in to help her if Bruce hadn’t forced him? The thoughts sent him through the house and down into the caves. He changed into his dark clothes and went out on patrol. He realized that Chloe’s vulnerability had allowed him to show her a side he kept hidden. Bruce Wayne the hero, the warrior, the champion.

Bruce was Chloe’s Dark Knight, coming to rescue her from the tower she’d been locked in. He pulled himself out of his thoughts in time to foil a mugging. He beat the perpetrators to a pulp and assisted the young man to his car. Then he took to the rooftops in search of his true goal: the Vashenko’s gambling parlor. As far as gambling went, it wasn’t that big a racket. Just some bets on horse racing, a few card tables and a little drug action in the back, but Bruce felt pretty confident that he could take the place down alone.

*

Chloe was the earliest riser the following morning; except, of course, for Alfred. She sat at the breakfast table with her cup of coffee and a freshly buttered scone flavored with red currants. She opened the paper and read, with interest, about the raiding and torching of a suspected gambling hall. The perpetrators were not police, but a single man, wearing a cape and cowl, referred to as “Batman.”

“Well,” she said out loud to the empty room. “Looks like Gotham has a new sheriff in town.”

“Morning.” Lex came in and sat down across from Chloe at the table. She eyes his split lip with a detached amusement and a tiny sting of pride.

“Morning, yourself.” She tossed him the business section and inquired about his plans for the week.

“Flying to Metropolis today,” he said. “Corporations don’t run themselves.” He thanked Alfred for the cup of coffee he’d set beside his plate. “What about you?”

“I’m going to call my dad and ask him to come visit me.” He looked up from the paper with interest. She tossed him the front section next. “Interesting article on the front page.” Lex continued to look at her.

“Are you going to tell him what really happened?”

“Yes.” Chloe let out a large breath. It was a relief to say it out loud. Now she’d just have to find the right words to tell him that she’d been involved in organized crime for eight months and she’d chosen it. “I’m going to talk to Dr. Banks this morning, then I’ll call.”

“I’ll take care of his travel arrangements if you don’t mind me butting in.” Lex looked pleased. He glanced up as Bruce walked into the room. “Chloe’s dad’s coming to visit.”

“Terrific.” Bruce smiled at her. “I’ll see that Alfred sets up the guest suite.” He didn’t need to tell Lex that he had already discussed the plan with Chloe, he didn’t want his friend getting territorial. “I’ll be down in the gym.” He grabbed a mug of tea and took it with him, swatting Lex on the back of the head with the comic section of the paper on his way out.

“I'll be down in a few minutes to spar if you don't mind." Chloe's words surprised Lex but he didn't say anything; he just excused himself and walked towrds the door. He stopped briefly beside Chloe's chair to tug her hair playfully; then he left.
Lex drove to the airport where his helecopter was currently waiting. He thought about Chloe and her state that morning. She'd been much more like herself than he'd seen her since her rescue. He smiled to himself as he greeted the pilot and buckled himself in. Their fight had broken down some barriers, and she was better for it, because of him. The feeling of elation that fluttered in Lex's stomach and spread to his limbs had nothing to do with the ground rapidly dropping beneath him as the pilot made his ascent. It had everything to do with masculine pride.

Bruce was warming up when Chloe walked into the room. She was in sweats and a t-shirt and whistled tunelessly. She went to the mat and started to stretch her arms and shoulders. He watched her as she moved, unselfconsciously and easily. Not timid about where she was or how she was performing. She looked...normal. Bruce smiled to himself. Their talk last night must have had more of an effect than he'd thought. He observed her with a swell of pride. He was helping her get better.

[tiger04]

great update. I can't wait for the next update. I like that both lex and bruce are so proud that they are helping chloe get better.

AT

[nokchan]

Don't get me wrong, but I don't know what exactly to think about this chapter. I like it...no question, but ... it Bruce. There is something unnerving and... akward about him. It's not only that I can't trust him... its all this little things. Maybe it is while Lex is playing open.. even with his dark cards Bruce is all mysterious and secretive. Like his voyeurism tendecies... with watching Lex getting laid. Or watching him spanking Chloe. Judging Lexs actions across Chloe but isn't able to do something himself. And now in this chappy... I don't know why but he creept me out.

It's not only that I can't trust him... he creeps me. There is something about him that annoys and scares me. I have the feeling that he wants to posses Chloe himself, but isn't too strong to admit that to himself. But maybe is just a very sick me.

[AlabamaWorley]

Great update, I loved the comparisons to the book.

Now I'll just sit quietly and wait for the other shoe to drop.

[autumngold]

I really wish that both Lex and Bruce would realize that they're both using Chloe to feel better about themselves!! The comparisons between this story and the book are absolutely frightening!! Please, please let Chloe be strong enough to not end up like Clarissa!! Can't wait for more!! :yay: :chlexsign3: :yay:

[lexchloe]

:yay: Good update. Glad Chloe is getting better and I like how both Lex and Bruce think it's their efforts that are taking her there. Methinks this can only lead to trouble (or I really hope it does :devil: ) Also liked the book references, very interesting parallels with what's going on. More soon please.

[asharnanae]

:huh: As nockchan said, I do get a bit creeped out by bruce. for me its that he seems to be two different people, one with chloe and another with lex. That, and I really do not like the chruce pairing, because its far to much like chlark for my taste.

And I find the referance that bruce brought up about gayness amuseing, since he is actaully ment to be! well, he was origionalyy anyway.

Fantastic chappy though!!! :blinkkiss:

[hfce]

Bruce and Lex need to get over themselves. It was the combination of them not them specifically. If anything Lex got the ball rolling and Bruce got to finish it. But at least with Lex we know what he is after but Bruce. I am sorry he just creepy to me. He is more dangerous than Lex because he plays everything tp close to the vest.

We know he has a dark side thanks to Batman. So what he points out in Lex he has it in himself he just gets to hide behind a mask.



Hope :)

[Blu_FireFly81]

I like it I really do.

The Chloe/Bruce I liked from the beginning more so then the Chloe/Lex, yes I’m a bad Chlexer.
I just like the chemistry evolvement and the story and everything involved is so wonderful.

I to have read “Clarissa: History of a Young Lady,” some years prior and glad to hear someone else did to, it great how you intertwined the book with the fic it just runs sooo smoothly.


Congrats!
:chlexsign3:

[zelda]

It's not only that I can't trust him... he creeps me.

Geneally, guys who dress up in costumes and go running around in the dark are genearlly a little whacked. I'm not offended by your creepage. That's kinda the point. :blinkkiss:

[Kit Merlot]

Both men think they are the ones helping Chloe get better. Okay, its true that they got her away from the Ukranians, but its CHLOE who is healing herself. SHE is getting her strength back.

This story is awesome :biggrin:

[randa]

im excited that gabe is coming and chloe is gonna tell him the truth.
this should help her heal even more

more soon

randa

[zelda]

Chloe was all padded up in her gear. She wore a foam helmet, knee and elbow pads, gloves and bootie things. She had no idea why her feet needed protection, but since Bruce wore the same gear...plus a little extra below his midsection, she figured she was game.

"Okay, so let's see you wipe the floor with me again." Chloe put in her rubber mouthguard and bent her knees in a not-completely-amateurish fighting stance. Bruce shrugged and put in his own mouthguard. Chloe belatedly realized that the foam booties weren't protecting Bruce's feet, they were protecting her from Bruce's feet. Feet that spent little time dilly-dallying and went right for the kicking of Chloe's ass.

Just for kicks, when Chloe was lying on her back with the wind knocked out of her, Bruce grinned and picked up her foot before dragging her off the mat and across the floor. "What are you doing?"

"Dusting."

With a grunt of disgust and outrage, Chloe aimed a kick with her other foot behind Bruce's knee. It worked and he stumbled back, dropping her foot. Chloe scissored her ankles and trapped his leg, rolling over and causing him to loose his balance. She crowed with victory when he fell and pumped her fist in the air. About three seconds later, she was twisted into a pretzel with Bruce’s stomach pressed against her back. She was taking up less space than she’d through physically possible with her arms and legs twisted in all directions. The back of her head was in Bruce’s armpit and she was seated on his leg. He chuckled in her ear. “Never stop to gloat. That’s for movies and comic books.”

“I’ll remember that,” Chloe choked out. “Can I take my knee out of my ear now?” His chest was rumbling with laughter and he lowered her to the floor between his legs and released her limbs, one by one till she was flopped, bonelessly across his stomach and legs, looking up at the ceiling. “I can’t feel my nose, or my eyebrows,” she mumbled. “Why is that?” Her muscles felt atrophied and lame, but her fingers tingled.

“Acupressure point.” He ruffled her hair. “Makes the victim’s muscles go slack and stimulates a nerve that signals the brain to release an enzyme that calms and makes the victim lucid.”

“My ears feel hot.” Chloe rolled her eyeballs till she could see Bruce’s face. “Can you teach me that? I think it might come in handy for the nights that I can’t sleep.”

“It’s kind of complex set of moves, and you can injure someone by doing it wrong.” He smiled at her. “I can show you some other ones though.”

“Where did you learn all this stuff?” Bruce’s face clouded over and she blinked at him curiously. “Well?”

“In the east.”

“Right, upper or lower side?” She smirked, feeling her facial muscles returning to their normal sensations.

“I did some traveling between High school and college.” He cocked his head and looked down at her. “Long time ago.”

“So where did you learn your B&E?” He frowned. “Not a lot of billionaires know how to enter a heavily guarded compound and sneak into a lady’s bedroom undetected.” She struggled into a sitting position and turned around, folding her legs under her. “Usually you rich boys hire people to do that for you.”

“I got lucky.”

“Twice?” Her voice was soft, her expression carefully serene. When his face locked down in an unreadable mask, she continued. “You can’t tell me you didn’t expect me to figure out that you were the same guy, did you?” She leaned close. “Does Lex know about the first night you came to see me?”

“No, he was busy with a brunette from the time I left until I returned.” Her expression faltered for a second, but she regained it.

“Why did you come to me that first night? I was a stranger to you then.” He started to close off and back away but Chloe scooted forward and placed her palm against his cheek. “Bruce, you risked your life to pull me out of Hell, I need to know why.” Her voice was brittle with emotion. “What brought you to my room to ask me about how I came to live with the Vashenkos?”

“It’s complicated.” His voice was low and rough. He didn’t like being that close to Chloe. Her eyes were so wide and expressive, he felt like he could see every doubt, every uncertainty, every vulnerability that dwelled, unwelcome in her heart. “I guess I wanted to know more about you. I didn’t think that asking for a meeting would be safe, and Lex wasn’t very forthcoming.”

“What if I’d said that I was there because I had gambled away my trust fund and that I was paying it off with service.”

“You didn’t strike me as the gambling type.” His eyes fell to her mouth and he stared at it for a moment before looking away and standing up. He held out his hand to her. “You ready for more punishment?” Chloe looked up at him, feeling the loss of the moment, then she brushed it off and put on a smile.

“Always.” She took his hand and prepared herself for the ass-kicking that was destined to occur. She wasn’t disappointed.
*

Chloe sat in the large hot tub that sat in a room with walls of frosted glass that connected to the pool room. She let the powerful jets pound the soreness out of her back and shoulders while flexing the tired muscles of her legs. The door opened and Bruce walked in, wearing shorts and carrying a towel. She guessed that he’d just been swimming since beads of water still clung to his skin and his hair was wet and plastered to his head.

Chloe was feeling a little drowsy from the heat and her workout. She let her eyes drift over his chest and stomach.

“Should I turn around?” She blinked. Bruce looked amused and she blushed at being caught checking him out.

“It’s just that…” She shrugged. She was too tired to make something up. “Hell, it’s been a long day, why shouldn’t I get a little eye candy.” She sat up. “Yeah, turn around for me.” Bruce twirled his towel around and wiggled his hips as he turned in a full circle. “Work it, Baby!” Chloe deadpanned. Bruce joined her in the hot water and sighed.

“Was I too rough on you?”

“My feet are a little cramped, but that’s from running on the treadmill too.” She lifted her foot out of the water and wiggled her toes, frowning. Bruce reached out and snagged her foot in his hand.

“I used to have problems with my arches when I started running regularly,” he said, holding her foot in his hands. His thumbs dug into the middle of the ball of her foot and she hissed at the pleasant/painful sensation. “Am I hurting you?”

“Yeah,” she said with a wince. “But it’s in a good way, so go ahead.” Bruce went to work on her feet, moving his thumbs from her ankles, over her heels, and up the undersides of each of her feet. He paused and dug the tip of his thumbs into specific points, which she guessed were more accupressure points, and turned her tired little piggies into puddles of happy goo.

“Better?”

“If the Billionaire thing doesn’t work out for you, I’ll always have a position available as my personal masseur.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He smiled in a distracted way and closed his eyes, leaning back against the edge of the tub. Chloe watched him silently. “Why are you staring?” he asked, without opening his eyes.

“I wasn’t.”

“You always hold your breath when you’re staring at me.” He smiled. “And you never think I notice.”

“Okay, I guess I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“About our workout sessions.” She bit her lip, wondering if the question she wanted to ask wasn’t going a little too far. He opened his eyes and looked at her curiously. “I wonder if you’re deliberately rough with me.” He paused, then slowly nodded.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’d do you any favors by going easy on you. No one who wanted to mug you would.”

“That’s not what I mean.” She pursed her lips then blurted out what had been on her mind. “Are you rough with me so that I won’t need any other attention from you…Like what Lex does.”

“Yes, Chloe.” Bruce sat up and looked her straight in the eye. “I know that you still need more than just hugs and kisses.” He took a deep breath. “I guess I don’t really like the idea of discussing it, but hiding behind cute terms
like ‘treatment’ and ‘therapy’ just makes it seem like you have something shameful to work out.”

“I am ashamed.”

“And I’m making it worse by pretending it doesn’t happen.”

“Do you watch?” Chloe snapped her mouth shut after the question slipped out, but she didn’t try to take it back. She was watching him, not with the vulnerability that she’d had before, but something darker.

“Sometimes.” He tilted his head to the side, gazing at her with cool detachment. “Does that bother you? Or do you like me to watch you?” With a simple look, Bruce ceased being the questioned and became the inquisitor. “You knew that the cameras were there, but you don’t hide from me. You don’t put the screen up when Lex comes to your room and you don’t go to a more private place.” He caught her foot again and slid his thumb up her arch. “Do you like me to watch you take punishment?”

“I think so.”

“Why?” He asked. “Are you afraid of Lex?” She tried to pull her foot away, but he held it, the same way he had in her room at the compound. She shook her head quickly. “Are you afraid of me?” She paused, then shook her head slowly. “You should be. Lex isn’t a saint, neither am I.” He gave her foot a quick jerk and Chloe’s head went under the surface of the water. Bruce’s hand closed over her knee, then her waist and he pulled her up in front of him. He retained his detached expression but held her close as she struggled to gain footing.

Chloe coughed and placed her hands on his shoulders. She didn’t push herself away from him, just held her head above the bubbling surface of the water. The hard muscle and sinew beneath her fingers was evidence of Bruce’s tension, despite his calm expression.

“I don’t have a choice,” she said. “I have to trust you both. So if you want to scare me into silence, forget it, I’m already terrified.”

[crankychick]

“Was I too rough on you?”

Anytime, Bruce
:worship2: Is it wrong that I'm torn between Lex and Bruce? I should be frightened of the mind games that are going on, but I keep thinking Chloe's inquisitive, aggressive nature isn't a switch to be easily turned off or on. It will take some a bit more of their domination to deprogram the damage she's been through, but in the meanwhile...hot guys, costumes and sexual tension. :devil:

[Blu_FireFly81]

Originally posted by crankychick@Feb 2 2005, 01:05 AM

Anytime, Bruce
:worship2: Is it wrong that I'm torn between Lex and Bruce?
Me too!

:eyebrows:

It's like choosing between the sinner and the devil neither one is good but one just more temping then the other.

[hfce]

I am sorry but Bruce makes me sick. :tease:

[Reese]

Feet that spent little time dilly-dallying and went right for the kicking of Chloe's ass.

Lines like this one crack me up!

So I'm divided as well when it comes to Bruce and Lex in this fic. On the one hand, I think they're both sick and damaged and working out their own issues on Chloe and on the other I'd give my right arm for them to work them out on me.

Oops. Did that just come out in the open? Oh well, I'm sure someone here understands ;)

But the really interesting thing about the whole situation is how it draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat, chapter after chapter, waiting to see who's right or who wins or whatever you want to call it. Is Bruce an ass? Is Lex? Will Chloe be okay? Are they helping or hurting her? So many questions!

Looking foward to more,

Reese

[nokchan]

Originally posted by hfce@Feb 2 2005, 08:03 AM
I am sorry but Bruce makes me sick. :tease:
Thanks me too! At the moment I think he could marry Lana because she creeps me with her pink as he does creep me with his black. Then they can have creepy little kids with pink/ black stripes. I really hope Lana likes Batman and the Damsel in Distress Role Play because Bruce obviously does that.

zelda: You know I love your fics. I really really really do. I mean "The Wish" was awesome. And I like that you are progressive enough to write about something delicate as the stockholm syndrom. You need some guts for that.

But please do me one favor. Stop this icky Chruce... thing. I can't stand him anymore.

[autumngold]

If I was Chloe, living between Lex and Bruce would make me want to run!! Bruce is so mean to her and Lex just wants to use her!! I think Chloe deserves something better than this!! Hopefully she'll realize it too!! Thanks for the update!! :crygreen: :crygreen:

[Kit Merlot]

Well, Bruce was really quite creepy in this update. I hope that was what you were going for :biggrin:

He thinks he is more honorable then Lex, but he's just as twisted. I know Chloe is just getting her strength back, but she needs to keep her distance from both men.

She deserves better than to be just another object to be won.

Excellent update.

[randa]

more please!


randa

[SinnerSaint]

Okay, I'm the wierdo who doesn't hate Bruce. He at least puts his darkness out there for Chloe to see and also he is kind of helping her test her limits. I think he is trying to help her see how strong she really is and that while she might be slightly damaged , she isn't broken.

[zelda]

A/N: Thanks for all the feedback. Longer chappie now. There will be smut coming up, in the next chapter or so, but I wanted to get some developmental stuff out of the way first.

“What are you terrified of if you’re not scared of us?” Bruce let go of Chloe and she moved back to the other side of the tub.

“I know it’s a cliché, but I’m more afraid of myself.” She wiped her hair out of her face. “Bruce, my past with Lex has given me very little insight into his general psyche, but I know him well enough to trust that he can keep me safe from almost anything if he puts his mind to it.”

“And what about me?”

“You reveal so little about your own insecurities, but you don’t push bravado up to compensate.” She paused. “Except just now; which I don’t understand. Do you want me to be uncomfortable around you? Cause I can do that.”

“No, Chloe.” Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache forming. “I’m sorry about that, I wanted to express something to you, and I really went about it the wrong way.”

“Proving some point like ‘don’t trust anyone’?”

“Something like that,” he admitted. “I was thrown by your question in the library. I assume that Lex made some comment that made you want to ask me about the sex thing.”

“You’d be right.”

“Well, What I wanted to express, and failed to do with any grace, is that when two men like Lex and myself are put together for too long, we’ll play against each other. It’s in our natures to compete, and though I love him like a brother, I’d never trust him not to undermine me.”

“So part of the reason I’m here isn’t about me at all.” She made the statement without any doubts. “It has to do with who can make Chloe better, and to whom will she be more grateful?”

“I don’t think that either of us consciously made that decision before you got here. But there it is in all its ugliness.”

“Wow,” she said, looking annoyed. “Guys competing for the attention and gratitude of a woman. That’s something I’ve never heard of before.” He gave her a sharp look. “Bruce, I may be a basket case from time to time, but I’m not a complete fool. I’ve been second guessing the motives of everyone who crossed my path for the past eight months. Now that I’m out, like many things, the reflex doesn’t just go away.”

“I guess I should’ve known that.”

“Yeah, and I could’ve done without the knuckle-dragging demonstration just now too.” She folded her arms across her breasts. “God, next you two will find some excuse to pee on me or something.” The look of disgust and annoyance on her face made Bruce start to laugh. Once he started to chuckle, he lost control and began to roar. Once he’d regained his composure, he wiped his watering eyes.

“I don’t think anyone has ever phrased what Lex and I do quite that way, but I think a pissing contest is pretty accurate.” He smiled at her. “Are you going to call your dad?”

“I did when I went to my room to change. I think Lex may have his pilot bring him here.”

“Anything in particular that your father likes to eat? We can have Alfred make something special.”

“Just nothing too fancy, he’s a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”

*

Gabe Sullivan was greeted on the back lawn of Wayne Manor by his daughter, who held him in a hug for a long time, and by Bruce, himself who shook hands solemnly. They went into the house together where the noise from the helicopter wouldn’t hamper their conversation.

“Welcome,” Bruce said, politely. “Please make yourself at home here. I’ll have your things brought to the guest suite.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” Gabe replied. “I’m glad to be here.” He squeezed Chloe’s shoulder affectionately. “I’m glad you have a job now that allows us time to visit.” Chloe exchanged a look with Bruce but said nothing as they walked to the library.

Dinner was served and the three of them ate steaks and boursin-stuffed new potatoes with asparagus. After a glass of wine, Gabe appeared to be very content so Chloe decided to bring up the subject of the events of the previous months.

“Dad, there’s something I have to tell you.” Gabe’s face fell and he leaned forward.

“Are you pregnant?” His eyes went from Chloe to Bruce in an accusing manner.

“No!” they both exclaimed, vehemently.

“Good, I didn’t bring my shotgun.” Chloe let out a nervous laugh when she realized her father had been joking.

“Well, It’s a really long story, and I just want you to listen to the whole thing before you say anything.”

“Well if it’s going to be a tall tale, I’d better hit the head beforehand.” He smiled and scooted back his chair, walking out of the room. Chloe rubbed her forehead.

“He’s giving himself time to prepare.” Bruce nodded. “Maybe I should do this alone.”

“Do you want me to make myself scarce?”

“No, it’s probably better to have someone else here who knows of the Vashenkos.”
Gabe returned and sat back down in his seat. He took a deep breath and looked his daughter in the eye.

“Give me the Band-aid approach,” he said. “Get the worst stuff out of the way, then fill in the details.”

“Okay,” Chloe said, biting her lip. She took a deep breath and blurted out the basics. “For the last eight months I’ve been living with a local crime family in their compound and living like a virtual slave because I had to help someone and I traded a year of freedom.” She gulped as she watched her father’s face. “Bruce and Lex found out about it recently and made a deal to get me out. I’m okay and I’m seeing a therapist in order to get over some issues I have and everything’s going to be alright now.”

“How did slavery come into this?”

“The patriarch of this family has forced people into agreeing to be his ‘property’ like an object or a pet,” Bruce said, breaking in. “The people agree to complete obedience because they are ‘owned’ by the family.” Gabe put his hand to his chest and closed his eyes.

“So all this time you’ve told me that you were working for these people, you were a prisoner?” Chloe nodded and felt tears begin to fall from her eyes. “Why didn’t you let me help you?”

“They’d have killed you. Then probably me; it’s one of the things they like to do, making people keep their families in the dark and lie all the time.” She moved her seat over and lay her hand on her father’s shoulder.

“So you were like a concubine or something?” Gabe almost choked on the word.

“No, Daddy. I really did just work as an assistant to the younger son. I was educated and worth more for my brain. Only one person in the family had any say in what my role was in the household, he just wanted me to be an assistant.”

“So you weren’t…abused by them.”

“Well, one man beat me sometimes.” Her father sucked in a quick breath. “Because he wasn’t allowed to touch me any other way.” Gabe clutched at the hand that was on his shoulder but he stared at his plate. “Daddy, I’m so sorry I had to lie to you, but I just couldn’t risk you trying to help me and ending up hurt.”

“I’m going to need a few minutes.” Gabe stood up from the table and walked out of the room. Chloe started to get up but Bruce held up his hand.

“Why don’t you go take a shower and change. I’ll keep an eye on your father.” Chloe nodded, sniffling and he went looking for his guest. He found the man standing on the balcony overlooking the garden. Though it was dark outside, there were security lights that kept much of the area lit.

“How bad was it?” Gabe didn’t look at Bruce. “The place she was staying.”

“The compound itself was heavily guarded. She had a bodyguard when she went out in public because as a possession of the Vashenkos, she was a treated as an object of value.” He joined the other man at the railing and looked up at the sky. “She was kept comfortable in her room, food and clothing were provided, probably very high quality. I guess she was treated more like a pet than a slave, but the effect was the same.”

“She said she was beaten?”

“How much detail do you want to hear?”

“I’ll tell you when to stop.”

“Boris Vashenko owned her. His oldest son, Sasha was in charge of her most of the time, and harbored a bit of an obsession with your daughter. Boris is a control freak and wouldn’t allow Sasha to make her his mistress so he’d take his belt to her instead.” Gabe made a pained noise but nodded for him to continue. “Chloe has been making remarkable progress in her therapy. She was suffering from the effects of captivity, but wasn’t consciously sympathizing with her keepers.”

“You mean Stockholm Syndrome?”

“Right. She didn’t join the Ukranian mafia or anything. She’s just having some issues adjusting to life on the outside.”

“Why did she do this?”

“She felt like she owed someone a…life debt, I guess you could say.” Bruce turned to Gabe. “What Chloe did, she did to try and save another person. But because she chose it, she’s having trouble letting go of some of the responsibility for the pain and humiliation of being property.”

“When I think about it, I just want to kill somebody.” Gabe’s hands were clenched on the railing.

“I wouldn’t worry about the Vashenkos,” Bruce said quietly. “They’ll get what’s coming to them soon enough. But please don’t try to approach them directly, Mr. Sullivan.”

“How can you ask me that?”

“Because you’re an amateur,” Bruce said, not unkindly. “I know how much you want to wring somebody’s neck over this, but you’ll end up in a landfill without even seeing the man responsible.”

“This is so much to process.”

“Chloe’s been through so much, and she’s pulling through like a champ. But she does need family, she needs her dad.” He watched as the other man slowly nodded. “I sent her to bed; talking about it gets her really emotionally drained. It’s a struggle for her to speak of something she wasn’t allowed to say directly for months. Even knowing that it was psychological programming doesn’t make it any less hard for her. Why don’t you two talk in the morning.”

“How did you come to meet her?”

“Lex had a very casual, social acquaintance with the youngest son. He found out when he saw Chloe with him. The guy bragged about her belonging to his family, and we’d both heard the rumors about Boris’ little habit.” He leaned his elbows on the railing. “Lex conned Marcus into making a wager against Chloe. Then I went to the house to get her out.” He pressed his lips together, uncertain of how much he should tell the other man. “She’d been beaten that morning and had belt marks all over her back. I got her a doctor as soon as I brought her here and he’s been treating her emotionally and physically.”

“A fucking belt.” Gabe broke and began to cry. “My baby girl,” he choked out. “And some animal took a belt to her.”

Bruce left the balcony about a half-hour later. He’d stayed until Chloe’s father was calmer, then gone to her room. When he knocked and entered, she was sitting nervously on the bed. She wore her flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt.

“How is he?”

“Angry, sad, worried, shocked, and trying to absorb everything.” Bruce shut the door and sat in an armchair across from her. “How are you?” He looked at her lap where she was holding Lex’s belt. She’d kept it from the night he’d handed it to her. Now it looked slightly mangled from the many times she’d probably twisted it in her fists. “Do you need to keep that with you?”

“Yeah,” she answered, looking more vulnerable than he’d seen her in days. “Being the one to hold it makes a difference.”

“Are you going to be able to sleep?”

“I doubt it. Tonight’s just been a little hyper real to me.” Bruce looked uncomfortable so she spoke his thoughts aloud. “No, I don’t need that tonight.”

“Is there anything you do need?”

“Yeah.” Chloe bit her lip nervously. “Can you stay with me? Not like…um, you know. But just to be here.”

Bruce nodded and left, promising to return. Chloe turned off the lights and got under the covers. Not sleeping with someone else in the room seemed easier than not sleeping by herself. Bruce returned in his pajama pants and robe. When he pulled back the covers and slid into the king-sized bed with her, he smelled clean, like he’d just showered. He didn’t take her into his arms, and she didn’t snuggle up to him, they just stared at the ceiling in the dark and breathed.

Bruce was warm, not emotionally, but physically. His normal body temperature was a little higher than normal so Chloe felt his warmth radiate over to her side of the bed. She thought about him and their first meeting in her room, in the dark. Then she thought about their second meeting, the pain made the memory a little hazy. When she remembered that night, the pain was what came first. He’d just appeared in her room again, and she’d been dizzy and sick from the beating.

She remembered Bruce telling her that he was there to help her. She remembered him reaching for her, his expression so serious. Then darkness; Dr. Banks said that she’d probably lost consciousness from pain and mild shock. She had a blurred recollection of raised voices and the unusual sensation of hanging upside down with a shoulder rammed into her gut. She remembered a gentle touch on her shoulder, the sound of ripping fabric and then the cool relief of the antiseptic spray on her back. It was the dampening of pain that had roused her.

Chloe had felt hands on her, gently restraining her and she’d opened her eyes to see Lex. Then Bruce had treated her back and Alfred had given her something that made her sink back into darkness until Dr. Banks had arrived to speak to her. ‘How did I get here?’ she thought to herself. She knew the chain of events that had led to this moment.

“How did I get here?” Chloe ‘s voice whispered in the darkness. “How did this all happen?” She was talking half to herself, half to him, so Bruce just laced his fingers together behind his head and waited. “I can see the chain of events in my head. I can see every decision, every choice I made and that was made for me. But I can’t seem to relate the beginning of this fantastic, horrible journey with where I am now. And more importantly, I can’t picture where I’m going.”

“You’re going,” Bruce said, “to be just fine.”

“Sounds like a great place.” Her voice was so soft, he had to struggle to hear it. “I’d like to visit sometime.”

“Sure, it’s a great place to visit,” he said, turning his head. “But you wouldn’t want to live there.”

[lexchloe]

:worship2: :worship2: Poor Gabe :cryblue: Nice character growth although I'm starting to wonder which horse I should be backing Chruce or Chlex!!! :chlexsign3: :devil: More please

[Blu_FireFly81]

:sad: :sad:
I felt so bad for Gabe when he was on the balcony.

Good job making me feel sad.
:chlexsign4:

[Nicki]

in a way in this fic i am voiting for Chruce he seems better for her right now and he's been there more then Lex has

[Zannie]

I'm still rooting for Chloe to dump both of the assholes and go let herself recover in a healthy way--without relying on selfish men who want to use her to feed their own manipulative and demeaning desires.

Chloe, if you want to come back and play around with those creeps later, more power to you. But, hon, get better first, so you can be in a stable enough psychological condition to do so without letting them use you.

[hfce]

I am glad Gab is there for her. I wish she would go back with him and heal. And then deal with those two idiots.



H.

[Kit Merlot]

I am very glad that Gabe knows the truth of what happened to her.

And Chloe is getting her strength back, but she needs to steer clear of these two manipulative men.

Excellent update!

[autumngold]

Originally posted by hfce@Feb 4 2005, 04:00 PM
I am glad Gab is there for her. I wish she would go back with him and heal. And then deal with those two idiots.



H.
I agree with Hope!! If only Chloe would leave with Gabe, then I think she would be safe!! Thanks so much for the great update!! I can't wait for more!! :worship2: :chlexsign4: :worship2:

[dreamingincolor]

Hey I just thought of a wonderful idea instead of Chloe picking between bruce and lex what doesn't she have them both. lol I know never going to probably happen in a million years, but a girl can still day dream can't she? :biggrin:

[Thessaly]

Originally posted by zelda@Feb 4 2005, 07:16 AM
“A fucking belt.” Gabe broke and began to cry. “My baby girl,” he choked out. “And some animal took a belt to her.”

Oh God, zelda, I nearly cried. But I'm blaming it on the fact that I'm sucking down cough syrup like a shameless rummy.

Also despite the fact that - well, sexy, evil, rich bastards get me hot, I'm going to have to agree with Zannie here. Lex is being a bit of a git. He's enjoying the idea of owning Chloe a leeetle too much (and I would recoil in horror and distaste from the idea of owning Lex. *Snort*) and I don't think he's going to take kindly to the inroads Bruce has been making while he's away, either with Gabe or Chloe.

Ahem, you know these pyjama pants of Bruce's? They've got little bats on them, right? It wouldn't seem right if they didn't. Not after all the effort he went to to get the nipples on the Batsuit.

Thessaly

[squash]

You somehow make this fic touching and edgy, and I simply love it. I'd love it even more if you updated too. please please please :biggrin:

[cwong]

Power men fighting over an almost powerless woman, I don't like. Chloe needs to get better soon!!! Then she can kick Bruce's butt and maybe beat Lex a little, wouldn't want to scar that beautiful face now.

[Kit Merlot]

My dear Zelda,

We need an update to this great fic--PLEASE!

[BlackFireRaven]

LOVIN' THIS STORY...CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!! :yay:

[Ace9]

Originally posted by Zannie@Feb 4 2005, 03:45 PM
I'm still rooting for Chloe to dump both of the assholes and go let herself recover in a healthy way--without relying on selfish men who want to use her to feed their own manipulative and demeaning desires.

Chloe, if you want to come back and play around with those creeps later, more power to you. But, hon, get better first, so you can be in a stable enough psychological condition to do so without letting them use you.
I believe I disagree. I like where Zelda is goign with this and I think it would be a good explanation as to why women don't just get up and leave.


Because it's not that easy. And further more there is not a certain way to heal, one that would be deemed healthier than another. There is not one way that is more effective than another this is all dependent on the invidual. A person on drugs doesn't get off drugs on their free will. Normally their locked somewhere going through detox and then from there, there is a slow path to healing. Other's believe ending an obsession is by developing another obsession.

Even medication works that way. We take the flu to not get teh flu, I doubt that would be deemed healthy. We try to rid our body of parasites and we then ingest parasites to have a healthy system in some occasion. The word healthy is questionable.


What your defining might actually work against Chloe?! What if when chloe decides to leave Bruce and Lex she ends up back in the hands of those idiots that made her the way she was? There is nothing to say that wihtout their protection that she is safe; and that could be a major reason as to why she stays with them. She is lucid and thinking clearly....it's the sexual psychology and emotional healing that is taking quite a bit of time. And I'm not surprised.


anyway keep it coming Zelda this is very interesting!!

[zelda]

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've had to move and I'm in the process of finding a new home so my time at the computer is limited to when I'm at work.

Warning: Some violence and angst. Smut to come soon.

Gabe Sullivan stayed for three days before he needed to get back to his job.

Chloe had spoken with Dr. Banks and they’d agreed that a short visit would be a better idea than an immediate move. On the evening before her departure, she sat in her room, twisting the belt between her hands when she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in.” Lex opened the door with courteous slowness. It was the Luthor version of peeking his head in cautiously. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” He looked at her sitting on the large bed and his gaze focused on the belt. “Are you nervous?”

“Beyond nervous.” She pursed her lips tightly and looked up at him, as if debating her next question.

“Do you need me?”

“The urge to refuse is getting stronger every day,” she replied. “But I don’t think I can sleep tonight without it.”

“How about a compromise?” He folded his arms across his chest and stood directly in front of her in a dominant pose. Chloe had to fight the urge to avert her eyes. “You’ve been working with Bruce, so why don’t we see if you can actually fight?”

“Do you want me to attack you?”

“No, I want you to try and stop me. You know you can use the safe word at any time.” He nodded to her pajama-clad form. “How many nights did you spend worrying that the door was going to open up and someone was going to come for you?” Chloe looked down at the belt in her hands. The mangled leather that she had to sleep with like a teddy bear. She didn’t answer and Lex continued.

He wasn’t wearing shoes, just his trousers and shirt. He loosened the top three buttons and stared at her. “After Sasha would beat you, you’d at least know that he wasn’t going to do anything else. It had to be a relief when the belt came down, the same way it was a relief when he petted you afterwards.” Chloe had started to sweat.

“What are you trying to do to me?” Lex was asking himself the same question. He should just spank her and get it over with so he could go and jerk off in the shower, go to sleep, wake up hard again and repeat.

“I think I’m trying to help you in my own, twisted way.” He reached forward and yanked the belt from her hands. He slapped it against his palm and she started to shake. “Keep it together, Chloe,” he snapped. “Now place a little faith in yourself and fight.” He slapped it against his palm again and raised it over his head.

Chloe clumsily lifted her hands to catch his arm. It was half-defensive and half-offensive. She immediately backed away from him, her flight response winning over the urge to fight. Lex pursued her around the edge of the bed. “You don’t want this to happen, Chloe. I’m not your friend giving you a playful swat on the ass. You can’t think of me that way.”

“What is it with you and Bruce?” Chloe’s heart was beating so fast she could hear the blood in her ears. “Doing your best to be scary, assholes?”

“Watch your mouth.” He swung and the edge of the folded belt connected with her thigh. “You belong to me now and I don’t want you sounding like you come from a trailer park.” He reached out and shoved her shoulder, pushing her back against the oak armoire. “What are you waiting for?” He shoved her again and she flinched.

“Stop it!” She slapped at his arms and shoulders but he was standing too close for her to do much damage. “Cut it out, Lex.”

“I’m not Lex now,” he said, grabbing her shoulders and throwing her sideways. She fell on the floor and scooted back against the wall. He pulled his shirt open and dropped it behind him on the floor. “I’m just the guy who owns you, Sullivan.”

“Don’t call me that.” Chloe picked up a sneaker and threw it at him. He ducked and she rolled to her feet. “You’re not him!” She darted past him but he snagged her wrist and jerked her back so hard she nearly lost her footing. He looped the belt around her wrists and held her back against his chest.

“Yes I am.” He kissed her behind her ear and bent his knee, pushing against hers till they buckled and she fell to the floor. He held her tight against him. “I’m him, and I’m going to hurt you again. I’m going to keep hurting you until you stop me because that’s all I know how to do.”

“Please.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“You know that I like to hear begging.” He scraped her hair away from her neck with clawed fingers. “You know that I don’t care about you, or what you want. I don’t care how damaged you’re going to be after I’m done with you because I don’t care about you. I don’t care who you are as a person, you’re not even human to me, just a toy. Just something I’ve been denied for a long time. Just something someone told me I couldn’t have. That’s the only reason I want you.”

He pressed his lips to her nape. “You belong to me, and you can’t do anything but cry about it. So go ahead and cry.”

She did. Lex felt her tears landing softly on the hand that held the belt. Her body jerked with silent sobs. She went boneless in his arms and sank fluidly to the floor in front of him. Her forehead was on the carpet when he released her. His feelings were tangled and confused. His plan hadn’t worked. He’d wanted her to fight him. He’d wanted to be the one to break through to the old Chloe, but instead, she lay helpless on the floor, a sobbing puddle of despair. He placed his hands on either side of her form.

Maybe this was what he’d really wanted, Lex thought to himself. For her to still be trapped in herself and to still need him. With her face pressed to the floor, and one of her arms limp by her side, she looked as vulnerable as a child. The pose was as submissive as a whipped dog. Beaten, alone, pitiful. So… not Chloe.

By the time Lex realized his mistake, he was flying backwards. He’d managed to get a foot underneath him and was in motion to stand up; his survival instinct reacting to a potential threat. Her foot caught him in his midsection and actually knocked him off his feet, pushing the breath from his body. He landed with a grunt and felt the leather belt jerked from his grasp. He rolled instinctively, even without breath, before the first blow fell on his shoulders.

“Son. Of. A. Bitch!” Each word was hissed at him and punctuated by a sharp snap of the belt against his bare shoulders and back. One last one fell, then he heard the belt clatter against the wall. “I’ve had it with this bullshit!” She landed a kick to his unprotected ribs and he rolled away, still gasping for breath. “You don’t own me.” Her voice was hard and angry but it wasn’t raised. “I don’t have any reason to be ashamed!” She picked up a paperweight and threw it at him. He managed to catch it before it struck his chest.

“Now what?”

“Stop asking me questions!” She threw herself at him and tackled him on the bed. She planted her knees on his chest and slapped at his face and shoulders. “It’s none of your fucking business!” Her voice got shrill. “You ruined my life!” She seized him around the throat and started to slam his head on the mattress. “I fucking hate you!” Her face was contorted with rage and there were tears streaming down her cheeks. Lex grasped her wrists in his hands and held on to them. She didn’t let go of his neck, but she loosened her grip. He coughed slightly, the weight on his chest making it difficult to catch his breath.

Chloe’s own breath stopped coming in gasps and she let go of Lex. She stared down at him; seeing him and not her imaginary foe. She’d been so angry and afraid that she’d actually seen Sasha’s face, Boris’s face, Marcus’ face before her. Now it was Lex’s body under her knees. It was Lex’s hands on her wrists. And Lex’s shoulders bearing the marks of her rage. She slipped off his chest and reached out to touch the edge of one of the welts she’d put on him. Since he was lying on his back, she could only see part of one. “Oh God, Lex.”

“Don’t,” he rasped, sitting up. “Don’t say you’re sorry because you shouldn’t be. I deserved that.”

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes I did. Just trust me.” He turned away slightly and winced when her fingers brushed gently over one of the injuries she’d given him. He got off the bed and picked up his shirt, sliding his arms into the sleeves.

“Lex-” she began.

“Please,” he said, cutting her off. “Can we just sleep now? Both of us…for a change?” He walked out slowly and shut the door behind him. Chloe moved up to the pillows and curled herself around one, opting not to get under the covers. She fell asleep without realizing she was drowsy.

Bruce was sitting in Lex’s room when he walked in. The two men greeted each other with a look. Bruce held up the bottle of antiseptic spray. Lex nodded and dropped his shirt again. Bruce sprayed the marks on his back and dabbed at them with a bit of gauze.

“You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah,” Lex said. “So’s she. But I’m more concerned about her return to Smallville than I let on.”

“Reintroducing her into her natural habitat.” Bruce just stated the obvious. “She’s not really ready.”

“She’s still got to do it.”

“I know.”

“You coming along?”

“Nah,” the dark-haired man answered. “Got some stuff to take care of here.”

[Reese]

Hmm...so where to begin?

First of all, I'm glad to see you're back with an update! And good luck on the house hunting :)


“What is it with you and Bruce?” Chloe’s heart was beating so fast she could hear the blood in her ears. “Doing your best to be scary, assholes?”

Is it me or did she seem to be channeling some of the readers of this story here? ;)

I was happy to see Chloe pull it together and whip Lex's ass (literally...well, almost). And no, I don't feel sorry for him. The more this goes on, the less I like him (or Bruce for that matter) so I was ready for Chloe to give some back.

So where do we go from here? Is she well...or, at least, better? Is she going back to Smallville? How will that go? Will she end up with Lex? Bruce? Both? :eyebrows: I'm interested to see how this is all going to pan out considering the rocky start this trio has had.

But I did like the exchange between Lex and Bruce at the end. Granted, it's creepy that he's watching but I couldn't help but laugh at him having the antiseptic ready.

And what's this business he's got to take care of?

Reese

[Sidhe]

This fic is so good. Lex is being and evil bastard, but he really can't afford to be anything else. The true dominant/submissive relationship is often misunderstood. Many think that the one giving the pain is in control, while in reality it is the submissive that has the final say in how far and deep it goes. (Yea me for watching CSI). In Chloe's case, that path was twisted, and while her efforts to maintain her sense of sanity and self are remarkable, her pyche is very wounded and I think that a kind, caring approach would only allow her to bury her feelings even deeper and that way she would never approach anything resembling normality in any aspect of her life, much less her sex life. So, I think that this is very much a case of being cruel to be kind. Not that Lex isn't twisted enough to get off on it. (Yea me or Psch 101) :puppyeyes:

[Krysia]

I think it was a bit risky of Lex to push Chloe this way, she could have just curled deeper into herself, into her safe place. I like the twist implaying that in a way she felt safer with the beatings because at least she knows what to expect. I'm really enjoying this story. It's twisted and dark and makes me think about different aspects of the psyche. Loved the update.

[zelda]

And what's this business he's got to take care of?



Bat stuff

[buggsducky121]

that was great, i thought chloe was really snap for a moment

[asharnanae]

:biggrin: :ohmy: :worship2:

The wonderful bite this story has is just stunning, the pscholodgical aspects seem so real. I loved the fight at the end, and bruces odd careing of lex, more of all this story please!!!!

[Kit Merlot]

Excellent update, and Zelda, I hope you find a new place to live soon :biggrin:

Your story is wonderful. I love that Chloe is regaining her innate feistiness.

GO CHLOE!

[cwong]

Not as good as a bat beating but nice.......=) Now to kick Bruce's butt...

[Zannie]

Nope, Lex--you're not convincing me that you've changed, even if you're acting as if you feel slightly guilty and concerned about Chloe. Manipulative, selfish assholes just don't change that quickly, and--by the way, Chloe--sleeping with them never makes things better.

I really, really, really hope that Chloe doesn't have sex with Lex (or Bruce), even though she's starting to get stronger (on her own power, not from their twisted games). It would be like rewarding Lex for trying to take ruthless advantage of her temporary vulnerability. As much as I love smut, orgasms do not fix things, and a quick, orgasmic bandaid is the last thing needed in this situation.

Of course, I know some readers disagree, but I'm sticking with my original response and hoping that Chloe and Lex never get together in this fic, unless more than a year passes for Lex to grow into a halfway decent man. Chloe deserves so much better.

As always, fascinating update. More soon please, zelda.

[squeezumstang]

love this story!!! hmm, bruce has always been much more
interesting to me than clark. but when faced with both bruce
and lex, i wouldn't know who to choose.

sending encouragement, praise and creamy lickable caramel your way.

[autumngold]

I'm so happy that Chloe is learning to fight back!! That she is starting to realize that she doesn't deserve what happened to her!! Can't wait til she goes back to Smallville!! Thanks for the update, and good luck house hunting!! :yay: :chlexsign3: :yay:

[hfce]

Wow that was intense. I am glad Chloe kicked his ass he needed it and so does Bruce by the way. I am torn becuase I want chloe to get well and have Lex join her in theraphy as well. That will be the only way I could feel good about them being together if that is how you plan. If not at least a healthy friendship.


Hope :)

[polly]

Go Chloe! About time, show those boys who you are. Now it's Bruce's turn for a smackdown.
So glad you are back with an update. Great fic, because I have no idea how I want it to go and you just keep the action coming. Good luck with your move.

[lexchloe]

Interesting update. Liked the idea of Chloe working out her demons and fighting back and whilst I'm still on the fence about Lex in this fic I'm glad he was able to make her do that. More soon please.

[starmoon]

Wow! That was intense just like this story has been so far. I like your story though I wish Chloe didn't have to go through everthing that she is now. Lex and Bruce are unbelivble at times they can be jurks one minuet and ok people the next. Keep up the good work I can't wait to read more. :worship2: I hope Chloe gets better in the end and ends up with Lex. :devil: That would be perfect.

[star del mar]

That was quite the update. It was a really good chapter and I can't help but feel bad for Chloe. Here she is with all these problems and these 2 men are trying to help her but I don't know...something just doesn't feel right. I still don't know how I feel about Bruce but I'll we'll see how Chloe does in Smallville. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Steph*

[zelda]

A/N: Okay, for those of you waiting for the return of the real Chloe, she is here. Even in small parts.

Lex met with Dr. Banks in the morning before they left. He got Chloe some tranquilizers for emergencies. Banks hesitated before he walked out the door of the library where they’d met.

“Lex, I think Chloe may be getting attached to you. I know what happened last night and I can’t say I’d ever officially recommend doing anything like that again, but your…sacrifice seems to have endeared you to her.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

“Blood binds, Lex,” the man said softly. “The shedding of it makes a strong imprint on the psyche.”

“I know.”

“So does pain. You’ve caused each other pain now and I don’t think that a bond based solely on that is a particularly healthy one.”

“Are you saying I should stay away from her?”

“No, I’m just saying that bonds can be made from stronger things, healthier things. You might both benefit from it.”

*

“Morning,” Lex said to Bruce as he entered the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. The other man grunted in return. His eyes had dark smudges and his hair looked mussed and flattened. “Weirdest thing happened at my meeting with the doctor.”

“You were halfway through the prostate exam when you realized that both of his hands were on your shoulders?” Chloe suggested, breezing past him and reaching around for the coffee cup. Bruce snorted into his own coffee and tried to hide his chuckle.

“Uh, no.” Lex blinked. "it was just Dr. Banks." Chloe ducked her head and picked a muffin from the basket on the counter. The old Chloe had reared her snarky head for just a second, but the glimpse was enough to make him smile.

“So what happened?” Bruce asked.

“Uh, he told me to be careful about letting people beat me up.” Lex sipped his coffee to cover his lie.

“What’s so weird about that?” Chloe narrowed her eyes at him.

“Nothing,” Lex replied, thinking quickly. “I just didn’t think he liked me.”

“Sure, are you ready to go?” Chloe walked to Bruce’s chair and glanced at the paper. “Hey, The Maroon Room burned,” she said, reading over his shoulder.

“So?” Lex asked.

“That was owned by Boris. He was a silent partner.” Her eyes skimmed the article. “Apparently everything was destroyed except for a safe that held some financial documents that may prove sticky for the old man.” She had a small smile on her face. “My morning is just getting better and better. She squeezed
Bruce’s shoulder affectionately. He glanced up and smiled. “I’ll meet you outside.” The last comment was directed at Lex who nodded.

“So what did the good doctor really say?” Bruce smirked behind his paper.

“That causing each other pain binds two people and that Chloe needs something else to hold onto.” Bruce lowered the paper to the table and regarded his friend.

“I’m just going out on a limb here, Lex,” he began. “But you’ve taken a lot of time off of work just to hang around here and…care for a girl you haven’t seen in a few years.” He leaned closer. “It’s not difficult to figure out that your feelings are more than a little strong.”

“Bruce, might I point out the fact that, of the two of us, I was not the one breaking into the compound and carrying the aforementioned damsel over my shoulder while facing down armed mobsters."

“Hey, I like to help people. And I’m not missing any work.”

“Will you miss her while she’s gone?”

“She has that way of getting under your skin a little. I guess you could say I’ve grown accustomed to her face.”

“I plan to pursue this avenue as far as it will allow. Am I going to hit a roadblock?” The two men stared at each other.

“Why? Is it because of the ownership thing?”

“I’ll admit,” Lex said, “that the thought of owning someone like her appealed to my baser instincts.” He sat across from his friend. “The thought of having another person, particularly one as strong-willed, and intelligent as Chloe under my thumb gave me more than just a little thrill.”

“Is that why you wagered for her?”

“I had a number of reasons for doing it. But the most important one is that the alternative, leaving her with those men, was unthinkable.” He shrugged. “Do my motives matter if the result was positive?”

“I’m not one to ever question another man’s motivation.” Bruce’s gaze went beyond Lex for just a moment. Not to a physical place, but to something else that Lex had learned not to ask about. “But she’s been through a lot, and I guess I don’t want her to hurt anymore.”

“Living life involves pain. I think she knows that and it’s why she didn’t want to be put on medication that would dull her emotions too much.”

“I didn’t like being on them when I was little.” Bruce rubbed a hand over his square jaw. “I felt like it was cheating not to feel anything. My parents deserved grief. Chloe deserves anger.”

“Do you want her?”

“She’s a strong, beautiful, fascinating woman. I’d be stupid not to notice her as a man. We’ve had this conversation.”

“You know what I’m asking.”

“We spent the night together,” Bruce said. “In bed.” He watched his friend’s face turn to stone. “She just didn’t want to be alone, Lex. But nothing happened. I’m not for her and we both know it.” Lex nodded silently and got up from the table. He paused at the doorway and looked back in.

“I just have one more question. I think I may need to know this for future reference.”

“What?”

“Does she snore?” Lex didn’t wait for his answer. It wasn’t important. He’d just made his intentions clear in a modern, formal declaration of intent to court. Or whatever the Hell you called it nowadays that involved leather belts and the Ukranian mob.

Chloe and Lex were taking one of his limos to Smallville. Chloe read a book and Lex conducted business over his phone. The music they listened to was soft, but Lex picked up a particular tune as he hung up and turned it up slightly.

Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around

It’s down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come,
She’s under my thumb

The Rolling Stones song was gritty and had a bitter edge to it. Lex thought about the tone and its relevance to his own life.

Ain’t it the truth babe?

Under my thumb
The squirmin’ dog who’s just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways

It’s down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she’s told
Down to me, the change has come
She’s under my thumb
Ah, ah, say it’s alright

A woman, once proud and a man who finally controls her. He’d been so fascinated by this concept earlier. Now he found it repulsive.

Under my thumb
A siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
She’s the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world

It’s down to me
The way she talks when she’s spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She’s under my thumb
Ah, take it easy babe
Yeah

A favored pet with her words handed to her by another man. Chloe stuck, trapped, unable to be herself because it wasn’t what her owners wanted. They’d wanted her conquered, quiet.

It’s down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when she’s spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She’s under my thumb
Yeah, it feels alright

Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept to herself
Under my thumb, well i
I can still look at someone else

It’s down to me, oh that’s what I said
The way she talks when she’s spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She’s under my thumb
Say, it’s alright.

Lex reached over the seat and placed his hand over Chloe’s. She’d just realized what song was playing.

“The coolest thing happened to me the other day,” Lex said, catching her eye.

“There was a sprinkler malfunction at the local Hooters bar?” Chloe said, automatically.

“No,” he replied. “I just saw someone I hadn’t seen for a while.”

A/N: For those of you away from the USA, "Hooters" is an establishment that hires waitresses with large breasts who wear tight, white t-shirts.

Music credit, Rolling Stones

[Reese]

*sigh* Okay, let's try this again...


“No, I’m just saying that bonds can be made from stronger things, healthier things. You might both benefit from it.”

You hear that, Lex? That's good advice. Take it.


“So what did the good doctor really say?” Bruce smirked behind his paper.

Have I mentioned yet how much I'm enjoying the Lex/Bruce friendship you're creating? Oh, I have? Okay, great. Because I do. :)


“Hey, I like to help people. And I’m not missing any work.”

There's just something so matter-of-fact about that statement that it's funny. I really liked Bruce in this exchange.


“I just have one more question. I think I may need to know this for future reference.”

“What?”

“Does she snore?”


My honest reaction to this line? At first, I laughed. Then I got kind of excited at the Chlex potential. But then? Then I got kind of pissed. He's going to need to earn it.

Make him earn it, Zelda.

And two updates in two days (I think?). Much appreciated! Keep it up :)

Reese

[polly]

Another update complete with a Hooters joke. Makin' my day Zelda. Love that snarky Chloe. Thanks.

[Lexy21]

I can't believe I didn't find this fic earlier! It's bloody marvelous! :yay:


I love your plotlines and the way you develop the characters Zelda. I thought The Wish would be hard to top but it seems like you've achieved the unachievable! Serious amounts of :worship2: :worship2: for this faberoo fic!


I know that some peeps will think I'm a wee bit disturbed by the fact that I think Bruce and Lex are extremely sexy, but hey, I can't help it! ;) (Nor do I want to. :wub:)


Anyhoo, I can't wait for the update! Yeah Zelda!




Lexy

[BellaMR]

I love seeing glimpses of the real Chole. I hope she heals enough to come back in all her snarkyness soon. Great job so far!

[hfce]

That was a great update. I love how chloe is slowly coming out and lex is finally opening his eyes to not having her under his thumb.



Hope :D

[buggsducky121]

that was a great update! keep up the good work!!!

[Krysia]

I'm really enjoying this fic, which comes as a surprise to me since I'm usually more into flufy happy readings. But there is just something here. I'm enjoying the different layers of the characters. I loved to see the old Chloe back and can't wait to see where you will take all of them from here. And what about Bruce, is this the end of his helping with Chloes recovery? Now I have to go look for the sng, since i don't think i know it. And I loved the little notion of you think you know what you want but than you get it and it's not what you wanted at all.

[Yarvarni]

Now that's our girl

[star del mar]

I totally agree with everyone. I'm glad that Lex is realizing that Chloe isn't some person that needs to be dominated, that to gain her trust he has to treat her as an equal. His last line was sweet, I think so anyway, but I agree with Reese...he has to earn it.

Great update

Steph*

[autumngold]

Originally posted by zelda@Feb 19 2005, 09:16 AM
“Weirdest thing happened at my meeting with the doctor.”

“You were halfway through the prostate exam when you realized that both of his hands were on your shoulders?” Chloe suggested, breezing past him and reaching around for the coffee cup. Bruce snorted into his own coffee and tried to hide his chuckle.


Nasty!! ;) But I love the glympses of the Chloe snark!! Thank you for finally having Lex realize that Chloe deserves more!! Excellent update!! I agree with everyone though, I don't think the Lex has really earned Chloe's forgiveness or love!! Post again soon please!! :yay2: :chlexsign4: :yay2:

[Sidhe]

Ditto! Love it. Love it. Love it.

[Saint]

Two Chapters in two days. It's like all my christmases have come at once. The glimpses of SnarkyChloe! however brief were very touching and some of the lines had me laughing which was completely unexpected seeing as this seems to be consistently a dark fic.
He’d just made his intentions clear in a modern, formal declaration of intent to court. Or whatever the Hell you called it nowadays that involved leather belts and the Ukranian mob.

[Blu_FireFly81]

Yay two updates!

Hmm I liked both chapters and the idea of mentioning of the prostate exams and hooters, was with out a doubt priceless and really a Chloe-ism, something that’s just her coming out. Its nice to know that, yes, Lex seems to get the idea that Chloe does deserve more and better then what life has dealt her.

I wonder what’s gonna happen next!
:chlexsign2:

[Kit Merlot]

Wonderful update!

Chloe's snark is coming back, a little at a time--Excellent :biggrin:

And how wise of Bruce to realize that Chloe and Lex are right for each other.

[AlabamaWorley]

I can't believe I've missed two updates! I really enjoy your conversations between Lex and Bruce. I'm also appreciating that Chloe is getting back to herself a bit. I hope to see her draw her boundaries with Lex soon so they can start over on those healthier bonds.

And LOVED this

“No,” he replied. “I just saw someone I hadn’t seen for a while.”

[starmoon]

I like this update it was intersting. Please keep going the story is getting realy good. :yay: :chlexsign3:

[Thessaly]

Huzzah! You updated!

I haven't much time to tell you all the things I love about this fic as I'm supposed to be updating my CV. D'you think that listing 'reading red-hot smut on the NS site' as a hobby would swing me a new job? What am I saying? Of course it would.

Hey, you know the Bat stuff that Bruce has to do? Does it involve getting Alfred to buff the Batnipples on his suit? I know. I'm obsessed but really... Batnipples!

In conclusion, more please.

Thessaly

[Queen Of Tact]

great update... i can't wait for more...

CC

[zelda]

Smallville had changed very little since Chloe had been there. The Talon was still open, under new management, and Lex was still a silent partner. The car parked a discreet distance away since Chloe and Lex didn’t want to look like they were making an entrance. The street was quiet. Not silent, but quiet. Through the tinted window, there was a surreal quality to the town. Voices were muffled, colors were dulled, and the passenger could watch while remaining unobserved.

“Are you ready for this?” Lex’s voice broke Chloe out of her reverie. She nodded mutely and reached for the door handle. She’d dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, wanting to blend in and garner no notice.

“Stay here for a minute?” Her face was pale. “You always command attention no matter where we go. Just gimmie a head start and meet me in The Beanery.”

“Not the Talon?”

“Not yet.” He nodded. Just then his cell phone rang and he answered it as she got out of the car. Chloe took a deep breath of Smallville and looked around. She walked quickly away from the car and popped into the nearest shop. It was a small card and gift shop that smelled like too many scented candles and had a Celtic harp track playing in the background. It was located where Nell’s flower shop had been, but it must have opened since her graduation because she didn’t remember it being there.

“Can I help you?” The words, spoken kindly from a middle-aged saleswoman made Chloe’s heart rate pick up speed. She shook her head but thanked the woman and pretended to look at the greeting cards while she looked out the window. The harp music was getting on her nerves, but she felt better with her fishbowl view of the street. She’d expected to be assaulted by memories of walking with Clark, Lana, and Pete; instead, she only felt alien.

“I don’t belong here,” she whispered to herself. She felt as if the past year had soiled her; made her into something that contaminated the town. At the same time, she longed to return to the way she was. Just a little too much for Smallville. Chloe, the big-city girl stuck in a small town. Now she was someone else entirely. Someone unworthy to be around these clean, corn-fed people; but also so far above their level, with life experiences that left them in her dust. Chloe realized, for the first time, how Lex must have felt when he’d first come to town.

The Beanery was moderately busy. They’d added a deli and soup section to their menu in order to bring in the lunch crowd, and expanded into the old dress shop for more space. Chloe hung back and pretended to read the menu. She’d just wait for Lex, then go to her father’s place. She didn’t see the cluster of people walking through the door behind her, and she wasn’t prepared for what happened.

“Hey, you in line?” The brusque-polite comment was made by a young man who looked sixteen. He’d placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention and she’d spun around quickly. Seeing four men and two women facing her she froze. They stared at her, waiting for something. A wild thought entered her head. They knew who she was and where she’d been. She tried to brush it away, but one of the girls, a snotty-looking blonde, wrinkled her nose and looked Chloe up and down in a hyper-critical manner.

“Hello?” The young man, said. Then he shrugged and pushed past her. The others followed suit and she was suddenly too close to too many people. Her lungs seized up and she opened her mouth, trying to force air into her paralyzed lungs. She heard a rushing sound in her ears and started to back away from the counter. She bumped into a man in a suit who’d been headed for the door. He was talking on a mobile phone and dropped it when he ran into her.

“Shit!” He scrambled to catch his phone, shoving her off-balance in his attempt. His chin hit her shoulder and she stumbled sideways, automatically trying to avoid stepping on the little phone which slid across the floor. The man’s hand closed on her shoulder in an absent-minded, but firm grip.

“Let go!” Chloe’s arm jerked upwards to knock his hand away and she lost her footing. She fell back against a table and knocked a coffee mug onto the floor.

“My phone!” The man was still paying little attention to her directly, but the coffee had puddled around the edge of the mobile. Chloe slipped and fell down on one knee, catching herself with one hand. She struggled to stand and hit her shoulder on the underside of the table, making all of the dishes rattle noisily and the couple sitting there shout with annoyance.

The roaring in Chloe’s ears was so loud she couldn’t hear more than muffled words around her. Her arms and legs felt heavy as she struggled to stand. The man with the phone wrapped an arm around her upper arm and started to pull her to her feet. “You okay?” His tone was annoyed and she pulled away from him again.

Chloe opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the breath. “Are you okay?”
Everyone was staring, she spun wildly seeing faces, eyes all turned to her. She stumbled for the door and fell again, tripping over her own feet. Panic set in next and her flight response went into overdrive. She thrashed away from helping hands and faintly heard to tinkle of the bell above the door, signaling the entrance of another person.

“Just let her go!” Lex’s calm, strong voice cut through the noise around her and the darkness that had begun to cloud her peripheral vision was halted. She clung to his shoulders when he bent in front of her. “Chloe, talk to me, are you alright?”

“Can’t breathe,” she managed to gasp out. “Need to get out.” He pulled her to her feet and her knees started to buckle. Lex hauled her tightly against his side and pushed open the door, dragging her along with him. When they were out on the sidewalk, he gestured down the street and the limo nosed into the light traffic.
With Lex’s arm tightly around her ribs, Chloe leaned on him for support. When the car pulled up, he opened the door and she fell into it. Crawling onto the seat, she leaned forward, putting her head between her knees.

“Here,” Lex said, handing her a small bottle of water from the refrigerator. Then he pulled a prescription bottle out of his pocket and shook out two pills. “Swallow these.” Chloe obeyed immediately. Then Lex placed his palm against her cheek. “Just breathe slow and deep now.” He stroked his thumb down her cheek. “It’s alright. I’m here.” Lex sat close and held her against his chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. In the twenty minutes it took to drive to the Luthor mansion, Chloe was properly sedated and limp against him.

“Where are we?” Chloe didn’t recognize her own voice.

“The mansion. You need quiet and rest. I’ll call your dad.” The car pulled up to the front doors and Lex helped her out. “Put your arms around my neck,” he ordered, gently. Then he lifted her into his arms and she settled her head against his shoulder and held on while he carried her up the steps and into the house.

Lex knew he hadn’t needed to carry her. He’d just wanted the feel of her weight in his arms. He walked up the steps, trying not to let on that his arms were getting tired by the time he reached the top. He hurried down the hall and though the guestroom was closer, he opted to take her to his room. Panic attack or no, he was still a guy and the opportunity to have her in his bed was too good to miss.

The drugs made Chloe more than a little dazed and her head fell back against Lex’s arm and she stared at the chandelier at the top of the stairs as he carried her under it.

“’S bright,” She mumbled.

“Close your eyes,” Lex whispered, “so you won’t get sick.” He shifted her in his arms and kicked the door open. Chloe hummed, loud and long.

“How romantic.”

“What?”

“Like that scene from ‘Gone With the Wind’,” she said. “You know, when Rhett carries a struggling Scarlett up the stairs after they argue.” She nuzzled his neck. “Except without the overtones of domestic abuse part.”

“Really.” He said, turning sideways so not to bump her head when she flopped it back. “That happened to me once.”

“It did?” She looked at him with round eyes. “What did you do?”

“Well,” he said with a smile, “Once she kicked the door down, I stopped fighting.”

Chloe blinked at him owlishly for a moment then began to giggle; she was squealing like a loon by the time he got to the bed. “Feeling a little better?”

“You always know what it takes to make me feel better, Lex.” She managed to focus her gaze on his face. “I really wanna…” she started, then trailed off. Her hands tightened on his neck and he paused at the edge of the bed. “Thank you.”

She leaned forward and touched her lips to his, briefly, gently.
Lex leaned down and set her on the bed. He bent to one knee and began unlacing her shoes. “Did I embarrass you?” He shook his head. “Are you sure?” He nodded. “Then how come you’re not looking at me?” He shrugged. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was mournful. “I-I won’t do it again.” Lex lunged forward and captured her lips and a brief, yet surprisingly passionate kiss. He went back to her laces.

“Don’t ever apologize for kissing me, Chloe.” Her mouth hung open. “And I’d be less than thrilled if you decided never to do it again.” He pulled her shoes off and swung her legs up on the bed. Her expression was dazed but he wasn’t sure if it was more the drugs or the kiss. He hoped it was the kiss. He pressed her back to the mattress and unbuttoned the front of her sweater and helped her take it off. She had a plain t-shirt on underneath that rose up her belly.

“Shirt,” she mumbled, through the sweater. Lex tugged the bottom down and his fingers brushed her skin, sending a jolt of electricity to his groin. He gritted his teeth in self-annoyance. He’d been administering spankings to her firm little bottom for weeks, now he was losing it over a little touch of her belly?

“Lie down and rest for a little while,” he said, pulling a quilt over her. Chloe nodded and yawned. Lex sat beside her. “What happened today?” Chloe’s forehead wrinkled and she turned away from him.

“It was so stupid,” she said, muffling her voice in her pillow. “I just felt so overwhelmed by people looking at me. Then it was like I couldn’t stop drawing attention to myself after trying not to be noticed for so long.” He smoothed her hair and she turned into his touch. “This is why I hate taking drugs.” He looked at her quizzically. “I never know what is the real me and what is being masked by the tranquilizers, or anti-depressants, or alcohol.”

“Have you been drinking?”

“Not nearly enough.” She chuckled, then her face scrunched up as she fought back tears. “It’s so confusing to feel this way.”

“If it helps,” Lex said, “Dr. Banks said these were just mild anti-anxiety pills for when you needed to sleep. They have a tranquilizing effect, but they’re just meant to take the edge off a panic attack.”

“What if I don’t like how I feel without the anxiety?” Her eyes were liquid but focused. She just looked…sad.

“What don’t you like?”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“When you wake up,” he said firmly, then left the room.
Chloe couldn’t fight off sleep any longer. She did feel calm and a little euphoric. The drugs weren’t a narcotic, but the feeling came from the sudden relief of stress. She hadn’t lost her memories, she hadn’t lost her emotions, she just didn’t feel consumed by them and her heart wasn’t beating faster than normal. It was like when she’d been younger and had an abcessed tooth. She’d been in constant pain for a few days while taking antibiotics. She couldn’t talk, eat, yawn, or smile without pain. It had distracted her constantly and when she was finally sitting in the chair and the novacaine deadened the ache, she’d felt the same kind of pleasure she was feeling now as she drifted off to sleep.

When Chloe woke, she was groggy but still calm. Someone had been in the room and her bathrobe was laid out for her. She undressed and put it on, padding barefoot to the bathroom for a shower. She was rinsing her hair when she heard a knock at the bathroom door.

“Who is it?”

“Me.”

“Come in and cover your eyes.”

“The glass is frosted,” he said, opening the door. “I can’t see anything anyway.”

“You can still see color, so keep ‘em covered, wise ass.”

“Afraid I’ll see your tattoo?”

“Don’t you want to know,” she snickered coyly. She glanced over her shoulder. He was sitting on the toilet and looking straight at her. When he saw her looking, he turned around and faced sideways. “Did you want something?”

“If there was any blood left in my brain, I’m sure I’d remember, but it’s migrated. I’ll just sit here till I remember.”

“Charming, now spill or I start throwing things.”

“Your dad’s going to be here in about an hour. And Dr. Banks left a message for you.”

“Thanks. Do you have more of those anti-anxiety pills?”

“I thought you didn’t like them.”

“It’s a pretty thin line, Lex, but I think I’ll need them if I’m going to pull off this visit.” She shook her wet head and turned off the water. She kept her front to the wall and reached over the shower stall to grab the towel she’d hung there. After wrapping it around herself she opened the door and stepped onto the cushy bathmat. “I don’t like the drowsiness, but I just took a nap so I could probably stay up if I just took one. Anyway, I want Dad to think I’ve gotten better in ways he can see, if he hasn’t already heard about the café.”

“You might want to think about taking them regularly,” Lex suggested, turning to face her. She moved to the edge of the tub, standing on its platform on the other side of the bathroom. She sat on the edge and put her elbows on her knees and her chin in her palm. Lex tried to catch her gaze. “It’s not something you have to take all the time, it’s just something to take as needed, when you’re having a rough day, or you…can’t sleep.”

“I guess.” She nodded slowly.

“Neither Bruce, nor Dr. Banks, nor I want you to take them if you don’t want to.” He stood up stiffly. “I’ll go get them.”

“Wait.” Chloe stood up and reached out to him. She touched his shoulder and he turned, brushing her front with his elbow. It was the only motion necessary to coax the damp towel to slip. Chloe’s reflexes were dulled and the makeshift garment was on the floor before she could catch it. Instead, she went for cover and seized the front of Lex’s sport coat and hauled him forward, banging her forehead into his chin. “Don’t move,” she squeaked.

“I don’t think that’s humanly possible.” Lex held his arms put to the sides and forward slightly with his fingers splayed out. He didn’t move and kept his gaze focused on the painting on the opposite wall. Chloe was desperately trying to cover her backside with the edges of his coat and her wet, naked front was pressed against him.

“Oh my God.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of ‘Thank-you God,’ but that’ll do too.” His jaw was pressed against her warm, wet hair and he was so stiff her thought he might injure her. “I don’t believe that just happened.” His voice was dull.

“Just walk backwards about three steps and we’ll get to the towel rack.”

“If I move, Chloe,” he said, “I’ll rupture your appendix.” He was still staring at the painting. It was an abstract he’d bought for the colors to match the stark bathroom. Now he tried desperately to recall the unfortunate-looking woman who’d sold it to him. He tried to imagine his fifth-grade math teacher and the unusually large mole she’d had on the side of her neck. Chloe spoke.

“I guess you weren’t kidding when you said there was no blood getting to your brain.”

“You thought I was joking?” She was still squirming on her tiptoes with her damp breasts pressed up against him. She was struggling with the jacket and trying to carefully avoid his monster erection. She was failing miserably.

A/N: Hope you like. More coming soon.

[Saint]

I have nothing of importance to say, no constructive critisism. I love it, emotions are real, descriptions are descriptive and the kisses and promises of more seem possible at this point. (Maybe I just want it to be possible because I am a chlexmut addict.)

Take your time getting where you want to I'll still be here reading whatever comes my way.

[AlabamaWorley]

Someone unworthy to be around these clean, corn-fed people; but also so far above their level, with life experiences that left them in her dust. Chloe realized, for the first time, how Lex must have felt when he’d first come to town.
I loved that. Good insight.


“I was thinking more along the lines of ‘Thank-you God,’ but that’ll do too.”

Cute!

I really like how you did Chloe's panic attack, it was very realistic. The part where they were both awkward about kissing each other while he was helping her get undressed was also very sweet.

[polly]

“Oh my God."
“I was thinking more along the lines of ‘Thank-you God,’ but that’ll do too.” .”

My flatmates think I'm nuts. I am still giggling. Thank you so much for the update. And her panic moment was handled so well, so realistic. Love the drama, loce the UST, love it, love it.

[Thessaly]

Originally posted by zelda@Feb 25 2005, 07:35 AM
“If I move, Chloe,” he said, “I’ll rupture your appendix.”
I knew it! I knew he couldn't have that much sexual charisma and not be able to back it up. Gabe's not going to get there for a while, right? There's time for a quickie. It would be rude for them not to, after you'd spent all that time and effort getting them into a steamy bathroom with one of them naked and the other one aroused.

Fantastic as always, zelda. More please?

Thessaly

P.S Zannie, I know... They shouldn't have sex because she's all fragile and shit but dammit, I want them to have kinky bathroom smut right now. Is that so wrong?

[autumngold]

I hope Chloe doesn't have to continue on the medication!! Some is fine, but I really want her to get better without the meds!! Excellent update!! Right now I'm picturing Lex desperately trying not to look down!! :biggrin: :chlexsign1: :biggrin:

[Yarvarni]

:chlexsign4:

[star del mar]

Yea, I just really love the two of them together. The scene in the bathroom was too funny, I nice break from all the angst running amuck. Now if Chloe can just keep it together for the rest of their trip. Great update!

Steph*

[Blu_FireFly81]

Oh my goodness! I loved the bathroom idea!

>.< ......to funny&#33;

The café moment got to me and i felt really bad for Chloe to feel like that but it was nice to have Lex to the rescue. I hate that she feels she needs the drugs to be normal in some way, but I liked the little tension and the reference to ‘Gone with the Wind’, cute and romantic, I of Chloe coming out.


Good Job.
:worship2: :worship2: :worship2:
:chlexsign3:

[BellaMR]

I felt bad for Chloe at the begining of this chap when she felt she might tarnish Smallville, but it could be a nice bonding moment between Lex and Chloe.

The bathroom scene was too funny. I loved Lex&#39;s comments.

[asharnanae]

god how fantastic was this, just damn well magnificent&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; more more more&#33; :yay: :worship2:

[lexchloe]

more, more, more, more please&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

[tiger04]

please post more soon. ;)

AT

[hfce]

I really liked it. I dont like she has to depend on pills. I hope she use them sparingly. But great job on the anxiety attack and :lol: about the towel.



Hope :)

[Sidhe]

That was just too good. See Lex, you can be the good guy. :yay: :yay: :yay:

[zelda]

A/N: I wanted a little sexy comedy, here it is. No more teasing. Next chapter lives up to the rating....

“For fuck’s sake, Chloe,” Lex said, grabbing her upper arms. “Stop moving&#33;”

“Alright,” she replied. “Just cover your eyes.” He started to lift his arms and she squealed again. “Wait, abort&#33; Abort&#33;” He stopped. “Close your eyes.”

He did, and found his other senses only too happy to kick in with environmental information. His shirt was sticking to him from the dampness of her body and his own perspiration in the steamy room. His face was wet from her hair and he regretted not wearing underwear because he could feel the warmth of her naked skin through his trousers and the more she moved, the closer he came to embarrassing himself. Well, more than he already was.

Chloe slapped a palm over his eyes before starting to bend down. She didn’t get very far before she realized that she couldn’t reach the towel and keep her hand there at the same time. “Keep them closed.” She took a deep breath and bent at the waist, intending to lunge downward, grab the towel and stand up again. Unfortunately, she miscalculated the spatial issue and smacked her chin into Lex’s erection.

Lex let out a startled yelp but couldn’t escape her because her hand was fisted in his shirt. He opened his eyes and looked down at her crouching, naked form.

“Shit&#33;”

“Sorry,” she exclaimed, in humiliation and horror. She automatically clamped a hand over the offended appendage and froze with one hand on her fallen towel, and the other on the front of his pants. Lex’s fingers closed like iron over her wrist in a grip that made her hand go numb. He made slight choking noise and bent almost double, holding her hand where it was.

Chloe felt him jump beneath her fingers and convulse. She looked at his face as she felt warmth spread beneath her fingers.

Lex’s face was strained and he instinctively pressed against her palm as the last few tremors of the weirdest orgasm he’d ever had, slowed down and he managed to catch his breath. He opened his eyes and looked down. She was kneeling with the towel clutched ineffectively between her breasts with one hand. Her nipples poked out on either side of the terrycloth. She was staring up at him with huge, round eyes. He released her wrist and she clutched it to her chest, doing nothing but pressing her breasts upward. He slid his jacket from his shoulders and spread it out in front of her.

“Uh…” she started, but Lex just shook his head and grasped her shoulders through the jacket, pulling her to her feet, fully covered in the front. Dropping the towel, Chloe stuck her arms through it like a smock. Lex walked past her stiffly and opened the glass door to the shower. Chloe turned around, to keep her back to him, and watched as he turned on the cold water tap and removed his belt. He pulled the front of his pants away from himself and winced as the cold spray went down his belly. “Lex,” she began again.

“Chloe, can you please just go get dressed?” His voice was weak. “Cold water only works as long as I don’t have a naked woman standing next to me who has just assaulted, then fondled me.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, Honey, and I’m not angry, but can you please just put some clothes on. Preferably a mumu if you have one.” He stuck his face into the spray and hissed at the icy chill against his heated skin.

Chloe left and got dressed as quickly as possible, pulling on a pair of jeans and a baggy Gotham Knights sweatshirt that she’d nicked from Bruce. Then she slipped out of the room so that Lex could change and went downstairs.

Her father arrived before she saw Lex again and she felt much better this time. She knew that she was still under the influence of the pills she’d taken earlier and didn’t mind. She hugged her father tightly and he returned the embrace, with more enthusiasm than their last visit. He seemed to have gotten past the thought of her being breakable.

Lex came downstairs for a drink before dinner. Gabe had heard about the incident in the coffee shop but He wanted Chloe’s explanation. She told him that she’d had a panic attack. And that it had only been a matter of time so now that it was over with, she was relieved.

“Liar.” Gabe stared at his daughter.

“Well, okay, I’m not so relieved, but it really was just a panic attack. I’m heavily medicated now and quite happy.” Despite the oddness of her words, Gabe noted a lack of the same desperation in her voice that he’d noted when he’d last seen her. She’d been desperate to be happy before, now, she was sad, but hopeful. Lex seemed a little uncomfortable, but Gabe was perfectly content with that too. He didn’t trust Lex completely, but since the man had apparently saved his daughter from a terrible fate, he could deal with just intimidating him.

Of all the men in the world, Lex’s current responsibility to Chloe made him accountable to Gabe Sullivan. His former employee was the only one who had any real reason to demand any kind of standard of behavior. Lex intended to meet it.
Chloe hugged her father when he left, promising to spend part of the weekend with him and to stop by the apartment after work the next day. Once she was alone with Lex, she started to feel uncomfortable. She walked back through the foyer and into the parlor off the dining room. Lex was standing with a glass of scotch in his hand.

“Now that your father’s gone, I can drink myself into oblivion and try to erase this horrible day from my memory.” His tone was dry, sarcastic. He was edging into Chloe’s territory so she felt compelled to defend it.

“Well, of the two of us,” she said, taking a bottle of water from the minifridge by the small bar, “you, at least, had an orgasm to make up for the embarrassment.”

“Well, if you want the playing field to be leveled, I’d be happy to help you out.” He swallowed the rest of his drink with a wince. “I just think I might have to get past the frostbite in order to do you justice.”

“If you’d just kept your eyes shut, or better yet,” she said, walking over to him, “waited till I came out of the bathroom; you wouldn’t have had a problem at all.”

“If you weren’t so damned modest about your body, my testicles wouldn’t be barricaded inside my abdomen right now.” He sounded to bitter as he poured another brandy.

“That comment made no sense on so many levels. But I still think it’s your fault.”

“You would.”

“You started it.”

“You pressed your wet, soft, naked self against me and tried to crawl inside my clothes. I was completely helpless and in your thrall.”

“Thrall?” She raised her eyebrows then shrugged. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Lex hadn’t been expecting a concession. “That’s it?”

“Oh, I guess you wanted to keep fighting.” She shrugged again. “You know perfectly well that the frosted glass does nothing to conserve the modesty of the person inside the shower, and you deliberately came in just to get an eyeful.”

“You said I could.”

“I told you to keep your eyes closed.”

“Well yeah…but you didn’t really expect me to actually do it.” She’d been right; he did want to fight about it some more. “I mean, come on. I may be a rich, powerful executive with connections rivaling that of the president, but I’m still a guy who’s been spanking you for the past few weeks.”

“Well what do you think it’s been like for me?” Chloe was exasperated. “Bedroom privileges, personal attention, therapy, a dramatic rescue, and endless flirtation with one of the country’s most sought-after bachelors.” She threw her arms up in
frustration. “I’m in Hell&#33;”

[hfce]

That was funny. The one thing Chlex can do well is be funny as hell. :lol:



Hope :)

[Reese]

“Well, of the two of us,” she said, taking a bottle of water from the minifridge by the small bar, “you, at least, had an orgasm to make up for the embarrassment.”

Point, Sullivan.


“Well what do you think it’s been like for me?” Chloe was exasperated. “Bedroom privileges, personal attention, therapy, a dramatic rescue, and endless flirtation with one of the country’s most sought-after bachelors.” She threw her arms up in
frustration. “I’m in Hell&#33;”

*on my way to purchase a one way ticket to Hell*

Can&#39;t wait for more...

Reese

[kitten]

Originally posted by zelda@Feb 27 2005, 03:21 AM

“Oh, I guess you wanted to keep fighting.” She shrugged again. “You know perfectly well that the frosted glass does nothing to conserve the modesty of the person inside the shower, and you deliberately came in just to get an eyeful.”

“You said I could.”

“I told you to keep your eyes closed.”

“Well yeah…but you didn’t really expect me to actually do it.” She’d been right; he did want to fight about it some more. “I mean, come on. I may be a rich, powerful executive with connections rivaling that of the president, but I’m still a guy who’s been spanking you for the past few weeks.”

“Well what do you think it’s been like for me?” Chloe was exasperated. “Bedroom privileges, personal attention, therapy, a dramatic rescue, and endless flirtation with one of the country’s most sought-after bachelors.” She threw her arms up in
frustration. “I’m in Hell&#33;”
:hehe:

Hell is apparently a very different place for Chloe Sullivan . . .

I&#39;m glad she&#39;s getting back her spirit, even if it takes a prescription. I was worried Lex was going to take advantage of her, but thus far he&#39;s been making the gentlemanly decision every time things have looked dodgy. I hope he continues to do so.

I love Gabe&#39;s inner monologue about making Lex uncomfortable.

So what happens to Bruce now? Is he still part of the rehab?

[Blu_FireFly81]

OMG I LOVED IT

I really loved it&#33;

I was laughing to hard&#33;

Thank you for the update&#33;
:worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2:


:chlexsign4:

[Krysia]

Well if that is how Hell really is like where do I sign to get in? :devil:
[great chapter this is a totally new, and yet equally wonderful , side to this story. I love it]

[Thessaly]

Originally posted by zelda@Feb 27 2005, 07:21 AM
“Well what do you think it’s been like for me?” Chloe was exasperated. “Bedroom privileges, personal attention, therapy, a dramatic rescue, and endless flirtation with one of the country’s most sought-after bachelors.” She threw her arms up in
frustration. “I’m in Hell&#33;”
Yeah. I think we can all see how much that would suck.

Dammit, just jump him and ride him until his eyes roll back. I think that&#39;s a valuable part of the therapy.

Thessaly

[polly]

“You pressed your wet, soft, naked self against me and tried to crawl inside my clothes. I was completely helpless and in your thrall.”

“Thrall?” She raised her eyebrows then shrugged. “Okay.”

Oh, thank you for the humor. I really needed it. So funny and well placed in the story. Put in as much angst as you want as long as you throw in these little moments. I am now joining the line for tickets to Hell, &#39;cause it sounds like fun.

[asharnanae]

:biggrin: so good, and in sooooo many ways&#33; Lexs orgasm&#33; the banter, and gabe&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; oh this is just fantastic, and hey, Give me a ticket to hell while you at it&#33; and hey, maybe we can get a group rate for the NSers&#33; :worship2:

[autumngold]

I hope that Lex gets over his anger and stops fighting with Chloe&#33;&#33; Even though it was funny&#33;&#33; Is he embarrassed about his orgasm? Can&#39;t wait to read more&#33;&#33; Thanks for the excellent post&#33;&#33; :yay: :chlexsign3: :yay:

[mik]

loved the humor&#33; :biggrin:

[dreamingincolor]

even though everybody keeps qouting the ending of the chapter where chloe says she&#39;s in hell, I guess im going to march to the bands tune too because that was good writing&#33;
Hope for an update soon :)

[BellaMR]

I hope that train to hell isn&#39;t full yet, I definately want on. :devil:

Great chapter and humor. Lex definately owes Chloe one now. When do we see the payback?

[Sidhe]

That was so great&#33; I love the fact that Lex lost control so easily&#33;

Snarky Chloe is well on her way to coming back. Yea&#33; :cool:

[tiger04]

He lost his control :biggrin: :biggrin: . Love that chloe is starting to be herself again. hope you update with the next update soon.

AT

[star del mar]

:biggrin: LOL. The whole thing was hilarious but you got me with mumu. Hehe, I&#39;m already waiting with anticipation for the next chapter&#33; Update soon&#33;

Steph*

[squeezumstang]

well, shit. that&#39;s my kind of hell. what can i do
to join that particular club?

[starmoon]

Wow&#33; :ohmy: That was intense funny and a little wrong. :goof: I hope Chloe doesn&#39;t have to go theough that again though it was kind of sexy. Update soon I can&#39;t wait to read more.

[Kit Merlot]

Excellent update&#33;

I think it is very realistic for Chloe to be unsure of her body, and how she affects men. She&#39;s had to hide her own desires for many months and it will be difficult for her to shap back into her old, snarky self.

But Lex is being devilishly charming and Chloe does respond to him so well :devil:

FABULOUS :biggrin:

[Lily]

Can&#39;t wait for the next update.. hope I don&#39;t have to&#33; Great job so far.
-Lily

[crankychick]

“Well what do you think it’s been like for me?” Chloe was exasperated. “Bedroom privileges, personal attention, therapy, a dramatic rescue, and endless flirtation with one of the country’s most sought-after bachelors.” She threw her arms up in
frustration. “I’m in Hell&#33;”

Kindly direct me to Hell, please :devil: , without passing Go or collecting my &#036;200. Great, torturous chappy. I love this story. :biggrin:

[vardaquareien]

:pclol: Oh that scene was just hilarious&#33;&#33;&#33;

This ficcy is so well written. As well as the wonderful comedy that was prevalent in this chap, the way you depict Chloe&#39;s feelings and issues is extremely realistic. As someone who has experienced panic attacks, can I say Well Done :clap: you got that spot on&#33;

I actually like the way you&#39;ve depicted Lex aswell. Again I think that this is realistic. He&#39;s complicated and has many aspects of the Ultimate Bastard about him. I really liked - I think it was about three chapters ago - the way he described to Bruce how he liked having Chloe under his thumb, but then when he heard the song in the car he was repulsed. That&#39;s one of the best uses of a song in fic that I&#39;ve ever seen. I think it shows a bit of growth in him.

Can&#39;t wait for more&#33;&#33;&#33;

[red turtle]

Loved the chapter. More please!!!

[Thessaly]

Please update because I need a touch (heh) of Twisted Lex. I respect Zannie's view that he's a bit of a bastard but, frankly, that gets me hot. I may need therapy. I'm not ashamed of it.

Thessaly

[zelda]

A/N: I'll be updating shortly, I just needed to get this first part out. I promise, it's not a tease.

“Come again?” Lex’s expression was slightly offended.

“I didn’t come in the first place you jackass!” Chloe was getting fired up. “And just like any other guy on the face of the planet, since the dawn of homo erectus, you get off and immediately take off for a shower.” She knew she sounded like a lunatic, and the words that poured from her were as unexpected to her as they probably were to him.

“The uh…situation was…” Lex just stopped and shook his head before staring at her blankly. “Did you just imply that you…wanted sexual fulfillment from me?” He wasn’t lascivious, just shocked. “In the bathroom?” Chloe opened and closed her mouth several times. “Is that why you said to come in?” He put his hands on his hips and raised his eyebrows curiously.

“Of course not,” Chloe said, quickly. “I wouldn’t have said to keep your eyes closed. You were the one who couldn’t wait till I got out of the shower to give me a phone message.” She wasn’t sure why, but she started to back away. Lex started walking towards her. Well, Lex never really walked. He sauntered, he swaggered, and occasionally crept. Right now, however, he was leading his weight with his hips and in a deceptively casual stroll, he was moving forward in a way Chloe had seen before but never actually experienced firsthand. It was predatory and sexual, and the only phrase that came to mind to describe this particular walk was his body…chasing after his dick.

“Chloe?” His voice had scolding warning in it. “Are you sexually aroused by me?” He spoke as if asking if she was of Swedish heritage. “No lies now.”

“Actually,” Chloe said moving to put a small table between them. “I think that right now would be a great time for a lack of honesty.” Her eyes darted around quickly. “It’s the medication,” she blurted out. “I’m on drugs.”

“Nice try, but I doubt a jury would buy it.” A small smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “I must say that this is actually a very pleasant surprise.” Chloe stopped backing away and put her fists on her hips.

“Surprise? Have you been in a coma?” She looked at him like he was daft. “Forget it.” She waved her hands and started to walk past him. “We are soooooo not having this conversation.” He caught her arm in a gentle, yet firm grip.

“I think that talking has led us in a very interesting direction, but I think you’re right that this conversation should end.” His words, predictably, led to a kiss.

Chloe knew, as soon as she felt his hand on her arm, the kiss was coming. His phrase was cliché, and his intent was written in his face. He’d given her plenty of warning in his actions, and plenty of opportunities to call a true halt to it. Instead, she tilted her head and lifted her chin.

Lex had kissed her, briefly, when she’d been crashing in a heavily tranquilized state after a panic attack. This was not that kind of kiss. He’d kissed her neck when they’d fought and he was trying to shock her into fighting him; it wasn’t like that either. His lips were warm, firm and made Chloe’s knees feel watery. His arms went around her waist and pulled her firmly against him.

There was nothing shy, or hesitant in the kiss. But he wasn’t demanding, or rough. His lips moved on hers, but he didn’t use his tongue. He just sucked gently at different parts of her mouth. When he pulled away, she realized that her eyes were closed and opened them.

“Lex, I don’t know what to do.” Her knees started to shake. “I’m at a loss for what I want versus what I really want.”

“You’re talking to me like this,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “That’s huge for me.” He kissed her again and she responded, unconsciously pressing forward. He broke away from her mouth and moved his lips along her jaw. “I’ve wanted you for so long, but until recently, my need for you was bordering on twisted.” Her eyes were dazed and she tried to focus on what he was saying.

“What do you mean?”

“I want you so much I haven’t been able to sleep well since the night you came to the Manor. But I don’t want to go any farther with you without you knowing about me.” He brushed his hands over her back, and up across her breasts. Chloe caught her breath at the contact with her sensitive nipples.

“I don’t think I care, right now, Lex.” She was breathless and flushed. Between her legs she felt swollen and achy with such a fast rush of blood and arousal. Her body wanted Lex very much, and her mind had the intimacy of their relationship to try and drown out the whispering of her conscience. She felt as if all of the pent-up frustration, both sexual and non, that she’d been experiencing since her captivity was about to explode. She didn’t have to feel guilty about wanting Lex. She didn’t have to hide her sensual side, and it came out of her like a deluge.

Chloe’s hands moved down Lex’s chest and she gripped the front of his shirt in her fists and moved up to her tiptoes to grab his mouth. She was the ravisher now. Her lips wanted to devour him of their own volition. Her tongue pushed its way, not unwelcome, in to taste the alcohol he’d recently consumed. “I could get drunk off you,” she said, breaking the kiss briefly.
Lex was startled by her sudden aggression, but also aroused. Women had desired him, but none had ever seemed quite so…starved for him before. It was beyond flattering, it was destructive. He had to put a stop to it. Then

Chloe pressed her hip against his arousal and rocked it upward with a gentle, rolling thrust that had him almost coming in his pants. He’d promised himself, however, that he’d never do that again. He groped for her round buttocks and pulled her upward, urging her legs around him and she complied.
Despite the layers of denim, cotton, and whatever Chloe was wearing for panties, Lex could feel her heat as she pressed herself tightly against him. He silenced the little voice inside his head that told him he should talk to her before making love. He’d always been good at silencing that voice.

[kitten]

Chloe’s hands moved down Lex’s chest and she gripped the front of his shirt in her fists and moved up to her tiptoes to grab his mouth. She was the ravisher now. Her lips wanted to devour him of their own volition. Her tongue pushed its way, not unwelcome, in to taste the alcohol he’d recently consumed. “I could get drunk off you,” she said, breaking the kiss briefly.
Lex was startled by her sudden aggression, but also aroused. Women had desired him, but none had ever seemed quite so…starved for him before. It was beyond flattering, it was destructive. He had to put a stop to it. Then

Chloe pressed her hip against his arousal and rocked it upward with a gentle, rolling thrust that had him almost coming in his pants. He’d promised himself, however, that he’d never do that again. He groped for her round buttocks and pulled her upward, urging her legs around him and she complied.
Despite the layers of denim, cotton, and whatever Chloe was wearing for panties, Lex could feel her heat as she pressed herself tightly against him. He silenced the little voice inside his head that told him he should talk to her before making love. He’d always been good at silencing that voice.


Wow, I started out the chapter really wanting the Chlex love to get physical, but that last line really put a damper on it. It's so sinister and gloomy, hinting at some kind of tragic consequence if one of them doesn't call a halt.

[polly]

An update! Lex is freaking me out just a little. Please make him talk. No lovin' from Chloe if he doesn't talk to her.

[hfce]

I love smut but not if it will cause trouble later. I can't believe I am going to say this but Lex should stop it before its to late. :(


Hope ;)

[Kit Merlot]

I'm worried that Chloe is going to be hurt again if she and Lex sleep together too soon.

Please come back and update--I can't take the suspense!

[autumngold]

Lex has to realize that this might not be a good thing right now!! Please, please let them talk first!! I really can't believe that I'm not pushing for the sex, but both Lex and Chloe have so much they need to work out together!! Please update again soon!!

[asharnanae]

mmmmmm....... perrrrferct!

[Thessaly]

Pshaw! You touchy-feely hippies!

First, have the mind-numbing sex, then suffer the devastating regret and the tragic consequences. That's the way it's always worked for me.

Fine... Have them talk. But then the rampant smut, right?

Thessaly

[Yarvarni]

hope this al works out.....tread carefully!

[Yarvarni]

i meant to add tread carefully lovers!

[Reese]

First of all, a request? Could you edit your first post in the future to let us know there's an upate? I mean, this chapter/tease has been up for almost 17 hours and I didn't know! SEVENTEEN HOURS! :eek:




Lex started walking towards her. Well, Lex never really walked. He sauntered, he swaggered, and occasionally crept.



Great line.

"I’ve wanted you for so long, but until recently, my need for you was bordering on twisted."

Well, I think we can all feel (a little) better about that now that he's acknowledged it.


But I don’t want to go any farther with you without you knowing about me.

Hmm...should I be troubled by what this might mean?


"I could get drunk off you," she said, breaking the kiss briefly.

*sigh* If only we could bottle him and buy it by the case.




He silenced the little voice inside his head that told him he should talk to her before making love. He’d always been good at silencing that voice.



And I'm with Nonky on this one, I'm afraid. Between this line and the one about him wanting her to "know about him" or whatever, I'm a little worried.

Should I be worried, zelda?

Should I? :confused:

Reese

[star del mar]

I know it's wrong but...

On with the smut!!!

Save the talking for later, hehe. Update soon!!

Steph*

[Blu_FireFly81]

I know it's wrong but...

On with the smut!!!

Save the talking for later, hehe. Update soon!!

Steph*


I second that notion!
:D

[starmoon]

More please the story is getting realy juicy now, and I can't wait for more.

[mik]

please post more!

[lilinny]

I had forgotten about this story. I just spent the last two hours catching up. I love how it turned from twisted to romantic. Please post again soon. It was getting good.

[zelda]

A/N: Smut as promised, but a little unexpected pain too. I just felt like throwing a much-needed wrench in the gears...


Lex sat down on his leather couch and returned to kissing Chloe. He kissed her lips, eyes, cheeks, throat and any other patch of skin that she bared for him. She grabbed the collar of the baggy sweatshirt she wore and yanked it over her head. Lex sucked in a breath at the sight of her plump breasts displayed so close to his face. He closed his lips over the lace that bound them and felt her nipple through the fabric beneath the tip of his tongue. She was whispering to him, he struggled to hear through the rush of blood that pounded in his head.

“So tied of feeling alone.” Her voice cracked with desire, tinged with despair. “God how I want to feel close.” She bit his earlobe, then his neck. “Just need someone to make me feel something.”

Lex’s mouth stopped moving as her words registered. “Someone.” She’d said, “Someone”; not Lex; just anyone. The little voice in his head was shouting at him now. It was much clearer now, and more convincing than it had ever been before. He pulled away and met her gaze.

“Chloe, do you want me?”

“Do you want me to beg?” Her eyes were filled with need, but it wasn’t just lust. “Can we please do this?”

“I’ll do anything you ask, Chloe. I just want an honest answer from you.” He swallowed the moan that wanted to come out of his throat when she ground herself against him. “Is it me that you want? Lex, the man or Lex the one who owns you?” She looked puzzled.

“Is there a difference?” She was damp with perspiration where he gripped her ribs. “You’re the same guy, right?”

“I don’t think I can do this.” He rubbed a hand over his face. When he looked at Chloe, her gaze was on his lap and she raised an eyebrow at him significantly. “Well…of course- I mean- of course I CAN do it. I just don’t think I should.”

“Why not?” Chloe looked like she was about to cry from frustration. “We’re attracted to each other, there’s trust there. I know you’ve done this kind of thing before.”

“I just want to make sure you understand who you’re asking.”

“I’m asking you, Lex.” Her voice had calmed. She placed trembling hands on the sides of his face. “I’m asking the man who helped me escape, and who has been going above and beyond his responsibilities for seeing to my recovery.” She pressed her lips together. “I know this isn’t going to sound right, but I don’t know if I like you, or love you, or hate you. But I know that part of me…adores you.” She closed her eyes, trying to hold back tears. “Is that enough?”

“It would be,” he replied, touching her cheek with his fingertips, “if I really was that man. But I feel like an imposter and for some reason that I’m unable to understand, I can’t let you do this without knowing the real me.”

“I know the real you,” Chloe said. “The good, the bad, and the ugliness I’ve seen over the past weeks has shown me many sides of you.”

“I’ve become someone different over those weeks, Chloe.” Lex was desperate to make her understand, and for her to still want him. “I tried to tell you earlier, about how I felt when you first came to the Manor. I said that my feelings bordered on twisted.” Chloe turned her head away slightly. “When I found out what your situation was, I was intrigued and a little obsessed with the idea of possessing you for myself.” There, the bomb had dropped.

Chloe’s gaze returned to his but she didn’t respond right away. “I’d had so many things in my life, I’d always liked things that had previously belonged to others. Things I’d taken, but the idea of owning a woman; one as fascinating as you. Especially since you were a treasured prize of the Vashenkos.”

“Pet,” she corrected.

“Anyway,” he continued, “my intentions weren’t completely honorable in wagering for you. Bruce would’ve found a way to get you out, but I chose that method because of the feeling of absolute power.” He Couldn’t look her in the eye. “It made me feel high to know that on some level, you belonged to me.”

“You wanted me to be subservient?”

“That’s just it,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I thought I wanted you under my thumb, like something to be controlled. Then I saw all of the damage, not just the physical, but the psychological scars that their treatment of you had left.” He kissed her bare shoulder and she shivered. “You needing me to cause you pain used to excite me because of the power, then when I began to realize how humiliating it was for you to have to ask, I started to feel sick.”

“Is that why you made me fight you?”

“I wanted you to push me away. To break my hold on you; and I wanted you to come to me on your own. But tonight, I realized that with you not knowing how…wrong my feelings were, I’d just be playing those same games again.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this.”

“What changed your mind?” Chloe’s voice was low and as unreadable as her expression; but she was still flushed and warm. Lex could feel the heat radiating off her. “What made you want something different?”

“I realized that I gained no real pleasure from obedience. Forcing my will on another person felt a little too much like rape to me. I didn’t want to see us going down a path that might encourage you to submit to attentions you didn’t want.” He shrugged. “And I missed you. The real Chloe is so much more than the pale image the Vashenkos wanted. I wanted the fighting Irish girl who put my father in prison.” He reached out and touched her jaw. She didn’t turn away. “And I meant it that I will do anything you ask. I admire you, Chloe. I don’t think you’ll ever know how much.” At his final words, Lex lost his will to her. He’d made himself vulnerable and it wasn’t a good feeling. The uncertainty made his guts twist and knot.

“I didn’t know how deeply your feelings went.” She placed her hand on his chest and he leaned into her touch. “I’ll deal with the consequences tomorrow, Lex, but tonight I’m feeling a bit more freedom than I’ve felt in a long time, and I think I deserve this.” She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. “I don’t want any silly declarations either. Save it for another time.”

“If it’s what you really-” he started.

“Stop asking questions.” She kissed him harder and his arms went around her, squeezing the breath from her. “Don’t want you to hold back with me,” she gasped. “I want the real you.”

Lex thrust his tongue between her lips; Chloe’s request was irresistible. He dug his fingers into her back, feeling the muscles bunch and tense beneath her silky skin. She responded in kind and pulled open his shirt and ran her fingernails down his chest, scraping his nipple painfully. His cock twitched at the sensation. He caught her lip between his teeth and bit it, firmly. She reached into the waistband of his pants and closed her fingers around him.

Lex’s hips moved upward, sliding himself into her grip. He jerked open her jeans and worked them down, taking her panties with them. He helped her stand to step out of them and she pulled open his belt and trousers, letting them fall to his feet.

Chloe glanced down at the throbbing erection she’d felt several times. The head was red and moist, the length and girth of him was more than she’d expected from his slender build, but not more than she thought she could handle. Lex’s fingers were around her back and impatiently working on her bra. After a few frustrated seconds, he just snapped the hooks and discarded the garment carelessly on the floor.

When Lex closed his hands over Chloe’s breasts he closed his eyes, afraid that if he looked at her, he’d lose it. He squeezed her and leaned down to suck a bare nipple into his mouth. He bent his knees and his erection brushed her thigh, leaving a droplet of fluid on her skin.

“I can’t hold off for long.”

“Then don’t.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he gave her nipple a final tug. Lex moved his hand between her thighs and found her very wet and warm.

“You’re ready for me?” His question was asked as he was pulling her back to straddle him on the couch. Chloe nodded and captured his lips in another kiss.

“Nevermore.” Chloe felt the couch cushions on the front of her knees and knelt, Lex balanced her on his strong thighs. With his index finger, he pushed inside her snug passage. She was so slick and tight, she was going to feel like heaven. He probed at her entrance and her fingers wrapped around him, guiding him in. Just the tip of his sex was settled inside her and she looked him in the eye.

“Chloe,” he said, “Whenever-” He never finished his sentence, Chloe eased her hips downward and engulfed him. He gritted his teeth, feeling the agony of her tight walls squeezing him. “Oh, God,” he grunted. “So sweet.” He slid out of her and pushed back in, lodging to the hilt. Chloe arched her back, and ground her hips impatiently.

“I need this.” Her voice was hoarse and she bit into his shoulder. “I need you.” Chloe took control, she closed her eyes and focused on her body and the orgasm it craved. She held Lex tight around the waist and she felt the strain of his muscles as he tried to let her get herself off on him. Each stroke brought a pant to her lips, thenshe heard the little noises she was making. He reached his hand between them and pressed his thumb against her clitoris where here movements would stimulate it.

Chloe’s movements were getting erratic and Lex felt the small flutterings of the beginning of her orgasm and stopped trying to hold back. He ground his hips to meet her rhythm and came inside her as she cried out, burying her face in his damp shoulder. He belatedly realized that they’d been unprotected.

“Shit!” He started to pull out but Chloe locked her knees around him.

“Too late now,” she said, holding him close. “Besides, I’m on Depo.” She adjusted their positions slightly and settled her bottom on his legs. She waited until her breathing had slowed to normal. “Do I need to worry about anything else?”

“No,” he said. “I’ve been buying stock in Trojan since I was fourteen.” He tried to laugh, but something about Chloe made him feel detached from her, even though he was still imbedded inside her, though not as hard. She wasn’t smiling, or frowning. She just lifted herself carefully off him. He felt a few droplets of their combined fluid drip onto him and she hurriedly scooted into her jeans, blushing with embarrassment.

“I’m going to get a shower.” Then she was gone, pulling her sweatshirt over her head as she went. Her bra and panties were still on the couch where they’d been discarded. Lex sat, naked and vulnerable, on his couch, trying to interpret Chloe’s actions. Was she angry with him? She couldn’t be if she’d just had sex with him. But she didn’t seem to want to talk afterward, just get out of the room as soon as possible. He guessed that it must have felt like that for many of his past lovers. The ones who’d shared feelings with him before going to bed; feelings he left behind him in a heap.

“Now I’m in a heap,” he said, out loud. Then he decided to take a shower, himself and try to get some sleep.


A/N: The slight awkwardness of their actions, and bare bones of emotion is intentional. I'm trying to create a starting point for the climax of the story.

[Reese]

Oh, boy. :rolleyes:

First of all, HOT HOT HOT.

And thank you.

Second, I'm very interested to see where it goes from here. I like that Lex confessed his earlier intentions to her and that she stuck with him through that but I especially liked that she tore out of there at the end. Why? Hell, to be honest, I don't know. It was just good to see Lex vulnerable and naked on the cough (oh god, if only this fic came with video!).

So now I can't wait to see how they work through this, what role Bruce will play in all of it and...well, and more smut.

Yes, I can't wait for some more of that, I confess :cool:

Reese

[Kit Merlot]

Excellent update, Zelda!

I'm glad that they talked and that Lex was worried about Chloe. ANd I like that they are slowly confessing their feelings for each other.

FANTASTIC!

[kitten]

“I know the real you,” Chloe said. “The good, the bad, and the ugliness I’ve seen over the past weeks has shown me many sides of you.”



“That’s just it,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I thought I wanted you under my thumb, like something to be controlled. Then I saw all of the damage, not just the physical, but the psychological scars that their treatment of you had left.” He kissed her bare shoulder and she shivered. “You needing me to cause you pain used to excite me because of the power, then when I began to realize how humiliating it was for you to have to ask, I started to feel sick.”




Great angsty smut, zelda. This chapter revealed a lot about Lex in his current state of mind, but not much about Chloe. I tried to put myself in her mind but I'm mystified as to what she was thinking when she left him on the couch. (Maybe that's just my hormones talking though.) Looking forward to more.

[Yarvarni]

can't wait for more I am so intrigued with this fic

[vardaquareien]

Wonderful, wonderful update! The way that Lex tried to stop Chloe and then shared with her all the twisted thoughts, feelings & motivations he's had in regards to her was superb. I luv that after wanting to dominate her for so long, he'd finally figured out that he wanted the real fighting 'Irish' Chloe more. I really love that this doesn't however make him an angel, he's still trying to get what he wants - it's just that he's realised that what he actually wants isn't a broken Chloe. To me that's very in Character for him.

Loved the smut! Completely and utterly droolworthy! Very Hot! I can't wait to find out what Chloe's thoughts and feelings were and why she hhad to run from him in the end. Loving this fic!

[BellaMR]

Did I just read 'climax'? Meaning more climaxes in store for us. Oh boy! I might have to go back and read your author's note again, my brain was fried from the smut.

Great chapter.

[autumngold]

I love that Lex is really starting to care about Chloe, that it isn't just a game to him anymore!! Now I just wish that Chloe could return those feelings!! Great update!! Can't wait to read more!!!!

[lilinny]

Now that's hot!! More please....

[star del mar]

So we got the talking AND the smut. You rock!! I really liked this chapter especially since Lex revealed more about what he's feeling and I'm glad that he does care about Chloe so much. I hope she's ok, I don't think her psyche can taking any more. Anyways, great update!!


Steph*

[SinnerSaint]

Gah ! So very , very hot ! I cannot wait for more. It all comes across as very real , and really human.

[squeezumstang]

you make me so jealous. how come i can't find a relationship of my own with such depth?

[Blu_FireFly81]

Very Hot!

@.@

[asharnanae]

More? this is so good its killingme!

[hfce]

That was deep. I fought against this unless Lex got serious help. But you managed to get me to see how Lex made a transformation from an ass to the realization he rather not be one. EEK!! That is deep girl. :D But Chloe leaving like that was that some kind of revenge for what he confessed? ;)


Hope :)

[red turtle]

Hurry with the next chapter. I can't wait to see what happens.

[emnorth2002]

I'm absolutely adoring this story! You're doing a brilliant job with Chloe, showing her strength while still keeping her vulnerability apparent and not glossing over the effects of everything that's happened to her. I've got to say, though, what I'm really admiring is your Lex! I love his progression from cold-hearted bastard who gets off on the thought of owning Chloe to naked-guy lying there bewildered post-shag wanting to hold her and talk about his feelings and feeling a little hurt and abandoned because she doesn't appear to want the same thing. I can't wait to see what comes next! Thanks so much for this wonderful story!

[zelda]

Chloe lay in the unfamiliar bed. It was Lex’s bed, the one she’d napped in earlier after her panic-attack. It seemed all the more alien to her now. Or perhaps, she corrected herself; it was she, not the bed, who felt strange. She couldn’t put a label to her emotions. At first she thought she was numb; feeling nothing after the adrenaline left her with a slight ache between her legs and a burning in her thigh muscles as the only physical sensation.

Now Chloe thought she understood the emotions and thoughts running together to overwhelm her. She was shutting down, like she had at the compound. She had just showered, but felt something clinging to her, as if her deeds left their mark.

“I’m not supposed to want,” she whispered out loud, putting a voice to the angry instincts inside. The naughty voices that had trained her to not wear too much makeup, or wear anything too tight or revealing if she could help it. “Don’t ask for anything for yourself.” Another phrase that had haunted her subconscious. Who knows what will be asked in return. “Lex didn’t ask.” Her voice was a little stronger when she spoke, but she slapped a palm over her mouth when she heard a soft knock at the door. An immediate increase in her heartbeat and prickling sensation under her arms as a nervous sweat came on. Shaking hands, shortness of breath. She’d asked for it this time, there was no refusal anymore.

“Hey.” Lex opened the door a crack. “I just wanted to see if you were okay.” Chloe didn’t move. He looked at her, dwarfed in his large bed, staring at the ceiling. “Chloe? Are you awake?” He could see a slight movement of her head, and he walked into the room, turning on a small lamp beside the door. She looked pale, and stiff. “What’s the matter?” When he came around to the edge of the bed, he noticed that her lips were drawn together in a tight line. She didn’t look afraid, she looked guilty. Painfully guilty.

“I’m having some trouble,” Chloe managed to say. “I think I need to call Dr. Banks.”

“We can do that if you want, but can you try to tell me what’s wrong?” Lex sat carefully on the end of the bed. He wore simple cotton pajama pants and a t-shirt. “Is it about us…earlier?” She nodded. “Are you angry?”

“No, I-I just can’t seem to accept it.” Chloe was frustrated that she could find the right words to describe how she felt. “I’m having a lot of guilt and fear, like something horrible is going to happen because I let myself feel physical pleasure, worse because I wanted physical pleasure.”

“I don’t want to ask you something you don’t want to talk about,” Lex said, crossing his legs and settling at the end of the bed. “But in the months you spent with the vashenkos, did you have any sexual pleasure?”

“No one was allowed to touch me like that, and I wasn’t allowed to choose a lover of my own.” Then she snorted. “As if I’d ever take one of those assholes into my bed.”

“Did you…give yourself any pleasure?” Lex looked a little uncomfortable.

“Not on purpose.” Chloe shook her head and her eyebrows came together. “I mean, I didn’t set out to…do it. But sometimes, out of nowhere, I’d have a dream.” She looked away a little embarrassed. “I’d wake up at the climax of the dream and I’d be…uh…climaxing.”

“Hey, not the first person it’s happened to.”

“I was always so scared that someone would hear me and come in.” She bit her lip. “I even got paranoid that they had a mind-reader who would know when I was thinking about sex.” She covered her face in her hands and scooted up so she was sitting with her back against the headboard. “I know it sounds nuts, but when you have people watching you constantly, you develop a fear that even your thoughts aren’t private anymore.”

“That doesn’t sound nuts.” Lex shrugged. “There are stranger gifts that showed up in Smallville, and I’ve had my suspicions about the people my father sicced on me in the past.”

“Everything just snowballs,” Chloe said, wrapping her arms around her knees. “I’ll start to feel guilt about something, then angry at myself for feeling it. And when the guilt won’t just go away, I get frustrated and afraid that I’ll never be normal and then the fear sets in. I’ll just end up in a padded room somewhere and I’ll end up the subject of some study about the effects of long-term imprisonment.” She sighed. “Or worse, I won’t end up the subject of a study because my life isn’t fascinating enough to talk about.” She lifted her gaze to Lex’s.

“There’s something else too,” he said gently. “I can tell that it’s something big, or you wouldn’t have held it back from Dr. Banks.”

“I feel horrible for even thinking this, Lex.”

“Go ahead and tell me.”

“When you admitted to a set up to have me see the Vashenkos, that day in Gotham,” she began. He nodded. “Well, I was so afraid when Viktor grabbed me, but later I felt something else.” She bit her bottom lip. “When I think about leaving the house, I’m a little afraid of them coming for me again, but a tiny part of me is afraid that they won’t.”

“You mean you don’t like the suspense of not knowing when it will happen?”

“That’s not what I mean.” She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid that I actually want them to want me back.” Her expression was one of confusion. “I don’t ever want to be with them, Lex, but they’ve had a huge impact on my life, and I just can’t bear the thought of not leaving some kind of impression.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “God help me, I want to matter to them, somehow.” The dam broke and she began to cry in earnest. “I feel so horrible, like I deserve trouble because I want them to care.”

“You’re not horrible.” Lex scooted closer till he was mimicking her position and he placed his hands on hers. She clutched at his hand, and unexpected move that pleased him. He liked giving her support. “You haven’t had a choice in this, Chloe. They’ve meant the world to you because they were your whole world for eight months. They made your decisions, left nothing up to you, and had ultimate control. Of course you want for that to have mattered to them as much as it did to you.”

“Once I was away from them,” she sniffled, “I actually felt satisfaction that Sasha wanted me.”

“It was a punishment for him to be denied something.” He stroked a hand over her damp hair. “It was one of the few things that you could keep from him, even if it was someone else’s choice.”

“Stop making excuses!” She cried harder. “Stop making it so easy for me.”

“Why should it be hard?”

“I don’t know!” Chloe was frustrated and sobbing. Lex moved beside her and allowed her to cry into his shirt. She managed to keep it up for almost ten minutes without stopping. Eventually, she started making little hiccuping sounds, and the wet sniffles that came at the end of a good crying jag. When the flood had subsided to fairly even breathing with only an occasional catch, Lex worked himself loose and walked to the bathroom. Chloe lay limply on her side and allowed him to bathe her forehead and face with a wet washcloth.

“Better?” She nodded.

“I’m really glad the lights are low.” Her voice was ragged. “I can’t imagine how my eyes are going to look in the morning.”

“If it helps, I think you look great.” He got a punch in the arm. “I mean it,” he said, holding out his hands to fend off a more aggressive attack with a pillow. “Your face has been so tense with holding this back, I thought you’d snap a muscle and your face would come flying off.” More blows with the pillow rained down but Chloe was laughing softly when she did it.

“I do feel better,” she admitted. “And you must have a cucumber somewhere in this house so I can reeeealy feel better.” Lex was so startled for a moment that he dropped his hands. “For my eyes, you pervert!” She rose up on her knees and caught him full in the face with her feathered weapon. “

“Alright, that’s it!” He grabbed her knees and yanked, causing her to fall on her back. He made an exaggerated leap into the air and landed on his side, across her stomach. Chloe let out a squeal when Lex’s fingers attacked her ribs and started writhing frantically beneath him. “Say Uncle!” He grabbed another pillow and began pummeling her head and shoulders.

“Sullivan’s never surrender!” She shouted back, squirming out from under him and launching herself at him. The force of her leap sent them both to the floor in a tangle of blankets and pillows. They sat on the floor, chuckling and regaining their breath.

“Fine, we’ll call it a draw.” Lex stood up and reached out his hand. Chloe took it and stood up. “I’ll let you get some rest and see that the kitchen brings you a few cucumber slices in the morning.”

“I hate to kick you out of your own room,” Chloe said, suddenly. “I mean, I’d like it if you stayed with me. And slept here.”

“Alright,” Lex agreed. He helped Chloe to straighten the bed andTurned off the lamp before climbing in beside her. It was large, and there was plenty of room, but both chose to move toward the middle of the mattress.

“I’m a side-sleeper.” Chloe’s voice came to him in the dark. “I’m not much of a snuggler, so don’t take it personally if I don’t.”

“Not a problem.”

They didn’t snuggle, but Chloe did scoot back slightly until she felt the warmth of his strong frame behind her. She drifted off without fear, or guilt, and her relief kept the worst of her dreams away.

[kitten]

This story is so good I'm not even sure I'm qualified to give feedback on some chapters. Just when I think there isn't anywhere deeper to delve into what Chloe is feeling you manage to find an incredible new facet of it. I won't embarrass myself with trying voice that in my sleepless state, but I love the way you've made it so real to see Chloe and Lex like this, even when they're acting differently than we've ever seen them.

[Kit Merlot]

Zelda, this was the best chapter to date.

I love that Chloe and Lex had a real discussion about her months in captivity, her repressed sexual desires because she didn't want any of the Ukranians touching her, but she still wanted to be wanted. ANd I think Sasha wanting her for himself meant the most to her.

BUt then she feels ashamed of wanting to be desired. Absolutely brilliant.

And I'm proud of Lex for listening to her and trying to help her.

And I love that he made her laugh :D

Excellent update :D

[emnorth2002]

Mmm, just lovely! I adored the last line where, even though she didn't exactly snuggle, she felt more contented when she was close to him. And aren't I a lucky girl; I started reading this fic just yesterday, and found a new update today! Hurray for updates! I can't wait to see where you take this next, especially since I have no doubt that the Vashenkos have *not* forgotten her; especially not Sasha...

[asharnanae]

FAN-TAS-TI-COOOOOOOOO!!!!

this was wonderful, just wnderfull!!! :D ;D :D

[hfce]

Oh wow that was great. I loved how he was able to be there for her. :D


Hope ;)

[autumngold]

I can't even imagine the pain and guilt Chloe must still be suffering from!! Thank you so much for having Lex be there to help her!! Thank you also for the great update!! I hope you post more soon!!

[squash]

That chapter was somehow light, which was a nice change from the intensity of this fic. I love the way it's written, great job.

[lilinny]

What can I say? Another terrific chapter. I want more.

[star del mar]

I'm so glad that Chloe and Lex actually talked!! I thought they were going to ignore each other and the akwardness but they're making it work. Lex got Chloe to open up and I think that's what she needs the most. Great chapter! so glad you updated

Steph*

[SinnerSaint]

Damn straight Sullivans never surrender ! I am so glad that they talked. I am also glad that Lex's motives seem a little less selfish and creepy now .

[zelda]

A/N: Okay, just a little goofiness and kink to lead into another session of "Therapy" for dear Chloe. Much smut and action to follow.


Lex woke before Chloe, he turned carefully till he was facing her. She’d rolled toward him in the night and he’d given her space. Now she was tucked down into the pillow with her mouth slightly open and her eyes swollen shut. He smiled, she’d definitely want the cucumber slices. He gently traced a fingertip over the eyelid he could see. There were tiny clumps of mascara in the corner of her eyes, and a few that stuck her lashes together in little spikes. The puffy skin of her eyelid was hot to the touch but petal soft.

Lex felt Chloe’s eyeball move under her lid and removed his hand. The eye opened with some difficulty since the upper and lower lashes were stuck together. The slightly bloodshot eye, eventually came into view.

“How bad is it?” Chloe’s voice was rough from sleep.

“Well,” he said, pleasantly. “The green of your eyes really stands out this morning.” She groaned and smushed the pillow into her face. “You’re stunning.”

“Asshole,” She mumbled.

“Okay, maybe ‘Startling’ would be a better word.”

“Dead man.”

“Should I have fresh cucumbers brought up for you?” The growling stopped. “On a chilled plate, maybe?” The eye appeared again. “Perhaps with some coffee?” Half a face emerged and he considered it a victory. “I’ll get right on it.”

After a long bath, a cup of coffee and the lingering application of cucumber slices to her eyes, Chloe felt more relaxed than she had, without chemical help, for weeks. Lex knocked on the door to the bathroom, Chloe had left it open a crack so she could hear when he returned to the room.

“Lex?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said. “You decent?”

“No,” she replied with a little more acceptance than bravado. “But you’ve seen me naked before so come in.”

The discovery of foaming bath salts had been one of Chloe’s proudest. They made better bubbles than the liquids, and with the detachable nozzle, they came back when called. Now there were just enough bubbles left to encumber Lex’s view of naked Chloe. He was partially relieved and chagrined. He’d liked the sight of naked Chloe, but that sight got him into trouble too. Chloe’s head was resting on a rolled up towel with her eyes covered in cucumber slices and her face smeared with something white that looked suspiciously like modeling clay. Her hair was damp and piled up on her head, held fast with an elastic band.

“Are you under there somewhere?” he asked, looking at the slightly distorted view of her legs through the water. “What is that on your face?”

“It’s a mud mask,” She answered stiffly, I figured if I was going for the cucumbers, I might as well go for the full facial treatment as well.”

“Can I help with anything?” Lex sat on the small stool that was placed in front of the mirror. “Massage? Rub in some lotion? Paint your toenails?” A small smile appeared, cracking the clay at the corners of her mouth. “I’m told I’m a very neat toenail painter.”

The water rippled and two feet appeared at the edge of the tub. Chloe was smiling, but she didn’t say anything. Lex cleared his throat and moved the stool to the end of the tub where he picked up a towel and dried off her feet. She pointed in the general direction of a zippered, floral bag beside the sink. After sorting through several shades of lipstick and eyeliner, he found a small bottle of seashell pink nail polish. It was just barely a few shades lighter than the healthy color of her nail beds.

Lex methodically spread out the tools he needed. An emery board to buff the edges of her nails, clippers, polish, and a clear topcoat. He saw Chloe’s grin, but she was keeping her eyes covered. He didn’t mind, it gave him a guiltless opportunity to gaze at her body, completely naked and apparently unashamed. “I’ll try not to tickle.”

Behind the cucumber slices, Chloe was fighting the urge to peek. With her eyes covered, it was easier to allow herself to be seen. She could imagine that he was just looking at her feet and hide behind the safety of her mask. The bubbles were still enough to afford her a little modesty. She felt more self-conscious than modest, right now. The water would show every imperfection that would ripple when she moved. She felt his hands gently lift her right foot and with the edge of the towel, dry between her toes. Holding the small digits firmly, yet carefully, he clipped the rough edge of one and buffed them all smooth.

The first touch of the cool polish on the top of her toenail had Chloe wanting to wiggle. Her big toe was first, and she had an urge to watch but she kept her eyes shut. He painted the first toe, and her grip on the edge of the tub tightened when she felt him blow gently, drying the paint. His breath sent tiny ripples across the water that ended at the top of her breasts. Her skin remembered his mouth and her nipples tightened, despite the warm water. She bit her lip and wondered if Lex had noticed.

Lex had noticed. He made certain to blow each toenail completely dry before moving on to the next. When he finished with the polish, he patiently went over each one again with the clear, topcoat. He saw Chloe start to shift in the bath and began to rub the arches of her feet. “You seem a little tense,” he said. “You look cold, too, should I turn on more hot water?” She shook her head gently. Not bothering to roll up his sleeve, he reached down to the bottom of the tub, immersing his arm in warm water, and pulled the drain.

Chloe removed the cucumber slices from her eyes and looked at him. They’d reduced the puffiness and redness and her eyes were bright and healthy. Where did they go from here? Their intimacy the previous night was more their conversation than their physical joining. Her body remembered each and reacted with typical greed. She looked at his arm, still dangling in the water and started to sit up. He gripped her feet tightly in his hand. “You’ll ruin the pedicure.”

“I never figured you for a foot fetish.” She tried to change the subject.

Actually,” he said, seriously, “I’m more of an ankle man, but a pretty foot completes the picture.” He bit her big toe, making her giggle. “Don’t get up.” He grabbed another towel and returned to the tub. By this point, most of the water had drained, and Chloe was left at the bottom, glistening and pink with little sudsy clusters settling in the hollow of her throat, between her breasts and at her hips. Lex had also grabbed a washcloth, which he ran under the tub faucet. He knelt by her head and began wiping away the mask. When it was mostly gone, he dropped the towel over her torso and thighs and leaned in, helping her to stand. When she was on her feet, he wrapped her up and scooped her into his arms, as if she were a child.

“I can walk, you know,” she said, wrapping her damp arms around his neck.

“You can do anything,” he whispered back, but he didn’t put her down. He carried her into the walk-in closet, where his servants had hung her clothes, and placed her feet on the thick carpet. Pulling the band from her hair, he sifted his fingers through it, looking at the damp strands instead of her face. “You smell good.” She’d used spiced pumpkin bath salts and now her skin gave off the cinnamon scent that almost made him hungry.

Dropping to one knee, Lex tugged the thick towel loose and pretended not to notice Chloe stiffen slightly. He concentrated on her feet first, rubbing them gently before moving up her legs, one at a time.

[BellaMR]

This chapter just made me want to turn into a puddle of goo. How sweet and mushy. Now time for the smut.

[Sidhe]

Awwww! I want Lex to paint my toenails too.......!

[autumngold]

What a wonderful chapter!! I love how Lex is taking care of Chloe!! Thank you for having Lex change so much since the beginning of your story, he is really being so thoughtful!! Can't wait for more of your great story!!

[campbti]

I cannot imagine why I hadn't read this before. I just spent the last couple of hours catching up. I don't really know what to say. There is a dark quality here that very few people get right. But you also have a lightness and humor that is hard to marry with the heaviness of your basic premis. I have to say I am not sure I have read anyone do it better. My chest still feels a little heavy from the emotion that was on overload the first 5 to 6 chapters. And I think your progression of Chloe and Lex's characters are very well done. The impact of something like that will come out for years, but it changes people and not always for the worst. Like she said she has lived so much more than all those Smallville dwellers. I almost feel sorry for them. She will never take her freedom for granted again. I can't wait to see where you take this story and do hope that you find a way for Bruce to be in their lives. I think he makes a great brother or best friend. Keep you the excellent work and update when you can.


:)

[star del mar]

yum, I love that Lex is being so mushy...it's just perfect. Great update, now I need the rest :)

Steph*

[SinnerSaint]

Awww! I love a sweet nurturing Lex ! That totally reminded me of my husband just then , because I had surgery recently and he was wonderful about taking care of me . Sponge bath , massages , the whole nine yards. See , the good ones are never too proud or embarrassed to nurture you.

[squash]

Lex is even cuter when he's sweet! That was a wonderfully written chapter, one of my favorites so far.

[lilinny]

Hey! Where's the rest? I'm waiting....

[Yarvarni]

how adorable was Lex doing her toes...now I want to know whwere he learned that particular trade :-)

[Lily]

Lovin this fic.. does that mean I'm twisted... seriously though, love how you're spinning this!
-Lily

[cnl2003]

Bring on the smut! Please!

[Blu_FireFly81]

I want Lex to help me paint my toe nails, help with my bath, dry every limb of my body..........oh this list could go on forever.

Update please.
:D

[zelda]

The thick, soft towel moved in circular, rhythmic motions. Chloe was soothed by the unhurried rubbing. When Lex got to her upper thigh, he went back to the other foot and moved upwards again. He was on one knee and of to her left slightly instead of being at eye-level with her privates. He brushed the towel gently over the thatch of trimmed curls at the apex of her thighs and she shivered. He then wrapped the towel around her hips and rubbed her buttocks and lower back.

Lex moved behind Chloe and slid his terry-covered hands along her spine and spread his warm hands around her slender waist. He was on both knees and close enough that she could feel his breath on the small of her back. He placed one hand on her bare hip and rubbed her ribcage, holding the towel with the other hand. Standing slowly, he brought his arms around her and held the towel in front of her, dipping his chin over her shoulder. He draped the damp towel across her breasts and crossed his hands over her belly, holding the fabric with his arms.

“Do you like your toenails?” Lex was pressed gently against Chloe’s back. His hands were splayed over her belly, cupping the slightly rounded flesh. Her knees were shaking and she felt heavy heat between her legs. She wanted to arch back against him, but she couldn’t. She wanted him to press closer, she wanted to feel the firm ridge inside his pants that she knew was for her. She thought about it, and the ache became a throb.

Chloe placed her hands over his hand squeezed them gently with trembling fingers. She rolled her head to the side and then back to rest on his shoulder. He took the offered neck and pressed his lips gently against it. The sensation was pleasant, but Chloe needed more. She arched back and brushed her bottom against the front of Lex’s pelvis. His erection jumped to attention and twitched in his pants.

“I love the toenails,” Chloe breathed, releasing his hands to reach behind her and grip his trousers. She brushed the wet sleeve of his shirt, it felt cool against her warm skin. The closet made everything around them seem muffled, far away. No sound or movement could be heard by either of them, or from either of them. Instead of claustrophobic, she felt secure. Lex’s hands tightened in the towel and then he dropped it. His rough palms smoothed over her belly and up to cup her breasts. Her skin was so alert to sensation that his touch was almost painful.

A shudder of need coursed through Chloe’s body and she pressed urgently backwards against Lex’s erection. Taking a few staggering steps, Lex moved them both froward until Chloe was pressed against the closet door. The firm surface allowed her to push back harder and she ground her backside against him, frantic for the feeling for fullness that she suddenly craved.

“Tell me how you feel.” Lex’s voice was a harsh whisper in her ear as he fondled and squeezed her breasts with one hand while the other slid down her belly to part her silky folds. Her tight little bud was swollen and sensitive. When he caressed it with a fingertip, slick from her own moisture, she nearly lost control. “Talk to me.”

“Can’t.” she gasped. “Don’t know how to say-” Her words ended in a gasp and she gripped his buttocks hard, digging her nails in and trying to push him against her so that the hard ridge inside his pants would dull the ache inside.

“Try,” he growled, scraping his teeth over her nape and sucking the tender skin between his lips. Chloe heard the rasp of his zipper and stilled her writhing as Lex took his erection out of his pants. The first touch of his hot skin against her sent another rush of fluid between her legs, and she was afraid it might start pouring out of her like a faucet if he didn’t do something.

“Hot,” she blurted out. “Heavy, like my legs won’t support me.” She pressed her naked flesh to his, trying to make him loose control. “Like I’ve never needed anything more than this. Right now.”

Lex took her admission as his invitation. He turned her hip slightly and lifted one of her knees, propping it on his thigh. He bent slightly, tightening his arm around her waist and bracing his other hand against the door. He slid in smoothly, assisted by her soaking arousal. The position was new to her, so he gave her a moment to adjust. She shifted slightly, biting back a moan, then arched a little more to allow him another inch. She gripped his bottom again and squeezed.

Lex slid out smoothly, then back in, harder. He repeated, increasing his speed and Chloe’s little choking sounds encouraged him. She fumbled for something to hold on to as his thrusts became more and more powerful. Her knees grew weak at her impending climax; but to her surprise, he slowed his pace and put his foot back on the floor. “D-don’t stop.”

“I won’t.” Lex could feel his own legs weakening and didn’t want to loose the intensity of their coupling so he sank with Chloe clutched to his chest until her hands found the carpeted floor. Groping for the nearest garment, he yanked a cashmere coat from the hanger and pushed her forward. They crawled, joined together, until her knees and elbows were on the garment instead of the carpet. The feel of her muscles tightening on him as she crawled had almost made him loose it. He fastened a hand on her hip and reared over her. “Can’t wait, gonna do this one harder.”

Lex pulled one of her legs around his thigh and pushed deep. Chloe supported herself on her elbows and forearms and pushed back. He kept one hand on her shoulder and began pounding into her as hard as he could, unable to hold back with his own climax so near. The surprised cry of ecstasy that broke from Chloe’s mouth, paired with the clamping of her muscles around him had him bucking like a stallion. He practically snarled when he came, balls deep, pulsing inside her like an explosion.

Lex’s vision went dark for a moment as his body strained every muscle to be inside Chloe. When the pulsing slowed and his body relaxed, he was shaking like a marathon runner. He’d never had an orgasm so intense, nor had he lost himself so completely to the feel of a woman. Chloe was flattened under him and he managed to raise himself up and roll off her. She was panting as well, and he pulled her into his embrace.

“Are you okay?” Chloe asked. He nodded.

“You?”

“That was unexpected.”

“I don’t usually loose control like that,” he said, squeezing her. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I meant I wasn’t expecting to have such a fast response…” She didn’t finish. “I think I’ve run out of words.”

“It’s a miracle.”

Chloe chuckled and punched his arm. “Ow!”

“I think I’ve had enough of Smallville, for a while,” she said, wrapping her slippery arms around him. “But if you need to stick around here for any reason, I’ll stay too.”

“Nah, I can chase you around Wayne Manor just as easily.” She smiled. “Unless you want to call a halt to…” he gestured to their tangle of limbs, “this.”

“Uh, no.” She kissed him, then stood on shaky legs and picked up the discarded towel. “I’m going to take a quick shower since I’m now covered in cashmere fibers.” She paused to look down at him and smiled. There was a gentleness in her expression, and for the first time, it was devoid of wariness.

A/N: Exam coming up, need to study, might be a little while before next post. Next Chappie: Action, adventure, the return of the Ukranians!

[Thessaly]

He practically snarled when he came, balls deep, pulsing inside her like an explosion.

Okay. Allow me to be the first to whimper, "Oh, my God..."

Guh. Meanwhile back in the Caves of Coherency, this was a fantastic, smutalicious chapter with strong undertones of caring, fixing and toenail-polishing.

However I'm a little worried about the return of Sasha. I'm concerned that there may be a conflict between the needs that Sasha and Lex have fostered in Chloe (pain stimuli vs sexual stimuli to bind her to them). While Lex has made an attempt to connect with Chloe on an emotional level, Sasha has had longer to instil the response he wanted.

It's all very worrying but I know you'll bring them home safely with the maximum of Chlex smut and Sasha and his porky son involved in a fatal mincing machine accident. I just know it.

Thessaly

[asharnanae]

May I say first off all, STUNNING!!!!

but why is an unfinnished fic, in the finnished section?

[zelda]

Not sure why it's been moved. I'm woring on it with admin.

[Kit Merlot]

Zelda, I'm glad that I didn't miss the ending of this great story!

I loved the fact that Chloe is now so completely comfortable with Lex.

Wonderful, just wonderful :D

[tiger04]

Mouth hangging open, drooling. Wonderful chapter, love that she is willing to stay in smallville for lex.

Hope for a new update soon.

AT

[hfce]

GUH!!! I am still drooling. That was HOT!!! :D


Hope :)

[star del mar]

LOVED the update!! It was just too hot for words...I was all tingly :) update soon!!

Steph*

[squash]

i'm excited for the next chappy

[zelda]

Lex and Chloe did travel separately, back to Gotham, when Lex decided to call a few of his board members together for a meeting. Chloe had brunch at the Talon with her father, sitting in a back booth, and took the limo back to Gotham. Lex had decided to fly instead.

Using the limo’s phone, Chloe called Dr. Banks.

“How did your trip home go?” the man asked. “No problems?”

“Well,” Chloe began, “I did have a minor panic attack in a coffee shop, but afterwards, I felt pretty relieved, and the rest of the trip went….well.”


“I’m glad to hear it, and I’ll look forward to seeing you again.”

“You too, Dr. Banks.” Chloe was smiling when she hung up the phone. She asked the driver to stop at a convenience store to use the restroom and buy a candy bar. Standing on the linoleum floor, looking at the candy selection, it took Chloe a moment to realize that she felt normal. She’d just walked into the store with the intention of buying a candy bar and using the toilet. No other motivation, not worrying about being expected to do anything else. She smiled to herself. No one was around to tell, but she didn’t need to. Just this moment was enough for her.

The car was moving through a wildlife preserve, just outside of the city when Chloe’s personal phone rang again. She answered it when she saw Bruce’s number come up on the caller ID.

“Chloe?”

“Hey,” she replied. “I’m almost inside the city. I should be back at the Manor in less than an hour.” She glanced at her watch, then a sudden jerk made her drop the phone. The driver had slammed on the brakes and swerved violently. Chloe tumbled forward onto the floor of the limo. Startled, she looked up at the glass separating her from the driver.

“Hang on, Miss,” came the driver’s voice through the intercom. “Keep your head down, we’ve got trouble.” The big car was surprisingly agile as it slammed into reverse and began zooming backwards. Chloe scrambled for the phone while trying to keep herself in one place. She was on her knees on the floor of the car, grasping the seatbelt to stay upright. The pinging sound of bullets bouncing off the roof of the car reached her ears as she found the little phone.

“Chloe!” Bruce sounded worried. “What’s going on?”

“Someone’s shooting at us!” She knew that Lex’s car was reinforced and had bulletproof glass, but she feared for the tires. “I can’t tell how many.”

“Where are you?”

“We were right near the city limits on Route 20,” she gasped, reaching for her purse. “Now we’re heading backwards-” Vince, the driver jerked the wheel sharply, braking at the same time to swing the car around again. Since she’d let go of the seatbelt, she went rolling across the floor again, losing her grip on the phone. She let out a yelp and scrambled for something to hang onto when she felt, rather than heard one of the tires go. The driver was trained for this and managed to keep the car on the road.

“Get into the seat and buckle up,” he shouted to her. “They’re taking out the tires!” Chloe retrieved her purse from under the seat and jammed herself into the closest seatbelt. She was next to one of the windows and facing the rear. There were sets of headlights visible on the darkening road behind them, but she didn’t have to guess who the drivers were. More shots, one of the front tires went next, and the car hit the soft shoulder, sending it down over an embankment. “Hold onto something!”

Chloe screamed when the front bumper hit the bottom of the ditch. It wasn’t very deep, but deep enough to jar the fast-moving vehicle and send the back end sliding. She felt her seatbelt jam into her side as the car tipped over and wedged itself, partially on its side and partially on its roof.

Chloe felt dizzy from the odd sensation of being suspended sideways from a seatbelt. The partition between herself and the front seat slid open about half-way. Vince’s hat was missing, his short-cropped blonde hair was sticky with blood on the left side. He forced the divider open enough to crawl through.

“You’re bleeding,” she said, stupidly, fumbling with her seatbelt. He scrambled to her and stood up on the door that was against the ground.

“They’re coming, we’ve got to hurry.” His face was serious. He used a long, sharp blade and cut through the belt. Chloe fell onto him and he shoved her through to the front seat. As she crawled through the small opening, she reached into her purse for the small, pistol that Bruce had given her. It only had two bullets in it, and he’d instructed her to use it at close range and only when she was sure of her shot. She tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans and helped pull Vince through the partition. He had a gun in his hand now, and a small tool she recognized.

“Will that work on these windows?” He was carrying a window popper, made for emergency exits from vehicle windows.

“Only from the inside.” Chloe could hear voices through the cracked windshield. Vince pressed the small point to the center of a crack in the glass and the windshield broke away. “We’re not far from the trees,” he said, cocking his pistol. “It’s dark and you might be able to loose yourself. I’ll cover you and follow.”

“I’m not leaving you here.” Vince fired a few rounds in the general direction of the road and heard muffled shouts. He grabbed her arm and shoved her out of the overturned car, following her out.

“Drivers are disposable, Chloe,” he said, using her first name. “Mr. Luthor knew that the Vashenkos might try to come for you, and as their target, you get to play hide and seek. If I let anything happen to you, I’m a dead man, so my only chance of survival is to get you clear of here, then find you later.” He spoke quickly, then glanced around the edge of the car and fired again. A yell of pain gave him a look of satisfaction. “If it helps, I’m wearing a Kevlar vest and a lot of rounds.” Chloe glanced behind her at the dark woods. “Find a place and hide, when I start shooting, you run.”

The distance to the trees looked miles long, even though it was only a bout fifteen feet. She’d be out in the open for a precious few seconds, but she didn’t know for certain that the Vashenkos wanted her alive. Vince squeezed her shoulder and she saw his white teeth flash in the thickening darkness. “It’s okay. Go.”

Vince started firing and Chloe started running full speed towards the largest tree she could see. As soon as she ducked behind it, she banked to the left, where the ground was firmer and easier to run on. She headed deeper into the woods, choosing to take the cover of more trees and chance tripping on roots to the more open areas. She didn’t stop running until she heard the shooting stop abruptly, then she leaned her back against a tree and covered her mouth with her hand to quiet her own breathing. She listened. She heard voices speaking in Ukranian.

“The man is armed, take him out first.” That meant Vince was alive and in the woods. Unfortunately, the men hunting her were in the woods as well. Now that they had their orders, they were moving quietly through the trees. She cursed herself for dropping her phone.

Lex’s pilot patched a call through to his headphones; it was Bruce.

“Lex.” The man’s voice was urgent. “We’ve got a serious problem.”

[squeezumstang]

well damn! you gotta fix that! oh my gawd. send in the
knights in shining armor now!

[star del mar]

Are you serious?! You can't stop there!! What a freaking mess, they just had to come after her didn't they? God! I know, I know...part of the story but I hope that Lex or Bruce can get to her soon. Update again!!! Please!

Steph*

[autumngold]

Oh my gosh, you must come back and update now!! Lex and Bruce had better hurry and save Chloe!! Love the updates, but I really can't wait for more!! Post a new chapter ASAP please!!!!

[crankychick]

Damn, zelda, how could I have missed those last, two updates? The flu rocks - it's allowed me to catch up on your story.


There was a gentleness in her expression, and for the first time, it was devoid of wariness.
Perfect sign of a lover getting the job done right, both with the lovemaking and the love demonstrating.


“Lex.” The man’s voice was urgent. “We’ve got a serious problem.”
Dammit, call in the SWAT team, or MI5.....I'm dying over here!

[campbti]

Wow, that was great. And horrible. Right when she gets to the point where she feels ok, they come back. Someone has to save her, the setback this is going to cause, I'm on pins and needles. Come back quick...:)

[Thessaly]

“Lex.” The man’s voice was urgent. “We’ve got a serious problem.”

Damn skippy. Chloe and Lex have only just started getting back on track and now *looks at zelda tragically* she's being put in mortal danger by psychotic Ukrainians.

I suspect that Sasha has taken power in some way and has come after Chloe to try and get her back under his control. Now all she has to do is reject him due to the healing power of Chlex smut and then Lex and Bruce will swing by to stage that freak mincing-machine accident I mentioned.

You can do it, Chloe! Think of the cashmere smut!

Thessaly

[lilinny]

I just read two amazing chapters. Fantastic is all I can say. Please update soon.

[BellaMR]

My nails can't take the suspense. Please update soon.

[Kit Merlot]

Man, Zelda, that was totally unexpected! Are those crazy Ukranians trying to kill Chloe?

Please update coon.

[asharnanae]

why did lex not make her fly back!!!!!!! damn those bastards!! I hope lex and bruce kill them slowly! very very slowly! maybe chloe should do it? bah! as long as they die!

Excelent work!

[red turtle]

Chelx rules!!! Loved the chapter.

[AlabamaWorley]

I got way behind on this story - in retrospect, I'm kind of glad, because it allowed me to see the bigger picture of where you were going instead of worrying in between updates about what your plan was. I'm digging it now. Mondo kudos for that fabulous closet smut, and for keeping Chloe's psychological state in mind at all times.

I think Vince just jumped to the top of my list of favorite original characters! Now... a little cameo by some Batgoodies would be swell....

[Blu_FireFly81]

Oh man that was a great update!

[SinnerSaint]

Okie -dokie , I've just decided that I want to be chased around Wayne Manor. And maybe by Lex and Bruce. *purr* I LOVE this story.

[randa]

so i havent read this story in forever, and i just read the last five, yes five, chapters and are absolutely loving all of it.
and i loved the last chapter with all the action.


randa

[ptite_mily]

This fic is sooo great! I like that Bruce is part if it, i like Vince, a lot, the original idea's good too...I even like the Ukrainians, i mean, of course i want them to suffer and die, but they make good vilains.
Update now please!

[zelda]

Chloe knew nothing about the area through which she was currently slinking. Ducking from tree to tree, her night vision became slightly clearer. With her second wind, she broke into a smooth run, pacing herself and trying to land her footfalls on her toes. She stopped for a moment and listened; water. She could definitely hear rushing water, and it wasn’t far away. The closer she walked, the more the water masked the sounds she made. Unfortunately, it also masked the sounds around her.

When the tree line broke, Chloe found herself at the edge of Tredd River; the only natural waterway that went into Gotham. From here, it looked much cleaner than it did inside the city. It also looked much faster and deeper than the sluggish, polluted water she saw under bridges from time to time.

A hand closed over Chloe’s shoulder and she very nearly screamed.

“It’s me.” Vince was pulling her back behind a tree. Chloe wanted to embrace him with relief.

“Thank God you’re alive,” she said, crouching when he squatted next to her. He pulled a fresh clip from his belt and snapped it into his gun. Then he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

“They’re not far behind me, but they’re not trackers, they’re used to urban hits so we have a tiny advantage.”

“How did you find me?” Chloe asked.

“I’m uh…not the urban hit type,” Vince said, distractedly. “Just keep your head down.” He peeked around the edge of the tree and cocked his head, listening. “Shit!” He drew a second gun from somewhere inside his dark jacket. It was just as big and deadly as the first. “They’re on either side of us.”

“Should we try the river?”

“Nah,” he shook his head. “We’d be sitting ducks. Our best plan is for me to lead them away from you.”

“I don’t like you acting as bait.” Chloe shook her head, trying to sound brave. She really didn’t want him to leave her.

“Frankly, my dear,” he said, “I don’t give a Damn.” He gave her a quick grin. “I’m from Atlanta; been waiting my whole life to be able to say that.”

Chloe didn’t respond. She could hear the footsteps now. Far too close for comfort. “When I give you the signal, jump over the bank and try to hide just under the lip of this ledge.” He glanced at her quickly. “Do you have a gun?” She nodded, pulling the small derringer from her pocket. She also removed her light blue jacket; her dark gray t-shirt would be slightly less visible in the dark. “Use the gun if anyone finds you,” Vince said. “Wait till they’re close and shoot them in the face. I don’t think they have Kevlar, but I’m not willing to bet your only two shots with that antique on it.” He nodded to the little piece she carried. “Get ready.” He winked at her, looking goulishly amusing with dried and still oozing blood running down his face.

Chloe re-tucked the gun in her back pocket, she would need her hands to scramble down the bank with any stealth. She swallowed a lump in her throat when she looked back at Vince. He had his back against the tree trunk and both guns in his hands. Taking a moment to listen for their followers, he gave her a single, hard look, then nodded.

Chloe lunged forward, running the few feet to the ledge in a crouch. She heard a shout followed by shots fired from directly behind her. She slid on her hip over the side and turned, holding onto a tree root that jutted out over the edge of the embankment, using it to slow her descent. She dropped lightly to the rocky mud and fought the urge to bolt. She did glance up and saw Vince’s broad back above her. He was moving sideways, firing in a fast rhythm and walking away from her. Too soon, however, she heard the clicking sound of an empty gun.

Vince dropped the useless metal and continued to fire the second gun until it too clicked empty. Before he had a chance to take a step toward the safety of the trees, his body jerked like a puppet and he fell over the side of the bank, tumbling into the water, out of sight.

Chloe couldn’t stifle the cry that came from her and clapped a hand over her mouth, pulling her own little gun from her pocket. Tears streamed down her face and she choked on her sobs. She could hear more voices above her and she felt the ground on the bank vibrate with running feet. She was caught, but the only thought she had was that she hoped the first man down the bank was the one who’d shot Vince.
*
Lex arrived at Wayne Manor to find Bruce already gone. His own security team was waiting for him. He’d contacted them and told them to meet him. Alfred said that Bruce hadn’t told him where he was going and that he had no idea where to start looking. Lex had a pretty good idea and briefed his team. He tried to push thoughts of what might be happening to Chloe at that very moment, or what might have already happened.

Lex’s team was made up, completely, of ex-military. Snipers to be precise. He preferred men who were used to stealth. Vince had been one of his best; that’s why he’d had the man drive Chloe back to Gotham. Now he had no idea if they’d gotten away or been captured. He made his instructions clear and precise.

“Miss Sullivan is to be brought home safe. Kill anyone who tries to hurt her.” Then he reflected. Mr. Wayne might be in the compound somewhere, be aware and don’t shoot him.” He left the details to his team leader and put on his own, custom-made bullet-proof vest. He loaded his pistol and went to the car to wait.
*
Chloe’s face hurt. Her lower eyelid didn’t want to stay where it was supposed to be. Her right cheekbone was puffy and currently occupying more than its allotted space. She reviewed her current situation: physically, mentally, and geographically.

Physically, Chloe had few injuries, she’d just have a big shiner in the morning; provided she lived that long. Mentally, she was a little bit numb. Seeing Vince’s body jerk as the impact of the bullets hit him replay over and over again mixed with the surprised look on the Vashenko muscle man’s face, right before she’d shot him in it. She’d killed a man, and another had died protecting her. She hadn’t known either man well, but she mourned Vince as much as anyone could while they were in her situation. Geographically, she was squished between two large men in the back of a sedan, pulling up to the gates of the Vashenko compound.

Chloe hadn’t bothered to argue with the enforcers. She knew they wouldn’t listen to her, they were following orders and were virtually incapable of doing anything else. She still wanted them dead. Her disgust at killing a man, herself, didn’t keep her from wanting to do it again. Soon. She kept the thoughts of vengeance and anger churning inside her like the acid in her stomach, burning and popping. It kept the fear down to a reasonable level.
*
Bruce watched, and waited for the right moment to act. He knew he couldn’t wait too long; Chloe had little time, and Lex wouldn’t sit idly by while he worked. He needed an opportunity to present itself soon or he’d be forced to start making his own. If he made his own, it would be messier.
*
Sasha was waiting in the study, much like his father had been almost a year before. When the door opened and he saw Chloe, flanked by two men, walked inside the room, he put down his glass of brandy and stood up. She was dirty and bruised, but her green eyes were sharp and calm.

“I told you not to hurt her,” Sasha said in Ukranian. The larger man shrugged.

“Had to take her out, she was still armed.”

“She really killed Burian?”

“Shot him in the head.”

“You searched her?” The man nodded and Chloe rolled her eyes. They’d searched her thoroughly and if she hadn’t been so furious and afraid, she’d have been deeply offended. “Cuff her and wait outside.” She sneered. Sasha didn’t seem quite as fearless as he once had.

“Why did you come after me, Sasha?” Chloe asked when they were alone. Her hands were cuffed behind her back with plastic restraints. Too strong to break.

“Speak when spoken to,” he spat at her, slapping her bruised cheek. “And don’t address me by my first name.”

“How about pig?” she asked. “Or coward, or dickhead, or-” She was cut off by another blow. This one was a fist to the midsection which doubled her over and sent her down to one knee. It took a full minute before Chloe could catch her breath or fight back the nausea that rose.

“You should be flattered, Sullivan.” Sasha was pacing back and forth in front of her. “I’ve risked my father’s wrath to bring you back here.”

“I am surprised,” she answered. “You don’t usually take a piss without his permission.” He didn’t strike her again, but smiled.

“You want to make me angry so I’ll kill you quickly, eh?”

“I just don’t belong to you anymore and see no reason not to tell you exactly what I think of you.” She spit on the carpet. “Your whole family can kiss my ass.” Sasha laughed.

“You speak like you think someone will come looking for you.” He shook his head. “No one cares for a sorry little slave like you. Do you think your little bald business man will come here again?” He sat on the couch.

“Lex doesn’t let scumbags take what belongs to him,” she snapped. “Even if you do kill me, you’ll never get rid of him.”

“You think your new owner will start a war over a little piece like yourself?”

“The way I understand it, you’re on pretty shaky ground as it is.” Chloe finally smiled at him. “Your businesses have been systematically raided, your finances are being depleted, and your enemies are noticing how vulnerable you are.” She shrugged. “My presence here might be because you think Lex will pay a ransom for me.” The tiniest flicker of anger behind his dark eyes told her she was right.

“You think he’ll pay.”

“I think you’re a fool.”

“We’ll see what happens after my demand has been delivered. In the meantime,” he said, getting up again. “We should find a way to entertain ourselves.” He seized her hair in his fist and bent her head back. “When I’m done with you, Sullivan, he might get you back alive, but I guarantee, he’ll never want to touch you again.” He pinched her left breast hard enough to make her cry out, despite her efforts to stay silent. She lunged at him and he pushed her back. Unable to use her hands to catch her balance, Chloe fell to the floor. Sasha kicked her savagely, aiming for her ribs, but she rolled away and it landed on her hip instead.

Using the tricks Bruce had taught her, Chloe took Sasha’s feet out from under him and he landed on his back with a grunt. She slammed her heel into his solar plexus as the door flew open. She kicked him until she was dragged away by the guards. She screamed obscenities at him in both English and Ukranian. Sasha got to his feet, holding his stomach. And grunted for the guards to take her back to her room and secure her to the bed, face-down. He poured himself another brandy and sipped it, regaining his composure. He was surprised by a voice at the door.

“Hello, Vashenko.” Bruce Wayne was leaning casually in the doorway, seemingly uninterested in anything except his fingernails as he examined them, closely. “Don’t bother to call for help. You’ll be dead before you make a sound.”

“How did you get in here?”

“Pretty much the same way as before, and with only a little more difficulty.” He smiled. “I’m leaving here shortly with Chloe Sullivan, and I’m never going to have trouble from you again. I’m not asking for your agreement, I’m just telling you your future.” A shadow seemed to fall across the man’s features though he stepped into brighter light. “I’m destroying your empire with the help of a friend, and I’m not stopping until you’re finished, one way, or another.”

“You’re responsible for the bat man’s attacks on my people.”

“I just pointed him in the right direction.” He approached the man in front of him. “You have more urgent matters to worry about right now. Like where Chloe Sullivan is and how she’s feeling.”

“Why the trouble for one little girl?”

“I should ask you the same thing, but you already know the answer or you’d have left her alone.” Bruce lowered his voice. “She gets under your skin.” For just a moment, the two enemies shared a look of understanding. The moment was fleeting.

“If you’re going to destroy my family, why should you have the girl?”

“I’ll be frank with you,” Bruce said. “She’s…'touched', you die. She’s hurt, you die. She’s dead-”

“You die slow.” Lex’s voice cut in from the doorway.


A/N: Borrowed a line from Marvel comics.