Reese
16th February 2005, 21:18
Title: Weakness
Author: Reese
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Through the S3 finale
Dedication: To June ;)
WARNING: This is not a happy fic. Those of you who really enjoy happy endings (*eyes Zannie*) will not find one here. Consider yourself warned...
***
He just stares into the fire before him, occasionally lifting the glass of scotch to his lips even though he tastes nothing as it goes down.
She is gone.
He still can’t quite accept it.
Even though he’s been to the safe house himself, seen the utter devastation caused by the blast, he still can’t quite accept what it means.
He is alone…utterly and completely and with no one to blame but himself.
Lana is still in Paris and he hasn’t even bothered to try to contact her. Figures someone else will take care of it.
And Clark? Well, Clark hasn’t been heard from since the blast so Lex figures Clark is keeping his distance, probably blaming him just as he blames himself.
How did he let this happen?
He’s lost more than people realize. Has his hatred of his father cost him something even more important?
Has it cost him a chance at love?
The relationship between the two of them had grown gradually over the weeks and months leading up to the trial. They’d agreed to hold off until things settled down. They wanted to wait and explore their feelings when the world around them wasn’t spiraling out of control.
Little did they know.
Now his father is going to be free because without the star witness, there is no case.
But at this point, Lex could care less.
He takes another swig of the scotch and wishes his father’s action against him had been more effective…more final.
As if on cue, he hears his father’s voice booming through the foyer and the confident strides he takes in pursuit of his son.
Before his father can say anything, he speaks. “You win.” He doesn’t even look up from the fire when admitting defeat.
Lionel looks a bit victorious but a bit disappointed as well.
He paces the room, watching his son, before standing next to him, a folder in his hands. He pulls out a picture and tosses it into Lex’s lap.
Lex doesn’t reach for it but rather catches a glimpse of it before it slides off his lap and onto the floor.
It’s a picture of him with Chloe.
His father tosses another. Same thing.
Picture after picture of them together, stolen glances and secret smiles.
“What is it I saw in these pictures, son?”
Lex doesn’t answer.
“Weakness. She was becoming your weakness, Lex.”
Still he doesn’t answer but just stares straight ahead, ignoring the array of pictures at his feet.
“Did you think you two could really join forces against me…and win?” Lionel almost chuckles at the idea.
Lex still says nothing.
“What were you thinking, son?” He pauses, as if waiting for an answer, then continues. “If you really loved her, you wouldn’t have brought her into this to begin with, now would you? You know better.”
Lionel waits but still Lex doesn’t take the bait. He’s done fighting and Lionel begins to fear he’s done living as well.
“Son?”
Finally, Lex responds. “Like I said Dad, you win.”
Lionel looks a little disgusted and flips open his cell phone. “Put her on the phone.” Lex still doesn’t react but Lionel can sense his body tense. “Yes dear, it’s me. I’d like you to say hello to someone for me.”
He offers the phone to Lex, who doesn’t take it at first until he hears the faint sounds of “hello?” coming from it. He snatches the phone from this father.
“Hello?”
“Lex?” Her voice is tired but suddenly hopeful.
“Chloe?” He lets hope rise in his chest until he sees the smile creeping onto his father’s face. “Who is this?” he demands into the phone.
“Lex, it’s me!” She seems desperate for him to believe her and shocked that he might not recognize her voice.
“I don’t know what my father is paying you but this is a cruel joke to be a part of.”
“Lex, it’s me.” Her voice is barely more than a whisper but he recognizes something in it.
“Prove it.” It’s then that she understands. She lets her mind wrap around whom she’s dealing with. The way the Luthors play the game of life would make someone suspect something as simple as a phone call.
“I know what it is you really want from your father.” She practically whispers it to him over the phone.
“Chloe.” Lex sinks deeper into the chair, mostly from relief. The way he says her name says it all.
He believes her. He loves her. He’s glad to know she’s alive.
Maybe life is worth living after all.
Before he can process it all, Lionel snatches the phone away from him. “I want you to sign over everything…all of your stocks, any interests you have in any of the family businesses.” He pauses. “You will no longer have any connection to me or to my business. Is that clear?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re willing to do this?”
“Yes.”
Lex doesn’t even hesitate.
Maybe he should have.
“Son, you disappoint me yet again. What have I told you about weakness?” He raises the phone to his ear and speaks to the man waiting for orders at the other end. “Finish it.”
Lionel smiles down at Lex. He can see the recognition of what’s about to happen spread across his son’s face. “Say goodbye, Lex.”
He clicks the speakerphone button and holds it out for Lex to hear.
“What’s happening? Lex? LEX?!?”
It’s the last thing Lex hears before the sound of a single gunshot echoes through the phone.
Then silence.
Deafening silence.
Lionel snaps his cell phone shut and takes a moment to analyze his son’s reaction.
Except there isn’t one.
Nothing.
Just a blank stare into the cold, empty fireplace.
Lionel shrugs and turns to walk out. “I told you you weren’t ready to play at my level, son. I really do wish, for your sake and for Ms. Sullivan’s, that you would have listened.”
He pauses at the door before exiting. “Don’t forget, Lex, about our board meeting tomorrow morning. I expect to see you there. We have some…well…business to attend to.” He smiles at the form still seated expressionless before the fireplace. “See you then, son.”
Lex doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even look up as his father departs.
The silence is broken by one of the servants sometime later. “Sir, is there anything you need?”
“Yes, I need a bag packed. I have a meeting in Metropolis in the morning so I’ll be staying at the penthouse tonight. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
The servant just nods and leaves the room.
Lex takes one last sip of his drink before rising from his chair and making his way to the desk in the center of the room.
He gathers together papers that have been ignored for over a week and starts placing them in his brief case.
He pauses and looks down at the red folder still left on his desk.
Her folder.
Her folder on his father.
It’s the only thing he has left of her now.
He picks up his cell phone and dials a number he’s put off using for ages.
“It’s been a long time.” The voice at the other end almost sounds amused when it answers.
“It’s time.”
“Really?” The voice seems pleased to hear it.
“Yes.”
“Any particular instructions on this one?”
“No,” Lex takes a deep breath. “Just kill him.”
He snaps the cell shut and holds it for a moment before placing it back on the desk. His fingers then glide across the surface of his desk to the red folder. He touches it slowly, hesitantly, as though it might burn him.
It doesn’t, it welcomes his touch after being ignored for so long.
The thought reminds him of the girl that gave it to him.
He snaps himself out of the memory and snatches up the folder, opening the safe and tossing it in.
He slams the safe shut and leans on outstretched arms against it.
This is goodbye.
Goodbye to the idea that his father could one day love him.
To the hope that there was ever going to be a life for him besides this one.
To the dream of sharing that life with the woman he loved.
Goodbye to the old Lex...the one who loved a girl he knew could be his salvation.
He stands up straight, takes a deep breath and grabs the briefcase from off of his desk.
Hello to the new Lex...the one who accepts that there is nothing left in him to salvage.
***
Author: Reese
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Through the S3 finale
Dedication: To June ;)
WARNING: This is not a happy fic. Those of you who really enjoy happy endings (*eyes Zannie*) will not find one here. Consider yourself warned...
***
He just stares into the fire before him, occasionally lifting the glass of scotch to his lips even though he tastes nothing as it goes down.
She is gone.
He still can’t quite accept it.
Even though he’s been to the safe house himself, seen the utter devastation caused by the blast, he still can’t quite accept what it means.
He is alone…utterly and completely and with no one to blame but himself.
Lana is still in Paris and he hasn’t even bothered to try to contact her. Figures someone else will take care of it.
And Clark? Well, Clark hasn’t been heard from since the blast so Lex figures Clark is keeping his distance, probably blaming him just as he blames himself.
How did he let this happen?
He’s lost more than people realize. Has his hatred of his father cost him something even more important?
Has it cost him a chance at love?
The relationship between the two of them had grown gradually over the weeks and months leading up to the trial. They’d agreed to hold off until things settled down. They wanted to wait and explore their feelings when the world around them wasn’t spiraling out of control.
Little did they know.
Now his father is going to be free because without the star witness, there is no case.
But at this point, Lex could care less.
He takes another swig of the scotch and wishes his father’s action against him had been more effective…more final.
As if on cue, he hears his father’s voice booming through the foyer and the confident strides he takes in pursuit of his son.
Before his father can say anything, he speaks. “You win.” He doesn’t even look up from the fire when admitting defeat.
Lionel looks a bit victorious but a bit disappointed as well.
He paces the room, watching his son, before standing next to him, a folder in his hands. He pulls out a picture and tosses it into Lex’s lap.
Lex doesn’t reach for it but rather catches a glimpse of it before it slides off his lap and onto the floor.
It’s a picture of him with Chloe.
His father tosses another. Same thing.
Picture after picture of them together, stolen glances and secret smiles.
“What is it I saw in these pictures, son?”
Lex doesn’t answer.
“Weakness. She was becoming your weakness, Lex.”
Still he doesn’t answer but just stares straight ahead, ignoring the array of pictures at his feet.
“Did you think you two could really join forces against me…and win?” Lionel almost chuckles at the idea.
Lex still says nothing.
“What were you thinking, son?” He pauses, as if waiting for an answer, then continues. “If you really loved her, you wouldn’t have brought her into this to begin with, now would you? You know better.”
Lionel waits but still Lex doesn’t take the bait. He’s done fighting and Lionel begins to fear he’s done living as well.
“Son?”
Finally, Lex responds. “Like I said Dad, you win.”
Lionel looks a little disgusted and flips open his cell phone. “Put her on the phone.” Lex still doesn’t react but Lionel can sense his body tense. “Yes dear, it’s me. I’d like you to say hello to someone for me.”
He offers the phone to Lex, who doesn’t take it at first until he hears the faint sounds of “hello?” coming from it. He snatches the phone from this father.
“Hello?”
“Lex?” Her voice is tired but suddenly hopeful.
“Chloe?” He lets hope rise in his chest until he sees the smile creeping onto his father’s face. “Who is this?” he demands into the phone.
“Lex, it’s me!” She seems desperate for him to believe her and shocked that he might not recognize her voice.
“I don’t know what my father is paying you but this is a cruel joke to be a part of.”
“Lex, it’s me.” Her voice is barely more than a whisper but he recognizes something in it.
“Prove it.” It’s then that she understands. She lets her mind wrap around whom she’s dealing with. The way the Luthors play the game of life would make someone suspect something as simple as a phone call.
“I know what it is you really want from your father.” She practically whispers it to him over the phone.
“Chloe.” Lex sinks deeper into the chair, mostly from relief. The way he says her name says it all.
He believes her. He loves her. He’s glad to know she’s alive.
Maybe life is worth living after all.
Before he can process it all, Lionel snatches the phone away from him. “I want you to sign over everything…all of your stocks, any interests you have in any of the family businesses.” He pauses. “You will no longer have any connection to me or to my business. Is that clear?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re willing to do this?”
“Yes.”
Lex doesn’t even hesitate.
Maybe he should have.
“Son, you disappoint me yet again. What have I told you about weakness?” He raises the phone to his ear and speaks to the man waiting for orders at the other end. “Finish it.”
Lionel smiles down at Lex. He can see the recognition of what’s about to happen spread across his son’s face. “Say goodbye, Lex.”
He clicks the speakerphone button and holds it out for Lex to hear.
“What’s happening? Lex? LEX?!?”
It’s the last thing Lex hears before the sound of a single gunshot echoes through the phone.
Then silence.
Deafening silence.
Lionel snaps his cell phone shut and takes a moment to analyze his son’s reaction.
Except there isn’t one.
Nothing.
Just a blank stare into the cold, empty fireplace.
Lionel shrugs and turns to walk out. “I told you you weren’t ready to play at my level, son. I really do wish, for your sake and for Ms. Sullivan’s, that you would have listened.”
He pauses at the door before exiting. “Don’t forget, Lex, about our board meeting tomorrow morning. I expect to see you there. We have some…well…business to attend to.” He smiles at the form still seated expressionless before the fireplace. “See you then, son.”
Lex doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even look up as his father departs.
The silence is broken by one of the servants sometime later. “Sir, is there anything you need?”
“Yes, I need a bag packed. I have a meeting in Metropolis in the morning so I’ll be staying at the penthouse tonight. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
The servant just nods and leaves the room.
Lex takes one last sip of his drink before rising from his chair and making his way to the desk in the center of the room.
He gathers together papers that have been ignored for over a week and starts placing them in his brief case.
He pauses and looks down at the red folder still left on his desk.
Her folder.
Her folder on his father.
It’s the only thing he has left of her now.
He picks up his cell phone and dials a number he’s put off using for ages.
“It’s been a long time.” The voice at the other end almost sounds amused when it answers.
“It’s time.”
“Really?” The voice seems pleased to hear it.
“Yes.”
“Any particular instructions on this one?”
“No,” Lex takes a deep breath. “Just kill him.”
He snaps the cell shut and holds it for a moment before placing it back on the desk. His fingers then glide across the surface of his desk to the red folder. He touches it slowly, hesitantly, as though it might burn him.
It doesn’t, it welcomes his touch after being ignored for so long.
The thought reminds him of the girl that gave it to him.
He snaps himself out of the memory and snatches up the folder, opening the safe and tossing it in.
He slams the safe shut and leans on outstretched arms against it.
This is goodbye.
Goodbye to the idea that his father could one day love him.
To the hope that there was ever going to be a life for him besides this one.
To the dream of sharing that life with the woman he loved.
Goodbye to the old Lex...the one who loved a girl he knew could be his salvation.
He stands up straight, takes a deep breath and grabs the briefcase from off of his desk.
Hello to the new Lex...the one who accepts that there is nothing left in him to salvage.
***