Delete Redone (PG) Ch. 26, 1/16/2012

[reyeslu]

Romance PG Fanfiction

Alternate turn for Episode 3x11 Delete (Where Clark and Lana tried to kill Chloe after being mind controlled through computer and phone)

I don’t think there is a spoiler warning, but I am assuming that the reader has seen the episode.

Disclaimer: Smallville, the characters therein, and all affiliated copyrighted materials are owned by the WB. This is a work of fanfiction not intended for profit or infringement, only for the pleasure of fans of the series. I’m taking from Barbara Cartland’s novel An Arrow of Love. So I hope y’all like it ’cause I’m not doing this for profit.

Author’s note: So I watched the clip on YouTube where Clark is leaving Chloe at Lex’s and I wanted to change it. And indulge me, let’s pretend that Lex’s automated security is good enough that he can release the staff and still be safe.

Dedicated to all the other authors, because this is my first attempt at contributing.

If you’re on the sidelines thinking about contributing, I hope this is an encouragement.

********

As Chloe and Clark entered the large room, she could not help but stare at the walls covered with magnificent pictures. Maybe if she were exposed to them more frequently she wouldn’t get so distracted, but she wasn’t.

Almost immediately her eyes were drawn to the man who stood in front of a carved stone chimney-piece, waiting for them to walk towards him.

Clark advanced quickly, but Chloe followed slowly. She heard the door shut behind them.

Chloe shut her eyes longer than for a blink, but shorter than she thought would be noticeable. When she opened them Lex’s eyes were on her. Her first thought was that he appeared a fitting owner for the magnificence of the mansion.

He had a presence that was unmistakable and he was in fact very different from what she had expected.

Tall, broad shouldered, his brows knit together in thought, he had, Chloe thought, the face of a Roman general, or conqueror like his namesake Alexander the Great.

There was something imperious about him; something which made him appear as if he must always command and be obeyed.

As her feet carried her over the thick carpet, Chloe noted that while his clothes seemed a part of him, they were in fact distinctive. The meticulously tied black cravat disguised a long neck, but his close fitting shirt suggested an athletic physique. His pants showed narrow hips and long legs which ended in highly polished shoes.

But it was Lex’s face which was most arresting.

Never, Chloe thought had she seen a man so cynical and so aloof. There was not the flicker of a smile on his hard tight mouth, and his eyes under his straight eyebrows seemed to take in every detail of their appearance and looked deeper still, as if he searched for something which could not be found on the surface.

And yet he was definitely good looking. Despite the harsh lines running from his nose to the corners of his lips; despite the almost aggressive firmness of his chin and the expression in his eyes, he was still an exceedingly handsome man.

Clark came to within a few feet of Lex. Chloe stopped a little to the rear of him, still apprehensive of her safety and welcome.

“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, Clark,” Lex said.

His voice, Chloe thought was what she might have expected in this situation: deep and resonant, yet cold and authoritative.

“Yes, Lex,” Clark answered.

Slowly, Lex turned his head to look at Chloe.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

There was a moment’s silence; then stumbling over the word, Clark answered for her, “Terrified.”

Chloe winced.

She was not so terrified that she couldn’t speak for herself. She was searching for the right words to convey her current state.

Somehow “relieved” came to mind, as though being behind the thick walls of the mansion afforded her instant peace. She’d never voice that feeling, especially while her life was still very much in danger.

A text to a maid or a hacked security video under observation of a guard and Chloe could again be fighting for her life. But, right now, in this room, Chloe felt safe.

There was something in the way that Lex looked at her after Clark spoke that made the colour rise on Chloe’s cheeks.

“Thank you, Lex,” Clark interposed, “Chloe is my greatest and dearest friend. She’s in trouble and there was no one else to turn to.”

“Let me make this quite clear from the beginning,” Lex said, “I will do everything in my power to show I deserve your trust. I loathe and detest that this is happening to you Chloe.”

Chloe spoke impulsively, “I am sorry, Lex. I am prepared to behave in every way a guest should and not as a reporter. I am very grateful for your help.”

Lex did not answer, and Clark said hastily, “I am ready to leave, now that Chloe is under your protection.”

Lex looked at Chloe searchingly, as if he was questioning whether they could be left alone. Then he said abruptly, “Chloe, let’s get you settled…” The last word rose as a question and not a command. Clark turned to Chloe.

Quite suddenly she felt it was impertinence that these men, especially Lex, however grand he might be, to treat her like a fragile porcelain doll.

She lifted her chin a little as she spoke. “I am confident that we will soon find the doctor, Molly, and whoever else is behind these attacks and in the meantime I would like to get some rest.”

Quickly, Chloe dropped her eyes so that Lex should not see the anger in them. She was at his mercy. ‘What right has he,’ she thought, ‘to consider that I am or am not coping.’ Clark was his friend. Lex hardly knew her. Then hastily she told herself, for her father’s sake, she must not antagonize him. She longed to retort that she at least was not concussed which Lex, had he been in this situation, most likely would have been.

As if he realized the useless emotional conflict brewing, Lex stated, “In the circumstance, Chloe will stay in a room near me. It might be advisable that I give instructions to the staff that Chloe’s status is a guest but under discretion.” Lex put out his hand towards Chloe, but deftly turned it and placed it on Clark’s shoulder. “Let’s keep each other informed.”

It was understood that Lex was giving Chloe and opening to voice her opinion.

Her reply, “Show me the way to the sanctuary.”

An agreement had been reached and a temporary ceasefire emplaced.

*****
Well folks at this point I’d be taking it way AU because Chloe stays overnight and maybe a little more out of character. Let me know if I should go on. otherwise I can just move this as a one shot to episode rewrites. Thanks

[lexie]

Check out the PM I've sent you to edit the title of the thread according to the forums' regulations. *wink*

Glad you jumped on the wagon and hope others will soon follow your lead.

[Rachet]

It will be interesting to see where you take this.

[reyeslu]

A/N: Here's where I start my world, so long canon

Ch. 2

After a restless night’s sleep, Chloe had woken to a slow but firm knock on the bedroom door.

A glance at her cellphone, which she had fallen asleep gripping waiting for the all-clear call from Clark that never came, told Chloe it was 10 am on a Saturday.
A moment more and the previous night came back to her.

She didn’t have a change of clothes and Lex had given her one of his t-shirts, a sweater, and drawstring pants to wear. She’d rolled the pants legs and felt comfortable… given the situation.

The room she was given had a private bath that was stocked better than any hotel she had been to. The shower she’d taken before sleeping had lessened the tension she felt, thanks to whoever invented aroma therapy and anything plush. She’d worn to bed the plush slipper socks she found with the robe.

Another knock brought her back to the present.

“Oh, who is it?” Chloe addressed the knocker from bed, hesitant to leave the relative security that the down comforter lent.

An impatient single word reply came through the wood, “Lex.”
‘oh.’ She sprung out the bed, but only opened the door part way. Half hiding behind it, and half inviting him in.

She was covered in more fabric than she usually wore in public, but she still felt awkwardly exposed.

Chloe could not help feeling glad that she had used the strong mouthwash the night before.

Lex stayed in the hallway, but his presence filled the large room.
He stared at a spot on her forehead. “The staff is gone to lower chances of brainwashed assassins, but Clark dropped off some of Martha’s baked goods and I have a pot of coffee brewing.”

“It has happened in the past that I enjoy those particular things,” Chloe quipped, “I’m ready now if you don’t mind bed head.”

His reply was to smirk slightly and take a half step back to demonstrate his intention on leading her.

Finally, when they seemed to have walked for miles, Lex and Chloe reached the kitchen where the aroma of Martha’s bites of heaven and decadent ambrosia like coffee greeted them.

‘Why do I feel so relaxed first thing in the morning without a single cup in me?” Chloe mused to herself.

Out loud she joked, “Can you not predict that after this service from the Talon owner himself anything less personal will seem like imitation.”

“Co-Owner, and you’re always welcome to drop by for some coffee, Chloe. I can’t eat everything that Martha sends or fit enough exercise into my schedule.”

Chloe solemnly replied having been reminded unintentionally of her reason for being there at all, “Thank you, Lex.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I know, but I’m just so grateful.”

Lex shushed her by waving a freshly filled mug under her nose. “Maybe I’m benefitting as well. I’m finally getting to help a friend.”

Looking over the rim of the mug as she took a tentative sip, their eyes locked.

“I don’t want to be rude, Lex, but I am happy at being here, even it is theatrical.”

“If only the danger were an illusion, Chloe. What is happening here is very real.”

“And yet to the outside world, it would seem very unreal,” Chloe argued.

“Clearly, I don’t concern myself with the outside world too much otherwise you wouldn’t be safe here.”

Chloe didn’t want to think how sad that sounded and felt she better change directions, the quicker the better. “Shall I tell you a secret? I had a feeling that this would be happening.”

Lex had settled himself onto a bar stool at the counter and Chloe had perched herself at the edge of the counter. Both within arm’s length to the food and drink, but her words had them forgotten.

“You must tell me what you mean,” Lex began, “was it a premonition?”

“In a way,” she said in a low voice starting to regret her choice of topic, “before when someone I loved was in danger I had a feeling… an awareness…or when something tragic was about to happen.”

“What sort of feeling is it?” Lex asked curiously

“I cannot explain it,” Chloe replied, “I only know that in my mind…and perhaps in my heart…that it is there. It is so strong, so vivid, that I cannot escape from it. And well, I do love myself too…so I felt it.”

Having sensed her sudden shyness or a desire to avoid silly abstract discussions, Lex started to shift his questioning, “Well, I believe that we must do as much as possible to relieve you of that current weight. Let’s start some research.”

Gone was the companion Lex, business Lex was in control.

[Rachet]

I'm glad to see that you updated so soon. Is this you first fic ever or just here?

[reyeslu]

Hi Ratchet, First ever anywhere, but my family shares a computer so I had these two parts written down, but only got to type the first part. Posted it. Gave the computer away. Stayed up to type and post the second part. It won't be coming that fast because now I'm going AU. Hope you hang in there.

[Zannie]

I'm so glad you decided to write and post something! We need as many writers as possible still doing Chlex!

I always thought there was so much potential for Chlex in Delete, so it's a fantastic moment to spin off into a story.


Lex shushed her by waving a freshly filled mug under her nose.

I love this line - it's a pitch-perfect visual.

Thanks for posting!

[reyeslu]

Ch. 3
***Last night***

After Lex had shown Chloe to her room, he prepared for bed. As he was with most things he was neat and efficient.

As he sat in bed, he made a phone call. “Have you found them?”

The man on the other end of the line stiffened though he could not be seen. “Yes, sir,” came the quick reply.

“Have they agreed?”

“The doctor has, sir. But she will require further persuading,” the man held his breath waiting to be reprimanded or threatened by his taciturn employer.

Instead Lex proceeded with another question, “What about Kent?”

“He found the evidence of them fleeing the country as lovers. He should be contacting you shortly,” some of the pressure from the man’s chest loosened as he was able to convey some news that should please his domineering boss.

“I’ll call tomorrow at 8. Get the doctor and our new technician working by then,” Lex effectively dismissed the man.

“Yes, sir.”

Just as that call ended, Lex received a call from Clark. Where Lex had fired questions on the last call and had the other man fearful of him, Lex knew that in this conversation he would need to be dependent on Clark who was leading the investigation while Lex kept Chloe company.

“Lex, they’re gone,” Clark let out in a heavy breath. He squeezed the phone tightly nearly crushing it. He had failed Chloe.

“Gone?” Lex was sure to mix disbelief and anxiety.

“Yes, Lex. It looks like they’ve fled the country.” Clark reported, upset that he had not been able to speed ahead because Lex had insisted his team assist him. Clark liked that Lex had put him in charge of these men, but he was frustrated feeling that he could have caught the doctor and Molly on his own if he could of just used his powers.

“What do my men say?” Lex pressured Clark to continue so that he could get some sleep.

“That they’ll continue the search, but that it’s unlikely they’ll find them. Molly has wiped all traces of them. We only figured they left the country when your contacts at the FBI said facial recognition caught them boarding an international flight.”

“Dammit, Clark, we’ll get them.”

“Lex, what do we tell Chloe,” Clark needed Lex’s guidance.

Lex paused, acting as if he didn’t already have a solution, “We’ll let her rest for now. Pass by around 9 with your mom’s daily delivery and we’ll talk then. You get some rest. I’ve got two experienced men with my resources working on this.”

“Thanks Lex, for everything. ‘Bye.”

“Don’t thank me yet. See you tomorrow.”

Lex laid in his bed. What could have been a regular day had become quite profitable. Lex knew if any of his Smallville companions knew of his plans they would condemn him. But it needed to be done. Lex was at war with the devil himself and he needed to be prepared.

He’d wake up at 7 and finalize the details, but he was sure that by noon tomorrow Chloe would be eternally grateful to him, Clark would undoubtedly trust him without reserve, and his army of researchers would have two new specialist added to the ranks.

***Back to the present***
Chloe and Lex made their way to the Library where the sun was already streaming into its many windows. The pictures caught her attention again, but then it dawned on her, Clark had passed by but not updated her. ‘Keeping each other informed?!’ She had been worrying about Lex, but she had been sneakily distracted also. She abruptly sat down next to Lex on the couch where he had set up an impromptu joint workstation for them.

“Lex? What did they find last night? And did Clark mention why he didn’t call?”

Here is where Lex showed the training of his father. He schooled his features to be mostly calm and only slightly overwhelmed.

“When Clark passed by, you were in deep sleep…you were snoring…” This garnered the reaction he wanted. She flushed with embarrassment and tried to change the topic.

“So, did they find them? Can I go home? I know you said we were doing research, but surely your team would be better suited?”

So clever, just one of the qualities he found admirable in her. “Chloe, I have some good news and I have some bad news. Which would you prefer?”

“The bad news first, who eats candy only to follow it with medicine? Lex you’re worrying me.”

“Clark didn’t catch them. The FBI apprehended them in Canada this morning, but Chloe, because Doctor Garner had been funded partially by the government they can’t afford to bring him to trial without disrupting a lot of jobs.”
Chloe longed to interrupt him, ‘but what about the patients? I can’t bear to think of another Ryan out there.’

As though reading her mind, Lex continued, “Instead they’ll be contracting Summerholt management to LexCorp.”

Anticipating her next thought, Lex further explained, “Molly had been institutionalized before. A case can’t be built that wouldn’t result in her pleading insanity. So, they’re putting her in a higher level secured facility, but this time she won’t be released.”

Chloe quietly absorbed this. She nodded, prepared for more. Unsure if there was more news.

Lex, taking her hand, described the purpose of their research. “I thought that while we made sure that Molly hasn’t created any other assassins, you and I could find a suitable supervisor for Dr. Garner.”

“So it’s over? I’m safe?” Chloe asked unbelieving her good fortune. She gripped his hand.

Careful to use the term ‘we’ which really meant his team, Lex affirmed Chloe and underscored his importance in her rescue. “We’re checking all transmissions made by Molly now, but once that’s clear, You are safe.”

Chloe didn’t say anything, so Lex wasn’t prepared when she effusively hugged him. They made a strange pair on the couch. Chloe in her borrowed wardrobe and Lex in his version of casual wear. And it just turned 11. He was ahead of schedule.

[reyeslu]

Zannie, Thank you, your review inspired this outpouring, because you are one of the authors I love to follow.

[hfce]

Lex you know you like that hug. LOL! Things are getting interesting with them. :)

[Rachet]

I can see Lex having his day planned out like that. Hope to read more soon.

[reyeslu]

***
A/N: I love Pete. So I had to put him in. Let’s say Chloe knows about Pete’s racing already.


Ch. 4
***Sunday Morning***
‘Go back to sleep.’ Chloe tried to will herself back to REM. Her alarm hadn’t gone off but she was wide awake. The bed was so comfy, she wasn’t too hot or too cold, why couldn’t she go back to sleep?

It was bad luck that as she rolled over onto her stomach that she glanced at the clock.

‘Ugh.’ It was too early to get up and too late to go back to sleep.

Rolling back to lay flat on her back, Chloe decided to take the time before breakfast with Lex to think back over the past few days.
The weekend was passing quickly. She didn’t know where the feeling was coming from, but Chloe didn’t want her stay at the mansion to be over…just yet.

Saturday afternoon Chloe was able to pick up some items from home. Lex’s team hadn’t completed their sweep through Molly’s equipment and needed more time.

Lex graciously insisted she stay until the job was done.

Her father firmly agreed.

As Lex’s second-in-command, Gabe couldn’t detach himself from electronics and so had stayed at their cozy home.

The ride there was conspicuous in Smallville.

Clark had offered to bring her home in the same truck he nearly ran her down in. Chloe was understandably reluctant to accept and was glad that Pete had offered first. She could spend time with her other best friend and Clark couldn’t take offense.

Chloe bemoaned that the Ross’s didn’t own a tank, because that would have been the only way her dad would have let her go without Lex’s security team. So, Pete had driven Chloe sandwiched between two obnoxiously large SUVs.

The only reason a guard wasn’t in the car with Pete and Chloe was Pete’s racing skills. When infected with the parasite, he became famous for his speed. To refresh Lex’s memory, Pete had shown off in mansion’s drive way.

Chloe couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

Before Pete had arrived, Chloe had been arguing with Lex that Pete could get them out of danger faster than Jimmie Johnson. However knowing how futile it was to simply verbally persuade Lex, Chloe and Pete had set up a plan. After all, wherever Luthors were involved, actions spoke louder than words.

Pete easily won the argument by honking his horn some distance from the mansion. And Chloe moved Lex to window facing the gate. The guards weren’t due to arrive for another 15 minutes. More than enough time to demonstrate Pete’s skills, convince Lex that Pete wasn’t infected again, and let Lex formulate a new plan minus the guard in Pete’s car.

As Pete got closer to the mansion he picked up speed. Lex merely arched an eyebrow at Chloe. That single eyebrow encapsulated the question, “And?”

In reply, Chloe pointed her finger indicating the show was only beginning.
Pete was traveling at well over 80 mph when he suddenly turned a u turn staying on the road, but instead of driving away, he began in reverse to approach the mansions entrance in a right to left “s-turn.” Performing another U-turn, Pete maneuvered the car forwards beginning to donut, once, twice, a third time, then swiftly drifted to the gates stopping near enough to squeeze a single yellow rose through the open window of the car and past the bars of the gate.

Chloe couldn’t help but applaud and barely held in the giggle as Lex let out his breath.

Chloe pushed the gate’s remote control opening them wide and proceeded to politely drag Lex to the front door as Pete met them at the front steps of the mansion.

Pete sauntered up to Chloe, picking her up and swinging her around. They may be near the same height, but Pete sure had a lifetime of being the youngest of several brothers …and one sister.

Gently placing Chloe on the ground, Pete smiled at the Luthor that had been protecting Chloe. The two men quickly shook hands. Before a word was said, Pete turned around and both Chloe and him pointed to the back of his neck indicating no parasite had crawled in and bestowed, again, the lack of control that had almost killed Chloe and himself a year ago.

Lex was the first to speak in a surprisingly tight voice. Chloe accounted it to the recent near demolition of his expensive gate. “Mr. Ross, I-“

Pete interrupted, “Lex, just call me Pete.”

At Lex’s undisguised look of surprise, Pete explained, “You’ve kept Chloe safe from yet another psychopath.”

Lex settled back into control and continued, “Well, Pete. Your exhibition has proven what Chloe was saying. You are better than any Hollywood stunt car performer. Allow me to formulate an adjustment to the plan. Perhaps you and Chloe would like to go to the study where the security team will be meeting in …” Lex glanced at his watch, “in 7 minutes.”

Chloe squeezed Lex’s hand in silent thanks and practically skipped to the study swinging her yellow rose with Pete slightly drifting behind.

Behind their backs Lex slightly shook his head as he entered his office. Surely Pete knew Chloe’s favorite flowers were tulips. Yellow roses represent friendship. Perhaps, the path to having a more substantial place in the lives of his Smallville companions would be smoother than he had anticipated.
***
The convoy had been allowed to leave Lex’s sight after Pete, Lex, and the security team had discussed the route, an emergency plan, and installed into Pete’s car what could only be called a military grade communication system complete with frequency jumping.

Chloe was impatient to see her dad. She was confident that Pete, a born and bred Smallville local, knew the roads better than any high price GPS. She just wanted to get on the road. What should be a simple drive instead was being treated as a fighting mission.

While the mansion’s structure was impressive and its treasures priceless, it lacked the familiarity of being in her own room…although she wouldn’t object to keeping the bed she’d slept in.

Pete kept her laughing on the short drive. She was still laughing as her dad had squeezed her close the second she walked in the front door.

Gabe had dedicated his life to Chloe’s happiness. That she always seemed to be in danger lately was noticeably aging him.

Chloe felt guilty for putting him through this again.

As much as he wanted to keep Chloe within arm’s reach, Gabe wouldn’t be the one to keep her safe from this danger.

Pete carried Chloe’s bag to the car as she and her dad said goodbye.

Gabe pulled back from one last hug and held Chloe’s face.

The cherubim looking up at him was his greatest pride and joy. He wanted to say so much, but he only said what came naturally to him, “I love you, Chloe.”

Chloe gave a blindingly happy smile and replied whole heartedly, “I love you too, dad,” and because it had only been the two of them for so long she added, “I understand, dad.”

Chloe felt protective towards her father, almost as if he was a child and she was the stronger of the two.

In reality, Gabe Sullivan was a smart independent man and had raised his daughter in his own image.

“It is all right, dad,” Chloe found herself saying, “Do not worry about anything.”
***
Only when she was back in her room at the mansion did Chloe evaluate her feelings.

On one hand she was pleased with what she had been able to accomplish.

While Dr. Garner wasn’t in jail, he was under close supervision working and living at the institute which Lex was now managing.

She had helped Lex select another medical researcher to handle the day-to-day operations. The scientist replacing Dr. Garner was renowned for her ethical practice and brilliant with the intricate mechanics of the human mind.

Molly was also put away for good.

Lex gave Chloe access to his contacts so that she could unashamedly check on Molly’s whereabouts at any time, which she had done several times already.

Chloe was sure the need to check would lessen with time, but something inside of her told her something was still wrong.

She couldn’t ignore it.

She didn’t feeling anything or anyone in particular. Just that things still weren’t settled.

It was a feeling that had shadowed her since she had decided to turn against Lionel. Anyone in her position would feel that way, but her sixth sense only set off alarms at imminent physical danger.

***
A/N 2: I also sneaked in a reference to a celebrity I saw on the Sexy’s new show Breaking In. Does anyone else get mushy thinking of the matchbook house Dutch/the Sexy made as a gift?
A/N 3: I hoped I pleased some folks by putting a little Gabe, too. But it’s only a little, because I get all weepy at the father-daughter relationship.

[Rachet]

Thanks for the update. I loved all of the sweet things that Dutch did on the show. he is a total ass and as soon as you think you should hate him he did something so sweet it gave you a tooth ache.

[cbrunberg]

great story can't wait to see what happens

[Zannie]

I like how you're developing the plot - it's building nicely in intensity. And I'm glad you worked Gabe and Pete into the story. I love Gabe. And I've never quite gotten a handle on Pete's character so I almost never use him in stories (I actually forget about him half the time), but it's nice to see him show up here.


They made a strange pair on the couch. Chloe in her borrowed wardrobe and Lex in his version of casual wear.

This is just such a cute image - love it!

Thanks for posting this story!

[hfce]

Go with your instincts Chloe. :)

[FarrahLea]

This is a great story! Love your plot and can't wait to see where you go from here. Thanks for sharing!:D

[reyeslu]

A/N: I’ve been working on this and I hope it shows. Just a reminder the Pete and Gabe Sullivan scenes happened as a memory so Chloe is still in bed on Sunday morning unable to go back to sleep before breakfast with the Sexy. Could you go back to sleep if you were going to have breakfast with the Sexy? Didn’t think so.
Ch. 5
***Still Sunday Morning***
Chloe had a feeling that someone called her. She turned a lamp on by her bed-side. Slipping the now familiar plush robe on, she opened the door to the hallway, but when she looked out it was obvious that no one but her was up.

‘It must have been a dream,’ Chloe thought.

Very quietly she shut the door and walked back towards her bed.

It seemed to her that the room was stuffy.

At home she always slept with her windows wide open.

She walked to the window nearest the bed and pulled aside the curtain. Gripping the casement, she pushed up on the window. Despite being large, the window easily slid open and she opened it completely.

Chloe looked out and drew in her breath, filling her lungs with cool early morning air.

It was the time of day when sunlight was creeping over the horizon, but the stars were still bright. The moon was pale against the pink sky playing peek-a-boo behind some clouds.

Chloes gaze scanned the mansion’s expansive grounds. Her window overlooked the gardens. The classic design looked ethereal and beautiful in the morning light. It was too early in the year for flowers, but everything smelled fresh. The fountains were not playing, but the water in their basins were shining silver in the light from the sky.

‘It is all so lovely,’ Chloe said to herself.

Suddenly she noticed a faint movement on the horizon and leaned further out the window to see what it was. She thought at first it was a plane and she wondered if they were that close to the airport. Then she saw that it was not an airplane flying, but a helicopter, a helicopter getting closer with every passing second.

There were only two reasons helicopters flew in Smallville. The first is a medical emergency. The second and, most likely considering its direction to the mansion, was the transport of a Luthor. Since Lex was in the room next door, only one person, one man, would be on board, her former benefactor, Lionel “the magnificent bastard” Luthor.

She watched in surprise as the blinking lights grew closer. Finally, as though the whirring blades were blowing her in the face, she was propelled back into the room.

Chloe wondered for a moment if Lex was expecting his father, but immediately thrust the idea away. Suddenly, she knew she had to warn Lex. The helicopter was still some distance away.

His father’s impromptu visits never brought good news. Like a lightning flash, before her resolve could weaken, Chloe opened her bedroom door and started to run to the room next door.

As she knocked on Lex’s door, she realized she might be present for a Luthor confrontation.

The hallway was dim since the only light came from the window at the end of the corridor. Chloe wondered feverishly if she was being dramatic. Then she recognized the sound of someone moving in the room. She thought frantically that there was no time to go back to her room before Lex would open the door. While the servants had been scheduled to return for breakfast, she didn’t doubt Lex would know she was the one that pounded on his door.

Lex opened his bedroom door and quickly pulled Chloe in the room shutting the door and locking it behind them.

“How many are there?” Lex asked in an urgent whisper.

Only as she turned to face him did Chloe realize the conclusion Lex had reached about her coming to his room. He thought somebody was in the house to kill her.

It was impossible to see his face since his curtains were still closed and he hadn’t turned on any lights.

There was something incongruous with the situation. He was trying to rescue her while she was trying to warn him.

Only when she tried to speak did she realize she was breathless making it difficult to speak. Realizing that he was tensely waiting, she bent forward and put her hand in the direction of where she thought his shoulder might be.

Instead, her fingers grazed cool metal.

Chloe instinctively stood paralyzed with terror. Lex was holding a gun.

For a moment it seemed as if he looked at her in the darkness. The tightening in her gut reminded her of her purpose.

“Lex, …your dad is coming!” Chloe faltered.

“My dad?” he asked.

“Well, I saw a helicopter on its way, and I assumed…”she dropped off not knowing what else to say.

Lex moved so swiftly that Chloe couldn’t anticipate where he was headed.

It was the action of a man trained to focus on his objective.

One moment he was so close she could feel his body heat. The next second he had vanished in the dark room.

Chloe’s eye caught a glowing light in her peripheral vision. Lex had grabbed his cellphone and was making a call.

In the faint light of the cell, Chloe could see that Lex looked at her. Her eyes travelled over him making out that he wore no shirt, only silky pajama bottoms. He held the phone to his ear in his left hand. In his right hand she could barely see it, but Lex was holding a large hand gun.

Lex spoke harshly into the phone, “Is my father on his way here in a helicopter?”

Lex listened to the reply nodding in grim determination.

Chloe pressed both her hands against her breast as if to check the tumult of her heart.

Lex ended the call and brought the phone down to his side. His eyes stable on Chloe, he turned on a lamp thus breaking the increasing tempo of her heart. The halo of light didn’t reach beyond them into the darkness. They might have been in any other room and not his bedroom. Lex directed her, “You must go,” his voice completely indifferent.

Chloe drew in her breath disturbing the still room and with tremendous effort walked towards the door, but as she reached it, Lex was there before her.

“I mean to your room, Chloe,” Lex said quietly. Searching her eyes and finding the hurt she tried to hide by dropping her gaze, he patiently explained, “I don’t know why he’s come or how long he’ll be here. I’m sure he’ll be aware of your presence here. Will you face him with me?”

At the last sentence she looked up at him. He seemed very tall and commanding even in his state of undress, but even though there was some light from the lamp, it was hard to see the expression on his face, but he could see hers and something he observed made him say, “Thank you. Remember when you see him that you know what he is and you are better.”

“I…will… remember,” Chloe tried to answer. She stepped past Lex into the passage outside and heard his door close behind her.

Then she was running nearly as swiftly as before, back to her own bedroom. When she reached it, she crossed the floor to look out the window to see where the helicopter was.

The sun was brightening the sky and it was hard to look in its direction. Then as she looked and went on looking, she was almost sure that there, that was it, the bringer of bum fortune. Resolutely, Chloe pulled her curtains close as if to stave off the impending trouble.

At a much slower pace Chloe began to get ready for the day. She knew it was what Lex expected of her. This would not be the comfortable coffee and sweets of yesterday morning. It was going to more of battle than a meal.

Chloe was certain that Lex was thinking of her feelings when he agreed that she would meet his father with him. She would be a liability, but she needed to face him.

It would have been difficult to give a plausible explanation of why Lex and she were up early together. So she would go down at the previously scheduled 9 a.m.

Would Lex be dressed by the time his father touched ground she wondered. Maybe even meet him at the landing pad? She somehow fancied that he might do so; and yet the other Luthor was so unpredictable. Lionel had been careful to arrive early. Perhaps he had planned to be at the breakfast table waiting for them.

Surprisingly, although she had so much to think about, Chloe did smile with glee as the waterfall shower head streamed hot water washing away some of the tension.
***
Lex was able to get dressed and meet his father, but not at the helipad.
Lex was in his office, seated behind his desk, in the position of power.

Lionel walked in breezily, only slightly taken aback at seeing Lex. Lionel quickly recovered, but Lex having caught it raised a brow. Lex leaned further back into his chair not bothering to stand or offer his father a seat. The man would do as he wished anyways.

They stared in silence, their eyes as cold as marble, neither willing to give anything, even a minor hint, away.

Lionel sat down across from Lex adjusting his posture to match Lex’s. Matching or mirroring the person you are speaking to shows subconscious agreement. But with Lionel, it was much planned. Lex put up further defenses looking for the smooth persuasive side of Lionel that was present at social functions. Lex wouldn’t allow himself to be bamboozled like some self-satisfied society slut.

“Good Morning, my son,” Lionel smiled.

Lex measured his options: to play along or get the man out of here as quickly as possible?

Lex had thought Chloe could handle this monster’s presence, but being in the same room as Lionel assaulted Lex’s senses. The man was an acrid manipulative fiend. He had tempted Chloe, a teenager, when a person is their most confused, and had used her. Lionel had ordered Gabe Sullivan’s dismissal, but Lex had stood up to that gauntlet. Lex’s leverage had been Lucas and the few members of the Luthor Corp. board that sided against his father.

Lex made up his mind at the thought of Gabe Sullivan. Lex owed it to his employees to get as much back for them as he could. Toeing the line for now would benefit them the most at the moment. Chloe may not get the pound of flesh just yet, but she would get to flex her verbal acumen at breakfast.

“It is a good morning, dad.” Lex answered Lional physically by placing his hands on his knees as Lionel himself was seated.

“I hear LexCorp has a government contract,” Lionel laid bare the purpose of his visit. Just like that.

Lex proceeded cautiously, “I saw the opportunity. Luthor Corp isn’t in the habit of turning down government money.”

Lionel looked amused, “I just wanted to remind you that as a subsidiary of Luthor Corp, LexCorp now has a reputation to uphold and a profit margin to increase. A mental institution doesn’t reflect well on either.” Lionel’s lilting tone misdirected the course of the discussion.

To an outsider, it would appear that Lionel was questioning Lex’s decision, but to Lex, a lifetime of living under this man’s thumb had given him further insight. Lionel knew all about the deal and would be watching it closely. Lionel may not know Lex’s intention with the institute yet, but Lionel just made it clear that he would find out and if need be, put a stop to it.

Lex counted ‘one Mississippi’ before moving languidly to toss to Lionel’s side of the desk a portfolio printed for the occasion. Leaning back, Lex replied, “It’s a stable research facility and I’ve just recruited two more experts in their field to the project.” Silently to himself he added ‘and one murderous but inventive computer engineer.’

Lionel didn’t even reach for the portfolio. “Lex,” he began in a silky tone, “I know all this. I just wanted to offer my expertise in your transactions. I’m not quite sure you’re ready to diversify out of the industrial farming sector of Luthor Corp.”

Lex refrained from wincing by counting ‘two Mississippi.’

“Dad,” Lex parsed his words to gauge Lionel’s reaction to them, “I had no idea that you would take a personal interest. I had been informed in a memo that you had delegated all LexCorp executive responsibilities to the VP of the Metropolis branch.”

That Lionel had been so reckless with the management of LexCorp had initially stung Lex’s pride, but Lex had turned it to his advantage by turning the young VP to his side. Lex was the future. Lionel was becoming too bold in his personal transactions. The younger and most of the older executives were turning to Lex.

While Lex’s initial attempt to professionally rebel against his father with LexCorp had financially failed, professionally, he had gained numerous allies against Lionel. Lex demonstrated that he was willing to go against his father. And unless Lionel changed his will, Lex stood to inherit it all. Anyone with eyes in the right places and ears in better places knew it was only a matter of time before Lionel would disgrace himself and have to turn the reins over to Lex or Lionel’s dirty secrets would catch up with him and land him in jail and have to turn the reins over to Lex. Lex was prepared for this inevitability.

Before the meteor shower, Lex had shadowed his father during school holidays. After the meteor shower and before his teenage rampages, Lex had been assigned to follow other executives, even on weekends.

While Lionel had mentored Lex on ruthless pursuit of assets, it was the other executives that taught Lex the true skills of manipulating those assets into cohesive members of one huge corporation. Research could happen in one state, testing across the country on another coast, production of parts across continents, assembly in cheap labor countries, and sales in another hemisphere. It went on and on.

Lionel was a master at getting, but Lex was a genius at keeping.

Lionel considered sweeping everything from Lex to Lucas, but he was proud of what he had created in Lex and still wanted a cultured legacy. Lucas would never be that. Lucas was more of an Oliver Queen. Lionel mentally shuddered at the thought. But Lex still had to suffer. Lionel wouldn’t just give up control. It would have to be pried from his cold dead hands, which through the marvel of science would be for some decades.

Presently gratified that this concourse had met his desired conclusion, Lionel changed his thoughts more towards his base desires or rather that of his son’s. “I understand that my Miss Sullivan has stayed here two nights in a row.”

Lex was prepared for Lionel to have this knowledge. What Lionel expected out of bringing it up was the unknown quantity.

Lex acknowledged the accuracy with a stiff nod. He dissuaded himself from correcting his father on the ‘my Miss Sullivann’ by counting ‘three Mississippi.’

Lex would not be baited to defend his actions. The mansion was his domain. Lionel was the intruder.
*****
A/N 2: I hope the mental image of a shirtless Sexy is enough compensation for stopping there.

[cbrunberg]

good chapter.and the metal image of shirtless sext helps but is not enough compensation.can't wat for next chapter

[hfce]

Great update. I can't wait to see what happens when Chloe shows up. :)

[reyeslu]

A/N: Thank you for letting me know how I'm doing. All writing already is political. So thanks for persuading. Please point out any successes/failures because that's how we get better. I've been trying to refer to canon as accurately as possible but I don't have a memory of episodes to refer to, only what's for free on the interweb. If people have posted sources on another thread, feel free to direct me there. I wish my muse would hurry up and get to the meeting of lips and minds, but we're not there yet.

Ch. 6


***When we last left Smallville…****
Presently gratified that this concourse had met his desired conclusion, Lionel changed his thoughts more towards his base desires or rather that of his son’s. “I understand that my Miss Sullivan has stayed here two nights in a row.”

Lex was prepared for Lionel to have this knowledge. What Lionel expected out of bringing it up was the unknown quantity.

Lex acknowledged the accuracy with a stiff nod. He dissuaded himself from correcting his father on the ‘my Miss Sullivann’ by counting ‘three Mississippi.’

Lex would not be baited to defend his actions. The mansion was his domain. Lionel was the intruder.

*****Simultaneously, In Chloe’s bedroom suite****

Chloe was glad her hair had decided to behave today. Fortunately, she had grabbed some makeup when she was home yesterday afternoon. It was never a good idea to meet Lionel without some sort of mask on.

She looked herself over. Turning one way and then another in front of the long mirror. The green dress had been a last minute decision. She was tired of wearing jeans in the castle. Thinking the background deserved a more ladylike appearance, oh, A Princess Alright, she had packed it. It was flattering but not entirely practical so she covered her arms with a long-sleeve white knit bolero that tied in front accentuating her chest. Considering she hadn’t planned on leaving the castle again today she had brought a pair of strappy wedges that she rarely wore since pretty shoes and farms don’t mix.

The illusion she was putting together was completed by the necklace glittering around her neck. It was a simple gold chain with an angel pendant. A gift from her father, it gave her strength.

“Keep us safe,” Chloe prayed now, “please…God…look after us and protect us…and let me be strong… show me how I can help Lex…I feel so helpless.”

As she prayed she closed her eyes, and suddenly it seemed to her as if in the quietness of the bathroom a voice said: “Give him Love.”

It was so clear, so insistent, that Chloe felt the words had actually been spoken aloud.

“But how?” she asked in her heart, “How can I?”

“Love him-Love him.” The words were there in her mind echoing and re-echoing almost like music coming from a piano.

Chloe smiled. Then with a serious look on her face she walked down the stairs to breakfast.

***In Lex’s office***

The two men continued to stare at each other evaluating their opponent.

Lex was unsure if he should waste time till 9 with reasons for Chloe’s presence or invite the man directly down to breakfast.

It was 8:30 now. Even if they started immediately they should still be there when Chloe arrived.

“I am in the habit of extending hospitality, dad. For instance, would you care to join Chloe and me at breakfast?”

“I wouldn’t turn down a coffee with Miss Sullivan. Shall we proceed now or wait till 9?” Lionel airily replied.

Lex mentally recoiled. A person in his employ was also in his father’s.

Lex glanced at his watch to think. Chloe wouldn’t be caught unaware at Lionel’s presence and Lex was feeling tired battling his father. It seemed a lifetime ago that all Lex had ever wanted was a loving relationship with the barely recognizable man seated across from. Even sitting at breakfast would be a power struggle. If he and his father both moved for the head of the table it would be discomforting. But Lex had no yearning to continue discussing Chloe without her present. “I believe Miss Sullivan wouldn’t begrudge us sustenance. Let’s head there now.”

Father and son rose from their chairs at the same time and walked towards the breakfast room together. They were in step the whole way. The walk was short and silent.

They arrived to see Chloe already seated at the table with her back to the windows and facing the doors. She occupied the seat to the left of the head. She had been holding the newspaper in front of her face, but at their entrance she lowered it, folded it, and put it to the side. She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and said, “Good morning, gentlemen.” Her gaze shifted directly onto Lex, “I hope it wasn’t presumptive of me, but I instructed that breakfast be prepared immediately.”

The men rounded the table. It was a clever play by Chloe to address Lex and place her hand near the head of the table at the same time. She had effectively reserved the head of the table for him. He appreciated the display she made before him leaning towards him, but quickly took his seat so that Lionel didn’t get to admire her as well.

She wasn’t being provocative, but territorial. It enchanted him none the less. He had many allies, but few friends willing to openly oppose his father. In fact, she was the only friend willing to stand by him that way.

Lex highly doubted that Clark would get involved. Jonathon Kent preferred to keep his family out of all things Luthor and begrudgingly allowed his son’s friendship with Lex. Mentally shaking himself back to the present, Lex noticed that Chloe had already prepared his coffee. He tasted it, liking how it slid down his throat. She had made it just like he had yesterday morning.

A small hand underneath the table squeezed his knee. With his free hand he squeezed it back.

Before anyone could speak, the trays of food began to arrive. The dishes had been prepared family style. A plate of biscuits, a gravy boat, bacon, and sausage occupied one tray, another held pancakes with syrups and three types of eggs: sunny side-up, scrambled, and hard boiled. A third tray was an elaborate fruit tray with peeled kiwi, sliced melons, and berries arranged artfully. The last tray held toast, croissants, butter and jellies for those that preferred a more continental breakfast.

The Luthors weren’t use to saying grace, but the weekend had taught Lex that the Sullivans were.

Lex reached one hand out to Chloe who took it and they both reached out to Lionel who, charmed by the gesture took both offered hands.

Lionel looked expectantly at Lex as he was the head of the table and Chloe looked at Lex because it was his turn.

Still unaccustomed to praying before eating, Lex bowed his head and began from childhood memory, “Bless, Oh Lord, this bounty we are about to receive. Amen.”

Lionel’s hand tightened imperceptibly. Lillian had taught him that prayer. It was a tradition that had been forgotten along with reading by the fire and picnics in the garden.

Everyone filled their plates saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as items were passed around. When the servants left, an uneasy energy filled the air. Would they continue to enjoy the meal or continue their attacks?

Lex would prefer a respite no matter how temporary, but he deferred to Chloe. She wanted to face Lionel. Only it appeared she hadn’t made her decision on whether to pursue assailing or not.

Lionel was the first to speak, “Miss Sullivan, I’m glad you had the foresight to order breakfast be prepared earlier. I will need to leave right after we eat.”

Lionel’s announcement relieved the uneasiness in the room like a broken dam drained of its water.

This could give Chloe a deadline to blitz Lionel or a countdown to when she could be rid of the sight of him.

Lex continued to eat, but observed Chloe. She paused in eating setting her knife and fork down. Reaching for her pendant and fingering it, she seemed to have come to an accord. While Lionel and she had conducted business at the mansion, it was currently her sanctuary. Lex saw the two emotions warring on her face, as could Lionel.

Chloe reached for her coffee and took a fortifying sip. Taking digs at Lionel would serve no purpose except to further antagonize an already volatile beast. No Chloe needed information. The man loved himself, his ego never got enough attention and that was his Achilles heel.

“Mr. Luthor, you taught me how to enjoy comfort. I thought to myself, Chloe, when you have access to servants why not suit your whims?”

Lex was muddled. He had expected either a slight on his father’s exit not being fast enough or the opposite extreme such as a comment on the pleasant food. Not a direct reference to their past interaction. He trusted Chloe, but was she ready for heading Lionel unswervingly on their now soured dealings? Lex had promised protection at all costs, but it was unmanageable to protect someone from Lionel when you still didn’t know everything.


“Indeed, life is made much more pleasurable through assistance that is purchased and not tangled in debt of emotion,” Lionel agreed. Whether it was meant to hurt Chloe was unclear.

“Which is why I’ve been considering giving up journalism and pursuing a career with more financial rewards and less danger,” Chloe continued. Her face was completely stern.

“But you have such talent, my dear. You know that I regret not having your skills at the ready for my appreciation,” the concession came as a shockwave from Lionel’s unsmiling lips.

“I can utilize the same skills from journalism in other fields. Critical thinking, clear communication, and problem solving are essential in many jobs,” Chloe simply stated, as if finding another life passion was as simple as plugging in abilities into matching categories.

Lex was concerned with the turn this conversation was taking. It sounded almost like that Chloe was making herself a non-threat to Lionel. In fact, she may have been offering her talents again to Lionel’s guidance. Lex had been preparing for recriminations and direct interrogation. This Chloe was sly with her intentions but open with her submission. This was not a Chloe that needed protection. This girl, this woman, was constructing a web. But she was a bug competing with a sharp eyed hawk with claws to snatch its prey.

“So money is your motivation and not truth?” Lionel wanted clarification.

‘Never would Chloe be so counterfeit,’ thought Lex, ‘She is virtue.’

“Well truth is written by the winners. You’re proof of that Mr. Luther. I want to be a winner,” Chloe’s blunt statement sent Lex’s mind reeling.

If Lex had been able to pull himself together, he would have thrown Lionel out, submitted Chloe to a thorough mental and medical examination, and turn his world right side up. Instead he could only watch helplessly as the scene unfolded before him. His eyes darting from one face to the other like a deadly tennis match. He wanted desperately to call a time out, but he wasn’t referee to this, only spectator. But Chloe, dear, beautiful Chloe, what was her plan? Where could this conversation lead to…another deal with the devil? He couldn’t stand by. Lex interrupted, setting aside his agitation and replacing it with bravado, “May I inquire what is happening here?”

Chloe turned to face Lex and he fought a sudden desire to sweep her out of the room for her own protection. Lionel tucked his chin-in pouting like a cat whose mouse had just gotten away.

Chloe annoyed at being halted in her process of ensnaring Lionel in a deal tightly replied, “I’m discussing some options available to me. I am young and nothing in life is set in stone. Well nothing but death and taxes.”

Was that a joke? An attempt at humor? Lex was desperate to steer the conversation away from its previous course and grasp at it like the steering wheel of one of his speeding Ferraris. Witty references, hinting banter. That would make him comfortable. Lex replied lamely, “Benjamin Franklin also said ‘the proof of gold is fire; the proof of woman, gold.’”

Chloe continued, “’The proof of man, a woman.’” Fine, if he wanted her to back off she would, for now. But it wasn’t over.

It was clear to all parties that Lex would not allow the dialogue to precede as before. Lionel’s interest had been piqued and that meant he would contact Chloe again. Lex knew that he had to develop a strategy with Chloe before it would occur. Restricted due to the audience, the time to strategize would be postponed till later. Right now, he had to concentrate on Lionel until his departure.

Breakfast ended a few minutes later in discussion of what Chloe had been reading when they entered. As it was Sunday morning, it was a fluff human interest piece. Chloe left the table first, saying her goodbyes to Lionel and cited a need to read the editorials next to a laptop where she could type her replies. Father and son stood as she excused herself. Rather than return to their seats, they remained standing and in silent agreement began walking to the helicopter landing pad. They exchanged the usual formal pleasantries which were meaningless to both of them, but they were some of the last traditions left in their irregular relationship.

As soon as Lex could, he sought out Chloe. He found her with a laptop at the impromptu work station he had arranged yesterday. He sat down on the couch next to her. They were finally alone and Lex let loosed all his restrained anger, “Chloe, when I invited you to breakfast with my father I had no idea that you would turn it into a career fair.”

“Call it a moment of inspiration. Lex, I can’t beat him. Not like this, investigating in fear,” she continued typing which infuriated him more.

“Why don’t you tell me what we had planned before? Why won’t you tell me what you know? We can beat him. I’ll protect you.” Lex urgently asked. He looked at Chloe as though for the first time or through new eyes.

Then as if she suddenly remembered her manners or that Lex wouldn’t leave her alone, she shut the laptop setting it down. She looked up at him from the couch as he waited, his mind and body coiled in turmoil.

“No.” she protested, “No!”

Lex continued undeterred by her vehemence, “Do you wish to be indebted to him for life, Chloe? Because we both know that would happen. You don’t get out of pit by digging down. You dig a tunnel going slowly up or you let someone throw you a rope. I’m throwing you a rope Chloe.” Trying complete honesty Lex went on, “You’d be saving me, as well. I need to be free of him. Let us help each other.” Demonstrating his sincerity, Lex took both of Chloe’s hand in his own and cradling them placed them on his heart while he pledged, “On my life Chloe, I will save us with your help.”

The conflict was again plain on Chloe’s face, but this time it reminded him, reminded him that he had promised before. That he had failed them. It came back to him. Lionel had killed his grandparents. That he had seen Clark’s powers. That he had been institutionalized. That’s why it was so hard for her. At the same time he remembered, her resolve had collapsed and bowing to her heart’s desires she nodded “yes” and fell into Lex’s chest releasing silent tears.

In shock and on auto pilot, Lex released Chloe’s hands to wrap his arms around her shoulders. She burrowed further into him grabbing his shirt. They stayed like that, clinging to one another, in their earthquake before a tempest.

[reyeslu]

A/N: So I hope I didn’t lose y’all with a weepy submissive Chloe. The way I was imagining was that this was her lowest point and that’s when you find out how strong you are.


Ch. 7

Chloe was exhausted. She felt like she had cried for hours, but really it was only a few minutes. She took a few shaky breaths releasing them silently and was again in control of herself.

As if he was in tune with her, even though her face was hidden, Lex pulled back resting his hands on her upper arms as though he would hold her up.

But Chloe wasn’t in need of that kind of support. But Lex could provide. Lex would provide.

Chloe could see it all so clearly.

It was just as if someone was explaining the whole plot to her, and instinctively, as if to protect everyone, she would do it… with Lex’s help.

Lex said something which she could not hear because of the noise in her ears.

Lex repeated himself, “Chloe, are you ready to think of a plan?” Gently he lifted her chin. For a moment she looked at him as if he had woken her while sleep walking. It was hard for her to think of words to say. She knew what she had to do so vividly; she didn’t want to lose it.

“Lex, I have to go,” Chloe whispered.

“Your dad will be here this afternoon to bring you home,” Lex answered, “But we need to think of our plan, now.”

“I know what we have to do,” Chloe corrected herself, “What I have to do.”

Lex made a little sound but did not interrupt Chloe.

“Lex, my dad and I will have to leave. It won’t be safe. Lex, what I know about your dad, it’s…it’s that he and Morgan Edge,” she rushed to tell him, but his face told her he remembered. She continued on because it had to be said, “They killed your grandparents and split the life insurance money.” Lex nodded and she continued, “But I don’t have any proof.”

“We’ll find it, Chloe,” Lex reassured her.

“My dad and I will be, are in danger,” Chloe continued, “We need to leave. I know where he and I’ll be safe and I can still investigate.” She had family, unlike Lex. “My uncle is a General. He’s stationed in South Korea, but in charge of the Pacific. We can go there.”

Lex didn’t want to lose her. Being near her gave him strength he didn’t know he possessed. What she said made sense. But he didn’t want to listen. He’d find another way to keep her safe without her leaving him.

The mansion wasn’t an option as demonstrated this morning, but a safe house… nearer… in a city… she could be one of millions. But she was one of a kind to him. He could find reasons to go to Houston, Seattle, Denver, any major city in the continental U.S. Not in some distant land.

He couldn’t seem to calm down. Anxiety grew in him.

Chloe spoke again, “We can keep in touch,” Lex phased out again. ‘Yes, we’ll keep in touch. He had access to military grade technology and a computer genius.’

“You’ll have to tell my dad, convince him,” Chloe’s words penetrated the fog in Lex’s mind. ‘Gabe, without him I’m alone at the factory.’ The other employees were justifiably still angry at him. His father would also try to take the opportunity to plant one of his men.

“Lex, you’ll have to get us to a military base after I contact my Uncle. The General will get us on military flights from there. We wouldn’t be on any manifest after I hack into them. We’d need your help financially since Dad couldn’t work,” Chloe paused on this detail, “Not unless we came up with some sort of identity.”

Lex took a mental step back to get the big picture. He knew Chloe’s plan was best. South Korea had plenty of internet cafes she could work out of. They had faster connections than many American homes.

Griggs could make a program that would make Chloe’s actions untraceable. Near a military base, they wouldn’t stand out as much as foreigners. In the U.S. a stray photograph from a traffic light camera or store surveillance camera would be tracked down.

Lex knew about shadow bank accounts. He’d give anything to keep Chloe safe.

The Summerholt Institute would serve a purpose and by the time Lionel found out it’d be too late. Lionel will implicate himself.


Chloe studied Lex knowing he was only half hearing what she said. She wasn’t offended. She knew he was a multi-tasker.

It looked like he was agreeing with everything she said. His hands had tightened on her when she mentioned South Korea, but she had ignored it.

She said everything she wanted to. Lex didn’t let go of her, but looked deep in thought. Her eyes lowered to his chest where her face had been resting while she cried. The shirt was a mess; smudges of makeup stained the front. They could continue to plan, but Lex would need to change before her dad arrived. She wondered how she looked, scoffing slightly at her vanity.

“Lex,” Chloe invaded his thoughts, “Lex, you need to change.”

Lex was confused, he was changing. He was going against his father. Feeling emotions he didn’t yet understand. What else was there?

Chloe gestured to his shirt. He looked down, letting her go to pull his shirt towards his gaze. She felt the loss of his warmth immediately.

The shirt was silk and irreparable. He didn’t mind, but Gabe would.

Lex silently gripped Chloe’s hand in his and rose. He wasn’t going to leave her alone for a second, “Come with me, Chloe.”

Chloe, understanding she wasn’t leaving his sight, obliged. The pictures gracing the walls seemed to bid her goodbye.

***
They arrived at the doors of Lex’s room. Only then did Chloe feel awkward. This was his bedroom, his private space. She may have been there earlier, but this was different.

Lex proceeded through the doors unaware of her hesitation. He let go her hand and began to unbutton his shirt saying as he walked to the closet, “Take a seat.”

He disappeared into the walk-in dressing room and Chloe looked around. There was no desk, so no chair. There was no bench at the end of the bed. The only place to sit was on the bed.

Somebody had come through, opened the window drapes, and made the bed, but Chloe still felt she was seeing a hidden side of Lex.

She approached the bed in awe. The huge four-poster was curtained with heavy crimson silk which looked almost too heavy for safety. The headboard was as tall as Chloe. The posts were carved with leaves like a modern day Garden of Eden.

It was exactly the sort of impressive bed which would seem fitting for a Duke or Lord, Chloe thought. Scanning the whole room, it was intensely masculine with heavy furniture and fabrics in solid colors.

Perhaps because she knew it was where Lex slept that she allowed herself to sink into the plush cover.

She couldn’t allow herself to relax completely and gripped the edge. Her feet were inches away from the ground so she swung them up. She sat with her legs beside her to the right on the bed, unable to sit cross-legged due to the dress.

She leaned on her left arm heavily, further sinking into the bed. Her eyes grew heavy. She let out a yawn, lazily covering her mouth with her right hand.

***

When Lex walked out of the closet in a fresh shirt, he found her lying across the foot of his bed, utterly asleep from exhaustion. He smiled to himself. Chloe was so strong for everyone. She looked relaxed and free in her peaceful sleep.

Gabe wouldn’t arrive for a few hours. Lex could let her rest. He wouldn’t be able to carry her to her room without waking her up, but he’d try to make her more comfortable.

He quietly treads towards her feet and eyed her shoes. Women’s shoes could be overly complicated sometimes and this pair was an example. He slowly undid the buckles and slid them off her graceful legs. He soundlessly placed them on the ground.

He grabbed a pillow and the upper corner of the comforter. He placed the pillow near Chloe’s head, which in her sleep, placed it under herself. He folded the blanket down, draping it over her in a kind of cocoon.

He closed the curtains on the windows and left the room surreptitiously turning back to look at her as he shut the door.

[hfce]

I was wondering what Chloe was up to with Lionel. I am glad she is leaving with her dad she is not safe there. I can't wait to see what they do next. :)

[reyeslu]

A/N: I’m going to be using the untraceable cell phone that other authors have used. I tried to be creative, but webcams don’t feel as personal as phones. It’s a personal thing that I went through, maybe how when a person sees you, you feel you have to be ‘on,’ but on a phone you don’t see the little movements that make it feel like the person is judging you even if they aren’t.

Ch. 8

***Well Before Sunrise***
Chloe woke refreshed and ready to go. She shrugged the hand on her shoulder off. ‘Ugh, Lois is such a bed hog.’

It was Chloe’s second day in Korea and her body still hadn’t adjusted to the time change. She rolled out of bed as gently as possible, but didn’t really need to. It would be hours before Lois would be anywhere near ready to wake up.
Chloe put her robe and slippers on. It was the same plush robe and slippers she smuggled out of Lex’s. She hadn’t really needed to smuggle it out, he’d practically given them to her when she mentioned how much she loved them. He’d just done so much already. It took all of two seconds for her to rationalize that they probably had a warehouse of them just like they had one full of Lex’s cars.

Chloe made her way to the door when Lois rolled over and lay strewn over the whole bed. Stifling a scoff, Chloe went downstairs. ‘Maybe dad and I should have stayed at the Dragon Hill Lodge while they set up our rooms.’

As a General, Chloe’s Uncle had a large official residence on post. Designed with a mother-in-law suite, Chloe and her dad would stay there. For now though, Chloe was sharing with Lois while her dad took the guest room. Lucy was at school in Europe.

On her way down the stairs, Chloe realized she wasn’t the only one up. There were noises coming from the kitchen. ‘I guess dad couldn’t sleep either.’

Chloe smiled anticipating that some coffee would already be made.
“Sweetheart, you should be sleeping,” Gabe was sitting at the kitchen table, but rose when Chloe entered. He didn’t bother fighting his instincts, and moved to hug Chloe in his loving arms. ‘She’s my little girl, and will never be too big for hugs from her old man. Old man, heh, listen to me.’

Chloe knew his arms would always be open for her. She regretted putting him through this, but knew she wouldn’t have been able to do this alone.

“Good thing I made a pot of decaf,” Gabe joked. He saw that his daughter was starting to enter one of her dark moods which had come more frequently. Usually, she was his ball of sunshine, but this Luthor…thing… ‘God, why did she have to grow up.’

“I guess, decaf will have to do,” Chloe gave the pot the tiniest smile. Good thing she had smuggled some of Lex’s coffee out along with the robe and slippers. The General’s stash was more like trash. ‘This is Korea, even their instant tastes delicious, how does Uncle Sam manage this stuff?’
Gabe studied his daughter as she fixed herself a cup. The smile was a good sign, even if didn’t reach her eyes. He’d do everything to make her happy again. Choosing a safe topic, Gabe decided to encourage Chloe to go out, “So, I think you and Lois need to go shopping. You’ve got your credit card from Lex. And while I still feel uncomfortable taking his money, you need clothes at least.”

“Dad, are you trying to send your teenage daughter on a shopping spree with her teenage cousin in a city some would call ‘a shopper’s paradise’?” Chloe questioned the sanity of her father, but wasn’t going to deny feeling a little excited at the prospect. Lois’s closet was gorgeous.

“I’m just saying, we have little more than the clothes on our backs. And while I’ll be homeschooling you, I think you’ll be needing more variety,” Gabe slung his arm over his daughter as she sat down, “Besides you need fresh air after all the planes we’ve been on.”

“What about you, Dad? Aren’t you going to need more clothes?” Chloe didn’t want her dad neglecting himself.

Gabe sat up straighter, “Actually, your uncle is taking me to his personal tailor.”

“Aren’t you going to be overdressed for teaching me?” Chloe had to smile at the idea of learning from her dad while he wore a tweed coat with leather on the elbows.

“Well, it’s either I have my clothes made or shop only on-post,” Gabe said matter-of-factly. ‘I’m not made like Korean men.’

Chloe grimaced, “Please, Dad, go to the tailor.” Chloe loved her dad. Money had been tight when he reduced his hours at work to spend more time with Chloe after her mom left. During that time he became an avid bargain hunter. Unfortunately, what was ugly at full price still looked ugly at half price. One fluorescent yellow golf shirt still burned her retinas.

Gabe kissed the top of Chloe’s head, “What the girl wants the girl gets. Hey, what is the difference between a tailor and a psychiatrist?”
Chloe held back a groan, “I don’t know dad.”

Gabe cheerfully replied, “A generation.” Chloe couldn’t help the smile that widened her lips. She didn’t always understand his jokes, but her dad certainly wasn’t shy about telling them.

***Later that morning***

‘Slee-py, I am getting slee-py.’ Chloe wished self-hypnosis would work. She and her dad had decided to give sleeping another shot after their shared cup of Joe.

Chloe stared up at Lois’s ceiling thinking about the last time she stood in her room at Smallville.

Chloe had stood around her bedroom saying goodbye to the familiar. Sunday and Monday had passed in a whirl of activity. After her nap on Lex’s bed, which still made her blush at the thought, Chloe and Lex had met with her father and laid out the plan. Her dad had originally resisted the bank account Lex had set up for him, but necessity won.

There wasn’t a lot to do really since they weren’t packing their things. It was more of a ‘take what you can carry situation.’ Chloe now had the answer to the question: What would you take if your house were on fire?

There was no bon voyage parties. No tearful farewells. In Smallville, only Lex, Chloe, and her father knew of the impending departure. In the world, the expanded circle included only her Uncle the General. Not even her cousins knew that she would be arriving.

Chloe had attended school Monday trying to pretend everything was normal and crediting Friday’s attacks for any out of character moods.

As she worked in The Torch, with Clark and Pete, she was half afraid that Lionel would make an appearance.

Fortunately, she made it home that night without incident.

Part of her anxiety was tempered by the little black cellphone she had promised to keep within arm’s reach at all times. It was from Lex.

It was part of Lex’s Save the Sullivans’ Package. She’d come up with a better name later.

Her dad had been given two as well, the second was given to her Uncle.

The phones were linked to Luthor Corp satellites and not a phone company. It had signal everywhere. Chloe even tested it in Lex’s wine cellar. It used wi-fi connections even if it didn’t have the password.

Chloe didn’t even want to think about the programming needed to achieve that.

She could call anyone and display any phone number as the caller. That was the most incredible part. The three of them came up with a series of numbers that would report status such as emergency and information update.

Lex first text to her was, “Available anytime.” She hadn’t known how to reply and only sent a smiley back.

Now she and her dad had driven from Smallville Monday night. They went to a parking lot in Metropolis that held their next vehicle. Lex arranged for several vehicles to be used on Luthor Corp business to be traveling around Kansas that day. Chloe and her dad used one of them to meet a soldier her Uncle trusted off-post. The Luthor Corp vehicle would later be retrieved, but Chloe and her dad were taken on-post to catch a military flight.

There was no set schedule from there since military flights were irregular as they flew based on the needs of the military.

They had been prepared to be stuck in any city for a few days, but were lucky to reach Korea in 4.

Chloe hated not being able to hug her friends and tell them what was happening, but she reassured herself that she would be back once Lionel was firmly behind bars. ‘This isn’t The End.’


A/N2: I got Gabe's joke from http://www.awordinyoureye.com/category%20jokes%20tailors.html I'm not a very funny person. I try to think of snark, but it just doesn't come. And I know it's such a part of making Chloe, well Chloe, that I'm trying.

[Zannie]

Just caught up on a bunch of chapters, and I think you're doing a great job with this! I really like the way the Chlex relationship is going. It feels real and natural.

The arrival of Lionel was great, and my favorite scene in the whole story so far was when Chloe went to pound on Lex's door and he was primed and ready for an attacker, with a gun in hand and everything. Very nice tension there!


ex first text to her was, “Available anytime.” She hadn’t known how to reply and only sent a smiley back.

I thought this little text exchange was absolutely adorable.

It's a very interesting plot and I think you're developing it well. Looking forward to more!

[hfce]

Great update. I am glad Chloe and her dad made it safely out. Too bad Chloe couldn't say good bye but it is to keep her safe.

[cbrunberg]

so happy chloe and her dad got out save.can't wait to see what happens next

[reyeslu]

A/N: So I wasn't sure how to break this up. So I just made it two chapters, but both short.

Ch. 9

***Later that Afternoon, In a dressing room in Dongdaemun***
Lois was zipping Chloe up in a purple dress that she’d barely convinced Chloe to try on. “Ok, I get that Lionel is after you, Lex is helping you, and you’re helping Lex. But why was this Clark guy so important? Done, wow cuz this dress is a keeper.”

Chloe looked at her reflection, but thought of how to explain Clark to Lois. “Lois, ‘this Clark guy’ is my best friend and kind of a hero.”

“Chlo, I read The Torch faithfully. That I know, but-“

“Lois, the Luthors obsess. It’s like in their genes or something.”

“So should you be getting so close to the younger Luthor?” Lois shifted her weight to the right and studied her cousin’s face critically.

Chloe sat down on the chair in the dressing room and was resigned to having the talk with Lois. Chloe knew she’d have to explain her trust in Lex to Lois at some point and had memorized a few words. “Lois, he’s not his father. He’s a hero in his own way. Maybe not like Clark, but he’s one of the good guys.”

Lois was slightly persuaded, “He sounds like a smooth operator the way he held your hands to his heart.”

Chloe still hadn’t explained that one to herself either. She knew he was earnest, but the jolts she had felt at that moment still made her tingle now. “Well, I guess once he’s made up his mind that you’re his friend, he gets pretty touchy. I don’t imagine he got a lot of hugs growing up with only Lionel.”

Lois seemed to accept that explanation. “Yeah, well, you’re still taking some self-defense lessons with me. I think you’ve proven that we Sullivan-Lane girls are magnets for trouble.”

Chloe rolled her eyes at that understatement, “Aren’t you a little scared that I could kick your butt?”

Lois had to lean back from the attitude Chloe radiated ‘That’s my fiery cuz. Jeez I’ve missed her.’ “Just because you wiped the halls of Smallville with Lana what’s her face, doesn’t mean you’ve got a chance yet with me. Maybe in a year or two…”

Chloe tapped her chin contemplatively, “Hmm, I seem to recall a summer where I tackled you after you got your brown belt…”

Lois ears turned pink, “You were only able to tackle me because I was expecting you to use some of what I taught you. Not come swinging at me like wind mill. I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

“Sure it had nothing to do with you being distracted with trying to be Lucy Lui for the boys at the other end of the gym,” Chloe loved to remind her cousin.

Chloe went back to talking about Lex, “Anyways, I’m not sure how involved I’ll be able to get. This is Luthor computer security we’re talking about. I can pick the virtual lock on the DMV easily enough, but private sector technology is light years ahead. Lex said he would be getting a disc for me to slide into the digital Luthor world, but I think it’s just busy work.”

Lois crinkled her nose at the thought that her cousin was being kept “busy.” It was a relief to hear though. “Well, if it’s just “busy work” why do it? Why not focus on having fun with your perfect example of a sister/cousin?”

Chloe didn’t want to admit, but she had considered it herself. Being away from the angst of Smallville, it seemed safe to leave it in the past, but it was unfinished. And Lionel could not be allowed to do it again. “Lo, we’ll get our cousin time. We’re living together. Dad said that looking at the curriculum we’d only need 4 hours a day. So the rest of the time you’re at school, I can do my research.”

“Four hours a day! I wish I could be homeschooled!” Lois pulled Chloe into a hug. “Well, then we’ve got to get this dress, because we will be celebrating.”

***Back in Smallville***

“Doctor, how is the interrogation research proceeding?” Lex sat in the Talon using his mug to cover the movement of his mouth. He was using his secure cell phone’s Bluetooth headset. In the Talon, he was only slightly surer he wouldn’t be taped than if he were having this conversation in the mansion.

“It’s incredible sir. When you hired me and told me about these rocks, I had no idea how much it would aid in the process. This serum will truly change the war on terrorism. With speedy approval from the FDA we can start human testing in 6 months.”

Lex held back his reaction and continued, “When will the first batch be ready?”

The young doctor did some quick math in her head and said, “I can make the first batch for analysis ready in 56 hours.”

“Double the portion and give half to Dr. Garner. I want you to test separately,” Lex instructed, “Hire any extra staff. Two blind analyses will get faster approval. I’ll contact you later next week.” Lex hung up just as Pete and Clark entered the Talon.

Clark waved enthusiastically, as if he couldn’t be clearly seen in his red jacket, and Pete nodded. Both made their way to Lex’s booth.

“Care to join me?” Lex gestured to the empty side.

Patting Lex’s shoulder as he passed him, Clark slid in first. Pete then sat down. It was a signal the three of them had worked out. The number of pats signified how many strangers were around. One good thing about Smallville, if you were a local you spotted the Luthor spies a mile away.


Ch. 10

***At the De-Militarized Zone, The border between North and South Korea***

Chloe and her dad were walking towards surface away from the third discovered infiltration tunnel North Korea had dug to invade South Korea. South Korea had built a visitor’s tunnel to the concrete barriers which made the North Korean excavation visible through a window.

It was hard to think of the desperation of a country torn apart by war. It made her think of Lex and his father. What lengths would they go to win? Theirs wouldn’t end in a tense stalemate. Lionel wouldn’t permit it.

Chloe and her father were pawns and she would do everything in her power to make sure that the right side won.

The light at the end of the tunnel became brighter. Soon they were surrounded by green. It was odd to think that the beautiful Korean country side hid the dark purpose of separating nations tied together in millennia of shared history.

There were always talks of unification. Hopes for reconciliation, but too much time had passed. Generations were unaware of or unconcerned with family on the other side.

Sadly, stubbornness, a quality she valued in herself, was also a cause for one’s downfall. It might not have been a lesson her father intended for her that day, but Chloe would remember it well.

Chloe was taken out of her musings, by the warm hand of her father squeezing hers gently. “Anything you want to talk about?”

“Umm, I don’t know Dad. Just taken away by the history, I guess.” Chloe gave him a single dimpled grin.

“Well, I hope this hike has worked up an appetite. I could eat 10 rolls of kimbap,” His stomach growled in complete agreement.

Chloe laughed feeling carefree in the sunlight, “Don’t eat too much, remember, Uncle Sam is taking you to Hooter’s.”

Gabriel Sullivan blushed at the reminder, “Why we couldn’t go to the Outback Steakhouse, TGIF Friday’s, or even Pizza Hut for our boy’s night out…”

“Dad, you’re allowed to have fun. Just don't get too dizzy sucking in your gut the whole time,” Chloe held his hand as she twirled.

“You’re just trying to distract me from you’re night out with Lois,” Gabe only half seriously intoned.

“Is it working? We could pretend to talk about the wings or the fact that they don’t use non-trans fat oil. And completely ignore the ‘hoot hoot’ part.” Chloe busted out laughing at the sight of her father’s face. She doubted her dad had ever seen a televised Victoria’s Secret runway show let alone entered an establishment with sizzling lady servers.

***On the Road to Smallville***

“Dr. Garner, have you received the blood sample I sent?” Lex was driving back to Smallville, but not to the mansion, to the Kents.

“Yes, sir. I’ve begun testing compatibility and I should know in the next 30 hours if you can give the person the serum,” the doctor was resigned to be led in his research by the business man, but was glad that it still went in the direction he was interested in.

“I want it deliverable in food or drink, in addition to direct injection,” Lex hung up assured that he was near penultimate satisfaction. It’d been expensive to get a sample of his father’s blood. And tense to wait to be positive it was in fact Lionel’s. Clark still didn’t fully understand his role, but his trusting Lex had meant a stronger bond had been forged.

Lex hadn’t told Clark he knew about his powers. It still shocked Lex to think that the simple contact from Chloe had brought all that had been hidden in his mind into clarity.

Lex was still hiding something from his true self and it bothered him. It distracted him from thinking too much about Clark.

Lex did manage to drop enough hints so that Clark might get the idea that he knew. Which was why Lex was headed over to the Kents, he was invited to dinner.


A/N: I love Hooter’s. I was the one who made the original Hooter’s a stop on my road trip with my husband. Spoil sport wouldn’t try to do the 25 Hooter’s during the 25th Anniversary. Oh and there are a bunch more American restaurants in Korea. So if a fear of chopsticks is holding you back, fear not, you can eat in Korea. And try the Banana Milk!

[reyeslu]

Ch. 11
***The Kent Porch***

Lex lithely made his way up the porch steps to the front door. He had barely knocked when the door opened to reveal a nervous looking Clark.

Clark moved to the side opening the door wide. The two would have shaken hands if Clark could have pulled his hands off the door. With a sheepish trademark grin, Clark explained, “Door’s loose. I’ve got to fix that.” Calling over his shoulder as he awkwardly closed the unhinged door, “Mom, Dad, Lex is here. I’ll be right back. I’ve got to fix the door.”

Lex held back a smirk. ‘Sure Clark, the door just became loose. Nothing at all related to the finger shaped indents now on the handle.’

Lex walked into the Kent living room as the two parents studied his entrance. Of course, Martha Kent was the first to wear a smile and stand to welcome Lex.

“Lex, you didn’t have to bring anything,” Martha reservedly gestured to the flowers and bottle of wine Lex held in his hands.

“Well it’s not every day I get to enjoy such pleasant company for dinner,” Lex wasn’t trying to endear himself to her. It’s just how one treated her. “Mr. Kent, I hope you don’t mind me bringing wine. Perhaps we can enjoy a glass while Clark fixes the door.”

Jonathon Kent hesitated a shade too long and Martha answered for him, “I think that’s a lovely idea, Lex. Dear, can you please get the corkscrew and three glasses?”

Mr. Kent looked relieved to have a reason to leave the room, but also appeared reluctant to leave his wife.

Lex offered her a chance to accompany her husband to the kitchen, “Mrs. Kent, if you want to put the flowers in water, I don’t mind waiting.”

Martha took the offer, “Thank you, Lex. Clark should be back with the tools soon.” After Lex nodded, she hurried after her husband.

Lex thought of texting Chloe, it would be after 9 a.m. her time. He hadn’t told her about the serum and the disk Griggs was working on wasn’t ready yet. Yet, he’d gotten use to sending her updates. From an outsider, it looked like Lex was picking up the texting addiction of teenage girls worldwide. To him, he thought he was just keeping in touch with a friend that couldn’t contact anyone else back home. The Kents and Pete knew that Chloe was safe, but nothing specific.

The story circulating Smallville was that Gabe Sullivan had gotten sick of Luthor meddling, quit, and moved his daughter away. Lionel hadn’t mentioned anything directly, but Lex knew his father was quietly searching for the Sullivans. Chloe still posed a threat to him and of course she was captivating.

‘No, that’s not the proper way to describe her. She’s in high school. No, she’s a contradictory phrase like precocious ingénue.’

Lex’s internal musings were interrupted by Clark entering through the damaged front door. “Need a hand, Clark?”

Clark looked startled to see Lex standing alone in the living room. “Uh, sure, thanks. Could you just hold it up while I take care of the hinges?”

Lex had little trouble balancing the heavy door while Clark dug through the tool box. ‘Maybe Mrs. Kent’s baking is the reason for Clark’s super strength?’ Lex’s shoulders slumped. No amount of Mrs. Kent’s pies would make Lex indestructible like Clark was. No, there was a secret, and tonight he was going to get his foot in the proverbial door.

It bothered Lex that Clark didn’t trust him. After all that they’d been through.

Lex had come to the conclusion that Pete knew the details.

He wasn’t sure about Chloe. She’d been investigating Clark that much he was sure of.

‘Chloe, hmmm, I wonder what she would do or did do when it came to Clark’s secret.’ Clearly, Lionel hadn’t been informed.

“Looks like you boys got that under control,” Martha jinxed them by saying that. Clark, startled in his already tense state, lost control of the power drill and nicked the hand holding the screw. The machine made a crunching sound as it met the surface of Clark’s skin.

But there was no blood. Lex let go of the door, which Clark caught incredibly fast.

It was like the world had stopped. They were silent. They could even hear Jonathon moving around in the kitchen.

Before an excuse that would insult Lex’s intelligence could come from Martha or Clark. Lex said, “I know.”

After a pause, Lex continued, “Clark, I know that you’re incredibly strong and fast. Something triggered my memory a while ago and I just haven’t known how to tell you.”

Silence returned to the room. Clark had been staring at the door in his hands, but now turned to Lex. Lex tried to decipher his normally transparent friend. Was Clark relieved?

Martha cleared her throat, “I think I’ll hurry Jonathon with the wine.” She ran to the kitchen and furious whispering could be heard.

The two friends moved into the living room after Clark leaned the door against a wall.

Silently, they both heavily sat on the couch.

Clark was the first to speak, “I was scared. I don’t know how to talk about it.”

Lex acknowledged this statement by nodding but kept his lips closed.

Clark continued, “Does this changes things?”

Before Lex could answer, Martha and Jonathon entered.

In a resigned voice Jonathon announced, “I think we’ll need to have this conversation on full stomachs.”

***At a roadside mall {A/N: It’s just what it sounds like. We stopped at one and were amazed. Full service 24 hour gas station and food court and some shops were still open at 10 pm.}***

Chloe and her dad were seated in the food court waiting for their food to be brought to them.

They’d decided to get a traditional Korean family-style meal. There was something nice in sharing the little bowls of side dishes. There were even more options than the platter filled breakfast with Lionel and Lex.

Chloe hadn’t acquired the taste for the various red kimchis, but loved to grill the white kimchi.

Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be cooking this meal in a mini grill at the table. This food court was considered a fast food type.

It was still weird not having to clean their table after eating. Korean customer service definitely beat American standards, well, maybe unless you’re Lex.

Chloe found herself contemplating Lex at the oddest moments. She missed The Torch and her friends, but thought of the billionaire the most.

Not that she’d admit it. It was natural to think of him, since she trusted him to keep her family safe.

Chloe checked her secure cellphone for any messages. He’d usually send one right about now. Just to check how she and her father were doing.

Chloe didn’t notice her dad’s concerned face. Fatherly instincts were kicking in.

Just then the food arrived and the mood changed 180 degrees.

“So, Dad, since the curfew for military Americans is midnight in Korea, will you and Uncle Sam be getting rooms at a hotel. Or do you think you’ll be back on post in time?” Chloe liked to be direct with her dad. It was a relationship of mutual honesty and trust.

Unluckily, Chloe’s dreamy look at her cellphone had set off her dad’s “stranger danger” alarms.

“I’m pretty sure everyone will be under the same roof tonight,” Gabe gruffly replied.

“Dad—I wasn’t saying Lois and I would be staying at one. If we did, we’d share a room anyways. I just wanted to know your plans,” Chloe tried to appease her dad; “We’ll probably just eat off the beaten path, since Lois can’t really introduce me to any of her friends.”

The Sullivan’s were doing a pretty good of job being invisible. Partly because the General didn’t entertain at the house and Lois was an expert at making excuses.

Gabe Sullivan softened at the thought of what his daughter was going through. ‘If only she didn’t have to grow up.’

Gabe decided to relax, “Tomorrow, why don’t you and Lois go to Lotte World?” The amusement park would get her out of the house and optimistically distract her. And he and the General could focus on the plan.

At the prospect of going to the mega attraction, Chloe practically leapt across the table. According to Lois, Lotte World was Disney World, meets Mall, and meets Las Vegas entertainment. Whatever got her dad to loosen the leash she’d been on lately, she mentally thanked.

[cbrunberg]

can't wait for the next chapter.love that lex was thinking of chloe and wanted to keep her informed.loved chloe's reaction to going to lotte world

[reyeslu]

Ch. 12

It had been two months since the Sullivans left Smallville. Chloe had received Lex’s wonder disk that morning and was itching to finally be useful. She and Lex were in touch every day, but hadn’t been able to proceed with any plans until they could get dirt on Lionel.

Lex would send her morning texts asking how she and her dad were doing. And while he ate his breakfast he’d call to catch her up on the latest Smallville going-ons or on slow days talk about her. The no-Smallville-news days had been becoming more and more frequent.

Chloe thought of this in the taxi ride. After her dad released her from her studies, she wasted no time getting off-post to an internet café.

Her dad knew that she was in danger from Lionel for knowing he murdered his parents, but Gabe Sullivan didn’t know that Chloe was actively planning to bring Lionel down.

Chloe pre-paid for two hours. ‘That should be enough time to wade around in the network before diving in.’

She found a console between two teenagers playing World of Warcraft. So that their wild roars wouldn’t distract her, she put on her headset and pumped up the volume to her “Bring Lionel Down” soundtrack. The first song was Papa Roach’s “Kick in the Teeth.”

***

Unknown to Chloe, the General, Gabe, and Lex were quietly pursuing their own agenda. Lex had given her the disk, after being completely sure she would be safe using it, but didn’t have much hope of her finding anything. Luthor Corp had hundreds of businesses; the Feds hadn’t found any trails for illegal activity. Then again, they didn’t have Chloe Sullivan.

Just as Chloe was starting her online sleuthing, Lex was starting his day. It was remarkable how much his perspective had changed, but how little Smallville had evolved.

Lex was now part of the Kent inner circle, which oddly didn’t include Chloe. The powers Clark possessed were incredible. Lex knew that if Clark trained to use his powers he would be a real-life Warrior Angel.

However, Lex understood what it was like to feel different and didn’t push the boy.

It struck Lex that he thought of Clark as a boy, but Chloe as an equal.

Still there were some parts of himself that he doubted he’d ever be able to share with either of his friends.

Lex felt a momentary twinge of regret at not being able to tell Chloe about Clark, while he had already divulged to Clark the plan to bring Lionel down.

Telling the Kents had been necessary to the plan, but telling Chloe about Clark’s secret wasn’t.

The time would come though when she would be back and Lex felt confident that Clark would be the one to tell her.

Lex would bring her back today if he could. The skies of Smallville certainly seemed grayer without her to distract him from the total lack of amusement.

‘Whoa, far too poetic. I think I need some sarcasm to bring me back in line. I wonder if Chloe will have time to chat with me today, since she just received the disk?’ He’d gotten a text from Chloe’s cell in the middle of the night. The message was in capital letters. “GOT THE DISC TODAY! WILL START THIS AFTERNOON ”

If he wasn’t busy conducting business, meeting his father’s whims, or charming supporters, Lex was dealing with Clark’s angst, hearing Pete’s love adventures, or trying to work out his own pent-up aggression.

Lately, Lex had leaned more towards boxing rather than driving. One could only go so fast, and the physical exhaustion boxing provided kept some of his recent dreams at bay.

Lex attributed the dreams to stress and Smallville’s lack of engaging females.

Currently, Lex’s night time sojourns starred his source of strength in toppling Lionel, Chloe Sullivan.

He shouldn’t be having these dreams, these thoughts.

She was underage, but mature.

Gabe Sullivan wouldn’t approve, but Gabe Sullivan trusted Lex.

Pete would threaten to put him in a fully body cast if he ever hurt her, Clark could actually fulfill that threat, but Lex would never hurt her. He’d helped her get about as far away from Lionel and himself as a person could get while still living with every modern comfort.

Gabe had given him detailed expense reports at first; until Lex convinced him it wasn’t necessary to tell him how the money in the account he gave them was spent. Lex was glad that they were making a home, but Chloe still had a room here at the mansion. ‘Stopping right there.’

‘Back to the original thought, the dreams are just some subconscious manifestation of needing a conversation that requires more than a two brain cells and doesn’t involve work.’

‘Typical Luthor ignore the feelings.’

‘Feelings? When did this become about…’ Lex froze while fixing his tie in the mirror.

He stared at his reflection, tried to search his own eyes, the windows into his soul.

Lex saw the answer, but wasn’t sure when it had happened. Somewhere in between texts and occasional chats on the phone, he’d fallen for Chloe.

Their conversations while he ate breakfast were the highlight of his day.

Instead of feeling tense when thinking about putting an end to Lionel, Lex felt a strong sense of purpose, keeping Chloe safe.

Now, Lex was conflicted. He knew how he felt, and he knew Chloe wasn’t available to him.

Besides, it wouldn’t be right to pursue her. She’s too vulnerable right now. Except for her family and him, she had no one else.

She’d come to rely on him, because contacting other people was too risky. His contacting her was too risky.

He regularly had his breakfast outside by the fountains to make his conversations with her difficult to be overheard, and he kept his side of the conversation minimal.

No matter how much she tried to evoke responses from him, he didn’t allow himself to smile or laugh, because his pleasure would draw suspicion.

He couldn’t e-mail her because that content could be found out from the computers he used.

Lex would just have to keep a tight rein on his sentiments. And right now he had to go to breakfast.
***
Chloe sat in front of the large computer screen and cleared Luthor Corp’s security as easily as an Olympic hurdler would sail over a speed bump.

‘This is some disk. Hmmm, wonder if it only works on Luthor Corp?’

‘Bad Chloe, not the time, just focus on one criminal at a time.’

Just then Chloe’s jean pocket started vibrating. She pulled it out and looked at the caller.

It was Lex’s ‘Just-a-Chat’ number. ‘Hope he doesn’t expect a status report this early.’

Chloe had spent enough time shadowing her dad at Take-your-daughter-to-work-days to know that Luthors expected results, yesterday.

She answered the phone ready to deal with the business side of Lex, “Lex, I just sat down to the computer for the first time today.”

Lex struggled to recover from his disappointment. His calling Chloe made her think of business and not pleasure. He fell back on sarcasm, his deflecting armor of choice, “I just sat down to my first meal. Won’t you be a pleasant companion?” How he missed being able to call Chloe by name. It was too risky.

“Oh.”
‘So this isn’t a business call?’ Chloe reflected. “Well I just wanted to let you know…anyways. So, what’s been happening in Way-too-Normalville?”

‘I just arrived at the realization I’m missing you more than as a friend.’ Lex wished he could say. Instead he said, “Yet, again a full 24 hours have passed that required no cover-up. Perhaps, people only suffered a caffeine deficiency before.”

‘So, meteor freaks went psycho because I consumed their share of coffee? They were just grumpy and became homicidal?’ Chloe pondered this, “Well, if that’s the case, I guess it’s a good thing I’m surrounded by soldiers here. I think I might be drinking more since I’ve got this disk.”

Lex shook his head. The last time they’d talked Chloe had mentioned a care package wish list. Hinting that, since she was overseas she’d need some items that reminded her of home in particular his coffee blend.

It always relieved Lex to hear Chloe was happy. She would often have Lex relay messages to Pete and the Kents and vice versa. Johnson was code for Pete, because of his driving. Clark was Gordon like Flash Gordon. Martha and Jonathon were the Carters for President Jimmy, the peanut farmer.

Chloe had come up with the names and Lex had trouble swallowing his laughter that day.

Today though, Lex wanted to hear some of Chloe’s thoughts on live-stage performances. He was planning to personally deliver her care package, because testing on the truth serum had been promising. Soon, Lionel would be confessing to everything.

[reyeslu]

Ch.13
The sounds of bullets flying rang in the air and could be heard a mile away. Unfortunately for Chloe she was much closer. Lois tightened her grip on Chloe’s hand as the smell of burnt gun powder filled their nostrils.

Chloe could feel sweat begin to gather on her brow. It was a cool Korean morning, but Chloe was nervous and her body wasn’t listening as she told it to calm down.

Lois drug Chloe closer to their stall at the firing range.

“C’mon cuz this is like your 20th time at the range. We’ve got the bullet riddled targets to prove it. You’ve slept with Aslan safely every night for the past month. It’s your baby. Why are you always hesitant to fire?” Lois scolded Chloe with some frustration.

Both Lois and her father had persuaded Chloe and Dad that they needed to know how to handle guns. No security system was fail-safe. It was better to be prepared.

Her Uncle had given her a hellcat and told her to name it. By naming it she would make it her own and get familiar with it. She was responsible for cleaning it and keeping it secure.

After her Uncle gave his speech about the weapon, Lois had taken her upstairs and given one of her own while she fitted Chloe with a carrying harness. “This is just for the first two weeks, Chlo,” Lois had insisted Chloe carry her gun around the house at all times to become comfortable with it. They practiced stances and grip for a week before actually going to the range the first time.

They technically weren’t allowed to have the guns in the home, but a general’s home just doesn’t get inspected.

Nobody took them out of the house except to the firing range, but for the Lanes it gave extra confidence.

For Chloe it still filled her with dread. When Clark and Pete use to drag her to paintball she much preferred to hang out in the tower behind walls while they would charge for the flag. ‘Lana just sat in the stands watching.’

Lana didn’t often cross Chloe’s thoughts. They hadn’t had a chance to really make up after the mind control assassin attack. For Lana, the experience was one too many in Smallville and she had fled to her Aunt’s in Metropolis. Chloe missed her as she missed all her friends, but Lex couldn’t just keep in touch with her like he could Clark and Pete.

They had to use Clark to pass messages, but that was just too distant. Chloe, her dad, and Lex agreed it was better to keep their distance for the time being.

“Come on Chlo, the tower said to fire,” Lois interrupted Chloe’s thoughts.

‘Leave it Lois to be heard over 20 guns firing, hearing protection, and sound like she’s right in my ear.’ Chloe planted her feet like Lois had taught her and raised her arms. She held her wrists firmly and sighted the target through the prongs.

They had chosen the smiling skeleton targets on prior trips, but this time they had a realistic masked figure on the paper 15 ft. away. Lois was a good teacher and eased Chloe into the idea of shooting a human, but right now she wanted Chloe to empty the magazine and reload it in under a minute.

The standard for the day was to get 10 out of the 15 rounds of each magazine in a grape fruit size cluster on the chest of the target.

Chloe squeezed out the rounds. While she reloaded Lois moved the target in. Chloe was reminded of the recurring nightmare she’d been having. Lionel was chasing her and Lex in some tunnels with huge pipes along the walls. It was hard to see due to the scant lighting from industrial bulbs that were spaced far enough that there was darkness in between.

Lex was urging her ahead, but kept himself in between Chloe and Lionel. Chloe always woke up when Lionel turned a corner ahead of them with a gun aimed at her head and he shot. Was it a premonition? Or just a fear that Lionel was ahead of them in this dangerous game.

Not fully present in the firing stall, Chloe emptied the last magazine and set the gun down breathing deeply. She leaned forward on both hands, shoulders tense, and head hanging down.

Lois studied Chloe. She wanted to hug her. However, she held herself back. One day Chloe might be alone shooting her gun; she needed to self sooth.

Lois brought the target all the way in to the stall and looked at the paper. She counted the holes using a marker to keep track. Out of 30 rounds, Lois counted only 28 until she looked at the head. Two holes were in the center. All the rounds were accounted for. Except for the 2 in the head, they were all in a tight cluster in the center of the chest.

Lois knew the head shots weren’t wild shots. They were too close together and straight above the large cluster. Lois eyebrows furrowed. She was concerned that she had been pushing Chloe too hard.

Clearing her throat and making sure to keep her voice light, Lois called Chloe out of her memories, “This target deserves to be framed, but let’s spend the money at Red Mango instead?”

Chloe turned her head and gave her cousin a shaky grateful smile. Frozen yogurt sounded good. Chloe knew she was as transparent as Clark Kent at the moment and wished she could run out of there as quickly as he seemed to do.

***Over a shared almost-empty bowl of Yummy vanilla yogurt topped with Blueberries and Organic cookie crumbles***

“So, how’s your research going?” Lois began trying to find out the source of her baby cuz’s mood.

“Well, you know my dad doesn’t like it, but he knows I don’t like being on the side lines. I’ve printed out some files and had him look over them. He agrees money is being funneled to one account, but it’s not of any LuthorCorp Company he knows of,” Chloe casually rattled of her past actions as if they had nothing to do with taking down a dangerous billionaire.
Chloe summarized, “I told Lex about it, but nothing can happen yet,” as she toyed with a blueberry with her spoon.

Lois nodded. When Chloe didn’t continue, she went right to the heart of the matter, “Who were you picturing when you were firing today?”

Chloe stilled. Her spoon posed over the frozen confection.

“Lionel.” She answered barely moving her lips.

Chloe put the spoon down. She’d lost her appetite.

Lois reached across the table and took Chloe’s hand. “Chloe, you and your dad, you’re safe.”

Chloe wanted to be reassured. But even Lex couldn’t keep a perfect track on his father. This was why Chloe dedicated every spare moment training her body with the self-defense moves Lois had steadily introduced her too.

The girls sometimes had joint training sessions with their fathers. Last week Chloe had been able to flip her Uncle Sam while he tried to resist. It had been satisfying, but she was still afraid.

Lately, it had been Lex’s calls keeping her sane. Early on, he had recommended that she keep a journal. It had been a running joke that the entries would keep her journalistic skills sharp and maybe when all was said and done… and it was heavily edited, she could publish it.

Lex recommended the title, “How to Succeed in Business: The Key to Bringing Down Lionel Luthor.” With that title, he said, “From his enemies alone you could make every best sellers list in the world.”

Chloe thought of Lex and smiled. The smile reassured Lois, though she had no idea that she hadn’t caused it.

Lois loved having Chloe around. She had friends at school, but moving every three years meant it was hard for her to get close. Lois and Chloe had history. They’d been keeping in touch regularly through letters, then e-mail, and online chatting as they got older and technology allowed.

Before this Lionel thing, Lois felt like she could read Chloe pretty easily. But now, it seemed like Chloe had a wall around herself. Lois was determined to break that wall down. They’d had fun times over the last couple of months, but always with a gray cloud overhead.

[reyeslu]

Ch. 14
After getting Chloe to laugh about her hot male teacher’s butt going side to side while wiping the marker board, Lois decided it was time to do some outdoor bonding. Lois knew just the place
“Chlo- we are going to Seoul Tower,” Lois declared. Chloe arched her eyebrows but didn’t argue at her cousin’s announcement.

Lois had woken Chloe up early to go the range, but had promised a fun day afterwards. Lois’s usual definition of fun included shopping and a karaoke bar.

However today, Lois was in more of an Annie Oakley mood than an Audrey Hepburn mood. The tower was nestled on top of Namsan Mountain in a forest reserve. The view of the city from the top of the tower was breath taking, but Lois wanted to wander the trails.

Even though Chloe still claimed Metropolis, Lois knew her cousin had become more of a Smallville girl. Being around trees instead of concrete would do her some good.

The girls went back to the house to drop off the guns, grab some lunch, and let their dads know their plans.

Chloe was only kind-of-excited to be going to the tower. ‘I’d rather be doing more cyber dirt digging.’
However, Lois, Uncle Sam, and Chloe’s dad had ganged up and made Chloe swear to stop Luthor net surfing on weekends. On the way up the mountain in the taxi, Chloe’s cell rang.

It was Lex’s just-a-chat number. Lois had looked over Chloe’s shoulder and after seeing who it was started to move her eyebrows like Groucho Marx.

While Lois was a gun toting, take no prisoners, modern day woman; she was also a deep sighing, flower loving, die hard romantic. Lois was convinced that Chloe and Lex’s talks and texts were conversations between two lovers.

Chloe, as one half of those conversations, thought her cousin had spent too much time around Army guys if she thought her conversations with Lex were romantic.

Chloe swatted Lois’s arm, but Lois just turned away and started embracing herself and making kissing noises. The effect of course was that Lois was ‘making-out’ with somebody.

Chloe tried to ignore Lois and answer the phone with a straight face. However, Chloe caught a glimpse of the taxi driver’s expression in the rear view mirror as he watched Lois and laughed out a breathless, “Lex.”

Sitting at his breakfast table Lex felt a zing to his core as he heard Chloe answer her phone. He didn’t quite know how to react. Then he heard, “Cut it out Lois.” Disappointment flooded his gut as he realized she was breathless from laughing.

“Am I interrupting something?” Lex immediately regretted his laconic tone. ‘Now she’ll be in her professional mode.’

“No Lex. Lois and I are just in a taxi on our way to Seoul tower. I was forced to take weekends off from research. You remember you agreed with the 3 on 1 ambush?” Chloe accused Lex.

“And I’m sticking to that decision. Gordon and Johnson agree as well,” Lex knew that one of Chloe’s strengths was dogged dedication to completing any goal she set herself to. It also bordered on obsessive.

Lex’s thoughts didn’t linger on the irony, but rather focused on letting Chloe know that putting the burden down once in a while was good. Again, he knew it was like a sky diver telling a person on the rollercoaster what they were doing was too dangerous.

But Lex didn’t feel guilty at all bringing Pete’s and Clark’s opinions in on it as well. The two boys were glad that Chloe was safe, but knew that left to her own devices she could become a work-a-holic.

“Yeah, okay,” Chloe knew when to just go with the flow, or in this case the Lois tsunami, “Anyways, how are those guys doing?” ‘Traitors.’

“Johnson has determined his latest merger might result in an exchange in JKT commodities. And Gordon has done a good job acclimating to the Carters’ transition,” Lex replied.

“Wow, way to go Pete. Just let him know that before he gives his girlfriend his letterman jacket he takes the time to clear out the pockets. He once lent me his; let’s just say because of him I think all men just need to jump on the purse wagon. And Clark is seriously doing well at cleaning?” Chloe was a bit skeptical.

Lex tried to ignore the twinge of jealousy at the thought that Pete had loaned his coat to Chloe once. Instead he focused on a reply.

“I’ve seen it myself. The production floor is well-maintained.” Lex had to add to himself ‘doesn’t hurt that the guy can do everything as fast as a bullet. How much shorter would my day be if I could read a page a minute?’

Even with school, farm duties, and heroic saves, Clark had to step up on house cleaning duties since his Mom was running the coffee shop. After Lana left Smallville, she sold her half of the Talon to the Kents.


‘If only I could put this conversation on speaker, then Lois would stop these romantic dramatizations,’ Chloe mused as Lois finally turned back and sat properly in her seat.

“Anything I could write down in my journal happen?” Chloe didn’t want to think about Lionel, but she knew that Lex could only talk about him to her. Through these short daily chats they’d grown familiar.

Lex had a lot that she could add, but the need for secrecy made conversations tricky. Lex always had to use code words and anything too specific could give everything away. Having his breakfasts outside was suspicious enough.

Lex decided that he could say this, “The fund diversity that you discovered is promising.” The money trail Chloe found seemed to lead to some hush-hush medical research.

Chloe yelped, ‘Finally we’re getting somewhere.’ “That’s great news Lex, when can we get him put away?”

“Unfortunately, extrapolating firm data will be time consuming due to network custody.” Lex wanted the truth serum to be done so he could just get Lionel to confess and cooperate, but he still needed to gather additional evidence that would stand up in court. ‘Until then, Chloe’s just going to have to stay over there. Dammit.’

“Ok. Well what about the wonderful world of weird? The Torch is nothing but lunch menus and football games. Don’t tell me ‘nothing’ and then ask me for a story. I spent all of last time’s call telling you about flipping Uncle Sam and you never got around to telling me about your cave protection program. I had to read about in The Ledger,” Chloe scolded.

Lex shifted in his incredibly expensive and should be incredibly comfortable lawn chair. He felt exposed all of a sudden, and he felt embarrassed, an unusual emotion for a Luthor.

He couldn’t tell Chloe it was for Clark or why. She may have given the boy an incredibly accurate codename, but she didn’t know that.

It had taken some quick thinking and Ross family leverage to keep his father out of it, but Lex had secured the cave for Clark.

Lex settled on telling Chloe Clark’s version of the truth. ‘It wouldn’t really be lying then?’ “The opportunity presented itself and its historical importance made it a worthy investment.”

Chloe sensed that Lex wasn’t limiting himself because of code, but she let him slide, this time.

“Well is there any other news?” Chloe questioned.

With anyone else, Lex would have been annoyed, but Chloe’s persistence was invigorating. ‘I’d never be bored or try to escape her. Not like those socialites I’ve had to elude recently in Metropolis.’

Since he realized his feelings for Chloe, Lex had attended all social functions unescorted and therefore had to deal with more amorous advances than usual. He’d been keeping company with people that were more his father’s contemporaries than his own, but the more emboldened females still tried to fling themselves at him.

He doubted Chloe read any of the daily rags, but rumors had been circulating that Lex had a secret lover he had yet to debut.

In fact, while Chloe didn’t read those papers, Lois had which is where Lois’s theory had arisen.

Lex wanted to clarify for Chloe just in case she was wondering, “Well, recent reports in less reputable sources are misjudging personal developments.”

“Oh Lex, I know you’re not hiding a baby’s momma. You’ve been so busy with this,” though his statement did loosen a knot in her neck she didn’t know she had, “Thank you.”

Her gratitude again embarrassed him. If he’d only been successful in his coup against his father, she wouldn’t have to be so far away. He could be having his breakfast at The Talon and catch a glimpse of her as she got her morning cup of liquid energy on the way to school.

Lex shook his head. ‘That’s a little creepy. It’s good that she’s a little far away. At least until I get myself under control.’

“Acknowledgment is not necessary. Just proceed as usual,” Lex used his commanding voice as he rose from the table. He’d finished his breakfast and it would look unusually inefficient if he continued to sit at the table instead of moving to the office.

Unfortunately, without the tinkling of the fountain’s splashing water, he was hesitant to continue talking to Chloe.

‘I need to eat slower.’ Only every time he spoke to Chloe, his usual ability to give everything equal focus as he multitasked seemed to escape him.

Chloe could hear the scraping of the chair as Lex rose and knew their conversation for the day was over. “Well, have a good day and remember when you read the trash that it’s not representative of all journalists,” Chloe reminded him.

‘No Chloe, you are a one of kind truth seeker.’ With awareness of his location Lex replied, “Here’s to the wings of friendship…may they never molt a feather.” On that, he closed his phone and went inside.

Chloe put her phone away as Lois pounced, “What did he say bye with this time?”

Chloe, regretting she ever told Lois that Lex ended his calls with quotes, replied, “Charles Dickens. See not romantic.”

“Pffft, you and he talk in verse, it’s romantic,” Lois rebutted.

Chloe decided to ignore Lois and looked out the window.

Back in Smallville, Lex was walking through the mansion blind to the fine furnishings. Thinking of Lionel was consuming.

Lex preferred getting his dad arrested on business misconduct rather than the original plan of getting Lionel for murdering his own parents with Morgan Edge. That way Chloe would be out of the picture and not have to serve as a witness.

Lex planned to say he discovered the financial discrepancies during some internal auditing that didn’t add up. Thus, Chloe would never be targeted again by Lionel.

It might damage the corporation some, but he was confident that when given reign of the corporation he’d be able to recover. Some lost money didn’t matter, as long as she was safe. He’d also make sure that the honest jobs weren’t lost.

Keeping Chloe safe and making her proud of him had taken on a deeper meaning to him. Before she left she had been one of two people he could truly call friend. But through these daily conversations and texts his feelings of admiration had become…well, attraction.

At first, he battled daily with his emotions. She wasn’t like other women. He didn’t want to treat her like other women.

In the end, he decided to stamp down his emotions. It was best for now. Emotions would only get in the way. But he allowed these few minutes of connection each day.

He reasoned it was to help her keep in touch with home and to keep track of her. If she and Gabe ever wanted out he would give them all the money and protection to start over.

He’d be forever grateful. The original government contract he’d gotten for the research by Dr. Garner had raised him the eyes of the LuthorCorp board. The additional “good word” from Chloe’s Uncle Sam had increased the amount of money.

Lex promised himself though that he wouldn’t become his father. Secret research facilities, “disappearances,” and blackmail would not be his modus operandi. He had seen what those things could do. He had seen it happen to Chloe.

He wanted one day to be worthy of her.

[hfce]

I had a lot to catch up on. It was good. Lex is so cute thinking he can control his feelings about Chloe. Good luck with that. LOL! :)

[reyeslu]

Ch. 15
The day had finally come.

Lionel Luthor was found guilty of illegal research on humans, insider trading, and a host of other crimes.

He would be serving multiple back-to-back life sentences…and the world Rejoiced!

Alone, away from prying eyes, Lex contemplated the melodrama of his life.

He sat in his leather reclining seat nursing a now usual beverage of choice, an Arnold Palmer. ‘Story of my life, sour lemons and bitter tea made almost too sweet with the addition of rich sugar.’

The formerly frosted glass dripped water onto his fingers gripping the glass. Lex ignored the sensation. ‘Can’t think of dropping it.’

The news couldn’t get enough of the unfolding soap opera. The strangest part was that Lionel confessed to it all. It was a global media sensation.

Despite all speculation, ‘including Lionel finally got a conscience’ Lex laughed bitterly at that one, the truth would never be uncovered.

What inquiring minds didn’t know was that Clark Kent, a teenage alien, had sped in and out of Lionel’s presence before his initial interrogation with the police and before his court testimony. Clark would place the truth serum in Lionel’s drink and food and leave undetected.

All summer, the press ate up the legal spectacle and the shift of LuthorCorp power.

Lex, due to his diligent planning and maneuvering, was named his father’s permanent replacement.

‘And only 7 people in the world know the truth.’ Lex thought with satisfaction. ‘What is it in me that likes secrets?’ Lex cringed, the seven people that knew the whole truth didn’t include Chloe.

It tore at him every time he texted her. He always wanted to reply, “Clark did it.”

Every time they spoke it was the unasked question, “Lex what did you to your father to make him cave?”

Lex hated to think of what Chloe had considered. ‘Does she think I did something as evil as him?’

Her opinion mattered so much to him. A part of him knew she hadn’t lost faith in him, but a growing part of him worried if she just accepted he had a dark side, ‘like my father.’

‘I don’t want a dark side. I want to be as close to the light as possible…like Chloe.’ Lex consoled himself that someday soon it would become clear to her. ‘That I am Not the Prince of Darkness.’

There would always be some darkness. The world was called dog eat dog; not bunny cuddle bunny.

Lionel’s personal fortune was frozen pending lawsuits from victims. Fortunately, most of Lionel’s LuthorCorp stock was in trust. Thus it was protected and given back to the corporation.

With his new position, Lex quickly bought up the shares with money from loans and became majority shareholder. With his income from LuthorCorp, Lex would be debt free in less than two years.

To the world he couldn’t be happier. But privately any joy he felt was dampened by the absence of one person, Chloe.

He’d kept his word to Gabe to keep them out of it, but it didn’t stop Lex from wanting her back home.

‘Her place is in Smallville.’ He’d give Gabe any job he requested in the company of course, but Lex hoped he’d choose someplace nearby.

The plant would need somebody to take over Lex’s duties.

‘Surely Chloe would want to spend her senior year there, in school with her friends,’ Lex reasoned. A voice that he didn’t yet want to acknowledge added, ‘I’m her friend.’

In addition, Clark and Pete had faithfully maintained the Sullivans’ home. Lex had given them some money, but the boys would have done it for free.

‘I’ll make weekly home cleaning service a part of Gabe’s new contract.’ Lex resolved. Lex had been adding details to a new contract in his head ever since the guilty verdict came out.

It was safe to make plans for the future. Even with appeals, Lionel would be in jail for a long time and there was no way Lex would ever lose control of LuthorCorp.

With that in mind, Lex enjoyed the rest of his flight. As he stretched his lean legs out, Lex looked at the bag of coffee beans on the seat next to him and smiled. ‘It is a late delivery, but I hope the recipient appreciates this special deliverer.’

[reyeslu]

A/N: Okay the play I mention, .917, is by Lee Hyon-hwa. It opened on March 2, 1984, as
a production of the Cecil Drama Group, under the direction of Chae Yunil.
After more than 200 performances, 0.917 became South Korea’s longest running original play.

I got that nugget of information from an article titled ”Observing Modern Korean Plays” by Nancy K. Nanney from the Asian Theatre Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring, 1985), pp. 67-70. So it’s a little dated. I don’t know if it’s still the longest running original play or not. I also don’t know if there is a revival of it going on. I do know that Seoul is like New York with plays or stage performances constantly going. I went to a play (don’t remember the title), when I was in country back in 2006. I don’t speak or even pretend to understand Hangul, but human emotions are international and I enjoyed it.

And I think the story explains why I use .917

And the distance I use is from Seoul to Kansas City because www.mapcrow.info wouldn’t let me put Smallville, although I thought a town did change their name to that officially.


Oh, and about the make-up, I read an article recently, either from yahoo or msn, about a study (conducted by a cosmetic company) that make-up makes a person look more trustworthy and intelligent. Of course there’s a line about too much, but just to let you know that’s why I felt like going into it.


Ch. 16

The lights on the audience blinked in the theater signaling the show was 5 minutes from starting.

Unbidden nervousness stole over an elegantly dressed Chloe Sullivan.

Chloe gripped the arm rests of her theater seat in a surely expensively reserved box.

Her dad noticing her tension patted her hand, but Chloe couldn’t give her dad the reassuring smile he wanted.

‘Breathe, ok Chloe, you can do this.’ She chanted silently to herself.

Chloe let out a shaky breath. ‘Whoa -that was loud.’ She quickly cast her eyes about the audience.

No one was looking at her except her companions in the private booth. Her dad patted her hand again. Lois just glanced and, after squinting to make sure Chloe was good, went back to people watching from their perch in the balcony near the stage. From behind her and near the booth’s door, Chloe felt her Uncle Sam’s gaze.

With that in mind, Chloe stiffened her spine and sat up. ‘I am not a weakling agoraphobic having an anxiety attack.’ She raised her head, ‘I am Chloe Sullivan and I deserve to move freely in public.’

For months she’d been in a kind of seclusion.

Running from home with her father. Fleeing to another country- ‘No -- another continent.’

But now, the villain, the one and --‘Thank God’ -- only Lionel Luthor, was behind bars for good.

As a sort of celebration gift, Lex had arranged this afternoon. They were attending a matinee showing of a revival of the Korean play.917

The title refers to the specific gravity of ice in contrast to water which is 1.0, which means what is smaller is stronger.

The program described it as “depicting the complicated message of the inner life of people in contemporary society.”

Chloe didn’t know what to make of Lex’s meaning. She knew everything that Lex did was planned. ‘It’s not a bad thing, but I sure wish I knew what this meant.’

Months before, during one of their daily chats, Lex had asked her opinions of plays. ‘I thought nothing of it then, just him distracting me from Lionel.’

Instead Lex had stored that bit of information about her away.

She marveled at what he had arranged from a thousand miles away. ‘Well, it was actually 6,511.37 miles away.’

Chloe grinned at her inner dialogue. ‘Yup, I definitely needed some time out. I don’t know why I looked up the distance, just too much time in these little ole hands of mine.’

Sensing that Chloe had relaxed, Gabe settled into his seat and Chloe thought about the beginning of the evening.

Lex had arranged for a make-up artist and stylist to go to the Lane residence and prepare Chloe and Lois for evening.

Oddly, in the artificial shading, Chloe met another side of herself and oddly felt more like herself. It really wasn’t much more make-up than she usually wore. But the expert brush strokes brought out a usually hidden part of her.

‘Glad I kept the business card, because I am definitely asking about that lipstick.’

Shortly after the purely feminine session of primping the limo had arrived.

The limo had to get special permission to come on post, but the dark understated-from-the outside—but-Way-luxury-on-the-inside vehicle had picked the four of them up from the general’s house.

Waiting in the back seat had been a note, which looked like it had been handwritten by Lex. ‘Not that I’ve seen enough of his handwriting to know; even though we text every day.’

It only had the word “Open Me” on the outside. Inside, a hastily scribbled note said that Lex hoped they would all enjoy the evening planned starting with the play followed by dinner at the revolving restaurant on top of Seoul tower.

Chloe was glad that the tinted windows didn’t let all of the naturally bright late afternoon sunlight into the limo. ‘I just know I’m flushed and I have no idea why.’

By the time they arrived at the theater, Chloe thought she had collected herself… until now. The flashing lights had set some sort of internal alarm off.

‘What is wrong Chloe?! Get a grip girl; this is a nice night out.’

Just then, the proverbial other shoe dropped.

A knock sounded on the door. ‘I knew it. This night was going too good. There’s been some mistake.’

Preparing to head out, Chloe rose from her seat and faced the door.

Her uncle, the nearest to the door, opened it partly, and after a second’s hesitation opened it wide.

Revealing ‘a hesitant?’ Lex Luthor. Chloe smiled.

Lois would have described the smile as ‘ear-to-ear’ if anyone cared to ask. Instead three witnesses were astonished to see a ball of energy bound over her father into the arms of an ill-prepared, but quickly recovering, Lex Luthor.

Her face buried into Lex’s chest, she breathed out a “Hi.”

Unconcerned with those that might see, Lex breathed her in and replied with his own tender, “Hi.”

A/N2: I don't think I'm cruel leaving it there because I thought I left enough hints. And RL stopped me from writing more. But I was just so excited by it I had to share it now.

[Zannie]

My goodness, I'd gotten really behind on this. Sorry I'm just catching up today - I just haven't been able to read or focus much lately. Anyway, I really like what you're doing with the plot here. The action is moving along at a great pace, and I love the interesting twists and the fun settings. The development of the Chlex relationship is great too and makes me very happy!


Lois would have described the smile as ‘ear-to-ear’ if anyone cared to ask. Instead three witnesses were astonished to see a ball of energy bound over her father into the arms of an ill-prepared, but quickly recovering, Lex Luthor.

Her face buried into Lex’s chest, she breathed out a “Hi.”

Unconcerned with those that might see, Lex breathed her in and replied with his own tender, “Hi.”

This part was just incredibly sweet and really captured the perfect feeling between them. Loved it!

Thanks so much for your work on this!

[cbrunberg]

i agree that part was so sweet and it did capture the feeling between them.can't wait for the next chapter

[reyeslu]

Ch. 17
There was so much electricity in the air that if you held up a light bulb in the room it would have lit itself.

Chloe stayed encircled in Lex’s embrace as long as she thought she could without her dad getting any ideas. She was the first to break away, but Lex’s arms pulled away faster falling to his sides with an almost audible swish of his fine tux.

‘Did I embarrass him? Was the hug too much?’ Chloe’s brow wrinkled and she looked up to his face.

Sensing her fear of rejection, Lex gave his signature half-smile and took her hand leading her back to her seat.

‘I just want to kiss that little wrinkle away for good; I’d never reject hugs from her,’ Lex thought to himself. He settled for a gentle squeeze of her hand which she returned.

As the only one in the group that was caught completely unaware by the fondness displayed between Chloe and Lex, Uncle Sam hurriedly shut the door and took his seat again as guardian over the party.

Lois observed her father’s poorly veiled perplexity and moved to sit next to him leaving her seat available for Lex.

“Lois, please, stay in your seat, I can sit here with the General,” Lex offered but noticeably did not command.

“Sorry Lex, but I have a feeling that if you sat back there I’d be distracted with someone developing an owl neck,” Lois kidded as Chloe blushed.

Just then the lights dimmed in the auditorium ending any possibility of disagreement without disturbing the performance.

Lithely, Lex took his seat beside Chloe.

As he adjusted his jacket a faint rattling could be hear. ‘Oh I almost forgot.’ Lex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “For you.”

As Lex handed Chloe the box she had to stifle a fangirl squee. It was a box of chocolate covered blueberries from her favorite candy shop in Metropolis.

Androitly, she placed the box in her lap and stared at it, forgetting to say ‘Thank you.’

Lex ignored the faux pas attributing it to the curtains opening on stage.

‘He remembered? I only told him one time about the shop when daddy and I first got here.’ Chloe reminisced in awe.

‘This is what it’s like to feel like a…like a what Chloe? Get a grip, Lex does nice things for his friends. Don’t read into it.’

Chloe glanced at Lex, whose attention was on the stage.

His profile was patrician. His unfurrowed brow looked young, carefree; but Chloe knew that for anyone with the Luthor name that emotion could rarely apply.

His delicate eyelashes were like a faint cobweb, only real if you touched it. ‘How I want to touch them.’ Her fingers had a feeble ache, a budding desire to grace his features, skim over his skin, and rub his worries away.

‘No, no-no-no, just a good friend, Chloe.’ She tried to focus on the stage as well, but her regard invariably drifted back to him.

Not only to his face, but over all of him, his tux, his rigid upright posture, the arm nearest her resting between them on the wide armrest, his hands resting at the end as a king would rests his on a throne.

Her eyes could somewhat observe the outline of his legs in the dim light given from the distant stage.

Her eyes drank him in, as her nose imbibed of his scent.

It was spicy, yet subtle. ‘Just like the man…mind---out---of---gutter, Now.’

The audience made a shocked sound. Shaken out of her reverie, Chloe again tried to focus on the play.

_ _ _

‘She’s totally unaware of the affect she has on me.’ Lex silently mused.

At the moment her eyes had alighted upon him as he stood in the doorway, Lex had given up any self-delusion about his feelings for Chloe.

‘She is my heart.’ Four words with so much meaning. ‘I thought I was broken-- by my father, but she has given back everything he has taken, and she doesn’t even know it.’

Lex knew how he felt about Chloe, just as he knew every exit in the mansion; as he knew the name and birthday of every board member and their family.

But he also understood those emotions as little as a child would understand that there was no monster underneath the bed --and was just as scared of them.

‘I will not shut her out, because I am afraid,’ Lex solidly vowed.

He gripped the end of the armrests as her bare arm grazed his suit’s sleeve. She was shifting in her seat handling the small box of candy.

Her fingers were edging the gold embossed stickers that kept the box sealed.

‘She probably thinks she shouldn’t be eating in here. But--since when do rules apply to Luthors?’ Lex didn’t linger on the notion that he already considered her a Luthor, his.

He deftly grabbed the package out of her hands, silently tore the seal, and returned the bounty to its rightful owner.

Chloe gratefully smuggled some of the treats to her mouth.

Lex’s eyes engulfed her perfect bow shaped crimson lips, but met her eyes as she winked ‘thanks’ as her mouth was full of the missed treasure.

Lex settled back into his seat, but was definitely aware that their interaction had been observed by all in the booth.
- - -
Gabe Sullivan was a pragmatist. He had known that Chloe and Lex’s texts and calls were daily.

He knew that Chloe no longer dreamed about being the Mrs. of Clark Kent, but rather the Mrs. of Lex Luthor -- or rather Alexander Luther as the heart enclosed doodles AL + CS in the margins of her notes would indicate.

His little girl was smart, but she couldn’t fool her old man.

No, he’d seen it from a mile away --which is why the hug hadn’t upset him.

Lex was a good man.

Other fathers might build walls around daughters whenever a boy looked their princess’s way, but Gabe would never clip Chloe’s wings.

He trusted her judgment. ‘I don’t like the danger she puts herself in, but she has always been intuitive.’

Gabe thought back to the numerous times Chloe’s vivacity had come out around the right strangers and dimmed around bad personalities.

‘When she was small, she use to hide behind my legs whenever Lionel came around.’

Yes, he would trust her instincts.

- - -

[FarrahLea]

What a lovely update. I'm so glad that Gabe approves of Lex for Chloe. That's so nice to see. Keep up the great work!

[cbrunberg]

i agree with you i am alos glad that gabe approves of lex and chloe. loved the line where he says he saw it miles away.and when lex said he was not going to shut chloe out.

[Deirds]

Brillant story, and great background with Lois and the General.

[reyeslu]

Ch. 18

With the applause from the standing audience resounding throughout the auditorium, Lex leaned over to Chloe and not whispered as much as purred, “Would you like to meet the cast?”

Nervous about being caught Not having paid any attention to the play, Chloe replied tilting her head to look up at him, “Nah, I’m getting hungry.”

‘When we watch a movie, I’ll make sure to get a bigger box of those candies,’ Lex added to his mental list of Chloe facts.

Aloud Lex intoned in a Julia Child’s impression, “One of the delights of life is eating with friends, second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends.”

Chloe’s eyebrows rose in confusion. Lex explained, his voice taking on a quality evocative of a school boy telling a secret, “Ok, that was a Laurie Colwin quote from ‘Home Cooking.’”

At this point Chloe took her explain-this-to-me-now stance. Lex looking very abashed further explained, “I was helping Mrs. Kent in the kitchen” - - at that revelation a close lipped smile spread across Chloe’s lips.

Shaken but undeterred, Lex proceeded, “--while waiting for Mr. Kent and Clark who were driving back from town, and I may have borrowed the book after.”

“Lex Luthor Domesticated, that is an excellent headline, I think it’d even make it above the fold of the lifestyle section.” Chloe laughed out

Taking pity on him, she immediately added, “Lucky for you, I only do hard news.”

At that she took his left hand, raised it slightly, and placed the empty chocolate box in his coat pocket, “Hold onto that for me for a while,” this time Lex wore the skeptical look, “What? You have pockets, I don’t have a purse, and it’ll still smell like the candy for months.”

“I could buy you more,” Lex drolly supplied.

“I’m still waiting for that first care package,” Chloe tartly replied.

Lois even hungrier, since she hadn’t had any of the special treats, tossed her two cents in, “Hey, I believe the note in the stretch chariot mentioned dinner at Seoul tower.”

Lex, assuming an air of humorous immediacy, offered his arm to Chloe who-- beaming-- took it.

The pair, completely at ease with each other, walked out of the booth.

Behind their backs, the two fathers in the room shared a significant look. Admittedly, the general’s face was much more severe than Gabe’s.

Lois-- ever in tune with her father’s mood-- thought, ‘Well, even if Lex doesn’t know how to flip dad, Chloe sure does.’

Forcefully taking her father’s arm, Lois followed Lex and Chloe to the lobby.

Gabe, left standing alone in the booth with the excellent overview of the whole auditorium, ruefully smiled. ‘I’ll have to talk to Sam sometime about daughters dating.’
***
Chloe didn’t notice the change in the crowd, but she immediately felt in Lex’s body the moment he did. They were half-way across the nearly emptied lobby when - -

Lex quickly unbuttoned his jacket and pulled Chloe close to him, shielding her face.

She didn’t protest and didn’t have to be told why, but she did hear Lex hiss out, “reporters.”

Fortunately, Lex’s security had been able to keep the press outside of the theater, but the front of the building was all windows.

Lex quickly spun them away and hurried them back to the red carpeted stairs that led to the private booths.

‘I didn’t see any flashing, so we should be okay, right?’ Chloe’s optimistic side silently prayed, ‘The whole shielding my face act might have gotten some stares, but better safe than sorry, right?’

‘I saw this night going so much differently,’ Chloe’s pessimistic side groaned to herself.

At the bottom step, Chloe and Lex met General Lane and Lois.

Taking immediate charge, the General secured Chloe between himself and Lois, and went back up the stairs.

Lex looked ahead of them to the top of the stairs and saw Gabe Sullivan. Their eyes met and the older man nodded almost imperceptibly.

Lex, with steel in his eyes, retrieved his cellphone out of his breast pocket and walked towards the opposite end of the lobby towards a fire exit. He pressed number 9 on his speed dial. The other phone didn’t even finish ringing once before it was picked up. Lex jeered out a harsh, “Why wasn’t I informed?”

“Every man is being used to keep them out, sir. I’m personally directing the vehicles to separate exits. I was going to meet you backstage during your meet and greet,” Lex could hear the commotion on the other man’s end and knew it would be nearly impossible to get the Lanes and Sullivans out without pictures being taken if he didn’t draw them away.

“Get them out; they are in the booth now. Send my vehicle to me. I’ll be in front dealing with the nuisance. Get PR on this now,” Lex clicked the phone shut and straightened his suit. He didn’t need to add that if any pictures got out, people would be unemployed faster than the trashy rags could come off the press.

‘This was supposed to be a low-key evening. A chance to show how trustworthy and capable I am,’ Lex was distressed but would never show it.

Koreans were typically respectful of everyone’s privacy, but tabloid press was international.

Even though Lex thought he had slipped in unrecognized, someone had alerted the press.

And Now, because he couldn’t wait to see Chloe, because he became careless, he was probably responsible for destroying her solitude and that of her family.

‘Time to consider some Art of War, it’s tardy to “wait for the enemy to tire himself out.” So attack I must,’ Lex determined with the alacrity of driven warrior, ‘However, “If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”

‘Alright then,’ Lex contemplated his attack, ‘Now to call Gabe and let him know,’ Lex winced.

***
Up in the booth

“This is insufferable,” Sam Lane wailed, “Why aren’t you more upset, Gabe?”

The two fathers were presently displaying their opposite temperaments at the moment.

Gabe was sitting down in the same chair he’d occupied during the show and was leisurely looking at curtains. He was the first to enter the booth and had drawn the privacy curtains immediately.

Sam Lane on the other hand was pacing the room. The only way to describe his agitation was ‘chomping at the bit.’

Their daughters however had both adopted Gabe’s ‘relax’ approach and were sitting as well, but their eyes followed the General’s movements.

“Well,” Gabe began in a meandering tone, “I can’t say I’m surprised he got caught unawares. Lex has been pre-occupied lately.”

The General grumbled something that sounded like, “women always mess up a good soldier.”

Gabe chose to ignore the muffled words and continued, “Forgive the boy for not being an automaton. But there are many things he did that ensure our security. First, we came in separate vehicles. Second, the tickets and the reserving of the whole tower for dinner were in my name, ---”
At that revelation a synchronized peep had escaped the girls’ mouths, but Gabe proceeded after only sparing them a glance, “Third, this building has a private entrance in the garage which is very protected and I assume will be used to take us out, while Lex goes out front. Fourth, from my vantage point in the stairs, it was apparent that the crowd hadn’t thinned out enough for a clear shot to be taken of Chloe. Finally, I didn’t see any camera phones out the whole performance and anyways the seats were positioned so that our full faces couldn’t be seen at all. As well as the stage lights were dimmer than usual in order to prevent providing light for would be paparazzi.”

The booth was in utter silence.

If the General had been chomping on a cigar, it would have fallen out of his mouth.

Chloe was the first to speak, “Daddy?”

Gabe reassuringly turned to his daughter, his angel, “Yes?”

“Did you know Lex would be here?” Chloe asked meeting her father’s eyes.

“It was my idea,” Gabe answered.

[reyeslu]

A/N: Fear not. Lex is still dreamy for all that he did.

So this is kind of stance Lex takes that I try to describe. http://www.malemodel.us/2011/model-spotlights/jerome-kurscher/attachment/jerome-kutscher-moale-model-consortpr-17/

Ch. 19

Gabe paused after the disclosure and continued, “Actually, let me amend that statement--”

Sam Lane again muttered to himself, something that sounded like, “Daughters are a headache.”

“Chloe,” Gabe continued on, “I actually invited A-lexander to spend some time with us and he decided to plan this evening. I only had to sign my name once. The rest he did with his Luthor magic.”

Chloe wondered at the emphasis her father placed on “A” in Alexander, but she was confused at her father’s admission.

Just before she could ask another question, Gabe’s phone began ringing.

He swiftly answered, not with a hurried “Hello,” not with a professional “Gabe Sullivan,” but with an amused, “To the garage then?”
***

Lex and Gabe had made the plan with some approval from the General, but Lex had fervently hoped they wouldn’t need it.

Should his identity be compromised, Lex was to separate from the group and meet again at a secure location. This time it would be the restaurant.

Lex would first go to a different famous and, most importantly, exclusive restaurant. Actually, Lex would go to the building of said decoy restaurant, but he would in fact go to the parking garage of that building and take another vehicle to Seoul Tower.

‘It would have been nice to sit with Chloe in the limo,’ Lex regretted, but --ever the Luthor --his thoughts did not linger on regret. Instead Lex moved onto Action.

‘What is the most annoying thing to paparazzi?’ Lex scanned his mental library for appropriate retaliation.

With his decision made --and none too soon since the crowd was almost gone except for a few rubber-neckers -- Lex made his way over to the doors with his signature playboy swagger.

If any of his friends from his Club Zero days spotted that walk, they knew to stand back and enjoy the scene of panties dropping. In this case, the press would be drooling and spend all night outside of the decoy restaurant.

His security, having been alerted by their supervisor, had kept an eye out for Mr. Luthor. At his approach, two of the guards broke away from the others and opened both doors for Mr. Luthor’s grand entrance.

Immediately, the flash of photos taken and questions being shouted became a roar.

Lex came to stop at the top of the steps, but a good 6 feet away from the beggars.

He took his time to gain an appropriate posture. He stood casually, his legs apart, with his right toe pointing toward the crowd and the other to the side.

He slowly unbuttoned his jacket and placed his left hand lightly on his thigh.

He swung his jacket back with his right hand and fisted his boxing arm. If the eager scroungers had known Mr. Luthor, they would have taken that fist with foreboding caution.

He rested his knuckles lightly on his hip.

His eyes scanned the crowd through veiled eyes as a Cheshire grin graced the edges of his lips.

He had missed his calling as a male model.

To the outside world he exuded a sexual charm, but to anyone that had known him intimately, this Mr. Luthor was about to pounce at the jugular.

The tramps managed to quiet down. -- Luthors did not demand silence as much as they required awe.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Lex began with cool calculation, “Certainly, I do not warrant this much attention.”

A few stilted laughs could be heard, but the overly loud guffaws were quickly withdrawn as menacing glares were sent from others.

“I have just come from an exceptional example of Korean art which I greatly enjoyed, --” Lex’s compliments dripped like Swarovski crystals from his lips, “and Korean art can only be surpassed by Korean hospitality.”

Murmurs of pleasure rippled through the gathered shutterbugs.

“But it appears you have scared my companions away,” Lex scolded with as much malice as the White Queen of Alice in Wonderland would muster.

“I am about to meet them for my repast and perhaps if you don’t frighten them away I can convince them to pose for a few shots on the way out,” Lex teased.

“I will take some questions, --” with an elegant flick of his wrist Lex pointed to one, “--you with the Sigma DG HSM Lens.”

“Who are your companions?” came out the obvious question.

Lex’s pursed lips communicated his displeasure at his generosity being abused, but rather than ignore the question, he replied with a thoughtful air, “Volunteer goodwill ambassadors. --The Canon Telephoto Lens.”

“How’d you meet them, Lex?” the unashamed query came out.

“There are always good Samaritans in paradise of course,” Lex’s sweeping hand gestures indicated Korea.

The guard to Lex’s right placed a discrete V shaped hand signal on his earpiece. It was the signal that Chloe was safely on her way.

Immediately Lex gave the universal hands-up signal for being done with questions. His guards formed a tight circle around and moved him to the waiting SUV.

Having secured Mr. Luthor, the guards entered their own vehicles and three SUVS pulled away.

The fastest paparazzi were able to pursue the motorcade, but were disappointed to find the destination of Mr. Luthor. There were no windows to peer into, no waiters to bribe --for the staff was well compensated for their discretion. The vultures had to camp out and wait.

Also those particular photogs Mr. Luthor had permitted to ask questions possessed the most expensive lenses and were the most likely to have captured anything -- at that moment--they were being approached by LuthorCorp PR.

No evidence would be surfacing of that night.
***
Meanwhile, at the top of Seoul Tower, Chloe waited.

She wasn’t angry at her dad.

It was a nice surprise for Lex to come, but he’d been invited.

At that knowledge, his appearance lost a little of its awe.

Lex had still chosen everything. That much Chloe could get from her dad.

Lex had chosen the play, the candy, and the beautician.

He’d even picked out the menu for 50 people because renting out the entire tower had required it, in order to minimize suspicion.

Her dad already told her the excess food would be donated, as ordered by Lex.

‘So why I do feel less special,’ Chloe wondered to herself.

A miniature voice inside of Chloe answered, ‘Because, it lost a bit of its forbidden mystique.’

‘Crazy girl, he is just a friend anyways, what difference does it make if he came on his own, or my father and uncle assisted its orchestration?’ Chloe reproached the other voice, ‘I mean seriously, he gave Clark a truck for saving his life. I handed him LuthorCorp, of course he’d give me something.’

‘Clearly, your father saw it too -- A-lexander,’ Chloe’s miniature voice grew louder, ‘AL + CS sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i---‘

“Argh,” Chloe grunted as Lois tugged her hair.

“Hey, you over your ears popping yet?” Lois questioned as she patted the patch of hair she’d just tugged.

“Do I have a choice?” Chloe flippantly replied, although her ears were feeling slightly better from the altitude.

Lois pretended to think and then answered with a shake of her head, “No, not really. You’ve got to keep me company. Also, your dad and my dad are arguing over the foolishness of keeping our plans, and I think we should help your dad.”

Chloe didn’t even bother trying to suppress her sigh.

Again her pessimistic side groaned, ‘I saw this night going so much differently.’

With that thought, Chloe looked down at her phone and decided to call Lex.
***

Ch. 20
Chloe needn’t have bothered. Just then the elevator to the revolving restaurant “dinged!” alerting the party to the arrival of the final companion.

Oddly, Lois looked at the opening doors with more anticipation than her cousin.

Gabe took note of the fact and General Lane’s arguments ceased.

The decorated warrior was unable to fight 2 Sullivans, a Luthor, and his own mini-General. He resigned himself to helping salvage the night for Chloe’s sake.

Gabe thought to himself, ‘Our night isn’t ruined, merely temporarily interrupted.’

Gabe put on a welcoming smile and nudged Sam with his elbow to do the same.

At that, the General also chinned up and put a solicitous grin on his face. ‘Gabe may know the ins and outs of a crap factory, but nobody can shovel it better than this soldier.’

Lois also nudged her cousin and rolled her eyes at the combined front of their dads.

Seeing her dad’s attempt at relaxing the situation, Chloe also tried to smile.

It came out as a half grin, but at the sight of Lex looking humiliated, the grin became of full-blown sympathy pout which she quickly shifted into a smile, because a certain A-lexander would need some cheering up.

Chloe waved to Lex, who immediately straightened up realizing he had an audience. He walked with sure steps towards the group with palms face up in mea culpa.

“The circus wasn’t part of the schedule, folks,” Lex apologized, “Gabe, that won’t happen again.”

Gabe Sullivan encouragingly patted Lex on the shoulder, “We knew the risks, besides the night still has many things to enjoy. Like this meal with family.”

If Lex was startled at the use of the words family, he didn’t show it.

Chloe rescued him from replying by adding, “Oh and we decided to sit at separate tables from the dads. My dad has figured out that he gets motion sickness on this thing, so they’ll sit at a stationary table.”

Lois interjected, “-and Chloe and I are all up for the revolving booth there with the already lit candle.”

Chloe led the way taking Lex’s hand in hers.

Lois followed in the rear. She was tickled at the sight of the all-powerful Lex Luthor being led by petite Chloe.

Chloe scooted into the center. Lex moved to her left and Lois to her right.

At the center of the table surrounding the candle was a cherry blossom arrangement.

Cherry blossom arrangements filled the whole restaurant, undoubtedly arranged by Lex.

Chloe asked, “Lex, why did you choose cherry blossoms? And there are so many-- like a garden.”

Without appearing shy, Lex managed to convey reluctance, “Filial love and loyalty, I owe your families so much. I just wanted you all to know I would always be steadfast in remembering the debt I could never repay.”

Lois was struck silent at his words; not even moving an eyebrow in shock.

Chloe on the other hand straightaway moved into his side, burrowing her way into an innocent snuggle.

“Lex, you saved me. Kept me safe,” Chloe affirmed.

Lex accepted the hug, but not the commendation, “I still owe you Chloe. I will always owe your dad.”

Looking at Lois, he added, “I am forever in your debt.”

Lois may have only been a year older than Chloe, but she saw what Lex felt he was in debt for.

Lex loved her cousin, the way that her dad loved her mom.

The fact made Lois happy for her cousin, a little envious for having it so young, and fearful that Chloe didn’t return it in the same intensity. The emotions resulted in Lois maintaining a somber countenance.

Feeling a rumbling in her stomach, Lois coughed quietly, “Well since we’re all here, let’s eat.”

Lex looked surprised and Chloe explained, “We already blessed the food because we had hors d’oeuvres and we prayed that you’d make it safe and not trailed.”

Lois caught the eye of the waiting servers who swiftly brought the salads and variety of dressings.

Chloe didn’t feel like moving back to the center, but ‘Maybe it wouldn’t be right to sit in Lex’s space.’

Chloe tried to slide her plate, but a hand on her knee kept her in place.

Chloe smiled and out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Lex did too.

‘If she gave me the chance, I would make her desk a garden of flowers every day,’ Lex reflected.

Just then the forgotten sunset, the reason why he chose the restaurant, faded as the last clinging rays of light gave way to a silky blackness, as if an airy blanket made by fairies settled over the heavens and over the smiling pair.

[hfce]

That was so sweet of Lex. He so likes her but won't admit it. :)

[cbrunberg]

your right.lex does like chloe and he won't admit it.hopefully he will admit it.

[reyeslu]

A/N: So I don’t know if what I said about coffee makers is true, but I would think it is.

A/N2: I wrestled with whether I was making Lex act OOC but I think love makes you do and say things you normally wouldn’t, especially new love.

Ch. 21
When Lex walked into the dining room the only sound in the room was the bubbling of the coffee percolator. Lex was thankfully aware of the restful hush of the place- of the mute service of inanimate things which surrounded him as he took his seat.

Per his strict orders, No-one invaded the dining room where he sat at his simple breakfast which had been left by some servant who had vanished.

Breakfast was the one time of day he reserved for himself. He used the time to speak to Chloe.

If the telephone rang he did not answer it. If manufacturing plants chose to explode, they exploded without his attention. There was no rustling of newspapers, no slitting of fresh correspondence.

The first part of his day, the most important meal was Chloe’s.

Thanks to the safety of Lionel behind bars, Lex could now have that meal within the comfort of his own walls and not outside by the fountains, ‘I certainly enjoy that Chloe and I were able to create our own covert language, but I hope never to have to forsake temperature control again.’

It was Lex’s first breakfast back from Korea, as well as his first in his new Metropolis Penthouse.

It had been a brief visit to Korea, but one that had changed two very important dynamics.

The thought of the two Sullivans made him turn to the now sputtering coffee maker.

Lex smiled with humor at his coffee maker. It was a cheap $30 model from the Sullivan house.

Lex warmly thought back to Korea and the demonstration of Chloe’s arbitrator skills…

Gabe Sullivan, Chloe Sullivan, and Lex Luthor were negotiating what would perhaps be the most significant contract of his life. They were all dressed comfortably. The only nod to professionalism was the briefcase that Lex had carried the contract in. He himself was dressed in a Navajo blue Oxford shirt with the sleeves pushed up his forearms. It was un-tucked over a pair of skinny-leg Gucci denim pants, and on his feet he wore dark brown distressed Ralph Lauren boots.

Gabe had opted to wear a pair of khakis, tucked into it was a long sleeve white cotton dress shirt, and his favorite loafers.

Not surprisingly, it was Chloe who wore the most color in the room. She and Lois had decided on a look they called girl-next-door meets volunteer firefighter. The girl-next-door part was a halter-top dress in a blue and white check gingham dress with a red flower clip in her hair. The volunteer firefighter part was funky orange socks with green shamrocks all over and the black rugged Dr. Martens on her feet.

When she had opened the door for Lex that morning he had taken the look of her in, smiled, pulled her into a hug and said, “I like the socks.”

“Thanks, these are my luckiest pair,” she answered as she leaned back to look into his eyes, “I need every asset when dealing with contracts and a Luthor.”

The pair chuckled at her joke and never broke eye contact.

After the stolen moment, she pulled back and held his hand has they walked to the back of the house towards her father and replied with a dimple in each cheek, “I’ve amassed quite the collection of socks since I’ve been here; Smallville really won’t know what to do with me now.”

‘Chloe, Smallville has never known what to do with your excellence,’ Lex thought, except he said aloud, “Well, if you ever feel like being around people that do, you know who to call.”

“Ghostbusters!” Chloe sang out, “Heh, thanks for the offer Lex.”

Lex smiled and tilted his head with a small shrug of his shoulders as if to say, ‘but of course.’ He had met other women around the world, loved a few, but he wanted only one for the rest of his life and if he messed this deal up he might have to move LuthorCorp Headquarters in order to be near her.

He’d offer anything to be near her.
***

Deep in negotiations…

“Lex, coffee makers are like cast iron skillets, it takes time to season them,” Lex remembered Chloe intoned, “You could buy dad a new coffee maker of the exact same model, but it wouldn’t taste as good as yours.”

Chloe had demanded his coffee maker in her father’s contract to return to Smallville… along with a supply of his coffee brew until she graduated, ‘I would have given her a lifetime supply.’

But Chloe had initially only asked for a supply of coffee till she made it to a desk under the Tiffany lights at the Daily Planet, ‘She undervalues her importance.’

Although he wanted to give in immediately, he relished the fire she brought to negotiations, ‘Switching coffee makers was quite ingenious of her, but I was able to talk her down on supplying the coffee.’

In the end, Lex had acquiesced to the trade. Even though the Sullivans wouldn’t be back in Smallville for another week, Chloe had demanded the trade be immediate.

She had called Clark and Pete to personally manage the trade.

It had been fun to see Chloe try to convince the boys they wouldn’t be stealing, but Lex had finally given in to her pleading looks and taken the outstretched phone from her.

“Clark, you’ve got Pete on speaker right?” Lex questioned, ‘I don’t want to repeat this bit of news twice.’

“Hey, Lex, yeah, he’s right here,” Clark replied.

“Lex, man,” Pete interposed, “Chloe’s saying to trade your coffee maker for her coffee maker. Did you lose a bet and have to slum it?”

Lex smiled at Pete’s question, “Actually, I think I’m winning…The Sullivans are moving back to Smallville and its part of the agreement.”

Lex had to hold the phone away from his ear at the shouts of joy that came through loud and clear.

Having settled the transaction, Lex handed the phone back to Chloe.

She had squinted her eyes in disapproval. She thought she’d be the one to share the news.

Lex had shrugged his shoulder, ‘She had the phone first and could have mentioned it.’

Unfortunately, the conversation with her friends had lasted another 30 minutes.

Another 30 minutes in which Lex had to sit with Gabe, because no negotiations could continue without Chloe’s approval.

The negotiations had taken place the day after the play. Gabe had settled them in the Lane kitchen while the Lanes had gone out to give them privacy.

That morning, Lex had brought the pièce de résistance of the weekend, his care package: copies of CDs Chloe said she’d been missing, a new Meisterstück Classique Mont Blac Ballpoint pen for Gabe (especially for signing the contract), and breakfast.

Breakfast for the three of them consisted of Martha’s goodies, made especially for the Sullivans, and Lex’s coffee brew, the presence of which had set off the negotiations for the coffee makers.

While waiting for Chloe to get off the phone with Clark and Pete, Gabe and Lex had sat comfortably in silence for a while, until Lex took the opportunity to ask permission for something that would never appear on any contract.

Lex had never done anything like this before, but he felt he owed Gabe the courtesy. Lex felt fairly confident that Gabe liked him, ‘So why are my hands sweaty?’

“Mr. Sullivan,” Lex began but was interrupted.

“It’s Gabe, Lex you know this,” Gabe had corrected.

“Well, sir, I just…this is unconventional, but I would like to … Is it alright with you if I…What I mean is…” Lex stumbled over his words. At every false start he would sit even straighter.

Lex hadn’t really anticipated the opportunity of speaking to Gabe alone before his return to Smallville and this particular life situation wasn’t exactly one Lionel had prepared him for.

Gabe knew Lex was working towards something, but expected the fumbling of words from Clark not him, ‘At least Lex is making eye contact and not fidgeting. Alright, let’s see if this old man can get this ball rolling?’

“Lex, you possibly will see my daughter as more than a friend, and not as a sister,” Gabe interrupted, “That girl you see over there, well she’s my angel,”

Lex nodded slowly as Gabe continued. ‘That angel has taken a wrecking ball to the walls I’ve put up,’ Lex thought to himself.

“But I’m man enough to see that she’s not a little child anymore,” Gabe stated, “I’m also man enough to see that she can make her own decisions.”

Lex concentrated on the words coming out of Gabe’s mouth, “I don’t like secrets, and I appreciate being kept in the loop. You kept me involved with the process, prevented Chloe from being a witness; and you are trustworthy.”

Lex held steady under Gabe’s gaze and didn’t tense at the hand the older man had placed on his forearm, ‘Gabe is a man that I would Never want to lose trust in me.’

Gabe relented and said, “So whatever you have to say or ask, spit it out already.”

Gabe prepared for anything, ‘Lex may be my boss, but he is also a man that clearly feels deeply for my Chloe.’

Lex’s shaky nerves evaporated at the encouragement and the usually composed young Luthor blurted out, “Gabe, can I marry your daughter, I mean can I date your daughter.”

It was only due to his strict training at Lionel’s hands that Lex didn’t wince at his mistake.

Unsuspecting quite a declaration, Gabe paused, but mercifully smiled, “Well, how about I say yes to both, but let’s wait awhile for the first,” he said patting Lex’s arm and then withdrew to take a deep sip of his coffee, ‘When he falls, he falls hard.’

Lex returned the smile and rolled the tension from his shoulders, “Anything for you… Gabe.”

Lex was mentally slapping himself, ‘Imbecile! This is why you plan; you just asked if you could marry her! Of course I want to…but there are sequences…’

Lex snuck a covert glance to check that Chloe had not heard their discussion. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her engrossed in her phone conversation.

After that they had a few more minutes before Chloe had finished her conversation.

Gabe decided he had a few questions, “Lex, how do you plan on dating my daughter and running LuthorCorp?”

Lex smiled, ‘I’ve already got a plan for that.’

“Well sir, I was planning on you and Chloe keeping your cellphones,” Lex explained and then added, “The General could keep his as well if he wants.”

Lex watched Gabe for signs of disapproval and saw none. Unbeknownst to Lex, his face had become very animated. It reminded Gabe of when Chloe would tell him about a story she was chasing.

“What I hope, if Chloe wouldn’t mind, is to continue our conversations,” Lex revealed, “I would work out of Metropolis during the week, but on weekends come to Smallville.”

It was Gabe’s turn to nod or respond. Only it was at that moment that Chloe sat down next to Lex at the table, her conversation over with Clark and Pete.

She interrupted, “Chloe wouldn’t mind what now? I thought all negotiations were to cease while I was on the phone.”

Lex was caught unprepared again, ‘Lionel would be so proud.’

Lex decided to give a less than pure-white truth and watch Chloe’s reaction, “Well, we aren’t negotiating so much as I’m informing your dad that the phones are yours to keep and that you can always call me.”

Chloe smiled at that remark and Lex continued on watching her face for the reaction to the next statement, “Also, I’ll be moving to Metropolis and work from headquarters on the weekdays.”

Chloe’s face revealed nothing to Lex, ‘She either has the best poker face or doesn’t care.’

Lex further explained, “But I’ll be back in Smallville on weekends,” it was then that Chloe’s face took on a peculiar expression, ‘Time to push the ante.’

Lex decided to ask a question but also decided to lean back in order to observe all of Chloe, “I have to keep in touch with friends, right?”

Chloe did not disappoint Lex. Her expression brightened and she swung a welcomed arm across his shoulders and leaned her head on his shoulder.

However it was what came out of her mouth that sealed the deal, “I’ll make sure you stay connected in person even if I have to drag you out of Metropolis myself.”

At the thought of Chloe’s arm on him, Lex was shaken out of his memory to look at his watch.

It was time to give Chloe a call.

He pulled out his phone and speed dialed her number. There was no more need to conceal her. He could save her number in his phone, send her packages, and write her e-mails. But he felt lucky that he could talk to her and Say her name, ‘Chloe.’

Lex liked the ringback song she had chosen since secrecy was no longer necessary. It was Skylar Grey’s “I’m Coming Home.”

The order to Lex’s computer techs to install this feature on the military grade cellphones had drawn curious looks, but any questions were stifled at the immediacy demanded of them to deliver.

Lex heard the other line pick up and greeted her, “Good Morning, Chloe.”

“Good Afternoon, Lex,” she sang out. There was music in the background and she must have been singing along when he called. He smiled at the thought.

“How is the packing going?” Lex asked out of curiosity. He wanted to make sure everything would still be on schedule for his surprise.

Chloe took a moment to answer, “Well, you know I Ieft with bare necessities? --Since you’re sending the jet that’s not a problem… The problem is putting all this stuff I’ve somehow managed to acquire into boxes.”

Lex was grateful he would never be required to pack up any of his residences, ‘This dining room alone would require a small army to dissemble it.’ The gorgeous and multi-talented entrepreneur Elizabeth Taylor was right, "Money is the best deodorant."

Chloe groaned, “You ever wish you had Mary Poppins’ Clean Up song, --you know ‘A Spoonful of Sugar?’”

Lex laughed at the thought of Chloe snapping her fingers and singing with her ‘Cheeky’ reflection, “Is that why you were singing just now?”

“Oh--if only. If it worked now I’d be upset; I’ve only got a drawer left to box up,” Chloe hummed out, “Daddy’s been done and has been harassing since he caught me napping. --I have to be heard so that he knows I’m still awake.”

Lex chuckled quietly as he imagined Gabe’s creative parenting.

“You laugh, but when will I get to nap again?” Chloe reproached, “It’ll be back to full day classes for me. Not to mention The Torch.”

Lex had to agree, he was a little jealous of Hispanic cultures that still had a daily siesta. It also made him realize that his afternoon texts to her might also end due to classes.

“So you will be ready to come home this Thursday?” Lex queried, ‘The earlier they are home and settled the closer I am to exploring what I feel for her --and what I think she feels for me.’

“Definitely, Lois is taking me out one last time tonight,” Chloe confirmed as she looked at her new lipstick. It was the same shade she had worn to the play with Lex. She’d called the beautician and found out it was called “True Love’s Kiss.”

Lex’s voice prevented her from slipping into a fantasy, “So what does the indomitable Lois have planned for you?”

“No idea. I can’t even guess because she’s been in a mood lately,” Chloe disclosed.

“I have a feeling it’s because she is going to miss you,” Lex imparted, ‘I know because that is how I have felt for months.’

“Actually, Lex, I think you did something, or rather what you didn’t do,” Chloe corrected, “When we came home from dinner with you at Seoul Tower, I crashed in her room and had a mini-sleepover.”

“Oh,” Lex sounded surprised, “What am I accused of not doing?”

“You only quoted somebody once that night and it was from a cookbook,” Chloe admitted, “Honestly she was expecting you to quote some Shakespeare at least.”

“Shakespeare? Why would Lois expect me to quote him and then be disappointed?” Lex asked searching for an answer to the puzzle of Lois Lane. Lex knew her approval was important to Chloe.

Chloe hesitated for too long and that caused within Lex an intense desire to know, “Chloe, why would she expect me to quote—“

Chloe’s melodious laughter drifted over the miles between them and warmed him immediately.

“Oh Lex, I shouldn’t have said anything. She thinks you’re cool,” Chloe tried to brush the subject off, “I’m sure you were right about her missing me.”

Lex knew a diversion tactic when he saw one, which was weekly due to some of his less capable employees. Chloe wouldn’t be avoiding this topic now. He figured a direct approach was in order.

“I hope she is not harboring some misplaced affection for me?” Lex sincerely worried. It would complicate his pursuit of Chloe immensely.

Chloe let out a real belly laugh at that, she had to correct any misconceptions along those lines, “Quite the opposite actually. She has this crazy theory that you like me and were going to declare so before you left.”

If someone had stuffed a fistful of cotton balls into his mouth, Lex’s mouth wouldn’t have been drier.

Chloe, realizing what she’d just said, stopped laughing, “Lex?” Her nervousness made her begin to babble, “Forget I said that, it’s just silly girl talk, ok? I mean—“

Lex forced himself to interrupt her, he could not allow her to build up walls between them, “Chloe-- she’s not crazy.”

“—she just put this theory together from reading the tabloids and—“ Chloe continued not really comprehending what Lex had said.

“Chloe,-- Chloe stop. Will you listen to me?” Lex requested.

“Just listen to me first, ok?” Chloe resumed her explanation, “I think Lois has read way too many stories while waiting at checkout lines and our whole situation played into that.”

Lex waited as patiently as he could, but knew his answer was important to his future,-- to their future if she agreed, “Chloe, I didn’t mean to say it over the phone and I wanted to wait till you were settled back at home, but Lois isn’t crazy.”

Lex almost said, ‘I do like you-like you,’ but how juvenile would that have sounded? Instead he modified his statement while Chloe sat in silence on the other end of the line.

“Chloe, I know that I’m older, and that this is abrupt, this is not how I would have wanted to tell you, but yes, Chloe Sullivan, I--,” Lex had no words to declare how he felt, only describe, “—I get weak in the knees when I make you laugh… I wake up smiling-- because I know that I will talk to you soon. I --have felt that way for some time now.”

Chloe only let out a single syllable, “oh.”

Lex panicked, ‘What have I done? Gabe may have said I could date Chloe, but he never said she felt the same. She was just joking you fool! Why I am I incapable of controlling myself around her?!’

“Lex?” Chloe asked, checking that their connection was still good.

Lex Luthor dug deep from that wealth of Luthor determination and controlled his voice, “Yes, Chloe.”

“I like you, too,” Chloe admitted. Lex had been very clear about his feelings. It emboldened her to ask the next question, “Does that mean you want to date?”

Chloe was experiencing a very modern woman’s dilemma. She wanted clarity on a situation, but still wanted the man to ask her first.

Lex was very much relieved that she felt the same, his voice, dropping all pretenses, revealed the turmoil he had been in, “Yes Chloe, I very much wish to date you, if you would like me to?”

Chloe felt a rush of feminine pleasure. As important professional credibility is, she wanted to balance her life with personal success as well.

“Well, you’re coming to Smallville this weekend aren’t you?” Chloe prompted.

Lex immediately took up the demure provocation and answered with a question of his own, “Chloe, may I take you out to dinner on Saturday?”

Chloe bewitchingly replied to Lex’s question with, “It’s a date.”

A/N3: This is the pen Lex gives Gabe (just $385, I don’t think if I added every single pen and pencil I’ve bought in my life it would add to that) http://www.montblanc.com/en-us/shop/writing-instruments/meisterstck/black-resin-gold/m164-ballpoint-pen-10883.aspx

Ch. 22

After finalizing plans for their date and getting off the phone with Lex, Chloe sat on the floor of her room, quietly packing the last box on auto-pilot.

Chloe wasn’t sure exactly when it happened, but sometime over the weekend, she had a new confidence around Lex. That was even before the conversation that had changed everything with Lex.

She knew talking to someone daily over the phone changes things. She knew seeing said person would feel different. What she didn’t know was what exactly had changed. She had been crushing on Lex since his arrival to Smallville. Sure she had liked Clark, had hoped to date him.

Pete was enough evidence to show you could like more than one person at a time.

Still, her crush on Lex had been like a celebrity crush: you don’t ever really think you’ll meet them, let alone personally text them.

‘Lex and I might hold hands and hug each other, but this is-- wow.’

Just then a knock was heard at Chloe’s door. It was followed by the voice of her father, “I hope you’re not napping Chloe.”

Chloe didn’t reply immediately and Gabe opened the door to peer inside, “Hi Angel, it was quiet so I wanted to check, but it looks like you’re almost done.”

At the sight of her kind father, Chloe realized the hardest part wasn’t hoping Lex could return her feelings. –It was telling this man, the first man a daughter loves, that he did.

Seeing the skittish expression on Chloe’s face, Gabe sat down next to her on the floor as quickly as he could. He put an arm around her and pulled her close, “Chloe, what is it? Is it school? You know you’ll still have a few days to settle in before classes resume, but if you think you’ll need more time, you can wait and still graduate on time. You know you’re ahead by a semester?”

Chloe smiled at her dad’s attempt to read her mind, “It’s not that Daddy. I just—Daddy, remember when we talked about boys.”

Gabe had a feeling he knew where this was going, but let his daughter speak. He only nodded the head which leaned upon hers.

“Well, there’s someone that has grown to like me. He’s thoughtful and charming. I know you trust him…” Chloe’s voice trailed off, but at the gentle squeeze of her father’s hand on her shoulder, she continued, “I like him too. And I would like to go out with him on a date when we get back –Not immediately, just on Saturday for dinner in Granville.”

“You say I know him, but you haven’t said his name,” Gabe gently prodded. He’d raised his daughter to never be shy, especially around him. He didn’t want her to change now.

“It’s Lex, dad, Lex Luthor, --and I know he’s older, but –“

Before his daughter could start to needlessly rebel against him, Gabe interrupted her and this time she quieted down, “Chloe, you know that I trust your instincts right?”

“You say that my intuition is worth more than Lincoln’s and LBJ’s courage combined,” Chloe reaffirmed.

“So, why does it sound like you think I wouldn’t approve?” Gabe gently reprimanded.

“You don’t?” Chloe reservedly spoke out.

“I’m not dancing a jig over it, but everything you said about Lex is true,” Gabe reassured, “As long as you’re happy, I’m satisfied to give my permission. And thank you for telling me.”

Chloe turned to wrap her arms around her father and laughed into his shirt, “Your welcome Dad.”

“Let’s get this box taped up and have a snack. My little trip up here was to prevent Lois from trying to bake you cookies.-- Sam is still at work, but the three of us could go out for Starbucks,” Gabe offered.

At Chloe’s reaction to “Starbucks,” Gabe protested, “Hey they don’t have Red Bean Frappuccino in the States.” The arched eyebrow provoked him to say, “I haven’t judged your stocking up on socks!”

Chloe laughed at her dad’s gripes. She had been buying every funky sock she could find, triples of some pairs, ‘Why not they’re only a dollar a pair.’

“How about this Dad, the three of us take the taxi to Starbucks, but Lois and I walk back together and through the market?” Chloe counter-offered.

“How about we stay together all the way back to the house? -- I’ll be busy too once we get back to the States and I want to spend some time with my angel,” Gabe said extending his hand.

Chloe took it and shook firmly, “We might even buy you some ties for your new promotion,” Chloe added with a beaming smile.

***
Ch. 23

Lois sat in a lawn chair waiting for Uncle Gabe to bring Chloe out for a break from packing. The window to Chloe’s room was open. It was a beautiful day without any risk of inhaling yellow dust that traveled in the air sometimes.

Lois could hear father and daughter talking, but she couldn’t tell what it was about.

However, Lois knew something was up the minute Uncle Gabe announced from upstairs that they were heading to Starbucks, ‘Chloe is in a very giving mood.’

And later, as Chloe walked after her father down the stairs Chloe mouthed, “We need to talk” through a mega-watt smile.

‘Alright Lane, time to use those rarely used deductive reasoning skills Chloe goes on about,” Lois challenged herself.

‘She must have just gotten off the phone with Lex after their daily chat around the time Uncle Gabe went up there,’ Lois became excited, ‘It’s gotta be about A-lexander and something GOOD.’

The way Lois rushed up to Chloe, made Gabe realize that female intuition was alive and well.

When the taxi pulled up to the curb, Gabe wisely slid into the front passenger seat and let the girls take the back.

Chloe made eye contact with her dad as he turned to buckle his seatbelt. He tilted his head and gestured that Chloe could go ahead and tell Lois, ‘It’s a little uncomfortable to witness the girl talk, but I’m glad Chloe feels she can speak freely around me.’

Chloe turned to Lois, who was sitting like a child about to go to Disney World --like a barely contained fireworks show about to explode.

Chloe straight away said, “Lex and I are going on a date this Saturday.”

Only because of the company did Lois refrain from shrieking, “I told you so!” –It still came out pretty loud.

Gabe harrumphed in the front seat.

Lois bashfully, well as bashfully as she would ever look, looked at him and back to Chloe.

Lois still plowed ahead, “No more socks for you; we are buying you an outfit.”

Chloe hesitated but knew she had to rein Lois in, “Actually Lo- daddy was going to walk back with us from Starbucks.”

At that, Gabe chimed in, “Well, I could disappear after we find me a tie or two.”

“Uncle Gabe, you are awesome! In that case let’s hit the COEX mall. You need something spectacular, and Chloe needs something drop-dead se--,” Lois was enthused, but remembering the company again finished with, “fascinating.”

Chloe rolled her eyes and laughed at her cousin’s attempted save.

***

Three hours later…

Gabe had not three ties, but 10, TEN ties. And Chloe had not one, but 3 outfits.

The three of them had gotten their drink orders to-go and started shopping immediately.

Gabe was grateful for the raise that came with his promotion, because otherwise he would not have been able to afford this little quest.

Knowing that while in Korea Gabe had several suits tailor made and the exact shades (thanks to the fabric scraps Chloe had made him bring), Lois and Chloe had insisted on multiple ties that “Fit” his new position. Some were for just the office, some to “make an impression” when meeting clients, and others for more formal events.

In addition, Chloe had insisted he buy a pair of shoes for the more formal events. Faced with a young woman determined on having her way, Gabe had no choice but submit. Normally, Gabe would never have spent so much on himself, but Chloe refused to buy one thing for herself until he gave in. However, once Gabe was taken care of the two cousin had proceeded to do a number on him.

They kept him laughing and entertained so much that he didn’t even notice how many times Chloe went to the changing room. It might have been three hours of shopping, but he never had to look for the ubiquitous “yes, dear” chair once.

However once they got to the luggage shop, Gabe had grown suspicious.

Chloe commenced to convince him, “Dad, you remember how you told me clothing is an expression of yourself, but it also can be used to project armor?”

Gabe remembered having that discussion when Chloe started to choose her own clothes after Moira had left.

“Well, our accessories are an extension of that, besides you don’t want to have to pack another box do you?” Chloe reasoned.

‘I can’t argue with that reasoning,’ Gabe thought to himself and pulled out his wallet. “Alright, here’s the card.”

***

When they had finally made it home, the General already had dinner ready: Steaks, every soldiers go to celebratory chow.

“Uncle Sam, we’ve still got one more night before we leave,” Chloe exclaimed at the spread.

“Well, you never know when I’ll be delayed coming home from duty, so there is no time like the present,” he sat down and gestured everyone else to take their seats.
***
After dinner, Chloe and Lois excused themselves to prepare for their night out. The General had given special permission for Lois to miss school the next day --so there was no rush.

“Alright Lo, guess you have to tell me what we’re doing now so I can get dressed,” Chloe said once they were alone.

“Actually I don’t have to, I have your outfit, right here,” Lois said as she pulled a new outfit out of her closet.

Chloe recognized the items on the hanger from shopping that afternoon, “Wait a minute, didn’t I try that on and you said it was too country?”

“Too country for a date with A-lexander,” Lois teased.

“Agh, did everybody know?” Chloe lamented as she grabbed the hanger from Lois.

Lois snickered, “Your eyes gave you away every time he texted or called.”

“Well, now that I know, I’ll be better able to control myself,” Chloe said from the bathroom.

Lois scoffed, “Ha and that’s why you had to take the trash out this week.”

“My poker face is getting better,” Chloe responded, but didn’t hold back the grimace at the memory of losing the bet that had resulted in trash duty.

“Yeah, I guess it has, but I’ll always be able to read you baby cuz,” Lois theorized as she finished changing her own clothes and began doing her make-up.

“And I can read yours too, but somehow you always manage to have the better hand,” Chloe mused.

“Chalk that up to experience, but I think tonight we’ll both be winners,” Lois envisaged.
***
Later that night…

Chloe was impressed by the view. The first stop on Lois’s itinerary wasn’t so much a stop as a night drive on the Bukak Skyway, the road that stretches along the ridgeline of the Bugaksan Mountain. The winding road gave a panoramic view of downtown Seoul and passed through some spectacularly lit traditional buildings. The sight was immensely different than that seen from Namsan, the home of Seoul Tower.

Chloe had seen some of the sights during the day, ‘but this makes it entrancing.’

Lois then directed the taxi to the streets of Shinchon. It was located between three of the most prestigious universities in Korea. Like college towns in the States, these streets seemed filled with happy and carefree youths. Chloe and Lois stood out slightly while going between the numerous restaurants, bars, rock cafes, and nightclubs that line the alleys. But they were safer than Smallville in broad daylight.

“Everyone has a distinct style here, Lo,” Chloe commented.

“Yup, non-conformity reigns here,” Lois asserted.

“I’m going to miss that about being in Korea,” Chloe mentioned. Just then she saw something daring. It was a demonstration of Nol-Ttwigi (Korean See-saw).

Unlike in the States where riders sit straddling either side of the see-saw, nol-ttwigi participants stand on their side jumping up and down. The object is to force their partner on the opposite side into the air.

The players in this demonstration were flying 10 – 15 feet up in the air performing splits and tricks with hoops and gymnastic ribbons.

Chloe looked up in awe as they defied gravity, ‘Heights are one thing, but falling is another.’

Chloe and Lois applauded and took pictures with the rest of the crowd.

The performers took their bows and then began to ask for people willing to try it.

Naturally, Lois was the first to raise her hand and dragged Chloe up to the plank of wood, “Lois?”

“Come on Chloe, they can hold your hand if you want,” Lois harassed.

At that remark, Chloe planted her feet firmly on one side of the plank and gave Lois a look of challenge.

Lois smiled, ‘Game on.’

The two cousins jumped three times before one of them took flight. It was Chloe who managed to get Lois up in the air first.

After that the cousins easily gained altitude.

Chloe had gotten comfortable with the up and down sensations and was the first to attempt a toe touch. The crowd let out a collective gasp of surprise and followed it with applause.

Lois’s competitive side urged her to try a split, but the performers, concerned for their wellbeing, pressed them to slow down and stop.

Lois gave Chloe a smile of concession and hugged her as they met in the middle. They gave a little bow to the audience who applauded their efforts.

“Lois, tonight has been so Totally Awesome!” Chloe declared as they again took to the streets.

[cbrunberg]

love that lex asked for permission to date chloe.can't wait for the next chapter

[leeleeginevra]

I love how this is going and am really looking forward to the next chapter.

[reyeslu]

A/N: Alright folks, this is getting closer to the end, the first date. This has been so much fun writing and thank you for all the feedback.

Ch. 24

‘My stomach feels like I’m back on the nol-ttwigi (Korean See-saw),’ Chloe tried to focus on the movie she’d selected on the LuthorCorp jet plane’s entertainment system, but her nerves weren’t letting her.

She was sitting in a luxurious seat wearing equally luxurious traveling clothes. Lex had prepared outfits for both her and her father and left a note that said, “For a comfortable journey.” He had simply signed it “Lex.”

Chloe had found the ombre jersey kimono sleeve jumpsuit a perfect fit. Normally she would have to get the length altered, but the maroon purple to royal blue pant legs fit like it had been made for her. Rather than the one-size fits most slippers found on commercial airlines, Lex had arranged for purple suede slip-on shoes to be available for her along with a pair of purple cashmere socks. Inside the right shoe he had tucked in a note, “Sorry, they only make boring cashmere socks, but I think this color compliments you.”

The words in his handwriting had caused on immediate rush of warmth to her heart.

But as comfortable as she had been at the start of the journey, she was now equally uncomfortable.

She adjusted the power seat from reclining to upright, that didn’t help. She switched the view on the console from the movie to a display of the flight’s progression; the time left on the plane didn’t calm her.

The Sullivans were 5 hours away from the landing strip in Smallville and Chloe was trying to keep her mind away from stressful places. She’d spent most of the 17 hour flight asleep with the exception of the refuel and immigrations inspection in Los Angeles.

Lex had covered up the Sullivans’ time away with professional training for her dad which her father accomplished online. The only ones from Smallville to know the truth were the Kents and Pete. So there were no real explanations to be made. It had been a sudden departure, but the residents of Smallville were used to the unexplained. Even mysterious deaths were rarely contemplated for long.

She was happy to be going home, ‘So why does it feel like a marching army has taken residence in my gut?’

Chloe hugged the pillow she was holding to her chest. She ignored the feel of the 900 thread count Egyptian cotton on her skin and tried to focus again on the screen. Chloe longed to go to her father and talk till her mind was at ease, but he had holed himself up in the stateroom on the plane with the financial sheets of the plant. He’d come out to her to eat the meals the cabin crew of two male flight attendants had prepared, but when finished he’d gone immediately back to work.

Chloe had ducked her head in one time, to bring him some coffee he’d requested from the attendants and seen the floor space covered in papers. She had learned her organizational skills from her father.

Seeing his concentration, Chloe had stepped over the papers carefully and set the coffee down on an available spot near him. It wasn’t until she kissed her father’s cheek, did he look up from his reading.

He’d looked up at her sheepishly and said, “There’s just so much to catch up on.”

“It’s okay dad; I know,” Chloe had given him a one-armed hug before leaving.

Since that had been 3 hours ago, Chloe thought of checking on her father again.

‘He didn’t say I couldn’t disturb him, but he did say at the beginning of the flight that it was best if we each tried to get used to the change in time zones on our own.’ Chloe deliberated, ‘I can just peek and if he’s sleeping I’ll leave him alone.’

She set aside the pillow and walked softly to the back of the plane. She tested the knob and found the door unlocked.

Chloe opened the door an inch, but saw that the other side was in darkness, ‘Oh, dad must be asleep.’

She silently shut the door and went back to the main room sitting area. Rather than go back to her seat, Chloe went to the wet bar and poured herself a glass of water.

The chilled liquid slid down her throat making a path that cooled her body, but her mind was still feverish.

She decided she’d give Lex a call from the in-flight phone. She moved to the electronically operated console table which housed a pop-up communications monitor, a multi- function printer, and the noise-cancelling headsets. She slipped the headphones on and dialed Lex’s cellphone number.

It was the first time she would be calling him. She hoped the number worked since she wasn’t calling from the phone he’d given her.

It rang three times before it was answered. Lex voice came to her clearly in a polite tone, “How is the flight going?”

“Lex, hi it’s Chloe, --it’s going okay,” she answered.

The voice she heard reply was much warmer, “Good morning, Chloe. I was not sure if you would be sleeping. I am glad you called for our daily dialogue.”

“Oh, I forgot to check the time, you’re not busy are you?” Chloe asked.

Lex chuckled, “Actually, this is the exact time I usually call you, Chloe.”

Chloe blushed, not that Lex could see it, “Well, that worked out nicely. --So, you sure you won’t be able to meet us at the hangar?” Chloe asked hopefully.

“Thursdays are the LuthorCorp weekly board meetings,” Lex replied wistfully, “But I will be there Saturday on your doorstep at 7 in the evening.”

A spark was lit in Chloe’s eye in anticipation, “You still haven’t told me where we’ll be eating, Lex. How’s a lady supposed to prepare?”

“Anything you wear will be appropriate,” Lex assured her, “But I will be coming from the mansion, not from work, so no necktie, if that helps any.”

“Well, marginally,” Chloe responded, ‘Alright, one outfit down, two more to go.’

“Will you be wearing jeans?” Chloe probed, ‘Like the ones that showed your shapely bum last Sunday.’

“I was hoping to impress you for our first date, Chloe,” Lex crooned, “But, what would you like me to wear?”

‘Hmm, dressing Lex Luthor,’ Chloe’s mouth watered at the thought. She was a healthy young adult, after all.

“Oh, so I’m getting some control over the evening, after all?” Chloe enquired.

‘You, Chloe Sullivan, are not aware of the power you have in your hands right now,’ Lex held the thought to himself and replied aloud, “I aim to please the lady.”

Chloe almost rubbed her hands together in glee, “So if I said, an ascot and a kilt?”

“I would answer: traditional or boxers?” Lex countered, his voice tight, not in annoyance, but at the thought of the outfit bringing a smile and deep laughter from Chloe.

“I don’t believe you,” Chloe hooted teasingly.

“Testing me already, Chloe?” Lex muttered, much to his and Chloe’s surprise.

Chloe decided that, ‘yes, maybe I am.’ Sure of her feelings, Chloe answered Lex with a flippant, “Maybe I just want to see some leg, and somehow, shorts on a man don’t look right to me.”

Never used to backing down, especially against Chloe, Lex again reacted automatically, “Well, then I will be requiring an answer to the question: traditional or boxers?”

“Tra-di-tion-al,” Chloe slickly rejoined.

Just then, Chloe could hear a voice in the background. It sounded like Clark, ‘But Lex is in Metropolis?’

Lex quickly got off the phone with Chloe. She took the headset off, robotically placing it in the correct spot and went back to her seat in front of the HD screen.

Instead of watching the images, she prayed

…In Lex’s Metropolis Penthouse…

“Clark, what’s wrong?” Lex asked his friend who had just appeared in his dining room a moment ago.

“You weren’t answering your phone,” Clark answered, and had no way of preparing Lex for the next bit of news, “Lex, Pete and I were being driven in the sport utility limo you sent to go prepare the hangar for Chloe’s arrival. I heard a vehicle approaching fast behind us.”

Lex steeled himself for what Clark would say next.

“Lex, it was one guy and he rammed the back. Everyone’s okay. I was able to get a seatbelt on Pete before the vehicle made contact, but I had to tell you immediately. Pete is back at home. Your men are interrogating the man that attacked now. Do you think it’ll be safe for Chloe to land still?” Clark looked to Lex for assurance and guidance.

Lex had enemies. It came with being in business and a Luthor, but he could only think of one that would want to get to Lex through his friends in Smallville.

Lex rose from his seat, like a king from his throne, and turned to his friend, a man invincible against bullets, but clearly shaken at the thought of Chloe in danger.

“Lex, your driver took evasive actions, so I only saw his face, before we were sped off to a secure location. I told your guards the license plate number and described the man to a sketch artist; from that your men apprehended him,” Clark recapped, just speaking to fill the silence.

Lex took his friend’s shoulders in a reassuring grip and commanded his attention, “The Sullivans’ are still more than 4 hours away. That is plenty of time to get to the bottom of this, Clark. –You are sure Pete is okay?”

Clark nodded. Lex continued, “Your parents? They were still at home right?”

Clark nodded again, “I checked on them as soon as I could without being seen. Mom was still baking and dad was in the barn.”

Lex acknowledged the information and let Clark go. He walked to the expansive windows, his eyes blind to the Metropolis skyline.

Lex contemplated this information, ‘Only Pete and Clark were threatened.’ Lex knew of his father’s attraction to Martha Kent and had assumed she would never be harmed in this war of theirs, ‘but how could he have arranged it? All his money is taken away from him. Chloe uncovered 10 offshore accounts. Were there more? He gets different guards every other week, in that short time did he manage to make promises to one of them?”

Lex’s mind reeled. He thought he had planned for every scheme Lionel could formulate.

Lex called his head of security, “What have you uncovered?”

“Sir, we were waiting till the appointed time,” the man avoided the original question. His standing orders had been to never disturb Mr. Luthor between 6 and 15 minutes after in the morning.

Lex was impatient, “I didn’t ask that.”

Hastily the man responded, “He wasn’t sent by your father, sir. It appears he’s a junkie that hoped to make a quick snatch for some ransom. The preliminary information has been sent to your e-mail along with the link to the video feed from the interrogation room.”

Lex turned to Clark, knowing that he could hear the discussion clearly. Clark’s face reflected the same uncertainty in the information that Lex felt.

“Use the serum on him, you cannot afford to be wrong,” with that Lex hung up the phone and spoke to Clark, “What do you think?”

Clark had no qualms against using the serum. Clark wanted to be sure of the man’s motives as well, “Let’s open that e-mail.”

Lex and Clark moved to Lex’s office in the next room.

Used 24 hours a day, the computer was always on. It took only a moment to turn on the wall panel of large computer screens.

Lex was able to open the file immediately. On one screen he had the interrogation room open. On another, was the information his security found about the man.

Clark read quickly, “Trent MacGowen, former Belle Reeve patient, bank accounts don’t look suspicious. Works at a cookware metal foundry in the area. They’ve cross-checked his image with visitors, employees, and recent releases from Lionel’s prison.”

As Clark read, Lex watched his team inject MacGowen with the truth serum. It had been sold to the government and used on terrorists that threatened the security of all. Now it was being used on someone that possibly threatened the one person Lex treasured above all.

MacGowen tried to resist, but the technician jammed the needle into MacGowen’s shoulder. Instead of seeing the serum injected, Lex saw the needle shatter. MacGowen’s body was all metal.

The doctor administering the drug was thrown across the room while the other investigators retreated and instigated a facility lockdown.

Clark was about to run to the facility, when Lex shouted, “Wait!”

Knockout gas was pumped into the room and MacGowen and the doctor left with him passed out.

Lex’s phone rang, “Mr. Luthor-“

Lex interrupted his head of security, “I saw, -- the man is metal, use the electrical cage.”

Clark moved to the keyboard controlling the screens and brought up the LuthorCorp research on meteor infected.

Chloe had uncovered Lionel’s research facilities. Lex had taken them over making them more humane, but still dedicated to finding all meteor infected people.

Clark had been helping since he still felt responsible for those affected by the meteors that came with his arrival. He was familiar with every case.

Clark found what he was looking for as Lex hung up the phone, “Lex, we had someone else on file that was also metal, worked at a metal foundry during the meteor shower. You were right to use the electrical cage, but they’ll have to ingest the truth serum for it to work.”

“I will inform the team, cross reference MacGowen through the whole LuthorCorp system, Clark,” Lex directed.

It took less than 30 minutes for McGowan to be contained, awoken, and made to drink the truth serum. Lex’s team questioned him again. And it came out.

MacGowen was a sleeper assassin. In exchange for Lionel getting MacGowen out of Belle Reeve and finding a cure, Trent would have to do a job, possibly kill, no questions asked and upon completion the cure would be administered as well as a new life provided. If he failed Trent was on his own. After waiting two years, yesterday evening Trent had been contacted on a cellphone kept strictly for that purpose and was still in the truck. The directions had been to attack the sport utility limo on its way from the airport on that secluded road and to keep at least one of the passengers alive and leave them restrained at his house. Trent was then supposed to leave and stay hidden till he was contacted again on the same phone to be given his reward. It was only by chance that Trent had gotten confused about the directions and not given a specific time. When he saw the limo he panicked and rammed from the rear. Originally, Trent was supposed to wait for the limo in a tree that hung over the road. He was going to jump down and slice away.

The story poured out of the man like water out of a broken dam. It was a torrent of information damaging Lex’s carefully constructed sense of security.

His office became a central command center. Electronics technicians were sent to work on the cellphone trying to find the caller. Chloe’s flight had to be diverted. Fortunately, the General had insisted on a contingency plan and had a friend with an airstrip.

Lex contacted the General, who would contact the Sullivan’s and the friend with the airstrip.

Lex stamped down his emotions and tried to focus, ‘I wish I could be the one to explain to Chloe. Dammit Dad, why? Did you think I could get you out of jail? Give you back the company?’

Clark interrupted Lex’s thoughts, “Lex, I want to be taken back to Trent’s house as a prisoner. We need to see if we can catch another person in Lionel’s scheme. We have to find out if Lionel has more sleepers.”

Lex stood behind his desk. He was hunched over with both palms resting heavily on either side of the keyboard. Lex looked at Clark and then he looked at the two photos on his desk.

One was of a young Lex sitting in his mother’s lap when she was pregnant with Julian.

The other was more recent. It was taken in the Kent’s living room by a camera set on timer as it rested on the fireplace. There were 5 people in the photograph. Mr. and Mrs. Kent were sitting on the couch while Clark, Lex, and Pete had posed behind them. Lex stood in the middle with a genuine smile. It was the evening after Lionel’s guilty verdict and sentence had been passed. They had had a small celebratory dinner.

Lex had felt so relieved at that time. And now it was all slipping away, ‘Clark may be invincible, but what if MacGowan tried something, that would expose Clark’s secret.’

Lex shook his head, “Clark, no, it’s too dangerous. Your secret is too much of a weapon in the wrong hands.“

“My secret, people protecting my secret, that’s why we’re in this mess,” Clark had never wanted to kill a man, but he wouldn’t mind throwing Lionel into a pit deep in the center of the earth.

“Clark, if not you, Lionel would be hunting someone else. The man is obsessed with power. At least you have the means to fight back and win,” Lex consoled Clark as he planned his next move.

Lex wanted to believe that if they worked hard enough they could stop Lionel from harming them again, but Lex knew better. The only way was to go to the man directly and get him to stop hatching these plots in the first place.


A/N2: Trent MacGowen is from the Smallville episode “Gone” - Season 4 Episode 2. I never actually saw that episode so I don’t know how Lionel met or interacted with him.

A/N3: Part of me wanted to hurry up and get to the first date, but another part of me wanted some more challenge to this romance. You see who won. I just love bad Lionel In fiction. Real world villains just need to be taken out back and hung with a rope which is re-used for the next criminal that wants to break the social contract. Yeah, I’m from Texas.

[cbrunberg]

like to see lex and clark working together

[hfce]

EEK!! I feel so scared for Chloe and Gab. I am glad Lex and Clark are working together. They can hopefully stop Lionel. :)

[reyeslu]

Hi y'all this isn't an update. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be working on this till Christmas break. But good news I'll be so free to write that you'll forgive me, ok?

Hope you all have a wonderful American Thanksgiving! It's my favorite holiday and I just want to take the opportunity to say I'm thankful for all of your encouragement.

Cheers!

[reyeslu]

A/N: So I’ve always wanted to make my own resolution for Lionel ever since the Level 3 episode (ya know Jitters Season 1 Episode 8). Don’t get me wrong, the phenomenal acting of John Glover was always a highlight of the show. And I appreciate that heroes need villains. But Ay! Don’t you wish bad guys got to suffer? So yeah there’ll be some suffering, but it’s not torture (keepin’ it PG).

A/N2: and Thanks for not urging me to hurry because this was tricky for me. Barbara Cartland doesn't have any villains that I've come across like Lionel. So I wrote this chapter out of order with the conflict last even though it comes in the middle.

Ch. 25

To be unable to recall experience and to profit by it is a common characteristic of the morons.

Lex knew that by coming to his father, he was giving Lionel power, ‘I wanted to forget him and move on. To be a moron and profit from memory loss is not my fate.’

No Lex would always have to outwit. His life would never be simple. It took a murderous computer hacker, his manipulative father, and the secret of an alien for him to want to relinquish his hope for love. If Lex wanted to survive with his insanity he might have to bury that desire, forever.

Lex sat in his silver Porsche parked outside the prison. His hands in the leather driving gloves gripped the steering wheel, ‘Nothing is easy for me. Not even the most natural human emotion in the world: Love.’

The summer months made days longer, and although it was already 6 in the evening the sun was still shining brightly like it was high noon. Staring at the view of the penitentiary, Lex considered how his day had started and how it had progressed.

That morning he had woken up feeling almost chipper. He had a board meeting to attend and other business obligations that day, but the date with Chloe was less than 70 hours away.

However, instead of heading back to his penthouse after a long day at the office, Lex had to make the stop here, his father’s prison.

After insuring the security of those he cared for, Lex had tried to convince Clark and Pete to go about their day as normal as possible. Trent MacGowan had been surrendered to the authorities. Ironically, it was after a cure had been administered.

The technicians had cracked the phone’s encryption. It was an earlier simpler model to the phone that Chloe now carried, but it was disguised as a cheap pre-paid phone. It had been modified to only receive calls, no texts. It also possessed an incredibly powerful GPS signal.

Whoever tracked it knew that Trent had been compromised, which was why Lex’s team had the man implanted with nano-technology.

It turned the man into a walking sonar receiver. Sounds around the man were taken and made into a 3-D image in a LuthorCorp lab which was now under constant observation.

If Trent had been willing, the LuthorCorp Lab would have also used his eyes as cameras. Lex, ever mindful of his father’s nurturing influence; made sure he wouldn’t victimize Trent who had been as much a victim of Lionel as Lex himself had been.

So far no one had approached Trent which was why Lex was now forcing himself to “visit” his father.

Before the kidnapping attempt, Lex wasn’t focused on clearing the mess that was Lionel. If he were honest with himself, Getting rid of Lionel had simply been a task Lex had postponed.

It didn’t have to happen, ‘If I could get past Lionel’s bravado of the self-centered ego, I might persuade him that his hurting people was why he was going to take his last breath as a prisoner.’

“Yeah right,” Lex muttered sarcastically to himself.

It was time for Lex to stop running from his father. He had something to protect.

It was Chloe.

Lex, thought of her briefly, but erased her image not wanting his judgment clouded. ‘After her safety was ensured, I will think of her.’

Lex took a fortifying deep breath and left his car.

Sometime later…

Lionel was sitting down to his dinner in his cage. It had proven too dangerous for this inmate to mix with the general population. So he was kept in isolation.

His only entertainment was one book at-a-time out of the prison library. For a man accustomed to daily speaking no less than 3 languages and managing numerous projects along with his business empire, it was a woefully inadequate attempt to occupy his time. It was little wonder that he had managed to nearly successfully execute the attack on Lex and friends.

That much should have been obvious to Lex and the authorities. Lionel had nothing to do but escape in his imagination. The only furniture in the 10 x 10 space was a cot and a student desk with the chair attached to it. The toilet afforded no privacy. Once a day, he was taken to the showers.

Lionel was permitted an hour outdoors each day, but that too was solitary.

As nice as his own furnishings had been: California king size bed in a hand-carved solid wood German frame, desks with chairs that actually separated, and windows that overlooked his kingdom in Metropolis; it was Lionel’s epicurean tastes that suffered the most in prison.

After this morning’s attack, Lex made sure any small luxury Lionel had enjoyed was immediately taken away. As a result, Lionel was looking at the plastic spork on his decomposable tray while he sat at the student desk.

Lionel turned his gaze to the hamburger steak and gravy made from powder and then back to the spork. As he sat, the gravy was slowly soaking the tray and the green beans took on more of a plastic appearance.

That was how Lex found him after making his way through the security.

Lex was the first to speak when it became clear that Lionel had nothing to say.

Lionel had looked up at Lex’s entrance but his gaze had gone swiftly back to the spork.

It was then Lex decided how he would be sharing his news to Lionel, ‘Hard, fast, and with no pleasure for either of them.’ Honesty serum had been placed in Lionel’s food, but since he hadn’t deigned the food worthy of consumption, Lex had to use old fashioned Shock.

Lex stood 3 feet away from the enclosure and radiated poise, “Congratulations, you have my attention. And I know I have yours. You will be moved to Sector 7.”

The spork snapping was the only sound heard for a full minute.

While the reaction was the most emotion Lex had seen in his father since the threat on Lex’s life by Lucas, it was not the outburst he’d wanted.

Lex wanted denials, protests, at least a “damn you.”

Sector 7 was another of Lionel’s pet projects. Lex divulged it to the government via General Lane. It would have been a media sensation and a human rights outrage if released.

People with extraordinary abilities were studied in labs around the world. Seeing the danger and benefits poised, the government had kept it operating with LuthorCorp oversight, but now it resembled more of a sterile college dorm than the mad scientist Gitmo prison it had been under Lionel. Certain people were still under the strictest of controls, as Lionel would be, but since most of the people wanted to control their abilities they stayed willingly.

Suddenly, Lionel rose from the ridiculous student desk with entirely more poise than someone about to be sent “away” to be studied like the rat he was.

He walked closer to the barrier that stood between him and Lex in smooth even steps.

Rather than stopping, Lionel pressed against the prison bars. To Lex, it appeared as if his father was sweating, but the older man had been as cool as an iceberg a second ago.

The sweat appeared greenish in tent.

With a roar befitting his former mane of glory, Lionel passed through the bars as a mass of slime. The slime moved like a tidal wave about to engulf Lex.

Lex would have stood in shock, except at that moment he was whooshed away to safety by Clark.

Clark had been observing on the other side of the door with his X-ray vision.

It was providential that Lex had been unable to convince Pete and Clark to go about a “normal” day. The boys had instead spent the day researching how Lionel could have masterminded the attack.

Hours of security footage of Lionel’s cell had revealed a mass that moved from the bunk while Lionel slept. It was indiscernible with the human eye on the black and white film, but Clark’s vision had caught it.

Following the mass’s path on other cameras, it was revealed that the mucus mass would reform into Lionel at payphones.

Lionel’s meteor power as ooze slime shocked Lex, although it hadn’t shocked Pete.

Still in ooze form, Lional thrashed about the enclosure that was now airtight and water proof.

The sprinklers were opened, but the usual liquid was replaced with a solidifying agent.

Within seconds, Lionel was hardened and a clean-up crew moved in to transport him.

Outside, a concerned Pete and Clark watched over Lex as he tried to catch his breath.

Lex’s chest constricted as if from the asthma attacks of his youth before the meteor shower.

Lex’s thoughts raced, ‘I didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. I had hoped it wasn’t him. Now that we know it was him, is it safe. Will she be safe?’

Pete held back the medics that would have moved in on Lex. Instead, Pete grabbed the oxygen and held it Lex’s face himself. He spoke to him in a reassuring voice as Clark stood guard.

“Lex, -- Lex breath. --That's it, bro...You’re safe. Clark got you out and your dad is solid like steel…” Pete soothed his friend.

Blue eyes met brown and Lex’s battling monologue ended. Pete smiled and clapped Lex on the shoulder.

Pete released his hold on the gas mask as Lex reached a hand up to hold it himself, but Pete kept a firm calming clasp on Lex’s shoulder. “Welcome back, Lex.”

Meanwhile…

A frozen Lionel on a mediocre push cart passed the scene of the three friends protecting and caring for each other.

‘It’s an excellent match,’ Lionel thought.

The day after…
Lex realized the reason why Lionel’s liver wouldn’t heal. It wasn’t cancer, but that the organ was overwhelmed with the glop Lionel’s transformation produced.

The transformation the day before had left Lionel as slime for the foreseeable future.

The doctor’s advised Lex that a black mass radiating from where Lionel’s heart would have been signified a swift decomposition.

Lex was there in his father’s new confines to say goodbye.
Lionel, the slime, was, again, in the center of the room. This time the enclosure was filled with whirring machines that beeped though they were stuck almost haphazardly into the mass.

Lex looked at the puddle that was his father and spoke forcefully, “If I ever acted with any emotional integrity you might actually die of fright. But the time for bowing in submission to you is no more. I will not let you cost me everything. You might try to cast me into utter darkness, but I have found my light.” Lex departed without another word or backward glance.

It was the last he would ever speak to his father. The door shut behind him and with it, Lex shut that chapter of his life.

Lionel lay morose, in his slime form Lex’s voice had carried as sound waves hitting all of him, ‘I was calamitous in my judgment of you all and I shall celebrate because all I ever wanted for you, Lex, was to be able to throw me off.’

Lionel’s “lips” lifted into a grin, but it was as if it never happened for no one was looking.
***
Chloe groaned in frustration at being held prisoner again. At least in Korea she had Lois and studying.

A busy Chloe is far less anxious than one trapped inside a non-descript house for an unspecified amount of time. Last time it was months. This time, she didn’t even have the luxury of the internet as there hadn’t been time to set up a secure access. In middle-of-nowhere USA, there were no anonymous internet cafes to visit.

‘I’m sick of TV, don’t feel like a movie, what can I do?’ Chloe thought as she pushed herself off the couch. She shut the TV off and stretched.

Her dad was outside speaking to her Uncle Sam on their cell phones.

Chloe thought about texting Lex, but quickly dismissed the idea. ‘He must be busy.’

When the Sullivan’s had been diverted from Metropolis and landed safely, she had received a text from Lex, “We’ll get whoever is responsible. Sorry to keep you in the dark, but you are safer on the ground than in the air.”

Chloe didn’t like it, but she understood what he wasn’t saying. Lex couldn’t trust his people--again. So she had to be sent away--again.

Chloe had left all of her things behind--again--except for two bags. Amongst her few possessions was her baby, her laptop. Her friends knew about her published writing, but they didn’t know that she had just as much space on her laptop devoted to her personal thoughts.

‘I’ve got to write.’ Chloe decided. It was her therapy. Ten minutes of putting her feelings into words was better than 2 hours of a hot stone massage with aroma therapy.

She went to the desk in the living room and sat down. The simple act of settling in front of her baby began the mental reset of her stress levels. Chloe lifted the lid of her laptop and started it up.

It took less than 3 minutes for the computer to turn on and for Chloe to pull up her digital diary.

Looking at the blank screen with the blinking cursor, Chloe rolled her shoulders and began to write:

I feel haunted by his face. In every waking, dreaming minute since I last heard his voice, his eyes seem to follow me.

Ever since I’ve known that he returns my feeling I haven’t thought of anyone else. This is all so intense. I pray that it will last.

The moment that we are alone, will he take me into his arms? I long to be with him. I long to share all those sweet moments that now I only dream of. The longer I am left alone here. The more vivid my dreams become.

I only hope that he thinks of me with the same passion that I am beginning to feel for him. One day, I might wake up, but for right now, I feel we will be together and will know the joys of love. I’ve got to stop thinking about him. But every time I close my eyes he is there with me. This strange house is so quiet, almost eerily so, but right now I am happy.'

Chloe dated the entry, saved it, and closed her laptop after shutting it down.

She looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Uncle Sam’s friend would be bringing dinner over soon and hopefully with it news.

As much as her dad and Uncle loved her, they were worse than Lex when it came to keeping her informed.

She rose from the desk in a much better mood than when she had sat down. In typing, she was able to let out some of her heavy emotions.

She was recognizing her change of feelings towards Lex, and knew that eventually this conflict with Lionel would be over.

With a lighter heart, Chloe went to the kitchen to start setting 3 places for dinner.

***
At another table…
Clark sat in front of the computer with Pete to his right and a plate of his mom’s cookies to his left while he searched everywhere he could think of for information on Lionel’s phone calls. Because Chloe wasn’t privy to Clark’s secret she hadn’t been granted access to the files regarding meteor mutants, so Pete and Clark had to rely on each other and the small staff Lex had placed under them.

The boys quickly eliminated the phone calls made to Trent MacGowen and worked through 3 quarters of the remaining calls.

A few more hours, and assuming no surprises, they could say they’d uncovered that last of Lionel’s surprises and bring Chloe home.

[Zannie]

Finally caught up with this story. Still loving the action and the twisting of the plot. I'm glad things are progressing with the Chlex relationship - it's nice to see them both growing into their feelings.


Chloe didn’t like it, but she understood what he wasn’t saying. Lex couldn’t trust his people--again. So she had to be sent away--again.

Chloe had left all of her things behind--again--except for two bags.

I really liked this sequence! Nice work. Can't wait to see how you're going to wrap this up!

[hfce]

What a heart pounding update. I am glad Lex was finally able to walk away. :)

[cbrunberg]

loved that lex was able to finally walk away.can't wait to see what happen next between lex and chloe

[reyeslu]

***
A/N: I am SORRY. I think a part of me didn’t want to let go of writing this. The other part is, well it’s so much easier to read other’s great work than try to come up with my own. But I did get to do some things that I have wanted to see done or haven’t seen enough of: Father-daughter interaction, Lionel as a slime meteor freak, Pete and Chloe friendship, Pete and Lex friendship.

I have to add that this has made me appreciate more the effort everyone puts into their works be it written or graphic.

Ch. 26
It had taken an additional plate of cookies and 3 Pumpkin Pies (after all Clark was a good boy and shared the treats with his team), but all of Lionel’s contact with the outside world had been ferreted out.

Lex’s special security team that had been assembled to handle all things Lionel, worked diligently to neutralize Lionel’s deeds.

Lex wanted to rush the Sullivans back to Smallville, but deferred the wishes of his heart and listened to his instincts. If anything, Lionel’s last lesson to Lex was to expect the worst.

In the meantime, Lex reasoned that it was safe to call Chloe. Their phones hadn’t been compromised and it was ritual. In the over eight months of hiding in Korea, Lex had never missed a call and he wouldn’t start now that she was so close.

From his penthouse apartment, Lex called her promptly daily at the usual time, 6 a.m.

Chloe had changed her ringback tone to Coldplay’s “Fix You.”

Since the only people to call her were her father, uncle (and through her father, Lois), and himself, Lex wondered what she was feeling.

Did she know about what had transpired with Lionel?

After Lex’s hired specialists gave their all-clear, Lex contacted the General and waited for his all-clear, “Then, and only then, would I bring the Sullivans back to Smallville,” Lex promised himself.

Lex had weighed his options, but really the decision was clear, “I would never risk Chloe’s safety just as I would never risk revealing Clark’s secret.

Lex, now sat in his Metropolis office and thought of the last time he’d seen Chloe.

It was in Korea, only 5 days ago, but it felt like ages. Lex felt older, but thinking of Chloe took some of his burdens away.

After the negotiations for Gabe’s contract as Executive plant manager, Gabe had excused himself saying he needed to start looking over the flash drive of plant files Lex had brought. It wasn’t long before the printer was humming.

Chloe had sheepishly looked at her coffee mug. It had a faint smear of lipstick she had applied when getting ready for Lex’s arrival that morning. To him the slightly smudged lipstick was a great look for her. He had wondered if her lipstick would stick to him if he stole a kiss.

Lex tried to make eye contact, and when she didn’t return his gaze immediately he took the opportunity to soak in the brilliance of being in her presence.

“A few weeks before and I would have been shocked at these thoughts,” Lex recollected. When he’d first suspected his changing feelings for Chloe, Lex had tried to repress them and date other women. But it had all been for naught.

None of them were smart enough. None of them were funny enough. None of them had that spark in their eye whenever they were on the edge of a discovery.

“I even tried to replace her with women more dedicated to their job than the idea of marriage in hopes of substituting mutual benefits for romance,” Lex mused.

After his fourth blonde, Lex decided to eliminate the distractions and focus on work. The long hours of meetings and memos were followed by business meals and heavy restful sleep.

He wasn’t consciously waiting for Chloe, but being back in front of what he’d tried to replace, Lex had to acknowledge that deep down he was waiting for her.

The way she sat straight but with her feet tucked under was a perfect mix of assertive woman and coy maiden. It hit him hard, like a sucker punch to the eye. Chloe was unique to him because he had fallen for her.

Some of those other women could have similar qualities, but they would never be His Chloe. It was impossible to be inclined to like anyone else with her around.

It was then that Chloe had pushed away her plate of Martha’s baked goodies, and placed her chin in her hand as she positioned her elbow on the table.

“So do I get a welcome back party?” Chloe spontaneously asked.

Lex had smiled, “I thought the negotiations were complete.”

“Oh we’re not negotiating, I’m merely planting ideas into a receptive mind,” Chloe replied.

“Receptive?” Lex questioned with a slight frown he wore in order to incite her.

Ignoring his question, Chloe continued with persuading the billionaire to spend some money on what she envisioned as a delightful dinner with close friends as well as an opportunity to get her harassed confidante to unwind, “Come on, Lex, you’re spoiling for a good time. And what better time can be had than celebrating my triumphant return?”

“And where did you get the idea that the ‘Party Prince of Metropolis’ is in need of fun? And as for triumphant return, I thought it was decided that the downfall was a joint venture?” Lex had poked back.

“Pfft,” Chloe had rejected his comments in a single sound.

The back of Lex’s neck had tingled at the challenge. She was like a shot of adrenalin.

Of course, Chloe had to go on and properly shut down his inquiries, “You know better than to question my sources. And joint venture or not, I did some incredible cyber snooping and I deserve, --no I need to party like its 1999. As much fun as Lois is out in town, only you, Pete and Clark can truly appreciate what we accomplished. There is nothing like celebrating dodging death-by-explosion with a meteoric fireworks show.”

“Because we live in Smallville, may I substitute the adjective ‘meteoric’ with the phrase ‘professionally planned’?” Lex almost begged. At some point, Clark would tell Chloe the truth about the meteors, but at this point it was still a sensitive subject.

Chloe ignored the semantics and dug into the planning, “Since daddy gets sick in revolving restaurants, we shouldn’t risk anything on a yacht,” at that moment Lex had leaned closer and swept some of her hair off her face. No matter how short she cut it, it was never tame, it was vibrant like Chloe.

She’d stopped speaking for a second, but quickly recovered, “And I have been missing proper American bar-b-q, bulgoki is tasty, but it’s not the classic sweet-tart, tomato-based sauce of home. It’ll be a little early for the American Royal Barbecue. How about a farm-to-table restaurant where I can get a rack of ribs?” She comically rubbed her stomach and patted his head as if to make him nod yes.

The gentle touch of her fingers on his scalp had felt like the most honest moment of his life.

Chloe hadn’t pulled her hand away in embarrassment. Somehow, she’d forgotten he was Lex Luthor, Scion of the Monster of Metropolis. Her hand skated down his face and she gently cupped his cheek.

Again his mouth spoke without the filter of his brain, “I have missed you, Chloe.”

“I missed you too, Lex.” Chloe put her hands in her lap and leaned back against her chair.

They shared a smile. The spell was broken when the alarm on Lex’s cellphone began to chime. He was on a tight schedule and it was time to return to Kansas.

Gabe and Chloe walked Lex to the door where he had shaken hands with the older man and hugged the man’s daughter.

Lex shook his head, returning from his memories to his Metropolis office. He'd waited patiently and received the final of the "all-clears" last night. It was time for Chloe to return.

Every source looking into Lionel had concluded it was safe.

The Sullivans were due to arrive in a few hours and Lex was anxious.

Despite knowing he was being irrational, Lex paged his secretary through the intercom, “Julia, have you confirmed this evening’s arrangements.”

Holding back an eye roll, the harassed, but well-paid assistant replied, “Yes, Mr. Luthor, the barbecue from all five restaurants will be waiting at the penthouse, Mrs. Kent will have the two pans of golden sweet cornbread, and Mr. Pete Ross has the fresh brewed Sweet tea chilling in the fridge while he and Mr. Clark Kent decorate. The young men have finished the Penthouse and are at the airport hangar now running procedures with the security team. The banner you ordered is in the Limo you will be taking.” The middle-aged woman replied without taking a breath. ‘Reciting that list 20 times in the past 3 hours is the best cardio,’ she thought.

Lex, satisfied with his plans, ended the conversation with, “Very good, Julia. Thank you.”

Julia would never say it aloud, but it still struck her as surprising that the young Luthor was so polite, not like his father. ‘And he’s in love.’
***
It had been a great homecoming.

The Kents, Pete, and Lex had met the Sullivans at the private airplane hangar with the banner, flowers for Chloe, and a jar of cinnamon peanut butter and a spoon for Gabe.

Gabe had tried to open it and consume the jar there, but Chloe had tsked and whipped the jar out of his hands. “Diet Dad.” She was equally whipped into the center of the group and given many hugs.

Standing to the side, Gabe, glad to see his daughter so well-loved, still asked to himself “What I don’t deserve a reward?” He resigned himself to eating his addiction at midnight as usual. To Lex, also standing slightly away from the group, he’d given his thanks.

To which Lex had replied, “I have to keep my head plant manager content. I thought you’d appreciate it more than flowers and Chloe mentioned your supply was in the luggage left on the plane.”

“Speaking of that luggage, you didn’t have to get a shed built in the backyard to store it.” Gabe said.

“I didn’t want strangers entering your home, Gabe. Pete and Clark offered to do it, but I didn’t think you’d want to be greeted with a mountain of boxes in your living room,” Lex responded.

“I’m sure Chloe will have the two of them working on that problem soon enough. The three musketeers reunited. I’m back to being a largely ignored parental unit.” Gabe mused.

Lex had smiled with Gabe, but felt awkward, ‘Will I now be the largely ignored benefactor?’

He needn’t have worried. At that moment, Chloe had turned to him. She’d saved her best hug for him. At the smile on her face, his stomach butterflies disappeared. The smiles of everyone present made him realize, ‘Family isn’t only who shares your blood, but also who you find in Life to share time with.’

As the hug went on, Chloe whispered in his ear, “I’ll see you on my porch 7pm Sharp tomorrow.”

***
Lex walked up to the Sullivan porch. He’d left his car at 6:59 and timed his knock.

Lex was thankful it was warm night. Otherwise his bare knees would have been visibly knocking, “How do women do this in heels.”

True to his word, Lex had worn a kilt and ascot.

It would have been a very formal look except he’d opted to wear the ascot tie under his starched shirt which he’d left unbuttoned to his chest. Instead of a jacket he opted for a vest.

Maybe he’d been spending a lot of time around Pete and Clark, but the usually formal Luthor had taken to wearing shoes that didn’t require shining when away from work. --And if he admitted it to himself, made driving more enjoyable.

Gabe Sullivan opened the door. He looked tired from spending the day settling back into his own home, but welcomed Lex heartily, “Lex, Come on in,” he stepped aside and directed Lex to the couch. “Have a seat and I’ll get Chloe.” He whispered confidingly in a tone reflecting that he’d been given firm orders, “I’m not supposed to yell for her, but come upstairs and do my ‘Doting Father’ speech there.”

Lex smiled, Gabe was comfortable enough with him to give the candid facts. Lex was prepared to wait for Chloe. Clark and Pete had advised Lex that afternoon after spending the day helping the Sullivans settle in.

*Earlier*
The two friends had come to the mansion and straightaway requested two tall Arnold Palmers and sandwiches.

Pete had looked exhausted hauling the boxes from the shed up to Chloe’s room, but he’d still managed to warn Lex of the preparation that Chloe and Lois had gone into for “the-mother-of-all-dates.”

“You buddy, have brought to my attention that women are not only from Venus, but that you need to invest in women’s apparel. She had 6 boxes and two huge suitcases Stuffed, Lex. Her dad had maybe 150 lbs of stuff total. Chloe broke my back; she had to have had that much weight in one box, Lex.” Pete wailed from the couch where he had collapsed.

Clark poured a refill from the pitcher and added in a groan, “And the fashion show.”

“I wished we’d never given our approval for this date,” Pete grunted, “I love Chloe like a sister, but I never had to answer so many questions from my own sister. It was like an interview about colors in a different language. Thankfully, Lois was able to Skype with her and we escaped.”

***
Lex didn’t have to wait that long. Gabe came back down, surreptitiously wiping a tear.

The two men stood together looking to the stairs.

First a pair of heels could be seen. More of Chloe was revealed as she gently walked down the stairs.
She wore a floor length dress in a floral pattern with the added whimsy of polka dots. But that didn’t catch Lex’s attention.

It was her smile. Her smile, that reached not only her eyes, but seemed to cover her in a dazzling aura.

“Would I err in giving you my heart?” Lex whispered to himself.

Gabe kindly ignored Lex. Chloe came to stop in front of them.

“I like the kilt, I’d ask for proof that it’s traditional, but I don’t want Dad to have a heart attack.” Chloe began.

“At that statement alone I may need my heart jumpstarted, but I’ll live.” Gabe joked.

Lex knew he should be saying something, anything, “Don’t worry about bringing out a defibrillator, Gabe, I hear you have an excellent health plan.” Lacking the words to say how he felt, Lex went on autopilot, offering his arm to Chloe, he asked “Shall we?”
…

Silver Rolls Royce Ghost. Chloe thought the departure from Lex’s typical Porsche to a luxury sedan was in deference to her father. In fact he had chosen it for her ease of exiting and entering the vehicle. The Rolls actually had more horsepower than his newest Porsche.

Chloe looked at the automobile and decided that if cars had personalities, this shiny one would scream ‘stimulating, gorgeous and not afraid to show it.’ Chloe settled herself quickly into the hand-stitched leather seat which was supple. Her fingers unashamedly stroking the surface of the seat, ‘Like butter. This is luxury.’

Basking in her excitement Lex smiled, ‘Amidst she who must be love.’

The happiness his lips communicated reached his eyes and pulsated the baby blues with a spark of cheerfulness. Chloe wanted to make that spark a permanent shine.

…

Something about the mansion looked better than Camelot to Chloe. The original plan to eat a restaurant had been scrapped. Lex’s control of Luthor Corp was still enough of novelty to warrant numerous paparazzi.

He was only able to pick Chloe up himself because he’d had a decoy sitting that very moment in a very exclusive restaurant in Metropolis. The arrangements for a restaurant near Smallville would have drawn suspicion.

Instead, dinner was set under the stars on his patio. Rather than listening to the tinkling of the fountains, Lex had hidden speakers play soft music. Music that they were now dancing to after eating.

Chloe, resting her head on his chest as they swayed, came to a realization, ‘I embrace the truth. I want no other arms around me.’

Butterfly kisses fluttered against the back of her hand that he held, the effect of his lips exponentially enhanced by their innocence. She smiled at him unevenly, but certain in her decision. It was possibly the most awe-inspiring sight he'd ever beheld, he was proud to have this unique women look at him with eyes that belied a multitude of emotions: joy, tenderness, hope, and trust.

Moved to action Lex prepared to speak.


Lex took both of her hands into his. His thumbs brushed the back of her hands as he said, “Chloe, dust piles upon hearts like mine, and it took you to blow it away. I know I would have gotten here with just friendship, but my feelings for you just got me here faster.”

Chloe smiled at that. She didn’t want to be somebody’s world, but it was nice to be his hero.

Her smile changed as she realized something, ‘I love him, I Love him, maybe this is supposed to happen this fast.’

What he said next surprised her. Lex wanted to tell her everything that he’d been holding in for fear of scaring her, “You’re beautiful, Chloe.”

Her eyelids shuttered in denial, but he held her chin. His penetrating stare made her open her eyes. What she saw couldn’t have shocked her more than what he said next.

Lex bared his soul before her, “Even when I couldn’t see you, I felt the radiance in your eyes. I would grip the phone after you would hang up, scared that I would one day lose you. Now that you are in front of me, a strange ecstasy runs through me like electricity in my veins.”

Chloe shrank from his admission, “No, Lex, The whole world will judge me, judge us, I will not meet their standards. I will embarrass you and you—you will come to hate me.”

Chloe turned away from Lex pulling her hands out of his grasp. She gripped her hands to her chest to contain her rapidly beating heart as well as to fight the urge to reach for him.

But he would not allow the separation; instead he wrapped his arms around her, “Who in the world that matters would judge us?”

He held her to his chest demandingly, fiercely, passionately.

For a moment she remained silent and at last said one word came out, ‘LuthorCorp.’

His left arm held her waist, while his right hand caressed the back of her neck and cradled her head to his heart. Lex rested his determined chin upon her golden curls. “If that were true, Chloe, then I shall fight the whole world. I have lived my whole life in propriety, but this –This feels right,” Lex declared in a solemn oath.

He held his breath waiting for her reply. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils, but he did not notice.

His eyes stared a million miles away. His every sense enraptured in anticipation of her reaction.

Silently to himself, he willed her to join her body with his-- to melt to his wishes. --To wishes he knew without words, but from her eyes, her touches—he knew she wished the same.

Chloe let out an anguished cry like a captured songbird yearning to be free. She warred with her heart and her mind. ‘It’s too fast. We haven’t had the time to understand each other. –Liar, daily—Daily you’ve spoken to him for nearly a year. Maybe not face to face, but without looking at him now, you know every word is true.’

Lex held her but kept still. He did not dare to move, ‘She is battling with herself. But I know her heart is with mine. Even holding her now, I could hold her forever.’

Chloe made up her mind. She let out a whisper, “Will you do something for me?”

Lex began to move back to look her in the face, but she stopped him, “No, don’t move, if you move, I won’t be able to say what I need to.”

He gladly held her close to him again and asked, “If it is within my power, I will do anything you ask--” In a silky voice, as his words would stroke her heart, he joyously said her name, “Chloe.”

She thrilled at hearing her name on his lips, ‘All those months, he couldn’t say my name. And now, when he can, it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time from heaven.’

Relentless in her search of truth she asked, “Lex, Do you like the me that interviewed you, has a Wall of Weird, and doesn’t filter her words that come from her mind. Or do you like the me that is good with computers, giggles over the phone, and fits into these clothes.”

If his whole future hadn’t hinged on his reaction, Lex might have laughed. His face broke into grin, his lips curling upwards, “Chloe—you are all those things, but I Love You, because you challenge me when others cower. The way you look at the world, even though you have witnessed the darker side of humanity, is bright; I think I may be starting to look at the world with a little more light from having you in my life.”

He took a quick breath, but hurried on, “If I promise to never buy you another thing, if only to have you by my side telling me when I’m an idiot and genuinely sharing my fascination with the unexplained, I would be happy.”

He slowed down to say the hardest part and his voice deepened, “But if you could ever learn to look at yourself, the way that I do, and quit being so willing to sacrifice herself. –If you would let me Love You with every messy emotion that I bring—Then --Chloe—I would be content. And to be content is much harder. For money can buy you happiness, but contentment comes from loving yourself, giving love, and having the love of others.”

Chloe’s knees buckled, and Lex --unable to completely catch her --lowered her to her knees as he knelt in front of her. The tiles absorbed their weight, but was ignored.

She was bewildered. Every sappy romantic dream a girl could ever have about a Prince was coming true.

Their position had brought them closer to eye-to-eye. She looked up at him, “I think I could handle you buying me a few more things, but Lex, --even though we may not always do the right things -- You just said the perfect pledge.”

Her eyes searched his for his true emotions. Something wild and wonderful inside of her leapt to match the ecstasy she aroused in him, “I am glad to have you by my side, Lex, and to be content. I Love You.”

Her face was relaxed. She looked at him with all the trust a person can give another.

She was his and he was hers, and there was no fear, no problems—only love, and love—and Love.

He tightened his hold on her, determined never to let her go. The only way to seal the moment was to have their first kiss, True Love’s Kiss.

The End

A/N 2: Was it silly of me for this love scene to happen with him wearing a kilt and ascot, maybe? But I have to say I do think it is a sexy look. Here’s some googled images of what I was thinking
Ascot:
http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.145505021.jpg
Kilt:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Aoxu68LgwgE/TLMxW9qziBI/AAAAAAAACIw/yDXjUekXcRQ/s1600/kiltgerard1.jpg
Emma Watson in dress I described Chloe in:
http://0.tqn.com/d/vintageclothing/1/0/0/5/-/-/emma_watson_premier_-vintage_dress.jpg




As this is my first story, um, do I move this to completed or do the moderators? Thanks

[cbrunberg]

loved it.lex did everything he could to make sure his father was taken care of before chloe could come back.loved the 1st kiss

[reyeslu]

Thank you for replying. I'm glad you liked it. I was starting to think I was off base in my tastes.

[Ami Rose]

Loved this fic! Lex knowing Clarks secret and Clark trusting him. And Pete! I wanted to cry when he call Lex Bro. Loved it all!

[Artemis09]

great story!!!!!!!

[Shane77]

Really nice story^^