ChloeLovesLex
7th December 2012, 05:25
Title: Phantom
Author: ChloeLovesLex
Rating: PG 13 for now, I only forsee one NC-17 chapter in the future.
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, nor do I own any rights to any version of Phantom of the Opera. The intent for infringement does not exist.
Summary: Chloe must return to a place she spent much of her youth, to uncover the truth about the rumors and stories of a ghost at the Metropolis Opera House. What she finds will result in a series of events that she couldn't have imagined.
Author’s note: Ok, this has been long overdue to be written. I've had pieces of this fleshed out for a long time, and am now finding time to connect them all together. What can you expect? Well, a mash up of every version of Phantom you may know, mixed with an entirely new Chlex spin on it. There will be nods to Gaston Leroux's Phantom, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom, & Yeston and Kopit's Phantom. However, best of all, there will be a Chlex Phantom that will emerge.
Oh, and Bruce. There's Bruce in here too, for all of you Chruce lovers. However, let me note from the beginning, he is never Batman in this story.
Chapter One - How It Began
Chloe held tight to the umbrella that was keeping the misty rain from dampening her clothing and completely ruining her makeup and hair for the day. There was no hope for her shoes though. She'd just accidentally sloshed through a puddle stepping up onto the sidewalk.
She glared up at the building she'd arrived at before ascending the stairs. It had been 15 years since she'd last set foot here. Suddenly she felt like the young girl who'd lost her father and one of her closest friends all over again.
She'd never known her mother. She'd died when she was very young and her father had raised her on his own until his untimely demise.
Grasping the polished brass handle she pulled the heavy door open and entered the front hallway. She closed her umbrella and placed it in the stand next to the door, then breathed in the familiar smells and sights of the dimly lit room that hadn't changed much. The same ornately carved side tables with pieces of art scattered throughout. The same paintings graced the walls, although a few new ones had been added, it was all too familiar.
Taking in a ragged breath she willed her emotions into control. She was here on assignment, and she would and could do this.
Perry had offered her the opportunity knowing the ties that she once held. Her first instinct was to say no. In fact, the word had rolled from her tongue before she could catch herself. He had raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a sympathetic look. "It's fine if you don't think you can do it, I just thought it would be a fun piece for you. It'd give you the mystery I know you love to unravel. Besides, you all but grew up there."
For years the rumors had swirled around about the Metropolis Opera House and it's ghost. It wasn't her type of story, but Perry was confident that she would come up with the real story of what was going on there. It was the beginning of October, and he was giving her until the end of the month to debunk the countless stories, and put together a piece that went with the season of spooks.
One thing was for certain, there was no ghost when she romped the halls there with her friends all those years ago. It wasn't until later that the stories had surfaced. After *he* had died.
***flashback***
Chloe squealed with delight as she bounded the stairs toward the private boxes. Lex was missing, far ahead and long out of sight, Patricia was well hidden too, that left her alone and running from 12 year old Bruce Wayne, in hot pursuit of his first prisoner to take captive. Hide and seek in an enormous Opera House was exhilarating and quite the task. They had to come up with their own set of rules, and had to divide the building up into sections for each game, or surely no one would be found.
This time it was the left quarter of the house, closest to the stage, and encompassing both levels, including all common areas and hallways. Normal Hide and Seek rules applied. If you got caught, you were "it". Of course no one really wanted to be "it". The task was daunting. Usually the girls whined enough to get one of the boys to volunteer to be the first pursuer. After that, it was left to fate, and they had hours to play it. Sooner or later, Chloe or Patricia ended up being "it". This would end in one of them sobbing in exasperation because the boys were either too fast, or hid too well.
Chloe really didn't want to be caught. She put all of her effort into running, but she was running out of steam after making it to the top of the stairs, still ahead of Bruce.
A hand reached out from behind a curtain housing one of the boxes. She squeaked in surprise, but didn't fight it. It pulled her in and behind the heavy fabric. She was lost in its folds and pressed up against Lex. She could tell it was him, and not Patricia, because he was taller than she was and he held her in a protective way. Something Patricia would never do. She tried to control her panting so they wouldn't be found. She heard Bruce stop and felt the curtain rustle as he peeked into the box itself shouting "Gotcha!". Seeing no one, he hurried on.
They waited a few moments before Lex let her go, and pushed the fabric from around them. They breathed freely now and stepped out of its confines. "Thanks," she smiled brightly up at him.
He ruffled her hair and smiled back down to her. "No problem, Little Lottie."
She blushed at him and immediately started looking for a new place to hide. "We need to get out of here."
Little Lottie was the name of the main character in an ongoing story she and her father had made up together. Lottie loved music, and had an angel of music that visited her and taught her to sing beautifully enough to feature at the most famous opera houses across the world. Her angel, the ghost, brought mischief to everywhere they went. It started as a bedtime story by her father, that Chloe suspected was more about her than a made up little girl, and continued from there. Chloe always thought she'd eventually write them down and compile it into a book when she got older. As much as she loved music, she loved to write.
Lex had heard the stories with the others, on dark nights up in the attic at Wayne Manor, when the guests would be partying down below, and the children would gather for picnics and ghost stories away from the laughter and boring confines of adult high society. Her father would always come and visit them on his breaks from playing his violin with the quartet and the stories would begin.
It warmed her heart that Lex made the connection of Lottie to her. She only wished he felt less of an urge to ruffle her hair over it. After all, a nine year old girls crush was a fragile thing, and that sort of attention wasn't what she'd hoped for. Not that she went around wishing for kisses and the like, but she did want him to like her as much as she liked him, and a hug wouldn't hurt. OK, maybe she didn't even want that.
She just knew that he gave her butterflies in her tummy. Especially when he sang, or played the piano or violin. Which he would be doing shortly in a lesson her father would be giving, like he did every week. And she would watch intently, from a seat high up in the balcony, while she pretended to read a book.
Lex agreed with her assessment that they needed to find a new place to hide. He ran toward a door that lead to a back set of stairs and down into the lobby area. He pulled it open and held it for her to run ahead of him.
***present day***
"Chloe? My stars! Is that you?"
A woman's voice broke through her reverie and she focused on who was standing before her.
"Madame Swan!" Chloe gasped in surprise at the older woman. She was genuinely happy to see her, although she had no reason to suspect that she wouldn't be there, she hadn't thought that they might cross paths again while she worked on this project. Chloe had planned to stay far away from normal rehearsal times and hours when the Opera House was buzzing with activity. She needed for it to be quiet and uninhabited for her research. She was only there at the moment to speak to the House's management about allowing her access after hours.
The old woman wrapped Chloe up in a warm hug that brought back fond memories long forgotten.
"You've been missed, child," she released her and a smile graced her aged, but still beautiful features. "I was sure we'd never see you again, come, you must see Patricia too."
The thought of seeing her old friend brought joy and sadness to her in alternating waves, just as seeing Patricia's mother did right now. They were close as children, very much like sisters, a special bond had formed between them. That was, until it all happened. They were never the same after that.
Chloe had no idea what to say. What excuse to give for why she'd never made an effort to see them again. Why she'd made every effort not to return to the Opera House. Why it pained her too much to even set foot within its walls again for so many years. Why seeing Lex's nanny and her daughter, seemed like too much for her to handle for so very long.
Author: ChloeLovesLex
Rating: PG 13 for now, I only forsee one NC-17 chapter in the future.
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, nor do I own any rights to any version of Phantom of the Opera. The intent for infringement does not exist.
Summary: Chloe must return to a place she spent much of her youth, to uncover the truth about the rumors and stories of a ghost at the Metropolis Opera House. What she finds will result in a series of events that she couldn't have imagined.
Author’s note: Ok, this has been long overdue to be written. I've had pieces of this fleshed out for a long time, and am now finding time to connect them all together. What can you expect? Well, a mash up of every version of Phantom you may know, mixed with an entirely new Chlex spin on it. There will be nods to Gaston Leroux's Phantom, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom, & Yeston and Kopit's Phantom. However, best of all, there will be a Chlex Phantom that will emerge.
Oh, and Bruce. There's Bruce in here too, for all of you Chruce lovers. However, let me note from the beginning, he is never Batman in this story.
Chapter One - How It Began
Chloe held tight to the umbrella that was keeping the misty rain from dampening her clothing and completely ruining her makeup and hair for the day. There was no hope for her shoes though. She'd just accidentally sloshed through a puddle stepping up onto the sidewalk.
She glared up at the building she'd arrived at before ascending the stairs. It had been 15 years since she'd last set foot here. Suddenly she felt like the young girl who'd lost her father and one of her closest friends all over again.
She'd never known her mother. She'd died when she was very young and her father had raised her on his own until his untimely demise.
Grasping the polished brass handle she pulled the heavy door open and entered the front hallway. She closed her umbrella and placed it in the stand next to the door, then breathed in the familiar smells and sights of the dimly lit room that hadn't changed much. The same ornately carved side tables with pieces of art scattered throughout. The same paintings graced the walls, although a few new ones had been added, it was all too familiar.
Taking in a ragged breath she willed her emotions into control. She was here on assignment, and she would and could do this.
Perry had offered her the opportunity knowing the ties that she once held. Her first instinct was to say no. In fact, the word had rolled from her tongue before she could catch herself. He had raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a sympathetic look. "It's fine if you don't think you can do it, I just thought it would be a fun piece for you. It'd give you the mystery I know you love to unravel. Besides, you all but grew up there."
For years the rumors had swirled around about the Metropolis Opera House and it's ghost. It wasn't her type of story, but Perry was confident that she would come up with the real story of what was going on there. It was the beginning of October, and he was giving her until the end of the month to debunk the countless stories, and put together a piece that went with the season of spooks.
One thing was for certain, there was no ghost when she romped the halls there with her friends all those years ago. It wasn't until later that the stories had surfaced. After *he* had died.
***flashback***
Chloe squealed with delight as she bounded the stairs toward the private boxes. Lex was missing, far ahead and long out of sight, Patricia was well hidden too, that left her alone and running from 12 year old Bruce Wayne, in hot pursuit of his first prisoner to take captive. Hide and seek in an enormous Opera House was exhilarating and quite the task. They had to come up with their own set of rules, and had to divide the building up into sections for each game, or surely no one would be found.
This time it was the left quarter of the house, closest to the stage, and encompassing both levels, including all common areas and hallways. Normal Hide and Seek rules applied. If you got caught, you were "it". Of course no one really wanted to be "it". The task was daunting. Usually the girls whined enough to get one of the boys to volunteer to be the first pursuer. After that, it was left to fate, and they had hours to play it. Sooner or later, Chloe or Patricia ended up being "it". This would end in one of them sobbing in exasperation because the boys were either too fast, or hid too well.
Chloe really didn't want to be caught. She put all of her effort into running, but she was running out of steam after making it to the top of the stairs, still ahead of Bruce.
A hand reached out from behind a curtain housing one of the boxes. She squeaked in surprise, but didn't fight it. It pulled her in and behind the heavy fabric. She was lost in its folds and pressed up against Lex. She could tell it was him, and not Patricia, because he was taller than she was and he held her in a protective way. Something Patricia would never do. She tried to control her panting so they wouldn't be found. She heard Bruce stop and felt the curtain rustle as he peeked into the box itself shouting "Gotcha!". Seeing no one, he hurried on.
They waited a few moments before Lex let her go, and pushed the fabric from around them. They breathed freely now and stepped out of its confines. "Thanks," she smiled brightly up at him.
He ruffled her hair and smiled back down to her. "No problem, Little Lottie."
She blushed at him and immediately started looking for a new place to hide. "We need to get out of here."
Little Lottie was the name of the main character in an ongoing story she and her father had made up together. Lottie loved music, and had an angel of music that visited her and taught her to sing beautifully enough to feature at the most famous opera houses across the world. Her angel, the ghost, brought mischief to everywhere they went. It started as a bedtime story by her father, that Chloe suspected was more about her than a made up little girl, and continued from there. Chloe always thought she'd eventually write them down and compile it into a book when she got older. As much as she loved music, she loved to write.
Lex had heard the stories with the others, on dark nights up in the attic at Wayne Manor, when the guests would be partying down below, and the children would gather for picnics and ghost stories away from the laughter and boring confines of adult high society. Her father would always come and visit them on his breaks from playing his violin with the quartet and the stories would begin.
It warmed her heart that Lex made the connection of Lottie to her. She only wished he felt less of an urge to ruffle her hair over it. After all, a nine year old girls crush was a fragile thing, and that sort of attention wasn't what she'd hoped for. Not that she went around wishing for kisses and the like, but she did want him to like her as much as she liked him, and a hug wouldn't hurt. OK, maybe she didn't even want that.
She just knew that he gave her butterflies in her tummy. Especially when he sang, or played the piano or violin. Which he would be doing shortly in a lesson her father would be giving, like he did every week. And she would watch intently, from a seat high up in the balcony, while she pretended to read a book.
Lex agreed with her assessment that they needed to find a new place to hide. He ran toward a door that lead to a back set of stairs and down into the lobby area. He pulled it open and held it for her to run ahead of him.
***present day***
"Chloe? My stars! Is that you?"
A woman's voice broke through her reverie and she focused on who was standing before her.
"Madame Swan!" Chloe gasped in surprise at the older woman. She was genuinely happy to see her, although she had no reason to suspect that she wouldn't be there, she hadn't thought that they might cross paths again while she worked on this project. Chloe had planned to stay far away from normal rehearsal times and hours when the Opera House was buzzing with activity. She needed for it to be quiet and uninhabited for her research. She was only there at the moment to speak to the House's management about allowing her access after hours.
The old woman wrapped Chloe up in a warm hug that brought back fond memories long forgotten.
"You've been missed, child," she released her and a smile graced her aged, but still beautiful features. "I was sure we'd never see you again, come, you must see Patricia too."
The thought of seeing her old friend brought joy and sadness to her in alternating waves, just as seeing Patricia's mother did right now. They were close as children, very much like sisters, a special bond had formed between them. That was, until it all happened. They were never the same after that.
Chloe had no idea what to say. What excuse to give for why she'd never made an effort to see them again. Why she'd made every effort not to return to the Opera House. Why it pained her too much to even set foot within its walls again for so many years. Why seeing Lex's nanny and her daughter, seemed like too much for her to handle for so very long.