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Thread: A Sketch of Happiness R *Updated March 18, 2010*

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    Fanfic whore sinecure's Avatar
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    A Sketch of Happiness R *Updated March 18, 2010*

    Title: A Sketch of Happiness (1/3)
    Character/Pairing: Chloe/Lex
    Rating: Mild R
    Genre: Romance, drama
    Summary: An idyllic day in the life of Chloe and Lex.
    Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville. If I did, fanfic wouldn't be a necessity to fix the show, but a bonus for the Chlex we got on-screen.
    Thanks: to momdaegmorgan for the beta.
    A/N: Written for the Porn Battle. The prompt was 'trace'.
    A/N2: This started out as a one-shot, but somehow grew into a trilogy. Go figure.


    Lex traced his fingers along the curve of Chloe's back, making her shiver, though they were both spent already. Just his skin on hers made her want him. A touch--one that she'd felt so many times before and been indifferent to--was brought alive and made new by this latest aspect of their relationship.

    A relationship that'd taken her by surprise, but he'd taken in his usual, unflappable stride. She wondered if he'd ever imagined them here, lying in bed together, back to being... something between friends and lovers.

    "That tickles," she said irritably as he settled his palm half on her hip and half on the curve of her ass.

    He leaned down, and she felt his lips press lightly to her shoulder blade. "Does it?"

    Bemused, she glanced over her shoulder at him. "You're being very touchy feely."

    Eyes lifting to hers, he slid his mouth higher up her shoulder. "I have a specific purpose in mind; one that requires you to be... pleasantly relaxed."

    "Is that so?" Intrigued, she settled back on her stomach, resting her head on her crossed arms. "Have at it then."

    Lex's hand moved lower, down her hip to her thigh. "I intend to."

    Biting her lip, she fought a grin, taking note; Lex was insatiable. Leaning her head to the side, she stared at her phone on his nightstand. There was a message waiting for her from Clark, a call Lex hadn't allowed her to take. She'd had to fight not to answer it at first, but Lex's hands and mouth had easily persuaded her.

    She sighed, knowing Clark would probably never forgive her for taking Lex as a lover so soon after Lana's death. But grief did horrible things to a person. And wonderful things too. She just wasn't sure which this was. Horrible to Clark and the newly-returned-to-life Lana.

    A little wonderful to her.

    Lex's lips smoothed over her middle back, then the curve of her ass. "Right here," he declared.

    Well, that sounded-- "What?" Trying to roll over, she felt him press down on her legs. He was straddling them, hands spanning her waist. "What are you talking about?"

    "Nothing," he said quietly, and she grew nervous. That tone of voice was one she knew well. She'd heard it too many times before, usually when Lex was about to do something she didn't like, or had already done it.

    "Lex, wh--"

    "Shh." He traced his hand over the curve of her back again and she shivered. "Hold still."

    She wanted to jerk up and roll over, ask him what he was talking about, why he was so focused on her back, but she stilled herself, trusting him. And that surprised her. Scoffing lightly, she told herself it wasn't like he was going to suddenly pull a gun on her and demand answers about Clark, so in this she could trust him.

    It'd been months, she realized, and he hadn't asked her one question about Clark, hadn't pushed, hadn't demanded to know anything she wasn't willing to tell him.

    She did trust him.

    Swallowing, eyes darting around the room in a panic, she calmed when she felt his lips on her back where his hand had been. Uncomfortable with her realization, she half-rolled over, eyeing him. "Lex, what are doing?"

    "This, right here." He pressed a finger to a spot on her back. "It's the last place on your body that I haven't kissed."

    Brows rising, she stared at him, mystified. "I-- oh. S-- so, why do you need me pleasantly relaxed to do that?" Shoving down the pleasure rising in her, the happiness because he seemed so intent on touching and kissing every inch of her, she ducked her head.

    He chuckled, lips settling near the spot he'd picked out. "Because you're ticklish." He pressed his lips lightly to her skin, and she squirmed away, swatting at him.

    "Stop," she giggled, but his lips continued to move around, pressing little butterfly kisses along her hip and back, then his teeth nipped, stinging her.



    ********



    Jerking up, Chloe scooted back as far as the wall behind her would allow, dragging the covers over her naked, shaking body. The dream-- the memories? No, dream. Not real. She wasn't really naked. Lex wasn't with her.

    But he was.

    "What the hell are you doing? Jesus Christ!" Her heart pounded in her chest, the machines beside her letting everyone in the room know. Several of Lex's scientists glanced her way, but stayed at their equipment. Her eyes darted from Lex standing above her, to the objects in his hand.

    The fucking Kryptonite-infused electrodes.

    Rubbing her temples, where the electrodes had been moments before, she glared at the gray walls she'd been forced to call home for ten days.

    Would Clark ever figure out where she was? Did he care?

    A sob rose in her throat, but she didn't let it out, wouldn't give Lex the satisfaction. Bastard.

    He stood beside her small bed, face blank, eyes shuttered as they settled on hers. He didn't speak, but his face told her enough. The blank look spoke of lost trust and hurt--something she knew well--but it wasn't aimed at her.

    It was about Lana.

    "I prefer the nightmares," she bit out, seeing his eyes close down further, and feeling her heart lose some of its strength. He was desperate, and she was... a pawn. Rubbing her fingers over the spot on her back that he'd been so concentrated on, she felt the small bump where he'd put the latest Kryptonite implant.

    She was riddled with them now, and no closer to feeling anything but disgust toward him. It had to be killing him that his big plan for getting Lana back wasn't working.

    Snickering, she clenched her fists, feeling like a contradiction in emotions. "She'll never want you again, no matter how you manipulate her. And she'll never trust you again either. Not ever."

    He valued trust and loyalty to him above nearly everything else. And he knew he didn't have hers, which meant he wouldn't have Lana's. The treatments weren't working.

    Never would. He couldn't take a person that despised him and make her feel something for him through dream-manipulation, faked feelings, and Kryptonite. Despite what she felt in the dreams, she didn't feel a thing for him in real life. And her heart didn't hurt for the desperation in him to get someone to love him back. It didn't.

    "Again," Lex said coldly, reaching over to jerk her back down on the bed to replace the electrodes.

    The sob broke free anyway. "Just stop," she yelled in a panic, jerking her foot free of his tight grip. She didn't want to go back there, back into that idyllic life that wasn't real. This was reality, gray, concrete walls and floors, fluorescent lights, and Lex's cold gaze. This was reality.

    Lex's eyes, as dull and unfeeling as the walls and floor, flickered to a man standing a few yards away. "Give her the shot."

    "No!" Forcing the next word out, she squeezed her eyes shut and twisted her head to the side, hoping he wouldn't see the tears. Knowing he would. "Please."

    But she still felt fingers grip her arm--which looked like a junkie's--and hold it still for the needle. The small pinch was nothing compared to the burning, singeing feeling in her veins, or the world she was going to return to, one she felt a longing for despite herself.

    Turning her head to glare at Lex, she jerked her arm free.

    Lex bent over and pressed the electrodes to her temples again. A machine whirred to life and they began to glow green. "You don't understand," he told her, pressing them tight. His eyes fastened on hers and she saw the briefest flicker of tenderness. "This was never about Lana."

    Her eyes slid shut, releasing her tears as the drug coursed through her.



    AN: I'm sorry. I love happy endings. I just can't seem to write one. *cries* I want to write fluff.
    Last edited by sinecure; 18th March 2010 at 21:56.

  2. #2
    NS Full Member Fouzia's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness PG-13 Jan. 27, 2010

    Thank you to write such beatiful fic!!!! Everyday I come on the site and read a new fic!! thank you so much !!

  3. #3
    An Accused Heretic Senior Member Kit Merlot's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness PG-13 Jan. 27, 2010

    Like I said on your lj, this was damn intense.

    If Lex truly does want to win Chloe to his side, he is going about it in completely the wrong way.

    Wonderful work
    KATHY

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    Spunky Chick Senior Member hfce's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness PG-13 Jan. 27, 2010

    Aww man that was so sad.
    "Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. "

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    looking for updates Senior Member somethingeasy's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness PG-13 Jan. 27, 2010

    This was an amazing story, Sinecure. Imagine me sitting open-mouthed in wonder at the plotting, characterizations and emotional content. I was blown away!

    I loved how you sketched two completely different tones within the same story. One half of the story was sweet, sappy, romantic, charming and delightful… the other half was ‘delightful’ in a very twisted kind of way that applies to fic with trauma, torture, sadism, with a very twisted, obsessive, possessive kind of desire/love(?).

    The two halves of the fics complemented each other… the two tones being more emphasized because of the stark contrast between them. Damn, I’d LOVE to see this fic continued… with story continuing between these two threads of plot.

    Anyhow, I loved the first half of the ficlet for the beautiful way that sweet romance was being spun out for the readers. Chloe and Lex were obviously happily in love with each other, and delighted to be in each other’s company. I especially liked the way that Chloe felt in her own little bubble or sanctuary of peace and happiness… where nothing from the outside world could intrude on this moment. Heh… pretty ironic, eh? VERY nicely done, Sinecure!

    I also liked how there was a tiny hint of uneasiness during the sweet moment. When Lex marked a point on her body as ‘right here’, Chloe’s body and/or instincts were shouting at her to beware of whatever Lex was doing. She actually had to convince herself to settle down, scolding herself that she was being silly and that she had no reason not to trust Lex.

    I loved the idea that Chloe’s instincts are fighting against this wonderful, amazing, tempting dream-world… trying to warn her that all might not be as it appears. Unfortunately, her instincts are really weak and confused, and can’t shout off enough of a warning to snap her out of it… but it’s heartening enough to know that they’re there at least.

    Honestly though, the ‘hint of unease’ was only evident to me on my second (or was it third?) reading of the ficlet, LOL! I was taken completely by shock and aghast horror when the scene changed from beautiful, romantic, warm setting to something cold, cruel and monstrous.

    I think the stark contrast between the two environments made it all the more horrific and unsettling for Chloe. She’s literally been torn out of a heavenly, peaceful, beautiful place into her worst nightmare. I’m very impressed that she was able to show as much defiance as she demonstrated… and this is after about ten days of this kind of torture?! Chloe’s strength of mind, spirit and will power is awe-inspiring! I especially loved the way that she choked back her sobs, whimpers and all other signs of weakening because she didn’t want to give Lex the satisfaction of seeing the effects of his torture on her.

    I loved the hint woven in that, as strong as she is, Chloe IS weakening. She’s beginning to see that dream-world with a sense of longing and relief… and who can blame her? A few more days of this, and Chloe is going to throw herself head-first into the dreamworld simply to save herself from her torture-filled reality.

    I also thought Chloe had a very fascinating and plausible hypothesis that Lex was only using her as a guinea pig for a procedure that he was planning on using on Lana. I found the idea quite intriguing, but also repulsive and enraging that a mind like Chloe’s would be subjected to this kind of ‘breaking’ purely for Lana-centred research.

    So it was with a huge sigh if relief (albeit, a very twisted kind of relief) to find out that Lex was focused on Chloe alone… and that he’s doing this monstrous thing because he’s desperate for Chloe’s love, loyalty and devotion. It’s nothing to do with Lana at all. What a relief!!!

    Concerning Lex’s involvement in Chloe’s dreamworld. I would love, LOVE to know that Lex is a very active and aware participant in Chloe’s dreamworld… where he’s literally entering her dreams somehow, and interacting with her on the unreal plane of existence that he’s created for both of them. I like the idea of Lex playing out all of his deepest fantasies of Chloe beloved and besotted boyfriend in virtual reality… as a means to brainwash her into accepting virtual as real.

    The idea of Lex just standing back and letting Chloe’s brain make up her own dream images with only direction from the drug, electrical prods and scientific data input… it strikes me as rather cold, impersonal and… well… kind of lazy on his part. But if Lex is actually on the dream-plane with Chloe, then that’s so much more satisfying.

    Hmmm. I wonder how much satisfaction Lex is going to get from eventually getting a girlfriend whose mind has been broken into a schizophrenic state, where she cannot distinguish dreams from reality anymore. If Lex is being serious about brainwashing Chloe into loving him, then he’s going about it completely the wrong way. He’s not going to ‘win’ Chloe this way, he’s only going to destroy her. The mad fool!

    AN: I'm sorry. I love happy endings. I just can't seem to write one. *cries* I want to write fluff.
    heh… would you hate me if I admitted that I LOVE your inability to write fluff, Sinecure. There are precious few people who can write great angst of this caliber… so I just thank heavens that darkness flows from your fingertips

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    NS Junior Member momdaegmorgan's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness PG-13 Jan. 27, 2010

    I love this! Love the opposing tone to the two scenes. Love that you gave us fluffy and hopeful, then gave us angsty and not as hopeful (though there is still some hope there, even if it's a slightly creepy one).

    Good job!

  7. #7
    Fanfic whore sinecure's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness R Jan. 27, 2010

    Thank you, everyone, for all the fantastic feedback.

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    NS Full Member skauble's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness R Jan. 27, 2010

    What an incredible story! OMG I love the contrast between the idyllic beginning and the dark ending.

    Finding out that Lex was engineering all of this because he wanted to win Chloe over was fantastic. And of course that doesn't even occur to Chloe, and I think that's probably not only due to Lex's pursuit of Lana, but also because of the way that she sometimes seem to doubt her own worth in that regard.

    Oh how I'd love to see what happens after this. How much of Chloe's reality can Lex alter? How could he translate that to the real world? What would happen if she faced Clark once Lex's plan came to fruition or if she was rescued by Clark but the treatments had already had some kind of effect on her?

    This kind of fic really sticks with me because there are just so many possibilities and I want to see them all play out!

    I have to agree with Sabrina here:

    heh… would you hate me if I admitted that I LOVE your inability to write fluff, Sinecure. There are precious few people who can write great angst of this caliber… so I just thank heavens that darkness flows from your fingertips
    This was an absolutely wonderful story. Great work!

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    NS Full Member purplemoon123's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness R Jan. 27, 2010

    OMG!!! That was such an unexpected twist!! Amazing!!!

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    Members Lynzie914's Avatar
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    Re: A Sketch of Happiness R Jan. 27, 2010

    This was absolutely amazing! I did not expect that twist. I really liked the beginning and would have been content with the sexy fluff, but then you threw in the angst twist and I just loved it! I like some conflict and angst and twistedness to my Chlex (and most other things), and this was just perfect. Again I say, absolutely amazing!

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