Title: DISINHERITANCE
Short summary: Lionel disinherits Lex... Lex lives on the farm and he's getting closer to Chloe. How the ex-bilionaire adjust to a normal live?
video to that story (spoilers!)
CHAPTER 1 DISINHERITED
It was almost night when Lex knocked on the Kent's door.
"I'll get it!" he heard Clark's yell and then the door opened. "Hey, Lex." Clark smiled seeing his friend on the porch.
"Clark, I'm sorry to bother you…" Lex was feeling very uncomfortable because of what he was going to ask for.
"Everything's alright?" Clark got worried.
"No, it's not…" Lex looked down ashamed.
"What is it?" Mrs Kent asked while coming to the door.
"According to my father I'm… ah… no longer a Luthor… he's left me with nothing, not even a place to live… so I... ah… I was wondering… if ah… I can stay with you for a while?..." And there they were, they eyes… piercing into him… he couldn't tell what Jonathan Kent was going to say, his face was neither angry nor worried, more like disturbed with Lex's father's behavior. Martha on the other side looked at her husband with care in her eyes and then back at Lex.
"Of course, Lex, you don't even have to ask… come in… I'll get you something warm…"
***
"So, Lex Luthor is staying with you on the farm?" Chloe's eyes couldn't get any bigger in this moment. "Lionel disinherited him? But… how?" she gasped.
"Lex found his long lost brother and… that was enough. Lex became… kind of a threat to his father, you know… he was starting managing businesses on his own… making money without his help… so he probably got scared and chose the younger Luthor."
"God… that's horrible… I mean… is there any love in this family? Or it's just all business to Lionel?" Chloe sighed and sat by her computer with her latte. "I have to write an article!"
"Don't you think… it will be a little harsh for Lex to read about this in a newspaper?" Clark asked.
"Clark, I know that being a reporter sometimes sucks but it will get to the news anyway, with or without my help and you know what I can do? I can make Lex the victim, I can present him in better light, not the other way around."
"I'm glad you're putting it that way, Chloe," they heard Lex's voice coming from the door.
"Lex…" Clark was a little perplexed. "We… we just..."
"It's ok." The bald ex-billionaire smiled and came closer.
"How long have you been standing there?" Chloe asked biting her lip.
"Long enough…" he started making her feel ashamed. "Long enough to hear that part about love too." He smiled.
"That's embarrassing… I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's ok… better than the last time I saw you. You told me to buy myself a toupee then," he said and laughed.
"What?" She stood up completely baffled. "I never said something like that!"
"Actually, it was more like… that you were always wondering why I didn't have it if I had so much money…"
"Lex… I swear… oh God… what else didn't you tell me, Clark?" She turned to him clearly angry at him. "I asked you what I was doing when I had that parasite inside of me and you didn't say anything!"
"Well, it was easier to tell people that you weren't yourself and you… that nothing happened. Why would you worry about something that you can't even remember?" Clark started defending himself.
"Chloe, I'm not mad at you, I understand you weren't yourself and you would never say something like that," Lex reassured her clearly amused.
"Yeah… I would keep that for myself and instead I told you what I'd been thinking… that was hurtful… I'm sorry."
"You know… you should've just asked."
"So, you are not mad at me for thinking about it?" She was surprised.
"No," he just said and smiled leaning against the furniture.
"But I offended you…" she started again.
"Chloe, can't you just let it go?" Clark asked.
"No, I can't! When I'm hurting people I have to make it right," she cut him off.
"I will answer two questions at once," Lex said. "When I was little I was ashamed that I was bald, I was bullied, I admit, kids didn't understand such things and later… I've learnt how to transfer my weakness into my strength. I won't be hiding under some stupid toupee, I will be myself because it's who I am. It made me stronger."
"Wow… that was good," Chloe said looking at Lex and suddenly they completely ignored Clark. "I kind of… admire you."
"Oh, thank you, miss Sullivan." He sent her another smile. "You know… if my father doesn't change his mind I may even give you a private scoop on his business. That would certainly help you with your career and destroy his."
"Thank you, Lex."
"Ok, enough of the sweetness!" Clark said slightly exasperated. "I'm also in this room."
"I have to come back to work anyway," Chloe winked at him and sat back by her computer.
"Lex, come with me." Clark took his friend out of the room. "Lex, really… I would never think that you and Chloe…"
"Me and Chloe what? Clark, stop seeing things that aren't there."
"You were flirting with each other! I could sense it from miles!"
"You have very vivid imagination." Lex smiled.
"Exactly, this smile is what I'm talking about! You've just lost your money and you have to live on my farm, remember?"
"I have one source of income left," Lex told him.
"Really? And what is that?" Clark got interested.
"The Talon."
Clark couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, I'm serious."
"I know, I can see it… I'm sorry I just… living from that kind of income won't give you your mansion back or your life for that matter."
"There's a small apartment over the Talon and I own it so I thought, I can't keep hanging over your parents for too long, I realize they have to earn their living too and I don't want to overuse their hospitality so, I may live there."
"Don't worry, my mother would like to keep you forever and you helped a lot with the farm this morning. Anyway, I'm sure that your own father will take you back soon."
"I thought that too but, I had hope till this morning. If he hasn't changed his mind by now…"
"Lex, I'm sure he will."
"And I'm not." He stopped and looked at him. "Clark, I will have to face the fact that I'm broke and… I have no idea what to do next. I'm not used to this kind of life. I'm a businessman, I should wear expensive suits and just… live while making buisenesses."
"Welcome to my world," Clark pated his back. "Let me be the big brother for once and show it to you."
They went to the Talon for coffee.
"Lex, I heard what happened. I'm so sorry. Are you ok?" Lana asked when she brought them coffee.
"Thank you, no… actually I'm not ok, but I'll be fine. I still have the Talon. Good thing I changed the agreement so we're partners with equal share and good thing that I excluded this place from my usual businesses."
"Lex, I know that you were giving me the best part of the income but, let's split half now, what do you say? I mean… no, you should have the most and…"
"Lana, calm down. I can't think about it right now." He closed his eyes and lowered his head putting it into his hands.
"I'm sorry. Isee you need a little time for yourself." She walked away.
"Lex…" Clark was really concerned about his friend. It looked like now Lex finally started to realize how hard life could be. "Are you ok?"
"Stop asking me that question!" Lex yelled at him and left the Talon leaving the coffee on the table.
***
"Clark?" Chloe came over to the farm. "Are you in here?" She walked into the barn. "Oh… Lex…" she got surprised.
She saw Lex working, loading hay.
She stood in the entrance watching his moves and the muscles on his arms when he was lifting it and then…
"Chloe…" He stopped and looked at her. "Are you alright?" he asked wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Wha… yeah, yeah, I'm fine, sure…" she giggled nervously almost licking her lips for a Christ's sake! "You… you're working," she just said.
"Why is that such a surprise to everyone?" he asked smiling to her. "Yes, I'm capable of working on the farm."
"I just… I just thought… you were… you know… this kind of… brain type than…" she stammered.
"Then I guess I'm full of surprises." He smiled again. "I was going to a rancho with my mother when I was little," he explained.
Those days Chloe was the only person that was making him laugh… she was making him forget and he was grateful for it. What was it about that girl?
"You were looking for Clark?" he asked.
"Yes… have you seen him?"
"No since I left the Talon."
"Oh, yeah… Lana's there so he probably won't be home soon."
"Maybe I could help you?"
"No, thanks but unfortunately it was about homework." She smiled. "Good to see you."
"You too." And he came back to work.
She made a few steps forward but couldn't help herself and looked at him once more. Hot. He was so hot while working like that!
***
Few days passed by and Lionel still hadn't changed his mind.
Lex was strong, he'd been doing everything in his power as not to get crazy or break down and, surprisingly, every time he felt worse he just went to see Chloe and life was good again.
This evening he came back to the farm with a finally made decision.
"You and Chloe are getting pretty close, hah?" Clark said smiling to him in the kitchen.
"I don't know… she's just… Chloe…"
"If she's just Chloe then why every time you see her you're beaming?"
"I am not."
"Don't try to deny it, Lex."
"You're acting like a jealous boyfriend."
"She's just my friend."
"I know… you have your eyes set only on Lana… Where are your parents? I have to talk to them."
"Talk about what?" They just entered the kitchen.
"Oh, Mr and Mrs Kent… I just want to say how grateful I am that you took me under your roof… Mr Kent, even if I knew you weren't so happy about that…"
"Lex, all I can say now is… I guess… you are nothing like your father."
"Thank you, that is a great compliment coming from you, sir. I just wanted to say thank you and also tell you that I will be moving out soon."
"Lionel changed his mind?" Martha got interested. "It's high time."
"No, unfortunately he didn't, but… I decided to move into the apartment over the Talon. I don't want to be a burden for you anymore and when it gets better I will pay you back."
"Lex, you don't have to give us any money," Jonathan stopped him. "We're happy to have you here and with the work you've done on the farm… I should be the one who should pay you."
"No, Mr Kent, I…"
"Lex… just stay," Martha said surprising him.
"Yes… why the hell not…" Jonathan smiled and patted his back. "You're doing great. You're very helpful here and… living on your own in this apartment… I believe in you but you'll be better here."
"You're so thin," Martha said pointing at him. "You'll disappear completely if you stay on your own."
"Well, I guess you have no choice, Lex," Clark laughed. "You always wanted me to be your brother, well… here I am now."
Of course it was hard for them, they needed to be even more careful than usual. Clark could work using his abilities only when Lex wasn't around, but he learnt to deal with that. Another thing was to keep Lex away from the storm cellar but there was no need he would come down there. They always had an eye on him even when he didin't realize.
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