Title: An Interview To Remember
Author: Hughie87
Pairing: Do you really need to ask? :P
Rating: PG-13 (Just as a precaution)
Warnings: Mild violence (possibly), mild sensuality
Spoilers: Through S9, though it was AU after S6 (This is not set in concrete. I'll know more as I go.)
Disclaimers: DC Comics, WB & CW own whatever it is they own. I own nothing but the idea and the filler characters.
Summary: Clark and Chloe get more than they bargained for in a human interest story. Will it prove to be just what both of them needed? ;)
A/N: Everything before S6 happened like normal, but after S6 it goes AU for certain things. I will know more as I go. I am actually writing this as I post without a really set idea, so we'll see how this goes and if I ever do it again! Any background info y'all need, I will include it as narrative in the story. So, sit back, relax and enjoy! :)
Chapter One
Metropolis, Present Day
"Sullivan! Kent! Get in here!"
Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent raised their heads, eyes stricken as they locked gazes with one another. They looked around cautiously. None of their other colleagues even lifted their heads, only continued working; everyone was used to Perry White screaming at the Sullivan-Kent pair from his office. Chloe and Clark faced each other again.
"You did it," Clark said first, his eyes still wide as he stared at his best friend and partner in crime.
"Uh-uh," Chloe responded childishly, her blonde head shaking vigorously. "You did it."
"Did you hear whose name he yelled first?" Clark pointed out. "It's you."
"It an oral pattern when listing words to start with the word that has the most syllables," Chloe explained in a rush. "It's you."
Clark leaned back in his chair, regarding Chloe with shrewd eyes, his eyebrows lifted in a doubtful arc. "You sticking to that story?"
Chloe rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. "Fine!" She exclaimed. "But did you hear how many exclamation points were behind your name?"
"You can't hear exclamation points!" Clark argued.
"Oh yes, you can and you had plenty!" Chloe shot back as she jabbed her ballpoint pen in his direction.
"Why am I still in this office by myself?"
Chloe and Clark held each other's gazes for a moment longer, waiting to see who would be the first to surrender. Finally, with a roll of her eyes and a heavy sigh, Chloe pushed away from her desk and stood.
"We better get in there before he boils over and fires us both," Chloe groaned.
Clark nodded gloomily and stood, too. He fiddled with his tie as he stepped around his desk, following behind Chloe as she started across the news floor.
"Do you think he'd really fire us?" Clark whispered nervously like a kid on the way to the principal's office.
Chloe laughed, weaving her way through the desks and people on the second floor of the Bullpen. "And risk losing his worker bees? Not a chance!" Chloe replied sounding more assured than she felt. She and Clark had pulled some crazy stunts in their days, but this last escapade not only took the cake but the whole bakery. It was just a good chance that Perry would fire them if he found out, but guaranteed. "You know, all this is really all your fault," Chloe hissed the closer they got to the Bulldog's office door.
"My fault?" Clark whispered incredulously. "How is it my fault? I only followed to keep you out of trouble!"
"And if you hadn't followed me, there would have been no trouble to begin with!" Chloe hissed a little louder. "We're not kids anymore, Clark. I don't need your protection all the time!"
"Well, remember that when I leave you hanging on a rusty pole over a 40 ft. drop to a cement slab!"
"What in blue blazes are you two bickering about?"
Clark and Chloe jumped, not realizing they were standing outside Perry's office, nose to nose in an argument. Clark straightened and smiled sheepishly. Chloe's eyes brightened as she fought to stifle a laugh. She a hand from her hip and patted Clark on the chest as she led the way into their boss' office.
"Shut the door," Perry snapped as Chloe came and stood in front of his desk. Clark pushed the door to and then joined Chloe. They stood arm to arm; a united front awaiting their verdict. If one was going down, the other was coming along for the ride.
"Yes, Chief?" Chloe asked, always the spokesperson of the two.
Perry scoffed at the nickname as he leaned back in his chair, eying the two reporters. Clark and Chloe glanced quickly at each other, knowing it was a bad sign when the Chief didn't smile kindly at Chloe's endearing title from him.
Steepling his fingers over his paunch and clearing his throat, he looked patiently from Clark to Chloe. It wasn't hard to be angry with the two of them but it was hard to punish them. They were two of the best reporters he had. And together, they were magic. With a resigned tone, he asked, "Would either of you care to explain what went on last night over on Water Street?"
He watched them closely. Sullivan didn't as much as twitch, but Kent's nose screwed up just slightly. Perry wished, just once, the kid could lie convincingly. He blew a frustrated sigh out from between his lips.
"What do you mean?" Chloe asked, cool as a cucumber. Clark cleared his throat.
Perry bit the inside of his cheek. "I mean," he began calmly. "How did the Planet get slapped with a one-hundred thousand dollar suit for Vandalism from the Mayor?"
"One-hundred thousand?" Chloe shrieked. She couldn't remain cool and detached now.
"Yes, one-hundred thousand! Thirty thousand for Vandalism and the other seventy thousand for Libel! Now," Perry growled, pointing an accusing finger at Clark and Chloe. "I want to know just how the Mayor has the nerve to sue us for seventy thousand dollars for Libel when we haven't printed a damn word about the little weasel! And what the hell did you damage when you broke into his apartment and how the hell did he catch you?"
"Well-" Clark began before Chloe cut him off.
"Chief, listen. We got a lead and-"
"Well, you can forget that! We have to do damage control," Perry spoke over her. He stood, pushing back what little hair he had left off his forehead. "The only way the Mayor is going to forget this little criminal offense is if you two are fired."
Chloe's mouth plopped closed, her eyes rounding and drooping like she's just witnessed her puppy being run over. Clark, seeing how broken-hearted Chloe looked, bolstered up. "Look Mr. White, this was all me."
Perry quirked an eyebrow at the tall man. He smirked slightly. "Really? Whatever you two got into was your hair-brained scheme, Kent?"
Chloe smiled sweetly as she watched Clark nod profusely, knowing the Chief wasn't buying what he was selling. "Chloe had nothing to do with. I drug her in. So, if you have to fire anyone, fire me," Clark begged with dignity.
Perry came around and sat on the edge of his desk, facing them as he linked his fingers. "That's mighty gallant of you, Kent, but I'm not firing anybody."
"You're not?" Chloe asked urgently.
"No, Sullivan, I'm not. Especially not the two best reporters I've seen since typewriters went out of fashion." He rolled his eyes. "I've already spoken to Mr. Queen and Ms. Mercer and they back me on this. They'll go to bat for you if they have to."
Clark and Chloe grinned at each other, knowing that Ollie and Tess would do what they could to keep their eyes and ears of the League inside the Planet.
"No," Perry continued. "What this tells me is that whatever you two think you've found is something. Something big. Now, elections aren't for another couple of years, so I'm betting this isn't just some little skeleton that hardly rattles when he pulls his underwear out of his closet."
"It's not! Oh, Chief, it's-"
"I don't want to know, Sullivan. At least not right now. If it's as big as it seems, we're going to have to put it on the back burner for now. Ah, let me finish," Perry said quickly, holding up a hand when it looked like Chloe was about to explode. "I have to make it look like I've punished you and steered you in another direction."
"How are you going to do that, Mr. White?" Clark asked.
"Well, until this all blows over and I can unsnap the leash, you're both being demoted to the Society section." Perry waited, regarding his little blonde spit-fire sternly. She stared back him, speechless.
"Society?" Chloe repeated with obvious disgust, as if she had a mouth full of manure.
"Society. And I've even got your first assignment," Perry told them, amused at watching the play of emotions across Chloe's face.
"Society?" Chloe repeated again. Clark rolled his eyes.
"A little gratitude would be appreciated, Sully. I did stick my neck out for you. It's only a couple of weeks, two months top. Do you think you can survive that?"
"Chief, you've got to be kidding!" Chloe exclaimed, still in disbelief.
It's either that or the unemployment line, Sullivan," Perry said harshly.
Chloe set her jaw. "Society," she replied through clenched teeth.
"Knew you'd see things my way!" Perry crowed. "Okay, now that we've got that settled, here's your assignment."
"I can't believe this," Chloe said.
"It's better than being fired, right?" Clark reminded her.
"Clark," Chloe shot him an impatient glance before continuing. "It's the Society Pages. The Rich and Famous! Elite Weddings! Human Interest crap like we're doing right now!" She yelled from the back of the cab, frightening the driver into swerving just slightly. Clark braced Chloe so she wouldn't go bouncing all over the back seat as the driver course corrected. Chloe didn't even seem to register the cab teetering on two wheels, just sat there in a suspended pout.
"I think it's kind of a neat piece," Clark said after they were safely back in their lane, looking out around at the houses they were passing, each one more magnificent than the last.
Chloe looked over at him. "Sure, Clark, it's neat in a wholesome, Smallville Ledger kind of way, but we work at the Daily Planet! We've busted some of the best! And now, what? We're listening to some old lady waltz down memory lane? Excuse me if I find the change in direction a little jarring."
"It's only for a couple of months, just until all this with the Mayor blows over. Then we can go back to the real story," Clark replied, trying hard to placate her without Chloe catching on.
"But not even being able to investigate? I'm going to go crazy!" Chloe exclaimed as she slapped her thigh. Clark waited for the cab to swerve, but it seemed the driver had steeled his nerves.
"I warned you not to investigate a League tip without the League. It never ends well," Clark reminded her for the tenth time.
"Thank you, Clark," Chloe snapped. "And can I also remind you that not everything requires-" Chloe lowered her voice. "Heat vision!"
"Can we not talk about it?" Clark groaned, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
"I'm not the one who brought it up," Chloe responded, her nose in the air.
They rode in silence for a few minutes.
"How are you so calm about this?" Chloe demanded.
"Because you're angry enough for both of us," Clark explained.
Chloe sighed. "Have you not thought about what this is going to do for-" She lowered her voice again. "The Blur?"
Clark met Chloe's concerned gaze. "How would it affect that?"
"In Major News, we can come and go as we please and no one thinks a thing. They thing we're chasing down a lead or something. People will notice in Society if you keep zipping in and out. All they do there is think of new ways to tell the same old story."
Clark laughed at Chloe's dramatics. "Which is?" He asked.
"How to lead the perfect life." Chloe rolled her eyes. "Life is anything but perfect. The thing is, Clark, in Society they're all so chummy with each other. They notice when people come and go. And it's going to look funny for you to get up for every ten disasters that happen in Metropolis on a daily basis."
"I hadn't thought of that," Clark said honestly. "I'll just have to what I can do."
"Wrong. We'll do what we have to do," Chloe replied with a set jaw. She caught Clark grinning at her. "What? I may only be super-powered in the computer realm but I still think of myself as your trusty sidekick."
Clark slipped an arm around Chloe and hugged her to him. "And I'm your sidekick in this. We'll get through this."
Chloe groaned, pushing some hair out of her face. "I know it's not life or death, but-"
"But it feels like the death of your news career," Clark finished for her.
"Exactly!" Chloe exclaimed. "You constantly have to stay on top in this game if you want to win. In two month, who will remember my name?"
"Hey," Clark began in a comforting tone. "Just keep thinking about the Mayor. We'll get him eventually. And then you'll be a household name!"
Chloe smiled gratefully at Clark. "You're right, you're right," she breathed, laying her head back against his arm.
They both felt the cab pull to a stop. Chloe sat up and scooted to look out the window. She let out a low whistle. Clark leaned in and peered over her shoulder.
"Would you take a look at that," Clark whispered beside Chloe's ear.
"Makes the Luthor mansion look like a shanty, doesn't it?" Chloe replied.
Clark nodded. He pulled back as Chloe opened the door. He took his wallet from his pocket and pulled out some money, handing it to the cabbie, a generous tip included for the man's stressful fare.
"Thanks, man," he replied.
Chloe disembarked from the vehicle, Clark right behind her. After smoothing wrinkles in skirts and pants, straightening blouses and shirts, Clark and Chloe stood and admired the mansion before them. It was a stately antebellum home, located dead center in the wealthiest part of Metropolis, Emerald Fields East. It looked like something right out of Gone With The Wind with its wide front verandah, elegant columns and lush grounds with large Elm trees shading most of the property. The house must have been three stories, with a balcony on the second level over-looking the yard and at least four chimneys, Chloe could see, each probably located in certain areas on the house. The paint was the color of fresh milk with navy blue shutters decorating each window. The sun shone through the leaves of the trees, causing the yard to fill with shafts of golden sunlight, shifting with the breeze. A black wrought iron fence kept out the undesirables with its unfriendly points, ruining the instant feeling of welcome the house seemed to inspire.
Clark pulled out his notepad and checked the address. The gold-plated numerals on the equally stunning mailbox matched the ones scrawled in Clark's blunt hand. "This is it. 1256 Rolling Hills Lane, home of Mr. and Mrs. Butler."
Clark and Chloe started up the wide cobblestone path to stop at the six foot high iron gate. Clark pushed the button on the intercom. A soft, southern voice floated out over the air. "How may I help you?"
"We're here to see Mrs. Butler. From the Daily Planet?" Chloe answered.
"Come on in." A buzzer sounded and the gate swung slightly open. Clark pushed the gate wider, holding it as Chloe walked through. He let it go and it clang shut behind him. The two followed the curving path right to the polished steps leading up the porch which was lined on either side with thick shrubs, flowers the color of fire bursting from between the leaves. A wide, black front door with gold embellishments awaited them as they crested the steps, Chloe's heels clicking sharply on the tongue-and-groove wood pattern
Chloe reached out and pushed the pearly doorbell. A chime could be heard reverberating throughout the house. "How likely to do you think it is their names are Rhett and Scarlet?" Chloe asked teasingly as she and Clark continued to marvel at the majesty around them.
Looking back at the door, which had thick slabs of white marble framing the entrance and beveled glass running along the top of the door, speaking to expensive and loving craftsmanship of days gone by, Clark replied in awe, "Right now, I'd say very."
The door opened, revealing a portly black man standing on the other side. "Mr. Kent, Miss Sullivan?" He asked in a deep, rounded voice from the Deep South.
Chloe stared at him with an open mouth. Clark elbowed her gently. "Yes, sir."
The man opened the door wider, allowing to enter. The inside was just as grand as the outside. High ceilings and crown molding the color of soft moss highlighting the creamy texture of the damask wallpaper. They stepped into an elegant foyer, the wide mouth of a curving staircase just across the parquet floor from them. Chloe felt like she's stepped back in time as she perused the antique furniture and the sparkling chandeliers she could see hanging in other rooms leading off this one. She cleared her throat nervously and a ridiculous thought crossed her mind that her skirt was too short and her blouse too low cut. She looked down quickly to be certain her hemline was still below her knee caps.
"Right this way, please. Miss Lilly is waitin' for ya in the pahlor," the man said as he turned, indicating for Chloe and Clark to follow him.
As they marched behind him, Chloe grabbed Clark's sleeve and whispered, "Can you say, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!'?"
Clark snickered then covered it quickly with a cough.
The man led them around the back of the staircase and down a hallway, passing a few rooms as they went. A formal dining room, what looked like a library and a den. The kitchen was straight ahead but the man turn abruptly to the right and stopped in front of a pair of French doors. He opened them to reveal another large room with floor to ceiling windows, sunlight pouring in and green, leafy plants placed here and there. He held his arm out, Clark and Chloe following the direction to a frail but regal woman perched on a love seat in the corner, her back a window.
"Thank you," Chloe said to the man. He nodded before backing out and closed the doors.
"Mrs. Butler? Hi, I'm Clark Kent from the Daily Planet and this is my partner, Chloe Sullivan," Clark formerly introduced them as he crossed the room, his hand out-stretched.
The woman looked up and smiled serenely. "I've been expectin' you. Mah, but aren't you a handsome fella?" She twittered as Clark got closer. She stood to meet him, taking his hand over a delicate spruce coffee table. "It's nice to meet you. Both of you," she said, her gracious smile encompassing Chloe who stood at Clark's elbow. "Please, call me Lilly." She reached out and took Chloe's hand in her free one, squeezing hers and Clark's simultaneously.
Clark and Chloe smiled back at her, each immediately liking her.
"Please? Won't you be seated?" She gestured to another love seat facing hers that sat behind them. As they all sat, Clark settling back and Chloe trying sit comfortably in her office attire, crossing a leg over her knee, careful not to knock the coffee table with her heel, she watched in awe as Lilly resumed her resting place gently. The older woman was dressed in a pretty yellow Chanel suit the color of petal pink. Her hair, which still seemed very thick, was piled on her head like a priceless crown of silver. Chloe remembered she was getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday, the reason they were here. She was Metropolis' oldest resident but she didn't look a day over seventy-five. She had wrinkles but her skin still resembles smooth china. She even had the tiniest hit of mascara on her full lashes.
"Coffee? Or tea?" She offered.
Never one to turn down anything caffeinated, Chloe replied, "Coffee would be great."
Lilly looked at Clark.
"Me, too," He said with a nod.
Lilly smiled warmly at them, almost as if she already knew them well. "Charlotte?" She called.
"Yes, Grammy?" A pretty woman with short, black hair in her early forties stepped into the room from a hidden alcove near the hallway.
Lilly gestured to the woman. "This is one of mah granddaughtehs, Charlotte. Charlotte, these are the nice reportehs the paper sent over to do a story on mah party." Lilly's voice was like honey drizzling from a pot, slow and sweet.
"Nice to meet you," Charlotte nodded toward them, her voice more of a fast mid-west matching Clark and Chloe's.
"Would you mind bringing in the coffee?" Lilly asked.
"Not at all. I'll be right back," Charlotte told them with a smile before she disappeared again.
"Can I help?" Chloe offered, rising from her seat.
"No! I wouldn' hear of it! You're mah guest," Lilly told her firmly.
Chloe didn't argue.
They made small take until Charlotte came back in with an antique silver coffee set. Pouring the dark liquid into small china cups, she served them all quietly before taking a seat beside her grandmother.
"Now, what would you like to know?" Lilly asked.
Clark cleared his throat and set his cup back on the matching saucer. He looked over at Chloe. "I guess, the first thing is, what does it feel like to have lived almost a century?"
Lilly sighed. "Tirin'. Very tirin'. So many changes. It seems you can't do nothin' anymore without the help of electronics." She laughed and the other three joined her. "Of course, that's just the age talkin'. I'm sure if I was still a spring chicken I'd feel differently."
For the next hour they talked about all Lilly had seen or done; the upside of living to 100 years old. Finally, Clark asked, "And what are some of the drawbacks?"
Lilly's forehead wrinkled slightly. She met Clark's eyes honestly. "You feel young but don't recognize the woman in the mirror. You find new wrinkles every day. The weather starts to affect you like it never did before," she paused, a melancholy look stealing over her face. She shifted her gaze to Chloe. "Most of all, it's lonely."
"Lonely?" Chloe repeated. "How so? You're surrounded by family."
Lilly smiled patiently. "I am." She turned to Charlotte, taking the woman's hand between her own and bringing them to her lips affectionately. "And I am thankful every day for them." She looked back to Chloe. "You see, I lost the man I loved ten years ago."
"But I thought Mr. Butler only died a year or two ago?" Clark said tentatively.
"Oh, he did," Lilly nodded, placing her hands back in her own lap.
Charlotte looked at Clark and Chloe, fiddling with the pearls strung around her neck. She looked back at her grandmother with questioning eyes. "Grammy?"
Lilly patted the woman's knee. "It's time to tell the story. The real story. And this article is to be about mah life, what better time than now?" She met Charlotte's eyes. "Y'all should have known years ago, but there was never a good time until Pawpaw died a couple of years ago. It's time now."
She gazed back over at Clark and Chloe with her deep, blue eyes; appearing almost mystical. "Would you like to hear it?"