Title: Vacation is Hell by Amber Esme Hermione
Timeline: AU future fic that takes place toward the end of an arc of stories I'm working on. This was just the first one that came to me, and so it's the first I've posted. I'm working on stories that lead up to this, and explain the relationships.
Summary: Chloe has a forced week off of work at the Daily Planet. Will her family be able to survive her antics? A Clex and Chlana AU future fic WIP
Chloe adjusts the strap of her personal computer as she walks from the Daily Planet office to the next building. Wind rushes between the skyscrapers catching her jacket and fanning her blond hair into her eyes. Entering the LexCourp offices she strolls through the busy lobby, her shoes hitting the polished tile. Entering the elevator she pulls a card from her pocket and slides it into the reader, pressing the button for the top floor. Her hand grasps the rail I'll never get used to how fast this goes.
The receptionist glances up as she steps off the elevator, "He's still working Ms. Sullivan."
"Chloe," she corrects with a bright smile as she passes the desk. Opening the doors she drops her bag on the leather couch, "I guess they can't kick you out for working too much."
Lex eyes meet hers, but his typing does not slow, "Too many over-time hours this week." A corner of his mouth lifts in a knowing smirk.
"Try this month!" Chloe huffs stretching out on the couch, "They're not letting me into the building until next Monday."
"A whole week's vacation; what will you do with yourself?" Lex's smirk shifts into a true smile.
"Lex!" she complains, "I have work to do! I shouldn't be at home wasting away. My brain will turn to mush."
"Chloe, most would jump at a chance to have a week off, but you're acting like it's a punishment," He shakes his head before returning to his paperwork.
"What would happen if you or Clark took a week off? Where would we all be?" She sits up crossing her arms. "I can't help I'm simply a humble reporter whose work apparently won't be missed."
Lex examines her petulant expression, "I can help you break in, although I doubt that would help matters." He flips through a folder, "Any idea who's interviewing me this quarter? I'd love to have your pen on it, but"
"That would be a conflict of interest," Chloe sighs, "last I checked my friendship didn't affect my journalism back at the Torch. Oh, and I think Parry wants to interview you himself."
"Hmm," Lex grimaces closing his file, "we are more like family now, and I suppose he thinks your positive reporting is biased." He checks his mother's watch with a frown, "If we hurry we won't be late for coffee."
The two of them walk to the elevator in comfortable silence. Chloe presses her back against the wall as the drop throws her off balance. Lex grips her arm in support then gives her a gentle shove as the doors open. His arm settles across her shoulders as they make their way to his Porsche, and he opens the door for her.
"Clark came by for lunch," she comments pulling the seat forward from completely back.
"It was very unproductive," one hand quickly changes the station from Country to a mixed station, "This should suit you better."
Chloe snorts, "Don't blame me when he changes it back."
Lana had made her eighth small mocha cappuccino and was considering making a few larges and dividing them. Another school was obviously touring the Smallville plant, but did that mean her father-in-law had to ship the kids to her before sending them back to the city? They don't have any imagination! You'd think kids from Metropolis would order different drinks.
The bell chimes and Lex's dark suit and pale skin stand out against the bright colors of her decor. He glances around at the full house before stepping aside. Lana's eyes focus on Chloe as she brushes a strand of feathery gold from her eyes. Lana sighs in relief and begins to put together their usual orders.
Chloe trails her hand along the counter as she rounds it to Lana's side, "I'm going upstairs," she whispers wrapping an arm around Lana from behind. Her lips graze Lana's cheek before she steps away. Lana smiles watching her go.
"So," Lex says standing at the bar, "who let in the untamed hordes?"
"Smallville's plant manager," Lana sighs tiredly passing him a mug, "I don't see why you have to send the tours out this way."
Lex brings the hot mug to his lips, "Otherwise they'd be at the main office pestering me with questions all day. At least here they're increasing profits for Smallville."
"I thought you were done with work for the day," warm flannel and the smell of the barn encircles Lex. Clark rests his cheek against Lex's scalp.
"Hey, Clark, Coffee?" Lana reaches for a mug, "Lex was just explaining to me why I'm running low on mocha syrup before I expected."
"I'd like a glass of water first," he nods turning to gaze around the room, "I doubt even we'll be able to find a table."
Lex chuckles, "I can think of a few ways to clear the room, but that would be bad for business."
"I don't know if I should roll my eyes or kiss you when you say things like that." Clark shakes his head before downing the glass of water Lana has given him.
"Sounds like a personal problem, Clark," Chloe says stepping back into view wearing casual clothes. She turns to Lana, "Need any help back there?"
"Not at the moment Chlo, but can you take these drinks to your old table? That group is going through drinks the fastest. I think they're student government or something."
"Or maybe up and coming young reporters," Chloe tilts her head with a grin as she takes the tray.
"You seem too happy about that," Clark remarks. "They'll be your competition in a few years."
"Since when have I let a little competition stop me?" she saunters away.
"It's like she never takes me seriously," Clark hunches his shoulders in a mock pout.
"I've told you, it's the flannel and jeans routine." Lex smirks passing his empty mug to Lana. "I've suggested you loose it."
A smile brightens Clark's expression, "Well, I can't very well do that right now."
Before Lex can respond Lana refills Lex's cup, and hits them both playfully with a towel, "Will you two go find a table, or better yet get a room?"
"Ah, the sting of jealousy" Lex remarks taking his coffee and walking away, "maybe you should close for the day, and then you can have the charming Ms. Sullivan to yourself. You know they're forcing her to take a week off. She'll have all the time in the world."
Clark leans in to Lex, "Why doesn't that strike me as a good thing?"
The last customers exit three hours later, Lana sighs locking the door, and turning to the three still inside.
"Divide and conquer?" Lex suggests gathering their dishes.
"Yeah," Lana says nodding, "I have to close up behind the counter and count the till."
"I can take the main room; tables, chairs, the stage." Clark offers.
"Don't forget to re-fill the shakers and napkin dispensers this time," Chloe advises, "I guess I can take the bathrooms." She wrinkles her nose in distaste.
"That leaves the kitchen for me," Lex strides over to the double doors.
"Who knew Lex Luthor would be washing my dishes," Lana smiles as she too retreats to her task.
Clark takes a breath and blinks. His vision becomes dark with light spaces as he scans to make sure they're truly alone. With a nod he becomes a force of order and cleanliness as he darts around the room at super speed. His second target is the men's restroom which he mercifully reaches before Chloe. Once that is moped, sanitized, and restocked he pauses to grin as he places the trash bag outside the door turning off the lights. His next battle is the kitchen.
He finds Lex with his shirtsleeves rolled up and washing dishes. He deposits a quick kiss on Lex's neck before almost flying around the room cleaning counters, cook surfaces, and all but the stack of dishes Lex has set himself to clean. Then with a smile he departs to the main room again where he uses his x-ray vision and leaves a note behind:
Total: $1,602.06
In the Drop Box:$560
$100 bills: 2 ($200)
$50 bills 2 ($100)
$20 bills 13 ($260)
Credit Card Recipts: $783.42
In the Till: $258.64
$20 bills: 9 ($180)
$10 bills: 4 ($40)
$5 bills: 5 ($25)
$1 bills 8 ($8)
Quarters: 14 ($3.50)
Dimes: 12 ($1.20)
Nickels: 15 ($0.75)
Pennies: 19 ($0.19)
C.K.
Lana turns to her register and picks up the scrap of receipt paper reading it. Then she glances up at Clark who is sitting on the stage absently swinging his legs.
"I hope you helped the others," she calls.
"Oh, he did," Chloe hefts the trash bags from the bathrooms on her way to the dumpster out back.
"Here let me," Clark offers getting to his feet.
"No, I've got this one Clark," Chloe evades him, "I need your keys, honey," she takes the keys from Lana's pocket.
"Alright, I'm going to count the safe," Lana takes the drawer and carries the money up stairs.
"You know," Clark pouts, "If your safe wasn't lead lined I could count that too."
"Clark, Go find Sir Lex-a-lot, and see if he needs your help."
Chloe smirks and mouths 'Sex-a-lot' at Lana and they both burst into laughter. Lex comes out of the kitchen arching an eyebrow in question to Clark who shrugs. Lex pulls down his sleeves draping his suit coat over his arm. They go to sit at their usual booth to wait for the girls. The Talon is dark with most of the lights off and the sun no longer in the sky.
"I'm glad I finished up at the farm before coming over," Clark muses reaching across the table to take Lex's hand warming the cool skin.
"It's a wonder you have time to help out here as much as you do." Lex observes pressing his fingers to the heat of Clark's wrist. "The farm is responsibility enough without your other duties."
"Well, at least tonight your friend has duty, and we can't be seen working together." Clark shifts forward so their noses almost touch, "which means I'm off tonight."
"When are you and Bruce going to stop being so territorial? Not that I'm complaining mind you." Lex closes the space between them stifling Clark's answer.
"Hey, lover-boys!" Lana calls from the door holing the keys.
"Come on," Chloe flicks off the lights. "Mamma Kent's gunna kill us if we're late to dinner again."
"You two go on ahead we're a little busy," Lex teases as he and Clark exchange smiles across the table before following holding hands.
The four walk out the doors and separate into their pairs. Lana and Chloe walk to Chloe's—now Chloe and Lana's—red Echo, and Lex and Clark settle into the Porsche. The 'boys' are the first to leave their parking space, and Lex maneuvers ahead of the small car. His smirk becomes a grin as he lets off the gas slowing to below the speed limit.
"Lex?"
"Yes, Clark?"
"What are you doing?"
Lex glances at his partner, "You always say I drive too fast."
Chloe sitting in the passenger seat of her car turns from looking out the side window, "You going a little slow babe?"
"It's Lex," Lana turns the wheel trying to get around him.
"What's he doing?" Chloe leans forward trying to see into the dark sports car.
Lana reaches out taking Chloe's hand, "You didn't have any trouble coming home from Metropolis did you?"
"No," Chloe sits back frustrated, "his beloved Porsche was fine, and he was driving his usual I can make a three hour drive in one and a half speed."
Lana shakes her head grinning, "You don't think Clark's the cause?" arching a dark eyebrow.
"Hardly," Chloe snorts, "if anything they'd be going faster." The silver car slowed again making Lana match him or risk a collision, "Oh come on!" Chloe reaches past Lana's arm and punches the horn.
In the leading car Lex chuckles, "You can take the driver out of road-rage but you can't take road-rage out of her."
Clark turns attempting to give Lana an apologetic smile, but remembers she can't see through the tented glass. He pulls the blue cell Lex got him from his coat pressing five on his speed dial. "Hi Lana," he waits listening for a moment, "Chloe, no, I don't know," then a longer stream of angry reporter rant, "look just tell Lana sorry, ok?" and he closes the phone.
"They're not mad at you too are they?"
"No, I think Lana's just frustrated cause she doesn't know why you're—" Clark felt the roar of the engine as Lex left the other car behind. A few moments later he took the turn in front of the house spitting dirt and gravel as he parked. Lex was out of the car and jogging up to the porch. Clark sighed passing Lex and holding the screen door for him.
Jonathan turned from setting the table, "Looks like you're on time for once. How fast were you going, Lex?"
Lex shrugged, "Ninety more or less."
Martha entered the room with a bouquet of spring color in a vase, "Looks like the girls are running late. Did you two leave them to finish closing up?"
"No!" Clark protested
"They just took a little longer to get going." Lex sat at his place at the left of the oval table.
A moment later Chloe dashed into the kitchen, "What was with your driving Lex?"
"You seem surprised, Chloe," Jon remarked sitting at one of the ends of the table. Clark sat across from him at the other end of the table. Lex was to his left.
"Is everyone ok?" Lana entered the kitchen, "The way you took off Lex."
"Yes, Lana we're fine," Lex assures her, "but maybe you should sit next to Clark tonight. I don't want Chloe kicking me under the table."
"I wouldn't do something so callow and utterly juvenile." Chloe defended herself dropping into the seat at Jonathan's right putting her diagonally across from Lex. The older man gave his son a questioning look to which Clark shook his head.
Bypassing further entanglement Lana went to help Martha bring food to the table, "Can I help you with something, Martha?"
"No honey you've been serving people all day. Have a seat and I'll be over in a minute." She smiled brushing a lock of hair from her surrogate daughter's face. Lana grinned sneaking the basket of rolls and butter when Martha's back was turned.
"Food," Clark reached immediately for a role and tore the hot bread open to apply butter.
"Lex," Martha admonished, "I know for a fact Clark snuck off to have lunch with you."
"Yeah, Lex," Chloe glared at him, "what could possibly keep you from feeding Clark?"
"This is Clark we're talking about, " Lex smiles at the glare his partner gives him, "with his metabolism he's just running on empty again."
"Well, we can fix that easily," Martha sat down at her place between her husband and older son. son-in-law never fit because after all this was Kansas and the law didn't recognize them, and for Martha the other three at the table were her children as much as Clark. "I made cherry cobbler for dessert too."
After dinner was over Jonathan and Martha sat on the porch swing watching their children check the cows for the night. They could see Lex walking the perimeter of the fence checking its stability. Clark and Lana were moving through the herd proper making sure none were injured or sick. Chloe stayed with the calves keeping them contained while the others worked.
"We have that pasture full of children we always wanted." Martha sighed snuggling closer to her husband.
"They're not children anymore," he replied gently, kissing her hair, "but we have our big family." He chuckled, "you never could stop taking in strays."
A/N: If Chloe and/or Lex seem a little childish I'm just having fun with them. I love watching them play off of each other, and who doesn't get petty every once in a while? This next week is going to make Chloe stir-crazy and she may take her family's sanity with her. I just used this chapter to set up the scene, conflict, and characters. It was fun to write and I hope you laughed a few times along the way.