Title: The Devil Made Me Do It
Disclaimer: Nope not mine at all
Rating: PG (If I slip over to the dark side I'll post the link)
Spoiler: slightly for Kinetic

Part One

Journal

The world can be such and empty place. It can beat your dreams out of you before you quite know what they are. I wonder what my dreams might have been?

Everyone creates masks. Even me... especially me. Either I'm the cold, hearted bastard, doing his enemies dirty for the big score, or the sexy, irreverent playboy without a care in the world. Either way I think I'm losing my way.

I wonder if that's the real reason I want to get to know Clark? I want to see into his world. A world where the hugs are genuine and the caring never doubted.

Sometimes I doubt I deserve what Clark takes for granted. In my world the lights are bright and the people pretty... and everyone you meet is dirty. I was born dirty...
~

Lex pushed back from his desk, groaning at his own maudlin thoughts. Jealousy is a pathetic emotion... especially in a man who is supposed to have it all.

Turning in his chair he stared blankly out the window at another disgustingly bright and sunny Kansas day.

"Sickening isn't it?" This came from a much to chipper voice behind him.

"What? Ms. Sullivan?" Startled Lex swung to face the tiny blond wearing much to many colors for this time of day.

She quirked an eye brow at him. "The day... it's nauseating how bright and cheery it is, isn't?" She was obviously enjoying having caught Lex "Oh so smug" Luthor, off guard for once.

"Why exactly are you here, Miss Sullivan?" Lex waited patiently for the punch line of a joke that was sure to be on him.

"Actually, I came to finish that interview you promised me. You didn't really think I'd let you off the hook because of one measly broken arm... did you?"

He sighed, running one hand across his scalp. Looking down at the journal entry he saved quickly and closed the file quickly, safely locking his private thoughts behind barriers the FBI would envy.

"I suppose that would be to much to ask wouldn't it?" he asked rhetorically, trying not to be obvious about his stalling.

"Mr Luthor..." she began, moving to take a seat in front of his desk.

"Chloie" he interrupted, stopping her in her tracks, "First of all if we're doing this we might as well be on first name bases, and second there are two things that need to happen before I answer a single question."

"And?" she prompted impatiently.

Raising one finger, "We go to the library... which is infinitely more comfortable and," raising a second finger, "You have a drink with me."

He looked at her for a moment, raising one eyebrow at her hesitation..."Deal?"

Her were slightly wide as she considered his question and he dared to hope for a moment he'd succeeded in scaring her off... and than she grinned.

"Why Mister Luthor, are you contributing to the delinquency of a minor?"

"And if I am?" He looked up at her with hooded, slightly frightening eyes.

She smiled one of her trade mark smiles, infectious, manic, slightly maniacal. "Than, although I feel I should be signing this pact in blood, or at least red ink..." she leaned forward over his desk, looking every inch the rapacious reporter. "It's a deal"

He smiled slowly one of his trade mark half smirks, "Well remember, if you find yourself regretting this little deal of ours... you can always say the devil made you do it."

~TBC