Lex's leather coat trailed behind him as he made his way to his porsche. His pace was quick and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. His mouth was set in a grim line as he sat in the driver's seat and slammed the car door.
He jerked the keys into the ignition and it roared to life. He screeched out of the parking lot, speeding down the highway on his way back to Smallville.
The two hour drive did nothing to calm the rage burning in his chest. His cold eyes were livid as they focused on the road.
"Twenty-five hundred fucking workers..."
He muttered to himself. Lex was was born into the cut-throat world of billion dollar businesses, but he wanted to make a difference. He didn't want to be viewed as the ruthless, vastly despised corporate man that his father was. He had a plan that would both increase production and ensure the jobs for the workers of his plant...Unfortunately his father had not seen eye to eye with him and had fired Lex's men from right under him.
At last, Lex screeched into a parking spot and made his way into the Talon, a coffee shop that he often occupied to distract himself from the constant stress of his day to day life.
Lex stalked through the doors and made his way to the lounge chairs. He sat down and placed his hand over his forehead, trying to make sense of this most recent betrayal.
"Hey Lex, you look upset."
Lex picked his head up to see his friend Clark standing there with his ever present kind but rather vacant expression and two cups of coffee in his hands. One of which he handed to Lex.
Lex forced a smile. Clark was like a little brother to him. He had a great deal of affection for this boy who always beamed with his heart of gold.
"You would be correct Clark. My father was, of course, the one behind the loss of all of those jobs. The wretched bastard."
"I'm really sorry. I know how hard you've been working on your plans to make the plant a better place. I can't believe anyone would do such an awful thing just to spite their own son."
Lex smirked. Clark knew nothing about the world. He was a sweet, simple farm boy. The exact opposite of himself. He wanted to protect his young friend's innocence.
"You're good Clark, never change."
Clark flashed his goofy grin.
"Hi Lex!"
Lex raised a brow, "Lana, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be cheerleading at the school game tonight, Or did the quarterback trip up again and rustle your pompoms with his idiocy?"
Lana was a beautiful, kind, good girl, as well as the object of Clark's desire. Lex was always trying to push the two together, but Clark was painfully shy. He took it upon himself to bash her unworthy boyfriend whenever he had the chance.
Lana smirked, "Funny man Lex Luthor, but no. Actually I quit cheerleading. I figured I needed to do something new with my life, I want to make some memorable experiences that don't center around...getting my pom poms ruffled, as you put it."
Lex grinned, "Do those experiences include leaving your boyfriend?"
Lana sighed, "You really are awful when it comes to Whitney, he isn't all bad."
Lex glanced at Clark, "He's no hero either though. One guy throws footballs, the other saves maniacs speeding off bridges in their porsche."
Lana giggled, "Clark and I are just friends, sorry to rain on your parade. I know you want your two good friends to date but it isn't like that, is it Clark?"
Clark turned bright red. "Of course Lana. I mean of course not."
Lex stifled a laugh behind his coffee.
"Ah to be young and naive."
Lana and Clark both rolled their eyes.
"Lex Luthor, well if it isn't a ghost from the past."
Lex turned to see a woman standing behind him, she met his shocked expression with a playful glare.
"Lyla...What are you doing here?"
"It's nice to see you too."
Lex raised his eyebrows. For once, his quick wit failed him and he simply stared.
Lyla smiled then, and looked over at Lana and Clark.
"Do you mind if I join you? Lex is an old...friend."
Lana smiled sweetly, "Not at all! I'm Lana, this is Clark."
"Lyla, pleasure to meet you both."
She turned her attention back to Lex, who was now eyeing her suspiciously. She grinned. "You look as bitter and angry as ever Lex."
He scoffed, "Yes well, when you live in my world you find that joy is fleeting. You would know that if you weren't such a damned romantic."
Lyla pursed her full lips.
"I'd rather be a romantic."
Lex smirked, "I know."
She laughed.
Her laugh stirred something in Lex
"Tell me, what brings you here?"
"Well I wanted to take a break after finishing my English Literature degree and see the countryside….and I may be here to see you and inquire on behalf of the school about a donation to the art program."
Lex scoffed, "There's no need for an excuse to see me Lyla."
Lyla licked her lips, "Don't flatter yourself Luthor. I'm here on business."
He nodded, "But of course. Where are you staying?"
"With a friend of mine just down the road. I'm here for the summer."
Lex gave her a long, searching look.
"We should meet tomorrow over coffee and discuss things when I'm not this drained. It's been...an extremely eventful day."
Lyla nodded, "I think that's a great idea. I'll give you my number and you can call me tomorrow after ten with a time, hand me your phone."
She reached out her hand and Lex gazed at her delicate fingers.
"Is it the same number you've always had?"
Lyla paused. "Yes."
Lex nodded, "Then I don't need it."
Lyla's eyes lit up with surprise. She smiled a little sadly.
"You kept it? After all these years?"
"Of course not. I deleted it long ago." His voice was level. Lyla titled her head curiously.
"Then how…"
"I never forgot it."
"Oh."
There was a moment of silence between them. Lyla was the first to break the intense connection between them. She glanced over at Clark and Lana who were watching the whole exchange. Lyla smiled a little shyly.
"I should go home, I only popped in because I saw the porsche outside and assumed in this small town it had to be yours Lex. Lana, Clark, it was nice meeting you both, perhaps we can get to know each other better while I'm here. It would be nice to make some friends in a strange town."
Clark was gazing at Lyla with that boyish grin spread across his face. She was beautiful, like Lana.
Lana smiled sweetly, "We would love that! It's so nice to meet one of Lex's friends! He's always so cold and to himself."
She shot Lex a playful look but Lex was still staring at Lyla, not breaking his attention from her. Lyla sighed.
"That sounds like Lex. Cold and basking in his solitude."
She smirked and Lex stood up.
"I'll walk you to your car."
Lyla shrugged. "I don't need you to do that."
He stood there, towering over her. She looked up at him with a challenge sparkling in her dark eyes.
Then she wrapped her arms around him. Lex was taken aback, but after a moment he returned the embrace. She felt soft and warm against him. He closed his eyes, her scent was tantalizing. In his mind he could see his mouth closing on hers, could taste her on his tongue, he could see her in his bed, laying in his arms, a dreamy drowsy smile softly touching her lips.
"I have to get going, goodnight."
He snapped out of the spell and stepped back abruptly.
"I'm going to walk you to your car, let's go." There was no room for argument in his statement.
Lyla hesitated but she flashed him a quick smile and started towards the exit, Lex opened the door for them and they walked out into the night. He followed her in silence to her car.
"It really is so good to see you Lex."
He smirked.
"I told you, I would always be here when you wanted me. I just assumed it wouldn't have taken years."
"I assumed it would never be again."
Her quick response bit him. He knew he deserved it, but it bothered him.
"I don't believe you."
Lyla leaned in, her lips dangerously close to his. He could almost taste her cool minty mouth. She whispered,
"I mean it Lex. There's a part of me that hates you."
"And the other part?"
He closed the distance between them and brushed his lips against hers. His heart quickened, he ached with desire. Lyla was the only thing that existed now.
He kissed her deeply, his years of loneliness melted away as he found himself lost in her once again. The only woman he had ever loved.
She pulled away.
"No Lex, you don't get to do that."
Lex grabbed her arm.
"Don't go."
Lyla stared at him a long moment, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
"My old lullaby. I used to dream of the sound of your heart long after you were gone."
Lex wrapped his arms around her, it was so natural to be touching her again. It was as if no time had passed between them.
She remained with her face pressed into his chest.
"...I only did what I thought was best for you. That's the sole reason I didn't come after you. I let you walk away, I gave you your freedom. You know me Lyla, I'm not...made the way other people are, I see in shades of gray, and It seems that makes love a luxury I can't afford."
Lex felt his shirt dampen where her face was nestled into him. He hated himself in this moment, but he had promised long ago to always be honest with her. Lies had ruined them before.
"You know Lex, for such a rich man, you are poor."
Lex pulled her face up to look at her, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
"You were supposed to be the one to change that."
She smiled sadly, her dark eyes magnified by tears. She suddenly seemed so young. Then she nodded and pushed away from him, regaining her composure.
"Good night Lex. I'll see you tomorrow."
She got into her car and drove away. He watched the car until the taillights faded into the night.
His eternal loneliness came flooding back. It was a feeling he had lived with since his mother died. His only release had been his shared moments with Lyla. To say he had missed her would be a terrible understatement.
Lex drove back to the mansion and poured himself a generous drink. Tonight would be a sleepless one.
...
A/N:
This story will go back and forth between present day, (which right now takes place sometime around season 1), and Lex's past with Lyla.
Rated M for some language and sexual scenes later on.