Author: papergirl

Summary: Woman comes to Smallville to find Lex. They have a deep and complicated history, causing angst on all sides, including a slightly crushing Clark Kent. Not slash, just hints of Clark kinda wanting Lex.

Rating: PG-13. Will increase as things get hot and heavy . . . that is if this story is continued.

Feedback: I don't know why I'm writing this thing, I guess I just wanted to try something new. I want feedback on whether or not there should be more!

Spoilers: Eh

A/N: Lex is 23, Clark and the gang are juniors, Whitney . . . what Whitney? And Tempest (which I didn't see b/c I was on a freaking newspaper deadline!) never happened. Any questions? Oh, and while this is in no way a songfic, the title comes from the John Mayer song, "Back to You."

*~#~*

Clark Kent was in the Talon. Actually, he was always in the Talon, that is, when school was out and chores were done. The charms of the lovely, yet rather puerile Lana Lang always kept him coming back. That, and the fact that his best friend owned the place. At any rate, it was no wonder that Clark got to know all of the regulars, and even the not-so-regulars.

So when someone new walked into the coffee shop, Clark always looked up with interest. It was a Tuesday, Clark's favorite day of the week (he was a closet Gilmore Girl's fan). A new customer strode into the Talon, and for some reason, she reminded Clark of Lex Luthor.

He couldn't quite put is finger on it, the woman just had this air about her.

It might have been the way she stalked into the shop. Almost predatory, certainly like she owned the place.

Clark watched her, taking in her appearance. She was wearing sunglasses. Black and impenetrable, an interesting contrast to her very fair skin. Her silky black hair hung in loose curls, down to the middle of her back. She had on a black suit with a long coat, similar to the kind that Lex liked. Clark wondered what her favorite color was.

She stopped walking and stood silently, surveying the area. Tugging at the buttons of her coat, she pulled it back to reveal a fitted black shirt which read, in blue lettering, "Corporate Raider."

Clark kept looking at her, until she turned her head and stared at him. Cursing silently, he stared down into his coffee cup, and tried to ignore her. But she was already walking his way.

"Uh, I, um, I was just," he stuttered, partially in embarrassment, and partially in awe of her larger-than-life presence.

"Save it," she said sternly, removing her shades. "There, now I can see." She looked steadily at him, and Clark felt a blush creeping over his cheeks. He squirmed under her scrutiny, then decided to look up at her.

He had to catch his breath because she was smiling at him, and she was beautiful. Her eyes were blue, bluer than any he had seen, except maybe Lex's. Not that he'd ever gazed into Lex's eyes . . .

"Mind telling me why you were staring so fixedly at me, Mr. — what is your name?"

"It's Clark Kent. Um, well, I've never seen you around here before, and I was interested, and I'm just way too nosy . . . I really apologize, Ms . . ." he trailed off, embarrassed.

"Oh, so Smallville is that kind of town, is it? No privacy . . . hmm, not surprised," she appeared thoughtful. "Given name's Madeline Harper . . . they call me Honey, though."

"Nice to meet you, Honey," Clark felt a little funny, calling her that, but since it was her name, he couldn't help it.

She smiled again, and this time, he felt himself returning the favor. "Care to sit down?"

"Thank you, I will." She sat like a man, chair turned backwards. "So, Clark, are you familiar with the owner of this establishment? Lex Luthor?"

"Yeah," Clark smiled almost involuntarily at the thought of his friend. "Lex is one of my best friends."

"Really?"

"He's great, he helped Lana reopen the Talon, and he's been great for the town."

"I'm sure."

There was something in her eyes that belied her words. Clark could sense that Honey was struggling with herself. He decided to do some gentle prodding.

"So you know Lex?"

"All my life," she smiled, but this time without any mirth. It was more of a "yep, pretty much" kind of smile. Clark was curious. Lex had never mentioned Honey to him.

"I guess I just wanted to torture myself," she said softly.

*~#~*

Lex hated to be late. That's one of the reasons why he sped whenever he drove. He drove faster than anyone he knew, except for this one girl he used to be with. She tested the limits of every engine she met, broke all of the rules, and laughed the entire time. But that was in the past. He decided not to think about her . . . there were just too many emotions wrapped up in that one lovely package. Emotions he'd much rather put aside.

So when he walked into the Talon that afternoon, Lex suddenly felt off-balance. It was almost like all of the feelings he'd gotten great at hiding broke out and attacked him. But these weak emotions were no match for his skills of fighting them off. He took a breath, put on his I'm-rich-and-blasé mask, and approached the table where she and Clark were sitting.

She was smiling at Clark, and then she sat down. Lex was suddenly very angry. He was angry at her for sitting down in HIS coffee shop, and angry at Clark for talking to her. They were talking. He was ready to strangle someone, but reigned in his anger, turning it into that classic Luthor coldness.

"Clark," he nodded to his young friend, who was very intent on whatever it was the bitch was saying. "Madeline."

Honey looked at him. Lex wanted to die. To crawl under a table and beg forgiveness and die. He wanted her to say his Last Rites, and forgive him, and kiss his forehead, and let him die. Lex wondered why she always made him feel this way. Because she always did.

"Hi, Alex." Her eyes sparkled at him. "You look great." She stood, wrapping her arms around him. She smelled like that Clinique stuff. Happy.

He did not hug her back.

*~#~*

He did not hug her back. Honey felt cold. Brushed off. Rejected. She wanted to slap him, shake him, kick him in the groin. Anything to stop this ice-king cold. She pulled away, looking fiery. Her eyes blazed, and she felt anger coming on. Well, she could hide it like a Luthor. After all, didn't she grow up with one? She had seen the worst of everything that had ever happened to Lex. She had even seen the elder Luthor beat Lex. She knew this boy. And boy is what he was.

"Save the I'm-rich-and-blasé act for someone who'll believe it, asshole," she muttered, intending on only Lex hearing the words. She didn't know about Clark's great aural sense, of course.

"Why are you here, Honey?"

She felt like she was making headway. After all, it was Lex's mom who had given her that nickname. When they were little kids, and their mothers were best friends, Honey had been over at Lex's all the time. Lex's mom called her honey, and like the substance, it stuck.

"I'm here because—"

Why was she here? Honey sure as hell didn't know. Suddenly, she felt insecure and very young as she finished the sentence. "—I wanted to see you."

Lex looked at her, and in Honey's opinion, he looked confused. She didn't like that look. Alex was one of the few men that she actually respected . . . and she wanted to keep it that way.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Honey felt like she was sinking. Sinking in this exquisite torture, of being close to Lex, yet not being close at all. She wanted to pull him into her arms, crush him to her, kiss him until he melted into a puddle that she could take home with her. She considered it, thinking about the not-so-successful hug, then decided not to.

"Why did you want to see me?"

She thought about that for a moment, wondering why. "Nostalgia, I guess."

"Oh."

*~#~*

So, should I end it on this? I have about a million ideas of what direction to go . . . FEEDBACK!!!!!