Release
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing Smallville related. Other than my Clark Kent action figure of course…
Summary: … She hadn't meant for it and fear had begun to grip her heart. Pressing a hand to her chest through her thoroughly soaked coat and shirt, she willed it to stop. For everything to stop. How had this happened?…
Rating: Uh…PG13ish?
Pairing: Why Chlex of course. Some Chruce involved.
AN: This story is pretty much entirely AU, unless otherwise stated. I haven't written a Smallville fic in eons, so if it sucks, just let me know. I always appreciate any sort of constructive criticism so please R&R. That's about it on my end! Enjoy!
The gray clouds hung heavily on the city of Metropolis, making the streets feel dark and cold. Fat raindrops began to fall from the overcast sky, pounding the pavement as they landed on the ground below. A petite blonde ducked into the alleyway, her footsteps clicking as she ran. Her hand flew to her face, pushing back the few strands of wet hair that had stuck to her cheeks as she inhaled a sharp breath. She wouldn't admit that she was scared, but her heart quickened as she thought of who might have been following her.
Retreating deeper into the alley, she pulled her jacket closer around her shivering frame. It was raining harder now, the water splashing down, making it easier for her to muffle her steps. Somewhere a voice in the back of her mind told this was absolutely absurd and that surely she was crazy. Hastily, she turned her head over her shoulder to confirm so. But, perhaps she was wrong after all.
She immediately slowed as she saw him standing at the mouth of the alleyway. He didn't advance towards her, as she had expected. Instead he remained still, an ever-present smirk adorning his lips. His hands were shoved carelessly in his pockets and he seemed ignorant of the rain. Of course, he was always blissfully unaware of most things, his cool demeanor and calm disposition were part of his trademark.
Deciding that it was useless to just stand there, she began to walk to where he stood. She took short, hurried steps, hoping that somehow this might intimidate him. That it might even deter him in some way. If it did, his face didn't convey it, although she was sure he could hide any sort of emotion. As she got closer to him, she thought of how far all of this had come. She hadn't meant for it and fear had begun to grip her heart. Pressing a hand to her chest through her thoroughly soaked coat and shirt, she willed it to stop. For everything to stop.
How had this happened?
Gotham City, June 2012. Six months earlier.
Chloe Sullivan stepped out of the limousine, her eyes assaulted by the bright flashes of cameras. She brought a slender hand up to her brow to shield her eyes from the light, all the while a brilliant smile plastered upon her face. The other hand was intertwined with one of Gotham City's most eligible bachelors, Bruce Wayne.
It had been a tabloid field day when the snarky reporter for the Gotham Gazette and one of society's richest playboys, not to mention savvy businessmen, had began dating. Chloe, a beautiful blonde with a glowing smile and quick wit, was soon being dubbed 'America's Sweetheart'. She was outgoing and funny and could be every bit the charmer when she wanted to. Bruce was quintessentially tall, dark and handsome. He was horribly pleasant, a flaw that most people desired. Every woman wanted Bruce Wayne and every man wanted to be him. And remarkably, the pair seemed flawlessly in love.
"Ms. Sullivan, what do you think of tonight's event?" a brash journalist, with flaming red hair and lips to match, shoved a tape recorder in front of her face. Chloe grinned, still getting accustom to answering questions rather than asking them.
"I think it's wonderful that so many people are getting together for such a great cause," she replied.
Tonight was the Children's Charity Ball and the best of the best were giving time and money, although mostly money, to support the under privileged children of Gotham City.
"Mr. Wayne, what are your and Miss Sullivan's plans for the near future? Is there perhaps the sound of wedding bells? Can you confirm or deny the rumblings that you're planning to split up?" the same reporter continued with a barrage of inquiries.
"If it's all the same, I don't think that mine and Miss Sullivan's relationship is in any way pertinent to the topic at hand," Bruce skillfully dodged.
Bruce would have to save his patience for the heaps of reporters that he knew were waiting in the ballroom.
"If you'll excuse us," he said, elegantly weaving his way through the press, Chloe still gripping his hand.
Entering the glamorous building, Chloe let out an audible sigh of relief. Bruce echoed her sentiment with a soft chuckle. They walked wordlessly to the elevator, lest a reporter be hidden in the wings. As the doors clicked closed, Chloe turned to Bruce and poked him playfully in the chest.
"My, my Mr. Wayne aren't you crafty?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. "Although, I'm sure 'no comment' would have sufficed."
"When you date an exquisite member of the media, such as yourself, you learn a few tricks of the trade," he responded. "But for the record, 'no comment' is still a personal favorite."
Chloe nodded in approval of his answer as he leaned over to place a light kiss along the column of her throat. She tilted her neck into his lips, which were slowly trailing a path to her collarbone, before placing her hand on his chest and pulling away.
"Something tells me that if we continue this, we won't make it to the ballroom," she told him, her eyes drifting towards the top of the elevator, the glowing buttons indicating that they were nearing their destination.
"Would that really be such a bad thing?" Bruce questioned, his hand lingering over the emergency stop.
"I think we might be missed. You especially, considering you're due to give a speech in half an hour," Chloe informed.
"Half an hour?" he lifted the sleeve of his tuxedo jacket to get a glimpse of his watch. "What I'm planning on shouldn't take more than twenty minutes."
He smiled devilishly as Chloe swatted him with her evening bag, the doors swinging open. The pair was assaulted with another battering of questions, from another group of journalists, as they stepped into the grand ballroom. Photographers pushed their way through the crowds, each clamoring to get the first shot of Gotham's favorite couple. Both smiled, and waved as the inquests flew around them.
"Bruce, can you tell us anything about Wayne Enterprises' new venture into Europa Labs?"
"Mr. Wayne! How do you feel about rumors of the demise of Wayne Enterprises?"
"Chloe, who are you wearing?"
"Mr. Wayne, is it true that you and Miss Sullivan are getting married?"
Bruce smirked and took a slight breath as he began to answer the overzealous and gossip hungry reporters.
"I can tell you that Wayne Enterprises is in fact discussing a relationship with Europa Labs and nothing more. There is no demise of Wayne Enterprises, therefore I feel quite indifferent to the rumors, as that is all they are; rumors. You'll have to ask the lady," he paused to look at Chloe.
"Lachesis," she provided.
"And, no comment," Bruce finished with a wink directed towards Chloe and once again led their way out of the mob of people.
Lex Luthor stood silently in the corner, nursing a glass of scotch. His cool, blue eyes surveyed the ballroom and its occupants. There were colleagues and benefactors who were making sickeningly polite conversations over drinks, couples entangled in each other swaying to the music and then there was her.
He had noticed her the moment she had stepped into the room. His stomach lurched at the mere sight of her. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. Her hair was pulled up elegantly, the gold earrings she wore dangled just above her exposed shoulders; her black, strapless dress clung to her slim figure. Perhaps she was even more beautiful, if such a thing was possible.
It had been years and Lex was still taken with her. He took a moment to drink her beauty in. Her lips were pursed, thoughtfully, as she winked suggestively at Bruce, whose arm was snaked across her stomach. Even Lex had to admit that he was initially surprised when he had first heard that they were together. A part of him wanted to be pleased to see her so deliriously happy, but in the back of his mind, he knew that Chloe Sullivan belonged in nobody's arms but his own.
xxx
The grand ballroom was quite aptly named. A large, crystal chandelier hung above the room, casting a glittery shadow on the polished marble floor. There was a stage at the head of the ballroom, a podium set front and center. A sleek, black piano was on the stage's left, being beautifully played by an even sleeker looking man, accompanied by woman in a slinky dress with a voice to match. Yes, if the room was anything, it was grand.
"May I have this dance?" Bruce asked, his hand already settling upon Chloe's waist.
"You may," she obliged, slipping into his arms.
"Have I told you that you look positively gorgeous tonight?" Bruce whispered, his lips almost pressed to her ear.
"I believe you have, but flattery will get you everywhere Mr. Wayne. Or has it already?" Chloe's lips quirked into a grin.
"America's Sweetheart," he said with a laugh.
"You know I hate that," she told him as she pulled a look of disgust.
"And you're definitely—to quote Gossip in Gotham—'delightfully enchanting'," Bruce teased.
"I'm inclined to agree," a smooth voice stated.
The couple broke apart to turn and see whom the voice belonged to. Standing in front of them was Lex Luthor, one hand tucked into the pocket of his tuxedo pants, the other holding his scotch. If Bruce was Gotham's richest and most eligible bachelor then Lex was Metropolis'. But while Bruce had textbook good looks, Lex's were anything but routine. Bald, from a freak accident involving a meteor shower, with a stony glare, Lex had more of an edge than Bruce did. The two had been schoolboy chums and through way of business had somewhat kept in touch.
"Lex," Bruce mused and shook his friend's hand, which had since been removed from his pocket. "It's good to see you. And where I'd normally take this time to initiate an introduction, your previous statement leads me to believe you've already been entranced by Miss Sullivan."
"Bruce romanticizes everything," Chloe said in a dismissive rush with a wave of her hand.
"That he does," Lex agreed. "Although, I have had the pleasure of being in the company of Miss Sullivan, on several occasions."
Chloe's cheeks flushed a slight pink. "Lex and I were a form of acquaintances, you might say. Back in Smallville."
"Of course. With both of you residing at one point in time in a town that bears a name such as Smallville, I would think that would be inevitable," Bruce's raised eyebrows lowered. "So what brings you here Lex?"
"It's good for PR," he shrugged in a nonchalant manner, but a smirk began to tug at the corner of his lips. "That and I never give up a chance to see Bruce Wayne make a complete and utter fool out of himself in front of dozens of reporters and Gotham's most elite."
"As I recall that is one of your favorite pastimes," Bruce said with a slight nod of his head, to which Lex responded to with a laugh.
"I'll have you know that Bruce is more than adequately prepared for his speech, Mr. Luthor," Chloe remarked with what almost appeared to be a grimace.
"I hadn't realized that I might have implied otherwise," Lex told her, easily sliding into what had once been a familiar verbal encounter for the two.
Chloe, apparently not so comfortable easing into old habits, remained silent.
"So Bruce, what's this I hear about Europa Labs?" Lex asked with a slight cock of his brow.
"Depends on just what it is that you've heard," Bruce answered. "Although I can't imagine your sources being anything less than accurate."
"Does that mean you're planning a buy out?"
"Wait and see," Bruce smiled at Lex who returned with a grin of intrigue.
"I'll look forward to it. Mr. Wayne, would you mind terribly if I steal Miss Sullivan?" he questioned, offering his hand to her. A waiter, bearing a tray silently took Lex's now empty glass.
"Of course not," Bruce shrugged.
Chloe's face still held the tight frown that she wore earlier, but she harshly slipped her hand over Lex's, her fingers clamping down hard around his own. He returned the favor, grasping her hand forcefully.
"I won't be a minute," she sweetly told Bruce. She turned her body from Lex, her hand still clasped with his, and pressed her lips against Bruce's cheek. He grinned at her gesture and gave a small nod, his own personal way of letting her know that she was now bound to that promise.
xxx
Lex pulled her to the other end of the room and opened a door that was almost hidden beneath the elaborate decorations and embellishments. Chloe wriggled her arm, trying to free herself from his tight grip. Lex made no attempt to let go as he led her through the door, which opened into a tiny darkened hallway.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" she demanded, finally yanking her hand away from his.
"There was a time you knew me quite well Chloe," he replied.
"That was ages ago, I was young and stupid," she informed him, rubbing her sore knuckles.
"And now you're old and wise?" Lex guessed. "If that's so, may I ask what you're doing with a notorious philanderer such as Bruce Wayne?"
"Ask all you want Lex," Chloe snorted. "Bruce loves me."
"So what exactly was it that we had?" he queried.
Lex leaned in closer to her, his fingers gently massaging the hand that he had held so roughly before, his breath floating across Chloe's neck. She slowly withdrew her hand and took a step back.
"I believe what we had, Mr. Luthor, was sex," she said stiffly, her arms folding across her chest.
"Is that all?"
"Well, I think that it sums up our lack of relationship with remarkable accuracy," Chloe told him pointedly.
"If I beg to differ?" Lex asked, advancing towards her again.
Chloe gave a sort of half-shrug and kept moving backwards. She collided with the wall behind her, leaving her no escape. Lex slid his hands across her stomach, forcing her arms to fall from their resting-place beneath her breasts. She willed herself not to shiver at his touch.
"Lex don't," she tried to say sternly, but it left her lips as a whimper.
"Don't what?" he inquired, a smirk dancing upon his face.
Chloe opened her mouth, but no sound came out. It was like one of those nightmares where no matter how hard you try to scream, you can't. No matter how hard you try to run, your legs remain bolted to the ground. Except Chloe wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to do either.
"Don't what?" Lex repeated.
Without receiving an answer, Lex pressed his lips against hers. Chloe started to push him away, but he pulled her closer. It had been too long since he had kissed her. Too long since he had felt her body melded with his own. Too long since she had been his. Her initial hesitation melting away, Chloe began to kiss him back just as fearlessly. One of his hands softly cupped her now flushed cheek as the other held the small of her back, keeping her both upright as well as tight against him. His lips left a wet trail down her neck, coming back under her chin, while his usually expert hands fumbled for the zipper of her dress. Her senses finally coming to, Chloe pushed him off of her, her palms digging hard on his shoulders.
"You asshole," she shook her head and brought a hand to her face, wiping away any trace of him from her lips.
"Chloe," Lex began to make amends, a rare pleading that probably only she had ever had the privilege of hearing.
"Stay away from me Lex," Chloe commanded, still furiously rubbing at her swollen lips. "Just stay away."
With her final words, Chloe groped for the doorknob and silently walked back into the grand ballroom. Lex remained behind in the darkness, watching her walk away. A sight that he had hoped he would never see again. And if he had his way, he wouldn't have to.