Setting/Spoilers: S3, pre-trial and finale. AU from finale forward.
Summary: Lies. Betrayal. Deception. This is the moral code of the Luthor family. Set during S3, pre-trial and finale AU. Chloe/Lucas, Lex and ensemble.
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Prologue"Can you please change the channel?"
"No."
The soap opera that she had been following for the past two months was almost as good as the one she'd lived last year. It was sad, really. These so-called actors couldn't hold a candle to the angst and drama of teenagers. The dark-haired man drew the pretty woman in his arms and proceeded to kiss her. In slow motion.
"Dying, over here. Slow and painfully."
"Be quiet, I'm watching this."
"This? This isn't even quality TV. This is like, the Inquisitor for Television."
"You have a better suggestion?"
"Yeah. We could watch the trial."
She silently turned the TV off and walked out of the room.
She would never watch the trial. She'd have to die first.
- - -
"How's she doing?"
He twirled the half-chewed straw between his fingers. "She's fine. That is, if you exclude that she's living in denial. But I hear Egypt's nice this type of year. You would know, after all."
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Take a wild guess."
"I'm just trying to protect her. This is the only way I know how."
A dark look came into his eyes but cleared before it could cause much harm. "That's not true. And if you continue to feed her lies, it's going to be even harder for her to leave."
There was a long sigh. "What would you suggest?"
The similarly worded question sent a chill down his back. "Stop trying to protect her. She knows how to protect herself."
"Does she? I wonder."
"She's stronger than she looks."
"Somehow, I don't think anyone is ever as strong as they need to be."
A loud crash echoed in the hallway.
"Excuse me. I've got to go clean up your mess."
He hung up before he could hear the reply.
- - -
She was standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by broken glass. A bloodied man lay next to the window, shards all around him.
He silently took in the man, and the vacant look in her eyes, making a decision. "We're going."
When she didn't move, he tugged her by the hand. She followed slowly, reluctantly, as if knowing she couldn't face what came next.
"Where?" Her voice was small and hoarse, aching with sorrow.
The TV sounded the results of a trial that no longer appealed to either of them.
"Away from here."
That was good enough for her.
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