Rating: strong PG-13 for innuendo and semi-dirty Lex thoughts
Couple: Chloe/Lex, with elements of C/C & Pete/Lana
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to someone other than me. The lyrics and title come from 'I Will Love You' by Fisher.
A/N: This follows 'Fabulous Freaks of Nature'. It's best to read that one first.
* *
Till the Storms Fill my Eyes
* *
Till my body is dust
Till my soul is no more
I will love you, love you
Till the sun starts to cry
And the moon turns to rust
* *
Lex was only half-listening as the man on the other end of the phone argued. He wanted the call to be finished so he could concentrate on something other than work for once. Dad, LuthorCorp is still your company, he thought bitterly, resting his bare feet on the top of the ominous desk in his bedroom. You could do a little of the work occasionally.
"Mister Luthor, I will not-" Lex set the portable receiver on the edge of the desk--his associate still blathering about something or other--when one of the housekeepers came to the door. The older woman stood in the doorframe, waiting to be acknowledged.
"What is it?" he asked cordially. He tried to show respect for the staff, mainly because his father didn't.
"Mister Luthor, sir, there's a Chloe Sullivan downstairs. Shall I tell her to wait in your office?" She avoided meeting his eyes, one of the annoying habits exhibited by most of the workers at Luthor Manor.
Shaking his head, Lex suppressed the smile that threatened to overtake his face upon hearing Chloe's name; if the staff knew that he was seeing the daughter of a plant employee, the Manor's gossip mill would be alive and well. Gossip about his dear Chloe was the last thing he wanted. "No, send her up." As if inviting her up here instead of meeting her in my office won't get them talking.
"Certainly, sir." With a curtsy--this isn't a castle! Lex wanted to yell-- she hurried away.
After a moment, he picked up the phone again. "Look, those are my terms. Take them or leave them, but don't argue with me. Do we understand eachother?" He rarely allowed himself to get angry when making deals, but he had no problem being snippy when a situation called for it.
"But-but-" the man sputtered.
"Goodbye," Lex said firmly, clicking off the phone and setting it back in its charger. He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Wow, not only are you handsome, but you can be really nasty. Remind me never to get in a fight with you," a familiar, welcome voice remarked, causing his eyes to snap open.
"Chloe," he said with a grin, "how long have you been standing there?"
She sauntered inside, and Lex took his time looking at her. She wore jeans, a black t-shirt and a green flannel shirt; he decided she'd never looked lovelier. It wasn't the outfit itself that was so attractive, it was the way she wore it. "Long enough to watch you be menacing," she answered casually. "That was quite fun to see, Lex. It's very sexy." She stood in front of his desk, her arms crossed, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Mind if I kiss you?" he asked, leaving his chair and standing next to her.
She laid a hand on his chest to hold him still. "Wait. You checked me out, so I have to do the same. It's only fair, my dear Alexander." Her satisfied smirk told him she was awfully proud of herself; not many people got away with using his real first name.
He obliged her request, remaining in front of her so she could look him over. "Hmm, disgustingly expensive leather shoes, custom-tailored black pants, top-of-the-line white dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck-" she craned her neck to see if there was anything thrown over his chair, "-and a gray jacket that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Don't you ever wear anything, I don't know, normal?"
Taking her hand in his, he led her to the bed. They perched on the edge, and he turned to her, ready to retort. "Does everyone in Smallville wear flannel all the time?"
Chloe made a face, causing him to laugh. "Answering a question with a question--is that something they teach you to do at prep school?"
Instead of answering, he bent down and kissed her. Before he focused on what he was doing, he lowered her onto the bed. She immediately pulled away from him. "Whoa, Lex. Let's not get carried away."
He realized his mistake and blushed. Chloe knew it was the first time he'd ever been truly embarrassed. "I'm really sorry. I wasn't thinking. I wasn't trying-" She kissed him quickly, catching him off-guard.
Her blue eyes glittered. "Shush. It's okay, I don't mind. I'm almost flattered that you'd want to sleep with me so soon. Still-" He held up a hand to cut her off.
"I understand. We can take things as slowly as you need to, all right?" He grasped her hand, held it to his chest. "I really care about you, Chloe. This is the first time I've been in a relationship with someone that I truly want to spend time with. If you never reach the point where you want to sleep with me, that's perfectly fine. I'll respect any decision you make; I don't want to ruin this." Holding her gaze, he kissed the back of her hand.
When he was through talking, she merely gazed at him. What he'd said was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her. For the first time since she could remember, Chloe didn't have anything sarcastic to say. She forewent talking, bringing her lips to his in a slow, tender kiss.
Lex was smiling softly when they came up for breath. "You know what this means, don't you?" he whispered.
Frowning, she shook her head.
He ran his fingers through her wavy blonde hair. "This means that I just managed to render you speechless."
Her vocal processes returned to her immediately following his statement. "What's wrong with my kissing you instead of saying something?"
"Nothing at all. I've simply never seen a time when you haven't had anything snide to say." He shook with silent laughter as he watched her grow more and more bewildered. "You obviously have nothing to say to that, either."
What she said in reply wiped the grin off his face, it was so unexpected. "I guess relationships change people, Lex." It wasn't an earth-shattering statement when taken on its own; paired with her serious tone and the look of pure love in her eyes, however, it made him shiver. No one had ever looked at him the way she did right then.
The couple shared an intense gaze that was broken when she smirked. "I made you tremble, Alexander Joseph Luthor." She looked even prouder of herself for using his middle name.
He chuckled. "You did, and you should be proud that I admitted it."
She shook her head, still smirking. "No, I should be proud that I caused you to do so in the first place." She had a point, but he didn't tell her so; he had a certain amount of personal dignity to keep, even around the girl he loved.
That's right, I think I love her. He didn't have much experience with that emotion, but he knew that Chloe made him feel it.
After a few minutes of silence--during which they merely enjoyed being with eachother--Chloe spoke again. "Lex?"
He faced her, kissing her forehead. "Hmm?"
"I forgot to tell you that I received the flowers. They were lovely, but next time you want to impress me, forgo the sentimental crap."
The co-owner of LuthorCorp laughed. "You've got it, honey." Then he frowned. "But what if, in the future, I want to give you a gift, to assure you of my eternal devotion?" He had a pretty good idea of what her answer would be, but he wanted to hear it from her own lips.
Raising an eyebrow, she fixed him with an exasperated look. "Why is it that men always feel the need to express their commitment with gifts? I have yet to figure that out."
"Jewelry it is, Chloe," he shot back, without missing a beat.
She was going to smack him on the arm, but thought better of it and kissed him once again. Pulling back suddenly, she stared at her feet. In a gesture of concern, he clasped his hands in hers. "Lex, what I'm going to say is probably the last thing you expect to hear from me. Promise me that you won't judge me, or tell me to leave, or anything." She looked worried.
Lex, expecting the worst, cupped her cheek in his hand. "I promise."
She bit her lip. Am I sure this is the right time to tell him? she asked herself, aware that he was watching her intently. No, I'm not the slightest bit sure, but I've gone this far. "I think I love you."
The look of relief that crossed his face puzzled her. "Chloe, why would I judge you for that, or anything else?" he demanded quietly, trying to look her in the eye as she avoided meeting his gaze.
She shrugged, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin in her palm. "I don't know. You told me before that you were sick of girls throwing themselves at your feet. I guess I thought you would think that was what I was doing."
Wrapping her in a backwards hug and hooking his feet around her ankles, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Oh, Chloe; I don't think that at all," he whispered. "I'd never compare you to other girls; how could I? None of them have ever made me feel the way you do. No one else in the world makes me happier, or--as trite as it sounds--makes me want to be a better person more than you." He rocked her slowly back and forth. "I love you, Chloe Sullivan."
A sigh escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes. "You're wonderful," she murmured, much to his surprise.
"Me?" He was completely, sincerely shocked that she would think such a thing.
"No, I was talking to my imaginary friend," she said with a grin, not opening her eyes.
He kissed her neck. "Do me a favor and stop being so irresistible. If you don't, I won't be responsible for my actions."
"You make that sound like it's a bad thing," she remarked, aware of how suggestive she was being, but enjoying it nonetheless.
"I mean it, Chloe. I'm about to throw you against the wall and be completely uninhibited."
"Don't threaten me, Lex. I have a hard time ignoring threats." She knew full well that she was driving him crazy, and she liked doing so.
"I warned you," he teased, turning her around and catching her lips in a fierce yet affectionate kiss.
She needed no further provoking, responding to his kiss with more fervor. However passionately she felt about him, though, Chloe wasn't about to give into her hormones and sleep with him. As much as she wanted to, she wasn't ready to deal with the complications that came with making love with Smallville's most powerful man.
The sound of someone clearing his throat caused them to pull apart, breathless. Lex pasted a smile on his face as he greeted his housekeeper again. "Yes?" Chloe was impressed by how well he hid his embarrassment at being caught making out with her.
"Mister Luthor, Clark Kent is here to see you. He's waiting in your office." Without waiting to be dismissed, the woman hurried away.
Chloe frowned up at Lex, wondering why her best friend was stopping by the Manor. He obviously understood what the look meant for he said, "It's time for the weekly produce delivery." The Kent's farm being so close to Luthor Manor, they supplied fresh produce for the Luthor's cooks every week.
"Got it. Mind if I come down with you?" she asked, leaving her hands on his chest.
Smiling, he kissed her nose. "Of course not."
He took her hand and guided her through the winding corridors, as he had done two days before. When they reached the hidden staircase that led to the next floor down, he pulled her close for a lingering kiss. "That should last me until after Clark leaves."
When they reached Lex's first-floor office--still holding hands--they found Clark lounging on a straight-backed, black chair, staring forlornly into the crackling fireplace.
"Clark. How's it going?" Lex wondered.
Clark looked up, frowning when he noticed their entwined hands. The frown then vanished so quickly that Chloe wondered if she'd imagined it in the first place. A beaming smile took its place on his chiseled, handsome face as he stood to greet them. "Lex, Chloe. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
That was when Chloe realized that her cheeks were flushed, her hair disheveled, her grin ecstatic. Being with Lex was exhilarating. "No, not at all," she replied quickly, squeezing Lex's hand as she said so.
Her best friend nodded quickly, then focused on Lex. "Everything's fine for this week."
"Great." Lex extended a hand, which Clark shook firmly. "Thanks again, Clark. Want to hang around for a while?"
Shrugging, the boy plopped back on the chair. "Sure, as long as you two promise to control yourselves."
Lex chuckled, taking a seat on the chair across from Clark's. Chloe, not wanting to make Clark uncomfortable by sitting on Lex's lap, sat on the floor by his feet.
The trio talked long into the night, Clark gazing at the happy couple sadly the entire time.
* *
But I need to know,
Will you stay for all
Time, forever and a day
And I'll give my heart,
Till the end of all
Time, forever and a day
* *
It had been a week since Chloe had visited the Manor, and Lex missed her terribly. He missed her smirk, her wit, her laugh, her lips--only seven days had gone by, and he was desperate to see her again. You've fallen madly in love, Luthor, he told himself with a smirk as he walked to the Sullivan's house one Monday evening when her father was out of town on business.
Ringing the doorbell, he crossed his arms. The heir to the entire Luthor estate wasn't fond of being kept waiting, but for Chloe he'd wait forever. No matter how badly he wanted to see her smile again, he'd do anything, go anywhere, wait for however long she asked him to. She meant that much to him. I wish there was someway I could convey that to her, he mused.
"Lex!" she greeted him with a heart-melting grin, throwing the door open. "This is a surprise." She yanked him inside, and, after shutting the door, kissed him sweetly. It was too chaste for him; before she left his arms, Lex kissed her with all the passion he'd kept bottled up over the seven days since they'd seen eachother. After a moment's hesitation, she kissed him back.
"How fun, I get to watch my two best friends make out," a voice behind them said, sounding annoyed yet amused.
Lex knew that voice. "Clark," he yelped, as Chloe disentangled herself from his embrace. "I didn't know you were over." He blushed. "Sorry you had to witness that." The top of his bald head even turned pink.
"I missed watching Chloe and Lex make out?" Pete asked, coming out of the kitchen just then, a soda in his hand. "Darn my thirst!" He glared at the can in mock anger.
Chloe, oblivious to Lex's embarrassment, laughed with her friends. "You didn't miss much, Pete; nothing worthy of Showtime anyway."
The boys didn't seem to mind watching Lex's and Chloe's heated display of affection, so Lex relaxed. "That was about as intense as we get; our make out sessions are dull. Clark's on the other hand-" Everyone in the room knew that the boy in question didn't have much romantic interaction with the opposite sex. So, when the tips of his ears burned, they assumed he was reacting to Lex's sarcastic inference that he was unlucky in that respect. When he spoke, however, they all stopped laughing and stared at him.
"Um, actually, Lana and I are usually tame in comparison."
Pete, his mouth hung open in shock, was the first to respond. "Clark, man, you have to tell me these things! You and Lana are, like, a thing now?" The young African-American looked impressed; Lana Lang was, after all, the most unattainable girl at Smallville High.
As Clark tried to answer his friend's rapid questions--he and Lana had danced at the New Years Eve party; they had spent time together in the Kent's barn; yes, they'd kissed before--Lex and Chloe took the opportunity to duck into her kitchen for some time alone.
"Want me to kick them out?" she asked between breathless kisses.
"If you want. Don't ever avoid me for so long again."
Smiling, she snuggled against him. "I didn't want you to start taking me for granted." She tilted her head in the direction of the living room. "I would make them leave, but I'm too lazy."
He was stuck on her earlier statement. "How could I take you for granted, Chloe? You know how much I love you."
Her usual self-confidence faltered, and she sighed. "I can't help but wonder how many other girls you've said that to." She almost added, before you broke their hearts, but assumed he'd understand what she meant by her statement.
It would've been improper to initiate another heated kiss right then; she wanted reassurance that he cared about her and only her; that he would never go behind her back, that he would never purposely hurt her. He was at a loss as to how to tell her what she needed to hear; he wasn't used to caring about anyone other than himself. Instead of being serious, Lex opted for humor. "This is me we're talking about here. Before you came along and kidnapped my heart for a priceless ransom, the word 'love' wasn't in my vocabulary."
The smirk he'd been longing to see crossed her lips, erasing all evidence of the fear her face had previously held. "'Kidnapped my heart for a priceless ransom'? Wow, Lex. When you start using phrases like that--" She paused, frowned. "Blast. Because of you, I can think of nothing snarky to say. I'll hold you fully responsible if my dazzling wit doesn't return by the end of the day."
Chuckling, he kissed her again.
"Pete, come here! I think they're about to make out on the counter!" Clark shouted, shattering the romantic moment.
Chloe pulled away from Lex's arms, rolling her eyes. "Need something, Kent?"
The brown-haired boy nodded. "You're blocking the 'fridge."
So they were. The couple relinquished their respective holds on eachother and headed back into the living room, giving Clark access to the refrigerator once again. "I guess we should've just gotten up on the counter," Lex whispered to her, his eyes twinkling.
"No, because then Clark would find some reason to need a cutting board. He has it in for us," Chloe muttered, flopping on the couch and slinging her arm around Lex's broad shoulders.
Pete, lounging on a recliner in front of the sofa and watching the couple with interest, decided to join the conversation. "I hate to burst your bubble, Chloe-dear, but he really did need a soda. Not everything that happens to you is a part of a world-wide conspiracy to ruin your life."
"Says who?" she mumbled, wanting badly to kiss Lex again, but not wanting to give her two best friends the satisfaction of seeing her do so. Lex apparently felt the same way she did, for he winked at her, his hand massaging the back of her neck.
Clark ambled back into the room, soda in hand, regaining his post on the floor. "Pete, maybe we should go. You know how Chloe gets when things don't go her way; I don't really want to be around when she starts to breathe fire."
Sighing in resignation, Pete stood. "I guess you're right. Maybe we should go over to Lana's and I can bother you guys while you try to make out."
"We really need to get you a girlfriend, Pete," Chloe observed.
He grinned. "Finally, someone gets the hint." He poked Clark in the back of the head in attempt to get his attention. "Ready to go, Kent?" Seeing his friend's sudden frown, he added, "I was kidding about the Lana thing. I don't care if you guys make out while I watch." He ducked to avoid the pillow Chloe threw at him in disgust.
Clark's gaze was fixated on Chloe and Lex. "Can you wait for me outside, Pete? I need to talk to Lex for a second."
After calling goodbye over his shoulder, Pete was out the door. Five minutes passed silently, before something occurred to Chloe. "Oh! You meant talk to Lex without me," she said. Clark nodded. Pretending to be hurt, Chloe added, "Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." She started for the front door, but Lex caught her hand before she could get very far.
"I love you," he announced, kissing her cheek quickly before releasing her.
When Clark's face clouded at those words, Chloe was puzzled. "I love you, too. I'll be outside with Pete."
Lex turned his attention to the boy on the floor, who waited until the front door slammed before speaking. "I need to discuss some stuff with you, Lex." The seriousness of his tone was alarming. Patting the spot Chloe had vacated, Lex motioned for Clark to sit. Clark shook his head. "I prefer the floor; You can't hurt me as easily down here."
The billionaire crossed his arms as his forehead furrowed. "Out with it."
"I'm worried about you and Chloe."
Now they were getting somewhere. "Don't worry, Clark, I have no immediate plans to deflower your best friend. You can trust me to be responsible."
Clark's hands suddenly fascinated him. "It's not that I'm worried you'll be irresponsible."
He was infuriating when he wasn't direct. "Well, what then?"
Blue eyes met blue eyes as Clark said matter-of-factly, "I'm in love with her."
It took a lot to shock Lex Luthor. His best friend admitting that he loved Lex's girlfriend was more than enough to do it, however. He tried several responses out in his brain, but none of them seemed appropriate. So he said nothing.
"I'm sorry for telling you, but I had to. It was torturing me. Don't let that stop you from seeing her; as long as she's happy, then I'm okay with it."
"Clark, what about Lana?" It wasn't the best reply, but it was all he could come up with.
When Clark sighed, he looked every bit his sixteen years: young, vulnerable, small. "I wanted her for a while, but once I fell for Chloe, I used Lana as a-a-replacement, I guess; someone to fill the void that Chloe left."
He's really serious! "Wow. I'm not sure what to say."
"Then don't bother saying anything." He paused, clearing his throat nervously. "Lex, there's something else; something that nobody--except for my parents--knows." Yet another pause. "Do you remember the meteor shower twelve years ago?"
Lex smirked. Of course he remembered. "No, Clark, I don't; when I wake up every morning I have to ask myself why I no longer have hair."
The sarcastic remark was lost on Clark, who started picking at the Sullivan's tan carpet. "Um, you're not going to believe me, but I-I'm from- the shower-" He sighed, biting his lip in attempt to collect his thoughts. "I came to Earth with the meteors. I have these--powers because of them. Nothing can hurt me except for the rocks-" He would have said more, but Lex held up a silencing hand.
"Let me see if I understand what you're telling me: you're some sort of alien."
The younger boy shrugged, finally meeting his friend's gaze. "My parents-- who aren't my real parents, by the way--don't know what I am. They found me in the cornfield that night and adopted me. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I thought you should know."
Lex was strangely touched. "Again, I'm not sure what to say. I'm glad you told me." His eyes filled with intense curiosity. "Can you show me one of your powers?"
After a beat of hesitation, Clark nodded. "Watch." Lex obeyed, keeping his eyes focused on his friend, who stood up from the floor. His form got blurry and disappeared. From upstairs, a door slammed; then Clark came back into focus three seconds later, standing in front of the couch.
The young Luthor blinked several times, turning the information over in his mind. Did I really just see that?
"You just...made yourself disappear." he remarked, at a loss for words once again.
Clark grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Actually, I ran up and down the stairs twice. I shut the door so you'd know that I was there." He crossed his arms, pleased with himself. "Shut your mouth, Lex; you look like a nerd, sitting there gaping."
That explains why Lana's necklace made him so weak! It was making sense. "Lana's necklace is made from a meteor; you were wearing it the day I pulled you off the cross-" He broke into a grin himself. "Now I see. That's why I didn't kill you when I ran you over, why you were able to save me all those times!" He jumped up, more excited than he'd been in a long time. Shocking both of them, Lex hugged his friend tightly.
When they pulled away from eachother, Clark looked worried. "I know you're a chemistry nerd and you probably want to have Your People do tests on me, but-"
Clasping his hands on the boy's shoulders, Lex looked him firmly in the eye. "I won't tell anyone unless you say I can. I know what the government would do to you if they found out, and I don't think you want to be a lab rat."
A grateful smile filled Clark's face. "I appreciate it, Lex." He darted to the window and peeked behind the curtain. "Pete and Chloe are in the midst of an in-depth conversation. Uh oh-"
Lex was by his side in a second. "What?"
"Chloe's freaking out."
Rolling his eyes good-naturedly, Lex next headed for the front door, throwing it open. "No doubt she's come up with another theory regarding meteor rocks and the cheerleading squad."
Laughing, the pair stepped onto the porch. Sure enough, Chloe was squealing about something or other, and Pete looked embarrassed. When he noticed they were no longer alone, he motioned for his companion to be quiet.
She faced the others, a huge, giddy smile on her face. "Hi, boys. Did you have a nice chat? Petey and I did!" She started to bounce in her seat.
The older boy grabbed his girlfriend's hand and pulled her up. "Since when do you call him 'Petey'?" Before she could answer, he drew her nearer for a long kiss.
The sound of two throats clearing reminded the happy couple that they weren't by themselves. "Sorry," Chloe blushed, pulling back from Lex's arms. "Bye, Clark, Pete."
The former waved, a grin still on his lips. "Bye, Chloe. Bye, Lex." Pete echoed the sentiments before allowing himself to be dragged away.
When the porch was devoid of other company, Chloe smiled knowingly at Lex. "You'll never guess what Pete told me."
A sigh escaped his mouth. "Can I finally kiss you after you tell me?" He absently played with her hair while he waited for her to divulge whatever it was she needed to divulge. "Because I've been waiting to have a moment alone with you all day."
She chose not to comment on what he said, instead squealing, "Pete has a crush on Lana!"
"That's-he what?" It took a second for the news to sink in. When it did, a lead weight settled into the pit of the man's stomach. If Pete has a thing for Lana, she could go out with him, leaving Clark free to-- The thought was too upsetting to finish. Of course, that would mean she'd have to like Pete as more than a friend.
Chloe's giddiness faded when she noticed the way Lex was staring at her. "Hey, sweetie, what is it?" She touched his cheek, frowning. "Is everything okay?"
His warm hand covered hers. Closing his eyes, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine; just a little preoccupied." A smile lit up his face, causing the girl to relax. "You should call me 'sweetie' more often; it's nice."
She kissed him affectionately. "Well, sweetie, my dad is out of town for the week, and it's about dinnertime--want me to teach you how to make pizza?" The idea seemed to please her, so he went along with it.
In the modest kitchen, she hurried about, pulling ingredients out of various cabinets while Lex stood in a corner, a bit overwhelmed. She motioned for him to stand next to her, and he did so. On the counter in front of them sat a block of bright yellow cheese, a bowl, and a cheese grater.
"Do you know how to grate cheese?" she asked, sticking the cheddar block in his large hands.
He stared dubiously at the food, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Chloe bit back a smile; he looked so innocent and confused. "Cheddar on pizza?" He found that it was unwrapped and sniffed it. "It's bright yellow."
This time, she had to laugh. "Don't tell me you've never eaten cheddar!" It seemed incredibly strange that a world traveler such as himself could be flabbergasted by such a simple food. "Doesn't your cooking staff ever make pizza? What do they use?" She left the other side of the counter where she was chopping green peppers, and stood behind him.
"They use brie and camembert, typically." He picked up the cheese and rested it against the grater, as she instructed. Then, her hand covering his, she helped him grate a substantial amount of cheddar into the bowl. "That seems easy enough," he observed, disappointed that she'd stepped away from him to finish with the vegetables.
"Can you grate the mozzarella now?" she wondered, pointing to a chuck of soft, white cheese. "Or do I have to help you with that too?"
It crossed Lex's mind to feign helplessness; it was pleasant having her stand so close to him. But--as Luthors never, ever admit to needing help unless it's absolutely necessary--he decided to try it himself. "I think I can handle it." He did what she'd shown him, succeeding fairly well.
He smiled at her from across the counter top, finally letting himself really look at her. She wore a loose, faded gray t-shirt and baggy black drawstring pants. It was a casual ensemble, but he thought she looked fantastic. He then glanced down at his own outfit--long-sleeved, black silk shirt and gray, tailored pants--and realized how pretentious he appeared in comparison.
"Lex, sweetie," she said suddenly, breaking into his thoughts. "Could you open a can of sauce and put it in a bowl? I have to finish making the dough." She was busily mixing something in a large bowl, and he noticed she had a streak of flour on her cheek.
After surveying the kitchen for a second, he located two cans of red tomato sauce. A can opener rested on top of one, and he hoped that he could figure out how to use it. "I hope I can do this," he muttered to himself, trying in vain to puncture the lid.
She watched him, amused; never in a thousand years would she have guessed that there was something Lex Luthor couldn't do. Her feelings for him were so intense, however, that she couldn't find the situation funny for very long. She fitted his hands on the handle of the can opener, and showed him how to twist it.
Remaining by his side, she saw that the tip of his tongue was sticking out as he worked. It was a facial expression she was fond of adopting when hacking away on a story for the Torch.
"There you go," she encouraged, as he lifted the lid off, smirking. He tipped the can to dump the contents in a small bowl she'd provided, when his hand slipped. In a matter of seconds, her shirt and hair were splattered with dots of tomato sauce. The remainder of the can hit the floor, exploding onto her bare feet.
An embarrassed guffaw escaped his lips before he clamped a hand over his mouth. She crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and attempted to suppress a laugh of her own.
"Chloe, honey, I'm so sorry. I knew I was no good at this cooking stuff!"
"A Luthor admits defeat," she retorted as he grabbed a dishrag and tried to scrub off her shirt front. "It's fine, Lex, really. I'll go change." Before she could walk very far, he grabbed her arm.
"Wait." To her astonishment, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt. After taking it off, he ceremoniously handed it to her. "Wear this. I've always wanted to see you in silk." He grinned at the mental image he'd created of her in nothing but-Slow down there, Lex.
She accepted the offered garment, not taking her eyes off his bare chest. He was amazingly fit for a man who ran a plant from behind a desk all day. "There's a sight I'm not soon to forget," she announced, before she could stop herself. Shaking her head fiercely, she managed to pry her eyes from his body. "Turn around," she ordered.
He did so, fighting back the urge to watch her change shirts. Behave yourself. Respect her boundaries or you don't deserve to be with her. She deserves someone like Clark; someone who can treat her as well as she needed to be treated. I try, but I'm not used to caring about- Her voice mercifully ended his depressing train of thought. "Can I look now?"
"Sure." He turned and gasped; she was even more gorgeous than he'd imagined. "How do you wear this all day anyway?" she inquired, squirming in the fabric. "I feel like I should be displayed in a museum or something."
Her discomfort was so completely Chloe that he laughed. You really don't deserve her. She's so down-to-earth, so witty, so sure of herself, but in a way that doesn't make her snobby... "I love you, Chloe," he said suddenly, catching himself off-guard. It wasn't as though he hadn't already told her that, but it was still a foreign phrase to him.
She blinked her big, blue eyes, gazing at him tenderly. "I love you, too, Lex." Their dinner momentarily forgotten, they shared an intense, wonderful kiss. She leaned her cheek against his bare chest when it was over, sighing. "That was worth waiting for all afternoon."
The moment was completely perfect. In typical Luthor fashion, Lex went on to ruin it, though he hadn't intended to. "Chloe," he whispered before he'd really thought about what he was going to say. "There's something you need to know."
She frowned up at him, and he hated himself for wrecking their happiness. "What is it?" Her eyes betrayed the fear she tried to stifle.
"Clark's in love with you." He swallowed hard, bracing himself for her reaction.
Her eyes grew wide in shock. "What? Me? Clark's in love with me?" Shaking her head, she broke from his grasp. Lex was certain their relationship was over, all thanks to his big mouth. "I think all that brie cheese has gone to your head; Clark can't be in love with me. He's been pining over Miss Thang since we were zygotes."
He took a step toward her, but then stepped back. She obviously didn't want to be touched right then. "Apparently that's not entirely the truth. Look, I'm sorry to tell you, but I wanted you to know in case you decide to leave me for him." His tone became forlorn, his eyes sad. "I won't fault you if you do; you deserve so much more than me." He motioned to himself. "I can't be what you need me to be; I'll try as best I can, but you need someone that doesn't shy away from his emotions whenever he feels threatened; someone who can treat you like you deserve to be treated; someone like-" Her lips were on his, cutting him off with a fierce kiss.
As he struggled to catch his breath, she held his shoulders. The firmness of her tone surprised him. "Don't you ever, ever imply that you don't deserve me ever again. I wouldn't be standing here, wearing your disgustingly silky shirt, if I felt you weren't good enough for me. I love you, and I want to be with you." She held his gaze with her own. "Do you understand me?"
Lex thought he would faint from sheer joy and relief. "Completely. I'm sorry for bringing it up." He stared at his shiny leather shoes, annoyed at himself. She lifted his chin with her forefinger, kissing his lips quickly.
"Don't be sorry; I think we needed to have this conversation, as trite as it is."
He held her, his eyes closed, enjoying having her in his arms. "Do you have any idea how lucky I feel to have you?"
She smacked his bare bicep. "Stop it. You're no luckier than I am, so be quiet." Her eyes twinkled as she kissed the tip of his nose. "We have to finish our pizza."
Groaning, he let her go. "Oh, all right. Promise me we can cuddle after dinner."
She moved back to the counter and began kneading the dough that would become crust. "I don't like to cuddle much, to tell you the truth, but I'll make an exception for you."
The blissful couple worked in the kitchen for another half hour before sticking the pizza--made with a second can of sauce--in the oven. They spent twenty minutes in each other's arms before their food was finished cooking.
After cuddling on the couch for most of the evening, Lex reluctantly left the Sullivan's. He walked to the Manor, whistling, completely unaware that a shadowy figure had been spying through the kitchen window the entire time Lex had been with Chloe.
The shadowy figure headed back to his own home, head hung in defeat.
* *
Till the storms fill my eyes
And we touch the last time
I will love you, love you
I will love you, love you
I will love you, love you
Couple: Chloe/Lex, with elements of C/C & Pete/Lana
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to someone other than me. The lyrics and title come from 'I Will Love You' by Fisher.
A/N: This follows 'Fabulous Freaks of Nature'. It's best to read that one first.
* *
Till the Storms Fill my Eyes
* *
Till my body is dust
Till my soul is no more
I will love you, love you
Till the sun starts to cry
And the moon turns to rust
* *
Lex was only half-listening as the man on the other end of the phone argued. He wanted the call to be finished so he could concentrate on something other than work for once. Dad, LuthorCorp is still your company, he thought bitterly, resting his bare feet on the top of the ominous desk in his bedroom. You could do a little of the work occasionally.
"Mister Luthor, I will not-" Lex set the portable receiver on the edge of the desk--his associate still blathering about something or other--when one of the housekeepers came to the door. The older woman stood in the doorframe, waiting to be acknowledged.
"What is it?" he asked cordially. He tried to show respect for the staff, mainly because his father didn't.
"Mister Luthor, sir, there's a Chloe Sullivan downstairs. Shall I tell her to wait in your office?" She avoided meeting his eyes, one of the annoying habits exhibited by most of the workers at Luthor Manor.
Shaking his head, Lex suppressed the smile that threatened to overtake his face upon hearing Chloe's name; if the staff knew that he was seeing the daughter of a plant employee, the Manor's gossip mill would be alive and well. Gossip about his dear Chloe was the last thing he wanted. "No, send her up." As if inviting her up here instead of meeting her in my office won't get them talking.
"Certainly, sir." With a curtsy--this isn't a castle! Lex wanted to yell-- she hurried away.
After a moment, he picked up the phone again. "Look, those are my terms. Take them or leave them, but don't argue with me. Do we understand eachother?" He rarely allowed himself to get angry when making deals, but he had no problem being snippy when a situation called for it.
"But-but-" the man sputtered.
"Goodbye," Lex said firmly, clicking off the phone and setting it back in its charger. He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Wow, not only are you handsome, but you can be really nasty. Remind me never to get in a fight with you," a familiar, welcome voice remarked, causing his eyes to snap open.
"Chloe," he said with a grin, "how long have you been standing there?"
She sauntered inside, and Lex took his time looking at her. She wore jeans, a black t-shirt and a green flannel shirt; he decided she'd never looked lovelier. It wasn't the outfit itself that was so attractive, it was the way she wore it. "Long enough to watch you be menacing," she answered casually. "That was quite fun to see, Lex. It's very sexy." She stood in front of his desk, her arms crossed, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Mind if I kiss you?" he asked, leaving his chair and standing next to her.
She laid a hand on his chest to hold him still. "Wait. You checked me out, so I have to do the same. It's only fair, my dear Alexander." Her satisfied smirk told him she was awfully proud of herself; not many people got away with using his real first name.
He obliged her request, remaining in front of her so she could look him over. "Hmm, disgustingly expensive leather shoes, custom-tailored black pants, top-of-the-line white dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck-" she craned her neck to see if there was anything thrown over his chair, "-and a gray jacket that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Don't you ever wear anything, I don't know, normal?"
Taking her hand in his, he led her to the bed. They perched on the edge, and he turned to her, ready to retort. "Does everyone in Smallville wear flannel all the time?"
Chloe made a face, causing him to laugh. "Answering a question with a question--is that something they teach you to do at prep school?"
Instead of answering, he bent down and kissed her. Before he focused on what he was doing, he lowered her onto the bed. She immediately pulled away from him. "Whoa, Lex. Let's not get carried away."
He realized his mistake and blushed. Chloe knew it was the first time he'd ever been truly embarrassed. "I'm really sorry. I wasn't thinking. I wasn't trying-" She kissed him quickly, catching him off-guard.
Her blue eyes glittered. "Shush. It's okay, I don't mind. I'm almost flattered that you'd want to sleep with me so soon. Still-" He held up a hand to cut her off.
"I understand. We can take things as slowly as you need to, all right?" He grasped her hand, held it to his chest. "I really care about you, Chloe. This is the first time I've been in a relationship with someone that I truly want to spend time with. If you never reach the point where you want to sleep with me, that's perfectly fine. I'll respect any decision you make; I don't want to ruin this." Holding her gaze, he kissed the back of her hand.
When he was through talking, she merely gazed at him. What he'd said was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her. For the first time since she could remember, Chloe didn't have anything sarcastic to say. She forewent talking, bringing her lips to his in a slow, tender kiss.
Lex was smiling softly when they came up for breath. "You know what this means, don't you?" he whispered.
Frowning, she shook her head.
He ran his fingers through her wavy blonde hair. "This means that I just managed to render you speechless."
Her vocal processes returned to her immediately following his statement. "What's wrong with my kissing you instead of saying something?"
"Nothing at all. I've simply never seen a time when you haven't had anything snide to say." He shook with silent laughter as he watched her grow more and more bewildered. "You obviously have nothing to say to that, either."
What she said in reply wiped the grin off his face, it was so unexpected. "I guess relationships change people, Lex." It wasn't an earth-shattering statement when taken on its own; paired with her serious tone and the look of pure love in her eyes, however, it made him shiver. No one had ever looked at him the way she did right then.
The couple shared an intense gaze that was broken when she smirked. "I made you tremble, Alexander Joseph Luthor." She looked even prouder of herself for using his middle name.
He chuckled. "You did, and you should be proud that I admitted it."
She shook her head, still smirking. "No, I should be proud that I caused you to do so in the first place." She had a point, but he didn't tell her so; he had a certain amount of personal dignity to keep, even around the girl he loved.
That's right, I think I love her. He didn't have much experience with that emotion, but he knew that Chloe made him feel it.
After a few minutes of silence--during which they merely enjoyed being with eachother--Chloe spoke again. "Lex?"
He faced her, kissing her forehead. "Hmm?"
"I forgot to tell you that I received the flowers. They were lovely, but next time you want to impress me, forgo the sentimental crap."
The co-owner of LuthorCorp laughed. "You've got it, honey." Then he frowned. "But what if, in the future, I want to give you a gift, to assure you of my eternal devotion?" He had a pretty good idea of what her answer would be, but he wanted to hear it from her own lips.
Raising an eyebrow, she fixed him with an exasperated look. "Why is it that men always feel the need to express their commitment with gifts? I have yet to figure that out."
"Jewelry it is, Chloe," he shot back, without missing a beat.
She was going to smack him on the arm, but thought better of it and kissed him once again. Pulling back suddenly, she stared at her feet. In a gesture of concern, he clasped his hands in hers. "Lex, what I'm going to say is probably the last thing you expect to hear from me. Promise me that you won't judge me, or tell me to leave, or anything." She looked worried.
Lex, expecting the worst, cupped her cheek in his hand. "I promise."
She bit her lip. Am I sure this is the right time to tell him? she asked herself, aware that he was watching her intently. No, I'm not the slightest bit sure, but I've gone this far. "I think I love you."
The look of relief that crossed his face puzzled her. "Chloe, why would I judge you for that, or anything else?" he demanded quietly, trying to look her in the eye as she avoided meeting his gaze.
She shrugged, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin in her palm. "I don't know. You told me before that you were sick of girls throwing themselves at your feet. I guess I thought you would think that was what I was doing."
Wrapping her in a backwards hug and hooking his feet around her ankles, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Oh, Chloe; I don't think that at all," he whispered. "I'd never compare you to other girls; how could I? None of them have ever made me feel the way you do. No one else in the world makes me happier, or--as trite as it sounds--makes me want to be a better person more than you." He rocked her slowly back and forth. "I love you, Chloe Sullivan."
A sigh escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes. "You're wonderful," she murmured, much to his surprise.
"Me?" He was completely, sincerely shocked that she would think such a thing.
"No, I was talking to my imaginary friend," she said with a grin, not opening her eyes.
He kissed her neck. "Do me a favor and stop being so irresistible. If you don't, I won't be responsible for my actions."
"You make that sound like it's a bad thing," she remarked, aware of how suggestive she was being, but enjoying it nonetheless.
"I mean it, Chloe. I'm about to throw you against the wall and be completely uninhibited."
"Don't threaten me, Lex. I have a hard time ignoring threats." She knew full well that she was driving him crazy, and she liked doing so.
"I warned you," he teased, turning her around and catching her lips in a fierce yet affectionate kiss.
She needed no further provoking, responding to his kiss with more fervor. However passionately she felt about him, though, Chloe wasn't about to give into her hormones and sleep with him. As much as she wanted to, she wasn't ready to deal with the complications that came with making love with Smallville's most powerful man.
The sound of someone clearing his throat caused them to pull apart, breathless. Lex pasted a smile on his face as he greeted his housekeeper again. "Yes?" Chloe was impressed by how well he hid his embarrassment at being caught making out with her.
"Mister Luthor, Clark Kent is here to see you. He's waiting in your office." Without waiting to be dismissed, the woman hurried away.
Chloe frowned up at Lex, wondering why her best friend was stopping by the Manor. He obviously understood what the look meant for he said, "It's time for the weekly produce delivery." The Kent's farm being so close to Luthor Manor, they supplied fresh produce for the Luthor's cooks every week.
"Got it. Mind if I come down with you?" she asked, leaving her hands on his chest.
Smiling, he kissed her nose. "Of course not."
He took her hand and guided her through the winding corridors, as he had done two days before. When they reached the hidden staircase that led to the next floor down, he pulled her close for a lingering kiss. "That should last me until after Clark leaves."
When they reached Lex's first-floor office--still holding hands--they found Clark lounging on a straight-backed, black chair, staring forlornly into the crackling fireplace.
"Clark. How's it going?" Lex wondered.
Clark looked up, frowning when he noticed their entwined hands. The frown then vanished so quickly that Chloe wondered if she'd imagined it in the first place. A beaming smile took its place on his chiseled, handsome face as he stood to greet them. "Lex, Chloe. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
That was when Chloe realized that her cheeks were flushed, her hair disheveled, her grin ecstatic. Being with Lex was exhilarating. "No, not at all," she replied quickly, squeezing Lex's hand as she said so.
Her best friend nodded quickly, then focused on Lex. "Everything's fine for this week."
"Great." Lex extended a hand, which Clark shook firmly. "Thanks again, Clark. Want to hang around for a while?"
Shrugging, the boy plopped back on the chair. "Sure, as long as you two promise to control yourselves."
Lex chuckled, taking a seat on the chair across from Clark's. Chloe, not wanting to make Clark uncomfortable by sitting on Lex's lap, sat on the floor by his feet.
The trio talked long into the night, Clark gazing at the happy couple sadly the entire time.
* *
But I need to know,
Will you stay for all
Time, forever and a day
And I'll give my heart,
Till the end of all
Time, forever and a day
* *
It had been a week since Chloe had visited the Manor, and Lex missed her terribly. He missed her smirk, her wit, her laugh, her lips--only seven days had gone by, and he was desperate to see her again. You've fallen madly in love, Luthor, he told himself with a smirk as he walked to the Sullivan's house one Monday evening when her father was out of town on business.
Ringing the doorbell, he crossed his arms. The heir to the entire Luthor estate wasn't fond of being kept waiting, but for Chloe he'd wait forever. No matter how badly he wanted to see her smile again, he'd do anything, go anywhere, wait for however long she asked him to. She meant that much to him. I wish there was someway I could convey that to her, he mused.
"Lex!" she greeted him with a heart-melting grin, throwing the door open. "This is a surprise." She yanked him inside, and, after shutting the door, kissed him sweetly. It was too chaste for him; before she left his arms, Lex kissed her with all the passion he'd kept bottled up over the seven days since they'd seen eachother. After a moment's hesitation, she kissed him back.
"How fun, I get to watch my two best friends make out," a voice behind them said, sounding annoyed yet amused.
Lex knew that voice. "Clark," he yelped, as Chloe disentangled herself from his embrace. "I didn't know you were over." He blushed. "Sorry you had to witness that." The top of his bald head even turned pink.
"I missed watching Chloe and Lex make out?" Pete asked, coming out of the kitchen just then, a soda in his hand. "Darn my thirst!" He glared at the can in mock anger.
Chloe, oblivious to Lex's embarrassment, laughed with her friends. "You didn't miss much, Pete; nothing worthy of Showtime anyway."
The boys didn't seem to mind watching Lex's and Chloe's heated display of affection, so Lex relaxed. "That was about as intense as we get; our make out sessions are dull. Clark's on the other hand-" Everyone in the room knew that the boy in question didn't have much romantic interaction with the opposite sex. So, when the tips of his ears burned, they assumed he was reacting to Lex's sarcastic inference that he was unlucky in that respect. When he spoke, however, they all stopped laughing and stared at him.
"Um, actually, Lana and I are usually tame in comparison."
Pete, his mouth hung open in shock, was the first to respond. "Clark, man, you have to tell me these things! You and Lana are, like, a thing now?" The young African-American looked impressed; Lana Lang was, after all, the most unattainable girl at Smallville High.
As Clark tried to answer his friend's rapid questions--he and Lana had danced at the New Years Eve party; they had spent time together in the Kent's barn; yes, they'd kissed before--Lex and Chloe took the opportunity to duck into her kitchen for some time alone.
"Want me to kick them out?" she asked between breathless kisses.
"If you want. Don't ever avoid me for so long again."
Smiling, she snuggled against him. "I didn't want you to start taking me for granted." She tilted her head in the direction of the living room. "I would make them leave, but I'm too lazy."
He was stuck on her earlier statement. "How could I take you for granted, Chloe? You know how much I love you."
Her usual self-confidence faltered, and she sighed. "I can't help but wonder how many other girls you've said that to." She almost added, before you broke their hearts, but assumed he'd understand what she meant by her statement.
It would've been improper to initiate another heated kiss right then; she wanted reassurance that he cared about her and only her; that he would never go behind her back, that he would never purposely hurt her. He was at a loss as to how to tell her what she needed to hear; he wasn't used to caring about anyone other than himself. Instead of being serious, Lex opted for humor. "This is me we're talking about here. Before you came along and kidnapped my heart for a priceless ransom, the word 'love' wasn't in my vocabulary."
The smirk he'd been longing to see crossed her lips, erasing all evidence of the fear her face had previously held. "'Kidnapped my heart for a priceless ransom'? Wow, Lex. When you start using phrases like that--" She paused, frowned. "Blast. Because of you, I can think of nothing snarky to say. I'll hold you fully responsible if my dazzling wit doesn't return by the end of the day."
Chuckling, he kissed her again.
"Pete, come here! I think they're about to make out on the counter!" Clark shouted, shattering the romantic moment.
Chloe pulled away from Lex's arms, rolling her eyes. "Need something, Kent?"
The brown-haired boy nodded. "You're blocking the 'fridge."
So they were. The couple relinquished their respective holds on eachother and headed back into the living room, giving Clark access to the refrigerator once again. "I guess we should've just gotten up on the counter," Lex whispered to her, his eyes twinkling.
"No, because then Clark would find some reason to need a cutting board. He has it in for us," Chloe muttered, flopping on the couch and slinging her arm around Lex's broad shoulders.
Pete, lounging on a recliner in front of the sofa and watching the couple with interest, decided to join the conversation. "I hate to burst your bubble, Chloe-dear, but he really did need a soda. Not everything that happens to you is a part of a world-wide conspiracy to ruin your life."
"Says who?" she mumbled, wanting badly to kiss Lex again, but not wanting to give her two best friends the satisfaction of seeing her do so. Lex apparently felt the same way she did, for he winked at her, his hand massaging the back of her neck.
Clark ambled back into the room, soda in hand, regaining his post on the floor. "Pete, maybe we should go. You know how Chloe gets when things don't go her way; I don't really want to be around when she starts to breathe fire."
Sighing in resignation, Pete stood. "I guess you're right. Maybe we should go over to Lana's and I can bother you guys while you try to make out."
"We really need to get you a girlfriend, Pete," Chloe observed.
He grinned. "Finally, someone gets the hint." He poked Clark in the back of the head in attempt to get his attention. "Ready to go, Kent?" Seeing his friend's sudden frown, he added, "I was kidding about the Lana thing. I don't care if you guys make out while I watch." He ducked to avoid the pillow Chloe threw at him in disgust.
Clark's gaze was fixated on Chloe and Lex. "Can you wait for me outside, Pete? I need to talk to Lex for a second."
After calling goodbye over his shoulder, Pete was out the door. Five minutes passed silently, before something occurred to Chloe. "Oh! You meant talk to Lex without me," she said. Clark nodded. Pretending to be hurt, Chloe added, "Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." She started for the front door, but Lex caught her hand before she could get very far.
"I love you," he announced, kissing her cheek quickly before releasing her.
When Clark's face clouded at those words, Chloe was puzzled. "I love you, too. I'll be outside with Pete."
Lex turned his attention to the boy on the floor, who waited until the front door slammed before speaking. "I need to discuss some stuff with you, Lex." The seriousness of his tone was alarming. Patting the spot Chloe had vacated, Lex motioned for Clark to sit. Clark shook his head. "I prefer the floor; You can't hurt me as easily down here."
The billionaire crossed his arms as his forehead furrowed. "Out with it."
"I'm worried about you and Chloe."
Now they were getting somewhere. "Don't worry, Clark, I have no immediate plans to deflower your best friend. You can trust me to be responsible."
Clark's hands suddenly fascinated him. "It's not that I'm worried you'll be irresponsible."
He was infuriating when he wasn't direct. "Well, what then?"
Blue eyes met blue eyes as Clark said matter-of-factly, "I'm in love with her."
It took a lot to shock Lex Luthor. His best friend admitting that he loved Lex's girlfriend was more than enough to do it, however. He tried several responses out in his brain, but none of them seemed appropriate. So he said nothing.
"I'm sorry for telling you, but I had to. It was torturing me. Don't let that stop you from seeing her; as long as she's happy, then I'm okay with it."
"Clark, what about Lana?" It wasn't the best reply, but it was all he could come up with.
When Clark sighed, he looked every bit his sixteen years: young, vulnerable, small. "I wanted her for a while, but once I fell for Chloe, I used Lana as a-a-replacement, I guess; someone to fill the void that Chloe left."
He's really serious! "Wow. I'm not sure what to say."
"Then don't bother saying anything." He paused, clearing his throat nervously. "Lex, there's something else; something that nobody--except for my parents--knows." Yet another pause. "Do you remember the meteor shower twelve years ago?"
Lex smirked. Of course he remembered. "No, Clark, I don't; when I wake up every morning I have to ask myself why I no longer have hair."
The sarcastic remark was lost on Clark, who started picking at the Sullivan's tan carpet. "Um, you're not going to believe me, but I-I'm from- the shower-" He sighed, biting his lip in attempt to collect his thoughts. "I came to Earth with the meteors. I have these--powers because of them. Nothing can hurt me except for the rocks-" He would have said more, but Lex held up a silencing hand.
"Let me see if I understand what you're telling me: you're some sort of alien."
The younger boy shrugged, finally meeting his friend's gaze. "My parents-- who aren't my real parents, by the way--don't know what I am. They found me in the cornfield that night and adopted me. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I thought you should know."
Lex was strangely touched. "Again, I'm not sure what to say. I'm glad you told me." His eyes filled with intense curiosity. "Can you show me one of your powers?"
After a beat of hesitation, Clark nodded. "Watch." Lex obeyed, keeping his eyes focused on his friend, who stood up from the floor. His form got blurry and disappeared. From upstairs, a door slammed; then Clark came back into focus three seconds later, standing in front of the couch.
The young Luthor blinked several times, turning the information over in his mind. Did I really just see that?
"You just...made yourself disappear." he remarked, at a loss for words once again.
Clark grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Actually, I ran up and down the stairs twice. I shut the door so you'd know that I was there." He crossed his arms, pleased with himself. "Shut your mouth, Lex; you look like a nerd, sitting there gaping."
That explains why Lana's necklace made him so weak! It was making sense. "Lana's necklace is made from a meteor; you were wearing it the day I pulled you off the cross-" He broke into a grin himself. "Now I see. That's why I didn't kill you when I ran you over, why you were able to save me all those times!" He jumped up, more excited than he'd been in a long time. Shocking both of them, Lex hugged his friend tightly.
When they pulled away from eachother, Clark looked worried. "I know you're a chemistry nerd and you probably want to have Your People do tests on me, but-"
Clasping his hands on the boy's shoulders, Lex looked him firmly in the eye. "I won't tell anyone unless you say I can. I know what the government would do to you if they found out, and I don't think you want to be a lab rat."
A grateful smile filled Clark's face. "I appreciate it, Lex." He darted to the window and peeked behind the curtain. "Pete and Chloe are in the midst of an in-depth conversation. Uh oh-"
Lex was by his side in a second. "What?"
"Chloe's freaking out."
Rolling his eyes good-naturedly, Lex next headed for the front door, throwing it open. "No doubt she's come up with another theory regarding meteor rocks and the cheerleading squad."
Laughing, the pair stepped onto the porch. Sure enough, Chloe was squealing about something or other, and Pete looked embarrassed. When he noticed they were no longer alone, he motioned for his companion to be quiet.
She faced the others, a huge, giddy smile on her face. "Hi, boys. Did you have a nice chat? Petey and I did!" She started to bounce in her seat.
The older boy grabbed his girlfriend's hand and pulled her up. "Since when do you call him 'Petey'?" Before she could answer, he drew her nearer for a long kiss.
The sound of two throats clearing reminded the happy couple that they weren't by themselves. "Sorry," Chloe blushed, pulling back from Lex's arms. "Bye, Clark, Pete."
The former waved, a grin still on his lips. "Bye, Chloe. Bye, Lex." Pete echoed the sentiments before allowing himself to be dragged away.
When the porch was devoid of other company, Chloe smiled knowingly at Lex. "You'll never guess what Pete told me."
A sigh escaped his mouth. "Can I finally kiss you after you tell me?" He absently played with her hair while he waited for her to divulge whatever it was she needed to divulge. "Because I've been waiting to have a moment alone with you all day."
She chose not to comment on what he said, instead squealing, "Pete has a crush on Lana!"
"That's-he what?" It took a second for the news to sink in. When it did, a lead weight settled into the pit of the man's stomach. If Pete has a thing for Lana, she could go out with him, leaving Clark free to-- The thought was too upsetting to finish. Of course, that would mean she'd have to like Pete as more than a friend.
Chloe's giddiness faded when she noticed the way Lex was staring at her. "Hey, sweetie, what is it?" She touched his cheek, frowning. "Is everything okay?"
His warm hand covered hers. Closing his eyes, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine; just a little preoccupied." A smile lit up his face, causing the girl to relax. "You should call me 'sweetie' more often; it's nice."
She kissed him affectionately. "Well, sweetie, my dad is out of town for the week, and it's about dinnertime--want me to teach you how to make pizza?" The idea seemed to please her, so he went along with it.
In the modest kitchen, she hurried about, pulling ingredients out of various cabinets while Lex stood in a corner, a bit overwhelmed. She motioned for him to stand next to her, and he did so. On the counter in front of them sat a block of bright yellow cheese, a bowl, and a cheese grater.
"Do you know how to grate cheese?" she asked, sticking the cheddar block in his large hands.
He stared dubiously at the food, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Chloe bit back a smile; he looked so innocent and confused. "Cheddar on pizza?" He found that it was unwrapped and sniffed it. "It's bright yellow."
This time, she had to laugh. "Don't tell me you've never eaten cheddar!" It seemed incredibly strange that a world traveler such as himself could be flabbergasted by such a simple food. "Doesn't your cooking staff ever make pizza? What do they use?" She left the other side of the counter where she was chopping green peppers, and stood behind him.
"They use brie and camembert, typically." He picked up the cheese and rested it against the grater, as she instructed. Then, her hand covering his, she helped him grate a substantial amount of cheddar into the bowl. "That seems easy enough," he observed, disappointed that she'd stepped away from him to finish with the vegetables.
"Can you grate the mozzarella now?" she wondered, pointing to a chuck of soft, white cheese. "Or do I have to help you with that too?"
It crossed Lex's mind to feign helplessness; it was pleasant having her stand so close to him. But--as Luthors never, ever admit to needing help unless it's absolutely necessary--he decided to try it himself. "I think I can handle it." He did what she'd shown him, succeeding fairly well.
He smiled at her from across the counter top, finally letting himself really look at her. She wore a loose, faded gray t-shirt and baggy black drawstring pants. It was a casual ensemble, but he thought she looked fantastic. He then glanced down at his own outfit--long-sleeved, black silk shirt and gray, tailored pants--and realized how pretentious he appeared in comparison.
"Lex, sweetie," she said suddenly, breaking into his thoughts. "Could you open a can of sauce and put it in a bowl? I have to finish making the dough." She was busily mixing something in a large bowl, and he noticed she had a streak of flour on her cheek.
After surveying the kitchen for a second, he located two cans of red tomato sauce. A can opener rested on top of one, and he hoped that he could figure out how to use it. "I hope I can do this," he muttered to himself, trying in vain to puncture the lid.
She watched him, amused; never in a thousand years would she have guessed that there was something Lex Luthor couldn't do. Her feelings for him were so intense, however, that she couldn't find the situation funny for very long. She fitted his hands on the handle of the can opener, and showed him how to twist it.
Remaining by his side, she saw that the tip of his tongue was sticking out as he worked. It was a facial expression she was fond of adopting when hacking away on a story for the Torch.
"There you go," she encouraged, as he lifted the lid off, smirking. He tipped the can to dump the contents in a small bowl she'd provided, when his hand slipped. In a matter of seconds, her shirt and hair were splattered with dots of tomato sauce. The remainder of the can hit the floor, exploding onto her bare feet.
An embarrassed guffaw escaped his lips before he clamped a hand over his mouth. She crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and attempted to suppress a laugh of her own.
"Chloe, honey, I'm so sorry. I knew I was no good at this cooking stuff!"
"A Luthor admits defeat," she retorted as he grabbed a dishrag and tried to scrub off her shirt front. "It's fine, Lex, really. I'll go change." Before she could walk very far, he grabbed her arm.
"Wait." To her astonishment, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt. After taking it off, he ceremoniously handed it to her. "Wear this. I've always wanted to see you in silk." He grinned at the mental image he'd created of her in nothing but-Slow down there, Lex.
She accepted the offered garment, not taking her eyes off his bare chest. He was amazingly fit for a man who ran a plant from behind a desk all day. "There's a sight I'm not soon to forget," she announced, before she could stop herself. Shaking her head fiercely, she managed to pry her eyes from his body. "Turn around," she ordered.
He did so, fighting back the urge to watch her change shirts. Behave yourself. Respect her boundaries or you don't deserve to be with her. She deserves someone like Clark; someone who can treat her as well as she needed to be treated. I try, but I'm not used to caring about- Her voice mercifully ended his depressing train of thought. "Can I look now?"
"Sure." He turned and gasped; she was even more gorgeous than he'd imagined. "How do you wear this all day anyway?" she inquired, squirming in the fabric. "I feel like I should be displayed in a museum or something."
Her discomfort was so completely Chloe that he laughed. You really don't deserve her. She's so down-to-earth, so witty, so sure of herself, but in a way that doesn't make her snobby... "I love you, Chloe," he said suddenly, catching himself off-guard. It wasn't as though he hadn't already told her that, but it was still a foreign phrase to him.
She blinked her big, blue eyes, gazing at him tenderly. "I love you, too, Lex." Their dinner momentarily forgotten, they shared an intense, wonderful kiss. She leaned her cheek against his bare chest when it was over, sighing. "That was worth waiting for all afternoon."
The moment was completely perfect. In typical Luthor fashion, Lex went on to ruin it, though he hadn't intended to. "Chloe," he whispered before he'd really thought about what he was going to say. "There's something you need to know."
She frowned up at him, and he hated himself for wrecking their happiness. "What is it?" Her eyes betrayed the fear she tried to stifle.
"Clark's in love with you." He swallowed hard, bracing himself for her reaction.
Her eyes grew wide in shock. "What? Me? Clark's in love with me?" Shaking her head, she broke from his grasp. Lex was certain their relationship was over, all thanks to his big mouth. "I think all that brie cheese has gone to your head; Clark can't be in love with me. He's been pining over Miss Thang since we were zygotes."
He took a step toward her, but then stepped back. She obviously didn't want to be touched right then. "Apparently that's not entirely the truth. Look, I'm sorry to tell you, but I wanted you to know in case you decide to leave me for him." His tone became forlorn, his eyes sad. "I won't fault you if you do; you deserve so much more than me." He motioned to himself. "I can't be what you need me to be; I'll try as best I can, but you need someone that doesn't shy away from his emotions whenever he feels threatened; someone who can treat you like you deserve to be treated; someone like-" Her lips were on his, cutting him off with a fierce kiss.
As he struggled to catch his breath, she held his shoulders. The firmness of her tone surprised him. "Don't you ever, ever imply that you don't deserve me ever again. I wouldn't be standing here, wearing your disgustingly silky shirt, if I felt you weren't good enough for me. I love you, and I want to be with you." She held his gaze with her own. "Do you understand me?"
Lex thought he would faint from sheer joy and relief. "Completely. I'm sorry for bringing it up." He stared at his shiny leather shoes, annoyed at himself. She lifted his chin with her forefinger, kissing his lips quickly.
"Don't be sorry; I think we needed to have this conversation, as trite as it is."
He held her, his eyes closed, enjoying having her in his arms. "Do you have any idea how lucky I feel to have you?"
She smacked his bare bicep. "Stop it. You're no luckier than I am, so be quiet." Her eyes twinkled as she kissed the tip of his nose. "We have to finish our pizza."
Groaning, he let her go. "Oh, all right. Promise me we can cuddle after dinner."
She moved back to the counter and began kneading the dough that would become crust. "I don't like to cuddle much, to tell you the truth, but I'll make an exception for you."
The blissful couple worked in the kitchen for another half hour before sticking the pizza--made with a second can of sauce--in the oven. They spent twenty minutes in each other's arms before their food was finished cooking.
After cuddling on the couch for most of the evening, Lex reluctantly left the Sullivan's. He walked to the Manor, whistling, completely unaware that a shadowy figure had been spying through the kitchen window the entire time Lex had been with Chloe.
The shadowy figure headed back to his own home, head hung in defeat.
* *
Till the storms fill my eyes
And we touch the last time
I will love you, love you
I will love you, love you
I will love you, love you