Rating: PG-13
Couple(s): Lex/Chloe; C/C
Spoilers for: Nothing
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to someone other than me. The lyrics are from 'How Soon is Now?' by the Smiths.
A/N: I know they all seem a little out of character, and I apologize; I can't recall ever seeing Lex be genuinely kind to someone. I hope someone picks up on the cross-dressing inside joke...
* *
All My Hope is Gone
* *
I am the son
I am the heir
Of a shyness that
Is criminally vulgar
Clark gazed glumly into his mug of lukewarm black coffee. He knew he shouldn't have spied on Lex and Chloe the night before, but he'd needed to see them; needed to remind himself that, as long as the pair was as comfortable together as they obviously were, Clark didn't have an inkling of a chance with Chloe.
It's just as well, he thought sadly, turning his gaze out the window, she'd never want to go out with me, even if she wasn't madly in love with Lex. Someone outside caught his attention, and he gasped. Chloe was heading for the Beanery--wearing her typical jeans, t-shirt, and flannel--laughing. His throat tightened as he noticed how beautiful she was.
Who's that with her? he asked himself, squinting. She was walking with a tall woman who was wearing a dress and--he nearly spit out a mouthful of coffee when the person came into focus. Lex?
The bell above the door alerted him to their presence, and he craned his neck to see if they were coming toward his table. Sure enough, Chloe bounced over and plopped across from him in the booth. Her bright blue eyes twinkled. "Hi, Clark."
He was too busy staring at his other best friend to answer. Lex, scowling at his girlfriend, was clad in a tight, long-sleeved black dress that came to just above his knee. On his feet, he wore his typical leather dress shoes and--are those tights ? "Um, Lex, why are you-"
Lex slid next to Clark, trying to glower at Chloe, but failing miserably. He actually started to grin. "She dared me to walk all the way here in this- " he motioned to his ensemble, "-and if I didn't, she'd, well, get revenge."
Clark didn't bother asking what specifically Chloe would have done had Lex not cooperated with her latest scheme; he wasn't sure he wanted to know. "You're a very bizarre individual, Chloe. You know that, right?" he teased, shooting her a smile.
She shrugged, smiling back. "Thank you for noticing."
The trio chatted for another twenty minutes, though Clark let them carry most of the conversation; he was too busy thinking about how Lex had changed since being with Chloe. I don't think I've ever seen him smile sincerely before. I know I've never heard him laugh like that. I guess Chloe has that effect on people, he mused, attempting to follow the line of conversation.
Chloe was gesticulating, her entire face glowing with happiness. Lex was laughing, his eyes shining. After a moment, he grabbed her hand, kissed it. She blushed, her eyes darting toward Clark, then settling on Lex's face. They're really, really happy. There's no way I can tell her that I love her now. Clark gave up trying to pay attention to whatever Chloe was saying; he was distracted by how content his two best friends were. They'd started whispering to each other, lost in their own intimate world. It made him happy that they were happy, but he couldn't help and be a bit wistful that Chloe wasn't happy with him.
"Clark, I have to get back to the plant. I'll see you later," Lex said then, breaking into the boy's rapid thoughts.
Forcing himself to smile, Clark nodded. "Okay. Nice of you to drop by." He waited until Lex was halfway to the door before shifting around and shouting, "Nice legs, by the way."
Lex turned and made a face before leaving the coffee shop.
Clark faced his best friend again, trying to stifle the urge to just grab her and kiss her. "I'm impressed you got him to do that," he remarked.
She laughed, tucking a strand of wavy blonde hair behind her ear. "I didn't think he would, but I guess even Lex can defy expectations. So, how are you, Kent?"
His shoulders rose and fell in either a sigh or a shrug; she couldn't tell which. "As good as I can be, I guess."
Her hand covered his, sending Clark into a frenzy of conflicted emotions. "What's up?" She always wanted to cheer him up, but she'd never looked at him with such concern in her eyes. He decided that Lex wasn't the only one changed by his relationship with Chloe.
I love you. "I don't know. I guess I'm just lonely." He visibly sighed. "You're with Lex, Lana's back with Whitney, Pete's with his Flavor-of-the- Week--I feel like I'm the only person in the world without someone special, you know?"
He didn't stop to ponder why she suddenly looked so guilty. "I'm sorry. Isn't there--I don't know--some other brainless cheerleader you can ask out?" Her hatred of Lana Lang--the old love of Clark's life--was still so obvious, though she'd never explained why she hated Lana so much. "You're a hot guy, Clark," she continued, her voice faltering on 'hot'. "I'm sure there are droves of girls that would go out with you in a second."
It occurred to Clark to blurt out that she was the only girl he wanted to date, but he held his tongue. "I guess so."
The familiar gleam in her eyes told him she was planning something. "I'll set you up!"
Groaning inwardly, he withdrew his hand from her grasp. "That's okay, Chloe. I'm not sure I trust you to set me up with someone who isn't a bimbo," he admitted, knowing that she'd pick the shallowest girl she could find, just because that was the way her mind worked.
She pretended to be hurt. "Give me a little credit!" After a moment, she stood up. "I've got to run, Clark; I have a story to finish for this week's Torch." To his surprise and delight, she bent down and kissed his cheek. "Cheer up. Maybe Pete and I will come over and bother you tonight."
Frowning, he focused his blue eyes on hers. "No Lex?"
"I didn't think you'd want to see him. Call you tonight," she promised, before she too left the Beanery, leaving Clark alone to mope once again.
* *
You could meet somebody
Who really loves you
...and you go home
And you cry, and you
Want to die
* *
Clark found Chloe perched on her porch swing, moving it back and forth with her foot while she scribbled something in a notebook. He grinned at the sight of her; her blonde hair was disheveled--it was a windy evening--her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and the tip of tongue protruded from her mouth.
"If it isn't the intrepid reporter. What is it this time? Sap-sucking soccer players?" he teased, starting up the steps to the Sullivan's porch.
She looked up and made a face. "You never stop mocking me, do you?"
Plopping next to her, he attempted to read what she'd written. "You keep a journal?" He couldn't contain his surprise; she seemed like the last person to do something that so many other teenage girls were prone to doing.
She set the notebook aside, wrinkling her nose at him. "Me, do something as clichéd as that?" That's my Chloe, he thought, suppressing a smile. "I'm attempting to rationalize Lex's and my relationship." At his blank expression, she continued. "It's all moving so fast and it seems too perfect to be real. I'm trying to
figure out if there's anyway he might have an ulterior motive, or if it's Wall of Weird material, or--" She shrugged, resting her head on Clark's shoulder.
As if by reflex he slid his arm around her. "You care about him, don't you?"
His best friend nodded rapidly, which was difficult to accomplish while leaning against him. "More than I ever thought I could, but we've only known each other--really known each other--since New Year's Eve; suddenly we're in love--it seems strange." She buried her face in Clark's flannel shirt. "Sometimes I wonder if Lex and I are simply reacting to the meteor rocks. Maybe we've turned into mutants that-"
Before he really thought about what he was doing, Clark kissed her hair, causing her to stop talking mid-sentence. "You just can't accept that you have feelings for Lex, can you?"
She looked up at him, her eyes overflowing with sadness and confusion. "No, I can't. I mean, my father has worked for LuthorCorp since we moved here, but I was never that fond of Lex. Then, after talking to him for most of an evening, I kissed him. Multiple times!" Ignoring his bewildered expression, she went on. "He sent me flowers, I went to visit him, told him that I love him--he's Lex, Clark! He used to sleep with a different woman every weekend. Am I insane to think he'll change for me, of all people? Do I truly love him, or did I get carried away in the heat of the moment?"
The boy held her tighter when he noticed that she'd begun to shiver. "Chloe, I've seen the way he acts around you, the way you act around him. From the looks of things, he wants to change for you." Why are you trying to convince her that her relationship is a good thing? If you love her so much, shouldn't you attempt to get her away from him? Clark shut off that part of his brain, reminding himself that if she was happy, he was happy.
"I'm such a mess. I used to be unflappable; then I let myself get involved with him, and I'm suddenly like every other shallow, overly-hormonal, love sick bimbo!" After taking a deep breath, she relaxed in his arms. "I guess I'm afraid that--I don't know. I'm sick of talking about me."
He smiled at her as she moved away from him. "Want to talk about me?"
The familiar grin shakily returned to her face. "Yes, let's. How goes the battle for a certain Miss Lang's affections?"
Clark ducked his head, feigning embarrassment. He didn't want to lie to her- -say he still had feelings for Lana--but he couldn't say that he loved her without adding to her confusion. "She and Whitney are as tight as ever."
Holding up her hand, Chloe frowned, remembering something. "Weren't you two supposedly hot and heavy yesterday?"
Now he really did blush. "I was sort of lying, thinking Pete would leave me alone if I claimed she and I were together. We did kiss a few times at the party, but that was because she was hurting after a fight with Whitney. He hadn't come with her for some reason, and she was bent out of shape."
The old, scandal-seeking Chloe returned. "You let her use you, then? She needed comfort, so you offered yourself, knowing it wouldn't last?" Her eyes glimmered as she thought of ways she could turn the information into a story for the school paper. "Blast, there's no way I can use that!"
A grin flickered across his face. "Poor baby. I'll try to have more scandalous relationships in the future, okay?"
They lapsed into silence for a few moments before Clark grew serious. "Can I tell you something, if you swear not to turn it into a story?"
She scrunched up her face, debating with herself. "Even if it's juicy, I can't use it?"
He shook his head, and she was taken aback by the nervousness he exuded. "My parents and I could be put in danger if anyone else found out about this."
The thought of Clark in peril sobered her. She took his hand snugly in hers, turning from reporter to good friend in a matter of seconds. "Okay. Scout's Honor I won't tell."
The image of Chloe as a Girl Scout--sitting in a circle doing crafts-- caused him to chuckle. Aware she was waiting for him to speak, he plowed forward. Since he knew she was more than familiar with the infamous meteor shower, he didn't beat around the bush. "I came from the meteor shower."
Chloe Sullivan was a sharp girl; it only took her a minute or two to realize what he was saying. "You're an alien." She said it off-handedly, as though she were talking about her weekend. Clark was overwhelmingly grateful that his friend was so open-minded.
"Basically. The Kents found me in the cornfield that day and brought me home with them. They forged adoption papers, gave me a name, a birth date-- everything." He stared into her eyes as he prepared to admit the part that would excite her the most. "I have these abilities because of the meteors. The only things that can harm me are meteor rock fragments. They make me weak and powerless."
She squeezed his hand while she wrapped her mind around the information. He braced himself for a barrage of questions, but she surprised him; she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Oh, Clark. I always knew there was something!"
He hugged her back and they rocked for a while. "I'm so glad you don't think I'm bizarre," he whispered, his voice catching. All I've ever wanted is to tell her, to hold her, to be with her, he thought, feeling the lump build up in his throat. She was so soft, so comforting.
"I think it's cool, actually, Clark. You know that I'd never exploit you, right?" Her gaze was firm. "I might have a certifiable obsession with the meteor shower and its weird effects, but I'd never, ever use you. I care about you more than I can say. You're an amazing guy." She touched her forehead to his, smiling softly.
Clark bit his lip, afraid he'd sob from sheer relief. "Chloe, you must know that I love you..."
She swallowed firmly, gripping his arms. Her voice had lowered to a trembling whisper. "You're everything I always thought I needed, Clark. I love Lex intensely, but you're so much different from him. You're-" Saying nothing more, she bent her lips to his, not hearing the audible sigh that he emitted as they kissed.
"Oh, Chloe, why didn't you tell me?" a voice whispered sadly, startling the couple on the porch.
Her eyes flew open as she shoved herself away from Clark. "Lex! How long have you-what are you-I'm so sorry!"
Clark could only stare dumbly as the girl he loved rushed down the steps, chasing after the man she claimed to love. "It wasn't what it looked like," she insisted. "Well, it was, but I don't want to leave you for him. I love you, Lex!"
Lex, his head bent, muttered something Clark couldn't make out. As he started for his Porsche, Clark zipped to him. "Lex, it was my fault. I'll go." He expected Lex to be vengeful, but he merely looked forlorn.
A slight nod was the only reaction Clark got before he raced away, knowing that if Chloe and Lex broke up, he would be to blame.
* *
You shut your mouth
How can you say I
Go about things
The wrong way?
* *
He dreaded that week's produce delivery. He almost asked his father to go instead, but then Clark would have had to explain why he couldn't face Lex. He didn't think Jonathan would be too happy about the idea of Lex dating a barely legal high school student.
Lex was working in his downstairs office when Clark was let inside the Manor. He swallowed, unsure of what to say. "That's it for this week," he managed to choke out.
The man looked up from a stack of papers, nodded. "Okay. We need to talk."
Fearing the worst, Clark felt himself sink into a chair. Lex picked up a glass tumbler that contained half an inch of some unidentifiable amber alcohol. He tipped it back before leaning against his desk, arms crossed over his purple silk shirt. "Chloe told me what happened, and I'm not angry at you. Not at all. I told her that if she would rather be with you, she had my blessing." He paused, drawing in a deep, shaky breath. Clark knew he'd never seen a Luthor cry, and was certain he was about to.
"She loves you, Lex," he stated flatly, still hating himself for causing his best friends such grief.
Stoic Lex replaced Emotional Lex. "You heard what she said. You're everything she's ever needed. What am I except some enigmatic curiosity? Go to her, Clark. She deserves someone as wonderful as you." Without saying goodbye, Lex turned back to his paperwork.
Clark knew there would be no more discussion about Chloe. If Lex Luthor did one thing like his father, he never, ever talked about a subject after it was closed. "I'm really, really sorry."
If he had glanced over his shoulder before exiting the room, he would have seen Lex lean his forehead against the window in an expression of sadness.
* *
You see, I've already
Waited too long
And all my hope is gone
* *
Returning from Luthor Manor, Clark was physically and emotionally beat. He retreated to the Fortress of Solitude, wanting to gaze at the stars in attempt to clear his head. His plans changed when he entered the loft to find Chloe curled up on the dilapidated, old couch. From the looks of things, she'd been crying.
In an instant, he was by her side, holding her.
"Did he say anything about me?" she whispered, sniffling, knowing full well where Clark been minutes before.
Clark rested his chin on the top of her head, unsure if he should tell her the truth. His conscience won out. "Yeah. He said that you deserved better than him."
Her head shot up, jarring his jaw. He barely avoided biting his tongue. "He didn't!" She grabbed his shoulders. "I have to go to him." Instead of moving, she simply stared at her best friend. "Don't blame yourself for what happened. I was confused about what I wanted, I was happy that you trusted me enough to tell me the truth about yourself..I acted without thinking."
He averted his gaze to the floor. "So you're going to stay with him."
Chloe nodded slowly. "I have to, Clark. I may not have liked his before, but I honestly love him now. He's a normal person underneath that Lionel- induced wall that he puts up whenever anyone tries to get close." Her eyes lit up, sending Clark's heart plummeting to the ground. "He was willing to let me in, willing to open up to me. I love him even more for letting me get to know him."
Though it tortured him to do so, Clark hugged her. "I love you, Chloe. And I wish you the best of luck. Really." He bit his lip, determined to not cry.
She kissed his cheek, grinning. "I love you too, Farm boy. If Lex and I ever have some big, nasty, irreversible fight, I'll be sure to run to you for comfort."
Clark found himself chuckling. "There's little chance of that."
She wasn't sure what he was referring to--the thought of Lex and Chloe fighting, or the thought of her running to Clark for comfort--but she was too preoccupied to ask for clarification; she had a relationship to save.
Couple(s): Lex/Chloe; C/C
Spoilers for: Nothing
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to someone other than me. The lyrics are from 'How Soon is Now?' by the Smiths.
A/N: I know they all seem a little out of character, and I apologize; I can't recall ever seeing Lex be genuinely kind to someone. I hope someone picks up on the cross-dressing inside joke...
* *
All My Hope is Gone
* *
I am the son
I am the heir
Of a shyness that
Is criminally vulgar
Clark gazed glumly into his mug of lukewarm black coffee. He knew he shouldn't have spied on Lex and Chloe the night before, but he'd needed to see them; needed to remind himself that, as long as the pair was as comfortable together as they obviously were, Clark didn't have an inkling of a chance with Chloe.
It's just as well, he thought sadly, turning his gaze out the window, she'd never want to go out with me, even if she wasn't madly in love with Lex. Someone outside caught his attention, and he gasped. Chloe was heading for the Beanery--wearing her typical jeans, t-shirt, and flannel--laughing. His throat tightened as he noticed how beautiful she was.
Who's that with her? he asked himself, squinting. She was walking with a tall woman who was wearing a dress and--he nearly spit out a mouthful of coffee when the person came into focus. Lex?
The bell above the door alerted him to their presence, and he craned his neck to see if they were coming toward his table. Sure enough, Chloe bounced over and plopped across from him in the booth. Her bright blue eyes twinkled. "Hi, Clark."
He was too busy staring at his other best friend to answer. Lex, scowling at his girlfriend, was clad in a tight, long-sleeved black dress that came to just above his knee. On his feet, he wore his typical leather dress shoes and--are those tights ? "Um, Lex, why are you-"
Lex slid next to Clark, trying to glower at Chloe, but failing miserably. He actually started to grin. "She dared me to walk all the way here in this- " he motioned to his ensemble, "-and if I didn't, she'd, well, get revenge."
Clark didn't bother asking what specifically Chloe would have done had Lex not cooperated with her latest scheme; he wasn't sure he wanted to know. "You're a very bizarre individual, Chloe. You know that, right?" he teased, shooting her a smile.
She shrugged, smiling back. "Thank you for noticing."
The trio chatted for another twenty minutes, though Clark let them carry most of the conversation; he was too busy thinking about how Lex had changed since being with Chloe. I don't think I've ever seen him smile sincerely before. I know I've never heard him laugh like that. I guess Chloe has that effect on people, he mused, attempting to follow the line of conversation.
Chloe was gesticulating, her entire face glowing with happiness. Lex was laughing, his eyes shining. After a moment, he grabbed her hand, kissed it. She blushed, her eyes darting toward Clark, then settling on Lex's face. They're really, really happy. There's no way I can tell her that I love her now. Clark gave up trying to pay attention to whatever Chloe was saying; he was distracted by how content his two best friends were. They'd started whispering to each other, lost in their own intimate world. It made him happy that they were happy, but he couldn't help and be a bit wistful that Chloe wasn't happy with him.
"Clark, I have to get back to the plant. I'll see you later," Lex said then, breaking into the boy's rapid thoughts.
Forcing himself to smile, Clark nodded. "Okay. Nice of you to drop by." He waited until Lex was halfway to the door before shifting around and shouting, "Nice legs, by the way."
Lex turned and made a face before leaving the coffee shop.
Clark faced his best friend again, trying to stifle the urge to just grab her and kiss her. "I'm impressed you got him to do that," he remarked.
She laughed, tucking a strand of wavy blonde hair behind her ear. "I didn't think he would, but I guess even Lex can defy expectations. So, how are you, Kent?"
His shoulders rose and fell in either a sigh or a shrug; she couldn't tell which. "As good as I can be, I guess."
Her hand covered his, sending Clark into a frenzy of conflicted emotions. "What's up?" She always wanted to cheer him up, but she'd never looked at him with such concern in her eyes. He decided that Lex wasn't the only one changed by his relationship with Chloe.
I love you. "I don't know. I guess I'm just lonely." He visibly sighed. "You're with Lex, Lana's back with Whitney, Pete's with his Flavor-of-the- Week--I feel like I'm the only person in the world without someone special, you know?"
He didn't stop to ponder why she suddenly looked so guilty. "I'm sorry. Isn't there--I don't know--some other brainless cheerleader you can ask out?" Her hatred of Lana Lang--the old love of Clark's life--was still so obvious, though she'd never explained why she hated Lana so much. "You're a hot guy, Clark," she continued, her voice faltering on 'hot'. "I'm sure there are droves of girls that would go out with you in a second."
It occurred to Clark to blurt out that she was the only girl he wanted to date, but he held his tongue. "I guess so."
The familiar gleam in her eyes told him she was planning something. "I'll set you up!"
Groaning inwardly, he withdrew his hand from her grasp. "That's okay, Chloe. I'm not sure I trust you to set me up with someone who isn't a bimbo," he admitted, knowing that she'd pick the shallowest girl she could find, just because that was the way her mind worked.
She pretended to be hurt. "Give me a little credit!" After a moment, she stood up. "I've got to run, Clark; I have a story to finish for this week's Torch." To his surprise and delight, she bent down and kissed his cheek. "Cheer up. Maybe Pete and I will come over and bother you tonight."
Frowning, he focused his blue eyes on hers. "No Lex?"
"I didn't think you'd want to see him. Call you tonight," she promised, before she too left the Beanery, leaving Clark alone to mope once again.
* *
You could meet somebody
Who really loves you
...and you go home
And you cry, and you
Want to die
* *
Clark found Chloe perched on her porch swing, moving it back and forth with her foot while she scribbled something in a notebook. He grinned at the sight of her; her blonde hair was disheveled--it was a windy evening--her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and the tip of tongue protruded from her mouth.
"If it isn't the intrepid reporter. What is it this time? Sap-sucking soccer players?" he teased, starting up the steps to the Sullivan's porch.
She looked up and made a face. "You never stop mocking me, do you?"
Plopping next to her, he attempted to read what she'd written. "You keep a journal?" He couldn't contain his surprise; she seemed like the last person to do something that so many other teenage girls were prone to doing.
She set the notebook aside, wrinkling her nose at him. "Me, do something as clichéd as that?" That's my Chloe, he thought, suppressing a smile. "I'm attempting to rationalize Lex's and my relationship." At his blank expression, she continued. "It's all moving so fast and it seems too perfect to be real. I'm trying to
figure out if there's anyway he might have an ulterior motive, or if it's Wall of Weird material, or--" She shrugged, resting her head on Clark's shoulder.
As if by reflex he slid his arm around her. "You care about him, don't you?"
His best friend nodded rapidly, which was difficult to accomplish while leaning against him. "More than I ever thought I could, but we've only known each other--really known each other--since New Year's Eve; suddenly we're in love--it seems strange." She buried her face in Clark's flannel shirt. "Sometimes I wonder if Lex and I are simply reacting to the meteor rocks. Maybe we've turned into mutants that-"
Before he really thought about what he was doing, Clark kissed her hair, causing her to stop talking mid-sentence. "You just can't accept that you have feelings for Lex, can you?"
She looked up at him, her eyes overflowing with sadness and confusion. "No, I can't. I mean, my father has worked for LuthorCorp since we moved here, but I was never that fond of Lex. Then, after talking to him for most of an evening, I kissed him. Multiple times!" Ignoring his bewildered expression, she went on. "He sent me flowers, I went to visit him, told him that I love him--he's Lex, Clark! He used to sleep with a different woman every weekend. Am I insane to think he'll change for me, of all people? Do I truly love him, or did I get carried away in the heat of the moment?"
The boy held her tighter when he noticed that she'd begun to shiver. "Chloe, I've seen the way he acts around you, the way you act around him. From the looks of things, he wants to change for you." Why are you trying to convince her that her relationship is a good thing? If you love her so much, shouldn't you attempt to get her away from him? Clark shut off that part of his brain, reminding himself that if she was happy, he was happy.
"I'm such a mess. I used to be unflappable; then I let myself get involved with him, and I'm suddenly like every other shallow, overly-hormonal, love sick bimbo!" After taking a deep breath, she relaxed in his arms. "I guess I'm afraid that--I don't know. I'm sick of talking about me."
He smiled at her as she moved away from him. "Want to talk about me?"
The familiar grin shakily returned to her face. "Yes, let's. How goes the battle for a certain Miss Lang's affections?"
Clark ducked his head, feigning embarrassment. He didn't want to lie to her- -say he still had feelings for Lana--but he couldn't say that he loved her without adding to her confusion. "She and Whitney are as tight as ever."
Holding up her hand, Chloe frowned, remembering something. "Weren't you two supposedly hot and heavy yesterday?"
Now he really did blush. "I was sort of lying, thinking Pete would leave me alone if I claimed she and I were together. We did kiss a few times at the party, but that was because she was hurting after a fight with Whitney. He hadn't come with her for some reason, and she was bent out of shape."
The old, scandal-seeking Chloe returned. "You let her use you, then? She needed comfort, so you offered yourself, knowing it wouldn't last?" Her eyes glimmered as she thought of ways she could turn the information into a story for the school paper. "Blast, there's no way I can use that!"
A grin flickered across his face. "Poor baby. I'll try to have more scandalous relationships in the future, okay?"
They lapsed into silence for a few moments before Clark grew serious. "Can I tell you something, if you swear not to turn it into a story?"
She scrunched up her face, debating with herself. "Even if it's juicy, I can't use it?"
He shook his head, and she was taken aback by the nervousness he exuded. "My parents and I could be put in danger if anyone else found out about this."
The thought of Clark in peril sobered her. She took his hand snugly in hers, turning from reporter to good friend in a matter of seconds. "Okay. Scout's Honor I won't tell."
The image of Chloe as a Girl Scout--sitting in a circle doing crafts-- caused him to chuckle. Aware she was waiting for him to speak, he plowed forward. Since he knew she was more than familiar with the infamous meteor shower, he didn't beat around the bush. "I came from the meteor shower."
Chloe Sullivan was a sharp girl; it only took her a minute or two to realize what he was saying. "You're an alien." She said it off-handedly, as though she were talking about her weekend. Clark was overwhelmingly grateful that his friend was so open-minded.
"Basically. The Kents found me in the cornfield that day and brought me home with them. They forged adoption papers, gave me a name, a birth date-- everything." He stared into her eyes as he prepared to admit the part that would excite her the most. "I have these abilities because of the meteors. The only things that can harm me are meteor rock fragments. They make me weak and powerless."
She squeezed his hand while she wrapped her mind around the information. He braced himself for a barrage of questions, but she surprised him; she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Oh, Clark. I always knew there was something!"
He hugged her back and they rocked for a while. "I'm so glad you don't think I'm bizarre," he whispered, his voice catching. All I've ever wanted is to tell her, to hold her, to be with her, he thought, feeling the lump build up in his throat. She was so soft, so comforting.
"I think it's cool, actually, Clark. You know that I'd never exploit you, right?" Her gaze was firm. "I might have a certifiable obsession with the meteor shower and its weird effects, but I'd never, ever use you. I care about you more than I can say. You're an amazing guy." She touched her forehead to his, smiling softly.
Clark bit his lip, afraid he'd sob from sheer relief. "Chloe, you must know that I love you..."
She swallowed firmly, gripping his arms. Her voice had lowered to a trembling whisper. "You're everything I always thought I needed, Clark. I love Lex intensely, but you're so much different from him. You're-" Saying nothing more, she bent her lips to his, not hearing the audible sigh that he emitted as they kissed.
"Oh, Chloe, why didn't you tell me?" a voice whispered sadly, startling the couple on the porch.
Her eyes flew open as she shoved herself away from Clark. "Lex! How long have you-what are you-I'm so sorry!"
Clark could only stare dumbly as the girl he loved rushed down the steps, chasing after the man she claimed to love. "It wasn't what it looked like," she insisted. "Well, it was, but I don't want to leave you for him. I love you, Lex!"
Lex, his head bent, muttered something Clark couldn't make out. As he started for his Porsche, Clark zipped to him. "Lex, it was my fault. I'll go." He expected Lex to be vengeful, but he merely looked forlorn.
A slight nod was the only reaction Clark got before he raced away, knowing that if Chloe and Lex broke up, he would be to blame.
* *
You shut your mouth
How can you say I
Go about things
The wrong way?
* *
He dreaded that week's produce delivery. He almost asked his father to go instead, but then Clark would have had to explain why he couldn't face Lex. He didn't think Jonathan would be too happy about the idea of Lex dating a barely legal high school student.
Lex was working in his downstairs office when Clark was let inside the Manor. He swallowed, unsure of what to say. "That's it for this week," he managed to choke out.
The man looked up from a stack of papers, nodded. "Okay. We need to talk."
Fearing the worst, Clark felt himself sink into a chair. Lex picked up a glass tumbler that contained half an inch of some unidentifiable amber alcohol. He tipped it back before leaning against his desk, arms crossed over his purple silk shirt. "Chloe told me what happened, and I'm not angry at you. Not at all. I told her that if she would rather be with you, she had my blessing." He paused, drawing in a deep, shaky breath. Clark knew he'd never seen a Luthor cry, and was certain he was about to.
"She loves you, Lex," he stated flatly, still hating himself for causing his best friends such grief.
Stoic Lex replaced Emotional Lex. "You heard what she said. You're everything she's ever needed. What am I except some enigmatic curiosity? Go to her, Clark. She deserves someone as wonderful as you." Without saying goodbye, Lex turned back to his paperwork.
Clark knew there would be no more discussion about Chloe. If Lex Luthor did one thing like his father, he never, ever talked about a subject after it was closed. "I'm really, really sorry."
If he had glanced over his shoulder before exiting the room, he would have seen Lex lean his forehead against the window in an expression of sadness.
* *
You see, I've already
Waited too long
And all my hope is gone
* *
Returning from Luthor Manor, Clark was physically and emotionally beat. He retreated to the Fortress of Solitude, wanting to gaze at the stars in attempt to clear his head. His plans changed when he entered the loft to find Chloe curled up on the dilapidated, old couch. From the looks of things, she'd been crying.
In an instant, he was by her side, holding her.
"Did he say anything about me?" she whispered, sniffling, knowing full well where Clark been minutes before.
Clark rested his chin on the top of her head, unsure if he should tell her the truth. His conscience won out. "Yeah. He said that you deserved better than him."
Her head shot up, jarring his jaw. He barely avoided biting his tongue. "He didn't!" She grabbed his shoulders. "I have to go to him." Instead of moving, she simply stared at her best friend. "Don't blame yourself for what happened. I was confused about what I wanted, I was happy that you trusted me enough to tell me the truth about yourself..I acted without thinking."
He averted his gaze to the floor. "So you're going to stay with him."
Chloe nodded slowly. "I have to, Clark. I may not have liked his before, but I honestly love him now. He's a normal person underneath that Lionel- induced wall that he puts up whenever anyone tries to get close." Her eyes lit up, sending Clark's heart plummeting to the ground. "He was willing to let me in, willing to open up to me. I love him even more for letting me get to know him."
Though it tortured him to do so, Clark hugged her. "I love you, Chloe. And I wish you the best of luck. Really." He bit his lip, determined to not cry.
She kissed his cheek, grinning. "I love you too, Farm boy. If Lex and I ever have some big, nasty, irreversible fight, I'll be sure to run to you for comfort."
Clark found himself chuckling. "There's little chance of that."
She wasn't sure what he was referring to--the thought of Lex and Chloe fighting, or the thought of her running to Clark for comfort--but she was too preoccupied to ask for clarification; she had a relationship to save.