12. All Over Bar The Shouting?
LEX
What the hell just happened?
Shotgun past my ear so close I felt it, and I can't hear a thing. No pain - none worse than just now. Lying here, and wait for the world to flow back.
"Lex...oh my God, Lex!"
Can't be my father. Sounds like an emotion.
Surprisingly comfortable to just lie here. Don't have to do anything. Hands pull at me, over my head, and only Chloe's allowed to do that.
I want my girl to be here.
"Lex, dammit!" That's more like it. "You are not allowed to die, do you hear me?"
Can't hear anything on that side. Martha Kent does Bill Hicks - 'Let's Hunt and Kill Lionel Luthor'...if I had a tv network, it might be worth it.
More voices now. Jonathan trying to comfort a hysterical Martha, who thinks she's killed the wrong Luthor. Too much effort to open my mouth and tell her I'm alive. Not sure about that myself.
Low fierce voice.
"You are not allowed to die, Alexander. You win, boy. Do you hear me? You cannot die on the eve of victory."
All this talk of death is starting to worry me. Have I been hit? Too far gone to feel the pain?
"You can have your damn factory."
I have witnesses. I hope. Open my eyes.
"Want it...in writing."
This time he laughs properly.
"And...I'm not coming back. Work to do." Struggle to sit up. Hit my head again when I went over, and that's getting old now. His hands on my shoulders.
We pick the strangest times to find common ground.
"No prosecutions."
"Discharge of licensed firearm on private property."
Something occurs to me, and that's just perfect, and I find a weak laugh from somewhere.
"You're going to be taking a bath with the Savings and Loan, Dad."
"Insurance."
"Won't cover all of it - need Federal Assistance program. Pay enough taxes."
"You'll have to fire the plant manager."
"Non-negotiable." I rap back. "Blame goes to the reporting structure - false information. Besides, he's the leading light of the buying consortium."
The Kent's are looking at us like we are another species. Try to stand up, and that's not a good idea. Flat on my ass again.
Storm has blown itself out, gone off to beat the crap out of somewhere else. The house is a wreck. So am I.
Burnt my hand on that damn gun. Cut over one eye, pain over the side of my face. Covered in plaster and blood. Head hurts. Muscles hurt - fighting that damned horse, fighting the rubble. Bloody hands, and I don't remember that.
"We'll get the lawyers on it tomorrow." Awkward pat on my shoulder.
"Have your people call my people."
"Always rest before a battle." He advises. For once, I'm going to take his advice.
Bed would be good now.
I'm alive. Take on all comers and never ever lose. Yeah.
I want Chloe here.
JONATHAN
The rich really -are- different. And I think the Luthors must have cockroaches in their ancestry. They're damned hard to kill.
Lex actually makes it to his feet this time, but I don't think he'll manage stairs. Stop Martha before she cries all over him. He has a powder burn all up the side of his face, but he doesn't look any worse than he did. Which is pretty bad.
He's found a cell phone that works, is already trying to issue crisp directions to god knows who. Lionel is watching him with an amazingly smug expression for someone who just missed having his head blown off.
Clark is suddenly in the doorway, taking in the scene. I don't want to know how he got in that state, because I don't think I could take it in at the moment. All I know is that he's here and that he's safe. Gather my family up to me. Leave the Luthor family to do things their own way.
LEX
It's like Level III all over again. Happy family unit, while I do damage control. Fuck it.
Then a vivid flash of pink.
Chloe. In the doorway, eyes swallowing up half her face.
Then small hands running up my arms, over my shoulders. Swearing in a most unladylike fashion, and make-up sliding down in her tears. My raging angel.
LEX
What the hell just happened?
Shotgun past my ear so close I felt it, and I can't hear a thing. No pain - none worse than just now. Lying here, and wait for the world to flow back.
"Lex...oh my God, Lex!"
Can't be my father. Sounds like an emotion.
Surprisingly comfortable to just lie here. Don't have to do anything. Hands pull at me, over my head, and only Chloe's allowed to do that.
I want my girl to be here.
"Lex, dammit!" That's more like it. "You are not allowed to die, do you hear me?"
Can't hear anything on that side. Martha Kent does Bill Hicks - 'Let's Hunt and Kill Lionel Luthor'...if I had a tv network, it might be worth it.
More voices now. Jonathan trying to comfort a hysterical Martha, who thinks she's killed the wrong Luthor. Too much effort to open my mouth and tell her I'm alive. Not sure about that myself.
Low fierce voice.
"You are not allowed to die, Alexander. You win, boy. Do you hear me? You cannot die on the eve of victory."
All this talk of death is starting to worry me. Have I been hit? Too far gone to feel the pain?
"You can have your damn factory."
I have witnesses. I hope. Open my eyes.
"Want it...in writing."
This time he laughs properly.
"And...I'm not coming back. Work to do." Struggle to sit up. Hit my head again when I went over, and that's getting old now. His hands on my shoulders.
We pick the strangest times to find common ground.
"No prosecutions."
"Discharge of licensed firearm on private property."
Something occurs to me, and that's just perfect, and I find a weak laugh from somewhere.
"You're going to be taking a bath with the Savings and Loan, Dad."
"Insurance."
"Won't cover all of it - need Federal Assistance program. Pay enough taxes."
"You'll have to fire the plant manager."
"Non-negotiable." I rap back. "Blame goes to the reporting structure - false information. Besides, he's the leading light of the buying consortium."
The Kent's are looking at us like we are another species. Try to stand up, and that's not a good idea. Flat on my ass again.
Storm has blown itself out, gone off to beat the crap out of somewhere else. The house is a wreck. So am I.
Burnt my hand on that damn gun. Cut over one eye, pain over the side of my face. Covered in plaster and blood. Head hurts. Muscles hurt - fighting that damned horse, fighting the rubble. Bloody hands, and I don't remember that.
"We'll get the lawyers on it tomorrow." Awkward pat on my shoulder.
"Have your people call my people."
"Always rest before a battle." He advises. For once, I'm going to take his advice.
Bed would be good now.
I'm alive. Take on all comers and never ever lose. Yeah.
I want Chloe here.
JONATHAN
The rich really -are- different. And I think the Luthors must have cockroaches in their ancestry. They're damned hard to kill.
Lex actually makes it to his feet this time, but I don't think he'll manage stairs. Stop Martha before she cries all over him. He has a powder burn all up the side of his face, but he doesn't look any worse than he did. Which is pretty bad.
He's found a cell phone that works, is already trying to issue crisp directions to god knows who. Lionel is watching him with an amazingly smug expression for someone who just missed having his head blown off.
Clark is suddenly in the doorway, taking in the scene. I don't want to know how he got in that state, because I don't think I could take it in at the moment. All I know is that he's here and that he's safe. Gather my family up to me. Leave the Luthor family to do things their own way.
LEX
It's like Level III all over again. Happy family unit, while I do damage control. Fuck it.
Then a vivid flash of pink.
Chloe. In the doorway, eyes swallowing up half her face.
Then small hands running up my arms, over my shoulders. Swearing in a most unladylike fashion, and make-up sliding down in her tears. My raging angel.