Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC and the WB, not me.
Maybe
The noisy coffee shop suddenly becomes very silent. In-depth conversations halt, employee's stop working, mouths cease to chew as the surprised customers shift their collective gaze to the entrance of the cozy building. All eyes are focused on the new comer. The infamous man standing in the doorway easily ignores their stares.
Lionel Luthor walks briskly into the Talon. The look on the powerful mans face is determined as he moves deliberately across the crowded room. Long strides quickly take him to the corner of the building. People scatter as he hastily approaches the isolated door to his son's office. Testing the doorknob Lionel quickly assesses what he had already guessed. The door is locked.
"Lex, Let me in!" Lionel barks at the lettered glass. Fearing his words are lost on deaf ears, Lionel sighs, narrowing his eyelids to scowl at the door in frustration.
Turning to the young lady behind the counter Lionel prepares to question her. His eyes dart to the waitress's chest. Her nametag reads Lana. He recognizes the name. She's the one who talked his son into this place. He already hates her. "Lana do you have a key to my sons office?"
The waitress's jaw drops. Lionel Luthor just rolls his eyes at the girls bewildered expression. "Keys?" he repeats, exasperated. Lana just blinks her big doe eyes at him. Lionel quickly dismisses her with an annoyed wave, her presence has already been forgotten.
Lionel has not seen or heard from his son all day. They were supposed to have a meeting earlier but he never showed. None of his business associates seem to have any idea where Lex has gone, but Lionel *knows* his son. He understands his habits. Lionel can easily predict his offspring's movements with calculated precision. Lex is an open book to him. His motivations are simple. Lex was upset so he went to a place where he feels safe. For some reason, beyond Lionel's ability to comprehend, Lex feels at home in this seedy little dump.
Lionel Luthor recalls the argument he had had with his son last night. Ironically this old building was a large part of the problem. Lionel had become quite irate when he had learned where a large portion of the depleted funds in Lex's accounts had been siphoned off too. Apparently Lex had been investing in a lot of the smaller businesses around Smallville. Lex had defended himself aptly, stating that every one of the business ventures was thriving and that they were all pulling in profit.
Lionel recalled sighing at his son's words, gripping Lex's shoulders in his hands. His reply had been stinging. "Lex, you are an idiot. I don't know what these kids are doing to your mind but what you are saying to me is complete bullshit and you know it. If you had turned that damned theater into a parking lot you could be making double the profit right now! Those fucking kids are seducing you. You're letting them strip you of your good senses. You think they like you? They just see you as some freak rich boy to be exploited. Now, I want that building leveled and turned into a parking lot. Do you understand?"
Lionel recalled the pain, obvious in his son's eyes. He could actually see Lex's heart break, and it made him happy to witness it. Lionel smiled at his son during that moment, with full knowledge that heartbreak was the quickest way to make a person cold and distant. With all the heartbreak Lex has endured over the years his heart should be a lot harder by now Lionel mused. His son was growing soft.
Scowling at the ambiance of the Talon Lionel does not have time to register his complete disgust before he focuses his mind back on his task. Scanning the room he searches the sea of faces for someone who might know how to pick a lock. Surely one of these little hooligans possesses the skill. His gaze falls on a young man. Something about him looks familiar, but Lionel doesn't have time to attempt to recall where he might have seen this dark- haired farm boy before. Narrowing his eyes at the youth Lionel commands. "Open this door right now."
The dumb kid just blinks in surprise. Stupidity is obviously a requirement for admittance into this place, like a suit and tie are essential in all the places he frequents. Lionels's impatient frown deepens. He speaks slowly like he is talking to a child. "Open the door."
An older man's voice interrupts his reasonable demand, placing a restraining hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hold on Clark." The gruff man says to the boy before turning his attention over to the dominant figure in the room. "Excuse me. I don't think I appreciate you talking to my son like that."
"I don't care what you appreciate nor do I have the time to stand here and banter with you about petty nonsense. I have important things to do so please step back and continue to amble away your pathetic life while I continue to live mine" Feeling satisfied that enough has been said to silence the man Lionel turns his attention back to Clark attempting to bargain with him. "Young man how much do I need to pay you in order to get you to open that door?"
"Why do you want me to get inside of Lex's office?" The boy's voice sounds innocent enough, although there is a slight undertone that hints at a protective suspicion.
Lionel grunts in frustration, giving the inquisitive youth a hateful glare. "Never mind. You are useless. Ill do it myself."
Casually, Lionel selects a silver napkin dispenser from the cluttered counter top. Holding it in his hand for a short moment, Lionel measures the weight and diameter in his mind, in much the same way a skilled wine tester will hold the valuable liquid in his mouth, judging the taste. Then in one swift movement the metal box is thrown through the glass panel embedded in the door of Lex's office. The sound of the glass breaking and scattering across the floor is extremely sudden and resounding in the now silent room.
Cautiously, Lionel reaches through the hole avoiding the razor sharp obstacles in his path. In seconds he has the lock undone and the door opened. Turning Lionel gives his audience a look that says in no uncertain terms that no one is to follow him. With out a word he turns and disappears into his son's office.
Just as Lionel expected, his son is in the room. Lex is lying on an obscenely expensive sofa he had purchased on his first day in Smallville. Lionel easily recognizes the couch. He also unfortunately recognizes the needle and white powder set so ominously next to his son. The pinprick sized track marks that sporadically line his son's arms are painfully familiar as well.
Lionel feels his stomach lurch. An uncharacteristic fear grips his mind spreading quickly through out his body. Lionel's breath catches in his throat. He holds it for a long moment before regaining the ability to exhale. Stepping towards his son, Lionel disproves the widely held theory that he has no heart when suddenly he feels is breaking.
Looking down at his son's pale skin and vacant eyes Lionel's expression is cold and observant. The stony look does not reach his eyes though. Lionel gazes down at his son with tender parental eyes. All he ever wanted for his son was for him to be the best. He needed to be tough to drive Lex, to keep him motivated and disciplined. He never meant for it to come to this.
Reaching out Lionel lightly slaps his son's face speaking his name. "Alexander."
Lex stirs slightly, a small groan escaping his relaxed lips. Lionel's heart flutters with relief. "Alexander, wake up. Can you walk?" Lionel shakes his son's body gently, nudging him conscious.
Lex shifts to his side, his arm lazily slapping his father away. "Fuck." is all he says.
"Come on, Lex. We need to get you home."
Lex's reaction is to curl up into a small defensive ball, his arms wrapped around his head. Lionel feels a bolt of sympathy rack his body, which quickly leads to guilt. He tries to sub merge these emotions. Emotion leads to weakness. Weakness leads to failure. Lionel can't tolerate failure. Love makes him weak. His son makes him weak. Lionel needs to be extra hard around him to compensate.
"Lex you need to see a doctor. You're sick. Let me help you."
"No" Lex moans as if he is putting all his energy into the single syllable. He retracts further into a fetal position.
Lionel loathes the fact that his son grew up to hate him. They were supposed to be partners, ruling the world together as father and son. It seems he must have messed up somewhere along the way. Somehow instead of raising an exact likeness of himself he has turned his son into a confused misery junkie, starved for affection. If only he could do things differently Lionel wonders if he would. Could having a weak son be worth having a son that loved him?
"We are leaving now Lex."
"No. I cant." Lex replies in a soft whisper. His breath is very shallow and ragged, his lips are bent down in a frown. Obviously the most pained expression Lex can muster in his current state of mind.
"Why not?" Lionel attempts to remove all traces or worry from his voice but his eyes are still glassy with concern.
"I failed you. I am not good enough. Just let me die." Lex laughs. A twisted, low, unamused sound, that slowly turns into a low groan.
Lex's words strike Lionel like a shot through his heart. Uncontrolled tears well up in his eyes. The first tears he has felt burning beneath his lids in a very long time. Lionel lets the tears slip freely from his eyes, dripping down, splashing against his son's pained expression.
"That's not true." He chokes wondering if his son will remember his words tomorrow. Whether Lex remembers tomorrow or not, one thing is for sure. Lionel will never forget the look of happiness that is spread across his son's face at this moment.
Unrolling Lex's jacket sleeve, Lionel hides his son's addiction from the outside world. He tells himself its because he does not need the bad press. Grabbing Lex's briefcase, Lionel quickly stashes the incriminating evidence in the combination locked enclosure before reaching down and scooping his son up into his arms. Lex struggles in vain to free himself from his father's grasp. Lex's movements are slow and weak. He lacks the strength at this moment to ward off a kitten but his moot resistance is enough to make Lionel pause in his movement.
Lionel may have failed his son his whole life but he was not going to fail him now, weakness be damned. He would have plenty of time in the future to regret this action. Looking down at his son Lionel speaks in a very serious tone. "Alexander, You need to come with me now. Stop fighting me and trust me. I love you."
Lex's body freezes. All movements save for the faint beat of his heart pause. Then his son's body relaxes into his arms, no longer struggling. Looking down at Lex's face Lionel watches his son's small tears streaming down his face, mingling with his own. For once Lionel doesn't make his son get rid of the tears, the most obvious sign of weakness, as he has made him do so many times in the past.
Lionel carries his son out through the crowd. Lex's limp body is cradled close to his chest. He ignores the shocked, confused expression on the patron's faces, his expression responding with no emotion save the intimidating look that reflects in his eyes. Surprisingly Lionel notes a few faces actually showing signs of true concern. Lionel notes those faces. He will remember them and maybe tomorrow he will tell Lex that he does not have to level this pit. Maybe.
Lionel does not feel shame as he carries his son through the parted room. He walks with his head up high, his posture perfect. Lex is a Luthor and his heir. He has nothing to be ashamed of. Lionel will continue to sculpt his son to be the perfect leader of the free world. Only maybe in the future he will be a little less merciless. Maybe.
Maybe
The noisy coffee shop suddenly becomes very silent. In-depth conversations halt, employee's stop working, mouths cease to chew as the surprised customers shift their collective gaze to the entrance of the cozy building. All eyes are focused on the new comer. The infamous man standing in the doorway easily ignores their stares.
Lionel Luthor walks briskly into the Talon. The look on the powerful mans face is determined as he moves deliberately across the crowded room. Long strides quickly take him to the corner of the building. People scatter as he hastily approaches the isolated door to his son's office. Testing the doorknob Lionel quickly assesses what he had already guessed. The door is locked.
"Lex, Let me in!" Lionel barks at the lettered glass. Fearing his words are lost on deaf ears, Lionel sighs, narrowing his eyelids to scowl at the door in frustration.
Turning to the young lady behind the counter Lionel prepares to question her. His eyes dart to the waitress's chest. Her nametag reads Lana. He recognizes the name. She's the one who talked his son into this place. He already hates her. "Lana do you have a key to my sons office?"
The waitress's jaw drops. Lionel Luthor just rolls his eyes at the girls bewildered expression. "Keys?" he repeats, exasperated. Lana just blinks her big doe eyes at him. Lionel quickly dismisses her with an annoyed wave, her presence has already been forgotten.
Lionel has not seen or heard from his son all day. They were supposed to have a meeting earlier but he never showed. None of his business associates seem to have any idea where Lex has gone, but Lionel *knows* his son. He understands his habits. Lionel can easily predict his offspring's movements with calculated precision. Lex is an open book to him. His motivations are simple. Lex was upset so he went to a place where he feels safe. For some reason, beyond Lionel's ability to comprehend, Lex feels at home in this seedy little dump.
Lionel Luthor recalls the argument he had had with his son last night. Ironically this old building was a large part of the problem. Lionel had become quite irate when he had learned where a large portion of the depleted funds in Lex's accounts had been siphoned off too. Apparently Lex had been investing in a lot of the smaller businesses around Smallville. Lex had defended himself aptly, stating that every one of the business ventures was thriving and that they were all pulling in profit.
Lionel recalled sighing at his son's words, gripping Lex's shoulders in his hands. His reply had been stinging. "Lex, you are an idiot. I don't know what these kids are doing to your mind but what you are saying to me is complete bullshit and you know it. If you had turned that damned theater into a parking lot you could be making double the profit right now! Those fucking kids are seducing you. You're letting them strip you of your good senses. You think they like you? They just see you as some freak rich boy to be exploited. Now, I want that building leveled and turned into a parking lot. Do you understand?"
Lionel recalled the pain, obvious in his son's eyes. He could actually see Lex's heart break, and it made him happy to witness it. Lionel smiled at his son during that moment, with full knowledge that heartbreak was the quickest way to make a person cold and distant. With all the heartbreak Lex has endured over the years his heart should be a lot harder by now Lionel mused. His son was growing soft.
Scowling at the ambiance of the Talon Lionel does not have time to register his complete disgust before he focuses his mind back on his task. Scanning the room he searches the sea of faces for someone who might know how to pick a lock. Surely one of these little hooligans possesses the skill. His gaze falls on a young man. Something about him looks familiar, but Lionel doesn't have time to attempt to recall where he might have seen this dark- haired farm boy before. Narrowing his eyes at the youth Lionel commands. "Open this door right now."
The dumb kid just blinks in surprise. Stupidity is obviously a requirement for admittance into this place, like a suit and tie are essential in all the places he frequents. Lionels's impatient frown deepens. He speaks slowly like he is talking to a child. "Open the door."
An older man's voice interrupts his reasonable demand, placing a restraining hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hold on Clark." The gruff man says to the boy before turning his attention over to the dominant figure in the room. "Excuse me. I don't think I appreciate you talking to my son like that."
"I don't care what you appreciate nor do I have the time to stand here and banter with you about petty nonsense. I have important things to do so please step back and continue to amble away your pathetic life while I continue to live mine" Feeling satisfied that enough has been said to silence the man Lionel turns his attention back to Clark attempting to bargain with him. "Young man how much do I need to pay you in order to get you to open that door?"
"Why do you want me to get inside of Lex's office?" The boy's voice sounds innocent enough, although there is a slight undertone that hints at a protective suspicion.
Lionel grunts in frustration, giving the inquisitive youth a hateful glare. "Never mind. You are useless. Ill do it myself."
Casually, Lionel selects a silver napkin dispenser from the cluttered counter top. Holding it in his hand for a short moment, Lionel measures the weight and diameter in his mind, in much the same way a skilled wine tester will hold the valuable liquid in his mouth, judging the taste. Then in one swift movement the metal box is thrown through the glass panel embedded in the door of Lex's office. The sound of the glass breaking and scattering across the floor is extremely sudden and resounding in the now silent room.
Cautiously, Lionel reaches through the hole avoiding the razor sharp obstacles in his path. In seconds he has the lock undone and the door opened. Turning Lionel gives his audience a look that says in no uncertain terms that no one is to follow him. With out a word he turns and disappears into his son's office.
Just as Lionel expected, his son is in the room. Lex is lying on an obscenely expensive sofa he had purchased on his first day in Smallville. Lionel easily recognizes the couch. He also unfortunately recognizes the needle and white powder set so ominously next to his son. The pinprick sized track marks that sporadically line his son's arms are painfully familiar as well.
Lionel feels his stomach lurch. An uncharacteristic fear grips his mind spreading quickly through out his body. Lionel's breath catches in his throat. He holds it for a long moment before regaining the ability to exhale. Stepping towards his son, Lionel disproves the widely held theory that he has no heart when suddenly he feels is breaking.
Looking down at his son's pale skin and vacant eyes Lionel's expression is cold and observant. The stony look does not reach his eyes though. Lionel gazes down at his son with tender parental eyes. All he ever wanted for his son was for him to be the best. He needed to be tough to drive Lex, to keep him motivated and disciplined. He never meant for it to come to this.
Reaching out Lionel lightly slaps his son's face speaking his name. "Alexander."
Lex stirs slightly, a small groan escaping his relaxed lips. Lionel's heart flutters with relief. "Alexander, wake up. Can you walk?" Lionel shakes his son's body gently, nudging him conscious.
Lex shifts to his side, his arm lazily slapping his father away. "Fuck." is all he says.
"Come on, Lex. We need to get you home."
Lex's reaction is to curl up into a small defensive ball, his arms wrapped around his head. Lionel feels a bolt of sympathy rack his body, which quickly leads to guilt. He tries to sub merge these emotions. Emotion leads to weakness. Weakness leads to failure. Lionel can't tolerate failure. Love makes him weak. His son makes him weak. Lionel needs to be extra hard around him to compensate.
"Lex you need to see a doctor. You're sick. Let me help you."
"No" Lex moans as if he is putting all his energy into the single syllable. He retracts further into a fetal position.
Lionel loathes the fact that his son grew up to hate him. They were supposed to be partners, ruling the world together as father and son. It seems he must have messed up somewhere along the way. Somehow instead of raising an exact likeness of himself he has turned his son into a confused misery junkie, starved for affection. If only he could do things differently Lionel wonders if he would. Could having a weak son be worth having a son that loved him?
"We are leaving now Lex."
"No. I cant." Lex replies in a soft whisper. His breath is very shallow and ragged, his lips are bent down in a frown. Obviously the most pained expression Lex can muster in his current state of mind.
"Why not?" Lionel attempts to remove all traces or worry from his voice but his eyes are still glassy with concern.
"I failed you. I am not good enough. Just let me die." Lex laughs. A twisted, low, unamused sound, that slowly turns into a low groan.
Lex's words strike Lionel like a shot through his heart. Uncontrolled tears well up in his eyes. The first tears he has felt burning beneath his lids in a very long time. Lionel lets the tears slip freely from his eyes, dripping down, splashing against his son's pained expression.
"That's not true." He chokes wondering if his son will remember his words tomorrow. Whether Lex remembers tomorrow or not, one thing is for sure. Lionel will never forget the look of happiness that is spread across his son's face at this moment.
Unrolling Lex's jacket sleeve, Lionel hides his son's addiction from the outside world. He tells himself its because he does not need the bad press. Grabbing Lex's briefcase, Lionel quickly stashes the incriminating evidence in the combination locked enclosure before reaching down and scooping his son up into his arms. Lex struggles in vain to free himself from his father's grasp. Lex's movements are slow and weak. He lacks the strength at this moment to ward off a kitten but his moot resistance is enough to make Lionel pause in his movement.
Lionel may have failed his son his whole life but he was not going to fail him now, weakness be damned. He would have plenty of time in the future to regret this action. Looking down at his son Lionel speaks in a very serious tone. "Alexander, You need to come with me now. Stop fighting me and trust me. I love you."
Lex's body freezes. All movements save for the faint beat of his heart pause. Then his son's body relaxes into his arms, no longer struggling. Looking down at Lex's face Lionel watches his son's small tears streaming down his face, mingling with his own. For once Lionel doesn't make his son get rid of the tears, the most obvious sign of weakness, as he has made him do so many times in the past.
Lionel carries his son out through the crowd. Lex's limp body is cradled close to his chest. He ignores the shocked, confused expression on the patron's faces, his expression responding with no emotion save the intimidating look that reflects in his eyes. Surprisingly Lionel notes a few faces actually showing signs of true concern. Lionel notes those faces. He will remember them and maybe tomorrow he will tell Lex that he does not have to level this pit. Maybe.
Lionel does not feel shame as he carries his son through the parted room. He walks with his head up high, his posture perfect. Lex is a Luthor and his heir. He has nothing to be ashamed of. Lionel will continue to sculpt his son to be the perfect leader of the free world. Only maybe in the future he will be a little less merciless. Maybe.