Title: Waiting (1/1)
Author: Hidden Willow
Email: willow4614@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Pairing: L/L
Summary: Lex and Lana keep each other company as they wait.
Note 1: Post- Obscura. Everything afterwards never happened.
Note 2: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.


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Lana looked at the entrance to the restaurant for the second time in the past minute. Drumming her fingers against the table in anxiety, she wondered how Clark had dragged her into this.

He had convinced everybody, namely Lex, Chloe, and herself, that the Talon's increasing success against the Beanery was something to celebrate. Though, in her opinion it was just his way of trying to get his friends closer together. After all, he was the pretty much the only reason the other three came into contact with each other at all.

So there she was, dressed in a simple pale blue dress, when all she could think about was the hollow ring to the word celebration. She had played dirty, gone to the mattresses as Lex had said, to get the Talon back to normal.

Winning was nothing new. She had a bottom drawer filled with flimsy awards, buttons, and prizes to prove it. What was new was fighting fire with fire. Not exactly how she had lead her life so far. But now the new idea of fighting for what you wanted had gained merit.

A lesson she had learned too late, she thought morosely as she watched her shaky reflection in the water of her glass. It wasn't just fighting, it was taking risks. Lana Lang was not a risk taker. Risks meant uncertainty and there was a feeling of comfort, of security, that went along with playing it safe. Something she had become extremely attached to. But it's also what kept her at bay her whole life. That was why Clark would be arriving with Chloe.

Putting her fidgety hands flat against the table, she wondered how she was going to survive this dinner. She just had to get past her feelings. She could do that. She knew how to do that.

Looking up at the entrance again, an uneasiness spread in her stomach as she meet the same empty space. Letting out a heavy sigh, she got up. The others were barely five minutes late, but that wasn't the issue. If she left right now maybe she could miss the whole evening. A simple excuse, either something involving her aunt or Whitney, would explain her absence. No one would question that.

No one would know. Except for her. She would know what a coward she was for not being able to face two of her friends being happy. She had had that chance, but passed it by. Why? Why couldn't she be happy? The question left her with a familiar feeling of doubt as she heard a familiar voice call out to her. Looking up apprehensively, she found Lex had just arrived.

She watched silently as he walked towards her. Her eyes focused at the point to his right, the entrance looking farther and farther away with each step.

"Leaving already? I'm not that late am I?" The light danced across his eyes in amusement as he watched her standing there, out of place.

Pulling herself together, she replied softly, "I thought no one was going to show up." Her eyes looked at him sharply as she waited for him to call her on her lie.

"Well, I'm here now," he said pulling out her seat as though they met up for dinner every night. Smiling politely, she sat down.

"So how's Whitney?" he began conversationally as he sat beside her.

"He's doing pretty good considering," she nodded her head.

"Well, he does have you."

"Yeah," she smiled sadly at the thought.

"You were there for him in his darkest hour. I don't think anyone could expect more," he said knowingly.

"An expert are you?"

"I know a few things."

"None of which include my relationship with Whitney," she said defensively.

"I know you," he stated simply. Seeing her eyebrows rise up at his bold statement, he added, "Moderately, anyway. I know enough to say the prospect of dinner this evening is making you uncomfortable."

"Why would I be uncomfortable?" Her hand naturally drifted up to the glass of water as she asked. Her eyes closed as she took a slow sip, quietly hoping he would drop it.

He either didn't notice or care about her unwillingness to talk as he pushed on. "Clark is with Chloe, not you."

"And I'm with Whitney," her voice hoarse against his name. "So?"

"It's like the tables have turned, isn't it? But Clark didn't let Whitney stop him."

"Didn't he?" she asked honestly.

"The only thing that stopped him was you. You weren't willing to take a chance and drop the trophy boyfriend and go after what you wanted."

"I was never after-" Her head swiftly turned to face him, but her angry words fell away as she saw that he wasn't trying to antagonize her. What she saw was interest, maybe even concern. He wanted to understand or make her understand. She wasn't sure.

"The moment passed. Clark and I-- nothing is going to happen. It's too late. He's with Chloe and they are very happy. And I'm glad. I couldn't expect him to--" she paused, caught up in emotion for a moment. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she ended firmly, "He's happy."

He nodded his head in understanding. She didn't want anyone to get hurt. It was commendable, but ultimately all it would do was get herself hurt.

Thankful that he was letting it go, she lowered her eyes to the table. The pattern on the table cloth became extremely interesting as she let the image burn into her mind. A wavering fingertip gently traced the sweeping lines and swirls as they sat in silence for a few minutes.

"I hear she's going away to Metropolis over the summer," he announced casually.

Lana shook her head in disbelief. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm just saying it's not over," he offered up as if it was a small comfort.

"Is there something you have against Chloe?"

"I like Chloe. She's just not the right girl."

"That isn't for you to decide. Though, the way you're involved in Clark's dating life, it looks like you both don't know it."

"Just helping him out," he said dismissively, taking a sip of water.

"A few favors from Lex Luthor isn't going to get him whichever girl he wants."

He put down his glass and turned to her with a slightly self-deprecating smirk, "Clearly."

"What I meant was--"

"I know what you meant. I don't need to do these things for him. I want to see him happy, too."

She looked at him, a question at the tip of her tongue before she thought better of it. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Go ahead. Ask," he said leaning comfortably into his seat.

"Alright," she agreed, straightening up in her chair. "What makes you think I'm better for him than Chloe? What makes me so special?"

"Lana Lang and special are synonymous. Didn't you know that?" he teased.

"Are you going by popular opinion or do you actually have a basis for this?"

"Popular opinion never meant much to me. I'm going by my opinion and I have to say I'm a pretty good job of character. I need to be so trust me."

"I'm not perfect," she protested. She barely felt like a decent human being with the guilt she was carrying.

"Perfection is seldom interesting," he asserted.

"Don't you strive for perfection?"

"I strive for excellence. So just think how highly that speaks of the company I keep," he grinned.

"You're about to have dinner with a bunch of highschool kids," she said pointedly.

"Highschool kids that are more honest, more real, and more original than the people I deal with on a daily basis."

"Doesn't sound like you think very highly of the people you work with. So what does that say about you?" she asked playfully.

"Why don't you tell me?"

"What?"

"What do you think about me?"

She felt slightly taken aback by his question. "I- I don't know. One thing I am sure of is that you're not the image of Lex Luthor I've had since I was a kid."

"Yeah, these days I rarely go skinny dipping," he smiled widely causing her to smile in return.

It was one of those rare, genuine smiles that hardly ever saw the light of day. Lana thought it was odd that being in her company could made him feel comfortable enough to be that open.

Getting her focus back to the topic, she said wryly, "I also think you're a good friend to Clark. Maybe, sometimes too good." Knowing he wanted a more serious answer, she began thoughtfully, "I think you're..."

"What?"

"Trapped?" It came out unintentionally as a question as she looked up at him, her eyes slightly brighter than they had been a moment ago. Finding no telltale expression on his face, she elaborated, "Trapped by what people think of. Expect of you. It's almost impossible to get out it. Get past the image."

"Sounds like something you know about," he remarked in a deceptively casual tone.

"Maybe," her response noncommittal.

"At least your image is a good one."

"All that means is I'll eventually slip up and disappointment everyone," she said dejected.

"For what it's worth, I don't see how that's possible."

"It's worth a lot. Thank you."

"Thank you for getting past the standard Smallville mentality. For the most part anyway. You are still a bit suspicious of me." He took another sip of his water as she looked at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"You think I have a hidden agenda," he said matter-of-factly.

"You're going to have to be more specific if you want me to have any idea what you're talking about."

"Why do you think I helped you out with the Talon?"

"It's a good investment. Hopefully. It's been doing good so far," she answered innocently.

"That's it?"

"Well, being friends with Clark was certainly in my favor. Probably suckered you into it, didn't he?" she joked.

"I can't expect you to remember, but when you were 'under the influence'--"

"Oh god. Not that day again. Did I say something incredibly stupid or offensive?"

"It was actually rather enjoyable to see you so candid. Plus, there's all that blackmail potential. And they said I'd never find dirt on Lana."

She tried to smile at that, but couldn't seem to get past what she might have said or done. He hadn't brought it up before now, but it had obviously been on his mind. "So what did I say?" she asked hesitantly.

"You insinuated my intentions were less than pure when it came to helping you out. All in all not the first time I was accused of being a playboy..."

"That's why you think--"

"That your opinions haven't changed by much," he finished for her.

"It's not that. Really. I did a lot of crazy things that day. I think, whatever the flower's effects, it made me want to prove something."

"Prove what?"

"This is going to sound crazy, but I felt like I had to prove I was real. That I could be imperfect." She laughed at herself, feeling self- conscious for telling him so much. She was sure that had come out sounding ridiculous.

He was still taking in the words, a serious, thoughtful look on his face, as she felt herself detracting from it. "Though, who knows how much was the flower and how much was me, right?" As an afterthought, she added, "You know what would have been interesting? Seeing what you would have done if you have been infected."

Remembering Lana's uninhibited behavior, he let out a small laugh. "I'm sure it would have been interesting."

"I have to warn you, it's unsettling. The memory loss. Knowing there's a side of you other people know and you don't. And then there's the lovely benefit of a coma."

"I haven't had a good night's sleep in ages."

"So you're all set."

"And to boot my run would leave me open for plenty of blackmail."

"Without question. Don't worry. I would be as ladylike with your secrets as you were a gentlemen with mine."

"Good to know there's someone who wouldn't sell me out to the newspapers."

They looked at each other with genuine ease for the first time that evening just as Clark and Chloe made their way towards them.

Seeing them, Lex and Lana got up as they reached them. The tardy pair seemed to be in a good mood as they tried to stop laughing so they could give in a decent greeting and apology.

"Hey," Clark greeted.

"We're sorry we're so late," Chloe apologized.

"The Torch?" Lex guessed.

"Yeah. Problem after problem sprouted up. But we handled it. It's actually a pretty funny story," Chloe said as she looked up to Clark for agreement.

"Well, she didn't think it was very funny at the time. I thought she was going to throw her computer out the window."

"Was not. Anyway, I didn't know it would take so long or we would have called. Before I knew it we were late."

Lana shrugged. "It's no problem. It was just a few minutes."

"More like twenty," Chloe exclaimed.

"Lucky for me Lex isn't bad company." Lana offered a conspiratorial smile at him as she sat back down.

Lex seemed lost for a moment in her comment before he sat beside her.

Observing the exchange with scrutiny, Chloe turned to her new boyfriend for a reaction. He, however, didn't seem to notice anything unusual as they got into their seats.

"Hope you didn't order without us," Clark said, already looking for a waiter.

"He already knows what he wants," Chloe said amused.

It was with a sinking feeling that Lex realized he already knew what he wanted, too. She was sitting right next to him in a pale blue dress.


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