(For disclaimer, etc - see chapter 1)
CHAPTER 4
"Lex!" Chloe called, hurrying into the office. She had been in the elevator when she heard a gun shot and she had moved as quickly as possible to see what was going on.
"Chloe" Lex greeted from behind his desk, "I thought you were shopping"
"Lex, what's going on? I thought I heard a gun-shot" she rushed out, moving toward the desk.
"Chloe, it's okay" he assured, getting up and coming over to hug her, "I just took care of some business"
"Business?" she echoed, pulling back in his arms, "Business with a gun, that has to mean Clark"
"No Chloe" he shook his head and moved away from her, "it means Superman, and a Superman that should no longer be a threat to us" he explained, holding up the gun for her to see.
"You shot him with the red kryptonite?" Chloe guessed and he nodded in reply.
"And I have the green one in the drawer, just in case" he told her, moving to pour himself a drink, "but like I said, we shouldn't need it, we should be safe now"
"Guess again, Luthor" said a strong voice from the balcony. Far from calming the man of steel, the red kryptonite seemed to have made him much more of a danger than he ever was before. He stood just beyond the open French doors, wearing his Superman costume and cape, the hole visible almost exactly in the centre of his S where the bullet had passed. It glowed bright red just inside of him and that was where Chloe's eyes were drawn.
"Clark" she breathed and he smiled, almost maniacally.
"Chloe, I thought you might be here by now" he almost laughed as he came inside.
"What do you want Superman?" Lex said coolly.
"Just thought I'd return a favour" the man replied, walking around the desk. Chloe backed up, scared by the evil look and sickly red glow behind his eyes. She walked right around the desk and Clark let her move since he had his sights set on Lex.
"What are you going to do?" Chloe asked, a shake in her voice.
"Well, Lex here was kind enough to eliminate my morals for me, with this little piece of my home" he said, pointing to the shining bullet in his chest, "And I thought, how can I repay my friend for all he's done for me..." he trailed off, producing a gun from beneath his cape and levelling it at Lex, who almost dropped the glass in his hand.
"What's the matter Lex?" he asked with a smile, "The great Lex Luthor isn't scared is he?"
"Clark, please, don't" Chloe begged as Lex stood completely still, the gun pointed at his chest.
"Why shouldn't I?" Clark asked, not even turning to look at her. He didn't see her hand slip into the desk drawer and take out her own weapon.
"Because if you do, I'll use this" she announced, levelling a gun at Superman and feeling all manner of feelings as she did it. She swallowed hard as Clark glanced between her and the man she was almost certain now she loved.
"Chloe, that can't hurt me" the man of steel pointed out, but she shook her head as tears came to her eyes. Lex dared to explain.
"That gun had kryptonite bullets in it" he said slowly, allowing a small grin to appear on his face, "the green kind, so it can kill you just as easily as the gun in your hands could kill me"
For a moment there was silence. Everyone's mind went into over-drive. Clark began to wonder what he was doing. He would reason he was doing what was best for a second but then he would feel conflicted. At the same time the red glow in his chest started to flicker - the power of the red rock was dying.
Chloe wondered what she was doing. The primary thought in her mind was that Lex must be saved but she really didn't want to have to kill Clark despite all Lex had told her he'd done wrong.
Lex hid the panic he had felt admirably and now he felt safer knowing that Chloe had the one weapon that was fatal to Superman. His only worry was whether she would be able to use it in time. He should have been worrying about something else entirely.
"Why do you think I'm doing this Chloe?" Clark asked he woman.
"Because you're crazy" she answered immediately, "You lied to me and you threatened Lex and now you want him dead - you're unhinged"
Clark kept his eyes on Lex.
"Tell her the truth" he said quietly, and when Lex didn't say a word he raised his voice, "Tell her the truth or we all die"
Chloe had been right when she said Clark was crazy, right now he was infected and he was effectively crazy, but he had not done all the things he'd been accused of.
"Superman never threatened me, not the way I told you" Lex admitted, momentarily looking away from Clark and over at Chloe. The blonde woman felt sick.
"You lied to me?" she said quietly, tears running down her cheeks.
"I lied to you" Lex admitted.
Chloe thought she was going to pass out, but the gun never lost it's deadly position in her hands, aimed at Clark's chest. The shock of finding out all the things she believed for so long were lies, that the man she loved had lied to her as well as her best friend. She blinked hard and pulled herself up tall.
"Tell me why I shouldn't just let him shoot you" she choked out and Clark smiled evilly. Lex swallowed hard before he replied, looking straight at Chloe now.
"Because I'm sorry, more than I ever have been in my life and because...I love you"
If nothing else was to be believed, Chloe did believe that Lex loved her. The look in his eyes, the tone of his voice, it was true - she just knew it. He would not have done all he had for her if he didn't feel something for her and she did know that she loved him too.
"I love you too" she admitted and Clark faked putting his fingers down his throat.
"Please, shut up" he gagged, "how can you love him after what he's done?"
"Because I know he loves me too and if he has done wrong it has been for me" she said through further tears, "and he's not the only one who lied to me" she said coolly.
Clark's eyes shone in a final burst of power from the red rock inside of him.
"Enough of this game" he announced, levelling the gun at Lex once more and taking aim.
"No!" Chloe screamed as the bullet left the gun and entered the man's chest.
