Disclaimer: See chapter one
A/N: Lex comes to the rescue, y'all!
Ch. 7
His Father's Shadow
Chloe didn't hear the door open and a figure rush in toward her. His scent assaulted her, but it seemed as though her body didn't want to obey the commands sent from her brain. She wanted to hug him, to feel safe in his arms, to bury her face in the crook of his neck and never let go. But something stirring in her bosom kept her away.
It was fear.
Like it or not, Lex was a Luthor and had the potential to become like or something worse than his father. He proved that to her today.
His hands on her face startled her from her stupor. He didn't say anything; he just pulled her close. She laid her head on his shoulder, staring at the door from where Lionel exited. Her mind began to replay the recent events that took place in this very room. Her throat stung and her knees were on fire. Hot tears fell from her eyes.
Lex felt a burning liquid roll down the sleeve of his shirt, the hot bitterness and pain sending chills down his spine as he clenched her tighter. He wasn't quite sure what went on in this room. When he had let his father take him away from her, he never imagined it would result in her crying.
At first glance, he noticed that her face was cherry red and it seemed in a way, swollen. His father was nothing close to a saint, but he even doubted that Lionel would actually hit her. The thought sent fire to the ends of Lex's fingertips. All he could see was red. Someone's hands on her violently made his heart fill with a hatred he hadn't experienced in many long years.
"Lex?" she asked, her voice broken. "I want to go home."
"What happened?" he asked, peering into those endless jade pools that seemed to have momentarily lost their fire.
She looked away in shame. Or was it fear? He couldn't tell. Either way, it was unsettling.
"Chloe, you can tell me. Honesty, remember," he said sincerely, brushing her hair from her shoulder and coiling it in his grip.
"I've sold my soul to the devil, Lex," she said, that despair and agony in her eyes shattering his heart, "and now it's my turn to burn in hell."
Whatever his father had done to her, he would surely pay. That, Lex, could promise.
"Hello, dad, how was your flight?" Lex asked, walking into his father's office later that afternoon. He had dropped Chloe off later that day after he calmed her down and now night had finally fell upon them.
"Quite well son," Lionel smiled gently. He knew Lex wasn't here to chitchat. "If this is about the Sullivan girl, say what you have to and be done with it," he huffed, taking a seat in leather armchair beside the crackling fireplace.
"Don't waste anytime do you dad?" Lex asked, his face falling into a dangerous frown. "Let's talk about the 'Sullivan girl,'" he said, taking a seat parallel to his father. "As you well know I haven't as much as looked at a woman since Helen betrayed me," he said, picking at the armrest. "And then you summoned Chloe to the mansion and I was worried that you were planning to corrupt the young lady, in more ways than one. But you know one thing I didn't plan on dad? Me actually coming to rely on her," he said rising to his feet and approaching Lionel like a lion stalking its chosen victim. His blue eyes were dark and the flame of the fire danced within his eyes. Even the bravest of men would have found his appearance menacing.
He encircled his father's chair and rested his arms on the headrest before him. Lionel did not turn to meet his gaze. "I don't appreciate you bruising that velvety pale skin of hers. That was your first mistake. Then when your hands clenched her tiny throat, squeezing that supple skin on her neck until tears ran from her eyes, it was something that I thought even you weren't capable of," he said, his knuckles cracking as he paused quickly.
His footsteps rounded and he was facing Lionel, his hands on the armrests, keeping him pinned to the chair. "As a child I hated when you bothered what belonged to me," he said in a whisper, "and as an adult, not much has changed. So let me tell you this, if you so much as harm a hair on that perfect little hair head of hers, I will dismantle this company and you, piece by piece," he said, and violently gripping the chair, he lifted it toward the fire place.
Lionel fell to the ground, scraping his head violently against the hardwood floor, his glasses flying off his face and toward the dancing flames. The glass burst from the heat and raked across his face roughly.
Lex was on him within seconds, his hands grabbing Lionel's full head of hair and dragging him toward the crackling flames. He raised his head and pushed it toward the fire. Lionel cried out as he felt the hot flames lick his ear. Lex crouched behind him, still holding him over the glowing grate.
"Touch her, harm her, cause her any kind of pain, and I will hunt you and down and before the end you will beg for death," he growled pushing his father's head into the flame.
"LEX!" his Father cried in agony.
"Remember my last," he said, almost silently, as he slammed Lionel's head into the stone surface before the frolicking flames, leaving an unconscious, burned and bloodied Lionel Luthor, to face the long dark alone.
"Chloe?" asked Lex, as she opened the door to her home. Three days after the incident, he couldn't help but notice she still looked near death.
"Lex," she whispered, walking forward and enveloping him in her arms. His heart danced at her action as he kissed the soft curls settled atop her head. "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked, grinning, as she pulled him inside and closed the door. "What happened to your father was no accident I'm sure."
"It could just have well been," he said, as he felt her fingers brush against his arms as she removed his suit jacket. "What makes you think it wasn't?"
She gave him an exasperated look and smiled. It was the first time she smiled in three days. "Lionel had glass shards stuck in his face, a concussion and second and third degree burns on the right side of his head. There is no way that could have been an accident."
"Apparently not. But it's no less than he deserved after what he did to you." He paused. "I'm surprised you're not angry."
"Why would I be angry?"
"I thought you would view what I did as… well… morbid."
"I do, Lex," she said, her facing falling in thought. "But I in a way I find it surprisingly, refreshing."
"Please elaborate, Miss Sullivan," he said playfully as she led him toward the couch and they both sat.
"Well, it's nice. I'm not afraid anymore, I know you and that animal-like ferocity, will always be there to protect me."
"I would never let him hurt you, Chloe," he said, brushing his index finger across her cheek.
"I know Lex," she said, taking it in her hand and kissing the tip. "I know."
"What are we going to tell the news, Mr. Luthor?" asked Lionel's personal assistant as his private nurse wrapped his stinging cheek.
"Tell them nothing," he growled.
"And the girl?" asked the man.
"What about her?" asked Lionel darkly.
"Well I just assumed…"
"You assume too much. It would be too easy to physically hurt her. We must break her heart, piece by piece, until she is broken and helpless. Just like we did Lex with Helen. Then, she will die."
"But how…"
"She gave me some very important information on Clark Kent in this folder," he said, grinning and passing the folder to the man. It contained information on the meteor shower, Clark's adoption, and the proof that the two coincide. "Send this to the Kent's and the Ross', Gabe Sullivan, send it my to son, put one in Clark Kent's locker, out one in Miss Lang's and Mr. Ross. If I've learned anything, Charles, it is that emotional pain can be so much more painful than physical," he said, his grin becoming more evilly pronounced. "I will break you, Miss Sullivan."
"Your father's been awfully somber Lex, considering," she said, looking toward him as she squished herself more comfortably in his cushy office chair. "I mean it's been two weeks."
"I would hope that you aren't complaining, Chloe," he said, grinning, his eyes not leaving the depositions he was reading.
"No. More along the lines of worried," she said as she typed an article for the Torch gingerly on the new notebook Lex had bought for her.
She had earnestly asked him not to buy it, but he kept telling her that he wanted to and that she would need one eventually and that it boosted his ego to spoil her. In the end, she gave in.
They had spent the last two weeks together every day. He would never miss a chance to see her. Although this house held many painful memories, she found that Lex's gentle smile could brighten up any one of these rooms.
They hadn't kissed since the first time and she secretly longed for the caress of his lips against hers. She didn't push it. Lex had been hurt and she wasn't going to force him into something he wasn't ready for.
"Are you listening to me, Chloe?" he asked, the faraway look on her face replaced by a sheepish grin.
"Honestly no Lex, I wasn't, forgive me. What were you saying?"
"I was saying," he said loudly, as if to make sure he heard her, "That I could use some coffee right about now. Would you like to join me on a ride to the Talon?"
"Lex," she said looking pointedly at him smiling, "do you even have to ask?"
"Go order for us, you *know* how much I hate talking to Lana," she whined, as he settled himself in the seat across from her.
"Yes ma'am," he said sarcastically.
"And when you get back, sit next to me, I promise not to bite!" she called after his retreating form.
"Where's Miss Lang?" he asked the redhead behind the counter.
"She said something important came up and that she would be in shortly. What can I get you, sir?"
"Two large lattes will be all," he said.
"Right away sir."
"Lana's not even here, you had me walk up there for nothing," said Lex, settling himself next to Chloe. He watched excitedly as she sneaked her arms into the inside of his jacket. He raised his eyebrow while gleefully looking down at her smiling face. 'God, she's beautiful.'
"My arms were cold," she said innocently.
"Sure they were," he commented dryly, his hand wrapping around her neck to place his fingers her golden locks that dangled past her shoulders.
"They were, Lex," she said, seriously.
"Uh huh," he said, pulling her closer as she buried her face in his chest, grinning stupidly. "Don't do that, it tickles," he said, she nipped gently on his chest.
"Really?" she asked playfully, smirking, her eyes alight. "You should not have told me that, Lex."
"Uh, probably not," he said.
"Two lattes, sir," said the waitress, as she placed the steaming cups on the table.
"Thank you," said Chloe, her voice muffled against Lex's chest; he laughed.
"Yes, thank you, uh Morgan," he said, eyeing the girls nametag.
"She's cute," said Chloe, looking to him as the girl pranced away.
"I suppose."
"Do you think she's cute?"
"No."
"Liar. I saw you checking her out," she growled into his chest.
"The hell you didn't," he laughed.
"Are you calling me blind?" she smirked more deeply.
"If the shoe fits. Besides, I was too busy thinking how cute you were to even notice her."
"Oh, really?" she asked, raising her head eye level with his.
"Yes, really," he said, licking his lips. His eyes fluttered as he leant toward her parted lips….
Something hard hit their table, interrupting them before they could seal their kiss.
"What the hell-" he roared. "Oh hello, Clark," he said, his features softening. Chloe continued to glare at him. 'Always when I am verging on actually being happy here comes farm boy, faster than a speeding bullet.' "You dropped something, rather roughly in fact."
Clark said nothing as he glared at Chloe, Pete, and Lana in his wake. Lana looked as if she had been crying, and both Clark and Pete looked enraged. Followed not far behind, were the Kent's and her father.
Gabe pushed his way forward and reached for Chloe across Lex. Lex quickly slid out of the seat as Chloe, pulled by the force of her father, quickly followed.
"Jesus, dad, break my arms why don't you," she said loudly. She felt hands on her shoulder and at the warmth spreading through her body, she realized they were Lex's.
"So where's the fire?" she asked, wrenching her arm from her father's grip.
He stepped toward her slowly. "Don't. Say. A word," he growled.
"Whoa, there dad, you're starting to scare me," she said, backing up, noting the fire in his eyes. He had never looked at her the way that he presently was. The way they all were.
"What's going on, Gabe?" Lex asked calmly, stepping in between Chloe and her father.
"I suggest you leave, Mr. Luthor. This is between us and Chloe, it's none of your business."
"Well, you're making it my business," he said, stepping toward Gabe. "What's going on?"
"Ask Chloe," Clark said finally speaking, his voice dripping the bitter hint of… betrayal.
Chloe swayed and fell into her seat. This is why Lionel had been so quiet. They knew what she had been doing. They all did. Clark knew what she had done. They all did, staring at her with their unforgiving eyes. Her breath hitched in her throat. She searched for the right words.
As of now, Lionel Luthor had the upper hand.