Hey guys... it's been awhile, I know. But, here's a new fic for all those Lex/Lana fans, which unlike one of my other ones, will be updated consistently. Hope you folks like this future fic... and please don't refrain from reviewing, criticizing, complimenting, whatever you wish;)

The Other Side

Chapter 1

"I hurt myself today

To see if I still feel

I focus on the pain

The only thing that's real

The needle tears a hole

The old familiar sting

Try to kill it all away

But I remember everything..."

-Johnny Cash

Solitude was perhaps his only comfort. Away from the pestering noises of his daily life, his empire of dirt, of liars and artificial bustling bodies... just away from it all in his castle. He hated it; he despised that comfort came only through loneliness. Yet, it wasn't always like that. He could never forget. Only he and his enemy knew... and that was enough. Enough to give him reason, reason enough to hold infamy in his name and power in his hand. To give him solitude as a friend... to end his only thread of breath. He could never forget.

Lex Luthor wasn't always alone.

~*~

Three years earlier…

Sunrise was barely peaking. It always seemed to take longer in the city that enjoyed darkness and man's own artificial daylight. Although it was a dire change from the pale rose that invaded the sky as early as six in Smallville, Lex Luthor had already grown accustomed to the bleak mornings of Metropolis. He had long put away the memories of his days in the small town where he had seen his friends leave to better their lives elsewhere. It's not that he was left behind, for he, himself, had always been destined for Metropolis and wherever LuthorCorp would take him. Yet, in a sense he was left without his two intimate friends, Lana and Clark. Regardless of the fact that Clark was still in the same city, his journalist friend was too self-involved in his work. Not to mention, that a wedge was growing between the two as Clark continued to investigate his father's company.

And then, there was Lana.

Why the hell was he thinking about this… about her? Why this morning? He had enough to think about today, and taking a walk in memory lane wasn't a part of the agenda. Shaking off the shadow of nostalgia, he accelerated through the slightly empty streets of Metropolis and picked up his phone. He speed-dialed a number at his office, "Morales, when you get in, which you should have already considering that I pay you to be there at seven promptly… I need you to have Miles and Henderson folder on my desk. And, have my ten meeting moved to nine."

He put down the phone, simultaneously glancing at time on his car radio. In indigo light, the time brightly shone 6:23 AM. God, it was still early. Here he was screaming at his secretary and the clock hadn't even struck seven. His insomnia was taking a toll on his frame of mind. Caffeine would fix that.

Seeing as he had time, he turned onto a street leading towards his favorite coffee shop in the city. For some reason, Lex loved the shop's latte. It had a special taste that reminded him of something just as special as the sensation; he just couldn't put his finger on what it was. As he parked in front the coffee place, he stole a look at its name and slogan, "The Other Side. The stranger's coffee shop." It always intrigued him more so than the fact that the owner of the chain remained anonymous all throughout the country. He found it quite remarkable that the owner could even remain content in such anonymity. Sometimes he envied him. He could just imagine a middle-aged man, living far from the madness of daily life in some haven of peace where love wasn't far from him. Sometimes Lex wished it was him, but knew that destiny envisioned something grander for him. And he was fine with that… he was fine with the reality… sometimes.

As he briskly made his way to the front door, Lex attempted to open it but found that it was locked. "Great," he sighed in frustration. Of all days to pick, the one coffee shop which guaranteed to open at 6 AM sharply was closed for the day. Feeling as if today wasn't going to be his day, he struck the door with slight force as he turned around in aggravation of a bizarre morning of memories and oncoming onslaught of meetings and paperwork.

"Hey stranger," a voice from behind the door called, "If you wanted coffee that badly, you could've just knocked."

Frowning in surprise, he felt the familiarity of an old friend. Lex turned around quickly and met the graceful and memorable eyes of a soul he had long missed. Smiling in the fashion of a Luthor, that is confident and full of unadulterated mystery, he knocked.

She unlocked the door and without giving him chance to fill in a rebuttal, she wrapped her arms around him. "Lex," she sighed in happiness of the occasion.

His body instinctively stiffened at her lack of inhibition. He wasn't used to the natural warmth of some people, especially hers. In fact, he had always pulled away and more so with her… the one person who he knew could easily uncover the feelings he often pushed away. But the years that had passed had created a longing he had not known he harbored. Lex gave into her warmth and finally hugged her in return.

Only lasting for seconds, she recognized that familiar small gesture of his immersed in intimacy yet distance. Somehow he always managed to converge both. "I see you haven't changed, Lex," she indirectly mused at his reluctance to exhibit feelings that couldn't materialize into money or an object.

"I'd like to say the same," he finally spoke as he followed her inside. "But, I can't presume what I haven't seen in years."

She smiled as she glanced at him tenderly and grabbed a cup, "Surely, you can. It's the same old Lana Lang in the flesh. Actually, life is different… but I'm still the person you've always known only now I'm in a suit."

Looking at her carefully, he knew she was right. She hadn't changed. Lana was still breathtaking, and lightening and glorifying her aura was the attitude she carried. Although he still noticed the hidden melancholy, he felt that she had obtained a state of harmony in her life… something she had always attempted to grasp in Smallville. "I'm glad to know her again. It's been awhile since I've seen her," he grinned slyly. "Though, the Lana, you claim I still know, would have left a forwarding address after selling her half of the Talon. I wouldn't have suddenly just bumped into her in such a fashion as now."

"The disappearing act was necessary," she merely answered as she rummaged around the latte machine.

He perked an eyebrow, intrigued by her shortness. "Really?" He questioned, taming his persistency. "Tell me then, since when did invisibility become a necessity?"

"Since Smallville became a vacancy I no longer wished to fill," Lana handed him his latte. Avoiding eye contact, she picked up a suitcase and sat at a table near her inquisitive friend.

Turning towards the young woman who occupied herself with papers, he sat in front of her and urged her to be frank, "Let's delay the game of rhetoric for a while, Lana, and just fill in an old crony on your life. We may not be business partners anymore, but I always believed our confidentiality came from merely being friends."

Lana looked up, finding his eyes piercing through her own hazel orbs. It was difficult to refuse his request; it always was. Somehow, he had always managed indirectly and directly to break her facade. She both loved and hated him for that. "Alright," she nodded as she surrendered her pen onto the table. "What do you want to know, 'old crony?'"

"Everything," he smirked in victory.

Eyeing his smugness sternly, she divulged a past she often maintained to herself. "Everything," she repeated as she traveled through the yesteryears of memory. "Okay… well, after graduation, I knew there was nothing left for me in Smallville to do. And, Metropolis was something I wasn't ready to venture in. Honestly, I wasn't ready to venture into anything… not college, not the Talon, not business… and unfortunately, not love." Her eyes shifted tentatively towards his, almost in shame.

He caught her look, but chose to appear ignorant as he drank from his cup. "That's when you decided to disappear to Europe and just send your forgotten friends post cards."

"I didn't forget you," her voice was solemn, softly evoking conviction. A stare made of seconds seemed to lengthen in their minds only to be yielded by Lana as she cleared her throat, "Yes, I went to Europe—England to be exact after the backpacking—where I studied in Cambridge. I graduated with-"

"A business degree," Lex interjected with a smile.

Lana frowned, confused as to how he would've known. What was she thinking? This was Lex Luthor after all. "Yes… I owe it all to you, I guess. The whole Talon experience was something I enjoyed," she grinned in appreciation. "I assume this is what you actually want to know, however. After Cambridge, I decided to change my name and return to the States. I worked for a small company and saved enough to buy an old coffee shop. It did really well. Later, I convinced some big spenders to invest in my coffee place… and to make a long story short, a chain grew out of the original "Other Side" and with some market luck, I was the owner of all them."

"And now, you remain incognito," Lex added, hiding his amazement of her success. "I'm still wondering, however, why you continue to pull the disappearing act?"

She swallowed nervously, attempting to decide whether to continue or not. As she was about to allow jumbled words to slip, her phone rang loudly to disperse the intense silence. "Hello… I'll be there in a few minutes," Lana gratefully answered the call. Closing her cellphone, she brought her attention back to the present company. "I'm sorry, Lex… as much as I wish to continue our walk through memory lane, I have to go. Duty calls at seven," she rambled as she began picking up her paperwork. "You're more than welcome to stay. The door locks automatically so you needn't worry about that."

Grabbing her suitcase, she headed towards the door, trying determinedly to avoid any further questioning. She knew if they continued their conversation, it would only lead to something she had longed eluded. There were answers she needed to give… but in all honesty, wasn't ready. It had been seven years since she left Smallville, and she still wasn't ready.

Sensing this wasn't the time, nor the place, Lex simply sipped from his latte and with evident casualness called, "Lana."

Stopping her steps, she hesitantly directed her gaze to Lex.

"Have a nice day."

~*~

That night…

Metropolis after the sunset was the best part. It was probably the only reason she enjoyed the city at all. Of course, there was always the memory of him that seemed to accompany Metropolis's way of feeling alive, daring… free. And now, sitting outside in the penthouse's balcony, she couldn't help to replay their meeting in her head. It had been so many years since she had been in his presence and still, he managed to conjure some old, unforgettable feelings. But the years had given her enough time to secure away the past somewhere in the reigns of her mind.

Indulging in the warmth of the wine, she stared at the sky and again thought about their recent encounter, she remembered his eyes, having to catch herself from almost drowning in his reflecting ocean. Lex just had that ability… the ability to see through her words, expression… the whole image. She felt those intense eyes even now. She knew. "How did you manage to find me?"

Stepping next to her, he stood staring out into the night view of Metropolis. "You're speaking to a Luthor," his voice expressionless, almost far away.

Taking another sip from her wine, she merely nodded, "How can I forget?"

"It seems as if you did as soon as you left Smallville," he replied in that old familiar cold regard. "Let me refresh your memory… I was always there."

Putting down her glass, Lana looked up from her seat at Lex, "What do you mean?"

He continued to gaze at the cloudless scenery in front of him with his hands buried in his coat pockets. "Let's just say I lost you when you changed your name."

Lana took her stare off Lex, puzzled to what he really meant. Yet, suddenly it hit her. He had mentioned the business degree knowingly. And although she had sent him a few short letters and post cards, she had always felt as if there was someone keeping her safe during her travels through Europe. Certainly, he hadn't followed her, but Lex had his connections. She knew, nevertheless, he had physically been there once and she never realized it until now. "You were there at graduation in Cambridge," she stated rather than questioned. "And you had me followed… didn't you? Why, Lex?"

Remaining silent, Lex slowly bent his knees to meet Lana at eye level. He turned his gaze to her, forcing his friend to face him. The proximity between them was intensely close. Lana could hear his soft breathing, sense the anticipation of a mere touch. She felt herself drowning in nostalgic emotions… why was he doing this to her? The past was left behind… wasn't it?

Lex lessened the distance, gradually bringing his whisper near her ear, "I hated the thought of losing you." He lowered his lips, barely touching her neck, only allowing her to feel his breath.

Lana's eyes closed, feeling herself fall into a drunken disarray of aged sentiments. She knew what he wanted, yet that wasn't in question. It was whether she would allow herself, just permit her lips to indulge what had once driven her away.

~*~*~

To be continued…