Experiment 001
Chapter 5: Half-Truths and Outright Lies
Lex Luthor looked a mess; one of the very few times he had allowed himself to be in such a state. His shirt was only half-tucked and horribly wrinkled. His mouth was frozen in a worried frown, and he wouldn't speak to anyone.
Lex sat in a semi-comfortable chair at Alley's bedside. She had been asleep, having terrible nightmares since Lex had brought her home. He didn't dare leave her side, because every so often she would wake crying and call out for him. He would NOT have her wake alone. He couldn't make out everything she was saying in her tormented dreams, but he knew what the dreams were. Lex was her superhero. The only one who could save her from what happened.
Or at least, Lex knew, that's how she saw it.
How could he have been so stupid? He had made sure that they were as far away from each other as possible for years because he knew that Frampson would think that they would be together. But after ten years? Lex thought that Frampson would have forgotten about it by now! Or at least given up.
Lex took her hand in his, raised it to his lips and kissed it. "I'll protect you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
It was all Lionel's fault! His damn father. Frampson only wanted revenge for what Lionel did!
Father...ha! Alley was the only family Lex had. Nothing would destroy that. Lex would die before he let anything happen. For years Lex had tried to get his father's love and approval; only to discover that he would never get it. But that was fine. Alley loved him. He hadn't even done anything to deserve that love. She simply did. And FINALLY he was able to be close enough to feel, without any shadow of a doubt, that someone cared about him, without wanting anything in return.
Not that he had ever doubted her feelings, but one could never be too sure about anything.
He sat there the entire night, whispering phrases in English and Kryptonian to soothe her nightmares.
* * *
The next day at school, there had to be at least one hundred different rumors about what has happened at the Talon. To make things worse, Alley wasn't there to stop them.
Chloe and Pete had asked Clark to help them stop the rumors, but Clark was too preoccupied with him own problems. He couldn't even concentrate on school.
By the time school was over, Clark had worked himself into a panic. If Lex did know, he was screwed in more ways than one. But if Lex didn't know...wouldn't asking about it just raise the Luthor's suspicion again? There had to be some covert way to ask! Unfortunately, Clark couldn't think of it.
As soon as class was over, he walked half-heartedly to the Luthor estate. He dreaded going in, but it had to be done. He walked through the gate and front door. Slowly making his way to Lex's office. He was about to open the door, when a middle-aged woman wearing a black skirt-suit walked up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor is busy today. Please come back tomorrow." She sounded more like a recorded message than a person.
"Please," Clark said, hoping he sounded less desperate than he thought, "I have to talk to Lex."
"Do you have an appointment?" The woman asked tartly.
"No, I'm Clark Ke—"
"It doesn't really matter who you are. Mr. Luthor asked not to be disturbed. Personal business."
"It's alright," Lex said, sounding either exasperated or very tired, Clark couldn't tell which, until he looked at his older friend. Lex had circles under his eyes and his pants and shirt were badly wrinkled. Not to mention it was the same black slacks and navy blue shirt he had been wearing the day before. Lex sighed, "Is there something you need, Clark."
"Actually," Clark shifted uncomfortably, "I wanted to talk to you about yesterday..." He let his words hang for a moment waiting for Lex to answer.
Lex sighed, "Clark," he looked over to his assistant, "come in." He opened the door and walked into his office, Clark followed him. Lex closed the door once his friend was in, then walked straight to the mini-bar in the corner. He turned over a glass, sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a guttural growl, snatching the glass and hurling it to the opposite wall.
Clark stared at the shattered remains of the glass on the floor for a moment than looked back to Lex, who seemed to be trying to keep him temper under control. "Um..." Clark laughed, uneasily, "I think you might need that drink."
"Alley doesn't like alcohol." Lex said without even thinking.
Clark was stunned, "Does it really matter? It might calm you down."
"It's everything, Clark," Lex looked at his friends with such sad eyes. "I'm a little different with her, if you hadn't noticed."
"I still think you should have that drink."
Lex smiled, "Maybe," he walked over to his desk and taped the intercom button, "Sophie, bring me a cup of coffee, black."
A woman's voice answered back, "Yes, Mr. Luthor."
Lex sighed again and rubbed his temples. "I'm guessing that the rumors have started to spread by know, and you were wondering what the truth is, right? Well, Clark, it's not mine to tell. But she never asked for what did happen. So just leave her alone. And tell Chloe the same thing; I'm sure she's trying to find out as much as she can. You can tell her, that if she prints anything, ANYTHING, I'll have lawyers all over her for sland—"
"Whoa!" Clark said, "Lex, calm down. I'm not even here to ask about that. But, I did want to know if she was alright, I mean..."
"She'll be fine," Lex answered quickly.
"Who was that anyway?"
"You said you weren't here to talk about Alley, Clark."
"Oh, I just wanted to know. Is she in trouble?"
"No, and I've taken care of it. He won't bother her again."
"So has this—"
"Clark, why are you here?"
Clark swallowed, "I heard you talking yesterday, you said something about 'Krypton'..."
"Forget you heard that, Clark." Lex cut him off. "I didn't think I said it loud enough for anyone to hear."
"Forget it?" Clark was somewhat relieved, "Why?"
"Because it has nothing to do with you, Clark!"
Clark was startled by Lex's sharp tone. But if Lex said that is didn't have anything to do with him, his secret was safe.
Lex sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose again. "If you see him around her again, will you just make sure that she gets away?"
"Is she in danger, Lex?"
"Just make sure she's alright, please, Clark?"
Clark nodded, "Of course."
There was a small knock on the door, "Come in," Lex called.
The same black suited woman from the hall entered, "Your coffee, Mr. Luthor."
"Thank you, Sophie." She set it on his desk and left.
"Why don't you want to talk about Alley?"
Lex looked straight into Clark's eyes, "Because I'll lie to you."
Clark took a step back. He had been prepared for almost any answer except that one.
Lex started to take a sip from the cup when a scream echoed through the stone walls of Lex's mansion. "Alexander!"
Lex jumped up just as the side door was thrown open. Alley, wearing a black crop top and black pants that hung loosely at her hips stomped through, looking into a small compact, finishing putting on her eyeliner. Her hair was messily thrown into a strange half down, half pigtails, do, and she was obviously very agitated.
"Alley?" Lex asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"
"I'm going to be late for school! Why didn't you wake me up?!"
"You didn't get any rest last night, and after yesterday you looked like you needed some. Besides, school is over."
She dropped the small compact, shaking her head, "No," she whispered. "Alex, no. Don't say that! Please."
Lex walked over and put his hand on her cheek, "Alley? Jo roewma. You're all right. Don't cry."
"No, don't you remember school? I could have stopped it if I had been there! Now everyone—cy. Coham?! Coham, Alex?! Coham now?!"
"It'll be okay. Kuay-ai?"
She nodded, "I understand."
Lex smiled slightly, "Have you met Clark Kent?" He motioned to where Clark was sitting.
Alley's eyes followed Lex's hand and she smiled, "Yes, I sit next to him in homeroom." She bowed her head, "Hello, Clark, I'm sorry, but I'm not very presentable."
Clark stammered for a moment, "Uh...it's okay. I actually came by to talk to Lex. But are you okay? Chloe was worried about you."
"I thank you for your concern. And I heard you talking to Alex. You would do better to ask me, Alex will lie, just as he said he would."
Clark swallowed, "I-I didn't mean—I was..."
"It's alright, Clark," Lex said, "the only two people who know the full story."
Clark's mind felt like mush. For the first time, he felt that Lex was telling the entire truth. The only problem was, Lex wasn't actually telling him anything!
"Oh!" Lex said, "Alley, I almost forgot!" He walked back to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a small jewelry box and instantly Clark felt a pain course through him that he knew all too well. "I found this and thought of you, so—"
"Alex!" Clark looked over to Alley; she was hugging herself tightly and gasping as if she was in pain. "It's a meteor rock!"
Lex threw the box back into the drawer and slammed it shut. "I'm sorry, Alley! I didn't...they told me it was emerald." Lex smiled slightly, "It's really pretty."
Alley looked up, "Felt pretty big."
Lex laughed. But his smile faded as he looked back at Clark. "Clark, I..." He swallowed.
"Is that what you don't want anyone to know?" Clark tried to play it off, he hope that he was successful. He was excited and scared at the same time. That proved she was Kryptonian! Maybe she could tell him things about their home planet? Or his parents?! Or even the real reason he was there...
"Lex," Alley put her hand on his shoulder, "You won't say anything, will you, Clark?"
Clark shook his head.
"That man," Alley started, "was a scientist, Dr. John Frampson. A mean scientist."
"My father shut him down ten years ago," Lex continued.
"Why?" Clark asked, even though he knew he didn't have to.
"Inhumane experiments," Lex said slowly, looking at Alley. "On a seven year old child."
Clark swallowed and took another look at Alley. She was staring at the floor. Fear started to bubble in his stomach, but he couldn't tell if it was for her or himself. If that man, Dr. John Frampson, wanted her, how would he feel about getting a male Kryptonian?
"So that's what yesterday was about?" Clark asked, overstating the obvious.
Lex nodded.
"Alex," Alley said softly, "I'm going to go for a walk or something."
"Sure," Lex answered.
"Bye, Clark, see you tomorrow."
"Bye," Clark smiled, not knowing what else to do.
She walked past him, "I know, Kal-El." She whispered to low for Lex to hear. "But don't worry. I'll help you." And she walked out.
Clark swallowed.
"So, Clark, what did you come to talk about?" He smiled expectantly...
A/N: Yay! Another chapter. Fun for me. I can't wait to finish (or at least get to the last chapters)...I don't know if I've said this before, but this is a fic explaining why Lex doesn't like Superman in the future (I like explanation fics). I know that every Superman series is completely its own, but you would think that they would all be, I don't know...similar! It just bugs me. But than again, Superman: The Red Sun...(if you're a major comic geek like me, you'll know what I'm talking about) GRR! That's another one! Lex Luthor is an evil, EVIL prick! A GENIOUS EVIL PRICK! But he's kinda nice in the show...sigh, it's like in the X-Men movie, they made Nightcrawler like 30 and Shadowcat 15...and Rogue in love with Wolverine! AHHH! Hollywood needs to leave my comics alone! Or we might next see the Fantastic Four getting their powers from aliens! Sigh, I'm gonna stop ranting. But yeah, I'm gonna take a few of the comic and/or cartoon things and add them in here, but I'll try to make it non-confusing for those who haven't read the comics. But Clark is gonna learn a lot about Krypton and his family. Heehee, poor Lex...(I know what's gonna happen and YOU~ don't!) Lol, sorry, I'm in a sarcastic mood. Please review!
Oh, and sorrys for the sappiness in the beginning. That came to after watching the ep last week. And SPEAKING OF THE SHOW! Does anyone else have a horrible sinking suspicion that Dr. Swan is going to turn out to be Jor-El?! I swear that I'm gonna stop watching if they do that. The only way that they could make it worse is if they brought Jimmy Olsen in...he would be what? 2? Jeeze! I don't know, bringing in Lois or Supergirl would be bad too, I guess. But I don't know. I'll stop complaining. I have the whole week off so I'll update at least once more this week. Sorry for the delay, but this is the most stressful time for a high school senior! Ta ta!
William Rayne: I didn't like that either...but if he could read Kryptonian cause of the download, he should be able to understand a little. But don't worry. Clark can't speak any, just understand a few words. Very common words. Like "need" (oy) "find" (qualey) and of course he knows "Kal-El"! That's his name! Heehee...I love writing in Kryptonian!
Keggan: You loser! How about you actually read some of the story! Sigh....you aren't even up to this chapter yet. ::mumbles:: "How do you get...." Sheesh.....::shakes head sadly:: But I still love you! You are my personal superhero after all...
DuMont: You'll see why she needs Kal-El a little later. Next chapter most likely. And thanks for telling my pc to be nice.....so far it's listened!
Knight/m: Thanks...I had trouble with this chapter too. And creative? ME?! My art teacher might have something to say against that.
Dimonah Tralon: Don't bet too much on that. You'll see why later.
Chapter 5: Half-Truths and Outright Lies
Lex Luthor looked a mess; one of the very few times he had allowed himself to be in such a state. His shirt was only half-tucked and horribly wrinkled. His mouth was frozen in a worried frown, and he wouldn't speak to anyone.
Lex sat in a semi-comfortable chair at Alley's bedside. She had been asleep, having terrible nightmares since Lex had brought her home. He didn't dare leave her side, because every so often she would wake crying and call out for him. He would NOT have her wake alone. He couldn't make out everything she was saying in her tormented dreams, but he knew what the dreams were. Lex was her superhero. The only one who could save her from what happened.
Or at least, Lex knew, that's how she saw it.
How could he have been so stupid? He had made sure that they were as far away from each other as possible for years because he knew that Frampson would think that they would be together. But after ten years? Lex thought that Frampson would have forgotten about it by now! Or at least given up.
Lex took her hand in his, raised it to his lips and kissed it. "I'll protect you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
It was all Lionel's fault! His damn father. Frampson only wanted revenge for what Lionel did!
Father...ha! Alley was the only family Lex had. Nothing would destroy that. Lex would die before he let anything happen. For years Lex had tried to get his father's love and approval; only to discover that he would never get it. But that was fine. Alley loved him. He hadn't even done anything to deserve that love. She simply did. And FINALLY he was able to be close enough to feel, without any shadow of a doubt, that someone cared about him, without wanting anything in return.
Not that he had ever doubted her feelings, but one could never be too sure about anything.
He sat there the entire night, whispering phrases in English and Kryptonian to soothe her nightmares.
* * *
The next day at school, there had to be at least one hundred different rumors about what has happened at the Talon. To make things worse, Alley wasn't there to stop them.
Chloe and Pete had asked Clark to help them stop the rumors, but Clark was too preoccupied with him own problems. He couldn't even concentrate on school.
By the time school was over, Clark had worked himself into a panic. If Lex did know, he was screwed in more ways than one. But if Lex didn't know...wouldn't asking about it just raise the Luthor's suspicion again? There had to be some covert way to ask! Unfortunately, Clark couldn't think of it.
As soon as class was over, he walked half-heartedly to the Luthor estate. He dreaded going in, but it had to be done. He walked through the gate and front door. Slowly making his way to Lex's office. He was about to open the door, when a middle-aged woman wearing a black skirt-suit walked up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor is busy today. Please come back tomorrow." She sounded more like a recorded message than a person.
"Please," Clark said, hoping he sounded less desperate than he thought, "I have to talk to Lex."
"Do you have an appointment?" The woman asked tartly.
"No, I'm Clark Ke—"
"It doesn't really matter who you are. Mr. Luthor asked not to be disturbed. Personal business."
"It's alright," Lex said, sounding either exasperated or very tired, Clark couldn't tell which, until he looked at his older friend. Lex had circles under his eyes and his pants and shirt were badly wrinkled. Not to mention it was the same black slacks and navy blue shirt he had been wearing the day before. Lex sighed, "Is there something you need, Clark."
"Actually," Clark shifted uncomfortably, "I wanted to talk to you about yesterday..." He let his words hang for a moment waiting for Lex to answer.
Lex sighed, "Clark," he looked over to his assistant, "come in." He opened the door and walked into his office, Clark followed him. Lex closed the door once his friend was in, then walked straight to the mini-bar in the corner. He turned over a glass, sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a guttural growl, snatching the glass and hurling it to the opposite wall.
Clark stared at the shattered remains of the glass on the floor for a moment than looked back to Lex, who seemed to be trying to keep him temper under control. "Um..." Clark laughed, uneasily, "I think you might need that drink."
"Alley doesn't like alcohol." Lex said without even thinking.
Clark was stunned, "Does it really matter? It might calm you down."
"It's everything, Clark," Lex looked at his friends with such sad eyes. "I'm a little different with her, if you hadn't noticed."
"I still think you should have that drink."
Lex smiled, "Maybe," he walked over to his desk and taped the intercom button, "Sophie, bring me a cup of coffee, black."
A woman's voice answered back, "Yes, Mr. Luthor."
Lex sighed again and rubbed his temples. "I'm guessing that the rumors have started to spread by know, and you were wondering what the truth is, right? Well, Clark, it's not mine to tell. But she never asked for what did happen. So just leave her alone. And tell Chloe the same thing; I'm sure she's trying to find out as much as she can. You can tell her, that if she prints anything, ANYTHING, I'll have lawyers all over her for sland—"
"Whoa!" Clark said, "Lex, calm down. I'm not even here to ask about that. But, I did want to know if she was alright, I mean..."
"She'll be fine," Lex answered quickly.
"Who was that anyway?"
"You said you weren't here to talk about Alley, Clark."
"Oh, I just wanted to know. Is she in trouble?"
"No, and I've taken care of it. He won't bother her again."
"So has this—"
"Clark, why are you here?"
Clark swallowed, "I heard you talking yesterday, you said something about 'Krypton'..."
"Forget you heard that, Clark." Lex cut him off. "I didn't think I said it loud enough for anyone to hear."
"Forget it?" Clark was somewhat relieved, "Why?"
"Because it has nothing to do with you, Clark!"
Clark was startled by Lex's sharp tone. But if Lex said that is didn't have anything to do with him, his secret was safe.
Lex sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose again. "If you see him around her again, will you just make sure that she gets away?"
"Is she in danger, Lex?"
"Just make sure she's alright, please, Clark?"
Clark nodded, "Of course."
There was a small knock on the door, "Come in," Lex called.
The same black suited woman from the hall entered, "Your coffee, Mr. Luthor."
"Thank you, Sophie." She set it on his desk and left.
"Why don't you want to talk about Alley?"
Lex looked straight into Clark's eyes, "Because I'll lie to you."
Clark took a step back. He had been prepared for almost any answer except that one.
Lex started to take a sip from the cup when a scream echoed through the stone walls of Lex's mansion. "Alexander!"
Lex jumped up just as the side door was thrown open. Alley, wearing a black crop top and black pants that hung loosely at her hips stomped through, looking into a small compact, finishing putting on her eyeliner. Her hair was messily thrown into a strange half down, half pigtails, do, and she was obviously very agitated.
"Alley?" Lex asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"
"I'm going to be late for school! Why didn't you wake me up?!"
"You didn't get any rest last night, and after yesterday you looked like you needed some. Besides, school is over."
She dropped the small compact, shaking her head, "No," she whispered. "Alex, no. Don't say that! Please."
Lex walked over and put his hand on her cheek, "Alley? Jo roewma. You're all right. Don't cry."
"No, don't you remember school? I could have stopped it if I had been there! Now everyone—cy. Coham?! Coham, Alex?! Coham now?!"
"It'll be okay. Kuay-ai?"
She nodded, "I understand."
Lex smiled slightly, "Have you met Clark Kent?" He motioned to where Clark was sitting.
Alley's eyes followed Lex's hand and she smiled, "Yes, I sit next to him in homeroom." She bowed her head, "Hello, Clark, I'm sorry, but I'm not very presentable."
Clark stammered for a moment, "Uh...it's okay. I actually came by to talk to Lex. But are you okay? Chloe was worried about you."
"I thank you for your concern. And I heard you talking to Alex. You would do better to ask me, Alex will lie, just as he said he would."
Clark swallowed, "I-I didn't mean—I was..."
"It's alright, Clark," Lex said, "the only two people who know the full story."
Clark's mind felt like mush. For the first time, he felt that Lex was telling the entire truth. The only problem was, Lex wasn't actually telling him anything!
"Oh!" Lex said, "Alley, I almost forgot!" He walked back to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a small jewelry box and instantly Clark felt a pain course through him that he knew all too well. "I found this and thought of you, so—"
"Alex!" Clark looked over to Alley; she was hugging herself tightly and gasping as if she was in pain. "It's a meteor rock!"
Lex threw the box back into the drawer and slammed it shut. "I'm sorry, Alley! I didn't...they told me it was emerald." Lex smiled slightly, "It's really pretty."
Alley looked up, "Felt pretty big."
Lex laughed. But his smile faded as he looked back at Clark. "Clark, I..." He swallowed.
"Is that what you don't want anyone to know?" Clark tried to play it off, he hope that he was successful. He was excited and scared at the same time. That proved she was Kryptonian! Maybe she could tell him things about their home planet? Or his parents?! Or even the real reason he was there...
"Lex," Alley put her hand on his shoulder, "You won't say anything, will you, Clark?"
Clark shook his head.
"That man," Alley started, "was a scientist, Dr. John Frampson. A mean scientist."
"My father shut him down ten years ago," Lex continued.
"Why?" Clark asked, even though he knew he didn't have to.
"Inhumane experiments," Lex said slowly, looking at Alley. "On a seven year old child."
Clark swallowed and took another look at Alley. She was staring at the floor. Fear started to bubble in his stomach, but he couldn't tell if it was for her or himself. If that man, Dr. John Frampson, wanted her, how would he feel about getting a male Kryptonian?
"So that's what yesterday was about?" Clark asked, overstating the obvious.
Lex nodded.
"Alex," Alley said softly, "I'm going to go for a walk or something."
"Sure," Lex answered.
"Bye, Clark, see you tomorrow."
"Bye," Clark smiled, not knowing what else to do.
She walked past him, "I know, Kal-El." She whispered to low for Lex to hear. "But don't worry. I'll help you." And she walked out.
Clark swallowed.
"So, Clark, what did you come to talk about?" He smiled expectantly...
A/N: Yay! Another chapter. Fun for me. I can't wait to finish (or at least get to the last chapters)...I don't know if I've said this before, but this is a fic explaining why Lex doesn't like Superman in the future (I like explanation fics). I know that every Superman series is completely its own, but you would think that they would all be, I don't know...similar! It just bugs me. But than again, Superman: The Red Sun...(if you're a major comic geek like me, you'll know what I'm talking about) GRR! That's another one! Lex Luthor is an evil, EVIL prick! A GENIOUS EVIL PRICK! But he's kinda nice in the show...sigh, it's like in the X-Men movie, they made Nightcrawler like 30 and Shadowcat 15...and Rogue in love with Wolverine! AHHH! Hollywood needs to leave my comics alone! Or we might next see the Fantastic Four getting their powers from aliens! Sigh, I'm gonna stop ranting. But yeah, I'm gonna take a few of the comic and/or cartoon things and add them in here, but I'll try to make it non-confusing for those who haven't read the comics. But Clark is gonna learn a lot about Krypton and his family. Heehee, poor Lex...(I know what's gonna happen and YOU~ don't!) Lol, sorry, I'm in a sarcastic mood. Please review!
Oh, and sorrys for the sappiness in the beginning. That came to after watching the ep last week. And SPEAKING OF THE SHOW! Does anyone else have a horrible sinking suspicion that Dr. Swan is going to turn out to be Jor-El?! I swear that I'm gonna stop watching if they do that. The only way that they could make it worse is if they brought Jimmy Olsen in...he would be what? 2? Jeeze! I don't know, bringing in Lois or Supergirl would be bad too, I guess. But I don't know. I'll stop complaining. I have the whole week off so I'll update at least once more this week. Sorry for the delay, but this is the most stressful time for a high school senior! Ta ta!
William Rayne: I didn't like that either...but if he could read Kryptonian cause of the download, he should be able to understand a little. But don't worry. Clark can't speak any, just understand a few words. Very common words. Like "need" (oy) "find" (qualey) and of course he knows "Kal-El"! That's his name! Heehee...I love writing in Kryptonian!
Keggan: You loser! How about you actually read some of the story! Sigh....you aren't even up to this chapter yet. ::mumbles:: "How do you get...." Sheesh.....::shakes head sadly:: But I still love you! You are my personal superhero after all...
DuMont: You'll see why she needs Kal-El a little later. Next chapter most likely. And thanks for telling my pc to be nice.....so far it's listened!
Knight/m: Thanks...I had trouble with this chapter too. And creative? ME?! My art teacher might have something to say against that.
Dimonah Tralon: Don't bet too much on that. You'll see why later.