Disclaimer: Do you even have to ask?

The Youngest Luthor

Chapter two: ever heard of the saying, curiosity killed the cat?

The next two days were torture for Lex. His father was like his newly acquired shadow, following him everywhere he went. To the plant, around at the Mansion. But there was one place where he refused to go. And for that, Lex was eternally grateful.

"What! You're going to town? Again? Shouldn't you be working?"

"Geez dad, you sound like a little kid. It's not like I'm going to skip work or anything. I'm just going to get some coffee."

Lionel frowned, and looked as though he was weighing a few options before he sighed.

"Fine, but be back here before 9. We have a few things to talk about, like how your plant is running."

Now it was Lex's turn to frown, but he didn't waste any time as he grabbed his coat and car keys, hurrying out of there. Not wanting to spend another minute with the man who sired him.

When he was well on his way, only then did Lex allow himself to breath easier. Speeding along the road, Lex noticed a car sitting on the side of the road. A trail of smoke coming up told him it had broken down. Probably from too much stress.

Pulling over, so he could see if anyone needed help, he saw a flash of familiar blonde hair. Stopping his car, Lex rolled down his window and locked gazes with a pair of angry green eyes.

"Hello Mr. Luthor. And what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"

"It's Lex, Miss Sullivan."

Chloe Sullivan smiled a little at him.

"It's Chloe."

She mimicked his earlier comment as he rolled his eyes at her.

"Need a ride?"

"Yes actually. You heading toward the Talon?"

The reporter asked as she headed toward the passenger side and got in. Lex nodded.

"Yes. I wanted to get some coffee."

'Good one Lex,' he thought to himself as he started pulling away. Ignoring Chloe's look of unbelief. 'lie to a reporter who can smell a story a mile away.'

"Hmmm…"

But that was all she said until they got to the small café. Once inside they went their separate ways. Chloe headed over to Pete. While Lex drifted over to a corner to relax and hide from everyone else.

He spent 4 or more hours there. Trying to stay as long as he could. Regretting his inevitable return to the Mansion. And his father.

"Bye Clark! See ya Pete!"

He heard Chloe say as she left. A few minutes later, Pete Ross followed. And then finally so did Clark and most of the crowd in the Talon. Glancing at the clock, Lex saw it was almost 10pm.

"Hey Lex, I'm closing up now, if you want to stay…"

Lana started when she poured him another cup of coffee, but he shook his head.

"No I can't. Leaving my father alone this long its bound to have consequences."

"Oh. Well night Lex."

The brunette said with a bright smile as he got up to leave. Nodding, Lex grabbed his coat and left. But going as slow as possible. Stalling for time.

Meanwhile, at the Luthor Mansion

Lionel looked up at the large grandfather clock once again, and growled softly in anger. His son was late, by an hour. The old man knew he was doing it out of spite, but still. It annoyed him.

After another 5 minutes of waiting, he got up from the soft leather chair sitting in front of the large roaring fire in the fireplace. He needed to go for a walk. Perhaps he might run into Lex trying to sneak in.

The thought brought a cold smile to his face as he headed outside. Soon he found himself lost in a maze of beautiful rose bushes. They seemed to be trying to take over the very grounds.

"Hmmm, I'll tell Lex to talk to his grounds-keeper. Maybe he should o something to take care of them."

Following a dirt path, Lionel spotted a small stone bench. It was made of granite and marble, decorated with carved creatures. Very old and pretty. Deciding he had walked enough, Lionel sat down and looked around the small clearing in the rose bushes.

The large flowers seemed to look at him. The petals glowed a little in the country moonlight. The wind whispered in the leaves. Suddenly the sound of something popping broke the silence of the night.

Lionel frowned, and got up to see what the heck it was that made that strange noise. After a few minutes of stumbling through the now darker rose maze, he found himself by a large pond. It seemed to glow slightly green.

He wrinkled his noise, expecting the smell of something rotten, but the scent of peaches and cream wafted through the air. The aroma was enticing, but not enough to follow it.

Walking around the pond, Lionel tried to see where this strange stuff was coming from. He was so distracted by this 'new' problem be didn't see the slippery rock until he stepped on it and fell. Face forward into the glowing green pond.

TBC...

A/N: I wonder what GREEN usually means...hehehe XD