Chlexville
Season 1
Episode 10 : SHIMMERING IN MY DARKNESS
He had been trying to get a hold of her for days to no avail. He could almost hear the sympathy in Gabe's voice whenever he informed Lex that Chloe was either out, sleeping or doing whatever excuse it was she provided so she wouldn't be forced to answer the phone. In fact, Lex had been so used to hearing the voice mail message on her cellphone that he was beginning to suspect that she had it permanently turned off, which defeated the purpose of the mobile unit itself.
For this reason, her arrival at the mansion came as such a surprise to Lex Luthor. He searched for words to express his relief at finally seeing her again. He wanted to choose the words that would best tell her how glad he was that she was speaking to him again.
"You look like hell," was all he came up with.
Apparently, and probably because they were both warped of mind and manner, Chloe's nervous stance relaxed upon hearing the almost insult. "Thank you, Lex. You do too. The only difference is," she snarked, "I look like this after days of researching this phantom of your house for Clark and a morning of giving a pint of blood for Lana's drive."
He frowned in concern. "Didn't they tell you that you can't give blood if you hadn't had enough sleep?"
Chloe nodded. "They did. But I didn't tell them I was up til three this morning. They would have rescheduled me. I just wanted to get this thing over with." Lex shook his head, knowing he did not have a right to scold her for doing something so stupid. "Besides, I can take it. I'm still standing, am I not?"
"Barely," he muttered. Lex pushed his chair back and went over to her, taking her arm and sitting her down on the couch. He took a seat beside her and faced her intently. "Why didn't you just go home and slept it off?"
Chloe gave a huge yawn and stretched her arms. "Because I wanted to tell you something important."
"What could be that important?"
Chloe settled back on the arm of the couch, slumped with exhaustion. "I wanted to say that I'm not mad at you or anything. There's really no reason for me to be pissed. You're grown up. We both are."
"So you're fine with Victoria?" She nodded. "Then why wouldn't you take my calls?"
"Well maybe I was jealous," she admitted.
Lex leaned forward. "Jealous?" he said softly.
"She was going to take you away from me, Lex." His heart stopped for a brief second. "You're my best friend—always have been. She would have taken all your time away from me." Chloe sighed. "But that was so selfish of me. So I made the move to apologize. I'm fine, Lex. Sorry for acting like a spoiled kid."
"She's gone back to Metropolis for the time being." Lex wanted to explain that there was nothing to be jealous of, that Victoria Hardwick would not take his time and attention from Chloe no matter what. It just was not like that. But that was another explanation for another one—preferably when she was alert to understand.
"Chloe, get some sleep," he whispered. Lex smirked when she murmured 'I'm awake,' complete with fluttering eyelids, a half smile and further burrowing into the cushion of his library couch. "Right. You're going to have a crick in the neck if you stay here."
Lex brushed a strand of hair off her face and then stood up to pick up the phone from his desk. Within minutes, there was a discrete knock on the door and a maid entered to inform him, "The room is ready, sir."
"Thank you."
He looked down at the sleeping girl, half-seated, half-lying, on the couch. He thought about lifting her up in his arms, but even he had to admit that he was probably going to stumble all over the place even with her weight. He had not exactly been working out, a fact that he intended to change so that she can fall asleep wherever she wanted and he could take her to the guest room. Lex very much doubted that the fencing muscles were enough for carrying a young woman up a long flight of stairs (for that he had to thank his ancestors who adored the winding stone steps) and down a maze of corridors. He wouldn't risk dropping her from the top step of thirty odd steps.
"Chloe," he said softly, shaking her. She moaned and shook her head. Lex grinned. "Chloe, come on. You don't have to be fully awake. Just walk. I'll lead you."
Reluctantly and groaning all the while much to his entertainment, Chloe stood up and leaned heavily against Lex. His grip on her was sure as he still half-carried her to the room. When they got there, he led her to the bed and helped her in. The moment her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep again. Lex leaned down and kissed her forehead.
~~
It was difficult to keep his mind on the conversation he was having with Clark Kent when Lex knew that Chloe was at his house fast asleep. He really wished that he could just spend time at the castle, finding out exactly what was going on. But frankly, he knew that he would hate himself if he stayed there. He had seen again just how much Chloe trusted him. If he stayed there, under the same roof, he would hate himself because he would be tempted to do something that might violate the rules of friendship they have established. If not that, he would still hate himself for not taking the opportunity offered by the circumstances.
Oddly enough, Clark was facing a problem similar to his own. Talking about Clark's choices seemed to order things in his mind a little.
"I wanted to take my shot with Lana, but now—"
Lex nodded in understanding. Wasn't he wanting to take his shot right now, and hiding in the Beanery because he could not decide on what to do except put some distance between the two of them? "You feel like you'd be taking advantage." If Lex acted on these feelings Chloe stirred in him, everyone including himself would feel that Lex was taking advantage of Chloe.
"What would you do?" Clark asked the question Lex couldn't really answer honestly yet.
There was no need to tell Clark everything he felt. Clark may have saved his life, but Lex still owed him no more than he owed Chloe, who he can tell everything to. Everything except for these changes though. Lex opted for an expected answer. "Who me? I'd go for it. See, but that's what I like about you, Clark. You wouldn't."
Then and there, Lex realized that he would like himself better if he acted more like Clark in this situation.
They were interrupted by the cheerful if nervous greeting by Amy. The girl stood at the side of the table smiling openly. "Hi Lex."
"Amy. This is a surprise." Lex smiled at the girl. Chloe had always told him that Amy was a nice enough girl, if a bit shy and very much of an introvert. 'She looks at me oddly sometimes, but I'm sure it's because she might have a lot to say but is too shy to say them.' For this reason alone, Lex knew that he could not do what Victoria suggested and just ship her back to Metropolis. The girl said something about her desire to say hello, to which he replied, "I appreciate the gesture."
When Amy left, Lex looked back at Clark to pick up on where their conversation was interrupted. Clark appeared very concerned. "What is it?"
"She has your watch, Lex."
Lex frowned at Clark. "Amy?"
"Yes."
"She couldn't have," he denied. Lex would not believe that Amy would have to steal anything of his, especially one so precious to him. "How do you know?"
"Lex, when she moved her hand and her sleeve rode up, I saw her wearing a silver watch with a coin face. Amy has your watch, Lex."
Clark's face was serious and Lex had always trusted Clark since he saved his life. Despite all the secrets and unexplained events that seemed to happen around Clark, Lex was pretty sure that Clark was telling the truth. "All right."
The plan was to wait an hour until Amy comes home and then goes about her business. It would give them the chance to see if Amy had replaced the watch somewhere.
When Lex opened the cabinet that contained a virtual shrine of his pictures and things he used, and he realized how unbalanced Amy had become, only one thing slammed into his head. Calmly, he told his housekeeper about what arrangements they should come to when he sent the family back to Metropolis. He also thanked Clark and told him to go home because this was something he needed to do on his own.
With Clark gone, Lex allowed some of his terror to show. "Where's your daughter?"
"In the mansion, Mr Luthor. I was just going to get her."
At that response, Lex ran his way to the castle, cursing the long flights of stairs and winding corridors that Lionel had always been so boastful of. Who knew what warped scenario Amy would think up, especially if she saw the way he had led Chloe to the room earlier? And Amy had probably seen how often and how intimate Lex and Chloe's meetings in the castle have been. They have, after all, been with him from Metropoli to Smallville.
Lex ignored the pulling strain on his side at the exertion. He ran through the corridors, praying that he wasn't too late, or that Amy had not found Chloe yet.
She arrived just outside the door to the guest bedroom and heard the muffled groans and stifled cried coming from inside. He tried to open the door to find it barricaded. Lex did not know where he found the strength, but Clark had claimed once it was adrenaline that got him to save all those people. Lex ful believed him now. There was no explanation of the enormous bursts of energy one received when someone you loved wasin danger. Lex rammed his hsoulder into the massive doors and they swung open to reveal Chloe writhing on the bed fighting an invisible intruder that held a pillow over her face.
Without thinking twice, Lex threw himself onto what appeared like thin air and saw as the sheets were disturbed and chairs toppled on the invisible intruder's way out. Lex frantically reached for the pillow and threw it away. Chloe gasped, breathing deeply, catching up on the long needed oxygen. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him. She flung her arms around his neck. Lex grabbed her and held her close, kissing her temples and murmuring words of comfort.
"Lex," she cried, "I was so scared!"
"Shhh," he calmed her. "You're safe. You'll always be safe in my house, Chloe. I promise."
"Okay," she sobbed, still not letting go.
It was hours later, and only after Gabe called asking Lex to take her home before nightfall, that Lex finally drove Chloe. On the way to the car, Chloe tolhim that she could make her own way to the Sullivans' place. Lex looked at her appalled before silently helping her into the passenger seat.
"Did you drive Victoria home?"
He arched an eyebrow at her. "You're kidding me."
"Then why are you driving me?"
"You're not Victoria," he told her slowly.
Chloe looked down at herself and her rather distinct clothes. "Obviously."
He took one of his hands off the steering wheel and reached to squeeze hers. "I care about you."
"She's your girlfriend," she reasoned.
He looked at Chloe and gave her the same words he gave Clark the day before. "Relationships don't always have to be about love, Chloe." He saw a bit of disappointment enter her eyes. To assure her, he squeezed her hand again. "Not every connection is like ours."
Chloe was suddenly very sad. "I hope you'll find someone to be happy with," she told him sincerely.
He held her gaze. Lex knew that he was endangering himself and Chloe so he parked the car at the side of the road. "Someday," he comforted her. "Right now I'm not ready. And neither is she."
Chloe nodded and tore her eyes from his. She chuckled. "I can't believe we haven't killed ourselves with drama yet!"
"You're right," Lex agreed, laughing softly. He shifted the car back in gear and sped back to the Sullivans' house.
fin