Something Old, Something New

Chapter 5: An Old Feeling

"I just think it's time," Kate said reasonably.

"But you've only just arrived," Lex protested.

Kate laughed, "I've been here almost two weeks!" She shook her head, "Lex, I've been hiding away here for long enough – I have to get back to work, if nothing else."

Lex had no answer for that – work was always top of the list, as a matter of course. Kate aimed the seven ball at a corner pocket of the pool table and missed marginally.

"Will you stay if I let you win at pool?" Lex asked half-heartedly.

"You know that will never happen," Kate said. "If I win it's by my own skill – you're far too competitive to ever let me beat you."

Kate sighed softly as Lex took his shot, getting the ten ball squarely into a middle pocket. She had to leave the mansion, and not for any of the reasons that she had given Lex. It was because the familiar feelings had started up again, and that made it time to get away.

Lex looked at her sideways with his trademark smirk as he took his next shot, "Anyone would think that you don't enjoy spending time with me."

Kate smiled in a friendly way, though inside she was admiring the irony. In truth she loved spending time with him, more than anything. She scolded herself for falling for Lex all over again, despite how badly things had turned out for her the last time.

"Katie?"

"Hmmm," Kate was torn from her thoughts by Lex's stare.

"It's your turn," he grinned at her, smugly aware that she had spaced out completely.

Kate nodded and assessed the table before leaning down to take her shot.

"Are you sure you don't have things to do?" she asked over her shoulder as the elusive seven fell neatly into its corner pocket.

"For the sixty fifth time, no," Lex said exasperatedly. He looked at her sideways, "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No!" Kate looked shocked at the intensity of her reaction, and struggled to recover her composure. "I just want to make sure that you're not letting important business slide so that you can kick my ass at silly games."

"I assure you, the time is well spent," Lex smirked. He wandered towards his desk in spite of himself and carried the morning mail back to the pool table. He may as well get something done, considering she was starting to get suspicious of the time he was spending with her.

Lex made an aggravated sound as Kate sunk the one ball, and she looked at him in triumph.

"I might just win this one," she grinned.

"Hmmm?" Lex looked up from the card in his hand, and Kate realised that she had misunderstood his sound of contempt; it was directed at the mail and not her enviable shot.

"What is it?" she asked, taking a lazy attempt at the four ball and missing by a mile.

"An invitation," he groaned. "From Robert Masterson. He's a very important business associate."

"Can't blow that one off, huh?" Kate laughed, knowing Lex's distaste for dull parties full of stuffy old businessmen and their wives. There was a price that came with being young and successful.

Lex shook his head regretfully in response. " 'Lex Luthor and Guest'," he quoted from the paper.

Kate knew him too well. She backed towards the pool table in a feeble attempt to avoid the invitation. How could she refuse if he asked for her help? Her stomach turned over with nervous anticipation.

He raised his eyebrows in her direction. "Would you like to accompany me?" he asked predictably. "Distract me from the insipid tedium of yet another business party?"

Kate shrugged nonchalantly, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. "Sounds great," she said sarcastically. "When is it?"

"Tomorrow night," Lex answered. "The invitation must have been lost in the mail. That, or it's just fashionably late," he smiled dryly.

"Your turn," Kate said, gesturing to the pool table. She sighed behind Lex's back as he took his shot, wondering why she had felt the need to torture herself by showing up on his doorstep in the first place.

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"Good evening Mr. Luthor," an older man with a broad smile greeted Lex and Kate at the door the following night.

"Mr. Masterson," Lex said, shaking hands dutifully. "This is Katherine Finn."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Finn." He smiled in Kate's direction and introduced his wife, who was standing cheerfully by his side.

"Lovely to meet you both," Kate smiled her warmest smile, allowing Lex to lead her away from the couple and into the huge ballroom that was already filled with guests.

"One hour and we're done," Lex whispered grimly.

Kate felt his breath on her ear and struggled to contain herself. "It's not that bad, Lex." She smiled with fake encouragement, "Give it a chance."

She scolded herself silently – she should be happy to end this night as soon as possible. She had survived unrequited love with Lex once, and wasn't so eager for a repeat performance. Being close to him was not worth the pain that was lying in wait.

They circled the room together, participating in inane chatter with strangers for what felt like hours. Kate was nearing the end of her rope when Lex leaned down to whisper in her ear again.

"Shall we dance?" he grinned, pulling out all the stops in his performance of 'having a wonderful time'.

Kate nodded kindly while mentally kicking herself. Gluttony for punishment was not an admirable quality.

As they danced slowly around the room, Kate indulged in the familiarity of it. She remembered a time when they had been very close, spending time together whenever they could spare it. They made a great team. She leaned her head gently on his shoulder, acutely aware of his warm hand on the small of her back.

"Are you alright?"

She started a little at the sound of his voice, pulling her from her thoughts. "Fine. You?"

He lowered his eyebrows in a reprimanding manner, and she realised that the question was not just a feeble conversation starter – he was asking in order to hear the answer.

"I was just thinking," Kate said softly.

"About…?" Lex prompted, seeing the sadness behind her eyes.

"About us," she admitted. "About how we used to spend so much time together when we were younger."

"Good times," Lex said softly, leading her gently around the room to the music.

"I missed you, you know."

Lex frowned, surprised by the depth of feeling in her words. Kate realised that she was at risk of revealing herself and brushed the intensity of the conversation away with a laugh. "But it was a long time ago now – ancient history."

They stood in silence for a moment before Kate said abruptly, "Are you ready to go? I'm kind of tired…"

He nodded, "Of course."

Lex led her from the dance floor and collected their coats. As they drove back to the mansion in silence, Lex felt a familiar feeling emerging. He knew it had been foolish to allow her to stay in his home; the proximity was dangerous for them both. Falling for Kate had been a painful experience and he firmly resolved not to repeat it.