Summary: Being forced to revisit his life before Smallville is nothing new to Lex, but this time an unwitting victim is brought along for the ride.
Disclaimer: Last time I checked, these guys still ain't mine!
I also do not own/have not written any of the lyrics or quotes which may appear as credited within this story; intended usage is merely to complement narrative and thematic elements of my original work.
A/N: This takes place shortly after Season 1's finale (which would probably alter something somewhere in the episodes that aired, but it's all good).
VI: Moment of Truth
Lex glanced over at Lana, unable to take the impasse any longer.
"Look, I know you're not used to having people talk back to you, but I'm afraid you're just going to have to deal with it so long as we're stuck here together."
Lana shook her head in apparent wonder. "You are so incredibly rude sometimes," she managed to get out. "I mean truly, it's almost hard to believe."
"That's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about—why do you have to be so self-centered?" he implored.
"Why do you?"
A full minute passed.
"Too bad there aren't any Nicodemus plants around," Lex remarked suddenly. "At least then I'd have some entertainment."
Lana frowned. "What?"
Lex chuckled softly, looking away.
"What the hell is so funny?" she demanded.
"I just wish you could have seen how you acted that day. It was hilarious, the difference."
Lana eyed him suspiciously. "You told me I didn't say anything embarrassing to you when I approached you afterwards. You said, 'Don't waste another minute worrying about it;' that's what you told me."
Still refusing to face her, Lex felt the amused grin spreading despite his best efforts. "Yeah, well I guess I stretched the truth a bit on that one."
Lana's dark eyes were incredulous as she stared at his evasive profile. Finally, she gave an angry shrug. "You know what? I don't even want to know. You can just keep your little secret and your smug little smile."
"Oh, who ever taught you to be such a sore sport, anyway? It's highly unattractive, in case no one's ever told you."
"God, you're really unbelievable. Just don't even talk to me."
Another silence settled for a moment, and Lex raised his eyebrows as he stared straight ahead. "I believe the words 'bad boy' were uttered..."
Lana closed her eyes. "Lex..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said, frowning contritely and nodding to himself.
Stealing a sideways glance at him, Lana eventually cracked a small, unexpected smile. "That does sound pretty funny, I have to admit," she said.
Lex looked up at the ceiling, indulging his own little downturned smirk. "Oh believe me, it was."
While the break in mood was certainly welcome, Lana could still feel the mortified color hanging in her cheeks. If she had hit on Lex under the influence of that godforsaken flower, then all of Smallville must have gotten the treatment—which, for all intents and purposes, made Clark a dirty liar as well. This night just kept getting better and better.
Interrupting her thoughts again, Lex spoke in a tone that attempted to preserve some of the moment's levity: "I know you're scared, Lana—much as you probably don't want to hear it, I am, too. But honestly, fear is good: it sends us into survival mode. And lucky for you, I just happen to have some experience in the cheating death department."
Shooting him a dubious glance, Lana gave a half-hearted smile. "Lucky me."
"Look, once we get back to Smallville, stop by the mansion and I'll give you a handsome bonus for all of your troubles, OK? Call it an early birthday slash employee-of-the-month present."
Something in Lex's waiting expression made Lana forget why she was giving him such a hard time. "OK," she nodded.
»»««
The new day's heat was already oppressive as Pete followed Clark around the barn, watching him tinker with some odd repairs. Ever since the tornadoes hit, the farm had become a consuming, seemingly never-ending chore. Knowing Clark would be up at the crack of dawn, Pete decided it was as good a time as any to talk.
"I haven't been by yet," he said, after listening to Clark's recollection of the scene at the Talon the night before. "Is it still closed?"
"For now it is." Clark set a loose board against the wall for later consideration and turned back to his friend. "It just seems odd that somebody could have gotten both Lex and Lana away from there with hardly any sign of struggle," he said. "Maybe there's multiple people involved."
"Yeah, maybe... or maybe something else was at work that just made them compliant victims?"
"Yeah, I guess the police are looking into that. I wonder if Chloe knows about everything," Clark suddenly wondered aloud. "I haven't really talked to her lately."
"Well, seeing as she's at the Daily Planet, which is only like the hub of current events in Metropolis, I'm pretty sure she's heard about it by now."
"You're probably right. It's just crazy she's there for three whole months—we could definitely use her help on this, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. Honestly, though, Clark? Maybe that's why she was so happy to get away this summer. I think a lot of the time she feels like people around here only care to hang out with her when they need something."
Clark looked shocked. "Pete! You know that's not true."
"Hey man, it's cool," Pete reassured him. "I know you're good friends with her. I just call it like I see it. Girls think from a whole 'nother perspective, you know what I mean?"
The look on Clark's face said it all. "Yeah, I think I do."
»»««
Lex felt himself starting to nod off and glanced up in alarm. Lana caught his eye but looked as though she had been struggling in that capacity as well. The deep blue outside a window across the room appeared to be heralding morning. Just as Lex was trying to get his bearings, Calvin reappeared.
"So, how are you two enjoying the digs? I know it's not some big fucking castle, but hey. Gotta make do, you know what I mean?"
Lex eyed the room around them at the mention. "No, Calvin, I can see you've done well for yourself over the years."
Calvin shook his head. "You were always such a fucking wiseass," he reflected through gritted teeth. "Funny how you can end up hating something you once admired, how 'bout it."
"Oh, you never 'admired' me," Lex countered with an admonishing grin of his own.
Calvin made no response but instead moved over to inspect the tape around Lana's wrists and ankles. As she watched him lean down, Lana caught sight of what looked like track marks on his arms, and an odd wave of lightheadedness passed through her.
Noticing the direction of her gaze, Calvin stopped. "You like that, sweetheart? Like I said before, your boss over there sure used to."
Lex spoke from his place on the wall several feet away. "Not as much as you, apparently, Calvin."
"Well, we all know you can get over the effects of your old friend Heroin like a seasoned pro," Calvin said as he straightened, keeping his eyes trained on Lana—"I wonder how your new friend might take to it, though."
Lex's expression darkened considerably. "If you go near her, Calvin, I swear to God—"
"Oh, what, Lex?" Calvin sneered. "You'll take me out somehow? I'd really like to see your sorry ass try."
"No," Lex assured him. "You really wouldn't."
Regarding Lex closely, Calvin suddenly appeared to notice the faint scar above Lex's right eye. "You know, I understand you were there in the mansion during the tornadoes," he said in an inquiring tone. "Right when Lionel met his rather unfortunate fate. So I guess you are considerably dangerous."
Lex's mouth turned a curious smile as he looked down, shaking his head. "Yeah, you know, don't fuck with me."
Calvin raised a pointed finger in Lex's direction as he addressed Lana again. "See, he laughs, but it's the truth. This is the kind of person you're dealing with."
"Coming from the person who kidnapped her," Lex put in.
Calvin's expression was decidedly cross as he took a few steps towards Lex, stopping directly in front of him. "Don't spin your words for my benefit, Lex... you piece-of-shit excuse for a human being."
On the surface, the insult was almost comically juvenile, and so Lana was fairly astonished to see the look of injury that passed over Lex's face, subtle and fleeting as it was. It wasn't long, however, before Lex framed a response—and a most peculiar one at that.
"Do you know what the name Calvin means, by any chance?"
Calvin's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. "Why yes, Lex, I believe I do."
"Good, then you know it means 'bald.'"
"How ironic," Calvin replied evenly.
"Yes, well it seems you are more like me than you would prefer."
Calvin gave a sort of unamused smile, effectively belying the next words out of his mouth: "I'm nothing like you, Lex. Let's get that much straight."
Lex, meanwhile, looked as though he'd expected as much. "Whatever you have to tell yourself, Calvin, you know."
"I'm really loving this little act of yours," Calvin said, his voice rising, "like you have one up on me or something. I mean I know you haven't looked in the mirror lately, but there's definitely one person in control of this situation, and I'll give you a hint: it ain't you."
"Don't make the mistake of underestimating me, Calvin. Too many have, and lived to regret it."
Without warning, Calvin brought his foot up and kicked Lex hard across the face. Lana recoiled at the blow, peering over in trepidation from beneath her hair.
"Your problem, Lex," Calvin was meanwhile barking in the direction of Lex's downcast head, "is that you underestimate everyone."
Still reeling from the impact, Lex could only watch as his blood fell in strings to the floor. Evidence, he realized with a tiny shred of satisfaction.
"Don't worry," Calvin said suddenly, turning to look out the window. "I won't be keeping the two of you much longer. We're going to ride out what's left of today, and then tonight is the moment of truth. Just have a few things to wrap up, and we'll get this show underway."
"Maybe you'd be so good as to enlighten us to what that 'show' entails," Lex mumbled.
Calvin's answer was unexpectedly plain. "Well, Lex, tonight we're going to pay a visit to Ramey Sovereign, and you're going to get me into that safety deposit box of yours."
Lana watched as an unfamiliar look of hesitation clouded Lex's face. "How do you even know it's in that bank?" he asked. "There's how many chains in Metropolis—eleven, right?"
"Well, that's still not thirty, is it? I did my homework; plus, I've been waiting for this day long enough."
Lex didn't say anything for a moment. "I won't help you," he responded at last.
Calvin smirked. "No, Lex. Actually, you will. And then you're going to die."
END 6/?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness?
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves, but I'm lost within
I put on my daily façade, but then
I just end up getting hurt again
If I turn my back, I'm defenseless
And to go blindly seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on
Then they'll take from me till everything is gone
~ linkin park
