Thanks: My beta readers, Last Scorpion and The Die Hard, and all the reviewers.
No thanks: stupid yeast genes that have no homologs in mammals, genes that have too many homologs in mammals, and people who think that grades are everything.
Note: this is a sort of third season Chloe-Lex relationship. Not the horrible mess of seasons 4-5.
"...Even without the infamous car accident, Lex Luthor would have become the center of interest in the seemingly quiet town of Smallville. He occupied the huge Scottish castle his father claimed to belong to his family of old. That statement, of course, was so loaded with bitter irony.
Lex wasn't liked at first in Smallville. People who owned land, like Jonathan Kent, were wary of him because of the other farmers who were unfortunate enough to do business with his father. Others considered thefertilizer plant the mainsourceof all the weird occurrences around town.
Eventually, people warmed up to him – as became evident when he won the State Senate race. It was the first in a long line of political victories…"
Chloe Sullivan, "Destiny Shock – The Farm Boy Turns Superhero", Unpublished Notes
Chloe looked up through the car window, to the very top of the ninety-six floor Luthor building. Most of it was dark at that hour of the evening. Her belly shrank a bit, letting her know it didn't favor the idea of being so close to that place again.
A primitive part of her wondered if the elder Luthor's ghost was haunting the place. Surely Lionel Luthor wouldn't let things get out of his control just because of the mere inconvenience of being six feet under? He was probably there, leaning over his son's shoulder, or floating just above his head, whispering to Lex he was doomed to fail.
Stop it, she commanded her belly. The well-dressed psycho wasn't there anymore, and her resentment of the place itself was stupid. She took another bite of her energy bar, washing it down with a sip from the latte in her other hand.
Besides, her chances of entering the building were slim. When she called to make an appointment, she was promptly told that Mr. Luthor was too busy with his election campaign to give interviews to college papers. So now, having borrowed Naomi's car instead of her very red, conspicuous bug, she was lurking outside the LuthorCorp building for the last three hours, hoping that Lex would appear. Finally, he did. Sleek, bald head, body clad in black, coming out of the building at eight-thirty in the evening. Lex Luthor, the ultimate over-achiever.
She opened the door of the car, slammed it and ran. "Lex!" she called, "wait!"
Lex stopped and turned. She finally reached him, breathing hard, and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Chloe," he said. "It's been a while."
"Yes," she agreed, trying to catch her breath.
"We haven't met since my father's funeral, if I remember correctly."
Chloe nodded. She eyed him. Still impossibly sexy - not that she expected anything else. The long, black jacket, that walk…Lex had a place of honor in her fantasy to-do list, right after Keanu Reeves. But not today. She wasn't sure how to begin the conversation; 'I need an interview, but the real reason I came to talk to you is because I need you to make amends with the former friend who lied to you'. Ok, that didn't sound too good. The key word here was 'subtle'.
"Why were you there, Chloe?" asked Lex, "Did you come to make sure he was in his grave at last? There's no need to be ashamed. I know that was what I was there for."
Chloe felt the blush covering her cheeks. You weren't supposed to be happy when people died, even if they were world-class bastards, but really, there should be an exception for cases like Lionel Luthor. The man had poisoned his own son's scotch on a semi- regular basis, for heaven's sake. She would have spat on his grave at the funeral, but the metaphorical line was too long.
"I was hoping for an interview," she said to Lex.
"I thought my secretary made clear I do not have time for an interview," said Lex, checking his watch. "I have a campaign to run."
"Isn't PR-ing like mad part of every campaign? I would have expected you to give an interview to Bakerline elementary school at this point, just in case any of the parents would read it."
"Somehow I doubt that the eager ten-year old from Bakerline elementary school will ask me those questions you have in mind, Chloe."
"Got something to hide, Lex?" The world's most rhetorical question. The Luthors' family closet contained enough skeletons to meet Kansas' Halloween requirements for the next century.
"Let's just say I'm interested in favorable press at the moment, Chloe. You never fitted that category, not even in our first interview."
Was that amusement she heard in his voice?
"Do I have a 'Fox News' tag on my jacket, Lex? I'm not in the reporting business to give anybody an easy time."
"And I have not entered politics to give college journalists an opportunity to go up the ladder at my expense."
"What are you in politics for, Lex?"
Lex's smile, or his smirk, was thin. "For a better future to the Sunflower state, of course."
"Sure, Lex. Once you'll become senator, we'll have flowery meadows and chocolate rivers where children will dance and play," said Chloe. She could tell from his face that he didn't recognize the (paraphrased) Team America quote.
"You've already made up your mind about me, Chloe." Lex turned to leave.
"Yes, I did," said Chloe. Lex took a step toward his car. "I think you'll make a very good politician." What had he thought she'd say? That she considered him a moustache-twirling criminal mastermind? Could Lex even grow a moustache?
Lex turned to her again, trying to keep his face expressionless. He wasn't fooling her – if you knew how to read them, his eyes spoke volumes.
"And do you know why?"
"Please, enlighten me," he said.
"Because you want people to remember you. You want to go down in the history books as a great man, and that Lionel Luthor to be remembered as your father. And, just maybe, there's a part of you who wants to make this world a better place. Not that I expect you to admit it or anything."
Lex studied her from head to toe. He seemed to be making up his mind.
"How about dinner?" he asked.
"Does that mean I'll get an interview?" Chloe asked.
"No, that means I just invited you to dinner. For such a bright young woman, you're a bit slow to process such a simple offer," Lex began walking towards his sports car.
"Coming?" He asked over his shoulder.
Chloe took a moment to roll her eyes, then hurried to join him.
"…We were never friends, Lex and I. We respected one another, but friendship was beyond our reach - we were too much alike, and we understood each other too well…"
Chloe Sullivan, Private Diaries, Unpublished.
The restaurant was one of those places where one had to be born to the right class – the one with money - to know which fork to use. Luckily, they sat in a small, private meeting room, so if she'd screw up, it would be between her and Lex. Chloe wondered if Lex brought her there to the too-expensive restaurant to intimidate her.
If so, he picked the wrong girl. She stared hard at the French-written menu and ordered in random, hoping it won't turn out to be some poor frog's legs. She was pretty sure she found the source of the Americans' contempt for the French people – no self-respecting American would eat frogs.
Lex, of course, had no such problems. He said something in French to the head waiter, who took both their menus and disappeared with a slight bow.
"I wanted to thank you for that glowing recommendation you gave to my dad," said Chloe. She avoided mentioning 'after you made him another pawn in the game with your father, though he helped you buy the factory and ran it loyally for you.'
Lex apparently had the same thought going in his mind, but he returned her civility. "The least I could do. I would have been glad to have him back at the fertilizer plant, but I can understand him wanting to start afresh."
'Wanted to start afresh.' Her dad hadn't been able to find a job for a year and a half after Lex fired him, until Lionel Luthor's death. Lex, indeed, offered him his old job at the factory once Lionel was safely behind bars, but Gabe Sullivan had had enough of Luthors, and ended up taking a job in Anchorage, Alaska. They'd only seen each other twice since then. Chloe decided to drop the small talk.
"Lex…" Chloe began "I didn't really come for an interview."
Lex arched an eyebrow.
"I mean, I am interested in an interview, and so is my editor, but I have more important things to talk to you about." Chloe tried to clear the situation.
"Go on," said Lex.
"I'm here to talk about Clark," said Chloe.
"Obviously," said Lex, "since you didn't tell me the truth to begin with. Clark must be rubbing off on you."
That didn't sound like the forgive-and-forget Chloe had hoped for.
"Lex, please. Will you at least hear me out?"
Lex leaned backwards and looked at her with a deliberate lack of interest. What did he think? That if he'd show interest, she'd price her words higher?
"You and he are very much alike, you know." Chloe said.
She could see the surprise behind his eyes. "I'm not sure whether it's a compliment or an insult."
"Neither. It's just an observation."
"An observation," repeated Lex, and she wasn't sure whether he mocked her or not.
"I know it may not seem like that at the moment,"
"It doesn't."
"But I can point out at least one thing you have in common: both of you can't let a girl finish her sentence."
Lex was quiet for a moment. Did that mean she won the first round of that year's verbal judo championship?
They should really do that more often, perhaps sell tickets. Watch the spunky blond wannabe journalist pressing the cynical bald billionaire against the wall! Hear them as they try to outwit each other!
Now they were both quiet, because Chloe wasn't sure how to go on.
"I just wanted to say you'll both be better off if you just work out your major issues with each other. You used to be friends."
Lex' eyes narrowed. "'Used to'" is the key phrase here, Chloe."
"Friendship is based on trust, and ours severely lacked that. Who knew an innocent farm boy could have so much to hide, and how willing he would be to lie to keep certain things hidden?"
"Trust can be regained," said Chloe. "I regained Clark's after what happened with your father. It wasn't easy, but we managed."
Lex seemed unimpressed.
"Yes, you managed. You begged over and over again for his forgiveness until, like a true hero, he was gracious enough to grant it. How noble of him."
"It took him some time," Chloe said, slowly, "but then again, I had betrayed him. I didn't 'beg'."
Lex shrugged, "No, you didn't beg. All you did was to turn yourself into SuperChloe, best friend ever, no matter how badly he'd hurt your feelings. You've always been there for him."
Chloe swallowed. The taste in her throat was bitter, and the food hadn't even been served.
"Also, I remember that Clark wasn't without blame at the matter. Getting together with the girl you considered your best friend behind your back."
"Two wrongs don't make a right," answered Chloe. Lex was about to reply, but closed his mouth as the door opened and a waiter entered the room. They sat in silence until the dishes were served and the door was closed again.
"It doesn't matter what happened between me and Clark," said Chloe. "The subject is yours and Clark's friendship. I know it will take you a while to regain each other's trust…"
"You can't regain what never existed, Chloe," said Lex. Was that sadness in his voice? Did he miss what might-have-been?
"Come on, Lex. What did you expect? That Clark, immediately after he had pulled you out of that car, would say 'hi, I'm Clark Kent, your friendly super-powered neighbor!'?"
"No," said Lex, "but I can't forget how, whenever I asked him about all those weird occurrences around him, he looked me in the eye, each time, and lied straight to my face. We were friends the way you're friends with an ATM machine. He rescued me from harm, and I paid handsomely for the service."
"I just found another thing you have in common," said Chloe. "You're both terribly over-melodramatic. Of course he lied to you, just like he did to everyone else, because his parents installed that secrecy chip inside his brain, and for a good reason. The world is full of people who would have been thrilled to take advantage of him – like your father - and they were trying to protect him. He had to lie. He still has to."
A shade of bitterness passed over Lex's face.
"The Kents always thought they knew what's best for all of us, didn't they? They considered themselves salt of the earth, or should I say, cream of the corn. Yet Jonathan Kent was the one who convinced the Rosses to sell my father the cream corn factory, and Martha Kent worked as his assistant. They were never above taking his money or help – or my own - but were nonetheless positive they had the right to pass judgment on everything and everyone."
"They thought they were doing what's best for Clark," Chloe answered.
Lex had that nasty habit of being right, she thought, and though she always considered the late Kents to be good, honest people, she had to admit he had a point. The Kents had made their share of mistakes, but they didn't own them. However, they demanded Lex to pay twice as much for all his sins, and even more for his father's.
"They weren't perfect, I'll give you that, but they tried," she said, "and I think they did quite well. After all, they raised a great, selfless hero," said Chloe. She eyed him.
"What's so amusing?" she asked. Lex looked like he was actually about to laugh, and she didn't even know if he was able to. His father could laugh - a fake, hollow laughter, but she had never heard Lex laugh.
"A selfless hero, Chloe? You are wonderfully naïve. Always have been. Despite everything, you keep believing people can act out of the goodness of their hearts."
"It's not 'people' in general that I believe that act out of the goodness of their hearts. It's Clark we're talking about. You know, the guy who flies around and spends most of his time saving people who would have been dead otherwise?"
"Oh, I don't disagree with that," answered Lex. "He saves people. I just don't think he does that out of the goodness of his heart."
"So come on, give me a better reason," told him Chloe.
"Try guilt," said Lex. "He wasn't there in time to save his parents, and he's trying to make up for it. Or even better reasons – he does it for the glory. And power. He has Jay Leno laughing at his hair, and every kid wants to dress up as Superman for Halloween. Right now, he's more powerful than any other person on Earth, and not just physically."
"You're jealous," said Chloe. She stared straight into his eyes and waited. Lex was after power and influence, always, and he wanted what Clark had.
Lex didn't deny her accusation. "He's the ultimate power, Chloe. And sooner or later, he will take advantage that power."
"Thank you, Jeremiah. Or should I say Cassandra?"
Lex drank deeply from his wine before he continued.
"What is Clark's favorite book, Chloe?" he asked.
"You know the answer," she said.
"Humor me," said Lex.
"Weren't you the one who gave him that Starship Troopers book?"
"I gave him half his library, Chloe. Why isn't his favorite book 1984, or Common Sense? Starship Troopers is one of those rare books that consider dictatorship a legitimate way to run the world."
"Come on, Lex. Lots of people like that book. It won one of those science fiction Oscars."
"A Hugo," corrected Lex, proving again that under the expensive clothes, he was a geek at heart, "and none of those people ever had the power Clark possesses, to mold the world to their preferences."
"Get to the point, Lex. What do you think he'll do with that tremendous power you're speaking of?" Chloe knew she was being rude, but she rejected what Lex had just said with all her heart. Lex was talking about the things he would have done if he had Clark's power, she told herself. Clark was different.
"Well, it was one of you journalists who said that 'The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule It.'"quoted Lex. "I assume he'll become a ruler of a kind."
"Mencken was a hopeless cynic," answered Chloe, "and Clark doesn't want to rule anything or anyone. All he wants is a quiet life. You're mixing your desires with his."
"But you said so yourself, we are very much alike," Lex shot back at her, and promptly won the verbal judo round.
"I'll take the guilt argument you mentioned earlier – Clark always feels guilty about every thing," said Chloe. Especially about his parents' death.
It wasn't that he hasn't gotten there in time; it was the Kryptonite that kept him from getting to them. She had found him on the ground near the house, and he almost died himself trying to reach them.
"but not the ruling part. I can't imagine Clark wanting to rule anyone. That's the part where you're not alike."
Lex ignored the insult – she wasn't even sure he considered it an insult – and brought a fork full of food to his mouth. They sat in silence as he chewed and swallowed.
"No, he doesn't. For now," Said Lex, "but he's impulsive and lacks in patience. He sees every day more of the bad side of humanity than most people see in a life time. Rape, murder, poverty…do you really think he'll be able to stay neutral for long?"
"Clark obeys the law, Lex," said Chloe, who remembered, to her discomfort, several occasions in which her statement had been proved wrong.
"Sure. Till he loses his patience. Remember the mind-reader kid?"
"Ryan," said Chloe, "he was kept at the Summerholt Institute against his will, they were hurting him…Clark had to act," she ended weakly.
"That's right. And, once he decided to act, nobody was able to stop him. Not even his parents. I believe that eventually he will act the same way, only on a global level."
Lex shook his head, and she thought he looked awfully tired at that moment.
"'Corruptio optimi pessima', Chloe," quoted Lex. "'Corruption of the best becomes the worst.' He will fall, no matter what I do, and I want nothing to do with that. Mark my words."
"I'll add them to My Favorites" answered Chloe.
"He won't, Lex" she said, in a softer voice. "His parents' deaths was his wake-up call. He'll go on doing exactly what he does right now."
"Perhaps," said Lex, his voice skeptical. "If that would happen, I will be more than glad to be proven wrong."
"If you really think he's that big a threat to society, why won't you expose him?"
"What would I benefit from that? Knowledge is power, Chloe. And power is something I do not share. I can think of better ways to spend my time than to see the world worshipping at the farm boy altar. Superman's altar is bad enough."
Because they love him the way they would never love you? Chloe asked in silence.
"Or maybe you just want to prove to him that you could have kept his secret," she said out loud, and from the way Lex' eyes narrowed a bit, she could guess it was at least part of the answer.
It wasn't going to work, thought Chloe, as she realized nothing could make amends between Lex and Clark. Lex had wanted the truth, Clark denied it, and their friendship – if you could ever call it that – went downhill.
She got up. "Thanks for dinner, Lex. If you change your mind – you know where we are. I'll find my own way to my car."
Lex nodded. "Good-bye, Chloe," he said.
"Good-bye," she replied. "Good luck with the elections."
"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly…it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."
Thomas Paine, The Crisis, as quoted at the opening of chapter six of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
"…Lex knew before any of us did…including Clark himself. He knew about the passion for power and the exertion of it, and how addictive that could get. I once told him that he and Clark were very much alike. I had no idea how right I had been, back then.
Did Ethan ever have a hint of what's to come? I hope not. He believed in Clark – not the blind faith of a believer in a Messiah, but a belief in a person's ability to rise above himself and do the right thing. Maybe that was the last straw. With Ethan gone, there was only me left to believe in Clark's ability to tell the difference between right and wrong, and I guess that just wasn't enough…"
Chloe Sullivan, "Destiny shock – The Farm Boy Turns Superhero", Unpublished Notes
Author's long note:
Well, it's been a long time! But here's the new chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it.
Explanations: Bakerline is a part of the Superman's comics Metropolis. Common Sense is one of Tom Paine's books.
If you wonder why Chloe quoted from Mencken at the first part– well, the poor girl has been through a lot, and that had made her somewhat of acynic, as well (though not as much as Mencken – I don't think anybody can be that cynical).
Please note that I'm talking all the time about Starship Troopers, the book, not the Parody of a movie (it was a good parody, but still).
Ethan: I referred to him at the first chapter, and hope to introduce him at chapter 7 or 8.
Thanks you all for reading.
