Blinking against the blinding light above her, Audrey wrestles her way out of the thick fog that seems to have trapped her; the rough paper sheet beneath her body crumples as she moves frantically against the weight of her own delirium.
Paralyzed by the smothering sensation of being powerless to her own will, she somehow summons strength from deep within to raise her arm in protest to the stranger's hands willfully trying to calm her.
As though tied to a spinning top which is slowly coming to a halt, Audrey feels the world whirl around her; dizzy with nausea and unable to see the objects slowly coming into focus around her.
The sickening stench of ether intoxicates her, weighing down the lids that cover her pale green eyes. She wants to scream out his name and be safe to collapse within his embrace, but even he is too far away to help her now. Despite how dark her world is without him, she cannot give in now to the darkness swirling around her. She must fight to save herself, even against the one with the power to take everything away.
Finding her voice from deep within she pleads, "Why are you doing this? Haven't you done enough to us?"
Her pleas are silenced by the tap of heels against the cold, hard linoleum floor. The all too familiar face leans over her, chilling her spine with evil intent.
Audrey gasps, waking up, her eyes flying open as she sits up, breathless, and panic stricken.
Her eyes focus on her surroundings as she basks in the safety of Clark's room, she's relieved to see it was just a nightmare. She checks the clock on the bedside table, frightened to see there's several more hours of darkness to face before the dawn.
x X x X x
The chill of the early morning air stings Audrey's tear soaked cheeks as she closes her eyes, trying to shake the chill still residing in her from the all too realistic nightmare.
Alone in the dark her only comfort are the memories of a time when things weren't so complicated; when life was fresh and exciting, when it was possible to see the world as a place where dreams come true.
She escapes to that time in her mind, allowing the tears to fall freely at the memory of it.
It's a beautiful night in downtown Metropolis. The sky is aglow with what seems like a thousand stars. Audrey looks like the portrait of elegance, her lilac chiffon gown sweeps the ground with the tips of its handkerchief hem, like the petals of a delicate flower brushing over the wooden plank floor. Despite what she feels on the inside -- a million butterflies in the pit of her stomach screaming how she does not belong in this world -- her looks and artwork say the exact opposite.
Audrey roams about the gallery which busts at the seams with Metropolis society, quietly staying hidden in the shadows. Although she is the guest of honor, as it is her opening, she is at a loss when it comes to fitting in with millionaires and socialites. She takes a sip of her champagne, allowing her eyes to graze the room.
As her eyes dance about the posh loft, she is amazed at who she sees. The 'creme de la creme' of Metropolis are all there to celebrate work she has done with her small town hands. People, who until now, have been consigned to the business and society pages of The Daily Planet. Tony Stark staggers to the bathroom so drunk he looks like he's in a different universe. Towards the bar, she instantly recognizes Lionel Luthor, a man whose power is so abundant she has to turn away as though blinded by a great light. She is amazed that an event centered around her would cause someone as dynamic as him to attend. She swallows, trying to appear at ease among the elite.
She looks up and her eyes catch a glimpse of the most handsome man in the room. He is swimming in a sea of women, all of whom would gladly eat out of his hand if he were to request it. Audrey is mesmerized by him. Not just by his stunning good looks and apparent charm, but by the incredible confidence and attention he pays his present company. She moves in closer, as if lured in by his charms. She has heard of him, who hasn't? The millionaire playboy, and no doubt one of the most eligible bachelors in Metropolis. In normal circumstances a girl like Audrey Peyton could not get within twenty miles of Bruce Wayne, but tonight, this night, she's within feet of him.
She watches him flirt and drink champagne, all the while trying to play coy. She could never be one of the girls hanging about him like a love struck school girl. She is content to just know that he's in her gallery, even if he doesn't know who she is. He looks up, catching her eyeing him, their eyes locking for a moment. He smiles as he takes a sip of his champagne, still looking through her with those magnetic eyes. She looks down, breaking free of the handsome stranger's gaze. Flushed and excited she turns, leaving the room.
Audrey steps outside onto the terrace, enjoying the lights of the city, and crisp night air. She has arrived. Her life would be perfection if only she had someone to share it all with. She lets out a sigh, looking up at the stars. Just then, as if by magic, someone stands beside her.
"Do you prefer to be alone, or would you like some company?"
"Audrey, do you want some company?" Clark says tentatively as he stands behind her on the porch stairs.
Audrey's head whips around, his voice snatching her back to reality.
"What are you doing up so late?" Audrey asks, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, sliding over on the step to make a place for him.
"I couldn't sleep," he answers, sitting down beside her, his large frame dwarfing her. He rubs his hands together, not that the cold bothers him, but he's used to faking it for others. It also helps cover the silence that's fallen between them.
"Are you cold?" Clark asks, getting up. "I can go inside and grab my jacket."
Audrey lays her hand on his knee shooting him a sad smile, "I'm fine." She pats his knee like a sister comforting an overprotective brother. She enjoys his protection, but doesn't want to look like she needs it.
Clark sits back down on the step, looking over at her. He searches her face for the answer to the question that's been plaguing him all night. Well, at least, ever since he first laid eyes on her.
Always the gentleman, he can't bombard a crying girl for information that is sure to surface soon enough. When the time is right he's sure she'll tell him just how she had come to know him, but until then he cannot ask.
Audrey senses his restraint, and allows a relieved smile to creep across her lips. Looking to him she says, "It's true, you are very sweet."
Clark raises a puzzled brow, curiosity evident on his face.
The smile drifts from her face, guilt now draping it. "I can't tell you now, Clark," she says, delivering it with serious wide eyes.
You could knock this superman over with a feather.
"You look surprised," she says, not sure he understands.
"I know you're curious about how I know you," she says bluntly. "And I really wish I could tell you everything, but, some things can't be fixed."
This hits him like a ton of Kryptonite. What could be going on that ihe/icould not help her with?
He thought that's what his purpose was, to help people. Here she sits alone, crying, obviously in some sort of trouble, and yet she won't allow him to help. His hands had never been bound in a way that he could not break free. Yet, she was able to tie them securely. For the first time in his life Clark Kent feels powerless.
"Are you in danger?" Clark asks quietly, hoping for more details.
She smiles, turning away from him, hiding the pesky tears who like to fall whenever this subject comes up. She tilts her head back, allowing them to roll back into her eyes. This time she's successful at hiding her emotions from him.
"Would it be okay if we pick this up later? I think the lack of sleep is finally catching up with me."
Clark nods, offering his hand to helps her up, politely holding the porch door open for them both to both go back inside.
She turns in the hall, stopping to look back towards him. She can see worry in his eyes, a part of her wishing she could tell him everything. How much she wishes she could stand behind him and allow him to protect her. Never had she dreamed it would come to this. She knows she owes him an explanation. But she knows if she were to tell him she would be putting him in jeopardy. The less he knows about her, and what she knows, the safer he is. She may not have super powers but she would protect Clark Kent and his secret if it were the last thing she had to do. So she holds it all in, and simply says, "Goodnight Clark."
x X x X x
Audrey lays restless in bed, looking up at the ceiling, as tears trickle down her cheeks, moistening the sheet beneath her. She rolls to her side, closing her eyes, able to escape in her mind once more to where it all began.
The terrace where she stands feels a million miles away from the world around her; the world in which she feels she does not belong. The people inside continue with their conversations, oblivious to the person they are there to celebrate. The cars below speed along, unaware that time has stopped for the girl looking down at them. She feels a chill go through her. Is it the cold night air, or the electricity between she and the man beside her? She turns to face him.
Lex Luthor stands grinning devilishly, his long coat dancing in the breeze.
"I'm Lex-" he begins, putting out his hand.
"I know who you are," she interrupts, looking straight into his eyes.
"You do? I don't recall having had the pleasure," he says, his eyes devouring her.
She shakes his hand, her knees weakening at his touch. She keeps her guard up, despite the rush of euphoria she feels flowing through her. She refuses to be just another conquest for the famous Luthors.
She begins cooly, "I'm Audrey..."
"Peyton," he finishes, just holding off a wink.
His confidence both irritates and excites her. She looks at him, trying to read his intentions. The party is full of women who have been eyeing him all night. He has looks, charm, money and power; everything it takes to seduce a woman. Well, the kind he usually entertains.
Why is he on the terrace toying with her? She has met men like him before; those that see women as conquests and objects but are never interested in what they know or do -- just what they are useful for that night. She wasn't interested in being another notch on a millionaire's belt buckle, and she was going to let him know that.
"A pleasure, Ms. Peyton," Lex says, still trying to charm her.
Her distance towards him is apparent in her eyes.
"I think I should go back in and join my guests," she says, turning her back to him, becoming dizzy from the pounding of her own heart.
He puts his hand on her forearm gently, a gesture urging her to stay. Her eyes go quickly to his, hoping the daggers she's shooting from them will pierce into him.
The look on his face, the light in his eyes reveal something deeper, more sincere. She tries to fight what her giddy heart is feeling. Her head keeps screaming that she knows better, warning her of his reputation. But her heart, her silly heart which seems to have just come alive for the first time can't help but make her stay outside a little longer.
"I know what it's like to want to be alone," Lex says, looking off into the distance. "Problem is if you spend enough time by yourself, you start to repel people," he says, his tone less seductive, more sincere.
"You're not repelling me," she says softly, taking a step closer to him. "It's just..." she begins.
"It's just that you think I'm like my father," he says turning to look at her.
"I don't know your father," she says, innocently.
He smiles, the glimmer in his eyes tickling her. Everyone who has ever drawn breath in Metropolis knows Lionel Luthor.
"Okay, I know who he is, but we've never met," she says, starting to give into him.
"It's okay, I've been judged my entire life by people. Either by the way I look or by my last name," Lex says, feeling every insult he's endured over the years as though they just occurred.
Audrey feels awful. She never would have imagined a Luthor capable of such emotions.
She had always felt that way. The awkward artist, always struggling to get by, praying one day she'd catch a break. Now that she had, she can't help but keep the walls up and feel like she's not worthy of her surroundings secretly fearing one day the veil will come down and they will all see her as an outsider and she will fall farther than anyone ever fell.
"I'm just a little surprised that you would leave the party to come out here to stand," Audrey states, still curious about his motivation.
"And yet, it's all for you inside and here you stand," Lex says, looking at her. "Maybe you and I, Audrey just don't belong in a world full of champagne and idle chit chat."
It's true. She would happily give up the party, and press and all the money from the sales of her pieces, the position she had fought so long to secure, if it meant she could spend more time here, exploring these uncharted emotions with the man who seems to want to do the same.
She looks up at him, their eyes locking. Maybe he is all wrong for her. Maybe they are meant to always live on opposite sides. Maybe her heart will be broken. Or maybe, just maybe, he will change her life forever, and she will change his. Audrey hangs onto that hope, the tiny sliver of hope that this, she and Lex Luthor, could be meant to be. She gazes up into his eyes, opening herself to a world of intimacy with the last man she would've ever expected.