Disclaimer: Smallville and its characters do not belong to me.

Waiting on You: Part II
----
Four Months Later
---

"Wait- you're meeting Lex Luthor, the Lex Luthor, for lunch? It's
apart of an expose right, please, please tell me you don't really
trust this guy? Do you remember the last months of LexCorp. He's a
monster." Lois Lane- now known to slaughter the victims until the
truth is revealed.

She had become gradually better, realizing she must hold her own
temper as well as patience. Coerce the victim to you, let them tell
you all they have to say, and then nail them relentlessly in the
newspaper. Let no page go unturned, this is a newspaper and the
people will have the truth.

And the truth with Lex Luthor lay in history, in their newspaper no
less. The tyrant, cutting thousands of workers due to a bad
contract. It was her first piece, and would remain with her as an
achievement upon her wall forever.

Although both Chloe and Clark had mentioned what a great guy Lex
could really be, well, in their versions of great guys. Neither
Chloe or Clark ever flat out said "he is wonderful," but it was
implied. Oh the implications.

If she could round up a gang of reporters, there would probably be a
poll of how far Lex and Clark had gone. They had to be lovers, or
soon to be at least.

So of course Clark's judgment was skewed. And Chloe had known Lex
forever; it's always difficult to see the flaws in the friends.

No, no. She was alone in this investigation. For four months the
burglaries had been on the back burner, simmering into a Pulitzer.
Once this investigation broke, once the story was out, once the
ending had finally come- she would have her Pulitzer.

Nothing was stopping her- not even the silly fleeting enchantments
of love.

---

"I would suggest you run away from Lionel Luthor before you're
utility runs out. He is dangerous.

Rob Gane"

The note stood posted on her door. A caution, a pledge. She trashed
it.

---

Taking quiet stroll through the park, a simple and sweet feeling
clouding Clark's head. Side by side, he and Lex meandered among the
picturesque setting. Hundreds of bushes, forming into a cutout of a
portrait, the idea stolen from a park somewhere in Columbus,
surrounded them. Music soared around them; the rustled the plants
gave a more lively set to the picture.

A serene picture of a utopian world. Everyone was casually dressed,
except the businessman on the ground- even the small detail of a bow
was trimmed on the "businessman- bush."

----

"It has been completed, sir. One week, four days, 17 hours. Ripening
succeeded. Age 14. It will take another week to make sure after the
rapid growth he slows down properly." The voice droned on, giving
facts without feelings. This was his duty. He would make Snealz
proud of him.

"Flaws?" The demanding voice urged, feeling himself annoyed with any
mistakes.

"We cannot reenacts any scars he may have received during his
childhood years." The worthless hours, banging the clone, attempting
to perfect the scars. So silly, when makeup will do just as well.
People never notice the difference anyway, the fake can become the
real.

----

Clark looked at Lex, remembering the "date" (which, Clark refused to
call a date to anyone but himself) they shared last week.

The billionaire had shed his suit and traveled out to a lazy
luncheon down by the planet. Clark, convinced they would have had
nothing in common, that he was wasting his time, actually enjoyed
himself.

As a lonely outcast, Lex had found a love in history and movies and
(if Clark ever told anyone this, he would face a wrath more
terrifying than Chloe's cookies) Warrior Angel. Clark, who had not
been able to stop imagining Lex in a set of wings and decked out in
a spandex suit, finally gave into the childish impulse to laugh,
agreeing that it was better Lex Warrior Angel than try to become
him.

Lex replied that if only Clark would become Warrior Angel for him,
he would have his own personal savior, and then he would bother to
read the books.

The present tense of the verb brought up a series of revelations:
Lex had a warrior angel collection, missing only two, Lex was still
fascinated with Clark (for whatever reason,) Clark did not mind
that fascination, and perhaps they should go try this "date" thing
next week.

However, by the time next week had come, a worry had clouded itself
around Clark.

"Have you talked to Chloe lately?" Clark inquired, throwing some of
his hot-dog bun into the man-made pond in the middle of the park,
with imported ducks and fish.

"Journalist are rarely ever free," Lex replied dryly, reminding
Clark of the many failed attempts to meet up before this.

"She's been working around the clock again, ever since the
kidnapping. I know Chloe said she was fine, that she never even met
her supposed kidnapper. She was heavily drugged, sleep deprived, and
coffee driven- that she managed to even walk surprised me. But she's
been pushing her limits. Perry wants her to take a vacation; she's
not having it." He looked to the ducks, fighting over the piece of
bread, as if it were the last piece that would be offered to them.

---

"No matter what we do, his hair will not stop growing. If this
really is a success, his hair will have to be shaved every three
hours."

" Three?" Again, outraged and demanding.

"Perhaps accelerated do to the birthing process. We have high hopes
the growth will slow down when the clone reaches twenty-eight. "

---

Lex cupped Clark's chin, forcing Clark to look into his eyes, "Even
if the whole world turned upside down, and she became a mere puppy
following her master, she would still be working on a story." Lex
smiled, adding lightly, "She'd break away as soon as she smelt
something fishy."

Clark smiled back, comforted by the billionaire' s words, "I thought
cat's smelt fish?"

His hand smoothed over Clark's face, "Chloe is a cat- independent
and taunting- she's always going to smell fish."

His heart beat irregularly. The hooded eyes poured into him, and he
forced himself to break the tension with a small bit of humor, "So I
guess she smells you?"

Lex moved away, ruffling Clark's hair, "Are you implying I am a
fish?"

An offended laugh followed Lex's words, "You could never be a fish,
maybe a steak."

"I'm steak now?" Lex stood up from the bench, giving him a mock-
outrage look.

"Quite a delicious piece as well." Clark grinned at him, and then
tossed the rest of his bun into the pond.

Shaking his head, Lex started walking off, "No wonder you are
hopeless in relationships. " But, Lex still laughed, turning back to
Clark, "C'mon, Farm boy."

---

"I have an offer." Having worked with him for over four months, she
knew his words meant more than he would say. Quid Pro Quo never
worked well with Lionel Luthor, he would be relentless with demands.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor?" She did not look up from her desk work, papers of
information, all collected by her, summarizing data for the tyrant.
She did not want to appear too eager, but she could not help her
bright eyes fill with hope- was this it? Was this the chance she had
dreamed of for four months?

"I have run into quite an obstacle as of late." He stated, a matter
of fact, leaving nothing to work with.

She looked uncertainly at the man, so perhaps this wasn't the chance
she dreamed of. "I don't know that-"

"It has come to my attention- you have a friend, a dear Clark Kent.
A son of Martha Clark, or did she keep the name Kent?" The light,
careful way he mentioned her name caught Chloe off guard, He almost
sounded as he- as if he had loved Clark's mom, the broken,
distraught woman. Perhaps the relationship had progressed into
something dangerous, something so dangerous it had broken her
spirit. Perhaps it broke his humanity too. "I never really
understood the tragedy of a spouse dying. My wife was always so
distant, when she died it was as if a favorite portrait was
destroyed. Easily replaceable, but nothing would quite fit the
same." Maybe not.

"I work-"

"I do not accept carefully calculated lies. You've known him for
years, long before you worked with him." Lionel stated, not
bothering to scold Chloe more for her understated declaration.

It was useless to deny it, "We've been friends since eighth grade."

" Both originating from Smallville. Quite a mysterious town, you'd
be surprised to find out how many Metropolitans are actually from
Smallville." He shook his head, laughing at himself in his
head, "Help me, and I'll give you that Pulitzer you have so desired.
That Pulitzer that every journalist desires."

" You've mistaken me- what says a friend, especially such a nice one
as Clark, isn't more important that the Pulitzer?" Play it offended,
don't let him-

"Nice guys are always liars, but you know this, don't you? Ever feel
the anger, the tart memory of the lies tying your relationship, the
envy of someone knowing him more- even when you have been best
friends for how many years?"

" What do you mean?" Was this what she thought it was? Did he know-

"Wouldn't it kill you to know, I have in very good authority that my
son and your best friends are now lovers, have been so for quite
some time. Did you know that?"

The pain hit her. She knew Lex and Clark were close, but closer than
her and Clark? The heartbreak filled her. She thought she had ridded
herself of these love sick feelings the day Clark had told her he
was gay. But then, she thought that the power of their relationship
was strong enough so Chloe would be the first to know. She had
always been the first to know. She thought she'd always be the first
to know. Apparently not.

"I don't believe you." She bit out, "Clark would have told me."

Lionel tossed pictures onto the table, showing her his cards.
Images, shared kisses between Clark and Lex in the park, the two
entering into the Penthouse, a ragged Clark leaving it the next
morning, more intimate kisses in various places. All out of place,
all so extravagant. All so completely fake.

Vengeance ran through her, how dare he try to turn her against her
best friend. Her mind was immediately made up.

"You surprise me, Mr. Luthor. I hadn't realized you've been doing so
much research." Her voice a forcefully airy.

"Give me everything you know about Clark, and I'll give you that
Pulitzer- or whatever else you may dream to have." A beautiful
offer, one a lesser journalist so enthralled with the Pulitzer would
take.

Chloe looked at him, frowning slightly, making her unhappiness
known, "Just because he might be an ass, doesn't mean I want him
dead."

Lionel laughed, the first sign of something other than his usually
mad businessman demeanor. "Chloe. It would look bad if a businessman
such as I were to kill a noble man such as he. I can't go around
killing reporters just because I don't like them."

" No ties, no strings? After it – no contact? No blackmail?"

" Chloe, my reputation must be exaggerated. I would never do such a
thing, unless in dire situations. This is just for learning
material. Such a strong, independent person could ruin the world as
we know it. I want to prevent that, save him from himself. No harm.
Just control."

"I-Alright." She had signed her soul to the sea witch, dressed in
the form of a businessman. Already she felt the curls of the eels
holding her down under the water.

----

No more robberies took place for another two months, so the
backburner story was shut out from the scene. Once simmering, now
cold. Or- that's what they told Perry, who was a stickler for the 48
hour nonsense.

Hanging up the phone, Clark slide over to Lois, whispering, "I think
I might have a lead-"

Bright brown eyes looked up at Clark, "Random tip?" Her voice
sounded doubtful, superior in judgment. She still thought Clark had
no idea what he was doing.

"No- that guy? Joseph Gate? I got an interview with him. Lex set it
up. I think he might have just said Lois Lane-- you're more well
known." It was rushed through the bustle of putting on a jacket.

A look of disgust ran through Lois' features. Even her hair seemed
to deflate a little. Turning back to her work, she scoffed, "Luthor?
Why don't you just jump in front of a bullet? Actually, that's
probably what he's having you do."

Lois never let the hate go, in fact, it may have been building
throughout the past months. She even seemed to be hating Clark more,
for whatever reason.

"He's not that bad-" He attempted to say, but Lois was having none
of it. Even if they had known each other since their early teen
years-- Lois and Chloe were cousins, and Chloe thought it would be
wonderful to have her two favorite people meet so they could all be
friends and have their own newspaper—Clark would never understand
Lois, or Chloe come to think of it.

"You can go alone." Final. He has been dismissed, and off he went
alone.

He might as well not have gone at all, because Gate did not show up.
However, on the table where they were supposed to meet he left a
note:

"Snlz Rob"

----

"I'm just confused what Snealz has to do with any of this. He's been
our source for years. I wish I could talk to Chloe but I have been
out of sorts with her lately."

Lois looked at the paper, analyzing it- looking at the shorthand,
seeing something, anything, that would help her.

"Maybe it doesn't mean anything. How do we know Snlz is Snealz?
Maybe Luthor put it there to keep us off track." She dropped the
paper back into Clark's hand, "I suggest trashing it."

Clark looked at her, really seeing how much this story had
transformed her. Transformed everyone really. He had set aside a
long burning hate that had stuck with him for several years, Chloe
had become more reasonable her works, sticking to less dangerous
stories, and Lois had let a hate divide itself between her work and
rational. He could not say the change was for the better.

He tried again, talking aloud, helping his mind absorb the
information, trying to look for a different side to this puzzle
piece, "Maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe it means Snealz robbed his
place? For what? Insurance? He was in debt, but then how would Gate
know this? Maybe it was part of a conspiracy? LuthorCorp was looking
into buildings in that area, paid people to rob the areas-- getting
rid of the business, allowing him to buy the land up. Why that land?
Property is expensive, maybe to lower it down a bit?"

Lois looked up again, sighing and coming back to sit on Clark's
desk, "Clark? Does any of that make sense to you?"

" We have seven robberies. All pertaining to that area. No traces,
one kidnapping. It's weird."

She had found some leads, which would tie Luthor to the robberies,
but she still needed to meet up with a few more sources. So, maybe
Lois should fill Clark in on her information? But the slight lull of
the Pulitzer tugged at her heart. She could bare to lose some
brownie points with Clark if it meant she got her story. Partners
were only partners when they needed to be. No, she decided to keep
the puppy reporter on the one subject that pestered him the
most, "That kidnapping is weird. Chloe's been completely mum on it,
it's rather frustrating. Has she mentioned it to you?"

As yes. The sore subject with Mr. Clark Kent. The communication
between them had become that of an old friend you accidentally bump
into. Awkward hellos, and freeing goodbyes.

"Mentioned? I would love to have heard from her at all. Lex told me
she probably is getting over the shock, and the kidnapping is
finally hitting her, and to let her come out and seek me. But, well,
five months? I don't know." Clark sighed.

Check. Point. Match. Lois had won this, and now, less worry about
the underdog stealing her lead. Even just having a byline for this
wouldn't be enough- it was hers and hers alone.

----

"You don't want to do this." Lex struggled against the knife
pressing into his throat, slicing so thinly only a sliver of blood
escaped, trickling down his neck. The beat of his heart speed up,
and for the first time he was really scared for his life. The
funeral march sung in his head, and he wasn't even sure his Hero
could save him.

"Mr. Luthor orders, sir." A drone, simple and obedient. The man had
no free thought, having it been destroyed through pressures. He
would prove himself, he would live for something. Snealz would be
proud. Snealz. Snealz would forgive him.

----

"It is time. In twenty minutes, send the message. He'll arrive, and
I'll grant you your reward. You have been a very good source, Ms.
Sullivan. Most thorough, most agreeable as well."

" My name will serve no connection to this. I'm here for the story
and nothing else."

" I admire that."

" Just remember it."

---

The drugs were injected through a vein, and although he was still
awake, he was more docile and less dangerous.

Dragged below a building, the dark corners of the street familiar
and so very dark. The shadows casting down upon him and his
kidnapper. Only through the halls did light shine, did some kind of
lighter tone fill his mind. And hope!

There was Chloe, standing tasseled and tired. She must have been
kidnapped too, through whatever they both had gotten into; she
didn't looked drugged- she must have been here for hours. Her mind
would be clearer for thought. He tried rushing toward her, only to
be sharply reminded of the knife threatening his throat.

And suddenly, his vision darkened, black dots formed in his eyes, he
fought it off, coming back from his dilemma to see Lionel behind
Chloe, directing her with a wave of his hand.

What was going on?

"Ms. Sullivan, I think it may be time for the third member of our
party to join us, don't you think? Why not give him a call. Ah wait,
I suppose he is the fourth. Lex, I would like to meet the new and
improved you."

An eerie melody, as if the wind had whispered through the enclosed
room, sang slowly, and out of a corner came a six foot monstrosity,
completely bald, in a black suit, tucked with a white shirt, a
button undone at the top, a relaxed posture, blue eyes glued
straight to his brothers, a carbon copy of Lex.

---

Snealz watched his friend, coming out of the shadows for the first
time in several months. He knew there were some things Taylor
wouldn't tell him, refused to mention. There were some things that
Snealz knew and refused to mention. Their broken friendship had
nearly torn them apart. No longer were the two of them the business
partners they had dreamed, but rather broken men. They were
destroyed by the pressures of society, and now there was no saving
them.

Even Joseph Gate, once full of so much optimism and candor, had
fallen to the perversions of Lionel Luthor. An honest man from
Smallville, Joseph had meant the big sharks in Metropolis,
innocently believing a fresh new start possible. After suffering
through a long line of minute business, Joseph had taken a loan from
Luthor, believing interest would be enough to keep the head shark
satisfied. No, Joseph had been the first to receive the offer to
sell his building, and he had been the first to refuse. He had not
been safe since.

No, three innocent men taken by the ties of the schools of sharks
haunting Metropolis.

And now, Taylor had committed the greatest crime. Rushing off to
ameliorate these trappings, to save them all from these sharks, to
save them all from the impeding shadows- Snealz knew what had to be
done.

---

For the first time since knowing Lex, Clark had not been immediately
let through to his office at LuthorCorp. A little worried, Clark
tried again. Still nothing.

So maybe the impromptu lunch had been a bad idea. He began walking
back to the Daily Planet, enjoying the brush of clean air.

Nothing amiss, except no less than a minute later, an urgent text
message from Chloe telling him to meet her at Gasper's ASAP.

Immediately, Clark called Lois. A story was a story, and he was her
partner.

---

The haunted room, filled with ghosts of the past, a laboratory of
deception and impurities. This room was death. No forgiveness, no
acceptance. A decayed room, built on hope and joy and friendship,
reduced to death and unyielding, hopeless truth. No man in this line
of business was safe. No man who let himself be manipulated by work,
letting go of his or her own feelings, was safe. Business wasn't
safe, not without hope, not without feeling. Not with these tyrants
running around, cutting corners, dreaming of the greatest,
forgetting why they want to be. Forgetting friends and family for
greed.

"Are you surprised?" Lionel laughed, a cackle, breaking through the
wind's melody- besmirching it with an off-key note. "I've been
working four years for this, and finally. A perfect son. Are the
drugs wearing off? Ah yes, made just for your mutation. If you will,
Mr. Birk, I would like to get this over before any heroic acts
interrupt us."

The living corpse prepared the man for death, his chilling fingers
jutting in wild jerks, knotting the rope as tight as possible.
Finally pinning him back to the shadowed walls.

By tying it now, in front of Lionel rather than in the car ride
over, submitted Lex to his father, showing him just how much power
he didn't have. He was never going to be free. He had just been
demoted to a fish. Lionel was going to show him what happened when
little fishes played with sharks.

So intrigued with the corpse's movements, the three did not notice
the shutting and closing of a door, the silent footsteps moved among
the shadows. The hero of the story was here, and he would prove
himself, just as Birk had wanted, but could yet do.

Lionel stepped to Lex, giving him a kiss on the cheek, as a loving
father would do to his child who is being sent off to war. "I have
hated you from the beginning. A sickly child turned into a bald
freak. It was quite ironic when you escaped off to Smallville- the
place you lost all your hair. Of course, with all the surgery I
doubt you remember that. Did you know you met Mr. Kent when he was
yet a babe? No, I suppose the two of you were fate. I think you'll
appreciate knowing he is on his way now; Chloe has just called him.
"Don't count on him saving you. I know of his powers."

Lex struggled against the restraints, looking at Chloe, only seeing
the dead confirmation in her eyes. "No! You wouldn't do that,
Chloe." A bored looked, combined with a raised eyebrow met his
plead. "What did the sick fuck do to you?"

--

A slight shift in shadow caught Birk's eyes, he recognized the
figure, knew it was potentially dangerous, but Lionel did not
command him to take the figure out. He had no orders to follow. He
must do as Snealz wanted. Snealz wanted.

--

Lionel laughed, "When will you learn? Friends are only as good as
their worth. Do you want to know Clark's worth? A Pulitzer and the
truth. What a liar, that nice boy has become."

A voice behind him, standing next to the unmoving clone, spoke for
the first time, "How did you find out about Clark?" Inquisitive.
Journalistic.

"A dear Ms. Martha Kent, actually. With Jonathan's failing health,
she was forced to take a job, and she found on in Metropolis. I took
quite a liking to the women, very fierce as most redheads are. Quite
wonderful, I think I may have actually loved her. Alas, the affair
was short. Too many secrets attacking her, one too many may have
spilled. Just the benefits to passion- losing your inhibitions. "

Lex was exceedingly glad Clark was not here to hear this.

"Of course, her husband found out, and a week later he died. She did
not come back after that."

No, when Lex got out of her alive (and he would, he told himself,)
Clark would never know about this.

"And I thought I would never get the chance to know all the super
boy's powers – and here, Chloe entered my life. She filled me in on
the rest. Which bears the question- how did you find out? I can tell
you know, maybe have always known."

Lex spit at him and Lionel slammed him face into the wall. "Such
insolence! Yes, you will be better." Stepping back, Lionel took out
a gun, "Goodbye, dear child, you won't be missed."

The shot resounded through the walls, cracking them more, shattering
a few glass pieces.

----

"I'll meet you there- okay? Go- Chloe might need you." Not to
mention, the planet was nearer to the Gnoles than LuthorCorp, but
she did not add that.

Clark nodded, even if Lois couldn't see it, "Alright. Just please,
stay safe. If anything gets too rough, get out."

Having no intention to do as he said, Lois simply
replied, "Promise."

----

"I hope your life finds meaning, for I have lost mine, and even as I
lay dying, I realize this is in vain. I have given my life for a
Luthor." Taylor Birk broke off in hysterical laughing, the faint
light above shinning on him, freeing him from his past. His laughing
rang through the room, singing his irony, until he choked on his
blood. Although the laughing ceased from his throat, still the room
rang his tale.

"No! No!" Awoken from his shock, Snealz moved from his hiding
position, dropping to his friends. "I was- I didn't want-" He
stopped, clarity running through him. Had Taylor not jumped in front
of the gun, he would have himself. Indeed, he had intended to.
Perhaps it was not Luthor at all who Taylor had taken ,the shot
for, "My friend, my dear friend." He wistfully began.

A hero, Taylor had died. A hero, Taylor will remain.

Another hero, one less corrupt, one suffering fewer battles, broke
through the door. "Chloe!"

" No! Clark- get out." Lex shouted, recognizing the voice, wrenching
at his binds wildly. "Chloe told him your secrets- get out of here
before-"

Chloe had covered his mouth. Petting it gently. "Lex. You're ruining
the fun."

Clark, unaware to what he walked into, one dead body among two
Lex's, his best friend, and two businessman, albeit one former. And
apparently his best friend had betrayed his secrets to Lionel
Luthor.

He looked at Chloe, trying to find a reason to doubt this betrayal,
a reason to shout she was still his friend, a reason not to feel a
horrible sickening feeling.

She had been emotionally unattached for five months, maybe the
kidnapping had scared her so much to confine in Luthor? Maybe he had
been spending too much time with Lex? Maybe he just didn't know her
as well as he thought. No, no. Chloe was his best friend, she had to
be. There was a reason. There had to be. She couldn't do this.

"Ah- The green rock, sir?" Chloe teasingly asked, stirring up
roaring feelings within Clark, even thought she knew very well
Lionel didn't have one.

Luthor grinned, understanding Chloe's question, admiring it. "Ah,
yes. A rock we just won't need. A hero is a hero. Even with a dead
friend, the hero will not leave without the body."

" Lex," he addressed the clone, "take this time to leave. Wait at
LuthorCorp. I do not want any unnecessary harm coming to my son."

Chloe smiled, "Would you like the knife now?"

The pain grasped Clark and pulled. What was Chloe doing? He had to
believe, he had to.

Another darkened figured entered the room, followed shortly by one
other. All of this went amiss with the drama of the next statement.

"No, actually." Chloe's face dimmed, taken by surprise. Lionel
grabbed something in his jacket, pulling it out on display, "I have
a bomb."

A simple statement, with chaotic reactions. Clark immediately
started forward.

"Nuhuh. The underground is tapped to a connecting bomb, if my feet
are pulled from the ground, if I am removed from the bomb in my
hand, or if I feel threatened and feel the need at push the trigger,
the bombs will all go off. And we all will die."

" You'll die too."

" I have a clone waiting for a brain transplant if anything wrong
should occur. Or has anyone been wondering whatever happened to
Joseph Gate? Experiments can be so handy. As long as my brain
survives, I am alive. You, however, won't be."

Lionel clicked something in his jacket, "Five minutes and counting.
Such a track to ride just for a more obedient child."

The time was ticking, and Clark looked around. All these people
would die if he didn't do something. He couldn't let this tyrant
win. They hadn't come so far for it to end in these decaying walls.
The stench of death already reeked its sorrow, no more would suffer
for this man. No more would lose themselves to the business of
death. He had to do this, all it would take was one snap of the
neck, no more problems, no more. So why wouldn't his feet move?

Clark couldn't kill him. He wouldn't. The sickly sweet boy was
really too sweet to take a life. Once again, protecting a friend
matter more than anything else. No harm could come to Clark, he was
invulnerable, as proven through various trails. It wasn't until Lex
entered the scene that the trouble really started. Of course there
was something that had to be done. There was no going back from
this.

One person's sins were their own. She protected Lex and Clark, and
now she would no longer need to protect them. Taking the slender
object out of her hand, she steadily raised it, allowing her arms to
stop shaking and aiming. She pulled the trigger.

She saw the bullet speeding toward the target, she felt the harsh
pull of the gun, fighting against her balance, fighting against her
choices. The spark of the gun, shone deep in Chloe's eyes, and
perhaps now, perhaps now this would end. It had come to this, and
finally, finally, maybe a certain peace would begin its rhythm.

The death was less dramatic than it was suppose to be. The bullet
slammed into Lionel's head, spewing the blood across the floor, even
the crimson smear looked tainted. No light shinned on his soul.

Lionel was dead, and he would not be missed.

---

The ticking noise of the clock woke everyone from the shock.

A heavy boulder lifted itself from Clark- and Clark found himself in-
between crying and laughing, "I knew it, dammit Chloe, don't ever do
that to me again!"

Ralph Snealz, not ready to tempt the ticking bomb, shouted, "C'mon,
let's get out of here-"

The door slammed shut.

All four heads turned to see Lois Lane, dressed to kill in a
stunning black outfit, "Well damn. I didn't want it to come to
this." She pointed her gun at Clark, "But I can't have you, even if
you are my partner, stealing my Pulitzer from-"

Another shot rang out, this one unforgiving with no regrets. "C'mon,
let's get out of here. I'll grab Ralph, what a blubberin' mess." The
gruff, short stature of Joseph Gate walked into the room, heaving
Snealz over his shoulders. "Well, c'mon. There's a bomb, don'tchya
know. Gez, kids these days."

He walked out of the room, leaving the rest to trip over themselves.
Chloe grabbed Lois, who she noticed had not been killed, but rather
shot with a rubber bullet. Relief flooded him.

Clark ran to Lex's side, snapping the ties and lifting him in his
arms, "One day, you'll have to explain to me what the hell happened
here. And how the hell you knew about my powers."

Lex rolled his eyes, "Shut up and save me."

Clark, noticing the thirty-two seconds on the bomb, shot out of the
building, meeting with Chloe, Joseph, Lois, and Snealz- who- Gate!

Still playing Mr. Hero, Clark quickly assessed, "Gate is still in
there. I'm going-"

"He's dead-" Joseph – was that Mr. Joe? -- having not known him
other than a fellow businessman, had no feelings for him.

"So he doesn't deserve a proper burial?"

Immediately setting up his mind, Clark put Lex down, acting on
impulse as he kissed Lex, passionately promising his return, but
giving a first and last kiss if he did not.

"NO!"

Shooting back into the ticking building, the only thing that
followed Clark was the sounding Boom of the bomb, covering the
protesting shout.

----

It was raining, as appropriate in the setting. It was raining a new
day, washing away the lies and bitterness of the months, years,
decades past. This was a new beginning. The death, they promised
themselves, would not be in vain. There would be a better day
awaiting. There would be a rainbow on the parting clouds.

There would be more music, there would be that peaceful rhythm so
desired for.

The rainy clouds were bright, pure white and shining down on them.
There was no darkness on this day. Even the ground seemed to be
accepting this sacrifice as a gift rather than a burden.

Dressed in black, but having a clear shine to his face, Ralph smiled
down on his friend, tossing him a rose. They were friends to the
end, understanding each other through the betrayal, through the
broken promises on both sides. Ralph robbed a building, giving
Taylor a conscience to what he was doing, the consequences of his
actions. Taylor jumped in front of a bullet, giving Ralph a new
chance to start over. Friends, they were, to the end.

Silently in the background, Chloe stood watching the proceedings,
understanding the trial of death and betrayal. Joining her, Clark
walked with Lex, both having been attached by the hip since the
bombing.

With the loss of a father who never loved him, who had cloned him,
who had been willing to kill him, it would take awhile for Lex to
recover from the tragedy, but recovering he was. The business world
had tried to murder his soul, but he survived, and he would fight
every morsel against it.

With Clark at his side, his Hero in so many ways, the first good
thing in his life, the first flame that did not extinguish when the
oxygen ran out, that stuck through to breath the oxygen awaiting
around the bend.

Calming walking up behind, Clark put a hand on Chloe's shoulder,
startling her, clarifying her attention. She stared into Clark's
eyes, the friendship, the familiarity; she needed to give him an
explanation, one she had yet managed.

"I-"

Clark smiled, tightening his hand on her shoulder, and pulled her
into a hug, "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. I didn't think
you could."

Even in the moments of doubt, there was always hope, always the ring
of true friendship in the back of his mind. There were things Lionel
could not destroy. For all he may have loved Martha Kent, he could
not destroy the love because he did not understand it. To him, love
made a man weak. It was a weakness as well as a strength Lionel
would never have had.

"It's just- Lionel knew about you, or something about you. I gave
him false information, and he believed every word of it. Oh God,
Clark, you're mom told him."

Lex tensed at his side, and Clark registered the information. "My
mom?"

" She had an affair with Lionel, and it killed Jonathan. God. And
then all the information he had on you. I couldn't be tell you
anything, because Lionel may have been tracing my calls, and Clark I
was just so scared."

The shock, the light betrayal on his mom's part. His mom, who had
always urged him to say anything about his powers to anyone, had
told the greatest monster of them all.

"You mean my mom? Martha Kent?" A comforting hand laid itself on his
waist, pulling both him and Chloe to a group hug.

Lex kissed his cheek, "She didn't mean it; my father manipulated
her. I didn't want to tell you. She's a good woman who was easily
strayed by a shark. He's gone. It will rest in peace."

Chloe pulled away from the two of them, having received too much
comfort in the past minutes, and began ranting in her usual form,
expressing her emotions and bulldozing them. "I don't think I ever
want to think about any of this again. Too much trust misplaced.
Lois tried to kill us. Would have. Lois. My cousin. She was
practically my sister."

Lois' betrayal had hit Clark hard. As a partner, he thought he knew
her better than Chloe. Perhaps a bit obsessed with a Pulitzer,
perhaps a bit too involved with work. But to go so far as to kill
for a story?

He wasn't sure he could ever write again, not without feeling the
pain of Lois tugging at him, calling him back to a realization: no
one was safe from the dehumanity of business. Once too caught up in
the mechanical way of life, once too greedy, once too impersonal,
business could destroy anyone. Success could never be more important
than life. Life is success, success is not life.

Arms tightened around him, and perhaps business wouldn't destroy
everyone. Looking at Lex, Ralph, and Mr. Joe, they had survived.
They understood there were some things more important. Even Chloe,
having been giving an easy path to success, chose to be true to her
friends. Perhaps not all was lost.

Perhaps the chiming church bells where singing of a new day.

---

LUTHORCORP TERMINIATED

Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan

Lionel Luthor, CEO of LuthorCorp, was reported dead Wednesday
October 19th, 2008. In his dead, a trail of betrayal and
destruction.
Luthor blackmailed several building owners, including Ralph Snealz,
owner of Bell's Kitchen, using the basement for illegal experiments.
Another owner, Joseph Gate, being blackmailed through a loan granted
in 2005, threatened to bring the story to the press. Luthor hired
two men to rob him as well as several other business owners' who had
refused Luthor's offer. With the increase in crime, the business
dwindled, and many owners caved to Luthor's pressures.
The increasing inhumanity stopped the lead scientist, anonymity
granted, in the experiments, but under intense threats he began them
again. These experiments included creating a clone of Luthor's son,
Alexander Luthor. Finally succeeding, Luthor trapped his son and
Chloe Sullivan down in the laboratory.
Planning to shoot his son, only the bravery of the lead scientist
stopped the intending bullet. After the failure of his, the crazed
billionaire dentate two bombs, one beneath the building and another
in his hand.
Fighting for their lives, Sullivan shot the billionaire and the
group rushed out of the building, leaving ten seconds until the
building exploded.
The clone was later found dead outside the building, having been
shot with a gun, the owner later identified as Lois Lane.

---

"Do you think it was wise to leave out Lois' part in this? Doesn't
the public deserve to know the truth?" The crazed Lois Lane had
landed herself in Belle Reeve, raving about her Pulitzer.

"Lois is too renowned for it to not have caused uproar, I think the
shock was too much for her anyway. I don't think she'll be out of
there for a while. No harm done." Clark replied, stealing his
boyfriend's attention with a kiss. "Either way- it looks rather
perfect there."

Looking at the framed story, centered in Clark's office among
various pictures of Chloe and Lex as well as himself, Clark felt
rather relieved than happy that the story was finally published.
Already several follow ups were being planned, exposing other
businesses involved with the cloning.

Magically appearing, Chloe bonked Clark on the head, ruffling it and
pushing him over. Looking at the frame, she announced, "I think I
like it better in a silver frame- wanna switch?" She laughed,
happier and more at peace than she had been in the past half year.
It was a good polish on her. Jokingly, she added, "Think we'll get a
Pulitzer?"

A groan of irritation and of displeasure flooded Clark. "Don't even
joke about that. We got the truth out, and now- now, well, now we
eat."

The three had decided against any more restaurants, opting instead
to cook their own meals. With two industry-dependent people as Chloe
and Lex, neither could last very long.

"I think I'm going to let you two go- I still have a story to write.
You know how it goes." Still a workaholic, but still permanently
faithful.

A random thought hit him, and Clark turned to Lex, "You never did
tell me how you knew about my powers."

Lex made some motions with his hands, "A certain hero saved me some
years ago. Made me stay in Smallville. Ever recall a crazed water
mutant wanting to rape drivers? And behold, a beautiful hero saved
me; I saw everything. I had to know more." He did not elaborate,
not that Clark ever expected him too.

Clark would have been more ashamed about his blatant use of powers,
but then again, his mom had yapped them all out to the Luthor Daddy
anyway. "I should have left you alone with her, taught you and your
snotty self that perhaps it isn't all fun and games. I probably
would have saved a building or two."

Lex looked playfully affronted, "There was only one building, if you
may recall." Lex closed his arms around Clark, looked at the framed
story, "What are we going to do now?"

Plucking the hands off him, Clark turned and asked, making his voice
serious and curious, "Ever want to be a waiter again?"

Lex pushed him, "Don't even joke about that. I'm thinking about
doing something for humanity, becoming some kindhearted man or
something. Taking after you."

Giving Lex an incredulous look, Clark laughed again, trailing out of
the building, reminding Lex as they entered the elevator, "I don't
know, what kind of kindhearted soul believes in – what was it?
immolating a building?'"

" Look, Superboy, it got you out of Smallville, didn't it?" Lex
granted, pushing the main level button, waiting for the doors to
close so he could get out of the Daily Planet.

"Indeed, where ever would I be without you?" Clark murmured, kissing
him again as the doors to the elevator closed.

Lex leaned away from the kiss, "Probably out rescuing some cows."

"Instead I get the fishes. And cats rescuing fishes. Strange cit-"
Lex quieted his words with a kiss.

And perhaps the peace was a new murmur of its own.