Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.
A/N: I´d like to thank my faithful readers for accepting my invitation to view my first music vid ever. I appreciated your marvellous reviews. You´ve encouraged me to keep on working; I´m uploading my second Chex vid today.
To those of you who haven´t watched my endeavours yet, just write me a PM and I´ll send you the links, or click on my pen name; you´ll find the links in my profile.
Here´s a new chapter to answer a question and start you thinking of several more.
CHAPTER 6: Duel of Stares
Lex drove Chloe home, despite her protestations. She´d have preferred to take a taxi to clear her head and to prevent him from learning where she actually lived, but he was adamant and she was too weary to argue with him. Besides, if he had wanted to know her address, he would have just made a couple of phone calls and got the information he needed.
"When are you leaving, Lex?" she asked when he parked in front of her building.
"In a few days. "
"Are you certain... "
"Yes, Chloe. That you could even consider it, confirms what I already knew about you; but it wouldn´t stop there. Ferrucci wouldn´t buy it," he interrupted her.
"I thought what you´d told him was enough. "
"It just bought me some time. Do you want me to go up with you, Chloe?" he added, turning in his seat.
"No, it´s all right, Lex. This is a safe neighbourhood, and dad´s at home."
"Have you told him who were seeing tonight?"
"Yes."
"And what did he say?"
"That I was a grown up woman now."
"Didn´t he object to your going out with me?"
"No everyone sees your father when they look at you. My dad´s always respected you, Lex, and that hasn´t changed. "
"Give him my regards, Chloe. You´re really lucky to have each other. "
"Remember you´re not alone, Lex. Don´t get lost. "
"I won´t. "
Lex stayed in Gotham for a whole week but all to no avail. He couldn´t find a way out or, maybe, he hadn´t tried enough. Chloe remained the best choice, but he couldn´t think of a reason worthy of carrying out such a dangerous charade. Still, like some moth to the light, the younger Luthor kept returning to the thought of the beautiful blond and ended up driving to her apartment the day he was supposed to be leaving for Metropolis.
Gabe was watching his favourite Discovery Channel show when the doorbell rang.
"Chloe, how many times have I told you to check you´ve got your keys in that purse of yours?" exclaimed Gabe, opening the door with the chain still on to find Lex standing in the corridor.
"Mr Luthor?" asked a surprised Gabe.
"Chloe said this is a safe neighbourhood, Gabe. You should check the security here. Nobody stopped me on my way up. Can I come in? "
"Err... Chloe isn´t at home, Mr Luthor; but, please, do come in," said a flustered Gabe, removing the chain.
"Thanks, Gabe. Please, call me Lex," he responded, stepping into the cosy living room.
"Have a seat, Mr... Lex," said the older man, turning off the TV. "Can I get you something to drink? I used to keep a bottle of scotch, but I´m afraid... "
"It´s all right, Gabe. I can see you´re having a beer. I could use one. "
"A beer? Are you sure?"
"Relax, Gabe. I can enjoy a cold beer as the next man, " he responded with a lopsided grin.
"OK, I´ll be right back, " said Gabe, marching into the kitchen.
Lex took advantage of Gabe´s absence to let his eyes roam the room. The apartment wasn´t luxurious but it looked and felt like a home; something Lex had never managed to accomplish either at the mansion or his penthouse in Metropolis.
Lex was perusing the knick-knacks on the mantelpiece as Gabe opened and closed cabinets in the kitchen when, suddenly, he realised he was no longer alone in the living room.
"OK, here... " Gabe interrupted himself when he came back with the can of beer to find Lex and a tiny tot in what appeared to be a duel of blue-grey stares. " Hope, honey, what are you doing up? " asked Chloe´s father when he found his voice again.
"I´m thirsty," she said, holding Lex´s gaze.
"Thirsty?" echoed Gabe, setting the tray down on the coffee table and wondering if he could risk fetching a glass of water. The girl was as curious and as intelligent as her mum, and she could ask the most inconvenient questions. "I´ll bring you the water and you go back to your room," blurted Gabe before hurrying to the kitchen.
Lex was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Never in his adult life had he failed to hold anybody´s gaze, but this child seemed capable of seeing straight into his soul, and he didn´t have anywhere to hide. Suddenly, the girl started to walk towards him and, looking up at his bald head, she blurted: "Does it hurt?"
"What? This?" he asked, feeling his scalp. "No, honey, it doesn´t hurt," he said with a strangled voice.
"Can I touch it?" murmured the girl, coming closer. "I promise to be careful."
"Please yourself," responded Lex, crouching down for her to be able to reach the crown of his head. ´What the hell am I doing? ´
"It´s smooth," she answered with a wide smile that revealed two dimples and made her look like a miniature of her mum.
"Is it? ¨ he said with a sincere smile. "Well, thanks," he added. ´God! Am I blushing? Leave it to a daughter of Chloe´s to accomplish the impossible deed! ´
Chloe finished working at the paper at around five and did some shopping before taking the bus home in time to watch her favourite TV show, Investigative Reporters. It had been a particularly exhausting day at the editing room, and she was looking forward to kicking her shoes off. Little did she know what she would find on opening the door- Lex bonding with her little Hope in the living-room.
Lex heard the keys jingle in the lock and looked towards the entrance to see the young woman standing rooted to the spot with a transfixed look on her face.
"Here. Let me help you, " said Lex, taking the shopping cartons of from her arms.
"Thanks, " she whispered, kicking the door shut.
Chloe led the way to the kitchen and lowered the groceries onto the counter, avoiding Lex´s all-seeing eyes. She had dreaded this moment and it was finally there. She could feel the blood pumping in her ears until it was the only sound she could hear.
"Mummy, can I have a chocolate? " asked Hope, entering through the swinging door.
"Hello, sweetie," answered Chloe, holding her tight and kissing her forehead. "You know you can´t eat candy before dinner. "
"Here you are! " exclaimed Gabe, joining them in the kitchen. "Why don´t you come with grandpa, Hope? We can watch some cartoons. Come on. Let´s leave them alone, shall we? Mummy needs to talk. "
"OK," responded the girl, grabbing Gabe´s hand. "What´s your name? " she asked the younger Luthor from the doorway.
"Lex, " he answered.
"Goodbye, Lex," she responded, waving her little hand.
"Goodbye, Hope," he smiled. "She´s a very special child, Chloe. Why didn´t you mention her before? "
"Why don´t you go back to the living-room, Lex? " asked Chloe, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Would you like a cup of freshly made coffee? " she offered, hoping he said ´yes´ and left the kitchen because it suddenly felt too small for them both.
"Gabe offered me a beer, but I won´t turn down a hot cup of coffee. "
"A beer? I´ve never pictured you as a beer kind of guy! " she said jokingly, trying to break the ice.
"Neither has Gabe. But I assure you I´m as human as the guy next door."
´I know, Lex. That´s why this is going to be so damn difficult. ´
"Make yourself at home, Lex. I´ll bring the coffee in a couple of minutes. "
Lex returned to the living-room and stood in front of the window. The sun was already setting, and the landscape was acquiring that spectral look so unique to Gotham. Before coming to the apartment, he didn´t understand what a person like Chloe could find in a city such as Gotham- a city that oozed death and oppression; now he knew why she had run away.
Finding out she had a daughter had been a shock, but he couldn´t fathom the look on her face when she opened the door and saw them together in the living-room. He doubted she hadn´t mentioned the girl out of shame; what he had read in her eyes when she walked on them was something completely different and that unsettled him.
You were right about your guessing, weren´t you? However, there´s still a big question hanging in the air... How come Lex didn´t know he was a father? Any hunches?