Author: MitchPell
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything that has to do with Smallville, it’s characters, DC comics, or the WB. I’m just using them for a little bit of non-profitable fun.
Authors Notes: I’m going to using any and all spoilers, so read at your own risk. This is going to be a little AU, well maybe a lot AU. I have no idea really. I’m going to assume that Lex is 21 and that Chloe is 16. Since this is a Chlex story it is going to start during Craving, which is when Lex and Chloe first meet. I hope to cover most of the episodes that occur after Craving. Some will be done with more detail than others. This story is going to be a long one. I already know that it is going to span the course of two years, and maybe longer. I appreciate any and all feedback. Tell me whatever you think: the good, the bad, the ok, the grammar errors, etc… Trust me, I need the help!!
Summary: Lex and Chloe just seem right for each other. I don’t know why, they just do.
Email: mitchpell@yahoo.com
Tick, tick, tick.
It was just too quiet. The only noise in the whole room was the constant ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner, which was driving him crazy. Usually, Lex didn’t mind the silence. He usually embraced it, using it to help clear his mind of any fleeting thoughts that might distract him from the task at hand. But at other times, he needed to be distracted. He needed some outside influence to keep him from dwelling on things that were best not dwelt upon. Such as the lovely visit he had this morning with Dr. Vargas. What a wonderful way to start the day.
Tick, tick, tick.
After being poked and prodded, he had the joy of being put through a slightly rigorous workout. Which was preceded by the good doctor informing him that he had a high white blood cell count. After he had received that little piece of information he had retreated to a hot shower. And now he was sitting in his menacingly quiet study wondering whether or not his own body had decided to turn against him and destroy itself through leukemia. Yes, what a grand day indeed.
Tick, tick, tick.
The clock was taunting him, laughing at him.
Tick, tick, tick. Sick, sick, sick. Tick, sick, tick.
“Fucking clock. If you don’t fucking stop that goddamned ticking, your going to have 150 pounds of pissed off Luthor up your ass.”
Sick, tick, sick.
Lex pushed himself up and out of his desk chair and started stalking towards the old clock. “Sick, huh? Well, what if I am? I don’t see why you’re so happy about it. If I die who is going to take care of your ancient ass? That’s right, no one. Do you think my father gives a damn about this place or anything in it for that matter? Funk, no! You’ll just have a drop cloth throw over you, and be left to collect dust. How does that sound you piece of shit!”
Tick, sick, tick.
“That’s it you fucker!” With that Lex lunged at the clock and with some effort managed to throw the thing to the ground. It landed with a deafening crash, as the door to the swinging pendulum shattered littering the floor with tiny shards of glass. “Yeah, that’s what I thought! You’re all talk. Thought you could laugh at me. Well who’s laughing now bitch!”
There was a soft knock on the door. “What?” He snapped. The study door slowly slid open as Lex’s housekeeper, Ann, stepped into the room. “Mr. Luthor, Frank wanted to know what car you were going to be taking to the school, so he could bring it around front.” Shit! He had forgotten all about the meeting he had scheduled with the high school principle that afternoon. Lex collected himself and sauntered over to Ann. He paused in front of her at the door, “the black Ferrari 348 Spyder.” With that he turned and left the study, calling over his shoulder as he left, “call the antique dealer to have someone come and have that clock fixed.”
He jogged up the stairs to his room to change. Though he had no real desire to attend this meeting, it gave him an excuse to get out of the mansion, and thus protecting the rest of the antique furniture. Keeping his black slacks on, he slipped out of his Casmir sweater and into a form fitting black dress shirt. He grabbed his jacket, cell phone, keys, and wallet, then headed out the door.
************************************************************************
The meeting went rather quickly. Kwan brought up the need for a new computer lab, and had mentioned something about a lack of funding. Lex asked him if it had something to do with the fires that had plagued the school a couple of weeks ago, and the newly redone men’s locker room. Kwan had started to say something about only having so much money to spread out over a wide variety of projects. But Lex interrupted him saying that he would fund the new computer lab, after all, somebody had to support the minds of the school rather than the muscle.
After leaving the main office, Lex made his way to the Torch office. He had no idea what possessed him to go there. Maybe it was the article he had read on their web site this morning, or maybe he hoped that if he met his plant manager’s daughter Gabe would stop finding it necessary to fill him in on every aspect of her life. The man could spend hours just rambling on and on about this girl.
To his relief the halls were empty. The last thing he wanted was to have to dodge a million teenagers, in a hallway that wasn’t wide enough to drive a car through. He finally found his way to the Torch. He knocked slightly on the door as he pushed it open. The office was empty, so he just went in. He glanced around the room, not finding anything to hold his attention while he waited for the teenaged girl to show up. He was about the leave, when he spotted a wall covered with newspaper clippings. His eyes roamed over clippings of 5 feet tall carrots, stories about Crater Lake, and men born with two left hands. “God, this town is strange,” he whispered to himself.
“Most of my friends are trying to get out of high school.”
Slightly startled, Lex turned to see Clark enter the room. “I was meeting with you principal. Apparently, you guys are in dire need of a new computer lab. I figured I could help.”
“They might even name a lunch special after you.” Wow, what a privilege, Lex thought. It’ll probably be something like Lex Luthor’s Lethal Lasagna. “How’d you end up here?” Clark asked.
“My plant manager, Gabe. He’s always going on about his daughter, the reporter in the Torch. Thought I’d drop by and say hello. She wasn’t around, but I was struck by this.” He said while gesturing to the wall behind him.
“That’s Chloe’s hobby. She thinks she can trace all the freak things in Smallville to the meteor shower.”
“Interesting theory.”
“Most people think it’s crazy.”
“Maybe.” But then again, how do you explain some of the stuff that happens in this town, Lex thought. He personally couldn’t see how shape-shifting girls, and frozen football players could be the results of a ‘crap factory.’ After all, he actually had firsthand knowledge and experience in some of the effects the meteors could have. “Do you remember where you were when it fell?” He asked.
“Not really. My parents hadn’t adopted me yet.” Lex decided to let the lie slide. He didn’t know why Clark still didn’t trust him. But he wasn’t ready to delve into something he might not be around long enough to follow through with.
“I do. I was right here in Smallville. My mother wanted me to spend some quality time with dad. He brought me here on a business trip—just a quick hop to Smallville to finalize a deal. Funny how one day can change your whole life.”
“What happened?”
“I was out in a cornfield when the first meteor hit. It was like a tidal wave coming at me. Then everything went black. Next thing I remember, I was waking up in Metropolis General completely bald.”
“Lex, I didn’t know.” Lex had to chuckle at that.
“Not many people do, Clark. I should’ve died that day. Instead I walked away with this.” As he said this he ran one of his hands across his smooth head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why? It’s not your fault. When I was younger, I thought it was a curse. Kids figured I was a freak or on chemo. Then I began to see it as my gift, the thing that defined me, that gave me strength.”
“Do you ever wonder what you’d be like, you know, if you hadn’t come that day?”
“It doesn’t matter, Clark. It happened. Personally, I think my future’s gonna be brighter than that spoiled, rich brat who walked into that cornfield.”
“Mr. Luthor.”
Lex turned once again towards the doorway. He had to smile at the sight before him. The young girl was short and thin with chin length hair that flipped out at the ends. Her pale blue eyes danced, and her thin lips accented her cute smile. She had an air about her that screamed of life and spunk. He had to admit that she was fairly attractive, for a high school girl of course. “It’s Lex. Clark was just telling me your meteor theory. I like it. Especially since most people think my company is secretly behind everything that goes wrong in Smallville.”
Chloe couldn’t keep the smile off her face as her eyes settled on the image that had graced her office. Sure she had seen pictures of Lex Luthor before, but they didn’t do the man justice. He was gorgeous. Sure he wasn’t Clark Kent gorgeous, but there was just something about him that grabbed her attention. She couldn’t tell if it was the fancy clothes that had to be hiding an incredible body, the suave voice, the way he walked, or the baldhead. But something definitely about him demanded that she pay attention. “That’s the reigning theory.”
“Are you the only one that blames the meteors instead of me?”
“Pretty much. Well, there is Mr. Hamilton.”
“Except most people don’t have too high a regard for a guy who sells plastic meteor chips to tourists.”
“Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.” He turned back to the young woman beside him. “Call me when you’re looking for a summer job. I’ve got friends over at the Inquisitor. I’ll see you tomorrow. I hear you’re escorting the birthday girl. Nice work.” With that Lex turned and walked towards the door.
“We’re just going as friends.”
He paused in the doorway. “Sure you are. Hope you got her a nice gift.” Lex left the Torch office, and headed towards his car. He couldn’t help but smile. His little detour had proven to be quite advantageous. Not only did he have the joy of meeting Miss. Sullivan, but now he also had something else to keep his mind occupied while he awaited the test results from Dr. Vargas. He climbed into his car and headed back to the mansion. He needed to do a little digging on this Dr. Hamilton.
TBC…
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