The Loyal Opposition
Title: The Loyal Opposition
By: latetothpartyhp
Genre: drama
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: for Pandora
Pairings: ETA: I envisioned this as mainly a Chlark confrontation, but what emerged in addition to that were some hints of Chlex friendship, mutual Chless manipulation, and some (mostly) off-screen Clana. There's also a Lexana fight for anyone who's interested. And Cless! We have added Cless!
Warnings: some violence & language - ETA: Character deaths in store.
Author's Note: Could be a Supernatural crossover if you squint real hard.
Please check out this gorgeous banner by go_clo !!!
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 / Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16
“There is such a thing as loyalty,” said Jane.
“There is, Ma'am,” he said. “As you get older you will learn that it is a virtue too important to be lavished on individual personalities.”
C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength
The Loyal Opposition
“If you get the chance, take care of Tess while you're in there,” Oliver had said. “I don't trust Lex with her if this goes as planned.”
“Of course,” she'd answered. “You want me to pick up some milk or cat litter on my way home, too?”
He'd given her a chagrined smile. She'd returned it. It'd all been good. Now she thought she had not been grateful enough for his faith in her. He had believed she could do this; she wished she could believe it herself. She had thought she could - even when joking yesterday about how she might not return. Today, shuffling down the hall in shackles - lead shackles; Bette's stunt last spring must have had an impact - fear pulsed with every heartbeat, gnawed at her navel, thickened her throat. The fear angered her - if she died she wasn't going to go yellow, dammit.
She focused on the anger, on the clear metallic hardness of it. She remembered what it was like to be a prisoner. She remembered there would be no one to rescue her this time. If her mission went south, they could not risk losing anyone else to get her out. They should not have to lose anyone else to get her out. She would do this thing.
They turned the corner. Chloe recognized the painting flanking the double-doors. Not the artist or the title, that was Lana's thing, but she knew it by sight. Their overlord either shared Lex's tastes - or maybe he just didn't give a damn. If the former, it could be an omen, she thought. Of what, she did not know. That was Madelyn's thing. She was not Madelyn. No matter what.
One of the door-guards nodded and she was shoved through, quadriceps, shoulders, jaw all shaking. Show time.
She had maybe fifteen seconds to see that not much had changed in the library either, then the heavy force of the guard's rod on the backs of her thighs buckled her to the floor, kneecaps screaming against the tiles. A large hand seized her neck from behind and shoved her forward so quickly she didn't have time to tense. Her head slammed to the floor. Instant, obliterating pain exploded in her head and lungs. She sucked at whatever air she could until her brain had enough oxygen present to wonder whether Jor-El had made them all telepaths now. The whole plan depended on making eye-contact. She had to be able to look at him. There was enough air now to howl, and she did. Madelyn, you stupid cow! Where are you goddammit?
No answer came - not that she expected one. She didn't expect Madelyn to commit to a body that would shortly be burned to a crisp. So she crouched, alone, on the library floor, gasping pain and fear and hate. Hate for her weakness, hate for their strength. All the rage Lana had warned her not to let have sway.
Well, fuck that. And fuck Lana, too. She'd always been the biggest belly-acher of them all.
Steps sounded against the tile, firm yet quiet, a heavy body in rubber lugged outsoles. She rolled her so far left she was practically looking inside her own skull and saw an incongruous pair of work boots coming toward her. He didn't need steel toes, but he'd always been a creature of habit when it came to his clothes.
“Sit her up,” he said. The large hand grabbed her shoulder and jerked her upright. If she lived she would probably develop whiplash from that. Of course, if she lived it wouldn't be her problem. Liquid ran out of her nose and down her chin. She didn't look to see what color it was. He was staring at her, hard and proud. Her quads and chin began to shake again. Concentrate,said Lex's voice in her head, and with it she felt her purpose gather.
“Chloe Sullivan,” he said. She opened her mouth to reply, but he continued almost immediately. “You have been brought here today accused of treason, conspiracy and crimes against humanity. The penalty for all these is death, and it is death you surely deserve. Not only did you betray society and your race, but you betrayed me, as well.”
He stopped, overcome by emotion perhaps? Perhaps for another reason. Wild hope flared. He frowned. Oh please let Lex be right. Let him be right. She stared back at him with all her might. She had one chance at this.
“You were my friend once, Chloe. My dearest friend. You have no idea what you were to me. And I have no idea what you have become now. Something I don't even recognize. But you were my friend once.” He crouched before her, his face so close she could see the trail of mucus on her face reflected in his pupils, smell the soap on his skin. “That means something to me, even if it doesn't to you. It means your life may be spared. I can save you, Chloe. You don't have to die.”
She could barely breathe. It was as if a wild animal were inside her, desperate to escape the cage of her body. She forced herself not to blink, not to lose his gaze.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered. This time she was obviously supposed to ask. He smiled indulgently; for a bizarre moment she thought she was looking at Jonathan Kent. Then he spoke, and the moment passed.
“You know what I want to know,” he whispered in returned. “Tell me where Lana is. Help me find her, and I can help you.”
The animal broke free - Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and tensed. Madelyn. Not yet, bitch. You're not done yet. The animal snarled, but receded.
“Chloe?”
She popped open her eyes and prayed the spirit had not ruined everything in her bid for control. She swallowed. Nodded.
“I'll tell you everything I can. I swear. Whatever you want to know.”
His fingers brushed her cheek. She didn't bother to hide her tears. He would expect her to be relieved.
“I know you will Chloe.”
She repressed a giggle - whose, she wasn't sure. Of course Lex had been right. When wasn't he? How now, stupid cow? She asked the pissy spirit. What do you say we go save Tess?