Not Anymore - 1/?- Smallville: Chloe Sullivan/Lex Luthor - PG13/R
Title: Not Anymore
Rating: PG13-R...just to be safe
Pairing: Chloe Sullivan/Lex Luthor
Spoilers: Covenant [season3 finale], Crusade and Gone [season4], will depend on succeeding chapters
Disclaimer: None are mine, though to have Lex on eternal loan would be truly appreciated. *grin*
Summary: A few years after Chloe's graduation from MetU, Lex calls her up, inviting her for an afternoon at a cafe in Metropolis. The banter was still like old times, until Lex decided to bring up the long-buried issue of that summer in the safe house.
A/N: A bit angsty, so don't bitch to me about not being warned. Always love the feedback! Ü
started - march 3 2005
Chapter 1: Cafe Conversations
"Miss Sullivan", Lex greeted politely as Chloe slipped into the empty seat at their table for two in the VIP section of a classy cafe in Metropolis.
"I use the hyphenated surname now, Mr. Luthor", countered Chloe, matching his formal greeting. "You should know that already since you were at the wedding as our best man." Chloe grins at him, quickly settling into the comfortable banter they've perfected way back in Smallville.
"Ah, yes, with the reception at the manor's garden. You were utterly beautiful and blooming that afternoon. In fact, you still are, Miss Sullivan."
"Why, thank you, Lex. You're lucky I'm letting you charm me, or else a particular eyebrow would've been already up a while ago. And it's Chloe, ok? I'm in a good mood with you, old friend, so don't spoil it." She wanted to stick her tongue out, just for the fun of it, but she resisted and upped the wattage on her grin instead.
"But 'Miss Sullivan' always brings back the best memories. Remember that summer...,” Lex started to reminisce, but Chloe interrupted right away. They’ve had this conversation, nay, argument before, and she was not about to let an afternoon be wasted, again. The beginnings of wistful smiles vanished from their faces.
"Don't, Lex.” Chloe warned.
"Don't what, Chlo-e?" Lex's suddenly stiff tone, stressing on the last syllable, is now matched with an icy glare.
A lesser man would've buckled, but Chloe took a deep breath and seemed unfazed. "Don't start. We’ve been through this one too many times than I could possibly bear in this lifetime. That summer is over and done with. I’m not going to hold it against you if you want to reminisce. But, please, let me not be a part of it. Just…don’t.” Chloe kept a straight face throughout her tirade, though she berated her voice for faltering at the last word.
Lex wasn’t looking at her anymore and was fiddling the napkin on top of his plate, contemplating his next move as if the conversation was a serious chess game.
“What happened to us, Chloe?” He was still avoiding eye contact, afraid that his eyes would show his warring emotions. Lex was now looking uncharacteristically forlorn.
“You tell me, Lex. After that summer in the safe house, even after your father’s trial was concluded,” she sighed,”…not a peep. You were always on some expedition out of the country. Or with Clark and that Jason Teague. Lana’s tattoo probably held your attention longer than I’ll ever…” It was Chloe’s turn to look away; she’d rather not let Lex see the tears forming in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, jealousy and envy are two facts of life that could never be totally purged from her system.
“I’m sorry, Chloe. Please don’t think like that again.” Lex finally looked at her, hoping she would sense his sincerity. “I never thought you’d be jealous of the company I keep”, he said, trying to bring back the banter.
Now it was Chloe’s turn to put on the cool exterior. “Go home, Mr. Luthor. Your wife must be worrying herself to death. You know how jealous she got when you spent the whole summer in the safe house when you were supposed to be vacationing with her in Greece for your anniversary.”
“I had to make sure, dammit!” he countered, struggling to keep his voice down. “It’s always been you, Chloe. Only you.” he said quietly after taking a deep breath.
“No, Lex. That’s not the way…” reasoned Chloe, putting her trembling hands on the table to steady them.
“My marriage to Helen was only for convenience,” he continued as if he didn’t hear her, “You knew that…Only you knew that.”
“Yes, but…” she tried to start again.
“I love you, Chloe. I still do.” Lex reached out across their table, took her hand, and squeezed it, all the while never breaking eye contact. Chloe looked down at the hand holding hers.
My hand. My LEFT hand. The one with my WEDDING RING!, she thought.
A split-second after this realization, she almost jumped from her seat. Chloe jerked her hand from under Lex’s grip, and in the process, the stone from her wedding ring cut into Lex’s palm. It wasn’t exactly shallow, but it was deep enough that it bled. Lex grabbed the table napkin and wound it around his right hand.
Her tears were now threatening to spill over her cheeks as she struggled to find her handkerchief with her blurred vision.
My God, this is so not right! All I wanted was to catch up with an old friend. We weren’t supposed to bring out skeletons from the closet! Crap. Crap. Crap!
“Chloe. I still lo-…” Lex wanted her to hear it again, to somehow convince her of its genuineness, to let it sink in, and to make her realize her own love for him.
Chloe cut him short. “You’re not supposed to love me anymore!” she croaked out. She was close to being hysterical; this definitely wasn’t the way she imagined this night would end.
“Not anymore, Lex. No more. Never again.” She stood up and fixed the contents of her purse. “I have to go now. I’m late for our anniversary dinner. Clark must be going mad already.” Good thing Lex decided to sit facing the wall, or else the huge scowl marring his face would’ve given the press a field day.
Since Lex didn’t bother to stand up, she stood at his side and whispered, “Goodbye…Mr. Luthor”, all the while looking in the direction of the entrance of the café. Two heartbeats later, and no sound from Lex. After the first step away from the table, Chloe inwardly cringed as she heard him reply:
“Goodbye…Miss Sullivan.”
Chloe sighed, He’ll never let that summer go.
TBC
Chapter 2
it could also be read over at Naughty-Seduction. if you aren't a member of that forum yet, register here [type "teejei" as referrer], then follow instructions to view the fanfic threads.
Rating: PG13-R...just to be safe
Pairing: Chloe Sullivan/Lex Luthor
Spoilers: Covenant [season3 finale], Crusade and Gone [season4], will depend on succeeding chapters
Disclaimer: None are mine, though to have Lex on eternal loan would be truly appreciated. *grin*
Summary: A few years after Chloe's graduation from MetU, Lex calls her up, inviting her for an afternoon at a cafe in Metropolis. The banter was still like old times, until Lex decided to bring up the long-buried issue of that summer in the safe house.
A/N: A bit angsty, so don't bitch to me about not being warned. Always love the feedback! Ü
started - march 3 2005
Chapter 1: Cafe Conversations
"Miss Sullivan", Lex greeted politely as Chloe slipped into the empty seat at their table for two in the VIP section of a classy cafe in Metropolis.
"I use the hyphenated surname now, Mr. Luthor", countered Chloe, matching his formal greeting. "You should know that already since you were at the wedding as our best man." Chloe grins at him, quickly settling into the comfortable banter they've perfected way back in Smallville.
"Ah, yes, with the reception at the manor's garden. You were utterly beautiful and blooming that afternoon. In fact, you still are, Miss Sullivan."
"Why, thank you, Lex. You're lucky I'm letting you charm me, or else a particular eyebrow would've been already up a while ago. And it's Chloe, ok? I'm in a good mood with you, old friend, so don't spoil it." She wanted to stick her tongue out, just for the fun of it, but she resisted and upped the wattage on her grin instead.
"But 'Miss Sullivan' always brings back the best memories. Remember that summer...,” Lex started to reminisce, but Chloe interrupted right away. They’ve had this conversation, nay, argument before, and she was not about to let an afternoon be wasted, again. The beginnings of wistful smiles vanished from their faces.
"Don't, Lex.” Chloe warned.
"Don't what, Chlo-e?" Lex's suddenly stiff tone, stressing on the last syllable, is now matched with an icy glare.
A lesser man would've buckled, but Chloe took a deep breath and seemed unfazed. "Don't start. We’ve been through this one too many times than I could possibly bear in this lifetime. That summer is over and done with. I’m not going to hold it against you if you want to reminisce. But, please, let me not be a part of it. Just…don’t.” Chloe kept a straight face throughout her tirade, though she berated her voice for faltering at the last word.
Lex wasn’t looking at her anymore and was fiddling the napkin on top of his plate, contemplating his next move as if the conversation was a serious chess game.
“What happened to us, Chloe?” He was still avoiding eye contact, afraid that his eyes would show his warring emotions. Lex was now looking uncharacteristically forlorn.
“You tell me, Lex. After that summer in the safe house, even after your father’s trial was concluded,” she sighed,”…not a peep. You were always on some expedition out of the country. Or with Clark and that Jason Teague. Lana’s tattoo probably held your attention longer than I’ll ever…” It was Chloe’s turn to look away; she’d rather not let Lex see the tears forming in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, jealousy and envy are two facts of life that could never be totally purged from her system.
“I’m sorry, Chloe. Please don’t think like that again.” Lex finally looked at her, hoping she would sense his sincerity. “I never thought you’d be jealous of the company I keep”, he said, trying to bring back the banter.
Now it was Chloe’s turn to put on the cool exterior. “Go home, Mr. Luthor. Your wife must be worrying herself to death. You know how jealous she got when you spent the whole summer in the safe house when you were supposed to be vacationing with her in Greece for your anniversary.”
“I had to make sure, dammit!” he countered, struggling to keep his voice down. “It’s always been you, Chloe. Only you.” he said quietly after taking a deep breath.
“No, Lex. That’s not the way…” reasoned Chloe, putting her trembling hands on the table to steady them.
“My marriage to Helen was only for convenience,” he continued as if he didn’t hear her, “You knew that…Only you knew that.”
“Yes, but…” she tried to start again.
“I love you, Chloe. I still do.” Lex reached out across their table, took her hand, and squeezed it, all the while never breaking eye contact. Chloe looked down at the hand holding hers.
My hand. My LEFT hand. The one with my WEDDING RING!, she thought.
A split-second after this realization, she almost jumped from her seat. Chloe jerked her hand from under Lex’s grip, and in the process, the stone from her wedding ring cut into Lex’s palm. It wasn’t exactly shallow, but it was deep enough that it bled. Lex grabbed the table napkin and wound it around his right hand.
Her tears were now threatening to spill over her cheeks as she struggled to find her handkerchief with her blurred vision.
My God, this is so not right! All I wanted was to catch up with an old friend. We weren’t supposed to bring out skeletons from the closet! Crap. Crap. Crap!
“Chloe. I still lo-…” Lex wanted her to hear it again, to somehow convince her of its genuineness, to let it sink in, and to make her realize her own love for him.
Chloe cut him short. “You’re not supposed to love me anymore!” she croaked out. She was close to being hysterical; this definitely wasn’t the way she imagined this night would end.
“Not anymore, Lex. No more. Never again.” She stood up and fixed the contents of her purse. “I have to go now. I’m late for our anniversary dinner. Clark must be going mad already.” Good thing Lex decided to sit facing the wall, or else the huge scowl marring his face would’ve given the press a field day.
Since Lex didn’t bother to stand up, she stood at his side and whispered, “Goodbye…Mr. Luthor”, all the while looking in the direction of the entrance of the café. Two heartbeats later, and no sound from Lex. After the first step away from the table, Chloe inwardly cringed as she heard him reply:
“Goodbye…Miss Sullivan.”
Chloe sighed, He’ll never let that summer go.
TBC
Chapter 2
it could also be read over at Naughty-Seduction. if you aren't a member of that forum yet, register here [type "teejei" as referrer], then follow instructions to view the fanfic threads.