Chlex Fanfic: Orchestrato, Chapter 20
Oct. 27th, 2013 07:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
babydee1Getting rather speedy with these Chlex updates.
Enjoy! :-) Amazing banner by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chleansmile. Thanks again, Sunny! :-D
Title: Orchestrato
Author:babydee1
Pairing: Chlex
Rating: This chapter PG13
Warnings: Some chronology-shifting with the events of Episode 4.1 (Gone)
Timeline: Safehouse Summer of Love, End of Season 3/Beginning of 4
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Lex inexplicably bonds with Chloe whilst keeping her survival a secret from the world
Feedback: …makes me squee. :)
Read previous chapter here
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 20
Lex glared at his father with undisguised hatred.
“No,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You can’t tell me what to do, old man. I won’t let you.”
Lionel snorted. “Like I said, son: you don’t have a choice.”
“Oh, I have a lot more choice than you think,” Lex replied swiftly. And he meant it. He wasn’t going to roll over and take his father’s cruelty anymore. Lionel Luthor was a twisted, malevolent manipulator who had taken lives in cold blood, and therefore didn’t deserve to live himself.
Warning bells sounded distantly in Lex’s head at the dark direction his thoughts were taking, but he the more he considered it, the more it took root in his mind. There wasn’t a soul on this earth that would miss Lionel Luthor if he was no longer in it. If that’s what it was going to come down to, so help him…
His father regarded him with an arched brow. “You wouldn’t be thinking of killing me now, would you, Lex?” he queried silkily. “Because that would be a very, very grave mistake.”
Lex’s narrowed his eyes and fixed his father with a chilling gaze. “You have subjected me to physical and mental abuse for as long as I’ve been alive,” he said harshly. “You’ve killed people and trodden on thousands just to move yourself a few rungs up the financial ladder, and I’m ashamed to call you my father. Getting rid of you would be the best thing I ever did. Hell, it would be a public service.”
“Well, you’re welcome to try,” Lionel replied easily. “Just as long as you’re ready to live with the consequences of your actions.”
Lex chuckled. “The only consequence of your demise would be a collective sigh of relief and a lot of happy people, Dad,” he replied. “I can live with that.”
“Not if Miss Sullivan dies at the same time, you wouldn’t.”
***
Lex’s heart immediately turned to stone in his chest. “What?” he whispered.
“You think I wouldn’t kill her?” Lionel challenged. “I had her kidnapped from under your nose. If Tyler had done as I’d asked and dispatched her quickly and cleanly, I’d be a free man right now. His hesitation has cost me dearly, and believe me, that is one mistake I’m not prepared to tolerate a second time.”
“Listen to yourself, you bitter, twisted old bastard!” Lex roared. “You’re targeting a kid in high school! Haven’t you tortured her and her father enough?”
Lionel smiled. “I have to insure myself somehow, Lex, and this gives me the greatest return on my investment. If I die, I’m taking Miss Sullivan with me.” He edged closer to the bars, his face twisted in a bitter smile.
“That’s right, Lex; her life depends on me. Releasing your sex tape would amuse me a great deal, but if you think you can end me, I will rip out your heart and wound you to your very soul.”
Lex swallowed hard. “You’ve wronged a lot of people, Dad,” he said through gritted teeth. “What if someone else entirely makes an attempt on your life? Everyone knows you’re behind bars now, and I’m not the only person in the world who has it in for you.”
“Then you’d best ensure that no harm comes to me, hadn’t you?” Lionel said with a smirk as he returned to the stark single bed on the other side of the cell.
“I can’t protect you in prison!” Lex bellowed.
Lionel’s eyes turned icy. “Then you’d better be prepared to protect Chloe Sullivan from whatever might happen,” he said coldly. “If I’m attacked, she’ll be brutally harmed. If I’m sexually assaulted, she’ll be raped within an inch of her life. If I die, she’ll suffer the same fate.”
Lex listened to each chilling word and tried desperately to block out the sickening images that his mind was conjuring up to go with them. His head was in complete and utter turmoil. His father’s threats wove a delicate thread that hung Chloe’s life in the balance, and as hard as Lex tried, he failed to see a way out of it.
Lionel reclined on the narrow bed and casually linked his hands behind his head.
“Oh, and while we’re negotiating, a visit from you every now and again wouldn’t go amiss,” he added. “I’m thinking once a fortnight?”
Lex closed his eyes in despair. He should have foreseen this. He should never have let Chloe testify, but he’d been so hell-bent on taking his father down that he had underestimated how far Lionel would go to exact his revenge. Now he was faced with an impossible situation. He couldn’t let anything happen to Chloe because of him…but he didn’t think he could live without seeing her smile or holding her in his arms every day, not anymore.
“Dad…” Lex swallowed. “Dad, please…”
“Oh, don’t beg, son,” his father replied, a look of pure disgust on his face. “It’s a sure admission of weakness and defeat. You’re a Luthor; act like one.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” he asked helplessly.
“My orders are clear,” Lionel replied simply. “Discontinue all contact with Chloe Sullivan, and find a way to keep me free from any and all mishaps during my incarceration. Otherwise mine won’t be the only body you’ll be burying.”
Just then, the doors opened behind Lex and admitted several uniformed guards into the area. Lionel glanced down at his watch, and made a wry face. “You’ll have to excuse me now, Lex; I believe I’m about to be transported to my dwellings for the foreseeable future.”
“I hate you,” Lex spat out, brimming with fury. “I hate you with every fibre of my being.”
“I love you too, son,” he replied stoically. “Think about all I’ve told you today; remember, everything you love depends on it.”
***
His father’s words haunted him all the way back to the Mansion.
Chloe Sullivan had been the only woman in his life for the entire summer. They’d played together, laughed together, shared stories and life experiences, wined and dined, argued, made up …and made love with the deepest emotional connection he’d ever experienced. She’d healed him, both literally and figuratively, and the mere thought of cutting her out of his life was as painful as cutting his own beating heart of his chest.
He had, quite simply, fallen in love with her.
Lex exhaled deeply. His hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles went white and his fingers numb.
He couldn’t stop seeing her; he just couldn’t. Maybe if he told her of his father’s threats, they could be careful, and perhaps occasionally manage to meet in secret…
He shook his head. Even as he thought the scenario through, he knew it wouldn’t be practical. He was a public figure; clandestine meetings in hotels with a mystery blonde surely wouldn’t go unnoticed. The Inquisitor would be all over it, as would a host of other publications. Seeing her at the Mansion was out of the question because he couldn’t afford to put that amount of trust in his security team, anyone of whom might have a direct line to his father. No doubt Lionel already had him under surveillance by now.
There was no point fighting the inevitable, Lex realised with growing despondence. His political ambitions aside, a relationship with Chloe would end in tears for her if that sex tape ever came to light.
He sighed. Breaking up with her wouldn’t be easy. He couldn’t possibly look her in the eye and lie about what she meant to him; not when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and shield her from anything and anyone that might try to hurt her. Besides, she knew him, the real him; she’d know that he was lying. Maybe if he stonewalled her completely and just cut off all communication, she just might walk away of her own accord after one too many unreturned messages and ignored calls. It was a piss-poor plan, but the only one that he could think of that didn’t actively require him breaking her heart to her face.
And then there was the issue of her personal safety. If anything happened to his father, Chloe was sure to be targeted — and that was something he wasn’t prepared to gamble on. What would it take to arrange Lionel’s protection from the scores of people who wanted him dead? And if the worst did happen and Lionel took a beating — or worse — how could he keep Chloe from sharing the same fate?
He was still considering his plight when he pulled into the Mansion driveway and parked the car. He sat there for several seconds, drumming his hands on the steering wheel before reluctantly exiting the car and making his way into the house.
He had a very difficult decision to make today, but whatever route he chose, one thing was sure: he risked losing the woman he loved forever.
***
Chapter 21...
Enjoy! :-) Amazing banner by
chleansmile. Thanks again, Sunny! :-DTitle: Orchestrato
Author:
babydee1Pairing: Chlex
Rating: This chapter PG13
Warnings: Some chronology-shifting with the events of Episode 4.1 (Gone)
Timeline: Safehouse Summer of Love, End of Season 3/Beginning of 4
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Lex inexplicably bonds with Chloe whilst keeping her survival a secret from the world
Feedback: …makes me squee. :)
Read previous chapter here
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 20
Lex glared at his father with undisguised hatred.
“No,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You can’t tell me what to do, old man. I won’t let you.”
Lionel snorted. “Like I said, son: you don’t have a choice.”
“Oh, I have a lot more choice than you think,” Lex replied swiftly. And he meant it. He wasn’t going to roll over and take his father’s cruelty anymore. Lionel Luthor was a twisted, malevolent manipulator who had taken lives in cold blood, and therefore didn’t deserve to live himself.
Warning bells sounded distantly in Lex’s head at the dark direction his thoughts were taking, but he the more he considered it, the more it took root in his mind. There wasn’t a soul on this earth that would miss Lionel Luthor if he was no longer in it. If that’s what it was going to come down to, so help him…
His father regarded him with an arched brow. “You wouldn’t be thinking of killing me now, would you, Lex?” he queried silkily. “Because that would be a very, very grave mistake.”
Lex’s narrowed his eyes and fixed his father with a chilling gaze. “You have subjected me to physical and mental abuse for as long as I’ve been alive,” he said harshly. “You’ve killed people and trodden on thousands just to move yourself a few rungs up the financial ladder, and I’m ashamed to call you my father. Getting rid of you would be the best thing I ever did. Hell, it would be a public service.”
“Well, you’re welcome to try,” Lionel replied easily. “Just as long as you’re ready to live with the consequences of your actions.”
Lex chuckled. “The only consequence of your demise would be a collective sigh of relief and a lot of happy people, Dad,” he replied. “I can live with that.”
“Not if Miss Sullivan dies at the same time, you wouldn’t.”
***
Lex’s heart immediately turned to stone in his chest. “What?” he whispered.
“You think I wouldn’t kill her?” Lionel challenged. “I had her kidnapped from under your nose. If Tyler had done as I’d asked and dispatched her quickly and cleanly, I’d be a free man right now. His hesitation has cost me dearly, and believe me, that is one mistake I’m not prepared to tolerate a second time.”
“Listen to yourself, you bitter, twisted old bastard!” Lex roared. “You’re targeting a kid in high school! Haven’t you tortured her and her father enough?”
Lionel smiled. “I have to insure myself somehow, Lex, and this gives me the greatest return on my investment. If I die, I’m taking Miss Sullivan with me.” He edged closer to the bars, his face twisted in a bitter smile.
“That’s right, Lex; her life depends on me. Releasing your sex tape would amuse me a great deal, but if you think you can end me, I will rip out your heart and wound you to your very soul.”
Lex swallowed hard. “You’ve wronged a lot of people, Dad,” he said through gritted teeth. “What if someone else entirely makes an attempt on your life? Everyone knows you’re behind bars now, and I’m not the only person in the world who has it in for you.”
“Then you’d best ensure that no harm comes to me, hadn’t you?” Lionel said with a smirk as he returned to the stark single bed on the other side of the cell.
“I can’t protect you in prison!” Lex bellowed.
Lionel’s eyes turned icy. “Then you’d better be prepared to protect Chloe Sullivan from whatever might happen,” he said coldly. “If I’m attacked, she’ll be brutally harmed. If I’m sexually assaulted, she’ll be raped within an inch of her life. If I die, she’ll suffer the same fate.”
Lex listened to each chilling word and tried desperately to block out the sickening images that his mind was conjuring up to go with them. His head was in complete and utter turmoil. His father’s threats wove a delicate thread that hung Chloe’s life in the balance, and as hard as Lex tried, he failed to see a way out of it.
Lionel reclined on the narrow bed and casually linked his hands behind his head.
“Oh, and while we’re negotiating, a visit from you every now and again wouldn’t go amiss,” he added. “I’m thinking once a fortnight?”
Lex closed his eyes in despair. He should have foreseen this. He should never have let Chloe testify, but he’d been so hell-bent on taking his father down that he had underestimated how far Lionel would go to exact his revenge. Now he was faced with an impossible situation. He couldn’t let anything happen to Chloe because of him…but he didn’t think he could live without seeing her smile or holding her in his arms every day, not anymore.
“Dad…” Lex swallowed. “Dad, please…”
“Oh, don’t beg, son,” his father replied, a look of pure disgust on his face. “It’s a sure admission of weakness and defeat. You’re a Luthor; act like one.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” he asked helplessly.
“My orders are clear,” Lionel replied simply. “Discontinue all contact with Chloe Sullivan, and find a way to keep me free from any and all mishaps during my incarceration. Otherwise mine won’t be the only body you’ll be burying.”
Just then, the doors opened behind Lex and admitted several uniformed guards into the area. Lionel glanced down at his watch, and made a wry face. “You’ll have to excuse me now, Lex; I believe I’m about to be transported to my dwellings for the foreseeable future.”
“I hate you,” Lex spat out, brimming with fury. “I hate you with every fibre of my being.”
“I love you too, son,” he replied stoically. “Think about all I’ve told you today; remember, everything you love depends on it.”
***
His father’s words haunted him all the way back to the Mansion.
Chloe Sullivan had been the only woman in his life for the entire summer. They’d played together, laughed together, shared stories and life experiences, wined and dined, argued, made up …and made love with the deepest emotional connection he’d ever experienced. She’d healed him, both literally and figuratively, and the mere thought of cutting her out of his life was as painful as cutting his own beating heart of his chest.
He had, quite simply, fallen in love with her.
Lex exhaled deeply. His hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles went white and his fingers numb.
He couldn’t stop seeing her; he just couldn’t. Maybe if he told her of his father’s threats, they could be careful, and perhaps occasionally manage to meet in secret…
He shook his head. Even as he thought the scenario through, he knew it wouldn’t be practical. He was a public figure; clandestine meetings in hotels with a mystery blonde surely wouldn’t go unnoticed. The Inquisitor would be all over it, as would a host of other publications. Seeing her at the Mansion was out of the question because he couldn’t afford to put that amount of trust in his security team, anyone of whom might have a direct line to his father. No doubt Lionel already had him under surveillance by now.
There was no point fighting the inevitable, Lex realised with growing despondence. His political ambitions aside, a relationship with Chloe would end in tears for her if that sex tape ever came to light.
He sighed. Breaking up with her wouldn’t be easy. He couldn’t possibly look her in the eye and lie about what she meant to him; not when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and shield her from anything and anyone that might try to hurt her. Besides, she knew him, the real him; she’d know that he was lying. Maybe if he stonewalled her completely and just cut off all communication, she just might walk away of her own accord after one too many unreturned messages and ignored calls. It was a piss-poor plan, but the only one that he could think of that didn’t actively require him breaking her heart to her face.
And then there was the issue of her personal safety. If anything happened to his father, Chloe was sure to be targeted — and that was something he wasn’t prepared to gamble on. What would it take to arrange Lionel’s protection from the scores of people who wanted him dead? And if the worst did happen and Lionel took a beating — or worse — how could he keep Chloe from sharing the same fate?
He was still considering his plight when he pulled into the Mansion driveway and parked the car. He sat there for several seconds, drumming his hands on the steering wheel before reluctantly exiting the car and making his way into the house.
He had a very difficult decision to make today, but whatever route he chose, one thing was sure: he risked losing the woman he loved forever.
***
Chapter 21...
