Chlex Fanfic: Orchestrato, Chapter 22/22
Nov. 22nd, 2013 02:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
babydee1Hello Peeps,
It’s taken just over 18 months, but we’re finally at the last chapter of Orchestrato!
Now, before you bring out the torches and pitchforks, you should know that there is a sequel planned for 2014 in which there is a lovely happy ending for this amazing pair. I’ve written the draft notes, and trust me, you’re all gonna love it.
Until then…enjoy! Amazing banners for this story were provided by the lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chleansmile and the fantastic ctbn60. Love you both, Ladies! *group smish* :-)
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 22
If anyone had told Chloe Lex would turn his back on her so cruelly and coldly, she’d have laughed in their faces and called them pathetic, deluded liars. Yet here she was, trudging aimlessly along the road like a lost vagrant, his scathing words stinging her soul like acid on an open wound.
It didn’t make sense, any of it. The generous, tender, playful person that she had come to know and love over the last three months, who’d played Scrabble with her on the carpet and made love to her with so much tenderness, would never do what he did to her. Unless of course it had all been an act; but she could swear on her life that it wasn’t. Still, the kind, carefree Lex didn’t gel with the cold, calculating bastard that had all but tossed her out on her ear with a carelessly-written cheque as a payoff; which, she realised, she’d left behind in his study.
Something had changed in him, between the time he’d kissed her goodbye in his bedroom and today. Maybe he felt guilty for putting his father behind bars, and as she the primary witness, he probably associated that guilt with her. Lionel was undoubtedly a criminal who deserved to be in prison, but he was still Lex’s father…and blood always ran thicker than water. That was the only explanation she could think of. Maybe that’s what he’d wanted to tell her before she was abducted; that he was having second thoughts. It didn’t seem likely, but there wasn’t really anything else it could be.
Why wouldn’t he at least look at her? she wondered. If he was getting as much pleasure from dumping her as he’d indicated, then surely he wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity to really rub it in by letting her see just how much he was enjoying it. Why deny himself that perverse little pleasure? It just didn’t make sense.
***
She wandered around for over an hour with only her turbulent thoughts for company, until she found herself standing outside the Kent barn. There was a light on upstairs; slowly she ascended the steps until she saw Clark’s head bent over a book. He glanced up and saw her, and smiled.
“Congratulations on the trial, Chloe; you did really well today.” He frowned and glanced at his watch. “What brings you here so late?”
“I, um…I went to see Lex,” she managed in a quiet whisper.
His brows drew downward. “What happened?”
She drew in a deep, shaky breath. “He’s not the person I thought he was,” she finally whispered.
“Oh, Chloe.” He got up from the couch and hurried to her side, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“You called it, Clark,” she said tremulously. “You were right about him all along.”
“But I didn’t want to be,” he said thickly. “I’d hoped he had changed, for your sake, I really did…but I don’t think he’s capable of real feelings, Chloe. I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”
She’d braced herself for an ‘I told you so’ and a lecture, so his quiet comfort broke down the last of her defences. Tears pricked at her eyelids, and she rubbed at them hard.
“I really thought…” her face crumpled, and the floodgates opened in earnest. “You tried to warn me, and instead…Oh God, I feel like such an idiot,” she sobbed.
“Don’t worry about it,” he whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair comfortingly.
“But he was so nice to me!” she cried. “You don’t understand, Clark. He was completely different…”
Clark snorted gruffly. “We’ve all been taken in by Lex’s lies, but at least you know where you stand with him now.”
“Maybe — maybe I should talk to him again,” she suggested hesitantly, even as Clark immediately shook his head. “He was probably just upset about his father—”
“No. That’s a bad idea, and you know it.” He gently wiped her tears away and thinned his lips. “Let this be the last time he’ll ever hurt you, Chloe; you don’t want to give him another chance, trust me.”
***
It was long past midnight when Lex finally trudged upstairs.
It didn’t matter how many times he tried to rationalise his actions, or how much alcohol he consumed to try and numb the pain…he felt like a monster. The hurt expression on her face before he’d turned away from her would haunt him for as long as he lived.
He’d spotted the forgotten cheque where she’d left it on the counter, and folded it back into his jacket pocket. First thing tomorrow, he would organise a proper severance settlement for Gabe Sullivan, along with a reference and a list of contacts in the business to get him back to work as soon as possible. It was the least he could do after turning the man’s world upside-down.
He sighed despondently and pushed open the door to his room. It had been tidied up and was in pristine condition, bearing no evidence of the trauma of the kidnapping just a day prior. Not that it mattered; his silk sheets held no comfort for him, not now that Chloe wasn’t here to share them with him.
It was then that he noticed the package sitting in the middle of the bed.
Frowning, he sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted the fairly sizeable red and black box into his lap. There was a silver envelope stuck to the top, with his name scrawled on it in Chloe’s swirly handwriting. Quickly he tore the envelope open, pulled out the letter, and started to read.
Dear Lex,
My search for the Luthor Clan family tartan yielded no results, she began. I find that to be a travesty. Every Scottish family should have their own tartan, no matter what their origins are.
You bear a name that was passed to you from your father and grandfather, yet you have chosen to follow a different path; one of kindness, honour and integrity. With this in mind, I took it upon myself to design and register a brand new tartan in your name— Alexander Joseph Luthor— for all your generations to come.
Lex’s vision blurred with tears; he dashed them away and continued reading.
I’ve chosen colours that I feel reflect your personality, and a pattern that represents bravery, strength and resilience. I hope you like it, and I really hope to see you in it someday.
Love,
Chloe xx
PS: Okay, so I secretly hope you’ll turn it into a kilt, but I’m not holding my breath! ;-)
Lex swallowed hard and opened the box. There, nestled in the plain tissue paper, was generous cut of original Scottish Tartan in a bespoke pattern, with a truly unique colour combination. The base tint of the weft, according to the enclosed chart, was a deep shade of Eminence Purple, crossed with a warp of Midnight Black and Dove Gray, finished with threads of finest silver criss-crossing through.
It was perfect.
She was perfect, he realised. He loved her…and now she would never be his.
Lex squeezed his eyes shut and held the Tartan to his chest, pressing it against his heart in a desperate attempt to quell the aching loss.
He had done the right thing. Even though it would hurt like hell until his last day on earth, he had done the right thing. She despised him now, but it was what he had wanted. He needed her to hate him, so that she would stay well away from the dangers an association with him presented. Losing her was unspeakably painful, but every day she spent hating him was a day in which she was living and breathing…and that’s what mattered.
Lex lay back on the bed with a despondent sigh. His father had made some very real threats, and he knew Lionel Luthor was capable of anything. As much as Lex wanted to call his father’s bluff, he couldn’t gamble with Chloe’s life. As long as she was okay, he could live with the sacrifices he’d made.
He savoured the feel of the tartan in his fingers, and a glimmer of hope flickered in his heart. Maybe one day, he would get another chance with her. It might not come anytime soon, but if it did present itself — and he could somehow get his father to rescind his threats — then he would grab Chloe with both hands and never let her go.
Until then…
He sat up and folded the tartan carefully back into the box. Until then, he would be sure to visit his father every fortnight, even though all he wanted to do to Lionel’s smirking face was ram his fist repeatedly into it. And there was one other thing to arrange, as well.
Lex dug into his pocket for his cell and dialled a number. When it was answered on the third ring, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Two things,” he began. “I need a low-profile yet highly efficient security detail on Chloe Sullivan. The trial may be over, but she may still be at risk of revenge attacks.”
“I’ll get it sorted,” was the crisp reply. “And the other thing?”
Lex took a deep breath. “I need the same detail arranged for Lionel Luthor,” he replied.
There was a brief silence on the line. Then: “With all due respect, sir, your father’s a convicted criminal. It’ll take significant resources to make such an arrangement.”
“I don’t care how much it costs, Regan. Make it happen, and spare no expense,” Lex replied tersely. “My father needs to be protected throughout his time in prison, as does Chloe Sullivan. Treat it as a matter of life and death.”
“Consider it done, sir,” was the crisp reply.
Lex hung up the phone and reached for swath of tartan again. He sighed as he placed it on his pillowcase, then lay down and rested his cheek on the soft fabric.
He’d done all he could to protect the woman he loved from harm. Whether or not those measures would prove adequate…only time would tell.
***
The End.
Coming Soon: Concensus ad Edem (A Meeting of Minds)
banner bychleansmile
***
It’s taken just over 18 months, but we’re finally at the last chapter of Orchestrato!
Now, before you bring out the torches and pitchforks, you should know that there is a sequel planned for 2014 in which there is a lovely happy ending for this amazing pair. I’ve written the draft notes, and trust me, you’re all gonna love it.
Until then…enjoy! Amazing banners for this story were provided by the lovely
chleansmile and the fantastic ctbn60. Love you both, Ladies! *group smish* :-) Title: 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 22
If anyone had told Chloe Lex would turn his back on her so cruelly and coldly, she’d have laughed in their faces and called them pathetic, deluded liars. Yet here she was, trudging aimlessly along the road like a lost vagrant, his scathing words stinging her soul like acid on an open wound.
It didn’t make sense, any of it. The generous, tender, playful person that she had come to know and love over the last three months, who’d played Scrabble with her on the carpet and made love to her with so much tenderness, would never do what he did to her. Unless of course it had all been an act; but she could swear on her life that it wasn’t. Still, the kind, carefree Lex didn’t gel with the cold, calculating bastard that had all but tossed her out on her ear with a carelessly-written cheque as a payoff; which, she realised, she’d left behind in his study.
Something had changed in him, between the time he’d kissed her goodbye in his bedroom and today. Maybe he felt guilty for putting his father behind bars, and as she the primary witness, he probably associated that guilt with her. Lionel was undoubtedly a criminal who deserved to be in prison, but he was still Lex’s father…and blood always ran thicker than water. That was the only explanation she could think of. Maybe that’s what he’d wanted to tell her before she was abducted; that he was having second thoughts. It didn’t seem likely, but there wasn’t really anything else it could be.
Why wouldn’t he at least look at her? she wondered. If he was getting as much pleasure from dumping her as he’d indicated, then surely he wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity to really rub it in by letting her see just how much he was enjoying it. Why deny himself that perverse little pleasure? It just didn’t make sense.
***
She wandered around for over an hour with only her turbulent thoughts for company, until she found herself standing outside the Kent barn. There was a light on upstairs; slowly she ascended the steps until she saw Clark’s head bent over a book. He glanced up and saw her, and smiled.
“Congratulations on the trial, Chloe; you did really well today.” He frowned and glanced at his watch. “What brings you here so late?”
“I, um…I went to see Lex,” she managed in a quiet whisper.
His brows drew downward. “What happened?”
She drew in a deep, shaky breath. “He’s not the person I thought he was,” she finally whispered.
“Oh, Chloe.” He got up from the couch and hurried to her side, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“You called it, Clark,” she said tremulously. “You were right about him all along.”
“But I didn’t want to be,” he said thickly. “I’d hoped he had changed, for your sake, I really did…but I don’t think he’s capable of real feelings, Chloe. I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”
She’d braced herself for an ‘I told you so’ and a lecture, so his quiet comfort broke down the last of her defences. Tears pricked at her eyelids, and she rubbed at them hard.
“I really thought…” her face crumpled, and the floodgates opened in earnest. “You tried to warn me, and instead…Oh God, I feel like such an idiot,” she sobbed.
“Don’t worry about it,” he whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair comfortingly.
“But he was so nice to me!” she cried. “You don’t understand, Clark. He was completely different…”
Clark snorted gruffly. “We’ve all been taken in by Lex’s lies, but at least you know where you stand with him now.”
“Maybe — maybe I should talk to him again,” she suggested hesitantly, even as Clark immediately shook his head. “He was probably just upset about his father—”
“No. That’s a bad idea, and you know it.” He gently wiped her tears away and thinned his lips. “Let this be the last time he’ll ever hurt you, Chloe; you don’t want to give him another chance, trust me.”
***
It was long past midnight when Lex finally trudged upstairs.
It didn’t matter how many times he tried to rationalise his actions, or how much alcohol he consumed to try and numb the pain…he felt like a monster. The hurt expression on her face before he’d turned away from her would haunt him for as long as he lived.
He’d spotted the forgotten cheque where she’d left it on the counter, and folded it back into his jacket pocket. First thing tomorrow, he would organise a proper severance settlement for Gabe Sullivan, along with a reference and a list of contacts in the business to get him back to work as soon as possible. It was the least he could do after turning the man’s world upside-down.
He sighed despondently and pushed open the door to his room. It had been tidied up and was in pristine condition, bearing no evidence of the trauma of the kidnapping just a day prior. Not that it mattered; his silk sheets held no comfort for him, not now that Chloe wasn’t here to share them with him.
It was then that he noticed the package sitting in the middle of the bed.
Frowning, he sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted the fairly sizeable red and black box into his lap. There was a silver envelope stuck to the top, with his name scrawled on it in Chloe’s swirly handwriting. Quickly he tore the envelope open, pulled out the letter, and started to read.
Dear Lex,
My search for the Luthor Clan family tartan yielded no results, she began. I find that to be a travesty. Every Scottish family should have their own tartan, no matter what their origins are.
You bear a name that was passed to you from your father and grandfather, yet you have chosen to follow a different path; one of kindness, honour and integrity. With this in mind, I took it upon myself to design and register a brand new tartan in your name— Alexander Joseph Luthor— for all your generations to come.
Lex’s vision blurred with tears; he dashed them away and continued reading.
I’ve chosen colours that I feel reflect your personality, and a pattern that represents bravery, strength and resilience. I hope you like it, and I really hope to see you in it someday.
Love,
Chloe xx
PS: Okay, so I secretly hope you’ll turn it into a kilt, but I’m not holding my breath! ;-)
Lex swallowed hard and opened the box. There, nestled in the plain tissue paper, was generous cut of original Scottish Tartan in a bespoke pattern, with a truly unique colour combination. The base tint of the weft, according to the enclosed chart, was a deep shade of Eminence Purple, crossed with a warp of Midnight Black and Dove Gray, finished with threads of finest silver criss-crossing through.
It was perfect.
She was perfect, he realised. He loved her…and now she would never be his.
Lex squeezed his eyes shut and held the Tartan to his chest, pressing it against his heart in a desperate attempt to quell the aching loss.
He had done the right thing. Even though it would hurt like hell until his last day on earth, he had done the right thing. She despised him now, but it was what he had wanted. He needed her to hate him, so that she would stay well away from the dangers an association with him presented. Losing her was unspeakably painful, but every day she spent hating him was a day in which she was living and breathing…and that’s what mattered.
Lex lay back on the bed with a despondent sigh. His father had made some very real threats, and he knew Lionel Luthor was capable of anything. As much as Lex wanted to call his father’s bluff, he couldn’t gamble with Chloe’s life. As long as she was okay, he could live with the sacrifices he’d made.
He savoured the feel of the tartan in his fingers, and a glimmer of hope flickered in his heart. Maybe one day, he would get another chance with her. It might not come anytime soon, but if it did present itself — and he could somehow get his father to rescind his threats — then he would grab Chloe with both hands and never let her go.
Until then…
He sat up and folded the tartan carefully back into the box. Until then, he would be sure to visit his father every fortnight, even though all he wanted to do to Lionel’s smirking face was ram his fist repeatedly into it. And there was one other thing to arrange, as well.
Lex dug into his pocket for his cell and dialled a number. When it was answered on the third ring, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“Two things,” he began. “I need a low-profile yet highly efficient security detail on Chloe Sullivan. The trial may be over, but she may still be at risk of revenge attacks.”
“I’ll get it sorted,” was the crisp reply. “And the other thing?”
Lex took a deep breath. “I need the same detail arranged for Lionel Luthor,” he replied.
There was a brief silence on the line. Then: “With all due respect, sir, your father’s a convicted criminal. It’ll take significant resources to make such an arrangement.”
“I don’t care how much it costs, Regan. Make it happen, and spare no expense,” Lex replied tersely. “My father needs to be protected throughout his time in prison, as does Chloe Sullivan. Treat it as a matter of life and death.”
“Consider it done, sir,” was the crisp reply.
Lex hung up the phone and reached for swath of tartan again. He sighed as he placed it on his pillowcase, then lay down and rested his cheek on the soft fabric.
He’d done all he could to protect the woman he loved from harm. Whether or not those measures would prove adequate…only time would tell.
***
The End.
Coming Soon: Concensus ad Edem (A Meeting of Minds)
banner by
chleansmile***
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 09:35 pm (UTC)I thought you'd like it, Jess! :-D
"And I would get mad about having to wait for this sequel after this heart-breaking end, but you promised a happy ending so I trust you :)"
YAAAY! Many thanks for the vote of confidence, babes - I won't let you down! :-)
"I'll try and be patient for this sequel to come around (I wouldn't count on it, though)"
2014, for sure. I have a nice banner for it already, which I'll preview in the post above. :)
Many thanks for all the encouraging comments, Jess! Much appreciated. *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-25 12:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 05:12 am (UTC)You mean I have to wait??? *pouts* No me gusta waiting!!!!!
Ohhh my poor Chloe, I just want to huggle her.
I just love the present Chloe got Lex.
Will wait for sequel but I will do so with a pout on my face!!
no subject
Date: 2013-11-25 12:09 am (UTC)Patience, my pretty! It'll be worth it, you'll see. :-P
"Ohhh my poor Chloe, I just want to huggle her."
Poor Chloe. Poor both of them, really...but at least Lex doesn't have to live with the rejection. :-(
"I just love the present Chloe got Lex."
I know, right? Talk about twisting the knife! :-O
"Will wait for sequel but I will do so with a pout on my face!!"
And a very pretty pout it is, LOL! :-D
Thanks so much for your lovely, lively comments, Rocio! Mucho gusto. :-)
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 05:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-25 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 09:31 pm (UTC)Looking forward to the sequel Dee
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 09:39 pm (UTC)If I can find a way to do it without the same happening to Chloe, then I'm all for it!
"Looking forward to the sequel Dee"
Many thanks for all your love and support, Leanne! I really do appreciate each and every comment. *cuddles*
no subject
Date: 2013-11-23 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-25 12:03 am (UTC)Thanks for all the lovely comments!
just fantastic!!
Date: 2013-11-28 12:44 am (UTC)Re: just fantastic!!
Date: 2013-11-29 02:42 pm (UTC)Many thanks for your kind comments, Philly. I really appreciate you taking the time to post a review, and I'm so glad you like my work! I hope to start on the sequel to this story soon. :-)
no subject
Date: 2013-11-28 07:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-29 02:46 pm (UTC)Hurry up and finish Dawn's masterpiece, babes - not because I want you to get started on mine, bit because I miss your comments & gifs on Dawn's story. They're to die for! :-D
no subject
Date: 2014-10-06 06:47 am (UTC)But Chlex is my 1st passion since 2002 and I can't be away for too long
Poor Chloe and poor Lex
Can't wait for the sequel
no subject
Date: 2014-10-07 10:08 pm (UTC)Don't worry about it, Mala; I'm all for multi-shipping! :-D
"But Chlex is my 1st passion since 2002 and I can't be away for too long"/
As long as you come back to it, we're happy!
"Poor Chloe and poor Lex
Can't wait for the sequel"
I hope to work on it soon. Many thanks for your lovely comments, Mala! *Huggles*
no subject
Date: 2014-10-08 03:19 am (UTC)I was a heavy Chlexer from 2002 til 2013... but last year I fell in love deeply with Chlollie and Chlean and these days Chlean is always on my mind (I blame netflix because I'm rewatching SPN from S1 and Dean, well, is so hot lol)
thanks for your amazing work
Hugs