Disillusioned Perception (SV- Lex/Chloe) Mature 10-12 3/9

[majiklmoon]

Hi Ann

This is off to a great start. I'm not a huge smallville fan, only because the wb killed roswell for it (hey, i'm nothing if not loyal to my show)

but this story is really great. I can't wait for more.

[Island Breeze]

First, in case I haven't already said it, Welcome, Ann!



Now, about your fic, I'm really enjoying this! It's great! Lionel is a real first class SOB. I can't believe he is so evil. Well, actually, I can. I had a boss a lot like him once. He had a book on the shelf in his office titled, "How To Screw Your Employees And Make Them Love It." I don't work for him anymore. When my dad passed away unexpectedly, he forbad me to go to the funeral. He said, "What do you think you can do, bring him back to life?" At that time, I had an Ace that I could play, and I did. I told him I was going, and that was that. He couldn't do anything about it, because his boss, the president of the company, had hired me and liked me, and he had no problem with me going. But he was old and not in great health. The guy who said I couldn't go just glared at me, because he knew I was going and he couldn't stop me. But when his boss died, his first act was to fire me... on Friday, on the last day of the month, so my insurance expired the same day, and with no severance pay. So there are people like Lionel out there, sad to say! But enough of that.

I was ROTFLMAO at this exchange:

“Thought you wanted an interview.”

“Don’t tease me. I don’t have time for games.”

“I don’t play games Miss Sullivan. I either do something or I don’t. I wouldn’t be here if I had no intentions of going through with the interview.”

Chloe’s face lit up. “Really?”

“Under one condition.” Lex said, crossing his arms to his chest.

Figuring it was too good to be true, her smile faltered. “I’m not sleeping with you.” She said, causing Clark to choke on his Mountain Dew.

And I loved this line too:

“You know curiosity killed the cat right?” Clark smirked.

“Ignorance killed the cat Clark. Curiosity was framed.” Lex stated matter-of-factly.

I'd say Chloe has her job cut out for her now apologizing to Lex. That was some sermon he gave her! But poor Lex! To think of living under a father like that! I'm guessing Chloe will get her interview, though.

Great story, Ann!

[Island Breeze]

Wow, Ann! You really know how to leave us with a mystery, don't you! Who is it? And why do I have a feeling that Lionel tinkered with the pictures or something? I couldn't believe that he tossed Lex out of the mansion and the business just like that, but... that fits his personality. At least Mr. Kent took him in and has warmed up to him. I liked the dialog between Lex and Lionel. And I laughed at this dialog, too...

“You’ve clearly pissed someone off.” She said snidely, giving him a look that could kill rabid beasts in the pursuit of fresh meat.

“Your ability for perceiving the obvious is impressive Sheriff but if you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if we could get to the point of finding out who that someone is.”

“Are you trying to get on my bad side Mr. Luthor? If that’s what you’re aiming for, I strongly suggest you stop.”

“Oh but why? You’re already on mine. We might as well be on the same level, don’t you think?”

“Careful young man. I could arrest you on the spot for verbal assault of an officer.”

Lex threw his hand up to his mouth and raised his eyebrows. “But…couldn’t you just slap my hand and stick me in the corner?” He dropped his hand again and smirked.

Great part, Ann!

[Island Breeze]

Excellent part, Ann! You never can really tell about Lionel. He can be so convincing then turn on you like a snake!

“You’re a regular boy scout aren’t you dad?” He asked bitterly, yanking him closer and getting up in his face. “If you were really interested in helping why did you kick us out of the mansion in the first place?” He barked.

“Would you have left if I merely told you it was for your safety?” Lionel asked.

“I have never been able to believe a word that’s come out of your mouth in the past. What makes you think I would start now?” Lex seethed through gritted teeth.

“Believe what you want Alexander, but whether you choose to see it or not, we’re more alike than you care to admit. I knew you would never leave unless you were forced to. I wouldn’t have either. But it’s no longer safe there for you or Miss Sullivan. Whether you find it believable or not, I really was thinking of your safety.”

I'm waiting for more before I form an opinion, because I'm not sure I should trust Lionel. And that ending! Chloe really had Lex going there, even if it was a dream!

[Island Breeze]

“Look Chloe, I could sit here all night and tell you that the dream meant nothing and that I don’t have feelings for you. But I’d be lying. And that’s something I’m not willing to do. So the way I see it, we have two choices. We can either become the kind of people who work together but don’t communicate, or we can pretend this never happened and move on. It’s up to you. But either way, I’m going back to bed.” He stood up and started out of the room.

“Lex.” Chloe said, standing up. She was confused and shocked. She had learned the past couple days that things aren’t always what they seem but she still hadn’t expected this. Lex had never given her any indication that he was attracted to her before, and she didn’t really know how to react to it now. But there was one thing she had to know.

Lex stopped and turned around in the doorway to face her. “Yes?”

“How long have you felt this way?”

“Since you dumped your coffee in my lap.” He said, matter-of-factly.

“Lex that was what? Five months ago?” Chloe asked, stunned.

He smirked. “Six months, three weeks, two and a half days. But who’s counting?” He turned and walked back to his room, closing the door behind him before climbing back into bed.

I had to quote that whole part! It was great! And that was a great chapter, Ann!

[Island Breeze]

Peter Parker? Isn't that Spiderman? Or is it just coincidence?

Okay, this was a very enlightening chapter, but it creates a few new questions. So Lionel, it would seem, is on the up and up and really cares about Lex. And Helen Brice is the bad guy. But a labrador running the world? That's an interesting thought!

There are two parts I have to mention:

“Lex is one hell of a business man. He can bluff the best of them. But when it comes to his feelings, he wears his heart on his sleeve, as he likes to put it. He looks at you like you’re the only one in the room and to him, you are. Look into his eyes when he looks at you. If you can’t see then how much he loves you, then you aren’t really looking.”

Chloe nearly collapsed with the feelings that were going through her. Sure, Lex had told her that he was attracted to her. He even said that he cared about her. But loved her? How could he love her? All she had managed to do the past few days was cause him problems. It was her fault that he was in this mess. Had she just stayed away to begin with and not been so damn adamant about getting that interview, he never would have gone to her and none of this would be happening. That bitch Helen wouldn’t have the leverage to use against him and he would have been able to go on with his life. But then she would have just found another way. If it wasn’t her, she would have found something else to use against him. But what could he possibly see in her? She was just some 17 year old high school girl whose biggest ambitions in life were The Torch and trying to get a job at the local newspaper office. She wasn’t smart like he was. She wasn’t what people considered to be beautiful or intelligent. So why would he want her?

“Regardless of what you think of yourself, Lex sees something in you.”

I loved that!
And I got a kick out of this next response:

“I mean did the fact that he was four years older, had a ton of money and owned a bunch of fancy cars have anything to do with your attraction toward him or were you attracted to him because of who he is? What was it about Lex Luthor that made your toes curl?”

Chloe chuckled. “If you’re asking me if the fact that he’s loaded means anything to me, I could care less. I’m confused, not shallow.”

"I'm confused, not shallow." Great line! Great chapter, Ann!

[Island Breeze]

Yay! Chloe knows the truth and came to spring him! But what's going on with Lana and these accusations? Loved the updates, Ann!

“Bradburg. Abbiamo un problema. Prendere Fingersi Ammalato per chiudere la pianta di Italia e muovere tutti gli impiegati alla pianta di Mosca immediatamente.”

So, do you speak Italian?

[Island Breeze]

HEHE! That ending was so cute! Chloe is a real powerhouse! Okay, going back to where I started copying quotes ( )...

Yes, I can imagine this came as a bit of a surprise to Lex! 8)

“Mr. Luthor?” Lex looked over at the middle aged, balding doctor who was addressing him. “My name’s Doctor Gilland. I’m the physician in charge of Miss Sullivan.”

“Is she alright?” He nearly blurted. Niceties were not something he had the time or patience for right now. He just wanted to know Chloe was going to be all right.

“Yes Mr. Luthor, she’s going to be fine. She’s overly exhausted and severely dehydrated but she’s going to pull through just fine.”

Lex let out a breath of relief and reached out to shake the doctor’s hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. However…” The doctor began. “I do suggest you try to help her limit her stress level. Too much stress isn’t good for anyone and it certainly isn’t good for the baby.”

Then when things started to get really freaky with the whole town pretty much acting weird...

Who are you?”

“Harnepher Sandro. I’m your nurse.”

“Harnepher. Unusual name. Where are you from?” Chloe asked, growing nervous. She knew that name from past research and the findings were more than a little unsettling.

“Everywhere.” The nurse replied bitterly. Chloe may have been out of sorts at the time, but she knew better than to press a bitter woman into talking.

“So can I get out of here yet?”

“Not yet Miss Sullivan. Or is it Mrs. Luthor?” the woman snickered.

“Excuse me?” Chloe asked dumbfounded.

“Oh come on. The whole town wants you dead. You didn’t honestly think the hospital staff would be an exception now did you?” the brunette asked, shooting a clear liquid out of the tip of a syringe.

“Where’s Lex?” Chloe’s voice shook as she tried to scoot off the side of the bed.

“I’m afraid he was feeling a little…under the weather. Apparently the thought of having a baby with you terrified him right into unconsciousness.”

And when Malachi attacked Lex and Chloe and started ranting about why he was doing it and how he had poisoned the town through the smokestakes and how Lana had helped poison the coffees at the Talon, and the stuff about the Soviet mind control drug and all, I thought at first that it was Lionel. After all, Lionel would have had access to whatever he needed pretty much. But Helen was a bit of a mystery. So she was Malachi's sister, huh! What a plot! Lots of unseen twists in there!

But afterwards, this made me smile:

“Who’s who?” Styles asked.

“Whoever the woman is that’s whipped you into submission. I’d like to meet her.”

Styles looked around as if it was a secret. “Name’s Lois.”

“Lois?” Chloe asked, eyes growing large.

“Lois Lane.” Styles said, a boyish grin on his face.

“Lois Lane?” Chloe asked, eyes bulging now.

“Does she always do that?” Styles asked Lex.

“Lois is Chloe’s cousin.”

He must be thinking, "Lois is Chloe's cousin? Well, that explains a lot!"

And then, finally, the whole thing between Lex and Lionel in the end...

“Damn it Lex would you just listen a minute? Look, I told you before how proud I am of you, and I meant it. But what I didn’t say, that I should have, is that I love you.” He looked at Lex who didn’t quite know how to take finally hearing the words he’d always longed for.

“I may not be the best father in the world, but you’re my son, and I love you.” Lionel finished. For a long moment, Lex didn’t say anything. He didn’t move, he didn’t blink, he didn’t respond at all. Never having come from an affectionate family, he didn’t know how to respond.

“Hug him already!” Chloe shouted from inside the truck.

Chuckling, Lex did just that. And for the first time in his life, it meant something. “I love you too dad.” He said, patting the older man on the shoulder.

:D


Oh yes! And Peter Parker is Mr. Kent's other son! Now that was an unseen twist!

“But how did you know that Peter was dad’s son?” Clark asked.

She really wasn’t looking forward to answering this one. “Swear you won’t be mad?” She asked Jonathan, who merely cocked an eyebrow. “I asked asked a friend of mine who works at the hospital lab to compare some of the blood they drew from you while you were in there to some of Peter’s that he let me take yesterday morning. It was an exact match.”

Did I say finally? Okay, here it is again. FINALLY...

“But I though you hated me.”

“I do hate you. Man do I hate you. I hate how you always have to have the house clean, I hate how you make me breakfast in bed, I hate how you are with Lilli, I hate how you’re always bringing home stray animals, I hate how you refuse to go to bed until you make sure I’m cocooned into the mattress, and I absolutely hate how close you are with your father. Can you feel the hate?” She smiled.

Lex leaned over and kissed her on the lips before lifting his head slightly to look at her. “I love you too.”

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... :D

That was a great story, Ann! I loved it from start to finish! :D