Taking a seat Lex kicked his feet back on the purple sofa in his father's office. Apparently, he had headed out for lunch and would be back soon. Lex looked up a the ceiling, wondering what twists and turns would continue to pop up in his life.
Hearing the sound of the office door opening, he smirked, "So you've finally decided to come back from lunch, I swear Dad, you should read the company regulations. You're allotted thirty minutes for your lunch and it's been…" Lex took a look at his watch as a smile appeared on his face. "45, might have to take that out of your paycheck."
"Isn't it a bit early to be doing this? I mean threatening to do it and then doing it on the same day." Lionel shook his head in disappointment. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen, haven't you learned anything, my son? Patience is a virtue and you seem to be lacking in that department."
"Patience is only good until it isn't, if you wait your whole life you'll watch as opportunities pass you by. I learned that the hard way, actually, I think you played a part in that."
"I see, time to blame me for all your problems, is it? What is it did the meeting with the doctor not go to your expectations?"
"No, the meeting went exactly how I expected it, and I'm not here to blame you. I understand that if I keep letting my past or you define me, then I'll never be the man I know I can be. The reason I'm here is simple: I need your help." Lex sat up from the couch looking his father in his eyes.
"Hah, You've got to be kidding me. You need my help?" Lionel laughed a bit before taking a seat on his desk. "What could I possibly help you with?"
"That day, when I," Lex took a second to find the right words. "When I attacked metropolis.:
"You remember it but you said-"
"I don't remember it, but you, Lana, and even Clark. You've told me what it looked like, what I did. I want to make up for that, it's why I'm holding a charity ball and I know you haven't done a charity in a while but I was hoping you'd host it."
"So you can charade me around like a clown, I refuse." Lionel wiped his hands as he looked at his son. "You've pulled this trick on me once I won't fall for it again. Listen Son if you want to make up for all the bad things you've done this charity won't be enough." Lionel looked down at his son, a hint of anger in his voice. He wondered what Lex was planning for him to try and drag him into his plans.
"I get it, This won't be enough to make up for Dark Thursday but it's a start. I get it after what happened last time. I get that you don't trust me." Lex stood from the couch with no emotion on his face. "Bye, Dad." As he walked out of the office, he understood why Lex could never change. He had done wrong to the people around him and now they refused to trust him. Whether it was his father or Clark they both believed he had chosen the darkness as his path. But it didn't matter their opinions didn't matter, Lex had his own plans and desires. What they thought of him would ultimately change whether it was for better or worse.
He talked with his secretary about the charity ball before heading back up to the helicopter. Back to Smallville, he went, the charity ball would be a dress-up party, and both he and Lana needed costumes. The ball would be held in a couple of days giving everyone ample time to prepare. Lex on the other hand had to check on an old friend that had decided to move to Metropolis.
Luthor Mansion
Lex sat at his desk with a folder in his hand, with knowledge of who hired his kidnappers he ultimately understood why Oliver had done it. Lex was a danger to the world, at least he was when Zod took over his body. But no he was just a regular guy, something he hoped to change very soon. He was ill-equipped to handle the dangers this world had placed on him. He found the ambitions and plans he had created before gaining this new perspective inadequate for what he was up against. Whether it was Clark, his father, or Oliver, Lex believed himself to have the advantage when, in the end, his ignorance would be his downfall. In the end, he would be the only one unaware of what he was up against. Even the woman he loved would find out before him. Thinking of Lana he realized how arrogant he was to plan for a fake pregnancy before he had even bedded the woman.
But now things were different, he knew how each and every one of them would move. His father had become a vessel for the father of Clark. Lex personally didn't think there was anything he could do about that but it left him with a bigger question. If Jor-el decided to descend could he do so at any moment? Had his personality had any effect on his fathers, was he now simply a puppet with his string being pulled by the Kryptonians? The biggest question Lex had was, did that mean that he was now a vessel for Zod? Would he be able to descend upon Lex the moment he escaped from the Phantom Zone?
He needed a way to check for Kryptonian technology, and unfortunately, the Fortress of Solitude was out of the question. Luckily he had been doing insurmountable amounts of research on the meteors not to mention he now held the most important piece of technology in the world. A "weapon" if someone like Lionel was to describe it. Half of Brainiac's hard drive, if he could reprogram it like they did in the future he would have an assistant worth working with.
Looking out the window Lex realized the sun had long since set, the sound of footsteps drew his attention as Lana entered the room with a smile on her face.
"Dinner's ready," Lex smiled upon seeing her, placing all of the files back into the folder as he stood from his chair.
"I take it Chloe agreed to join us?"
"It took a little convincing but I promised things would go smoothly so please don't-"
"I'll try my best not to antagonize her," Lex smiled.
"What are you working on?" Lana dropped her smile as she looked down at the folder.
"Well, I've been tracking down suspects for the kidnapping." Lex didn't see a reason to lie, especially when he knew how easily that would upset Lana.
"I thought they were all caught?" Lana asked with a frown on her face.
"Someone hired them, I have a few guesses about who but no evidence, yet. Let's head down for dinner, we wouldn't want to keep Chloe waiting now, would we?" Lex wrapped his arm around Lana's shoulder.
"Yeah, let's go," Lana said before taking one last look at the folder.
…
"That was nice," Lex said as he changed his clothes.
"You and Chloe barely said anything the whole dinner. What do you mean nice?" Lana was on the other side of the room changing her top.
"As things are right now not many people like me. I felt it best if I kept quiet, at least that way I didn't anger her."
"I know you didn't want to fight I just wish there was another way. She's my best friend I hope one day you two can at least be on talking terms."
"I'm sure that day will be here soon, are you sleeping here tonight?" Lex asked.
"Yep, the guest room simply isn't as warm," Lana replied as she stepped over to the bed and began to pull the cover.
"I can always have them adjust the heat, " Lex said as he walked over to his side of the bed.
"Not that kind of warmth Lex," Lana said climbing into the bed she patted the place next to her motioning for Lex to join her. Once he was in the bed she laid her head down on his chest snuggling closely into him. "This is the warmth I'm talking about."