The Power of Words

Part 2

The elevator came to a smooth stop, the doors sliding open silently on the foyer that led to his penthouse. Lex stepped out and crossed to the front door. There was an envelope taped to it, and he tugged it off as he turned the key and went inside.

Tossing both his backpack and the envelope onto the couch as he passed, Lex quickly headed for the shower. He'd had a late afternoon class, then had stayed afterward to discuss several new ideas for an upcoming paper with his professor so was now running late for his date. Clothes flew through the air, landing haphazardly on the floor as he crossed the bedroom to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, Lex dried himself off then wrapped the towel about his hips before walking over to his large, walk-in closet. He briefly contemplated the separate rack of club clothes, then selected a pair of deep gray leather pants and shimmied into them. A loose white poet-style shirt, made from a gauzy silk, and a pair of boots that matched his pants went on next.

Moving to stand in front of a mirror, Lex gave a satisfied nod at his reflection. He was ready to party. Now, the only thing missing was Stuart, and he should be arriving any minute.

Lex entered the living room and walked over to the phone to check his machine. The red light was blinking, signifying he had messages waiting, so he hit the play button to listen.

"Lex, you there, man? I really need to talk to you." A short pause, then Stuart continued, "I guess you're still at school. I'll... I'll catch up with you later. Bye."

Shrugging, Lex hit the delete button. Stuart would be here soon, so he'd find out what was so important then.

"Hey, Lex, it's me, Teri. Could you do me a HUGE favor? I've kinda misplaced my notes for chemistry, and with that big test coming up next week, I really need to study. Would you bring your notes to class on Monday? Thanks, Lex, you're a doll!"

Lex shook his head with a grin. The request wasn't a surprise. His lab partner was always losing things - her notes, her keys, her books. It was cute, in a maddening sort of way. He deleted the message.

"Lex, where in hell are you? I gotta... ah, fuck it. I'm just going to... right." Stuart hung up, and Lex frowned at the disjointed message.

Something was definitely wrong. Stuart was pretty laid back, and he sounded... distracted as he'd rambled on. Lex decided to call him as soon as he finished with his messages.

When the last message began to play, Lex could feel his body tensing. Three days since his picture had appeared in the newspaper, and this was the first time Lionel had tried to contact him. Normally when something like that happened, Lex would be hearing about it the second Lionel found out. Forcing himself to relax, Lex realized he'd missed most of the message, so hit replay to hear it again.

"Alexander. You will be in my office tomorrow morning at eight to discuss your future. Don't be late."

Throwing himself down onto the couch, Lex laid his head back against the cushions and closed his eyes, thoughts of the different punishments Lionel might implement running through his mind. Credit cards, access to various bank accounts, the trip to Europe Lex had planned for over the Christmas holidays - all of these, and possibly more, could be denied him.

Let Lionel do his worst. Lex would survive. He had before, and he would this time as well.

Lex let his head roll to one side as he stretched a hand for the phone. He quickly dialed Stuart's number and waited. After the fourth ring, the voice mail picked up. Lex hung up without leaving a message.

A quick glance at the clock on the mantel told him Stuart was really late. He stared down at the phone in his hand, his finger hovering indecisively over the quick dial button. Lex snorted before tossing the phone onto the coffee table, then he grabbed an ornately carved wooden box from the shelf underneath and lifted the lid. Removing the baggie from the box, he deftly rolled a joint and lit up, inhaling the strong smoke deeply into his lungs.

Standing up, Lex sauntered over to the window and stared out, allowing both the pot and the twinkling lights of the city to sooth him. A few minutes later, he turned and glanced about the living room, looking for something to keep his mind occupied until Stuart arrived. His gaze landed on the discarded backpack, his eyes narrowing when he spotted the envelope peeking out from beneath.

Lex retrieved it, ripping it open and tugging the note out. Unfolding it, his eyes quickly scanned the few written lines.

The note crumpled loudly as he closed his shaking fist around it. Lex flung it across the room then grabbed a nearby vase, angrily throwing it toward the stone fireplace. The sound of shattering glass halted him as he grasped the silver picture frame that rested on the table in front of him.

He stared down at the photo, his fingers tightening around the frame. It had been taken back in September, at Stuart's twentieth birthday party. He was sitting on Lex's lap, one arm thrown casually around Lex's shoulders. They were both laughing and making faces at the camera.

Lex worried his lower lip with his teeth as his eyes shifted between his face to Stuart's open expression. They'd both been happy as they'd goofed around, enjoying the antics of their friends as well as just being together.

Lex remembered later that evening, once they'd gotten back to Stuart's dorm room. After making love, they'd lain there on the narrow bed, their limbs tangled. They'd talked quietly, discussing the plans for their two weeks in Europe. They'd planned on hitting all the museums they could during that time period. Stuart hadn't been able to sleep, the artist in him excited about what they would see. Stuart had kissed him tenderly, whispering in the dark just how much Lex was loved by him.

And now? Stuart was leaving, going off for a year with barely a word to Lex.

Well, fuck him.

And fuck Lionel too.

Three days of his father's silence, the curt message on his machine and Stuart's abrupt departure for Europe. Lex wasn't stupid; he could see his dad's hand in this.

Fuck them both.

Lex dropped the frame onto the floor and pivoted, the heel of his boot crushing the glass and scarring the picture underneath. Grabbing his keys and a jacket, he rushed out into the foyer, punching the button impatiently as he waited for the elevator. An evening at the clubs, getting high and fucking his way through as many willing bodies as he could find was what he wanted now.

He was going to prove to the world that Lex Luthor didn't need anybody to make him happy.

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