Truth Beyond Possibility [Vicki]

[Deleted]

The chandelier blended perfectly as a centerpoint to the interior of the penthouse suite of the Palace del Infantino at Dini Plaza, where Lex Luthor had made temporary base during his visit to Gotham. It wasn't a necessary move, but still, it was good to have established locales when returning to and from his base of operations at the LexCorp building in Metropolis.

The white interior of the penthouse suite  was an aseptic relic of an older time, with a theme based on marble with furniture meant to match the white and gold of the silicate patterning. Chevrons on the wall led to sconces of lights, the ceiling had an embossed pattern of white clover on white background. Flowers had been freshly changed for color, and sent away. The interior ceilings were tall enough to fit the chandelier which accented the sunken central sitting room with sofas and chairs white as the Marble, accented with Gold. 

The walls had paintings with sculptures about, lit panels of the wall inlaid with wood gave a sense of an older sense of modern. The past's view of a scientific future. An antique tribute to innovation. 

Lex Luthor stood straight leaning against the wall as he stared out the window of this primary room of the suite. It was large enough to serve as office for three dedicated staff, and he'd rented the entire floor, as well as the four floors below, so that operations and staff could do their work inside.  His jacket unbuttoned, his tie straight, bald head reflecting the light of the chandelier.

In the back of his mind, Lex Luthor considered just purchasing the center outright, but it wasn't quite up to specifications. At the moment he stared out the window at the spread of Gotham about. The large window was a necessity. And one that he insisted on, it let in the dark grays of the city below. The flurry of snow of Gotham moving into later slush. 

Lex Luthor waved his hand in the air, the monocle covering one eye flashed and he sighed again. "No, I think we can do better than that. Have your people review the specifications again, Dr. Magnus. The matrix will hold together, if we just add some more buffering points. I believe it should have the tensile strength we need. Humor me, Doctor. If I'm wrong, then I'll buy you a steak dinner." He smirks sardonically "Yes, you can also tell everyone that Lex Luthor was wrong. Just humor me." There's a beep and he cocks his head "Yes, send her in." 

[Deleted]

Thirty minutes earlier . . . .

Vicki Vale pranced into The Gotham Gazette office like she always did, in a slow and confident way that made people notice her.  Her pearly white teeth flashed at passersby as she held her head high, sashayed her hips, and kept a confidant staccato with her four-inch silver Stiletto heels.  When she reached the bullpen, she pushed open the glass doors and offered her usual amusingly forward and flippant greeting:

“What’s news, everybody?”

That was quickly followed by the just-as-usual groaning of annoyance at her daily joke, which Vicki expected from her co-workers.  It was a consistent routine she never varied from and looked forward to every morning.  Like taking a vitamin, it gave her the boost she needed to motivate her for the day.

Suddenly, her editor-in-chief, George Ackerman, poked his head out his office door and hollered, “VALE!  GET IN HERE!  NOW!”

Vicki scooted into her boss’s office as fast as her legs would carry here.  “Good morning, George,” she told him.  “You haven’t had your morning coffee yet, I can see.  What’s news, chief?”

Now it was George’s turn to groan and roll his eyes at her corny joke.

Vicki laughed.  “Seriously.  What’s going on?”

“Lex Luthor is granting you an exclusive interview this morning,” George replied.  “He’s staying at the penthouse suite of the Palace del Infantino at Dini Plaza.  His people just called.  He has a ten o’clock opening that ju—“

Before George could finish his sentence, Vicki looked at her watch, zipped out the door, and made a mad dash for her car.  “I’m there, chief!” she called over her shoulder.  “No worries!  Save the front page byline for me!  I’ll make the deadliiiiiiiiiiiiiine!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Vicki made it to Dini Plaza on the north side of town in record time.  During the drive, she rehearsed her questions aloud to herself over and over again, and practiced her intonation and fake laughter.  She only had one chance to make a good first impression, and she wasn’t about to blow it -- not with THE Lex Luthor.

When Vicki finally reached the hotel, she parked in the guest lot and proceeded toward the 47-story building on foot.  She didn’t have a problem getting past the heightened security because her name was on a list of expected visitors for the day.  After signing in at the reception desk in the main lobby, a guard issued her a name badge and escorted her to the penthouse suite.  When she stepped off the elevator, she saw two straight-back guards standing at the suite’s main entrance.

“This must be the place!” she mused to her escort.  “Thank you very much.”

With that, Vicki took a seat on the plush couch in the reception area, looking completely relaxed, but on the inside, she was a nervous wreck.  It wasn’t too long before the receptionist told her that Lex was ready to see her.   Inhaling sharply, Vicki stood to her feet, smoothed out her baby blue jacket and skirt, and headed toward the office door.

Knocking first, Vicki slowly turned the handle and opened the door.  Then with a radiant smile, she entered with her handbag in her left hand and her right hand extended in greeting for a handshake.

“Hello, Mr. Luthor.  I’m Vicki Vale from The Gotham Gazette,” she announced, introducing herself.  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

[Deleted]

He didn't turn around, but instead took the odd device from his ear and eye and slipping them shut and into his front pocket. "Yes, Miss Vale. So good to meet you finally." His voice rolled deep like stared out the window again, then turned to face her, walking forward and taking her hand firmly. "I understand you've been quite determined to arrange a meeting with me. I regret that my schedule often keeps me very much on the move." 

He smiles as he lets go of her hand, moving towards the counter with a click of the hard dress shoes against he marble of the floor, moving to where a combination of bottles are. "Can I offer you a drink?" He pours one for himself from a glass bottle. There appears to be a variety of liqueurs and spirits available. The one he pours for himself, however is much more empty than the rest. The Cognac pours into a sniffer. "I've a friend, one of the few people I honestly think of as such. . . who speaks about the wonders of wine." He lifts the glass into the air and looks at the liquid inside of it "He says. . . that creating wine is a little like parenthood, and that getting know a wine is just like getting to know a person. You see, each bottle is very different. Yes, it's known primarily from the soil it grows from, from its lineage and identified by those that shape it, but still, each bottle is different. You don't make wine, you see, you educate it slowly. Let it age and temper it with subtle hints and guidance, never really certain what you end up with, and once it's decanted into bottles. . . it stays alive, aging, changing away from the loving sight of those that brought it into the world. And even when they grow from the same soil and with the same influences, each bottle . . . is its own creature" He smiles as he lets Vicki pick her drink of choice, pouring it for her if that's her taste, before continuing, voice like dark silk. There's a faint smell of lilac in the air and he offers his glass for a quick clink before taking a sip. 

"He'll go on and on about it if you allow it to continue. . . especially once he's had a few too many. But I hate the metaphor myself, it's just too cliche, like something out of bar-room philosophy. I drink Cognac, which is a very specific wine that's been placed twice through a crucible of fire and then left to age until it comes out stronger. I'd wonder what that says about me if I were a proponent of bar-room philosophy." He smiles as he settles down on the sofa, legs crossed, jacket open as he places his glass on the table. He's got that intense gaze, a man constantly with twenty seven things on his mind, suddenly and for a single solitary moment turning the entirety of his attention on his guest. It's the sort of gaze that one didn't often undergo, it took in every detail, every mote, calculating and contemplating and finding ultimately wanting. Luthor lounged in the sofa, spreading his arm over the back of it saying "Now I understand you have some questions. Please, ask away, Miss Vale. If your work is as thorough as your piece on Intergang was, then I feel as if I'm in good hands." 

[Deleted]

From the moment Lex opened his mouth and uttered the first word, Vicki was captivated by his rich bass voice, much like the sailors in Heinrich Heine's poem who were bewitched by the songs of the Lorelei and lured to their deaths.  She knew this interview was going to be very interesting.  When he turned around to face her, she saw that Lex was a hottie, and his demeanor was as smooth as silk on diamonds.

When Lex shook her hand, Vicki enjoyed his manly grip, and shyly admitted that she thought he was cute.  “You look very dashing this morning, Mr. Luthor.  Your pictures don’t do you justice.  Coming from this award-winning photographer, that's quite a compliment.  I hope you're flattered.”

Then Lex commented on her determination, and Vicki smiled demurely.  “I’m sure you’re a very busy man with a very busy schedule, Mr. Luthor.  Thank you for making the time for me.  It’s exciting to see you in the . . . flesh.”

She swallowed hard as her eyes gave his body a blatant once over, her gaze stopping for a long moment to leer at his groin, but not in a way that felt like a personal violation.  She liked what she saw.

She inhaled a deep, fortifying breath, unable to quell the nervous quiver in her stomach.  “Sorry, I’m a little nervous.  It’s my first time.  Here.  With you.  I mean our first time together . . . .”

She cringed.

When he sauntered over to the counter and offered her something to drink, Vicki shook her head.  “I really shouldn’t,” she confessed.  “Well, . . . maybe half a glass.”  She wanted to be social.

Vicki watched Lex’s every move as he talked about the Cognac and his close friend.  “I’d love to meet him sometime – your friend.  He sounds like someone worth knowing,” she said as he poured her drink.  With drink in hand, she followed Lex to the sofa and took a seat in a chair across from it.  The setting was business professional, yet intimate.  Lex's sprawled posture got her attention immediately, and his silk voice talking about him being in her “good hands” melted her.

Nervously, Vicki set down her wine glass on a coaster on the coffee table before her and began fumbling in her handbag for her pen and notebook.  “I want you to know up front that this interview will be thorough,” she explained.  “I plan on going the extra mile to include . . . everything.  That means orally and physically . . . with pictures.  I hope you have the stamina for me.”

As she finished, the affection in her gaze was unmistakable, her eyes staring into his.

[Deleted]

He felt a smile cross his lips, eyes narrowing as he leaned back sprawled on the sofa, "Ms. Vale. I assure you, I'm just a man. Flesh and blood like anyone else." He holds out a drink to clink it against Ms. Vale's "I'm a human being. I put my pants on one leg at a time, and take them off the same way." He takes a sip of the cognac, while maintaining eye contact with Ms. Vale.

He looked her up and down himself with a practiced eye, his mind seemingly making a checklist of her features. For a moment, a brief moment that entire attention was on her again. "With any luck, this won't be our last time together. I always like to leave myself open to the fine individuals of the press corps." He puts the glass down beside him, spreading his arms out on the back of the couch, open body language, sincerity, authority. He was presenting an image of openness. Behind him was not the most opulent part of the penthouse, but instead just clear open white space, surrounding the darkness of his suit, framing his head in light. 

"And you have to understand, Ms. Vale. This is an exclusive interview I've offered. I'd expect nothing short of a thorough working over from a professional such as yourself. I've cleared my schedule." He looks directly into her eyes, sitting as casually as ever, filling the space of the room. "I promise you, this isn't my first time, and I'm used to having to play rough." The language was chosen specifically. He speaks somewhat differently in interviews than in normal conversation. He smirks a little at that. "I'm prepared to provide total access to you and your readers. You can start as soft or hardball as you like, Ms. Vale. I'll do my best to keep up." 

[Deleted]

Seeing Lex offering his wine glass, Vicki smiled, picked up her glass in return, leaned in, and clinked it with his.  Then she took a long sip, watching him over the rim of her glass, her curiosity getting the best of her.  Because underneath it all, that cautious part of her couldn’t stop wondering what his motivations were for wanting to see her today.

Placing her glass down on the coaster again, she opened her notepad to a fresh, clean page and clicked her ballpoint pen.  When she got comfortable in her seat, she crossed her legs and looked up to begin the interview by asking the first question.  She wasn’t expecting Lex’s gaze to still be fixed upon her, like a jungle cat eyeing its prey.

All at once, Vicki's breath caught in her throat, her heart skipped a beat or two, and a shiver of pure awareness raced up her spine.  There was no mistaking that Lex was definitely a self-assured, devastatingly sexy man.  It was the first time in a long time that she had seen genuine interest in someone’s eyes, instead of feigned enthusiasm.  It felt good.

But it didn’t feel right.

“Mr. Luthor, if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep things professional between us,” she stated firmly.  “And for the record, I’m not in THAT profession.”

Vicki had done her homework.  Most of what she had read online about Lex had focused on his company, LexCorp, his many accolades, and the fact that he was labeled as one of the richest bachelors in the world.  She’d seen various pictures of him with beautiful women on his arm, but she’d never come across anything regarding him being in a committed relationship.  However, that didn’t mean he wasn’t seriously involved with someone.

Which brought her right back to the reason she was there.

“Let me begin by asking you a personal question -- off the record, of course,” she said softly, meeting and holding his gaze steadily.  “Why are you in Gotham City?  Why did you want me to come here and see you today?”

[Deleted]

He actually chuckled at that, a somewhat genuine sounding laugh as he  "Ms. Vale, I promise that I'll keep the relationship as professional as possible. And please, call me Lex." He was casual at this point, with a playful tone to his voice. This was media interaction at the best.  He straightened his lapels and lounged in an open position, uncrossing his legs as he looked at her carefully, staring her straight in the eyes, hand holding the cocktail glass."The honest answer to that question is that you asked. Repeatedly. I admire persistence, it's not necessarily competence, but still someone that keeps trying is someone to pay attention to, although that's not an invitation to all your readers to try to keep asking me for things repeatedly. After all, I'm only human and can't do everything. But still, I like to stay open to the press, and I had free time today so I felt it was a good opportunity to follow up on your request, and give you an exclusive interview like you asked for." 

He then cricked his neck and sat up straight, uncrossing his legs as he went, staring her straight into the eye again, the position change showed an intensity, as if he were taking up more of the room. He's got a way of taking control of the space he fills, the way he positions himself, uses his eyes and voice. He's a master at this work, he's had to be, the reporters in Metropolis are some of the hardest to deal with on the planet. 

 "As for what I'm doing in Gotham. That has to do primarily with Metropham. A new joint LexCorp project on the horizon in conjunction with Black Cat Security" He smiles faintly and leans back again towards neutral. The emphasis on the name of the initiative, draw in the partnership. "Gotham was once the jewel of the Atlantic seaboard, Ms. Vale. It was a center of trade, commerce, industry. . . and while it is still one of the great cities of the World, there's . . . a darkness festering in the heart of Gotham City. Crime, corruption, hopelessness. . . companies open and close, madmen roam the streets and control the populace through fear, and despite the noble and grand efforts of the heroic Commissioner James Gordon, often it seems that the only thing stopping criminals and madmen from ruling the former Jewel of the Atlantic, is fear of someone little more than an urban legend." 

He leans forward again, moving his hand to emphasize his point, putting his fingertips together. "I hope that I can do something about that." He smiled to her faintly. His voice rolling low and smoother like distant and inevitable rain. 

[Deleted]

As he answered her question, Vicki stared into his eyes and almost swooned.  At that moment, Mr. Luthor’s – um, Lex’s words gave Vicki new meaning to the term "filthy rich".  And right now, all the sexual innuendos being verbalized made him seem more filthy than rich!  His playful tone of voice resonated in her head, and she had difficulty concentrating,

Omigod.  This was Edward Nigma all over again.

Vicki shuddered to herself.  Why was she always attracted to the bad boys?

Because they were the best eye candy, that’s why.

Seeing Lex in control -- but imagining him so close to losing control – sent a delicious shiver of anticipation coursing through her.  Knowing they had all day together excited and frightened her simultaneously.

Vicki’s mental scream of frustration was deafening.  Lex was definitely testing her resolve.  She sighed.  He was such a handsome man, and the pose he was seated in was so open.  So sexy. God, she just wanted to reach out and grab him by his broad shoulders and . . . and . . .

Crawl into his lap and smother him with passionate kisses, a voice inside her head finished for her.

Vicki contemplated that thought for a long moment.

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

She struggled with indecision.  Kissing Lex would give new meaning to the term "media interaction".  Her heart raced, when he leaned forward and steepled his fingers.  He was only inches away from her.  So there.  So accessible.

The heart wants what the heart wants, the voice inside her head continued.  You know you want him, Vicki.  Go for it, girl.  You know you want to.  He likes your persistence.  Show him what you’re made of.  Just  surrender to him and lose yourself in those dreamy emerald eyes of his.  He'll handle the rest . . . .

Vicki refused to give in to the temptation and resisted the urge to smack herself in the head to regain her senses.  It took all of her inner strength to compose herself and refocus.

“Thank you for that thorough answer, Lex,” she finally said, awakening from her mental daydream and deliberately keeping her gaze from eyeing his groin.  “And for the record, I agree that Gotham is the 'Jewel of the Atlantic'.  However, I assure you that Barman is not an urban legend.  He is very much alive -- very real, very dark, and very protective of this city."

She waited for Lex to respond.

"Now, let’s start the interview, shall we?" she said confidently.  "I'm sure we don't want to waste this time talking about Batman.  I know I don't.”

Before she turned on her hand recorder, she hesitated a moment.  “When answering my questions, please be open and honest with me,” she instructed.  “I promise you that I’ll give as good as I get.”

Her face flushed from the sexy overtone of her words, but she appeared relieved to know the answer to her off-the-record questions as she turned on the recorder.

“Okay, Lex.  You’ve told me that the Metropham is a new joint effort between LexCorp and Black Cat Security.  What do you hope to achieve through this endeavor that other Gothamites won’t?  Particularly Bruce Wayne?”

God.  Lex’s sparkling green eyes were gorgeous.

[Deleted]

Lex Luthor settled back again, eyes half closed as he considered her. He was surprisingly broad under the suit, the sign of a man who kept himself well in shape. The smile that crossed his face was clear "You sound like you know him well. A man, very real and very dark." He smiles faintly as he says "I wonder if I should be jealous of such high praise from. . . " he smiles  more widely "an award winning photographer." He shrugs and chuckles he takes a sip of the Cognac before straightening up and speaking slightly more seriously. "I'm a firm believer of working in the light of day, not behind a mask. I understand that the Batman is protective of his Gotham City, but I wonder how protective He can truly be in the face of such chaos." 

He gestures out the window again, standing up and moving to take Vicki towards the window to look over the city. Gray and covered in grayish slush, the distant sound of horns out the open window, the spread over the peninsula to a dark and polluted bay "Consider it, look at the spread of the city, the way it holds onto past glories. There are many who are protective of such a place, in the way that a bandage protects a wound that festers. I am not suggesting that the man doesn't do a service, or even keep a cap on the difficulties. . . but no one savior is enough to save a city. . . " he turns again to Vicki, close to her now as he drew her to the window to look out. 

"No one would question that I am brilliant, Ms. Vale. I personally hold one of the top records of patent families in the world currently. Personal inventions, inventions that have changed the world. But I am not powerful because I am brilliant. I am not influential because I am intelligent. I am not the man I am out of sheer intellect. The world is filled with singular geniuses who have not accomplished what I have. Arkham alone is full of brilliant singular minds driven by obsession, working uniquely alone."

He stares into her eyes, close now, his breath smells like fine Cognac and vision and his cologne smells musky and sweet, like spiced leather mixed with arrogance. "If I am successful, it's because I work with minds as powerful and intelligent as my own. If not more intelligent in a few cases. We work in collaboration, and individually, but towards the same goals of a better world." He smiles at that, seemingly sincere with the complement, although part of it seems restrained.

"So to answer the question, what do I hope to do with Metropham? I hope to work to cleanse the wound that festers at the heart of Gotham city. To create a city where streets are safer, where people can work and craft lives with dreams of a future unhampered by fear. What is Metropham? A collaboration and a promise for a brighter future for Gotham City. I welcome any opportunity for collaboration for future endeavors with any in Gotham that wishes to take part and help, especially Bruce Wayne. In fact I would be happy to see him take part in future endeavors. Possibly not the initial portions of Metropham, seeing as it's so close to completion, but I hope that this won't be the last project for LexCorp in Gotham, a city in need of investment, and a city in need of the world to believe that it can be great again. I'd love to see Bruce Wayne, or any other intelligent, brilliant, or just hard working individuals with vision and a dream to work with me, to help restore Gotham to the city that it can be. Metropham is not merely a Lex Luthor production, after all. It's a partnership between Metropolis. . . and Gotham, for the eventual mutual benefit of both." 

[Deleted]

When Lex motioned for her to walk over to the open window with him, Vicki rose to her feet, leaving her notepad and pen in the empty chair, but taking her hand recorder with her, just in case Lex said something profound in the moment.  She didn’t want to miss it.

As she stood with Lex positioned behind her and looked out at the dingy city scape, Vicki reflected on the time she had first moved to Gotham City.  It was right after her Pulitzer Prize had elevated her status as a photojournalist, and she was offered an extraordinary job with The Gotham Gazette, her future pretty much set in stone.  Even today, she was still one of the few contracted employees on staff.  Most of her associates were freelancers.

While listening to Lex’s spiel, Vicki’s heart swelled with pride for this “Jewel of the Atlantic”. Despite Gotham's flaws, despite the setback from the devastating earthquake, despite all her faults, Vicki still claimed this fair city as her very own.  She was precious to her.  No matter what -- Gotham was “home” to the infamous Vicki Vale, and, as far as Vicki was concerned, she always would be.

Once Vicki had turned to face Lex, she stared into his thoughtful eyes and wondered if he could do for Gotham City what he had done for Metropolis.  His words flowed like honey and sounded like sheer poetry to her needy ears.  His soothing voice calmed her doubts and fears.  He was really speaking to her, touching her heart in more ways than one.  His profound words gave her courage, strength, and . . . hope.  With her entire being, she wanted to believe he could be Gotham’s savior, but she hesitated to put her faith and trust in him.

“Your words are beautiful, Lex, but are they only that --  just words?” she asked, her genuine concern radiating from her tearful blue eyes.  “Are you really here to help us?  Do you really care about Gotham, Lex, or is this some business deal with a hidden agenda?  Don’t get me wrong.  I want to believe you.  I want to trust in everything you’re telling me right now.  If it’s true, then I’ll help you any way I can.  You’ll have my full cooperation and support media-wise.  But if this is a farce, it’s misleading and cruel to give me --  and other Gothamites --  false hope.”

She took a deep breath and decided to warn him in advance.

"Take heed, Lex: If you try to harm Gotham in any way, I swear I will stand to defend her – with or without Batman.  And trust me, I’m a loyal friend, but I'm a bitter rival.  You don’t want me for an enemy.”

Her gaze was stern and her tone was serious.  “Lex, . . .”

The breath caught in her throat.

“ . . . I- I'd rather have you as a bedfellow than an adversary.”