THE RAIN (1/2) ; LEX LUTHOR

5. MANIPULATION

SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF SUPERMAN, PRESENT DAY

Andrea's Perspective

I awoke to the sound of my phone ringing.

"Hello?" my voice was groggy as I leaned up a little and yawned.

"Good. You're awake." I flinched a little as I recognized his voice, it was Lex. I looked over to my alarm clock. It was barely five in the morning yet he sounded like he had been up for hours.

"Um...yeah..." I mumbled as I sat up completely. "Why are you calling me?" I yawned in the middle of my sentence. I could hear him chuckle a little.

"I wanted to invite you over for breakfast. Just so we could, you know, catch up? I think we got off on the wrong foot."

"Wait, what?" I used my free hand to cover my face in the slightest. I wasn't ever good at making the right decisions in the morning time and he knew that for a fact. All I could do now was try to make sure he wouldn't use my flaw against me. He laughed again.

"Andrea, just say yes. All of that trouble was fifteen years ago. It'll be sixteen years ago in a month or two. Just get dressed and come over to my place in a hour. I'll send you the address in a minute. Okay?"

"O...Okay?" I gasped a little. I was now wide awake as I realized I had made the wrong move. "Wait--"

"Good. I'll see you then. I cannot wait to see you again." I could hear him breath in and out deeply as if he had won. And the truth was, he kind of did. As he hung up I growled a little to myself. I swore quietly before pulling myself to the side of the bed and allowing my legs to hang over, my toes barely touching the ground. I looked up to a small window and put a hand in front of my face to shield my eyes. I could see the sun rising and shining through.

"I'll never get rid of him will I?" I groaned before standing. I stretched out, yawning once more. "I have to at least try..." I sighed before walking towards the bathroom. I knew I'd have to take a shower for this occasion.

...

ABOUT AN HOUR LATER

He opened the door right after I knocked.

"Andrea. I have been waiting for you..." he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I hesitated a little, putting my hands on his arms. I let him hold me yet I didn't hug him back. I could hear him breathe in and out deeply through his nose as he held me close.

He rested his chin on the top of my head as I looked to the ground. He seemed to hold me as if we didn't have the relationship that we did. As if I hadn't told him off just the other night, as if I hadn't previously told him he was dead to me all those years ago. It was strange.

I considered the idea that he didn't even remember what happened between us before I gently pushed him away. I kept my hands on his arms and looked at him. I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off immediately.

"Please, come with me." he turned and began to walk down the hallway. I huffed and followed right behind him, wondering why I had even come. I could have just called him again and canceled yet I didn't. I knew I was a idiot for giving in and going but I did it anyway. I had nothing else to do...

"Where are we going?" he chuckled as I spoke up eagerly.

"Well Andrea, when people invite you over for breakfast they usually make breakfast." he smiled sarcastically as he looked at me. We walked into a large dining room with an extended table. I arched a eyebrow as I looked at the table. Just about every breakfast food that you could ever think of was on the table, waiting and seeming to still be hot. He tilted his head a little and walked in front of me. He clasped his hands together and smiled again.

"Mercy has taken the time to prepare this for us. I trust that you will be able to find something you enjoy." I looked at him and nodded a little.

"Sure..." I walked to the end of the table to sit down in one of the chairs. I reached out to pull the chair back yet he beat me to it, pulling out the chair for me and standing behind it.

"My lady." I raised both of my eyebrows this time. I thought for a few moments, rolled my eyes, then sat down in the chair. He pushed in the chair for me to help and then walked to the other side of the table.

He grabbed the chair placed at the other end of the table and carried it to my side of the table. I could hear him sigh loudly as he put the chair a few feet away from me. He sat down and rested his chin on his clenched fist as he began to stare at me.

"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked as he smirked.

"I'm not hungry. You go ahead." I raised my eyebrows again.

"Why would you invite me over for breakfast if you're not hungry."

"Because. I didn't know whether or not you were hungry and I missed your company. It's a simple as that." he then used his index finger to boop my nose. I went cross eyed for a few moments before looking at him again.

"May I ask you something?" he nodded slowly, still staring at me intensely.

"...Why did you really invite me over here?" I asked, taking a sip of the juice. I could see him smile a little more as he watched me.

"Andrea, I enjoy your company. And here, you could have everything you want. A nice home... Someone to live with...This could be every morning if you wanted." I raised my eyebrows. I swallowed the juice and put down the glass.

"...Excuse me? What are you trying to say to me?"

"I would like you to move in with me." he tried again to brush some hair behind my ear, but I swatted his hand away again as my eyes widened.

"Are you serious?!" he smirked and picked up my glass of orange juice.

"Mhm. I would be delighted to have you." he whispered, then began to drink some of the same juice I had just moments ago. I was shocked. Of course I didn't want to move in, who would this early on? Especially after our past together... Yet I wanted to see why exactly he chose to make the offer.

"...Would I be paying to stay?" he put down the glass and smiled again.

"Oh Andrea. Of course not. That would be crazy..." he shrugged. "I am far more than capable of paying the bills. You wouldn't have to worry about a thing." I raised a eyebrow again as he this time brushed his hand over my cheek slowly. I didn't swat his hand away this time, I wanted a answer and I knew exactly how to get it. Showing him signs of denial wasn't part of my plan. I tilted my head.

"Wouldn't that be stressful for you? I mean... supporting another out of kindness? I already have my own apartment, by the way. And it would be fairly troublesome..." he smiled a little more.

"I wouldn't mind..." he began to whisper again. "Just...say yes Andrea. It's a simple word, so just say it. Say yes? There's only a small cost..." he began to lean a little closer towards me.

"What is said cost? Hmm?"

"Kiss me." He demanded, coming closer and closer to me. I could see him glance at my lips before looking into my eyes again. He put both of his hands on my cheeks.

"You know what...this is really...really crazy but..." I faked a small laugh and began to lean in towards him. He closed his eyes slowly and was now only a few inches away from my lips. He seemed to really want this. So much that he had let his guard down... Even when he probably shouldn't have.

I smirked to myself and grabbed the glass of juice. I pulled away and threw the juice in his face. He gasped a little and flinched, his jaw dropping. I stood and put the glass back on the table. I replied to him as I walked to the door.

"I'm still not interested."