Guardian Angel
Summary: A continuation of the season 7 finale, a large surge of energy as the fortress is destroyed, leaves Clark with no choice but to leave Lex to die and save himself, however our hero is unable to choose himself, as survival instincts kick in, a blast of energy divides Clark and his alter ego with no inhibitions, Kal El, into two different people. Jor El's fortress transports Clark to somewhere unknown and Lex is left lying in the remains of the fortress, Kal El returns to Metropolis in Clark's place, and naturally, sparks begin to fly between Kal El and Lois Lane.
Pairing: Kal/Lois, Clark/Lois
Prologue:
Clark writhed in pain as Lex held him, the sound of the fortress crashing down around them made the floor rumble, Lex peered up at the roof that was collapsing upon them.
'Rest in peace, Clark.' He said simply, dropping Clark's agonized body to the icy ground, he stood up whilst dismissively brushing off crystals of ice that formed on his suit. He felt numb, almost empty as he stared down at who he thought would be his closest friend, the boy that had somehow become his greatest nemesis. The darkness in him marvelled at how easily it had all come to an end. The fortress roared as blue and red waves of energy were released into the snowy surroundings, as it fell apart.
The image of Lex Luthor dressed in a suit as black as his heart, surrounded by the crystal white fortress crumbling around him, was the last image that etched into Clark's mind before his eyes fluttered shut.
'How disappointing.' Lex added with a smirk, 'You turned out to be rather anti-climatic Kal El.' 'Guess I'm the real hero after all.'
The sound of ice breaking made Lex look upwards again, he stared in shock as a large pile of icicles fell towards him, Lex ducked as they hit him hard, knocking him unconscious.
Clark writhed in agony as he forced himself to open his pained eyes, they landed on Lex, a black crystal was lying on the ice besides Clark, the choice was his. Kill Lex once and for all and stop this all from happening, or let Lex live...Even at his most weakest, Clark managed to be honourable, he wouldn't murder Lex Luthor, he had no right to take another man's life.
Clark stared at the reflection of himself on the icy floor, What had he done? How could it end like this? Lana had left him, Chloe was in prison, and despite everything, when it came down to destroying his enemy, he didn't have what it took. He couldn't take a life.
'Kal El.' Jor El's voice echoed through the collapsing fortress, 'Your indecision brings me great dismay my son. You will return to me.'
Return to him? Clark yelled at the broken crystals, 'No-I can't-its not over yet, please-'
'This is not your final battle son. Your behaviour, your emotions, your reluctance, they have caused this.'
'No-I can fix this-Turn back time!' Clark pleaded in desperation, maybe being given a second chance would enable him to stop Lana from leaving, he could save Chloe from prison, and defeat Lex.
'I can not give you that Kal El.'
'WHY NOT?!' Clark demanded as his heart broke in his chest, 'Please...I'm begging you...I'll do anything-just show me how to stop Lex!'
'Clark.' Clark froze, Jor El had never called him Clark before. 'You have failed to eliminate your nemesis once again...As a punishment, you shall remain here until you embrace your innate identity.'
Clark felt as if his mind was splitting in two, 'Kal El shall return in your place,' Jor El said calmly.
Clark shook his head, 'NO- Jor El, no-'
'You have been denying yourself your destiny for too long son. Before you can accept what you are meant to become, you must accept who you truly are.'
'Jor El-wait, please...just...' His heart pounded in his chest, he still felt weak, 'what do you mean??' The fortress was completely in ruins, a red mist began to rise around Clark. 'You can't do this!' he yelled as his head began to throb, he watched in shock as what he thought was his reflection began to solidify out of the ice. Clark stared at his hands as they began to disappear, 'You can't do this to me!' Clark squinted as a blizzard of snow swirled up and surrounded him, 'No!'
'Do not worry.'
'Kal El can't take my place-what about my friends? People will notice that I'm different! He's just ONE part of me!' Clark argued.
'As are you a part of him. Be patient my son. Growth occurs with time. Acceptance requires honesty with yourself. You shall never be at peace with your destiny until you are at peace with who you are, once you reach this stage, there will be no hesitance behind your decisions. Be patient my son.'
He groaned weakly as his eyes fluttered shut.
Chapter One: Awakening
Red mist filled the air, Kal El slowly climbed to his feet, squinting at the vast emptiness where the fortress once lay, he broke into a small smile as he glanced at Lex Luthor lying unconscious on the ground. Raising an eyebrow at his fallen nemesis, he took a moment to gaze up at the sky, he felt as if he could breathe once again. And it felt good. Digging his heels into the snow for a moment, he launched himself up into the night sky.
He closed his eyes as he propelled himself through the sky across the harmless countries beneath him as he listened to his father's voice in his mind, 'Kal El. My son, you are being sent to your home to protect those you love from the dangers they shall face, return to me when you know you are ready.'
'Clark, Clark, Clark,' Kal El said with a smirk, 'when will you learn?'
Kal El wasn't a bad person, he'd do what his father had asked of him, but first, there were a few places he wanted to go.
Two weeks later:
Metropolis: Chloe's apartment:
Lois rifled through Chloe's files, there had to be a way to get her out of prison, 'Come on Chlo, gimme a clue here...' she muttered as she tried to find out who had taken Chloe and where they had taken her.
She reached for the coffee mug she had been drinking from on the desk, much to her dismay, it was empty, 'Great. This is just...great.'
Climbing to her feet Lois wracked her mind to think of where Clark could be, or where Jimmy was for that matter. Any familiar face would do at this point in time, after Lana left, Lois hadn't seen Clark around. Why did the people she care about make her worry so much? You'd think if they cared about her half as much as she did them, they wouldn't be putting her through this.
She looked out the window, the streets of Metropolis were as busy as ever, it was only Lois who's life was emptier than usual.
Lately, Clark had become one of her best friends, she missed him. No matter how hard she tried to keep up her facade of independence, she missed Clark and was struggling at saving Chloe alone.
'Where are you Smallville?' she wondered softly.
'Right behind you Lois.' Kal El said with a smile.
Lois turned on her heel, almost jumping out of her skin, she let go of the mug. Kal El swiftly caught it, his eyes never leaving hers as he set in on the desk besides her.
'Clark!' she threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly, 'where have you been?' she pulled away as she punched him in the arm, 'do you have any idea how worried I've been?' she demanded with her hands on her hips, Kal El broke into a bemused expression, Lois Lane definitely felt something for Clark. He could see it in her eyes, and Clark was definitely attracted to her, Kal El could feel his heart
behaving oddly. Her questioning eyes held him to his morals as he decided not to abuse his x-ray vision.
'Clark?'
Lois was looking at him as if he was behaving strangely, 'yeah?' he asked softly, refusing to break his hold on her gaze.
Lois began to feel uncomfortable, why was Clark looking at her like that?
'You okay?'
'Never been better,' he said with a shrug, 'you?'
'Urgh, don't even ask...I have no idea where the government's holding Chloe, and Jimmy's missing, and you? Well, let's just say, if you weren't here right now?' she turned to peer out of the window, 'I would have lost my mind.'
Kal El stepped closer to her, he longed to be next to her, closer than they were already standing, he couldn't give what he was feeling a name, Lois turned away from the window, she jumped slightly on seeing how close they were standing.
'Clark...?? you have to stop making me jump-I'll die of a heart-attack before we find Chloe.' She scolded him irritably, Kal El simply watched at her. His eyes drifted to her lips, and then further down, on realising Lois was watching him, he quickly met her gaze with an irritated air about him.
'We have to save Chloe...' he said, feigning commitment to the thought.
Lois nodded, 'exactly. But what're we gonna do...wherever she is, I doubt we can just stroll in there and walk out with her...'
Kal El smiled, 'if only you knew...' he muttered to himself.
'What?'
'Nothing.'
'Riiight.' She said with a semi-puzzled expression.
'We need to call in the big guns...How about Tess Mercer?' Lois suggested, Kal El shrugged at her, Chloe was his alter-ego's best friend, and he would save her, but right now, all he wanted was to be around Lois. And he was used to getting what he wanted, even if he didn't fully understand what it was that he wanted.
'You're single?' Not that it mattered, he thought to himself as he wracked Clark's memories, Lois Lane was attracted to him too, he was surprised he hadn't picked it up before. But why was she behaving as if she didn't he wondered silently.
Lois furrowed her brow, 'Will you focus?' she paused for a moment, figuring it out, 'Have you been drinking?' she asked as he stepped even closer than before, 'Don't go all weird on me right now Smallville...'
Kal El leaned in, feeling more intoxicated by the earthling than ever before, 'I really need you to be normal right now...' she said firmly, Kal El noticed the flecks of brown in her otherwise green eyes, the way she touched his arm made something inside him freeze, 'I need your help...We'll talk about Lana and all of that after we save Chloe, I promise.' Kal El studied her, was that all he thought his feelings for her in that department amounted to? A response to being jilted by Lana Lang? He frowned, not used to caring about what others thought of him, Kal El found Lois Lane even more baffling than before.
'Wash your face with cold water, grab an aspirin and meet me back out here.' Lois said as she led him to the bathroom, 'go on, sober up. The quicker you get your act together, the quicker we can ask Tess Mercer for her help...'
Kal El awkwardly strolled into the bathroom, surprised to find himself doing what he was told, he wasn't usually a pushover for women, what was Lois doing to him? How was she having this effect on him?? He found himself somewhat agitated and at the same time, somewhat enticed.
Lois let out an exhausted sigh, 'Great...' Clark had gone and gotten drunk, just what she needed. The help of a drunk man, she thought sarcastically.
She prayed he'd sober up sooner than later, she really needed him right now. As much as she hated to admit it, he was all she had.
End chapter one: