Reunited

DJ Dubois

September 2010

Notes: Events take place during and right after "Salvation". Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Please send comments to

Chapter 1 [Hilltop outside of Roanoke, NC]

The Carolina countryside lay under a thick mist on that late spring morning. Despite the lush green under their feet, the animals, birds and people felt obscured by the thick cover while waiting on their perches for it to burn off.

Of course when they would do so in a couple of hours' time, business would resume as usual. Nests of all types needed to be buttressed. Domains needed to be safeguarded. The downtrodden should be looked after.

For people across the country, the daily newspapers buzzed of two such heroes. In Metropolis, the Red and Blue Blur (or just "the Blur" as he preferred things to be these days) kept things under wraps. Meantime another Blur (the "Raven Blur" as the media had dubbed that one) kept a more itinerate practice. In what seemed like a pattern, the latter would appear in a city, deal with the biggest of the sharks and leave them for the police before disappearing again. Then the cycle started again a couple of days later.

It was widely wondered if they were a team or if one merely copied the other.

For a lonely heart, the former was its only wish…

On that mist shrouded morning, Lana Lang sat under a giant oak tree and munched on a cinnamon bagel. She'd just finished taking down an auto ring hours earlier. Now, before her next patrol, she wanted a minute to herself. She had to admit that the last six months had been exhilarating. She could understand why Clark felt compelled to help others.

She sighed. Clark. She shook her head mournfully. Ever since she'd stood in his Loft for the last time, her heart felt cold and hollow. Her chest burned with icy fire. She could still see him crawling up those wooden stairs toward her. Her lips held the imprint of his mouth on them in a memorial vice grip. She could still taste the salt of his tears mixing with hers on her face.

Still he couldn't be near her. He collapsed and nearly died from the last defiant effort.

She took a bite of her bagel and drank from a double shot latte. Wish I could know how he's really doing. As part of her morning ritual, she'd checked on his online site and considered the Daily Planet.

Clark, it seemed, had been busy on the previous day. He'd foiled several bank robberies, dealt with a mugging and even saved a kitty in a tree.

Hearing how he continued to save the world momentarily salved her pain. Even if it was Lois' writing and words telling the accounts, she felt as if she was still right there beside him.

A residual green glow around her hands reminded her that it could never be.

She bowed her head. "It's okay. Oliver hasn't stopped looking. Keep going. Remember what Clark would do." She took a particularly big gulp from her drink and finished reading the article.

As she folded up the paper, her cell phone buzzed. Now what? "Yes?"

"Raven, this is the emerald archer. See you had a busy night."

"The world needs constant maintenance. Girl's got to stay busy. What's going on back at Watchtower?" she retorted almost flatly.

Oliver frowned. She's still mooning over Clark. What else did you expect? "Got a case for your specific talents. Interested?"

"I really don't want to go back to Metro right now," she declined sadly.

"Even if it will help the Blur?" he supposed.

She considered the cell phone for a second. She fought back a flash of panic. "Is something wrong?"

"No…well not yet. We have a developing problem. The Justice League…we're…really out of our league on this one," he admitted.

"And the Blur? He's okay. Right?" she pressed.

"Oh yeah. You know him. Saving the world in less time than it takes to order a pizza. Problem is, Raven, we're facing folks like him."

"Like him?" Her head spun with the implications of that comment. "He's the last of his people."

"Not anymore. There are better than two dozen of them with his powers. They can fly too. Zod's got them primed…." he started.

"ZOD?" She recoiled at that name.

"Yeah. You've faced them already I take it?" he supposed.

She well recalled how the Kryptonian general had possessed Lex several years earlier. On the heels of yet another of her mini breakups with Clark, his magnetism had swept her up in its tide. She pulled off her left glove and considered the scar on her palm.

From where Zod had pinned her to the study's wall with his dagger and dismissed her.

She frowned and her eyes narrowed.

"Raven, you there?"

"I'm here, Emerald. Yes we've met. I've got a score to settle if that bastard's reincarnated himself," she informed him intensely. "If he lays a hand on the Blur, he will deal with me."

Yeah. She's still hung up on Clark. Oh-KAY! "Hey. Nothing's happened yet. Raven, on point. Stay on point."

She took a deep breath and refocused herself. "Fine. I'll meet you at Watchtower."

"Actually no. There's a museum at Sixth and Reynolds in Metro. There are some folks you need to meet. See you there at six?" he supposed.

"I'll be there. Thanks, Emerald. How is he?" she asked hopefully.

Now it was his turn to frown. How do I tell her that he's already moved on? He had to admit that he was more than a little jealous of Clark being with Lois Lane. "Oh you know. Day job keeps him on his toes. As I said, by night, he saves the world. Stays busy."

"That's good. I'll see you later," she concluded. She hit the 'stop' button on the phone. She anticipated that Lois would have moved in. "Wish she'd learn some sensitivity. Right." She knew how the reporter was the Blur's main wingman that she would try to make a play at some point. "Get over it, Lana. Lex made sure you can't be with him. Why shouldn't he be happy?" She put her phone away and ruefully smiled. "At least I can make him proud."

With that cue, the sun broke through the mists and brightened the glade.

"I will make you proud of me, Clark." She sped off toward the west and a rendezvous with destiny.