A World Without Clark Kent.
Chapter One:
Christmas was supposed to be the season to be jolly, so why didn't Clark Kent feel the same? It was his first trip home from Metropolis U. College life was great, playing football was even better and the studies, while a chore, were a breeze, the benefit of having a photographic memory. He walked down Smallville's Main Street, hands buried deep in the pockets of his padded jacket, immune to the large snowflakes floating down to earth in their usual timeless manner. Snow lay thick on the ground and his boots made a crunching sound as he walked. This town held so many memories for him. Some good, some bad. He lifted his head and saw the crowds of last minute Christmas shoppers and he smiled to himself. His mom would be organised and ready now, she always was. She didn't like the hassle or the stress of battling her way through the hoards of festive shoppers. They hadn't had much money whilst he was growing up, but his parents had been determined to show him the true value of Christmas. He remembered the first time they'd decorated the tree and he'd sat beneath the heavy green pine branches and stared up at the vision of light and sparkles in utter awe. Of going to church and listening to the carols, not understanding a word of it, but listening all the same. The Christmas Story which his mom read to him every Christmas Eve without fail and the whole magic of Santa Claus. As he'd gotten older, some of the magic still remained, the tree decorating, the Christmas carols, and the Christmas story. It would be a tradition he'd like to continue should he ever get the chance to be a father himself. His thoughts darkened again. For all that his parents loved him, that his friends would put their lives on the line for him, he always had the feeling that he'd be alone. His destiny was proof of that.
He looked up and saw the Talon sign shining amidst the snow that was falling and he felt a smile drift across his face. It was closing time soon and he was here as his mother's escort to make sure that she got back home safe and sound. She didn't know that he was home from college yet so he looked forward to surprising her. A door beside the coffee shop opened and a couple stumbled out onto the street, arms around each other, huddled up against the inclement weather. Clark had to do a quick side shuffle to avoid colliding into them. One of them turned their head to look at him and something froze inside of Clark when he recognised Lana. Her own eyes widened in surprise as she recognised him.
"Clark!" he forced himself to smile, trying to ignore the sight of seeing Jason's arm around her shoulders, ignoring just how that made him feel.
"Hey Lana" he replied, his fists clenching in the confines of his jacket pockets.
"I didn't realise you were back in Smallville" Clark shrugged his shoulders.
"Back for Christmas, that's all. How are things with you?" he glanced at Jason as he looked down at Lana and the pair exchanged a look, like they shared a delicious secret.
"Things are very good at the moment…in fact…" another shared look and all of a sudden Lana whipped out her left hand. For a second he stared at it dumbly and it was when she wiggled her fingers almost expectantly that he noticed the diamond ring sparkling there. He swallowed as sick shock flooded through him. Lana and Jason were engaged?
"You're the first to know," she told him, her voice tight with all the excitement of a prospective bride-to-be. He smiled, he had to otherwise he wasn't sure how he'd really react.
"Wow. Congratulations!" he went towards her and hugged her. His eyes briefly closed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He caught the drift of her perfume, felt the soft silkiness of her hair against his cheek and she was gone again. Clark straightened and looked at Jason and offered his hand.
"Congratulations… I hope you'll both be very happy" he said the words as if by rote. Jason took his hand and shook it. He was watching Clark's expression with a carefulness that didn't settle easy with the younger man.
"Thank you, that means a lot" he replied. Clark smiled again and shoved his hands back into his jacket pockets.
"Well, I'd better go and meet my mom, she'll be waiting for me" he told them.
Lana hugged him again, pressed a kiss against his icy cold cheek.
"Okay. Merry Christmas Clark" she whispered.
"Merry Christmas Lana" he murmured in reply. They said their goodbyes and he watched the happy couple disappear into the swarm of shoppers. This was the happiest day of Lana's life, she was going to marry a man who would love her and cherish her and never ever lie to her and he should feel glad that she'd found that special someone in Jason Teague but God why did it have to hurt so much?