Eyes To Eyes

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Cause the numerous knock outs for Lana (and others) got really old. Takes place during season 3's 'Obsession'.

Lana thanked her lucky stars for the fact she didn't end up getting knocked out after Alicia shoved her into the column. As she'd had enough of getting knocked out thank you very much! Heck, it was starting to make her worry she was going to have permanent brain damage if it kept up and that scared her. "And now you'll never know." Alicia told her in a freakishly calm manner with that knife held high in the air.

Clearly talking about whatever secret of Clark's that she had somehow become privy too. Part of Lana felt it wasn't fair that a girl he barely knew had somehow learned his secret when they'd known one another longer. Had both somehow found out what the other could do and that's why she knew? Because Clark didn't have a choice? Or was Alicia just really crazy? As it was, it was clear Alicia could either move really fast like Emily had been able to do or in another fashion of some kind. "A-Alicia, just stop!"

Unfortunately, the Blonde didn't listen but luck would be on Lana's side this night as Clark, much to the young lady's surprise, suddenly appeared and called out Alicia's name. This got her attention and whether or not Clark had realized Lana was paying attention, she would watch as he threw out some sort of can in the other girl's direction. And then… Then somehow made fire of all things appear from his eyes! Making for Lana's eyes to widen as the beams of heat hit the can and a red substance exploded from it. Said substance covering Alicia all over and even on the floor. Alicia began to sob as she fell to her knees with the knife clattering to the ground.

Allowing for Lana to see some sort of flickering green mist come off of her. But whatever it was, it clearly wasn't doing what she wanted it to do. It was then that Clark noticed Lana had been watching the whole thing and a look of fear came about on his face. Lana carefully made her way to him and hugged him in relief, not caring at the moment that he could shoot fire from his eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked of her in concern while trying to squash down his fear.

He felt her nod as Alicia begged to know why he'd acted against her. Clark could only give her a saddened look for the way things had turned out. Wishing it had been so much different.

Later, In Clark's Loft

"And Lead Paint saves the day, apparently." Quipped Lana Lang as she walked up the steps to Clark's Loft. Or rather, 'Fortress of Solitude' as it was sometimes known as.

Her words breaking the reason she was there out of his brooding over the latest events to happen in his life. "Lana!?"

"Wow, must have been in deep thought if you didn't hear me come up." Teased the girl somewhat light heartedly.

Clark let a sigh as he looked down at his hands. "Yeah. Just wishing things with Alicia hadn't turned out like they did."

A sympathetic smile came his way, not that he saw thanks to where his attention was. But then a thought occurred to the young man as he looked up at Lana with confusion in his eyes. "Why are you here, anyway? I mean… Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see you but after what happened earlier, I figured you'd want to stay as far away as you could from anyone with abilities." He asked of her curiously.

"And give you even more time to come up with reasons to stay away from me because of your secret? I'm not gonna lie, part of me is disappointed but I've always suspected something was different with you."

She watched as he winced at her words and then asked her a question in a subdued voice. "Disappointed because I'm a freak?"

"What!? No!" Protested Lana as she came and knelt in front of him and capturing his head between her hands to ensure he would be looking at her and not at anything else.

"Clark, I'm disappointed because you couldn't, wouldn't, tell me your secret but could tell her. Someone you barely knew." Replied the young lady sadly.

"What made her so different that you could tell her but not me? Was it because she had an ability too?"

She desperately needed to know. And because of how she kept his head in her hands, Clark found it hard to be able to avoid her eyes. Sure, he could have easily gotten out of her grip but he found he couldn't. Or perhaps wouldn't as he was just so damned tired of keeping things from her. "It, it was part of why. Otherwise… I was too afraid and not allowed to tell you. No matter how much I wanted to tell you otherwise." He replied, hoping she would believe him and perhaps even understand.

"She knew what it was like to be cut off from things, even if I didn't fully understand why until later." Continued Clark while frowning at the thought of her parents and the poor way they had handled things with Alicia.

Lana stared at him for a long moment before saying anything. "You risk your life so much to save me and everyone else time and time again, and yet you're afraid? I don't understand, Clark."

She didn't need to ask why he wasn't allowed to tell anyone, having a good idea it was his parents' doing. And while she respected it, she felt that perhaps they had done a little damage in their drive to keep what Clark could do a secret. Even if they or Clark hadn't really realized that yet. Finally, he pulled away from her grip and walked to the window of his loft as he let out a breath. "I told you after Van that it would be okay if you were different and now that I know, its still okay, Clark. I just wish you had had more faith in me." She told him as it hurt that he hadn't had faith in her.

Turning around, Clark felt guilty for how he had managed to hurt Lana again. That seems to be all I ever really do with her…

"Lana… I've spent so much time hiding what I can do, being afraid of being found out and what could happen that it makes it hard for me to open up to anyone. I've had a few close calls in the last couple of years and I've felt so strongly for you for the longest time that I couldn't bear the thought of you walking out of my life for good. I was born with my gifts, Lana. Even if some of them I learned of later on as I grew older. But the fear is always there and now that you have an idea, my parents, my dad especially, are gonna be unhappy. And I'll have to worry about whether or not it puts you in danger. Another reason I was so afraid to tell you."

The thought of all that made him feel so damned helpless and he hated it more than anything. Lana stepped up to him with sadness written all over her. Part of her was happy to know he still clearly felt so strongly for her however. "Clark, I can take care of myself and you need to realize that. You need to be able to TRUST in me with that. Or there can be no hope between us."

For regardless of what she knew now, she couldn't be more then just a friend to him if he continued as he was. And that was something that could leave him truly alone as he clearly thought could happen. "I'll give you some time to think about it." She decided.

Seeing that he was torn over the whole affair and needed the time. And with that, Lana walked away while hoping and praying he made the decision that could lead to a lot of happiness. Clark watched her go as he began to think deeply about what had been said to him and exhaled. Yeah, I'm really gonna need to think.

Author's Notes: I could leave it like this but I believe I'll add one more chapter.