Title: Power (Marvel Agents of SHIELD/SV/Other Marvel)
Summary: Sixteen year old Chloe angrily storms away from Clark after confronting him about lying to her about him and Lana. She's sick of his lies and determined to find the truth…
Disclaimer: Marvel and DC own all.
Timeline: S1 for M.A.O.S. and post S2 for Smallville
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*
Prologue
After Chloe ended her friendship with Clark, again. She turned to Lional Luthor and accepted his help with rebuilding the Torch. In exchange she was to spy on Clark. Although some part of her was reluctant, she held up her end of their agreement. She was curious about his secrets herself as well.
Clark had left Smallville not long after their fight. She had tracked him down to Metropolis. Wanting to find out what the Kents were hiding, but not wanting Clark's parents to get hurt she informed both the Kents and Lional of where Clark was. This left the farm empty and thus Chloe was free to snoop.
Chloe found an strange disc hidden at the farm. It looked like it fit in the slot at the Kawatche Caves. She knew Clark had been at bit obsessed with them so she took it with her towards the caves.
Once at the caves Chloe found the hole and put the key into it. Then unknown to her she was hit with a beam of energy much like Dr. Frederick Walden. Chloe's mind was under attack and she felt something within her shatter, then pain before white light and she passed out.
The AI that made Jor-El was astonished the snooper had somehow fought his defensive action off and was now gone. He had tried to expel her after she had fought off his mental intrusion and he vaguely sensed dimensional residue where the girl had been. Wherever she was now, she would most likely be trapped never to return. He put the ordeal on a backburner and focused back on contacting Kal-El.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
The Ancient One felt something breach the wards between dimension. She quickly went into a meditative trance and tried to localize the disturbance. All she knew right now was that it was in the United States…
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Wilderness, Wyoming, America,
Almost seventeen year old Grant Ward carefully inspected the area where the white flash had occurred. His dog, Buddy, was by his side.
Grant saw a small crater with what looked like a body laying inside it. He approached the girl with caution, Buddy had no such restraints and quickly bounded over to the girl.
"Buddy" Grant hissed at the dog, he hefted his weapon and advanced closer to the fellow teen.
Standing at the edge of the small crater Grant saw the unmoving blonde and wondered if she was still alive. Seeing Buddy was licking her cheek attempting to wake her, but the blonde did not respond he closed the small distance between them and checked her pulse. Find a weak one he sighed in relief. " I wonder who you are and how you got here?" he asked nobody in particular, checking her pockets he found nothing to indicate an ID.
Starring at the blonde, Grant turned to Buddy. "There is nobody around here for help. No phone to call for help. I don't know how to help her."
Buddy looked at his new master, not understanding him. The female smelled nice though.
Grant sighed and put his weapon down as he gathered the blonde girl in his arms and made his way back to his hideout. He's only been here about nine days. He barely got enough food for himself and the dog, and not he's have to feed another person.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Chloe groaned, every part of her body ached. 'What happened?' she wondered as she tried to wake up and remember why she was hurt.
A dog barked causing Chloe's eyes to shoot open and she sat up quickly. Chloe saw the brown haired canine looking at her. She immediately sat up and groaned as her muscles protested and ached at the action.
"Buddy?" a voice called and the dog ran away towards the source.
Chloe took in her surroundings. It looked like some sort of wilderness. 'how did I get here? Last thing I remember was that disc thingy I found at the Kent Farm…I took it to the Kawatche Caves and placed it in the hole there since it seemed to fit. Then there was a light and pain. Something was-' Chloe stopped her train of thoughts as a guy appeared between shrugs and a tree with the dog.
Chloe got to her feet, still a bit unsteady she placed her hand on a tree to support herself. "Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here?" she questioned the young man whom she guessed to be around her age.
"Questions I was gonna ask you." The man replied. "I don't know how you got here, there was a flash of light and me and Buddy here went to investigate. Found you in a small crater."
"Light? Crater?" Chloe wondered out loud, pain flared painfully through her head as she tried to recall more specifics. Her unsteady legs almost gave out under her, she was caught from falling by a pair of hands helping to hold her up.
"Easy." The brown eyes and dark-haired man spoke.
"I- I don't remember… I was in an old cave. I found some strange metal disk that seemed to fit in a hole there. Then there was some kind of energy and pain… It hurt… there was some kind of energy and a light. That's all I remember." Chloe told him and looked him in the eyes. "Where are we?"
"Wyoming." The stranger replied.
Chloe frowned, "I was in Kansas, Smallville." Seeing his blank look at the mention of Smallville she elaborated, "It's near Metropolis."
"Metropolis?"
"You know big city. Rivals Gotham City." Chloe clarified slightly amused he did not seem to know one of the biggest cities in the country.
"I've never heard of either Metropolis or Gotham City." The man answered.
A cold sensation began to wash over Chloe, previous amusement gone as fear made its way known. "What about Luthorcorp? Wayne Enterprises? Star City? Queen Industries? New York?"
"New York's on the East Coast. The rest I've never heard off."
Chloe sat herself down against the tree. "Have I seriously done a Dorothy?"
"Seriously?" The man inquired, "You're from another dimension or something?"
"Well you have Toto there Scarecrow, what do you think?" Chloe snapped out, feeling overwhelmed and needing an outlet.
"Sorry, it's just. Another dimension?"
Chloe glanced at him, tears in her eyes as reality hit her hard. "How do you think I feel?"
"Sorry." The man replied.
Chloe tried to reign in her emotions, not wanting to cry in front of a stranger. "It's ok. Sorry too for snapping… it's just a lot. I'm Chloe Sullivan by the way."
"Grant Ward." The man introduced himself.
"So what are you doing here by yourself?" the blonde inquired.
Grant winced as he thought back how he got here. "Someone brought me here to learn how to survive. If I prove capable he'll teach me to be strong."
Chloe frowned, 'That's sounds harsh, is this normal here?' "Is that a common learning experience?"
Grant frowned, wondering why she asked that, before recalling she was apparently from another dimension. "Not as far I know. This man offered me another path. He saved me from a.. bad situation. I need to do this and impress him. I can't go back…"
Chloe wondered at the ominous feeling she got from Grant's past. It seems like someone offered him a lifeline. Still to have apparently strings attached to it didn't sit right to her. It was however not her place to judge. "So is it just the two of us and Toto here?"
"Yes, I would have made sure you got to a hospital if there was anything around here." Grant answered.
'Great, I'm a city girl that had to move to a small town and now I've even fallen further and am to survive in the wilderness. How am I to survive with some caffeine?' Chloe thought to herself.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Despite Chloe's own worries over her capabilities, she did manage to help Grant with getting food. She even helped him build some better shelter. It was cold here at night and, so the two had cuddled together with Buddy for body warmth. Chloe still remembered that first night…
***Flashback***
Chloe shivered in her fetal position. She was attempting to sleep, but the cold was keeping her up.
Grant sat next to her without a word slung his arm around her pulling her into his body warmth. Chloe felt her face flush red and buried into in Grant's chest, not wanting him to see her blush. "Thanks" she mumbled, before sleep finally caught up with her.
When she awoke, she briefly panicked as she did not recognize her room around her and was in some guys arms, a dog cuddled at their feet. Memories of the previous day hit her and she had to stifle a sob and restrain her emotions. She failed however and Grant had awoken by her crying.
Chloe learned then that Grant did have some experience with comforting someone. He rubbed her back and told her it was going to be okay.
***End flashback***
Chloe later learned that Grant had often comforted his younger brother Thomas after his older brother Christopher picked on him. Chloe felt there was more to the story, but she knew it was a hard subject for him to talk about so she reigned in her inquisitive nature.
Chloe told Grant about her life, about her cousins Lois and Lucy whom were like older sisters to her. How she had made friends but that she ended their friendship when they couldn't respect her enough to tell her the truth. She had not told him about her feelings for Clark however. It was painful to think back on and it felt weird to bring that up with Grant. She did inform him of the weirdness that went around their town and her attempt to track it all and expose it.
Chloe also told him about the secret-ness of her friend Clark. How he continued to be untruthful about it and when their friendship ended she had taken an offer that in a way betrayed him. She felt bad about it, but Clark didn't help himself any in all the lying he did to her. Lional was there to help her when she needed help. Yes it cost her a friend, her best friend but he had broken all trust between them. So why should she stay true to their friendship.
Grant had understood. He in turn told her a bit more about Garret, the man whom offered him a lifeline. The two became close friends, but Chloe still felt guilty and worried over what more this Garret would request from Grant in turn for this new life. She had at one time attempted to talk to Grant about this, but Grant had become angry and she had apologized and told him she only worried for him. She would leave it to him to make his own decisions.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
One month later,
Kamar Taj, Somewhere around Tibet,
The Ancient One had been busy trying to find more about the disturbance she had felt. She had localized it to Wyoming. But still could not pinpoint it. She had contacted the New York Sanctum and ask them to keep an eye out for disturbances. So far nothing.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Almost three months after Chloe's arrival,
Wilderness, Wyoming, America,
Chloe smiled as she was cutting the deer Grant and Buddy had caught earlier today. While not a vegetarian, she hadn't liked the idea of hunting. However starving was even less likeable so she had pushed herself into learning this skill. While she could manage in it, Grant was better at it. She however had proven to be better at fishing. So they had come to the arrangement that Chloe would skin and prepare any caught meet. Grant would cut and prepare any fish. This way both did their fair share of the work.
This was not the reason Chloe was smiling however, she was smiling because earlier today something had happened, something that had taken her by surprise, but was not unwelcome.
***Flashback***
"Lo and behold, our meal." Grant smiled as the somewhat dirty and sweaty seventeen year old dragged behind him an adult deer.
Chloe smiled in turn and got up from the log she had been on and dropped her half-finished makeshift arrow. "Nice Scarecrow, looks like it gave you a challenge."
Grant nodded and winced at the few scrapes he had gotten from his hunt.
Chloe noticed his wince and did and closer inspection of his body, she noticed some scrapes and a larger cut on his side. She grabbed her wooden crafted mug, which was nothing that would sell since it looked ugly. It was however it was functional, which is what mattered. The mug had water inside and Chloe also grabbed a piece of her shirt that she had torn for medical use after she had crafted a new shirt out of deer-skin.
"Take of your shirt and sit down." She instructed him and Grant complied.
Chloe cleaned the cut as best she could as she listened to his tale of the hunt, which explained how he got the cut. A nasty shrub was the guilty party.
"That should do it. Be careful with it or it might get infec-ted." Chloe started to tell him but trailed off when she caught him staring at her. A blush crept across her face and she felt her lips dry. Wetting them she glanced at his lips before looking back into his brown eyes.
Before anymore could be said Grant had leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. Chloe responded and wrapped her arms around his neck. Grant pulled her closer to him and let his hands wander across her back.
Chloe felt a fire burning inside her, she felt something she had not felt before. With the precious guys she had kissed there was the closeness she felt to them missing. With Clark… well there had been the closeness, but passion. They hadn't had that. But Chloe was not thinking about that as Grant warm hands were exploring her body and his mouth was devouring hers.
When the need for air became too much of an issue Chloe pulled back breathing heavily she smiled hesitantly as she looked into the brown orbs of the guy she had come to like a lot.
Chloe saw Grant's own happy expression and relief and happiness coursed through her. He had not regretted their kiss and was apparently pleased with it.
Grant's hand cupped Chloe's face and she leaned into it. "That was…wow."
Grant nodded in and smiled, "definitely wow."
Chloe smiled and pecked him on the lips. "Why don't you go and get cleaned up and I'll start on dinner."
***End flashback***
That was the reason for Chloe's smile. Grant had been an attractive, sweet, funny guy. She had been burned by crazy meteor-freaks and her former best friend before so Chloe had been hesitant to put herself out there in a way that might cause her to lose their friendship if he didn't feel the same about her. But Grant had not been inhibited by his fears and acted on his feelings, Chloe was happy he had. One of the things she liked most about him was his courage. Clark had plenty of that as well, but for some reason was dishonest on his putting it into practice… it almost seemed Clark was a meteorfeak, but that was crazy. Clark had saved her life more than once and she was grateful for it. Meteorfreaks were all crazy as far as she knew.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
That night,
Chloe laid in Grants arms, content to watch the tired teen sleep. 'He looks so peaceful' she thought to herself. She felt a surge of anger go through her as she thought back to what Grant told her last night about his parents and brother.
***Flashback***
Last night,
Chloe was laying in Grant's arms as the two shared body heat for warmth once more.
"My mother abandoned me and my dad. One day she was just gone, no explanation just gone." Chloe shared with Grant.
"I'm sorry."
"My dad tried his best to be there for me, even with more work for him to do. My mother did have family that helped out some. My older cousins Lois and Lucy are great. But it was tough for us. I shouldn't complain about it. There are people worse off than I was." Chloe wiped away the stray tears. "I just worry about my dad now. How he is? If he's taken care of himself? God I hope so."
"If he's anything like you, I'm sure he'll be fine." Grant told her.
Chloe smiled at him and hesitantly place a kiss on his cheek, "You're sweet."
"I- I'm not a good guy Chloe." Grant started after her declaration.
Chloe looked at him, sitting up some in the process. "Why would you say that?"
"I- I told you I have two brothers. My older brother Chris and my younger brother Thomas." Grant started to explain. Chloe nodded for him to continue and took one of his hands in her own for support.
Taking a breath Grant continued, "My older brother didn't pick on my younger brother. He made me do it. I resisted at first. But one time I didn't. We had a well not far from our house and Chris made me put Thomas in it. I didn't want to, but I had. Chris had me watch for hours as Thomas struggled to stay above the water. Eventually I got enough courage to throw a rope down. Thomas never trusted me after it and Chris had already disliked me. After the Well Chris forced me to torment Thomas more. Our parents… my mother abused us and my father led her. The one good thing I had there was Thomas and I ruined that. When I got sent to military academy I was so full of anger. One day I snapped, stole a car and drove over 1000 miles home and set fire to it. I just wanted the perfect picture of a happy family to perish. I didn't know my older brother was inside. Chris survived, but came close to burning to death. He didn't believe that I didn't know he was inside pushed the courts to try me as an adult. I was in Juvie before Garret freed me and put me here. He promised to be back in a few months. He works for some secret black ops organization and wants me to join. That's why I have to impress him. So when he comes back, He'll not turn his back on me. I have to survive."
Chloe had listened to Grant telling her his story. Her heart felt for him. He's been through a lot. She worried even more now what this Garret was up to with Grant. Pushing that aside Chloe squeezed his hand making him raise his gaze from the ground back at her.
"We all make mistakes when we are young Grant. We're kids, how else are we going to learn. It doesn't mean you're a bad guy. You have a good heart. You saved my life. You took me in and cared for me while I was still recovering. Something that wasn't easy given how little food you had for yourself and Buddy. Sometimes we are forced to do things we don't like to survive. That doesn't mean that those things are who you are. I know who you are Grant Douglas Ward. And you are not a bad guy. So stop thinking like that."
After her speech Chloe had hugged Grant tight and kept her position until he relaxed and she loosened her hold, but did not release it.
***End flashback***
Feeling a wave of exhaustion hit her, Chloe closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into his embrace.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Next day,
The two teens went to explore the woods some more. Grant had had an inspiration this morning. He explained to Chloe that on his hunts he had seen some cabins. He had proposed to raid them for tools and other stuff they could use to build their own.
Chloe had been reluctant to steal, but definitely saw the use in having better tools than rocks at their disposal. Besides other people had access to cars and such so could easily replace some cheap tools that they needed to survive better.
So after they raided some cabins and got tools and a tent they went back and started to work on their cabin.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Another month later,
Life had indeed become easier for the two teens. Building a cabin was hard work, but they had gotten started on it. Neither of them knew much about cabin building, but bouncing ideas off each other helped. But it was something to occupy them. They still took turns in getting food and water. The later having become easier with actual mugs and water tanks stolen from other cabins.
Chloe and Grant had also gotten closer. Having found a stash of condoms in two of the cabins they had raided, it had proceeded to have intercourse. When they first started they were lucky there had been a deer to eat from and water in a tank since neither of them had left they tent for long.
Of course knowing they had a limited supply of condoms, Chloe had laid out a limit of the number of times they could have sex a week. Something which she had come to hate herself for having set.
Chloe had also raided some books from the cabins. Books were on a variety of subjects, such as romans, trap setting and even one on gun management. Yes they had found a shotgun at one of the cabins along with some cases of bullets. Chloe had again had the level head declared its use to be in emergencies only since they had a limited supply of ammunition.
Still for ending up being alone with some guy in the woods in the middle of nowhere Chloe found herself somewhat content with her life. Sure she missed her family and friends, but she had something she didn't have back home. A partner. Someone who was with her and she got to support as well as be supported by. Still Chloe started to get a feeling something was going to happen. Something was going to change.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Another month later,
Chloe paced inside the cabin. They had it finished enough to live in a week ago.
'Something must have happened? He should have been back by now.' Chloe mind was set with worry for her lover whom had gone on another raid to a new cabin he had spotted in his exploration. It was a bit far off, but he (and Chloe) hoped to find another stash of condoms there since they had run out two weeks ago. The only release they had now was an old-fashioned hand-job or blow-job for Ward and for Chloe it was fingers or his mouth.
While it was something, both yearned for one another to be closer. So this set them to explore further out.
Hearing a sound outside Chloe opened the door of the cabin and rushed to Grant. She immediately knew something was wrong when he fell into her arms causing her to fall to the ground. His larger and heavier body too much for her to carry.
"Grant!" Chloe exclaimed as she began to search his body to see where he was injured. She found a wound in his torso, bleeding profoundly. "No. No. No." Chloe cried as she realized the man she loved had been shot.
"You can't leave me Grant!" She shouted at him, "I love you too much!" tears fell from her eyes, but Chloe didn't notice. One of the tears glowed with power and as it hit Grant Ward's dying form, his body glowed healed itself of anything wrong with it. Chloe meanwhile didn't even realize she had passed out.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Kamar-Taj, same time
The Ancient One was meditating when she felt it. An strange energy emanating from an area she kept her eyes on even since something or someone had breached the wards from another dimension. Pinpointing it to its source the Ancient One got up and opened a portal.
MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV*MAOS*SV
Wilderness, Wyoming, America,
After she exited the portal, the Ancient One took in her surroundings with caution. She spotted two young people unconscious together. Sensing the girl as the source of the strange energy she approached them.
After checking both the vital signs she was surprised to find the male one was strong and healthy, despite the blood he was covered in. She even saw a hole in his shirt indicating he had most likely been shot and injured not too long ago.
The girl however, she was worried for her. He vitals were weak. Despite this her spirit was strong and a strange energy was coursing through her body replenishing it and healing damaged and dead cells.
Hearing the male groan, the Ancient One realized he was regaining consciousness. This girl troubled her. She had somehow breached this dimensions from another. She had apparently healed a dying young man at the expense of her own health. She needed her care. She decided to take the girl with her. She was hesitant to split her up from the young man, but hardened herself in her belief that whatever was going on with the girl needed to be resolved first. She might be dangerous. They could always come back later for the boy.
The Ancient One picked the blonde up and stepped back through her portal towards Kamar-Taj.
Review please