03/25/08

I don't know why this story hasn't appeared on the comic's page yet but hopefully it will now that I'm updating it even though I said I wouldn't because I should be working on all my homework... stupid homework...

This chapter is for MaryAna, even though I'm not sure if she's done reading BG yet, because it's her Birthday! Happy Birthday MaryAna, and thanks for all the comments so far on Broken Gears.

Chapter 2

It was the second month of Clark's relationship with Brainy and Clark was beginning to find it just as hard to be with Brainy then to be without him. It wasn't that Brainy was hard to live with or that they argued or even that when they were in the same time period they didn't spend enough time together.

The truth of the matter was that the reason it was hard for Clark to be around Brainy was completely Clark's own fault. In fact, he was even ashamed of it, feeling like he had violated Brainy's trust.

To be say it point blank Clark was- He couldn't even say it point blank! His feelings for Brainy were escalating to the point he was finding them hard to control, especially in moments they were alone. Even more so in moments they were physically close. He was, he was…

He was lusting over Brainy.

One part of Clark argued that it was completely natural to, to have those sorts of feelings towards Brainy. He was in love with Brainy and, obviously, found him attractive. It was only a matter of time before these things happened.

The other part of Clark was horrified by how flat out wrong these feelings were. He knew that Brainy was young, far too young for such things if you looked at his Coluan age. Plus Coluan traditions had lots of restrictions on touch. There could only be more on such, huh- a passionate sort of touching?

Then there were the issues with Clark himself. He was strong, too strong. He could loose control and hurt Brainy. He could never forgive himself for hurting Brainy, especially while doing something that was supposed to show how much he loved him.

It was better, all around, for Clark to keep his feelings towards Brainy platonic. To refrain himself from giving into his urges.

Of course this was easier said then done. After his first week of being away from Brainy, he never wanted to let him go, especially after their first real kiss they shared the morning after his arrival back. He found himself holding kisses longer, holding Brainy closer, touching him just to feel him and watching him.

Clark began paying more attention to the way Brainy moved. The way he walked normally versus the way he walked while reading or when talking to someone or rushing towards a mission. The way his hands held even a fork as if it was a tool that needed to be treated with respect or an actual tool as if it was his partner in creation along with pride and gentleness when he held a finished invention. The way he stood still.

There had never been a worse time to have x-ray vision. He had been tempted, for a moment, once before to use it to see Brainy but he had instantly thrown the idea away in shame. Little by little the shame was ebbing away as his desire grew but he had kept the desire at bay, at least for now.

The other day when Brainy had smiled at him from across the room Clark had to use all his will power to keep from running from the room and keeping himself from speeding across the room to press Brainy against the wall and, and do things that he couldn't do, especially not in front of the others.

Now Clark was in the past again, working in Metropolis at the Daily Planet as a copy boy during the week and running back to Smallville during the weekend to help out on the farm. His Metropolis apartment still felt like a hotel room that he couldn't mess up and his room back at the farm still lacked what it needed to make him feel at home again. He loved his folks and couldn't imagine never seeing them again but it pained him to think that he could walk around both of his 'homes' in the past and not find any trace of Brainy except the pillow that carried Brainy's smell and the thing he was embarrassed to admit he had. It seemed like his life would be forever divided.

Friday evening, after his work was done at the Daily Planet, Clark ran back to Smallville, surprised to find the light in the barn still on. He went there before going to the house to see if his Pa needed help.

Walking in, Clark heard work being done to the tractor on the other side of the room. He carefully put his stuff, including the Brainy pillow, on his jacket on the workbench before sneaking over to the tractor. Taking hold of the wheel, he steadied himself to pull himself onto the seat and surprise Pa.

"Hi-" began Clark, pulling himself onto the seat but his voice trailed off when he saw who it was.

Working on the engine, with his hair tied back in a small ponytail and oil splattered all over him, including a big spot on his cheek, was Brainy. He looked up in half surprise before smiling.

"Hello."

Why couldn't I have walked around, seen him in advance and said something cool instead of jumping out of nowhere like a dork? Clark asked himself feeling his lip twitch in an attempt to smile.

"Brainy…"

"Clark," said Brainy.

Stupid, Clark mentally shouted imagining himself hitting his head through a wall.

"What're doing here?"

"I believe I was invited to dinner," said Brainy.

Duh, Clark's inner voice smacked him.

"I'm sorry Brainy, I didn't remember that you were coming."

Jerk, the voice kicked his head.

"We didn't actually set a time," said Brainy. "I just know myself well enough that if we had set a day I would have over thought the entire situation and not come. I figured once I was here that escape from a possibly awkward situation would be more difficult. I apologize if my arrival at this time was inconvenient."

After blinking a few times, Clark smiled.

"You're always welcomed here Brainy."

Sliding down from the seat, Clark kneeled down near the gas and break paddles and leaned down so he could kiss Brainy's lips. He almost regretted it when he pulled away, not only because the kiss was short due to his awkward position but, because he now had a closer view of Brainy's face and his newly exposed neck. Looking at the usually hidden flesh, he was suddenly finding it difficult to swallow.

"You're parents are interesting people," said Brainy.

Clark blinked.

"Huh?"

"You're mother hugged me when she answered the door," explained Brainy. "And when I offered to fix the engine she came up from behind me and did this." He suggested towards his hair. "And your father kept watching me as if expected me to explode." He held up a wench. "I've been using these tools so not to scare him with mine."

Though Clark knew Brainy was referring to how his fingers could change into tools, Clark couldn't help but think it sounded dirty. He blamed it on conversations with Lightning Lad but he could only blame himself for blushing.

"Are you alright Clark?" asked Brainy.

"F-fine," squeaked Clark. He cleared his throat. "I hope my folks haven't been," he tried to think of a good word, "annoying you too much."

"No, they seem very nice," said Brainy, looking away. He began working on the engine again.

Clark watched Brainy a moment before getting down from the tractor on Brainy's side and reaching out to him.

Seeing him, Brainy took a step back.

"Clark, you're just going to get yourself dirty."

"It's worth it," said Clark, catching Brainy and hugging him.

Brainy blinked and then returned the gesture.

"If you're mom yells at us it's your fault."

Clark laughed.

"Clark Kent, what did you do to your work clothes?" asked Ma Kent when Clark and Brainy walked into the house.

"Hugged Brainy," grinned Clark.

"Couldn't wait two seconds for him to get clean, just like your father," sighed Ma Kent, brushing back Clark's hair. "Go change and wash up in the kitchen. Dinner will be ready soon. I'll get you a towel, Brainy, so you can take a shower."

Clark nearly fell over.

After changing Clark walked out of his room and could hear the shower going. He swallowed and looked away from the door before he could be tempted and rushed downstairs.

"How was work, Clark?" asked Pa Kent when he spotted Clark.

"Same as last week Pa, but Mr. White almost got my name right last Tuesday," said Clark, trying very hard not to think of what was upstairs.

"I don't see how Clark is a hard name to remember," said Ma Kent, putting the plates on the table.

"I actually think he's trying to remember 'Kent' Ma," said Clark, smiling.

"I don't see how Kent is a hard name to remember either," said Ma Kent. "Clark, do you know why Brainy said he didn't need a change of clothes?"

Unable to help it, Clark's face heated up and he rushed over to the sink to hide it

"H-his clothes are self cleaning."

"How does that work?" asked Pa Kent.

"I don't really know," said Clark. "I know micro technology is interwoven with the clothe but I didn't understand how it worked when he tried explaining it to me."

"Wouldn't it be uncomfortable?" asked Ma Kent.

"It feels just like regular clothe," commented Clark.

"And how would you know that son?" asked Pa Kent.

"Jonathon," scolded Ma Kent seeing Clark stiffen at the question.

"What? I didn't even think those clothes could come off. They look attached," said Pa Kent.

"In a way they are," commented Brainy coming into the room, clean and hair back to being down. "The technology in my suit adheres to my skin so I never have to worry about it catching on something or ripping. It also grows as I do and the technology, in a sense, has to be turned off in order to be removed."

"Is that one of your inventions?" asked Pa Kent.

"No, my people created it about a generation before I was born," said Brainy.

"Amazing," said Ma Kent. "Clark, hurry up and wash your hands so we can get started. Brainy, I hope you like spaghetti."

"I don't believe I've ever had it before," commented Brainy.

"Well, you're in for a treat then," said Pa Kent, grinning.

Dinner that night had been one of the liveliest meals the Kent household had ever seen since the time Clark was younger.

It began when Brainy wasn't sure how he was supposed to eat spaghetti and Pa Kent thought it would be funny to tell Brainy to use his spoon. Not only did Ma Kent scold him but Pa Kent thought it was hilarious, and was impressed, when Brainy succeeded in using his spoon in a previously thought impossible task.

Then there was the numerous questions being thrown back and forth. Brainy wanted to know more about the culture of what he viewed to be 'ancient' Smallville, Kansas and Clark's folks wanted to know about the future. Ma Kent would start up stories about the fairs that came to visit, the local family farms and historical events while Pa Kent would talk about competitions and the local architecture. Ma Kent would find it cute, while Pa Kent tried not to laugh, whenever Brainy didn't understand a cultural reference or term. Brainy, in turn, tried to answer what he could but still had to keep most of the things they wanted to know in the future where they belonged.

Then began the ever embarrassing stories of when Clark was little. Both Ma and Pa Kent seemed to immensely enjoy telling these stories and with such enthusiasm that was pretty rare for them. Clark figured it was because they had never been able to tell anyone these stories before.

"When Clark was five he lifted the tractor single handedly!"

"When Clark first started to develop super strength he tried to put me to bed."

"When Clark was three he broke a plate by yawning on it!"

"When Clark was seven he cried for a whole day when he accidentally hugged the fluff out of his teddy bear."

Clark was torn between wanting to dig himself a hole and burying himself in it and trying to let his folks enjoy what most parents got to do on a regular basis. And he had to consider the fact that Brainy seemed to enjoy it, but he nearly dove under the table at the story when he was two and refused to wear clothes for a week.

"Has Clark always eaten a lot or did it develop when his powers did?" asked Brainy just as Clark was helping himself to a fifth helping of spaghetti and a third helping of green beans.

"Are you saying I eat like a pig?" asked Clark.

"Of course not. Compared to some species you eat like a rabbit. I was just wondering if your appetite was based on normal kryptonian genes or if it was influenced by being under a yellow sun," said Brainy.

"I don't know what a kryptonian is but his appetite went up at the same time as his strength," said Pa Kent.

After the main meal they had a choice between pumpkin or pecan pie.

Never having either one before Brainy chose pecan thinking that the nuts would give it some nutritional value. His eyes went wide for a moment after the first bite.

"I have the feeling Bouncing Boy would love this."

"That other boy that came here with you and that lovely young lady?" asked Ma Kent. "If you think your friends would like it I can make another one for Clark to take back with him next weekend."

"That's very kind of you, Mrs. Kent, but Bouncing Boy could probably eat the entire pie himself and there are usually eight of us living at headquarters at one time. Plus I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," said Brainy.

"I enjoy making pies Brainy, it's no inconvenience at all," said Ma Kent. "And call me, Martha."

As the pies disappeared and the hour became late Martha turned to Brainy.

"You are staying the night, of course."

Brainy looked surprised at this.

"I am?"

"Well we can't let you go running off to the future in the middle of the night," commented Martha.

"It's not even ten yet, Martha," Jonathon gently told his wife.

"He's staying and that's settled," said Martha. She turned to Brainy. "You can borrow some of Clark's old pajamas."

"Martha, they'd fall right off him," said Jonathon.

Clark both choked and laughed at the same time.

"Oh hush," said Martha to her husband, smiling fondly at him.

The truth of the matter was that Clark's pajamas were very close to falling off of Brainy even when he stood still. He had to tie the pants string as tight as the string would go and hold he pajama shirt to him even though they were buttoned all the way up.

"Thank goodness I'm not expected to jog or anything in this."

"You'd trip on how long the legs are," joked Clark, trying to concentrate on the floor by Brainy's feet instead of staring at him.

"Wouldn't that be fun," joked back Brainy.

"Only if you didn't fall," said Clark, turning off the lights. They crawled in to the bed and he pulled Brainy to him. "Thanks for tolerating all my folk's questions."

"They answered my questions, it only seemed fair," said Brainy. "And don't worry, I'll keep 'Naked Boy' to myself."

Clark laughed to cover up how embarrassed he was and to keep himself from saying any of the lousy one liners that would have been Lightning Lad worthy.

"And your parents are nice," said Brainy. "Are all parents like that?"

At first Clark wanted to say that most were, but then remembered that Brainy never really knew his parents. He kissed Brainy's forehead.

"All parents are different, but all the ones I've met are the same in the love of embarrassing their kids."

"I wonder what kind of stories Lightning Lad's parents would have," said Brainy, causing Clark to laugh again.