3. Clana?
Clark walked along the side of the rutted dirt track that led to the windmill in the middle of the field. He was glad he hadn't driven out here in his truck. Since the dirt track only led to the windmill, it hadn't been driven on in days, much less cleared of snow and ice and traction appeared to be iffy at best.
Standing at the base of the windmill, Clark used his heat vision to melt the remaining snow and ice off of the ladder before beginning to climb. Once on top he melted the frozen precipitation that remained up there and then looked out toward Metropolis. He remembered the day he had conquered his fear of heights just so Lana could have her wish. He'd always been willing to do anything for Lana…finally tell her the truth to keep her, change the past and lie to save her. All he knew was, he'd do anything to have a chance to save her one last time, this time from Lex.
Clark looked up into the sky and said, "I know there are presents waiting for me at home, along with family and friends, though I still don't know how Lionel Luthor managed to sneak in there, but all I want for Christmas is one chance to make things right with Lana. I admit it, my way was wrong. I surrender. I've messed up with Lana too many times to count, but I swear on the grave of my father that if I get this one last shot, I won't waste it."
With as many wrecks as she had been in, Lana tended to be a cautious driver. Today was no exception. She was happy to discover the roads, even the narrow-shouldered two-lane county roads, had been cleared. Feeling a bit more confident, Lana headed down the road that led to Chandler's field. Once there, the road turned into a dirt track and Lana continued on. She was able to handle the right hand turn just before the windmill, but as she drew close to the windmill itself on the icy dirt track, she found herself unable to stop. She was headed right for the windmill at thirty miles an hour.
Clark had looked up when he saw the car enter the field. He was curious, but figured it was just a Christmas visitor who had gotten lost and needed to get turned around. After all, who'd come to a windmill on Christmas morning? As the car came closer without slowing down, Clark became alarmed and rushed into action. He blurred down the ladder and brought the out of control car to a halt mere inches away from the first support leg of the windmill.
There was a brief moment when he could see the driver, but she couldn't see him since her head had snapped forward and down due to the suddenness of the stop. Clark knew instantly it was Lana. In that moment, he had a choice: disappear and allow her to believe whatever she wanted, or stay and start becoming the man he was meant to be.
Clark chose to stay.
Lana was in shock. She had been sure she was going to hit the windmill, and then the car just stopped like it had hit an invisible wall. She shook her head and began to look up and received another shock, one that was bigger than being stopped and yet, one that was almost expected. She hadn't hit an 'invisible wall,' she had been stopped by a very visible Clark Kent.
Once Clark knew Lana had seen him, as evidenced by her wide eyes and the hand that flew up to cover her mouth in shock, he moved purposefully to her door, silently thanking whoever it was that had granted his wish.
"Hi, Lana," Clark said through the closed door. "Imagine seeing you out here today."
"Uh, yeah, imagine that," she said distractedly.
Clark waited for Lana to unlock her door, then he opened it and held it for her as she climbed out. First off, Lana went to the front of her car to look, only to see the car hadn't been so much as scratched by her latest driving adventure.
Turning back to Clark, and half expecting him to be gone, Lana asked, "Uh, Clark? It's not that I'm not grateful or anything, but…um, how?"
"I…I can do things."
"Things? Such as…?"
Clark held open his arms and asked, "Do you trust me?"
Lana thought that question coming from Clark should have elicited a laugh. Instead, she felt that something was different today. There was no deceit in either Clark's eyes or his voice. She had always trusted him with her life. Today she felt it would be just as safe to trust him in other ways as well.
Lana stepped into Clark's encircling arms and said, "Yes, I do."
"Then wrap your arms around me and hold on tight, Lana," Clark said as he scooped Lana up into the air. "These things are easier to show than to explain."
Once she had settled in, Clark asked, "Ready?"
Lana nodded once, wondering what she had gotten herself into, when suddenly there was a great rush of wind, and they were inside somewhere. It took Lana a second or two to regain her bearings and realize they were in Clark's loft. Clark set her down and said, "I'll be back in a sec," and disappeared.
I've always suspected Clark had great speed, Lana thought, ever since he saved me from Adam. But this is ridiculous.
Clark returned in moments holding a pitcher of cold water, two empty mugs, and a canister of hot chocolate mix.
"What's that for, Clark?"
"Something to help keep you warm while I tell you…everything."
Lana touched the water pitcher and said, "But Clark, the water in there is almost ice cold."
Clark pulled the pitcher out of her reach and stared at it for a few seconds, bringing the water in the pitcher to a rolling boil. "That's what you think," he said, as he carefully measured a serving of powdered mix into each mug and then poured in the water.
Lana was looking to see if Clark had brought spoons to stir the hot chocolate with when he stuck a finger into his and stirred it like nothing could be more natural than to place a finger into boiling water. She was horrified and made a move to yank his hand out of the water before he did some serious damage.
Clark pulled his mug out of her reach and said, while pretending he had no idea what was making her worried, "What? I washed my hands while I was inside, so they're clean. Honest!"
When Lana saw the heat wasn't affecting Clark in the slightest, she punched him on the shoulder for making her worry like that. Clark rubbed his shoulder as if in pain, and said, "What is it with women hitting me on the shoulder all of the time?"
"Oh, there is no way that hurt you, Clark," Lana said. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Clark gave up the pretense of being in pain and said, "That's just another thing I needed to show you. I'm basically invulnerable to physical damage of any kind."
Looking hurt, Lana asked, "Why did you…?"
Clark waved her to silence and replied, "The whys come later, Lana. There aren't really any good reasons why, but I'll tell you all of them anyway. Right now, I have a few more things to show you."
Seeing Clark's yummy-looking hot chocolate, Lana held up her mug hopefully, and said, "Okay, now do me."
Realizing how what she had just said could be taken, Lana's face flushed Christmas red. Clark had caught the curious wording of her request. His expression, for just a moment, said 'Been there, done that, can't wait to go back and do it again.'
Lana saw that moment of unguarded lust and said, "Oh my God! You…you still want me! You still love me!"
Clark couldn't talk, he wasn't even sure he could breathe, all he could do is nod his head 'yes' to complete the surrender begun on top of Chandler's windmill.
