"Success!" I exclaimed to Kara as I entered the kitchen. "The Man of Steel is fully prepped for takeoff. Well, maybe not," I amended after a few moments. "But I've made significant progress. I put doubts about Lana in his head, and gave him a bare-bones explanation of his destiny. My groundwork is laid."
Kara smiled. "Well, if you've even gotten him to doubt Lana, you've had more success at this than anybody but Lana herself." I grinned. "Tell me about it. Listen, Kara, is Chloe at the Talon? I should probably explain the full details of... well, the future... to her in case I get yanked out of here before my job's completely finished." Kara nodded. "She lives there, yes, but I don't think she'll be home from Metropolis yet. I could go over there with you. If I'm with you, Lois might actually let you in to wait for her." "Thanks, Kara."
Thirty seconds later, we were standing outside the Talon apartment. "Whoa. Little warning would be nice next time, Kara," I gasped. "You just broke about six laws of physics, carrying me with you." She shrugged and grinned. "Rules were made to be broken," she said cheekily and knocked on the door to the apartment.
After a few moments I heard a familiar voice call, "Who is it?" "Hi Lois, it's Kara. We were wondering if we could wait here for Chloe to get home." "Sure, hang on a sec," Lois said.
When Lois opened the door, I had to try very hard not to stare. I had caught a glimpse of her the other day, but I'd been too preoccupied choking on my coffee to notice how... how TALL she was! I mean, at five foot nine, I tended to tower above most girls. Lois Lane, however, had turned the tables on me. She had to be six feet tall! Ah well. That would just make it easier for her to stand up to the most powerful man on earth. God help Kal-El...
"Hi Kara," Lois said. "Who's your friend?" "I'm Dianne Morton," I explained. "I'm a... um... friend of Clark's." Was it just me, or was there a faint flash of jealousy in her eyes at my wording? "I'm from out of town. My parents were... killed... in an accident and Clark's been good enough to offer me a place to stay until I can find a job and a place of my own."
Lois nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. "That's Clark. You know, I don't understand him. He'll open his home to any random stray who shows up on his doorstep. No offense to you two..." she hurried to add. "So Kara, you said you wanted to see Chloe? She's not here, but you can come in and wait for her if you want." "Thanks Lois," Kara said.
Lois ushered us into the apartment and opened her mouth to say something more, when her cell phone rang. She hastened to answer it and held a few minutes conversation. When she hung up, she was beaming. "This might be just the break I've been looking for!" she exclaimed.
"What story are you working on?" I asked casually. "How did you know I'm a reporter?" she asked suspiciously. Oh. Crap. Life Lesson #10: If there is anything suspicious or out of place to find, Lois Lane will find it. Don't give her anything!
"Clark mentioned that you'd gone to work for the Daily Planet," I said quickly. "Really?" I nodded. "He talks about you a lot." There was a strange look on Lois's face as I said that. Pressing my advantage, I continued; "In fact, the only person he talks about more is Lana." There it was again, that flash of jealous possessiveness, only more distinctly this time.
Lois forced a smile and pretended to look faintly disinterested. "Good to know," she said blandly, nodding. And then she picked up her purse, slipped her cell phone in her pocket, and walked out the door, pausing just a moment to look over her shoulder and call back, "Tell Chloe I got a lead on bringing down Luthor, and I'll be back in a few hours!"
As the door shut, I turned to Kara, who was staring at me in what I can only describe as shocked admiration. "How do you do that?" she asked. "Just wrap people around your finger with a few words? Just... play with peoples heads like it's nothing? I can't make people think anything."I shrugged.
"I think it's because I was orphaned so young. Before that, I had it pretty easy. But then in one night, I was shoved out into the world with no one to care for me. I had to make my own way, take care of myself. I was only six years old, and I couldn't take care of myself physically, so I had to make myself heard through my words. I had to be able to defend myself by completely disarming the other person before they could do something to me. But who knows? Maybe it's genetic," I said.
At that moment, Chloe came bustling through the door. She stopped dead at the sight of us sitting there. "Oh. Hi. I didn't, um, expect to see you guys so soon."
"Hi, Chloe. Well, the first round in the Clark-Dianne battle-of-the-wills deathmatch is over, and I thought I'd let you know how it went. And fill you in on some of the details for what the future holds for our dear friend."
Three cups of Chloe's terrible coffee and an hour later, I had given Chloe as much information as I could about Clark's future.
"Seriously? I'm never mentioned in any of the old comic books? How bogus is that?!" Chloe exclaimed. I shrugged. "Well, you know, there are compensations. Brainiac can't touch you. If it ever comes to it that he tries to do to you what he's going to do to Lana, it'll nearly kill him. You're the only human being that would stand a chance against him."
Chloe grinned wryly. "This is officially the weirdest conversation I have ever had," she said. "Well, I'm honored," I said. "You've had some really bizarre conversations in the past." Kara laughed. "Yeah, I can think of a few!"
"Oh yeah, you're a fine one to talk," I giggled. "What about 'That's what happens when you touch my stuff?' As I recall you knocked Lois out and punched Clark in the face." Kara shrugged sheepishly. "How could I know how much time had passed? I was in stasis."
"I have to say though, I think your little chat with Clark this morning takes the cake for most random conversation," Chloe said. " 'My bank doesn't allow trans-dimensional withdrawals?' What the hell kind of line is that?" "A good one!" I pouted for a few seconds, and then the three of us burst simultaneously into laughter.
It was several minutes before we could calm ourselves down enough to talk sensibly. "God, Dianne, you're the best thing to crash into Smallville since Lois!" Chloe said, still chortling. "Oh, and what am I? Diced hrakka meat?" Kara exclaimed. Chloe looked at her. "Well, technically, you crash landed at the same time as Clark, almost fourteen years before Lois first visited Smallville." Kara rolled her eyes. "Okay, now this is weird!" I said, and we dissolved into laughter again.
"By the way, what story is it that Lois's working on?" I asked, drawing deep, steadying breaths. Chloe sighed. "Ever since I got fired from my job at the Planet, she's been determined to bring Luthor down. It's become a serious personal vendetta for her; she's obsessed. I don't know how she does it and still manages to work on her regular assignments. She's dug up some really crazy stuff. I mean, stuff I wouldn't believe even Lex is capable of! But she's been having a hard time finding proof."
I nodded. This was Smallville. I knew how it'd play out; Lex would find out that Lois was investigating, the evidence would get buried even deeper, Lois would do something rash and stupid to get to the bottom of it... Oh well. So long as she didn't get herself killed...
Suddenly, Kara became very still. "Oh wow..." she whispered. "What is it? What do you hear?" Kara held up her hand for silence, then after a moment, her face relaxed from it's focused, concentrated look. "Wow. I haven't heard Lana shriek like that... ever," she said. "What? What's going on?" Chloe asked.
"Clark and Lana are right in the middle of a massive fight. Something about that whole Bizarro mess again," Kara explained. Chloe and I looked at each other. "Should we be terribly sad that our friends are on the outs again, or should we be overjoyed that the hard part is probably over?" she asked seriously. "Somewhere in between?" I suggested. "I don't know. How about you be sad and I'll be happy?" Kara bit back a smile.
Chloe assumed the appropriate expression of deep concern, while I leapt up, danced to where Kara was sitting, and screamed "Woo-hoo!" Kara held up her hand in the universal gesture for a high five, and I slapped her palm.
"Ow!" we shouted simultaneously. "Wait, that hurt you too?" I asked, surprised. Shaking her hand, Kara nodded. "What the hell, Dianne?" I shrugged. "Beats me. This is Smallville, I guess. Weird shit happens." Chloe was giving me a strange look. I held up my hands in a surrender. "I don't know. Maybe there's a solar flare? Last time that happened Clark was messed up for a week."
Kara and Chloe quickly forgot the incident, but it continued to lurk in the back of my mind. What had happened? It didn't seem likely that a random solar flare had caused Kara's pain. I kept flashing through the events of the past few days, wondering what it could be that had caused this.
Shortly thereafter, Lois arrived, and joined Kara in bashing Chloe's coffee. After a quarter of an hour of 'eats out the bottom of the pot' jokes, I couldn't take it any more. "Hey Kara? Do you suppose the coast is clear to... um... go back to the farm? Or are we still unwelcome and unwanted?" I said loudly.
Kara's brow furrowed, and then she said, "Probably, yeah." "What's up at the Kent residence?" Lois asked. "Kara spend too much time making out with Jimmy and not enough time milking the cows?" There was a moment of silence during which Lois seemed to realize what she had said and who she was with.
Life Lesson #11: Okay, so maybe there's somebody who puts their foot in their mouth more than I do.
"Oh, crap you guys, I'm sorry. That was really... tactless." Kara looked awkward, Chloe looked miserable, and Lois looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her. I thought it looked like it was time for me to step in and try and save this situation.
"Actually, Lois, Clark and Lana have been duking it out over something. The farm is a regular war zone," I said. Was it just me or did Lois look a little... hopeful? Whatever it had been, the expression had crossed her face too quickly for me to be sure.
"Well anyway, it's probably safe to say that we can go home without pushing the big red button, so I guess Kara and I should get going." I shot a look at Chloe. "Oh... um, do you guys mind if I tag along?" she asked, "I mean... Clark usually needs a confidante after he's been on the receiving end of Lana's cool fury." I nodded.
"Although..." Kara volunteered, "If what I... we... overheard earlier is anything to go by, 'cool fury' isn't exactly the way I'd put it." Playing it up for Lois... brilliant move Kara. God, I would have bet my life's savings on Kara in a game of chess. "Yeah," I said, working with her. "It really was more like 'So You Think You Can Yell?' sudden death round."
There was that same flash of unconscious happiness that passed across Lois's face as I said that. "Well, enough gossiping about the rocky relationships around us," Lois said. "We're going to go over there. Right now."
"We?" Chloe said, raising one eyebrow. "Yes, 'we'," Lois said hotly. "Clark was there for me after my final split with Oliver. The very least I can do is try and pick up the pieces, if this is as big a mess as you say." And with that, she left the apartment.
I turned to Kara. "We-ell, look who's picked up some tricks..." I said slowly. Kara nodded, a small smile crossing her face. "Chloe, I think you'd probably better handle Lana, and we're leaving Clark to Lois. Kara and I will be here to back you two up if you need it." Chloe nodded.
We reached the curb just as Lois was about to pull away, and managed to catch her attention and pile into the car before she left.
When we reached the farm, Lois made a beeline for the barn, while Chloe walked toward the house. I glanced at Kara. "Which conversation do you want to eavesdrop on?" I asked. "Honestly? As much as I'd like to know how Kal-El's doing, I have a feeling Lana's side of this may be much more interesting," she said. "Suit yourself. Personally, I'm spying on Clark."
Kara made her way up to the house, and I followed Lois toward the barn. Careful to remain absolutely silent, I slipped into the barn and crouched beneath the stairs, listening.
"She's leaving. She went inside to pack her stuff." Clark's voice didn't sound sad; it was as though he was simply very tired. "What did you guys fight about?" Lois asked softly.
Clark sighed. "It started out about something really stupid, but I guess a lot of the things we've both been thinking for a long time just... boiled over. She doesn't trust me, she's halfway in love with someone else... and I just don't know anymore how I really feel about her." "What do you mean?" Lois asked, deep concern in her voice.
"It's just... something Dianne said got me thinking. About Lana, about the direction my life is taking. And I think maybe I don't like the person I am around Lana too well. I want so much to be with her, to love her... but at the same time there's just something--" He broke off, grasping for words. "Just something missing," Lois whispered. "I know. You just want it to work so badly, because they're just so, so right for you, but there's just something wrong. It's like it's just not meant to be."
Clark sniffed. I was pretty sure he was crying. "Exactly," he said, his voice breaking. There was a soft rustle. Oh god, this was torture. Nobody was talking; how was I supposed to know what was going on? Throwing caution to the winds, I emerged from underneath the stairs and peeked over the edge of the loft. Lois had caught Clark up in a tight hug, and he was crying silently into her shoulder.
Before either of them could see me, I ducked down out of sight and made my way to the house. I reached the door just in time for Lana to barge past me, a suitcase in each hand. As I moved to catch the door before it slammed, Lana whirled to face me.
"This is all your fault!" she hissed furiously. 'Everything was just fine before you showed up. Then you had to go and put ideas in his head. I swear to god you'll pay for this Dianne whatever-your-name-is." I looked askance at her, then slipped inside the house. Lana's rage didn't bother me. I'd never had a whole lot of respect for her, anyway.
Kara and Chloe were sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the door- and, consequently, me. I shrugged. "It's got to get worse before it gets better?" I said apologetically. "Well, I left Clark sobbing in Lois's arms, but I couldn't gather much from their conversation. What exactly was the topic of the argument?"
"Oh, it started out as another 'Lana likes Bizarro better' argument, but I guess Clark had a Red K moment, because he just started freaking out and actually letting his feelings out for once. I guess it just pushed Lana past the point she could bear. She's going to stay with Nell in Metropolis," Chloe said. "Great. Just peachy-keen," I groaned. I had wanted to separate Clark and Lana, but I didn't do well with massive amounts of emotional tension.
Chloe and Kara looked about as miserable as I felt. Even if I didn't particularly like Lana, her words had some truth to them, and it stung. If I hadn't spoken to Clark this morning, then maybe this wouldn't have happened. But then, it had to happen. And it was better for Lana if she left sooner rather than later. The longer they had been apart by the time Brainiac showed up, the better. But I still felt this horrible guilt for causing Clark so much pain...
I felt like kicking something. The closest available target was the kitchen peninsula. I drew back my foot and kicked the wood as hard as I could. It shattered. Splinters of wood flew in every direction, and the door of one of the cabinets dropped off.
I felt my eyes widen, and my hand flew to my mouth. "Holy crap," I whispered. Chloe and Kara were staring at me. I glanced from their shocked faces to the massive hole I had just made in the baseboard.
And without another word, I ran out of the house, just as I had the day before back in Chicago. I pounded through the yard, down the driveway, and on down the road. I kept running and didn't look back. I don't know how long I ran, tears running down my face, the occasional handful of March rain tossing itself in my face, but finally I stopped, and sank to my knees underneath a gigantic maple tree.
This was it. I'd blown it. They wouldn't want me around anymore. I'd been thrown out of foster homes for far less than trashing a kitchen.
And speaking of which, what the hell? How had that happened? I closed my eyes, racking my brain yet again for something, anything, which could explain this. And then the memory surfaced...
"Alright, Dorothy's ready to be zapped off to Oz now," I said.
Mystery Dude smiled. "No, no she's not, quite." He placed his palm on my solar plexus. "I AM sorry, Dianne, but this is going to hurt. A lot." "What--?" I managed. And then the world was on fire.
Oh god. Had Mystery Dude done something to me when he touched me? Right before he sent me here? I had always wanted superpowers, but this was just... not was I bargained for. I sighed. Life in Smallville was a hell of a lot more complicated than I'd expected.
I knew Clark too well to think he'd actually kick me out. What had I been thinking? He might be pretty peeved, but I'd still have a place to stay. And with that thought, I stood up and began walking back in the direction I'd come from.
A Note from Lara: Okay, maybe there were too many disparate thoughts in that, too many events tied together, but I had a lot to get accomplished in this chapter, and I'm somewhat pressed for time today.
And yes, I did give Dianne superstrength. Plus... No, telling you that would be spoiling it. I suppose there are going to be some of you who think that this is a mistake. However, I have some very good reasons for doing it, so don't bash it too hard in your reviews, please.
Thanks for taking the time to read my work, and check in with my story soon. I've got something really shocking and horrible planned in the next three chapters or so... chuckles evilly
