Déjà vu; the feeling of having experience an event before, though it is truly the event has occurred or been observed. Déjà vu; the feeling of having experience an event before, though it is truly the event has occurred or been observed. It is important to explain the precise meaning of this phrase because it is exactly what Tim is experiencing at this very moment. Returning to the dinning room in the wake of both Conner and Clark Tim immediately noticed one very peculiar thing. Of it's own volition (or so it seemed) his plate had made a quick journey across the table from being positioned next to Conner's to being positioned next to Martha, on the other side of the table. Not saying a word however Tim sank into his new chair and witness the second peculiar thing, and the thing that was causing his déjà vu. It appeared as if someone had place a mirror next to Conner where Clark was now currently sitting. The two boys though one slightly larger, were moving in unison. Mirroring each others movements with such precision that if it were not an act the two were defiantly twins.
"Sorry but am I the only one who's seeing this?" Placing his fork down n his plate Tim posed the question looking to Martha and Jonathon for clarification.
"Seeing what Tim?" Having raised his glass to drink Conner lowered it as Clark mirrored the action but did not speak.
"Seriously?" Tim replied hearing no sarcasm in Conner's voice he continued to look between Ma and Pa who were both to their credit keeping miraculously straight faces.
"You sure picked a weird one Con', is he always this incoherent?" This time it was Clark who spoke, raising a fork to his mouth as he did while Conner mirrored the action.
"Not usually…but then I suppose there's a first time for most things."
"…" Tim was stunned. It was yesterday that Conner was threatening Clark with a fist in his face and now they were, civil? Something more was going on here than Tim was aware of and as frustrating as that was he was unsure whether it was the time, or his place to say anything. "…Right…" Returning to his plate Tim sent one final glance around the table. Conner and Clark were eating happily, but their body language still spoke of tension in their surroundings. Pa was enjoying his coffee while eyeing the boys and Ma was plainly smiling into her glass as she took a drink.
"So pa-" Conner began carefully taking Pa's attention from his coffee "What is it that you wanted us to do today exactly?"
"Oh nothing much, nothing you two can't handle. Though I don't think three of us will be all that necessary."
"Great Tim can keep helping me then, god knows I could use the assistance." Following Pa's finish Ma spoke up cutting out the potential for argument completely.
"Awesome…" Conner chirped in happily chewing heavily all the while.
After a little time had passed Tim carefully did the polite thing, helping Ma to clean the table as the men got ready to head out. Having placed the last of the dishes in the kitchen sink Tim took a second to himself stepping out to join Conner on the back porch. Conner at that moment happened to be sitting on the back steps pulling large feet into a pair of well used Wellington boots. Taking a seat next to him Tim smiled back as Conner sent a smile his way before speaking.
"So…you do this every week?"
"Mostly, but then there isn't always work that needs doing. Ma and Pa are good people, but their too old for this to be a fully working farm. A lot of it is managed by hired hands, but between the two of them they will never not be involved."
"That's amazing,. I didn't think places like this still existed, especially so close to such a big city." Smiling lightly Tim watched as the wind danced in the apple trees a little to his right set to a back drop of the cities illuminated skyline.
"Smallville is a little bit of rural Kansas built right into the heart of the city. In truth you can never go for more than twenty miles in any direction in the city without coming across one location that completely different from another. " Smiling Tim nodded before feeling a heavy weight land on his shoulder. Heavy, but not unwelcome. Finding himself drawn in Tim leaned in slightly, precociously allowing Connors warmth to veil him.
"I suppose I should show you all of it sometime, give you a real grand tour."
"That doesn't sound too bad, my own personal tour guide may be nice. So long as you really do know your arse from your ear."
"Well I definitely know the difference between yours." Shit!
As soon as the words left his mouth Conner felt Tim shit, stiffen under his arm and wriggle a little out of his grasp. Metaphorically and literally. Putting a little space between them Tim tried to brush it off as nothing but couldn't escape the apologetic look in Conner's eyes. Noticing as he did, that his inner walls crumbled slightly in defeat.
"Please don't look at me like that." Face held down Tim spoke carefully refusing to maintain the eye contact that they had recently broken.
"Dude, I should be saying sorry. I get kinda touchy feely and I forget some people don' like-"
"No, Conner. It wasn't that, it's just." Well honesty is the best policy right? "It's just that I'm not used to your, unique brand of attention. I'm not usually Mr popular, well not ever actually. I'm usually the loser kid that sits alone waiting to transfer again. I transferred twelve times in the last year, at least. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a little afraid this bubble is going to burst and I'm going to be gone long before you even remember my name." Silence passed between the two boys for a second Tim not wanting to say anymore, Conner thinking harder than he maybe ever had.
"So long story short you're a kid that has a lot of issues including abandonment and commitment as well as a rich daddy and potential to break down at any second?"
"I'm just a ball of fun aint it…"
"No, your hauntingly familiar. You remind me of the boy that stares back out of reflective surfaces and copies my every move." More silence, this time however the roles of the speakers were reversed. Tim engaged in though while Conner compartmentalised his words.
"Don't get all Shakespearian on me farm boy, your not meant for poetry. Or style, not with that outfit at least." At that the tension eased somewhat, Conner and Tim having come to a mutual silent agreement. No commitment of friendship but one none the less.
"So you have jokes now?"
"Are you telling me I have you now?"
A chuckle sounded from behind the two boys as Pa exited the back door with Clark in tow.
"I think I like this one Conner, he nailed you to the barn at least."
Biting back a reply about how Tim nailing him to anything wound never be unpleasant Conner chose the high road. Something he was at one time dumbfounded had nothing to do with marijuana.
"Jealous Clark?" Stone faced Tim stood, turning to Clark and smiled. "Not that I'm not flattered but like I said your not my type." Patting Clark firmly on the shoulder Tim moved past him back into the kitchen and out of sight.
"You like him." Purring gently into Conner's ear an evil grin pressed across his features.
"And you are far to close…" Slowly Conner pushed the invading face away from his own and glared liquid death at the person it belonged to.
"What?" Innocently Clark smiled over at Conner, dancing heavily on the other boys last nerve.
"Do you understand how much I want to kill you a lot of the time?"
"Yes, frankly I revel in annoying you. Pushing your buttons is like crack to me Lady Lips."
"Now now boys we agreed to keep it civil right?" Speaking up for the first time as the boys argument started to decline into something a little more serious than banter.
Nodding in agreement the boys turned away and Pa miles as he swears he hears something along the lines of "Keeping it civil war".
Closing the door behind him with a snap Tim smiled as he felt the warmth of the kitchen wash over him. The aromas in the room washed carefully over him, nutmeg and ginger mixing and settling a nice heat in Tim's abdomen while Martha's humming drifted in from the dinning room.
"Don't worry I want to kill them sometimes too." smiling Ma stepped into the room bringing a few fresh tea towels with her. "Though I suspect they may know exactly how to make me want to kill them." Grinning wider Ma indicated Tim to come closer. "I think we'll start with tea and a chat, how's that for you?"
"Amazing." Smiling in return Tim moved across the room towards the kettle without having been asked.
Crinkling her nose with a smile at the action Martha cocked her head to the side reviewing the boy in front of her.
While Tim pottered around the kettle Martha cleared her throat and prepared to speak. "So from your reaction earlier it can be assumed that you've seen Conner and Clark interact before." Spoken as a statement Tim turned from the kettle as Martha continued. "Well if I'm honest it for my benefit that they didn't argue at the table."
"I'll admit I was confused, but since they both seemed civil I didn't think it was my place to say anything about it.."
Laughing softly Martha fixed Tim with a look and a smile. "How are you so polite?" Smiling and giggling again while not expecting an answer Martha continued on with her explanation. "Well back to the point, as I said its for my benefit they don't argue. We have a rule in this house that were all civil to each other while under this roof and we all respect that rule. Conner and Clark a lot of the time have some very nasty things to say to or about one another and I won't stand to see two people I love argue like that."
Its not a lot I'll admit but I've been really busy at the minute so I'm giving you what I have. I feel like I owe you guys something and am posting this, its not the end I'm just not feeling the story very much. When I get more inspiration I will defo update but until then enjoy and again sorry about the length.
