Chapter 7
Two Days Later- Luthor Mansion
"So you rob banks now?" Clark asked as he walked into Lex's study, tossing a copy of the Smallville Ledger onto the older man's desk.
"Apparently so, but the three hundred people I was entertaining in Metropolis at the time might disagree. I hear that you saw what happened." Lex said, and Clark nodded.
"Yeah, and whoever the person I saw was, they looked exactly like you."
"Well now I'm really embarrassed. Someone tries to impersonate me and they only steal five hundred thousand dollars? The least they could do was make it an even million." He joked, and Clark laughed, accepting the bottle of water his friend offered him.
"So, Natasha Romanoff." Lex said a few minutes later as they started a game of pool.
"I have to admit Clark, if you had to find someone besides Lana-"
"Just stop Lex. There is nothing going on between Natasha Romanoff and I."
"Of course not. But you want there to be."
"You're delusional. Now, if you'll excuse me I have some stuff I have to do." He told his friend before walking out the door.
Lex just smiled as he watched his friend leave. Clark's denial had confirmed what he already suspected. He and Natasha were more than teacher and student. Which meant that it was likely that the young woman knew the secret to what had really happened on the bridge three months ago.
"Thompson, I have a job for you. I need you to find an imposter for me."
Smallville High-The Following Day
"Okay, does anybody else find that the least bit creepy?" Chloe asked, and Clark and Pete looked over to see Tina Greer looking like she was trying to be Lana's clone. She was wearing the same shirt and jeans, and she had even gotten colored contacts so that she had Lana's brown eyes as opposed to her own natural green.
"Tina passed creepy a long time ago Chloe. Right now, I think she's graduated to full blown stalker. I guess you've got some competition for Lana's affection's Clark." Pete said, and Chloe snorted.
"Somehow I don't think Clark has a problem with that. Now if you'll excuse, I need to get away from this freakshow." She said before heading to the Torch office.
"Okay, what's up with you two?" Pete asked, and Clark shook his head.
"I have no idea Pete."
"Well you better find out, because I'm not going to spend the next several months with my two best friends fighting." Pete replied, and Clark just nodded before racing after his oldest friend.
"Chloe! CHLOE!"
"Go away Clark." She told him, not bothering to turn around or even slow her steps.
"Not until you tell me what's going on. We've been best friends since we were eight years old, and then out of nowhere you're giving me the cold shoulder."
"Well maybe I wouldn't be if you weren't so...You know what never mind! Come talk to me when you've figured it out." She told him before walking into the Torch office, slamming the door behind her.
"What's on your mind Clark?" Natasha asked as soon as he walked into her office.
"Why do you think something's on my mind? I can't just want to stop by and say hello to my best friend?" He asked, and she smiled.
"You could, but that's not the only reason. Now what's on your mind Clark?" She asked again as he walked in and sat down in the chair across from her.
"A few things actually. For starter's I think Lex suspects something is going on between us."
At Natasha's raised eyebrow he elaborated.
"He made a comment that if I had to find someone besides Lana..." He trailed off, and Natasha just nodded.
"I told him he was delusional. I couldn't very well tell him the truth." Clark said, and Natasha smiled. It was the first time either of them had spoken of their feelings and desires aloud, and even though neither of them were ready to act on them, Natasha was grateful to know that they were real.
"No, you couldn't. Now I don't think I'm wrong in saying that while both of us want something besides friendship, neither one of us are ready to act on our feelings." She said, and Clark smiled, nodding his head in confirmation.
"When we do at on them, it will be because we're ready, not because of what someone assumes. However, I think you need to be careful around Lex. When I was with SHIELD I heard things about the Luthor's. We could never find any proof, but there was a strong suspicion that Lionel and possibly Lex were involved with some less than pleasant people."
"Such as?"
"Some former KGB commanders, Hydra, several terrorist groups. But as I said we could never find any proof other than some mysterious financial records. Then with everything that happened with Hydra, the Chitari and everything else the Luthor's were deemed a secondary priority. Just be careful what you tell Lex Clark. If anything happened to you..."
"Hey, nothing's going to happen. I'm pretty hard to kill." He replied, and she just nodded.
"In other news, Chloe isn't talking to me." He said before proceeding to tell his friend exactly what had happened between him and Chloe.
"I think I might be the reason for that."
"How do you figure that?" He asked, and Natasha just sighed before telling him about the conversation she had with Chloe a few days earlier. Clark listened in silence, the only sign of his growing anger being his fists clenching at his sides. When Natasha had told him everything he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
"I'm sorry. She had no right to say any of that. You know she's wrong don't you?" He asked, and Natasha smiled.
"I do. But I don't think you need to be too hard on her Clark."
Natasha couldn't help but laugh at the bewildered expression that crossed her best friend's face.
"What's so funny?" He asked once her laughter had subsided.
"You can see through walls, but you can't see what's right in front of your face. Chloe's jealous Clark! She's jealous of the fact that you and I are so close. She's jealous of the fact that you have feelings for me."
"What?! That's not possible! I mean, it's Chloe! She's like the younger sister I never had. I couldn't think about her the way I think about you."
"You're telling me you have never once seen Chloe as anything besides a sister or a friend? You've never once given her the impression that the two of you could be anything more?"
"No! Except..."
Clark's voice trailed off, Natasha resisting the urge to press him for answers. If Clark actually did have feelings for Chloe, and he chose to act on those instead of his feelings for her, Natasha knew it would hurt. It would do more than hurt. It would break her heart. But Natasha also knew that more than anything else, she wanted Clark to be happy. Even if he wasn't happy with her.
"When we met, Chloe and I were eight year's old. We were in my loft, and she kissed me. She told me that we could get it out of the way, and get on with being best friend's. Nothing has happened since then, and I've moved on." He said, giving Natasha a soft smile, which she returned.
"But it's obvious that she hasn't. You need to talk to her, and you need to remind her that she is still important to you."
"Thank you Natasha. Before I go do that, there is one other thing. On my way over to talk to you, I looked into Tina Greer's locker."
"Pete's comment made you suspicious?" Natasha asked, and Clark nodded.
"I saw the money from the robbery. And when I saw Lex's double, I looked at his skeleton. It was glowing green. Now I can't know unless I look at her skeleton, but it looks like Tina could be behind it."
"Okay. Once school get's out, I'm going to follow her. I'll call you when she stops and then we'll take her down."
"Alright. I'll wait for your call." He replied, standing up and embracing her before walking out of the office. For now, Tina could wait. He had to talk to Chloe.
The Torch- Ten Minutes Later
"Knock, knock." Clark said as he walked into the Torch where he found Chloe hard at work on the next day's edition.
"I told you Clark-"
"To come talk to you when I figured it out. Well I figured out what was bothering you Chloe."
"Oh? Please, enlighten me." She replied, not bothering to look up from her computer screen.
"You're jealous because I have feelings for Natasha." He replied, and Chloe glared but still didn't look up from her screen.
"You told me when we were eight years old that you wanted to get it over with and get on with being best friends."
"Get out." She replied softly, still not looking up from her screen.
"Chloe-"
"GET OUT! Go back to Agent Romanoff, and tell her she doesn't have anything to worry about! I'm done trying to get through to you. Just don't come crying to me when she stabs you in the back." Chloe finished, and Clark glared before he walked out of the Torch. He didn't want to lose Chloe's friendship, but now obviously wasn't the time to talk to her. And her comment's about Natasha were completely uncalled for.
The rest of the day was miserable, and when Natasha called him a few minutes after school ended, Clark was relieved. Now he had something to focus on besides his fight with Chloe.
"Well that was fast." He said when he answered his phone.
"Not really. There's no sign of Tina anywhere. She never left the building. At least, not as herself."
"Give me a minute." Clark said, walking into the men's bathroom. A moment later, he was walking out, shaking his head even as he dialed Natasha.
"I checked the whole building. She's not here. But I found Whitney Fordman unconscious in the gym."
"Did he see you?" She asked from behind him. He nearly jumped at her voice and she laughed in response.
"Don't do that! And no, he didn't see me. But I think it's a good bet who Tina's masquerading as." He said, and Natasha nodded.
"I saw them leave with everyone else about ten minutes ago. They couldn't have gotten too far."
"But how do we find them?" Clark asked, and Natasha smiled.
"You can hear things from miles away. Find Lana's voice, and you find her. Find her..."
"And we find Tina." Clark finished, and Natasha nodded.
He shut his eyes, listening for any hint of Lana's voice. A moment later he opened them and smiled.
"I've found them. They've just gotten to Lana's house."
"Are they alone?" Natasha asked, and Clark nodded.
"Lana's Aunt Nell is apparently working late."
"Okay, then here's what we're going to do..."
Five minutes later they appeared outside Lana's house, Clark setting Natasha on her feet with a smile.
"That was fun."
"Yes it was. Any chance we can do it again?" She asked, and his grin broadened.
"Whenever you want." He replied before they walked up to the front door, Natasha opening it without a sound. She looked at Clark who pointed upstairs, and Natasha nodded once before they walked inside, Clark racing upstairs and knocking Lana unconscious just as Natasha came up the stairs.
"Clark, what are you-"
"It's over Tina." He said, and 'Whitney' glared before he turned into Tina.
"It's over when I say it is." She replied before lunging at Clark. He dodged her attack, kicking her in the stomach, the young man feeling pain go through his body when his blow connected. Yep, she was definitely meteor infected. She punched him in the face, making Clark groan before he grabbed her wrist and broke it. He then slammed his elbow into her face, shattering her jaw and knocking her out cold.
"Are you okay?" Natasha asked from behind him, and Clark nodded feeling his heart rate slow.
"You could have helped you know."
"You didn't need it. You had things under control."
"That lucky punch never should have happened." He argued, and Natasha nodded.
"You're right. It won't happen again." She replied, and Clark groaned. Training here he comes.
Four Days Later- Natasha's Apartment
"Tina was arrested and sentenced to Belle Reve for her actions against Whitney and the money that was found in her vault." Clark said, and Natasha smiled.
"Good. Lana doesn't remember anything?" She asked, and Clark shook his head.
"Not a thing."
"Did your parents ask any questions?"
"Just about how I found the money. I told them, and they made me practice."
"Nothing about her injuries?"
"They didn't ask, and I didn't volunteer. There are some thing's they're better off not knowing." He replied.
"How are you and Chloe?" She asked, and Clark sighed.
"We haven't talked. Every time I try, she ignores me or tells me to leave her be. When she wants to talk, I'll listen. Until then, it's probably better if I give her her space."
"I'm sorry." Natasha said, and Clark shook his head.
"Don't apologize Natasha. Even if you weren't here, I still wouldn't feel anything romantic for Chloe."
"It's not just that. Your parent's would be furious if they knew that I was teaching you how to fight."
"And if you hadn't Tina probably would have killed me in a graveyard." He replied, and Natasha rolled her eyes.
"That's not morbid at all." She deadpanned, and Clark laughed.
The Torch- 6 p.m.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Chloe Sullivan."
"Well you've found her." Chloe said as she stood up, seeing the elderly man in her office.
"My name is Gonzalez and I think we can be of great use to each other Miss Sullivan."
"Listen Mr. I don't know what you want but-"
"I want the same thing you want Miss Sullivan. To get Clark Kent away from Natasha Romanoff."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review, and the next chapter will be up soon!
