East Side Slums, September 5, 1983. Man has always been intrigued by the power of fire.
Fire brought man out of the Dark Ages. Fire gave man the ability to toil away long after the sun set and kept him warm in cold weather, allowing for survival in harsh climates.
And ever since its discovery, man quickly learnt that fire began with the simplest of sparks.
The streets of Metropolis' most notorious slums were quiet as Sunday evening gave way to early Monday morning. Most people, like Leroy Russell and his parents, were sleeping peacefully in their beds and getting some much needed rest before the new day. Others, like the man walking down B Street with two beer bottles in one hand and a fistful of rags in the other, were looking for trouble.
He paused on the sidewalk across the street from Yasmin's House of Beauty and his eyes darted around, making sure all was quiet. After dipping the rags in the gas-filled bottoms of the bottles, he tipped them over ever so slightly and watched as the viscous liquid soaked the dirty white material. Once he was satisfied that his wicks were sufficiently wet, he pulled an old Zippo lighter from his pocket and eyed his target one more time before lighting the rag and hurling the projectile across the street. The beer bottle broke through the A in Yasmin's sign and the orange lick of flames quickly engulfed the space. Not even three seconds later, the second bottle flew through the window.
The arsonist paused to admire his handiwork, his smile growing as the flames climbed higher up the walls, rendering to ash the posters of perfectly-coiffed men and women from the 1970's. He stayed longer then he had originally intended, marveling at how perfectly it had all gone to plan; the arsonist was only broken out of his reverie by someone leaning out of an overhead window and screaming "FIRE!" at the top of their lungs. The man who set Yasmin's House of Beauty ablaze backed stealthily into a nearby alley, sprinting away from the scene once he was safely concealed amongst the shadows.
Leroy awoke shortly after 3 am, roused from sleep by the muffled sound of his parents shuffling around in the living room. The sight of the bright, red and blue lights dancing on his wall seemed almost ethereal in the early hours of the morning. He moved to his window in time to see the thick, black column of smoke pouring from an old, brick building several blocks away. Leroy quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt and followed the sound of his parent's footsteps.
"It looks like Yasmin's place," his mother said, looking out the living room window in the direction of the blaze. She wrapped herself more fully in her faded robe when a chill ran up her spine. "Oh she'll be heartbroken…that place has been her baby for at least the last twenty years." Rose clucked her tongue and shook her head in sorrow over her friend's loss; she turned in time to see her husband re-emerge from their bedroom, fully-dressed and tugging his favorite gray tie into place. "And where do you think you're going at this hour?"
"If you're right, Rose, and it is Yasmin's place, then I have to assess the damage; she's insured through me."
"Yes, but do you have to go right now? Can't this wait until morning? The firefighters haven't even put out the fire yet!"
Aaron threw on an old, red windbreaker and finished tying his shoes as she spoke, before grabbing a clipboard and pen he kept nearby in the kitchen for just such an occasion. "It is morning, and I'm not just going as her insurance agent…I'm also going as her friend." Rose bit her tongue at her husband's words and nodded in understanding, then turned her attention back to the window.
"Do you want me to come with you, Dad?"
"No thank you, Son. It's best if I handle this alone right now, besides, you have school in the morning. You need your rest; it's no use starting a new school year off on the wrong foot due to a lack of sleep."
"Yes Sir."
Aaron paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Good. I'll see you both in a couple of hours then."
Leroy watched his father, the quiet hero, slip out the door and into the crisp, early Fall morning, before returning to his mother's side. They watched the inferno rage on from the relative safety of their apartment.
Metropolis, April 19, 2009. Jimmy stood before the mirror in his bathroom, grinning happily at his reflection as he and his girlfriend prepared for an evening out with their friends, but his thoughts kept playing a loop of the previous day's events.
After Clark had left them so abruptly the preceding morning, Jimmy and Chloe took the opportunity to grab a leisurely bite to eat before hopping in a cab to the Vanderworth Museum of Art to check out the newly opened Jackson Pollock exhibit, in addition to indulging in their shared habit of people-watching. They'd spent an hour arm-in-arm, meandering in and out of rooms and expressing their likes and dislikes about various pieces. Still tired from her late evening flight and their early morning research, Chloe fairly collapsed onto a nearby empty bench; Jimmy situated himself next to her while facing in the opposite direction.
"I wish I could spend everyday here," she sighed wistfully, inhaling deeply while surveying the expansive room. "I love it here."
"I know you do Honey, why do you think I suggested we come? I wasn't sure if you were a Pollock fan but I figured it was worth…"
She turned to face him. "What did you just call me?"
"Hmm?"
"You called me a name, what did you just call me?"
His brows furrowed adorably in concentration. "I did? I'm sorry—I wasn't even thinking about it, I don't know what I said…"
"You called me Honey," she told him.
Jim froze, unsure of her reception of his unintentional endearment. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a well-dressed, older woman looking over 'Lavender Mist' with a critical eye. He turned around so he and Chloe were facing the same way.
"What do you think she's thinking?" he asked quietly, nudging Chloe and indicating the woman in question with his head.
"Jimmy, I don't think…"
"I'll bet she's wondering if it would fit the empty space on the wall behind her sofa in the living room of her 7th Avenue penthouse apartment. Or maybe she's wondering if it would match the color scheme in her bathroom," he babbled nervously.
"If her bathroom color scheme is lavender, then I'm sure it would. Now, Jimmy, I…"
He hung his head slightly in defeat, his meager attempt to deflect attention away from his earlier comment proving ineffective. He let loose a sigh. "I know—I'm moving too fast. I shouldn't have called you that, I'm sorry…"
Chloe covered his hand with hers and squeezed gently. "Jim! Not everything you say has to be followed by an apology. I was actually going to tell you that I rather liked you calling me 'Honey'. I liked it even more when you said it just came out naturally. I wanted to kiss you too, but then you went off about that woman and the inordinate amount of attention she was paying to 'Lavender…Oh!" he stopped her with a sweet kiss on the lips. "Not that I mind the interruption, but must you always cut me off with a kiss in mid-sentence? Sometimes I'd like to be the one initiating all the kissing!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flaring bright red.
Jimmy draped his arm around her waist and she laid her head on his shoulder; they sat like that for some time, chatting quietly and watching the people around them stare at abstract art while they privately speculated about their daily lives. Once they got up again, another hour and a half was spent wandering around the museum before they decided to see a movie, catching the latest romantic comedy as it best suited their current good mood.
The pair was exiting the theater when Chloe's stomach rumbled ominously. Jimmy caught her eye, then glanced down at her stomach and laughed out loud. "Hold on, I have an idea." He flagged down a cab. "Corner of Grant and Radcliffe, please."
"Jimmy, that's two blocks from your apartment, why don't we just go back to your place…"
He held up a hand. "All in good time, my Lady, all in good time…" She eyed him apprehensively, wondering what was going on in his dark blonde head, and settled for a peck on her forehead in explanation. Ten minutes later, the taxi dropped them off in front of a supermarket.
"We could've just stopped in at O'Malley's you know. I liked it there, and besides, you wouldn't have to worry about the…" she lowered her voice and put a hand over her mouth so only he could hear, "…'Ladykiller Killer' because I'd be there with you and I wouldn't let anyone take you without a fight."
"Aww, you'd defend me to the death, how sweet!" he teased, laughing alongside her. "Well, I just thought that instead of greasy bar-food, you might enjoy a fine, home-cooked meal. Now, I'm no world-class chef, but Mom wouldn't hear of letting me leave home without a few of the basics. Just double checking, you don't have any weird food allergies or anything, right?" She shook her head and her golden tresses whipped around her shoulders in an incredibly charming manner. "Good! Follow me," he took her hand and pulled her through the automatic doors, scooping up a plastic shopping basket as he went. The only items she recognized out of all his purchases were a package of fettuccine, a wedge of parmesan cheese and a bottle of white wine.
An hour later, they settled down at the kitchen table with a dinner of Fettuccine Alfredo a la Olsen. Jimmy studied her intensely as she inhaled the tantalizing aroma wafting up off the plate, and eagerly awaited her reaction to the first bite. Chloe tentatively placed the fork in her mouth and her eyes widened in surprise as an explosion of flavor unlike any other burst forth; she found it impossible to distinguish what secret ingredients he'd slipped into the sauce that made the dish so mouthwatering, even when she'd stood by and watched him purchase it all.
"Oh my God. Jim, this is incredible! Here, you have to try it," she exclaimed, ignoring the fact that he had his own plate and instead leaned over and offered him a bite from hers.
"Yep, not bad," he replied with a self-satisfied smile.
"What did you add?"
"Uh uh, that is a trade secret kept strictly amongst us bachelors."
"Oh really?" said, raising an eyebrow. "Did you guys happen to form a secret recipe-sharing club or something?"
"No, nothing like that. It was more like my co-worker Gil and I spent too long talking over the water cooler one day." She laughed. The meal was quickly polished off and they moved over to the couth to snuggle, splitting what remained of the bottle of Chardonnay between them and chatting while a made-for-TV movie played in the background.
Several hours later, he scowled at the clock as it pointed toward 1 am; he didn't want the night to end, yet he suspected that she might be tired after such a long day. Jimmy stayed silent a moment longer, enjoying the pleasant feel of her soft body nestled in the crook of his arm, silent and completely content. Another look at the clock and he knew this moment of bliss had to end.
"Excuse me, Miss, but I do believe you're sitting on my bed," he said jokingly.
She lifted her head up from its place on his shoulder and stared straight into his puppy dog brown eyes. "It doesn't have to be this way, you know."
"Oh?"
"We can both…" she let the thought trail off as her eyes moved down the hall to the bedroom door.
"Chloe, I…that wasn't what I was thinking when I invited you to spend the weekend here."
"I know." She straddled him and kissed him hungrily, her delicate tongue caressing his lips, demanding entrance to his mouth. He eagerly returned her enthusiasm, running his fingers through her hair as she moved her hands down his neck and chest. She was about to pull his shirt up and over his head when he stopped her.
"I think…I think you're getting the wrong idea." Like a bucket of ice water, his words stopped her cold in her tracks and she scooted off of his lap towards the other end of the sofa.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I don't want to rush this…yes, I want to be with you, but not until we're both ready. I don't want us to become a casual fling."
"Oh." They sat there in silence for a few moments, avoiding each other's gaze. Without warning, she got up from the couch and extended her hand towards him; he took it, staring at her questioningly, and she helped him up and down the hall.
"I thought I just said…"
"I know what you just said," she replied smartly, closing the bedroom door behind them. "But that doesn't mean that you should have to sleep on that uncomfortable sofa, or that we both can't be adults about this. It's a big bed, Jim."
He eyed her curiously. "Are you sure?" But she already had her back to him as she unbuttoned her blouse, preparing to change into her pajamas.
"Of course I'm sure. Although, you must know…"
Oh no, what now? He thought worriedly.
"…there will be spooning involved. I'm insisting on it."
A wide grin threatened to split his face and he shook his head, before grabbing a pair of lounge pants and an old t-shirt from the bureau. "Now that I can definitely handle."
Jimmy awoke this morning after having enjoyed the most restful night's sleep of his life and delightedly discovered that his arm was wrapped around a beautiful woman. He propped himself up on one elbow and studied her as she slept; the morning light flooding through the window accentuating her pale, soft skin and playing across the highlights in her neat and trim, golden blonde tresses. Jimmy marveled at how un-mussed her hair seemed and how prettily her lips curled as she lay asleep in his bed, dreaming. He resisted the strong urge to stroke her side lazily with his fingers and risk waking her. It was some time later that she rolled over onto her back and stirred.
Her right eye fluttered open, followed closely by her left, and she stared blearily into Jim's face. "How long have you been watching me?" she asked, her voice throaty with sleep.
"Not long," he lied.
"Mmmmm…" she stretched contentedly. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Best sleep I've ever gotten," he admitted quietly.
"Me too." She stopped and nibbled her lower lip, looking as if she were about to tell him something important. "Jimmy, I…" the blare of the alarm clock on the night stand startled them both. "Oh crap, I knew I forgot to turn that off yesterday. I am so sorry…" she said, rolling over to stop the annoying beeping.
"It's alright…" he murmured, but before he could finish, she rolled back over and covered his mouth with hers.
"Thank you for last night."
He shot her a puzzled look. "You're welcome?"
"You were right; when the time is right, that's when…you know…"
"Oh, that! You're very welcome then," he replied, sweeping her hair from her neck and nuzzling the exposed skin, causing her to giggle. "Chloe Sullivan, you may share my bed with me anytime…" he whispered huskily, replacing his nuzzles with warm, open-mouthed kisses along the creamy column of her neck. She lay there, snuggled against him for some time when an idea formed in her mind and she slid out of bed, leaving a warm imprint in the sheets to keep him company.
"Hey, where are you going?" he called out to her in surprise.
She slipped her robe on over her shoulders. "I am going to make you breakfast."
"But it's my kitchen!" he cried, leaping out of bed to follow her...
Jimmy forcefully shook himself out of his daydream to find Chloe standing beside him deftly applying her lipstick for their night out with Lois and Clark. He dabbed a little scent on his neck from each of his two bottles of cologne before he stepped into the bedroom, slipping into his dress shirt as he went. The sound of a drawer opening and closing drifted into the bathroom.
"What are you doing?" she asked curiously as she watched him re-enter the small space and replace the bottles in the medicine cabinet.
Jim shrugged his shoulders in response. "I just put on some cologne and picked out a tie, why?"
She arched an eyebrow at him. "Do you always wear two at once?"
"Yes…come on, don't look at me like that! I like to have a distinctive scent when I go out!"
"Uh huh…" she replied, choosing to ignore his odd proclivity even though she found it endearing. "So, how much time before we have to leave?" she called out to him as she continued applying her make-up.
"Ten minutes if you want to be on time, fifteen if we're going to be fashionably late."
"We don't do fashionably late in Smallville, Jim; I'll be ready in five," she called out as she put her earrings on. He pulled on his suit jacket before reaching for her overcoat draped across his bed just as she walked through the open bathroom door.
"Well, how do I look?" she asked, twirling in her royal blue, crepe dress.
"You look as pretty as you did the day I first met you," he replied without hesitation. The compliment made her blush and she turned around, slipping her arms into the coat he held open for her.
"Thanks…now let me just grab my purse and we'll be all set. Don't forget the gift!"
"I won't," he replied, picking up the wrapped box and tucking it under one arm while simultaneously looping his camera case around his neck. He grabbed two pieces of her luggage, "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off at the airport after dinner? It's not a problem."
"No, it's alright." She waved him off with one hand before snatching up the remaining bag of computer equipment and her clutch, "It's easier if Lois and Clark take me, since the cab will be heading in that direction anyway. Besides, I haven't had much of a chance to catch up with them on this trip."
"That's fine, Honey. We'd better get going," he informed her, holding the door open with his foot so she could ease herself out into the hallway.
They arrived at Lois and Clark's apartment twenty minutes later, meeting General and Mrs. Lane in the lobby. "Hello, Sir, Ma'am," Jimmy said upon entering the elevator with them. "Chloe, this is General and Mrs. Lane, Lois' parents. General, Ma'am, this is Chloe Sullivan, my girlfriend. You met her at the wedding last June, remember?"
Ella nodded and grasped Chloe's shoulder warmly, as the younger woman's hands were full. "Of course, Dear! How are you? It's so nice to see you again," the older woman exclaimed graciously.
"It's nice to see you too—both of you! How have you been?"
"Oh you know, a new baby in the family and we couldn't be happier! It's so nice to be asked to baby-sit, isn't it, Sam?" she asked, prodding her husband in the ribs.
"What? Oh yes, very nice watching the little ones," he said, nodding absently.
Clark heard them getting off the elevator and making their way down the hall. "Honey, are you almost ready? Your folks are here to watch the kids, and Jimmy and Chloe are with them."
"Just a sec!" she called out as she emerged from the bedroom, slipping on her heels as she went. "Why couldn't you have landed in October so we could celebrate your 'birthday' then?" she asked him flippantly as she made her way toward the living room. "I could've lost all the baby weight by then!"
Clark took the opportunity to glance over his wife adoringly before their guests had a chance to descend upon them. "Lois, I love you no matter the shape of your body. I loved you before the baby, I loved you during the pregnancy, and here I am, loving you now not only because of how you look but for all the amazing things that you do. You will always look lovely to me…don't you agree, Jason? Doesn't your Mom look pretty tonight?" he asked as their son sped into the room to stand next to Haley in her baby swing, holding a colorful toy out in front of her.
"Yep," he added nonchalantly, not helping the situation any. Lois rolled her eyes at her husband as he helped her into her coat just as their guests came knocking at the door.
"Happy Birthday!" Ella, Jimmy and Chloe exclaimed as the tall, young man opened the door. The General simply gave him a tight smile and nodded.
"Thank you!" he replied with his trademark, goofy grin as he ushered everyone into the apartment.
Chloe was immediately drawn to the baby swing to coo at her new niece. Extending Clark's present out to him, she added "You might want to open this now; I have it on good authority that you need it." He opened the gift as she gathered the baby up in her arms; Ella and the General talked quietly with Lois and Jason.
"You guys, it's perfect! I wonder whose idea this was…" Clark exclaimed, holding the empty photo album out so Lois could inspect it.
"I really have no idea," Chloe replied innocently as the two old friends looked playfully over at Jimmy.
"What can I say, I'm a man of few interests," he replied, shrugging his shoulders and clutching his camera case.
"Alright, well, what do you say we leave your luggage over here, Clo, and then we'll head over to the Biltmore. Ella, General, you have all our numbers in case of an emergency, right?"
Lois' father nodded gravely while Ella 'pooh-poohed' her son-in-law, stepping forward to take the baby from Chloe. "Now don't you two worry about a thing, we know perfectly well how to care for our own grandchildren. Go out and have a nice dinner…"
"Just don't stay out too late," the General grumbled from where he sat next to Jason, watching the young boy color a picture.
"DAD!" Lois cried out.
"Don't worry, Sir, we won't. Thanks again!" Clark interjected quickly as he ushered everyone out into the hallway and on their way to the restaurant before Lois could get another word in edgewise.
Dinner went well, Clark didn't have to duck out with any unusual excuses, and the four friends were able to sit back, relax, and enjoy each other's company for the first time in a long while.
"So, CK, how's 35 treating you so far?" Jimmy asked as sipped his wine.
"Oh you know…so far so good. Much better than 33, but 34 was none-to-shabby, if I do say so myself," he remarked, trying to pass it off as a joke. Chloe and Lois fixed him with identical glares indicating that they were NOT amused by the vague reference to his disappearance; Jimmy remained oblivious to the entire non-verbal exchange.
"Riiight…" a silence settled uncomfortably over the table as Jimmy's voice trailed off.
After the waiter cleared their empty plates, Chloe decided to share her good news with her companions. "Well, since everyone's gathered round and in high spirits, I have some news I'd like to share."
"You do?" her boyfriend asked curiously. She nodded her head and the others seated at the table leaned in interestedly to hear what she had to say.
"I've been offered a job with the 'Metropolan' and I think I'm going to take it, so it looks like I'll be moving back to the City soon!!" she squealed with delight.
Lois and Clark sat opposite her, positively thrilled by the news, while Jimmy sat motionless at her side looking as though he'd just been blindsided by a freight train.