Clark struggled with Lana on the back of his motorcycle having swerved three times already. She's ninety seven pounds, but it seems like well, he's not sure but it feels like a ton. Clark stopped and pulled over into an alley. Once he as sure no one was looking he grabbed Lana and disappeared in a blur. Lana looked around and saw the alley had been turned into outside of Bayville. He's a teleporter. Lana looked at him and he seemed winded for what he did.

Lana looked at him as he backed away and seemingly caught his second wind. "Hey, are you feeling OK?"

Clark started breathing normally and wiped the sweat off his face. "Yeah… I guess it's too hot for a jacket, I take it you want to know what happened earlier and just now?"

Lana shakes her head. "No, you're a meteor mutant, trust me Clark, you're not alone in that, it's where my powers came from."

Clark looked at her. "You grew up and became a mutant, nothing wrong with that."

Lana looked at him, yeah she grew up and so did he at least physically. "More then I can say for you, you still get sick around me."

Clark nodded no point in arguing it whenever he's around Lana he's like this. It's like with Essex but only worse and worse with time. "I guess, my dad always said I had a crush on you."

Lana let out a smile. "You still do?"

Clark shook his head. "No, I was just naïve back then." So why does he still feel like this?

Lana looked at him arms against her chest. "So tell me, do you still feel that way now?"

Clark shook his head. "No, but considering I tried something with Betsy but we're better as friends, Emma, and Jean I'm starting to think I have a thing for telepaths."

Lana looked at him. "You know you're very different from the little boy running away from me all the time."

Clark stared at her. "And you're not the little girl dressed as a fairy princess anymore either."

Lana frowned she hasn't been that fairy princess for ages now. She sees her mission to destroy every copy of that magazine is still a failure to this day. "Yeah, well we've both changed. We're not those little kids anymore."

Clark shrugged seeing her point. "Yeah, but we do have a common enemy."

Lana looked at him confused. If he's goes after Pete again she'll stop him. "We do huh, and what enemy do we have?"

"The U-Men" Clark answered as Lana's jaw practically dropped. "That was you dressed as an insect the other night wasn't it."

Lana looked at him as it sunk in. "You were the motor cycle rider. How did you know it was me?"

Clark looked at her and answered easily enough. He smelt it on the wall she had clung herself to in Metropolis and Bayville. "You leave a distinct trail of goo when you stick to things. Any other questions before we head back?"

"Just one" Lana said not believing this. "You've been alive this whole time. How come you never came back to Smallville?"

"No point." Clark answered easily enough. "There was nothing left for me there. Pete ratted me out so I couldn't go home and there was no one left for me there."

Lana looked at him. "Oh really, what about your grandfather?"

"What about him?" Clark asked. "Guy never wanted anything to do with me before. So why start now?"

Lana looked at him in disbelief that's the only family Clark has left. "Don't you think he deserves to know that there is a member of his daughter's family that is still alive?"

Clark shakes his head. "He had five years to get to know me in Smallville and he never took the chance to. He couldn't deal with the fact that his daughter married a country hick so he cut us off. So why should I care now? He gave up on me long before I disappeared, so to hell with him."

Lana looked at him feeling like she was punched in the gut. She never thought a Kent could be so cruel after Martha stayed close to her after the meteor shower. "What's happened to you over the years?"

"A lot" Clark answered.

Lana looked at him. "Well I gotta say, I'm not exactly a fan of the new you."

Clark looked at her but just started walking in the other direction. "Well what do you want me to say Lana. People change over the course of a decade. Happy now?"

Lana shook her head he picked fights and a couple of those U-Men goons that were arrested were too traumatized or beaten up to even talk. "No, just disappointed."

Clark looked at her and almost let out a chuckle as he started to walk. "Now, you sound like the Kents."

"Good, at least one of us does." Lana replied.

Clark turned around his eyes glowing red in anger. "You think you can come into my life after a decade and tell me how to live it. You don't even know what I've been through or who I even am."

"I would if you just tell me." Lana pleaded. She's heard Nell cry herself to sleep countless nights over Jonathan she'd like to at least be able to tell her why he died.

Clark rolled his eyes as the anger rose and caused him to say things he knew he would regret later but it didn't matter to him. "Forget it. You know nothing of pain, you've never suffered a day in your life."

Lana glared at him her own hatred starting to rise. "Go to hell. I don't know what happened to you but you're not the only one hurt by the past. I'm glad the Kents can't see you now. They'd be ashamed of you."

Clark turned around and saw Lana hopping on an 18 wheeler heading for Bayville. He watched her go and thought about going after her. But with his temper he might hurt her at the moment. Stupid Smallville, someone should burn the whole damn town to the ground. He disappeared in a blur before stopping in the woods.

Clark looked around the woods vaguely staring at the trees and rocks. Clark angrily kicked down a tree in frustration before grabbing a big rock and throwing it like a toy as it exploded into rubble when it hit the ground.


Jean sat by at Scott's car. He didn't even notice she was not following him. She was half tempted to drag him back with her powers but she feared he would talk her ear off about Rogue so she said she's waiting here in case someone tried to steal it. Well he can go get the tow truck and she'll stay right here. She's a telepath and a telekinetic, she'd pity the people that approach her looking for trouble. A little later Jean looked into the forest and to her surprise she saw one of the trees tip over and heard someone shout. She ran into the forest fearing someone was hurt and stopped at a tree when she saw the scream was from Clark destroying the forest for lack of a better word until he ran out of trees and just fell to the floor.

Clark looked to the sky anger and frustration still coursing through him. "No point telling anyone, won't change anything." He shouted. "You said you'd always be there for me!" Clark exhaled in a deflated tone and weakly muttered out with a couple tears in his eyes. "But you're not... because of Pete… because of me… it's my fault."

"Clark?"

Clark saw Jean and instantly got back to his feet and wiped his eyes at superpeed and used a quick singe of heat vision to dry them. "Jean?" Well this is pathetic.

Jean looked at him. "You tore up the forest what happened to you?"

Clark shook his head thankful for no red eyes ever in his life. "Just having some fun with my powers. What are you doing here?"

Jean looked at him and tried to figure this one out. She had him cast as brotherhood then she had to see that. "Scott's car broke down a little bit ahead, are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Clark replied feeling a little lighter since he knows exactly what happened as a smile reached his face. "Also Scott's car didn't break down."

Jean's face lit up in rage. "So he did try to park on me? I-I'm gonna give his mind a signal that says Rogue is perfectly touchable. See how that works for him!"

Clark had a smile on his face he needed that cheer up but. "Sorry, but Scott didn't do it either. If I had to guess my money would be on Kitty."

Jean looked at him. "Why Kitty?"

Clark smiled. "Didn't anyone tell you? The Xavier institute is the place to be tonight, big party."

Jean glared with a fiery passion and Clark swears he could see her eyes actually on fire for a tiny moment. "I've been stuck out here for hours, and they're throwing a party? I'll kill them!"

Clark looked at her amused. "You know I like this angrier side of you. Can I give you a run somewhere?"

"Scott's car if you don't mind?" Jean asked.

Clark smiled and lifted her up bridal style. "My pleasure, hang on."

Jean looked around and it was incredible to her as they past traffic and other certain animals almost in awe until they came to a stop in front of Scott's car. "OK I'll just wait for him to…"

Clark hopped into the driver's seat and within seconds the car was started.

"I'll just wait for you to hotwire Scott's car." Jean finished climbing into the passenger seat. "Mind getting me back to the institute?"

"No problem." Clark replied before driving off at reckless speeds forcing Jean to hang on to the seat.


Scott waited patiently in the tow truck. He's can't believe Jean actually chose to stay behind.

"Hey slow down you maniac!"

Scott looked in the rear view mirror and saw his own car going at unbelievable speeds as Clark and Jean pass him on the way to the institute. "Not again!" He couldn't have kidnapped Jean again!


Clark pulled up to a stop at the mansion. "I like this car!"

Jean looked at him she will not admit that well she enjoyed that. Moving so fast she doesn't think she would before but she enjoyed that.

Clark looked at the institute and saw the metal gates closing locking everyone in. "Is it supposed to do that?"

Jean's eyes widen. "Oh no, someone must be in the danger room."

Clark looked at her. "Want me to make a door?"

Jean shook her head. "No, there's a secret way in the waterfall, come on."

Jean looked at him as they ran. "You know, I can't believe you're actually helping us."

Clark turned to her while still running. "Don't care totally caught up in the moment." Mostly it's a nice distraction.


Kitty ran through a set of walls looking back. Who's trying to kill them this week? She looks back and misses the last wall but a black and red blur smashed through the side wall and stopped her at the last moment. Kitty smiled looking at Clark. Her eyes widen. "Look out!"

Clark turned around and was smacked in the face with four giant maces that shattered on impact and sent Clark into the wall denting it around his body trapping him in the wall.

Kitty looked at him. "Clark, are you OK?"

"… I really hate this house!" Clark easily broke free and threw one the shards of mace like a cannon taking out all the saws and the maces. He picked up a buzz saw and threw it taking out the guns going for Kurt. He sees one last saw blade going for Rogue and moved in a blur grabbing the goth and put her between him and the blade as it crumbled on impact with his back.

Rogue pushed him off and Kurt looked at him almost in disbelief before weakly saying. "Danke"

Clark innocently shrugged. "You're welcome?" Kurt's looked at him in surprise. He speaks German.

The X-men watched as door opened revealing Jean in her X-Men suit. "Come on guys in here." Clark and the X-men went inside.


Arcade smiled not believing the quality of this game. He talked oblivious to the fact Risty was not even in there anymore once he gave her a 'player's disc'. "Man this is awesome. But I don't get that last guy; the others only had one power each but that guy showed at least three speed, strength, invulnerability. Oh cool he must be the final boss. Well when you show yourself again I'll be ready for you."

Kitty hacked into the computer and before too long they all looked at the picture of who's in Cerebro.

Clark recognized him but no name. He turned to Rogue. "Isn't that Risty's friend from computer class?"

Rogue simply nodded. "Ya, he's some kind of super genius. He likes to call himself Arcade."

Clark looked at Kitty and Rogue. "OK, I'll go back out let him unload everything he has on me. You guys get Rogue into Cerebro so she can absorb him."

Rogue's face scrunched up in disbelief. "Why do ah gotta absorb him?" She's not fond of her mutation as it is and for good reason. Evertime she absorbs one she feels like she loses a piece of herself.

Clark rolled his eyes; he actually has to spell this out. "Because we need to know just how much he learned from Cerebro."

Rogue looked at him but it turned into a glare. "Ya, bring logic into it."


Clark smiled walking into danger room. "Come on out, show yourself." Clark turned to the left seeing a metal machine coming from the left and another coming from the right. Clark's eyes heated up this will take two seconds. To his own surprise the two metal objects lit up and became flamethrowers with nowhere for him to go to. "This house can go f…"


Kitty phased through the floor pulling on Jean and Rogue pulling them through as well.

Arcade watched as Clark crushed the flamethrowers and emerged from the ashes minus half his pants and shirt and jacket. He watches as Spyke and Nightcrawler join him shredding his weapons. "Whoa, they're good."

"Ya have no idea how good." Rogue touched him and the memories left him and went to her. "Sorry too much geeking out over games to notice. Jean?"

Jean held her head and probed Artie's mind seeing all he knew was this was a fun game. "He... he" Her eyes widen but drop. "He thinks this is nothing but a game. Let's just get back to the party and throw everyone out."

Rogue nodded. "Works for meh."


Lance and Claire enjoyed the party it was being locked in the institute they didn't. Claire turned to Lance with a devilish smile on her face. "You're still looking for your little kitty cat, aren't you?"

Lance glared at her but relented. If Clark hadn't left the choice in their hands he wouldn't have bothered. They see the lift open and Lance can only laugh seeing Clark in one of Scott's shirts.

"Hey, it's not my fault all the guys at the institute are the size of leprechauns." Clark complained.

Claire looked at the X-men. "You guys are really lucky. These idiots were so busy partying they didn't even notice the lockdown."

Clark nodded as the X-men chased everyone away. "Well come on guys. We stay any longer they might invite us to a slumber party."

The three brotherhood members were walked out by Jean and Rogue this was almost peaceful. Jean wonders why these three can't be like this all the time.

Lance watched as the last X-man walked up to the institute with a smile. "Hey Summers, leave it to you to miss your own party."

Scott looked at Clark and glared at him as he stood ready to lower his visor. "What did you do to Jean?"

Clark looked at him for a moment as his eyes heated up. "Nothing, just hot wired your car fearless leader."

Claire glared at the leader of the X-Men as fire came out of each of Claire's hands and Lance stood ready to shake the mansion.

Clark smiled with Scott's eyes on him he doesn't see his hand reaching the bumper of Scott's car ready to toss it into orbit.

Jean looked at them. "Break it up, both of you!"

Scott turned to Jean and Rogue both giving him the cold shoulder. "What?"

Rogue was the first to walk off. "He helped save our butts tonight. Let it go Scott at least for tonight." As much as she still hates him, he pulled their butts out of the fire.

Jean glared at Scott before turning to Clark. "If you ever actually want to talk about earlier tonight just find me OK."

Clark nodded. "Thank you, but I'm fine."

Jean wasted no time and followed Rogue in she's going to go put the others to work fixing this mess before the Professor gets home.

Scott looked at Clark confused. "What did you two talk about?"

Clark looked at him for a moment before looking away. "That's between me and her slim."

Scott glared at him but let it go for now. Having either Jean or Rogue mad at you would be enough. Both of them, well, he has a lot of work to do. "Thanks for helping tonight."

Clark just put a hand up following Lance and Claire to Lance's truck. "Yeah, yeah." He was just thankful to have something else to focus on.


That night Clark sat on a chair in the living room reading the newspaper weeks without sleep. He's almost used to it now.

"Clark!"

Clark looked up hearing that voice. It can't be, can it?

"Clark!"

Clark held his head. "Leave me alone you stupid voice!"

"Clark!"

Clark shot up from his seat and looking along the rooms nothing. Although he now knows Domino sleeps all natural. He's wide awake, why is that voice here? He walks for another five minutes but still nothing. He looks in the kitchen and sees the other night owl of the team as Lara stabs an apple with her claws.

"What?" Lara asked.

Clark shook his head. "It's nothing try to get some sleep."

Lara looked at him. "I could say the same toy you… you've been awake for weeks now."

"I'm fine." Clark replied.


The next day a small portion of the brotherhood came up in Lance's jeep. Clark glared at them he should have taken his motorcycle. Lance, Fred, Domino, Tabitha, and Lara decided to come to the game. Tabitha smiled seeing it. "Hey Lance, there's a spot."

The truck went to Drive in when Scott's car cut them off and took it.

Clark glared at Scott and Kurt. "Hey we were parking there."

Scott hopped out he didn't mean he's just in a hurry. "Sorry, well I'm sure there are other spots."

Clark looked at him as he went on. You know what he has the U-Men, old 'friends' Moss, and a nightmare that's starting to become real for some reason, he doesn't need this. He hops out of the car and puts his hand under Scott's bumper looking around. Once he sees the coast is clear he launches the car into the air.

Clark watched the car as it almost disappeared into the cold of space before coming back down. "Uh, didn't quite make it into orbit."

Lance shook his head in disbelief. He can't wait to see Scott's face wherever his car lands. "No, good effort though."

Clark saw the car come down in the forest but not close to any animal. He took his bag from the back of the truck, the main reason he was here today. "Have fun at the game."


Lana watched from the top of the stadium keeping her eyes open in her insect queen get up. She looked down at what she believes is Clark's weakness. Lana ran her fingers through her necklace, the only time wasn't weak around her was when went to Metropolis without it. Considering all other times he was weak kneed aorund her it adds up.

"Shouldn't you be down there with palm palms chanting 'go team go'?"

Lana turned to the right and saw Clark dressed up as the Red Hood but keeping his distance. "Shouldn't you be yelling at someone?"

"I did that last night." Clark replied. "Sorry about that."

Lana looked at him. "No, you're not. But I think you were right about us not living in each other's worlds anymore." She brought their focus to what mattered at the moment their common enemy. "Any sign of the mechanical mutts?"

Clark shook his head. "No, but between all the meteor and legitimate mutants at this game they'll show."

Lana looked at him. "Legitimate mutants?"

Clark held his head to his palm not believing he just said that; maybe he does need some sleep.


Once they both were in the other end of the parking lot, Lana listened as Clark explained X-gene mutants. It's nice to know Smallville doesn't own the patent on all things weird. "Wow never would have thought." Lana turned around and jumped onto the wall. "Someone's coming."

Clark turned around and stood ready to fight but upon seeing Moss he looked at him in disbelief. "Oh for the love of, do I gotta kill you six more times? Are you some kind of mutant cat?" He watched Moss approach and holds his standing.

Moss looked at him. "I assure you I only need to die once. It's the one time that makes it difficult."

Clark smiled grabbing the back of Duncan's car. "Good to know." He threw the car at Moss and it easily slammed into the general and Clark hit the fuel tank for good measure watching the explosion.

Lana looked at him and the debris. "You really hate him don't you?"

Clark went to walk away when to his surprise the debris from the car started shaking apart. He looked at Moss emerge from the flames half of him was the monster that destroyed his childhood the other half… was the terminator with a glowing green chest? Didn't see that one coming. "What the hell are you?"

Moss looked at him. "A little weapon X prototype." Moss slammed his hand into Clark's chest as hard as he could. He bounced him off the wall from impact. "Designation… Metallo"

Lana jumped for Moss but the cyborg stepped out of her way and grabbed her by the back of her hair and with one quick knee to the back Lana shouted in pain.

Metallo looked at her coldly. "Be with you in a minute princess." Metallo pulled off her meteor rock necklace and backhand punched her across the face knocking her into the air and Lana landed on the hood of a car.

Metallo turned around and quickly walked into a tackle by Clark whom hit him so hard he toppled a car over when they landed on it forving him to drop Lana's necklace.

Clark looked at him angrily then punched him in the face repeatedly. "If weapon X made you" punch "then" punch "what are you doing" punch "working with" punch "The U-men Moss."

Moss looked at the red hood he seemed to be tiring himself out. Metallo took the opportunity to put his foot to his stomach and shove Clark off knocking him back but on his feet. "Weapon X saved my life, but not at a cost. They took away my humanity; you have no idea how miserable my life is now. No smell, no sight, no touch, I'll never again know the taste of alcohol, or the touch, smell, and taste of a woman. Colonel Moss died in a pissant hick farm town, I am Metallo! Weapon X has limits they make weapons, the U-Men make sure each and every one of you get what you deserve before you are slaughtered like the animals you are."

Clark looked at him he thought he'd happy knowing Moss has done nothing but suffered all this time. "Woe is you; maybe I'll rip your arms and legs off for good measure." Clark ran up and punched him in the chest three times sending him wobbling back but not really hurt. He's starting to feel like he did when he fought Lana yesterday.

Moss looked at him fascinated now as Lana started to recover. "Interesting, you know you left my men alive and well in Metropolis. It seems to be only me you try to kill so we know each other don't we?"

Clark ran up and tried to punch only this time much slower. Moss easily got up his hands to defend himself and as soon as Clark left an opening by trying to punch him in the face Moss countered with a punch to his ribs followed by a leg sweep. Clark looked at the cyborg from the floor. "Maybe, it's just your winning personality."

Moss shook his head as Clark got back to his feet. "No, it's more then that you're one of those vengeance guys, and judging from that tiniest bit of accent I'm guessing you're from the south so what's your story? Did I hurt you while I was in weapon X? Oh I know. I captured poor Betty Sue so the U-men could cut heart out."

Clark glared at him and went to punch him when Moss' grip turned from a feather into titanium vice. "Screw you!" Clark hit him with a headbutt and Moss retaliated with one of his own that felt like a Mac truck as his whole body feels weak what the hell is going on?

"Must piss you off." Moss replied with a punch to the stomach. "To have me so close and you can't lift a finger against me." He punched him in the face. "To know" punch, "you came this close" punch "only to fail now." Moss smiled delivering one final punch as he heard something break in his opponent's nose. He looked at him. "The Red Hood, for years you've fearlessly torn Hydra and the U-Men apart. So for a man without fear, why are you so afraid to show your face?" He rips Clark's helmet off and sees his bloody face for a moment but just throws him across the floor.

Clark got to his feet multiple cuts on his face. He's feeling a little better now that he's away from him.

Moss looked at his opponent, the red hood unmasked, just one small problem. "I have no idea who you are?"

Clark glared at him. "You murdered my parents."

Moss sighed as Clark ran at him but simply punched the vigilante in the stomach. "Doesn't" He elbowed him in the spine "really" he sweeps his leg knocking down face first. "narrow" He stomps on his back as Clark shouts in pain. "it" and finishes with a punch to the face "down". A blade came out of his wrist. "Any last words"

Before Metallo could deliver the finishing blow Lana pounced on his back pushing him down and dragging Moss on the concrete grinding his face into it after hearing that revelation. Moss killed the Kents no wonder Clark hates him. Moss came for Clark and his parents protected him at the cost of their lives. Well at least she now knows why it's a sore subject for him. Maybe now she can get him and Pete to sit down, talk and put this behind them.

Metallo threw an elbow and Lana jumped back to avoid the impact as Moss got to his feet. She ran at him and jumped in the air punching Moss with all she had with a superman punch wobbling the machine. She punched him the face two more times before delivering a kick to the machines chest as little shards of green came out from the kick.

Moss grabbed Lana's next punch and kneed her in the stomach and threw her behind him. Lana's eyes widened in fear seeing the twin hellhounds as the each shoot Lana in the shoulders with little hooks buried into her skin as a current traveled through electrocuting Lana until she passed out.

Clark stumbled over to them trying to stop this. He can't even get close "Lana!" Clark could only watch as Lana fell on top a hellhound.

Moss looked at him leaving Lana there for the moment. "What are you going to do? You can barely throw a punch?"

Clark looked up and smiled at the good luck as his eyes turned red. "You're under a power line." Clark hit the line with heat vision as it fell and struck Moss in the shoulder as the metal body immediately conducted all the electricity as he shouted in pain.

Moss slowly got his arm up in time he cut the wire feeling winded and tired but he felt it, for the first time in over a decade he felt something. "That hurt" He said with a smile as Clark ran up to try to punch him but Moss easily grabbed his arm and squeezed down. "Thank you that was the first time in a long time I felt… anything." He bent Clark's arm at an unnatural angle and easily broke his wrist causing him to shout out in pain. "I should probably thank you." Moss looked at him almost regretful as a blade practically exploded coming out through Clark's back causing the teen to cough blood on his face. "But then they'd just say I went soft."

Clark fell to the floor next to the shards of meteor rock. Metallo collected Lana and since Red Hood's powers come from his genetic code he got what he'd need from his body already.


Author's notes

Long Hiatus real life took over.

Thanks to everyone who wrote a review.

.won sretaeht ni tsaP erutuF fo syaD :neM-X ees ot uoy sdnammoc txet sdrawkcaB

Up Next: Who finds Clark in the fallout and hopefully I can end homecoming in one more chapter.