Major flashbacks towards the end! One from Exodus and another that might surprise you *wink*
Chapter Five Part Three- Life in the Fast Lane:
"Dude, I didn't think anybody else could move like that except me! You were right on my butt, man." Bart rambles with excitement while Clark follows behind the stairs leading to the loft, "You know, I've always wondered if there was anyone out there like me, and it turns out to be you, Jimmy Crack Corn fresh from the farm. But, hey, I'm the fastest man alive, right?" he turns back looking at Clark who is unresponsive and slightly annoyed by where this conversation was headed.
"I don't know how you conned my parents out of a fresh meal and a bed on a couch, but-" Clark starts but soon Bart cuts him off, the spiky haired thief turns face to face with the young farm boy.
"First off, I didn't con anyone…I just told them the truth."
Clark crosses his arms over his chest, "And what's that?" he watches Bart step into his loft slinging his backpack over the couch almost struggling, "I've heard a lot of weird things before, so whatever the truth is…I'm all ears"
Bart takes a deep breath, "A couple of years ago there was this accident, I was in a lab with my father then there was this huge flash of light and my body went into overdrive. I could run at the speed of light, remember things like I had just read it yesterday, and sustain a complete self-molecular control over my body."
"And this happened in Smallville?"
Bart just laughed it off as a joke, "No, this is my first time here and no offense, but hopefully the last." he looked around the loft examining every nook and cranny interested to know more about this supersonic farm boy, "So what's your story? Were you in an accident like me or was it some freaky government experiment?"
Clark shook his head negatively, "I was kind of born this way but I've never met anyone with powers like yours that wasn't from around here, what happened to your parents?"
He watched Bart still at the mention of his parents, "Their son got zapped into a human lightning bolt. I mean, they made this whole big deal that everything was gonna be okay but…you should've seen the way they looked at me, you know? I could tell that nothing was gonna be the same."
"So running off and stealing things seemed like the okay thing to do at the time?"
Bart shrugged, "I didn't fit in, as much as I tried to act like I was normal the more I had to accept that I will never be normal…but I guess you don't have that problem, no one ever suspects the farm boy next door."
"You'd be surprised. I know what it feels like to be an outsider looking in, wishing you could just have the life you always wanted."
"But you've got it made here, dude. I mean that chick that you showed up with was pretty hot and you've got a family that seems pretty cool." Bart shrugs, "Not all of us are lucky to have parents and friends that are that understanding, but from my experience, the more you want to be normal is the more that you'll start to realize that you may never be normal."
"Is that one of the reason you ran from your parents, cause they didn't understand you?"
"I'm not one for cliché stories or those cheesy moments where someone bares their soul to a person, enough about poor little street urchin, all right? Let's take a closer look at the mysterious Clark Kent." with a quick reflexes, Bart speeds through the loft searching through things until he comes to a complete stop holding several items in his hands, "You like to study Native American mythology…" he drops the book down on the steamer trunk before holding up a leather-bound portfolio, "You sketch pictures of crystal palaces, your girlfriend sleeping, and a bunch weird symbols…" he drops the sketchbook down next to the mythology book before his face went into a straight face, "And you have one of the most boring hobbies known to man, rock collecting."
Before Clark could say anything, he stumbled backwards, the pain of the green rock washing over him until he collapsed to his knees struggling to breath.
"Clark!" Lois rushed towards him, her hands trailing over his face trying to see what was wrong until she turned to see the green rock in Bart's hands, "Would you put that away before you kill him!"
Bart snaps the lead lid shut staring as Clark rose to his feet still feeling the affects of the kryptonite, "I've heard of people sneezing around cats and dogs and stuff, but never getting all weak in the knees over a rock."
She was prepares to smack him in the face but Clark just grabbed her hand still trying to regain his strength, "It's a long story…"
Bart rolled up his sleeves, "One that I'd love to hear…after we get back."
"Back from where?" Lois inquires, to say that Bart got on her nerves was a huge understatement one that made Clark's own antics seem harmless.
"Anywhere we want. I mean, dude, we are two super-powered studs here. Why else do you think I came to Smallville looking for you? Let's go crank it up, go have some fun!" As Bart speaks, Lois noticed a tempted look cross over Clark's face along with a small smile. " You ever seen Florida?" Bart smirks before zooming out of the loft leaving Clark to stare at Lois like a little kid wanting to go on a ride that bigger and more dangerous.
Lois caved when he threw in a puppy dog expression, "Go, but make sure you come by the talon afterwards."
He stared at her confused, "Why are you working at the talon?"
She shrugged, "Martha needed some extra hands and I need the money, so…" she bit her lip nervously but soon shook her head, "Just go before small fry get backs…have fun"
With a quick gust of wind and a loud whoosh, Clark was gone and probably half way to Florida by now.
Lois's eyes trailed around the dusty old loft until they landed on something that Bart had unwittingly let out while searching through Clark's things, with each step the wood creaked beneath her until she reached for the small bookshelf and pulled out a copy of The Last Hero by Leslie Charteris, it was the same book she had bought at the market during the whole bug boy incident three years ago.
A small smile appeared on her face while she flipped through the pages only stopping when a small keycard held the place of the chapter he left in place of the chapter he never finished, the keycard was imprinted with the name: METRO APARTMENTS AND CONDOS.
'Why would Clark have a condo in Metropolis?' she thought while she put the book back in its place and was prepared to continue searching when her cell rang.
"Hello? Wes?… You couldn't find anything on any of the aliases I gave you….Oh, okay thanks anyways…" she clicks off her phone and sticks it back into her pocket thinking, 'Great'
Talon:
Lois had spent hours taking orders and making everything from cappuccinos to lattes, who would have thought that working at a coffee shop would be this difficult and time consuming.
As she was delivering another order, her eyes trailed towards the extensive long line where her gaze landed on the flannel clad farm boy who was talking animatedly to Bart who appeared to be munching on a cookie.
"I thought the whole point of going back to Metropolis was so you didn't have to come back here." Chloe says watching Lois carry the empty tray towards the countertop clearly agitated.
"Mrs. Kent has always been there for me even going so far as to give me a roof over my head, I thought I'd repay the debt."
Chloe just shook her head, "So, how are things on the college front?"
She shrugs, "Professor Raymond has great ideals when it comes to journalism but its like watching a pact blood hungry wolves, everyone wants to be the best so they can get that internship for the Daily Planet." Lois cleans off her tray and sets it down waiting for the next order, "But its not all bad, Richard's been helping me when I need help and-"
"Whoa! Hold the phone, whose Richard and why haven't I heard about him before?" Chloe crosses her arms over her chest waiting for the answer.
Lois just rolled her eyes, "Richard is a TA for Professor Raymond, he's pretty sweet and seems to know a lot about journalism."
Her little cousin just stared at her almost in disbelief as she quickly looked back towards Bart and Clark before practically dragging her into the back room, "Does Clark know about Richard?"
Lois shrugged, "I didn't think I had too, Clark's not really the jealous type. Besides, he already knows how I feel about him so I don't see the problem here or why you dragged me into the back room."
"I just don't want to see either of you get hurt again, if you keep hanging out with this guy Richard then it could cause some issues between you and Clark."
She scoffs at the idea, "I don't get jealous when Clark is hanging out with you."
Chloe arched her eyebrows as she asked, "What about Lana? Don't try to hide the fact that you've wanted to kick her ass for dating Clark."
"I'm not hiding and if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to work before Martha decides to fire me." Lois walks out with Chloe right behind her, the blonde haired reporter was about to call out to her older cousin when Bart appeared in front of her with a flirtatious smile on his face.
While Bart tried to charm Chloe with his Don Juan persona, Lois was busy getting orders from the customer and their drinks as well only to bump straight into the arms of Clark Kent, who leaned towards her whispering "Have I ever told you that its such a turn on to see you in that apron."
She plasters on a fake smile, "I'm sure young men such as yourself have often had fantasies about June Cleaver…" she cleans up a nearby table with Clark trailing right behind her confused by the attitude he was getting.
"Did I do something wrong, Lois?"
Frustrated and tired, Lois sets her things down before dragging Clark into the backroom while locking the door behind her demanding, "Why do you have a condo in Metropolis?"
He stilled at the question almost dreading to answer her, "I was gonna tell you about that…eventually." he runs his fingers through his hair nervously before continuing, "Last spring, I did something that I could never take back…" Lois watches him struggle with the words as well as the memories that came with the story being told.
"Whatever it is, you know you can tell me anything and I wouldn't look at you any differently." she places a comforting hand on his shoulder giving him the needed push to continue.
"My parents were gonna have a baby and we were all so excited to have another addition to the family, but Jor-El threatened to take me away from my parents…from Smallville…"
Smallville, Kansas- Two Years Ago…Spring
Clark's boots step cautiously down the creaky stairs of the storm cellar, the bright yellow light surrounds him as he watches in amazement that his ship had sprung to a life of its own.
"Fear not, Kal-El." the strong voice echoes over the wind that had started to pick up, the ship blazing with a threatening glow.
"Who are you!"
"I am Jor-El... your father."
Clark stared at the ship that carried him to Earth almost stunned by the information just given to him, "I-I thought you died."
The ship starts to glide upwards and the voice grows stronger, "I am his memory, his will. I am to fulfill his promise and guide you all the days of your life, you are the last son of krypton." the ships wings fold and leave the ship in its egg like shape as Clark stands there still concerned to what was going on, "When you traveled through the cosmos, you carried the hopes and dreams of your people. They now live through you, Kal-El. It is time to accept your destiny."
"I don't know what you have in mind for me, but I-" he starts to say only to watch the egg shape turn into the Earth with the sun setting behind it with the yellow glow shining behind the blue planet.
"By the setting of the sun Sol, you will return to me. Your destiny will be fulfilled."
Clark turns around ready to leave only to stop at the sight of his parents staring back at him with Lana and Lois in front of them smiling happily," Your thoughts are not a mystery to me, Kal-El. These people have served their purpose. It is time to leave them." Jor-El calls out from behind as Clark's heart races at the sight of Lois and as he reaches out to touch her, she dissolves into his hands along with the other images.
He turns back to see the ship had returned to its natural egg shape, "You must let go of your past. I will guide you to your future."
Clark finally snaps, "No, I don't want your guidance! I want to create my own future!"
"You have no choice, Kal-El." the pod spins and soon a blinding white light engulfs everything insight until the ship retains its natural form.
Lois stared at him surprised by the story and still comforted him when it got too difficult to speak, he would later go on to explain how he swiped the kryptonite key from Lionel to destroy the ship which ultimately led to his mother's miscarriage and the beginning of his summer vacation as Kal.
"Why didn't you call me or at least try to see me, I would've helped you through all of this."
Clark just slid his hands into hers, "A couple of days after I saw you at Lex's funeral, I decided to drop by Gotham City…"
Gotham City- Two Years Ago…Summer
Clark had been off of the red kryptonite for several minutes, the fear of what Kal might do when he saw Lois was too much to bear as more consequence.
Her laughter caused him to pause and hid in the darkness of the alleyway while he watched Lois and a red headed girl by the name of Barbara walk down the street corners, "So how was date number three with Gotham's most eligible bachelor?"
Lois shrugged trying to hide the blush that crept up her face, but to Clark she looked even more beautiful then the last time he had seen her.
"It wasn't a date, just dinner between friends and besides, Bruce knows I still have feelings for Clark."
Barbara immediately stands in front of Lois halting further movement, "You've been away from Smallville and Clark for like a year, are you seriously telling me that your still in love with him?"
Lois shrugged, "What am I supposed to do? I cant just turn off who I care about."
Clark bowed his head in defeat, while he was dulling the pain of heartache with moving on with Lana…she hadn't.
Barbara placed her hands on top of Lois's shoulders, "I know you care about Clark but its time to move on and maybe that person should be Bruce…I mean, he's charming and sweet…just the type of guy that's perfect for Lois Lane."
Not wishing to hear anymore, he rushed off into the darkness…
She stared at him surprised, "You were in Gotham and didn't even tell me!" the look on his face chilled the anger that was rising inside, Lois just smiled softly and wrapped her farm boy in a warm embrace, "Had I know…I would've gotten on the nearest plane to Smallville."
He just shook his head and framed her face with his large hands, "Its in the past now, were together and that's all that matters."
Lois brushed her lips to his softly, both forgetting where they were and the old memories that had torn them apart….it was just Lois and Clark.
TBC…
Its longer then I had anticipated but I didn't really want this chapter to be five parts so I decided this one to be longer….Comments would be much appreciated!