A/N: Just did a Word Count when I finished writing this chapter, and it's my longest EVER chapter. Plus this fic has the most chapters I've written for any of my past work. Two personal records for me! Hope you enjoy this one, it flowed out of my mind like a rainbow or something. It's past midnight again. Oh, well. Oh, about the guest review on Chapter Twenty-Eight, what did you mean by "Dessert"? You've confused me! Thank you to all the followers and favourites, I hope I can impress you all more! -AtrophysFinest.
You're Not The Only One
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Shopping in a Snowstorm
As John and Chloe reached town, they spent ten minutes looking for a parking space. Chloe had complained that people shouldn't have started their shopping so early, John merely found it amusing. (He would have teleported both himself and his Princess from store to store if he knew his secret wouldn't be an issue.).
When they finally found a parking space, ('Finally' being the operative word!), John and Chloe left the powder blue hatchback and the latter locked the vehicle's doors, the couple then making their way to the first store on their list: Turner's Clothing Emporium.
Turner's Clothing Emporium was in reality an average-sized shop, but his father and grandfather before him kept the same name above the double doors as a mark of Smallville tradition. Robert 'Bobby' Turner III knew John from about a week ago, when the Kryptonian had saved the mid-fifties man from a hold-up.
When they entered the store, the small brass bell above the doors clanged and John closed the doors behind them before facing the numerous clothing racks and stands. Numerous garments of various colours, shapes and sizes were on display before them.
Within moments of hearing the bell, a short, stocky balding man with a wide grin approached the couple. "Well, hello, young lovers! Welcome to the place where you'll ALWAYS see a rainbow of fabric: Turner's Clothing Emporium!" John smirked and nodded to Bobby. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Turner." Bobby grinned. "Call me Bobby, son. You saved the lives of myself and my customers! You're becoming a real superhero around these parts!"
John released a nervous chuckle. (He found the whole 'Superhero' thing corny. He was mostly worried about the fact that people might began to get suspicious about his abilities. He didn't dare risk getting deliberately injured and ending up in hospital. He was certain his physiology was different to that of humans, regardless of his natural ability.).
John scratched the back of his head nervously. "Um, Bobby... Is my order ready for pickup?" Bobby smiled and walked over to the counter, looking through his leather-bound ledger. His finger trailed down and across the numerous pages till he found the correct order. "Ah, here it is, Mr. Kent! Shall I bag it up for you?" John nodded. "If you could, please." He turned to Chloe. "No arguments, Princess. I'm carrying everything."
Chloe merely nodded with a grin, refusing to argue. She knew that John would decline her offer to carry anything. (He was a gentleman like that.). When Bobby had packed John's order, the Kryptonian paid for the service and left the store with Chloe.
The icy wind was picking up. Chloe had to huddle into John's arm, while the Kryptonian smirked. He was beginning to enjoy the cold weather. The next business establishment was the hardware store, managed by Linda and Frank O'Neill. Having moved to Smallville from Boston forty years ago as children with their parents, the brother and sister were hard workers, and enforced this on their employees, but also treated their workforce as a family.
When the couple entered the store, the siblings smiled at the teenagers. Linda was the first to speak to John and Chloe. "Sorry, kids, we're closing in five minutes. If you want anything, you'll have to... Have to..." Linda sneezed. Violently. When she recovered and cleaned her olfactory passages, she resumed speaking.
"Sorry about that. I was GOING to say if you want anything, you'll have to be quick." John and Chloe smiled and nodded, both walking over to the counter, where Frank was arranging some small boxes of screws and nails on the shelf behind the counter. He turned to the couple and smiled. "How can I help you both?"
John smiled and spoke to Frank. "Mr. O'Neill, by any chance do you have my father's order ready? He would have come and collected it himself, but he's sick. I'm here in his place. Order for Kent, Jonathan." Frank looked through his own ledger and shook his head. "Sadly not, Mr. Kent. With the bad weather, we haven't been able to get the parts through. I'll telephone your land-line as soon as they're in." John nodded.
"Thank you all the same, Mr. O'Neill. Thank you for your time. Goodbye." John and Chloe left the store, not expecting the blizzard to hit them so soon. Chloe held onto John's arm like a barnacle on a ship's hull, while the Kryptonian welcomed the storm. He stopped for a moment and held the shopping bags with two fingers, while he used the rest of his arm to reach behind Chloe's head and pull her hood over her head, leaving her to fasten the drawstrings. She nodded her thanks, unable to speak.
They walked to The Talon and bought some coffee. John looked at Chloe, he was worried about her. The blizzard had clearly hit her hard. He sat next to her for a moment. "Princess, I want you to stay here till I'm done shopping. You can stay warm. I'll be okay, I don't mind the cold. Don't worry about me. Just keep that smile, it always warms my heart." Chloe slapped John's shoulder and kissed him. "You're too adorable. Stay safe. I love you, Prince." John nodded and smirked, returning the kiss. "So are you. I love you, Princess."
John then got up and turned to the doors, leaving The Talon. He could easily navigate through the storm, his enhanced vision made light work of this icy wind. He walked over to the jewellers, his final port of call for the day's shopping.
Opening the door, he was met with Gary Tucker II, Smallville's purveyor of birthstones and other accessories. He nodded toward the Kryptonian. "Ah, Mr. Kent. Here for your order, I presume? It's all ready for payment. Where is the lovely Miss Sullivan, this afternoon?" John smiled. "She's getting some much-needed coffee. This blizzard has hit her hard, Mr. Tucker. How much is it?"
Gary made his way over to the cash register and pressed a few buttons. "That will be three hundred dollars, Mr. Kent. If you'd like, I could charge it to your account?" John shook his head. "No, thank you. I just have enough. I was working double shifts at The Talon to pay for this. Chloe's worth it."
Gary nodded and took the money, placing it in the register's tray. "You'd best get back, I have to close up, and you can never keep a lady waiting!" John nodded and left the store, heading straight for The Talon.
When he reached the doors, he stopped for a moment, hearing raised voices. His enhanced hearing picked up the voice of a man in his late twenties, agitation was clear in the man's voice. "All of you, stay on the floor and no-one will get hurt! Hey, you! Don't even THINK about calling the cops!" John heard a gun being cocked and ran inside, leaving his bags in the small alcove between the doors and the main area of The Talon.
He found a man wearing a woollen hat, black jeans, black jacket and thick black gloves. The man wielding the firearm turned to face John, pointing the gun at him. "Stay back, I'm warning you! If you take one step closer, I'll shoot you!"
John looked toward Chloe for a femtosecond and turned his attention back to the man with the weapon. He raised his hands to his chest and took a slow, cautious step towards the assailant. "Easy, now. You don't want to hurt anyone. Just... Just give me the gun, no-one has to get in the way. Let's talk about this." The man kept his gun pointed at John. "Stay the Hell back! I mean it! I'll shoot!"
The man clutched his cloth bag, filled with takings from The Talon. John could tell the man was desperate. The criminal's hands were shaking, severely affecting his aim of the firearm. He was sweating. John took another cautious step forward. "Come on. I can get you some help. You don't need to resort to this. I can help you. Let me help you."
The man lowered his gun and his for a second to mop his perspiring forehead with his sleeve. John knew that this would be his only chance. Not taking a moment to think, he ran to the man and tackled him to the floor. When the man was pinned down, John shouted to Chloe. "Grab his gun! NOW!"
Chloe ran over and pried the firearm from the thug's fingers, keeping it aimed at the man. John nodded his thanks to Chloe. Chloe smiled weakly. She was clearly distressed by this, as were the patrons and staff. John turned his head to the barista behind the counter. "Call the cops, and someone get me something to bind his hands with!"
While the barista was on the phone, she'd walked into the kitchen and returned, handing John some cheese wire. John nodded his thanks and flipped the man over, tying his hands behind him. When he stood up, (dragging the thug with him,), he placed the man on a chair and watched him, never moving his gaze while he inspected the weapon. He managed to remove the magazine and found out that it was filled with tiny plastic balls.
"You used a child's toy to hold up a coffee house!?" The man merely hung his head. "You don't know how easy you guys have it. This toy was my kid's present. I stole some spray paint from the hardware store and painted the gun black. I... I just wanted to feed my family. I have too much pride..."
The man shut his eyes tightly as he felt tears run down his cheeks. John didn't understand what was going on. He pulled Chloe into his arms and she happily welcomed the embrace, immediately finding solace and comfort.
When the police arrived and took the man away, John gave the officers general details and told them he wanted to take Chloe home, before anything. She was his top priority. Chloe kept hold of John, tighter than ever, refusing to let go.
When they reached her car, Chloe struggled to unlock her door. John took the keys from her and kissed her forehead. "Princess, are you sure you're okay to drive? I think I can manage the trip home. The storm's letting up. I'll be careful, I promise. Switch?" Chloe nodded weakly.
When the couple switched seats, Chloe kept her hand on John's thigh, refusing to let go. John was glad Chloe was safe. He loved her far too much. After a shaky start, John managed to drive all the way back to the farm as safely as possible.
The realisation that he had to explain everything to his parents had just hit him.
He swallowed a huge lump in his throat.
"Here goes nothing..."
He laced his fingers with Chloe's and walked inside.
End Of Chapter Twenty-Seven
