I apologize for not updating like I said I would, this week has been a very tiresome one. Thank you for all the comments, it made me want to get this chapter out faster... so i know y'all have been anticipating this as much as i have so to compromise for not posting quicker i made this chapter a little longer.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Superman, Smallville, or Justice League characters or settings. They belong to D.C. Comics.
Chapter 3: Visit in Smallville.
Screams could be heard, pain could be felt, guilt was felt. This is all Clark had dreamt, every time he fell asleep, and recently that was very rare, but that didn't stop them from consuming his every thought.
Clark was sat up in bed, his legs dangling off the side, and his face buried in his hands. He could never get the images out of his head, Clark rubbed his eyes and looked over at his alarm clock; 3:00AM. Clark let out a groan as he stood up and made his way to the bathroom, he turned on the sink facet and cupped his hands under the water, letting the water fill up in his hands and splashed his face.
Clark tried to think of anything else to take his mind off of Darkseid's attack, his mom, his friends, The League… Diana. He started to think of the day before and the explosion and being rescued by Wonder Woman, he was surprised that she was in Metropolis at that moment, which he never got a direct answer for… and Bruce, last time he talked to Batman he said Gotham was quiet, Joker was still in prison and his henchmen were not stupid enough to do anything without him. Something didn't add up with her explanation.
Clark walked to his shower and turned on the hot water, he removed his pajama bottoms and boxers before stepping under the water, letting the warm water run down his body. He needed to wash the sweat off himself and decided afterwards he would stop by Watchtower and see if there was anybody or anything that needed to be done. He needed to get his mind off everything and the only way he knew how to do was helping people.
Clark finished washing himself off, he grabbed his towel off the hanger, drying himself off with his superspeed. Clark walked over to a small closet in his bathroom, inside was empty besides a few towels he had folded on the upper shelf, to the right side of the door was what appeared to be a light switch, but as soon as Clark flipped it on a hatch opened pushing out a clean, untattered Superman suit. Clark grabbed the suit and shut the hatch, and quickly put it on.
Not a moment sooner, Clark was flying across the skyline of Metropolis, heading straight for the Watchtower. The Watchtower is a large tower building located in the heart of Metropolis, with a loft apartment overlooking the whole of the city. It is the tallest building in Metropolis, towering over LuthorCorp Plaza.
Clark landed down on the side of the building, where there was a metal door with a fingerprint scan and a retinal scan security system. Clark laid his hand on the scanning pad and placed his eye directly in front of the camera on top of the pad, "Hello Superman, you may enter." A robotic voice answered, the metal door slid opened, and Clark walked inside, on the other side of the door was actually an elevator that went straight up to the main loft that held all of Watchtower's equipment.
The elevator's doors opened and as Clark stepped out of the elevator, he saw screens all over the place, monitoring almost everywhere in the world. In the middle of the room, facing away from him sat a red haired woman watching the screens, Tess Mercer, the former CEO of LuthorCorp. "Guess you couldn't sleep…Again." Tess stated as a matter of fact, as she took a sip of her coffee, smirking behind the cup.
Clark rolled his eyes, and looked around the room at each individual monitor, trying to see if there were any discrepancies. "I just couldn't sit still, you know me…" Clark said, trying to wave Tess off.
"Trust me Clark, you've been flying around the world every night ever since the invasion, you need rest… so no, there's nothing that needs your attention tonight." Tess told him, as she watched him watching the monitors. "Oliver is in Germany, Diana is covering England and France, Wally is covering South America, Dinah is in Mexico, Arthur is covering every body of water, Victor and Bruce are working together between Star City, Metropolis, and Gotham, and Hal and John are watching over the rest of the states and other countries as well." She informed him "So you can rest."
Clark let out a heavy sigh and leaned against a table "Tess, they still can't be everywhere, I need to – ""To do something? I swear to God Clark, you are turning into an obsessed dumbass, you may be from another planet, but even you need to rest." Tess argued, turning around in her chair to face him.
"Don't!" Clark yelled at her "Don't tell me that I need to rest! I need to help these people, I'm the one that put their lives in danger in the first place!" Clark was now standing straight, his face now turning red.
Tess turned her head away to from him, now she felt guilty, she didn't understand what he must have been going through, and she probably never will. She slowly stood and walked to stand in front of Clark "Listen… I am not telling you to completely abandon your duties, I am saying you need to let the others help out and let you take a small break." She confessed "Go visit your mom in Smallville or go help Bruce with whatever project he's working on." She suggested.
Clark let out a heavy sigh and looked past Tess out of a small window, he saw the sun slowly creeping up over the horizon. "Maybe you're right… Wait." Clark started as he realized what she said about Bruce and his project "What project are you talking about? I never heard about Bruce saying anything."
Tess rolled her eyes "This is exactly what I am talking about Clark." She started "You have been out focusing on everything else, you barely ever check in here and when you do its only to ask for a job and nothing else!" Tess stated as she vented a lot of pent up agitation towards him. "Don't get me started on Chloe! You've barely talk to her, you don't check in on her, you don't check in on us!" Tess was finally done and out of breath, she was breathing heavy and ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
Clark was staring at the floor the whole time through her rant, he never thought that him pushing them would cause this much damage to them. "I'm sorry… I didn't know." He softly apologized "I wasn't thinking about how y'all felt." He stated.
"You should be." Tess answered in an agitated tone "Anyways, all I know is Bruce is working on a project for everyone in The League." She started, she looked past Clark and watched the camera that showed the entrance of the building, and saw Chloe was coming in for her shift. Tess walked to the chair she was sitting in and grabbed her cup of coffee and purse and started to walk towards the elevator "Chloe knows more… So, ask her." As soon as she got to the elevator, the door opened, Tess stepped in and Chloe stepped out.
Chloe looked taken back, when Tess pushed herself passed her, she didn't have time to ask what was going on, before the doors shut again. Chloe looked confused for a moment, then she saw a red and blue figure out of her side view… now she knew. She turned to the monitors Tess had been sitting in front of all night, and walked to sit down in the chair, the whole time not bothering to look at Clark.
"You finally decided to check in for once?" Chloe asked, as she sat down and started to type on the computer in front of her, checking Tess's reports and reports from The League. "You know there are other heroes other than yourself, right?" She added.
Clark sighed and nodded "Yes, Tess gave me a lecture before you came in." He informed his best friend. Chloe gave him a sideways stare and then glanced back at her screen.
"Yeah, well don't expect for me to let you off that easy." She muttered "Why are you here Clark?" She asked. Clark was now starting to feel uncomfortable than he was already feeling, only Chloe could make him that way, after years of friendship she was the only one he was afraid of, she knew all of his secrets and his weaknesses.
"Well, I came to see if there was anything that needed to be done." Clark admitted, he knew he couldn't lie, Chloe would see right through it before it even left his lips.
"Nope…" Was all Chloe had to say, while she continued looking through reports. Clark let out a sigh and walked closer to where she was sitting and leaned on the table slightly "Chloe… I'm sorry that I haven't been there for you, I'm sorry I haven't checked in or even been around." Clark apologized, full heartedly.
Chloe closed her eyes, as a lone tear escaped her closed lids, she let out a heavy breath and looked Clark in his eyes. How? How is he the only one who can make her forgive him in mere instances? Chloe rolled her eyes trying to play herself cool "I- I understand Clark… I've just been worried about you." She informed him "Especially after yesterday, I am glad Wonder Woman was close by."
At the sound of Wonder Woman's name, Clark remembered exactly what he wanted to ask her. "Chloe, Tess said that Bruce was working on a project for us, do you know what it is?" He asked.
Chloe looked at him sternly, she knew what most of the project was, but she could tell Clark had ulterior motives. "No… Not quite, but he has been working on it a lot, I tried to get a hold of him yesterday to see if he could come help you, but he wasn't answering." She answered. Wait… He didn't answer at all? He thought to himself. Diana wasn't telling him the truth, why?
Clark cleared his throat and nodded "Thanks." He told her and started to walk towards the elevator. Chloe turned in her chair quickly "Hey, where are you going?" She asked concerningly, how was he going to just ask and then walk out, and they had just patched things up!
The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside "Sorry Chloe, I got to go home, I need to think about some things." He told her. Why would Diana lie about what Bruce was doing? Did something happen? Clark let out a sigh and shook his head. He was going to take Tess's advice and go to Smallville for the weekend, home was the only place he could really think, and that's exactly what he needed, with that Clark exited the elevator and flew off to his apartment to change into his regular clothes and then leave for Smallville.
Fresh rural air, the smell of manure, and fresh cut pastures hit Clark as he flew over his hometown, Smallville. He felt all of his worries and all of his responsibilities lifted off his shoulders, it has been too long since he had visited his old home.
The first thing he saw when his families farm came into view was the old fashioned red barn, that he had spent majority of his teenaged years in, the barn was his fortress, before his actual fortress was created. The next thing he saw was the old yellow painted house, the house he was raised in after being found during the first meteor shower.
Clark landed in the old gravel driveway, he looked around seeing that there were no cars parked. That's weird I thought mom would be back in town, last I heard the senate were out of session. Clark thought to himself. Senator Kent, Martha Kent, his mom, who had taken the position of Senator after his dad, Jonathan Kent, who had passed away shortly after being elected to the senate himself. Lionel Luthor, who had been hanging around his family, more his mom, had talked the senate into accepting Martha into the seat, on behalf of Jonathan.
Clark walked to sit down in a chair, at the island counter in the kitchen, as he looked around the house, noticing how familiar everything looked, nothing has changed since he had been gone. Memories of his childhood and teen years rushing through his mind, all of his chores, the arguments with his parents, but also the lessons his parents taught him, his friends… being caught trying to sneak Lana out of his house early in the morning, causing him to blush slightly.
Clark got up from his chair, it felt so good to be home. He walked out of the house and made his way to the barn, he walked through the open double doors of the barn, seeing the bales of hay in the stalls, horse tack hung on wooden posts, he made his ways to the stairs that led up to the loft, that he had spent a lot of time in.
Clark closed his eyes and let out a slow breath and started to walk up the stairs. It has been so long since he had walked up these steps, as he topped the stairs, he noticed that everything was in the exact place he had left them. His desk that was pushed to the side, which had pictures and notebooks left on it, and then there was his old telescope, still set up pointing outside the loft window. The same telescope he would look up at the stars with, wondering where he was from and if there were any of his kind that were still out there… if his biological parents were out there; there were also other days he would set it up perfectly, that he had clear vision at the house across the road from him, Lana Lang's old home, where he would catch her reading out on her front porch.
So many memories were in the loft, more so than anywhere else he has been. First kisses, first break ups, beginning of friendships and the end of friendships. He walked to his old desk, sitting on the side of the window, the first picture he saw was that of Lana, he picked it up and slowly ran a finger down her face, so many memories flooding back to him, she was his first love. Clark set the picture back down in its spot and picked up another, that was him along with Pete Ross, his oldest friend, and of Chloe, and he thought of how much simpler things were back in high school… Somewhat.
So many memories… all lost in the past, Clark sat down in the old wooden chair and hung his head, now another weight was down on his shoulders, the thought of all of his friends, Lana, Chloe, Pete… Lex, everyone he promised to keep safe, he realized that was all a dream, his oldest fear came rushing back to him… He couldn't… not by himself; tears now threating to leave the walls of his lids.
Clack…clack…clack, the sound of heels climbing the steps came to his ears. Clark stood up as fast as he could and wiped his eyes. "Mom is that you?" Clark asked, watching the stairs and who ever was walking up.
"Definitely not Senator Kent, Kal." Came a familiar female voice… Diana? Clark quickly walked to the top of the stairs to see a raven haired woman, in a blue skirt, a white long sleeve buttoned down blouse, with a matching blue blazer… the sight took Clark by surprise, and he stood there with his mouth slightly open… he almost didn't recognize her.
"D-Diana? W-what are you doing here? What are you wearing?" Clark stumbled through his words. Diana giggled as she watched Clark look at her puzzled and stutter his words… Kind of cute, she thought.
"Well, Chloe told me where to find you." She informed him "I have been thinking about of lot of things, and I thought you were the perfect person to talk to about it." She started, she finished walking up the rest of the steps, Clark had stepped out of the way to let her pass, as she continued. "As for the clothes, I thought it would be best to wear a disguise like you… I figured you wouldn't want people asking questions about 'Wonder Woman' visiting your farm." She looked around the loft and walked over to the couch in the corner and sat down and looked back at Clark.
Clark watched her as she walked over to the couch, now slightly feeling a little nervous. "Um… Yeah that would cause a problem." He confirmed, he walked over to the open window and leaned back against it, looking at Diana. "So, what did you want to talk about?" He asked.
Diana looked around more as she sat in the couch, anywhere then looking Clark in the eyes. "Umm… I've been having these dreams, dreams that are about the invasion." She told him, her eyes finally landing on his and he could see the pain that they held.
Clark let out a sigh, he pushed himself off the wall he leaned on and walked to the couch and sat beside her. He placed a hand upon her shoulder "You're not the only one…" He informed her "That's mostly why I have been working overtime… It's all my fault I couldn't save those people."
Diana felt a small tingle go down her spine as she felt his hand on her shoulder, as she heard him lay the blame on himself, she jumped up and looked at him with fury "Kal! Don't say that! None of it was your fault!" She exclaimed. Clark was caught off guard by her outburst and he jumped back a little and looked away from her.
Clark re-composed himself and slowly stood back up, walking back to the window and looked towards the sky "You don't get it Diana… Darkseid was here for me." He confessed, not daring to look back at her. "I couldn't protect everyone… I promised to protect everyone, and I couldn't." Clark hung his head, as the tears were threatening to escape once again.
Diana didn't know what to say, how long has he been holding this in? how long as he felt like the weight of the world was solely on his shoulders? She looked at him with sorrow, she came up behind him and she returned her own hand on his shoulder "Kal… look at me." She told him, Clark remained quiet and shook his head. Diana let out a sigh and pulled back his shoulder, forcing him to turn towards her, she placed both of her hands on his face and made him look her in the eyes.
"Kal… It. is. not. your. fault." She told him slowly "Darkseid would have come to earth either way, he is a sick, twisted monster… Kal, The League would have never been created if that didn't happen… I wouldn't have gotten to know you…" Clark stayed silent, trying to keep his eyes off her, but as soon as she said her last words, there was a shock that pierced him, the way she said it made him think his dream with Rao.
Clark shook himself out of his daze, and cupped her hands with his, slowly pulling them off his cheeks "Diana… I am a monster… I am from another planet, and after Darkseid that's all people see me as." He stated and turned his back to her once again. "Not to mention, I will live longer than anyone on this planet… and generations to come they will still look at me the same." A lone tear now streaked down his cheek; how did this happen? How did he become so vulnerable at this moment?
Diana now wanted to cry herself, she had no idea this was how he felt. Diana, once again, put her hand on his shoulder "You are not alone Kal… I am an Amazon, I am Immortal. I will live just as long as a normal human." She stated "You're also not the only one who made a vow…" This caught Clark's attention, he wiped his eyes dry and looked at her in confusion "What do you mean?" He finally asked, breaking his silence.
Diana's face straightened as she now stood beside Clark, and leaned over the window, staring across the property. "Before I left Themyscira, when I put on this armor, it was a vow to protect my people from Ares… But then I thought, what if I could take that and protect all of humankind… so when I convinced Steve to bring me to Man's World, that's what I vowed… and I failed just as much as you Kal." She informed him.
Now it was Clark who looked at her with sorrow, he felt guilty that he was being selfish, and she also had this weight on her shoulders. "Dia- "Clark started to apologize but was cut off.
"The only difference is you can still come back to where you were raised." She stated and motioned to the property below them "And I cant." Clark shook his head, and he noticed that she too was starting to let tears come through. He slowly brought a hand and rested it on her cheek, slowly wiping away a tear with his thumb. "I'm sorry Diana… At least we know that we will be friends longer than any other friendship, and if you ever need something I am only a phone call away." Clark told her, trying to help cheer her up.
Diana chuckled, slightly and pressed her cheek into Clark's hand. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach, she had never felt like this, She and Clark had so much in common. Diana placed her hand onto Clark's and pulled it off her cheek, but kept his hand in hers, holding it. Her heart was racing faster and faster, Clark could hear it, and if she could hear his she would notice his doing the same. They stood there silently, contemplating on if one of them should make a move, to take that leap, even if there was still a great amount, they needed to learn about each other.
Clark watched Diana, the sunlight was hitting her face, making her olive toned skin glow, she was so beautiful… Clark started to think about Rao's message to him, he had his theories, but one thing he did know, Rao was talking about Diana… It had to be right? She matched what he had told him. There is one… but not human. Rao's words stuck on repeat in his head.
Diana was fighting the urge to grab him and kiss him; she had never felt this way about a man… No not a man… a god, in his own way. To her he looked like he was melded by Aphrodite herself, Steve Trevor had never made her feel this way, and to be brutally honest, every touch by Superman she could feel. Before she knew it, she found herself lifting herself up on her toes, slowly leaning towards Clark, and closing her eyes.
Clark found himself drawn into Diana's beauty and slowly leaned down to meet her lips with his, closing his eyes, he let himself to forfeit to his thoughts.
Just a mere inch apart, about to cross a line they can not turn back from, a loud honk was heard from the driveway. The pair snapped back to reality and jumped apart, both flushed and looked away from each other as fast as they could. Clark looked out to the driveway and to see who had interrupted the perfect moment.
A black limo was pulling into the driveway, and his heart started to race when he noticed who it was. Mom!
The limo came to a stop, the driver of the car stepped out and walked to open the back door for the occupant, Martha Kent stepped out of the car, along with a grey haired, older gentlemen, Lionel Luthor. Martha looked up at the barn and waved excitedly "Clark! It's been so long! Come inside, I'll put something on to eat!" She yelled and practically ran inside. Lionel waved to Clark as well "Good to see you, son, been keeping up with you! Come inside, lets catch up." He also yelled and followed Martha.
Clark never liked it when Lionel called him son, but he understood he meant no disrespect, and he had always been good to his mother and him, when they got closer. Clark looked over at Diana with an apologetic eyes "I guess you should be going?" He asked. Diana looked at him sternly for a moment "Are you kidding? I want to meet the woman who was patient enough to raise you." She exclaimed and started to walk towards the stairs.
Clark let out a sigh, and here I thought I would escape the awkwardness… Clark thought and followed Diana out of the barn.