A/N: So I'm glad to say this will be a project beta'd by my best friend AvalonXNaruto! So excited for the opportunity to work with her again!
"WHY? WHY did you touch her?! She never did anything to you!" Clark Kent yelled, holding Tim Wescott in the air by the throat, eyes still burning red in fury at what that animal had done to the woman Clark loved. To Alicia. Alicia who lay on the ground, strangled by the scum held in Clark's grip. Alicia who had opened Clark's eyes, made him realize that he could be normal and special at the same time. Made him realize that his abilities didn't make him a freak or a monster. They were as much a part of him as her ability to teleport was a part of her. She more than anyone had understood him, understood what it was to deal with the struggles that came with his abilities. And now she was gone, her life extinguished as easily as one might extinguish a candle.
"Because...What she is, what you are...it's not natural. You're an abomination, and you had to be erased. Smallville needs to go back to the way it used to be...It needs to be saved." Tim said, a demented smile crossing his face.
Clark's anger rose as he heard the boy's words. He tightened his grip around the younger man's throat, wanting nothing more than to end him, to take from him what he had taken from Alicia.
"Whose life is this?"
The words came to him, words spoken by a man who had found Clark in Metropolis years ago, a man who had talked him off the edge, who had prevented him from doing something he had known Clark would regret. And though a part of Clark cursed the man, the reply came to his mind easily enough, the alien remembering when the man had answered his own question.
"It's my life. Now what are you going to do with it?"
"Live it. By any means necessary." Clark whispered quietly, feeling the fire leave his eyes.
"What are you saying? Crying for the-"
Clark punched the boy in the face, knocking him unconscious. He allowed Tim to fall to the floor of the barn, shaking his head in disgust.
"I'm saying that this is my life, and I'll live it by whatever means necessary. And while I would love nothing better than to kill you, I won't become the monster you are."
He walked over to where Alicia lay, bending down and picking her up in his arms.
"I'm so sorry. I wish I had gotten here faster, that I had known what he was going to do. I-"
He stopped, closing his eyes and listening, focusing his hearing on the woman in his arms. And he felt tears well up in his eyes for the second time that evening. Though it was faint, he heard Alicia's heart beat. The next moment he was walking through the doors of Smallville Medical.
"What happened?" A Doctor asked as she ran over.
"She was attacked. Strangled." He said, placing Alicia on the stretcher that had just been carried over by another two members of the hospital staff.
The Doctor nodded, yelling orders even as Alicia was taken through the double doors that led deeper into the hospital. Clark stood there until the doors closed behind the Doctor, and then he walked out of the hospital. There was nothing more he could do here for the moment, and he needed to make sure Tim didn't get up and walk away.
Twenty Minutes Later-Smallville Medical
"I'm proud of you son. I know it can't of been easy, but you did the right thing." Jonathan Kent said, and Clark nodded in acknowledgement of his dad's words. The young man stood up as he saw Alicia's mother and father walking into the hospital.
"Mr. and Mrs. Baker I-"
"Where is she? Where is the little brat?" Alicia's mother asked, cutting Clark off.
"She's in surgery. She's been hurt, but-"
"She'll wish she was hurt when I'm done with her. Little bitch has been nothing but trouble ever since she got these freakish powers. I'll stomp it out of her if-"
"You'll never touch that girl again." Sheriff Adams said as she walked over to them.
"You're both under arrest for abuse of a minor."
"How we discipline our daughter is our business!" Alicia's mother yelled as the Sheriff placed her in handcuffs alongside her husband.
"Not when your idea of discipline involves literally putting a teenage girl in a cage. I saw what you called her bedroom. Prisoners in my jail are treated better."
"You had no-"
"I had a tip that Miss Baker being placed back into your care would only agarvate her injuries. Now based on what I saw at your home and the words I heard when I came in here, I can guarantee you that you will never see your daughter again. Deputy take them away."
As the Deputy marched Alicia's parents to the police cruiser that would take them off to the jail, Clark smiled the first smile he'd had in more than two days.
"Thank you Sheriff. The thought of her going back to those people…"
"Thank you Mr. Kent, for telling me and not dealing with them yourself."
He nodded at her words, understanding what she wasn't saying. Sheriff Adams was not an idiot. She knew, and probably had known for some time that Clark was different. However, she also respected what the young man was doing to combat the criminals in Smallville, criminals that would be somewhat difficult, or in some cases nearly impossible, for the Sheriff and her deputies to handle. So she would stay silent about Clark's secret.
A moment passed, and the Sheriff cleared her throat.
"Now, we need to talk about Miss Baker. Assuming that she lives, her parents will obviously be in no position to care for her, and she has no other immediate family. So I will have no other choice but to contact social services and-"
"We'll take her." Clark interrupted, drawing a look from both his parents.
"Son-"
"Dad, please. I almost lost her once. Please don't make me lose her again." He asked, the desperation clear in his voice.
Martha and Jonathan shared a look, having a silent conversation with only their eyes. A moment later, Jonathan turned to the Sheriff.
"Sheriff Adams, we'll take Alicia home." He said, and the Sheriff smiled.
"I'll draw up the papers." She said, before walking away to do just that.
"Thank you."
Jonathan Kent smiled in response to his son's words before his face turned serious.
"Clark, I understand why you wanted to bring Alicia home. But while you both are under our roof, your mother and I expect you two to behave yourselves."
"Dad, I get it. Neither one of us are ready for that. Especially me." He said quietly.
While Clark loved Alicia with all his heart, he was nowhere near ready to be intimate with her. Not to mention that with his powers, it would be dangerous for him to be with anyone in that way. He looked back towards the double doors leading to where Alicia was, shaking his head. He knew there was nothing he could do but let the doctor's work, but he hated standing around feeling useless. Noticing his son's restlessness, Jonathan spoke up.
"Clark, it'll be a while before Alicia's out of surgery and can receive visitors. Why don't you go get some rest?" He said, and Clark nodded.
"Sure thing Dad. Call me when she gets out." He said, and Jonathan nodded, embracing his son.
"It'll be okay Clark."
The young man just nodded once before walking out of the hospital. As soon as he got out of the hospital he disappeared in a blur, coming to a stop a moment later. He walked up the steps of the two-story house and knocked on the door, hoping the occupants of the house were still awake.
A moment later he received his answer, the front door opening to reveal a tall African-American man. The man smiled as he saw Clark, shaking the younger man's hand.
"Clark Kent. It's good to see you son." He said, and Clark smiled.
"It's to see you too Mr. Pierce. I hope this isn't a bad time?" He asked, and Jefferson Pierce shook his head, allowing the young man to enter his home.
"Not at all. Lynn was just setting the table for dinner. And how many times do I need to tell you to call me Jeff?" He asked, and Clark laughed.
'Well, well, if it ain't my favorite farmboy." Jennifer Pierce said as she walked over to him, embracing the young man.
"And how is her royal highness today?" Clark asked, and she punched him in the arm, ignoring her father's smile.
"I'm good. Now what're you doing here?"
"Well I heard your mom was cooking." He replied with a smile.
"I've already got you a place at the table Clark." Lynn said as she walked in, giving the Smallville native a hug.
"Thank you. Where's Anissa?" He asked, looking around for the final member of the Pierce family.
"Upstairs." Lynn replied, and Clark looked at Jeff who nodded.
Clark grinned and walked upstairs, stopping outside Annisa's door a moment later. He raised his hand to knock and froze, hearing sobs coming from within. He opened the door quietly, seeing Annisa Pierce curled into a ball against the far wall.
"Anissa? Anissa, it's Clark. Look at me." He said quietly, walking over to her and bending down so that he was at eye level with her.
"Anissa, what's wrong?"
"I...I don't know. I…"
She trailed off, pointing to the bathroom. Clark walked over, seeing the sink torn off the wall.
"You've got powers." He said when he walked back over to her.
"I...I don't know what to do. I swear I didn't know I-"
"It's okay. You don't have to do anything with them if you don't want to. But I'd be glad to help you learn to control them if you want to." He said, sitting down next to her.
For a long time there was silence. Then Anissa spoke,
"Please don't tell anyone."
"It's not my secret to tell. I promise you, no one will hear about your abilities from me."
"Not even my dad?" She asked, and he smiled.
"Not even your father. If he's pissed at me later...It wouldn't be the first time I've gone toe-to-toe with Black Lightning. Now, I'm going to go fix the sink. You want me to bring you up some dinner?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"No thanks. I'll come down." She said, squeezing his hand in thanks. Clark nodded before fixing the sink at superspeed. Then the two walked downstairs.
"Took you two a while. Something we should know?" Jenifer asked, and Clark laughed.
"No. Anissa was helping me work through something. It's part of why I'm here actually. Jeff, I need your help."
Ten minutes later the family was gathered around the table, Clark taking a seat in between Anissa and Jen, while Jeff and Lynn sat on the other side.
"How can I help you Clark?" Jeff asked, looking the younger man over with a critical eye.
"You can let my girlfriend and I enroll at Garfield High. I don't think Smallville is the best place to be anymore."
"Have you talked to your parents about this?" Lynne asked, and Clark shook his head.
"No. I wanted to know if it was even an option first."
"Maybe if you explained what the situation is I could give you a better answer one way or the other." Jeff replied, and Clark nodded. He explained what had happened with Tim, how he had framed Alicia for crimes she didn't commit. He didn't reveal the nature of Alicia's powers, but he told them everything else.
"You stopped me you know? Just like you did in Metropolis. I had Tim by the throat, and God help me I have never been so angry. I almost tore his head off. Thank you." He said, and Jeff nodded.
"You ask me, the world would be a whole lot better off without assholes like that guy. He sounds like one of those friend of humanity idiots on x-men." Jen said with a glare.
"That's actually a pretty apt comparison, except for the fact that he's a hypocrite with powers of his own." Lynne said.
"Well now he's in a cell at Belle Reve. No more powers, and no more threats to my girlfriend." Clark replied with a satisfied smile.
"Okay, now you gotta give us the details! How'd you two meet?" Jen asked, and Clark shook his head. Knowing Jen as he did, he should of seen that one coming.
Two hours later, Clark was saying his goodbye's to the Pearce family. He hugged Lynne, Jenifer and Anissa and shook Jeff's hand.
"Sleep on it, and talk with your parents. If they agree and you still want to transfer, I would be happy to have you."
"Thank you." Clark replied.
"Hey farmboy, don't forget you, Anissa and I have got bowling on Thursday. Bring your girl if you can." Jen said, and Clark nodded.
"Sure thing. Anissa, about what we talked about-"
"I'll call you. Maybe we can grab coffee one night this week and talk."
"Sounds good. I'll see you around." Clark said, and then he disappeared in a blur.
"That is so cool." Jen said, and Anissa nodded. Then she thought about her own new abilities, and wondered if her family would think they were cool?
A/N: So I know, I know! The last thing I need to be doing is starting a new story! But I couldn't get the idea out of my head of what if Clark was stopped by something besides Lois when he was after Tim? Also, I've really enjoyed Black Lightning, so the chance to do a crossover is great fun! Please let me know your thoughts in a review!
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