Wanted to try my hand at Clark/Tess and got inspired by one Arrowverse Oliver/Kara fic. I think Clark and Tess could be good match if Clark was more open to morally grey things or if Tess had stronger moral values. I can understand why Clark, Lois, Chloe and Oliver and the JL members would be wary around Tess but she earned their trust eventually. Honestly, I was done with it in Seasons 5-6 but looking back, there were signs of Lana being dislikeable much earlier in Seasons 3-4 and if they were actually in character, Clark, Chloe and Oliver would be so done with her in Season 8. Also, I wanted to make Clark look less self-righteous like with Davis/Doomsday, since I think Davis was too far gone already but the love triangle with Chloe and Jimmy was just infuriating.

Now, I know Tess was Lex's blind follower up until Lana revealed that Lex had made her his digital eyes and ears, but just go with it, let's just say she knows exactly what kind of man Lex is, though she can get morally greyer than Clark does.

Also, this is an AU, so don't really put the events in canon in consideration here.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in Smallville.

Clark had decided to take some time for himself after the ordeal with his death and resurrection and restoration of his powers. His friendship with Lex and trust in Lana had been shattered for good and he contemplated what would his restoration cost from what Jor-El had told him. He was on a small island in Central America, trying to gather his thoughts. This was a place where he could think and get some space for himself and considering his speed-learning abilities, he was able to quickly pick up Spanish before he ended up on a beach and sat down, staring at the sunset, contemplating, when he heard footsteps and sensed someone approaching.

"Excuse me."

Clark turned his head and got up to his feet to notice a beautiful red-haired woman in red dress and in her late 20s.

"Didn't anyone tell you this beach is a private property?" The woman asked.

"Oh… I'm sorry. I was out jogging and didn't notice any signs here." Clark said, looking embarrassed as he looked around.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to call the cops. Though I wonder what is a handsome man like you doing here." The woman said with a teasing tone.

"Honestly, I just needed some isolated place to think. Get away from… personal stuff." Clark said and the woman nodded. "Sorry for trespassing."

"If I invite you into my place, then you wouldn't be anymore, technically. Care for a drink?" The woman offered.

Clark looked at the woman warily but he didn't seem to be threatened by her and so far she had not given him a reason to mistrust her.

"I guess I could use some cold beverage with ice." He said with a shrug.

"Well, then, follow me." The woman said as Clark followed her upstairs as she offered her hand. "Tess Mercer."

"Clark Kent." Clark said.

"Clark Kent of the Smallville Crows. I read about you. You and your family have actually attracted a lot of attention in years." Tess said and Clark nodded. "Also heard that you turned down football scholarship at Met U."

"Yeah… I just… wanted to choose a different direction in life." Clark said with a shrug.

"I can understand that." Tess acknowledged as Clark entered her estate. Inside was marbled floor and tables and walls and the furniture seemed to be very fancy, so obviously, she was a wealthy woman. Around were also on the walls paintings and pedestals with statues and vases.

"Where'd you get the money for it?" Clark asked.

"Years of work in corporate world and setting up my own trust fund." Tess said with a shrug.

"So you don't work actually?" Clark asked.

"Not anymore. I guess you could say I wanted some space for myself to contemplate as well. Didn't want to be tied up again. I plan on making my own mark someday but right now I'm right where I want to be." Tess said.

"I see." Clark said as Tess reached for the fridge at the bar and picked two glasses and poured bourbon in them.

"Bourbon?" Tess offered as she put cubes of ice in the glasses.

"Sure." Clark said with a shrug, since alcohol wouldn't affect him as they sat down and began talking, turning the afternoon into sharing stories, laughter and flirtatious conversation, up until a certain moment.

"I have to say, I didn't make many friends at work, so it's nice to have someone I can talk to and be open with. Last relationship didn't exactly end well for me, since the guy wasn't really faithful to me." Tess said with a flicker of envy in her eyes.

"Some people can disappoint." Clark said, speaking from experience.

"Guess you've had your share of failed relationships?" Tess asked and Clark nodded.

"And I know what it's like when the people you care about turn out to be people you never really knew at all." Clark said. "I know I had my share of blame too but I didn't push them to the choices they had made."

They turned to the clock to see how late it was as Tess blushed. "Oh, my God, I can't believe we spent so long talking."

"It's alright, it happens. I guess I should head back to my place. It's a rented lodge in a town down the road." Clark said.

"A lodge? You know you could get a better room in a hotel, not as good as here…" Tess gestured around. "…but still better than that place for a cheaper price?"

Clark shrugged. "I grew up on a farm. I'm good with small and simple."

"Fair enough." Tess said as Clark grabbed his jacket and was about to leave when Tess kissed him on his cheek and he smiled at her before leaving her estate.

Few days later, Clark was reading newspapers at a café, when he noticed someone sitting across him and he lowered the newspapers to notice Tess.

"Guess our paths cross again, huh?" Tess teased.

"Guess so." Clark shrugged with a smile.

"This place has the best coffee on the island." Tess said as a waiter approached.

"Ah, Buenos dias, senorita Mercer." The waiter said in Spanish, recognizing Tess.

"Hola, Carlos. Dos cappuccinos." Tess said and the waiter nodded. "Gracias."

The waiter left as Clark smiled at her. "I'd expect you to have your own coffeemaker back in your place, Miss Mercer."

"I may live in a mansion and I may have money but I'm only human, Clark." Tess teased. A dog approached them as Tess patted him before a man called the dog, leaving her. "Do you like dogs?"

"I actually have one back on the farm where I live. Shelby. A friend of mine is taking care of him." Clark said.

"I never had a dog, when I was small, though I do enjoy their company, pets can make a mess in a big place." Tess said.

"So why not try to settle down in a smaller place so that you can look out for him?" Clark questioned.

"One day I might." Tess acknowledged as they smiled at each other before the waiter served them coffee and they drank.

"Would you mind going for a walk?" Clark asked.

"I certainly wouldn't." Tess chuckled as they both got up, while Tess left a tip at the table.

They spent rest of the day exploring the island on foot, having a lunch at a restaurant and later at the bar they were playing darts. While Clark was able to hit bullseye with all three darts, to his surprise, Tess also almost could, close to the center with the first one.

"Nice aim. Though bullseye is about luck." Clark said as Tess shrugged.

"I learned how to make paper airplanes when I was a kid. It's difficult trying to hit the center." Tess said.

"Do or do not, there is no try. Wanna hit the bullseye?" Clark asked as he stood next to Tess, holding her arm. "Don't spring your whole arm. It's in the elbow and forearm. Pull and let go, don't throw. Pull and release."

Tess nodded and the second one was also close to the center but the third one hit bullseye.

"Well, nice job, Master Yoda." She quipped as Clark chuckled.

Clark had accompanied Tess back to her estate as they smiled at each other.

"I think I should head back." Clark said.

"You're not going to stay?" Tess asked. "I can think of one reason why you could." She teased as she slowly untied the robe she had been wearing, revealing her assets a little at the edges of the robe.

Clark considered and smiled before they kissed and Tess opened the door and they entered and laid down on the couch, with Tess unbuttoning Clark's shirt, while he took off her robe as she laid down, nude and moaned softly, while they both continued caressing the skin on each other's exposed bodies as they each reached for their partners' waists and taking off the underwear and pants.

Tess stirred as she turned her head but noticed that she was alone in bed, while she felt the sunlight on her face. She got up and put on a nightie as she went downstairs to see Clark making coffee.

"For a moment I thought you left." Tess said.

"Wasn't going to leave without saying 'goodbye' or letting you have another cup of coffee." Clark said.

"Do you really have to?" Tess asked.

"As much as I enjoy it here and your company, I have my roots set elsewhere already." Clark said with a smile.

"I understand. Guess I'll see you around, Clark." Tess said.

They shared a coffee and smiled before kissing as Clark put his jacket on and left.

But at the edge of the estate, he looked around and noticed men in dark outfit and equipped with guns and other equipment before he felt a barrel of a gun at the back of his head and heard 'click'.

"Don't be stupid and we'll let you live. Is Mercer in there?" The man asked.

"What do you want with her?" Clark asked.

"Answer my question." The man sneered. Clark quickly looked around to be sure no one would see him and next thing the man knew, he was down on the ground, out cold. Clark saw the truck from which more mercs were going out and he rammed it in superspeed as it toppled, knocking them out before he heard gunshots inside the estate and entered.

As Clark entered, he noticed Tess breathing out heavily, holding a gun in her hand and in front of her was a man in the same outfit as the other ones outside, bleeding out on the floor with gunshot wounds on his chest.

"Tess. You OK?" Clark asked as Tess took deep breaths and nodded as she turned to him with bruises on her face and arms.

"Yeah. It's not the first time some thugs tried to get to me." Tess said.

The rest of the mercs were later arrested as Clark treated Tess's bruises.

"Has this happened to you before?" Clark asked.

"Let's just say I've done things I'm not proud of and that don't make me sleep easy at night but I know who I am and I know where's the line between right and wrong. But the world isn't as black-and-white as you might think." Tess said.

"It is covered in shades of grey. But I wonder how many darker shades are there from your point of view." Clark said, looking at her worriedly.

"Less than you think." Tess assured. "You're a good man, Clark. Maybe too good for your own sake. I understand why you don't want to cross some lines but sometimes you have no choice and you have to do whatever it takes."

"At what cost?" Clark asked. "I know some limits must be crossed but I won't let that compromise who I am."

"That's why you should have someone there who knows you. Someone who helps you remind you who you are, who won't let you become a man you won't recognize anymore. I used to have someone like that but we grew from who we were and I'd like to think that I don't need someone like that again… but I might be wrong." Tess said.

"Maybe not as wrong as you think." Clark teased as they smiled, holding hands before the energy started to build up between them as they kissed again and laid down on the table, tossing their clothes aside.

Not sure if I did a good job with this but hope you liked it. I can see Clark/Tess work, if Clark was more open to shades of grey and morally ambiguous things or if Tess had stronger moral values.

Please review and let me know if you have enjoyed this one-shot.

With regards

Bl4ckHunter