Chapter 12: A Breakup and a Second Chance

At school Bruce and Selina were talking in the hallway.

"Do you think Clark's gonna be okay?" Selina asked. "He was still pretty messed up when we took him home."

They thought back to last night during their deprograming, or more accurately their exorcism of Clark. At one point Clark had collapsed into Bruce's arms, crying. Bruce didn't like this as all.

"You're right Batman! She has all the power and I have nothing!" He cried loudly and obnoxiously.

"What do I do?" He whispered to Selina.

"Comfort your friend!" She whispered back.

Clark's loud crying continued. Bruce reluctantly patted him on the back. "Okay. Let it out, I guess?"

But now Bruce looked at the man approaching them. It was a completely different man than the sobbing mess from last night.

"Did you hear me?" Selina snapped his attention back to her. "I asked if you think Clark's okay."

"See for yourself." He said with a grin.

Selina turned and saw Clark. He was rocking his best looking red flannel shirt. Blue jeans that fit him perfect. A clean shave and a posture that resembled his old self.

"Bruce. Selina." He greeted them both.

"Boy scout." Bruce greeted him.

"Farm boy." Selina greeted him.

He smiled. "Will you two accompany me to the library. I might need some backup."

"Of course we'll.-" Bruce was cut off by a sharp elbow to the gut by Selina. "Ow, I mean backup for what?"

"I'm gonna break up with Talia for good. A couple friends of yours snapped some sense back into me. Well, more like, smacked some sense back into me."

"We'd he more than happy to back you up with that." Selina replied.

The three of them made their way to the library. As confident and as good as Clark felt, he knew he'd need some support in dealing with the psychopath.

As they all entered together, Talia saw them from behind the checkout desk and folded her arms. She didn't like the looks of the three of them together. But she put on her devilish grin and greeted them.

Clark smelt her perfume and it made him almost sick. The smell didn't arouse him anymore. It made him want to protect himself. The Pavlovian technique worked.

"Oh Bruce and Sandra." She greeted them.

Selina frowned. "It's Selin- Why do I even acknowledge her?"

Talia continued. "How nice of you two to bring me this yummy snack." She licked her lips at Clark.

He took a couple of deep breaths and spat out, "We should breakup."

Talia looked at him for a second and laughed. "Oh what's the matter my little Clarky-poo. Did the bad people get to you?"

Selina flashed a disturbed look. "That's like a fucked up Dr. Seuss poem."

Talia looked at Bruce. "What's the matter, Bruce? Jealous of us?"

Bruce chuckled. "Jealous? No. Terrified for my best friend's safety? Hell yes."

Clark continued his breakup. "A few mutual friends helped me realize just how unhealthy this relationship is. Literally! You kept me out of the sun. The vaping is a nasty habit. The all vegan diet you had me on for not even a week, threw my digestive system for a loop. And the skinny jeans were cutting off my circulation."

Talia shrugged. "So long as the blood flows to the one place that counts." She said in her baby talk voice.

"Oh no." Selina leaned over and whispered to Bruce. "We didn't prepare him for baby talk."

"Have faith, Cat." Bruce replied.

"Don't do the baby talk." Clark's demand came out more like a plead of mercy.

"Why? Don't you wike it? Aren't you my wittle baby?"

Clark posture began to hunch.

"You can do this Clark. Stay strong." Bruce called out.

Clark nodded and straightened back up. "I'm not a baby. I'm a big boy!"

Selina shrugged. "Yeah, Okay. That's not how I'd do it."

Talia continued. "You don't want to break up with me. You want to leave here with me, go to the sleaziest motel in town, and wrap yourself around me like a coiled snake."

"Oh Christ." Bruce groaned.

"What is wrong with this bitch?" Selina asked.

Clark began to struggle. "I don't."

"Yes you do. I'll be your big Eucalyptus tree and you'll be my little baby Koala."

Clark still struggling just shook his head.

"Okay Clark. Tell you what," she began taking off her clothes.

"No way." Bruce said shocked.

"Let's get down in dirty right here, right now." She said as she took off all her clothes and revealed herself to them. "Let's do it. Hell Bruce and Amanda are welcome to join in."

"That one doesn't even start with an S- what am I even talking about? What the hell are you doing?"

Some girl in glasses walked up to Selina and shushed her. "This is a library!"

Selina look at her confused and pointed at Talia. "Do you even see what's happening here?"

"You got this Clark." Bruce said. "Just end it."

Clark remembered Batman and Catwoman's training and looked up and away from her.

"Look at my boobs." Talia ordered

"No."

"Look downstairs."

"No."

"There's a prize inside for you."

He looked right into her eyes. "It's over Talia."

Talia gasped.

"Finish her!" Bruce called out.

"To hell with you woman... Goodbye." He turned his back to her and walked away.

"Are you kidding me?" Talia shrieked. "You'll come back! They all come back!" She began knocking over some book stands.

Bruce patted Clark on his back as the three of them made their exit.

"Proud of you brother. I knew you had it in you."

Selina couldn't help but hang back for a second and watch Talia's naked meltdown a little longer.

"Who wants a piece of me? Come on! Who wants to get it on, I'm naked!"

Clark stopped and turned to Bruce. "Thanks Bruce."

"For what?" He asked.

"For you and Selina literally knocking some since into me last night."

Bruce couldn't believe it. He knew. "What are you talking about?" He tried to play it off.

"What am I talking about?" Clark playfully replied. "Don't worry. You and Selina's secret is safe with me." With a smile, a wink, a nod, and a slap on Bruce's shoulder he turned and walked off.

Selina caught up with Bruce. "Well that was fun. How's Clark? Where'd he run off to?"

Bruce chuckled. "He um, probably headed off to class. Probably like we both should." He began rubbing his chest again.

Selina sighed. "Seriously babe, what's going on with your chest?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Nothing. I'm alright. Promise."

She rolled her eyes and gave him a quick kiss. "See you later, Bat."

"I'll see you then, Cat. Love you."

"Love you more."

Clark met up with Lois right as she about to walk into her first class. "Hey Lois. How would you like to go to Bruce's with me party this weekend?"

She shrugged. "I didn't get an invite. It's a charity thing for rich old people."

"Well it just so happens I'm invited and I'm allowed a plus one. So would you like to me mine?"

Lois looked away.

"Think about it. You could make a lot of connections with some important people. I hear the likes of Perry White will be there."

Her face lit up. "The main editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet?"

Clark nodded.

Lois gave him an unconvinced look. "And what do you want in return?"

"Nothing. I mean. I guess I just want a chance for us to go together and maybe see if we can fix us. If there is still is a chance?"

Lois smiled. "You know what Smallville. I'd say there's a chance."

Clark smiled back. "I'll see you then?"

Lois nodded. "Yea. I'll see you then."

Clark practically floated away as he walked off. He was so happy and exited he couldn't help but hop and do a quick heel click. He wasn't aware Lois was still watching him. She couldn't help but giggle.

"My dorky Clark is back." She thought to herself.