Chapter 6
The Problem
Of Chardon
Disclaimer: Fun fact, I got the name 'Chardon' from TurboMagnus who used it as a code name for Tim Westcott in an idea of his. Turbo was kind enough to allow me the use of the name for anything of mine. Now, let's get it on!
Mainstreet In Smallville 9:51 PM
"Give me back my son and I'll only break half of everything in your body." Growled out a highly pissed off Clark towards one Tim Westcott.
Who had his son in the air under a 'bed' of sand thanks to his Meteor ability. Around them, onlookers of shocked and horrified individuals. Chief among them, his friends and family members. Tim just scoffed and sneered at him. "Don't you mean you'll do me no harm?"
"No, I meant what I said." Clark replied coldly as he kept an eye on his fearful and cying baby boy.
"In that case, I think I'll hold on to him. Because come on, Kent! This is further proof of what I've been going on about! The degradation of morals here in Smallville ever since the damn Meteor Shower! Hell, I thought you were amongst a dying breed like me but turns out I was wrong!"
"Smallville! If you don't start beating his ass and get back that sweet little boy, I will!" Yelled out an unhappy Lois Lane.
"I've got this, Lois!" Replied the young father tersely without looking back at her.
Three Days Earlier
"And this is where I like to hang out and I think you'll like hanging out here too when you're older." Clark said to little RJ as he showed him the Loft for the first time ever.
"I like to sit on that couch a lot, and sometimes at that table over there for homework or to read." Continued on the young father as his little boy just looked at stuff and made baby noises.
The young man and father grateful for the fact Lois wasn't around for any of this thanks to being out with Chloe. As it would definitely NOT be fun to get heckled by her with how he was acting! But at least she was keeping the fact he's a father to herself so that was something to his relief! He then brought his son over to the bookshelf. "And this is where I keep a lot of my favorite books! Hopefully, you'll come to like 'em just as much as I do when you're older. Unless, of course, Aunt Lois manages to somehow corrupt you into being a rebel who doesn't like books. Which, I really hope doesn't happen because I don't know if I can handle that."
But who knows, maybe the blessings from the Kawatche people might prevent that! Then again, he was still deeply thinking about that whole thing as it did involve telling his secret to the entire Tribe. And that was a whole can of worms of its own. Hell, he hadn't even talked to his parents yet as he had a pretty good feeling they would be wholly against it. Partly because of the whole powers/heritage reveal and partly because they were more of the Christian variety. Even if they didn't necessarily keep up with it a whole lot. Of course, RJ's his son and so in the end, it was his right to decide certain things until he could form his own opinion and the like. "And this is the best view next to the Windmill that Smallville has to offer. The Sunsets alone are amazing. And who knows, maybe you'll get to meet a girl and share many a view with on that kind of thing."
"Uhh… Clark? Who are you talking too?" Came the voice of Lex Luthor.
Causing Clark to freeze up as he hadn't heard his friend's arrival! The baby made noises that raised the bald one's eyebrows. "Is that a baby I'm hearing?"
Slowly, the Last Son turned around and Lex saw for himself that there in fact was a baby in his young friend's arms! "L-Lex! When, when did you come up?" Asked Clark in surprised shock.
"Just now, I guess you were a little busy with the kid here to really notice."
"O-Oh."
Either that or he just needs more sleep! Or both were pretty likely at this point in the bald billionaire's view! Lex shook his head and came forward. "So, who is this little guy?"
"Well, Lex, this is Ryan James Kent The Second, or as I like to call him, 'RJ'." Announced the tired looking but proud Clark.
Lex was surprised by that but smiled as he gave his finger to the little boy to 'shake'. RJ made some noises and moved his finger around, making the older man chuckle as he took back his finger. "Did your parents adopt? Which I'm surprised I haven't heard about as I figured something like this would be all over town by now." Wondered the man curiously.
Here, Clark winced. "Uhh… Actually, Lex… RJ, RJ's my son."
"I'm… I'm sorry, but I don't think I heard you right." Replied Lex after a moment of silence between the two friends.
"No, you heard me right."
Lex took a step back in surprise, this having been the last thing he'd expected! "I… Wow… I mean, I would have expected this to happen to me but to you? Wow!" Got out the stunned man.
A sigh came from his young friend as he sat down on the couch. "Great, now I can add you to the small list of people against this."
"Whoa, I'm not against anything, Clark. And I'm a little hurt you would instantly cast me like that." Came the reply with some genuine hurt to it.
Causing Clark to wince and apologize. "S-Sorry. Just hasn't been the easiest time of things for me since my parents aren't very supportive of this whole thing."
Lex joined him on the couch and shot his best friend and brother in all but blood a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry to hear that, Clark, I really am. Is that why you haven't really said anything to anyone about RJ?"
His friend just shook his head. "No, for the most part, its no one else's business but my own. Plus, I don't think Chloe or Lana would take it too well. Especially Lana."
"Clark, you do remember that you and Lana are pretty much over, right?" Asked Lex, ignoring the bit about Chloe entirely.
Especially as he knew full well of the Blonde Reporter's feelings for his best friend by this point and had to agree she wouldn't handle the news that well. An eyeroll came from Clark. "Trust me, I remember. But its not what you think, its more like who RJ's mom is that she'll have an issue with. And because of that, probably not be too receptive to my son."
"Well… I think maybe you might be selling Lana a little short."
"Considering his mother is Alicia Baker?"
Lex was going to say something to that but stopped short, realizing his younger friend had a pretty good point. "Oh. Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. But I don't know, Clark, she might not judge him for the actions of hs mother." Tried the bald billionaire.
"Maybe, maybe not. But I'm not willing to take that risk right now."
"Fair enough. But I was under the impression like everyone else that you and Alicia didn't last very long?"
A sigh escaped Clark as his son made noises. "And we weren't… But things happened after our first date." Explained the young man and Lex couldn't help but be impressed.
"Wow, I'm impressed, Clark. That's a move you'd probably see from me. I think I might be rubbing off on you." Joked the man, earning himself an eyeroll from Clark in the process.
"Yeah, don't let my dad hear you say that or he'll probably freak out."
The two looked at one another and then chuckled. "But wow, Clark… A son of your own."
"Yeah… Still surprises the heck out of me as well." Admitted the young man.
"Not to mention he causes me to lose out on a lot of sleep. But… He's worth it."
And Lex could easily see his young friend meant that as he looked down at his son with a loving look on his face. "So…" After a moment's silence, causing Clark to look up at him.
"Can I hold him?"
Clark laughed, not having expected that. "You know how to hold a baby?"
"Well, its been awhile but I remember." Replied Lex.
Trusting in his friend, Clark handed his son over to the other man. Who carefully took him into his arms and the baby looked at him with wide eyes. "Hello. I'm your Uncle Lex." Lex told him with a smile.
Seconds later, snoring was heard, momentarily confusing Lex until he looked over and realized it was coming from Clark. "Huh."
He looked back down at little RJ, who was making little noises yet again. "Guess this means we get more man to man bonding time."
Which, you know, was fine with him! Luckily, the baby didn't seem to mind the idea that much!
The Next Day
"Wow, surprised you haven't rushed over quicker to see how Lana's doing, Clark." Greeted Chloe as they entered the halls of Smallville High.
The worn out Jock and father looked at her strangely. "Umm… What are you talking about?"
"She's talking about the fact I was attacked in my own bathroom last night. Even though no one could have gotten in there since the door was locked." Lana said from behind the two, startling Clark some.
But he recovered quickly. "Whoa, are you okay!?"
"Y-Yeah, if it wasn't for Jason managing to kick in the door..." Trailed off the girl with a shudder.
Clark shot her an apologetic look. "Lana, I'm so sorry, had I any idea I would have been by the Talon to see how you were doing. This is honestly the first I've heard about this. Do they have any leads?" Asked the young man in concern and curiousity.
The two girls looked at one another and then at him. "Well, there is ONE name that popped up." Began Chloe.
And it was something Clark instantly caught on too and shook his head in the negative. "No, its not Alicia."
"Clark, she's the only one capable of getting in and out thanks to her ability to teleport!" Rebuked Chloe with Lana nodding in agreement.
"And considering she tried to kill me last year?"
"Look, I know it wasn't her, okay? As it is, there could be others out there who can do what she can." He replied in tired frustration.
The two looked at one another and then back at him. "So why would they attack me then?"
Clark just shrugged helplessly, not having any real answer to that. "I don't know, Lana, okay? But it wasn't her. When, when did this attack happen?"
"Umm… Close to midnight."
"Okay, so it couldn't have been her." Clark told her and Chloe triumphantly.
Both girls gave him skeptical looks. "How could you possibly know its not her, Clark? And why are you defending her!? I mean, there's no way you could still feel anything for her after what she tried to do to Lana last year!"
Really! Did the girl develop a new ability that somehow ensnared Clark without any of them ever knowing!? Letting out a tired sigh, the young man decided to bite the bullet. "Because, Chloe, I was at Belle Reeve last night to see her. Okay?"
They looked at him in surprise and shock. "I'm, I'm sorry, but I don't think we heard you right, Clark." Lana told him in stunned disbelief.
He just groaned. "You heard me right. I went there cause I needed to talk to her about something important. And there's no way she could teleport thanks to this special lead bracelet thing they made for her to wear. Well… That, and the sedative they gave her in front of me." Explained the teenager.
Said important thing being the whole Kawatche Blessing stuff to see what she thought of it. Thankfully, she seemed to like the idea of it and gave her blessing for it to happen. But warned him her parents weren't to be involved. Which had unfortunately set her off and forced the orderlies to sedate her thanks to having a much stronger reaction that time where her parents were concerned. Unfortunately for Clark, the two girls were still highly skeptical and if he was looking right but couldn't be certain thanks to how tired he felt, he could have sworn he saw a look of hurt in Lana's eyes. Huffing in frustration, Clark walked off, not wanting to deal with the two highly suspicious girls any longer. Yet feeling their gazes on him the entire time as he walked off and not liking it.
That Evening At The Talon
"Well, the doctors confirmed that Miss Baker hasn't so much as twitched since last night, folks." Sheriff Adams declared to Chloe, Lana, and Jason.
Who had just recently been attacked himself in his own damned car several hours before. A light green scarf had even been left behind, pointing towards Alicia since she'd been known to wear those kinds of things before her mental breakdown. "But who could have attacked me then if not her!?" Asked the former Coach irately.
"I have no idea, but I promise ya I aim to find out who and put them behind bars where they belong." Promised the good Sheriff before walking off. Leaving a frustrated trio behind.
"Well… I guess Clark wasn't just defending her out of left over feelings for her then." Sighed Lana with her arms crossed.
Feeling some guilt well up in her for not believing in him. Chloe nodded in agreement while also feeling some guilt as Jason just shook his head. Not really caring either way as all he wanted to do was find whoever attacked him and Lana and kick their ass.
Elsewhere, Kent Farm
"Clark, I think we have a problem." Announced Lois as she came in through the kitchen door and instantly spotted him with RJ and his parents.
All of whom, minus the baby, looked at her. "What is it, Lois?" Martha asked in concern as she briefly paused in her cleaning of that night's dinner.
"I think I know who attacked Lana and apparently Jason."
"Wait, Jason was attacked too?" Asked the teenager as he held on to RJ.
Lois nodded. "Uhh, yeah, Chloe told me about it over the phone while I was on my way here." Explained the College student.
As she went on to explain to the Kents about who she thought was behind the attacks, unnoticed to any of them was a figure as he hid behind a wall between the living room and kitchen. Hating that Lois was ratting him out and seeing that Clark Kent of all people had lost his morality too by having a son at his age! Was he truly the last to care about things like morality and rules!? Well, guess I'll have to do something about that. And then… I'll have a little 'chat' with Lois! Rules MUST be followed! Morals MUST be maintained!
The figure vanished after that before he could get caught. Knowing he was gonna have to be extra careful now to avoid being found by the Police as no doubt, the Kents would call the Sheriff thanks to Lois' inability to keep quiet.
The Next Evening, Minutes Before Tim's Capturing RJ
Clark had chosen to ride along with his dad, RJ in his arms as a baby carrier would just be in the way otherwise, to grab a new pair of boots and perhaps visit Martha at the Talon. Naturally, the ride into town was tense and quiet, leaving for a fussy RJ in the process and because of that, Clark's limit was finally reached where his dad was concerned. "Alright, dad, we clearly need to talk."
His dad sighed, knowing his son was right. "And we will, but I think its best if your mother was part of that talk too."
His son frowned in annoyance but if that's the way he wanted it, then that's just how it was gonna be. The truck came to a stop in front of the Fordman store that was actually under new management by Mr. Fordman's brother since his widow wanted nothing to do with the place. Even having left Smallville altogether after what Tina Greer had disgustingly pulled nearly 3 years ago. Jonathan knew his son was unhappy with that reply and he himself hated having done it but part of him just still couldn't get over the fact his son had had a son at his age. It made him worried his son wouldn't ever get to achieve any dreams he may have. God knew raising the baby was taking so much out of him, super powered or not. Maybe I'm just not giving Clark enough credit…
Sighing to himself, Jonathan got out of the truck and made his way towards the doors of the Fordman store when a loud noise caught his attention. Said loud noise being his driver side door being torn off by some kid and throwing it into the glass of the Talon thanks to what looked like sand. "Clark! RJ!" Yelled out the man in alarm as he rushed to them but was sent flying himself thanks to a large fist made of sand.
"Not happening!" Yelled the kid as he simultaneously took RJ and rammed a hardened sand fist into Clark.
Sending him out of the truck thanks to its strong impact and destroying more of the truk in the process. "JONATHAN!" Cried out Martha as she rushed from the Talon to get to her husband.
Seeing that he had himself a crowd of onlookers as Mrs. Kent got her husband up and over to Lois and the others, the figure known as Tim Westcott began to speak as he kept RJ in the air with his sand. "This town has fallen into disgrace! No longer are the rules followed! No longer are morals embraced! And it sickens me! The Meteor Shower ruined it all! And this baby is just one MORE example of that!"
"You've really got a few screws loose, you know that, pal!?" Yelled out Lois and got a sneer from the boy.
"My God, you're the one who attacked Jason and I!"
"Its what you two deserved for your disgusting and immoral relationship!" Retorted Tim as an angry Clark came around the truck to stand a few feet away from Tim and his son.
Something that the Sand Manipulator noticed but didn't have a chance to say anything as Clark spoke up first. "Give me back my son and I'll only break half of everything in your body." Growled out the highly pissed off Clark towards Tim.
"Don't you mean you'll do me no harm?"
"No, I meant what I said."
"In that case, I think I'll hold on to him. Because come on, Kent! This is further proof of what I've been going on about! The degradation of morals here in Smallville ever since the damn Meteor Shower! Hell, I thought you were amongst a dying breed like me but turns out I was wrong!"
"Smallville! If you don't start beating his ass and get back that sweet little boy, I will!" Yelled out an unhappy Lois Lane.
"I've got this, Lois!" Replied the young father tersely without looking back at her.
Severely tempted to unleash his Heat Vision on the boy for daring to kidnap his son because he couldn't handle certain things being different! An intense stand off had quickly developed between the two teens, one highly pissed off and the other a pissy little kidnapping turd. My son's life is far more important then keeping what I can do a secret. If no one can handle it, then that's their problem.
And just as Clark was about to make his move with his Super Speed, a shot rang out and screams and shouts of surprise were heard thanks to it. Clark stood there, shocked as Tim just looked at him, equally in shock himself. Seconds later saw him fall to the ground, revealing Sheriff Adams with her gun out and a scowl on her face. The sand destablized in the air and Clark's eyes widened in fear and alarm as his son started to fall. Wasting no time, Clark rushed and dived to catch his crying little baby boy. A move that thankfully worked and sighs of relief were heard from the crowd. "Clark!" Shouted Martha as she and her husband rushed to him and surrounded the two.
"I think it best we get that little boy to the hospital." Adams said after radioing for someone to come and deal with Tim's body.
As no doubt, being around that sand looking shit couldn't have been good for the baby. Clark looked fearful at that and hauled ass for the truck with his parents going with. Ruined it may be, but it still worked and the tires squealed loudly as they sped off for the hospital. I, I can't believe it… Clark has a baby? And Lois… Lois knew?"
Chloe could only look at her Cousin with a feeling of betrayal welling up in her. Wondering how and why she kept that from her and how long she had known. "Come on, Chlo! We need to get to the hospital right now!" Ordered the daughter of a General.
"I'm coming too!" Lana declared before even really thinking about it.
Lois nodded and the trio rushed off to Chloe's car with Jason quickly following behind. I hope that little boy's alright! Worried Lana to herself as she tried to ignore the aching feeling in her chest that Clark had slept with some girl to have a baby. As the important thing was just being there for him right now and hoping like crazy his son was okay.
Author's Notes: Wow, I don't think I've written this long of a chapter in awhile! Kinda was a new and surreal feeling even re-doing the first scene later in this chapter too. Hopefully this chapter wasn't too bad in any way for those reading this.