Author Notes: Fun. I've been dreaming of this storyline for several nights in a row (I do this often) so I figured it was time to write it down, I hope you enjoy it, please review! Also, am I spelling Jor-El right? Is it with a hyphen, or what?
The time line for this story is thus- Some time after X2 and right before the end of Smallville season two, so Clark hasn't blown up the ship or encountered his father.
____________________________________________________________________
Jor-El stopped his flight, landing noiselessly. The person in the room underneath seemed to sense his presence, and moments later a door creaked open and a dark head appeared below.
"Is there anyone out here? Mom, Dad?"
Jor-El smiled ironically, but stayed silent. The young man below stepped out, seemingly unafraid of what might lurk in the pitch black of the cornfield beyond. Due to the clouded sky, the night was moonless and profoundly dismal looking.
Surprised Jor-El? Maybe the time came years ago, you've let your son grow up.
That was the point! He thought irritably. Perhaps to prove something to himself, he cleared his throat loudly, slipping down to the earth by the door. The boy's head whipped around, startled. Jor-El let his eyes smile, his face impassive.
-Hello.-
The boy seemed to take this well. He didn't step backward, instead he took a step forward, which was unexpected, if not pleasantly surprising. Jor-El was good at reading human emotions, a given after eleven years of living among them. The mutants seemed to be greatly similar to the humans, anyway. The way people acted really said a lot about them, it was a genuinely fascinating, a hobby of his.
He turned his attention back to what was in front of him. The boy didn't seem to be having much of a reaction at all; the his father's voice seemed to have put him in a bit of a trance. Jor-El turned, glance flickering over the farm, and headed for the storm cellar. He knew that he would be followed
Down a short stretch of steps, metal gleamed dully. He ran his hands over its smooth surface, closing his eyes.
–This brings back memories… you too?-
"Not really." He shrugged a bit. "You are... who are you?"
-That's a bit obvious, my son.-
The boy closed his eyes. "You were dead."
-One could call the state I was in so. But no, not in the way you mean it.-
He seemed at a loss at what to say. He turned his face away, to some forgotten corner of the room. Jor-El watched him with a certain pride- there was obvious strength and intelligence, and similarities between the two of them that were plain to the eyes. Perhaps that's why the boy had hesitated.
-You want to know what happened, I'm guessing. And what I'm doing here now?-
"Yes."
-Perhaps we shall go talk. The sounds of the plants growing is soothing, and quite pretty. You hear it?-
The boy shook his head, eyes unfocused, a bit lost.
____________________________________________________________________
Clark felt like he was about to start shaking any second. He felt like he couldn't look up, but he did, and the man was still there. The one thing I never thought would happen. His thoughts strayed to his parents asleep in the house.
He didn't know what to think, there were so many thoughts in his head it was overpowering. Everything felt ripped out from under him… what the hell was going to happen now? Would his father… go away? Would he try to take Clark with him? What had happened, if his father was alive, that he had come to the Kents, and the meteor shower? What about the message Dr. Swann had, was it a fake? A lie? How much had been a lie? Why was he even here? What had his father come from?
… was his mother still alive?
Clark felt eyes on him and look up. His … father's eyes were darker than his own, and piercing. The planes of his face were similar, and he was even taller than Clark himself. Hi shoulders were wide and the figure imposed on the quiet serenity of the corn field, except for the moments where he blended in naturally with the shadows. He was wearing a long black cloak that seemed to be impervious to the wind, strong gusts barely rippling along the edges.
Clark's muscles tensed up as they entered the tall, obscuring field. His father's eyes watched him closely, a strange look in them, and Clark felt uneasy. Seeing Clark gazing back, his face softened. Their pace slowed, and the tall man's face lifted to the sky. His shoulders seem to brush the cornstalks on both sides. Before this imposing figure, Clark felt a twinge of fear. There was no doubt this powerful man could obliterate him if he wanted. What does he want?
-So.-
The voice seemed to resonate from somewhere within his own mind, but it was foreign and intrusive. Not probing, but it cut through his thoughts to the front of his mind. Clark breathed in, shutting his eyes momentarily.
-You are my son, and I named you Kal-El.-
"I've read your message." Clark blurted out. The eyes watching him seemed to have an unearthly glow as the moon peered between the clouds. "Your infant son… your last hope… what was that all about?"
The man seemed to sigh, but it was nothing audible. They plunged back into darkness.
-The message was brought out of desperation. I was trying to spare you from further harm.-
"Further harm?"
-The message, as well as the one I left for you, here.- He made no movement, but he obviously meant the ship they had left behind. –Were to remind you where you were from, and who you belonged to.-
It didn't seem odd at all, to be standing there in the dark. There was purpose to the silence.
-Our planet fell apart. It wasn't a sudden thing. It started with the earth shaking and groaning, buildings collapsing. Then cracks appeared… The original reason is lost. Somebody must have known, but they didn't tell. Maybe one day we will know.-
They way he said this gave Clark the impression that was not going to continue, but when he did, it surprised him.
-I came home one day to find everything gone. There was a huge hole in the ground where it had caved in, and the place I called my home and fallen apart and lay in ruins. You survived.- He breathed deep, in grief. –Your mother did not.-
Clark felt a twinge of pain for the person he had never knew.
-The end was coming, and everyone knew it. I sent you off. I knew it would be better that way. Surprisingly enough, some of us survived. We moved on, and some time later we had spread out through our galaxy. There was only one place I could think of going. I came here, to see what had become of my only child…-
"They call me Clark." The man blinked at this, absorbing it.
-I found you safe and happy. I was dead inside, everything that was mine had been ripped away, and I found myself lost… I couldn't bare to be reminded. Not able to tear myself away I found a place on Earth. I left you here.-
Clark bent his head down.
-I have healed. Perhaps. Or maybe it is just time.-
"The message. You said… you said to rule them with strength." His hands curled involuntarily.
Jor-El deliberated this. –They are a flawed race indeed. -
Clark turned back to the farmhouse, where a light on the porch suddenly flipped on.
"CLARK?" Jonathan's silhouette appeared. An iron hand came down on Clark's shoulder, and he started.
-Be silent.-
Clark was unsure of what to do.
–Why?- he asked tentatively.
-We must move on now.-
-We're… leaving?-
-For now. You object?-
Clark was torn. He couldn't leave, not now, when he life was going right, everybody would worry about him. The concept of simply leaving without saying goodbye was inconceivable.
-At least for now… you are my son, and it was I who named you. I sense your reluctance, yet as your father I expect a certain obedience.-
A chill ran through Clark's blood.
-You will do as I say. This is disagreeable?-
Clark shook his head mutely. Fingers hooked around the neck of his shirt, taking firm hold, and suddenly his feet left the ground as he shot straight up and the farm disappeared in a gray blur.
____________________________________________________________________
Jonathan looked out from his house. Something in the corn field rustled loudly and suddenly.
He looked uncertainly towards the barn. "Clark?"
He probably fell asleep in the loft again… I'll get him tomarrow.