Chapter 12
"Clark, look. I appreciate the thought, but you don't have to follow us around. We'll be fine," Chloe told him. She was sitting at a table in the Talon, trying not to blow up at Clark.
"I just worry about you, Chloe. I always have. Besides, you don't know that you'll be completely safe," he said, glancing around the coffee shop with a wary eye. "People are staring."
"You're not helping," Lana deadpanned, giving Clark a warning look. She crossed her arms over her chest to give herself more of an authoritative air.
"We'll be fine," Chloe repeated, taking Lana's hand.
"But how do you know?" Clark pressed.
"Clark, get rid of the mother-bear routine. It was cute at first, but now it's downright annoying," Lana said, her temper getting away from her.
"Lana, he means well. Don't you, Clark?" Chloe asked, knowing how protective Clark could be.
"How do you know?" Clark asked again.
"Okay, I'm tired of being nice," Chloe said, digging into her purse. "I know because I have this." She slammed an object onto the table with a bang.
Lana's eyes widened as Clark's mouth dropped. He reached for it, but Lana snatched it away.
"You have a taser?" Lana asked in shock.
Chloe nodded, gauging Clark's reaction. "Lex gave it to me, and I'll use it on Clark if he doesn't give me some space."
Clark put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. You should have told me."
Chloe shrugged. "Lex didn't think you'd approve, but he wanted me to have it."
"Why didn't he give me one of these?" Lana asked, looking at the taser in her slim hand.
"He did. There's another one at home," Chloe told her, laughing when Lana's face lit up.
"I have to go," Clark said, sliding out of the booth. "Be careful."
Chloe rolled her eyes, holding out the taser.
"We will, Clark," Lana responded, pulling Chloe's arm down so that the taser was pointed at the table and not Clark.
"Bye, Clark," Chloe said, giving him a smile.
"Hey, Pete. Bye, Pete," Clark said as Pete walked up.
"Isn't getting Clark with a taser a secret dream of yours, Chloe?" Pete asked with a grin, sliding into the now empty booth.
"Knowing Clark it probably wouldn't phase him. It's amazing how invincible he seems," Lana said thoughtfully, not noticing the panicked look that flitted across Pete's face.
"I just came by to check on you, but from the look you're giving me I think I won't," Pete said, reading Chloe's face.
"Good choice," Chloe said proudly. "I'm fine. Lana's fine. You're fine. Clark's fine. Lex is fine. Mrs. Kent's fine. Mr Ke-"
"Okay, I get the picture," Pete cut her off. "I'll talk to you later."
"Bye, Pete," Chloe told him with a bright smile.
"Bye," Lana replied.
Chloe turned to Lana. "Was it something I said?" she asked with an impish smile.
Lana chuckled, leaning forward and pressing her lips to Chloe's. If everyone was going to stare at them, they might as well put on a good show