A/N: Sorry this took so long, work is tough and long and stupefying.
Anyway, I promise that action will find it's way into this story soon.
What kind? You'll have to wait and see. Oh, and thanks to Deanz for beta-
ing once again. You're the best.
She'd been fighting the urge for hours now. She bit at bit her lips, rocked back and forth, and even gnashed her teeth. Nothing could hold back the urge anymore. She needed release so badly now that she didn't care if she looked bad or stupid. She wanted it....now. Oh God, she could almost feel the sweet, sweet feeling of finally letting go.
Chloe huffed and looked at Clark. "Clark, if you laugh, so help me God I'll kill you. I, I need to go."
Clark looked at her, trying desperately to hold off a chuckle. "Go?" His voice feigned ignorance. He knew full well what she was talking about. He needed to 'go' too.
Chloe snarled at him. "You know damn well what I mean farm boy. I have to pee. Urinate. Sprinkle the lawn. Write my name in the snow. Comprende?"
Clark smiled. "Oh, I get it. You have to go-go. Okay...ah, well let's see what we can do here." Still smiling widely, the farm boy reached behind the back seat and searched for something sufficient for the task at hand. He came up with an old tin bucket. "Okay. Here, you can use this and then dump it out the front drivers window. The snow isn't packed down yet, so just dig a hole and put it in there. Try not to let to much snow come in though."
Chloe resisted the urge to smack the living hell out of Clark. "You expect me to go in that? Are you crazy or just plain stupid? I could get tetanus or some other horrible disease. What're you going to do if I get lockjaw, Clark? You'll shrivel and die without hearing my beautiful voice everyday." The blond bombshell smiled, praying that Clark could come up with something better than a stupid bucket.
Clark laughed. "Look Chloe, you can either take your chances with the bucket or enjoy wet pants. Personally, I hope you go for the bucket. Look on the bright side. There's only a 52% chance of getting tetanus from it. I'd be more worried about metal slivers going in really bad places." Chloe gave a grossed-out face and grabbed the bucket.
"Just give me the damn thing." Chloe crawled into the front seat and started to unbutton her pants. She stopped when she noticed Clark's reflection in the rear view mirror. He was trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out where he should be looking.
Chloe stopped and turned around. "Look Clark, I'm gonna explode here. But I'd rather explode than have to endure the humiliation of letting you watch me pee. So, I want you to lay face down, cover your head with your jacket and sing 'I'm a little tea-pot.' Okay?"
Clark smiled...until he realized she was serious. "What? You really expect me to do that?"
Chloe nodded. "Look Kent, I'm going to beat your ass if you don't do it. I really have to go. Now just do it!" Clark looked at her funny, but finally agreed. He got on his stomach and covered his head with his jacket.
"You have to sing too, Clark." Chloe rapidly pulled down her slacks, trying to hold off until Clark started singing. "For God's sake, hurry!"
Clark started slowly at first, but then got into it. "I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Here is my handle here is my spout..."
Chloe couldn't help it; she finally let go. Her eyes almost crossed because of the result. She had to bite her lip to keep from gasping. She couldn't believe how badly she needed to go. When she was done she composed herself and got rid of the contents of the bucket. Reaching into her bag, the very happy reporter pulled out a small bottle of anti- bacterial non-water soap and cleaned her hands. Chloe smiled and listened to Clark singing.
After three more verses of the beloved song, she finally told him she was done. Clark came up for air and stared at Chloe angrily. "There's no way you had to pee that long, Chloe. You were enjoying that, weren't you?
Chloe mock-gasped and placed a hand on her chest. "Why Clark Kent, as I live and breathe. Would I do something that would embarrass you solely for my personal amusement?"
Clark's answer was quick and precise. "Yes. Okay Chloe, it's time to return the favor."
Chloe laughed at him. "Oh-ho, I get it. It's all fun and games until you have to go isn't it?"
Clark jumped over the seat and grabbed the bucket. "Come on Chloe, I did it for you. Now do it for me." Chloe gasped and winked at him. The farm boy just blushed and pointed to the back.
Once Chloe was secured and under the jacket, Clark made her sing as well. Although Clark thought his rendition was better, he was glad something other than water would be heard in the truck. Clark quickly unzipped and started to relieve himself.
As Clark was going, Chloe felt mischievous and decided she wanted a peek. Quietly rising, she continued to sing while peering over slightly over the seat. Her eyes widened. She hunkered low to the seat again and sang. Lust burned through her. 'I guess that legend about shoe size and large...features was true.'
When he was finished and disposed of the bucket and it's contents, Clark turned around and looked at Chloe. "You have a nice view, Chloe?"
Chloe blushed fiercely and tried to rationalize why she'd peeked at her best friend. "Well, Clark, I thought you said you were finished and I ah...saw that you weren't so I ducked back down again. It's your fault you know. You're so quiet that I didn't realize that you were still going. Don't get mad at me." Chloe smiled widely. She knew she'd dug herself out of a big hole with that piece of bullshit she'd just thrown out.
Clark rolled his eyes and smiled. "Well, that's the last time you'll ever see it. I hope you enjoyed yourself." The farm boy turned around in the seat and rubbed a bit of the soap into his open cut, wincing as the soap cleaned the wound.
Chloe felt her heart drop a little bit. Her thoughts were screaming, 'But, I want to see it again! Oh Clark, don't shut me out!' Silently, the blond reporter rested her chin on the seat and looked at her best friend. He was silently brooding over something.
Curiosity finally overwhelmed her and Chloe spoke up. "Hey Clark, when was the first time you really used your powers? I mean to help someone."
The super powered teenager looked at his friend for a moment and then contemplated the question. "Well, the first time that I really saved someone was when I pulled Lex from his car. He hit me doing sixty miles an hour and we both went over the bridge. I ripped the hood of his car open and pulled him to the surface. You know? It's funny really, that's how we first met. They pulled his car out later. Did you know he still has that thing? He said that it reminds him of how close he came to death."
Clark shook his head, uneasy at the thought of Lex's brilliant analytical mind working 24/7 to figure out how the roof of his car was ripped off. He'd figure it out sooner or later, if he hadn't already done so.
The blond smiled. "He's still trying to repay you for that you know? Always pushing you and Lana together. It's too bad you've given up on her, Clark. I'm sure Lex could have gotten you two together in another month. Anyway, when was the first time you used your powers to fight someone?"
The raven-haired super teen looked at her coldly. Chloe almost regretted asking, but suddenly Clark spoke up. "Do you remember Greg Arkin?"
Chloe nodded, unpleasant memories of the 'bug boy' drifting through her mind.
"Well, Greg was the first person I really fought with my powers. Sure, there was Pete's bully in third grade, but that was an accident. There was Jeremy Creek too, but that was quick. He shorted himself out and forgot what happened. The fight with Greg was different; I consider that my first real battle." Clark paused long enough to let out a ragged breath.
"Whitney and I went out to Greg's old tree-house in the woods and found Lana in a cocoon. Greg threatened her again and took off running for a near-by factory. There were meteor rocks all over the area, but I went after him anyway. I wasn't going to let him hurt anyone else. When I got to the factory we really fought each other. I could feel myself getting sicker because of the meteors and Greg almost beat me because of it. Luckily, I ducked into a lead-lined basin and regained my strength. The next time Greg came at me, I hurled him across the room. I wasn't fast enough to save him and Greg was crushed. It was my fault, I killed him."
Pain showed on Clark's face. His normally clear blue eyes were now swathed with a muddy gray color. It was amazing how his eyes depicted the kind of mood he was in. That was another reason Chloe loved him so much, she could always tell what he was thinking.
"Clark, it wasn't your fault Greg died. He was a psychopathic killer. He ate his mother for God's sake. Don't blame yourself. You did your best to help him. To help them all." There had been several weird occurrences in Smallville since that first incident with Greg. Clark was the one who always uncovered the truth, with Chloe's help of course. Clark was the one who'd always saved people.
"Chloe, a lot of people have died because of me. Coach Walt, Sean Kelvin, Poor Cassandra Carver, Sam Phelan, the leader of that tattoo gang Whitney joined, the deputy who kidnapped and buried you. Lana's parents. The list goes on and on." Clark brought his hands to his face, trying to hide his shame.
Chloe sat silently next to her best friend, trying to push down the anger and fear she suddenly felt. She still remembered being buried alive; she still had nightmares about it. Clark had saved her though. He always saved her. And even with all the people he'd saved, all the good he'd done, he still blamed himself for the few he couldn't help.
"Clark Joseph Kent, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Chloe's voice was strong and shook with anger.
Clark looked at her, shocked. Chloe had never really yelled at him before. "What do you mean? It's true."
Chloe shook her head and brought her hand to Clark's face. "Clark, you're not responsible for any of them. You tried to save them all. Coach Walt, Sean, and that meteor tattoo guy all tried to kill me, remember? And you still tried to save them, that says a lot. Cassandra was old, Clark. It was just her time to go." Chloe paused to let her words sink in.
"Clark, with all the powers you have, you still aren't able to save everyone. You need to accept that, otherwise you'll kill yourself with guilt that doesn't even belong to you. And why on earth do you think you killed Lana's parents?"
Clark sighed and leaned a little more into Chloe's hand, loving the feel of her skin against his. "I came down with the meteors. It's my fault. I killed them."
Chloe absently rubbed her thumb across Clark's unblemished cheek and reveled in how soft it was. "Clark, those meteors would have fallen with or without you. And what do you mean you 'came down' with them?" The reporter in her was dying for the scoop of the century, but her heart really wanted to ease Clark's pain.
"Well, you asked me earlier if I was an alien. To tell you the truth, my folks and I aren't exactly sure. They told me that they were driving down a country road when the meteors began falling. That's when they both saw a strange bluish-gray object plummet with the huge chunks of rock and smash into a field. Their truck tipped over from the shockwave and that's when they first saw me. I just walked up to the truck and looked at them, smiling. After that, they adopted me and have been my family ever since." Clark felt disappointment when Chloe removed her hand from his face.
"So, you're an alien then? Figures. I didn't think a human could be so perfect." Chloe blushed and added to her last sentence. "I mean I didn't think a human could have such amazing powers. You've got it all, Clark."
Clark laughed at her. "Chloe, sometimes you're so naïve. You think it's fun constantly guarding my powers? Constantly guarding myself? You think it's cool having to hide what I am from everyone I love? Having to lie to you or Pete or Lana or even Lex when I have to go and save someone? I wish I were normal, like you and Pete. It must be great having a normal life. Pete gets to play sports and go on dates with girls. I get to fight monsters and lie to the one girl I really care about while doing it."
Chloe looked at her friend thoughtfully. "Clark, you could have a girl too. Come to think of it, why haven't you ever dated anyone? I know you've fantasized about Lana, but that was it."
Clark nodded. "Do you remember Eric Summers? His father was our old Geology teacher. You were there. We were all out on a rock scavenger hunt and Eric found a bunch of the meteor rocks. When it was time to go Mr. Summers asked me to find Eric for him. I found Eric standing on a dam looking over the edge. He almost jumped when I caught him. Lightning suddenly struck us and between the energy from the lightning bolt and the meteor rocks, my powers were transferred to Eric."
Chloe chirped in. "That's why he went berserk. To think I called him 'Super Boy'. Oh Clark, that's why you were so upset when he used your powers for his own benefit. I'm sorry..." Chloe mentally kicked herself. She'd never realized until now, but Clark suffered through a lot more then he went on about.
Clark squeezed Chloe's hand. "It's okay, Chloe. Anyway, after he stopped that guy who stole your laptop, he started getting full of himself. You remember the day he went after that girl he had a crush on and her boyfriend? I tried to stop him, but he threw me into a car. That was the first time I'd really been hurt. I still have a small scar from that fight. It never healed, even with my powers. Anyway, during the fight, she called Eric a freak. He ran away after that and tried to kill himself. We fought at the dam again and thanks to Lana's necklace, I got my powers back. Eric got help in Metropolis and Mr. and Mrs. Summers moved away."
Chloe shook her head. "You still haven't answered my question, buster. Why haven't you ever given a girl a chance?"
Clark smiled and Chloe melted inside. The Kent Charm, you gotta love it. "Will you let me finish? I was afraid that if I ever got close to a girl that she would react to me the same way that girl reacted to Eric. That she'd call me a freak. That she'd say I was an alien and not a man. I don't think I could handle that." Clark looked down, ashamed.
Chloe took Clark's face in her hands and looked straight into his eyes. She momentarily forgot what she was going to say. She lost herself in the beautiful pools of her friend's eyes. Clark looked at her uncertainly. Suddenly, Chloe spoke. "Clark, you are not a freak. You are the greatest person I've ever met. And you're one super guy."
Clark smiled from ear to ear, his heart jumping in his chest. Her words worked wonders for him. There was another thing that made him feel better. He was sure that Chloe was going to kiss him. God, he wanted her to. He'd only kissed her once before, thanks to Kyle Tippit's mind controlling powers. Disappointment flooded through him as Chloe let her soft feminine hands fall away from his face. She brought them to her own face and stifled a long yawn.
"Clark, what time is it? I'm exhausted." Chloe rubbed the small bags under her eyes. She couldn't sleep because of the cold, but now it looked like she didn't have a choice. Clark checked his watch and frowned. "We've been stuck here for over eight hours now. I think we should try to sleep Chloe. There's nothing we can do but wait and hope." Silently, Clark hoped that the note he'd left for his parents was found and that they were already out looking for him.
Chloe yawned again and shivered. "How are we going to sleep? I think my tongue is freezing..." She stuck her small pink tongue out and tried to look at it.
Clark rolled his eyes and reached into the back seat. He pulled out two emergency thermal blankets and a small box filled with chemical muscle warmers. "I didn't even know these were still back here. Dad must have forgotten to take them in with him last night." Jonathon was suffering acute back pain, so Clark had suggested the muscle warmers. It looked like his father had left it up to his mother to help ease his pain. Clark made a disgusted face when he realized what she'd probably done for him. Ehhhh!
Chloe felt her blood boil. "You dumb-ass. You mean to tell me that I've been watching my hands slowly turn into ice and you've had blankets and hand warmers! What the hell is wrong with you, Clark? Give me those!"
Angered, she grabbed one of the muscle-warmers away from Clark, ripped open the small package, and snapped the square. Heat suddenly flowed through the square package and Chloe marveled at the delicious warmth flooding her hands. "Hmmm, I wonder how these things work."
Information suddenly poured form Clark's mouth. "Well, the iron that's in the pouch, when exposed to oxygen, oxidizes and produces heat. When iron oxidizes it produces iron oxide, better known as rust. The salt in the package acts as a catalyst while the carbon helps disperse the heat. The vermiculite is used as the insulator to retain heat and the cellulose acts as a filler. The polypropylene bag contains all of these ingredients safely and allows air to permeate the ingredients while holding in moisture." Clark blushed and looked away after seeing Chloe's shocked expression.
The blond reporter clamped her open jaw shut with an audible snap. "Jesus, Clark. Did you eat an encyclopedia for breakfast or something?"
The farm boy laughed. "No, I had three pigs and a chicken."
Chloe snorted and slapped her friend's shoulder. "Smart-ass. Be serious for a second, how did you know that?"
Clark shrugged. "I don't know, information just kind of stays in my head. Whenever I read something, I can remember exactly what the words were and how they were phrased. My mom says I have a photographic memory, but my dad says it's more than that because I can do complex math equations in my head. I guess it's one of my passive powers."
Chloe smiled. "So you weren't really worried about that test at school, were you? You could remember exactly what the book said. Jesus Clark, why didn't you tell me sooner? Do you realize how easy it would have been for me to cheat off of you?" Clark looked at her shocked, but Chloe smiled. "I'm kidding 'Mr. Goodie Two-Shoes.' I know you wouldn't let me cheat off of you. Boy Scout."
Clark stuck his tongue out at her and Chloe laughed. "Be careful Clark, I may just grab that tongue and use it for acts less than honorable." The farm boy's eyes widened at the thought and he slowly drew his tongue back into his mouth. His friend smiled at him. "Clark, I'm freezing."
The farm boy looked at Chloe intensely for a moment. "Chloe, if you tell anyone at school that I did this, I'll deny it and I'll never talk to you again. Okay?" Before Chloe could say anything, Clark began unbuttoning his shirt. He cast aside the flannel shirt and lifted his one of his undershirts, and then the other, over his head. Clark sat before Chloe naked from the waist up and began to unwrap one of the thermal blankets. When it was unrolled, Clark stretched out on the backseat and gestured for Chloe to lie on top of him.
Chloe just stared at Clark. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Did Clark really just ask her to lie on top of him? With his shirt off? Chloe's thoughts turned Uber NC-17. She scrambled over the seat, quickly shedding her coats until she was down to her slacks and t-shirt before crawling under the thermal blanket.
Suddenly, Chloe became very self-conscious. She couldn't decide how to lie by Clark. She was also very aware of how perfectly sculpted Clark's body was and how much baby-fat her own body still possessed. Clark opened one eye and looked at Chloe. "Chloe. Don't be nervous, it's just me. If it were Lex then I'd understand the skepticism. Come here."
Clark reached out and forcefully pulled Chloe on top of his body, letting her rest her head on his taught chest. After pulling the thermal blankets over their bodies, Clark surrendered to sleep. The blond girl lying on top of him fought to stay awake. She wanted to remember every aspect of this moment.
Chloe snuggled against Clark's chest and inhaled his scent deeply into her lungs. She couldn't remember a time when she'd felt safer or happier. Lying here with Clark made her heart beat so fast she thought it would burst.
Clark, completely unaware of his actions, wrapped his arms around Chloe's prone form, letting one hand rest on the small of her back, the other dipping just below the waistband of her slacks. Chloe smiled and rested her head on Clark's chest, listening to the slow, monotonous beats of his heart. The rhythmic sound of Clark's heart lulled Chloe to sleep. It was the best sleep she'd ever had...
A/N: Okay, quick question. Was anyone else bitterly disappointed with Birds of Prey? There were very few goods points, one of them being Dina Meyer's excellent portrayal of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon. Ashley Scott, in my humble opinion, sucked as the Huntress. You could tell that she tried, but she just couldn't pull her character away from being a simpering bully with daddy issues. The prom dress/superhero costume without mask sure as hell didn't help her case.
And what the hell was with the cat's eye and the terrible sarcastic banter during the first fight scene. Eeeesh! Someone, please tell me I'm wrong on this, but I have a bad feeling that this show isn't going to enjoy a second season without major plot and character revisions. For God's Sake! Batman wouldn't give up and run away after losing people he loved...hello? That's kinda what made him Batman in the first place.
*Sigh* Okay, bitching complete. What do you kid's think? Did'ja like it? Has the talent of the 'Smallville' cast spoiled us? Are we now expecting 'Smallville' quality out of all hero shows?
She'd been fighting the urge for hours now. She bit at bit her lips, rocked back and forth, and even gnashed her teeth. Nothing could hold back the urge anymore. She needed release so badly now that she didn't care if she looked bad or stupid. She wanted it....now. Oh God, she could almost feel the sweet, sweet feeling of finally letting go.
Chloe huffed and looked at Clark. "Clark, if you laugh, so help me God I'll kill you. I, I need to go."
Clark looked at her, trying desperately to hold off a chuckle. "Go?" His voice feigned ignorance. He knew full well what she was talking about. He needed to 'go' too.
Chloe snarled at him. "You know damn well what I mean farm boy. I have to pee. Urinate. Sprinkle the lawn. Write my name in the snow. Comprende?"
Clark smiled. "Oh, I get it. You have to go-go. Okay...ah, well let's see what we can do here." Still smiling widely, the farm boy reached behind the back seat and searched for something sufficient for the task at hand. He came up with an old tin bucket. "Okay. Here, you can use this and then dump it out the front drivers window. The snow isn't packed down yet, so just dig a hole and put it in there. Try not to let to much snow come in though."
Chloe resisted the urge to smack the living hell out of Clark. "You expect me to go in that? Are you crazy or just plain stupid? I could get tetanus or some other horrible disease. What're you going to do if I get lockjaw, Clark? You'll shrivel and die without hearing my beautiful voice everyday." The blond bombshell smiled, praying that Clark could come up with something better than a stupid bucket.
Clark laughed. "Look Chloe, you can either take your chances with the bucket or enjoy wet pants. Personally, I hope you go for the bucket. Look on the bright side. There's only a 52% chance of getting tetanus from it. I'd be more worried about metal slivers going in really bad places." Chloe gave a grossed-out face and grabbed the bucket.
"Just give me the damn thing." Chloe crawled into the front seat and started to unbutton her pants. She stopped when she noticed Clark's reflection in the rear view mirror. He was trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out where he should be looking.
Chloe stopped and turned around. "Look Clark, I'm gonna explode here. But I'd rather explode than have to endure the humiliation of letting you watch me pee. So, I want you to lay face down, cover your head with your jacket and sing 'I'm a little tea-pot.' Okay?"
Clark smiled...until he realized she was serious. "What? You really expect me to do that?"
Chloe nodded. "Look Kent, I'm going to beat your ass if you don't do it. I really have to go. Now just do it!" Clark looked at her funny, but finally agreed. He got on his stomach and covered his head with his jacket.
"You have to sing too, Clark." Chloe rapidly pulled down her slacks, trying to hold off until Clark started singing. "For God's sake, hurry!"
Clark started slowly at first, but then got into it. "I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Here is my handle here is my spout..."
Chloe couldn't help it; she finally let go. Her eyes almost crossed because of the result. She had to bite her lip to keep from gasping. She couldn't believe how badly she needed to go. When she was done she composed herself and got rid of the contents of the bucket. Reaching into her bag, the very happy reporter pulled out a small bottle of anti- bacterial non-water soap and cleaned her hands. Chloe smiled and listened to Clark singing.
After three more verses of the beloved song, she finally told him she was done. Clark came up for air and stared at Chloe angrily. "There's no way you had to pee that long, Chloe. You were enjoying that, weren't you?
Chloe mock-gasped and placed a hand on her chest. "Why Clark Kent, as I live and breathe. Would I do something that would embarrass you solely for my personal amusement?"
Clark's answer was quick and precise. "Yes. Okay Chloe, it's time to return the favor."
Chloe laughed at him. "Oh-ho, I get it. It's all fun and games until you have to go isn't it?"
Clark jumped over the seat and grabbed the bucket. "Come on Chloe, I did it for you. Now do it for me." Chloe gasped and winked at him. The farm boy just blushed and pointed to the back.
Once Chloe was secured and under the jacket, Clark made her sing as well. Although Clark thought his rendition was better, he was glad something other than water would be heard in the truck. Clark quickly unzipped and started to relieve himself.
As Clark was going, Chloe felt mischievous and decided she wanted a peek. Quietly rising, she continued to sing while peering over slightly over the seat. Her eyes widened. She hunkered low to the seat again and sang. Lust burned through her. 'I guess that legend about shoe size and large...features was true.'
When he was finished and disposed of the bucket and it's contents, Clark turned around and looked at Chloe. "You have a nice view, Chloe?"
Chloe blushed fiercely and tried to rationalize why she'd peeked at her best friend. "Well, Clark, I thought you said you were finished and I ah...saw that you weren't so I ducked back down again. It's your fault you know. You're so quiet that I didn't realize that you were still going. Don't get mad at me." Chloe smiled widely. She knew she'd dug herself out of a big hole with that piece of bullshit she'd just thrown out.
Clark rolled his eyes and smiled. "Well, that's the last time you'll ever see it. I hope you enjoyed yourself." The farm boy turned around in the seat and rubbed a bit of the soap into his open cut, wincing as the soap cleaned the wound.
Chloe felt her heart drop a little bit. Her thoughts were screaming, 'But, I want to see it again! Oh Clark, don't shut me out!' Silently, the blond reporter rested her chin on the seat and looked at her best friend. He was silently brooding over something.
Curiosity finally overwhelmed her and Chloe spoke up. "Hey Clark, when was the first time you really used your powers? I mean to help someone."
The super powered teenager looked at his friend for a moment and then contemplated the question. "Well, the first time that I really saved someone was when I pulled Lex from his car. He hit me doing sixty miles an hour and we both went over the bridge. I ripped the hood of his car open and pulled him to the surface. You know? It's funny really, that's how we first met. They pulled his car out later. Did you know he still has that thing? He said that it reminds him of how close he came to death."
Clark shook his head, uneasy at the thought of Lex's brilliant analytical mind working 24/7 to figure out how the roof of his car was ripped off. He'd figure it out sooner or later, if he hadn't already done so.
The blond smiled. "He's still trying to repay you for that you know? Always pushing you and Lana together. It's too bad you've given up on her, Clark. I'm sure Lex could have gotten you two together in another month. Anyway, when was the first time you used your powers to fight someone?"
The raven-haired super teen looked at her coldly. Chloe almost regretted asking, but suddenly Clark spoke up. "Do you remember Greg Arkin?"
Chloe nodded, unpleasant memories of the 'bug boy' drifting through her mind.
"Well, Greg was the first person I really fought with my powers. Sure, there was Pete's bully in third grade, but that was an accident. There was Jeremy Creek too, but that was quick. He shorted himself out and forgot what happened. The fight with Greg was different; I consider that my first real battle." Clark paused long enough to let out a ragged breath.
"Whitney and I went out to Greg's old tree-house in the woods and found Lana in a cocoon. Greg threatened her again and took off running for a near-by factory. There were meteor rocks all over the area, but I went after him anyway. I wasn't going to let him hurt anyone else. When I got to the factory we really fought each other. I could feel myself getting sicker because of the meteors and Greg almost beat me because of it. Luckily, I ducked into a lead-lined basin and regained my strength. The next time Greg came at me, I hurled him across the room. I wasn't fast enough to save him and Greg was crushed. It was my fault, I killed him."
Pain showed on Clark's face. His normally clear blue eyes were now swathed with a muddy gray color. It was amazing how his eyes depicted the kind of mood he was in. That was another reason Chloe loved him so much, she could always tell what he was thinking.
"Clark, it wasn't your fault Greg died. He was a psychopathic killer. He ate his mother for God's sake. Don't blame yourself. You did your best to help him. To help them all." There had been several weird occurrences in Smallville since that first incident with Greg. Clark was the one who always uncovered the truth, with Chloe's help of course. Clark was the one who'd always saved people.
"Chloe, a lot of people have died because of me. Coach Walt, Sean Kelvin, Poor Cassandra Carver, Sam Phelan, the leader of that tattoo gang Whitney joined, the deputy who kidnapped and buried you. Lana's parents. The list goes on and on." Clark brought his hands to his face, trying to hide his shame.
Chloe sat silently next to her best friend, trying to push down the anger and fear she suddenly felt. She still remembered being buried alive; she still had nightmares about it. Clark had saved her though. He always saved her. And even with all the people he'd saved, all the good he'd done, he still blamed himself for the few he couldn't help.
"Clark Joseph Kent, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Chloe's voice was strong and shook with anger.
Clark looked at her, shocked. Chloe had never really yelled at him before. "What do you mean? It's true."
Chloe shook her head and brought her hand to Clark's face. "Clark, you're not responsible for any of them. You tried to save them all. Coach Walt, Sean, and that meteor tattoo guy all tried to kill me, remember? And you still tried to save them, that says a lot. Cassandra was old, Clark. It was just her time to go." Chloe paused to let her words sink in.
"Clark, with all the powers you have, you still aren't able to save everyone. You need to accept that, otherwise you'll kill yourself with guilt that doesn't even belong to you. And why on earth do you think you killed Lana's parents?"
Clark sighed and leaned a little more into Chloe's hand, loving the feel of her skin against his. "I came down with the meteors. It's my fault. I killed them."
Chloe absently rubbed her thumb across Clark's unblemished cheek and reveled in how soft it was. "Clark, those meteors would have fallen with or without you. And what do you mean you 'came down' with them?" The reporter in her was dying for the scoop of the century, but her heart really wanted to ease Clark's pain.
"Well, you asked me earlier if I was an alien. To tell you the truth, my folks and I aren't exactly sure. They told me that they were driving down a country road when the meteors began falling. That's when they both saw a strange bluish-gray object plummet with the huge chunks of rock and smash into a field. Their truck tipped over from the shockwave and that's when they first saw me. I just walked up to the truck and looked at them, smiling. After that, they adopted me and have been my family ever since." Clark felt disappointment when Chloe removed her hand from his face.
"So, you're an alien then? Figures. I didn't think a human could be so perfect." Chloe blushed and added to her last sentence. "I mean I didn't think a human could have such amazing powers. You've got it all, Clark."
Clark laughed at her. "Chloe, sometimes you're so naïve. You think it's fun constantly guarding my powers? Constantly guarding myself? You think it's cool having to hide what I am from everyone I love? Having to lie to you or Pete or Lana or even Lex when I have to go and save someone? I wish I were normal, like you and Pete. It must be great having a normal life. Pete gets to play sports and go on dates with girls. I get to fight monsters and lie to the one girl I really care about while doing it."
Chloe looked at her friend thoughtfully. "Clark, you could have a girl too. Come to think of it, why haven't you ever dated anyone? I know you've fantasized about Lana, but that was it."
Clark nodded. "Do you remember Eric Summers? His father was our old Geology teacher. You were there. We were all out on a rock scavenger hunt and Eric found a bunch of the meteor rocks. When it was time to go Mr. Summers asked me to find Eric for him. I found Eric standing on a dam looking over the edge. He almost jumped when I caught him. Lightning suddenly struck us and between the energy from the lightning bolt and the meteor rocks, my powers were transferred to Eric."
Chloe chirped in. "That's why he went berserk. To think I called him 'Super Boy'. Oh Clark, that's why you were so upset when he used your powers for his own benefit. I'm sorry..." Chloe mentally kicked herself. She'd never realized until now, but Clark suffered through a lot more then he went on about.
Clark squeezed Chloe's hand. "It's okay, Chloe. Anyway, after he stopped that guy who stole your laptop, he started getting full of himself. You remember the day he went after that girl he had a crush on and her boyfriend? I tried to stop him, but he threw me into a car. That was the first time I'd really been hurt. I still have a small scar from that fight. It never healed, even with my powers. Anyway, during the fight, she called Eric a freak. He ran away after that and tried to kill himself. We fought at the dam again and thanks to Lana's necklace, I got my powers back. Eric got help in Metropolis and Mr. and Mrs. Summers moved away."
Chloe shook her head. "You still haven't answered my question, buster. Why haven't you ever given a girl a chance?"
Clark smiled and Chloe melted inside. The Kent Charm, you gotta love it. "Will you let me finish? I was afraid that if I ever got close to a girl that she would react to me the same way that girl reacted to Eric. That she'd call me a freak. That she'd say I was an alien and not a man. I don't think I could handle that." Clark looked down, ashamed.
Chloe took Clark's face in her hands and looked straight into his eyes. She momentarily forgot what she was going to say. She lost herself in the beautiful pools of her friend's eyes. Clark looked at her uncertainly. Suddenly, Chloe spoke. "Clark, you are not a freak. You are the greatest person I've ever met. And you're one super guy."
Clark smiled from ear to ear, his heart jumping in his chest. Her words worked wonders for him. There was another thing that made him feel better. He was sure that Chloe was going to kiss him. God, he wanted her to. He'd only kissed her once before, thanks to Kyle Tippit's mind controlling powers. Disappointment flooded through him as Chloe let her soft feminine hands fall away from his face. She brought them to her own face and stifled a long yawn.
"Clark, what time is it? I'm exhausted." Chloe rubbed the small bags under her eyes. She couldn't sleep because of the cold, but now it looked like she didn't have a choice. Clark checked his watch and frowned. "We've been stuck here for over eight hours now. I think we should try to sleep Chloe. There's nothing we can do but wait and hope." Silently, Clark hoped that the note he'd left for his parents was found and that they were already out looking for him.
Chloe yawned again and shivered. "How are we going to sleep? I think my tongue is freezing..." She stuck her small pink tongue out and tried to look at it.
Clark rolled his eyes and reached into the back seat. He pulled out two emergency thermal blankets and a small box filled with chemical muscle warmers. "I didn't even know these were still back here. Dad must have forgotten to take them in with him last night." Jonathon was suffering acute back pain, so Clark had suggested the muscle warmers. It looked like his father had left it up to his mother to help ease his pain. Clark made a disgusted face when he realized what she'd probably done for him. Ehhhh!
Chloe felt her blood boil. "You dumb-ass. You mean to tell me that I've been watching my hands slowly turn into ice and you've had blankets and hand warmers! What the hell is wrong with you, Clark? Give me those!"
Angered, she grabbed one of the muscle-warmers away from Clark, ripped open the small package, and snapped the square. Heat suddenly flowed through the square package and Chloe marveled at the delicious warmth flooding her hands. "Hmmm, I wonder how these things work."
Information suddenly poured form Clark's mouth. "Well, the iron that's in the pouch, when exposed to oxygen, oxidizes and produces heat. When iron oxidizes it produces iron oxide, better known as rust. The salt in the package acts as a catalyst while the carbon helps disperse the heat. The vermiculite is used as the insulator to retain heat and the cellulose acts as a filler. The polypropylene bag contains all of these ingredients safely and allows air to permeate the ingredients while holding in moisture." Clark blushed and looked away after seeing Chloe's shocked expression.
The blond reporter clamped her open jaw shut with an audible snap. "Jesus, Clark. Did you eat an encyclopedia for breakfast or something?"
The farm boy laughed. "No, I had three pigs and a chicken."
Chloe snorted and slapped her friend's shoulder. "Smart-ass. Be serious for a second, how did you know that?"
Clark shrugged. "I don't know, information just kind of stays in my head. Whenever I read something, I can remember exactly what the words were and how they were phrased. My mom says I have a photographic memory, but my dad says it's more than that because I can do complex math equations in my head. I guess it's one of my passive powers."
Chloe smiled. "So you weren't really worried about that test at school, were you? You could remember exactly what the book said. Jesus Clark, why didn't you tell me sooner? Do you realize how easy it would have been for me to cheat off of you?" Clark looked at her shocked, but Chloe smiled. "I'm kidding 'Mr. Goodie Two-Shoes.' I know you wouldn't let me cheat off of you. Boy Scout."
Clark stuck his tongue out at her and Chloe laughed. "Be careful Clark, I may just grab that tongue and use it for acts less than honorable." The farm boy's eyes widened at the thought and he slowly drew his tongue back into his mouth. His friend smiled at him. "Clark, I'm freezing."
The farm boy looked at Chloe intensely for a moment. "Chloe, if you tell anyone at school that I did this, I'll deny it and I'll never talk to you again. Okay?" Before Chloe could say anything, Clark began unbuttoning his shirt. He cast aside the flannel shirt and lifted his one of his undershirts, and then the other, over his head. Clark sat before Chloe naked from the waist up and began to unwrap one of the thermal blankets. When it was unrolled, Clark stretched out on the backseat and gestured for Chloe to lie on top of him.
Chloe just stared at Clark. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Did Clark really just ask her to lie on top of him? With his shirt off? Chloe's thoughts turned Uber NC-17. She scrambled over the seat, quickly shedding her coats until she was down to her slacks and t-shirt before crawling under the thermal blanket.
Suddenly, Chloe became very self-conscious. She couldn't decide how to lie by Clark. She was also very aware of how perfectly sculpted Clark's body was and how much baby-fat her own body still possessed. Clark opened one eye and looked at Chloe. "Chloe. Don't be nervous, it's just me. If it were Lex then I'd understand the skepticism. Come here."
Clark reached out and forcefully pulled Chloe on top of his body, letting her rest her head on his taught chest. After pulling the thermal blankets over their bodies, Clark surrendered to sleep. The blond girl lying on top of him fought to stay awake. She wanted to remember every aspect of this moment.
Chloe snuggled against Clark's chest and inhaled his scent deeply into her lungs. She couldn't remember a time when she'd felt safer or happier. Lying here with Clark made her heart beat so fast she thought it would burst.
Clark, completely unaware of his actions, wrapped his arms around Chloe's prone form, letting one hand rest on the small of her back, the other dipping just below the waistband of her slacks. Chloe smiled and rested her head on Clark's chest, listening to the slow, monotonous beats of his heart. The rhythmic sound of Clark's heart lulled Chloe to sleep. It was the best sleep she'd ever had...
A/N: Okay, quick question. Was anyone else bitterly disappointed with Birds of Prey? There were very few goods points, one of them being Dina Meyer's excellent portrayal of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon. Ashley Scott, in my humble opinion, sucked as the Huntress. You could tell that she tried, but she just couldn't pull her character away from being a simpering bully with daddy issues. The prom dress/superhero costume without mask sure as hell didn't help her case.
And what the hell was with the cat's eye and the terrible sarcastic banter during the first fight scene. Eeeesh! Someone, please tell me I'm wrong on this, but I have a bad feeling that this show isn't going to enjoy a second season without major plot and character revisions. For God's Sake! Batman wouldn't give up and run away after losing people he loved...hello? That's kinda what made him Batman in the first place.
*Sigh* Okay, bitching complete. What do you kid's think? Did'ja like it? Has the talent of the 'Smallville' cast spoiled us? Are we now expecting 'Smallville' quality out of all hero shows?