Part 10
Lana wasn't wearing a watch, so had no way of knowing how much time had past since Clark had left. She was guessing about five minutes, but couldn't be sure.
However long it had been, she was growing more and more anxious. It shouldn't take this long for him to get back, should it? She didn't think so.
She placed the blanket on the ground and sat down. Reaching inside her pocket she felt her cell phone and pulled it out. Should she call Pete? He knew almost nothing about what was going on, though Clark had told him about the figure when he'd inquired about the bruises.
Lana didn't know Pete very well, but if there was one thing about Pete that Lana was certain of, it was his reliability. He was very loyal to his friends, and willing to help them in anyway he could.
She'd give Clark what she assumed was five more minutes, then call Pete. If he didn't answer… well, she just wouldn't think about that. All she knew was that Clark would need help and she would do everything in her power to provide some.
---
Clark walked through the woods, making sure to keep as quiet as possible. He had unusually enhanced vision, but the woods were still slightly dark and it was growing later by the second. Who knew what animals came out at night. This made him think back to Lana and her safety. Should he have told her to go home? Why hadn't he told her to go home!
He'd just have to hurry up and find this person. So far however, his search was coming up empty handed.
"Hello?" he called again, pushing aside some bushes and looking around. He was sure the scream had come from somewhere around here, but why wasn't anyone answering his calls? Were they so hurt that they were unable to respond?
A sudden movement behind him caused him to jump. He turned slowly, part of him hoping that Lana had in fact followed him and had managed to be silent until now. But the logical part of his mind knew it wasn't true, and apprehension was quickly taking hold of all Clark's senses.
Turning slowly, he looked cautiously around, and was instantly hit with the familiar nauseating feeling. A hand suddenly appeared in Clark's line of vision.
A green hand.
A kryptonite hand.
As soon as he saw this, it was as though he were paralyzed, almost as though the feeling had rooted him to the spot. He was not close enough to the kryptonite for it to cause him to pass out, just near enough for the pain to make it nearly impossible to stand.
"Y-you," he gasped, grabbing onto the nearest tree for support.
"Yes." Its voice was silky soft, filled with satisfaction and pleasure. "Yes… fear me, Kryptonian."
It wanted fear, did it? Well, Clark was not about to give this creature, what or who ever it was, the satisfaction of getting what it wanted.
Lana wasn't stupid, and would somehow get help for him. They would come and find him, rescue him, and then they would go and tell his parents everything. Together, they would think of a way to beat him, a way to win.
He would just have to wait a little while, that was all. Everything would be fine.
There was a sudden noise in the direction of the figure, which sounded a mixture between a cry of pain and a muttered string of words.
"No-" Clark was able to make out, "not the love… not relief!"
But before Clark could think about the implications of these words, the creature's whole arm was suddenly visible to him.
The pain increased, if possible and Clark gasped and bit down hard on his lower lip to hold in his own cry of pain.
He could almost see the creature smiling, and could hear it in its voice. "Aren't you curious?"
Well, he certainly was now. "What?"
"Aren't you wondering why I'm here?"
"No…" Clark managed, "I… just… want… you to… leave… L-Lana… and I… alone…"
It laughed, a low, menacing sound, like the villains on old movies, but truly frightening unlike them. "Ah, but that will never happen… Well, it may happen for your little girlfriend… but not for you. The only way you can get rid of me is in death - yours."
---
Lana was sure that five minutes had passed, and it was getting close to ten. That was it, she decided, it was time to take some action.
She'd called Pete sometime ago but had gotten his answering machine. She'd left a simple message - "Clark and I are out in the woods, and were wondering if you'd like to join us. Call me if you do."
Hopefully, he'd understand the real message behind her words and the severity of the situation.
But nearly ten minutes had passed since then and she couldn't just sit around doing nothing… she had to help Clark now.
Turning in the direction she'd last seen him in, she hesitated, then started walking. "Clark, please be close by…" She whispered nervously, eyes fearful yet determined.
---
Clark was confused, in pain and terrified all at once.
"Lana," he muttered under his breath, not wanting to cause this being any source of pleasure, "just think of Lana…"
But thinking of Lana always brought him back to the fact that according to this thing, he was going to die.
He was going to leave her.
And this realization didn't bring him any even remotely comforting thoughts.
"It was my fault, you know."
The statement was so soft and abrupt that it took Clark by surprise.
He kept his mouth shut this time, however. After a lengthy pause, the figure continued speaking nevertheless.
"It was my fault your planet," he spat the last word as though it were a particularly disgusting vegetable that he wanted to get rid of, "exploded."
Clark's eyes widened, and unexpected anger rose inside him. A sigh of glee escaped the figure's lips, and Clark clenched his fists together, picturing Lana in his mind and forcing himself to remember the feeling that simply being with her always gave him.
"I… don't… believe you," he growled, not looking at the creature.
"You don't, do you?" It almost sounded amused. "I lived on krypton, knew your father, Jor-el."
"No…" He didn't believe it. He couldn't believe it.
"Yes." The tone of its voice was gleeful, seeming to know that Clark was lying.
But he wasn't, he told himself sharply. He shouldn't believe this creature… it had tried to kill him! Why should he have reason to believe that this just wasn't one of his lies?
"I was a Scientist, along with your father… But I was working for another planet. This was your father's fault, of course. He married your mother - the woman I loved! I was so angry with him - with both of them - which I wanted to kill them and any of their offspring. The rest of the planet was an added bonus."
Anger such as Clark had never felt before in his entire life flowed through him, and he suddenly couldn't feel the pain of the kryptonite. He forgot about Lana, forgot about his parents. He forgot that he was 16-years-old and was already so weak that he was having trouble standing upright.
None of that mattered anymore; all that mattered was that this figure was hurt. It had killed his parents - his home - the life that he should have had was destroyed because of the being not twenty feet in front of him and he would make sure that it suffered for it's actions.
He lunged forward, super speeding across the forest floor almost without realizing it. His eyes were staring at the figures, seeing the shock, amusement and something else… fear? He hoped it was fear. If it weren't… well… it would be soon. Clark would make sure of that.
He was feet away from the figure, the pain causing him to stumble, but he didn't notice. If the figure was speaking, he couldn't hear the words. Nothing could get through to him when he was this angry.
"Clark!"
Except that. He knew that voice - loved that voice. It had seemed to break through the fog surrounding his brain and he suddenly felt the pain more vividly than ever before.
He stumbled backwards, but fell before he was able to make it very far away. The figure was laughing now, he was sure of it.
"Clark!" The same voice spoke his name again, coming ever closer. But he couldn't look away from the figure; from its green eyes the same color as Lana's yet so drastically different.
He heard the sound of something or rather someone, hitting the ground beside him. They were saying his name in a panicked voice, and a hand was suddenly on his cheek, turning his face forcibly away, causing him to stare into another pair of eyes the same color yet filled with many different emotions.
"Lana," he said, her gaze giving him renewed strength.
The creature spoke from behind them, tone amused. "Ah… yes. The girl."
Lana looked at it for seemingly the first time, all concern for Clark gone and replaced by hate. She doubted she'd ever hated someone, truly, completely hated someone, until now, but she knew deep in her heart that this was hate just as she knew that what she felt for Clark was love and so much more.
"Yes," she spat, and to her horror the creature's excuse for a smile widened.
"W-We were right," Clark spoke from beside her, "it… it is weakened by…. Po-positive… emotions…"
Understanding dawned on Lana, and she turned away from the figure, grabbing Clark's arm and dragging him as best she could away from it. The farther they got, the more Clark was able to move on his own power and by the time they were ten or so yards away, he was able to stand beside her.
His hand found hers, and he spoke in an undertone, voice still filled with pain but more so with concern. "What are you doing h-here?"
"I got worried," Lana explained, her earlier fears returning. She had wandered aimlessly through the woods, listening for any unfamiliar sounds and familiar ones as well, searching as best she could for any sign of Clark.
A crashing of trees had finally reached her ears and she'd rushed over just in time to see Clark running full out at a creature that would give her nightmares for the next few weeks, at least. She at first had whispered his name, not wanting to alert the creature of her presence, but he hadn't heard. Finally, as he'd drawn ever closer, legs nearly giving out in pain yet still moving, she'd shouted his name in pure terror, wanting him to stop hurting himself, afraid what would happen if he moved any closer.
"You shouldn't be here," Clark said, attempting to sound disapproving, yet the look in his eyes telling her the exact opposite. "But I'm glad you are."
"I'm glad I'm here too," she said softly, "though I wish we weren't here."
He smiled slightly, and reached out to place a kiss on her cheek when a noise stopped them. The figure was clenching its fists in agony, and Clark's smile widened.
"When it's in pain," Lana asked, "does it make you feel any better?" Clark shook his head, and she sighed quietly. "Should we make a run for it while he - it's distracted?"
It was Clark's turn to shake his head. "No… I want to get rid of it once and for all."
"Are - are you going to kill it?" Terror crept into her voice, though just what she was terrified of, Lana wasn't quite sure.
"I… I don't know," Clark said uncertainly. "All I know is I don't want it hurting either of us anymore."
"But…"
He silenced her with a kiss. Behind them, the figure fell to its knees, fresh waves of agony ripping through its entire body. Breathing was becoming difficult and unless this display of affection stopped soon, it knew it would lose a lot more than consciousness.
"If anything happens to me…" Clark's voice was husky, and he held Lana's right hand in both of his.
"N-nothing's going to happen to you," Lana said firmly, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I know." He reached out, wiping them away and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But if it does… I just want you to know that I love you. I love you so much, Lana. This time we've spent together… it's been better than anything I ever dreamed about. All those times I fantasized about us… they were nothing compared to how it's been."
"Even nearly getting killed?"
"Anything's wonderful as long as I'm with you." He smiled softly down at her, and she leaned up to press a long kiss to his lips.
"I love you too, Clark. This has been the happiest time of my life, being with you. Every morning I'd wake up and think I'm with Clark! Just thinking that… thinking about you… it would change my whole outlook on the day. You've changed my life, Clark Kent."
"You've done more than that for me, Lana." He pulled her close, wondering if this would be the last time he breathed in the sent of her hair, felt every part of his body match with hers… Whenever he touched her, it was like falling in love all over again.
"I love you, Lana."
"I love you too, Clark…" They both heard the tears in her voice, but she pushed them back. She did not want what could possibly be her last memories with Clark of her crying.
She kissed his lips, his cheeks, any and every part of his face. She ended up back on his lips, and tasted tears. She hated herself for crying, but didn't stop kissing Clark to brush away her tears.
Clark's hand came up to cup her face, and he did it for her, returning her kiss with as much love, as much passion as he could… and all the pain the kryptonite was still causing left him completely. For those few moments when he was kissing Lana, just kissing her, no roaming hands or battling tongues, Clark's pain was the last thing on his mind.
Finally the kiss broke, but the immense feelings of love they were feeling for each other remained with them. They said one last I love you, and slowly pulled apart. "Stay here," Clark begged. "If… if he comes for you, run. H-He promised he wouldn't kill you but-"
She nodded, and they broke physical contact completely. They held the other's gazes for a moment longer, before Clark turned to face the figure.
---
He leaped over to it at super speed, momentarily shocked to see it on its knees. But then the kryptonite overpowered him, and he fell as well, gasping in agony.
Both beings battled, one fighting pain, the other fighting love. Lana was forgotten as she stood a ways away, watching the two battles for their lives without as much as touching.
Clark managed to send out the smallest beam of heat possible, and it hit the creature's arm. It flinched and dark energy seemed to begin to gather in it's eyes but it did not have the strength to release it.
"R-Rem-remember y-you-your p-p-promise…" Clark gasped, feeling himself losing grip on consciousness. "Y-you h-have to… n-no-not h-hurt… L-Lana… y-you… h-h-ha-have… to… not…"
His head hit the ground as he passed out, his last thought of his angel.
-
The figure managed to pull itself into a sitting position, looking with loathing down at the motionless teen.
"Th-this is where y-you die," it gritted out through clenched teeth, still in nearly intolerable pain.
It reached out a hand, rocky fingers touching Clark's warm skin, which would soon be cold. It found his neck and squeezed. He grew paler, breathing becoming labored and the figure smiled, knowing that the end was near
"No!" Pure terror assaulted it, but with the fear came the love. Huge, blinding waves of it and the emotions were so powerful it didn't hear the footsteps or see the girl running towards them.
She leapt on top of Clark, trying to protect his body with hers. The love… the devotion… the determination this girl felt… it couldn't breathe. It really, truly couldn't breathe.
"No… not… now! I-I've… come… too… far!" But the girl was grabbing at his hand, her fingers trembling but grip firm.
"Let go of him!" Her voice was loud and full of tears yet courageous. She succeeded in pulling it's rock hard grip off of Clark, pushing with all her might and managing to move him a fraction of an inch away from the boy.
"I-I won't let y-you kill him," she breathed, voice wavering. "H-he's saved me s-so many t-times and I-I c-care about him t-too much…" Her tears fell onto Clark's face, and onto the ground near the figure. The salty drops burned him, her love overpowering her despair. It grunted, trying not to show that she'd hurt him, yet she heard and moved closer.
"I-I w-want t-to h-hurt you so b-badly right now…" she whispered, voice hard with hatred. It tensed, growing hopeful. Please girl, it pleaded, hate me…
"But I know saying I hate you won't help." She lifted Clark's hand from the ground and held it tightly, her love if possible growing.
A tear fell onto the figure's arm, and in horror it watched the kryptonite begin to melt away. Lana gasped, staring as well. She reached out abruptly, touching his hand and shrieking as the finger she touched dropped off and disappeared.
Then she knew suddenly what she had to do. She didn't know how she'd thought of it, but it had to work.
Holding Clark's hand tightly in hers, she concentrated on all her love, all her concern for him and leaned forward. Her lips touched the figures in the most revolting kiss she'd ever experienced, but she forced herself to think of Clark.
And then the lips beneath hers were gone. Its face was melting away, it's arms, legs, and body, until there was nothing left save for a pile of dust… and green, glowing eyes.
Those eyes met Lana's for the briefest of seconds, and they seemed to say that she'd won.
She collapsed in a heap next to Clark, both unmoving.
---
"Clark?!" Pete's concerned calls woke Lana sometime later. The forest was pitch black, and for a moment she couldn't remember where she was or what had happened.
"Clark… Lana?! Can you guy shear me?"
Snapping bushes and hurried footsteps brought everything back to her. Sitting up, she tried to call out to Pete without her voice breaking. "P-Pete! Over here!"
"Lana!" Relief was clear in Pete's tone and she heard him drawing closer. Glancing to her left, she tried to make out Clark's form in the darkness.
She reached out blindly, finding his fingers. They were still warm. There was still hope; still time.
"Clark?" She whispered his name, gripping his hand as tightly as she could.
"Lana!" Pete ran into the clearing, flashlight in hand. The beam shone right in her face almost instantly, and she jumped to her feet, taking in Pete's worried face and scratched arms and legs. There were leaves in his hair and twigs all over him. She had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life.
"Lana… are you okay?" Pete was looking her over worriedly, wide eyed with confusion and concern. "What happened and where's…." He glanced passed Lana and saw Clark lying on the ground.
"H-he's not waking up," Lana said in a voice choked with emotion. Tears formed in her eyes and began falling for the third time that evening. "What if - what if he's…" Pete placed an arm around her shoulders, and somewhat awkwardly patted her on the back.
"He'll be fine," he attempted to reassure her. As one the two dropped to their knees, Pete's flashlight illuminating Clark's face. He looked fine, all be it slightly pale. Moving the light lower, both gasped at the large fingerprint shaped bruises along Clark's neck.
"Whoa," Pete breathed, and Lana reached out a hand to Clark.
"C-Clark?" She whispered fearfully, fingers of fear gripping her heart much as the now… what, dead? Figure had gripped Clark's neck. She touched his cheek tentatively, feeling the softness of his skin causing her tears to flow faster.
"Clark, man?" Pete shook his friend's shoulder slightly, hating to see Lana so upset and Clark so unresponsive.
"H-he's breathing," Lana said, bending close over him just to make sure. She grabbed his wrist and felt some relief as she said, "and h-he's got a pulse."
Her fingers slid down until they were gripping Clark's hand, tears falling onto his face and shirt.
"Clark, p-please wake up. I-I need you… so much… please, Clark… please…" Her voice broke on a sob, and Pete shook Clark again.
Pete yanked out a water bottle suddenly, and Lana stared at him in shock. How could he be thirsty at a time like this?
"Do you think some water will do anything?" Lana had no answer for this, but was willing to try anything at this point.
They managed to get Clark's mouth open, and Pete poured some water in, both holding their breath in terrified anticipation.
Lana squeezed her boyfriend's hand as hard as she could, not expecting a response.
But getting one nonetheless. Clark's eyes opened slowly, and he stared first at Lana, then at Pete. He coughed, spitting water all over his face, and gasping for breath. He looked back at Lana, meeting her tear-filled eyes with his.
"Lana…" his voice was thick and wobbly.
"Clark…" Hers was barely audible.
He sat up and in one fluid motion pulled into his arms, body trembling, breathing fast. Lana melted into his embrace, tears falling against his shoulder, shaking herself in relief and due to her tears.
The two finally drew apart, and Pete, who'd stepped off to the side slightly, came back over. "Y-you two okay?" He asked uncertainly, staring hard at Clark.
His best friend smiled, and responded softly, "Yeah… yeah. Let's go home."
---
The front door of the Talon was yanked open one late Friday afternoon, and Lana glanced up from the counter. Chloe, looking exhausted stumbled over, mumbling something resembling the words "Latte, extra caffeine"
"Long issue?"
"I've been working since 5… and I didn't get home until 2:30 last night."
Lana grinned and slid her friend's coffee across the counter along with a cookie. "It's on the house," she said, gesturing at the cookie.
Chloe gave her a grateful smile and collapsed at a nearby table. The door opened again, and Clark walked in casually, glanced at Chloe and went over to her. She said something that made Clark grin, and Lana watched as he turned towards the counter.
"One large cappuccino, extra cream, please." He chirped, giving her a smile as he dug in his pocket for the money.
"Were you helping Chloe with the Torch??" Lana inquired, spraying the whipped cream onto Clark's drink.
He nodded, leaning across the counter and kissing her on the cheek. This distracted Lana, causing the cream to nearly spray all over the counter. She swatted Clark's arm playfully and slid him his drink, sneaking him two fresh cookies. "Don't tell Chloe," she whispered, "I only gave her one."
Clark grinned and kissed her fully on the lips this time. "We still on for tonight?" He asked, turning to go sit with Chloe.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world,' Lana replied, watching him walk across the room with a smile.
It had been at least two weeks since their final encounter with the figure. They had gone home that night and told the Kent's everything, including the fact that Lana knew about Clark's abilities. They were horrified at what the couple had had to endure, but relieved that they were all right and Martha especially was happy that Lana knew the secret.
They had figured out that the reasons the beams of dark energy had effected Martha and Jonathan was because they loved Clark as a son, whereas the type of feelings Lana had for him, in addition to the fact that she was aware of the figure and therefore slightly on alert, prevented her from succumbing to it's bidding.
Clark was perfectly healthy and he and Lana were moving steadily forward in their relationship. Chloe, though sometimes looking longingly at the couple when they would kiss or touch in some way in front of her, seemed to be moving on as well. Things were almost too perfect for Smallville standards, except the fact that Lex was growing rather distant from Clark, and Lionel seemed to be taking yet another extended visit.
But there were no problems in the immediate future, and that was all any of them cared about. The supposed unbeatable creature had been beaten at least to their knowledge, and it was because of Clark and Lana's love for one another that this had happened.
Author's Notes:
It's finally finished! Sorry for the long wait, but hopefully the extra longness of this part made up for it. I know the ending was weak, sorry about that… I got stuck.
I hope you've all enjoyed this series, and are sorry it's over. I'm going to miss letting Clark and Lana kiss each other whenever they feel like it, lemme tell you. Please leave feedback, and bug DragonessIsabella to update her fic!
Thanks for reading, and just to clear up any questions about the Lex/Lionel mention wasn't foreshadowing of a sequel… I just wanted to say that he's becoming a Luthor, shall we say?
Anyway… please leave feedback, and don't expect a series for a while… I think I'll stick to one shots.
Lala
Lana wasn't wearing a watch, so had no way of knowing how much time had past since Clark had left. She was guessing about five minutes, but couldn't be sure.
However long it had been, she was growing more and more anxious. It shouldn't take this long for him to get back, should it? She didn't think so.
She placed the blanket on the ground and sat down. Reaching inside her pocket she felt her cell phone and pulled it out. Should she call Pete? He knew almost nothing about what was going on, though Clark had told him about the figure when he'd inquired about the bruises.
Lana didn't know Pete very well, but if there was one thing about Pete that Lana was certain of, it was his reliability. He was very loyal to his friends, and willing to help them in anyway he could.
She'd give Clark what she assumed was five more minutes, then call Pete. If he didn't answer… well, she just wouldn't think about that. All she knew was that Clark would need help and she would do everything in her power to provide some.
---
Clark walked through the woods, making sure to keep as quiet as possible. He had unusually enhanced vision, but the woods were still slightly dark and it was growing later by the second. Who knew what animals came out at night. This made him think back to Lana and her safety. Should he have told her to go home? Why hadn't he told her to go home!
He'd just have to hurry up and find this person. So far however, his search was coming up empty handed.
"Hello?" he called again, pushing aside some bushes and looking around. He was sure the scream had come from somewhere around here, but why wasn't anyone answering his calls? Were they so hurt that they were unable to respond?
A sudden movement behind him caused him to jump. He turned slowly, part of him hoping that Lana had in fact followed him and had managed to be silent until now. But the logical part of his mind knew it wasn't true, and apprehension was quickly taking hold of all Clark's senses.
Turning slowly, he looked cautiously around, and was instantly hit with the familiar nauseating feeling. A hand suddenly appeared in Clark's line of vision.
A green hand.
A kryptonite hand.
As soon as he saw this, it was as though he were paralyzed, almost as though the feeling had rooted him to the spot. He was not close enough to the kryptonite for it to cause him to pass out, just near enough for the pain to make it nearly impossible to stand.
"Y-you," he gasped, grabbing onto the nearest tree for support.
"Yes." Its voice was silky soft, filled with satisfaction and pleasure. "Yes… fear me, Kryptonian."
It wanted fear, did it? Well, Clark was not about to give this creature, what or who ever it was, the satisfaction of getting what it wanted.
Lana wasn't stupid, and would somehow get help for him. They would come and find him, rescue him, and then they would go and tell his parents everything. Together, they would think of a way to beat him, a way to win.
He would just have to wait a little while, that was all. Everything would be fine.
There was a sudden noise in the direction of the figure, which sounded a mixture between a cry of pain and a muttered string of words.
"No-" Clark was able to make out, "not the love… not relief!"
But before Clark could think about the implications of these words, the creature's whole arm was suddenly visible to him.
The pain increased, if possible and Clark gasped and bit down hard on his lower lip to hold in his own cry of pain.
He could almost see the creature smiling, and could hear it in its voice. "Aren't you curious?"
Well, he certainly was now. "What?"
"Aren't you wondering why I'm here?"
"No…" Clark managed, "I… just… want… you to… leave… L-Lana… and I… alone…"
It laughed, a low, menacing sound, like the villains on old movies, but truly frightening unlike them. "Ah, but that will never happen… Well, it may happen for your little girlfriend… but not for you. The only way you can get rid of me is in death - yours."
---
Lana was sure that five minutes had passed, and it was getting close to ten. That was it, she decided, it was time to take some action.
She'd called Pete sometime ago but had gotten his answering machine. She'd left a simple message - "Clark and I are out in the woods, and were wondering if you'd like to join us. Call me if you do."
Hopefully, he'd understand the real message behind her words and the severity of the situation.
But nearly ten minutes had passed since then and she couldn't just sit around doing nothing… she had to help Clark now.
Turning in the direction she'd last seen him in, she hesitated, then started walking. "Clark, please be close by…" She whispered nervously, eyes fearful yet determined.
---
Clark was confused, in pain and terrified all at once.
"Lana," he muttered under his breath, not wanting to cause this being any source of pleasure, "just think of Lana…"
But thinking of Lana always brought him back to the fact that according to this thing, he was going to die.
He was going to leave her.
And this realization didn't bring him any even remotely comforting thoughts.
"It was my fault, you know."
The statement was so soft and abrupt that it took Clark by surprise.
He kept his mouth shut this time, however. After a lengthy pause, the figure continued speaking nevertheless.
"It was my fault your planet," he spat the last word as though it were a particularly disgusting vegetable that he wanted to get rid of, "exploded."
Clark's eyes widened, and unexpected anger rose inside him. A sigh of glee escaped the figure's lips, and Clark clenched his fists together, picturing Lana in his mind and forcing himself to remember the feeling that simply being with her always gave him.
"I… don't… believe you," he growled, not looking at the creature.
"You don't, do you?" It almost sounded amused. "I lived on krypton, knew your father, Jor-el."
"No…" He didn't believe it. He couldn't believe it.
"Yes." The tone of its voice was gleeful, seeming to know that Clark was lying.
But he wasn't, he told himself sharply. He shouldn't believe this creature… it had tried to kill him! Why should he have reason to believe that this just wasn't one of his lies?
"I was a Scientist, along with your father… But I was working for another planet. This was your father's fault, of course. He married your mother - the woman I loved! I was so angry with him - with both of them - which I wanted to kill them and any of their offspring. The rest of the planet was an added bonus."
Anger such as Clark had never felt before in his entire life flowed through him, and he suddenly couldn't feel the pain of the kryptonite. He forgot about Lana, forgot about his parents. He forgot that he was 16-years-old and was already so weak that he was having trouble standing upright.
None of that mattered anymore; all that mattered was that this figure was hurt. It had killed his parents - his home - the life that he should have had was destroyed because of the being not twenty feet in front of him and he would make sure that it suffered for it's actions.
He lunged forward, super speeding across the forest floor almost without realizing it. His eyes were staring at the figures, seeing the shock, amusement and something else… fear? He hoped it was fear. If it weren't… well… it would be soon. Clark would make sure of that.
He was feet away from the figure, the pain causing him to stumble, but he didn't notice. If the figure was speaking, he couldn't hear the words. Nothing could get through to him when he was this angry.
"Clark!"
Except that. He knew that voice - loved that voice. It had seemed to break through the fog surrounding his brain and he suddenly felt the pain more vividly than ever before.
He stumbled backwards, but fell before he was able to make it very far away. The figure was laughing now, he was sure of it.
"Clark!" The same voice spoke his name again, coming ever closer. But he couldn't look away from the figure; from its green eyes the same color as Lana's yet so drastically different.
He heard the sound of something or rather someone, hitting the ground beside him. They were saying his name in a panicked voice, and a hand was suddenly on his cheek, turning his face forcibly away, causing him to stare into another pair of eyes the same color yet filled with many different emotions.
"Lana," he said, her gaze giving him renewed strength.
The creature spoke from behind them, tone amused. "Ah… yes. The girl."
Lana looked at it for seemingly the first time, all concern for Clark gone and replaced by hate. She doubted she'd ever hated someone, truly, completely hated someone, until now, but she knew deep in her heart that this was hate just as she knew that what she felt for Clark was love and so much more.
"Yes," she spat, and to her horror the creature's excuse for a smile widened.
"W-We were right," Clark spoke from beside her, "it… it is weakened by…. Po-positive… emotions…"
Understanding dawned on Lana, and she turned away from the figure, grabbing Clark's arm and dragging him as best she could away from it. The farther they got, the more Clark was able to move on his own power and by the time they were ten or so yards away, he was able to stand beside her.
His hand found hers, and he spoke in an undertone, voice still filled with pain but more so with concern. "What are you doing h-here?"
"I got worried," Lana explained, her earlier fears returning. She had wandered aimlessly through the woods, listening for any unfamiliar sounds and familiar ones as well, searching as best she could for any sign of Clark.
A crashing of trees had finally reached her ears and she'd rushed over just in time to see Clark running full out at a creature that would give her nightmares for the next few weeks, at least. She at first had whispered his name, not wanting to alert the creature of her presence, but he hadn't heard. Finally, as he'd drawn ever closer, legs nearly giving out in pain yet still moving, she'd shouted his name in pure terror, wanting him to stop hurting himself, afraid what would happen if he moved any closer.
"You shouldn't be here," Clark said, attempting to sound disapproving, yet the look in his eyes telling her the exact opposite. "But I'm glad you are."
"I'm glad I'm here too," she said softly, "though I wish we weren't here."
He smiled slightly, and reached out to place a kiss on her cheek when a noise stopped them. The figure was clenching its fists in agony, and Clark's smile widened.
"When it's in pain," Lana asked, "does it make you feel any better?" Clark shook his head, and she sighed quietly. "Should we make a run for it while he - it's distracted?"
It was Clark's turn to shake his head. "No… I want to get rid of it once and for all."
"Are - are you going to kill it?" Terror crept into her voice, though just what she was terrified of, Lana wasn't quite sure.
"I… I don't know," Clark said uncertainly. "All I know is I don't want it hurting either of us anymore."
"But…"
He silenced her with a kiss. Behind them, the figure fell to its knees, fresh waves of agony ripping through its entire body. Breathing was becoming difficult and unless this display of affection stopped soon, it knew it would lose a lot more than consciousness.
"If anything happens to me…" Clark's voice was husky, and he held Lana's right hand in both of his.
"N-nothing's going to happen to you," Lana said firmly, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I know." He reached out, wiping them away and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But if it does… I just want you to know that I love you. I love you so much, Lana. This time we've spent together… it's been better than anything I ever dreamed about. All those times I fantasized about us… they were nothing compared to how it's been."
"Even nearly getting killed?"
"Anything's wonderful as long as I'm with you." He smiled softly down at her, and she leaned up to press a long kiss to his lips.
"I love you too, Clark. This has been the happiest time of my life, being with you. Every morning I'd wake up and think I'm with Clark! Just thinking that… thinking about you… it would change my whole outlook on the day. You've changed my life, Clark Kent."
"You've done more than that for me, Lana." He pulled her close, wondering if this would be the last time he breathed in the sent of her hair, felt every part of his body match with hers… Whenever he touched her, it was like falling in love all over again.
"I love you, Lana."
"I love you too, Clark…" They both heard the tears in her voice, but she pushed them back. She did not want what could possibly be her last memories with Clark of her crying.
She kissed his lips, his cheeks, any and every part of his face. She ended up back on his lips, and tasted tears. She hated herself for crying, but didn't stop kissing Clark to brush away her tears.
Clark's hand came up to cup her face, and he did it for her, returning her kiss with as much love, as much passion as he could… and all the pain the kryptonite was still causing left him completely. For those few moments when he was kissing Lana, just kissing her, no roaming hands or battling tongues, Clark's pain was the last thing on his mind.
Finally the kiss broke, but the immense feelings of love they were feeling for each other remained with them. They said one last I love you, and slowly pulled apart. "Stay here," Clark begged. "If… if he comes for you, run. H-He promised he wouldn't kill you but-"
She nodded, and they broke physical contact completely. They held the other's gazes for a moment longer, before Clark turned to face the figure.
---
He leaped over to it at super speed, momentarily shocked to see it on its knees. But then the kryptonite overpowered him, and he fell as well, gasping in agony.
Both beings battled, one fighting pain, the other fighting love. Lana was forgotten as she stood a ways away, watching the two battles for their lives without as much as touching.
Clark managed to send out the smallest beam of heat possible, and it hit the creature's arm. It flinched and dark energy seemed to begin to gather in it's eyes but it did not have the strength to release it.
"R-Rem-remember y-you-your p-p-promise…" Clark gasped, feeling himself losing grip on consciousness. "Y-you h-have to… n-no-not h-hurt… L-Lana… y-you… h-h-ha-have… to… not…"
His head hit the ground as he passed out, his last thought of his angel.
-
The figure managed to pull itself into a sitting position, looking with loathing down at the motionless teen.
"Th-this is where y-you die," it gritted out through clenched teeth, still in nearly intolerable pain.
It reached out a hand, rocky fingers touching Clark's warm skin, which would soon be cold. It found his neck and squeezed. He grew paler, breathing becoming labored and the figure smiled, knowing that the end was near
"No!" Pure terror assaulted it, but with the fear came the love. Huge, blinding waves of it and the emotions were so powerful it didn't hear the footsteps or see the girl running towards them.
She leapt on top of Clark, trying to protect his body with hers. The love… the devotion… the determination this girl felt… it couldn't breathe. It really, truly couldn't breathe.
"No… not… now! I-I've… come… too… far!" But the girl was grabbing at his hand, her fingers trembling but grip firm.
"Let go of him!" Her voice was loud and full of tears yet courageous. She succeeded in pulling it's rock hard grip off of Clark, pushing with all her might and managing to move him a fraction of an inch away from the boy.
"I-I won't let y-you kill him," she breathed, voice wavering. "H-he's saved me s-so many t-times and I-I c-care about him t-too much…" Her tears fell onto Clark's face, and onto the ground near the figure. The salty drops burned him, her love overpowering her despair. It grunted, trying not to show that she'd hurt him, yet she heard and moved closer.
"I-I w-want t-to h-hurt you so b-badly right now…" she whispered, voice hard with hatred. It tensed, growing hopeful. Please girl, it pleaded, hate me…
"But I know saying I hate you won't help." She lifted Clark's hand from the ground and held it tightly, her love if possible growing.
A tear fell onto the figure's arm, and in horror it watched the kryptonite begin to melt away. Lana gasped, staring as well. She reached out abruptly, touching his hand and shrieking as the finger she touched dropped off and disappeared.
Then she knew suddenly what she had to do. She didn't know how she'd thought of it, but it had to work.
Holding Clark's hand tightly in hers, she concentrated on all her love, all her concern for him and leaned forward. Her lips touched the figures in the most revolting kiss she'd ever experienced, but she forced herself to think of Clark.
And then the lips beneath hers were gone. Its face was melting away, it's arms, legs, and body, until there was nothing left save for a pile of dust… and green, glowing eyes.
Those eyes met Lana's for the briefest of seconds, and they seemed to say that she'd won.
She collapsed in a heap next to Clark, both unmoving.
---
"Clark?!" Pete's concerned calls woke Lana sometime later. The forest was pitch black, and for a moment she couldn't remember where she was or what had happened.
"Clark… Lana?! Can you guy shear me?"
Snapping bushes and hurried footsteps brought everything back to her. Sitting up, she tried to call out to Pete without her voice breaking. "P-Pete! Over here!"
"Lana!" Relief was clear in Pete's tone and she heard him drawing closer. Glancing to her left, she tried to make out Clark's form in the darkness.
She reached out blindly, finding his fingers. They were still warm. There was still hope; still time.
"Clark?" She whispered his name, gripping his hand as tightly as she could.
"Lana!" Pete ran into the clearing, flashlight in hand. The beam shone right in her face almost instantly, and she jumped to her feet, taking in Pete's worried face and scratched arms and legs. There were leaves in his hair and twigs all over him. She had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life.
"Lana… are you okay?" Pete was looking her over worriedly, wide eyed with confusion and concern. "What happened and where's…." He glanced passed Lana and saw Clark lying on the ground.
"H-he's not waking up," Lana said in a voice choked with emotion. Tears formed in her eyes and began falling for the third time that evening. "What if - what if he's…" Pete placed an arm around her shoulders, and somewhat awkwardly patted her on the back.
"He'll be fine," he attempted to reassure her. As one the two dropped to their knees, Pete's flashlight illuminating Clark's face. He looked fine, all be it slightly pale. Moving the light lower, both gasped at the large fingerprint shaped bruises along Clark's neck.
"Whoa," Pete breathed, and Lana reached out a hand to Clark.
"C-Clark?" She whispered fearfully, fingers of fear gripping her heart much as the now… what, dead? Figure had gripped Clark's neck. She touched his cheek tentatively, feeling the softness of his skin causing her tears to flow faster.
"Clark, man?" Pete shook his friend's shoulder slightly, hating to see Lana so upset and Clark so unresponsive.
"H-he's breathing," Lana said, bending close over him just to make sure. She grabbed his wrist and felt some relief as she said, "and h-he's got a pulse."
Her fingers slid down until they were gripping Clark's hand, tears falling onto his face and shirt.
"Clark, p-please wake up. I-I need you… so much… please, Clark… please…" Her voice broke on a sob, and Pete shook Clark again.
Pete yanked out a water bottle suddenly, and Lana stared at him in shock. How could he be thirsty at a time like this?
"Do you think some water will do anything?" Lana had no answer for this, but was willing to try anything at this point.
They managed to get Clark's mouth open, and Pete poured some water in, both holding their breath in terrified anticipation.
Lana squeezed her boyfriend's hand as hard as she could, not expecting a response.
But getting one nonetheless. Clark's eyes opened slowly, and he stared first at Lana, then at Pete. He coughed, spitting water all over his face, and gasping for breath. He looked back at Lana, meeting her tear-filled eyes with his.
"Lana…" his voice was thick and wobbly.
"Clark…" Hers was barely audible.
He sat up and in one fluid motion pulled into his arms, body trembling, breathing fast. Lana melted into his embrace, tears falling against his shoulder, shaking herself in relief and due to her tears.
The two finally drew apart, and Pete, who'd stepped off to the side slightly, came back over. "Y-you two okay?" He asked uncertainly, staring hard at Clark.
His best friend smiled, and responded softly, "Yeah… yeah. Let's go home."
---
The front door of the Talon was yanked open one late Friday afternoon, and Lana glanced up from the counter. Chloe, looking exhausted stumbled over, mumbling something resembling the words "Latte, extra caffeine"
"Long issue?"
"I've been working since 5… and I didn't get home until 2:30 last night."
Lana grinned and slid her friend's coffee across the counter along with a cookie. "It's on the house," she said, gesturing at the cookie.
Chloe gave her a grateful smile and collapsed at a nearby table. The door opened again, and Clark walked in casually, glanced at Chloe and went over to her. She said something that made Clark grin, and Lana watched as he turned towards the counter.
"One large cappuccino, extra cream, please." He chirped, giving her a smile as he dug in his pocket for the money.
"Were you helping Chloe with the Torch??" Lana inquired, spraying the whipped cream onto Clark's drink.
He nodded, leaning across the counter and kissing her on the cheek. This distracted Lana, causing the cream to nearly spray all over the counter. She swatted Clark's arm playfully and slid him his drink, sneaking him two fresh cookies. "Don't tell Chloe," she whispered, "I only gave her one."
Clark grinned and kissed her fully on the lips this time. "We still on for tonight?" He asked, turning to go sit with Chloe.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world,' Lana replied, watching him walk across the room with a smile.
It had been at least two weeks since their final encounter with the figure. They had gone home that night and told the Kent's everything, including the fact that Lana knew about Clark's abilities. They were horrified at what the couple had had to endure, but relieved that they were all right and Martha especially was happy that Lana knew the secret.
They had figured out that the reasons the beams of dark energy had effected Martha and Jonathan was because they loved Clark as a son, whereas the type of feelings Lana had for him, in addition to the fact that she was aware of the figure and therefore slightly on alert, prevented her from succumbing to it's bidding.
Clark was perfectly healthy and he and Lana were moving steadily forward in their relationship. Chloe, though sometimes looking longingly at the couple when they would kiss or touch in some way in front of her, seemed to be moving on as well. Things were almost too perfect for Smallville standards, except the fact that Lex was growing rather distant from Clark, and Lionel seemed to be taking yet another extended visit.
But there were no problems in the immediate future, and that was all any of them cared about. The supposed unbeatable creature had been beaten at least to their knowledge, and it was because of Clark and Lana's love for one another that this had happened.
Author's Notes:
It's finally finished! Sorry for the long wait, but hopefully the extra longness of this part made up for it. I know the ending was weak, sorry about that… I got stuck.
I hope you've all enjoyed this series, and are sorry it's over. I'm going to miss letting Clark and Lana kiss each other whenever they feel like it, lemme tell you. Please leave feedback, and bug DragonessIsabella to update her fic!
Thanks for reading, and just to clear up any questions about the Lex/Lionel mention wasn't foreshadowing of a sequel… I just wanted to say that he's becoming a Luthor, shall we say?
Anyway… please leave feedback, and don't expect a series for a while… I think I'll stick to one shots.
Lala
