Chapter Five
Lunch Date
"So when did you figure it out?"
John Stewart looked up from the task he had set himself to out in the farmyard. Since Kara and Clark had gone into town that morning and were still yet to have returned, both he and Wally West decided to help out around the Kent farm in order to at least repay the family in some small way for all that they were willing to do for the three stranded heroes. At that moment John had been using his ring to move a tractor that needed repairing from its place over in the driveway so that it was now sitting off to the side under the eaves of the barn until Jonathan could get to it later. And that was when Wally showed up from out of nowhere with that question of his. With the tractor moved, John looked over at the speedster standing beside him waiting for an answer. "After fighting Sinestro." He answered in his usual manner or blunt and simple while walking over towards the barn.
Wally followed not entirely satisfied with the answer he had received. "Oh come on, that doesn't help." He stated while staying in step with the former marine turned super hero. "We fought Sinestro twice, well the second time it was all Kara, but still!." Wally pointed out while coming to a stop as John did.
Turning on his heel to face Wally, John tried to at least keep from sounding angry with him since in fact it was a fair enough question on both terms. "The second time. At first I thought maybe I was just seeing things when Clark took the hit from Sinestro's ring to protect his mom and dad, but when I heard their names it all made sense. Even if this is some alternate reality that's playing the past in the year 2005 exactly or anything else, it's still Super Man's past as a teenager in Smallville." John explained while his gaze glanced over towards the farm house as the sound of the screen door opening and closing had caught his attention. Jonathan Kent was coming out into the yard and towards them specifically. John looked over at Wally and spoke in a more quiet tone of voice. "When Kara gets back, we three need to talk and go over a few things."
"Gotcha." Wally agreed as he took this for the ending of their conversation and looked over at the approaching Jonathan who had a bit of a smile on his face.
"I see you moved the tractor already." Jonathan mused as he had taken notice of the large machine's new placement near the barn. "Thank you." He looked to John knowing that he was more than likely the one who had moved it there as Wally had been out repairing a break in the cattle fence.
"No sweat." Wally replied while crossing his arms over his chest in a somewhat proud manner. "With us hanging around here for a while, a lot more will get done in a day." He stated as a smirk crossed his face.
John shook his head and rolled his eyes before looking to Jonathan and acting more like an adult than Wally was at that moment. "We're more than happy to help out around here for the time we can. It's the least we can do." John shot a quick glance over at Wally that showed the black man's annoyance with the way he had sounded so boastful.
"Well I much appreciate it gentlemen." Jonathan smiled. "Especially since it looks like it might rain."
All three men looked up at the sky and noticed the encroaching storm clouds that were headed in from the east towards Smallville and by passing Metropolis all together. Without any more delays with conversation they all headed off to separate jobs after Jonathan listed what he needed done before the storm broke. John flew off towards the back of the farm to bring in exposed hay bails. Wally sped off to repair the broken fence that the fight between Sinestro and Kara had caused. And Jonathan headed into the barn to grab a few things before heading out to tend to the animals.
After stepping out of the truck and closing her door, Kara just stared up at the huge stone manor that they had pulled up in front of. The place looked rather impressive from the outside to say the least which had the blonde now wondering what it was going to look like on the inside. While gazing up at the mansion in what looked to be like slack jawed awe, Kara was suddenly brought back to attention when Clark touched her shoulder and gave her a rather amused look from her reaction to the place. "Yeah, well, I've seen better." She stated in reply to his look.
Clark grinned at her. "In Metropolis, right?" he teased while leading the way up to the front entrance that had both teens climbing a small set of stone steps and crossing a small patio to even reach the doors.
Kara followed, but not before raising an eyebrow at his response to her statement of the Luthor estate. "You know I'm beginning to see a pattern in all this." She stated as they came to a stop at the front door and knocked to be let in.
"And what would that be?" Clark asked in an innocent manner that had the blonde teen giving him a playful glare. "The both of us trading off smart mouthed remarks for the rest of the day?" he answered for her as another grin came across his face, as he knew this weird game they were playing now was going to keep up until someone wasn't able to get in a clever remark.
"Okay fine, round one goes to you." Kara stated while looking at the wooden doors before them that were unlocking from the other side. "Doesn't mean you'll win though." She added before the door opened to reveal an elderly gentleman before them dressed in rather expensive attire. Kara took him as part of the help that a house like this would require to have.
The man bowed shortly to them and stepped aside to allow them in. Clark took the lead and walked in first with Kara following right after him as the butler closed the door. "He's in his office Mr. Kent." The butler informed Clark before taking his leave to return to whatever he had been occupied with before answering the door, leaving the two teens in the entryway.
"Whoa." Kara commented as she was just only seeing a very small part of the house and was already impressed with the décor and style it held. Clark looked over at her, which in turn had Kara looking at him with a rather fake but bored look on her face. "Like I said. I've seen better." She retorted to the smirk on his face.
Clark just continued to hold that smirk on his face while leading Kara out of the entryway and up a flight of stairs further into the house that took them up to the next floor that Lex's office was located on. They walked down a hall and took only one turn before Clark brought them to an already open door and went straight inside. This place is bigger inside than I thought it would be. What is it with rich people and these huge homes anyways? Kara gave a quick glance over of the rest of the hallway before walking into the office behind Clark. There were stands sporadically placed against the walls either holding a vase, empty or holding flowers, or a statue of some sort.
"Clark, Kara. Right on time I see." Lex greeted them from behind his desk as he was apparently working on something with an open lap top. However, once the pair had entered his office, Lex got up from his seat and came around to properly greet them. "Kind of unusual for your cousin to be on time somewhere Kara." Lex grinned at the blonde who had relocated herself from being behind Clark to now standing at his side. "Maybe you being around him might have something to do with that." He mused with rather odd look cutting across his eyes at he stared at Kara.
Shrugging, Kara gave Lex a half smile. "I doubt it. I run pretty late myself at times." She stated while smiling sheepishly as it was in fact rather true.
Lex studied her a moment longer before nodding his head in understanding to her reply and breaking his intent gaze from her so that it now rested on both Kents. "Well, shall we?" he asked while indicating towards the door with his hand in gesture for them to head for the dinning room where lunch was being served.
Clark moved aside so that Lex could pass by and lead the way back down to the first floor. With Lex now in front of them and not able to catch anything that was exchanged between Clark and Kara, Clark gave Kara a questioning look as he had noticed she seemed a bit uncomfortable all of a sudden. Kara just shook her head and followed after Lex with Clark bringing up the rear. In the dining room downstairs, the trio was seated around a long table but kept to the head of one side alone. Lex sat in the top seat while both Clark and Kara sat across from one another on either side near him. Two maids had come in from the kitchen with a plate for each of them, followed by a butler carrying in a tray holding three glasses and a glass pitcher of water. Once they were served, the help left and returned to the kitchen.
"So, Kara tell me about yourself." Lex looked up from the plate that had been placed before him containing a small salad and a side of dressing. The same had been set before both teens as well.
Kara looked over at Clark and exchanged a nervous glance with him. Luckily they had come up with a partial story to play off on the way over. "Uh, what's there of interest to tale?" she asked while taking a small bite of her salad hoping this would get Lex to specify what he wanted to know.
"Just as cryptic as her cousin I see." Lex grinned before raising his glass and taking a drink from its contents.
Clark gave a small nervous laugh at this and then shot Kara a pleading look hoping she wouldn't push it with Lex. Seeing the uncomfortable position Clark was facing, Kara gave him an assuring smile that flickered over to Lex to keep him unaware of the withheld truth the two of them were hiding.
Lex set down his glass and returned Kara's smile with his own. "Okay then, where are you originally from?" he asked with every bit of his attention on the blonde.
Outer space. From a planet that no longer exists and rained down as meteor shower on this town and an entirely different time all together from this one. "Metropolis." She answered simply while picking up her water glass to take a drink.
"Really? I didn't know your dad had family in Metropolis, Clark." Lex looked over at his friend who had somehow managed to take a few bites of his own salad while Kara handled Lex, until now.
"Oh well, I guess there's just something you don't know about my dad Lex." Clark answered as he hoped that his reply didn't sound too 'mysterious'.
Lex masked his mixed feelings towards Jonathan Kent behind a small smile and slightly laughed. "No. I guess not." He replied. "Are your parents in Smallville as well Kara?" Lex asked as he returned to slyly interrogating her.
"No. I came by myself. I haven't seen my aunt and uncle in a while, so I figured I'd come down and visit them." Kara answered while grinning over at Clark.
Lex raised a brow in curiosity. "During the school year?" he pressed as he was starting to see some sort of possible flaw that might prove his assumptions on Kara he was starting to develop since meeting her at the Talon.
Kara looked over at Lex with what seemed to be some what of a perplexed look on her face. "Yeah. I'm doing an independent study course so I don't fall behind." She answered while receiving a surprised look from him right after.
Whoa, nice save Kara. Clark hid his own surprised look behind his glass as he raised it for a drink. The fact that she was answering Lex's questions without missing a beat was kind of odd. He would just ask her about it later and just go along with it for now.
Nodding at this, Lex was still undeterred j yet. "Did you drive here?"
Kara shook her head in reply before verbally answering his new question. "I took the bus. Unfortunately the bus company lost my luggage, so I had to borrow some clothes off Clark's wardrobe." How much longer is he going to keep hounding me?
"I was just about to ask, seeing as how I recognize that as Clark's shirt." Lex commented as he nodded at the navy plaid shirt Kara was wearing open over a white shirt she got from Martha. "Did they say when they would have your luggage returned?" Lex asked as a maid came in and removed the salad plates.
At this Clark finally jumped into the conversation and save Kara from having to answer this on her own. "That reminds me. Dad got a call this morning from the bus terminal. They said that your luggage tags were found…without your luggage attached."
Kara went quiet for a moment which in turn caused Lex to loose now all doubt he had concerning this young woman. "Great." She muttered while looking down at a new plate set before her holding what looked like chicken in some sort of sauce and vegetable garnish. Her reply was meant as a two fold meaning rather than just the one it sounded like. It was both a thanks to Clark for stepping in and saving her from one less question to answer and as a decoy towards Lex. By the looks of it this seemed to have worked in the way she wanted it to. While plates were set before Clark and Lex, Kara looked up through her bangs and gave Clark a small grin. Keeping with the new situation, Kara looked up from her plate with a dejected look on her face that looked as though she was trying to hide it, rather than her trying to force it out.
"I'm sorry I forgot to tell you earlier. I guess it slipped my mind." Clark apologized to her. "We can stop in town on the way back home at a store if you want. Unless you want to wait and come in with my mom." He suggested while glancing over at Lex from the corner of his eye. Apparently Lex still hadn't lost in interest in Kara as he was still keeping about 89 of his attention on her solely.
"I'll wait and come back in with Aunt Martha." She answered while adding in a small sigh for effect and smiled mentally to herself at how things seemed to be going okay for now.
It was somewhere after one that lunch ended as Lex had gotten a message from a butler that he had a call waiting for him in his office with his father on the other line. Before taking the call from his dear old dad, Lex accompanied them to Clark's truck so as to delay the conversation he wasn't looking forward to with his father. "Well I hope you enjoy your visit here in Smallville, Kara." Lex stated as he stood just on the last step of the stairs leading down to the driveway in front of his home.
"I will." Replied with a small smile before opening the passenger side of the truck to get in. Before she did, Kara looked back over to Lex and allowed a bigger smile come across her face. "Thanks for lunch." For some reason she couldn't bring herself to actually hate this Lex Luthor. He just seemed too nice to have turned out the way he did later on in life, like he did a complete 360.
The next smile off Lex's face was actually a rather genuine one that even had Clark raising his brows in surprise, considering the fact the rarity in which Lex did smile like that was very small indeed. "You're welcome. Don't be too much of a stranger Kara. You're more than welcomed around here any time." Lex stated.
"I'll keep that in mind." Kara replied before getting into the truck and closing her door.
Clark gave a wave as he opened his door. "See ya Lex."
Waving back in response, Lex stayed on the step and watched as Clark got into his truck, started it up, and then drove down the driveway towards the front gates. Lex continued to stare after the blue pick up long after it had disappeared from view before turning about and heading inside to receive that phone call he kept waiting all this time since it was first picked up.
After having pulled out of the front gate, Kara looked back over her shoulder out the rear window and watched as the rod iron gates closed after them. Seeing this caused Clark to wonder if something was bothering the blonde heroine and voiced his concern. "Something the matter?" he asked while allowing a quick glance over at Kara since he needed to keep his eyes on the road.
"Not really. I've just been thinking about something, that's all." Kara answered while turning back around to look out the window shield. "How long have you and Lex been friends?" she asked as her attention turned away from the road and over on to Clark as she was curious to know.
Clark thought about this before answering. "I guess we've been friends for a little over a couple of years now." He answered while glancing over at her again. "Why?" It was his turn now to ask a question.
Kara shook her head at first, which caused her bangs to fall over her eyes and had Kara sweeping them off to the left again in a side part. "Just curious." She answered while looking out the window again.
A moment of silence passed between them as Clark's truck continued down the road towards the farm. It was a little odd that there was such an awkward moment between the two of them. That is until Clark decided to try and strike up a conversation with Kara concerning her second life as super hero. He wanted to know more about her since it seemed they both shared similar powers and alien names that hailed them from another planet, and considering the fact it was going to be another twenty minutes before they reached home they might as well talk about something.
"Can I ask you something about yesterday?" Clark looked over at the blonde sitting next to him who seemed fixated on the road more than he was.
Kara looked over at him with a raised brow. "What about yesterday?"
Already having brought his attention back to the road, Clark again glanced over at Kara for a brief second to both answer her and ask his question. "Just how strong are you?" he asked, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Seeing the smile that was starting to form on his face, Kara couldn't help put grin as well. "You want to find out?" she retorted in a tease while tilting her head slightly to the side as the grin had now grown into a rather imp-like smile. Clark's response to this was the same exact smile that mimicked her own. "Okay." Kara looked back out the front window.
Clark checked his mirrors before pulling over on to the shoulder just to make sure no one was coming up on them from behind that he wasn't seeing. With knowledge that the road was basically empty aside from them, Clark pulled over and turned the pick up off. Both teens got out of the car with Clark coming around to stand on the shoulder with Kara who was looking out across a large grass field that stretched out in a massive expanse. "So, do you just want to know how strong I am, or do you want a race as well?" Kara asked while looking over at Clark with the same smile on her face that she had displayed in the truck.
"What makes you say that?" Clark retorted in good humor while keeping his gaze out on the field they were standing before.
Kara looked out across the field again and just laughed within herself before shaking her head once and holding up three fingers on her left hand. "On three. One, two –" before even getting to three Kara was cut short as Clark took off into the field in a blue streak leaving her to just stare after him. "CLARK KENT YOU CHEATER!" she shouted after him while taking off to catch up.
It only took a second before Kara had caught up and the two teens were racing side by side across the field parting paths through the green waist height grasses. Seeing Kara now beside him, Clark pushed forward to get ahead of her and managed to do that just for a few split seconds before Kara streaked off ahead of him with only a small gap between their positions. Taking this as a chance to show Clark a thing or two, Kara pushed herself to get ahead of Clark enough so that way she could over in front of him and stop while turning to face him. This startled Clark as he slammed full speed right into Kara who had her arms out stretched out before her. What brought about even more surprise for him was the fact that when he had hit Kara head on, she held him back and brought Clark to full complete stop while being pushed backwards across the ground about two feet.
"Whoa." Was Clark managed to get out as he looked down at Kara's hands pressed flat against the front of his shoulders before looking her in the face. "I wasn't expecting that." He stated while staring at her shocked.
Kara grinned at him as she dropped her hands to her sides and stepped out of the braced stance she had been pushed into. "Hey you were the one who wanted to find out, pal." She pointed out while placing her hands on her hips. "Besides, that's what you get when you run on two and not three you cheater!"
"Well, how else was I going to find out how fast you were?" Clark laughed while crossing his arms over his chest. "You caught up pretty fast." He teased with a large grin on his face.
"You could have found out the fare way as well." Kara stated while she now crossed her arms over her chest and mock glared at him. "Besides, I would have beaten you hands down." She retorted while walking past him to head back to the pick up they left about fifty miles back on the road.
Clark turned to watch her while giving her an 'I don't think so' look as she went by. "Yeah right. Just because you're a super hero doesn't mean your superior to me." He state while jogging to catch up and fall in line beside her. "Even in a fare race I'd beat you." Clark grinned while pushing her at the shoulder in a manner similar to that of a brother picking on his sister.
Kara stayed her ground even after she was pushed and shot him a playful glare while shoving back. "No way, and yes I am and yes I would mister!"
The two teens stopped in their tracks and faced each other with mock glares focused on one another. They stared each other down for a little less than a minute when a clap of thunder sounded overhead suddenly catching their attention heavenwards. "I guess we better head back." Clark mused while looking from the sky and back at Kara, who was till looking up at the approaching storm clouds.
"Yeah. I'd rather not get caught out in the rain with you behind the wheel." Kara poked while starting to walk off again before Clark could say anything in defense to this, even though it came anyways.
Looking after her, Clark furrowed his brow in reaction to her comment. "What's that supposed to mean?" he called after her as she was only about ten feet from him now.
Kara turned around in mid step so that she was walking backwards so she could see Clark while replying to his challenge. "Exactly what it sounds like!" she retorted while stopping to bask in the glory of her smart ass remark as a huge smirk pasted itself on her lips. However her moment of glory was short lived as Clark was now running right for her. Upon seeing this, Kara's face dropped as she turned about and started running.
Clark gave chase after the blonde through the field. Neither teen used their super speed as it was all in fun for the moment, with Clark closing in on his 'cousin'. "Get back here Kara!" he shouted after her.
"No way!' she shouted back without glancing back over her shoulder to do so.
Another clap of thunder ended the chase as Clark finally caught up with Kara and grabbed her by the left arm to stop her. The sudden jerk in her step caused the blonde to stumble backwards right into him. Clark easily caught her while they both were now laughing for no apparent reason other than the fact that they were actually having fun just acting like normal teen cousins. The fact that Kara was stuck in a past reality away from her friends and family wasn't bothering her since in a way what family she did have was right there with her at that very moment. Thunder rolled overhead and brought after it the first few drops of the beginnings to a heavy rain. Clark and Kara ceased their laughter and looked up into the sky again.
"Okay, this time we go on three." Kara stated while getting herself free from Clark's hold on her arm. "And not before then. Two is not three Clark." She shot him an accusing stare.
"Yeah, yeah I know." Clark replied while taking up position beside her. "I'll countdown this time."
"Fine." Kara readied herself and waited for the count down to begin. I'll play fare. Even if it would be considered even if I took off at two. A grin tried to force its way on to her face but Kara fought it back as she didn't want Clark to think she was going to cheat on him.
"Hey, you never did show me how strong you are." Clark pointed out suddenly as the thought occurred to him and looked over at Kara with a disappointed look on his face.
Kara groaned while rolling her eyes at his sudden comment. "Fine, I'll show you later I promise." She stated while extending her hand over to Clark to seal the deal.
Shaking her hand to bind their deal, Clark returned to his ready stance and started the countdown. "One. Two. – " Clark didn't even have to say three as another thunder clap sounded in perfect timing like a gun starting a track race.
Both took off at the same time and streaked across the field back to the pick up at a speed that had them reaching the vehicle and getting in just as the first drop came down with a sheet of rain follow right after. They called it a tie for now.
