-1Whisper
"Lex Luthor," The man was lead in by security. He stood tall, his dark hair slicked back. He was dressed in a black suit and carried a leather briefcase.
"You're late," Lex said from behind his desk.
"Yes, I was on my way back from Africa. Seems the weather held me back," the man said walking up to his desk.
"Then I suggest you make up for time and tell me why we needed to meet," Lex said folding his hands together.
"Our business is about Clark Kent. A good friend of yours, I've heard," He said.
"What about Clark?" Lex asked.
"Well Mr. Luthor, there is more to Clark Kent than meets the eye. I have information in which you will find very interesting," He said.
"What information?" Lex asked.
"The kind of information you will find hard to believe but it will give you the edge you need over your father," He said.
"You're not convincing me, nor sparking an interest. Everyone knows I'm out to knock my father from his throne. You need more than words," Lex said.
"Then let me show you," He said. He pulled a disc from his briefcase and handed it to Lex. Helen chose that moment to walk in.
"Lex, who's our guest?" She asked.
"Dr. Luthor, it's a pleasure," He said holding his hand out. She shook it and took note of how cold his hand was to the touch. "If you don't mind this business is between your husband and I."
"I have no secrets from my wife. Anything you have to show me, you can show her," Lex said.
His guest stood quiet for a minute before smiling and nodding. Lex slipped the disc into his computer and waited while it loaded. Helen made her way to Lex's side and watched as he pushed play for the video. What she saw was amazing but she already knew what she was going to see if it involved Clark. Lex however couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"This is Clark Kent?" Lex asked pausing the video at the only frame he could make out the face. Even then it was too blurry to tell.
"It is," He answered.
"Clark, son, are you okay?" Jonathan asked walking into the barn.
Clark had disappeared onto the farm and busied himself with chores. Jonathan and Martha started to worry about him. A lot had happened lately. From him running away to Metropolis, to having told Lana mostly the truth, and then with all the meteor infected running around. Clark had his hands full but for him to work even more with farm chores, something had to be bothering him. Jonathan found him tossing hay from the barrel to its spot in the barn.
"Clark?" Jonathan asked again. Clark turned and looked at his father with a small smile.
"Hey dad," He said.
"You okay?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah, why?" He asked.
"You just seem off lately. Did something happen?" Jonathan asked. He tossed the last bale of hay and brushed off his hands.
"I'm fine dad. I just have a lot on my mind," He answered.
"What is it son?" Jonathan asked worried.
Normally if something bothered Clark he would come straight to them. But instead he had buried himself in farm chores. He still couldn't believe that this Clark was an adult and didn't need his father anymore. This Clark was used to burying his problems with work.
"Its just…I feel like something's off," He said running his hand through his hair.
"Off?" Jonathan asked walking up to his son.
"It's not like I'm forgetting something. I feel that way all the time, but everything seems off. Like it doesn't belong," He said trying to explain.
"Well, you have changed a lot. Maybe what you think you should recognize isn't there anymore because you've changed it," Jonathan tried to help him understand but even he didn't get it.
"I know," He said pausing and thinking, "Maybe I am just forgetting something."
"Perhaps its that you've forgotten your mothers birthday this weekend," Jonathan suggested.
Clark smiled and shook his head, "That's probably it. I'll go into town today and pick her out something."
"You've got money?" Jonathan asked going for his wallet.
"Yeah dad. I've been saving my allowance," He said.
"What for?" Jonathan asked with a chuckle.
"So I can take Lana out for a nice dinner," He answered.
"Ah, I understand. I used to work myself to death so I could take your mother out. Have you talked to Lana?" Jonathan asked.
"We talk but I want her to have a normal relationship," He said.
"Don't worry about it Clark. If she does love you then you have nothing to worry about. She'll understand. Seems that you need to talk to her about having a normal relationship. For your mother and I, we think she's happy with you just the way it is," Jonathan said.
"Thanks dad. You're probably right. Like always," He said with a chuckle.
"It's nice to know you still need your fathers advice," Jonathan said placing his hand on Clark's shoulder.
"I'll always need you dad," He said. Jonathan gave his shoulder a squeeze and smiled.
He made his way into to town to look for a birthday gift. He came across the jewelry store and looked into the window. He saw a pair of earrings that his mother would just love. He looked at the price tag and smiled. He had just enough to get them.
"Looking for something special?" Lana asked walking up beside him. He had already felt her presence as she walked down the sidewalk.
"My mom's birthday is coming up," He answered looking over to her and greeting her with a smile.
Lana looked into the window and saw the pair of earrings he was looking at.
"She'll love them," She said smiling back to him.
"Want to come in with?" He asked offering her his hand.
"I would love to," She answered taking his hand.
He lead her inside and up to the counter. She looked through the display while the clerk brought him some choices to look at. He noticed a bracelet that caught her eye. The clerk laid out a velvet box and he opened it. Clark immediately doubled over and took a step back. Lana looked over to see what had caused Clark to pull away and noticed the kryptonite earrings.
As she reached to close the box a high pitched shrill filled the store. She clamped her hands over her ears and fell to the floor next to Clark. He noticed a man walk in with a gun. A second later the glass cases exploded. He pulled Lana into his chest to shield her from the glass. He looked to the gunner and shot bolts of fire from his eyes towards the gun. The first two bolts hit and the man dropped his gun. The second bolts reflected off of the kryptonite earrings that had been tossed into the air by the exploding glass. The light shined into his eyes and blinded him. He moved to cover his eyes and held in a cry of pain. The shrill stopped and he felt Lana's hands on his shoulders.
"Clark? Are you okay?" She asked.
"Lana? It's my eyes. I can't see," He said moving his hands hoping to see her beautiful face but all he saw was black.
He sat on the couch and listened to his parents argue. Jonathan was upset that his powers had hurt him. Martha wanted him to see a doctor but Jonathan didn't trust any of them. The arguing continued for minutes until a knock came at the back door.
"Helen, what a pleasant surprise. Please come in," Martha said.
"Thank you Mrs. Kent. I wish I could say I was here to say hello but I'm afraid not," Helen said walking in.
"What is it Helen?" Jonathan asked.
"A man visited Lex today. He showed my husband a very interesting video of Clark using his super speed. Clark can't be made out directly but the man knew it was Clark," Helen said.
"How did this man get that video?" Jonathan asked.
"I don't know but it peeked Lex's interest," Helen warned.
"Don't worry about Lex. I'll deal with him. Thanks for the warning Helen," Clark said from the couch.
He could feel their looks. His father wouldn't agree but Clark had hope for Lex. The downfall of their friendship had been the fact that Lex knew he was keeping something big from him. It had strained their friendship since they couldn't trust each other. Maybe this time would be different, if he felt it was a risk worth taking.
The next morning Pete helped Clark walk to his locker. Jonathan and Martha weren't too happy that he had still wanted to go to school even though it was dangerous. If he wasn't careful he could walk through a wall. He had joked about it but he knew it was possible.
"Everyone's staring, aren't they?" He asked Pete who was leading him by the arm.
"They're just digging your cool shades," Pete said. They reached his locker and Pete opened the lock for him. "I've been on the up with this combination since Kindergarten," Pete joked. It cracked a smile out of him. Pete handed him his books and he felt her approach. A huge smile lit his face.
"Clark. You're back sooner than I thought," Lana said joining them.
"I swear he knew you were there before you said his name. His face lit up like a Christmas tree," Pete said laughing. Lana smiled and reached out to touch his shoulder.
"It's nothing heroic Lana," He said.
"Well I'm here for you in case Pete gets tired of best friend duties," She said with a smile.
"Actually, I haven't been hanging with Clark much lately so I don't mind. Gives us time to catch up. You know talk about football and babes," Pete said.
"Clark!" Lana said slapping his arm.
Pete laughed and Clark couldn't help but chuckle. Lana joined in on the joke. Pete slammed the locker door and he winced from the loudness. Suddenly everything was intense. He dropped his books and covered his ears. Lana grabbed his bicep and called out his name but everything was too loud. For a second it died but then he picked up Chloe's voice over the crowd.
"Do you hear that? It's Chloe," He said.
"Chloe's not here," Pete said.
The noise level rose and Clark focused on Chloe's conversation. She was talking to Lionel Luthor about him of all things. Lionel was having Chloe spy on him and Chloe was refusing to work for him anymore. Lionel responded by treating her column. It was how she got it in the first place. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He continued to listen until the bell rang. He doubled over and covered his ears again. Lana ran her hand through his hair and called out his name softly.
"Something's wrong. I need to get home," He said.
"I'll take you," Lana said looking to Pete. Pete nodded and watched as Lana led Clark to the exit.
"These sounds hit you all at once?" Jonathan asked as he helped Clark up the stairs to the loft. Lana took his hand and helped him to the couch.
"It was like someone blasted a stereo in my ear. I couldn't make out all the sounds but then I heard Chloe," He said sitting. He felt the couch shift next to him and figured that Lana joined him.
"Has this happened before?" Jonathan asked hoping Clark got the hint.
"Exactly like this," He answered with a smile, "I just need to teach myself how to control it."
"We're here to help if you need it honey," Martha said. He could hear his mothers smile.
"Thanks, but I just want to relax and get rid of this headache," He said leaning back into the couch.
"Alright, we'll leave you two alone," Jonathan said. A few seconds later he heard their footsteps on the stairs. He felt fingers run through his hair and he smiled.
"So this has happened before?" She asked.
"Yeah," He answered softly.
"How?" She asked.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" He asked.
"I want to know you Clark, and you've been honest about everything so far. I'll admit its hard to believe everything that you can and you can do more. I can't believe that the meteor rocks could do all this to one person," She said.
"I have been honest because I don't want to push you away. But, I need to be honest about something else," He said.
She laced her fingers with his, "What is it?"
"The meteor rocks didn't do this to me. I was born like this," He said.
She sat there for a minute and the silence was killing him. He couldn't see her reaction, couldn't get a read on her emotions. He had no idea what she was thinking but she continued to hold his hand.
"You were born able to run really fast, and have nothing hurt you?" She asked eventually.
"And other stuff," He added.
"Like what?" She asked.
He sat for a moment and thought of the best way to tell her. He'd keep the x-ray vision to himself and the flying. But his heat vision had done this to him which kicked in his super hearing. He had to explain it the way it was.
"I can shoot fire from my eyes. When we were in the jewelry store, I used that ability to get the man to drop the gun. It worked but some of my heat vision was reflected back into my eyes and blinded me. My body is compensating for the lose of sight with enhanced hearing," He explained. Once he was done he held his breath for Lana's response. Again it was silent and her hand slipped from his.
"So let me get this straight. You were born like this. You're invincible, super fast, shoot fire from your eyes, and now super hearing. How is it possible?" She asked.
"Are you okay with this?" He asked.
She was quiet for a moment and he listened to her breathing. It was rapid and deep. She was thinking but she was also a freaked out. "I don't know. Have you being meteor infected is one thing but you were born like this. And it seems like everyday I find out about another ability. How many more times am I going to find out about another ability?" She asked.
"There's one more you should know about that I have a feeling you'll find out about anyway," He said. She waited for him to tell her, "I have super human strength."
"How strong?" She asked her voice shaking.
"I can bench press the tractor," He answered.
"Oh," She said.
He felt her weight leave the couch as she stood up. He felt bad that he was keeping the rest from her but she was already freaking out. Telling her he could fly, and see through things, not to mention he could blow a house away if he wanted to, it would just terrify her to the point that he would lose her. If he told her he was an alien he was positive he would lose her.
"I'll understand if you don't want to see me anymore," He said softly, his heart breaking with those words.
But he had been honest this time around and he was living the outcome. Was it so much worse than lying? He'd find out.
"I just need to think," She said softly.
She didn't say she still wanted to be with him but she didn't say that she didn't. He nodded and listed as she headed down the loft stairs and to her car. He focused on her breathing as she drove down the driveway and out onto the street.
"You look tired. I'm concerned about you," Martha said. Clark's attention was drawn to his parents.
"We're barely making ends meet as it is. We can't afford extra help," Jonathan said.
"It won't help if you wind up in a hospital bed," Martha said.
"I'll be alright, I just need….need to catch my breath," Jonathan said.
He could hear the deep, quick breaths his father was taking in. He was worried about his heart. If his dad was killing himself with work then he needed to do something. He couldn't lose his father again. Not like that.
"You and Clark both. You think you're supermen who can do everything alone, but you can't anymore. You need to start relying on people, and so does he," Martha said. He heard the kitchen chair scrap against the floor and his mother stomp off upstairs.
His fears were confirmed. His father had a bad heart and it was going to kill him like before. His mother was so worried. Afraid she was going to lose both the men in her life. He tuned out all noise and moved his way through the loft and down the stairs. He needed to figure out how to control his hearing and get his sight back. Then he could straighten everything else out in in his life.
He heard a car pull up and then a door slam shut. He waited a few seconds before someone called out his name. It was the last person he wanted to talk to at the moment.
"Chloe."
"Hi," She said walking up to him. He felt her arm on his shoulder, "Look, as much as I try and avoid unbearable clichés, if you need anything at all -"
He cut her off by pulling away, "I'll manage."
He walked away from her and felt his way to the post, "You didn't come all the way out here to check out the blind guy."
"Actually, I'm on something of a mission. Have you seen Pete?" She asked. He heard her curse, "I'm sorry. I didn't -"
"I haven't seen Pete," He said cutting her off again. He didn't want to hear her apologies.
"Okay. We we're just supposed to meet this morning and double team on my Daily Planet column," She explained.
"The column Lionel Luthor helped you get?" He asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.
"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean my ears don't work. I overheard you talking to him. What has he been having you dig up on me?" He asked turning to her so she could see the anger and hurt on his face. He thought they were past this but apparently not.
"Nothing he didn't already know," She answered.
"Then what is he sharing with you?" He asked.
"Nothing. Believe it or not, Clark, I was trying to help you," She said. He could hear her toss up her arms and sigh in frustration.
"By spying on me?" He asked.
"No, by trying to understand why he's so intrigued with you," She said.
"And if the Torch got new computers, or you made a name for yourself, that's okay too," He shouted. "After accusing me of keeping secrets, how could you do this to me?"
"I was…he just…he caught me at an especially bad time and I caved. I'm trying to get out of it , but when people like Lionel Luthor have you they don't want to let go," She explained. He stood for a second and thought of what to say. He understood her position but he couldn't believe that she would betray him like that. She didn't wait for what he had to say. "I thought that you of all people would understand doing something stupid in a moment of weakness but I guess I was wrong," She said. He could hear the tears in her voice but he didn't say anything. She stormed off to her car and left.
He moved out onto the farm and found a quiet spot to sit on the fence and think. After a long while he heard a car pull up and a door close.
"Clark," It was Pete.
He jumped down from the fence and smiled in the direction he heard his best friends voice.
"Your parents are ready to start gluing your picture to milk cartons," Pete said walking up to him.
"I didn't mean to scare them. I couldn't take all the noise," He said. A second later he picked up another sound. It sounded like a truck but he was sure about it. "Did someone follow you?" He asked.
"No. Why?" Pete asked.
The noise level grew and Clark covered his ears. He felt Pete touch his arm but a second later a high pitch shrill filled his ears and Pete wasn't touching him anymore. He recognized the shrill as the same one from the store.
"Pete!?" He called out. No one answered him. Then he heard the truck pull away and speed off. "PETE!? Answer me!" He called out again. Pete was gone.
He listened in on his parents talking to the sheriff. Then Pete's mother was there and telling them about the threat on Pete's life. If he didn't get his new ability under control then he wouldn't be able to find Pete. He moved down the stairs and turned on everything. The noise was intense but he found the radio and tried to focus it on a channel and hear it over all the noise. He wasn't having any luck. Out of frustration he tossed the radio aside and heard it shatter into pieces.
"Clark! What's going on?" Martha asked. His parents moved about the barn and turned everything off so they could hear him.
"I'm trying to focus my hearing," He answered.
"I take it you're not having much luck," Jonathan said.
"If I don't get a handle on this I can't save Pete," He said.
"Clark, Judge Ross was at the house," Jonathan said.
"I know. Dad, I heard," He said. "Playing chicken with the kidnappers is not a good idea. They're gonna kill Pete. I've gotta focus. Help me."
"Alright. Let's get to work then," Jonathan said. Not long after the barn was filled with noise again.
"Focus on your fathers voice!" Martha shouted over the noise.
He listened closer. After a minute he was able to pull apart each sound and identify it. Then he heard his fathers voice, barely a whisper. "Clark, focus on my voice. Son, listen to me." He turned to his father and smiled. "Can you hear me?" Jonathan asked. He nodded. "Good," Jonathan answered.
His father drove them to the Talon so he could get an update on Pete. He waited in the car. He heard the door open and then close.
"Wow, dad that was fast," He said.
"It me. You're dad told me you were out here," Lana said.
His heart skipped a beat at hearing her voice. He was pretty sure he wouldn't hear from her for awhile. "Lana," He said. He didn't really know what else to say.
"Clark, I'm sorry how I acted back at the barn. I was just overwhelmed," She explained.
"It's okay. I don't blame you," He said.
"You knew I was going to react that way. That's why you told me the truth in pieces," She said.
"Yeah. I had a feeling if I told you everything at once you would never want to see me again. Think I'm some huge freak," He said.
"But you're not a freak. You were born this way and I've seen the good you've done with your abilities," She said.
"I try," He replied.
"I'm one lucky girlfriend to have an amazing boyfriend like you," She said taking his hand in hers.
He smiled like there was no tomorrow, "You're okay with this? I mean, I want you to have a normal relationship."
"If I wanted normal I wouldn't be dating a guy that can shoot fire from his eyes," She joked.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and felt her lean over. He continued to smile until he felt her lips on his. He reached up and cupped her cheek, slowly rubbing the pad of his thumb against her cheek bone. She broke away for air but didn't move far.
He felt her lean forward again and as their lips were about to lock together in another kiss he heard the same sound from when Pete was taken. He pulled back and tried to focus. He slipped his hand from Lana's and jumped out of the truck.
"Clark, what is it?" Lana asked closing the truck door behind her as she jumped out as well.
"It's the same sound I heard when they took Pete. Hurry, get my dad," He said.
He heard Lana run inside the Talon. The sound he was focused on stopped in front of him. He walked forward until he felt the cool of metal. He pulled himself onto the back of the truck and felt the vehicle start moving.
After a while he felt the truck slow down to a stop. He waited for the driver to walk away before he jumped off. He managed to find his way over to the wall and began to call out Pete's name.
"Clark! HELP!" Pete shouted.
"Pete!" He called out.
He felt his way over to the door and kicked it in. He felt his way around and listened but he couldn't hear Pete anymore. He heard someone walk up. "Pete?" He called out but no one answered.
He then heard someone start up a blow torch. He felt his glasses being ripped away from his face and the heat against his eyes. He fell backwards and covered his eyes with his hands. The pain was searing through his face. It hurt just as bad as in the jewelry store. He moved his hands away and slowly his vision cleared. Cleared as in he could see his surroundings. Everything was blurry but he could see.
He jumped to his feet and did a quick search of the building but Pete was no where to be found. He thought for a moment and realized that all of this was familiar. Everything was playing out like it did before. He smiled and super sped to the auto wreck. He knew Pete would be brought there eventually and he could save Pete before it was too late.
He didn't wait long before he noticed two blurry objects move towards the machinery. Pete was unconscious and tossed over his kidnappers shoulder. He waited for Pete to be tossed into a trunk and his captor to walk off. The machinery was turned on and the captor walked away. He rushed forward and ripped open the trunk of the car. He grabbed Pete and pulled him out of the car and tossed him over his own shoulder.
He followed Pete's kidnapper and saw him walking back towards the tow truck. He ran and knocked the guy out without him seeing a thing. He tossed him over his shoulder as well and carried both guys back into town. He dropped the kidnapper off at the police station and had some officers take Pete to the hospital. The call was also made to Pete's mother and the hearing went off without a problem. The robber was going to be behind bars.
The next day Pete was having coffee with him at the Torch. He'd come out to town to get some glasses to see with till his eyes were finally healed and to pick up something else. They were chatting about football when Chloe walked up.
"Hey guys," She said.
"Hey, Chloe," Pete said. "I'm ready for my big Torch interview."
"Not today, Pete," She said then turning to Clark, "I'm glad you're feeling better."
Pete reached out and grabbed her arm before she could walk off, "What's wrong?"
"I just lost my Daily Planet column," She said.
"What?" He asked.
"They didn't explain why on the pink slip. To top it off, my dad was laid off from Luthorcorp this morning," She said.
"Why would Lionel fire your dad? He's done a great job there for years," Pete said.
"It wasn't Lionel. You should ask Lex," Chloe said. He looked down at his hands. He needed to talk to Lex anyway this just gave him a reason to go on over.
"Clark. I heard about your miraculous recovery," Lex said walking into his office where he was sitting and waiting.
"I'm a fast healer. Some heat broke up the scar tissue so I could see again. I'm going to need glasses for awhile," He said standing from the couch.
"Well I'm glad you're doing better. It's not everyday we see you hurt," Lex said folding his arms across his chest. Lex was dropping hints that he knew his secret.
"I just take care of myself. I came to ask you why you fired Chloe's dad," He said walking over. He was treading softly.
"His performance was seriously lacking," Lex explained before going to the bar.
"He's worked for the company for years. This could ruin Chloe's family," He said following.
"I understand. But I found out Chloe was working for my father trying to get information about you. Why would my father hire your best friend to spy on you? Some big secret?" Lex asked.
"I don't know. I just found out what Chloe's been doing. But there's nothing to find out," He lied.
"You know, Clark. You're like a brother to me. The only real friend I've ever had. Just be honest with me," Lex said.
He looked Lex in the eyes and tried to get a reading on him. It believed he could trust Lex, "With everything that's happened with Chloe, I'm not ready to open up to anyone. I want to keep my secret a secret for now."
But he wasn't going to tell Lex just yet. He wanted to see how Lex would play this out. Someone had given him proof so how would Lex handle it?
"I trust you'll tell me some day, Clark. I won't pressure you," Lex replied.
Later that night, he and Lana were sitting in the loft. She was helping him catch up with his homework. He didn't really need her help but he really wanted her around. The scare of losing her had really jolted him. After a few minutes he slammed his math book shut.
"All done," He said.
"Great. I'm glad your eyes are getting better," She said scooting over to him.
"I'm glad I can see you again," He said with a smile. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a box. "I got you something," He said handing the box out to her.
"Clark, you didn't have to get me anything," She said taking it from his hands.
"I saw you eyeing it the other day and I wanted to get you something that's as special as you are," He said.
She opened the box and her eyes grew wide as she saw the bracelet resting inside. It was the very one she'd fallen in love with at the jewelry store.
"Clark, its beautiful," She said pulling it from the box and putting it on her wrist.
It fit perfectly and she smiled up at him. She leaned forward and trapped his head between her palms. She pulled him to her for a passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and didn't let her go. Everything was perfect. She knew so much more about him and accepted him. She didn't want normal, she wanted him. It was everything he dreamed of. This time around things were perfect.