Bruce arrived at the farm with a mission. He was going to reveal his findings to Clark. This probably would result in Clarks loss of friendship something which Bruce had grown to admire from a safe distance but Clark already suspected that Bruce was putting on a ruse and if he were honest with himself it would be freeing to know someone else in this town that he didn't have to hide from. He also felt that it was somewhat his duty to warn Clark of the Luthor's excessive knowledge of his abnormalities and had prepared himself to lose all that he had almost respected with Clark if it meant that he was aware of his fast approaching dangers.

Bruce had taken to waiting inside the barn, up in Clarks hayloft so as to avoid the elder Kents. Mr Kent was in the fields when Bruce had arrived and was occupied in fixing his tractor which had somehow been tipped over with its wheels in the air. Mrs Kent was in the kitchen no doubt baking something for her son to devour when he showed himself. Bruce was safe from their interference for the time being. That being said if Clark didn't hurry there was a chance that Bruce would be forced to interact with them.

Ten minutes after Bruce's arrival he heard the red pickup truck pull into the Kent's drive. Two slams sounded meaning that Clark wasn't alone, how troublesome. Bruce extricated himself from his spot on Clarks couch to sneak down the steps of the barn. He peered around the red door and saw that the person with Clark was a girl, small, mousy and entirely to plain for him. Martha came running out to meet her though and Bruce wondered how she fit into their life. She wasn't Clarks friend from the distance he was keeping himself at yet the parents seemed familiar with her so she was well known to them. The glances Clark kept throwing her revealed that this must be that obnoxious girl 'Lana' that had plagued every other sentence out of Clarks mouth on Bruce's first training day with Clark.

Bruce was at a dilemma since Lana could be the person who actually will be able to keep Clark away from Bruce. A few pretty looks here and an invitation to spend time together would be all it took. Damn. It looked like Bruce was going to have to reveal himself in the open if he hoped to actually talk with Clark. Bruce braced himself, put on his happy face and snuck out of the barn to the road behind where Clark and Lana were facing. He walked merrily calling "Clark" on his way over and even going as far as to wave. The idiot lit up like a bulb and why shouldn't he two of his favourite people were in the same vicinity of each other.

"Bruce, what are you doing here?" Clark asked meeting Bruce halfway and ruffling his hair. That would be the first thing to stop.

"Well, I felt bad about not telling you I couldn't make our afternoon together and thought I could come over today."

"Oh," He looked guilty. Plans had already been made but no matter Bruce would sort it out soon enough. "Erm well Lana and I have this test coming up in science and we were actually planning to study together this afternoon."

"Can't I join you?" Bruce put on his cutest expression "I'm really good at science, my tutor said that I was way beyond the curriculum they would have taught us in school." Besides it's not like you need to study Bruce thought remembering the advanced books he'd seen in the loft.

"I don't see why not." Lana cut in "You must be Bruce. Clark has told me all about you," Ugh she was talking to him like he was an inferior or mentally lacking. This was why he hated most adults.

"Really? Well I would say he talked about you too but I don't even know your name," he replied scuffing the ground

"It's Lana Lang. Well Clark what do you say? One more for the study group."

Clark looked conflicted before warning that "You may get confused but I guess you could. What time does Alfred want you home by?"

"Nine." So don't even think about that excuse.

All three of them journeyed up into the loft. Mrs Kent stopped by before they got started with some lemonade and cookies which Bruce happily accepted and once she left Clark actually made a show of not understanding the decay rate of a half life. Lana gladly helped him and after a while started asking Bruce some questions to try and not make him feel left out. They were all simple questions that you knew the answer to at seven but Bruce played along. He waited until halfway into their 'study session' before asking Clark if he could explore the barn some more which Clark avidly agreed to.

He journeyed down the steps into the lower barn and took inventory as to how many sharp things the Kent's owned. It was only right he knew how many things he could potentially be killed with if things go extremely sour and it helped to know where things were so he could determine what was most likely hidden behind one of their backs (maybe Alfred should stop letting Bruce watch those late night police shows). There were things that were usually found on a farm such as pitchforks and shovels but there was also a wood chipper (avoid) and a band saw. The wooden structures that held the whole barn together were what interested Bruce the most. He could see several planks of wood identical to the support beams and some of the ones that were standing looked to have tiny cracks in. Clark should really be more careful with his parents property he knew that every time they bought more replacements they were losing more of the farms' revenue. Bruce thought that he may get Alfred to make an anonymous donation to the Kent's farm when they were back home.

Five more minutes of wondering why someone needed fourteen tiny screwdrivers was when Jonathon Kent decided to make an appearance. The tractor was the right way around but coughing worse than a choking person. Bruce got out of the mans way as he stored it to its rightful place in the barn and tried to inconspicuously move back to the barn steps.

"You're that rich boy from Gotham right."

Bruce turned around and faced the man, he looked wary and a little angry but Bruce couldn't tell if it was aimed at him yet. "Yes sir. My name is Bruce Wayne," he held out his hand like Alfred had told him to do. Jonathon didn't shake it.

"What are you doing in Smallville, I would have thought that Gotham was enough space to expand in." Hmm he thinks that we're imposing our business here.

"It is. My guardian and I accepted an invitation from the Luthor's, he wants to make sure that I know what I'm doing when I inherit my families legacy." Dealing with adults were always a task.

Jonathon grunted and took Bruce in again. It was as if he was seeing him again for the first time which showed when his approach to conversation changed from interrogation to polite interest "So how are you enjoying our town. I hope that the Luthor's have shown you the real Smallville and not just the factory wasteland they've created."

"To be honest I've only dealt with the Luthor's once since my arrival and that was last night. Your son Clark has been showing me around. He's a very good guide and such a nice guy. He even taught me about the different stars." Bruce gushed, complimenting someone's child always put you in a good light.

It worked as Jonathon smiled and looked up to the ceiling where Clark and Lana were in the middle of their 'study session' "Yeah he's a good boy."

"Much nicer than some of the people I meet." Bruce went on "I mean Lex is great and he didn't make me feel unwanted in the house but his way of conversing seemed like he was trying too hard. With Clark he's just himself which makes you want to be yourself too."

Jonathon was glowing with pride by the end of it the slight against Lex definitely helped Bruce win brownie points which meant that after a few other pleasantries, with Bruce asking about the tractor, Jonathon left to help his wife in the kitchen.

Bruce would have to avoid the elder Kent's again since he didn't really like the threat they posed against Bruce. Parents always hold power over their children and it's easier to avoid them and sneak your way to the child then to gain all of their trust. Bruce walked back to the bottom of the barn stairs and listened to the conversation up ahead. They were talking about Lana's boyfriend and how "he just doesn't get me sometimes you know?" Rolling his eyes at Clark's pining response Bruce set his eyes on the rafters on the top of the barn.

He walked backwards and saw that they did indeed transgress the height of the hayloft. It would be a perfect vantage point for spying not to mention a perfect place to plot Lana's removal and practice his climbing skills.

He moved towards the beam that connected the barn wall to the corner and grasped onto the wooden surface. It was wide enough for Bruce to easily grasp the corners without reaching and smooth to the tough but regardless he knew that Alfred would be pulling splinters from his hands for days. Instead of putting his feet on the wood he used the corner angle to his advantage and used the rough wood of the barn walls to hoist himself up. The real difficulty was keeping his hands from slipping but so long as he kept his grip tight Bruce was certain that he wouldn't fall. He remained silent through his climb that took roughly two minutes and knew that next time he attempted it he would be faster. The beam stretched across the top of the barn hadn't been sanded for a while and therefore did posses wood sticking out of the edges that would give Bruce something to cry about. He moved along it keeping his hand to the wall all the while until he came midway across when he set his sights on the beam parallel to his own.

Thinking back he could have just moved along the other beam until he came to the intersecting pieces of wood and just walked along it, however Bruce was still eleven despite his mannerisms and it often showed when he indulged in that annoying habit every eleven year old has of thinking that they can do anything. So when Bruce leaped from his beam to the other one across a drop that could break his neck and he later thanked that he didn't overestimate or underestimate his momentum.

Bruce jumped to the other one as well and the next until he was midway along the barn. He sat himself down and surveyed the area. He had an excellent view of the barn and could see the hayloft's entirety as well as midway under it. If he turned he could see the door to the barn and if he walked along the beam he could jump down into the middle of Clark and Lana. Now there's an idea. No, too childish for an eleven year old.

He could always call Clark for a 'rescue' and then hysterically weep because he didn't know if he was going to make it. But then Clark would probably take him back to Alfred without them having talked... He could call Lana and tell her that her aunt was in hospital, Mrs Kent probably had her number or he could just steal Clarks phone. But then she would realise that her aunt wasn't and probably call the police on whoever put the call in... Bruce could always go over to the other house and put her aunt in the hospital but again there was the police. All the way through thinking about ways to get rid of Lana Bruce realised slowly that he didn't want to share Clark with this girl. It was unfair how she immediately grasped Clarks attention away from Bruce and how she had to actually suggest it for Clark to consider keeping Bruce around. She had Clark wrapped around her finger and who knows who else, she has a boyfriend! She shouldn't indulge in Clarks feelings and it isn't like she's oblivious to them. Bruce had half a mind to chuck that bat on top of her.

Bat?

Bruce looked back at the claws that hung from the lower beam. He would recognise those talons anywhere. Attached to a rodent who had decided terrorising the floor wasn't enough and had to grow wings and fangs to suck the life out of people. Bruce was slightly hyperventilating and was actually hoping Clark would notice him up here right now, especially before it decided to wake up and attack Bruce. He knew that he was going into shock and pretty soon he wouldn't be able to move as his body would lock just as his throat had seized up. His arms felt heavy as he lifted them and made motions that would catch one of their eyes. He knew he succeeded when he heard Lana shout of Clark.

Bruce didn't take his eyes off the bat even when Clark called him "Bruce, Oh God how did you get up there? Bruce can you crawl along. Just crawl along to here so I can reach up and get you." Bruce shook his head. His arms were all he could move and they were slowly seizing. "Right Lana, I'm going to have to go up go and get my dad."

"How are you going to get up there, you aren't that tall Clark." Go away Lana Bruce thought.

"I can climb on top of the couch and hopefully jump up onto the beam. Now quick go get him." Clark was acting all authoritative, it was a good look on him.

Bruce heard Lana finally leave and then a thump as Clark landed on the beam. He shook it a little when he landed which made Bruce clutch the bottom of it in fear of the bat's woken fury. It was still asleep. It remained asleep as Clark edged along the beam with the balance of a professional tight rope artist so he was soon crouching down in front of Bruce.

"Bruce, I know you're scared, heck even I'm a little scared I've never been good with heights. But we're going to be okay I just need you to stand up and hold onto me and we'll be down on the floor in no time. Okay." He didn't get it. Bruce shook his head again. "Come on, I'll have you the whole time." He reached forward and tried to pry one of Bruce's hands from the beam. Clark's weight was causing the beam to creak, bat's had extremely good hearing.

"Bat." Bruce managed to croak out as Clark fumbled with his hands

"What?" He asked confused.

Bruce couldn't say it again so he nodded his head in the direction of the bat sleeping below Clark. He peered down and saw it and looked back at Bruce even more confused before he finally understood.

"Right. Can you walk?" He queried probably going through what people normally do when confronted with things they fear. Bruce shook his head. "Okay then I'm going to have to carry you but you're going to have to let go of the beam." Bruce tried but his limbs weren't obeying so Clark just sighed and peeled them away with a little of his strength before hoisting Bruce up and walking quickly back to the edge of the beam. He was probably hoping that Bruce's shocked state wouldn't be able to comprehend the unusual feat of agility and balance that Clark seemed to suddenly possess. Bruce did.

When they were back on solid ground Clark took a broom and shooed the bat away out of the barn before coming back to Bruce "Are you alright?"

The presence of the bat now gone Bruce felt himself calming down and nodded. Shortly after Clark wrapped a blanket around Bruce Lana and the Kent's appeared. Martha immediately went over and hugged Bruce close to her which made him uncomfortable, she followed the hug with telling him that they were going to go inside for some pie. Unfortunately Bruce hadn't regained strength in his legs yet so Clark had to carry him into the yellow farmhouse. Jonathon before they left the barn sent a withering look at the beams before leading the procession into the house. All the while they were walking Lana was praising Clark's heroicness and he was eating it up like the idiot he was.

As soon as they got Bruce in a chair by the fire with pie ("Pie makes everything better"- Clark) Martha started pressuring Clark to phone Alfred and tell him what happened.

"No. He'll worry." Which was the first thing Bruce had said since the incident

"Sweetie we're just making sure you're okay." Martha had said patting his cheek.

"Alfred will want to know what happened Bruce. And to know you're safe." Lana added

"Yes but he'll worry more if you do it over the phone. I'll tell him when I get back." He couldn't let Alfred come and get him now! Nothing had happened! They hadn't even talked!

Jonathon gave him a dubious look "I will, you can even have Clark supervise me doing so if it will make you feel better. But I refuse to do it over the phone. Alfred deserves better."

"Well alright then." Jonathon amended before going in the kitchen for some apple pie himself. Martha followed calling Jonathon to help look in the barn with her for any cracks in the beams leaving Clark, Lana and Bruce.

After some small talk between them and mostly ignoring Bruce they moved onto school and the hectic life of a sixteen year old, Bruce yet again thanked God he had been expelled. The fire that was roaring inside the quaint home helped Bruce regain his inner strength as well as his outer. He felt slightly drained as the endorphins and adrenalin left his system and looked at the clock discovering that it was only half five. He only had three and a half hours to get this over with or less depending on how traumatised they believe him to be. He needed to get rid of Lana but his brain couldn't think of any kind of plan at the moment.

Clark announced that he was going to collect their books and school stuff as well as help check the support beams for any damage. He had the audacity to wink at Bruce before leaning in close and saying "I'll make sure our little intruder isn't going to bother you again too." before leaving the room. Idiot.

Lana was left and since he had sat down in the Kent's living room had been full mother hen. She patted his arm while she was talking to Clark, walked over and smoothed his hair while she was retrieving something and even throwing the occasional reassuring glance his way.

"How are you feeling Bruce? I know how scary things like that must be."

"I really don't like you." Was Bruce's reply. Apparently mouth was not on par with brain at the moment.

"Excuse me?"

"I said I don't like you. Don't look at me like that unlike most the people at your school I don't hate you because your popular or pretty, I hate you because you're a manipulative girl who is taking advantage of Clarks feelings to get what you want from him. Oh you may have deluded yourself into thinking that you have feelings for him but on a subconscious level you know that they're forced. They're there so you can act interested and get him to spill his secrets. You'll never be satisfied for who he his, you just want to know the juicy secret he's keeping from you or even worse you want him because you've made his secret into an ideal him. Well what if there is no secret and Clark is just who he is as you see him. Sure you could continue the façade but eventually you'll have to face up to the reality that you just created them. You must have asked why now? Why wasn't he attractive before? But do you know what's worse. It's the fact that you're doing this while engaged in a relationship already. This may be a modern age but adultery is still frowned upon."

Lana looked sick "why are you saying these things?" and Bruce truly tried to stop (tried is to strong. He asked kindly).

"Because if anyone is going to take advantage of him it should be someone with his interests at heart. You may think you have him but you don't. By the end of my stay here his feelings for you will be a dull recording in the background because I know how to make him mine. And he will be mine. So I suggest you leave and quickly because you're no longer welcome here." Bruce felt rather proud when he saw Lana start crying. She made to stand up when Bruce remembered to warn her "don't mention our talk with Clark. Or do it might help along his transition. Either way if you try and interfere my scathing words are nothing compared to what I'm truly capable of."

Lana ran out of the house and Bruce curled up in front of the fire in his blanket feeling lighter now that she was gone. It didn't last long as Clark came back in the house looking puzzled announcing that "Lana's just left in tears. Is she okay?"

"I may have had a go at her." Bruce confessed "But you knew I didn't like her." Clark seemed to accept it without any argument and looked to begin going after Lana "Wait. We need to talk." Bruce called. Clark's attention was his and after Bruce inquired about his parents whereabouts confirming that they had the house to themselves for an hour Bruce told Clark to sit.

"So what's this all about then?" Clark asked warily

"I'm coming clean."