Chapter 4/Interrogation

Chloe had only been at the Talon a few minutes before Clark arrived. With him was what Chloe could only assume was their fire starter. She was surprised at how young he was. Looking only twelve, his young face was covered in dirt and a black eye was forming along with a swollen lip. Chloe hurried over to him, disregarding introductions.

"My gosh, are you okay?" She took his shoulder and directed him to the small kitchen. Looking over at Clark she asked, "What happened?"

Clark followed. "I don't know. He was like that when I found him."

Chloe removed the boy's beanie and pushed sweaty light brown hair from his forehead to get a better look at his eye. The boy let her.

"What happened to you?" Chloe asked him.

The boy was silent. Chloe exchanged a look with Clark.

She opened her mouth to ask something else when the door was flung open and a loud voice called out,

"There you are!" Lois came stomping across the room. She grabbed the boy's arm. "You owe me five bucks and the cost of those chairs and tables you destroyed."

The boy squirmed in her grasp. "Get off of me!" He cried.

Lois shook him. "Not until I turn you over to the police."

Chloe stepped forward quickly and placed a hand on Lois's shoulder.

"Lois, we need to talk to this boy, without the police." She raised her eyebrows pointedly.

Lois's expression changed. She looked from Clark to Chloe to the boy then back to Chloe. "Oh. Okay. Well, I can take a hint."

She made her way towards the door. She turned back once she got there. "But you and me have score to settle," she said, glaring at the boy. The boy glared back. "And I'm going to win."

The boy smiled spitefully. "In your dreams, foxy lady."

Lois started forward menacingly. Catching site of Clark stepping in front of the boy, she stopped and held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay I'm going."

As soon as she left the boy relaxed visibly. Chloe and Clark turned towards him.

"You know, that was kind of rude." Clark said.

The boy did not answer. The two adults exchanged a look. The boy made his way to the couch and sat down heavily on it. Clark and Chloe watched silently as the lighter appeared and the boy started flipping it. Open and shut, open and shut, open and shut.

Chloe sat down across from him and Clark stood behind her.

"Hey."

The boy did not answer. His eyes were fixed on the flame. On and off, on and off, on and off. Chloe reached over and tapped his knee.

"Hey!"

The boy jerked, dropping the lighter. The flame caught on the rug beneath them. Instantly the floor was ablaze. Chloe jumped up in surprise and horror. She turned to Clark. He puckered his lips, getting ready to blow, when the boy stood suddenly. Clark and Chloe watched with wide eyes as the boy picked up the lighter, shut it, then held his hand out towards the fire. Flickering flames rose into the air and disappeared into the boy's hand. He stood still, staring dismally at the blackened rug.

Chloe stepped forward. She reached out to touch his shoulder. He jerked away quickly, his eyes full of fear as they met hers.

"I'm sorry, I'll pay for it! Please don't hurt me!"

He lifted his hands to cover his face. Chloe froze in surprise. She looked at Clark with raised eyebrows. The farm boy stepped forward.

"We're not going to hurt you."

The boy lowered his arms. Chloe gestured to the couch.

"Sit. You have some explaining to do."

The boy sat gingerly, watching them warily, like an animal about to flee. Chloe sat and Clark followed.

"What's your name?" Chloe asked pleasantly.

The boy looked from her to Clark then back again. "What's your name?" He countered.

"My name is Chloe. Chloe Sullivan. This is my friend. Clark Kent."

Clark lifted a hand in a brief greeting. The boy mimicked the gesture.

Chloe leaned forward slightly. "We know you have powers."

The boy jerked his head to stare at her.

"We know a lot of people with powers. You're not alone."

The boy continued to stare.

"When did you find out you had the power to manipulate fire?"

The boy shrugged. "A while ago."

"It was during the meteor shower, wasn't it?"

The boy tilted his head, giving her a puzzled look. "What meteor shower?"

Chloe sat back, her eyebrows rose slightly. "The meteor shower here in Smallville." She exchanged a bewildered look with Clark.

The boy was shaking his head. "This is my first time in Smallville." He said. "I've never been here before. I lived in New England."

"You came all the way to Kansas from New England?" Clark asked in amazement.

The boy nodded. "Yeah."

"Where are your parents?" Chloe asked.

The flipping of the lighter started once more. The boy looked away. "They think I'm a freak. My parents are divorced. Neither wanted me."

"Why did you set fire to the Luthor Mansion?"

The boy looked sidelong at her. "Someone told me to."

"Who was it?" Clark asked.

The boy glanced up at him then turned away, shrugging. "I don't know. He paid me fifty bucks, I didn't care who he was."

"What did he look like?" Chloe insisted.

The boy frowned, trying to remember. "I couldn't really see his face. Tall, he wore a green outfit with a hood and . . . oh yeah! He had a quiver with arrows on his back." The boy narrowed his eyes at them. "What's with all these questions anyhow?"

Clark and Chloe glanced dismally at each other.

"The Green Arrow." Chloe sighed.

Clark frowned. "Oliver."

A/N: Thanks everyone for reviewing. I really appreciate it, and I'm glad ya'll are enjoying it. :-D