This takes place after the Nightmare chapter. this is Athena's and Conner's talk with Clark. :)

Also, if you guys have any prompts for chapters that you want to see, please tell me

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Conner had told Athena that he was going to take her to metropolis so they could meet up with Clark.

Athena was still a bit apprehensive about talking to Clark because she has just started to wrap her mind around the fact that the man was actually okay with her being his somewhat daughter.

Unfortunately, even though this made Athena happy, she still held some resentment towards the man for not trusting her from the beginning.

"Athena, make sure you stick close to me, okay? Metropolis is a bit busy at this time." Conner informed as the two stepped off of the bus onto the streets of Metropolis, and Athena nodded.

People rushed past the two and Conner held the girl's hand tightly, keeping her from getting separated from him.

Athena flinched each time a person brushed past her. She didn't like big crowds. They made her very uneasy, and she wanted to get to a place with less people.

The more they continued to move through the crowd, the more nervous Athena became. She started to shake, and Conner could feel it while holding her hand.

He quickly pulled Athena closer to him and lifted her up, carrying her instead so she would have his arms around her instead of other people.

"Are you okay?" Conner questioned, but Athena was quiet, closing her eyes and holding onto him as tight as she could.

The two finally reached the restaurant where they were to meet up, and Conner placed Athena gently onto the ground.

"Hey, are you okay?" he inquired again, and the girl slowly nodded, her eyes darting around at all the people on the street.

"Yes." She answered in a whisper, and Conner grasped her hand as the two walked into the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, Clark was waiting for them. It was shocking how much Conner and Clark looked alike. Especially how Conner wore glasses to hide his identity as well.

Well, Conner is a clone. Athena figured, but it was still strange to her.

"Hello Clark." Conner grinned, and Athena gave a small smile.

"Hello." She said in a weak voice. She was still shaking from the situation outside, and she was also nervous about talking to Clark again.

"Are you okay?" Clark inquired as Athena and Conner slid into the booth.

"She's not very good with crowds." Conner informed, and Clark nodded.

"I see." He then brightened slightly. "What do you two want for breakfast? I'll order when the waitress comes by, it's on me."

"I'll just have some coffee." Conner shrugged, then looked over at Athena.

"It's on you?" the girl questioned, confused by the phrase.

"It just means he's paying." Conner informed, and the girl nodded.

"Oh… can I have an apple? And some tea?" Clark nodded, smiling kindly at the girl.

"Sure thing, Athena." Athena leaned her head on Conner's side, which didn't surprise him. She was tired from her nightmare the night before.

"Is she alright?" Clark questioned in a whispered tone, but Athena still heard it, she was sitting right next to Conner.

"Yes. She's just tired." Conner nodded, and it was quiet between the three of them.

"Clark, do you like pizza?" Athena's small voice inquired, breaking the silence. Both Conner and Clark looked at the girl in confusion.

"Pizza?" Clark questioned, making sure he head right, and the girl nodded her head.

"Yes. Pizza."

"Yes… I suppose I like pizza." Conner informed, and the girl took the information with a small nod of her head.

"Alright." She nodded. "What about whipped cream? Do you like whipped cream?" the girl inquired, and both men were confused where the random questions were coming from.

"Yes. I like whipped cream." Clark nodded.

"Do you like bears?"

"Athena, why are you asking me these questions?" Clark inquired. Athena looked down at her feet for a moment, then looked back up at him.

"I just wanted to see what we had in common." She informed in a small voice.

Clark smiled slightly at the girl. He was happy that she was trying to get to know him.

"I like bears." He grinned, just as the waitress came over for their orders, and he recited what everyone wanted.

The woman walked away to the kitchen just as Metropolis' richest man walked into the restaurant. Lex Luthor.

Athena noticed how both Clark and Conner tensed at the man entering, so she figured the guy was bad news.

However, he smiled when he saw Clark, as if they were friends.

"Hello Mr. Kent." Lex grinned. "critiquing restaurants for The Daily Planet?" he inquired. Clark immediately started fumbling around with the fork he "accidently" knocked off of the table.

"No, Mr. Luthor." Clark smiled. "Only out with my little brother and friend." Lex Luthor raised an eyebrow and he looked over at Conner and Athena.

Conner prayed that Lex wouldn't recognize him, but changing his hairstyle and wearing glasses seemed to do the trick.

Lex gave them a charismatic smile, and extended his hand to shake.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, Mr. Luthor." Conner smiled in a soft-spoken voice, shaking the man's hand. Lex's green eyes then settled on Athena.

"And I recognize you. You're Bruce's new adopted daughter." Lex smiled, and Athena shook his hand with a small smile, but was nervous due to how Clark and Conner were acting.

"H-hello." She grinned.

"Athena, am I right?" he questioned, and Athena gave a small shy nod.

"Pleasure to meet you in person, young lady." Lex smiled, then turned to Clark. "I didn't know you were friends with Bruce Wayne."

"I'm not, but Conner does some things for Wayne Enterprises, and Mr. Wayne wanted him to show Athena Metropolis." Clark explained.

"I'm surprised you aren't questioning her for your newspaper. You would finally have a headline instead of Ms. Lane." Lex informed with a smile.

Athena's mind went to the party where Vikki Vale was pressuring her for answers.

"I don't like being questioned." Athena informed quickly, and Lex's gaze was on her again.

"Why not?" he inquired.

"Because the last woman who questioned me wouldn't let me leave to find Bruce, and she was mean, and asked personal things that weren't any of her business." She informed with a frown.

"I can understand why you wouldn't like being questioned then." Lex nodded with a smile, then looked back at Clark.

"I have business to attend with a colleague here, but it was nice seeing you Mr. Kent." His attention then turned to Conner,

"It was nice meeting you, young man." His eyes then settled on Athena.

"It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Ms. Athena." he smiled, then walked off.

Athena looked at Conner then to Clark.

"Why don't you two like him?" Athena inquired in a whisper.

"He's evil." Conner stated in a whisper, making a face, and Athena didn't like the face he was making. She never wanted to be the cause of that face.

"He is too good at covering up his tracks to get sent to prison." Clark informed, and Athena nodded, feeling guilty for thinking the man was kind. Lex Luthor definitely was charismatic.

The waitress returned with their food and Clark inquired,

"Can we also have some whipped cream in a bowl?" the waitress looked at him confused.

"As in… spraying whipped cream into a bowl?" she inquired.

"With a spoon, please." Clark added with a smile. The waitress slowly nodded, then walked off to get the food.

Conner and Athena looked at the man perplexed, and Clark shrugged.

"You said you like whipped cream."

Athena couldn't help but smile. Her resentment towards Clark slowly started to dissipate. She had to learn how to forgive, and, come on, the man was buying her a bowl of whipped cream.