The following day
Clark stares out of his loft at the afternoon sun. He sighs at the warm feeling of the sun's light.
"Told you he'd be up here. He always is," Jonathan says ascending the stairs with Martha.
"I like looking at the sun, dad. It helps calm me down and makes it easier to think sometimes," Clark says taking a seat; today's newspaper clenched in his hands.
The front page shows a picture of Rudy being loaded into an ambulance to be transferred someplace else.
The headline reads:
Freak exposed. How many more of them are out there?
"I've put so many of my meteor infected classmates away and not so much as a blip was made on the news' radar and suddenly this happens. People are gonna be afraid soon and it's all because of me," Clark says.
"Why do you do this to yourself, Clark?" Martha asks.
"Do what?" Clark asks.
"She means, why do you always blame yourself for everything that goes wrong in this town," Jonathan answers.
"The only reason the meteor infected exist is because I came here and people have died as a result."
"Not every infected person became a killer. You remember the old woman that could see the future?"
"I do AND... she's dead because of her power," Clark nearly snaps, but manages to keep his voice in check. "Who knows how anyone with powers will be treated now that this story is out?"
"There's no way people could ever be afraid of you if that's what you are getting at. You know why?" Jonathan asks.
"Why?"
"Because you've always done the right thing, son. Practically everyone in this town knows what kind of person you are," Jonathan says.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I still have to worry about what happens if Rudy ever wakes up. He knows about my powers and his own ability is the most dangerous I've ever encountered. What if there are other meta humans like him out there that can hurt me?"
"Meta humans?" Martha repeats.
"That's what the newspaper called him. I guess Marvel Comics copy wrote the term mutant," Clark jokes and sighs again. "There's still the matter of Whitney. He's still infected by a small trace of the Nicodemus flower. Who knows what he might do wherever he is? And then there's the meteor rock burst that generated from Lana's necklace. It knocked me out, yet I felt fine the moment I woke up, and there's also what happened to Lana-,"
"Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack," Jonathan interrupts and Clark rolls his eyes. "You know what I mean."
"I do. It's just that Rudy's burst took out everyone in the blast radius. We all know what this stuff does to me. So why am I fine?"
"Let's just be glad that you are fine," Martha says.
"I guess so. I need to get some air...well more air than I've already gotten," he says and heads down the steps of his loft.
"You really think people would accept Clark if they knew the truth about him. You've always been the one to remind him to keep a low profile," Martha says once Clark has gone.
"I know, but on the other hand, if he did get exposed how could people not accept him? He has one of the biggest hearts we've ever seen."
"Second biggest," Martha corrects then pokes Jonathan's heart. Martha and Jonathan laugh and hug one another.
Clark super speeds into an alley across the street from Smallville High. Seeing nobody present, he walks into the school's parking lot and stops a few feet from the entrance. Clark decides to do an x-ray of the school. He quickly scans the first floor and is about to check the second when approaching footsteps break his concentration.
"Come to make sure that nobody got left behind?" Tess asks.
"What are you doing here?" Clark asks.
"Lex had some business to take care of in town so he dropped me off earlier. But really Clark, you don't always have to go out trying to be everyone's hero. Especially when it could be the death of you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw what Rudy did to you. Hell, I've been a victim myself to what he can do. You're lucky Rudy isn't a killer."
"Tess, I was just doing what anyone else would've done."
"I'd like to think that, Clark, but it's not true. Close to no one in this town has the guts to do what I've seen you do since I moved here. I've never been one to believe in heroes, but you've been rapidly changing my outlook on the matter."
Clark smiles then feels himself start to blush. He turns away from Tess towards the school.
"I'll tackle you if you take so much as one step towards that building to look for anyone else," Tess threatens.
"It's not that, Tess. I'm just taking it all in. The school getting half burned down...it's the kind of stuff you only see in T.V. shows you know?"
"How long do you think it'll take before the place reopens?" Tess asks.
"Hopefully not as long as it took Sunnydale High to get rebuilt," Clark jokes.
"Isn't that place still a smoldering wreck?" Tess questions him.
"Heard it's coming back for season 7 actually. Not sure why since the characters are all out of high school," Clark comments.
"You'll just have to keep watching to find out," Tess jokes and the two share a laugh.
"Look Tess...about what happened back at the pool...I can't explain what happened with the meteor rock Whitney tied around my neck." Clark says.
"I understand. You have your secrets and I have mine," Tess says while trying to keep the image of the dirty cops she killed out of her mind.
"Then there is the...other thing that happened at the pool,-" Clark starts to say.
"I'm sorry about that Clark...sort of," Tess cuts off. "It was just a spur of the moment sort of thing. We'd tried so many times and I just wanted to go for it before something else conveniently interrupted."
"It's almost like some force doesn't want us to be together...not that I'm saying I wouldn't," Clark awkwardly adds.
"Nothing has to happen immediately between us because of the kiss, Clark. Until the right time comes I'm alright just being friends." Clark stares at Tess and then just nods.
"Alright. I'll see you around then, Clark," Tess says.
She turns away from Clark. As she starts to walk off Clark's hand lightly grips her shoulder. Tess turns around to meet Clark's gaze. Not another second is wasted and their lips meet one another. The heat rises greatly between them both. Tess lets her hormones get the better of her and, using her strength, shoves Clark up against one of the school's walls.
Clark doesn't seem to register this and only grips Tess tighter while running a hand down her long red hair while both of Tess' hands goes up the back of Clark's shirt.
Chloe sighs as she watches Clark and Tess kissing from the second floor window. She can feel small tears begin to well up, but she pushes them back. She plucks the last newspaper clipping off of the Wall of Weird and places it into her backpack with the rest. While the Wall was the only part of the Torch to not catch fire, she didn't want to chance anything being taken once the repairs to the school began.
"Hi Chloe." Chloe jumps in surprise. "You know you shouldn't be here."
"Neither should you, Leslie."
Leslie Willis leans against the wall just outside the Torch with a friendly smile on her face.
"That's Leslie 'the Live Wire'," she corrects and walks over to Chloe.
"Duly noted. What are you doing here?"
"Just came here to see the extent of the damage before I go and talk about it over the radio waves. But you. You look like you could use a friend right now."
"That obvious?"
"Saw Kent and Mercer's PDA and figured you must've seen it given your vantage point...well it's not so much PDA since we're the only ones here, never mind."
"Who says Clark has anything to do with my mood?" Chloe asks.
"Don't insult me," Leslie laughs. "Look, Chloe. Kent's just another guy. Ok not really. In fact he's probably one of the better guys to attend this school."
"Not helping," Chloe cuts off.
"Sorry. But the last thing you need to do is wait for one guy. I'm pretty sure, no, I'm 100% sure that most guys would kill to be with you."
"Thanks, but I doubt that. Aside from a mysterious admirer, no one else seems interested in me," Chloe sighs.
"Well you wouldn't know since you've only had eyes for Clark," Leslie points out. Chloe shrugs and Leslie sighs.
"You know, why don't we continue this discussion someplace a bit more cheerful. We aren't supposed to be here anyway," Leslie suggests.
"Where did you have in mind?" Chloe asks.
"The Talon of course," Leslie says as she puts an arm on Chloe's shoulder. "First round of coffee's on me."
"You sound like my cousin right now," Chloe says.
"Must be one hell of a girl," Leslie says.
"You have no idea though you need to replace the coffee with beer. Not that I drink it," Chloe laughs as she puts her arm around Leslie's shoulder as they both walk for the exit. "Leslie, I think this is the beginning of-,"
"A beautiful friendship," Leslie finishes for her and both girls laugh.
Luthorcorp.
Rudy lies on a bed unmoving while scientists monitor him; skin color having transformed to an even darker shade of purple since the accident that gave him his powers.
"Do you have any idea if he'll wake up?" Lex asks one of the scientists.
"His body has mostly shut down, however, some of his cells seem to be slowly coming back to life. But I don't know how long it'll take before he completely revives. It could be weeks or even months. Maybe even..."
"Don't even think of saying 'years' unless you're prepared to start looking for another job Dr. Hamilton," Lex threatens.
"Yes sir. Of course Mr. Luthor," Emil Hamilton answers; wiping some sweat from his forehead while Lex observes Rudy.
"One question, Mr. Luthor," Emil says. Lex gives him a nod to proceed. "Why allow the newspapers to print this story after silencing the others?"
"Because doctor, people were bound to find out eventually. Though I couldn't have asked for a better public exposure if I had planned it myself. Still we'll have to make sure there weren't any side effects from whatever that green energy burst was that the staff claims Rudy generated."
"And what are we going to do with Rudy once he's woken up?" Emil asks.
"When he wakes up, make sure he's straightened out for next time," Lex orders.
A/N: Hard to believe this was all part of the season premiere. Haha. Well I apologize for the long delay (understatement much). Hope you guys enjoyed this installment of the story. C ya!