TW: A bit.
Silverclaw: Within the next few months. I've been struggling with inspiration for anything Arrowverse related but I do have every intention of continuing that series.
Kent Farm
Night
"You would take me to see a Captain America movie on a date," Paige teased Clark as they arrived back from seeing a movie.
"Would you have rather seen Harry Potter?" Clark asked and Paige made a face.
"Ugg, no. The last thing a witch wants to see is a movie about wizards," Paige scoffed. "And honestly, was never really a fan of the books. There's only so much of Hermione being the smartest person in the room all the time I can take."
"Point. But was the movie really that bad?" Clark asked and Paige shrugged.
"Not really bad. Could have been better, although I didn't really like Peggy," Paige said, remembering the scene of Peggy shooting at Steve. "She reminds me too much of people I've seen as a social worker. And not the good kind."
Clark opened his mouth to speak but before the conversation could continue, Clark's phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw it was Oliver and answered.
"Oliver…slow down, I can't understand a word you're saying…what?! Okay, I'll be right there," Clark said before hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Paige asked seeing the alarm on his face.
"Oliver, Carter and Courtney were just attacked by an angry mob," Clark said to her shock. "I need to go."
"Yeah, I get it. Go," Paige told him and Clark smiled slightly.
"Thanks. I'll be back later," Clark promised, kissing her lightly on the lips before speeding out of there.
Watchtower
Not long after
"You should see the other guys," Oliver jokingly as Clark walked in to see Oliver holding an ice pack to his face.
"That as bad as it looks?" Clark asked.
"It could have been a lot worse," Carter noted.
"Can't even bring a purse snatcher in without getting these people in my face," Oliver sighed miserably.
"Wait a minute, I thought you said Slade died in the explosion," Cortney said as she picked up a remote.
They all turned to the screen behind them and Clark and Oliver stared in disbelief at Slade, now sporting a metal eye patch on one eye, holding a press conference.
"Like so many of you, I am the victim of a vigilante attack. And while I was lucky enough to survive the explosion caused by Oliver Queen, it came at a cost," Slade said gesturing to his eye patch. "Too many civilians have been left feeling unsafe in their own homes. Too many people have suffered while too few vigilantes have been brought to justice. It's time these terrorists paid for their crimes."
"And it's time he paid for his," Clark said angrily before turning off the screen.
"Except there's one problem," Cortney said and they all turned to her. "It's not just the government; the people have turned on us to."
"With Slade alive, we can't exist. He knows too much about us," Dinah added from the screen where she was using to video chat with them.
"So until Slade's been dealt with, it's gotta be radio silence between us," Carter said and Clark nodded reluctantly, having come to the same conclusion.
"We have to go underground. Cortney Whitmore, studying abroad. Carter Hall, on Sabbatical."
"Clark Kent?" Carter asked and Clark was silent for a moment.
"Gone," he finally said.
"So now we're all card carrying members of the fugitive club," Oliver noted unhappily.
"We have to protect the secrets we still have," Clark said as he walked over to the fuse box. "So until its safe, I'm shutting down Watchtower."
Clark pulled the levers and the lights went out. Clark then used the remote to seal up Watchtower's window and he, Oliver, Carter and Cortney walked out, closing the doors behind them.
San Francisco, next day
Morning
Darryl Morrison was at his desk, doing some paperwork when some men in uniform walked up to him.
"Lieutenant Morrison," Darryl looked up, seeing the men. "We have some questions for you."
Not long after, Darryl was in the interrogation room, sitting across from the men.
"You seem nervous Lieutenant," one of the men noted.
"Well, used to being on that side of the room. And I don't exactly know you who you are or why you want to talk to me," Darryl said, wondering if this had something to do with Sheridan.
"We'd like to talk to you about your relationship with the Halliwell sisters. Specifically, Paige Matthews," one of the men said and Darryl tensed.
"Nothing much to say. I became friends with Pure Halliwell through my late partner Andy. I stayed in touch with Prue until her death; Paige didn't come into the picture until after Prue died. I'm not very close to her, I barely know her," Darryl lied.
"Well according to your records, you associated with Paige Matthews almost immediately after she found her half-sisters. Tell us, what's your opinion on vigilantes?" Darryl looked at the men oddly but answered their question.
"They're breaking the law. They may be trying to help, but by taking the law into their own hands, they're undermining our legal system and creating anarchy," Darryl answered, becoming confused by the smile on the face of the first man.
"Have you ever heard of Clark Kent?"
"Isn't he a reporter in Metropolis?" Darryl asked, vaguely remembering a conversation with Phoebe where she went on and on about the reporters at the Daily Planet.
"Yes. He's also the son of Senator Martha Kent. We have photos of him making contact with one of the vigilantes," the second man said.
"So why are you talking to me instead of him?" Darryl asked, an uneasy feeling settling over him.
"We know you're friends with Paige Matthews. Has she ever mentioned having contact with Clark Kent?" the first man asked.
"No," Darryl said, not liking where this was going. "What does Paige have to do with some reporter?"
"I see you haven't kept in touch over the las few months. Paige Matthews has recently moved to Metropolis and developed a very close relationship with Clark Kent," the second man said, placing a few photos on the table.
Darryl looked down at them and almost cringed. They were of Paige with a dark haired man, obviously Clark Kent. In one of the photos, the two were kissing.
"Paige Matthews is involved with Clark Kent. If she's helping him, she's as guilty as him," the first man said.
"Guilty of what? The guy associates with vigilantes, it's bad but, unless he's actually helping them, it's not exactly a crime is it?" Darryl challenged.
"Why that sounded quite protective Lieutenant. Especially of someone you claim to barely know," the second man noted and Darryl almost winced, realizing he'd been played so they'd get a reaction out of him. "In any case, you're coming with us. Our boss has a few questions for you."
Daily Planet
Same time
Having a sister who worked at a newspaper had taught Paige if you wanted to get the fastest scoop, head to the biggest news outlet. So first thing in the morning, she'd headed to the Daily Planet. And sure enough, she was looking at a flyer of known vigilantes. Clark's entire team was on the list, although thankfully he wasn't.
It was a small consolation though. Slade had turned Clark and his friends into public enemy number one.
"Saved us the problem of tracking you down," startled, Paige whirled around, seeing a woman in a military uniform standing behind her. "General Wilson said you'd show up here sooner or later. Paige Mathews, you're going to have to come with me. We have a few questions for you."
Not long after, Paige was led into the waiting area outside Tess's office and quickly spotted Tess and Emil sitting on a couch. Cat was also there, sitting in a chair next to the couch.
"How bad is this?" Paige asked Tess as she walked behind the couch.
Tess's only response was to subtly tilt her head towards Emil. Paige glanced towards Emil, seeing him seemingly doing a crossword to pass the time. But upon closer inspection, Paige saw he had written 'phones bugged' in the boxes.
Paige sat down, realizing they'd been made. Even if they didn't know who she was, they'd blown the lid of Clark's life.
Fortress of Solitude
Late afternoon
Clark was standing in the Fortress, not even sure why he'd come here. It wasn't like Jor-El could help him with this. This wasn't one of his trials or a test, this was just a madman with power gone rogue.
"Kal-El," Clark whirled around, seeing Kara had entered the Fortress.
"Kara," Clark said before the cousins exchanged a hug.
"I heard what happened. What are you going to do?" Kara said as they go of each other.
"I don't know," Clark said honestly. "This isn't someone with superpowers. It's a man who has weaponized the public and the government. I just…I don't know what to do Kara."
"You'll figure out. You always do Kal-El. I wish I could have the same faith in these people that you do, but I didn't grow up with them. You've seen them at their best and worst Kal, you know how to reach them, inspire them in ways I can't. So go out and do that. They need you Clark, even if they think they don't," Kara told him.
Clark stared at her for a moment before getting an idea.
"Kara…thank you," Clark told her, kissing her lightly on the forehead before speeding out of the Fortress as Kara stared after him in confusion.
Daily Planet
Not long after
"So what makes a former social worker pack up and move to Metropolis?" the woman asked Paige as they sat in Tess's office, the lights off.
"Came for a friend's wedding. Liked the city," Paige answered easily.
"Is that all? And you moved in with a Daily Planet reporter," The woman noted.
"I needed a place to stay, hotels are expensive. He was kind enough to offer," Paige said honestly and the woman nodded.
"How long have you known Clark Kent?" the woman asked, circling Paige like a shark.
"He's an old friend," Paige said evasively.
"Yes, he saved your life once, didn't he?" the woman stopped in front of Paige as she tensed. "Seven years ago, you were nearly sexually assaulted in a Metropolis night club. Your assailant was knocked out by a man whose description matches Clark Kent."
"Sorry, I was traumatized, had no idea what I was saying. I barely even remember what the guy looked like," Paige shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it.
"Well according to your statement about the incident, your savior was strong enough to pull open a locked bathroom stall and throw your assailant with such force that it broke a sink in half. It's the first reported incident that some believe can be called a Blur sighting in Metropolis," the woman said as Paige paled. "I'm not interested in you Paige, although you do have quite an interesting rap sheet of involvement with police cases and mysterious deaths. I'm only interested in Clark Kent. And you're not leaving this room until I have him."
And 10x11 has gotten off to an intense start.
Since Darryl was known to be an associate of the Halliwells, it's not much of a stretch it think that, if Slade went after Paige, he'd go after Darryl as well.
