Chapter 20 - Making Movies
(Kent Family Farm - Smallville, Kansas - 10th April 2020)
"You ready?" Clark asked as they stood on top of the grain silo, placing a confronting hand on Ryan's shoulder.
The young boy was wearing a bright blue skin-tight suit based on Clark's suit there were slight differences, however. Ryan's legs were red and the blue of his torso was formed like a massive V-shaped shield that ended at his pelvis meaning the red of his legs rose to his waist in sharp angles on his side. Where the blue and red met there was a faint golden line, the suit also included red fingerless gloves that were sewn into the blue sleeves and there was also a lack of cape as well. However, just like his own suit emblazoned in the middle of Ryan's chest was the massive symbol of the House of El, the red S-like crest cut through the sea of gold beneath it.
In truth, Clark hadn't meant to dress Ryan in a manner that made him look like a mini-Superman and created the appearance that the boy was some sort of sidekick. It had been as a result of Ryan's training and needing a suit that wouldn't tear or rip, Clark could remember having a similar problem, and with his old simple black Super Boy outfit being too big he had been forced to look into alternatives. Fortunately, his aunt had had dozens of different costumes made over Clark's youth, Ryan's current attire was an old prototype that she had rejected and was the only one of the rejected ideas that had been made and would fit Ryan.
"Uhhhhh. No, not really," Ryan looked up at Clark after glancing over the edge of the very tall building, an audible gulp followed. "Are you sure I can fly?"
"Yes, your genetic metamorphosis for want of a better word has progressed enough that you are now producing…" Clark trailed off whilst letting out a small chuckle as he saw that his explanation was going over Ryan's head who looked completely lost. "Sorry, forgot your 8. Uh, ummm…..Your body is um…. Well, you're developed…. You know what, how we fly is complicated. I'll explain it when you're older. But I am 100% sure that you can fly."
"Okay" Ryan replied with uncertainty in his voice as he edged nervously towards the sheer drop of the silo. "So, I what? Jump?"
"No, eventually once you learn you'll be able to lift off with no effort," Kal demonstrated by rising off the ground a few inches floating for a moment before touching back down. "Until then you're going to need to generate thrust to get airborne, so it's less jumping and more….like a leap. Imagine you're trying to dive into a pool but instead of going down into water you're going up into the air."
"I've never been to a pool," Rya replied, looking back up at Clark with a worried expression, another audible gulp following.
"Yeaaaaah" Clark let out a short breath, feeling like he was doing a terrible job at this, however he quickly gave Ryan a supportive smile, before kneeling and placing his hands on Ryan's shoulders "Okay, Ryan I am right here. You can do this, and I've got you. But if you want we will leave this for another day."
Ryan looked into Clark's warm caring eyes before looking away into the sky where a few birds were flying carefree and untroubled by the world below. "I, I, I WANT to try. Let's do it, lets try"
"Okay," Clark smiled standing up and lifting off the ground into the air floating away from the silo before turning to face Ryan, who gave him a nod "I am right here, whenever you're ready."
"I've got this, I've got this, I've got this," Ryan started walking backwards as he started bouncing on the spot, trying to psyche himself up, before dashing towards the edge of the silo. "I've got this, I've got this, I've got this, I've got this, I've got this, I've got THIS!"
Ryan's shout was accompanied by him launching himself into the air as he lept off of the silo. Clark smiled as he saw the young boy close his eyes in sheer terror, completely missing that he had achieved what he was trying to do. Ryan's leap was hard and accompanied by a crunching sound as he dented the metal roof of the silo with his take off, he flailed his arms around a little and for a moment it looked like he was about to fall out of the sky. However, his body's new physiology had kicked in and as the inertia of his leap slowed Ryan was now gliding through the air unbound from the pull of the earth.
"Easy, easy," Clark gave a wide smile as he gilded over placing himself in front of Ryan his right hand gently placed on Ryan's chest to stop the boy in the air, "Ryan deep breath, stay calm and open your eyes,"
"OH GOD!" Ryan opened his eyes immediately earning him a chuckle from Clark as Ryan panicked seeing no ground under him and flung his hands out to grab Clark but unused to his new ability just started cartwheeling in the air. "Um oh god, Clark! Please, how do I stop this!"
"Don't worry it takes practice," Clark placed a well timed hand on Ryan's shoulder stopping the lad so he was upright again, steadying the boy before letting go "Pretty cool though right?"
"Yeah," Ryan let out a wide smile on his face as he looked down to see where his mom, Martha and seated Lois were watching from below, he gave them a wave which his mom returned before looking at Clark, "I can't believe I can do this!….. I don't feel like I'm doing anything though? Shouldn't I need to concentrate or something?"
"Like I said it's very complicated, but flying isn't like a muscle or lifting a heavy thing. It's not conscious" Clark scratched the back of his head as he tried to explain their natural ability which by its nature on this world wasn't natural. "It's like breathing or…Um, yeah, not good at this part. Okay, it's just something your body can do and will do in certain circumstances. What we are going to do is learn how to use it, learn control and how to do more than float in the air."
"Okay, so how do we move," Ryan asked, trying to stay upright, being weightless was strange, every small movement made his whole being shift. "This is so weird,"
"Yeah, it's going to be weird for a while," Clark chuckled as he moved to be next to Ryan, placing a hand on the boy's back, and pointing to a cloud above them. "Moving whilst flying is about instinct, trusting yourself and body to get you where you're going. It's less active thought and more unconscious feeling."
Ryan just looked at Clark confused, he was sort of following what Clark was saying but the Superhero had lost him. Clark's face fell into a look of thoughtful completion; he knew he wasn't doing a good job at describing how this all worked largely because he had no base to draw from. He had largely taught himself how to fly, mostly through trial and error, the only material on teaching how to use Superpowers was Richard Brinkerhoff and that was someone Clark didn't care to get reacquainted with. The man was the world's leading expert on Superpower development and training, but he was self-serving, played favourites and didn't really care to develop his students into heroes, only products Vought could see.
However, as he looked at Ryan a thought formed in his head and he quickly, but slow enough that Ryan could react, reached his hand out towards Ryan's face. The boy's reaction was exactly as expected and what Clark was hoping to happen, Ryan leaned back and as he did so floated backwards before stopping.
"You see what happened?" Clark lowered his hand and gave Ryan a small smile as he moved forward speaking to the confused boy. "You flew Ryan and stopped, all by yourself. It's all instinct, that what flying is, instinct trusting yourself."
"I think I get it," Ryan said looking from Clark to the small slow moving cloud which was his target, "So I just have t- WHOA!"
BOOM!
Clark's head snapped up keeping track of Ryan before quickly following the boy who was rocketing through the air. Ryan went straight through the cloud causing it to blow away as he rocketed away into the sky gaining speed as he went, it wasn't long before Clark caught up with Ryan though. Clark smiled as he heard Ryan's shouting, not in terror or fear, but in sheer joy as he soared through the air.
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Ryan let out a whoop as he did a loop in the air, starting to slow down as he let out a pant, he felt weird like every inch of him was on fire full of energy but he also felt drained. "This….. is… incredible,"
"Yeah it is," Clark smiled as the two hovered in the earth's stratosphere looking out into pure wonder, their moment was broken as Ryan's laboured breaths caused him to turn. "Feeling tired?"
"Yeah," Was all Ryan was able to get out as he sucked in air, the strange rush of power and tiredness washing through him.
"No surprise, you almost reached Mach 1," Clark grinned but as he glanced at Ryan it was clear the boys didn't know that unit of measurement yet. "You were going very vast. Remember flying is a natural ability for us but like any natural ability it requires energy, the faster you go the more you burn. Understood?"
"Yeah" Ryan nodded as he gulped in another breath which didn't seem to be doing anything to alleviate his exhaustion.
"Good, come on, let's head back. I need to teach you a bit more about flight safety and how to get your energy back now okay?" Clark smiled as Ryan nodded floating with him as they started to descend back down at a steady pace. "Now this is the tricky part?"
"What….is?" Ryan asked, as trailed behind Clark who floated down slightly quicker than Ryan could.
"Landing" Clark grinned as he looked over his shoulder to Ryan giving the boy a wink as they headed back to the ground, he stopped as the farm became clear below them. "Now it's all about easing into it okay? Just trust yourself like before."
"Right, ease into it," Ryan breathed feeling oddly better now that he was stationary and the sun was shining on him "Just ease inTO IT! OH DAM!"
"Ryan slow down!" Clark's eyes widened as he tried to reach for the boy who instead of gently floating shot towards the ground like a bullet from a gun, the sudden action caught Clark slightly unprepared.
CRASH! CRACK!
"RYAN! OH GOD RYAN!" Becca's voice rang out as she ran towards the small crater-like hole in the earth next to the house Ryan had caused.
"Ryan are you -AH!" Clark landed next to the whole his vision narrowing to pierce through the dark to spot the boy only for pain to shoot through him, forcing him to one knee.
"Oh god, the storm cellar," Martha whispered as she saw Clark stumble, as she realised to her horror where Ryan landed and rushed to hold Becca back.
"Clark! What's wron-" Lois appeared as well, her stomach now swollen as she moved as fast as she could towards Clark stopped her with a raised hand as Martha reached her as well.
"Stay back!" Clark's statement caused both Becca and Lois to stop as he stumbled back to his feet, the sight of him froze both women.
Clark was pale, deathly pale and getting worse by the second and looked like he was struggling to stand as balled his hands into fists willing his body to work. It wasn't the paleness that stopped the women however it was the sickly green lines starting to slowly appear over his body. It was like a river of liquid jade was replacing his blood as whatever was happening to Clark started to creep over his body.
"RYAN!" Clark called out as he leapt forward landing into the storm cellar, the feeling of his blood boiling in him intensifying as the green rocks glinted up from the floor like a thousand serpent's eyes.
The floor-to-ceiling lead-lined safe that his father had spent 2 decades of his life placing glowing green meteor rocks in had been shattered by Ryan's arrival, the boy had crashed right through it. Clark gritted his teeth as the room's darkness and absence of sunlight sharpened the pain he was feeling. Fortunately, Ryan hadn't gone too far into the old Storm cellar and was lying next to the tarped-covered ship his parents had also hidden down here.
"Ryan! Ryan, are you alright?" Clark half raced half stumbled over to the boy who was pale like him with sickly emerald-like lines appearing over him. "Ryan, can you hear him?"
"I don't feel good," Ryan groaned, bruises present all over his face as he turned over to look up at Clark, who moved over to him.
"I know, come on let's get you out here," Clark knelt down as he lifted Ryan from the ground his body protested the act as he felt himself struggling to lift Ryan.
Clark turned around walking back towards the hole Ryan and blew into the roof of the storm cellar, each step was agonising. He pushed off the ground attempting to fly straight out of the hole into the sky to bathe both of them in the golden rays of the early morning sun. However, Clark's own strength left him as he barely managed to leave the storm cellar, he crashed to the ground barely a few feet from the hole clutching Ryan as best he could .
"RYAN! OH GOD RYAN!" Becca rushed towards them ignoring Martha who was trying to keep her calm whilst attempting to keep both her and Lois away from the hole. "RYAN! What's happening?! We need to get he-"
CRACK! BOOM!
Becca found herself thrown onto her back as Clark suddenly shot from his kneeling position into the air, the ground breaking slightly from his rapid departure. Clark was gritting his teeth, his face one of pure concentration as he used every ounce of power he had to gain altitude with Ryan clutched to his chest. The farm and ground rapidly disappeared below them as Clark blew through clouds as he pushed further and faster until he finally reached the outermost layer of the atmosphere and began floating weightlessly in space. Clark moved Ryan slightly away from him as the sun's undiluted power started pouring into both of them, the paleness and sickly green lines vanishing.
'Remember my son, that your strength is the strength of all those who have come before you. The wisdom, the might and the power of Krypton reside in and with you. Now and forever.'
Jor-El's words raged in Clark's ears as the sun banished the weakness from him, strength and power flowing through him like a current of pure electricity. As Clark opened his eyes he was greeted by the sun shining brightly illuminating the earth below, an almost invisible hue hanging in the air separating the fragile world from the vast emptiness of space. His eyes then locked onto the floating Ryan dressed in his colours the large crest of the House of El on his chest, the rest of Jor-El's message rang in his ears as he watched Ryan hang in the air.
'Under the sun they call Sol, you will be greater than any other, you will be to them as Rao is to us. In time my son, you will lead Krypton from the darkness and shadows of its ruins back into the light. Guide them Kal, They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun, Kal. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders'
"Come on, let's get you home," Clark whispered as he placed Ryan in his arms hanging in the air for a few moments before gently descending back to earth.
When Clark landed back at the house he was quick to relinquish Ryan to his mother, doing his best to comfort the woman and assuring her that he was fine and nothing was wrong. He had shared a look with his mother who gave him her best reassuring look and moved off to assess the damage the accident had caused and quietly secure the meteor fragments. Lois to her credit didn't say anything until after Becca asked Clark to help take Ryan to his room, leaving mother and son alone. As he descended the stairs he was greeted by Lois sitting at the dining room table her now large stomach visible under her pregnancy clothes, a sharp look on her face as she spoke on her mobile to someone.
"No, I don't know where he is…..Well, the fucker stopped answering my calls. What did Hughie get when he called him?" Lois spoke in a hushed tone her face in a frown as he glanced up seeing Clark approaching. "A dog toy, then he might be going to get terror. He's at Judy's last I know, start there and get the fucker back on track. I need to go call me if anything comes up"
"Anything I can help with?" Clark asked as he entered the room trying to act as if everything was normal.
Lois hung up the phone as her eyes narrowing as she looked at Clark, he would have smiled if not for the tension in the air, being 7 months pregnant hadn't slowed her down at all. "Clark, what the hell was that?"
"It's a private matter, one that I have handled" Clark replied, his arms crossing over his chest as he met her gaze. "Ma is cleaning up the cellar, I'll have the hole sealed and fixed. Everything is alright. Okay?"
"NO NOT OKAY," Lois glared back, looking at Clark like he was crazy, a hand going to her stomach, a tinge of worry entering her usually strong voice. "Clark you stumbled, you NEVER stumble. You turned PALE AND LOOKED LIKE DEATH! What the hell was that? What is in that Storm Cellar,"
Clark went quiet staring at Lois, his mind racing with everything, his eyes glancing to her stomach before flicking back to her eyes, he closed his own and let out a sigh. "...It's not something I can tell you about."
"Why?" Lois asked hardness, taking over from the worry in her voice.
"I love you Lois but….." Clark opened his eyes, another sigh escaping as he trailed off, stopping himself before he said this wrong.
"You don't trust me?" Lois' eyes widened, relation flooding her as she felt a tightness in her chest as she couldn't deny that Clark had good reason not to trust her.
"I want to…..I do want to trust you, I love you but….." Clark replied moving forward to stand in front of the table directly across Lois, a heaviness evidently sitting in his chest. "But you've killed people, you've lied to me and I don't trust those around you. All that is in the storm cellar is death, nothing else. I can't trust you or anyone with it"
"Clark I know I've done things but believe me I would never us-" Lois tried to explain the strange mix of emotions now in her chest and how the life forming inside of her had changed a lot.
"This isn't about you," Clark cut her off standing up straight, looking her in the eye, a grimace forming on his face "This isn't me, this is about Ryan, Annie, Dianna, her kids and everyone else. This is about if I tell you, if you confirm what you are thinking right now, that you swear to me honestly that you would never use it? Ever?"
Lois tried to keep her gaze with Clark, her eyes connecting with his impossible blue ones but she wasn't able to. Her eyes flickered away as she heard the voices that she always did when trying to put the past behind her. It was the laughter just behind her, just beyond the wall, the voices fooling around, giggling before they started to whisper to her, demanding she do something.
"No" Lois replied rising from her seat and leaving before Clark could say another word, the superhero just watched her go before taking a seat and placing his head in his hands.
Clark wasn't sure how long had passed before he finally released a sigh, bringing his head up and rubbing his eyes. He wasn't sure when his life had got this complicated maybe it always had been and he just hadn't noticed it but he was missing the days when all he had to worry about were idiot gang bangers trying to pull a heist in his city. The sound of footsteps caused him to look at the hallway and see his Ma had returned, she deposited the thick radiation gloves she was wearing onto the little desk by the front door before walking over to her son.
"I've got it cleared up as best I can, still wouldn't go too near the hole for now" Martha sighed as she moved closer to Clark her body protesting, she was starting to feel old these days and was certainly slowing down. "I've locked what I can back in the safe, most I put in that old lead lockbox. The safes had it though, we are going to need another one."
"I'll get some here by the end of the day," Clark nodded, looking at his mother as she took the seat across from him.
"So now we know. The rocks affect Supes, not surprising given what you told me about V." Martha's grimace at the events of the day only lifted when she glanced at the stairs, her face falling to one of concern. "How's Ryan?"
"He'll be alright, high orbit flight to soak in unfiltered solar radiation did the trick." Clark responded, his eyes going to the stairs as well before falling "Which is the problem."
"What do you mean?" Martha asked leaning forward and placing a comforting hand on her son's, she could feel his worry rolling off of him.
"Ryan's abilities, the changes his body is undergoing, it's more the V." Clark brought his spear hand up to his chin gripping it with worry as he squeezed his mother's hand back. "Or maybe it isn't, I don't know. I don't know."
"Clark it's me, tell me what's wrong," Martha pressed her son, an icy spike shooting through her as she had never seen her son so worried.
"Ryan's genetics structure is changing on a fundamental level, I thought it was just the Coumpund V serum he had inherited from Homelander kicking in. Activating his abilities, but….." Clark gritted his teeth as he took in a deep breath before pressing on with his bad news. "After the flight and the accident, I scanned him down to his genes to make sure he was alright. Ryan's human DNA isn't being augmented by V, it's being replaced by Kryoptian gene sequences and structure,"
"So Ryan's turning into a Kryoptian? Like you," Martha sat up, her eyes widening as she glanced back up at the stairs.
"I don't know, possibly, probably, some of the base genetics aren't changing but that's not to say they won't. The fact is he is changing and I don't know why or how, " Clark felt a foul taste in his mouth as he leaned back in his chair, really wishing his life would stop getting complicated. "I know that Becca isn't carrying Krypotian genes, so that leaves Homelander whose molecular density is too great for my vision to penetrate. Or it could be Vought shooting him with something when he was a baby or something else I don't know about,"
"Hey, hey. It will be alright son okay?" Martha leaned forward again taking both her son's hands in hers as she comforted him trying to take the slight bit of weight off of him "What's the next step then? What's the plan?"
"Keep training Ryan, keep him safe. Take him to the fortress if it continues, and try to figure out how to use half of the things in there to help." Clark sighed as he tried to focus on a plan, regretting that his ability to use the fortress technology, for now, was limited to turning the lights on, interacting with Kelex and hearing Jor-El's message. "I need to find the missing pod, maybe that will start putting pieces together. And for that, I need to find out what Stormfront knows without alerting anyone. I've been at it for a month but she and Homelander have been sticking together like glue and I haven't gotten anywhere,"
"Well I can't help with the space side of things, but Mary called earlier they've started shooting that new Seven movie," Martha smiled at her son as she tried to do her best to help, which always felt like her trying to help a giant move a mountain by picking up pebbles, "They need you on set, apparently and everyone else in the Seven is going to be there. Including Stormfront, who would bring things like her phone and laptop with her, who will also be distracted during filming, might be a good time to snoop around."
Clark looked at his mother a smile forming on his face as he chuckled a little"How did I get so lucky, to have a Ma like you?"
"I don't know, how did I end up so lucky to have a son like you," Martha smiled before standing up holding her son's hands still as she looked at him, giving him a motherly look. "Now, I'm going to make dinner, you go and talk to Lois. I am not saying tell her about the storm cellar that's for you to decide, but you need to work things out. Lord knows I know it ain't simple. But please try. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am," Clark could only nod when his Ma gave him that look and would have to try his best to make peace or else there would be hell to pay. "I'll try,"
"Good, I don't want my grandchild born to parents who won't talk," Martha smiled as she moved off to the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. "If you can smooth things out before I finish, I'll make peach pie!"
(Vought Studios - Upstate New York Facilities - 11th April 2020)
Clark hated this part of his life as he strode through the massive sprawling film sets and trailers that was a Vought Studios production. His eyes swept over the production taking in everything he could, the teamsters working or resting, the interns running around, the prop department setting up the sets and the camera crews trying to get the best shots. His eyes quickly spotted someone he had been wanting to talk to for the last month but due to how hectic his life had gotten it had very regrettably fallen low on his list.
"Um, uhhh. Superman, Mr Kent. Uh Hi, I am a huge fan, and I can't tell you what an honour this is. Your aunt Miss Clark made me your assistant for the production so if you need anything," Clark glanced at the fairly tall young man that was trailing behind him, clearly an intern as he held a clipboard and looked completely out of his depth. "I'm Max, by the way, uhh Maximus Quill, so just call Max if you need anything. Anyway, your first scenes are on set … and you're gone."
"Maeve!" Clark's voice cut clear across the production lot as he left his assistant behind heading over to Maeve as she stood next to a slightly dark-skinned Hispanic woman, the two looked exhausted.
"Clark, I keep telling you please call me Maggie," Maeve chuckled, feeling a massive weight lifting off of her as she greeted the incredibly tall Clark with a hug, before gesturing to the woman next to her. "Clark, this is Elena, my…..girlfriend. Elena, this is Clark, he's one of the good ones."
"Elena it's a pleasure," Clark gave Elena a polite smile and nod as he broke apart from Meave. "And I wish to express my sympathies for what has happened. Homelander had no right to do that to either of you. If I can do anything please let me know"
"Wow, you are really tall and like….whoa" Elena's eyes looked Clark up and down, she was still getting used to meeting Superheroes wholesale and Clark looked every inch like his comic book version "Thank you, um Clark. Okay, that's weird. I know that meeting we just had was shit but this…..this is making me freak out. You're like really that tall and like very solid."
"Elena" Maeve half chuckled, half groaned as her girlfriend just stared at Clark, not in desire as many did but at the sheer size and impressiveness that was Clark.
"It's alright I get it alot," Clark chuckled, he was used to the reaction that regular people gave him, it was either overt fawning, light barely veiled subtle flirting or by far his most preferable, slight awe and shock like Elena.
"Sorry, but can I ask you something?" Elena was quicker than most getting over the shock of meeting Superman and Clark's sheer presence, which he guessed was likely a result of her relationship with Meave"
"Go ahead," Clark smiled as he glanced at Maeve who just shot Clark a half apologetic smile.
"You don't sound like I thought you would? I thought you had like this strong midwestern accent?" Elena asked, eyeing Clark up and down although he looked like Superman, he was missing a lot of the Midwestern son of the earth attributes the movies and TV shows gave him "But you don't sound like a hick?"
"Elena!" Maeve's eyes widened in shock as her girlfriend just blurted out the question without hesitation, she turned to apologise to Clark who was just chuckling.
"Oh god, you've got a good one here Maeve," Clark gave Maeve a smile as he wiped away the tear that was threatening to form in eye due to the humour of the situation. "Well Ma'am, my accent only comes out a'round my Ma or when I'm kicking dirt a'round my fellow jayhawkers. Rock Chalk Jayhawks!. I dropped my accent when I attended GodU in my second year. My aunt and Vought marketing said it made me more appealing and separated SuperBOY from SuperMAN"
"Wow that sucks but it's good to know that Vought are condescending assholes to everyone," Elena smiled as she glanced at Maeve who bit her lip as she knew Elena was still pissed at Vought trying to push her into a more masculine role. "They want me to dress up like a lesbian ken-doll, apparently people will like me more if I act like a man around Maeve."
"Clark, can I have a quick word?" Maeve jumped in before Clark could respond, giving Elena a quick glance before pulling Clark off to one side.
"Maeve, if you need help, I'll talk to my Aunt about Elena and see if I -" Clark started to offer before Maeve spoke cutting him off
"I want in," Maeve's blunt statement was accompanied by a quick glance around eyeing the young assistant assigned to Clark who was lingering nearby before turning back to Clark "Whatever you and Smurfette have got cooking up I want in. Whatever you need, I need the bastard gone and buried,"
"I'm not killing anyone," Clark looked Maeve in the eye, his tone and stare causing her own to falter for a moment as she looked away, Clark released a sigh as he quickly glanced around himself and pulled Maeve a little further away from everyone. "But…..I could use the help."
"What do you need?" Maeve perked back up, feeling both her heart rate rise in anticipation and the knot in her stomach grow three sizes.
"First, I need to speak to Annie, second, find out Stromfront's schedule and third break into her trailer without anyone noticing," Clark whispered his plan, casting a quick glance at the young intern who was just standing awkwardly a little ways off. "After that, we can talk about moving forward, okay?"
"Well Stormfront's trailer is in our lot by the main set, you can't miss it, it's the trendy hipster one," Maeve smirked at her dig pointing off behind Clark who as he turned could see the area she was talking about. "As for your resident Walking Hallmark Card, she was heading to the main mess tent, I'm pretty sure I saw her mom around too,"
"Donna's here?" Clark asked, surprise in his voice, from what he understood Annie and her mom had stopped talking since the whole BelieveExpo situation,
"If Donna is the slightly freaky pushy ultra-Christian stage mom I met briefly as Annie's mother during her debut then yeah she is here," Maeve responded her tone made it clear that she didn't hold a high opinion of the woman
"Okay, thanks Maeve. I'll be in touch soon" Clark gave Maeve a nod which she returned before turning and giving Elena a raise of the hand and a smile "Elena it was great to meet you, I'm sorry but I'll make sure we will catch up soon."
"Yeah," Elena just waved to Clark as he retreated off, whilst Maggie came back to her side. "He is very tall right? Like freakishly tall and those muscles can't be natural"
"They are real and yes he is freakishly tall," Maggie just chuckled as she looked Elena gave her a look that made both of them chuckle after a few moments.
It didn't take Clark long to find the mess tent, it seemed to be the main hive of activity at the site with people coming and going as quickly as possible. He was constantly trailed by the assistant that his Aunt had given him, who despite Clark's efforts to shake seemed to be stuck to him like glue. As he entered the mess tent proper he finally released a sigh and turned to the young man.
"Okay Max, please I need you to stop following me around," Clark gave his best polite smile as turned to look at the intern who just opened his mouth to respond only for Clark to speak first. "If you want to help please go get something to eat and I promise you I will look at the schedule when I can. Thank you"
"Still polite as ever," The soft velvety-like voice caused Clark to pause and turn around to face someone he hadn't spoken to in a long time.
The intern took the opportunity to slip the schedule into his hand before disappearing into the tent to get some food. Clark did a quick double take releasing a small chuckle at the intern's commitment to give him the schedule before looking back at the woman who was standing in front of him. He had briefly seen her at the funeral but they hadn't spoken, she had grown tall in the years since they were young kids, her raven black hair fell in perfect locks around her face and figure was still perfectly proportioned. She was wearing very tight clothing, her jeans clung to her long legs and tank top seemed to strain to keep her bosom in place.
"Hi, Lana. It's good to see you again" Clark smiled, he had to admit she looked good, he cast a quick glance over her, she had always been good looking but the adult Lana was in a league of her own, she was stunning and he could see more than a few of the men in the tent checking her out. "Are you here with someone?"
"Oh, I thought your aunt had already told you," Lana suddenly lost her confidence, she now looked a mixture of embarrassed and anxious as she bit her lip, "I'm actually in the movie, I'm playing….."
"My girlfriend?" Clark guessed as Lana trailed off the awkwardness not lost on either of them.
"Yeah, I know this is a little weird. I am playing Lisa Lasalle, it's not a big role and we have only a few scenes. So….." Lana found herself trailing off again, she was kicking herself as she looked at the man Clark had become and didn't remember being this bad with him, but then again he hadn't looked like a greek god the last time they really spoke.
"Lana it's fine," Clark gave her an awkward smile as he glanced to the corner of the tent where he saw Stormfront was leaving Annie and her mom alone with a smirk on her face as she went. "So, you're moving out of modelling?"
"Well, my agent told me my modelling career is going to end at some point in the next few years. My looks won't last forever, he said" Lana scoffed with little amusement as she crossed her arms over her chest as she hated that success had a ticking clock attached to it "So I'm branching out, I'm doing this to try and stay relevant. I'm also doing a clothing line, so just seeing what sticks"
"Well, I wish you the best and I guess I will see you on set," Clark's eyes darted to where Annie suddenly stood up from the table, her body language clear that she wasn't happy before turning and striding off. "I have to go but it was great seeing you again."
"Yeah, it's great to see you too." Lana smiled, her eyes flickering over Clark, she bit her bottom lip as he walked away she adjusted her top a little before trying her luck. "Hey Clark, do you want to grab some coffee and run lines with me later. We could do it mine or yours trailer"
"Yeah, sure," Clark agreed quickly with a smile half listening to what she had said as he left to follow Annie, leaving Lana with a very wide smile as she watched him leave.
Clark found himself almost running after Annie whose stride was like a woman possessed as pushed past people. Even if he didn't possess enhanced senses that made reading people easy, he would be able to tell that Annie was pissed, she was radiating it like some bomb about to go off. He was also clearly not the only one aware of it as everyone who was remotely in Annie's path quickly gave her a wide berth or just outright vanished.
"Annie!" Clark finally called, having to actually glide over the ground to catch up with her, his hand going to her shoulder. "Annie what's wrong?"
"She's sorry, she wants to make up, she was just doing what was best for me. To give me a better life" Annie ranted as she turned to face Clark before pacing back and forth in front of him as she gestured with her hands as she paced. "She did what was best for her! All those shitty pageants! The diets! The fucking shit I've had to swallow! All those fucking conventions and church groups I JUST HAD TO GO TO! FUCK! ….. I mean why did she even come, Stormfront invites her and she just shows up! No call, no text just. just , just AHHH!"
Annie's scream was accompanied by her eyes flashing as several nearby lights blew and she punched the wall next to her. The flimsy temporary structure had no chance as Annie's fist went straight through the wall, the plywood splintered and left a large hole in the building. Annie's eyes went wide as she looked into the lucky deserted storage room, a slightly embarrassed look on her face.
"Feel better?" Clark asked with a small smile on his face, as Annie turned around giving a small chuckle.
"Yeah a little," Annie released a deep breath as the two started to walk together, her demeanour turned serious as she looked up at Clark. "I really want to punch that Nazi bitch, like I really want to."
"First, we find out everything we can and then I promise you if it comes to punching you'll get your chance," Clark smiled at Annie who chuckled at his joke before he too turned serious glancing around to make sure they weren't being followed or overheard "We need to get into her trailer, you've been here for about a week do know her schedule?"
"She's pretty erratic, apart from her scenes she's all over the place. She's spending a lot of time with Homelander, the two are doing it like bunnies, they've punched a few holes in Homelander's trailer" Annie responded, casting a glance as the two stopped quickly to grab a cup of coffee to look normal as they kept walking, looking like just two friends catching up. "I also heard A-Train is out, like out out. This movie is his last act in the Seven before they bring in Shockwave."
"I heard, my Aunt sent me an email with talking points for when it officially happens." Clark gave a perfect fake smile as he spoke to her giving a wave to a few of the crews working nearby. "Shockwave might be a problem, I've read his file he's not a lot better than A-Train, a lot of collateral damage, parties and drug abuse. He also doesn't have a heart problem, which means he can push himself hard. That will make things difficult to manage if it comes to fight and I'm not around."
"I should be okay. I've been practising, my reaction time is quicker and I've got a few tricks for speedsters now," Annie replied with a smirk, ignoring the memory of her body aching from the closed-doors training she had been doing.
"I was more worried for our non-powered friends," Clark sipped his coffee as they rounded a corner to a more quiet part of the production, "However, that's for another day. Right now we need to focus on finding out what Stormfront knows."
"You got a plan?" Annie poured what was left of her over-sweetened coffee onto the grass as she turned to face Clark now that they had some privacy.
"Yeah, take this," Clark handed over a USB drive with a small red light glowing on the side as he glanced quickly over his shoulder his super hearing picking up someone walking nearby, but they quickly moved away, "It will crack into her computer in her trailer, once you do it will download everything, plug in wait till the light goes green and we are good"
"Okay, and whilst I am breaking into an actual Nazi lair what will you be doing?" Annie asked, looking up from the USB drive to Clark with a raised eyebrow.
"Keeping watch and distracting said Nazi if she appears, and if that doesn't work probably something loud" Clark gave Annie a playful smile, and Annie just shook her head letting out a small chuckle at Clark's tease.
It took most of the day before they got their chance, the two were on set constantly and even though some of their separate scenes were supposed to be shot simultaneously Clark didn't leave Annie by herself. It brought a smile to her face as she watched Adam Bourke try and fail to delicately direct Clark about failing when the man just gave him an impassive glance and kept standing where he was. She was sure that Clark's vigilance was being interrupted as something more by the crews and staff of the production, she heard more than a few people whispering when they were near and a few of the women shot her jealous looks. It was very late in the day by the time they were able to make their move, the sun was low in the sky and it looked like production for the day was almost finished.
"Okay, Homelander isn't around and they just called Stormfront to her her final scene of the day," Clark spoke as he cocked his head to one side listening to everything around them, before turning back to her. "Remember just until the light goes green, okay? I'll be listening so if you need me just signal. Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Annie nodded as she took a deep breath and readied herself before casting a look at Clark, "You know I hate this part right?"
"I know," Clark chuckled as he placed his hands on Annie to protect her neck from whiplash, and the two blinked out of existence before Clark reappeared alone.
Clark turned his attention to the trailer he had left Annie in the trailer, his eyes piercing metal as he watched her first keep her stomach contents inside her and then get to work. However, as he watched Annie his hearing picked up a rush of wind causing his head to snap upwards quickly catching the arrival of the one man he didn't want to see. Homelander had a look barely concealed rage on his face as he haphazardly smashed into the ground causing it to crack and the nearby trailers to jostle, before striding towards Stromfront's trailer.
"Fucking ungrateful, I'm not their hero! I don't represent them! I don't speak for them!" Homelander was completely out of it his eyes were narrowed and the muttering was more than a little concerning. "I'm the fucking hero, I keep them safe, I'm the one saying what their all fucking thinking, fucking ungrateful little -"
"John!" Clark intercepted the man his shout loud enough that Annie could hear it from inside the trailer.
"Oh Clark, my boy, sorry I was, my mind was elsewhere," Homelander quickly put on a very wide smile, it looked genuine but Clark knew Homelander well enough that he could see past the veneer. "I was uh just…dealing with something at the tower. Just need to speak with Stormfront, Get her two cents on my little situation, she's got some really good ideas."
"John we need to ta-" Clark started knowing that this conversation was going to be difficult as the last time the two had met they had started to come to blows before they were hit by a bus.
"When are you going to start calling me dad?" Homelander caught Clark completely off-guard with the comment as Homelander looked at him in a way that reminded Clark of his father, a very deranged, delusional completely out of touch of reality way. "I know, I know, we had that little disagreement but hey the Supervillain is dead now, water under the bridge. Look I've been talking to Stormfront, about us. You know she used to be a mother"
"Really? You told her I'm your son?" Clark raised his eyebrow at the comment his eyes glancing at the trailer quickly his hearing picking up that Annie was climbing out of the back window. "And what did she have to say?"
"Oh she was over the moon, she says we have the same eyes." Homelander just smiled broadly at Clark taking his questions in his own delusional way that they too were connecting. "She says that I need to….well make an effort, to connect and see things your way. And you know what I get it."
"Get what?" Clark frowned, knowing whatever John would say would be completely delusional or just make his skin crawl.
"The whole, not killing thing. Doing things the har- the right way" Homelander smiled pushing on as he kept connecting with his son, remembering what Stormfront had said about needing to form a bond "I get it, killing them, criminals it's…too easy, there no challenge. You are all about hard work, pushing yourself, and doing your best. You're a real salt-of-the-earth type of man, it's your upbringing and I respect that. "
"Where is this going?" Clark asked his arms crossing over his chest, using every ounce of his willpower to endure this so that Annie could slip out of the trailer unseen.
"It's not going anywhere, I'm just saying I understand is all, I'm…..I'm just trying" Homelander ran his tongue across his teeth as he fought back a sigh and kept the smile on his face. "I want to be a better dad to both you and Ryan. Do better than how I was raised. Show you my side of things, see if we can be family, a real one."
"Look, I need to go and -" Clark tried to end the very strange and delusional conversation as he spotted Annie walking away casually now clear of the trailer.
"Hey, we've got time. Just give me a chance." Homelander smiled jumping onto his chance to keep things going, feeling Clark was finally warming up to him. "I was thinking, if it's okay with you of course, if I come by the farm and visit Ryan. I know you moved him and you know, good call, he needs to be around real people, and a little country living would be good for him. I was thinking I could also bring Stormfro-"
"John, I'm going to say this one time," Clark moved forward, leaning in so that his head was practically next to Homelander's "This is the last warning, stay away."
John's eyes narrowed at the threat before a small smirk on his face as he saw the steel in Clark's eyes, the implied use of violence to get his way. He nodded with pride at Clark, his boy was getting there, sure they had come to a slight altercation but Clark was starting to show promise. His boy just needed a little more of a push, Stormfront was right, Clark couldn't be strong-armed into his rightful place above the people he needed to be shown, guided, taught how to be the god he was. Stormfront was right, he needed to give Clark space let him have things to care about, things to protect, fragile people, sheep and when he saw the wolves circling his true nature would come to the front to slaughter the wolves to protect what was his.
"Getting there my boy, certainly getting there," John just smiled as he walked away from Clark a wide smile on his face as he headed towards his trailer to wait for Stormfront to show up.
He was feeling instantly better about his shit day, sure the sheep were being idiots listening to that cuddling SJW bleeding heart idiot Victoria Neuman but his boy was getting there. Just a few more pushes and Clark would let go of that silly morality that he held onto be like everyone else, but what to do? Maybe, another villain attack? This time with more casualties and more damage? Or he could amp it up and do something to that blonde strumpet that his boy was always defending. Stormfront would have an idea he was sure, she had been right so far about his boy and the sheep.
Whilst Homelander's thoughts rattled around in his skull as he thought of the best way to push Clark finally into accepting reality, the object of his dark fascination was walking the opposite way quickly. Clark felt every cell in his body shiver as he focused on keeping his heart rate down and his the anxiety in his chest from spilling over. Homelander had found Ryan, he knew there had been no stopping that, but apparently, the man's mind was more fractured than even Maeve or his aunt could warn. Now Stromfront was pouring more poison into his ear and feeding his delusions that he could have everything he wanted.
"Clark, are you okay?" Annie asked slipping back next to him as the two started walking back through the production the shorter superheroine glancing up worriedly at her friend's grimace.
"No," Clark replied bluntly his momentary anger getting the better of him before he sighed. "We need a win soon or I can't stop all of this spiralling into a war."