Hey there True Believers, welcome back and Merry Christmas. It's been a while hasn't it? Sorry for the delay, but my life has been pretty hectic over the past months, good, but hectic. But that's enough with the excuses, the next chapter is here and I hope you enjoy what I think is frankly an overindulgent chapter, haha. But this chapter does mark the end of the time in Smallville, and we will see a return to Beacon next chapter.
Enough of my rambling, here is the next chapter of "It's Superman!", I hope you all enjoy it.
When Clark awoke the next morning, he was a little hazy. Actually, 'dazed' might be a better word. Once his mind had cleared, he thought that what had happened must have been a dream. It couldn't have actually happened…could it? Yet, despite those thoughts, he couldn't help the tiny smile that spread across his lips. His logical brain told him that, yes of course it had happened, but the emotional part of his brain was still stunned and couldn't quite believe it. The thought of her lips on his, the close embrace, how they seemed to fit together when they wrapped their arms around one another. It all seemed impossible and surreal. Smiling to himself, he threw back his sheets, got out of bed and made his way downstairs.
Soon, the whole memory began coming back to him in full and exhilarating clearity. After 'The Moment', as Clark had begun to think of it, Yang had left his room. She had given him a small hug, laughed, and gave a light peck on his cheek, then on his jaw. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, letting out a breathy exhalation of laughter that tickled his neck and excited his emotions.
But things changed rather quickly as she made her exit.
Yang stood and began to leave. However, it being Yang, she hadn't let things be that simple. As she left his room, she had turned to him as she closed the door and her sly and playful nature manifested again. She winked coyly at him before putting her index finger to her lips in a playful "shh" pantomime before quietly letting the door latch behind her. Clark could still hear her stifled laughs and elevated heart rate as she returned to her room.
Clark couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as we walked down the stairs. His mind was not quite focused enough to smell the sweet and savory scents of breakfast as he approached the kitchen. He finally managed to take notice when he walked into the dining area where both his parents were.
"Hey Clark, you slowin' down a bit?" Johnathan asked with a smirk as Clark walked over and took his seat at the breakfast table next to his father. The playful and familiar jab was both welcome and mildly irritating. However, despite this, Clark just rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Guess I am, Dad," he said back, his grin never fading.
"Late night?" Johnathan said in an offhand tone as his eyes flicked over reports of local news.
"Uhh-" Clark began, suddenly feeling brought up short and extremely nervous. If his parents had known he'd had a girl in his bedroom last night, then this morning was about to get pretty awkward, to put it mildly.
"Not really like you to stay out so late. Your mother and I went to bed at almost eleven and you all still weren't back yet, " Jonathan added, the tone of his voice making it clear he was teasing his son.
"Yeah, well, we must have lost track of the time," Clark said in a light and (secretly) relieved tone.
"Well, we'll let them all sleep in a bit. We can wait for breakfast a little while. It'll be easier to feed everyone at once. What time did you say your other friends were getting in?" Martha asked as she brought over another cup of coffee to her husband.
"Jaune said they'd be at the station around eight, so I'll head out in a bit to pick them up," Clark said looking at his watch.
While Clark hadn't exactly forgotten that Team JPNR would be arriving today, the fact had been pushed closer to the back of his mind. He personally didn't think this was an unreasonable occurrence, given recent events. Regardless he was still a little abashed. He wouldn't have felt too great about forgetting to pick up his friends and leaving them waiting for hours.
"It's too bad they couldn't stay for the whole festival," Jonathan said mildly as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Yeah, but they wanted to make use of a nearly empty campus," Clark said back, feeling both sorry and not sorry at the same time.
On one hand he did regret not getting to spend the time with his other friends. He had thought Jaune and Nora in particular would have enjoyed the whole two weeks of festivities. But another part of him; a more selfish part, was grateful for their delay.
If he had been playing host to additional guests, who knows how things would have gone with Yang. He may not have had a chance to talk to her one on one. Sure, he may have found the time but would his courage have held up? Clark didn't know the answer. But whether it had happened or not wouldn't have been the largest shortcoming. He knew with an almost absolute certainty that he and Yang wouldn't have been able to find their little moments together. But beyond all else, they wouldn't have shared their moment last night, and Clark couldn't help a grin that started on his face.
"What's got you grinning?" Jonathan said with a small smirk and a chuckle.
"Just real happy to see my friends again," Clark answered lamely, not quite meeting his father's eyes.
"Uh huh," was all Jonathan said in return, Clark not quite picking up on the disbelieving and amused tone as he cast a playful look at his wife, who couldn't help but smirk in response.
"Well you go on and get them. We'll make sure the others are up and then we can all eat together," Martha offered, giving her husband a warning look. Jonathan just grinned at his wife.
"I wouldn't make any promises, Martha. Those sisters snored so loud it was like walking through a sawmill when I passed by their room," Jonathan said with a chuckle.
"JONATHAN!" Martha exclaimed as she swatted her husband playfully with a dishcloth. However, despite her admonishing tone, she wasn't quite able to entirely suppress her own laughter.
"Well, I'm going to head out," Clark said as he stood, grinning at his parents. He'd never say so out loud, but his father had a point. Even without his heightened hearing, he could still hear Yang and Ruby's snoring as he made his way to the front door.
Clark whistled cheerily as he made his way down the driveway to the truck. The keys jingled merrily as he tossed them up and caught them. He was in an expansive and mirthful mood as he made his way to his vehicle. But he was brought up short when a voice called out to him.
"Hey Clark, how's the boy?" Wille exclaimed happily as he jogged over to meet Clark.
"Oh, hey Willie, I'm pretty good…what are you doing here?" Clark asked. He was happy to see his friend, if not a little confused as to why he would be here so early.
"I just thought I'd drop by and go with you to pick up those other friends of yours," he said with a smirk.
"Did you now?" Clark asked, feeling a little suspicious but not wanting to say anything.
"Sure. C'mon. We'll take my truck," Willie said with a suspicious grin as he shook his keys.
"Alright, that works I guess," Clark said, still feeling a little wrong-footed and mildly suspicious.
"Alrighty. Let's roll out," Willie said merrily as he made his way to his truck and climbed into the cab, Clark following suit.
Willie started his truck and began to drive towards the station. The silence between them wasn't exactly awkward, but Clark could feel that something was off, not bad or uncomfortable, but off. Clark was about to speak but Willie beat him to it.
"So…how are things with you and your little girlfriend?" Willie said in a suggestive sly and teasing tone.
At this Clark stiffened and stalled minutely, but not for long. At least Clark didn't think he did.
"Come on Willie, we've been over this. Yang is just a friend," Clark finally offered in what he hoped was an exasperated tone.
"Oh yeah? Is that a fact?" Willie asked in a mischievous tone Clark didn't like.
"Yes…of course," Clark answered awkwardly, his tone seeming to falter.
"Then why don't you hold MY hand and nuzzle my cheek and neck in the woods ?" Willie cooed in a faux hurt and offended tone, his ability to stop himself from laughing clearly being pushed to the limit as tiny chuffing laughs escaped from him as he spoke.
"I…uh, well, I," Clark stammered awkwardly as he realized what Willie was getting at, his face starting to burn. Willie just kept on laughing.
"Come on, man, did you guys think you were being subtle? I mean, good lord, you two are acting like giggling idiots. Not to mention you couldn't seem to keep your hands off each other, " Willie said through a series of snorting laughs as he drove.
"Uhh-" was all Clark was able to get out before Willie's boisterous laugh cut him off.
"Before you panic, I'll put you at ease. Maybe it's not as bad as what I'm saying. Maybe I'm just giving you the business," Wille said through his barely suppressed chuckles.
"Yeah?" Clark asked hopefully, his concern still present and evident. He'd have liked the bubble to last a little longer, but it wasn't the end of the world.
"Look Clark, I'm not sure why you two want to keep this a secret, and frankly I don't care why. It's your business and I respect that," Willie said frankly.
"Thanks Willie. I-" Clark began, but Wille stopped him.
"But seriously, you two need to chill out if you want to keep this thing any kind of secret. I mean, it's a wonder her sister and friend haven't found out," Willow said in an exasperated voice.
"Have we really been that obvious?" Clark asked, a little abashed.
"Clark…come on. Even YOU aren't that naive," Willie said in a tone that bordered on pity, but not quite.
"Maybe I've been distracted," Clark said plainly and in an anemic tone.
"HAHA! No kidding! She's a total smokeshow, I'd be preoccupied too, hehe," Wille responded in a joking tone. He did stop immediately however when he looked over at Clark and saw a disapproving look on his face.
"Willie," he said plainly but sternly and the message was received.
"Okay, I get it. No words about your lady. No worries," Willie offered calmy, still grinning.
"Yang isn't my-" Clark started, Willie cut him off yet again.
"Bup bup bup. Don't start that nonsense. We both know that's not true, at least in some sense," Wille said dismissively with a wave of his hand.
"Well okay, maybe that's fair, but it's not like we've…well, you know. We haven't really discussed anything official yet," Clark offered quietly.
"Well, at least you finally did something before someone else did," Wille said in a sage, almost knowing, tone. This earned him an inquisitive look from Clark.
"Is that a fact?" Clark asked, almost joking.
"Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if someone else asked her out," he said plainly.
"Yeah…yeah, you're right," Clark said back, knowing full well he had a point.
"But now you've finally taken wise ol' Willie's advice and everything is well," Wille said in a pompous voice, and Clark rolled his eyes.
"So we finally come to it then. Is this why you offered to drive? To gloat?" Clark asked and Willie snickered.
"Ahh, ya got me. I couldn't help myself. But to be fair, I'm also trying to look out for ya. You two are trying- and failing, I might add- to keep this a secret. I thought I should give you a heads up," he said.
"Well I appreciate it," Clark said back his voice, only a little disparaging and sarcastic.
"And it's a good excuse to come over for breakfast and have Martha Kent's famous buttermilk griddle cakes with homemade maple syrup," Wille responded with a laugh. Clark laughed too as they drove on.
As they pulled up to the station, Clark was immediately able to find Team JNPR. They were standing outside the place in a small cluster, looking around most likely to try and find him. But they eventually catch sight of Clark as he approached and waved.
"Hey Clark, long time no see," Jaune said in a merry joking tone as he jogged over to meet his friend. He grasped Clark's hand and shook it. Clark shook back and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Nice grip. Guess the training is paying off," Clark said in a soft joking nature. But there was truth in it; he could feel a change in Jaune. It was minute and subtle but it was noticeable, at least to Clark.
"Don't…that's not true," Jaune responded, sounding both abashed and flattered.
"It is. I guess Pyrrha has really been putting you through your paces," Clark said through a chuckle as he directed and glanced towards the girl in question. She tried to appear stoic, but her mild blush of embarrassment, subtle shrug, and nervous giggle told the whole story.
"Now Clark, that's not fair, I-" Pyrrha started to say, but she was cut off by Nora.
"You can say that again! We're gonna start callin' her 'Sarge' soon!" she chirped merrily as she leapt up and perched on Clark's shoulder, causing him to stumble and sigh.
"You're still just doing this to people huh?" Clark asked in an exasperated tone, casting his eyes up at the girl perched on his shoulders.
"NOPE!" she exclaimed heartly, popping the "P". "Just you! You're the only one that doesn't mind when I do it!" She finished her declaration with a mirthful laugh as she patted the top of his head like he was a puppy, to which Clark rolled his eyes at.
"More like he's the only one that doesn't complain. I'm sure Clark isn't particularly a fan of being used as a palanquin," Ren interjected in a monotonous tone before Clark could speak.
"Well DUH! Of course I know that, but how else are we gonna teach Clark to stand up for himself?" Nora responded happily, leaning backwards towards her partner to look at him. It didn't take long, however, for her to overextend herself and fall with a 'THWUMP' face first on the ground, letting out a muffled "Oof."
Clark made no move to catch her, this series of events had, more or less, become a matter of course. Nora, despite her physical and natural ability, seemed prone to forgetting where own center of gravity was when she was excited. Clark noticed this had never happened during combat, only when her guard was down. This had led him to wonder if it was an act she put on or if she simply didn't mind falling down. To be fair, she never seemed to get hurt and sometimes even thought it was funny, so he was more prone to think it was the latter.
"Well, these ones look like a riot too," Willie said with a grin, breaking through Clark's thoughts.
"Well, I think they're okay," Clark chuckled at his own joke as looked over the group.
"Well, good meet ya, I'm Willie Birch and I'll be yer chauffeur this fine mornin'," Willie said as he offered his hand to each of them and they introduced themselves in turn.
Clark found it a little funny when Nora eagerly shook his hand and spoke in rapid-fire exclamations of how excited she was to be here, practically lifting Willie off the ground and shaking him around like a ragdoll. Thankfully, Ren got her to let go before she pulled his whole hand off, though Willie did wince and flex his fingers a bit, giving Nora a side glance as she beamed innocently. Clark got another chuckle when Pyrrha introduced herself. Willie seemed flustered in the presence of someone of celebrity status. It was even more humorous given the fact Clark had told him he was friends with her and she would be visiting. It was highly entertaining for Clark to see his normally unflappable friend become star-struck, even if he did manage to maintain most of his normal aloof attitude. Clark could see that Pyrrha was alright with it, though he could tell she was also a little disappointed that apparently she was known here in Smallville too.
"Well…how about we head to the house," Clark offered and that seemed to bring Willie out of it and calm Pyrrha.
"Ahh, right…sure. C'mon, let's get you guys loaded up," Wille said, managing to regain his composure. Lifting their bags, they made their way to Willie's pick-up. As they walked Clark fell into step beside Jaune.
"So…you looking forward to a vacation from your 'break', hehe," Clark said with a chuckle, his fingers sketching air quotes around the word. Jaune just laughed back.
"Yeah, it's been tough. Rewarding, but tough. I appreciate all the work everyone's putting in to help me; but I won't lie, I could use an actual break," he said as he hauled his bag into the bed of the truck.
"Well, I think you guys will have a good time. Everyone else has. Even Weiss, although she won't admit it," Clark said, smirking at the last part.
"Alright, who's ridin' in the cab, and who's sittin' in the bed," Wille asked, breaking up the conversation.
"Oh I'm definitely riding in the bed!" Nora cried excitedly, already having found herself a seat in the back and bouncing up and down eagerly. Without comment, Ren climbed up and sat next to her.
"I don't mind, I can sit anywhere," Pyrrha offered passively.
"Do you want to ride up in front, Clark?" Jaune asked.
"That depends if Willie is going to drive like a maniac again," Clark said in a skeptical tone, an eyebrow raised in suspicion at his childhood friend. Willie just smirked back devilishly.
"Oh come on. When have I even done that except that one time," he said snickering.
"You almost killed Ruby," Clark said back in a deadpan voice, a grin almost breaking across his own face.
"Ahh, she was fine," Wille said dismissively with a flippant wave of his hand.
"Pyrrha, why don't you and Jaune ride up front, maybe you can keep Willie from deciding to veer off road with people in the bed of his truck," Clark offered.
"Party pooper," Nora said in a dejected tone as Clark closed the tailgate and climbed in the truck bed.
"I'm sure there will be plenty of time for thrilling nonsense later," Ren offered in a consoling voice as he placed his hand gently on her shoulder.
"Sure, I guess," Nora responded, her voice soundly a little over dramatically sad and dejected to Clark's ear.
"Don't worry Nora, you'll have plenty of chances for rides at the fair," Clark offered, and that seemed to brighten her mood.
"You guys ready?" Willie called out through the driver's side window.
"All set," Clark called back before thumping on the roof of the cab lightly with the palm of his hand.
He certainly hoped Willie wouldn't pull what he had before. He knew Jaune got air sick and he wasn't sure how sensitive his stomach was. Clark had seen more than enough vomit over the course of his visit home.
Luckily he didn't have to worry. While the ride was bumpy and Willie might have been driving a little fast, he never went full blown crazy and floored it like he did before. Clark thought he might still be afraid of the verbal thrashing his mother had given him and worried about a reprisal. Before too long, they were pulling up to the Kent family homestead.
"Okay, here we are,"Clark said happily as he leapt out of the truck and began to grab their bags.
"So this is where the "Man of Steel" lives," Nora said merrily as she also climbed out of the truck.
"Now, Nora. They've been kind enough to open their home to us-" Pyrrha began but Nora cut her off.
"Chill out. I wasn't sayin' anything like that. But I am hoping for some good ol' fashioned down home cookin'!" Nora exclaimed excitedly as she leapt from the truck. Clark wasn't able to NOT notice how she rubbed her hands together and licked her lips. He couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Don't you worry. My parents have fed farmers for years. You'll get a great meal," Clark promised, his smile never leaving his face.
"Be careful what you promise. Things could be more challenging than you expect," Ren said, his tone both playful but sincere at the same time.
"Hey, if my parents can feed me they can feed TEN Noras," Clark said back playfully.
"If you say so," Jaune said back in an equally playful voice. Clark just shook his head good naturedly.
"Let's get you guys settled before your teammate eats us out of house and home," Clark offered as he began to gather his friends' luggage. As they approached the homestead, Jonathan Kent walked out on the front porch.
"Hey there! You must be the other friends Clark somehow managed to make," he said merrily, his broad grin never leaving his face.
"A true mystery," Clark mumbled back, but his amusement was clearly evident in his tone and expression. His father laughed.
"Welp, come on in. The missus is just getting breakfast put out. We'll eat and then get you settled," Jonathan said before going back into the house.
"Well, you heard 'em'!" Wille said happily as he made (almost skipped) his way into the house. The rest seemed to follow suit.
Breakfast was a weird combination of subdued, alert and yet somehow manic. The combination of half asleep people and newly awake and energized individuals made for an interesting morning meal. The fully awake Team JNPR mixed with the half aware and pajama clad Team RWBY lead to a mild dissonance in conversation. Yang appeared to be particularly tired, which Clark supposed was due to their late night. This caused a mildly guilty grin to spread across his face as he walked back from the kitchen, his arms ladened with platters of pancakes, hashbrown, eggs and bacon with fat still sizzling.
"What's got you grinnin'?" Nora said as she helped herself to another stack of pancakes before Clark even had time to set the plate on the table.
"Nothing in particular, just in a good mood," said evasively as he chanced a glance at Yang, who he noticed had abruptly raised her coffee mug to her mouth to hide her own grin.
"Ifsh you shay sho," Nora barely managed to mumble out as she stuffed some bacon into her mouth on top of her pancakes.
"Are you certain you don't want some help Mrs. Kent?" Pyrrha asked.
"Oh hush, you're just fine. Don't worry, dear. Clark is all the help I need. Keep in mind I've kept this farm boy fed his whole life," she said with a kind smile as she playfully swatted her son on the shoulder as he brought pitchers of orange juice and milk.
Clark gave a laugh. His mother was certainly telling the truth, but he also knew how grateful she was for his help. Clark was a big mouth to feed, but there were now quite a few more mouths at the table today. This was only compounded by Nora's own prodigious eating habits.
"This girl has a real farmer's appetite. You should sign her up for the Pie Eat," Jonathan said in slight admiration as he slid more pancakes onto Nora's plate. To which Nora just smiled, her cheeks puffed with food.
"What's that?" Jaune inquired.
"What it sounds like. A pie eating contest. First prize is a pass for free food at the next festival," Jonathan said plainly. Nora seemed to brighten visibly at this.
"OH!" she cried excitedly, her eyes twinkling with a semi-mischievous glow. However, she was cut off by Ren.
"While I'm sure that would entice Nora, I'm not sure it would be quite fair," he said calmly, casting a warning eye at his partner. Nora glared back at him in irritation and understanding.
"Why's that? We've seen Clark eat when he's hungry and he eats WAY more than Nora. He must win that contest all the time," Ruby offered, seeming to be finally breaking away from her sleepy state.
"Actually, I've never competed," Clark said plainly as he finally began to tuck into his own breakfast, placing his napkin neatly on his lap and picking up his fork and knife with what appeared to be an almost mocking level of propriety. He never was able to get the slight grin off his face
After a few moments of quiet, Nora spoke. Or at least tried to. Her muffled noises that were no doubt an attempt at words only drew confused looks. Looking between everyone, a little befuddled herself at their lack of compression, she finally realized the issue. With a large gulp and swallow she forced down her mouthful of food, and was once again capable of normal speech after an audible gasp and sigh as she regained her breath.
"Why's that, Clark? Ruby's right. You'd probably clean house, so long as I wasn't there," she stated almost arrogantly, her voice still playful.
"Just not my thing," Clark offered in an almost disinterested tone.
"I get it," Yang mumbled simply through a mouth full of food, allowing her eyes to lock with Clark's for an instant, a moment that was nearly imperceptible. Still, everything was conveyed regardless. She winked quickly and playfully, almost unseen, before allowing the slightest grin to cross her lips. Clark just smiled in response before casting his eyes down at his plate.
A few eyes flitted towards Yang, but no one said anything. At least not at first or in any direct way. But it was finally Blake of all people to break the silence.
"Ssssooooo, you're not a fan of attention?" she asked in a playful but still somewhat guarded tone.
"I never said that," Yang answered back, as she flicked a small piece of bacon at her partner and giggled as it bounced off her cheek. Blake scowled before grinning and giving a chuckle herself as she wiped the grease off her face.
"So are YOU going to enter, Yang?" Blake teased.
"Only if Clark does!" she answered merrily through a mouth full of bacon and eggs. Her eyes once again met Clark's and the challenge, while playful, seemed to also be sincere in its own way.
"Well, that's not-" Clark began to say before he looked at his father and mother. Jonathan just smirked and shrugged, almost seeming to be on the edge of breaking out in full-blown laughter. Martha, however, rolled her eyes but still smiled all the same as she looked at her son.
"Uhh, well, if everyone else wants to… I guess I could-" Clark but he was interrupted by the boisterous responses of Nora, Yang, and even Ruby.
"YES!" All three exclaimed in excitement for different reasons, and Clark was a little surprised by the response but amused nonetheless.
Clark cast a glance at his father, and Jonathan just winked and shrugged. Clark could only shake his head as he chewed his mouthful of food. He had no real interest in taking part in any contest, and he knew it wouldn't be fair. But if his friends wanted him to be a part of their experience then he'd take part. He didn't think it would be all that big a deal if he competed just this one time, and somehow, he had a feeling his parents felt the same way.
They had often told Clark that he was meant to be more than just some athlete or champion in entertainment. Clark hadn't understood this when he was younger, but he understood much better now. However, after over a decade of subtle signals and facial expressions, Clark managed to clearly understand what they were saying.
'Alright, have fun with your friends. But don't go overboard, and keep yourself in check.'
Though it wasn't the exhibition of his raw physical ability he had often wished for in his adolescent years, he still saw it as a loosening of the old leash. While an eating contest didn't exactly display his abilities to their full capacity it did mean his parents were allowing him some small exhibition. Namely his speed and ability to stomach more food than most. It would probably mean nothing to everyone else on the planet, but to Clark it meant a great deal more. Unfortunately, Clark was brought violently out of this train of thought by Nora shouting.
"YESH! BWING IT ON! YOU CAN' MATCH THE T'WER OF P'WER!" she said (more mumbled), her cheeks puffed with food and spraying small bits of pancakes and meat onto the table. She still pointed her fork at Clark in a serious but somehow playful and challenging manner. Her grin and mirthful expression never fading while the glint of excitement of an actual challenge ever present and shining in her eyes.
"Well, fair enough-" Clark began but he was cut off.
"He's not your ONLY competition, girly," Yang exclaimed in excitement. But it would also be impossible to ignore the competitive tone in her voice.
"Yeah, do you think you're above us?!" Ruby exclaimed, her own voice playful. But her eyes still flitted between her sister and Clark, a glinting of excitement shone in her eyes.
This type of back and forth continued through the rest of breakfast. Others would interject, and the subject would be changed but the energy never changed. Things were merry and happy throughout the meal. Soon though, things calmed down as the meal came to an end.
After what seemed a few hours everyone was full and content. The high energy from before began to level out and things calmed down. Even Nora, who seemed to be almost drunk on food as she grinned foolishly at her friends with sticky spots of syrup on her cheeks.
"Well, let's get you all settled. Clark will show you where you're stayin'," Jonathan said with a satisfied sigh as he stood up.
"Right, come on, guys," Clark said as he stood from the table and grabbed their bags. Pyrrha began to object but Clark wouldn't allow it. "Don't worry, it's no bother." He gestured for them to follow as he made his way upstairs. They followed and Clark directed them to their quarters.
"So, Nora and Pyrrha you'll be staying in the guest room at the end of the hall, and Jaune and Ren you'll have my room while you're here," Clark explained as he gestured in the directions of their respective rooms.
"But where are you gonna sleep?" Jaune asked, sounding a little concerned.
Clark laughed. "Don't worry, I have a loft setup out in the barn, I'll be just fine," he said playfully. But a sudden exclamation broke his thoughts.
"WHAT?! Are you sayin' we could have slept in the barn the whole time?" a voice exclaimed. At this Clark turned around to see Yang standing at the top of the stairs, having followed up after them.
"Yang…" Clark began, but the blonde cut him off.
"How could you have denied me such an opportunity, to live the true farmer lifestyle!" she exclaimed in an overly dramatic and theatrical tone before placing the back of her hand on her forehead and "swooned" in mock distress. She "collapsed" against the wall of the hall in exaggerated "dismay", barely able to contain her extravagant laughter as she covered her mouth with her other hand to quiet herself.
Clark simply rolled his eyes as he continued to lead his friends. He dropped their bags off at their rooms and directed them to the amenities. The members of JNPR thanked him before beginning to settle in and Clark, once he was satisfied they were settled, began to make his way back downstairs. Walking through the house, he opened the front door and made his way across the front lawn towards the barn. He allowed himself a moment to think about everything that had happened over this brief morning. However he didn't get to think too deeply on any single matter as he was caught unaware by a sudden pressure and grasp wrapping around his arm.
"Are you trying to get away from me?~ Hehe," Yang said with a snicker, her arms wrapped tightly around one of his own, as she pulled him down and rubbed her cheek against his jaw before pressing her lips lightly against his neck. Clark's body went rigid for an instant and Yang seemed amused, at least until Clark seemed to pull away.
"You said you wanted to see the barn right?" Clark asked, his tone playful. However, there was a strain to his voice he wasn't quite able to conceal, and an accidental dismissive tone he immediately regretted. He wasn't sure how convincing he was, but the look in Yang's eyes told him not very.
"Yeah…sure," Yang answered back, her tone having lost all its playful mirth, replaced by an unsure and much cooler tone. Clark could tell she was confused, and worse, she felt hurt. Clark hated that, but he hoped it would be rectified shortly.
So the pair walked to the barn, now separated, and while it may have only been by mere inches, the distance felt like miles and the atmosphere felt cold despite the warm summer air. Clark hated this feeling, but he knew it wouldn't last; he just needed to get them away from prying eyes. Regardless, he despised this frosty aura between them. But he was still able to maintain his composure and appear calm as he led Yang through the barn and up into the loft that had been his childhood "fortress" where he could escape and find solitude. He turned to face her and tried to explain, but Yang spoke first.
"So this is the "Clark Cave", huh? Not too bad, but I can't say it's all that impressive," she said in a playful teasing tone, but there was still a coolness in her voice Clark didn't like. He knew she wouldn't like how he'd acted, but the sheer level of the coldness in her demeanor had surprised him.
Clark thought of all the things he could say. He knew he hadn't done himself any favors with how he had acted, but he did what he had thought she'd have wanted… at least, in the long term. He was certain he'd acted correctly. At least he was reasonably certain. Fairly certain? Anyway, regardless of any words he spoke, he had come to realize one thing with Yang, actions spoke louder than words. Despite this knowledge however, he foolishly still found himself speaking.
"Well, this was my sanctuary, and I will agree it's not all that impressive, hehe," Clark said back with a small nervous laugh, his tone still a fair attempt at playfulness despite his nerves.
"Hmmm," she hummed, and that was all she gave as she wrapped her arms around herself and slowly turned away from him, seeming to examine this new space. Her body language now had become much more rigid, foreboding and isolated.
In that instant Clark decided to act, not talk, not try and explain. He closed the space between himself and Yang. As his heart was pounding like a jackhammer and his face flushed and burned like the sun, he pressed his chest against Yang's back and wrapped his arms around her midriff with a firm but gentle pressure and pulled her body against his. He felt paralyzed with apprehension for an instant- a singular cosmic moment- but finally he spoke, and he did so simply and plainly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he pressed his face into the crook of her neck and pulled her tighter against him. He could feel her stiffening harshly before, after what felt like hours, she at last relaxed and embraced him while seeming stunned and wrong-footed. But she was able to react and respond almost immediately.
"Well….you should be," she said back in a firm and confused voice as soon as she had regained her senses, which hadn't taken more than a few seconds. Regardless, her tone, despite having become breathy and strained with apparent wanting, seemed to have warmed and become much more of her usual playfulness. This was reinforced when she pressed her body back against his.
"I know," was all Clark gave back in a hushed and muffled tone as he held her.
They stayed like that for a little while. For Clark almost an eternity. Though before long, Yang did break this embrace. She pulled away, only slightly but enough to allow her to turn and face Clark, her eyes meeting his with an earnest intensity.
"So what's the deal, Smallville?" she asked, her demeanor had noticeably relaxed but still seemed confused and not quite comprehending what was going on.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for that brush off back there, but I thought it prudent…at least I thought it'd be what you wanted, for now at least," Clark said with a tone of repentance, a small smile on his lips. Yang looked at him, her face perplexed, not seeming to understand what he was saying.
"What are you talkin' about?" she asked, still not really getting it.
Clark let out a small sigh. Not of exasperation or frustration, but out of reluctance. He knew this wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it was something that was necessary for her to know.
"Okay, well, I DID mean to tell you this as soon as I could, but…" Clark began, though he soon trailed off, not really wanting to "burst the bubble", but knowing it was inevitable. Letting out a long long exhalation, he was ready to speak. He didn't get a chance though since he found himself cut off when Yang seemed to be struck by a realization, her face wearing an expression that would have been an appropriate one for someone who has been clubbed with a bat.
"Oh… OOOOH! I thought we were… oh gods…!" Yang began and trailed off. Her cheeks had flushed bright red and she had buried her face in her hands in embarrassment. She began to shake her head back and forth in what appeared to be an attempt to shake her thoughts from her head.
While Clark could appreciate her discomfort and embarrassment, he couldn't help but feel a little endeared by her reaction. Yang was so often unaffected by others, or at least that's how she appeared. She was always so confident that this display of overt abashedness seemed to show her more vulnerable side. Clark had wondered when or even if she would ever be comfortable enough to show this side to him. Yet here she was and Clark felt closer to her than he had before now.
"Don't worry, Yang. It was only Willie and he's a weirdo," he said in a joking manner, and this did garner a laugh from Yang.
"Just him, huh? Well, that's not too bad. Though maybe we SHOULD just chill out a little huh?" she said as she buried her face in his chest, nuzzling him, still not wanting to look up at him as Clark was sure her face was still burning red.
"Well…he DID say something to that effect, and… Well, we're not as subtle as we think we are," Clark mumbled, his face buried in her hair. Yang just laughed back, the tone muffled by her burying her own face in his chest.
"Fair enough, but it's hard to stay away from you," she whispered as she raised her face from his chest to his neck and allowed her word to breathe hotly against it before nipping his skin lightly with her teeth. Clark froze for a moment before nearly shouting her name.
"YANG-!?" he began before she let out a snorting laugh.
"Still too easy, Smallville. Come on, let's head to the fair. The others are probably waiting," she said before winking at him and walking towards the barn exit.
Clark, while flustered and still somewhat amused by Yang's actions, was starting to become a little annoyed by this one-sided exchange. He then decided at that moment to push back, even if it was just a little bit. He knew exactly how Yang acted and the games she played. In a moment of impulse, he decided to respond in equal measure. After letting out a long and exaggerated sigh Clark finally spoke.
"Fair enough," he said with a small shrug and a cool calmness he certainly didn't feel. "I just thought after what you said at the campsite you might…well, never mind, it's not really that important. Come on, let's go." Clark finished his statement in a falsely convincing disinterested tone as he began to walk out of the barn. Sure enough though, it earned the response he wanted.
"Oh yeah… Well, I was totally… I never… Wait, was I? I didn't…" Yang began to argue before she realized she had no real recollection of the night at the lake, not after a certain point at least. Her face showed clear signs of straining to remember that night, her face flushing and becoming contorted with embarrassment.
"Well, that's interesting," Clark said in a tone of forced aloofness before noticing how much redder and dejected Yang's face had become and he couldn't keep up the exchange. While he knew Yang probably would have pressed this "advantage" for her own amusement, Clark knew HE wouldn't and frankly couldn't. Sure, he could shrug off these teasing games and he was certain Yang could as well, but it just wasn't in his makeup to do so.
"Hehe, well let's-" Yang began in an unconvincing tone of forced disinterest before Clark cut her off.
"Yeah, let's meet up with the others, we have a lot to do," he said merrily and robustly as he wrapped his arms around her waist, scooped her up and pulled her close, lifting her up, carried her, and placed a soft and chaste kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry, I was only teasing, nothing happened," he said softly, the sincerity in his voice so utterly convincing Yang couldn't doubt it for a moment, even if she wanted to. Regardless, she still glared at him for a second before swatting his arm.
"You jerk," she growled in a voice that didn't sound anywhere near as intimidating as she'd probably intended, a smile creeping across her face as she tried to force a scowl.
"Oh! Is it not fun when someone teases you back, Miss Xiao Long?" Clark asked, his voice almost overbearingly teasing.
"Oh, just hush," she huffed back, her tone back to being totally playful, a radiant knowing grin on her face even while blushing. Clark could only smile back.
The following days more or less copied the same path Team RWBY had followed when they had arrived, just with four extras. Clark had shown them around and introduced them to the environment, a few people and perhaps, more importantly at least for Nora, the food. Clark thought this last part with a small laugh.
But what was more amusing to Clark was Pyrrha's attitude and change in demeanor. It wasn't anything drastic or overtly noticeable, but it was clear she was much more relaxed and even playful in a manner he wasn't quite used to seeing. Pyrrha was by no means stiff or overly stoic, but she clearly had learned to compose herself in a certain manner while in public. But right now she was just another face in the crowd. This was all due to Clark's "brilliant" idea to hide her in plain sight.
That had been the word Weiss had used to describe his plan, and her voice had been dripping with sarcasm. But Clark knew (or at least thought) that this could work. One of his father's old cap, a pair of glasses, some more "rustic" clothing donated to the cause by Lana and Pyrrha was able to disappear and not draw attention to herself. The group had been at the fair for hours and the most attention they received had been from Nora's boisterous exclamations of love for the various sweets and treats that had been made available to her.
Clark smirked in what was perhaps a little too smug way at Weiss, and she just glared at him, crossing her arms and pouting. Although the fact she would smile just moments later would ruin any attempt at seriousness she was trying to convey. The tiny shrug that followed all but confirmed this, and Clark couldn't help but snicker.
The days that followed had fallen into a comfortable and pleasant pattern. Get up, eat breakfast, go to the fair, enjoy the almost ever changing menus, playing games and riding the rides. It was comfortable and it was normal, something Clark had appreciated more than any of his friends could know at the time.
Of course there were deviations, no day could be exactly the same, but some memorable moments would always stand out.
Pyrrha enthusiastically eating fried dough smothered in apples or cheeries and powdered sugar before letting out an uncharacteristic snorting and chortleing laugh upon seeing her appearance was one such moment. It was clear that she wasn't able to indulge herself like this often, so Clark was happy to give her that chance.
Another was Ren spending far too much money on what was clearly a gaffed game of skill to try and win Nora a stuffed gorilla with a top hat and monocle. He did eventually win and this earned him an overt and loud smacking kiss on the cheek from Nora, his stoic demeanor all but ruined by the bright flush of his cheeks.
Perhaps the most entertaining event, at least for Clark, was when the group decided to "jokingly" ride "The Tunnel Of Love". The concept was simple; riders enter in two separate lines, the two sections separated by a wall so you couldn't see the other riders. "Love is Blind" was the theme, so you wouldn't know who you would end up riding the dark ride with until you stepped up. A fun concept, yet many, if not most people, tried to cheat the design and Yang was no exception.
She tried to arrange everyone and keep them in line, but she hadn't dared to be too direct and of course her schemes fell short. As things unfolded, it became clear she hadn't accounted for certain variables, and Clark couldn't blame her for that. She might be able to wrangle her friends to a certain degree, but the jostling and excitement of others couldn't be helped.
While Clark would have liked to have a few moments of quiet with Yang, he couldn't help but be amused by the outcome of the shifting group. Team JNPR hadn't been affected all that much, Jaune rode with Pyrrha and Nora rode with Ren. He remembered Nora's enthusiastic squeals as she hugged him, nearly leading to the boat to tip over. He also could have sworn that he heard Pyrrah's heart skip a beat or two as she sat next to Jaune in the boat as well as her face turned a little red and her green eyes widened greatly. Jaune for his part seemed okay with it, though he cast a long glance at Weiss before he turned to Pyrrha and gave a smile that once more. Clark didn't need super hearing to know her heart skipped a beat.
However, the moment Wille ended up with Weiss, things just fell apart. There was laughter and teasing with Weiss absolutely refusing to get into the boat, literally clinging to the sides as a howling Yang proceeded to attempt to push her in despite her vehement protests. Even the usually stoic Blake let out chuckles upon seeing Weiss sitting in the boat, arms crossed and pouting while shooting daggers at Willie as if threatening to slug him if he tried anything. Unfortunately, while Yang was laughing at Weiss, Ruby had casually and unknowingly walked forward and ended up on the ride with Clark. This, of course, meant Yang would ride with Blake. Clark looked over his shoulder at Yang, all she could do was subtly shrug, grin, and give a subtle wink. She was clearly disappointed, but also amused and Clark couldn't blame her, it was pretty funny, all things considered.
The thing that was most amusing to Clark was Ruby's reaction. During the whole ride she became an embarrassed and stammering wreck. She couldn't seem to speak coherently in any major way and, to put things plainly, Clark found it rather endearing and cute. He spoke simply and clearly with a laugh.
"Haha, I get it Ruby, trust me…I get It," he said through his laugh and this seemed to cause her to become utterly silent, and Clark of course, understood that too.
But the ride ended and everyone seemed in good spirits. Some laughed, others seemed abashed and some- or more specifically Yang- playfully flirted with who they rode with.
"Not that bad, all things considered," she stated in a faux flirty tone as she pulled Blake close and nuzzled her partner, who equally playfully pushed her away and smiled while rolling her eyes with an exasperated shake of her head, her cheeks still flushing bright. Yang then sent Clark a suggestive and toying look and wink was almost certainly lost on all those present except the man who had become the beneficiary of her affection and attention.
Clark could only laugh at this. He realized exactly what was happening and couldn't help but smile. He knew Yang understood that they needed to try and be more subtle. Yet she couldn't help but find a way to show affection to him. He found it rather endearing. He could clearly see this spontaneous flirtatiousness with the others for what it was. Simply put, it was her attempt to counteract all suspicions. Yet, the overt and grandiose nature of her usual actions bordered on comical, and the fact she was willing to go so far to "cover up" their situation seemed strangely "intimate" to him. The fact she wanted to protect their privacy so utterly was an oddly comforting thought. Once the other's backs were turned, he sent Yang a smile that, like with Pyrrha, resulted in the fluttery quickening of her pulse.
The days that followed had been similarly entertaining. But nothing could compare to the final day and the much anticipated "Pie Eat". To say it was eventful would be a bit of an understatement. It wasn't what Clark would have called his favorite moment, but it was surely entertaining.
The sign up and preparations were unexceptional. Clark, Yang, Nora had signed up and so had Ruby, much to her sister's surprise. She had thought her original exclamations had been "big talk", but she had been delighted all the same.
The whole event hadn't gone exactly as Clark had planned. It had started off predictably enough with many people scoffing at the young women who had entered and a few were unsure of why Clark Kent, who had never entered before, would choose to now. This attitude had quickly dissolved once the actual contest had started.
All the old favorites had been quickly outclassed by all four newcomers. The crowd, fickle and full of mirth, had quickly taken up new favorites. Clark, as the hometown boy garnered the most voices, but it was by no means the vast majority. Nora was a close second, her voracious appetite made her an immediate favorite. Yang's enthusiasm and showboating earned her a good deal of crowd engagement. But it was Ruby who seemed to become an odd crowd-pleaser. This was most likely due to her size and age. Regardless she held her own, even if she didn't win.
It was kept competitive until the very end, but the whole event ended in a way Clark hadn't planned for. He had always intended to make things look competitive, but he had always planned to let one of the girls win. Things hadn't quite turned out that way though.
It had become clear Nora was the frontrunner fairly early, so Clark had kept pace with her, intending to stay just ahead of her until to the very end, that way her victory would seem greater and more impressive. However he hadn't accounted for Nora's potential showboating, and that changed things.
With mere seconds left in the contest, Nora had decided to exclaim and shout her greatness as she flexed her arms in a display of dominance. This small display caused Clark to accidentally best her endeavor by ¼ a pie. It was certainly not Clark's intention to come out the winner. Regardless though, it had happened. So he handled it the best he could.
He was humble, bashful, and even a tiny bit remorseful at the outcome, nearly regretful at the result since he had wanted one of his friends to win and have a good memory. But that quickly faded as Nora, Yang, and Ruby all cheered, giggling and snorting with laughter at the outcome.
Nora yelled and lamented how she'd almost won as she embraced Clark before punching his shoulder playful. Her broad and mirthful grin never leaving her face as she laughed merrily.
Ruby simply congratulated him, hugging him tightly as she laughed, her cheek flushing as she did so, before swiftly letting go. Clark thought she must be embarrassed by how things had ended, and he couldn't blame her. Things had ended in a way where her attempt seemed, at least comparatively, lackluster. Never mind she had bested the previous champion's record, but she had been outpaced and she seemed embarrassed.
Clark simply embraced her tightly in response, laughed and said "You did great, don't worry so much," which only seemed to cause Ruby to become more abashed, but he didn't have time to think about what had happened as Yang quickly approached them.
She walked up confidently, almost arrogantly, and placed a loud, wet and smacking kiss on Clark's cheek, leaving a faint imprint of blueberries (which had been the filling of choice that year) on his cheek.
Clark froze and wondered for an instant before she gave him a subtle and quick wink before she also gave Nora a similar kiss on her cheek and another one on her sister's forehead. Nora giggled and Ruby finally broke her state of quiet to complain embarrassedly to Yang. Said blonde then wrapped her arms around all of them and demanded they have their picture taken. Her request was honored, but it was the aftermath that was the most entertaining, at least it was from Clark's perspective.
After the local paper had taken the picture of the top four competitors- all with blueberries smeared over their faces and fronts- their teammates had approached them. The following encounter was one of those moments that would stay with someone for the rest of their life, not in some grandiose or profound way. But in a way that exemplifies the fabric that makes good friends.
Nora had immediately, almost aggressively, following Yang's example, had begun to press her lips and cheeks against all her teammates' faces. She seemed determined to smear all of them with just as much of the blueberries juices as she had been. It had worked to some small degree, but she didn't get quite the result she had wanted given that Ren and Pyrrha had been able to pull away, Jaune however had received a full dose and everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Ruby started to giggle in an almost sinister way and turned to face Weiss, who seemed at first confused. And then horrified.
"Ruby…don't. YOU. DARE!" she nearly screamed, pointing her finger warningly at her partner. But it did her no good as she was quickly enveloped in a tight embrace before Ruby began to press her cheeks against a shrieking Weiss's, smearing the other girls face with a generous coating of blue and purple berry juice.
"Yang-!" was as far as Blake got before her partner scooped her up in her arms and treated her the same experience as Weiss. To her credit, Blake took it in better immediate humor and started to giggle and playfully push Yang off her.
"They sure are an affectionate buch, ain't they?" Willie asked, having walked up to the group from his place in the crowd. Lana followed closely behind, a broad grin on her face as she suppressed the urge to laugh at the group antics.
"That's one way of putting it," Clark said through a hearty chuckle.
"You gonna give us the same treatment?" Lana asked playfully, earning her an amused but slightly disgruntled look from Clark.
She knew Clark wasn't a cold person by his nature, but pressing his face against his friend's to smear food on them wasn't exactly in his wheelhouse.
However, it seemed his new friends, particularly Yang, had rubbed off on him more than they had expected. "Well if you want to get involved, I guess I could arrange that." Clark said in an uncharacteristically sinister way. His two oldest friends looked at him with questioning and confused looks. Their eyes widened as Clark turned away and then turned back, a paper plate with a piece of pie oozing berries in each hand.
The words "Don't!" and "Really?!" were shouted before Clark pressed the baked confections into both of their faces. At this moment things went silent for an instant before Weiss broke it, guffawing and practically snorting with laughter as she pointed at Willie.
"Seriously Clark?" Lana asked, almost incredulous as she spate bit pie crust out of her mouth. But the rambunctious laughter that came from her as she wiped her eyes ruined any attempt to appear serious or disproving.
"Damn, that's good pie," was all Willie said as he licked his lips, chuckling the whole time.
At this point, nearly everyone was laughing, even Ren and Wiess were chuckling as they all took pictures with their Scrolls or pointed and laughed at one another. This moment was eventually brought to its pinnacle by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Kent.
"Well, don't you lot make quite a sight," Jonathan nearly shouted in a merry and boisterous tone. His laughter was loud and infectious.
"John, stop it," Martha said with a giggle as he playfully slapped her husband's arm.
"Oh come on, look at them," he responded, gesturing to the group covered in the mashed remains of berries and pie crust. His grin never left his face. His wife just rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile all the same.
"Oh hush," she said through a grin before she turned to face the large group of teens.
"Alright you lot, bunch up! We need a picture!" Jonathan called out happily as he pulled a rather outdated camera.
The group clumped up, arms wrapping around one another. Even Weiss, who was still trying to suppress her laughs after seeing Clark pie Willie in the face, didn't object and allowed a broad and genuine grin to spread across her face. Clark himself wrapped an arm around Yang's waist (much to her subtle delight) and Jaune's shoulders, who himself had put an arm around Clark's shoulders and around Pyrrha's waist, making her flush just a bit. Soon, they were all bunched together, arms wrapped over shoulders and faces pressed together. The clink of the camera was followed by silence and stillness, another click and then the clump fell apart, laughing and joking once again.
With that they all wandered off into the fair to enjoy the adulation of the new "celebrities" and to have what fun they could before the event shut down for another year. They couldn't find any fault with the small-town event, as unpolished as it was. After all, good friends and good people made everything worthwhile, and this little fair was no exception.
Clark lay in his loft, hands resting behind his head, a small smile still on his face. The day, no, the week had gone better than he ever could have hoped. His friends, old and new, and his family all met in what was about as close to a perfect time as Clark could think. Well, not everything had been perfect, nothing ever was. But the fun and enjoyment, while wonderful, had been outshined by one single instance. Clark couldn't help but grin at the thought, his face staring burn at the memory. But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a soft and mischievous voice.
"Hey Clark," Yang stage whispered, her face just barely visible as she walked up the stairs to the loft. A broad and playful grin on her face.
"YANG!? What are you doing here?" Clark exclaimed, jumping up in surprise.
"Just visitin',' ' she responded coyly as she sauntered over to where he lay.
"Sure…okay, but this isn't exact-" he began to say but was cut off by Yang's index finger on his lips.
"Just shush and chill out, hehe," said with a giggle before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him back down into the hay.
"We need to be up early tomorrow. This isn't like, well, it's not like the other night. Plus, it's-" he began, but again she cut him off.
"Shhh, you worry too much," she said and laughed again.
"I'm not sure you understand how early farmfolk get up in the morning when we need to get something done," Clark offered nervously. Yang just let a loud raspberry out in response.
"Pfft, is the 'Man of Steel' scared of his mommy?" she asked in a playfully teasing tone.
"No…I'm terrified," Clark half joked back in response, earning him a suppressed but snorting chuckle from Yang. It was contagious enough that he couldn't help but laugh too.
"Don't worry, we won't get caught before we've had our 'roll in the hay'," she said back suggestively, her voice becoming husky.
Clark stiffened. "Ummm, What are you, AHEM, what do you mean?!" he stammered back through a panicked cough. Yang then burst out laughing at this.
"Get yer mind outta the gutter Smallville, I don't mean anything like that, you perv," she snickered playfully as she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, the small chuffs of her hot breathy laughter sending shivers up his spine the instant they touched his skin.
"Fair enough, but why ARE you here then? N-not that I'm complaining," he added hesitantly in a nervous stammer, his face burning bright red.
There was a moment, far longer than Clark would have thought. The idea he had said something that might have upset her crossed his mind, but the fact she seemed to pull him closer didn't seem to support that idea. This was all but confirmed when she finally spoke, her voice hesitate and almost embarrassed. Certainly a tone he had become used to hearing from her when alone together.
"Well…it's just…" she began to say but trailed. Clark didn't offer anything in response to fill the silence. She'd say what she intended or she wouldn't, but he had no intention to press the issue. There was silence, she let out a small sigh and continued.
"It's just… once we're back at Beacon we'll have barely any time alone together. We'll have classes, drills, getting ready for the Vytal Tournament coming up. I mean, I COULD sneak out at night and join ya, but I doubt your closet of a bedroom would make it much fun and I wouldn't want to risk invoking the wrath of the Wicked Witch." He chuckled, knowing she was talking about Professor Goodwitch, and Yang continued. "And it'll be especially tough when you're paired with JNPR in the back and forth thing between our teams. I just…well…I want us to have some…" She trailed off, but Clark could practically feel her face burn in embarrassment, and he felt himself become more endeared. She could flirt and be suggestive all day long, but the moment she expressed intimate emotions she became flustered, and frankly Clark adored that.
"Alright, I guess, for you, I'll roll the dice," he said playfully with a small snicker. She looked up at him questioningly, her face almost having a hint of irritation, not sure if he was teasing her or not.
On impulse- almost pure instinct- he leaned down and placed a soft, chaste, but loving and gentle kiss on her lips.
This seemed to stun her into silence for a moment until finally she seemed to regain her senses after he pulled away.
"So… you…you'll let me stay?" she asked in what would be a playful tone, but her giddiness and awe were still abundantly evident.
"Sure," he chuckled teasingly as he pulled her closer.
"All night?" she asked, her voice hushed and hesitant as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.
There was a moment of quiet, her breath hitched, almost worried. Then, he spoke.
"All night," he whispered, pulling her close against him and placing a gentle kiss on her temple.
He could hear her heart skip a beat.