Skye and Natasha's Apartment-10:30 P.M.
"I've got it." Clark said, standing up and getting the plates. He took them to the kitchen, rinsing the plates clean of the last of Skye's pie and putting them in the dishwasher. He walked over to Natasha and Skye, kissing the former on the forehead before taking his seat beside her.
"Dinner was fantastic. Thank you both."
"You're welcome. From the way you destroyed that steak, I guess you were hungry." Skye said, and Clark laughed.
"Farm chores take a lot out of you." He said, wincing as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Come sit down." Natasha said, taking his hand and leading him over to the sofa.
He sat down and she walked over behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders and slowly applying pressure.
"I didn't know massages were in your repertoire." Clark said, closing his eyes as he felt some of the tension leave his body.
"I had to spend five months at a massage parlor in Hong Kong. I picked up a few things." Natasha replied, and Clark grinned.
"Lucky me. So, back to business. Skye, you and I need to go talk to Chloe and see if we can stop her from running that article. Then I need you to check the flashdrive I got from Lex while I-"
"Go to sleep. It's almost eleven o'clock at night Clark. You have to be up in the morning. You need your rest." Skye said as she grabbed her laptop.
"I'm fine. I-"
"Are still adjusting to not having your abilities. You're tired and sore. Now that we know Eric has your abilities, it's more important than ever that you're in good condition. That's not your girlfriend talking, it's just common sense. Rest is a weapon. A good night's sleep can mean the difference between life and death. I'm not exaggerating." Natasha said quietly, her mind flashing back in time. If she'd been a second slower, even slightly less alert…
"Okay. I'm convinced. Come to bed with me?" He asked, and Skye laughed.
"The number of people in this town that would kill to be able to ask that. I can't wait until you're able to tell everybody. The look on the jock's faces alone will be priceless."
Clark nodded, but didn't respond. He could barely keep his eyes open. He forced himself to put a hand over Natasha's, halting her motions.
"If you keep doing that I won't be able to get up."
Natasha smirked but halted her efforts. Instead she took his hand and led him to their bedroom. Their bedroom. She'd been thinking of it like that for a little while now. Clark spent more nights with her than he did in his own bed. There was a part of her that was surprised she wasn't more upset about this. Then again, her relationship with Clark was different than any other relationship she had ever had before. For one thing, it actually was a relationship. She'd only ever had one other real relationship and even that was debatable given that she'd been forced into it by her handlers at the KGB.
Clark laid down on the bed, Natasha kissing him on the lips before laying down next to him. She got up moments later when she heard Clark's breathing slow.
"I thought you were going to bed." Skye said quietly.
"You need to look at that flashdrive, and I need to know if it's everything Lex has."
"We both know he could store things remotely. For all I know, he's got a dozen backups off-site and this will inject a virus into my system."
"I know. Which is why you're going to be using a computer Stark gave of the line. Never been used, and more protections on it than anything I've ever seen. While you're doing that, I will be calling in a favor Tony owes me and making sure that there is nothing off-site. If there is, I'll put a bullet in Lex's head."
Skye thought it best to open her computer and get to work.
The Torch-11:35 PM
"Working late? It's a school night." Natasha said as she walked into the office, chuckling as she saw Chloe jump out of her chair.
"It's been a busy news day or didn't you hear? Why are you here Natasha? Shouldn't you be asleep with my best friend right about now?" Chloe asked, and Natasha snorted, taking the seat across from where Chloe sat.
"Clark's asleep, and I didn't know we were on a first name basis." She replied, and Chloe shook her head.
"Forgive me if I don't act like a complete idiot. You're sleeping with my best friend, and you're a freaking assassin. Or a superhero depending on who you ask. Now why are you here Natasha?"
"I'm here because you went to write an article for the Smallville Ledger. That article cannot be published." She said, and Chloe glared.
"Too late. It's already gone to print. Tomorrow what Eric did will be on the front page. I'll have my first by-line."
"Congratulations. You're an idiot." Natasha deadpanned, and Chloe glared.
"Excuse me?"
"Eric Summers will get his fifteen minutes of fame, and you will get your first by-line to start what I am sure will be a long and fantastic journalistic career. Meanwhile, Smallville, a place that already gets its fair share of the weird and freaky, will get another headline. This will draw even more attention to this place, further increasing the risk of someone coming and asking questions that don't need to be asked. Maybe we're lucky, and maybe the people whose job it is to watch for stories like this chalk it up to another weird story from a small town full of weird stories. Or maybe your little headline puts gas on a fire and we have another situation like we just had with Gonzalez."
"If you'd just done what he asked-"
"Shut up. You stupid girl. Do you honestly believe that I am somehow the catalyst, that my being here is the only reason people come looking into this place? My old boss was looking into this place right after the meteors came, and I guarantee you others were too. Now we've got people with powers popping up every other day. My being here is not the problem."
"Well if people are already digging into this place, one more story shouldn't matter. I've got work to finish. Kindly get out of my office." Chloe said, turning her back.
Natasha shook her head. She only hoped that nothing bad would come of this.
The Next Morning-Smallville High
"Dude, what's up with Eric?" Pete asked, and Clark bit his tongue. He couldn't tell Pete that Eric's new look, including a lack of glasses and all-black wardrobe was because he had Clark's powers.
"Not a clue. Maybe we should ask Chloe."
"Ask Chloe what?" The blonde asked as she walked over to them, a broad smile on her face and a paper clutched in her left hand.
"The guys are wondering what's up with Eric. What've you got there Chloe?" Skye asked, already knowing the answer. She had seen the headline as soon as it was posted on the Smallville Ledger's website.
"My first front-page byline!" Chloe replied, handing Skye the paper. Skye unfolded it so Pete and Clark could see, barely repressing a snort as she saw the headline.
Smallville's Own Superboy.
A photo of Eric was underneath the headline, and the story was told in all its detail.
"Great job Chloe! Isn't this great Clark?" Pete asked, and Clark smiled. His smile was more of a grimace.
"Yeah. Just great. But Chloe, Superboy? Really?" He asked, and the blonde glared.
"Tell you what Clark...When you do something heroic that I can actually write a story on I'll let you pick your name. Sound good?"
Clark just nodded, not saying a word. He ignored the blonde's not so subtle barb about the fight with Gonzalez.
Eric had walked over to the table where Holly Peterson sat with her boyfriend, taking a seat right next to her.
"Can I help you with something loser?" Brad asked, and Eric shook his head.
"No thanks. Dumb jock isn't my type. A beautiful and intelligent woman on the other hand is exactly my type. What do you say Holly? Dinner Friday night?" He asked, and she smiled. Brad had been acting like a serious jerk lately, and he had canceled their last date to watch Monday Night Football with the guys. It may not be such a bad thing to remind him that she wasn't a toy he could use when he wanted, and Eric had always been sweet.
"Dude, are you seriously hitting on my girl?" Brad asked, grabbing Eric by his shirt.
"Well I sure wasn't hitting on you." Eric said, pushing Brad to the ground as though he were a feather.
"I'll go out with you Eric." Holly said, and Eric smiled. Brad glared, picking himself up off the ground. There was no way he was losing one of the hottest girls in school to some geek.
"That's it Summers! Daddy's not here to protect you, and you are so dead!" Brad yelled, throwing a punch at Eric's face. To Eric, the punch seemed to come in slow motion. He caught the boy's punch and swung with his right fist, hitting Brad in the jaw. He heard the other boy's jaw break before he flew several feet in the air and hit the ground.
"Dead am I? I don't think so. In fact-"
"Eric, that's enough. He's down. I think you may have broken his jaw. Stop." Clark said, walking over to him.
"Stay out of this Kent! This is between me and Brad."
"I can't let you hurt anyone." Clark said, and Eric laughed.
"Yeah. Good luck with that." Eric said, and before Clark could blink he felt Eric's fist hit his chest, sending him flying.
"Eric, what did you do?" Holly asked.
"Don't be afraid. Please I...I...I gotta go." He said, disappearing from sight a moment later.
Smallville Medical-3 PM
"What the devil happened, Skye?" Natasha asked as she came into the hospital, spotting Skye in the waiting room.
Natasha had been in a parent teacher conference in the morning and hadn't been able to get away until now.
"Eric came by, asked out Holly. I think she actually told him yes. Brad, her idiot boyfriend got pissed and Eric punched him. Then when he sounded like he was going to keep hurting him, Clark walked over and tried to talk him down. One minute Clark's standing there and the next he's flying through the air. Thankfully he didn't hit a car." Skye said, and Natasha glared.
"Why didn't you stop him? Why didn't you deal with the situation?" Natasha asked in a harsh whisper.
"First off, I couldn't have stopped Clark without drawing attention. Pete and Chloe were right next to me. Secondly, Eric was gone almost as soon as he hit Clark." Skye whispered back, and Natasha closed her eyes and let out a breath.
"I'm sorry. How is he?" Natasha asked, but it wasn't Skye who answered.
"Clark will be fine Miss Rushman. A couple of cracked ribs, that's all. I see you're doing better."
"Dr. Bryce, it's good to see you again. Can you tell me what room Clark's in?"
"You never came back for your follow-up. Room 407."
"Thanks Doc, and I'm sorry. It's not you. I'm just not a big fan of hospitals." Natasha said, her mind flashing back to the Red Room. She could still feel the pain, almost like a phantom all these years later.
"No apologies necessary. Right this way." She said, leading Natasha back to the room and walking in. The redhead followed her inside just as a nurse was leaving.
"Natasha, it's good to-"
"I'll deal with you in a minute. Lex, what are you doing here?" She asked the bald billionaire who was standing on the opposite side of Clark's bed. Jonathan and Martha were standing next to each other, looking at the x-rays.
"Like I told Clark, I came because I heard my friend had been hurt. I wanted to make sure he's okay."
"I'll be fine Lex. Just a couple ribs." Clark said, and Lex chuckled, shaking his friend's hand.
"I'll send you some reading material for while you're laid up. See you later Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Kent. Natasha." He said, giving each a nod before walking out the door.
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent, can I have a moment alone with Clark?" Natasha asked, and Jonathan nodded.
"We'll go get the truck. You should be released in a little bit son." Jonathan said, and Clark nodded.
A moment later Natasha and Clark were alone. The redhead shut the door, walking over to him and inspecting the tape around his ribs. She nodded once. It had been done properly.
"Natasha-"
"What were you thinking?! You complete idiot! You're lucky it was just a couple of ribs." She said angrily.
"Eric may have my powers, but they're still my responsibility! I had to try-"
"You went after him with no plan and no backup! I seem to recall you promising me that we wouldn't do that to each other." She said, and he winced, remembering what had been said in Lex's mansion.
"I'm sorry. I had to do something. I had to try-"
"Well, you did and this is the result. Now you will sit this one out, while Skye and I deal with Eric." She said, and he glared.
"Not going to happen. My powers. My responsibility."
The two of them glared at each other for a moment before Natasha's glare softened.
"We do this as a team, and if you put one toe out of line you will be sleeping alone for the next three months. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes dear." He replied, and she glared, but nodded.
"Good. Now how are you feeling Clark?" She asked, and he winced.
"Like I got hit with a few sledgehammers. But I'll live. Any chance you can spring me from this place?" He asked, and she laughed.
"Afraid not. But I will be making sure that you are taken care of once we get out of here." She replied, and he smiled.
"From spy to nurse huh?"
"I've even got the outfit." Natasha said, and Clark's eyes glazed over for a second as he pictured her in a nurse's outfit.
"Clark." She said, and he blushed.
"Sorry. I shouldn't-"
"I'm your girlfriend. You're allowed to fantasize. Not like I haven't had one or two about you." She said, kissing him.
"This wasn't the way I pictured seeing you without your shirt on for the first time, but I'm definitely not complaining." She said, and he blushed harder.
She laughed and kissed him again before walking out to grab a cup of coffee.
A/N: So here is chapter 17! I hope you all enjoyed it! Please read and review, and the next chapter will be up as soon as I write it!