Infected Chapter 4

Title:    Infected
Rating:    T
Author:    SilverSnikle
Character:    Clark
Timeline:   Clark Luthor's Seventeenth Birthday
Warnings:   Luthor-verse
Disclaimer:   Borrowed characters and some dialogue... No affiliation to CW/WB, DC
Summary:   My take on Clark Luthor's descent into darkness.
Feedback:   Oh, yes please!


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- Chapter 4 -


Chloe takes the glass tentatively from Clark's proffered hand. He tilts his head and studies her, head to toe. She is wearing a simple black dress, the top of which wraps from one side of her chest, around her neck, and connects to the back. It leaves much of her shoulders exposed; Clark decides he likes the dress.


"I would introduce myself, but I'm sure that isn't necessary." He winks at her and notes that she hasn't taken a drink yet. She looks to be close to his age. "I'm only seventeen, right? No one here cares how old you are." To solidify his point, Clark sips his own drink.


"Why are you talking to me?" Clark is almost taken back by the snarkiness of her tone, but he doesn't show it. He smiles wider.


"To be honest? Not a clue." He raises his glass in salute before taking another, longer drink. This time she follows suit and takes a drink of her own.


"I'm just here to cover the party." She raises her chin a little higher, making Clark laugh.


"You have some questions for me then?" Her eyes widen slightly before she catches herself and he chokes back another laugh.


"Not exactly. I assumed you'd be unreachable." She could give him a run for his money (well Lionel's money) with her mask. Clark is impressed by the stoic look that has settled into her eyes.


He doesn't want to have a serious conversation though; he can do that with any of the other guests. He wants to have a normal teenage conversation. He suddenly realizes his motives for searching her out. She doesn't fit into his normal world.


"Well... You know what they say about those who assume." He winks at her. Her mask faults slightly, and Clark sees her lips twitch, trying to hold back a smile.


He tips his glass back and finishes off the liquid inside it. As a server passes, he places the glass on the tray. "So, what information have you gathered thus far for your article?" She certainly wasn't making this 'normal conversation' thing easy for him.


"Not much. Just that you received a telescope and a book as gifts, along with a family ring." Clark notices her glance at his hands. "I see you aren't wearing a ring, so maybe that was inaccurate?" She raises an eyebrow inquisitively.


"No, it is accurate. I'm just not wearing it." He is impressed that she gathered all that in the short time since he had received his presents. "What else?"


She studies him for a moment, taking in his red shirt. "There's a definite color theme going on. You are the only person here not wearing black and white. You match the decorations." There's a challenge in her words, and Clark hears it loud and clear. Yes, his father used him as a decoration. He feels his eyes narrowing at her, his hands tightening into balls. "The DJ has been playing since before you arrived, yet you haven't danced for one second." Clark sees a sparkle in her eyes and his fists loosen.


"That's right. You want to know a secret?"


"Off the record?"


"Off the record. Of course."


"Sure." She says it lackadaisically, but he's not fooled.


"I've been waiting for someone worthy to dance with me." He lets his head drop forward slightly, his eyes darting toward her lips.


"Is that so? I took you as the independent type, didn't think you'd need a girl to show off." She lifts her glass to her lips and finishes off her drink while he stares openly. As the last bit drains into her mouth he lets his gaze fall to her throat, and watches as she swallows it down. Suddenly, she shoves the glass in his face. "Thanks for the drink, I really need to get back to work."


Clark is not ready for this little, whatever it is, to be over. He looks around quickly and spots a server a few feet away. He takes long strides over and deposits the glass on the tray before turning to head back to Chloe. Only, she isn't there.


He can't keep the frown off his lips. He takes a deep breath and looks around at the party laid out before him. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Everyone, except him.


"There you are! I've been looking for you. Father disappeared with a group of politicians. We can sneak out now." Tess slips her hand in to his and turns, leading him through the party.


They get in an elevator and Tess presses the button for the top floor. "We'll go up to the roof." She's smiling, genuinely smiling, and Clark can't help but smile too. Seeing her happy fills his heart with love and joy, things he doesn't have the luxury of experiencing on a regular basis.


On the roof, Tess lets go of his hand and spins around like a small child, her arms stretched out wide. He follows her, unable to let more than a few feet of space separate them.


"Isn't it just gorgeous up here?" She stops and stares out at the city, her eyes wide with wonder.


Clark pulls his eyes away from her and follows her line of sight. The city is lit up, and he realizes she's right. It is an absolutely gorgeous sight.


"We aren't up here to look at the city's lights though." He slips off his suit jacket and lays it, inside down, on the roof. Before he sits down, he pulls the telescope out. "Come here."


He reaches a hand up to her. She takes it and is pulled into his lap, into his arms. They laugh as he almost falls backwards. She has her back against his chest, his arms around her, as he looks through the telescope. He makes some adjustments and then hands it to her, pointing at a specific spot.


"See that big empty spot? Right past Orion's head? That is where Krypton should be." He's speaking softly into her hair, his head resting against hers. She smells of ginger and lilies. He inhales her scent and tightens his arms around her.


He feels Tess tense in his arms and frowns. Both of them are highly aware they have no actual relation to one another. They avoid thinking about it though, and make a conscious effort to call each other "brother" and "sis". Lionel had once found them cuddled together in Clark's bed after she had come to him during a storm. Clark was eight at the time; he was simply trying to make Tess feel safe. Lionel had gone off, beating them both, yelling throughout the entire beating that they were family. The only problem was, Clark was pretty sure Lionel didn't know the meaning of the word- Family. 


"He won't find us up here." Clark lays a gentle kiss on the top of her head.


"Do you think the stone in your ring is another form of Kryptonite?" Tess's voice is so low Clark has to focus to hear her. His heart sinks thinking about the ring.


"Why don't I put it on now, up here. We can test it so I'll know what to expect later." If there were someone on this planet Clark was going to trust, it would be Tess. She wouldn't purposefully hurt him, or take advantage of him. She would likely even protect him from himself.


"I'm not sure..." She shifts in his lap to look at him. "What if..."


"Would you rather I wait and see what plans Father has for me?" He has already made up his mind. Clark pulls the side of his jacket up and reaches into the pocket, his fingers curling around the small box.


The two of them are silent as he opens the box. The red stone inside is so bright, as if it's glowing from within. Clark stares at it for a few minutes, he is a little afraid. Suddenly he drops his head back and laughs.


"Clark?" He can tell by the urgency of her voice that she half wonders if the stone is already affecting him.


"What if- What if it's a ruby? What if he's just playing with me?" Clark giggles a little more.


"He does like to play games." Tess shrugs.


"There's only one way to find out." Clark pulls the ring from the box and slides it on to his pinky.


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