Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

Chapter 5: The Ball

"My night just got a whole lot better." Barb fawned over Clark, her ever vigilant eyes following the young super hero as he skirted around the edge of the room. She studied him briefly, as Bruce had been trying to teach her. His body language showed that he was uncomfortable with the situation.

"What’s up, Barb?" Dick asked, noting that his teen partner’s attention had once again focused on the tall, muscular, dark haired Clark Kent. "Nothing." Barb reddened slightly. "You’re checking out that dude Kent." Dick accused. "No!" She snapped. "Just go over and talk to him." He urged.

"I don’t want him to think that I’m some money hungry bimbo looking for a good time." She defended. "Trust me, Barb, you don’t look like a bimbo." He swallowed a bit of pride. "Oh? Thanks, I guess." She hesitated. "Come on, I’ll walk over there with you. Remember? Wing man!"

Dick gently guided her over to Clark, who still seemed distracted. "Hello?" Dick glanced up at Clark, who was about a half a foot taller than he. "Dick Grayson, remember? And this is..."

"Barbara Gordon. Yes I recall running into you earlier." He joked as Barb once again glanced up into his wide blue eyes. "You two seem bored." Superman guessed. "Yeah, it’s a bit stuffy for me." Barb said.

"Uh, so, Mr. Kent..." Dick began. "Are you a contributor to the Daily Planet charity?" He tried to sound less like a detective. "No, I work for the Planet with Lois Lane, their lead reporter." Clark couldn’t exactly qualify his relationship with Lois. Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? He mused. They’d never really discussed it much. "How about you two?" Kal deflected the conversation.

"How long have you been together?" Clark asked pleasantly. Dick coughed and Barb flushed. "Um...we’re just friends." Barb stuttered. "We work together." Awkward! Barb mentally grumbled. "Okay." Clark said, clearly uneasy with the subject. I guess I’m not really good with meeting people.

"We work with Bruce Wayne." Dick added evasively. "Oh? What do you do?" Superman pressed. "Hmmm! We sort of assist him." Barb choked out as she gazed at Clark’s bright smile. "Okay." Clark remarked. Dork! Barb berated herself. He must think that I’m an air head.

"Mr. Wayne has been very generous to Daily Planet Charities." Kal said smoothly. Earlier, he and Lois had thoroughly investigated every contributor on the invitee list. Wayne was the single highest dollar contributor and the only one outside of Oliver without political connections.

Speaking of Lois, Clark thought, as he quickly searched the room for her. He spied her at Bruce Wayne’s side, obviously angling for an article. "Would you excuse me? It’s been a pleasure meeting you." Clark made a quick, graceful exit. Barb watched Clark go. "Good job, Barb!" She muttered.

"Hey, don’t sweat it, Barb." Dick consoled her. "He’s probably with someone here." She nodded absently. "He sure was cute." She sighed. "Plenty of other fish in the sea." Dick said lamely, making Barb laugh. "Thanks." She patted his arm tenderly. "My turn." He said, escorting Barb to the punch bowl. "There’s our target for the evening." Dick nodded towards Laura Lake.

"Laura?" Barb guessed. "Yup. Remember Bruce wanted us to keep an eye on her. He seemed to think that she was unique." Barb nodded. "As in meta human?" Dick led her across the dance hall. "Exactly." Barb glanced again at Clark who had found Lois. "Go for it, Romeo." She quipped, as she and Dick bumped fists. "I’m going to check on Queen and his freaky girlfriend." Barb left quickly.

Jimmy and Chloe had made their way around the room. As usual, the young photojournalist had his two favorite cameras around his neck. In seconds, Clark had zipped up to them. Lois was about to say something. "Clark?" She turned and he was gone. I swear that guy needs a leash. She thought sourly.

"Chloe, how are you doing? Hey Jimmy." Chloe glanced up at Clark. He saw something different in her eyes. "Hey CK!" Jimmy said pleasantly. "Uh, Jimmy, you’d better go and get some pictures of the event for the paper." Chloe urged. "Got it." Jimmy’s expression soured. "Translation, Clark and I need to talk." He groused. "If this isn’t a good time..." Clark back peddled.

"Naw! Go ahead. I know you and Chlo’ have to catch up." Jimmy said gallantly, before kissing her and wandering over towards Perry. "What’s up?" Clark asked worriedly. "I’m glad to be free." She began hesitantly. "I’m sorry that we took so long..." Superman added. "Oliver wanted to try and go through the proper channels. Though in the end, that didn’t work."

"Yeah, its okay." Chloe said distractedly. "It gave me some time to think. I have some new ideas brewing in my Mocha Latte soaked mind." Clark nodded, glad to see his friend in good shape, or was she? "I’ve been mulling over everything, too." He added. "Like telling Lois the truth."

"Shocking, but expected." Chloe countered. "First things first." She led him over to a light blue electric light wall sconce. "What are you...?" Before Clark could finish, she touched the sconce with her index finger and it immediately went out. Clark’s eyes widened. Chloe glanced around.

She touched the sconce with her other hand, pretending to lean on the wall, and the lamp relit. "Uh oh!" Clark exclaimed. "Yeah, big time!" She muttered as she and Clark slowly walked towards the center of the room. "What happened exactly?" He prodded. "I can’t say much, here." She added.

"Let’s just say it has something to do with BRAINIAC and the U.S. Government’s electrolysis treatment. I felt like an electrified Chia Pet. My hair grew out instantly." For emphasis, she spun around, and her long blonde hair curled neatly halfway down her back. Clark gulped. "Chloe, I’m sorry."

"Yeah, me too." She checked on Jimmy’s position. He was lining up Julian Luthor and Tess for a glam shot. "Don’t worry about it, Clark. If you can get used to new abilities, so can I. It’ll be hell on my shampoo, conditioner, and hairstyle budget, though." She joked bravely.

"You haven’t told Jimmy, yet?" Clark inquired. "Not everything, no. I confessed to being of the meteor freak persuasion, but that’s about all that I’d own up to." Chloe admitted. "You’ll tell him when you think he’s ready." Clark said confidently. "True. Unless I create a secret identity." She mused.

"Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about that myself." Clark said, silencing as another guest walked close by. "We have a lot to discuss." Chloe remarked as Jimmy returned with a pair of drinks. "Did you want something to wet your whistle, CK?" He offered. "No thanks, Jimmy."

"Lois will probably be bringing me something in a bit." He concluded. Chloe’s eyes sparkled. "How are you and my over achieving cousin doing?" She asked playfully. In this time line, she seemed to be more in favor of a Lois and Clark pairing, Superman observed.

"Okay I guess." Clark replied. "We haven’t really defined our relationship, yet." Honesty was a rarity in all of their conversations lately. To Clark it felt good, like he and Lois were meant to be.

"See, I had a feeling about you two." Jimmy boasted. "Like you were destined to be together." Chloe and Clark rolled their eyes at the young photographer. "Whatever!" Chloe smirked. "I can’t believe that she talked you into taking the job at the Daily Planet."

"Does that bother you, Chloe?" Clark asked warily, putting his young sidekick on the spot. "No, Clark, it really doesn’t anymore. I guess Oliver opened my eyes. We have a lot of work to do. I was burning the proverbial candle at both ends." Jimmy suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"We?" He echoed. "Yes Jimmy, we. You and I, the J Chlo team and we’re backed by Queen Industries." She answered cheerfully. "I...uh...don’t want to give up my photojournalism." Jimmy argued. Now it was Clark’s turn to feel awkward. "I’m not asking you to give that up." Chloe clarified.

Lois bounded up to them and kissed Clark passionately. "Lois, your timing is impeccable." Chloe commented cynically. "I guess we all have to get seated for the speeches." Jimmy ended the quick spat. He held a program of all the keynote speakers for the evening.

 "There’s a real snore fest!" Chloe joked, sounding more like her old self. Lois held Clark close, with a brilliant smile on her thin face.

Lois took Chloe’s hands. "I’m so glad you’re back, little cousin." Jimmy watched Lois carefully. He’d never seen her this happy. She had to be in love with Clark. Chloe and Lois hugged. "No thanks to the U.S. Government. Your tax dollars at work." Chloe said, thoroughly jaded by the experience. "Did you want to talk about it?" Lois asked seriously. "No, not now. Tonight is about the less fortunate."

Chloe would gather everyone together later. She knew that some changes were to be made. "Good enough." Lois said, knowing when to back off. The rest of the evening went as expected. Finally, after all the speeches, the hosts opened up the dance floor, and a pop band played some music.

The couples began to take the floor. Bruce and Selena led, followed by Julian and Tess, Oliver and Dinah, Chloe and Jimmy, Hal and some girl he’d just met, and most surprisingly, Barb and Dick.. Laura hung out near Clark and Lois. They whirled to one of the latest dance tunes.

Lois leaned heavily against Clark. He put his arm around her as Laura looked on with boredom and disinterest. Cat Grant forced Perry White to slow dance with her, completely embarrassing him. Lois decided to join her boss on the dance floor. "Come on, Smallville, let’s go."

"You know I can’t dance, Lois." He protested. "Aw sure you can!" She insisted, shoving his arms around her thin waist. Clark was able to pick up the beat after a while. Lois kissed his neck, grossing out Kara, who said some goodnights, and literally flew away.

The event ended shortly thereafter, as the couples began to file toward the coat room, Julian and Tess were suspiciously absent. No one recalled them leaving, and no one cared. Laura and Dick had finally managed a few slow dances together, just before the last call.

"Thanks, Richard." Laura kissed Dick lightly on the cheek. "I had a wonderful time." Before he could ask for her phone number, she’d darted off. Barb patted him on the back. "Nice try, Romeo. Maybe next time." She quipped. As the couples began to leave the hotel, around the corner, all hell was about to break loose.

link to chapter 6

The future of crimefighting comes to Metropolis.

This is much cooler than the Robin getup.