Smallville Fanfic: Infinite Loop
Title: Infinite Loop
Summary: Taken from wikipedia: An infinite loop is a sequence of instructions in a computer program which loops endlessly, either due to the loop having no terminating condition or having a condition that can never be met.
Rating: PG
Pairings: Slight Clois and Chlex, but it's really a Chlark story
Spoilers: 8x09
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: So this was a short future AU piece I had on my hard drive since I heard about Abyss and I thought I'd share.
The first time he met her was in a grocery store while he was scouring the aisle for Lois’s favorite brand of chocolate chip mint cookies. He hadn’t been paying attention to what he was doing and he slammed his grocery cart right into hers.
“Ohmygodimsosorry,” he said, the words spilling out of his mouth as the pile of groceries that had been piled mile high in his cart came tumbling down. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and bent down, only to have his head collide into hers while she attempted to help him pick up his fallen groceries.
She laughed as she rubbed her forehead gingerly while he looked at her mortified. The laugh was open, loud and infectious and he couldn’t help but join in.
“Sorry about that again,” he said as they put the last item into his cart.
“It’s ok, there’s no brain damage.” She smiled at him once more before she continued on her way down the aisle. He stood there watching her until a text message on his cell broke his trance.
Don’t forget about the cookies!
He smiled at the message and continued on with his quest of chocolate minty goodness.
...
The second time he met her, he wasn’t wearing his glasses.
“Thanks, but I could have handled it,” she said as she retrieved the purse from his outstretched hand.
He raised an eyebrow, appraising her. She was at least half his height. “I’m sure you could have easily taken that mugger down with all of your 110 pounds.”
“It’s not the size that counts,” she said winking and he could feel heat rising to his cheeks.
“Well then,” he said awkwardly, “I better take him over to the police.” He gestured to the unconscious would-be thief.
She grinned at his apparent discomfort. “Well, it was nice meeting the ultimate boy scout in the flesh,” she said, shouldering her purse. She turned to leave but then threw another smile his way. “But really, thanks. It’s not every day a girl gets saved by a superhero. ”
He watched her walk away and he wondered why a sense of nostalgia washed over him.
...
The third time he met her, she was with someone he hated.
“Clark, Lois,” Lex said cordially. “I’m glad you could make it. This is Chloe Sullivan, the woman who is the cause of all the festivities tonight. Chloe, this is Lois Lane and Clark Kent of the Daily Planet. They also happen to be the bane of my existence,” he said, not without flare.
“So you’re the developer of Lex’s new super computers,” Clark said, as his eyes met hers in recognition.
Lois eyed her up and down. “I would have never have guessed you were a computer guru.”
“I left my pocket protector and glasses at home,” Chloe said smirking. “Doesn’t quite accessorize my dress you know.”
“Don’t let her looks fool you,” Lex said. “She’s brilliant. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s her own supercomputer.”
“We’d love to interview you,” Clark said a little too quickly.
“I don’t do interviews,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes this time. “If you’ll excuse me Lex, I’ll get us a drink.”
“She’s very private,” Lex said eyeing the blonde as she maneuvered through the crowd.
“She’s witty and smart. Not exactly your type,” Lois said, crossing her arms.
He rewarded her with a predatory smile. “Have you ever met someone that you just had a connection with that you couldn’t explain?”
Clark nodded his head in agreement as his eyes also watched the blonde from afar.
...
The fourth time he met her, she sought him out.
“I thought you and Lois might want this,” she said, tossing a folder on his desk.
He raised an eyebrow as he leafed through the incriminating files. “I thought you worked under Luthor,” he said with emphasis.
She bristled at his innuendo. “For one thing, I was under a short-term contract. And my personal business is exactly that - personal.”
“I can respect that,” he said. He mouth fell open in shock as he stared at the papers in the folder in front of him. “You know what this is?”
“I do,” she said.
“He’ll be put away for life. You know what he could do to you.”
She nodded.
Clark wasn’t sure whether he should admire her or scold her for bringing him the files. This wasn’t a new feeling, he discovered.
...
The fifth time Clark met Chloe Sullivan, she knew his secret.
“How did you put two and two together?”
“Let’s just say that my brain can calculate probabilities like no other and the odds were highly in your favor.”
“What do you plan on doing with this information?”
She frowned. “Nothing at all. You can trust me Clark,” she paused. “But you know that, don’t you?”
Clark nodded. He didn’t know why but he did. He felt he could trust her more than anyone.
...
The next time Clark met Chloe Sullivan, they remembered everything.
“It explains a lot,” she said as she sipped her coffee. She stared into the blackness in her cup. “I don’t know what’s real in my life anymore.”
“If it makes you feel better, I can say the same,” Clark said painfully.
“Why would Jor-El do this?” Chloe said burying her face into her hands.
“I think,” Clark said slowly, “that he thought keeping us apart would protect not only you, but me as well. I asked him to take away my secret, not our friendship. Maybe Jor-El knew that I couldn’t handle you not knowing who I was.”
“Or maybe there was more to it Clark,” she said, her voice was steady, but her body language betrayed the fear that was coursing through her body. "I have all my memories now and with that - “ she couldn’t finish her sentence, but they both knew what would follow.
The voice in her head was no longer her's alone.
...
The last time Clark saw Chloe Sullivan, it was to say goodbye.
“This has to happen you know,” she said, not unkindly. “If I don’t put a magnet to this hard drive, the alternative is to die. I’m too dangerous.”
“I know,” he said sadly.
“You’ve got Lois.”
“I’ve got Lois.”
“She loves you.”
He refused to meet her eyes. “She loves you too.”
Chloe smiled sadly. “But she doesn’t remember. “ She looked around at the fortress surrounding them and shivered despite her heavy parka. “And neither will we. “
...
The first time Clark Kent met Chloe Sullivan, he was on his way to work.
Fin