SV Fic: Horizon
Title: Horizon
Rating: PG
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Kid!Chlark
Spoilers/Timeline: Pre-Season 1 AU
Disclaimer: I own very little, certainly not these characters. Please don’t sue!
Author’s Notes: With the dearth of Chlark fic lately, I decided to dust this one off and put it out there. It’s my first attempt at kid!fic, so try not to laugh if it sucks! ;)
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It towers over the skyline, a glittering monument to American capitalism. He’s never seen anything so… “Big.”
“What was that, bro?”
“LuthorCorp Tower. It’s huge.”
Pete’s expression darkens to the familiar hatred. “Yeah, dad says our family’s factory barely paid for a floor of that. Imagine how many people Luthor ruined by the time he reached the 100th floor.”
Clark peers through the bus window as the LuthorCorp emblem is overshadowed by the Daily Planet globe. Comfort settles in his gut at the imagery, and he keeps his eye on the gleaming globe all the way to the museum.
He’s been looking forward to this field trip since the start of the semester. His parents almost didn’t let him go after the incident with the tractor, but he begged and pleaded and did an extra week’s worth of chores to convince them he was responsible enough.
He’s 10 years old. It’s not like he’s gonna accidentally pick up the bus anymore.
When they stop, he files onto the sidewalk with the other students and dutifully follows Miss Johnston into the building. Pete’s desperately trying to get the attention of Alicia Baker, who transferred from Mrs. Lemon’s class last week, so Clark falls back a little to give them some space.
Pete is determined to be the first boy in class with a bona fide girlfriend. Since every other girl in the class was there to witness the toilet paper incident, Alicia’s the best chance he has.
Clark’s busy trying to stifle his laughter at Pete’s attempt at smooth, when he bumps into a blonde of his own.
“Oh! I’m sorry.” She smiles and bends to pick up her notebook.
He’s frozen. He’s never been good with girls, and this one’s wardrobe is enough to leave him sorting out colors and patterns for a year.
“N-uh-no! It was my fault. Here, let me help.” He rushes to collect her things and she rises at the exact wrong moment.
Rubbing her head, she grimaces as he hands her the brochures she dropped. She tucks them into her notebook and smiles ruefully. “What is that, granite?”
She gasps and claps a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean that! Well, I did, but not like…” Seeming to come to a decision, she thrusts a hand at him. “Chloe Sullivan.”
He shakes her hand, still a bit dazed.
She stares expectantly.
“Oh! Uh, I’m…um, Clark Kent.”
“Pleased to meet you, Clark Kent.” Something in his belly flutters at her sunflower grin. She’s nothing like the girls in Smallville, with her bohemian skirt and shaggy blonde hair.
For the first time, he thinks that might be a good thing.
“So…” She starts.
“So…” He sticks his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels.
“Unless you’re going to a Pearl Jam concert, I’m going to bet you’re from out of town.” She nods toward his shirt.
He tilts his head, confused.
“Flannel? Come on, grunge is so over.”
“Hey, flannel’s cool.”
She smirks, and it’s almost worth the sarcastic undertone to see that smile again. All Clark can manage is a goofy grin of his own.
She leans in, and his heart pounds. “I think we lost them.” She whispers.
“Huh?”
“Our tour groups. I think we lost them.” She nods at space his class once occupied.
“Oh, uh. Want me to help you find yours?”
She laughs. “And abandon me to another astoundingly boring monologue? No, thank you.” She loops her arm through his and tugs him along. “Nope, you’ve gone and rescued me from boredom. I’m afraid you’re going to have to regale me with your version, Clark Kent. I’m certain your experiences in unknown lands will lend a unique perspective to…” She casts a glance over the room’s occupants. “…the weird, stuffed animals.”
He doesn’t know a thing about the Lions of Tsavo, but he does manage to comment on the descriptions they read. They’re laughing and she’s leaning into him and he’s never felt this…lightness…around anyone before. He’s more himself than he’s ever been, and manages not to trip once the whole morning.
He learns in short order that she lives here, in Metropolis, and works on the school newspaper. She’s going to be a famous reporter for the Daily Planet, so he’d better take the autographed copy of her school’s current issue. It’s going to be a collector’s item some day.
Considering the passion she describes her dreams with, it’s hard not to believe every word. When they return to the main hall, he spots his class in the distance and suppresses a sigh. He can’t wait to tell Pete, but he doesn’t want to go.
He grips the thin newspaper, thinking it’s now or never… “Uh, Chloe?”
“Yeah, Clark?” She questions, distracted by her own class approaching.
“Do you think…maybe, uh…”
He never gets the question out. She pats his shoulder in a friendly gesture before a huge guy in a leather jacket wraps an arm around her.
“Who’s the loser, babe?”
“Matt, this is Clark, who is totally not a loser. And get it through your head, dillweed. I’m nobody’s ‘babe’.”
“Whatever.” The kid mutters. “Miss Adams is freaking out. You disappeared like two hours ago.” He starts leading her back to the group.
“It was nice meeting you!” She calls over her shoulder, and Clark just wants to kick himself.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. He had her alone all morning, and he didn’t even manage to get an e-mail address. Not that a girl like that would want to keep in touch with a farmer’s son who spent most of his afternoons mucking stalls or studying astronomy for fun.
He’s clutching the newspaper angrily when he finally catches back up with Pete. He wants to laugh when he learns that while Chloe’s whole class was looking for her, no one, not even his best friend, noticed Clark was gone.
He watches the globe spin more thoughtfully as they pass. It’s not till they’re halfway back to Smallville that he notices her e-mail address on the front page of the newspaper.
Even if he doesn’t stand a chance, a boy can dream…
--End (ish)--