Fic - Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Title: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Author: moviefreak4634
Rating: PG
Characters: Connor, Oliver, Laura, Chloe (Chlark)
Summary: Chloe doesn't appreciate Oliver and Connor sneaking off to play video games.
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or its characters.
Previous stories in this verse can be found here.
----------------------------
Connor generally liked parties. He just didn’t like this one. For one, there were too many little kids running around. Connor had heard his mom say that Uncle Ollie and Aunt Lois had invited Laura’s entire class, and he believed it. For another, the party itself was entirely too pink. Pink streamers hung from the ceiling, pink balloons tied to chairs. Even the party hats, which Connor had refused to wear, were pink.
He sighed, leaning against the table. He hadn’t even wanted to come to Laura’s stupid birthday party, but his parents had insisted. At least, Connor knew that was what they wanted him to think. He’d heard his dad complaining about the party too, but here they were.
So Connor leaned against the table, waiting for the cake. He sincerely hoped the thing wasn’t pink, but he wasn’t going to hold his breath.
He picked up the pink party hat on the table in front of him and snapped the string. It went thwack against the table. He turned the hat over on its side and stretched the string out in front. He let the string go, watching the hat fly across the room. Uncle Ollie snatched it out of the air.
“Not a fan, huh?”
Connor made a face. He couldn’t help but notice that Oliver had one of the hats on. It looked weird on him. Connor made another face. “They’re pink.”
Oliver shrugged. “That’s what Laura wanted, so that’s what we got. For your birthday, we can have a different color.”
“I don’t want stupid party hats. They’re dumb.”
“I don’t know,” Oliver said, adjusting the hat on his head. “They’re kind of cute.”
Connor couldn’t hide the disgust that washed over his face. Oliver burst out laughing. “Relax. I was joking.”
“Good.” Connor went back to waiting for the cake - the cake that was sure to be pink. He just hoped it was going to taste better than it was going to look. Oliver came up behind him and ruffled his hair. Connor started smoothing it back down.
“Bored, huh?”
Connor nodded. He thought it was obvious. It wasn’t like he often sat around in chairs for fun.
“You know, if you don’t tell your mom…” Oliver trailed off.
Connor sat up straighter. That sounded promising. “What?”
“We could sneak off and play video games.”
Connor grinned. This party was sounding better already. “Okay. But you have to take the hat off.”
“Deal.”
---
For a few minutes, Connor was worried that the pink would extend to the video games too. The first few games he saw were stupid, girly games. He was about to be very disappointed in Uncle Ollie’s taste in video games. Luckily, proper games turned up after a few more minutes of searching.
Connor picked out one of the new fighting games - new enough that he didn’t own it yet but had still played it a few times. Uncle Ollie always had the coolest things.
As they picked up their controllers, Connor announced, “I’m going to have a video game birthday party. No stupid party hats, no pink, and no girls allowed.”
“What about your mom?”
Connor thought about it for a minute. “I guess she could come. She’s pretty cool. Plus, she’ll get me a present.”
“What about Laura?”
“No Laura,” Connor said, wrinkling his nose as he worked the controller. “She’d ruin everything.”
“What about me?” On screen, Connor’s fighter knocked Oliver’s out.
As the game moved on to the next round, Connor turned to Oliver with an exasperated expression. “Of course you can come, Uncle Ollie. I said no girls. You’re not a girl.”
“Just checking.”
Connor’s attention turned back to the game, and Oliver’s followed suit. Connor won three more rounds to Oliver’s one, and Oliver had to wonder if the kid had developed some sort of super power for winning video games.
When Connor got up to switch games, Oliver heard it. “Connor!”
Obviously, Connor heard it too because he froze then turned to Oliver with wide eyes.
“I’ll handle this,” Oliver whispered. Then he called, “He’s in here.”
A minute later, Oliver regretted that decision when Chloe rounded the corner. She noticed the console with controllers stretched out in front and Connor poised to insert another disc. Of course, Oliver wasn’t sure how they could have hidden the fact that they were playing games anyway. Connor had gotten his smarts from somewhere, and Oliver was certain it hadn’t been from Clark.
So, Oliver did the next best thing to hiding. He tried to look apologetic.
“Hi, Mom,” Connor mumbled from his spot on the floor. Chloe ignored him.
“Oliver, this is your daughter’s birthday party.”
Oliver threw his hands up, gesturing at Connor. “The kid was bored. What else was I supposed to do?”
“He told me not to tell you,” Connor offered.
Chloe sighed and tilted her head, exasperation written clearly across her face.
“You could play,” Oliver said, holding his controller out to her.
Chloe took it from him. “Don’t think this gets you off the hook.”
“I wouldn’t make that mistake.”
Chloe turned back to Connor who still sat more or less frozen near the game console. “Come on, Connor,” she said. “Let’s play.”
Connor broke into a wide grin. “Cool,” he murmured.
This game turned out to be a racing game. Oliver watched the two pass the lead back and forth. Connor was good at this game too, but so was Chloe. Maybe she’d just had a lot of practice.
When Connor finally won, Chloe put a hand on Connor’s controller. Connor looked up at her. “It’s Oliver’s turn,” she said.
Connor looked like he was about to protest, but Chloe shook her head at him, eyebrows raised. Connor handed Oliver the controller and settled into his mother’s side.
Oliver took the controller and waited as the game counted down.
3…2…1…Go.
They raced in silence for awhile, Chloe maintaining the lead. Oliver waited for the ball to drop.
Chloe didn’t speak until about halfway into the last lap. “You need to fix this - this - whatever this is.”
“I’m trying.”
Chloe finished the race and turned to Oliver. “I’m serious, Oliver. It can’t be good for you.”
“I’m trying,” Oliver repeated. His character crossed the finish line as well.
“Lois wanted us to talk to you.”
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Oliver,” Chloe sighed, but she was interrupted as the doors burst open and Laura came rushing in.
“Daddy!” she called. “I found you!”
Laura came to a stop in front of Oliver. She was dressed in a frilly pink dress, a tiara barely hanging on in her hair. She grabbed Oliver’s hand and pulled. “Come on,” she exclaimed. “It’s time for cake.”
“Okay, Laura,” Oliver said. He stood up, letting Laura lead him to the door.
“Come on.” Laura tugged on his hand.
Oliver turned back to look at Chloe. “Go try,” she said. Oliver let Laura pull him out the door.
“Mom?” Connor sat up. “What’s wrong with Uncle Ollie?”
Chloe sighed. Reaching out, she ruffled Connor’s hair. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, okay?”
“Okay,” Connor said in a small voice.
“I promise.”
Connor nodded, and Chloe hoped she’d reassured him. She didn’t want Connor to have to worry about Oliver. She put on a smile. “How about we go get some cake?”
Connor jumped up from the sofa, tugging on Chloe’s hand much like Laura had done earlier.
“You go,” Chloe said. “I’ll catch up.”
Connor rushed out the door. Chloe followed slowly. Just before she reached the dining room, Clark appeared.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“It will be,” Chloe said, managing a smile. She held a hand out, and Clark wrapped it in his. “Let’s go have cake.”
Author: moviefreak4634
Rating: PG
Characters: Connor, Oliver, Laura, Chloe (Chlark)
Summary: Chloe doesn't appreciate Oliver and Connor sneaking off to play video games.
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or its characters.
Previous stories in this verse can be found here.
----------------------------
Connor generally liked parties. He just didn’t like this one. For one, there were too many little kids running around. Connor had heard his mom say that Uncle Ollie and Aunt Lois had invited Laura’s entire class, and he believed it. For another, the party itself was entirely too pink. Pink streamers hung from the ceiling, pink balloons tied to chairs. Even the party hats, which Connor had refused to wear, were pink.
He sighed, leaning against the table. He hadn’t even wanted to come to Laura’s stupid birthday party, but his parents had insisted. At least, Connor knew that was what they wanted him to think. He’d heard his dad complaining about the party too, but here they were.
So Connor leaned against the table, waiting for the cake. He sincerely hoped the thing wasn’t pink, but he wasn’t going to hold his breath.
He picked up the pink party hat on the table in front of him and snapped the string. It went thwack against the table. He turned the hat over on its side and stretched the string out in front. He let the string go, watching the hat fly across the room. Uncle Ollie snatched it out of the air.
“Not a fan, huh?”
Connor made a face. He couldn’t help but notice that Oliver had one of the hats on. It looked weird on him. Connor made another face. “They’re pink.”
Oliver shrugged. “That’s what Laura wanted, so that’s what we got. For your birthday, we can have a different color.”
“I don’t want stupid party hats. They’re dumb.”
“I don’t know,” Oliver said, adjusting the hat on his head. “They’re kind of cute.”
Connor couldn’t hide the disgust that washed over his face. Oliver burst out laughing. “Relax. I was joking.”
“Good.” Connor went back to waiting for the cake - the cake that was sure to be pink. He just hoped it was going to taste better than it was going to look. Oliver came up behind him and ruffled his hair. Connor started smoothing it back down.
“Bored, huh?”
Connor nodded. He thought it was obvious. It wasn’t like he often sat around in chairs for fun.
“You know, if you don’t tell your mom…” Oliver trailed off.
Connor sat up straighter. That sounded promising. “What?”
“We could sneak off and play video games.”
Connor grinned. This party was sounding better already. “Okay. But you have to take the hat off.”
“Deal.”
---
For a few minutes, Connor was worried that the pink would extend to the video games too. The first few games he saw were stupid, girly games. He was about to be very disappointed in Uncle Ollie’s taste in video games. Luckily, proper games turned up after a few more minutes of searching.
Connor picked out one of the new fighting games - new enough that he didn’t own it yet but had still played it a few times. Uncle Ollie always had the coolest things.
As they picked up their controllers, Connor announced, “I’m going to have a video game birthday party. No stupid party hats, no pink, and no girls allowed.”
“What about your mom?”
Connor thought about it for a minute. “I guess she could come. She’s pretty cool. Plus, she’ll get me a present.”
“What about Laura?”
“No Laura,” Connor said, wrinkling his nose as he worked the controller. “She’d ruin everything.”
“What about me?” On screen, Connor’s fighter knocked Oliver’s out.
As the game moved on to the next round, Connor turned to Oliver with an exasperated expression. “Of course you can come, Uncle Ollie. I said no girls. You’re not a girl.”
“Just checking.”
Connor’s attention turned back to the game, and Oliver’s followed suit. Connor won three more rounds to Oliver’s one, and Oliver had to wonder if the kid had developed some sort of super power for winning video games.
When Connor got up to switch games, Oliver heard it. “Connor!”
Obviously, Connor heard it too because he froze then turned to Oliver with wide eyes.
“I’ll handle this,” Oliver whispered. Then he called, “He’s in here.”
A minute later, Oliver regretted that decision when Chloe rounded the corner. She noticed the console with controllers stretched out in front and Connor poised to insert another disc. Of course, Oliver wasn’t sure how they could have hidden the fact that they were playing games anyway. Connor had gotten his smarts from somewhere, and Oliver was certain it hadn’t been from Clark.
So, Oliver did the next best thing to hiding. He tried to look apologetic.
“Hi, Mom,” Connor mumbled from his spot on the floor. Chloe ignored him.
“Oliver, this is your daughter’s birthday party.”
Oliver threw his hands up, gesturing at Connor. “The kid was bored. What else was I supposed to do?”
“He told me not to tell you,” Connor offered.
Chloe sighed and tilted her head, exasperation written clearly across her face.
“You could play,” Oliver said, holding his controller out to her.
Chloe took it from him. “Don’t think this gets you off the hook.”
“I wouldn’t make that mistake.”
Chloe turned back to Connor who still sat more or less frozen near the game console. “Come on, Connor,” she said. “Let’s play.”
Connor broke into a wide grin. “Cool,” he murmured.
This game turned out to be a racing game. Oliver watched the two pass the lead back and forth. Connor was good at this game too, but so was Chloe. Maybe she’d just had a lot of practice.
When Connor finally won, Chloe put a hand on Connor’s controller. Connor looked up at her. “It’s Oliver’s turn,” she said.
Connor looked like he was about to protest, but Chloe shook her head at him, eyebrows raised. Connor handed Oliver the controller and settled into his mother’s side.
Oliver took the controller and waited as the game counted down.
3…2…1…Go.
They raced in silence for awhile, Chloe maintaining the lead. Oliver waited for the ball to drop.
Chloe didn’t speak until about halfway into the last lap. “You need to fix this - this - whatever this is.”
“I’m trying.”
Chloe finished the race and turned to Oliver. “I’m serious, Oliver. It can’t be good for you.”
“I’m trying,” Oliver repeated. His character crossed the finish line as well.
“Lois wanted us to talk to you.”
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Oliver,” Chloe sighed, but she was interrupted as the doors burst open and Laura came rushing in.
“Daddy!” she called. “I found you!”
Laura came to a stop in front of Oliver. She was dressed in a frilly pink dress, a tiara barely hanging on in her hair. She grabbed Oliver’s hand and pulled. “Come on,” she exclaimed. “It’s time for cake.”
“Okay, Laura,” Oliver said. He stood up, letting Laura lead him to the door.
“Come on.” Laura tugged on his hand.
Oliver turned back to look at Chloe. “Go try,” she said. Oliver let Laura pull him out the door.
“Mom?” Connor sat up. “What’s wrong with Uncle Ollie?”
Chloe sighed. Reaching out, she ruffled Connor’s hair. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, okay?”
“Okay,” Connor said in a small voice.
“I promise.”
Connor nodded, and Chloe hoped she’d reassured him. She didn’t want Connor to have to worry about Oliver. She put on a smile. “How about we go get some cake?”
Connor jumped up from the sofa, tugging on Chloe’s hand much like Laura had done earlier.
“You go,” Chloe said. “I’ll catch up.”
Connor rushed out the door. Chloe followed slowly. Just before she reached the dining room, Clark appeared.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“It will be,” Chloe said, managing a smile. She held a hand out, and Clark wrapped it in his. “Let’s go have cake.”