Useful Enemy - August 16th
Twisted Shorts August Fic-a-Day Challenge - Day 16
Title: Useful Enemy
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Smallville
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Smallville people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: Athena and Clark save Lana.
Notes: Athena Luthor Part 11 - Links Page
Seasons: S1Ep 4 “X-ray”
Characters: Athena, Clark, Lana, Whitney
Word Count: 1990
Athena rapped on the door. Night fell too early in November, she had spent the light of the afternoon one step behind Lana.
The door was pulled open.
“Athena,” Jonathan greeted in surprise.
“Dad,” Clark said. “Step back.”
Jonathan frowned, but backed away from the door.
Athena lifted her right hand so Clark could see she was not Tina.
“Where’s Lana?” Clark asked as he let her in.
“Nell says she took her horse and had a bouquet of flowers,” Athena told him. “I think she went to see her parents.”
“Here,” Martha said, handing Clark his jacket.
“Thanks,” Clark said, pulling it on. “Let’s go.”
Athena nodded. They went to the barn, then Clark wrapped an arm around Athena and started running too fast to see.
When they came to a stop, they were standing in the graveyard. Whitney was standing near the Lang’s headstone.
“Clark,” Whitney said in surprise, “Athena. What are you doing here?”
They approached cautiously. “Looking for you, Tina,” Athena said.
“Tina doesn’t exist anymore!” Whitney’s face contorted in rage.
Clark doubled over suddenly, dropping to one knee.
“I know what it’s like to try and live two lives,” Athena said. “The one you want and the one everybody expects of you.”
“What happened to your mom,” Clark said from his place kneeling on the ground. “That was an accident.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” Whitney-Tina sneered. “And don’t worry about Lana, you’ll be joining her soon.” She stripped the letterman’s jacket off and threw it to the side. “I thought I killed him once. I won’t make the same mistake with you.”
Armed with a pipe, Whitney-Tina ran directly for Athena. Athena fell into stance and delivered a roundhouse to her face. It did little to stop her. Taking a step back, Athena waited for Whitney-Tina to swing at her. It took a moment, but she was able to grab the pipe mid-swing. She jerked it away.
“Where is Lana?” Athena demanded.
“She’s dead,” Whitney-Tina crowed just as Clark appeared behind her.
“Find Lana,” Clark said.
Athena nodded and ran to where they had had seen Whitney-Tina standing. She looked around. There were no disturbed graves, no fresh dirt.
“Lana!” she called. Something from the journal came back to her. Slayers have shown to have advanced hearing. It is not as sharp as their vampire enemies, but can prove invaluable in stealth and surveillance.
She stilled and listened. “Come on, come on,” she whispered. Nothing. “Clark,” she yelled. “I can’t find her.”
Clark reached her side a moment later. “Tina is knocked out,” he told her.
“X-ray for Lana, she’s got to be here. I’ll make sure Tina stays put.”
He nodded and started looking around.
Athena ran to the horse. There was spare rope attached to the saddle. She pulled it off and ran to where Tina - now in her own form - lay unconscious. She judged the length of the rope. It was not terribly long, but it would work.
She pushed Tina over and pulled her hands behind her back. She tied the individual wrists, then tied them together, Athena looped the remaining rope to Tina’s waist then down to her knees. Hopefully, it would keep Tina in place even if she tried to shift forms.
CRASH!
Athena turned to see Clark carrying Lana. “Is she okay?”
“She’s breathing,” he said. “She was closed in a tomb.”
“I will load Tina onto Lana’s horse and follow.”
“Take her to my parents, I don’t want her to have another shot at Lana if she wakes up.”
Athena nodded, looking down at Lana’s resting face. “Go, she may have been hit on the head, she needs medical attention.”
Clark started running.
Athena sighed and walked over to the horse. “Hey, boy,” she whispered softly, rubbing the horse’s muzzle. “I need your help if you want to get back home.”
The horse nickered at her and pressed into her hand.
“Good, as long as we are in this together.” She grabbed the lead and gently talked him into following. She stopped him after a moment and picked up the flowers Lana had brought, returning them to the front of the Lang’s headstone. She continued across the graveyard, pausing when she spotted the yellow and red lettermen jacket. “That must really be Whitney’s.” She picked it up, spotting a necklace next to it. She examined it. “Where did Tina find this?” She had not seen it since ripping it off Clark when he had been scarecrowed.
She pocketed the necklace and continued to where Tina lay.
“Do you mind?” Athena asked the horse. “She’s not our favorite person, but this is the only way to keep her secured.”
The horse nickered and lowered its head.
“Thanks, boy.”
88888888
Athena reached the Kent Farm at a trot. Jonathan was waiting for her in the barn.
“They sent over an ambulance and police escort,” Jonathan told her as she pulled to a stop. “They’re waiting for you.”
Athena nodded.
“She’s here!” Martha called, waving someone their way.
Two deputies and two paramedics entered with a gurney.
“Clark Kent said you had Tina Grier,” the deputy said.
“Yes,” Athena said, gesturing to the body mounted over the saddle in front of her. “She’s been out cold for thirty-five minutes.”
The deputies came forward and removed Tina from the front of the saddle and placed her on the gurney. They went to cut the bindings.
“Don’t!” Athena said. “She changes form, if she does it again she could slip cuffs.”
“We understand. Let’s get her to Belle Reeve,” he told the paramedics. “Someone will be over shortly to get your statement.” They headed out of the barn.
“Athena!” a voice called, panicked.
“Oh, shoot me,” Athena muttered where she was still seated on Lana’s horse.
Jonathan looked up at her in surprise.
Lex entered at a near run, pausing only to check the gurney. Then he saw Athena and Jonathan.
“What happened?” he walked until he was standing next to Jonathan.
Lana’s horse shook its head and started to move, antsy.
Athena leaned forward and rubbed his neck. “It’s okay, boy. I’ll take you home.” She looked down at Lex. “I’ll tell you all about it once I’ve got the horse put away and I want to check on Lana.” And I’ve got to check what version of the truth Clark is using.
Lex nodded. “Okay. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
Athena expertly wheeled the horse around and left the barn.
Lex took a big breath, letting out a heavy sigh.
“She’s okay,” Jonathan told him.
“I could see that,” he acknowledge. “This is the closest we’ve been since she was ten. I guess that’s how I still think of her sometimes.”
“Would you like some tea, Lex?” Martha asked.
“That sounds wonderful.”
88888888
Athena exited the stable and headed towards the flashing lights in front of Lana’s house. In her hand, she held Whitney’s jacket.
Clark was giving a statement to the police. Lana stood near the porch.
“Hey,” Athena said softly.
“Hi,” Lana said. “I hear you are to thank for Tina being off the streets.”
“It was a team effort. You okay?”
She shook her head. “No. Not really.”
Chloe got out of her car and headed directly for them. “Hey, Lana. I did some digging.” She pulled out a tape with “Graduation Address 1977” written on it.
“Oh, my god. How did you find this?” Lana said taking the tape.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” Chloe replied, “and it looks like you’ve had enough trauma for one night.”
“Chloe, thank you.”
“No problem,” Chloe said. Her eyes went to Athena. “Any chance of an interview for the Torch?”
“Not today,” Athena told her.
They were interrupted when Whitney came barreling up, pulling Lana into a hug.
“Are you okay?” Whitney asked.
“Yes,” Lana answered, squeezing him tightly.
“I’m going to go,” Chloe said. “I just knew how much you wanted that.”
Lana nodded as she and Whitney drew back from their embrace.
“I believe this belongs to you,” Athena held up Whitney’s letterman jacket.
“How did you get it?” Whitney asked.
“Tina was wearing it,” Lana answered.
“I found this too,” Athena dug into her pocket, pulling out the green necklace. “I thought it might be yours.”
Lana looked at it in surprise. “Where did you get it?”
“My guess is Tina’s had it for a while.” Athena squeezed Lana’s arm. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ve got half a dozen guards who are always suspicious of teenage girls.”
“Thank you,” Lana said again.
“Night, Lana. Fordman.”
“Luthor,” Whitney replied.
Athena approached Clark.
“Miss Luthor,” the deputy said. “I need to get your statement.”
“I understand,” she assured. “But it has been a really long day. Can I come to the station tomorrow to give my statement?”
He considered. “First thing?”
“Nine tomorrow morning I will be right there.”
“Here,” he handed her a card. “Ask for Bishop, he’ll be on-duty to take your statement.”
She accepted the card. “Thank you.” She looked at Clark. “Are you done? I left my brother and your parents at the farm.”
“He’s good to go,” the deputy replied. “If we have any more questions, we know where to find him.”
“Thanks, deputy,” Clark said.
They started away from Lana’s house.
“Tina is on her way to Belle Reeve,” Athena told him. “She didn’t wake up the whole way to the farm.”
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Physically, I’m fine. I’m a little miffed about what happened yesterday that involved you and Tina kissing.”
Clark sighed, pulling her to a stop. “She kissed me. I pushed her away. She threw me out of the barn. That’s all there was to it.”
“Except she looked like Lana and you’ve been in love with Lana since you were in kindergarten,” she pointed out.
“Until a few weeks ago, I never had a conversation with her.” Clark stared down at her. “Lana…represented a normal life, everything I could have, if I could keep my powers a secret and act like everyone else.”
“And now?” she asked softly.
“I’m not normal, Athena. I never have been. I’m trying to accept that.” He tipped her face up, studying the shape of her face in the moonlight. “You accept me, all of me. You accept my powers and my strength, you never flinch. I started feeling ill in the cemetery and you took on Tina without pausing. Because you’re different.”
“Because I’m the Slayer,” she told him.
“You didn’t know that when you took on Greg,” he reminded her. “And since you found out, you’ve done whatever you could to help those who needed it.” He smiled. “I never imagined someone would share my secrets.”
“You always surprise me, Clark,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine sharing my abilities with anyone else.” She went on her toes and kissed him. In truth, she could imagine, but it was always a nightmare scenario of being used as a soulless killing machine by the Watchers or treated as a freak experiment by some lab doctor. But the secrets she and Clark shared always meant they could be themselves.
They ended their kiss. Athena sighed.
“We need to get back,” he said.
“I know.” She threaded her arm with his and turned towards the Kent Farm. She leaned slightly into his side as they walked.
“How did you know it wasn’t Whitney?” Clark asked suddenly. “When we were in the cemetery, you knew it was Tina immediately. How?”
“Whitney doesn’t call me Athena, not since my name came out and - more importantly - not since Homecoming.” She grinned. “Who knew having him as an enemy would come in handy?”
Clark shook his head. “I don’t know how you caught that.”
“Luthor business training.”
“Ah.”
“What is our version of events that doesn’t involve us being super-strong?” she asked.
Title: Useful Enemy
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Smallville
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Smallville people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: Athena and Clark save Lana.
Notes: Athena Luthor Part 11 - Links Page
Seasons: S1Ep 4 “X-ray”
Characters: Athena, Clark, Lana, Whitney
Word Count: 1990
Athena rapped on the door. Night fell too early in November, she had spent the light of the afternoon one step behind Lana.
The door was pulled open.
“Athena,” Jonathan greeted in surprise.
“Dad,” Clark said. “Step back.”
Jonathan frowned, but backed away from the door.
Athena lifted her right hand so Clark could see she was not Tina.
“Where’s Lana?” Clark asked as he let her in.
“Nell says she took her horse and had a bouquet of flowers,” Athena told him. “I think she went to see her parents.”
“Here,” Martha said, handing Clark his jacket.
“Thanks,” Clark said, pulling it on. “Let’s go.”
Athena nodded. They went to the barn, then Clark wrapped an arm around Athena and started running too fast to see.
When they came to a stop, they were standing in the graveyard. Whitney was standing near the Lang’s headstone.
“Clark,” Whitney said in surprise, “Athena. What are you doing here?”
They approached cautiously. “Looking for you, Tina,” Athena said.
“Tina doesn’t exist anymore!” Whitney’s face contorted in rage.
Clark doubled over suddenly, dropping to one knee.
“I know what it’s like to try and live two lives,” Athena said. “The one you want and the one everybody expects of you.”
“What happened to your mom,” Clark said from his place kneeling on the ground. “That was an accident.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” Whitney-Tina sneered. “And don’t worry about Lana, you’ll be joining her soon.” She stripped the letterman’s jacket off and threw it to the side. “I thought I killed him once. I won’t make the same mistake with you.”
Armed with a pipe, Whitney-Tina ran directly for Athena. Athena fell into stance and delivered a roundhouse to her face. It did little to stop her. Taking a step back, Athena waited for Whitney-Tina to swing at her. It took a moment, but she was able to grab the pipe mid-swing. She jerked it away.
“Where is Lana?” Athena demanded.
“She’s dead,” Whitney-Tina crowed just as Clark appeared behind her.
“Find Lana,” Clark said.
Athena nodded and ran to where they had had seen Whitney-Tina standing. She looked around. There were no disturbed graves, no fresh dirt.
“Lana!” she called. Something from the journal came back to her. Slayers have shown to have advanced hearing. It is not as sharp as their vampire enemies, but can prove invaluable in stealth and surveillance.
She stilled and listened. “Come on, come on,” she whispered. Nothing. “Clark,” she yelled. “I can’t find her.”
Clark reached her side a moment later. “Tina is knocked out,” he told her.
“X-ray for Lana, she’s got to be here. I’ll make sure Tina stays put.”
He nodded and started looking around.
Athena ran to the horse. There was spare rope attached to the saddle. She pulled it off and ran to where Tina - now in her own form - lay unconscious. She judged the length of the rope. It was not terribly long, but it would work.
She pushed Tina over and pulled her hands behind her back. She tied the individual wrists, then tied them together, Athena looped the remaining rope to Tina’s waist then down to her knees. Hopefully, it would keep Tina in place even if she tried to shift forms.
CRASH!
Athena turned to see Clark carrying Lana. “Is she okay?”
“She’s breathing,” he said. “She was closed in a tomb.”
“I will load Tina onto Lana’s horse and follow.”
“Take her to my parents, I don’t want her to have another shot at Lana if she wakes up.”
Athena nodded, looking down at Lana’s resting face. “Go, she may have been hit on the head, she needs medical attention.”
Clark started running.
Athena sighed and walked over to the horse. “Hey, boy,” she whispered softly, rubbing the horse’s muzzle. “I need your help if you want to get back home.”
The horse nickered at her and pressed into her hand.
“Good, as long as we are in this together.” She grabbed the lead and gently talked him into following. She stopped him after a moment and picked up the flowers Lana had brought, returning them to the front of the Lang’s headstone. She continued across the graveyard, pausing when she spotted the yellow and red lettermen jacket. “That must really be Whitney’s.” She picked it up, spotting a necklace next to it. She examined it. “Where did Tina find this?” She had not seen it since ripping it off Clark when he had been scarecrowed.
She pocketed the necklace and continued to where Tina lay.
“Do you mind?” Athena asked the horse. “She’s not our favorite person, but this is the only way to keep her secured.”
The horse nickered and lowered its head.
“Thanks, boy.”
88888888
Athena reached the Kent Farm at a trot. Jonathan was waiting for her in the barn.
“They sent over an ambulance and police escort,” Jonathan told her as she pulled to a stop. “They’re waiting for you.”
Athena nodded.
“She’s here!” Martha called, waving someone their way.
Two deputies and two paramedics entered with a gurney.
“Clark Kent said you had Tina Grier,” the deputy said.
“Yes,” Athena said, gesturing to the body mounted over the saddle in front of her. “She’s been out cold for thirty-five minutes.”
The deputies came forward and removed Tina from the front of the saddle and placed her on the gurney. They went to cut the bindings.
“Don’t!” Athena said. “She changes form, if she does it again she could slip cuffs.”
“We understand. Let’s get her to Belle Reeve,” he told the paramedics. “Someone will be over shortly to get your statement.” They headed out of the barn.
“Athena!” a voice called, panicked.
“Oh, shoot me,” Athena muttered where she was still seated on Lana’s horse.
Jonathan looked up at her in surprise.
Lex entered at a near run, pausing only to check the gurney. Then he saw Athena and Jonathan.
“What happened?” he walked until he was standing next to Jonathan.
Lana’s horse shook its head and started to move, antsy.
Athena leaned forward and rubbed his neck. “It’s okay, boy. I’ll take you home.” She looked down at Lex. “I’ll tell you all about it once I’ve got the horse put away and I want to check on Lana.” And I’ve got to check what version of the truth Clark is using.
Lex nodded. “Okay. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
Athena expertly wheeled the horse around and left the barn.
Lex took a big breath, letting out a heavy sigh.
“She’s okay,” Jonathan told him.
“I could see that,” he acknowledge. “This is the closest we’ve been since she was ten. I guess that’s how I still think of her sometimes.”
“Would you like some tea, Lex?” Martha asked.
“That sounds wonderful.”
88888888
Athena exited the stable and headed towards the flashing lights in front of Lana’s house. In her hand, she held Whitney’s jacket.
Clark was giving a statement to the police. Lana stood near the porch.
“Hey,” Athena said softly.
“Hi,” Lana said. “I hear you are to thank for Tina being off the streets.”
“It was a team effort. You okay?”
She shook her head. “No. Not really.”
Chloe got out of her car and headed directly for them. “Hey, Lana. I did some digging.” She pulled out a tape with “Graduation Address 1977” written on it.
“Oh, my god. How did you find this?” Lana said taking the tape.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” Chloe replied, “and it looks like you’ve had enough trauma for one night.”
“Chloe, thank you.”
“No problem,” Chloe said. Her eyes went to Athena. “Any chance of an interview for the Torch?”
“Not today,” Athena told her.
They were interrupted when Whitney came barreling up, pulling Lana into a hug.
“Are you okay?” Whitney asked.
“Yes,” Lana answered, squeezing him tightly.
“I’m going to go,” Chloe said. “I just knew how much you wanted that.”
Lana nodded as she and Whitney drew back from their embrace.
“I believe this belongs to you,” Athena held up Whitney’s letterman jacket.
“How did you get it?” Whitney asked.
“Tina was wearing it,” Lana answered.
“I found this too,” Athena dug into her pocket, pulling out the green necklace. “I thought it might be yours.”
Lana looked at it in surprise. “Where did you get it?”
“My guess is Tina’s had it for a while.” Athena squeezed Lana’s arm. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ve got half a dozen guards who are always suspicious of teenage girls.”
“Thank you,” Lana said again.
“Night, Lana. Fordman.”
“Luthor,” Whitney replied.
Athena approached Clark.
“Miss Luthor,” the deputy said. “I need to get your statement.”
“I understand,” she assured. “But it has been a really long day. Can I come to the station tomorrow to give my statement?”
He considered. “First thing?”
“Nine tomorrow morning I will be right there.”
“Here,” he handed her a card. “Ask for Bishop, he’ll be on-duty to take your statement.”
She accepted the card. “Thank you.” She looked at Clark. “Are you done? I left my brother and your parents at the farm.”
“He’s good to go,” the deputy replied. “If we have any more questions, we know where to find him.”
“Thanks, deputy,” Clark said.
They started away from Lana’s house.
“Tina is on her way to Belle Reeve,” Athena told him. “She didn’t wake up the whole way to the farm.”
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Physically, I’m fine. I’m a little miffed about what happened yesterday that involved you and Tina kissing.”
Clark sighed, pulling her to a stop. “She kissed me. I pushed her away. She threw me out of the barn. That’s all there was to it.”
“Except she looked like Lana and you’ve been in love with Lana since you were in kindergarten,” she pointed out.
“Until a few weeks ago, I never had a conversation with her.” Clark stared down at her. “Lana…represented a normal life, everything I could have, if I could keep my powers a secret and act like everyone else.”
“And now?” she asked softly.
“I’m not normal, Athena. I never have been. I’m trying to accept that.” He tipped her face up, studying the shape of her face in the moonlight. “You accept me, all of me. You accept my powers and my strength, you never flinch. I started feeling ill in the cemetery and you took on Tina without pausing. Because you’re different.”
“Because I’m the Slayer,” she told him.
“You didn’t know that when you took on Greg,” he reminded her. “And since you found out, you’ve done whatever you could to help those who needed it.” He smiled. “I never imagined someone would share my secrets.”
“You always surprise me, Clark,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine sharing my abilities with anyone else.” She went on her toes and kissed him. In truth, she could imagine, but it was always a nightmare scenario of being used as a soulless killing machine by the Watchers or treated as a freak experiment by some lab doctor. But the secrets she and Clark shared always meant they could be themselves.
They ended their kiss. Athena sighed.
“We need to get back,” he said.
“I know.” She threaded her arm with his and turned towards the Kent Farm. She leaned slightly into his side as they walked.
“How did you know it wasn’t Whitney?” Clark asked suddenly. “When we were in the cemetery, you knew it was Tina immediately. How?”
“Whitney doesn’t call me Athena, not since my name came out and - more importantly - not since Homecoming.” She grinned. “Who knew having him as an enemy would come in handy?”
Clark shook his head. “I don’t know how you caught that.”
“Luthor business training.”
“Ah.”
“What is our version of events that doesn’t involve us being super-strong?” she asked.