milliways_bar | (no subject)

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[OOM: In Smallville, Clark isn't having much fun.]

Clark doesn't hang around the main bar very long when he enters - too loud today - and heads outside, walking along the lake shore. He can still hear just about everything that's going on, right down to the rustle of demon bunnies in the forest, but at least out here the conversations emanating from the bar overlap enough that it's more a background buzz.

It's preferable to a hundred mooing cows, at any rate.

He stops a fair distance away from the main building and picks up a few rocks, casually tossing them into the water. Occasionally, he actually puts a tiny bit of effort into it and a few land clear on the opposite shore.

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"She said you didn't and that's why your relationship worked. Of course, that could've just been a dig at me." Which only makes Clark frown even more, because if it was, it was a pretty low blow on Chloe's part.

"She's really important to me, too, Riley. I just want her to be happy and if that means being with you, then that's what it'll be."

"Big things, no, but -- I don't think two people exist who tell each other absolutely everything there is to know ever. I don't know if I'd want to meet them." He rubs the bridge of his nose where his glasses were sitting and says into his palm, "They sound a little sick."

He lowers his hand. "Yeah. Agreed. Just -- flip that, and add the word 'friends' in there somewhere."

"No, I guess not," Clark agrees after a minute. He'd like to say he and Chloe are like that, but since he can't tell her about the Green Arrow, it wouldn't be accurate.

"Fair enough." He almost wants to ask 'now what?' because this is completely new territory for him and he doesn't have a clue where to go from here. "And I'm sorry if I offended you the other night. I get a little unreasonable when it comes to the safety of the people I care about the most."

"It was more pissed off than offended," he says, honest to a fault. "But thanks, man. I appreciate that. I just -- I really love her. I don't have the kind of abilities that you do, but I watch out for her as much as I possibly can."

"I know you do. It's just not exactly easy for me accept it."

Finally, Clark walks to where Riley's sitting and offers his hand. "So, truce?"

He nods and shakes his hand firmly. "Truce." Beat. He pulls a wry face. "Again. I think this one'll stick, though."

"I hope so. For all our sakes," Clark replies and then offers a small smile. "You realize of course this puts you on my protection list now, too."

Riley half-laughs, genuinely amused. "Yeah? That sounds awfully Tony Soprano. Should I be afraid?"

Clark shrugs, smile widening a bit. "That depends if you think having an overprotective, superpowered alien on your side is something to be afaid of."

Riley grins. "Sounds pretty cool to me."

"Everyone always thinks it's cool," Clark shakes his head, amused.

"You've got superpowers," Riley points out. "That is cool."

"They're actually kind of a pain sometimes, especially when a new one shows up out of the blue."

After a brief pause, "Okay, the superspeed's kind of cool."

Riley grins brighter. "See? I'll bet that's handy."

Careful, Riley. Your fanboy is showing.

"They all come in handy now and then, I'm not going to say they don't, but yeah. It's kind of nice to be able to go wherever I want pretty much within a few seconds."

"Come on, you're missing out on the wonderful experience of flying coach."

Clark laughs. "This is true, but I have flown. I mean, I can't run across water."

Pause.

"Well, not an ocean full of it."

"But you can across smaller bodies of water?" Riley laughs. "Man, you're like an alien Jesus!"

(This is, it should be said, delivered in a joking but 'that is so cool' tone of voice.)

"I wouldn't quite go that far. It's just the momentum," Clark explains, still laughing himself. "But it's Kansas, you know? There's not much water around."

"I'll have to take your word for it," Riley says, cheerfully enough. "Born and raised in Maryland; I hadn't really been anywhere but D.C. up til the last couple of weeks. Chloe showed me a little bit of Metropolis once, but that's the most face time with Kansas I've had."

"Well, you'll have to prepare yourself for the full Kent Farm experience for Thanksgiving. Rural Kansas at its best," Clark nods.

"We have corn and cows."

Riley looks cautiously leery. "--I don't know that I've ever seen a cow in person."

"Really?" Clark sounds genuinely surprised at this because... never seen a cow?

"I guess I won't let you milk them, then."

Riley snickers. "I can't decide who'll be more grateful for that: me or the cow."

"That would probably be a tough call."