Chlark Fanfic: Agenda, Chapter 13

[babydee1]

Title:              Agenda
Author:         babydee1
Pairing:          Chlark
Rating:           NC-17 (mostly PG-13)
Warnings:     None  
Timeline:      Futurefic; follows Season 8’s Injustice & Failsday Doomsday 
Disclaimer:   All known characters belong to the CW & DC comics. 
Summary:     More than a decade after the Doomsday Rampage, Clark makes a shocking discovery that changes his life forever. 
Feedback:      …makes me squee. :-)  
 
Written for the 2011 smallvillebbanglong Fanfic challenge.  Many thanks to twinsareinfor all her tireless organisation and support!
 
Beta’ed by legendarytobes& The Fallen Sky at KSite.
Art by sylvanelfmistre& go_clo.
 
 
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
 

Chapter 13   
 
 
“Mom, will you stop fidgeting?  You look fine!”
 
Chloe smoothed her hands nervously down her figure-hugging velvet crimson gown and bit her lower lip as she surveyed her reflection in the mirror.  “Just fine?”
 
She saw Gabby roll her eyes in the mirror.  “Amazing.  You look amazing, Ma.  And you know you do, so stop fishing for compliments.”
 
Chloe reached for the brush for the hundredth time, sighing deeply when her daughter took it out of her hands with a stern look.  “I haven’t been out on a date with your father in…well, ever,” she admitted. 
 
Gabby folded her arms.  “Really?  You never had movie night at the Farm when you were younger?”
 
“Course we did, all the time.  But that’s not a---”
 
“Did he ever take you out for fries and a burger?”
 
Chloe scoffed.  “At least once a week!”
 
Her daughter nodded.  “Mmm-hmm.  And how often did you share a bucket of popcorn and watered-down soda at the movies, just the two of you?”
 
Chloe smiled nostagically.  “More times than I can remember.”
 
Gabby shrugged and returned her smile.  “Well, there you go.  You’ve been courting your whole lives, Mom.  That’s dating by any definition, even though you never actually used that term.  After all, a Rose by any other name…”
 
“…is still a Rose,” she completed, her smile widening. 
 
Gabby came over and took her hands.  “Just look at this as an extension of all those other times, okay?  And don’t try to think your way out of this, because I know what you’re like.”
 
Chloe opened her mouth to protest and deny, but the doorbell rang. 
 
“That’ll be Dad!” Gabby said excitedly. 
 
Chloe frowned.  “He lives here.  Why is he ringing the bell?” 
 
Gabby sighed in frustration.  “Because he’s picking you up for a date, silly, and he wants to do it right!” she exclaimed.
 
“…and there’s the D-word again,” Chloe said, her heart beating frantically.   “Are you sure I look okay?  Where’s the hairbrush?”
 
Gabby mumbled something under her breath and went to open the door.  Clark stood there apprehensively, holding a single red rose and wearing a black tuxedo and an expectant smile.
 
“Good evening,” he said nervously.  “I’m er…I’m here to pick up a gorgeous blonde---”
 
“Yah, you sound like a pimp, Dad,” Gabby said with a giggle as she held the door open and stood aside.  “Just come on in, she’s waiting for you.  And you can relax; she’s as nervous as you are.” 
 
Chloe heard Clark exhale loudly as he entered, stopping short as he saw her standing there.  He surveyed her from head toe with wide hungry eyes, and some of her nervousness dissipated.  Apparently, he liked what he saw.
 
Her own breath caught in her throat at the sight of him dressed up in formal wear with his hear neatly combed and glasses on his face. 
 
“Hi,” he said, sounding almost shy.
 
She smiled.  “Hi.” 
 
He held out his hand and took hers, staring at her with the same expression he’d had in his eyes when he’d seen her in the dress she’d worn to the Spring Formal.  “You look…you look beautiful.” 
 
She grinned – probably also the same grin she’d had when she’d first seen him in that tux.  Goodness, had it really been twenty years ago?  “Thanks.  You don’t look half bad yourself.” 
 
He returned her smile and bent to kiss her cheek, making sparks tingle through her. 
 
“Oh – This is for you.”  He handed her the rose and she lifted it to her nose and inhaled deeply. 
 
“Thank you, it’s…it’s lovely.” 
 
They stood there holding hands and grinning like fools until their daughter interrupted the silence with a loud cough. 
 
“Sorry to be a mood-killer, but your reservation is for eight-thirty, and you’re driving,” she pointed out wisely.  “So, unless you wanna get stuck in mid-town traffic…”
 
“…we’d best get a move on,” Clark finished, placing his hand at the small of Chloe’s back and gently ushering her to the door.  She grabbed a navy blue coat from the rack, and Clark gallantly held it for her as she slipped her arms into it. 
 
“Now, I want you in bed by ten, young lady,” Chloe said sternly as she buttoned her coat.  “No later.  If you need anything, you have our cells and the restaurant number---”
 
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” she said reassuringly.  “I have homework to finish, and if I’m done in time I might watch some TV, then I’ll be off to bed.  Promise.”
 
Chloe smiled.  “I trust you.  We’ll be back by midnight at the very latest.” 
 
Gabby giggled.  “Don’t worry, I won’t wait up.  Have fun, kids!” 
 
***
 
Forty-five minutes later, they were greeted by a smiling, uniformed doorman who welcomed them to Atlantis, Metropolis’s finest seafood restaurant.  A uniformed waiter ushered them to a nice corner table, took their orders and withdrew.  Chloe placed her wrap over the back of her chair glanced around the room, loving the warm sophistication of the establishment.  It was classy and upmarket without making being stuffy and condescending.  She was grateful for that; she hated places which made the diners feel like they had to take a Cutlery Course to know which spoon was which. 
 
An elderly gentleman was seated at a grand piano in one corner, playing gentle music which was pleasing to the ear.  A small tealight floating in a petaled glass bowl adorned their table, bathing them in a gentle glow and adding to the peaceful atmosphere.  Chloe looked up and she and Clark smiled at each other across the table.   
 
“It’s a nice place,” she remarked.
 
He looked pleased.  “You like it?”
 
“Immensely.  The décor and the ambience are just perfect.  I haven’t even tasted the food yet, but I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.”
 
“You won’t,” he promised with a reassuring smile. 
 
His gaze skimmed over her appreciatively, resting briefly on her décolletage.  Chloe idly wondered if he was thinking about that morning a week or so ago, when he’d surprised her and gotten an eyeful of her in the nude.  He’d looked as if he liked what he’d seen then, and it was the same look that was in his eyes now.  She lowered her eyes and blushed, thankful for the muted lighting that masked her rosy hue. 
 
“So…” she began hesitantly.  “You come here often?”
 
Clark looked puzzled.  “By myself?  Heck no; it’s kinda sad to eat out alone, isn’t it?”
 
“I meant with Diana,” she explained.  “Did you ever bring her here?” 
 
“Oh!  No, no,” he said, his face reddening.  “We, uh…we didn’t go out in public much.” 
 
“Why not?”
 
He made a face.  “Diana’s very…intense, as you would have noticed.  And enigmatic.  She stands out even when she’s trying not to, and I…well, you know me; I’ve tried my whole life to just blend in.” 
 
“I see.”  She drummed her fingers on the table and grinned.  “I bet all that intensity came in handy behind closed doors, huh?”
 
Clark beet-red flush was visible even in the dim lighting.  “Do you really want to have this conversation, Chloe?” he challenged, shuffling uncomfortably. 
 
“I’m just curious,” she said with an honest shrug.  “I’ve often wondered how the two of you got on, but it’s not like I could ever ask her about it.  Like you said, she’s very intense and enigmatic.” 
 
“I guess I can give you a quick rundown,” he relented as he set his glass down.  “We met about six months after I returned from the Fortress, at one of the Justice League meetings.  Bruce had done a few quick introductions earlier, nothing really explicit.  And after the meeting she sort of observed me from a distance for about five minutes, and then suddenly came over to stand beside me.”
 
“You  are not like the others, Clark,” she said, eyeing him sharply.  “Where are you from?” 
 
“I’m Kryptonian.”
 
Her eyes widened.  “Kal-El?”
 
He stared at her in shock.  “You know me?”
 
“I know of you.  My race has long since heard of the last son of the lost planet.”
 
“Not quite the last,” he muttered bitterly, thoughts of Davis clouding his mood.
 
Diana blinked.  “Beg pardon?”
 
“Nothing.”
 
He shuffled uncomfortably as she continued to study him openly.
 
“You’re pleasing to the eye,” she finally said.
 
Huh. That was probably her way of saying she thought he was hot.  “Thanks,” he replied as he raised a glass of water to his lips. 
 
“I wish to lie with you.”
 
The sip of water he’d taken went straight into his lungs as he gasped and sputtered, spraying moisture all over her arm.  “What?” he finally choked.
 
“Lie with you,” she said, very matter-of-factly as she grabbed a tissue from the table to wipe her arm down. 
 
He was still several clicks behind.  Lie with him?  “As in…?”
 
“Couple,” she explained patiently.  “Make love, have sex…” she trailed off and a worrying frown marred her brow.  “You do know what sex is, don’t you, Kal-El?”
 
“Of course I do!  I just, uh…” he swallowed.  “This is very…direct of you, isn’t it?  I mean, we just met.”
 
She shrugged.  “I always speak my mind,” she said.  “There is no reason to do otherwise.”
 
Clark gaped at the gorgeous Themysciran princess who had just propositioned him.  She was a stunning beauty, without a doubt.  She could have any man she wanted.  Why him?  
 
“You hesitate,” she observed.  “Perhaps you do not find me attractive?”
 
“That’s not it,” he hastened to reassure her.  “You’re an incredibly beautiful woman.”
 
“Then what is it?”  she asked.  “Are you lifebonded to another?  I see no ring on your finger.”
 
His heart felt like lead in his chest as he pushed thoughts of Chloe out of his mind.  “I’m not married.”
 
“Then why the uncertainty?” 
 
Why indeed? he thought.  The first thing he’d learned on his return to civilisation was that Chloe was with Bruce Wayne aka Batman, and that they had a child together.  She’d moved on, just as he’d wanted her to. 
 
He hadn’t seen her since the day he’d left for his training, and even after his return he hadn’t sought her out, nor had she come looking for him.  There was no sense holding on to a past that was no longer connected to his present. 
 
So he turned to Diana and smiled.  “No uncertainty,” he said with an air of finality.  “Let’s do this.” 
 
Diana smiled and took his hand.  “I’m glad.  Come.” 
 
To his utter shock, he found himself being yanked away by the powerful Amazonian. 
 
“What, now?” he sputtered. 
 
“You wish to wait?” she said, surprised.  “Why?”
 
He hunted for what he thought she might consider a plausible excuse.  “Well, it’s…kind of been a long time since I…”
 
“Since you last lay with a woman?” she finished, and smiled again.  “That is no problem, I have not been with a man for a considerable while.” 
 
“Really?” he said, startled, then cringed as he realised how bad that sounded.  He didn’t mean to imply that she was a slut; it was just that for someone so open and honest about sex, he found it hard to believe she could be celibate for more than 24 hours. 
 
“Alas, human men are too weak and fragile for me to couple with,” she said.  “I fear that I may injure them as we---”
 
“I get it,” he interrupted. 
 
She nodded.  “I expect it is the same for you, given your Kryptonian super-strength.  It is why we are well-suited, you and I.  Shall we?”  
 
“Er…” he glanced at her and saw that she was tapping her foot impatiently.  “Okay.” 
 
***
 
“And that was it?” Chloe said, intrigued.  “You tumbled into bed just like that?”
 
Clark gave her a wry smile.  “You have to understand; Diana is a product of her Themysciran upbringing, as I’m sure you’re aware.  From an early age the superiority of women over men is ingrained in them, especially in their princesses.  And she’s a warrior princess, no less, so…”
 
“…her approach to sex for the sake of pleasure would have been rather stark and to the point, especially since she hadn't spent much time immersed in modern American culture by then,” Chloe mused.
 
“Exactly.  Our relationship was purely physical on both sides, and we never pretended it was otherwise, to ourselves or to anyone else in the League,” he replied, sipping his water.  “We ‘dated,’ for want of a better term, for about six months until it came to my knowledge that there was actually another man that she liked and respected, but couldn’t be with him because he was human.” 
 
“Oh, that’s so sad,” Chloe said, her eyes wide.  “Did they ever stay in contact with each other?”
 
“They’re actually together now.” 
 
“But I thought they couldn’t…?”
 
“She thought they couldn’t,” he said with a smile.  “I told her that they probably could as long as she was careful.” 
 
“Yeah, right,” she snorted.  “And what made you the authority on super-versus-human sexing, huh?” 
 
Clark gave her a knowing smile as she lifted her wineglass.  Chloe’s eyes suddenly widened in shock as the obvious answer smacked her between the eyes and the glass slowly found its way back to the table. 
 
“You did,” he said softly. 

*** 

Chapter 14... 

 

Comments

[jacques21.livejournal.com]

After hearing the story of how Clark/Diana got together I think Chloe needs to take a lesson from the Warrior Princess and go after what she really wants.

Can Gab's get any cuter... I love that she knows her mother's insecurities regarding dating her father and immediately sets to right them.

[bkwurm1.livejournal.com]

First let me give a proper, awwwwwwww, over Clark picking her up for their date. I totally flashed back to spring formal and got all gooey. Sooo cute together!!!

The courtship dance of Kal-El and Diana was painful and hilarious. Then just when Chloe thought she had the conversation completely under control it snaps back to THAT night.

:D

[mari2anne.livejournal.com]

Loved the whole date setup... so romantic! But I'm sure if it weren't for Gabby egging her on, Chloe would surely have gotten cold feet and cancelled!

Soooo, Clark and Diana, hmmmm?

[voidknightsc.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Diana is kind of...mechanical? Not quite the same as the Wonder Woman I remember, although she's always been...aggressive and this is funny in its own way. Kind of reminds me of Maxima...

Is that a hint of Bruce/Diana I detect?

[babydee1.livejournal.com]

Nice of you to notice. :-) I just wanted to make it obvious that Diana's upbringing wasn't essentially convential, is all.

Bruce/Diana...hmm. Didn't really think about it, but if you'd brought it up when I was writing it, who knows? ;-)

[voidknightsc.livejournal.com]

I just got the idea from the Justice League animated series. They never become official either.

[voidknightsc.livejournal.com]

So this interpretation of Diana is influenced by New 52...?

[babydee1.livejournal.com]

Not really...just a product of my own twisted brain :-)

[laurelnola.livejournal.com]

"Her own breath caught in her throat at the sight of him dressed up in formal wear with his hear neatly combed and glasses on his face."

I immediately got a flash of CR's Clark, all bumbling and "Gosh, gee whiz!" Luvs!

"who welcomed them to Atlantis, Metropolis’s finest seafood restaurant."

ATLANTIS! Ha! Was that Ordinary Boy's wee shout-out? If their waiter is a hot blonde who sends them they're appetizers by way of an arrow, I will faint. lol I love it, Dee!


“Yeah, right,” she snorted. “And what made you the authority on super-versus-human sexing, huh?”
Clark gave her a knowing smile as she lifted her wineglass. Chloe’s eyes suddenly widened in shock as the obvious answer smacked her between the eyes and the glass slowly found its way back to the table.
“You did,” he said softly.

So Chlark sex is directly responsible for Diana Prince and Steve Trevor living happily ever after! Is there no end to the power of Chlark?! :-D