Chlark Fanfic: All The Way, Chapter 1
I really shouldn't be doing this, not when I have so many other stories on the go, but I just can't help myself. Besides, it's long overdue, and if I don't start work on it, I'll get sidetracked by other stuff and Elly will put me on her sh*tlist!!!
So, without further ado, I present the start of my latest Chlark offering, titled All The Way. ellyfanfiction won it in an auction for $50. I hope by the time I'm done, you'll think it's worth it, Elly! :-D
Enjoy. Rated PG for now, though I daresay it'll get racy as soon as our daring duo are old enough. ;-)
Fantastic banner bysummerstar882 . Many thanks for letting me use it, girl! :-)
Title: All The Way
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark
Rating: PG13 (for now)
Warnings: None
Timeline: All Seasons. Works as a sequel to Daisychain.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Chlark: as they were, are and ever should be.
Feedback: …makes me squee. J
Author’s note: written for ellyfanfiction, who won a Chlark story from me in an auction.
Requirements:
“A fic showing us Chlark from their meeting as kids till the very end. Doesn't have to be long, but I do want to see the high points:-). Smut is optional."
Me: Smut, optional? Not for me, it isn’t. Definitely mandatory! ;-)
Here we go, then! *cracks knuckles*
***
Chapter One
In The Beginning
“Who knows where the road will lead us?
Only a fool would say
But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way…”
- ‘All The Way,’ by Frank Sinatra
***
“Welcome to Smallville High, Chloe. I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.”
Thirteen-year-old Chloe Sullivan smiled politely at Principal Kwan, her true thoughts carefully masked behind her pleasant expression. She knew he meant well, but somehow she doubted that this quaint little establishment in the middle of nowhere could hold a candle to the school she’d had to leave behind in Metropolis.
She wouldn’t have minded leaving Metropolis if she’d been headed somewhere upmarket; like Gotham, or New York. Heck, she’d even take Chicago. But her excitement had waned considerably when her father had shown her a brand-new work ID with the words ‘Luthorcorp’ and ‘Smallville, Kansas’ written on it.
“Smallville?” she’d said incredulously. “Seriously, Dad, Smallville?!? What’s in Smallville?”
“A very, very fabulous job as Plant Supervisor, that’s what,” he’d replied, smiling and ruffling her hair.
She scowled. “Maybe I wasn’t too clear, Dad,” she said sternly. “What’s in Smallville for me? Last time I checked, it was a hick town, and I’m betting it still is!”
“It’s a great opportunity for both of us, Chloe. You’ll get to enjoy the fresh air of the country, learn to ride horses…”
“Lose a few brain cells…” she added dryly.
Her father sighed. “Come on, Chloe. Work with me, here.”
“And why would you want to work for Lionel Luthor, anyway?” she complained, ignoring him. “I don’t like him, Dad. He looks all shifty; like a Pervy Santa, or something.”
“Hey, that ‘Pervy Santa’ is paying me a lot of money to pack up my bags and run his chemical plant in Smallville,” he said sternly. “And you should see the nice house he’s lined up for us. A house, Chloe, not a pokey apartment. With a garden and two garages. You’ll love it!”
But Chloe wasn’t mollified. “I don’t want to move,” she said glumly. “I’ll have to leave all my friends…”
“And you’ll make scores of new ones, Peanut. Look on the bright side!”
Chloe folded her arms and pouted moodily. “It’s Smallville, Dad. I don’t think there is a bright side over there.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” her dad said conspiratorially, walking over to the table and idly thumbing through an old Smallville High School Yearbook that he’d picked up that afternoon when he’d gone to sort out her registration.
“Hmm…this looks interesting,” he went on. “It says here Smallville High’s got a functioning Press Office…”
“What?” she exclaimed, bolting off the seat and reaching him in three quick strides. “Let me see!”
Gabe Sullivan chuckled as she grabbed the thick tome out of his hands. “I knew that would grab your attention.”
“Hey, it says here that the current Editor of the Torch just graduated,” she said, fascinated. “I wonder who’ll be taking over from him?”
“Who knows?” her dad said fondly. “Maybe you could.”
She scoffed. “Don’t be silly, Daddy, I’m just a freshman. And I missed the first term with them. But I’d be happy doing just about anything in that office as long as I’m learning to write proper articles.”
“Good for you. And a good reporter has to have decent transport to get around, so…” he winked at her, and her eyes widened at his implication.
“Daddy, are you getting me a…?” she swallowed, feeling considerably more excited than she had been five minutes ago.
“I did say the house had two garages,” he said with a smile. “But you only get the car as soon as you're old enough to drive, and if you’ve managed to exceed or at least maintain your current Grade Point Average.”
“Oh, it’s on!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around her father’s neck. “Thanks, Dad!”
Her father grinned and leaned back to look at her. “So you agree with me that moving to Smallville might just be the best thing you ever did?”
She made a funny face at him. “I wouldn’t go quite that far, Dad,” she smiled. “But we’ll see.”
***
“So, do you have any questions?” Principal Kwan asked, jerking her back to the present.
“I understand you have a Press Office here,” she said brightly. “May I see it?”
He smiled. “Of course, Chloe. It hasn’t exactly been functional since young Max Taylor left, but maybe you can do something about that.”
“Wow!” she breathed. “You mean I get to actually run it?”
“Well, I’ll have to get one of the prefects to supervise you, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t,” he said confidently. “I’ve seen your transcripts, and you’re well able to handle some extra-curriculars, especially ones that garner you some extra credit.”
Chloe grinned widely. “Can we go there now?”
He smiled indulgently. “Well, you can, but I can’t take you there myself; I have a number of things to attend to before the end of the day. But I can get someone to show you around, if that’s okay.”
She nodded eagerly. “That’s perfect.”
Principal Kwan nodded and pressed a buzzer on his desk, and a short moment later his secretary came in with a small set of keys, which she handed to Chloe.
“Thank you, Marcie,” he said. “Oh, and see if you can grab a passing student to show Chloe around, would you?”
Chloe swung her legs back and forth under the table in anticipation as Marcie walked off to do the Principal’s bidding. She couldn’t wait to get started in a real Press Office, especially one that she’d been promised she could run herself. She was positively giddy with excitement.
“So, what kind of articles does the school paper produce?” she asked in interest.
He looked slightly embarrassed. “Well…mainly just the odd bit of school news; leavers, new starters, August visitors, that sort of thing...”
“Oh,” she said, disappointed. “Well, how many of the school alum writers have gone on to further a career in journalism?”
This time, Principal Kwan looked downright uncomfortable. “Um…Marcie!” he yelled. “Any luck with Miss Sullivan’s orientation guide?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I just tried to get a hold of Lana, but she was scurrying to cheerleader practice,” Marcie replied apologetically from the outer office.
Chloe heaved a sigh of relief. The last person she needed showing her around was some “Yay, Smallville!” chanter trying to get her to sign up for high-kicks and flashing of panties. No, sirree.
“Oh, that’s a shame, she would have been perfect,” he said, disappointed. “Well, who else is available?”
“Er…Tina?” they heard Marcie say to a passing student. “You aren’t too busy, are you?”
“Sorry, Miss Jones, I’m trying out for cheerleading today,” the girl named Tina replied. “Lana’s on the panel, so I have to do my absolute best; she’s my inspiration.”
“Darn. Let me see…Justin!” said Marcie as another kid walked by. “You’re a fabulous guide, could you possibly - oh, you need to hand that sculpture in, do you? Never mind…Hey, Greg! Can you -?”
“C-C-Can’t, I’m on my way to the s-s-s-school nurse, Miss J-J-Jones,” came a chattery voice. “I have a really bad c-c-c-cold.”
“Off you go, then,” said Marcie, sounding resigned. “Ah, Sasha-?”
“Have to be somewhere right now, Miss; sorry.”
“Ian-?”
“No can do, Miss J, I need to hand in these assignments.”
Chloe sighed and stood. “It’s okay, Principal Kwan. I’ll find my own way, it can’t be that hard.”
He rose and shook his head. “I’m sure we can find somebody-”
“Nobody wants to get lumbered with the new kid, I get it,” she said dryly. “I’m fine, really. I can look after myself.”
Principal Kwan shook his head. “That’s not the way we do things around here,” he said with determination in his voice as he went to the doorway. “Right, pay attention, Marcie - this is how to get things done.”
Chloe shrugged and turned to examine a potted plant. No doubt she would get stuck with the nerdiest, pimpliest adolescent on the face of the planet-
“Ah, Kent!” boomed Principal Kwan’s voice. “Just the man I need!”
Darn it. She had been so looking forward to going to the Press office by herself…
“I have the perfect tour guide for you, Chloe,” she heard her new Principal say from behind her. “Say hello to Clark Kent. Clark, this is Chloe Sullivan, Smallville High’s newest student.”
Chloe turned around slowly, resigned to seeing a pizza-faced nerd with glasses and braces trembling beside the Principal.
Instead, she came face to face with the most beautiful being ever created at the Hands of Almighty God.
***
Chapter 2…