The Double K Farm for At Risk Youth - How it Starts

[stands_for_hope]

It had been a hard year for the Kents.

The loss of a father, a husband, had hollowed out mother and son, though thankfully they'd managed to make due on the farm between the both of them. But that was just the financial parts. The farm felt empty without Jonathon Kent, their home felt empty, and Clark...

Clark was so angry with everyone, with everything. It wasn't fair.

He could do so many things, so many things, but he hadn't been able to do anything when his father's heart had given out. He hadn't been able to do anything when Jonathon Kent had dropped dead in a field while Clark was at school. He'd just been there to get pulled into the office, take the phonecall from his mother.

It was doubly hard to go through his days now. Before, there'd been a bit of a barrier between the people who liked to tease him; Jonathon Kent had been respected and folks had looked out for Clark because of it. They still looked for him, but now it was more about sympathy and less of a willingness to put themselves between him and trouble.

That's why he was here. Twelve years old, pushed against a chain link fence, holding onto the fence pole for their sake as much as his own. Anger boiled up inside him, anger enough to make his eyes start to lighten to red, anger enough to make him want to do things he couldn't do, shouldn't do. Because people were mean and cruel and they picked on weakness like a pack of jackals, even if the weakness was feigned.

I can't do it. I can't hurt anyone.

It was like a screen door trying to hold back a tidal wave. He was shaking and his eyes were so hot. He just hoped he could hold on long enough for them to get bored. Long enough for someone to wander by. He just had to hold on.

Comments

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky nodded, motioning for Steve to come with him on the way to get his own work done. "Me and Clark just talked about that. It's only fair to give him a chance, you know? He might be great. Aunt Martha gave me a chance."

And not a lot of people did. Like Miss Sullivan. He didn't really blame her, but as soon as people found out he was from the Saint Mary's Home for Boys in the Arms of God, he tended to be immediately discounted. He'd gotten used to it.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Apparently he's a widower too," Steve noted as he rearranged the tools on the workshop counter, "so hopefully he won't be too fast on the draw."

He leaned away to avoid Bucky's dusting since it'd send him into a coughing fit.

"It sounds like his son might have been in trouble too. She mentioned the guy stopped his ex from sending him off to military school, so..." Steve shrugged. "Apparently way back, he helped save Mrs. Kent's father's farm due to some water thieves."

He tipped his head towards the fields.

"How's Clark about it?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"About the same as you," he answered. "And me. He frosted up a little bit, but I think I talked him into giving the guy a chance - and it's worth a try, right? I mean, if they can give me a chance..."

But he understood the hesitance across the board. Aunt Martha had become important to all of their lives - and he was just as protective as Clark. If anything happened to Aunt Martha, he was back to the barn.

"We'll keep our hopes up. Expect the good stuff, but keep an eye out for the bad."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Only way to be," Steve agreed, "though I don't think we need to worry too much. Sometimes when I help her in the kitchen, I ask her about the farm stuff. She's like... super smart. I can't imagine anyone getting the best of her."

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky nodded enthusiastically. "I know. She's smart and she's tough, so I figure it's all going to be okay - at worst, they'll be friends, but..."

But he wasn't going to write off the idea that Aunt Martha might decide that this guy was worth more than that. And that was her choice. Bucky just hoped they all liked him.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"We can't really get too upset about anything till we meet him," Steve said with a shrug. "We're probably all worrying for nothing. I don't think she'd even let the guy meet you and Clark if she didn't trust him."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You're right. I hadn't even thought of that." But that was what he and Steve did - what one didn't see, the other did. "I guess I just don't... tend to look at it like that."

No, he was the kind of person who looked at it all like it was up to him to take care of everyone. He always had been. To think of someone taking care of him was still new.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve grinned.

"That's cause you always think you have to take care of everything," he pointed out with a smirk before tucking in for a quick hug and skittering off to start sweeping another portion of the barn.

There wasn't much more said about it until Martha's voice rang outside the back kitchen door around 5:30, calling the boys in to wash up.

[kolodnoykovki]

The hug helped, but Steve's hugs always did. When Martha called them in, Bucky jogged to the door, keeping an eye out for Clark and Steve on the way. They did have company coming, and thankfully enough bathrooms for everybody to wash up.

Bucky took the chance to change clothes. Clean pants, a clean shirt - he wanted to make a good impression. And when he'd done that, he started dusting Steve off along with him. "We're gonna have to start keeping some spare clothes for you here."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"You say that like I have spare clothes," Steve noted with a huff as he straightened up his hair. Clark made an effort to spiff himself up, straightening his hair a little and wearing one of his nicer shirts. Standing straight with his hair and his clothes fitted nicely, it was hard to believe that anyone would even try to bully him at school. He was taller and a little broader than Bucky when he actually kept good posture and his eyes, somewhat prepared for conflict, glowed with purpose. He'd tried not to, but his hackles were up just a bit at the idea of a new gentleman and another boy at the house.

Steve tilted his head towards Clark and gave Bucky a definite look. All words aside, it seemed like Clark was still nervous.

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky's answer was a swift hug around Clark's shoulders. "Everything's going to be okay," he promised. "No matter what. We all want the best for Aunt Martha, so we'll make sure everything goes all right."

He squeezed Clark's shoulders - right as a car was pulling up at the end of the driveway. A car that didn't look to be suited to a farm in the least.

[stands_for_hope]

Both Bucky and Martha could soften him up when his rare temper rose, and it worked the same as it had the last few months. He breathed in, settled down a little, and gave Bucky a quick hug in return. Then he disappeared to go downstairs and get the door so his mother could finish dinner.

Steve sighed over at Bucky.

"Just let him get his bearings. He's still pretty touchy about his dad."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I know, and I don't blame him. I would be, too, if it was me." He tightened his arm around Steve's shoulders. "But I think everything will be okay."

The car coming up the driveway had a very unique-sounding engine, probably unlike anything they'd ever heard before, with its low, powerful V8 rumble and a higher pitched whine. Even though it was a low-slung black car, it handled the driveway fine, and none of the gravel dust seemed to settle on it, despite how it always kicked up.

It was backed carefully into the garage, and at last, out climbed two people. One was tall and lanky, and the other was well on the way to being the same. Both of them leaned into the car's back floorboard to pick up a few things - it looked like they hadn't come empty-handed.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark waited at the door until they arrived before opening it a moment before they'd knock, looking up and out at the two people who'd come to dinner. Michael he gave a full body scan, x-raying him to make sure he didn't have any weapons or was carrying anything but what was clearly in their hands. Then he turned to Mike...

And... blushed, just a little before looking him up and down. Clark swallowed.

"Hello," he said quietly, looking between the strangers and his mother before turning back to the strangers.

"Come on in. Ma's still finishing up dinner."

[longdaysknight]

"Thanks." Michael gave him an open, friendly smile and gently ushered Mike in front of him - Mike, who was giving Clark a smile that only barely cloaked his hopefulness of actually having friends here.

He followed his son in, a bouquet in one hand, and Mike was carrying a cloth grocery bag in his. "I don't go to other people's houses empty-handed," Michael went on, "so I brought some flowers for the table, and Mike's got some ice cream and cookies for dessert - I figured we could make our own ice cream sandwiches."

Mike nodded enthusiastically. "It's a big bucket of neapolitan and M&M cookies," he said, still a little awe-struck by it. He wasn't used to having things like this, from the obviously new clothes he was wearing to the simple treat of ice cream.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark bounced a little on his toes before trotting over to his mom, who was on her way over herself.

"Thank you, Michael," she said as she accepted the flowers, sniffing them happily before pulling him into a one-armed hug, "and Mike, that sounds fabulous. Though if there's ice cream, that'll help with the pies as well. Let me do introductions."

Martha gestured to Clark.

"This is my son, Clark." She pointed up towards the stairs. "The other one there with the dark hair is Bucky, as he prefers, and right behind him is Steve, Bucky's good friend. Steve stays over with us after school since his mother works the later shift."

Clark turned to Michael and offered his hand as his father had taught him.

"H-hello, sir."

[longdaysknight]

"Hey, there, Clark," he greeted, shaking the offered hand confidently-- and then raising his eyebrows. "Wow, that's quite a grip you've got. Good job. And nice to meet you, too, Bucky, Steve. You know, my wife's name was Stephanie but she went by Stevie - and she was blonde, too." He shook each one of their hands as well, his smile staying honest and friendly. "Can I ask what Bucky's short for?"

"Buchanan, sir. My middle name. James Buchanan Barnes."

"That's a good, solid name," Michael nodded, then stretched out a hand to Mike's shoulder. "This is my son, Mike, but he's not sure if he wants to keep being called Mike or wants to go by his middle name, Elliot. I just got custody from his mom."

To some people, that would've been the cue to look miserable. Mike, on the other hand, looked up at his father with complete gratitude before stepping out and offering his hand for handshakes, too. "We just got here from Oakland. I like it here better already."

[stands_for_hope]

Martha made a slightly alarmed noise at Michael's surprise and Clark sunk into his shoulders a bit, though not entirely. She looked mollified when it was clear his fingers were not broken.

Steve grinned just a little at the bit about the man's former wife.

"I'm just a skinnier version of my mom," he told Michael, "and Buck calls me Stevie all the time." That came with an elbow at Bucky, who was used to such things and should have expected nothing less. "Maybe it just happens."

Clark smiled over at Mike and took his hand in a gentler version of the shake he'd given his father.

"Hey. If you like it here, we can show you around. There's a whole forest right on the edge of the north fourty. We sold it to Grandpa Clark a year ago, but I'm still allowed to play there."

Bucky and Steve were well familiar with the area, since it was their usual weekend hangout. The forest area was cooler, with more shade and places to sit and relax, than most of the other areas in Smallville that weren't populated, and very few of the other kids liked to go there since it was claimed land. Steve had even started documenting the wildlife and the plants there.

[longdaysknight]

"He has my permission," Michael said easily. "I'm glad to see that there are kids his age here for him to make friends with, and I trust you all. So sure, he can come over sometimes and explore. And you guys can come by our place, too - it's not as big as this, but I love to cook and I know we'll always have plenty of leftovers."

Mike nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds great. I never-- I mean, I've not... had a lot of friends before." And suddenly, here were three possibilities right in front of him.

Bucky looked at him, considering, before nodding and stepping up to clap Mike's shoulder. "Well, you've got friends now."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark looked sideways at Bucky before giving Mike a faintly amused smile.

"He does that. Mom may have adopted him on paper, but he totally adopted me first."

Steve snorted a giggle into Bucky's shoulder because if there was ever a more accurate phrase, he hadn't heard it.

Martha laughed herself and gestured to the table.

"Why don't you boys get the table done up while Michael helps me get the flowers in a vase and we finish up the rest of dinner." She smiled over at the two new arrivals. "I made two big old roast chickens, but I wasn't sure what Mike liked so if he's like Clark, the two of them can share the tray of mac and cheese I made as well.'

[longdaysknight]

Mike glanced and Clark, shrugged, and said, "I like mac and cheese as long as it's got cheese in it."

"It has cheese in it," Bucky promised, gathering them all up to go to the kitchen.

Michael could see just who was the leader in this little group, but he was a leader in the best way - and it made him smile. Even made some of the tension leave his shoulders. Mike was going to be okay here. Thank God and Martha Kent.

[stands_for_hope]

"You can have chicken too," Clark informed him as he started pulling the plates out of the cabinet, "but I don't eat meat so she always makes sure to make stuff that doesn't have it. She didn't know if you did so she made a bunch of extra."

Steve leaned over to whisper to Mike.

"If you do eat meat, eat the chicken. It's really good."

Clark nodded in agreement, even if it wasn't to his taste and started setting out the dishes. Steve went for the napkins.

[longdaysknight]

"We didn't a lot of the time. Me and Mom. Meat was expensive and she didn't want to spend money or go hunting all the time." But he started setting out glasses while Bucky set out silverware. "So we had a lot of noodle things. They were cheap, Mom said, and easy."

"Oatmeal," Bucky agreed. And Mike nodded.

"Oatmeal."

"Peanut butter?"

Mike shook his head at that, though. "No. Just sugar sometimes. And cinnamon, when she found it at the dollar store. I got better food at school, though."

[stands_for_hope]

"Potatoes," Steve said resolutely. Yes, he was Irish but they were also cheap.

Clark winced a little and looked over at Mike.

"We sell vegetables and stuff if you ever need some. We donate the stuff that doesn't sell within a certain period so you guys are welcome to some."

[longdaysknight]

But Mike shook his head, a grin growing on his face. "Dad has money. He bought me Burger King and we had pizzas, and he got me new clothes, really new clothes, and..."

And realising how he was going on, Mike stopped, looking at them all before much more quietly saying, "Sorry. I didn't mean to brag."

But Bucky shook his head. "That's... how I felt, when Aunt Martha adopted me."

Mike nodded. "I'm sure he'll buy vegetables and stuff from you and your mom, Clark - he really likes her, and he was really glad to see her up in town."