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

[longdaysknight]

And Mike nodded, standing up as quietly as possible. "Excuse us, please," he said with his best manners, but he headed for the living room anyway.

[stands_for_hope]

When they were in the living room, Clark wrapped his arms around Mike and buried his head in Mike's shoulder.

"Promise me you won't be scared of me?"

[secondtry]

Surprised, Mike's eyes went wide - but then he was wrapping his arms tight around Clark and leaning his cheek against Clark's hair. "I'm not gonna be afraid of you, Clark," he murmured, voice soft since his mouth was so close to Clark's ear. "I think you're awesome. And it doesn't matter if you're strong enough to... to-- I don't know. Move the moon. You're nice, and even when you're frustrated, you're gentle. You're fun to hang out with. And I like it when you float around me 'cause it makes me feel like I did something right and made you feel good. I'm not going to be afraid of you."

[stands_for_hope]

"Okay."

And he definitely seemed more settled, calmer, now that he knew Mike was behind him too. Then, smiling...

"When I float, I think about how nice it feels when you give me a hug."

[secondtry]

A soft laugh, and Mike squeezed him tighter, even pressing his hands against Clark's back. "Then I'll have to hug you more."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark smiled... and then couldn't help a giggle as he tipped his chin down.

The both of them were a few inches off the ground.

[secondtry]

Mike glanced down, then looked up at Clark with a wide, amazed grin before tucking his chin over Clark's shoulder. "You're so cool."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark blushed deep red before turning just a little to press a little kiss to Mike's hair.

[secondtry]

He gave a deep, satisfied sigh, trusting Clark completely. His head was leaned to Clark's shoulder, and he just felt... happy. "Mm."

[stands_for_hope]

Both of them floated a little higher before Clark looked down and pointedly floated them to the ground again. Then he gave Mike a firm hug.

"I don't wanna worry them. We should go back in."

But he slid one hand down to take his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"But you're gonna watch with Bucky, right?"

[secondtry]

Reflexively, Mike threaded his fingers with Clark's. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

[stands_for_hope]

His fingers still entwined with Mike's, he walked back into the dining room and looked over at everyone.

"I'm ready to do the tests whenever."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Wanna do some of them and then have dessert?" Bucky suggested. "That's what I'd do. Work up an appetite." He didn't say anything about Clark and Mike holding hands. He even managed not to look smug.

Mostly.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded.

"If that's all right.'

And he looked over specifically at Michael.

[longdaysknight]

Michael nodded, shrugging. "Sure. That sounds fine to me. I'll clear the table if you guys want to go ahead and--"

But all he'd done was say the words and, that fast, Emin had the table cleared of dishes and dishes washed, placed beside the sink. "There."

"...Yeah, I should've known that was going to happen."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark let out a soft little laugh.

"It was going to be him or me."

[longdaysknight]

"This old man is turning obsolete," he chuckled. "But that's fine. That means I can buy myself a fishing rod and go find a lake."

[stands_for_hope]

"I'll pack you the sandwiches," Martha said with a kiss to the side of his head. She couldn't help the little smile on her face since seeing her son smiling so much with his hand in Mike's.

Clark gave Mike's hand a squeeze.

"I think I'm getting a hang of floating too," he told them, "if you wanna test that."

[longdaysknight]

"With some practice, I bet you could fly," Meghan suggested. "Ahdri could help you with that."

Ahdri was already slightly off the floor again. "I would be glad to."

Michael had settled an arm around Martha's shoulders, smiling at the entire sight. His boy looked happy right where he was - and that was the most important thing in the world to him.

[stands_for_hope]

"That'd be amazing," Clark said honestly before bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. Then he could take Mike flying.

[longdaysknight]

Mike felt much the same. "Wouldn't it be awesome if you could fly? Think about all the stuff you could see."

Chuckling, Michael started ushering them outside. "Come on. Benchmarks are better taken outside the house."

[stands_for_hope]

Martha ushered Bucky with them as Clark gave Mike one last squeeze an wnt to follow the FLAG agents.

"Okay... how do we test stuff?"

[longdaysknight]

Mike fell back to stand with Bucky, but then came Neala with the case she'd brought in - and without anyone going over to the van, the back doors opened and more cases came floating out. Still in midair, they opened and equipment came levitating out, setting itself up. There was a series of computers, cameras, all of which were laid out in a knowing pattern. Ahdri seemed to be the culprit, hands extended as they were, gesturing here and there.

"The cameras are very sensitive," Meghan said as she booted up one of the computers. "They'll sense the passage of anything in front of them and take a picture. Others are video cameras. What we'll do is Emin will run out to a specific location, place a marker, and then you'll run out to get it on our mark, and bring it back - all as fast as you can. Simple!"

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded.

"And I should go as fast as I can?" he asked with slightly wide eyes. It was a strange idea in some ways. So much of his life was holding back.

[longdaysknight]

"Yep. As fast as you can. We'll do it as many times as you need to until you're sure you've reached your top speed. What do you think, Emin - five miles?"

Emin nodded. "Five miles out and back, so a ten mile round trip. I'll mark the location and the path, then Ahdri can show you so you can follow it." He was starting to stretch, to limber up to do his part.