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

[stands_for_hope]

Clark shrugged as he slipped out of the door.

"I dunno!" he admitted with a bright laugh, "but I like the sun anyway. Maybe I'll get distracted."

As a matter of fact, he pulled off his shirt and let himself stand out in the sun for a few moments At first, nothing appeared different than any other boy, but after a few moments, there were little changes.

His hair was darker, looked thicker. HIs eyes practically glowed that unearthly blue found only in those irises, and his skin held a golden quality, almost a glow, that wasn't due to any change in his color, exactly. All the while, he looked rapturous before turning back to Mike.

"I'll do it," he said softly to Mike.

[secondtry]

Mike stepped up to him, staring, almost disbelieving but more amazed. "Wow," he whispered, taking in the sight of him. He couldn't figure out the right words. All he could think was 'wow.' He'd seen Clark in sun before, but it hadn't ended up like this. This was... unique. Different. Amazing. It put a twist in his stomach that he'd not felt before, but he knew he liked it.

He hugged Clark while he had the chance, before he went off to run and test himself at his actual full speed. It was hard for him to want to let go, for all he knew he needed to. There was something about holding him this way that was exciting. He'd have to remember that.

"Blow their socks off," he finally managed, pulling back to look into Clark's eyes. "I know you can do it."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded and he flickered before a single flower from the edge of the forest land was deposited behind Mike's ear. Then he grinned and went to go join Emin.

[secondtry]

Mike blushed, but he settled in to watch, smiling and proud, and happy to have his flower behind his ear.

Emin was grinning at the both of them, coming to stand at the computer. "I already checked," he said, "and the same route we ran last night is clear. Shouldn't hit any snags, unless a cat runs in your path."

But then there was a rumble as Kitt pulled out of the garage and took a position opposite the cameras at the starting line. "If you don't mind," he said, "I may be able to assist. From the other angle, my sensors may miss the exact timing, but from here, my measurement will be most accurate."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded.

"Okay. And, um," he looked over at Steve and Bucky as they walked up beside Kitt, then over at Mike, "should I keep it to running? Cause I think some of it, I might have been flying after a certain point."

[secondtry]

Mike just looked excited at the idea of him flying, a grin spreading across his face. "I knew you could fly."

Emin laughed warmly, though. "Let's try to stick to running. We can test flying next, though. You'll probably go faster flying because you won't have the friction component."

[stands_for_hope]

"I don't' know if it'll need a whole test. I'm not sure I can control it that much. But I'll try to stay on the ground," he said with a nod as he lowered down to get into a good starting position.

[longdaysknight]

Meghan recognised the posture for what it was, eyes going wide for just a second before she scrambled back to the computer system, tiny fireworks still going off around her from where she'd been circling Kitt with amazement. "Sorry, sorry," she chirped between giggles. "I was..."

"You were staring at the magnificent engineering," Kitt filled in.

And with another round of giggles and fireworks, she nodded. "Yes. Yes, I was. All right, Clark, I've got everything--" A few clicks. "Set up. There we go. So start when you're ready."

A whisper from Kitt's scanner confirmed as he went into surveillance mode.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded... and then he didn't move.

There was dust getting kicked up into the air but Clark himself didn't appear to be moving. Sometimes, his head would shift in one direction or another, but there wasn't even a flicker.

[longdaysknight]

"That is definitely," Emin murmured, "beating my speed."

"I'm not sure our cameras are getting it," Meghan murmured, "but I can... see it. Kind of."

"My sensors are recording at peak efficiency and I believe I can calculate his speed," Kitt said - "But it will be something of a challenge."

[stands_for_hope]

After a few more dust trails, Clark finally disappeared into a blur going up.

And up he stayed, breathing hard as he floated roughly twenty feet above the ground. He glanced down at Kitt and Meghan and Mike and Bucky and his eyes lulled nearly shut. He wasn't tired. He was recharging.

[secondtry]

Mike was up on his feet, though, trotting beneath him - and stretching his hand up. He'd grown, but he wasn't nearly tall enough to reach, but that didn't stop his smile. "Clark!"

He'd known it. He'd known he could, and if he could, if it was his heart that determined such things, he would've been flying, too, he was so happy for him.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark looked down and lowered himself until his feet could reach Mike's hands. Then he landed just long enough to scoop Mike up into a hug and kiss both his cheeks.

[secondtry]

Mike clung to him like a limpet, not out of fear but out of pure joy, his smile wide and bright and happy. "I knew you could do it," he whispered, forehead resting against Clark's. "I'm so happy for you."

[stands_for_hope]

He rested his forehead against Mike's with a bright smile.

"It's in my heart. I can feel it. You and Ma and Bucky and Steve and your dad. It's like Peter Pan."

[secondtry]

"We all love you," Mike murmured, looking into Clark's eyes. And then, even more quietly, he added, "I love you." And nothing in the world, in that moment, could have been more true.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nudged his nose against Mike's and hugged him close. He spent a moment doing just that, just breathing Mike in before turning to Bucky and Steve. Steve's eyes were wide.

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky was beaming. He'd known when Clark floated that he could fly, and now, there was proof. "That's my brother," he grinned, squeezing Steve against him. "Look at him! He's flying!"

[stands_for_hope]

Clark looked over at his mother and at Mr. Knight.

"Can I fly Bucky and Steve and Mike sometime a little? Once I get the hang of it?"

Martha pursed her lips a little before nodding her own consent, since she knew her son would never put his friends in danger.

[longdaysknight]

Michael nodded. "Sure. I know you'll be careful, buddy."

"This is amazing," Meghan murmured. "From what I can tell, it isn't... air pressure, or a constant sort of jump..."

"Gravity manipulation, maybe?" Bani suggested, watching, smiling. "I think I've heard of a few races that can do something like that..."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark quirked at that.

"You know about other races?"

He glanced at his mother.

"If I let you look at the picture book that came with me, could it help?"

[longdaysknight]

"Maybe," Bani admitted. "Anything you want to show me, I'll take a look at."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark almost ran off before settling himself down.

"We should finish with the tests while the sun's still up. Which one next?"

[longdaysknight]

"There's the strength test, and your heat test," Meghan said, still glittering. "We've got another panel for you."

[stands_for_hope]

"Okay," and he held hand out for the metal piece. He was prepared this time, though. He wouldn't scrape his hand.