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 looked over at the three of them as they all walked in.

"Do you have things you have to go do?"

[longdaysknight]

"No," Ahdri said smoothly. "Meghan was just trying to be too polite."

With playful embarrassment, she nodded, ducking her head.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark looked up at his mother, who nodded before Clark walked over and took Meaghan's hand so gently before reaching out the other for Bani. He'd lead them back to the table personally, with his hands. His mother had taught him that you told the truest truth with your hands, so he'd welcome them with them properly.

[longdaysknight]

Meghan giggled, a few little sparkles going off near her right ear, but she took Clark's hand. "Thank you."

Bani smiled contentedly, though, taking the offered hand and following along. "We do appreciate all of you taking the time to make us feel welcome here."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark looked up at Bani.

"We'd be poor hosts if we didn't."

He gave both their hands a squeeze.

"And you guys are all trying to make me feel more comfortable."

[longdaysknight]

"You deserve it," Bani assured him, reaching over with their opposite hand to squeeze Clark's shoulder.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark just smiled at that before they reached the table. Once the guests were all taken care of, Clark headed over to curl up with Mike.

[secondtry]

And Mike wrapped his arms around Clark, giving him a smile. "You did awesome," he murmured, chin on Clark's shoulder.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark tucked up against him, nuzzling to his shoulder. The heat vision always took it out of him a bit.

[secondtry]

He stroked Clark's hair, holding him close and smiling. He was so proud - and now, he could even hold on to him. This was great.

Michael, meanwhile, was running ice through the blender while Bucky stretched up to get glasses. "Grape lemonade and strawberry lemonade?"

"Yep," Michael confirmed. "And the regular's almost ready."

[stands_for_hope]

Steve liked the strawberry, so Steve went and got the napkins to prep. Clark liked the grape, but he was pretty happy curled up with Mike.

[longdaysknight]

It only took a few minutes for three pitchers to be finished, one a sunny yellow, one a warm pink, and the other a rather vivid purple. He handed one to Bucky, letting him carry that and an armload of glasses, and they followed Steve out to the picnic table.

"Here we go, everybody. Lemonade, strawberry lemonade, and grape. Here, Clark, first grape's for you. And first strawberry's for Steve."

[stands_for_hope]

The two of them both fell on their drinks like ravening starving people, but Clark plucked a second straw out of the bin on the table and stuck it in his to offer to Mike.

[secondtry]

Mike blushed but accepted, sipping from Clark's lemonade while Michael poured for everyone else, whatever they wanted.

Bucky grinned. "We're gonna have to get some bigger glasses just for the two of you to share."

[stands_for_hope]

He looked over at Mike.

"I'll just make sure to sip slow," Clark said with a smile.

Steve waited until Bucky had his before tucking up against him.

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky wrapped his arm around Steve smoothly, not even having to think twice about it. It was just how it worked. When Steve was close, Bucky had his arm around him. Even rested his cheek against Steve's hair. "You okay?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve nodded, but while he was a firecracker most of the time, he was always a little shy around new people. And as nice as they were, these people were new. Neala, in his estimation, didn't count because she spoke Gaelic.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Okay." He rubbed Steve's arm, smiling and nuzzling into his hair. "I bet you're gonna have a lot of great drawings later."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He nodded and glanced over at Michael.

"Can I send them the drawings when I'm done?"

[longdaysknight]

"Absolutely," Michael answered easily. "I'll get you some of those big envelopes and some cardboard to put on each side so they don't get folded."

"You're making drawings of us?" Neala asked. "Look at this boyo, clever with his pencils."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve nodded and held up the first of the drawings, one of Adhri with her hair flowing freely around her like she was floating in water instead of air. It was the only one finished so it was also the only one he was showing off.

[longdaysknight]

And Ahdri giggled to see it. "Make sure you keep a copy for yourself," she urged. "For when you go to art school."

"That's so good!" Meghan grinned, her sparkles glittering green as they went off around her.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve nodded, shrugged and tucked into Bucky a little shyly before adjusting his hearing aids a little. Everything was way louder than he was used to.

[kolodnoykovki]

Bucky smiled and practically wrapped around him. "I've got you," he promised in a whisper. A whisper he knew Steve could hear now.

[stands_for_hope]

Steve just looked up with a little grin. Of course Bucky had him. Bucky always had him.