Reincarnation In Smallville

Clark's House

Clark typed calmly on the keyboard, adjusting the final details before sending the file to Lex. The silence was broken only by the sound of the keys.

CLICK CLICK CLICK.

The office door opened with a firm motion. Diana entered, crossing her arms, her expression filled with concern. Clark looked up, immediately sensing the weight in the air.

"Diana, did something happen?"

She walked up to the desk, her steps determined but her gaze distant.

"Clark, I don't know how to deal with certain things anymore. I was at the construction site with Chloe, and that sheriff... the way he spoke to me... it felt like I was the problem, not the solution."

Clark leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on her. 'Seems like it was more intense than I imagined.'

"You know some people prefer to avoid inconvenient truths, Diana. Especially when they have something to hide."

She let out a heavy sigh, leaning on the desk with her hands.

"It's not just that. It's how people react when I try to help. They always think I'm overstepping boundaries. Like I'm a threat."

Clark stood up, walking over to her. His eyes met hers, calm but firm.

"You're a force, Diana. And forces make people uncomfortable. But that doesn't mean you should stop doing what's right."

She looked away, his words touching a wound that still seemed open.

"What if what's right isn't enough? What if, in the end, people just don't trust me?"

Clark placed a hand on her shoulder, a simple gesture but one filled with meaning.

"Trust isn't something you ask for, it's something you build. And you've already started building that with Chloe. One step at a time."

Diana took a deep breath, feeling the weight lessen a little. She looked at Clark, a faint shadow of a smile on her lips.

"You always have a way of putting things into perspective. Maybe I just need more patience."

Clark nodded, returning to his desk.

"And maybe the sheriff needs a little nudge. Who knows, I might be able to help him see things from a different angle."

Diana watched him with curiosity, one eyebrow raised.

"A nudge? Do you have something in mind, Clark?"

He gave a slight smile, returning to the keyboard.

"Let's just say, sometimes the truth needs to be... illuminated. Literally."

Diana crossed her arms, her humor slowly returning.

"Please tell me you're not going to destroy his office."

Clark chuckled softly, his eyes shining with a mix of amusement and determination.

"I promise, it'll be subtle. At least by Kryptonian standards."

She shook her head, laughing softly, before stepping closer again.

"Clark, thank you. For listening. And for always believing there's a solution."

He looked at her, the soft smile remaining.

"That's what I'm here for, Diana. Always."

The room fell silent again, but now the earlier weight had disappeared. Diana left the office with lighter steps, while Clark turned his attention back to the computer, a determined glint in his eyes. 'Time to bring a little light to the darkness.'

____

Willowbrook House – Afternoon

The sky was overcast, the wind whispering through the trees around Joseph's house. Chloe parked her car in front of the worn wooden gate, looking around with curiosity and a slight anxiety.

'I hope someone's home,' Chloe thought, adjusting her bag on her shoulder before walking up to the front door.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

The sound of the knock echoed through the quiet house. Chloe waited for a few seconds, glancing over her shoulder at the car. 'Maybe he's at the station after all. If that's the case, I came here for nothing.'

The door creaked slightly as it opened, revealing a young woman with loose hair and intense brown eyes. Kyla, with a thick coat draped over her shoulders, seemed about to leave.

"Hi. I'm Chloe Sullivan. Are you Kyla?"

Kyla frowned, her eyes quickly assessing the unexpected visitor.

"Yes. What do you want?"

Chloe tried to soften the direct tone with a smile, but Kyla's nervousness was palpable.

"I wanted to talk to your grandfather, Joseph Willowbrook. I heard he was taken by the police. I'm investigating what happened at the construction site."

Kyla's eyes hardened. She clenched her fists at her sides, as if fighting something internal.

"My grandfather is innocent. He wouldn't do anything to harm those lands."

Chloe raised her hands, trying to convey calm.

"I believe you. That's why I'm here. I want to understand what really happened."

Kyla looked away, the anxiety evident in every gesture.

"I don't know if I can help. They took him this morning, saying they needed answers. But they just want to blame someone, and my grandfather is the easiest target."

Chloe leaned in slightly, trying to establish a connection.

"If he's innocent, any information helps. Anything you know could be important."

Kyla hesitated, looking at the ground. Her breathing was rapid, the weight of worry reflected in her shoulders.

"I... need to go to the station. He shouldn't say anything without a lawyer. I need to be there."

Chloe sensed the desperation in the young woman's words.

"I can take you. My car is right over there."

Kyla looked up, surprised by the offer.

"You'd do that? We don't even know each other."

Chloe shrugged, smiling encouragingly.

"I just want to help. It seems like we have the same goal: to make sure he's not unfairly accused."

For a moment, Kyla remained still, assessing Chloe's sincerity. Then, she let out a sigh and gave a slight nod.

"Alright. Thank you."

Chloe stepped aside, gesturing toward the parked car.

"No problem. Let's figure this out together."

The two walked side by side to the car, the wind carrying dry leaves around them. Kyla got into the car, quickly adjusting her seatbelt, while Chloe started the engine.

The sound of the engine filled the silence for a moment before Chloe glanced at Kyla.

"Tell me everything you know on the way. Maybe we can start piecing the puzzle together."

Kyla clasped her fingers in her lap, looking out the window as the scenery passed.

"I don't know if I have all the pieces... but I'll tell you what I can."

Chloe gripped the steering wheel, feeling they were closer to something important. 'This is going to be bigger than I thought.'

_____

Luthor Mansion – Lex's Office

Lex was sitting in his leather chair, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen. The newly received file from Clark blinked before him, but his mind was elsewhere. He closed his eyes for a moment, pressing his fingers against his temples.

'Lionel never changes. Every decision he makes feels like a cruel reminder that, in the game of power, people are disposable.'

TICK-TICK.

The sound of the wall clock was annoyingly constant. He picked up the phone on the desk, hesitating for a moment before dialing. Clark answered quickly.

"Lex? Something wrong?"

"Clark, do you have a moment? I need... to talk to someone who doesn't see the world as a chessboard."

"Of course, Lex. I'm here. What's going on?"

Lex took a deep breath, gripping the phone tightly.

"My father. Since the explosion, he's been obsessed with finding someone to blame. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, he just wants a scapegoat. And you know the worst part? I'm not even surprised."

On the other end, Clark listened in silence for a moment before responding.

"Lex, I know Lionel has his way of doing things, but that doesn't mean you have to follow the same path."

"You think I don't know that, Clark? After everything Désirée put us through, I thought my father and I... that something could change. That we could understand each other. But no matter what I do, he always finds a way to justify every cruel act."

Clark let out a sigh, his voice calm but firm.

"You're here calling me, Lex. That already shows you're not like him. You're seeking the truth, not someone to blame. And that makes all the difference."

Lex chuckled softly, but there was bitterness in his voice.

"Maybe. But sometimes I feel like no matter what I do, I'll never escape his shadow. It's like, deep down, part of me is made in his image."

"You're not Lionel, Lex. Every choice you make, every decision to seek the truth instead of control, takes you further from that shadow. You have something he never had: conscience."

Lex was silent for a few seconds, Clark's words resonating in his mind. He looked at the glass of whiskey on the desk but didn't touch it.

"Clark, how do you always manage to believe in the best in people? Even when the world seems so... twisted?"

Clark gave a soft laugh, but his voice was filled with sincerity.

"It's not about believing in the best in people, Lex. It's about believing that, even in the middle of chaos, there's always a right choice to be made. And you're trying to make that choice now."

Lex leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant.

"I just hope that, in the end, those choices are enough."

"They will be. But you need to trust your own judgment, Lex. Don't let your father's decisions define you. You're more than that."

For a moment, Lex felt something rare: relief. He wasn't alone in his internal struggle. Someone believed in him, even when he doubted himself.

"Thank you, Clark. You always know how to bring some clarity, even in the middle of the storm."

"That's what friends are for, Lex. And remember, you can always call me."

Lex hung up the phone, feeling a little lighter, though the weight of the situation was still present. He looked at the laptop screen, where Clark's file remained open.

'He sees the world in a way I never could. Maybe, just maybe, I can learn something from him.'

As night fell outside, Lex felt a spark of hope. Even if small, it was enough to keep him moving forward.

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