Confrontation [Facebook verse]

[have_no_mercy]

Tess has barely been back in Kansas when her attention gets pulled in a hundred directions at once. It isn't a while until she realizes she's forgotten one very important thing: Lena's lost barette, probably somewhere at the Kent Farm.

After a call to Clark to make certain the coast is clear, she drives over intent on making a quick search of the property and then heading back to the mansion. Naturally, it would be rude not to say hello so her first stop on arrival is the farmhouse itself, letting herself in the kitchen door.

Comments

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"Okay," he says, relieved that she's not bleeding to death or something on the couch. He sits next to her and puts an arm around her, nudging her to lean against him.

[have_no_mercy]

She does, getting sick of the scarf around her neck. So she removes it. "There's some stuff you're not going to like."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"What's going on, Tess? Are you in trouble?" He sighs and looks down at her, catching sight of the deep and ugly bruise on her neck. Startled, he brings a hand up to touch it without really realizing what he's doing.

"Who did that to you?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I'm not in trouble. It was Christian." She glances at the floor. "I asked him to."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"You asked him to hurt you?" He tilts her head gently so he can get a better look at the mark. If he didn't know any better, he'd think she'd been bitten by some sort of insect or fanged animal.

[have_no_mercy]

No," she shakes her head, also possibly to get out of his line of sight. "He asked if he could drink from me. He's a vampire. I said yes."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

Clark drops his hand and stares at her. He's not looking at her the bruise or even any part of her neck - he's just staring at her face.

"He's a vampire?" Even growing up in Smallville and being an alien couldn't have prepared him to hear that.

[have_no_mercy]

"It's a virus, really," Tess half explains, too tired to do into the details. "He takes medication for it."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

He barely acknowledges that part of her explanation, pulling her closer again.

"How much blood did he take? Should I bring you to a doctor?"

[have_no_mercy]

"It wasn't really that much and no," she says firmly, pushing his hands away. "No more doctors."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

He wants to ask why - why did she let him do this, and why no more doctors - but he manages to restrain himself.

Sighing, he moves to stand up. "I'll go get your food. Just... stay there. Please."

[have_no_mercy]

"I'm fine now, I promise. And I really should get going," Tess says hastily and slowly rising. "I'm sure Chloe's told Lois everything and I shouldn't be here when she gets back."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"Do you need a ride back home?" He's at her side in an instant, not touching her but there in case she needs the support.

[have_no_mercy]

"No, I can drive. It's not far and I'll go slow. And I promise i'll call for a car if there's any trouble, okay?"

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

He looks at her, quietly assessing her and the situation, and he finally nods. "Okay." He steps forward and pulls her into a hug, sighing.

"You can always call me if you need anything. Anything at all - don't forget that."

[have_no_mercy]

She stiffens at the contact, but nods. "I know."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

He immediately backs away when he feels her hesitate, and he picks up the discarded scarf, handing it to her.

Carefully, he asks, "there's nothing else going on with you?"

[have_no_mercy]

She takes it and smiles wearily a him. "Isn't there always?" Then she makes her way back outside to her car.

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

He stands in the doorway and watches her go, then returns to the kitchen to make sure it's perfect before Conner and Lois come home.