Unexpected Alliances [86]

Chloe's House – Morning

The aroma of fresh coffee filled the kitchen as Chloe sat at the table, still drowsy. The sound of her father, Gabe, opening the newspaper was the only noise aside from the faint clinking of utensils. She absentmindedly stirred her cereal, but her attention sharpened as Gabe began to speak.

"I heard there was an explosion last night at the LuthorCorp construction site," he commented, not looking up from the newspaper. "Seems like one of the workers died."

Chloe's heart raced. Her gaze shot to her father, the spoon stopping mid-air. "An explosion? And someone died? When did that happen?"

"Last night," replied Gabe, flipping the page of the newspaper. "They're saying it might have been an accident, but there are rumors of sabotage. The police are still investigating."

Chloe set the spoon aside, already planning her next steps. 'Finally, something interesting!' she thought, grabbing her phone. Clark's last message still glowed on the screen, where he had promised a surprise at the site.

She quickly typed a message to him:

"Clark, let's investigate this together?"

The reply came almost immediately:

"Can't go now. Family business. But you'll get a surprise when you get there."

Chloe frowned, confused by the response. "A surprise? What's he talking about?" she murmured to herself.

Though disappointed that Clark couldn't join her, she knew he had a lot on his plate, especially with his pregnant mother.

She finished her breakfast in a hurry, grabbing her bag and keys. "I'm heading out, Dad. I'll be back later," she announced, already at the door.

"Take care, Chloe. Don't get into trouble," said Gabe, not looking up from the newspaper.

"Trouble? Me?" Chloe replied with a mischievous smile before leaving.

____

Kent Farm – Morning

The sunlight streamed softly through the windows of the house, illuminating the living room where Clark, Jonathan, and Martha were gathered. Clark, still holding his phone with Chloe's message, chuckled lightly before putting the device in his pocket. He looked at his father, who was adjusting his hat as he prepared to leave.

"Dad, I think you need to reconsider this routine. You know that now, with Mom pregnant, things have to change."

Jonathan let out a low laugh, but the determined look didn't leave his face. "Change? Clark, I've been taking care of this farm for decades. It's not now that I'm going to start depending on others."

Clark crossed his arms, his gaze firm. He subtly pointed to Martha's belly, who was sitting on the couch, gently stroking her stomach with a calm smile.

Martha looked up, her gentle expression turning serious. "Jonathan, he's right. You know your back isn't what it used to be. And I've seen how much pain you're in after a heavy day."

Jonathan furrowed his brow but couldn't hold his wife's gaze. He looked away, nervously fiddling with his hat.

"And besides," Martha continued, her voice filled with concern, "you want to play with the baby in the future, don't you? How are you going to do that if you keep insisting on carrying the farm on your shoulders alone?"

Jonathan let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. He knew Martha was right, but admitting it felt like a blow to his pride.

Clark pulled a check from his pocket and handed it to his father. Jonathan looked at the piece of paper as if it were an impossible weight to bear.

"Clark, I can't accept this," said Jonathan, raising his hand in refusal. "This is your achievement. It's not fair to use what you've worked for on the farm."

Clark raised an eyebrow, cutting off his father's argument with a firm tone. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. This money isn't for you. It's for the baby. He's going to need his parents healthy and well."

Jonathan opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by Martha, who took the check with a serene smile. "Thank you, Clark. You're right. It's not for us. It's for our family's future."

Clark smiled softly, his eyes shining with affection. "No need to thank me. I just want you both to be okay."

Jonathan sighed again, finally relaxing. He placed a hand on Clark's shoulder, his voice low and filled with emotion. "Thank you, son. You've been a wonderful brother and son. I don't know what we did to deserve you."

Jonathan's words hit Clark like a comforting warmth. He felt something different, something he had never felt before. It wasn't just pride or happiness, but a deep, inexplicable connection. It was a feeling he knew he would cherish forever.

Martha looked at the two of them, her maternal smile lighting up the room. "We're proud of you, Clark. More than you know."

Clark returned the smile, feeling more at peace than ever. He knew that, despite all the responsibilities and challenges, the strength of his family was what truly mattered.

____

Construction Site – Morning

The site was cordoned off with yellow tape, and the distant sound of a police radio filled the air as officers walked back and forth. Chloe parked her car a short distance away, her eyes scanning the scene carefully.

"Work halted, police on site," she murmured to herself, grabbing her notepad as she got out of the car. The wind kicked up dust around her, and the smell of smoke still lingered in the air.

She cautiously walked to a vantage point, but something caught her attention before she could get closer. There was a car parked nearby, with two women talking inside. Chloe frowned, immediately recognizing one of them.

"Tina," she murmured, squinting. The other woman, however, was a mystery. With a firm posture and an intimidating aura, she seemed out of place in that environment.

---

"Diana, you can't just go around acting impulsively," Tina crossed her arms as she spoke, a tone of worry in her voice. "If the police catch you, not even Clark will be able to explain."

"I'm not going to hit anyone, Tina," Diana replied with a slightly ironic smile. "But that doesn't mean I'll ignore my instincts. Something's wrong here, and I'm going to find out what it is."

Tina huffed, leaning back on the seat. "I'm just saying you need to be careful. We're not in Themyscira, and this isn't a battlefield."

Diana looked out the window, her eyes focused on the police activity.

"I understand, but the truth always finds a way to come out. And I'll be there to help when it does."

---

Chloe approached the car, hesitant. She knew Tina was likely involved in the investigation in some way, but the presence of the other woman made her uneasy.

"Tina," Chloe called with a tense smile. "What are you doing here? And who's your friend?"

Tina opened the car door, stepping out with a mischievous smile. "Chloe, what a coincidence. This is Diana." She casually gestured toward the Amazon. "Diana, this is Chloe. You know, the girl Clark mentioned."

Diana tilted her head, stepping out of the car with an elegant movement. Her eyes scanned Chloe from head to toe, as if assessing every detail.

"So you're Chloe," Diana said in a neutral but firm tone. "Clark talks a lot about you."

Chloe tried to maintain her composure, but her heart was racing. "I... it's nice to meet you," she said, her voice sounding a bit louder than intended.

Diana crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips. "The pleasure is mine. It seems we have something in common."

Tina leaned against the car, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. "Well, this is even more fun than I expected. Chloe, you know Diana is Clark's girlfriend, right?"

Chloe looked at Tina, incredulous, before turning her eyes back to Diana. "Yes, I knew," she replied nervously. "But I didn't know I'd be meeting her today."

Diana took a step forward, her smile fading as she looked directly at Chloe. "And you also know that Clark is honest with me about... everything?"

Chloe's face flushed, and she looked away. "I know. He's been very clear about that."

Tina let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "You two need to relax. It's like a diplomatic meeting."

Diana shot a quick glance at Tina before turning her attention back to Chloe. "You seem nervous, Chloe. Everything okay?"

Chloe took a deep breath, trying to stay in control. "Yes, everything's fine. I just didn't know what to expect when meeting you. And... I heard about what happened at The Talon."

Diana raised an eyebrow, a glint of humor in her eyes. "Ah, you heard about Désirée? Don't worry. I don't go around punching everyone. Just people who deserve it."

Chloe let out a nervous laugh, feeling the ice between them begin to melt. "Good to know. I guess we're off to a good start, then."

Tina smiled, giving Chloe a light nudge on the shoulder. "See? I told you there was nothing to worry about."

Diana extended her hand to Chloe, the gesture surprising her. "If Clark trusts you, I trust you too."

Chloe shook Diana's hand, feeling some of the tension ease. "Thank you. And please, don't hesitate to let me know if I'm stepping on any toes."

Diana gave a soft laugh, her eyes shining with confidence. "Don't worry. I'm good at giving warnings."

The three exchanged looks, and Tina, as always, decided to break the mood. "Alright, now that the tension's gone, is someone going to tell me what we're doing about this construction site?"

Diana looked at the site, her expression growing more serious. "We're going to find out what's going on. And together, I think we can figure it out."

Chloe nodded, finally feeling at ease beside Diana. "Yeah, let's do it. I think Clark would be proud of us."

The three walked toward the construction site, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The unexpected alliance seemed promising, even with the challenges that awaited them.

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