And just leave it in the oven for four hours, remember to marinate it or is going to be dry"
"Isn't it kind of big?" Conner looked at the semi-frozen bird they had bought.
"Is it?" Miss Martian asked looking at it as if for the first time. She was so used to cook for larger groups that she didn't realize until then that it might be a bit too much "turkey sandwiches for a few days?"
"Or I could always invite Bart over" he said before unpacking the rest of the ingredients in the kitchen.
"This isn't weird, is it?" she asked fidgeting at the door.
"I don't think we could ever be anything but that" he was a clone and she was from Mars after all.
"That's not what I mean, you and me… being actual friends… not like before"
"Is only different," he said leaning on the counter, "but I don't think I have ever not considered you my friend, even when you snap at me"
"I wouldn't have to snap at you if you kept your damn powers under control" and then she covered her mouth in shock before the amused Conner started to laugh "is not funny!"
"Whatever you say," but they were getting better.
"You better write this down because I am not repeating myself" she huffed crossing her arms.
He wanted to say how hard it could be to cook a bird and smash some potatoes, but soon learned that M'gann didn't go small on Thanksgiving; Triple Cheese Spirals, Brussels Sprouts Gratin, Sweet Potato Soufflé, Bacon Hasselback Potatoes, and many others. After writing what would actually be a good cooking book M'gann left pleased to show her past years on Earth had been productive beyond crime fighting. He was truly thankful for her help though he wasn't sure he would be able to follow every one of her steps. It was late at night that he left everything that could be prepared then ready and the rest at hand for the next day.
As he lay on bed he wondered if he should just disappear for the following days. It might be easier on all them if he asked Nightwing to give him a 'sudden' mission. Whatever he had for him would be better than what awaited him the next day. Of course, he wouldn't give him anything dangerous. He turned to the missions he had been receiving; delivering equipment to smaller bases around the world, looking into issues as a civilian to get inside info, checking with their sources, and on and on. Always alone, and though he did ask to be alone he was getting sick of it.
And talking about getting sick, he sighed as he sat on bed, someone was sneaking towards the house… again.
He sensed the intruder pick into the house through the back door kitchen window. Interestingly it was not one of the brats from weeks ago. He snuck downstairs silently and heard as the kid tried to pick the lock on the door. Five minutes passed and he sat on the steps of the stairs wondering when he would realize it was not even locked. In any other case he would have confronted the kid, but he was bored and wondered if he would just give up; five more minutes before he heard the door open and watched as the kid snuck inside.
He kept to the stairs where the shadows hid him and watched as the kid fumbled with his phone before he started recording.
"Journal of Simon Valentine, entry 985. A few weeks ago a few odd occurrences started to happen in town. The local store owned by Alice Wright better known as Dorothy's Market reported exploding sodas on the back of the store where they were perfectly cool and in good state. Same day Windows and Peeks reported an interesting number of broken glasses for no reason"
And how come that led him to break into the house? He knew it was his fault those things happened, but how was he able to connect the dots?
"No long after Nelson Thompson and his lackeys started running a rumor that the fields of the Kent farm were haunted. This led me to realize that the arrival of Conner Kent (if that's his real name), marked the beginning of these events. Fairly enough, I can say that Smallville is a strange town to start with; we have had odd situations even before Kent arrived to town"
Conner watched him go into the living room and tape the inside, his reading choice left on the coffee table, and then return into the kitchen but not without bumping his knee in a corner or two.
"But further investigation on previous events have led me once again to the Kents"
Okay, this didn't sound good.
"After questioning around I discovered that Martha and Jonathan Kent were said to rarely hire hands for the keeping of their farm though it is quite extensive. However this changed when their son left for Metropolis. Even if Clark Kent was a good guy and helped his parents around the farm, they would still need at least ten hands to get the job done. To prove my point, after the passing of the Kents the handling of the fields has been handed to other families, not just one"
Conner stood and snuck to the doorway of the kitchen where he saw the kid was recording the contents of the fridge and other spaces.
"This brought me to question the nature of Clark Kent. It was hard but finally a few of the older residents of Smallville admitted to knowing Mr. Kent was adopted. He was said to be the son of Martha Kent's sister who died in a car accident. The archives of the library show that around that time a large meteorite shower passed over town. Now, to those who are listening to all this you might think it's a coincidence after another, but I truly believe Mr. Kent is not who he says he is"
"And who is he then?" Conner asked as he turned on the light in the kitchen.
"Ehm… Eh…" the kid opened his mouth and then closed it before rushing towards the back door.
"I don't think so," Conner grabbed him by the shoulder and sat him on one of chairs forcefully. He went and closed the door, "is this another prank? Making a stupid video to get under our nerves?"
"You tell me," though the kid was shaking, Conner had to give him props for questioning him.
"I don't have to tell you anything, you broke into our house muttering who knows what nonsense" he rested his back against the wall, never looking away from the invader.
"So you were listening?" he said with a smirk, as if that proved his ideas right.
"Ready to beat you up if you tried to break anything" he narrowed his eyes, "or you are going to tell me you really believe all of that stupidity you were sputtering"
"Is not stupid!" he shouted, his cheeks reddening, "strange things have been going on around Smallville, especially this farm since Clark Kent came to live here, and then you"
"So you are saying we are not human?" he said dropping his arms to the sides, trying to look annoyed.
"Well, yeah" the kid said now bit less sure.
"You have too much free time kid," he sighed, "c'mon, I will take you home"
"You are not calling the sheriff?" he stood up shocked.
"You didn't break or steal anything" he grabbed his jacket from the hanger by the door, "you are only a kid with too much imagination"
He wondered how a kid could figure so much. It was something he would expect of Tim or any of the bats, but not a kid who could not tell apart a locked door from one that wasn't. He drove towards one of the farms nearby. He turned off the truck not too close to the actual house.
"Next time I will call the cops," he said looking straight ahead.
"You don't fool me," the kid said raising his head in challenge as he got out of the truck, "I know you are hiding something"
"Get some sleep and have a good Thanksgiving" Conner said as he pulled back and then turned the truck to drive back home. He watched from the side mirror as the kid pulled his phone and started recording him drive away.
"Journal of Simon Valentine, entry 986. After a close encounter with Conner Kent, I am convinced something is happening with the Kents"
That was just great.
By the time he got back the sun was already picking out. He sighed as he started getting ready for what he suspected would be one of the longest days of his life. He wanted to curse the kid for making him miss his chance to get out of that mess. At least he could stick to getting the dinner ready and use that as a distraction from her.
"What in the name of Rao are you doing?" Kara almost slammed the door off its hinges when she entered.
"Cooking" he said shortly as he placed some pies in the oven. When he turned around he couldn't help to be a little surprised to see her in civilian clothing. Kara always insisted on wearing Kryptonian clothing, but this time she wore a pair of black pants, gray shirt and a red cardigan.
"What are you looking at" she glared at him.
"Nothing, would you like something to eat?" he said looking pointedly at some ingredient on the counter.
"No" she said turning and going into the living room
He was actually happy she declined. It was awkward to share space with anyone who tried to lobotomize you with her heat vision. He had done his best to stay out of her way since then. He understood why she mistrusted clones, but he had hoped she would see beyond that when they met. If it hadn't been for Superman…
He decided make the memory go away by preparing something for him. When he sensed a familiar car, he started on a second set of pancakes.
"That smells nice," Clark said as he entered through the back door.
"Kal-El" Kara said picking in, "are we going to the parade?"
The way her face lightened and her eyes shone made his gut clench with a dark feeling. She was usually nice to everyone around her, but him.
"There is still a few hours before it starts, you two are early birds" he smiled taking a seat before Conner handed him his plate, "thanks" he waited until Conner sat, "have you ever been to a Thanksgiving day parade?"
"I have seen them on TV," M'gann used to make him watch them. The first time he thought they looked fun, but afterwards he found them too crowded and loud.
"Well, it's not a big as ones on TV, but you are going to have fun"
"He is going?" Kara asked, her chirpiness evaporating from her voice.
If looks could kill… He guessed Kara didn't think he would also be going to the parade.
"I don't think that's a good idea" Conner said before things escalated.
"Why ever not?" Clark looked from one to the other.
"I want to stay away from crowded place until I can control my powers" Conner said as it was kind of true, "there is always next year" he offered.
"I understand," sighed Clark before putting his fork down, "I see you took over the kitchen, do you need any help?"
Conner was thankful he dropped the subject before they started to get the meal ready. He was not used to thinking like this but he was glad Kara was stuck only watching them, or glaring in his case. She didn't know the first thing about human food, well she did know how to eat it, but cooking was something else.
"I didn't know you knew how to cook" he said as he watched Conner prepare the potatoes for the oven.
"M'gann is a good teacher," he said before starting on the turkey's stuffing.
"Are you two…" he remembered how happy those two looked together.
"Just friends" Conner saw calmly
"Ble…" they both turned to watch Kara stick her tongue out. When she realized she had been caught she turned away and blushed.
"So mature," Conner said as he continued with the stuffing.
Clark asked before Kara could retort, "have you thought of what I asked you?"
"I don't think I have experience to make a good enough contribution" Conner said after a moment's thought.
"But that's the point" he said before Conner raised an eyebrow at him, "you are young, we want the point of view of the young"
"I am seven years old," he said with a smirk.
"You know what I am talking about" Clark said shaking his head.
"What are you talking about?" Kara asked tired of not being able to follow.
"I want Conner to write an article for Clarkcatropolis, or at least try" he said glancing at the obstinate teen.