Night settled quietly over Smallville. Clark's house was softly lit, the gentle sound of cutlery and the aroma of dinner blending in the air.
Kyla and Tina moved in sync in the kitchen. The sound of dishes clinking lightly set the rhythm of their conversation.
Clack
"Careful, Kyla, that's still hot." Tina placed the tray on the counter and laughed when her friend blew on her fingers.
"You say that after letting me hold molten iron."
"It's just practice," Tina replied, pretending to be serious.
Their laughter spread through the house, reaching the living room where Clark and Diana were setting the table. He handled the cutlery with almost military precision, aligning each fork as if preparing for a tactical strike.
Diana watched him, arms crossed, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Have you always been this… methodical?"
Clark glanced sideways, a trace of irony in his eyes. "I prefer to call it efficiency."
"I call it boredom." She picked up one of the glasses, twirling the crystal between her fingers. "If you want, I can balance this on top of my sword. At least it'd be more entertaining."
"Entertaining or dangerous?"
"Depends on the point of view."
Their eyes met for a few seconds before Diana laughed. She placed the glass deliberately in the wrong spot. Clark sighed and corrected it with precision.
"You're impossible."
"And you're predictable."
Clink
The sound of glass echoed as she gently tapped her cup against his. "Life with you would be less fun if I were different."
Clark gave a half-smile and went back to his task. His hands moved quickly, but his gaze seemed divided between focus and fatigue. Diana noticed.
"You seem distant tonight."
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
"Today's visit."
Diana adjusted one of the folded napkins. "That girl… Alicia?"
Clark nodded without looking up.
"You never told me about her ability."
He paused for a moment, his hands stopping mid-motion.
"It's not something I can explain. Not yet."
"Since when do you need permission to tell me things?"
Clark raised his head, and for an instant they stood face to face. The air between them was light but charged with something unspoken.
"Since I realized that some answers bring more questions than you'd want."
Diana arched an eyebrow, her smile returning. "That's a pretty way to say 'I don't want to talk about it.'"
"It's the most diplomatic I could come up with."
She laughed, looking away. "Diplomacy. Never thought I'd hear that word from your mouth."
Clark shrugged, finishing the last touches on the table.
From the kitchen doorway, Kyla appeared with flour on her hands. "Almost ready. Just missing the sauce."
"Leave it to me." Tina followed behind, wiping her hands on her apron. "But if it burns, it's her fault."
"Liar. You're the one who forgot the salt last time."
Diana watched their banter with a smile. "You two sound like sisters."
"Almost," Kyla replied, laughing. "The difference is Tina cooks like she's testing my patience."
"And you eat like there's no tomorrow."
"Exactly."
Clark leaned back in his chair, amused. "If you two start fighting in front of Alicia, she'll think this house is a circus."
Kyla pointed a spoon at him. "If she's coming here, she better get used to it."
Tina added playfully, "And if she wants peace and quiet, she's got the wrong address."
Diana looked at Clark and shook her head. "You know you've lost control of this, right?"
"For a while now."
She smiled, stepping closer to fix his collar. "At least chaos suits you."
Clark held her wrist lightly, no tension in his touch. "And you like chaos more than you admit."
"Maybe."
Kyla coughed on purpose from the kitchen. "If you two are done flirting, someone could help me with the side table."
"On it." Diana stepped away, taking the glasses Clark had left.
He watched her in silence, and for a brief moment he thought about how this small chaos — laughter, teasing, and the smell of dinner — felt more human than any victory he'd ever won.
The sound of pans and voices filled the house, forming a curious, fragile harmony.
Outside, the air was crisp. A faint shimmer tore through the space near the fence, and Alicia appeared, her body materializing within the gentle breeze.
Fwoosh
The sound was almost imperceptible, like air folding back into place. She looked around, eyes alert to every detail, her smile calm but curious. She walked toward the garden, kneeling before a small patch of flowers swaying in the wind.
Her fingers brushed over the petals lightly. Her smile lingered, lit by the dim glow coming from the house.
Inside, Clark stopped mid-motion.
'Someone just materialized near the gate.'
His gaze shifted to Diana, who had sensed it too. She lifted her head, expression alert yet composed.
"She's here."
Clark nodded, voice low. "Alicia."
Kyla looked from the kitchen, spoon still in hand. "The guest?"
"Yes. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Tina laughed softly. "Sure. Just don't take too long or dinner'll get cold."
Clark ran a hand through his hair and walked down the hall with slow steps, listening to every sound outside — the wind, the flowers, and the quickened heartbeat marking her arrival.
The doorknob turned with a soft click.
Clack
The door opened slowly, revealing Alicia bent over the flowers. The porch light framed her face, and the smile she wore was gentle, almost shy.
Clark tilted his head, breaking the silence with ease. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Alicia turned quickly, startled. The surprise lasted only a second before she laughed softly. "They are. I thought no one took care of them."
"They take care of themselves." He stepped closer. "You look… different tonight."
Alicia blinked, surprised by the comment. His tone was sincere, almost casual.
"Thank you. I thought I should look presentable for dinner."
Clark noticed the simple but elegant dress. "You did more than that."
She looked away, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "If you keep complimenting me, I'll think that's one of your powers."
"It's not a power. Just manners."
Her laugh followed the line naturally. Clark gestured toward the door. "Come in."
Alicia stepped inside, her light perfume drifting with her. From the kitchen came the sound of dishes and cheerful chatter.
Kyla appeared first. "Finally! I thought Clark was kidnapping the guest."
Tina followed with a playful grin. "Welcome, lovebirds."
Clark sighed, though amusement flickered in his eyes. "They're exaggerating."
Diana approached quietly, composed smile in place. "Welcome, Alicia."
"Thank you, Diana. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Diana studied the handshake for a moment before releasing it. "I've heard quite a bit about you."
"I hope good things."
"Let's say… interesting ones."
The neutral tone made Kyla hide a smirk in the back of the room. Tina nudged her with an elbow, signaling silence.
Clark stepped in smoothly, voice calm. "Let's sit down. Dinner's great, thanks to our two chefs over there."
"Chefs? No, survivors of the kitchen," Kyla said, lifting the dish with a laugh. "We work miracles with what we've got."
Alicia laughed along. "Then I guess I came on the right night."
Clark watched the growing harmony. Diana's sharp gaze remained fixed on Alicia, quietly assessing her every move. Kyla and Tina laughed together, and the atmosphere held on a fragile balance — a thread between warmth and curiosity.
Clark pulled a chair out and gestured toward Alicia. "Sit. Tonight, you're part of the family."
She smiled, accepting. "Part of the family… I like how that sounds."
Diana kept her polite smile, though her eyes said otherwise. A faint premonition stirred, impossible to name.
As everyone settled, Clark looked up for a moment. Outside, the wind was blowing again. The sound of the flowers in the garden was the same, but something in the air's vibration had changed.
He drew a deep breath, masking the tension only he could feel.
'I just hope dinner really stays peaceful.'
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