A Different Smallville

The next morning, Leonardo was working on the boat as Clark did his chores. Due to the boat size, Jonathan wants them to finish it soon so they can have the barn space back. Hence, he and Clark were taking turns on working on it, outside of super speed. Otherwise it would have long been done.

"Hello, Seg-El." a slightly older voice then Jonathan said from behind him.

Turning his head, Leonardo saw a man with long dark hair with hints of gray streaks in it alongside his small beard. He wore a black suit and held the edges of his jacket around his chest as he stepped into the barn and looked around.

"Lionel or Jor-El?" Leonardo asked.

"Lionel." The man smiled. "I am here to say thank you for getting me out of my own head it seems."

"While you may have made many…mistakes in the past. It was Clark and my mistake that put you…out of commission for a while." Leonardo struggled to put things into words. "Allowing you to rot inside your head…didn't seem right to me."

"Yes, mistakes." Lionel spoke as he ran his hand on the boat side. "This is a nice boat. Do you plan to sell it when it's done?"

"After a ride or two. To make sure it is water worthy." Leonardo said. "I hope that you will turn over a new leaf in life with your second chance. It will be a shame if you are thrown into prison or Belle Reeves again."

"These past few months trapped inside my own head gave me a lot to think about myself. Especially viewing myself in the third person of another world or generated world, Jor-El said." Lionel spoke. "It made me reflect over some of my past actions."

"While I don't expect you to be a saint, don't make me regret my choice." Leonardo said. "Just try to be a better person than your past self."

"I will, son." Lionel said before leaving the barn.

Leonardo closed his eyes before counting his eyes and counting to three before speaking again. "You can come out, Clark. I know you've been listening."

Clark appeared in the barn and wore a stern and slightly angry expression. However, he managed to suppress it somewhat as he understood Leonardo's reason from listening in. Finally after a few minutes, he spoke.

"Can he be trusted?" Clark asked.

"In time maybe and to a degree," Leonardo said. "I won't lie and say he is a changed man, but Jor-El must have done something when he made him a vessel."

"Vessel?" Clark sounded confused.

"Well, Oracle if it sounds better to you. It seems when we rang the third stone, it downloaded a bunch of Krypton Knowledge into him. Thus allowing Jor-El to possessum him for a short while should either of us need his help." Leonardo explained.

"So he is a good person all of the sudden?" Clark asked, confused.

"Living things are complex, but to a degree yes. While he will do things that he thinks is right, they might not be right in other eyes." Leonardo vaguely said. "Now that doesn't mean you run off to him when you encounter a problem. However, in time he might become an ally."

"I hope you're right." Clark said.

--

Later on that day, Leonardo was sitting before Principal Reynolds. While not so much he did something, but due to Lana stunt yesterday unwelcomed rumors spread far and wide. Hence, he found himself invited for a sit down with the older dark skinned man.

"So I am under the impression that you and Miss Lang dislike each other. It has also been brought to my attention that you are an alcoholic. Which resulted in three searches yesterday." Principal Reynolds said. "Miss Lang has also brought a few issues about you up to me. Which is rare for someone as nice as Miss Lang."

Leonardo had the urge to roll his eyes as he half the mind to smack Lana senseless. Her level of pettiness has reached a new level. Which he couldn't understand since they technically only met once.

'If Lex is Clark's nemesis, then Lana must be mine.' Leonardo mentally grumbled.

A long and very uncomfortable chat later and Leonardo found himself on the watch list of troubled students. Which made him sigh since it was day two of school. What's worse is he will have to undergo searches for alcohol for a while.

--

"Clark!" Leonardo tackled Clark on the stairs accidentally bumping Jordan over who Clark was chatting with.

"Leo. What's wrong?" Clark asked as he picked up Jordan. "Sorry about that Jordan."

"You need to stop Lana as I just spent the last twenty minutes with Principal Reynold because of her." Leonardo hissed.

"Alright, I will talk to her." Clark sighed.

Leonardo walked away sulking since this meeting made him leave his favorite class. Which is art and to make it better, Lana is out sick. Yet, she still managed to torment him despite not physically being at school.

'I hope she works the street for pocket change.' Leonardo cursed her in his heart.

Such thoughts also dampen his mood more since he knew if she was in trouble, he would still save her. Something Clark does with Lex Luthor when one of Luthor's plans goes awry. However, while he doesn't get to choose who to save, he doesn't need to like them either.

After a while, Leonardo's mood improved again. Where he was chatting with Mandy who was one of the school cheerleaders. In which he wished for flirting skills, for he couldn't flirt to save his life.

"Shall we get some coffee sometimes?" Leonardo asked.

"Maybe in your dreams, four eyes." She replied.

Leonardo watched as the blonde left with her giggling friend, before sighing. Then he just began to softly hum "It's not Easy" by Five for Fighting to himself. For he tried to ignore the few looks he received from others who watched his burn out.

Then a few minutes later, he was looking at a large teen who was glaring at him. He wore the red and yellow jacket they give out to every football player on the team. Beside him were a few other players and looked more ready to beat him. For why they had so much energy when it didn't concern them, Leonardo wondered if they were the best bros to this guy or had a thing for him.

"I hear you tried to ask my girlfriend on a date." He got up in his face.

"If going out to chat over coffee is considered a date, then yes. I do find her attractive and nice to talk to as it felt like she was dying to talk with someone who held a larger vocabulary than football terms." Leonardo looked the guy over. "I would also consider myself an upgrade compared to you and not just in the looks department."

The guy shoved him, well more liked tried as Leonardo stood still. Then as if a lightbulb went off as he should have been pushed backwards. He fell to the ground a bit dramatically where he laid on the ground and arms stretched out wide.

Looking up at them like he was building a snow angel, "Too much?"

"Kick him." The angry leader of the group said.

Clapping his legs together Leonardo barely saved himself from a very uncomfortable shot between his legs. He was soon dragged off by the few football players like some victim in a horror movie. So he did the very reasonable thing as he rounded the corner.

"Tell Clark it wasn't me who taped over his football game on the VHS with Buffy."