Chapter 33

In an underground part of the barn, where a few old work benches were kept and usually not used. Leonardo looked at a large log before him that he sat up on two x-shaped stands he made to hold it. Then he used his fingers and began to shave the bark off leaving most of the log nice and smooth.

'What are you doing, Leo?' Clark asked, slightly confused.

'Punching and martial arts practice. We can't simply keep throwing or tapping others unconscious the few times we are seen right?' Leonardo said. 'So, we have to learn to throw a punch and not look weak, but also not to kill the person.'

'I thought we already learned to control our strength.' Clark wondered.

'Ok, punch the log, but don't break it or take out a chunk. A fist mark or less is preferable.' Leonardo said.

Clark took a step back and prepared himself before throwing a punch. The log shook before it cracked and Clark's hand was half way through the log. Making the teen feel embarrassed at this, feeling that Leonardo's thoughts weren't as wild as he thought. Not to mention it seems he was a bit lucky when he punched others in the past.

'Alright, why don't you show how it's done?' Clark said, trying not to feel embarrassed.

Leonardo took a step to the side, before letting out a breath before he struck the log. While a small cloud of saw dust appeared and the log seemed to shake a bit, besides a fist print the log was intacted. Which made Leonardo grin hearing Clark's grumbling.

Punch after punch, the two continued to take turns practicing before lifting the log and turning it into firewood. Then they looked at the time and realized it was time to prepare for school and vanished from the barn and arrived at Smallville High a minute later.

"Morning, Clark." Lana greeted with a smile.

"Morning, Lana." Clark greeted her nicely.

Since helping her move the boxes in the old storage room at the Talon. Clark had found that Lana seemed to transform back into her old self. The nice girl who seemed cheerful and not the diva she has been for the last few months.

After the greeting, Clark just continued walking, greeting a few others as he passed by. A few of which were girls as Clark had been slowly expanding his social circle a tiny bit. Not a whole lot, but still expanding it and found Leonardo held a bit of truth. Expanding his friend circle has worked wonders and lessened his outsider feeling.

"Hello, Abigail. Nice outfit." Leonardo smiled at the blonde girl.

Since curing her bad acne, Abigail looks to skyrocket as did her confidence in herself. She was really pretty and with great skin as it was not impossible for her to become a model. Sadly and much to Leonardo slight disappointment upon learning she was going through boys left and right like a country singer in his last life. Just he hopes she doesn't begin writing songs about them afterwards.

"Thanks Clark." Abigail said.

'Last I heard, she is now dating James from our art class.' Clark stated.

'Is that so? I lost to a guy who sprouts useless trivia facts in an attempt to sound smart.' Leonardo sadly stated. 'The only redeeming thing is his big old glasses as everything else is subpar. Well, his tongue is also a bit long, but still I lost to such a person.'

'I hate to break it to you, Leo, but she doesn't know you exist.' Clark said while silently agreeing with him. 'Besides, not everyone thinks about physical needs at the start of each relationship.'

'Clark, that is a big part of any relationship. Which is why we need to learn more control of our strength so we don't accidently break others in half.' Leonardo retorted. 'Besides, inside Jor-El training, there is a section on this subject. Another reason, to collect the stones, so you stop needlessly worrying so much about it.'

'Even still, she won't know you exist.' Clark grinned as Leonardo grumbled.

'Just like every girl I had an interest in that wasn't married or seeing someone else.'

--

Smack!

Walking into the Torch, the first thing neither Leonardo and Clark thought was Chloe slapping someone. Not only that, but Pete of all people as Clark's oldest friend held his cheek slightly shocked.

"Did something happen?" Clark asks.

'When did Pete start wearing such a higher end watch?' Leonardo asked. 'While not the most high end watch, it is not a cheap one either.'

"Quite the watch you got there, Pete." Clark shifted topics when neither answered him.

Both Chloe and Pete stood there silently glaring at each other. Clearly whatever happened sent their friendship on hold for the moment. Then Pete rolled his sleeve down and covered his watch as if he was slightly guilty about it.

"It's nothing Clark." Pete said. "I will catch you later."

Watching Pete walk out of the room, Clark looked at Chloe expecting some sort of answer. While he doubts she will tell him, there is always a slim chance.

"It's nothing, just a disagreement." Chloe started putting an end to it.

'Well, whatever it is, unless Pete's family hit the jackpot, no way they would spend that much cash on a watch. So Pete is probably doing something that is illegal.' Leonardo theorized. 'Unless, he has a part time job that pays through the roof.'

'Then we have to get him to stop, before he gets hurt or someone else whatever he does.' Clark stated.

'Or, we can allow him to continue for a while and hope he comes to his senses.' Leonardo said. 'I know that this is probably dumb and overthinking, but while it is not obvious, Pete and Chloe tend to depend on you a little too much lately. Which leads them to be less cautious or less worried about their actions.'

'So you want to allow Pete to learn the consequences of his actions.' Clark said a bit unhappily.

'Yes, helping others is a noble thing, Clark but over indulging isn't. When others begin to rely on you for most things, they become dumber thinking you will always appear when needed.' Leonardo explained. 'This is a question that a hero always needs to be aware of, as well overcoming one's own fear, not to mention priorities of who to save first or who needs it quicker.'

'Leo, you're ranting again.' Clark cut him off before refusing on Chloe.

"Need any help on a story?"

"If you would cover Paul's latest move as class president, it would be great." Chloe said, waving him off.

--

Later, after doing what was asked as he interviewed Paul, who was still the class president after three years. Clark and Leonardo were working on their sail boats in the barn as they rubbed down some wielding marks. Making it look like a smooth connection and not a sloppy weld.

"If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were a professional welder who has been doing this for years." A voice said from behind.

"Well I did have a bit of practice here and there, Lex." Clark turned to see Lex standing there.

Dressed in a black suit, Lex stood there with his hands in his pocket looking at the metal framed before him. Taking a few steps around the frames, Lex turned to Clark.

"Why the sudden interest in boat making?" Lex asked. "It seems kind of strange even for you."

"I was feeling down and decided to do something to keep myself from idling in sad thoughts. The first thing that came to mind was boat making, since my Father recently hooked on the NCIS show." Clark answered.

Lex just nodded as if he believed it, if he didn't Clark or Leonardo didn't know nor cared much.