43 Chapter 43
Lifting the boat above him as he was moving it, Leonardo looked at Clark who seemed troubled. Tilting his head, Leonardo guessed whatever he found last night at the street racing underground club, confused him. Since Martha mentioned that they were nearly smacked by a couple street racers when coming home.
"Is something wrong Clark?" Leonardo asked.
"It's Pete." Clark started before he paused. "I found out he's been drag racing and it seems to have been for a while."
Nodding, Leonardo chose to remind Clark of a few months ago. "Well, this is probably what he and Chloe were fighting about a few months ago. The one where we hoped it would teach him the consequences of his actions."
"I'm worried about him. I did some research and there have been more fatal car crashes in this county alone in the past year. All in similar or tricked out cars." Clark said. "I don't want to see him adding this number, and I feel if I try to stop him, he will blow me off."
"Then what do you plan to do? You can do what is best for him and forcefully stop him. However he will resent you. You can dismantle the club secretly where you will slip and he resents you for taking what he feels belongs to him. There is also the option of keeping you hearing tuned to him and when an accident happens you can rush there, but he will consider you hovering." Leonardo lowered the boat.
"That's why I am troubled." Clark said. "I don't want this to strain our friendship."
"It is difficult to save someone who doesn't want to be saved or in this case thinks they don't need saving." Leonardo said. "So the question is Clark, and this question doesn't necessarily apply to Pete. Where do you draw the line in how you help others? We can change the world, yes, but is it our job to do so? We will probably be one of the most powerful people to ever walk this planet. We can solve so many of the world's problems, keep millions safe for generations, allow a lot to live long fulfilling lives, stop accidents from causing more deaths."
Clark paused as he thought of it, before shaking his head. "I don't know."
"Neither do I, but Clark I do know this. We can't cradle the world, humanity needs humanity to learn and grow, and the people need to craft their own lives and do things themselves. We need police to enforce the law, firefighters to douse the flames, doctors to heal sickness." Leonardo said softly. "We can protect humanity and give humanity a chance to grow from threats or accidents they aren't ready for, but we can't do all the living for them."
"Now it is not to say you can't save others, but once the world relies on you too much. It is not so much of them controlling their fates, but almost as if they are being kept." Leonardo continued softly. "That is when we will have issues as humans aren't pets."
"I came for help, not a philosopher question." Clark grumbled. "Besides you drifted off topic."
"Maybe not, but do you force your will on Pete, do you hover as some sort of guardian angel, or act like a parent?" Leonardo asked. "By parent I mean tell Pete the pan is hot and don't touch but allow him to touch to learn."
"I thought you said this question probably won't apply to Pete." Clark said.
"I said might, but my rant basically boils down to this point. There are many paths forwards, but which path will you choose and stick to, for there is no back peddling once chosen." Leonardo said. "Now I will be doing Jonathan and your share of chores today, now go figure out what you want to do about Pete."
Basically kicking Clark into moving since allowing him to ponder too much, then nothing will get done beside overthinking. After which, Leonardo went to work on the farm, thinking he was glad for having a kryptonian body and not allergic to hay anymore. Otherwise he would sneeze a blizzard and flood the farm with his running tears.
--
While Leonardo ran the farm single handedly, Clark went to the hospital to talk with Jonathan. He basically repeated Leonardo words for Jonathan who nodded to them.
"Leonardo tends to talk grand and drift, but he did have good advice for you, Clark." Jonathan said with a sigh. "There is no easy way to decide on what to do, but I believe you will make the right choice."
"No pressure huh." Clark grumbled.
"Each action has a consequence, and the one that needs to be chosen might not have a happy outcome for your friendship with Pete." Jonathan warned.
"That is what I am afraid of." Clark softly said.
"I know you've been friends since the sandbox, Clark. However, friends drift apart and it might be Pete this time. To say he is going down a rabbit hole that you don't want to follow him down." Jonathan tried to comfort his son. "Maybe your friendship will bounce back in a while, but it might not."
"I still don't have a clue, but thanks dad." Clark stood up.
"Not all questions have a right answer." Jonathan smiled. "Also, good luck."
--
While measuring a board, Leonardo looked up and frowned. His peaceful day felt ruined for who stepped into the barn. Dress nicely and not really wearing something that belongs in a barn, Lana stood there.
"Can I help you or is watching a board being measured that interesting." Leonardo asked.
"Is Clark around?" Lana asked slightly coldly.
"He is currently out." Leonardo replied. "You know because Jonathan is in the hospital?"
"That's why I am here, to check up on him." Lana said back.
"He is fine and kept busy so he can't dwell about how age is catching up with Jonathan." Leonardo said with a shooing motion.
"I feel sorry for any woman that would date you if this is how you treat one." Lana said as she turned on a heel.
"Sorry, I don't see any women around." Leonardo said. "Only a whiny little girl who wants everything to revolve around her and her problems."
Lana just clenched her fist as she let out a few deep breaths. Then she climbed into her car and sped away.
Leonardo went back to measure the board while muttering. "If I had a woman, I would spoil her to the moon and back."
--
Later that night, while Leonardo was finishing up with Clark waiting around for news of his plan. Pete stumbled into the barn with bruises and cuts as blood ran down his face. Leonardo just gave the teen a glance before walking over to a cooler and tossed him an ice cream cup.
"I take it that the underground is not full of sunshine and rainbows for you anymore." Leonardo stated rather than asked.
"Did Clark tell you?" Pete grumbled angrily through his swollen lip.
"Please," Leonardo rolled his eyes. "You got more bling than a disco ball and no way did your parents give you the cash for all of it."
"Where is Clark?" Pete turned away.
"In the house hoping it went well, but clearly he slipped up somewhere." Leonardo pointed to the house.
Pete didn't answer him but went towards the house clearly fuming. Leonardo shook his head while Clark did well, he seemed to miss a glaring issue. Not that he blamed him, for it was probably a human factor he didn't account for. Since, he knew Clark weeded out those of Dante's payroll who were also behind Pete's current issue. Just, he probably didn't account for the police to chat among each other about the upcoming raid even if they aren't a part of it.
'Sad thing is, Pete still probably doesn't see what he did wrong.' Leonardo sighed as his mind began to drift to other things. 'Where should I travel this summer break?'
