44 Chapter 44
The next morning, Leonardo stared at a piece of junk car that Clark brought into the Barn. Well, calling it junk seemed like a stretch as it wasn't rusted out or heavily damaged. However, it didn't start and the engine seemed to need an overhaul. It looked like it had been exposed to the element for a couple years to put it nicely.
"Leo, I need your help." Clark asked.
"It wouldn't be fixing this piece of junk up right?." Leonardo said light poking the side mirror that fell off.
"Yes, and we only got a few hours to do so. I need to help Pete and since I don't want to borrow from Lex, we need something to bet on." Clark said.
"Still, why did you pick a 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34? Been watching the Fast & Furious have you?" Leonardo complained. "Why can't it be a 1969 Dodge Charger, then we can paint it orange and a big zero one on the side."
"We can do one after this if you will just help." Clark rolled his eyes.
"Fine, but we basically have to build this thing from the ground up. The thing looks like it would completely fall apart before it even hits the speed limit, much less surpass it." Leonardo said.
As if to prove the point the passenger door fell off and the back bumper. A thing that made him sigh since why couldn't Clark pick a car in better condition. Yet, it felt like a decent challenge and oh was he going to have fun tricking it out with lights and a stereo.
"You better hope Pete wins, because this will be your birthday gift." Leonardo said. "So let's get this thing done."
Clark sighed as it could count as an early gift. He just didn't expect Leoanrdo to be slightly shameless and give what he already owns as a present. Though to be honest it wasn't too bad as it will be a nice car.
--
Martha for the next while watched as two blurs raced around the car as they dismantled it and basically rebuilt it. Once in a while she would see one of them race out of the barn to return a few minutes later either with paint or parts if she guessed. Shaking her head slightly, the two of them would probably be successful if they opened a car shop that turned out custom cars.
A few hours later and she was preparing to go to Jonathan, she looked at the silver car with blue racing stripes down the center. The lights showed underneath as the radio blared as it slowly creeped out of the barn. Right before it roared to life and shot down the driveway and down the road in seconds.
"Well, Leonardo is certainly having fun." Martha sighed.
--
"It seems a bit slow." Leonardo complained as the car zoomed in and out of traffic. "The engine could also use some more tuning."
"Leo! Focus, please focus on the road." Clark held the panic handle.
"It's fine." Leonardo said as he figured this was good enough for a test drive.
Shifting and drifting as he turned the car around, they were rocketing back towards Smallville. Where upon stopping at the gas station to refuel, Leonardo found Clark glaring at him. Clearly unhappy about their test drive.
"What?"
"Do you know how dangerous that was?" Clark growled.
"It was fine, and worse comes to worse, we would hop out of the car before an accident occurred." Leonardo waved it off. "Besides, technically I am licensed and played a lot at the fortress in simulation of driving even faster and in more impossible situations."
"When did this happen?" Clark asked.
"I do go outside of the weekend visits, unlike you, Clark." Leonardo said. "You fill it up, while I grab some snacks. We need to do some tuning before you go off to help Pete."
"I don't think I want to ride with you behind the wheel anymore." Clark grumbled as he began to fill the tank.
When Clark was putting the cap on, Leonardo returned with a bucket of popcorn. He tosses Clark a twinkie while munching on the popcorn.
"This popcorn is a bit bad. Too salty for my liking." Leonardo said, but continued to eat it.
While Leonardo didn;t care for much nor worried much about money. He didn't like wasting it and if it was food that wasn't totally disgusting. Then he would finish it or eat it until he felt like he got his money's worth out of it.
Getting back into the car, Leonardo drove back to the farm at a much slower pace. Where he went to work tuning a few minor details, while Clark went to call Pete. Once he finished, he left to allow Clark and Pete to do their own thing.
Later that night, Clark was telling him how it went down. While he felt bad for helping Pete cheat, he wasn't locked in the trunk. For a while he learned of the bomb placed in Pete's car for who knows why he drove his enemy vehicle. Clark didn't foolishly confront them and instead just removed the bomb at super speed.
Then he went onto to explain the strain on his relationship with Pete, for like Leonardo figured. He didn't feel too bad and only regretted doing it a little and could easily fall back. For he probably felt Clark will always be there to bail him out.
--
Driving the Skyline to the doors, he rolled down the windows as Jonathan walked out through the doors. He was finally allowed to leave, and both Clark and Martha wanted to prepare his welcome home gift. Leonardo finds himself picking up the man and driving Clark's car, though he gets the feeling it is going to be his even if he dislikes it.
"What's up with this car?" Jonathan lowered himself in.
"Clark's way of helping Pete, but besides being used as a bet and show car. It is a car Clark and I wiped up in a few hours after he dropped the junk it was in the barn." Leonardo said as he shifted gears.
"It's a Skyline. He couldn't go for a muscle car?" Jonathan muttered.
Leonardo laughed as he agreed. "Now while the two are setting up the welcome back surprise. Shall we have some fun?"
"As much fun we can have with a Skyline." Jonathan agreed.
Shifting gears, it wasn't long before they were shooting out of Smallville. Unlike Clark who held the panic bar most of the time. Jonathan was a whole lot more fun as they took turns driving across various trails and backroads.
--
Back at the Kent House, Martha was looking at the time confused. She figured that both Leonardo and Jonathan should be back by now with how Leonardo drives. So she just looked at Clark who was holding his head.
"Where are they?" She asked.
"Taking turns driving the Skyline all over." Clark said. "Dad always told me to be careful, yet he follows Leonardo in the dumbest things."
"Your father was very similar to Leonardo with vehicles in his younger years. Besides if I recall, you and he did donuts and tore up the field when he taught you to drive after the harvest." Martha sighed softly.
"Still, what's wrong with picking a Skyline? It's a nice looking car."
"You dad always had a special spot for muscle cars or more specifically 1969 Dodge Charger." Martha smiled.
Clark hung his head in defeat.
