Written for secret_chlark 2015 for futurescribbler Original prompt: sun, fun, water

Clark didn't feel the air temperature in the same way as most people, so he mainly looked to others around him to know how he should react to the weather. If his mom told him it was cold, he grabbed his jacket. If his dad had on his normal jeans and shirt, Clark knew he would be fine with just a tee and jeans of his own.

He also knew it must be unbearably hot outside when his dog, Shelby, chose to stay inside the coolness of the house instead of following him around while he did chores on the farm.

Today the golden retriever lay sprawled full length on the floor of the Kent's kitchen, trying to soak up the coolness of the floor by osmosis. The old air conditioner was trying to fight the heat, but the size of the room and Clark rushing in and out wasn't letting the temperature approach anything close to comfortable for the silky-furred dog.

His chores done, Clark burst back into the kitchen one final time and looked down in amusement at the suffering canine. Shelby's expressive eyebrows quirked up at Clark and his tail thumped weakly, but he clearly had no intention of putting out any further physical effort in the heat. The woebegone look of his friend made Clark burst out in sympathetic laughter. He knew what the dog was hoping for with such a pitiful expression.

"Alright boy. You win. We'll go down to the lake."

With those magic words, Shelby instantly transformed into an energetic ball of flying fur and enthusiasm, racing in circles and attempting to bathe Clark in sloppy, excited kisses. Grabbing up the truck's keys, Clark scrawled a quick note for his parents and rushed outside with Shelby leaping joyfully around him. Once into the truck, Shelby promptly stuck his head out the window and lolled his tongue in the way of dogs and cars everywhere. As they got closer to town, Shelby started whining and looking at Clark inquiringly then off in the direction of a certain house.

Subtle, the dog was not.

Clark laughed aloud. "Alright, boy. We'll see if Chloe wants to go too."

Shelby went into a fit of joyful barking then stuck his head back out the window until they approached the small house Chloe and her father were now renting. Clark noted Chloe's car was in the driveway, so they might be in luck in finding her home. He opened the passenger side door and Shelby leaped out. But instead of heading up to the house's front door, the dog instead raced around to the back. A moment later, Chloe's squeal of dismay and splashing could be heard. Clark rushed back to see what had happened, hoping Shelby hadn't gotten into any trouble in his excitement to see his favorite non-Kent. The sight that awaited him had the normally sure-footed Clark almost stumbling to a stop.

A very wet, very surprised Chloe sat laughing in a low-slung beach chair with a very enthusiastic, equally wet Shelby in her lap, attacking her face with sloppy kisses as she futilely tried to push him away. But for reasons Clark couldn't even guess at, Chloe had set up her beachchair in the middle of a colorful kiddee pool patterned with smiling sea-life. The pool wasn't very deep, only just hip-level on the chair, but for the life of him, Clark couldn't figure out why Chloe would set up such a strange arrangement.

Shelby had finally calmed down enough to sprawl himself on top of Chloe's lap. Happy and comfortable, his mouth opened in a wide doggie grin as the water of the pool lapped against both girl and dog. Sighing, Chloe dug her fingers deep into the dog's wet fur, giving him a good scratch. Shelby's submerged tail wagged in delight, making little waves ripple in the water.

Sunglasses perched precariously askew on the end of her nose and water dripping from her soaked hair into brilliant green eyes, Chloe finally looked up at Clark with a bright smile. The dancing laughter in her eyes and warmth in that smile managed what temperature alone hadn't. The day finally seem heated to Clark. "Heya, Clark. What brings you guys by?"

Clark found himself suddenly feeling foolish when he realized he probably should have called first to tell her they were coming over. That way Chloe could have...finished whatever it was she had been doing. Looking down sheepishly, he noticed a cup with the logo of The Talon bobbing by in the kiddee pool's water. The cup - now empty of its original contents which Shelby must have knocked into the pool - bobbed almost accusingly at him. "Oh, uh, Chloe. We were just on our way to..." Actually, what had she been doing? "Wait. What are you doing exactly? Why are you sitting in a beach chair in a kiddee pool?"

Chloe blew a breath out at a stray piece of wet blonde hair that flopped over one of her eyes. Twice. The hair was quite stubborn. Eventually she withdrew one of her hands from where it was buried in the dog's fur to push the lock of hair behind her ear and straighten her sunglasses. Shelby looked back at her mournfully as his scratching was momentarily reduced by half. Finally, Chloe replied. "Well, Clark, you may not be aware of this, but it is about 1000 degrees out today and our air conditioner gave up the ghost last night."

Clark took a moment to look over the odd setup once more. "So, you set up a chair in a kiddee pool?"

He couldn't see her eyes clearly with the large sunglasses back in place, but he felt the weight of her stare saying Obviously.

"Ummm, Chloe...why not just go down to Crater Lake? It would surely be more...umm...comfortable than..." Clark gestured at her setup. "This."

Clark could see the gears working in Chloe's head before she replied. "Oh, so I guess you haven't heard, then."

Confused, Clark asked, "Heard what?"

"Crater Lake is closed. Some sort of contamination. My guess is it is something from Luthorcorp. I was going to check it out tonight, when the temperature dropped a few degrees below surface-of-the-sun-hot, but until then..." She shrugged. "This was the best I could come up with."

"Why not just go to The Talon? They have air conditioning, right?"

In response, Chloe lifted the empty plastic cup from the pool water. "I did." Switching her gaze to Shelby, she tapped the dog's nose. "You owe me an iced coffee," she told him. Shelby tried to look contrite, but didn't quite pull it off. Switching her gaze back to Clark, she continued, "The problem is, I am not the only person suffering from lack of air conditioning. The place was a madhouse. I barely got in and out with my drink and my life."

Concern sparked to life in Clark's chest. "Should we go help? Lana might need..."

Chloe was already shaking her head. "I offered, but she already has plenty of staff. I think we'd just be underfoot."

"Oh, okay." Truthfully, Clark was glad he wasn't needed. Things with Lana had ended...badly. But he still wanted to be there as her friend.

"So that brings us back to my little attempt to cool off here." Chloe gestured at her setup. "Honestly, I thought it was kind of genius."

Clark couldn't help but smile in response. "Yeah. Shelby thinks so too."

Shelby's tail caused more waves in the little pool as it wagged.

Chloe smiled again, looking back up at Clark. "I'd offer you a spot too, big guy, but I don't think there is room for three in here. And Shelby got here first."

Clark grinned in reply, sensing that he had a much better solution to offer her - one he couldn't have offered before she knew his secret. "Well, Chloe, what if I said I knew a great swimming spot just a few minutes away that has plenty of space for all three of us?"

Chloe reached up and lowered her sunglasses so she could peer up at him more clearly. "I'd say 'tell me more of this magical oasis, great keeper of the mystical waters'."

Clark ginned, enjoying the easy camaraderie. "It's this great forest pool with a little shoreline and the water is so clear you think you could touch the bottom just by reaching, but it is actually so deep that you'd never reach it on a single breath. And the light is dappled because of the overhanging trees, but-"

Chloe had started laughing, cutting him off. "Alright, already. Where were all those poetic words when you wrote for The Torch? Anyway, you sold me on it at 'forest pool'. I'm in. Take me to this wondrous place."

Clark smiled at her light teasing, pleased with himself.

Chloe pushed at Shelby, who looked at her accusingly for trying to move him from his new favorite place. That is, until Clark whistled for him. Then the dog leaped out of the water, only to shake a moment later, water and fur flying everywhere, covering Clark and - judging by the squeal - Chloe too.

Clark looked up from where he had been sheltering behind his forearm, grin ready for when he saw Chloe's dishabille, but the expression froze on his face when he saw her.

Forgotten were the silly setup of chair and pool with frolicking cartoon sea-life - all his attention was now rivetted on the glistening wet woman standing there in a beautifully sleek and well-fitted red bikini. Clark felt his bottom jaw drop open at the sight...and closing it again at this moment was not one of his abilities.

He'd had no idea Chloe was wearing...that! Seventy-five pounds of wet dog in her lap had completely obscured the scantily-clad state of her when she had been sitting. But now...he'd had no idea that Chloe even owned such a thing as that sleek red bathing suit.

He'd also had no idea that Chloe owned the...things...that were filling out that little red bathing suit.

Holy smokes...Chloe had breasts. Awesome breasts. And hips. Amazingly curvy hips that merged into a nicely dipping waist.

When had that happened? How had he not noticed?

Why is Clark looking at me so weirdly? Chloe thought.

"Uh...Clark? You...ok there?" she asked. Then she remembering she was in a bikini and not her normal public one-piece, she reached down and she lifted the (mostly) dry towel that had been on the far side of her little pool and wrapped it around herself.

Looking back at Clark, she saw he was still gaping. Seriously, what was wrong with him?

A large towel was pulled on and suddenly covered up all the new and fascinating things Chloe had. Things that that had burned themselves into the backs of his retinas. Suddenly Clark found himself wondering how Chloe would feel if he used his heat vision to set her fluffy white towel aflame so he could see those interesting things again.

Then sanity returned.

Clark felt his lower jaw snap shut again with an audible click of teeth. Blood rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment, aware now that he had been staring rudely. At Chloe. At Chloe's breasts. And hips. And...

He suddenly snapped his eyelids shut and turned around as his eyes did indeed start to burn.

As if sensing his distress, though not really understanding it, Chloe put a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of friendly concern. "Clark, you ok?"

The gentle touch - like one of a thousand they had shared over the years - succeeded in calming Clark, and he was able to open his eyes again. When her hand left his shoulder, and he found himself already missing it. That easy physical contact between them was one of his favorite things about their friendship. Especially now that Chloe knew his secret. She could easily have seen him as a freak because of his origins, but she never had. He should be just be grateful for that, and forget about...other things.

Because surely it was just a fluke that seeing her in that sleek bathing suit had turned him on to the point that his heat vision had started kicking in.

With only a little effort, he forced his expression to relax into a reassuring smile. "It's nothing. So...how about we head out to that place I told you about?" His voice went up hopefully on the last part.

Chloe was still looking him over as if expecting he would need help and she had every intention of assisting.

He quickly quashed the distracted thought of how she could "assist."

"Alright, Clark. Let me just go inside and change and-"

"Change?!" Clark interjected. "Why would you change? You look amazing and -" Clark bit back the words before he could continue to embarrass himself.

"Clark, are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, fine. It's just I've never seen you in a bikini before. You look really great and it's already wet, so why change? We are just going to go swimming again, after all."

Clark was definitely acting weird. Even so, how could she explain things in a way that wouldn't make her seem neurotic?

"Well, it's just...I don't usually wear this out," she tried explaining lamely. And it was true. Out behind the house like this it wouldn't matter if she didn't pull off the look like Lois or Lana would have. She could just be comfortable.

But going out in public was another story. She hated to admit it, but she became self-conscious, and would don a basic one-piece instead. Usually with a loose cover-up top and shorts on as well.

Clearly not understanding, Clark looked at her in confusion. "Yeah. Why is that anyway? I always thought you didn't have a two-piece, but you do. So why not wear it out?"

Chloe plucked at a corner of the fluffy towel she still wore. "Well, it's just I normally go out to the lake and...my other suits are better for that."

Clark blinked at her in confusion. "Huh? Lana and Lois wear bikinis to the lake all the time. Why can't you?"

Was Clark really that clueless? Did he really not understand that the gorgeous brunettes with their perfect bodies would make her overly feel self-aware?

"Yeah, but they are gorgeous! Tall, with perfectly tanned skin, and thighs and butts that never jiggle. While I -" She stopped mid-sentence at the look of surprise on Clark's face.

Wait. Did he really not see the difference? Could he actually think she looked good in the smaller suit?

Clark found himself blinking in surprise at Chloe's mini tirade. Did she really think she couldn't pull off the bikini just as well as the other girls? She may not be as tall, but if there was jiggle on her, it was in the right places. He remembered when she would wear snug jeans and tight skirts and...

Dammit, his eyes were getting uncomfortable again.

What was wrong with him? Chloe was his best friend! And she'd become more even than that since learning his secret. She had become his ally and defender. After what had happened with Lana, he knew that was infinitely more important than any attraction. Maybe there had been feelings before between him and Chloe once, but those had fizzled.

And it was better that way.

Wasn't it?

A strange look crossed Clark's features. A look that was somehow...speculative. The expression made her breath catch and her heart begin to race.

Could it be true? Had Clark...liked how she looked like this? Straightening her shoulders with resolve, she decided to risk it. "Alright Clark, I'll stick with this." Then she paused, as another thought hit her. "Oh, that is unless...ummm..was anyone else coming?"

Clark was instantly confused again. "Just you, me, and Shleby."

Shelby barked and pranced in place as if to tell them to stop all this standing around and get moving. Clark laughed and smiled sheepishly at Chloe. "See, he's ready and so am I."

Chloe let out a laugh. "Alright fine, I just need to grab one or two things really fast, then I'll be out." Then she dashed inside through the back door of the house, leaving the two males waiting outside.

Familiar with what Chloe considered to be "really fast" Clark shook his head and decided to clean up the little pool Chloe had abandoned. He used the pool's water to quench a thirsty-looking tree nearby and opened out the wet beachchair in the sun to dry. Then he did his best to dry off his wet dog - much to Shelby's displeasure.

After a few minutes, Chloe came back out with a large bag and a bright cover-up dress on. Clark surreptitiously checked to see if the straps of the red bathing suit were still present under the patterned dress. He grinned when he saw they were. Catching his grin, Chloe smiled back and he had the sudden feeling she knew he had been looking.

Feeling foolish again, he covered his awkwardness by sweeping Chloe up into his arms bridal-style. Chloe's response was to squeal in shock and clutch at her bag.

"Clark! What are you-!"

"We'll have to travel like this. It's too far to drive."

"I thought you said it was just a few minut- Oh. Wait. Right." She looked at him with calculation in her gaze. "This isn't a local spot, is it?"

Clark grinned down, happy again that he no longer had to hide things from her anymore. At least not things about his powers. "Nope." Then without further ado, he called, "Shelby!" The dog made a great leap...onto Chloe. She let out another squeal of surprise at once more having her lap filled with partially-dry dog. This time Shelby had the good manners to look sorrowful as he settled into the girl's embrace.

Spitting dog fur out of her mouth, Chloe looked at Clark sternly. "I really do hope this is as close and amazing as you say, because this is by far the oddest beach-going assemblage ever."

Clark grinned down at her for just a brief flash, then with a cheerful, "Hang on!" he ran.

As promised, it did only take Clark a few minutes of running to get to their destination - but it was exhilarating. The only other time he had run this fast with Chloe was when he had been racing to save her life after she had inadvertently followed him to the Fortress in the Arctic. Then he'd been terrified by her uncontollable shivering and bluing lips - fearful she would die of exposure before he could get her somewhere safe and warm. But this time, as he raced through the fields and plains of Kansas, her smile was exhilarated and radiant - even with their doggie chaperone in her lap.

When he finally slowed to a stop at the promised swimming spot, her eyes shown with excitement as she grinned at him. He found himself grinning back down at her, sharing her elation. Most of the time his powers were either a burden, or a life-and death matter. He used them sometimes in small ways, like getting through chores faster or cooking with heat vision, but this was different. This felt like he had just used his powers for the sheer joy of it...and he loved being able to share it with her.

For just a moment, holding her shining smile, he had a sudden urge to kiss her. He wondered if she felt it too as he watched some of the exuberance in her expression kindle into something else. Something just as powerful, but...warmer.

Then seventy-five pounds of half-dry fur struggled up from Chloe's lap with a joyous bark. Shelby leaped out of her arms and raced away through the trees, barking in excitement at being back to a place he clearly knew well.

For just a moment, Clark was unsure what to do, but Chloe's laughter broke the his stasis, and when he smiled down at her, he saw only with their usual camaraderie.

"Well, it seems like Shelby wants to take the rest of the tour from here."

"Yeah," Clark agreed, carefully putting Chloe down onto her feet again.

Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, Chloe followed the trail that Shelby had shot down. A moment later, the trees broke onto the most beautiful forest pool imaginable. As promised the water was clear as crystal, and Chloe could see little fish and brilliantly green water plants in the depths. The trees shaded the small strip of beach with dappled light, giving the pond a serene, private atmosphere like some sort of forest grotto. The only offset to the serenity of the place was Shelby happily doggie-paddling around in the clear water.

"Wow." Chloe said in amazement at the beautiful scene. "Just wow. Clark, this is gorgeous."

Clark came up behind her, smiling. "Yeah, I thought you'd like it."

Turning back to face him, she asked, "Why haven't we ever come here before?"

Rubbing the back of his neck in an unusually shy gesture, Clark explained, "Well, it would be a bit of a trip normally."

"Really? Where are we?"

"Canada."

Chloe blinked in surprise. "Oh, wow. You really are fast."

"Bart is faster."

"Bart? The kid that made a pass at me at the Talon?"

"Yeah." Clark's voice was a bit deeper sounding now, which was strange.

"Really?"

"Yeah. By a lot."

"Wow. Maybe I shouldn't have turned him down when he asked for my number."

Giving him a wide, teasing grin, Chloe turned back to the beach, already unslinging her bag from her shoulder. A moment later, she had spread out a blanket on the narrow strip of shore and unloaded towels and sodas for both of them. Once everything was set up to her liking, she stripped the cover-up dress off and threw it to the far edge of the blanket, once more revealing the red bikini.

Even turned away from him, the sight of so much of her made Clark's mouth go dry. Her hair tumbled just to her shoulders, windblown and wild from the speed of the run. Her skin was smooth and glowing with a delicate spray of freckles and highlighting instead of detracting from the creamy color of her. Clark remembered the first time he had been exposed to Red-K and had used his x-ray vision on her backside and discovered a birthmark on her left butt cheek. Though her bikini bottom was still full enough to cover it, he found his gaze locking onto the spot where he remembered that still-covered mark lay. Climbing to her feet, Clark realized Chloe was looking back at him and speaking. The words took a moment to filter through to his brain.

"Yeah. Yeah. Of course I'm coming in," he replied.

Chloe's answering grin caused one to cross his own face before she turned away and raced into the water, casting up great splashes and laughing.

Clark's grin spread even wider. That was one of his favorite things about Chloe. She never did anything half-way.

With his own wide grin, Clark discarded his own tee shirt and raced into the water after her, diving under as soon as it was deep enough. As he surfaced in a noisy spray, pushing his dark hair from his eyes, a great plume of water hit him, making him splutter. Chloe laughed madly in reply and started swimming away as fast as she could. Of course, he was faster, and with a wide grin, he grabbed onto her ankle as she tried to flee. Giving her a second to catch a breath, he pulled her underwater with him then let go once she was thoroughly dunked. They burst out of the water together, laughing and spitting out water. Splashing him again more mildly, Chloe said, "Jerk!," though there was only humor in her voice. That set off another round of them chasing and splashing at each other, with Shelby trailing behind doggie-paddling and grinning.

After a while, Shelby went back to shore and Chloe grew tired and let Clark catch her. "I'm not used to so much swimming. I'm exhausted," she declared, wrapping an arm around his neck companionably, letting him support them both in the water as she panted. Clark, of course, wasn't the least bit tired and grinned at his friend's exhaustion. Chloe grinned back, but her heavy breathing and the buoyancy of the water caused interesting things to happen to her bikini-clad breasts. Suddenly, Clark didn't feel quite so companionable with her arm around him.

He quickly let her go, "We should head back to shore then." He flashed his lopsided smile, then with strong pulls through the water with his long arms, he crossed over to the beach with their blanket, leaving a confused Chloe behind.

They lay stretched out on the beach blanket, letting the warmth of the air evaporate the moisture from their skin.

Chloe turned her head to look at the bronzed, blissful face of her best friend, and felt her heart contract painfully. It would be so easy to completely lose her heart to him all over again. He was so beautiful - inside and out, but she knew how dangerous that would be. Clark would never look at her the way he looked at Lana, even if he had taken her here, and not the brunette.

Though he'd had this expression in his eyes a few times today...

She quickly shut down that train of thought. Only pain lay that way, and she had no desire to taint the memories of this beautiful day. She knew today was a memory she would always treasure.

"Clark?" she inquired gently. His eyes were closed, but she didn't think he had fallen asleep.

"Hmmm?" he rumbled in reply, not opening his eyes.

She took a steadying breath. "Thank you for this, Clark. Thank you for bringing me here."

His eyelids opened, revealing gorgeous, guileless blue eyes. His full lips curved into a smile. "You're welcome, Chloe."