Superflash:Collison Course (Volume 2)

Chapter 9: Smallville

Barry was nervous about setting foot on the Kent family farm.  Central City has been his home since the day he was born.  Without the noise and daily grind of city life, he feels ill at ease.  The open farmland and expansive acreage feel overwhelming and he still has to meet Clark’s adoptive parents who by extension are Kara’s Aunt and Uncle.  While he can imagine Kara spent a lot of time here with Clark despite living in Midvale with the Danvers, he can guess she’ll fit right in; he knows that he’ll be so out of place.  Only when they’re out of the rental car and Kara wraps her arm around his waist does he begin to relax.

“Barry…what’s wrong?”

“I feel like a fish out of water…I’ve lived in the city my whole life and being in these surroundings is just…”

“I know how you feel.  Clark grew up on this farm and when you come from a certain way of life like you and I did, a change of environment can be somewhat of a shellshock.  I was nervous the first time I came to the Kent Farm as well.”

“You were?”

“Yeah…it was only a brief stay before Clark took me to the Danvers.  My first experience with my heat vision happened here.  I nearly barbecued a cow.”

Kara’s smile and admission brings a chuckle out of Barry as she looks over at him.  He’s still nervous about meeting Jon and Martha, but knowing that she had a similar reaction to the Kent Farm helps him regain his composure.  They start walking forward again when the sound of a dog barking hits their ears and the animal comes bounding across the land to jump on Kara and lick her face.  The dog’s exuberance knocked her off her feet and into the grass.

“Shelby…I missed you too, buddy.  Have you been taking good care of Uncle Jon and Aunt Martha?”

Barry couldn’t help but smile as he watched Kara lovingly scratch behind Shelby’s ears causing the dog to bark again and wriggle his body from head to tail at the attention he was getting.  For Barry this was a very domestic sight and had him hoping that when he and Kara get a house of their own, they look into adopting a dog.  

“Of course he is Kara.  You know Clark wouldn’t just take in a stray if he wasn’t absolutely sure the dog would be a good companion.”

Barry had reached down to pet Shelby when a woman’s voice spoke up from downfield of where they were.  Shelby bounded off to walk by her side as she came forward.  Upon first glance, the woman was nothing like he had expected.  As a C.S.I. he could tell that she had an inner strength and confidence that matched his Mother’s. She was casually dressed in a pair of jeans, work boots and a Smallville Crows sweatshirt.  Life on the farm had clearly been good to her as her hair was still a vibrant red, only starting to gray at the temples.

“Aunt Martha…it’s been too long…”

“I know…but I’m sure Supergirl has been quite busy defending the world and I know Kara Danvers has been with her career at Cat Co.  Not to mention getting married recently.  Hi…you must be Barry Allen…I’m Martha Kent.”

Martha stuck her hand out and Barry immediately took the handshake in greeting.  He was still nervous but the woman in front of him had a kind smile on her face and was nothing but welcoming.

“Yes…Mrs. Kent…I have to say that…uh…well…”

“Barry, relax.  This has to be your first time away from the city.  I’m sure Kara has told you about her first visit…and I’m going to tell you something that I’ve never told anyone…I was just as nervous about moving to this farm as you are at visiting it.”