slayers_desire | Rome adventures: open to Clark and Xander

Entry tags:

clark,
untaken road

Rome adventures: open to Clark and Xander

April felt blessed in the fact that she was getting closer to Clark's family in Smallville. Especially since every time she visited with Martha and Jonathan, she could sense their approval and that they were glad she made Clark happy. It was so important to her to share more of her world with Clark in return, and introduce him to someone from the Buffyverse.

So after deciding on Xander, April first sat down with the older man and explained about her visits to the Nexus. And how she had made several friends there. And how she started dating someone from another universe. And that she would like to introduce her boyfriend to Xander.

With those basics covered, April was ready to contact Clark and invite him back to Rome. This time to meet someone from her world. And waiting for Clark to arrive, April felt a couple of butterflies in her stomach. She just hoped that Xander and Clark would get along alright.

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Those arms tighten just a little around her, and he leans his head on top of hers. Still thinking a lot about what he's just learned.

"I screwed up yesterday," he confesses. Knowing now that what he did, or failed to do, might be the cause of all this. That his failure might mean someone's death, not knowing that it's his own.

((Still here for a teensy bit, anyway. Hooray for synchronized power unleashings! I think the only thing Clark will have left to get is superbreath, and I'm keeping that canon so it'll take a while to get there.))

"Tell me about it." April encouraged. She cuddled close to him. Offering to be his support, just as he offered to be hers.

((That works with me. Can't have them mature too quickly))

He sighs and closes his eyes. "I ran off to China with Lana. She was on the trail of one of the stones that Jor-El sent me after, and I couldn't let her get her hands on it. I didn't tell my parents I was leaving or anything. Lex and Jason were there too, and Lana... she got possessed by Isobel again." The witch who had possessed her before, the one who stripped Clark of his powers and went in search of the stone he'd already found. "I had to fight her for it, and I had the stone in my hand, and I lost it. I don't know where it is now." He sounds like he's been beating himself up over it ever since.

"Mom and Dad are pretty mad. That I left without saying anything. Dad lectured me on trust. And not disobeying. And Jor-El lectured me for failing to keep the stone. I just... I screwed up."

April had almost fretted at the first sentance, but fortunately Clark explained that he couldn't trust Lana. And any jealously that might have been there at first was quickly gone.

"These stone must have been very important for you to risk so much, and for you to now feel so upset that you lost one."

"I know your parents are upset that you left. But they just want to protect you. They were mad about the Nexus knowledge at first, remember? And I am sure your father was just more upset that he didn't have a chance to be with you, and help you. I know I would feel the same way."

"Everyone screws up now and then Clark. It makes us human. I am sorry that Jor-El lectured you because of it. And that you feel so responsible."

"They are. Jor-El told me that they hold all the knowledge of Krypton, and that letting them fall into human hands could mean something really, really bad." And now he thinks he has a better idea of what that could be. What punishment Jor-El is going to dole out for losing another stone, or what comes of it.

Normally he might be amused at her calling him human, but right now it just plain hurts. "But I'm not human. No matter how hard I try to be."

"You will find them." April shifts her position to sitting in his lap. Stroking his fingers through his hair. "This is just a challenge presented to you on your road of destiny. But you will succeed facing it."

Sensing the hurt, April placed her forehead on his. "No. You aren't. And I am not either. I guess I meant to say... we have to make mistakes to learn from them and grow stronger."

He musters up a very half-hearted smile. "Is that a vision talking, or just your faith in me?"

He's been her strength, her reassurance, through so many trials already in the few months that they've known each other and been together. And now it's her turn to help him, reassuring him that he isn't as much of a failure as he thinks. And though it does help to wear the protection charm that she gave him, its influence only goes so far. "People," he suggests quietly. "That's what people do."

"Its my faith in you." April kisses the tip of his nose.

"Exactly. Clark, no one said that carrying a destiny would be an easy thing. We will meet challenges and obstacles. And sometimes we will do something that feels like it messes up everything. And end up facing even more obstacles and challenges."

"But the strength in our souls will carry us through. I know it."

He does feel a little better, knowing that her words stem from her unshakable faith in him and his ability to do what needs to be done. It's not a full reassurance, there's no way of taking away all the guilt at once, but it does help some.

"I just can't help but feel that maybe this is a mistake I can't afford to make." And part of that may be the unrealistic ideal that everyone expects him to live up to, but after hearing some of what's to come, he can't shake the thought.

"There is no mistake that we can't make right." April continued to ease her boyfriends guilt away.

She relizes that his uncertainty stems from that unrealistic ideal of Superman. And gently ran her hands down his chest. As much as him meeting Xander had been important to April, she acknowledged that another person fan-boying about Superman's greatness might have not helped the situation.

"Did you know that it had taken me a while before I connected the dots before Clark Kent and the comic legend of Superman? That the man I fell in love with was the one who sits here with me now, and not some blue-and-red caped ideal that must be so incredible difficult to imagine yourself as. That everyday I am with you, I see the hero that is Clark. The sacrifices you make. The triumphs that make you smile. The challenges that make you doubt. And that I have seen such growth and strength since that first time we met in the Nexus. That your destiny might feel unreachable, but that everyday you are taking steps towards it. Doing what you feel is right."

Xander's reaction was actually one of the more helpful ones he could've had. Once he believed that Clark actually was Clark, he rolled with it easily, not geeking out or asking him stupid questions about the glasses that he doesn't wear (yet). So it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, and he's grateful for it.

And as he listens, one of the twisted knots of stress in his chest seems to loosen, knowing that she really did fall in love with him for him and not Superman. That she believes in him, not because of a comic book, but because she knows him. And that she has confidence that even if he doesn't grow into being that untouchable, pristine boy scout in a cape, that he'll become the best person he possibly can anyway, no more and no less.

He closes his eyes again, leaning his forehead against hers. "Thank you."

April can almost sense the stress knot loosening. And she nuzzles his neck. "I should have told you a lot sooner. And I promise to no longer tease you about comic-you. Just tease you because of you-you."

She never wants him to feel any pressure from her to being 'Superman'. Because Clark is already her hero. And he always will be. And she is going to tell him that now.

"You are my hero Clark. I love you for all you are."

He opens his eyes again, and softly kisses her cheek. "I love you too. I... thank you." Words can't express what he wants to say. So he kisses her again, gently as before. Gratefully. Wondering what he did to deserve someone like her.

"You know I will be there for you. Always." April enjoys the kiss. But mostly is glad she was able to provide Clark with some reassurance.

One hand seeks out the rune on her shoulder, tracing it in silent agreement. She's been nothing but patient with him, even though sometimes his problems are petty ones, and she's stuck by him through the bigger faults. She loves him for himself, flaws and all, and he can't help but love her back. Sticking by her through her own trials, saving her when he can, listening when she needs it.

Moving her hands inside his shirt, April gently massages his chest. "How abotu a bit of a massage? Remove some more of this stress?"

Her touch feels good, even though he's concerned about her trying hard enough to hurt her hands if things get too intense. "That depends," he says with a small smile. "Are any of your housemates likely to wander through and get scarred for life?"

"We could always move to my bedroom. It is a lot more private."

His smile widens. "Then we run the risk of them wandering by and hearing something." He may be teasing her, just a little.

Taking his hand to take him to the bedroom, April teased back. "I know I am good, but you will just have to restrain yourself."

He follows her, glad that this next trip to her bedroom is less dire than the last. "You'll have to find some other way to make me shut up then."

Arriving in the bedroom, April gave him a smile as she removed his shirt from him. "Oh I could think of a way or two."

"Go lay on the bed."

"Ooh. Getting bossy now." He obeys, though, carefully flopping onto it but not hard, so he doesn't break it. His own bed at home is a lot sturdier than hers, and he's broken it more than once.

"Admit it, you like it when I am bossy." April chuckled. Understanding the difficulties of Clark's skin, she was prepared to use other methods to ensure he received a good massage without her having to use much pressure.

First, she started with applying a massage oil that would heat slightly once in contact with the skin. And gently rubbed it into his muscles. Next she also concentrated on sending the sensations past the skin, like she did for Jonathan, so that Clark would feel the psychic massage against any muscles that needed it.

"Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say, ma'am."

April's resourcefulness is much appreciated, and though he feels a little guilty for not being able to return the favor, it's quickly pushed aside at the sensations her fingers and magic are working on his skin and muscles. He hasn't felt this relaxed in years, and if Kryptonian abilities came with a shapeshifting power, he's pretty sure he would end up as a puddle before the day is done.

"Where'd you learn how to do this?" he murmurs, eyes half closed as she works.

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