slayers_desire | alternates, look-alikes and dead ends, oh my!

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clark

alternates, look-alikes and dead ends, oh my!

April returned to her Kansas apartment feeling absolutely exhausted. Mentally and physically. Both her and Clark had gone into the Nexus to attempt to find information about Professor Milton Fine. And all of April's attempts had resulted in nothing.

Worse... she had met one of her look-a-likes and had another run-in with an alternate Clark.

Mostly it was the alternate encounter that disturbed April the most. It was another difficult and awkward conversation that just returned some doubts to her heart.

With a little sigh of frustration, April paced the small area of her living room, unsure of how to direct all these negative emotions. And finally she had a flash of brilliance. Entering her bedroom, April pulled out several of her art supplies and returned to the living room to drape a couple of drop clothes over the floor and living room. Then she set up her easel, and placed out her paints where she could easily reach them.

Then using her paintbrush, she channeled those doubts and negative emotions into creative juices, by painting the blank canvas on the easel (and the drop clothes... and her clothing). The whole time she held onto the hope that her Clark had better luck in the Nexus than she had.

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Clark's actually had a little better luck, finding two people who were able to tell him a few things about Professor Fine, and everything he hears confirms what they suspected. Fine isn't who he says he is, and he's not here with anyone's best intentions in mind.

He comes to her apartment in a little better spirits than he was before, at least in regards to his teacher, and lets himself in with his key. He raises his eyebrows when he sees what she's working on, and watches quietly for a few moments. "It looks like a paint bomb exploded in here."

She had been so consumed with the creative spirit, that April had not heard Clark come into her apartment. And gives a slight jump... and now there is going to be paint splattered on his shirt too.

"Oh! Clark!" Blushes. "Sorry."

Fortunately, Clark is used to having disposable clothing, given how often his clothes get destroyed. So he doesn't mind. "It's okay," he says, smiling a little at a few smudges of paint on her face. "Working out some frustrations?"

"Yes." April sets down her paintbrush to frown at the mess of colors on the canvas. "I didn't have much luck, I am afraid."

He gives her a loose hug, not caring that he's getting more paint on his clothes. "I found out a couple of things. Nothing terribly useful, but more than we knew before."

It takes half a second for the hug to be returned. Mostly because April had to readjust herself mentally. And once she hugged him, it was tight and close as she basked in the support and attention of her boyfriend.

"Knowing something is better than nothing."

"What did you learn?"

"His real name is Brainiac. He's not Kryptonian, but he's very similar. He's 'artificial,' whatever that means. And kryptonite's no good against him. I was warned not to ask too much from other worlds because apparently he's one that is different a lot across universes and I'd get conflicting information. But I was also warned he might be trying to 'bring out Zod.'" It's vague, and not very helpful, but it's more than they knew before.

"Brainiac? I think that name was in older Superman's files. And does have a comic connection. But if this one is different than the comic-version, it does sound wise to stick to the basics."

April shivers. It was hard enough to fight Kryptonians, but to fight someone with those powers and not be able to use Kryptonite sounds impossible.

"I wonder how he expects to bring out Zod?"

He nods in reluctant agreement. "It's hard sometimes, when there's so much differing information."

"I don't know. Bring him out of what, is the important question. I get the feeling we're going to have to be very careful about all this."

"Very careful. It also might be one of those 'can not avoid' issues either." Which are starting to be stressful situations for April.

She clings close again. There is a part of her that just wants to protect Clark from all the drama that is coming... but another part that reminds her that it will be a challenge he has to face. For his destiny.

"I'm very, very glad that you're with me," he says, wrapping his arms around her fully. "If you hadn't had the vision about him, I probably wouldn't even be suspecting him right now."

"I am glad too." April sighs. "Other yous are so... closed off. And I just want to help you be better prepared. For whatever comes."

"Maybe it's because they're finding the Nexus later than I am. They don't know they can go someplace and not have to hide who they are. Someone to share secrets with, without any consequences. Habits of a lifetime are hard to break, and even harder, the longer you wait." He pauses a moment. "It's hard, sometimes, to go home. Where I still have to pretend to be human. The Nexus is the best thing that ever happened to me." And she's at the top of the list of people there who've changed him for the better.

"Must be it. All the others were at least five years older. And I am so glad you have found a place where you feel safe. Where you don't need to pretend."

"Not pretending gives you this fire. A passion that I just don't see as brilliantly in the others. Theirs is more... jaded."

He pulls back a little, and runs his fingers through her hair, stroking her cheek. "Every day when I look at you I wonder why I got to be the lucky one, out of all the versions of me that exist out there somewhere. I wish they could have what we have."

Her eyes close, a contented sigh at the familiar and comforting sensation of his fingers in her hair. "You accepted me, and the Nexus, and were willing to adapt. You made your own luck Clark. And now have great friends in your life because of all the adventures you have shared with us."

"And as much as I hate to say it... other Clarks do find that great love of their lives. They do find that person they can be honest with." She just hates to say it, because it is usually Lois who earns that honor.

He chuckles a little. "I'm lucky that you found me first. I'd never give this up for anything."

"Good. Because you are not getting rid of me." April pulls him in for a deep kiss. Then chuckles, as she ruffles his hair. "You are my smart, investigative report, alien lover. And I am going to keep you."

He grins when she pulls back from the kiss. "You gonna lock me in a closet and keep me under lock and key?" he teases her.

"Have you seen my closet? It is hardly big enough for my shoes. I don't think you would be very comfortable there."

Pause.

"I will just have to settle for handcuffing you to the bed."

He laughs and nuzzles her neck. "But your bed's tiny too. There'll be nowhere for you to sleep but on top of me," he says innocently.

"Oh I would make do." April runs paint-stained hands up his shirt. "I would make do."

"Much as I love the primary colors, we're going to end up cemented together if we try anything right now," he says, tapping the end of her nose with a fingertip, and leaving a blue smudge.

"Spoilsport." She teases.

"I should clean up. And shower." She glances around the mess in her living room, running a hand through her hair and accidently streaking it with paint.

"You going to stay for a while?" They still don't have a plan for dealing with Professor Fine, aka Brainaic. Even if that plan is to 'act normal'.

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