slayers_desire | kidnapping Clark to a red-sun Earth

"...you felt it all too, didn't you?" he asks, with another twinge of guilt. It was bad enough that he had to feel terrified and paranoid for the last two days, but knowing that he subjected her to that by proxy... "This won't happen again," he promises her, not knowing if he can keep that promise but he's going to do his best to make damn sure he never even lays eyes on another piece of silver kryptonite. "I should have x-rayed the box before I opened it. If we ever get any more unexpected packages, I'll do that before we do anything else."

April can only nod to Clark's concern for her. It can be difficult for an empathic to share the emotions of the person they love.
Even though April cherishes the connection they share. Knows it gets them through the tough times.

"I wish there was a way to detect Kryptonite before it effected you. I would hate for us to always be suspicious of unexpected packages."

"It might be good to check unexpected packages with the x-ray vision anyway, considering all the other crummy things folks can put in boxes." Vicky is always paranoid, and it's important to be so careful.

"Is there... any way to put a lid on your empath powers, at least temporarily? It'll keep you safer when you're dealing with really painful things."

"I know how we can find green kryptonite without letting me get in range," he says, glancing over at Victor and remembering the kryptonite detectors she made when they were clearing the fields after the meteor shower. "But the other colors... I seem to have to touch them first." And he nods at Victor's endorsement of the x-ray plan, because they have run into malicious packages twice now, and it's always a good idea to be careful. Although, he has to wonder if that's some remnant of the paranoia talking.

"That is at least one good thing. Seeing you in pain is never good."

April runs her fingers through her hair. "I find it easier to not sense emotions when I... I am in tune with my vampire powers. Its easier to shut them all off. And to just... not be affected by the voices at all."

"For a moment there, when we were helping Clark, I almost went there. But the vampire is just a part of me that is difficult to share with everyone."

"I didn't want to make things worse for you Victor, when you were working so hard to help Clark get that kryptonite removed from his system."

"Yeah," she says, grinning fit to split at Clark. "I'm pretty sure my kryptonite detector qualifies me for evil genius status." Then to April, to explain: "We put some of his blood in little vials, and the vials of blood would react in a very visual way to the presence of green k. It was awesome. It worked really well."

"What do you mean, about the vampire powers?" she asks, curiously. She knows for different kinds of vampires there are different rules, and the closest she can think is that perhaps the vampire powers bring April closer to the animal that is in all people, and that disconnects her from her empathy.

"We might have to get more, but if we could keep some around, it could definitely help reduce my exposure to green kryptonite," he suggests. Clark never likes the idea of being exposed to kryptonite of any flavor, but he's willing to endure a short burst of pain if it helps him avoid more in the long run. If only it worked for the other colors, too.

He's concerned to hear that April nearly retreated into her vampire state, and he puts a hand on the back of her neck, warm and solid, attempting to offer reassurance and comfort. He knows how hard it can be for her to deal with her darker half, especially so recently brought forth last month by the kryptonite vampire sorority incident.

"Maybe experimenting with a few different colors might give us some detection for those two. I am sure you both would figure it out."

Smiling at Clark's touch at the back of her neck, April eases slightly. Making it easier to talk about the vampire. "In my universe, vampires are Demon spawn. They infect humans, possess their bodies, and slowly destroys all traces of the human that used to be there."

"As the vampire, I feel no empathy. No human emotions. I am more logical and cunning, but with a twisted darkness to the way as the Demon is always seeking power and control." She steadies her breath. "Someday... I wouldn't mind you researching some of my abilities."

"It would be nice..." April bite her bottom lip. Looking back at Clark. Not sure if he has talked to Victor about this yet. "To have both of our genetics researched. See if we are... um... compatible."

"The only problem is that contact seems to activate the other colors of k." There's a burst of elation, overwhelming, like a bird flapping its wings at tremendous speeds as Victor comes up with a solution. It's a rush. "A radiation detector, handheld. That would be perfect, wouldn't it? Right?"

"If you'd be comfortable with it, I'd like to help in any way that I can," she says. "What d' you mean by compatible?"

"It might," he agrees. "They probably give off different types of radiation, so you could even calibrate it to warn us of specific kinds."

Clark hasn't brought it up with her, and this is a little awkward, because he knows she doesn't necessarily think about this sort of thing in the same way they do. "Um. She means... genetically."

"Oh gosh. It would be wonderful to have a hand held radiation detector."

"I am comfortable with it. I would not mind having Clark around for the tests, as he is able to deal with the vampire persona fine."

April phrases her next statement delicately. "That way we would know if we could have a family. Of our own. Someday far in the future."

It's one of the best feelings in the world, to come up with a solution to a problem, and she's all heart-poundy and happy and proud. "Did you know that bananas give off trace amounts of radiation?"

Then: "Oh. You mean engaging in activities that'll one day result in offspring. I'm not sure how I could... test that," she says, equally delicately, face heating up right away.

"They do? Then why haven't there been any banana-powered supervillains?" It's rather sad that that's Clark's first question. It's a bit of a joke, but still.

He'd been hoping to wait a little bit and come up with a more delicate way to phrase the question to her, to try to avoid her getting embarrassed, but it was probably inevitable. "Well... I still don't even know if I have DNA," he says, carefully. "Or if it's double-helix, or if I have the right number of chromosomes." He tries to phrase it scientifically, to give her a different angle to look at it that isn't so awkward for her.

"How do you know there haven't? Just because you haven't faced any?"

"I have no idea what my DNA even looks like." April adds to things to avoid the embarrassment part. "I am awful curious."

She relaxes. Thank goodness it's not dealing with parts, just with DNA. The micro-level as opposed to the macro-level. She will stitch you up, hold your hand, draw your blood, and have a goofy karaoke night with you, but mention anything to do with the bathingsuit area and she's flummoxed and vaguely panicked.

"I'd love to test it for you. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to work pretty soon, and then I'll have access to their equipment."

Clark makes a face at April, amused.

Fortunately for Victor, Clark and April have the mechanics all worked out, just as two ordinary human beings would. It's just the genetics that are the tricky part, and although Clark doesn't know it yet, he's one of the few versions of himself who is compatible with humans in that way. Others often aren't so lucky.

"That would be great. No rush, though. I don't think we'll be ready for a while." He takes April's hand in his, rubs his thumb across her knuckles. "But someday. And if you need more samples, let me know."

April sticks out her tongue. She has a faint recognition of one super-villain who is a gorilla. Just can't remember its name or origin story.

"We have all the time in the world." April acknowledges. "But I am more than glad to come in for other tests someday soon. Since I am one of two vampires that was born in my world, I am curious about everything."

Her fingers twitch again; there's another one of those hopeful rushes of feelings, glad to learn, sharply interested, full of compassion, like a fruit smoothie except with emotions instead of fruit. Her thoughts run fast, and she's bright, and all of that is reflected in the way she reacts to things. In the super-positive emotions associated with learning.

"I'm totally up for it. Actually. I have a test-tube and a swab right here, and if you could just... swab the inside of your mouth?" She takes a small cooler, no bigger than a camera case, out of her backpack.

That's Victor. Confused about coital relations, perfectly prepared for surprise DNA tests.

Clark's a little amused at her preparedness, because she totally should've been a Boy Scout if she wasn't one. "Some day I'm going to find out how in the world you carry all this stuff on you."

April is also amused. "Sure. I am okay with that. I am also totally fine for having my blood taken too."

With her vampire needs, April can't be nervous around blood.

"I'm a master packer. Comes from five years in the Nexus. You gotta be ready for anything." She looks surprised. She hadn't been expecting to take blood today, but she has everything she needs for it, from gloves to swabs to the needle. "Actually... do you want to do that now, or later? I'd be cool either way."

Clark's a little surprised by the suggestion too, but whatever his girlfriend is comfortable with is fine by him, and he wants to be there to support her if she needs it. "I had to do a cheek swab once," he comments as April does that part. "This woman showed up claiming to be my biological mother, and the court ordered I submit to a DNA test. I had to sneak in and swap my sample for Pete's because I had no idea what would even show up."

"Now is just as good. I am comfortable now." April notes. Of course in a couple of moments she won't be able to talk as Victor gets her swab.

She had never heard the story about the claimed biological mother story from Clark before. And wonders who it had been. And why they claimed it.

The swab is properly stored and set aside.

"Ugh, I hate it when folks use science to be punks." She gets out the materials she needs, all in one convenient inner pocket of her bag, reaches for her arm. Remarkably tender, tying on the tourniquet, alcohol-swabbing the crook of her elbow, and, after a glance for permission to make sure it's okay and she's ready, she takes her blood.

Clark watches her work, a little bit jealous, because when he gets a blood sample taken it always involves green kryptonite and a lot of pain. And the one time it didn't, he was out cold. April doesn't seem bothered by it, though.

"This whole medical thing's new to you too, isn't it?" he asks. He'd never really thought much about it, since it wasn't part of his own life either, but since she was raised in the demon dimension it stands to reason she's never had a checkup either. Yet another thing they share, with Victor being the one to help out there.

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