slayers_desire | lets do the time warp baby ((Future-Verse))

Entry tags:

clark,
future!verse

lets do the time warp baby ((Future-Verse))

After a full week of classes, April felt drained and accomplished. Things were getting more intense with final papers and preparations for the end of her first year.

It felt good to enter her bed, cuddle into the blankets and fall asleep. Unfortunately, it seemed that her voices were not going to let her sleep easily tonight.

The vision came on stronger than any other she ever had. In the haunting whispers of the vision, April could see all seven faces of the Big Bads that were threatening Rome. And because of her knowledge of the TV shows, April woke up feeling worried.

She had to tell someone. And as she grabbed her phone, April felt strange and was surrounded by a sickly green light. This was bad... she knew it. And she felt being pulled into the light... then falling... falling... falling.

Until she hit the bed again. April gasped out loud. Not sure if that had been part of the dream or not. She didn't even notice that the bed in which she lay was bigger. Or that there was more space in the bedroom either.

Trying her phone again, all April received was static. It was like the phone wasn't working. And she set it down, and glanced around her surroundings. Noticing the bigger bed, and bedroom, April clutched the sheets to her in concern.

"Where am I?"

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April glanced at him. In her timeline, they haven't learned about how the Seven foes were created. Or their powers.

"That doesn't sound good."

"It's not," he agrees, seriously. "But it's nothing we can't handle, so long as we stay together." He looks out at the stone figures. "We have to approach them one at a time, and meet their challenges."

"Okay." April looks around. She is not sure which one to approach first. But of course, Jasmine catches her attention.

"We could start with her?" It was a question, and a statement.

"Yes," he says, as answer and confirmation. "She represents the sin of lust. That will be what tries to influence us."

"Oh... but..." April doesn't even have a chance to protest before the statue activates, and the influences of lust come over her. At this age, with her confusing interest in older Clark, April struggles with the emotions.

She wants to kiss him. Touch him.

Shaking her head, April knows that it wouldn't be right. And she slowly calms herself down. Hoping that her reaction doesn't make it too embarassing.

"I really don't like her."

Clark simply holds the image of his wife in his mind's eye, remembering what it felt like to feel the baby kick under his hands, to know that their love created a new life. And those feelings and influences slip away before they can ever really grasp hold on him.

"She was never one of my favorites either."

Walking away from Jasmine, April sighs into her hands. They approach the Mayor Wilkins statue, and she tries to erase her unease about how easily she almost lost control.

The test of Greed is not easy for her either. The vampire inside April at this age is not easily controlled. It wants the power. Just like how it had wanted the Black Gem.

But April remembers that power is not important, and could easily corrupt her. And reflecting on the White Gem, April calms herself again.

Clark holds her hand, and squeezes it gently, giving her support. He remembers how tough some of these were on him the first time around, and though he's gained experience and wisdom since, he knows she has yet to see some of the greatest influences on her moral character.

Greed is easy for this Clark to turn aside. While he makes relatively little as a reporter at the Daily Planet, hundreds of thousands of dollars a year are donated to Superman, and every single penny goes towards charitable organizations. And he can rest easy knowing that this money is going towards helping orphaned children, feeding the homeless, building schools and public facilities, and all number of good deeds.

Finding the strength to move forward to the third statue, April is glad that Clark is here to support her.

Coming to Adam, and the Sin of Pride, April again feels close to losing control. More than anything, she wants to be accepted, wants to feel respected for the part she plays in the lives of her friends, and the yearning of wanting respect from Jor-El plays a card here.

She sobs, feeling foolish a third time because of the influences the statues are having on her. But April knows that the things she does is not for herself, and knows that pride has no part in her heart. And she is able to fight against this influence on her spirit too.

Pride is still dangerous to this Clark, as he wants to be proud of himself for being the world's most prolific superhero, for forging a League of heroes out of his friends and allies, for all the times he's saved the world. And like before, he reminds himself that all that he's done has been for the sake of other people, not his own glory. And he rests one hand on his chest, that raised shield beneath his palm, reinforcing the ideal that he's always tried to live up to.

He reaches out to touch April's shoulder, concerned for her mental wellbeing, knowing that this one could be tough on her.

Taking a moment to hold Clark, April shivers against him. Wiping away tears that are threatening to fall. "Was it this difficult this first time?"

He puts his arms around her, just holding her close, giving her any support she needs. "I had a hard time with this one, the first time around. I had yet to prove myself, and I wanted recognition. I have that now, but it isn't important to me anymore."

All the statues seem to be so hard for April. And this Clark is handling it so maturely. So when they move towards the next statue, Envy, all her doubts hit her hard. The envy over how strong this Clark is being... the envy over feeling that her older self wouldn't be so embarassing... the envy that she is struggling so much and Clark is the true hero.

April clutches at her hair, tears falling as she fights against envy. In her heart, April knows that they share so much. That neither of them are better than the other. And she holds him again. "Was I this bad the other time?"

To some degree, envy strikes Clark in a different way this time. He's envious of her and her Clark, being so young, not knowing much of the heartache that awaits them. Being far before a lot of their hardest trials, back in more innocent times. And he tells himself that if not for those experiences, he would never have become the true hero that he is, that his April would not be the amazing young woman that he loves.

"No," he tells her honestly. "You handled them amazingly well. You grow into yourself so much in the next few years, and I think it starts here. That facing these fears once makes it easier the second time, when you know you've already won."

It does help that they already defeated these trials. And April takes his hand to move onto the next statue. "Perhaps we both learn from this experience, to be the wonderful people that you are now."

Sloth attempts to influence them next, and there is a moment when April wants to just relax. To walk away and just lie down for a while. But Clark's recent claim that they were able to move forward through these tests allow April to find the strength to go on.

"I have always felt stronger to face lifes trials with you by my side."

This time the influence of sloth tells him to just take a break, that being Superman is an exhausting and endless task, that he should have a day off just to himself, and sit down and put his boots up. But he shrugs it off, knowing that he's shouldered his burden and he intends to keep it, because if he doesn't, people's lives are at risk. And that makes it worth doing.

"We've always been good for each other," he tells her with a smile. "You helped me through my trials the first time, and now I'm here to help you through yours. We're all stronger for it, more than we would be alone."

"When our destinies deliver us difficult times to face, I am glad that I found you in the Nexus. I don't know how I would be able to get through some of these things, without you at my side."

Approaching gluttony, April feels the thirst of the vampire come over her. She hisses, and her fangs extend for a moment. A drink of blood would be so nice right now. But they are so close to being done.

"I never feel alone with you in my life."

Clark's prepared for this one, this time, as the cravings are the same. The urge to just fly up into the sun, staying there and drinking in the light. But he's been to the sun, and it bestowed him with the incredible gift of his life and powers, and he can't disrespect that gift by taking more than he is due. It's almost a spiritual connection to the sun, something developed through the lens of Rao-worship, and it's easy to remember to stay in his place.

"You keep me strong," he tells her in reply, so proud of her for getting through these, despite how hard they are. "My physical strength is nothing compared to what you give me. And it's out of love for each other that we triumph."

Holding his hand, April approaches the last statue, and she smiles softly for a moment. "We share a great love. It continues to amaze me."

The anger that washes over is a little different. Anger over losing Jonathan. Over losing Clark. Over how difficult it is to deal with the AI of Jor-El. Over hwo their destinies continue to test them so difficulty.

But April knows their love is what helps them triumph. "There is no one else I would be able to do this with."

Many of Clark's old angers are long settled, but one yet remains: the anger at himself for not being able to save everyone. And that, he tells himself, is what the League was built for. To be there when he can't, to do all they can to help the innocent, to extend their reach far beyond the emotionless justice of the police and deal with people in more than just moments of crime. He cannot erase poverty, or war, or accidents, but he can do everything in his power to help those left behind. And he knows that his efforts will be supported by his loving wife and family.

"Me either," he agrees. "We strengthen each other in ways you can only imagine."

With the statues dealt with, all is left is to approach the green gem in the middle. Its appearance, and familiarilty makes April hesitant.

"I am glad that we end up together. Happy." And that love they share is still there, despite the challenges that they must have faced.

He squeezes her hand, gently. "Far more than happy. We give each other purpose and meaning, and never once do I regret my love."

She leans forward, cupping his face, resting her forehead on his. Then collects herself from the seven trials they had faced. Turning, she moves towards the green gem.

"I really hope this doesn't try to take me over again." Of course, Clark knows it won't. That by touching the gem, it will activate the portal to return her home.

"It won't," he assures her. "The tests are over. This is our reward. All you have to do is touch it."

((Are we going to continue both or move them to one thread, so it's less confusing?))

Touching it, April activates the portal. Seeing the mirror-like effect for the first time.

"Oh its me. And you."

((good idea. This journal please))

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