taking control of their destinies

[slayers_desire]

April returned home, and found a letter from Clark waiting for her. She removed her Dark Oak costume, and took the time to read the letter. Connecting with her husband in a new way.

Putting the letter away safely, April took a shower and prepared for bed. As she was placing her Dark Oak costume away... a vision suddenly took her. And she froze in place.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The Blur keeps himself busy tonight, investigating a lot of the older buildings in town for any fire hazards, and tending to minor issues that need his attention. It's tedious work, but after today's fire, he doesn't mind taking his time. And it's late by the time he gets home, under cover of darkness.

[slayers_desire]

Tuning herself completely to the voices, April didn't even sense her husband coming home. In her mind, she was standing in a giant chessboard, and on the other side the White King was missing, and all his pieces were starting to turn Black, as the Black King took leadership.

"Oh..." She reached out to find Clark after the vision faded, and sort of mentally jolted discovering he was right downstairs.

You are home

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He's not as startled to hear her mental voice, but it's still a little bit of surprise. Especially since she sounds surprised.

Yes. Is something wrong? Even as he asks, he's headed upstairs to find her, still dressed in his costume.

[slayers_desire]

I didn't even sense you coming home. I just had a vision And she takes out her Dark Oak costume again. She knows that she will need it.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

By the time he replies, he's arrives upstairs with her, so he speaks out loud. "What kind of vision?"

[slayers_desire]

"It was a chessboard. The White King was missing, representing Zod. The Black King, representing you, took over leadership, and all the white pieces started to turn black in response."

"I think we have to go see the Kandorians."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Now?" It seems late to call on someone, but his people don't necessarily see it the same way. And who knows what they're doing right now, anyway?

"Do you think this is about the blood?"

[slayers_desire]

"I do. I think that you will prove to be their true leader by offering your blood."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Zod isn't going to be happy about that." And he wonders if maybe this is what leads to that knowledge she has, about the future, and him meeting the blade of a kryptonite knife.

[slayers_desire]

"Zod isn't there right now. I don't know where he is. But... if you are going to talk to them without fearing what Zod thinks, tonight is the night."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

That does sound like a great opportunity indeed. It's proof already that her abilities are growing, and her acceptance of them is too. "Then I guess we'd better get going soon."

[slayers_desire]

"Just let me get back into my costume first." She smiled. The we part of his comment was so reassuring to hear from him.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Did you just get home?" he asks as she dresses.

[slayers_desire]

"Yeah. Had showered and everything."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"And now you're getting dragged out again. Good thing you're a night person, I suppose."

[slayers_desire]

"There is no where else I would want to be. This is important. My voices tell me so."

"Besides, you know I do enjoy working with you."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I do. And I enjoy working with you too." Even if they can't openly acknowledge their relationship while they're in costume. At least they have their bond, no matter which masks they're wearing.

[slayers_desire]

Completely dressed, April wrapped her arms around him and brought him for a kiss. "Lets go save lives."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He returns the kiss, glad that she's coming with him. The Kandorians may be his people, but she's his better half. "Are they at the warehouse?" he asks as they head down the stairs and towards the door.

[slayers_desire]

She tunes into the others, concentrating on them. "Yes. They are."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Then that's where we must go." He waits a moment for her to attach herself to his shadow, then blurs into superspeed, traveling across darkened fields towards Metropolis.

The warehouse looks very different today. Instead of being bare and lifeless, today it's filled with candles. The Kandorians are all kneeling in a circle, with Faora at the center, a bowl of water in front of her. Her sister, Vala, hands her something to place in the bowl, and slowly, the object blooms into an alien flower.

[slayers_desire]

April recognizes this as a ritual, but doesn't know what kind of ritual it is. She keeps in shadow form, near Clark, waiting for him to guide their reaction.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark doesn't know either, since his training hasn't really covered this yet. But he recognizes it as being something belonging to his people, anyway. And he hangs back out of respect for them until it's finished.

Faora and Vala look like they intend to talk, smiling to each other, until they notice him. "Kal-El, welcome," Faora says to him.

"Hello Faora, Vala," he greets them. "It's good to see that you've found a way to keep our culture alive here on Earth."

Faora has a moment of personal joy, mixed with nervousness, as she thinks about that. Like she's expecting something wonderful, that she's never experienced before.

[slayers_desire]

Those emotions from Faora are so joyful, that April can't help but smile in reaction. The ritual was important to her, for some reason

[kalel_ofkrypton]

I don't recognize it... but you're right.

"It has been difficult, trying to find a balance between our new lives on Earth without needing to abstain from our own rituals and ceremonies," Vala says, speaking for her sister. "Some of us find it easier than others. It's difficult to create lives for ourselves here without constant fear of what might happen." Her time as a prisoner still haunts her, though she's done her best to move past it.

"I was hoping to help with that," Clark admits. "I've discovered a way to give you your powers."