recovering from an ordeal

[slayers_desire]

Clark and April had stayed in her home universe. It had been a day since the whole ordeal with the kidnapping and everything. April was still not talking about anything.

In fact, for the last couple of hours, she had stayed in the guest bed that the others had given the couple.

Comments

[smallvillains]

"I only found out after we went to Granny Goodness's orphanage," Tess promises. "I didn't want to believe it at first. I needed time to accept it..." And I didn't want you to hate me.

[slayers_desire]

So that wasn't the secret that Tess had been keeping before the orphanage. April closes her eyes for a moment. A part of her anger is the fact that she was so surprised by Clark Luthor's appearance. And thought that if Tess had known about that...

But she didn't.

"And now... you know and you are receiving his inheritance?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Tess nods. "A few personal items he had. I thought Clark might want to give this one a look. I think it's Kryptonian."

That sparks Clark's interest, beyond the usual temptation of an unknown artifact of his people. And he thinks that since she's offering it up willingly, that seems fairly trustworthy. "Show me."

[slayers_desire]

April meanwhile is feeling uneasy about this. Lionel had kept Kryptonite artifacts before too. And there could be anything in the box. Anything that could hurl their life into chaos in a second...

But she stays by her husband's side, so she can support him. No matter what happens.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Tess unlatches the box and turns it towards him, swinging the lid open. Clark's breath catches in his throat for a moment. "That's the mirror box."

[slayers_desire]

"You recognize it?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Yes. Don't touch it," he warns them. "It's the same device that my double used to switch places with me."

"Your double?" Tess echoes, startled.

[slayers_desire]

"Close the box... just close it..." That freaks April out. She holds herself, as if in fear that his double will emerge suddenly.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark does as she asks, and latches it closed. "So long as no one completes the symbol, nothing will happen." Even so, he doesn't want to look at it either. "We should destroy it."

[slayers_desire]

"Is that going to be okay, destroying it?" She has fears of randomly opening portals right now.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"The other Victor didn't seem to know how it worked, but seeing this now, our worlds must be linked somehow, through the mirror boxes. Destroy one door, maybe he won't be able to get through."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tess says, puzzled.

[slayers_desire]

"The Mirror Box opens an doorway to an alternate universe. Earlier today, a duplicate of Clark... raised by Lionel Luthor, opened his Mirror Box and was brought to our world."

April still feels uncertain. Destroying portals never worked that easy.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I thought you already could access alternate worlds?"

"This isn't the same," Clark clarifies. "He switched places with me, completely. I ended up in... Earth Two. Fortunately we managed to switch back before he could cause any permanent damage."

[slayers_desire]

"Your alternate is in that world too Tess. A proper Luthor."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Really?" Part of Tess is intrigued, even envious, of a version of herself who was wanted and accepted by her birth parents. But on the other hand... she shudders to think of what growing up under Lionel's rule might have been like.

"It's probably better that you grew up a Mercer," Clark says, unsure of how to phrase it. "If the way Lionel treated me is any indication... I'm glad I didn't meet the other you."

[slayers_desire]

"So maybe someone wanted Tess to use the box?" April is still wondering why she received it in the first place.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It could be that," Clark admits. "Or maybe even Lionel - our Lionel - didn't know what it was, and didn't want to risk trying it himself."

[slayers_desire]

April cautiously approached the box. "Should I ask my voices?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"If we want to destroy it safely, I think you might have to." Seeing her reaction when she learned what it was, though, he won't make her try unless she wants to do it.

[slayers_desire]

April is still a little jumpy, and she really is putting her trust in her husband's word that it won't activate just by touch. Placing her hand on the Mirror Box, April calls forth her voices. To see what they can tell her.

((let me know, as always))

[kalel_ofkrypton]

What they tell her may not be what she wants to hear. Even after they destroy their mirror box, their world is still open to let Clark Luthor in.

There is good news, however. Without a box on both sides, her Clark will not swap places with his psychopathic alternate.

[slayers_desire]

"No matter if we destroy it or not... Clark Luthor can still access our world. But there need to be a box on both sides, for you to swap places."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He's not relishing the idea of having his alternate pop into their world again, but then... he has Victor's PINpoint. And he could do so if he wanted to anyway. "Better to destroy it than leave us open to switching places again." At least then he will still be here to defend her and the baby. And anyone else Luthor targets.

[slayers_desire]

"How do we destoy it?" And April hopes he doesn't regret it later.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I could try breaking it by hand. Or throw it into that volcano you like."