bear no ill will towards the messanger

[slayers_desire]

After Clark Luthor returned to his home universe, April used her PINpoint to get herself and Shelby back home. It had been an... interesting day to say the least. And her mind was still a clutter with all the information that she gained about gold Kryptonite, about death of the alternate of Lionel Luthor, and the impending resurrection of Lex Luthor.

She felt anxious. And so cooked.
She first prepared a roast for supper, with potatoes and carrots. And then stuck that in the stove to cook. Then she started to work on a salad too, with lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cumumbers and all the fixings.

As she cooked, she kept her kitchen still as clean possible. Stopping to clean up any little spills or messes. Mostly... her nesting instincts kicked in when she was worried. And today was no exception. She also watched the ticking clock. Wondering how long it would be before her Clark returned home to her.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Though she doesn't actually have long to wait, it may seem like an eternity. But from the very moment Clark reemerges into their world, he reaches out to the bond, seeking her familiar presence. April? He's uncertain and worried, not sure if his double was telling the truth about leaving her alone, not sure what kind of impact his visit will have had on her. Especially given her reaction last time.

[slayers_desire]

She stops in her cleaning efforts for a second. Clark. You have returned

He gets relief. She too was worried, Luthor had promised he would be returned. But she was finally glad to hear her husband for herself.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

His PINpoint brought him close to their apartment, so it doesn't take long for him to run home, leaping to the balcony and bypassing the elevator altogether. And part of him is finally able to relax as he sees her, safe and unharmed, although the level of cooking going on is a clear indicator of how she's been coping.

He immediately comes to embrace her, holding her close as if to reassure himself that everything is all right. "Are you okay?"

[slayers_desire]

April holds him close, finally able to calm down once he is in her arms. She leans her head against his chest, and just... breathes.

"Luthor was here. He took you away again."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He ambushed me and took my PINpoint." He knows that she would have realized he had no way home when he didn't come back immediately, and that doesn't make things any easier. But he wants her to know what happened.

"Did he hurt you?"

[slayers_desire]

April shook her head to his question. "He first attempted to hug me from behind, pretending to be you. But I knew it wasn't you. And I... used my powers to toss him up against a wall and hold him captive."

"Then, since I knew I couldn't keep him with my powers forever... I binded your blue Kryptonite bracelet onto his wrist. Keeping him powerless."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Good." He has nothing but pride in her self-defense choice. She has never been his damsel in distress, and has proved it over and over again.

He's not sure how he feels about her using his bracelet on his alternate, though. He's been looking at it as a positive, intimate thing for so long that hearing it was used to disarm someone is a bit strange. But it was creative, and useful. "I can't imagine he was very happy about that."

[slayers_desire]

"He told me that he felt caged by it. His... father and brother both used meteorite rocks against him beforehand."

"He... asked me if I caged you with it." April sighs softly. She too was uneasy using his bracelet this way.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark's had kryptonite used against him by family before, but always with a good reason. Either because he was out of control, like when he was affected by silver or red, or when the one using the meteors against him was also affected by something. He gets the feeling that the Luthors had no such good intentions towards his double.

But her last statement has his attention, and he touches her face. "Of course you don't."

[slayers_desire]

She smiled softly. Reaching out to touch his face in return. "I am not worried about it. I was able to talk to Jake about it, before coming home."

"But my time with Luthor was informative."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He smiles slightly, glad that she's at least accepting that his use of blue kryptonite has been strictly voluntary.

"You took the chance to shake him down for answers?" He's a little impressed. Luthor wasn't here for long, and she's always had a talent for getting information out of people, psychic powers or no.

[slayers_desire]

"We actually talked." April chuckles over the use 'shake down'. That is just not her style. Most people would expect a psychic to use their powers to gain information no matter what. But she... she still gets the information, and builds relationships. Trust.

"He left considering me as a good 'business partner'. Someone he would want on his payroll, if I lived in his world."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

In his case, it's more of a habit he's picked up from hearing Lois talk to sources at work than an expectation of a real interrogation. Even though it would be laughably easy for her, especially against someone with no barriers against telepathy.

"I hope you let him know that he can't have you."

[slayers_desire]

"He saw how much you mean to me. That you are the only man in my life." April kissed along his jawline.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Good." More tension is let go, and he kisses her, finally able to truly relax. She's safe, unharmed, and seems to be in good control of everything.

"So what did you get out of our uninvited guest?"

[slayers_desire]

"Were you honestly worried that I would fall for him?" April looked at Clark for a moment. "You are the one who has made me the woman I am today."

"He warned me about gold Kryptonite. Showed me his scar."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"No. But I was worried he wouldn't want to take no for an answer." It's his alternate he was worried about, not her. He knows full well what is in her heart, and has no doubt in her.

"Victor's alternate warned me about gold kryptonite too."

[slayers_desire]

"A new kind of Kryptonite, something that can be permanent... this is worrisome."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It gets worse," he says, a little reluctant, but knowing that it's better to be fully informed. "There might be a deposit somewhere on the farm. Dad's alternate had some."

[slayers_desire]

"Luthor and I were at the farm... today."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He wasn't looking for it, was he?"

[slayers_desire]

"No. I took him to the farm. He just wanted to learn about what his father was doing in our world."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

That's what Victor's alternate said, and though it's good to know that was the truth, it's still hard to believe. "But not without causing trouble along the way, apparently."

[slayers_desire]

"He talked to our Victor at the hospital. Then he found me. And stayed with me the rest of the time. You won't have to recover anything too bad..."

"But we should check on our Victor."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We could bring her dinner," Clark suggests, glancing around the kitchen. "I don't know if there's a better idea for a 'sorry my misguided alternate bothered you' apology gift."