a strange adventure

[slayers_desire]

April is deep in thought when she returns from the Nexus, her mind still going over the conversation with Clark Luthor. Jonathan is still fussy in her arms, and really doesn't understand why the not-daddy-man kept his distance.

And the first time she will have to do, of course, is talk to Clark about the conversation. The arrangement. The decision to return to the White Room and attempt to contact 'Drusilla'.

She knows that Clark will be working today, so heads up the stairs to his Daily Planet office. Hopefully he will be around, Jonathan is fussy enough that he might distract the other employees.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark isn't at his desk, but his presence is in the building. One of the interns who delivers the mail spots her and recognizes her from her previous visits. "Your husband's in a meeting, Mrs. Kent, but he should be done soon," the intern tells her. "Can I get you anything while you're waiting?"

[slayers_desire]

"A glass of water please." April grabs a chair to sit by her husband's desk. She bounces Jonathan on her knee, "Look sweetie, we are at daddy's work place."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Coming right up." The intern doesn't have far to go, getting a paper cup and filling it at the water cooler. "This must be little Jonathan, huh? Mr. Kent shows off pictures all the time."

[slayers_desire]

"Yes it is." Jonathan gums on his fingers, looking up at the woman with curiosity.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He's just as cute in person." The intern smiles down at the baby, then looks back up at April. "I'll make sure Mr. Kent knows you're here when the chief lets him go. Things have been a bit crazy around here with a new editor."

[slayers_desire]

"Oh we are in no rush." April smiles softly. It does seem like the whole work environment is a little stressed.

"Babbababa" Jonathan kicks his legs.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

It's a few minutes before Clark comes down the stairs, holding a somewhat disorganized handful of papers and folders, putting a flustered look on his face as if it's a lot to handle at once. It's all part of the act, of course.

He smiles when he sees his wife and son waiting for him though. "Hey, I didn't know you were coming to visit today."

[slayers_desire]

"We hadn't planned on it, but things change." April smiles up to him.

Jonathan looks up, then shyly holds out his arms. A little nervousness there, that this might be that not-daddy-man again.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark's not sure why Jonathan's acting shy all of a sudden, but he doesn't hesitate to swing their son up into his arms, balancing his papers in one hand and the baby in the other. "Hey there, Acorn."

[slayers_desire]

That makes his son smile. And he starts babbling excitedly at his father. The teething pains forgotten for the moment.

"Seems you are the magic cure-all for teething."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Is that what has him acting so shy today?" Clark bounces the boy a little bit, and puts his papers down on the desk with the other hand.

[slayers_desire]

"Actually no."

We were just in the Nexus. And had an encounter with an alternate of yours

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark frowns a little. She's met several alternates of him before, so he doesn't have reason to suspect which one. But he can see why Jonathan might be weirded out by meeting not-Daddy. "Why don't we take Jonathan up to the roof? He's never been up there before." It'll give us someplace where we can talk in private.

[slayers_desire]

"I am sure he would love that." April is glad he suggested it. They definitely need a little more privacy for this conversation.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark keeps up some small-talk as they make their way to the elevator, keeping up appearances for anyone listening in. "I think Perry's finally starting to hit his stride since he took over. It's funny, a little birdie told me that you suggested him to our former editor."

[slayers_desire]

"Darn those birds." April is not going to deny her part in the suggestion.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It's a good call. He's cleaned up his act since I first met him, and I think having a good, reputable job like this will help him in the long run." Perry's the one who gave Clark the idea to work for the Daily Planet in the first place, before he'd considered making his school journalism into a career. Clark feels he owes the man a debt of gratitude for that.

[slayers_desire]

"Perry White was the editor for the Daily Planet in the comics." April feels a little embarrassed that is where her recommendation came from.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It's funny how sometimes life imitates art," Clark says with a straight face and a knowing glint in his eye.

The elevator takes them to the top floor, and Clark leads the way up the short stairwell to the roof. It's a little bit breezy, but fortunately the weather tends to be mild in Kansas, and it isn't as cold as most places are in November.

[slayers_desire]

Jonathan doesn't seem to mind the cold. First of all, he was dressed for winter. But also, he seems to like this weather.

"Baabbaaba googgo?" Seems to be the eternal question.

"It was Clark Luthor." April answers the question she knows is on Clark's mind.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He knows she's been trying to change his darker counterpart, and has had at least a little success, but Clark's personal experience with him and his world has not been good. It certainly explains Jonathan's uncertainty, and Clark turns the baby so he can see the city, distracting him while his parents talk. "What did he want?"

[slayers_desire]

"He answered my question, about families. Asked me about why we had Jonathan." April watches the wide-eyed wonder of her son, as he looks over the city with interest.

"I don't think he understands... it wasn't the same way for him."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark doesn't understand that, in return. Having a family is something he's always wanted, and while logically he understands why Luthor might not feel the same way, it's harder to feel it. "At least Jonathan doesn't look traumatized."

[slayers_desire]

"He was upset at first. Thought it was daddy. And of course, Luthor wanted nothing to do with him."

But their son has recovered. And is just really happy in his true daddy's arms right now.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Would you have trusted him if he'd wanted to hold Jonathan?" Clark's not sure he would.