Clark Kent (kryptonslast) wrote in doorslogs, @ 2014-02-03 13:11:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | superman, wonder woman |
WHO: Clark Kent and Diana Prince
WHERE: Themyscira (Island of Healing)
WHEN: Before Damian's death
WHAT: Diana wanted to see if her island was there, it is, huzzah. They talk about awkward stuff.
RATING: Light!
STATUS: log; complete
Diana was not entirely certain what possessed her to ask Kal to come to the Bermuda Triangle with her, but it probably had to do with what she feared would be there. Or rather, what would not. This world had their other cities, yes, but Themyscira was different, and the last she heard of it, it was being attacked by OMAC and sent away. She never thought she would see it again. So perhaps the truth was she needed a friend there, just in case, even if he did not know much about her or the island. Not this version at least. After seeing it safe and sound where it was hidden, she led him to the Island of Healing and asked him to stay there. If a man was seen on the main island, he would be in a great deal of danger. Not Kal, necessarily, as powerful as he was, but still. She wanted no war waged this day. Diana kept her visit brief, making certain the Amazons were unharmed, and she returned to him. It was a beautiful place, the secret island that used to belong to ancient Greece, and now by the gods. "Thank you for waiting," she said to announce her arrival, not wanting to startle him. She smiled and touched down on the beach, glancing over her shoulder toward the main land. "I am glad to know it is here. It is good to know for us, in case we need refuge or a secluded place to train. Men can only come to this island. But I can bring Kara there." She promised to train his cousin, and she always made good on her promises. Kal didn’t mind accompanying Diana, it was a little weird since Kara had informed him that Diana was - apparently - his girlfriend where she came from. They were from the same source, but different times, so it was always a little jarring to be told what your future looked like. But he was a nice guy, and he was determined to be as normal as possible. Besides, if there was anything he’d learned since being here. It was that things never turned out the way they did in comic books. He was living in Gotham City, that was proof enough. He was standing on the beach looking at the ocean when he heard Diana approach and he smiled. “I think she’d like that. I worry about her, she’s been pretty much my primary focus since she got here,” he said looking down at the ground. “It’s why we moved to Gotham City. I am glad she has her friends there, and now you.” Diana had not been told about the relationship with herself and the other Kal. She assumed he was with Lois, same as hers, and as such remained her usual warm and comfortable self with him. There was a time long ago when she thought he was the only man who could equal her, when she was young and new to the world, but that changed into friendship and she deeply respected Lois Lane. He seemed so young, this Kal, like Bruce. Not necessarily in years, but in experience, new to their positions and place. Hal was the only teammate from her time. It was a relief to have anyone who understood that way. She did not dwell too long on the things that were wrong here, only the ways they could be made right. "I think it is wise to worry. It will take time for her to adjust, but she will, if she is anything like the Kara I know." Or the Karas she knew, since Karen was one as well, but that was complicated and probably not a story he needed to wade through. "I never thought I would see the day when you moved out of Metropolis and Bruce let you stay in Gotham." Diana smiled and crossed her arms. "This one is a team player, but ours makes his boundaries very well known." He was young in experience, all things considered, Kara was telling him more and more about him every day. And he was teaching her more and more how to reign in everything she was trying to get him to let out. It was an interesting balance. He smiled a warmly, and sighed. “It is definitely culture shock,” he said a bit wide eyed. There was no question that Gotham City and Metropolis may as well have been on different planets. “But I think it is important that I’m there right now. Bruce has his hands full, I need someone to commiserate with on the joys of teenagers. Kara needs the connection more than anyone really. And Bruce and I are good friends. And I know he pulled some strings because I mysteriously didn’t have to pay any deposits or anything on the very nice apartment Kara and I are living in. A very nice apartment with an oddly low rent.” He wasn’t an idiot, and while he’d been far too proud to ask for more than a place to stay while he looked for a place. It hadn’t escaped his attention that Bruce’s connections were doing him huge favors. And one day he’d figure out how to repay it. For starters, not letting his cousin destroy Gotham was one of them. “I am glad you’re around though, Diana. It’s always good to see some familiar faces. Even if its not quite what we remember.” Diana laughed and shook her head, long dark hair falling freely over her bare shoulders. "Of course it has oddly low rent. He most likely owns the building." He was terrible at taking the credit for it. Bruce often hesitated from admitting to his kindest acts. He wanted people to see him as this dark and forbidding figure, even his own friends. Or rather he never fully knew how to handle real friends, until they more or less shoved their way into the position. "I am pleased to see you two found harmony so quickly. It took far more time for us." Clark and Bruce were at each other's throats for quite some time before agreeing to work together. But they were all young once. "You may be the first person from your world to be glad to see me. Kara, Selina, Oliver, I must admit what they said troubled me." She did not expect to so quickly show her concern and weakness, but any Clark had a way of making her drop her shields. She seemed to win at least two of them over, Selina was a lost cause she did not care to waste energy on. "They seemed to think I was very dangerous and violent, showing little regard to the lives of others. Kara said we hated humans." And that was a recipe for danger. A Superman and Wonder Woman who despised the less powerful? It was a potential nightmare. “Of course he owns the building,” he said with a laugh, and it felt good to laugh - it wasn’t something that happened a lot when you were raising teenagers. Unless your name was Jonathan or Martha Kent - they made everything look easy. “Well, I’ve been here a while,” he admitted easily. “We’re good friends,” he said after a moment contemplating his friendship with Bruce, it had been ongoing almost since he’d arrived all that time ago. They’d grown, but they also had worked together, and visited, and kept each other sane. More than once. Clark cared about Oliver, he missed Oliver, but he would never be able to trust him again. He knew that much. And it bothered him, but he didn’t let it show. It was too much to discuss, too much to really think about, and he didn’t necessarily want to go into it again. It was still too raw even months later. “People generally come around here, there isn’t much choice otherwise. And the loneliness does start to wear on them.” He had seen it happen first hand. Diana smiled fondly. "It is easier to look back on our early days now with amusement, although at the time having everyone bicker was frustrating." Diana was fresh and new to the world. She was a part of the bickering. She walked into the world of men expecting ... in truth she could hardly remember what she expected. "I think I certainly stomped my way out of rooms a few times, yelling about stubborn men." After only dealing with women for years, it was an abrupt change. Now she was glad for it, she was different and matured because of being challenged in unexpected ways. She frowned and glanced toward the water wistfully. "We were in a bad place, in my world. The last clear memories I have, before coming here. I am more than willing to take my fair share of blame when it is something I have done. But I cannot speak for the other Diana." She understood that was intellectual, and the others needed time to realize she was not the same woman. It was simply difficult. Diana looked back at him. "Who was she, to you? A friend?" It was interesting hearing about Diana’s experiences, and he was glad that she was finding the positive moments in all the chaos this world brought. “Diana, somehow I don’t find that too hard to envision. And I pretty certain that you will indeed have to do it once or twice here as well.” He rubbed the back of his neck and kicked his feet in the sand a bit as a wry smile crossed his face, he almost looked sheepish. And when he opened his mouth to try and explain, he looked more than sheepish. So he just sighed a bit and looked at her pleading for just the slightest bit of reprieve, he had no idea how she would react, “My girlfriend. Or at least, moving that direction, according to Kara we, they, she and I, well -” he paused, “My girlfriend.” He said shifting just a bit. Yes. Superman was squirming. "I have no doubt about that. I am still surrounded by stubborn men." At least Arthur was not here yet. He was the most hard headed of them all, used to people following his commands as King. "But we typically help while bickering. The Justice League forming will lead in that direction." Diana was appalled when she heard of this world's version of the JLA. She was very proud to be one of the longest running members of their team. This world deserved better. Diana gave him an amused but puzzled look when he started acting awkward. She knew Clark well and the telltale signs of being charmingly uncomfortable; he still did it when they teased him or when Lois in particular did. Her eyes widened slightly at the knowledge and she was not entirely certain what her reaction was to it. "I believe Kara asked me if we were together. I was surprised at the question." She covered a smile; it was not the first time the subject came up in their world too. He was married to Lois as Clark; Superman was single, as far as most people knew. "You are happily married to Lois Lane, in my world, and have been for quite some time." “That you are, Diana. Seems no matter the universe it is meant to be your lot in life, I am truly sorry,” he said sincerely with just the tiniest bit of teasing attached. Of course he knew he could be stubborn, and he knew Bruce was stubborn - she was doomed with the lot of them really. He nodded, and inhaled sharply, virtually unsurprised that Kara had blurted it out. But it was still a bit embarrassing. He raised his eyebrows curiously, he’d known about Lois Lane and the other versions of him - to him that seemed strange and awkward. Lois was involved with someone else, they were friends - work colleagues really. She was technically his boss in one way or another in her big fancy office. “It’s very strange the way we all have had such different experiences with other versions of our friends,” he said with a slight shake of his head. He understood that just about anything was possible at this point - and had understood it even before walking through the door. But this, this was different. There was a whole other version of himself that people interacted with, had memories of, and shared experiences with. “I hope it isn’t too disturbing a thought, and you stay away,” he admitted after a moment. He wasn’t sure which part of him was talking, but in more ways than one he knew he wanted to try and keep his friends close. He was sure as individuals they were all in over their heads with whatever could be coming next, but part of it was also the calm (yet still somehow chaotic) familiarity of having Diana around. "I would be in trouble if I said so on the island, but my sisters are no less stubborn. It is a different kind of stubborn." For the Amazons there was a lot of suspicion of men and the outside world. She was sent as an emissary early on, and it was a good thing Diana ended up winning the chance. Because one of her shorter tempered sisters would have had more problems. The patience it required to keep going in a male dominated country was difficult. Diana's heart went out to him, since she knew Clark well, and how kind he was. How much he valued his relationships. "No, of course not. I hope it does not make you uncomfortable, but I understand if so." She remembered tension between herself and Lois for some time in the beginning. It was not easy for a woman to know her lover was working beside Wonder Woman. But she knew Diana was honorable. "I cannot say there has never been moments for us. Or for Bruce and I, if I am being honest. We work together closely and in a stressful environment. We are all bound to form ... complex relationships." Nothing ever happened, but it caused some tension, occasionally. Diana ran a hand through her hair, glancing out to the water again. "I highly value those relationships. I would never want to lose them." He chuckled a bit, “I wouldn’t say uncomfortable,” he assured her. It was a bit odd, and more than anything he was a little embarrassed (alright a lot embarrassed), but there was no one here but Diana to witness this conversation, and he supposed that helped a little. He was comfortable with her, so uncomfortable was definitely the right word. “I value them too, complex or otherwise,” he said looking at her finally, steeling himself against the embarrassment of the situation. And at least she wasn’t coming from a situation where there had been no “moments” and the idea wasn’t completely out of the ordinary for her. “I am glad you’re here, Diana, it is good to see you and be around you again, I won’t pretend otherwise.” Diana would say most of her relationships were complex. It was difficult when they were always required to save the world or got distracted by more important topics. She had Steve, but their relationship was full of difficulties due to him being a normal man, often overshadowed by her power. It was one of the things that appealed to her about Arthur … and Clark. They were equals to her in a way she rarely could find. But teammates were also not ideal matches. This news flustered her somewhat; it was making her think about things she avoided for years, out of respect. And her blue eyes were troubled but steady as they locked with his gaze. "Lois is a very good friend," she said slowly. It was a roundabout way of acknowledging the connection they had, while admitting the real problem. Sisters did not betray one another, and all women were sisters. Diana was too honorable to make selfish decisions. "I am always glad to be around you, Kal." Occasionally she used his real name, since she was given permission long ago. "We were having … difficulties in my world." She run her hands together anxiously. "You were possessed by a man named Max Lord. A powerful telepath we once considered a friend." Diana's memories of the incident were fresh, although she knew more happened since, in a vague way. But this was the most recent for her. "He was forcing you to kill Bruce and other people. There was no way to stop you. I used my lasso on him to ask how I could, and he said only his death would end it." This was a difficult story for her, for a variety of reasons, since Diana was still sorting out her feelings on the matter. She was a warrior. Death was a part of war. But the Amazons were not in the world of man, which had different rules. "I killed him. It was publicly seen. It made things … difficult for us in the public eye." Not to mention how appalled her friends were. At the mention of Lois he cocked his head slightly, not for any other reason that it was still very strange to imagine him in any kind of intimate relationship with Lois Lane. Of course he knew it happened in other universes, he’d read up, but it was strange and as alien to him as the rest of the planet was. She was with someone, and while the two were friends - they were more colleagues than anything else. He wasn’t the biggest fan of her boyfriend, but he also wasn’t the biggest fan of what she was doing at work either. He knew it must be different for Diana, and while he didn’t relish the idea of Lois Lane being the backstop - he didn’t want to ask Diana to compromise everything that she believed either. Kal was sensitive to that, and while it wasn’t the best course of action, the course of action for her did matter to him - there was no point in having a connection with someone if you didn’t respect them. And he did respect Diana. He didn’t like it. And for him, and who he was, it made very little sense, but he did try to understand it. So he nodded once at her and looked back down at the ground for a moment attempting to figure out how to actually voice a response. Fortunately he didn’t have to look too hard because she’d switched to what had been going on in her world and he looked back up at her, listening with interest - and a bit of trepidation. None of that sounded good, none of anyone’s life away from here sounded good, or correct. He could imagine his reaction to what had happened - but he wasn’t always as careful as some of his other counterparts, he knew he let things slide too much where he came from. He knew there was potential for it in all of them. That’s why they had each other - and he worried that something like this where Diana came from would end it all. He could see it happening, with what he’d learned recently, but he hoped it didn’t happen here. There was a higher capacity for understanding amongst them - most of them. Oliver was a bit more complicated - but he wasn’t counting him. “I am sorry you were in that position, Diana.” He finally said with a sigh. She was a little surprised with how he did not seem shocked, leading her to again question what the Diana he knew was like. Not to say she'd never killed before. She had and she probably would again, if it was absolutely necessary. She fought with honor and wanted peace above all things, but she did not live by the strict code that Bruce did, for example. It put them at odds on a good day, on a bad day, it severely damaged their friendship. "So was I. If there was any other option I would have taken it. But I would do anything to protect my friends and the land I adopted as my own." She realized she was heading down dark paths, and it wasn't necessarily ones he needed to walk with her. Diana shook it off and forced a smile for him. "Thank you for coming here with me. It would have been difficult if I came to find it gone." But it was there. It was a small but necessary comfort for her. He nodded, he listened, and he knew that judging her for the decisions she made in her world were not going to take them anywhere helpful. It wasn’t going to fix what she was feeling, and it wasn’t going to make him change his opinion of her. Perhaps he had just already seen so much since coming here, since Kara, he’d heard how people were not only different than those he knew, but were also different because of this place. This place had changed so many of them already. “I trust your judgment, Diana,” he said finally. “Maybe it’s contrary to what we’ve all tried to abide by, but don’t let that haunt you here. We are all in a very strange and very new situation with strange and new people - but we can’t be haunted by things that are out of our control. The things we carry with us, they stay with us for a reason - but we have to make it a good reason to keep it around or else we will get bogged down by it, it will bury us. And we can’t help anyone if we’re buried.” He was about to open his mouth again, and probably say something awkward that would make the conversation take a dramatic turn to the uncomfortable. So he kept his comment to himself and simply smiled at her. “It was my pleasure, Diana.” Which worked a little better for his internal agreement with himself to try not to bombard her with affection than what he actually wanted to say. Diana smiled, slowly at first and then a blinding flash of white teeth as it widened. "Good with advice in any world, I see." She decided it was best to steer clear of anything that would cause further awkwardness. Otherwise she might have shown her appreciation with a touch to his face or on his shoulder. They were always comfortable with one another, but Diana was sympathetic, and understood time might be required. She had to seem firm and stern on the matter, so she didn't give in to her own weakness. "Come, let us go back to Gotham. I would hear more about your plans." |