Disclaimer: I do not own.
Author's Note: because sometimes the good news of others is not good news for us
Summary: it is good news, truly/on moving on/third part of the "between the great divide" series/hawkxaqualadxsuperboy
The news is difficult to bear.
Kaldur does not speak of what has been said and his face is uncharacteristically flat. Ever polite, he excuses himself and disappears from the Mountain. Conner stands to follow, eyes narrow in worry. Kaldur is not one to have swift changes in mood, therefore the news must be very bad. The clone knows what the normal code of conduct is – to offer compassion over sympathy and to make sure you are available to support the injured party as necessary – but he does not know how to put it into action. He too, has no words, and Wolf whines at his feet.
She finds him later.
Shayara lands softly and her hands bear no armour so her touch is gentle.
"Conner called me and said you had gotten bad news." she stated, and kneeled down to meet his eyes. Kaldur looks out over the water, waves lapping at his toes.
"I am torn," he admits. "It is good news, truly, but I cannot see the joy in it." The Thanagarian nods in understanding. She has been here.
"It is a difficult thing," she acknowledges. "And time does not make it better. Only your perspective of the matter will eventually improve."
Kaldur nods.
(her wings are wide and for a little while, she hides him from the world)
When he returns, with a promise that Katar and Orin will call later, he finds that Wolf has been waiting patiently at the transporter for him. Conner looks up from his poorly-going game of solitaire.
"I saved you a plate," he says awkwardly. "M'Gann made your favorite."
"Thank you Conner," Kaldur replies and drops into an empty seat at the island. "What are you playing?"
"Just solitaire," the clone says over the whine of the microwave. "But I'm not very good at it."
"Neither am I."
(they discard the deck of cards and play checkers instead)