Chapter 11
SHIELD Facility...
There was a stunned silence for awhile after Superman's confirmation of what he is.
Ant-Man breaks it. "T-that's amazing!" he declares, his eyes truly alight with astonishment and delight. An alien. A real, actual alien standing in front of him. He doesn't even know where to start.
"Well I'm shocked," Hawkeye dead-pans...which is his way of showing he is genuinely surprised by this.
Mockingbird nods, stunned herself. She means she's heard rumours that in the past SHIELD has had some contact with aliens but she never truly believed it...and the hard proof was above her security clearance. Still it was...amazing. Just look at him. A real-life being from another world in the same room with her.
Hawkeye notices Pym's expression. "Science-Geek speak in 3...2...1..."
"Are there more like you?" Ant-Man asks. "Where are you from in space? How did you get here? What's your planet like? Are you carbon based? How do your abilities work?"
"Why do you look like us?" Wasp cuts in, her eyes peering closely at Superman as if trying to see through some false appearance. Janet was...she didn't know. It was an utterly new feeling about being within touching distance of an ET.
Superman raises his hands and gestures from them to stop. "I'll answer a few questions," he agrees if only to make them stop.
"I have one," Black Widow breaks in. "When did Stark learn you were an alien?"
"Huh?" Hill asks.
"Look at him," Widow says, nodding in Iron Man's direction. "The man who can never shut up. Utterly silent."
Hill looks at Iron Man. Stark had been quiet. "You knew?"
Tony's face-plate slides back and he shrugs,
Superman eyes the man. "Scanners in the suit," he guesses. "Didn't know they scanned me down to my genetic make-up," he comments, not sounding happy about it.
"Enhanced with Sentinel technology," Tony explains. He smiles at how quick the kid is at working that out. It's rare he meets someone he can talk to on his level.
"When we saved Victor?"
Tony nods to confirm that is when it was.
"And you never said?!" Hill spits.
"You never said," Tony retorts childishly. "Don't hold me to a standard you don't keep."
Superman then looks to Hill. "Speaking of Sentinels that's how you know, isn't it? They scanned me. I remember," he says, making the only logical leap as to how they know.
"We pulled their databases yes," Hill confirms.
Superman takes a breath. Clark was worried about this, had been a nagging concern since that whole thing blew up last year and with SHIELD hunting for the stones and what happened afterwards with the 2 other Kryptonians crashing to Earth it had occurred to him that enough things had happened that they might, at least, have suspicions about him but considering what happened directly after the reveal of mutants with him being taken and brainwashed and then that very hunt for the stones his concerns had been put on the back burner.
Guess they're back on the front burner...and then some.
Superman eyes Captain America who so far has been stoically silent. Clark is a little afraid of what his childhood hero thinks of the fact he's not human...but for now he decides to answer those questions he promised. "Ms Van Dyne. I'll start with you. Let me ask you a question first. Why do you look like me?"
Wasp was confused. "I...don't."
"But you do. My species is older. We came first so humans, like you, resemble me."
"Some form of parallel evolutionary track?" Ant-Man queries.
"Possibly. Might have skipped over that lesson. Must admit I don't always pay attention in class," Superman makes a joke out of it because he's heard this bit so many times about why he looks human.
Tony laughs lightly. "Really? Neither did I." Though like Hank now this was out he had a million questions..more on the technology side of things.
"Was," Cap says.
"What was that Captain?" Agent Carter asks.
"You said your planet was called Krypton," Cap points emphasising the past tense.
"Was? In the past tense?" Ant-Man asks with a furrow on his brow.
Superman closes his eyes momentarily. "It's gone. The core became unstable. A chain reaction occurred within the radioactive elements in the planetary core and it literally exploded from the inside out," he gives as much of an explanation of that as he is prepared to at this juncture. "My parents sent me off the planet in a ship...using a Trans-Warp drive to answer Dr Pym's query." He looks at Hill. "And to answer Ms Paranoid's next question, no I'm not the vanguard of an alien invasion because there is no-one else coming. There is no-one else left. Just me now. The rest of my people all perished. I'm here because my parents thought this world my best chance to survive."
Widow and Carter share a look. The ship, the pilot they had been sent to find, the language from the ship that they still hadn't deciphered, it was similar in appearance to the symbols associated with the stones so either Superman is lying or he genuinely doesn't know...or in fact the pilot truly is not of the same species and their languages, by coincidence, look similar.
Then there is the other alien ship, the one that crashed down during the 2nd meteor shower...though information on that is very sketchy to say the least since it couldn't be picked up on any sort of detection method, apart from the human eye and virtually everyone who got that close to it is now dead...and it seems the X-Men were true to their word in that it was dealt with. Fury believed them which was good enough.
However neither of those 'incidents' is going to be mentioned here since it is classified so high Widow and Carter aren't sure even Hill knows the full details and even if she does she can't mention them here without Fury's direct approval so they can't ask Superman about that either. Fury was going to save doing that as a last resort, when all other options were exhausted and they weren't at that point yet.
Hawkeye lets out a low soft whistle. "Harsh," he whispers to Bobbi.
Bobbi's heart bled. Truly. To be the last of your kind...she can't even imagine it.
Wasp's hand touches his arm. "I'm so sorry," she whispers, utterly shocked and saddened to hear he is the last of his kind.
Superman smiles kindly at her. "You couldn't have known. I've had time to accept it as best as I can."
Hill's not heartless. She's not but in her line of work you can't just take people at their word...and she knows enough about other certain 'incidents'(though not the full details) to have her suspicions he's lying...or not and he's simply that naïve and oblivious. Being cynical she favours the former option. However Fury didn't give her permission, nor the Avengers a sufficiently high clearance level, to mention that so she favours a question to ask instead and see what response she gets. "So you're just here because you have nowhere else to go?"
"Essentially, yes."
"And the 3 stones?" Hill asks, since the Avengers do have clearance regarding them. Wasn't like they could hide that considering just how many people were involved in trying to retrieve them and the mess that was made across 2 foreign countries in the process. The Chinese are still fuming about it.
Superman laughs. He should have expected. "No."
"No, what?"
"Just no."
"I don't understand."
"You want an explanation of what they are but the fact you're even asking about them tells me you're figured that since I have a connection to them, which you know, you assume they're from my world. All I will say is that they were left on Earth for safe-keeping."
"Why Earth?" Mockingbird asks, having read all the reports on the stones. Though she hadn't been aware till right now they were alien. The reports had speculated mystical in origin. Clearly those reports were edited for the consumption of lowly grunts like her. She's not surprised nor particularly annoyed. This is SHIELD where secrets have secrets. You have to accept that's part and parcel of working here. Don't like it. Join the Civil Service.
"Because you were too technology primitive to understand what they were or be able to use them," Superman replies, trying really hard not to sound as condescending as Jor-El would have right there.
"So they are some form of technology," Hill says as if this confirms something.
Superman's expression goes stern as her words trigger an understanding of her intent. "This is what this was about. This is why you want me to join the Avengers. It's not enough to control me is it? You have to control my people's technology as well. The answer is no. You're not ready for it."
"Who decides that?"
"The one with the technology. The one who understands the damage it can do if given to people who aren't ready for it and you aren't ready for it."
"I disagree."
"Let me ask you, Commander. What's the first thought that comes to your head when the prospect of getting your hands on advanced technology comes up? Is it what sort of weapons can I build?"
Hill's jaw twitches to show Superman has nailed it.
"Why is it never how I can use it to make peoples lives better? Or lift them out of poverty, end hunger, bring equality? And for argument's sake lets say I consider giving you the technology. Who's you? The United States? What about the Chinese? The Russians? The Europeans? The other 95% of humanity who happen not to be American citizens?"
"Very good questions," Ant-Man agrees, eyeing Hill with deep suspicion. "And excellent points too. He's right isn't he?" Hank asks Hill. "This is about what weapons he can give to the United States. Do you even realise the consequences of the imbalance in power that would bring about on this planet? It would completely destabilise the world. Superman, you're right. Don't join us. Run. Run far, far away," Hank advises.
"Pym!" Hill snaps at what he is doing.
Hank glares at her. "I told you when I joined I wouldn't build weapons for you. Why would I advise him of anything else when that is what you want from him."
Superman comes up with another argument to use on her. "The United States is, arguably, the most technologically advanced nation on Earth when it comes to weapons technology. Tell me, Commander, would you share your secrets to just anyone who asks? Like the government of Somalia, for example, who are struggling to reunite their country. Well would you?"
Hill's jaw tenses. "It's not the same."
"Isn't it?" Tony pipes in. "He's right you know," he finds himself agreeing and understanding what Superman is saying. "I don't share my weapons technology for that very reason he's saying and neither do you. You're asking him to do what you wouldn't. Bit hypocritical isn't it Hill?"
Hill glares at Stark. He is not helping.
"We're done here," Superman states, seeing no point in continuing this. He's barely answered any questions he knows they all probably still have but he's not staying here when the aim was clearly from the start to try and get access to Kryptonian tech. Not a chance. They can forget it.
"We're not done," Hill states strongly. "One leak to the press and your secret origin is revealed to the world."
"Oh we're resorting to blackmail now?" Stark asks sarcastically with an eye-roll.
Superman steps right up to Hill and bows his head so they can look eye to eye. "Go ahead. I dare you. I double dare you. I triple dog dare you," he says, his glare hard and penetrating.
Stark, Hawkeye and Mockingbird chuckle at that.
"You seem to think that's something you can hold over my head. It's not. I am a Kryptonian. I'm not ashamed of it. I just don't see how it's relevant to why I do what I do which is why I don't bother to correct the misnomer about me so go ahead. Tell the world. See what difference it makes because I'll still walk out this room and not join your group," he states, calm and assured. Sure this is not the way he would like his secret to come out but if she forces it then he'll deal with it. He sure as hell won't let it be used as a Sword of Damocles over his head in an effort to control him.
"You think the world will still think you a hero when they learn the truth?" Hill asks him, searching his eyes, looking for a sign of the bluff.
"You think I care about that. I've lost my people, my world, my family, what more can possibly be done to or taken from me? You've got nothing, Commander. You're under the illusion you're 'negotiating' from a position of strength. I'm sure Mr Stark can come up with a poker related metaphor for the weakness of your hand."
"Several actually," Tony relays. "But Mockingbird's the real poker shark around here," he adds on having played a few games with her. Bobbi was a mean poker player.
Bobbi shrugs one shoulder but with an evil grin. Yeah she is.
"Now as I was saying, we're done," Superman states it for the final time to Hill. "I've got people to go help and save...which will no doubt include you're tight ass one day in the future, Commander and despite how much I don't like you right now I will. That goes for everyone in this room. If my help is needed I'll be there but I will not work for the government, for any one government on this planet. I'm here to help all of humanity regardless of citizenship, race, class or gender."
"That simple, huh?" Hill questions, utterly sceptical and cynical that it can be. It's never simple...especially for people of such power as Superman possesses.
Superman shakes his head in despair. She doesn't understand him at all. "You know what Commander, I know what this boils down to. You're afraid of me. You're scared of me because you can't control me. You don't and you never will. But that doesn't mean I'm your enemy. I'm here to help but I will do it on my own terms. If you have a problem with that...well to quote a friend of mine who used this line on me, you can kiss it. You can kiss it as it walks out through the door," he says with a smug smile as Superman walks out the door.
Wasp is snorting with laughter behind her hand at that last line. She has never seen anyone talk to Hill like that. Hank is joining her, trying to hold back his laughter. Tony and Clint don't even try to hold it back and laugh loudly. Bobbi has her head buried into Clint's shoulder, her body shaking with laughter.
Only Widow and Carter remain stoic...and Cap of course...who leaves briskly. He has something to say to that kid.
Hill silently fumes and glares at the door. Afraid, pah! She's not scared of him. Only realistic about where power like his leads to. Corruption. And she tried to be nice. Tried to give him the easy option but he's chosen the hard one. She'll point that out to him one day...and she doesn't have nothing on him like he thinks and when the day comes to take him down...well Agent Danvers' report from Smallville showed that during the battle Superman got sick and weak and injured after being exposed to some sort of gas Lionel Luthor cooked up. She doesn't have the exact make-up of that gas but it shows Superman is not completely invulnerable. There's something that affects him and when she finds out what it is it'll be her tight ass he will be kissing. Hill promises.
Cap jogs up behind the red/blue clad hero who could already be out of here had he desired. "Son, wait up," he calls out.
Superman slows down. "Captain, my mind is made up. Don't try and stop me...please," he almost begs, not having any desire to fight his childhood hero.
"I won't. Just hear me out and then I'll let you go."
Superman stops, turns and faces the veteran hero with a worried expression what this means. What if Captain America, of all people thinks him as some sort of inhuman monster or something.
"Is everything you said back there true? You're the last of your kind?"
"In this universe, yes," Superman phrases it carefully because the others, in the Phantom Zone, are not in this universe. "Well as far as I know. I guess I can never be 100% sure of that and that, by some miracle, someone else survived out there but my planet is nothing but rocks and dust. That is fact," he modifies himself slightly because it was a tiny thread of hope he hangs on to. The universe is a vast place. Perhaps...somewhere...well it's nicer than the alternative thought.
"You could have chosen to stay hidden," Cap figures. Hidden amongst the general population since he looks human. "Why didn't you?"
"I did...at first. Afraid of what people would think."
"What changed?"
"Oh a few things. Met the X-Men for one, saw them preparing for the day mutants would be revealed and how they would fight for equality. It's very inspiring."
"It is," Cap agrees.
"And they accepted me for what I was. Gives you some hope and belief for the rest of humanity but the main reason I came out and put this costume on though is that I hear it."
"Hear what?"
"Everything. Everyone in pain or suffering, crying out for help, I hear it...and I couldn't ignore it. So I don't. I use my powers to help as many people as I can and what other people think I am or whether they approve or not...don't care because I know I'm doing what is right...and don't take this the wrong way, Captain, beyond not wishing to work for SHIELD or the government, I think the Avengers would put a crimp on that because I couldn't act without getting approval could I?"
Cap can't argue that.
The silence is all the answer Clark needs. "I can do more on my own."
"Figured you might say something like that," Cap said with a smile. "Let me say a few things before you leave," he requests. "One; don't write the Avengers off just yet, son. We're a work in progress and we do good in our own way."
Clark is stunned by the way Captain America is making him sound like a complete douche. "I...I never meant to say you didn't Captain. I'm sorry if I gave that impression. Just...not everyday I have to explain what I am to people."
Cap nods. "I can see that," he acknowledges that this was probably an awkward moment. "And I'm guessing Commander Hill's attitude didn't help."
"Not particularly."
"Back to my list. Two; keep right on doing what you're doing."
"Well that would be what you would do because like I said previously at the back of my head every time I ask myself what would Captain America do? I grew up reading all the comics about you, reading everything I could find. Course Logan threw in his two words as well. Something about seeing us having the same spark."
Cap's eyebrows rise slightly. Not like Logan at all to be so nice. He must see something really special in this kid. "Three," he continues. "If your people were anything like you it's a damn shame we will never get to meet them."
Superman manages a smile. "Thank you...but my people were not so different from humans really. They had their flaws," he says, putting it very mildly considering how Jor-El describes his people by the end. He won't say more than that or mention the war that brought about their end because he wants his people to be remembered as something good, even if that isn't a completely accurate reflection. It was like he saying to Jor-El the other week about their legacy being more a reflection of their potential rather than the reality.
"Nothing wrong with flaws," Cap decides to say because that makes them more relatable. "The point is we try our best to be our best. That's all any of us can do...and four; you're absolutely right. It doesn't matter what others think or say as long as you know you're doing right," he says from his own personal experience. How many times was he told he couldn't join the war because of his small stature? How many people told him to give up or didn't think much of him at all? How many of them did Steve listen to? Not a one because he felt the calling to do what he thought was right. "Off the record don't let Commander Hill get to you and don't let her stop you," he advises. "Unless, of course, if you break the law then the Avengers will take you down," Cap promises with a joky smirk.
Superman returns the joky smirk. "You're welcome to try," he dares in jest.
"One day the Avengers will be more than we are now and I hope on that day you'll reconsider joining us."
"We'll see one day," is all Superman says back. "Course one day the world will know what I am. I know that. In fact I want that. I would prefer to do that at a time of my choosing though."
"I'll do what I can to see that happens...but the day it becomes public your life will change and I can't guarantee what happens after that."
"Yeah. Life's like that," Superman says in a fatalist tone. "Thank you for the offer," he says, warmed up on the inside that Captain America would do that for him.
"I do owe you for saving my life."
"You don't owe me anything Captain. No-one does. My help is free."
Cap smiles. He was a good kid. He thinks he can see what it is Logan does in him. He offers his hand. "It was nice to see you again. Keep up the good work."
Superman takes the hand and gives it a firm shake feeling better about this situation now. "It was an honour to meet you, sir."
"My friends get to call me Cap," he offers.
That makes Superman smile as wide as possible at getting the honour of being called Captain America's friend.
Logan and Domino were now stuck waiting around for SHIELD to rebuild their computer system, in the hope it gave them a clue on how to track down this X-23.
Though both Logan and Domino hated to use that term. It was a...god it wasn't even a codename really was it?
It was a like a lab specimen number. The girl was the 23rd attempt to clone Logan.
Both Logan and Domino were stewing in their anger because it brought it all back what had happened to them both. The way Weapon X turned Logan into what he is now. The way Weapon X literally created Dom. After all what is she? Like some sort of genetic rag-doll made out of bits and pieces of other mutants.
They both know and understand the girl's pain and that is why they have to find her...and help her.
Both Logan and Domino look up as Superman strides in and slides up to them.
"You heard?" Logan asks about this.
Clark nods. Yeah, he heard. Not sure what to make of it just yet. A female clone of Logan. That's new even for them. "How are you guys doing?" he decides to just focus on them and not him.
"Ask another day," Domino requests, her emotions too raw right now to deal with it. "What about you? What did they want?"
"They wanted me to join the Avengers," Clark just says it.
Logan snorts. "Seriously?!"
Clark nods.
"What did you say?" Domino asks.
"I refused...for reasons I'd rather not say around here," he says, looking around him at all the SHIELD agents.
"Wise move," Logan agrees.
"So what's the plan?" Clark wants to know.
"Don't have one yet," Logan confesses, though he's working on it. "Look, Boy Wonder, you don't need to wait here with us. Go home," he offers to let Clark free of any obligation he thinks he has to stay.
"But I want to help," Clark insists.
"This time you really can't," Domino says. "It has to be us. We have to find her. No offence but you can't understand her like we can...and that's not because you haven't gone through crap. We all know you have but you weren't made to be a weapon. Even when you were brainwashed you weren't intended to be a weapon were you?"
"Well...no. Not a weapon exactly," Clark will concede but he has been tortured in a way(see burning scar) and his mind has been reprogrammed, reconditioned and that isn't fun either. In a way he thinks he can understand what this girl has suffered...at least a little bit...though maybe they're right. Logan and Domino probably do get it better than him. "Are you sure?" he asks them before he leaves them alone.
"Yeah," Logan says, being sure.
"Ok...but if you change your mind, call me," Clark requests.
"We'll keep it in mind," Domino promises giving him a small smile for always being such a nice guy.
Clark blurs off, in a gust of wind before anyone can stop him and heads...well back to Bayville but not home to the Institute. There is somewhere else he needs to go and something he needs to sort out first.
Bayville Sewers...
Callisto hadn't expected to see him here. She hadn't seen him since their little escapade but she had just come back from doing a survey round the tunnels and found Superman, playing with the youngsters.
It's so incredibly...sweet. Callisto can't help but smile at the way someone so powerful will just allow himself to look utterly ridiculous to make the youngsters happy. She leans against the wall and just watches him for awhile.
When the youngsters leave to get dinner, it was into the evening time now, she makes her move to talk to him. "Thank you for that. It's not a lot of the time they get to have fun."
Superman shrugs. "It's no problem. They're good kids. How are you?" he asks her, his eyes unable to not roam over her, especially when he knows exactly what she looks like under her clothes.
"Same," Callisto chooses to say as her eye roams back.
"How's Evan doing?"
"He's starting to settle in. He's out surveying the tunnels with a few of the others. Some of the tunnels are pretty old and we have to check for collapses," she explains...which is what she herself was doing.
Superman nods in understanding.
"You're worried about the letter you left him," she guesses.
"You know?"
Callisto nods. "I read it. Why did you write it?"
"He deserved to know the truth."
"Even at the risk of your friendship?"
"A friendship built on lies isn't much of a friendship to start with. How mad is he?"
"Pretty mad...at me too. Thanks for that," she drawls sarcastically because part of the letter made the point that if Callisto has mentioned this sooner none of it would have happened.
"You're welcome," he jests with his goofiest grin. "Why are you not mad at me?" he wonders.
"Because...you're right. I should have called you," Callisto finds herself confessing. It was a truth she's had a week or so to think on. If she hadn't been so stubborn none of her people would have gotten as sick as they had. Some are still recovering from the effects of the drink and would be for days yet.
Superman's brow drops slightly. "Can we talk in private?" he requests.
"Sure," Callisto agrees.
Once again they find themselves in her room.
Clark tries to blank the memories and not look at any place that will jog it. He needs to focus...though that, what he and she did last week in this very room is why he is here. It's about that. "What was last week?" he asks.
Callisto isn't that surprised he's asking. "Sex...as I recall," she says with naughty smirk.
Superman blushes. "Callisto...please," he begs her.
"Ooh I like the begging. I should have gotten you to do that last week," she quips, feeling lighter and more able to joke than she has in years.
Superman's blush deepens. "Callisto...seriously."
"Why do you need to ask?"
"Because I suck at relationships...and reading women in general and I'm..."
"Worried I'm upset...or you don't know what it was or where it'll lead. That close?" she asks, easily able to see where he was heading.
Superman nods.
"I'm not upset. And I am perfectly prepared to accept it as a one off. Lets face facts a relationship between us is impossible. You live up there. I live down here." Callisto eyes him. "Is this about regret? You regret it?"
"No," Superman insists, his tone sharp.
Callisto feels an odd relief that he doesn't regret it.
Superman runs his hand through his hair. "I don't regret it. Definitely not," he feels the need to reinforce. "But I don't do that sort of thing...at least not without the other person knowing what they're getting into. Callisto...you don't know me, not really. You don't understand what I am. You have no idea the danger I could have put you in."
Don't even ask him whether he should tell her about him being an alien. He's kinda caught in a bind about that one. Part of him thinks he should, just so she understands, just because like he said she should know what she's getting into with him but if it's a one-off then there really is no need to further erode his secret. There's been enough of that already today.
"I like danger," Callisto says with a sultry purr.
"Callisto...I could have killed you. One moment of lost control and..." he leaves it hanging but his silence at the end is illustration enough.
Callisto blinks. He's so thoughtful...weird. Most men would just be happy to get their end off. "Perhaps I didn't give it enough thought what I was getting into," she concedes as a courtesy to him because yeah if she thinks about it he could have easily hurt her. Though he didn't. Quite the opposite she assures you. "Though as I recall it was you who did more of the getting into me."
Superman blushes to the tips of his ears now.
Callisto can't help but chortle. It's so...cute. "You really not use to such language are you?"
"There's a time and a place," Superman phrases his response.
Callisto observes and judges him. "Look I appreciate you felt the need to come down here and clarify things but as I said I know where we stand. You're a friend and an ally and that's fine," she says taking a very practical approach to things. "Anything else...we don't need to know each other's dark and dangerous secrets. My past in my past and yours is yours," she tells him which is why she has never raised that 'last of my kind' remark she overheard. She has a theory or two about what he meant but it's not her business as long as he stays out of hers.
That sounds so like Rogue's philosophy(which partly caused their break-up) it's spooky Clark has to say.
"Unless you're one of these people who thinks sex has to lead to some sort of inevitable relationship. It doesn't you know. Sex can just be sex," Callisto feels the need to add in case that is what brought him down here.
"I know. Though my father has always been the one with the more...traditional view on stuff like that so it's been drummed into my head quite a bit."
"Ah," Callisto says, now seeing what brought him here. He's caught between what he understands and what his father taught him. See people think she's rude and oblivious to other's feelings. She's not. She just doesn't care about them if her Morlocks safety is involved as that is what is important.
Superman lets out a small breath and actually feels a weight lift. This has been bothering him all week and he's glad he came here and straightened it out. Chalk it down to a life lesson. Not one to be repeated. "Well I'll go," he decides. "Leave you in peace."
"And avoid Evan?" Callisto grins evilly.
"That too. I know one day I'll have to talk to him but I'd rather it be when he's ready to talk to me. I mean if he wants to talk to me he knows how to find me."
"Well whatever Evan's feelings, for as long as I'm leader, you are welcome here," Callisto assures him.
"Thank you," he says genuinely with a smile Callisto can't help but return.
Superman and Callisto then take a step towards the door at the same time bumping into each other, forcing Clark to put an arm round her to stop her bouncing off and falling off his invulnerable frame. They end up very close together, their faces almost touching, looking into each other's eyes, their bodies feeling very heated...and then their lips are crashing together again.
Callisto pushes him backward, her hands undoing the zipper on his jacket, until his knees hit her bed and she pushes him down onto the bed, falling down on top of him, as his hands work away at getting her top off.
It will be a good few hours before anyone sees either again.
Author's Note: So not the day for Clark to be joining a team, not for as long as they want to exploit him certainly. And I wrote it so not all secrets came out today as in some of them know more than others and secrets have secrets that they can't reveal. In my head it's the way SHIELD works. As for Clark and Callisto having another round it's basically I want the showdown between Logan, Domino and X-23 to be just them so I needed to get Clark out of the way and this was a good a way as any. Plus I have an idea how to work this into a later plotline. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; X-23 part 4.