Food for Thought
San Francisco
"Five hundred, five twenty, five thirty, five forty, five fifty, okay, that takes care of Kara's bail,' Clark said as he finished counting out the money. "Again, thanks for helping Zee. "
"Your welcome,' Zatanna replied. She looked a little tired and pale as she sat across from him at the main table. "You know you didn't have to cover Courtney, Mary and Kara too, Clark. As long as they don't go on the lam I get the money back."
"I know, but you paid because I asked, so I wanted to make sure you got your money back. Oh, that reminds me, Diana is going to send you a money order from the Embassy and Karen said she'd write you a check the next time she sees you."
"Your 'date' is writing me a check, lovely,' Zee snidely said.
"Why don't I just pay for both of them too,' Clark offered, reaching for his wallet. The kitchen door opened as Clark was counting out more money and Madame Xanadu came in carrying a tray of coffee.
"Hello, Superman, nice to see you as a free man again."
"Hello, Madame Xanadu, always nice to see you too."
"My, they must pay reporters better than I thought,' she said with a smile, noting the pile of money of the table. She set the tray down and turned to Zatanna. "Now have some of this coffee, it should settle your stomach, Zatanna."
"What? Are you feeling sick,' Clark asked with concern. 'You do look a little pale this morning."
"It's nothing,' Zee said dismissively. She took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off her brow. She was just about to pour a cup of the coffee, but stopped. Her stomach was sending an urgent message to her mouth, bottoms up! Holding her hand over her lips Zee rushed out of the room. Clark watched with apprehension as she slammed the bathroom door.
"Is it the baby? Is she having morning sickness already?"
"I know you're supposedly a Superman, but come on,' Nimue said. "Yes, Zatanna said it was a wonderful time, but you just had sex like three days ago. It's way too early to tell."
"Of course, what was I thinking?" Clark said with a nod, and then he looked over at Madame Xanadu. "She said it was wonderful? Really?"
"Shut up, Nimue!" Zatanna shouted from the bathroom, but then retching followed it.
"So what else did she say?' Clark asked with interest. "I mean about that night?"
"Well,' Nimue started, but Zatanna's voice cut her off.
"NOT ANOTHER WORD, NIMUE!"
"She's always a little cranky when she's not feeling well,' Nimue explained.
"Maybe it's a bug that's going around or something,' Clark offered
"No,' Madame Xanadu replied as she sat down. She poured them both a cup of coffee and hand one to Clark. "She had a late meal on that Tower of yours and it's not sitting well with her."
There was the sound of retching in the background. Clark cringed just a little before replying.
"I don't think the food up there is that bad,' he offered. More retching drown him out before he could continue.
"Zatanna brought a copy of the menu from up there,' Nimue said, holding it up in front of her. She took a sip of her coffee and made a face as she looked at the selections. "A breaded veal cutlet? Seriously?"
"Those are actually quite popular with some members,' Clark said, defending the Watchtower cafeteria. He was one of the founding members, so he felt a certain obligation to defend the place. Madame Xanadu gave him a look that clearly said she didn't believe him.
"I'm serious, a lot of people love it,' he said.
She read the description off the menu.
"A breaded veal Salisbury steak topped with a provocative sauce of Velveeta and half and half, smothered in Campbell's Tomato soup. Yum."
"Sure when you read it like that,' Clark replied. He sort of knew he was losing this argument but out of loyalty he gave it one last try. "It tastes much better than it sounds."
This comment was punctuated by more retching coming from the bathroom.
"It would almost have to, wouldn't it?' Nimue replied.
Clark sighed and took a sip of his coffee. He was trying to come up with some counter argument, but the coffee got his attention.
"Wow, that's good coffee, is that from Blue Bottle here in San Francisco? It's the Giant Steps blend isn't it? Sort of a Sumatran and Ugandan organic coffee mix that is quiet, dark and chocolaty."
"Yes. How did you know?' she asked. Nimue was surprised he'd picked up on the coffee.
"I had it once before when I was here. I bought some and took it to the tower,' Clark explained.
"It is very good, isn't it?"
"Absolutely."
The bathroom door banged opened and a rather spent Zatanna stood there. She was glaring at Madame Xanadu.
"You! You did this to me. This is your fault, Nimue!"
"How is it my fault?"
"All that good and healthy food we had, it ruined me for the regular stuff,' Zee complained. "I used to be able to eat chicken fingers and any old crap they serve on the station, but not now! It's like my stomach is rebelling! Oh, God!"
Zatanna suddenly went pale again, just before slamming the door shut. The sound of more retching soon followed. Madame Xanadu turned and looked at Clark.
"You eat the little creature's fingers? That's disgusting! No wonder she's sick!"
The Watchtower – The Transporter Room
Jonn and Ollie were manning the controls along with Diana. The news of her and the others arrest was the talk of the station. Currently, Wally was badgering Diana for details.
"Come on, Diana, you were arrested in a barroom brawl!' Wally offered. "Fill me in. I'm picturing clothes being torn off, a lot of rolling around on the floor, you know what I mean."
He wagged his eyebrows suggestively, but Diana didn't look at him and continued to go over the readouts.
"Yes, unfortunately I do know what you mean, Wally, but it wasn't like that at all,' Diana replied. "There was an incident and then things got a little out of hand, that's all. It was really just a big misunderstand to tell the truth."
"You really stink as a storyteller, Diana,' Wally lamented. "I mean you're unbelievably gorgeous and all, but you leave all the best details out!"
"I guess you'll just have to use your imagination,' Diana said with a smirk.
"Oh, I already am, but a few more details would just kick it over the top!"
Diana's smirk turned into a frown as she glared at Wally.
"Speaking of kicking,' Diana said.
"You're very PG-13 in them, though,' he hastily offered, taking several steps away from her.
"If she won't tell you, why don't you ask Karen,' Ollie said. "She's transporting in right now."
"Her,' Diana grumbled through gritted teeth.
"I knew there was more than you were saying,' Wally exclaimed. He had a big smile on his face. "Gentlemen, we may be very close to hearing the two most breathtaking words in the English language."
"You mean ...," Ollie started to say, but Wally quickly moved over and put his hand over Ollie's mouth.
"Don't say it out loud! You'll jinx it! We need to have independent, eye witness confirmation of the amazing event before even thinking of uttering those magical words!"
"Take your hand off me, you jackass,' Ollie complained, pulling away from Wally.
The transporter flashed and in the next moment Karen was standing on the platform. She was smiling until she saw Diana. Diana wasn't smiling either as she looked at Karen.
"Oh, it's you,' Karen said as she walked down the steps from the platform.
"And it's you,' Diana replied.
"Oh, my God, we might see those two magical words in action right here,' Wally whispered. Jonn looked at Ollie in confusion and then leaned closer.
"What two words?'
"Cat fight."
"You jinxed it!' Wally gasped in horror. "We were so close, dude!"
Karen walked across the room towards the door, giving Diana a glare but saying nothing.
"Excuse me, Power Girl,' Jonn said. "Do you have a black eye?"
"Yes,' Karen said, stopping just before the doors. "It should be gone by later today though."
"You?" Ollie questioned. He looked at Wally and then Jonn, before looking back at Karen. "You're Kryptonian, how could you get a black eye?"
Karen turned and looked at Diana again.
"Do you want to tell them, Princess or should I?"
Diana blushed a little and awkwardly turned towards the three men.
"Um, well, it was an accident,' she finally said.
"An accident?" Wally and Ollie said simultaneously.
"Yes."
"Pretty well placed fist for an accident, Princess,' Karen offered.
"Wait! You mean Diana punched you,' Wally gasped.
"Yes."
"NO!' Diana immediately contradicted Karen. She continued, trying to explain. "It was an accident, like I said. We were in the club to find Kara and Courtney, when someone touched me. I didn't care for it and when I turned around, I accidentally hit her."
"With your fist,' Karen added.
"A closed hand, there's a big difference,' Diana offered. "An accident."
"Wait." It was Ollie's turn to ask the question. "You said someone touched you? Touched you how?"
"And was it Karen,' Wally added. He was almost vibrating with glee, as the story just seemed to be getting better and better.
"No! Get your mind out of the gutter,' Karen snapped.
"It was just inappropriate, let's leave it at that,' Diana firmly said.
"What? They grab your ass,' Ollie asked. Diana just glared at him. "Worse? They went up top? Wow, no wonder you punched her!"
"I didn't punch her,' Diana replied in exasperation. "It was a simple accident, that's all!"
"And how about my ruined dress,' Karen asked. "Was that just another accident, Princess?"
Ollie, Jonn and Wally looked from Karen to Diana, waiting with almost bated breath for her answer.
"No, you were just in the way,' Diana reluctantly admitted.
"Some-Some-Something happened to your dress,' Wally stammered, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "It-It didn't get ripped, did it?"
"Yes, it did,' Karen replied, still looking at Diana. "Thanks to the Princess."
"I did say move,' Diana offered as a justification.
"As you pushed me."
"You-You ripped her dress off,' Wally panted. "Did anyone have a camera?"
"I didn't rip her dress off! It just sort of got torn, is all. It wasn't my intention."
"Just another 'accident', huh, Princess?' Karen snidely asked.
"Would you stop calling me Princess,' Diana snarled.
"Oh, that's right, you don't like being called Princess,' Karen said with a smile. "Clark told me about that."
"Kal told you?" Diana demanded, her anger starting to rise.
"Yes, on our date."
Diana and Karen took a step towards each other.
"Maybe I didn't jinx it after all,' Ollie whispered as the three men stood watching the two powerful women.
"No, that will not do,' Jonn said and then phased through the panel. He stepped in between Diana and Karen.
"Careful, Jonn, the Princess might accidentally punch you,' Karen said, glaring at Diana. "Or tear off one of your suspenders by mistake."
"It might not be an accident this time,' Diana countered.
"Cat Fight!' The words burst from Wally's lips before he could stop himself. "Oh, NO! I jinxed it!"
"There will be no fighting on the station," Jonn said. He made sure he kept between Karen and Diana. "You are both too powerful to fight up here. You are also senior members and supposed to set an example, I will remind you."
Karen and Diana both reluctantly nodded, knowing Jonn was right. It was Karen that spoke first.
"Don't worry, Jonn, I'm not going to fight the Princess."
"Thank you."
"Don't call me Princess,' Diana grumbled, but didn't make any move towards Karen.
"Oh, right, sorry, I guess it was an 'accident,' Karen replied with a smile.
"I'll give you an accident,' Diana muttered, as she clinched her fists.
Karen just smiled wider and turned her attention to Jonn.
"Have you seen Clark lately, Jonn? Our date went so well before it was rudely interrupted, I wanted to see if he was interested in trying again?"
"I don't' believe he's scheduled until later,' Jonn replied.
"Okay, thanks,' Karen said and then started out the doors. She stopped and looked at Diana again. "You guys better be careful, I've seen that look on the Princess's face before. Usually 'accidents' start happening when she looks like that."
Diana wanted to wipe that smug smile off Karen's face, but she was already out the door.
"Kryptonians! Oh, I hate them sometimes,' Diana growled.
"Join the club, Diana, Clark threw me under the bus with Dinah yesterday,' Ollie said. "He had to start raving about how beautiful she was and now I'm supposed to live up to that? He screwed me, royally. Oops, sorry, Princess, I mean Diana."
"You really don't like being called Princess, Diana,' Jonn asked. "Isn't that your title back on Themyscira?"
"Yes, Jonn and mostly I don't mind,' Diana replied in frustration. "It's Kal mostly I don't like calling me it. I'm not too fond of Karen calling me it either though."
"Yes, I got that impression.
Diana turned and looked at Ollie.
"What did you say Kal did to Dinah, Ollie?"
"He put the moves on her is what he did,' Ollie replied. "Some farm boy, he was suddenly all silver-tongued devil laying it on thick with the compliments. He threw me under the bus is what he did. You think you know a guy and then he screws you!"
"Yes, I'm familiar with how charming Kal can be when he wants to,' Diana grumbled.
Diana turned to the doors and marched out. Wally lifted his head from the consol and watched her leave. He was almost weeping.
"I jinxed it,' he lamented. "A cat fight between Wonder Woman and Power Girl and I had to jinx it! This is the worst day of my life!"
"Nice going, douchebag,' Ollie replied. "I was sort of looking forward to seeing that too."
San Francisco
Madame Xanadu had gone out soup and Zatanna took the opportunity to slip out for just a little bit. Thankfully the worse was over, but Nimue had insisted she stay in bed until she was completely recovered. Zee knew once Nimue got in her mothering mood, there was no arguing with her. Usually Zee wouldn't have minded lying around, but all the money Clark gave her made her nervous. She didn't like having all that cash just sitting there. Zee figured she could slip out, deposit it in the bank and be back before Nimue returned.
There was an ATM just down the block so she got dressed and took a quick look at herself in the mirror. She was still kind of pale, but it was only to the ATM. Locking up, Zee took the stairs and was out on the street in just a few moments. Just a quick trip she told herself and then she would gladly climb back into bed.
She was just about at the ATM when another couple stepped in front of it. Damn, she thought, oh well, I don't mind waiting a little bit.
As the man inserted his card, Zee suddenly got a bad feeling about this.
"Oh, look, honey,' the man said. "You can do it in two languages. Isn't that amazing?"
"How clever,' the woman replied.
Oh, great, Zee thought, I had to be behind a couple that's apparently just arrived in the world. She had to stifle a groan as the two discussed the two options.
"You know if Rosa was with us, I'll bet she could do all of this is Spanish,' the woman suggested.
"Well, I had two semesters in high school, it can't be that difficult,' the man countered. "I handled ordering drinks in Acapulco last year, didn't I?"
"Better play it safe, though, press English."
"Account password,' the man read from the screen.
They are going to read every step of the process, Zee groaned. She did a quick mental survey, trying to remember where the next closest ATM was, but realized it was blocks away. Just stick it out, she told herself, how bad can it be?
"PIN? What is that?"
I'm going to die here, Zee thought. They are going to sap my will to live and I'll just turn into dust waiting for them to finish.
"I believe that's your number, dear,' the woman suggested.
"Oh, yes, of course."
The man seemed to stare at the screen for a moment and then turned back to the woman with him.
"You know, I don't think I remember what our four digit password is,' the man said. "Do you?"
"It's someone's birthday, isn't it,' the woman suggested.
Okay, this is officially going to suck big time, Zee admitted to herself, as she slumped against the wall.
"Wait, I think I have it written down on a piece of paper in my wallet."
The man reached inside his coat and took out his wallet. As he sorted through the odds and ends, the two stopped and looked at the pictures he had.
"Is that when we went on the Cruise,' the woman asked. "The Mexican Rivera was so exotic."
"Remember that funny little fellow selling those trinkets at the dock?"
"I bought that straw hat," then man remembered fondly. "I wonder where that is now?"
"Where was the last place you remember seeing it,' the woman asked
As the two debated over where they had last seen the hat, Zee started to rub the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache coming on. Hell wasn't other people she realized, it was slow other people. As the moments dragged on, she was still feeling crappy and standing out here wasn't helping.
"Let's see, a fast twenty, fast forty, sixty, one hundred or other? How much do you think we should take out, honey,' the man asked.
"I don't know, darling,' the woman replied. "We were going to see that Fisherman's Wharf that everyone talks so much about. We'll probably need some extras to buy tee shirts for the kids there."
"So one hundred or should we throw caution to the wind and go for other?"
"What exactly does other mean? One hundred is a good round number you know."
"Yes, but with other we could probably get a different amount, say seventy or one hundred and thirty,' the man countered.
"Oh, I didn't think of that."
It was all just too much for Zatanna and she finally had to say something.
"Excuse me, but I'm in kind of a hurry, could you finish up, please?'
"How rude,' the woman said.
"We were here first, miss, just wait your turn,' the man added. He turned and spoke to his wife. "People are so rude in this town."
That was the tipping point for Zatanna.
"Sorry, but I have a life to lead and I'm growing old while you explore the wonders of the ATM,' Zee fired back at them. "Pick it up, grandpa!"
"Let's try the other button,' the man said, as the couple did their best to completely ignore Zatanna.
The Watchtower
Clark arrived for his shift a little early. He headed into the cafeteria and almost immediately Wally was next to him.
"Hi, Wally."
"I jinxed it, Big Blue,' Wally replied. "I had the Holy Grail within my reach and I jinxed it."
"What are you talking about, Wally?"
Wally glanced around to make sure no one was listening, before leaning in and whispering to Clark.
"Cat fight."
Wally couldn't help but smile at simply saying the words.
"Huh?"
"Diana and Karen,' Wally whispered. "They were going to have a cat fight and I jinxed it!"
"I really doubt they were going to fight, Wally,' Clark replied. "I mean I know they don't care for each other that much, but a fight? Come on."
"Wait,' Wally said, stepping back and staring at Clark. "I just realized you were there! You saw it! You saw them fight in the bar! You saw the cat fight!"
"It wasn't a cat fight, Wally,' Clark countered. "Besides, Kara and Courtney were there too."
"That just makes it hotter!"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but there wasn't actually a fight,' Clark said. "At least not like you probably imagined."
"Thanks for ruining it for me, pal,' Wally groused. "Jeez, first you throw poor Ollie under the bus and now you ruin my dreams. What did we ever do to you? I thought we were friends!"
"Sorry."
Clark picked up a cup and was pouring himself some coffee. Wally's attention shifted to the day's menu.
"Hey, there's some good news,' he said. "They still have some of the veal cutlets left from yesterday! I love those things. If you want one, you better hurry, Big Blue."
The memory of Zatanna retching suddenly came back to Clark and the coffee cup stopped just short of his lips.
"Um, I'm good, I think I'll pass."
"Your loss and that means more for me,' Wally happily said as he grabbed a tray and headed towards the entrees. Clark smiled and shook his head before taking a sip of the coffee. The smile vanished as he looked down at the cup. Nasty was the word that came to mind.
Glancing around, Clark pulled out some of the Blue Bottle coffee he'd picked up on his way back up to the station. With a quick burst of speed he made a special pot of it and tossed the cafeteria coffee. He was just enjoying the first sip when Jonn materialized next to him.
"Is that Blue Bottle coffee?"
"Um, yeah, Jonn, how did you know?"
"I've thought of little else as far as coffee goes since you introduced me to it."
"It is good, Clark admitted. "The only problem is I don't have enough for everyone."
Jonn glanced around the cafeteria.
"Than perhaps we should just keep it our secret,' he suggested. "It wouldn't be polite to tell them and then not share, I believe, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Pour me a cup, will you please,' Jonn asked, holding up his cup.