"Babe," Conner calmly pleads, as he helped you set up places to sleep for the others carrying the blankets while you carried the pillows, "won't you consider it?"
"No," you adamantly replied. Reaching one of the rooms upstairs, Ma's old sewing room, began laying the pillows down.
Conner quietly sighed, laying the blanket out.
"What's there to even consider? The whole thing is suicidal. It's pointless."
Again he sighed this time louder.
"Trying isn't pointless. If there's even the slightest chance it could work, it's worth it. There's only so many of us left who can change the tide. What sort of life, future does Joanna have growing up like this?"
You though on his words for moment, as you cleared and rearranged some things to make more room. Joanna, your thoughts went to her...turn to the window across the room stare out. She was outside right now with Clark and the others minus Damian who stayed inside. To play. Conner had asked if they could watch her while he and you prepared the rooms.
Clark didn't min and neither did Joanna, instantly taking to the depowered man. Of course you where hesitant, preferring to the one but from assurance by Conner allowed it also Joanna was becoming fussy. You could hear her laughter, your heart raced wondering if she was alright. Though you knew she was...you where still uneasy. During these times you had every right...anything could just...happen.
The world was dangerous now than it had ever been. Even though you managed to put protection over this area it held up to some extent. How you wished Joanna could actually enjoy a world...one of green grass, animals...openness. Conner's words hit something inside, a thought you where too afraid to think about, no a thought you just completely discarded.
A thought that angered you. Bring rise to the recent discovery of Conner's choice. Something you wished he would have turned down and wouldn't have gone behind your back doing this. His reasoning wasn't justifiable.
"Babe, what is it," Conner asked, coming up behind pulling you close.
You step away. Your back coldly to him. Anger and hurt in the words that followed.
"The sort of life I want for Joanna is with the two of us! Still here with her. Just the three of us! Not two!"
He stepped back steadily a little, enough to give you some space. At the same time to provide comfort. His eyes wanted to drop in guilt at what you said, for what he was going to do and the fact he had been on board with this plan without telling you until now. But he didn't, he kept them up, forward locked steadily on the back of your head. He could see you shaking visibly from anger and weighed sadness that dropped your head. Fear in the hand covering your mouth to hide the anguishing tears of might or could happen. It wasn't just that either...though he didn't have telepathy he knew your mind well by now.
What was replaying over and over again. Each lost. Each defeat. Everything...from past to present. From the family you where snatched from and lost for years. The innocence that was taken with it. It came back but for bit, until it was twisted and you hadn't a way to really deal with. For a moment though you had it...for a moment and everything was well. Things seemingly where turning around, he remembered you telling him eventually. Years ago. You had began to find and establish something, have something again, when John came. The world seem right, during those few months with him...until you lost him too. Everything just spiraled down...if not shattered with you. Even you tried to live a different life back in Metropolis...in hopes to avoid losing again. But, it followed you like a phantom, it just did and because of that it gripped you wholeheartedly. Even when you moved here to the country. And after...now...
Silent cries from you filled the silence in the room. Tears now where the only thing that came from most of the time. The only time you smiled was with Joanna and him, but that was a little sullen. Your eyes didn't hold its luster much. It didn't mean he loved you any less, he just wished for it back. He wanted to see that again, have a better life then this, fight for it. For you and Joanna, he knew you understood...but your harden and crumbling heart wouldn't allow you to see anything beyond what you had, right here. Right now.
The fear of lost was rooted deeper in you than anything, even when you saw the others it seem to only amplify it, the sight of your sister. The way Clark looked...a clear reminder of the horrors that happened.
Conner understood your reaction, dropping his eyes for a moment to the band around his finger that you wore as well, felt his heart sting for a moment. Then strength, for his reasoning. Lifting his eyes back to you, tuning in Joanna's laughter outside, thought back to that night...years ago. What he whispered in your ear as you laid asleep on his chest, skin against skin he felt your chest rise and fall slowly, that he would do. And held to it when he joined the Teen Titans, he wanted you to join but understood why you declined.
"Babe, Vi," he spoke softly walking over closing the space, reached out to wrap his arms around your shoulders, "you have-"
"No!" you snap, your voice husky with tears, push his arms away refusing his comfort. Walk around him, to the other side of the room. Your back still directed at him, refusing to even look at him. Try your best collect yourself through the cascading of tears, you couldn't wipe away. Due to your hands trembling, cover your face with them. Casting yourself in self made darkness, see...the horrors.
Just...scream and yell, your words barely could be made out. The whole house filled with them, Damian turned his head in that direction. Outside they heard it too, Clark looked in the direction sorrowfully. Joanna who was toddling back and forth between Etrigen and reluctant John, stopped, turns to your cries and falls down. Cries herself.
"Geez!" John panics, jumping a little. Takes a step back, felt something inside him drawn to her and go to her side. Something about her cries...seem familiar, his heart...for some reason clutched. Tears lightly stung in the corner of his eyes, rubbing an eye collects the single tear. Looked at it then at Joanna, froze. Why was it suddenly cold?
"It's okay, shh, shh..."Clark comes and scoops up Joanna, snapping John back, held her close patting her back soothingly. Pressing her against his chest gently. She was so tiny. In his big arms and hands.
Her little hands grip at his clothes, the closest thing she had for comfort, hid her face in his chest. He continued patting her back, switch to rubbing it. Started walking around with her, talking with a soothing voice to her. Telling her it was alright, everything was going to be okay. It was working slightly, but not enough. She was still going even after your yelling stopped. The little girl was wound up and scared. Clark felt her little body shaking and cling tighter to him. He could feel her little nails dig into him. He didn't mind, whatever would work to clam her. John, out of his daze, watched the two dropping his eyes to Joanna. Her hot tears pouring out...for a moment it flashed in his mind...those same hot tears in a cold, dark night. He was running...holding something. That was crying.
Shaking his head, to clear his mind focuses back, back to Joanna. For some reason something inside him knew what to do. It was instinctive, clenching a fist, walking over to Clark and the girl, brings it to his mouth whispering something it. Opened it before Joanna, and from the palm of his hand beautiful colorful energy butterflies fluttered out softly with a trail of luminous glitter falling from their wings. Joanna stopped, captivated by the sight. The colors danced off her widen eyes, a small thrilled laughed softly erupted from her.
John's heart warmed, tugging a small warm smirk on his lips. His other hand slowly reached out towards her, drew it back when the door swung open and you came rushing out.
"Joanna!" you fret, taking her from Clark, cling her close. Sway her back and forth. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Kissing her all over walk back inside.
For the rest of the time, you kept Joanna with you, your words to minimal. Distance as best you could from the others, most of your time was with Raven. Tending to her, you did make food for the others. Lunch, you took yours back with Raven, who was slowly coming out. Conner gave you your space, not wanting to stir up Joanna again, but it was clear he wanted to talk. Damian felt a stir in him to say something, it was ready on his tongue to the clone, but held back. He instead would go and check up on Raven. John who was 'searching' for a drink, wondered around the house and sunk away from the others for a moment. Etrigen just fell asleep. Clark took some time to catch up with Conner.
Feeling the house was stuffy, they took their talk outside. Stared out across the barren land before their eyes.
"That field use to be have acres and acres of corn stalks," reminisced Clark fondly, or tried too. "about half a mile from here Ma and Pa found me. I use to love running in there with our dog. It was like a jungle." He snickered a little. Closing his eyes stopping the tears that rose. "A few times I did get lost, this was of course before I had my powers. I was scared, but never was hungry."
Conner chuckled a little. Thinking pleasantly for a moment, closing his eyes at the false memory he made, of Joanna doing the same. Softly laughed a little. Opening his eyes. "Ma and Pa told me that, when I look over there. I think to myself if Joanna would do the same thing. A part of me knows she would, guess the apple doesn't fall far, huh?" He looked at Clark a brow arched.
"Guess not, but I'm sure she'd be smarter than me, finding her way back. She's rather clever, I can tell. I wonder who she got that from."
Conner's brows furrow for a moment, lift heartily, "That's the only good thing she got, nothing else. Let's hope she doesn't inherit anything else, I can't imagine her bald."
"I don't think Violet would be happy about that," Clark laughs, stops when he realized what he said, saw the frown heavily clouding his face. "Conner, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intentions in causing that to happen, between you two. Or disturbing the life you both have made. I just...I just.."
"It's alright," Conner held up a hand stopping him, took a minute to collect him. Pushing back the cracks that surfaced. "it's fine. I know you didn't mean anything behind it, you're doing what's right. What needs to be done. For everyone. For a better future. I want to do the same," he stood crossing his arms over his chest. "I have too. Not just for everyone, but for both of them. Joanna shouldn't have to live like this, shit, I don't even like her in this world like this. If I had a reset button I'd make sure it was somewhere better. I'm prepared in doing what needs to be done. I take after you." He flashes a smirk at Clark.
Earning a warm look from him. "Thank you. I appreciate that. Despite the circumstances, you've made something beautiful here. I was rather surprise when I came, Lois did tell me I was in for a surprise."
"Yeah," Conner to himself, scratching the back of his neck a little, gazed down for a moment. Lifted them up back at the house for a moment, his heart swelled softly. Racing rapidly when you crossed his mind.
The beaming and mooning in his eyes, the subtle silly grin pinched on his lips, and large quiet savory breaths slipping out. It was the same Clark when it came to Lois, Conner had it for you. The man knew what crossed his clone's mind right now, it was a bit bittersweet. He wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing now.
Conner seem to notice Clark's thought, addressed it. "I know how scared she is, that's why she said no. She's just afraid of losing. Not just this, but in general. She barely hangs on as it is. Without Joanna as her anchor, well let's just say she wouldn't be here. You know, she tried Clark, she tried so hard to keep Ma and Pa alive. That's why she cast the spell in hopes it would, but..."he began choking up...paused for a moment, taking a minute, "...but she wasn't able too. I know it eats her up, the fact she wasn't able to help. To help anyone, I know she froze...her biggest nightmare actually happened."
He kicked a small pebble, "When you were gone, after what happened. With everything else on top of that, just crushed her. A part of her I know was hoping for you to come back in short amount of time, like you did, back in Metropolis. But you didn't, until now. She upset at you."
Clark sighed. "I know. I'm getting that a lot."
"But, I think all that went away when she saw what happened to you, now. At least. I think, otherwise she wouldn't have let you hold Joanna."
"She's adorable by the way. Good genes?"
"Yep," Conner briskly laughed, "the best. I know you need her and I want her to go and help. Or at least away from here, somewhere safe at least. I'm leaving tomorrow for this. She needs to be with you when that happens. Joanna too. Violet's afraid to use her powers now, she hasn't really used them much. She needs a push...I know she does. I'll try, talking to her again, for you. Before I leave once more. If there is even the slightest chance, bit of hope, I want it to be enough to give her the strength she needs. She can do it. I know she can."
Clark took in his words, letting them settle, the two of them stood in silence. Overlooking the barren lands before them, when Damian stepped out.
"Kent," he called, turning both Conner and Clark's head to him, "the clone." He stated, walking down the stairs over to them. Stopping before Conner, looking him straight in the eyes. "Can we talk?"
Clark looked from Damian then Conner, feeling the rising tension a little. Opened his mouth to object, "It's alright," Conner spoke stopping him, addressed Damian, "yeah we can. Actually I was hoping we could. Let's make it quick it though, nights coming and dinner will be ready."
"It'll be brisk," Damian slide his eyes to Clark, telling him to leave. "you can go Kent."
Wanting to stay out of worry, Clark stepped back after a reassuring looking from Conner, went inside. Shutting the door giving the two young men privacy. Once the door clicked close, their talk could began.
