Dinner was ready and Raven awoke, she was in a slight daze but otherwise alright. You where glad to see her up, but still bothered by her request. Despite it you let it be, making two plates, one for to share with Joanna and other for Raven, decide to eat in her room. Away from the others, you didn't have the proper attitude to deal with anyone and you didn't want to hear anyone try to persuade you to join or their talk about said plan. Also, you weren't in the mood to see or be by Conner. The minute he came back inside with Damian you walked out, straight to Raven's room. Coldly.
"How is it?" You ask Raven propping and fluffing her pillow while she sat up on the bed eating.
"Good," she swallowed, scooping up a some of the rice, "can't remember the last time I had something like this. Thanks."
You give a small smile. Pick up your fork scoop up some food and feed Joanna, sitting in your lap. Raven looked the toddler as she ate. What a surprise...she never would have thought...her eyes shift to you for a moment then to back to Joanna on her third fork full, cheeks puffed and filled. A satisfied look on her face, swallows opens her mouth for more showing a mouth full of teeth. Two small fangs, barely noticeable, Raven saw. Not the same as yours but it was quite clear where she inherited it from.
No sharp nails. No markings or red skin Raven saw. She was relived. Trigon seemingly...for a moment was quiet she noticed, then he screamed out. You saw her winch.
"Raven," you set the fork down, to help.
She held up a hand stopping you, took a moment and was fine.
"Want to know what he said?" She said.
You decline having an idea and know who it was about, look down at Joanna who was trying to reach for the fork.
"Nothing he can do now," you smirk, picking up the fork, finish feeding Joanna. "not that he could anyway."
Raven chuckled a little agreeing. Resumed eating, with nothing said, sitting in silence minus Joanna's chewing. Who looked from you to Raven and back. As if expecting something...some communication exchanged. But there was none that you could muster. Not when your lips and tongue weighed down with guilt, like a block of lead. You barely lifted your eyes to her, thinking to yourself this...might now have been a good idea. But, a part of your wanted to be in her presence...it's been so long and...you needed your older sister...like you did years ago and you knew she needed you too. By her sickly looking condition...the moment you saw her, sunk your heart...you knew she needed you and couldn't image what she went through after all this time. Seeing the way Trigon raged and screamed for that moment, painted the picture rather clear for you and you...the first few words you said to her between the two of you...hours before where...not the kind and loving ones sister should have with one another...no...they where filled with rejecting anger and lashing out, accusing her of things...you quietly regretted. Something that you seem began to realize. Stand suddenly from where you sat, holding Joanna close, take Raven's finished plate and leave.
You dispose of the plates in the kitchen sink, slipping in and out barely noticed, hurry up the stairs. it was time for Joanna's bath and nearing her bed time. She needed to take her bath, frantically you repeat, going to her room and gather her pajamas. A light green nightgown with paw prints decorated across like polka dots, something easy and simple. Making it easy for you or Conner when either of you bathed her.
Conner...you stop at the bathroom door next to Joanna's room...a trembling hand on the knob, jiggling it a bit, freeze...from the dread that suddenly swept over you, Conner...your thoughts repeat sorrowlfully….realize at that moment...the memories came flooding in, of him the times he'd bathed Joanna. How happy she was enjoying it...her arms always flailing around, splashing water everywhere, wetting the floor to the point it seem as though a pond resided in the bathroom. Her laughter was at its happiest, it filled the house casting away the sullen dreariness, his laughing would follow and mix in with hers. Sounding similar it was sometimes hard to tell them apart. But you could...but would you...be able to anymore?
Would Joanna laugh like she would with Conner...when she took her baths? Would she? Joanna's laugh would be heard from now on and...shutting your eyes try to stop the single tear from falling, but it came, and more. Another tear squeezed an escape, followed by another hot one...and another, dripping onto Joanna. Curse to yourself of such thoughts...that shook you with a truth...you so desperately tried pushing down...for the sake of the sanity you had...collect yourself the best you could, turn the knob, walk in.
"There we go," you tell Joanna, slipping on her pajamas.
She was dressed and ready for bed, the last thing that needed to be done, clean up the bathroom and then either read or tell her a story. Something...you pause wiping up the floor...something that Conner would do. He'd read to her or more so make up some story to tell her, while you took your own shower or cleaned up downstairs. Finishing just in time to hear the story wrapped up and Joanna's eyes closing. Most of the time her eyes where close when you came, you still kissed her good-night. Now, what story...could you tell her?
Feeling a tug on your shirt, reel yourself in from your thoughts, turn around a little to Joanna sucking her thumb staring at you with those big bluish-grey eyes succumbing to the spells of sleep, fretfully asking for Conner. Whining a little, tugging on your shirt a bit more demanding. Pounding her feet, warning you what was to come if she didn't get what she wanted. Your heart sunk a little...think for a moment...was this what you'd have to live with for the rest of her life?
Wiping up the rest of the water, stand, scoop her up despite her fussing and carry her to bed. Step into her room, you stop at the entrance and gaze around...so many..many memories all of them good...greater thinking of the ones with Joanna. Crawling around from your lap over to Conner's. The two of them taking a nap on the bed, he held her protectively on his chest. The two with the same resting faces, something you slightly albeit playfully envied how close they took after each other. Some genes where stronger than others, a small barely tugged itself on you at the memories. Felt your heart...clench, you trembled slightly all over. Shut your eyes for a moment to live in the many memories of years before and now, a moment a bliss and all was right. Get a glimpse and then a bright white erasing everything. See nothing...open your eyes, drop them to Joanna now taken by sleep. Slowly you rock her back and fourth, make your way across the room to her bed. Lay her down delicately, kiss her lightly on the forehead, covering her knowing you'd find her curled up in the sheets, silently laugh, leave shutting the softly behind you.
Head to your room, slow your steps as you went. The walk, seemed longer than before. You knew why the way your heat dragged out each beat. Each one becoming slower than the last, normally the beats would quicken at times. Thrilled to reach the room, you and Conner shared. The two of you'd walk this distance together hand in hand.
Close.
Now, your hand would have no one to grab. You'd have no one to walk with...no one to share the bed with or wake up too...smile with...get you to laugh. Where did all the time go? Why didn't...why didn't you help? You saw...was to come and...and you could have prevented it...you could have...if you just had been...more than what gripped you...what crippled you. Then all this would...it would be...Conner wouldn't have to go...you wouldn't filled with anguish...everything would be...everyone would be...all of them...everyone one of them...everyone...
Conner...tears silently fall inside, obscured your vision and sense, you hadn't realized you made it to your room or noticed who was there sitting there waiting for you on the bed or the small hour glass standing on the dresser. Until they stood, walked over, and with a gentle touch you would sorely miss, reached out a hand laid upon your cheek. Grazing a thumb across your cheek, while their other hand rested on your hip. Pulling you close, offering no space, only the feeling of their frame leaning on yours. Sending a sensation tingle through your whole body, intensifying from their...warm feeling of their breath breathing softly like a feather creasing against your skin. Their eyes, upon you in a way that was so strong and tender, seeking forgiveness and much more. Their hand slowly began tilting you gaze up to theirs, wiping away the tears that fell on one side while softly kissing the others ones away, slowly trailing their lips down to yours. Stopping at the corner, unsure if you'd allow further exploration, waited. Eager to advance, of course, with your permission...he ruefully sought from you. Pressed you closer against him, felt your racing heart sync with his in a way that seem timeless. You could feel..everything pulsing through him...it as though you could read his mind if you could. His every thought...everything...just like that night back Metropolis, the night..when everything melded together. The world never seem so clear. So aligned. It was the same now...intensified ten times, sensation ran heat across your skin like a soft wave, engulfing nearly all your senses. To this and only this. You...what?
A tear?
A tear fell on you.
Not one of yours, no, it was...
"..Please.."Conner whispered, his warm breath against you, spilled his from your waist under your shirt, tenderly stroke your lower back, slowly trailing upward. Stopping mid-back. Repeated himself again, softer. "Please."
His voice cracked a little, your heart just...it just...wept and pierced with pain. Pain of so much..you...you found yourself for a moment in denial and then quickly swept to...understanding...and...your eyes lift to his. Begging at first to reconsider, see his resolute...clearly in those pools of blue-greys, you almost torn away. Stay, beg him again with your eyes, fear...he saw rise in your eyes and tears, as each stage of grief passed through. The way your hands gripped his wrists, trembling, trying to keep him there. Reach up, holding his face between your hands, eyes overflowed and crippled with woe. Watch you lower your head, but not too far, lift it up steadily. Meeting his eyes again, he saw...even if it was grudgingly...acceptance, asking forgiveness and giving it.
Smile. Softly.
Take a hand back and with a single finger, lightly tap his shirt. Burn it off. Expose his torso, you waste no time and slide the same hand down delicately the length of his sternum, grazing the firm contour of his chest. Every inch. Rewarding you with a sweet low moan from him that grew louder the more you explored. Every line, every detail, every chiseled and firm muscle from years of growth and experience. Trickled a tensional sensation down below, he tried desperately to hold back. Not wanting to rush anything. But, take it slow and appreciate, yet you where making it harder. So, he turned the tables, grabbing your shirt tears it off. Exposing you, partially, he still had more to get through, this was fine...for now. Lowering his lips lightly pepper your neck with kiss, stopping on your collar bone succulently savored it. Lips and trancing of the tongue combined, earned him a savory and hungry moan from you, that shot a slight feverish jolt through you. And again a little louder, the lower he went.
Stopping just an inch above your chest, he slowly ran a hand down to your thigh, caressing it. Gives a squeeze, releasing another moan from you he caught passionately hungry with lips and explored it. Every inch. Every taste. It was savory and delicious. You tasted it too, so bold and warm. Yet gentle and loving. Deeper than many times before. Desire never ran through you this fast, anchoring a hand to his waistline, tempted to slip the hand in so you could hear your prize from him. Raise a finger, lightly tap the pants, burning them off only. Leaving him in a sense covered, press your pelvic against his a little. Grinding slowly, swaying, he joined. Moved away from your lips, grabbed you by the waist, gently hoisted you up and straddled you around his waist. Gazed deeply into your eyes, holding you there..took in every detail. Every inch of your face, memorizing it. Those rich violet eyes, so wholesome...so loving..with a spark that lite up he enjoyed doing. Your long, thick, white hair like snow, draped on either side of you as he held you. Your button nose, Joanna had, he enjoyed pecking every so often. Just to get a laugh...your pointy ears, that reminded him of an enchanting elf. Which was befitting, over the years you'd grown into that...more demonic beauty. But, beauty none the less. And lastly your smile, he laughed to himself that you didn't give him one on the first meet, even after a while he didn't get...and he wanted it. Trying to figure out how to get it, eventually did and...it was the most treasured thing he would remember.
He would take with him, that would fuel him for what was to come...so he could make sure that smile remains, always.
You do the same, taking in every part of him. Seeing only Conner, no Clark, no Lex...just Conner Kent, your Superboy. An asshole at the start but really a genuine and heroic person. That always saw pass more than what you put up, that understood you...that made you smile and laugh than you could remember. And melted you everytime his eyes meet yours. His eyes...you muse, gently stroke his cheek, you where going to miss his eyes. Those pools of comfort. Of strength for the past few years...and now...
"72 hours,"he whispered, gaining your concentration, "we've got 72 hours."
You rose a brow, confused. "What?"
Softly he chuckled. Gestured to the glowing hourglass on the dresser you just now noticed, "You dad, John gave it to me. It's a sort of time displacement spell or something, that can lock whoever uses it in a sort of endless time loop. No one can come in. No can hear. He said it to cherish these time. So in other words we have all the time in world, sort of."
That was surprising, you didn't that...John would have...touched smile at his kindness. Turn back to Conner, lean in, rest your forehead on his. Close your eyes, take in his scent...dust...smoke...you move pass that to a deep husky wood smell. That memorized you.
"All the time in the world, for 72 hours," you happily whisper, with a sensual smile. Shed a small tear. "I wish it was more."
"I know. Violet," he called. Lowering you to his eye level. "I love you. No matter what happens know that I love you, if other life happened, I'd still love you. These have been the happiest times of my life. You and Joanna, our little family. I have no regrets none at all."
You kiss him. Cry a little. "Neither do I, I love you too. Thank you, thank you for everything. For being my strength these pass few years. Thank you for Joanna. I love you, Conner. Superboy." You tease the last part.
He caught on, walking towards the bed laid you down under him, lowered himself. Chests touched. "Superboy huh? So, you want me to be Superboy or Superman?" he breathed in your ear, "because, isn't that how Joanna got here when I was Superboy?"
You laugh playfully combing fingers through his hair, "You've always been my Superman."
"...Thanks, Violet. Thank you."
