Stay and Fight: Life
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Inspired by various elements.
Superman and Wonder Woman stood on the roof of a high building, watching the people in a hurry or walking casually under umbrellas as the rain fell and cars moving slowly in traffic.
Wonder Woman then looked straight ahead at an apartment complex building, with two windows boarded up on 3rd to last top section of the building. There was a fire. Only one apartment was destroyed but unfortunately one person died.
Thunder and lightning rolled through the sky, flashing through the dark grey clouds as the rain fell heavier to the ground.
"Diana, maybe we should go back to the tower."
"Not right now."
"What happened...it wasn't your fault."
"Just go home, Kal. I just need time alone."
"Diana, would you just look at me?"
She turned around with a look of sadness Clark had never seen before from her.
"You can't do this to yourself...and not to us."
"Just go, Kal. I'll be fine."
Diana had been distant from Clark after the tragedy. For weeks now they were drifting more and more apart. They had their own dealings and it was taking such a toll on did blame herself and tried to convince herself it could've been prevented. But no...no it couldn't.
FLASHBACK
The fire blazed around the apartment. Diana hurried looking in each room to find a woman one of the resident said was still inside.
In the living room, the woman laid on the floor unconscious. Diana ran to her and in her hand was an empty pill bottle. She was still breathing but it was faint. Diana quickly picked the woman up and carried her out to the paramedics.
After helping put the fire out, Diana went to the hospital to check up on the woman.
"She's in ICU, we were able to drain some of the medication and took care of minor burns, still trying to stabilize her breathing."
Two days passed, the woman's breathing stabilized and she was able to breath on her own but she had not awaken, falling into a slight coma. For six days Diana went to see her.
Three more days has passed until finally...
"She's awake, Wonder Woman."
"For how long, Dr. O'Brian?
"Maybe about two hours. We need to keep monitoring her. She is at high risk of hurting herself it seems. We were able to get her records. Her name is Margareth Dunshill. Though we can't find any relatives to contact and she hasn't said anything. Maybe you could get her to talk?"
Diana nodded and followed Dr. O'Brian into the room.
"Margareth, Wonder Woman is here to see you," he smiled.
Margareth turned her head away towards the window.
"I won't be long," Wonder Woman said.
Dr. O'Brian nodded and left out the room.
Diana stepped closer to the bed. "Margareth, I'm glad you are okay."
"Why did you do it? Why did you save me?"
"I don't understand. You-"
"I had a plan and you ruined it."
"You set the fire...on purpose."
Margareth didn't answer but gave Diana a cold look.
"Why? Tell me why you did it?"
"Why do you waste time saving people?"
"What? Margareth, people deserve to live. You deserve to."
"Not with what I've been through."
"I can help you."
Margareth snapped. "I don't need another therapist."
"I meant as a friend."
She glared and snapped at Wonder Woman again. "I don't need a friend either."
"There is no reason to act this way. I'm going to help you."
Margareth looked away. "You can leave now?"
"I'm sorry." Wonder Woman sighed. "I'll be back tomorrow."
"No need."
Despite Margareth's unwelcoming attitude, Diana kept her word. She came back the next evening but she got terrible news.
"Wonder Woman, Margareth attacked a nurse last night. She took a syringe and stuck it in her own arm. The reaction happened so fast and she went into cardiac arrest." Dr. O'Brian looked down. "We did all we could."
NOW
It had been raining all week none stop. The league helped with power outages, making sure to get as many people to shelter as they could and prepared for potential flooding.
Afterwards, Clark asked Diana if they could have some time alone to talk. They flew to a nearby field in a park.
"Diana, I need you to talk to me. There is so much distance between us. Being together right now, it still feels like we are far apart."
"We've been through so many things, Kal. I wouldn't let what we have fade away."
"And we can get through all of it together just like always." Clark took Diana's hands in his.
Diana sighed. "Margareth was so hurt…filled with sadness and anger. She didn't have to do that, Kal. She was alone. I could've done something different. I shouldn't stayed longer and tried to calm her down more."
"You can't be hard on yourself. There was something more she was trying to get away from." Clark pulled her into an embrace. "You wanted to make things right and change everything for her. Its okay, Diana."
"Not everyone is going to want our help. They will criticize and disagree, I know that. But I won't let anyone else take their own life because of that."
For a moment, they stood in silence. Clark held her tighter. Clark knew how strong Diana was. She would hold in her feelings but with him, she didn't have to. She could just let it all out.
"I don't want you feeling this way again. I don't want us to ever feel like we can't come to one another to talk. If you need more from me, just let me know."
"Clark, you are everything. You go above and beyond without me having to ask. It'll never be a choice to give up on us."
Clark stroked her cheek, then pressed his lips tenderly to hers.
"It takes time for people to accept that we don't have an ulterior motive. No matter what, there are still some people who will be against us. We'll just have to do what we can. But we will do it together. Okay?"
"Okay." Diana nodded.
Love doesn't ever mean well when you're living it alone. The world can be so cold and cruel. In life, anything worth having isn't easy. But that doesn't mean things should be made so difficult. You can walk away, watch everything burn and act like it never existed. You can live with the mistake of tearing everything apart. But sometimes when you want to stay and fight for what you love, you have to fight until your heart is black and blue. You have to have tough love. Fight until you can't anymore. Fight like hell before you give up. When you know when it's right and the obstacle in life isn't as bad as it may seem, you don't let anything go.
