The Not Quite Justice League in... The Bee's Pleas!!!

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

Finishing his article, clearing everything with Keith, those things took time. That was why it took a few hours before Clark was ready to make his usual call to Lois that night. He had worried that he might not make the time window that she cleared every day to talk to him and the others, but he was proud to say that he'd left himself an even half an hour as long as everything was to schedule.

After the fifth time she didn't pick up (didn't so much as text or ping him), it became clear that things were very much off schedule.

Clark made his way back to the main floor where everyone seemed to congregate and headed straight for Tony, holding up the phone to him.

"I know we're all tired and we've certainly had a long day, but... can you find out where Lois's phone is from the number here?"

In all the madness of the day, all the fighting and the close calls and the weakness brought on by the proximity of kryptonite, he'd lost track of her heartbeat. Usually, it was simple enough to pick up over the phone once again, a steady pulse that he could find his way back to once the phonecall had ended.

He couldn't hear her. He couldn't tell where she was. And she wasn't answering her phone. She always answered her phone. He didn't want to think anything was wrong, but he wasn't naive enough to discount something like this. Not after today. Not after they'd pulled out kryptonite weapons.

Comments

[kolodnoykovki]

His answer came with a faint smile. "I'd kind of like to put on pants first."

He'd just been out of the shower with a towel around his waist. Pants... were a little necessary.

[stands_for_hope]

"Steve and Diana would probably appreciate you like this," Clark joked with a grin back as he stepped away. Then he gestured over to the fresh set of clothes he'd brought down with him.

"Lois would make fun of you, though. So I brought you some things."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Thanks. I wasn't... thinking about that when I came down here." But now, with the opportunity, he dressed, clothes clinging to his damp skin just a little, but it didn't stop him. It was nice to be in clean clothes - and maybe him and Clark being there would give Steve and Diana a chance to clean up, too. Feel more at home in their skin.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark shrugged, because he was just being helpful. Then he pushed away from the wall he'd been leaning against and headed for the elevator.

"Thankfully, Kara told me that she'd handle the majority of the trouble at the UN. Said it was a good opportunity for the JSA to start showing themselves to the public." He tipped his head sideways. "And she knew I needed to be there for Lois. We'll have time to catch up later, thankfully."

[kolodnoykovki]

"...Wasn't that kid, Mike-- Wasn't his father doing something about what happened at the UN?" He walked alongside Clark, flexing his left arm and, after a moment's concentration, evaporating what little water remained on it with a momentary bit of heat. Tiny wisps of steam rose and then dissipated around it. There. Done.

[stands_for_hope]

"He was heading off to deal with the attack," Clark explained, "and we just handed them a bunch of HYDRA and Bialyan soldiers, which is creating quite the international incident. I'm assuming they'll work things out together."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim nodded. "Works out for me." Some things, he'd just lost track of in the shuffle. And as long as everything was settled, that was what mattered.

[stands_for_hope]

He walked over and pressed the elevator button.

"Let's go see Lois," he said simply.

[kolodnoykovki]

"You've got it." And when the elevator gave its soft, polite ding when it arrived, he added, "At least I invented a new move. That wrecking ball thing came in handy. We'll have to remember that."

It kept Clark safe from kryptonite and gave him a chance to fight back. Worked out really well.

[stands_for_hope]

"I figured you'd find new and interesting ways to use the sunstone," he said as he stepped into the elevator, "and there's not really anyone else I'd trust it with."

Clark walked over and leaned against the railing on the inside of the elevator.

"Arm feeling all right after all that, though? It's one of the first times you've really used it in combat."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Little drained," he admitted, "but I used it more today than I would usually have to - so I'll have to work on charging it a little more."

He flexed it, moved it around - no limitations of motion, no lack of strength.

"Field test number one."

[stands_for_hope]

"I'll probably spend a few afternoons up on the roof with my laptop," he agreed with a nod as the elevator started moving.

"Especially with all the stories we're going to be writing to get this all reported on properly. Between the Zola takedown and the Bialyan situation, I'll be busy enough. Especially since Lois is probably going to use me for her typing proxy."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You type faster than the computer can recognise, anyway," Jim smirked. "Maybe we should get her one of those speech-to-text programs for a while."

He knew those existed. He'd been introduced to them at the VA.

[stands_for_hope]

"Oh, we could, and I'm sure Tony would set us up with a very nice one," Clark agreed, "but she'll enjoy making me her typing proxy much more."

And he was actually looking forward to an excuse not to leave Lois's side for a bit.

[kolodnoykovki]

"...Yeah, I don't doubt that at all." That was exactly Lois's speed.

The elevator let them off at the right floor and Jim let Clark lead since he could hear right where they were going. Jim only knew the vague direction.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark led the way, throwing Tony a thankful wave and a smile before heading straight back and into the room. The doctor was there, but it looked as if he was mostly done as he was standing back and listing off a few things that they'd need to watch out for and instructions for Lois, but she ignored him the moment that Clark and Jim walked in and pushed lifted her unbroken arm as far as it would go to wave at the both of them.

"Get over here, both of you. Jim, c'mere. Want an uncle hug to complete the set. Steve's already given his."

[kolodnoykovki]

And he came over, careful of her arm and her fingers and her, in general, but he still hugged her, close and grateful that she was still alive, and that what had been injured was something that could heal. "S'my girl," he whispered. "Strong and brave. ...And a little reckless. Just like Steve."

[stands_for_hope]

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"Looking out for everyone else. Just like you." but she let him go and breathed a couple of times before gesturing that Clark'd better get his kryptonian ass over there and kiss her.

...Clark did not disappoint, even if he did so as gently and carefully as possible.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim took a breath and put a smile on his face. She was going to be okay. And then he looked around to Steve and Diana. "Go ahead and get a shower, you two," he said, touching both their cheeks gently. "If it made me feel better, it'll make you feel better, too."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve looked like he was going to argue, but Diana was having none of it and quite simply slung him over one shoulder as she stood, leaning over to kiss James's cheek before nodding to the door.

"We will return soon enough."

Steve waved as she walked out and spread his hands in a 'what can I do?' gesture even though he wasn't really doing much of anything to prevent it happening.

"See you in a bit, Lois."

Clark may have laughed. Just the once.

[kolodnoykovki]

The doctor stared for a moment, but then shook his head and decided to ignore it. "Here are your aftercare sheets," he said instead, "and I'll call you with followup appointments soon."

"Thank you," Jim said. "Anything we need, we'll call you or take her to the ER or something."

"Good idea." But then, the doctor let himself out and that meant just three of them in the room.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark opened his mouth to say something before he cocked his head and couldn't help a chuckle. Then he wiped the laugh off his lips and settled beside Lois.

"So what's the rundown on your injuries?"

"Lots of broken," Lois admitted, "but not much internal. They were trying to hurt me, not kill me. Definitely up there with my worst travel experiences, though."

"I... should hope so," Clark said, obviously trying to keep his spirits up.

[kolodnoykovki]

"We'll make sure your breaks get set right," Jim said. "Then you won't lose any kind of functionality or anything."

She'd need her hands. He wasn't going to pretend otherwise.

[stands_for_hope]

She held her hands up, each and every splinted and bandaged one.

"That was what the doctor did. Hence me looking like Edward Sccisorhands. He said I should have full mobility, though I'm probably never going to have a flawless manicure ever again. Assholes."

The last was clearly directed at the HYDRA goons who'd been interrogating her.

"Did anyone happen to find my phone?" At Clark's shake of a head, she winced.

"Dammit. And is Kara going to be telling people about finding me captive?"

Clark wasn't sure, so he listened in to a couple of news broadcasts from around town. His nose-twitch told her everything.

"Great. So... I'll have Perry after me and we may or may not be getting a visit from my father. Lovely. I am SO bombing their Yelp score, I swear to Christ."

[kolodnoykovki]

"There was an attack on the UN," Jim said quietly, "right before we found out about you. Everything's a little up in the air right now. We can go look for your phone later, once you're getting some rest. Mention it to your boy here and you'll probably have it within the hour." Jim nodded in Clark's direction. "But for now, don't worry. You're home and you're safe."