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

[justakidfrombrklyn]

She grinned and leaned up against him.

"It will delight her as much that such an effort was made as the festivities themselves," she said with a hand running up and down his arm. "And it will raise Clark's spirits considerably, I think. While he is physically unharmed as ever, every wound upon Lois is like a wound upon him."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I know. I wish... I wish there was something else I could do," he sighed. "Give her some of my blood with the serum in it or something. Something to help her heal faster." For all he knew that wasn't how it worked. "But we'll just have to make it so she barely notices she's hurt."

[stands_for_hope]

"Lois is resilient and will know the impact her pain has upon Clark. We will have to act wisely to assist her while she acts to heal him."

Diana was already considering how she could help her sister without being too obvious.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Maybe Tony has something up his sleeve. Or knows somebody who would." He could ask people at the VA, but Lois wasn't a veteran. She couldn't get treated there.

[stands_for_hope]

"If we could manage a protective vessel, I could take her to Themyscira. The Purple Ray would have her whole and healthy within a day's time."

[kolodnoykovki]

Two ideas warred in Jim's mind and he needed to ask, "What kind of protective vessel? Like... Tony's suit, or... what?"

[stands_for_hope]

"Something that I could fly to the island without causing her harm from the window or the movement. Tony's suit would serve," she agreed.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I might be able to work something out. Either with Tony or with one of the Knight guys around here." Their AIs might be able to help. They were cars, and cars were pretty hard to kill. But they were male AIs. That made things a little awkward.

[stands_for_hope]

"My sisters receive injuries the likes of Lois's in the arena often, but she has already been hurt enough by her treatment and the travel to get her here. I will not risk harming her further. But I would not withhold the treatment from a sister such as her."

[kolodnoykovki]

"So we'll work something out," he promised, nodding. "Even if it means I buy a couple bathtubs and fasten them together." It wouldn't be pleasant, traveling in two attached bathtubs, but it'd at least work, he thought.

[stands_for_hope]

"She is as mighty a warrior as ever fought in the arena," Diana said. "She deserves the same care."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Damn straight," he agreed and kissed her cheek. "I'll make sure she gets there safe."

[stands_for_hope]

She turned and kissed him in return on the cheek.

"We will take care of her. And each other."

[kolodnoykovki]

Leaning forward, he rested his forehead against hers. "Mm. Thank you for understanding. About me... not... You know."

It was suddenly hard to put it to words. To be able to say how he'd been - and was still - turned off. It'd come back eventually. Surely. It had to. Just... not yet.

[stands_for_hope]

She let her eyes slip closed and leaned back against him with a warm smile.

"There is nothing to thank me for. To love you is to love all of you, all times of you, all places: the bedroom, the battlefield, and all in between. And I cannot imagine a moment where I do not love you."

[kolodnoykovki]

"My memories of my birth family are... really blurry by now," he admitted quietly, "and since then, the only family I've had was Steve and his mom - so I'm... still getting used to being cared for by more people than one or two. But I can promise you I like it." He rubbed her side. "And I love you. Never thought I'd find somebody I love like I love you and Steve."

[stands_for_hope]

"We are all very blessed, that love like this is a part of our lives," she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "Even when we fear, even when we rage, even when we must fight. That such a miracle as this has been granted us... I shall never count a day where I do not thank the goddesses."

[kolodnoykovki]

He turned his head and kissed her palm. "I think we all need matching rings," he murmured. "All three of us."

They usually just made them for couples, but now he had to wonder, "Or bracelets. Something. Something that proves that all three of us belong together."

[stands_for_hope]

She smiled at the kiss but it didn't stop her from letting her fingers slide gently against his temple, through his hair.

"I should like that. Something to show our unified spirit."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Mm. We'll work that out as soon as Lois is on the mend," he agreed, leaning into her touch. "Which, with any luck, shouldn't take long."

[stands_for_hope]

"And for now, we center ourselves," Diana murmured gently, her other hand starting to run gently along his beck.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Mmh. Keep doing that and I'll get you to rub my back later. I could probably use it." He was teasing, but it wouldn't take much for him to be serious.

[stands_for_hope]

"I already told you I still wanted to massage you, my dear one," she said with a chuckle. "You certainly could use it after a long hard day of work."

[kolodnoykovki]

"And I'd appreciate it," he smiled and nuzzled against her neck. "I love you."

[stands_for_hope]

"As I love you," she returned, leaning into his touch. She tilted her head down to smile at him. "And if you would care for a massage, then best you pull that shirt off and lay down."

One hand patted the bed.

While she would enjoy her hands on him, her tone was loving but without lust. Sweet and affectionate but not flirty. He had said he was not ready for such things and she was happy to oblige him. But she would care for him if he told her that she could.