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

[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.

[kolodnoykovki]

He pulled his shirt off, glad that he'd had the chance to shower, and then he was laying down across the bed, face down, to give her plenty of room for whatever she'd do.

"Anything else I need to do, tell me," he said from where he settled, glancing up over his shoulder.

[stands_for_hope]

"We will start with this," she said before slipping her leg over the other side of him and starting from his hips, thumbs finding the spots of tension as if she had radar.

[kolodnoykovki]

And he moaned quietly, her hands working out pains he hadn't even realised he had. "God," he groaned, hands grasping the covers tightly.

[stands_for_hope]

"I believe it has been too long since you were cared for in this way," she said softly, whispered into his ear as she leaned in on a particularly difficult muscle. She worked slowly, wearing down the knots one by one before continuing along her way.

At some point, Steve came out of the shower and carefully laid out on the bed beside them, but Diana only gave him a smile before refocusing her efforts on James.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Maybe," he agreed softly. "Probably. It's... You're really good at this." He was in the process of melting into the mattress while she worked, relaxation taking over at last. It helped more than he could say. And when Steve laid down with them, Jim reached over and took one of his hands. All the more tactile reassurance. It felt so good.

[stands_for_hope]

Steve gave his hand a squeeze and leaned up to kiss Jim's knuckles as Diana continued.

"I have a great deal of practice and it is an art which I enjoy," she said honestly. "So do not doubt that you will come under my hands often enough."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Mm, I like your hands in so many ways..." He chuckled - and he knew that he would be okay. If he could make that kind of joke already, he'd be fine.

[stands_for_hope]

Steve looked at Diana, who smiled back and nodded as he reached up to start rubbing Jim's scalp ever so gently with the tips of his fingers as she kept working.

"As they are a part of me, they do enjoy finding ways to give you pleasure, as well as a firm appreciation for your lovely skin."