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

[secondtry]

He slipped in a quick kiss before letting Sandy go. "Okay. I'll keep him while you're busy. You want to tell me where to meet you? ...Okay. I've got a couple jobs in the area I can get to before then. All right, see you in a couple weeks. Bye."

A swipe of his thumb to hang up the phone and he tossed it into a chair. "There. That's done."

[granularity]

"I have no idea what 'that' was, but I'm glad you finished it," he said as he went to hang up his coat with the hat. His holsters were added a moment later before he made his way back to Mike.

"But for what it's worth, I'm done too. Alan came in and relieved me, told me that I had a better place to be while he and Peegee took care of the politics."

[secondtry]

"I'm glad you're safe." He pulled Sandy into another hug, kissing his temple. "That was me talking to my father. He's taking care of some SHIELD agents - they were almost killed, but he got there in time to warn them and he's taking them to a FLAG safehouse in Denver. I've got Kitt for a while longer." He paused. "His Kitt."

[granularity]

"If you need someone to sit in the driver's seat, just let me know," he offered, "since you said they could drive themselves. I'm glad to hear that the SHIELD agents are all right, though."

[secondtry]

"Mm, I'm too greedy. I'd want you in my passenger seat." But then he squeezed Sandy's shoulders. "You okay?"

[granularity]

Sandy couldn't help a quick laugh.

"I could do with a little greedy," he admitted. "I tend to hide away and go anti-social way too often. More than is good for me."

When Mike asked the question, he nodded without a pause or much worry at all on his face.

"I'm all right. All in a day's job, honestly. It's one of those days where I'm glad I'm no longer chairman, is all. It will be interesting being back out in the spotlight, though. A little like old times."

[secondtry]

"As long as you're okay." He kissed Sandy's cheek, then tugged him over to sit on the bed. "I worried while you were gone. I mean, I know I don't have to, but I did anyway. Kitt likes you."

[granularity]

"Well, that's mutual, at least," he said with a nod towards the floor, towards Kitt's spot in the garage. But he went where he was tugged easily enough.

"Worried? Anything specific you were worried about?"

[secondtry]

"Well, it's a nation with a leader whose power is ensnaring people who are attracted to women or something like that - and I just met you. Last thing I want is to lose you to a woman I've never met." He said it with a smile, lifting his hand to ruffle Sandy's hair.

[granularity]

He laughed and shook his head as he leaned into the touch.

"Oh no. I let Peegee handle Queen Bee," he said firmly, "because her response to someone trying to control her is generally to punch them into the moon. She quit her games as soon as PeeGee made it clear that diplomatic immunity wouldn't save her from the same treatment."

[secondtry]

Mike chuckled, kissing his cheek. "Good. I know it'd take a lot to hurt you, but that doesn't mean I like it being a regular thing."

He was protective when he actually liked someone, and Sandy made him feel... human.

[granularity]

Sandy turned and took the opportunity of Mike's lips being right there to press a soft little kiss there before he spoke.

"I'm not much of a fan of it either. And by that I mean, people hurting me and now, people hurting you. You doing all right after everything? Pieter's a miracle worker, but he didn't have much time to work on you and you were coming off of an injury before we even started."

[secondtry]

"Nah, I'm okay," he answered easily, tugging up his shirt to show fading bruises. "See? Already healing. Being in good shape helps."

This was his new normal. He was used to it, and he did his best not to think of it too much. If he did, it just led to that empty spot in his memories.

[granularity]

Sandy's hand reached out to touch for a moment before realizing he was being rude, that there was a living person with possible boundaries there that he shouldn't infringe on. He pulled his hand back and turned to Mike with a smile.

"Good. I'm glad."

[secondtry]

Mike smiled. "You can touch if you want to. Promise, it's okay."

Even if it hurt his bruise a little, he could live with it. If Sandy wanted to touch him, he'd let him. Without hesitation.

[granularity]

He reached over and made sure to slide his fingers gently along the lines of muscle where he wasn't injured, as much to feel for himself as to make sure that Mike knew he was interested. But within a few seconds, he pulled back.

"We'll save that for when you're not a landscape of bruises."

[secondtry]

He laughed softly. "Okay, so I'll put you down on the schedule for once upon a never."

He wasn't angry or even upset. Bruises were just his reality. He was used to it.

"If you want me without bruises, it'll be a while. 'Til I retire, anyway."

[granularity]

"I don't want to hurt you, is all," he said honestly and he was smiling but there was something honest in his words.

[secondtry]

How could he help but smile? Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to the spot behind Sandy's ear. "You're amazing."

[granularity]

He reached up, found Mike's hand, and wrapped his own around it.

"Well, as silicon-based lifeforms go... I'm not half bad."

[secondtry]

"Mm, you've got that right. Definitely in my top three," he teased, squeezing Sandy's hand. "Wanna relax together for a while?"

[granularity]

He nodded in answer before reconsidering, reevaluating, forcing himself to be honest.

"I want to kiss you for a while," he said with a bashful, awkward little grin.

[secondtry]

His brows rose and, grinning, he murmured, "Now that sounds like a great idea."

A gleam of mischief in his eyes, he pushed himself up toward the headboard and pulled Sandy with him. "C'mere, handsome."

[granularity]

Sandy went willingly, happily, but he held back, waiting to see if there was something Mike wanted him to do or a specific position that'd work best. This was all very much uncharted territory.

[secondtry]

Mike guided him gently, up and onto his side so they could face each other, so he could have his arm around Sandy's waist and their foreheads gently touching. "How's this?"