(no subject)

[victormakesart]

She can't go anywhere else. It's too late at night and the kids are sleeping and she can't go to Cole like this and she wanted to go to James with this because she knows he'd let her go off the deep end. He'd let her break. He's been waiting for her to break for years. And maybe that's why she presses Clark's number and not James'. Or maybe it's because her finger slips off of James' speed dial. Either way, there she is, outside the door.

She tries to make a fist to knock, but her knuckles are bruised and her swollen fingers won't close. So she whispers, "Clark," knowing that he'll hear her.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The Kents have several medical kits stashed in the apartment, and it doesn't take him long to find one and bring it out to the living room. "At least this time it's only hairline fractures." Clark sets the kit down on the table next to the cold coffee, and opens it up to get at what he needs. "No need to set anything."

[victormakesart]

"Thank you. And thank heavens for that. Cole's gonna be grumpy, I think. He doesn't like when I'm damaged." 'Damaged.' She says it like she's mechanical.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He's going to be worried about you." Clark knows she doesn't want Cole to worry, but she can't exactly stop that from happening. Not if she shows up at home with broken hands, splinted or not. And Clark doesn't really think that's a bad thing. Spouses should be concerned about their partners, after all.

[victormakesart]

"I'd like to be able to say that I knew I was breaking bones I woulda stopped, but...." A soft hiss of pain, she bites down on her cheek.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He tries to be careful as he tends to her hands, and gentles his touch a little more at her hiss of pain. "But you felt like you deserved it."

[victormakesart]

"Sorry, I'm bein' a baby," she mumbles. Then: "Yeah. I still do."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I know you won't believe me, but you don't. And you didn't when you did this, either."

[victormakesart]

She gives him a small kiss on the cheek, eyelashes still wet with tears. "I don't understand what you're saying, but I appreciate your words."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

One of these days, Clark still holds out hope that it'll sink in for her. It took him years to begin accepting the same sorts of things, but eventually, it was possible. "I want to help you," he tells her plainly. "Please... tell me what I can do."

[victormakesart]

"The only thing I want is for Lorne to get better. And that little demon girl who's sick, too."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He can't do anything about that, and she knows it. At least they're both helpless together to change anything for the better, here. "How's Lorne doing?"

[victormakesart]

"Not good. He's... been hearing some buzzing in his head, and that's when he feels worse. I... hear it too. The only other one in the group who does. April thinks it's 'cause we're both in a bad way healthwise."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Like sympathetic resonance?"

[victormakesart]

"Maybe. But on a physical level, 'cause if anyone would have an empathic sympathetic reaction it would be April. But April can't get sick. And I'm the posterchild for how many things can go wrong on the human body."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Sympathetic resonance is actually a physical thing, so it could very well be," Clark says, thinking maybe some science and logic will give her something more solid to cling to right now. "Like two tuning forks that put out the same note. Strike one and put it near the other, and they both ring."

[victormakesart]

"That's interesting. I'd never heard of it before. I'll have to do some research."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It's the same sort of thing where an opera singer can break glass with her voice," Clark adds. This, at least, is something she can research and investigate.

[victormakesart]

"Yeah. I'm familiar with the tuning forks and the glass breaking, that's soundwaves, I can understand the mechanisms behind that. But I've never heard of that happening with... sickness, between two sick people."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I haven't either, but from what I've seen people do over the years, it doesn't surprise me as much as it probably should.'

[victormakesart]

"Yeah. Especially if there's a magical source. Might explain the sound, too."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark nods. There's little more he can do for her hands now, so he puts the first aid kit away. "We can help you look into it."

[victormakesart]

"Thanks. Might be a little while before I can type easily."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He hesitates for a moment. She's already mentioned not wanting her family to see her like this a few times, so it makes him think she might want to delay that a little more. "Do you need somewhere to crash for the night?"

[victormakesart]

"You know... that'd be awesome," she says, a hitch in her throat. It'll also give her some time to steel herself against how unhappy Cole is going to be with her.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The Kent apartment isn't big enough for a guest room, but there are other options. "I'll get you set up on the couch."