Nexus: Anna, Part whatever

[hero_farmboy]

Clark's been back at Oliver's place for a while now, having taken care of everything he needed to back in Smallville. He's not completely surprised that Anna isn't here (although a note would have been nice) so he's occupied himself unpacking a few new groceries and making an important phone call.

He and Anna have a few things to talk about.

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[downsidedarling]

There's a familiar muted ocean-bonfire roar that passes through the window, an equally familiar streak of fire, and then Anna's standing in front of him.

First order of business: Give hug to boyfriend.

Second order of business: "Afternoon, cheri. I went to see Chloe; hope you don't mind." Winsome smile. "We had a chat, and then I went for a walk."

[hero_farmboy]

Anna is hugged back. There is also possibly a kiss placed on the top of her head.

"Yeah, I know. I was just at the Talon. Why would I mind?"

[downsidedarling]

"Dunno, really. It's just one of those things people say."

She grins and kisses him on the cheek.

"What's up?"

[hero_farmboy]

"Oh, yeah, I guess it is, but I don't mind."

He shrugs. "I got a few things sorted out."

[downsidedarling]

Whistling idly, Anna walks in the door of her new apartment, dropping her keys on the kitchen counter and dusting a bit of flour off her shoulder.

It's completely barren, of course. She predicts she'll have enough money to start thinking about furniture by the end of next month.

Still, all the important things are here - a kitchen, complete with all the cooking implements she could scrounge; a living/dining room currently inhabited by stacks of all the best science fiction titles Metropolis' used bookstores have to offer; a bedroom, currently lacking in beds but with a delightfully soft carpet that's almost as good; a bathroom, in which she most pointedly does not keep any knives.

She looks around, shakes her head, and chuckles.

"Holy fuck," murmurs the dead girl to empty air. "I think I've gone domestic."

[hero_farmboy]

A few minutes later there is a knock at the door.

"Special delivery," a should-be-familiar voice calls.

[downsidedarling]

"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Anna calls back, taking the ten steps necessary to open the door.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark grins and leans down to give her a kiss.

"I brought chinese. I figured you wouldn't want to make dinner for yourself after cooking for other people all day." He walks tot he kitchen and sets the bags of food on the counter.

"So, how was your first day in the land of the pseudo-gainfully employed?"

[hero_farmboy]

Clark... really isn't fond of black tie attire and doesn't, in fact, even own a tuxedo. Martha assured him his good suit would be fine and Clark just tries not to think about the last time he wore it.

There are more pressing concerns, like how small-town hick he's going to look pulling up to the fanciest hotel in Metropolis in a truck. Hopefully, Anna won't mind walking a block or two so he can park a bit away and salvage some of his mother's reputation.

He knocks on Anna's door, right on time.

[downsidedarling]

Through the miracles of bonding with one's sole French-speaking coworker, Anna has managed to borrow a dress. When she hears the knock on her door, she's in the bathroom admiring her neckline in the mirror. It doesn't take much longer than ten seconds for her to open the door, however.

"Clark!" Huge grin. "Cheri, you look gorgeous." She greets him with an enthusiastic hug.

[hero_farmboy]

"Hey," he smiles back, giving her a loose hug in return. Somewhere along the way in life, he's learned that you don't mess up a girl's dress if you can help it.

"You look pretty good yourself." Clark adds, looking her over and raising an eyebrow.

[downsidedarling]

"Ah, oui. The dress is Vivien's - she let me borrow it. You like?" Anna grins wickedly.

[downsidedarling]

Although she's still mightily upset with herself, that kiss on the forehead did wonders to improve her mood and a workday spent gossiping with Vivien about things completely unrelated to Lex Luthor helped immensely. So it's a moderately self-satisfied Anna Reeve who walks in her door, smiles lovingly at her couch, and settles down thereon with a well-loved copy of Stranger in a Strange Land.

[hero_farmboy]

Chances are, Clark hasn't called yet. He spent the morning working on the farm and then finally got around to looking at the Metropolis newspapers to see just how bad the damage was.

Both the Daily Planet and the Metropolis Journal reported on the event as strictly news, even though they both featured the same picture of Lex and Anna dancing. The Inquisitor, of course, was another story, with a full blown front page feature on Lex's "new girl" and even made the connection back to Clark and his mother. But it was the Inquisitor, so while Clark knew there would be talk, it could be easily downplayed. Still, it was annoying.

In the afternoon, he saw Chloe and filled her in on everything. As usual, even if nothing got completely sorted out, he felt better afterward and decided to stop by and see if Anna was home. Better than a phone call, he figured

And so, a short while after Anna returns to her apartment, there is a soft knock at her door.

[downsidedarling]

Anna opens the door, Stranger still held loosely in one hand, and gives Clark a wordless hug of greeting.

[hero_farmboy]

"Hey," he says, giving her a gentle hug back. "How was work?"