65.5 (58.1) Soothe
hero_farmboy borrowed with much love.
It's been four days since her husband buried his biological father. Clark has been keeping himself busy with work, or farm chores, in what appears to be another attempt to cut himself off from everyone. It's an irrational maneuver, but understandable if one knows how many people he's lost over the years. Eirene's been trying to give him the space he needs, hoping that the barely-there smiles aimed at his daughter will pass, or the way Clark holds himself so stiffly will end.
He's hurting. She knows this, can feel it in her bones. One of the hazards of being an empath. Still - her husband's self imposed exile is worrying. To cut one's self off almost completely from a support system never means anything good, especially when it involves a twenty-two year old alien who's been forced to hide who he really is for his whole life. The divide between their respective upbringings always gives her a twinge of guilt when the subject is brought up, even though Eirene knows that it's not her fault, and she makes herself remember that Clark can't help the way he is sometimes.
This leaves it up to her to try and bridge that divide.
Her father is willing to look after Zoë for a few hours, or as long as she wants, because he's fallen victim to the baby's wide blue eyes, her happy noises, and the fact that she's displaying abilities writ into their genetic code - she's definitely one of them, even if not completely. But it frees up the afternoon for Eirene to hunt down the man she married almost a year ago, checking the Daily Planet first, and the farm second, Ben Hubbard's place third, the cemetery fourth, and then widening her search from there. An hour later, she settles next to him in the snow, one hand resting against his while they stare at the Fortress in the distance.
"It's cold up here." Even though neither of them is bothered by such mundane things as temperature. There's no response. Eirene tries again a few minutes later, and nudges his shoulder. He glances over, almost smiles, then looks away. At least it's a positive sign - he's responding. Sort of.
She lets the minutes drag out for a while longer, piling them up in a metaphorical sense until fifteen of them have marched by. "He said he was proud of you, Clark. That's not something to mourn. Celebrate that you actually got a chance, and I know it was over far too soon," Which is her understatement of the year, probably, "but you got to meet your father. That's big."
Still no response, aside from a shifting of body weight against her. She's going to call this progress.
"He got to see his son, too, you know. Where you grew up, the boy you were, the man you've become. That's a gift. I'm so sorry he's gone, love, and I'd trade everything but you and Zoë to make time move backward so you could sit down and have a real conversation with him, but---"
There's a sound, akin to a cleared throat, from the big alien next to her, and Eirene just can't stand it anymore. "Messing with time never works out for anyone, Clark. And I know it's going to take a long time for you to come to an understanding about this." But I want my husband back. She's smart enough not to say it out loud, and simply rearranges herself into his lap, small arms wrapping around his shoulders like a clingy blanket. She's willing to stay there and wait.
It feels like it takes a long time, but eventually, just when Eirene is starting to wonder if she can get through to him, Clark's arms wrap around her in return, and he buries his face in her hair. It's a very tight hug, the sort that would crush a normal human, but she's made of much stronger stuff, and simply tightens her own grip. When his shoulders finally relax from their stiff posture, she knows she's done her job.
She's soothed him.
"I think Zoë probably misses her parents now." She always does, even if spending time with Grandma Themis and Grandpa Zeus tends to be the most exciting thing ever. "Let's go rescue our daughter and go home, Clark."
When Clark does stand up, it’s with her still in his arms, and Eirene has to admit, as they super speed towards Greece, being allowed to comfort someone, especially someone she loves, is soothing for her too.
Eirene Kent
Greek Mythology
WC: 764
comments
It's been four days since her husband buried his biological father. Clark has been keeping himself busy with work, or farm chores, in what appears to be another attempt to cut himself off from everyone. It's an irrational maneuver, but understandable if one knows how many people he's lost over the years. Eirene's been trying to give him the space he needs, hoping that the barely-there smiles aimed at his daughter will pass, or the way Clark holds himself so stiffly will end.
He's hurting. She knows this, can feel it in her bones. One of the hazards of being an empath. Still - her husband's self imposed exile is worrying. To cut one's self off almost completely from a support system never means anything good, especially when it involves a twenty-two year old alien who's been forced to hide who he really is for his whole life. The divide between their respective upbringings always gives her a twinge of guilt when the subject is brought up, even though Eirene knows that it's not her fault, and she makes herself remember that Clark can't help the way he is sometimes.
This leaves it up to her to try and bridge that divide.
Her father is willing to look after Zoë for a few hours, or as long as she wants, because he's fallen victim to the baby's wide blue eyes, her happy noises, and the fact that she's displaying abilities writ into their genetic code - she's definitely one of them, even if not completely. But it frees up the afternoon for Eirene to hunt down the man she married almost a year ago, checking the Daily Planet first, and the farm second, Ben Hubbard's place third, the cemetery fourth, and then widening her search from there. An hour later, she settles next to him in the snow, one hand resting against his while they stare at the Fortress in the distance.
"It's cold up here." Even though neither of them is bothered by such mundane things as temperature. There's no response. Eirene tries again a few minutes later, and nudges his shoulder. He glances over, almost smiles, then looks away. At least it's a positive sign - he's responding. Sort of.
She lets the minutes drag out for a while longer, piling them up in a metaphorical sense until fifteen of them have marched by. "He said he was proud of you, Clark. That's not something to mourn. Celebrate that you actually got a chance, and I know it was over far too soon," Which is her understatement of the year, probably, "but you got to meet your father. That's big."
Still no response, aside from a shifting of body weight against her. She's going to call this progress.
"He got to see his son, too, you know. Where you grew up, the boy you were, the man you've become. That's a gift. I'm so sorry he's gone, love, and I'd trade everything but you and Zoë to make time move backward so you could sit down and have a real conversation with him, but---"
There's a sound, akin to a cleared throat, from the big alien next to her, and Eirene just can't stand it anymore. "Messing with time never works out for anyone, Clark. And I know it's going to take a long time for you to come to an understanding about this." But I want my husband back. She's smart enough not to say it out loud, and simply rearranges herself into his lap, small arms wrapping around his shoulders like a clingy blanket. She's willing to stay there and wait.
It feels like it takes a long time, but eventually, just when Eirene is starting to wonder if she can get through to him, Clark's arms wrap around her in return, and he buries his face in her hair. It's a very tight hug, the sort that would crush a normal human, but she's made of much stronger stuff, and simply tightens her own grip. When his shoulders finally relax from their stiff posture, she knows she's done her job.
She's soothed him.
"I think Zoë probably misses her parents now." She always does, even if spending time with Grandma Themis and Grandpa Zeus tends to be the most exciting thing ever. "Let's go rescue our daughter and go home, Clark."
When Clark does stand up, it’s with her still in his arms, and Eirene has to admit, as they super speed towards Greece, being allowed to comfort someone, especially someone she loves, is soothing for her too.
Eirene Kent
Greek Mythology
WC: 764
comments