Nexus: For Eights cont'd

[hero_farmboy]

Clark is sleeping. Not entirely peacefully, stressful Lex encounters will do that, but he is sleeping. The rest of the farm is quiet as well, with only the occasional moo audible in the late night air

Comments

[hero_farmboy]

Clark is pouring himself a second cup by this time. And getting a second slice of pie. He gives Eights a small smile when he hears her come in.

"You take it black, right?"

[downsidedarling]

"Yes," she says, and there's an empty space where a smile would be if she were less tired and in a better mood. "Thank you."

[hero_farmboy]

"No problem," Clark replies, sliding a cup over to her. "If you want the bed after, you can have it. I doubt I'll get any more sleep and if I do, the couch will be fine."

[downsidedarling]

"I... yeah, thank you, I'll probably do that." The empty space is filled by a grateful, if mildly wobbly, smile as Anna accepts the cup.

[hero_farmboy]

He nods, pushing his pie around a plate. "You look like you could use it."

[downsidedarling]

"I could use... oh, never mind," she says, shifting from grumpy to rueful in the space of a breath. "Coffee and sleep'll do me fine." As though to prove it, she takes a sip and brightens slightly.

[hero_farmboy]

He raises his eyebrows at her.

"You know, if there's anything I can do to help, you just have to ask."

[downsidedarling]

"I--"

She breaks off, taking a long gulp of coffee before setting down her cup, and looks for a moment like someone about to take a short step off a tall cliff.

"...oh, fuck it," she says, with a smile that's hopeful and guilty and pathetic all at once. "I could use a hug."

She hasn't let herself be this vulnerable in millennia. It shows.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark smiles back, ever so slightly.

"I think I can arrange that."

And then he walks over and pulls her into a tight hug.

[downsidedarling]

Eights firmly stifles the remembrance of a different time and a slightly different Clark speaking those same words.

"Thanks," she says, muffled by his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him snugly.

And if that shoulder is dampened all of a sudden, surely it's just her wet hair from the shower. Surely.

[hero_farmboy]

It strikes him that she's taller than Chloe and his mom; definitely taller than Lana. It's kind of... weird not to be able to rest his chin on the head a woman he's hugging. So he settles for resting his cheek against her instead.

And because he can tell she's crying, he squeezes her a little closer, and strokes a hand over her hair.

[downsidedarling]

Eights is still too proud to let herself actually weep in front of anyone, but when he touches her hair she freezes for the briefest of moments and then buries her face in his shoulder anew, silent.

The last time she did this, Anna was alive.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark isn't going to say anything - or move - until she's done. He figures she'll let him know when that is, but his shoulder's available for as long as she needs it.

[downsidedarling]

Eventually the tears stop, as does the almost imperceptible shaking, and Anna steps back, attempting unsuccessfully to wipe the salty streaks from her face.

"I'm going to go sleep now," she says. "Thanks."

[hero_farmboy]

"You're welcome," he says softly, dropping his arms to his sides.

"Sleep well."

[downsidedarling]

Eights smiles faintly as she turns towards the stairs.

She considers it an accomplishment that she manages to fall asleep without crying again. She also considers it something she wouldn't have managed without Clark's help.