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]

After a moment, and a deep breath, he climbs in and starts the engine enough to get the heat going, and then shuts just the engine off again.

"There. We should be warm enough in no time." It will be hell on the truck's battery, but he considers it a worthwhile cause.

[downsidedarling]

"Brillante."

Pause.

"So what were we talking about before we got all splashy?"

[hero_farmboy]

Clark shrugs, adjusting the vents for maximum heat coverage.

"I don't actually remember."

[downsidedarling]

"Neither do I. I mean, you'd think it would be important, if you threatened to chuck me in the lake over it."

Laughter creates heat!

[hero_farmboy]

That gets a small smile out of him again. "You'd think so, yeah. But I really can't think of what it was."

Pause.

"Was it about you being afraid of horses?" He teases, really.

[downsidedarling]

"It was not," she says, the picture of affronted dignity. "Because I am not afraid of horses."

Beat.

"...okay, I am, but that still isn't what we were arguing about and if you ever tell anyone I'll kick your ass."

[hero_farmboy]

And that smile gets wider.

"I won't. I promise." Not that there's anyone he could tell who would really care, but he won't all the same.

"It's no worse than being afraid of heights."

[downsidedarling]

Eights takes a deep breath. She still can't quite believe she just trusted him with that, but she tries to laugh it off.

"No, but I'm not supposed to be afraid of anything."

Well, it is funny. In a way.

[hero_farmboy]

"Everyone's afraid of something. Usually lots of things." Clark thinks not being afraid of anything might be nice, but probably doesn't ever really happen.

He pats her hand in what he hopes is a reassuring manner. "It's normal."

[downsidedarling]

Anna ducks her head, blushing slightly, and curls her fingers lightly around his. It's a gesture made in search of comfort, nothing more. ...Mostly.

"No, really, I'm supposed to be fearless. It's pretty much my job. To ignore things that upset other people."

[hero_farmboy]

His hand tightens around hers, ever so slightly. It's not entirely clear if Clark does this on purpose or just by reflex.

"Well, you're not at your job now, are you?"

[downsidedarling]

"No, I'm not." Anna smiles shyly. "And... I think I'm glad of that."

A moment later she bites her lip. She has no idea what she's trying to say, but she's fairly sure it came out wrong.

[hero_farmboy]

He grins and settles back against the seat. "Good, because I think that was kind of the whole point of this vacation."

[downsidedarling]

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess it was."

She's still holding his hand. There's a moment where she feels a little like a drowning woman - a live drowning woman - clinging to a single solitary lifeline.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark doesn't seem bothered by it and in fact, adjusts his grip, lacing their fingers together.

"So, it won't be a complete waste of time, then, at least."

[downsidedarling]

"Oh, c'mon, it was never a waste of time." She grins, squeezing Clark's hand. "I like spending time with you."

Honesty is familiar ground for her, but not this kind. Anna doesn't know what she's saying. She half suspects she's found something she's afraid of apart from horses. She feels alive, not in a way implying vitality but in the way where she's young and inexperienced and the world is a frightening unknown.

But she's still smiling.