the luthor mansion } { coming and going, asleep and awake

[captainplaid]

Clark had been fading in and out of consciousness for a while now, and all he remembered was Tess. Tess standing over him in what he thought were his last moments—or maybe she was kneeling. Every memory since he killed that thing that was split from Davis Bloome bled into another like watercolors. There was only her face, over and over again, along with an air of safety he'd never associated with her before.

This time when he faded back in, things were clearer. His first instinct was to glance to the side of the bed where she would always sit, but she was nowhere to be found. Sitting up was more difficult than he expected, but he needed a better look around. He was definitely in the mansion...but it seemed a lot brighter than he remembered.

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[captainplaid]

He stared at their hands. Just stared. He didn't know if he could believe her, but something about it, something about their hands together like that made him want to.

Clark took his free hand and used it to cover hers.

[howruthless]

She gave his hand a soft squeeze. She didn't know what else to tell him. He had done everything he could to save Davis, and Davis fell by virtue of his own choices. He couldn't save everyone, but in this instance, he saved the world. That should count for something.

[captainplaid]

He wasn't thinking about Davis anymore. That little squeeze was enough to distract him. All he could think about now was he wanted her to be closer, and if he had enough strength to bring her to him. In the meantime, he let a thumb slowly stroke the skin along her wrist.

The upstairs brain has checked out for the moment.

[howruthless]

She felt the stroke of his thumb, and she read that as permission, using it to inch a little closer to him. She never minded being close to Clark. There's an irrational part of her mind that thinks that maybe proximity to him, could make her better, even if it's just a little bit.

For right now, though, she's just staying close.

[captainplaid]

He didn't mind her being close. In fact he made the effort to be closer, even though it caused him a little pain.

What he wanted to do was to thank her--for taking care of him all this time, and for believing in him when he didn't believe in himself--but his pride kept him from it, and now his desire made it even more complicated.

He leaned in closer. His intention was to kiss her on the cheek, but maybe that's just what he told himself. Once he was just within reach, he hesitated. He could go for her lips if he really wanted to.

Did he?

[howruthless]

He hadn't been this close to her, ever, and it was an odd kind of feeling coming from Clark. Getting close to other men always had a purpose -- something she needed to get her somewhere. Clark was different. Clark was simply something she wanted, and she got so few of the things she wanted. Taking a breath, she turned to look at him, not pulling away or leaning in, just staying as she was and waiting.

She wasn't going to ruin this whatever this was by moving it too quickly. She was going to wait for him to come to her. It was the right thing to do.

[captainplaid]

It took him a second, but he let his eyes drift shut and his lips brush against hers.

[howruthless]

She was hesitant to respond at first, not entirely sure how to, but eventually she closed her eyes leaning into him and letting a hand come up to brush against his face.

[captainplaid]

The kiss was slow and light, but definitely not without a little heat. In that moment, he realized that part of him had been wanting to kiss her since they met.

When their lips parted, he leaned his forehead against hers.

[howruthless]

She took a breath, keeping her eyes closed and staying in the moment for a little while longer, before looking up at him and giving him a small smile.

[captainplaid]

Clark's upstairs brain was beginning to catch up now, but her smile put him a little more at ease.

"Is this going to get me into any trouble, Miss Mercer?" he asked with a bit of a smirk.

[howruthless]

She smirked back, shifting so that she was turned to face him a little more. "Only if that's what you're looking for."

[captainplaid]

"I think I'll pass."

[howruthless]

"If you're passing on the trouble, then what are you looking for?"

[captainplaid]

He just sat there.

He was trying to think of a way to answer her, but all he could do was sit there with a slightly awkward look on his face.

Clark sighed. Why did he decide it was a good idea to kiss her again?

[howruthless]

She raised an eyebrow when he didn't say anything, though she was slightly amused at the look on his face. Taking a breath, she tipped her head to the side before speaking. "Am I moving too fast for you, Kent?"

[captainplaid]

He took a breath and opened his mouth to say something, but then paused to consider his words. He closed his mouth again before answering.

"I'm just not sure what this is."

He felt guilty. He should have thought it through before doing something he couldn't take back.

[howruthless]

Tess wasn't used to men that needed those kinds of definitions. She's used to men who want to figure it out as they go. It was a new kind of territory, and she wasn't used to it.

"Do we need to figure it out right now?"

[captainplaid]

He paused again.

"I don't wanna hurt you."

[howruthless]

"I think I can handle it," she said softly. "I trust you, Clark."

More than she has probably ever trusted anyone, but that's not important right now.

[captainplaid]

He sighed. "This seemed a lot less complicated while I was kissing you."

[howruthless]

She sighed herself, the edge of hers slightly annoyed. "So go back to kissing me, and we'll see where it goes from there."

[captainplaid]

He shouldn't be amused. He really shouldn't, but he was. After practically worshiping him since she figured out who he was, it was nice to know he could irritate her.

He tried to push down his grin and gave her a bit of a look. It wasn't...exactly working.

[howruthless]

She saw that grin. It was only going to irritate her more. "Now what?"

[captainplaid]

He'd been caught, so he stopped fighting it and let it overtake his face.

He shook his head. "Nothing." He paused a moment before lifting a hand to brush back a strand of hair, his expression becoming more serious. "It's not about you, Tess. It's about the kind of man I want to be." Another pause. "Just give me some time."