and then she'd say, 'it's okay, i got lost on the way, but i'm a supergirl and supergirls don't cry'

[lucked]

Up until now, everything's been easy. As strange as it might be for most people to imagine, Claire Bennet's leap off the Compound has been the best thing that's happened to her yet on Tabula Rasa. Maybe it isn't the healthiest- after all, where the leap from the Compound was supposed to help her shed that mask, come face to face with all that fate'

Comments

[not_the_s]

"So," Kon says quietly when he comes inside enough to see her and see just what she's done to herself. "Do you want to tell me just how long it'll take for you to heal enough that I'll be able to beat some sense into you?" The words should sound angry. Instead they're more worried. He's always seen Claire as happy for the most part. Has he been so horribly wrong?

[lucked]

The words are shocking. So much that Claire feels herself rooted to the spot as she tries her best to process them, staring over at Kon with a slight bit of alarm, wondering how much of it shows on her face. He doesn't know, she has to remind herself. He doesn't know that she used to heal in seconds, that really, once upon a time he could have literally beat her and not even left a single mark the next minute. There's just something about it, even if Claire knows Kon would never actually do such a thing, but something about the statement that makes her stomach churn with acid.

Maybe she really has upset him that much.

"Don't say that," she shakes her head, her eyes sliding to a close briefly, before she looks him steadily in the eye. "I just slipped, okay? And believe me, I don't plan on going toward heights for a while anymore, because that? Was not fun." Claire takes a breath, then winces.

"Stupid as I'm sure it sounds, it even hurts to breathe."

[not_the_s]

Kon's eyes slide shut briefly and then he leans in and runs a hand through her hair gently. "I know, I'm sorry. It just reminds me of something I was considering once. To make sure once and for all that I couldn't fly. And when I heard that you were hurt...I don't know. Accident or not, it kind of strikes close to home."

He presses his lips together. "And maybe until you said it was an accident, I was wondering if it wasn't. I mean, I don't think you would, but...it's something you need to hear, you know?"

[lucked]

As far as she can tell, Kon's buying it. Claire feels a knot unwind deep in her chest, allowing her a freer breath of air as she pauses, waiting for Kon to finish threading his fingers through her hair. It's a gesture, and in that respect, it's almost like he's speaking to her through that touch alone. She can't really interrupt that. Especially not when this, the actions rather than the words, is a great deal more comforting to her. No room for misinterpretation

[not_the_s]

Kon's eyes lit up for a minute before she finished that sentence. He'd almost thought she was going to say something ridiculously cheesy and nonetheless true like 'freedom'. But of course that wasn't what she was going for and Kon just nodded. "Damn right. You'd have one Superboy, come Kon-El, come Conner Kent coming into the afterlife to haul you out." His smile said he might have been kidding. He didn't want to scare her at all. But his eyes were serious. He would definitely go into Hell or back for Claire. She was one of his girls and he took that seriously.

He took her hand when he was done with her hair and squeezed it gently.

[lucked]

Although the gestures on his part felt a little cloying, maybe too serious in spite of the light words, Claire appreciated them nonetheless. Her gaze grew distant, peering at the wall on the other side of the clinic, one which seemed to approach her the more time passed. Claire wasn't claustrophobic, but she hadn't had very positive experiences in hospitals or clinics as of late. She hoped that she wouldn't have to stay in there for too long, that she'd get some time outside to enjoy the sun. Barring potential infection, she couldn't think of any reason not to give her some time outside.

Blinking back to awareness, Claire pressed her lips together and shook her head, mock disappointment written all over her face.

"Coming into the afterlife? C'mon, Kon, you're smarter than that. If I do go- and I'm not saying that I want to or will- I completely expect to get a golden ticket for those pearly gates. I hope you wouldn't pull me back from that."

[not_the_s]

"Only if you wanted me to," Kon promised. Though he didn't like the idea of Claire dying without his at least trying to help her. Sure, he believed there was a heaven. And a hell. But he believed there was a whole lot in between, too. He'd seen some of that in between and it definitely sucked. He watched her attention phase in and out and smiled softly at her.

"Should I let you get some more sleep? I can come by later if you need a hand getting home. Whenever the doctors decide to actually let you out of here."

[lucked]

"Hmm," Claire hummed to herself, nodding lightly, a brow raised and a corner of her lips lifting in amusement. "Let's just hope you're better about not beating a dead horse than you are about not flirting with a sisterly figure, huh?" With a soft exhale, Claire laid her head more heavily against her pillow. Perhaps it was silly, but a part of her had hoped that the clinic pillowcases would prove more comfortable than the ones in hospitals she'd been to, but they felt the same. Too tight, like they were trapping all of the air inside. She pressed her cheek against the fabric nonetheless.

"They say that sleep's supposed to help me heal more quickly," she admitted with a tilt of her head. "And given that they're telling me I'll be in here for a few days at least, I'm really hoping that they're right about that. Especially because, while Peter can bring me his classwork to the bed, I'm going to be ages behind on tap if this keeps up."

[not_the_s]

"It's not like the teachers won't give you a little leeway considering what happened," Kon points out, "so I wouldn't worry about the homework. And I flirt with all of my sisterly figures. Just ask Cissie. Now get some sleep, miss, or I'll have to tell your doctors on you."

[lucked]

"You haven't had Peter Parker for a teacher, then," Claire shook her head, the look on her face fond in spite of the way that she tried to appear exasperated. It was just impossible- Peter was family, and that made it natural to put up with his eccentricities. (All things considered, insisting that Claire keep up with his students wasn't such a strange thing, either.) "He is totally expecting me to read up on all of his lessons and isn't about to change his schedule to accommodate me. Especially since he's already so busy with Council stuff and everything."

She shifted on the bed, slipping further under her covers, trying to tug them up around herself. It wasn't especially cold in the clinic, but the air-conditioning provided just a touch of chill that made it easier to burrow and enjoy the warmth of the bed. "But I'll get sleep, don't you worry. Apparently the act of healing is pretty tiring stuff."

[not_the_s]

"Good. And you be sure to send one of your lab minions out searching for me if you need something, okay? I'm happy to be at your beck and call for anything that you might want until you're back up and on your feet." His lips twitched. "And I promise I won't even complain if you purposefully abuse that offer. Much."

He tugged the blankets up over her arms and smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Claire. Really, I am."

[lucked]

"Don't worry," Claire reassured with a slight tilt of her head, chin raised as she shook it. "I always feel guilty when I ask people to do my bidding. Don't tell anyone, though. Otherwise all of my threats will be completely empty, and I'll have lost all my wiles." She pulled a shoulder up, settling back more comfortably in bed. Strange, that being awake for such a short amount of time would still leave her so exhausted. She was starting to understand why her mom had taken to bed so often after coming back from the hospital; Claire's body simply ached all over, sore from the effort.

"I'm glad I'm okay, too," she said at last with a soft nod. "So like I said. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

[not_the_s]

"If I don't worry, I wouldn't be me. And don’t feel guilty. It'll give me something to do instead of worrying. Doing is something I'm good at. Thinking is not." When he thought he tended to overthink and he wasn't nearly as good at it as Tim was. He usually just ended up getting himself in trouble instead of doing any good.

He started to go and then turned to look at her with a small grin. "Just take advantage of it while you can. We'll both be back to normal before long. Now sleep, miss." He winked at her and turned the corner so she wouldn't feel obliged to stay awake on his account.