Ficlet: The Perks and Burdens of Association | STM/SII/SR | Kitty/Eve Tessmacher | R | 1/1
Title: The Perks and Burdens of Association
Fandom: Superman movieverse (STM, SII, SR)
Pairing: Eve Tessmacher/Kitty Kowalski
Rating: R
Word Count: 984
Prompt: For the Superman Movieverse Pairings Challenge: 'Park Avenue', luxury, mastermind, understanding, coffee
Summary: After it's all over, Kitty finds Eve.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own everything. I own nothing. Darnit!
Author's Notes: Naturally, the first pairing I tackle for the challenge isn't even on the list, b/c I didn't think to include it. XD
Warnings: Rated for references to past rape and other serious abuse.
The Perks and Burdens of Association
There was something to be said for being the ex-moll of an evil mastermind. For one, Kitty had picked up on a lot of Lex's old tricks, and learned how to find contacts so far under the radar that even Big Blue didn't have a hope in hell of catching their scent.
For another, she figured she was in some damn good company.
Eve hadn't been easy to find, since the woman had disappeared after her parole hearing-the same day as Lex's-but she was found nonetheless, and after all Kitty had been through following Lex on his stupid crusade to destroy Superman and half the world in one go, barely managing to get away from him after their narrow escape from New Krypton, she'd needed a sympathetic ear.
But standing on Eve's doormat and waiting after ringing the bell to the little apartment tucked away in a run-down neighborhood of Gotham, Kitty couldn't help the little flash of doubt that crossed her mind. At least until the door swung open and Eve propped a hand on her hip and gave her a once-over with hints of hesitation and amusement warring it out on her face.
“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” the blonde finally said, her expression settling on amused. “Lex must've taught you well, if you found this rat hole.”
Kitty felt at once relieved and bolstered by the common understanding, and shot back a matching smile. “Can I come in? Or would you leave a gal standing in the hallway in a neighborhood like this?”
Eve huffed out a laugh and straightened up to wave Kitty inside, shutting the door after her and securing the ten locks and chains. “It sure ain't Park Avenue, but it'll do. Want some coffee? I have a feeling we're gonna need it for the can of worms we're about to open.”
“Coffee would be great,” she answered, watching Eve disappear into the tiny galley kitchen. Looking around to get her bearings, she found the place not so run-down on the inside. Pretty well done, actually, with tasteful, plush furnishings and what looked like high-end art reproductions on the walls. Maybe they had more in common than she'd expected.
When Eve came back out and handed her a fresh mug of coffee, she gestured to the sofa with a head-tilt. They both sat and took cautious sips of the hot liquid, mugs cradled in their hands as they gave each other a more thorough appraisal. Kitty was almost surprised that they'd both fallen back on jeans and simple blouses, after the luxury that Lex had gotten them accustomed to, but it was better to blend in than stand out, after that association.
“So,” they both started at once, and laughed at the breaking of an awkward silence.
Eve continued, “I saw Lex is back in prison. May he rot until the end of time.”
Kitty raised her mug and clinked it with Eve's at the simple toast. “And never see the light of day again.”
“How'd you get away before he was caught?”
“Carefully,” she smirked back. “And a certain man in a cape might have helped me out before he took Lex in.”
“He always was a sucker for the damsel in distress, wasn't he?” Eve chuckled.
“And Lex just couldn't resist using us as bait, could he?”
Eve nodded, and looked thoughtful for a moment before she said, “I managed to kiss Blue once. Poor guy was flabbergasted.”
“Really?” Kitty laughed back. “I got him to fly me to a hospital, then asked him out.” She paused, then said, “He didn't deserve what Lex did to him. So I got rid of those crystals Lex used to grow that... that monstrosity.”
Shaking her head, the blonde woman replied, “We're lucky Blue knew we weren't down with Lex's grand plans in the end.”
They both sighed and nodded in agreement, sipping at their coffee again, before Kitty put her mug down on the coffee table and folded her hands in her lap. “How badly did Lex punish you for siding with the enemy?”
Eve straightened and set her coffee down beside Kitty's, turning to look her in the eye and tilt her face to point to a thin, white scar running from her jawline down to her throat. “This was just the start of it. I've got worse scars. And badly healed fractures in my wrist and left leg. Got a limp and a stiff hand that get worse whenever it rains now. You?”
Kitty blinked. Eve might've had the physical scars of Lex's abuse, but she had the emotional and psychological ones.
“He kept me prisoner for a while. Did things that don't leave scars.”
“He raped you?”
Kitty was almost shocked at the bluntness of the question. “That'd be an understatement,” she answered quietly.
With nothing more than a sigh, Eve reached over and grasped Kitty's hand with hers, wrist creaking with the motion.
The two sat like that for a long time, coffee cooling on the table as they commiserated and comforted each other in silence. It was clearly something they both needed badly, Kitty realizing the intensity of that need over the course of the long, quiet moment. No one else could've understood. Not Superman, not his girlfriend, Lane, not anybody.
After a while, Eve shifted closer and wrapped her arms around Kitty to hug her tightly, the brunette taking the offering with a squeeze in return.
Pulling back and tucking a lock of Kitty's hair behind an ear, Eve looked at her closely. “You wanna hang around a while? Crash here? The couch is hell to sleep on, but I've got a bed big enough for three, and it beats waking up from the nightmares alone.”
Kitty contemplated the offer for just a moment, and nodded. “I'd like that.”
“Good,” Eve smiled back. “Us gals have to stick together, after all.”
And wasn't that just the truth?
Yep, despite the nasty drawbacks, there were definitely perks to being one of Lex Luthor's exes.
~*~*~*~
Fandom: Superman movieverse (STM, SII, SR)
Pairing: Eve Tessmacher/Kitty Kowalski
Rating: R
Word Count: 984
Prompt: For the Superman Movieverse Pairings Challenge: 'Park Avenue', luxury, mastermind, understanding, coffee
Summary: After it's all over, Kitty finds Eve.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own everything. I own nothing. Darnit!
Author's Notes: Naturally, the first pairing I tackle for the challenge isn't even on the list, b/c I didn't think to include it. XD
Warnings: Rated for references to past rape and other serious abuse.
The Perks and Burdens of Association
There was something to be said for being the ex-moll of an evil mastermind. For one, Kitty had picked up on a lot of Lex's old tricks, and learned how to find contacts so far under the radar that even Big Blue didn't have a hope in hell of catching their scent.
For another, she figured she was in some damn good company.
Eve hadn't been easy to find, since the woman had disappeared after her parole hearing-the same day as Lex's-but she was found nonetheless, and after all Kitty had been through following Lex on his stupid crusade to destroy Superman and half the world in one go, barely managing to get away from him after their narrow escape from New Krypton, she'd needed a sympathetic ear.
But standing on Eve's doormat and waiting after ringing the bell to the little apartment tucked away in a run-down neighborhood of Gotham, Kitty couldn't help the little flash of doubt that crossed her mind. At least until the door swung open and Eve propped a hand on her hip and gave her a once-over with hints of hesitation and amusement warring it out on her face.
“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” the blonde finally said, her expression settling on amused. “Lex must've taught you well, if you found this rat hole.”
Kitty felt at once relieved and bolstered by the common understanding, and shot back a matching smile. “Can I come in? Or would you leave a gal standing in the hallway in a neighborhood like this?”
Eve huffed out a laugh and straightened up to wave Kitty inside, shutting the door after her and securing the ten locks and chains. “It sure ain't Park Avenue, but it'll do. Want some coffee? I have a feeling we're gonna need it for the can of worms we're about to open.”
“Coffee would be great,” she answered, watching Eve disappear into the tiny galley kitchen. Looking around to get her bearings, she found the place not so run-down on the inside. Pretty well done, actually, with tasteful, plush furnishings and what looked like high-end art reproductions on the walls. Maybe they had more in common than she'd expected.
When Eve came back out and handed her a fresh mug of coffee, she gestured to the sofa with a head-tilt. They both sat and took cautious sips of the hot liquid, mugs cradled in their hands as they gave each other a more thorough appraisal. Kitty was almost surprised that they'd both fallen back on jeans and simple blouses, after the luxury that Lex had gotten them accustomed to, but it was better to blend in than stand out, after that association.
“So,” they both started at once, and laughed at the breaking of an awkward silence.
Eve continued, “I saw Lex is back in prison. May he rot until the end of time.”
Kitty raised her mug and clinked it with Eve's at the simple toast. “And never see the light of day again.”
“How'd you get away before he was caught?”
“Carefully,” she smirked back. “And a certain man in a cape might have helped me out before he took Lex in.”
“He always was a sucker for the damsel in distress, wasn't he?” Eve chuckled.
“And Lex just couldn't resist using us as bait, could he?”
Eve nodded, and looked thoughtful for a moment before she said, “I managed to kiss Blue once. Poor guy was flabbergasted.”
“Really?” Kitty laughed back. “I got him to fly me to a hospital, then asked him out.” She paused, then said, “He didn't deserve what Lex did to him. So I got rid of those crystals Lex used to grow that... that monstrosity.”
Shaking her head, the blonde woman replied, “We're lucky Blue knew we weren't down with Lex's grand plans in the end.”
They both sighed and nodded in agreement, sipping at their coffee again, before Kitty put her mug down on the coffee table and folded her hands in her lap. “How badly did Lex punish you for siding with the enemy?”
Eve straightened and set her coffee down beside Kitty's, turning to look her in the eye and tilt her face to point to a thin, white scar running from her jawline down to her throat. “This was just the start of it. I've got worse scars. And badly healed fractures in my wrist and left leg. Got a limp and a stiff hand that get worse whenever it rains now. You?”
Kitty blinked. Eve might've had the physical scars of Lex's abuse, but she had the emotional and psychological ones.
“He kept me prisoner for a while. Did things that don't leave scars.”
“He raped you?”
Kitty was almost shocked at the bluntness of the question. “That'd be an understatement,” she answered quietly.
With nothing more than a sigh, Eve reached over and grasped Kitty's hand with hers, wrist creaking with the motion.
The two sat like that for a long time, coffee cooling on the table as they commiserated and comforted each other in silence. It was clearly something they both needed badly, Kitty realizing the intensity of that need over the course of the long, quiet moment. No one else could've understood. Not Superman, not his girlfriend, Lane, not anybody.
After a while, Eve shifted closer and wrapped her arms around Kitty to hug her tightly, the brunette taking the offering with a squeeze in return.
Pulling back and tucking a lock of Kitty's hair behind an ear, Eve looked at her closely. “You wanna hang around a while? Crash here? The couch is hell to sleep on, but I've got a bed big enough for three, and it beats waking up from the nightmares alone.”
Kitty contemplated the offer for just a moment, and nodded. “I'd like that.”
“Good,” Eve smiled back. “Us gals have to stick together, after all.”
And wasn't that just the truth?
Yep, despite the nasty drawbacks, there were definitely perks to being one of Lex Luthor's exes.
~*~*~*~