When their alternate universe counterparts had finally departed, Clark had every intention of allowing Bruce and Diana as much time alone to cope as they needed. For that matter, Clark himself needed time to sort things out. His alternate self hadn’t exactly lived up to the expectations Clark had always tried to hold for himself. Actually, that was an understatement. Between the Justice Lord Superman they had encountered and . . . *this* one, Clark couldn’t help but wonder what was so fundamentally wrong with him that there were so many faulty versions of himself.
Upon emerging from The Fortress of Solitude, however, he was dismayed to discover that Diana was still on a leave of absence.
After double checking with Mr. Terrific that no major crisis has erupted in his time in The Fortress, Clark first made a brief stop in Metropolis before setting out to find Diana.
He’d circled the planet twice before he’d started to panic. His panic was unreasonable, of course. Diana was the strongest person he knew, both in strength and character. But Clark knew his panic had nothing to do with logical concern over her well being, and everything to do with the company they’d had.
Because she was taking a leave of absence, she’d instructed Mr. Terrific not to use her Justice League transmitter unless it was an emergency.
And, no, Clark’s concern over the status of their friendship didn’t justify an "emergency." At least, it didn’t to Mr. Terrific.
So, with no other choice, Clark closed his eyes and *listened.* Opening his hearing fully was a heady experience, and not one Clark undertook lightly, because people deserved their privacy. Normally, his ears were trained to tune out everything but the sounds of distress, but his concern for Diana overrode the need for modesty, and Clark strained to hear the familiar thumping of Diana’s heart beat.
When he followed the sound, he was dismayed to discover that Diana had been standing in an old, lead-lined abandoned building. She had chosen to encase herself in four walls made of the one substance Clark couldn’t see through.
Had she picked the spot on purpose - to get away from him?
The look she gave him when he came to land next to her answered that question.
Gripping the box he’d picked up in Metropolis tightly, he spoke hesitantly. "Diana. . . I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make sure. . . everything was okay."
She didn’t answer for the longest time. Clark didn’t know what else to do, other than grip the present he’d brought, and feel useless. If their experience with their counterparts had taught him nothing else, it was that sometimes, he had a tendency to *push* other people too much.
Eventually, she spoke, but when she did so, she turned slightly, so that her back was facing him. "Do you think she was wrong?"
"Yes." Because killing was never the answer. They were better than that. They *had* to be, or they were no different than the ones they fought everyday. "But he was wrong too."
"Why?" She still hadn’t turned around, but her head did tilt slightly in his direction.
"Because her intentions were good. Because she saved his life and countless others. Because she may have been wrong, but I was raised to believe that forgiveness is the greatest strength a person can have, and so was he. Because I believe in giving my friends a second chance, and so *should* he." Clark paused and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, hoping it was still welcome. "Because I can’t imagine a world where Superman doesn’t need a Wonder Woman by his side."
She turned around then. "Is that so?"
All at once, the entire universe depended on his answer. In that moment, Clark had never felt more like the stumbling fifteen year old farm boy that had never actually captured the cheerleader’s attention.
He hadn’t quite known how - then or now. "Yes, it is."
But Diana wasn’t a cheerleader, nor was she the girl next door. For when she smiled, Clark instantly felt relieved, as though he’d made the right choice - not as though he’d messed everything up all over again. "What’s that?" She asked, gesturing towards the box in his hand.
Clark lifted the box somewhat clumsily in her direction. To his embarrassment, the box was bent and folded in more than one spot. "I stopped by Lucinda’s Chocolates in Metropolis on my way here. They’re, um, chocolate covered strawberries."
The recognition and acknowledgment that flashed across Diana’s face shouldn’t have made Clark as happy as it did.
She opened the box and Clark was relieved to discover that none of the strawberries were injured during his rather frantic search.
"Have you talked to Bruce yet?"
"No. I probably should, before an emergency pops up to prevent it." He very carefully didn’t notice his own disappointment that surfaced when Diana brought up Bruce’s name.
"Probably. Clark?"
"Yes?"
"For *her* sake, I hope they work things out."
"For *his* sake, I hope they do too."
Diana lifted the box in his direction. "Have one before you go?"
He took one. The strawberries were just the right amount of bitter to be perfectly accentuated by the sweetness of the chocolate.
Diana pulled the box close to her chest, and Clark took that as his clue to exit.
But he could still taste the strawberry on his lips by the time he’d landed in Gotham.
