Different Worlds Part Four

Different Worlds by Arcadia Part Four: Aftermath Part One Vanessa Kapatelis was waiting up for Diana to come home. She was excited to see Diana and Superman on the news in the Balkans. Still, of all the places Superman chose to meet, why there Vanessa wondered? Couldn't he choose a more romantic spot like Paris or some tropical island? News coverage of Superman and Diana helping the people were spreading all over the world. Even Vanessa's mother, Julia called. She was in Greece making arrangements for Diana to join them. She had no idea about this meeting of Diana and Superman. Vanessa gushed about Diana's feelings for Superman to her mother and promised to tell her mother all about the date when Diana came home. Julia warned Vanessa not to pry and if Diana wanted to tell her anything, she would on her own time. Vanessa promised her mother but she knew as soon as Diana walked in, she would grill Diana and get every juicy gossip. It was after midnight when Diana entered her home. To her surprise, Vanessa was still up, sitting on the sofa. She beamed when she saw her. "Diana, you're back!" Vanessa went into an array of questions, asking about Superman, the earthquake on the Balkans and where they flew to after the disaster had passed. Diana put a hand up. "Please, Nessie, one question at a time." "Sorry," Vanessa apologized. "I'm just so excited for you!" "So excited you told Barry and gave away I was going to meet Superman?" Diana questioned. Vanessa frowned. "What are you talking about?" Diana sat on the sofa with Vanessa. "Only Superman and I knew where to meet. He didn't tell anyone and I only told you. Myndi knew I was meeting Superman but she didn't know where." "But I didn't tell the press," Vanessa argued. "But you did tell someone else," Diana guessed. "Well, yeah," Vanessa admitted. "I told Barry but he doesn't know anyone in the media." "Maybe not but it's possible he told someone who did." Diana sighed. "This was to be a private meeting between Superman and I, Nessie, and it was ruined by the media." Vanessa slumped on the sofa feeling guilty for telling Barry but she was so excited to tell him so he would stop thinking about Diana like he had a chance with her. "I'm sorry, Diana." "I know you like talking to your friends about me, Vanessa, but you must understand there are some things you shouldn't talk about." "I know. I won't do it again," Vanessa promised then worriedly asked, "You won't tell my Mom, will you?" Diana shook her head. "No, I won't." "Good. So, what happened with you and Superman?" Vanessa asked excited. Diana was quick to notice how fast Vanessa mood changed. She hoped her little sister would keep her word. "Superman and I had a nice talk. We discussed our missions and although we differ on our views we do have a common goal." Diana smiled as she thought about Superman's views on humanity. "It seems we have more in common than just our abilities." "So, where did you go after the Balkans?" "He took me to his home." "He did?" Vanessa eyes went wide. "Wow! Going to a guy's place. That's so serious! That's like a third or fourth date." "No, it wasn't like that," Diana said although she didn't understand there were different steps in dating. "We wanted to go to a place where the media wouldn't find us so we went to his home. He gave me a tour and told me about some of his adventures. It gave me an opportunity to learn a different side about him." "Like what?" Vanessa nosily asked. "Does he have a secret identity?" "Vanessa." Diana loved Vanessa dearly but sometimes the girl was too curious. "I'm sorry but I cannot say. Superman trusted me with information he doesn't share with many. I cannot betray that." Vanessa pouted. "Oh, all right. Do you like him more now?" "I am impressed with him. He's given me much to think about and the feelings I had before are the same. I do not know how to decipher them." "That's better than being unimpressed with him at all and wanting to be just friends," Vanessa said. "But we are friends," Diana said. "At least I like to think we are." "I mean more like boyfriend/girlfriend, y'know. Kissing an` stuff." Diana suddenly thought of the kiss Superman gave her. It wasn't a kiss that only a friend gives. It was a kiss she witnessed with her mother and Heracles; a kiss men and women she viewed in movies share. "Diana, what are you thinking about?" Vanessa asked. Diana touched her lips gingerly. "I was thinking of the kiss Superman gave me." Vanessa screamed. "WHAT?! Superman kissed you! Oh, my god! What was it like? Is he a good kisser?" Diana cringed at Vanessa's shrieking. "Vanessa, I do not know." Vanessa gasped. "How can you *not* know? You were kissing Superman!" "I've never been kissed before, Nessie," Diana explained. "I don't know what it's like or what I should feel. I wasn`t expecting it." Sometimes Diana was too much Vanessa thought. She kissed a hunk like Superman and she doesn`t how it feels? "Did you kiss back?" "No, I just stood there." Vanessa groaned. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Superman is like one of the hottest guys on the planet and you stood there? You didn't kiss back?" Vanessa shook her head Diana. "Oh, Diana, sometimes I just don't understand you." "I bet Superman's a good kisser," Vanessa said more to herself than Diana "Someone that cute has to be a great kisser. Next time he kisses you, kiss back." Diana thought about Superman kissing her hand before she left. He didn't kiss her lips as he did when they first met. Was that a sign he wouldn't kiss her again? Diana didn't understand why she felt sad about that. "I don't think Superman and I will be kissing each other any time soon. We're going to be friends and get to know each other." Diana rose to her feet. "It's been a long evening and I would like to rest, Nessie. Good night. I will see you in the morning." While Vanessa slept, Diana laid awake thinking of her night with Superman. The feelings she had were unlike anything she had before. She thought it was best she confided in Vanessa but now she saw that was wrong. While Vanessa had some experience in dealing with the other sexes she didn't have enough experience over the matter. When they meet Julia in Greece, Diana was going to set some time aside and discuss with Julia about Superman. Maybe then she will have some understanding over her feelings. **** News of Superman and Wonder Woman in the Balkans spread around the world. The coverage was focused more on why they were in the Balkans than the earthquake. Rumors of a romance were swirling and the infamous picture of them holding hands as they flew away only escalated the gossip. Clark knew his parents would be curious and it was better they hear what happened from him than listening to mindless gossip on the TV and in the newspaper. Jonathon and Martha said nothing about the matter when Clark greeted them but over breakfast, Clark decided to confess to his parents about his date with Diana. "So, it was a date?" Martha said and there a smile in her eyes. "Is that why you picked up a new suit?" Clark blushed slightly. "Um, yeah." "Not much of a date for it to get interrupted by a disaster," Jonathon said. "Diana and I made up for that," Clark said. "So, what is she like?" Jonathon asked. "What you see is what you get with Diana." Clark smiled. "She's beautiful. Intelligent. Wise. She's so full of hope but she's also naïve." He thought about the kiss they shared. "And I made a complete fool of myself in front of her." Martha and Jonathon exchanged curious glances. It was Martha who spoke. "What did you do? It couldn't be as bad as you think." "It was," Clark said as he played with his food. "I kissed her." Jonathon and Martha didn't see how that was a bad thing. "What's wrong with kissing her?" his father asked. "Did she slap you for it?" "No," Clark answered and guiltily admitted. "She just arrived and said hello when I rushed in and kissed her. She didn't react at all. She looked like a deer in headlights." Martha covered a hand over her mouth, hiding her laughter. Jonathon tried his best not to laugh either but the vision of his son kissing Wonder Woman and her looking startled was hilarious. "Well, at least she didn't slap you. She's mighty strong and a hit from her could probably send you to the moon," Jonathon quipped. "Did she say anything at all?" Martha asked. "Something about not expecting such a passionate reception. I apologize of course and she accepted it. I don't know what I was thinking. She's from an island of women. She's had no interaction with men." "I think it's obvious what you were thinking, son," Jonathon grinned. "So, what happened after that?" "We made a fresh start and then the quake happened. After we helped the people, we went to my Fortress to finish our talk and I learned how different we really are." "How so?" Martha asked. Clark frowned. "She's naïve about the world. She feels she can change the world by teaching her Amazon peaceful ways. She thinks I enjoy fighting and doesn't think sometimes there's no other choice." The more he thought about it, the more he thought he and Diana weren't right for each other. "Diana has such hope in the world that I don't think she really understands the burden she's under or how long and hard her mission will be. Add that with her having no experience in men and the possibility she's out of my league, I don't know if this will work." "Oh, Clark, you shouldn't give up so easily," Martha told her son. "So what if she thinks differently of the world than you? So what if she's naïve? You're willing to sell yourself short because of that?" Martha shook her head at her son disappointed. "I know I didn't raise my son to cut and run when the going got tough. You're made of tougher stuff than that." "Easy now, Martha," Jonathon calmed his wife. "You know as well as I it's not easy for our son to find a woman to date. He's right to be cautious." "I know, but to throw his chance away with Wonder Woman over such small differences?" Martha scoffed. "He'll never find someone if he's that picky." "Ma, I'm not picky," Clark argued. "Oh, yes you are," Martha told her son. "You're so intimidated by Wonder Woman that you're looking for an excuse to run." "I…" Clark stopped himself. "That's not true." Was it? Jonathon rose from his seat. "C'mon, Clark. Let's you and I have a talk: man to man." "Talk some sense into your son," Martha told her husband. "I will," Jonathon kissed Martha's cheek and followed his son outside. Clark inhaled the fresh country air as he and his father walked on the large stretch of land on the Kent farm. The last time Clark had a man to man talk with Jonathon Kent was the day before Clark moved to Metropolis. Clark cherished the talks with his father. He always knew what to say to help Clark with his problems. "So, you really think Wonder Woman is out of your league?" "Yes." "Why?" Jonathon asked. "She has different ideas, Pa." "So, she's a pacifist," Jonathon said. "What else?" Clark lightly kicked a rock. It shot across the yard. "She's naïve, innocent." "What's naïve always mature," Jonathon added. "Anything else?" "Maybe I don't want her to mature," Clark said. "I like Diana believes in the good of us. I like the hope she has in her eyes. I don't want to be the one to shatter that reality for her." "You can't shelter her, Clark. She's not a child. She's a grown woman." "Oh, I know that, Pa," Clark said and thought of his erotic dream again. "Believe me I know." Jonathon looked at his son, a knowing smile on his face. "She may be naïve to the world now but give it some time. Wonder Woman will see the horrors of this world but I don't think that will change her perspective of changing the world through her teachings. More than likely it'll make her stronger and wiser just like you." Jonathon leaned on a wooden fence. "So give me another reason you don't think you're good enough for her?" Clark shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I don't know, Pa. She expects a lot of the people. She may expect a lot of *me*. What if there's something I can't do for her? She's a princess after all. She's the embodiment of love and hope." Clark picked up a rock and tossed it. It disappeared from view. He sighed. "I'm just a farmer's boy." "And the son of a farmer can't win the heart of a princess?" Jonathon asked. "Sounds to me you're selling yourself short, son. You're insecure and I can understand that. You've been cautious of others your whole life because of your powers. But now you've met someone who can finally relate to you; someone you won't have to hide from; someone you can talk to the way you talk to your Ma and me and you want to run away?" Jonathon continued on. "This is your chance to finally be with someone like you, someone who will understand the pains and trials of a superhero. All you really have to do is wait for her." "Wait." That sounded so hard. "How long?" Jonathon shrugged. "I can't answer that for you, son. You are a man, Clark and you have feelings and desire like the rest of us. They say good things come to those who wait, but you have to ask yourself if she's worth waiting for? And it won't be waiting for a few weeks. It could be months or years. You have to ask yourself if she's worth the wait." Clark nodded taking in the advice his father gave him. "Thanks, Pa. It really helps." "You're welcome, son. Mind taking one more piece of advice from your old man?" Clark smiled. "Of course." "You don't have to completely understand a woman. Just love her and it'll all fit into place." Clark nodded again. Talking to his parents always helped Clark see things more clearly. Thanks to them the possibility of a future with Diana didn't look like an impossible dream.