agoodyarn | for andimwearingtights: Man of SHIELD

Steve's jaw flexed and he shook his head. "Have they even considered this as an option? Do they even have the amount of information we do? They're making the choice blind," he bit. "Would they ask this of Thor? Or do we just keep welcoming somebody whose brother, whose association with us, has caused severe damage to three cities in two countries while condemning somebody else who's completely innocent?"

His hands were flexing. Only a severe amount of self control was keeping him from punching the table. Denting it. Warping it beyond repair. But he was determined not to look that irrational just now.

Clark walked over and carefully took Steve's hands with his own, squeezing the fingers lightly and giving him a faint, if slightly sad, smile. There was no need for Steve to be so angry. He'd be all right. For the first time in what felt like years, Clark felt like he knew what he was doing. Clark felt like he was making the right choice.

His teeth clenched, Steve looked up at him - and it went through him like a wave. Someone else was going to fall and, again, he wasn't going to be able to do anything about it. What good was the serum if he kept being put in situations where he was powerless?

"This isn't right," he said quietly. "There are other ways."

But he already knew that it was decided, and his only option, if he didn't want to do it this way, was exactly the way that Kal, who was intimately involved, didn't want it to go.

Clark gave him one last squeeze before turning to Fury, who nodded. While he'd been initially skeptical, everything he'd seen about the alien, about this Kal-El, had made him trust the man. Believe in him. And he could honor someone who was willing to put himself on the line for the rest of the world. He reached out a hand and there was some silent communication before Kal smiled, pulled the handcuffs off of his hands, and handed them over to Fury. He looked over at Lois and at Steve.

"You two can ride with him in the truck."

Then Fury turned and led the way out of the room. There would be no military escort, at least not the kind assigned to watch Kal. Nick didn't believe they needed one. Clark smiled just a little at the change in the man's manner and attitude and, sparing a glance at Lois and Steve both, followed him out.

Steve looked over at Lois, missing Nat's approach, which was just as well. Her expression went from intending to gently tease to seriousness in a slow, understanding fade - one she didn't necessarily want Steve to see. The mood was different on this side of the glass. She didn't nod to herself but the mood was much the same as she turned and took long strides to catch up with Fury, to walk alongside him without a word.

And after a small nod to Lois, Steve turned to follow. He had his shield on his back - his big, shiny target. And at least that...

Helped.

A little.

Lois looked over at Steve as if to assure herself that they were, at least in this, a unified front. Funnily enough, it might seem like a very familiar sort of nod... and not necessarily one that looked like Margot.

They were loaded into an army truck, Lois beside Clark as they were brought out into the desert to the rendezvous point. Clark moved to get out immediately as soon as they got there, but he paused as he looked over at Steve. Then, moving faster than was strictly human, Kal dipped forward and kissed Steve back against canvas like a dying man's last request.

Then he slipped out of the back truck and headed for the front of the military caravan, his eyes on the ships just now coming down through the atmosphere.

He was unpracticed, but damned if he didn't kiss back, lifting his hand up to touch him, to curl around the back of Kal's neck. It did feel like a last moment, a last chance, and he wasn't going to let this one go. A man only got so many last chances.

And he wondered while he watched Kal go how many times he was going to see this happen. How many times was he going to see someone who didn't deserve it get taken down for no good reason.

"Goddamn it," he exhaled and rubbed his eyes, scrubbed his hands over his face. But he did what Kal wanted and stayed back. Just now, that was what mattered.

Lois looked over at him with a wry little smile, clearly as unhappy as Steve was, and gave his shoulder a firm squeeze.

"He's stronger than he looks. And I don't mean the benchpressing oil rigs part."

The space ship settled down and let out what was clearly a feminine humanoid who made her mask clear to show a haughty and dangerous looking woman beneath the technology.

"General Zod would also like to request" she pointed over towards Lois, "that woman to come with us as well."

Steve's eyes slightly widened before he pulled his soldier and leader mantle firmly around his own shoulders and stood up, stepping forward. "Excuse me, Representative."

It was the best, most respectful title he could offer, not knowing any better.

"My name is Captain Steve Rogers. The public calls me Captain America." That might place him in their searches, he hoped. "I'd really appreciate the chance to speak with General Zod, and if what you need is a hostage, I'd be a pretty valuable one."

Clark could not have looked more alarmed if someone had set him on fire.

The woman, however, smiled as she tilted her head, clearly listening to instructions from her helmet. Then she nodded.

"My name is Faora-Ul, and I am second in command after General Zod. If you wish to come instead of the woman, General Zod would appreciate the opportunity to meet a great soldier of Earth in her stead. Though" and her smile was unpleasant even as she tried for pleasantries, "you should not consider yourself a 'hostage'."

Clark looked over his shoulder at Steve and stiffened his back before looking at Faora.

"You asked for me. No one else should go anywhere."

Fury snorted a little.

"Agreed."

Faora looked faintly annoyed.

"Do you truly wish to displease General Zod?"

Clark's face said he wanted to punch General Zod in the face right now for requesting first his good friend and then... well, whatever Steve was. But he fought it down and breathed out as he let his head go down. Peace. He had to try for peace.

Steve gave Faora a slow, respectful nod before looking at Lois. There was something about her that he knew. That he trusted, despite having only known her personally for a matter of hours, if that long. Besides being a relative of Margot, there was... something else.

In his expression, he hoped she caught the message. For this mission, she was his man on the ground. She was smart. She had channels. Between her and Nat - whom he gave a quick glance - they were the ones who would know what to do on this side.

And then Steve looked up, slowly walking up to Kal's side. "Then I'll be glad to be General Zod's... guest. Thank you, Representative Faora-Ul."

He was a hostage. He knew it. But just then, it was important that they thought he took them at face value.

Lois gave a barely perceptible nod and a wink that was almost a blink if you weren't looking for it.

For his part, Kal looked sideways at Steve with naked frustration on his face. No, he hadn't wanted this! He'd been trying to keep the people he cared about safe. At the same time, in a way, the more tactical part of his mind would admit that having someone to protect made him more wary, made him more likely to act. It wouldn't make him more peaceful, though.

He followed Faora onto the ship where Steve was fitted with a breather as the female Kryptonian glanced curiously at his outfit and his shield. She tapped the star at his chest.

"Is this the symbol of your house?" she asked curiously.

...Clark tried not to react to her attention to Steve.

He looked at Kal with a calm in his eyes that was pure soldier. He knew what he was doing. But beneath it was a quiet plea. Believe him. He knew what he was doing. Or at least he knew what he was trying to do.

Steve held still for his breather to be fitted, slightly surprised that it was being done at all. But then, at her curiosity, he considered and nodded. "Something like that. It's... what I'm supposed to represent, mostly. The best of what my country can be. Even if we all sometimes fall short." As Hydra had so recently demonstrated. He wasn't going to pretend that hadn't happened.

"Not entirely different from our home then," she said with a faint smirk. Then she gestured to the breather.

"The atmosphere on this ship is optimized for Kryptonian physiology. Do not remove this or you will feel your lungs seize."

She turned and stepped away from the two of them with a quick grin at Steve and a thoughtful expression at Clark. Once she was gone, Kal breathed out with a sigh and nudged Steve's hand with his own. When Steve responded, he'd get a small squarish piece of stone pressed into his hand.

"I can't believe you did this," Kal said with very mild exasperation.

"Thank you," he said to her as she left, knowing that politeness, at least, would probably be remembered. If he could get this to go well... If he could get this to go right...

God, please let this go right.

But then, with a little square tucked into his hand, he looked over at Kal and his expression turned tentative. It was one thing to soldier his way, literally, through meeting the Kryptonian representative, but now, facing the last person he'd kissed and seriously meant it. That made things a little different.

"I couldn't let you do this by yourself. Especially when they were asking for a civilian. ...Another civilian."

"Technically," he said with a wry little smile, "I'm an undocumented immigrant."

He was trying to remain calm and settled as they waited for the scouter to arrive at the main ship.

The best part of his uniform was that he had a ton of pockets. The little thing he'd been given was slipped into one of them - one Steve wouldn't forget to look into later.

"I don't care," he said, though, looking to Kal's eyes. "I wasn't going to make you be here alone."

And then, with a smile that hinted toward mischief, he added quietly, "Especially not after a kiss like that."

And now he gave a faint blush as he glanced only a little coyly towards Steve.

"I... I wasn't planning that. But I couldn't help myself. You're--" and he breathed in and out a couple of times before glancing over again, "you shine so brightly. And you made me feel--"

He closed his eyes and tipped his head down a little.

"Less alone."

He had the breather over his head, which meant he couldn't exactly offer another kiss, but he could reach over to take Kal's hand and squeeze it. "Another reason not to let you be alone. I may not be the best negotiator, but I can probably talk military matters with a military man. With any luck, we can get out of this with both sides winning. Then..."

Then. He took a breath as he put his words in order. "Then maybe we can get home and... maybe have a sandwich and a drink...?"

Kal looked sideways at Steve.

"A sandwich?" he shook his head firmly. "I'll make you dinner. Stuffed pasta shells, sauteed vegetables, fresh baked bread, and a pie for dessert."

He seemed like he was going to say more when there was a faint rocking as the scouter docked with the main ship and Faora returned to their alcove.

"If you will follow me?" she asked as the aperture opened to allow them to use the bridge to get to the main ship.

It was subtle, but he stroked Kal's thumb with his before they were interrupted - a kiss without a kiss. But then, invited, Steve gave Faora-Ul a respectful nod. "Thank you again - Is there a title I should be calling you, besides Representative? I'd prefer to make sure I'm getting it right..."

Respect until given other reason. He kind of had to remind himself to keep himself reined in, despite the world being threatened. Maybe they could forge an alliance. Maybe they could have more people on their side. It was looking more and more necessary.

They were led through strange, dark corridors to what was clearly the 'bridge' as a large, imposing man in similar armor turned to face them, smiling faintly.

"Kal-El," he began, and Clark's steps slowed a little as he swallowed, "you have no idea how long we've been searching for you."

Clark looked pained but he nodded. "Zod." Choked. Not from emotion, but from something else.

"General Zod," Faora snapped, clearly irritated, "he is our commander, and you will-"

But Zod held up a hand.

"You can forgive Kal-El some breeches in decorum," he said amiably, "he is, after all, a stranger to our ways. And this should be a time for celebration."

Clark wobbled on his feet, clearly unwell. The truth of it was admitted a moment later.

"I feel strange," he said, his voice floating and airy, "weak..."

Which was when he coughed, fell to his knees, and spit out blood. Zod didn't appear disturbed at this. Neither did he lean down to try and help or comfort him, however.

Steve, however, was concerned, and was kneeling beside him immediately, an arm around his waist, a hand at his shoulder. "Kal?"

He was spitting up blood. Steve had done that more than once, and it was never good. Especially when you went from fine to blood in less than a minute. Worry tightened his muscles, readied him for... for something he didn't know.

"I've got you," he murmured. But how to balance worry - hell, outright fear - with trying to be diplomatic... He couldn't afford to be outright confrontational.

Steve bit his lips, holding on to Kal as tightly as he dared, before picking his words and starting-- "Can someone please tell me what's going on here?"

"His body is rejecting our atmospherics," Zod said dispassionately. Then his voice was directed at Kal.

"You spent a lifetime adapting to Earth's ecology, but you never adapted to ours."

He tilted his head to look at the good captain as Clark collapsed completely, his breath coming in short gasps, more blood dripping slowly out of his nose, his eyes going glassy.

"There's nothing to be done about it. Whatever's happening to him has to run it's course."

"C'mere," he murmured, gently shifting Kal's posture, using himself as a prop. "It's going to be okay, Kal. Stay calm, try to breathe deep..." He knew how to tip someone's head so a nosebleed didn't go the wrong way. He knew how to make sure airways were clear. Experience had taught him that much. Even if there was nothing else he could do, he could at least make sure that Kal didn't choke on what was coming out of him.

But now came the complicated part. Again, he had to control his temper and try not to snap at Zod for knowing this would happen and not even lifting a finger to help.

"If it has to run its course," he said at last, his voice carefully modulated, "I'll stay with him until it's done."

for andimwearingtights: Man of SHIELD

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject