Fan Fic :Rescue From Within-Epilogue to Justice League #12

This is a story done by Arcadia81

It was inspired by Justice League #12 by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee

It was the sweetest kiss he had ever known and it came from a woman he long desired. When he first laid eyes on her, he couldn’t look away. She was so stunningly beautiful and incredibly strong. In fact, his first words to her were, “You’re strong.”

She responded, confidently with a subtle tinged of playfulness. “I know.”

He wasn’t vocal of his desire for Diana like Hal Jordan with his “Dibs” remark and his backfiring flirtations when he revealed the truth of his desire to impress Diana instead of helping the people when he mistakenly touched her lasso in his sad attempt to cop a feel.

Looking back, Clark wouldn’t have immediately pursued her even if she wasn’t with another. Diana was dating Steve Trevor; at least that was the rumor. Not that he could blame Steve but Clark did wonder what Steve was thinking. Diana was eighteen when she arrived in the world, fresh faced, innocent (she never tasted ice cream before), never saw a man before him much less have experience with them, gung-ho about fighting and he was a thirty year old experienced man. Martha Kent had a word for men like that. Even at twenty-two to her eighteen when they first met, Diana was too young for him. Beautiful she was, she was too innocent; not aware of the world. He felt he would be taking advantage of her or she would grow up and realize they weren’t meant to be.

Clark doubted Steve felt the same way since he did start a relationship with Diana. Part of Clark felt Steve took advantage of Diana’s naiveté on the matter of relationships, and even in that same thought knew Diana would do what she wanted and if she wanted Steve at the time, it would happen. Because Diana did what she wanted, it wasn’t a surprise to learn they broke up. Everyone in the Justice League saw that doomed relationship coming but was respectful enough to never voice it in front of Diana.

With Diana free from Steve, Clark was still reluctant to pursue her. Diana and Steve broke up but Clark didn’t know if there was chance of reconciliation and he did not want to be the middle man. Relationships were complicated and people with his and Diana’s abilities made it even more so. Why complicate his life even more?

He was a man alone in the world. He was friends with Jimmy and Lois but they only knew one side of him. He had a crush on Lois but since pairing up with Jonathan Carroll he kept a respectful distance. She was off limits and he would not pursue a taken woman. Jimmy was his roommate and he didn’t know Clark was Superman. Everyone in his life now, Clark kept at arm’s length. It would be nice to have someone to confide in, someone to be close to but Clark was coming to terms that wasn’t meant for people like him. The only ones to really know him were his parents and they were gone and the woman he wanted to take a chance to confide in wasn’t within reach.

Even as Clark accepted his solitude, he couldn’t deny the feelings welling in his heart. His attraction to Diana grew over the years and like many times in his life he suffered alone in feelings.

He accepted he couldn’t be with Diana the way he liked but he could be her friend. It was why tonight he went to Washington, D.C. Diana was there visiting Steve. He knew Diana felt guilty for Steve being hurt so badly. Even as only a friend Clark would be there for Diana. He told himself he should be at the Watchtower. The Justice League had to discuss what Graves did to them, and yet, he couldn’t leave Washington, D.C. He couldn’t leave Diana.

Finding Diana on top of the Lincoln Memorial, alone and sad, Clark knew things didn’t go well. He sat with her only to let Diana talk while he listened. His mother once told him, “Sometimes friends don’t want you to offer advice. Sometimes they want you there to listen.” Upon listening to Diana, he didn’t expect Diana to speak of her naivety in relationships. She was no longer the fresh faced innocent girl he met five years ago. She was a mature woman admitting her mistakes, speaking with a vulnerability he never heard from her before. It prompted Clark to open up about himself and tell her his name and why he has dual identities. They could be vulnerable together and Clark liked the idea of being vulnerable to her. It felt right for she could understand.

When Diana voiced that people like them were alone, he wholeheartedly agreed. As amazing as his powers were, how he had admiration of the public, how many envied him, he was alone. He couldn’t get close to anyone with his secrets and wasn’t sure if he ever could. Except perhaps Diana.

That’s when Diana asked if he ever felt alone.

Wasn’t she listening? Of course he did! And when turned his head to tell Diana that, he saw Diana giving a look. The look. It said it all. She knew of the loneliness in him for she felt the same way. This wasn’t an innocent girl looking at him with a schoolgirl crush. This was a mature, worldly woman who understood herself and what she wanted in a relationship. Clark knew then he didn’t need to worry about Steve. That was long over and whatever guilt Diana had over their breakup no longer existed. Diana was ready to move on and she wanted to with him.

Does she know how beautiful she looks in the moonlight? Clark wondered as he moved ever so close to Diana and she to him as they shared their first kiss. Five years of holding back was poured into the kiss. He was going all in for this with Diana.

Perhaps with her, he wouldn’t be alone. Perhaps with her, he could finally get close to someone.

Clark wasn’t sure how long they kissed. He didn’t know when Diana settled on his lap. Did he pull her on him or did she move on him? He didn’t know nor did he care. All that matters Diana was in his arms and she shared the same feelings as he.

“I have to tell you something,” Clark confessed after the kiss.

Diana had a hand cupping Clark’s face. Her thumb brushed his cheek and Clark was amazed to feel soft strokes caressing his invulnerable skin. She looked so beautiful, happy as she stole another kiss from him. “What is it?”

Her kisses. He could get used to this. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for the longest time. I’ve been attracted to you even longer.”

“Hmm.” Diana tilted her head getting another kiss from him. “I know.”

Read the rest by clicking on the link Rescue From Within: Epilogue