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[Oct. 17th, 2010|10:28 pm]
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The predawn sky was gradually turning a fiery amber, as light spread above the Metropolis skyline from the East. Atop the the Daily Planet building, a lone figure stood. A crimson cape billowed around his royal blue uniform. A great triangular crest sat on his chest- a symbol of a long-dead world, carried forward by its Last Son. His name was Kal El. Clark Kent. Superman.

As the sun's rays finally crested over the city, he closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. I missed this... he thought quietly to himself. 3 months in deep space had given him a new appreciation for his adopted home. He had thought the disbanding of the Justice League had been a fitting time to take a pilgrimage to his parent's grave. A protective suit from Batman had ensured the red sun and Kryptonite asteroids would not harm him. It had been a long, sad process- partly personal, partly archeological, and partly practical. Superman had managed to locate and save thousands of artifacts from Kryptonian society- enough to fill an extra three floors of the Fortress. He had years of analysis to look forward to. After clearing the useful debris and technology, he had set about breaking up the larger Kyrptonite asteroids.  There were far too many to ever truly eradicate, but he had managed to make the process of harvesting the lethal rock that much more difficult.

Finally, when the work was done, Clark thought of his parents. And he had wept, for the first time in years. It had been cathartic, but finally the time had come for him to return. And so he had reluctantly taken up his great burden once more. Seven hours of rescues and humanitarian work across the world had firmly reestablished his presence. It felt good to be back.

As the dawn's light finally broke across the skyline, Clark waited for the woman to appear. Her heart's rhythm was familiar- strong and intense, each beat like striking some great drum.

"Hello Diana" Clark said as she approached behind him, and he continued to gaze out over the city.


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[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-19 03:36 am (UTC)

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"Hello, Clark."

She had been aware of his return even before alerts began to rise that Superman was back. Wonder Woman had felt him, keenly and clearly, and as sure as she had felt his return she had known where she would find him.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're predictable, Clark?"
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-19 04:19 am (UTC)

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"Lex likes to open with it," Superman replied wryly. "But sooner or later I think everyone gets around to mentioning it..." he peeked back at Wonder Woman over his shoulder, a smirk spreading across his stoic features. He turned to face her, and hesitated for an instant- unsure of how to proceed. The League hadn't been on the best of terms when it had disbanded, and this hadn't excluded the so called "Trinity".

But Clark being Clark, he did not hesitate for long- and opened his arms for a hug.
[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-19 04:24 am (UTC)

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There was little hesitation in Diana's reaction, only contemplation for that hitch of a half second before she moved into Clark's offered arms. There were, after all, a comforting place to be even for a woman strong as she.

"If you tell Bruce or Arthur about this..." Idle threat. She was smiling.

"Are you back?"
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-19 04:43 am (UTC)

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"I am" he replied, releasing her after moment. "I've been self indulgent for long enough. People need our help, and I intend to do my part" he said. For a second he frowned, wound up in his own thoughts. But the moment passed, and his expression turned to one of bemusement. "While we're talking 'shop', I noticed someone got the League to work together again..."
[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-19 03:50 pm (UTC)

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"Something. The Appelaxians returned and were causing all sorts of trouble. And don't think that it was a simple thing, getting people to work together again. Bruce is still staunchly opposed to participating in team dynamics." Diana paused. "I can't say that I disagree with his reasoning as to why, Clark."
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-19 04:56 pm (UTC)

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Clark sighed heavily at her words. "I think Bruce has a point. But I also think this goes beyond a tactical assessment." Clark mused a moment before continuing. "In the beginning, we were a disjointed team. Bruce and I used clash a lot..." he smiled. "But our sense of duty and professionalism overcame any misgivings we had. The job was more important than anything."

"But we're all more than simply teammates anymore. We're closer to a family. But with that closeness comes intensity, things get so heated now that people lose perspective."

He fixed his gaze back upon Diana's dark eyes. "We've hurt one-another, we've got new scars on top of the old ones- but the world still needs us. And luckily you figured that out before I or Bruce did."
[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-19 06:57 pm (UTC)

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"I'm female, Clark. My brain works more efficiently than yours and Bruce's." She smiled a little bit. "But it is truly larger than just helping the world now, Clark. You said we're closer to a family; that being the case we have to help each other now, too, every bit as much as we have a world to protect. Somehow we have to find a balance.

"And that means all of us sitting down and facing each other."
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-20 03:23 am (UTC)

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Clark smiled and for a moment he was that sweet Kansas farm-boy. “A 'Sit Down'. That's what we used to call them when the Kents needed to set some things straight.” he raised an eybrow “and your theory may be right, as I remember it was always Ma' who got us men to agree to it.”

He thought a moment “Maybe somewhere a little friendlier than the Watchtower. It might help establish a new tone. We could use the Farm if you'd like. But its your choice- name the time and place, and I'll be there.”
[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-20 03:42 pm (UTC)

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Diana was silent for a moment.

"You should speak with Bruce. Before anything else. I can go with you if you'd like."
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-20 05:38 pm (UTC)

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Clark pursed his lips.

"We can go to see Bruce together- it seems right that the three of us speak. I think I'll try to show up a bit early though- just to get a moment with Bruce alone."

Clark looked to Diana with a hopeful smile, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be alright Diana. We all will."
[User Picture]From: [info]princess_diana
2010-10-20 05:52 pm (UTC)

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"Call ahead," Diana cautioned. "He's become very protective of Gotham these days when it comes to others of our ilk entering its borders. Even I have gotten a bit of a lecture from him for showing up unnanounced."

Clark was always optimistic. Bruce was always pessimistic--realistic, he'd call it. She was always practical. That wasn't going to change. But she couldn't help but wonder if everything else already had changed so much that there was no going back or going forward again.
[User Picture]From: [info]man_of_steel
2010-10-20 06:47 pm (UTC)

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Clark nodded. "Alright, I'll do that." The news that Diana had been berated by Batman didn't sound good.

Clark cocked his head, hearing his city call out to him in a dozen different ways. "There's a police chase in Suicide Slum, and three alarm fire on Crescent Avenue. I need to go."

He hovered into the air, and looked back at Wonder Woman. "We save the world on a weekly basis, I think we can save the Justice League" he said with a twinkle in his eye...