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[backinthsaddle]

Cole hasn't spent so long in another universe in quite some time. He hasn't been here the entire time of course, he's had to go home to check up on the kids and make sure everything's okay, but he's spent more hours than he cares to count sitting in this uncomfortable hospital chair. He'll be damned before he lets Victor go unguarded, not after what happened last time.

Her valiant protector may also be having a teensy bit of a nap in said uncomfortable chair, dozing while keeping half an ear out for if she makes any noise.

Comments

[backinthsaddle]

"I'm not saying I want you to be angry at him too." Although sometimes he wishes she would. "But I don't want you working with the League for a while."

[victormakesart]

She swallows hard. She'd been afraid of that, and she feels her eyes prickle a little but she doesn't want to get all emotional because she doesn't want to manipulate the answer to her next question. "How long is a while?"

[backinthsaddle]

"At least until you've recovered. Completely." He doesn't want her to try to weasel out of it once the wounds have closed, he wants her to stick with physical therapy and let her doctors say she's ready first.

[victormakesart]

"I agree," she says. "I don't want to risk undoing the good work the doctors've done. I want to be one-hundred percent before I go back out."

[backinthsaddle]

"And I don't want you in this world with Luthor still around," he adds. "I don't care how they get rid of him, but he's a threat to you so long as he's here."

[victormakesart]

That's one that makes Victor wrinkle her nose. "I'm not thrilled with him around, either, but what if it takes them a really long time to nab him?"

[backinthsaddle]

"Then you can do cross-universe conference calls until they do."

[victormakesart]

"But...." She frowns, then tries to look less frowny, with the result that she looks like she has a toothache. "I understand and share your concerns. I don't agree that I should avoid this 'verse."

[backinthsaddle]

"I knew you wouldn't."

[victormakesart]

"I definitely respect where you're coming from, though. And I... I'm starting to have nightmares again, those bad ones I used to have. But I don't know that hiding's the answer."

[backinthsaddle]

"It's not hiding. It's a reasonable precaution." Or so he insists, anyhow.

[victormakesart]

It's amazing how she's matured over the years, that she even wants to stay still so long, instead of ripping her stitches by trying to be a whirlwind. "I can see where that perspective makes sense." That is to say: 'I don't agree, but I love you.'

"I can find a way to take extra precautions. Always go with a buddy, 'til he's gone."

[backinthsaddle]

"Not Clark," Cole says immediately. He'll let her have this and maybe argue about it later, when she's healed.

[victormakesart]

"But Clark's the strongest out of everyone," she says.

[backinthsaddle]

"He let you get taken on his watch. Being strong doesn't mean a thing if he doesn't make the right calls, or keep track of the people he's responsible for."

[victormakesart]

"I was on patrol. He was far away. If we were patroling together something like that wouldn't've happened. I didn't end up on that chair because he made the wrong call. He wasn't involved with any sort of call."

[backinthsaddle]

"You're talking about a guy who can get knocked out by space rocks, which Luthor knows about."

[victormakesart]

"Everyone has weaknesses, sweetheart," she says, softly. "I can't blame him for not bein' perfect."

[backinthsaddle]

"That's not the point. If Luthor comes after him, or you, while you're together, he could take you both out in no time flat. Someone else with you would be safer."

[victormakesart]

"Okay," she says, in her most diplomatic voice. "We can go with that, for now."

[backinthsaddle]

He gives her a Look, like 'You'd better not just be saying that to appease me.' "You've got a long ways to go before then. And you've gotta rest up if you ever want to Bat-stalk Mr. Wayne."

[victormakesart]

She gives him the most innocent of innocent blinks. When has she ever tried to appease him-- oh, right, every time they have a disagreement. "I do. And I'm gonna get all strong and stuff. And we're gonna be co-dads one day, oh my gosh how excited are you?"

[backinthsaddle]

Yeah, he definitely knows she's trying to change the subject. And he is not impressed with her lack of subtlety. But he plays along a little, because he doesn't want to fight right now, he wants her to rest and get better. "It'll be an adventure, that's for sure."

[victormakesart]

She really is super-dee-duper excited about being a dad with him! She wasn't changing the subject on purpose, it just occured to her what they'd been planning before she got all jacked up. "So... when d' you wanna go to the doctor for that? Do you think we'll have a boy or a girl? Which sort do you want?"

[backinthsaddle]

"I'd kind of like to have a son. The girls are great, but I don't want Jude to be outnumbered."