Son of Krypton, Daughter of Earth

Eldirao

"Tell me about yourself. What did you do?"

"I went to college for a few years, but money was tight, and I didn't get good enough grades for scholarships, so I worked. I went back to school and finished my degree four years ago,  but didn't have teaching certification and got a job as a clerk with a computer company. I wanted a master's degree so I could teach, have more freedom. I was going to start grad school when the pandemic happened, and so many things shut down. Mom lost her job, Marty got sick and died, Sadie got cancer. I got laid off last May.

"Pris offered me her apartment in Manhattan, that's like New Troy, but in New York City, and her fiancée got me a temp job at his law firm. She's engaged to a partner there. They're supposed to get married, but it was delayed because of Sadie's leukemia. I was going to donate bone marrow for her. That's one reason I want to go back." Maybe the only reason. She looked at the night sky, remembering a world that was so similar and so different.

"Any other reasons? Someone special?" Clark asked. "Homesick?"

"Mmmm. No one special. I've had a few boyfriends, but during the pandemic, money got tight, and the guy I'd been seeing off and on moved back with his parents in a flash." She shrugged. "I thought I'd be homesick, and I miss my family, but," she looked at him, "In some odd way, I feel more at home here. I mean on this Earth. You and your parents have made me feel welcome. The Alien Placement Office has been supportive. Barry told me that if I had chosen to stay, I could keep my job at the Labs and that Iris has a single brother." She looked down at her hands. "There's so very much I don't know about this Earth. I'm going to miss your Earth, Clark."

Clark hugged her. She's got to return. "I hope you find what you're looking for back home." I hope I can find someone to replace you.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the last rays of the sun disappear into the night. Stars appeared.

"I'm going to get some ice tea, Clark. Want some?"

He followed her into the kitchen and they sat at the table drinking tea. "Will you be here for this Saturday's dance?"

"Sure will." Clark drank his tea down. "I'm thirsty, for some reason. Usually I don't get thirsty, but once in a while." He knew it was an emotional reaction; he wanted to be with Lexy, for dances, for evenings on the porch watching the sunset, for tea in the kitchen, eating at the diner in Metropolis or the Ace 'o Clubs, talking about everything and nothing, or not talking, and he shouldn't be with her, couldn't be with her. She poured him another glass, and placed it before him. He took it, touching her hand as he grasped the glass. She sat down and rubbed the moisture dappling her glass.

"Do the sunsets here look like the sunsets on your Earth?" Clark asked.

Lexy looked out the window, at a clear night bursting with stars. "The same, yeah. So many stars. One moon, same number of planets. Never been to Kansas there, but I expect it's a lot like your Kansas. The stars are out now."

Clark looked over his shoulder to see out the windows. "It's such a clear night. Half-moon."

Lexy put her chin on her hand and looked out the window thoughtfully. "Can you see your star from Earth?"

"Yeah. Want me to point it out?"

She nodded and they walked outside. They looked up at the night brimming with stars. Clark pointed east, then up, up and slightly below Scorpius. "There. That's Scorpius. It's in the summer sky instead of Orion. See the big red star?"

"Oooh. It that yours? Krypton?"

"No, that's Antares, the heart of the Scorpion. Follow the j-curve down the tail and up to the end two stars. They're Shaula and Lesath, the stinger."

"Got them."

"See that small group of stars below the stinger, looks kind of like a bird in flight?"

"I think so." She pointed. "There?" She moved a little closer, as though it were natural.

"A little bit up." Clark slipped his arm around her waist and with his other hand moved hers to the right position. "See? To your eyes, maybe it looks more like a check."

"I see it now."

"See the red star at the point of the check?"

"I do, I do."

"That's my home sun."

"What do you call it? Sun? Like ours?

"No, we call it Rao, although some call it Eldirao, in the old tongue. El means star."

"Eldirao. I like it. Romantic sort of name. Like a flower or a mysterious faraway land. Which Krypton was, I suppose."

"Romantic?" Clark laughed and hugged her closer. She lifted her face, pulled him closer and kissed him. He was waiting, and kissed her back. They kissed for a long time, before she moved back. He looked down at her, her eyes, her face, her lips. "Yeah, romantic."

She kissed him again for words would not say what she felt. He took her hand and led her into the house.

*

Lexy woke several hours later, alone in Clark's bed, and sat up, looking for him. Perhaps he'd answered some emergency call, and left without waking her. She slipped out of bed, naked skin silvery in the dim moonlight coming through the window. The moon was setting, but the night was still dark and cool before sunrise. She looked out the window, although she didn't expect to see him. The door opened and Clark entered in his Superman suit.

"Lexy," he said. "Didn't mean to wake you up. I've got to go to Metropolis. There's an emergency in New Troy.

She nodded. "Take care. Will you come back here when you're through, or do you think you'll stay in Metropolis?"

"I'll write an article, and send it in, but I don't know yet if I can get back . I left before sunrise. I left a note for Ma and Pa and one for you." He placed it on his nightstand. "I've got to go."

He kissed her softly and she closed her eyes, his scent warming her. His cape blew around her, then with a familiar rush of air, he was gone. She opened her eyes and looked out the window, but he was out of sight. She got in bed, pulled up the covers, and fell asleep.

Lexy woke up at sunset, and saw Clark sleeping beside her. She watched him, not wanting to wake him. This night might be all she'd have to remember when she returned to New York City, and she wanted all of it. She lay on her side, cheek on her hands, watching him sleep, until his alarm went off.

Clark stirred, opened his eyes and rolled on his side to face her. "Good morning."

"Good morning. You got back early."

"Yeah, didn't take long. How'd you sleep?"

She stirred slightly and smiled, feeling his warmth. "I slept fine." She fell quiet, content to watch him. He reached over to brush a stray off her face, then traced his fingers down her cheek, and kissed her.