Against All Odds (closed for silvertongue217)

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily couldn't help but be a tad disappointed. She had, for a moment, envisioned following Clark out into the brisk morning, and having him drive her about on the tractor. Then he would have pulled over, they could have made love between the hay bales...

No, she realised, perhaps it was indeed safer if she stayed inside to help cook.

Clark was close to his mother, and she could hear in the way that he spoke that he adored her. Emily hadn't had much of a chance to talk to her the previous night,so she knew she should make the most of it. She made her way to the kitchen and Clark's mother turned to face her, her hesitation clear in her posture and the nervous whif of breath that escaped her lips.

"Why don't you take a seat dear? Keep me company while I cook for the masses?"

Emily shook her head.

"I can help, please. I can peel stuff for you, slice things up of need be. It seems you have a lot to do, I cant just sit by."

Emily didn't see the woman's smile, but she heard it in her words. Emily and Clark's mum then set about preparing breakfast, chatting while the older woman. Surreptitiously glanced her way to make sure she was okay. Emily quickly found herself becoming fond of Clark's mother, she was cheerful, kind, and chatty, but had a sense of strength and grit beneath het softer exterior. They worked together happily until the food was on the table and Emily was given the go ahead to ring the breakfast bell (apparently a coveted job among the children).

 

[silvertongue217]

They all came back in En Masse and soon the room was filled with eating and scattered conversation. Clark even though he wouldnt admit it was in his element and Emily could sense it on his body. The mixture of his scent and sweat, the pheremones giving off from the hard manual labor wrapped around and stroked her senses as he sat down and ate with her.

Plans for the shooting were made between the boys. There was a pause as the girls decided what to do but Clarks mother came to the rescue. They would go out themselves it was decided (After Clarks mother insisted Emily would be safe to Clark) there were some local flee markets the woman visited that Clarks Mother was eager to show Emily.

"You sure your okay" Clark asked coming into her sisters room after breakfast. He hadnt changed or made any move to shower as he came in kissing her lightly and holding her.

"My mom will guide you I promise that much" Clark said kissing the top of her head softly.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily had never been so distracted before. Clark had come in for breakfast and sat beside her, bringing with him a potent cloud of male musk. It surrounded Emily, fogging her mind and calling to her on a sinfully primal level. Being surrounded by his cheerfully chatting family she found it all doubly distracting. It was actually a relief to be away from him as she got ready in Sarah's room.

Her relief was short lived though. She could scent him even before she sensed jim. Her body tensed as he walked up behind her, he took her in his arms and kissed her, and she melted against him with a groan. Her body reacted to his and she had to step away, holding onto his hand as her face tilted up to him.

"If I can survive in New York City I can survive at a country flea market," she explained, trying not be annoyed at his overprotectiveness. "And I'll take Nyx with me, she'll be glad for the walk." She added, more softly. Emily got to her toes, fingers pressing against Clark's warm chest as she pecked his lips. "I'll be fine. Now you go shoot something. Do your hunter thing, bring your woman some food!" She spun him around and patted him on the rump as she shooed him from the room.

 

[silvertongue217]

Clark shook his head astounded by her words attitude and skill.

"How the hell can she move like that" Clark murmured to himself not even realizing she could feel. He shrugged giving Nyx a rub on her head and good scratch before he left with his brothers and dad to go hunting

All in all it turned out to be just what the doctor ordered

The hunting trip served to break the tension. By the time the men came back from the hunt they were an elk more and a lot happier. Clark and his dad joked and ribbed each other over the fact Clark had bagged him. The girls werent back yet which Clark was grateful for even if Emily couldnt see the dead animal he doubted she would be used to the smell. The second eldest and the youngest went off to skin and pack the meat down while Clark sat out on the back deck and had a beer with his dad.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The trip to the flea market went well, Emily found conversation with Clark's family came as easily as it did with him. The churned grass of the field market was far more uneven that she was used to, and it made it all the harder to pretend she had no visual sense of her surroundings. Clark's mother dutifully held her elbow, so she leaned into that to help her act.

Emily had spent her day enjoying the smells, sounds amd textures of everything the country market had to offer. By the time that they all made their way home, joking and laughing and sharing stories, she was feeling so renewed. The cares of Nemesis had never been further away.

"Into the drink already?" Clark's mother tutted and shook her head as she assisted Emily up the steps. "I hope this means you got something this time?"

Emily smiled in the direction of the men as she unclipped Nyx's harness and gave her the play command. The dog ran off in a huff of warm breath and excitement.

 

[silvertongue217]

"We did" Clark said finishing his beer and rising up to go see Emily "There cutting and skinning it up now"

Clark came over sliding his hands together with Emily and bringing her closer "Did you have fun?" He asked ignoring the smiles from his mom "I hope those dusty old knick knack shops werent to bad!"

Clarks mom shoed him off taking Emily and dragging her back in for the dinner preparations. All of the girls soon went to work as Clarks dad led the boys across the farm for the second round of chores. The farm both inside and out ran like clock work and by the time the boys were washing up for supper it was already on the table. They all sat down together this time with Clark and Emily together and with Clarks father in a much more comfortable mood.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"I had a wonderful time," Emily told Clark. She was just about to tell him more when she was whisked away for dinner preparations.

Emily and Clark's mother, as well as his sisters, worked on dinner together. She could sense the other females watching her with a mix of concern and curiosity, but she took it slow and made sure everything she did was measured. As if she truly couldn't see. By the time the food was done, Emily was missing Clark. When she rung the dinner bell it was with a broad smile and in anticipation of seeing him.

When they sat down next to each other and the family had stated eating,Emily leaned over slightly and took a deep whiff of Clark. Her hand found his under the table and she gave it a squeeze.

"Did you have a good time today?" She asked.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I did" Clark replied leaning in to whisper it to her as dinner began to clear way "Hunting is one of the few country roots im sad to see gone in New York"

They all cleared the table and went about their night time down time. Every one had a favorite activity that they had lined up and soon it was just Clark and Emily to pick where they were going.

"So we could go for another walk" Clark said a michevious glint in his eyes "go outside to talk or find out what the others are doing"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily had been torn. In the end they decided to do both. Their 'walk' was brisk this time, and when they returned their cheeks were both pink, their matching smiles filled with secret satisfaction. From there they had joined the others in the family room to watch television. One of Clark's sisters had scooted onto the floor so they could share a two-seater. Emily was enjoying her time snuggled innocently into Clark's strong embrace. When they had been out on their walk she had asked if she could accompany Clark on his chores the next day. He had been somewhat reluctant, but agreed to broach the topic with his parents. They had very traditional roles on this farm, he told her, but she just wanted to spend time with him.

After the sitcom they were watching finished, an urgent news bulletin flashed onto the screen. The reporter spoke in hurried tones about how gang warfare in NYC was on a dramatic rise, how the police had missed a shoot out, from which the local vigilante Hell Cat had barely limped away from. The identities of the drug lords held responsible were flashed on the screen as well as pleas to phone police with their whereabouts.

Emily's gut clenched and she was filled with guilt. Two nights away and this was what happened?

After a few minutes Emily excused herself, faking a call on her cell phone. After a few moment she summoned Clark into the hall. Her face tilted up to his, taking a deep hungry measure of his scent, and frowning.

"Clark, I'm so sorry but I have to go home. Something's come up. " she held up her mobile by way of explanation.

 

[silvertongue217]

Clark watched the nose noting both of his parents subtle glances at the two.

"Dont say it" Clark growled as both parents in unison began to open there mouths "We have gang violence here for petes sake!"

Before any one could say any thing Emily was up her phone having vibrated and alerted her to a call. Clark got up moving to following her then stopping as she stepped out and began to talk.

"I hope every ones okay" Clarks mom said fretting

Next thing Clark knew he and Emily were outside and she was telling him that she had to go. She wouldnt tell him why only that Nan wasnt hurt but she had to go back. They argued for a few minutes before Clark finally and reluctantly accepted the whole thing.

Plans were made and after a fretful night Clark found himself back on the train platform.

"You sure you have to go?" Clark said sighing and looking at her "At the very least I should be coming back with you! I can help you know that right?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The next morning Clark was excused from his duties so that he could drive Emily to the station. The trip was a relatively quiet one. Emily knew Clark understood she had to return, but it was still a tender point between them. When they said their farewells Emily felt a stab of frustration at having to leave the farm behind; she had been enjoying it. Even if she and Clark were half a house apart it was still good.

On the trip back Emily had to make every effort to avoid going crazy with anger at herself. She had listened to dozens of news stories on her phone, all about how Hell Cat had been overwhelmed and shot at before disappearing into the night. There was little in the way of detail, plenty of speculation, but there was a clear consensus that she was injured.

~*~

"So, you've made a miraculous recovery," Nemesis said as Hell Cat slunk onto the rooftop beside her.

"Ha, takes more than a few bullets to keep me down."

"Good; I'm glad. I am so sorry that I was-"

Hell Cat laughed then, amused and loud.

"Really Nemesis? That is ridiculous. These things will happen whether you are here or not. You took some time off. Not as much as you should have, but you deserved it."

There was silence then, as Nemesis stewed over those words and Hell Cat waited for it to sink in that she was right.

"I do have some good news for you though," Hell Cat announced. She reached down the curvaceous bodice of her suit and produced a phone. "One of the guys dropped this. It seems they are part of the Rapscallions. There is a ball in a few months- there is supposed to be some kind of drop there. A big one. I think we should hit it."

Nemesis took the information in with a grim nod.

"I don't suppose this is a costume ball?" Nemesis asked.

"No, but it is a masquerade. I'm sure we can make something of it."

~*~

Two days later Clark returned. Emily decided to hike out to the train station to meet him. She would have loved to make it a surprise, but it would have been terribly suspicious if she suddenly turned up and managed to locate him in the crowd on a bustling platform.

As the train chugged in she was eager to hold him again, to apologise for leaving. And to tell him that she had gotten the job as a transriber. She was excited; she would work on saving her earnings and maybe, just maybe, they could truly consider moving in together.

 

[silvertongue217]

The last two days passed with a blur on the farm. Clarks parents were nicer to him but his funk at her leaving refused to be shaked. It was some thing of a source if amusement for his family and even his dad could be heard saying he "had it bad".

He all but rushed to get onto the train when it was time to go. After dealing with his family and making sure they had all been given his love he settled in trying not to bounce in his seat at the fact he would see her again.

He got off as soon as he could planning on calling her and arranging a meet up. He was however surprised to see her by the edge of the train station waiting for him.

"Oh shit" He said to himself running a hand through his hair as his heart began to beat erratically. He moved forward clutching his luggage as he came up to her.

"Hey there stranger" He joked leaning against the post "long time no see" He teased.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily chuckled as Clark approached and tried to play it cool. She could hear his thundering heart through the clamour of the station. She reached forward, pulling him into a deep kiss. And probably one that was a little too enthusiastic for a train station. She pulled away reluctantly.

"Clark- I got a job!" She said excitedly, no longer able to contain her news.

 

[silvertongue217]

"You did?" Clark said his eyes widening in surprise "you only been back two days!"

He laughed and picked her up spinning her for a second before putting her down "thats excellent it really is!" He told her leaning in to give her another deep kiss. That one however caught the eyes of the conductor who gave them an ahem and shooed them along.

"You can tell me all about it during lunch" Clark said grabbing her and pulling her away. He leaned in kissing her cheek before breathing in and smiling.

It was good to be back!

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Nemesis looked at Hell Cat, a frown of consternation on her face.

"It is a ball, what do you expect? You can still have a mask on. Even if it isn't that one," Hell Cat said, holding out the tickets. Nemesis took them and nodded. She pushed her doubts aside. This was Hell Cat. They had been working together for years. If there was anyone she could trust it would be her.

"Why do I need two?"

"One for a partner perhaps?" He'll Cat snorted. "What about that man of yours? Surely you wanna tear up the dance floor with him."

Nemesis laughed.

"Yes, but I don't want to get him involved."

"We will draw too much attention if I arrive withyou as my date. This city is just not that progressive. I'll tell you what, I promise that my date will keep your boyfriend sitting pretty while we do our thing. Do we have a deal?"

"I'll have to think about it," Nemesis sighed, turning and preparing to run.

"Here, just in case you want to contact me." An item flew through the air, and Nemesis reached out, snatching it up with ease.

~*~

Emily was sitting cross-legged in Clark's bed, listening to her text book, when she cast her earphones aside and turned her face to him. She reached into her backpack beside her and pulled out two tickets.

"Clark... I, uh, got these from a friend. Two tickets to a charity gala.... I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?" She held them out for him to see, cheeks flushing. Part of her hoped he would say no, but the other part was looking forward to spending a night swaying in his arms. She didn't want him in any danger, though, and only hoped Hell Cat was right about this being an easy mission.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Doesnt seem like your style" Clark remarked raising an eyebrow at her sudden offer. He picked up one of the tickets studying it and raising an eyebrow before shrugging.

"What the hell" Clark said leaning down to kiss her

"I am in"

..................

"first time I have worn a suit since prom" Clark murmured ignoring his friends snicker as he pulled at his bow tie.

"look at you head of the elite!" His friend said coming over and pretending to brush lint off of his shoulders "Oh hear ye hear ye!"

"Bah you dick" Clark said shrugging him off and checking the fitted black and red suit he had gotten himself "you got to admit it does look good....."

"Emily will eat you up" Friend said pushing him towards the door "arent you supposed to be meeting her now?"

"Shit your right" Clark said checking his watch "dont wait up!" He called moving to the door pushing it open. He ran down cutting across the campus until he finally reached their usual meeting site.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily tugged at her dress as she walked to meet Clark. She was running late, of course, bur she put it down to the difficulty of combining her Nemesis suit with a ball gown. In the end she had gone for a deep red number, with a bodice that sat inconspicuously over her black leather corset. The skirt blossomed out into that of a traditional ball gown, easily disguising the leather tights she was wearing beneath. It was a hot ensemble, but luckily it was winter. She only hoped Clark would not notice the stiffness of the extra clothing as they danced. Her mask was similar to her Nemesis one, though black leather instead of red, and swirled with rows of crystals. Her hair was tucked up neatly with only a few tendrils left to frame her face and dangle.

Emily took a rep breath as she approached Clark, sensing him waiting in their spot. She held her clutch tighter as she approached, hugging the thing to her, the tickets, her mobile, and the one Nemesis had given her all secured in there.

 

[silvertongue217]

Clark saw her approaching and his body sounded off a rousing chorus of how much he loved her dress. He came over nimble fingers plucking and tightening her bow tie as he eyed her up and down.

"God you look" He said pausing as he tried to figure out the correct words "just incredible" He said taking her into his arms and giving her a deep kiss.

"If I knew I was going to see all of this I would have done some thing like this a long time ago" clark replied threading their arms together and moving into the city "But still why are we doing this?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily smiled demurely after the compliment; she still got such a thrill from knowing that Clark enjoyed looking at her. Though his deep kiss spoke much louder than his words. She could taste it on him, she could feel in in the way his hands gripped her. She reached out to him, placing her hands on his chest, her fingers running over he suit that he was wearing. She could see the outlines of the clothing, glittering in her ethereal perception of the world. She wished she could see the colours, the way that his handsome face looked surrounded by all of the finery.

"It's time like these that I wish I could see," Emily said, a sense of somberness in her tone. She shook it off as they walked along the familiar streets. She still had her cane, but it was a collapsible one that she could fold into her clutch while they were dancing.

"My friend, the one who gave me the tickets, she and her date didn't want to be alone with it all. It is a big fuss really, but we figured the dancing and the free food would be well worth it. And I know you can dance, Clark, your mother told me she made sure of that."

Emily and Clark chatted comfortably the rest of the way to the gala. When they stepped up under the awning of the fancy hotel. The phone in her clutch buzzed and she apologized to Clark for interrupting their conversation as she fished it out. The phone stopped buzzing as soon as it was out of her bag, and a moment later she felt a presence brush past her.

"And here I was thinking you'd chickened out!" Came Hell Cat's familiar voice. Emily stiffened and forced a smile onto her face. She saw Hell Cat's face turn to observe the cane, scented the confusion there. "Hello handsome, mysterious boyfriend! I'm Stephanie, and this is my cousin Alan," Hell Cat reached out to shake Clark's hand. Emily was struggling to comprehend that Hell Cat had an actual name. And that it was Stephanie.

"Right, this is Clark, my boyfriend," Emily said, but way of introduction. Then she realised that Hell Cat could hardly refer to her as Nemesis. "And I'm Emily," She said, reaching towards Alan and pretending her introduction was for his benefit.

 

[silvertongue217]

Clark opened his mouth to comment on her sober comment but decided to take her hint and move past it. Her condition had never bothered him and even though there had been some.... comments from some of his class mates behind closed doors he never let it bother him. He was however sorry for her and while he never pitied her nights and comments like that made it hard.

"I see" Clark said the mystery deepening "Do I know this friend?" He asked studying her.

He thought he had known all her friends

It turned out he didnt though as the girl who rushed up was certainly NOT some one he had ever met. She didnt seem like a bad girl quite the opposite really but it was off putting in its own way.

"Its a pleasure to meet you" Clark said shaking both of their hands and then nodding at the door "shall we?"

They moved into the larger party which by now was in full swing. Elite people were there and every one from the party goers to the staff were dressed to impress. Clark gave a low whistle as he looked around studying it all and smiling in pleasure as he saw the dance floor.

"I got to admit" Clark said smirking "I have been waiting forever to dance with you"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily didn't need to see in colour to know how grand it was inside. The myriad of scents (rich perfumes, expensive colognes, fine food and fizzy alcohol) assaulted her senses the minute they walked in. The sounds of glasses tinkling and people shuffling and chatting about were highlighted by the sweet strains of the orchestra that was playing in a platform at the front of the dancefloor. She hear Clark's eagerness in his voice and smiled at him.

"Me too," Emily replied. She had been about to ask him if he wanted to dance right away, but Hell Cat - Stephanie - tugged on her arm.

"I am so sorry Clark, but may I borrow Emily for just a minute? There is a powder room calling for me, after our long trip through the city traffic!"

Stephanie didn't bother to wait for a reply before tugging on Emily's arm and leading her into the closest powder room, leaving poor Clark alone with a stranger. Emily had a good sense of where they were, the two women having researched the layout of the venue before attending.

"Looks like you're boyfriend is quite a hunk," Hell Cat said, humming in approval.

"And your cousin?" Emily asked, taking some lipstick from her clutch and pretending to apply it.

"He's my cousin. He knows about this. I am guessing Clark doesn't?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it that way," there was a hint of warning in Emily's tone.

"Never fear darling, you'll find cousin Alan is quite discreet. So, this-" Stepahine reached out, snatching the cane from where Emily had left it leaning and tossing it from hand to hand, checking the balance of it. "Pretending to be blind! Quite a cover. No one would suspect it."

Emily reached out, snatching the cane back and returning her lipstick to her clutch.

"I'm not pretending," She snapped. She sensed a change in Stephanie's posture, the only evidence of her surprise.

"Your nightly activities would prove otherwise."

Emily rolled her eyes.

"Well it's true," she held her hand up for a moment, asking for silence, and ascertained that the room was empty before continuing. "I am blind, but I have other abilities that have more than made up for my lack of sight. Another thing that Clark isn't aware of."

"Well," Stephanie chuckled, waving her hand in front of Emily's face, "you have been keeping secrets from all of us."

"I can sense that you know," Emily laughed, slapping Stephanie's hand away. "Now, I believe we have an hour to dance before we have to excuse ourselves for our next powder break."

Emily turned and led them out of the bathroom. She waited for Stephanie to catch up then, so that she could lead them back to the boys.

"Sorry about that, joys of being a woman," Emily said, slipping her arm through Clark's and collapsing her stick, "We can never go to the bathroom alone, it seems. So, shall we dance?"

 

[silvertongue217]

"Women" Alan said snorting and shacking his head "always going to the bathroom together"

Clark turned laughing and decided he liked the cousin "I think its encoded in their DNA! To be fair though guys cant even look at each other in the bathroom so it speaks of how more mature they are then us!"

Alan laughed and the two spent the next few minutes chatting while they waited for the girls. Clark tried his best not to let his "reporter" side come out and grill him. He was curious more so than usual about Emilys mysterious friend. She seemed a decent enough sort and Alan was as well but there was some thing nagging at him he couldn't shake.

The girls came back moments later and Clark smiled at Emilys quip.

"Oh its fine" Clark said glancing at Alan "Just part of natural selection"

Alan snorted at that and pulled his cousin to the dance floor without another word. Clark followed taking Emily into his arms and guiding her over.

"Shall I lead?" Clark asked a sexy grin on his face as he spun her into his arms.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily could hear the swagger in Clark's voice. She allowed him to pull her into his arms, leaning into his embrace.

"I wouldn't dare say no," she teased as he led her to the dance floor. "The good thing about dancing is that I don't need to be able to see. I hope you don't mind if we get nice and close... it makes it so much easier when I can feel the intentions of your body."

And it was true. Clark would find that Emily was a wonderful dance partner. Her ability to hear his heartbeat, feel the slightest hitch in his breathing, detect the subtle shifts of his muscles, they all meant that she could follow his lead without effort.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Me be against dancing and having you close?" Clark asked shacking his head and smiling at her "Its like you dont even know me!"

He didnt say any thing more instead leading her to the dance floor and spinning her. The music began to start up playing some dance music for the gathered group dotting the dance floor.

Clark led her in the dance moving with her as if they were one. With his skills and her abilities they soon got lost in the dance moving with one another easily. A circle around them began to form people stopping to watch stare and cheer the two one once they were finished.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Emily was lost in a sea of wonder. The world blurred around her in a smear of lights, sounds and scent. In the middle of it was her and Clark. She clung to his body, and she fitted against it like there was nowhere else in the world that she belonged. Their movements took on a type of synergy that could only come from complete trust and intimacy. She detected the circle of people around them cheering a moment after they finished their dancing. Her chest was heaving with the effort and she was feeling dizzy with the odd range of emotions and arousal it had stirred in her.

Emily turned her face up to Clark's and smiled.

"Well," She said, voice thick with emotion, "I believe your mother was right. You are quite the dancer Clark."