Firebrand, Superman, Lois Lane, and the Avengers in... Unfortunately Lex Luthor Is An Asshole

[stands_for_hope]

That morning, there wasn't a paper that didn't have a variation of one headline:

Captain America Comes Out in Support of Superman

The quotes were all different, though: 'He's here to help, same as me.' 'I've never met a kinder, more civic-minded man.' 'I've fought beside him and I'd do it again; there's very few people I'd trust to have my back like Superman.'

The Planet was the only one who had a full interview to go along with the statement that had been distributed to the various publications, an exclusive as written by Lois Lane who was starting to get known as the woman to go to if you needed to talk to a harder-to-find superhero. Lois didn't mind that one bit, honestly, though Cat Graham had started to ask her if she knew any of their numbers to get herself a date.

Later, on another day, Clark might wonder if that had been as much of a catalyst as anything. Because that was the day that Lex Luthor decided to make his play.

The massive spider mecha seemed to appear out of nowhere, towering over parts of the downtown area that had only just begun to be rebuilt. The streets were suddenly filled with rolling war machines, filled to the brim with alien soldiers speaking a language that was unfamiliar and strange to anyone who might hear it. Strange flying ships made their way from the outskirts of the city inward, terrifying the people as they scattered them from the streets. And all of them, each and every one of them, wore red, blue, and gold... and sported the s-like curve as an emblem.

The invasion had begun.

Comments

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Lemonade could be good. And Sam's been teaching me how to make Sweet Tea, though he says I'm never gonna get it right."

He walked over and picked up a couple of different six packs before looking around to find--

"Aha!"

And a six pack of Mexican Coca Cola was shifted to his other hand.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Hope somebody thought to order supper while we've been shopping." He looked at the cart, at Steve's haul, and shook his head with amazement. "So much food..."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Clark looked like he was going to fuss himself half to the ceiling with everyone there, trying to put out food," he said with a shake of his head.

"We could always call in something. I doubt food will go to waste with this group."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim considered as he looked down the aisle of drinks before asking, "Do they all like Chinese?"

What he would order would basically end up a Chinese buffet, but it would be food for everyone.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He considered the group one by one.

"Tony says anything, I'll sit on him, but I think the rest ought to be fine. Sam and I had it often enough, Thor eats it with Darcy, apparently watching something about ponies," he slung the over-weighted hand basket towards the front, "which I now know more and less about than I feel comfortable with, and Clint lives on the stuff, I think."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim nodded then and pulled out his phone to make a call. When he spoke, it was in flawless Cantonese and the order seemed to go on forever. He made certain to tell them to mark the Buddhist dishes as they did have a vegetarian they were ordering for. He gave them the name, the address, and told them he'd be paying in cash before thanking them and hanging up. "There," he said. "We've got about forty-five minutes to get drinks and get back."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I think we can do that. I wasn't really hurrying on the way here. Don't think you were either."

No, he'd just been enjoying the company and, in other ways, the lack of company. It'd been nice, not that he didn't love the others.

"I'll get the food here, then."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Let's get some more drinks and then we'll be prepared for tonight and tomorrow morning," Jim said. "No reason to run out in the middle." It was going to be interesting carrying it all, but they were strong enough - they just had to work on technique.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I almost wish I'd brought my shield," he said thoughtfully, "just turn it upside down and there you go."

But he went back towards the 'fridge to go grab more of the soda and beer.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Maybe they'll have some boxes," he shrugged. "They probably do." But Jim took up his share as well, loading up his left arm. The servos made a quiet noise, but he didn't pay it any mind.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve led them to the front, helped the cashier to get everything rung up, and then pulled out his wallet to get things paid off. The politeness was appreciated enough that she pulled out a pair of crates from the back and let them take them with the promise that they'd bring them back if they could.

Steve gave his word they'd be returned and she may or may not have blushed a little.

Thankfully, everything fit into the crates easily enough without any room to spare but also without room to shift or move.

"We'll look a little odd, but the apartment isn't too far."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Let 'em look. We're ... having the equivalent of a party," he said with a single laugh, hefting a crate into his left arm like it was nothing. He could've done it with his right, but his left was built for it - literally.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I guess we are, come to think of it," Steve agreed with a bit of a laugh before putting his own crate underneath his arm. The hard plastic held up well even with the weight.

"Hopefully, Tony hasn't driven Lois insane yet."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Don't worry about her - she'll kick his ass if he gets out of line. And I don't think Clark would hold her back. From what I understand, Tony used to hit on her pretty bad." Back before he and Pepper became an item.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Oh."

That was a very little 'oh'. Because Oh.

"I didn't get the feeling that Clark holds her back from much of anything. I can certainly appreciate that."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim shook his head. "They both do what they want. Lois is very strong in her opinions. Definitely Dugan's."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"There's a decent amount of Margot in there too," he said as they walked.

"I don't think you got to know Margot that much, but I spent enough time with her during the USO tour. Lived with her heart open and a blackjack in either fist, but it worked for her."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I don't remember all of that really clearly," he admitted. "Sometimes better than others. Everything is kind of..."

Jim shook his head. It was difficult to put in words, though he had a sort of image in his mind. "They... move around. Sometimes I can reach them, sometimes I can't. Some things are still gone."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Does it mess with your head, me being like this?" he asked, and it was a mark of how much he'd settled himself out that the question was more curiosity than anything.

"I know sometimes I forget that I'm not five nothing anymore, after all."

[kolodnoykovki]

After a faint laugh, he nodded. "A little bit. I remember more of you being about... this high."

He motioned toward Steve's old height, drawing an invisible line with one finger on Steve's arm.

"Not all of the war is blurry, but most of what I remember is snow and cold, and I'm not sure how much of that is really what was there and how much is being stuck in the cryotube. I try not to think about it because it... turns into ... There's a word for it, but damned if I remember."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"A lot of it was snowy and cold," he admitted, "but I know what you mean. At least, I think I do. It's probably about how I felt the first time I tried to take a bath."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Count yourself lucky you can wash your hair without a glove on. Damn hand catches hair like you wouldn't believe." Jim rolled his eyes. "But they did give me some of what they gave you. Y'know, to go with the arm."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He nodded.

"I've read the file. It mentioned that."

He looked over at his friend.

"Would you... I have copies, but I have the original Nat gave me. Would you want it?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"No." It wasn't angry, or even emphatic. It was just a simple statement. "I know what they did. If you want to tell Clark or Lois, give it to them, that's fine, but... I already know. That, I remember."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He didn't gravely nod or sadly nod. He just nodded.

"I'll pass it off to Lois. She's kind of taken point on coordinating between our two little groups. Clark just chats with everyone on the computer."