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

[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."

[kolodnoykovki]

"They both know more about that than I do. I almost got shot trying to get those files to Stark," he said, shaking his head. "I'm probably going to take a class eventually. I think the VA offers it."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"It's really helpful for researching things, though I end up going to the library just as often. The girls there are about as helpful as you can get."

He looked sideways.

"Shot?"

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim looked at him flatly. "Did you think I just walked into the Lexcorp building?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He couldn't lift his hands given that he was carrying things, but the expression was there.

"I don't know what you did! I just got the report afterwards, from you I might add. Tony didn't give me the details either; he mostly just said he heard from you and that he had some work to do and then he disappeared. I'm not psychic."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I climbed his building, broke through his window after rerouting his security system, and was in the process of warning him to lay off Clark when he showed how crazy he was, so I had to knock him out and get the files he'd shown me before his private army came in," Jim explained. "But the damn computer caught me up. Those touchscreens don't work when your fingers are metal."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Yeah, Tony loves them, but give me a normal keyboard any day. I'm kind of getting into the iPad a little since Nat took me to the shop to grab one; it was great when I was on the road a lot, but I bought a keyboard for the damn thing."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I have no idea that any of that is except 'keyboard,'" Jim admitted. "Like I said, they never gave me much tech. Just instructions to deal with what tech I found."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I've just been out a little longer," he assured him, "thankfully, they make the stuff easy to learn on purpose."

He glanced at the street and then forward, towards the apartment building.

"Almost there. We'll definitely beat the chinese food."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Good. I'm not going to make anybody else pay for it." But after a moment, he added, "Except Stark. Probably pocket change to him."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"He might insist. He gets a bizarre kind of kick out of bankrolling things," Steve admitted as they made their way to the stairs, "hence the giant Tower that we've all started to hang our hats at lately."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I don't have a problem with letting him pay. Hell, saves my money. I've got most of mine in the damn bank where I can't touch it for a while. Some kind of two week wait until they get a card made." The stairs were no problem, even with the weighty crate he carried.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

As they got to the door, Steve actually started smiling just a little.

He'd gone to the store with Jim. They'd had a walk and a talk and everything had gone just fine, even when it'd rubbed up against some of the sensitive points for both of them and between them.

It'd been... good. Normal. Just the two of them.

The way it made his chest hurt a little, though... he'd need to tug him aside, maybe before they fell asleep. Maybe the next morning. He wasn't sure if it was the right time, but he was hoping that, with everything going so well, it would at least work out.

He shifted the box to one arm specifically and opened the door, holding it open for Jim behind him.

The apartment was pretty much how they'd left it: Thor was watching animated ponies with Sam, Tony, and Lois. Clark was fiddling around the kitchen, neatening up as best he could. Clint was not to be seen at that moment but that only meant he may have found a perch that wasn't visible from the door.

"We come bearing drinks," Steve announced, "and breakfast for tomorrow."

Clark looked utterly relieved and cleared off a spot on the kitchen table for both crates.

"Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Dinner's on the way, too," Jim said, heading in to put the crate down. "That nice Chinese place about four blocks away. I ordered the whole restaurant."

"My treat," Tony crowed from the couch.

Jim just shrugged, glancing from Steve to Clark and back. "Fine with me. No problem letting the rich guy pay for stuff."

Clint, meanwhile, was in the other apartment, laying out some bedrolls for people to use later. There was a functioning bathroom in the other apartment, after all, and even a kitchen - there just wasn't any food in it.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve glanced back with a little smile. He'd had a feeling.

Clark looked visibly relieved again and there was a soft puff of air through the apartment, at which point the supplies were all put away and the crates were stacked neatly beside the wall nearest the kitchen table.

Steve's eyes widened a little, though he didn't say anything. He was, however, obviously impressed.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim leaned over to Steve and said quietly out of the corner of his mouth, "You get used to it."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve didn't move, exactly, but he did smile a little before muttering in a similar fashion.

"It's kinda neat."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Damn handy," Jim agreed before reaching out to ruffle Clark's hair, including him in the exchange. For once, he was feeling at ease with Steve present. He was able to be... mostly relaxed, even. It was new.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Clark grinned and blew a little huff of air to ruffle Jim in exchange. And if Steve got caught in it as well...

Steve laughed, which got a little grin out of Clark.

"Everyone seems to have settled in to watch Friendship is Magic with Thor. Clint's just setting up the bedding over in Lois's apartment next door."

Clark looked over to the generally assembled group.

"There's more drinks now, if anyone wants anything. Just check the 'fridge and take what you like."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Let's see what we've got," Tony said, bouncing over the back of the couch to head for the fridge.

Jim reflexively told him, "Careful of the furniture."

"Yes, Dad," came the answering mutter, rolling his eyes.

The answer was a leather glove whapping Tony lightly in the back of the head before falling to the floor. "Next time it'll be a sock."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois let out an unladylike snort.

"Careful, he's got wicked aim with those. And you don't even have the couch to protect you till you get back."

[kolodnoykovki]

"People keep ganging up on me even when I buy dinner, I swear," Tony muttered, pouring himself some lemonade. "I'll remember that."

"Walk around the couch and we won't have that problem," Jim answered, unflinching.

[stands_for_hope]

"I'll come by sometime next week and let you test my ability to heat objects at a distance if it makes you feel better," Clark offered pleasantly enough.

"But the couch is second hand. And we are kind of fond of it."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm just joking around," Tony assured, reaching out to pat Clark's shoulder. "If you decide to come to the lab, I don't want it to be a part of a bargain or payment. And I'll even walk around the couch."

Pepper's influence had made a difference. Jim nodded slightly in approval.