Superman, Firebrand, and the Metropolis Gang in... the World's Mightiest Duckling

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

It took a few weeks, but soon enough, the apartment had become an entirely settled little commune between the five of them. Steve's things had arrived as Clint had promised, they'd been installed in the new apartment, and the group had made the changes they'd discussed for everyone's comfort with one addition: with Steve bunking with Jim, the room he'd initially intended to take had become a general office/library/art room for everyone to use when they felt like a bit of time alone. For as silly as the concept sounded, all of them had ended up using the room a time or two and it had definitely kept things peaceful despite the addition of two new people.

Considering that the apartment was home to four superheroes and a world-famous journalist, it was amazing how easily they all fell into a routine. Jim, Lois, and Clark would usually leave for work around the same time and Steve, always an early riser, had taken to making them something to munch for breakfast on the way after he returned from his morning run. Having also gotten a position at the community center (teaching kids art and art history), Steve would leave with Diana an hour or so after that. Everyone filtered back into the apartment at different times and whoever was feeling up to cooking would usually start dinner when they got in. If no one was feeling up cooking, one of the two 'old' men would treat takeout.

Today, however, Jim's site was currently closed for due to an issue with the plumbing contractors and some unfortunate flooding that had occurred overnight. That was why Clark texted Jim and invited him to come visit he and Lois at the Daily Planet offices and go out for lunch together.

Comments

[stands_for_hope]

He held up his hands.

"I won't stand in your way if you want to teach Lombard, or anyone else, manners. He could certainly use them. And that'll help more than me."

He scratched at his ear.

"Including the female population of the Planet. But don't worry about my reputation. I promise. I... I knew what I was getting into."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You know," he said, taking the subject change whether it was intentional or not, "once upon a time, I would've taken that Miss Grant up on her offer."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois made a sour face at the mention of Cat Grant while Clark looked somewhat relieved and a little amused.

"You're old enough you know better now," Lois said firmly.

Clark held in a chuckle, just barely.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm also taken." Gladly taken. Happily taken. There was very definitely a part of him who wished Steve was handy so he could hook a finger through one of his beltloops, just to make sure he didn't get too far away.

[stands_for_hope]

"Taken by someone way hotter than Cat Grant," Lois said firmly.

Clark just rolled his eyes because Lois's irritation with Cat was one of the more amusing conflicts in the office, as much because of the ridiculousness of the situation as because of how it played out.

"You heading home after lunch or planning to surprise Steve and Diana with a visit?" Clark asked.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I dunno. I was thinking about it. I figured I don't have anything else to do, might as well, you know?" He shrugged. "Maybe Diana needs somebody to demonstrate how to beat someone up. I can't really contribute to Steve's classes."

[stands_for_hope]

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you," Clark observed as the elevator finally opened and he escorted Lois out of the doors. Lois reached over and tugged him along with them.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim chuckled and walked out alongside them, tucking his left hand back into his pocket. "I've gotta admit, being sent off the site like this threw me off. But it was a hell of a mess."

[stands_for_hope]

"Not used to surprise days off?" Lois asked as she turned them towards the corner of the block the building mostly took up.

[kolodnoykovki]

"No," he laughed, walking along with them. "Not at all. Missing a day of work... I'm used to that meaning missing meals."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded along.

"Not a farmer alive who wants a day off," he agreed firmly.

"Well, this city girl enjoyed her snow days and her conference days and her days where the school was under construction."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah, your snow days, I was out on a streetcorner, hawking newspapers," he smirked. "'Til I turned around eleven, anyway. Then it was washing dishes in a kitchen. Then it was to the docks. You kids these days got it easy."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois nudged him.

"We've got it different. And Uncle Steve has already told us about how you guys had to walk uphill, both ways, through the snow during the heat of July."

Clark looked sideways at her.

"...you know, I think you're embellishing."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Seriously," Jim agreed. "We all know Steve couldn't walk uphill anywhere 'til he joined the Army."

He'd owe Steve a kiss for that one later.

[stands_for_hope]

"Of course he couldn't," Lois said, as if this was obvious. Clark took the opportunity to reach forward and pulled open the door to the deli.

"He rode on your shoulders. Obviously."

And she strode in smugly.

[kolodnoykovki]

"No, he rode on my back." And then, as if it was so obvious, he leaned over to Clark and said, "If he'd been on my shoulders, I would'a smacked him into doorways."

[stands_for_hope]

"Except according to you, he was about two inches tall," Clark pointed out in return as he grinned over at Jim.

Lois held back a giggle before pointing towards the stairs going up near the front register.

"Let's all get our food and meet back up to make fun of Steve upstairs."

[kolodnoykovki]

"All right, I'll meet you up there." He chuckled. "See you guys there."

And he headed toward the Mongolian BBQ in the back. He still had a thing for protein.

[stands_for_hope]

Lois joined him as Clark stayed near the front, picking out the pieces for a massive salad.

"...if you're going to deck Lombard, I want frontrow seats."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm probably going to deck him. His attitude deserves it," he said smoothly, choosing bits and pieces to go into his dish. "And I'm going to convince him that our dear friend back there is under the protection of the Russian mafia. That should be fun." He kept his voice down, though he knew Clark could hear him - that wasn't who he was hiding all this from.

[stands_for_hope]

Lois had learned that pretty much, Clark could always hear her. So she had to rely on his manners to discuss things at a reasonable distance.

"Russian mafia works. Just don't lay it on too thick, since Perry likes his reporters unbiased by other associations."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Oh, no, not under influence - he's too much of a boyscout for that, even by my book." Jim shot him a smile over his shoulder, though. "But maybe doing an inadvertent favour, well. That's a possibility."

[stands_for_hope]

"Just let me know if you need my help with anything. Or someone to play the accomplice. I know why he's doing what he's doing and all, but that doesn't mean people have to be asses about it."

Once she had a good collection of meat and seasonings in her bowl, she passed it over to the chef.

"Lombard's the worst, though. He thinks that just because he used to be a star in the NFL that anyone cares what he thinks. Well, I certainly don't."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah, he threatened to 'show me his arm.'" Jim stifled a laugh as he waited his turn. "It took some effort not to say mine was better."

[stands_for_hope]

She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"You're an absolute saint."

Then she bounced on her heels as she watched the cook make her food on the massive metal circle.

"He groped my ass the first week I took the job at the Planet, I punched him in the balls and reported him, and he's avoided getting within ten feet of me ever since. Not far enough."