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

[kolodnoykovki]

"He had a bad habit of not talking, or if he did talk, being way too blunt. He couldn't relax." Jim shook his head. "Some girls gave him a little bit of a chance, but there were always rumours going around him, anyway." He handed over his plate, then, the scents already making his stomach growl.

[stands_for_hope]

"Rumors?" Because she couldn't imagine anything anyone could ever accuse him of. Steve was a stand up guy.

[kolodnoykovki]

"A guy that short, that narrow, that pretty, and that interested in art? 'Course there were rumours. I can't even count how many people ended up with black eyes over it, too." To say he'd been protective was an understatement.

[stands_for_hope]

She blinked, and then she gave him a little smile.

"I could see how he could be pretty," she mused, "but it's hard to imagine him as small. I mean, I know it was a change but... he fills the suit, if you know what I mean. And Grandma knew him after."

She held out her hand and took the container from the cool who waited for Jim's bowl.

[kolodnoykovki]

He handed it over without a second thought, but he did add a thanks and a momentary smile before telling Lois, "And I'm the other way around. I look at him and my head automatically looks about a foot lower. His shoulders were about as wide as one of mine. His arms were about the size of my wrist." And he lifted his arm to demonstrate. "He had scars, red spots, bruises... His chest hurt, his heart didn't beat right, he coughed until he lost consciousness sometimes... Scared the hell outta me."

He swallowed past that lump of old fear and shook his head. "I'm still not sure about this whole thing, but it kept him from dyin'. Maybe it made him into the person he would'a grown into if he'd not been so sick."

[stands_for_hope]

"Miss the old him?" she asked him, keeping her voice down.

"What about him? I'm sure it was weird as hell for him to adjust. And I see the way he sits; he curls up on the couch like I do, like you do when you're small. He ever talk about it?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Sometimes I miss the way he was. I think he knows that," Jim admitted. "And I know it's selfish, and I'm workin' on it, because no way in hell do I want him to go back. I want him healthy." But then he exhaled and rubbed at his face with his ungloved hand. "He doesn't say much about it, though. And I dunno if he had much chance to adjust. He went into the USO, then decided to walk into enemy territory to try to save me. I don't doubt for half a second it was weird. An' I wonder if he's ever talked to anybody about it. Or if they'd understand."

[stands_for_hope]

"I'd put money down he hasn't," she said with a shrug, "since both of you tend to, uh, 'soldier on'."

She leaned against the counter they were waiting next to.

"But hey, there's always gonna be stuff... and you guys seem pretty happy, if that smile earlier is any indication. Your little 'my SO is amazing and I love them' grin."

[kolodnoykovki]

"He forgave me for the worst lie I ever told. It doesn't get much better than that," he agreed quietly, that faint smile lingering around his face. His food was almost done and he leaned there against the counter with a sigh. "He's better than an asshole like me deserves. Kinda waiting for him to see the way Diana looks at 'im."

[stands_for_hope]

"Probably about as long as it takes for you to see the way she looks at you," Lois said with a snort. She turned to give him a smile as if to say 'oh, was I not supposed to mention that?' before poking him in the right shoulder.

"'Asshole' my ass. He'd kick you for insulting his best guy if he heard that."

[kolodnoykovki]

But Jim shook his head. "Steve knows I'm an asshole. He's known it all his life. And I know how she looks at me. What I don't know is how to do anything about it without... messing everything up."

[stands_for_hope]

"Well, I'd think thing one is to talk to him about it. I mean. You two are kinda... you two. And if you're thinking about him noticing, I bet he's thinking about you noticing."

She looked at him meaningfully.

"Especially if he's used to having girls overlook him."

[kolodnoykovki]

"There's no way to start a conversation like that without scaring him or hurting him." But he accepted the food he was handed and gave the chef a small bow and a thanks in Chinese. A few eggrolls and other finger foods and he headed toward the cashier to pay and head upstairs.

[stands_for_hope]

Lois just sighed, figuring she'd leave it alone for the moment. The cook got a nod and a thank you before following him up to the register.

"Do you want me to talk to Diana?"

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim shook his head as he picked up his drink. "No. No, it's okay, I'll... just give him a few kisses he can't disbelieve and it'll be okay."

[stands_for_hope]

"Ah, potent Jim kisses then. Have to dole those out with the proper care, huh?"

Lois was back to teasing now.

[kolodnoykovki]

"He hasn't even had my best yet," Jim smiled, eyes gleaming.

[stands_for_hope]

"Ooo, holding out on him," and she couldn't help laughing a little.

"Probably for the best, though. I've seen the dumb grin he gets from regular kisses."

It was very similar to the look she got when Clark pulled her into a kiss.

[kolodnoykovki]

"He fell over when I got my hair cut," he smirked. "I'm a little worried what my best would do to him."

[stands_for_hope]

"To be fair to him, it was a pretty drastic change."

She glanced over to see if Clark was still getting salad, but apparently he was done. She couldn't see him as she was the non-x-ray-vision having half of the pair.

"And now I'm curious what might happen. I mean, how can you top falling over?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Fainting." That was easy enough, but he continued. "Stunning him so bad he just stands there and turns purple. ...Pretty sure I could do that without kissing him, though. I don't see Clark - guess we should head upstairs and see if he's there?"

[stands_for_hope]

"Yeah, pretty sure he's up there," Lois agreed.

"After all, he didn't have to wait for anything to cook." She sling herself up the first stair then started trotting up the steps.

"There you are..."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Sorry 'bout that," Jim said as he followed along, spotting Clark. "There was food to cook and a discussion to have."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark waved that off before taking a bite if his own food.

"I'm not in a rush. At least, not for another twenty minutes. Then I might have to zip off for a moment. Hopefully not, though."

He held up his phone where he'd typed out Possible robbery around Glemorgan Square. No movement yet though.

"Looks like you both got a good bowl done though."

Lois nodded to the phone and then the question.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah," he said, nodding toward the phone, but then sitting so he could poke at his bowl with his fork. "Beef, mushrooms, some onions and stuff... An evil plan to make Steve fall over or worse later..." He looked somewhat innocent. ...Somewhat.