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]

Clark chuckled a little.

"I see. Anything I should be worried about? Or should make sure not to interrupt?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Nah - but you guys are planning to be home at the normal time, right? Can you give me a call when Steve's there? I think I know how I'm spending my afternoon now."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark and Lois shared a look.

"Sure."

Lois squirmed a little in curiosity before shoving a fork of food on her mouth to make sure she didn't start asking him questions.

[kolodnoykovki]

He smirked a little. "Thanks. I'll walk with you guys back to the Planet after we're done, then I'll... figure out where to go from there."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded, then tilted his head... and finally settled down into his seat to finish up his salad.

"Thing's not happening," he explained and Lois breathed out in relief.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Good." Jim smiled. "Then neither of us has to run off before we're done."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark nodded and kept munching his salad while Lois worked on her own stuff. He took another bite before lifting his head a little, obviously having thought of something.

"Oh! Ma asked me to tell you that you should be expecting a package soon. She apparently made up a whole pack of sleeves for you. And, uh, one in particular that she thought you might like."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Oh." His brows rose in surprise. "Wow, I... I really didn't expect it. Especially after I added people to Thanksgiving. I'm gonna have to send her a really nice thank you card."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark rolled his eyes a little and shook his head.

"She likes people. And she's happy to hear you found someone."

He took another bite.

"And Grandpa Clark will use it as an excuse to send us home with more meat. I hope you like steaks."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Between Steve's appetite and Diana's, I think they'll be well-received," he smiled. "Besides, gives me an excuse to look over the roof and turn it into a patio with a grill. Y'know people grill corn now? Crazy, but we'll grill you some corn when we grill our steaks."

[stands_for_hope]

"Corn, a couple of red peppers... I'm sure it'll be delicious. We've got enough good cooks in the house, I'm not worried."

Lois smiled at the two of them.

"I'm just so glad I live with people who can cook. My best dish is still take out."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm glad Steve learned to cook something that didn't involve boiling," he chuckled. "But I'll give him points, he's learned good. Better'n me. My brain still gives me recipes but doesn't tell me what for." Thus sugar cookie cake.

[stands_for_hope]

"But they always come out good," Lois pointed out. "Or... I'll eat anything you put in front of me."

"I'm not sure if that counts as a compliment, Lois. Or just a comment on your general bravery."

She nudged him under the table.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Hey, it's a point," Jim chuckled. "Just watch, one of these days, I'm accidentally gonna make a batch of spy's bread or something and get us all in deep shit when I explode the oven."

[stands_for_hope]

"Is that a thing?" Lois asked honestly, "cause I don't think that's a thing. Also, I'm pretty sure you'd notice explosives being added."

Clark chuckled and looked over at Jim.

"I'm pretty sure you're the only person in the world who can troll Lois. I'm glad you use your powers for good."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Oh, no, it's a real thing - and I'm serious this time," he said, spearing a mushroom. "It's how some of the allies escaped from Nazi prisons. It was all about making use of what they wouldn't think to take away from you. Like... Well, like the old celluloid collars? Those things were so flammable you couldn't believe it, and then crush your melamine buttons buttons for a base, a little of the water they'd give you with your meal, a few other things and you could make a dough that you could set off with the electric from the light socket and a door would blow off the hinges, bam." He took a bite of the beef that had been cooked up and nodded his approval before going on. "'Course, usually somebody got pretty badly electrocuted from it, but it was better to be electrocuted than prisoner."

[stands_for_hope]

"Interesting," was Clark's comment. Lois, on the other hand, smiled and listened in like the doting niece she was.

"And you actually know how to make some?"

She leaned in a little.

"Can you show me?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"They don't make celluloid collars anymore, but I can probably figure somethin' out," he said with a shrug. "But if we do it, we're doin' it somewhere where it won't scare the neighbors into calling the cops." That was just smart to do for any kind of exploding. "Anymore, it's probably easier just to take off a sock, soak it in that blue window cleaner, and knock out whoever brings you your food."

[stands_for_hope]

"Oh, I know, but blue window cleaner doesn't always get a door you need open."

And Clark kind of looked sideways at Lois for a moment with how matter-of-fact she seemed at the idea... and smiled proudly.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Well, the key to doin' that with it is to roll it out into a kind of snake and make sure it's on the side of the door with hinges - it's pretty stable until you electrocute it or light it," he nodded. "If you can get half or better of the hinges with it, you can pretty much kick down the rest, no matter what. Works with car batteries, too."

[stands_for_hope]

She chewed her food and nodded along to Jim's instructions.

"We need to have a nice long talk about this kind of stuff. Especially since I've been thinking of my next piece."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim looked from Lois over to Clark before saying flatly, "What is it with me and troublemakers? Between Steve and Lois, I swear to god, I'm gonna go grey before I turn a hundred."

[stands_for_hope]

"First off," she ticked with a finger, "I came by it honestly. Second, I'm a trouble exposer, and third, it's not even that bad. I mean, it's just a trip to Bialya..."

Clark's eyes went more than a little wide.

"You're not--"

"It's not as if the queen's legendary 'power' would even have an effect on me."

"I... suppose not."

[kolodnoykovki]

"...I... know that...uh... Mm." He frowned. He'd thought he'd known it, but maybe he was wrong. Jim shook his head. "Nevermind. Memory playing tricks on me."

[stands_for_hope]

"Queen Bee, as she's known, took over the country a few months ago. More importantly, she's known to have some sort of suggestive power over just about anyone who happens to be attracted to women. Which she's previously used as the head of a criminal slash terrorist organization by the name of HIVE."

Lois nodded along. "That's most of the important parts, from what anyone's been able to gather. But, as you might have guessed, not too many journalists from within can really be trusted and not too many from outside have even tried."