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]

"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."

[kolodnoykovki]

"...Means if anything goes wrong, not many of us are going to be able to help you," Jim warned. "So you'd seriously better be careful."

He had a bad feeling, but he wasn't going to admit to it just now. That'd almost be like jinxing it.

[stands_for_hope]

"I am always careful," Lois said primly, spearing a piece of beef before popping it into her mouth.

"And while I greatly appreciate all of my friends, I have been doing the whole investigative reporter thing for my entire career. I've been itching for a flak jacket for weeks, to be honest."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Jim sighed. "I get antsy if I don't punch a bad guy for a week or so."

[stands_for_hope]

"You and Clark both. Did you catch him floating around the apartment two weeks ago?" Lois asked, slinging her thumb over at him. Clark had the good graces to look sheepish.

[kolodnoykovki]

It would've been easier if he could stand to spar with Steve - but he couldn't. Those memories were still too fresh, too vivid, and too guilt inducing. Just the thought made him have to lean back from his bowl for a few moments until he could put that firmly out of mind. "Steve loves it when that happens," he said instead, bringing himself back into the present.

[stands_for_hope]

"Because he likes nudging him to see how far he can get Clark to go before Clark realizes," Lois said in a low voice that was only just short of a chuckle.

"Which is your fault. Daring him."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim raised his eyebrows. "Hey, I do it, too," he protested, then grinned. "I got him all the way to the kitchen from the living room once."

[stands_for_hope]

Clark rolled his eyes at the both of them.

"Don't act innocent, Lois. I noticed you started doing it too."

"Diana was the one who started joining in. I just... it's a bonding experience!"

Clark gave her a very flat look.

"You can't use that for everything you do with Diana."

Lois took a bite of her food.

"Yes, I can. We're sisters."

[kolodnoykovki]

With a snicker under his breath, Jim said, "If it bothers you, we'll stop - seriously. It's just meant in fun. And I'm telling you if I ever catch Diana floating, I'll do the same thing to her."

[stands_for_hope]

"If it bothered me, I'd say something," Clark assured him. "But I'm pretty content just teasing you all back about it, really."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Now I'm gonna start wondering how often you're faking being that distracted," he grinned.

[stands_for_hope]

"I never fake," he said with a waggle of one finger, "but if I meditate more often than I used to, well, it's good for the soul."