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 snorted a laugh. "Yeah, that's about it. I think he's only turned into a bigger trouble magnet than ever - like that's anything new and different. He got bigger all around."

[stands_for_hope]

"Aren't you glad you have a responsible sibling to assist you now?" and Clark's eyes were practically glittering with suppressed mirth.

"So correction. Don't let Steve burn the place down."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I won't," he laughed. "I haven't yet, have I?"

[stands_for_hope]

"Fair enough, fair enough," Clark agreed, laughing a little under his breath.

[kolodnoykovki]

"The city will be in good hands. Especially now that the LexCorp letters are being taken off of the tower." And that was a happy sight for him, at least.

[stands_for_hope]

"I'm honestly amazed how quickly Tony got that going," Clark admitted, "though Steve said I shouldn't be."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I think after what he did, they were glad to get rid of it," Jim exhaled. "Nobody's sure what's gonna go on it yet - I'm kinda lookin' forward to that part."

[stands_for_hope]

"From what he said, probably POTTS, and I wouldn't mind that one bit."

Which Clark was privately glad about. Lex was a genius, and Clark knew that wasn't just in xenological science. If anyone could weasel himself out of the charges, it would be Lex... but there was no escaping from your share holders or a corporate takeover during such a time, and that meant that Lex's resources were seriously limited even if he did get out.

Clark liked that just fine.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm fine with that, too," Jim agreed, "but I was wondering if she'd be as vain as he is to name a business after herself. Even if it seems to be what people do."

[stands_for_hope]

"I think you need a certain sort of vanity to get that high in the world," he admitted thoughtfully, starting to finish up his salad.

"But anything's better than Luthor."

[kolodnoykovki]

But he paused and asked, "...Will I need to make some kind of company since I'm gonna be owning the building?"

[stands_for_hope]

Clark opened his mouth... and then frowned.

"I don't think so? But you might want to ask Clint. Maybe Tony. I'm pretty sure you don't, but there may be something you should look into for limited liability."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah... I think I'll talk to one of 'em this afternoon," he exhaled. "They know more'n I do about that end of things. I can fix it up inside, but the whole owning part..." He'd figure it out, though.

[stands_for_hope]

Lois nodded along.

"Probably for the best. It's not that big of a deal, though, even if you do need to set up a company. My sister, Lucy? She makes these little figurines and sells them online and she had to pay like, a hundred bucks and that was pretty much it. Don't worry too much about it."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I've just gotta figure out what to name it," he agreed with a shrug. "I'll bug Steve into helpin' me come up with something that's not my name. I've had too many of those."

[stands_for_hope]

"I'm sure he'll come up with something interesting," Lois agreed and some of the possibilities she could imagine were mildly hilarious.

"Not a bad idea."

[kolodnoykovki]

"He's always been more creative than me." He picked up another eggroll and ate it thoughtfully. The night's plans... Well, with any luck, it'd be fun. He hoped so, anyway. And it was his best kind of creativity.

[stands_for_hope]

"I dunno. He's not the man behind the invention of sugar cookie cake," and Lois was smiling just a little as she said it.

Clark shook his head playfully and opened his mouth to say something before cocking his head the way he always did when he heard something far off.

"...I may need to cut lunch a little short. There's a situation in Opal City."

He gave Lois a kiss to the temple and shot a smile over at Jim.

"I'll probably head home after this and get my article sent in on-- well, you'll see. Gotta fly."

And Clark suddenly just wasn't there, the only evidence of his passing in the soft puff of air he left behind. He'd even grabbed (and almost certainly disposed) of his garbage.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim saw what might've been a speck further on in the sky - and he shook his head a little. "Well, at least he could say goodbye," he sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes I wonder how he can do that, besides practice. Actually figure out one sound out of... however many."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois sighed a little and leaned her head on her hand.

"He explained it to me once. Something about processing to match the senses and listening for certain strings of words and a lot of time spent working on it with his mom growing up."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'll take your word for it." Jim exhaled a sigh. "Better him than me. I can take a shot from yards away, but I'm just normal when it comes to hearing. ...'Least it's not as bad as Clint."

[stands_for_hope]

"I was wondering if those were for normal use or something tactical."

She tapped her own ear.

"I'm pretty good at picking out certain things, but that's mostly training."

[kolodnoykovki]

"He wears them, but he doesn't turn them on some of the time - did you notice that? He just kind of lets the conversation go on around him, then he'll reach up like he's scratching his ear." Jim chuckled. "I'm pretty sure not many people notice."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois laughed.

"Ooh, I'm going to watch him now. When'd you notice?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Last time I saw him, when he was staying in what's the living room now. I think he might've been the only person who didn't hear the argument between me and Steve."