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]

Jim shook his head. "Back then, it was worse. Guys jumped to beat each other up faster. And Steve was smaller, so he would've been easier to beat up."

[stands_for_hope]

Lois looked at the water bottle she'd bought and popped the top, obviously thinking.

"Can't say I wouldn't have appreciated it if it was me, though. Girls deal with a lot of shit in a day. Having someone step up..." She sipped at her water.

"It matters more than you'd think."

She couldn't help a crooked smile.

"And at least it wasn't Diana. Diana might have done something permanent."

[kolodnoykovki]

"There's a part of me that wants to aim her at that asshole I almost hit earlier," he admitted with a smirk. "But I think I might actually have a little more self control."

[stands_for_hope]

"Don't do it unless you want to find all the pieces and then bury them," she said with a smirk.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I've done worse," he said with a faint laugh, "but nah. I think one good punch will do it. I'll even only hit 'im with my right arm."

[stands_for_hope]

"Still wanna see it," she said in a sing song voice.

"Not that Clark hasn't gotten in his licks. He almost broke Lombard's nose with one of his 'slips' after he bothered Jenny."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm plannin' on leaving him with a nice big black eye. He deserves it, the way he treats people - not just Clark but that girl, Jenny, and I'm betting the rest of the women in the office."

[stands_for_hope]

"Here here," and she raised her bottle before taking a long pull from it.

"Now, unfortunately," she said with a breath out, "I need to get back to the office since I probably have to cover for Clark a bit."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'll walk with you," he offered, popping a rangoon into his mouth. "Who knows, I might get to punch Lombard while I'm there."

[stands_for_hope]

She smiled at that and stood up, gathering her containers into a baggie to bring to the garbage.

"Sure you're all done?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah, that was the last of it," he agreed, gathering up his things as well. "I'll probably grab a snack somewhere later this afternoon, but--" But he had plans, and just the thought of his plans made him smile. "Hey, uh. The boardwalk. Does it have any good places to eat?"

[stands_for_hope]

She grinned as she hooked her arm around his.

"Oh, I can tell you a few different places. What're you lookin for?"

[kolodnoykovki]

It was second nature to tuck her arm close to him - a polite way of telling people to back off. "Someplace for two guys in nice suits to have a good meal together that won't come back up on the ferris wheel. The boardwalk here ain't much compared to Coney Island, but just the thought of it is nice."

[stands_for_hope]

"Ooh, I see," she said, leaning in conspiratorially, "well, if you want to bring him out in a nice suit, you want to bring him down to Pier 95. Trust me on that."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Pier 95," he echoed, nodding. "All right. Gotcha. And I mean, not like... Well, for us, it'd be a normal suit. We wore 'em all the time."

This was harder to explain than he thought.

[stands_for_hope]

"And that will look exactly right down at Pier 95."

She leaned in and gave him a little smile.

"And don't you act like you're not going to make his absolute day. Cause I can see that smile on your face. You're totally planning on making his day."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm gonna get him a suit," he said. "A blue one, like he never really got before. And I think a red tie. Since he can see red now."

Steve was going to look like a knockout. He'd originally planned to leave Steve stunned but now he had to wonder if he wasn't going to end up doing the same thing to himself.

"But then go down to the boardwalk, have a nice dinner together, then maybe ride some of the rides, have some peanuts and cotton candy. Just... enjoying the evening like we used to."

[stands_for_hope]

She bounced on her heels and gave his arm a squeeze.

"That sounds absolutely perfect. If you want, I can get his measurements from Pepper so you can surprise him. She had to buy him a few things for press events so she has the numbers."

[kolodnoykovki]

"That would be great," he agreed. "I'll catch the rest of you up sometime so we can go to that dance hall we talked about before, but tonight... just seems like about time to do somethin' special for him."

[stands_for_hope]

"I absolutely agree," she said with a firm nod, "and I'll make sure to text you the numbers as soon as I get back to the office. We can all go out another night."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'll figure out something for you and Diana and Clark - for Clark I'm thinkin' black with a blue tie, though. After all, he already has a blue suit." And he tried not to laugh at his own stupid joke.

[stands_for_hope]

Lois snorted before tilting her head back to consider the idea.

"I think... if you put him in anything too pretty, I won't let him out of the apartment." Smirk. "But I can't disagree with your choice there. Diana?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"With her skin and hair, maybe ivory or red? I dunno, what do you think? I'm not the artist, and you did the great job with the paint." He shrugged. "Besides, it's harder to pick out stuff for women. For guys, it's easy. Get a suit cut just right and you're done. Girls got a thousand different styles to choose from."

[stands_for_hope]

She patted his arm.

"I'll help you pick out something. And you want to go for red for her. Ivory would work better during the summer, but since we're heading into fall? Definitely red."

[kolodnoykovki]

"And it's gotta be something loose enough to dance in - so none of those really close-fit skirts." That, he was sure, was his only requirement.