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]

That smile. Jim couldn't help but smile in return, leaning over to kiss him. It was something he definitely wouldn't have done had anyone else have one of the apartments on that floor. But that whole floor was theirs. That gave him the freedom to do just what he wanted. "So did I."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve stole another kiss while they were still on their floor, mostly because he could. He'd gotten... significantly better at them sine he'd moved in with Jim and the others. That probably had to do with the copious amounts of practice he had.

"Sounds like we've both waited long enough then. Should I ask where we're going for dinner, or is it a surprise?"

[kolodnoykovki]

He slid his arm around Steve's waist. "This place called Pier 95. We've even got reservations," he grinned. "It's real close to the boardwalk. I figured a nice meal to go with our nice suits, a stroll on the waterfront, then maybe a late movie and a nice hotel room just for us...?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"A hotel room?" he asked with playfully wide eyes, unable to chase the grin from his face at all Jim had proposed, "Mr. Rogers, what kind of boy do you take me for?"

[kolodnoykovki]

His own eyes were gleaming, hands sliding around Steve's waist. "I think you're my kind of boy," he answered softly before tilting his head and taking Steve's lips in a slow, teasing kiss.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve melted easily into the kiss, his own hands finding Jim's waist, the side of his neck.

"All yours."

[kolodnoykovki]

His hands traced along Steve's back between jacket and vest before he broke the kiss and started tugging him toward the stairs. "C'mon. We'll be late, and I'll be too tempted to just spend the night in our own bed." And then, with a grin, he said, "And you can tell me about those dreams of yours on the way."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve's ears turned deep pink as he followed Jim.

"Only if you share some of yours."

Steve couldn't keep the bright grin off of his face, though.

[kolodnoykovki]

"'Course I will," he smiled. "Now, I hope you forgive me but I wasn't able to get a car that was from the right year, so that's stuck modern." And, yes, there was a dark blue Buick sitting outside the front door, meter paid up and ticking, waiting just for them. He used the little keyfob to unlock the doors and then guided Steve to the passenger side.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He walked around with him to the passenger side, leaning against the truck a little with a smile.

"I'm noticing a blue theme. Other than you. Then again, you always looked brilliant in brown."

[kolodnoykovki]

"This one was actually an accident," he laughed, motioning to the car broadly. "All I did was ask 'em for something that didn't look like an egg. But as for you, well, Stevie, you're made for blue. Between your hair and your eyes, blue is perfect."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Stop saying things like that until we're in the car," Steve said as he slipped his hand into the handle and tugged the door open.

Because that was where he could kiss him.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim grinned and rounded the car to slip in behind the steering wheel. He was glad he'd had a chance to get used to driving the car. It meant that he wouldn't have a problem getting them on their way. But instead of fastening his seatbelt and getting started, he leaned over for another kiss.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve gave it to him in spades, practically humming with how happy he was. He'd always been excited when Bucky'd brought them to Coney Island or sprung for a night at the movies, but now, going together? It was all the better. His eyes slipped closed and the kiss widened into a smile by the end.

"This is already pretty damn perfect."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Mm, just wait 'til we're walkin' down the boardwalk together, having some cotton candy and trying to pretend we're not great at the games..." He combed his fingertips lightly through Steve's new beard, grinning as he did. "It'll almost be like it used to be."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"You're not gonna win me a giant stuffed animal?" and his smile was just a little impish.

[kolodnoykovki]

He squeezed Steve's knee before leaning back to fasten his seatbelt. "Only if you win me one, too."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He leaned back in his chair and buckled himself in as well.

"I'll have to see what games they have. What kind of prizes."

He glanced over.

"You aiming for a bear? Or are you a unicorn man?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Well..." He smiled as he started the car, checked traffic, and pulled out. "I heard that back after the war, when they were making Captain America stuff for all the kids, they also made a Bucky Bear."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"A Bucky bear for Jim," he said thoughtfully, "that's... doable, I think. They started making them again pretty much as soon as the news footage came out from New York."

And he had one, a little one, in one of his suitcases that hadn't been unpacked yet.

[kolodnoykovki]

He laughed softly. "That's my Stevie, always makin' the news."

City driving was easy. Just a corner now and then. He reached over to pick up Steve's hand, to absently stroke his fingers as he drove one-handed. "But I think you owe me a dream."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve folded his hand into Jim's with a warm smile.

"What kind of dream?"

His ears were a little pink.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Like you were talkin' about. Us goin' out like this, all dressed up." The red light, he'd normally be frustrated at. Now, though, it was a chance to listen. He smiled over at Steve warmly, eager to hear.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I'll give you one old one... and one new one."

He smiled a little and closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat.

"Way back... I used to dream about... about dancing with you. About being able to dance with you without coughing or stepping on your feet. And sometimes I'd imaging you tossing me up and catching me..."

He gave Jim's fingers a soft squeeze.

"Which looked a little less silly in my head when I was five nothing."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim grinned. "I dreamed about dancing with you. Me an' you and a nice tune, my cheek on the top of your head, my arm around you. I already knew how you felt that close, so that always felt so real..."