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

[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..."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve nodded, eyes still closed.

"You know when I'd hum Benny Goodman around the apartment?" he looked over with a little grin, "That was me, thinking about those dreams. Seeing you smile when I hummed... it made it a little more real."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You don't know how many times it almost was." He sighed, smiling, watching the flow of traffic in front of him as he drove - but his mind was definitely years past. "Hearing you hum... I told myself so many times that if I actually saw you do one little skip, one little spin, that I'd grab hold of you and give you a real twirl around the place."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He breathed in deep and the smile was still there, but it was a little bittersweet. But only a little.

"I woulda loved that."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I can still dance with you. Could probably even toss you up into the air and catch you, even if it'd be a little more awkward now," he smiled, thumb brushing over Steve's warmly. "More'n once, I'd get lost in my own head when I was dancing with some dame. See her blonde hair and think for just a few minutes it was you."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Maybe we'll give it a shot in that hotel room you're gettin' us," and he settled back into his seat with a satisfied little grin on his face.

"Though no guarantees about not stepping on your feet."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Long as you take your shoes off, you got it," he agreed, more than ready for the chance to dance Steve around in his arms. He squeezed Steve's hand, heart feeling big in his chest. "Now you said one old one, one new one. What's the new one?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"New one?"

He ran his thumb up and down Jim's knuckles.

"They're still doing the ball drop in Times Square. I thought... the first Christmas I was back, I thought of curling up against you in the crowd and ringing in the New Year with... with a kiss."

[kolodnoykovki]

He was quiet for a bit, imagining - and it was easy to imagine. Both of them bundled up in their coats, earmuffs, gloves, smiling. Anonymous in the crush of people. And the moment the ball dropped...

He was smiling softly as he imagined it, and asked softly with his voice rough, "Wanna make that one real this year?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve put his hand into Jim's and curled his fingers around to give a soft squeeze.

"I really do. Sound good to you?"