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]

"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?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Sounds perfect. We'll just have to make sure we can get a flight from Kansas," he smiled. "I think we're spending Christmas with Martha Kent. A family Christmas, like we had with your mom..."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I still need to meet her. Or talk with her on the phone. She's practically mythical at this point."

Steve liked everything he'd heard about Martha, both from everyone in the apartment and from Tony, of all people.

"I'm sure we can get a flight, especially if we book soon. And then we can show the rest of them how it is to do New Years in New York."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Ask Clark - I'm sure he'll hand the phone over sometime. That's how I first talked to her. Kind of out of the blue. But the next thing I knew, there she was, being so nice to me I couldn't really believe it... I was... uh." He sent over a flickering smile. "I was worse off then."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I could see that," he admitted, kind if blunt, "and I'll ask next time he's talking to her. He's been online with her more often then not since she got her new computer, apparently."

He had actually asked after her, which Clark had been pleased about.

"What about Lois's parents? She doesn't mention them much at all. Do you know if they're--"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Military. Her father's a general at the base just outside of town - we'd both have to salute 'im. Apparently she grew up on the fort where I trained, back up in New York. Her house was on the row where I had to learn drills." He lifted Steve's hand, absently kissing his wrist. "Apparently he's not a big Superman fan."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"...that's... slightly awkward. I mean, about Superman."

Mostly the part about Superman.

"A general? Really?"

He... hadn't really expected that.

...also, Jim'd just kissed his wrist. He sank into the seat a little with a warm, happy smile on.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yep, General Lane. And you're right - that is... damn awkward. I think it's why we've not met him. Y'know, besides you being an American icon." His fingers rubbed between Steve's knuckles. "The beard helps, though."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I almost shaved it off for tonight. Wanted to look smart for you," he admitted with a little grin, "but then I thought of how irritating it'd be if we got interrupted. Because it's been great for keeping people from recognizing me."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You look smart with a beard," he promised. "It suits you. And it's got softer so it doesn't rub as much when I kiss you now." He let go of his hand, eyes gleaming as he signaled and carefully parallel parked. They were there - and the restaurant was a hell of a sight with a clear view onto the water. Their suits, judging by the people walking in, fit in perfectly. He'd have to thank Lois later.