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 smiled. "Okay, let's start with the mussels and a white wine... Um, whole bottle - this one from Long Island? And I think I'll have the sea bass with the lobster sauce."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Ok, sounds good. Can do. And you, sir?"

She looked at him a little longer, almost as if she was trying to figure something out. Steve knew that look and got to ordering.

"The swordfish and tuna steak, please."

"And how would you like the tuna cooked?"

Steve blinked because... It was fish. However you cook fish. The server took pity on him.

"Wanna try medium? It's pretty good that way."

"Sure! Whatever you say."

"Trust me. It's really good." Then she turned to Jim. "Appetizer before or at the same time as the entrees?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Before, please," he smiled, intentionally layering on the charm. "Thanks." And then, with perfect organisation, he stacked their menus and handed them over. "We appreciate your help."

When she went, Jim gave him a look that bloomed into a smile. "Little bit of a close call."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"A beard can apparently only do so much," he said with a shake of his head.

"I don't know how Clark does it."

[kolodnoykovki]

"The secret seems to be glasses," he teased, nudging his shoe against Steve's under the table. "Maybe we should get you a pair. You might be cute with wireframes. Make you look smarter than you already are."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I've got a pair of horn-rimmed glasses that I use at the community center, but I wasn't about to wear them out for a night on the town," he said with a little smile and a nudge under the table.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Well, I appreciate it," he murmured, eyes gleaming. "I like seeing your beautiful blue eyes." He was careful to keep his voice quiet when he said that, but he couldn't help the smile.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve flushed a little with the praise and even preened a little.

"Wouldn't want anything to block my view of you," he said in reply.

[kolodnoykovki]

Lifting a hand, he flicked a wave out of his forehead, his hat already placed aside. "I do look pretty damn good tonight, don't I?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve's lips twisted in a smile that was a little more wicked than impish for once.

"You look damn good. Though I'll admit, my favorite part's the smile."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Really? 'Cause my favourite part's the vest. I think it makes my back look hot." He could tease just as easily as Steve could.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Your back's hot enough already. Not gonna lie, Jim. When I used to give you a rub down after a long day at the docks? I, uh... mighta enjoyed it almost as much as you did."

He hadn't done anything improper, but he wasn't going to deny it'd been a rush to get his hands along the smooth planes of muscle.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Don't say that, Stevie - I'll make you ... uh. Reenact it," he grinned, "after we dance tonight." There was mischief in his eyes - mischief and a little heat. Talking like this was definitely warming his blood.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"You say that like I'd mind."

He wsn't the only one.

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim bit his lower lip and picked up his glass of water to sip. Maybe it would cool him down a little.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve smiled, a little more playful than heated, and took up his own glass of water.

"Place does good water at least."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'm sure our appetisers will get here soon, and our wine - it sounds good all around." Expensive, but good. He was looking forward to all of it, but he was finding he was more looking forward to walking down the boardwalk with him.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

The server came back, uprighting the wine glasses on the table and wiping down the wine bottle before popping the cork and offering it to Steve. He took it with a smile as she poured out for both of them, then left the wrapped bottle on the table.

The mussels came next, arranged artfully on a large platter, served on the halfshell with a golden wine sauce carefully swirled on the plate.

Steve caught her attention before she slipped away and put in an order for the lobster soup in a bowl. She skittered off as Steve reached over to take up his wine glass.

He lifted it, his eyes on Jim.

"To making it here."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim met Steve's gaze with his own, his glass lifted before he answered softly, "To the end of the line," and touched glass to glass.

"And... to us."

Now that he had it, he wasn't letting go. He'd weather the worst of nightmares to keep this - and the nightmares couldn't go on forever. They just couldn't.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"To the end of the line," Steve agreed, "me and you."

He touched his glass to Jim's in exchange before pulling it back, eyes on Jim, a faint smile curling on his lips. Under the table, one of his feet rubbed lightly against the side of one of Jim's.

[kolodnoykovki]

Sometimes, he wished he could stand to be more affectionate in public. If anyone deserved it, it was Steve. Especially with how long they'd waited. He returned Steve's touch, though, and took the smallest sip of his wine. "Two vacations to New York planned... Man, we're living high on the hog, aren't we?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"We're living," he said before taking his own sip.

"And it's our sacred duty to show our niece New York properly. Bet she's only been there for business."

[kolodnoykovki]

"And that means she's only ever seen the shiny parts," he grinned. "So of course we have an obligation."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I'll make you a bet she's only been to Manhattan," he said as he pulled over one of the mussels to start trying it out.

"Every person I've ever met who's not from New York seems to think the other boroughs are like... a buffer zone for Manhattan and not much else. It's sad."

He took a sip of the wine.

"Incidentally, Staten Island hasn't improved. If anything, it's worse."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Harlem's a little better, though. Kind of. Depends on your definition of better." And at last, he reached toward the mussels, a little uncertain but knowing it was time to give them a go. They looked almost too pretty to eat. "I did wander through New York before heading down here."