𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔞𝔩𝔰

— the roommate situation; TBD

ultraman x f!reader x clark

[original ask]

— how cold love is; ONGOING

lex luthor x f!reader / later clark x f!reader

[part one] [part two] [part three]

MARVEL [comics & MCU]

— rag doll dance; TBD

bob reynolds x f!reader

[one]

— baby face; multi-ending two shot

ben grimm x f!reader

[one] [ben ending] [johnny ending]

INVINCIBLE [comics & show]

— charmless morning; HIATUS

mark grayson x f!reader

[one] [two] [three]

— cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater; one shot

mark grayson x f!reader x rex splode

[one]

UPCOMING — TBD

bad boyfriend atsumu miya x f!reader

chapters 3-10 | IN PROGRESS**

he’s just not right oikawa x f!reader

“Well, that ain’t for you to decide, now is it?” You replied casually. You sat on the edge of your bed, with your arms crossed over your chest. You glared at Clark and imagined you looked exactly like your mother did whenever she was cross with you. The thought of your resemblance to her usually made you uncomfortable, but right now you needed some of that sternness. She was the only person in your life that you felt could turn the man of steel into a crying mess with just a look. 

“Darling,” he approached cautiously as though you were an angry bear. “It’s not that I wanna control you, I just think there’s an obvious danger in this plan and I happen to like the idea of you away from danger.” Although he didn’t mean it, his words felt condescending. Clark had that way about him sometimes, it’s why although a lot of people found him good natured, they also found him to be lacking in social skills. This characteristic especially came out whenever he felt passionately about a subject, mainly journalism. 

“Clark, I’m not some fool. I’m well aware he’s dangerous, that’s why I wanna visit his home! Ain’t it best to know thy enemy? Shouldn’t I try to figure out what he’s doing in Smallville with the mines?” You stood now, closing some of the distance between the two of you. Despite the dark of your room, you were still able to see his eyes, and how unnaturally blue they looked. You were told once that the colour black absorbs all the colour around it, whatever that means. Clark’s pupils, as dark as they were, could never absorb all the colour in his irises even if they really wanted to.

”I don’t think that’s any of your concern,” he said quietly and that was when you knew you had already won the debate. 

“It is my concern if it involves my daddy, and you too. He said he had a project related to a meteorite crash back in the day that could have left pieces of rock near the mine. We both know that wasn’t no meteor, Kal. I gotta figure out why he’s so sure you’re from Smallville, maybe I can point his attention elsewhere.” You were talking with your hands, and your words were rushed. You felt a burst of passion, you couldn’t help it after all. For the first time, it felt like you had something to do other than milk cows, train horses and tidy up the farm. So what if there was potential danger? You probably had more brushes with death every time you stood behind a horse than around Mr. Luthor. 

“It’s not that he’s so sure that I’m from Smallville, it’s that he’s so sure that I’m fr-from… Not from here.” He said softly, and you felt your heart break for him. “He’s been trying to prove that I’m some sort of alien, one from another planet. There’s always been speculation, rumours and whatnot, but I’ve always maintained that I’m a man like anybody else with extra abilities.” You could hear the slight anxiety in his tone, as though he were scared. 

“Well, regardless it’ll be good to find out what he knows. If it turns out to be a lot, then we’ll be prepared. Heck, what’s he gonna do? Tell the press that the man who can fly and shoot fire outta his eyes came from another planet? It won’t change a thing. People have seen what you do and you’ve demonstrated only kindness.” You laid your hand over his chest, the curves of the S symbol dug into your palms softly. 

“You know me, hon. You can probably guess that the first thing I’d done once I started as Superman was look at what the papers were saying. The headlines were all the same, whether here, in North America, or even as far as China. They all said: ‘A Superman is here, and he’s American.’ They even started with that silly little slogan in the papers in the states…”

”Truth, Justice and the American way?” You asked, as you had heard it many times. In the early days of Superman, he’d only been sighted in the states, mainly in the South until eventually the rest of the world started seeing him. You figured that the South must’ve been Clark’s practicing grounds for his hero work until he felt more confident in approaching the rest of the world. 

“See that was a silly thing; I certainly never said that. The papers pushed it, and I suppose it’s their way of feeling safer about my being here.” You furrowed your brow, unsure of what to make of it. Clark seemed so certain that folks needed to believe he was from earth, or at the very least maintain a sense of mystery around that question. 

“I feel we got a bit off track,” you said, leaning your head against his chest now. Instantly, his arms wrapped around your waist and bringing you closer. “We were talkin’ about Mr. Luthor, and whether or not it’s only a hunch or confirmation regarding your birth. We can get to discussing what to do if it turns out he knows once we’re certain, okay?” He hummed in agreement, and burrowed his nose into your scalp, inhaling your scent. 

“So, does that mean you’re good with me going over to Mr. Luthor’s fancy ole mansion? Remember, my daddy and your good friend Lana will be there so…” You felt him stiffen at the mention of Lana, and you bit your lip in satisfaction. 

“Now, like I said, I can’t control what you do but I will caution you to be careful. Don’t go sticking your nose in anything that seems too odd, and please don’t irritate the man. He may not seem like it, but he’s certainly got a short fuse. Also… Lana and I were never particularly close growing up, and it— it isn’t as though I’ve had any communication with her in recent years.” He spoke awkwardly regarding Lana as though he wanted the earth to swallow him up and end the conversation. You however, were not feeling merciful. 

“You still got feelings for her?” You asked nonchalantly, or as nonchalant as one’s lover could sound regarding the topic.

”No! Please, darlin’, don’t make it sound bigger than it was. It was simply a passing fancy, hardly even lasted a week and you know that! It was innocent in fact, we were children and I liked that she had red shoes. You got no reason to suspect anything of her and I.” His voice damn near squeaked by the end and it amused you, truly. 

“Now who said anything about suspicion? I was just asking a simple question, is all. After all, a girl can’t be too sure. My nana says men can be sly sometimes.” Your nana said a lot of things, some things you believed, and others you kept for moments such as this. Clark made it too easy to play with him. 

“Well, your granny never did like me,” he said with a sigh. “She told me I take up too much space and remind her of a sad cat in the rain. But she is a wise woman, so do listen to her… But please know that it’s only ever been you, and it’ll always be you for me.” His arms felt tighter around you, as if he were scared you’d push him away. You felt your heart melt at his words, and a twinge of guilt filled your gut because of your teasing. Clark really was like a sad cat out in the rain, you couldn’t poke fun at him without feeling like a monster after. It was something about his honesty and his kindness that made cruelty seem impossible.

That was why men like Lex Luthor had to be taken down. After all, he could see all the good that Superman could do, and he still had a problem with him. That meant something was wrong, deeply wrong with that man. 

“Oh Kal,” you said softly and leaned up as high as needed to give him a kiss on the cheek. “I was only teasing ya. Don’t you worry, there’s nothing and nobody out there who can make me doubt you.” 

He smiled, closed mouth but the skin around his eyes crinkled all the same. “Please stay safe, okay? I know I’ll be in the same city, but Metropolis… It’s not like Smallville. I imagine Luthor’s residence is crawling with who knows what ready to manipulate you somehow. So please, just remember that I’m the bulletproof one in this relationship, alright?” You scoffed, rolling your eyes at his humour before you nodded your head. 

When your mother woke you up the next morning to scold you for sleeping in, you were half convinced the previous night had been some sort of long dream. It wasn’t until you sat up and felt the soreness between your thighs that you smiled and realized all of it had really happened. 

“I have no idea what’s the matter with ya these days,” your mother barked. “You missed sending Clark off, dontcha know that ain’t polite as his lady? Yer lucky the boy’s obsessed with you, else I’d be worried he’d find a much more civilized match in Metropolis.” You scoffed at her words, but at the same time it couldn’t erase the grin on your face. Last night had been filled with wonders, and although the news of Clark’s immortality was hard to wrap your head around, you opted to avoid dwelling on it. The two of you had enough drama going on as is, ain’t no sense focusing on something that would only be relevant further down the road.

That’s what you told yourself at least, but there was a slowness in your work today, almost as though something was weighing you down subconsciously.

…

Due to your late start, it wasn’t until the early evening that you’d finished all your chores. You were on your last dish when you spotted your father returning home in a fancy car. You could see him and familiar bald head walking over the house from your view through the window. It looked like that Lex Luthor fella was still in town despite his insistence on having a busy schedule. You dried your hands and walked over to the front door to greet them, suddenly a bit anxious as you recalled Clark’s warnings that Luthor was an enemy of his. 

“Welcome home pa, and hello to you Mr. Luthor, glad the Smallville heat hasn’t scared you off yet.” You played it safe by acting like the ideal host knowing your mother could likely hear you from wherever she was in the house. She was big on manners, even if she thought Mr. Luthor was city boy scum and Lana was a harlot. The one thing your mama sure cared about was making a good impression, it’s why despite her flaws she had a generally good reputation across town as a good woman. 

“Is Lana not with y’all?” You knit your brows, curious as to why the woman wasn’t with them. From the moment she stepped back in Smallville it was like she was Mr. Luthor’s shadow. 

”it’s a pleasure to be here,” Lex replied. “And no, I’ve given Lana some time off to stay with her family. As you know she hasn’t been in Smallville for a few years and has been eagerly insisting on seeing all her relatives.” It made sense, Lana‘s ma had always been a clingy one. Gossip around town suggested that Lana had run off to Metropolis without her permission so you assumed they must have been having quite the emotional reunion. 

“Ah, well that’s good for her.” You stepped aside to allow the two men to pass, and noticed your father seemed to have his thinking face on. That was usually not a bad sign, but when it involved Mr. Luthor, you didn’t feel too sure. You listened as your father called for your mother to come join them in the living room, you hadn’t been told anything and so you awkwardly trailed along. Your father sat on his usual chair, whilst Mr. Luthor made himself comfortable on the couch, which is to say he sat very stiffly as though he had a stick up his ass. Your mother soon joined, sitting on your granny’s rocking chair while you stood to the side against the opening that led into the kitchen. 

“Mr. Luthor—“

”Please, call me Lex, all of you, I insist.” 

“Lex,” your father restated firmly. “— has offered that I go and meet with some of the environmentalists and other external departments he’s bringing into town. I just wanted to let you folks know, in case there’s anything we have to deal with regarding the farm.” Your father’s words were careful, as if he was worried over your mother blowing up over this. It seemed despite their long marriage, your father still hadn’t realized that your mother would never risk looking crazy in front of city folk. So her next response didn’t surprise you whatsoever.

”Oh, there’s no need to worry! You boys go handle your business; the farm will be fine. We got plenty of hands here now that the twins are finally old enough to use the tractors.” The twins were a set of your many cousins, they had just turned 15 a few months ago and had been trained by your father in most of the heavy equipment. Anything they couldn’t do, one of their many older brothers could. You had quite a large extended family, which was normal for most of Smallville, aside from the Kents really, who were both only children. You had heard that Jonathan Kent had a few siblings growing up but they’d all passed away young. 

“That’s right daddy, everything will be completely fine. You should enjoy your time in the city, maybe bring me back a souvenir? If the trip ain’t too long either you can probably hitch a ride back with Clark, Jimmy and Perry,” you said, not too worried yourself. Your father wasn’t an important figure nor did he have any sort of connection with Superman. So, it wouldn’t make sense for Lex to want to hurt or use him for any sort of reason. Besides, he could use a few days away from the farm. 

“Why don’t you join them as well,” your mother spoke up, shocking you. “Mr— Lex, would you mind? It would be nice for her to see the big city, she hasn’t been in years.” Your eyes widened, looking from her to your father, and then to Lex who had spoken up.

”Of course, I have plenty of room in my house for her stay. I can also have Lana create an itinerary so that I can ensure she make the most of her time there.” You noticed how much like your parents he was, as he hadn’t looked at you once. He spoke of you as though you weren’t in the room, like some sort of dog he had to watch. You wanted to say something snarky, but held back. You weren’t interested in ladder climbing nor did you care about what he had to show you. For the first time in a while, an experience was put into your hands. Lex Luthor was curious about you, he was curious about Superman, and you were going to get to the bottom of it. You weren’t ignorant toward the rumours that had circulated around town about you; some of them were tame and suggested you were troublesome, perhaps intentionally for attention from the hero. Other rumours suggested he had some sort of obsession with you, jealously ruined your wedding and flew off with you. It was all horse shit, sort of, and you thought Lex would have more intelligence than to believe in small town gossip, but it seemed he must be quite desperate for any proximity to your dear lover in the sky. 

It was a bit selfish on your part, but you suddenly felt overcome by intrigue. Was your theory correct, was it all based off gossip? Or maybe he knew something else about you? It would be good to figure out just how much intel he had on Clark. As well, perhaps, you could discover his weaknesses, learn his secrets while you were in his home and you could tell Clark all about it! 

It was naive, and perhaps a bit foolish, but for once in your life you felt as though you had a purpose. You could help Clark, you could be the one putting in the work to go out there and do something. So you smiled, and eagerly told them you’d start packing right away as the two men hoped to begin their travels tomorrow afternoon.

Later that night, Clark visited as promised. His brows had furrowed at the sight of your packed suitcase near the edge of your bed. In your excitement you shared what had happened, and your hopes for discovering Luthor’s plans. His response? 

The collision of your thighs against the inner rim of the bath tub should have been painful, if not for the overwhelming pleasure you were experiencing. You had hardly settled into the tub a few minutes before Clark’s hands were pulling at your tits and he had you bent over, his cock pummelling into you at an inhuman speed. The only sounds in the room were the sloshing of hot water and slapping of his skin against your ass. 

 His right hand was gripping your waist tightly while the other was wrapped your stomach, shielding your delicate skin from the curve of the tub. It was arousing how safe he made sure you were even when chasing his own pleasure. You could feel his length thrusting deeper inside of you as he angled his hips. Its head kissing your cervix enough that you knew for sure you’d feel him inside you for another week at least. You shrieked as he hit an especially squishy spot inside you, finally sending you over the edge as you squeezed around him. The sounds of water splashing around you, and his breath against your ear were enough to nearly lull you to sleep. That is, until he angled again, spreading your legs wider as his cock drove deeper into your cunt. He stilled for a moment before freeing himself from your walls. You sighed shakily as you felt his cum trickle onto your back, painting your skin with his essence. 

“Sorry if I was a bit rough,” he said softly. His chest was now pressed against your back as though he didn’t mind his own juices sticking to his abs. “You just… You’re addictive, I don’t know how I survived all these weeks since our first time. N— Not that it’s all I think about, it’s just—“ He cut himself off at the sound of your giggle, its noise echoing. You were currently in  what Clark referred to as his therapeutic room. It was a large room, hot in temperature despite its location in the icy fortress. It had a sun roof, and directly beneath it was a large heated tub. 

“I’m doing it again, ain’t I? Where you said I over explain and make myself look like a jerk.” 

“My exact words were look like an ass actually,” you laughed. “But yes, yes you did.” Despite your words, you moved closer to him, your side now pressed against him as he scooped up hot water and cleaned your back. The intimacy was still new to you, and frankly you still had a bit of anxiety in your gut regarding your mother and all her purity nonsense. But frankly, you liked getting your fix a hell of a lot more than you were scared of your mother, and at the end of the day it wasn’t any of her business… 

“I suppose it just can’t be helped,” he sighed as he pressed a kiss against your neck. His hands rubbed all over you as though he was trying to memorize the feeling of your skin. Ever since you’d said I love you, it was as though he couldn’t keep his hands off of you.

You shut your eyes, and welcomed his affections for a moment before opening them once more and asking the question that had been on your mind. “What did you say this tub was for again? It got magic or something? I feel so good…” You had been seated on your knees, usually after a while the position would be painful but you felt alright. Regardless you moved to sit on Clark’s lap, floating a bit due to the water’s buoyancy. 

“I can assure you the only magic is the technologies used to keep this water heated and filtered for cleaning. It’s commonly used to help my muscles relax after particularly hard days. The yellow sun is a source of power and rejuvenation for me so the skylight helps.” It was nighttime now, so the light casted came from the moon and the strange light contraptions on the walls of the fortress. 

“So the sun gives you your powers? How come you can still fly at night?” You asked curiously, your head now rested against his shoulder as he stroked your hip. 

“Well it isn’t like the sun disappears at night entirely. Try to think of me like a battery almost, I’m good on my own but I need to recharge eventually from the most dependable source there is— the sun. I know a fella who gets his powers from a magical lantern, ain’t that something?” You laughed at the outrageousness. 

“I forgot there’s more folks like you out there, I’m a bit jealous of y’all. It’d be nice to be able to fly around all willy nilly but I don’t think I could handle the stress of taking care of the world. Folks everywhere get into trouble and need help all the time. Hell, I remember back when I had to watch that stupid orange cat for Petey and the thing kept tryna get itself killed! That’s what humans must be like to you, always getting into trouble…” He chuckled at your words, a deep sound that shook your whole body.

”There’s a lot of good folks out there, but you’re right that there’s bad things happening all the time… It can be tough, sometimes I try to tune it out but I have to remind myself that for good to exist there’s gonna have to be bad.” His words were soft as his lips traced against the skin of your cheek, softly peppering kisses between sighs. It was overwhelming to be loved by someone like Clark, to know he could feel everything, see everything and still pick you. 

“Is it hard?” You asked suddenly, his lips paused against you, frozen as he awaited your next words. “You can hear for miles, and got a nose stronger than fifty bloodhounds I bet; and I know that because as soon as I figured out you was Superman I realized how ya always seemed to know when my mama would be baking her special cookies.” It was true, for years your mother joked that Clark must have had a sixth sense because the minute those cookies came out the oven, he’d be knocking on that door like he’d personally been summoned.

“Ha! I was sure those cookies would’ve been what exposed me ages ago, I couldn’t resist… And to answer your question, I’ve had most of my life to consider how different I am. To you and others, I imagine it’s hard to grasp the concept of my senses being so fine tuned but for me it’s just like any noise.” 

“Yeah, but noise all the time? I guess you’re right but I feel like I’d go crazy after a while. I like my silence, especially when it’s time to sleep.” Speaking of, you could feel yourself growing tired as by now you’d typically be in bed and practically dead to the world.

”You won’t believe this but I actually don’t need to sleep,” he said and you could practically feel his smirk against your skin. 

“You’re right, I don’t believe ya!” He laughed, this time more quietly as though he were considering his next words.

”Like I said, to me it’s just how my body works. I do admit, I was terrified as a kid when my vision first started to adapt to my Kryptonian abilities. It was a lot to be aware of human’s mortality especially at such a young age, seeing skin cells on others, just decaying constantly without growing back.” His words caused you to freeze, unsure of how to feel as you imagined little Clark all confused and terrified at the world, watching people’s bodies slowly die right before his eyes. But then you considered his words and felt dread fill your stomach, nearly suffocating you as you came to a realization. 

“Just others?” He hummed against your skin, as though confused. “Just others, Clark? Not your own skin?” You could feel him tense, as though he had realized he spoke more than he should have. For a few moments, he was quiet, and it was then you realized you understood what he meant by being surrounded by noise. Despite his quiet, the world was far from silent, as you could hear the trickling of water from the tub around you. The soft buzzing of mindless chatter of the autonomous men as they moved in the outer halls. You could also hear the soft sound of Clark’s slow breathing as he considered your words. Clark was right, sometimes things could be quiet, but the world was never truly silent so long as you just focused. 

“No,” he said. “If not killed, then I think I may just live forever.” His words were soft, and if there was any indication that he was unsure or if perhaps it was only a guess, you couldn’t hear it. No, Clark sounded very sure, in fact the only other time you’d heard him sound so certain of anything was the first time he told you I love you. 

“I’m glad,” you said so softly that you were barely even sure if you’d said it at all. “The world is always gonna need a Superman.” You meant it, you really did mean it, but why did it feel like you were dying? Hell, you were dying— every single day you lived was a day closer to when your body would shut down entirely, and Clark would be the first to notice. He was still quiet, you didn’t turn around to face him or to reassure him that this didn’t change anything because the truth was it changed everything, it just felt selfish to acknowledge it. The only thing you could do was look down at your own fingers, for once taking note of how the water pruned them so wrinkly. For the first time, despite your young age and relatively good health, you considered your own mortality.

It felt strange to walk with your inner thighs so soaking wet. The cold of the fortress didn’t help either, instead it allowed for you to focus on the stark contrast much more. The fortress wasn’t too cold as Clark explained the fortress had some sort of system to keep the air cool instead of freezing,— despite this, the air still felt like an unwanted touch as you walked through the hall and into the next door.

”Those… People? What were they? I haven’t seen anything like them before.” After your interruption, Clark hadn’t said much to you. Instead he bickered with the two before leading you elsewhere. The fortress was quite large, and as you passed the halls with him you noted countless rooms where you could see some more of those metallic folks. Each one greeted you both as you passed, and they seemed to be quite a friendly bunch.

”They’re… autonomous mechanical assistants, initially created by my father, Jor-El, to safeguard Kryponian history and knowledge in order for me to learn. Sorry if they gave you quite the fright, their socialization is quite limited to Kryptonian etiquette which I… I noticed seems to be more open and invasive compared to Kansas.” He said with a sigh.

”I would say more shocked than frightened, but invasive how?” You heard him sigh once more before he turned his head to look down at you directly as you walked. His eyes were impossibly blue, somehow still not diluted by the bright lights or white walls of the fortress. 

”Their programming instilled them with the need to protect me, or perhaps specifically conserve Kryptonian lineage. They focus their attention on my health, or more specifically my sexual reproductive health… It can get a bit annoying.” You were certain it wasn’t the cold that caused Clark’s cheeks to darken a cherry red. A grin made its way onto your face at his confession. 

“I see,” you said. “And have they had to pry into said health? Have you… Brought any other gals into the fortress before?” You raised a brow, your tone obviously joking knowing that there was no way Clark had any experience aside from yourself. However… You now wondered how he knew to use his tongue the way he did earlier… 

He looked at you bewildered. “N-never! You— You’re the first woman, heck, person I brought back here. Besides, you’re the own—only woman I could ever want.”

”Easy there Clark,” you said with a chuckle. “I’m just teasin’ ya.” It was hard sometimes for Clark and Superman to really be one person in your brain. But in moments like these, especially when his good old stutter would return, you could blend them together like the yellow and clear bits of a cracked egg. 

“You’re gonna put me in an early grave,” he muttered softly. Despite his words, his eyes only carried fondness for you. You were so caught up in them you hadn’t realized you two had walked into a large room. This one was filled with various objects on top of small pillars, though each were covered by glass covers. 

“What’s all this?” You stepped closer to one that caught your eye, it was located in the centre of the others and looked like it contained a miniature model. You leaned forward, your nose barely touching the glass before Clark carefully yanked you back. It appeared to be a miniature city of some kind, though its architecture was unlike any city you had ever seen.

”This room is filled with various items of importance that I’ve had to hold onto for safety measures. That one in particular,” he said pointing his head towards the miniature city that caught your eye. “Is the shrunken city of Kandor. I’ve been working on figuring out a way to restore its size and free its people.” 

You felt a chill go down your spine, and took a step back suddenly terrified of your close proximity to the glass. “You’re saying there’s people living in that little city and that they used to be regular sized?” You were shocked, suddenly frightened by the ethics of it all.

”An enemy of mine, Brainiac, had shrunk down and stolen the city a few years before Krypton’s destruction. I was able to retrieve it from him, but cannot restore it to regular size in a permanent and safe manner.” He sighed, stepping closer to the glass, his hand reaching towards it before dropping down to his side. “They… They hadn’t even known of Krypton’s destruction before I found them. I am able to shrink down using technology to visit them and update their leaders on our progress. I view my inability to free them as my biggest failure, but they assure me that they’ve lived like this for over two decades now and don’t mind the wait. But still…” 

“Knowing you Clark, I don’t doubt that you’ve been trying your hardest to help them people.” Your brows knitted in worry, however. “I never realized just how much you got sitting on your plate. You’re truly something Clark. One day you’ll free them, if anyone can do it, it’s gotta be you.” Your cheeks heated up, and you felt shy all of a sudden. You moved around the room, hoping to avoid Clark’s watchful eye.

”What’s this one? It’s the only one not in glass,” you asked. You were in front of another pillar, though this one had a sealed metal box attached to its top. You didn’t know what was inside, and after learning about Kandor, you opted to keep a bit of distance between yourself and the box.

”Inside that, is perhaps the only substance on Earth that could kill me,” he said softly. You turned back to look at him in shock. Kill? “It’s Kryptonite, the science behind what it does is still unknown. But it’s remnants of Krypton that arrived with me from space. When it comes into contact with me, well, my organs slowly begin to shut down.” Sensing your growing worry, he moved closer to the box and tapped it with his knuckles. “Not to worry, this box is incased with lead, so it can’t affect me. Lead is… Another area of weakness for me, it blocks out Kryptonite radiation, however, I can’t see through it using my x-ray vision.” 

“You sure you should be telling me all this? What if I use it against ya?” Clark only chuckled, taking your hand in his and leading you to the next room. 

“Why? You planning on killing me one day? I think my future wife ought to know everything about me; the good, the bad and the dangerous. I want you to know everything, there’s still a lot here to show you and I hope you get the chance to understand me better.” You smiled at his words, glad to see how vulnerable he could get with you. It was still a bit unnerving, as you weren’t used to men being as open as Clark. But you were grateful nonetheless.

The new room he took you into seemed to be some sort of small library. It was filled with rows of scrolls, books and similar looking devices. In the centre of the room was a large desk that had some more organized books laid atop it. You noticed many of the titles on the shelves were in human languages, some you recognized from seeing foreigners write in their home languages. You were impressed by the collection, even spotting a few titles you recognized by prominent authors.

”Is this your own little library?” You asked after you dropped his hand and raced between the shelves and inspected the materials. 

“Why yes it is,” he said. “Despite what you may think, due to my speed I am a person with quite a lot of time on my hands. For the most part I do research here on various topics such as the situation with Kandor. Though I also…” His voice trailed off, as though unsure of how to continue. You turned your head away from the shelf to face him. You furrowed your brows when you noted his eyes were on a particular shelf in front of him. You walked over until you stood right in front of him and stared at the shelf that had him so fixated. You scanned the titles, your heartbeat nearly skipping an interval once you realized what you were looking at.

”Is that…?”

”W— Well, you always mention the books you read and I just thought— just thought that maybe I should read them too? And I did, all of them, ev— every one you mentioned. I— I thought it would give us something to talk about, but I suppose I never had the courage to bring them up to you.” He turned to look at you, his eyes earnest. “I like knowing you. Now that I say it aloud it doesn’t make much sense. I suppose— I suppose I mean that by reading the things you do I felt closer to you. I wish now I had the courage to talk to you about it, there’s been quite a few books that left me frustrated afterward and I was dying to share with you.” His face had gone tomato red as he stuttered his way through his explanation. On the shelves in front of you were countless books, each and every title one you recognized as they had been ones you had read. Even ones you faintly remember only mentioning in passing to Clark.

He had been reading them? All of them, all this time? You had no words, you didn’t know what to think at all. Instead you only embraced him, your arms wrapped around his waist tightly. The fabric of his costume was rough against your skin, but you only held on tighter and refused to let go. 

“I love you,” you said softly. It was barely a whisper, and you knew if he was a regular man he wouldn’t have even heard it. But he wasn’t a regular man, and he froze at the sound. You could feel him tense under your arms, as though caught off guard. That was the first time you had told him that, or at least told all of him that. For a long while, you couldn’t wrap your head around the concept of Clark. Superman. Clark. Kal-El. You loved him all the same, and you always had. 

“I love you too,” he said. It wasn’t long before you were lifted into his arms, his lips rough against yours. Your teeth clashed, tongues locked in a tango. You only gripped the back of his head, moaning softly into his mouth as he carried you across the room and laid you gently on the centre table. You were still gripping onto his hair, his lips moved lower to pepper kisses down your jaw and neck. You whimpered at the heat of his skin against yours. Your back arched off the table as soon as you felt him flip the skirt of your dress up, exposing your bare pussy to the cold air.

”You’re still wet for me,” he marvelled. His eyes were focused on your drenched folds, soaking for him. Embarrassed, you closed your legs on instinct, only for his hands to stop you. Gently, he held your thighs and whispered, “don’t hide from me, please. I want to see you. I love seeing you.” You stopped tensing, and watched as his head lowered and licked a strip up your pussy. You arched further, his hands moving to grip your hips to hold you in place as he continued his pursuit. You gasped when you felt his tongue delve into your hole. The sensation was overwhelming, enough to make you cry out from the pleasure but he didn’t stop not until you heard the sound of his costume hitting the floor with a low thump. You glanced up shyly, taking in the sight of his wet cheeks and mouth along with his bare chest. This was your first time technically seeing Clark naked, knowing that it was Clark. The first time together you hadn’t had the time to truly admire his form, and you also didn’t know who he really was at the time.

This time you let your fingers trail up his arms and down his chest. You watched his muscles tense as your skin made contact with his. It was satisfying to know that his blush crept down his neck now, you had the proof in front of you. You continued to trail your hand over his chest, and watched as he lowered his pants. You felt yourself clench at the sight of his erect cock, it was large with a tip that looked an angry red. It was hard to believe he had fit it inside you all those weeks ago, and it was hard to believe he’d fit it inside you again in just a few moments. You braced yourself as he curled his hand around himself, stroking his member carefully before he leaned in and kissed you. 

It was a gentle kiss, but hard enough for him to push you back onto a laying position on the table. Its hard surface surprisingly comfortable, though you couldn’t focus much on it as you felt the head of Clark’s cock brush against your folds. You tensed, only for him to coo and pepper kisses along your nose and cheeks to help you relax. You giggled at his antics, unclenching your thighs a bit as you felt him push through your walls. 

“You’re still so tight,” he groaned against your cheek. You only held onto him, your nails digging into flesh knowing you couldn’t leave a scratch even if you tried. Nonetheless, you gripped him tighter as he continued to push through, his size practically causing him to bully his way inside of you until he was balls deep. It wasn’t long after that he pulled back and began to thrust inside you, his cock spreading you eagerly.

”Please,” you begged. Clark only groaned in response, his cock continuing to fuck you roughly. It felt different than your first time together, back when you felt like strangers. Back then, it was more tender somehow, likely because you were both so curious about the other. But now, he was fucking you like he meant it. You could see it in his eyes, they were focused on your pussy, fixated obsessively as he watched his cock thrust in and out of you. It was overwhelming knowing that he was watching your intimate bits so closely. Knowing he was watching, knowing he was deep inside you with his balls slapping rhythmically against your ass, it was enough to send you over the edge. Your pussy tightened impossibly around him, and his only sign of noticing was the way his fingers dug harshly into the meat of your hips. He didn’t change his speed, nor his position and instead focused on delivering you that pleasure you so craved. After a few moments you felt that familiar snap in your gut and cried out at the sensation. It was only then that Clark quickened his pace, his shoes digging into the floor, likely cracking the ground beneath him as he fucked you like a mad man. 

You felt barely conscious, feeling as though you were outside your own body after the orgasm you had just had. You only snapped out of your head once he pulled out entirely, your pussy suddenly empty and clenching onto cold air. You sat up, a bit upset at the loss of contact only to watch as his cum squirted out of his cock, splattering your exposed breasts and stomach as your dress had tore up at some point during your love making.

You were glad he had delivered on that promise he had made to be careful, but a part of you was disappointed. You missed the sensation of being filled with him, remembering how he leaked out of you long after he had parted. At the very least you knew the soreness would hit soon, maybe that could be the part of him that you could keep. 

When Clark told you to get into his automobile and make sure the seatbelt was secured, you didn’t know what to expect. You especially were bewildered when he shut the door behind you and didn’t move to take the passenger seat. 

“Clark?” You questioned, your head poking out the door window. He had been crouched down, as though inspecting the bottom of the vehicle. At the sound of your voice however, he stood up to face you. A radiant smile on his face, his white teeth shining in the dark of the night.

”Darlin’ I’m going to need you to sit back, and roll your window up for me, got it?” You nodded, still unsure of what he was planning. You half smiled nonetheless, and rolled your window up and braced yourself— though you were unsure what for.

It wasn’t until you felt the car tilt that you realized Clark was lifting the vehicle over his shoulders. You gripped onto the sides of your seat, suddenly anxious until you felt a sudden pressure under you. It was unlike any other feeling you’d had before, and it was only when you looked directly at the windshield before you that you realized you were floating up in the air. Was this what it felt like to go inside one of them airplanes they had now? You were absolutely fascinated, watching as you went higher into the sky and the stars suddenly seemed much more clear above you now that you were in the clouds. Then suddenly you felt yourself lurch back into your seat, reminding you of that feeling rollercoasters gave you but at least ten times faster. Luckily you were still able to keep your eyes open, watching as the scenery changed as you went across countless regions. 

Where in the world was he taking you?

…

Only a few minutes had passed when you felt the car begin to descend. You were able to sit up now, taking in the countless masses of ice surrounding you. You were so in your thoughts that the sudden sound of ice shifting and the land rumbling caused you to nearly shoot up in your seat if not for your seatbelt. You watched fixated as giant crystal like structures emerged from the ice, it was beautiful. With it came a giant door, concealed by the icicles and was nearly invisible if not for the fact you were so close. It was harder to see now that Clark was planted on the ground, likely still carrying the automobile over his shoulders like it weighed nothing more than a sack of feathers. You could see the doors at mid-height, and after a few moments of taking in your surroundings, they parted and Clark walked you in. Soon after you felt the vehicle gently touch the floor with a loud thump. You sat still, unsure if you could leave until Clark came into view and opened your door. He had his hand out for you to take and you hastily unbuckled your seatbelt before taking it.

”Where are we?”

”This is my Fortress of Solitude hidden in the Arctic. The technology my birth parents brought with me made it so that this place could be created. It’s filled with various history and information that allows me to connect with my lineage.” You nodded, spinning around to see various entryways and halls. Nearby you could see some sort of projector, images were displayed in moving colour. You stepped closer, hesitant to move too far from Clark in case you broke something.

”Those are Kryptonian devices that allow me to store information amongst other things. Twelve predicts humans will likely be using something similar in another hundred years or so.” You were close enough to see the images were projected onto some type of glass; they were skeletal displays of Clark. It was a bit terrifying to see the countless images of his anatomy with strange writing in what you assumed to be Kryptonian. You were so consumed by what you were seeing that you hardly took it in that he had mentioned another person who was aware of this place. 

“Were you studying your own biology? What do all these words mean?” You furrowed your brow, suddenly curious for anything and everything. Was there a reason he was studying himself? Had he been hurt? 

“I admit I have been quite curious on how different I am from regular humans, and how that may also have an effect on… Biological compatibility.” He paused, as though to give you a moment to digest his words. “But it seems my parents chose this planet quite wisely, as there is really nothing about me to suggest incompatibility.”

Compatibility… Did he mean? You thought back to how his seed didn’t take. How at the time you had been going through so many emotions you hadn’t even considered the possibility that he couldn’t even reproduce with you. It was odd now to think it, especially knowing that he had obtained the proof of it…

”Did… You look into this after you thought…” You hadn’t realized it but he had moved closer to you while you had been inspecting the pictures. You could feel his warmth through the winter jacket you had on. He turned you around by your chin, gently. His hand cupped your cheek, making you suddenly aware of the cool temperature of the fortress. It was as if his whole body ran hot. 

“After you’d told me you weren’t pregnant, I felt relieved. Not because I didn’t want to be a father but because I knew how scared you had been. Still, I wanted to check as I wasn’t sure if it was just dumb luck… Or if I really was as different as I felt. You can imagine the joy I felt when I found out it was dumb luck; I’ve always wanted to be a father.” You sighed against his skin, letting its warmth take over you.

”Even if you couldn’t, even if you were hiding another pair of ears or something somewhere. You’ll always be human as they come, Clark.” You meant that, you meant every word. You’d met all sorts of people through your life; some good, some bad, and some who were still figuring out what they wanted to be. Clark wasn’t any different, he’d always be the Kent’s miracle boy. 

“I love you,” he said. “You don’t know how much that means to me. I want to do everything right by you. I want to propose properly, put a ring on your finger, live life with you by my side and settle down where ever you want. I know you feel stuck in Smallville, I know it’s hard being a woman in this world. But I can take you anywhere in a heartbeat; we’re in the Arctic right now, after all.” You didn’t know what to say to him, his words moved you truly. It was just like the books you’d always read, romantic in a way that seemed everlasting. Yet, a part of you still felt so unsure. It was true now, you could go anywhere with him. But still, what would you do with that freedom? Nonetheless, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders and kissed him.

His mouth traced yours softly, a juxtaposition from his hands which roughly moved to unzip your coat. They immediately moved to cup your breasts, getting to them through your thin dress before the chilly air could. You let out a soft moan, inviting his tongue inside your mouth. You were so close now, your backside now seated on the glass table which displayed the screens you had been fascinated by. Your legs on either side of his, barely managing to cage him in due to his large size. 

“What happened to doing things the right way? Y’know, ring— mhmm,” you shivered, feeling his hands move to slide your dress up. “— wedding, then consummate the union.” He merely chuckled against your neck.

”I don’t think I said anything about consummating after the wedding,” he said. “And I don’t think you seem to mind either.” He tested his theory and moved a hand under your skirts, guided his fingers to your core, and stroked them in your wetness before plunging two inside. You gasped at the feeling, it having been so long since you felt him inside you. 

“I… I suppose,” it was hard to focus with his breath on your neck and his fingers creeping inside your cunt. You shut your ears to focus on his fingers as they reached that soft spot in you. You felt your hips match his rhythm, craving him deep inside you. You hadn’t realized how much you’d missed him, how much you ached to join bodies again. Your soft gasps and the sounds of his fingers fucking you echoed through the fortress’ main room. 

“Please,” you moaned softly. He hummed against you before moving to plant a kiss against your cheek. Suddenly, he was on his knees, his fingers still inside you. You wouldn’t have even noticed until you felt the cold air against your face. You opened your eyes, your brow furrowing at the sight of him below you, his head next to your knees as you were still seated.

”What are you doing down there?” You asked, practically shaking from his fingers. He looked up at you, his eyes lustful with blown pupils.

”There’s something I’ve been wanting to try,” he said. You were still confused, but eagerly awaiting for whatever it was he wanted to show you. You shivered as he kissed up your thigh, your stomach in knots, embarrassed by the sight. 

“I don’t… Clark— agh!” You shrieked as soon as his lips met your folds. The sensation unlike anything you had ever experienced before. You could feel his tongue swirling, circling your pearl and leaving you breathless. The heat on your cheeks grew hotter and hotter, embarrassment filling your gut with every slurp of your juices. But at the same time you didn’t want him to stop, your hands moved to play through his hair. With every scratch of your finger nails, his grip on your hip merely tightened. His groans of pleasure only causing you to grow more wet as he continued to flick your clit with his tongue, his fingers on his right hand still stretching your pussy out at the same time. It was overwhelming, you could feel a pressure building up inside you, ready to burst at any moment if he continued his speed. 

“Oh, I believe this display is referred to as cunnilingus in the English language. Kal-El seems to be doing an expert job, bravo!” A voice spoke out, causing you to push Clark away and shifting your skirts to hide your legs from view. You looked up to be met with the sight of some sort of metallic creatures; it was frightening, was the fortress infiltrated by monsters? You turned to Clark, and noticed the only thing on his face aside from your fluids was a look of extreme annoyance. 

“Twelve, Three,” he said. “I assumed you’d give us privacy.” He stood up, blocking you from view, and you were thankful for it as it gave you more time to collect yourself without watchful… eyes? 

You didn’t know if it was guilt or stupidity that made you decide to visit Oikawa in the hospital. Frankly, it was likely a bit of both as you hated hospitals and it would have to take a severe emergency for you to even consider visiting one when you didn’t have to. 

The thing about hospitals was that it reminded you of gymnasiums funny enough. The waiting rooms were boring, but the bright floors and even brighter lights made you think back to the countless matches you’ve spectated. It didn’t help that the staff running around the place also had a similar urgency on their faces you’d only seen in competitive athletes. Perhaps, it was just your brain trying to remind you of Atsumu and the countless missed calls and voicemails left on your phone since yesterday. They ranged from Please talk to me to If I find out you’re talking to another guy I don’t know what I might do to him. Your personal favourite was:

So you got my brother on speed dial now? What? You wanted to see if our dicks are identical too? 

Sorry. I didn’t mean that. Please just call me. 

It was safe to say you weren’t going to be calling him back anytime soon. At least not until he seemed more emotionally regulated. 

The receptionist paid you no mind until you were right in front of her desk. She was young, likely about your age but had an attitude of someone at least a few decades older with how nonchalant her attitude was. Some jobs did that to people, you couldn’t blame her at all. You could imagine the types of stress someone would have to deal with if they worked in a hospital. Still, she didn’t even bother to look up until you questioned her softly. 

“Hello? I’d like to visit a patient,” you said. It was only then that she glanced up, as though it took all the effort in the world. 

“Name?” She asked.

”Oikawa, first name is Toru,” you said. “He was brought in yesterday with a head injury.” 

“Discharged already,” she replied quickly, much to your confusion. She hadn’t even bothered to search on the computer for his name. You raised a brow, unsure, and realized her expression had changed to one of glee. It was the first emotion you’d seen on her face since you’d come in. 

“Yup,” she said. “The hot one, he barely stayed even a half hour. He wouldn’t let the doctors even take a look at him either. Still, he was here long enough to give me his number.” Her smile grew devious until a thought seemingly passed her way. “You better not be his girlfriend or something…” You didn’t respond, only huffed and turned to leave.

…

It didn’t take long to get into contact with Oikawa. You’d lost his number years ago and you’d die before having to message him on Instagram like some fan. You asked around your mutual friends until someone was able to successfully for you his phone number. His response to your message had been immediate.

Hey, can we talk? I wanted to see how you were doing. 

A minute had barely even gone by when you received the address to a well known cafe and a time. The interaction made you feel a bit slimy considering how dismissive his response came across. But knowing Oikawa, if there was one thing you can count on with him, it was efficiency. 

By the time you made it to the cafe, he was already seated. He was dressed in a tight sports jacket and shorts to match. Not exactly fall fashion, but you’d give him a pass this time. His leg cast had been removed, instead you could see the pinkish skin that had been hiding underneath. A slight contrast from the rest of his tanned skin. His skin must have been really irritated, you thought.

You passed by a few tables to get to him. He had secured a good spot in a booth near the back. You weren’t sure how the conversation was going to go and any added privacy was a bonus. As well, this time if he tried any perverted crap, you would scream.

”Hey,” you said as you took the spot across from him. “I hope you’re feeling okay. Why aren’t you in the hospital? That injury looked so rough yesterday.”

“It was nothing, the blood made it look worse than it was. Doctors let me go pretty quick too, which is good. Visits always make me feel like I’m wasting time, y’know?” His words were light, casual even. You would have believed him if not for the receptionist’s words ringing in your ears. He wouldn’t let the doctors even take a look at him either. 

You didn’t question it, as honestly as horrible as it sounds, you really didn’t give a fuck about his personal business. Also, the receptionist could have been wrong too. It wasn’t like she was someone who seemed hyper aware of her work environment, judging by her attitude. 

“That’s good, at least,” you said. You felt awkward now, unsure of how to continue the conversation. You had expected bandages or at least an Oikawa who was drowsy on pain killers. But instead you were greeted by that same fluffy hair and a bruise on his cheek. “I mean, I guess you’re used to injuries, being an athlete since forever.”

”Injuries yes, a deliberate attack on my life? No, not really,” he responded. You froze, unsure of what to say until he continued. “That hit was intentional, anyone with half a brain could tell. Is that why you’re here? You wanna make sure I’m okay so that you can feel less guilty for sticking by that psycho?” 

“He’s not a psycho,” you said. He raised his brow at this. “He said it was an accident so it was an accident. Frankly, if it wasn’t, it was deserved considering you were sexually harassing me moments before it happened or did you conveniently forget that?”

”Sorry about that,” he said. “I got too carried away, I shouldn’t have tried to make you uncomfortable.” You were surprised he’d addressed it. His voice was solemn and his expression serious for once. You nodded in response, accepting his apology but you wouldn’t forget what had happened. 

“Still though,” he spoke again. “Deserved or not, does he get violent like that often? I just… I feel a bit worried for you.” Your reaction was instant, your eyes widened in shock and for a few seconds you had no idea what to even say before you were able to come up with a response.

”I admit… In recent weeks he’s become a bit high strung, tense and a little agitated. But he never has, and never will lay a hand on me. He’s just not that kind of person.” You sounded sure, and you were. Despite his issues, and despite the conflicts you had been having you knew he would never hurt you like that, ever.

”Okay,” he said. “Still though you shouldn’t put up with any of his bullshit if he’s been taking out his anger on you… Abuse can be verbal too. I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear that from, but I have to at least say something or it would keep me up at night.” Mentally, you felt immediately on the defence, as though you had to defend Atsumu from that sort of accusation. But at the same time you acknowledged that Oikawa wasn’t accusing him of anything, he was just looking out for you, despite your past with him.

”Like I said, he’s just not that kind of guy,” You could hear the slamming of his locker from yesterday, ringing in your brain. “That’s just not him. But like I said, he has been especially irritable lately.” Oikawa looked at the table, suddenly unable to look you in the eye. 

“Has he been that way since that dog attack?” 

“What’s your obsession with that anyway?” You asked, tilting your head. It was like he always found a way to get back to it, it was odd, even for him.

He shrugged his shoulders, and looked a bit hesitant before he responded. “A few months ago… A teammate of mine had a similar incident, some dog scratched his face at a party. The injury was nasty, but he healed up fast… But after that? Entirely different person; violent, moody. It got to a point where he was kicked off the team. The crazy part? Nobody’s heard from him since, it’s like he fell off the face of the Earth.” 

“I see,” you weren’t sure what to think. It made you nervous, what if it was some type of brain infection, like rabies or something? Could Atsumu die? 

“Crazy part is,” he continued. “I think he got worse the closer he got to the next full moon. He’d be talking about smells and colours, and he was so fixated on the sky at night. It was like—“

”God you’re such an asshole,” you snapped, standing up from your seat. “What? I thought you were being fucking serious. Werewolves? Are you kidding me?” You should have known he was deceiving you. That’s what he did after all; he pretended to care, got you hooked onto his lies before letting it unravel and leaving you looking like an idiot. 

“Hold on—“

You didn’t wait for what he had to say. Instead, you turned and left, abandoning him at the cafe. You didn’t bother to even feel embarrassed at the countless eyes staring at you due to the scene you’d caused. 

“Do you guys ever wonder if Superman has a day job?” The question was left out in the open, for anyone to respond. The work atmosphere of the Daily Planet made it so that discussions felt like posting to a Reddit forum; you never knew who would respond. 

“Seems unlikely,” Ron spoke up. He was leaned against Steve’s desk which was a bit of a distance away from you but not so much that you’d have to yell to get them to hear you. “I mean how can somebody even maintain a job when you’re flying all over the world all the time. I can barely catch an appointment with my barber after work.” 

“Just switch barbers,” Steve replied. Ron only rolled his eyes, his facial expression morphing to one of disbelief. 

“I’m considering that a micro-aggression,” he replied much to Steve’s shock. The two continued to go back and forth, allowing time for Cat to interject.

”Why are you wondering? Didn’t think you were a fan.” She smiled, as if assuming your curiosity was sexually charged. What she didn’t know was that it was, just not in the way she was thinking. After all, you couldn’t explain to her that Superman was potentially someone in your life. You couldn’t imagine how she’d react. You were barely handling it as is; you made direct eye contact with basically everyone you came across during your morning routine. From apartment neighbours to security guards, and even the barista at the small coffee shop you frequent. 

“I guess I am a fan,” you said softly. You couldn’t resist the urge to glance over at Clark’s desk, looking for a sign that he’d acknowledged the comment. Instead he appeared focused on his computer screen. Frankly, you were quite certain it had to be Clark, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t entertain the delusion that it could be a handsome, mature, and less annoying stranger. But you knew deep down, no one could come as close as Clark did physically. The only thing was his face felt off, you assumed it must’ve been some sort of alien technology that allowed for him to pass so seamlessly without folks stopping and staring. 

Ever since your epiphany, you had been wondering more about him. His oversized suits and slouched posture had made him seem much rounder, but now when you focused you could see the traces of muscle underneath the material. How did he have you so fooled? 

As if sensing your unease, he moved, likely hoping to escape your evil eye. Quickly after that, he sat up abruptly enough for everyone to stop what they were doing and turn to face him. He turned red, as though unused to the attention. “I’m going for a coffee run, anyone want to let me know their orders?” A chorus of replies was returned, and he eagerly wrote down the few that seemed more complex than others. 

“I’ll join you,” you said casually. “I could use the fresh air.” No one seemed to think your behaviour odd as there was nothing weird about it. But you could see Clark tense, as if disturbed. Regardless, you stood up and grabbed your purse from behind your seat and followed him to the elevator. The short walk was silent, devastatingly so until you both reached to press the down button at the same time. He flung his hand back like someone who had just dodged being burnt on the stove. You took no mind to it, and only viewed it as confirmation of what you had already been suspecting. 

You waited in silence a few more moments before the familiar ding of the elevator sounded. You walked in and took your spot on the far left corner, knowing Clark would push himself to the far right side of the small box. 

“So,” you said. “Busy week, huh?” Clark perked up, likely shocked you’d bothered to initiate a conversation with him for once. It wasn’t that you necessarily avoided him, it was more so the fact that every time anyone spoke to Clark it would turn into some kind of lecture or he’d end up sounding smug over whatever accomplishment he made that week. It was like he had a severe case of only child syndrome; he didn’t have any siblings to compete with growing up, and so he projected that onto everybody else. 

“Oh uh, I suppose. I just started dog sitting for my cousin… He’s a handful, but he’s got a good heart.” You frowned a bit, suddenly uncomfortable at how little you knew about Clark. If you hadn’t asked, would you have found out about the dog? It’s a small thing yet anyone else in the office would have come in whining about the scenario to anyone that would listen. It was just that kind of place, but Clark kept to himself. Also, you started to doubt your theory because how could Superman keep a nine to five, take care of a dog, and save the world? 

“Are you a dog person?” 

“Not in particular, no,” he said slowly. “I love animals, but I’m not really a pet guy. I grew up on a farm so animals and stuff were more of an outside thing, I suppose.” You hummed in response as the elevator doors opened. The timing seemed perfect and the two of you walked out, being sure to give the doorman a nod once you’d left the building. 

“Do you have any pictures of your dog?” You asked once the silence became unbearable. You were still walking, the coffee shop was only across the street. You turned to face him as the traffic lights were still red, and noted a look of contemplation on his face before he brought out his phone from his pocket. 

“I might have a couple,” he said softly. He was focused on the device, and didn’t seem to do much scrolling until he found one to show you. You leaned in close, and noted the way he tensed his muscles. The photo wasn’t anything unique, and quite frankly was quite blurry too. He seemed like an energetic little guy, someone to keep Clark on his toes. You feigned as though you couldn’t see too well, and wrapped your arm around his bicep to get closer. If he was tense before he might as well have turned to steel now. 

“Show me more,” you said, turning your head up to face him. His expression was stoic, and if he was uncomfortable by your proximity he didn’t outwardly show it. Instead he glanced down at his phone again, and swiped to the next photo. It showed the dog on its back, seemingly in some type of field, you assumed his family’s farm. 

“What’s his name?” You asked, and at the same time, the lights changed to green and you found yourself walking alongside Clark. Your arm was still wrapped around his, his other hand moved to put his phone back in his pocket. 

“It’s Kr— Chris,” he replied flustered. “Yeah I don’t know. My cousin’s got weird tastes.” You laughed, your journalist senses telling you he was lying. But you didn’t pry, instead you walked on, and chatted with Clark on your own experiences with pets. 

The journey back to the Daily Planet felt short, mostly because you were still talking to Clark about minuscule parts of his life. Who knew he enjoyed building Lego sets? It didn’t seem like something he’d be interested in given his big bear hands. Speaking of, said hands managed to hold onto three trays of coffee orders with seemingly no signs of slipping. Even as the two of you stepped off the elevator, which typically was a hassle due to some uneven flooring where you worked. 

“Coffee’s here,” you announced and watched as your peers eagerly rose to grab their orders and pay back Clark either through venmo, cashapp or pocket change. All which he furiously tried to decline until Jimmy reminded him they were all on the same weak salary. You chuckled, before turning to Lois who had taken a seat on your desk. It wasn’t an unusual sight, but what struck you as odd was the giant bouquet of lilies and the large white box next to her. 

When she saw your perplexed expression she stood up and took you by the arm and dragged you until you could see the box more closely. You noted the perfectly wrapped bow and note tucked under it. 

“Looks like your admirer can’t stay away,” she whispered into your ear. You grabbed the note, flipping it so that you could both see the intricate hand writing on its other side. 

I heard you’d be at the Gala this Friday with some of your colleagues. Why not be my plus one, instead?