I miss my wife Tails

“Can you take a look at these?” you ask, batting your eyelashes at him as if to entice him. The performance is entirely unnecessary. There probably isn’t a universe where Clark Kent says no to you. Call him a masochist. He likes being teased by you, he’ll take any opportunity. “I can’t tell if they look a little funky or I've just been looking at them too long.”

“Yeah, of course.” 

He’s out of his seat and rounding his desk to lean over yours, quickly. He plants a hand on the desk near your mouse and tries his best to fight the rising heat again, clearing his throat as you shift in your seat closer to him. 

What he finds on your screen is a portfolio of well-shot and edited photographs that are definitely ready for submission, no doubt in his mind.

“They’re great!” he assures, pointing at one in particular. An older man cheering in a crowd with a giant smile on his face, he can tell from the other series of photographs that the crowd were looking at Superman, him really, and you chose to focus on the people. It's brilliant. “This is my favourite.” 

“Thanks, Clark.” As he turns his head he catches the teasing smile on your lips he’s become well familiar with. He knows he’s fallen into a trap you’ve set and he's not in a rush to get out. 

“If only I could just take pictures of you,” You sigh. “It’d make my job easier. You're too handsome for a bad picture.”

“Stop,” Clark groans half heartedly, looking away from you, focusing on the grain of your desk. 

“No!” you giggle, “You know you’re super pretty, don’t start pretending on me.”

Your words prompt an unstoppable smile to grow on Clark's face and he’s almost certain there are stars in his eyes now. He decides to test his mettle. See if he can give even a little of your own teasing back. 

“Like you know you’re beautiful?”

Your grin only widens.

“Exactly, honey!” you exclaim. “You’ve got the right idea.”

Clark shakes his head with a smile, standing himself up straight so he’s not quite so close to you to give him a better chance of fighting off how flustered he’s starting to feel. It's maybe his smartest decision of the day so far.

“You just like to tease me.” 

His words seem to make your expression sober. The smile stays, but it softens around the edges, making you look unexpectedly earnest.

“No, I’m just telling you the truth, Clark.” You say, “And flirting a little. But instead of how handsome you are, I can compliment your personality if you're more likely to believe that. I have plenty of material either way.”

Clark's brain stops working with the slight confirmation that you’re not just teasing him for the fun of it. He’s standing there, all tall and broad, without a real thought in his head. His mouth opens and closes as he searches for the right words. Or any words. 

“I, uh, well–” He stutters.

You watch him fondly as he rights himself. 

“I think…” He clears his throat, gesturing over his shoulder. “I’m gonna take a lap.”

Your laugh follows him before he’s even turned around.