Chapter Text
Tanya didn’t get paid enough for this. Crown Cinemas really needed to include dental.
The couple across the counter looked to be in their seventies, and definitely had the disposition for it, all grumbly and dissatisfied. The man spoke first. “You only have tickets to the 3D showing?”
Tanya adjusted the name plaque on her black button down. “The 4D, sir. The next standard showing will be at 8:30-”
“We don’t want to be out that late, we’d get home by eleven! We’ll go into the one already playing.” The woman by the man’s side cut her off, and Tanya resisted the urge to sigh.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can’t sell tickets once the movie is already halfway through.” If they really cared so much, they could just sneak in and nobody would say anything, but Tanya wasn’t about to suggest that and risk the wrath of her uptight manager. Even if Mark only showed up to the branch once a week, he seemed to have a special sense for when she did something she technically wasn’t supposed to.
“Ridiculous. Do you believe this, Georgia?” The man sneered. “Let’s go. I’ll be sure to tell your boss how unhelpful you were.” Great.
Once they finished taking their sweet sweet time to walk away, a family of five walked up to the ticket counter. The poor mother had to deal with what seemed to be a shitload of testosterone, because three beefed up guys and one little tyke were with her. The dad towered over the rest, with a classic American cut and pair of glasses. Two of the sons definitely seemed to inherit their dad’s eyesight in the genetics department, if their matching pairs were anything to go by, along with their general looks. The other guy with them also had black hair, but didn’t look too much like the others; and with the way he was holding hands and looking charmed with the eldest son, Tanya was guessing it wasn’t a case of them being Alabamans.
The lady spoke up first as they approached. “They didn’t sound pleasant to deal with.”
“Definitely not,” Tanya conceded. “Let me guess, you’re looking to see The Man of Tomorrow ?”
The woman gave her a sly smile, like she was including her in on the joke. “How’d you guess?”
It wasn’t hard.
The dad of the group had on a blue shirt with Superdad in red text, and was smiling along with his wife. She also had on a graphic tee, My husband’s Superman plastered across the front. The two older guys elected to do matching couple shirts, both donning Superboyfriend t-shirts, in classic black and red.
The best part, though, was that all five of them had on black leather jackets with dual spikes on the shoulders. The kid especially went all out in Superboy gear, including the trademark glasses, gloves, and suit. He looked to be buzzing in excitement from where he was standing, leaning into his older brother’s side. Tanya understood; she was a pretty big Superboy fan herself.
“Eh,” Tanya responded with a cheeky tone. “Wild guess. And sick outfit, kid.” The little kid preened.
“Thanks!”
“You a fan?” The older brother pried.
“You could say.” He then joined in the preening. Must be a pretty big fan, too, Tanya assumed.
The dad of the group smiled and responded. “Five tickets would be great, please.” Tanya began to ring them up.
“Dad, does this mean we’re seeing it in 4D?” The kid excitedly shouted.
“Seems so, Jon. We forgot to check the website for times, so that’s the only one we can go to.” The kid only seemed to jump in place faster.
“I’ve never been to one before!! I’m so excited! Does it feel like they’re talking right in your face?”
“I sure hope they don’t,” The woman joked almost semi-seriously. “If Luthor spits in my face, I’m leaving. I’d rather never relive the Shrek experience at Universal again.”
“C’mon Lois, that was classic,” the eldest responded.
“I’m on Lois’ side here. You remember that a lot fonder than we do, Kon,” his boyfriend cut in. “The smell of Donkey is forever imprinted on my amygdala.”
“What’s an amidala?”
“Amygdala, Jonno,” Kon corrected. “It’s the part of the brain that stores memories.”
“Speaking of memories,” the dad replied, “let’s get a photo with the movie poster.”
Kon’s boyfriend quickly responded, tone sure. “I can take it.”
“No, babe, I’ll do it.” Kon responded even more confidently, though his eyes seemed to express something slightly different.
His father began. “Son, you should be in the photo.” Kon initially bristled, but a hesitant smile grew onto his face, almost as if he wasn’t used to hearing it. What, did this kid not pose in family photos often? The designated photo taker, maybe?
The boyfriend cut in again. “Exactly. Kon, it’s fine.”
“Tim, that includes you. If it’s a problem, I’m happy to-”
“It’s really fine-”
“I can take the photo,” Tanya cut in. Man, was this group a bunch of self-sacrificial pieces of work. Or maybe it was a pride thing. Who knew.
“That sounds great,” Lois replied. Her husband nodded in assent.
They moved away from the counter and towards the Superman movie poster after Tanya handed them their tickets. It depicted Metropolis at its most classic; bustling streets and a sunny sky with no clouds in sight. In the backdrop above all the buildings was Superman, flying up towards the border of the poster.
The family huddled together; Lois and her husband were furthest behind. Kon stood right in front of his father, the older man placing a hand comfortingly on his shoulder. Tucked onto Kon’s sides were Tim and his little brother, who had the widest grin Tanya had ever seen. Everyone was much the same.
“Say, ‘memories’!”
“Memories!”