Work Text:
A pair of pigeons cooed from behind the leafy plants sitting across the windowsill of your modest Metropolis apartment. The early-morning street below was quiet.
The sun stretched across the floor; the warmth of its rays mixing with the cool spring breeze. You work for the Daily Planet from home most days, most of its operations taking place via the internet now, adapting with the changing times. It worked wonderfully for you, getting to spend so much time in the comfort of your home. You typed away an article about the upcoming cherry blossom festival. One big plus of the Daily Planet moving online was you could write almost any article you wanted. There was always room on the website for another! You nestled yourself in the collection of blankets and pillows you had amassed on the couch as you looked up at the clock, reading five after eight. “I wonder where Clark is.” You thought to yourself.
Just then, there was a light knock at the front door before it squeaked open- that would be Clark.
He ducked through the doorway and smiled at you shyly. The sun danced in his blue eyes and glowed on his face. He looked comfortable in his worn jeans, with a light flannel over his broad shoulders. “I brought coffee!” He said with a bashful smile. He nearly tripped as he slipped his shoes off beside the door, and you huffed at his clumsiness; he always was like that. He walked over and sat the two cups in front of you on the coffee table.
The both of you had known one another for a few months, but he was still awkward and shy. That would be Smallville for you. “Welcome back! It’s been a couple days.” you smiled up at him from your spot on the couch. The wood floor creaked under his feet as he walked over to the chair across from you. He mumbled about how he had been busy with this and that. You two had been spending a lot of time together lately and you enjoyed his company. Good thing his apartment wasn’t too far from yours. He sat gently in the chairs across from you, minding your pillows. Today he was over for breakfast and to discuss work things, nothing out of the ordinary. “I’ll start breakfast in maybe 15 minutes? I’ve only got a little more left on this quick-read I’m working on.”
“Oh that’s fine y/n, take your time.” He hummed, with his large hands resting on his knees.
He sat for a minute or two, but Clark was never very good at sitting still. While you finished working, he stood and walked to the window, sipping his coffee and gazing down as the street started to wake and bustle. Glancing up at him from your work, you mused about how his glasses really threw off the whole muscle thing. You and Jimmy had asked him about his physique before, and he’d blab about working out, or say it was from years on the farm, or this or that. He always got embarrassed when it got brought up. He leaned over to the bookshelf beside the window and gently picked up a book, turning around to return to the chair. He looked up as he flipped the pages, his eyes meeting yours.
“Uhm- did I do something?” He blushed. You laughed at him and went back to finishing your article.
His nervous eyes went back down to the book he’d picked up as he went to sit, but someone had taken his spot. You had a cat, her name was c/n, and she stretched out across the seat and rolled to show Clark her belly. He reached down and petted her; he had always loved animals. Before he could turn back to the window you looked up and noticed the situation. You laughed, “That means she likes you! Just come sit with me Clark.” You smiled as you scooted over, making a spot for him in the mess of blankets and pillows on the loveseat. You didn’t exactly have a ton of seating room in your small home. His eyes widened as he agreed and stiffly sat beside you. He left his book on the coffee table in front of the both of you as he twiddled his thumbs. “Oh Clark it’s okay, we don’t have anywhere to be. Here! Take this.” You pulled your cow Squishmallow out of the pile of pillows you were practically buried in. “Moo-Moo!” You giggled as you held it up to him. “Did you ever have cows on your farm?” You asked as you set the stuffed animal in his lap, returning to your work.
“Well, we had one or two dairy cows. They were a lot harder to take care of than this little guy.” He smiled as he held the cow up. His large hands held its soft round body gently as he brought it towards his chest to hold. He turned his head to look at you as he heard you rustle, seeing you holding the large blanket up for him.
“There's enough blanket for you, aren’t you a little chilly?” You asked.
“Oh no y/n I’m fine! I don’t want to-" too late. You tossed the blanket over his lap and your stuffed cow. He tried to hide as he lost control of the heat rising to his face as you typed out the last sentence of your article. But he had nowhere to go.
“Finally done! You cheered with a smile. You and Clark turned your heads to each other at the same time. “Time for breakfast!” You paused, noticing how pink he was. “Oh Clark! You’re really red! Are you sick or something?” Sitting your laptop on the table, you didn’t really think much as you climbed over the blanket and pillows to him and placed the back of your hand on his forehead. He froze, nearly crushing the sweet cow he held. He quickly but gently grabbed your hand and placed it back on the blankets you’d climbed over. “I’m okay y/n! I just uh, I- I get hot flashes.”
“Hot flashes? Like menopause?” You laughed.
His eyes widened as he fell deeper into his lie. “Uh yes, I mean, no. I just got really warm all the sudden that’s all-“
“Whatever Clark, you’re so silly. I’ll go start breakfast.” You giggled as you finally stood up from the couch, practically cutting him off. Your toes curled into the soft rug in front of you. Standing on your tiptoes with your arms above your head, stretching your stiff body. Internally, Clark noted how you wore a lose comfortable shirt with soft leggings to match. Clark blushed even harder as he starred at your body from behind. You yawned as you spun around to Clark, who had instantly buried himself in the blanket and shoved his face in your Squishmallow as soon as you turned. “Huh?”
“What?” He muffled.
“Oh nothing you dork. Just hang out here.” You said as you walked around the couch to your kitchen ruffling his hair. The feeling of which he absolutely loved. Your apartment was small, so it was just a few steps to your small kitchen. You hummed as you pulled out two pans from the cupboard. A light breeze ruffled the curtains in your kitchen window, which was nestled perfectly above the sink. You reached over to the windowsill, picking a few leaves off of your basil that grew there. Setting them aside, you gathered your other ingredients. Thick cut bacon, oil, eggs, a package of creminis, blueberries, gruyere, and cheddar cheese. You didn’t make much on a reporter’s salary, but you pulled out all the stops to make an amazing breakfast for you and Clark. He comes over to eat all the time, and you always feel bad just getting take out. In one pan you started your oil for the bacon, and seasoned the meat with pepper and brown sugar. Letting that fry, you mixed your eggs all together with chopped cremini, shredded gruyere and cheddar. You washed your berries and separated them into two small bowls, one for you, and one for Clark. They glistened in the light. “Yay!” You thought to yourself. Taking a second to stand and wait for your bacon to fry, you turned your head to see Clark peering over the counter at you. It was no secret he absolutely loved food, it’s like he was never full. “Hungry huh?”
“Omelets?” He asked.
You smiled, “Yep! How many eggs do you want?”
“Oh, how many do you have?” He asked timidly.
You laughed, “Okay! Four for you.”
“y/n I don’t need all of that, I-“
“I heard your stomach the whole time I was sitting next to you Clark, you’re getting four.” You said, interrupting him again. There he went, being embarrassed again. “I know you, and it’s like you never get full anyway.” You said with a smile.
“Well, I uh, I burn a lot of calories.” He said quickly.
“I know Clark, its okay!” You reassured him. Little did you know its not like he really needed the food, well with the sun around at least.
You continued cooking, pulling your bacon out and frying your omelets. Meticulously chopping your basil and garnishing your delicious pillow-ey egg creation. You laid the bacon out in one corner of each plate, and added the bowls of blueberries as well. “All done!” You said happily, carrying both plates over to the coffee table for you and Clark. “This one is yours, and this one is mine! I really hope you like it.”
He looked up at you with his blue eyes, “It looks wonderful y/n! Thank you so much for making this for me.” He thanked you with a smile. It made you feel all fuzzy inside, making him so happy.
You plopped on the couch, sitting cross legged beside him, he seemed a lot more relaxed now that food was involved. Not taking his eyes off his plate, copied you, crossing his legs on the opposite side of the couch as well. Picking up your plate, you dug into your omelet first, the creamy gruyere mixed wonderfully with the cremini mushrooms. It was like heaven! Clark was beside you enjoying his breakfast- oh, his was already almost halfway gone.
He closed his eyes and smiled as he chewed, “Oh my god y/n, I love you so much-“
“…” You just starred at him blankly as you kept eating.
Clark’s hand flew up, covering his mouth as he starred at you like he was going to die. His face was beet red as he thought of how maybe he should just leave Earth entirely, he messed it all up. Your blank look finally broke, “Pff!!!-“ You doubled over, laughing so hard you thought you’d fall off the couch. “Oh my god y/n I didn’t mean it- I didn’t mean to say that I-“ He stammered
“Oh.” You lifted your head with a frown, “You don’t love me?” Little did he know you were joking.
“No y/n! I do love you I just didn’t mean to say it now, I-“ he continued. You started to smile as you tilted your head to the side watching him freak out, it was pretty cute. You had liked him the whole time too, you just didn’t want to scare him off. So you figured you would just wait for him to finally say or do something, you knew it would happen eventually. You zoned back into what he was carrying on about, “-It’s just you always take care of me and look out for me, and I just love being around you and how you-“ You raised your hand to stop him.
“It’s okay Clark, you can stop,” and you started laughing just as hard again.
“Why are you laughing?” He asked, like he was about to cry. “I’ll just leave and never bother you again” He tried to stand, but you flung yourself across the couch, wrapping your arms around his big shoulders.
“You’re so funny Clark.” You giggled.
“I didn’t mean to be funny, I’m sorry, I-“
Smiling, you stopped him again. “I love you too,” you said, nuzzling your face in the crook of his neck. The chill it sent down Clark’s back was indescribable. His skin was soft, and he smelled handsome, so you just stayed that way. “You don’t have to worry.”
“So uhm, I-“ He started to say.
“Shh Clark, it’s okay. I said don't worry.” You pulled your arms back from over his shoulders, keeping your head where it lay. He jumped as you slid your arms under his, wrapping them around his strong back to hold him even closer. You curled your legs up and scooted yourself even closer to him, rubbing his back in an attempt to soothe him. He always was anxious all the time, especially now.
“I hope you don’t mind hugs” You said with a smile.
He tried to let some of his tension go, "Well I’ve never really gotten them from anyone but my mom but uh. Well I really like them and uh, especially you, right now.” He said nervously. He gently let his hands rest on you, one holding the back of your head and one on your back. Awkward as ever, like he had no idea what to do. You both probably looked really silly with his big arms around your shoulders. Seeing as you weren’t going anywhere, “So y/n, uhm, are you sure you like me back?”
You laughed again. It was a pleasant feeling against him. “Of course Clark. I think you’re perfect.” Smiling, you gave his big body a squeeze, and buried your face even deeper in his neck.
And it took just almost everything Clark Kent had to not up and die then and there.