Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started, as any day in the Fortress did, with a perfectly made egg sandwich, complete with carefully flaked smoked fish he’d gotten from a local (as local as things could get at the Fortress) fish monger. He settled into his favorite chair and dialed up the daily video call to Jimmy and Lois as he had every morning for the past 2 weeks.

Krypto had let himself outside, most likely to make his daily rounds— like a stray cat who enjoyed the kindness of all the strangers who left food out for it and gave it pets. The dog had come with the Fortress, and had all the inherent chaos of a category 5 hurricane, and the inherent affection for people as a therapy dog. Clark had no sooner stepped foot inside for the first time when he had been slammed into at full force by a flying, wiggling mass of white fur and covered in slobbery, ecstatic dog kisses at superspeed. His parent’s holograms had laughed at them. 

And so he suddenly had a dog. A dog he could not trust enough to take to Metropolis yet and felt too bad leaving behind. Even if Krypto had been on his own up here for the past 22 years.

Jimmy and Lois’ faces popped up on the screen, their presence washed away some of the inherent loneliness of the Fortress, he’d see them after the meeting of course, when he headed back to Metropolis for a few hours to work. But he missed them. He missed waking up with them and walking down to Kari’s.

“Hey Clark!” Jimmy grinned. “How’s the arctic?”

“Cold.”

“How’s the dog?” Lois smirked.

“Energetic.” Clark replied tiredly. “Training is going—” Clark glanced up at the clatter of something in the entryway. He heard paws storming through the hallway, a sudden blur of white and a chilly breeze scattered his notes as his sandwich was expertly plucked from his hand. "Well."

Clark sighed. 

Jimmy and Lois cracked up on the other end of the line.

They chatted for a while, as Clark made a second sandwich, and tossed a puzzle ball he’d molded from steel to keep Krypto distracted for a few seconds. 

“Uh, Clark?” Jimmy looked at the space above Clark’s head, worried. 

“Yeah?” Clark looked up, dread crawled up his spine as a thin line of drool slowly descended from on high.  

Krypto wagged his tail in a gentle loop, the steel ball grasped in his mouth, as though he were any other dog with a favorite chew toy. They made eye contact, Krypto’s entire being lit up and he promptly dropped the steel ball on Clark’s face with an excited little bark before tearing off down the hall. 

Clark caught the ball as it rolled off his cheek before it could leave yet another crater in the floor. 

“Hey, at least he didn’t eat it this time.” Lois offered with a laugh. 

Clark glared flatly into the camera. “Don’t tempt him.”

Clark sat down in front of the screen and took a deep breath. And another. He glanced at the camera to make sure there was nothing in the hall behind him and, restlessly, got up and tidied up a few small puffs of fur on the floor. 

Clark had run across most of them; Batman had saved him from accidental kryptonite poisoning (and had his manor broken into for the trouble), Wonder Woman had chased a swarm of creatures halfway to Metropolis and, after she had tied up her own weapons, launched him. And he’d narrowly avoided a full-speed collision with the Flash two weeks later (The Flash took it well, and invited him for pizza and a race afterwards). The only ones he hadn’t met were Aquaman, who was rumored to be grumpy, and the Martian, who had a reputation for being both ruthlessly distant and an actual marshmallow of a man. 

He listened for the rubbery squeak of Krypto's teeth on the frozen treat ball and he could only hope it would keep the dog busy long enough to get through the meeting. 

He took another deep, steadying breath and joined the call. 

Five faces stared at him in silence. Clark just waved, his smile too wide, and he could see stress lines at the corner of his eyes. 

“It appears we are all present.” Batman intoned gruffly. The call fell silent again. 

“Men.” Wonder Woman rolled her eyes. “I am Princess Diana of Themiscara, though most refer to me as Wonder Woman.” She glared at the Flash, who was munching on a bagel. 

“Oh hi I didn’t think we were doing names now? Are we doing names now?”

“No.” Batman growled.

“Okay! Then I’m the Flash. Hi.”

“I am Arthur, King of Atlantis.”

“Batman.”

“J’on, though many refer to me as the Martian Manhunter.” 

They all stared at Clark. “I’m Superman?” He offered. 

“Are you in an ice cave?” The Flash blurted. 

“Uh? Sorta?”

“Cool.” The Flash smirked. 

The meeting progressed from there slowly. Each of them inched towards being allies with small, awkward steps, and Clark relaxed into observing them, grateful that for all his carefully maintained distance and paranoia, Batman steered the conversation away until Clark felt a little more comfortable.

But it could not be avoided for long. 

“What do you think, Superman?” Wonder Woman asked, her gaze razor sharp, it reminded him a little of Lois and a sharp pang of homesickness shot through his chest.

“I think it’s a good idea. There’s a lot out there that—” He glanced at his box in the corner of the screen as Krypto pranced down the hall, Clark’s boot held proudly in his mouth. Clark turned to look and pressed his head to his palm in utter exasperation. “One moment please.”

He stood up, his face carefully serious. "Can I have that back please?"

Krypto bounced excitedly and took off with a snort. 

“Krypto, no. Put my boot down.” 

The dog ran faster. They zipped back and forth through the hall for a moment before Krypto took off into the heart of the Fortress. 

“Come on, please?”

“He has a dog?” Wonder Woman peered through the camera hopefully, as if changing her position would reveal more of Superman’s Fortress, and possibly the canine it contained. 

“It’s new.” Batman said flatly. He watched a white blur zoom across the screen, followed by a red and blue blur and a crash. 

“Come on. Give it to me.” Superman’s voice echoed. “Do you want a treat? A nice little treatie wheatie?”

There was the clatter of pans. The dog erupted into view again and dropped the boot on the desk so he could lick the camera. 

“Do not eat the camera.” Superman scolded. Krypto grabbed the boot again and took off after a playful bow.

“Darnit.” Superman followed the dog offscreen. “Come back here this instant young man!”

J’on laughed, a hand politely over his mouth. The Flash flickered and reappeared with a bag of popcorn. The Batman pinched the bridge of his nose to hide his own smile as Aquaman smirked. Wonder Woman tried hopelessly to get a better view.

“Come on, buddy. We’re friends, right? I’ll give you a treat if you— My first aid kit!” Superman exclaimed offscreen. “How even—? That was inside my cape!”

Krypto reappeared a few seconds later, a swath of gauze stuck to his paw, bright red boot still clutched proudly in his jaws. He wagged his tail as Superman slowly crept up and knelt in front of him. 

“Please give my boot back.” Superman begged tiredly. He perked up with a sudden idea and reached for the sides of the dog’s head with wiggly fingers and a cacophony of undignified tickley noises. He held his hands up with a dramatic gasp. 

Krypto dropped the boot to huff excitedly at Superman.

“Yes!” Superman reached for it triumphantly. 

Krypto snatched the boot back and took off again. 

“No!”

They proceeded to play chase for another five minutes before Superman carried the dog back into view, one boot (now with teethmarks) on his foot, and the other clad only in the attached sock of his suit. He sat back down, the dog held in his lap. 

“Sorry about— Mhf!” Krypto squirmed around and stuck his nose into Superman’s open mouth. Superman pulled back and glared at the dog, Krypto stared back happily and licked him across the eyes, his tail wagged. “Krypto, that's rude. I am so sorry about the interruption.”

“Your dog is very cute.” Wonder Woman smiled hopefully. “When we have a meeting in person, you will bring him.”

“He—Oof” Krypto stood on Superman’s leg to climb up on the desk, Superman peered around the dog's legs hopelessly “Are you sure you want that?”

“I had a goat on Paradise Island. We caused much trouble together in the days of our youth, she is much beloved.”

Krypto hopped back into Superman’s lap and then bounced down hard enough to create another small crater as he bolted back down the hall.

“Are you sure?” Clark asked again. Krypto reappeared on the screen behind him with the entire safe full of treats, and Clark spun around. “Krypto no!”

Chapter Text

Jimmy waved the stick in front of Krypto’s face, “Look at what I brought. All the way from Metropolis! What do you think, wanna give it a try?”

Krypto barked and gave a full body wiggle, his wagging tail kicked up a swirling tornado of snow that blew across the vast tundra.

“You’re such a good boy! Ready?” Jimmy cocked his arm back, the dog bounced excitedly. Jimmy faked the throw and sighed as the dog stared through him, his eyes a softly glowing teal. “Yeah okay. That’s not gonna work. Clark, does he have heat vision too?”

“I have no idea.” Clark shrugged. “Probably.”

“Cool.” Jimmy patted the dog’s head. “Alright buddy, for real this time.”

Jimmy tossed the stick as far as he could.

Krypto took off fast enough to knock both of them back as he bolted after it, and past it, with every ounce of exuberance in his chaotic little soul. 

“Krypto?” Clark stared into the distance, all alone in the cold, arctic darkness. “Pup?”

He heard it first. The unmistakable drag of heavy metal on rock, and then ice, a looming shadow grew out of the horizon that slowly took shape. 

Clark and Jimmy glanced at each other nervously. Mountains reformed into smokestacks, what seemed like lichen in the dim light became vast splashes of rust, the hushed cascade of sand threaded through the screech of moment like the melody of a rock song. 

Krypto was just a white speck against the massive freighter as he dragged it closer and Clark could do nothing but stare in horror. 

Krypto hauled it all the way to them and sat down, clearly proud of himself, not even the least bit winded from his feat.

“I threw a stick! That is not a stick!”  Jimmy scruffed the fluff under Krypto’s ears as he laughed. Krypto wagged his tail and gave him a big kiss right across the face. “Good boy! Such a strong doggo!” 

Jimmy pressed a kiss to the dog’s forehead, which the dog took as an invitation to tackle him and soak his face with kisses.

“Jimmy?” Clark asked warily, “You good?”

Jimmy pushed the dog’s mouth away, “It's fine. He’s being gentle.”

Krypto flopped down on Jimmy’s shoulder with a happy sigh.

“Jimmy!”

Chapter Text

“Claaarrk?” Jimmy peered up at the ship in slight horror, he pulled his camera over his face in one swift motion and snapped a picture, which he peered at in disbelief. 
“What is it?” Clark asked slowly, he glanced up at Krypto’s haul and froze.“How? Why that one?”
Krypto barked and wagged his tail. 

Clark, now clad in his Superman suit, stepped into the DNR office as quietly as he could. What few quiet conversations there had been fell silent instantly, everyone, save for one unflappable old man knitting in the corner, stared at him, as if starstruck. It felt for all the world like he was floundering through his first few days of rescuing people publicly all over again, and this time there was no city to get used to him. 
“Um, hello?”
The secretary stared at him in shock. 
“Hi?”
“I need to make an appointment. My dog um… Well, er, my dog fetched the Titanic.”
The secretary blinked at him blankly.
“Your dog fetched the Titanic?” She repeated slowly. 
“I looked up where to report found shipwrecks and it said to come here?” Clark scratched the back of his neck. “I know it’s not a normal way to find a shipwreck, but I … uh… I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Your dog fetched the Titanic.” She shook her head and blinked, “Well, yes, I guess that is kind of an us problem. I will have one of our officers available in a few minutes. Feel free to take a seat.”
Clark nodded and, every eye focused on him, made his way to an empty seat beside the old man. Where he sat, hands awkwardly in his lap, eyes focused on his hands. 
The room, save for the steady click of needles, was dead silent.
“Um. What are you making?”
“A scarf for my grandkid. Kids these days don’t respect the winter. Figure if I made it they might just wear it.” 
Clark nodded. Though he had no idea what to say, and the room was still uncomfortably hushed, too many eyes aimed at him. He drew his cape over his legs like a blanket and tapped his fingers on his knee.
“Superman?” A tired-looking DNR officer called. Clark leapt up, relief shivered through his soul like the sun upon a thick patch of fog. 
“My name’s Officer Tom. I’ll be on your case today.” The officer said with a grin and a wink. Clark followed him to a cubicle.
“So, you have a dog?” Officer Tom asked.
“Yes.”
“A Kryptonian dog? Like you?”
Clark melted a little. “Yes.”
“Who stole the Titanic?” Tom asked incredulously. 
Clark sank a little further, “Yes. We were playing fetch and he…” Clark waved his hands uselessly.
Tom burst out laughing. “Well, isn’t this is one for the record books!” He leaned over his cubicle, “Hey! Hey Ryan! Superman’s dog stole the Titanic!”
“Really? He has a dog?” Ryan popped up over the wall, “Do you have a picture? Can I see?”
Clark took out his phone and scrolled through until he found a shot of Krypto that didn’t reveal Jimmy, Lois, or his space parent’s holograms and wasn’t a fluffy white blur.
“Aww.” Ryan cooed, “He looks like a husky. This is my cat, Luna.”
Ryan flipped his phone around to show Clark an outrageously fluffy black cat perched atop a shelf like a queen. 
“She’s very cute.”
Ryan switched the photo, revealing a retriever mix chest deep in a puddle of mud, “And this is Peter.”
“Heh! Krypto does that too.”
“Really?”
“He likes to roll in my clean sheets immediately afterwards.” Clark nodded with a tired smile. The officers laughed.
“Peter does that to me all the time! Show him your ducks, Tom. And your squirrel!”
“Yeah, Tom, show him your ducks!” Someone from the next cubicle over chimed, though they did not pop over the other wall to fully join the discussion. Clark could hear them grumbling about algae blooms as they typed. 
Clark looked hopefully at Tom, who sighed with a smile and pulled out his phone to show a small family of mallards (astoundingly enough in a perfect row) and a baby squirrel tucked into a sock. 
“I’m a licensed rehabber.” Tom explained with a shrug, “I always have critters around.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Clark smiled, the memories of all the critters his parents took in when he was growing up hung behind his teeth. It was too much to share. 
“I know right? The Squirrel’s name is Becky. My husband took her out for an education program today, but she usually hangs out with me. Anyways. We have a titanic of a problem to solve.”
“Yes.”  Clark’s grin faded,“Do I… Do I put it back? Give it to a museum?”
“It’s a bit big for a museum. But I hesitate to say put it back. Those things release all sorts of toxic shit in the water.” Tom tapped his chin, “Ryan? You’re a water guy.”
“Yeah, no, don’t put it back.” Ryan frowned, “Maybe we should call Preservation? Is it someplace it can chill for a while?”
Clark chuckled. “Yes.”
“Cool. We’ll get back to you when Preservation gets back to us.” Tom gave him a thumbs up. 
“Thank you. Sorry for all the mess.” Clark tuned his hearing back to the area around the building and winced; the lobby had been overrun with people wanting him. “Sorry.”
“Eh.” Tom waved carelessly, “Honestly this is way more fun than what we usually have to deal with. If you want I can walk you out the back way.”
“Thank you.” Clark breathed out a sigh. He followed Tom to a small grey door at the end of a shadowy hallway, where one solitary light flickered in a way that reminded him of the haunted house games Jimmy and Lois liked to play. 
“The garbage patch disappeared 15 years ago.” Tom stated quietly, one hand on the door.
“Er…” Clark looked down and scratched at the back of his head.
“It caused quite the fuss in the community.”
“Sorry.” Clark slumped. It had been the third thing he’d done after he discovered his powers, and the first time he had almost been caught. 
“What the hell do you mean sorry, kid? It was a huge relief for all of us.” Tom shrugged,  “You’re doing good, and you’ve been at it for longer than we know. It’s making more of a difference than I think people can tell just yet. So, y’know,” Tom patted Clark’s shoulder with a smirk, “don’t feel bad that your dog stole the Titanic.” 
Tom cackled again as he opened the door. 
“Seriously. Thank you. And be safe out there, Superman.”
“I will.” Clark waved with a smile. 

“Lois? Jimmy?” Clark peered into the doorway. The Fortress had been shredded. Blankets and the remnants of chew toys, both fabric and steel, were scattered through the halls. Blankets had been dragged and dropped like bird’s nests after a storm, stuffing blew slowly through the hall like tumbleweeds in a Western and a squeaker wheezed sadly under his foot as he stepped inside. “Krypto?”
Lara flickered into view, one finger held in front of her mouth. She silently led him through the Fortress and nodded towards the couch with a small smile. 
Jimmy and Lois were slumped together on the couch, a holey squeaky toy still clutched in Lois’ hand. Krypto was stretched out quietly over their legs, Jimmy’s hand threaded through his thick fur. Someone had covered them all with a blanket.
Jor El was perched on the arm of the couch, watching a documentary about the Grand Canyon on Clark’s laptop with a small smile that grew when he saw Clark. 
Krypto raised his head and wagged his tail quietly.
And what else could Clark do? He settled on the floor and let his head rest against Lois and Jimmy’s knees as the weariness of the day finally caught up with him. Krypto’s head settled ever so gently on top of his as he slowly drifted to sleep. 
“Good boy.” He muttered, lifting one hand to rest between Krypto’s ears.