hi i used to follow you like 5 years ago when i was an am fan and i remember u said u were a nurse and stuff . i was 16 back then. anyways life is crazy cuz i study nursing now lol which i never thought id do. anyways. đ
Well congrats! Itâs a very versatile job. Sadly Iâm burnt out on it. Itâs a job you can give 100% to and still get screwed over so just protect yourself đ
Think I need someone older, just a little bit colder. And by older I mean 500+ years. And by colder I mean he wields shadows. And is a spymaster. Itâs Azriel. I need Azriel.
Summary: You keep crossing paths with Superman during life-threatening situations, but strangely, neither of you seems to mind.
Pairing: David!Clark Kent x F!ReaderÂ
Word Count: 5.K
Warning: General. Fluff, flirting, humor, and romance.
A/N: No movie spoilers here. Thanks to Becca, @broadwaybaggins, and @aninnai for looking this over!
Please comment or reblog if you enjoyed this and want to see more. Or scream at me in my inbox. That always makes my day.
Masterlist ⥠David Corenswet Characters Masterlist
Somewhere in the distance, sirens wail. Metropolis is under attack.Â
Again.Â
Outside the small shop where youâre hoping to land a job, a crowd rushes past in a blur of panic. Itâs hard to believe that only this morning, your biggest worry was whether youâd make a good impression in the interview. Most of the customers cleared out as soon as the sirens started, but you held onto the hope that the interview would still happen and that you might still walk away hired.
A deep, distant boom rattles the building, sending a fine dusting of plaster drifting from the ceiling like ash. That, apparently, is all the receptionist needs to call it a day. She bolts from her desk, headset still dangling from one ear, and vanishes out the front door without so much as a goodbye. And just like that, youâre alone. Well, almost alone.
There on her desk, still bubbling in oblivious serenity, is a small fishbowl. Inside, one goldfish stares at you with its big eyes, its mouth opening and closing. Behind him, a green plastic plant sways with each subtle vibration as the building trembles.
âShe just left you, huh?" you question.Â
The fish stares.
You glance toward the door, then back at the bowl. âListen. I have a very strict no-pets policy at my apartment. And I've definitely killed all the herbs I bought from Trader Joeâs. You donât want to come home with me."
The fish blows a bubble. With a resigned sigh, you scoop up the bowl, tucking it under your arm.
âBut Iâm not just gonna let you die here. Obviously. What kind of monster would that make me?âÂ
You step out into the streets and they are full of shouting and motion. You're regretting choosing heels to appear more professional for this job interview as you wobble your way away from the sounds of chaos. Head down, you plow through the crowd until the mess of bodies begins to thin about two blocks later. Here, the noise dims slightly and the street settles into a tense, uneasy quiet. Still not safe, but calmer.
Your arms ache as the contents of the fishbowl slosh over the rim, soaking your side. You pause, trying to adjust your grip when you spot a tiny terrier-looking dog tied to a tree. Itâs barking, pacing in frantic little circles, its whole body trembling. The street is mostly deserted now, just abandoned storefronts and broken car alarms echoing in the distance. You squint at the dog, then scan the area. No sign of anyone nearby. Surely someone didnât just leave him here.
Or maybe, you realize grimly, they didnât have a choice.
You crouch beside the dog and offer your closed fist, trying to seem non-threatening. The dog eyes you warily, trembling slightly, but after a few cautious sniffs, his tail gives a tentative wag.
Only then do you reach for the leash, fumbling with the knot while doing your best not to tilt the fishbowl too far. It takes a few clumsy attempts before you get the leash free and straighten up.
The dog immediately presses against your leg. You reach down and scratch behind his ears, feeling him relax under your touch. A glint of metal catches your eye, and you spot a golden dog bone tag hanging from his collar. You tilt it toward the light.
âMax,â you read aloud. He barks in return.
âGuess itâs the three of us,â you announce to no one in particular.
You start walking again, leash in one hand, goldfish cradled in the other, making it maybe six feet before an SUV, or whatâs left of one, comes hurtling down from above. It smashes into the street and a second later a figure drops from the sky, landing beside the lump of twisted metal.
There's no mistaking those broad shoulders or the red cape that flutters behind him.
Itâs Superman.
He stands tall, hands on his hips, surveying the wreckage, until his eyes land on you.
"Oh gosh," he says, brows raised, stepping toward you. "Are you okay? Do youâ"
He stops mid-sentence.
His eyes flick down to the goldfish bowl. Then to the trembling dog. Then to your heels. Then back to your face. You stare at each other for a beat.
"You again," he says with an unfairly charming smile that makes two dimples appear on his cheeks.
You're stunned he remembers you. Itâs been a few weeks since that chaotic night when Metropolis was under attack by some kind of giant flaming eyeball. Your interaction with Superman had been brief, just a quick exchange as he helped you and your elderly neighbor down a fire escape. You hadn't expected to make a memorable impression, just one of the city's many citizens feeling in terror. Then again, you had been wearing flamingo-themed pajamas, which, in hindsight, were aggressively pink and wildly unflattering. Hard to forget, probably.Â
"Yeah," you say finally, out of breath, hair sticking to your face. You sound way calmer than you feel. âMe again.â
He grins. âLast time I saw you, you were helping an old woman and herâŠfour cats evacuate the building.â
You shift the bowl in your arms as the dog paces anxiously. That night had been an experience, trying to wrangle four ancient, furious Siamese cats who had absolutely no interest in being rescued, all while making sure Mrs. Nash didnât tumble off the rickety fire escape. You were pretty sure you still had scratches on your arm to show for it.Â
âWell, we canât expect you to rescue everyone and fight the big bad of the week,â you reply with an embarrassed smile. Â
He lets out a surprised little laugh, the kind that makes his dimples appear again. âAnd now youâve upgraded to...a fish and a dog?âÂ
âThe receptionist ditched him,â you explain. âI couldn't just leave him. Or the dog. Someone tied him to a tree.âÂ
Superman tilts his head slightly, eyes steady on yours. âNo,â he says softly, âI bet you couldnât.â
Warmth suffuses your chest, an uncomfortable prickling sensation breaking across your skin. You shift your weight from one foot to the other awkwardly. Itâs a lot being the subject of his entire focus, and youâre all too aware of how sweaty and gross you are. Ugh, youâre covered in fish water too. And he predictably looks amazing somehow, despite fighting intergalactic crime and falling out of the sky. The only sign of any wear on his part is a small smudge of dirt on his cheek.Â
âOkay,â you mutter, eyes dropping for a second. âLetâs not make a thing out of it.â
âOh itâs a thing,â he says before glancing skyward, his expression shifting slightly. âThe Justice League is herding the, uh, giant squirrel in this direction. So you probably shouldnât stay here.â
Then he meets your eyes again. âI can take you somewhere safe.â
You raise a brow. âWell, I do live on 61st and Plymouth,â you say, only half joking. âTenth floor. Little balcony you can just...leave me and my menagerie of pets on.â
âI can do that,â he says seriously
Before you can say wait, what now, heâs already scooping Max into one arm. The little dog immediately starts licking his face and wiggling furiously. Then itâs your turn. A strong arm wraps around your lower back, securing you and the fishbowl against an insanely firm chest.Â
He grins down at you. âReady?â
âNot even a little,â you reply, your shriek of surprise lost to the rush of wind as youâre suddenly airborne.
â
Predictably, the next time you run into Superman, it's during yet another life-threatening alien attack on Metropolis.Â
Itâs only been a month since the whole giant rodent incident.Â
This time, youâre just trying to take Max for his morning walk. Mrs. Kochek, your judgmental downstairs neighbor, gave you an unimpressed once over when you passed her in the hall wearing what could only be described as your âit must be laundry dayâ outfit. Bleach-stained leggings and an oversized hoodie with flip flops. But sheâd also lied to your landlord about the sudden appearance of both a goldfish and a dog in your supposedly pet-free apartment, so you canât hold the glare too much against her.
Your search for Maxâs owner eventually led to a very frazzled woman who explained that Max had belonged to her mother. Thankfully, her mom was alive and well, just recently relocated to the suburbs, far from the daily alien invasions. Max had somehow gotten lost in the shuffle of the evacuation.
The woman offered him up for adoption, saying you were welcome to keep him if you were interested. You told her youâd think about it. That was weeks ago, and now, Max had a dog bed in your living room, matching food and water bowls in the kitchen, and a small army of obnoxiously squeaky toys.
He was staying obviously and so was the fish.Â
âCome on, little guy,â you encourage, jingling Maxâs leash to get him to move on from an apparently suspicious pile of leaves that needed a thorough inspection.Â
You just wanted to make sure Max got a good walk in and burn off some energy before your busy afternoon of job applications. But fate, as usual, had other plans. You barely make it around the block before a patch of sky above you starts to shimmer in that weird way that usually meant something with tentacles or way too many eyes was about to arrive.
Sure enough, a moment later, a terrifying thing emerges with an ear-deafening screech. Luckily, so does the Green Lantern and the rest of the Justice League, streaming by in a heroic rush. You squint up at the scene as a wave of emerald light wraps around the creature. It lets loose an unholy shriek, and a nearby trash can explodes.
âWell,â you mutter, turning to Max and scooping him up, âthat is officially our cue to get inside.â
âSeems like youâve got a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,â says a familiar voice behind you.
You donât even need to turn around.
âOr maybe Metropolis just needs to calm down for five minutes,â you reply, glancing over your shoulder to meet Supermanâs incredibly blue eyes.
âYouâre not wrong,â he agrees with a tired sigh. âWould you like a lift back to your apartment?â He adds.Â
You spin around to face him, lifting a hand to halt whatever superspeed nonsense heâs about to pull.
âNo, thank you,â you say firmly. âI can walk. Not that I didnât appreciate the absolutely terrifying experience of flying through the air.âÂ
Superman chuckles, arms crossing over his chest. âFair enough.â
You eye the glowing battle still unfolding behind him. âShouldnât you beâŠhelping?â
He glances back casually, as if giant tentacle creatures are just part of the morning routine. They probably are, you realize.
âThe Justice League has it covered.â
âWell then,â you say, a little surprised at the boldness in your own voice, âI guess you can walk me home if you like. I promise to leave milk and cookies out for you on my balcony as a thank-you for rescuing me. Again.â
âThatâs Santa,â he says, eyes crinkling with amusement.
âRight, sorry. How about a protein bar andâŠGatorade?â you offer, glancing down as Max tugs eagerly at his leash, tongue flopping out the side of his mouth.Â
âIâve never been one to turn down milk and cookies,â he says after a beat, voice warm.
And just like that, you're walking side by side with Superman back to your apartment. You, in your bleach-stained leggings and fraying sweater, and he, golden and heroic-looking. Itâs surreal. Especially when you pass a young woman pushing a stroller whose eyes go wide the second she sees the two of you together. You canât blame her. You must look like an odd pair.
You tug at your sleeve self-consciously, acutely aware of how disheveled you must seem. But weirdlyâŠyou also feel kind of at ease. Thereâs something about Superman thatâs so genuinely earnest and kind that itâs disarming. He doesnât make you feel small or ridiculous, but truly seenÂ
Itâs easy to forget heâs a world-famous superhero and not just some guy you happened to meet on the street.
âSoâŠâ Superman begins, breaking the silence just as it starts to linger a little too long. âRescued any more pets since we last met?â
âNo, but the dayâs still young,â you reply, completely serious. âIâm thinking maybe a bird. Just to round out the collection.â
You glance at him sideways just in time to catch him already looking at you. There's a hint of amusement in his expression and some other emotion.Â
âWell then,â he says, straight-faced but clearly teasing, âafter I wrap this upâŠwhat did you call it? âBig bad of the weekâ? I'll come by to check out your menagerie and some of those cookies you promised me."
âOkay then,â you say, spinning around to face him as you stop in front of your apartment building. âMax, Bob, and I will be waiting.â
He lifts a single brow, clearly intrigued. You have to bite your lower lip to keep from laughing.
âBob?â He questions.Â
âThe goldfish,â you explain. âHe didnât come with a name tag, soâŠI went with what felt right.â
He opens his mouth like he wants to say something more, but the moment is shattered by a piercing shriek in the distance. You both glance skyward.
âI should help wrap this up,â he says, a little reluctantly, gone in a blur of red and blue as you turn to head back inside.
â
Thereâs a part of you that doesnât really expect Superman to show up on your balcony. But the part that does spends a frantic thirty minutes whipping up your grandmotherâs famous chewy chocolate chip cookies while simultaneously trying to make your apartment look halfway clean. If he doesnât show up youâll still have baked cookies and a clean apartment. Itâs a win-win.Â
Bob watches the chaos from his bowl with his usual vacant stare, occasionally blowing a bubble or two. Max, on the other hand, paces back and forth by the sliding glass door like he knows someone important is coming over. Youâve already tripped over him twice.Â
You also take the time to change into a more presentable outfit and do your hair. Youâre not too proud to admit you swipe on a little mascara and lip gloss too. This isnât a date. Obviously. Superman probably doesnât even go on dates. And if he did, it wouldnât be with someone like you. If the tabloids were to be believed, he was embroiled in a torrid love affair with Batman and Wonder Woman. Which was understandable. The legs on that woman were something you thought about entirely too often.
So lost in through you nearly miss the ding of the oven. You bolt inside, narrowly avoiding a second-degree burn as you yank the cookies out and begin frantically plating them. Once youâre finished, you hear the all-too-familiar whoosh of air followed immediately by Maxâs frantic barking. You look up, spatula still in hand, to find Superman standing on your balcony. Hands folded neatly behind his back, heâs facing out toward the city, politely pretending he canât see into your apartment.
You're almost certain heâs aware of every single thing happening inside, but he doesnât actually turn to face you until you step out onto the balcony, a plate of cookies in hand. Max circles his feet excitedly, tiny paws pressing against Supermanâs red boots.Â
He glances down at both of you with a smile, and you canât help but grin back, your heart pounding so loudly youâre convinced he must hear it. Youâd felt strangely bold when you invited him, but now that heâs here, towering on your too-small balcony, that confidence starts to slip.
âThey smell incredible,â he says, reaching out to take one of the cookies before bending down to scratch Maxâs ears absently.Â
âThanks,â you manage, shifting your weight back on your heels, nerves starting to creep in as you watch him taste it.
He hums, low and pleased, and your stomach flips.
âThese are really good.â
You let out a breath you didnât realize you were holding and take a bite of your own, careful not to drop any crumbs. He reaches for a second cookie, and the two of you share a quiet, amused look until you suddenly remember youâve missed something.
âThe milk!â you blurt, thrusting the plate at him before spinning around and rushing back inside.
When you return, Superman is still standing exactly where you left him, crumb at the corner of his mouth, expression somewhere between amused and confused.
âAnd here I thought I was the fast one,â he says with a crooked smile as you hand him the glass.
âWell, a girlâs gotta keep her promises,â you reply, taking the plate back and doing your best not to stare as he downs the milk in a single, effortless gulp.Â
He wipes his mouth on his sleeve, those bright blue eyes fixed on you with a teasing glint. âYou wouldnât happen to be trying to adopt me, would you?â
Heat creeps up your cheeks, but you manage a grin. âCouldnât afford you,â you shoot back. âMy only job interview ended early when that giant squirrel attacked. Apparently, stealing a fish from the place you want to work doesnât exactly scream âhire me.ââ
Supermanâs expression shifts in an instant, the playful spark in his eyes dims, replaced by concern. A deep furrow forms between his brows as he studies you more closely, milk glass now forgotten in his hand.
âYouâre looking for work?â he asks.
You shrug, trying to brush it off. âYeah. Just...trying to figure things out. Got a fish to feed and Max to keep flush with toys. You know how it goes.â
He hesitates for a moment, as if weighing his thoughts, then steps closer, gaze steady. âI have a friend who works at the Daily Planet. His name is Clark Kent. Heâs a good guy. If you tell him I sent you, he might be able to help.â
âIâm not a reporter,â you reply quickly.
Accepting help always makes your skin itch. It felt like exposing too much of yourself. Youâre half-surprised you even confided in him, but then again, who else could you trust, if not Superman? He had that same calm, steady energy as a priest in a confession booth, like he was honorbound to keep what you told him a secret.Â
âClark knows a lot of people across the city,â he continues. âIf thereâs a job opening somewhere, heâd hear about it. And he could put in a good word for you.â
You fidget with the edge of the cookie plate, trying not to squirm under the weight of his sincerity.Â
He tilts his head, kind but firm when he says, âStop by on Monday, first thing. Bring a copy of your resume.â
Then, as if to really drive the point home, he plants his hands on his hips, elbows out. The red cape billows behind with a well timed gust of wind.Â
âAlright, alright,â you relent, shoving another cookie at his broad chest in mock defeat.
âMaybe bring some of these cookies,â he adds, taking the cookie and finishing it in a single, impressively clean bite. He doesnât speak again until heâs swallowed, mild-mannered, always it seems.
âTheyâre pretty swell. He might enjoy them too.â
âCookies and resume. Aye aye Captain,â you reply.
He grins, eyes bright until something shifts. His gaze drifts past your shoulder, expression sharpening as if he's listening to a sound you canât hear. Whatever it is makes him frown.Â
âAh, shoot,â he mutters with a sigh. âI gotta go. Seems like another creature slipped through the big guy earlier.â
âGood luck,â you say brightly.
He gives you one last glance before crouching to give Max a final round of scratches. âMonday,â he reminds you, voice suddenly serious.
You flash him a big thumbs-up like an idiot and stay on the balcony long after heâs gone, chewing your cookie slowly. Itâs not until later that you realize Superman stole your glass of milk.
â
When Monday morning rolls around, you find yourself standing outside the Daily Planet bright and early, watching the cityâs denizens rush by in a blur of caffeine and purpose. It takes a few minutes,and a few deep breaths, before you finally muster the courage to step into the lobby.
You scan the space for a receptionist but find the desk unmanned. Everyone around you looks far too busy to notice, talking urgently into phones and typing furiously on their keyboards. You smooth down the front of your dress and start plucking Maxâs wiry hairs off the sleeve of your cardigan. No one pays you any mind, and your anxiety quietly grows.Â
The resume in your hand is slightly crumpled, probably a bit damp too. But hey, at least you're wearing flats this time. And, miraculously, the tupperware full of chocolate cookies survived the subway ride unscathed.
With a deep breath, you push yourself forward, one step at a time, until youâre standing in the middle of the bullpen. The only photo you could find of Clark Kent was a small, grainy headshot next to one of his bylines online that wasnât much help.
Behind you, someone clears their throat, and you jump, twisting around to look up.
The man towers over you, a tousled mess of curly hair falling across his brow, thick black glasses slightly askew over striking blue eyes. Heâs handsome in that sweet, nerdy way youâve always been a sucker for. Thereâs also a familiarity to him that catches you off guard. You press your lips together, swallowing hard.
âCan I help you?â he asks kindly.Â
âOh, um, yes. Iâm looking for Clark Kent.â
His brows lift behind his glasses, and his smile widens. âWell, youâre in luck. Iâm him. He is me,â he adds with a chuckle.
You stare at him dumbly trying to think of some way to say âSuperman sent meâ without sounding like a crazy person.Â
âWe have a...mutual friend who sent me,â you manage, immediately cringing at how vague that sounds.
Clark tilts his head slightly, brows raised in polite confusion, clearly waiting for more. You step in closer, lowering your voice, and glancing around to make sure no oneâs listening.
âBig guy. Cape. Really into truth, justice, and the American way.â
Clarkâs expression flickers with recognition. âOh, Superman,â he says casually.
You wince. âYeah. Him.â
âGreat guy,â he agrees, still smiling, as if this kind of conversation happens more often than youâd expect.
âHe said you might be able to help me find a job,â you say quickly, then, realizing how awkward you sound, you thrust the crumpled resume toward him. âI brought this.â
He takes it without hesitation, though youâre certain he notices how itâs slightly wrinkled and maybe a little smudged from your nervous hands. He takes his time reading it with a thoughtful expression.
âI also brought cookies. My grandmotherâs recipe,â you add, holding up the tupperware with a slightly shaky grin.
Clark looks down at the cookies, then back at you, his smile softening. Thereâs something in the way he looks at you that settles the nervous tension in your shoulders before youâve even conscious of it.Â
âWell,â he says, stepping aside and gesturing toward an open corner of the bullpen, âanyone who comes bearing chocolate and references Superman is worth at least a conversation. Come on.â
Three hours later, you find yourself sitting behind the receptionist desk, officially hired on a trial basis. The interview with the editor-in-chief had been mildly terrifying. The manâs resting expression hovered somewhere between irritation and outright disdain, and youâre still not sure he blinked the entire time. But after looking over your resume and raising one skeptical eyebrow at your unique reference, he sent you to HR to fill out paperwork with a stern warning to never be late.
Clark stops by your desk after lunch with a big grin, leaning casually on the counter, arms folded across the top. The muscles in his biceps make the crisp white fabric of his shirt pull and strain in a way thatâs so distracting that you almost staple your own finger before you manage to drag your eyes back where they belong.
âSo, how's your first day going?â He questions. Â
âPretty great. Thank you again for putting in a good word.â
âOh that was nothing,â he says with a wave of his hand. âYou had a good resume, I just got you in front of the right person.â
âWell, I appreciate it,â you say again. âIâll bring you even more cookies next week.â
âThey were pretty amazing,â he says, with a slight tilt of his head. âJust wish Iâd had a glass of milk to go with them.â
That line tugs at your memory, and you pause. A strange wave of deja vu rolls over you, stilling your thoughts. You brush it off a second later, standing up and planting a hand on your hip as you fix Clark with a mock-serious look.
âThat reminds me. If you see our mutual friend, tell him he owes me a glass. Last I saw him, he absconded with mine.â
Clark laughs softly, a genuine sound that makes your chest do something annoying and fluttery.
âYes, maâam,â he says with a playful little salute. âIâll make sure he knows.â
â
Your first month at the Daily Planet is chaotic, but surprisingly fulfilling. The rhythm of the newsroom is oddly comforting with its constant hum of conversation, the clatter of keyboards, and the occasional bark from Perry Whiteâs office. You find yourself looking forward to work each morning.Â
It doesnât hurt that you spend most of your breaks with Clark.
He stops by the receptionist desk often, usually under the pretense of checking in on you for the mutual friend you share. Though more often than not, he lingers, asking about your day and talking about his. Sometimes he brings you one of those buttery croissants from the cafe down the street. Other times, you find yourself making a second cup of hot chocolate and casually dropping it off at his desk like itâs no big deal.
Youâve got a crush on him. Obviously. You catch yourself watching the way he pushes his glasses up when heâs thinking, or how he always holds the elevator door open for others. Heâs gentle, funny in a dry kind of way, and listens like what youâre saying actually matters. Thereâs also a quiet steadiness to him and sometimes, just for a moment, he reminds you of someone elseâŠsomeone you canât quite place.
Still, youâre determined to keep things professional. Of course, any friend of Superman would be kind and welcoming. It didn't mean anything; it was just common decency and plain old midwestern politeness.
And if you happened to gush about him to your apathetic goldfish and overly affectionate dog the moment you got home? Well, that was strictly between the three of you.
â
You donât hear from Superman as the weeks slip past, not that you expected him to stroll through the golden doors of the Daily Planet just to check in on you. But you find yourself a little disappointed, at least until you arrive at your desk to find your missing glass sitting neatly beside your mouse. But itâs not empty. Itâs filled with a small, colorful bunch of wildflowers, the stems slightly uneven. Itâs the kind of thing someone picked by hand, not bought from the store.
âAh, you found the glass,â Clark says, appearing beside your desk with his usual perfect timing. âSuperman asked me to return it for him. Heâs a busy guy, I guess.â
You blink, a slow smile spreading across your face as you bring them to your nose. They smell fragrant and sweet, but not overpowering.
âWell,â you say, eyeing him over the rim of the bouquet, âhe returned it and brought me flowers. Hard to stay mad at a guy like that.â
Clark chuckles softly, then reaches up to rub the back of his neck, an endearing tell youâve seen a few times.
âFull confession, those are actually from me,â he admits, a slow blush creeping across his cheeks and up to the tips of his ears. âMy ma always said you should never return something empty. Thought you might like the flowers.â
A shy, pleased smile spreads across your face as you lower the bouquet. âOh,â you say, a little breathless. âThank you. Thatâs really sweet of you. I love them,â you add.
Clark shifts his weight, slipping his hands into his pockets, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting yours again. âI, uhâŠwas wondering if maybe youâd like to go out to dinner sometime? If youâre free, I mean.â
The question catches you off guard, and you blink at him, wide-eyed, your brain scrambling to catch up with what he just said. Clark takes in your stunned silence and immediately starts backtracking.
âOf course, itâs not a big deal if you donât,â he says quickly, his voice a little rushed. âI just thoughtâŠwell, I enjoy spending time with you. But if Iâve misread anything or made you uncomfortable -â
âIâd love to!â you blurt out loud enough that Jimmy and Steve at the next desk glance over, startled. Even Lois Lane pauses mid-call to arch an eyebrow in your direction. You clear your throat, face burning. âI meanâŠyes. Iâd like that. A lot,â you say more softly.
âThatâs real swell to hear,â he adds with a nod, stepping closer. âThereâs this great little Italian bistro over on 63rd Avenue. Theyâve got a dog-friendly patio, too.â
âMax would love that,â you reply, your grin widening.
âWell, thatâs good. Heâs the one Iâm really trying to impress,â Clark says teasingly.
You laugh, unable to hide how much that charms you. âYouâre off to a good start, then. But I have to warn you, Bobâs the real tough nut to crack.â
âI think Iâm up to the challenge,â Clark replies with a grin.
You meet his gaze, feeling the heat linger in your cheeks.
âGood,â you say, a little breathless.Â
And with that, Clark gives you one last smile and returns to his desk. You watch him for a moment longer, the glass of wildflowers still cradled in your hands, your heart skipping happily in your chest.
If youâd like to see more drabbles about these two, feel free to drop ideas in my inbox!
I have this lurking fear that no one in my life cares about me as much as I care for them. My emotions are too big to be contained within the confines of my heart. They are innumerable.
Summary: You're Bucky's friend, and, yeah, sometimes you sleep together. Why can't he tell you that he wants something more?
Word Count: Over 1.7k
Warnings: FWB, dirty talk, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), referenced oral sex (f. receiving), longing, insecurities, snooping, unrequited feelings (or so he thinks), not communicating, bit of angst, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning and a beautiful idiot, okay?), Bucky's POV.
A/N: A new AU inspired by this nonnie. â€ïž Beta read by the lovely @mumbles411, but any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications as I no longer do taglists. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!
Bucky held you close, your body still warm and your heart racing within your chest. You passed out seconds ago and he couldnât help but smirk as he rubbed your back and stayed buried deep inside you. He wore you out in the best possible way, and his eyes slipped shut as he thought about what just transpired. It was nice being able to remember and not fear that someone would wipe the memories away.
âSo fucking pretty,â he praised, thrusting harder and deeper into you, knowing you could take it. One of your hands fisted the sheets and the other gripped his back. He wanted you to leave marks all over him, the same way you left marks on his heart and soul for him to feel. âI know youâre close. Can feel you gripping my cock like a fucking vice.â
He didnât say being inside you felt like home, as much as he wanted to, and didnât dare breathe that he wanted you to feel the same way. Some things were meant to stay quiet, even when he wanted to scream how much he needed you. If he blurted out anything, he could blame it on the heat of the moment.Â
âPlease, Bucky. I need it,â you moaned when he slowed his pace, purposely dragging it out and making you beg for more. It felt good when you begged, and the way you rode his face earlier tonight told him you were desperate for more than one release. Heâd be the one to give it to you. âPlease, I need you.â
His eyes almost rolled back. Something fragile snapped within him as he rocked his hips, moving as deep as he could. He wanted to be so deep inside you heâd never get out. You needed him. HIM. He needed you, too. More than you knew.
âYou and your greedy cunt trying to milk my cock for all its worth,â he rasped, affection filling his eyes before he blinked it away. âCâmon. Give it to me. Make a mess all over me and the sheets. Just like you did on my face.â
He moaned when you gushed around him with a cry, coating his cock, all while he fucked you through it. It didnât take him long to follow you over the edge, groaning as he finished inside you. He didnât use condoms since he wasnât sleeping with anyone else and neither were you. It was selfish not to use that precaution, but he didnât want anything between you.
And the smile you gave him before you passed out was enough to melt his heart.
He opened his eyes, willing himself not to get rock hard again. But watching and feeling you come apart, your pussy hot and pulsing around him, you babbling his name like a prayer, he wanted to savor it and play it on repeat in his mind like his favorite song. The knowledge that he was the one who drove you to those heights of ecstasy was addictive. He craved you. Heâd never get enough of you.Â
But he didnât call himself your boyfriend.
âFuck,â he whispered, brushing his lips against your forehead in a tender gesture though you werenât awake.Â
He wouldnât say it was an accident the first time you slept together, but it did just⊠happen. The two of you were watching a movie together when you decided to throw popcorn at him. That turned into him pinning you down, jokingly demanding an apology while you giggled and refused. That laugh twisted something in his chest and the next thing he knew his mouth was on yours and clothes were on the floor andâŠ
âThis doesnât change anything, right?â he asked once you were both dressed, your knees touching when he sat beside you.
The words tasted bittersweet and he regretted it the second they left his mouth because everything changed. He knew what it felt like to be inside you, to hear his name tumble from your lips with pleasure. He knew how to make you laugh, and you knew how to brighten his day. You were no longer just friends, but he didnât ask you out either.Â
The hurt in your eyes was obvious, but you asked in a carefully even tone, âYou want to forget it?â
âI donât want to forget,â he promised you, running a hand through his messy hair. How did he always manage to fuck things up? âBecause that wasâŠâ
âAmazing?â you asked hopefully.
âYeah,â he breathed. It was beyond amazing, a completely different level. Pleasuring himself got him off, but his hand couldnât compare to the feel of your tight wet heat. âBut youâre my friend, and I donât want things to change.â
He inwardly winced. Friend. Not a coworker, teammate, or anything of that nature. You were friends. What kind of friend was he to sleep with you and pretend that it was just sex and nothing more? A cowardly one. But he wanted you in his life, however youâd have him. Maybe that was desperate, but what else could he do?
Something unreadable crossed your face before you smiled, making him think he imagined it. âDoesnât change a thing, Barnes.â
His stomach sank and it wasnât fair to feel upset since he was the one who started this. He just thought⊠it didnât matter. âBucky, not Barnes,â he corrected you.Â
You nodded slowly, the air thick and unsure. âBucky,â you whispered, starting the movie over. âDo you think this will happen again?â
He threw an arm around the back of the couch and hoped it would. âIf it does, it wonât change a thing,â he lied.
Everything changed.
Bucky wasnât sure when or how you both fell into this rhythm where heâd call you or vice versa, but you went to each other without question when one of you needed to blow off some steam. He wasnât a complete asshole. He refused to immediately leave afterward. Taking care of you after meant everything, whether it was holding you or cleaning you off. You wanted that closeness, and so did he.
It made it easier to pretend that you wanted him for more than just sex, too.
But the more he slept with you, the harder it was to let you go. If he was at your place, he found reasons to stick around until he had to leave, suggesting to watch a movie or share a meal. If you were at his place, the way you were now, heâd kept a tight hold on you so you couldnât slip away. He always insisted on dropping you off, too, so you wouldnât have to find a ride back to your place.Â
The way a boyfriend would.
Your aura and scent lingered long after youâd leave and Bucky would ask himself when youâd be back. He was living on scraps and stolen moments thanks to his own fucking mouth and inability to tell you how he felt. And he was beginning to starve. It was the kind of hunger that he couldnât satisfy until poured himself out to you with his honesty, no matter what the outcome. You deserved more than just pieces of him, too.Â
So, why couldnât he say the words? Why couldnât he tell you he had feelings for you? Sex clearly wasnât the issue since you two were so compatible, and you two were open when it came to likes, dislikes, and where lines were drawn. There was trust in and out of bed. He enjoyed your company, too. He was able to relax around you in ways he couldnât with anyone else. What was he so afraid of?
That heâd lose you without ever truly having you?
Your phone buzzing on the nightstand beside him got his attention. He frowned when he realized what time it was. It was late. Who was texting right now unless it was an emergency? No, an emergency would be worthy of a call, not a text.Â
Bucky ran a finger along your cheek, making you sigh in your sleep. He couldnât explain why, but his fingers itched to grab it and see who the message was from. That wasnât like him. He wasnât the jealous type. At least, he didnât think he was. Not to mention looking at your phone was crossing a line, he knew that, but he couldnât ignore the feeling in his gut.
âThis is so fucking wrong,â he muttered the second he grabbed it. All he had to do was put the phone down and let you read it when you woke up. That was the right thing to do. But he didnât do that.Â
And curiosity, well, it killed the cat, didnât it?
His throat went dry when he saw the message from a guyâs name he had never once heard you utter. He squeezed the device so hard he almost shattered it. It was the same sort of grip he felt around his heart.
âWe still on for Saturday?â
He gritted his teeth and reread the message. He read it until the screen blurred. It took a minute for him to set it back on the nightstand so he could pull you against his chest and steady his breathing.Â
âYouâre meeting someone on Saturday?â he muttered, knowing he wouldnât get a reply while you were deep in slumber.
All sorts of questions went through his mind, like who the hell was this guy? Why were you making plans with him? You wouldâve told him if you started seeing someone, right? Was he overthinking it, or were you eventually going to your ârelationshipâ with him?
Something cold and bitter crawled through his veins. Did this guy make you smile? Did he make your heart race? Would he know what it was like to make you fall apart? Hold you? Was he the kind of man who could be both your friend and a lover?
As quickly as his jealousy built up it deflated when he gazed at you, his blue eyes filled with pain he didnât bother to mask in the dark. The truth he didnât have the right to know. You didnât owe him any answers. He wasn't your boyfriend.Â
And that was all his fault.
I wonder who messaged you. And I wonder what it'll take for Bucky to not be an idiot and tell you what's what. â€ïž Love and thanks for reading! More to come soon. â€ïž