ship: clark kent x f! reader (established relationship)
content warnings: (sfw) fluff & protective behavior, light possessiveness (consensual & affectionate) work-place tension with raised voices, christmas setting, lois, jimmy, cat, perry and steve cameos
word count: 2k
author's note: kinkmas day 20 🎄
five days until christmas... and five days until kinkmas final. which feels insane to say out loud. this one was written with bitten lips, and full anthony mackie meme energy because protective clark in a newsroom around christmas time? yeah. i folded immediately.
as always, thank you for being part of my little strawberry patch 🍓 i hope this one makes you feel safe, soft and a little feral in the best way.
xo, lae ᯓᡣ𐭩
now playing: baby please come home by darlene love ⋆˙⟡
the daily planet bullpen was alive with it's usual charm and hustle and bussle. phones ringing, typing on keyboards, the ocasional laughter rising above the noise. yet, despite the usual chaos, there was a quiet charm in the air. christmas decor adorned desks and bulletin boards, among their usual clutter. tiny trees blinked with white and multi coloured lights from a small corner, garlands were drapped hapazardly across shelves with candy canes hung from string like festive ornaments. snow fell gently outside, frosting the windows, and coating the outside of the planet's walk way.
the offices' local radio came through scratchy croon of bing cosby singing a holiday tune, giving the room an oddly cozy, old-fashioned atmosphere. you leaned against the edge fo your desk, speaking animatedly to cat, lois, and even jimmy. "i mean... really he's been everywhere these past few days. toy drives, shelters, the fire station this morning... and even stopped by leo's diner before the city woke up, made sure the tip jar was full. it's like he's everywhere, spreading cheer!" jimmy grinned, leaning forward. "sounds like superman's trying to earn extra brownie points for the holidays. i mean, the guy's basically a saint." his own big ear to eat smile brushing across his freckled face.
cat smirked, adjusting her glasses and giving you a pointed look. "oh, so you like him that much, huh?" her voice was playful, teasing but sharp enough to make your cheeks warm. lois, perched on the edge of her own desk, leaned back with her arms crossed and a mischievous glint in her eyes. "careful, clark might get jealous if he hears you gushing like that." you laughed softly, brushing the comment off, though a subtle fluster of warmth spread through you. "i'm just... noticing the good he's done, that's all. i appreciate it." from across the room, steve's plaful voice chimed in with a teasing drawl. "oh yeah, if you like that sort of thing, miss princess."
your smile faltered for just a moment, and you felt the faintest twinge of fluster rise in you chest. clark, who had been standing nearby pretemding to sort through a stack of papers, froze mid-motion. his glasses perched just so on the bridge of his nose, he adjusted them with the tip of his finger, though his eyes never left you. the office around you became background noise—the chatter, the clacking of keyboards, ringing of phones, it all seemed to blur into a soft hum as clark's gaze sharpened, observing every tiny inflection in your expression. you swallowed, suddenly very aware of him and his presence.
three months in, you still felt the little jolt that came whenever clark's attention was fully on you. and today, there was something more. something careful, watchful, protective. "clark." you whispered softly, almost to yourself. "i'm fine." he stepped slightly closer, the air between you contracting in the smallest, unspoken way. "i know." he said, voice low, calm and measured. "i just-i noticed." his jaw tightened ever so slightly, a subtle flash of possesiveness crossing his expression, though he quickly masked it behind the familiar, mild-mannered calm of clark kent. you glanced back at your co-workers, trying to laugh it off.
even cat's knowing smirk couldn't distract you from the tension humming quietly between you and clark. "i think she's fine." jimmy said, his obliviousness to to the silent battle of attention and sublte energy happening right next to him. "she's more than fine." clark murmured under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear. his shoulder brushed yours slightly, a movement so sublte it could have been accidental, but you knew better. your hand brushed briefly against his as you shifted your papers. clark's thumb moved instinctively to trcae a light circle on your wrist,possesive protective, but impossibly gentle.
your stomach fluttered at the touch, warmth spreading through you like the first sip of hot cocoa on a cold day. "clark..." your voice softlu murmured, trying to tease, trying to keep your voice casual. "you don't have to hover." he smiled softly, not enough to reach his eyes. "i'm not hovering." he said softly, a corner of his mouth twitched ina ghost of a smile. "i'm making sure you're comfortable, safe." a blush crept over your cheeks, and you leaned just a little closer, letting your shoulder brush against his. he didn't move away, in fact, he adjusted slightly, draping his arms over the back of your chair in a protective cocoon. it was sublte but deliberate.
the office seemed to melt around you, leaving only the two of you in a quiet bubble amid the christmas office bustle. cat, not missing a beat, tilted her head and quipped. "careful, clark. you're giving off serious santa-with-the-cookies vibes, and it's boderline threatening in the best way." lois, stifled a laugh behind her hand, eyes flickering between you and clark with an unmistakable curiosity. "i get it now." she murmured, just loud enough to be annoying. "you talk about superman like that, and suddenly kent's hovering like a guard dog." steve, completely oblivious, leaned against your desk with a grin. "yeah, it's kinda adorable.
big superhero crush, huh?" before you could even form a response, clark's chair scraped back, loud, sudden. "that's enough." the bullpen quited in an instant. steve blinked, caught off guard. lois' brows lifted, surprise flickering across her face. clark stood there, broad shoulders squared, jaw tight in a way you'd only seen a handful of times, the way it got when someone crossed a line. "you don't get to comment to her like that." clark said, voice firm, no stutter, no awkward kent softness like usual. "not as a joke, not ever." lois opened her mouth, jimmy's comment trying to ease the tension here.
"clark buddy, relax." his eyes snapped up to jimmy. "no!" he snapped himself, sharper now, eyes flashing. "you relax, olsen." a beat of stunned silence followed. jimmy's grin falters, as cat watches with open interest, lips pursed like she was filing this away for later. steve muttered something under his breath and backed-off, auddenly very interested in his monitor. perry's office door cracked open enough for his voice to carry. "kent." he warned, "bullpen." clark exhaled slowly, visibly reigning himself in. "sorry, cheif." the words were polite, the edge beneath them not so much. he sat back down, the chair creaking underneath his weight, but he didn't dare move away from you.
if anything, clark shifted closer to you. your pulse was loud in your ears as you leaned toward him, voice low. "clark..." you murmured, "you didn't have to-" his voice in a low murmur alike yours cuts you off gently, "yes, i did." his hand finds yours under the desk, fingers warm, steady and possessive. his thumb brushed your knuckles once, in a slow grounding way. "it's... complicated." you said quietly, more to fill the space than anything else. clark's gaze softened immediately when he looked at you. the tension drained from his shoulders, replaces by something private. something only you ever got to see. "it's not complicated..." his said under his breath "just mine."
and your breath hitched then, ever so quietly so no one lese could hear his voice, it came. "you know." he murmured, lips barley moving, "i could hear his heartbeat spike from acorss the room." your eyes widened, a mix of shock and heat flooding to your chest. "clark." you warned. "i could hear yours too." he added softly, a dangerous hintog a smile tugging at his mouth. "son't pretend you weren't affected." you swallow, your cheeks pinked. "your using thst agaisnt me." you stated squeezing his fingers. "only a little." he said his thumb pressing more firmly into your hand. "and only because you're safe with me."
outside, the snow had came to a gentle still, snowflakes drifiting lazily past the windows, blanketing into the snow on metropolis' streets in a quiet white field. the office lights had glowed warm and golden, but the heat curling through you had nothing to do with them. "you know..." you whispered, leaning into him just enough for your hair to brush his shoulder, "you're doing a very good job. even without your cape, superman." clark's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "careful." he warned, teasingly. "you know i don't always leave it at home." you laughed softly, your cheek brushing his chest as you leaned closer.
he was solid, steady and unmistakably there. his arm shifted behind you, still protective without being obvious, his own version of restraint. cat smirked from her desk. "wow! someone's taking wprkplace loyalty very seriously." lois rolled her eyes, though there was a small smile tugging her lips there too. "she's glowing, kent. try not to scare the newsroom into thinking you've grown a backbone overnight." jimmy lifted a candy cane like a mircophone. "for the record, i', scared- but i'm also impressed." clark ignored them all, as his hand rose and brushed a strand of hair from your face. tucking it sweetly, behind your ear with deliberate care.
his breath was warm against your temple when he whispered, "i've got you." your fingers intertwined with his, natural as breathing. "for everything." he added quietly. "always, sweetheart." the bullpen noise faded once again, dissolving into a cozy background hum. foreheads brushed, with shared smiles passed between you two like secrects. snow silent as you looked into each other's eyes for the millionth time. bing crosby's voice crooned faintly still on the radio. clark adjusted your scarf once. his touch lingering just enough to make your heart stumble. "i've got you, sweetheart." he repeated, softer still. "and no one else needs to." you pressed into him closer, laughting warmly as a quiet glow formed inside your chest.
"i know." you whispered, "i wouldn't have it any other way, clark." and there, beneath twinking white and mutli coloured lights, surrounded by the smell of ink and stale coffee, with the printer wiring to life and cooling down. surrounded by the snow and frosty ice, with christmas warmth, you knew it was true. the world could be loud and dangerous but also unpredictable. but with your beau, clark kent. you were, protected, chosen, and most importantly his.
author's note cont.
thank you so much for reading this little cozy moment with clark. i had the softest time writing this, snow-outside-the-window energy and all, and i hope it felt like a gentle exhale for you too. thank you for being here, for supporting my writing, and for making this space feel so safe and special.
thank you to my mutuals and readers and passer-byers who've been here, hyping me up, and making this whole kinkmas experience feel so warm and special. writing this felt like wrapping myself in a cpzy sweater and letting clark do what he does best: protect quietly but completely.
all the love,
lae 🍓
Professor Utonium x Fem!Reader | Fluff | 800+ Words
The rain had started in the late afternoon, a slow, steady drizzle that misted over the streets of Townsville, darkening the sidewalks and turning the sky into a sheet of soft gray. But by evening, it had become a full storm—sheets of water pounding against the windows, lightning flickering across the sky, and distant rumbles of thunder rolling through the air like the deep growl of some unseen creature.
You sat curled up on the couch, a thick blanket draped over your shoulders as you stared out at the downpour, mesmerized by the way the raindrops clung to the glass before streaking down in uneven lines. The house felt warmer than usual, the air thick with the comforting scent of vanilla tea and the faint, familiar spice of Professor Utonium’s cologne.
From the kitchen, you heard the soft clinking of ceramic as he finished preparing tea, his usual meticulous self even in something as simple as steeping leaves in hot water. A few moments later, he stepped into the living room, two steaming mugs in hand, his expression as calm and steady as always—though there was a flicker of concern in his warm brown eyes as he glanced at you.
"Here you go, sweetheart." He handed you a mug before sitting beside you, the couch dipping under his weight.
"Thank you," you murmured, wrapping your fingers around the ceramic for warmth.
For a moment, neither of you spoke, the only sounds in the room, the rhythmic drumming of rain and the occasional soft crackle from the fireplace. You took a small sip of your tea, letting the warmth spread through your chest, but it did little to chase away the slight chill clinging to your skin.
He must have noticed because before you could even shift closer, he moved first.
"Come here," Professor Utonium said softly, opening his arm to you.
You didn’t hesitate. The moment you slid into his embrace, he pulled the blanket over both of you, his body heat instantly warming you. His arm curled around your waist, his other hand resting gently on your back, fingers tracing absentminded circles through the fabric of your sweater.
You sighed, pressing your cheek against his chest. Warm. Solid. Safe.
"Better?" he murmured, his deep voice vibrating against your ear.
"Much," you admitted, smiling as you nuzzled against him.
Outside, the storm continued its relentless assault, but within the cozy glow of the living room, it was as if you were in your own little world. The flickering light of the fire cast soft shadows along the walls, the scent of tea and old books mixing with the faint traces of aftershave on his skin.
For a while, neither of you spoke. You simply sat there, wrapped in each other, the silence comfortable and heavy with warmth. Every now and then, his fingers would skim up and down your spine, or his lips would brush lightly against your forehead, little gestures of affection that sent waves of warmth through you.
"I love nights like this," you murmured.
"Mm," he hummed in agreement, his voice tinged with sleepiness. "It’s nice to slow down sometimes."
You knew what he meant. He spent so much time in the lab, buried in research, working tirelessly between his scientific pursuits and raising three energetic little superheroes. It was rare for him to just stop—to exist in the moment, without the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.
"You work too much," you said, tilting your head up to look at him.
He chuckled, the sound deep and smooth. "I’ve been told that once or twice."
"Mhm. And I bet you never listen."
"Not usually, no."
You rolled your eyes playfully, nudging him with your elbow. "Well, you’re listening now."
"I suppose I am." His lips curved into a soft smile, but then, more seriously, he reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear before brushing his knuckles against your cheek. "I don’t always take the time to just… relax. But you make it easy."
Your breath caught for a moment, heart squeezing at the tenderness in his gaze.
"Good," you whispered. "Because you deserve this, too. Not just the girls, not just your work—you."
His grip on you tightened slightly, as if your words had struck something deep inside him. And then, slowly, he leaned down, pressing the softest, sweetest kiss against your lips—barely more than a brush, but enough. Enough to make your fingers tighten around his shirt, enough to send warmth unfurling through your chest like ripples in still water.
"Thank you," he murmured against your lips.
"For what?"
"For reminding me to slow down. And for being here."
You smiled, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth before settling back against him. "Always."
The rain continued to fall outside, but inside, wrapped up in each other’s warmth, it no longer felt so cold.
