Jimmy Olsen — Stuck in the Moment
Pairing : Jimmy Olsen x (she/her) journalist!Reader Word Count : 2.3. Warning : None, I suppose. Sets in Superman timeframe with Jimmy and Eve complications (she deserves better, objectively speaking). Synopsis : Justin Bieber - Stuck in the Moment (Jimmy version). Notes : i've had this in my draft for the longest time cause i couldn't find a device to fix the formatting and check for typos, and now the Superman hype is fading already. hopefully this would find its people just fine. also this officially starts my journey with writing for DCU characters so do send me your requests! please donate to my kofi so I can get a new laptop and write properly cause drafting though phone is hell, i tell you.
“Hi,” Jimmy greets, the rouge on his freckled cheeks rose as he calls her name “good morning,”
She nods, showing a polite smile as she pours her coffee, “morning, Jimmy,”
The boy stood awkwardly, gripping the handle of his mug a little tighter as he debated if he should keep the conversation going, or should he end it here before he made a bigger fool of himself. That sheepish smile was still plastered on his face like a fortress, leaving her with nothing else to do but to watch him in silence. Secretly hoping that those lips of his would utter another word, but just like every other day, Jimmy only lets out a nervous chuckle and retreats to his cubicle.
Her lips pursed in a sour reaction, sipping her coffee that tastes just as bitter as usual.
“That boy is totally smitten by you,” Cat started once she reached her seat.
She rolls her eyes, “don’t even start, Grant,”
“You should see how he stares at you,” she continues “it’s like you’re bigger than Superman. Like you’re the beacon of hope, some sort of a goddess that blessed our world,”
“Never knew Superman is a goddess,” she retorts with a mocking frown.
“You know what I mean,” Cat replies, this time rolling her eyes in return “honestly, why aren’t you two a thing already?”
“I don’t know, why don’t you ask him?”
“Oh, so you’re interested in him, too?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,”
Cat makes a face, teasing, “that’s kinda what you’re saying,”
She turns to her computer, looking annoyed at her teasing, “don’t you have any articles to work on?”
“They can wait,” she answers dismissively before taking a seat by the edge of her desk “no, really, what’s stopping you two? You’d be the cutest couple on Daily Planet,”
The sound of her typing breaks through her silence, ignoring the question thrown by the senior colleague.
In annoyance, Cat presses the power button on her monitor. The blank, black mirror now reflects her exasperated face. She glares at Cat who still has that mischievous smile plastered on her face. Seeing the blonde raised her brows as if silently repeating her question that was left hanging without an answer.
“Gee, I don’t know, Cat. Maybe the fact that we’ve never exchanged any more words than ‘hi’ and ‘good morning’?” she replies at last, now grabbing some pen to write on her note as if showing her just how busy she really is this morning “if he does like me, then he’s doing a very poor job in showing it, and even worse on acting on it,”
Cat shrugs, making a frown, “I don’t know. I think the whole office knows he’s got a massive crush on you. Even Perry was asking if there’s something going on between you two,”
Her head snaps, looking at Cat with a bewildered expression, “he did not,”
“He did,” she argues, bobbing her head up and down “everyone’s talking about it. Everyone,”
“Look, can we just— not make any gossip about me, please? I know that’s your area of expertise, but I’d very much like to be kept in the shadows,” she begs with a sigh, massaging her temple “it’s already hard enough with you feeding me these delusions. I don’t think being the center of discussion in this office would bring me any better peace of mine,”
Cat shrugs, finally moving away from her cubicle, “Hey, I’m just the messenger. Also, it’s not gossip if it’s true,”
“It’s not true, Cat,”
“You two together? No. Him liking you? Definitely yes,”
—-
The rain was pouring outside, and the light from the thunder brightened the now empty floor every time it strikes, yet none of this would break her concentration. Her fingers were busy, trying to catch up with the speed of her brain as she tried to piece the best words to deliver her article. She knew that she could just continue this later. Return to the comfort of her apartment before opening her laptop and resuming the work. It’s not like Perry is putting her under any pressure, anyway. She’s delivered brilliant articles for her columns all this time. If anything, rest and vacation are something she’s greatly encouraged to take. But when that splurge of adrenaline and idea strikes, she knew that she could never rest until it’s all poured down to her computer.
The lift dings as it opened its door. Jimmy’s brows knit as he realized the lights weren’t fully off at this hour. He was too caught up in the record room, trying to find some supporting evidence for an article he was working on that he lost track of time. He didn’t even realize that there was a shower outside until he found himself out of the room.
Jimmy’s track was put to a halt as he saw the person who was still occupying her cubicle. Her back was facing him, no way to tell if she’s aware of his presence now. She looks like she’s dead focused on her work too, and now he doesn’t know how to make his presence known.
Should he say something? Should he make a sound and clear his throat? Should he just take his things and leave quietly?
Before his brain could properly decide on an action, his feet moved themselves and clumsily tripped to the floor, “shit,”
“Hello?” she says as she stood from her seat, startled to hear to commotion “who’s there?”
“It’s just me,” Jimmy answers as he stands, dusting his clothes with a slight wince “just me,”
“Jimmy,” she calls, looking surprised to see him “what are you doing here? I thought everyone left already,”
“Had to dig something in the record room. Took me a while to find them,” he answers as he shows the stack of books in his hand “what are you still doing here?”
She shrugs, “just need to finish this article before the words evaporate from my mind,”
“Right,” he nods, shuffling nervously on his feet before he walks to his own cubicle “well, I.. uh, I won’t keep you, then. I promise I’ll be quiet,”
She smiles at him, watching as he hurriedly takes a seat whilst still steal glances her way, “are you going to continue working?”
“Uh, no, I’m too tired to continue tonight,” he says, turning the seat to face her “but it’s pouring outside, and I don’t have a ride, so I’m just gonna hang here for a bit,”
“Right,” she nods to herself, looking at the window “I didn’t even notice it was raining,”
Jimmy watches her intently, his heart hammers inside his chest, “do you still have a lot to work on?”
“Not really. Just a couple last sentences I have to type, and I’ll be done with it,” she answers “but I don’t have a ride as well, so I guess I’ve no choice but to wait the rain out,”
“Right,” he says this time, nodding as he awkwardly taps his foot.
Now silence fell upon them. She was still standing by her cubicle, while he still glances at her timidly. Neither of them knew what’s to do next. The easiest way would be to just return to their own spaces, ignore the other’s presence until either of them decides to leave the room first, but neither seemed to be willing to close this window. It’s like they’re waiting for the other to do the first move, to say the next word, yet neither is brave enough to take the leap.
Eventually, she nods to herself before turning to her cubicle and sits back. Her back now faces him, making the bitterness grow a little in Jimmy’s heart. It was embarrassing enough for her to stand there like a clown, waiting for him to say something when he doesn’t look like he wanted to prolong the conversation. Saying another word would only make her look desperate, she thought. But in Jimmy’s mind, he was waiting for her to say something. His unexpected presence must’ve already been such an intrusion. Saying the wrong word would only burn his chance of basking in this rare, lonely moment, and he would rather chew his own foot than ruin such moment.
“Do you want some coffee?” Jimmy finally says with all the courage left he could muster, standing from his seat “I can make you some, if you’d like,”
She turns her chair to face him, “how bout some tea, instead? It’s pretty late,”
The boy grins, nodding as his feet starts to take him to the pantry, “one and a half teaspoon of sugar, right?”
“Yes,” she says, an impressed smile curled on her lips “how do you know?”
“Just a hunch,” he says with a shrug, smiling with such cockiness now.
She finds it hard to bite her grin as her fingers start to type the last bit of her article. Her cheeks were warm, probably red from all the nerves that she could only hope would be overshadowed from the dim lighting of the floor. She could see Jimmy from behind her monitor, his back facing her as he waits for the electric kettle to boil. His head sneakily turns to see her at times. Lips still curled in a smile as he does. Boy, isn’t he a candy.
When he finally placed the mug of hot tea on her table, the redness on his face was almost reaching his ears. He still looks nervous, but he chose to stay by her, leaning against her table as he holds his own cup of tea.
“Still not done?” he asks gently.
“No, I’ve finished it. Sent it to Perry just now,” she answers, taking a sip of her tea “thank you for this,”
Jimmy chuckles, “it’s just some tea,”
She smiles, watching the boy intently as she tries to make note of all the creases on his face when he laughs.
The boy puts down his drink, tapping on the handle as he weighs his next words, “listen, I— I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but, uh, people have been talking about us,”
Her smile dilutes, lost in the direction of the topic he’s bringing up.
“And I, uh, I’m really sorry if it brings you any sense of discomfort. You know how people love to gossip,” he continues, his nervous chuckle decorating his words “I just— I mean, if I could, I’d shut them all up, but I only have two hands and there’s like hundreds of mouths here,”
Her expression turns serious, slightly frowning as she asks, “what gossip?”
“I— you know,” Jimmy stutters, turning completely red by now “that I like you,”
“There’s such gossip?”
“Y-Yeah, I thought Cat told you about it, already,”
Her lips pursed, “And it’s just gossip?”
“I mean— I—,”
“There’s not truth in that, whatsoever?” she pressed.
“No, I— fuck,” he curses, covering his face in frustration and running his hands through his hair “it’s complicated,”
Her brows furrow, looking confused now, “I don’t think there’s anything complicated in stating if there’s any truth or not in that gossip,”
“It’s just that— I like you, okay? I really, really like you,” he confesses at last, looking desperate to have those words out of his chest “you have no idea how much I like you. You can tell me to punch Superman on the face, and I’d do it, kind of like you. But it’s just that— it’s just— fuck, it’s complicated, okay?”
“What, it’s not like I’m asking for a marriage, or anything,” she says with a chuckle.
“Yes, but you deserve someone who can fully commit to you,” he cuts in, his eyes filled with regret “and unfortunately, I’m not that person. Not right now,”
She tries to digest his words, looking at his defeated expression with a sigh, “ex-girlfriend?”
“No, not an ex-girlfriend,” he shakes his head in regret, sighing “but something like that, yeah,”
She nods to herself, retreating her back to her seat, “I see,”
“It’s just that— I can’t tell you anything right now, and I don’t know when I can, honestly, but I can’t stop my feelings either, and I just— I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me from all these gossips, that’s all,”
She stays silent, waiting for him to finish his words.
“I really, really like you,” he repeats as if saying those words frees him from some sort of mental bindings “and I would like to get to know you better, but I can’t promise anything. At least, not for now,”
Her finger circles the rim of her mug, “so what now? What do we do with that?”
“I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me,” he says with a defeated sigh “but if you’d let me, if you’d be fine with just taking things casual for now, then I’d really like to get to know you better while I finish detangling this messy knot I have behind me,”
She pursed her lips, weighing on her options.
“It’s all up to you,” he says again.
She taps her finger to the table now, mimicking the ticking of the clock as she weighs her options. Jimmy was evidently begging with his eyes, desperately hoping that he would be given this unlikely chance even though he knew he didn’t deserve it. Not when he hasn’t cleaned up the mess he left outside.
“Alright,” she finally says, making Jimmy to gulp in nervousness “baby steps. We can just get to know each other first and see where this goes,”
Jimmy’s grin blooms, ecstatic, “really?”
“Who knows, maybe in the middle you grow tired of me and realized you don’t need to end things permanently with that girl,”
“I highly doubt it,” he comments, rolling his eyes “the only concern we should have here is how to make you like me,”
“I don’t know, I think you’re doing pretty okay so far,” she teases “a little frustrating with all the self-sabotaging actions, but fairly okay overall,”
The boy nods, still beaming, “you won’t see that version of me again, I promise,”
She smiles back, bobbing her heard in agreement, “I like movies. You can take me out for it sometime,”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jimmy answers dully “the cinema workers are gonna be so sick of seeing us soon,”