787/Daily Difference

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Daily Difference
Date of Scene: 27 March 2020
Location: Lois Lane's Apartment
Synopsis: Clark brings carryout, Lois brings memories.
Cast of Characters: Clark Kent, Lois Lane




Clark Kent has posed:
It might have been a bit of a surreal day for Lois at work. Clark wasn't there at all - because he'd been hit in the head by a car door and everyone saw it. Him coming in to work would be /crazy/. Normally Lois would probably have agreed with that. How things change.

Towards the end of the work day, though, Lois's phone chimes, Clark's goofy face from the picture that pops up when he calls smiling up from the surface of the phone. The text? 'My head's feeling better. Mind if I come by tonight? Let me know when you're home! <3'

Lois Lane has posed:
With Clark 'resting' at home, Lois was left with the workload. A busy day, sure, but that just meant it flew by. She hadn't even noticed the clock by the time that she got the text. The phone's chirp catches her attention and she shifts in her chair to retrieve it. There's a warm smile at the sight of his face and the accompanying message.

'Glad to hear you're feeling better. Leaving work in a few, I'll text you when I'm home. Love you.'

Clark Kent has posed:
A little bit of time passes, but not much, from when she lets him know she's headed home. The reply is simple:

"Mexican or Chinese?"

Lois Lane has posed:
While normally this choice makes sense, Lois finds herself grinning like an idiot at the suggestion. It almost felt like cheating somehow. Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she taps a quick reply.

'Mexican. Bonus points if you get extra tortillas.'

That was one thing she'd never even thought about before. There were some perks that came with the territory. The date on the beach had reminded her that there were, after all, things she couldn't have expected. She let that go to date Clark and now cuisine from far across the world was suddenly a lot closer. She tucks her phone carefully back into her purse and heads off to drive home.

Clark Kent has posed:
One can't just grin like a smitten idiot at work and not expect to be noticed. Perry's passing through, handing out a few envelopes to some of the other workers, and he gives Lois a bemused look as he passes her. "Hot date?" He asks, with a lift of brows, but doesn't push about it, just heads off back to his office, whistling to himself.

Unaware but playful, Clark's text reply agrees with this: 'It's a date!'

Lois Lane has posed:
"Something like that," Lois says, though at this point it's more to herself rather than to Perry in his retreat. The grin doesn't fade as she walks towards the exit of the building, a little spring in her step. It's /nice/. And there's something worth going home to.

'Headed to the car,' she texts. 'Don't be late!'

That had never been possible. Even with Clark's secret, there's no way he would ever allow himself to be late. He's got a strong sense of manners which Lois is pretty sure stem from his parents--she might just have to thank them for that later.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark isn't late: he intentionally arrived around the same time that she got home. Enough time for her to get inside and settled before he showed up on the doorstep. He doesn't have a key, so he knocks outside, using the side of his arm, since his hands are full with the food he's carrying. Three takeout bags, containing a nice little feast for the two hungry adults.

Clark's got a bandage on his head, his usual overcoat, rumpled button up under it: a complete throwback to every time Lois has seen Clark over the years up until the last week. As if nothing had changed at all.

Lois Lane has posed:
As soon as she hears the door, Lois heads over to get the door for him. Swinging it open, she steps out of the way to allow him inside. Even his appearance, the usual appearance that she'd been seeing for days, gets a tiny smile. "Thanks for picking up dinner. You have a good day at home? I trust you relaxed."

There's a bit of a tease... she's pretty sure he didn't just sit around all day.

Clark Kent has posed:
"Very relaxing," Clark agrees with a softened laugh in the hallway. He moves to pass by her, but doesn't entirely make it, he pauses there, hands still full, and then leans in a little: a warm, hopeful little show of body language to offer a kiss if she'd like to meet him partway on it.

"And a meeting with Captain Marvel and Green Lantern. Less relaxing. But necessary." Clark has slid out of 'character' as Clark almost the moment he'd entered the apartment, losing the slouch and allowing his tone to drop into his chest more, but otherwise, it's a familiar Clark still there.

Lois Lane has posed:
With the door shut and them left in privacy, Lois leans in and meets him the rest of the way with a soft kiss. It lingers for half-a-second, then parts so that she can give him the space he needs to go set the food down. She heads to the kitchen as well to go get the necessary plateware and utensils.

"Sounds like you did get to some work today. Everything okay?" She pauses. Obviously not, if he had to have the meeting. "Or is this the kind of thing you'd like me to distract you from." There's a wry smile. "I'm pretty good at being distracting. Years of practice."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark nods slowly. "While it was good to see old friends again..." because Clark is old friends with Captain Marvel and Green Lantern, obviously--- "There's investigation into some of the events of Genosha. I was able to put them together, to work a thread." That's Superman talking now, more than anything. It's a calm explanation of something that is happening, without fear, but a lot of seriousness. "We'll have to see what comes of what Green Lantern can discover. But it may bring some answers."

Clark sighs but then smiles, laying out the food on the table. "I have enchiladas of beef, tacos al pastor, which is pork, with elote, salsa and guacamole," Clark explains, as he goes through it. His pronunciation suggests he speaks Spanish with some fluency. No point masking that anymore. "And your extras, Lois." He remembered.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Well, if you need me to poke around for some answers somewhere, you let me know," Lois is only half-teasing. She's well aware that it is entirely possible that in some situations she could get places that Superman or maybe even Clark couldn't. She sets the plates down where it'll be easy to serve food up onto them, the utensils following suit.

"You realize you're going to be the one to get takeout every time now, right?" She grins. "You've spoiled me for good." She moves in close so she can take a good look at the food. "Actual real tortillas are to die for." She nudges him lightly. "Thanks."

Clark Kent has posed:
"This isn't new," Clark admits quietly, embarrassed, but in a tone that suggests the man does need to come clean. "The japanese you love, sometimes on fridays? With the menu inserts you can't read?" Clark winces a little and peeks at her as if guilty. "Not from Midtown."

Some things will stay the same, it seems, though the truth will come forward as the layers of small lies get swept out from between them. He moves an arm around her waist and hugs her to his side a little bit. "I don't mind doing it, or spoiling you. It is a small thing, if it makes you happy."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois playfully punches at his arm. "You sneak. No wonder you'd never let me go get it. I just thought you were being nice." She doesn't really seem mad though, more amused that he'd been treating her to the good stuff for a while now. She turns, taking a moment to distract him from the food as she slides her arms around him in a hug.

"I know it may not seem like a lot, but it is. It's not something everyone gets to have. But if you don't mind doing it, I am not going to say no to /real/ food. It does make me happy." She gives him a quick squeeze so she can step back and give him room to get to the food. "Hopefully I can find something that spoils you sometime."

Clark Kent has posed:
"You already spoil me, Lois," Clark says, without amusement in his tone. Just serious. When she squeezes and steps back, he steps with her, instead, lowering his head to kiss her on the forehead, and smile into her eyes. One then the other. But then he draws back entirely, and moves to first shrug out of his coat, loosen his tie and collar, then fully removes his tie. He seats himself at the table, flashing her a relaxed smile, seeming to forget - or not care - that he's still got his glasses on. They don't really matter either way, anymore. She knows they don't define who he is.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois watches him get more comfortable, smiling fondly in his direction. He's /comfortable/ and not holding back. Still a side of his she'd never really gotten to see until now. "How exactly do I spoil you? I'm not sure anything I can do manages to top authentic cuisine." She moves back towards his side, one hand raising up to promptly mess up his hair in an affectionate gesture.

Then she moves to kiss him. A proper kiss this time, rather than the one she gave him on the way in. That was only a small greeting. This one's more of a 'welcome home' than anything else.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark remains seated, but turns towards her, reaching up to snare her at the hips as she steps in to kiss him so securely, face lifted to her as she puts such a large welcome-home kiss on him. As the kiss breaks he gives her a warm, surprised look, dark brows up over the upper edge of his glasses.

"Just like that," Clark answers, as if her question were crazy, before he pulls her close, resting his head against her stomach, hugging her, arms low around hip level, letting her mess his hair all she chooses. It was in his Clark style - carefully smeared to one side - and promptly looks a lot better with even the smallest of her rufflings.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois wraps one arm around him, the other focused on messing up his hair to an appropriate casual-at-home level. Her smile remains a fond one, affectionate, and the tiniest hint of sheer astonishment that it's all happening. "This may take some getting used to," she murmurs, then squeezes him tightly against her.

"Not in a bad way, it's a good way I promise. I don't know that I'll ever get used to it entirely... or at least, I hope not. There's something I really like about how everything is just a surprise. Something new and amazing every second." She's swung entirely into the good side of things and at least, for now, has buried the fear.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark would like that for her: burying the fear. At least, until there's danger. Then some fear might keep her more alive. He holds her close, but it isn't a cling. "Will you help me eat all this?" Clark teases her finally, patting her hip once with his hand, and leans his head back away to look up at her, and then purposefully to the food that's getting cold.

"We've ate together for years," Clark reminds her, gently, but there's a softness to the look. He's so pleased she's seeming to enjoy what's changed between them as much as he has. It's a relief to not be so one-sided.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois makes a face at him. "I think my sass is rubbing off on you." There's amusement there. Another ruffle of his hair and she's slowly starting to withdraw. Food is certainly going to get cold at this rate. When she finally moves over, she starts to make up a plate of food, peeking in each container to see what's what.

"You know..." She says after a moment, looking down at her food as she plates it. "You trusted me enough to show me that box in your apartment." There's a long pause, long enough that it's hard to tell exactly where she's going with it. "After we eat, maybe I'll share mine too."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark gives her a bemused, curious little look. It's a common one, he uses it /all the time/ when Lois teases him with some piece of information about a story but hasn't quite said enough to actually hook him entirely yet.

"A box? Is this a metaphor?" Clark asks, offering her the enchiladas, with an expressive little tilt of head at them to indicate that they are very good. He took one, himself, as well as one of the pork tacos.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois places one of the enchiladas on her plate, glancing back over at him. "While you know how fond I am of metaphors, in this case... no." She snags one of the tacos on her plate before focusing on eating, leaving it at that. Perhaps enough to get him interested, perhaps not. Her gaze flicks back up at him as she takes a bite.

She's keeping an eye out to see if he bites.

Clark Kent has posed:
"So we're talking about a literal box," Clark says, promptingly. No, Clark didn't let her down at all, he's biting on her hook with a thoughtful, cautious way. He's just as curious as she is: that was never faked or put upon. He's an investigator, a reporter, a tugger of threads: they're two peas in a pod there, really.

"Something secret?" Clark asks.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois smiles over at him, taking a few bites of her food before she ends up responding. "Correct, it is a literal box. And... yes, I suppose it's a secret. No one knows about it except for me. Well, and now you know it exists." There's a small smile as she pictures it.

"And," she adds. "I've had it for years. Almost as long as I've known you." Something she'd managed to keep from him? Perhaps not as massive a secret, but one he hadn't figured out yet.

Clark Kent has posed:
There's certainly curiosity there. "Well, you're certainly building it up," Clark says, but his smile isn't worried. Compared to the think he put on her, /Superman/, he has no room to even get tense about anything she may choose to unveil. It will be all right. He reaches across the table, curving his fingers over the back of her hand to squeeze, and then tilts his head. "After dinner then? Unless you want to tell me about it more, first," he suggests. The small smile he sees on her face relaxes any twinges of worry anyway. Seems like it might be a /good/ box.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois turns her hand so she can squeeze his back. "After dinner. But I promise you... it's not nearly as big or dramatic a reveal as your box. It's something I just think you'd appreciate. Might get a smile from you, so that's worth sharing, I'd think. I can almost guarantee it's going to embarrass me a bit, though."

She moves to take a few bites from her meal to cover her sheepish grin.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark will hold her hand while she allows or doesn't pull her hand away, using his other hand to eat. Taco doesn't really require dominant hand use anyway. "Embarrass you? I'm suspecting this box is full of.... family photos? Baby pictures?" Clark guesses, with a slight narrowed eye look at her. And then a squeeze of hand. "I promise I won't peek until you open it."

Wait. That was a clear suggestion that Superman somehow COULD peek. That isn't really a power on his normal dossier....

Lois Lane has posed:
Ah-ha! He did still have secrets. Lois narrows her eyes at him, thankfully not in an angry way. "How, exactly, would you be doing that?" He never seemed like he was looking into the future, but there were times where he did just know things somehow. His hand is squeezed again. It's just a reassurance that she's not mad, just curious.

Her free hand goes for her taco and she momentarily distracts herself with that.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark looks at her, and angles his head a little to look over his glasses instead of through them at her. It reminds him, though, that he has them on, and he draws his hand back from hers to pull his glasses off his face, as if that helped him to collect how he wanted to phrase it.

"Well, I have enhanced hearing," Clark explains, touching one of his ears. "Vision also." He gestures with two fingers outward, indicating sight over the table in a general way.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Oh, interesting..." Lois looks back at him, trying to visualize what sort of ways he could observe things. More detail, like noticings up close or really well far away... "Are there a lot of things you don't particularly show the world in terms of what you can do?"

Not that it's a bad thing, she's just curious how much he's working with. "Superman really is a fitting name..."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I think... the abilities that aren't as visual don't make headlines. And sometimes it's useful for villains to not know the exact boundary of /exactly/ what my limits are," Clark answers reasonably. "Which is why I don't publish my top speed, for example." Clark's gotten slightly awkward, as if this were a topic that slightly embarrassed him. It's the same 'feel' to when they'd get near talking about Clark's physique before she knew he was Superman. It's coming from a real spot, a shyness that isn't faked. He's modest, and it's just something he finds awkward to detail out, perhaps. Or maybe he fears he'll sound bragging.

"Generally I stick to strength, speed, flight, and occasionally the heat vision. But to know there's an emergency in the first place... is hearing and sight." Superman just hit the main things, but there's others, sounds like. The hero is a laundry list of major abilities.

Lois Lane has posed:
"If anything, it's a collection of abilities that makes you uniquely suited to really helping people. But..." Lois pauses for a moment, squeezing his hand. "Your real strengths are in that you care about people, you want to protect them and keep them safe. Your morality, your heart, your love...if you didn't have those, you wouldn't be able to apply your powers to situations to really be helpful and worthwhile."

There's a wry smile. "Pretty sure I've written an article with something like that in it."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark seems to become more shy as she describes positive qualities, sitting back in his chair a little, but his expression remains very kind. He lifts her hand to kiss the back of it, then returns it to the table. He's quiet for the moment, not necessarily out of things to say, but more to just smile at her with a love that isn't really necessary to say aloud.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois smiles back over at him, letting herself be distracted by the food in silence, just enjoying the attention he gives her. Finally, she squeezes his hand and releases it. "Okay, stay here, I'll get the box. No peeking, remember?" She gives him a look. Not that he would, but she's giving him a stare either way.

She gets up, moving to her bedroom. Kneeling by the bed, she reaches under and pulls out a blue box. The document-sized box, dark blue, is certainly a little worn on the edges given that it's simple cardboard, but it still holds everything together. She returns to the other room with it in hand.

"I know you probably won't laugh, but I'm going to say 'don't laugh' anyways because I'm embarrassed." She sets the box down on a clear spot near Clark on the table.

Clark Kent has posed:
"No Peeking," Clark agrees, one brow dipping up as she runs off to her bedroom to get this strange box of secrets. He continues to eat, smiling after her, charmed by her behavior. He's moreso charmed when she returns with it. And does not, in fact, cheat, he watches her bring it in with no sign of having cheated at all.

"I don't think I'll laugh," Clark says, moving an arm towards her to hug her standing form against his shoulder, as he's still seated.

"Show me."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois leans her weight against him slightly, a hug without being a hug, while she lifts the cardboard lid off the box. It's not terribly full. She pulls out a few things, setting them near the box. Newspaper clippings featuring Superman, written by her as well as some from others, a small handful of notes signed with an 'S', and even a few flowers, pressed and dried.

"I kept everything I had of you. It's how I knew it was really you when you came back. I had handwriting samples." She picks up a dried rose. "This is from the first time you ever gave me flowers. I guess I'm kind of more sentimental than I let on."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark looks down to the box as she opens it, and his expression changes. He's touched. "Oh, Lois," he says, softly, looking at the items as she shows him. The clippings and so on. He doesn't touch, just watches her show him her memories. Of him. He hugs her closer, one-armed, and leans his head against her side as well. Comfortable contact points between them.

"A decade of memories?" he wonders.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Yeah," Lois admits. "I keep it safe under my bed. You're the only person other than me that's ever seen it." Her hands move over the objects, pulling things out from the box so he can see them. "It's a long time to be collecting." She holds up the card, the most recent one telling her to follow her heart.

"This box is kind of a lot more important to me now." She moves one of her arms to hug his head a bit against her, while her other hand eventually begins to tuck items back into the box. "I just thought you might like to know how important you've been to me this entire time."

Clark Kent has posed:
"Hey, don't put them away yet. Let me see. I remember them, too," Clark says, resting his head against her, smiling and nudging her a little with his head as she drapes her arm to hug against his ear. It's an oddly comfortable thing: like a slight step off of their best friendship into this relaxed relationship of trust.

"I didn't know you saved my notes." He brushes fingers over an old note from flowers, back from five years ago, and the fried petals with it. "I remember you telling me about being sent these. How happy you were. I didn't want to overdo it, but... I loved seeing you happy."

Lois Lane has posed:
As he protests, Lois relents, leaving them out for perusal. "Of course I kept them. That was you giving me something tangible, something I could keep and hold on to and look at when I needed to remember someone was out there looking after me." There were many times she'd just go through the notes after he was gone.

"It wasn't overdoing it. It was romantic. Every time. You could have given me flowers every day and it would never be overdoing it. I'd have found spots in my apartment for every single bouquet. It was a gift from you, how could I not appreciate it?" She grins. "Let me tell you something about people. We all want to feel like we're special and the center of someone's world. That's what you did with those."

She gestures to the box with her free hand. "Maybe this helps you feel the same."

Clark Kent has posed:
"It does," Clark answers, hugging her more securely, turning his face into her a little bit, unable to see the notes and box for a time as he relaxes against her. He may be the strong one, the hero of Earth, but he's turned his visage in against her, drawing on their love.

"We'll keep adding to your box of memories. Things together," he offers, with a deep sigh full of mixed hope and something deeper.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois slides her hand up into his hair, fingers playing in the strands for a moment. She keeps him close, her own eyes shutting as she just holds him there. "I bet we can fill it up entirely." Even with a decade of memories, it's still not full, perhaps up to half if anything. It's a big promise, being able to fill it.

She opens her eyes again to look down at him, even if he's not looking back. "Thank you for helping me fill it up so far, even if you didn't know you were."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark turns his face out, but only to be able to see the box and it's contents again, not to stop leaning against her, resting there, as she plays with his hair. There's only a brief little shiver as she brushes her fingers into the hair at his nape, but it isn't a negative reaction. Just unexpected, he's not used to the closeness yet: but positive.

"These were few and far between. And Superman only. We'll overflow your box soon enough," Clark says, starting to look at each thing on the table, and transfer them slowly back to the box.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois lets him be the one to put the objects back into the box, to allow him to touch them and enjoy the memories attached to them. Her fingers continue their journey through his hair, almost a gentle pet as she lets him rest against her.

"That's why they were so important. You gave me just enough to keep holding the flame," she laughs a little bit, then looks back at the box. "Yes, I'd like the box to have all of you. There's not enough of Clark in this box and I look forward to that changing." Though she's not sure what memories they'll have in the future to put in the box, she /is/ certain they'll be there.