"So," Superboy cleared his throat, opening his mouth scooted closer to you the next day in Lex's office. Leaned over just a bit. "do you...umm..do you want to-"
You got up from where you sat and walked to the other side, remaining focused on the screen in your hand. Typing away the next article to clear up anything from last night, pumping up Superboy's image on behalf of Lex. Actually it was more of an order than a behalf either way you had to do it, it was your job. You were sort of locked in doing this despite the fact you wanted to quit, found out you couldn't thanks to some extra claws you didn't bother to read or didn't notice. Not to mention Lex so 'kindly promoted' you as a sort of bodyguard to his Superman. Sort of like Mercy, which would explain the dark skirted suit that was ready for you the moment you arrived. You still had to do your actual job, this was just a bonus after what you did last night.
Throwing yourself over his Superman during the attack, something right now you sort of wished you hadn't done. But, hey, you did it anyway. Lex thought it was fitting or in his words showing 'loyalty'. There was no loyalty behind it, it was just...a reaction. The same right now getting up and walking to the other side of the room. Putting as much distance between you and the boy as you possible could in this massive office, yet it still wasn't enough. Lex wasn't here, he left five minutes ago to tend to something or clean somethings up, whatever that meant. Leaving the two of you, until he came back.
And clearly right now, Superboy never realized just how bit and vacant this office was, not to mention cold despite it being rather warm. Trying to figure out how to...well approach this... after last night. After what he saw and the stunned reaction on both sides he fumbled over his words and nearly his feet, flew away and left.
Honestly he didn't expect you to show up today, but when you did there was only brief eye contact, enough he turned away. A bit red.
Still a bit red, not so much he did he his best to push it down. Took a few steps to you, stopped when you moved yet again. Without looking at him.
Okay cold shoulder, he got it. Understandable. Yeah, then why was it bothering him so much? He just wanted to talk about it, but clearly the steel front you had wasn't allowing him.
He had the words, they were simple. "So," he tried again breaking the thick silence. Rubbing the back of his neck. "do you want to talk...I mean if you don't want to then that's okay too."
You said nothing.
"Though," he rebutled. "it might be good for us," gesturing between the two of you. "the both of us to do so. I mean so we can umm...clear the air of all this."
Your brow snapped. He'd better not...he'd better not say it.
"I mean, well, you do..." he looked you up and down. "how do you look so normal?" Again, you said nothing. Just waited for him to slip up so you had a good reason to throw this tablet at him. "Okay, look, about last night..."
And here goes.
"...The food was good," he started. You stopped typing for a moment. "I shouldn't have eaten it or anything. It was good by the way, I already said that. Okay," he took a breathe. "let me start over. From the beginning, you looked nice and you still do! After I saved you, I thought it was only fair because well...you know you tried to save me and stuff..."his voice lowered for a moment, picked back up. "you left, so I just came over to you know see if you were alright and..."
He was rambling. With your back turned to him kept typing and couldn't help but smirk at his desperate attempt to try and make amends or something like that. It was just laughable. All this big talk and he couldn't even...
"What are you still doing here?" Lex came in. Looking at both teens sternly with a questioning brow. As to why both where on opposite sides of the room. "I don't even want to know," he mumbled to the side. Cleared his throat. "you should be out there right now doing what you are to do." Directed at both. "I'm not paying you to stand around and do nothing."
You stop typing and turn to him. Hold up the tablet. "Actually you are. I highly doubt you're paying him," thumb over to the teen.
Lex frowned. "Leave."
Gladly, collect your things, leave. Lex grabbed you by the arm. Superboy nearly reacted. "Where do you think you're going?" Lex demanded.
You look at your arm, then to the man. "You said to leave, so I'm leaving."
"Yes, I can see that, let me say this in terms you can understand," he looked to the boy. "why aren't you leaving with him? I'm paying you to tag along not parade off on your own."
"I'll find him," you take your arm back. "trust me an ego as big as his won't be hard. Now, let me get to work."
Lex grabbed you tighter by the arm. Holding you back. "Lex." Superboy spoke up.
"Hush," the man nipped, turned to you. A finger sharply in your face. "listen well girl, your attitude stops right now. I not in the mood nor do I have the patience for it or you." His grip tighten. "You follow the boy, you monitor his heroics. I will not be out done by some has been. You go with the boy, you stick to him like glue, hell like cement. Do you understand, get nippy with me one more time and I promis-"
"Okay." Superboy stepped in calmly. "She got it. Right?" Looked to you.
You said nothing, stared sharply at Lex. He was unfazed by it, but found it amusing. Let you go. "Cute. Now go do your jobs."
"Yeah, come on." Superboy scooped you up before you could do anything and flew off.
Flying far enough, Superboy landed on a roof top. Quickly you jump out his arms and dust yourself off. As if infected or bothered he touched you. "Hey, you okay?" He asked in a sincere tone, that you almost made you turn and look at him.
You give no answer, only fix your cuffs and smooth out your skirt and hair. "Let's just get to work," you said flatly, turn around, bring up the tablet set in camera mode on him. Take a picture. "not good. Can you smile or at least try to look heroic?"
Sighing a bit nodded, struck a 'heroic' pose. You took the picture. Look it over, it would have to do. For now. "Can we talk now?" he pressed. You briefly look up at him.
"Talk about what?"
"You know..." he rubbed the back of his neck. "about...well...you know."
You didn't have time for this nor did you want to talk. "Look, we have a job to do. Or better yet, I have a job to do for your boss. I'd prefer to get it done, so do your thing, 'Superman'" hold up air quotes. "find something to heroic or something I don't care. Just do it. Heck even save a cat from a tree. The sooner I get up a few articles I can leave."
That stung.
"Yeah, okay." he mumbled. Held out his arms. "Let's go."
You, grudgingly climb in them, he took off. Within some time there was in some sense actions or heroic deeds. But not much, other than photo-ops with those who spotted him or crowded around. Doing as Lex said updated and made new articles. You stood to the side while Superboy took the limelight. The more you put up the more followers that came, and requests for his appearance. What you were intentionally suppose to be doing, your job title turned into a booker it seemed. Booking gigs and appearance, on Superboy's request.
Letting fans down wasn't consider heroic.
You said nothing and just followed. It didn't go unnoticed, through all the smiles and lavishing attention, the thought didn't wonder far from Superboy's mind. The ice was still there and thickening.
It had to be melted and the air needed to be cleared. After a few more 'heroic' deeds and photo-opts, Superboy had the idea formed. Called in a favor. Flying away from the last thing, you didn't bother to look or give a cent where the direction was heading. Just focused on the tablet, posting and updating. Even booking somethings for later dates. Notice out the corner of your eyes the grounding slowly getting closer.
Good.
Time was nearly up for you anyway.
Automatically, your legs and feet come forward, plant themselves on the solid ground. Take a step forward, almost drop off, jerk back. Something wasn't right. Leaning over a bit see, you where on the roof of a building a rather tall one.
What the heck?!
Whipping around for an answer find the answer and much more. There in the center was a white covered table for two, considering the two chairs, plated meals, tall glasses filled with lemonade it seem...hopefully. Pretty sure it was, not to far away by some portable cooking station a chef, and looking back at the table arms out directed to the table smirking, Superboy.
"Hungry?" he asked.
"No." you nip, walking away to the roof access door. Open it and slam it behind you.
That was not a reaction he was expecting, at all...in anyway. Hurried after you, "Hey! Hey!" he called hurrying down the stairs. Your pace increased turning into a run. He flew. Reaching you, dropped down before you. Confusion and annoyance wrinkled on his brow. And in his voice. "Wh-why did you run?"
"Move." you go around him.
He blocked you. "Hey, come on."
"I said move."
Again you go around him, he blocked you.
"I'm trying to do something nice, you know. So we can talk or-or something. Trying to smooth things over, since the whole tail thing. Which was a little freaky, but besides that, I called in a favor for this, I am Superman after all and maybe hoping again, we can talk." he stressed. Combing fingers through his hair. Took a long deep breath. Closed his eyes. Exhaled. Muttered. "Look, maybe we ca-for real? Again?"
Opening his eyes you were gone, again. "How does she keep?" Looking around there was only way to go and he was blocking it. Unless you phased through or something, which clearly it was something or some way you always managed to vanish in a blink of an eye. Thinking about it for a moment, the tail and this...it was making sense.
One was for sure you weren't really human and now this. Taking another look around, something dark caught his eyes on the floor. Kneeled down, stretching out a finger ran it across the semi-burnt spot, picked up soot. It was still...hot.
"What...?"
What indeed, what was he thinking? You weren't sure, but whatever it wasn't needed. Did he really think that would work? Did he really? A meal on the rooftop? A catered one to that and...your hand clenched just thinking about. Your tail, what he said about it...a little freaky? He was the last on to talk, if you didn't leave you would have burned him alive. Stomping down the sidewalk in huff. His presence was suffocating, grey eyes and all. Smile too.
And how dare he call himself Superman, that was a laugh all in its own. He was no where Clark, even if...your legs slowed...even if he did have a sort of...nope! That thought was not going to cross your mind.
Returning to stomping, heated thoughts filled up you didn't pay attention to anything really in front of you until you hit something hard and thankfully familiar.
"Violet," it was Lois. "you okay?"
It took you a moment to register her, "Sorry," you step back smoothing your clothes. Huff, mutter to yourself for a moment. "y-yeah. I'm good."
Lois raised a brow, hand on hip. It wasn't her journalist that saw through your words and pretty much everything else. Smirking to herself, hand on hip. "Come on," wrapping an arm around your shoulders walked off. "let's go back to my place. What's your poison?"
Taking out two glass cups, Lois after arriving back to her place. Filled them both with ice, then one with lemonade and the other with brown liquid. Took them over to you sitting on her couch. She handed the one with lemonade and sat next to you. Watched you stare or more so glare straight ahead, gripping the cup so tight your knuckles turned white. Not to mention the mutter you were doing...and the repeated word or more so name that came out with every three words.
It was clear. Lois chuckled to herself, it was enough to break through your muttering and look at her.
"What's so funny?" you asked.
She kept chuckling for a few more seconds eventually stopped and answered. "Nothing really, so," she swirled her drink. "want to tell me what's going on? I heard from Jimmy you have a new job? With Lex?"
There it was, your brows knotted together tightly. Lois was sure for a moment she saw flames in your eyes. Either from mention Lex's name or something associated with him. Turning your up huff for a moment. "Yeah, Perry gave it to me. To give me something to do. I didn't really want it, but he said I had to take it."
"Sounds like you enjoy it."
"Not funny. Personality journalist, not really. I have to keep updates on Lex's Superman and whatever else. Making a good image."
Lois's eyes drop to your attire. "It seems that a more? Bodyguard now?"
You shift in your seat. Kicking off your heels. "In some ways, my new 'promotion' Lex honorably gave me. I shouldn't have thrown myself over that...boy. Better yet, I should have went to STAR city," mutter the last to yourself.
Lois still heard it. "Yeah, I was wondering about that." Stretched, your eyes widen. Turned to her. She casually propped her head in her hand. Looked back. "Didn't think I figured it out?"
Your eyes filled with surprise and questions.
She took a sip of her drink. "It was after, well," her voice cracked, but she kept it well. "you know." You did, look down for a moment. Bring your knees up. "After he told me his secret. It became rather clear, that and after I brought you up in a conversation with his parents. Surprisingly, they didn't know of any sort of Violet Kent on his father's side. Did a bit more digging and found some other interesting things, about you. Though I'm sure I don't need to go into a lengthy detail about it. But he had his reasons."
Your chest fell slowly, with a finger twirl your hair. "Yeah, n-no need." Clear your throat. "Clark, took me in...when I arrived her a couple of months ago. Just needed to well get away."
Lois nodded. "So it seems. Just like you were getting away today?"
"That," you hold up a finger. "is a different story. I was escaping. One can take so much suffocation."
"Suffocation? How so?"
"Oh," you nearly slam your cup down on her coffee table, sit up, reeved up. Do your best to keep your cool. "no understanding of space is one. An ego the size of this city if not more. Glory hungry. Pretty boy is more interested in photo-opts. Thinks winking with those grey eyes will do something or work. Sweeping me up for no reason, doesn't a take a single hint. Thinks the whole world revolves around him, privacy doesn't seem to be in his vocabulary. Insensitive and-"
Lois interrupted. "Violet, I didn't ask about a him."
Your mouth clamps shut, she's right. She didn't. Your cheeks turned cherry, buried your face in your hands. Lois laughed a bit. "I-It's not funny.."you nip.
She kept laughing. "It a little. Quite descriptive, if I do say so. The red you have on your cheeks tells me something, something happened. Reminds me of the way Clark would act. Look and all."
Your ears went red. Burry your face deeper, took a moment come out. Think on what Lois said and laugh a bit. She was right, about Clark. You remember the few times he did that when he was in the vicinity of Lois or when her name was brought up. "Do you feel lost?" you asked softly.
Lois grew quiet.
You continued. "It feels weird, doesn't it? Since he's been gone, it feels weird. He was helping me to get better to...to..."grip your knees tighter. "...he told me it wasn't my fault. He said it with a smile, all the time and the way his eyes looked at him. All the hurt was gone, made me feel all the bad things I believed that happened weren't my fault. But," your toes curled and voice cracked a little. Eyes misted a little. You wipe it away. "that proved wrong. Look what happened."
"You know he wouldn't think that," Lois softly said. Looking at her drink. "not in a million years." You open your mouth to rebuttal, she kept going. "Despite what you are, what you did, Clark took you in for a reason. He was Superman for everyone. If anyone felt alienated, Clark did. No doubt that's what saw with you and thought he'd be able to help you feel normal in some sense. This is just a guess of course."
"...I guess," you think about it for a moment. "I mean he did sort of force me to mingle with others. It was weird really." You laugh a bit, "No matter how stand offish I tried to be, he pulled me away and made sure I wasn't. It felt nice. Being around someone like that, I guess that's why I haven't left. If I did well...it's like..."
Lois got it. "Understandable."
You sigh. "Yeah. Feels like everyone owes him a great deal. So, how have you been? We've talked about me."
"Finding out about these other so called Supermen. Did you hear about it?"
You shake your head. "Sorry been a bit too busy, you know posting and all. What about it?"
"Well," she took a sip of her drink. "besides the obvious fact each are fact, one of them is a clone." That was surprising. "Lex's Superman."
"Superboy?" you nearly gasped a bit. Think on it. "It makes...but how?"
"Genetic material no doubt cultivated from Superman himself." She explained. "Can't imagine what it must feel like finding out something you're not."
You could relate. Mutter to the side. "I know. What about the other ones?" Speak up.
"Not sure about them just yet, well maybe one."
"With all of them back," biting your lip. "do you think it's possible for him to come back?"
The room feel silent. "I don't know. But..."Lois trailed to the side.
You hoped so, you really did. Because if he did that would be beyond wonderful and..."I should go." you stand slipping on your heels. Lois got up, hugged you. That was unexpected but you took it. Before letting you go, she whispered something in your ear, that made you surprise and blush. Thanking her again, leave.
It was between 7ish and 8ish you arrived home after doing some errands. Grocery shopping you returned, this time using the door. It still felt weird getting your own groceries, walking in shut and the lock the door behind you. Set your bags down on the counter, felt a familiar presence, hear a knock on your balcony door. Turning to it find Superboy.
Which was surprising, not that he was here but because he didn't just let himself in. Walking over open the doors, he steps in less vibrate than normal. His shoulders slummed, chin to his chest, and the luster in his eyes was gone. In place darken pain. Confusion. All you knew too well.
Unsure what it was that came over you, your hands shoot out, one grabbing his arm the other grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to look at you. It was you thought, it spilled out of him like a broken damn.
Your heart clenched. Brows knotted, but eyes soft. "What happe-"
"Can I stay here, tonight?" He asked before you could finish. "Please."
"Yeah, sure."
