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casthesixteenth · 15 days ago

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Reversed trope: He’s nice to everyone but her

Pairing: Clark Kent x f!reader (yes I have a new fixation)

Warnings: Reader is an overthinking mess but it’s her first day. But also like..damn that girl is overthinking!! Also Clark when not liking someone still acts like an angel. Let’s be real. A bit of swearing and mentions of a minor injury with a little blood but nothing serious. Could also be read as a she falls first but he falls harder I think.

——1. He seems nice.

It was your first day at The Daily Planet. The smell of paper and talent in the air. It made you even more nervous. To see everyone so concentrated, running around. So undoubtedly passionate. Like they belonged. Like they knew they had something to say. Something to offer. Part of you wanted to just turn around and run away. If you don’t try, you never failed…right?

You take a deep breath instead. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.

“Hey.” It’s polite but not something she puts on. Not like the high voice that sometimes escapes you when you introduce yourself. The one that surprises you every time.

“I’m Lois.” She takes you in with a welcoming smile and you know she can see that you’re nervous. It’s radiating off of you. It’s almost embarrassing. You give her your name. Voice surprisingly steady.

Lois shows you around. You meet Perry, Cat and Jimmy. You don’t realize how they see you. You stand tall and proud. Your smile elegant to others. Voice even. You seem to choose your words carefully. You have something about you that radiates poise. You don’t realize. You are thinking about if you’re smiling enough and at the right time. You’re thinking about if you’re smiling too big or somehow weird. You are thinking about if you’re acting normal or like a a total nervous wreck.

And then, stumbling in with a tray of coffees in one hand, phone tucked between his ear and shoulder and his bag in the other hand, that seems to have snapped at the shoulder-strap, you see Clark Kent for the first time.

It’s like a little, well not so little because seriously how tall is this dude, tornado. He hands everyone their coffee with a boyish smile as he keeps repeating the word “Kent.” into the phone. “Kent.” He repeats and annunciates even more clearly before he sighs and puts the phone down. His bag slips through his hand and everything spills out. Jimmy laughs. Lois looks fond. Like someone watching a clumsy puppy.

Your eyes land on the floor where everything has spilled. You should help and pick up some stuff. The thought loops in your mind what feels like hours, your body not listening. Rooted to the spot you’re standing in. In reality it’s one second before everyone starts picking things up with soft chuckles and murmurs of “No worries” or “Makes me feel better. You can’t be tall and perfect. At least you’re clumsy” in Jimmy’s case. Clark just chuckles. And thanks them.

He seems nice. The thought passes quickly.

Because your thoughts are stuck on why you froze. You knew you wanted to help. Knew it was the right thing to do. You would probably judge other if they didn’t help. Yet you yourself just froze and watched. You don’t realize that you’re frowning.

Clark looks over to you. He almost startles at the way you’re looking at him. You look disgusted. He can hear the way your heart is racing. Are you angry? He can’t make sense of it. He gives you a small smile and nod as a greeting anyway but your expression is set in stone. It makes him feel uneasy and he looks away as a flush spreads over the tops of his cheeks.

You’re too lost in thought. Your gaze on him without even realizing. You only snap out when he looks away and you realize that you smile back a full second too late. The realization of how it must have looked makes your heart race. Makes you frown as you look away.

On your first day you feel like a nervous, blubbering idiot.

——2. She is..?

That’s not how you seem to Clark Kent though. To Clark Kent you’re someone he can’t figure out. You didn’t smile back at him but he didn’t think much of that.

When he formally introduces himself you don’t shake his hand. (You realize too late that he was holding out his hand for a handshake.) When he asks you if you like coffee, you roll your eyes before you answer with a simple “Yes”. (You thought so intensively about how detailed you should answer that without realizing you rolled your eyes at yourself.) When he asks if you need help with your first story you look disgusted as you decline. (You remembered that your actual first draft was so bad that you had to rewrite everything all night and your faced scrunched at the thought without you realizing.)

Clark tries all day. He thinks people are inherently good. But at the end of the day when he says goodbye and you don’t even turn around, he can’t help but think that you’re not his favorite person.

You notice. He isn’t mean. Isn’t cold. But you can see it clear as day. He smiles and jokes around with other. He gives you small smiles that don’t reach his eyes and barely noticeable nods. He avoids being alone in rooms with you. Doesn’t meet your gaze. And as time goes on and weeks pass, you think he isn’t that nice. Actually he sucks. Probably putting on the exaggerated nice guy act.

And as much as you want to tell yourself that…you don’t believe it. You realize he just doesn’t like you. And you accept it. What else can you do?

It’s just…so obvious. When everybody gushes about how kind and nice and considerate he is and he won’t even greet you in the morning but just give that unbearable nod. You wish you weren’t so childish but the more people bring up his kindness, the more you get annoyed. Partly at yourself. Because he IS. It’s infuriating. You see for yourself that he actually is unbelievable kind and always flushing and making the cutest, most endearing jokes. But when it comes to you, he can’t meet your eyes.

You sigh to yourself. Rip yourself from your thoughts and keep typing. Actually managing to finish the final draft of a story. It’s almost midnight as you step out. You pull your coat tightly against you. Trying to keep the stinging wind from filling your lungs.

You’re almost home. Apartment building in sight when lightning strikes. Right into the street light next to you. Shards of glass falling everywhere as you screech. Startled as your heart races dangerously fast in your chest. You feel water drops run down your template. But something is off. It’s too thick. Too warm. And when your fingers brush over your temple and you feel the sting, you realize it’s blood.

You feel your ears pop, as if you just took off in a plane. And the next second you’re on the roof of your apartment building. Superman gently steadying you with his hands on your upper-arms. Gaze on you. Open and calming. Nodding as he takes breaths. Obviously gesturing for you to do the same. You instinctively do.

You blink up at him with wide eyes. Your heart going berserk. Blood still running down your temple. You don’t fully know why but you can feel yourself tear up.

“Thank you.” It’s the only thing you manage to whisper. Over and over again. As Superman tells you that you’re okay, to take deep breaths, that you don’t have to thank him, as he rips part of his cape and gently wipes off your blood before pressing on the wound.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.” You whisper softly. Voice shaky and breathless.

He tenses slightly. He’s never seen you like this. Your gaze is normally distant. You either look far away or well… disgusted. It breaks something in him when he hears your whisper. That’s what she’s worried about? She doesn’t know what to say?

He has had building crash into him and still, this realization feels heavier. Suddenly it’s clear as day. The way he can hear your heart race, the way your face twists when you seem so far away.

“You don’t have to find the right words.” He whispers genuinely. It makes your heart stutter. His words contradict every instinct of yours but it calms you down. I don’t have to find the right words.

The sincerity of his voice is so soothing and…similar. It reminds you of someone but you can’t quite place it.

He can hear your heartbeat slowly ease. You blinked away the tears that started to form.

“Do you live far away?” Superman asks worried. That voice is so familiar.

“This is my apartment building.” You gesture to the very building you’re standing on and with an easy smile, he nods.

“Good. You should disinfect the wound and put a bandaid on it. It’s a small cut, so you’ll be okay.”

You nod as listen. Actually half-listen. Because now it hits you. Superman is standing in front of you. And he’s so…nice. Obviously you didn’t think otherwise. You always imagined him being nice. But he is present and genuine. His eyes are looking directly into yours in such a direct but soft manner…you catch yourself thinking about how pretty he is. Your eyes trail over his face. Over that little curl on his forehead, down the slope of his nose, over those pink plush lips. You’re sure you must look completely dorky. Lips parted as you stare up at him wide-eyed. And as soon as you realize, your lips snap shut and you look away as you nod way too animatedly.

“Perfect. I’ll do that. Thank you.” You mumble incoherently and pull back to walk down to your apartment.

Your cheeks are undoubtedly on fire but it’s dark outside so he probably can’t see. Thank god.

She was flustered.

He grins to himself because that was absolutely adorable. It loops in his mind. And it changes things.

——She is cute.

He can’t stop thinking about it. About your words. The way you genuinely seemed more distressed that you didn’t have the right words while you were literally bleeding. The way you just shamelessly starred up at him before blushing in the cutest way.

He can’t stop staring at you at work. And as he takes you in, he realizes just how wrong he was before.

He notices how you grin widely every-time you see pictures of Krypto on social media. If only you knew what a pain in the ass that dog is.

He notices the way you freeze when Jimmy spills coffee over himself. How your eyes keep darting to the tissues and how you frown when you’re too late to hand him some because he already ran off to the toilet. You seem bummed about that for a while. It’s makes something in his chest constrict.

He notices that you bring in donuts for everyone and seem casual and so nonchalant about it but your eyes keep drifting to everyone as they try them. He can hear how your heart is going nuts until Cat grins and tells you they’re great.

He notices that you actually care deeply. Maybe even too much.

You ease over time. Get more comfortable by the day. Your actual smile comes out more frequently. You even snort at one of Jimmy’s stories. It’s the most adorable thing he’s ever seen you do. You do blush after but as Lois cackles at your snort, you ease again. He sees you looking at both Jimmy and Lois as they laugh, with your own fond smile and you look so content..it breaks his brain a bit.

He feels drawn to you. His eyes find yours every chance he gets. Every-time he hears your heart race, he distract you by asking for your help on something. He can hear how you calm down when you get to help someone. He notices how you smile the whole day after.

He realizes he’s very much into you and he can’t hide it. He isn’t trying to. Couldn’t if he tried.

You realize he’s nicer to you. Seems to always be around. Somehow always finds your eyes. It’s…distracting. Because he’s also very nice to look at. Something you noticed the very first time you laid eyes on him.

Something that you can’t help but notice now. He’s passionately talking about something with Jimmy. You aren’t really listening. You are starring. Taking in his animated gestures. His dimples. The slope of his nose. His lips…

It’s like someone snapped you out of blurry haze. Suddenly the picture is crystal clear. Your jaw drops ever so slightly. You can feel how your heart is thumping against your chest like it’s trying to run off. His head snaps towards you. And your eyes widen slightly. There is a crease between his brows. He looks worried. Can he hear my thoughts? No, that’s ridiculous. Thats not one of his powers.

“Hey. Could you help me with my story?” He’s standing directly in front of you. A warm smile on his lips. It’s so obvious now.

——He is S…….!

He is Superman. Clark Kent is Superman. You blink up at him. After a moment, his cheeks are slowly starting to blush with how it takes you to answer, you nod.

He’s explaining his angle on the story. Both of you in the privacy of the copy room because he “needed to grab something” when in reality he realized a while back that it calms you to be in empty rooms when you get nervous. He asks you for input, explains what he isn’t sure about. But it’s not working. He can hear your heart beat. He can smell that you’re sweating. You’re just starring, nodding along.

“Is..everyt-“

“You’re Superman.”

You talk at the same time. His eyes go wide.

“What?” His voice is comically high before he looks around and ducks his head. Even though the two of you are alone in the small room.

It’s adorable. You cringe at your own thought. This is serious to him.

“I won’t tell anyone.” You reassure him. Voice even. Heartbeat steady.

He is stunned. He stammers but then snaps his lips shut again. He doesn’t know what to say. He thought there would be more questions. A bit of shock and maybe fear or confusion.

His brows furrow. His lips part and close. You recognize this. Know too well how it feels.

“Do you need a moment alone?” You ask carefully and suddenly he smiles. Soft at first and then with a warm chuckle as he shakes his head.

“This isn’t the right time at all but..I like you. I don’t think I can hide that anymore and it seems that I can’t hide much from you anyway.” He chuckles, his dimples making your heart stutter. “I don’t want to anyway. I like you.”

Oh my god.

You blink up at him and he can hear that your heartbeat is so fast that he’s actually a bit worried.

“You don’t have to say anything. I know that’s a lot of information for one day. I just wanted you to kno-“

“I like you too.”

He grins. All dimples and warmth and fuck he is so pretty. It makes you smile instinctively because how couldn’t you? It’s like looking at the sunset.

“Do you want to have dinner-“

“Yes.”

Both of you grin. You walk out. Both flustered with dorky smiles, shoulders ever so slightly bumping against each other as you walk back. Jimmy and Lois exchange a look.

“Told you they liked each other.” Lois whispers with a grin.

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