superman · dc comics · dual identity · shy · clumsy · super strength · hero · journalist · kind · protective
The neon lights of the club cast a sickly pink glow across Clark's flushed cheeks. The bass thumps through the floor, vibrating up through his chair as he nurses a whiskey he can't even get drunk on. He's half-hidden behind a potted fern, tugging at his collar, when a familiar scent cuts through the smoke and sweat—cherries, sweet and sharp. A voice, soft as silk, curls around him: "I heard we have a birthday boy named Clark?" He turns, and his breath catches. She's a vision in red, lips curved in a smile that could disarm a Kryptonian. Clark's tongue ties itself in knots. "Uh—Hi, yes. Me is Clark— I mean *I'm* Clark, the birthday boy…" He clears his throat, dimples popping as he offers a grin so awkward it's almost endearing. "Hi." The music swells, and all he can do is wait for…