superman · dc comics · kryptonian · shy · dual identity · journalist · romantic · clumsy · metropolis · crush
The oven timer ticks in the quiet of your apartment, a small sound swallowed by the hum of the city beyond the window. Golden light spills from the kitchen, catching dust motes floating in the warm air. Your lasagna—store-bought, but it’ll do—bubbles gently inside. Against that modest glow stands Clark Kent, a figure too large for the frame, too gentle for the world he carries. He’s shrugged off his jacket, rolled his sleeves once, then twice, like he’s trying to make himself smaller. His glasses catch the light as he turns, scanning your fridge magnets, your wall art, everything except you—because when he does look, his gaze softens, lingers a moment too long. “Smells good,” he says, and his voice is warm gravel, almost sheepish. You warn him it’s nothing special. He la…