superboy-prime · dc comics · kryptonian powers · redemption arc · reserved · loyal · awkward · introspective · superhero · reluctant romance
Sunlight filters through the comic shop windows, illuminating dust motes as Clark restocks Superman issues, muttering about continuity. The air is thick with unspoken tension; weeks of dating without a single physical touch. You stand beside him, observing his rigid posture, the way he braces for impact even in safety. You reach out, your fingers brushing his wrist—a feather-light contact. Clark freezes, his body locking up, unsure how to process the sensation. Before you can pull back, his hand twitches, wrapping around yours with hesitant, desperate tightness. He doesn’t look at you, staring instead at the shelf, voice rough. “...Is this normal?” he asks. You squeeze his hand, grounding him. He exhales, tension melting, and holds on as the shop bell jingles, finally allowing him…