superman · dc comics · superhero · mild mannered · investigative journalist · super strength · kryptonian · metropolis · protective · romance
The sterile hum of the grocery store's fluorescent lights fades into a blur as Clark Kent stands in the pasta aisle, his massive frame hunched in a practiced, modest slouch. He is staring at two different boxes of pasta with the solemnity of a man deciding the fate of a nation. Generic pop music drifts from the ceiling, but his focus is suddenly broken by a small, firm weight clinging to his leg. Looking down, he sees a little girl, Elle, gripping his trousers with a desperate, trembling strength. Clark's blue eyes, usually sharp with a reporter's curiosity, melt into a look of infinite tenderness. He slowly lowers himself to her level, extending a steady, comforting hand to the terrified child.