Page 20 of Saving Little Clark

I rubbed my thumb absently over his knuckles. I knew I needed to tread carefully here. The last thing I wanted was to overwhelm Clark. But it was hard to keep my distance when every fiber of my being was screaming at me to scoop him up and never let go.

We sat there for a moment longer, basking in the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

"As much as I hate to say it, we should probably call it a day," I said, standing up and stretching. "I've got a few more meetings to prep for, and I'm sure you and Alex have a ton of brainstorming to do for the app designs."

Clark nodded, a flicker of reluctance passing over his face before he schooled his features into a more neutral expression. "You're right. I guess we should keep things professional from here on out, huh?"

I could hear the hint of uncertainty in his voice. I reached out and tucked a stray curl behind his ear, letting my fingers linger just a moment too long against the soft skin of his cheek.

"Hey, just because we're working together doesn't mean we can't explore our connection. I meant what I said earlier, Clark.”

Clark's eyes shone with a mixture of relief and happiness, his smile trembling slightly at the edges. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," I said firmly. "You're stuck with me now. Better get used to having a new partner in crime, and maybe a new movie-watching buddy, too."

I dropped Clark off at his apartment complex, watching him wave goodbye with a shy, sweet smile on his face.

That evening, as I lounged on my couch in my quiet, empty mansion, my gaze landed on a colorful flyer on my coffee table. It was an advertisement for a new comic book store that had just opened up downtown.

Before I could second-guess myself, I was pulling out my phone and searching for the perfect item online. It didn't take long to find it. A plush, oversized blanket emblazoned with classic Marvel characters, from Captain America to Spider-Man.

An hour later, I was about to head to bed when my phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming video call. The screen filled with Clark's smiling face, his cheeks flushed and his eyes sparkling with happiness. And wrapped around his shoulders, like a superhero's cape was the blanket I had just sent over to his address, in all its colorful, cozy glory.

"Brody!" he exclaimed, bouncing a little in his seat. "I can't believe you did this. This is the nicest, most thoughtful thing anyone's ever gotten me."

"I'm glad you like it," I said softly. "I saw it and thought of you, of how much you love superheroes and how brave and amazing you are, just like them."

A pleased flush stained his cheeks. "I'm not brave," he mumbled, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. "Not like them."

"Yes, you are," I insisted, leaning forward intently. "The way you stay true to yourself, the way you find joy and wonder in the little things, that takes a special kind of strength."

Clark's eyes shone with unshed tears, his bottom lip trembling slightly. "You really think so?"

"I know so," I said firmly, wishing I could reach through the screen and pull him into my arms.

I couldn’t stop thinking how he must be worried sick about whether I would accept his Little side.

"So, I was thinking... maybe we could hang out sometime outside of the office? Grab dinner, or catch a movie, or I don't know, just spend some time together?"

Clark bit his lip, a mischievous glint entering his eye. "Why, boss, are you asking me out on a date?"

We talked for a little while longer, teasing and flirting and making tentative plans for our first official date. And when we finally said goodnight, Clark snuggling deeper into his blanket with a contented sigh, I felt like I was walking on air.

"Sweet dreams, Superman," I murmured, blowing him a playful kiss through the screen. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Sweet dreams, Batman," he giggled, returning the gesture with a sleepy, adorable smile. "And thank you again, for the blankie and everything."

As the screen went dark and I flopped back onto the bed, my mind was full of colorful blankets and a sweet, silly boy with a heart of gold. I couldn't help but hope that someday soon, I'd get to wake up to his smile every morning.

Chapter 9: Clark

I stood in the sleek, modern lobby of Innovatech Solutions, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day Alex and I were starting our new jobs as graphic designers. It felt like a dream come true, the culmination of all our hard work and dedication since graduating with our design degrees a few years ago.

Alex and I made a great team. His innovative ideas and my attention to detail had landed us some impressive freelance gigs and built up a solid portfolio. But this was our first big break in the corporate world.

The towering glass windows, the hushed conversations of smartly-dressed employees rushing by, it was all so different from the cozy, creative chaos of our home office.

I glanced over at Alex, who seemed to be in his element, chatting animatedly with the receptionist about the latest exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art.

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