[this is being set up for a fic, stay tuned!]

In your eyes, Clark was unreliable. He was always late, so oblivious to everything, and kept coming up with the worst excuses. He's been cutting it close to deadlines lately because he's been coming to work almost dead tired. He refuses to tell the truth, thinking you're genuinely convinced of these lies, and you're just about fed up with him.

You acknowledge things have been crazy in Metropolis for years, but that doesn't excuse him not following up on his promises to you and Lois when it came to working on articles together. Lex's pushback on Superman was getting worse by the day.

Although, worry about the craziness of the city was not on your mind tonight. It's your birthday! Your close friends, colleagues, and family were all here to celebrate you and your most recent story going viral within hours. Clark was actually here on time for once. Well, for about an hour, then he was nowhere to be found. You were raising glasses with your friends when you noticed he came shuffling back into your apartment, hair messy and his shirt half unbuttoned as he beamed towards your bathroom with a bag clutched to his chest.

"You know, now that I think about it...it's kinda cliche how you just happen to be in the area and in need of saving of the strongest man on the planet."

"You both are ridiculous," you groan and take a shot. "I'm not doing it on purpose, I just... worry less about my own safety sometimes if it means I can get that interview."

"And now we're back to that interview."

Vicky huffed with a big smile on her face. Anyone with eyes could see you saw the hero more than just a hit story.

"If I recall correctly, there was that one time you got so drunk and described in detail what you'd do for that interview."

"Lois," you narrowed your eyes at her. "Don't start."

"Hey, guys."

You jumped at the sudden appearance of Clark standing behind you. Glasses pushed up and his hands in his pockets as he stands there awkwardly.

"Hey, Clark," Vicky and Lois say in sync.

"How much did you hear?" You ask.

"Nothing," he lies. "I just walked over here. What were you guys talking about?"