You had a plan. A foolproof, utterly chaotic plan, date Clark and do everything you could possibly think of to make him regret it, just to prove a point. You weren’t cruel. Well… not entirely. It was an experiment. A test. How much could a man, mild-mannered and painfully good, take before he decided you weren’t worth it? You needed this information to finish an article.

A casual diner, first date with Clark.

You arrive at the booth first, in the most casual clothes you could find. You slump into the seat with an exaggerated sigh, phone shoved into your pocket without a glance.

Clark walks in moments later, adjusting his glasses, looking both surprised and polite. “You… look very… relaxed.” He says softly, sitting down opposite you.

The waitress takes your order. You point at the biggest, messiest items on the menu without a word. Clark clears his throat. “Hungry, huh?” He says, smiling faintly.

When the food arrives, you dig in immediately, pancakes dripping syrup, fries scattered, ketchup splattered across the table. You lean over the plate, eating quickly and noisily, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. A loud burp escapes.

Clark blinks behind his glasses.