Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2010-06-08 08:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | chuck, rated: teen, slash, superman, superman returns, x-over |
Fic: Chuck vs. The LifeTime Original Movie 2/5 Chuck/Superman Returns
Title: Chuck vs. The LifeTime Original Movie.
Author: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Chuck or Superman Returns.
Characters: Chuck, Shaw/Superman, Lois, Ellie
Words: 10,110
Prompt: Destitute after Stanford, Chuck is on the streets of Metropolis.
Fandom: Chuck/Superman Returns
Pairing: Chuck/Shaw (Clark-Superman)
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Language, Mentions of Sex, Violence, Bitchy Lois, Gay!Chuck.
Summary: Three days in Metropolis is a lifetime for Chuck. Especially when he finds himself caught up in a real life Damsel-in-Distress situation.
Author's Note: Pre-Chuck/Pre-Superman Returns. Surprise twist epilogue!
______________________________________
Part 2.
Steam rose up from the sewers. In his mind, Chuck saw the beginnings of a Volcano. He knew the reality of it was much more mundane. His interpretation was better, though.
Blowing in to his hands, he crossed the street at the walk. Even after last night, he still didn't feel reckless enough to throw caution to the wind. At least he wasn't looking around and gawking. Not after yesterday.
Hunkering down in his hoodie, he glared at the world around him. The magic and wonder of the city had warn off during the night. Now, he saw it for the dirty and soulless pit that Metropolis really was. A collection of murderers and thieves hid in every corner.
Even the jerks in their expensive suits were petty criminals. He glared at a passing man talking on a headset. Okay, he corrected himself, they were probably the worst of the bunch. At least a thug with a knife only wanted his bag.
Everyone here was out to take something from him.
Coming around another corner, he saw the entrance to the temp agency. It's bright blue sign was still lit despite the sun having risen a hour ago. Not that he had seen it. The buildings of downtown Metropolis pretty much blocked most of the direct rays.
What in hell had he been thinking when he decided to come to this hell hole?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Staring at the yellow postit note, Chuck frowned. The exaggerated swirls made it difficult to read the numbers correctly. At least the words were legible...he thought.
Fifteen, fifteen East Star Parkway.
While he was getting a change of clothes from his duffle at the bus terminal lockers, it was a easy to locate the street on the route map. Yes, very simple considering it was all the way across the city and in the hills. That also explained the name.
An hour's ride away from the city had gotten him to a small business park. There were about two dozen buildings involved. Only one of them had the large numbers on the postal box out front.
Staring up, for it was a tall building, Chuck took in the entire structure. It was at least four stories and solid white. Domed on top, he was pretty sure he knew what the building was used for.
The only question he had was why here? There wasn't anything in his skillset that made him qualified to work in an observatory. At least, not that he could think of. He didn't even particularly care for the stars, to be truthful.
Shrugging, he headed up the brick walk. What was the worst that could happen?
~~~~~~~~~~
Thirty minutes in to his new job and Chuck wished he could just die already. Would it be so painful? He didn't really care any more. A mugger could come in from the street and blow him away. All he would do was probably yawn and ask the guy to make sure the shot counted.
While he was staring at his reflection in the computer monitor, the phone rang. Sighing, he clicked the answer button and moved his mouse. The computer came back from the screen saver and he began to type. "Metropolis Saturn Observatory, how may I direct your call?"
"Yes, I am from the Mindy Academy. We have a fieldtrip scheduled for next week." She sounded prim even over the nineties era phone headset.
"Yes, ma'am, I have it on my screen right now." Fingers flying over the keyboard, he waited for her next words. His hand hovered over the delete command. It wouldn't be the first time this morning.
"Is Doctor Lihkey going to be available?"
"No, ma'am. The rumors are true, I'm afraid." And damn the man to the blackest pit of hell! Who decided to suddenly quit after twenty years at the same job? Hell, the man had tenor with Metropolis U. That was what any academic wanted.
"Well, all right then."
On to the next order of business. "Shall I cancel your reservations?" He tried to make his voice pleasant. A little irritation might have slipped out.
"No, but we will be scaling back the visit. I'm sure you'll understand."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll transfer you to the main office." Hitting the switch key, he sighed with relief. Eight hours of this was going to kill him.
Letting his mind go blank, he stared off in to space. It was a time honed practice from all those stupid sports-lite courses he had been forced to take. Who came up with the stupid idea of making college students have a well rounded education? He had been at that school to learn, not exercise!
Groaning, he tried to lower his chin to his chest. He was almost there when the phone screeched at him. Eyes going wide, he turned to the phone controls. He hit the answer button. "Metropolis Saturn Observatory, how may I direct your call?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eye lids drooping, Chuck staggered to the coffee pot. It wasn't exactly a long walk, yet, he still had a hard time making it. By the time he reached it, he was nearly sleep. He had been at it for nearly two hours and was already exhausted.
He had time to wonder if it was the boredom or the lack of good sleep the night before. In fact, that was all he had was time. Chuck was beginning to see why he got stuck with this assignment. Still, it beat the hell out of being out on the street, begging.
Keeping his mind focused on the task of answering the phone was increasingly difficult, though. There were only so many ways he could do the same thing over and over again before he went cross-eyed. Just thinking about it made him yawn.
To delay going back to his desk, Chuck leaned against the wall next to the coffee pot while he yawned. Stretching his arms above his head, he moaned softly. It wouldn't do to let people know he was slacking off instead of doing his job.
"Monday morning blues?" It was quiet voice, with enough tenor to be firm. The man wouldn't have a hard time being heard even in a crowded room.
As it was, he had the effect of a sudden jolt of caffeine on Chuck's heart. Jumping away from the wall, Chuck spun to face the man. He put a hand to his heart to make sure it didn't beat out of his chest.
Dark eyes crinkled with humor at the corners. Staring at Chuck, the man projected warmth and friendliness. Even the set of his broad shoulders was harmless and disarming for his size.
And he was big, Chuck noticed. Feeling a little intimidated, he shrunk back a bit. "I...I was just getting some coffee." He pointed at it with an underhanded gesture. "I'll just be doing that and going back to my desk."
The man suddenly seemed alarmed. Putting up his large hands, he stepped to block Chuck's potential path. "Oh, no. There's no need. You're not in trouble, I swear! Cross my heart!" He crossed his heart with an index finger.
It was a complete gesture, Chuck knew this because he had tracked it with due diligence. He stood there staring at the large chest for a full minute in disbelief. It was just so shocking. "You actually crossed your heart." The words sounded stupid to him, yet he couldn't help it. He was still stunned.
"Yeah, I did." Looking down, the man reached up to rub at the back of his dark brown hair. His cheeks even pinked a little. Then he glanced up from under his lowered brow to smile shyly at Chuck. "If you promise not to tell anyone, I'll get you some of the good stuff."
Chuck blinked in confusion.
The man smiled brightly as his posture straightened out again. "Coffee. There's some dry roast in the break room in the lab." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "We don't have it out here because this is the visitor's lounge."
"So, why are you out here instead of, you know, back there?" Okay, Chuck realized, he was definitely running low on sleep. This was turning him in to a complete and utter moron. "You know what, just forget I even asked that. I'm tired from lack of sleep and I have almost no control over my brain this morning."
Smiling again, the man shook his head. "All right. We'll forget this ever happened." He took a hesitant step towards Chuck. "If you'll let me get you some of that coffee."
Alarm bells and whistles went off in Chuck's head. He was too tired to figure out what they were trying to warn him about. So, he went with his gut instinct. Smiling warmly back, he nodded. "Sure." Turning to head back out to his desk, he nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
Walking away, Chuck could swear he felt the other man's eyes on his back the whole way. Well, not his back. May be a little lower, if there was a god. A pleasant feeling started in his stomach. By the time he reached his desk, he was feeling much more alert.
~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time noon rolled around, Chuck was feeling extremely bitter. He kept glancing at the clock on his computer screen and giving it death glares. The coffee promised two hours ago had never arrived. Yet, the phone calls had continued to be plentiful.
This was not a good first day. In fact, it was one of the worst by far. Only yesterday, last Friday, and two days after his sixteenth birthday, and that time when he was eleven...
Groaning, Chuck dropped his head to the desk. The microphone on his headset clacked when it impacted against the wood. Not that he cared. This whole place could be crushed by a comet for all that it mattered to him.
"Cheer up, Chuck, it can't be that bad."
Chuck's eyes popped open. That voice. It was the most reviled, hated voice he knew of at that moment. Raising his head, he leveled his best death glare at the man in his blue smock. Well, it wasn't a death glare when compared to others, more like a narrow-eyed constipation. Still, it was his death glare. "What do you want?"
Standing off to the edge of the desk, the man had been smiling. He now frowned in confusion. "I was trying to be friendly."
"Yeah, well, your friendship only extends to conversations." Chuck raised a finger and pointed it at the man. It was a seriously bad idea when said man could get him fired. Not that he cared, this was just a temp job anyways.
'Huh,' he thought, 'look at that. Four hours and I already sound like a temp.'
Raising his hands and eyebrows, the man put on his best non-threatening expression.
Heck, Chuck had to admit it was pretty effective. For a large, looming guy, he was a master of the 'not going to hurt you' vibe.
"I don't know what I did to make you so bitter, but I will just be backing away." To emphasize his point, the man took a step back.
"Oh, no. No!" Standing up, Chuck jerked the headset cord with him. "You don't get to play sane one to my crazy. You promised me coffee, like, two hours ago. I waited for it. After thirty minutes, I was thinking it had better be damn good coffee." He pointed to the clock above the entrance. "Two hours, it's no longer worth the wait."
The man paused. He seemed to consider this, then he smiled. "You're right, Chuck, and I'm sorry. When I went back there, I got distracted. It's entirely my fault." This gave him the audacity to be bold and he took the step forwards again. "Let me make it up to you."
"No. I don't want your promises of coffee. Promises, which I might add, will never be fulfilled." Checking the time, Chuck pulled off his headset. Tossing it to the desk, he glared at it. "It's my lunch break and I'm getting out of here."
Having been staring at Chuck the whole time, the man's cheeks twitched. Then a smile bloomed over his face. Suddenly, he was a engulfed in a full body laugh.
Face burning, Chuck narrowed his eyes and straightened his back. He may not have been the most eloquent of speakers just then, but he was deadly serious. Storming around the edge of his desk, he marched past the man and headed for the door.
The laughter suddenly stopped.
By the time Chuck was halfway there, he heard rushing footsteps behind him. He put on an extra burst of speed. Yet, when he reached it, there were inquiring fingers on his lower back. He glanced over his shoulder and found the man standing there with a look of concern.
"You were serious?" At the shorter man's glare, he sighed. His cheeks colored a little and he looked down. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. You were just so upset over a little cup of coffee, I thought it was an act."
Chuck stared at him for a minute longer. When the man's shoulders actually slumped, he felt something in his chest clench. Looking up to the ceiling, a sinking feeling started in his gut. "It wasn't just about the coffee."
"Obviously." Raising his head a little, the man looked to Chuck with large eyes. He studied the younger man for a moment. Apparently making a decision, he stepped closer. "How long have you been in the city?"
"Two days. Today makes two." Chuck raised his fingers to indicate this. Feeling deflated, he slumped a little himself. "I got robbed my first day. And I'm about to get fired my second." The fingers on his back turned in to a strong, supporting hand.
"I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune, Chuck." Leaning in closer, the man lowered his voice. "If you would let me make that and my earlier forgetfulness up to you, I would gladly pay for lunch."
The action was so unexpected, Chuck could only nod. He was too stunned to do anything else.
From the man's smile, one would have thought he won the lottery. "Good. I know the right place to go." Reaching out with his other hand, he pushed open the door. Some how, in the move to head out, his right drew Chuck closer to him. "I hope you like Chinese."
Chuck nodded his agreement. Not that he would complain about free food.
Dazzling smile a mile wide, the man stared Chuck directly in the eyes. "My name is Daniel, by the way."
Blinded, Chuck once again nodded. This was going to be a short lunch if he couldn't manage a simple word.
TBC