BAD DOG!

"I just really hope you're having a good time there so far."

"Cait, it's been great so far," Millie assured her over the phone. "I mean, it's been like five days, but still, great."

Millie, on her day off, was at the park near her apartment. She was sitting on a blanket on the grass, a cheesy romance book in front of her that had been forgotten as soon as Caitlin called to check on her. She also had some snacks, having a mini picnic for herself as she enjoyed the perfect Metrolpolis weather.

"Just promise me you won't go getting kidnapped or involved in superhero business," Caitlin said, sounding quite worried. "You have a habit, and Barry isn't right there."

Millie just giggled. "Well, if Leonard misses me, he knows where to find me," she said teasingly. Then she laid on her back and stared up at the clouds. "Besides, I'm making a new super-bestie."

"Do tell?"

"Superman has flown by my balcony every single night since I've gotten here," she informed her.

A small gasp left Caitlin's throat. "Tell me everything."

And so Millie did. She told her friend all about how Superman saved her screw and then failed at building her chair. How she'd embarrassed herself by falling on her ass. It was almost routine at this point to wait on her balcony, expecting the Kryptonian to visit her. And she definitely included how Superman flirted with her offhandedly a few times.

By the end of it, Caitlin was downright scandalized and invested.

"America's Golden Boy said that?" she asked, on the edge of her seat when Millie told her about the 'thoughts on you aren't appropriate for publishing' comment. "This is the best thing I've ever heard. You're gonna date Superman."

"I am not," Millie scoffed.

"What? Why not? He's gorgeous!"

"Yeah, but Clark is more gorgeous," she said with a sigh.

"You are into nerds."

"And it's worse because he's a hot nerd," she groaned, throwing her free arm over her eyes dramatically. "He's so sweet and dorky and shy around me. Like, he's brought me coffee every morning at work so far. And he compliments my dresses every day. It makes me sick."

Caitlin just laughed at her outlook on it all. "And why haven't you made a move then? Or another one, I'd say, given that you've already made out in a hotel room."

"We did not make out," Millie said, blushing a bit from the memory. Then she sighed in annoyance. "The boss man says no dating allowed. I'd be fired. And Picture News won't take me back, so I need to be careful. And even if he's worth the risk, I think Clark is too much of a goody-two-shoes to even think about breaking the rule."

"Damn, that sucks," Caitlin murmured, earning a hum of agreement from Millie. "I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but I know you need this job."

"I need it, and I love it," she added. "Like, I've already put out three articles, and they've been well-received by the public. My next one is on Superman, and we're worried the public might not be so happy about it."

"I still don't get how people hate him," she scoffed.

Millie rolled over onto her stomach and frowned down at the blanket. "Because he's different. People don't like different. It scares them."

"You're different and not scary," Caitlin pointed out.

"I glow," she laughed. "Not exactly threatening."

"Until someone takes food off your plate," she pointed out.

"Millie doesn't share food!" she insisted with a laugh, quoting Joey from Friends. Then she glanced at her nails, knowing she had to get them redone sometime soon. Maybe Lois would have a recommendation. "And honestly, I've only had the one lunch with him, but Clark doesn't seem like he shares food either."

"A match made in heaven," Caitlin teased. "But I bet he'd share for you."

"That'd be a real sign that he likes me."

"And the coffee every morning and assuring you that he didn't mind the kiss isn't a sign he likes you?" she asked flatly.

"No, because one, he's a polite person, so, of course, he's gonna get the new girl coffee. And two — oh shit!"

On the other end of the phone, all Caitlin heard was a grunt followed by rapid panting as she listened with wide eyes. And then after a second, she heard Clark's somewhat familiar voice.

"No, Krypto! Bad dog!"

THREE MINUTES EARLIER

Clark didn't need to exercise, but he still liked the habit of going on runs with Krypto on his leash. Going for a run with his dog was just a relaxing as flying through the clear skies to get his mind off things.

To get his mind off of Millie.

Millie, who hadn't reciprocated any of his flirting while he was on her balcony, parading around as Superman. Sure, she'd blush at the comments that he'd practiced in front of his mirror for confidence, but she never flirted back, which confused him a little — Jimmy and Lois had assured him that the lines he used were perfect.

And now, Clark was sort of running out of material — he didn't exactly make habits of flirting with women, after all.

What was he supposed to do?

Lois said to be himself.

Jimmy said that was a horrible idea.

With a huff, Clark took a break from running and leaned back against a tree to needlessly catch his breath. This run wasn't helping to taking his mind off of Millie at all.

Especially when his blue eyes landed on Millie, who was just across the park. She was lying on her stomach, holding her phone to her ear. All she wore was a cropped, baggy t-shirt and some denim cutoff shorts, soaking up the sun with her feet in the air.

And seeing the panic on his owner's face, Krypto barked worriedly up at Clark while nudging his ankles.

Clark blinked a few times before looking down at Krypto then back at Millie before settling on his dog again. He swallowed thickly before kneeling down, rubbing behind Krypto's ear to let him know he was alright.

"Sorry, bud," he told him. "Just, uh, well, you see that girl? On the blanket?"

Krypto, fully understanding, tilted his head and then turned around, zeroing in on Millie since the park wasn't crowded.

"That's Millie. The one I told you about," he muttered, unashamed that he'd told his dog about a girl. "I - I don't know if — she looks busy on the phone. I'll just see her on Monday, right?"

A little growl of protest left Krypto's throat, who didn't think that was the best idea.

"But she's having a nice time on her own—"

Krypto let out a chirp of a bark.

Clark sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. "But I don't know what to say to her. I never know what to say to her—"

Rather than listen to his owner's procrastinating, Krypto took off like a rocket — okay, he didn't use his real super speed in public, but still. Clark nearly swore, failing to snatch the leash before Krypto was out of reach, running straight toward Millie, much to Clark's horror.

Krypto bounded over to an unprepared Millie, who didn't see it coming as the white canine barreled right into her face. She groaned and shut her eyes for a second, dropping her phone.

But when Millie realized she wasn't being attacked by a rabid dog but rather being licked by a sweet one, she peeled her eyes open. She looked at the white dog that seemed a bit familiar, looking at the blue collar he was wearing. Then she heard his owner—

"No, Krypto! Bad dog!" Clark said, finally reaching them with wide, blue eyes.

Millie ignored him for just a second despite recognizing his voice, too focused on the dog that was climbing into her lap as she sat up.

"Oh, hi. Hi, buddy. Hello there," she cooed, letting him sniff around her face and hands. She giggled as he licked her fingertips. "Good morning to you too."

Then Millie finally looked to her left and up, craning her neck as Clark towered over her, blocking the sun with his huge form. And she nearly stopped breathing at the sight of him in only gray sweatpants and a tight, white t-shirt that hugged impossibly huge biceps. Didn't men know it should've been illegal to wear gray sweatpants with how it outlined a clearly thick—

Millie barely heard Caitlin's voice calling out to her from the phone, so she quickly looked away from Clark and snatched her phone.

"Hey, Cait. I'm gonna have to cut the call short," she said as Krypto kept nudging her chin with his wet nose. "Thanks for calling."

"Okay, but we are not done talking about this little crush of yours," she said in a teasing tone. Millie didn't notice how Clark perked up — if only he'd been listening into the call to know who the crush was on. Was it Superman?

After hanging up, Millie tossed her phone down and looked back up at Clark again, composing herself this time while simultaneously petting the dog in her lap who was getting settled.

"Hey, Clark," she greeted brightly. "Taking Krypto on a walk?"

"Not a very good one, it seems," he huffed before kneeling down next to her on the blanket. "I'm sorry about him."

Millie looked at him quite seriously, which made Krypto freeze. "Never, ever apologize for the cutest doggie in the whole entire universe," she said, a stern expression on her face.

As Clark smirked, Krypto's tongue lolled out of his mouth. "The whole universe? High praise," Clark said before scratching Krypto's favorite spot. "But I do agree on the cuteness factor."

"Yeah," she said, cupping Krypto's face, looking away from Clark, "and his owner's not so bad to look at either."

Clark froze for just a second, pointing to himself. "His — me? You mean me?"

At seeing his pink cheeks, Millie laughed and nodded. "You're so easy to make blush, Clark," she teased.

He scoffed a bit and crossed his arms, the fabric of his shirt pulling at his biceps. "I could - could make you blush."

"Yeah, right," she laughed, looking into his eyes challengingly. And sadly, Clark didn't have any kind of witty comeback that could help him achieve her pink cheeks.

After a moment of staring, Krypto barked again, begging for Millie's attention, who was happy to give it over. And Clark just melted at the sight of her fawning over his closest companion. So, he dug out his phone and snapped a picture as Krypto licked her cheek, making her grin with her eyes scrunched shut. She was too enamored with Krypto to notice what he'd done as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"I am sorry we interrupted your picnic," Clark said after Krypto settled down in Millie's lap. "And your phone call."

"Caitlin has plenty of free time," Millie shrugged. "I'll call her back tonight.

Because she'd definitely need to know how the rest of this little interaction went. Not only was she meeting the cutest dog in the world, but she was seeing Clark in workout gear — it was a perfect day.

"You're welcome to stay with me if you don't have anywhere to be. I've got snacks," she offered, hoping he'd take her up on that. Even though their desks were across from each other at work, they were usually too busy doing their jobs to socialize.

"Are you sure you wouldn't mind?" Clark asked a bit shyly, not wanting to impose.

"Please, Clark," she begged, poking out her bottom lip. "Don't make me say goodbye to Krypto yet."

"Oh, I see," he said, rolling his eyes playfully. "You just want me for my dog."

Millie smirked and leaned in, still having to look up at him even while sitting down. "Clark, I want every inch of you."

Though his face was flushed, he remained mostly composed as he leaned down a bit, nose skimming her temple as he murmured in her ear.

"You couldn't handle every inch, Sunshine."

In an instant, Millie's cheeks burned as Clark leaned back proudly. His eyes skimmed her face as she looked to the side, bottom lip caught between her teeth. It was a perfect sight — though he could so clearly picture her biting that lip in a different scenario.

"Told you that I could make you blush.