Clark doesnāt dress as Superman for the Daily Planetās annual Halloween party just for the sake of irony.Ā
He also does it because he knows that Bruce will find out, because Bruce alwaysĀ finds out, and he thinks itāll be hilarious.Ā
Well, that plus Bruce is always getting on his case about the fact that he doesnāt even bother to wear a mask as Superman. Clark has tried to explain it, how posture and body language can change peopleās perceptions, how he keeps his Midwestern drawl as Clark, but drops it for Superman, how he wears intentionally ill-fitting clothing as Clark to hide his body shapeā¦Ā
Bruce believes him, but only begrudgingly. After watching the fifth talk show where Bruce has to comment about howĀ āDo the butts match?ā Clark has to wonder if Bruce isnāt also maybe a little bit jealous. Itās a good thing that Clark isnāt the petty sort, (Except maybe he kind of is, just a little bit.)Ā
He almost buys the āStripper Supermanā Halloween outfit because it makes him crack up; only the fact that itās a work party dissuades him. Instead he goes for the one that has fake muscles in it. Theyāre so awful, and so anatomically incorrect that he hasĀ to go for it. The fabric is shiny, and theĀ āSā stretches funnily across his chest when he tries it on; the fabric is, after all, also cheap. The cape only goes down to his waist, and he has to buy the tights separately. It doesnāt comes with shoes, only boot covers, and he immediately decides heās going to wear crocs.Ā Ā
Because heās Superman.Ā
He can do what he wants.
Bruce finds out about his plans (ā¦because of courseĀ he does), and tries to talk him out of it. Clark listens politely, then mentions politely that heās been watching episodes of drag race to get tips on how to make a fake derriere for his costume. After all, heās got to make sure that the butts match.Ā
Bruce leaves him alone after that (except to mutter darkly that Clarkās secret identity is going to be blown, and is Clark really-?)Ā
When he gets dressed for the party, Clark makes sure not just to slick back his hair, but to make it obviousĀ itās slicked back. He parts it to theĀ āwrongā side, like he was looking in the mirror when he did his hair, and forgot everything was backwards. He puts on the ridiculous, ill-fitting costume, the crocs, the boot covers, and adjusts all the foamĀ āmusclesā so that heĀ ālooks like Superman.āĀ
He wears his glasses, because everyone knows Clark Kent canāt see without his glasses.Ā He makes sure to slouch at the party, to keep to the mannerisms that scream to the worldĀ āI Am Clark Kent And Definitely Not Superman Nope.ā And if his drawl is a little stronger that night then normal? Itās probably the available drinks.Ā Ā
Funnily enough, heās not actually the only person to dress up as Superman; Superman is a popular figure at the Daily Planet, and there are enough costumed fans to have aĀ āSuperman look-alikeā competition.Ā
When Bruce finds out that Clark came in last place⦠Well, itās hard not to act smug.Ā