[ He lets out a sigh at that, because- dammit, that hadn't been his intention at all. He realizes that he's been ignoring her as much as she seems to think she's been ignoring him and he walks around to kneel down beside her chair, reaching to put one of his hands over hers. ]

The book will be there tomorrow. It'll be there three weeks from now. There's no rush.

[ He looks up at her and he's always got his truth in his eyes; there's a reason he created a disguise that had him largely never having to answer a question, just the assumption that there was no connection between Clark Kent and Superman because how could there be. He's too earnest by half, after all. ]

Maybe I'm needy. Maybe... I've missed a little time with you as much as I've missed meat on a stick.

[ He tilts his head to give her a crooked smile. ]

Maybe even a little more than meat on a stick.