I’m channeling all my irritation at the new 52 into something constructive. Part of a larger in-progress collaboration.

 —

“Go on,” Ma prompted when Conner didn’t elaborate.  ”You’ve a right to be proud.”  Getting up from the sewing table, she lifted the coat for him to try on.  ”He’s a fine young man.  Very polite.”

Conner’s colour deepened as he allowed himself to be fitted, standing straight when directed and still as she fussed with the seams.

“I couldn’t think of a better choice,” Clark said unexpectedly, coming to stand by his mother.

Kon arched a brow.  ”Yeah?” 

Martha stepped back discreetly as Clark adjusted the collar of Conner’s shirt.

“I think he’s a good match for you.”

Conner swallowed.  ”You do?”

Clark smiled, smoothing the boy’s lapel.  ”I do.”

Kon cleared his throat and shifted.  ”So…this was your suit.  I thought it was your dad’s?”

“It was,” Clark confirmed.  ”Do you know how to knot a tie?”  When Conner shook his head, he reached for the one that had accompanied the suit and slipped it under the boy’s collar.  ”He always used to say, ‘A man needs two suits—’”

“One to marry and one to bury.  Yeah, I got that,” Conner finished, watching with a certain amount of genuine fascination as Clark wrapped, slipped, and tugged the tie into a knot worth wearing.  ”So I’m guessing this is a marrying suit.”  He cringed.  ”I’m not sure how I feel about that.  It’s just a date.”

Clark laughed.  ”It’s more than just that.  It’s…”  The man cleared his throat and took a breath and smiled.  ”It’s the suit you pass on to your son.”