FIC: Apathy - Waging Wars (Batman/Superman, PG-13)
For mithen's Shuffle fic challenge at worlds_finest! I wrote this for Apathy but, uhm, probably works better for Absence of Fear. Erm erm. Also a bit longer than it was supposed to be.
/insert Keyboard Cat to mock my failure.
Title: Apathy (Waging Wars)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Batman/Superman
Word Count: 510+
Summary: He sees too much, too often. Sometimes he shuts down.
It’s not about pain. If it was up to Clark, he would never have to see Bruce look away and set his jaw, his eyes hardening with defiance as his body shifts, suggesting a self-protective impulse that he knows Bruce will not act on.
But it’s not physical pain that upsets Clark the most. It’s not even the emotional pain that comes hand in hand with the Mission, the pain of injustice and tragedy that seem to permeate some of Gotham’s darkest nights. It’s the pain that’s unshared, almost unseen, that scares Clark more than any of Bruce’s dark moods, because he’s afraid one day it will eclipse Bruce’s heart. There are things that Bruce doesn’t know how to share, things that aren’t meant to be talked about. Clark knows those things haunt the Dark City like hungry wolves, and that they won’t reveal themselves to him, an outsider, but he can see how they break the heart of the one he loves most. He understands some burdens have to be carried alone, but that doesn’t mean he will stop fending off the horrors.
He doesn’t like the implications, but sometimes he has to fight Bruce to make him let it go. He turns to his lover, who’s been staring into space as they overlook the police cleaning a crime scene on the street below. Something terrible has happened here, even if Batman was there to prevent things from escalating.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know why they bother with the cleanup. It’s not like anyone would notice in the morning rush.” He looks impatient.
Like lighting -before Bruce can build up more defenses in the fortress of his mind- he’s pulling him into his arms, kissing him deep and slow, putting all his worry and outrage in one kiss that’s testament of how good he’s gotten at waging his war, fighting violence from jading the other half of his heart. His hold on the Kevlar armor is tighter than what he would allow himself on skin, and he knows Bruce can feel the strength through the armor, the heat reaching beyond the layers of insulation.
He lets go, and Bruce is breathless for a moment. He can see the shift in the way he holds himself, like Clark has just stabbed him through the heart, and he’s bleeding the pain he won’t share, can’t share, that the city won’t let Clark share.
Clark is not afraid of pain. But he is afraid of losing Bruce to the city, seeing him go through the motions day in and day out, too far away for him to reach. Bruce rests his head on his shoulder for a moment. The night has hurt him, but Clark won’t let the wound untended, not if he can help it.
Bruce sighs. “I want to go home.” He sounds tired.
“I know.”
They wait until the cleaning crew is done before heading for the Manor. Dawn is still hours away, but he’s not afraid of what the darkness holds.
The ember of his love’s heart is aglow.
/insert Keyboard Cat to mock my failure.
Title: Apathy (Waging Wars)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Batman/Superman
Word Count: 510+
Summary: He sees too much, too often. Sometimes he shuts down.
It’s not about pain. If it was up to Clark, he would never have to see Bruce look away and set his jaw, his eyes hardening with defiance as his body shifts, suggesting a self-protective impulse that he knows Bruce will not act on.
But it’s not physical pain that upsets Clark the most. It’s not even the emotional pain that comes hand in hand with the Mission, the pain of injustice and tragedy that seem to permeate some of Gotham’s darkest nights. It’s the pain that’s unshared, almost unseen, that scares Clark more than any of Bruce’s dark moods, because he’s afraid one day it will eclipse Bruce’s heart. There are things that Bruce doesn’t know how to share, things that aren’t meant to be talked about. Clark knows those things haunt the Dark City like hungry wolves, and that they won’t reveal themselves to him, an outsider, but he can see how they break the heart of the one he loves most. He understands some burdens have to be carried alone, but that doesn’t mean he will stop fending off the horrors.
He doesn’t like the implications, but sometimes he has to fight Bruce to make him let it go. He turns to his lover, who’s been staring into space as they overlook the police cleaning a crime scene on the street below. Something terrible has happened here, even if Batman was there to prevent things from escalating.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know why they bother with the cleanup. It’s not like anyone would notice in the morning rush.” He looks impatient.
Like lighting -before Bruce can build up more defenses in the fortress of his mind- he’s pulling him into his arms, kissing him deep and slow, putting all his worry and outrage in one kiss that’s testament of how good he’s gotten at waging his war, fighting violence from jading the other half of his heart. His hold on the Kevlar armor is tighter than what he would allow himself on skin, and he knows Bruce can feel the strength through the armor, the heat reaching beyond the layers of insulation.
He lets go, and Bruce is breathless for a moment. He can see the shift in the way he holds himself, like Clark has just stabbed him through the heart, and he’s bleeding the pain he won’t share, can’t share, that the city won’t let Clark share.
Clark is not afraid of pain. But he is afraid of losing Bruce to the city, seeing him go through the motions day in and day out, too far away for him to reach. Bruce rests his head on his shoulder for a moment. The night has hurt him, but Clark won’t let the wound untended, not if he can help it.
Bruce sighs. “I want to go home.” He sounds tired.
“I know.”
They wait until the cleaning crew is done before heading for the Manor. Dawn is still hours away, but he’s not afraid of what the darkness holds.
The ember of his love’s heart is aglow.