(FIC) Fragments Ch. 3
So. Let's go back a few months. Maybe half a year. Okay, remember I was re-writing Superman Returns? Well. By the middle of October, I had half of a chapter done, and I cued a party scene. Yeah, a party scene. It shouldn't have taken so long, but there was a lot of people in that party, and writing them intimidated me.
Move forward many months up until last week, when I left to San Diego. So, I said to myself 'You're gonna write like there's no tomorrow!' and then I found out we didn't have internet at my uncle's home. Cue to my freakout. Yeah! So that's how this chapter was finished last week, I had no internet. I cheated in the party scene, I never even used half the characters that were there, and I generally dropped the ball concerning that scene.
But hopefully I will be forgiven :)
Fandom: Superman Returns, DCU and DCAU. This is an AU.
Rating: PG-15
Pairing: S/B
Summary: Superman Returns redux challenge, chapter 3, in which there’s much waxing about family and friends, corporate sharks flirt with each other, Steph tells Superman he’s a weirdo and smooching happens. Not in that order.
Word Count: 8000+
A/N: Thanks to jen_in_japan and damo_in_japan for their invaluable input and their kind beta :) You guys rock!
Started on October 12th 2006 at 5:10 pm
Finished on April 5th 2007 at 11:50 pm
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
He had flown them back from the Fortress the day before, and though a part of him had really wanted to get on Luthor’s case right away, he had also been depleted. Bruce was gone by the time he woke up, so he’d gone out to patrol in the morning. It felt good to be out there, doing something to help, connecting with people, with Earth; flying high across fields and cities, land and sea, blue sky ever changing above him, the warmth of the sun a constant on his back. He’d returned home -it was weird, how quickly the Manor was becoming home- and found Bruce in the Cave, ready to debrief him on the Luthor situation.
“Tell me you have a plan.”
“I have a plan.”
“Good. I want to hear all about it.” Clark crossed his arms, leaning on the console of the computer womb. He shifted slightly to move his cape out of the way and flashed a dangerous smile towards Bruce.
“He wants to meet with me, businessman to businessman. He says he has something to offer me, and wants LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises to undergo a joint venture.”
Bruce wasn’t looking at him, which saved him the full-blown glare and scowl that Clark was giving him. “I don’t think I like this plan.”
“I said I had a plan, not that I had a plan you would like. I’ve been working on this for almost 2 years, Clark. A punch in the face is not going to bring Luthor down, this requires finesse.”
Clark snorted. “A punch in the face would be much more rewarding.”
Bruce finally turned to meet his gaze, and smiled wickedly. “I’m going to have to teach you how to enjoy a long hunt, Clark. There’s more to life than instant gratification.”
Clark stared at his friend, dumbfounded. Every time the man said something that Clark’s brain could interpret as flirting his sense of touch rippled, making him shiver. “You just didn’t say that,” he mumbled.
Bruce laughed, the cave filling with a low, amused sound that was equal parts Bat velvet and pleasant baritone. All suited up and without the cowl, it was impossible to distinguish the limits between man and urban legend. All the lines blurred and Clark was left wondering just how far he could push their own limits.
He suspected that there was more to his sensory overloads than just the re-acquaintance with life on Earth. Still, there was always the chance that once he fully adjusted to his new life, the attraction to Bruce would fade. He was depending on him for a lot of things, it was -maybe- natural to find himself pining for him. Besides, it wasn’t like Bruce didn’t have a very strong animal magnetism, a lot of people felt attracted to the man. It didn’t have to mean anything.
“So you’re going to meet with him in the office?” Clark said, trying not to grind his teeth too hard at the idea of Bruce and Luthor together.
“Maybe. Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor are casual acquaintances; we might go for something less formal.”
“Casual acquaintances,” Clark repeated. He really hated this plan.
“It would be best for us. Something less formal to make Lex relax. We need him to feel safe. “
“You’re hoping the joint venture has to do with the crystals.”
“Yes. But if it doesn’t, it won’t matter. A deal with Wayne Enterprises would bring him up in the corporate food chain. I’ve been baiting him, offering him a fish bigger than he can swallow. If he wants it bad enough, he’ll try to bring me down to take over WE.”
“He’s going to try to kill you.”
“Corporate terrorism, fraud, murder. He’ll try anything.”
“How is that a good thing?” Clark was trying hard not to snap, but Bruce’s plan was atrocious.
“I’m keeping a very close eye on Lex. He’s not going to be able to buy a cup of coffee without us having proof of it. We’re going to put him in jail, and he’s going to stay there.” Bruce’s eyes were bright with determination. “You weren’t here when Gotham was declared No Man’s Land, Clark. That man tried to take over my city. He was trading on the pain of innocent people to get good PR. If we don’t bring him down the right way, we might end up with a President Luthor.”
Clark scowled. “No way. People wouldn’t vote for him.”
“Are you sure? He’s a sweet talker, a master manipulator,” Bruce said, his hands entwined beneath his chin. “He’s already risen from wanted criminal to respectable business man. You think he can’t walk the last two miles?”
Clark wanted more than anything to say that yes, he was sure Lex Luthor would never find his way that high. But he knew Lex, and he knew the way the world worked. “I don’t want him near you,” he said, feeling a little defeated as he stared straight into the bottomless pits of blue.
A slow, dangerous smile took over Bruce’s features. “He won’t know what hit him.”
Clark swallowed hard. “I know,” he said, giving him a sad smile of his own. Bruce didn’t understand how much it grated on Clark’s nerves to think of him with Luthor in any way. Luthor had taken so much from him, and if he did anything to Bruce, Clark didn’t think he could find it in himself to let the man live.
---
Alfred knocked at the door of Clark's suite, even though the door was open. Clark had been sitting on his bed, staring into space, wondering how exactly he had found himself in his current position.
“Do you need any help getting ready, Master Clark?”
“No, Alfred, I’m fine, thank you,” Clark said, buttoning up his blue shirt.
“If I might be so bold, sir, you don’t look fine. Perhaps you’re not comfortable with tonight’s arrangements?”
Clark threw a side glance at the older man, wondering if it would be against Alfred’s ‘Family dinner the second Monday of the month’ rule to complain about the flood of people they were expecting for the night. “I just haven’t seen them all in a long time. This is going to be really awkward.”
“Nonsense, Master Clark. Think of tonight as a chance to get reacquainted with your family. These people are your friends, they will be happy to see you.”
“It’s been a long time, Alfred. I really don’t know how happy they’ll be to see me. I left them all behind.”
“What your friends think won’t matter unless you are willing to forgive yourself, sir.”
He sighed. “I could have achieved more if I had stayed here than by leaving.”
“You can’t know that for sure, Master Clark. Would you take a word of advice, sir?”
Clark nodded.
“Do not linger in the past. Let bygones be bygones, or you’ll miss this moment too.”
Clark smiled, trying to put his heart into it. He had the feeling that he was being handled the way Alfred handled impossibly stubborn bats. “I’ll try, Alfred. It’s not an easy advice to follow, though. ”
“You’re a strong lad, Master Clark. I’m sure you’ll find it in yourself to get past this.”
Clark chuckled. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Alfred. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure to be of help, sir,” Alfred said, his expression betraying nothing, but Clark could see a smile in his eyes.
Clark picked up one of his shoes as looked for the other. “So, what’s the full guest list for tonight?”
“Master Richard and Master Tim shall be arriving soon, and Missess Barbara, Cassie and Stephanie will be here by seven. Master Roy and Miss Dinah shall be getting here too by then, they are bringing young Miss Lian with them. Miss Helena should be here a little after seven. Master Bruce invited Miss Diana, Master J’onn and Master Michael too. Dinner will be served in the grand dinning room by seven-thirty.”
“Michael?”
“Michael Holt, I don’t think you know him, sir. He’s friends with Master Bruce. Mr. Terrific in the caped circles, I believe.”
“Right. Where’s Bruce, anyway? In the Cave?” Clark said as he finished tying his shoelaces. He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He had yet to decide if he was going to wear his glasses and be Clark tonight or keep them off and be Kal. There were people that didn’t know him and with whom Clark wasn’t sure he wanted to share his secret identity.
“Master Bruce is in his bedroom, most likely asleep. I shall be waking him soon; he has to get ready for dinner.”
Clark shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, Alfred. I’ll get him as soon as I’m ready.”
“As you wish, Master Clark. I’ll go tend to the dinner then.” With that, the butler was silently gone.
Clark grabbed his glasses from the nightstand, fiddling with them. He had been alone for a very long time. He had crossed paths with other living creatures during his absence, helped where he could, being an unnamed Samaritan for those who had needed his help. He hadn’t been completely idle during his travels, but he had also spent so much time just drifting, isolated. Even when he had found company in strange and far away planets, he had tried to remain a stranger, so that when he left them he wouldn’t have to cut any deep-placed bonds, like he had done when he left Earth.
He was worried about seeing Diana and J’onn again. Among all his associates and friends on Earth, they were the ones who understood Clark’s alienated side the most, to which Kal’s feelings were natural and shared things. He sighed, looking at his reflection on the mirror. Diana would kick his ass, he just knew it. Clark hoped that J’onn would understand, but he was afraid to find disappointment in his friend’s eyes. He had deserted them as much as he has deserted Lois and Bruce.
On top of his fears -and a part of himself felt silly for feeling that way, Bruce wouldn’t have invited them over for family dinner if they were mad at him-, there was the matter of change. Bruce had changed while Clark had been away, and though Bruce was human and thus much more prone to change, Clark didn’t expect his almost immortal peers to remain the same. He was afraid of having been left behind, that these people, who had shared his feelings and desires, outsiders in a world that had adopted them all, no longer could relate to him.
He finally settled his glasses on top of his head, ready to fall down on his nose if the need for a mask arose, and walked across the hall to Bruce’s suit. On the way there, he wondered what kind of man Mr. Terrific was that he had earned a place on Bruce’s table during Superman’s welcome-back party. Clark remembered the stories about the original Mr. Terrific from when he had been younger, but other than the feeling of awe that the heroes of his childhood gave him, he didn’t know much about them. He knocked softly, opening the door slightly.
His greeting died on his throat at the sight of his friend huddled on his side under the afghan, sound asleep, with his son in his arms. A fond smile touched Clark’s lips, and he walked towards the bed, sitting on the edge. He threaded his fingers through JJ’s auburn hair, careful to avoid disturbing Bruce. They both looked so peaceful and at ease. He allowed his gaze to linger in Bruce’s face, free of lines of worry or stress, the dark eyelashes kissing clean shaved cheeks. When he looked down at his son, Clark realized the boy was awake and looking at him with sleepy azure eyes.
“Hey Jay,” Clark whispered. “Time to get ready for dinner.”
The boy yawned and grabbed the hand Bruce had around him, tugging at it. “Dad is here,” he said, turning to face Bruce.
Bruce stirred, turning to lie on his back and letting go of the boy. He stretched the way Clark thought big cats did, sighing in resignation and throwing an arm over his eyes. He turned his head to face Clark after a minute, lapse that had been enough for Jay to climb over his chest. Two sets of sleepy blue eyes stared at Clark in silence.
“Alfred says Tim and Dick should be here in less than an hour,” Clark explained.
“Okay,” Bruce said softly, petting the boy’s hair. “Why don’t you ask your Dad to help you get ready, Ace?”
“Can I wear the purple shirt? The one with the fire?” JJ asked, his chin digging in Bruce’s chest.
Bruce chuckled softly. “Sure. I don’t think Clark has seen that one yet.”
JJ sat up and quickly scurried towards the door. He stopped on his tracks and turned to look a Clark. “You coming, Dad?”
“In a minute, Jay.” Clark turned back towards the prone form on the bed as the boy’s quick steps echoed down the hall.
“He’s obsessed with that shirt; it has black flames going up the sleeves. I dread the day he comes down the Cave to show me the design of his new costume and it’s a purple jumpsuit with black flames.”
“He’s too young to have a costume designed,” Clark said in a lecturing tone.
“He’ll be an eighteen year old asking for a purple jumpsuit with black flames. I know it.”
Clark laughed. “Had a late night?” He asked after a moment.
Bruce shrugged, sitting up next to Clark on the edge of the bed. Clark stopped him from getting up, putting a hand on his knee. “Did you sleep at all?”
Bruce stared at the large hand on his leg, his brows knitting together in thought. “No, JLA business,” he said absently. He checked the clock on his nightstand and stood up. “It’s getting late; I have to give a quick check to last night’s reports. And you,” he said, the thoughtful look being replaced with a playful smirk, “you have to go meet The Purple Shirt. See it and tell me it’s not the stuff of nightmares. Steph got it for him the last time the girls were in Star City.”
Clark let him get off the hook. Bruce could get truly obsessed with work with a complete disregard for his health, though Clark doubted Alfred allowed him to go too far. Clark stood up and headed for the door while Bruce did his best to rein his hair in and look presentable for dinner.
---
Steph walked out of the dining room, snickering under her breath. Man, Roy was a riot. The stories he had about Dick! She would never have such funny anecdotes about Tim, he was -hard to believe!- less of a mess than Dick had been at his age. And Tim was quite a mess, really, the guy couldn’t even get his hair under control. But it seemed that being shy and geeky was less disastrous with the girls than being straightforward and charming. Oh, Dick. Not even his perfect ten of a bum could have saved him from some of the stuff Roy and Babs told them about.
She headed for the bathroom, but stopped as she saw the guest of honor of the night -and how cool was that Superman was back and she was having dinner with him?- standing alone in the dark in the morning room. He had been with everyone in the dining room earlier and she didn’t remember seeing him leave. She shifted her weight, wanting to strike conversation with him, but he looked lost in thought, staring at the stars outside the windows. It might be the shadows playing tricks on her, but he looked sad.
“Hey, eh…” She walked into the room, but stopped short, unsure of what to call him. “Uhm, Superman…”
“Clark,” he offered, turning to look at her, a shy smile on his lips. He looked unnatural under the dim moonlight; cold and alone in a dark room while the family’s chatter and laughter could be heard inside in the warmly lit dining room. “Stephanie, right?”
“Right.” Superman knew her name. Superman. Clark, who was Superman, knew her name. Cool. “What are you doing alone in the dark, Clark? I thought it was the bats’ thing to be all gloomy.”
Clark chuckled. “I needed some air. I’m not…” his smile faltered for a moment, but it was back in a second, a rueful turn to it. “I’m not used to being with so many people at the same time yet.”
“It’s cool; we all need to get breaks. Bruce goes to his special place all the time.”
Clark raised an eyebrow. “His special place?”
Steph made a dismissive gesture. “You know. Lost in his head, little scary smile, glassy eyes. Who knows what he’s thinking about,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper.
Clark laughed, and Steph felt something in the air change. It didn’t feel unnatural anymore, even though Clark’s rumbling laughter echoed in the big open rooms.
“I’ve seen it. It used to be a sign that the JLA meeting was running too long.”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one.” She pointed to the study, which was within sight and had the lights on. “Are they still talking about their toys?”
Clark tilted his head slightly, and after a moment, he rolled his eyes, smiling. “Yeah. A mile a minute, too. I feel completely left out,” he said jokingly.
“Oh, join the club. It’s like they’re each other’s techno-catnip. Alone, they’re tolerable, but put them in the same room, and boom! Babble alert, blueprints coming out of who-knows-where.”
“You know Michael well?”
“Well, no, I guess… it’s not like we’re close friends or family or anything, but I get to see him some.”
Clark gave her a curious look and she fidgeted a little under his eyes. His gaze wasn’t intense the way the boss’s was, all ‘You better confess now and save yourself the pain of dragging this on’, but in an ‘I can see if you have been good or bad’-Santa kind of way. He wasn’t going to punish you -maybe give you some coal?- but you didn’t want to let him down. “Eh, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Family. You said close friends or family, like…” He broke off, looking away. “It’s like everyone makes a chemical reaction in this place and becomes family.”
“This place, Gotham, or this place, Earth?”
“I meant the Manor,” Clark looked a little thrown off. “I’m sorry, I’m just… it’s a big family right there in the dining room.”
“Like we all cede an electron and turn into a complex molecule or something? That’s…” Steph struggled for words. “That’s a very weird thing to say about a make-shift family, Clark.”
“I guess you’re right.” Clark shifted, looking sheepish.
Steph frowned. Had she just told Superman he was talking crazy? She was about to apologize when the silence between them was broken by the sound of two five year olds giggling and running into the study room.
“I heard you’re the one to blame about J.J.’s purple shirt,” Clark commented nonchalantly.
“Its eggplant, like my costume… not that you've seen it or anything-“
“Ah, so that one’s yours? I saw it in the cave in the costume vault. Smart choice. It looks comfortable.”
“Thank you! It itches like hell ever since the Boss changed the fabric, but yeah. Designed by yours truly,” she made a mock reverence and smiled wickedly at him.
Walking out of the study towards them came Bruce and Michael led by Lian and J.J. Steph turned to the kids while looking at Clark sideways. “So, what do you think about your dad, J.J.? Does he pass the test?”
J.J. walked all the way next to them and took hold of Clark’s hand, keeping Michael’s in the other one and leading them both towards the dinning room. “Dad’s cool. Dad’s way cool. He’s so cool, he could freeze you with his breath. C’mon, Stephie, there’s ice cream for dessert, but Alfred says we have to eat dinner first.”
Steph saw Clark blush first then chuckle, letting himself be led by the youngest member of the clan. “We can’t eat dinner yet, Ace, we’re waiting for J’onn and Diana.”
“Daddy says we can never be late for dinner with Mr. Alfred. They won’t get any dessert for being late!” Lian piped in.
“That would so bum J’onn out,” Michael said, grinning to Bruce. Bruce snorted, putting one hand on the other man’s back and pushing him down the hall, letting go of the little girl’s hand so she could run to the kitchen. J.J. ran after her, and Steph rolled her eyes at the kids.
Clark fell behind as Bruce and Michael resumed their talk of -Steph rolled her eyes again- alloys. She was sure they were the only two people in the world that could make jokes about alloys and laugh like it was comedy gold. “Freaks,” she muttered under her breath as Michael’s laugh mixed with the laughter coming from down the hall and he threw an arm around Bruce’s shoulders. “Geek freaks.”
She was going to ask Clark if he thought they were weird too, but he was busy giving Michael’s arm the evil eye, so she decided to keep to herself.
---
Every time the discreet bell had rung that night he had felt his throat dry, waiting to see J’onn and Diana walk in. It wasn’t that greeting the rest of the gang hadn’t been difficult -though he had to admit it had more to do with his own guilt than with the welcome he got, Dick had been so happy to see him- but he kept expecting the storm to break, the shoe to drop, to be punished in some way… but it wasn’t happening. He was starting to wrap his mind around the idea that maybe it wasn’t going to happen at all, that it was possible for everything to be okay for tonight so he could just relax and enjoy himself. As relaxing as it was to grind his teeth every time Bruce’s dear friend Michael got out of his way to get all over the Bat. What the hell was it with Bruce, anyway? He had hated having his personal space invaded and the world couldn’t have changed that much during his absence, of that much he was sure. Yet there he was, the happy subject of the constant touching and hugging and… and… touching.
Not that it was any of Clark’s business.
He had been part of the ecstatic audience Dinah had as she told the story of one of Roy and Dick’s missions in the Titans -and man, had it been a relief to get a hug and a sweet welcome from Dinah when she saw him- when Alfred went to the front door to let the late guests in.
His heart plummeted, but he still found himself standing up and walking to greet them by the door.
Diana’s smile swept his anxiety away. Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She looked as he remembered her, beautiful, perfect and familiar, her laughter a mix of youthful candor and mature self-assurance. J’onn touched his arm, brushing his mind kindly, a welcoming caress that tickled him in ways he hadn’t felt in too long. Diana stood back and held his face steady, her eyes searching, long fingers threading through his hair.
He had dreaded that he wouldn’t fit here anymore, that the doors might have closed while he was away. ‘Fool,’ J’onn’s voice whispered in his head. Clark couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re back. You’re really back!” Diana looked over his shoulder to where Bruce was leaning against the wall. “Did you wait for me to kick his ass?”
“I saved you the honor, Princess.”
“You foolish, thoughtless man! You left,” her voice was stern, and though there was no reproach in her eyes, she looked dead serious. “We would have helped. We would have understood. You left.”
Clark looked over at J’onn, but the Martian didn’t say anything. Diana pulled at his hair slightly to get his attention back. “We would have. You must know that.”
“I do.”
“Then I can only conclude you’re a thoughtless fool. To leave us without warning, leaving only the rumors of your travels as evidence that you were still alive.”
Clark frowned, confused. “What rumors?”
Bruce answered behind him. “Our resident Green Lanterns kept tabs of the wandering Samaritan. We didn’t know for sure it was you.”
Diana cuffed his ears. “We worried,” she spoke earnestly, her startling blue eyes never leaving his.
“I needed to know for sure… I had to go myself.”
“By yourself doesn’t mean you had to do it alone,” she chastised.
“Give him a break, Princess. He’s Justice League, he was never alone.” Clark turned to look at Bruce as the man spoke and straightened up, turning to go back to the dining room. “Stupid and obfuscated, yes, but not alone.”
Diana laughed under her breath, her dark curls falling around her face. “He was so angry… if you had returned sooner; you would have found yourself stuffed full with kryptonite,” she said once their host had left the room. “And then we would have got to work on you.”
“I was not sure some of their threats were even physically possible, Kal-El. You’re lucky their anger has died down,” J’onn said.
“Oh, we would have made them possible.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Clark admitted. “I’m sorry.”
Diana gave him a warm smile and hugged him again. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“I’m glad to be back too. I missed you all.”
“Serves you right.”
“Has your return brought any trouble? I could help you, if the need arose,” J’onn offered.
Clark managed not to blush as he thought of his sensory adjustments, trying very hard not to conjure the memory of Bruce undressing in the Cave. “Eh. Some sensory overloads. Nothing too unexpected, I guess, after so long.” He paused, coming to a realization. “It hasn’t been unpleasant, though. Just… startling.”
J’onn nodded. “It is to be expected. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
This time, Clark couldn’t help the blush. “I-I’ll keep that in mind, J’onn. Thank you.” ‘Think clean thoughts, Clark, clean, clean thoughts,’ he said to himself. ‘You don’t want to broadcast to J’onn right now. Or ever.’ “We might want to head in; Alfred has threatened to leave you without dessert if he had to serve dinner any later.”
J’onn frowned, his lower lip slightly pursing. “That would be terrible news.” J’onn gestured for Clark to lead them into the room as Diana hooked her arm around Clark’s. As the walked past the threshold, the Martian spoke again, loud enough to be heard by the room’s occupants. “Where is our godson? Why did he not intercede in behalf of our dessert?”
“Uncle J’onn!” J.J. squealed. “I told Alfie to save you some ice cream, I swear!” The little boy ran to greet the new arrivals, becoming a streak of auburn and purple for a moment. Clark’s eyes opened wide at the sight of super speed. The boy hugged J’onn’s legs first and quickly moved to hug the Amazon, chatting her up for long enough for Clark to get out of his shock and look over to Bruce. How long had it been since Jason had super speed? How many powers did the boy had access to that Clark didn’t know off? By the look on Bruce’s face, though, it seemed like super speed was a new thing. Clark felt the corner of his mouth twitch, and he tried to keep the blooming grin under control. Bruce looked thunderstruck. Clark could almost hear his thoughts, ‘What am I going to do with a kid with super speed?’ Bruce’s eyes eventually lifted from the boy’s back and met Clark’s, and only then did Clark allow himself to grin proudly, but Bruce’s reaction sobered him up. As soon as he saw Clark there, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lines of concern easing away as a wave of relief took over. The true weight of the situation dawned on Clark; what would have Bruce done with a kid with super speed had he been alone? A boy with the power to destroy or save the world, a boy with no knowledge of how to use that power. Bruce could teach him the logistics, the best tactical approach and to use it for good, to protect the innocent, to make the world a better place. But he couldn’t help him with the how and wasn’t it a parent’s worst nightmare to be helpless in the face of their children’s need?
Then Clark saw his son pull Diana to the table, showing them their seats, and he smiled again. Bruce had just said so, he hadn’t been alone. J’onn had just called Jason their godson. “Well,” he said as he took his seat across the host. “Good thing I’m here, or you might have had to get Flash as a consultant.”
Bruce clasped his hands in front of his face, a small smile barely visible behind them. “I can only be so sociable, I’m afraid,” he whispered, only for Clark to hear -and J’onn and Diana, it seemed, as they were smiling behind their glasses too.
Clark looked around the table. Some of the people around him were strangers, some of them he would have to get to know again, but it didn’t feel like the impossible task that had overwhelmed him earlier when they started walking into the Manor and into his life. He rose his glass as Alfred brought in the steaming dinner, content to hear the divided conversations and sit in the warm light with old friends and soon-to-not-be-strangers instead of sitting alone under the cold light of the stars. “I guess I should make a toast,” he said. Bruce appraised him, amused, and sat back, raising his own glass and running a hand through his hair. ‘Damn playboy’. “To family,” Clark said, looking around the table. “The people who won’t leave us alone in the dark.”
Bruce’s smile softened. He joined the toast, his eyes never leaving Clark’s, unvoiced questions running behind them. Clark wondered if he would ever have the answers Bruce didn’t dare to ask for.
---
Bruce was comfortably sitting back on the chair, his chin propped in one hand, listening to Barbara and Michael discuss their respective teams’ communications systems, when his butler showed up next to him.
“Sir, the call you have been expecting,” Alfred said.
“Thank you, Alfred. Excuse me,” Bruce pushed his chair back and stood up, giving Clark a nod as he turned to leave the room. The call should be of interest for Clark, since it was essential to bring Luthor closer to the trap, and he knew better than to leave Clark out of the loop when it came to Lex Luthor. Clark had been seeing red whenever it concerned Luthor lately -understandably so, even- and Bruce had learned in the past few years to make concessions in his procedures, acknowledging that sharing a little information prior the execution of his plans was less time consuming and strategically better -even when no one else really needed the information he was sharing- than being endlessly questioned after the fact. It had been a hard lesson to learn, and the falls along the way had been almost catastrophic. He couldn’t help that he didn’t automatically think of sharing what he thought and planned. It wasn’t about secrecy and moving in the shadows as much as it was… well. It was hard to remember that not everyone came to the same conclusion he did. Alfred had said: ‘Remember there’s people living outside your head too, sir; that might be of some help’.
Alfred always made him sound like he was slightly crazy.
He didn’t expect Clark to follow him to his study as he took the call, just to listen in to the conversation, but as he picked up the phone he saw the Kryptonian’s silhouette against the light. Bruce rolled his eyes at him, and then shook his shoulders, letting his stance relax and fall into the well known act of his public persona. He had tamed Brucie a lot since Clark had last seen him; after all, Brucie’s public life had dramatically changed with the loss of Lois and the arrival of his baby boy. He had sobered up the playboy act -it hadn’t been so hard, fortune hunters and black widows weren’t all that eager to share his attentions and his money with the new family addition. Alfred had been very relieved at the dignifying of Brucie’s persona -and no, that he talked about himself in third person didn’t meant there were any people living inside his head, thank you, Alfred.
“Good evening, Lex,” he greeted.
“Good evening to you, Bruce. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” the sound of the polite voice at the other end of the line made Clark bristle visibly.
“I always have time for you, Lex. I did tell you to call if anything came up.” Bruce leaned against his desk, focusing on the polished floors, letting his hair fall over his face. A small shield against Kryptonian eyes, but good enough to avoid being overly distracted by the looming figure by the door. “Have you thought of anything that might… intrigue me?” He purred, letting Lex’s chuckle die down before continuing. “Or is this more of a business call?” He continued, dropping the purr and his interest.
“Don’t sound so bored, Bruce. I can make my business with you be very exciting.”
“Hah! I sure wish,” he laughed easily. “Business meetings are so dull these days. Though I guess they always were.”
“You seem like you could use some excitement in your life.”
“Me? Please. My life’s a rollercoaster. It’s my business partners that could use some spice.”
“That’s where I come in, my boy.”
Bruce thought he heard a growl from the door. He shifted behind the desk, grabbing his Blackberry. “You know I would really like to say yes, Lex, but I do have to keep business apart from pleasure. And we still have to see just how much benefit would a joint venture generate for both our companies.”
“Trust me, Bruce. It’s nothing but a win-win scenario for both of us. I wouldn’t lie to you, now, would I? If you could see it not from the boring analysts’ point of view, but from the vantage point of a visionary… we have to meet, man to man, and discuss this.”
“Please, Lex. Don’t try to brainwash me with talk of visionaries,” Bruce steeled his voice, letting a predatory smile surface. “I know what’s good for my company. If I didn’t, I would have lost it a long time ago.” He relaxed, chuckling to himself. “I think it’s adorable how you think you can teach me to play this game, though. I feel like I have a big corporate shark brother!”
Lex laugh was strained. “Of course I’m not trying to brainwash you, Bruce. I wouldn’t dare to make business with someone I didn’t think was extremely capable. We would drive both our companies to the ground.”
“Professional respect and brotherly love?” Bruce could hear the growl intensify. “Lex, you warm my heart.”
“It’s all about money and sex these days, isn’t it?”
“And power. Don’t forget power.”
“How could I. But not us, I hope,” Lex drawled.
Clark voice was low and harsh. “Bruce. Stop it.”
“You have company?”
“Just my boys and some friends over for dinner, but they don’t really need me to keep themselves entertained.” Bruce glared at Clark. He shook his head in a slow ‘no’ motion. Clark glared back at him, his jaw set. “So, you want us to meet so you can show me the ways of the world, right? Name a day and I’ll be there. No one can say Bruce Wayne isn’t willing to try new things.”
“This Thursday, are you free for dinner? I can fly to Gotham or-“
“Ah, Thursday’s no good, Lex. Actually,” he checked the Blackberry, knowing beforehand what he would find. “My schedule is full the whole week. You know how it is,” he said, offhandedly. There were openings in the schedule that he mentally filled with his less conventional but unavoidable commitments. “Okay, let’s see. Next Monday. I can take the Wayne One to Metropolis to make up for making you wait.”
There was a pause in which Bruce guessed Lex checked his schedule, though he was sure Lex, like himself, didn’t have to. But it was expected of both of them, just like it was expected of the bigger corporate shark to be willing to help the smaller fish -in his own terms. Lex couldn’t really bargain changing the date Bruce had just given him. Despite the friendly conversations, they never lost sight of who was on top of the food chain. Lex didn’t like to fall into protocol, but he didn’t have many choices.
“Monday sounds good. Late breakfast?”
Bruce laughed. “How late can you make that breakfast? I’m horrible with mornings.”
“I’m sure you’re not,” Lex said, almost sweetly. Bruce grinned, despite himself. He had to admit, the whole charade was fun. Especially when he could see things moving just as planned. Making him fear Bruce would have been deliciously good, but erasing his patronizing smile, seeing those green eyes looking at him in shock and disbelief? Lex Luthor, defeated? Bruce could almost taste the satisfaction. “Shall we make it lunch, then?” Lex continued.
“Lunch will be great.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll let you return to yours, Bruce. Have a great evening. Give your boys my regards, I trust they are well?”
“They are, and I will, Lex. Have a good evening yourself. I’ll see you next week, or I’ll talk to you sooner, whatever. Take care.”
“Goodbye, Bruce.”
Bruce hung up the phone, still smiling. He walked to the doorway, but Clark wasn’t moving out of the way. Bruce raised a questioning eyebrow. “Yes?”
“You-“ Clark was seething. Bruce took a deep breath and pushed his hair out of his face, trading the playboy relaxed stance for a fight-ready one. “You-you’re purring! He’s-“ Clark threw his hands up in the air. “Lex goddamn Luthor! Casual acquaintances? That’s not casual acquaintances! He was downright... you were… you were flirting! With him! He asked about your boys, about MY boy! What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Clark-“
“And what kind of idiotic plan involves using yourself as bait? I knew I didn’t like this plan, but I trusted you knew what you were doing.”
“And I do.”
“You’re hoping he’ll try to kill you!” Clark grabbed Bruce’s shoulders and shook him. “That’s not any kind of plan, why can’t you see that?”
Bruce shrugged his arms off, scowling. “I know what I’m doing and I can take care of myself, Clark. I’m not dealing with the Joker, I’m doing business with Luthor-“
Clark fisted his hands at his sides, leaning closer to Bruce, his eyes burning. “That’s just it. You think that there’s honor among thieves just because he’s not one of your psychopaths? You think you he can’t touch you because he’s not one of yours? You can’t underestimate him, he’s dangerous,” Clark said through clenched teeth.
Bruce stared at the frustrated Kryptonian in silence until Clark broke eye contact. Bruce was going to head back to the dining room, give Clark some space to think about what he was saying -if someone dared to underestimate Luthor because he didn’t have powers or wasn’t a certified psychopath it certainly wasn’t going to be Bruce, and that had to be obvious- but he stopped. It was bothering him, the streak of over protectiveness. It was classic Clark, though. He turned and waited for Clark to face him. He felt like pointing to himself and saying ‘I am dangerous too. Very dangerous. I can handle Luthor and I can handle you, so stop it,’ but he felt it would sound like he was a petulant child. He crossed his arms, shook his head and sighed. “What do you want me to do? Tell me, Clark. You know I can handle Lex, and you know I’m not entering this unprepared, but you don’t trust me. You think I can’t do it. Fine. What do you want me to do instead?”
Clark clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides, looking mortified. “It’s not-of course I trust you. I know you have this planned out, but…” he trailed off.
“But what? I don’t have the energy to fight with you and Luthor at the same time. I need to know if we’re in this together or if you’re out. I’ve worked to get Luthor where we have him now, but if you have a better plan, so be it, Clark. Tell me what the hell you want because I just can’t--”
---
Clark fisted his hands again, his nails digging into impenetrable skin. Luthor’s voice kept ringing on his ears. He could see the smug smile, the hungry green eyes that would devour everything Clark had if he let him. The man who made it his mission to destroy Clark, trying to seduce Bruce and destroy him, take him away.
And all the meanwhile, Bruce smiling and purring like Lex’s intentions weren’t despicable.
Like he didn’t mind at all.
“Tell me what the hell you want because I just can’t-“
Clark closed his eyes, grinding his teeth in frustration, not knowing if he wanted to yell or cry because Bruce just didn’t understand, and there was nothing he could do to make him see just how wrong everything was.
Everything. Was. Wrong.
So he did the only thing that felt right.
Bruce went completely still in his arms as Clark’s mouth pressed against his, silencing the rest of the sentence. Clark grabbed a fistful of soft black hair, entwining his fingers with the curling strands and pulling Bruce’s head back. Bruce hesitantly responded to the kiss, yielding to his advances but still awkward in his arms. Clark dipped his tongue into the other’s mouth, tasting wine and darkness, shadows and secrets, the familiar essence of the man that had been his partner and friend for years, his anchor since his return. He nipped soft lips, closing his eyes tightly, not knowing just where he was leading them.
He felt Bruce shiver, and he let go. The other man took a step back, breathing hard. He wouldn’t look at Clark in the eyes, his lips moving but not a sound coming out of them.
“Why did you do that?” Bruce finally whispered.
“That’s what I want,” Clark said plainly. Bruce’s shoulders slumped and he threaded a hand through his hair -and Clark had to stop his own hand from reaching out to catch the waving locks. The steel blue eyes finally met azure ones, and Clark fought off a wave of dread. Bruce’s eyes were so sad. Confused, lost and terribly sad.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Bruce said, taking another step back. Clark reached out and grabbed his arm. “I can’t.” He was looking away again. “Clark,” he pleaded, trying to extricate himself from Clark’s hold.
“You just said you can’t fight me and Luthor. Don’t fight me.”
“It’s not…” Bruce shook his head and chuckled bitterly. “It’s not real, Clark. You don’t really feel this way.”
“How can you say that?”
“You haven’t even been back for a two weeks yet. It’s too soon, you’re… I don’t know, adjusting. You were alone for too long and--”
“You think you're just convenient?”
Bruce shrugged.
“Oh, believe me, pal, you are not convenient. You’re stubborn and frustrating and you have a complete disregard for your own life. I have no idea, no idea at all, of what to do about you. You’re like… like…”
“A complete other species?”
“Don’t start.”
“I am right, though.” Clark glared at him, and Bruce shrugged again. “It’s not real.”
“You just don’t want to think it is.”
“Clark, please. Don’t think about it. Give it time, and it will go away. Right now, you just want to belong, to restart your life. Don’t…” he trailed off, closing his eyes. With a deep breath, all emotion left his face.
“Don’t do that. Don’t close up. Damn you, stop assuming you know everything and talk to me.”
The shallow calm broke with a scowl, and blue eyes lit up with anger. “You think I have it easy here? Do you think you’re the only one trying to get used to things changing? Look. I can’t. I just can’t deal with this.”
“We can try-“
“Yeah, right. I can try to tackle this on top of everything else, and next month, when you realize I was right, you’ll start feeling awkward and thinking about moving out because you can’t stand to live here and you’ll leave us. No.”
“What if I’m right? What if next month, next year, I’m still feeling this way? Would you be interested? You haven’t said anything either way; you’re just passing judgment on what I feel.”
“I’ll cross that river when I have to. If I have to.”
“You infuriating bastard, just give me a yes or a no and be done with it!”
“I don’t know, Clark! I wasn’t expecting this!” he snapped. Clark let go of his arm and nodded, feeling defeated. Bruce sighed, looking very tired. It made Clark’s heart ache. “Give it time. Give me time. Whatever happens, we’ll be fine.”
“I wouldn’t leave.” Clark offered, conciliatory. “I wouldn’t run off on J.J. and you know it.”
“Good,” Bruce nodded. “Let’s go back, then.”
Clark reluctantly followed him back to the dining room. The rest of the evening was spent in a haze, and soon he found himself alone in his bedroom, unsure of how he’d ended up in such a mess.
He lay back on his bed, listening to the sounds of the house until he heard Bruce leave for patrol. He wanted to follow him, but he didn’t think that would sit well with the Dark Knight right now. And it didn’t fit very well in the definition of ‘giving him time’, which was going to complicated, since they were living together and sharing a son and all.
Still, Clark had gotten really good at waiting. If Bruce wanted time, he could give him time in spades. He checked on his son’s steady breathing, and smiled. He wasn’t going anywhere, after all.
That night, he dreamt of wine, secrets and shadows.
Move forward many months up until last week, when I left to San Diego. So, I said to myself 'You're gonna write like there's no tomorrow!' and then I found out we didn't have internet at my uncle's home. Cue to my freakout. Yeah! So that's how this chapter was finished last week, I had no internet. I cheated in the party scene, I never even used half the characters that were there, and I generally dropped the ball concerning that scene.
But hopefully I will be forgiven :)
Fandom: Superman Returns, DCU and DCAU. This is an AU.
Rating: PG-15
Pairing: S/B
Summary: Superman Returns redux challenge, chapter 3, in which there’s much waxing about family and friends, corporate sharks flirt with each other, Steph tells Superman he’s a weirdo and smooching happens. Not in that order.
Word Count: 8000+
A/N: Thanks to jen_in_japan and damo_in_japan for their invaluable input and their kind beta :) You guys rock!
Started on October 12th 2006 at 5:10 pm
Finished on April 5th 2007 at 11:50 pm
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
He had flown them back from the Fortress the day before, and though a part of him had really wanted to get on Luthor’s case right away, he had also been depleted. Bruce was gone by the time he woke up, so he’d gone out to patrol in the morning. It felt good to be out there, doing something to help, connecting with people, with Earth; flying high across fields and cities, land and sea, blue sky ever changing above him, the warmth of the sun a constant on his back. He’d returned home -it was weird, how quickly the Manor was becoming home- and found Bruce in the Cave, ready to debrief him on the Luthor situation.
“Tell me you have a plan.”
“I have a plan.”
“Good. I want to hear all about it.” Clark crossed his arms, leaning on the console of the computer womb. He shifted slightly to move his cape out of the way and flashed a dangerous smile towards Bruce.
“He wants to meet with me, businessman to businessman. He says he has something to offer me, and wants LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises to undergo a joint venture.”
Bruce wasn’t looking at him, which saved him the full-blown glare and scowl that Clark was giving him. “I don’t think I like this plan.”
“I said I had a plan, not that I had a plan you would like. I’ve been working on this for almost 2 years, Clark. A punch in the face is not going to bring Luthor down, this requires finesse.”
Clark snorted. “A punch in the face would be much more rewarding.”
Bruce finally turned to meet his gaze, and smiled wickedly. “I’m going to have to teach you how to enjoy a long hunt, Clark. There’s more to life than instant gratification.”
Clark stared at his friend, dumbfounded. Every time the man said something that Clark’s brain could interpret as flirting his sense of touch rippled, making him shiver. “You just didn’t say that,” he mumbled.
Bruce laughed, the cave filling with a low, amused sound that was equal parts Bat velvet and pleasant baritone. All suited up and without the cowl, it was impossible to distinguish the limits between man and urban legend. All the lines blurred and Clark was left wondering just how far he could push their own limits.
He suspected that there was more to his sensory overloads than just the re-acquaintance with life on Earth. Still, there was always the chance that once he fully adjusted to his new life, the attraction to Bruce would fade. He was depending on him for a lot of things, it was -maybe- natural to find himself pining for him. Besides, it wasn’t like Bruce didn’t have a very strong animal magnetism, a lot of people felt attracted to the man. It didn’t have to mean anything.
“So you’re going to meet with him in the office?” Clark said, trying not to grind his teeth too hard at the idea of Bruce and Luthor together.
“Maybe. Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor are casual acquaintances; we might go for something less formal.”
“Casual acquaintances,” Clark repeated. He really hated this plan.
“It would be best for us. Something less formal to make Lex relax. We need him to feel safe. “
“You’re hoping the joint venture has to do with the crystals.”
“Yes. But if it doesn’t, it won’t matter. A deal with Wayne Enterprises would bring him up in the corporate food chain. I’ve been baiting him, offering him a fish bigger than he can swallow. If he wants it bad enough, he’ll try to bring me down to take over WE.”
“He’s going to try to kill you.”
“Corporate terrorism, fraud, murder. He’ll try anything.”
“How is that a good thing?” Clark was trying hard not to snap, but Bruce’s plan was atrocious.
“I’m keeping a very close eye on Lex. He’s not going to be able to buy a cup of coffee without us having proof of it. We’re going to put him in jail, and he’s going to stay there.” Bruce’s eyes were bright with determination. “You weren’t here when Gotham was declared No Man’s Land, Clark. That man tried to take over my city. He was trading on the pain of innocent people to get good PR. If we don’t bring him down the right way, we might end up with a President Luthor.”
Clark scowled. “No way. People wouldn’t vote for him.”
“Are you sure? He’s a sweet talker, a master manipulator,” Bruce said, his hands entwined beneath his chin. “He’s already risen from wanted criminal to respectable business man. You think he can’t walk the last two miles?”
Clark wanted more than anything to say that yes, he was sure Lex Luthor would never find his way that high. But he knew Lex, and he knew the way the world worked. “I don’t want him near you,” he said, feeling a little defeated as he stared straight into the bottomless pits of blue.
A slow, dangerous smile took over Bruce’s features. “He won’t know what hit him.”
Clark swallowed hard. “I know,” he said, giving him a sad smile of his own. Bruce didn’t understand how much it grated on Clark’s nerves to think of him with Luthor in any way. Luthor had taken so much from him, and if he did anything to Bruce, Clark didn’t think he could find it in himself to let the man live.
---
Alfred knocked at the door of Clark's suite, even though the door was open. Clark had been sitting on his bed, staring into space, wondering how exactly he had found himself in his current position.
“Do you need any help getting ready, Master Clark?”
“No, Alfred, I’m fine, thank you,” Clark said, buttoning up his blue shirt.
“If I might be so bold, sir, you don’t look fine. Perhaps you’re not comfortable with tonight’s arrangements?”
Clark threw a side glance at the older man, wondering if it would be against Alfred’s ‘Family dinner the second Monday of the month’ rule to complain about the flood of people they were expecting for the night. “I just haven’t seen them all in a long time. This is going to be really awkward.”
“Nonsense, Master Clark. Think of tonight as a chance to get reacquainted with your family. These people are your friends, they will be happy to see you.”
“It’s been a long time, Alfred. I really don’t know how happy they’ll be to see me. I left them all behind.”
“What your friends think won’t matter unless you are willing to forgive yourself, sir.”
He sighed. “I could have achieved more if I had stayed here than by leaving.”
“You can’t know that for sure, Master Clark. Would you take a word of advice, sir?”
Clark nodded.
“Do not linger in the past. Let bygones be bygones, or you’ll miss this moment too.”
Clark smiled, trying to put his heart into it. He had the feeling that he was being handled the way Alfred handled impossibly stubborn bats. “I’ll try, Alfred. It’s not an easy advice to follow, though. ”
“You’re a strong lad, Master Clark. I’m sure you’ll find it in yourself to get past this.”
Clark chuckled. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Alfred. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure to be of help, sir,” Alfred said, his expression betraying nothing, but Clark could see a smile in his eyes.
Clark picked up one of his shoes as looked for the other. “So, what’s the full guest list for tonight?”
“Master Richard and Master Tim shall be arriving soon, and Missess Barbara, Cassie and Stephanie will be here by seven. Master Roy and Miss Dinah shall be getting here too by then, they are bringing young Miss Lian with them. Miss Helena should be here a little after seven. Master Bruce invited Miss Diana, Master J’onn and Master Michael too. Dinner will be served in the grand dinning room by seven-thirty.”
“Michael?”
“Michael Holt, I don’t think you know him, sir. He’s friends with Master Bruce. Mr. Terrific in the caped circles, I believe.”
“Right. Where’s Bruce, anyway? In the Cave?” Clark said as he finished tying his shoelaces. He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He had yet to decide if he was going to wear his glasses and be Clark tonight or keep them off and be Kal. There were people that didn’t know him and with whom Clark wasn’t sure he wanted to share his secret identity.
“Master Bruce is in his bedroom, most likely asleep. I shall be waking him soon; he has to get ready for dinner.”
Clark shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, Alfred. I’ll get him as soon as I’m ready.”
“As you wish, Master Clark. I’ll go tend to the dinner then.” With that, the butler was silently gone.
Clark grabbed his glasses from the nightstand, fiddling with them. He had been alone for a very long time. He had crossed paths with other living creatures during his absence, helped where he could, being an unnamed Samaritan for those who had needed his help. He hadn’t been completely idle during his travels, but he had also spent so much time just drifting, isolated. Even when he had found company in strange and far away planets, he had tried to remain a stranger, so that when he left them he wouldn’t have to cut any deep-placed bonds, like he had done when he left Earth.
He was worried about seeing Diana and J’onn again. Among all his associates and friends on Earth, they were the ones who understood Clark’s alienated side the most, to which Kal’s feelings were natural and shared things. He sighed, looking at his reflection on the mirror. Diana would kick his ass, he just knew it. Clark hoped that J’onn would understand, but he was afraid to find disappointment in his friend’s eyes. He had deserted them as much as he has deserted Lois and Bruce.
On top of his fears -and a part of himself felt silly for feeling that way, Bruce wouldn’t have invited them over for family dinner if they were mad at him-, there was the matter of change. Bruce had changed while Clark had been away, and though Bruce was human and thus much more prone to change, Clark didn’t expect his almost immortal peers to remain the same. He was afraid of having been left behind, that these people, who had shared his feelings and desires, outsiders in a world that had adopted them all, no longer could relate to him.
He finally settled his glasses on top of his head, ready to fall down on his nose if the need for a mask arose, and walked across the hall to Bruce’s suit. On the way there, he wondered what kind of man Mr. Terrific was that he had earned a place on Bruce’s table during Superman’s welcome-back party. Clark remembered the stories about the original Mr. Terrific from when he had been younger, but other than the feeling of awe that the heroes of his childhood gave him, he didn’t know much about them. He knocked softly, opening the door slightly.
His greeting died on his throat at the sight of his friend huddled on his side under the afghan, sound asleep, with his son in his arms. A fond smile touched Clark’s lips, and he walked towards the bed, sitting on the edge. He threaded his fingers through JJ’s auburn hair, careful to avoid disturbing Bruce. They both looked so peaceful and at ease. He allowed his gaze to linger in Bruce’s face, free of lines of worry or stress, the dark eyelashes kissing clean shaved cheeks. When he looked down at his son, Clark realized the boy was awake and looking at him with sleepy azure eyes.
“Hey Jay,” Clark whispered. “Time to get ready for dinner.”
The boy yawned and grabbed the hand Bruce had around him, tugging at it. “Dad is here,” he said, turning to face Bruce.
Bruce stirred, turning to lie on his back and letting go of the boy. He stretched the way Clark thought big cats did, sighing in resignation and throwing an arm over his eyes. He turned his head to face Clark after a minute, lapse that had been enough for Jay to climb over his chest. Two sets of sleepy blue eyes stared at Clark in silence.
“Alfred says Tim and Dick should be here in less than an hour,” Clark explained.
“Okay,” Bruce said softly, petting the boy’s hair. “Why don’t you ask your Dad to help you get ready, Ace?”
“Can I wear the purple shirt? The one with the fire?” JJ asked, his chin digging in Bruce’s chest.
Bruce chuckled softly. “Sure. I don’t think Clark has seen that one yet.”
JJ sat up and quickly scurried towards the door. He stopped on his tracks and turned to look a Clark. “You coming, Dad?”
“In a minute, Jay.” Clark turned back towards the prone form on the bed as the boy’s quick steps echoed down the hall.
“He’s obsessed with that shirt; it has black flames going up the sleeves. I dread the day he comes down the Cave to show me the design of his new costume and it’s a purple jumpsuit with black flames.”
“He’s too young to have a costume designed,” Clark said in a lecturing tone.
“He’ll be an eighteen year old asking for a purple jumpsuit with black flames. I know it.”
Clark laughed. “Had a late night?” He asked after a moment.
Bruce shrugged, sitting up next to Clark on the edge of the bed. Clark stopped him from getting up, putting a hand on his knee. “Did you sleep at all?”
Bruce stared at the large hand on his leg, his brows knitting together in thought. “No, JLA business,” he said absently. He checked the clock on his nightstand and stood up. “It’s getting late; I have to give a quick check to last night’s reports. And you,” he said, the thoughtful look being replaced with a playful smirk, “you have to go meet The Purple Shirt. See it and tell me it’s not the stuff of nightmares. Steph got it for him the last time the girls were in Star City.”
Clark let him get off the hook. Bruce could get truly obsessed with work with a complete disregard for his health, though Clark doubted Alfred allowed him to go too far. Clark stood up and headed for the door while Bruce did his best to rein his hair in and look presentable for dinner.
---
Steph walked out of the dining room, snickering under her breath. Man, Roy was a riot. The stories he had about Dick! She would never have such funny anecdotes about Tim, he was -hard to believe!- less of a mess than Dick had been at his age. And Tim was quite a mess, really, the guy couldn’t even get his hair under control. But it seemed that being shy and geeky was less disastrous with the girls than being straightforward and charming. Oh, Dick. Not even his perfect ten of a bum could have saved him from some of the stuff Roy and Babs told them about.
She headed for the bathroom, but stopped as she saw the guest of honor of the night -and how cool was that Superman was back and she was having dinner with him?- standing alone in the dark in the morning room. He had been with everyone in the dining room earlier and she didn’t remember seeing him leave. She shifted her weight, wanting to strike conversation with him, but he looked lost in thought, staring at the stars outside the windows. It might be the shadows playing tricks on her, but he looked sad.
“Hey, eh…” She walked into the room, but stopped short, unsure of what to call him. “Uhm, Superman…”
“Clark,” he offered, turning to look at her, a shy smile on his lips. He looked unnatural under the dim moonlight; cold and alone in a dark room while the family’s chatter and laughter could be heard inside in the warmly lit dining room. “Stephanie, right?”
“Right.” Superman knew her name. Superman. Clark, who was Superman, knew her name. Cool. “What are you doing alone in the dark, Clark? I thought it was the bats’ thing to be all gloomy.”
Clark chuckled. “I needed some air. I’m not…” his smile faltered for a moment, but it was back in a second, a rueful turn to it. “I’m not used to being with so many people at the same time yet.”
“It’s cool; we all need to get breaks. Bruce goes to his special place all the time.”
Clark raised an eyebrow. “His special place?”
Steph made a dismissive gesture. “You know. Lost in his head, little scary smile, glassy eyes. Who knows what he’s thinking about,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper.
Clark laughed, and Steph felt something in the air change. It didn’t feel unnatural anymore, even though Clark’s rumbling laughter echoed in the big open rooms.
“I’ve seen it. It used to be a sign that the JLA meeting was running too long.”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one.” She pointed to the study, which was within sight and had the lights on. “Are they still talking about their toys?”
Clark tilted his head slightly, and after a moment, he rolled his eyes, smiling. “Yeah. A mile a minute, too. I feel completely left out,” he said jokingly.
“Oh, join the club. It’s like they’re each other’s techno-catnip. Alone, they’re tolerable, but put them in the same room, and boom! Babble alert, blueprints coming out of who-knows-where.”
“You know Michael well?”
“Well, no, I guess… it’s not like we’re close friends or family or anything, but I get to see him some.”
Clark gave her a curious look and she fidgeted a little under his eyes. His gaze wasn’t intense the way the boss’s was, all ‘You better confess now and save yourself the pain of dragging this on’, but in an ‘I can see if you have been good or bad’-Santa kind of way. He wasn’t going to punish you -maybe give you some coal?- but you didn’t want to let him down. “Eh, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Family. You said close friends or family, like…” He broke off, looking away. “It’s like everyone makes a chemical reaction in this place and becomes family.”
“This place, Gotham, or this place, Earth?”
“I meant the Manor,” Clark looked a little thrown off. “I’m sorry, I’m just… it’s a big family right there in the dining room.”
“Like we all cede an electron and turn into a complex molecule or something? That’s…” Steph struggled for words. “That’s a very weird thing to say about a make-shift family, Clark.”
“I guess you’re right.” Clark shifted, looking sheepish.
Steph frowned. Had she just told Superman he was talking crazy? She was about to apologize when the silence between them was broken by the sound of two five year olds giggling and running into the study room.
“I heard you’re the one to blame about J.J.’s purple shirt,” Clark commented nonchalantly.
“Its eggplant, like my costume… not that you've seen it or anything-“
“Ah, so that one’s yours? I saw it in the cave in the costume vault. Smart choice. It looks comfortable.”
“Thank you! It itches like hell ever since the Boss changed the fabric, but yeah. Designed by yours truly,” she made a mock reverence and smiled wickedly at him.
Walking out of the study towards them came Bruce and Michael led by Lian and J.J. Steph turned to the kids while looking at Clark sideways. “So, what do you think about your dad, J.J.? Does he pass the test?”
J.J. walked all the way next to them and took hold of Clark’s hand, keeping Michael’s in the other one and leading them both towards the dinning room. “Dad’s cool. Dad’s way cool. He’s so cool, he could freeze you with his breath. C’mon, Stephie, there’s ice cream for dessert, but Alfred says we have to eat dinner first.”
Steph saw Clark blush first then chuckle, letting himself be led by the youngest member of the clan. “We can’t eat dinner yet, Ace, we’re waiting for J’onn and Diana.”
“Daddy says we can never be late for dinner with Mr. Alfred. They won’t get any dessert for being late!” Lian piped in.
“That would so bum J’onn out,” Michael said, grinning to Bruce. Bruce snorted, putting one hand on the other man’s back and pushing him down the hall, letting go of the little girl’s hand so she could run to the kitchen. J.J. ran after her, and Steph rolled her eyes at the kids.
Clark fell behind as Bruce and Michael resumed their talk of -Steph rolled her eyes again- alloys. She was sure they were the only two people in the world that could make jokes about alloys and laugh like it was comedy gold. “Freaks,” she muttered under her breath as Michael’s laugh mixed with the laughter coming from down the hall and he threw an arm around Bruce’s shoulders. “Geek freaks.”
She was going to ask Clark if he thought they were weird too, but he was busy giving Michael’s arm the evil eye, so she decided to keep to herself.
---
Every time the discreet bell had rung that night he had felt his throat dry, waiting to see J’onn and Diana walk in. It wasn’t that greeting the rest of the gang hadn’t been difficult -though he had to admit it had more to do with his own guilt than with the welcome he got, Dick had been so happy to see him- but he kept expecting the storm to break, the shoe to drop, to be punished in some way… but it wasn’t happening. He was starting to wrap his mind around the idea that maybe it wasn’t going to happen at all, that it was possible for everything to be okay for tonight so he could just relax and enjoy himself. As relaxing as it was to grind his teeth every time Bruce’s dear friend Michael got out of his way to get all over the Bat. What the hell was it with Bruce, anyway? He had hated having his personal space invaded and the world couldn’t have changed that much during his absence, of that much he was sure. Yet there he was, the happy subject of the constant touching and hugging and… and… touching.
Not that it was any of Clark’s business.
He had been part of the ecstatic audience Dinah had as she told the story of one of Roy and Dick’s missions in the Titans -and man, had it been a relief to get a hug and a sweet welcome from Dinah when she saw him- when Alfred went to the front door to let the late guests in.
His heart plummeted, but he still found himself standing up and walking to greet them by the door.
Diana’s smile swept his anxiety away. Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She looked as he remembered her, beautiful, perfect and familiar, her laughter a mix of youthful candor and mature self-assurance. J’onn touched his arm, brushing his mind kindly, a welcoming caress that tickled him in ways he hadn’t felt in too long. Diana stood back and held his face steady, her eyes searching, long fingers threading through his hair.
He had dreaded that he wouldn’t fit here anymore, that the doors might have closed while he was away. ‘Fool,’ J’onn’s voice whispered in his head. Clark couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re back. You’re really back!” Diana looked over his shoulder to where Bruce was leaning against the wall. “Did you wait for me to kick his ass?”
“I saved you the honor, Princess.”
“You foolish, thoughtless man! You left,” her voice was stern, and though there was no reproach in her eyes, she looked dead serious. “We would have helped. We would have understood. You left.”
Clark looked over at J’onn, but the Martian didn’t say anything. Diana pulled at his hair slightly to get his attention back. “We would have. You must know that.”
“I do.”
“Then I can only conclude you’re a thoughtless fool. To leave us without warning, leaving only the rumors of your travels as evidence that you were still alive.”
Clark frowned, confused. “What rumors?”
Bruce answered behind him. “Our resident Green Lanterns kept tabs of the wandering Samaritan. We didn’t know for sure it was you.”
Diana cuffed his ears. “We worried,” she spoke earnestly, her startling blue eyes never leaving his.
“I needed to know for sure… I had to go myself.”
“By yourself doesn’t mean you had to do it alone,” she chastised.
“Give him a break, Princess. He’s Justice League, he was never alone.” Clark turned to look at Bruce as the man spoke and straightened up, turning to go back to the dining room. “Stupid and obfuscated, yes, but not alone.”
Diana laughed under her breath, her dark curls falling around her face. “He was so angry… if you had returned sooner; you would have found yourself stuffed full with kryptonite,” she said once their host had left the room. “And then we would have got to work on you.”
“I was not sure some of their threats were even physically possible, Kal-El. You’re lucky their anger has died down,” J’onn said.
“Oh, we would have made them possible.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Clark admitted. “I’m sorry.”
Diana gave him a warm smile and hugged him again. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“I’m glad to be back too. I missed you all.”
“Serves you right.”
“Has your return brought any trouble? I could help you, if the need arose,” J’onn offered.
Clark managed not to blush as he thought of his sensory adjustments, trying very hard not to conjure the memory of Bruce undressing in the Cave. “Eh. Some sensory overloads. Nothing too unexpected, I guess, after so long.” He paused, coming to a realization. “It hasn’t been unpleasant, though. Just… startling.”
J’onn nodded. “It is to be expected. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
This time, Clark couldn’t help the blush. “I-I’ll keep that in mind, J’onn. Thank you.” ‘Think clean thoughts, Clark, clean, clean thoughts,’ he said to himself. ‘You don’t want to broadcast to J’onn right now. Or ever.’ “We might want to head in; Alfred has threatened to leave you without dessert if he had to serve dinner any later.”
J’onn frowned, his lower lip slightly pursing. “That would be terrible news.” J’onn gestured for Clark to lead them into the room as Diana hooked her arm around Clark’s. As the walked past the threshold, the Martian spoke again, loud enough to be heard by the room’s occupants. “Where is our godson? Why did he not intercede in behalf of our dessert?”
“Uncle J’onn!” J.J. squealed. “I told Alfie to save you some ice cream, I swear!” The little boy ran to greet the new arrivals, becoming a streak of auburn and purple for a moment. Clark’s eyes opened wide at the sight of super speed. The boy hugged J’onn’s legs first and quickly moved to hug the Amazon, chatting her up for long enough for Clark to get out of his shock and look over to Bruce. How long had it been since Jason had super speed? How many powers did the boy had access to that Clark didn’t know off? By the look on Bruce’s face, though, it seemed like super speed was a new thing. Clark felt the corner of his mouth twitch, and he tried to keep the blooming grin under control. Bruce looked thunderstruck. Clark could almost hear his thoughts, ‘What am I going to do with a kid with super speed?’ Bruce’s eyes eventually lifted from the boy’s back and met Clark’s, and only then did Clark allow himself to grin proudly, but Bruce’s reaction sobered him up. As soon as he saw Clark there, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lines of concern easing away as a wave of relief took over. The true weight of the situation dawned on Clark; what would have Bruce done with a kid with super speed had he been alone? A boy with the power to destroy or save the world, a boy with no knowledge of how to use that power. Bruce could teach him the logistics, the best tactical approach and to use it for good, to protect the innocent, to make the world a better place. But he couldn’t help him with the how and wasn’t it a parent’s worst nightmare to be helpless in the face of their children’s need?
Then Clark saw his son pull Diana to the table, showing them their seats, and he smiled again. Bruce had just said so, he hadn’t been alone. J’onn had just called Jason their godson. “Well,” he said as he took his seat across the host. “Good thing I’m here, or you might have had to get Flash as a consultant.”
Bruce clasped his hands in front of his face, a small smile barely visible behind them. “I can only be so sociable, I’m afraid,” he whispered, only for Clark to hear -and J’onn and Diana, it seemed, as they were smiling behind their glasses too.
Clark looked around the table. Some of the people around him were strangers, some of them he would have to get to know again, but it didn’t feel like the impossible task that had overwhelmed him earlier when they started walking into the Manor and into his life. He rose his glass as Alfred brought in the steaming dinner, content to hear the divided conversations and sit in the warm light with old friends and soon-to-not-be-strangers instead of sitting alone under the cold light of the stars. “I guess I should make a toast,” he said. Bruce appraised him, amused, and sat back, raising his own glass and running a hand through his hair. ‘Damn playboy’. “To family,” Clark said, looking around the table. “The people who won’t leave us alone in the dark.”
Bruce’s smile softened. He joined the toast, his eyes never leaving Clark’s, unvoiced questions running behind them. Clark wondered if he would ever have the answers Bruce didn’t dare to ask for.
---
Bruce was comfortably sitting back on the chair, his chin propped in one hand, listening to Barbara and Michael discuss their respective teams’ communications systems, when his butler showed up next to him.
“Sir, the call you have been expecting,” Alfred said.
“Thank you, Alfred. Excuse me,” Bruce pushed his chair back and stood up, giving Clark a nod as he turned to leave the room. The call should be of interest for Clark, since it was essential to bring Luthor closer to the trap, and he knew better than to leave Clark out of the loop when it came to Lex Luthor. Clark had been seeing red whenever it concerned Luthor lately -understandably so, even- and Bruce had learned in the past few years to make concessions in his procedures, acknowledging that sharing a little information prior the execution of his plans was less time consuming and strategically better -even when no one else really needed the information he was sharing- than being endlessly questioned after the fact. It had been a hard lesson to learn, and the falls along the way had been almost catastrophic. He couldn’t help that he didn’t automatically think of sharing what he thought and planned. It wasn’t about secrecy and moving in the shadows as much as it was… well. It was hard to remember that not everyone came to the same conclusion he did. Alfred had said: ‘Remember there’s people living outside your head too, sir; that might be of some help’.
Alfred always made him sound like he was slightly crazy.
He didn’t expect Clark to follow him to his study as he took the call, just to listen in to the conversation, but as he picked up the phone he saw the Kryptonian’s silhouette against the light. Bruce rolled his eyes at him, and then shook his shoulders, letting his stance relax and fall into the well known act of his public persona. He had tamed Brucie a lot since Clark had last seen him; after all, Brucie’s public life had dramatically changed with the loss of Lois and the arrival of his baby boy. He had sobered up the playboy act -it hadn’t been so hard, fortune hunters and black widows weren’t all that eager to share his attentions and his money with the new family addition. Alfred had been very relieved at the dignifying of Brucie’s persona -and no, that he talked about himself in third person didn’t meant there were any people living inside his head, thank you, Alfred.
“Good evening, Lex,” he greeted.
“Good evening to you, Bruce. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” the sound of the polite voice at the other end of the line made Clark bristle visibly.
“I always have time for you, Lex. I did tell you to call if anything came up.” Bruce leaned against his desk, focusing on the polished floors, letting his hair fall over his face. A small shield against Kryptonian eyes, but good enough to avoid being overly distracted by the looming figure by the door. “Have you thought of anything that might… intrigue me?” He purred, letting Lex’s chuckle die down before continuing. “Or is this more of a business call?” He continued, dropping the purr and his interest.
“Don’t sound so bored, Bruce. I can make my business with you be very exciting.”
“Hah! I sure wish,” he laughed easily. “Business meetings are so dull these days. Though I guess they always were.”
“You seem like you could use some excitement in your life.”
“Me? Please. My life’s a rollercoaster. It’s my business partners that could use some spice.”
“That’s where I come in, my boy.”
Bruce thought he heard a growl from the door. He shifted behind the desk, grabbing his Blackberry. “You know I would really like to say yes, Lex, but I do have to keep business apart from pleasure. And we still have to see just how much benefit would a joint venture generate for both our companies.”
“Trust me, Bruce. It’s nothing but a win-win scenario for both of us. I wouldn’t lie to you, now, would I? If you could see it not from the boring analysts’ point of view, but from the vantage point of a visionary… we have to meet, man to man, and discuss this.”
“Please, Lex. Don’t try to brainwash me with talk of visionaries,” Bruce steeled his voice, letting a predatory smile surface. “I know what’s good for my company. If I didn’t, I would have lost it a long time ago.” He relaxed, chuckling to himself. “I think it’s adorable how you think you can teach me to play this game, though. I feel like I have a big corporate shark brother!”
Lex laugh was strained. “Of course I’m not trying to brainwash you, Bruce. I wouldn’t dare to make business with someone I didn’t think was extremely capable. We would drive both our companies to the ground.”
“Professional respect and brotherly love?” Bruce could hear the growl intensify. “Lex, you warm my heart.”
“It’s all about money and sex these days, isn’t it?”
“And power. Don’t forget power.”
“How could I. But not us, I hope,” Lex drawled.
Clark voice was low and harsh. “Bruce. Stop it.”
“You have company?”
“Just my boys and some friends over for dinner, but they don’t really need me to keep themselves entertained.” Bruce glared at Clark. He shook his head in a slow ‘no’ motion. Clark glared back at him, his jaw set. “So, you want us to meet so you can show me the ways of the world, right? Name a day and I’ll be there. No one can say Bruce Wayne isn’t willing to try new things.”
“This Thursday, are you free for dinner? I can fly to Gotham or-“
“Ah, Thursday’s no good, Lex. Actually,” he checked the Blackberry, knowing beforehand what he would find. “My schedule is full the whole week. You know how it is,” he said, offhandedly. There were openings in the schedule that he mentally filled with his less conventional but unavoidable commitments. “Okay, let’s see. Next Monday. I can take the Wayne One to Metropolis to make up for making you wait.”
There was a pause in which Bruce guessed Lex checked his schedule, though he was sure Lex, like himself, didn’t have to. But it was expected of both of them, just like it was expected of the bigger corporate shark to be willing to help the smaller fish -in his own terms. Lex couldn’t really bargain changing the date Bruce had just given him. Despite the friendly conversations, they never lost sight of who was on top of the food chain. Lex didn’t like to fall into protocol, but he didn’t have many choices.
“Monday sounds good. Late breakfast?”
Bruce laughed. “How late can you make that breakfast? I’m horrible with mornings.”
“I’m sure you’re not,” Lex said, almost sweetly. Bruce grinned, despite himself. He had to admit, the whole charade was fun. Especially when he could see things moving just as planned. Making him fear Bruce would have been deliciously good, but erasing his patronizing smile, seeing those green eyes looking at him in shock and disbelief? Lex Luthor, defeated? Bruce could almost taste the satisfaction. “Shall we make it lunch, then?” Lex continued.
“Lunch will be great.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll let you return to yours, Bruce. Have a great evening. Give your boys my regards, I trust they are well?”
“They are, and I will, Lex. Have a good evening yourself. I’ll see you next week, or I’ll talk to you sooner, whatever. Take care.”
“Goodbye, Bruce.”
Bruce hung up the phone, still smiling. He walked to the doorway, but Clark wasn’t moving out of the way. Bruce raised a questioning eyebrow. “Yes?”
“You-“ Clark was seething. Bruce took a deep breath and pushed his hair out of his face, trading the playboy relaxed stance for a fight-ready one. “You-you’re purring! He’s-“ Clark threw his hands up in the air. “Lex goddamn Luthor! Casual acquaintances? That’s not casual acquaintances! He was downright... you were… you were flirting! With him! He asked about your boys, about MY boy! What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Clark-“
“And what kind of idiotic plan involves using yourself as bait? I knew I didn’t like this plan, but I trusted you knew what you were doing.”
“And I do.”
“You’re hoping he’ll try to kill you!” Clark grabbed Bruce’s shoulders and shook him. “That’s not any kind of plan, why can’t you see that?”
Bruce shrugged his arms off, scowling. “I know what I’m doing and I can take care of myself, Clark. I’m not dealing with the Joker, I’m doing business with Luthor-“
Clark fisted his hands at his sides, leaning closer to Bruce, his eyes burning. “That’s just it. You think that there’s honor among thieves just because he’s not one of your psychopaths? You think you he can’t touch you because he’s not one of yours? You can’t underestimate him, he’s dangerous,” Clark said through clenched teeth.
Bruce stared at the frustrated Kryptonian in silence until Clark broke eye contact. Bruce was going to head back to the dining room, give Clark some space to think about what he was saying -if someone dared to underestimate Luthor because he didn’t have powers or wasn’t a certified psychopath it certainly wasn’t going to be Bruce, and that had to be obvious- but he stopped. It was bothering him, the streak of over protectiveness. It was classic Clark, though. He turned and waited for Clark to face him. He felt like pointing to himself and saying ‘I am dangerous too. Very dangerous. I can handle Luthor and I can handle you, so stop it,’ but he felt it would sound like he was a petulant child. He crossed his arms, shook his head and sighed. “What do you want me to do? Tell me, Clark. You know I can handle Lex, and you know I’m not entering this unprepared, but you don’t trust me. You think I can’t do it. Fine. What do you want me to do instead?”
Clark clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides, looking mortified. “It’s not-of course I trust you. I know you have this planned out, but…” he trailed off.
“But what? I don’t have the energy to fight with you and Luthor at the same time. I need to know if we’re in this together or if you’re out. I’ve worked to get Luthor where we have him now, but if you have a better plan, so be it, Clark. Tell me what the hell you want because I just can’t--”
---
Clark fisted his hands again, his nails digging into impenetrable skin. Luthor’s voice kept ringing on his ears. He could see the smug smile, the hungry green eyes that would devour everything Clark had if he let him. The man who made it his mission to destroy Clark, trying to seduce Bruce and destroy him, take him away.
And all the meanwhile, Bruce smiling and purring like Lex’s intentions weren’t despicable.
Like he didn’t mind at all.
“Tell me what the hell you want because I just can’t-“
Clark closed his eyes, grinding his teeth in frustration, not knowing if he wanted to yell or cry because Bruce just didn’t understand, and there was nothing he could do to make him see just how wrong everything was.
Everything. Was. Wrong.
So he did the only thing that felt right.
Bruce went completely still in his arms as Clark’s mouth pressed against his, silencing the rest of the sentence. Clark grabbed a fistful of soft black hair, entwining his fingers with the curling strands and pulling Bruce’s head back. Bruce hesitantly responded to the kiss, yielding to his advances but still awkward in his arms. Clark dipped his tongue into the other’s mouth, tasting wine and darkness, shadows and secrets, the familiar essence of the man that had been his partner and friend for years, his anchor since his return. He nipped soft lips, closing his eyes tightly, not knowing just where he was leading them.
He felt Bruce shiver, and he let go. The other man took a step back, breathing hard. He wouldn’t look at Clark in the eyes, his lips moving but not a sound coming out of them.
“Why did you do that?” Bruce finally whispered.
“That’s what I want,” Clark said plainly. Bruce’s shoulders slumped and he threaded a hand through his hair -and Clark had to stop his own hand from reaching out to catch the waving locks. The steel blue eyes finally met azure ones, and Clark fought off a wave of dread. Bruce’s eyes were so sad. Confused, lost and terribly sad.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Bruce said, taking another step back. Clark reached out and grabbed his arm. “I can’t.” He was looking away again. “Clark,” he pleaded, trying to extricate himself from Clark’s hold.
“You just said you can’t fight me and Luthor. Don’t fight me.”
“It’s not…” Bruce shook his head and chuckled bitterly. “It’s not real, Clark. You don’t really feel this way.”
“How can you say that?”
“You haven’t even been back for a two weeks yet. It’s too soon, you’re… I don’t know, adjusting. You were alone for too long and--”
“You think you're just convenient?”
Bruce shrugged.
“Oh, believe me, pal, you are not convenient. You’re stubborn and frustrating and you have a complete disregard for your own life. I have no idea, no idea at all, of what to do about you. You’re like… like…”
“A complete other species?”
“Don’t start.”
“I am right, though.” Clark glared at him, and Bruce shrugged again. “It’s not real.”
“You just don’t want to think it is.”
“Clark, please. Don’t think about it. Give it time, and it will go away. Right now, you just want to belong, to restart your life. Don’t…” he trailed off, closing his eyes. With a deep breath, all emotion left his face.
“Don’t do that. Don’t close up. Damn you, stop assuming you know everything and talk to me.”
The shallow calm broke with a scowl, and blue eyes lit up with anger. “You think I have it easy here? Do you think you’re the only one trying to get used to things changing? Look. I can’t. I just can’t deal with this.”
“We can try-“
“Yeah, right. I can try to tackle this on top of everything else, and next month, when you realize I was right, you’ll start feeling awkward and thinking about moving out because you can’t stand to live here and you’ll leave us. No.”
“What if I’m right? What if next month, next year, I’m still feeling this way? Would you be interested? You haven’t said anything either way; you’re just passing judgment on what I feel.”
“I’ll cross that river when I have to. If I have to.”
“You infuriating bastard, just give me a yes or a no and be done with it!”
“I don’t know, Clark! I wasn’t expecting this!” he snapped. Clark let go of his arm and nodded, feeling defeated. Bruce sighed, looking very tired. It made Clark’s heart ache. “Give it time. Give me time. Whatever happens, we’ll be fine.”
“I wouldn’t leave.” Clark offered, conciliatory. “I wouldn’t run off on J.J. and you know it.”
“Good,” Bruce nodded. “Let’s go back, then.”
Clark reluctantly followed him back to the dining room. The rest of the evening was spent in a haze, and soon he found himself alone in his bedroom, unsure of how he’d ended up in such a mess.
He lay back on his bed, listening to the sounds of the house until he heard Bruce leave for patrol. He wanted to follow him, but he didn’t think that would sit well with the Dark Knight right now. And it didn’t fit very well in the definition of ‘giving him time’, which was going to complicated, since they were living together and sharing a son and all.
Still, Clark had gotten really good at waiting. If Bruce wanted time, he could give him time in spades. He checked on his son’s steady breathing, and smiled. He wasn’t going anywhere, after all.
That night, he dreamt of wine, secrets and shadows.