Fic: All That Glitters I: Brave New Universe (3/4)
Title: All That Glitters I: Brave New Universe (3/4)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Bruce (twice!), Dick
Genres: AU, Romance
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Clark and Bruce meet their alternates in another universe.
Chapter Summary: Patrol in the glittering cities.
Date Of Completion: September 4, 2008
Date Of Posting: October 2, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1130
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Written for my 2008 DCU Snapshot Fic Request Meme for slvrbld747. Pairing: Clark/Bruce. Prompt: Meet Alternates. :)
This was originally going to be a short scene but it grew alarmingly! ;)
All chapters can be found here.
III
GLITTERING CITIES
Metropolis was truly a fairytale city, set in the future. Glittering glass spires and buildings sparkled in the night air.
I loved the look of the city. Smallville always had my heart, but Metropolis never failed to intrigue me. Her cheerful optimism and cosmopolitan ambience pleased me, and it seemed that this future city sported the same personality.
I flew contentedly by my fellow Superman’s side. He was a pleasant companion, a smile always playing around his lips.
We flew in silence, watching and listening. I was going to remain as back-up, keeping explanations to a minimum.
We settled on top of The Daily Planet Globe. Good to see that the newspaper had survived somehow.
“Ah, trouble.”
I saw where Superman was pointing. He flew down, sparkles of light in his wake like the tail of a comet, and easily picked up the would-be mugger by the scruff of the neck several blocks over. I watched from the Globe, the man squawking and pumping his legs, but of course it was no use.
“Meow!”
My hearing picked up a distressed cat and I flew down to the tree that hid the animal. A sobbing little girl was standing at the tree’s base. Scooping up the shaking cat, I brought it down.
“Superman!” The girl’s smile wreathed her face. “Thank you!”
“Here you go. Have a good night.”
I winked and flew off, laughing as I heard her say, “Fluffy, how come Superman’s costume is so dull tonight?”
Back at the Globe I settled next to my counterpart, who was grinning.
“All in a night’s work,” I said with a smile. He chuckled.
We sat in silence for awhile, watching the sunset streaking across the sky. “Are you happy with Bruce?” I asked, burning with curiosity.
“Yes.” A look of pure joy suffused his face. “I’ve never been happier.”
Sadness mingled in with my joy for him. My own feelings…it was foolish to dwell on them.
“So Bruce accepted your love right away?”
Superman laughed. “Of course not! It took perseverance and patience, but I got my man.”
I grinned. “Just like the Mounties?”
“Just like the Mounties.”
We smiled, laughter sparkling in our eyes.
I hid my sadness. He had his man.
I doubted very much that I would ever get mine.
& & & & & &
It still took some getting used to, this city of glitter, my Gotham…but like my Gotham of another world, she always marched to her own drum. There were still dark places, and criminal scum never changed.
I stayed mainly in the shadows, Batman and Robin doing their work. Robin glittered even more than mine.
Dick would really love it here.
The criminals still fled in fear. I smiled in the darkness.
This world was different, but the fundamentals remained the same.
“Hey, scum! You never learn, do you?” Robin chirped, barreling into a knot of men robbing a jewelry store. Light surrounded him as he moved, a bright star moving through the night. The store’s window glittered so brightly I had to shield my eyes.
Batman silently punched the other robbers, their snarls easily carrying to me in the shadows. Just like Robin and myself at home, this Dynamic Duo were in perfect sync.
One of the robbers lifted a tire iron and aimed for Robin’s head.
My hand snaked out of the shadows and grabbed his arm.
“Wha…!” His eyes grew big. “The Bat ain’t human! He’s comin’ out of nowhere!”
My counterpart had disappeared into the darkness when he saw my glove come out. I smiled as fear ran like wildfire through the gang. They started to run, gibbering about ‘wraiths in the night’, Robin laughing. He knocked two of them out and Batman re-emerged as I melted back into the dark.
Sometimes being the Bat is fun.
After the thugs were rounded up and left for the police, we met on the rooftop.
“Good job,” Batman said, his hand on Robin’s shoulder. Robin was beaming up at me, his yellow cape glittering like sunshine as his red-and-green costume sparkled. The black domino mask looked like something out of Mardi Gras.
I shook Batman’s hand, feeling dull beside his glitter. I noticed silver glitter around the eyeholes of his cowl, marveling at the differences in our world.
The way people dressed around here, they looked like refugees from Velvet Goldmine.
We sat on the gargoyles, capes fluttering in the breeze. It was a quiet night, Robin somersaulting over the rooftop. I shared a smile with Batman.
It made me feel good that Robin was the same in any universe. Bright, charming, energetic…
“Your Dick is like this?”
I nodded.
“That’s good.” Batman sounded content. “We have a good life.”
No doubt he included his Clark in that assessment.
“Was it…”
“…easy?” Batman smiled. “I think you can answer that question.”
I suppressed a sigh. Of course I…he…wouldn’t make it easy.
“Clark was patient, thank god.” His smile was warm.
Did Bruce’s happiness disturb me? I suppose I was envious. Society made it easy here for two men to get together. It was considered normal, even expected.
“I suppose Diana and the Amazons practically rule the world.” I quirked a smile and Batman answered in kind.
“It’s true that their lifestyle fits right in here, even though Diana is considered somewhat of a deviant.”
“Deviant?”
Batman’s lips quirked again. “She’s in love with a man.”
“Oh!” I smiled wryly. “She and Steve can’t catch a break.”
Batman laughed. “Apparently.” His glittering cape rustled softly over the brick parapet. “If you return, I’ll introduce you to Diana.” His voice was excited. “There’s so much to show you!”
I really wished we could stay, but we were desperately needed back home.
Story of my life. Never enough time to simply enjoy.
A cool breeze blew, fluttering my cape. Might as well enjoy the here and now.
This was the best time during patrol, when all was quiet and the breeze was gentle. Often Dick and I simply sat in silence, and frequently were joined by Clark.
Sometimes it was just Clark and me, if Dick was away on a Teen Titans mission, and we would enjoy the shared quiet.
I sighed quietly, a rustle of silk overlapping the noise. Batman’s glove pointed.
“The lights.”
Robin stopped cavorting, eagerly watching as the pinpoints of light grew brighter.
Two smiling Kryptonians alighted on the rooftop, my Superman gently ruffling Robin’s hair.
I suddenly ached for my boy.
“Hey, all quiet here?’ asked his Superman.
“All quiet.” Batman went to his lover and kissed him, wrapping his cape around them both. Robin smiled happily.
My Superman drifted over, slightly embarrassed.
And wistful?
I shook my head. Obviously projecting.
“Let’s go home,” Batman said.
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Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Bruce (twice!), Dick
Genres: AU, Romance
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Clark and Bruce meet their alternates in another universe.
Chapter Summary: Patrol in the glittering cities.
Date Of Completion: September 4, 2008
Date Of Posting: October 2, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1130
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Written for my 2008 DCU Snapshot Fic Request Meme for slvrbld747. Pairing: Clark/Bruce. Prompt: Meet Alternates. :)
This was originally going to be a short scene but it grew alarmingly! ;)
All chapters can be found here.
III
GLITTERING CITIES
Metropolis was truly a fairytale city, set in the future. Glittering glass spires and buildings sparkled in the night air.
I loved the look of the city. Smallville always had my heart, but Metropolis never failed to intrigue me. Her cheerful optimism and cosmopolitan ambience pleased me, and it seemed that this future city sported the same personality.
I flew contentedly by my fellow Superman’s side. He was a pleasant companion, a smile always playing around his lips.
We flew in silence, watching and listening. I was going to remain as back-up, keeping explanations to a minimum.
We settled on top of The Daily Planet Globe. Good to see that the newspaper had survived somehow.
“Ah, trouble.”
I saw where Superman was pointing. He flew down, sparkles of light in his wake like the tail of a comet, and easily picked up the would-be mugger by the scruff of the neck several blocks over. I watched from the Globe, the man squawking and pumping his legs, but of course it was no use.
“Meow!”
My hearing picked up a distressed cat and I flew down to the tree that hid the animal. A sobbing little girl was standing at the tree’s base. Scooping up the shaking cat, I brought it down.
“Superman!” The girl’s smile wreathed her face. “Thank you!”
“Here you go. Have a good night.”
I winked and flew off, laughing as I heard her say, “Fluffy, how come Superman’s costume is so dull tonight?”
Back at the Globe I settled next to my counterpart, who was grinning.
“All in a night’s work,” I said with a smile. He chuckled.
We sat in silence for awhile, watching the sunset streaking across the sky. “Are you happy with Bruce?” I asked, burning with curiosity.
“Yes.” A look of pure joy suffused his face. “I’ve never been happier.”
Sadness mingled in with my joy for him. My own feelings…it was foolish to dwell on them.
“So Bruce accepted your love right away?”
Superman laughed. “Of course not! It took perseverance and patience, but I got my man.”
I grinned. “Just like the Mounties?”
“Just like the Mounties.”
We smiled, laughter sparkling in our eyes.
I hid my sadness. He had his man.
I doubted very much that I would ever get mine.
& & & & & &
It still took some getting used to, this city of glitter, my Gotham…but like my Gotham of another world, she always marched to her own drum. There were still dark places, and criminal scum never changed.
I stayed mainly in the shadows, Batman and Robin doing their work. Robin glittered even more than mine.
Dick would really love it here.
The criminals still fled in fear. I smiled in the darkness.
This world was different, but the fundamentals remained the same.
“Hey, scum! You never learn, do you?” Robin chirped, barreling into a knot of men robbing a jewelry store. Light surrounded him as he moved, a bright star moving through the night. The store’s window glittered so brightly I had to shield my eyes.
Batman silently punched the other robbers, their snarls easily carrying to me in the shadows. Just like Robin and myself at home, this Dynamic Duo were in perfect sync.
One of the robbers lifted a tire iron and aimed for Robin’s head.
My hand snaked out of the shadows and grabbed his arm.
“Wha…!” His eyes grew big. “The Bat ain’t human! He’s comin’ out of nowhere!”
My counterpart had disappeared into the darkness when he saw my glove come out. I smiled as fear ran like wildfire through the gang. They started to run, gibbering about ‘wraiths in the night’, Robin laughing. He knocked two of them out and Batman re-emerged as I melted back into the dark.
Sometimes being the Bat is fun.
After the thugs were rounded up and left for the police, we met on the rooftop.
“Good job,” Batman said, his hand on Robin’s shoulder. Robin was beaming up at me, his yellow cape glittering like sunshine as his red-and-green costume sparkled. The black domino mask looked like something out of Mardi Gras.
I shook Batman’s hand, feeling dull beside his glitter. I noticed silver glitter around the eyeholes of his cowl, marveling at the differences in our world.
The way people dressed around here, they looked like refugees from Velvet Goldmine.
We sat on the gargoyles, capes fluttering in the breeze. It was a quiet night, Robin somersaulting over the rooftop. I shared a smile with Batman.
It made me feel good that Robin was the same in any universe. Bright, charming, energetic…
“Your Dick is like this?”
I nodded.
“That’s good.” Batman sounded content. “We have a good life.”
No doubt he included his Clark in that assessment.
“Was it…”
“…easy?” Batman smiled. “I think you can answer that question.”
I suppressed a sigh. Of course I…he…wouldn’t make it easy.
“Clark was patient, thank god.” His smile was warm.
Did Bruce’s happiness disturb me? I suppose I was envious. Society made it easy here for two men to get together. It was considered normal, even expected.
“I suppose Diana and the Amazons practically rule the world.” I quirked a smile and Batman answered in kind.
“It’s true that their lifestyle fits right in here, even though Diana is considered somewhat of a deviant.”
“Deviant?”
Batman’s lips quirked again. “She’s in love with a man.”
“Oh!” I smiled wryly. “She and Steve can’t catch a break.”
Batman laughed. “Apparently.” His glittering cape rustled softly over the brick parapet. “If you return, I’ll introduce you to Diana.” His voice was excited. “There’s so much to show you!”
I really wished we could stay, but we were desperately needed back home.
Story of my life. Never enough time to simply enjoy.
A cool breeze blew, fluttering my cape. Might as well enjoy the here and now.
This was the best time during patrol, when all was quiet and the breeze was gentle. Often Dick and I simply sat in silence, and frequently were joined by Clark.
Sometimes it was just Clark and me, if Dick was away on a Teen Titans mission, and we would enjoy the shared quiet.
I sighed quietly, a rustle of silk overlapping the noise. Batman’s glove pointed.
“The lights.”
Robin stopped cavorting, eagerly watching as the pinpoints of light grew brighter.
Two smiling Kryptonians alighted on the rooftop, my Superman gently ruffling Robin’s hair.
I suddenly ached for my boy.
“Hey, all quiet here?’ asked his Superman.
“All quiet.” Batman went to his lover and kissed him, wrapping his cape around them both. Robin smiled happily.
My Superman drifted over, slightly embarrassed.
And wistful?
I shook my head. Obviously projecting.
“Let’s go home,” Batman said.
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