FIC: Gotham Nocturne (5/9)

[jij]

Title:  Gotham Nocturne:  Chapter Five
Characters/Pairings:  Clark/Bruce
Disclaimer: The boys belong to DC and to each other, but not to me.
Series Notes:  Gotham Nocturne is part of The Music of the Spheres, a combined Superman Returns/Batman Begins series. The whole series can be found here. 
Rating: PG-13
Summary:  Bruce plans a trap for

Comments

[wachey]

Wow, I can only imagine what Bruce's face looks like! What an interesting fear.

[jij]

Isn't it? I have this huge page of phobias I've been drawing from...I still want to get "fear of standing up" in there somewhere, but not sure it'll work... :)

[smgriffin]

*rises from the ashes*

For the record, I can say from experiance this phobia is probably one of the most horrifying phobias to have, ever. During the most recent explosion of 'OMG Griff death-ness' I inexplicably was struck with it for three days, and let me tell you, that was more than enough. It doesn't matter what you're thinking, or how well you know someone, the terror just overrides your sense and the urge to crawl in a dark hole and SCREAM just never really fades.

Oh, and on an interesting note, I went to a psycologist because of it, only to find out there's nothing wrong with my head, it's all physiological. Yes, the funness that is me.

*Actually goes to reply to your email that's been sitting in her inbox for a week*

[jij]

For the record, I can say from experiance this phobia is probably one of the most horrifying phobias to have, ever.

Gahhhhh, I can imagine! It jumped out at me during my research and I immediately could tell it would be sheer agony. I'm awfully sorry to hear you've actually had to deal with it! *shudders* I'm glad you're back around...I was taking my turn wondering if my email had gotten to you--no rush, but I'm glad it did! :)

[bengleman]

Wow, that was an amazing ending, really quite beautiful. Poor Bruce, he should remember he's only human, he pushes himself to hard.

[jij]

Poor Bruce, he should remember he's only human, he pushes himself to hard.

It's true...and yet that's part of what's so cool about the character, so it's kind of a catch-22 when writing him. :) I'm glad you liked the ending, I was surprised at the turn it took, somehow...I was aiming for sexy and got romantic instead. :)

[bengleman]

Really I can't imagine having anything other than the ending. I don't think a 'sexy' ending would have worked as well as this one did; in fact, I think that, to an extent, having a sexy ending would have undermined, not only the concept of the induced fear, but also their entire relationship

[jij]

in fact, I think that, to an extent, having a sexy ending would have undermined, not only the concept of the induced fear, but also their entire relationship.

When it came right down to it, my intuition felt the same, so I'm delighted it seems to have played me true here! I agree, it's just not a sexual situation, and to treat it as such just wouldn't have worked.

(and I think it is incredible that he can still be brave in a situation like that when he has no weapons or defence, no armour and when he is essentially in a rather helpless state, it must be easier to be brave as Batman than it is as Bruce).

I love stories where Bruce has to be heroic minus the armor and gadgets and mask--and similarly, I adore stories where Clark has been stripped of his powers but saves the day anyway. Because it's their hearts that are heroic and appealing to us, not their array of toys and powers. :)

...you make the characters vulnerable and not infallible as I think it must be easy to do with characters such as Superman.It's hard to keep them

[jij]

It seemed very like Bruce to insist on it, even knowing it wasn't necessary and what it could do to him. And Clark in this universe is just needy enough to not do the selfless thing and leave... :)

Glad you liked it!

[kungfunurse]

Hola! I've been spending the past week or so reading all the fic this incredible community has put out - it's fantastic!

I'm jumping up and down and ecstatic with happiness at Bruce's absolute devotion to Clark. After seeing the ten millionth comic where Superman gets mind controlled and goes to beat up Batman, reading a fic like this restores my faith in the universe. *G*

I like how you made Clark sweat, too, how he was working against the clock by catching the jumpers, and how he and Bruce had to work together like the organic team they are in order to save all those people. Yay!

[jij]

*HUGS*

Seeing you around restores my faith in the universe! :)

After seeing the ten millionth comic where Superman gets mind controlled and goes to beat up Batman, reading a fic like this restores my faith in the universe. *G*

*grin* MotS is definitely my fix-it fic for all the animosity between the two in canon. They're everything to each other in this universe, no one else to lean on, so they're totally devoted. It's...a lot of fun, really.

And I'm thrilled you liked the teamwork aspect! I didn't even really have to spend much time wondering how they would work together, it all kind of unfolded once I set the scenario into action. I was pretty pleased with it, I have to admit. :)

[sorrelchestnut]

Man, Crane is evil. But an evil *genius.* What a perfect fear to set loose on a party like that. And Bruce, refusing to let himself be overcome, pushing through and doing his hero thing while Clark just tried and tried and didn't lose anybody. They really do work well together.

[jij]

What a perfect fear to set loose on a party like that.

I found a huge page of possible phobias and just sat down and scrolled through them all, imagining what Crane could manage to do with each of them. I have yet to find a nefarious purpose to "basophobia" or the fear of standing up, but it's fun to consider...

I'm really pleased the teamwork aspect came through! They just fell into place in this one and I was so delighted, it felt like I wasn't even writing it... *beams with relief*