Heroes of the Squared Circle 20: Scattered Fragments

[mithen]

Title: Scattered Fragments
Relationship: Clark/Bruce
Characters: Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Waylon Jones, Jack Napier, Dick Grayson, Lex Luthor
Continuity: Heroes of the Squared Circle, a DC/pro wrestling fusion ( click for notes and all chapters).
Warnings/Spoilers: Character death
Rating: PG
Word Count 2800
Summary: Tragedy strikes the DCW.

Comments

[starsandsea]

"I'd like to thank you as well," said John as Dick scampered from the room. "For taking him under your wing. He's needed some extra guidance, and--well, no son has ever completely enjoyed taking advice from their father."

"He's a good kid," said Bruce, standing and shaking John's hand. "It's my pleasure."

"I'll see you in Gotham tomorrow," said John. "We Gotham kids have to give our hometown the best show we can, right?" He cuffed Bruce lightly on the shoulder and left.

*wibbles a lot*

Bruce didn't turn back around. "Well, I'm finally back in an angle with you," his voice drifted back as he lifted his hand in a casual gesture: Elementary.

*squees quietly*

"Dick," said a voice at Clark's elbow. He turned to see Bruce, his face white, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "Where's Dick?"

D: D: D: D: D:

"I'm willing to go out there and wrestle," said Clark. Everyone turned to look at him. "For the kids in the audience, to give them something to take home other than nightmares. But I don't have an opponent." For Bruce had simply announced that he was going to the hospital with Dick and had disappeared into the night.

Oh, Clark! *hugs him gently*

Bending down, he picked it up: a bolt, oddly short. The bottom looked raw, as if it had been sheared off.

"I got another, Tony!" someone hissed off in a different section, and Clark straightened, frowning.

"Good, good." The second voice was strained. "That's almost all of 'em. Thank God."

"Can I help you with something?" Clark called, and the owner of the second voice stood up abruptly from between two aisles. The name stitched on his coveralls said "Zucco Construction." He was sweating.

Oh! Oh...

"Dick's staying with Scott and Barda tonight," said Bruce without preamble. "He needed to be with someone who was...better at normal than I am."

*wibbles* *hearts Scott and Barda* *hugs Bruce*

"--That's why you're so good at this 'Billionaire Brucie' gimmick," Clark said, realization hitting him. "You never forget that he's not just some spoiled rich guy, that underneath it all there's a kid who saw his parents die in front of him: a scared kid who doesn't believe that love can come without a price to be paid."

Oh, Clark! Understanding so much, but so little... *pets him*

And ahhh, that last line..!

This was an incredibly tense chapter, poor poor Dick, and poor Bruce too! I loved how everyone really rallied around and worked together to get everything off the internet... *hugs them all* I can't wait to see how this effects everything now!

[mithen]

Ahhh, you know what a hard time I had writing this--and that's even with having the "camera" of the narrative mostly staying away from the details! I just felt so bad for Dick...and for Bruce, who's really struggling with his own demons in this chapter.

I admit I kind of liked the idea of Scott and Barda, who are clearly the most stable couple in the DCW, taking Dick in for now and being there for him. Now I'm kind of curious what their non-wrestling backstory is!

I did really enjoy writing everyone desperately working to get the videos pulled down--I'm going to just assert that in this world they can do that, even though I know in reality they'd crop up forever...

Detective!Bruce in the next chapter, yay! :) Thank you so much for letting me vent and whine while I was writing this, Star...