Fic In Translation: "I Will If You Try", the Bruce-Speak Version.

[romanyg]

One of the things that I do when I'm writing a fic is try to pay attention to the undercurrents, the parallel conversation in the dialogue of the person whose POV I'm not writing. Sometimes I even get to the point where I insert those into the text so that I can follow both sides of the conversation. This is just scaffolding though and I remove it

Comments

This got a little long, part 1

[romanyg]

Thank you! The relationship that these two have in canon is...odd. They disagree, they fight, constantly in each other's business. But that's just it, they're constantly in each other's business. Old School canon has them as best friends, but modern continuity says that's not so. They each have their own cities and lives. Yet when it comes to the deep emotional stuff, they often turn to each other. And when it comes to lashing out, no one can hurt them like the other can (and they *both* do it). Seriously, sometimes Clark can be a bit vicious (rarely, true, but he can), and Bruce - who doesn't take shit from *anyone* - will just sit there and *take* it. And Bruce has made Clark *cry* (true!) and gone off to feel really, really bad about it. But if anyone else lays into one of them, you know, one of the other heroes, the other one's there with the defense.

Canon says that this is a brotherly bond of strife and affection. But eyeball it one way, it smacks of romance and sex (sound familiar? *g*). Bruce is constantly shoving Clark on a pedestal, saying that Superman has to be all that, and then yells at him with the 'who do you think you are?' when he's up there. It is kind of a no win situation for Clark because, in a way, Bruce courts him too, tries to control his life all while telling Clark to stay out of his. When I look at all the failed romances that Bruce has with women, it's hysterical to realize that he treats Clark almost the *same* way. He probably has a Clark-version of his patented "This is why we can't be together" speech that he gives all the ladies, just ready to go, if for some impossible reason it ever comes up. But it won't because Bruce is *constantly* reminding Clark that he's married. All the freaking time. "Go home to your wife, Clark." "Lois is worried about you, Clark." "A man should be with his wife, Clark." Clark knows he's married so why is Bruce bringing it up all the time? Like he needs to be *reminded*? Oh, wishful thinking, Bruce, wishful thinking. *g*

And it's not like Bruce is just chasing Clark all over town either. Clark is constantly showing up with 'I need you, Bruce'. For this, that, and the other, usually work stuff, but sometimes it's 'I need you (emotionally), Bruce. To talk to someone (who understands)'. The man's sending off some serious mixed messages.

And. The. Ring. You've heard about the kryptonite ring, I'm sure. The one that ended up giving Lex cancer and he lost his hand? Well, guess who has it now? Guess who *gave* it to him? In. A. Lead. Ring. Box. True! It's just like Clark took the ring from the ex and gave it to the new guy. *g* And if nothing else, *that's* what did it for Bruce. Clark handing over the ring and saying, "I trust you." Exact. Words.

It's just like Clark took the ring from the ex and gave it to the new guy.

[enderwiggin24]

O-O , damn, now... Srsly if i had more time, than the daily 24 hours, really you had me more and more interetsed in the comics!
the ring, that lex use to have , is now in bruce hands!?!?
hell, ohhh clark, you and those billionaires XD

Re: It's just like Clark took the ring from the ex and gave it to the new guy.

[romanyg]

Aha! I actually have an icon from this story, with Bruce holding the box. *g* Actually, I was torn between this one and the icon, from the same story, where Clark does go rogue and Bruce shoots him with kryptonite, "About guns, no one has been able to make me do it. Not even the Joker. But I'll do it for you." Bruce *shoots* him and my heart just went pitter-pat, because he did it out of duty and love. Eek!

Yep, Clark and those billionaires. *g*

swooooooooooonss!

[enderwiggin24]

bruce shot him!!!!!!!!!!!!
that is soooooooooooo romantic bruce style!!!!!!!!!!!

not even joker?!?!
well, joker could go to lex ;D

Re: swooooooooooonss!

[romanyg]

Yes, he did. *g* But comics, you know, it turns out all right in the end.

Bruce has a strict anti-gun policy. And a no-kill policy. After The Joker killed Robin, Bruce came the closest to violating that. But he shoots Clark because he promised *Clark* he would take him down.