Fic: A Certain Thought that Lingers - (10/20) (Clark/Bruce)
Title: A Certain Thought that Lingers
Pairing: Superman/Batman
Rating: R
Verse: DCU/DCAU
Word Count: 13,439
Summary: The decision to use a telepathic link to allow the Justice League to communicate during battle backfires, creating a special bond between Superman and Batman. Batman finds the situation...unbearable.
X.
“He’s such a jerk,” Kyle said as he reached for some popcorn. “He acted like I had murdered the president, when all I did was make a suggestion. Okay, maybe it wasn’t as good as one of his suggestions, but not everyone can be Batman. I think it’s personal.”
Clark grabbed the remote before settling next to Kyle on the sofa. “I don’t think so.”
“I do. He can’t stand that we’re friends.”
Clark smiled at Kyle fondly. His insecurities often led him to impute the wrong motivations to people’s actions. “I don’t think Batman cares that we’re friends. Likely, it bothers him that you always side with me on any vote. Little things like that tend to piss him off.”
“That’s because you’re always right and he’s always a jackass.”
Clark took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. He decided to leave them off and placed them on the coffee table. “Kyle-”
“I know what you’re going to say. Try harder to get along with Batman.”
“We’re all teammates. We have to trust each other with our lives. I hope my relationship with Batman hasn’t put pressure on you to take sides. I know our constant bickering makes the rest of the team uncomfortable-and I’m sorry about that. I’m working on it-”
“I don’t think you’re going to have much luck,” Kyle said dubiously. “But I hear what you’re saying. Believe it or not, I don’t just side with you to back you up. You can take care of yourself-I know that. I side with you because I believe in you.” Kyle ducked his head. “That’s not going to change.”
Clark smiled. Having Kyle around was like having a younger brother. He wasn’t much for the fan adulation of strangers, but he found Kyle’s simple belief in him to be…endearing. J’onn had always been his closest confidante on the team, but Clark had to admit he enjoyed the time he spent with Kyle just as much-though it filled a different need. He was glad he had invited Kyle over to watch the game.
Hours later, after the sun had set and full darkness had settled over the apartment, broken only by the illumination from the television broadcasting the last few minutes of the game, Kyle sat forward, seemed to build up his courage-and the next thing Clark knew, Kyle was on his knees in front of Clark and the couch…leaning in and kissing him.
Perhaps Clark should have expected it-but, honestly, it hadn’t even occurred to him. As he gently disentangled himself, he wondered what in the world he should say.
Kyle fell back onto his side of the sofa. “Can’t we forget I did that?” he enquired with an embarrassed cough.
“Uh-Kyle, I-”
“Don’t feel that way about me. I know. Why would you? I mean, you’re Superman.”
“And you’re the Green Lantern. Don’t put me up on some sort of pedestal, Kyle. I hope that’s not what this is about. Misplaced hero-worship isn’t a good reason to-”
“It’s not that,” Kyle interrupted, sitting forward. “Or, at least, it’s not that anymore. Now I know you, both as Superman and as Clark Kent. So give me some credit-I know how I feel.”
There wasn’t much Clark could say to Kyle’s fierce pronouncement. “Kyle, I-”
“Don’t feel the same way. Yeah, I sort of figured that out from the whole deer-in-headlights look on your face.” He fell back onto the sofa, visibly deflated. “I really messed this whole thing up.”
They were both silent as the after-game commentary started up on the television screen. A good ten minutes went by before Kyle said anything, or even turned to look in Clark’s direction.
“Why him? He’s a jackass. He doesn’t deserve you.”
Clark sighed. Did everyone know? “It’s…not like I have a choice.”
Kyle got to his feet, looked down at Clark with amusement in his eyes. “Now you do have a choice,” he said cheekily. “And maybe, one day, I’ll have a chance. No one could tolerate Batman’s abuse forever. Not even Superman.”
In a burst of green, Kyle was in costume. “I’m going to head out,” he said. “I feel like…flying. I don’t suppose you want to join me?”
Clark shook his head. “But I know that feeling.” He thought of Bruce, that last time, in the cave. “Have fun.”
Clark watched as the Lantern went through the balcony doors and up into the sky.
* * *
Batman hit a button on his computer console, ending the feed from Clark’s apartment. It wasn’t that he cared at all what some outclassed kid whose only claim to fame was that he happened to be in the right place at the right time thought about him-what Kyle had to say about him behind his back was immaterial. It was the fact that Clark didn’t even have enough sense to put the kid in his place when he had so clearly overstepped. Kyle Rayner wasn’t worthy to stand in the same room as Superman, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that Clark always took up for the kid, Batman would have had him moved to the Teen Titans long ago.
Now this-this infatuation with Clark. It had to end.
Pairing: Superman/Batman
Rating: R
Verse: DCU/DCAU
Word Count: 13,439
Summary: The decision to use a telepathic link to allow the Justice League to communicate during battle backfires, creating a special bond between Superman and Batman. Batman finds the situation...unbearable.
X.
“He’s such a jerk,” Kyle said as he reached for some popcorn. “He acted like I had murdered the president, when all I did was make a suggestion. Okay, maybe it wasn’t as good as one of his suggestions, but not everyone can be Batman. I think it’s personal.”
Clark grabbed the remote before settling next to Kyle on the sofa. “I don’t think so.”
“I do. He can’t stand that we’re friends.”
Clark smiled at Kyle fondly. His insecurities often led him to impute the wrong motivations to people’s actions. “I don’t think Batman cares that we’re friends. Likely, it bothers him that you always side with me on any vote. Little things like that tend to piss him off.”
“That’s because you’re always right and he’s always a jackass.”
Clark took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. He decided to leave them off and placed them on the coffee table. “Kyle-”
“I know what you’re going to say. Try harder to get along with Batman.”
“We’re all teammates. We have to trust each other with our lives. I hope my relationship with Batman hasn’t put pressure on you to take sides. I know our constant bickering makes the rest of the team uncomfortable-and I’m sorry about that. I’m working on it-”
“I don’t think you’re going to have much luck,” Kyle said dubiously. “But I hear what you’re saying. Believe it or not, I don’t just side with you to back you up. You can take care of yourself-I know that. I side with you because I believe in you.” Kyle ducked his head. “That’s not going to change.”
Clark smiled. Having Kyle around was like having a younger brother. He wasn’t much for the fan adulation of strangers, but he found Kyle’s simple belief in him to be…endearing. J’onn had always been his closest confidante on the team, but Clark had to admit he enjoyed the time he spent with Kyle just as much-though it filled a different need. He was glad he had invited Kyle over to watch the game.
Hours later, after the sun had set and full darkness had settled over the apartment, broken only by the illumination from the television broadcasting the last few minutes of the game, Kyle sat forward, seemed to build up his courage-and the next thing Clark knew, Kyle was on his knees in front of Clark and the couch…leaning in and kissing him.
Perhaps Clark should have expected it-but, honestly, it hadn’t even occurred to him. As he gently disentangled himself, he wondered what in the world he should say.
Kyle fell back onto his side of the sofa. “Can’t we forget I did that?” he enquired with an embarrassed cough.
“Uh-Kyle, I-”
“Don’t feel that way about me. I know. Why would you? I mean, you’re Superman.”
“And you’re the Green Lantern. Don’t put me up on some sort of pedestal, Kyle. I hope that’s not what this is about. Misplaced hero-worship isn’t a good reason to-”
“It’s not that,” Kyle interrupted, sitting forward. “Or, at least, it’s not that anymore. Now I know you, both as Superman and as Clark Kent. So give me some credit-I know how I feel.”
There wasn’t much Clark could say to Kyle’s fierce pronouncement. “Kyle, I-”
“Don’t feel the same way. Yeah, I sort of figured that out from the whole deer-in-headlights look on your face.” He fell back onto the sofa, visibly deflated. “I really messed this whole thing up.”
They were both silent as the after-game commentary started up on the television screen. A good ten minutes went by before Kyle said anything, or even turned to look in Clark’s direction.
“Why him? He’s a jackass. He doesn’t deserve you.”
Clark sighed. Did everyone know? “It’s…not like I have a choice.”
Kyle got to his feet, looked down at Clark with amusement in his eyes. “Now you do have a choice,” he said cheekily. “And maybe, one day, I’ll have a chance. No one could tolerate Batman’s abuse forever. Not even Superman.”
In a burst of green, Kyle was in costume. “I’m going to head out,” he said. “I feel like…flying. I don’t suppose you want to join me?”
Clark shook his head. “But I know that feeling.” He thought of Bruce, that last time, in the cave. “Have fun.”
Clark watched as the Lantern went through the balcony doors and up into the sky.
* * *
Batman hit a button on his computer console, ending the feed from Clark’s apartment. It wasn’t that he cared at all what some outclassed kid whose only claim to fame was that he happened to be in the right place at the right time thought about him-what Kyle had to say about him behind his back was immaterial. It was the fact that Clark didn’t even have enough sense to put the kid in his place when he had so clearly overstepped. Kyle Rayner wasn’t worthy to stand in the same room as Superman, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that Clark always took up for the kid, Batman would have had him moved to the Teen Titans long ago.
Now this-this infatuation with Clark. It had to end.