Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (RobinSong Arc) (39/41)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Bruce, Dick, Alfred, Brendan
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. As Bruce and Clark try and adjust to being lovers as well as Master and slave, on a warm spring night a new member of the Wayne Household is added: a little boy whom Bruce sadly identifies with. Dick Grayson further pushes Bruce along the path of Abolitionism as the child brings further Light into the Manor. The entire series can be found
here.Genres: Drama, AU
Rating: (this chapter): NC-17
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Birthdays should be special.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): February 13, 2008
Date Of Posting: November 17, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1511
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
"A birthday is a day all your own.
It’s your special day."
Angela Susskind
"The Book Of Holidays
And Other Special Occasions"
1959 C.E.
XXXIX
SPECIAL DAY
Red-yellow-green-and-blue balloons bobbed in the breeze, the ocean sparkling on a gorgeous autumn day. The picnic table was covered in a festive paper tablecloth decorated with pictures of birthday cakes. Dick laughed and somersaulted across the lawn to the table, followed by the adults of the Household.
Alfred carried the cake, pink-frosted and with cherries on top. Dick eagerly awaited the cake set before him.
“Nine candles,” Alfred said as he placed red twisty candles on the cake.
Bruce was pleased to see Dick so happy on his birthday. He had feared that the first birthday without his parents would have been a sad one.
Dick was still saddened but his attention had been diverted wit the party itself. Missing his parents was understandable, but Bruce was determined to help lighten that sadness.
“Got a wish?”
“Yes, I do!” Dick closed his eyes, then blew out the candles.
“So, what was your wish?”
“Ha! You know I can’t tell you if I want it to come true.” Dick winked.
Bruce and Clark laughed while Alfred smiled. Their boy’s bubbly enthusiasm never failed to delight.
As they ate the cake, Dick asked, “Bruce’s birthday is in a couple of days. When do we celebrate yours, Clark?”
Clark looked down at his plate.
“Um, Dick…” said Bruce.
“Oh, I know you’ve got amnesia. You should pick a date and make it your own!”
Clark looked up. “Can I do that, Bruce?”
Bruce smiled at Dick. “Sure. What day would you like, Clark?”
“Well, Dick’s birthday is a few days before yours. Can I choose a few days after yours?”
Dick and Bruce laughed. “You certainly may. Alfred, can you handle three birthday celebrations within a week?”
“Certainly, sir.”
“Brendan!” Dick leaped up and ran to hug the chauffeur, who had just appeared.
“Hey, Squirt.” Brendan ruffled Dick’s hair.
“Have a seat,” Bruce invited.
Brendan laid a gift on the pile of brightly-wrapped presents. Bruce looked on in approval. He was glad that Brendan treated his slaves with respect. Otherwise he would have had to find a new chauffeur.
Brendan enjoyed the festivities, Dick delighting everyone with his own joy. Bruce looked at Clark, who was watching Dick with joy and a little wistfulness.
Bruce was determined that Clark was going to have a wonderful ‘birthday’.
& & & & & &
Clark awoke, Bruce leaning over and kissing him.
“Happy Birthday.”
Excitement bubbled up in Clark’s chest. “Thank you!”
Bruce smiled as his hand trailed down Clark’s chest and stomach. “You’re very welcome.” He nipped Clark’s ear. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Breakfast?”
“Yes, you know, the meal that breaks your fast.”
“Ha, ha.”
“Dick and I had special requests on our birthday, so you should, too.”
“Oh.” Clark smiled. “I’d like waffles, please, with strawberries and syrup.”
“Mmm, a good choice. I’ll go down and give Alfred the request.”
Clark felt so happy he couldn’t even articulate it. He lay in bed listening to the birds singing outside the bedroom window.
He was incredibly lucky. Bruce was doing all this for him, making him feel special. Alfred and Dick were contributing, too.
How had he gotten so fortunate?
When Bruce returned, Clark was waiting with a smile so dazzling that his lover blinked. Incandescent Clark was always mind-blowing.
“We’d better get showered. Alfred’s already started the waffles.”
Clark slipped out of bed, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Bruce slipped out of his robe and followed Clark into the bathroom.
The shower was sparkling and both men celebrated Clark’s birthday…
& & & & & &
“So what would you like to do today, Clark? I’ve cleared my calendar,” Bruce said as they enjoyed breakfast.
“Oh!” Clark realized he had some choices to make. “I’d like to start in the vegetable garden, then rake some leaves.” He winked at Dick. “All of us.”
“Oh.” Bruce looked down at his clothes. “Looks like I’ll have to change.”
Alfred hid his smile while Dick giggled.
“And after lunch?” Bruce asked.
“I’ll think about it,” Clark said airily as he went upstairs to brush his teeth.
“I’ve created a monster,” Bruce said as he sat back.
This time Alfred joined in Dick’s laughter.
& & & & & &
The warm sun fell on Clark’s face, his body tingling with energy.
“Look! Up in the sky! Is that a bird?”
Bruce squinted. “No, it’s a plane.”
Clark looked up, shading his eyes. He could see the contrail of smoke from the jet. He loved the color of the sky, its bright, blue shade perfectly framed by golden trees.
Clark looked down at Bruce, who was kneeling in the garden. He was wearing a big, floppy straw hat, faded gardening gloves on his hands. He was pulling out the tomato vines while Dick and Clark were picking off the final tomatoes. Bruce hadn’t gardened in years, but seemed to be enjoying himself. Clark smiled. Seeing his multibillionaire Master down in the dirt was amazing.
Dick was grinning, too, his bright eyes amused. Clark was glad to see it. He knew that Dick had not forgotten the matter of Tony Zucco, but he seemed content to enjoy life in-between grueling training sessions.
A sailboat drifted by, its red-and-white sail a candy cane in the sun. As Bruce dug into the earth he seemed very relaxed, enjoying Dick’s antics.
Clark felt extremely happy. He was the luckiest slave around: a beautiful home, a wonderful family, and the most generous Master in the world.
His birthday…his birthday was a happy day. It was his special day, because he was special, Bruce said. A birthday was a day all your own.
He felt very special.
& & & & & &
Bruce was an efficient raker. He raked with precision, piling up the brilliant leaves as Clark and Dick were using their rakes with hilarity, and goofing-off. He watched his two special people and was happy to take part in Clark’s birthday wishes.
He couldn’t imagine being so rootless that he couldn’t even remember his birthday. He was so steeped in family that he was a Wayne above all, as his heritage demanded. Sometimes that heritage weighed down on him, but more often it was a comforting presence in his life.
Even Alfred and Dick had roots and histories with memories of parents and childhoods.
Clark was a blank slate, a tabula rasa, a Rosetta stone with no key.
A man like Clark needed family and roots.
Well, he had it here.
He always would.
Clark was laughing as Dick somersaulted across the lawn. Bruce smiled and joined in Clark’s applause.
& & & & & &
Dick was excited to be going to the movies. Clark’s final request of the day was to take in a movie.
At first Bruce had been reluctant, remembering that he and his parents had gone to see a movie the night they were killed, but he resolutely put that aside. Clark didn’t know that detail about his parents’ deaths, and why shouldn’t he treat them?
And he would protect them with all he had.
Brendan drove them into town, sharing pizza at a favorite restaurant with the family, then went off to meet a friend while Bruce and his family went to the Bijou Theater.
Movies hadn’t changed much since the dawn of the 20th century as far as their environment. After the cramped nickelodeons of the 19th century, the great theater palaces were built, deteriorated to ugly multiplex boxes, then revived to palaces again.
There was always popcorn, hot dogs, and soda, and more exotic dishes from both on-and-off-planet. Bruce was generous as he insisted they get whatever they want. He loved to lavish gifts on his little family.
Clark was missing his childhood. Bruce wanted to give him a piece of it.
They settled into their seats as the previews started, Dick between him and Clark.
Whatever was in his power to make these two happy, he would give.
& & & & & &
Bruce looked up, smiling as Clark leaned over him. Bruce slid his hands up and down his lover’s arms as he lay comfortably in bed.
“What do you want to do, my love?”
Clark’s eyes sparkled. “Just this.”
He leaned down and kissed Bruce deeply, his body settling over his companion’s.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
“For what?”
“For giving me this special day, Bruce.”
Bruce felt happiness spread through him. He trailed a hand down Clark’s face and said, “It’s easy to do with you, my Starchild.”
Clark’s smile was like the sun. He kissed his way down from his lover’s lips all the way down to his groin, teasing his tongue around Bruce’s cock. Bruce shivered, canting his hips forward. Clark smiled, then took Bruce into his mouth.
“This is supposed to be your birthday, Clark,” he gasped.
Clark’s only response was to suck harder.
Both gave and received.