Fic: Unexpected Gifts | DCU/SR/BB | Clark/Bruce | PG-13 | 1/1
Title: Unexpected Gifts
Fandom: DCU/Superman Returns/Batman Begins
Characters/Pairing: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne, Jason White, Dick Grayson, Martha and Alfred briefly
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,711
Prompt: For the World's Finest Gift Exchange: WFGE: F41 - Clark and Bruce have a happy Christmas together in the Kent farm. Comicverse, toonverse or movieverse(BB,TDK/SR) - any rating; For the 2008 DCU Free For All Winter Holiday Challenge: T11;P25: Gift, and Special Prompt 16: Family/Home
Summary: The second Christmas that Clark has Jason, several unexpected gifts are exchanged. Greatest Gift-verse.
Disclaimer: DC and WB owns it all. I own nothing. Darnit.
Author's Notes: I'm so terribly late with this. Meh. And it didn't quite turn out how I'd planned, but oh well. Whoever submitted the prompt, I hope you enjoy. :)
Unexpected Gifts
It's been a long day by the time Clark collapses onto one end of the sofa in his mother's living room, Bruce smiling softly at him from the other end. With so much going on around the world on this particular Christmas Eve, he almost wasn't sure he'd make it back in time to play Santa, much less enjoy the cookies that Ma, Alfred, and the kids had made during the day, or the now traditional reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Much to his surprise, though, things have quieted enough that he was able to knock off of 'work' early.
“It's about time you made it back,” Bruce quips at him, smirking mischievously.
“Har har,” Clark shoots back with a smile of his own pulling up the corners of his mouth. “C'mere.” Reaching over, he tugs his lover closer for a quick kiss, and revels for a moment in Bruce's warmth. It's been a cold day, natural internal heat aside.
“Ew! Ack! My eyes!” an overly-dramatic voice interrupts them, and they pull apart grinning at Dick's antics as he comes in from the kitchen, Jason trailing behind.
Bruce scowls halfheartedly. “Very funny.”
“I thought so,” Dick beams.
But Jason ignores the exchange, rushing forward to leap into Clark's lap and hug him tight. “You're back!”
His heart warming as his seven-year-old squeezes him in a vice-like grip, Clark hugs him back. “I am, and I'm not leaving the rest of the night.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” And it's a promise he intends to keep, come what may. Nothing can pull him away from his family's first-ever Christmas at the Kent farm, not tonight, no way.
At the other end of the sofa, Dick is bouncing excitedly on the balls of his sock-clad feet. “Can we open our Christmas Eve presents now? Can we, Bruce? Please?”
Neither men can help the laughs that escape them at that; they could never deny Dick or Jason anything, especially with that kind of enthusiasm. “All right,” Bruce agrees. “Clark?”
“I don't see why not. Why don't you boys go pick something out from under the tree?”
As Dick and Jason hurry over to the tree to pick out their gifts, Martha and Alfred step in from the kitchen as well. “What's this about presents already?” Martha eyes Clark and Bruce with mock scolding.
Clark feels the slight blush rise on his cheeks. In the Kent household, no presents were opened until Christmas morning, but in Dick's circus upbringing and at the Lane-White house, there was always one gift opened the night before. He mentally smacks himself for forgetting to tell her earlier. Last year, they didn't come until the day after, so it had completely slipped his mind.
Bruce jumps in to save him from his sudden ineptitude, “Both the boys' family tradition was to open one gift on Christmas Eve, Mrs. Kent.”
“Ah, I see,” she nods in response as she and Alfred take the armchairs across from the sofa. “Slipped your mind, son?”
The twinkle in her eye tells him she's teasing, since she didn't even know she had a grandson until Jason was almost six, and he chuckles embarrassedly, “Sorry, Ma.”
“Forgiven, sweetie. Now, let's see what you have there, dears,” she smiles at the boys as they make their picks at last, plopping down in front of the brightly-lit tree in the corner with their unopened gifts in their laps.
Both boys have picked long, rectangular boxes, which in most households could very well hold sweaters or scarf and mitten sets, but which all the adults in the room know hide the best gifts the boys will probably receive this Christmas.
Alfred gives Bruce a questioning look, and receives the dark grin of the Bat in return. A smiling nod is passed between Clark and Martha. The adults are in agreement.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Alfred prods the boys as they sit expectantly, Dick practically squirming, waiting for the word.
“Open them,” Bruce says.
Clark grins, adding, “Go ahead.”
After a positively delighted look is shared by the boys, two sets of blue eyes gleaming, wrapping paper begins to fly. Clark can feel his heart in his throat as he waits for them to see their gifts. It was a big decision, to give them these, and the consequences will be utterly enormous. In a way, he and Bruce are just as excited as the boys are.
When the first box top is pulled off and the tissue paper swept aside, Jason's thrilled squeal fills the house. “Dad! Is this!? Really!?”
Even Dick pauses in his own unwrapping as Jason pulls his gift out of the box, revealing a blue and red costume with a small version of Clark's crest over the heart. The youngest boy's eyes are practically saucers as they take in the suit, with its short red cape and red boots.
“It is, Jason,” Clark smiles, sharing in his son's joy amidst the 'oohs' and 'aahs' from everyone else. “But it's only for training, just like we discussed. And only here and at the Fortress. Okay?”
“Uh-huh!” Jason nods eagerly, his dark hair falling over his eyes. “Thank you so much, Dad!” And with that, he launches himself at Clark again to deliver an even tighter squeeze.
Clark laughs as he squeezes back, then adds, “Love you, Jason.”
“Love you, too, Dad.”
The moment is broken by Dick suddenly tearing back into his own gift, his anticipation heightened by the possibilities now. The box top is torn off, tissue paper ripped aside, and Dick nearly leaps up from his spot on the floor, his mouth hanging open as he pulls his gift out. All he can manage is an excited squeak at the sight of the green and red costume, its cape bright yellow with a folded down collar, its red tunic sporting a black “R” over the breast.
All the adults beam at his reaction, relieved that they got it right; matching his circus costume without it being too recognizable was quite a challenge.
“What do you think, Dick?” Bruce asks quietly, the larger question implied.
“Are you kidding!?” Dick finally squeals, a brilliant grin covering his face. “I love it!! It's perfect!! Thank you!!”
“Don't just thank me,” Bruce laughs as he receives a similar tackle-hug from his adopted son. “Thank Alfred and Grandma Martha. They made it.”
“Really?” Dick asks, pulling back from the hug to look at them.
Alfred smiles, “We did, indeed, Master Dick. And it was our pleasure.”
“Thank you!!” is all that Dick gets out as he launches himself at the elders of the family to deliver their own hugs, the costume still firmly clutched in his hands.
From his spot on the sofa, with Jason still snuggled in his lap, Clark watches as Dick settles down at Alfred and Martha's feet, his small hand brushing reverently over the symbol on the tunic, his own symbol. This Christmas is turning out almost as wonderful as last year's already.
* * * * *
Much later, when Clark and Bruce finally retire to the guest bedroom, the boys already fast asleep in Clark's old room and Santa's visit over with, Bruce tugs the covers up over them both and pulls Clark closer to get comfortable and hopefully catch a few good hours of sleep before Christmas morning officially comes.
“I think we did good,” Clark says, snuggling closer to breathe in Bruce's scent and plant a soft kiss on the underside of his lover's jaw.
“Mmm... we did, didn't we? Even better than last year, I think.”
“Agreed.”
Bruce lets out a small chuckle. “It's bound to be a long three months until Dick's birthday.”
“Definitely,” Clark agrees again. With the promise to Dick that he could start going on patrol with Bruce as soon as he turns twelve, a whole year of training under his belt by then, they both know it'll be difficult to hold him back those last months; he's been raring and ready to go since almost the day that Bruce agreed to train him in the first place!
Bruce glances at the clock. “It's after twelve. Merry Christmas, Clark,” he says with a kiss to Clark's temple, brushing his errant curl back and stroking down the side of his face.
“Merry Christmas, Bruce,” Clark smiles back, leaning into the touch.
“So, do you want your gift now or later?”
Clark chuckles, “I get a choice?”
“Yep.”
“Hmmm....”
“How about now?” Bruce prods him.
“You must be pretty eager to see my reaction,” Clark ventures in return, one dark eyebrow raised.
Bruce's mischievous smile is all Bat as he reaches over to the nightstand, flicks on the lamp, and pulls a large envelope from the drawer, then hands it over.
“What's this?” Clark asks, sitting up and opening the envelope.
“You'll see.”
Pulling a few pages out, Clark scans them quickly, his eyes widening as he realizes what he's holding. “Bruce....” he breathes, shock jolting through him in an instant. “Are you serious?”
“Lois wanted to deliver it herself, but we both thought it might make an appropriate Christmas present.”
“Shared custody....”
“Fifty-fifty. All you have to do is sign the papers, and Jason's officially half yours.”
“Half ours,” Clark corrects, his smile in his voice and his heart in his throat again. Dropping the papers, he reaches for Bruce and pulls him in for a hard kiss. When oxygen becomes an issue after a long moment, he pulls back just barely. “Now turn off the lamp so I can give you your Christmas present.”
They'll have a proper Christmas in the morning, with cocoa, cookies, wrapping paper, glittering ornaments and lights, the whole works, but for now, a more private celebration in order. After all, this has now officially become the best Christmas Clark's ever had.
With a smirk, Bruce turns off the lamp.
* * * * *
Fandom: DCU/Superman Returns/Batman Begins
Characters/Pairing: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne, Jason White, Dick Grayson, Martha and Alfred briefly
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,711
Prompt: For the World's Finest Gift Exchange: WFGE: F41 - Clark and Bruce have a happy Christmas together in the Kent farm. Comicverse, toonverse or movieverse(BB,TDK/SR) - any rating; For the 2008 DCU Free For All Winter Holiday Challenge: T11;P25: Gift, and Special Prompt 16: Family/Home
Summary: The second Christmas that Clark has Jason, several unexpected gifts are exchanged. Greatest Gift-verse.
Disclaimer: DC and WB owns it all. I own nothing. Darnit.
Author's Notes: I'm so terribly late with this. Meh. And it didn't quite turn out how I'd planned, but oh well. Whoever submitted the prompt, I hope you enjoy. :)
Unexpected Gifts
It's been a long day by the time Clark collapses onto one end of the sofa in his mother's living room, Bruce smiling softly at him from the other end. With so much going on around the world on this particular Christmas Eve, he almost wasn't sure he'd make it back in time to play Santa, much less enjoy the cookies that Ma, Alfred, and the kids had made during the day, or the now traditional reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Much to his surprise, though, things have quieted enough that he was able to knock off of 'work' early.
“It's about time you made it back,” Bruce quips at him, smirking mischievously.
“Har har,” Clark shoots back with a smile of his own pulling up the corners of his mouth. “C'mere.” Reaching over, he tugs his lover closer for a quick kiss, and revels for a moment in Bruce's warmth. It's been a cold day, natural internal heat aside.
“Ew! Ack! My eyes!” an overly-dramatic voice interrupts them, and they pull apart grinning at Dick's antics as he comes in from the kitchen, Jason trailing behind.
Bruce scowls halfheartedly. “Very funny.”
“I thought so,” Dick beams.
But Jason ignores the exchange, rushing forward to leap into Clark's lap and hug him tight. “You're back!”
His heart warming as his seven-year-old squeezes him in a vice-like grip, Clark hugs him back. “I am, and I'm not leaving the rest of the night.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” And it's a promise he intends to keep, come what may. Nothing can pull him away from his family's first-ever Christmas at the Kent farm, not tonight, no way.
At the other end of the sofa, Dick is bouncing excitedly on the balls of his sock-clad feet. “Can we open our Christmas Eve presents now? Can we, Bruce? Please?”
Neither men can help the laughs that escape them at that; they could never deny Dick or Jason anything, especially with that kind of enthusiasm. “All right,” Bruce agrees. “Clark?”
“I don't see why not. Why don't you boys go pick something out from under the tree?”
As Dick and Jason hurry over to the tree to pick out their gifts, Martha and Alfred step in from the kitchen as well. “What's this about presents already?” Martha eyes Clark and Bruce with mock scolding.
Clark feels the slight blush rise on his cheeks. In the Kent household, no presents were opened until Christmas morning, but in Dick's circus upbringing and at the Lane-White house, there was always one gift opened the night before. He mentally smacks himself for forgetting to tell her earlier. Last year, they didn't come until the day after, so it had completely slipped his mind.
Bruce jumps in to save him from his sudden ineptitude, “Both the boys' family tradition was to open one gift on Christmas Eve, Mrs. Kent.”
“Ah, I see,” she nods in response as she and Alfred take the armchairs across from the sofa. “Slipped your mind, son?”
The twinkle in her eye tells him she's teasing, since she didn't even know she had a grandson until Jason was almost six, and he chuckles embarrassedly, “Sorry, Ma.”
“Forgiven, sweetie. Now, let's see what you have there, dears,” she smiles at the boys as they make their picks at last, plopping down in front of the brightly-lit tree in the corner with their unopened gifts in their laps.
Both boys have picked long, rectangular boxes, which in most households could very well hold sweaters or scarf and mitten sets, but which all the adults in the room know hide the best gifts the boys will probably receive this Christmas.
Alfred gives Bruce a questioning look, and receives the dark grin of the Bat in return. A smiling nod is passed between Clark and Martha. The adults are in agreement.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Alfred prods the boys as they sit expectantly, Dick practically squirming, waiting for the word.
“Open them,” Bruce says.
Clark grins, adding, “Go ahead.”
After a positively delighted look is shared by the boys, two sets of blue eyes gleaming, wrapping paper begins to fly. Clark can feel his heart in his throat as he waits for them to see their gifts. It was a big decision, to give them these, and the consequences will be utterly enormous. In a way, he and Bruce are just as excited as the boys are.
When the first box top is pulled off and the tissue paper swept aside, Jason's thrilled squeal fills the house. “Dad! Is this!? Really!?”
Even Dick pauses in his own unwrapping as Jason pulls his gift out of the box, revealing a blue and red costume with a small version of Clark's crest over the heart. The youngest boy's eyes are practically saucers as they take in the suit, with its short red cape and red boots.
“It is, Jason,” Clark smiles, sharing in his son's joy amidst the 'oohs' and 'aahs' from everyone else. “But it's only for training, just like we discussed. And only here and at the Fortress. Okay?”
“Uh-huh!” Jason nods eagerly, his dark hair falling over his eyes. “Thank you so much, Dad!” And with that, he launches himself at Clark again to deliver an even tighter squeeze.
Clark laughs as he squeezes back, then adds, “Love you, Jason.”
“Love you, too, Dad.”
The moment is broken by Dick suddenly tearing back into his own gift, his anticipation heightened by the possibilities now. The box top is torn off, tissue paper ripped aside, and Dick nearly leaps up from his spot on the floor, his mouth hanging open as he pulls his gift out. All he can manage is an excited squeak at the sight of the green and red costume, its cape bright yellow with a folded down collar, its red tunic sporting a black “R” over the breast.
All the adults beam at his reaction, relieved that they got it right; matching his circus costume without it being too recognizable was quite a challenge.
“What do you think, Dick?” Bruce asks quietly, the larger question implied.
“Are you kidding!?” Dick finally squeals, a brilliant grin covering his face. “I love it!! It's perfect!! Thank you!!”
“Don't just thank me,” Bruce laughs as he receives a similar tackle-hug from his adopted son. “Thank Alfred and Grandma Martha. They made it.”
“Really?” Dick asks, pulling back from the hug to look at them.
Alfred smiles, “We did, indeed, Master Dick. And it was our pleasure.”
“Thank you!!” is all that Dick gets out as he launches himself at the elders of the family to deliver their own hugs, the costume still firmly clutched in his hands.
From his spot on the sofa, with Jason still snuggled in his lap, Clark watches as Dick settles down at Alfred and Martha's feet, his small hand brushing reverently over the symbol on the tunic, his own symbol. This Christmas is turning out almost as wonderful as last year's already.
* * * * *
Much later, when Clark and Bruce finally retire to the guest bedroom, the boys already fast asleep in Clark's old room and Santa's visit over with, Bruce tugs the covers up over them both and pulls Clark closer to get comfortable and hopefully catch a few good hours of sleep before Christmas morning officially comes.
“I think we did good,” Clark says, snuggling closer to breathe in Bruce's scent and plant a soft kiss on the underside of his lover's jaw.
“Mmm... we did, didn't we? Even better than last year, I think.”
“Agreed.”
Bruce lets out a small chuckle. “It's bound to be a long three months until Dick's birthday.”
“Definitely,” Clark agrees again. With the promise to Dick that he could start going on patrol with Bruce as soon as he turns twelve, a whole year of training under his belt by then, they both know it'll be difficult to hold him back those last months; he's been raring and ready to go since almost the day that Bruce agreed to train him in the first place!
Bruce glances at the clock. “It's after twelve. Merry Christmas, Clark,” he says with a kiss to Clark's temple, brushing his errant curl back and stroking down the side of his face.
“Merry Christmas, Bruce,” Clark smiles back, leaning into the touch.
“So, do you want your gift now or later?”
Clark chuckles, “I get a choice?”
“Yep.”
“Hmmm....”
“How about now?” Bruce prods him.
“You must be pretty eager to see my reaction,” Clark ventures in return, one dark eyebrow raised.
Bruce's mischievous smile is all Bat as he reaches over to the nightstand, flicks on the lamp, and pulls a large envelope from the drawer, then hands it over.
“What's this?” Clark asks, sitting up and opening the envelope.
“You'll see.”
Pulling a few pages out, Clark scans them quickly, his eyes widening as he realizes what he's holding. “Bruce....” he breathes, shock jolting through him in an instant. “Are you serious?”
“Lois wanted to deliver it herself, but we both thought it might make an appropriate Christmas present.”
“Shared custody....”
“Fifty-fifty. All you have to do is sign the papers, and Jason's officially half yours.”
“Half ours,” Clark corrects, his smile in his voice and his heart in his throat again. Dropping the papers, he reaches for Bruce and pulls him in for a hard kiss. When oxygen becomes an issue after a long moment, he pulls back just barely. “Now turn off the lamp so I can give you your Christmas present.”
They'll have a proper Christmas in the morning, with cocoa, cookies, wrapping paper, glittering ornaments and lights, the whole works, but for now, a more private celebration in order. After all, this has now officially become the best Christmas Clark's ever had.
With a smirk, Bruce turns off the lamp.
* * * * *