Hello! I see you opening some request? I wanna request about superbat. Clark and Dick are known to Bruce to have puppy eyes whenever they want something. Maybe one day Bruce tries his puppy eyes to Clark? Mostly when they're alone together, because he doesn't want anyone knows that the mighty Batman has puppy eyes lol. Thank you!
Hi, thank you for the request! Here’s my take one it, it’s not as playful as it is fluffy and warm but I hope you like it anyway!
It was like any night really. The sun had been tugged down to the horizon and passed it several hours ago and there was only a light breeze that carded against the soft curtains next to the open window. They were white and soft, a stark contrast to the otherwise heavy oak and velvet furniture in the master office of Wayne manor. Clark laid on one of the couches by the small coffee table that stood in the centre of the room; he was reading one of the many books that were occupying the numbers of bookshelf. He’d made quite some progress in reading Bruce’s small library, had actually managed half a bookshelf the past few months. So really the night was no special. Bruce was by his desk working on god knows what, he wasn’t much of a work and chat person but that was something Clark had caught on to years ago. Now the silence was… Comfortable. It wasn’t tense or as broody anymore, even though most took it as just that. It had only been recently that the League had understood that it really wasn’t as bad as one might think.
Flash back a few hours ago when Clark came over for dinner with the Wayne family and he was pretty sure most of the table occupants would’ve been afraid to drop a toothpick too… Had it not been the Wayne family of course.
Damian had stayed mostly quiet and hadn’t made much noise at all really, except for some comments regarding Tim and silently on the food. Clark wasn’t entirely sure of what Tim had done or if the comment was just about the other boy in essence, but there wasn’t much else said. Jason had indulged in a lively conversation with Barbara at some point but he had also asked Clark about the upcoming missions that the League stood in front of, a bit criticising, but not too bad. Then Stephanie and Cassandra had talked for themselves across the table, and Dick had been the most keen to talk to Clark. Tim… Yeah Clark wasn’t sure if Tim had been awake where he sat next to Stephanie by the other end of the table. But the table was long and there had been a lot of conversation going so the mood had been nothing but good.
It was a strange, although sweet, gathering of family. And even though Bruce didn’t say much during it, Clark was quite sure that he saw a smile at least once.
So now Clark had ‘officially’ left the manor, as he laid on the office couch. Neither Bruce or Clark felt up to encouraging the kids to talk even more regarding the fact that his visits had increased quite some, to the point where he was now staying for dinner. So Clark had left and then re-entered through the office windows. A night like many others.
Clark had been sneaking into the manor many times, even before things in their relationship had changed. It spread a small and slightly cocky smile on Clark’s face as he remembered Bruce’s reaction to his first visits, unannounced. There had been quite the disapproval from the Dark Knight at first.
”Remember when I first started showing up here?” Clark said reminiscing, putting the book over his chest and craning his neck to check on the man by the desk.
Bruce didn’t stop with his scanning of papers or the way he sorted them into bundles, instead Clark got a small ”hmp” back, low enough for anyone else to miss.
”You were not happy the first time.” Clark laughed, ignoring the others passivity. As it was, it was a comfortable silence and a comfortable space anyway.
”It was impossible to get rid of you.” Bruce said by the desk.
”Well you’re a hard man to get through to, takes time.” Clark smiled softly. ”But I wouldn’t say that the outcome’s too bad, would you?” He looked from the book on his chest to Bruce again, lifting an eyebrow.
Bruce put down the papers momentarily to look back. A small smile spread over his lips, one not many saw or knew of. It wasn’t like the ’billionaire playboy’ smile that you saw in the papers. It wasn’t all teeth and lust, it wasn’t larger than life, and it wasn’t made for the cameras. This was just Bruce. And it was small and secretive. Conserved and rare. And Clarke felt his chest turn warm and soft from it. He was quite sure that he loved it.
”No.” Bruce replied simply before looking back at his files. The shuffling of them continued and the slight breeze that had almost frozen as their eyes met continued. Clark couldn’t help smiling to himself, and he kept smiling, as he went back to his book.
“Dismissed.” Batman called out to the League before people got up to leave. Diana and Arthur walked along Barry who had indulged them in a vivid description of what Metallica was and how they had to check it out. Clark chuckled at the scene as Hal hurried after and started to protest.
The world was surprisingly calm and somehow that wasn’t unnerving for once. It was to the point where Clark was considering taking a small vacation, maybe head home to say hi to ma’. The world seemed to rotate in peace, he thought as the globe spread out before him by the view of the watchtower.
Clark was pulled from his gaze by the familiar voice that had made its way next to him. Bruce was still wearing his mask and stood there looking at him, then back to earth. “Do you think something’s happening?” He asked gravely and looked out, as if looking for trouble.
Clark sighed but put on a smile, “No, not at all.”
He said it with a light and happy tone, but the reaction he got was a low and heavy sigh from Bruce that left him confused. But he didn’t get the chance to ask what caused the reaction before the man had turned and was walking towards the exit of the tower.
“We’re still having dinner tonight?” Clark dared calling out after him as it seemed everyone had left (plus Clark had listened to check), that and he also secretly enjoyed the way Bruce tensed at the words. Like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar he looked around them and then scowled at Clark. He didn’t answer but continued walking.
“I’ll take that as a yes?” Clark continued with a laughter under his words.
“Don’t be late.” Bruce replied, always relying on Clark to catch it with his super-hearing.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Clark replied, mostly to himself as it seemed Bruce had already left through the Zeta-tube.
Dinner that night took place at Wayne manor once again, yet it was far less lively. It seemed that every member of the household had left on other activities, and those who did not reside at the manor were not visiting either.
So when Clark did arrive he was met with a table for two by the patio rather than the grand dining table inside. It was set with candles, silverware and a small rose. And whilst this was all very nice, Clark felt as if something was off as dinner went on. Bruce seemed to try and bring something up every now and then but instead of continuing the topic he averted it by asking how the food was. By the end of the main course Clark was sure he’d heard that question three times already.
Once Alfred brought out desert, however, Clark didn’t dare wait to be asked how desert was. So instead he took the opportunity when Bruce took a sip of his wine. He put down his spoon and looked at the man in front of him, “What’s up?”
Bruce looked like he almost choked on some wine and had to struggle keeping his composure as he put down the glass again. “What?” He asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“You’ve been trying to say something all night but you keep asking me how dinner was, it’s great by the, as I’ve said the last few times. Alfred’s a great cook.”
Bruce looked uncomfortable for a second, which in itself was unnerving and Clark had to consider if something actually was wrong. It didn’t suit the man in front of him at all.
“Eh- Hm.” Bruce cleared his throat and pulled a hand through his hair before he looked at Clark. “Stephanie has been asking for… vacation.”
Clark felt a bit stumped at the sudden comment and looked at Bruce a bit confused, “Well that’s great… Or, is it?” He asked confused.
Bruce sighed, “She wants us all to go.”
Clark still didn’t see the problem, and had to admit he was feeling rather mute. Bruce must’ve picked up on it and looked away slightly annoyed. Clark watched and he would’ve fallen off his chair had his body been able to move, but as he looked at Bruce he caught sight of a slight redness spreading out over the man’s face. Bruce Wayne was officially blushing.
“She has for some reason asked that you will join us.” Bruce said grumpily and Clark was sure that he refused meeting his eyes intentionally.
“Me?” Clark asked confused, still a bit taken aback by the view.
Clark struggled for a few seconds to find the words, he opened his mouth put all that came was a few puffs of air. The silence dragged out for some moments until Clark felt that his body could settle into something a bit more secure again.
“Do you want me to come?” He asked, eyes still on the man who wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Bruce shifted, “It’d be irresponsible by the league to have the both of us gone during the same time. There’s a large risk in it, but it seems that Stephanie has spread the words and now a few of them are… Requesting the same thing…”
“I believe master Dick phrased it as the ultimate vacation and that miss Barbara has quite the few request on tourist attractions you should be going along on.” Alfred suddenly showed up by their side and started taking the plates, Bruce seemed to almost roll his eyes at the comment. It was a similar one to the time that the kids had showed up with Clark’s S on all of their t-shirts.
Nonetheless Clark thanked Alfred and looked back to Bruce once the butler disappeared. He was looking out to the garden and there were still traces of red trailing his cheekbones that made something soften inside of Clark.
“You still didn’t answer my original question.” Clark said calmly.
Bruce huffed, “I’ve already told you what I think of it.”
“That it’d be bad for the League.”
Bruce didn’t do anything else but look out at their surrounding. The silence around them held the question that the Dark Knight seemed to reject. At which Clark sighed.
“I think you’re kids will have an excellent time with you.” He said with a voice of warmth but there was a slight disappointment inside that he couldn’t quite shake. But then again, he couldn’t expect too much. After all he had only read half a bookcase so far and there were many more to go.
Bruce didn’t reply even though he looked like he was about to. He stayed quiet, chewing on his own thoughts.
“They asked for you to come.”
Bruce turned to him, a look of irritation slightly grabbing at his expression. Clark just looked back at him. There was a small leverage here that he did not hope to loose, because there was everything to gain.
“I want you to come.” Bruce said, still looking severe but the edges were softening and there was room for something else.
Clark’s smile widened in tact with his stomach feeling warm. Bruce was not a man to invite people to see him asking for things, because well, he didn’t. Bruce got what he wanted, that’s how he worked. That’s why he and Clark worked. Because Clark was one of the few that’d challenge that.
So with a bit of mischief behind his motives he continued. “What about the League?” It was a stretch but Clark was a curious man and he couldn’t argue otherwise.
Bruce sighed in exasperation, shaking his head. It took almost a minute before he turned back again. “Can you please come with us?” He asked, hard edges peeled away, leaving way for something soft and genuine. Clark felt as if someone stolen the air in his lungs as he was met with two blue eyes, clearer than the sky, a sky that mostly stayed clouded. It made Clark feel dizzy and hazy in all the right ways. The only respond he could even make out was a small nodd. Bruce seemed to exhale at that, but he smiled again, that small and secretive one. Private.
“You won’t like it one bit,” he said taking a sip of his drink. “It’s pure hell, you’ll need vacation once it’s over.”
Clark laughed at that and looked at Bruce, nodding. I’m pretty sure I can handle it. His smile turned warmer. “I’ll be there.” As he placed his hand over the other’s he felt the colossus and the many small scars. But Clark was quite sure he loved it.
In the end Bruce was right. Vacation with the Wayne kids turned out to be pure hell, and somehow, god knows how, it started already in the car to the airport.
