Clark’s who Bruce’s first non abusive relationship…
All of Bruce’s other relationships were heavily abusive, they would scream, hit and do so much worse to him. And whenever he showed any sign of his bad mental health he could barely be walking the next day (not in a good way). But these are the only relationships Bruce’s has ever been in, so he assumes this is how they all are and that movies are just another fantasy.
When Bruce first gets with Clark, he’s hesitant since Clark is such a good guy and it will suck to watch him change but he gets into the relationship since he really likes Clark. He’s already confused at first when Clark isn’t hitting and shouting but he assumes Clark’s talking it slow so that Bruce doesn’t leave the relationship early in. Bruce purposefully hides his panic attacks and much more, but one day Clark walked in on one and Bruce’s mind is just “fuck I’m done for”. But instead Clark is being all loving??
The moment Bruce sees Clark standing there watching him having a panic attack, it makes it much worse.
Bruce is sure he's going to get hit any moment now, but Clark appears in front of him speaking to him softly. Doesn't even touch him.
For a moment, Bruce gets worse once again because Clark's behavior is so confusing, but then Clark's attempt at calming him down actually works and Bruce comes down from his panic attack.
He tries to apologize instantly, but Clark shushes him and tells him to just breathe.
So that's what Bruce does, while Clark just holds him close and strokes his hair lovingly.
"I don't understand," Bruce mumbles eventually, tucked against Clark's chest.
"Don't understand what, baby?" Clark asks, resting his chin on Bruce's head.
"Why aren't you angry?" he questions. "I had a panic attack."
Bruce whimpers when Clark gently pulls him away to look down at him.
"Why would I be angry for that?" he asks, confused.
"They all always were," Bruce says vaguely. "Said I should be normal if I don't want them to hurt me."
Bruce can feel Clark's grip on him tightening briefly before relaxing again.
"Bruce," he speaks the name softly, cupping Bruce's face with his big, warm hands.
"I don't know what exactly your exes did to you, and you better not tell me the details if you don't want them dead, but I will never hurt you, okay?" he promises. "Not for having a panic attack, not for anything else, even if I will get angry from time to time."
Bruce still doesn't exactly know how's that possible that Clark isn't like his other partners, but he isn't going to question it when he feels so safe in Clark's arms right now.
He doesn't want to make Clark change his mind and realize Bruce is broken goods, so he nods.
"Okay," he whispers, clutching Clark's shirt as they continue to sit on the floor where Bruce's attack started.
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