To Tend a Flame
5: A Warm Hearth
He had a nest. It was wonderful, large, perfect, and filled with the lovely soothing pheromones from Batman himself. He loved it! He never slept so well as he did in that nest with the Knight, which is why the moment they landed back on Earth he scurried that nest over to his apartment - after erasing his trail, of course.
He didn't sleep as well as when cuddled up next to the vigilante, but the nest still did wonders. He also much preferred that it was scented - even if it was with his own scent -now. Dearly, he wished that the omega's scent was also marking the nest. But the League hadn't gotten to scent introduction, and the Bat was such a private creature, it was unlikely that he'd be getting his scent. A pity, but maybe he could get scented items from the rest of the League when they got to that part.
What was unfortunate was the fast disappearance of the omega pheromones as his own drowned them out.
When Clark Kent got a spot at a Wayne Gala, and he scented that particular pheromone marker in the air, he was elated. Batman was here, his complete pheromone profile unmasked, and instead of being accompanied by acrid neutrality, it's attached to the most delicious cloud of ocean and jasmine. A refined, cold, elegant scent that he recognizes from a little perfume bottle now treasured by the most unethical collectors. Slowly, gently, he lets his eyes trace to his price, Gotham's Darling, Bruce Wayne. He stares, waiting for those icy blue eyes to meet his, and when he finally makes true eye contact with his friend, he can't help but make an incredibly pleased smile.
It's instant the way understanding falls upon Bruce's face -Bruce!, he finally has a name!- twitches in the man's micro expressions as he holds back a scowl, they both know now. Then the switch, the smoothing out of facial muscles, and the flirty smile that stretches his lips. The rest of the party is a subtle mouse-and-cat game between them. Him trying to approach Bruce, and Bruce rich-boying his way through to create distance. Ultimately, he lets it go for this part of the night when he sees two pups approach the omega. The oldest probably the little diurnal bird that's learnt to hunt at night, but he was sure he hadn't seen the youngest flying yet.
The moment Batman is out for his rounds, however? All bets are off, and Superman chases Bruce throughout Gotham as the man terrorizes the city's criminals.
There are only bats and kryptonians in Gotham's miasma this night.
It's as if Bruce has memorized every lead lined building in the city, the way he jumps between the few true refuges from Clark's vision. The Batman is more shadow kissed elegance than brutality for this game, movements swift and meant to blend n. More focused on avoiding the all seeing man in the sky than to put on the standard act. The criminals are terrified nonetheless, the Bat switching routines is unpleasant and unaccounted for.
As the night drags on and the Bat's about to leave with the shadows escaping the sun, he strikes. He corners -or is allowed to corner?- the Bat to hash it out.
He waves the white flag.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional I promise, I- I didn't even know I could do that. I would never invade your privacy this way-" He starts, because Batman is definitely not happy with him. He's coming to understand that his elation for this game was not shared.
"You already did. Do what? Explain yourself. I've been very careful to keep my identity hidden? If you could figure it out by whatever methods you used, so can others."
"I- I don't quite know how to explain it. But whatever makes pheromones have a scent remains even when the smell has been blocked"
"And I suppose you've been exposed enough times to notice." Batman remarks with a grunt.
Actually he actively memorized it after the nesting, but he isn't going to dig his grave any further.
"This doesn't explain why you chased me throughout a ballroom, and then through Gotham."
"I was trying to avoid any misunderstandings, letting you know my own identity to make things even-"
"You got that done when Reporter Clark Kent smiled like a Superman who just won, that was enough."
"It felt like the type of topic that needed some conversation afterwards"
"Which we could have had like professionals over at the Hall later. No, instead, you chased me throughout a room, which some keen people probably noticed, and will brew new, unnecessary speculation"
"That could have been avoided if you had stopped running"
"I want to keep civilian identities as separate as possible, it's a safety thing in case any one gets exposed. You should have respected my choice."
At that, Clark drops his head in genuine shame and remorse. He hadn't seen it that way, he was just very exited, and really wanted to get close to Bruce. He made a note to himself to properly analyze these feelings at a later date.
"I am sorry Batman, that was unprofessional and rude of me. I should have respected your decision about your own civilian identity, and I shouldn't had harassed you during your patrols. I should have done as you said and talked it out at the Hall. I won't repeat the same mistake. I promise" He says, looking straight into Batman's white lenses, keeping his x-ray vision in check.
Batman jaw relaxes, and he notes that although the vigilante was angry, he wasn't as tense as when he's genuinely pissed. His pose isn't even super combative, just the standard preparedness.
"I accept your apology." Bruce says with a sigh.
He perks up at that, "How can I make it up to you?" He wants some way to start to actively fix this, and some small corner of his mind doesn't dismiss the opportunity for closeness.
"You can start by giving me some space. I'm tired and I still have much to do."
He was forgiven, an he doesn't even try to convince the Bat for a full revelation, or scenting his newly acquired secret nest. He'll let Bruce set the pace, since he obviously can't be trusted not to rush it and crash into a curve. It's fine, he has time to build more trust till the Knight forgives him for his behavior, and maybe get comfortable enough with each other for proper scenting.
He enters another rut before he manages to become closer with Bruce, or to get scented items. Not like he was going to spend a rut in his precious nest, but it would have been nice to have at least one item on hand. It's not one of his worse heats, nor one of his most miserable, but somehow one of his loneliest. Too deeply aware of his desire to spend it in a nest, with company.
Previous
Next
