#rosensilence

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“Are dinosaurs a special interest of yours?”

“Oh! No— It’s my ward, he likes—” Bruce’s voice trailed off as his cheeks flushed a very faint shade of red. “I find them interesting,” he muttered.

There were many adjectives that Clark had used in his head to describe Bruce Wayne—handsome, charming, strong, trustworthy, and deceptively smart to name just a few—but he had never expected “adorable” to be one of them. The combination of Bruce’s enthusiasm about dinosaurs and his obvious embarrassment at letting that slip could only be summed up in one word—adorable.

back to square one @rosensilence

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Clark climbed into bed and settled onto his back. Oh, this bed was sinfully comfortable. Usually, comfort wasn't high on Clark's list of priorities, as pain and back strains were not things he had to concern himself with. He didn't need to sleep like humans did either, but a man could get used to a solid eight hours a night in a bed like this.

As soon as Clark was fully settled, Bruce curled up next to him and placed his head on Clark's shoulder. He hadn't expected Batman to be a cuddler either—he was just full of pleasant surprises.

of galas and rooftops @rosensilence

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Clark wasn’t a stranger to being flirted with when he was wearing Superman’s cape, but most of the time it was people grateful for being rescued that propositioned him. He wasn’t used to playboy billionaires flirting with him thirty seconds after meeting him and he certainly wasn’t used to playboy billionaires that were dating Batman flirting with him.

“That suit of yours really doesn’t leave much to the imagination,” Bruce continued. “What material is it, anyway?” Bruce placed his hand back on Superman’s forearm and stroked his thumb along the crease of Clark’s left elbow. “It feels so soft.”

Clark’s brain ground to a halt. Superman was used to being hit by enemies and he was used to being gripped by those he rescued, but he wasn’t used to being stroked. Really, he wasn’t used to any gentle touches at all. Clark received gentle touches from his mother, Lois, or the scant few lovers he’d had, but nobody was gentle with Superman. The closest Superman ever felt to gentleness was a light squeeze on the shoulder from Batman after they’d won another tough battle.

back to square one @rosensilence

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Clark didn’t expect […] to suddenly have his arms—and lap—full of Bruce Wayne and to have soft lips pressed against his own.

Clark didn't need to think about it. It was just an automatic reaction to wrap one arm around Bruce’s back and pull him closer while the other hand gently cradled Bruce's jaw. In his eagerness, Bruce had lunged at him without any care and one of his knees pressed very uncomfortably against Clark's upper thigh while his left hand found the dirty sock behind Clark's head. One little adjustment and Bruce sat more comfortably, straddling Clark's lap and with his hand in Clark's hair.

back to square one @rosensilence

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A roar interrupted Bruce’s speech and Clark had just enough time to put himself between Bruce and the thing that erupted out of the Bay before something heavy and powerful crashed against his back. If he hadn’t rushed to get into position, it would have crashed into Bruce and no human could have withstood that force without serious injury.

back to square one @rosensilence

The combined momentum of his own movement, the force that pushed against his back, and the tilting of the stage as the struts holding it in place started to collapse sent Clark sprawling to the ground. Clark didn’t fall alone, however, and he managed to place one of his indestructible hands beneath Bruce’s head before Bruce fell onto a jagged piece of the broken stage.

Bruce seemed surprised but not scared. There were no screams bursting from his mouth as he looked around and took stock of his position, lying flat on his back underneath Superman. Clark finally realized that Bruce’s hands were braced against his chest, covering the House of El crest on his suit and suddenly, Clark could feel everything. He could feel the shifting of the stage beneath them, the thundering footsteps of the beast causing the carnage, and the warmth radiating from Bruce as he lay sheltered in Clark’s protective embrace.

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"Why is every single Superwoman I have ever met so infuriating?"

A bright light started to glow out of the corner of Clark's eye as Constantine slowly started to open and stabilize the portal that would send Clark home. Clark hardly noticed the light, though, as Batwoman yanked on his press pass one more time and kissed him.

Clark had wanted a different kiss, and the ninth time loop had certainly delivered. It was no less fierce and full of angry frustration, but all of that emotion was wrapped in soft lips and the black cherry-scented perfume that still clung to Batwoman's skin.

Batwoman stepped back and released Clark's press pass. She placed one hand on Clark's sternum, her gloved fingers pressing against Clark's skin through the open neck of her blouse. "I'll never kiss my Superwoman," Batwoman whispered, "so I wanted to know what it would feel like, just once. Thank you and goodbye, Clara."

of galas and rooftops | @rosensilence

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Clark opened the door and for the second time that night, he was surprised by who he found behind it. Bruce wore neither the batsuit nor the three-piece business suit that Clark was used to seeing him in.

Instead, he had paired a plain black turtleneck sweater with dark gray slacks and thrown a very expensive-looking knee-length wool coat over them both. He didn't look like Batman and he didn't look like a playboy billionaire either and Clark wondered if he was finally getting a glimpse at the man that lay behind all of the masks.

"May I come in?"

back to square one @rosensilence

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"I did what I had to, B," Clark said softly. "My secret identity means nothing if protecting it gets people killed."

The softness in Superman's voice and the honesty in his words only seemed to irritate Batman further. He took another step forward and grabbed Clark by the neck of his suit, his gloved hands gripping onto the material with a force that might have ripped a weaker cloth. "You're infuriating, you know that?"

There were many ways Clark could respond to that, but he didn't get a chance to voice any of them because Batman yanked him forward by the collar and kissed him.

of galas and rooftops | @rosensilence