☀ @waynetowered ⇢ continued from [ x ]
Internal or not, language of that sort would’ve caused Clark to cringe ------- had it not been for the fuming bitterness. That arrogant son’of’a… he’s less interested in sitting here to stew in the rejection, but rather ready to confront him head on. This was ridiculous ---- HUMILIATING ---- and a total waste of his time. Just another nail in the coffin on this one; red flags he should have predicted and used as his reasoning for avoiding this mess altogether. Why he ever bothered agreeing to this in the first place was…beyond him. Damn that man’s convincing charm; his logic ---- damn his everything.
He ditches the restaurant, but leaves behind an apology to the staff and a tip that emptied his pockets ( though by their standards --- poor ). The single FLOWER he’d brought with him, as part of the charade ( no other reason, obviously ), is tossed to the curb as he takes off for a dark alleyway before flight. It won’t take him long to reach Wayne’s house ------ so he does a few spins around the globe just to cool off.
Alfred lets him in, and takes him down to the cave in silence. Thoughts of shoving a fist in that perfectly squared jaw runs through multiple times, but once he’s in the cool, calm of the cave ----- he sucks in a deep breath, only to let it out once he’s directly behind him and his stupid chair.
❝ You didn’t show up. I kept waiting.❞ Short and sweet; a courtesy he didn’t think Bruce really deserved. And with the hopes of this turning into a civil discussion, Bruce half turns to face him ----- offering up a response that brings Clark’s blood to a BOIL.
He blinks a few times in response; taken aback by the simple, impersonal response. He should have expected this ----- it’s Bruce. Bruce only does things when it benefits him, or Gotham. It’s always on his time. His terms. An irritant Clark left alone, for the sake of their collaboration ----- at least until today.
❝ Cut the crap, Bruce!❞ He grips the corner of the chair and forces him to face Clark fully, and then leans in. ❝ Where were you, huh? SCREW the apology ---- I want an explanation. You dragged me out here, pretending ---- for you! And you make me look like a friggin’ idiot! Some puppy-love moron waiting on the Prince that never shows. I agreed to go along with this, to help ------- NOT at the expense of my dignity, or time. Which you’re wastin’. ❞ A huff, which is concerning enough as it is. The reaction Bruce elicits from him alone is embarrassing. That, and the fact that he had to clear his throat and try to casually pull back from their close proximity.