Ficlet: Apathy

[starsandsea]

Title: Apathy
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Bruce/Clark
Word Count: 461
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Post TDK. For the worlds_finest ShuffleFic Challenge A, though I went over the word count a little! For the prompt of Apathy. Unbetaed, so point and I shall correct.



Bruce lay still in Clark's arms. Clark was curled about him. They were lying on their sides, so Clark's chest was against his back. It wasn't... bad. Clark's breathing was quiet, as he slept.

Bruce didn't feel tired or sleepy, but just lying in Clark's arms wasn't... uncomfortable. He was still trying to get used to this, to being in a relationship. It was difficult, yet rewarding. Odd and Strange. Interesting and frustrating. And... full of risk.

He didn't like to take risks, everything had to be under control, and being in a relationship, with so much doubt about the future and worry and... fear. He had to admit that. He was afraid. Scared. That Clark would leave him, go where he could never follow, or worse. Get hurt, or... die.

Bruce closed his eyes, feeling Clark's warmth all around him. He didn't have the best track record for people he was close to, they all got hurt, either because of, or by him.

Love was strange and complicated and couldn't be dissected and studied. It wasn't something that was easy to understand, or even hard to understand. There were people like Clark, who loved everyone, cared about everyone, let them into his heart. And there were people like him who couldn't do that, who sometimes weren't even sure if they did love, there was just... a feeling that must be love, it couldn't be anything else, could it?

He didn't know.

Love was scary and confusing and difficult and perfect.

Bruce was confused.

Clark wasn't, Clark just knew, and Bruce couldn't help but envy him in that, in being so certain, in believing in something so intangible and full of risk.

Clark never stopped loving. Bruce didn't even know if he could. He hoped he could. He wanted too, but he was paralyzed. Why was Clark lying in bed with someone who didn't even know if they felt love? If they were capable of it? He wanted to be able to love, to show Clark freely and not worry and... be the man he deserved.

He was selfish and never wanted Clark to leave him, wanted him to never let him go, and tell him he was okay, that he loved him.

"I can hear you thinking." Clark's voice was a sleepy whisper against his hair and Bruce froze, mortified at being found out, wondering if Clark had somehow guessed his thoughts.

But Clark just sighed and adjusted his hold on him. Bruce tried to relax his tense muscles. Clark squeezed him, telling him something without words that Bruce couldn't quite make out.

He lay still in Clark's arms as he fell asleep again, and listened to the sound of the rain falling against the windows.

Comments

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Aww! Poor Bruce doesn't even realize that what he's feeling IS love.

Beautiful and bittersweet, hon. *loves*

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*huggles Bruce*

Thank you for commenting, Saavi! I'm really glad you liked it! :D

[confusedkayt.livejournal.com]

Awww! Understanding Clark, with his snuggles and willingness to just let it go! *melts* This is really darling. Thanks for sharing!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm really glad you liked it! :D

*pets Clark and Bruce*

Thank you for commenting! :)

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

awww! Poor Bruce. :( But you've done a great job of showing us all his uncertainties in this. And aww! Clark is always so sweet and loving... <3 Bruce just needs to stop over analyzing everything and just let go.

*hugs* thanks for sharing!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*pets Bruce and Clark*

Thank you for commenting! I'm really glad you liked it! :)

[bradygirl_12]

Aww! It must be tough for Bruce if he's not even certain what he's feeling is love, but Clark knows he's loved, so that's important.

Sweet Clark and Bruce!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Clark knows that Bruce loves him! Bruce is just confused. *pets them*

Thank you for commenting, Brady! I'm really glad you liked it! :D

[gogglehead84.livejournal.com]

Awww. Bruce better stop thinking so loud lol.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*giggles* He should!

Thank you for commenting! :)

[carolandtom.livejournal.com]

I loved how you described Bruce's troubled mind while he was in a peaceful situation and in the arms of someone so sweet and loving as Clark. Great contrast and great fic!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm really glad you liked it! :) *pets Bruce and Clark*

Thank you for commenting! :)

[hitokaji.livejournal.com]

Awww--Bruce..
But I like it. This is so sweet in a way. I love how they cuddle together like this. :)

What a way to start my day off! Thank you very much for sharing,star!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*huggles Bruce* *pets Clark*

Thank you for commenting! I'm really glad you liked it! :D

[rjunkie.livejournal.com]

This was really wonderful. You've done a brilliant job of highlighting one of the most interesting facets of their relationship. And you made it so sweet!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! *blushes*

I'm really glad you liked it! Thank you for commenting! :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Clark wasn't, Clark just knew, and Bruce couldn't help but envy him in that, in being so certain, in believing in something so intangible and full of risk.

I can so see Bruce feeling this way, envying Clark his sense of certainty--not just about love, but about life in general. I love the touch of Clark knowing more or less what he was thinking--or at least that he was thinking very hard (not that that's a difficult guess with Bruce, lol!)

Very sweet and sleepy, I loved it.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*huggles Bruce* Yeah, I think he envys Clark in that a lot, actually. *pets him* Hee, Bruce does think pretty loud... :p

I'm really happy you liked this, yay! Thank you for commenting! :D

[northernwalker]

Love was scary and confusing and difficult and perfect.

This is a great line because it's so true.

For a control freak like Bruce, being in love would be terrifying! He doesn't handle messy emotions well. Clark's going to need a lot of patience; luckily he's worth it. ;)

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm really glad you liked it! :D

Yeah, it will take time for Bruce to get used to... well, everything, lol. *pets him and Clark*

Thank you for commenting! :)

[polyxena592.livejournal.com]

I love how you've written this. It is exactly how I picture Clark and Bruce would be in their relationship. Bruce doubting his ability to love, and thinking maybe he doesn't deserve Clark shows not only how much he cares and really does want the best for Clark, but also perfectly describes his insecurities that he tries to keep hidden. Great work!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased you like this so much! :D

My Bruce is always doubting, really - that he's good enough for Clark, and what, exactly he's feeling in regard to their relationship... *hugs him*

Thank you for commenting! :)

[yanyann.livejournal.com]

Poor confused Bruce.
Clark can probably hear the increased activity in his brain or something. XD

Great work!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

LOL, your right, he probably can!

*pets Bruce*

Thank you for commenting! :)