Fic: The Cacophony of Bats Wings (6/13)
Sep. 13th, 2009 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starsandseaTitle: The Cacophony of Bats Wings (6/13)
Rating: PGish
Characters/Pairing: Bruce/Kal, Tim, Stephanie, Ace
Word Count: 1882
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Previous parts can be found here. Betaed by the wonderful![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mithen!
Sometime later, when Bruce had finished most of his paperwork, and was eating his lunch, he read Jor-El and Lara's letters. Jor-El was all business - the man had never liked him much. Lara's was full of a bewildering amount of wedding plans, leaving him with a headache. If that was just a fraction of what Kal had had to put with...! He grimaced, and winced in sympathy for his lover. He had half a mind to just give the letter to Alfred and let him organize it. He was much, much better at those things than Bruce would ever be.
He was just starting on his reply to Kal's letter when Ace stirred at his feet and there was a quiet knock on the door. Suspecting who it might be, Bruce rose and unlocked it, opening it slowly in case he was wrong.
Tim slipped into the room. Bruce closed and locked the door again, for now. Ace padded over and whined, nudging at Tim's legs. Bruce sat down. Tim echoed his movements. Ace went to lie in front of the fire. Bruce carefully folded away both Kal's letter and his reply, putting them in a desk drawer, for now.
Tim was watching him, his blue eyes intense. After a while, he spoke. "They're worried. You scared them."
Bruce sighed. "It was just a conversation I needed to have alone."
Tim nodded slowly, still looking at him steadily, before breaking eye contact and looking, unseeing, at the fire. "Bruce, I... I'm worried about Stephy."
Bruce frowned. "What is wrong?"
Tim looked away from the fire, but not at him, instead gazing at the single hand resting in his lap. His wing rustled slightly. "She's spent almost five years of her childhood a giant bat. She might have the body of a thirteen year old, but she's not. And when she comes back Father is gone and..."
The light from the fire caught the tears that glimmered in his brother's eyes, and Bruce immediately stood and moved forward to kneel at Tim's side and draw him into a careful hug. Ace moved as well, trying to comfort them both, as Bruce rocked them back and forth.
He closed his eyes. He should have seen this, realized this, but... Stephanie was the youngest. He had simply never been quite as close to her as he had been to Dick and Barbara, and he cursed himself over it again. "We will talk to her. Make sure she is all right," he vowed.
Tim nodded against his chest, then took a deep breath and pulled away, petting Ace. "Thank you," he whispered, and Bruce's heart ached the more because of it.
*****
The sun was shining brightly the next morning, when Bruce walked into the stables. Tim emerged from the shadows, nodding at him, and together they walked down the stalls, Ace trotting along beside them.
Bruce paused to greet his horse, the horse Kal had given him. The stallion was black, and he wondered where his other horse, the horse his Father had given him, the one he had been forced to let go that long Winter ended up. He hoped it had found a good home.
After giving his new horse a few more pets, he continued down the stalls, Tim just in front of him, until they came to a stall where a soft grey pony was eating hay. Stephanie was grooming her. She did not seem to realize they were there - she was talking to the pony, her voice high pitched, like a young girl's. Bruce closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Stephy," Tim said, and she started. The pony just carried on eating hay, fortunately.
"Timmy! Bruce!"
Bruce tried to smile. "Hello Stephy. How are you?"
Her bright smile faded slightly, but she nodded. "I'm fine. How are you?" Her voice was still high pitched, and Bruce hid a sigh. Part of him had hoped that Tim had been wrong, that Stephanie was all right.
But she was not.
"I am fine. It is a nice morning, would you like to go for a ride?" He asked, remembering the rules they had had - Stephanie had not been allowed to go out by herself.
His sister glanced at Tim, who smiled, and produced a long black cloak that would cover him completely. "You aren't too busy?"
Bruce shook his head. "Dick and Barbara are looking after everything."
Stephy grinned, but in her eyes questions still remained. "All right!"
*****
They trotted up a small hill near the castle, Ace running by the horses' sides. Bruce led them, his horse's coat gleaming in the Winter sunlight. The frost had turned the ground silver, and he breathed deeply, feeling the cold air in his chest, a pleasant sting.
Tim and Stephy were trotting side by side; Tim had lowered the dark cloak a bit, so he was not as hidden. He seemed to be managing fine with only one hand on the reins. But Stephanie... she was too big for her pony, really. Neither he nor Tim had said anything - their sister was thin and not all that heavy. She was not hurting the animal.
Once they reached the top of the hill they halted. As ever, when Bruce came to this viewpoint, he turned and looked, saw the castle, saw Gotham. But this time, it was different. This time, looking at the castle looming over the lands stretching to the horizon, he was Gotham's King. This was his, his to hold and protect and love. His. He smiled fiercely.
Tim and Stephy came up beside him. Bruce's horse snorted, and Ace sat, panting slightly. Tim glanced at him, then nodded, turning his attention to the view.
Bruce took a deep breath of the cold Winter air. He was not looking forward to this conversation. "Stephy... how are you? Really?"
Stephanie turned large blue eyes on him. "What do you mean?"
Bruce exchanged another glance with Tim. His brother carefully dismounted from his horse, then walked over to Stephy and her pony, so he was standing next to her. Bruce watched them, and saw the understanding in Stephanie's eyes. She knew what they were talking about, she just did not want to admit it.
"Stephy... It is all right. You can talk to us. We'll understand, we won't be angry at you, I promise." Bruce dismounted as Tim spoke, his voice earnest.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. Everything is fine!" She bit her lip and her eyes filled with tears as she fiddled with the reins and mane of her pony.
Bruce's heart broke at the sight. Stephanie... I am so so sorry... Tim just looked at her, as Bruce held onto the reins of his and Tim's horses.
"I don't-" A sob. For the first time, Stephanie's voice wasn't high as a child's. She slid off her pony and Tim caught her, wrapping her in his cloak and arm, his wing carefully extending to cradle her.
Bruce tied the horses to a nearby tree, Ace staying close by his side, before going back to his siblings and wrapping his arms about the both of them as his sister cried.
After a time, when the sun was a little higher, and the mist had started to clear, Stephanie pulled away from them. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice hoarse.
"There is nothing for you to be sorry for." Tim carefully wiped the tears from her face. She looked at Tim, then at him, and Bruce put a hand on her shoulder.
"This is not your fault, Stephanie."
"But..." She took a deep breath, and her eyes cleared a little. "I just... I was eight, and then I was... I was a bat, and then I was thirteen and Father was... was... and everything had changed, and..."
Tim carefully hugged her again. "I know. I know. But we can change things ourselves, Stephy, Bring Gotham back. We might not be able to bring Father back... or give you back your lost years... but some things can be changed, can go back to they way they were."
Their sister looked up, first at Tim, then at Bruce. He nodded. "I... we will do everything we can to change the things that have been changed, Stephy. Make them like they were."
She looked at him, then nodded and slowly smiled, before hugging Tim again, being careful of his wing.
*****
Bruce wearily walked through the corridors heading towards his room. He should be going to his study and working, but the events of the last few days had left him exhausted. He was trying to attend every council session now, and Dick had told him when he got back from his ride with Tim and Stephanie that he had heard more rumours of mercenaries gathering at the borders. Bruce bit his lip slightly. He would have to do something about that situation, and soon.
He walked the final few steps to his room and opened the door. Ace rushed in and claimed a spot in front of the newly kindled fire. Bruce smiled tiredly and closed the door behind him, securing the latch.
He should be at dinner, really, but... he was not hungry. He just wanted to be alone, have some time to himself after everything that had happened. He sat in his chair near the fire, sighing, then carefully withdrew Kal's letters, both of them, from where he had them tucked in his shirt, over his heart. He touched them gently, then re-read them, though he already knew each word by memory.
He had almost finished his reply to Kal's second letter, about his puppy, and he was annoyed at himself for it taking him so long. To his surprise, Bruce suddenly found his eyes stinging with tears. He had never been away from Kal this long, and he missed him. He wanted nothing more than for Kal to walk in the door, enfold him in his arms and kiss him. To just have him here, someone who completely understood him, to share his burdens and love and listen and care for him...
Ace whined, his feet on the edge of the chair, looking up at him in concern. Bruce petted him, breathing deeply and blinking rapidly. His hands started to ache, and he winced. It was going to be cold tonight, maybe the first real snow. If Kal were here, he would hold his hands gently, caress them and warm them, press kisses to the scarred skin as if it did not matter...
Bruce took another deep breath. He brought his hand up, the one with Kal's ring on it, and pressed the cool metal and stones to his lips. Ace gently caught the sleeve of his other arm with his teeth and pulled him over to the bed.
He fell upon it, tucking the letters safely away again. "Kal..." he whispered. Ace burrowed under the blankets at his side.
Bruce was still cold.
Rating: PGish
Characters/Pairing: Bruce/Kal, Tim, Stephanie, Ace
Word Count: 1882
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Previous parts can be found here. Betaed by the wonderful
mithen!Sometime later, when Bruce had finished most of his paperwork, and was eating his lunch, he read Jor-El and Lara's letters. Jor-El was all business - the man had never liked him much. Lara's was full of a bewildering amount of wedding plans, leaving him with a headache. If that was just a fraction of what Kal had had to put with...! He grimaced, and winced in sympathy for his lover. He had half a mind to just give the letter to Alfred and let him organize it. He was much, much better at those things than Bruce would ever be.
He was just starting on his reply to Kal's letter when Ace stirred at his feet and there was a quiet knock on the door. Suspecting who it might be, Bruce rose and unlocked it, opening it slowly in case he was wrong.
Tim slipped into the room. Bruce closed and locked the door again, for now. Ace padded over and whined, nudging at Tim's legs. Bruce sat down. Tim echoed his movements. Ace went to lie in front of the fire. Bruce carefully folded away both Kal's letter and his reply, putting them in a desk drawer, for now.
Tim was watching him, his blue eyes intense. After a while, he spoke. "They're worried. You scared them."
Bruce sighed. "It was just a conversation I needed to have alone."
Tim nodded slowly, still looking at him steadily, before breaking eye contact and looking, unseeing, at the fire. "Bruce, I... I'm worried about Stephy."
Bruce frowned. "What is wrong?"
Tim looked away from the fire, but not at him, instead gazing at the single hand resting in his lap. His wing rustled slightly. "She's spent almost five years of her childhood a giant bat. She might have the body of a thirteen year old, but she's not. And when she comes back Father is gone and..."
The light from the fire caught the tears that glimmered in his brother's eyes, and Bruce immediately stood and moved forward to kneel at Tim's side and draw him into a careful hug. Ace moved as well, trying to comfort them both, as Bruce rocked them back and forth.
He closed his eyes. He should have seen this, realized this, but... Stephanie was the youngest. He had simply never been quite as close to her as he had been to Dick and Barbara, and he cursed himself over it again. "We will talk to her. Make sure she is all right," he vowed.
Tim nodded against his chest, then took a deep breath and pulled away, petting Ace. "Thank you," he whispered, and Bruce's heart ached the more because of it.
*****
The sun was shining brightly the next morning, when Bruce walked into the stables. Tim emerged from the shadows, nodding at him, and together they walked down the stalls, Ace trotting along beside them.
Bruce paused to greet his horse, the horse Kal had given him. The stallion was black, and he wondered where his other horse, the horse his Father had given him, the one he had been forced to let go that long Winter ended up. He hoped it had found a good home.
After giving his new horse a few more pets, he continued down the stalls, Tim just in front of him, until they came to a stall where a soft grey pony was eating hay. Stephanie was grooming her. She did not seem to realize they were there - she was talking to the pony, her voice high pitched, like a young girl's. Bruce closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Stephy," Tim said, and she started. The pony just carried on eating hay, fortunately.
"Timmy! Bruce!"
Bruce tried to smile. "Hello Stephy. How are you?"
Her bright smile faded slightly, but she nodded. "I'm fine. How are you?" Her voice was still high pitched, and Bruce hid a sigh. Part of him had hoped that Tim had been wrong, that Stephanie was all right.
But she was not.
"I am fine. It is a nice morning, would you like to go for a ride?" He asked, remembering the rules they had had - Stephanie had not been allowed to go out by herself.
His sister glanced at Tim, who smiled, and produced a long black cloak that would cover him completely. "You aren't too busy?"
Bruce shook his head. "Dick and Barbara are looking after everything."
Stephy grinned, but in her eyes questions still remained. "All right!"
*****
They trotted up a small hill near the castle, Ace running by the horses' sides. Bruce led them, his horse's coat gleaming in the Winter sunlight. The frost had turned the ground silver, and he breathed deeply, feeling the cold air in his chest, a pleasant sting.
Tim and Stephy were trotting side by side; Tim had lowered the dark cloak a bit, so he was not as hidden. He seemed to be managing fine with only one hand on the reins. But Stephanie... she was too big for her pony, really. Neither he nor Tim had said anything - their sister was thin and not all that heavy. She was not hurting the animal.
Once they reached the top of the hill they halted. As ever, when Bruce came to this viewpoint, he turned and looked, saw the castle, saw Gotham. But this time, it was different. This time, looking at the castle looming over the lands stretching to the horizon, he was Gotham's King. This was his, his to hold and protect and love. His. He smiled fiercely.
Tim and Stephy came up beside him. Bruce's horse snorted, and Ace sat, panting slightly. Tim glanced at him, then nodded, turning his attention to the view.
Bruce took a deep breath of the cold Winter air. He was not looking forward to this conversation. "Stephy... how are you? Really?"
Stephanie turned large blue eyes on him. "What do you mean?"
Bruce exchanged another glance with Tim. His brother carefully dismounted from his horse, then walked over to Stephy and her pony, so he was standing next to her. Bruce watched them, and saw the understanding in Stephanie's eyes. She knew what they were talking about, she just did not want to admit it.
"Stephy... It is all right. You can talk to us. We'll understand, we won't be angry at you, I promise." Bruce dismounted as Tim spoke, his voice earnest.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. Everything is fine!" She bit her lip and her eyes filled with tears as she fiddled with the reins and mane of her pony.
Bruce's heart broke at the sight. Stephanie... I am so so sorry... Tim just looked at her, as Bruce held onto the reins of his and Tim's horses.
"I don't-" A sob. For the first time, Stephanie's voice wasn't high as a child's. She slid off her pony and Tim caught her, wrapping her in his cloak and arm, his wing carefully extending to cradle her.
Bruce tied the horses to a nearby tree, Ace staying close by his side, before going back to his siblings and wrapping his arms about the both of them as his sister cried.
After a time, when the sun was a little higher, and the mist had started to clear, Stephanie pulled away from them. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice hoarse.
"There is nothing for you to be sorry for." Tim carefully wiped the tears from her face. She looked at Tim, then at him, and Bruce put a hand on her shoulder.
"This is not your fault, Stephanie."
"But..." She took a deep breath, and her eyes cleared a little. "I just... I was eight, and then I was... I was a bat, and then I was thirteen and Father was... was... and everything had changed, and..."
Tim carefully hugged her again. "I know. I know. But we can change things ourselves, Stephy, Bring Gotham back. We might not be able to bring Father back... or give you back your lost years... but some things can be changed, can go back to they way they were."
Their sister looked up, first at Tim, then at Bruce. He nodded. "I... we will do everything we can to change the things that have been changed, Stephy. Make them like they were."
She looked at him, then nodded and slowly smiled, before hugging Tim again, being careful of his wing.
*****
Bruce wearily walked through the corridors heading towards his room. He should be going to his study and working, but the events of the last few days had left him exhausted. He was trying to attend every council session now, and Dick had told him when he got back from his ride with Tim and Stephanie that he had heard more rumours of mercenaries gathering at the borders. Bruce bit his lip slightly. He would have to do something about that situation, and soon.
He walked the final few steps to his room and opened the door. Ace rushed in and claimed a spot in front of the newly kindled fire. Bruce smiled tiredly and closed the door behind him, securing the latch.
He should be at dinner, really, but... he was not hungry. He just wanted to be alone, have some time to himself after everything that had happened. He sat in his chair near the fire, sighing, then carefully withdrew Kal's letters, both of them, from where he had them tucked in his shirt, over his heart. He touched them gently, then re-read them, though he already knew each word by memory.
He had almost finished his reply to Kal's second letter, about his puppy, and he was annoyed at himself for it taking him so long. To his surprise, Bruce suddenly found his eyes stinging with tears. He had never been away from Kal this long, and he missed him. He wanted nothing more than for Kal to walk in the door, enfold him in his arms and kiss him. To just have him here, someone who completely understood him, to share his burdens and love and listen and care for him...
Ace whined, his feet on the edge of the chair, looking up at him in concern. Bruce petted him, breathing deeply and blinking rapidly. His hands started to ache, and he winced. It was going to be cold tonight, maybe the first real snow. If Kal were here, he would hold his hands gently, caress them and warm them, press kisses to the scarred skin as if it did not matter...
Bruce took another deep breath. He brought his hand up, the one with Kal's ring on it, and pressed the cool metal and stones to his lips. Ace gently caught the sleeve of his other arm with his teeth and pulled him over to the bed.
He fell upon it, tucking the letters safely away again. "Kal..." he whispered. Ace burrowed under the blankets at his side.
Bruce was still cold.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-13 10:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-14 05:51 pm (UTC)Thank you for commenting! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-14 01:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-14 05:53 pm (UTC)*squees over your icon*
Thank you for commenting! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-14 01:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-14 05:55 pm (UTC)Tim is so good, watching everyone and helping them when they need it. *glomps him*
Bruce and Kal are going to be reunited by the end of the story, never fear! Kal would never have forgiven me if they weren't... :p
Thank you for commenting! I'm really glad you liked it! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-16 03:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-17 06:10 pm (UTC)Thank you for commenting! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-16 04:36 pm (UTC)Yay, I was so glad you mentioned the letters of Kal’s parents. And you expressed perfectly the difference between Jor-El and Lara’s behavior to Bruce.
Lara's was full of a bewildering amount of wedding plans, leaving him with a headache
Well, I think Bruce knows very well now, how Kal has to feel. :)
Tim nodded slowly, still looking at him steadily, before breaking eye contact and looking, unseeing, at the fire. "Bruce, I... I'm worried about Stephy."
You did an amazing job with describing of Stephy’s problems and Tim being so worried about her. I was glad he went to Bruce and told him about Stephy. The interaction between Bruce and Tim was amazingly written in this chapter. Wonderful job!
Bruce paused to greet his horse, the horse Kal had given him.
First it was when Bruce had read the letter, now in the stables – a horse as a Kal’s gift to Bruce. I loved how you can always find if only a brief moment to remind Kal in this story. :)
This time, looking at the castle looming over the lands stretching to the horizon, he was Gotham's King. This was his, his to hold and protect and love. His. He smiled fiercely.
Bruce thinking about him being Gotham’s King, having a land to protect and love – perfect!
He had never been away from Kal this long, and he missed him.
Bruce was still cold.
My poor Bruce. *Hugs him*
Thanks for the amazing update. :)
LS.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-17 06:15 pm (UTC)*giggles* He does! He's very glad he's so far away from it all, LOL!
You did an amazing job with describing of Stephy’s problems and Tim being so worried about her. I was glad he went to Bruce and told him about Stephy. The interaction between Bruce and Tim was amazingly written in this chapter. Wonderful job!
*blushes* Thank you! Poor Steph really has had a hard time of it. *pets Bruce and Tim* I really glad you liked their interactions! :)
I loved how you can always find if only a brief moment to remind Kal in this story. :)
LOL, Kal insisted on it! Whenever I got a chance he would demand that I mention him in some way. *pets him*
Thank you for your wonderful comment! It made my day! :)