Fic: Stripes of Mortality

[starsandsea]

Title: Stripes of Mortality
Rating: PG
Characters: Bruce, Clark, Alfred
Word Count: 736
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: For worlds_finest 5th Anniversary Celebrations! For the prompt 'Clark sees Bruce's scars for the first time.' Unbetaed, so point and I shall correct.





They had only been working together two weeks. Only known each other for a month. Two weeks of posturing, two weeks of... not being friends, exactly, but... Allies. That was the best word. He didn’t have any friends, anyway. He had learned that.

Still, Superman knew who he was. Who he really was. Bruce Wayne. And so of course the alien that was all politeness had told him who he was. Clark Kent. He still wasn’t quite sure that he believed that, given what he knew of the reporter, and was planning to make a trip to Metropolis in the next few weeks, just to visit the Daily Planet and see what this ‘Clark Kent’s reaction was.

But it seemed that Superman didn’t think like that.

Thus, he was in the Cave, when Batman returned after a long night, his costume torn and ripped, some acid burns upon his arm. Superman, of course, looked horrified. Alfred just guided him to the medical bay, and, as gently as possible, removed his cape and cowl, and his uniform top.

“What... what happened?” Superman’s eyes were wide, as he hovered in the air, staring at him.

Batman sighed, trying to hide his wince as Alfred started seeing to his wounds. “The Joker. He has this acid...” He trailed off as he saw the look upon Superman’s face. “What?” A sudden wave of weariness washed over him, and he blinked, wondering if Alfred had somehow drugged him. He eyed his butler suspiciously, but Alfred, of course, looked unperturbed.

“You...” Superman swallowed, hard, then lowered himself to the floor, so he was standing beside him, just out of Alfred’s way. He reached out a hand as if he were going to touch him, then drew it away when Bruce turned his head towards it. “You’ve got so many scars. How? You’ve only been doing this for... a few months.” Another hard swallow, as Alfred started to clean out the wounds.

Bruce gritted his teeth; took a deep breath. “I’ve been doing this in Gotham for a few months. Before, when I was training, I did a few things around the world. When I felt it was needed. As I seem to recall you said that you did, also.”

“Yes, but...” Superman was still staring at him, his sky blue eyes wide, face shocked. “I can’t be hurt. Not like this.”

“What difference does that make?” He tried not to wince as Alfred started to bandage his injuries.

“What difference does it make?” Superman voice had risen now, and Bruce looked at him again, slightly surprised. “You could be killed!”

There was a slight pause. Alfred returned to bandaging him, and Bruce wondered if he really had seen the look on is face for a brief moment, a look of desolation... “I could be, yes. But then, so can anyone, just by getting out of bed in the morning. It’s a risk we all take, every single day, we just we don’t think about it much.”

“You can’t compare it to-”

“This is my life, Kal-El. This is what I do. I can’t-” to his alarm his voice broke, either with his emotion, or the physical pain, he wasn’t sure. “I can’t do anything else.” His voice was quieter that he had hoped it would be. He swallowed and looked away.

Alfred was finishing the last bandage, before he announced that he was finished, and started to put the supplies away. Superman was still staring at him, a look of almost heartbreak on his face, almost awe. Bruce ignored him and made his way to the computer, to enter in his log for the night. Of course, Superman followed him.

“It is what you do. What we do. But Bruce...” he turned to chair so he had no choice but to look at him, look at the bright red and blue costume, the yellow ‘S’ upon his chest, his dark hair and the the curl that fell onto his face. His blue eyes, shining with... some emotion he couldn’t identify. “Don’t die.”

He smiled mirthlessly. “I’ll try not to.”

“Good. Good.” Superman nodded, then looked away, as if he couldn’t bear to look at him anymore. “I’d better be going. Get some rest, Bruce.” And then he was gone, a breeze the only thing left.

Bruce stared after him a while, them shook his head and returned to the computer.

Comments

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

'Don't die.'

Awww, poor Clark. I think your description of his look as part heartbreak, part awe is just about perfect when it comes to dealing with the ouchy parts of Bruce's life.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*hugs Clark* He was really having his eyes opened here, poor thing. And I'm really glad you liked that description, I think it was my favorite part of this fic. :)

Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Oh, boys! *snugs them both*

I love Clark's shock at realizing just how vulnerable--and mortal--Bruce is.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*hugs Bruce and Clark too*

Poor Clark, he'd probably never even thought about it before...

Thank you for commenting, Saavi! I'm really glad you liked this. :)

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

almost heartbreak, almost awe.
No almost about it, my heart broke a little and I'm in awe!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!

And thank you for commenting, too! :)

[bradygirl_12]

Oh, boys!

Poor Clark! It's tough for him to deal with these fragile humans, especially Bruce. You wrote his reaction very well, and Bruce's, too. Even Alfred is part of this, all of them either resigned or sad or accepting.

Lovely work!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Poor Clark! It's tough for him to deal with these fragile humans, especially Bruce. You wrote his reaction very well, and Bruce's, too. Even Alfred is part of this, all of them either resigned or sad or accepting.

Poor Clark, and poor Alfred, too! It must be so difficult for them both, to know just how easily Bruce could die... *hugs them*

Thank you for commenting, Brady! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[northern-star.livejournal.com]

aww. :( that "Don't die." just killed me. It has to be such a strange realization for someone pretty much invincible that someone else might voluntarily put their lives in danger like this -- it's what makes Bruce so amazing, and I guess Clark realize it just then. :) Well done!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*wibbles* The 'don't die' was very owie to write.

It has to be such a strange realization for someone pretty much invincible that someone else might voluntarily put their lives in danger like this -- it's what makes Bruce so amazing, and I guess Clark realize it just then.

Poor Clark... I think he really had his eyes opened and he didn't really enjoy it. *pets him* But you're right, it is what makes Bruce so amazing.

Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[kojonoyuri.livejournal.com]

Awww! This is so sweet! Great job!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!

And thank you for commenting, too! :)

[tabru.livejournal.com]

This was such delicious pre-slash! :D

I love how Bruce doesn't yet fully believe that Superman could be the bumbling reporter Clark Kent. Tehe!

Such a lovely moment between them at the end there. The "don't die" line made me wibble.

Thanks for sharing this! <3

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

I love how Bruce doesn't yet fully believe that Superman could be the bumbling reporter Clark Kent. Tehe!

*giggles* It's got to be so difficult to believe! I'm sure Bruce is going to be suspicious for a while... :P

Such a lovely moment between them at the end there. The "don't die" line made me wibble.

I wibbled when I wrote it! *hugs Bruce and Clark*

Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[lilacs-roses.livejournal.com]

I'll just have to agree with everyone elses' comments. VERY well done... very well done /nods.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you. *blushes*

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

[angelinachaser7.livejournal.com]

Poor Clark, it's hard when reality hits, especially with the life Bruce leads, it's easy for Clark to forget that Bruce is only Human.
Great little fic between the boys.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*hugs Clark* It's got to be a great shock for him, I'm sure he's never thought about it before.

Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Wow, this was really gorgeous and perfect, and so understated. I love how when Superman finds out he's Bruce, he just naturally tells him his secret identity too. :) And somehow I love that Bruce doesn't quite believe him! (It does seem a bit implausible!)

The whole mood here is so intense, how for Bruce this is just an ordinary day and he can't quite seem to understand why Clark is so appalled and worried. "Don't die" is such a simple, powerful line--so heartfelt, so impossible. Really beautiful quiet piece, Star!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Aww, yay, I'm so glad you liked it, Jen! :)

I love how when Superman finds out he's Bruce, he just naturally tells him his secret identity too. :) And somehow I love that Bruce doesn't quite believe him! (It does seem a bit implausible!)

LOL, Bruce DOESN'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL!!!! It's going to take ages for Clark to convince him, I think...

The whole mood here is so intense, how for Bruce this is just an ordinary day and he can't quite seem to understand why Clark is so appalled and worried. "Don't die" is such a simple, powerful line--so heartfelt, so impossible. Really beautiful quiet piece, Star!

*pets Bruce and Clark* You're right, Bruce just can not understand at all why Clark is reacting like that. It's just... so normal to him... That 'don't die' made me wibble a lot when I wrote it. Because Bruce is going to die one day, and not even Superman can stop that... *wibbles again*

Thank you so much for commenting, Jen! I'm so glad you liked this, I really enjoyed writing it. :)

[makeitrednblack.livejournal.com]

-wibble- Gosh, this hits me right in the heart...like majorly

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*wibbles too*

Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you liked it, even if it did get you in the heart.

[cat-13145.livejournal.com]

Hugs Alfred. Poor man, at least you have someone to share your worries.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*hugs Alfred too* It's got to be so difficult for him... But as you say, at least he does have someone else to share his worries (and attempt to look after Bruce!) now.

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

[zeejaybay.livejournal.com]

Superman has spoken.

[ilovetobefree.livejournal.com]

He still wasn’t quite sure that he believed that, given what he knew of the reporter, and was planning to make a trip to Metropolis in the next few weeks, just to visit the Daily Planet and see what this ‘Clark Kent’s reaction was.
:D Bruce couldn't believe Clark and Superman are the same person. :)

He eyed his butler suspiciously, but Alfred, of course, looked unperturbed.
Of course, Alfred manage to look so calm, though I think he must have been worried about Bruce a lot.

“Yes, but...” Superman was still staring at him, his sky blue eyes wide, face shocked. “I can’t be hurt. Not like this.”
“What difference does that make?” He tried not to wince as Alfred started to bandage his injuries.
“What difference does it make?” Superman voice had risen now, and Bruce looked at him again, slightly surprised. “You could be killed!”
Oh Bruce! I’m not surprised by his answer though. And I’m not surprised Clark’s answer either. He must have been scared.

There was a slight pause. Alfred returned to bandaging him, and Bruce wondered if he really had seen the look on is face for a brief moment, a look of desolation...
Poor Alfred. This must have been hard for him too. And Bruce observing him and guessing how he could feel about Bruce’s injury - that was so well done.

But Bruce...” he turned to chair so he had no choice but to look at him, look at the bright red and blue costume, the yellow ‘S’ upon his chest, his dark hair and the the curl that fell onto his face. His blue eyes, shining with... some emotion he couldn’t identify. “Don’t die.”
Excellently written!

Bruce stared after him a while, them shook his head and returned to the computer.
*sigh* Well, it’s probably difficult for Bruce to understand Clark’s fears. Maybe after some time, when he will know what it is like to worry about Clark, he will understand.

I loved this story. Brilliantly written! Thank you so much for sharing this Star. :)

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

:D Bruce couldn't believe Clark and Superman are the same person. :)

LOL, he can not believe it at all!

Oh Bruce! I’m not surprised by his answer though. And I’m not surprised Clark’s answer either. He must have been scared.

Poor Clark is just so shocked! I don't think he'd ever thought about things like that, before...

Poor Alfred. This must have been hard for him too. And Bruce observing him and guessing how he could feel about Bruce’s injury - that was so well done.

Oh, I know. Poor Alfred, it's got to be so incredibly difficult for him.

*sigh* Well, it’s probably difficult for Bruce to understand Clark’s fears. Maybe after some time, when he will know what it is like to worry about Clark, he will understand.

Oh, I'm sure he will. But they haven't known each other long enough yet, but when Superman gets hurt by Kryptonite for the first time... well, I'm sure that Bruce will freak out.

Thank you for commenting, Lis! I'm so glad you liked this! :)

[patrese1.livejournal.com]

When I saw the tltle "Stripes of Mortality", I knew I was about to read something special.

I can only echo what has been said here, their commentaries express it much better than I ever could.

All I can say is that this was an absolutely wonderful piece of writing.

The tone of innocence that is embued throughout the piece, took me by surprise and it made my heart ache in a way few stories have.

Thanks so much for sharing this.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Aw, yay, I'm so glad you liked it!

I really enjoyed writing this one, I don't normally write Bruce and Clark in this stage of their relationship, and you're right, there is a lot of innocence - Clark has never thought about things like this before, about one of his friends dying, and Bruce is innocent as to why Clark is freaking out so much...

Thank you for making the prompt! I saw it and I couldn't resist it at all. And thank you for your lovely comment, too! It made my day. :)

[hitokaji.livejournal.com]

Aww..I can imagine Clark's face, and his thoughts about losing Bruce! *pets both of them* It's so beautiful! And Bruce will never die! He's the Goddamn Batman! :)

Thank you for sharing this with us,hon!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*pets Clark and Bruce too*

Bruce will never die! He's the Goddamn Batman! :)

Very true! Bruce will never ever die!

Thank you for commenting, Hito! I'm really glad you liked this! :)

[eve-k.livejournal.com]

Don´t die?
I think my heart just broke a bit D::

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

My heart broke when I wrote that line, because it's such an impossible promise to make... *wibbles*

Thank you for commenting, Eve!