Fic: The Runaway

[starsandsea]

Title: The Runaway
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Bruce, Clark, Martha Kent
Word Count: 4152
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Betaed by the wonderful arch_schatten



Bruce was humming along to the songs on his iPod as he drove to Smallville. He needed to see Clark again. They hadn't seen each other in months. Not since Superman went rogue and came very close to killing Batman. Very close. In fact, as Alfred and Leslie had often reminded him, Superman had killed him. It was only through Leslie and his joint stubbornness that he had been revived. He had vague memories of Clark being there in the first few days after he finally woke up from his coma, but they were full of fuzziness thanks to the drugs.

Then, Superman had simply disappeared and Bruce had begun his long recovery. Technically, he was still recovering, but he had to see Clark and clear the air between them. All his calls to the Daily Planet and Clark's apartment had gone unanswered, so Clark had to be at the farm.

He didn't blame Clark for what happened. It wasn't him. It hadn't been him who attacked him.

It was difficult to remember that when he woke screaming from nightmares of Kal's hands breaking his body.

Bruce sighed. He knew that Clark would be blaming himself. But, he had survived, and there had been no permanent damage. Everything that was broken had slowly healed. And Clark was still the person he trusted above all others.

Bruce brushed long strands of hair away from his forehead. He had let his hair grow during his recovery. He liked it. It was a small barrier between the world and him. The songs changed. Clark had been hiding from him. But you couldn't hide forever, no matter how much you wanted to. He and Clark needed to talk, to clear the air between them, otherwise he would never fully heal. And he was tired of having wounds that were only partially healed, wrapped in bandages and stuffed to the back of his mind to try and forget them. That never really worked.

Besides, there was always something that re-opened them, started the bleeding afresh. He didn't want Clark to be one of those wounds. He was the only friend he had. And he was lonely. He just wanted someone to talk to, and Clark was the only one who could understand him. He didn't want the fight to have ruined that. He couldn't let it ruin it. Clark reminded him that it was okay to feel, and to be scared of feeling, because everyone was. Clark hadn’t looked down on him when he showed him his real face, he had just smiled a wonderful smile, like he liked Bruce. He couldn't remember the last time someone had just liked him for him, not the money and family name. But Clark had. And that was so precious to him.

But then Clark had simply left. Left out of guilt, but... it had hurt Bruce as much as the physical wounds had. More.

He sighed. He was getting close to the Kent farm now. He had only been here once before, but he remembered it well. It had seemed so right that this was the place the most powerful man in the world had grown up. Bruce brought the car to a gentle stop outside the farmhouse. A dog came running up, barking. Bruce smiled. He remembered him from his previous visit. Shelby. Clark had fed him tidbits during the dinner he had had here. Bruce's smile faded as he got out of the car. Martha Kent was hovering on the porch, trying to see who he was.

"Hello, Mrs Kent. I don't know if you remember me... I'm Bruce. Bruce-" He was about to continue, but Martha cut him off.

"How could I forget you, dear? Clark talks about you every day..."

Bruce was standing in front of the porch now, Shelby quiet at his feet. Absentmindedly, he reached down and petted him. "Is he here?"

"Not at the moment. He's running errands. But come inside, we can have some tea while we wait for him."

"Thank you, Mrs Kent."

"Martha, dear."

"Martha." She smiled at him as she led the way into her house. Clark had her smile, the same openness and honesty. Martha was bustling around the kitchen, refusing Bruce's offer of help. He sat down at the table. The kitchen was so different from his own, but the same as well. Both Alfred and Martha shared a love of cooking; it was clear that this was the centre of the house.

"Here you go, dear." Martha placed a mug in front of him. It was bright yellow, like the sun. Martha placed a multicolored one in front of herself. Shelby curled in a corner.

"How is Clark?"

Martha placed her hands around her mug. She sighed gently. "Physically, he's fine, of course..."

"But emotionally?"

Martha looked at him. There were tears in her eyes. "He feels so guilty."

Bruce nodded and sighed. Martha knew who he really was then. Clark must have told her. He didn't mind. She had kept Clark's secret for years, she could keep his. "I don't blame him."

Martha smiled. "I'm so glad to hear that. And Clark will be as well." Her smiled faded. "He still blames himself."

Bruce nodded, and sipped his tea. He knew all about guilt and blame, and how it could smother your soul, leaving only despair in its wake. That shouldn't happen to Clark. He was the brightest, most hopeful person he knew. Despair and grief shouldn't touch him. It wasn't right. Martha was looking at him like she was reading the secrets of his soul, and maybe she was. It was something Clark had been able to do so many times. He had thought it was another superpower of his. He realized now that he was wrong.

"It will do him a lot of good to see you."

Bruce smiled. "I've missed him." Things that he couldn't admit anywhere else could be voiced here. He could see why Clark loved it so.

Martha smiled at him suddenly. "He'll be home soon."

Bruce nodded again. They drank their tea and made small talk. Shelby got up and started barking, running to the front of the house.

"That will be Clark back." They left their now empty mugs on the kitchen table. Bruce followed slowly behind Martha. He wasn't sure how Clark would react to seeing him here. He looked out from the porch. Clark had taken the farms beat up truck into Smallville. Shelby was woofing happily at him. Clark looked... happy. He looked up at the house and saw him standing there. Shock wiped every bit of happiness from his face. Bruce stepped off the porch and onto the ground.

"Hello Clark."

"Bruce...?" He could barely hear Clark's whisper. "No. No!" Clark covered his eyes and ran, out into the golden fields. Martha started forward. Bruce placed a hand on her arm.

"Please. Let me go." Martha looked at him with that soul searching gaze again. Then, she nodded.

Bruce jogged after Clark. He was easy to find in the golden corn, dark against its brightness. Bruce quietly approached.

"No. Don't get any closer. Don't!" Clark's voice was ragged, like he was trying to hold back tears. Bruce moved forward. "Don't!" Clark yelled, turning to look at him. He immediately flung an arm over his eyes, and looked away again. Bruce paused. "I can't trust myself anymore." Bruce slowly started forward again. Clark was sobbing now. "I can't trust myself..."

Bruce moved until he was standing next to Clark. He swallowed slightly, before gently placing his hand on Clark's shoulder. He felt Clark take a gasping breath as he did so. "I trust you."

Clark sobbed again, before suddenly gathering him in his arms, holding him close, both kneeling now in the golden field. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Bruce. I never meant to hurt you, I didn't mean... oh god. I'm so so sorry..."

Clark kept whispering apologizes. Bruce wrapped his arms about Clark, warm against his body. "Shh. It's okay. I'm okay. I know you would never hurt me. Shhh..." He kept repeating the words until Clark finally settled down in his arms. He pulled back to look at him. He wiped away the tracks of his tears, then brushed back Clark's hair. Clark gently reached out and touched his left cheek, caressing it. Bruce closed his eyes for a second, remembering how Clark punched that cheek, shattering the bone, but now he touched it with infinite gentleness.

"Bruce..." Clark brought him close again.

"I'm okay, Clark. I've healed." Clark squeezed him very gently. Slowly, they pulled apart from one another, still kneeling. Clark was looking at him like he'd never seen him before.

"You've grown your hair."

Bruce touched it self-consciously. He nodded. "How have you been?" Was all he eventually said.

"How have I...?" Clark sighed. "I've been okay, I guess. Ma's been looking after me. How have you been?"

Bruce smiled slightly. "Alfred's been looking after me." He didn't mention the months of grueling physiotherapy he had had to endure.

Clark nodded. "Good. You need someone to look out for you."

"So do you."

Clark looked away for a moment. "I'm being a coward," he said. Bruce blinked, surprised. "I haven't even looked at any news headlines, haven't turned the radio on, not allowed myself to hear any news... Do they hate me?"

Bruce sighed. Their fight had been held in the public eye, and everyone had seen how close Superman had come to killing Batman. Public opinion was divided, with some fearful of the unrestrained power that Superman displayed, others saying that he didn't go far enough, and should have made sure that Batman was dead for real. It had been the favorite video on YouTube for months - it still was. There were T-Shirts depicting Superman standing over Batman's broken and bloodied body, mugs, mouse mats, anything that could have the pictures adorning it did. People had written smash hit songs about it, there was talk of a film, even comics depicting Superman and Batman's 'real' thoughts before and during the fight...

Almost every single one of them took Superman's side. Batman was psychotic, after all. Bruce sighed again. Strangely, only very few people had asked where Superman was after the fight. Why he hadn't appeared anywhere in the world afterwards. As for Batman, well, TV 'experts' confirmed that there was no way that he could have survived the fight, and was dead from his wounds. Bruce was looking forward to surprising them all in a few weeks, when Batman would again stalk the night...

"They don't hate you, Clark. A few people - mainly politicians - have said that you are too powerful, that there should be a way to stop you, but the vast majority of people don't blame you." Bruce paused. Judging from Clark's reaction, it seemed that he truly had stayed away from all forms of media during the last few months.

"But?" Clark prompted him. Bruce looked at him. Those people had no idea of who Superman was. No idea at all. "Bruce?" Clark questioned again.

Bruce sighed and looked down at his hand resting on the cool earth. He looked up at Clark with a wry smile. "Most people think I'm dead. That you killed me." Clark sucked in a deep breath. "They think you should have done it before."

"What?"

"I am a murderous vigilante, after all." Clark shook his head. Bruce reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't, Clark. You held back."

Clark embraced him again, whispering his name, agonized. Bruce shrugged slightly. "Besides, it'll do wonders for my reputation when I go out again."

Clark laughed slightly into his hair. They sat there for a little while before Bruce moved away and stood up. "Come on, let’s go find a place to talk."

Clark nodded as he got up, then lead the way to the barn, and up into the hayloft, where they sat down on bales of straw. It was nice here, away from the city. Bruce could defiantly see the appeal of living in the country, but he was a city boy through and through. Even though, technically, Wayne Manor was located in the countryside next to Gotham, it was only a very short journey away. Not like the distance Smallville was from a major city. But it suited Clark.

He was the one who was portrayed as being a loner, and yet he was used to being surrounded by people - at the very least Alfred - whereas Clark, he knew, often spent several days alone in the Fortress. He said it was for him to do some kind of meditation for the stress his hearing took on him. Bruce wasn't sure if he believed him or not. He knew that Clark needed people around him more than he did, though. Clark seemed to almost feed off their energy, while he felt drained after a few hours of company. But he was a introvert, and Clark, while an introvert, was also a extravert as well. Or maybe Superman was the extravert and Kal was the introvert.

Clark was looking at him again. He knew that look. It meant he was about to use his x-ray vision on something or someone. "Don't." Clark blinked at him. The last thing he needed was Clark knowing exactly how much damage he had done to his body, shredding through the Kevlar armor like it was cotton. "Don't, Clark." He repeated his warning, voice almost Batman low.

Clark nodded slowly. "Okay."

They sat in silence.

"What excuse did you give?" Clark eventually broke the silence.

"What?"

"As to why Bruce Wayne was hurt."

"Ah. Bruce Wayne was involved in a late night car crash." Clark nodded. "What excuse did you give the Planet?"

"That I was needed back here."

Bruce looked at him. "You left for five years, are barely back eight months, and then you leave for another six months. You'll be lucky if they take you back."

"I know."

Bruce sighed. He might be able to pull a few strings to get Clark his job back. And even if he couldn't, he was sure he could find Clark a job somewhere else. Clark could stay with him until he did. Alfred would no doubt approve of some company for him. If Clark decided to come back, that is. He had to.

Bruce frowned. "Are you planning on coming back?"

Clark shifted. "I don't know."

Bruce looked at him. "You can't hide forever, Clark." He knew that all too well. No matter how fast you ran, how well you hid, something would make you remember, and then you would have to run again, leaving only pain and lies behind. It was incredibly tiring running all the time. It wasn't something that Clark should do. There was so much wrong about this. Clark shouldn't be here, afraid to go back to the world in case he hurt someone again. It wasn't... right. Even now, Clark was on full alert, ready to move to safety, should he think he would lose control. Bruce knew him too well.

"I guess not," Clark whispered. "It's very tempting, though."

Bruce smiled slightly. "Of course it's tempting, Clark. But you can't let it beat you. The people need you, whether they admit it or not." Clark shifted uncomfortably. "Why don't we do it together?" Clark tilted his head slightly. "You - Clark - don't need to go back to Metropolis. But Superman can. I'm going to be going out for the first time since... the fight myself in a few weeks. Why don't we step out together? Show everyone how wrong they are about us?"

Clark was looking at him the same way his mother had earlier, looking into his soul. "I haven't put the costume on since... that day."

"Neither have I."

Clark nodded slowly. "Okay," he said quietly. Bruce smiled slightly. He was doubly looking forward to seeing the looks on people's faces now. He knew that Clark was still wary, but he would be more worried if he wasn't. Clark was the most caring person he knew.

There was movement below them. Martha looked up. "Dinner's ready!"

Clark smiled and jumped up. Bruce followed more slowly. They climbed down from the hayloft and walked to the house with Martha. She had cleared away the mugs of tea and laid the table for dinner. Cottage pie with boiled vegetables was streaming in the middle of the table.

"It looks delicious, Ma."

Martha smiled at Clark. Bruce sat down opposite Clark. Martha served them before serving herself. Clark and his mother were talking about the everyday workings of the farm, the gossip Clark had heard in Smallville, the usual things. Bruce ate his delicious dinner in silence, watching and listening to them talk. It had been a long time since he had dined with a family that wasn't trying to impress him or worry about appearances.

Alfred still insisted that he have his dinner separately from Bruce, but Bruce didn't want to eat alone, so they had come to a compromise where he would eat at the kitchen table, while Alfred cooked or cleaned, listening to the radio. Apart from some observations of something on the radio, the majority of the time he ate in silence. He was out of practice sitting at a family kitchen table, sharing a meal. It didn't help that farming and everything Clark and Martha were talking about was alien to him. Besides, Clark was smiling in a way he hadn't all afternoon. And he was feeding Shelby tidbits, when he thought no one was looking.

He finished his food and thanked Martha during a pause in the conversation. "That was delicious, Martha. Thank you."

Martha and Clark had identical smiles on their faces. "Thank you, dear."

"I told you Ma's food is a good as Alfred's."

Bruce smiled. "It is at that."

Martha and Clark finished their own helpings, continuing their conversation, leaving Bruce to observe them. It was obvious that there was so much love between mother and son, especially here in the homely kitchen. He wondered if it would have been anything like this if his parents had lived. He missed his mother, suddenly. Maybe it was just because his and Clark's mother shared the same name. Maybe it was just the time of year.

Maybe it was nothing more than the simple fact that he missed her.

Missed her quiet strength and dignity, showing in everything she did. She had been the darling of Gotham even before she married his father. People commented on how much he looked like his father much less than his mother. Alfred had told him once. So had Lucius.

He wondered what she would think of him, of who he had become. Somehow, he didn't think she would approve. His father wouldn't. And there was the irony, wasn't it. He became Batman to avenge them, but he had always known that it wasn't what they would have wanted for him.

Clark placed a hesitant hand on his shoulder, startling him. He and Martha were looking at him, concern visible on their faces.

"Bruce? Are you okay?"

He nodded as best as he could, blinking away the tears and pain. Another wound that would have to be bandaged again, only to bleed even worse the next time something ripped it off.

He smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. My thoughts ran away with me." Clark nodded slowly, giving him that look again. "I'm fine, Clark."

Clark removed his hand from his shoulder. "Okay."

Martha was clearing away the dishes. Bruce jumped up the help her, only to be halted by her words. "Please dear. You're a guest. Sit down."

Bruce hovered there, lost. Clark came to his rescue, suggesting that they go outside to the porch swing. It was cool outside, with the stars just beginning to shine. Bruce looked up at them in the slowly darkening sky. They were so beautiful. Clark was sitting on the swing, looking at him with worried eyes, Shelby curled at his feet. Bruce smiled slightly and joined them.

"Bruce... were you thinking about... about..."

"No." Clark sighed in relief. "No. I was just thinking about my parents."

Clark nodded again next to him, worry still staining his eyes a darker blue.

"It's fine." Bruce looked down at his hands. They sat in silence, the swing moving slightly, Martha clattering in the kitchen. Bruce looked out over the land. He realized suddenly that he hadn't made any arrangements for staying anywhere, and everything in Smallville would probably be closed by now. He sighed. He didn't want to impose upon Clark and Martha, so he would have to drive back to Gotham. He wasn't looking forward to the long journey.

He shivered. The wind was picking up slightly; some time must have passed. But, then, he wasn't used to measuring time with Clark. They had spent so many hours on stakeout in silence, after all...

Martha poked her head out the door. "I'm off to bed now. Good night, dears."

"Night, Ma."

"Good night, Martha."

She went back inside. Bruce looked at his watch. It was later than he thought. He sighed slightly, then yawned. It was so quiet out here, he couldn't hear the sound of any cars or any planes. And it was so dark, the stars were shining so brightly... Bruce smiled softly and closed his eyes. He would move in a minute.

*****

Bruce opened his eyes to silence and dusky, pre-dawn light. He was lying down on something soft, and there was a warm duvet covering him. He blinked. Stars were above him, much larger and clearer than he remembered from when he last closed his eyes. He looked at them sleepily. He recognized them, he slowly realized. There was a red star, surrounded by others, glowing faintly. It was Krypton's star.

The light was ever so slightly brighter now, letting him see his surroundings more clearly. He knew this place. Clark's bedroom. Clark had shown it to him the last time was here and he had smiled at the quaintness of it. He stretched under the duvet. He must have fallen asleep outside on the swing. Clark must have brought him in here.

Bruce rolled over. There was a lump on the floor. Brilliant blue eyes were watching him, smiling slightly.

"Hey."

"Hey," Bruce replied, voice thick with sleep. He swallowed. "I didn't mean to kick you out of your bed."

Clark just smiled at him. "It's fine. I don't need to sleep like you do."

Bruce nodded, pulling the duvet closer around him. Clark's bed was next to the slightly open window that was letting in the cold, undisturbed air. It smelt different than Gotham air did. Nice.

Clark was still looking at him. Bruce propped himself up on his shoulder and looked back. In the distance, a cockerel crowed. Bruce flickered his eyes toward the sound, not used to hearing it. He saw Clark grin out the corner of his eye.

"I'll have to get you to milk a cow."

"No, you won't."

Clark laughed lightly, probably amused at the slight trace of panic in his voice. His smiled slowly faded. "I'm so glad you're okay."

There was still scarring between them, Clark would always live in fear that he would lose control again and finish what he started, but Bruce wasn't afraid. Clark wasn't one of those bandaged wounds hidden in the depths of his soul. He was here, looking up at him with relief upon his face.

Bruce smiled, a real smile, and moved the arm that wasn't holding him up from under the duvet down to Clark. Clark reached up and caught it, holding it with his own slightly larger hand. Clark looked from their hands to him and smiled brilliantly, outshining the rising sun.

Bruce's smile widened. Everything would be fine.

Comments

[scotchsour.livejournal.com]

Aww, that was so lovely and quiet, yeah quiet is the word of the day. I like everything about it: the atmosphere, the scenery, the play between all three of them and just Bruce and Clark, hell the dog was good.

A good piece, I don't get disappointed with your writing, do I? :)

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

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

A good piece, I don't get disappointed with your writing, do I? :)

LOL, I'm sure you will be, one day!

I really love your icon! *hearts it* *wants to read that comic now*

[greeneyelove.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to get you to milk a cow."

"No, you won't."

LOL. Poor cow is the one I pity there.

This was beautifully written. Strong enough. And the bond they share can't be broken.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

LOL, yes, the cow is the one you needs the sympathy!

I'm really glad you liked this! :D

[carolandtom.livejournal.com]

This was great! I loved that Bruce came looking for Clark and that they could start to leave the nightmare behind, together.I love how much they cared for each other and that this encounter meant that they both could finally heal. A very sweet and wonderful fic!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Whee! I'm really glad you liked it! :D They both can start to finally heal now. *pets them*

Thank you for commenting!

[(Anonymous)]

I find this story just so lovely. I love it. Will there be more? It doesn't have to have it but I like them together.

I spotted two problems. You have Clark, "... whispering apologizes." It should be "apologies". Also later on "... the fight myself in a few weeks. I think you need at least a couple of commas. So it's, "... the fight, myself, in a few weeks." This is located below the sentence, "'I guess not,' Clark whispered. 'It's very tempting, though.'"

I really do love the story. I only make grammatical or spelling suggestions on them. I'm sorry I suck at giving it justice: the praise it deserves. I hope you understand.

Angeloz

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you liked it! :) I don't think there will be more, as it feels... settled to me. Thank you spotting those! I will correct them soon.

Thank you for commenting!

[bradygirl_12]

Wow! A titanic battle! Reminds me of the one they staged in The New Frontier. :)

I'd love to see the two of them back in the public eye and 'coming out', so to speak, together. ;)

Batman's rep will be enhanced after survivng the beating he took.

It's a tricky thing: Clark would be devastated at being mind-controlled and hurting Bruce the way he did. He's always been so very fearful of losing control, poor baby. Thank God for Martha and the farm.

So this was movieverse! I wish they hadn't killed Jonathan off. I like the thought of the two of them still around to love and protect Clark.

Bruce was so woobie, thinking of his parents. But he's going to heal just as Clark will.

You did such a wonderful job with this fic, Star! :)

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see the two of them back in the public eye and 'coming out', so to speak, together. ;)

LOL, in more ways than one...? ;)

It's a tricky thing: Clark would be devastated at being mind-controlled and hurting Bruce the way he did. He's always been so very fearful of losing control, poor baby. Thank God for Martha and the farm.

*hugs him a lot* He was so afraid to go anywhere else after what happened, afraid that he would hurt someone.

So this was movieverse! I wish they hadn't killed Jonathan off. I like the thought of the two of them still around to love and protect Clark.

I would have liked to have him there too! This just kinda slipped into movieverse, I didn't really mean it too, but I'm very nervous about writing the Kents for some reason, and it seemed easier to start with just writing one, lol...

I'm really glad you liked this, Brady! :D

[ladybugkay.livejournal.com]

The story behind this fic is completely devastating, and I can understand why Clark ran away from it all. It's just...I can't get over the image of Superman breaking Batman that way. It's such a wrong image, a visual that makes my skin crawl, and it pervades everything about this fic, for me.

It's a beautiful fic, well-written and gentle in the mending of the friendship between these two, but it's haunting because of all that lies underneath it. *shivers*

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

The story behind this fic is completely devastating, and I can understand why Clark ran away from it all. It's just...I can't get over the image of Superman breaking Batman that way. It's such a wrong image, a visual that makes my skin crawl, and it pervades everything about this fic, for me.

I know! It was such a surprise to me when I was writing this, I didn't expect it to be like this at all! *hugs Clark and Bruce a lot*

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

[jij.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad Bruce can forgive him. I suppose this does happen in canon a lot, to some extent, doesn't it? But we don't often see it or the aftereffects addressed in fanfic.

Bruce sitting and talking with Martha is a wonderful image--they don't often get much time together and I love the way you gave them some. And the two of them in the cornfield is just perfect.

This was wonderfully bittersweet and haunting (interesting that I used the same word ladybugkay used before seeing her comment, but it fits--the images evoked in the flashbacks were too horrible and painful to go away anytime soon). I know it ends happily but it's still terribly sad at its core...

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad Bruce can forgive him. I suppose this does happen in canon a lot, to some extent, doesn't it? But we don't often see it or the aftereffects addressed in fanfic.

That's what Mina said, LOL! Superman getting mind controlled and beating up Batman happens - well, every Thursday! But we don't really get to see the after effects to it, what it does to Clark and Bruce and their friendship. There are hardly any fics that deal with mind control and the after effects of it. *ponders a little* Maybe it's because we don't like to see our boys hurting each other physically? We can do the emotional side of things fine, but the physical side... *has the sudden feeling she has misinterpreted what Jen said*

*huggles Bruce and Clark* Those images... they are not nice. There is sadness, but soon that will turn to happiness too... ;)

*glomps* I'm really glad you liked it, Jen! :D

[jij.livejournal.com]

There are hardly any fics that deal with mind control and the after effects of it. *ponders a little* Maybe it's because we don't like to see our boys hurting each other physically? We can do the emotional side of things fine, but the physical side... *has the sudden feeling she has misinterpreted what Jen said*

Not at all! Just...yeah, it's really awful to imagine them hurting each other--and Bruce has managed to do it to Clark on occassion too, and it's just kind of painful to imagine the actual details of healing, the physical and emotional therapy, how long it might take...which is why I found this so haunting, because it's sort of...terribly realistic. Lots of layers of pain, emotional and physical, and beautifully rendered. *sniffles*

[crimsonquills.livejournal.com]

This was wonderfully evocative, in a painful sort of way. But the good kind of pain, like lancing a wound. I love Bruce's refusal to let his friendship with Clark become something painful. These two need each other, in one way or another, and I love to see at least one of them acknowledge that in their own mind.

Thank you for sharing!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you liked this! :D

I love Bruce's refusal to let his friendship with Clark become something painful. These two need each other, in one way or another, and I love to see at least one of them acknowledge that in their own mind.

*pets Bruce* They really do need each other to balance each other out, which is one of the many things I find fascinating about them! :)

Thank you for commenting! :D

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

*purrs* ^_^ Oh, I loved this!! Everything about it! *is ashamed I didn't read it sooner*

Ah, boys... I loved the fear and just... desperation, on Bruce's part, trying to get to Clark, to get him to understand that it wasn't his fault and he didn't blame him. So Bruce.

And I didn't even realize this was movieverse until you mentioned Clark's disappearance! So, squeeeee!!! ^_^ *purrs some more*

Bruce waking up in Clark's bed with Clark just watching him was so perfect, too. ^_^ Such a gorgeous image at the end.

*sigh*

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

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

I loved the fear and just... desperation, on Bruce's part, trying to get to Clark, to get him to understand that it wasn't his fault and he didn't blame him. So Bruce.

*hugs Bruce* He needs his Clark! ;)

And I didn't even realize this was movieverse until you mentioned Clark's disappearance!

Heh. Neither did I. LOL.

Bruce waking up in Clark's bed with Clark just watching him was so perfect, too. ^_^ Such a gorgeous image at the end.

I really liked that image. It was, IIRC, the image that started this whole fic off, Bruce waking up and looking up at the stars on the ceiling of Clark's bedroom.

Thank you for commenting! :)

[genclay.livejournal.com]

How have I missed this before?

Really really lovely. A simple beautiful confimation of their friendship :)

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm really glad you liked it!

This is one of my favorite stories - it was really easy to write, if I'm remembering correctly, lol. *pets Clark and Bruce*

Thank you for commenting! :D

[sasha-anu.livejournal.com]

This was lovely Star.

I'm so glad that I finally got the chance to read this.

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you!

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

Thank you for commenting! :D