for frightening: Goddammit Bruce

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here and here]

Clark knew Bruce.

He knew that Bruce was, first and foremost, married to his work. He knew that the man was driven to a point just past healthy. By, you know, a few miles. He knew that Bruce could get focused, and that Bruce was not the sort to put down a mystery just because it seemed impossible to solve.

That said, after a week of hearing nothing out of Gotham (despite more than a couple calls, texts, and emails), Clark's very extensive understanding and patience regarding Bruce's behavior had quite firmly given up the ghost. That was why he was flying into the cave sans invitation (or even pseudo invitation) and looking around to see where--

Aha.

Asleep at the console. At 3pm in the afternoon.

Well, there was the sweet way to do this, which involved kisses and light touches, which was very much not in the cards at the moment. Then there was the slightly dickish way to wake him up, which would require a bullhorn or other loud noise making device; too much work. He could always go for polite, which would just involve a tap to the shoulder. Nope, they were past polite.

Which was why Bruce was summarily put over his shoulder as he started making his way upstairs.

Comments

[frightening]

Well, in a week and a half - or whenever - he probably won't have this many hours. But he's glad things have happened the way they did, today. (See, Clark, it wasn't so bad he wouldn't reply to an email after all!)

Bruce gives him an unreadable look for a moment, then:

"If you're very concerned, it's easier on my attention span if you just pop into the Cave for a few minutes than try to get me to answer personal communications."

If Superman had sent him something about a case, he'd have responded. But How are you? gets shelved until he's done working. From anyone.

[stands_for_hope]

Bruuuuce, that is not how that works. Goddammit, Bruce. Ignoring emails is not the way to sex and backrubs.

"If that's what you're going with," he says as he shifts his feet in his boots. Might as well make sure he's comfortable before he heads out. "I was actually trying to be less intrusive with the emails."

[frightening]

Demonstrably untrue. Ignoring emails has directly lead to sex and backrubs. Look at all the helpful things about relationships Clark is teaching him.

"Emails themselves are not intrusive, you're right." ... It's the expecting a reply bit. Bruce can talk to Clark if he zips in over his shoulder while he's working, like they do often enough anyway. Now he just has tentative permission-- though he's dreaming if he thinks that means Bruce won't continue to grumble about everything.

Still on his back, he beckons the other man closer with a small gesture.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark would point out that the sample sizes were too small for any kind of conclusion. Also that they were not expanding the sample size for that particular action. The supposed reaction, that could be repeated.

...tentative permission was good, though. He was all right with tentative permission. It provided all this fun and interesting leeway that he absolutely intended to use. Not that he ever expected to escape the grumbling. The grumbling was necessary. How would he know who was under the cowl without the grumbling?

He held back the desire to say something about how a ten second reply could work wonders (tentative permission was worth shutting his mouth) before kneeling down and lowering himself as beckoned. He didn't say anything, but he did ask what Bruce wanted with a twitch of his eyebrows.

that icon startles me every time lol

[frightening]

Bruce saying 'go ahead and show up' is not the same as 'I won't be annoyed if you do show up'; it goes without saying that Clark is still expected to use his best judgment when deciding whether or not to act on this tentative permission. If it doesn't need to go without saying-- well he's still not going to point that out, and Clark can just learn the hard way.

Just this. He leans up and places a light kiss on Clark's lips, one of those quick domestic hello-or-goodbye ones.

sorry ^_^;

[stands_for_hope]

Yes, yes, discretion, discretion, best judgement. He's not going to be popping in every day, of course, but it's nice to have that tentative permission when Bruce was being particularly difficult. Like an emergency $20 tucked into a jacket pocket for a day when you forget your wallet

Like the thought of one of Bruce's kisses, especially this little goodbye kiss.

"Have a good night, Bruce."

it makes me laugh! 8D

[frightening]

"You too, Kal."

It's about time for him to intake nutrients - nothing as glamorous as eating - and go through case files before he leaves for a meeting at the company.

As Superman leaves, he rolls to his feet feeling better than he has in months.

MFU was literally just Silly Faces: The Movie. That's def my fave though.

[stands_for_hope]

The little touch of Kryptonese makes him smile as he flies out. He has work to do (ugh, so much work to do) but he also has the memory of kisses over every bit of him to keep him until the next time.

And if Superman is smiling a little more often than usual on patrol, that isn't exactly the worst thing to ever happen, after all.