daemon au

[stands_for_hope]

So... daemons. Animal of a different gender from yours = your soul. Tag one of the characters on here with a starter, post your own with or without a request for one of mine or play here as you like.

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[frightening]

Bruce lifts his chin to give Clark better access, leaning into that touch. He could never have dreamed being touched so tenderly by him; his strength aside, Bruce never imagined Clark would want to. He's Superman, Kal-El, he could have anyone. But here he is, smiling at his grumpy, cold partner.

"Me too."

He thinks he sounds ridiculous and juvenile-- but then, he doesn't know what teenagers on dates sound like.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark doesn't know how this happened, how he got to be curled up on the couch with Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne, who could have anyone but for some reason, thought he was worth all of this effort, all of the stress. But he can't help but feel blessed for it.

And it makes him smile even more that Bruce seems to like the little touches. He lets himself run his hand into Bruce's hair, touch still light, gentle.

"If I fall asleep," he feels the need to note, "it's not because I'm bored. Or not enjoying myself. I'm just very relaxed, and content, and very very comfortable."

[frightening]

He hums a noise that says he's taking that into consideration, then lifts his head up a little.

"In case you fall asleep, can I kiss you first?"

[stands_for_hope]

"First, last... a few more times, if you want," he assures Bruce as he leans up a little to make it easier.

[frightening]

And so Bruce kisses him, soft and sweet, taking his time. Unlike that first kiss that was brief and fierce, making a statement to try and get him out of having to use words, this is exploratory and affectionate. He pulls back before they can turn it into anything more sensual, though-- he still kind of wants to go slowly. Give them time to adjust. But there's a small smile on his face when he lays his head back down, entirely content.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark enjoys every moment of it, burns it right into his brain to keep and savor. But when it's done, he lets it end before leaning back against the couch and gently running his fingers through Bruce's hair as they both relax.

Neoma settles in as well, feeling the peace practically radiating from her human strongly enough to know that she might nod off as well. And she likes the thought of being wrapped around Caterin when she does.

[frightening]

Bruce ends up dozing as well, lulled to sleep by how pleasant everything feels-- dreamlike, something he'd think was an idle fantasy if he didn't know better. He doesn't get many hours of sleep to begin with, so it's good. He likes Clark's hand in his hair more than he should.

Caterin sits still and enjoys everything, but doesn't sleep. She stays wide awake and watches over them all, looking quietly at Alfred when he comes to check up some hours later. No one wakes them up.

[stands_for_hope]

Neoma is the first to wake, and she turns to look at Caterin.

"Did you get any rest?"

Clark just shifts and moves his hand a little in Bruce's hair, almost like autopilot.

[frightening]

Caterin nods - which isn't a lie. She rested plenty, just didn't sleep. Her nose wiggles and she tilts her head before slipping out to hop down on the small of Bruce's back, just as he opens his eyes. He takes stock of where he is, the television waiting on the blue end-of-DVD screen (it's not fancy enough to loop back to the menu), and the quality of the gray dawn light coming through the window.

Suddenly he sits up. All but rolls off Clark before leaving the room in a whirlwind, door snicking shut behind him. Caterin remains, sitting on Clark's knee, looking at him.

Hi.

[stands_for_hope]

Clark blinks as Bruce rolls away, but he doesn't move. Doesn't chase. Instead, he looks down at Caterin, who is on his knee, and gives her a chagrined little smile.

"Morning, Caterin." He considers his words, but- "Do you know if he's all right?"

He doesn't try to move her or seem to mind her presence on him. While he'd never reach out and touch her, he's always been of a mind that any daemon that decided to touch him was making a definitive choice of their own. And baring an issue with the owner of the daemon, not one he would decline. That kind of trust, or fellowship, or affection, was not to be dismissed lightly.

[frightening]

Caterin tilts her head. Yes, Bruce is all right. But she thought Clark had super-hearing. She glances over at Neoma, then back to Clark.

(Meanwhile:

"Good morning, Bruce! Wow! Did you just get in? Was it a long meeting?"

"Mm, good morning. No, I fell asleep upstairs. What's for breakfast?"

"What were you-- Oh, Alfred's making waffles! Because we're out of Lucky Charms...")

[stands_for_hope]

He has super hearing. But she's his daemon. And he knows how good of a front Bruce can put up, even in front of the people he cares about. Especially in front of them. He'd seen that gentleness with the coloring book. If Bruce was scared or nervous or upset, he'd never let that color things with a child.

"Do you think I should wait for him to come back, or let him get along with his day?"

[frightening]

Caterine stares at him for a long moment, then curls up right where she is on Clark's knees and closes her eyes. He could leave, but then he'd disturb her finally getting some shut-eye. Up to him.

("Where's Caterine? Can she play with Xana before school?"

"She's asleep. Ate too much."

"Aw, man."

"How about I drive you today?"

"Really?!")

[stands_for_hope]

Well, that's all the answer he needs. He leans back on the couch again, inviting Neoma down with a little grin to rest on his chest. He'll just nap a bit while he waits for Bruce to get back.

Good thing he'd booked off the night before. And thankfully, the world seemed to be cooperating with things.

He certainly hadn't done a mad dash of a run through Metropolis to make sure that every possible troublemaker he could find was locked up while he'd waited for the date. Certainly.

[frightening]

Some time goes by; after a while there's a knock at the door before it's pushed open by a lioness followed by Alfred and a pristine silver cart.

"Good morning Mister Kent," says the butler, breezily rolling the cart up alongside the sofa. "Master Bruce sends his apologies, and asked that I offer you breakfast."

"Or he would have if he'd stopped for half a minute," adds his daemon.

"Yes, thank you." Alfred's side-eye is withering. "He is currently dropping Master Dick off at school. The drive, as you may imagine, takes a few minutes. Hello, Caterin. Grapes?"

[stands_for_hope]

Neoma takes in that information silently. Grapes. Caterin likes grapes. Clark, on the other hand looks up without moving much. Caterin is stil curled up on him, after all.

"I'm all right, sir," he says with a chipper smile over at Alfred, "And how're you this morning?"

[frightening]

Caterin blinks awake at the mention of her name, stretches her little sugar glider body, and hops over to the breakfast cart. Yes, she'll have some grapes.

"Any morning breathing is an excellent one if I do say so," Alfred answers as he pulls the covering off the far - a small mountain of fresh waffles, fruit choices, whipped cream, syrup, so on, all in individual containers. Glasses of water, milk, orange juice, coffee. "And seeing Master Bruce with company is pleasing, this time." To Neoma: "May I offer you anything, ma'am?"

The lioness daemon is prowling a little, keeping an eye on their guests. It's not predatory but appraising; there's a sense that they aren't sure whether Clark is annoyed with this surreal setup or not.

[stands_for_hope]

Neoma, for her part, flutters up to the top of the couch to look over at the lioness. After all, she doesn't think Caterin needs watching at the moment (even though she's more than a little enamored of the tiny sugar glider) and she hasn't met the lioness much before. She stares over and down and tilts her head curiously at her before answering Alfred.

"No, thank you."

Clark, on the other hand, sits up and lets his eyes go wide at the breakfast buffet.

"Oh wow. Um. Thank you. You didn't have to do that. But thank you."

Though he doesn't seem to be likely to refuse it. For one, it was good food. For another, it'd be rude to refuse hospitality. And-

"And I'm glad you're not annoyed I'm still here come morning. I didn't mean to sleep over without an invitation. But we both got some pretty good rest."

[frightening]

Alfred sets out a bowl of mixed fruit for Neoma anyway, in case she changes her mind. The lioness remains aloof, watchful of visitors on her territory.

"Certainly not sir," Alfred says as he prepares a plate for Clark, "as you say, you were able to get a measure of rest. Perhaps you haven't considered how rare that is for Master Bruce. I assure you, I am the furthest thing from annoyed. Can I offer you anything else from the kitchen, Mister Kent?"

[stands_for_hope]

"No, thank you, this is more than enough," he admits with a bit of a blush. "And I'm glad you... well, at least for the moment, I have your approval. I'll do my best to keep it."

He looked over at Neoma, who'd refocused on Caterine... and couldn't help a little smile. He wasn't sure of it, but if she was ignoring a fruit bowl like that...

He was pretty sure Nee was a little bit besotted.

[frightening]

Alfred carries on with his formal fussing for a bit before leaving Clark and both daemons to their breakfast, his own sending them a last appraising look before the door is closed behind them.

Caterin, meanwhile, silently offers Neoma a grape. She's got other fruit too, but grapes are her favorite, and she wants Neoma to feel special.

It's another unfortunately long-ish while before Bruce makes it back to the manor (it would have been over an hour had anyone else driven, but he took a Lamborghini and a police scanner). He tries not to look hurried as he comes back into the room, but his expression is sheepish.

[stands_for_hope]

Neoma takes the grape with careful claws, sliding the side of a wing against her paw as she does as a thank you. Nee feels so special. And a little giddy, which as far as Clark's concerned, is literally the most adorable thing.

Clark takes his time eating his breakfast before neatening the plate and placing it on the coffee table. Then he pulls out his phone and fiddles for a bit until Bruce makes his way in. He's greeted with a smile.

"Hey. You get Dick to school all right? Sorry if I made you oversleep."

[frightening]

"Yes. No, it's fine. I don't know why I didn't wake up on my own earlier."

As he talks, Caterin transforms to a skunk and hurries over to his feet, sitting and giving him a Look. (Look Translated: Are you flippin kidding, you stayed asleep because you were happy and comfortable and safe.) He stares down at her for a moment before bending to scoop her up, letting her burrow her nose against his throat.

"I'm sorry I ran out like that. I try to miss as few mornings as possible. It can get hard, with being out all night."

[stands_for_hope]

"From what Alfred was saying, you probably needed the rest," was all Clark said on the subject, "and to be fair, it was probably good for me too."

He straightened his shirt, sat up a little, and smiled over at Bruce.

"Now, I've already leaned on your hospitality long enough, but did you want me to stick around or should I get out of your hair? I don't have anything scheduled for the day." A little blush. "I kept it clear since I wasn't sure if it might get interrupted."

[frightening]

Bruce eyes the tidied remains of breakfast, as if suddenly considering Alfred's meddling for the first time. Caterin continues to snuggle him, obviously happy to be back with her human. (The distance is hard on her, he knows it is. It's not natural.)

"Oh-- I." His guarded look is his own version of deer in headlights. "You don't have to stay, I'm sorry if you felt held hostage."