Archive of Our Own ^beta

When one thinks of Superman, a few characteristics come to mind. Be it his striking voice or smile somehow as bright as the sun, the general image is that of a gallant figure. That’s what Bruce’s impression of him was, at least. Contrasted against the sight in front of him, the person sitting in front of Bruce hardly seemed like Superman. He hardly seemed to be there. Dimly illuminated by one of the Batcave’s larger monitors, sat Clark. His gaze was fixed on one of the red buttons next to him. If the lights dimmed, Clark may just disappear altogether.

Bruce had forced him to be there for the expressed purpose of testing a new strain of red kryptonite.

It was something of a pastime to Clark. In the past, Clark would test any strains he found by himself in the Fortress of Solitude, but the risks had become too apparent, hence why Clark was now in the Batcave. He was clutching a small lead-lined box that contained a shard of Red K, the first they’ve found in months. That also meant it was the first test performed since Bruce forced him to come to the Batcave.

Clark rotated the box, and the faint clinking of kryptonite could faintly be heard over the computer’s humming. “Isn’t this something I can do by myself?” he asked.

“No,” Bruce responded.

“Well, I just don’t want it to be a repeat of last time.”

“There hasn’t been a single type of Red K that I didn’t have a plan for,” said Bruce. In response, Clark only sighed a ‘mn’ noise.

That was the extent of Bruce’s reassurance. He wanted Clark to feel safe, but Bruce knew that anything involving kryptonite would make him feel vulnerable more than anything else. Red kryptonite was especially difficult. Each strain possessed a different effect, ranging from making Clark hallucinate to outright transforming parts of his body. It can also release certain overpowering emotions, just as it did the last time. His last test involved a shade of kryptonite that was more pink than red, which caused a particularly uncomfortable turn of events.

After a moment of pause, Clark opened the box and picked up the shard of Red K, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. It glinted against the monitor’s light, but otherwise didn’t seem to do anything. Clark hadn’t turned into a lion or anything of the sort, so physical transformations could be ruled out.

Something internal, then.

“How do you feel?” asked Bruce.

“Nervous,” Clark replied.

“Nothing else?”

Clark cocked his head to the side and paused. The kryptonite either had a miniscule effect, or it was taking a moment to cause something, Bruce surmised. Clark then glanced at Bruce with a neutral expression, suggesting that he wasn’t hallucinating either.

“I’m a little hungry,” said Clark, looking a bit embarrassed. “I don’t want to be a bother and ask Alfred to start on making dinner, though.”

“Take this seriously, Clark. Besides, you won’t be a bother,” said Bruce.

“You’re just saying that. I feel like a bother just by being here.”

“How have things been going at work?” Bruce asked, changing the subject. His current assumption was that it was negatively impacting Clark’s mood. By asking about work, Bruce wanted to confirm if he would feel like a bother there as well.

“It’s been going well,” said Clark, responding in a way that was decidedly not negative. “Oh, you still owe me an interview. The last time I called you told me—”

“...Don’t come,” Bruce finished.

“R-right.”

Don’t come. Those were the words Clark had used during his last test with Red K, at the Fortress of Solitude. He had called Bruce then, and in a slurred tone told him not to come.

Bruce, naturally, did not let the call end there. He stayed on the line with Clark and had a strange back and forth with him. Clark went from not wanting to see Bruce, to really wanting him there, to saying he was going to fly over to Gotham in a few minutes. Bruce recalled waiting about five minutes for Clark to appear back then, but he never did. He then asked Clark if he was coming, which led Clark to respond by saying the word practically.

Are you coming? Practically.

It was a response that actually confused him, given how much of a non-sequitor it sounded like. It led to Bruce heading to the Fortress of Solitude himself. Since then, Bruce had come to appreciate Clark’s sudden wit, adopting it for his playboy persona.

“I’m not certain that this is doing anything,” said Clark, holding the shard up to his eye.

“Do you think that it isn’t kryptonite?”

“No, it is. I feel underwhelmed by its lack of effect.”

“You feel disappointed?”

“A little.”

“Keep talking,” said Bruce. Clark’s response had given him a new theory.

“I’d rather you keep speaking,” said Clark. “I prefer the sound of your voice over mine.”

“You’re too kind, but I need you to keep talking.”

“I mean it, it’s very striking.”

“Keep going,” said Bruce. It wasn’t that Bruce wanted to hear Clark’s compliments– he did appreciate them, of course– but the fact that Clark was openly doing so was what he felt was important. He wasn’t holding himself back.

“Everything about you is great, where do I even begin? I could fill up your computer hard drive with everything I wanted to say.” Bruce was a bit impressed Clark would openly admit that. It looked to be difficult for him, though, considering Clark started looking away from Bruce.

“Something’s wrong,” said Bruce, stating it as a fact rather than a question.

“Did you figure it out?” asked Clark. “I would appreciate some enlightenment.”

“This strain functions similarly to a truth serum,” Bruce answered.

Clark suddenly stood up and took a step away from Bruce. “That’s really bad!”

“I wouldn’t say so. It’s not as if this is our first encounter with something like this,” said Bruce. Diana’s lasso of truth came to mind first. The only difference was that the Red K would only work on Clark.

“Having a contingency plan doesn’t reassure me! This could give away my—” went Clark, suddenly cutting himself off. He took a moment to place the kryptonite back in the lead-lined box and placed it to the side. “That could give away my identity.”

“I don’t think it’s cause for alarm. That’s the only strain of Red K capable of doing that that we know of. I can destroy it. And if it ever reaches that point, you are capable of inducing amnesia with your kiss,” said Bruce. Neither of them liked that ability, but at least it functioned as a contingency plan. Bruce would prefer to make sure he never had to use that power, however.

“You had to mention kisses?” Clark abruptly exclaimed.

“Should I not have?”

“Gosh, you’re going to make me explain everything, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am,” Bruce responded.

“It’s just that this kryptonite, and the last one I tested for that matter, makes me lose control. The sole positive spin I can put on it is that it doesn’t turn me into some kind of rampaging monster, it forces me to drop my guard and be honest.”

“You’re saying that you were acting honestly the last time as well?”

“In a way, yes,” answered Clark. “It made me very open about my feelings.”

“Hh,” went Bruce. Open was an apt word for what happened in the Fortress of Solitude. Clark hadn’t been hiding much of anything when Bruce went that time.

“Don’t give me that,” said Clark, who was beginning to pout.

“What would you like from me, then?” asked Bruce. He already had an idea, but Bruce would rather Clark tell him himself. Especially since what Clark wanted amounted to Bruce opening his arms wide and saying something to the effect of ‘Come ‘ere, you big lug.’

“Be honest with me, B. How do you feel about me?”

“You’re not a bother,” Bruce quickly responded, but he knew that wasn’t enough to convey what he really wanted to say. “But I think you’re terrible at keeping secrets. Even without the kryptonite, I knew how you feel. It’s the same way I feel about you.”

Bruce knew why Clark didn’t want him to come to the Fortress of Solitude, either. It was because under the effects of kryptonite, Clark had desperately wanted to see him. The last test had resulted in Clark becoming incredibly… needy. He didn’t want to be a burden, however, so he tried to keep those feelings locked away. Clark wanted to feel the warmth of another person, of someone he cared for.

Of someone he loved.

Clark looked stunned. It came as a small amusement to Bruce. Didn’t he know the person he was talking to was the world’s greatest detective. Of course Bruce was going to figure it out. “If that’s the case,” began Clark, “I want you to close your eyes for me.”

“Certainly, my love,” teased Bruce, closing his eyes.

Even with his eyes closed, Bruce could feel Clark closing the distance between them. Then, he could feel it as Clark’s lips touched his. Bruce, naturally, began embracing Clark as he kissed him back.