Chapter Text
Clark was ready to go home.
He wanted to hang out with Bruce more: he really did. But the longer he was here the harder it was for him to function. Between his strength and his senses, it was a struggle.
But he was determined to see this through to the end. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get a chance to come here again.
He barely made it through the trip to the museum. In hindsight, going to an exhibit about lights while his powers were acting up wasn’t his best idea. It meant having to lie about having a headache, again. But this time he managed to pull himself together in a few minutes rather than a few days.
“I didn’t think I would like it in the city,” Clark confessed. “But it’s nice here.” He looked up at the skyscrapers.
“I wish we had more time,” Bruce said. “There’s so much more I want to show you.”
“Next time then,” Clark decided. “It won’t be anytime soon, but this won’t be the last time we see each other.”
“Maybe I could swing down for the summer again. Or fly you up here later in the year.”
“Sounds like fun,” Clark smiled when Bruce gave his hand a squeeze. They had been walking, fingers linked between them since they got to the museum.
Harvey and Oliver were with them today. Neither of them seemed to bothered by the hand holding. He wonders if Bruce told them before he got here, or if they just didn’t care.
It didn’t matter though, he found himself enjoying the exhibits. Bruce was knowledgeable most of the subjects here. They were able to talk endlessly about what they had seen.
But good times come to an end, and Clark found himself having to pack sooner than he thought. The days had flown by and he had to leave back to Smallville soon. And while he wanted to see his family, he found he had been wrong about earlier.
He wasn’t ready to go home.
Bruce held Clark close as they watched T.V in his room. It was late so it was just the two of them with the sound down and the lights off. Clark tucked his head under Bruce’s neck as he tried to commit this moment to memory. The way they fit together, the way Bruce’s heart was thundering in his chest, and the gentle intimacy they shared. It was all perfect.
They weren’t watching the T.V at this point. There was a nervous energy about the room as Bruce’s hand rest on Clark’s hip. His thumb playing with Clark’s soft skin. Bruce knows he decided to not keep trying to seduce Clark the whole trip, but this was their last night together. If he was going to make a move, then now was the time.
He started with a kiss on the forehead to get Clark’s attention, get him to look up so he could claim his mouth. It was a soft peck that became deeper as he ever so gently got him to open up. He shifted to roll on top of him, much like the first night. But unlike then Clark wrapped his arms around him as they made out.
It was hot and heavy, and everything Bruce had wanted. He got to run his hands up Clark’s side and hear his soft moan. Even better were his surprised gasps when he squeezed his pecks.
“You’re so hot,” Bruce whispered softly against his lips. “Too hot. We should get these clothes off of you.”
Clark didn’t respond at first. He was looking at Bruce with so much longing that for a second Bruce was overwhelmed. This was really going to happen! He’d seen Clark in a bathing suit before, but to have him naked and wanting him was…
“I want to,” Clark’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “I really do, but I…”
Clark couldn’t find the words. It seemed like he wanted to tell Bruce something, but he wasn’t sure about it. And for a second Bruce found it odd that there were still secrets between them. He always thought that they told each other everything.
“I’m not ready,” Clark finally said. “I like you, I really like you, but I’m…I don’t think I…”
“Hey,” Bruce smiled down at him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to push yourself.”
Clark gave him a sheepish smile. Again, he opened his mouth like he was going to say something more but stopped himself.
“What is it?” Bruce asked gently. He knows he’s being a little nosy, but he thinks there may be something more to this, and he wanted to know what. But more importantly, he wanted Clark to trust him enough to tell him. It was disheartening when Clark shook his head and insisted it was nothing.
“I wouldn’t mind if you kissed me again though,” Clark smirked. “Just keep your hands above the belt.”
~.~.~.~.~
Alfred wasn’t surprised to find them entangled when he woke them up in the morning. They were clinging to each other.
Clark started gathering his things by the door after breakfast. It was almost as solemn as it had been when Bruce had to leave Kansas.
“Make sure you text me once you land,” Bruce insisted.
“If I don’t have jet lag,” Clark joked. He had his last bag by the door and was waiting while they were taken to the car. “I had a good time here. Thanks for having me.”
“I wanted to spend some time together,” Bruce shrugged. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“You already said we’re doing this again sometime, so you won’t have to miss me too much,” Clark beamed. “There are only a few more months until summer break, and spring break comes before that.”
“We’ll work something out.” Bruce agreed. “What goes on down there during the spring.”
“Nothing much,” Clark shrugged. “And when I say nothing much, I mean nothing. No festivals, the carnival isn’t until the summer. My place becomes this dead land between the farm to the left and the farm to the right.”
“That sounds peaceful to me.”
“I’d rather come back here,” Clark said. “It’s nice to sleep in and not have a thousand chores to do.”
“So I’m an excuse to get out of work huh?” Bruce asked as they piled into the car and started towards the airport.
“You caught me,” Clark snorted. He let the conversation drop in favor of looking out the window. All the while he held onto Bruce’s hand.
He watched the buildings go by one last time. The sun dancing off the skyscrapers and cars in a dazzling display. Crowds of people were milling about, going through their day without a care. At times it was like the city was one big heartbeat. It moved as one despite the fact everyone was all going different places. Once he was able to find that rhythm it made being here bearable, almost soothing.
He was going to come back. Even if not here, then to the city.
He leaned into Bruce for the rest of the ride and savored these last few moments together.
~.~.~.~.~
“Bye,” Bruce said one last time after planting a kiss on Clark.
“I’ll see you soon,” Clark promised with a peck of his own. The moment he got to his gate he was already missing Bruce, but he was glad to be going home. He missed his parents and his farm despite his earlier complaints. He wished there was a way to have both.
He dealt with bullies and mistreatment in his hometown all the time. But the one person he enjoyed spending time with the most lives miles away. It wasn’t fair.
But it wasn’t like he couldn’t just fly over to Gotham once in a while. He’d gotten the hang of flying, more or less. He knew how to stay high enough that people couldn’t see him, but also stay out of the pathway of planes. The only thing stopping him was that he hadn’t told Bruce about his powers.
If he had, then Bruce wouldn’t have had to worry when he faced that gunman. He could have explained why they couldn’t make love last night. He turned red from thinking about it. Better yet, he would be able to visit Bruce whenever he wanted. He could take to the skies and be in Gotham in about half an hour if he put his mind to it. They could spend weekends together or short holidays without his family spending money.
Actually, his parents wouldn’t be able to know. They wanted to shelter him from the outside world. He knew why. He knew no one would handle him being an alien well. Someone finding out could lead to dire consequences, both for him and his parents. But he hated having to hide these parts of himself. He wanted someone who would accept him, all of him, unconditionally. He thinks Bruce may be that person.
He’d been ready to tell him the other night. It had been on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t bring himself to speak up. It’s been such a secret for so long he wasn’t sure how to go about explaining it. How would he even start that conversation? By the way, “I’m an alien with so many powers I don’t know what to do with them. Oh, and I could break you with my pinky finger if I’m not careful.”
How was he supposed to make it sound non-threatening? Maybe he could skim over how strong he was and say super strong. If he kept everything vague and worked up to more specific details over time, then he might be able to pull this off. But he couldn’t send that through text or even a letter. This was something he would have to do face-to-face. He needed to look Bruce in the eye so he could see his reaction so he would know if they were still okay.
He had a feeling the initial reaction would be shock, maybe even fear, but Bruce was a nice person. He didn’t doubt that he would come around. And just think about all the adventures they could go on once he knew.
That was it! The next time he saw Bruce he was going to tell him.
Fin.