Work Text:
Someday
“You went to see that bastard?!” to say Jason was angry was an understatement. He was vivid. “Did you forget what he did to you? The years of abuse and-”
“Jason” Bruce softly called out his name as Jason’s tone was getting louder. Moving his eyes from the Alpha to the whimpering child in his arms, Bruce shushed softly. He rocked him gently as he patted his back. “Later”
Jon was on the edge of bursting into thunderous crying. He knew very well that if this little bird started to cry, all the sleeping dragons in the Wayne manor would be running to check on him. He didn’t want any ruckus so late in the night. They have patrols to do in an hour.
Jason’s expression looked so much like Jon right now, on the edge of exploding. Bruce would have laughed if not for the tension around them.
“It’s time for Master Jon’s bedtime” Alfred, always with his good timing and ability to read the mood, took little Jon from his arms.
Bright blue eyes with a layer of unshed tears moved from Bruce to Jason. Hesitatingly, he waved his tiny hand and mumbled “Nighty Jayjay, nighty papa”
“Good night, little bird” emerald eyes shone with overt unconditional love a father would have.
Bruce felt a sharp pang in his chest watching this scenery. Of Jason fully accepting the position of a father figure to Jonathan. The position Jason should have taken was of an overbearing protective big brother.
Was it the sense of responsibility created when he was the one beside Bruce when Jon was born? Or was it the lack of Alpha in this household of two omegas ,two beta and the youngest alpha who can’t even run without tripping?
Not like Bruce believed the shitty traditional gender roles of every household has to have an Alpha as head. He guessed it’s more of the protective instinct in Jason to protect his family at all cost that he’s playing the typical protector of the house.
Damien could have another Alpha in the manor. But he wanted to stay in another place instead of the manor. Maybe staying in the manor would still give him nightmares. Memories of Dick teasing and tutoring him were everywhere in this building. Hell, every single Wayne family had a hard time staying in the manor after the accident.
His fourth son’s apartment wasn’t that far from the manor. An hour away and twenty minutes away from the Wayne Enterprise. At least he comes by for every family dinner.
“Jason” Bruce called out after Alfred and Jon left the room, bringing Jason’s attention back to him. At least he looked a little calmer compared to before. “He was starving himself-”
“Then let him starve! He locked you in the room for three days without food or water just because you begged him not to kill Oliver and Dinah.”
That halted Bruce. It wasn’t impossible Jason heard the stories of his abuse when he was still with Kal-El. Hell, he bet the whole world knew it, with how Kal-El dragged him by the collar through the crowded Watchtower hallway into their room. Locking it while shouting so loudly even the soundproof bedroom could not keep the warnings and threats out.
“What he did to you…”
“Is unforgivable” Bruce helped him.
He’s not some damsel in distress stuck up in an abusive relationship just cause he had lied to himself all those years that he could change him.
“Visiting him doesn’t mean I am forgiving him.”
“But it’s obvious that you’re still worries about him”
He still does, so badly even when he shouldn’t. Years of loving someone doesn’t just stop after a couple of years of not meeting each other.
Bruce sighed, taking a few steps forward to close the distance between them. He raised an arm, for a moment not knowing where to put it, before putting on his shoulder in the end. You’d think after years of fathering five kids he would be used to physical affection now.
“It’s okay Jay, I know what I’m doing” there was an eyebrow raised. Bruce was sure Jason learned that from Alfred. “I’m not trying to make excuses for what he did. Hell, I would even let you punch me if I ever think of going back to that relationship. If...If I have to visit him again, I’ll bring you with me next time, okay? Will that be a better compromise?”
Oh that eyebrow is getting higher.
“You’re planning to meet him again?!” there was a groan and an unsaid ‘are you dumb?’
“Not today or even this year. Just maybe…” oh as the world’s smartest detective, he didn’t really think this through. It’s been so long since he had any plan ever since he handed the cowl and Enterprise to his kids. “... maybe when Jon is older. I promised Clark he can visit him someday.”
“And that someday can be the day he dies. There’s no timeline to someday”
“You didn’t see him, Jay. When I saw him again he looked so… small, weak and… hopeless” words that he never thought he would use to define the mighty High Councilor Superman. “It was like looking at Clark again in his weakest moment.”
Oh how to put this in words that don’t make him sound like he’s a lovesick bastard.
The moment Bruce mentioned the name ‘Clark’, something in Jason’s eyes changed. First it was more rage, then worries, and ended with pity and resignation. Bruce wasn’t referring to him as Kal-El but Clark Kent. The dorky reporter who’s just a reincarnation of a golden retriever.
“You…” he knew his father. Clark Kent was someone and the only person Bruce has ever let himself love without fearing he could lose him easily. Clark wasn’t just some citizen anyone can kidnap and threaten Batman with. Clark Kent was also Superman who could defend himself. They could save each other.
He remembered how broken Bruce was the first time Kal-El laid his fist on him.
Jason was sure Bruce wasn’t that stupid to get back together with his abuser. But he knew how frightening it was for victims to face their abusers again.
The thing is, Clark wasn’t the abuser. It was Kal-El. In Bruce’s mind, Clark and Kal-El were two different people now. One is his dead husband and another was a dictator. To refer to him as Clark again was like the love of his life coming back to life again.
In the end, he could only sigh and pulled Bruce into his arms. Scoffing internally on how Bruce was still trying to figure out how to give a ‘fatherly hug’. Jason thought he’s used to this by now, with how often he held Jon in his arms. Or Damien when he had another panic attack inside the Manor.
“Just… promise me you’ll bring me with you next time”
“Okay”
*******
Jon shrieked in delight as a dog one size bigger than him barked and licked his cheek. Two of them having the time of their lives hugging and chasing each other in the soft hay scattered around.
“Someone’s gotta clean up the hay,” Martha laughed from her rocking chair in the poarch.
“Tim will be here to do it. I lured him with a promise of your shepherd's pie” Bruce grinned back from the stairs of the poarch. “You gotta pay the labour for your grandson’s mess”
“Hey he’s your son too”
There was a comfortable silence as they watched the three years old child and a golden retriever rolling around the hay. The sunlight gently shining above them unlike the cold air in Gotham. Maybe Jon liked the farm better compared to Wayne's garden since there’s more sunlight here. Or it’s just because of the dog.
“Have they met yet?” the old lady finally popped the question. He doesn’t have to be the smart one to know who she was implying.
“No” even if she was the mother of his son’s father, he had no obligation to bring Jon to meet Kal-El.
Superman has been docile ever since the last time Bruce visited him. He was so quiet the guards would check on him every hour considering his daily routine was yelling in anger or demanding to meet Bruce.
With his good behaviour, he got to request items like books or television to kill time with. Without his superpower he couldn’t really superspeed through them. So he’s taking his time with them. Not like he could choose what kind of books to get, the most dangerous criminal in the world didn’t have the privilege to do that. He read them all anyway.
Once in a while Martha would visit him. Bruce didn’t know what happened when she visited him again after years of cutting ties. Nor did he ask Martha but it seemed there was some mending in between their relationship.
At least Clark’s not as alone as he’s used to be.
“I’m not trying to persuade you to let him see him. But just… as his mother. I hope you will consider letting them meet at least once” it did sound like she was begging him to let them meet. Her old heart couldn’t stand the sad eyes his son gave her every time he asked how Bruce and Jon were doing.
She was the only way he could get pieces of news of them.
“In his room… There's a pair of baby shoes.” followed by a short wet laughter. “I don’t think Jon can fit in those shoes anymore”.
Ahh, she’s still good at making him feel again for Clark even though she’s this old.
“I’m old, Bruce. If you cut him off completely then he’s really alone in this universe” wrinkled hand reached out to touch his cheek. Making him turn his head to look into her eyes. “You don’t have to forgive him or let him back in. This is a very selfish request from a dying old woman. Let him meet him at least once, please”.
Who could ever say no to this strong willed lady. Clark Kent really was this woman’s child, with how similar their personalities are.
Lightly he lifted his own and covered her hand with his palm.
“Sly of you to take advantage of your old age”
Now Martha laughed in a more cheerful and relieved manner.
“Gotta be sly when I’m talking to a smartass”
*****
Curious eyes wandered around so much Bruce worried he might turn his head 360 degree just to look around.
“Dis place is scawy, Fada” fada as in father. It’s cute how Jon was trying to imitate Damien in calling him father. The other kids only called him Bruce.
“Who’s Bwuus?” Jon asked when Tim and Barbara kept yelling for Bruce to come downstairs for lunch.
“That’s your papa’s name, baby bird” Jason poked the baby in his arms. There was a loud gasp as tiny fists grabbed Jason’s hair.
“His name isn’t Papa?!”
“He’s still trying to call you father?” Jason smirked, Jon calling father is more adorable than when that emo kid called Bruce father.
“Give him some credits, he’s expanding his vocabulary”
“Wocabubary!” Jon nodded seriously, raising his body over Bruce’s shoulder to look at Jason. He looked so proud repeating complicating words of his father.
“Nice job, buddy!”
Though the bright atmosphere couldn’t change the gloomy prison hallway.
They stopped in front of a bulky door guarded by two fully armoured soldiers on each side. Both saluting respectfully at Bruce. Though their eyes couldn’t help but pause at the tiny child in his arms. Who’s the exact carbon copy of the prisoner inside.
Jason’s warning growl under the cowl made them look at the floors instead. The pheromones he’s letting out didn’t make him less intimidating. When he was sure the soldiers at least pretended to mind their own business, he turned to the black haired omega.
“Are you sure you want to let them meet?” This is the tenth time he had asked Bruce today. But he was sure it would be the last.
“Hey, he has been in his best behaviour for a year now. And I can’t just ignore the wish of a dying old lady” Bruce tried to joke away his nervousness. Habitually used the Bruce Wayne playboy personality to hide his emotion without the cowl.
“It’s not because you’re still in love with him right?” that made Bruce roll his eyes.
“If you mean I’m going to bail him out and declare my undying love, then no.” Shifting one arm to hold Jon’s weight on his hip, he held the other on Jason’s cheek to reassure him. He found out physical touches and family scent made Jason calmer compared to his explosive behaviour. “It’s just going to be a meet and greet between a son and a father. And I’m stronger than you think”
Sorry Harleen, I don’t think we’re the same.
It was like Jason needed a lot more time to get himself together compared to Bruce before opening the door.
After the long processes of unlocking the first door, there in the middle of the huge containment held a thick glass room. There wasn’t much inside the glass room. Just red lights, a made bed, stacks of books in the corner, an old television, a mp3, and an excited man who literally plastered himself against the glass.
For a moment, everything disappeared. It was like there’s nothing between them. Despite the thick ugly glasses hiding most of the blues in the orbs. It was obvious that the big blue eyes shining with hope staring at Bruce with so much love he wondered again how could a human love so much. He wasn’t as thin as he last saw him til the meat sunk into his cheek. The plain white shirt couldn’t hide the muscles stretching them. There were no sunken eyes or heavy eye bags.
There was no Kal-El.
Just… boy scout Clark Kent staring lovingly at him.
“Bruce” even the way he said his name was how Clark used to call him. Reluctantly, Clark shifted his eyes away from him to the toddler in his arms. “And this must be… Jonathan”
“Hey dat’s my name!” Jon smiled as he stopped hiding underneath Bruce’s chin. He was about to say something when he paused, as if remembering something. He glanced at the glowering Jason who’s literally sticking himself to Bruce like a chewing gum then back at the man in the glass container. Cautiously, he asked “Who awe you?”
Jason couldn’t be prouder when his baby bird actually remembered the stranger danger warning him and the other birds drilled into his head.
Clark blinked himself awake. The corner of his mouth slowly moved downwards.
“Oh… he doesn’t… know who I am” there was no need to ask Bruce why. After everything he did, it was a wonder why Bruce would even let him meet Jon.
“Why should he?” the Batman growled. Jason the Batman, Bruce retired.
Stupid Bruce was still trying to get into his head to move instead of staring dumbly at the husband he convinced himself is dead.
“I… uhm” it was odd, seeing the dictator lose his words and trying not to shed tears then and there.
“Jon, this is my friend, Clark. You can give him a proper greeting”
Since he got his father’s permission, Jon became less guarded and climbed down from his arms. He waddled towards the glass and pressed both palms on it. Staring at the man who has the same eyes as his.
Jason was going to scope that little explorer into his arms and away from the world’s dangerous man. But Bruce stopped him.
Clark couldn’t keep his eyes away from the tiny version of himself staring right back at the other side of the glass.
“Why are you inside?” Jon knocked on the glass. Pressing his forehead on it as if he pressed hard enough, he could magically go through it and go inside the room to give this lonely man a hug. He looked like he was about to cry.
Clark couldn’t say anything, What was he going to tell his three years old son he never met? That he killed thousands and hundreds of people to make them obey him absolutely? That he abused the love of his life and raped him over and over again when he screamed no? That he was the worst father a child could have?
“He did something bad, that’s why he’s now in time out” Bruce, quick-witted as always, helped him out. At least Bruce still feels something for Clark. Even if it’s just pity.
“Oh bad bad, time out!” Jon giggled. “You hav da be good and stay, or thew will giv fiwe more minwiets!” he said sternly, waving a finger at Clark as if giving a lecture.
“It’s minutes”
“Minittes!”
Hah, time out. What a way to describe his punishment. This time out is already lenient enough. For what he did he should have been sent to the black hole or stabbed by millions of kryptonite needles. Whatever he did could never be undone with just a few years in confinement.
This time, Clark did let his tears fall. After years of almost going mad being in solitary confinement, he could finally meet Bruce again. And this bundle of joy Bruce brought to him.
“Bruce… Oh Bruce, he’s as beautiful as you are… Thank you”
Oh. Oh.
That was the expression Bruce had imagined Clark would have if he had been with him in that delivery room. If he had been there to witness and see Jon the moment Jon came into this world. These are the words he had imagined a thousand times Clark would say if -
The hard edge of the boots met his abdomen. He could taste blood in his mouth but he refused to let them out. Bitterly swallowed them as if not to let this man see his weakness.
“I told you! Do not get in my way”
“They’re just a bunch of college kids, Clark!”
“And you’re supposed to be on my side!” came another hit in the same spot.
What if he had not switched on the portal and asked the other world’s Justice League to defeat them? What if he had endured, stupidly thinking he could change Kal-El and be Clark again. What if he had been pregnant at that time. Would the child even survive Clark’s streng-
Bruce gasped. Years of training made him swift in his feet. In mere seconds Jon was back in his arms, away from the glass and the monster. He pressed Jon’s face into the croak of his neck. Not letting Kal-El see him for another second.
“I think that’s enough for today” he breathed out, and stomped out of the room with Jason followed closely like a protective shadow.
Clark watched them leave, the pleas for them not to go yet got stuck in his throat. He had no right to ask them to stay. He lost that right the moment he hurt that one person he swore he would never harm.
All he could do was kneel on the ground and sobbed, begging for a second chance to no one but the surveillance cameras glaring at him 24/7. Begging for the non existent God for a different ending.
In this world, no one could get their happy ending. Martha died from old age, leaving Clark Kent to really be alone in this universe. Clark Kent spent the rest of his life in confinement, only able to get a glimpse of his lover and son once a year before Bruce stopped coming at all. Leaving only Jon’s lingering disapproving looks whenever he visited his other biological father after growing older and understanding what the man in the glass did to deserve a ‘time out’
****
In another world though. They did have their happy ending. Flash never died. Superman never killed anyone. There were no Justice Lords, only Justice Leagues.
Jon’s name was Jonathan Richard Wayne-Kent, or Jon-El. A needlessly long name for a child who’s going to have a hard time whenever he had to fill in forms but he had two loving parents.
“Oh my god for the last time Jay I only borrowed your batarang for just an hour to maybe tinker with it…”
“And threw it around almost deforested half of our property’s trees” Jason grumbled, rubbing his face on his palms as if he’s tired of this. Dick’s supposed to be the lecturing one, not him. But said man was busy fighting off aliens in some galaxy with the titans. “When your dads get home and see half of the forest gone, you’re gonna be in big trouble. Hell, I will be in big trouble as well. Since I’m supposed to babysit you”
From the corner of the living room, Tim finally managed to stop laughing and unhelpfully chimed in “Ohh don’t forget whose batarang he used. Bruce is gotta lecture your ears off!”
“And so will you cuz you’re in the manor and you didn’t stop him” that rubbed the smug face off Tim’s face. Jason was surprised he didn’t figure that out, he was supposed to be the smartest among them five.
“NotifI’mnotinwhenBruceisback” jumping over the couch, he jumped out through the window, made a roll on the grass, and sprinted away towards his car. Abandoning Jason alone to his doom.
“Fuck”
****
Bruce gasped for air, pushing the unmovable man away from his face for a second.
“My lips are swollen enough from all the kissing during our honeymoon” He thought he had his fill of kisses already. Bruce didn’t want his kids to see him all messed up with swollen lips, red hickeys on neck and strong omega pheremons that screams ‘fuck me’.
“Not enough if you can still talk, '' Clark grinned mischievously. “Say…” he growled, dipping down to leave more marks on Bruce’s neck. Just right beside his bite claim on the neck. “... why don’t we stay another night here. I think the kids can handle themselves”
Bruce scoffed, he didn’t really believe the kids won’t have any troubles when they’re gone. But he did believe they could handle themselves… and Clark’s puppy eyes are as persuasive as his kisses.
“Fine, no more, no less”.
And they went back rolling in the sheet.
The End.