Chapter Text
Laughter echoed around the playground. Tonnes of it, just thrown around carelessly. There was no thought to savour joy, it came easily at this age. Games of tag, hide and seek, and Simon Says were being played by the children. Some were reading books in the shade, some, like two kids you’ll meet soon, were simply sitting and talking.
There was a teacher on supervision duty, but she seemed much more interested in her lunch than her students. Pity, considering there were a group of kids gathering around someone who had fallen off the monkey bars. They could really use her help right now, but she was too focused on her vermicelli salad.
But those kids aren’t important, not right now. However, the two kids you’re about to meet are . Something big was happening to them.
They were on the playground, sitting idly on the swings. Bruce was sitting on the yellow swing, and Clark was on the red swing. Normally Bruce would be on the black swing, and Clark on the blue one, but someone had swung them up over the bar on top, and they weren’t yet tall enough to get them down.
Clark was rocking back and forth - only slightly, while Bruce was completely still, feet planted flat on the ground.
“I like you.” Clark said, fidgeting with a leaf in his hands.
“I like you too.” Bruce said.
Clark tapped his foot in thought. “Should we be boyfriends then?”
“I don’t think that’s allowed.”
“Why not?”
Bruce lowered his voice to a whisper. “Because we’re both boys.”
“Is that wrong?”
He shrugged. “I heard a man say it at one of my parents’ events in the ballroom.”
“Did they say why it wasn’t allowed?”
“No.” Bruce frowned. “He was complaining about his son liking boys, but never actually said why it bothered him.”
“Well, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
“Me neither.”
“So should we do it then? Be boyfriends?”
Bruce nodded. “Yeah.”
Clark reached out to him, letting the leaf fall to the sand chipped floor. “Let’s hold hands.”
Bruce took the offered hand, letting it fall and swing idly between them.
-
Clark told his parents when he got home.
“Ma, Pa, I made a boyfriend today!” He announced, toeing off his velcro shoes.
Ma sat down on the couch. “Made?”
“Yeah, like making a friend. But today, I made a boyfriend.”
Pa chuckled from the kitchen.
“You don’t say ‘made’ when it comes to boyfriends, honey.” Ma corrected gently.
“Oh.” Clark set his shoes on the rack. “Well, I have a boyfriend now. His name is Bruce. We held hands on the swings during recess.”
“That’s amazing, sweetie.” Ma said, rubbing Clark’s back as he sat down next to her. “What’s he like?”
“Well, for starters, he’s really smart. Like- best in the class! But he’s also really nice, even if most people don’t realise it, and his parents are super rich! He’s got a butler and everything. Named Alfred.”
Ma turned to face Pa, sharing one of their Adult Looks with each other.
“Is that so?” Pa said, joining them on the couch.
“Yup. I saw him picking Bruce up from school one time. He was wearing those fancy clothes you go to work in, Pa!”
Pa tickled Clark lightly on his side. “Aren’t you a little young to have a boyfriend?”
Clark giggled. “It’s okay, Pa, we’re not going to kiss until we’re all grown up, and I’m going to make sure he’s okay with it first.”
Ma raised her eyebrows, sharing another Adult Look with Pa. “Well that’s very responsible of you. Someone raised you right.”
“You guys raised me right!” Clark laughed.
“Only because you’re just the right kid for us.” Pa said, pressing a kiss to Clark’s cheek, and then Ma’s.
-
“Father, Mother, I have some news I’d like to share with you.” Bruce announced, stepping into the open dining room.
“Yeah, what is it, buddy?” Father asked, gesturing Bruce to sit down at the table across from him.
“I have a boyfriend. His name is Clark Kent.“ Bruce said, fidgeting with his hands behind his back.
Father raised his eyebrows. “And is he like your best friend?”
Bruce furrowed his brow. “No. He’s my boyfriend . Like- someone you hold hands with. And get married to.”
Mother joined them at the table now, sending Father a sharp look. “I’m very happy for you, darling.” She rested a hand on Bruce’s shoulder. “His name is Clark, you say? Tell me about him.”
Bruce straightened up in his seat. “He’s really kind, and funny. He also loves animals. One time there was a cockroach in the classroom and everyone wanted to kill it, but he picked it up and let it fly out the window.”
Mother smiled. “He sounds like a charmer.”
“He is. All the teachers love him because he helps clean up the blackboard at the end of class. And also because he’s really strong and helps move furniture for free time.” Bruce relaxed his tensed shoulders. He had been a bit wary of how his parents might react, considering what that man said at the ball, but it ended up fine.