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Clark Kent is Superman, The Man of Steel. He’s supposed to be the strongest on the planet. He’s a symbol of hope across worlds! So why does he feel so helpless… so hopeless.. so... No. He’s one of the most powerful protectors of this universe. He can’t fall into shambles over something as ridiculous as this. “Come on Kansas, sit down. It’s not that big of a problem.” Lois’s voice pierces through his spiraling thoughts. Lois Lane, beautiful, smart, brave Lois; Clark’s one true love, his life, his only grounding factor when the going gets tough. Fuck I must be really selfish… so cruel. How could I do this to her?
“Lo I promise, I love you so much. I would never do anything to hurt you, or to hurt our relationship.” Clark paces around his and Lois’s shared apartment, messing up his hair with every too fast turn. I’m the biggest jerk in the galaxy. Why would I let this happen? How could I- “Clark, just take a deep breath,” Lois’s cold hands press on either side of his face, guiding him to look at her. “Hey there Kansas.” Lois helps Clark sit. “Are we calm now?”
Clark’s eyes welled up with tears, “I’m sorry Lo…”
“Shh, it’s ok, just breathe. We can talk when you’re calm.” Lois places a hand on Clark's shoulder and guides his breathing.
“Good, now let’s talk about your crush on Bruce, calmly…”
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Bruce sits brooding in The Cave, going over the most recent Arkham break outs. Blocking out his (more persistent than he appreciated) thoughts about his longtime friend, and colleague, Clark Kent. The office elevator chimed indicating someone’s arrival. “B~ you can’t escape this time~.” Bruce’s ears perked up as the melodic voice of his eldest son, Richard “Dick” Greyson. The only acknowledgement Dick received was a yes I can, we are not talking about this, grunt.
“Come on B, we all know you like him, you can’t just ignore it forever. Even the emotionally inept Damian can tell!” Damian let out a yelp in protest giving Dick a giggle fit. Bruce sighed and turned to look at him. “Dick, whatever you think is happening, is not happening. Don’t you have a city to patrol?” He grit out. Dick dramatically flopped onto the chair next to his brooding bat of a father, “Come on B, you aren’t a river in Egypt, so why are you in da-Nile?” Bruce rolled his eyes and went back to his reports.
“We aren’t doing this Chum.”
“Come on, please! We all know how your bleeding heart aches for the one and only Clark Kent.”
“Master Bruce,” Alfred's voice chimes behind him, “You have been requested for an audience at a diner in Metropolice by Mr.Kent and Ms.Lane.”
Dick slumped, “Saved by the bell.” He perks back up and faces his dad, “Are you gonna go?” Dick asked, grabbing a cookie from the plate that Alfred had left for him. “If both Clark and Ms.Lane are asking for me it must be important.” Bruce stands up, brushes the wrinkles from his clothes and makes for the elevator. “Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Dick called after him.
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Lois has always liked Bruce, she thought he was charming, funny and a good businessman. He’s also a good friend to Clark. He checks in on him and gives him free upgraded tech. Just the other day he gave Clark a new phone because he saw that Clark was still using a wPhone-6. Bruce never tried to advance their relationship past friends, but she liked it that way. She has Clark and that’s enough for her. Her idiot-of-a-boyfriend, on the other hand, was stupid in love with Bruce Wyane. She knew even before they got together. Bruce and Clark had something more there. Clark, in all of his ignorance, was blind to his crush. Then there’s Bruce who was too emotionally constipated to realize Clark likes him back.
That was until last night.
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“Are you sure this is a good idea Lo?” Clark pulls at the collar of his ill fitted suit with a nervous energy. “Look, it'll be fine. The worst that happens is he says no and maybe a bit of awkwardness between you both.” She straightens Clark’s tie, fixes his hair, grabs his arm in hers and marches them into the diner. They find their way to the booth in the very back in front of the bathrooms. Lois takes an easy seat across from Bruce dragging Clark with her. “Ms.Lane, Mr.Kent,” Bruce nodded at both of them in greeting, “to what do I owe this pleasure?”
Lois gives Clark a nudge with her elbow and tells him with her eyes, Just do it already! Clark clears his throat, then sips the coffee the waitress handed the pair when they got seated. “Bruce…” Clark trails off, mind going completely blank.
Bruce eyes his friend suspiciously. Something was going on with Clark. Bruce noticed changes in his comrade’s behavior over the past several weeks. Subtle things, like lingering in the room so it was only the two of them, making him coffee just the way he likes it every meeting, asking Alfred for his favorite cookie recipe. Was he trying to make me release information to Ms.Lane by buttering him up? No, Clark would never do something so… dumb.
After a pregnant pause Clark grabbed Lois’s arm and ripped her out of the booth, “Lois I need your help with something!” The two ran off in the direction of the bathroom leaving Bruce to ponder over his coffee.
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“Clark what the hell?” She whisper-shouts at Clark as he drags her into the entry way of the bathrooms. The man before her isn’t the strong facade he embodies, no, this man is trembling with fear and looks like he's fighting back tears. “I can’t do it.” He blurts out, “What if he’s weirded out? Our working relationship could get compromised. And… Oh my god what about the team? What will they think?”
“Clark. Breathe.”
Clark breathes in deep, then sighs.
“Look, the worst that will happen is a little awkwardness for a bit, and I’m sure Bruce of all people can keep a secret. Don’t sweat the small stuff Kansas.” Lois captures Clark in a reassuring hug and rubs his back comfortingly. “You can’t just keep this bottled up Clark. It’s already been eating away at you. You just have to rip off the bandaid with this one love.”
“You’re right.”
Clark takes a steadying breath and walks back to the table where Bruce is sitting, nursing his cup of coffee. (3-sugar 2-h&h 1-vanilla creamer)
He inspects Clark as he sits back down at the booth, “Where’s Ms.Lane?” Bruce questions eyes giving a glint of interrogation.. Clark fidgets under the extreme gaze and refuses to meet Bruce’s eyes. “She’s… in the restroom?” Clark supplies flippantly.
Bruce nods accepting the answer for now and takes another sip of his coffee eyeing Clark suspiciously. “Is there a purpose to this meeting, or is it just a social call?” He asks curtly, not letting his guard down. Clark swallows around the lump in his throat glancing up to see Lois peering over the corner of the bathroom entryway behind Bruce, giving him a bright smile and a double thumbs up.
“Well I called you here-”Clark's voice cracks, he takes a sip of coffee, clears his throat, then glances at Bruce's crystal blue eyes. Damn has his eyes always been that blue? I think it’s the same shade as the ice at The Fortrus…
“-rk?... -lark?... Clark?...” Bruce's voice and a rhythmic snapping noise cuts through his daydreams and back into reality.
“H-huh? Wha- I’m listening…”
“Are you well? You look… flushed.” Bruce takes a scrutinizing look over his friend, concerned at the unusual behavior adding this as a new symptom. Clark squirms, uncomfortable under Bruce's gaze. “Bruce, we’ve been friends for a good while now…” Clark starts and Bruce squints his eyes analyzing the man in front of him. There’s definitely something wrong. “...and you know I would never want to jeopardize our professional or personal relationship….” Bruce’s eyebrows furrow a worried frown set on his face. “Of course, did I do something to upset you or Ms.Lane?” Clark's eyes snap to Bruce, his hands frantically waving in dismissal. “No, no, no you haven’t done anything wrong I promise! It’s just-”
“Just…? What?” Bruce scans his eyes over his friend making mental notes of his behavior changes.
Clark averts his eyes daring them to shed a tear, “I’m just going to come out and say it but, if this messes things up for you that’s completely ok and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable an-”
Bruce raises a hand cutting off Clark’s ramblings. “Just tell me what’s wrong so I can help you.”
Clark takes a deep breath then lets it out slow. “Bruce… for some time now I’ve had feelings for you… More than just friendly feelings… And you don’t have to feel the same way, I actually understand if you don’t. I know me being with Lois makes things complicated so I wouldn't blame you if-” Clark hadn’t noticed his closed eyes until he felt a hand on his.
Slowly he peeked open his eyes to see a small smile on Bruce's face. “Clark, I’m thankful for you being open with me… but” Oh God here it comes. Here comes the ‘We’ll never work I hate you Clark.’ “I need some time to think about this. This isn’t a ‘no’, it's just a ‘not right now’.” With that Bruce stood, dropped a hundred on the table and left out the door.