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Tears and Rain	By : Waxcrayons Category: DC Verse Comics > Batman Views: 13546 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own Batman, Superman,DC comics or any of their characters, or make any money off of them.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
“I guess I just don't see it.” Hal blew out a hard breath, tired of listening to Barry wax poetic about the Shakespearian Tragedy that had befallen their friends. The blonde had been in a gossipy snit the very first step out of the farmhouse to walk along the grounds. A walk Hal had romantically suggested, noting Barry's nervous energy building to the point that the man was practically vibrating in place. If you asked him, the brief bitchiness – warranted, fine – from the Bat in the early morning wasn't as bad as it could have been, and the rest of the morning seemed fine. The ankle-biters had scored pretty good from Santa Bat. The pouty middle one had gotten a Martin and settled happily away to learn some chords from Clark. The eldest had gotten the keys to a god damned Macchia Nera. Just thinking about the unfairness of a boy straddling the bike of his dreams was giving him a begrudging erection. Life was kinda cruel sometimes... Let's see. Barry and he had been surprised with exquisite shirts and ties not to mention the sweet-ass watches they kept admiring when no one was looking. He sort of wished he'd had the foresight to bring along at least a little something for his hosts. Mrs. Kent and Mr. Pennysworth had gotten small meaningful things...
“Mr. Jordan, Ace likes you!” The smallest one giggled, attempting to pull the puppy away from chewing on his laces.
Oh yeah. This wasn't just a romantic walk to settle Barry down, it was some kind of baby-sitting gig too. Pint-size's big gift had been this ball of fur he couldn't make heads or tail of, except when she was chewing on his property. Toddler and puppy, falling over each other in the snow. Where did the little ones get the energy? “You know I agree with Clark. You can't call a girl dog Ace.”
“Bruce said you're not allowed to.. to..” The boy stumbled momentarily. “To gender-stereotype our dog. She can be an Ace if she wants to.”
What do you say to that? He smirked and watched Frick and Frack run off a little ways. Evidently wooed by his child-rearing skills Barry tucked in, and they continued their stroll with the blonde's head resting against his shoulder. This... was nice. A moment of comfortable silence on a serene day between two people in love. Oh Christ, now who's writing flowery poetry?
“I guess I don't see how you can't.” Barry continued. So they were still on that subject, were they?
“You do know people can care very deeply for each other and not be doing it, right?” Hal almost left it at that, but Barry had that look he got when he didn't find the usual blasé response acceptable. He held up his hands defensively. “Of course you do. And yes, I know you weren't talking about whether or not they do it. But you were kind of saying they want to do it, so... That is what I don't see. They're friends, sort of. Sometimes they barely seem to tolerate one another. Besides, the Bat's a ladykiller!” He huffed. “I swear to God, Barry, if you tell him I said that...”
“How could he be? He doesn't talk to anyone. He just... Perches there. We all talk and shoot off ideas and he perches and waits until we're finished, and then he tells us what to do. The girls can't stand him. He's why they haven't accepted our invitation yet.”
“Black Canary and the Huntress?” He ventured and Barry nodded. “Barry I was there when the Canary and the Huntress turned up in Bludhaven to blow Intergang's new pet project. I was passing over on my way home, thought I'd help out but the Bat was already there. The three of them routed the whole warehouse and then blew it the hell up. And you know what they did? All three? Wham Bam, Thank-you Ma'am! Right there on the hood of the car! In front of the flames!”
“Y-your not serious?”
“And that's why Black Canary and Huntress haven't accepted our invitation into the League. Oh yeah, and that Green Arrow guy? He and the Canary are kind of a thing, so that little incident is also why he hasn't accepted the invite as well.”
“Unbelievable.”
“That's what I'm trying to say.”
“No... I can't believe you just watched them... go at it.”
“I didn't stay for the finale, Sweetheart. Just long enough to make sure I wasn't seeing –”
“You're greatest fantasy come to life?” Barry released his arm and raised a single brow to study him. “You think he's cute.”
“Hah.” He choked. “I think he's arrogant, bossy, and a complete bore.”
“That doesn't stop you from checking out his ass.”
“You keep doing it too. It's a nice ass.”
The stalemate lasted exactly three seconds before they were laughing so hard they could barely keep their balance. Breathing heavily, Barry resumed their cozy position. “Victory threesome's aside...”
“Have you even seen the way Clark looks at Diana sometimes? If you ask me, she's the person he's been pining for.”
Barry made a disbelieving noise. “They are friends. Good friends. He, like a whole lot of men may find her attractive and I would bet he loves her, but not in that way. Not to that deep an extent.”
“Clark's never shown any inclination other than being straight as they come, Sweetheart.”
“Clark is not from Earth. He's an alien named Kal-El from another galaxy. Straight, Gay, it doesn't apply. Not to imply the labels should apply to anyone on Earth. You might have played voyeur to the passing fling in Bludhaven but you weren't at the Dixon Docks in Gotham when we went through that whole bunker and didn't find Batman in it. You didn't see hopeless anguish... You didn't see Superman cry.”
“Shit.” He muttered after a long silence.
“That's why this is so sad.” Barry sounded far more morose by the second. “Clark loves him so much. But after what happened I don't see how he'll ever be able to pursue what he desires. I can't imagine... Wishing you could sooth the pain away with a touch but fearing you'd just make it worse.”
“...What did happen? The part everyone's tiptoeing around?”
“I guess... What Clark told Richard is true. The only people who truly know the extent of what happened down there are the Joker and Bruce.”
“...Barry?”
“I only know what I saw. So from what I do know... Bruce was raped. Twice. But possibly... more times than that.”
He paused mid stride, chewing his bottom lip bloody. Such evil words said in such a silent and serene place. It was just... wrong. “...Shit.”
“Shit.” Barry agreed, stepping in to embrace him.
“Maybe in a twisted way this is for the best.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you're right and Clark is in love with him, and this terrible thing would have had to have happened no matter what... At least it was before anything became of the attraction. Cleaner that way.”
“That's a terrible thing to say. Nothing could be worse then never knowing what could have been. That fucking monster stole their chance.”
“Maybe... But they've known each other for at least five years. If it had been meant to be, why wasn't it already?”
“Everybody is different.”
“That's one excuse. There must be hundreds... Maybe the attraction is one sided? Who knows.” He sighed sadly. “Except what I've seen in regards to his kids, I've never seen that man show a shred of affection to anyone. Bravery and loyalty in spades. Passing moments of civility even. But never genuine kindness.”
“That's not true. There have been times when Clark's been hurt. He's looked after him.”
“He's looked after all of us. He'd never leave a man down, Barry. But out of affection or because we're some of his best 'guns'?”
“Hal, why are you saying these things? You're making an injured man who's saved your ass numerous times sound like a ruthless robot.”
“Because I don't want you to run with this idea you've got in your head. It's not our place to fix what may not have even been to begin with. Bats is a good man. But I don't see how he can be a loving man. More so now. As for Clark... Clark needs a lot more than he knows what to ask for, probably way more than a single father getting over the trauma of rape with three kids to keep it together for can give him. I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I'm not trying to to kick a man when he's down. I'm just doing a piss poor job trying to say... We can't help them the way you want to. They'll figure out what's best.”
“That seems so unfair.” Barry voice held a slight tremor in it. “They didn't even get to try.”
Hal's heart broke a little with Barry's lament. He found the blonde's hand with his own and squeezed, wondering where they'd be right now if they had had their chance stolen away. Hell, Barry was right. He'd rather have died then go a minute longer wondering what it might be like, being with the person he fell in love with. But he just couldn't see it. The two of them together. They were both so guarded. One needing desperately, the other unable to give. Could Clark love a man who had confessed to wearing so many masks he probably never showed his true face? He wished he could see how.
The farmhouse was right before them again, the early evening sun dipping lower. It had been a long walk. The half-pint was carrying the tuckered out hairball but the poor kid looked like he could use a nap. Barry perked up a little and scooped the kid and the puppy into his arms.
“You remind me of Uncle Clark.” The kid said between yawns.
There were worse people to be compared to. At least it made Barry smile.
Inside the warm home was a scene as ludicrous as the drunken Bat's catty remarks and flirtations from the night before. In the living room was Bruce, barely holding an album of what appeared to be newspaper clippings out of Clark's hands. Richard and the middle kid were doubled over laughing, and even the old fellow Mister Pennysworth's raised hand could not conceal a humorous grin. The Bat evaded Clark's increasingly insistent demands for the return of the album, the mischievous spark growing in his eyes the redder Clark's face got. Finally having enough, Clark snatched the book so blindingly fast the Bat cried out from the friction burn. Well I'll be... It's the Batman / Superman Comedy Hour.
“Clark Jerome Kent!” Martha materialized with a scolding finger poised to wag. “You do not go ripping things out of other people's hands, young man!”
“Yeah, Jeroooome.” Bruce teased, delighted. It didn't last long for the martriarch of the farm was on him just as swiftly. “Hey!” He cried out and step behind Clark to escape from being taken by the ear.
“Don't hide behind me, Alan.” Clark scoffed, trying to corral the other man so he could face the music. The angry old lady music.
“You were the one who ripped the book out of my hand. And you lit the candles with your laser vision even though you're not allowed to laser eye in the house! Why am I getting the abuse?”
“Tattle tale!”
“Ooh, you are both deserving of a good spanking.” Martha threatened. Clark seemed to have decided they stood a better chance against the old gal united as he stopped fighting Bruce and instead concentrated on keeping out of Martha Kent's reach.
“She gets really feisty in the afternoon.” Bruce admonished.
“It's the afternoon tea. It really perks her right back up!” Clark explained, ducking away from a swat. Which was exactly the opportune moment Bruce needed to snatch the album back and make a dash to the next room, stopping just shy of crashing into Barry and himself. “You’re like a wet noodle, you know that?”
“A wet what?” Bruce queried, clearly confused. Which was exactly the opportunity Clark needed to vault his mother and snatch up both Bruce and the book in one fell swoop. “Not fair.” Bruce pouted, but seeing as how Clark had them hovering parallel the second floor he didn't struggle much before relinquishing the book. He waited for Clark to toss the book carelessly into his bedroom before he tossed his head haughtily. “I'm just going to read it when you're not paying attention.”
“No you aren't.” Clark promised, drifting back down to the main floor slowly. “Tim will tell me if you or Jason or Dick go in there, won't you Tim?”
“Stop using the boy for evil!” Clark was holding him with an arm around his waist and another supporting his back, hovering just off the ground as he grinned up at Bruce. And Bruce was laughing, a smile shining a light right through him as he looked down at Clark.
Hal could definitively say that was the first time he'd ever truly seen them together.
Even when the seconds passed and the two men remembered they were supposed to be awkward and angry with each other, the smiles chased from their faces by the reality of what still lay between them... Or when the minutes passed and the illness Leslie Thomkins predicted set in, the moment of merriment draining Bruce enough for the fever to take hold... Or when the hours had passed and there was nothing but a tight blank mask on both men, Hal still finally understood.
They deserved their chance.
How could Clark not love somebody who could smile like that?
- 16
- 17
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Tears and Rain