A Kryptonian's Fixation

Bruce: Silver Tongue

I had heard the elevator ding, so I stood up from my desk and straightened myself out. When my phone began to ring, I just opened the door to Lois and Clark, wearing my winning smile. Quickly, the dark-haired woman melted, her own flirty smile forming on her face. Clark looked tense, but he did give me a clumsy looking smile, probably out of politeness. It looked cute.

I walked over to them, taking Lois's hand first and kissing the back of it.

"It's so lovely to see you again, Mrs. Lane." I made sure my tone of voice was teasing.

She blushed, covering her mouth as she giggled. "I'm not taken yet." She teased back, slipping her hand from mine.

I laughed a little, pulling back from her before looking up at Clark. He was staring at me with these quizzical eyes. That can't be good.

"Really? Any man, even woman, would be lucky enough to have you." I said as I refocused on her. She laughed more openly as I then looked back at the big boy in blue. I gave him a firmer grin, reaching out to for his hand. "It's also a pleasure to see you too, Mr. Kent." My tone was less teasing but kept the same politeness.

He gave me a bitter smile, gripping my hand loosely. For him.

"No, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Wayne." Lair. I can tell he would rather deal with Luthor than me. The last time we met as civilians, I guess, wasn't the nicest.

"Please, call me Bruce. There's no need to be so formal." I laughed a little as I squeezed his hand harder in response to him. It was an accident, more a response to his minor aggression.

I watched as his eyes widen some, barely a fraction, and his grip loosened to something more comfortable. Quickly, I pulled my hand away from him, turning around to walk into my office where the coffee and light snacks waited. They were here on business, so I should just look to see what they had in store for me.

"Please, I assume you both are here on business, so let us get on with the interview." I flashed them both a charming smile. Oddly, they both flushed, Clark more than Lois.

"Yes!" Clark's voice pitched some, making him wince. "The interview..."

I had to turn my head away as to conceal some laughter. I liked this side of Superman better, he wasn't as "perfect" or "boy scout" as the other side. Clark was easily flustered and cute. I quite liked it.

"Is it true that you fund Batman, Bruce?"

I raised an eyebrow at the sudden question. An amused smile formed on my lips as I grabbed my cup of coffee. Getting the hard question out there, huh? She never did seem like the type to pull her punches.

Clark spluttered some, coffee dripping onto his plaid shirt. It was a dark blue at least, meaning if it stained it'd be difficult to see. Which, I assume was something that Clark would want. I then focused on Lois, directing my amused smile at her before opening my mouth to say something. Though, the American Saint interrupted me before I could even start.

"Lois!" Clark hissed, looking at her with a baffled expression.

She turned to him, giving a clear 'what?' look.

"That's a very personal question, a question that could hurt him." Clark made a hand gesture that I'm not really sure meant anything. However, his words seemed to have spoken to her as her eyes widen before she pouted some.

"I'm just trying to get to the bottom of the rumor." She whined a little.

I laughed a little, grabbing their attention. They looked at me closely, but I was mainly looking at Clark. He seemed genuinely worried despite that I've basically been flirting with the woman he likes. It's so obvious too that he likes her. Does she even know? Probably, she's a smart woman.

"It's not that personal, I don't mind sharing." I stated, waving my hand softly.

Lois beamed, a sparkle in her eyes, posed ready to write whatever I say down. Which wasn't going to be much.

"No, I'm not funding Batman." I made sure my tone was light, but firm. "He may come to me from time to time needing some help or a favor to ask, and I only give him that. He's the best that Gotham has a protector, sometimes even a detective. I know Gordan and the police department do their best, but there is only so much law-abiding men like them can do against someone like, say, the Joker." I made a pointed look cross my face as I raised a hand toward the large windows that faced the city.

The bright-eyed woman hummed, tapping her glossed lips with her pen before writing what I said down, or some variant of it. She paused in the middle of the writing to give a pointed glare at her partner. At the glare, Clark leaned forward, his eyes firm on me, though they looked soft.

"I heard that you had adopted a child. I know this is old news, but people are still wondering why. You're Bruce Wayne, the best Bachelor of the world, the playboy, and you suddenly decided to adopt a child?" Something that I can answer honestly.

"You're talking about Dick Greyson, the boy from Haley's Circus, right?" We both knew who he was talking about, but he nodded anyway. I took a small breath before speaking. "I adopted him because I was there when his parents fell. He had also witnessed it too, not only traumatizing him, but making him a target for whoever sabotaged his parents' performance." I watched as Clark's expression changed from a calm neutral look to a sadden one. "I took him in as a way to protect him, and because..." I paused, a tightness forming in my chest. I'm not going to cry. "Because I saw a little of myself in the boy..."