A Kryptonian's Fixation

Grocery Shopping

Bruce got out of work surprisingly early. Early enough that he was actually able to pick Dick up from his after-school activities. The older man often wondered if being Robin was hard on the boy, seeing as he would stay up late and get up early and do whatever he has to all day, along with after-school things. Yet, his grades were good, he always seemed to have something to say or do in his clubs. He also never complained about being Robin or the lack of sleep... Bruce should talk with his charge about that, just to make sure he wasn't pushing the boy too hard.

"Why don't we pick some things up from the store?" The billionaire asked, glancing over to the younger male as he finished buckling in.

The circus child looked up at his adoptive father in slight confusion, the words not processing just yet. His eyes then widen before he nodded firmly with a wide smile. He had forgotten that Alfred was on vacation, so they were in charge of the shopping.

"Why don't we shop like normal people?" Bruce gave a smile to the boy, who quietly laughed at the words. They weren't normal. They were far from normal.

"Okay!" The boy wheezed, his grin growing. They were going to stand out like a sore thumb, but who cares? They were going to be having a bonding moment, which made the boy smile more.

Clark sighed as he looked through Gotham's Supermarket. Surprisingly, none of these things were expensive, but they all were contained in a certain, concerning way. Yet, he shook it off as he headed to the sugar isle. Lois likes her coffee with sugar and cream, he just likes simple cream in his coffee, and Batman likes his black.

The dark-haired reporter paused for a second in his stride before going on. Why had he thought about Batman and the way he liked his coffee?

'Bruce likes his coffee black too.'

Clark bit the bottom of his lip as he looked between the pricings of sugar. That was true, Bruce was still on his mind. Something was just nagging at him, pushing him towards the playboy. He wasn't sure what though!

Suddenly, someone bumped into him. Blinking, he turned around and looked down. Looking up at him was a boy with dark as night hair with shimmering blue eyes. Those eyes were similar to Bruce's, but they weren't haunted like his. Was that what was drawing him in to the mysterious billionaire? That ever-present haunted look?

"Hi." Clark gave a warm smile to the kid, who tilted their head. "I'm Clark." He hummed.

The boy blinks before smiling back at the man. He then grabbed the older man's arm before pointing to the high self across from them. On said shelf was an array of candies, mostly tart-to-sweet candies.

Chuckling, the broad man naturally picked the boy up and allowed him to take what type he wanted. While there, the child had also grabbed a thing of chocolate chip cookies. The boy giggled some, beaming up at the older male before him.

The reporter smiled back with a soft laugh and setting the kid down. He then started looking around for a possible parent. No one seemed to fit the bill, and no one seemed to be panicking.

"Dad's in another isle. He said I could pick out some sweets to eat since our Butler isn't in town to make some."

Dick looked at the taller man as he refocused on him. He fixed his glasses some as they were sliding off his face, but he gave a gentle smile. Normally Dick wouldn't have asked for help from a stranger, but something about the man before him just told him to trust him. Bruce had always said to listen to his gut instinct.

"That's good. Do you need me to walk you back to him?" The man's voice was deep, but in a soft and soothing way.

'Dad would like him. He seems honest.' Dick giggled some at his thought, getting a raised eyebrow from the stranger.

"Yes, please! I need someone to blame if he says I can't have my sweets." There was a teasing tone at the end that made the older man smile more and chuckle under his breath.

Clark looked back at the sugar before just grabbing the cheapest one he could and following the boy who walked beside him. Of course, the treats were in Clark's buggy, simply because he saw how they fitted awkwardly in the little boy's arms.

As the two walked, they talked a little bit, asking each other questions.

"Where do you work?"

"I work in Metropolis, at the Daily Planet. I'm a reporter there."

"Cool! That sounds fun! Dad owns a few buildings out there."

"I should've seen that coming." The older man had paused in pushing his cart to ruffle the younger boy's head. "What about school? Anything good?"

"Uh-huh! Straight A student genius! I've already skipped a grade!" There was a proud look on his face at this.

"Straight A?" There was an impressed tone coming from the reporter. "Now that is interesting. Don't tell me you spend all your time in the house?"

The boy shook his head, his hair waving about at the motion. "No! Dad would never allow that, and I'll be too antsy!" He cried out, jumping some. "I'm in lots of clubs too, so I'm around a lot of people!" He smiled at that.

Clark gave the boy a worried look. Was that too much pressure on him? "Isn't that too much pressure?" He asked.

"Nope!" The boy popped the P at the end, smiling. "I like it! It challenges me! Dad does say that I don't have to do so much too, but I don't like sitting around doing nothing." The child ended this with a pout.

Again, the older man reached down and ruffled the boy's head, laughing some. What an ambitious kid, they reminded him of someone.

"Still, breaks aren't too bad."

The boy tilted his head at this before giggling and nodding. Yes, his dad had told him that before too.

They soon entered a form of silence, both of them stopping for Clark to add things to his cart.

"What's your name again?" The boy suddenly asked, making the glasses-wearing man laugh.

"I'm Clark, and you are?"

The boy opened his mouth, his eyes crinkling with his ever-present smile. He never got to say his name as someone walked behind him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"I'm surprised to see here, Mr. Kent, and with my boy."