The Fake Boyfriend

Attraction

Bruces research has uncovered next to nothing. Clark is an average if shy country boy, who writes excellent articles, and that is it.
Bruce had stayed in Metropolis that night, and had Alfred buy him some casual black clothes. The interview would be here at the hotel, and the date would be after.
Bruce is still shirtless when Alfred brings Clark into the room. Oops. He'd been thinking too much and too long and hadn't gotten ready in time. Well, he could make this work.
Alfred was gone as soon as he'd made sure Clark and Bruce were in the same room.
  Bruce smiles and lounges back on the bed, "The couch is over there, but the bed is much more comfortable." He winks and Clark almost falls over the coffee table, unable to take his eyes off of Bruce as he stumbles to the couch.
Bruce slowly puts his sweater on and makes his way over to sit close to Clark. "Ask away." It took Clark a few moments to register what Bruce said but as soon as he did a stream of questions bombarded Bruce. With his hand on Clarks knee Bruce answers them all, smiling as his little reporter flushes and turns a delightful crimson color. "And finally, what are your plans for the next year?" He meant investments, inventions and important stuff from Wayne Corp. The answer he got was, "To make you my boyfriend."
Clark suddenly shoots to his feet, "I can't. You live in Gotham, its too far. Long distance doesn't work out. I don't want to be just another notch in your belt. I don't know what my parents would say, I haven't come out to them. Am I even gay? I-" Bruce listens to the panicked excuses and unwraps a chocolate from the bowl on the table. And then he pops it into Clarks mouth. "Calm down."
You can't panic and eat chocolate at the same time. So while Clark's trying to eat and process the situation Bruce begins, "I understand you're worried, but we'll keep it a secret. I really do want to try dating you."
He wants to be as earnest sounding as possible. But he doesn't want to pressure him, so he turns away and walks to the window to give him a bit of space. "Think it over, if you're interested meet me at the chinese resturaunt near the park for dinner. Let's say 6. It looks discreet enough that we won't get a ton of attention."
Clark stammers, clutching his notepad. "I dont- im not sure- maybe??" Then he hurriedly leaves.

Bruce leaves shortly after Clark. His disguise is a hoodie and some tattered second hand jeans. He keeps his head down and meanders a good distance behind Clark.
Clark goes back to work. He is in there for a good while, probably typing up the interview. Then he emerges and scurries down the street into an alley. But when Bruce rounded the corner he finds a pile of Clarks clothes stuffed behind an old phone booth, and no Clark. He slips a tracking device into the pants and walks back down the street. Intrigued and confused.

He changea and attendes to some boring image related stuff like visiting a rich acquaintance who has plenty of paparazzi outside their home. And eating lunch in a fancy restaurant where he is sure to be seen. All day he watches the tracker. Clark must've put the clothes on and started moving again a little while after he left. And then he went to some boring places like work, a coffee shop, and the library. Probably researching and doing coffee runs. But nothing that explained why he took his clothes off and vanished.
His tracker stops in an alley again. And a little while after that Bruce, who'd gone to check the clothes while disguised again, feels eyes on the back of his head. He turns around and sees a beautiful caped man hovering far too close to him. "Clark??"

If the flirting had made Clark panic, being recognized must be terrifying for him. "Bruce?! How did you know? Why are you dressed like that? Are you stalking me? Please don't tell anyone." Bruce rubs his forehead and laughs, before looking up at Clark. "You're Superman. How did I miss that?" He pauses a moment before asking incredulously, "Your disguise is glasses and combing your hair??"
There is awkward silence for a moment. And then Bruce smiles. "Meet me for the date and we'll talk about it." Reluctantly Clark lets him leave before hurriedly changing.

The chinese place is a hole in the wall with only two other patrons who are speaking mandarin and ignoring the two men in the corner booth. Bruce is dressed casually but nicely in all black and Clark is in his casual civilian clothes too.
"Clark I think you need to rethink my proposal. "Secretly" dating me is a good way to throw nosey people off your real secret." Clark shakes his head, lowering his gaze. "I'm not sure. Why are you so insistent on dating me anyway?"
Bruce debates on telling him, and decides that honesty would work best with this man for the moment.
"You're undeniably attractive, adorably bashful and I have similar motive for picking you as you have for potentially agreeing to this. If I'm being honest. I needed someone who'd be a perfect in the closet, 'secret' boyfriend to keep the media off other parts of my private life."
He can tell Clark is processing several emotional responses, "Bruce. You could've chosen literally anyone else. This seems like a lot of effort to choose me specifically." He secretly also thinks it's a bit of a dick move to out someone as a means of covering his ass, but he figures he shouldn't say that out loud.
Bruce likes Clarks question, he's smarter than his panicked first few impressions lead one to believe. "I couldn't pick just anyone. If we rule out every straight, unattractive, committed and asexual man then that leaves a bunch of people who suspect me and a bunch of people who want to use dating me to get tabloid famous. They would leak the secret as soon as my back was turned. I figured someone who wasn't out yet would be preferential. This could be a short or year long arrangement, and it would go something like this- first we get sighted in a few too many places together, me in the bad celebrity disguise of a ball cap and sunglasses. Then we get caught on what could be assumed to be a date or hook up a few times. And then eventually you warm up to coming out of the closet and we date publicly until you get tired of me."
The matter of fact tone of voice Bruce uses makes that last line sad. Clark puts a hand on his arm. "Why would I get tired of you? Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you're a great partner."
Bruce again realizes how attractive Clark is, and it makes his heart beat a little faster.
He shakes his head and smiles, "Does that mean you'll accept my offer? If it sweetens the deal any I can give you an allowance. I've seen your apartment and it's not as nice as you deserve."
Clark is already very very tempted, and he can't resist when financial benefit is added to it. Having a "secret" fake boyfriend could actually help make the suspicion about his sudden vanishing go away. And he did really need the money. It was weird that Bruce had somehow seen his apartment but Clark incorrectly assumes he had just Googled the building. "Okay, it's a deal."
Bruce smiles and leans in, "want to seal it with a kiss?"
Clark, still shy, leans back and chuckles nervously. "Uh how about you buy me a drink first?"
Bruce takes Clark up on that and brings him back to his hotel to the bar. They have a bunch of drinks and end up dancing and laughing. Clarks strong hand resting on the small of Bruces back as they dance slowly chest to chest. "You know what I was planning on doing last time we were like this?" Bruce asks, his voice low and rasping in Clarks ear. "No, what?" Clark isn't affected by the alcohol but his face is just as flushed as the tipsy billionaire in his arms. And it is just from being so close to such an attractive man.
Bruce reaches up to run his hand through Clarks hair before smiling and leaning up, "This." He presses a soft kiss to Clarks lips, and Clark freezes. Just as he is about to try and kiss back, Bruces phone beeps and he lets him go to check it. "I'm sorry I have to turn in, gotta head back to Gotham tomorrow. The person I left in charge of the company is a little overwhelmed. I'll see you soon though." He winks, blows Clark a kiss and just like that is vanishing into the elevator.
Clark touchs his lips softly and smiles as he wanders back home.