The Next Step (Superbat, Fly With Me sequel)

7 - Stunned

Clark can't move.
He knows he must be making a face but he doesn't have the strength to stop. Bruce is speaking but everything is muted and slow, like being trapped in amber.
Slowly he manages to raise a hand. Gently, like he's afraid of hurting it, he touches his stomach.
There's no way, he thinks. I mean yes I'm an alien who doesn't know much about his own reproductive system or internal organs at all. But surely I'd have sensed something? I'm not that dumb?
He manages an audible sound, a groan.
I wouldn't have sensed anything. I'm too wrapped up in the family and the wedding planning and myself to keep any of my super senses functioning at peak efficiency.
He concentrates. And he hears something new! A 2nd heartbeat inside himself!
He must've been synced up with the fetus, or close enough, that he didn't notice until he stopped and focused.

He finally comes back to his senses entirely, Bruce is holding his free hand silently. "Sorry, I didn't hear a word you said after, after uh womb and fetus."
Bruce nods reassuringly, "I noticed. Its okay, its a lot to take in. Im kind of shut down emotionally until you're okay and the guests leave. I don't like emotions with an audience, and I can't burden you."
"It isn't a burden. We can process together. After all, we did this together." He gestures at his abdomen and winks.
Bruce chuckles, his hand comes up hesitantly, "May I?" He looks expectantly at Clarks stomach.
"Yes." Its barely a whisper but Bruce must've heard it because slowly he rests his hand on his flat belly. Bruce's eyes sparkle and he quickly dabs them with his sleeve.
"I've never uh, never gone through the actual pregnancy part of being a dad before. All the boys are adopted, and Damiens situation is.. complicated. I didn't know he existed until he was like 10. I never thought I'd get a chance to be a dad through traditional means."
His voice is tight with emotion. Clark looks at the image of the lump of cells inside him.
"How far along do you think I am?"
"About 3 months." Bruce stops a moment and flushes, "I'm so sorry! I didn't think aliens could get pregnant, I should've been more careful or examined any information you have on your people. You're okay with this right? I know you wanted kids but this is a lot different, you'll have to be a hermit or blow your secret identity or-" Clark hugs Bruce's face into his chest to cut off his panicked rambling. "Shhhh, you're going to have a heart attack if you don't calm down."
There's a muffled indignant protest and Clark let's Bruce go. Bruce is pouting slightly. "You didn't have to do that."
Clark shrugs and kisses Bruce's nose. "I was thinking fast, not thinking well."
He pauses. "I'm okay with giving birth, but I don't know how we'll manage the baby bump issue yet. We can focus on that later. I think we need to go to bed right now before one of us," he gives Bruce a pointed look, "has an aneurysm trying to plan the next 18 years all at once."
Bruce nods, with just a bit of an embarrassed blush creeping up his neck, and takes Clark by the hand.
"Yeah, let's go sleep."
. . .

Bruce did not get any sleep. The party ended uneventfully, Alfred texted him to let him know, but he was worried about how Talia and her Father would react to Clarks pregnancy. Knowing them, they'd know sooner rather than later. What if they hurt Clark, the baby or Conner in their attempt to made their perfect army?
Damien had just been an attempt for a perfect heir, and when he showed that he felt human things like compassion he'd been discarded.
This new perfect army thing was concerning to say the least. Going to drive Bruce into an early grave from stress more than likely. The Al-Ghuls want to destroy the world and remake it in a way ideal to their beliefs. They were formidable enough without an additional kryptonian army.
He was going to delve deeper into his stressed out thoughts when Clark tossed an army over him and snuggled in close. The moment he stopped to appreciate the warmth and love that radiated off Clark, he fell asleep.