A Kryptonian's Fixation

Dinner with the Waynes

Ivy's attack had happened around two, after the lunch rush thankfully. That meant the two reporters had a few hours to spare before Lois dressed them up and drove them to Wayne Manor around five. She wanted to be there early, to possibly get some scoop from the Butler.

"Why can't we just enjoy a dinner with them? We've already got enough from the-"

"They only know Wayne when they're working, or at a party," she waved her hand dismissively, which unusually irked the Kryptonian more than usual. "Pennyworth would know more. He's been by Wayne's side since he was a baby."

Clark slumped back into his seat, sighing softly. She wasn't wrong, Alfred would know a lot more about Bruce, but that felt wrong... It was a very personal invasion of the billionaire's private life. A life they were getting a tiny glimpse of because the man trusted them! Or because he liked Lois, but still!

"He won't tell us anything. If he's been with Bruce for that long, then he's likely not going to spill anything that we don't already know."

She frowned deeply; her brow furrowed in thought. She was the most aggressive and thoughtful reporter that Clark had the pleasure of knowing, but he knew that's what got her in the most trouble. It was what got her kidnapped multiple times, even before he was out and flying around. Her words matter, everyone listens to them, which was why he wanted her to be careful about what was going on. Careful about what she said about Bruce.

"I know what I'm doing, Clark." She hummed, tilting her head up in pride.

Clark shook his head before he remembered something. It made him smile, grinning a little mischievously or devilishly, not that his friend had time to see before it was gone.

"Bruce told me that Alfred was on vacation. It's why we had Dick with us." He hummed.

The woman huffed, pouting a little. There went her plan, but at least she was going to get something out of this; a free meal. She slowed down as they approached a gate. It took a couple of minutes before the two were allowed entree.

Instead of being greeted by a butler, the two were greeted by Dick, who flung himself into Clark's arms. The man laughed as he easily caught the boy and held him close.

'I want to have a kid someday. Bruce is so lucky to have a kid like him. I wonder what our kid would take after.' 

Clark quickly blinked those thoughts away and instead smiled down at the child in his arms.

"You're early! Like waay early! Dad hasn't even started cooking!" The boy laughed as he easily hopped from the man's arms and began leading them away.

Lois hummed, tilting her head in thought. She clearly was thinking of a way to spin it to make it interesting, or to try and find any form of relevance. Clark on the other hand was a little hesitant. Would the food taste good from someone who was pampered for most of his life? He wasn't sure, but he was willing to find out at least.

It wasn't long before the three of them were in a small dining area. It looked homey and simple, as a rich manor could look simple. Clark looked around him, his classes slipping to the bridge of his nose, allowing him to look through the walls and see Bruce.

The man was in a large kitchen, rather expertly cutting up some vegetables. He held such a content look on his face as he wore a rather cutely blue-purple apron. He could've pretended to be the house's chef if it wasn't for the pristine white button up and black slacks. 

"Do you think your father needs help?" Clark asked, carefully pushing his glasses back into place as he gave the boy a sweet smile.

Dick's already wide grin grew as he hurriedly nodded. The broad man chuckled at how excited he looked before he was being pulled along to where Bruce was.

The billionaire was surprised, and a bit confused, at seeing Clark being dragged in. He then snapped his head to the clock that sat just off the side of the pantry. He still had more than enough time before six. Turning back to the man, he quirked an eyebrow.

"Lois wanted to be early." The timid man hummed.

Bruce chuckled and nodded. His blue eyes watched with amusement as his ward went from pulling to pushing the Man of Steel more into the kitchen before running away. He shook his head at his son before focusing on the other.

"Came to help or get Alfred?" He teased, going back to dicing the onions. "Can you cut the fat off the chicken?"

"Sure, and yeah she wanted to corner the poor man."

Clark shook his head as he rolled up his sleeves and began to wash his hands. He then went to the awaiting chicken and began to de-fat it.

"He wouldn't say much. He's surprisingly a very sarcastic man." Bruce laughed freely at the end of that, shaking his head. There was pure love and respect in his eyes, something that made Clark's heart flutter.

'He looks so handsome like that. I want him to look at me.'

Clark quickly pushed those thoughts away. They were beginning to annoy him if he was being honest.

Bruce glanced up to Clark as the man suddenly began to ramble about how he forgot to tell her. He noticed how tense the man was, how cloudy and unfocused his eyes were. It was... strange. He hadn't seen him like that.

Now, Bruce would be honest, the main reason he had suggested the dinner was so he could watch Clark before the tower. Maybe there were clues to suggest anything that could possibly be wrong or different? So far, it didn't seem like anything.

While food was cooking, the two talked. It was relaxing, the most relaxed that the young billionaire had ever been. It was strange to feel for him. He had also learned more about the man. Apparently, he had tried out for college football in his tiny town, he made of it but he didn't stay there long. He also had taken cooking classes to impress his mother and to make ease her worry of him not eating right.

"Not eating right?" He asked, tilting his head in minor confusion.

Clark flushed, his blue eyes seemingly darkening before he quickly looked away.

"Y-Yeah... I have a fast metabolism, so I need to eat a lot or high calorie foods." He admitted with a sheepish grin.

The rich man laughed a little and nodded. The two then went on talking about other things till they had dinner done and ready with homemade ice-cream in the fridge, Mrs. Kent's recipe.

At dinner, Dick was telling the adults about everything he had done in school and the clubs he was in. There was a lot of conversation about that, and the wonder of seeing Bruce looking concern, even suggesting dropping one or two of the extra clubs so the boy could have his own time.

"It's healthy to take a break." He hummed.

The boy gave Bruce the most unamused look, an eyebrow in a perfect arch similar to how Bruce looked whenever he someone tried to directly lie to him. The two stared at each other before Bruce sighed and nodded.

"Hypocrite, I know." He pouted a little as his boy grinned at him. "You really shouldn't take after me." He warned.

"But I like you! And the clubs are fun and so easy!" Dick countered.

Bruce only shook his head, giving him an amused smile.

"Fine, but the moment your grades start slipping or-"

"I know, I know." Dick pouted at the man before quickly turning to the very amused looks of their guests.

Clark covered his mouth as father and son began to blush. It seemed they had gotten comfortable enough with their presences that they had actively forgotten about them. Bruce cleared his throat and gave them a somewhat apologetic smile, but Clark could hear the increase heartrate.

"Sorry, we're not use to people having dinner with us like this."

The Kryptonian felt his chest swell with pride, but he didn't really know why. It was... Strange to him.

"It's perfectly fine, Bruce. You were having a lovely moment with your ward." Lois gave a sweet smile to the rich man, causing him to grin back.

The alien reporter didn't understand why, but he was annoyed with her. He brushed it off as him being unnerved by her more aggressive attitude than usual. He'll talk with her about it after his check up with Batman. That wasn't going to be fun.