The Curse Of Knowledge (SuperBat)

9 Hm

While Bruce went to the living room with Alfred to calm down, Clark contacted Dick about the mask. Damian stayed with Clark. Clark made sure to hide the mask back into the box.

"I don't know," Dick said, pertaining to the mask. It was taken to Gotham PD. Where did Alfred get the package?"

"The post office," Clark answered. "Do you think we should check with Gotham PD and make sure there are no bad actors or anything stolen?"

"Yeah," Dick said. "It will have to be my next move. The Joker is out here free, and he could wreak havoc anywhere."

Clark asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"

"I got Jon," Dick said. "But thank you. Keep Bruce safe."

"Alright."

And then Dick hung up.

Damian said, "I'm going to go around to see what's going on in the city. I can be your detective eyes, if you want. Either way, I will be going out."

"If you find anything, please."

"No problem. You can leave it to me."

Soon Damian left.

That evening, once Bruce had his eyes on Clark, he wouldn't let go. Clark tried to keep Bruce with Alfred, so he could take care of his needs. He had to admit defeat by taking him to shower with him.

Clark noticed that some of Bruce's bruises were fading. The cuts were beginning to be just tiny scars. Bruce was physically healing.

After Clark was finishing washing them both down, he asked, "Want a bubble bath?"

Bruce nodded. "You too."

"Me too?"

"Yeah!"

Clark and Bruce sat in the bathtub filled with water and bubbles. They sat facing each other. Bruce's legs had to stay in between Clark's in order for them to both fit. It didn't bother Bruce at all.

Bruce played with the bubbles and splashed the water. He was beginning to relax again.

Clark watched how Bruce calmly played in the water. He knew Bruce wasn't ready to come back.

Bruce noticed Clark staring. He looked down guilty. He asked quietly, "Are you sad because of me?"

"No," Clark quickly said. "I'm not sad. I just... Worry about you."

Bruce looked to the side. "Is it about me being three?"

"It's," Clark tried to gather his words so as to not hurt Bruce's feelings. "It's about you healing from what happened to you."

Bruce look down at himself. "I'm getting better."

"Physically."

Bruce sighed, "I'm okay. They hurted me a lot, but I'm okay." If he didn't understand, it was less mental anguish to himself. He looked back up at Clark. "Come on. I'm fine. Don't be sad."

"I'm not sad," Clark said.

"You look sad. You are sad." Bruce got up on his knees, making the water slosh heavily. "Come here." He held his arms out.

"Bruce-."

Bruce didn't wait for a reply. He got on Clark's lap and pulled him into a tight hug. "It will be all right!" His arms rested on Clark's shoulders.

Clark cringed as he felt Bruce make complete body contact with him. He didn't prefer to have intimate parts touching when Bruce was in this headspace.

But of course to Bruce, he was three. He didn't think of this as weird. It was just a hug. Boner or no boner.