(A/N)
So, I have these four little babies I have taken in recently, they just turned seven weeks old, and it is sooo much more expensive and time consuming than you'd expect. On the left is Dominic (Dom), top is Chiopolis (Chi), bottom is Anarchy (Annie), and on the right is Jubilee (Jubes). I barely got any sleep as it was, and now I've got these little children are sleeping less now, so it has been so hard to get a chapter up, but I promised myself I would do it this week, so here you go.
"Bruce, hold his head up..." Clark floats wearily behind his boyfriend, who is currently nursing a newborn calf.
"Hold the bottle up more, he's not getting anything!"
Bruce whips his head around to face the alien and flashes his bat glare. "Clark, I told you I do not know what I'm doing. So either take the damn cow, or shut up."
Clark decides to shut his mouth and sit back on a pile of hay.
"What's so funny." The billionaire glares.
"Oh, nothing..."
"You've got that shit eating grin on your face. Wha-......" A warm, wet sensation fills Bruce's torso. "........... I swear to god if it just pissed on me Clark,"
The Kryptonian cackles, falling off of the hay in a fit of laughter. "Maybe next time you'll listen to me, hm?"
Bruce narrows his eyes, puts the calf down, and marches out of the barn without so much as a glance at any of the Kents.
Martha finds him upstairs in Clark's room, trying on his old clothing. Bruce's dripping hair dampening the collar of every shirt he tries.
"I didn't bring any extra clothes...." he says without turning around, lifting a blouse from over his head "All of these are too small..."
Martha doesn't bother covering her smile. She practically waltzes across the room, taking the blouse from Bruce and going into the closet only to come out with one that is roughly his size.
"I leave extras in here for when he visits..."
Bruce takes it and puts it on, mentally cringing at the cheap polyester. "Thank you"
He watches her as she exits the room, her dress and apron flowing in unison and she steps down the stairs. "Dinner's in an hour!" She calls back to him.
An hour later, he finds himself sitting in the exact same seat he was in when they visited the last time.
"So Bruce," Martha walks around the table, plopping spoonfuls of mashed potatoes onto everyone's plates. "When are you going to bring Dick down here? I'm sure he'd love to see the animals... Maybe do a little farmwork... it'd be lovely work for a boy like him."
Bruce rubs the back of his neck and sighs. "I'm not sure. He's got a lot of work to do.... School, and-"
"Oh, well he can come down in the summer! We'd love to meet him."
He sighs again and turns to his plate. "Sure."
Clark glances up from his dinner at Bruce, and rubs reassuring circles on his thigh from under the table. He mouths 'It's okay' and goes back to his food.
It takes everything in Bruce not to tell the Kents everything right then and there...
***
Two days later, he's sitting at his computer, cowl hanging around his neck like a miniature cape as he types away.
"Sandwich, Master Bruce?" Alfred places a platter next to Bruce, barely making a sound. He pours a cup of tea, and prepares himself for any instructions.
"Thank you, Alfred. That's all." The man picks up a sandwich, takes a bite from the corner, and places it back down, fully aware that he probably won't touch it again for the rest of the night.
Alfred sighs and makes his way to the stairs.
Clark floats in from the batmobile entrance and makes himself at home.
"I'm telling you Bruce, either you tell Dick or I will."
He all but smashes his hands down onto the keyboard. "You will do no such thing. He doesn't need to know. I don't need him to worry. Understand?"
Clark somewhat nods. He throws his head back and groans. "He's gonna find out at some point. How do you plan to keep a surgery from him? Or better yet, the recovery... And what if it comes back? What'll you do then?"
"Clark shut your goddamn mouth. We will get there when we get there-"
"Surgery for what...?" Dick stands, in his pajamas, in the middle of he stairs.
"Go back to bed....."
"No, Bruce. I heard you say my name, so I listened. What are you having surgery for."
Bruce doesn't say anything. He turns his head back to the screen.
Dick shifts his gaze to Clark, half in disbelief, and half in anticipation and fear for what the answer could be.
The Kryptonian gives only a sad shake of his head. "It's not my place to tell you...."
Dick is furious. His face turns an angry red and he grabs Bruce by the shoulder and swivels him around in the chair. "What. Is. Happening. To you."
He again, gets no answer.
"Bruce, I'm scared for you.... please just tell me what's going on....."
"Dick.... you have nothing to be worried about. Please just go back to bed."
The frustrated boy marches down the rest of the stairs and plants himself at the side of his mentor's seat. "I have a right to know if something is wrong."
Clark stands up hesitantly, and says, "He's got surgery on Tuesday, look at his x-ray's to find out what it's for." He immediately speeds out of the cave to avoid the Bat's wrath.
Dick, almost searing with emotion at this point, slaps Bruce in the back of his head and commands the computer to pull up his x-rays. When the images show up, Dick has to grip the arm of Bruce's chair with everything he has not to fall over.
There, sitting idly in the left side of Bruce's chest, is a white splotch.
Dick squeaks, and manages to squeeze out a whisper. "What is that....."
Bruce sighs and runs an aggravated hand down his face "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I wanted you to be happ-"
"What is it, Bruce!" The Boy Wonder is fuming at this point, practically unable to conceal the fear, anger, and sadness coursing through him.
"It's breast cancer, alright? Stage two. The surgery is Tuesday morning if you'd like to come..."
"What's going to happen to you......"
"I'll be fine," Bruce answers, leaning back in his seat. "I'll stay in the hospital for a few days after, and no patrol for at least two weeks. But I'll be fine...."
Dick takes a moment to process the situation before settling on his mentor's lap for comfort. "What if it comes back...?"
"If it does," the older man begins, running a hand through Dick's raven hair. "I start chemotherapy.... Leslie doesn't think it'll come to that though. I should be okay."
Dick nods and curls against Bruce's chest. He crosses his arms and makes himself comfortable. No matter what Bruce says at this point, Dick isn't leaving his side tonight. "Is this why Clark started that 'rule' for you?"
Bruce lets out a breath and nods. "Yes... this is why."
Dick lets a tiny smile show, as he looks up at his father figure. "Say it..." he says.
The man rolls his neck in annoyance, before meeting his son's gaze with a smile. "I love you." And he places a big, wet, slobbery kiss on the Boy Wonder's cheek and the child erupts into a fit of laughter.
I forgot to mention! My sister started a gofundme for the kittens, because we can't afford the pet fee that our landlord is requesting. Here's the link if anyone's interested! gf.me/u/f7w5n
