for justlikeacircus: Returning to Land

[stands_for_hope]

Despite Bruce's comments to the contrary, Clark was finding it just a little difficult to return to life after, of all things, a four day cruise with Bruce Wayne. Of course, quite a few things had happened on that boat, and some off of it.

For one thing, Bruce had kissed him. For another thing, he'd done a bit more than that, in public, outing not just his more inclusive sexual preferences but also the fact that they were in a relationship. And yet, it wasn't the part of the whole thing that had him feeling as if he was on another planet. Mostly he was still reeling from the fact that he was in a relationship with Bruce. More than a few years of being in love with someone somehow didn't prepare him for actually getting to kiss the man. He's not sure anything could have, to be honest.

Not that things had gone smoothly, were going to go smoothly. He knew that. He was well aware of what he'd signed up for. He also knew that since their original plan to keep things quiet and mostly go about things the way they had been (with the occasional private affection off to the side, as their own business) had been blasted out of the water, by Bruce of all people (the man had a very funny way of showing his affection sometimes), that he was going to be playing the front offense on handling most of their friends and family. In fact, he already had and he was proud that he'd managed to keep Diana from setting up some sort of party, honestly.

...at least he hoped so. She could be surprisingly sneaky at times.

He was far too terrified of Alfred to even begin meddling there, but he knew Dick. He was friends with Dick. Friends slash doting uncle slash coffee buddies with Dick. He'd watched the kid grow up, but he'd made a point of remembering and treating him like the adult he'd become and they had a pretty good relationship. That was why he texted him asking when he had time to perhaps have dinner at the restaurant they'd gone to the last time he'd been in town.

Comments

[justlikeacircus]

"In which case I will save it for when he is being particularly grumpy, that should take him down a peg or two," he grinned. The more he thought about it, the more he liked this whole arrangement, Clark was always his best back up for teasing Bruce. Now he was going to be even better.

[stands_for_hope]

"Please do," Clark said, barely able to restrain more laughter.

Because Dick had always been his best backup for teasing Bruce, and now he felt comfortable with their relationship so they could keep doing it.

"Though I shouldn't be too mean," he admitted. "Since apparently he's decided we're replacing some of my wardrobe. Possibly to save his eyes."

[justlikeacircus]

"That sounds like him. Do not let him buy you all black, he tried to do that to me when I was 12, he needs to learn that colours are a thing. And that doesn't mean dark grey." he grinned.

"He'll probably buy you more than just clothes, you know. He doesn't really know what else to do with his money, if it's not, you know, his hobbies. Whether you want to or not, you've got yourself a sugar da-" he paused, laughing too hard to continue "Oh god, I can't even finish that sentence."

[stands_for_hope]

He shook his head just a little.

"No, no, nothing like that. I'll still probably be late on my car payments as it is," because there was a balance. At least for now. Both of their pride was a little too much for allow for something like that.

"The wardrobe is mostly for show, since Bruce Wayne's 'liberal bleeding heart' boytoy can't exactly walk around in my usual misfit clothes."

[justlikeacircus]

Dick was smart enough not to say anything about that and just nodded along, but he was pretty sure that wouldn't last. Bruce would come up with some excuse about the media or something, but really it was just because he wanted to make the people he cared about as happy and comfortable as possible, and sometimes money could actually help with that, as much as they all pretended it didn't.

"Please, oh god, please never again refer to yourself as dad's 'boytoy', I can't take it." he didn't know whether it was hilarious or horrifying.

[stands_for_hope]

That got a laugh.

"Oh no, Dick, I'm the boytoy. Can't you just see?"

And he fluttered his eyelashes with a grin.

[justlikeacircus]

"No, no, I take it back, this was a terrible idea," he joked, covering his eyes with his hands "This is why I don't read the papers, i do not need to read these words about you."

[stands_for_hope]

"You think it's bad reading it," he said with a snort. "Imagine having to copyedit some of it. Or having people walk over to ask you for details."

[justlikeacircus]

"Oh god I can only imagine. Wait, no I can't, I don't want to imagine, I don't want to think about it." he'd actually done remarkably well avoiding the details ever since he first realised just how much detail there actually was.

[stands_for_hope]

"And I won't make you think about it. I promise," he said with a wave before drinking some of the water on the table.

"All the same. I can't regret a moment of it. He's worth it." And that was a man in love. "Honestly, he's worth everything."

[justlikeacircus]

That made Dick's smile turn genuine. He could see it written all over Clark's face just how he felt about Bruce, and while he was certain that Clark would be good for Bruce, he was pleased to know that Bruce could prompt that smitten expression on Clark's face in turn.

"I'm glad you think so. He probably feels the same about you, even if he isn't very good at showing it."

[stands_for_hope]

"He's actually very good at showing it," Clark admitted with a small sideways look at Dick, "you have to know the language, but he's extremely expressive in his own way."

His very very specific, occasionally violent, almost always contrary, mildly infuriating way. Suffice to say, it was a good thing that in the battle between Clark's head and a wall, Clark would actually win 99 times out of a 100.

[justlikeacircus]

Dick smiled even wider, nodding.

"I'm glad you can tell," he said honestly "For both of you, him because it means he doesn't need to try and show it like a normal person, and we all know how he feels about that, and you because it means you'll know he's not just being an ass and he really does care."

[stands_for_hope]

"Oh, he's an ass," Clark said with a chuckle, "but I know he cares. And he's trying to get better at expressing things in more... conventional ways. But I know it's hard for him. I keep trying to tell him he doesn't have to, but you know Bruce and a challenge."

Clark had declared him a Siamese fighting fish at one point and he thought the comparison was apt enough.

[justlikeacircus]

"Oh you evil genius," Dick laughed "Telling him it's okay he doesn't have to do it is like telling him you don't think he can do it, he'll be determined to prove you wrong!"

[stands_for_hope]

Clark couldn't help a laugh and a shake of his head.

"I actually genuinely mean he doesn't have to. But you're right."

And to be fair, Bruce could be surprisingly tender at certain moments. They were very select moments but still, quite sweet.

"It's going to be one hell of a roller coaster. But I'm not exactly unprepared. Or I hope I'm not."

[justlikeacircus]

"I know you do, but he won't think like that," he laughed. "He'll want to prove you wrong."

"I think if anybody can handle it, you can."

[stands_for_hope]

"He'll want to be better at it for my sake," he added, "and to be fair, I'm learning a little of how to express things his way. For his comfort. I can see how difficult it is."

He took a piece of bread from the basket again.

[justlikeacircus]

"That's good," Dick nodded "give and take... hey, he may actually make it into a healthy relationship yet," he joked.

[stands_for_hope]

He considered everything that had happened while they were on the boat.

"I think he'll be all right. He just needs someone who'll give him space when he needs it... and push when he needs it. He requires a lot of both and knowing which is when is-- well, I'm sure I'll screw it up a time or two, but I'm not going to stop trying."

He looked up at Dick with a wry smile.

"Hopefully, it'll work out."

[justlikeacircus]

"I'm sure it will," he smiled sincerely "I'm sure he won't stop trying either, he's very stubborn..."

[stands_for_hope]

"That's a word for it," Clark murmured, as much to himself as to Dick. "But he seems committed."

He might have blushed a little.

"Very committed."

[justlikeacircus]

"Good," Dick grinned. "Now, we've talked about him enough, his ears are probably burning. I take it we're going to see a lot more of you around here from now on?"

[stands_for_hope]

"I've still got my responsibilities," he admitted, "but... yes. I'll probably be over the house a little more often. Not that my stomach will be unhappy about that. Alfred's cooking is rather amazing."

[justlikeacircus]

"Yea I figured you'll still be busy back in Metropolis, but it'll be nice to see you more often, feel free to stop by when you're passing,"