(Thank you to Z for giving me the title, I was out of ideas. Its simple but I like it and also good luck with writing your story)
"Come on Kent I know you can do better than this! Get out and about in the city and find a better story," he's stern yet encouraging but I still don't feel good. I hate disappointing people but I've been so busy lately that my work has suffered. I sigh and nod glumly and he tries to smile encouragingly. I think the worst part is Chief isn't a bad boss, he's understanding and supportive, even goes as far as standing by us when we make mistakes.
I walk out with my shoulders slumped, this isn't going to be a good day. Lois and I broke up recently, luckily we weren't as serious as to move in together but it means we are awkward around each other. I'm also late on half my rent by a week (I gave most of my pay to people who needed it) I'll get the money together quickly but it's just another add on to stress. I like my apartment, I like having friends over, cooking for them and relaxing with them. Superman has a fortress and Clark Kent has an apartment and I would prefer to keep both because they both show who I am.
I honestly feel like crying, all I need is a Darkseid attack and this will officially be the worst week of my life. I try to concentrate the best I can but I get distracted a few times with calls for help which Lois helps me with by covering for me since she knows who I am now. I get most of my article finished and promise it to Perry in a couple of days then I clock off, drop my things home and just fly around the earth.
It's not at all surprising where I end up all things considering. I change into my civilian outfit but I don't put on the glasses, all the heartbeats I hear are familiar as are the voices which accompany them. Bruce is having dinner at 7 when I knock on the back door.
"Come in Clark," he answers, knowing his kids (the boys and girls) wouldn't bother to knock, and obviously they would use the front door. I walk in to see Alfred, Bruce and Dick seated at the dinner table. I sit with them and Alfred gets up.
"Can I get anything for you Mr Kent?"
"Some juice please Alfred."
"Would you like anything else?"
"No thank you," I tell him as he pours me a drink and sits back down to eat.
"Sorry I've disturbed you, you're probably wondering why I'm here," Dick grins at me and Bruce just smiles a little.
"It's not like you aren't welcome here big guy," Dick assures me. "Besides we've come to expect you anyway, you come to the Manor a lot so we've learnt to just roll with it," I give him a small smile, it's all I can manage.
"You didn't disturb us," is all Bruce gives.
"Would you like some food Mr Kent? There is plenty left over."
"No thank you," I reply politely but that doesn't keep Bruce from studying me. "Where are the rest of you?"
"Damian is staying over at Colin's, he's been making sure Colin has food and even gave him some of his clothes, I believe he said something like 'TT, they have become too small for me Colin therefore you will now wear them'. It was cute to see him looking after someone else; he really is a mini Bruce.
Tim is with Steph, Jason is upstairs asleep thanks to Alfred's hot chocolate," (Alfred smirks at this) "and Barbra is with her father tonight so I decided to keep grumpy company," I actually laugh at that whilst Bruce just rolls his eyes.
"Something has happened to you though," Bruce comments casually.
"Not something I want to talk about right now," I look at him then sip some juice and he gets the idea and nods. "So how is Bludhaven?" I inquire to change the subject.
"Haven is great, they know me now and my day job is even pretty good. I'm hoping to make detective soon which is actually quite laughable since I have more experience than any other officer in the whole precinct but I knew I would have to be patient with the day job and it helps me to do the night."
Their talking and bantering lightens some of my mood a bit. I forgot how enthusiastic and bright Dick is or how much Bruce responds to his family, how much he listens and absorbs of Dick and Alfred's talking. Eventually he tells Dick to give us some time in the study so Dick cheerfully says he'll be in the gym on the trapeze.
We walk in to his large study and sit down.
"So I can make some rational guesses as to what is bothering you and they will probably be accurate, however it is easier to just hear it from you," I swallow and nod, wondering how much he's figured out.
"Lois left me, she told me she couldn't be with someone whose time is so divided and..." I blush, unable to finish that sentence. "I haven't been able to work much because there have been so many disasters lately and I'm a little late on rent," I sigh.
"Before, you were about to say something, what was it?"
"I um... Lois wanted us to get intimate in our relationship but I was afraid to hurt her and I would also prefer to wait. I wanted it to be romantic and to wait a while but she didn't want to so it ended up in an argument, not the reason why we broke up but there were a lot of them. It's just been a horrible week Bruce, a child died that I couldn't save! All of it just piling up and spinning out of control! I just can't believe she would leave me like that! I told her I love her, I told her who I was and it still wasn't enough!" I can't help it, I break down crying.
"I can help you with the rent and I can get you leave of absence with work since I won the company," I shake my head no, "but you have to decide whether you want the relationship with Lois. Personally I don't think she's good enough for you but then, I have never liked the woman."
"I don't want the help with the rent or job, I didn't come here to ask for money, I just needed a friend," I sob to him. He nods in understanding and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"I understand that Clark but if I can help I want to, I don't show it but I do care, I'm not a robot."
"The kid Bruce, he looked at me with such hope and trust, telling me he knew I would come, that he knew I would save him. How do you tell a child that badly hurt from an accident that they probably won't live! I flew as fast as I could to the hospital but his heartbeat stopped. I tried so hard to get him breathing again, Bruce!" I'm gasping and crying, arms tightly around myself to try and comfort myself, nails digging into to normally invulnerable flesh.
He doesn't say anything; he grabs me and hugs me like I have done so many times to him.
"I know it's too much to bear right now but you can't save everyone! You're exactly like me, you punish yourself for every death you can't stop and you are right to tell me that I can't save everyone as I am right to tell you the very same thing. You are one of the most kind, gentle and loving people I know and you see the best in everyone. You have so much hope that things will turn out alright and you desperately wish for a better, brighter future. This isn't your fault Clark, it never will be. If you want Lois Lane then I suggest you get her, if you decide you don't want her then I support you either way."
I say nothing; just continue to literally cry on his shoulder.
"I will call your work tomorrow whether you like it or not so you can have a week's leave of absence, plenty of time to figure out what you want to do about Lane. I will also pay your rent because I have no doubt the money went to someone who needed it more otherwise you always pay your rent without fail. I also know you do not like to just take money so I'll expect dinner in a couple of weeks where I'll take the night off and see how you're going. None of this is negotiable because I haven't seen you like this in a long time," I close my eyes and nod against his shoulder, there really is no arguing with him when he's like this.
"Thanks B-Bruce," I say in between sobs.
"As for the child do you want me to go to the funeral with you?"
"How did you know I was going?"
He ignores my question. "Do you want me to go with you?"
"Batman and Superman at a funeral...if you wouldn't mind, the parents invited me and I was going to go," I admit.
"Just don't blame yourself, I know you did the best you could," I swallow but the tears still come. "Come on Clark, Alfred will at least expect you to eat desert and since Dick is here we might as well spend some time with him, I'll even go and wake up Jason," he rubs my back soothingly then releases me and gives my shoulder a squeeze.
"You know, you're not too bad at comforting people," I give him a small smile.
"Clark, I've had four boys under my roof, all of which have lost their parents except my youngest obviously. They were bound to come to me looking for comfort at least a couple of times and I wasn't going to turn them away," he tells me as if it's obvious, which I guess it is. "You go to Alfred and tell him we will be down for desert, I'll go get the boys," he gets up and we walk to the door together.
"How are things with Jason now?"
"Much better Clark, all he ever wanted was a family and now I'm trying to convince him he's got one. He's healing slowly and getting better each time he realises I'm here for him," his eyes are full of hope and love for his son that I can't help but hug him again.
"I'll go tell Alfred," I release him and head to the kitchen.
"Ah Mr Kent, feeling better I hope?"
"I think so, it's nice to see Bruce happy and he managed to cheer me up a bit."
"That Miss Lane is a troublemaker if I do say so myself Mr Kent," I frown at him.
"Should I even ask how you knew?"
"Oh please, I may not have my son's skills as a brilliant detective but that doesn't mean I'm horrible at observation. As a butler all I do is observe people and no offence Mr Kent but you are about as good at hiding your emotions as Master Bruce is at opening up and I still seem to know what's going on in his head most of the time," he gives me a mischievous smile and serves me some apple pie and ice cream. "I'm surprised Miss Lane didn't think to help you when that boy James Robertson died," I almost spit out the ice cream I had just put in my mouth.
"You watched the news?"
"Indeed and I'm sorry but even if I had of just broken up with someone I would have had the decency to at least call them when a crisis comes up," Alfred looks at me with sympathy.
"I would have called her," I say with a sigh.
"Perhaps you should spend more time with Miss Prince, she seems interested in you," I laugh at that.
"Trying to set me up Alfred?"
"Mr Kent, you are over here enough to be considered a member of the family even if my stubborn son won't admit it. Your happiness matters, as do all of the young ones I look after which is why I do anything to put smiles on their faces," we share warm smiles before they are ruined by the other three walking in.
"Awww you're amazing Al," Dick hugs him which he returns warmly. Jason looks around awkwardly before Dick releases Alfred and grabs him, pulls him toward Alfred in a three way hug. Bruce laughs but I know he appreciates what he heard.
"Come on you four, let's get desert and take the night off, Clark isn't feeling too good and no one wants to see Mr Bright Rainbow depressed."
We all end up on the couch, Dick often pulling Jason into a tight hug which he accepts even though he puts up a fuss. Bruce makes sure he talks to all of us even though conversations usually make him uncomfortable and I actually enjoy myself with this very strange family. I even stay the night, which is a relief because I wasn't looking forward to an empty apartment. I spend most of the next day with them as well as with Tim and Damian when they return.