AUTHOR'S NOTE: You guys are so patient with me. I really appreciate it. I know there a grammar mistakes here and there, but you all are very chill about it. I had several days without a good night's sleep due to insomnia so I'm just now getting back onto a normal sleeping schedule. No more late nights for me. Anyway, just managed to finish this chapter before I go to work. Enjoy.
Chapter 9
Superman kept a close eye on his captive at all hours. When he left to save Metropolis the kryptonian always made sure to lock Bruce back up in the main room. Never allowing the other man to have free reign of his fortress. When Kal-El did return he supervised every move Bruce made. Trailing after him as the billionaire walked about trying to figure a way to escape.
One of the first things Bruce learned was that the entire fortress had been built entirely around the sole purpose of providing for Superman. Not one of the doors would open should he go near them. Yet when the Man of Steel approached them they slid open automatically. Another thing was that it was all locked onto the alien's DNA. Should Superman leave the entire place went on lock down.
Bruce watched the coming and going of the kryptonian. Yet even he could not readily find a way out from his imprisonment without somehow convincing the alien to release him. Other than the first week when he had first arrive, Superman made no threats to him. In fact, he seemed to ignore him. Or else ask him in a soft tone did he need anything. Bruce rarely requested anything from the alien other than books to read.
Finally, it seemed Superman decided he could trust his captive. A month had passed since Bruce's capture. This time on his return the alien's suit was an entire mess. One eye blood red from vessels bursting within them. His red cape nothing more than a rag which hung limply on him. The billionaire did not have to ask if it had been a hard fight.
"Don't talk to me." Kal-El said just as Bruce began to open his mouth. The CEO went silent watching as the alien moved towards the main door. The alien's face was strained as if he were holding back from screaming at someone.
After a second Bruce got up from the bed where he had been reading and followed his former comrade. Setting aside his book as he darted after him. Superman walked through the crystal door not even turning around as his captive slipped in after him. When they came to another door Kal-El stood in the doorway and waited for Bruce to go ahead of him before going on.
Bruce fell into step behind Superman. Already he could tell they were headed to a part of the fortress he had not seen before. Unlike the others the halls arched upward into crystal spires. After about ten minutes of walking they came to a large cavern much like the one Bruce had first seen when he had been brought there. Instead of being empty, however, a supercomputer was located in the center of the room. Whirring with activity as robots with Superman's logo worked at the consoles. Others gazing at screens processing information before walking to another screen to watch a different feed.
"Are the prisoners ready for transport?" Superman asked one of the passing robots wearily. Bruce could only gape at all the technology shocked it even existed. This had all been hidden right under his very nose. The robot's red eyes gazed unblinkingly at the kryptonian a small computer in its hands as if it had been about to start surfing the web.
"Yes, sir, they will be delivered to the location you specified one you give the word. Shall I do it now?"
"No, I have to show them to a friend first. When I give the order you can send them." Superman said to his mechanical subordinate. The robot nodded its headed then walked away. Its head bent down to gaze at the screen in front of it.
Bruce began to feel nervous as he followed after the alien towards the other side of the room. Located on the center wall was what looked like a throne. On an upraised dais the CEO wondered how long Kent had been hiding all this from him. He had known the alien to have robots, but never to this extent. He had just assumed they were backup for Metropolis, not a whole information network.
Superman walked up to the throne and sat down with a tired sigh. When he saw Bruce lingering at the steps he motioned for him to come up to him. His hand moved over the arm of the chair pressing buttons which Bruce could not see. He saw only the slight flickering of a light before it faded away. So, it wasn't a throne but the main control center.
"Before you get any ideas, no, you can't control anything. This is all Krytpon technology. There's nothing like it on Earth." Kal-El stated bluntly. Bruce nodded his head, still unsure if he should speak or not. There was an irritated tone to the alien's voice as he worked. From time to time muttering a command in what Bruce assumed was Krypton language.
After a few minutes there was a slight hiss to their right. Four capsules shot up with a person in each one. Bruce gazed at them wondering who they were. One appeared to be some type of batgirl, her wings folded around her as if she were taking a nap rather than knocked out. Another was a large black man with bulging muscles and long dreadlocks. Beside him was a young Chinese man who could not be no older than nineteen judging by his looks. Apart from all three was another young man with spiky purple hair and a black trench coat. His face decorated with multiple piercings in his ear, nose, and even eyebrows.
"Did they do that to you?" Bruce asked after a few minutes. He glanced at Superman, who nodded in reply. The alien got up from his control panel and came to stand beside him. They both gazed down at the criminals in silence.
"They call themselves the Elite. I had to take them out. They were going around killing people. Stating they were doing it to make the world a safer place." Superman explained. Bruce glanced at his former friend, saying nothing as the alien moved away. He gave an order to a robot and the capsules disappeared upward with a soft hiss.
"Seems they gave as good as they got." Bruce replied. Superman grunted in response but said nothing more. When the alien gazed at him with his two different colored eyes Bruce could not help but think how crazy it made the alien seem. Superman's damaged eye had slowly begun to heal turning a healthier white as the blood vessels began to close.
"Do you think I'm wasting my time, simply putting people back in jail?" Superman asked softly. Bruce stared at the other man in alarm. Kal-El did not break his gaze continuing to look at him in askance.
"From what I've seen it's like a drug. Once you start you never really stop. You tell yourself it's for the greater good, but at what cost? Begin to think what's one more life in the face of humanity?" Bruce replied. Kal-El didn't appear to hear him. His captor moved away towards his throne again. This time falling into it with a tired sigh as he covered his face in his hands. Refusing to look Bruce in the eye.
"Isn't it just a waste of time? We claim were saving people, but they always break out. No matter what we do the animals always get loose. There are just days I…we might as well be murderers. For all the good we've done several hundred people die regardless." Kal-El raised his head then to stare at Bruce. His eyes distant as his thoughts turned inward.
"We've done nothing."
"We've done far more good than you think. There are always going to be those people who want to hurt others. Who take an innocent human life without even caring who that person was. You've always said we're better than that. We have to set an example for the rest of the world." Bruce argued. It felt strange he should comfort the man who held him captive.
"It's just a lie. All of it. There's no justice in the world. There's just the idea of it." Superman said bitterly. Rising suddenly he moved away from his throne. Traveling deeper into the fortress.
Bruce hesitated, and then ran after him. He had a feeling of dread Clark might do something drastic. They went deeper and deeper, soon passing the rooms filled with computers. One thing Bruce noticed was how completely silent it felt in the fortress. Despite the collection of animals, robots, and whirring computers the place felt empty. Almost as if it were nothing more than a gilded cage to keep the Man of Steel from destroying the rest of the world.
Superman finally turned and went through a door. When Bruce came in after him missing the door by inches, he was surprised by what he found. The room was strikingly modern compared to the rest of the place. While the walls were still made of crystal, pictures hung on them now. Mostly of landscapes of various places around the world. One with the Great Wall of China set against a sunset. Another of zebras grazing alongside elephants in the savannah.
Plush carpet beneath his feet was a pleasure Bruce thought he would never have again. Superman took off his ruined suit and tossed it to the floor with a tired sigh. Not even bothering to pick it up as he walked off to what appeared to be the bathroom. Several small bookshelves cluttered with paperbacks were against one wall. In another was a desk with a laptop sitting on top of it.
Bruce went straight to the device. He looked over his shoulder at the bathroom door. He saw steam beginning to come from it being slightly ajar. The showerhead running as Kal-El took a shower. Reaching out Bruce opened the laptop his hands shaking as he turned it on. He might just be able to send a encrypted message to the Justice League. Let them know his whereabouts.
The laptop came on without a sound. Glancing over his shoulder again to make sure his captor was still taking a shower Bruce's fingers moved fast and silently over the keys. When the home screen came on he immediately checked for internet access. Apparently alien fortresses had good Wi-Fi signals.
He quickly logged into the Justice League mainframe. Bruce began to sweat as he considered what he should write. Hands shaking he typed out a short message. Praying one of the members would find it before Superman did.
Need help. Being held captive by S. –B
Just as he reached out to hit send there was a flash near his head. Bruce gasped as his wrist was suddenly incased in a crushing grip. He yanked, trying to break free. There was no give as Superman appeared at his side. Still dripping from his shower as he pulled Bruce like a ragdoll from the chair. Reaching out with his spare hand to erase the message and shut down the computer.
"Either you're stupid, or you forgot I have super hearing." Kal-El growled as he dragged his captive away from the desk. His hair was plastered to his head, having gone flat from the water. Bruce struggled attempting to break free from the grip. He let out a pained gasp as Superman's grip tightened even more causing the bones to grind together.
"You can't expect me to just sit here and follow your every order." Bruce hissed as he yanked again at the grip. Kal-El's eyes narrowed as he glared at his captive. Droplets of water streamed down his bare chest. It was then the CEO realized uncomfortably his captor was stark naked.
"I already told you once there's no escape. Then again maybe that's my fault. Leaving my computer out where you can get to it." Kal-El said tiredly. Glancing at the laptop in question his eyes began to glow. The top of the computer began to smoke, and then the acrid scent of burned plastic filled the room as it melted.
"NO!" Bruce yelled flailing as he tried to throw himself at it. He had been so close to calling for help. Superman held him in place though, his hand moving to grab a fistful of the collar of Bruce's shirt. Holding the billionaire at arm's length as he destroyed the only means of contacting the outside world.
"You're going to hurt yourself it you keep this up." Superman snapped at him. Bruce growled, punching and kicking all the vital areas he could reach. They had no effect except to simply make him receive a glare from the hero.
"You owe me five hundred dollars, by the way."
"Fuck you, Kent!" Bruce yelled at him. All he saw was the flash of anger across Kal-El's face.
He had forgotten to take into account the hero's mental state. Superman was tired from his fight. In doubt over his own ability to keep the world safe. Questioning his own moral code over allowing the criminals to live. Only to have them break out to challenge him again.
Kal-El released his grip on Bruce's shirt. Instead wrapping his arms around the human and pulling him close to him as if he meant to hug him. He applied a steady pressure which at first had the CEO yelling in protest, and then gasping for air. Superman glared down directly into Bruce's eyes as he slowly crushed him. His arms two iron bars on the human's back.
Bruce fought and struggled to break free. He felt his ribs begin to groan from the pressure as he kicked ineffectually. His chest constricted as he opened his mouth to breathe, but could barely draw in air. Kal-El's eyes began to glow red as his heat vision began to show itself. Weakly the billionaire tugged at the alien's hair. His vision began to swim from lack of oxygen.
"Clark…please I….please…" Bruce croaked as tunnel vision began to set in.
Superman continued to glare down at him, his heat vision dying down. Inch by inch he began to let up the pressure on the man's back. Bruce had closed his eyes his face taking on a blue pallor. As the pressure eased, though, his color began to come back. After a minute his eyes snapped back open as he took in a shuddering breath. The CEO could feel the alien's fists pressed against his back. His arms crossed to better easily crush him.
"Please what?" Superman asked him darkly. Bruce froze his mind beginning to race as he tried to think of what to say. Now there was the very real fear of actually dying. His mind was still foggy from as he tried to form a coherent sentence.
"Just…please don't…don't…." Bruce croaked as his mind raced clamoring for an answer. Superman's grip began to tighten again as he slowly began to apply pressure once more.
"Don't kill me." Bruce managed. Kal-El paused, and then released his captive. Bruce groaned as he staggered away from the krytponian. His heart thundering in his chest as it pumped oxygen rich blood to the rest of his body.
"I wasn't going to kill you. I was teaching you a lesson. At the worst you would have passed out. I should have let you, for all he good it would have done me." Kal-El snapped at him.
Bruce gazed at him without saying a word. Both men said nothing to the other. After a moment Superman came closer. Reaching down he grabbed his former partner's chin in a bruising grip. Forcing the other's head up Kal-El kissed him. His tongue shoving past the billionaire's tight lips.
At first he was shocked. He kissed countless women before, and had even enjoyed a few of them. Never had he kissed another man. One of the first differences Bruce noticed was the force. Kal-El exerted himself as the dominant one in this situation. He tasted of blood and smoke, and smelled of dust from his fight. Bruce tried to bite the other's tongue, but there was no give. He only managed to make the other man grunt before he felt a hand on his thigh. Lifting him up and pushing him down onto the bed.
Bruce fought to get back up. He clawed at Superman's hair and bare back. His heels digging into the mattress as he tried to rise. He felt bile rise to the back of his throat when the alien ground up against him. Kal-El's erection pressing into belly as above him the other man let out a low groan of pleasure. Bruce tensed, realizing what the other meant to do. There was no way to stop him.
Just as quickly though Superman pulled away. He gazed at the man beneath him. Bruce's eyes were bright with fury, sparking as the man waited for him to finish. His lips swollen and red from the rough kiss. Kal-El wished he could devour the other man right then and there. He wanted nothing more than to grab a fistful of Bruce's hair. To shove the other man's face into the pillow as he fucked him from behind. Taking out all his anger and fury in flurry of sweaty limbs and senseless pleasure.
"Get out. Go….make yourself useful. Somewhere." Kal-El said quietly as he pulled away.
Relief flooded Bruce's face as he rose from the bed. Superman said nothing as the other man rushed from the room. Desperate to put distance between them. Leaving the kryptonian to stare at the wall. Wondering where in his life he had gone wrong.
