Catch and Release
Chapter Thirty-Six
A/N And now, something I'm sure some of you have been waiting for... But remember, this isn't the end! It was almost difficult to write, but I'm not going to let my personal issues destroy any writing! Promise!
Thanks for the reviews!
Jonathan fully expected Bruce to be in his bedroom when he arrived. He had showered and changed, as Alfred had suggested, before making his way to the billionaire's room. He finished buttoning his red shirt as he stepped into the room. He flicked on the light and looked to the bed, confused to see it empty. He could not hear the shower and the bathroom light was off- where could Bruce be?
He sat on the bed and faced the door. No sooner had he sat than Bruce walked into the room.
The first thing Jonathan noticed was the book in Bruce's hand. The second thing he noticed was the light sheen of seat of Bruce's brow.
"Are you done with your personal business?" Bruce smiled gently.
Jonathan stood, taking a deep breath to calm himself as he did so. "I haven't even begun."
Bruce stared at him, perplexed, but then Jonathan stepped up to him, fingers gripping Bruce's shirt collar and pulling the man closer.
I don't care what happens after tonight. But I almost left him forever without ever loving him.
I can't risk that again.
Jonathan gave Bruce the sweetest smile the billionaire had ever seen on the man's face. It lit up his entire face, promised so much.
"Would you help me, Bruce?" Jonathan leaned forward and whispered in Bruce's ear.
"Jonathan..." Bruce murmured, hands landing softly on Jonathan's hips.
"Come on." Jonathan whispered, one hand sliding down Bruce's chest.
Bruce looked into blue eyes. "Are you-"
"Yes, Bruce." Jonathan smirked. "I am sure."
Jonathan's eyes slipped closed as Bruce devoured him, lips pressed firmly against lips, tongue demanding entrance. Jonathan whimpered as warmth smothered him, Bruce's arms wrapped impossibly tightly around him.
He did not know they were moving until his knees hit the mattress and Bruce gently helped him sit, never once breaking their contact. Bruce did not dare, terrified that as soon as he did Jonathan would flee. Only once he felt Jonathan's pulse erratically beat did he pull back, pressing feather kisses to Jonathan 's face and throat.
Jonathan's hands were everywhere, sliding over Bruce's shoulders, his chest, his back, trying to feel everything. Bruce encouraged him silently, almost pressing against Jonathan's hands mutely.
Jonathan voiced no complaint when Bruce pulled his lips away temporarily, motioning for Jonathan to slide onto the bed. Bruce leaned against the ornate head board, Jonathan tucked neatly between his legs, smaller hands resting on Bruce's legs.
"Bruce." Jonathan moaned softly in the other man's ear.
"I need you." Bruce confessed. "Now and forever."
"Forever doesn't exist, Bruce." Jonathan whispered, not cruelly.
Bruce looked him solidly in the eye. "We will make forever."
Jonathan smiled. He could accept that.
He started slightly as Bruce's hand slid over the front of his pants, fingers brushing one by one. Jonathan murmured wordless noises in content. He stared at Bruce's content face, not even beginning to try and analyze the lazy smile twisting thin lips. He simply accepted it.
A noise escaped his mouth as fingers slipped beneath the waistband of his pants. He did not resist as Bruce's questing hand snuck beneath his boxers, soft fingers delicately sliding against him.
Jonathan gripped onto Bruce's sheets tightly, blue eyes closed. He simply felt. He spoke nothing as Bruce gently removed his hand, hooking his fingers in the waistband of Jonathan's pants. He slowly pulled them away from Jonathan's warm skin. He watched as Jonathan swallowed thickly, throat rising for only a moment. Jonathan raised his hips wordlessly, permission granted.
Bruce took his time but wasted none, tenderly sliding away Jonathan's pants. Blue eyes opened to look over Bruce's open face, reading every tender thought and emotion on the billionaire's flesh.
"Come on, Bruce." Jonathan murmured.
But Bruce shook his head. "Give me time."
How much time do we have? Bruce wondered as he slowly undid each button on Jonathan's pristine shirt. How long after this will you stay before you run from me?
Jonathan drew his hands through red sleeves, watching as Bruce set the fabric on the floor. He looked back to Bruce's face as the latter's surprisingly warm hands rested on his shoulders, slowly sliding down his arms. Jonathan reached out almost tentatively gripped the hem of the plain white shirt Bruce wore. Bruce gently gripped Jonathan's hands and raised them to his mouth, kissing each one in turn.
Not yet. I can't let you see yet.
Jonathan's eyebrows furrowed. "Bruce..."
"It's okay." Bruce murmured, kissing Jonathan's hand again.
"Let me..." Jonathan left off.
"I will." Bruce whispered.
Jonathan sat up straight in alarm as Bruce stood from the bed and made his way to the door. He felt an unwanted, sick sense of relief when Bruce locked the door and looked back to Jonathan.
"Switch on the lamp."
Jonathan did as bidden, Bruce turning off the light at the same time. Jonathan began to wonder about the practicalities of the lamp- it gave off little light, certainly not enough to ready by. He could barely see Bruce as the man settled on the bed, wordlessly pressing Jonathan down to the mattress.
The younger man again reached for the hem of Bruce's shirt. This time Bruce let him tug on it, pulling it up to Bruce's throat. Jonathan silently waited for Bruce to slip his arms through. After a moment, Bruce did. Jonathan threw the fabric aside and tried to look at the flesh revealed.
It proved hard, in the dark, and even harder when Bruce's fingers stole the glasses from his face and set them on the side table. Jonathan hesitated, laying still against the mattress. But then Bruce's fingers slid across his flesh, reassuring the younger. Jonathan relaxed into the blankets, eyes open but unseeing. Bruce, a blur above him, leaned in close to press butterfly kisses against his skin.
"Bruce." Jonathan whispered."Please."
Since you asked so nicely.
One thumb hooked under the waistband of Jonathan's boxers and pulled. He carefully pulled it up and over the man's growing erection, Jonathan raising his hips wantonly. Bruce complied, throwing the cloth aside and resting one hand over Jonathan's need.
Jonathan murmured nothings, wordless syllables leaving his lips in a stream. He felt rather than saw as Bruce stripped to nothing, the man leaning to the side table and pulling open a drawer. Jonathan listened as Bruce ruffled through before he heard the door shut and felt Bruce return to him.
No matter what happens...we'll have had tonight. The thought pleased Jonathan.
"Mm."
Jonathan started as Bruce's hands suddenly began to draw apart his legs. He resisted only a moment before making room for the older male. Bruce slid in between his legs, one fingertip tracing circles on Jonathan's stomach.
"Bruce!"
Jonathan nearly sat up as one cold fingertip traced around the entrance to his body, legs snapping together, stopped by the strong form between them. Bruce took his finger away.
"Jonathan?"
Jonathan heard the worry and almost hurt in Bruce's voice. He spoke one word. "Cold."
"Sorry."
Jonathan took a breath and listened as Bruce exhaled again and again. Then Bruce was back, now-warm fingertip slick, waiting for Jonathan's permission. Jonathan breathed deeply, erratic breaths pulling into his lungs.
"Go ahead, Bruce."
Bruce did not wait again. Jonathan's fingers entwined in the blankets as Bruce tenderly prepared him. Fingers slid in together, slowly and gently opening Jonathan. He felt very nearly like a sacrifice, opened for any who wanted him. A stray thought entered his head that Bruce was not too bad of a person to want him.
All thoughts slipped away as Bruce's hand disappeared, replaced by something much larger and warmer.
"Jonathan?" Bruce murmured once more.
In response, Jonathan spread his legs and raised his hips. He pressed against Bruce, waiting for the man to take him.
Oh god... Bruce... Jonathan wished he could see.
Teeth grit together and eyes clenched shut and fingers curled as Bruce entered him. Jonathan bit back his moan of pain, wishing Bruce had no chosen this moment to become impatient, that he had not pushed him, that-
"Jonathan." Bruce growled in Jonathan's ear as he thrust fully into him.
Ice ran down Jonathan's spine and froze his heart. He knew that voice. Dear lord, he knew that voice.
"Bat Man..." Jonathan whispered to himself. He barely registered as Bruce stopped moving.
I'm being fucked by the Bat Man.
Jonathan reached up, one check left in place. Fingers finally touched Bruce's skin. He felt the tell-tale roughness of scar tissue spotting Bruce's chest before he reached to lightly touch Bruce's arm. Fresh stitches told him all he needed to know.
Jonathan wildly thrashed beneath Bruce, hands uselessly pushing against his chest. Bruce gripped Jonathan's hands, pressing them to the mattress.
"Jonathan." Bruce said softly. "It's just me."
"No, get off of me! Let me go!" Jonathan screamed. I won't do this with the Bat!
"It's me, Jonathan!" Bruce pressed his lips to Jonathan's forehead.
Jonathan trembled. "You're the Bat." he whispered.
"I'm just Bruce Wayne." Bruce kissed Jonathan's ear. "It's just me." he repeated.
Fingers roved over Bruce's chest and the scars he said were from polo, spelunking, any other number of sports and activities billionaires engaged in. Every time the tabloids managed to find a picture of him showing skin, he had his excuses and his reasons. Every woman he slept with told the same story- all about all the sports Bruce Wayne engaged in, the stories he told about them.
Jonathan struggled to see and could just make out what looked to be dappling of old burn marks, never able to quite heal.
I did that.
Jonathan reached up, hands slowly framing Bruce's jaw with his hands. "The Bat Man." he murmured.
"This is me, Jonathan." Bruce stared into blue eyes.
"No wonder he wanted me to stay here so very badly." Jonathan said emotionlessly. "Did you plan this?"
"No." Bruce insisted honestly.
Jonathan muttered. "It must be easy to control threats when they are in your bed."
Bruce smiled sadly. "That's not it."
"Stop." Jonathan pleaded. "Let me go."
"Look at me." Bruce commanded.
Jonathan blindly looked up to Bruce's face, staring at the pale blur above him. Bruce gently rested his fingers on Jonathan's cheek. The smaller man lay perfectly still as Bruce slid the last few inches into him, fully sheathed and pressed against Jonathan. Blue eyes winced shut but quickly opened.
"Do I look like Batman?" Bruce murmured. "I'm just Bruce."
"You can be anyone in the dark." Jonathan whispered. They lay silent a moment. "Why didn't you just tell me?" Jonathan's voice broke.
"How could I?" Bruce whispered.
Jonathan stared intently at Bruce's guilty face. "I've told you everything." he accused.
"I'm so sorry, Jonathan." Bruce pressed feather kisses over Jonathan's throat.
"You sprayed me with me own toxin, tore from me mt position and my reputation, threw me in with the dogs that once were my patients..." Jonathan whispered brokenly. "And now you take me to bed."
Bruce chucked humorlessly and took ahold of Jonathan's right hand. He pressed it to the mottled scarring on his chest. "I didn't exactly do this to myself, you know."
Jonathan shrugged. "You broke into my apartment."
"So we both had our reasons." Bruce kissed Jonathan's cheek.
Jonathan remained silent a moment.
"You better be open with me." Jonathan warned. "About everything, Bruce."
"Shall I check out when I leave at night?" Bruce smiled.
"Yes."
One eyebrow rose. "Alright."
Jonathan was silent once more. He won't accept no now. And...and this is still Bruce.
Tonight, just in case anything happened. Well, something happened.
Jonathan took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around Bruce. "C'mon, Bruce." he whispered.
"Jonathan?"
"Don't bore me now." Jonathan murmured in Bruce's ear.
Bruce grinned, hiding his confusion as he began to pound into the smaller man. Jonathan voiced no complaints, gripping Bruce's shoulders and moaning his pleasure. Bruce wrapped one hand around Jonathan's erection, slowly stroking in contrast to the fast pace his hips set. Jonathan appreciated the difference,
Soon Bruce sat back, white splatted over their stomachs, his own warmth left hidden in Jonathan's body. Neither remembered nor cared who cried out first, whose tongue shaped the other's name in ecstasy.
Jonathan allowed Bruce to pull him close, the billionaire grabbing the top blanket and gently cleaning both their bellies. He threw the blanket to the side before drawing Jonathan into his arms. Jonathan lay in Bruce's arms, eyes wide open.
"Jonathan?" Bruce began softly.
"In the morning, Bruce." Jonathan whispered. "In the morning."
"..If that's what you want."
He listened as Bruce breathed, the billionaire holding Jonathan tight in his arms.
Jonathan refused to sleep, instead staring into the dimly-lit room. He tried to reach the lamp; failed. He lay back and waited for Bruce to fall asleep.