Chapter Title: Last Memories
Day Four: Bed Sharing
Rating: General
Warning(s): Angst, Major Character's Death
Word Count: 1438
Summary: He knew someday, it will be their last night together.
He wasn't supposed to feel exhausted. He shouldn't be. However, when he glanced over at the clock and back to the man on the bed, Clark felt how heavy his heart was.
Bruce was bundled up beneath the covers. Once in a while, he would grunt out in discomfort and Clark would immediately lean forward to check on his state.
Two days ago, Bruce had a minor heart attack in the middle of the night. Clark, who panicked upon seeing the other collapsing down, had immediately rushed his husband to the hospital. A quick check from Bruce's personal doctor had explained how the man's heart was slowly corrupting. Ever since then, Bruce had been restricted on bedrest in the hospital until his heartbeat could stabilise.
Clark despised this. He could see Bruce's face in the darkness, and he could tell that Bruce was suffering. He didn't need the doctor's comforting words about how Bruce might survive— he could hear his lover's heartbeats clearer than the medical gadgets.
Bruce wasn't going to survive.
This was his third minor heart attack in a month.
His heart wasn't able to withstand the pressure.
Clark knew this day would come.
Bruce's body had never recovered completely from the injuries he withstood in his glory years as Batman. They'd just became an illness, which had been tamed when he was young and strong. Now, as he became older and frail, those old injuries came striking as aftereffects.
"Bruce…"
Bruce's fingers twitched under Clark's call. The man slowly opened his eyes and looked up at his husband.
The Kryptonian looked distressed, and Bruce detested it. He knew the condition of his own health, and despite the encouragements from the doctors and the nurses, he knew that there was only a minor possibility for him to survive. Even if he did survive, he would probably have to live the rest of his life in a wheelchair and consuming large amounts of medication every day, while anticipating when the next heart attack would come.
That didn't fit his style of life.
"Clark, please stop acting like I'm already dead." Bruce sighed. "I'm still here, aren't I?"
The remark struck Clark. As always, Bruce spoke like he had everything under control. He might have a point, but nothing could be changed.
"You're here, for now. But tomorrow… who knows?" Clark laughed bitterly. "I'll still be in this world the second you die, Bruce. I'll have to watch you leave this world. And the last thing I would remember about you would be this moment – in which you're bedridden in the hospital instead of our home."
The smart comment took Bruce aback. He fell silent. Clark was right. This could be his last night, and he would probably die in this poor excuse of a bed. How depressing.
"Then… why don't we sneak out?"
Clark jerked up at the suggestion. His eyes wide with shock. "Are you crazy, Bruce? We shouldn't do that! The doctor said ̶ "
"Oh, come on, Clark," Bruce huffed. "You and I knew about my heart better than the doctor."
Bruce looked tired, Clark realized. Not physically tired, but tired of being stuck in the hospital which reeked of medicines and depression, the entire atmosphere. Something about his state brought an ache to Clark's heart, a pain he had never prepared for.
"I miss our home, Clark," Bruce confessed. "If this is the last day of my life, I would rather spend it like any ordinary day. I want my last moment to be a wonderful memory for you, Clark. I want it to be a memory where you can look back and smile. As you said, you hate to see me bedridden in the hospital as well. Right?"
It sounded tempting. However, at the same time, it would add up the yearning of keeping Bruce by his side forever – which Clark knew was impossible. Good last memories would be everlasting, but it would cause more heartache.
Was he ready for this?
"All right..." Clark took a deep breath. "I'll get you out of the bed. But you have to promise me, Bruce. Don't be stubborn."
He flew Bruce back to their home. For the whole night, both of them acted as though Bruce had never been to the hospital. Clark cooked whatever he could find in the fridge, while Bruce brewed their coffees as early breakfast. Then, after the hearty meals, Bruce led Clark back to the living room and put out a hand.
Knowing it was a cue to one final dance, Clark accepted it. There was no song, but a simple tune which both of the men hummed under their breaths. It wasn't perfect in retrospect, but for both Clark and Bruce, it was enough. As they danced slowly in their cozy house, swaying along with the song they were making out of their mouths themselves— the same piece played during their wedding, it summarized every memorable moment they had spent with each other in this house.
Bruce was humming the tune rather delightfully, even if his face didn't express much. The dance was elegant, despite some clumsy mistakes here and there, since Clark haven't danced for a long time after their marriage.
Clark pulled Bruce into his embrace deeper, latching his hand around the other's man waist so that he didn't have to let go. Bruce rested his head against Clark's shoulder. He closed his eyes, memorizing Clark's scent in his mind.
Clark stared at Bruce with half-lidded eyes and a wistful look. He didn't want his husband to die. The words were itching to come out of his mouth. He didn't want Bruce to leave him. But Clark couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. So, all he could do was smile and kiss Bruce.
"Clark," Bruce hesitantly peeled himself from the other's embrace. "Let's… go to our bedroom."
They lay on the bed together, their fingers interlocked. They didn't sleep for the next few hours before sunrise, as they looked through the photographs of the past and talked about all of the exciting things that happened in the past.
It was around six in the morning, when Bruce felt his heart giving out. At that moment, the stubborn old Bat started to reminiscence on his long life. Looking back, he wondered what Clark saw in him, this decrepit shell who was no longer young and charming. Yet he'd never left Bruce's side.
Bruce leaned closer against Clark's chest. He was very warm, Bruce thought. Yes, this was home. This was where he would rather die — the comfort of his lover and the bed he remembers.
Bruce squeezed back at Clark's hold, tilting his head as he stared into the Kryptonian's gaze. "Clark."
"Yeah, Bruce?"
"I love you."
They were married for thirty years. They said the same words to each other every night before they went to sleep. However, for tonight, those words were not something which Bruce said casually. Those words conveyed Bruce's feelings deeply.
"I love you too, Bruce."
Clark smiled through his hidden sadness. He leaned forwards, letting his lips press against Bruce's. It wasn't a touch, as his tongue began to latch on Bruce's.
Bruce closed his eyes. With his remaining consciousness, he indulged into the kiss as Clark was. Minutes had gone by, but Clark didn't remove his lips from his husband's.
Right now, time was the cruellest enemy to them. At this moment, Clark could still feel the warmth of Bruce's lips and he appreciated every moment of it. It was just Bruce and him, in their comfy warm bed, and nothing else mattered. He felt the last of Bruce's seconds. He tasted his blood. He felt his last breath brushing against his skin.
Until he could no longer feel the breath.
He sensed that Bruce's soul had left his body. Clark pulled away, paused at the sight of his husband's closed eyes. There was nothing more painful than feeling the soul of your loved one slipping out of your arms. However, Clark knew that he should feel happy for Bruce.
He had left this world without regrets. The agony was finally lifted from Bruce. There was nothing that Clark felt greater than the fact that Bruce had left this world in peace.
He caressed Bruce's fingers in his. His gaze settled on the gold ring on Bruce's finger, before he lifted the hand up, pressing one final kiss on his husband's hand.
"Thank you, Bruce Wayne, for spending the last thirty-five years of your life loving me."
