Disclaimer: I, the author, hereby swear that I do not own anything.
A/N: I finally uploaded this~! Muwahahahaha~! Heck, it didn't even end the way I want it too! This is one boring chapter xD But lo and behold~ I got a one week break! Reviews please~!
Another A/N: Do remember and take note that the following events that will happen in this story are purely out of the writer's stupid imagination. No people or any historical place is actually damaged in here ._.
Chapter 9: A Trip to Rome
A week later found Bruce and his family in Italy. Bruce wants to take a break from work, and he kind of missed the place (and with the appearance of a certain reporter made him reminisce terribly− not that he would admit this out loud). Alfred, of course, knew his real reason but decided not to comment about it. He decided to content himself, aka torture, his beloved Master by giving him knowing glances every once in a while. Bruce determinedly tried to ignore him.
It was the 2nd day of their trip and they decided to tour the city. As much as Dick wants to bounce around towards all the exciting things he sees, he can't because his Daddy has a firm grip on him. Well, if he's being honest he's glad his Daddy won't let go of him, he doesn't want to get lost in this beautiful yet unfamiliar city. Plus, all he really has to do is to point towards whatever caught his interest and his Daddy will take him there. Easy peasy.
Alfred walks beside Bruce, occasionally telling his charges stories about the historical places they visit. Dick, to say the least, was absolutely fascinated. He listens to Alfred with rapt attention whenever he told stories, and Bruce found it amusing whenever their fellow tourists and even the tour guide starts to listen to Alfred too.
Currently, they're visiting the Colosseum. The sheer size and the Colosseum's presence itself never failed to amaze Bruce every time he visits it. This place is a witness of countless battles, had stood for a thousand and hundred years, and history was written in its very essence Bruce could practically feel it. Every time he's in here, he always feels like he just stepped back in time or to another world. It was just that magical.
(A/N: No, I've never been to Rome or to the Colosseum. Heck, I've never even stepped out of my country even once T^T Huhu, travel goals! I've only used my imagination in writing the place thus the sucky and lack of description.)
They went under an archway in the underground passageways and Bruce frowns as he remembers a blurry scene a long time ago… he can remember the feel of lips against his own and hot breathes fanning his ear and face warming him up in that cold, cold night … and nothing else. Bruce felt his mood drooped slightly.
Even though how many times he went back in Rome, even though how hard he tries to remember… his mind still came up blank.
Lost in his thoughts, Bruce was late to notice the panic that was going through the tour group. Apparently, they had arrived at the end of the underground passageway where the tourists were allowed seeing as some of the passageways are still under construction. One kid accidentally threw his toy in the middle of one of the passageways under construction and went to get it. Both the kid's parents and the tour guide were late to notice it too.
"Hey kid! How did you get in there?! Get out of there! That place is dangerous!"
"Oh my, Michael!"
Michael, a burly kid for an eight year old with the most innocent face Bruce has ever seen on this tour, turned towards the voices calling for him, his toy plane in hand. He started running to his parents despite the warnings shouted by the tour guide and lo and behold, he tripped over the construction beams that were holding the passageway together.
It started slow. The beam he tripped over with fell slowly over with a loud creaking sound as it fell with a loud thud to the ancient floor, dust blooming and scattering in its wake. At first, nothing bad will seem to happen, that is, until their whole surroundings started to shake.
People screamed and run towards the exit, not minding that they were trampling other people in their haste. Bruce immediately took Dick up to his arms and flattens himself against the wall with Alfred, letting the queue of the panicking people pass them. When there was finally enough space to move, Bruce handed his son to Alfred and push them towards the exit.
"Go Alfred! Take Dick and get out of here! I'll help the others to the exit!"
Alfred's eyes widen, knowing that they were too far from the exit and there was no way Bruce could help all of the people in there in time. Looking at Bruce's face though, all of his protest died away from his lips. "Please, I'm begging you, Master Bruce, be careful."
Bruce smiles sadly yet reassuringly at the same time at his parent figure. He pressed a quick kiss at his son's forehead before pushing them towards the exit one last time. "Go."
Alfred turned and ran, Dick safely secured in his arms. Bruce watch them go for a moment, his son's crying baby blue eyes were the last thing he saw before the passageway shook so bad that he got his attention back on the problem on hand.
"MICHAEL!"
Bruce ran towards where the parents and the tour guide were kneeling with their hands above their heads, staring wide eyed at the kid who was stuck in the middle of the passageway he tripped in, tears streaming down his face as he sobs loudly.
Bruce went to get the kid without second thoughts, ignoring the shouts of the tour guide and the parents. He ran quickly and carefully, dodging falling debris and watching where he steps until he reached the fallen child. He knelt down and gently scooped up the child in his arms, grunting at his weight at first but easily maneuvering him around his arms.
"Hey, hey," Bruce crooned to the child's ear. "It's okay, it's okay… everything is going to be fine…"
As soon as he said that, the passageway behind them started collapsing for real.
"Get away from there! Run for the exit!" Bruce screamed at the screaming mother and the panicking father and tour guide. The father and the tour guide started to drag away the protesting mother away, but the mother obviously wouldn't budge until she has her son with them. Bruce pursed his lips and ran faster.
He reached the trio just in time for the entire passageway to collapse and he gently handed over the kid to his father. "Go now!" The parents look at him gratefully before running towards the exit. Heaving deeply, he looked over at the tour guide who was looking at him wide eyes.
"What are you doing? Go!"
"B- but the other, I- I have t- to help them…" the tour guide mumbled helplessly. The ground underneath them shook, throwing both of them off balance. Bruce rolled to the side as a large chunk of the passageway collapsed to where he was thrown to just seconds ago. He shakily stood up on his feet, bringing the tour guide up with him.
"Then, let's get going."
There were five other people left in the passageway, three of them are unconscious and two were too paralyzed with fear to move. Bruce estimated they have at least 8 minutes before the entire underground collapsed.
Yup, they could do this.
Clark was busy typing away on his computer when he heard multiple gasps from his office mates. Curious, Clark stopped typing and stood up, looking towards where all of his co- workers were looking at.
A gasp escaped his own lips as he stared at the television. It was the news, showing a live footage of the collapsing Colosseum in Rome. What got Clark's attention though was the achingly familiar child screaming and crying for his Daddy as he struggled against an achingly familiar butler's hold.
Lois own terrified gasp reached his ears when she too saw Dick in the news; she instantly turned towards Clark only to see him already dashing towards the exit. She closes her eyes and prayed that everything will turn out alright.
Clark quickly ran towards the Zetatube and set the coordinates to Rome, he had never been this thankful for setting up the Zeta near his office. He hopes against hope that he could make it in time.
Bruce has the three unconscious figures while the tour guide gently guided the last couple of frightened tourists towards the exit. It was slow going, they have to constantly stop and take cover with the rate of the passageway is collapsing. At one point, they have to switch passages because the original passageway already collapsed and huge debris blocked their way; luckily, the tour guide knows another way and guided them towards it. Unfortunately, it was the longer way around.
"Hurry," Bruce grunts weakly. Normally, he wouldn't be struggling with the combined weight of the three men, he had lifted heavier things after all, but with the passageways collapsing, the supply of air is depleting by the moment. "Are we there yet?"
The ground shook again and the three before him screamed and collapsed to their knees, hands on their ears. Bruce steadied himself against the wall but his heart was starting to pound like crazy. They only have three minutes left!
Pushing himself away from the wall and struggling to keep himself upright, he screamed, "Hurry! This place is going to collapse any minute now! Keep moving!"
Frightened by the knowledge he had imparted, the three shakily stood up on their legs and ran. The tour guide led the way, running as fast as he can and looking back frequently to check if they're keeping up with him. "It's this way! We're really near now! We could do this!"
True to his words, an exit leading to the ground above appeared before them, almost like a beacon towards salvation.
Unfortunately, fate has different plans.
The ground shook its hardest at the same time and the passageway they were in started collapsing too. The tour guide burst through the exit and pulled the two conscious tourists after him. "Mr. Wayne!" He screamed, reaching out a hand towards the struggling man. "Hurry!"
Bruce huffed, feeling himself getting weak due to the lack of oxygen; he couldn't even feel the ground shaking violently beneath him. He knows his goal though: to reach the exit and saved these people. Getting dizzier by the second, Bruce threw one of his passengers towards the waiting tour guide by the exit. The tour guide seems surprised by the sudden action, but luckily managed to catch the unconscious woman and handed her over to the medics that were just now arriving. More medics came and went into the passageway and unloaded Bruce of his burden and guided him quickly towards the exit.
Once they reach it though, the ground lurched backward and Bruce felt himself and the others falling back towards the passageway. In a desperate attempt to save the others, Bruce pushed everyone else forward and out of the tunnel in their fall with all his might. Bruce landed heavily back on the collapsing tunnel, and the last thing he saw was the panicking people above him before the passageway completely collapsed on him and blocked his view…
The people outside the exit were panicking as the famous billionaire was trapped underground. Their hearts nearly jumped out of their ribcages when a blur of blue and red appeared out of nowhere and burst inside through the collapsed attraction.
"Is that… Superman…?"
Bruce woke up to the sound of someone calling his name; not to mention, he got a killer headache too. He opened his eyes with difficulty, and was somehow not surprised to see that he was still out of breath. His eyes were treated with the sight of a perfectly sculpted chest of a certain alien superhero once he has regained his bearings.
Superman has Bruce pressed against a wall, practically chest to chest without an inch separating them from each other. Bruce found his heart beating and his breathing got more difficult for an entirely different reason than lack of oxygen. Superman bent his head down and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Wayne, are you alright?"
Unfortunately, this was the time that Bruce's brain chose to process what had nearly happened to him. To say that he was shock was an understatement. He was sure he could get out safely… that was really close… if Superman hadn't saved me… Bruce shudders, too afraid to think of what will happen to his son if he suddenly lost his only parent.
Superman noticed this of course and looks at him worriedly. He must have been really scared, the caped hero thought. He wrapped an arm around Bruce's waist while the other one still held the rubble above them. Not really thinking about what he is doing, Bruce leaned in to Superman's chest and buried his face in the crook of the alien's neck. Superman's eyes widen at how perfect Bruce seems to fit in his arm. He knows he said this before, but the man really fits into him like a puzzle.
He was brought back to reality when Bruce shivered again, wrapping his arm more tightly around the man's waist, he pushed the boulder off of them and flew out. Superman burst through the mountains of debris with the billionaire wrapped tightly in his arm. When they emerged out of the rubble and Superman has once again placed them on stable land, medics and media immediately focused on them but Bruce pushed them all away, pushed him away and immediately knelt down with open arms as Dick barreled into him, sobbing.
Brilliant camera flashes flashed here and there and needless to say, Superman is kind of getting uncomfortable with all the attention, but his mind was mostly focused on the father and son kneeling before him.
A medic came near them and kneeled down beside them.
"Mr. Wayne," the medic said gently but with enough force to say that he won't leave any room for arguments. "I need to check up on your and your son's wounds, may you kindly come with me for a moment?"
Bruce tensed, it was obvious in the way his shoulders rose up, and he shook his head. The medic frowned and tried once more. "Mr. Wayne please, your injuries might be severe, we need to check up on both of you."
Bruce shook his head again as he stood up with Dick in his arms. "…I think we're going to be fine…"
The medic stands up too. "Mr. Wayne please, it's−"
Sensing that Bruce doesn't really want to go with the medic and that the media's focus is still on them, Superman gently took the father and son into his arms and he used his cape to block them from everybody's view. He smiled disarmingly charming at the crowd, at the medics and media alike, and said, "I'll personally make sure that Mr. Wayne and his son will get treated, so please, kindly leave them alone."
Everybody took a collective step backward. For all of them, that statement is filled with a dangerous undertone, and they don't want to see their favorite alien superhero mad. Heck, nobody has ever seen the superhero mad, not even the criminals he had defeated. But this time, they just get the sense that if they don't do what he says then he will get mad.
Superman continues to smile at the mob for a moment before he looks down at Bruce and Dick. Dick's head is tucked under his father's chin, tear tracks and dirt is all over his face and clothes. Doing a quick scan, Superman saw that Dick didn't acquire any heavy injuries except for a few bruises here and there. Bruce though, is a different matter altogether, he has multiple injuries on the back of his head, on his arms and chest area. All of his worries melted away though when he met Bruce's navy blue eyes and when he smiled at him gratefully.
Ah, this man is proving to be bad for my heart, Superman thought as he gently guided them away from the throng and to where he spotted their butler waiting for them in front of a car with a worried expression on his face.
While going there though, some victims blocked their way and tearfully thanked Mr. Wayne for saving them.
"Thank you," the mother of Michael cried as she tearfully grasped one of Bruce's hands, "thank you so much..."
"You saved my life," another one sobbed, "… *sobs* I couldn't take you enough…"
Bruce felt overwhelmed with the onslaught of people and the emotions and thanks he receives from them. While, it felt great to be thanked personally, he didn't do it to be praised; he just did what his sense of duty told him to do. He adjusted Dick in his arms and tried to tell them that it was nothing. He unconsciously moved closer to Superman as more people crowds around them, some are even from the media trying to get a word from him despite Superman's 'warning' from earlier.
Superman wrapped his arm more firmly around the man and once again used his cape to block them from the people's view. "Please, if you will excuse us, we need to go."
Looking at the hero's indecipherable expression, the people parted and let them go through peacefully.
When they arrived at the car, Bruce looks up at Superman and he registers with slight surprise that Superman still has his cape and his arm wrapped around his waist− having Superman's arms around him feels...natural.
"Thank you, Superman," He said sincerely.
Superman seems to stare at him in surprise; the alien quickly bent his head down until he's right in front of Bruce's face before he pulls away just as quickly.
Bruce blinks and was in a daze as Superman guided him into the car, the alien cupped Dick's cheeks soothingly before he pulls away from them completely. "Take care all of you."
Alfred nodded his thanks to the alien and motioned for the driver to move out. Superman watched them drive away for a few seconds before he turned to the still watching crowd. He gave them a friendly salute before he flew away.
Meanwhile, in the car, Bruce found his heart beating so fast once again. He was… he was… he nearly…
Bruce shook his head and buried his face in his son's locks. What a ridiculous thought…
He was pretty sure that Superman nearly kissed him.
Later that night, the Waynes were preparing themselves for a long night of a Disney movies marathon in Bruce's penthouse condo in Rome. Alfred was already busy in the kitchen making popcorn and s'mores. Yes, he's letting them eat all the unhealthy foods imaginable to mankind just this night. After all, they had just been through a rather difficult ordeal this day.
Bruce and Dick were staring inside the fridge, looking through all of their supplies and deciding which one of those will they eat.
Dick frowns, his adorable cute face scrunching up in a really cute face at his Daddy. All of the bruises he had acquired earlier were now gone, leaving his skin back to its healthy and unblemished pale shade. "Daddy…"
"Yes, Dickie?"
"…we don't have any ice cream…"
Bruce blinks and looks more closely at their fridge. He opens up their freezer and shifts through their stack of frozen strawberries and fruit salads. "Hmm… you're right, we don't have one. Would you like some?"
Dick nodded his head eagerly. "Chocolate please!"
Bruce chuckles fondly and looks at the clock. Well, it was still quite early, he could go to his favorite shop here in Rome, where he had tasted the most delicious ice cream in the whole world, and be back just in time for Alfred to finish his cooking.
"Alright buddy," Bruce said as he picked Dick up in his arms and placed him down near Alfred, "I'll just go to the store real quick and buy ice cream, okay? Be good to Alfred. We have enough excitement for the day."
Alfred frowns at him in a reprimanding manner while Dick giggles. "Okay, Daddy! Be careful~"
Bruce kissed his son's cheeks and grabbed his wallet before leaving. He was walking peacefully along the road and enjoying the sunset. Rome is a truly beautiful city. He decided to take a short cut and turn towards a narrow alley.
That's when he got kidnapped.
Bruce put up a fight just for show but ultimately let himself got kidnapped. He has to find out why he's being kidnapped after all before he'll break himself out. While he's being gagged, he briefly wonders how many adventures he has to go through until this day officially ends.
On the other side of the planet, the Justice League is having a meeting in their headquarters.
"So I heard from WW that you finally met the big Bat," Flash said through his chuckles as soon as they all sat down in their round table. "How does it feel like? What do you think of him? He's scary isn't he? All intimidating and gruff?"
Superman glares lightly at Wonder Woman who just shrugs. Hawkgirl swivels in her chair and looks at him in surprise. "You and Batman met!?" Then she turns to Wonder Woman. "So you do need him after all, and he did come to your rescue."
Wonder Woman laughs at her. "Yup, you know him. Despite his protests you know he always come whenever we needed him."
Superman remembered just then what Batman had told him. He was the one who rescued Shayera and gave her this mountain as her living quarters before they band together and formed the League. That and apparently almost all of the members of the League know Batman.
"That reminds me," Superman started and stares meaningfully at the others, "how come almost all of you know him and didn't even bother to mention that fact once?"
Silence.
The guilty party looked at each other awkwardly while Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter look at all of them confusedly.
Green Arrow chuckled nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "Um, oh, we didn't?"
"Excuse me," Green Lantern said as he raises his hand like he's in a classroom, "Just who are you all talking about?"
"Batman." Superman replied flatly. He is still by no means impressed by that man.
"Batman!" Green Lantern exclaimed. "Isn't he just some legend you guys always share us too? That guy is real?!"
"Apparently." Superman replied in the same tone he used earlier.
"Superman!" Diana cried, as if scolding him. "And yes, he's real thank you very much and yes again, we do know him."
"Seriously?!"
"He's the one whom you asked to be on standby last week, isn't he?" Martian Manhunter butted in.
"You asked him?" Superman asks, surprised. He went ignored however when Wonder Woman nodded at J'onn's question.
"Based on your conversation…" J'onn said slowly, as if contemplating what he's saying, "…he doesn't seem to be scary at all like your stories made him to be…"
"What?!" was Flash's immediate reaction. "HE IS! What the heck are you saying?!"
"He doesn't seem to be too scary, either," Superman said.
Flash turned towards him with wide eyes. "You're all crazy to say that."
The conversation then turned towards about Batman, Batman and Batman. Superman put a hand to his forehead and rubbed his growing headache away. "Guys, this is supposed to be a meeting about our past missions…"
Nobody is listening to him.
Superman was about to stand up and grab himself a coffee when their computer flared to life. Everybody stopped talking and stared at the static filled screen until an image appeared. Everyone gasps.
In the screen is a picture of a tied- up and unconscious Bruce Wayne sitting in a chair. He looks like he was beaten badly due to the bruises on his face and his bloodied lips. It looks like he was being held in some warehouse. Underneath the picture a message box appeared:
Got someone here who looks like who matters to you. – Luthor
Superman could acutely feel himself going blind with rage. It was like back during the concert, when he was blinded by this irrational rage and urges to protect the man… that's why he beat Harley Quinn so bad. It feels like he wasn't himself and himself at the same time. Every time this man is involved he just invokes this possessiveness from Superman… it makes him feel to hide the man from everybody else and make sure he's safe from all kinds of danger. But there goes said man attracting different kinds of danger.
"Is that… Bruce Wayne?" Green Arrow said in disbelief. Flash's jaw dropped open beside him.
"Bruce!" Diana and Dinah cried.
Superman stood up angrily, his head hanging down. He doesn't want the others to see how angry he is right now; his whole being is filled with rage directed at that stupid, bald man who dares tries to hurt his…
…His what exactly?
"Superman, are you planning to go alone?" Shayera asks him. "Don't you think you need some help?"
"No." Superman said firmly as he walks away. "I can do it by myself. Please, just stay here everybody. I don't want any one of you to interfere…" the torture that I'm planning to give Luthor.
Everybody felt chills creep up in their arms as they all watch Superman walks away.
"Whoah," Flash said under his breath, "That's the first time I saw Supey angry."
"That man…" Green Lantern started, "…isn't he the same man Superman rescued earlier this day? From the collapsing Colloseum in Rome?"
Diana turned towards him. "He did what?"
"He is! Yes, he's the man!" Green Lantern exclaimed as he nods to himself. "I saw it on the news. Superman pulled him out of the Colloseum." He pauses as he remembers something before chuckling. "You know, it was really cheesy… if I didn't know Superman personally I'd say he got a thing going on for that man…"
Flash and Green Arrow looks at each other, their faces tinted with green, while Dinah and Shayera both look at Green Lantern weirdly. There was no way that could happen, they all thought. However, Diana went silent and could only stare at her lap, lost in her thoughts.
