Disclaimer: I own nada except the plot and the character's OOC-ness. Hahaha.
A/N: And here we go agaaaaaain~! Hopefully you love this very subtle fluff cuz' I definitely do! *winks winks*
Warning: OOC- ness. A lot. Like, a one(slightly?) dark Superman. Ooooh….
Chapter 10: The Rescue
Superman burst through the warehouse's roof like an avenging angel who is descending from the heavens in all his mighty and intimidating glory. He stood up from his crouch slowly and everybody in the house shuffled backwards, even Luthor, something about Superman made them extremely wary. Superman faced them, his face withdrawn in anger and it was just then that it dawned to everyone what kind of person they are facing right now, what have they angered. This is a superhuman being; strong, quick and skilled− basically a god compared to them, and Superman is looking very much the part. He's like a Greek god statue: angry, hard, unmovable, and sculpted to perfection.
What have we angered? The goons thought to themselves. Luthor gulped imperceptibly. This is the first time he's seen the alien superhero like this, like he's ready to kill. He smirks; he might be able to use this as a reference for his future evil, evil plans. That's what he tells himself anyway to stop himself from quaking in his shoes.
"Release him," Superman growls.
A tremor of fear went through everybody. Superman's voice is strong and firm, reverberating to the walls, to the wall and to their very core. Bruce, who has been knocked out after being beaten unconscious due to his obnoxious mouth, started to stir awake from his slumber. Luthor straightened his posture and puffed out his chest. He smirks confidently at Superman and the superhero internally applauses his mask. If he couldn't hear the man's heart beating wildly in his chest, he would have believed that he's not afraid of him.
"Welcome Superman," Luthor said with his best entrepreneur voice and walks languidly around the tied- up, unconscious billionaire. "I see you really took my bait."
"He has nothing to do with this," Superman growls back. "He has nothing to do with your destroyed factory of kryptonite weapons."
Luthor laughs mirthlessly. "Oh, so you do know why I'm doing this." Luthor casually pulls out a knife from his breast pocket as he went behind Bruce, he observed it in the dim light of the moon for a few seconds before gladly pulling Bruce by his hair, making his head tip back and exposed his pale, white throat and pressed the knife against it. "Payback's a bitch, isn't it?"
Superman snarled and Luthor barely kept himself from flinching. "I told you… HE. HAS. NOTHING. TO. DO. WITH. THIS."
"Oh but he does," Luthor replied with wide eyes, obviously delighted with the reaction he's getting from the alien. "You obviously care for him. Otherwise you wouldn't be this worked up about this." To emphasize his point, Luthor pressed the knife deeper into Bruce's throat but not enough to draw blood.
Superman growls a warning.
"See?" Luthor chuckled. "This man is valuable to you."
More than you should ever know, Superman thought.
"I'm having a lot of fun seeing you this tense and torturing this defenseless man," Luthor continues his monologue, as if he Superman's growls aren't scaring him to death, "Wayne has always been a pain in my back; always refusing my business proposals, always surpassing me, always a step ahead of me… if it weren't for this man, I could reach greater heights freely."
Superman refuses his urge to smirk.
Coincidentally, that was when Bruce was finally able to pull himself away from unconsciousness. He let out a small groan, his eyes fluttering open and close. Luthor watched from behind his fellow billionaire as said fellow billionaire struggles to regain his bearings. He watched with sadistic glee as Bruce finally notices the knife poised at his throat and relish in the panicked look that the man sported. He threw Superman a maniacal grin.
"Now that Sleeping beauty is awake, let us have some fun now, shall we?" With that, he cut Bruce's throat in a swift, straight line.
Superman only saw red. Red as the blood that dripped down Bruce's throat. Red as the fiery flames of hell. Rage filled his mind as Bruce's blood was shed.
He roared-
And then he was in a mindless rampage.
A berserker.
A monster.
He prowled through the ranks of goons, throwing them around and away, breaking their bones and all the while feeling immensely satisfied with the screams their emitting… it took all of what's left of Superman's sanity not to tear them apart limb from limb.
It wasn't enough… it wasn't nearly enough…
Bruce didn't die, just bleeding.
He's protected by the power called plot.
When he felt what his captor was about to do, he immediately head butted him with all his might in his tied- up state. The knife clattered to the ground, but not without managing to cut a long and thin line at Bruce's throat. His captor let out a surprised grunt, probably clutching his bruised stomach. Bruce broke free of his restraints with a mighty yank, he was about to turn toward his captor the screams started… Bruce quickly snaps his head towards the source.
His breath hitched as Superman barrelled through every goon that stupidly throws themselves at him, a murderous look on his face.
Bruce certainly didn't find that hot.
Belatedly, he realized that the sound of retreating footsteps belongs to his kidnapper. He turned around, only to find that there's nobody behind him.
Damn, Bruce thought while gingerly fingering the wound on his neck, I wonder who is that bastard.
"Hey!" A goon shouted, making Bruce to look at him. "How did you get free of your ropes?"
Oh well, the billionaire thought to himself as he nonchalantly flipped the goon off his back, I could always find out who it is at a later date. I'm not the World's Greatest Detective for nothing after all. For now, it's time to fight.
Luthor is running away as fast as he can.
He can't keep himself from shivering in fright. He feels cold and clammy and numb and all of it at the same time− his heart is beating too fast. Superman had chilled him to the core, it really scared him.
I've never seen him like that before, Luthor thought. Maybe provoking him is a bad idea after all. He winced, unconsciously putting a hand over his stomach where Bruce head butted him. Yup, definitely not doing it again.
"Hurry up!" He harshly whispered to the two goons he deign as his bodyguards. "I want to escape this place alive."
His two goons shivered, remembering the look of uncharacteristic rage etched in the Kryptonian's face. They all hurried towards the dock, where their escape route is waiting for them, desperately trying to ignore the anguish screams of their fellow that filled the chill night air.
Sometime in the middle of his rampage, a flash of navy- midnight blue eyes let Superman know that the billionaire is alive and kicking. Literally.
A sigh of relief escape his lips, he could feel himself slowly calming down, like he's slowly coming down from a high. He could think more clearly now, the red slowly fading away from his vision.
That was, however, short-lived.
A goon holding up a knife was trying to sneak up behind Bruce, who was busy fighting three other goons at the same moment. He wouldn't be able to dodge that knife. When Superman saw the goon raised the knife to strike down at the occupied billionaire, he instantly sent his current enemy flying with a flick of his finger to the goon's forehead and flew towards Bruce to shield him. He wrapped his arms around the man, bringing him close to his body and covered him with his much larger frame. Bruce let out a surprised gasp as red and blue filled his vision and the familiar feeling of strong, muscular arms wound themselves around him.
The knife broke into pieces, Superman turned with a deadly glare and whacked the goon across his face that sent him flying across the warehouse and formed a hole in the wall. He directed his glare to the remaining goons and they immediately retreated.
Both breathing heavily, one from exertion and one from going down a fit of rage, Superman buried his face in Bruce's soft hair− which still smelled so good and barely got any sweat− as he wrapped his arms around the smaller man more tightly. "Mr. Wayne," he started. "I'm starting to believe that you're a magnet for danger."
Danger? The billionaire immediately thought. You mean like how hard you're making my heart beats and how your breath is flowing down to the nape of my neck is sending shivers down my spine?
Before he could stop himself, or truly think about it, Bruce asks, "Danger... you mean like you?"
Superman smirks, because Bruce doesn't know why he got kidnapped and there's no way he'll tell him. "Yes, like me."
Superman felt Bruce frown at his chest and was about to retort but Superman beat him to it. He cupped Bruce's chin and looked steadily into his eyes. "Yes, that means I can't help but be drawn to you..." He slowly leans down as he whispers, "... Even if I know how much danger I'll put you in, my Nightingale. I'm selfish and possessive that way."
Bruce eyes widen at the 'endearment,' but he quickly hid it with confusion. "Nightingale?" He asked with utmost confusion and curiosity. "…and what's with that tone!? It's as if you own me!"
He internally cursed himself when he saw Superman smirks, a blush rising to his cheeks. He knew Superman caught his slight delay of reaction. Superman leans down further, his lips brushing against his own once again like the first time at the concert. "It doesn't matter," Superman whispers against Bruce's lips with that sexy smirk with smouldering look in his eyes.
Bruce heartbeats' definitely did not race at that delicious sight. Nor did it nearly stop as the feeling of the superhero's lips against him sent him tingling pleasantly all over. He definitely mind the feeling of the alien's lips on his own, even if it was just brushes that may or may not be considered as small kisses but not nearly full blown kisses.
That's what Bruce kept telling himself anyway, to justify why he feels like a stupid, lovesick school girl in the Kryptonian's arms. It's taking all of his control not to impatiently grab the taller man's head and bring him down to fully capture his lips, to fully feel them moving against his own…
Before Bruce could move on from the onslaught of flirting− if you could even call it that− he's receiving from the alien, said alien immediately lifted him up bridal style and brought him close to his chest and flew away.
Their flight home was filled with subtle flirting (from Superman) and complaints (from Bruce). The billionaire certainly didn't appreciate being carried in such a girly manner and demanded to be put down because he could just call his butler to fetch him or go home by himself. Superman would have none of it.
"Don't you have other people needed to save?"
"Well, I just saved the most important one among them and is in my arms right now."
Bruce doesn't know whether to cringe or blush, but he certainly could feel his face heating up. Damn this alien and how he made him feel.
"Will you stop that?" Bruce asks, actually annoyed and just trying to stop himself from blushing further. He has experienced too much embarrassment in this day, thank you. He doesn't know if his pride can take more.
"Stop what?" Superman asks back innocently.
"Flirting with me." Bruce replied bluntly. "We're not in a relationship."
"Well we could be." The alien immediately answered, smiling.
Bruce turned his face away, reprimanding himself for reacting like this. Seriously, what does this alien want?
Suddenly, he spotted the place where he intended to go to buy ice cream for Dick. Panicking, he pointed the shop to Superman, forgetting the fact that this man might be...
Once Superman had touchdown in front of the shop, Bruce immediately wrestled himself away from his grasp. The billionaire didn't even bother to look at himself in the mirror or think of fixing himself first before he burst through the front doors. Superman could only shook his head as multiple gasps were heard from inside the shop once the billionaire had entered the establishment; he chuckled to himself as he followed after the smaller man.
As soon as the alien entered the shop, he nearly bumped into Bruce, who was standing just by the doors with a surprised look at his face. Frowning, Superman looks towards where he's staring at, only to have his own look of surprise at his own face.
"Signore Wayne!" A friendly looking old man greeted the billionaire, a bright smile on his aging face that reaches his hazel brown eyes; even from a distance, everyone could tell that those eyes held wisdom. "What a pleasant surprise! I don't expect you to be back until March and November."
Bruce winced slightly upon the mention of the months− the times when he usually visit back this place− and glanced discreetly at the equally surprised alien at his side. "Well, um, it's a long story. I actually brought my son this time, maybe I'll take him to you tomorrow. But, what about you? I heard you went back to the countryside!"
My thoughts exactly, Superman thought to himself, feeling pleasantly surprised at the sight of the old man manning the counter.
As the billionaire walks toward the counter, Superman realized that he should be thinking about something more important: Bruce knows him too? What are the odds?
Superman took a step after Bruce and immediately stops in his tracks, he noticed that the patrons (man and woman alike) of the shop were alternatively staring at him in surprise or drooling over Bruce. The man is still wrenchingly handsome after all he'd been through the day, even with sporting some bruises on his face, got dried blood circling his neck, and his torn clothes (which was letting the other's see how wonderfully sculpted the man is and how delicious looking his pale skin is), Bruce was still looking like God's most aesthetic gift to mankind. Jealousy flared up inside him, nobody else should see Bruce in that state.
While the philanthropist is busy chatting with the old man, Superman smoothly walked over to Bruce and subtly blocks him from the other's view with his large frame. The owner looked up at him, surprised.
"Oh my God," the old man muttered, staring at the superhero in pure shock and confusion.
"I'm so sorry," Bruce immediately apologized. "Superman here just rescued me from some, uh, kidnappers and we were on our way home when I saw this shop and I can't stop myself form stopping by and uh, um, I'm really sorry for all the ruckus it's going to cause, I wasn't thinking and I−"
"Dear signore," the old man chuckles fondly, "it's fine. I don't mind having a great superhero in my shop, why it is my pleasure! Welcome, Signore Superman!" He pauses and turns to look at Bruce with a severe look. "Also, I'm bringing you a first aid kit. Why you didn't tell me first that you got yourself kidnapped?!"
Bruce could only smile at the old man apologetically while Superman watched on with great amusement. The alien offered his hand to the old man to shake while casually putting an arm around Bruce's waist by doing so, "It is nice to meet you. You have a lovely shop."
The old man shook his hand, a look of recognition passing through his face in a blink of the eye that it was only Superman who caught it. He and the old man stared at each other for a few moments before the old man let out a secretive smirk which Superman returns. The three of them talked for a while, the old man pulling out a first aid kit from under the counter and handed it to Bruce, before the owner went to the back to fetch Bruce's orders.
Superman turns his head slightly to look around and notice almost everyone in the shop was looking at him with either longing or unadulterated jealousy. He smirks back cockily at them, because this man in his arms is his. He heard a camera silently clicking away pictures but he dismissed it as harmless, unconsciously though, his hand tightens around Bruce's waist as he glares at all man and woman looking lustfully at the billionaire…
Bruce swatted him in the chest, making the man of steel turn to him and saw the billionaire looking downright annoyed. The alien had the gall to chuckle and using his other hand, ruffles the man's hair which also immediately got swatted away. Huffing, Bruce decides to ignore him and continued doing what he had been unconsciously doing all this time: tracing the pattern of a carved Nightingale on the table. Noticing this, Superman's smirk only grew wider.
Bruce didn't notice it but he sat down on his usual spot in the shop− a barstool beside the window at the counter. It was just automatic for him to sit down there and trace the pattern of the Nightingale− which is why it hasn't crossed his autopilot mind that the man with him is someone he should be wary of.
The old man returned a few minutes later, in his arms were four gallons of ice cream, two of which are Bruce's orders, and the other two he's giving away to the billionaire and to the superhero as a freebie. Initially, Bruce tried to refuse the ice cream, but with one look from the old man, the billionaire immediately relented. Superman could only chuckle and resist the urge to kiss Bruce's pouting lips away.
As they were about to exit the shop, the old man whispered something that made Superman looks back at him with a small, indulgent smile. "I will, don't worry."
The old man smiles back at him, and then proceeded to clean the counter as soon as the two men are gone.
Take care of him, Kent. Don't let what happened last time repeat itself.
Later that night, Superman stayed at Bruce's condo to eat ice cream and watch Disney movies with them due to Dick's insistence, not that he resisted in the first place (Bruce did, saying that Superman have to rest. Superman countered that by telling the child that he actually feels refreshed because he's seeing such a beautiful sight, with that said he winks at Bruce which got the billionaire groaning in annoyance). For the next few hours until midnight, Dick sat on the superhero's lap, leaning back comfortably against the alien's chest much to Bruce's annoyance and jealously (Dick is his son, he should be with his Daddy).
Superman relished the feeling of having Dick and Bruce beside him, it made him enjoy the feeling of having his own family, even for just a little while. To delude himself that he could have a family of his own. Something that he could only dream but never attain.
Watching them from the only single armchair in the condo, meaning that the three other occupants of the condo are all together in the plush sofa, Alfred could only eat his ice cream in amusement and fondness.
Someday soon, Alfred got a feeling that this is a scene he'll get to see every day.
He can't wait for that day to come.
A/N: …and there it is! Is it good or is it bad? Do you like it, love it, or hate it? Share your opinions in the reviews please! I would love to hear some of your feedbacks~! Thanks for reading!
Replies:
DD and tanithlipsky: Thank youuuuu~! Will definitely do my best, or better, more!
V.L. Crawford: Glad you like it! And here's the update you've been waiting for! HAHAHA xD
