Still pretty darn furious, lemme tell ya.

-Cro

Alfred greeted Clark at the door a brisk five minute stroll later.

"Mr. Kent," he said warmly. "Do come in. May I take your, um, those?" Alfred indicated to large bouquet with dry amusement.

"That's okay, Mr. Pennyworth," Clark smiled. "I'd like to give them to Bruce."

"As you will," Alfred said, closing the door with the brand new lock and leading Clark to the sitting room. "I'm afraid Master Wayne wasn't expecting you for another-"

"I'm here, Alfred," Bruce said over Alfred's shoulder, and he caught Clark's eye.

"Bruce," Clark breathed as he took him in. He though he had seen Bruce in all states of dress and undress by that point, from his bat suit, to his professional sport jackets, to his tuxedo clad Wayne Enterprises events, to half naked in boxers and bandages, to his quick and systematic changing after Justice League ordeals. But never had Clark ever seen him like this: perfectly tailored black suit, perfectly perfect hair, shirt unbuttoned at the top, swiftly tying a grey necktie at his throat. And though it wasn't the sexiest outfit Clark had ever seen Bruce in, he fair swooned at the sight, because never had he seen Bruce wear any outfit specifically for him, with him in mind, in anticipation of seeing him. Clark's heart swelled with joy.

"Clark," Bruce smiled roguishly. "You look great."

"Thank do you," Clark flustered. "I mean, thank so! I mean, thank you, so do you!"

Though Bruce bit his lip stoically, Alfred covered a snort with a brief cough.

"That's sweet, thank you."

"Oh!" Clark said after a second of expectant silence. "Um, I brought you flowers!"

"You did," Bruce said flatly, looking at the huge, misshapen bouquet.

"Yeah, I didn't know what you like, so I just got one of everything." He pointed to a dark red rose, a white peony, a puny yellow daffodil, some irises, a large orange carnation, a small sunflower, a brilliantly colored tropical flower, some lavender….

Bruce Wayne covered his quaking smirk behind a large hand. "That's…that's so like you!" He let out a quick guffaw, then slapped his hand over his mouth to laugh silently, shoulders shaking, and Clark's spine tingled with pleasure; Bruce was laughing for him!

Behind the formidable, giggling Batman, Alfred smiled affectionately at his employer. "Good call," he whispered, just loud enough for Clark to hear.

"Ha, you really are a dope! Alfred, please take these up to my room."

"Very good, Master Wayne. Will you be needing a car this evening?"

"That's okay, Mr. Pennyworth," Clark said before Bruce could answer, and he turned to him. "I thought I'd give you a ride. Flying is smoother, and you're still healing."

Not to mention, Clark was sure they both thought, the sky is much more private than a road.

In answer, Bruce winked at Alfred. "Thank you, Alfred, not tonight," and Clark was ecstatic to show him the prettiest sight in the whole world, knowing how beautiful his face would be when he saw it.

Alfred nodded. "In that case, I insist you wear another coat, Master Wayne."

"Very good, Alfred," Bruce said after donning his proffered long black coat.

"Ready?" Clark said finally, if a little impatiently.

Bruce nodded, but yelped when Clark picked him up bridal style.

"What were you expecting?" Clark laughed. "I didn't bring my sidecar."

But Bruce indicated meaningfully at Alfred, who cleared his throat, a little embarrassed. "Master Wayne, Mr. Kent," he said. "Have a good night."

"Same to you, Mr. Pennyworth," Clark smiled. Bruce grunted.

With that, Clark stepped onto the porch and leapt into the air, making sure to create an angle that wouldn't put any undue pressure on the man whose body heat leached through his clothes, filling Clark's head with joy.

As they reached the bright clouds, Clark hovered in thin air. "We'll leave in a second," he said. "I just want to show you something."

"I've seen sunsets before, Clark. Even from up here."

"Only in the line of duty, right? I don't think you've ever watched a sunset before. Look!" On cue, the sun began to dip below the horizon, illuminating the windows in Gotham's downtown a bright gold against the black, backlit skyline. The buildings in Gotham's skyline were blocky, generally wider than in Metropolis, stouter, as if they had been rebuilt with their tall, easily toppled predecessors in mind, with the exception of two or three glowing, modernly artistic marvels of architecture Clark nearly felt sorry for; in Gotham, buildings like that might stand a year, two if they were lucky, before blowing up, casualties of yet another villain.

But for now, they blazed orange and gold and the scene took Clark's breath away. In fact, he heard Bruce's breath hitch in his throat.

"I love Metropolis," Clark said finally. "And I protect it. But sometimes I don't know if I protect my city because I love it, or love my city because I protect it. And then I come up here to remember."

The sunset slowly drained the color from the clouds they were hovering in, and not until the twilit sky faded into a deep, velvet blue did either look aught from the horizon.

Bruce cleared his throat abruptly. "We'll be late."

The stars were fading into the night sky, and it was with reluctance that Clark started flying east, against the last bits of the sun. The moon was full and huge, lighting up Bruce's face and making his eyes shine as Clark gazed at him. "Just… just tell me where to go."

While Bruce dictated directions to Clark, neither of them noticed the surge of clouds behind them, nor the nearly silent engines that stalked them through the sky.