Loss of Time

by Lopithecus

After a mission gone wrong, Bruce is left in a state that Clark really has no idea what to do with. Clark struggles to take care of his friend while battling his feelings for him along with trying to keep him safe from people who want to hurt him.

5. Chapter 5

Chapter Five:

In the morning, Clark has to pry himself out of the four year old's grasp without waking him. He has work today and still needs to call J'onn to come and deal with Perry since Clark thinks that will just be easier than timid Clark Kent trying to convince Perry not to let him out on any dangerous cases. Going to his dresser and picking out some clothes to wear, Clark heads for his bathroom and takes a shower. Afterward, he decides to call J'onn and then he'll wake up Bruce.

Activating the com-link, Clark patches through to J'onn. "J'onn?"

"Yes, Kal-El?" the Martian responds.

"I was wondering if you can spare a few minutes to help me with my boss issue," Clark explains as he digs out the pancake mix he bought yesterday. "I think it'll be easier if you just convince him to keep me off any dangerous leads than me trying to do it."

There's a pause, as if J'onn is thinking about it, but then he says, "Yes, I can spare a few minutes. What time should I be at the Daily Planet?"

"Does nine sound good to you?" Clark asks. "That's when I start work and should be getting there as well if everything works out."

"I will see you then." The line goes dead after that last statement and Clark abandons his mixing to go get Bruce up.

He stands in the doorway and just looks at the sleeping child for a minute. Has he ever seen adult Bruce this peaceful? He must have at some point but Clark is sure it's a rare sight. "Bruce," Clark calls. "It's time to get up." Bruce groans and begins to move so Clark leaves him to it. Going back to his mixing, he continues to make the pancakes. By the time he has three pancakes done, one on one plate for Bruce, and then two on his own plate, he still has seen no sign of Bruce. Going back to the bedroom he sees the child still sleeping. "Bruce, you need to get up, buddy. You need to eat and get ready so I can go to work." Again, the kid groans and stretches. "I want you out in the kitchen in less than five minutes or else I'm going to make you get up." An even louder groan of disapproval emits from the body under the covers. Clark really doesn't know how to deal with a small child. Sighing and thinking maybe he's going about this in the wrong way, Clark approaches the bed and lifts the covers. Picking up Bruce, he carries him to the kitchen. "Come on." Clark places him at the counter and in front of his plate.

"You made pancakes?" Bruce asks, eyeing the small round food.

"Yep, and they taste really good." Clark pours some maple syrup onto them. It's not the real stuff that Bruce often has at the manor but it'll have to do. He then proceeds to cut the pancake into small little bite sized portions for Bruce and when done, he hands him the fork. "Eat up, I've got to get to work."

Bruce begins eating along with Clark. "Am I going with you?"

Clark nods. "Yeah, you'll be spending the day with me at my work, won't that be fun?"

"Where do you work?" Bruce asks, stuffing another piece of food in his mouth.

Clark shrugs. "A newspaper company. I write news pieces for other people to read."

Bruce's eyes grow wide and he smiles. "Did you know I can spell my name?"

It's not what Clark was expecting but he goes with it. "Really? Let me hear."

Bruce swallows. "B.R.U.C.E. I… don't remember what my last name is."

He looks proud so Clark smiles at him and ruffles his hair despite Clark feeling a little worried by the fact that Bruce can't even remember what his last name is. "Good job. You're just so smart." Bruce's proud smile grows. When Clark and then Bruce are done eating breakfast and plates are in the sink, Clark walks Bruce over to the bathroom. He didn't get him cleaned up from yesterday so he's still quite dirty. Clark will also probably have to change his bedspread. He fills the bath, letting Bruce squeeze in the bubble bath soup, and then helps the child strip out of his pajamas and get into the tub. "Stay here, I just need to get a few other things ready, okay?"

Bruce nods, playing with the bubbles. "But don't be gone long."

Clark frowns at the statement and leaves. He gathers his paperwork into the briefcase he takes to work and then places the crayons and coloring books inside the briefcase as well. He then goes to his bedroom, grabs Ace, the stuffed bat, and sets it on top of his briefcase in order to not forget it. After, he goes back to the bedroom and grabs some clothes for Bruce. By the time he gets back to Bruce, the child is just staring at the water and doing nothing. "You okay?"

Bruce snaps his head up in surprise. "Yeah."

Seeing Bruce's smile, Clark decides to accept that answer. He helps clean Bruce up, washing his hair for him and then allowing the child to wash his own body when Clark pours the body wash into his small hands. Clark then lifts Bruce out of the tub and begins to dry his small body off. As he scrubs the water from Bruce's hair, he notices the child looks sad again. "What is it?"

Bruce looks up at him and Clark stops drying. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out and instead Bruce shuts his mouth without a word. Clark waits patiently and hands him his underwear, pants, and shirt. "I was just..."

Clark raises an eyebrow. "Just what? Arms up." Clark slips the shirt on him and then helps him with socks and shoes.

"Never mind," Bruce says quietly.

Clark looks at him as he grabs a comb to start combing the child's hair. "You know you can talk to me right? You can tell me anything you want."

"I know," Bruce agrees but still doesn't say what he was about to.

Clark silently sighs, finishing combing Bruce's hair back in the style of adult Bruce, as the child continues to look sad. Even though he knows Bruce uses product to keep his hair slicked back, Clark just couldn't help styling it the same way when little Bruce's hair is wet. It won't dry and stay that way, but it's fun to see while it lasts. Clark quickly brushes his and then Bruce's teeth, using the new toothbrush he bought last night on Bruce. Kneeling back down to look Bruce in the eyes after putting the toothbrush away, Clark says, "I want you to be happy, Bruce."

Bruce hugs him, burying his face into Clark's shoulder. "I know." Bruce doesn't let go so Clark has no choice but to lift the kid and carry him. He leaves the bathroom and picks up his briefcase and Ace, sparing a quick glance towards the plates and cups in the sink. Normally he would have time to wash any dishes he used in the morning before leaving, especially if he used his super speed, but now with Bruce to take care of, it looks like it'll have to wait until tonight. Bruce's face is still buried in his shoulder and Clark begins to wonder if he is going to fall back asleep until he hears the child speak. "Do you have Ace?" It's muffled but Clark can still make it out.

"I do. Do you want to hold him?" Bruce nods against him so he hands the stuffed animal over. Bruce continues to keep his face in Clark's shoulder as Clark walks to work and Clark is honestly starting to worry a little. Are children supposed to be this tired in the morning? Is he even doing this because he's tired? Is it something else? "Bruce, are you alright from last night?"

"Uh huh." Clark believes it to be a lie but he also doesn't know what else to say so he doesn't say anything at all.

Clark enters the Daily Planet building and sees J'onn waiting for him in the lobby. He approaches him. "Hey, John," Clark greets, using his cover name. Bruce finally lifts his head from Clark's shoulder and eyes the Martian with suspicion. J'onn is in his human disguise and Bruce, without any prior memory, doesn't recognize him. Clark whispers, "Bruce, this is J'onn but this is his disguise so no one will know who he is. When he's in this form, we call him John, like the Green Lantern."

"Okay," Bruce says with a smile towards J'onn.

Clark smiles at Bruce's suddenly improved mood and is glad the kid is starting to cheer up. It must have been that talk about his parents last night. What else could it be? Clark then sets Bruce down and grabs a hold of his hand with the one Clark isn't holding his briefcase with. "Come on, let's go up." Clark almost expected Bruce to throw a fit and demand to be picked back up, but the four year old remains silent except for a few comments to J'onn. As the three of them ride the elevator up, J'onn looks increasingly uncomfortable with such a small Bruce who is very different from his bigger counterpart. "Perry's office is this way." Clark leads them to his boss' office, glancing around and seeing that Lois and Jimmy have yet to arrive. He's glad. Clark doesn't want them asking questions at the moment while trying to straighten out the Perry situation. What he does notice, however, are the stares he gets from his other coworkers.

Bruce is growing shy and is practically clinging to his pant leg, looking around at everyone's stares and murmurs with apprehension. "Clark?"

Clark looks down at him and smiles. "Don't worry." This doesn't seem to comfort the child though. Once they reach Perry's office door, Clark knocks and opens it as soon as he hears an angry admission. "Uh, Sir, I would like to introduce you to a couple of people."

Perry turns from where he was staring out the window. "This isn't the time Kent," he says angrily.

Bruce flinches and hides behind Clark's leg. He's scaring him, Clark hears in his head and he quickly glances at J'onn. Clark has to take a silent deep breath to control his sudden anger at his boss. "S-Sir, I'm sorry if this isn't a good time but it's... uh, important."

"Fine, make it quick." Perry sits down at his desk.

Clark nudges Bruce from behind him who refuses at first but at the second push, steps out from behind Clark warily. "This is my cousin, Bruce." He winces internally. He probably should have come up with a different name. It is too late now Kal-El, J'onn says inside his head. "I'm watching him for a little while and since I can't get him a babysitter because... well, his parents would kill me if they found out they left me to watch him and then I had someone else watch him because, you know, they chose me for-"

Perry cuts him off. "Back on track, Kent."

Clark pushes at his glasses. "R-Right. Um, well, I'm going to have to bring him to work with me for a few days, possibly a week at most."

"And what if there's a story I need you to get on because Lane isn't available?" Perry asks.

"Well, that's why the other person, my friend, is here for me to introduce you to," Clark begins. "This is John. John, do you want to explain things to Mr. White?"

Perry turns to J'onn and J'onn's eyes immediately start to glow. "What is he doing?" Bruce asks from beside him.

"He's helping me convince my boss to not make me go on any dangerous story chases that I can't bring you on." Clark sees the calculations working in the small brain of Bruce's

"Does that mean..." Bruce looks to Perry and then back to Clark. "Does that mean you won't be leaving me?"

Clark kneels down. "I won't be leaving you Bruce, but you have to also understand that I can't-" Clark is interrupted.

"Very well, Kent. No dangerous cases for you for however long you need to keep bringing the kid with you." Perry picks up the phone, probably to continue whatever had him so mad to begin with. "Now get out of my office and get to work."

"Yes Sir." Clark solutes him and takes Bruce by the hand again, leading his two companions out of the office.

When they reach Clark's desk, J'onn turns to them. "I will be leaving now."

"Yeah, thanks John, I appreciate it." Clark clasps him on the shoulder.

J'onn nods. "It was no problem Clark."

J'onn then turns and starts to walk away. "Bye John!" Bruce calls after him, waving his hand. The child then turns to Clark. "So I get to spend the whole day with you?" Clark nods and thinks about trying again to explain to Bruce that he can't be with him twenty-four-seven seven days a week and there are times where they will be separated, but decides to wait until they get home just in case Bruce has a fit and starts crying. Instead he just ruffles Bruce's drying hair, messing it up, and causing the kid to laugh.

"And who might this little guy be?" Clark turns to see Lois walking up with Jimmy.

Clark clears his throat, getting ready to go into character. "Oh, hi L-Lois, Jimmy. This here is my cousin, distant cousin, Bruce uh... from across the country. His parents asked me to look after him while they are on vacation."

"They didn't have any closer family to watch him, someone who knows him better?" Lois inquires.

"Uh... well, you see, Lois, Bruce and I actually do know each other pretty well," Clark figures it's not a lie. "Just because they live far away doesn't mean I'm not close with the family."

Lois' eyes narrow. "I didn't even know your parents had any siblings."

Clark scratches the back of his neck and pushes his glasses back up. "Yeah, he's from my mom's side."

Lois' eyes narrow even more and she looks suspicious. "But weren't you adopted? How does he look just like you?"

"Um..." Clark begins but he honestly has yet to come up with a good reason of why Bruce looks like him. As much as he would hate for Lois and Jimmy to be manipulated by mind control, he really does wish J'onn was still here.

"Does it really matter, Ms. Lane?" Jimmy kneels down to eye level with Bruce, who is behind Clark's leg again. "There's plenty of people out there with black hair and blue eyes." He sticks his hand out then. "Hi, I'm Jimmy."

Bruce doesn't say anything so Clark nudges him again. "Be polite."

Bruce hesitantly takes Jimmy's hand. "Hi."

Lois then stoops down too. "Hey there, Bruce, I'm Lois. It's nice to meet you."

Bruce takes her hand too. "Hello."

Lois stands back up. "He's cute but you know, he kind of looks like Bruce Wayne."

Clark knows what is going on through her head. "Yeah, his parents are actually fans of Brucie. That's why they named him Bruce."

Lois nods, still looking suspicious as another woman walks by. "They're fans of Brucie Wayne? Are they insane? The only thing the guy has going for him is his looks and money, and maybe how good he is in bed," the other woman comments after eavesdropping on their conversation before walking away.

Clark suppresses a sigh. He's used to hearing these comments about Bruce's dumbed down alter ego. One time he told Bruce how much it bothered him and didn't understand how it didn't bother Bruce. The man only responded by giving him a shrug and saying that he knows it's not true about him so he doesn't really care what others thinks. Besides, Bruce, as he states it, wants them to think that of him. Clark just can't stand it either way but unfortunately always has to play along or shut up about it.

There's a tug at his pant leg and Clark looks down. "Who is Bruce Wayne?"

"He is a famous billionaire," Clark answers as Jimmy walks away and Lois walks around his own desk in order to get to hers. "And," Clark kneels down to whisper in Bruce's ear. "He's also Batman."

Bruce's eyes grow wide and Clark can really learn to love that look. "Really!" Bruce whispers excitedly back. "And I have the same name as him!" He hugs his little bat close to his chest.

"Yep, you have the same name as Batman." Clark watches the excitement overwhelm the child.

"Now I really want to meet him." Bruce bounces with excitement. "But I know he's really busy."

Clark tries to straighten out Bruce's hair somewhat. "That he is." He then stands up and sits down at his desk. "Now Bruce, I need to start working." Opening his briefcase he pulls out the coloring book and crayons. "I brought your coloring so you can do that."

Bruce grabs the book and crayons. "Can I sit in your lap?"

Clark looks at his keyboard to Bruce. He's really not sure how comfortable that will be and if it'll even be possible. "I don't know Bruce..."

"Please?" The child gives him his best puppy dog look.

Sighing in defeat, Clark holds his hands out. "Okay, come here." Clark makes a mental note to stop letting Bruce get whatever he wants. He can't imagine Alfred allowing that after Bruce's parents died. He picks Bruce up into his lap. Bruce then places the coloring book on top of his desk, pushing a neat stack of papers out of his way, and starts picking out a page to color, settling on one of a dog.

Reaching around the child and starting to type isn't as bad and uncomfortable as he first thought it would be. Bruce is slim so he doesn't have to really spread his arms out that wide. Bruce is also leaning forward slightly so it's not hard for Clark to see his computer screen at all. Bruce's back is still pressed to his chest despite his leaning forward but that too doesn't get in the way of Clark. He's glad it didn't turn out the way he was expecting because he would have really hated having to tell Bruce that he had to color on the floor due to him being in the way. He can just imagine the tantrum that would have created.

An hour goes by without disturbance until Perry sticks his head out of his office. "Lane, Kent, there's a press conference that I need you two to go to."

"Who is it Chief?" Lois asks.

"The governor." He shuts his door.

Clark looks at the shut door astonished. Did Perry really find a loophole in the whole not sending him to cover something dangerous by deciding to send him off to a press conference? What was he supposed to do with Bruce? Without saying anything he picks up Bruce, who drops his crayon, and walks over to Perry's office. He knocks and waits for permission to enter. Once inside the room, he doesn't hesitate to ask, "Sir, what am I supposed to do with Bruce? I thought you weren't going to send me anywhere?"

"Huh?" Perry looks up from his paperwork and eyes the child in his arms. "He can stay here until you get back. Have someone watch him."

"I can't do that," Clark says, not even bothering with his klutzy, shy façade. "He's my responsibility."

"Fine, then I'll watch him." He motions to the love seat that is in his office. "He can stay in here and do whatever kids do until you get back."

Clark feels Bruce stiffen and tighten his hold around his neck before Perry even finishes. "I'm not so sure. I promised his parents I would watch him."

"Kent," Perry is starting to look annoyed. "It'll be fine. It's not a dangerous press conference so you should be back within two hours. Now go, the conference starts in a half hour."

Clark, defeated, sets Bruce down. "You leaving?"

Sighing, Clark cards his fingers through Bruce's hair, trying to settle it. "Yeah I have to but I'll be back as soon as I can." Bruce opens his mouth to say something but Clark stands instead and retrieves the coloring book and crayons, along with Ace that was left behind. Returning to his boss' office, he hands the child the three items. "Here, you can still do these while I'm gone."

"I don't want you to go," Bruce grabs onto Clark's sleeve and doesn't let go, holding Ace close to his chest.

"Bruce," Clark starts, soothingly. "I have to, it's my job."

"But-" Clark doesn't allow him to continue and stands back up, prying Bruce's fingers from his sleeve.

"I'll be back soon, I promise." Clark smiles down at him and then starts to go towards the door.

Bruce runs after him and latches onto his pant leg. "No, don't go." Clark sees the tears pooling in the four year old's eyes and watches as they spill. "Don't go."

Clark knew this was going to happen. Bending back down he wipes the tears away but they're only replaced with more as the child cries. "I'm sorry Bruce but Perry, my boss, is telling me I have to go."

"Can't I go with you?" Clark feels a presence come up behind him and he knows it's Lois. "I promise to be good."

Clark shakes his head. "No you can't."

"Is he going to be crying the whole time you're gone?" Perry asks, watching them closely. "Hey kid, it won't be so bad in here. You get to be in my office instead of out there where it's noisy. I'll even color with you."

Perry comes up and takes Bruce's hand and starts to guide the crying child to the couch. "But I want to go with Clark," Bruce sobs.

Lois puts a hand on his shoulder. "Come on Smallville, before you staying here makes it worse." Clark takes one last look over at Bruce where Perry is trying to calm him. Clark follows Lois out of the office and then building, all the way to the parking garage where the two of them get into her car, Lois driving. "He'll be fine, Clark. Just a little clingy, that's all."

Clark shrugs, looks out the passenger side window. "It seems more than that though. He never wants me to leave his sight and if I do then he cries."

Lois doesn't say anything for a long time, going through two stops at intersections before she comments. "Maybe he has separation anxiety?"

Separation anxiety? Clark thinks about it. It would make sense. "How so?"

"Well," Lois stops at another red light. "He's dropped off by his parents who promptly leave him instead of taking him with them and, being only, what, four, five, he probably feels abandoned. He's most likely scared you're going to do the same thing."

Of course, why didn't Clark think of that? Bruce remembers his parents dying. Even if he doesn't remember that they are his parents, Clark is sure the feeling is still there and if he remembers that then he probably remembers the times Dick and Tim left and when Jason died. He now has Damian and Jason is back but Clark wouldn't be surprised if those memories bring back the feeling of abandonment, especially to a four year old that really can't comprehend what he is remembering. "Lois, turn around."

"What?" She glances over to him and then back to the road.

"Turn around," he says urgently. "I need to get Bruce."

Lois looks astonished. "You can't bring him to the press conference."

"I don't care, I'm not leaving him there either." Clark gives Lois a determined look. "I'm not going to allow him to think I abandoned him."

Lois eyes him from the corners of her eyes and that's when Clark realizes he forgot to act like the ditzy person Clark Kent is supposed to be. "Okay... if you say so, Smallville, but we're going to have to be quick if we don't want to be late."

"I'll be quick." Clark sits back while Lois gets into a left lane to turn around. When they get back to the Daily Planet building, Clark rushes in, uses his speed up the stairs, and goes straight to Perry's office and knocking. He can hear Bruce is still crying.

Once he gets permission to enter, he does. Bruce sees him immediately and brightens up significantly. "Clark!" Bruce runs to him and hugs his legs.

"Kent, what are you doing here?" Perry stands and approaches him.

"I-I've decided to bring the little one with me." Clark stutters.

"To the press conference?" Perry asks skeptically.

"I'll be good, I promise, Mr. White." Bruce looks up at him with a tear stained face and red, puffy eyes.

Perry chuckles and ruffles Bruce's hair. "Okay, kid, as long as you're good."

A smile forms on Bruce's face and Clark picks him up. As he makes his way back to Lois, who is waiting in a parking spot off the side of the road, he helps Bruce wipe the tears away. "I will never abandon you Bruce." Bruce doesn't say anything and instead wraps his arms around his neck and cuddles close to him. At Lois' car, Clark buckles Bruce into the back and then gets back there with him. Lois doesn't have a booster seat so Clark figures it would probably be safer if he was in the back as well. Once all settled, Lois pulls out of the parking space, cutting someone off in the process, and hightails it to the press conference.

...

Lois and Clark sit side by side in uncomfortable folding chairs, each of them with a notepad and pen out, ready to start writing the shorthand that journalists use. Bruce is sitting in Clark's lap quietly, patiently waiting for the conference to start. Clark's not really sure why Perry wanted both he and Lois to go to this thing. It's not the first time Clark and Lois have gone to something together as the press, but this time it just seems unnecessary.

Bruce waves his bat around and turns around to Clark. "When is it going to start?"

Clark pulls Bruce onto his lap more and shifts in order for Bruce to not be in the way of his writing. "Soon." As if on cue, the room goes silent and all heads turn to watch as the governor comes out. "See, that's who we were waiting for," Clark whispers.

"That's the governor?" Bruce asks. "He important?"

Clark nods. "Yeah, he's very important." Clark brings his index finger up to his lips. "You have to be quiet now because it's about to start." Bruce nods and faces forward.

Clark has to admit; Bruce did what he said and was extremely good. He did everything Clark told him to do, stayed quiet, and didn't fuss much with having to sit for such a long period of time. The only thing that went wrong was when Clark got to ask a question and some eyes turned to him, looked shocked that he had a child on his lap, and then sent him scalding looks that told him that they didn't approve. Clark can't fathom what their problem is though considering Bruce isn't being a nuisance or anything of the sort. In fact, Bruce is being too good for a four year old. Clark wonders if this is another thing leaking through from adult Bruce. Is Bruce's training that helped him perfect Batman's stealth aiding to child Bruce's patients and ability to wait for long periods of times without much movement?

Clark shakes the thought out of his head and stands when the conference is done. He places Bruce on the floor and grabs his hand, holding it so the child doesn't run off. Not that Clark really thinks Bruce will run off but he doesn't want anymore accusatory stares.

Bruce tugs at his hand until he looks down. "Is that it?"

Before Clark can answer him, one of the other journalists comes up to him. Clark recognizes her as someone who does the morning news on TV. "What were you thinking bringing a child with you to such a thing?"

Clark has met her before and has never liked her. She's always butting into people's business and trying to control them. It almost reminds Clark of Bruce but the way Bruce does it is endearing and definitely not the same as this woman. This woman does it to be mean and bitchy. Bruce does it because he cares. There's a huge difference in Clark's eyes. "Ms. Harold, I'm sorry you think it's wrong that I bring my cousin, whom I'm babysitting by the way, to this press conference, but not only was he on his best behavior so you have nothing to complain about but it's also really," Clark clears his throat to keep up pretenses. "None of your business."

She scoffs."Excuse me, Kent?" She gets a little closer to him and Bruce hides behind his leg. "Not my business? It is my business when it has to do with my work, in which case it does."

Clark looks to the bathroom door where Lois went. She's always so much better at this stuff than he is. "It has nothing to do with your work, Ms. Harold. It has to do with my work and my work only and I already got permission from my boss."

She's sneering at him now. "You expect me to be okay with it just because that good for nothing Perry White said it was?" She laughs, short and pointed. "Yeah right, Kent. It does have something to do with my job because I'm here too. There's a lot of other people here and you never see them bringing their child."

"Come off it Fiona." Clark turns to Lois, who has just come out of the bathroom. "First off, Bruce is his cousin not his child, listen and you would know that. Second off, Clark has every right to bring his four year old cousin with him if he's babysitting him and especially if Perry said it was alright." Lois' hands go to her hips. "And besides, you didn't see the security saying he couldn't bring him in did you?" Fiona purses her lips and looks away, arms crossed. "Bruce was an angel through the whole thing so why don't you be a dear and go be a bitch to someone else and leave Clark and Bruce alone."

With that being said, Fiona huffs and turns, walking away, clearly agitated. Clark turns to Lois. "Thanks Lois."

Lois shrugs. "Someone had to say it if you weren't." Clark refrains from pointing out that he was going to until Lois beat him to it. Lois crouches down. "You don't listen to anything that mean woman said, Bruce. You were wonderful sitting there."

Bruce smiles as Lois ruffles his hair. When she stops, he points at her. "You said a bad word."

Both Clark and Lois laugh. "Yeah, yeah I did."

...

They go to lunch after leaving the conference and then back to the Daily Planet to finish up the day. Perry asked him how everything went and he tells him it went fine, leaving out the whole fiasco with Fiona. He's sure Lois will mention it to him later anyways. He has to carry Bruce back home because of how tired the child is. Once home, Clark deposits Bruce onto the couch, turns the TV to some cartoon that captures Bruce's attention right away, and then starts on making supper.

At the dinner table, Bruce picks at his chicken. "Clark?" He hums to let the child know he's listening as he reads today's newspaper since he didn't have time this morning. "Why did that mean lady think I was your son?"

Clark looks up from the paper and eyes the four year old. Shrugging, he answers, "Probably because we look a lot alike." Bruce continues to push his peas around on the plate and prod at the chicken, looking forlorn. "What's wrong?"

Clark knows exactly what is wrong but he doesn't want to talk about it and he's almost positive Bruce will tell him it's nothing because that's just who Bruce is, regardless of age. "Nothing."

"Then eat your supper." Bruce doesn't listen and doesn't start eating. "If you eat at least your chicken we'll watch a movie once you're done and you can pick it out."

Bruce lights up then and starts to finish all his food on his plate. Clark even has to tell him to slow down in fear of him choking. When done, Clark and Bruce go to sit on the couch after Clark speed washes the dishes. Clark lifts Bruce up and places the kid on the couch beside him. Bruce then crawls up tight against him, pressing into his side in a cuddly manner. Bruce draws his feet up onto the couch, kicking his shoes off in the process, and pulls his knees into his chest. Smiling, Clark drapes an arm around Bruce's shoulders.

Bruce picks a movie, Clark making sure it's rated G, and they watch it in silence except for some laughing at funny scenes. At the end of the movie, Bruce gives a long, big yawn and Clark carries him to the bed. He helps him change into his pajamas and then tucks him in for the night. "Clark, will you sleep in here again?"

Clark looks at him and sighs. "Yeah, I will."

Clark grabs his own pajamas and starts to change into them. "Clark?"

When Clark turns around, Bruce is sitting up. "Yeah?" He finishes getting into his pajamas and makes his way to the other side of the bed.

"I was just wondering..." Bruce stops, hesitating, and Clark climbs into the bed, lying down to try and prompt the child to lie down himself. He doesn't and instead looks at Clark. "Will you..." He hesitates again, scrunching into himself slightly and avoiding eye contact. "Will you be my daddy?"

Clark's heart drops so far that he's sure it reaches all the way to the other side of the world. "Bruce..."

"Please, Clark?" Bruce finally makes eye contact with him, his blue eyes glistening. He looks away again and starts to play with the blanket, picking at it. "I just want a dad," he says softly.

Clark isn't sure what to say. He doesn't want to be Bruce's dad. He didn't even want to look after him in the first place. Clark guesses he probably should have nipped the clinginess in the butt with the first sign of it. But looking at Bruce now, the sad, lonely, four year old that remembers some memories that he is just too young or not experienced enough to really understand them, Clark can't help but feel sorry for him and... caring towards him. Except a different kind of caring. The caring he feels right now as he looks at the small child isn't the same caring that he feels when he looks at or even thinks about adult Bruce. It's directed specifically towards a small child and Clark knows he would feel this way to any small child. It's the kind of thing Clark specifically wanted to avoid when Bruce is in this form. He doesn't want to think of Bruce Wayne, billionaire during the day, Batman at night, as a small little kid. He wants to think of adult Bruce and care for him. That's the point isn't it? The care Clark feels towards adult Bruce, the love he feels towards him, is unique from everything else and Clark doesn't want that tainted... as selfish as that sounds.

Sighing, he motions for the boy to come closer and Bruce obeys, lying down and snuggling up against him. Clark doesn't want to say yes, is reluctant too, but how can Clark say no to him when he's looking so sad? "I'll be your dad, Bruce." Clark ignores the pain in his gut that his emotions are causing and stares at the ceiling.

"Really?" Bruce asks sleepily.

"Really." Clark can feel Bruce's smile and he can feel when Bruce tightens his arms around him but Clark doesn't want to be there, doesn't want to feel how happy he just made the four year old. He wants his best friend back.

"Goodnight, Daddy." Bruce whispers and Clark doesn't say anything. When Bruce falls asleep, Clark stops staring at the ceiling by closing his eyes to try and get some sleep himself. Unfortunately, he doesn't get any and before he knows it, his alarm is going off.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Updates will be every Friday. Next update scheduled for: 12/4/15 EST. To see a full list of dates, please go to my Tumblr, angelcamael, and go to the post under: /post/132217933841/loss-of-time

I hope everyone who celebrates it had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. :)