Chapter Six:

Bruce keeps calling him daddy and it makes Clark uncomfortable. "Daddy, can I bring my Superman and Batman today?" Clark doesn't answer, putting his paperwork into his briefcase. "Daddy?"

Clark looks down at the tug at his pants and sees Bruce looking up at him with a sad, worried look, Superman and Batman plushie in his hands. Sighing, Clark steels himself. "Of course, you can, Bruce."

Bruce smiles and runs off to get his own stuff gathered. Running back, he has his coloring book, crayons, and Ace in his hands next. "I'm all ready, Daddy."

Clark gently closes his briefcase and turns to Bruce. He kneels down to look at him at eye level. "Bruce, can you just wait to call me dad?"

"Why?" Bruce asks.

Clark tries to think of a good response. "Because I need some time to get used to it."

Bruce draws into himself and looks sad. "But you said you'd be my dad."

"And I am, really, I just..." Clark is quick to inform the child, wanting to avoid a tantrum. "Bruce, I just need some... some time to get used to our new father and son relationship and then get used to you calling me dad. I can't do that all at once. Do you understand? Just give me a few days, okay?" Clark isn't sure if only a few days will be enough time but he's praying that it is.

Bruce still looks forlorn but not as sad as before. "Okay."

Clark refrains from ruffling up Bruce's neatly combed back hair and instead smiles. "Thank you, Bruce." Clark stands. "Ready?" Bruce nods and Clark takes his hand after taking the two Superman and Batman stuffed toys. They walk to the Daily Planet hand in hand and in silence.

Clark's almost afraid he made Bruce just as sad as he was before the whole Clark being his dad thing came up but then the child speaks up. "Is Lois going got be there today?"

"Yeah, she should be," Clark answers.

"I like her." A smile forms on Bruce's lips and Clark is immediately reminded of the fact that Bruce and Lois used to date way back when Clark and Bruce, as well as Superman and Batman, made their acquaintance. They didn't date long because ultimately Batman got in between them but it still made Clark jealous. Of course, thinking about it years later and now with a crush on Bruce, Clark is no longer sure who he was jealous of; Bruce or Lois.

Clark wants to change the subject. "I was thinking maybe I could try to get out of work early and we can go to the park."

"Yeah!" Bruce jumps up and down.

Clark chuckles. "And then after, maybe we can go and visit our other friends."

Clark is glad that, even at four, Bruce is still pretty smart and understands who he is talking about. Bouncing up and down, Bruce says enthusiastically, "Can we Clark, can we?"

Clark has to hold back another laugh. "Yeah, yeah we can."

They get to the Daily Planet soon after that and as soon as Bruce sees Lois, he pulls away from him and runs up to her. "Lois!"

Lois turns around and crouches just in time to catch a barreling Bruce in her arms. "Hey kid."

"Lois, today Clark and I are going to go to the park," Bruce tells her.

Lois stands up. "Oh wow, that's exciting."

Clark sets everything down on his desk and then approaches the two. "Lois, do you think you could distract him a little while I go talk to Perry?" Clark asks, whispering in her ear. She nods and then goes up to Bruce to implement whatever she plans on doing to distract the kid. Clark then heads to Perry's Office, knocking on the door and then entering when allowed.

"What do you need Kent?" Perry asks right away.

"Um..." He begins. "I was wondering if I could take a half a day. I want to bring Bruce to the park."

Perry studies him. "I know about what happened with Fiona Harold." Clark blushes. "I'm sorry that happened, especially in front of the kid."

"T-thank you," Clark stutters.

Sighing, Perry continues. "I suppose you can have a half day. It's not like you never frequently do anyways."

Clark doesn't even need the blush for his role as Clark Kent this time. He has to admit, being Superman, he really does have to step out quite often. "Thank you, Sir."

"I expect you to get a lot of work done while you're here though." Perry then waves him out and Clark obeys. When he gets back to his desk, he's bombarded by Bruce running into his legs. "Hey, I wasn't gone that long."

"You didn't tell me you were leaving," Bruce whines.

"Sorry Clark, it's hard to distract him." Lois comes up to them. "He's really focused for a four year old."

Clark pats the four year old's head. "Okay, I'll never leave without telling you again."

Bruce squeezes at his legs and demands, "Promise."

Clark catches Lois' eyes for a split second. "Bruce, I can't just-"

"But you said you would tell me." Bruce stomps a little, pouting.

Sighing, Clark decides to finally put his foot down. "Yes, I'll tell you when I'm leaving but you can't expect me to be with you all day, Bruce." The kid looks like he is about to cry. "But it's okay because despite that, I will never leave you for good. I will always come back, I promise that."

"No." Clark and Lois look down at him in shock at his outburst. "I don't want you to leave me."

Clark's patience is running very thin. First the whole dad thing and now this. "I'm not leaving you, Bruce, I just said I will come back, always."

Bruce's arms cross in front of his chest looking very much like a shrunk Bruce Wayne. "No, you're not allowed to leave me."

"You can't control everything, Bruce," Clark snaps.

"Clark," Lois says in warning.

"I need to have time to myself that isn't with you too." Bruce flinches and rubs at his eyes. Clark softens and gets down to Bruce's level. "I'm not saying I don't enjoy being with you, I do, I really, really enjoy spending time with you, Bruce. But you have to understand that people also need their alone time."

Bruce continues to rub at his eyes. "But I'm afraid to be alone."

Clark slouches in defeat. "I know you are but Bruce, remember when I said I will never abandon you?" Bruce nods and sniffles. "I was telling the truth. You don't ever have to be afraid of being alone because no matter what, I will always come back to you, I will always be there for you." He pulls Bruce into a hug who collapses against him. "That I do promise." He holds him for a little longer. "You understand?"

Bruce nods against his shoulder and then pulls away, wiping at his wet eyes. Clark helps by pulling out the handkerchief he carries around. When Bruce's face is dry, the kid asks, "Are we still going to the park?"

Clark smiles. "Of course, we are. I wouldn't let anything ruin that for us."

Bruce smiles and rubs at his eyes one last time. "Can I still sit on your lap?"

Sighing and chuckling, Clark picks him up. "Yeah you can."

Clark sits down at his desk and settles Bruce onto his lap. Bruce then turns in his lap and wraps his arms around Clark's neck. "Thank you, Clark, I'm sorry for being bad."

Clark hugs him back. "You weren't being bad, Bruce." Bruce's arms tighten slightly.

...

When the both of them get to the park, there are already other kids there with parents that either don't have a job or took the day off, even half a day off. It's summer so the parents also don't need to worry about school. Clark sets Bruce down and the child eyes the structure. "There's a lot of kids here."

Clark looks down at Bruce who is holding his hand without the briefcase. "Do you want to do something else?"

Bruce shakes his head and takes a tentative step forward. "No, I think... I think I'll be okay." Bruce looks up at him. "You'll be here?" Seeming to catch himself, Bruce looks down at the ground. "Sorry," he says quietly.

Clark feels bad. "There's nothing wrong in asking if I'll still be here or if I'll stay, Bruce, especially in a situation like this. You just can't expect the answer to always be yes."

"Okay." Bruce still sounds kind of sad.

"Don't worry I'll be right here," Clark reassures and Bruce brightens.

"I'll go play now." He then runs off with his Superman and Batman plushie in hand, leaving Ace behind with Clark.

Clark watches him start to climb onto the structure. Just as Clark suspected, even that great ability leaked through to little Bruce. He is way too graceful climbing up the bars than a four year old should be. "Is that your son?"

Clark sighs internally, really not feeling up to explaining the whole cousin thing. He braces himself and says, "Yeah, he is." As much as he doesn't want to be Bruce's parent, he doesn't want to go into a whole spiel of babysitting his cousin to a stranger even more.

The man watches Bruce climb and play. "He looks just like you. That's my daughter." He points to a young girl, around Bruce's de-aged age. "Except she looks a lot like her mother."

Clark smiles to be polite. "She's cute." His eyes then go back to Bruce, wanting to make sure he's okay. Clark hasn't forgotten about the mages that are after them and though he hasn't gotten a call from the Watchtower informing him that they have arrived, he wants to be safe than sorry. Clark side eyes the man who is still talking to him, wondering if he is supposed to be a distraction so the magicians can easily grab Bruce. He opens his hearing in order to listen to Bruce when he's not looking at him. The child is playing alone, not attempting any contact with the other children.

"...and then they upgraded the old playground into this one," Clark tunes back into what the man is saying to him. "I think the kids like this one better than the other one." He sticks out his hand. "I'm Henry, by the way."

Clark shakes his hand. "Clark."

Henry smiles at him. "Nice to meet you Clark." He turns back to the playground. "Sophie, be careful!" The little girl turns to her father and stops from going onto the monkey bars. "Your son seems a little shy." He motions over to where Bruce is standing off to the side, watching all the kids and no longer playing. Clark frowns. "He seems to be around the same age as Sophie, do you want to see if they'll play together?"

Clark frowns even more. Is this the magicians' way of getting to Bruce? "It's okay, thanks. I'm sure he'll warm up. It just takes a little while." He smiles when he sees Bruce run back into the throe of small children and goes straight to the monkey bars.

Bruce makes eye contact with him. "Clark, watch me! I can do the monkey bars."

"He calls you by your name?" Henry asks curiously.

Clark shrugs and watches as Bruce successfully makes it across the monkey bars. Just another thing to tick off the list of Batman abilities that he still has. He gives Bruce two thumbs up and a wide smile. Bruce responds by going back to the monkey bars to do it again. Clark looks to Henry. "He just barely started to remember what my name is so now he's kind of obsessed with saying it."

Henry laughs. "I don't think Sophie ever went through a stage like that."

Clark laughs too, only to play along. "Yeah it's kind of weird but it makes him happy. I'm sure he'll start calling me daddy again soon."

"What about his mom?" Henry looks over to Sophie and smiles as the little girl tells another little boy what to do in the game they're playing. "Does he call her by her name too or is it still mommy?"

Clark squirms, again to keep up appearances. "His mom isn't around anymore."

Henry looks back at him sympathetically. "Oh man, I'm sorry. I totally over stepped my bounds didn't I?"

Clark smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, it was three and half years ago and Bruce was just a baby."

"Still," Henry says. "It must still hurt, especially for you." Clark shrugs again. "May I ask how it happened?"

"Car accident. Some drunk driver was speeding and hit her head on." Clark feels like he's getting better and better at lying. "She died on impact." He pretends to be sullen and grief stricken. "At least she didn't suffer."

"Wow, I'm really sorry." Clark smiles at him in faked thanks. Henry's eyes then look over his shoulder and his eyebrows scrunch up. "Do you know that man?"

Clark turns around and sees a man dressed neatly and clean, hunched over and talking to Bruce. "No..." Clark opens his hearing, which he thought he already did but somehow didn't hear Bruce walk over to the mysterious man, and begins to approach them, Henry following closely after calling Sophie over.

"Yeah, I think I last saw my dog over in those bushes." The man points to some bushes that are pretty far from the playground. "Will you come and help me find him?"

"Bruce?" Clark makes it to them and picks the boy up immediately, glaring at the man. "What do you think you're doing?"

"He wanted help finding his dog," Bruce says.

Clark narrows his eyes and can hear Henry behind him discretely taking a picture of the guy. "Leave him alone," Clark tells the man. He's not sure whether this guy is just some ordinary creep or one of the magicians, but either way he doesn't want Bruce near him.

The man holds up his hands in surrender. "Hey man, I just need some help finding my lost dog."

"Find your dog yourself or call animal services." Clark stands tall, trying to look intimidating. It feels weird since he doesn't normally take this stance in his Clark Kent persona, but this is about children's safety. "You don't ask children."

The guy sizes him up then looks behind him to Henry. When he looks back to Clark, he looks annoyed. "Fine, whatever man." He starts to walk away. "Bye kid."

"Hope you find your dog," Bruce calls after him and the retreating man smiles sweetly back.

"Bruce, shoosh," Clark scolds. "Don't you ever talk to strangers again and don't ever go off with them either. If someone like that, even if it's someone who lives near us, asks you to go with them, do not go, you understand?"

Bruce looks confused and Clark wonders what happened to the cautious little mini-bat. Maybe the adult personality leaks are intermittent. That or this is Bruce's caring side leaking through. "But he wanted help finding his dog."

"I don't care," Clark informs. "He could be a very bad man and could hurt you."

"Your daddy is right, kiddo." Clark turns to Henry. "You don't want to talk to strangers and go with them without your dad. They could do something bad and really hurt you."

Bruce nods then lays his head down onto Clark's shoulder. "Okay."

"I took a picture of the guy." Henry holds up his phone and shows Clark the photo. "There's been reports of a suspicious man lurking around playgrounds and trying to pick up children. I'll give this picture to the police." Clark nods and concludes that the man that tried to get Bruce must not have been a magician from another planet that is after them and neither is Henry. "Oh look, Sophie, here comes mommy." He turns to Clark. "She works just down the street so we tend to meet her here to pick her up. It was nice talking with you Clark."

Clark smiles. "Same to you Henry."

He waves and begins to walk towards his wife. "Take care."

Clark waves back and watches as the family walk to their car and then drive away, the wife being behind the wheel. Clark holds Bruce tighter to him and carries him back to his apartment to get ready for the journey to the Watchtower.

...

When they both arrive at the Watchtower via teleportation, Clark knows everyone is already there. He called them while he was at work, making sure that all of them would be there when he arrived. Using his super hearing, he finds them in the cafeteria. Walking into the room, Clark sees that the members are gathered around a buffet table that is filled with chicken, various vegetables, and a bowl of fruit punch. Clark requested the buffet table, thinking it would be easier for him if he and Bruce just ate at the Watchtower instead of going home and making something for supper. They're all in their superhero costumes as well, Wally having his cowl off, and each of them are sitting and chatting, looking happy.

Bruce wiggles out of his arms and runs up to them. "Wally!" Clark has to hold back a smirk at how excited little Bruce is at seeing The Flash. Clark will never let Bruce live that down if he remembers all this once turned back.

Wally speeds out of his seat and crouches to catch Bruce and then lift him into his arms. "Hey kiddo, how's it going?"

"Good! We went to Clark's work and I got to see Lois and then we went to the park and I could do the monkey bars," Bruce says excitedly as Wally sits down with the kid in his lap. "And Clark said he'd be my daddy!"

Every single pair of eyes turn to look at Clark as he sets the stuffed toys down on an open spot of the table. He doesn't meet any of them, feeling his cheeks heat up in not only embarrassment but anger too. He didn't want Bruce to mention anything about that, even if his secret reasoning of visiting the Watchtower is to discuss just that matter with Diana and J'onn.

"Is that so?" John looks amused as he says this and Diana is failing to hide a smile behind her hand. Shayera isn't even bothering to hide her smirk and Wally looks shocked. J'onn, as always, looks neutral.

"Yeah, but he doesn't want me to call him daddy yet," Bruce continues. Clark stares down at the Superman plushie and pretends to be doing something even though all he wants to do is squeeze it until the stuffing comes out.

"Why's that?" Shayera asks, now trying to stop herself from laughing and only managing to turn her laughs into small giggles.

Bruce answers honestly. "He said he needs time to get used to being my daddy before I can call him that."

"Bruce," Clark interjects sternly and all eyes are on him again except this time in silent shock.

Bruce shrinks back into Wally. "I'm sorry."

Clark stops himself from glaring at the four year old by looking down and closing his eyes. He unclenches his fists before he pops the stuffed Superman open and instead pinches the bridge of his nose. "It's okay, I'm sorry." When he looks back up no one will meet his eyes except for Bruce, J'onn, and Diana. He's ruined the mood. Sighing, Clark turns to Diana. "Can I please speak to you and J'onn? Bruce," Bruce perks up, not seeming to stay sad with him for very long. "Can you stay here and play with Wally and the others. I need to talk to Diana and J'onn alone."

"Will you still be here or..." Bruce trails off, remembering their earlier conversation.

Clark sighs and walks around to the other side of the table. "Come here." Bruce holds out his arms in order to be picked up and once in Clark's arms, Clark hugs him tightly. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"It's okay, I forgive you." Bruce then kisses his cheek and smiles at him toothily.

"I'll be right over there, right where you can see me and once we're done talking, I'll come right back and we can eat and then play for a little longer. How does that sound?" Clark explains.

"Fun!" Bruce bounces in his arms and Clark chuckles.

Setting him down, Clark says, "Okay, go play." He watches for a little while as he sees Wally, Shayera, and John usher Bruce away from the food and to some open space to play. He then walks over to the Princess and Martian.

"What did you need to discuss Kal?" Diana asks immediately and Clark is grateful they aren't going to bring up his outburst.

Clark looks back to make sure that Bruce is out of earshot and then back to his two friends. "You all heard what Bruce said, he wants me to be his father."

Diana nods. "And you agreed."

"Yeah but..." Clark takes a deep breath, looking down to the floor and shaking his head. When he looks back at his companions, he can see their concerned confusion. "I don't want to be his father."

"It's only for a little while, Kal." Diana's eyebrows scrunch together. "What's wrong with that?"

"Because, I don't want him thinking I'm his father at all or having those kind of feelings for me," Clark explains, struggling to keep his voice level in order for his voice to not carry over to the other members and more specifically, Bruce. "What if we turn him back and he still has these familial feelings towards me."

"I don't think that would happen," J'onn finally speaks up.

"How do you know?" Clark looks between the two and he can see understanding finally dawn on Diana.

She smiles slightly. "I think you're being too much like Batman. There's nothing to worry about, Kal."

"And how many times has Batman been wrong?" Clark asks. He answers for them. "Not many."

"But he's also not right all the time, either." John walks up to them, abandoning his play session with Bruce, Wally, and Shayera. "When he is turned back into an adult there is no reason he'll continue to view you as some father to him or any similar feelings."

"But it's still a possibility," Clark tries to get through to them. "Have we learned nothing from Batman? Always plan ahead and take every outcome, every situation, into account. I don't want him to be turned back and then he platonically views me as his family. Especially when I view adult Bruce as someone I-" Clark cuts off, refusing to admit anything out loud. "I just... I don't want to lose my best friend to something as trivial as emotions and certain feelings with specific attachments."

"Kal, I still think that happening is highly unlikely." Diana smiles at him. "Come, let us talk, just the two of us." She places a hand on his shoulder and guides him away from J'onn and John. Once out of earshot of the two, who decide to carry on their own conversation, she turns to him. "I know how you feel about Bruce and I'm pretty sure the others, especially J'onn, know as well."

Clark slumps. "I figured you and J'onn would know but not the others. How long?"

"I don't think you give our observational skills enough credit, Kal." Diana places a hand on his shoulder again. "For awhile now."

Clark sighs. "If you all know, J'onn with his telepathy excluded, then do you think Bruce knows? After all, he's like the king of observations. You know, greatest detective and all?"

Diana chuckles and releases his shoulder. "I'm not sure as he is much harder to read but... I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he did know."

"Then if he knows but hasn't talked to me about it, then that must mean it's not reciprocated." Clark looks to the floor, feeling defeated.

"But you have to remember who you are talking about," Diana adds. "Bruce is the type to hide how he feels and suppresses it. When it can't be suppressed then he absolutely refuses to act upon those feelings unless otherwise prompted too or they could be used to reach a goal. I'm sure, if he feels anything the same for you as you do him, then he will eventually act on it if you don't first. After all, even the Batman can only deny his feelings for so long."

Clark chuckles at that. Diana does know the two of them really well. "All the more reason to not have him thinking of me as his platonic family."

She sighs and Clark can see how frustrated she is. "Kal, I'm not going to tell you what to do and force you to play along for now, it's not my place and I know you won't listen either way." He opens his mouth to protest but Diana raises a hand to silence him. "But I have stated my opinion and I know you will take it into consideration. That's all I can ask for. In the end, I know you will make the decision you think is best for both you and Bruce."

"Diana-" Clark is about to tell her that he'll always appreciate her opinions and that she is right, he will take hers along with J'onn's and John's views into account while making a decision, when a loud scream comes from across the room. When he whirls around, Bruce is standing by Shayera and Wally, crying and holding his hand. His bleeding hand.

Clark rushes over, possibly even using his super speed but he's not really sure, and kneels down to pull the small child into his arms. "Kal, I'm sorry, I looked away for just a second and then the next thing I know Bruce is grabbing at my mace."

"It's okay Shayera, it's not your fault." He smiles at her and her tenseness goes away slightly. He then turns his attention to Bruce's hand. "Let me see." Bruce holds out his hand, still crying. Wally speeds back, Clark not knowing when he left, with a towel and Clark takes it to press against Bruce's palm. "There, there, it's okay. It's just a small little scratch. See?" Clark wipes away the blood, the wound already clotting. "It's all good." He brings Bruce's palm to his lips and kisses it then hugs the boy close to his chest. "Better?"

Bruce nods against his shoulder as Shayera joins the two on the ground. "I'm sorry Bruce." Bruce peeks out from Clark's shoulder to eye Shayera, tears still streaking his red cheeks. "Hey, you want to touch my wing? I know I didn't let you earlier but I'll let you now?" Bruce rubs at his eyes and nods, sniffling a little. "Here." Shayera then stretches out one of her wings in order for Bruce to feel it.

Bruce, staying securely in Clark's arms, reaches out with his good hand. Burying his hand into the lesser secondary covert feathers of her wing, he rubs them gently and then says lowly, "Soft."

A/N: I based Bruce and Lois dating from the World's Finest movie except I changed it from Lois finding out that Bruce is Batman to Lois not finding it out. So Lois has no idea who Batman is in this. Just figured I'd clear that up just in case any of you wonder that after this chapter and the dating being mentioned. :)

Also, about the scene with Bruce petting Shayera's wing... well I just really, really wanted a Mini-Bruce to pet Shayera's wing while Clark held him. Thought it would be cute so that's why that's there. ;)

Anyways, thanks for reading and leaving reviews so far.

Updates will be every Friday. Next update scheduled for: 12/11/15 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