Disclaimer: I do not own TJSL
A/N: Hi everyone! I must apologize for the long update. For the last year or so I have been dealing with some health issues. They were top priority for awhile, but now I am back. For those reading Contagion it has been updated as well. Anyway, in joy the read and if you could review. It would be greatly appreciated. Just to know if I have gotten rusty at all. ;)
Rite of Passage-6
The roar of a motor cycle was cut before he removed his helmet. Eyes cast upward he looked at the wind mill. The soft breeze rustled the corn field the sun beginning it's decent on the horizon, wordlessly he got off his bike setting his helmet on the handle bars.
Walking over to the windmill he looked at the height of the ladder. Sighing he climbed up moments latter he was on the wood plat form. There, he saw the person he was looking for. Wordlessly he sat beside him looking out at the sunset the breeze greeting them both gently blowing Clark's hair about his head.
Bruce looked at Clark with his side vision. A memory rose of a similar situation. Clark sat there eyes cast down arms resting on his bent knees. Returning his eyes to the sunset Bruce finally spoke.
"Clark...I heard. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I would have come sooner, but not all of us have super speed. Or whatever you call it."
Bruce frowned. He was never good with feelings. Something he never really addressed, but his friend...was hurting. He had to at least try. He awkwardly mimicked Clark's position but settled on with his arm on a bent knee the other simply draping over the edge of the platform. For the moment he would just shut up and be there.
"I was working on the fence. He called me to help with the hay. I had my back turned and then he was on the ground by the time I got to him he was gone. I have all these abilities and I couldn't even safe him."
Bruce looked at the alien. Then turned his attention to his leg. "...Clark. There are.. somethings in life that are simply out of our control. They don't have to have a reason it just..happens. The thing you have to choose now is how you deal with it. Will you crumble. Or rise above the tragedy and survive."
Clark looked over at his friend in surprise. Bruce was so hard to figure out. Did he honestly care or just say what had to be said and then leave?
Clark lowered his arms standing up. "Bruce. I know I don't say this much but..you are the best thing to happen to me. and"
Bruce raised up his hand. "Easy there farm boy."
Clark blinked then gave a grin. "You have the weirdest mind."
"Look who's talking." Bruce shot back.
Clark lost his smile has he looked back at the sunset. The field a dusting of orange the sky dimming some. Bruce gave a curious look at the kryptonian.
"Clark? What's in that head of yours?"
"I have to go. My mom will be worried why I am not back...he looked at Bruce flashing a quick smile at him... "Goodbye Bruce. Thanks..for everything."
Bruce quickly got to his feet in time to watch as Clark launched himself in the sky. "Clark!"
As Clark flew through the air he fought the sting of tears. Knowing that the next time he would see him... and the world he loved. He would be different. He only hoped that he would not lose himself.
Seven years later.
Two pairs of feet landed on the roof of an apartment building. They bolted across roof top after roof top. A black gloved hand reached into the belt around his waist releasing a grappling hook. It wrapped around a steel bar across from him. He leaped from the building swinging down into the ally. Smoothly he landed on the pavement swiftly throwing a rope that ensnared his pray. The figure harshly fell hard to the ground giving a surprised yelp.
The vigilante simply walked over to the figure. "Bag of jewels was it really worth it?"
"Why Batman. I never pegged you for the bondage type. You should come to my place we could have fun."
"I don't think so." Batman stated pulling up the woman.
"Really? I have the whip we can make our own fifty shades." the woman said with a flirtatious smile as she was pulled closer to the vigilante who couldn't help but give a coy smile of his own.
"I would take you up on that offer, but I don't have a habit of sleeping with the enemy."
She leaned her face closer to his whispering in his ear. "You didn't think that of me when I had you in my clutches."
Batman pushed her back slightly so he looked into her eyes. "True. However I learned a good lesson...she gave a sly smile. As they didn't break the stare... "Never trust a cat."
She gave a soft chuckle before she went in for a passionate kiss. Parting she gave a wink. "See you around pretty boy. Drop in anytime."
Batman, in surprise looked at the loose rope in his hands the bag of jewels tossed at his feet. He looked up at the woman as she disappeared up in the darkness.
"Damn."
Putting away the gadget he took out his grappling hook once more shooting up to wrap around the flag pole he picked up the bag and launched up into the dark of night.
Moments later batman landed on top of the roof of the GCPD. Commissioner Gordon turned in time to see the vigilante straighten tossing him the bag of jewels at his feet.
"Everything is in there. It can be returned to it's rightful owners."
"What about this 'Cat woman?' have you yet to catch her?"
"She will be a problem..but the GCPD does not need to concern them with a criminal like that. The Penguin is more of an issue."
"I suppose you're right. He has been known to be in charge of the underground drug trade for awhile. At least that is the word on the street. I'd like you to keep tabs on our cheeky thief in the mean time I will be putting more man power on the streets."
"Fine."
Gordon looked out at the city. Then back at where the vigilante once stood. "Nice talk."
))))))))))))
The doors to the elevator opened unleashing the flood of reporters into, what Clark thought to be too small a room to hold such a capacity of people. Feeling self conscious he adjusted his bag around his shoulder and slightly shoved the glasses in place on his nose. Not that he needed them but his mother did recommend that he should wear them. No one pays attention to people who wear glasses at least, that was her logic.
Walking into the area he looked around the room. He would have to learn to control his hearing a place like this.
"Are you lost?"
Clark broke out of his examination to look at the person to belong to that voice. His eyes started from the black heels, purple skirt/jacket ensemble, to the black straight hair, most of all to the brown eyes.
"I'm sorry?"
"You look like a deer in the head lights. A sure sign that you are fresh meat in this place."
Clark cleared his throat trying to find a good response, but he wasn't given time as the woman stuck out her hand.
"Lois Lane head reporter. Welcome to the Daily Planet."
Clark shook her hand. "Clark..Clark Kent."
"Nice to meet you Clark. The chief's office is straight ahead, big glass doors. Kind of hard to miss."
"Right.. he said as Lois turned away..."A Louis..what do I say..exactly."
Lois gave a slight grin. "In my experience. Listen, shut up, and go straight to work."
"Th-thanks." he concluded as she walked away.
Clark collected himself together before making his way to the doors. Pausing to read the writing.'Perry White.'
"Perry White...Perry White." he whispered to himself before opening the door.
Perry didn't look up from his desk. "Lois. I do not care what your opinion on the fire... he paused as he looked up.
"Listen if you have come in here with a half ass complaint about-"
"Huh..I have nothing to complain about Mr. White. I am new here. Clark Kent. I just moved here from Smallville a small...town in Kansas. I..." he trailed off when he saw the look on the man's face.
"Oh right. The new kid on the block. What you do is find a desk in that chaos and get me a story worth publishing and don't come back till you do. Understood?"
"Y-yes sir."
"Good...Perry got up from his desk shaking Clark's hand..."Welcome to the daily Planet Mr. Kent."
"Thank you sir."
"And another thing. Stop with all this sir business. Makes me feel old."
Clark nodded before exiting the office breathing a sigh of relief he looked around the room. As in x-ray vision. Finally finding a spot he weaved his way through the desk until he found one in the corner. Placing his bag on the floor he breathed a sigh of relief.
"You have got to be joking."
Clark looked up to see Lois standing across from him then the cluttered mess on the desk beside her.
"Out of all the places. You had to pick this one?"
Clark blinked giving a nervous stare. She sighed as she looked at her watch. "i don't have time to deal with this. Bye."
Clark raised his hand to wave but set it back down. He let out a sigh of relief bring his hand to straightened his glasses.
"Don't mind Lois. She tends to be frustrated at something only to fire it off to people she works with. Or it could be that time of the month."
Clark eyes landed on a man dressed in blue and white sneakers, a pair of jeans, finished with a green t-shirt and a brown blazer.
"I'm Jimmy Olson. Head photographer."
Clark really shake the man's hand rather than the photographer did the work for him. "So you're new here. Where are you from again?" Jimmy asked as he sat at his desk off to the right side of Clark.
"S-Smallville."
"Oof. Must be quite a change from a small town compared to the giant that is called metropolis." Jimmy stated setting his camera bag beside on his desk.
"Yeah...you could say that." Clark replied turning his head slightly as he heard a sharp alarm greeting his ears...Looking over at Jimmy he took the moment to get up and quickly leave.
"You know may.." Jimmy trailed off as he found the seat empty across from him... "Never mind."
))))))))))
Bruce re-fastened the button on his suit as he dismissed the members of his partners from the conference room. Waiting a few minutes he left the area himself. At the elevator Alfred waited for him.
"How did the meeting go sir?"
"It went. Have anything accord in my absence." Bruce asked as they entered the elevator. He lean over to press the ground floor button.
"not that I know of sir. It has been a quiet morning."
Bruce frowned. Maybe he was missing something? No rest for the wicked. As the saying goes. They both waited in silence as the elevator stopped opening it's door to the lobby.
"I shall get the limo sir."
Bruce nodded. Slipping his hand in his pocket he felt the gadget that gave him the opportunity to jump into action. It took him years to master the art of flying. Turning his head he saw small crowd looking up at the TV in the corner of the room. Curious he walked over he stood at the back. Surprised to see that the breaking news was related to metropolis and not Gotham.
Apparently a series of bombings had gone off at a several locations around the city sending debris everywhere injuries were off the scale. What dominated the situation made Bruce's heart stop as he saw a man clad in red and blue appearing at each location with incredible speed and accuracy saving dozens from major injury when a camera panned closure saw the face of this man. Bruce turned white in shock..it couldn't be.
"Master Wayne your ride is ready sir...Alfred furrowed his brow the intense stare of the billionaire..."Master Wayne is everything alright?"
Bruce snapped out of his shock looking at the butler. Then without a word he briskly walked passed his friend.
Bruce was a level headed man. He never missed any detail that met him. Their was no such thing as coincidences. There was one thing he knew for sure he had to do. He would make a trip to metropolis thinking it was time to meet his old friend.
A/N: OK...in case you were all wondering. Clark is twenty seven years old and Bruce it twenty five.
Thank you for reading.
KS