Bruce had been meaning to go on the hunt for Talia as soon as his shift was done. The problem was getting to the Talon in the first place. Having spent the previous night sitting outside of Lex's rooms the boys were refusing to wake up. He ended up carrying the pair to breakfast and thrusting anything at hand down their throats. Breakfast didn't work to wake them so he had to carry them once again to their room and get Dick changed. Damian was a lost cause as soon as he threatened to go nude, Bruce knew he would and didn't have the time to argue with his son so let him stay in his pyjama's as they set off for the Talon.
It was particularly hot and so far Dick had sent Damian seven dirty looks, jealous that he was cool while Dick was bundled into a jacket. He ended up inciting more dirty looks when the trial to get shoes on their little feet went down hill and he had to carry them to the Talon barefoot. Promising with every sweaty step he took that he was turning the hose on them when they got back.
He had barely got them halfway when his arms tired enough for him to put the boys down. He felt weary and panted as his breath came short. Waving the boys concerns off he sat down on the dirt road's fence to regain composure. It had been a while he was this exerted, strange that it should come about from carrying two boys. He hadn't been like this last night or any other time he'd had to carry them.
"Are you alright?" Damian asked. He had his hand raised to Bruce's forehead, his own furrowed in concentration while Dick hovered in the background.
"Fine," He breathed "Get off the road, there'll be glass," He beckoned and pulled them onto the grass.
"You don't look so good," Dick commented.
"I'm probably just tired," He excused as searing pain hit his stomach. He doubled over into the grass trying to empty his breakfast as another pain coursed through him. He waved the boys off when they tried to come near. His arms were feeling heavy and barely lifted to keep them back. The rest of his body soon followed until he lost all control of his limbs.
It was Damian that gave him the answer to his ailment. One whisper of "Poison," and he was blacking out.
He woke in a bed. Not as soft as the one in Lex's manor and it smelled distinctly familiar. His head felt heavy still as he sat up and it took a while before his vision stayed as one. There were posters on the walls of music bands he'd never heard of and actors he vaguely recognised. He gathered he was in Clark's room when he spotted the plaid shirts peaking out from the wardrobe. The man himself walked through the door moments later with a tray of light food and some sheets of paper he set gently down next to Bruce.
"They're from the boys," and indeed they were. Drawings of himself and other things all with 'Get Well Soon' written on top.
"What happened? Why am I here?" Clark frowned.
"I managed to get you to the hospital before anything lasting happened but Lex said you were poisoned," The first person who came to mind was Talia but he quickly disregarded that. She wanted him in her bed not dead. "He said it would be best to move you here. I didn't think it was a good idea. The doctor said you needed to be watched over but Lex was pretty insistent."
"Was he now," Lionel. That was the only person it could have been. Why else would Lex take care to move him from the hospital. "Where are the boys?"
Clark grinned "Ma says it's like we're running a daycare," a squeal came from downstairs. "They've been in sleeping bags for the past three days but haven't complained once."
"They wouldn't," Bruce grinned hearing Jonathan call for Damian.
"Pa almost lost it when Damian was trying to tell him the tractor broke down. He couldn't understand a word and Damian had to mime what had happened in the end," Clark chuckled at the thought.
"So, three days?" He wondered what he'd missed.
Clark nodded "Lex has been here as often as he could which isn't often. He said something about family yesterday and hasn't been back since."
It took some cajoling for Clark to let him out of bed. Even more to convince him he could walk and 'no I don't need help taking a leak Clark' before he was sitting with the boys in front of the Kent's fireplace. It seemed drawing pictures was one of the most popular forms of entertainment the Kents could think up since papers now littered most of their floors.
"This one's meant to be a bird but Dick decided to colour it in," Damian glared at the unsuspecting boy and tried to point out his own work under Dick's demolition.
"I can see it," He promised. He checked Dick was busy before pulling Damian onto his lap. Under the guise of helping him colour he asked "What happened?"
Damian's brow furrowed "You collapsed, eyes dilated and pulse weak. I'm suspecting some kind of belladonna extract, nothing too exotic since there wasn't any strange symptoms. Clark came almost as soon as Dick started screaming and took you to the hospital. He told us to go straight to the farm and we've seen Lex come and go a few times but other than that they aren't telling us anything. Probably think it'll be too scarring," He muttered.
Bruce nodded. It was nothing he hadn't already figured out, apart from Clark being the first to the scene. "How fast was Clark there again?"
"Almost as soon as Dick screamed. He just came running up," Damian's furrow grew "Now that I think about it shouldn't he have been in college?"
"What are guys talking about?" Dick was trying to edge in. Bruce shared a look with Damian and the boy nodded.
"Dami was telling me what happened. I'm very proud of both of you for doing as you were told," he complimented. Dick smiled slightly before launching himself at Bruce. He almost crushed Damian as he clutched onto him.
"I thought you were going to die," Bruce felt wetness seeping through his shirt and pulled Dick in for a proper hug "I don't wanna be alone," he sobbed. Despite scoffing at Dick Bruce could see Damian was a bit upset about what happened as well. Lionel had almost left him fatherless.
"I know and I'm not going anywhere any time soon."
Lex came by when it was dark. He looked panicked but calmed as he spied Bruce lounging in the Kent's kitchen.
Bruce was more than surprised to be pulled into a hug from him "I thought you were dead," he accused "As if the first time wasn't bad enough. What would I tell Alfred," He ranted.
"I'm sorry," He offered. "Thanks for taking care of the medical bill though," Lex just grunted, looking like he wanted to shout more were it not for Damian and Dick watching from the counter. "Speaking of familial relations how's your father? I take it he's still here," Bruce knew he'd guessed right when Lex's face darkened.
"It seems father's not as fond of our relationship as I'd hoped," a sarcastic comment, Lex wasn't completely mad then.
"Shame, I was hoping to ask to move in," That got a smile out of him. "Where did he put it anyway?" Bruce didn't remember taking anything too odd that morning.
"The plates. He must have noted you scraping your food around and laced some of them with it."
His outrage must have shown on his face since Lex asked the boys to get ready for bed. Dick went sensing an argument brewing but Damian stayed put.
"We have no secrets," He argued and Lex didn't look like he was up to translating a fight just then so let him stay.
"He could have poisoned the boys," Bruce started.
"I know."
"They could be dead!" He tried to compose himself. Letting anger take over would only result in him doing something rash.
"I know Bruce. I felt like throwing that in his face but I couldn't. Doing that would just destroy your whole identity here. I take it you still want to remain anonymous?" Bruce nodded as his head cleared.
"What did Lionel do when you confronted him," He changed.
Lex cringed "What he usually does in these situations; blames someone else. He said it could have been food poisoning or one of the cooks were homophobic. Either way he had an answer to everything. There was nothing I could really do but scream at him."
Bruce felt a grin slip his lips "Well if he's still doubting your love for me I bet that performance sold it."
Lex huffed "What are you gonna do?"
Bruce shrugged as a thought came to him "How many people know I've been poisoned?"
"Me, Clark. I told Lana you were sick," Lex shrugged. "Something wrong."
"Maybe," He didn't tell Lex what.
They talked further into the night about their next play. Bruce still needed time to solidify the progress he'd made in his company's takeover before returning to Gotham so really it was a matter of how they were going to rub the fact Bruce was still alive in Lionel's face after an hour. He eventually made his way home when Damian rubbed his tired eyes. Waving goodbye to the Kents in the living room and pointing out a sticker Dick had bumped on his clothes to Clark.
As soon as Lex was gone Mrs Kent was in full mothering mode. He was pushed into one of the chairs and fed more food than he could eat. The kids were warded off from climbing on him with warning stares and instead bothered the other men in the house. They called it a night when ten came and Bruce thanked the Kents for having them over a while.
"It's no trouble," Mrs Kent waved off and hugged the boys goodnight. "Don't stay up too long," She warned Clark.
Bruce gave him a narrowed look "You aren't heading up?"
Clark shook his head "You're staying my room remember. I get to camp with these guys," Dick cheered from where he was setting up his sleeping bag.
"I can't kick you out your own bed," Bruce argued.
"You have for the past three nights," He laughed "It's fine, just go up."
"How about we share," He didn't like the idea of putting the Kents out even more. Even if Clark was a mystery, it didn't excuse his bad manners for taking someone's bed. Clark just arched an eyebrow. Bruce gave him a wounded look "I've just been poisoned. Do you honestly think I have the strength to jump you?"
Clark just smirked "Alright," He said goodnight to the boys and helped Bruce not fall down the stairs as they stumbled into Clark's room. "I warn you I've been told I snore sometimes."
Bruce scoffed "I'm asleep, what does it matter? Besides you can't be any worse than Dick. He's a cuddler. I swear I had him next to Damian one night so he would latch onto him instead. But no, I wake up with a nine year old wound around me and Dami untouched next to me," Clark laughed and helped him into bed.
"Yeah he did that to me too. I jumped when I felt something on my chest. For a moment I thought it was Lana but..." The mood went with that so they both tried to ignore the awkwardness and get comfortable in Clark's narrow bed.
He thought he would be awake for a while with the adjustment of another person of adult proportions in the bed but his mind seemed to still want to sleep since he was nodding off within seconds of hitting the pillow.
He felt better the next time he woke. The sun was streaming in the window at an angle that seemed too long for it to be five in the morning. Bruce groaned in delight at having woken up on his own, no Dick kicking him in the stomach with Damian jumping on his back. No whispered arguments shot over his head then grappling when Dick gave up trying to communicate with him.
Clark was out in the barn when he got downstairs. Mrs Kent was more than happy to keep him busy by having him rest in a chair outside. The boys were trailing along behind Jonathan, both eager to help with everything he suggested.
"He complains but he loves having them around," Martha told him.
"That's what Clark said," he waved at them passing.
"It's true though. Jonathan and I always wanted a big family. Clark was a blessing from the heavens," She looked up as if he really had fell from the sky.
"I know what you mean. The first time I saw Dami... I had to leave so Talia wouldn't see me crying," He remembered Damian's little fists punching the air, already fighting.
"There's no shame in crying," Martha berated "Jonathan did the same with Clark. There were times we thought we couldn't handle him. One in particular but Jonathan came home with our little boy and I could tell straight away that those weren't sad tears. He'd finally accepted that we had him in our lives."
"Clark was adopted?" Martha nodded. It made sense.
"I bet there were times where you felt the same with Damian," She defended "Having him so young you must have still been a teenager."
"Seventeen and stupid," He agreed "I remember Talia telling me she was pregnant. That was a shocker. I actually thought her father would kill me," Martha laughed but she didn't know Ra's. Bruce almost died from fright when the man embraced him instead of killing him. Apparently furthering his line was a good thing. "Then there was her sister. Nyssa was more than pleased," One less thing for her to do "It was rather unnerving."
"They sound delightful," Bruce grinned.
"I say these things about her but there was once that she was my world," Martha laughed along with Bruce as Dick ran away from one of the chickens.
"Don't worry, we've all been there," She patted his leg "At least you've gotten something good from it in any case."
"Yes I suppose I have. Speaking of children, what adoption agency did you use?" Interesting. He didn't know what he said but the shutters went down over Mrs Kent's face "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just I was thinking of making it official with Dick. It would make things easier," Especially when the heat went down from the murder charges in Gotham. They would be calling Dick back soon and asking to place him in an orphanage if Bruce didn't act.
She soon brightened up at the idea of adopting Dick "You don't want to use our agency. They shut down ages ago. But I can ask Mr Luther if he knows anyone," She offered. At his hesitant look she went on "He's not as bad as he seems. He's helped us out a lot since he got here, even if Jonathan refuses to agree with me."
"As generous as that is, I don't think Lionel and I are on the best of terms right now," He declined.
"Well if you ever change your mind..." He nodded his thanks and went back to watching Jonathan trying not to shout at the boys.
All his time at the farm recovering meant that the reason he hadn't wanted to see Clark yet came back to him at an awkward place. They were huddled in Clark's bed again since he wasn't allowed out of the Kent farm for at least another day. He'd been subtly watching Clark's muscles flex under his shirt when his eyes shifted to Clark's closed lids.
"Clark..." Clark peered one eye open to tell Bruce he was listening. Taking it as permission he posed his question by half straddling the man and encouraging him to kiss back. Impossibly smooth lips opened up after a second of hesitation and Bruce took the fleeting moment of acceptance to use every skill he had. He nipped and sucked as best he knew how until Clark was moaning into his mouth and clutching him tight. It was only then that he lifted off and watched as Clark's eyes burned behind his lids "Incredible," He stroked gently near one and felt the heat on his fingers.
Clark seemed to realise what Bruce had done, or what he had lost control of since he turned away. Almost pushing Bruce off the bed as he climbed up and straightened out at the headboard "The lighting in this place..." Clark sighed as Bruce gave him his best 'come on' look. "Please don't tell anyone."
"Why would I do that?" It seemed stupid.
"Why wouldn't you do that?" Clark countered as if he actually didn't know why someone would keep an ability like that to themselves.
"For one there's the government. They aren't exactly happy with anything out of their perception of the norm. One mention of glowing eyes and you'd be shipped off, and I don't want that to happen," He growled, making his double meaning as plain as possible. "Then there's Lionel. He's probably the closest threat you have to worry about. That man will do anything to possess something which could make him superior to others. After that there are thousands of other reasons but the one I think you want to hear is that I just don't want to. I like knowing things, but telling them is a whole other matter so don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," He promised.
Clark still didn't look like he trusted him but he didn't look like he would bolt at any moment which was something. "Why did you do that? Was it just- How did you even know kissing me would-"
Bruce coughed uncomfortably "You really need to be more careful," He mumbled "Talia has spies everywhere." Clark motioned for more information "She kind of tried to get me to make a move on you and got me some inspiration to do so..." He tried to communicate what exactly that information was but Clark was either really innocent or Bruce was just bad at hinting at things "She gave me a picture of you tossing off in your barn."
"Oh God," Bruce nodded.
"Your eyes were glowing and I could tell it wasn't a flare. I figured arousal triggered it," Clark was hiding in his hands. "So what else can you do?"
"Else?" That got him out of hiding.
"Well, I saw you lift a guy like he was nothing. Bend a gun the same so I'm guessing you're strong?" He ran a finger down one of Clark's arms, feeling the muscles bunch under his finger.
"When did you- How much do you know?"
"Not much. But I'd like it if you told me. Saves having to stalk you some more," He tried to make the situation more light hearted by grinning. "I'm guessing you're not native to here. Martha mentioned you were adopted earlier, are you from Europe? No," he answered his own question "because then I would know what that language was. Damian wrote some of the symbols out for what I was translating. None of it looked like anything I've seen..."
"You are spookily good at this," Clark commented. Withdrawing into himself with every word Bruce spoke.
"I'm not going to out you Clark," He repeated "Why can't you believe me?"
"You keep digging. Just leave it as it is and I'll believe you," Clark bargained.
Bruce frowned. So close to the truth he didn't want to give up. There was only one thing he could do since Clark had opened up negotiations "Or I can tell you about how Talia and I broke up. One story for another and I promise, my story's not as boring as it might seem."
Clark looked to be considering his offer "I thought you already told me why you broke up with her. Not the right body parts as I recall."
"True," Bruce agreed "But that wasn't really an issue. I left because she did something unforgivable. Something you'll find out if you tell me about your powers."
"It's odd that you aren't freaking out about me," Clark muttered "Have you met someone like me before?" Bruce shrugged. Clark sighed "Alright. Fine..."
The next half hour was filled with Clark telling him everything he knew about himself. The speed, strength and other powers he had gotten throughout the years. He told about himself being an alien (that had Bruce reeling, then intrigued and asking for more information) and how he came to earth in the first place. By the end Bruce was coming up with plans about what he would do in Clark's fortress because he was definitely being shown it before he left Smallville.
Eventually it came to Bruce's turn "I met Talia when I went travelling," Clark pulled a face, the information one he already knew "This is important so listen! I met Talia when I went travelling. I wanted to better myself, become stronger in my mind and body so I sought out people who shared my beliefs. They lived further afield than Gotham and on one of these trips I came to a monastery. I stayed with it for a while and learnt all I could from my master when Talia came visiting. She was acting on behalf of her father to bestow the monastery with some protection from... I dunno actually, it's not important. The point is I was enraptured with this woman and she felt the same. She visited a couple more times before asking if I would like to train with her back at her own organisation. To be honest that was what had me agreeing. A chance to see this woman and train at the same time seemed to be a once in a lifetime thing so I went immediately. Turned out that it was an assassins guild. I didn't see much of Talia in the next couple of months but I did meet her father. He liked me, my dedication and willpower to learn, and often he would train with me. It was such an honour, I felt awful when I found out I'd impregnated his daughter, a fact I didn't even know until she went 'father this is my beloved who has given me the honour of an heir for you.'" Clark laughed at the tone he put on. "He was happy for us though so it wasn't that bad. I missed three nights sleep but that's nothing in the league.
So anyway, Damian was born and we trained him together. For a while I forgot all about going back home. Being with Talia and Damian was everything I wanted and I never thought I would give that up. But a couple years later Talia started complaining about her father. Saying how he was controlling and that she wanted to get away from under his rule. I didn't know that she was serious until there were guards leading Ra's into our chamber and she was calling us into her father's old one. She'd organised a coup and planned to have Ra's killed the following morning. I hadn't signed on for that. Killing someone... I can't do it. Ra's trained me for years and I never gave into his commands. He respected that of me just as I respected what he did. Which was why I broke him out of his prison.
The man's a fighter Clark. He could take down the whole league if he wanted, it was only the shock of having his blood betray him and the shame of defeat that kept him pliant. I had ordered Damian to stay in our room as I helped Ra's reclaim the league. We had and I split off to get Damian, we were going to help him rebuild it but Talia stood in my way. She didn't like the fact that I went behind her back as she had went behind mine and we duelled. She's skilled in combat but I had the upper hand up until the moment Damian came out of our chambers. I told him to go back and let my guard down. She got me in the back," He pulled his shirt up to where the bat wings were hiding a long scar stretching across his skin. "and had guards restrain Damian. He was only young and didn't understand that Talia wasn't going to kill me. Years of training had him snapping the guards necks in seconds. I can never forgive Talia for that. It was as much my fault for keeping him in that environment as hers but she had always taught him no restraint when it came to a fight. She made him a killer that night. As soon as I was able to move I knocked her down and took Damian out of there.
We've been running away from that life and towards my slightly better one in Gotham ever since. It's not going to perfect but if it means Damian won't kill anyone... he's too young to have blood on his hands," Clark nodded in agreement.
"So you're an assassin?" Bruce nodded. "That explains a few things."
"If it makes you feel any better out of the two of us I'm the one people fear the most. After all I don't think aliens have been proved yet," Clark grinned.
"Does Dick know any of this?" Bruce shook his head "You're gonna have to tell him."
"Later. I want to know if he plans on staying with us first."
"Of course he will," Clark argued.
"It's his choice. I'm not going to force him to stay if he doesn't want to," Even if he really wanted him to.
They lapsed into silence for a while. The information they had both shared floating between them and filling in any gaps they had about the others lives. Bruce didn't know when he drifted off and woke to see Clark gone and replaced by Dick wrapped tightly around his middle.
The kitchen was absent with the Kents outside watching Damian and Clark ride horses. Dick did idle handstands and cartwheels as they joined them. Bruce sharing a small smile when Clark looked over at him. Things felt easier between them with no more secrets.
Clark led the horses in as Damian went chasing after Shelby. Dick was vying for Clark's attention and got a piggyback ride for his efforts.
"Nice sleep?" He greeted.
Bruce hummed agreement before telling him "You realise every time I see you now I'm going to be thinking about that picture Talia gave me."
"What does that have to do with a nice sleep?" Clark asked. Dick frowned down from Clark's shoulders, lost in the conversation they were having.
"What doesn't it?" Bruce countered as Clark stopped and peered off towards the Kent's drive.
A sleek black car pulled in seconds later and a dishevelled Lionel followed by a shouting Lex exited the car.
"Haven't you done enough!" Lex yelled. Bruce grabbed Dick from Clark's shoulders and ran to find Damian as Lionel strode forwards.
He had thought his target was Clark or one of the Kents but his intent was clear when Lionel called "Just a moment."
"Yes?" Bruce spat handing Dick off and making pointed motions to Clark to find Damian.
"Now there's no need to take that tone," Lionel started. Self righteous in tone as usual and doing his best to look down at Bruce. It didn't help that he had to wear one of Clark's too large shirts that day since his own clothes were back at Lex's "If anyone should be offended it's me. Sending someone to threaten me in my own home!"
"I keep telling you it wasn't him!" Lex threw in.
"Even if it was I had every right," Bruce argued back "You poisoned me. Don't even try to deny it, men like yourself should at least have the honour of taking credit for their own work."
Lionel started "That was not my doing. I've told Lex, it was probably-"
"Oh please," Lex groaned "I've had enough of you pawning this off to someone else. You did it! Everyone knows you did."
"Lex," Lionel warned. He turned back to Bruce. Still in control and cool as always "Now back to the matter at hand. You sent someone to threaten me and I'm telling you now it's not going to work."
"Threaten you? No Mr Luther I didn't send someone to threaten you. I do that fine by myself," It had to have been Talia. Lana probably told her after Lex gave his excuses. "But since you insist it was me that sent that threat I'll rise up to your expectations of me and deliver one of my own. I don't like being poisoned Mr Luther. I don't like being tricked by a coward who's too afraid to do his own dirty work so I'll say this; if you try something like that again I will tear down everything you have worked for. Don't believe I can? I've been sleeping with your son for longer than you've been aware of. I know your ins and outs, every secret Lex has known or you left unguarded I've taken care to learn them. All it would take is one phone call and you're done. Now leave," he strode away without a backwards glance. His point was made and right now he needed to find Damian.
Clark told him when Lionel drove away. They were hiding in the Kent's living room as Jonathan muttered curses under his breath from the doorway. His hatred of Lionel had grown with every admission of poison Lex and himself had made to them. At least one good thing about his stay at Smallville would be that if he was ever in trouble the Kents would take him in again. One stint with Lionel had Jonathan guarding the door like a bloodhound.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side," Clark murmured dragging Dick from pestering the dog more.
"Just like I'm supposed to remind you not to fall in love with me," He mentioned, recalling that day Clark had said as much in the Talon "If so then I'd like to decline. Breaking one promise is bad enough. Two..."
Clark huffed a laugh as a blush rose "I'm not in love with you," he argued.
"Yet."