Inbetween

Chapter Eight: Early Bird Catches The Worm

Did any of you guys watch Smallville when it was on tv? I didn't but I want to.
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A rooster call from outside woke Clark from his sleep. It had been long since Clark had spent the night at his parents and he couldn't help but be relieved that he didn't need to rush for work. He rolled onto his stomach and finally opened his eyes. The blanket was half on the floor and the other half was tangled in his legs.

He groaned and sat up his hair a scruffy mess and his clothes rustled from his nighttime movements. The silence always baffled him when he stayed away from the city and every time he felt his heart warm. The small amount of homesickness he contained on a day to day basis disappeared and he could finally relax. The soft creaks from downstairs made him grin and he stood up eager to start his day.

He stood up from his spot on his bed and started towards the kitchen where his mother was over the stove cooking breakfast. She hummed a soft tune as she flipped a pancake and Clark felt his chest swell with a homely feeling. His home was the only place he could truly be himself and that was something that he could rarely find. The only other place he felt himself is with Bruce inside the Batcave where Bruce never judged him but only considered his ideas and made pleasant conversations on occasion.

"Good morning, honey." Martha beamed back at Clark.

"Morning, ma." Clark floated towards her.

"How did you sleep?" She questioned as she flipped the pancake once more to make sure it was cooked evenly.

"Like a baby." Clark stretched out with a smile on his face.

She let out a soft hum and slid his pancake on a plate, "and Bruce?"

"Still asleep, should I wake him?" Clark drowned his pancake with syrup while raising an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, while breakfast is still hot." Clark nodded while cutting his pancake into pieces.

He took one bite before putting his plate down and drifting towards Bruce's bedroom. His stomach churned with butterflies as he gently knocked on the door. There was no response from the other side so he knocked once again this time a little louder. A loud groan came from the other side and heavy thump came soon after. Clark waited a while longer before he knocked a final time this time the door swung open mid-knock. Bruce stood in front of Clark his hair messy and his chest bare. Clark felt his heart skip a beat, he had never seen Bruce so vulnerable and he absolutely adored it.

"M-morning." Clark forced his eyes away from Bruce's exposed chest.

Bruce rubbed at his eyes and let out a yawn before looking Clark up and down, " Morning."

"How did you sleep?" Clark tried his best to maintain eye contact, but he was tempted to look back down.

"Well." Bruce stretched his joints cracking, "what time is it?"

"ten-ish." Clark shrugged, "Ma, made breakfast and there's a plate with your name on it." 

"I'll be there." Bruce nodded and rubbed at his hair. 

Clark couldn't help but spot the dark red-ish purple bruises forming along Bruce's ribcage. He wanted to make it go away and comfort Bruce, but he could tell that the other man was used to the ache. Bruce shifted on his feet before crossing his arms over his chest nearly covering the bruise. Clark only nodded and glided back toward the kitchen thinking of ways to help Bruce with the bruise. Maybe he could set up an ice bath for him, but he doubted Bruce would agree to it or maybe he would Clark wasn't too sure. 

"How did he sleep?" His mother questioned before he was fully in the kitchen.

"He said 'well'." Clark smiled, "which means great to him." 

She was looking at Clark with a softness he only saw when he came home after not visiting for a long while.  Martha placed a pancake on a different plate and Clark went back to eating his pancakes but not before giving his mother a smile. He could hear his father out on the farm and he reminded himself to go help his him once he was done eating. 

Bruce stepped into the kitchen with his hair tamed and a shirt on. Martha greeted him and handed him his plate of pancakes. He thanked her and took a seat at the table ready to start eating when his phone rang. Clark raised an eyebrow at him but continued to eat his food without questioning the other man. Bruce answered the phone with a sigh.

"Hey, pops!" Clark could hear Dick loud and clear.

Bruce held the phone up so that Richard could see his face, "good morning." 

Clark soon realized they were video chatting, "how'd you sleep last night?"

"Fine, are you boys on your way to school?" Bruce cut up his pancakes into little squares.

"Yea, Alfred is driving us."

"Hello, Master Wayne." Alfred's voice rang from the other end.

"Morning, Alfred." Bruce leaned back and Clark could tell Alfred made Bruce comfortable.

"Damian is moping in the front." Richard pointed the camera at Damian who gave him a dirty look.

"Leave your brother alone." Bruce sighed, "call me when you boys are done for the day."

"Ok-wait can I say hi to Clark? Is he there?" Richard questioned.

Bruce raised an eyebrow at Clark who nodded at him. He handed Clark his phone and Richard practically lit up at the sight of him. Clark always was his favorite out of all the heroes.

"Hey, Clark! How was road tripping with my dad?" Dick grinned, "did he glare you to death?"

"Funny," Bruce spoke dryly.

"No, he was great." Clark chuckled, "not nearly as whiny as I thought he'd be."

"I'm surprised you two weren't at each other's throats." Dick teased.

"We're not that bad." Clark felt his eyebrows furrow.

"I beg to differ." Damian piped up.

Clark was about to deny their claim when Alfred spoke up, "the boys have to go in, we'll speak to the two of you after school."

"Alright, you boys have a good day at school." Clark smiled as he handed Bruce back the phone.

"No calls home you two," Bruce grunted.

"No promises!" Dick chimed as he hung up the phone.

Bruce shook his head and took a bite out of his pancake. Martha smiled at Clark before excusing herself and leaving the kitchen. Clark grabbed his plate and sat across from Bruce his heart pounding a little faster than usual. Bruce went in for another bite and Clark shifted in his seat and looked towards the living room. He checked twice to make sure his mother wasn't listening in on them.

"So about what I said during the car ride." Clark fidgeted in his seat, "I meant it one-hundred percent, Bruce."

"It's too early to be talking about this, Clark." Bruce murmured not looking up at him.

Clark was about to say something else when his father walked in whistling a familiar tune. Bruce stiffened and glared at Clark hoping the other hero would get the message and back off for a little bit. Clark sighed and looked over at his father who was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Why are you up so early pa?" Clark tried his best to smile at his father.

"Early bird catches the worm, son." His father murmured.

What if that bird was way too early or just tried to catch a worm that didn't want to be caught. Clark sighed and gave Bruce a smile that didn't quite match his eyes before standing up. 

"If anyone needs me I'll be working on the farm." 

Clark walked out of the kitchen without looking at his father or at Bruce.

"Was it something I said?"