Brothers And Heroes
11/12/05 10:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyParts Before
Okay, the next part of Brothers because I'm not getting anywhere on anything else. If I'm lucky, DPJ will make some sense later on tonight. If not, oh well. It'll come together.
Fic, anyone? It comes with a complimentary drink.But you have to come here to get it....
Brothers And Heroes
One morning Bruce woke up to a delicious smell and his first thought was ‘what’s Mom making for breakfast?’ That was followed by a wave of guilt. He had a mom and Martha wasn’t it. But she loved him, and he did love her, very much. He always had. He may not to be able to call her Mom, but Ma came easier to him.
Without fanfare, without asking he began slipping it into his speech and she was careful not to react too obviously. He was comfortable with that.
It took a little longer for him to think of Jon as something other than... Jonathan. He respected him, he found that there were many reasons that he liked Jon. A lot. He liked the way he greeted everyone when they went around the farm, when he brought him along to the plant that was part of the Kent Company, he liked the way he had a moment for all of his employees, no matter their status.
He liked the way Jon always took off his hat and tossed it at the coat rack inside the office door, and the “Yeah ” he’d bark out when it landed true, the way he laughed when it flew wide—he liked the way he’d take off his jacket and roll up his sleeves. He’d always stop and wink at Bruce and say, "Now, than,” like they were about to share a great secret. Jon seemed to like having him along as much as he liked going
Their eyes were almost the same piercing blue, they had the same general build, the same outlook, and even though Jon was blonde and fair, they were enough alike that people thought he was his real dad. Jon would always say yes, Bruce was his son, but he never tried to make Bruce call him dad. His respect for him grew, love grew, and one day, he was just Pop, and that was it.
Clark. Clark was…an amazing kid. If he absolutely had to he might admit to loving Clark like crazy. He was a handful sometime, and he could be a pest—he was in Bruce’s room all the time—he wore Bruce’s shirts and his pajamas and borrowed his books without asking. He walked in on him in the bathroom, climbed in bed with him at night, which wouldn’t be so bad, if he wasn’t a horrible sleeper. He drooled and snored and he was a kicker. Bruce learned to sleep in a tight ball to save his nuts.
On the plus side, it was surprisingly easy to talk to Clark about things that bothered him, or subjects Bruce was enthusiastic about. They both loved comics and the movies. Most Saturdays found them at the matinee, watching whatever film was new. He knew most guys didn’t spend as much time with their little brothers, but Clark wasn’t like most little brothers. He was lucky, but he wasn’t about to let Clark know. It just wouldn’t do.
Cool as it was to hang around with Clark, the bathroom thing was becoming a drag. Clark thought nothing of busting in to ask him a question or tell him something about school…he didn’t yell at him, or complain to Ma, but one evening in passing he mentioned to Pop that he had no private time. "I love Clark and all, but he thinks I’m his twenty–four hours a day. I mean, he even walks right in the bathroom when I’m using it. A guy needs some private time,” he groused.
“You do?” Jon asked and blushed a little, “Oh, well, of course you do. Uhmm, right.” He nodded. “Ah, you need a little more private time. Then you--ah-- used to? Well, it’s completely natural. And normal. Very normal. And it’s a sign you’re growing into a young man. One I’m very proud, of have I told you that? Ah--because you’re a good person Yes.” he was bright red at this point. "If you have questions, just ask me anytime–about anything, all right, son?” He clapped a hand on his shoulder and swiftly exited the room, leaving a very confused Bruce in his wake. He had no idea what was the big deal about wanting to take a crap without answering twenty questions while he did. What the heck had that been all about?
Lex laughed like crazy when he called to talk to Clark, and Bruce snagged the phone. he described the conversation to him. “Oh man, oh man, that’s rich You know what he thinks?”
Bruce got annoyed--it wasn’t often that Lex laughed at him but it always stung him when it happened. He kept silent and Lex went right on, not noticing. “He thinks you’re pulling the pud--"
“What?”
“Jerking off—masturbating--"
“I know what it means I’m just –why would he think—oh !"
Yeah—oh.” Lex giggled. “That’s so funny. Now your pop knows you jerk off.”
“Shut up That’s gross. Besides I don’t,” he lied.
“Yeah, yeah. Every one does it.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know,” Lex said.” I just do."
Bruce was quiet for a minute, the thought of Lex--knowing--making him blush heavily.
Lex coughed. “Hey, you still there—you get pissed off and hang up on me?”
“No, I’m here…do you do--that?”
“Spooky, everyone does it. It’s not that big a deal. Unless you’re doing it in the library or something.”
Bruce laughed. “You’re really sick, you know that?”
“Me? Who wants to know if I get it off or not, you perv Talk to you next weekend” He laughed harder and rang off.
Bruce was still saying goodbye when the dial tone broke in.
*******
II
Bruce stood on one foot and tucked the other behind his knee, standing perfectly still. He held the phone to his face with both hands, tried to pretend this was an ordinary phone call, that it didn’t hurt like crazy. He fought to keep his voice clear, Lex was upset too, and he didn’t need to add to his distress.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, I’d have called sooner but it’s been kind of crazy here, trying to get ready and all. I’ll write you as soon as I get to school, and give you my address.”
“Okay, Lex, don’t forget. I—I’ll miss you. How far away is your school, can we visit sometimes?”
“Sure, of course you can It’s not really very far for you, it’s in Princeton. It’s only about an hour or so from the farm, Dad said, so it’s not impossible.”
“Oh sure, I’m sure Pop would drive us out, god knows Clark’s going to make sure of that.” They both laughed, and then sadness quieted them again.
“Gosh, I don’t know why I’m acting like you’re moving a million miles away, you’re going to be closer now—“ But Bruce knew it was the loss of family Lex was mourning, and the beginning of a scary new life with no support from anyone….“Bruce. Will you…promise to write me, okay?”
“Hell, yeah, I’ll write you ” he hated that shaky tone in Lex’s voice. “And don’t worry, you’ll make friends, I know you will.”
“I have to go now Bruce, look for my letter Tell Clark I’ll write him.”
Bruce hung up and hoped Clark wasn’t around and of course, he might as well have yelled for Clark to come, he came sprinting into the room.
“Was that Lex? Is he on the phone—you hung up ” Clark looked betrayed.
“I’m sorry Clark, he had to go.”
“But you hung up and he’s going away and you didn’t let me talk to him ”
“Clark He had to go—he had things to do.”
Clark burst into tears. “You’re always trying to keep him for yourself You always do ”
Bruce was shocked by the violence of Clark’s tears, he was working himself up into a state, and sometimes he lost control when he got overly agitated. Bruce felt a stab of guilt and tried to calm him down. “Clark, please be quiet, Pop and Ma are going to be angry if you break something. Please kiddo, don’t cry anymore—“
Clark dropped down on the carpet, a wet soggy lump trying not to cry and instead drawing long shuddery watery breaths that made Bruce feel even guiltier.
“Look, he told me to tell you he’ll write you, okay, as soon as he gets to school, he’d gonna write us and…and …send pictures And he’ll call once a month, god, don’t punish me for lying, he thought. Clark was crying easier now, and then Bruce said “He told me to tell you you’re his favorite person in the world, and he’s going to miss you the most.” and Clark’s face lit up.
“He did? Good.”
Bruce wanted to poke his vocal cords out. What the hell kind of thing was that to say? But it seemed to be just the right thing—Clark was all smiles now, his nose still bright red and drippy, but his eyes were sparkling, and for once instead of looking goofy with his too big teeth, and his big round cartoon character eyes, he looked kind of—almost—nearly--angelic. Cute, like Lex always claimed he was.
Bruce shook his head. Weird. Clark was one weird little kid. He watched him go hopping off to his room, making some odd noise that was supposed to be kangaroo talk and shook his head again. He knew he’d never been that goofy when he was little.
TBC
Okay, the next part of Brothers because I'm not getting anywhere on anything else. If I'm lucky, DPJ will make some sense later on tonight. If not, oh well. It'll come together.
Fic, anyone? It comes with a complimentary drink.But you have to come here to get it....
Brothers And Heroes
One morning Bruce woke up to a delicious smell and his first thought was ‘what’s Mom making for breakfast?’ That was followed by a wave of guilt. He had a mom and Martha wasn’t it. But she loved him, and he did love her, very much. He always had. He may not to be able to call her Mom, but Ma came easier to him.
Without fanfare, without asking he began slipping it into his speech and she was careful not to react too obviously. He was comfortable with that.
It took a little longer for him to think of Jon as something other than... Jonathan. He respected him, he found that there were many reasons that he liked Jon. A lot. He liked the way he greeted everyone when they went around the farm, when he brought him along to the plant that was part of the Kent Company, he liked the way he had a moment for all of his employees, no matter their status.
He liked the way Jon always took off his hat and tossed it at the coat rack inside the office door, and the “Yeah ” he’d bark out when it landed true, the way he laughed when it flew wide—he liked the way he’d take off his jacket and roll up his sleeves. He’d always stop and wink at Bruce and say, "Now, than,” like they were about to share a great secret. Jon seemed to like having him along as much as he liked going
Their eyes were almost the same piercing blue, they had the same general build, the same outlook, and even though Jon was blonde and fair, they were enough alike that people thought he was his real dad. Jon would always say yes, Bruce was his son, but he never tried to make Bruce call him dad. His respect for him grew, love grew, and one day, he was just Pop, and that was it.
Clark. Clark was…an amazing kid. If he absolutely had to he might admit to loving Clark like crazy. He was a handful sometime, and he could be a pest—he was in Bruce’s room all the time—he wore Bruce’s shirts and his pajamas and borrowed his books without asking. He walked in on him in the bathroom, climbed in bed with him at night, which wouldn’t be so bad, if he wasn’t a horrible sleeper. He drooled and snored and he was a kicker. Bruce learned to sleep in a tight ball to save his nuts.
On the plus side, it was surprisingly easy to talk to Clark about things that bothered him, or subjects Bruce was enthusiastic about. They both loved comics and the movies. Most Saturdays found them at the matinee, watching whatever film was new. He knew most guys didn’t spend as much time with their little brothers, but Clark wasn’t like most little brothers. He was lucky, but he wasn’t about to let Clark know. It just wouldn’t do.
Cool as it was to hang around with Clark, the bathroom thing was becoming a drag. Clark thought nothing of busting in to ask him a question or tell him something about school…he didn’t yell at him, or complain to Ma, but one evening in passing he mentioned to Pop that he had no private time. "I love Clark and all, but he thinks I’m his twenty–four hours a day. I mean, he even walks right in the bathroom when I’m using it. A guy needs some private time,” he groused.
“You do?” Jon asked and blushed a little, “Oh, well, of course you do. Uhmm, right.” He nodded. “Ah, you need a little more private time. Then you--ah-- used to? Well, it’s completely natural. And normal. Very normal. And it’s a sign you’re growing into a young man. One I’m very proud, of have I told you that? Ah--because you’re a good person Yes.” he was bright red at this point. "If you have questions, just ask me anytime–about anything, all right, son?” He clapped a hand on his shoulder and swiftly exited the room, leaving a very confused Bruce in his wake. He had no idea what was the big deal about wanting to take a crap without answering twenty questions while he did. What the heck had that been all about?
Lex laughed like crazy when he called to talk to Clark, and Bruce snagged the phone. he described the conversation to him. “Oh man, oh man, that’s rich You know what he thinks?”
Bruce got annoyed--it wasn’t often that Lex laughed at him but it always stung him when it happened. He kept silent and Lex went right on, not noticing. “He thinks you’re pulling the pud--"
“What?”
“Jerking off—masturbating--"
“I know what it means I’m just –why would he think—oh !"
Yeah—oh.” Lex giggled. “That’s so funny. Now your pop knows you jerk off.”
“Shut up That’s gross. Besides I don’t,” he lied.
“Yeah, yeah. Every one does it.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know,” Lex said.” I just do."
Bruce was quiet for a minute, the thought of Lex--knowing--making him blush heavily.
Lex coughed. “Hey, you still there—you get pissed off and hang up on me?”
“No, I’m here…do you do--that?”
“Spooky, everyone does it. It’s not that big a deal. Unless you’re doing it in the library or something.”
Bruce laughed. “You’re really sick, you know that?”
“Me? Who wants to know if I get it off or not, you perv Talk to you next weekend” He laughed harder and rang off.
Bruce was still saying goodbye when the dial tone broke in.
*******
II
Bruce stood on one foot and tucked the other behind his knee, standing perfectly still. He held the phone to his face with both hands, tried to pretend this was an ordinary phone call, that it didn’t hurt like crazy. He fought to keep his voice clear, Lex was upset too, and he didn’t need to add to his distress.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, I’d have called sooner but it’s been kind of crazy here, trying to get ready and all. I’ll write you as soon as I get to school, and give you my address.”
“Okay, Lex, don’t forget. I—I’ll miss you. How far away is your school, can we visit sometimes?”
“Sure, of course you can It’s not really very far for you, it’s in Princeton. It’s only about an hour or so from the farm, Dad said, so it’s not impossible.”
“Oh sure, I’m sure Pop would drive us out, god knows Clark’s going to make sure of that.” They both laughed, and then sadness quieted them again.
“Gosh, I don’t know why I’m acting like you’re moving a million miles away, you’re going to be closer now—“ But Bruce knew it was the loss of family Lex was mourning, and the beginning of a scary new life with no support from anyone….“Bruce. Will you…promise to write me, okay?”
“Hell, yeah, I’ll write you ” he hated that shaky tone in Lex’s voice. “And don’t worry, you’ll make friends, I know you will.”
“I have to go now Bruce, look for my letter Tell Clark I’ll write him.”
Bruce hung up and hoped Clark wasn’t around and of course, he might as well have yelled for Clark to come, he came sprinting into the room.
“Was that Lex? Is he on the phone—you hung up ” Clark looked betrayed.
“I’m sorry Clark, he had to go.”
“But you hung up and he’s going away and you didn’t let me talk to him ”
“Clark He had to go—he had things to do.”
Clark burst into tears. “You’re always trying to keep him for yourself You always do ”
Bruce was shocked by the violence of Clark’s tears, he was working himself up into a state, and sometimes he lost control when he got overly agitated. Bruce felt a stab of guilt and tried to calm him down. “Clark, please be quiet, Pop and Ma are going to be angry if you break something. Please kiddo, don’t cry anymore—“
Clark dropped down on the carpet, a wet soggy lump trying not to cry and instead drawing long shuddery watery breaths that made Bruce feel even guiltier.
“Look, he told me to tell you he’ll write you, okay, as soon as he gets to school, he’d gonna write us and…and …send pictures And he’ll call once a month, god, don’t punish me for lying, he thought. Clark was crying easier now, and then Bruce said “He told me to tell you you’re his favorite person in the world, and he’s going to miss you the most.” and Clark’s face lit up.
“He did? Good.”
Bruce wanted to poke his vocal cords out. What the hell kind of thing was that to say? But it seemed to be just the right thing—Clark was all smiles now, his nose still bright red and drippy, but his eyes were sparkling, and for once instead of looking goofy with his too big teeth, and his big round cartoon character eyes, he looked kind of—almost—nearly--angelic. Cute, like Lex always claimed he was.
Bruce shook his head. Weird. Clark was one weird little kid. He watched him go hopping off to his room, making some odd noise that was supposed to be kangaroo talk and shook his head again. He knew he’d never been that goofy when he was little.
TBC
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Re: B&H 9
7/22/08 07:54 pm (UTC)Clark has imprinted on Lex, very much so and everything he ever does revolves around Lex.