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Brothers And Heroes part 16
Parts Before
Brothers And Heroes
Martha was at the window in the kitchen looking out on the back yard; Jonathan was sitting at the table with him, enthusiastically discussing their new project, and beaming at him.
Bruce had redesigned the greenhouses’ irrigation system in a way that saved water but made sure that the plants got the maximum benefit, and the design change was going to be very inexpensive, that alone was enough to make Jonathan smile.
“Bruce, it’s genius, you have a talent for adapting old ideas to new uses. This is going to be quite a money saver. He grinned at Bruce and Bruce blushed a little. It felt good to have Jon’s approval, more than that, to have his enthusiastic acceptance for what he did and what he thought.
Martha smiled at Jon’s enthusiasm, but Bruce could tell her attention was divided between the kitchen and the back yard.
“Clark all right?” Bruce asked, and stood. Jonathan looked up from the papers spread in front of him and looked inquiringly at Martha, she made the smallest negative motion and directed her answer to Bruce.
“Looks like they might be getting in a little brawl out there. Could you check it out, honey? “
Bruce said, “Of course,” and headed out to the yard. Bruce had been so busy with work and school lately, not to mention dealing with whatever this confusing thing was he had going on with that Cole girl, that he hadn’t even seen Clark except to say goodnight in passing. Time for him to check in and do that big brother thing.
The boys were standing on the driveway, arguing about something, and Clark looked distressed that Pete and Whit were yelling at each other. He made jerky little movements back and forth between the two, and looked desperately at Bruce when he came up, eyes begging for help.
“What the heck is going on,” Bruce barked. He stood behind the, his hands on his hips, glowering at the red-faced boys.
Whit jumped and Pete glared at him, and as always was the first one to speak. “Whitney is an idiot who won’t pay attention. I’m tryin’ to tell him--”
Whit cut in, growled, ”Pete’s a dope. I’ m trying to tell *him*, it’s better to stay home and play basketball, but he wants to go swimming and get bit up by mosquitoes and stuff, and besides we went swimming this morning and Clark won’t decide. He should, he invited us over.” Whit frowned at Clark who blushed and stammered and did nothing to stop the escalating war and Pete and Whit started in again, voices getting louder and louder….
Bruce stared—what? Were they serious…”Shut up!” He yelled. They froze. “God, what a bunch of assholes.”
They gasped as one. Bruce snuck a look at the house and continued. “Here’s what’s going to happen, we’re going to the library, I need to look up some stuff, and you’re going with.”
They groaned, appalled that going to the library was Bruce’s idea of a good time, except for Clark, who looked very pleased. “And if you don’t piss me off, we can stop at Mario’s and get cheesesteak--*if* you don’t piss me off.” and if dad lends me some money…
In a bit, the boys were walking into town, yakking light-heartedly as if the fight never happened
Bruce dropped back behind Pete and Whit, and gestured for Clark to drop back with him. “Tell me what happened, Clark, he said softly.
“They started fighting, and I got mad—Bruce, I was so mad, I felt like--like my blood was getting hot or something--and then, I got scared, because I was so mad and I couldn’t’ t do anything...I was afraid to speak, I was afraid,” His voice dropped even more, “I was afraid I’d hurt them.” He looked at Bruce, terror and shame making his green eyes bright.
Bruce shook his head. “Clark, you’re doing it again. It’s a normal thing to get angry, there are going to be times when you’re so mad, you see red, you’ll want to kill—but you won’t. You’re the most moral, most thoughtful person I’ve ever known. You know what’s right, better than most folks because you care to do the right thing. Get mad Clark, it’s fine. You can yell and stomp your feet and have a cow just like anyone else. You’ll never hurt anyone by accident, ever.”
Clark nodded slowly. “Okay…” he looked up at Bruce, and Bruce was nearly embarrassed by the intensity of the love in his eyes. He hardly felt like he deserved it.
“You’re the best big brother ever,” Clark grinned.
Bruce smiled back and managed to stop himself from thinking, better than Lex?
******
After the library, the boys walked across the street and into Mario’s. The interior was dark and cool compared to the outside. The air conditioner was cranked up, and the smell of oregano, garlic, and ancient wooden floors was a good, familiar one. They paused a minute and let their eyes adjust, and Pete headed over to one of the gleaming red booths Frank the owner (there had never been a Mario) had installed recently by the big front window, so new they could still smell the vinyl. Pete loved being by the window; he was certain that the girl of his dreams might walk by. He said he needed to be ready.
Bruce looked Pete up and down. “Sport, you’re eleven. What in the heck would you do with a girl?”
Pete looked shocked. “Bruce, don’t you know? Poor guy-–it’s like this, first you--”
Bruce held up his hands. “I don’t want to know what strange thing you think you’re supposed to do!”
The door opened and for a moment voices drowned out the chug of the air conditioner. Bruce looked up. It was a couple of guys and a few girls from school--and Serena. She waved and kept on going and Bruce tried to hide his blush, dipped his head to take a long drink of his soda.
“What’s up, who’s that?” Clark asked. Too sharp for his own good, Bruce thought.
“No one,” he muttered.
Pete looked at Bruce incredulously. “No one? That’s Serena Cole, that’s who that is. She’s bitchin’ ”
“Don’t say that.” Bruce snapped.
“Why not,” Pete went on, ignoring Bruce’s tone. “She is fine. Look at her. And you guys know it too.”
Clark and Whit glanced over and back at each other and grinned. Whit shrugged. “Too pale,” he said and “Her hair’s frizzy,” Clark said.
Bruce grunted, “What the heck do you guys know.” He scraped his chair back”—I gotta go,” he said, explaining to the boy’s total lack of interest,” I gotta pee.”
Clark rolled his eyes and made a face.
Bruce huffed and walked towards the bathrooms, having to pass Serena at her table, surrounded by her court. She saw him, winked and waved and he grinned back.
He was just washing his hands when the door opened. He turned to the door ready to smirk, expecting Serena because it wasn’t farfetched at all, but it was just one of the guys, Sean something…
“Hey.” Bruce tried to walk past him but Sean grabbed his arm.
“Don’t talk to Serena anymore.”
“Are you nuts?” Bruce growled, “She talks to who she wants to, haven’t you noticed that yet?”
Sean shoved him hard against the wall. “Keep away, or I’ll kick your ass, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” Bruce glowered—no problem he could take this guy, he outweighed him, he was taller—“Fuck you!”
Sean shoved him again and Bruce had enough. He swung at the guy and waited for the thud of contact—suddenly he was on the ground, blinking at the ceiling. what the hell…
“Don’t try it, Kent—you’ll never beat me.” Sean was posed in some weird kind of stance---but he looked strangely in control.
Bruce dragged himself off the floor and Sean was crowding him against the wall. Bruce grabbed for him and Sean reached out, grabbed his wrist and shirt and again Bruce was groaning up at the ceiling…
He got to his feet and Sean was on him again, pressing Bruce flat in the corner by the sinks, pushing him back every time Bruce tried to move. His breath was warm on his chin, his eyes snapped and he was grinning like a maniac.
Bruce shifted and Sean shifted with him. “Give up, you just can’t win,” he said.
Bruce stared down into cocky eyes and asked, “How do you do that and can you teach me?”
Sean was startled—started laughing after a moment. He stepped back. ”Yeah. I can—or my teacher can anyway.” He bounced a little on the balls of his feet, still grinning. “It’s called judo.”
Bruce made a face. “You mean like that Green Hornet guy? I don’t believe it--that’s just TV junk.”
Sean grinned. “Oh yeah? You believe I can put you out on this floor and keep you there?”
Bruce nodded, “Yeah.” He could, he definitely could…
“Here’s my number, call me Monday. I’ll talk to my teacher tonight.”
Bruce took the shred of paper and carefully tucked it in his jean pocket. “What about…”
“Oh her. This is more important.” He smirked at Bruce, stuck out his hand and pulled Bruce out of the corner. “You’ll see. This will change your life.”
Bruce walked back to his table; Sean went back to his and Serena looked over with a lifted eyebrow and a little smile. Bruce just smiled back, and she laughed.
Clark watched this, and frowned. “What happened in the bathroom, Bruce?”
“What? Nothing happened in the bathroom,” he said and Clark looked skeptical.
“I thought…I could have sworn I heard you yell…never mind.”
Whit looked at Clark in surprise. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
Clark looked at Bruce and blushed a little. “I must have been imagining it, that’s all.”
TBC….
Brothers And Heroes
Martha was at the window in the kitchen looking out on the back yard; Jonathan was sitting at the table with him, enthusiastically discussing their new project, and beaming at him.
Bruce had redesigned the greenhouses’ irrigation system in a way that saved water but made sure that the plants got the maximum benefit, and the design change was going to be very inexpensive, that alone was enough to make Jonathan smile.
“Bruce, it’s genius, you have a talent for adapting old ideas to new uses. This is going to be quite a money saver. He grinned at Bruce and Bruce blushed a little. It felt good to have Jon’s approval, more than that, to have his enthusiastic acceptance for what he did and what he thought.
Martha smiled at Jon’s enthusiasm, but Bruce could tell her attention was divided between the kitchen and the back yard.
“Clark all right?” Bruce asked, and stood. Jonathan looked up from the papers spread in front of him and looked inquiringly at Martha, she made the smallest negative motion and directed her answer to Bruce.
“Looks like they might be getting in a little brawl out there. Could you check it out, honey? “
Bruce said, “Of course,” and headed out to the yard. Bruce had been so busy with work and school lately, not to mention dealing with whatever this confusing thing was he had going on with that Cole girl, that he hadn’t even seen Clark except to say goodnight in passing. Time for him to check in and do that big brother thing.
The boys were standing on the driveway, arguing about something, and Clark looked distressed that Pete and Whit were yelling at each other. He made jerky little movements back and forth between the two, and looked desperately at Bruce when he came up, eyes begging for help.
“What the heck is going on,” Bruce barked. He stood behind the, his hands on his hips, glowering at the red-faced boys.
Whit jumped and Pete glared at him, and as always was the first one to speak. “Whitney is an idiot who won’t pay attention. I’m tryin’ to tell him--”
Whit cut in, growled, ”Pete’s a dope. I’ m trying to tell *him*, it’s better to stay home and play basketball, but he wants to go swimming and get bit up by mosquitoes and stuff, and besides we went swimming this morning and Clark won’t decide. He should, he invited us over.” Whit frowned at Clark who blushed and stammered and did nothing to stop the escalating war and Pete and Whit started in again, voices getting louder and louder….
Bruce stared—what? Were they serious…”Shut up!” He yelled. They froze. “God, what a bunch of assholes.”
They gasped as one. Bruce snuck a look at the house and continued. “Here’s what’s going to happen, we’re going to the library, I need to look up some stuff, and you’re going with.”
They groaned, appalled that going to the library was Bruce’s idea of a good time, except for Clark, who looked very pleased. “And if you don’t piss me off, we can stop at Mario’s and get cheesesteak--*if* you don’t piss me off.” and if dad lends me some money…
In a bit, the boys were walking into town, yakking light-heartedly as if the fight never happened
Bruce dropped back behind Pete and Whit, and gestured for Clark to drop back with him. “Tell me what happened, Clark, he said softly.
“They started fighting, and I got mad—Bruce, I was so mad, I felt like--like my blood was getting hot or something--and then, I got scared, because I was so mad and I couldn’t’ t do anything...I was afraid to speak, I was afraid,” His voice dropped even more, “I was afraid I’d hurt them.” He looked at Bruce, terror and shame making his green eyes bright.
Bruce shook his head. “Clark, you’re doing it again. It’s a normal thing to get angry, there are going to be times when you’re so mad, you see red, you’ll want to kill—but you won’t. You’re the most moral, most thoughtful person I’ve ever known. You know what’s right, better than most folks because you care to do the right thing. Get mad Clark, it’s fine. You can yell and stomp your feet and have a cow just like anyone else. You’ll never hurt anyone by accident, ever.”
Clark nodded slowly. “Okay…” he looked up at Bruce, and Bruce was nearly embarrassed by the intensity of the love in his eyes. He hardly felt like he deserved it.
“You’re the best big brother ever,” Clark grinned.
Bruce smiled back and managed to stop himself from thinking, better than Lex?
******
After the library, the boys walked across the street and into Mario’s. The interior was dark and cool compared to the outside. The air conditioner was cranked up, and the smell of oregano, garlic, and ancient wooden floors was a good, familiar one. They paused a minute and let their eyes adjust, and Pete headed over to one of the gleaming red booths Frank the owner (there had never been a Mario) had installed recently by the big front window, so new they could still smell the vinyl. Pete loved being by the window; he was certain that the girl of his dreams might walk by. He said he needed to be ready.
Bruce looked Pete up and down. “Sport, you’re eleven. What in the heck would you do with a girl?”
Pete looked shocked. “Bruce, don’t you know? Poor guy-–it’s like this, first you--”
Bruce held up his hands. “I don’t want to know what strange thing you think you’re supposed to do!”
The door opened and for a moment voices drowned out the chug of the air conditioner. Bruce looked up. It was a couple of guys and a few girls from school--and Serena. She waved and kept on going and Bruce tried to hide his blush, dipped his head to take a long drink of his soda.
“What’s up, who’s that?” Clark asked. Too sharp for his own good, Bruce thought.
“No one,” he muttered.
Pete looked at Bruce incredulously. “No one? That’s Serena Cole, that’s who that is. She’s bitchin’ ”
“Don’t say that.” Bruce snapped.
“Why not,” Pete went on, ignoring Bruce’s tone. “She is fine. Look at her. And you guys know it too.”
Clark and Whit glanced over and back at each other and grinned. Whit shrugged. “Too pale,” he said and “Her hair’s frizzy,” Clark said.
Bruce grunted, “What the heck do you guys know.” He scraped his chair back”—I gotta go,” he said, explaining to the boy’s total lack of interest,” I gotta pee.”
Clark rolled his eyes and made a face.
Bruce huffed and walked towards the bathrooms, having to pass Serena at her table, surrounded by her court. She saw him, winked and waved and he grinned back.
He was just washing his hands when the door opened. He turned to the door ready to smirk, expecting Serena because it wasn’t farfetched at all, but it was just one of the guys, Sean something…
“Hey.” Bruce tried to walk past him but Sean grabbed his arm.
“Don’t talk to Serena anymore.”
“Are you nuts?” Bruce growled, “She talks to who she wants to, haven’t you noticed that yet?”
Sean shoved him hard against the wall. “Keep away, or I’ll kick your ass, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” Bruce glowered—no problem he could take this guy, he outweighed him, he was taller—“Fuck you!”
Sean shoved him again and Bruce had enough. He swung at the guy and waited for the thud of contact—suddenly he was on the ground, blinking at the ceiling. what the hell…
“Don’t try it, Kent—you’ll never beat me.” Sean was posed in some weird kind of stance---but he looked strangely in control.
Bruce dragged himself off the floor and Sean was crowding him against the wall. Bruce grabbed for him and Sean reached out, grabbed his wrist and shirt and again Bruce was groaning up at the ceiling…
He got to his feet and Sean was on him again, pressing Bruce flat in the corner by the sinks, pushing him back every time Bruce tried to move. His breath was warm on his chin, his eyes snapped and he was grinning like a maniac.
Bruce shifted and Sean shifted with him. “Give up, you just can’t win,” he said.
Bruce stared down into cocky eyes and asked, “How do you do that and can you teach me?”
Sean was startled—started laughing after a moment. He stepped back. ”Yeah. I can—or my teacher can anyway.” He bounced a little on the balls of his feet, still grinning. “It’s called judo.”
Bruce made a face. “You mean like that Green Hornet guy? I don’t believe it--that’s just TV junk.”
Sean grinned. “Oh yeah? You believe I can put you out on this floor and keep you there?”
Bruce nodded, “Yeah.” He could, he definitely could…
“Here’s my number, call me Monday. I’ll talk to my teacher tonight.”
Bruce took the shred of paper and carefully tucked it in his jean pocket. “What about…”
“Oh her. This is more important.” He smirked at Bruce, stuck out his hand and pulled Bruce out of the corner. “You’ll see. This will change your life.”
Bruce walked back to his table; Sean went back to his and Serena looked over with a lifted eyebrow and a little smile. Bruce just smiled back, and she laughed.
Clark watched this, and frowned. “What happened in the bathroom, Bruce?”
“What? Nothing happened in the bathroom,” he said and Clark looked skeptical.
“I thought…I could have sworn I heard you yell…never mind.”
Whit looked at Clark in surprise. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
Clark looked at Bruce and blushed a little. “I must have been imagining it, that’s all.”
TBC….
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(and I think he was more interested in crowding Bruce against the sinks than in keeping him away from Serena, pretty boy!)For a moment I thought Sean was a meteor freak, and that Clark would have to rescue his big brother.
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I loved that Bruce was cool enough to realize he had to learn that type of fighting technique. And Sean... is he the guy from "Cool"?
Every part you post is a wonderful treat to me!
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Ah, no I stole Sean from someone I know. I forgot Sean was an FOW too.
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Don't lie to Clark, Bruce! What's the point, anyway?
*la la la*
*bounce*
Is Sean someone from the 'verse, too?
*mock my ignorance*
*smooch*
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Naw, Sean's just a name I like! *G*
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*loves that movie*
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*snogs you madly*
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I love what you have of this so far. It's absolutely amazing and I love the Chibis! They be so precious!! *glomps all three of them*
And looking over that last bit, I think it's time my head hit the pillow ^.^
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*falls down laughing*
thank you!
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I just realised -- NO Lana in this fic. OMG. You know, that is a total relief. She just messes everything up anyway. I know there are times when she's not a complete waste of space but they are pretty far and few between. :P.
The boys' argument was was too great, and I am glad Whit's a friend and not an adversary. Yay! Again with the no Lana! (lol) (I am a secret Sam Jones Jr. fan, can you tell? He's just so CUTE. Another one I want to bite. LOL.)
Loved that Sean showed Bruce Judo. And then promised him that it would change his life. Geee. You think?
And Clark. So Cute. He's such a woobie, a cute woobie who impatiently waiting to grow up.
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Ha, that was perfect. As a martial artist, I absolutely can see that happening.
Oh uh, hi by the way. I'm
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Oh thank you! In the next bit, I show my astonishing lack of martial arts knowledge. *G*
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment!
B&H 16
Bruce is such a great big brother for Clark through this early adjust period with his powers - I am a little worried about them when Clark grows up enough to be competition though.
Great action sequence in the bathroom with Sean BTW. So this is where it starts for Bruce hmmm (with seeds from his parents death of course).
Great section. Off to read more to see if my withdrawal symptoms will go away entirely.
Re: B&H 16
And thanks! I liked writing that bathroom thing--I remember it very well, because of bugging Mr. R to tell me about judo but refusing to explain why. *G*