Rake The Moon
7/24/04 01:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyCome little RTM, climb up on mommy's lap, and she'll tell you a story.
Once there was a little PWP,so cute and shiny, who grew up into a big ole healthy brick and made it's mommy soo proud!And who helped it grow? Why, your Auntie Abi, who cajoled and prodded and gave good advice. And mostly wouldn't let mommy be lazy...
Thank you so much sweetie! This was lots of fun...
We're at the end of the tale, and the ship is heading toward the harbor. It won't be long now!
Another too long, miserable, godawful day went by and Bruce was beginning to panic. Alfred hadn’t called, not even to acknowledge receipt of the package. Did he get it? Was it lost, someone else have it and were looking at those—pictures?
His nervousness made Lex edgy and mean; this was all too much for him to take, the fact he was going against his father was enough to panic him—waiting for the other shoe to drop was stretching his capabilities to the limit. Alfred better get in touch soon.
Dominic was useless. He’d taken to following Lex about the place like a lost dog, and it was making the already high-strung boy even more angry and nervous. Bruce had to get the two apart or there’d be a major meltdown. Thankfully Lionel was totally self-absorbed when Lex was not on his mind. As it was Bruce waited in fear for Lionel to ask Lex what was wrong. There was no doubt in his mind the kid would cave completely, tell all and beg for forgiveness—what the fuck, he’d lived his life in fear too many years, never knowing what was going to happen and his only constant being ‘don’t leave this place without me,” and “you must be a good boy.”
Bruce prayed that Alfred was going to rescue them soon, before there was nothing left to rescue.
He finally cornered Dominic in the kitchen—he was pretty sure that they wouldn’t run into either Lionel or Lex in *there*.
He grabbed Dominic by the arm and squeezed, shook hard. “Look, you’re going to blow all of this if you can’t get a grip! Stop being such a puss--”He shook him harder. “ You’re not losing anything—you didn’t * have* anything--”
Dominic’s eyes watered and he shuddered violently. His expression was bleak and lost as he nodded. “ Ok, ok.”
“You alright now? Can you deal?”
“Yes, I’ve got it now. I’ve got it—perfectly.” He left the kitchen and went directly to his room.
************************
Dinner passed in silence, something totally commanded Lionel’s attention, and he had no time for them, thankfully. Lex pushed his food around on his plate till Bruce had to call on reserves of patience he didn’t know he had -- For god’s sake, eat something, stop trying to starve yourself--. He must have made some sound because Lex actually looked at him with a small guilty smile.
When Lionel’s cell rang out, both boys jumped.
Lionel looked mildly annoyed as he answered the phone, with a crisp “ Yes? Luthor speaking…I beg your pardon? Who!?”
Bruce closed his eyes and fought not to sigh in relief. Pleasebehimpleasebehimpleasebehim
“Pennyworth—how--how dare—what!” He shot to his feet and Lex nearly tumbled out of his chair as he instinctively tried to get away from his father. But Lionel’s eyes were fixed on Bruce, drilling into his, his face red and fierce, lips pulled back in a snarl. “Wait.” he demanded. He looked at Bruce as he snapped. “ I’m taking this in my office.”
He strode out of the room leaving Bruce limp with relief and exhaustion, trying to calm Lex, who vibrated with anxiety and fear, giving in totally to the anxiety and heading toward a crash…
“This is it, baby. Sink or swim now. We’re in it for all or nothing, I guess.” He wrapped his arms around Lex and let him shake and shake against him.
*********************
“Well. Hello, Lionel, no, I wouldn’t say I’m speaking to you as an equal, we’re both aware I’m above you on the social scale…if such a thing were important to *me*
I have some interesting items here…interesting photos. Dominic’s been busy. And some of your acquaintances can be rather forthcoming when properly stimulated to be so—now, now. A man in your position shouldn’t be quite so free with threats, hmmm? Yes, well each remark in *that* vein convinces me more and more that our actions are morally justifiable. Any man who so abuses his position, and betrays his child in such a way… well.
I’m sure I don’t need to describe the photographs to you, suffice to say, they include you, your son, your assistant—while he is legally an adult, that’s an abuse of position—oh, it can be spun so, yes. He will be willing given the right motivation.
My good man! That’ s anatomically impossible and indicative of your lack of breeding…why yes, I *am* mocking you.
You’ve been a busy boy… arranged for an illegal adoption I see here, curious, hmmm… this is interesting--it seems that you acquired your seed money through an insurance policy…my condolences on the untimely death of your parents…a tenement fire –goodness! I thought your forebears were aristocracy—you’ll have a stroke going on that way, Lionel.
Let me get to the point. You will never lay your hand on your son again. You will cease to hold him prisoner… agoraphobia, sir, is a lie that may work for the neighbors; I suggest you learn to generate better proof for your lies.
So, to put this in a—nutshell-- let go of Lex and nothing here will ever see the light of day through me. We four are the only ones who have full knowledge of this package. It will be safe, you have my word. Harm in any way Lex, Bruce or Dominic and-- well, I’m sure you understand. I would suggest you do your utmost to make your assistant loyal to you; in the long run it will serve you best.
Consider your self put on notice. Oh, and Lionel? Get out of town. I’ve decided to come for a visit. And you do.not.want.to.see.me.
CLICK
***************************
As soon as he could, Bruce got Lex into the room, and made him get in his bed. He sat with him for a bit, it wasn’t long before he dropped off into sleep. He’d been totally exhausted by the stress. Bruce watched him for a few minutes, then left the room and raced down the hall to Lionel’s office.
He stopped and leaned against the wall, listening in on what he could hear. Lionel must have been speaking very low or not at all, because Bruce didn’t’ t hear a thing, and then—
“Fuck you, you limey bastard…” silence, and then, “He’s an agoraphobe—what!” a beat then,”How dare you!”
Bruce waited but Lionel didn’t speak again. Bruce was about to leave when he heard a musical tinkling, heard it again, a little louder, less musical, and then…a steady, smashing, crashing. It sounded like a tornado was tearing through the room. Bruce’s eyes widened as he listened. He felt a little touch of respect. There was some major destruction going on that room, no words either, just a terrific din and a barely heard animal snarling—Lionel had lost *every* bit of his cool.
Before Bruce could move the door flung wide and Lionel was in the doorway, chest heaving and eyes darting this way and that—the picture of man about to explode. His face was beet red, and his eyes were wild when they lit on Bruce and he launched himself toward him, only to stop and draw back when he saw Bruce smile, and shift on his feet.
Waiting for him.
Lionel’s eyes lost some of their madness, cunning reasserted itself. He could see that Bruce was more than prepared for an attack. He looked, really looked at Bruce and a glimmer of fear shifted across his features, and then he smiled. It was an attempt at his usual arrogant, confident smirk, and it slid off his lips almost as soon as he tried it; he whirled back into the room and slammed the door.
Bruce slumped against the wall, the adrenaline rush washing out and leaving him feeling a little giddy and weak —we won, we won, got to let Lex know, I *think* we won—
Dominic was coming toward him. The man was terrified, so terrified Bruce could see him shaking and his eyes were so wide a rim of white surrounded his iris’. One part of Bruce clinically observed that Dominic was falling to pieces, --,i>weak—The other part had sympathy for the man’s terror.
He put out a hand to stop him. Dominic had to try a time or two before he could get the words out, “Lionel c-called me. He wants to see me, and he sounded so—kind…god. I’m dead. He could get away with killing me, I know it. Who would care or notice.” His eyes shimmered with tears.
Bruce poked him hard in the chest. “ Get yourself together. It’s probably too fucking late to grow a spine, but if you go in there falling apart, he *will* reduce you to nothing—remember, you’re dealing from strength here, you’ve got all the cards.”
Dominic’s expression was that of a drowning man catching a lifeline. “ Oh…oh—that’s—that’s true, I do have….”
He straightened, and went into the room without a backward glance.
Bruce watched the door shut behind him --Jesus, he’s kibble—
*********************
For a long while, he sat by the edge of his bed, reading and watching Lex sleep. He checked the time and saw that an hour had passed and he’s heard nothing from Dominic. Better go check on him…
Once again he was outside of Lionel’s door, ,i>Dominic must still be in there…damn. What if Lionel really killed him? —Shit, that’s stupid—he’s just –
The door opened and Dominic backed out slowly, staring into the room and wiping at his face, his mouth. Bruce made a step toward him, thinking that Lionel had hit him, maybe. The door closed and Dominic licked at his fingers, then shoved them into his mouth. Bruce froze and watched the man sucking at his fingers, and when he turned Bruce thought, -- he got beat up—
His hair was plastered down and sticking to his face with sweat, his collar and tie were askew and—buttoned wrong—his gaze wandered all over like he was having a hard time tracking, he looked drugged and when he finally seemed to realize Bruce was there he smiled at him, a lazy bleary—pleased-- smile, that contrasted with his beaten look.
A ring of bruises was visible in the vee of his loosened collar, and purple marks stretched from jaw to temple on one side of his face. Glazed eyes met Bruce’s for a moment and then skittered off as he raised a hand to the print on his face; his fingers trailed lightly across it, and his eyes drifted shut, he swayed a bit still smiling. With his eyes closed and the little smile bowing his lips, he looked horribly like a renaissance painting of a saint in religious ecstasy…Bruce shivered and moved back. He saw blood, tiny beads of blood in the corners of the man’s mouth and smears of blood on his wrists, there were little dots of red on his white shirt, and he was grinning at Bruce and his lip’s were very red, swollen. He giggled and winced. When he moved toward Bruce he staggered a little and giggled again. Bruce was desperately afraid that he was going to touch him and he nearly crashed into the wall trying to avoid him.
Dominic stopped and took a deep shaky breath. “Well. Well…everything worked out the way you wanted it to. You did it—you and your little boyfriend are going to be ok…or as ok as *he’ll* ever be--”
He laughed and Bruce wanted so badly to hit him that his hands shook, but he was afraid to touch him, as if he were an infectious disease—he was horrified by Dominic, repulsed, but some slick little tendril wormed its’ way into his gut, twisting and twining and whispering –you want to know, youwantyouwant—and he did, wanted to *know* what happened; he was *afraid* of wanting to know. Dominic watched him thinking through narrowed eyes. He smiled a little. —,i.fuck me he knows, he can tell--
“Lionel’s leaving tonight. He’s not coming back here again. He left papers for Lex and Alfred to go over –Alfred will tell you what’s going to happen now.”
Bruce nodded, steadily backing away from Dominic. He wanted to tell him he understood, that he’d let Alfred handle it, but he said, “Is it –always like that? Does he do –that-- to...Lex too?”
Dominic closed his eyes and touched his face again, leaning into his own hand.
“No, not always, not always with Lex, not like this, he can’t--”He sighed and focused on Bruce. “I can’t explain. It’s what you learn, what you get taught. Go to bed, *He’s* going to leave and he doesn’t want to see either one of you.”
He walked past Bruce and Bruce jerked out of his way, feeling a little sick and scared. What the fuck was he in for now? What did they really fix?
He shook his head as if to clear unwelcome thoughts. When he heard Dominic’s door shut he ran down the hall to his room.
TBC
in two or three parts, unless they get carried away...
Once there was a little PWP,so cute and shiny, who grew up into a big ole healthy brick and made it's mommy soo proud!And who helped it grow? Why, your Auntie Abi, who cajoled and prodded and gave good advice. And mostly wouldn't let mommy be lazy...
Thank you so much sweetie! This was lots of fun...
We're at the end of the tale, and the ship is heading toward the harbor. It won't be long now!
Another too long, miserable, godawful day went by and Bruce was beginning to panic. Alfred hadn’t called, not even to acknowledge receipt of the package. Did he get it? Was it lost, someone else have it and were looking at those—pictures?
His nervousness made Lex edgy and mean; this was all too much for him to take, the fact he was going against his father was enough to panic him—waiting for the other shoe to drop was stretching his capabilities to the limit. Alfred better get in touch soon.
Dominic was useless. He’d taken to following Lex about the place like a lost dog, and it was making the already high-strung boy even more angry and nervous. Bruce had to get the two apart or there’d be a major meltdown. Thankfully Lionel was totally self-absorbed when Lex was not on his mind. As it was Bruce waited in fear for Lionel to ask Lex what was wrong. There was no doubt in his mind the kid would cave completely, tell all and beg for forgiveness—what the fuck, he’d lived his life in fear too many years, never knowing what was going to happen and his only constant being ‘don’t leave this place without me,” and “you must be a good boy.”
Bruce prayed that Alfred was going to rescue them soon, before there was nothing left to rescue.
He finally cornered Dominic in the kitchen—he was pretty sure that they wouldn’t run into either Lionel or Lex in *there*.
He grabbed Dominic by the arm and squeezed, shook hard. “Look, you’re going to blow all of this if you can’t get a grip! Stop being such a puss--”He shook him harder. “ You’re not losing anything—you didn’t * have* anything--”
Dominic’s eyes watered and he shuddered violently. His expression was bleak and lost as he nodded. “ Ok, ok.”
“You alright now? Can you deal?”
“Yes, I’ve got it now. I’ve got it—perfectly.” He left the kitchen and went directly to his room.
************************
Dinner passed in silence, something totally commanded Lionel’s attention, and he had no time for them, thankfully. Lex pushed his food around on his plate till Bruce had to call on reserves of patience he didn’t know he had -- For god’s sake, eat something, stop trying to starve yourself--. He must have made some sound because Lex actually looked at him with a small guilty smile.
When Lionel’s cell rang out, both boys jumped.
Lionel looked mildly annoyed as he answered the phone, with a crisp “ Yes? Luthor speaking…I beg your pardon? Who!?”
Bruce closed his eyes and fought not to sigh in relief. Pleasebehimpleasebehimpleasebehim
“Pennyworth—how--how dare—what!” He shot to his feet and Lex nearly tumbled out of his chair as he instinctively tried to get away from his father. But Lionel’s eyes were fixed on Bruce, drilling into his, his face red and fierce, lips pulled back in a snarl. “Wait.” he demanded. He looked at Bruce as he snapped. “ I’m taking this in my office.”
He strode out of the room leaving Bruce limp with relief and exhaustion, trying to calm Lex, who vibrated with anxiety and fear, giving in totally to the anxiety and heading toward a crash…
“This is it, baby. Sink or swim now. We’re in it for all or nothing, I guess.” He wrapped his arms around Lex and let him shake and shake against him.
*********************
“Well. Hello, Lionel, no, I wouldn’t say I’m speaking to you as an equal, we’re both aware I’m above you on the social scale…if such a thing were important to *me*
I have some interesting items here…interesting photos. Dominic’s been busy. And some of your acquaintances can be rather forthcoming when properly stimulated to be so—now, now. A man in your position shouldn’t be quite so free with threats, hmmm? Yes, well each remark in *that* vein convinces me more and more that our actions are morally justifiable. Any man who so abuses his position, and betrays his child in such a way… well.
I’m sure I don’t need to describe the photographs to you, suffice to say, they include you, your son, your assistant—while he is legally an adult, that’s an abuse of position—oh, it can be spun so, yes. He will be willing given the right motivation.
My good man! That’ s anatomically impossible and indicative of your lack of breeding…why yes, I *am* mocking you.
You’ve been a busy boy… arranged for an illegal adoption I see here, curious, hmmm… this is interesting--it seems that you acquired your seed money through an insurance policy…my condolences on the untimely death of your parents…a tenement fire –goodness! I thought your forebears were aristocracy—you’ll have a stroke going on that way, Lionel.
Let me get to the point. You will never lay your hand on your son again. You will cease to hold him prisoner… agoraphobia, sir, is a lie that may work for the neighbors; I suggest you learn to generate better proof for your lies.
So, to put this in a—nutshell-- let go of Lex and nothing here will ever see the light of day through me. We four are the only ones who have full knowledge of this package. It will be safe, you have my word. Harm in any way Lex, Bruce or Dominic and-- well, I’m sure you understand. I would suggest you do your utmost to make your assistant loyal to you; in the long run it will serve you best.
Consider your self put on notice. Oh, and Lionel? Get out of town. I’ve decided to come for a visit. And you do.not.want.to.see.me.
CLICK
***************************
As soon as he could, Bruce got Lex into the room, and made him get in his bed. He sat with him for a bit, it wasn’t long before he dropped off into sleep. He’d been totally exhausted by the stress. Bruce watched him for a few minutes, then left the room and raced down the hall to Lionel’s office.
He stopped and leaned against the wall, listening in on what he could hear. Lionel must have been speaking very low or not at all, because Bruce didn’t’ t hear a thing, and then—
“Fuck you, you limey bastard…” silence, and then, “He’s an agoraphobe—what!” a beat then,”How dare you!”
Bruce waited but Lionel didn’t speak again. Bruce was about to leave when he heard a musical tinkling, heard it again, a little louder, less musical, and then…a steady, smashing, crashing. It sounded like a tornado was tearing through the room. Bruce’s eyes widened as he listened. He felt a little touch of respect. There was some major destruction going on that room, no words either, just a terrific din and a barely heard animal snarling—Lionel had lost *every* bit of his cool.
Before Bruce could move the door flung wide and Lionel was in the doorway, chest heaving and eyes darting this way and that—the picture of man about to explode. His face was beet red, and his eyes were wild when they lit on Bruce and he launched himself toward him, only to stop and draw back when he saw Bruce smile, and shift on his feet.
Waiting for him.
Lionel’s eyes lost some of their madness, cunning reasserted itself. He could see that Bruce was more than prepared for an attack. He looked, really looked at Bruce and a glimmer of fear shifted across his features, and then he smiled. It was an attempt at his usual arrogant, confident smirk, and it slid off his lips almost as soon as he tried it; he whirled back into the room and slammed the door.
Bruce slumped against the wall, the adrenaline rush washing out and leaving him feeling a little giddy and weak —we won, we won, got to let Lex know, I *think* we won—
Dominic was coming toward him. The man was terrified, so terrified Bruce could see him shaking and his eyes were so wide a rim of white surrounded his iris’. One part of Bruce clinically observed that Dominic was falling to pieces, --,i>weak—The other part had sympathy for the man’s terror.
He put out a hand to stop him. Dominic had to try a time or two before he could get the words out, “Lionel c-called me. He wants to see me, and he sounded so—kind…god. I’m dead. He could get away with killing me, I know it. Who would care or notice.” His eyes shimmered with tears.
Bruce poked him hard in the chest. “ Get yourself together. It’s probably too fucking late to grow a spine, but if you go in there falling apart, he *will* reduce you to nothing—remember, you’re dealing from strength here, you’ve got all the cards.”
Dominic’s expression was that of a drowning man catching a lifeline. “ Oh…oh—that’s—that’s true, I do have….”
He straightened, and went into the room without a backward glance.
Bruce watched the door shut behind him --Jesus, he’s kibble—
*********************
For a long while, he sat by the edge of his bed, reading and watching Lex sleep. He checked the time and saw that an hour had passed and he’s heard nothing from Dominic. Better go check on him…
Once again he was outside of Lionel’s door, ,i>Dominic must still be in there…damn. What if Lionel really killed him? —Shit, that’s stupid—he’s just –
The door opened and Dominic backed out slowly, staring into the room and wiping at his face, his mouth. Bruce made a step toward him, thinking that Lionel had hit him, maybe. The door closed and Dominic licked at his fingers, then shoved them into his mouth. Bruce froze and watched the man sucking at his fingers, and when he turned Bruce thought, -- he got beat up—
His hair was plastered down and sticking to his face with sweat, his collar and tie were askew and—buttoned wrong—his gaze wandered all over like he was having a hard time tracking, he looked drugged and when he finally seemed to realize Bruce was there he smiled at him, a lazy bleary—pleased-- smile, that contrasted with his beaten look.
A ring of bruises was visible in the vee of his loosened collar, and purple marks stretched from jaw to temple on one side of his face. Glazed eyes met Bruce’s for a moment and then skittered off as he raised a hand to the print on his face; his fingers trailed lightly across it, and his eyes drifted shut, he swayed a bit still smiling. With his eyes closed and the little smile bowing his lips, he looked horribly like a renaissance painting of a saint in religious ecstasy…Bruce shivered and moved back. He saw blood, tiny beads of blood in the corners of the man’s mouth and smears of blood on his wrists, there were little dots of red on his white shirt, and he was grinning at Bruce and his lip’s were very red, swollen. He giggled and winced. When he moved toward Bruce he staggered a little and giggled again. Bruce was desperately afraid that he was going to touch him and he nearly crashed into the wall trying to avoid him.
Dominic stopped and took a deep shaky breath. “Well. Well…everything worked out the way you wanted it to. You did it—you and your little boyfriend are going to be ok…or as ok as *he’ll* ever be--”
He laughed and Bruce wanted so badly to hit him that his hands shook, but he was afraid to touch him, as if he were an infectious disease—he was horrified by Dominic, repulsed, but some slick little tendril wormed its’ way into his gut, twisting and twining and whispering –you want to know, youwantyouwant—and he did, wanted to *know* what happened; he was *afraid* of wanting to know. Dominic watched him thinking through narrowed eyes. He smiled a little. —,i.fuck me he knows, he can tell--
“Lionel’s leaving tonight. He’s not coming back here again. He left papers for Lex and Alfred to go over –Alfred will tell you what’s going to happen now.”
Bruce nodded, steadily backing away from Dominic. He wanted to tell him he understood, that he’d let Alfred handle it, but he said, “Is it –always like that? Does he do –that-- to...Lex too?”
Dominic closed his eyes and touched his face again, leaning into his own hand.
“No, not always, not always with Lex, not like this, he can’t--”He sighed and focused on Bruce. “I can’t explain. It’s what you learn, what you get taught. Go to bed, *He’s* going to leave and he doesn’t want to see either one of you.”
He walked past Bruce and Bruce jerked out of his way, feeling a little sick and scared. What the fuck was he in for now? What did they really fix?
He shook his head as if to clear unwelcome thoughts. When he heard Dominic’s door shut he ran down the hall to his room.
TBC
in two or three parts, unless they get carried away...
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
7/24/04 04:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
7/24/04 09:01 pm (UTC)