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mithenTitle: The Wonder That's Keeping the Stars Apart, Chapter One
Pairing/Characters: Clark/Bruce
Notes: "Music of the Spheres" is a series set in the combined universes of "Batman Begins" and "Superman Returns." Other stories and notes on the series here.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: It's an ordinary day for Clark and Bruce, until it isn't anymore.
Word Count: 1400
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)
Clark woke up with the sound of Bruce's breathing a soft murmur in his ear. He rolled over in his empty bed, smiling to himself, listening. The pitch and rhythm of Bruce's respiration meant he was sleeping, and sleeping well. Clark knew the difference in sound between restful sleep and shallow doze, knew all too well what it meant when Bruce's breathing hitched in his sleep, caught in the ragged cadences of nightmare. At those times he tried to resist flying there in an eyeblink to be at his lover's side, to smooth the hair back from his forehead and kiss him, or just to watch over him for a little while.
Usually he succeeded.
Clark was dressed and on his way out the door when he heard Alfred enter the room, heard the curtains slither open. Far away, Bruce groaned and Clark smiled.
"Some breakfast, sir?"
Bruce's voice mumbled something that sounded like "Mphgrrph."
"You're welcome, sir." There was a clink of china and glass, then footsteps leaving the room.
As he got on the bus that would take him to work, Clark heard Bruce take a long swallow of coffee. A pause. A long, slow exhalation. "Good morning," said Bruce's voice, still a bit blurry with sleep. "Sounds like you're on the way in already. Have a good day at work."
By the time Clark was sitting down at his desk and starting to look at the morning's work Bruce was working out, his breathing increasingly staccato and sharp in Clark's ear. It was always uncomfortably similar to the sound when Bruce was aroused, and Clark usually had to spend this time every morning concentrating very hard indeed on his paperwork. It was worse those times Bruce decided to throw in some descriptions of what he was looking forward to doing to Clark later, his voice hoarse and panting. Those mornings had an unfortunate tendency to end with Clark making an abrupt visit to the men's room while Bruce's voice growled and shivered along his ear canal, reaching down his spine.
This morning Bruce was all business, and Clark was relieved. Mostly.
He had jokingly complained to Bruce about it, and Bruce had reminded him that he was welcome to turn off the receiver and get some peace. He seemed to assume Clark did it off now and then, and Clark had never felt the need to disabuse him of the notion. Bruce usually left the receiver off for hours a time, saying he couldn't focus with the distraction in his ear. For Clark, accustomed to filtering out a constant barrage of sound from his super-hearing, it was no distraction at all. Quite the contrary.
It wasn't as easy to turn off the microphone, but Clark was sure Bruce had figured out how to do it. Yet he never did, letting Clark listen to his voice, his surroundings, his life without interruption. A gift beyond measure, although Clark had never told Bruce so.
For almost two years now, the low, constant sussuration of Bruce's breath, the almost subsonic sound of his heartbeat, had been Clark's constant companion, the rhythm by which his life danced.
He needed no other music.
Lunchtime came, and Clark shared sub sandwiches with Lois, Richard, and Jimmy. Jimmy's woeful love life was the topic of conversation of the day: Lois seemed unable to resist fixing Jimmy up with potential dates, with comically tragic results. As usual, Clark took the opportunity to check on Jason, who was wildly into his Cub Scout activities this month.
"He's crazy about this Palmwood Derby thing," said Lois around a mouthful of sandwich.
"The Pinewood Derby?" Clark could feel his face light up. "I did that as a Cub Scout."
"Building a car from a block of wood, crazy stuff," Lois said. "But he and Richard are having a lot of fun working on it together."
"I wish he'd ask me for help," said a voice in Clark's ear. "We would totally crush the competition."
Clark stifled a laugh at the image of Bruce crouched over a pine block, brow furrowed with concentration, and focused on the conversation at hand. "My Pa and I spent hours every year working on mine. Happy memories."
His voice must have sounded wistful, because Richard clapped him on the back. "Would you like to come to the Derby and cheer him on? It's in a couple of weeks."
"I'd like that." Clark shoved his glasses up on his nose. He was probably grinning like an idiot. That was okay. "That'd be great."
In the afternoon, a detour to deal with a couple of emergencies--an earthquake in Indonesia, a break-in at the Metropolis hospital--meant Clark had to work late, which meant he couldn't make it to the fundraiser of the night. He didn't feel too badly about that as he listened to Bruce fuss and gripe about wearing another monkey suit.
"But you're such a handsome monkey, sir," said Alfred's voice.
"A real alpha male," muttered Clark under his breath, making Bruce snort and mumble something about showing Clark who was alpha later.
Lois dropped a cup of coffee on his desk. "Stop talking to yourself and focus, Smallville."
"Right, right," he muttered, as Lois sat down at her own desk and started typing at a breakneck pace.
There was a small throat-clearing behind Clark and he turned to find Jason standing there, a shy smile on his face. "Hi Clark," the boy said. "I was wondering..."
"Oh, sure," said Clark, digging in his desk and coming up with his superhero action figures. Jason ran off with them to Perry's office, making whooshing noises.
The sound of the party was an echo in his ears, the clink of china and laughter of socialites a counterpoint to his story about Suicide Slum. Bruce's light, pleasant baritone was the music that kept him working, kept his fingers moving on the keys.
Bruce started slurring his words early; under the blurry syllables Clark could hear his impatience to be out on patrol. "Just need some fresh air... I'll walk to my penthouse and crash there, thanks." Cordial goodbyes, the rustle of a muffler going around Bruce's neck, and the noise of the party fell away.
Jason ran by behind Clark's desk as Lois absently reprimanded him, his footsteps mirrored by the sound of Bruce's wingtips on cobblestones, far away. Bruce was humming, some meaningless love song, his voice like velvet along Clark's nerves.
And then Bruce suddenly took a sharp breath. "You!" he said, and Clark could hear his voice snapping into clarity.
"Yes, Bruce," said a cultured, calm voice. Clark's hands hovered on the keyboard, uncertain, his eyes fixed on nothing as he listened.
"But you're--"
"Oh, far from it." There was a sudden sound of a scuffle, a large one although Clark had only heard the one voice. A thud, then a silence, broken by Bruce's hoarse, labored breathing. "Your form continues to improve. But you're still only one man."
"Clark?" said Lois, behind him, far away. "Are you all right?"
Clark hesitated, his every instinct screaming that he should hurry there. But Superman couldn't just come sailing to the rescue of Bruce Wayne out of nowhere. They'd discussed this. They stayed out of each other's business unless--
"My Lord, he's got some kind of transmitter on him," said a heavily-accented voice.
"Does he now?" The man sounded mildly curious. "Where is it?"
The second man's voice grew louder, as if he were closer. There was a hum of electronics. "Implanted under the skin, just above his ear, sir."
"Very well then," said the first voice. It sounded faintly regretful. "I'm afraid you leave me no choice, Bruce, as we are rushed for time."
And then there was a horrible crunching noise, a world-ending cacophony in Clark's ear, deafening.
The line went dead. Silence filled Clark's ears like howling. Silence.
He was vaguely aware of Lois's concern as he doubled over, mumbling about being sick, fleeing to the bathroom and then to the open air, cape swirling.
Silence.
He couldn't pick out Bruce's heartbeat--so familiar, more familiar than his own--from among the chaos of Gotham. The alleys were empty. Gone. There was nothing in his ears but silence.
Nothing but silence.
Pairing/Characters: Clark/Bruce
Notes: "Music of the Spheres" is a series set in the combined universes of "Batman Begins" and "Superman Returns." Other stories and notes on the series here.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: It's an ordinary day for Clark and Bruce, until it isn't anymore.
Word Count: 1400
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)
Clark woke up with the sound of Bruce's breathing a soft murmur in his ear. He rolled over in his empty bed, smiling to himself, listening. The pitch and rhythm of Bruce's respiration meant he was sleeping, and sleeping well. Clark knew the difference in sound between restful sleep and shallow doze, knew all too well what it meant when Bruce's breathing hitched in his sleep, caught in the ragged cadences of nightmare. At those times he tried to resist flying there in an eyeblink to be at his lover's side, to smooth the hair back from his forehead and kiss him, or just to watch over him for a little while.
Usually he succeeded.
Clark was dressed and on his way out the door when he heard Alfred enter the room, heard the curtains slither open. Far away, Bruce groaned and Clark smiled.
"Some breakfast, sir?"
Bruce's voice mumbled something that sounded like "Mphgrrph."
"You're welcome, sir." There was a clink of china and glass, then footsteps leaving the room.
As he got on the bus that would take him to work, Clark heard Bruce take a long swallow of coffee. A pause. A long, slow exhalation. "Good morning," said Bruce's voice, still a bit blurry with sleep. "Sounds like you're on the way in already. Have a good day at work."
By the time Clark was sitting down at his desk and starting to look at the morning's work Bruce was working out, his breathing increasingly staccato and sharp in Clark's ear. It was always uncomfortably similar to the sound when Bruce was aroused, and Clark usually had to spend this time every morning concentrating very hard indeed on his paperwork. It was worse those times Bruce decided to throw in some descriptions of what he was looking forward to doing to Clark later, his voice hoarse and panting. Those mornings had an unfortunate tendency to end with Clark making an abrupt visit to the men's room while Bruce's voice growled and shivered along his ear canal, reaching down his spine.
This morning Bruce was all business, and Clark was relieved. Mostly.
He had jokingly complained to Bruce about it, and Bruce had reminded him that he was welcome to turn off the receiver and get some peace. He seemed to assume Clark did it off now and then, and Clark had never felt the need to disabuse him of the notion. Bruce usually left the receiver off for hours a time, saying he couldn't focus with the distraction in his ear. For Clark, accustomed to filtering out a constant barrage of sound from his super-hearing, it was no distraction at all. Quite the contrary.
It wasn't as easy to turn off the microphone, but Clark was sure Bruce had figured out how to do it. Yet he never did, letting Clark listen to his voice, his surroundings, his life without interruption. A gift beyond measure, although Clark had never told Bruce so.
For almost two years now, the low, constant sussuration of Bruce's breath, the almost subsonic sound of his heartbeat, had been Clark's constant companion, the rhythm by which his life danced.
He needed no other music.
Lunchtime came, and Clark shared sub sandwiches with Lois, Richard, and Jimmy. Jimmy's woeful love life was the topic of conversation of the day: Lois seemed unable to resist fixing Jimmy up with potential dates, with comically tragic results. As usual, Clark took the opportunity to check on Jason, who was wildly into his Cub Scout activities this month.
"He's crazy about this Palmwood Derby thing," said Lois around a mouthful of sandwich.
"The Pinewood Derby?" Clark could feel his face light up. "I did that as a Cub Scout."
"Building a car from a block of wood, crazy stuff," Lois said. "But he and Richard are having a lot of fun working on it together."
"I wish he'd ask me for help," said a voice in Clark's ear. "We would totally crush the competition."
Clark stifled a laugh at the image of Bruce crouched over a pine block, brow furrowed with concentration, and focused on the conversation at hand. "My Pa and I spent hours every year working on mine. Happy memories."
His voice must have sounded wistful, because Richard clapped him on the back. "Would you like to come to the Derby and cheer him on? It's in a couple of weeks."
"I'd like that." Clark shoved his glasses up on his nose. He was probably grinning like an idiot. That was okay. "That'd be great."
In the afternoon, a detour to deal with a couple of emergencies--an earthquake in Indonesia, a break-in at the Metropolis hospital--meant Clark had to work late, which meant he couldn't make it to the fundraiser of the night. He didn't feel too badly about that as he listened to Bruce fuss and gripe about wearing another monkey suit.
"But you're such a handsome monkey, sir," said Alfred's voice.
"A real alpha male," muttered Clark under his breath, making Bruce snort and mumble something about showing Clark who was alpha later.
Lois dropped a cup of coffee on his desk. "Stop talking to yourself and focus, Smallville."
"Right, right," he muttered, as Lois sat down at her own desk and started typing at a breakneck pace.
There was a small throat-clearing behind Clark and he turned to find Jason standing there, a shy smile on his face. "Hi Clark," the boy said. "I was wondering..."
"Oh, sure," said Clark, digging in his desk and coming up with his superhero action figures. Jason ran off with them to Perry's office, making whooshing noises.
The sound of the party was an echo in his ears, the clink of china and laughter of socialites a counterpoint to his story about Suicide Slum. Bruce's light, pleasant baritone was the music that kept him working, kept his fingers moving on the keys.
Bruce started slurring his words early; under the blurry syllables Clark could hear his impatience to be out on patrol. "Just need some fresh air... I'll walk to my penthouse and crash there, thanks." Cordial goodbyes, the rustle of a muffler going around Bruce's neck, and the noise of the party fell away.
Jason ran by behind Clark's desk as Lois absently reprimanded him, his footsteps mirrored by the sound of Bruce's wingtips on cobblestones, far away. Bruce was humming, some meaningless love song, his voice like velvet along Clark's nerves.
And then Bruce suddenly took a sharp breath. "You!" he said, and Clark could hear his voice snapping into clarity.
"Yes, Bruce," said a cultured, calm voice. Clark's hands hovered on the keyboard, uncertain, his eyes fixed on nothing as he listened.
"But you're--"
"Oh, far from it." There was a sudden sound of a scuffle, a large one although Clark had only heard the one voice. A thud, then a silence, broken by Bruce's hoarse, labored breathing. "Your form continues to improve. But you're still only one man."
"Clark?" said Lois, behind him, far away. "Are you all right?"
Clark hesitated, his every instinct screaming that he should hurry there. But Superman couldn't just come sailing to the rescue of Bruce Wayne out of nowhere. They'd discussed this. They stayed out of each other's business unless--
"My Lord, he's got some kind of transmitter on him," said a heavily-accented voice.
"Does he now?" The man sounded mildly curious. "Where is it?"
The second man's voice grew louder, as if he were closer. There was a hum of electronics. "Implanted under the skin, just above his ear, sir."
"Very well then," said the first voice. It sounded faintly regretful. "I'm afraid you leave me no choice, Bruce, as we are rushed for time."
And then there was a horrible crunching noise, a world-ending cacophony in Clark's ear, deafening.
The line went dead. Silence filled Clark's ears like howling. Silence.
He was vaguely aware of Lois's concern as he doubled over, mumbling about being sick, fleeing to the bathroom and then to the open air, cape swirling.
Silence.
He couldn't pick out Bruce's heartbeat--so familiar, more familiar than his own--from among the chaos of Gotham. The alleys were empty. Gone. There was nothing in his ears but silence.
Nothing but silence.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:03 pm (UTC)*whistles innocently*
I've finished everything but the epilogue of this one, so I promise it won't be a long wait, although I make no promises about Bruce's condition (well, he's not dead, I'll promise that!) I hope you enjoy! *nibbles fingers*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 02:56 pm (UTC)Damn you, cliffhanger! *shakes fist*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:00 pm (UTC)"But you're such a handsome monkey, sir," said Alfred's voice.
ROFL! I love this line. It's wonderfully snarky. :D
I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:08 pm (UTC)Movieverse Alfred is wonderful for never taking Bruce very seriously. :) He's so distinctive and interesting and fun to write. :) I'm not always sure I've done him justice, so thank you!
I do have a lot of fun with the music metaphors...it's rare I pick a title without a musical theme, actually. It's a sort of challenge to have a running metaphor and find different ways to play on it...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:15 pm (UTC)More soon, I promise! I'm unlikely to go too long without updating this one, I've been writing it for too long in my head to not want it out there. :) I hope you like it!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 03:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:05 pm (UTC)Um, forgot this was just a story for a minute. Please, take that as a compliment and also as a not-so-subtle plea for more!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 04:04 am (UTC)*beams* Thanks, that's quite a compliment! And I promise it won't be long to the next update...I'm hoping to have another part up before my mother-in-law arrives on Friday...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:11 pm (UTC)Poor Clark! I share his frantic worry, even though I know you wouldn't be too evil to Bruce. *crosses fingers*
I'm guessing from the description that it's Ra's that's abducted him but whoever it is, they're evil!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 04:06 am (UTC)(It is indeed Ra's! Back to talk some sense into his stubborn pupil by any means necessary...)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:40 pm (UTC)I enjoyed the subliminal presence of Bruce in Clark's life, and how reassuring that was for him. And true that he filters out so much that having Bruce there wouldn't cause him to lose focus at all.
Ouch! at the way the transmitter was broken. :(
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:09 am (UTC)If anyone could handle having someone in their ear at all times, it would be Clark. :) The man has a lot of distractions!
And yeah at the ouch. :( That moment was definitely one of the spurs that got the series started in my head...
I'm glad you liked the beginning!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:46 pm (UTC)Also, how sweet is it that Bruce has the transmitter planted under his skin and never turns it off? It's such a movie-Bruce move to make... Clingy like whoah, in a totally adorable way.
I second the grin at the thought of Bruce and Jason and the best pine block ever. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:10 am (UTC)Also, how sweet is it that Bruce has the transmitter planted under his skin and never turns it off? It's such a movie-Bruce move to make... Clingy like whoah, in a totally adorable way.
This version of the boys is...very clingy, both of them. Not always the healthiest, I don't think, but very connected, which I find soothing to write sometimes. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 04:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 05:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:18 am (UTC)I re-watched the Ra's scenes to get ready for this arc and I agree, he's a fascinating villain, and very much like Bruce. They have an odd father-son dynamic in the movie that's fun to play with...
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 05:35 pm (UTC)I can't quite decide what to end up on, so I think it's gonna be some tossed salad of all three.
*flails and wants the next part. now.*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:20 am (UTC)And that's the evillest kind! *nods* I'm hoping/planning to have the next update before the weekend, if all goes well and I can get the house clean enough for my mother-in-law... *crosses fingers*
Thank you for the enthusiastic encouragement!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 08:13 pm (UTC)Love the series very much.
Neyla
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:24 am (UTC)All will be well eventually, but maybe not for a bit... o_o
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 10:07 pm (UTC)This was good, i can't wait to see how it continues. I feel so anxious for Bruce, great job!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 10:42 pm (UTC)Oh, man, oh man, oh man, oh man, I mean, by now, I trust you as an author to not have this end in the worst possible way, but still. Oh, noes!!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 10:30 am (UTC)Ho ho ho...I have tricked people into trusting me and later it will come out that Bruce is actually dead already and Clark is too late...
Uh, no. I wouldn't do that, I promise. Though it might take a bit to get them back in the same place!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 10:50 pm (UTC)I saw your post this morning but had to leave for work. I've been so desperate to read it all day, and now I'm desperate all over again!
Wow. Way to turn things around. I was feeling so happy and comfortable and then...*sigh*
Poor Clark.
Can't wait for more. As always.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:36 pm (UTC)Um...sorry? Sort of? One needs the hurt to make the comfort sweeter and all that. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 11:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-13 11:23 pm (UTC)But if it is mostly written, then you should be able to post the next bit soon, right? So we won't be hanging here for long, RIGHT?!?
Good to see a new story by you, but damn, what a place to leave off.
*bites nails waiting for the next bit*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:40 pm (UTC)Well, the next update will be up soonish. Unnnnnfortunately I've realized it has no particular information about Bruce in it, so... o_o Sorry? There will be info soon though!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 03:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 03:20 am (UTC)I really love the mundane touches in this series, like the way Clark listens to Lois try to set Jimmy up over lunch or Bruce's morning banter with Alfred.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:52 pm (UTC)Um...more or less? (But we won't see him for a couple more chapters, alas!)
Hee, the idea of Lois constantly playing matchmaker for Jimmy cracked me up somehow. I wonder if there's a movieverse Lucy Lane she could try to hook him up with? :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 05:07 am (UTC)What happen! I hope Bruce would be okay.
*sits on the edge of her chair*
Anyway, it's so adorable that they always shared thier life together all the time like this. :)
Looking forward to the next part!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 02:54 pm (UTC)This version of Clark and Bruce are my "dysfunction can be surprisingly adorable" couple. :)
Bruce will be okay...eventually. Probably. *looks innocent*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 08:14 am (UTC)So glad to see the start of a new story. Did Ducard figure out that Clark is Superman? Otherwise, how/why did he hide Bruce's heartbeat?
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-15 03:06 am (UTC)Both of them are...it's less detectable that way and harder to lose, unless someone does something drastic.
The hearing issue is a pain when writing kidnap stories, lol. But canonically Superman can't pick out one heartbeat among millions...otherwise he'd be able to find Lois immediately in the movie when she's on Luthor's ship. For that matter, Luthor would be able to get away with very little indeed...and there'd be almost no stories one could tell. So...no, he can't pick out his heartbeat among too much noise or chaos.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 08:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-15 03:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 04:35 pm (UTC)The beginning of this chapter brought me smile and some thoughts about how hot can my lovely boys be. :)
The middle part with Lois, Richard and Jason was still so calm with some smiles and funny moments.
"But you're such a handsome monkey, sir," said Alfred's voice.
"A real alpha male," muttered Clark under his breath, making Bruce snort and mumble something about showing Clark who was alpha later. *GRINS*
But the ending! Such a terrible cliffhanger! OMG, I stopped breathing for a moment. OK, I calmed down, reading other comments and finding out you promised not killing Bruce. Still! Clark wasn’t be able to hear his heartbeat. I don’t like this at all. What happens?!
I loved this chapter and I can’t wait to read more!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-15 03:13 am (UTC)*grin* It's one of those cases where of course I knew he wasn't dead, but I had kind of forgotten than having Clark not hear his heartbeat and then ending would most certainly imply something different and much worse. @_@ My bad! Though I'm kind of glad it worked to get across Clark's panic! And he's not in the next chapter either, so...poor Clark. :(
I really enjoyed writing this arc, I hope you enjoy reading it! *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-14 04:52 pm (UTC)*flails*
*panics*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-15 04:49 am (UTC)Bruce will be heard from, uh, eventually! Yes! And he'll be fine, I'm sure! :D