Fic: 36 Views of Mt. Fuji: Fall (4/9)
Title: 36 Views of Mt. Fuji: Fall (4/9)
Pairing: Clark/Bruce
Disclaimer: The boys belong to DC and to each other, but not to me.
Series Notes: 36 Views of Mt. Fuji is a series set early in Batman and Superman's careers, shortly after the S/B annual #1. The full series can be found here.
Rating: R for violence
Summary: Batman hunts down Kyodai Ken to save Superman's soul.
Word Count: 1300
Now to meet only in dreams,
Bitterly seeking,
Starting from sleep,
Groping in the dark
With hands that touch nothing.
--Yakamochi
Batman stepped into the mouth of the cave that led into the maze-like warren of passages within Mount Kajiike. He moved cautiously into the darkness, flicking the infra-red lenses over his eyes so he could make his way into the blackness. All around him he could hear the mutterings of the volcano, and a breeze heavy with brimstone wafted past him.
As he made his way into the heart of the mountain, the darkness became absolute. Even with the lenses it became difficult to make out the way, and he ran one hand over the wall as he walked to keep his bearings.
When he came to the first fork in the tunnel, he halted, irresolute. No sound, no light gave him a hint of which way to go. For a moment he felt despair as crushing as the weight of the mountain around him: this was a fool's errand, he was wasting what could be the last hours of Clark's life wandering aimlessly around in the darkness, alone.
It seemed terribly fitting.
Then he thrust the bleakness from him. He was already here on a mad whim, what did he have to lose by indulging it completely? He squared his shoulders, closed his eyes, and focused on the memory of Clark in the sunlight, smiling, scarlet leaves framing his face. The memory of how he felt when Clark reached out to take his hand openly, in front of everyone.
This way.
He opened his eyes and went left without thinking further.
At the next junction he remembered Clark playing video games in Shinjuku, his laughter ringing out over the electronic sounds all around them. How it had felt to relax and play, how it had felt to realize this man could perhaps be a friend.
This way.
At the next he called up Clark in his silly ill-fitting Superman costume at the cafe, the way he had fallen into Bruce's arms as into deep water, the feel of his body under Bruce's hands. He remembered afresh the shock of impossible joy that Clark could want him too, that they could want each other.
There were thirty-six forks.
Thirty-six views of Clark.
Thirty-six views of Bruce's heart.
Shortly after the last turn, the darkness gave way, ever so slightly, to a faint and flickering red. Batman made his way toward it silently, and as he did the sound of a human voice became audible over the rumbling of the volcano. Kyodai Ken was speaking.
< You make an excellent argument, > the ninja said slowly. < Yes. It's an option to consider. You would help? > A pause as if he were listening to an answer, but Batman heard no other voice. < Yes, even that. Do not think to doubt my resolve! > Kyodai's voice sharpened for a second, then went back to its former musing tone. < I see. I understand. >
Staying to the thick shadows, Bruce edged forward and found that the corridor widened into a vast room. Sitting on a rock in the center of the room was Kyodai, unmasked, cradling Soultaker gently in his hands. The flickering red light came from the sword, a sluggish, almost sullen crimson that lit Kyodai's face from below and made him look even more saturnine.
As Batman slid through the shadows, trying to get the best position for an attack, Kyodai looked up sharply. "Eh?" He leapt to his feet, brandishing the katana, which dripped scarlet light like blood. "I hear you," he said harshly. "My sword hears you. Show yourself, or do you skulk in shadows like a ninja now?"
The element of surprise lost, Batman stepped forward, gauging Kyodai's stance, the wild look in the other man's eyes. "It's not your sword," he said.
A wild laugh. "This sword serves only the strong, and I have mastered it!"
"Really?" Batman's voice was cool. "I suspect it has mastered you, Kyodai."
A muscle twitched at the corner of the ninja's eye. "Better than being mastered by some alien, better than submitting to sentiment and lust." Kyodai growled low in his throat. "You were always weak, rich man's son. First Matsunaga, then the reporter--how many must I take from you before you understand how weak you are?" His sword-arm twitched as if he could barely restrain himself.
Bruce set his feet solidly against the mountain beneath him. The quick smile of youth, the wisdom of age, the brightness of loving eyes flashed through his mind. "Love doesn't make me weak, Kyodai. It never could."
The ninja gave an inarticulate yell of rage and madness and rushed Batman, sword raised high. The ninja fought with frenzy, filled with bloodlust, his actions difficult to predict. Bruce scrambled over stones, his footing uncertain in the wavering light--blocking, shifting, weaving, keeping his eyes on the sword. A rock turned under his foot and he went heavily to one knee; Kyodai leapt forward with a shout of triumph, the blade raised high.
Leaving himself open in his glee.
Batman shifted his weight and lashed out with a boot, connecting solidly with the ninja's wrist, sending the katana spinning into the air.
In a long, frozen moment, the two of them struggled to get under the katana and catch it from the air. Bruce's rolling leap was ever so slightly faster, more focused.
His fingers closed over the hilt.
At his touch, a burst of dazzling blue-white light erupted from the sword, pure and blinding. Kyodai staggered backwards away from it, an arm flung over his face. Bruce sensed his motions only dimly, awash in shattering radiance.
He felt Clark's soul in the sword, felt Clark's soul kindle in the palm of his hand.
For a timeless instant, he touched Clark's spirit directly. Felt Clark's love for him--it was impossible to call it anything but love, pure and true and passionate. He was bathed in light, in love, and his own soul sang out to meet its mate, unable to hide anything, unable...
Bruce? Clark's voice in his mind was puzzled and then joyous. Bruce! Fidelity and devotion like incandescence, burning without pain. No pain, no doubt, nothing but love.
Nothing but love.
Bruce struggled to return his mind to the cavern, where Kyodai would be waiting for him...the light dimmed slightly and Bruce saw Kyodai still in mid-tumble away from him. The brightness was still in Bruce's eyes, making them stream with tears, and he dropped into a defensive stance as Kyodai came up, snarling, and launched himself at Batman.
The katana was quicksilver-light in his hands, slapping away the ninja's attacks almost casually, and Kyodai came to a halt, panting in thwarted fury.
Batman leveled the sword at him, trailing light like veils. "Tell me how to return his soul!" he barked. Kyodai paused and Batman advanced a step. "Tell me!"
Kyodai's smile was edged in silver light, venomous. "Only the one who delivered the blow can command Soultaker to release a soul. And I will not."
"You're beaten, Kyodai. There's no way out."
"There is always a way out for a ninja."
"You will do it." The sword flared up briefly and subsided again, warm and consoling in Bruce's hand, filling him with trust and hope.
The ninja chuckled low in his throat. "Is there finally something the rich man's son cannot buy?" He crouched, swaying, testing Batman's reach. "Something beyond his reach? Something I have the power to keep from him forever?" At the last word he flung himself forward, hands raised to strike a blow at Batman's side.
When Bruce moved the sword to block him, the ninja opened his stance and impaled himself on Soultaker.
As Batman tried to step back, the ninja reached out to grab the sword and push it deeper into his own body. He inched closer, making his way up the blade until he was close enough to touch Batman.
Kyodai Ken spat blood and hatred in Bruce's face and died smiling.
And the dazzling light of the sword went out, leaving Bruce alone in the dark.
Pairing: Clark/Bruce
Disclaimer: The boys belong to DC and to each other, but not to me.
Series Notes: 36 Views of Mt. Fuji is a series set early in Batman and Superman's careers, shortly after the S/B annual #1. The full series can be found here.
Rating: R for violence
Summary: Batman hunts down Kyodai Ken to save Superman's soul.
Word Count: 1300
Now to meet only in dreams,
Bitterly seeking,
Starting from sleep,
Groping in the dark
With hands that touch nothing.
--Yakamochi
Batman stepped into the mouth of the cave that led into the maze-like warren of passages within Mount Kajiike. He moved cautiously into the darkness, flicking the infra-red lenses over his eyes so he could make his way into the blackness. All around him he could hear the mutterings of the volcano, and a breeze heavy with brimstone wafted past him.
As he made his way into the heart of the mountain, the darkness became absolute. Even with the lenses it became difficult to make out the way, and he ran one hand over the wall as he walked to keep his bearings.
When he came to the first fork in the tunnel, he halted, irresolute. No sound, no light gave him a hint of which way to go. For a moment he felt despair as crushing as the weight of the mountain around him: this was a fool's errand, he was wasting what could be the last hours of Clark's life wandering aimlessly around in the darkness, alone.
It seemed terribly fitting.
Then he thrust the bleakness from him. He was already here on a mad whim, what did he have to lose by indulging it completely? He squared his shoulders, closed his eyes, and focused on the memory of Clark in the sunlight, smiling, scarlet leaves framing his face. The memory of how he felt when Clark reached out to take his hand openly, in front of everyone.
This way.
He opened his eyes and went left without thinking further.
At the next junction he remembered Clark playing video games in Shinjuku, his laughter ringing out over the electronic sounds all around them. How it had felt to relax and play, how it had felt to realize this man could perhaps be a friend.
This way.
At the next he called up Clark in his silly ill-fitting Superman costume at the cafe, the way he had fallen into Bruce's arms as into deep water, the feel of his body under Bruce's hands. He remembered afresh the shock of impossible joy that Clark could want him too, that they could want each other.
There were thirty-six forks.
Thirty-six views of Clark.
Thirty-six views of Bruce's heart.
Shortly after the last turn, the darkness gave way, ever so slightly, to a faint and flickering red. Batman made his way toward it silently, and as he did the sound of a human voice became audible over the rumbling of the volcano. Kyodai Ken was speaking.
< You make an excellent argument, > the ninja said slowly. < Yes. It's an option to consider. You would help? > A pause as if he were listening to an answer, but Batman heard no other voice. < Yes, even that. Do not think to doubt my resolve! > Kyodai's voice sharpened for a second, then went back to its former musing tone. < I see. I understand. >
Staying to the thick shadows, Bruce edged forward and found that the corridor widened into a vast room. Sitting on a rock in the center of the room was Kyodai, unmasked, cradling Soultaker gently in his hands. The flickering red light came from the sword, a sluggish, almost sullen crimson that lit Kyodai's face from below and made him look even more saturnine.
As Batman slid through the shadows, trying to get the best position for an attack, Kyodai looked up sharply. "Eh?" He leapt to his feet, brandishing the katana, which dripped scarlet light like blood. "I hear you," he said harshly. "My sword hears you. Show yourself, or do you skulk in shadows like a ninja now?"
The element of surprise lost, Batman stepped forward, gauging Kyodai's stance, the wild look in the other man's eyes. "It's not your sword," he said.
A wild laugh. "This sword serves only the strong, and I have mastered it!"
"Really?" Batman's voice was cool. "I suspect it has mastered you, Kyodai."
A muscle twitched at the corner of the ninja's eye. "Better than being mastered by some alien, better than submitting to sentiment and lust." Kyodai growled low in his throat. "You were always weak, rich man's son. First Matsunaga, then the reporter--how many must I take from you before you understand how weak you are?" His sword-arm twitched as if he could barely restrain himself.
Bruce set his feet solidly against the mountain beneath him. The quick smile of youth, the wisdom of age, the brightness of loving eyes flashed through his mind. "Love doesn't make me weak, Kyodai. It never could."
The ninja gave an inarticulate yell of rage and madness and rushed Batman, sword raised high. The ninja fought with frenzy, filled with bloodlust, his actions difficult to predict. Bruce scrambled over stones, his footing uncertain in the wavering light--blocking, shifting, weaving, keeping his eyes on the sword. A rock turned under his foot and he went heavily to one knee; Kyodai leapt forward with a shout of triumph, the blade raised high.
Leaving himself open in his glee.
Batman shifted his weight and lashed out with a boot, connecting solidly with the ninja's wrist, sending the katana spinning into the air.
In a long, frozen moment, the two of them struggled to get under the katana and catch it from the air. Bruce's rolling leap was ever so slightly faster, more focused.
His fingers closed over the hilt.
At his touch, a burst of dazzling blue-white light erupted from the sword, pure and blinding. Kyodai staggered backwards away from it, an arm flung over his face. Bruce sensed his motions only dimly, awash in shattering radiance.
He felt Clark's soul in the sword, felt Clark's soul kindle in the palm of his hand.
For a timeless instant, he touched Clark's spirit directly. Felt Clark's love for him--it was impossible to call it anything but love, pure and true and passionate. He was bathed in light, in love, and his own soul sang out to meet its mate, unable to hide anything, unable...
Bruce? Clark's voice in his mind was puzzled and then joyous. Bruce! Fidelity and devotion like incandescence, burning without pain. No pain, no doubt, nothing but love.
Nothing but love.
Bruce struggled to return his mind to the cavern, where Kyodai would be waiting for him...the light dimmed slightly and Bruce saw Kyodai still in mid-tumble away from him. The brightness was still in Bruce's eyes, making them stream with tears, and he dropped into a defensive stance as Kyodai came up, snarling, and launched himself at Batman.
The katana was quicksilver-light in his hands, slapping away the ninja's attacks almost casually, and Kyodai came to a halt, panting in thwarted fury.
Batman leveled the sword at him, trailing light like veils. "Tell me how to return his soul!" he barked. Kyodai paused and Batman advanced a step. "Tell me!"
Kyodai's smile was edged in silver light, venomous. "Only the one who delivered the blow can command Soultaker to release a soul. And I will not."
"You're beaten, Kyodai. There's no way out."
"There is always a way out for a ninja."
"You will do it." The sword flared up briefly and subsided again, warm and consoling in Bruce's hand, filling him with trust and hope.
The ninja chuckled low in his throat. "Is there finally something the rich man's son cannot buy?" He crouched, swaying, testing Batman's reach. "Something beyond his reach? Something I have the power to keep from him forever?" At the last word he flung himself forward, hands raised to strike a blow at Batman's side.
When Bruce moved the sword to block him, the ninja opened his stance and impaled himself on Soultaker.
As Batman tried to step back, the ninja reached out to grab the sword and push it deeper into his own body. He inched closer, making his way up the blade until he was close enough to touch Batman.
Kyodai Ken spat blood and hatred in Bruce's face and died smiling.
And the dazzling light of the sword went out, leaving Bruce alone in the dark.