Fic: The More Things Change
Fandom: Timmverse (Batman Beyond to be specific)
Rating: PG
Pairings: Bruce/Clark
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: “Please Bruce it will be just like old times you said.”
The More Things Change
The tunnel was cramped as they sped through it; several robots hot on their trail. They flew around a sharp corner as one fired. The laser missed them by inches and hit part of the cave wall; that quickly broke off and crashed to the floor. Bruce Wayne sighed; there went the last of his hearing.
“It will be fun you said. Please Bruce it will be just like old times you said.”
“Well this is certainly like old times isn’t it?”
Bruce glared at Superman.
“If I still had my cane I’d hit you right now.”
“Just hang on.”
Not that hard to do Bruce thought, glancing down to where Superman’s arms were firmly wrapped around his chest.
The robots fired again. This time the lasers skimmed the edge of his shoe. Okay enough was enough. Pulling an item from his pocket Bruce flicked his wrist so the batarang unfolded fully and threw it behind him. It didn’t go as far as it use to and bounced off the armour instead of sticking in, but it exploded just as well as anything had thrown in his thirties and that was good enough. Two down four to go.
“You keep those around just for kicks?”
“The kid is good I’ll admit that, but I’m not about to go around completely unprotected, especially with you.”
“Still the paranoid caped crusader.”
“Shut up and fly, Kent.”
Superman just nodded and began scanning the walls with his x-ray vision looking for an escape.
“I see an opening through this wall. There’s a deep pond in it. I can get through and we can hide in there, keep your head down and take a deep breath.”
Bruce frowned, Clark’s description didn’t make any sense. They were far outside of Gotham, and any neighbouring cities for that matter, in fact if he calculated right he and Terry had been here not that long ago. There shouldn’t be any water down here and if it wasn’t water that meant-
“Clark, no!”
Too late he blasted through the wall and plunged head first into the murky waters. The instant they hit it Bruce knew his hunch was right, it was bright green. He was going to kill Superman for this, if he didn’t die first that is. Having shouted instead of breathing in it wasn’t long before Bruce felt his lungs begin to burn with the need for oxygen. He looked up where the robots were circling above waiting for them to surface. Well there was a fine set of choices, die drowning or be blasted to death. Thankfully Superman quickly provided a third option as he swam over and pressed his lips to Bruce’s and Bruce felt fresh air being pushed into his lungs.
He pointed towards a tunnel that appeared to connect the pool to another. They swam towards it and with every stroke Bruce found it became easier to propel himself through the substance, all too soon chronic aches began to fade, and he could begin to hear a strong heartbeat pounding in his ears.
They broke the surface of the pit Bruce, aware of what had happened to them, was still shocked at how easy it was to pull himself out and onto dry land. Running his hand through hair that was thick and black again and not the thinning mass of white he had gotten so use to, he concentrated hard trying to make sure his mental facilities were still intact. Two plus two still equalled four, Terry was still Batman, and Superman was still a moron.
Sitting up properly now Bruce looked over to the man of steel. His hair was back to the darkest shade of black it had been when he was young, stupid flopping curl and all; his chest and arms now bulging in a uniform that had been designed to fit a man with far less muscle
“Over fifty years, Clark, and you still can’t learn one simple thing.”
“What’s that?”
“That bashing through a wall and making a plan,” he moved closer to Clark’s ear, “are not the same thing!” he yelled.
“Hey, super-sensitive hearing over here.”
“Good, maybe it will sink in this time.”
He turned away from Superman and started irritably ringing out green liquid from his clothes.
“You look good, Bruce.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.”
Clark sighed and stood up and the uniform stretched further at the seams. He smiled in amusement.
“Guess I’ll have to dig out the old one.”
“It looked better on you. You know I’ve always hated this suit.”
“What you don’t find dashing?”
“No, it makes you look too much like your Justice Lord counterpart.”
Clark glanced down at the black and white suit.
“Point taken.”
“Now since you got us into this mess would you mind telling me how I'm supposed to explain this to my stockholders?”
“That you’re going to take back full control of Wayne Enterprises immediately and kicking that pompous Pryce and others out of your company?”
Bruce smirked cracking his knuckles. “Besides that.”
“You know you could always wear a mask of your older self and pretend to still be a bitter old grouch, and then you’d only be lying about one of those traits.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea, Clark, I’m impressed. There might be a brain in that handsome head of yours after all.”
“Thanks I think.”
“And what do you plan to do? I doubt the Daily Planet is just going to look the other way if Clark Kent comes into the office looking like he did on his first day of work.”
“Actually the Planet has a decent retirement package. I’ve been thinking its time to change careers. I hear there’s this old recluse living in a run down manor in Gotham who could use some company.”
“Can you still cook?”
“I can manage not to burn stuff.”
“You’re hired.”
Now that both of them were at least partially dry they began to walk down a tunnel that Clark said would lead them back above ground. Meanwhile Bruce remained on alert in case their pursuers found them again.
“You know those lasers were far too close. You’re getting slow in your old age.”
“Don’t you have a high ceiling to go hang from?” Clark asked, as one arm wrap around Bruce’s shoulder. “I’ve missed you, Bruce.”
“I’ve missed you too you big idiot. Now let’s go home.”
The End
Rating: PG
Pairings: Bruce/Clark
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: “Please Bruce it will be just like old times you said.”
The More Things Change
The tunnel was cramped as they sped through it; several robots hot on their trail. They flew around a sharp corner as one fired. The laser missed them by inches and hit part of the cave wall; that quickly broke off and crashed to the floor. Bruce Wayne sighed; there went the last of his hearing.
“It will be fun you said. Please Bruce it will be just like old times you said.”
“Well this is certainly like old times isn’t it?”
Bruce glared at Superman.
“If I still had my cane I’d hit you right now.”
“Just hang on.”
Not that hard to do Bruce thought, glancing down to where Superman’s arms were firmly wrapped around his chest.
The robots fired again. This time the lasers skimmed the edge of his shoe. Okay enough was enough. Pulling an item from his pocket Bruce flicked his wrist so the batarang unfolded fully and threw it behind him. It didn’t go as far as it use to and bounced off the armour instead of sticking in, but it exploded just as well as anything had thrown in his thirties and that was good enough. Two down four to go.
“You keep those around just for kicks?”
“The kid is good I’ll admit that, but I’m not about to go around completely unprotected, especially with you.”
“Still the paranoid caped crusader.”
“Shut up and fly, Kent.”
Superman just nodded and began scanning the walls with his x-ray vision looking for an escape.
“I see an opening through this wall. There’s a deep pond in it. I can get through and we can hide in there, keep your head down and take a deep breath.”
Bruce frowned, Clark’s description didn’t make any sense. They were far outside of Gotham, and any neighbouring cities for that matter, in fact if he calculated right he and Terry had been here not that long ago. There shouldn’t be any water down here and if it wasn’t water that meant-
“Clark, no!”
Too late he blasted through the wall and plunged head first into the murky waters. The instant they hit it Bruce knew his hunch was right, it was bright green. He was going to kill Superman for this, if he didn’t die first that is. Having shouted instead of breathing in it wasn’t long before Bruce felt his lungs begin to burn with the need for oxygen. He looked up where the robots were circling above waiting for them to surface. Well there was a fine set of choices, die drowning or be blasted to death. Thankfully Superman quickly provided a third option as he swam over and pressed his lips to Bruce’s and Bruce felt fresh air being pushed into his lungs.
He pointed towards a tunnel that appeared to connect the pool to another. They swam towards it and with every stroke Bruce found it became easier to propel himself through the substance, all too soon chronic aches began to fade, and he could begin to hear a strong heartbeat pounding in his ears.
They broke the surface of the pit Bruce, aware of what had happened to them, was still shocked at how easy it was to pull himself out and onto dry land. Running his hand through hair that was thick and black again and not the thinning mass of white he had gotten so use to, he concentrated hard trying to make sure his mental facilities were still intact. Two plus two still equalled four, Terry was still Batman, and Superman was still a moron.
Sitting up properly now Bruce looked over to the man of steel. His hair was back to the darkest shade of black it had been when he was young, stupid flopping curl and all; his chest and arms now bulging in a uniform that had been designed to fit a man with far less muscle
“Over fifty years, Clark, and you still can’t learn one simple thing.”
“What’s that?”
“That bashing through a wall and making a plan,” he moved closer to Clark’s ear, “are not the same thing!” he yelled.
“Hey, super-sensitive hearing over here.”
“Good, maybe it will sink in this time.”
He turned away from Superman and started irritably ringing out green liquid from his clothes.
“You look good, Bruce.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.”
Clark sighed and stood up and the uniform stretched further at the seams. He smiled in amusement.
“Guess I’ll have to dig out the old one.”
“It looked better on you. You know I’ve always hated this suit.”
“What you don’t find dashing?”
“No, it makes you look too much like your Justice Lord counterpart.”
Clark glanced down at the black and white suit.
“Point taken.”
“Now since you got us into this mess would you mind telling me how I'm supposed to explain this to my stockholders?”
“That you’re going to take back full control of Wayne Enterprises immediately and kicking that pompous Pryce and others out of your company?”
Bruce smirked cracking his knuckles. “Besides that.”
“You know you could always wear a mask of your older self and pretend to still be a bitter old grouch, and then you’d only be lying about one of those traits.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea, Clark, I’m impressed. There might be a brain in that handsome head of yours after all.”
“Thanks I think.”
“And what do you plan to do? I doubt the Daily Planet is just going to look the other way if Clark Kent comes into the office looking like he did on his first day of work.”
“Actually the Planet has a decent retirement package. I’ve been thinking its time to change careers. I hear there’s this old recluse living in a run down manor in Gotham who could use some company.”
“Can you still cook?”
“I can manage not to burn stuff.”
“You’re hired.”
Now that both of them were at least partially dry they began to walk down a tunnel that Clark said would lead them back above ground. Meanwhile Bruce remained on alert in case their pursuers found them again.
“You know those lasers were far too close. You’re getting slow in your old age.”
“Don’t you have a high ceiling to go hang from?” Clark asked, as one arm wrap around Bruce’s shoulder. “I’ve missed you, Bruce.”
“I’ve missed you too you big idiot. Now let’s go home.”
The End