fic: An Office Romance

[darthbatgirl]

Title: An Office Romance

Author: darthbatgirl

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Characters: Bruce/Clark, Lois, Perry White, Cat Grant, mentions of Tony Stark

Summary: Dating the boss isn't as untangled as Clark thinks it will be

Word Count: 3834

Warning: boy kissing, angst, fluff

A/N: written for rai_daydreamer  for her bid at help_haiti  Sorry it took so long. First time writing Bruce/Clark as main characters, hope it's okay. (goes and hides now)

 

 

 

 

 

The newsroom at the Daily Planet is usually a den of noise. Fingers typing on keyboards, people rushing back and forth, talking on the phone, shouting for copies of articles. So it was a little unsettling when Clark stepped out of the elevator and the entire newsroom was quiet and all eyes on him.

 

“Uh . . . Good morning everyone?” Clark said tentatively.

 

Cat Grant saunters up with a smirk on her face, waving a folded up section of the Planet in front of her, “Someone's been keeping secrets.”

 

Clark took the paper and grimaced when he saw the picture filling up the top of the page. It was him and Bruce wrapped up in a warm embrace and kissing on the balcony of the Rosemont hotel, where they were both attending a fund raiser last Friday. The picture had quickly circulated during the weekend and Clark had spent the weekend fending off calls about his relationship with Bruce. Clark still had no idea of who took the picture. He had been certain that no one had even been close when he and Bruce had slipped off to the balcony and he knew he didn't hear a camera going off.

 

 

Clark looked up from the paper to see the eager looks of his co-workers as waited for an explanation of how quiet, unassuming Clark got caught lip locked with Gotham's Prince, he could feel a little bit of blush on his cheeks, “Uh well yes . . . you see Cat . . “

 

“Relax Clark,” Cat piratically purred as she linked her arm through his and pulled him the direction of her desk. “You can tell me all about you and Brucie.”

 

The door to Perry White's office banged open and the editor in chief walked through with a scowl on his face. “Will someone tell me why I don't hear the sound of anyone working?” he barked. “I thought this was a newsroom.! Kent! Where's that draft on the Mayors' debate?!”

 

“Almost done with it Perry. Just have to proof it.” Clark said as he removed himself from Cat's hold and made his way over to his desk. People jumped to and once again the room was filled with the normal sounds of work Clark threw his coat over the back of his chair and brought up the file that Perry wanted, smiling at how easy the editor-in-chief held sway over his reporters.

 

As Clark started typing he could feel eyes on him and looked up to see Lois staring at him. She was leaning back in her chair, legs stretched out in front of her crossed at the ankles, absently tapping her pen on the desk. “Uh good morning Lois.”

 

“It all adds up now.” Lois said, her version of a morning greeting. “The mornings you came in late. The mysterious lunch dates you hurried off to. The humming under your breath. That tip about Waynetech's deal with S.T.A.R. Labs.”

 

The hairs on the back of Clark's neck started to prickle, Lois' voice is light and unassuming, Clark can practically hear the wheels turning in her head as she puts the pieces together. Bits of conversations that stood out for her, behaviors that changed, scooping up the little bread crumbs that had been unintentionally left for the right person to see. It was just unfortunate that Lois was the right person.

 

“I'd say it's been three, four months right?” Lois said arching an eyebrow.

 

“Uh . . .well. I don't think that's something I should be talking about . . . .at least not here,” Clark said evasively.

 

“Never really saw you as the dating the boss type though,” Lois said as if Clark hadn't said anything at all.

 

At that Clark just threw back his head and laughed. “I'd hardly call it dating the boss Lois. Bruce may own the Planet, but he's almost never here.”

 

“He's been here a lot more often in the last four months than before,” Lois pointed out, another puzzle that finally made sense.

 

Clark sighed, “Okay, fine he's been here a lot more since we've . . . It's still not some torrid office romance that you're making it sound like.”

 

Lois made a face, “I leave the torrid romances to Cat. I'm just looking out for my friend.”

 

A flash of warmth filled Clark as he looked fondly at his long time partner and friend. “Afraid Bruce will end up dumping me after a couple more tabloid pictures?”

 

Lois gave a snort. “I've talked to the man too many times to fall for that shallow, self absorbed act of his. Don't know why he does it, but it works for him.”

 

“Then if you don't think he's going to drop me for a prettier face, then why the worry?”
 

Lois raised an eyebrow. “Haven't you ever seen how he is with his boys? How protective . . . .how possessive he can be of them?”

 

Clark shook his head in denial. “He's just like that with the boys, he doesn't want the press to hound them. He knows . . . . he knows he doesn't have to be like that with me.”

 

Lois snorted again, “If you say so Smallville. Still say it's a mistake to get involved with the boss,” she stood up and grabbed a bag. “Sorry, got to run. Have to follow up on that Eisner quote.”

 

Clark nodded as Lois left looking over his own story before needing to hand it in.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

Clark was hunched over his computer typing up notes for his next interview. He had ran into Tony Stark at fund raiser about six months ago. He had covered several of the billionaire's projects and met him at several fund raisers. He had finally convinced Stark to sit down for an interview. It would be a candid sit down, everything was fair game, and Clark had spent the last two weeks reading everything he could about Stark.

 

The smell of lilacs was the first break of concentration for Clark. Cat draped herself around Clark's shoulder, her eyes sparkling. “I just got a call from downstairs. Guess who's on his way up right now?”

 

“Uh . . .who?”

 

“Why it's Romeo himself, Bruce!” Cat practically giggled in excitement. “And I got a brilliant idea. How about a quick one on one with the new lovebirds? All the details of how you meet, your first kiss, what you both see in the future.”

 

“Sorry Cat. I really doubt that Bruce would agree to an interview. He's not an impromptu kind of guy,” Clark said as he finished up what he was typing and then looked toward the elevator.

 

For the second time that day the newsroom fell quiet as the doors to the elevator opened and Bruce Wayne stepped out. The charcoal gray suit he was wearing hugged him in all the right ways, his hair was perfectly combed, his storm blue eyes danced with amusement as he regarded the newsroom. “I'd ask if it was something I said but I haven't had a chance to say much of anything yet today,” Bruce quipped, his lips turning up into a smile.

 

The door to Perry's office banged open, scattering people everywhere and had the effect of bringing the room back to life. “Bruce nice to see you again.” he said holding out his hand to the billionaire.

 

“Perry! Wonderful to see you again,” Bruce said taking Perry's hand. “Hope you don't mind me just showing up. Had a couple of things I thought I might mention to you.”

 

“Of course. Of course,” Perry nodded as he ushered Bruce back to his office.

 

Before disappearing in Perry's office, Bruce eyes slid over to Clark's desk, making eye contact with him. The flash of warmth Clark felt earlier that day due to Lois' concern for her friend was nothing like the pool of heat the consumed Clark as their eyes locked for that moment. He felt like he was melting through the floor and flying at break neck speeds all at the same time.

 

Clark turned back to his list of questions and notes he was complying, pointedly ignored whatever Bruce was talking to Perry about in the editor's office. More importantly Clark submerged himself in his work to block out the buzzing whispering of his co-workers and their pointed looks between himself and the closed office door.

 

Clark didn't even hear Bruce come up behind him. The first indication that the billionaire was there was a touch of a hand to the back of Clark's neck. Bruce come up behind him and leaned over his shoulder to read what Clark was typing. “Doesn't 'apparently' only have one p in it?”

 

“No it has two. Which you knew anyway.”

 

“True,” Bruce said a smile in his voice and his breath warmed the back of Clark's neck. “Free for lunch?”

 

“Uh . . .” Clark was painfully aware of the 'not-staring' looks they were getting from the others in the newsroom. The story was already out, he and Bruce were already linked – it seemed foolish to deny it now, and to be truthful Clark didn't want to. He leaned back till his head was resting on Bruce's shoulder “I think that would be nice,” he said. He reached out hit save and then followed Bruce to the elevator, amidst the stares of Clark's co-workers.

 

* * * * *

 

As they walked through the park that was a few blocks way from the Planet. “You know we could have gone to that Greek restaurant that you like so much.”

 

“'But why break tradition?” Clark smiled as he lead Bruce to the hot dog vender. After buying hot dogs and bottles of water, they found a secluded, shaded park bench to sit down. They ate their meal in companionable silence and when they were done, Bruce wrapped his arm around Clark's shoulders and stretched out his legs. “So read anything interesting in the paper today?”

 

Clark snorted as he leaned back into Bruce's one armed embraced. “I'll have you know Cat Grant has visions of you chasing me around your desk now.”

 

“Really? Well that's something we haven't tried yet,” Bruce said smirking.

 

“Bruce.”

 

“Hey don't knock. I've got a pretty big desk,” Bruce said smirking more.

 

Clark shook his head as he smiled at his lover in amusement,”Don't even know how that picture got taken. I know no one was out there.”

 

“Does it matter?” Bruce asked.

 

“No. It's just curious how it all happen,” Clark said almost absently. “I wonder what the odds are going to be.”

 

“Odds?”

 

“On how quickly fickle Bruce Wayne drops his bumbling reporter boyfriend.”

 

“Hmm . . . I think the odds makers are going to be very unhappy with the results,” Bruce said with a quirk of his lips as he pulled Clark closer.

 

“I don't know. If I play the odds right, I could come away with a nice sum of money,” Clark smirked.

 

Bruce let out a short laugh, “Now that's what I'd like to see, Clark Kent odds player.”

 

Clark's eyes sparkled as he gave into the laughter as well.

 

“What were you working on when I came up?” Bruce asked as he stretched his legs out.

 

“Notes for my interview with Tony Stark. I finally got him to agree to a sit down.”

 

“Stark? Perry's got you doing fluff pieces now? Thought he realized you were a higher caliber reporter than that.”

 

“I'd hardly call Stark a fluff piece. His company has made some marvelous breakthroughs recently. Even beat out Waynetech for that government contract last month.” Clark said shaking his head.

 

“Stark Industries have made some wonderful breakthroughs. Stark himself though? He's arrogant, cocky . . . he's a womanizer and heavy drinker.”

 

“Former heavy drinker,” Clark corrected.

 

“Whatever. The point is, he would be a waste of your time,”Bruce said frowning at Clark.

 

Clark regarded Bruce for a moment and then leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to Bruce's lips. “Just remembered that I can do that now,” he smiled against Bruce's lips. He kissed Bruce again, cupping the back of his head. Bruce wrapped his hand around Clark's tie and pulled him in closer to deepen the kiss. The kiss was hot and demanding and left both the them breathless afterward.

 

 

Clark returned back to the Planet with a smile on his face. The few whispers that he heard when coming in didn't bother him as he made his way to his desk. Lois was back and was dividing her time between typing furiously,muttering things under her breath, and grabbing her phone and barking at people.

 

Clark chuckled softly as he goes back to his own work He spent a couple of hours doing research on the computer and making phone calls and then calls Stark's secretary to set up the interview date.

 

“Kent! Get in here!” Perry shouted sticking his head out of his office door.

 

“Coming Perry,” Clark said as he got up and went to see what the editor wanted.

 

Perry's office is cluttered mess of stacks of papers everywhere. The man himself was sitting behind his desk pouring over multiple stories at once, a cold cup of coffee sitting within arm's reach, and an untouched cigar sat in the ash tray. A computer sat over on a corner of the desk, but there's a pile of reports and newspapers and various other types of mail in front of it that it's barely visible. “Need you to get down to City Hall and get some follow up quotes to the debate,” Perry said without looking up from what he was reading.

 

“Uh . . .Chief I'm in the middle of prepping for my interview with Tony Stark,” Clark said confused.

 

“I'm taking you off that,” Perry said somewhat sharply.

 

“What?”

 

Perry paused in what he was doing and looked up at Clark, a undefined expression on his face, “I need someone credible covering City Hall right now. Uh . . . . can't have one of my best reports tied up doing a fluff piece.”

 

“Fluff piece?” Clark said slowly, an uneasy feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. “I would hardly call an interview with Tony Stark a fluff piece. His company is easily on par with Wayne Enterprises and Lexcorp. The man himself is brilliant He doesn't give interviews easily Perry.”

 

“I can't have my high caliber writers doing Q&As with celebrity millionaires.”

 

Clark's lips formed a thin line and the uneasy feeling turned hot. “Perry what did you and Bruce talk about when he was here?”

 

Perry went back to reading the stories that had been handed in to him, acting as if Clark hadn't said anything at all. “Get down to City Hall. I'll give the Stark story to Cat. He's more her speed.”

 

Clark pursed his lips together, wanting nothing more to argue more, but his argument wasn't with Perry “Yes Chief.”

 

The door to Perry White's office banging open and having a reporter charging out was not an uncommon sight in the newsroom. Having that reporter being Clark Kent on the other hand was enough to turn heads and had people staring after Clark as he stormed out – not that he noticed as he stomped out of the newsroom and down the hall to the stairwell. Once in the stairwell and convinced he was alone Clark pulled out his cell phone and dialed an all too familiar number.

 

“You missed me already?” Bruce chuckled as he answered.

 

“I really can't believe you sometimes. You had Perry take me off the Stark interview!” Clark growled into the phone.

 

“He told you already did he?” came Bruce's calm reply.

 

“Yes he did, and you're not even going to deny it.”

 

“Why should I? It was a business decision.”

 

“Business decision? That's not a decision. That's you abusing the fact that you own the Planet to cancel my interview with Tony!”

 

“Tony?” Bruce said sharply. “When did it change to Tony?”

 

“You're jealous.”

 

“I am many things but jealous of Tony Stark is not one of them. I'm merely looking after a wayward asset.” Bruce said his voice dropping to a growl.

 

“An asset?”

 

“Clark . . . that . . .that's not what I meant.”

 

“Isn't it Mr Wayne? I sometimes wonder. ” Clark said finally as he shut off his phone. As he marched down the stairs he gripped the phone so hard it cracked in two. With a frustrated sigh Clark shoved the phone in his pocket.

 

 

* * * *

 

 

Superman stood on the roof of the Daily Planet. Below him the city spread out before him, lights twinkling up at him, the sounds of traffic sounding low in his ear, though he didn't notice any of it for once. Instead his thoughts were inward. Of how the day spiraled out of control from the word go. All because of one damn picture.

 

On one hand Clark had hated the sneaking around, the dodging questions, the outright lying at time to protect the budding romance Though today he got a taste of what it was like to have their relationship in the public. He didn't like feeling like one of Bruce's accessories.

 

“He's interested in you,”a voice said from the shadows behind him.

 

Clark suppressed the urge to sigh and instead just pressed his lips together in a tight line. As Superman, he could hear someone shout his name from the other side of the earth, but with seemingly ease Batman had the ability to walk up behind him with no detection. “What are you doing here?”

 

If Bruce was surprised by Clark's gruff tone he didn't show it. “Stark is interested in you,” he repeated.

 

Clark couldn't hold back the bark of laughter from that, “And what lead you to that insight?”

 

“The way he watches you at those ridiculous parties. The way he always seems to be willing to talk to you more than any of the other reporters, Then there is the small thing of he said so,” Bruce said as he walked out of the shadows. “It was at the fund raiser for opera house. He couldn't keep his eyes off of you. Followed you around like a puppy wanting someone to scratch him behind his ears. He said he wanted to get to know you better. Thought doing a series of interviews with you would get him what he wanted.”

 

“And so you just decided to take it upon yourself to cancel those interviews,” Clark said clenching his fists.

 

“ . . . among other things,” Bruce said looking away.

 

“Other things? What else could you have possibly . . . . the picture,” Clark bit out as he advanced on Bruce. “Some how, some way you're behind the picture aren't you?!”

 

“One of my cameras on the outside of the wall.”

 

“”Why? I want a straight answer Bruce,” Clark said as he grabbed Bruce's shoulder.

 

“I thought I was handling the situation. I didn't mean to upset you,” Bruce said not twisting his way out of Clark's hold.

 

“This isn't something you handle Bruce! I'm not something you handle!” Clark said in exasperation as he let go of Bruce and ran his fingers through his hair. “You talk to me, you don't go behind my back and manipulate things to your liking. . . . Sometimes I think I should just throw you off a building and be done with it.”

 

“That wouldn't work,” Bruce said quietly, “you'd just dive off the roof to rescue me.”

 

“I could let you drop. Just this one time.”

 

“No you couldn't. You wouldn't be the person I fell in love with if you did,” Bruce said barely above a whisper.

 

“Don't say that. You don't get to be charming now,” Clark said.

 

“You were right before. I was jealous.” Bruce said as he carefully moved closer to Clark.

 

“Why didn't you just talk to me? Clark asked shaking his head. “Just because Stark showed some interest in me does not mean I have any interest in him. “

 

“I'm not exactly the best person when it comes to relationships. I saw Stark's interest in you and knew I didn't like it, there was to much of a chance that I could lose you.”

 

“ . . . . Bruce.”

 

“He's charming, intelligent, handsome. I'm fairly certain that it's not an act. It would be easy for someone to fall for him. A lot easier that having a relationship with me,” Bruce said as if Clark hadn't said anything at all.

 

Clark reached out and laid a hand on on Bruce's shoulder and moved it up to his neck, and finally cupped his cheek. “I don't want easy. I don't want a charming smile. I want intensity and passion. I want compassion and loyalty. Tony Stark can want as many interviews as he wants. It's never going to change the fact that I love you.”

 

“I really don't deserve you,” Bruce said softly as he placed his hands on Clark's hips and pulled him close and claimed a kiss. Bruce ran his fingers through Clark's hair and cupped the back of his head, licking at Clark's lips till the Kryptonian parted his lips. He growled as he mapped out his lover's mouth, relishing in the unique taste that was Clark.

 

Clark moaned into the kiss as he wrapped his arms around Bruce and just let the kiss happen. For once that day enjoying Bruce's possessiveness. Slowly the kiss ended, neither wanting it to end. Clark rested his head on Bruce's, running his hand over the Dark Knight's shoulder's, enjoying the feel of the muscles underneath his hands. Bruce's breath warmed his skin. “I love you, you know.”

 

“I know,” Bruce breathed. “Doesn't mean I don't worry about losing you.”

 

“Never going to happen. Never.” Clark murmured into the crook of Bruce's neck. “But you have to understand, we're in this together. No pulling the 'boss card.' No deciding what's best for me.”

 

“Okay,” Bruce agreed, somewhat reluctantly, “though . . . . does this mean I can't chase you around the desk?”