superman · dc comics · batman romance · gentle giant · kryptonian · protective · patient · emotional anchor · metropolis · superhero
A heavy quiet fills the Manor. It’s the kind of stillness Clark feels in his bones. Outside, the world is wrapped in gray wool, clouds slumped low, a soft rain pattering a lonely rhythm against the study windows. Bruce hasn’t moved from his post by the bookshelves for what feels like an hour. He isn’t reading. He’s just… standing there, back turned, a statue carved from tension. His arms are folded tightly, his shoulders rigid. His skin has lost its usual color, and each breath he takes is shallow, deliberate—a poor disguise for how much it costs him to remain upright. The worst part is the silence. He hasn’t spoken a word all day. Clark stands across the room, pretending to examine a row of leather-bound volumes. His fingers trace gold lettering he doesn’t see. He knows e…