Again, I don't have much time, but I just *have* to comment on some of this, Nancy.
They were kissing hungrily when Zared finally said, "Uhhh... guys... Like Claire said... not in the hallway..."
Hannah waved him away. "Go on. We'll be there in a minute." She watched Zared walk back in Jenni's room then giggled. She picked Jon up in her arms and started walking with him.
I just love this! Jon and Hannah are kissing in the hallway and then Hannah *picks Jon up* and carries him into Jenni's room! Love it! Ah, to be able to throw your heart-throb hunk over your shoulder and carry him away!!!
"How can you...?" Jon looked at his dad incredulously.
<You haven't used yours senses enough to know what different smells are. It takes a while.>
Oooooohhhhh!!!!! Imagine having a father who is *that* perceptive, the things he would know about you. Makes me blush just to think about it.
And how did you find out about your special abilities?"
"Oh, I think I figured it out when I fell asleep and woke up and was floating."
Yeah, that would kind of give it away....
Actually Bruce had told him. He thought about how poor Bruce had gone to all the trouble of lining his mask with lead only to be told by 'Superman' that Batman was Bruce Wayne. Seeing his face wasn't the only way 'Superman' would know about Bruce.*
Hah!!! I remember that comic! I think Clark told Bruce that there were a hundred ways he could use to find out that Bruce is Batman!
In fact, he knew who most of the super heroes were. He imagined most of them would be very surprised. He remembered how he had once made the mistake of telling Spiderman that he liked his photos and he should think about sending some to The Daily Planet.
But I've never been into Spiderman, and I know only a few things about him.
He said, "Caitlyn, can you go check on dad? I think he's had rough day." She nodded. Then he said, "I'll chaperone."
I don't know if I'm interpreting this the way you want me to, but it seems to me that Jon is suggesting that Caitlyn can't really be trusted around Clark, lest her hormones get the better of her. Ha! I love it!!!
"Marilyn. I know about her heritage. I know Bruce hasn't told you about me but I will." He paused. "Are you on a secure phone? If not then go downstairs and call me back."
"Downstairs?" She stuttered.
"All - the - way down stairs."
I *love* the way Clark is talking to Batman's wife and trying to persuade her to go down to the Batcave!
"I know about Bruce's... ummm, past time, and I have for at least 20 years. Just to make sure no one is listening, let me say this in a round about way. I rather like to wear red and blue myself. Bruce and I both like just a hint of yellow. I also share some of Bruce's interests, shall we say. So let me say again, I know about Hannah."
"Red, blue, and yellow? As in gray, black, and yellow?"
"Uh-huh. Exactly. Only I don't use a fancy car. I get around under my own power."
I *love* this, too! What a wonderful way to tell Marilyn about Clark Kent and Superman!
"You know, you might want to try to talk Bruce into telling her about his nightly activities."
"No!! He might get some idea about putting her in red and green, if you get my drift. He is without those particular colors right now."
Awww! Marilyn hasn't told Bruce about Hannah because she fears he will try to turn her into Super-Robin!!!
Clark called Jon. <Jon. I'm off the phone.> As Clark lay in the bed waiting for Jon and Caitlyn he thought he'd practice a little. He opened the door. He thought, 'I wasn't sure I could do that since I'm still recovering.' Then he thought that Bernie must be right about his telepathic and other related abilities weren't affected by the kryptonite or the long term effects of injury.
But I don't think I got this. Just *how* was Clark opening the door?
I'm not going to quote from the Clark, Caitlyn and Jon part, but I very much like how you use your own medical knowledge, Nancy.
Marilyn looked at Bruce. "You are limping. Are you hurt?"
Bruce as usual was sullen. "No, I..." He put his hand on his back.
She sighed. "Still can't admit that your back hurts sometimes? It's been broken, after all."
Yes! I remember that some years ago, Batman's back was broken in the comics.
"Oh, please, Bruce. One of the reasons we are married is so that I can tend to your injuries." 'That and to make sure you have heirs,' she thought.
Gaaah, what a cold and instrumental sort of marriage. But it squares with how I think of Bruce - I don't think he's capable of loving a woman, not since his mother was murdered when he was a kid.
"You miss Alfred being around more, huh?"
He nodded. "He is like a father to me."
Alfred was retired now and was just too sickly to really be of much help to Bruce anymore. Much to Bruce's dislike, Alfred had moved to a retirement home a few years ago. He often visited but he told Bruce that he liked the retirement home because he got to read most of the day. He'd even found a lady friend.
I think it's sweet that Alfred has found himself a lady friend, but it's sad to think that he is old and sickly and living in a retirement home.
"Nothing's wrong. It's just.. well. You know Hannah came about about because of a rape. That's how we met. You took me to the hospital." It had been Bruce Wayne who had taken her to the hospital - not Batman. "What you don't know is that I was raped by one of the New Kryptonians."
This is very interesting.
She couldn't help but smile when he had almost sat up. Once and a while, he did show in some little way that he still cared about her. Maybe he never quit caring. Maybe he just couldn't get past Batman. She wasn't sure if he had ever really loved her. She wasn't sure if he even could. Oh, he had told her that he did. But he was smart - smart enough to know that sometimes you had to tell your wife that you loved her. But he had also made it very clear that one of the reasons they had gotten married was so that she could provide medical care to him - she was a nurse practicioner - and to provide him heirs. But oh, if he only knew of the ache in her heart.
I love this - it's so sad, and at the same time it is so mature, so "adult" in the very best (and totally non-pornographic) sense of the word.
"I know how protective you are of her, and I knew you thought I'd make her a Robin, so I didn't say anything. I guess I now know why you have been so much more protective of her than Al or Thomas. I thought maybe it was because she's a girl."
So Bruce and Marilyn have three kids. Or rather, Bruce and Marilyn have two sons, and then Hanna is Bruce's stepdaughter.
She smiled. "Are you going with me to Jon's graduation tomorrow?"
He gave her one of his extremely rare 'real' smiles. It was a nice smile. She wished he'd do it more often. When it came to business and public relations, he smiled, but it wasn't real. "Yes, I'll go. I'm pretty fond of Jon." He raised his eyebrows thinking how interesting that relationship had just become. "I'm pretty fond of Hannah, too, as well you know." He even winked at his wife. He thought a moment then said, "Who were talking to on the phone?"
Hey, Bruce is being really nice here.
"Hmmpph... I take it Clark also suggested I tell Hannah about Batman."
"Well, he thinks it would be a good idea. So do I. I think all three of our children should know about their father. They are old enough to know. Bruce, will you at least think about it?"
"I'll think about it.
Don't try to run my household, eh, Clark?
Can I share your bed tonight?" He just looked at her. She paused. "So I can keep an eye on your injury. I haven't suddenly become delusional, Bruce." He nodded, stood up, got dressed and walked out.
Again, poor Marilyn.
And the Metropolis Mutilator is back! Gaaah! The only thing ever that is good about the fact that Lois is dead in your story is that the Metropolis Mutilator can't mutilate *her*, at least!
Looking forward to more, Nancy, though I don't look forward a lot to having to meet the Mutilator again. (Or to having to watch Clark and Caitlyn's relationship getting hotter. I feel like saying like a little kid: Gaaah!!! Disgusting!!!)
Ann (ducking to avoid getting hit by bricks thrown at her by Caitlyn)
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