Similis

After dinner, Bruce had somewhat reluctantly gone out on patrol. It was a standard sort of night for Gotham's resident hero, a few physical encounters but nothing he couldn't handle, although granted it would have been difficult for the evening to have matched the events of that day in intensity.



A real live alien, and in my house! Turning that thought over in his head Bruce found the concept strangely exciting, if a bit worrying. Even so, he realised that he had only the vaguest inkling of what the Kent's must have lived with for all those years.



Emerging from the hidden entrance, having exchanged his costume for something more relaxed, Bruce strolled upstairs to his bedroom; intending to take care of the few minor bruises and scrapes that had been added to the ongoing tally. As he opened the door to his suite he became aware of someone standing in the corridor a little way behind him and, turning, found that he was under silent observation.



Not that he could exactly call out to me…



"Haze? You still up?" At the soft nod, Bruce smiled. "Checking on me, huh?"



The ready grin lit the perfect face.



"Okay, then you'd better come in," Bruce decided softly. "We don't want to wake the rest of the house…"







Haze followed him into the room, blinking as Bruce flipped the small nightlight on.



"Not tired?" The older man guessed.



The youth signed that he was not ready for bed.



"Me neither." Bruce admitted. "Not yet, anyway. I usually feel a lot worse than this by the time I get home."



Wandering closer, Haze looked him over with a critical eye. It was at that moment that Bruce realised that his t-shirt was doing a marvellous job of showing off most of his new injuries. Thankfully his jogging bottoms would hide the others, along with the wealth of older scars gained from many years of crime fighting.



Tentatively Haze reached out, his hand drifting over Bruce's scraped knuckles and the slight sting from the grazes vanished.



"Haze!" Bruce couldn't help but worry. "Don’t risk getting yourself ill again… These aren't important."



The warm smile and the merry twinkle in the eyes reassured Bruce that Haze was not in the least inconvenienced. The youth's broad palms traced up over his hands, around his wrists, and along up to his forearms, wrapping him in comfort.



"I don't want you to think that I don't appreciate it, but," Bruce tried again.



Haze stepped closer, running his palms over Bruce's elbows.



The ache in his right elbow vanished. "Really you don't need to put yourself out," Bruce managed to get out as the gentle touch wafted higher. His left shoulder, sensitive after being broken twice in the last year alone, stopped twinging.



"I'll be fine in a few days," The perpetual nagging pain buried in his collarbone evaporated.



"That does feel good though." He admitted, allowing himself to be guided down onto the edge of the bed.



Fingers ghosted over his neck and shoulders then over his pec's, before turning and retracing a path down along his ribs, each side of his waist, hips, and out along the outsides of his legs all the way down to his feet. Everywhere the miraculous touch roved, the stored pains deep in his bones dissipated, setting him free from the accumulated aches.



"So good." Bruce murmured.







Crouching at his feet, Haze knelt between Bruce's legs, hands moving steadily upwards again, soothing the insides of Bruce's calves, and rising up along his inner thighs.



What the?! Panicked, Bruce immediately dropped his own palms to the back of the youth's hands, stopping him.



Looking up, Haze cast him a quick questioning glance.



Does he even realise how that could be interpreted? Of course he doesn’t: he isn't human after all. So far as Haze's concerned he's just being friendly. Bruce gazed down at the beautiful youth. But what if he were interested in that way?



Could Haze actually want him? Uncertainty flared.



No, don't be stupid! You must be nearly twice his age for one thing. And what about when he gets a real eyeful of those scars you're toting around?



"No…" Bruce choked out the faint protest. "You don't need to, Haze, I'll be fine … really ... You've already done more than enough." He would not lie and deny wanting Haze's ministrations, but he was a realist to the core, and there was no way he would lead the boy on, or let him get too close.



Look at him kneeling there! There is no way that anyone this beautiful or this innocent could ever be interested in you, you pervert … He's just trying to help you again. Pinch yourself hard, you idiot and get a grip, before you screw up big-time! You'll totally freak the kid out if you're not careful!



Surprised, Haze paused, his eyes reflecting his confusion.



"You didn't know that I would react that way." Bruce told him, guessing at the expression. "How could you?" He slipped his hand under Haze's chin and lifted his face until Haze met his eyes.



"I appreciate that you meant well, but I need you to understand why I feel I have to decline," He said honestly. "Touching someone like that might be acceptable where you're from, but here it's … well, it gets complicated. So complicated that I feel really awkward about even raising the subject. If it helps, my answer would be the same no matter who was asking?"



The explanation seemed to have been accepted and understood. To his immense relief, there was no hint of animosity in Haze's eyes, only the same placid affection.



Gesturing at Bruce's back, Haze waited, eyebrow raised in question.







Stubborn little thing, this one… Were all Haze's kind this persistent? Amused, Bruce grinned, not wanting to offend his Samaritan any more than he might already have.



"I truly don't deserve you, but I would be an even bigger fool to refuse your help." He said gratefully. "Yes, please. Do whatever it is you want to my back, I'll accept that gladly."



Gracefully Haze moved around him and settling behind him, placed his hands delicately on the nape of Bruce's neck, waiting for the older man to show that he was ready.



Leaning forward, Bruce acquiesced, encouraging the flutter of heated palms over the top of his spine.



Alien or not, he certainly knows how to give a massage!



As the warmth of Haze's palms travelled over his t-shirt, tracing the tense muscles, he felt the deft touch easing his discomfort, soothing him enough for Bruce to not protest as the hands stroked down again. This time the youth explored the length of Bruce's back, prowling the contours of his bunched muscles down towards to his waist.



"I haven't felt this comfortable in years …" Bruce sighed, as the pain flowed out of him. "I don't know why I'm so at ease with you," He let himself relax. "You don't have to answer that, Haze, it's enough for me that this is happening. I don't need explanations."



The hands dipped lower. The delicious warmth of another body pressing close against his distracting enough that the heated palms were running over the thin cotton tee, smoothing around his waist and up along his flanks almost before Bruce realised it.



"That's unbelievable," He murmured, "Your hands feel so good…" The bed rocked as Haze settled his legs on either side of Bruce, enfolding him, and drawing him back against the strong young body. Over and over, the hands pressed in circles, each rotation bringing them lower, as firm arms slid under his shoulders and eased along his ribs.



"Haze…" Bruce sighed, "That is so good it ought to be illegal." Without meaning to, he yawned once, then again.



Haze slipped deftly over to one side and patted the bed.



"Lie down?" Bruce blinked at him. "Normally I can't sleep when anyone else is in the room," He admitted, "But for some reason I feel like tonight I could go off the minute my head hits the pillow."



And then spend the rest of the night trying to escape from the nightmares… There were enough of those that, even on a good night, Bruce was never particularly eager to drift off to sleep.



Haze repeated the gesture with gentle patience.



"Okay. You win, bossy boots. I'll do as I'm told…" Bruce grinned, and stretched out on the cool sheets, settling on one side. Haze eased in close beside him, his hands lightly stroking the bunched muscles, soothing and relaxing.



Bruce felt his eyes growing heavy. The soft sounds of the boy beside him breathing mesmerised him, and gradually he sank into a light drowse. For a moment he was half-aware of a trace of heat on his cheek.



Did he just… But before he could wonder if the youth had kissed him or not, he was asleep.





* * * * *





"Good morning, Master Bruce." Alfred opened the curtains and let in the midday light.



"Morning, Alfred." Bruce opened his eyes and looked around. Was it that time already?



"Young master Haze is outside with Mr Kent." Alfred informed him. "I was surprised to find him such an early riser. Then again, it is probably how things are done on the farm." He added. "Mr Kent was awake a little after six." Somehow, without ever actually saying it, Alfred managed to imply that in his considered opinion getting up before noon was a virtue.



"He probably gets to go to bed before four am." Bruce muttered. "And I doubt if Jonathan Kent spends much time being attacked by criminals…"



"Sir?" Alfred raised a questioning eyebrow.



"Nothing, Alfred."



"Very good, sir."



Not for the first time, Bruce reflected that it was totally amazing the content that Alfred could infuse into just those three simple words. He had the distinct impression that Alfred was simultaneously pronouncing disapproval of his lifestyle, while at the same time being more than a little proud that Bruce had chosen to fight the moral and ethical decline in his city.



Pity that the two options aren't easily reconciled.



"Did you sleep well, sir?" The level tones distracted him.



"Huh?"



"You appear better rested than is usual." Alfred offered, laying out a selection of clothes on the chair across the room, as Bruce ate. "Perhaps you will be able to remain fully conscious for the entire meeting this time? As I recall, Mr Fox was most vexed by the end of the last session."



"As it happens I did sleep amazingly well, but if Lucius wanted me to pay attention then he should have made a more lively presentation." Bruce told his butler. "I don't think anyone could stay awake when he starts to drone on."



"Indeed sir." Again, Alfred patently disagreed, without actually doing so.



"Well, maybe you could, Alfred, but I can't." Bruce conceded. He glanced at his faithful aide. "Alfred, do you think Haze would be interested in coming with me?"



"Master Haze?" Alfred allowed a small smile of amusement. "Surely Mr Fox will accuse you of bringing yet another 'little friend' with you to hold your hand?"



"Let him say what the hell he likes! At least he can't complain about this one having distracting breasts!" Bruce decided, leaping out of the bed. "I've made up my mind. If Haze wants to come, then he can come! I'll tell Lucius to keep the meeting short and to the point, then I can show Haze around Gotham. There must be something around here that Haze would like to look at?"



Alfred politely averted his eyes as Bruce blithely abandoned his boxers and sauntered happily off into the shower.



"I dare say so, sir." The elderly butler agreed, recalling the expression on the youth's face the day before, as Haze had woken and found the Batman sitting at his bedside. "I dare say so."





* * * * *





"Lucius, this is Haze. I promised to show him round Gotham." Bruce was wearing his best 'idiot playboy' smile and thoroughly enjoying the look of pure irritation that flickered across the face of his business associate.



"How nice to meet you, Haze." Lucius offered. Haze accepted the hand and shook it politely. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your second name?"



"Haze is mute." Bruce added, before Lucius could take Haze's silence for an insult. The man could hold a grudge tighter than a vice could grip wood. "His family name is Kent. He and his father are staying with me out at the Mansion for a few days."



"Old friends of the family?" Lucius gave Bruce one of his most supercilious 'Not another 'OLD' family friend' expressions.



Haze smiled and shook his head, and before Lucius could say anything else, the youth had strolled over to the huge picture window and was looking out.



"It's a fantastic view, isn't it?" Bruce wandered over and joined him. "Will you be alright if I leave you out here for half an hour or so? I have a few company things I have to go over."



Haze nodded, and waved away any suggestion that he might be uncomfortable left to his own devices.



"Excellent." Bruce looked at Lucius. "Well, come on then. I thought you were keen to get going? The sooner we get started the sooner we finish, eh?" He laughed, and waved cheerily at his latest personal secretary, and gestured toward Haze. "I'm counting on you to look after Haze… " He called to her, noticing a blush appear on the normally inscrutable features of the young woman. Now what was her name?



Haze grinned back and settled into one of the overstuffed chairs in the corner of the room. It was a good defensive position, and a sound tactic to adopt when on strange territory, one part of Bruce approved. The other part of his personality was checking out quite different details.



From the admiring glances he's drawing, Haze won't be on his own over there for long… Bruce smiled as he breezed in through the double doors to the Executive Boardroom.



Nice to know that at least one of us won't be in any danger of being bored to death…







The meeting had reached the stage when things were beginning to sink inexorably into a gradually declining spiral, when something outside caught Bruce's attention. Certainly nothing inside the room was in the least bit interesting by that point.



One half of the double door slammed open, and a couple of familiar and definitely unwelcome guests sallied in.



"Why, Mr Wayne!" The Joker smiled toothily. "I was so hoping to catch you here! I simply have to chat to you about a mutual acquaintance …" He stepped brightly into the centre of the room, watching proudly as one of his henchmen, a rough looking sort carrying a large submachine gun, took up position behind the closed door panel.



"I would have made an appointment," The master criminal explained, "but no one seemed to want to take my call? Ah, I do find that there's nothing like the sight of a big gun in the afternoon to get people's attention!" He stared at Bruce through narrowed eyes. "Although I expect with that tie you attract quite enough attention for yourself?"



Bruce was in a quandary. He couldn't just let Joker breeze in here and shoot anyone, but at the same time, Bruce Wayne, Billionaire Playboy and Wuss extraordinaire, couldn't be seen to develop anything like a backbone, especially not under the eyes of the company executives. "Oh, I don't know." He said carefully. "It isn't anything special…"



"Exactly!" Joker snapped. "Now, having finished with the obligatory small talk, it has come to my attention that your company has been secretly assisting the Batman." He leered nastily at Bruce. "That has to stop…"



"Ah." Bruce swallowed. Facing this insane idiot nightly on a regular basis was one thing, doing it without the armour was not quite what he was used to. He felt uncomfortably naked. "I really don't know what you've heard,"



Or where you heard it, but I intend to find out…



"But even if the rumour were true, it would be rather hard to refuse the Batman." Bruce continued aloud. "Batman can be … terribly persuasive, don't you find?"



Joker snorted wildly, "Oh, ain't THAT the truth!" He snapped a bone white finger at his gun-toting follower. "When I tell you to, I want you to aim that at his leg." He ordered, pointing at Bruce. "Shoot him in the shin first, then if he still won't see it our way you can start working upward."



"But," Bruce started to say, the muzzle of the weapon pointed in his direction and the rest of the sentence was swallowed as he dived for the carpet and rolled under the cover of one of the thick desks set in a circle around the centre of the room. At least running and hiding would be perfectly in character for his Playboy persona. Around him, board members scattered right and left, following his example.



There was an explosion of sound.







That wasn't a gun! The noise had been nothing like what Bruce had been expecting. It was hardly an original thought, but given the rapid evolution of events it was probably a good deal better than anyone else in that room could have managed at that point.



Sneaking a peek around the desk, Bruce found that half of the door to the boardroom had simply vanished.



Wow!



In the centre of the open doorway stood a very angry Haze, one hand clutching a limp body decorated with a few shards of wood in one hand. If the loss of the door wasn't an outright improvement to the decor, then the addition of the dark haired youth certainly was.







Where's Bruce?



Uninterested in the fallen foe now that that particular threat had been neutralised, Haze dropped the unconscious henchman into the splintered remains of the door panel and scanned the room intently.



Here, and okay… Senses on full alert the angel ignored the various other business people cowering around the room. Bruce was out of direct sight for the present, and apparently unharmed.



Haze nodded in satisfaction, that was how he intended it to stay. He began concentrating instead on the two oddly costumed people standing in the empty space between the tables. A woman, and another man, both with various concealed weapons and chemical traps.



More comic book people...



The man looked furious. Haze was not amused either. One minute he had been down the corridor and quite enjoying a bit of mild body contact with one of the rather attractive secretaries, the next his senses had screamed into overload. Hurriedly abandoning the lady, he had raced back here knowing that he would find his new friend in very definite danger.



Happy was definitely not the word to describe Haze's state of mind at that moment. In a human being, 'homicidal' might have been the closest description, however the angel had already reached that level of perfect mental alertness that utterly excluded the inconvenience of emotion, and his current focus was centred exclusively on one goal: protect Bruce.



This fool seemed to be determined to get in Haze's way, and what was the man wearing? Body paint? Whatever it was, it looked stupid to the alien youth. The man's taste in clothes left a lot to be desired too.



Haze frowned as the badly-coloured man dipped a hand surreptitiously into one of his pockets, apparently set on removing and activating one of the devices secreted about his person.



That was the man's last mistake of the day. The rest of the boardroom door and the attached frame sailing across the room and impacting with the Joker's head ensured that it was also his last conscious decision for quite some time to come.



"Mistah J!" The heavily made-up female accomplice yelled an angry protest, however Haze was not in the mood for girl power. Locking eyes with her, he made a single gesture.



"Oh." Nowhere near as stupid as she currently looked, Harley Quinn subsided instantly.



Security finally arrived, along with the regular cops.







"And with that, Lucius, I think I'll leave you for the time being." Bruce scrambled to his feet and made a show of brushing the dust off his suit.



"I feel that I've really had quite enough office work for today. If you could have a report typed up and sent to me, I'll have a look at it when I'm feeling more myself … Right now, I feel an urgent need for that retail therapy I've been promising Haze."



"But," Lucius was obviously about to protest when Haze walked over and stood at Bruce's side.



Somehow that seemed to settle the whole thing, and in a few minutes the two of them were walking out of the building and into the afternoon sunshine.



"Telling Harley that you would rip her head off was a bit extreme, don't you think?" Bruce wondered, as he settled into the comfortable upholstery of the limousine.



Haze shrugged.



"Would you have really done anything to her?" Bruce was curious. The abrupt change in Haze's behaviour was intriguing.



Haze shrugged again, and then made a series of short gestures.



"She had what in her pocket?" Bruce felt a wash of cold air shiver over him.



Haze gestured again, and Bruce decided that he really had gotten it right the first time. "That much would have taken out all the people in the building." He said grimly.



Haze nodded.



"Well, since we have the rest of the day to ourselves, let's do a little more leg work on looking for your brother." Bruce smiled. "Logically, unless he lives like a monk, he must occasionally go out and shop for something, so let's wander around and see if anyone thinks they know you?"



It was only the start of a very long day…