Similis

And thinking of apologies, I really should be making some - I accidentally uploaded Chapter 41 before Chapter 40 - blame it on the summer and too many late nights!



Purr



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"Hi there. Want a lift?" Clark zoomed in and caught up with Wolverine only feet from the sucking waters. "Haze suggested that you might appreciate a ride back."



"Wouldn't say no." Wolverine was suddenly grateful for Clark's gentle nature, and as the youth's large arms wrapped round him and hoisted him skywards again that part of the day began to look a whole lot better.



"If you don't mind a bit of advice," Clark began. He hesitated.



"Kid, I think at this moment you got the upper hand." Wolverine conceded.



"And the lower one?" Clark grinned, flexing his fingers under Wolverine's denim clad thighs.



"That too." His passenger agreed wryly. "But you were sayin'?"



"I was only going to say that Haze is missing Bruce pretty badly, and he didn't like being in hospital at all, so he's very grumpy right now." Clark said quite seriously. "If fact if it were me, I really wouldn't wind him up today."



"YOU wouldn't?"



"Nope. Haze is a lot more experienced at using his abilities than I am with mine, and I wouldn't want him mad with me again."



If Clark, with all of his strange gifts, was wary of upsetting Haze right now, just what the hell did that say about what the other kid could do? Wolverine began to seriously rethink his actions. "Wish I'd known that before I shouted at him." He admitted.



"Oh, you shouted?" Clark seemed surprised. "That would be it, then. Haze isn't good with people shouting at him. He takes it very badly. I think it's considered really rude behaviour where he originally comes from." He speculated.



"Tell me about it." How did people shout when they couldn’t talk? Or was Haze the only mute angel? Oh, forget it!



"You did quite well though." Clark indicated the bay area with a nod of his head. "I didn't hear you scream once."



The two of them shared a grin.



"You didn't puke either, and you hung on pretty good," Clark added. "Considering that Haze wasn't making any concessions."



Wolverine didn't mention how close he had come to not succeeding at any of those things, but the admiration coming from his rescuer was very agreeable. "Thanks." He turned his head and looked into the warm eyes. "I had plenty of motivation as it happens. I don't swim too well actually."



"No?" The youth seemed to think that over.



"I don't breathe water, but I do sink real smoothly." Wolverine confessed. "It's all the metal. Makes me damn heavy."



"You are a bit heavier than anyone else I've carried, but I didn't think it would be polite to say so." Clark told him diplomatically.



"Clark, just for today, you can say what you like." Wolverine told him. "Special privilege."



"Wow." The megawatt grin returned. "Thanks!"



To Logan's surprise the kid actually seemed to mean that. They landed on the grass beside the outdoor pool, and if Clark was a little less than perfectly polished with his landings, Logan was determined not to mention it. He supposed that it was one of those things that got better with practice.



At least, thanks to the kid, it was a touchdown and not a splashdown…







"Haze." Clark padded across the grass to where Haze was sitting. "That was not nice." He said critically.



All eyes were immediately on the two dark-haired youths. Haze shrugged and scuffed at the grass.



"I know you're not having a good day, but you need to make this up to Wolverine now." Clark persisted. "I mean it, Haze."



Getting to his feet, Haze walked stubbornly away.



For a moment Clark simply watched him go, then he apparently reached a decision. He blurred across the grass after Haze so rapidly that he did not become properly visible again until he was right in front of his 'twin'.



"Wolverine could have been hurt." He said firmly, catching Haze by the arm. "Read me." Reaching out he took hold of Haze and stepped up closer to him.



"Yes I know I got to him in time, and I know that you would have gone back for him if I hadn't, but Wolverine didn't know that. I bet that what was going through his mind was mostly how easily he could drown out there." One of his hands came up and stroked along Haze's forearm.



"I love you, Haze, and I know you are hurting, but like you said to me that time: we have to behave responsibly." Clark said more gently. "Wolverine doesn't know us. I don't think he meant to be mean to you, but you scared him." He absently carded a section of Haze's hair with his fingers. "Yes. You really did. It wasn't just teasing for him, not that time, he thought it was real."



As Clark was speaking, Haze's arm had slid up, the fingers inching around Clark's waist.



"No, they're not like us …" Clark said, casually duplicating the gesture. "As far as Wolverine was concerned, you fell."



Immediately Haze turned to where Wolverine was watching. Shifting partially out of Clark's embrace he moved back toward the mutant, tugging Clark along with him.







Stopping just in front of Wolverine, Haze flickered his hands in a series of rapid gestures.



"Did you think Haze was in danger?" Clark asked, interpreting the question for Wolverine.



"Of course I did. I've never seen his wings before today." Wolverine said carefully, trying not to come across as aggressive but expecting that it was bound to happen anyway. "Far as I knew the whole 'angel' thing was some sort of in-joke."



Haze glanced at Lex, who had apparently come out of the house to see what all the fuss was about.



Behind Lex, Alfred stood quietly. Intent on the proceedings the old man's discerning eyes missed nothing, and it was plain that Bruce Wayne would be receiving a full and detailed report at some stage.



"Haze wants me to ask you both if either of you would have gotten worried if you had seen him walking along the balcony rail." Clark looked over toward Lex and Alfred.



"I would, Haze." Lex admitted. "I still keep forgetting about you flying, even now."



"Indeed, sir. I would also have assumed the worst." Alfred agreed with his usual solemnity. "Now, assuming that there is nothing further, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have other duties to perform?" After verifying that there were no additional requirements for his services, the elderly butler retreated smoothly back into the house.







By now Haze looked a little less certain. His eyes flickered briefly to Clark.



"Why were you yelling at Haze, Wolverine?" Clark looked at the smaller man, relaying what Haze was asking.



Wolverine was adult enough to be able to confess the truth, particularly under duress. "I was scared by what Haze was doing." He said tersely. "I tend to get loud when I get scared. It's a reflex, is all. Don't mean nothin' personal by it."



The expression on Haze's face changed completely and he glanced quickly at Clark.



"Haze wants you to know that he apologises for upsetting you Wolverine, and for getting angry at you, and he's really sorry for dropping you." Clark relayed. "He wants to … Haze?" He looked at Haze in sudden surprise. "Can you really do that?"



Shivering his wings out, Haze nodded.



"Haze tells me he has something to say to you, Wolverine." Clark said finally, "And before you ask, I don't understand what he means by that either."



"Say?" Wolverine cocked his head and looked at Haze. "Actually say? Sorry, but I didn't think you could?"



Haze gave a half-shrug.



"Don't look at me." Lex added, in response to Wolverine's questioning glance. "I've always thought Haze was mute… That's what I was told, anyway." He looked at Clark with just a hint of irritation.



"Because that's what we all thought." Clark said hurriedly. "Haze, you can't, but you can?" He sounded completely confused by now. "I really don't know what you mean either." Giving a loud sigh, he stared at his 'twin'. "Maybe you should just do it?"



"What's he gonna do?" Wolverine was mildly concerned.



"I don't really know," Clark shrugged. "But I'd trust Haze with anything."



"Then that's good enough for me." Wolverine decided, looking up at Haze. "Just do whatever it is, kid. I guess I trust ya too."







Reaching both arms out, Haze rested his hands on Wolverine's shoulders, lifting his wings out behind him. Opening his mouth, he formed a shape with his lips as if he were pronouncing something with great care.



Just for a second Wolverine could have sworn that he heard music, the sunlight grew brighter around him and he felt curiously light. In that instant, all of his troubles faded, the constant discomfort from where the metal and his flesh were uneasily bonded, the new ache in his gut from too much food, and the hot angry feeling that rarely left him, all went.



"Hhmm?" He blinked and focussed on the world around him again. "Well, that was different."



"Wolverine, are you alright?" Lex sounded worried. "You went sort of blank there for a second. Did that hurt?"



"Hurt?" Wolverine wondered what Lex was referring to?



"The energy burst?" Lex clarified.



"No, it didn't. In fact, I don't ever remember feeling better." Wolverine smiled at Haze. "Apology accepted, and thanks."



For a moment the roar of a deep throaty engine rolled over the sultry garden, only to die off abruptly with the crackle of tires on gravel.



Haze signed something that apparently made perfect sense to Clark.



"Come on then!" Clark yanked Haze so fast he nearly pulled him off his feet. Together the pair pounded across the grass and disappeared around the corner.



"What are they so fired up about?" Wolverine frowned, "Wanna go take a look?"







Lex nodded. He picked up something from the ground, "Yes, and I think we ought to get there fairly quickly. Haze had already put his wings away, but Clark whisked him off without even letting him get his sneakers. That gravel isn't exactly foot-friendly and Haze has been testy enough today as it is, without sore feet adding to it…"



"I hear ya. Now that Wing-boy's mellowed, by all means let's try and keep him that way." Logan agreed.



Together they rounded the corner and stopped. Under the mansion lights a fabulous low-slung black machine gleamed, the now-fading daylight reflecting from the flawless bodywork.



"I'm in love!" Lex groaned. "I have to have that car, whatever it takes!"



"I think someone else might object to that." Wolverine said carefully, noticing the dark figure in the long cape leaning nonchalantly against the legendary machine. "After all, it is HIS. And I don't know about you, but I ain't particularly figurin' on fightin' him for it?"



"Maybe he'd consider an offer?"



"Ya think?"



"No, but a guy can hope."



"Sure you can hope, but Lex, I gotta tell ya, drooling ain't a very flatterin' look for anyone. Thinking o' which, take a peek at the kids…"



One of the youths was already wandering obliviously along the gravel eyeing the sleek vehicle with obvious awe, while his counterpart watched from the edge of the grass.



Leaning against the front wing of the Batmobile, Batman waited, powerful arms folded, very obviously keeping a keen eye on everything.



Since he don't mind the gravel, that has to be Clark over there, which means that the other kid is… Wolverine realised that he was not the only one watching Haze. The Batman's attention now seemed to be fixed very firmly on the camouflaged angel. Something in the other man's stance sent a sudden chill inching up Wolverine's back.



Old Bat's is checking out our Wing boy a bit closely, ain't he?



"Wow, Haze! You really have to see this! The engine's huge!" Clark called across the car, confirming Wolverine's speculations about which youth was which and equally obviously using his abilities to check under the closed hood.



Haze nodded, and eyed the car appreciatively, signing that it all looked very fine.



They ain't the only ones admirin' the view, only it ain't nothin' mechanical that's got the Bat guy interested … But how come he's turned up here, and what the heck does he want?



Wolverine inhaled cautiously, however with the wind blowing in the wrong direction and the bulk of the car between them he wasn't picking up more than traces of hot engine, and the cowled figure remained as enigmatic as ever.



And what's the betting that that was a deliberate move on his part? Wolverine mused. Damn, but that guy's good … Maybe even as good as me?







Pressing a button on his gauntlet, Gotham's self-appointed protector triggered the roof of the car, causing it to retract smoothly into its hidden housing.



Lex paused when Wolverine held out a cautioning arm. "Let's not rush in. The Batman ain't exactly the most approachable guy." The metal-clawed mutant suggested.



"Good point." They hung back at the edge of the garden. The menacing crime-fighter was not exactly top of Lex's 'meet-and-greet' list either. Something about the dark cloaked figure sent small chills through his gut. He decided to follow Wolverine's advice. Curiosity was one thing, but stupidity was quite another.



"I've heard tell about grown men wetting themselves when Batman just looked at them." Wolverine confided softly. "We don't know what he wants, or why he's here. I reckon you should call the kids back."



"They aren't dogs." Lex reminded him. "They don't come when I whistle."



"Pity." Wolverine grinned. "Could be useful."



"Yeah." Lex knew that Wolverine was just as aware of the ambiguity of the comment as he was, and that it was just as true either way. In fact now that Lex came to think of it, he could picture Clark translated into a gangling puppy, Haze too come to that. Doberman's, probably … leggy, dark, earnest… All elegant menace in a sleek muscular package…



Focus Lex! Focus! Diverted from that track, Lex's attention immediately settled elsewhere. That is SUCH a wonderful car… I wonder how fast it goes?







Rising easily to his full height, Batman wandered slowly over to where Haze was standing, seemingly fixated on the youth. His attention never left Haze, and he seemed not to notice the two people standing back on the grass. Wolverine had no doubts though.



Bats knows we're here all right … He just ain't bothered about it.



Haze took a tentative half-step forward, only to draw to an uncomfortable halt again as the stones in the driveway dug into the sole of an unprotected foot.



Wolverine was about to suggest that Lex throw Haze his sneakers, but it seemed that the Batman had other ideas. Heavy boots crunched over the gravel as the costumed fighter strode rapidly over to the youth. Briefly he circled around, and then with a sudden swift movement, lifted Haze up into his arms.



"What the?!" Wolverine's claws slid out. "Put him down. Now!"







"Clark." The deep voice echoed in the still air.



"Batman?" Clark's eyes locked immediately onto the Dark Knight.



"Explain to this to Wolverine for me please, while Haze gets settled in the back." As he spoke Batman continued to carry Haze over to the car, obviously expecting his instructions to be followed.



"'Kay." The other youth agreed.



"No way! You ain't taking him anywhere, Bub!" Wolverine growled and sprang into action.



As Wolverine hurtled across the intervening gap, Clark blurred over, reached out, and snatched the metal-boned mutant from the air as easily as anyone else would have caught a basketball. "You've got it wrong, Wolverine." He said simply. "Batman came here specially to see us. He's okay."



Across the drive Batman effortlessly lowered Haze into the rear seat.



"He what?" Wolverine hesitated. He looked closer. If it was a kidnapping Haze certainly didn't seem to be objecting, and the youth was hardly the passive type usually.



"Batman promised us both a ride in the Batmobile," Clark explained. "And he's come to keep his promise. We'll be back in about an hour."



"You gotta be mad! Think about what your Dad would say!"



At that, Clark gave a wide grin. "Can I drive?" He announced happily.



"Huh?" Blankly Wolverine stared up at the youth, his train of thought completely derailed.



"That's what my Dad DID say." Clark told him, carefully setting Wolverine back down beside Lex. "When they first met Haze healed Batman, afterwards Batman brought Haze and my Dad here so they had somewhere safe to stay. Haze was out of it, and he didn't even get a look at the car that time, so Batman promised him a turn in it when things settled down a bit, but they never got the chance." He explained. "Until now."



Clark smiled at Logan. "Batman promised me a turn too, when we were taking Haze to the Foundation doctors. Dad's already had a couple of rides in the car, and Batman even let him drive it once. Now we're going to get it!"



"I'm gonna get it." Wolverine groaned. "When Charlie, Bruce Wayne, and not to mention your Mom, hear that I let you two outta my sight, and with the Batman… I'm definitely gonna get it… and 'it' ain't gonna be anythin' nice."



"Oh come on!" Clark pouted. "Don't you think that Haze and I can handle ourselves? What exactly do you think Batman is going to do to us?"



Wolverine groaned. The kid was merciless. "Not the pout, Clark! How're ya ever gonna get taken seriously if ya pout like that?" He demanded. "Put it away, will ya?"



"How about puppy dog eyes?" Clark grinned, sensing imminent victory. "I can do those too."



"No!" Wolverine threw up his hands. "Here, Lex! He's your friend, you talk some sense to him!"



"Okay." Lex put on a very serious expression. "Clark, listen very carefully, because this is important."



Clark turned to Lex, fixing him intently with those huge innocent eyes.



Behind Clark, the engine of the huge car roared into life and the vehicle turned in a neat circle. Haze gestured that Clark should hurry.



"Don't forget to wear a seatbelt," Lex told him. "And if you do get lucky then use a condom!" He pulled a couple of foil sachets out of his back pocket and tossed them toward Clark who automatically snatched them out of the air before anything of what Lex was saying really filtered through.



"Lex!" The expression on the youth's face was priceless. Shoving the packets into his back pocket and blushing furiously, Clark fled into the waiting car at blurring speed.







Wolverine watched the tail lights vanish down the darkening driveway. "Weren't you supposed to talk some sense into him?" He accused, turning to his smirking companion.



"Well, I did give him some excellent safety tips," Lex grinned, "But what can I say? As Clark already knows, I'm a total sucker for the puppy dog eyes. And besides, if they're in his good books then between them they should be able to persuade Batman into giving US a ride sometime…"



"Well…" Wolverine gave him a sideways look, "Ya think?"



"How could he refuse?" Lex grinned. "With both of them working on him? Could anyone stand up to those two?"



"A real twin-pronged attack…" Wolverine chuckled. "You reckon it will really be okay that they went for a ride with him?" He asked after a few more seconds.



"He does know their parents." Lex reminded him. "Martha and Jonathan were pretty chummy with him at the hospital."



"Yeah, there is that." Wolverine thought it through a bit further. "So the Bat met Super Mom?"



"Definitely."



"Kids should be perfectly safe with him then."



"That was what I thought. Question is, will the Batman be safe with them?"



"I need a brew before I start thinking about things like that…" Wolverine cast a glance at his companion. "Wanna join me?"



"Sure, why not?"



* * * * *





There was a curious airy whistling accompanied by what might have been a quick burst of distant laughter had it not come from somewhere up in the sky above the house. Lex looked at Wolverine and frowned. "What the heck was that?"



"Sounded like a rush of wind." Wolverine told him.



"There's not a breath of air moving tonight." Lex said. "That's why it's so damn humid outside." Reluctantly abandoning his control he got up from the far-too-comfortable couch and headed for the windows.



Wolverine followed with equal reluctance and together they stared out at the starry heavens.



"There!" Wolverine pointed upwards. "Did you see that?"



"I saw something." Lex squinted. "I'm not sure what though?"



The mutant peered into the darkness. "It's our two teenage idiots." He pronounced firmly.



"It would be." Lex sighed. "Just as we were having some fun. I was about to make a move on you too!" Returning to the table he pressed a button. The current game saved and paused in mid-round.



"Nah, I was about to annihilate ya…" Wolverine put his own joystick on the table beside Lex's, and grinned at the scores in approval.



Together the two men pushed open the French windows and wandered out onto the lawn.



There was definitely something going on outside.







High up in the air two dark shapes flitted from one side of the sky to the other. One rose, lifting on wings of night. The other joined it, wingless but flying nevertheless and keeping close as a shadow to the first. The wings beat steadily, and the shadow matched every move.



Twisting and turning, the pair ascended, higher and higher, until just below the clouds they spun, changing direction like a leaf in the wind.



Diving, the fliers sank down, turning ninety degrees and levelling out. Skimming the waves only an arm's length above the ocean, sending parallel wakes churning across the starlit sea, they raced headlong, effortlessly matching velocity and direction.



Hugging the curve of the bay, swerving around the jagged rocks, before bursting upwards again, the duo soared together into the vaulted sky, to fly level for more than a mile, spiralling around each other.



"Like dancing…" Lex breathed. "In 3-D."



Wolverine nodded, as entranced by the aerial display as his companion.







"Yeah! That was awesome!" Clark was saying, as he landed lightly on the lawn.



Touching down just behind him, Haze shrugged his wings away, setting one hand on Clark's shoulder.



"Maybe we should do that every night?" Clark added. "The flying would be good training for both of us."



"Have a heart, I don't think my nerves could take it." Wolverine lit his cigar, letting them know he was there and listening. "Nice ta have ya back boys."



"Hi Wolverine." Clark greeted him with evident pleasure. "Haze says hi."



"Hi Haze, Clark." Sucking in a lungful of the noxious fumes, Wolverine contemplated the sky for a long moment before sighing out a very compact smoke ring.



"Smooth." Clark approved.



"Not a healthy habit, kid." Wolverine admitted. "Even if you heal the way I do."



"Mmm." The tall youth peered at him closely. "Your lungs are fine though."



"Kid, don't creep me out!" Wolverine nearly choked. "It ain't natural to be able to stare into people's insides!"



Clark only laughed.



Reminded of something else, Wolverine gave him a devilish grin. "So, how was the ride?"



"Great!" The enthusiastic youth seemed even more animated than usual. "Batman even let me drive for a few minutes."



"Really?"



"Really! It was cool."



"Hope you handed it back to him in one piece?"



"Of course!" Clark grinned again, "Don't you think I could handle it?"



"Carry it, yes, handle it – maybe…" Wolverine gave him a wry smile. "Yeah, sure I do. Just kiddin' ya. How about you Haze? Did ya drive too?"



Haze shook his head and signed something.



"Haze says that he's happier leaving that to other people. He prefers air to road."



"Understandable." Wolverine nodded. "Although personally I'd take road over air anytime, especially in a car like that. Bet it goes like a dream?"



"Oh yes…" Clark was practically radiant. "You should feel how it handles at speed." He shook himself back to the moment. "Wolverine?"



"Yes?"



"Next time we see Batman, and if he asks, would you like a ride too?"



Wolverine resisted the urge to punch the air and scream 'yes' in a very loud voice. "I wouldn't want to impose, but I'd certainly be interested." He said smoothly. "I bet Lex would too."



"Cool." Clark was obviously committing that information to memory. "Haze, we'll have to ask Batman when we see him again."







For a moment Wolverine was tempted to enquire whether the boys had gotten any use out of Lex's foil wrapped safety precautions, but decided that it might be prudent to save that little gem for another time. He was in their good books right now and he needed to stay that way if he was ever going to see the inside of that car. Besides, it was getting late and that sort of suggestion could very well give the kids naughty ideas…



Haze caught hold of Clark's hand, tugging at him.



"Bed. Yes. We should." Clark agreed immediately.



"You planning on getting some downtime now?" Wolverine asked.



Is it me, or are these two volunteering to get to sleep early? Now, that definitely ain't natural. These two were still technically teenagers after all so logically they should have been finding ways to extend their curfew, not shorten it. Granted neither was a typical teen, but even so …



Definitely something funny going on there… It was at that point that Logan remembered the sleeping arrangements. Being a nosy kind of person, it had not escaped his attention that while he and Lex were quartered on one floor, Haze and Clark were located up on the next one.



Immediately after his arrival at the mansion, Wolverine had naturally wandered around and inspected everything, which led to the discovery that there were only two suites currently being occupied on the topmost floor, one of which had Haze's shirt left tidily on the end of the bed.



The doors to the suite to one side of Haze's were firmly shut and, from the strong male scent lingering in the air, Wolverine assumed that the room beyond it must therefore belong to Bruce Wayne as the trace matched various other batches that he had detected scattered around the rest of the mansion.



The suite on the other side of Haze's was empty now but still bore traces of the Kent parents for a nose as sensitive as Wolverine's. Which meant that the boys were sharing a room…



So what are they up to? Wolverine took another deep drag of his cigar as he leant against the wall and relaxed. Hell, I ain't their Dad…What should I care?



"We always share a room." Clark told him. "I sleep better when I know Haze is there."



"Handy."



"Yes." Clark was hardly the best actor Wolverine had met, and Wolverine's enhanced senses would have picked it up immediately if the kid was trying to lie to him, but apparently Clark was simply telling it as he saw it.



Cute, who would have figured that the kid was still that innocent? Of course, it did help explain those scorching blushes…



"Night you two." Wolverine said gruffly, champing down on his amusement. "No funny stuff, okay? Your mother made me promise to keep an eye on you, and I don't intend to let her down."



"Dad said the same thing to Bruce." Clark mused. "What is it about us, Haze? Why do people think we need minding?"



Haze shrugged and patted Clark's hand absently.



"Yes, it is strange." Clark agreed. He slid his arms around Haze, holding him around the waist "Ready?" Their feet left the floor as Clark floated them both up to their balcony.







"Haze, maybe we should have used the stairs after all?" Clark wondered, as his feet settled on the cool stone of the balcony, "Didn't Bruce say that all of the outside doors are alarmed once they've been shut?"



Haze grinned, and shaking his head he gestured toward the door. The lock clicked and the door swung outwards for them. Silently Haze communicated that he knew exactly what to do to circumvent the door alarms…



'That's handy.' Clark approved, equally silently. 'Make much use of that while I wasn't around?'



'Might have.' Haze grinned.



In response, Clark gave him a wicked smile. 'So that's what you do at nights, eh? Sneak in people's bedroom windows?' He suggested.



'No. ' Haze replied with equal amusement. 'There are better things to do here than prowl around the house all night.' A flicker of remembered pleasure trickled through their link.



That earned him an even wider grin from Clark. 'Thinking of which, what exactly ARE we going to do once Bruce gets back?' Clark was wondering.



'Plan A'



'You sure?' Clark had liked the idea of Plan A, but wasn’t sure how it would pan out in practice.



'Yep.' Haze was confident.



"Okay." As soon as they were inside, Clark stripped off his t-shirt and threw it on the nearby chair. With a flick of Haze's fingers the shirt turned right-side out again, and Clark's discarded jeans folded themselves neatly and hung themselves over the chair back. He gave his 'twin' a grateful grin. "I missed you, Haze."



'Missed me picking up after you, you mean?' Haze sent back with a warm smile, tidily removing his own clothes.



"That too. So what time does Bruce normally get in?"



'Five'ish.'



"Wow, he stays out late…" Clark was fascinated. "So do we wait up for him?"



'No,' Haze communicated. 'You use the bed and I'll sit here. I'll sense when Bruce arrives, that way we can see him before he gets ready to go to sleep.'



"Are we going to surprise him?"



'Not a good idea, Babe, poor Bruce is so pumped full of adrenaline by the time he gets done with his patrol that what he needs by then is soothing, not shocking.'



"I wasn't going to shock him!" Came the immediate protest. "I was thinking more of being there ready for him…" Clark admitted, flushing slightly at his own forwardness. "How about Plan B - both of us waiting naked in his bed? Surely he'd like that?"





Haze considered that idea for a moment. 'He would probably like finding us naked and waiting for him, in a bed or not, but I'm not sure about whether he'd be as happy about it being in HIS bed. Bruce is very territorial, maybe even as much as Wolverine.'



"Wow." Clark took that thought to its logical conclusion. "So an obvious approach might not go down too well?"



'Might not.'



Well, Clark supposed that Haze ought to know Bruce Wayne pretty well by that point. "Okay, we stick to Plan A then." He slid out of his boxers and climbed on top of the sheets. For a moment he just lay there, but it was no use. Rolling over, Clark sighed.



The other teen stretched out so that his foot rested comfortingly against Clark's leg, 'What's up?' Haze asked wordlessly.



"It's stifling in here. Feels like there's no oxygen…" Clark didn’t mind any amount of heat when he was up and active, but lying down was a different story.



'What about that air conditioning thing?'



Clark frowned. He had shut the air conditioning unit down earlier that evening as it had nearly driven him to distraction, and he hadn't even been trying to sleep then, only read. "Makes too much noise." He said miserably, wishing he'd thought to put it back on while they were both fully occupied outside. The room might have been cool by now if he had, although somehow he doubted it.



'Bruce sleeps with it on' Haze told him.



"Bruce doesn't have my hearing." Clark reminded his 'twin'.



'True.' Sitting up on the broad arm of the chair Haze manifested his wings.



"What are you planning?" Clark watched with interest.



Haze smiled fondly. 'Just moving a bit of air' He communicated.



"Cool" Clark sighed happily as the air began to circulate over him.



'I hope so.' Haze responded. 'I'll try and lower the temperature too, but I make no promises… Climate control really isn't my thing…'



Clark lay there following the steady movement of Haze's wings with his eyes. The motion was almost hypnotic, and after only a few minutes his eyelids were drooping.



'Sleep, Babe, I'll call you when it's time.'



"mmm."



* * * * *





Glad to be home after what had been a remarkably short and uneventful patrol, Bruce strolled along the hallway, enjoying the feel of soft carpet under his bare toes after hours spent in snug fitting boots. Even this early the air was too sultry for more than minimal clothing, and he had willingly foregone his usual joggers for running shorts and just a t-shirt.



Should he chance having a quick look-in on the two boys, or was that too much of an imposition?



They did like the car ride though … It was good to see them both together, and so happy…



Passing the room that Jonathan and Martha had been using, Bruce noticed as the door to Haze's room began to open. There was no sign of any human agency touching the door, but having been regular witness to Haze's gifts, Bruce hardly found that cause for concern.



Why would Haze want me in there? After all, he has Clark back now. And yet here was the door, being opened right in front of him. Quite obviously he was being invited inside.



Perhaps with Clark asleep Haze is getting bored?







Noiselessly Bruce slipped into the room, immediately appreciating the pleasant breeze that brushed over his exposed skin. Their air conditioning seemed to be working much better than his did, and more quietly … He made a mental note to check that out after he had had some sleep.



As expected, Clark was occupying the bed. Haze sat perched on the footboard, outstretched wings spread above Clark like a benediction. The wings rose and then softly lowered, spreading blessedly cool air across the bedroom.



For a second, Bruce simply stared at the vision in front of him.



My god, he's beautiful!



His eyes were gradually drawn to the other boy sprawled out on top of the covers, and even that quick glance proved that Clark was as naked as the angel.



They're both utterly exquisite…



Bruce hesitated near the door, feeling as if he had strayed into heaven unintentionally, utterly certain that none of this was actually intended for him.



The wings lifted again, wafting another draught of air over the supine youth. Stirring slightly Clark changed position, the dawn light licking over rippling muscle as he turned toward his 'twin'.



Shifting his wings behind him, Haze lent in across Clark, bending to place a light kiss on the parted lips.



With an audible sigh Clark nuzzled closer to Haze, and giving a low groan of pleasure he opened his mouth allowing Haze entry.



Delicately the angel tasted his duplicate, leaning further forward, placing his arms sentry-like to either side of the other boy, and gently encouraging Clark over onto his back.



As Clark complied, the evidence of his arousal was outlined by the rising glow from the window, and perfectly mirrored in the jutting erection from the body above his.



Oh lord, they're about to …



Heat flared in Bruce's groin, as he saw Haze slick the tip of his tongue over Clark's lower lip.



But then why did Haze open the door for me?







At that exact moment, Haze glanced over at Bruce, his eyes almost luminous in the dim light.



As Bruce watched, a smile appeared on the angel's sensual features, and Haze licked a long pink tongue over his full lips.



He wants me to see… Bruce wrestled with temptation for a handful of heartbeats. No, I really should go - before Clark realises I'm here…



'Stay…' The words drifted into his mind. Stunned, Bruce froze, relying on the shadows by the door to conceal him from the other youth, and quite forgetting about Clark's 'extra' vision.



Flicking his eyes back down to Clark, Haze planted a small kiss on the curve of the other boy's chin.



Smiling, Clark captured Haze's lips with his own, sucking lightly on his lip before sinking his tongue inside. As he kissed his 'twin', he reached up, teasing Haze's nipples with the tips of his fingers and making the angel arch his back in silent supplication.



Bruce felt his own nipples harden in reaction, as he recalled exactly how good it felt to be touched like that…







Sliding one arm down and around Clark's broad back, Haze rubbed his chest over Clark, encouraging him to nip and suck at the tight buds that had been tormented so effectively by Clark's deft fingers.



As Clark suckled, he ran his hands possessively along the tight hard lines of his 'twin', stroking the angel and fondling him. One hand rubbed over Haze's arousal, and the angel hissed in pleasure, jerking his hip into Clark's palm.



"Oh, yeah Haze, you like that, don't you?" Clark murmured, in a voice that practically had to be illegal all by itself, as his fingers moulded around the firm organ and squeezed lightly before drifting on down to stroke Haze's balls.



Haze shuddered in bliss.



"But I know you like this even more…" Sliding further down along the sheets, Clark guided the tip of Haze's shaft between his lips. Catching Haze firmly by the hips, he guided the angel in and out of his mouth, sucking him with enthusiasm and making low moaning sounds.



Haze knelt over Clark, hands resting on Clark's shoulders for balance, fingers clenching and releasing in time with the attention he was receiving, wing tips rising and falling as he gasped at each pull on his sensitive organ.



Bruce stood stunned, the powerful throbbing between his own legs fuelled by the vision on the bed.







Clark's efforts very quickly paid off, as Haze shuddered, biting his lower lip and clutching at his 'twin', pressing urgently into the other youth's mouth as he came hard.



Taking every drop, Clark swallowed hungrily, running a moist tongue over his lips and grinning. "Your turn, Babe." He smiled. "Take me."



Haze bent to the task and continued to slowly drive Clark out of his mind with whatever he was doing, and very soon it was Clark teetering on the edge of climax.



Gently the angel took the other boy in his arms, and held him, calming him but not allowing him the release he craved. Kissing him tenderly, Haze looked into Clark's eyes and waited.



"Oh, yes! I want it." Clark groaned aloud. "You know I do."



Delicately, Haze slid one arm around Clark's hip, and stroked him intimately.



Clark whimpered and pressed tight to Haze. "Haze." He moaned. "Please!"



Haze pressed his mouth to Clark's and pushed him back down onto the bed.



Clark writhed, lifting his hips and panting. "Yes, oh I can feel that…" He groaned, "what you're doing … inside me … oh god Haze, oh that's so good…"



Jerking his hips, he thrust against Haze's restraining hand. "Please, or I'm gonna explode…"



Haze cuddled him close. Gradually, he soothed the desperate youth until Clark lay quiet again, only the hitching of his breath and the steel hardness between his legs revealing his urgency.



"Please, Haze, don't leave me like this any longer." Clark begged. "Ride me." He ground his length against Haze's thigh and wrapped his arms around his duplicate. "Please Haze, I want you so bad…"



Rising onto his knees, Haze delicately parted his legs and let Clark take up position beneath him, directing a questioning glance down at his 'twin'.



"Now!" Clark pleaded, breathless and shaking. "Let me in."



Closing the distance between them, Haze positioned himself and Clark began to insert his erect organ into the waiting body. For a second Haze tensed, but as Clark nudged forward, the other youth gradually relaxed, allowing the intrusion.



Waiting for Haze to adjust, Clark allowed his 'twin' to set the pace, and Haze quickly accommodated. Large hands unclenched from the covers and wrapped around Haze's buttocks, easing him down slowly until Clark was fully sheathed within him.



"So good…" Clark breathed. "So tight … " His eyes were shut, his pouting lips trembled with passion, and he guided himself urgently in and out of Haze until he could hold off no longer. Opening his eyes he looked directly at Haze and came, spending his seed inside the other youth.



With a final thrust, Haze climaxed, wings rising triumphantly over the pair of them, sending spurts of thick white liquid pulsing over Clark.



Across the room, Bruce almost came in his pants without even needing to touch himself. Feeling suddenly awkward he turned, intending to leave and find release on his own, only to find himself being drawn over to the bed by unseen forces.







"Bruce, not going so soon?" Clark smiled up from the mattress as Haze cleaned them both up. "We've saved some space specially for you…" He stretched out one gloriously naked arm and ran it along Bruce's, his fingers tracing a heated line from Bruce's wrist up to his shoulder.



Lightly, Clark patted the mattress just beside Haze. "Please."



"I …" Bruce looked down into the shining eyes. "But you've got each other now..."



"We want you too." Clark moved closer until Bruce could feel the heat rising from the golden skin. "Won't you come and play?" He asked seductively.



"With …" Bruce glanced over at the bed.



Haze nodded and held out his arms.



"Both of you?" Bruce finished in awe.



"Of course. We share everything." Clark smiled. "Unless you don't want to?" He whispered, licking along the edge of Bruce's jaw.



"Oh, I definitely DO want to…" Bruce groaned, before his morals could override his inner pervert.





Too fast for his senses to register, Bruce was pulled down onto the bed, deftly undressed, and intimately sandwiched between two very eager admirers.



"We want to make sure you're just as happy with this as we are." Clark murmured in his ear. A broad hand slid down across Bruce's stomach, worshipping the carefully cultivated muscle. "So what can we do for you?"



"Touch me." Bruce murmured. "Get me ready." One set of hands eagerly rose, teasing his aching length, while the other pair roamed along his back and arms.



Gasping, Bruce had to close his eyes or he would have come just from watching them attend to him.



"Seems you like us touching you?" Clark breathed softly, "But what else would you like us to do for you?"



"What … I saw." Bruce managed to say, as traces of aromatic liquid trickled down the crease of his buttocks, delicately pursued by an eager finger.



"You liked what you saw me do to Haze?" Clark guessed. "And you want us to do that with you…" His voice was hoarse with arousal. "How about we share you, Bruce? You take Haze while I take you?"



Bruce knew a good deal when he was offered one. "God, yes." He growled out.



Another hand joined the first, smoothing along his skin. Haze guided him gently, pressing Bruce back down onto Clark, as Haze topped.



The massive wings rose over him and Bruce slid his hips forward, rubbing against the angel and finding the way open to him. He sank into Haze with only a gentle push. The thrill of pleasure that ran through him as their bodies became intimately joined was like nothing he had ever felt before, because this time Clark was there too.



Clark's hands were firm around his shoulders, pinning Bruce's arms to his sides as irresistibly as velvet-covered steel.



Haze loomed over him, butterfly light, but as solidly sculpted as his 'twin', and Bruce felt himself guided deeper into the waiting heat.



"Yes." Bruce agreed. "Oh, yes …" Hot lips descended on his, and just as the tip of Haze's tongue entered his mouth, he sensed something shift inside him as the angel used his unearthly gifts to prepare the way for Clark.







Delighted, Bruce allowed himself to be manipulated, finding it novel to be made helpless while at the same time feeling so utterly secure. Haze licked and sucked at his mouth, reducing him to panting submission. Sensing the preparations completed, Bruce writhed against Haze.



"Oh, you're so hot Bruce," Clark sighed, rubbing his own rigid length against Bruce's buttocks. "I could get off just on touching you… But I promised Haze that we would all enjoy this for as long as possible."



Bruce groaned and tried not to lose it as a heated tip nudged at his rear, requesting entry.



Haze leant over and pulled Clark in for a lingering kiss.



"Yeah…" The other youth answered eagerly, "Now." Carefully he raised his hips and edged tighter against Bruce as Haze's tongue slicked over Bruce's lips. The momentary discomfort vanished at the angel's kiss, and Clark was already sunk halfway into him by the time that Haze's arms wrapped down around them both and urged them still closer.



"So tight…" Clark whispered, his arms under Bruce's shoulders, Bruce's head resting back on Clark's chest. "So exactly right …"



"Open to us …" The sensual voice was Clark's but Bruce sensed that both of them were speaking through him. "We want you…"



They're in each other's minds!



Willingly Bruce let the angel synchronise with him, sharing the experience as Bruce slid deeper into Haze's body and Clark pressed up into his.



It was more than just sex, more than anything else could ever be.