Similis

"Hey, Alfred!" Dick Grayson stepped lightly up to the door of the mansion and greeted the man who had been like family to him for most of his formative years.



"Master Dick." Alfred smiled warmly. "It is good to see you."



"Thanks Alfred, and it's good to see you too!" Dick told him happily. "Where's Old Grumpy Guts?" He asked more softly. "And how bad a mood is he in today?"



"Master Bruce is entertaining his guests beside the outdoor pool, and if I might venture an opinion, he is in a remarkably mellow mood today." Alfred replied, raising an eyebrow. "In fact, he has been so for the majority of the week…"



"Okay! I get it! You'd like him to stay that way, if possible?"



"It would be most agreeable." Alfred nodded, taking Dick's bags and following him into the house.



"He's really in a good mood?" Dick couldn't help but ask. "Good as in good for him, or good as in good for real people?"



"Good by anyone's standards, I should say." Alfred replied.



Dick stood and stared at the butler. "I don’t think I've ever seen that? Mildly grumpy once or twice, but not actually good." He thought that over. "What could have brought that on?" Dick grinned as one all-but impossible explanation occurred to him, and as teasing Alfred was his second favourite occupation he went with it. "Did he get laid?"



"Master Dick! I couldn't possibly comment, and it is hardly a subject that either of us should be discussing." Came the mild rebuke.



An expert by now at interpreting 'Alfred-speak', Dick nearly choked. "He did!"



"I really couldn't say." Alfred pursed his lips.



"Oh my god!" Dick stopped and stared. "You mean that Bruce finally found someone that actually meets his standards? No, forget that! Lead on Alfred! I have to see this good mood for myself before it evaporates!"



"Then you will understand if I leave Master Bruce to make the introductions?" Alfred stated. "I have other tasks to attend to."



"And Bruce has told you not to give me a clue as to who the other party is?" Dick guessed.



"Very good, Master Dick, I see that joining the Police force has in no way dulled your wits." Came the wry response.







Grinning hugely, Dick wandered out into the sunshine, spotting his victim, uh host, lying full out on one of the loungers.



"Hello, Dick." Bruce called contentedly, without even turning to look.



How does he DO that? Despite their years together Dick still hadn't completely figured out his former partner and mentor. You suppose he's got built-in Bat radar?



"Do you know Dick?" Bruce asked, rolling over lazily and addressing the person with whom he was talking.



The stranger squinted against the sunlight. "Don't think so."



"I don't think we've met." Dick agreed. The other man didn't look the sort that anyone would forget in a hurry.



"No? Okay, Dick, this is Logan, otherwise known as Wolverine of the X-Men." Bruce gestured toward the stocky man. "Logan, this is Richard Grayson, formerly my ward, the son I never had, and known everywhere as Dick. For various reasons." He added smugly.



"Charming." Dick grinned. "No one can insult you like your family can, eh?"



"Ain't that the truth?" Wolverine nodded. "Nice ta meet ya." He held out a hand, which Dick duly shook, finding the grip surprisingly solid.



Satisfied that he had done his duty as a host, Bruce waved a hand at Dick. "Well, don't just stand there blocking the sunshine, kiddo, go and get yourself a drink, then pull up a chair and join us." He settled down again and dived back into the conversation he had been having with Wolverine.



"Dick!" At that moment, a very familiar person strolled out onto the patio and hurried over.



"Lex!" Dick hugged his friend warmly. "I didn’t know you were going to be here. You could have said."



"No I couldn't. I was sworn to total secrecy." Lex grinned. "Clark and Haze are here and I had to promise that their parents wouldn't find out that there was going to be any sort of party type gathering. They're supposed to be here experiencing a bit of culture, not acquiring our bad habits."



"Clark?" Dick thought that over. The name sounded vaguely familiar for some reason, even though at first he couldn't think where he might have heard it. Then it clicked. "Oh, right! Your farm boy buddy from Smallville? Hey, I finally get to meet him?" He glanced around. "Where is he then?"



"Around somewhere. He's been helping Alfred. Clark has a thing about helping out, I blame his upbringing." Lex shrugged. "You'll know him when you see him. You can't miss him really, he's as tall as Bruce and nearly as broad."



"So they do actually grow them big in the country?" Dick recalled a previous joke the two of them had shared.



"Oh yes." The edges of Lex's mouth twitched up.



Dick processed the rest of Lex's earlier explanation. "Who is Haze?" He didn’t recall hearing that name from Lex before.



"Clark's recently-discovered brother."



"Wow, so now there are two of them?"



"In more ways than one. They certainly look enough alike." Lex agreed mildly. "The Kent's have taken Haze under their wing too." Waving an expansive hand he smiled at his friend. "Well, it's more complicated than that, but that's probably good enough to be going on with."



"Whatever." Dick shrugged. "I'm too thirsty for complications right now. I've been stuck in traffic for an hour and the air-con could only just cope. Is there any beer around here?"



"Take this one," Lex offered an unopened can. "I'll get another." He was about to walk back into the house when an unfamiliar youth wandered up.



Mentally, Dick compared the newcomer to the description given to him by Lex and found a perfect fit.



"Ah…" Lex smiled and the youth smiled back. "If you're going in for a drink, would you consider fetching me another beer on your way back?"



"'Kay." The lad gave a shy nod and disappeared into the dark interior.







Dick looked at his old friend. "Let me guess? That was Clark?"



"On the nose." Lex smirked. "Nothing gets past you, does it? Must be why you joined the police?"



"Don't be so sarcastic, I was only asking. From what you just told me, and for all I know, that could just as easily have been Haze."



The bald youth shrugged. "If it had been, you wouldn't have heard a word out of him."



"The shy and silent type, huh? Well, how was I to know that? Honestly, Lex, that's so typical of you - tighter with information than a duck's arse!" Dick laughed and cracked the can open. The beer was perfect, cool and refreshing and he immediately found himself relaxing. Settling into an empty seat, he lounged back and surveyed the garden. Across the patio, Bruce and Wolverine were still chatting animatedly.



"They've been enthusing over the finer points of tracking people for the past hour." Lex sighed. "Something you'd probably find interesting, I suppose? We can join them if you like, they won't mind. Neither will I - providing I'm not expected to contribute anything on the subject."



"Nah." Dick smiled. "I'd rather spend a few minutes catching up with you and getting the gossip."



"Gossip?" Lex eyed him sideways. "Oh, THAT gossip?" He didn't need to say more, they both knew each other too well. "What's it worth?"



Dick laughed aloud. "It's nice to know that at least some things can be relied on not to change." He told his friend.



A long shadow fell across the chair. Smiling, Lex accepted the fresh can of beer as it was being held out to him. "Thanks. You joining us?"



"Not right away." The youth grinned. "Wolverine wants another beer, and I'm going back in for a snack."



"I hope Bruce is paying you for this?" Dick smiled.



"Paying? For what?" Clark looked surprised. "Well, Alfred's feeding me, so I guess… Why?"



"Well, Bruce has had you running room service for him for the past hour." Lex reminded him, squinting up into the sunlight. "Even applying sun block."



"Not just me." The boy smiled. "Neither of us minds helping Bruce." He called over his shoulder as he wandered back inside.



Knowing his friend as he did, it wasn't difficult for Dick to see why Lex had developed such a fascination for this farm boy. It wasn't just the easy way that Clark moved, or how he smiled, but there was something about him … Something else.







Surprisingly quickly, the dark haired youth re-emerged through the far doors carrying two more cans, and strolled over to where Bruce was holding court. Scooting over, Bruce made room for the tall lad on the lounger.



Dick stared openly.



What is this? The Big Brooding Bat, not only out in daylight but also voluntarily sharing space with anyone? Let alone encouraging someone to actually sit behind him?



For a second, Dick wondered if this was what Alfred had been hinting at? Could this have something to do with Bruce's improved attitude? Bruce's interests had always centred on personality rather than gender, but even so Dick doubted that Bruce would have allowed himself to pursue a relationship with the dark haired youth. And if it had happened, then how come Lex was taking the whole thing so well? Competition between the two men had always been fierce, and this was hardly likely to be an exception to that.



Lex has been lusting after Clark for years, and Bruce would have to have known that. Even though he didn't lean in that direction, Dick wasn't been oblivious to the chiselled chest and taut abs being casually displayed either. The tight jeans left little to the imagination, and with the bare feet adding just a touch of the bohemian, Dick could certainly see why someone that way inclined would find the youth attractive.



But Bruce? He just wouldn't ... Would he? That prompted Dick to look even more closely at the dark-haired youth.



Clark looks so young… Could he really be Bruce's type? And what would he see in Bruce that Lex doesn't have too?



Unlikely as a liaison between his former guardian and the brunette seemed, Dick just couldn't see any alternatives …



I can't imagine Lex and Bruce ever getting on like that, which would only leave Logan in the frame, and neither he nor Bruce seem at all interested in each other except for conversation… Of course, I'm assuming that Bruce's Paragon is actually here today, which might not even be the case… But there was something in the way that Alfred was hinting…



Dick tried not to be obvious, but he continued to keep a subtle eye on the three.







"Not boring you, am I?" Lex laughed. "Or is there something over there that you find more interesting after all?"



"God, I'm sorry." Dick apologised. "I was just…"



"Studying Haze?" Lex suggested.



"That's …"



"Not Clark." Lex told him. "Watch the hands."



Dick didn't get the reference, but Lex seemed pretty certain. "They're really that alike?" He asked. Except for their hands apparently?



"Oh yes." Lex's smirk widened into a full fledged grin. "Most of the time they appear absolutely identical, at least on the surface." He seemed to find that immensely entertaining for some reason. "And it amuses them to confuse the rest of us just that bit further by dressing alike too." He added. "Although I wonder if that isn't Martha's influence at work at times…"



Knowing his old friend's tastes, Dick suppressed a chuckle. "So how do you know which is which?" He wondered. "Publicly acceptable details only, thanks."



"Because Clark talks and, as I said earlier, Haze can't." Lex said smugly. "He's definitely not shy, by the way, just mute. Clark is the modest one. That boy blushes like a stop light at the smallest thing. Which means that since we both heard a reply, it was Clark that you just met a few minutes ago."



Across the patio, Alfred emerged and walked sedately over to the engrossed trio. Bending, he discreetly murmured something to the dark-haired youth. Nodding, the lad got up and followed the butler inside. Bruce stretched out again and reoccupied the entire width of the lounger.







"Here, got you both a soda." A voice said from behind them. "Alfred's rationing the beer, he thinks you should dilute it a little."



"He's probably right. Thanks Clark. You staying out this time?" Lex asked.



"Probably, but I've got something I want to try first." The youth held out his closed hand.



"Is that ice?" Lex asked, noticing drops of water running down over the broad fingers. "No way! You're not putting any of that on me… "



"Shush. It's for Bruce." A warm chuckle came from the youth. "Don't make a fuss, or he'll hear you! I'm going to surprise him with it!" Before either Dick or Lex could respond the youth was gone, padding off across the patio. Confidently he walked up to where Bruce and Wolverine were lounging, and stopped beside Bruce.



"What is Clark thinking? Is he thinking?" Lex stared. "I know Bruce likes him, but …"



"But nothing." Dick stared at Lex. "Bruce will flatten him!"



"You're telling me!"



"Oh god! That kid doesn't have any idea of what he's letting himself in for." Dick stared wide-eyed at the retreating youth. "Lex, we have to stop him. Bruce will tear him apart!"



"Maybe." Lex smirked. "Clark's fast."



"He'll have to be super fast! Have you seen the speed Bruce can move at when he's angry?" It occurred to him that Lex seemed to have had a rather abrupt change of heart. "What are you up to, Lex? Why aren't you more worried?"



"Relax." Lex settled back. "Clark'll be fine. Besides you'll want to watch this, I know I do!" Subtly he flicked his cell phone to video record mode and pointed it in the right direction.







There was a sudden howl of indignation and a flurry of limbs from across the grass. Roaring out of the lounger, Bruce chased after a fleeing Clark. Far from being terrified, the kid was actually laughing.



Dick stared at the two as they hurtled across the lawn, gauging their progress.



That boy's certainly fast on his feet, but is he fast enough?



As he sat and watched, Dick had the strangest feeling, like Clark was actually holding back. Not something Dick would have done with a vengeful Bat on his tail… Of course, the farm boy wouldn't know about Bruce's alter ego… But even so…



"You're too slow!" The running youth yelled happily, as he powered out of Bruce's reach.



"Slow? I'll give you slow!" Bruce threatened, steaming after him. "You'll see how slow I am when I paddle your arse!"



Wolverine was lying creased up on the other lounger, practically helpless with laughter. "Go get him!" He chortled. "Hell, I ain't had this much fun for a long time!"



Fuming, Bruce circled the pool.



Pausing for a moment on the far side, the youth grinned saucily at him.



"Slow?" Bruce growled. "Oh, Kent, you are going to be so sorry for that!"







Dick felt a shiver of amusement run through him. It was not often that anyone got the better of the big broody Bat, and since it wasn't him that was going to be in Bruce's bad books this time, he decided that Lex was right and he should just sit back and enjoy the show.



The boy across the pool waved, and blew a cheeky kiss across the water to Bruce, all the while watching carefully to see which way the older man was going to move.



Thought Lex said Clark was chronically modest? Doesn’t seem like much of a shrinking violet right now…



While the two protagonists were in the middle of sizing each other up, a third figure arrived. Wandering past Wolverine and crossing the lawn, the other 'twin' grinned as he waved a greeting at Lex and Dick.



Sniffing, Wolverine sat up and took notice. "Nah, it couldn’t be … " He muttered, frowning to himself.



"Logan?" Lex asked.



"Now that's weird…" Wolverine started to say. "I could'a sworn… Nah…" He glanced at Lex and waved a hand. "Nah, forget I said it. It ain't nothin'."



"Haze!" Bruce looked over and saw the other lad. "Your brother is getting too cocky. He needs to be taught a lesson. I'm glad you're here, you can help me get him!"



Grinning at his twin, the newly arrived youth hurried over to where Bruce was standing. Stepping right up to Bruce, he wrapped one arm around Bruce's waist and rubbed against him suggestively.



"What the fuck..?" Dick felt his jaw drop, but couldn't be bothered to care. So he had been partly right … Bruce and one of the Kent boys?



"Mmmm." Bruce practically purred. "Well at least one of you knows how to show his appreciation." Never taking his eyes off the youth on the farther side of the pool, he deftly locked lips with the person at his side, pulling him close and kissing him deeply. "It's not going to save Clark," He rumbled. "But you taste good."



"So do you." Came the immediate reply.



"Clark?" Stunned, Bruce simply stared at the youth in his arms.



"Gotcha!" Placing a very rapid kiss on the surprised man's lips, the new arrival deftly slid out of Bruce's grasp, guiding another handful of ice down the back of the older man's trunks for good measure, before emitting a loud howl of amusement and running hell for leather around the pool and joining his 'twin' on the far side.



Practically weeping with laughter the two boys leant against each other and waited, unperturbed, until Bruce had almost caught up with them.



"I am going to kill the pair of you!" Bruce warned them as he charged after them.



Giggling, the twins danced just out of his reach. With both of them dressed in identical jeans, with bare chests and equally bare feet, it was like a living shell game, and next to impossible to decide which youth was which as they continued ducking and weaving.



Still laughing, the pair ran ahead of Bruce, gently taunting him, but staying just out of his reach and leaving him to chase their heels.







Pacing himself, Bruce very nearly caught up with one of them as they reached the edge of the rose garden, but the other boy dragged his 'twin' out of the older man's reach at the very last second.



"Quick! Back this way!" Racing around the flowerbeds, the faster boy evaded Bruce by a hairs-breadth, and sped off to rejoin his brother.



"Let's just stay round the pool?" One of the youths suggested, or maybe it was the same one. "It won't be so far to run." They changed places a few more times.



"You can't keep this up forever, Bruce." One called over his shoulder.



"I can do this for as long as you can." Bruce called back, putting on a little more speed and nearly catching them.



Hooting with laughter, the lads briefly parted company again, only to rejoin at the far side of the pool, blowing kisses at Bruce and chuckling.



"You're only making it harder on yourselves when I do catch you…" Bruce grinned evilly. "Remember I do know of at least one way to tell you apart, and when I do determine which of you is which, I'm going to work on discovering exactly how you managed to pull that trick off…" As he was talking, Bruce was subtly closing the gap between himself and the 'twins'.



Looking at each other the youths nodded, and still laughing, they split up again, one of them darting to the left, the other going right.



"Hey?" Bruce called out to his other guests. "A little help here guys?"







Feeling just a bit sorry for Bruce, who after all was only human, and currently facing two freaky teenagers, Wolverine obligingly got to his feet and joined his host. "Sure. Whad'ya need?"



"Get him!" Bruce pointed at the boy to his left. "I'll get this one. I'm fairly sure this is Haze."



"You sure about that?" The boy called over his shoulder.



"Well, I was pretty sure." Bruce laughed, the damp fabric of his trunks still clinging to him like a second skin. "Until now. " As his prey ran around one of the low walls, Bruce vaulted the stonework easily and cut him off. "But it really doesn’t matter, does it?"



"Yeow!" The boy back-pedalled and hesitated for an instant.



The situation was not lost on his 'twin'. "Fly, you twit!" The other version called over, half-watching Wolverine advancing on his own position. "Unless you want your invulnerable arse smacked?"



"What the?" Bruce did a quick double-take, but recovered magnificently.



"Right!" Clark nodded, and concentrating hard, darted up into the air. Hovering twenty feet up, he grinned down at Bruce. "Still think you can get me, huh?"







Across the grass, Dick stared openly.



How the hell is he doing that?



There didn't seem to be any way the kid could be using wires, but people didn't normally fly … and why wasn't anyone else commenting on it? Dick regarded the glass in his hand with deep suspicion.



Maybe Alfred was right about diluting this stuff?







"Just as soon as I lay hands on a stepladder or a rope!" Bruce retorted warmly. "Then we'll find out just how invulnerable your arse really is!"



"Promises, promises!" That seemed to amuse Clark even more, even as it brought a faint rosy glow to his cheeks.



"So if he's invulnerable, that means you've gotta be Haze, don't it?" Wolverine asked.



"Uh-huh." Haze nodded. "And I don't intend to let anyone grab hold of me either."



"Doesn't matter." Wolverine grinned. "You're no faster than me on the ground and I don't see no feathers this time, so you ain't going up anytime soon."



"Haze!" Clark yelled in warning. "Behind you!"







Haze turned and ducked so smoothly that the Bat couldn't have done any better. Rolling under Bruce's outstretched arm, the youth dived supplely at the surface of the swimming pool, but instead of sinking into the water, Haze skidded across the top and slid to a halt roughly midway out. From the relative safety of the water, he sat cross-legged and blew a noisy kiss at Bruce.



Across the grass, Dick stared, speechless. Why was he the only one who looked at all shocked to see a person sitting happily on the slightly rocking surface of the swimming pool? What the hell was in this stuff? He put the glass down carefully and swore that he wasn't ever going to drink anything without taking a really good look at the label first…







"Smooth!" Lex laughed and nodded knowingly. "You really have to admire his tactics." He murmured.



"Damn!" Bruce swore. "No way can I reach him out there and he knows it!"



"Slippery little guy, isn't he?" Wolverine laughed, plainly hugely enjoying the game.



"Who are you calling 'little', Logan?" Haze chuckled from out on the pool. "Pot, kettle, much?"



"It ain't the size of the box, it's what's in it that matters." Wolverine called back.



"So what's in your box?" Haze teased. He stood up casually on the middle of the water surface and grinned wolfishly. "And is it waterproof?" Looking up, his smile widened. "Clark? Remember last time?"



"You bet!" Clark was hovering just above the pool area now. "Hey guys, want a replay?"



"No!" Both Bruce and Wolverine shouted together.



Oh-oh! Just what are they getting so excited about? Dick watched and waited to find out.



"Incoming!" Haze laughed aloud and shivering his wings out, leapt up into the air.



"Oh my god!" Walking on water was one thing, but wings too? Dick sat mutely. Today was turning out to be just full of surprises.



"Now this," Lex predicted happily, "Is going to be worth watching!" He took a quick glance at his own position. "Yeah, we'll be fine if we stay put here." He decided.



Just as Haze shot upwards, Clark descended equally sharply at an angle from the other direction.



"Wait for it!" Lex crowed.



Dick waited.







As Clark's feet hit the temporarily solid surface the rest of the water in the pool rippled and then blanketed wildly out in a semi-horizontal direction, leaving Clark nice and dry and hovering contentedly just above the half-emptied pool.



Running for it, Wolverine and Bruce were just fast enough to avoid getting more than a few drops on either of them. But only just.



Rejoining Haze higher in the air, Clark caught hold of him happily. Together the two of them hung in the air and laughed out loud.



Clark hugged his 'brother' in delight. "Oh man! That was worth running errands all day for!" He groaned aloud. "But I think my ribs'll bust if I laugh any more!"



"Come down here you two!" Bruce grinned.



"What are you going to do to us if we do?" Clark asked, with understandable caution.



"Nothing! I promise! You're both safe." Bruce waved for them to come down. "That was a superbly planned effort, and flawlessly executed. I can't stay mad at you for that."



Taking Bruce at his word the two youths landed on the lawn and strode toward him.



"How come you can both talk?" Bruce asked, wrapping a hefty arm around each of them, and giving them a fond squeeze.



Haze shrugged. "I finally found out how I could do it." He 'said' aloud.



Releasing Clark, Bruce looked at Haze more closely. "You aren't really talking though are you?" He stared. "It's coming from just slightly ahead of where it should be. Still, only someone who was looking for that would be able to tell."



"I'm not doing it the way any of you do, I still can't." Haze admitted. "This way's a bit of an effort, but it works. And like you said, people aren't expecting it and so mostly they don’t even notice."



"Mind telling the rest of us what's going on?" Lex asked, wandering over, dragging a thoroughly bemused Dick with him. "Haze, how long have you been able to talk like this?"



Haze smiled at Lex. "Since after the caves." He said simply.



Lex raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "No shit?"



"No shit." Haze was unfazed by the comment, although Clark looked slightly scandalised.



"Uhm, I have a question." Dick said carefully. All eyes fixed on him. "If you don't mind me asking, Haze, what are you?"



"Angel." Haze said simply.



"Wow." Well, there wasn't much doubt about that. Dick couldn't seem to get enough of those wings. His fingers itched to touch them.



Haze noticed and nodded tolerantly. "If you like?" He stretched out the leading tip toward Dick and gestured for him to indulge his curiosity.



"Really?"



"Sure, but no tweaking."



Dick rested his palm on the surface of one wing. "I've always wondered what it would feel like to really fly." He admitted. "Just me and the sky. No walls or wires."



"Feels good." The angel told him. "Damn good." He stretched. "Come for a quick trip around the bay if you like, and I'll show you?"



"How come you didn't ask me?" Lex wondered.



"Don't get jealous." Haze laughed. "You can have a go later."



"Or you could come with me, Lex?" Clark offered. "If you want?"



"But you don't look like you have wings, Clark?" Dick was confused. "So how come you can fly?"



"Don't need them." Clark smiled. "Haze and I aren’t the same in every way."



"I'll go with Clark." Lex grinned. "That way I can get a little quality groping in at the same time."



"Just remember that Clark has to concentrate on the flying part to stay up." Haze smirked.



"Haze!" Clark blushed scarlet.



"I never noticed Clark having any problems with that when we were in the barn that afternoon." Lex sent back. "He stayed up just fine then…"







Dick laughed. Yes this was the Lex he was used to… Evidently Haze could give as good as he got, and wasn’t that an interesting image? Haze's brother was definitely a whole lot more modest though. Like Lex had said – traffic light red.



"You are both so rude." Clark flushed hotter. "Stop talking about me as if I wasn't here!"



"Both of you stop teasing Clark." Bruce ordered, stepping in and putting an easy arm around the shoulders of the furiously blushing youth. "Don't let either of them get to you." He told him, and mussed Clark's hair affectionately. "They’re just dirty minded." Taking hold of Haze, Bruce kissed him fondly. "Don't wind Clark up, or I'll have to have a firm talk with you later." He warned in a low tone.



The angel only smiled and lightly pinched Bruce's backside, making the Billionaire chuckle.



Dick nearly choked. "Whoah! Bruce! You have mellowed out lately."



"Really?" Bruce turned to his former ward. "I seem to remember having a firm talk with you every so often."



There was a smirk from the visiting Luthor. "I bet." Lex ventured, only to find himself being stared at by the Bat.



Bruce didn't say a word, but the message was obviously clearly received.



"Shall we go?" Clark tugged at Lex.



"Oh, sure." Lex retreated rapidly and might have even been hiding behind Clark just a little. Lifting Lex as if he weighed nothing, Clark hurtled up into the air with him.



To Dick's experienced eyes, Lex looked just the tiniest bit unsettled as the pair headed rapidly upwards. Just a bit of own back for the teasing? Dick kept that thought to himself.



"Clark's a good kid. You lay off him." Bruce murmured in Haze's ear. "You know how much that sort of thing embarrasses him."



Dick stared at the man who had worked so hard at raising him. "Wow." He said simply. Who would have thought it? Paternal Bruce?



"Good job no one else knows what a softie you really are." Haze smiled, and pressed a tender kiss to Bruce's lips.



"I'm not a softie." Bruce protested mildly. Another, more enthusiastic, kiss left him breathless and therefore unable to complain any further.



While Bruce was still recovering his composure, Haze took careful hold on Dick and launched them both into the air. "He is." He smiled, "He just won't admit it."



Dick laughed heartily. "Oh, you are definitely what Bruce needs, Haze!"



"I am?" The youth looked at him in surprise.



"Sure."



"And you don't mind? About us?" The angel asked carefully.



"Bruce is like a father to me. I really can't think of him in any other way." Dick shook his head. "No, I don't mind at all. In fact it's just what I've always wanted for him. Bruce needs to be able to relax and enjoy himself."

He glanced around. "Thinking of which, this is fantastic!"



"You like heights?"



"Love them." Dick admitted.



Haze grinned at him. "Then let's take it to the max. Trust me?"



After swinging around all over Gotham on bat-lines? How scary could it be to fly with an angel? Dick laughed. "Why the hell not?"



* * * * *





"So, was it fun?" Sipping at his coffee, Bruce actually smiled as the returning pair landed on the lawn. An hour had gone by just like that.



"Fantastic!" Dick told him. "Hey, you're smiling, and your face isn't cracking. And you actually said 'fun' without cringing or looking suspicious!"



"Cheeky brat." Bruce swatted him lightly with his rolled up paper. "Since when did you grow a pair?"



"Oh, I don't know…" Dick countered. "But I bet it was way before you learned to chill out…"



"Touché" The rich chuckle that came from Bruce was at least as surprising as the smile.



Wings gone, Haze sank down on the empty lounger beside Bruce and stretched luxuriously.



"Where's Clark?" The Bat's curiosity was never far from the surface.



"Clark?" Haze shut his eyes. "Making out with Lex on that large rock in the middle of the bay."



"He's what!" Bruce nearly spilled his coffee.



"Not that mellow then?" Haze grinned wickedly. "We really have to work on that. Grind down a few more rough edges."



Bruce gave Haze a dark stare. "I don't know why I let you get me like that?" He sighed. "I wouldn't fall for it with anyone else. I know full well that Clark brought Lex back and left him here about half an hour ago, before going out again for a bit more solo flying." He glanced at Dick. "I think Lex was a bit more worried about upsetting Clark's concentration than he would let on."



"Figures." Dick nodded. "Lex isn't good about being good for long."



"You're right, I was only kidding." Haze agreed. "Lex got tired of flying a long time before we did," He smiled at Dick, "Clark's nearly back now, in fact he's buzzing along the surf line by the base of the cliffs, getting ready to head up here."



"How can you tell that?" Dick asked curiously.



"We're linked." Haze replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "And, Bruce, don't even think about doing that."



"What?" Bruce looked over at them.



"You know what." Lying back, Haze closed his eyes.



The billionaire gave a sheepish grin. "Oh." He said mildly. "That? Oh, well, I wouldn't have."



"Do you know what Bruce is thinking too?" Dick cottoned on.



"Only when it's about us." Haze gave a soft smile. "Now that," he opened one eye. "That you can do anytime."



"Sex fiend." Bruce accused gently.



"Guilty as charged." Haze acknowledged the truth of the comment.







Listening to the easy banter between the two of them, Dick decided that really it was kinda sweet… Not that he would ever have used those exact words to either of them.



"Hey guys!" A shadow darkened the still air, and Clark made a perfect touchdown just beside the patio table. "Mmm, coffee!"



"Help yourself." Bruce offered. "Alfred's out for the evening, visiting his lady love."



"Otherwise known as 'the good Doctor', Leslie Thompkins?" Dick guessed.



"On the money, as usual, Dick." An eyebrow lofted in approval.



"Where's everyone else?" Dick asked curiously, noticing the sudden absence of the remainder of their small group.



"Lex and Logan are off somewhere indoors." Bruce was evidently not concerned about whatever his other guests might be up to.



But then he probably knows exactly where they are… hell, he's probably recording it for later review? 'Security purposes', my arse! I wonder if he still does that, now he's getting some himself? Dick decided to abandon that train of thought while he could still face Bruce without blushing.



"They're still upstairs." Clark announced, squinting at the building.



Given Bruce's usually suspicious nature, Dick was mildly surprised to find that his former guardian seemed to accept the youth's casual statement as fact.



How come he just took Clark's word for that? What's the kid got? X-ray eyes or something?



Clark turned his attention to his 'twin'. "Shift over Haze." He instructed.



"Okay." Yawning, Haze edged over, allowing Clark to fit himself onto the lounger beside him.



"Tired, babe?" Bruce looked across at the youth.



"Bit." Came the quiet reply.



"That's not like you?" For a moment Bruce actually sounded concerned.



"Haze is fine, but faking talking like this is hard for him." Clark explained to them. "It takes a lot out of him, and he's been keeping it going all day, so that we could be sure you couldn't keep tabs on which of us was which."



"Yes, it was a superb masquerade." Bruce agreed. "Really well played."



"I thought it was fun." Clark said. "Haze liked it too."



"Haze?" Bruce looked across at the two of them. "Do you want to go up to bed?"



Haze lifted an indifferent hand.



"No, he says he's fine." Clark translated, setting aside the empty coffee cup and wrapping one arm around his 'twin'. "He just wants to stop here quietly with us for a while. Come on, get comfy then." He invited his duplicate.



Giving a sleepy sigh, Haze snuggled tight against Clark, shifting until his head was resting on Clark's arm.







"Are we in time for the Haze and Clark show?" Lex wandered out onto the patio, Wolverine following on close behind him.



"Perfectly." Bruce nodded.



"We saw you all get back." Lex explained.



Bruce turned a casual eye on the newly arrived pair. "Well, who got beaten to a pulp this time?" He asked.



Dick took a quick look at both men, neither seemed in the least ruffled. He remembered about the X-Man's mutant healing ability and wondered…



"Him." Wolverine grinned.



"That was only because you cheated." Lex waved dismissively. "Next time I'll unleash Nuclear Holocaust."



"Wouldn't have worked." Wolverine didn't seem bothered. "I had the largest life count and that's all it takes to win."



"Stupid game doesn’t understand proper military tactics." Lex sighed.



"Actually, I gotta agree with you there." Wolverine admitted. "I should'a never gotten control of the second city. But if you know that those are the rules of the thing, then that's what you gotta do ta win."



"I take it you two were sampling the latest computer game on the widescreen upstairs?" Dick finally understood.



"What else would we be doing?" Lex raised a querying eyebrow at him. "Honestly, Dick…" He managed to carry off an air of innocence, but only with a visible effort.



"Knowing you, just about anything." Dick smirked, taking the opportunity for a little own-back.







"Good friend of yours?" Wolverine looked sideways at Lex. "Trustworthy?"



"Usually." Lex nodded.



"Ah."



"Why?" The bald billionaire was immediately curious.



There was a strange 'snikkkt' noise and a set of long metal claws jutted out from between Wolverine's knuckles.



"Been waiting to do that for ages. Wouldn't chance it while I'm holding the handset though." The mutant explained.



Dick stared. Those things were … worrying.



"Relax, kid. It's against my rules to skewer friends." Wolverine had noticed him looking. "Or friends of friends."



"Thank god for that." Dick allowed himself a sigh of relief. He'd thought that he'd seen it all in his time, but evidently there was still a lot to discover out there. Those claws looked very … businesslike.



"Thinking of the Deity and his angelic minions." Lex pointed a finger at the lounger. "See what I see?"



"Aww." Wolverine smiled. "Ain't that cute?"



Clark was now fully stretched out on the lounger, one foot dangling over the side, Haze lying along him. Clark's arms were wrapped around Haze's chest, one hand tangled in the other boy's hair, leaving Haze's face pillowed on Clark's pec's. Both youths were already fast asleep and totally oblivious to the attention they were drawing.



"Time for someone's bed." Bruce decided. "Logan, do you reckon you could manage Clark, if I take Haze?"



"How come I get the heavy one?" Logan asked.



"You have instant healing, don't you?"



"So?" The smaller man eyed his hulking host suspiciously.



"So if you put your back out carrying him, it'll be a few minutes before you heal." Bruce reminded him. "It'll take me a week, and an osteopath."



"When ya put it like that…" Wolverine agreed. "Come on then, get them peeled apart and let's get on with it."



"How much do they weigh?" Dick looked at Lex.



"Beats me." Lex shrugged. "Last time anyone told me, Clark was up around the two sixty mark."



"Two sixty?" Dick could scarcely believe it. "What's he made of? Stone?"



"More like Steel. Thankfully Haze isn't anywhere near that heavy." Bruce stated, gently prising Clark's arms from around Haze. "Come on, babe. Let's get you up to bed." He whispered, easing the sleeping youth into his arms and straightening up.



"Easy Clark." Wolverine carefully gathered the other boy to him and lifted. "Atta boy… I gotcha."







Immediately Lex stepped back hastily and got well out of the way.



"What's got you so wary?" Dick asked, noticing the tense way that Lex was moving.



"I trust Clark with my life when he's fully awake." Lex said softly, "But he has some very … weird … abilities." He sighed.



"Weird?" Dick was still thinking of metal claws, and Haze had wings. How weird is Weird?



"The flying isn't the only thing that Clark can do." Lex confided. "He can shoot laser beams from his eyes, and he can snap steel with his bare hands. Plus he has possibly the worst case of complete guilt complex that I have ever encountered. Forgiving him for anything he might have done while half-asleep would be a nightmare. For both of us."



"Bad?"



"Clark's still stressing that I lost my hair because of the meteor shower." Lex said airily. "If he ever actually hurt me himself, it'd probably take a least a week before he stopped apologising long enough to let me get a word in edgewise."



"But why would Clark feel bad about the meteor shower?" Dick was still confused.



"The ship he was in came down with the meteors, they were the remains of his home world." Lex sighed. "Like I would blame him for that?"



"So he's got it really bad then." Dick agreed. The rest of the sentence caught up with his beleaguered brain. "Hey, do you mean that Clark's …"



"An alien, and the last of his race." Lex confirmed. "But you have to promise that you won't let on that you know. He really hates anyone thinking he's different."



"Then how does Haze fit in? I thought that they were brothers? Wouldn’t they have been in the same ship?"



"Oh," Lex gave a deep sigh. "If we're going to get into that I need a drink. You fancy some of Bruce's best scotch? Purely for medicinal purposes?"



"Sure." Dick agreed. "Sounds like a long conversation, no sense in being dry the whole time. But only one … I have to maintain a certain level of fitness, you know? I don't have your freaky metabolic advantages..."



"No, well, what can I say? You're just weird anyway, Grayson, with no good excuse for it. You and Clark should get together and form a club… " Lex laughed and they walked off together to raid Bruce's drinks cabinet.



Just another Gotham weekend…



END