Chapter Text
Bruce scoffed and Lex tugged his hair, making him arch against Lex’s sheets.
"Lex–"
"Sh… we have to be quiet sweetheart,” Lex teased. They had fallen into bed after dinner, the news had been on as they finished a few things before bed. Their attention had been diverted as the anchor spoke of the success between their joint project and the possible repercussions of a LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises alliance. The guest speaker they had on had said something about Lex being unable to work well with others which had induced teasing from Bruce and then Bruce in his lap. Then they had ended up pretending they were at a gala, something which they had stopped doing in actuality.
"Lex," Bruce breathed out his name, his heels digging into Lex’s back to tug him closer.
Lex exhaled softly, "Darling."
"I love you."
Lex shut his eyes, "Bruce…"
"Kiss me."
Lex helplessly leaned in, pressing their lips together. Bruce led him into a slow kiss, his mouth already half numb and oversensitive. He shivered again as Bruce licked his lip, stroking his cheeks like he was made of glass.
"You know I mean it don't you?" Bruce spoke against his mouth.
Lex exhaled shakily, "This was supposed to be a bit of roleplay." He tried to joke but his voice was too hoarse.
"I miss you when we're apart. I want to have you in my arms every night. I want you desperately." Bruce cupped his face.
"Bruce–"
"Lex. I want to be yours." Lex’s breath caught as he stared into Bruce’s lust hazed eyes tracking over him without missing a beat.
Lex swallowed, his head dulled with his approaching orgasm. Every part of him was straining to reach that peak in Bruce's welcoming heat. Bruce pulled him down, hugging him tight, his hands stroking Lex’s sides.
"You deserve to be happy."
Lex's hands tightened on Bruce's hip and thigh. He reminded himself that Bruce felt this way about everyone, but somehow that felt even worse. That Bruce was ready to give himself to help while he wanted nothing more than to hoard him close and take. He was only the latest in a long line of broken people enchanted with Bruce Wayne's bizarre endless well of hope. Did Bruce even see him for what he was?
Bruce gave himself away before. Bruce told him that, heard Kent snap at Bruce for that.
Lex felt the knot of tension as his orgasm hovered near but falling further away. He pulled out, biting his cheek as his cock met the cool air. He pressed closer to Bruce, curling around him.
Bruce stroked his back with a feather light touch.
"Do you really love me?" Lex spoke into his collar.
"Yes."
"You seem to want to give yourself away to people like me. You aren't just seeing them in me?"
Bruce stopped breathing for a moment and Lex waited, his chest tight as he felt Bruce's heart beat against his skin.
"Of course not." Bruce spoke finally, his chest began to rise and fall again. "I… acknowledge that I… seem to have a type."
Lex smiled against his skin.
"But it's because I understand. The emotions and urges. I gave up on real love. I accepted that no one wanted me for me. The moment things became serious and I dropped my defenses. When I would finally feel happy and fulfilled with another person. They left because they didn't want that for me."
Lex lifted his head to look at him. Bruce was frowning at him.
"They wanted Batman. They wanted me broken and unfixable. They wanted my… never ending campaign. No happy ending in sight." Bruce laughed softly, "I don't know how they saw it ending." He frowned again, shaking his head. "Well. I suppose they saw it ending with some glorious death."
Lex watched his eyes shut.
"Do you want that too?"
"Do I?" Lex repeated slowly, "If I said yes?"
Bruce opened his eyes to smile, "I… don't know. Just keep going like this I suppose. I close off and you can enjoy breaking my composure for a night or two."
"You want to give Batman up for love?"
Bruce smiled, "Alfred always said I was a romantic."
"Not your kids?"
Bruce looked away as his smile faded just as soon as it arrived, "There’s a lot of reasons to give it up. But they want me to be Batman."
"You don't?"
"I… can't see it ending well. Every day I get slower. I don't want to expose my identity in a situation I wouldn't have found myself in a few years younger. I know how many people rely on me. I can at least still support them without the cowl. I've grown enough to see that my death won't be a grand gesture. Living takes a lot more."
"But you won't stop?"
"I don't know. It's… been my life. It's hard to set it aside."
"But having someone at your side…"
Bruce smiled, his eyes wandering Lex's face, "Makes things easier."
Lex swallowed, looking away, "I… don't think you're just Batman. I don't think I… ever expected you might give it up so easily. I thought it might be something that you just complain about until it kills you."
Bruce laughed once.
"I thought it was a joke. When Alfred called you a hopeless romantic."
"I'm afraid not." Bruce stroked his cheek, “Does that dull the mystic?”
Lex leaned in to kiss his palm, “I’m in too deep, I’m afraid.”
Lex sat back, moving up to lean against the headboard. Bruce pushed himself up as well, dragging the covers over them. He leaned into Lex’s side as he stared at the far wall.
“What are you going to do?” Lex turned to look at him.
Bruce met his concern with a smile, “I always keep busy Lex.”
Lex’s arm wrapped around his waist as Bruce pushed open his bedroom door. Bruce smiled as Lex buried his face in his neck.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay in bed?” Lex’s hand pressed under his robe, teasing the bare skin of his stomach.
“I want breakfast. I made a very big decision last night and I want to be able to focus today.” Bruce cupped his jaw as Lex teased the spot behind his ear.
“Focus…” Lex scoffed, pulling him back against his chest as he tried to step out.
“Lex,” Bruce laughed, turning to kiss him.
“Holy shit.”
Both of their heads snapped up to see Conner in Tim’s doorway. Tim leaned over his shoulder, wearing Conner’s shirt.
“Oh.” Tim looked between them.
Bruce cleared his throat as Lex’s grip on his hip bordered on inhuman, “Good morning. Headed down for breakfast?”