It was strange. But Bruce felt weird walking around a city which was so bright. He had gotten used to the damp roads of Gotham. And he missed it.

He was very much aware of the consequences it would bring if he got out of his apartment building in casual dress. The reporters would most probably gather around him asking him why he was here in their city.

For the first time in his life, Bruce realised how cringe he sounds, saying that to literally anyone he saw. He mentally facepalmed.

There wasn't even the slightest possibility that he was gonna stop saying that anyway. The fact that it intimidated almost everyone still stands.

Bruce spend another few minutes thinking random stuff and he finally made up his mind to go out.

He vaguely wondered if there were nice cafes in the area where he could just go and sit in peace without anyone to interfere him.

He googled just that and found out that there was a cute little cafe opposite the Daily Planet, where only a very few people would be, most of which would be reporters.

The faintest idea of reporters sickened him. But then again, just the thought of a certain someone was strong enough to lure him to the cafe.

•••

Bruce hadn't the slightest idea of how long he had spent in the cafe. He loved the place. It was just the right place to sit and talk with Alfred about his business and his city, without anyone noticing.

"Anything interesting happened in the city of Sunshine, sir?" Alfred asked from the other side of the line when he was done filling in Bruce on the affairs of Gotham.

"Well, there is this one guy I got to be friends with" Bruce emphasized the word 'friend' as he felt weird about telling Alfred that he was more of a friend with benefits. But who was he kidding? Alfred raised him and there was no hiding away from him. He was probably on to him.

"A guy, you say, sir?" Alfred said, bringing a questioning tone to his British voice.

"Alfred. I'm talking about Superman. I found out who he really is" Bruce sounded somewhat irritated.

Alfred chuckled on the other end. "I'm glad that there is finally someone in your life you actually mentioned to me as a friend, Sir"

Alfred had said those words so casually. But it hit Bruce differently. It dwelled on him long after minutes since the call ended. It got him thinking.

What has gotten into him?!

WHAT WAS HE DOING?!

Bruce used to think that he would never have someone in his life he would actually care about. He realised the fact that his job-- His Night Job- was dangerous. And he liked to keep the list of the people who would be hurt if anything was to ever go wrong short.

Right now, the list only had one name in it -- Alfred Pennyworth. But he was a whole different story. Bruce knew he was so stubborn that even if Bruce was to threaten him at a gunpoint, Alfred would never leave him.

That was the problem. He could not stop Alfred from being there for him. Not that he hate that he is there. But it eould have been so much better for Alfred.

But Bruce could most definitely stop anyone else from crossing the line.

From what little information Bruce had known about Superman, about Clark Kent, he was a man who wouldn't mind to put his life on the line if it meant that it would save his loved ones.

And Bruce knew, by the way things were moving between them, that he could so easily be one of his 'loved ones'. He knew that Clark was inhuman, which meant he had inhuman capabilities too.

But that doesn't mean he can't be hurt. That doesn't mean his family and friends can't be hurt.

So Bruce made a decision. Whatever it was going on between them, as much as he liked to have it continue as it is, he had to stop it any cost. Even if it cost him their friendship.

As Bruce stood there, glaring at his coffee that had gone cold long ago, he found himself being accompanied by someone, who seated themselves on the opposite chair.

He glanced up and saw Clark smiling nervously at him and his glare immediately softened.

"Hey" Clark said and Bruce returned the expression.

"I was being yelled at by Perry in his office and I kind of picked up your heart beat somewhere nearby. So I was wondering if you were around. Surprisingly enough, you were" Clark said, his voice full of excitement.

"Why am I not surprised?" Bruce's voice was ignorant and his face looked like it held a despised expression.

Clark was confused. "Sorry?" He didn't know what else to say. Beacuse the last time he checked, Bruce was kind of begging for him to stay with him and what had changed over a few hours?

"You annoy me, Kent. Could you, maybe just leave my sight, or would it so much to ask of a farm boy?" Bruce spat those words with so much hate that he himself felt like slapping the living soul of out of him for it. But what other choice did he have.

It was for the greater good.

Clark's face fell and utter confusion and a mix of anger and sadness filled his features. His face was overrun by different emotions in a matter of seconds. He couldn't believe Bruce just said that. What happened to him? This is not the Bruce he knew.

Did you really know him to think that? A voice in his head spoke and Clark couldn't help but agree. Why was he being stupid? It was Bruce Wayne. The spoiled Brat who was left with the fortune of his parents at a very young age. Disappeared as soon he turned fifteen. Came back as the most successive man on the planet. As the worst jock ever. Who knows what he had been upto all those years?

Clark felt his eyes well up as a tightening grip clenched his aching heart. He searched the other man's face for any emotion that might surface but nothing showed up.

He was probably just looking for a fuckboy and Clark just happened to be a perfect asshole to fall right into his trap.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

•••

The only feeling that had been overflowing Bruce's mind for the past few moments was hatred-- hatred towards himself. There he sat in front of the man who looked so lost and broken, all because of him, with an expression that screamed pity and disgust.

He couldn't stand to see this. How could he have said those words to the face of this amazing man? The most amazing man he has ever met!

As much as he would like to just scoot over to his side and hold him tight saying that none of this was his fault, he couldn't. He shouldn't.

He had to let him go. For his own sake. And this was the only way.

Clark just got up from his spot silently. He felt somuch.

"I don't know why you're doing this Bruce, but you are the worst person I've ever met"

Bruce felt his throat go dry and it felt like something weighed on his heart. It crumbled under the look of hurt in Clark's eyes.

He wanted to scream out how he really felt. That none of this was supposed to happen. But he chose to stay quiet.

As Clark begins to turn around and walk away, a single thought drummed through Bruce's mind.

You're right.

----

Hey!
It's vacation time and I guess I might be able to update even more often.

So... What do you think about this chapter? :)