icarus_chained | Kal/Bruce/J'onn fic for Jen_in

Because she wrote me Q. And just in general deserves it.

Title: Pas de Trois
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Clark/Bruce/J'onn, Lois
Summary: another charity event at Wayne Manor. Lois finds out a few things.
Disclaimer: don't own.

Pas de Trois

Clark watched the dance contentedly, leaning back against the groaning buffet table and smiling quietly at Alfred as the frazzled older man passed by on his way to politely eviscerate an unfortunate waiter. Clark knew he didn't actually mind. It did the old man good to see Wayne manor alive and sparkling again, if only once in a while. A reminder of, if not better, then certainly noisier days. The attendant problems of catering staff, event management, stocking the kitchens, cleaning the dance hall, disguising the latest evidence of Bruce's batarang practice, and all the rest of it, were insignificant details that quailed before a politely raised eyebrow and a few words uttered in quiet, even tones.

In another life, Alfred had been a general of considerable ability.

Few people were sampling the fruits of Alfred's labour at the minute, though. Most of the guests were on the dance floor, swaying to something slow and smoky. Clark had begged off on the grounds of big feet and fundamental incompatibility, which had Lois huffing and Bruce sneering gently. But Clark had wanted to let J'onn have a chance. Their partner had gone to some effort with his disguise, after a few days of Bruce's silent nagging, and Clark had wanted him to have the full experience. As the society columns were wont to say, you hadn't lived in Gotham until you'd danced in Bruce Wayne's arms, after all.

They were circling gently near the foot of the stairs at the minute. J'onn's long and quietly beautiful form was curled into the broad clasp of Bruce's arms, his elfin cheek resting lightly on his partner's shoulder as sparkling green eyes shone up into fierce blue ones. The pre-Raphaelite beauty J'onn had gone for looked perfect with Gotham's prince.

But to Clark, it was more than that. He could see the protective curl in Bruce's arms, the surprised joy in J'onn's eyes, the easy grace Bruce's body and mind imparted to the learning telepath as they circled. He could see Bruce's hand rubbing gently at the strap of J'onn's dress, an inoffensive move until you considered that J'onn's dress was no more an actual dress than his cape was an actual cape. That tiny intimate touch spoke volumns to anyone who knew how to look. In it, Clark could see his lovers' quiet joy and adoration.

It was a beautiful sight.

*Clark, if you do not stop the romantic maunderings, I will be forced to take steps*

Clark stiffled a chuckle at Bruce's testy telepathic instruction, knowing it for the vague embarrassment it was, and shot back. *I'm jealous, my love. Can't you tell? There's J'onn, dancing in your arms, and here I am, standing beside Alfred's feast, all lonesome.*

He felt a sudden flash of J'onn's amusement, and then a wave of sensation poured over him. He could feel Bruce's arms around him, smell his perfectly toned cologne, hear the muffled laughter in his easy breathing. He felt himself moving with the slow rhythm, the heat and sounds of the dance. He could feel the strong shoulder beneath his cheek, the warm weight of a hand on his slender waist, the press of tuxedo against his ... breasts ...

*J'onn! Stop that!* He could have sworn the Martian sniggered. *That wasn't nice.*

*I concur,* Bruce commented in mock severity. *It's not nice to tease, J'onn. You're sending him mixed signals, and his poor Kryptonian brain can't handle it.*

Clark readied the returning salvo, but before he got it off, something caught his eye. *Don't look now, but something's on its way I doubt even you can handle, Bruce.* He absolutely did not admire the instant shift to Batman as Bruce's eyes cooled and hardened and his body deliberately relaxed to let him move once he'd identified the threat. J'onn, humming slightly through the link, absolutely did not admire it either, though Clark had to concede that the Martian probably had the better view. It was hard to begrudge him it, though, when he also got a better view of Lois' icy smile as she appeared at Bruce's elbow.

"Mind if I cut in?" she asked, through clenched teeth. J'onn blinked at her, but Bruce shifted automatically from Batman to billionaire and shot her a thousand-dollar smile.

"Certainly, Ms Lane," he murmured pleasantly, smoothly whirling J'onn into the crook of his left arm as he took Lois' hand with his right. "If your fellow reporter would like to take Ms Jones in my stead?" This last as Clark came to a clumsy halt beside them, and nodded. J'onn slipped into his arms with maybe a little more haste than necessary, and Bruce caught up Lois without a further word and shimmied them away out over the floor.

Clark and J'onn stared after them as they belatedly began dancing again themselves. Clark paused for a moment in surprise as he felt J'onn move expertly with him, and smiled as he felt his lover's wry reproach.

*I was taught by the best, after all. No-one can doubt Bruce's ability to move.*

*No. It's his ability to handle Lois I'm worried about,* Clark murmured, manouvering them so he could keep a wary eye on the other couple. Bruce was oozing charm, but Lois' cool grin was more than a counter for it. *Was it ethical of us to leave him alone with her?*

*Better him than me,* J'onn whispered. *My hair was standing on end, and I don't even have real hair. I get the impression we have done something badly wrong.*

*No. Not us. I think it's just him.* Clark didn't bother to deny his worry. The Martian could read Bruce when their stubborn lover was hurt and locked tighter than a calm. Clark's meager shields didn't stand a chance, and he'd never liked blocking J'onn anyway. Sensing the thought, J'onn ran a hand down his arm half in gratitude and half in comfort. Clark smiled at him.

*He will be fine.* J'onn murmured. *He has been fighting off angry women for years now, after all.*

Clark laughed lightly, and spun him around. *Maybe you're right. He'll be fine. He's Batman!*

***

On the other side of the floor, Bruce wasn't so sure of that. There were sharks with less intimidating grins than the one Lois currently sported, and he was sure she was deliberately trying to step on his toes. It took every ounce of his combat skill to avoid her neat little heels, and at every near miss she gave him a sweet little smile.

"Ms Lane, have I offended you in some way?" he asked politely, frowning slightly as a flash of raw fury poured over her features. "If I have, I apologise, but I don't recall ..."

"Cut the crap, Bruce," she hissed, stamping a little harder than necessary as they turned. "What do you think you've done!"

He shook his head, frowning. "I don't know, Lois. What have I done?"

She stared at him in amazement, before sheer contempt took over. "Are you that heartless?" she spat. "Or just stupid? Did you think I wouldn't notice?" He blinked, and shook his head in honest confusion, and she snarled. "Bruce, you were more than just dancing with that woman!"

It was a rare thing to see Bruce actually gobsmacked. "What?" he spluttered, and Lois paused.

"Bruce, did you honestly not realise. You looked ... smitten. And you didn't notice? Oh, that just takes the cake! That makes it five times worse, you idiot!"

He shook his head. "Lois, what are you talking about?"

She looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Bruce, you're in love with her, you idiot. You're cheating on Clark! And as soon as I get you alone, I'm going to take you to little tiny pieces for it, you blue-blooded bastard! Bad enough you go and seduce him, but now ...!"

Bruce had had enough. "Lois! Shut up!" She did, but only long enough to glare. "Firstly, who seduced who is entirely another issue, and not one I intend to get into here. Secondly, I would never cheat on anyone, let alone Clark. And thirdly, I would have thought you'd know better than to jump to conclusions without checking your facts!"

She paused. "What is that supposed to mean?"

His voice softened, and he turned them so she could see where Clark and J'onn were dancing. "Look," he commanded gently. Lois followed his gaze, in time to see Clark lift J'onn through a turn, and smiling at the Martian's startled laugh. J'onn put his arms around his partner's neck as his feet hit the floor again, still laughing as he nestled back into Clark's arms. It was obvious to anyone watching how they felt about each other. Lois stared in awe, and turned back to Bruce.

"Both. You're in love with both of them? And Clark too?"

Bruce smiled softly. "It's ... complicated. But in essence? Yes."

Lois looked thunderstruck. "But ... who? Who is she?"

Bruce shifted for a moment. "Ah. Give me a second, would you?" He ignored her shrewd look, and sent a rapid query towards his lovers. *J'onn. In the interests of potentially saving our collective skins, I need to tell Lois who you are. Any objections?*

*None whatsoever.* The response was ever so slightly breathless. Of course, technically telepathic conversations did not require breathing, but that was definitely the impression given. Bruce smiled slightly.

"Telepathy?" Lois asked, watching his face carefully. He nodded, and her eyes widened. "No. You're not serious?"

He paused, features becoming suddenly grave. "I have never been more so, Lois. About both of them." It carried all the gravity of a life-oath. She stared up at him for a long moment, weighing the promise in his voice, and nodded solemnly. Then she laughed.

Bruce blinked. "What's funny?"

Lois shook her head. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Only you, Bruce. Only you could manage to fall in love with two of the most powerful and alien beings on this planet. And manage to make them fall in love right back." She looked at him slyly. "One of these days, I'm going to have to ask you how you managed that."

He shook his wryly. "Damned if I know," he murmured, and she laughed again.

"But how are you going to manage it?" she murmured. "How do you plan to keep up with both of them?" He looked at her, and then out across the floor to where J'onn was dipping low in Clark's arms, a small smile on his feminine features as he gently traced Clark's cheek, and smiled sadly. Lois looked up at him in sudden concern. "Bruce?"

He looked back down at her. "I don't," he answered softly. "I don't plan on keeping up with them at all." He smiled at her look of blank confusion. "Man may not walk among the gods forever, Lois. He's too fragile for that. All I plan to do is love them while I can, and make sure they're safe for when I go." He could feel the sudden concern and aching love that poured into him from the two men across the room, but it didn't concern him. They were smart enough to have known, and it was nothing save the truth. The swell of love in his chest when he saw them together was reward enough for a thousand lifetimes, and he had it all in just the one. He had no regrets.

"How do you do that?" Lois asked him softly. He blinked at her. "Just when I think you're the worst possible man anyone could ever fall in love with ... you go and say something like that."

He shrugged uneasily. "Well, I am a world-renowed playboy, after all, using my skills to make women swoon."

She smiled gently at him, and patted his cheek as she stepped back suddenly. His eyes followed her in confusion, before he felt Clark's warm hand on one shoulder, and J'onn's lighter one on the other. "No," she said softly. "You're not." And she nodded to J'onn, who nodded back gravely, gave Clark a tiny smile that was quickly returned, and turned on her heel.

Leaving his partners to lead him silently outside and into the air. Leaving them to show him that for them, there were no regrets either.

Leaving them to show him how much they loved him.