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bradygirl_12Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Bruce, Dick, Alfred, Kristin Wells
Genre: Slice-Of-Life
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: An old film reel chronicles the public and private lives of the Kent-Wayne family, aka The World's Finest.
Date Of Completion: December 27, 2007
Date Of Posting: December 30, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own 'em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1941
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Written for the World’s Finest Gift Exchange for Claim F53: Clark and Bruce in a home movie. Either they are watching it together, or someone else finds it and watches it. Rating: Any. I chose to set the story in the Silver Age, as the home movie theme made me think of the old-fashioned projectors and screens. Hope the requester likes this! :)
Kristin Wells is the historian from Elliot S! Maggin’s Superman novel, Miracle Monday, and some comics appearances in the 1980s.
The lights were dimmed as the projector started up, the clickity-clack of the machine the only sound in the room. Images began to flicker on the screen.
& & & & & &
The camera pans across palatial grounds: colorful gardens with a marble fountain splashing merrily in the center. Trees bend their branches as a strong breeze blows apple blossoms around, creating a snowy-white tableau against the background of the white-capped ocean. Fluffy white clouds scud across an azure sky.
A young boy somersaults into the frame, laughing and dressed in a yellow sweater and jeans followed by two adults, both smiling.
Clark turns back to wink at cameraman Alfred as Bruce and Dick continue walking to the seawall.
Cut to:
Bruce and Dick on the trapeze in the gym in Wayne Manor in prefect sync. Clark appears, floating as he joins the routine, mimicking their movements. Despite the absence of sound, Dick’s giggle is obvious.
Cut to:
Summer sunshine bathes the Wayne Manor backyard, Clark stretched out on a lawn chair as he sunbathes. He wears a swimsuit, soaking up all the rays possible. The camera lingers lovingly on Clark, his Superman curl resting on his brow. He isn’t wearing his glasses.
The camera shakes slightly as it is placed on a tripod, and Bruce enters the frame. He approaches the lawn chair with Bat-like stealth. He sits on the edge of the chair, enjoying the view. He reaches out and brushes the curl aside.
Sapphire-blue eyes flutter open, then a smile appears on Clark’s face. Bruce leans down as strong arms slide around him as they kiss.
Cut to:
Batman and Superman in the Batcave, Batman waving the camera away, Superman winking at the cameraman. The Kryptonian looks bright in the Cave’s darkness, his cape falling like a shimmering scarlet waterfall. Batman frowns at the camera again, Superman sliding an arm around his shoulders and turning him away, throwing another wink over his shoulder.
Cut to:
Superman flying lazily along the turrets and spires of Wayne Manor, his cape fluttering out behind him on a summer’s day. He performs aerial acrobatics, looping and turning and twisting, a smile always on his beautiful face.
He swoops down to the ocean, plunging into the waves and surfacing like a playful dolphin, flying with a flock of seagulls, then landing atop a buoy and affecting Rodin’s Thinker pose. Mischief twinkles in his eyes.
Cut to:
Clark and Bruce resting their arms on a railing overlooking the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The thundering water paints a magnificent picture of power, and Bruce slides his arm around Clark’s back, Clark turning his head and smiling at his companion. They kiss, then start walking down the sidewalk, the Falls as backdrop.
Cut to:
Now it’s the American side, as the camera pans down to the Bridal Falls. Closer to the Falls on this side, the lens clearly captures the pounding of the water over rocks, tiny figures in yellow and black slickers below as they walk the wooden walkways in the Cave of the Winds tour.
Cut to:
Down at the Bridal Falls as two slicker-clad lovers head for the waterfall. Clark takes the camera and films Dick running in his yellow slicker under the water and emerging out on the other side, laughing and drenched. Dick turns back and goes back under the water, then takes the camera again and films Bruce and Clark’s journey through the water, Clark in yellow, Bruce in black.
Cut to:
Gorgeous flowers fill the screen, arranged in precise, neat patterns on the Canadian side at the Horticultural Gardens. Red and yellow roses mix, and the grass is green and bright as the sun blazes down. Clark walks to a patch of yellow roses and leans down and inhales the scent, Bruce coming up to rest his hand on Clark’s back.
A Japanese family strolls by, the father clicking away on his camera, and a woman in an Indian sari walks past the lens.
Cut to:
A very long, tree-lined pathway. The trees are towering and twist their branches to interlace high above walkers’ heads. Clark and Bruce stroll down the path, holding hands and dwarfed by the size of the trees.
Cut to:
The Falls at night, viewed from the Canadian side. Clark and Bruce are watching the colors change in a slow pattern of every ten minutes: yellow-to-red-to-green-to-blue-to-purple. At first the camera focuses on the lovers from the back, then Dick moves so that he catches his parents in profile.
The colors play over their faces, illuminating a sense of wonder and joy. Happiness radiates from them, Bruce sliding his hand over to grasp Clark’s. Clark’s delighted smile causes a smile on Bruce’s face.
Cut to:
Dick smiling and laughing as he bounces on his feet at the railing, Clark grinning at him. Dick pretends to jump on top of the railing for a handstand, Clark shaking his head fondly. He puts his arm around Dick’s shoulders, winking back at cameraman Bruce.
Cut to:
Daytime again, and the Maid of the Mist excursion boat suddenly foundering at the foot of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, a blur of red-yellow-and-blue zooming down to lift up the boat, rainbows sparkling in the mist and on Superman’s suit. The rescued sightseers cheer as Superman brings them back to the dock, the superhero holding the boat up just above the water as everyone disembarks, then gently setting it down and doing a quick repair of the damaged hull. He flies off with a wave.
Cut to:
Clark rejoining Bruce and giving him a kiss, wisps of rainbows stills sparkling in his hair. Bruce’s smile is radiant as he keeps Clark close.
Cut to:
Bruce opening the piled-up birthday presents in the living room, Clark teasingly ruffling his hair while Dick sits at his feet, handing him the gifts. Bruce pretends annoyance but anyone studying his face can see his happiness. Clark kisses him, Bruce’s eyes sparkling.
Cut to:
Superman, Batman, and Robin shaking hands with President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office, Robin nearly performing cartwheels in his excitement. Batman keeps a hand on his shoulder but allows a fond smile to cross his lips while Superman and JFK exchange grins.
Cut to:
A gleaming, expensive Porsche going up the driveway of the Kent farm, Jonathan and Martha coming out on the front porch to wave their greetings. Hugs and kisses all around as Clark, Bruce, and Dick get out of the car (Dick hands the camera to Clark to film his greeting). An old, beat-up truck and a new, blue, 1961 Chevy with tail fins are parked at the side of the house.
Cut to:
Clark smiling as he blows out the candles, Martha giving him a kiss on the cheek as Jonathan cuts the pink-frosted cake. The warm farmhouse kitchen includes Bruce and Dick, brightly-wrapped presents piled high on the counter next to the radio.
Cut to:
A shot of the wind blowing scarlet, gold, and orange leaves off the trees of the Manor. Dick is flying around, grabbing leaves as he cartwheels across the lawn. Clark and Bruce walk through the frame, Clark suddenly grabbing Dick and flying up with him. Dick laughs and flies for real, Bruce shaking his head in pretended exasperation.
Cut to:
The camera pans across a long, redwood picnic table covered with a paper tablecloth printed with red, yellow, and green balloons. Real balloons of the same colors are tied to trees, bobbling in the wind.
Dick bounds into the picture, followed by Clark and Bruce as they seat themselves at the table. Other adults enter the picture and greet Dick. He happily receives the greetings of Dinah, Ollie, Diana, and Hal as Alfred appears with the birthday cake. Dinah and Ollie sit next to Clark and Bruce, Roy hopping onto the bench next to Dick. The redhead giggles and Dick closes his eyes to make a wish, blowing out the candles.
A close-up of the cake reveals ten candles and pink frosting festooned with fresh strawberries. Clark removes the candles and begins cutting the cake.
Cut to:
Trick-or-treaters at the Manor’s front door, several children wearing Superman, Batman and Robin costumes. Alfred hands out the candy, enjoying his task. Candles flicker in the eyes of the Jack O’Lanterns, delighting the younger children.
Cut to:
Batman on a Gotham rooftop, cape billowing out behind him. A luminescent figure floats down from the sky, Superman’s scarlet cape fluttering up on the breeze.
A slight smile is on Superman’s face as Batman talks all business, stopping abruptly as Superman kisses him. Batman lifts his black cape and conceals them from the camera’s prying eye.
Cut to:
Snow falling outside as Clark and Bruce sit on the couch, Clark’s arm around his lover. Dick is stretched out on the floor, reading a book. A fire crackles in the fireplace, a plate of homemade Christmas cookies at his elbow.
Clark spies Alfred filming them and waves, Bruce rolling his eyes. He is placated by Clark nuzzling him, Dick grinning as he lazily eats a cookie.
Cut to:
A giant, glittering Christmas tree filling the screen, decorated with ornaments that are delicate, handblown glass; gaudy plastic; and homemade. Silver-and-gold garlands festoon the tree, topped by a shining star.
The camera pulls back, showing the chaos of scattered wrapping paper as the Kent-Wayne family celebrates the holiday in traditional fashion. Jonathan and Martha sit on the couch, Dick rummaging under the tree grabbing more presents, Clark and Bruce sitting on footstools, Bruce sipping from a mug of coffee, everyone dressed in their pajamas and robes.
Cut to:
Clark and Bruce walking along a beach on a winter’s day, barefoot and jeans rolled up, Bruce reaching over and grasping Clark’s hand as the sun begins to set in a wild palette of pink, orange, red, and yellow streaks across the sky.
& & & & & &
The reel reached the end, the spool spinning with a flapping noise.
“Lights on.” Kristin Wells rose from the couch and shut off the projector, removing the reel.
She could have watched the modernized copy: clean, pristine, using 31st century technology. She preferred the technology of the older times. It helped preserve the feeling of the past. It was why she preferred watching old movie classics like Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon in ancient black-and-white instead of colorized versions.
This reel was one of many from the World’s Finest collection. Later films would include sound from camcorders, but Kristin liked the early films in the old-fashioned film cans. She loved the past, one of the reasons she had chosen the profession of historian.
One of the questions about the collection was whether splicing the superhero scenes in with the private lives had been done by a member of the family for private viewing, or at a much later date when the revelation of their secret identities could no longer cause harm.
The films and tapes were invaluable in superherology studies. Kristin’s specialty was the World’s Finest team.
Home movies provided a contemporary snapshot of an era and the people in it. Not frozen in time like a still, the films moved in time. She noticed the clothes, cars, customs…most of all the family interactions. Superman and Batman were the most famous superhero couple of all time, raising the young Dick Grayson, who was a major superhero in his own right as boy and man.
Kristin smiled as she filed the canister in the special vault that preserved the precious films.
Tomorrow, she would take out the films of the Kent-Wayne wedding.
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 04:25 am (UTC)I love this:
Clark rejoining Bruce and giving him a kiss, wisps of rainbows stills sparkling in his hair. Bruce’s smile is radiant as he keeps Clark close.
Bravo!
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Date: 2007-12-31 04:44 am (UTC)Thank you, Green Eyes! :)
I love this:
Clark rejoining Bruce and giving him a kiss, wisps of rainbows stills sparkling in his hair. Bruce’s smile is radiant as he keeps Clark close.
Bravo!
That's one of my favorite images, too. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 06:15 am (UTC)Thank you for sharing!
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Date: 2007-12-31 06:22 am (UTC)Thank you for sharing!
Hmm, I like your thinking, Crimson! Perhaps there might be a future fic that can address these thoughts of yours. After all, there's more than one reel in the collection. ;)
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Date: 2008-01-03 08:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-04 03:03 am (UTC)You're right, the Muses dictate, but it never hurts to hear plot bunnies! They inspire the Muses! ;)
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Date: 2007-12-31 01:58 pm (UTC)I really like the stage directions you gave here, making it really feel like home movies! It makes a nice clear image, very homey and sweet. Splicing together the two sides of their identities is really good too!
Clark and Bruce walking along a beach on a winter’s day, barefoot and jeans rolled up, Bruce reaching over and grasping Clark’s hand as the sun begins to set in a wild palette of pink, orange, red, and yellow streaks across the sky.
Really clear, vivid, beautiful details. I could really see each scene very distinctly. Lovely work!
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Date: 2008-01-01 02:45 am (UTC)I really like the stage directions you gave here, making it really feel like home movies! It makes a nice clear image, very homey and sweet.
Thank you, Jen! :) I think stage directions work especially well when there's no sound! LOL!
Splicing together the two sides of their identities is really good too!
I toyed with the idea of just the private lives, but said, nah, it was too much fun to slip in the superhero selves! :)
Clark and Bruce walking along a beach on a winter’s day, barefoot and jeans rolled up, Bruce reaching over and grasping Clark’s hand as the sun begins to set in a wild palette of pink, orange, red, and yellow streaks across the sky.
Really clear, vivid, beautiful details. I could really see each scene very distinctly. Lovely work!
*beams* I tried to get in little details because of the aforementioned lack of dialogue. In fact, except for "Lights on" there was no dialogue in this fic a'tall! :)
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Date: 2007-12-31 03:31 pm (UTC)I want to cuddle with this fic like a puppy.
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Date: 2008-01-01 04:07 am (UTC)Exactly what I was looking for! :)
And who can resist Niagara? :)
I want to cuddle with this fic like a puppy.
Will a bunny do? ;)
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Date: 2008-01-03 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-03 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-31 04:11 pm (UTC)Mmmmm, such a lovely image! ;)
He swoops down to the ocean, plunging into the waves and surfacing like a playful dolphin, flying with a flock of seagulls, then landing atop a buoy and affecting Rodin’s Thinker pose. Mischief twinkles in his eyes.
Hehe! *pets mischievous!Clark*
Dick turns back and goes back under the water, then takes the camera again and films Bruce and Clark’s journey through the water, Clark in yellow, Bruce in black.
*giggles* Bruce has has to have everything in black, doesn't he? ;)
Clark rejoining Bruce and giving him a kiss, wisps of rainbows stills sparkling in his hair. Bruce’s smile is radiant as he keeps Clark close.
*grins*
A slight smile is on Superman’s face as Batman talks all business, stopping abruptly as Superman kisses him. Batman lifts his black cape and conceals them from the camera’s prying eye.
*giggles*
The films and tapes were invaluable in superherology studies. Kristin’s specialty was the World’s Finest team.
*giggles again* I love the thought that there is special studies on the World's Finest in the future! :D
Tomorrow, she would take out the films of the Kent-Wayne wedding.
*grins* Heee! :D
This was such a lovely sweet fic! :D
no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 04:14 am (UTC)Mmmmm, such a lovely image! ;)
I got sappy for this one! :)
He swoops down to the ocean, plunging into the waves and surfacing like a playful dolphin, flying with a flock of seagulls, then landing atop a buoy and affecting Rodin’s Thinker pose. Mischief twinkles in his eyes.
Hehe! *pets mischievous!Clark*
Just call him Flipper! ;)
Dick turns back and goes back under the water, then takes the camera again and films Bruce and Clark’s journey through the water, Clark in yellow, Bruce in black.
*giggles* Bruce has has to have everything in black, doesn't he? ;)
It's a part of him! :)
Clark rejoining Bruce and giving him a kiss, wisps of rainbows stills sparkling in his hair. Bruce’s smile is radiant as he keeps Clark close.
*grins*
Bruce can be sappy, too. :)
A slight smile is on Superman’s face as Batman talks all business, stopping abruptly as Superman kisses him. Batman lifts his black cape and conceals them from the camera’s prying eye.
*giggles*
Dick was giggling while filming this. ;)
The films and tapes were invaluable in superherology studies. Kristin’s specialty was the World’s Finest team.
*giggles again* I love the thought that there is special studies on the World's Finest in the future! :D
Of course! The World's Finest deserves it! :)
Tomorrow, she would take out the films of the Kent-Wayne wedding.
*grins* Heee! :D
Sap for weddings! ;)
This was such a lovely sweet fic! :D
Thank you, dear! :)
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Date: 2007-12-31 06:17 pm (UTC)*huggles the boys tight against her chest*
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Date: 2008-01-01 04:26 am (UTC)*huggles the boys tight against her chest*
They are domestic saps! :)
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Date: 2007-12-31 11:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 04:29 am (UTC)Home movies are so like that, aren't they? Capturing moments in time. I'm very grateful that I have home movies of people I love who are no longer with me.
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Date: 2008-01-01 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-01 04:31 am (UTC)LOL! The kissy scenes are always fun! :)
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Date: 2008-01-02 05:43 pm (UTC)This was so very beautiful. I loved the inundation of all the images of Bruce and Clark together. The snapshots of their lives together reeling past were all so wonderful and all so happy. It felt very real, and it was exactly what I wanted, and I love you so much for this. *squeezes you tightly*
Thank you so much for this lovely, lovely story (and for adding Dick!). :) *hugs you again, for good measure*
no subject
Date: 2008-01-02 06:26 pm (UTC)*beams* So it was yours! Cool! :)
And not only was it Bruce/Clark, but you also included Dick, and I love you for that!!!
Well, you know me. I like to slip the Little Bird in when I can. ;) Besides, it seemed like a smart thing to do so that Clark and Bruce could be filmed together on-screen often. Alfred could do it at home, but out on Gotham rooftops? Robin! ;) Also, the family feel of a home movie would be even better if they were raising Dick together.
This was so very beautiful. I loved the inundation of all the images of Bruce and Clark together. The snapshots of their lives together reeling past were all so wonderful and all so happy. It felt very real, and it was exactly what I wanted, and I love you so much for this. *squeezes you tightly*
Thank you so much for this lovely, lovely story (and for adding Dick!). :) *hugs you again, for good measure*
*hugs back happily* I'm so glad you liked it, Ladybug! :) This was the last of the three claims I did because I wanted to get the right scenes on that home movie, and I wanted to think about it for awhile.
No 'sloth' am I (starting work on your LJ First Anniversary Fic Request)!
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Date: 2008-06-15 04:14 pm (UTC)I love the feel of it - the way it cuts from one scene to another, and all of them include only a small snapshot in time, one that has some sort of meaning and helps paint the picture.
I have to admit, for some reason, when I was about mid-way through, I almost expected this would end on someone's death... and I was holding my breath a little bit every time I realized Jonathan Kent was around -- yeah, I'm crazy, I just somehow expected him to die. Mind you, stuff like that wouldn't have made it to home movies, but funerals would - there are some of those around in my family, anyway. I'm really glad you didn't have anything sad like that in there, but I can't help but think that happiness and a certain dose of sadness might have been a good mix for the clips.
....anyhoo, enough babbling from me already!
I really liked this story - you've used a pretty ordinary theme and turned it into something lovely; as usual. :) You have a way of turning stories into beautiful, magical things. Thanks for sharing them with us!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-15 08:57 pm (UTC)Thank you, Lara! :)
I love the feel of it - the way it cuts from one scene to another, and all of them include only a small snapshot in time, one that has some sort of meaning and helps paint the picture.
I remembered my family's old home movies and liked the snapshot effect very much, so thought it would work here as well. :)
I have to admit, for some reason, when I was about mid-way through, I almost expected this would end on someone's death... and I was holding my breath a little bit every time I realized Jonathan Kent was around -- yeah, I'm crazy, I just somehow expected him to die. Mind you, stuff like that wouldn't have made it to home movies, but funerals would - there are some of those around in my family, anyway. I'm really glad you didn't have anything sad like that in there, but I can't help but think that happiness and a certain dose of sadness might have been a good mix for the clips.
I usually write Jonathan as still around in my stories. I prefer it that way. :)
As for the cheerfulness of the clips, I figure that the person compiling this reel wanted that theme. There might be different moods shown in other reels. Though I think people tended to record the happy times, at least in 1961. Today people record everything! :)
....anyhoo, enough babbling from me already!
I like your babbling! :)
I really liked this story - you've used a pretty ordinary theme and turned it into something lovely; as usual. :) You have a way of turning stories into beautiful, magical things. Thanks for sharing them with us!
*beams* Thank you, Lara! :)
Wow
Date: 2015-11-24 12:14 am (UTC)Re: Wow
Date: 2015-11-24 01:57 am (UTC)Thank you for reading and commenting. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-12-25 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-28 02:05 am (UTC)I like your thoughts about the home movies. They were a family's treasure trove of history. They can reveal quite a bit about that particular family.
Nothing further in this series. Maybe someday! :)