bradygirl_12: (superman--batman (blood) 1)
[personal profile] bradygirl_12
Title: We Never Leave A Man Behind (2/2)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Clark/Bruce, Diana, Ollie/Dinah
Genres: Angst, Challenge, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Rating (this chapter): R
Claim: For the [livejournal.com profile] dcu_freeforall Challenge (Clark/Bruce)
Prompt: T 14: P 27: We Never Leave A Man Behind
Prompt Count: (12/15)
Warnings: Aftermath of battlefield violence
Spoilers: None
General Summary: On an alien planet at war, the JLA suffers retreat…and an important casualty.
Chapter Summary: The small band of JLA heroes struggle to get to safety behind Allied lines.
Date Of Completion: September 10, 2009
Date Of Posting: January 25, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1292
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: Author’s Note: In honor of the U.S. Army soldiers, Marines, and their Allies, who fought during the Battle of Chosin, Korea, November 27-December 13, 1950.
All chapters can be found here.



II

LIKE A WRAITH IN THE WIND


Like a wraith
In the wind,
He disappears,
Only to return
As I knew
He would.


Sapphire Stagg
"The Korean Winter
Of My Soul"
2003 C.E.



Bruce awoke, stiff from cold. Clark’s body warmth had helped, but this cold was bone-chilling. He checked Clark, who was asleep but not blue-lipped anymore.

The cold was incredible. It reminded him of the Himalayas.

“Oh, Clark, we’re in a bit of a mess,” he murmured.

“I know.”

Bruce was startled, then smiled. He nuzzled Clark’s neck.

“Sorry conditions aren’t better.”

”I know.” Clark smiled. “But snuggling up with you is a nice perk.”

“Is that all I am to you? A perk?”

“A nice perk.”

Bruce laughed and Clark smiled, receiving a loving kiss. His last check had shown no troop movements at all, not even a small patrol, but he’d better check again.

“I’ll check around. I know the general direction we should go in.” Bruce slipped out of bed.

Clark started to sit up, gasping softly.

“Here now, lay back.” Bruce glided over and put a hand on Clark’s chest. “You’re still weak, and there’s definitely no sun out there.”

Clark rested his head back on the pillow.

Bruce gave him some chocolate bars, scooping up the clean snow from right outside the door for drinking water. Bruce sat next to Clark in bed, trying to relax.

“Let’s try the communicator again.” Bruce activated the instrument, both men smiling when Diana answered.

& & & & & &


Bruce and Clark tried to keep warm as they waited for their JLA colleagues, a soft knock on the door and Diana’s voice bringing Bruce off the bed.

Diana, Ollie, and Dinah hurried inside, all of them wearing bulky parkas and carrying two more. Bruce didn’t ask where they had gotten them. They were delighted to see Clark.

“We have to move fast,” Dinah said. “The Northern troops are starting to make a push. I figure if we can get through the Valley of Death, we might make it.”

“Clark can’t walk,” Bruce said as he wolfed down some energy bars that Ollie had given him.

“I can carry him.” Diana examined Clark’s wounds. “Good work, Bruce.”

“Let’s saddle up!” Ollie urged.

Very quickly they left the shack, Diana carrying Clark, Bruce on point as Ollie and Dinah surrounded Diana and Clark.

Bruce wanted to stay close to Clark, but Batman understood the necessity of battlefield precision. He clamped down on his emotions as they passed over a sea of dead bodies, or pieces of them.

He could see Clark’s face peeking out from the Superman façade, pained at so many dead. Wonder Woman was cool, as befit a Warrior, and grim expressions were on the faces of Black Canary and Green Arrow.

It wasn’t snowing but still bitterly cold, the wind blowing as it cut through even the parkas.

The first day was tense, but all they saw was the dead.

They found a cave for the night, Bruce curling up around Clark, Diana on his other side. The Arrows kept the first watch, sitting cross-legged at the cave entrance, huddled against the wind.

Superheroes met disaster all the time, knowing that everything could turn on a dime. This mission was now one of survival, pure and simple.

& & & & & &


On the second day, by late morning, it began to snow again.

Batman cursed under his breath. Hadn’t they gone through enough?

An hour later, he saw an advance scouting patrol…from the enemy.

Batman was like a wraith in the wind, black cape swirling out in the snow. He communicated the news to his friends, wishing that Clark wasn’t so vulnerable. Still, he would be well-protected.

The Bat disappeared into the snow.

& & & & & &


The scouting patrol was distracted by odd noises and strange shadows. They headed up into the hills to investigate, veering off from the path that the Humans needed to take.

The small party struggled through the snow, Batman continuing the distractions.

As the snow reached blizzard proportions, Batman re-joined the others. He immediately went to Clark, who was worried about him.

“My Bat-wraith,” he said with a smile.

Batman cupped the side of the Kryptonian’s face, and Diana smiled.

“Diana, I could walk…”

“I will still carry you, my friend. It troubles me not, and you are still weak.”

Superman sighed but accepted the logic of the situation.

The snow swirled around, obscuring the little party.

& & & & & &


They pushed on, hour after hour, until they were close to exhaustion.

Batman saw the enemy troops approaching from the North. He swooped down and informed his friends.

“Should we find a cave?” Black Canary asked, shouting above the howling of the wind.

“Too many of them. They’ll have patrols all over the hills. We should try to distance ourselves.”

The Arrows looked dubious, at the edge of collapse, and Batman could sympathize. He was feeling the burn of exhaustion in his own muscles.

“Diana, let me down,” Superman said.

She complied, a look of understanding passing between them.

“I will keep my eye on them. If we need a distraction, I will provide it.”

Wonder Woman ran through the snow toward the enemy.

“We have to keep pushing on,” Batman said. “She can buy us time.” He grabbed a swaying Superman. “She’s the best Warrior of us all.” He helped his lover struggle through the snowdrifts.

& & & & & &


Wonder Woman’s boots cut through the snow, her powerful legs carrying her closer to the enemy.

Her Warrior blood called to her. Tracking an enemy required subtlety, and she was good at it.

She would make sure that her friends would be protected. With Clark still recovering from Green Kryptonite poisoning and no sun to soak up, she was the most powerful member of the group now.

The enemy troops were getting closer despite the weather. She weighed whether or not to create a distraction but decided against it for the moment. If they could get out of this without more bloodshed, she would be happy.

She wrapped the parka tighter around her. She would have preferred Steve’s arms around her, but she would enjoy his warmth soon enough. She had no intention of staying on this accursed planet longer than necessary.

& & & & & &


Clark fell to his knees, lines of pain and exhaustion around his mouth and eyes. His limbs were trembling, Bruce falling beside him.

“I know it’s hard, Clark,” he said, trying to stop his teeth from chattering.

Dinah and Ollie huddled together.

“How much farther?” Clark asked, shivering.

“I’m not sure. We don’t know how far our lines have been pushed back.”

Clark glanced around. “Reminds me of the Arctic.”

“Pity there isn’t your Fortress around, too.”

Clark laughed, grabbing his ribs. Bruce’s arm was strong around his waist.

“Diana?” Clark asked worriedly.

“You know our Amazon. She’ll be fine.”

Clark smiled.

& & & & & &


Wonder Woman appeared out of the swirling snow.

“Let us push onward, my friends!”

“The enemy?” Ollie asked.

“Sent away.”

Diana’s friends grinned.

& & & & & &


When they reached their own lines, everyone was on the brink of exhaustion, even Diana. They stumbled into the war-torn town, soldiers hurrying to help bring them to the medical tent. Each one was treated, and Clark rested in one of the beds, Bruce sitting beside him.

“Bruce?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks for looking for me.”

Bruce’s mouth quirked into a smile as he grasped his lover’s hand.

“We’re like the Marines, Clark. We never leave a man behind.”

He leaned down and kissed a smiling Clark.

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Date: 2010-01-26 01:11 am (UTC)
ext_148128: (BM_Trinity)
From: [identity profile] ctbn60.livejournal.com
Lovely ending hon! I'm so glad they made it out and back to safety! I had to smile with the thought of Diana carrying Clark. This was an amazing story! I enjoyed it.

Date: 2010-01-26 01:13 am (UTC)
northernwalker: (Default)
From: [personal profile] northernwalker
Yay Diana! She always pulls it out.

Bruce wanted to stay close to Clark, but Batman understood the necessity of battlefield precision.

I love that line- it shows the dichotomy so perfectly.

Great fic!

Date: 2010-01-26 01:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] patrese1.livejournal.com
Brrrr! Even I felt the bitter cold and the exhaustion!
I think i will go put on a sweater :).

You really show Bruce's devotion to Clark as well as the deep comaraderie of the other JLA members.

But I thought this particular portion really highlighted the special bond among the triumvirate.

How Diana, Clark and Bruce curl around each other as they lie in the cave.
Clark's almost comfortable acceptance of her carrying him.
Bruce's easy admission of her being the greatest warrior among them.
Bruce and Diana taking turns being point and creating distractions, each trusting in the other's ability without question.

A lovely piece! Thanks very much!







Date: 2010-01-26 02:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyblkrose.livejournal.com
I was so happy to see this even though it’s not a “happy happy” story by nature. I am glad to see someone expound on the fact that not all superhero adventures are completed and nor completed successfully. “Superheroes met disaster all the time, knowing that everything could turn on a dime. This mission was now one of survival, pure and simple.” Is the phrase you created that solidified this concept. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the members of the JLA and how every one accepted Batman and Superman’s relationship with nary a raised eyebrow, actually got a smile from Diana.
Thank you for the happier ending even though they did not achieve their goals…they all got home in one piece.

Date: 2010-01-26 06:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] red-planet31.livejournal.com
I love how affectionate Bruce and Clark are together. Like the warmth of a fire in the freezing cold. And I love the description of Batman as wraith. And I love how you wrote Diana. When I read the story, I truly believe she is a Warrior Princess. Which she is, of course, but sometimes fics don't really show that. And seriously, every single scene with Bruce and Clark gives me a warm feeling. :]

Date: 2010-01-26 10:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mithen.livejournal.com
It's great to see everyone working together so well under such harsh and painful conditions...love the teamwork and the camaraderie!

Date: 2010-01-26 07:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] starsandsea.livejournal.com
Oh, I'm so glad they got back to safety!

I loved Bruce and Diana going off and diverting the enemy forces, especially Bruce being a 'Bat-Wraith'.

Poor Clark! *hugs him carefully* No doubt Bruce will make sure he makes a full recovery. :P

Thank you for sharing this with us, Brady! :)

Date: 2010-01-26 07:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ilovetobefree.livejournal.com
“Oh, Clark, we’re in a bit of a mess,” he murmured.
“I know.”
Bruce was startled, then smiled. He nuzzled Clark’s neck.

Bruce nuzzling Clark’s neck – that was lovely. :)

“Is that all I am to you? A perk?”
“A nice perk.”

*smile* Even in such a mess they two didn’t lose a sense of humor. I loved that. :)

Very quickly they left the shack, Diana carrying Clark, Bruce on point as Ollie and Dinah surrounded Diana and Clark.
They all supporting and helping each other – that was wonderful!

Batman was like a wraith in the wind, black cape swirling out in the snow. He communicated the news to his friends, wishing that Clark wasn’t so vulnerable. Still, he would be well-protected.
I loved the line about Batman like a wraith in the wind – excellently done!

“My Bat-wraith,” he said with a smile.
Batman cupped the side of the Kryptonian’s face, and Diana smiled.

Another touching and lovely moment between Clark and Bruce. Perfect!

She wrapped the parka tighter around her. She would have preferred Steve’s arms around her, but she would enjoy his warmth soon enough. She had no intention of staying on this accursed planet longer than necessary.
I really liked the way you described Diana in this chapter. She was AWESOME! And her thought about Steve – I appreciated it so much!

“We’re like the Marines, Clark. We never leave a man behind.”
He leaned down and kissed a smiling Clark.

Great ending!

This story was absolutely marvelous Brady! This part wasn't as dark as the first one and even with a little humor in it, still there was suspense and some touching moments. I loved to see our heroes helping each other and Clark and Bruce were absolutely amazing together!
I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing! :)
LS.

Date: 2010-01-26 09:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eternal-moonie.livejournal.com
Totally loved this story honey. You did great!!

Date: 2010-01-27 10:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hitokaji.livejournal.com
That was great! :)
I love how they worked together and Bruce was so caring for Clark. And the other way around too.

Thank you for sharing this.

Date: 2010-01-29 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] northern-star.livejournal.com
I love how you had all of them working together this way, it felt really natural and right. :) And the end is really sweet, too, made me smile a lot. :)

I envy you your ability to keep track of more than two or three characters at a time, and make them all sound real and natural - I have a hard time writing several in the same scene, but you do it really well. Make it seem almost easy. ;)

Well done!!

Date: 2010-06-28 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saavikam77.livejournal.com
Awwww!! *wibble*

Bruce would never have just left Clark there. *snugs them*

I just loved the way their hope and love shone through the grim setting of the freezing battlefield in this. :)

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