História Love In The Dark - 9. A Christmas Proposal

The cold December air swept through the expansive grounds of Wayne Manor, bringing with it the crisp scent of pine and snow. Inside the manor, the glow of soft lights and the crackle of a fire filled the halls with warmth. Bruce stood by the window in the library, gazing out at the snow-covered grounds, a rare moment of calm washing over him. The manor was quiet this Christmas Eve, and Alfred had taken the rare opportunity to retreat to his quarters, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts.

This was Bruce’s first Christmas in years where the weight of Gotham didn’t feel as suffocating. He wasn’t fighting against the tide of darkness and violence that usually threatened to overwhelm his city. There was still so much work to be done, but tonight, he allowed himself to feel something he seldom did—peace.

A soft knock at the door broke through the stillness. Bruce turned, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He knew who it was before he even opened the door.

Clark stood there, wrapped in a thick winter coat, his cheeks flushed from the cold. His eyes sparkled with a mixture of warmth and nervousness that Bruce didn’t often see. In his hands was a small, neatly wrapped box, tied with a red ribbon. Bruce raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a familiar smirk.

“You’re late,” Bruce said, his voice laced with affection.

Clark chuckled softly as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “Traffic was a nightmare. You know how it is around the holidays.” His tone was light, but Bruce could tell there was something more beneath it.

Bruce let Clark draw closer, his presence filling the room with an almost palpable warmth. The firelight flickered across their faces as Clark set the box on a nearby table and shrugged off his coat. Underneath, he wore a simple sweater that fit snugly over his broad shoulders. Bruce watched him, his heart giving a little flutter—something that had become more common ever since they had started letting themselves be honest with one another.

Clark stepped up beside Bruce, standing close enough that their arms brushed together as they both gazed out at the snowy landscape beyond the window.

“It’s beautiful,” Clark said softly, his voice almost reverent. “Peaceful.”

Bruce nodded, glancing at Clark from the corner of his eye. “It is,” he agreed. “For once.”

They stood like that for a moment, the quiet between them comfortable, filled with unspoken understanding. The fire crackled behind them, and outside, the snow continued to fall in gentle flurries. Bruce could feel the warmth radiating from Clark’s body beside him, a warmth that seeped into his bones, settling the ever-present tension that often gripped him.

After a moment, Clark shifted, turning slightly to face Bruce. Bruce could feel the weight of his gaze and turned to meet it, raising an eyebrow in silent question. Clark’s expression was soft, but there was something serious in his eyes—something that made Bruce’s heart beat just a little faster.

“I brought you something,” Clark said, his voice quiet but firm.

Bruce glanced down at the box Clark had set on the table, his eyebrow arching further. “A gift?”

Clark nodded, his lips curving into a small, nervous smile. “Yeah… something special.”

Bruce tilted his head, curiosity piqued. He wasn’t usually one for gifts—he had everything he could ever want or need. But this was Clark, and Bruce found himself oddly eager to see what was inside.

Clark reached for the box, his hands trembling ever so slightly as he untied the ribbon and removed the wrapping. He glanced up at Bruce, his expression a mixture of hope and nervousness, before he lifted the lid.

Inside the box were two simple, elegant rings. Platinum bands that gleamed in the firelight. Bruce’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes fell on them, his mind processing what they meant, what Clark was asking without saying a word.

For a long moment, Bruce was silent, his heart pounding in his chest. He had faced down gods and monsters, endured years of pain and loneliness, but this—this simple act of love—left him speechless.

Clark stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently take Bruce’s. His fingers were warm, steady, as they intertwined with Bruce’s, grounding him in this moment.

“Bruce,” Clark said softly, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve faced a lot of things in my life, things that I never imagined I could survive. But the one thing that always gets me through it all… is you. You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve been my friend, my partner… and now, I want you to be something more.”

Bruce’s throat tightened as Clark continued, his voice soft and full of sincerity. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Bruce. Not just as Superman, or Clark, or Batman. I want us to be us. No masks, no missions. Just us. Together.”

Clark lifted the ring from the box, holding it up between them, his eyes searching Bruce’s. “Bruce… will you marry me?”

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, with hope, with love. Bruce stared at the ring, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never expected this. Never imagined that someone like Clark—someone so full of light, so full of hope—could want him, broken as he was. But as he looked into Clark’s eyes, Bruce realized that this wasn’t about worthiness or deserving. It was about love. Pure, simple, undeniable love.

Bruce took a deep breath, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out to take the ring. He held it for a moment, the weight of it solid and real in his hand. And then, he met Clark’s gaze, his voice steady as he whispered the only answer that mattered.

“Yes.”

Clark’s face broke into the brightest smile Bruce had ever seen. He let out a breath of relief, his eyes shining with happiness as he slipped the ring onto Bruce’s finger. The metal was cool against Bruce’s skin, but the warmth in Clark’s gaze made it feel like the most precious thing in the world.

Bruce took the other ring, his fingers steady as he slid it onto Clark’s hand. They stood there, rings glinting in the firelight, their hands entwined, hearts racing.

Clark leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against Bruce’s, their breaths mingling as they stood there in the quiet of the manor, the fire crackling softly behind them.

“Merry Christmas, Bruce,” Clark whispered, his voice full of love and contentment.

Bruce closed his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. For once, he allowed himself to feel the warmth of that love, to let it wrap around him like a shield against the darkness.

“Merry Christmas, Clark,” he whispered back.

And in that moment, with the snow falling outside and the warmth of the fire beside them, Bruce knew that he had found something he never thought possible—home.