Best Friends Part 4

The Farmboy and the Aristocrat by Hellacre 13

THE FARMBOY AND ARISTOCRAT. CHAPTER FOUR.     There was  a loud knock on the door of the Kent farmhouse in Smallville. Clark had just risen and was luxuriously eating a bowl of cereal whilst watching Saturday morning cartoons on the television in the living room.He frowned;it was only eight thirty am.On weekends he would leave his Metropolis apartment to spend time in peace at his old home,away from deadlines and the bustle of the city,seeking comfort in the familiar sights that brought back fond memories of his childhood,and long deceased parents.No one usually bothered him.Kara and Kon would call first.Who could it be? He put the bowl down and reached for a tee-shirt from a  basket filled with clean laundry, that was sitting on the sofa, and pulled it over his pajama bottoms.He went into the foyer and looked through the door with his x-ray vision.Bruce Wayne stood outside on the porch,an impatient frown on his face.A black limo stood in the yard behind him. Clark opened the door.Before he could greet his friend,the former Batman strode inside briskly,silver-topped cane in one hand,a rolled up newspaper in the other. "Clark,have you seen the newspapers?" "Well, good morning to you too,Bruce....",he said wryly and closed the door and followed his friend into the living room. Bruce took a scathing look around. "Looney Tunes and fruit loops?Things have gone downhill haven't they, Clark?" Clark grinned."I grant you it's a far cry from your continental breakfasts and champagne,but nothing beats a good Bugs and Daffy re-run and sugary cereal.Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.Care for some coffee or orange juice?" Bruce looked skeptical."Coffee?" "I brought the grains in fresh from Columbia yesterday.I can whip up a pot in minutes." "Yes,I'm sure you can.Very well." Bruce sat down upon a chair and looked at the tv screen with a raised brow whilst his friend prepared the beverage.A lovely aroma of ground beans percolating soon wafted from the kitchen.Clark appeared a couple of minutes after carrying a tray with the coffee pot,a mug,and a glass of orange-juice.He put it on the center table. "Don't your grand-kids watch cartoons?" Bruce did not really have grand children.He had two daughters, aged nineteen and sixteen.Clark was referring to Dick and Barbara's kids. Bruce squinted,his once eagle eyed vision warranted bi-focals now."They watch the craziest things......a sponge wearing pants...." Clark chuckled."That's a great one.I prefer the old style two dimensional animation myself.The computer graphics now seem sterile.You take your coffee black,don't you?"" "Yes.I don't see the appeal of it myself.I can excuse children watching it but I think there are better ways to entertain." "No,you would not see the appeal,you stuck-up aristocrat.Here's your coffee.You'd prefer them to pore over Plato and Voltaire than say Homer...." Bruce took the mug with a nod."I like Homer." "Do you?My favourite quote is......"Weaseling out of things is important to learn.Its what separates us from animals-except the weasel"......." The former Batman looked at him crossly."That's not from the Oddessy." "No.The Simpsons....can' t recall the season...'' "You're such a geek,Kent.Grow up." The "geek" grinned and took his seat.He took up the glass of juice. "So,what's so important that you must come beating upon my door before I barely swallowed my breakfast?" Bruce unrolled the paper he had at his side.He said,"I brought the Boston Star.Your Smallville papers will not have this." "Have what?" Bruce turned to the society page and rested the paper down on the table for Clark to see.He tapped an article with a well manicured finger."See that." Clark put his glass down and picked up the paper.In the upper section was a snapshot of Robert DeCourtenay and Diana Prince.It announced their forthcoming wedding.The pair were to be married next week Saturday at the Trinity Cathedral in Boston.The cream of society were on the guest list,including billionaire Bruce Wayne. He put the paper down and looked at his friend and mused ironically,"It looks as if it'll be quite a bash.You got an invitation.Congratulations." Bruce reached into his jacket pocket and produced an envelope."So have you.She dropped it off in Gotham yesterday.She says things are hectic and she asked me to do this favour and give you this......" Clark took the gold envelope and opened it to find a gilt edged, ivory card.Mr Clark Kent was cordially invited to attend the wedding of Captain Robert Gregory DeCourtenay  to Miss Diana Prince.........His name was written in her handwriting. He looked up at his friend and said facetiously,"Lucky me.This is why you came?Fed-exing would have solved you driving all the way out here." "I flew in by jet,"was the retort. "What do you want,Bruce?" "Are you going to let her go through with this?" "It has nothing to do with me.She's marrying the man she loves.I am happy for her." Bruce said, matter-of-fact,"She does not love him." "She chose him." "Loyalty is not love." Clark got up and said impatiently,"What do you care?You should be the last person to tell anyone how to conduct  their love-life.You had a chance with her and you never even took it." Bruce looked surprised."You know about that?" He reminded him sarcastically,"Super vision and hearing." "You never led on though." "It was none of my business.You were both single.........I was........." "Married.I know.That was the trouble." Clark folded his arms and looked at him curiously.Bruce explained,"I never could tell if you had been free if she would have ever felt anything anything for me.In hindsight,it would have never worked.Diana was lonely.I was no more immune to her than the rest of the leaguers,like Arthur and Kyle.She was just moving onto the next person she could find after you.I wanted her a little,I guess.There were too many things complicating matters.Bottom line, Diana never looked at any of us the way she looked at you and there was Selina always in the background of my consciousness." There was no bitterness in Bruce's voice,he wore just a nostalgic smile, and had the look of a man who had chosen well and had no regrets."I went to Selina when I was nearing forty.It was the best thing I ever did." "What are you proposing?I rush in and object at the ceremony and fly off with  her into the sunset?You are becoming sentimental in your dotage,my old friend." "Just because you look twenty years younger than I,does not give you the license to mock me,Clark." "Comfort yourself,Bruce,I may not look it but I feel it.Maybe I'd have done something foolish if I were twenty-five.Not now.Thanks for bringing the invitation.I'll be there." Bruce took the hint and got up.He said,in his most pompous tone, "Kent,you're a fool." Clark's blue eyes flashed and he snapped,"Have you any idea how I felt when I lost Lois?Do you think I can go through that again?And with Diana?" "Diana isn't just anyone.She can fight her own battles.She can look after herself." He said quietly but tensely,"I still see Lois in my dreams and...more often than not her face turns into Diana's when I bury her. Enough, Bruce." "So the endless dance goes on.Well,thanks for the coffee." "You're welcome." "I'll leave you to your cartoons.I've got to get back.Selina and I are due to go to Paris for Eva's recital." Clark smiled.There was a proud lift to his friend's shoulders as he spoke of his elder daughter,who was currently enrolled in one of the best music school in Paris.She was a very gifted violinist and showed little inclination towards crime-fighting.A circumstance that pleased both parents.The second child was different.She was very keen to follow her father and mother into the costume wearing profession.It caused many a battle in the Wayne mansion. "Tell the girls and Mrs Wayne I send my best." "Selina will be at the wedding." "I'll see you two then." "Bye Clark." "Bye Bruce." They shook hands and Clark followed him out.He watched from the porch as the limo drove off towards the airfield where the  jet was waiting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------