Work Text:
Jason Todd has always been a bit of an enigma. Even as Robin, he shined brighter than anyone Clark had ever seen, with a flame everyone around him couldn't help being drawn to. No one had been spared. Not even Clark. He'd been drawn to the flame with an intensity that scared him more than even the most dangerous villains.
Batman had been very protective. More of a helicopter parent than he ever was with Jason's predecessors or successors. Never allowing the young Robin out of his sight for long, not even to socialize with others closer to his age.
And then Jason died.
It had been easy to ignore his return when no one would acknowledge it. Clark barely got to interact with Red Hood, which suited him just fine.
Until that fateful day.
He honestly cannot say how he stumbled upon the scene.
Clark is no stranger to humanity's intimate moments. He is used to seeing and turning a blind eye on them, be they sweet or steamy. He was raised right, he knows better than to play peeping tom toward people who didn't consent on having their privacy infringed upon.
But nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Jason in the throes of passion. Clark can’t tear his eyes from it.
His bared throat, his arched back and fluttering eyelashes, the sweat glistening off his flushed skin as he receives pleasure.
He is a vision, the most entrancing sight Clark has ever seen. He couldn't look away if his life depended on it.
He drifts closer unconsciously, his eyes drinking in the sight. Desiring to scent, to taste, anything to take the edge off.
That's when he notices just who is pleasuring Jason.
Apollo.
If there is anyone on earth to compare Clark to, it's Apollo. Their paths have never crossed, but Clark has been aware of him since he heard about the man. And now here he is, with Jason in his arms.
Clark's jealousy is blinding. He has to blink a few times to clear the red haze from his vision. What he wouldn't give to be the one laying top Jason like Apollo is right now.
"You're so good to me," Jason babbles. He looks overwhelmed by the onslaught of sensations and emotions. "So good to me!"
Apollo's hips continue their relentless snap, driving hard into Jason where they're both connected. His arms cradling Jason gently, a contrast to the movement of his hips.
"My beautiful boy," Apollo croons, peppering kisses on every part of Jason's body he can reach without separating them where their bodies are joined. He sounds less overwhelmed, but that doesn't say much. "My perfect boy. I love you"
Jason lets out a sharp cry at Apollo's declaration, and his cock jumps, spurting precum.
A large hand caresses up from Jason's thick thighs to his torso, twisting a delicate nipple as he commands: "Come for me, Starlight."
Jason obeys with a loud cry, his red, flushed cock spurting cum between their bodies even as he clings tighter to Apollo, almost like he wants to merge their bodies into one. Apollo's release comes almost immediately.
Clark is only a few blocks away now. He ducks behind a building as Jason and Apollo come down from their high and begin to make small talk, catching each other up on what they have missed since Jason left for his mission.
He takes his hard cock in his hand, eyes closed as he replays the event he has just witnessed, but this time, with him in Apollo's place.
He's never come so hard and fast since he discovered the joys to be obtained from his cock.
He is licking his hand clean of cum, wondering what it would feel like to have Jason doing it when the window beside him opens and he has to make a quick exit.
That incident marks the birth of his newest obsession.
It starts slowly, as something to do to while away the time whenever he has a slow day, or needs to take the edge off. Just like every other vice Clark ever allowed himself. But what starts out as an occasional fantasy to get off quickly grows into more. Now that he has let himself think about it, it's all he can do.
After the initial incident, Clark makes a point of only listening in. An advantage of super-hearing. Jason and Apollo are both vocal enough that it's easy to fill in the missing pictures with his imagination.
He finds himself listening in on their domestic life, which seems to be a great escape from his own lack thereof. For someone with his reputation, Clark is surprised to discover that Jason has a routine in his daily life that does not include his helmet. It becomes a way to get to know him.
He quickly learns that Jason loves to cook. He cooks when he's happy, stressed or angry. He cleans almost obsessively. Jason is one of the most organised people Clark has ever come across.
But simply listening falls short very quickly.
He has never felt more like a stalker in the years that he has used his abilities than he does right now.
Clark hopes no one ever discovers how much time he spends just watching Jason. He watches him take their dogs out for a walk in the park, and make his monthly trip to the second hand book library in Gotham to peruse their latest arrivals.
Jason is a regular volunteer in the local community center, he tutors kids who need extramural classes and coaches baseball for the young athletes who hope to go pro but whose families can't afford a proper coach.
He also doesn't miss how many former henchmen Jason has helped get legitimate jobs or how the kids of Gotham are more likely to go to Red Hood for help than any other bat. Including Batman.
On more than a few occasions, Jason had been the inspiration for Clark's new articles, and not just for his work as a civilian. Whenever Clark thinks he knows all there is to know about Jason, he pulls a new surprise.
Clark never stood a chance. Whatever flickering candle he held for Jason is a forest fire now and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He wonders if Apollo is aware of what he has. What he holds in his arms and how easily he could hurt Jason. What he wouldn't give to be the one Jason looked at with such naked love and vulnerability.
Clark has never let himself relax like he sees Apollo do. One wrong move and he could do serious damage to his loved ones. That has always caused a rift in all of his relationships with non metas.
Apollo does not seem to have such hangups, despite being the only being in the world with strength and abilities to rival a kryptonian.
Some days, Clark daydreams about what it would be like to be in Apollo's place. To come home to Jason, or have Jason come home to him. Both of them, going home together. To have Jason turn his beautiful smile that lights up his entire face at Clark, or scowl at him when he's angry.
It's a recurring thought he has when he watches him with Apollo.
"Come on," Jason urges with a frustrated huff. He's atop Apollo today, riding him.
"I'm right here, darling." Apollo purrs with a mischievous smirk. "So gorgeous."
"You know what I mean, asshole!"
From his vantage behind their little brownstone house, Clark can easily look through the walls to witness the hot glare Jason levels at Apollo.
He can't tell if the deepening of Jason's flush is a result of his anger or a response to the praise. Jason, Clark realized, is weak for Apollo's praises.
Jason attempts again to move faster, but Apollo's iron grip on his waist does not budge. Apollo has full control of his speed.
"Please," Jason begs almost desperately.
He begs so prettily, Clark cums without warning, letting out a sharp cry he stifles a second too late. Luckily, the happy couple is too focused on each other to hear him.
"I'm a good boy," Jason continues to beg. "I'm your good boy. Please fuck me. You fuck me so hard, so good. I want your cock. Want it hard. Please give it to me."
Clark's spent cock comes alive immediately. He's never had much of a refractory period, but this has to be a new record.
"Starlight," Apollo shushes him with a kiss. "If I go any harder, I'll break you."
Jason's eyes are feverish and bright when he responds. "Then break me."
"As you wish." Apollo's movement would be too fast for human eyes, and Clark isn't sure how Jason doesn't get a whiplash from how fast he's flipped.
Clark comes three more times before they're done.
For the first time since he let himself be a voyeur, he lets himself fantasize about what it would be like to be with not just Jason, but Apollo too.
To be a part of what they have, to share in their relationship. To be between the two of them as they are right now.
To have Jason cradled gently in his arms just as he is in Apollo's right now, and also have Apollo at his back. Having a partner he doesn't have to worry about hurting. What would that feel like? To let go of his inhibitions because for once in his life, he would be with a physical equal.
Clark can't help wondering what it would be like to be held by someone that strong and not worry about being broken. To not be the strong one, or even the only strong one. What would it feel like to let loose with a partner he couldn't physically harm? To let his guard down and let go because his partner can give as good as he gets.
Would Jason enjoy the sight of them together? Going at each other at superhuman speed?
He learned early enough that their relationship is more than just a sexual transaction. It goes beyond the sex. They are in a committed relationship, and while Clark isn't sure how exclusive they are, he has never seen either of them with anyone.
Even if Clark were brave enough to approach them and confess his feelings, would they let a third person into their relationship?
It makes something hurt deeply and fiercely within him and he sighs wistfully.
He wants this with a burning passion.
He feels melancholy the rest of day and he wishes Luthor would choose today to pick a fight. That would give him some much needed distraction.
All he can hear is the chaos.
The sounds of shots being fired, bodies falling and things crashing has Clark feeling restless. He'd broken his pen and desk when he gripped them too hard to distract himself.
He went out, looking for someone who might need his help but it does little to distract him. Red Hood is taking down a human trafficking ring he has been investigating for weeks and from everything Clark can hear, it seems like a bloodbath.
Clark doesn't care about the death of the people who profit off preying on others as much as he cares about Jason getting hurt.
He is annoyed that Apollo let Jason take on these dangerous people by himself, despite how irrational he knows he sounds, even to himself. Jason is a bat, they're built to stand anything that comes their way, and one of the most skilled creatures on the planet - he would know, he has been watching him for months - but he cannot shake off the image of the broken and battered Robin, dead in Batman's arms.
There's a sound of a bullet tearing into flesh and a grunt from Jason and that's all it takes to have Clark halfway across the world. The scene that greets him when he arrives is nothing like he imagined. Red Hood is standing atop a man.
Clark probably should have stopped to observe the scene before he intruded on it, but in his defense, he was too blinded with the images of Jason hurt and alone, far away from home.
The commotion caused by his presence causes a distraction for Red Hood, enough for the man under his heel to pull out a seated blade and slash Red Hood's thigh. Jason jumps back fast enough to prevent the injury from being fatal but not fast enough that he dodges entirely.
Clark is so horrified, he can barely process what just happened. The World's fastest man and he can't stop a blade.
Jason snarls, turning away from Clark and kicking the jaw of the goon who'd slashed at him. Then a few more hits to the three who were still left in the corner.
Now that he's already here, Clark makes himself useful. He heads towards where he can hear the whimpers of the victims, while Jason takes care of everything else.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Jason explodes, once they're done with the perps.
Clark had done his utmost to stay out of Red Hood's way and keep whatever opinions he had about Red Hood's methods to himself. Still, he notices that despite his brutal approach, Red Hood doesn't carry out any executions. Whether it's because of Clark's presence or his deal with Batman, Clark is not sure.
"I thought you needed backup,"
"Why on Earth would I need backup from you?" Despite the expressionless face of the helmet, Jason has no trouble communicating just how stupid he thinks Clark is being. Clark can't blame him. Even to his ears, it sounded stupid.
Bats are incredibly self sufficient. Getting them to accept help from others has to be the hardest challenge anyone has ever been through and few have succeeded. But the one glaring daggers at him is on a whole other level.
He has heard more than a few people describe Jason as a one man army. It doesn't matter how many opponents Jason is up against, he always comes out the victor. Clark is familiar enough with him to know that he does not accept help or backup from his family. There’s no way he would accept one from superman.
Saying 'I heard a bullet hit you and lost all sense of reasoning' is a recipe for disaster. He can't even imagine how that will go with Red Hood. He'd rather not find out if he walks around with kryptonite.
"I'm sorry," he lies calmly. "I was in the area and I heard the screams."
"You were, were you?" Red Hood sneers. "What? Batman isn't satisfied with reports of who I'm fucking and now he has you collecting my mission reports?"
"What? No!" Clark startles, horrified and embarrassed at being found out. He'd been so sure he was being careful. Why would Jason think he's reporting to Batman? "J - Red Hood. I'm not here for Batman."
"Sure you weren't, you've suddenly developed a kink for voyeurism." Red Hood snorts. "Do you have enough to earn you a treat from your master, or would you like some more?"
"I - I'm not, not. Look, I'm sorry I badged in on your case," His face is flushed with embarrassment and he hopes he doesn't sound as desperate as he feels. "But I'm not spying on you for Batman. I promise."
The thought of Bruce and Jason getting in a fight over Clark's downtime activities, of Jason informing Bruce that Clark has been watching him have sex with his lover-
He won't survive. Bruce will kill him. He will employ every doomsday protocol he has lying in wait for the day Superman goes rogue and Clark won't see it coming.
"You're injured. Your leg is bleeding," he attempts to refocus Jason's attention when he doesn't relent. "Can I get you to a hospital or safe house?"
It's Jason's turn to be surprised, like he forgot he'd been injured. Clark wonders how that's possible.
"Why don't you go report your findings like a good little snitch?" Jason snarls instead, turning away.
He is forced to watch helplessly as Jason gets on his bike parked a few blocks away and drives off.
He makes sure Jason arrives at his safe house safely, but otherwise, stays out of his way.
Clark doesn't manage to convince Jason that he's not spying on him for Batman. So, he spends the following days waiting to be hit with kryptonite. When he feels like torturing himself, he wonders which one Bruce will use first. Green kryptonite or blue?
It's one of such days. Clark is in his usual spot on top of the Daily Planet building, watching the city of Metropolis go by when a figure drops down from the sky behind him.
Of course. Why did he never consider Apollo's reaction? Of course he would be the first person Jason told. Clark would not be pleased to discover someone has been spying on his intimate moments with his lover.
Now that they're standing closer to each other, the contrasts between them are stark. They couldn't be more different from each other than day and night. Where Clark is dark, Apollo is bright, almost like he lights up the sun. Clark thinks it was inevitable that he and Jason would find a home in each other. But the biggest one is how much taller and bulkier than him Apollo is.
Clark is used to being small and invisible in his everyday civilian life, but as Superman, he's larger than life. It's rare that he finds anyone who makes him feel as small as he does right now. Not even Batman can make him feel that way.
Right now though, standing before Apollo, he feels small. The thought should not be as comforting to him as it does. What would it be like to be held in those strong arms? To not be the protector, but to be protected?
Is Apollo so stronger than him? Can Clark squeeze very tightly and not worry about hurting him?
"Hello Superman," Apollo greets. He doesn't sound angry or offended, nor does his eyes betray any anger. If anything, he looks exactly like how Clark imagines a lot of people have described superman. Kind and comforting.
Guilt churns in Clark's gut. He doesn't deserve to be comforted. Clark deserves to have his ass kicked for getting Jason hurt and for spying on their intimate moments.
Briefly, he wonders who will win in a brawl between them. What is the extent of Apollo's abilities? Does anyone know?
"Hello," Clark returns.
"Jason informed me you finally found the courage to approach him," Apollo starts in the same gentle tone and something snaps inside Clark.
"I'm sorry," Clark blurts out, determined to communicate how much he regrets that his actions caused Jason to be hurt. "I'm very sorry for getting him hurt. I know he didn't need it or even want it but I was only trying to help."
Apollo nods, his long hair blowing in the wind. It looks soft and warm and Clark wants to touch it. "Jason is extremely capable," He says fondly. Soft and kind. Then he smirks at Clark. "Very, very pretty too, as I'm sure you're aware."
Clark feels his face heat up. "Yeah, he is," then he realizes what he just said. What Apollo had said and he couldn't- "But that's not why I was watching him. Don't think it's because I want to- I promise I'm not jus- "
"Not just what? Looking for a quick fuck? How is that any better?" Apollo asks, raising a brow in challenge. "Then does that mean you're indeed reporting to Batman?"
"Of course not! I would never do that." But then, Clark hadn't ever thought he'd turn into a creep either, and there he was. He sighs. "He's just so lovely to look at, you know? He's so strong and kind and beautiful. He's full of compassion and he has such a big heart, despite everything he has been through. The pair of you are beautiful together. I know it doesn't excuse my actions, but I can't help it." Clark finishes weakly. He'd never been so aware of how far he'd gone, misusing his abilities.
He expects Apollo to give him an ear full at the very least. The man has been understanding but surely, even he has a limit and listening to Clark go on about his lover would be it.
Apollo doesn't hit him. Nor does he get an earful. Apollo's gaze is intense as they search his and Clark feels like he's been laid bare, like Apollo is slowly peeling off the layers of his skin to see what lies beneath it.
"This is not about a flitting lust is it?" Apollo asks, after a few moments. "You would not be satisfied with just a brief tussle."
Clark shakes his head. It hurts something fierce within him and he hates that this is what he has become. He is superman. He should know better. Be better. Instead, he'd turned into a stalker. He hates this side of him, and how just morally wrong it felt and how helpless he felt to stop him.
"It wasn't just Jason." Clark confesses, hanging his head in shame. No point stopping now that he has started. Apollo deserves the whole truth. "It may have started with Jason, but not anymore. It was you, too."
"I wish you had said something sooner. It might have saved us all the stress and headache" Apollo says calmly, infinitely patient. "I do not condone your actions and I advise that you learn to communicate better in the future. Still, I do not blame you." he finishes with a soft smile.
"Really?" Clark asks, unable to hide his surprise. Apollo's understanding feels like a salvation, like an absolution. As though his sins have been heard and forgiven. It's above and beyond anything he expects. Almost too good to be true. "You're both-”
"I cannot speak for Jason, nor would I if I could. You should speak with him and inform him yourself."
"That's fair." Clark nods.
"You should do it now." At Clark's hesitation, he adds. "I will come with you."
He takes a fortifying breath. "Lead the way?"
Apollo smiles in agreement and turns to go, but stops short.
"If you hurt him," Apollo warns him seriously, all traces of humor and kindness gone. He looked every bit how Clark imagined the sun god would look: harsh and unforgiving. "You will wish you never came to Earth."
Clark nods. He understands perfectly, and he will rather eat a chunk of kryptonite than purposely hurt Jason.
With that, they take off together to go find Jason.