The Devil Went Down To Gotham (DD x JL x YJ)

The Nightmare

Previously...

"Anything I can do to help?", Matt asked Bruce, still running his hands through the soft locks of hair.

Bruce sighed with a smile, "Just keep doing that and maybe slap Hal once or twice."

"You know I wouldn't stop if I wanted to on the first one, as for Hal...if he ever steps one foot into my gym, he will regret it.", Matt smiled at the thought.

Bruce acknowledged Matt's response with a hum, slowly drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Goodnight, Bruce.", Matt breathed out, closing his eyes

"Goodnight, Matt.", Bruce snuggled impossibly closer to Matt.

Both thinking one thing as they fell asleep...

I love him.

At 3 o'clock that morning...

Matt jolted awake, feeling disoriented. He wasn't sure what woke him up, but as he was about to fall back asleep, thinking it was nothing, the intense thumping of a heart was heard beside him...

Bruce.

Bruce started to fidget, his heartbeat pumping like it's about to jump out of his chest. Matt could smell the perspirant of sweat in the air around him and heard murmuring, nothing he could fully make out.

Without thinking, Matt quickly reached over to shake Bruce awake.

"Bruce wake up. Hey Bru-", Matt stopped as he heard the sound of something fast heading towards his face. Instinctively, Matt held out his hand and caught what seems to have been Bruce's fist.

"What happened? Matt what-", the groggy words died in Bruce's throat as he realized what just occurred.

"Oh shit! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-", The shock and shame in his voice as Bruce profusely tried to apologize to the man was soon cut short. Matt had pulled him into a strong embrace and held the exhausted vigilante, who was still trying to apologize.

"Bruce, let it go. You didn't hurt me. It was an accident.", Matt paused slightly.

Except for Bruce trying to calm his heart after the nightmare, the room was pin-drop silent.

Matt had settled himself into a crisscrossing position in front of Bruce. Bruce numbly followed his lead, his hands laid in his lap, fidgeting, to distract himself.

Matt pulled Bruce's face, that was still buried in the nape of his neck, and held it in both of his hands. Matt's gentle thumbs brushed over the vigilante's sharp cheek bones in a soothing manner.

"Bruce, are you ok?"

It felt like hours before he responded, but it was only mire moments when Bruce spoke.

"No."

His voice was so quiet. If Matt wasn't sitting in such close proximity to him, it would have sounded like the wind.

Matt could sense that Bruce was wanting to turn away and isolate himself, but Matt had other plans.

Matt was not going to ask Bruce to spill his guts to him and force him to talk about it. That would just make everything worse, so he did the next best thing in a situation like this.

"What color are your eyes? I don't think I've ever asked you.", Matt stated out of the blue with a smile on his face. His thumbs still grazing the sharp cheekbones and fingers dancing over the chiseled jaw, that was covered in stubble.

Bruce must have been expecting Matt to interrogate him on the incident, but the sudden change in topic lifted the mood, thankfully.

"What?", Bruce whispered breathlessly with a hint of a laugh.

Matt smirked with dramatic confidence, "What color are your eyes? I am blind after all, I can only paint half the picture with my senses."

Bruce slightly blushed and mumbled, "Well, my eyes are blue."

"Ok, but what kind of blue? Sky blue, ocean blue, steel blue, I need details.", Matt exasperated.

"Um I don't really know. I think steel blue matches the description.", Bruce stated still blushing.

"Hm...and what about your hair color? I'm guessing possibly black or brown.", Matt mused.

Bruce chuckled, "Dark brown almost black hair."

"Ah, so the woman reporter from Daily Planet was right. You are devilishly handsome.", Matt smirked.

"Oh shut up. No, I'm not.", Bruce grumbled, while the heat in cheeks rose.

"Well your chiseled jaw, strong cheekbones and muscular torso says otherwise.", Matt sang in a terrible sing-song voice.

Matt and Bruce both crack up laughing for a few moments. Soon the laughter died down and Bruce suddenly got somber.

"God I miss this.", Bruce huffed.

"Miss what?", Matt questioned.

"Laughing, being carefree, feel human again. I feel like I can finally relax when I'm around you. I don't know how you do it." , Bruce gives Matt a soft smile.

"Maybe I'm just that amazing.", Matt's chest puffed with confidence.

Bruce chuckled and whispered, "Yes, you are and so much more."

Now, it was Matt's turn to transform into a tomato-faced mess, complimented with a shy smile.

"I guess red really is your color.", Bruce grinned victoriously, proud to finally turn the tables on Matt.

Matt slapped Bruce's toned chest lightly, "Oh shut up."

"Come here.", Bruce grabbed Matt's wrist that tapped him and pulled the two of them back under the covers.

Matt and Bruce were facing each other, their arms wrapped around the other's waists.

Bruce was staring into Matt's milky blue eyes, while Matt was rubbing small circles on Bruce's waist.

"Why do you cover your eyes when you are around the kids? You should already know they won't care.", Bruce suddenly asked.

Matt sighed, "I have nothing against showing them, but for years I've have always received pity for my disability when I didn't ask for it. Or when I forgot my glasses when I was younger, kids would make fun of my eyes when I couldn't look at them correctly. I've grown use to hiding them when I'm around people. They are almost like my safety shield."

"Hm, how about we have an experiment?", Bruce asked.

Matt rose an eyebrow, insinuating Bruce to continue.

"If you are around only my family, take the glasses off. Just to get a feel for it. If you get uncomfortable or they do put them back on.", Bruce stated.

Matt contemplated for a few moments.

"Ok... I'll give it a shot."

Matt and Bruce talked for a little while longer, then slowly fell asleep in the others arms, once again.