astolat ([info]astolat) wrote,
@ 2005-07-26 13:35:00
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Entry tags:batman, fanfic, recs

Climbing, Batman Begins, Bruce/Ducard; rec for cereta's Hanging Work series
I meant to finish this up as a little bit of a birthday present for [info]elynross, who has betaed five bazillion things for me over the years, as I know she's in the Batman headspace right now, but *hangs head* it didn't quite happen on time. However, I feel she cannot complain what with [info]cereta slaving away for her, writing like a fiend.

I highly recommend [info]cereta's whole Hanging Work series for anyone who likes Batman even just a little -- I plowed through the whole thing late last night when I should have been going to bed, and couldn't put it down. (In the metaphorical sense. You know what I mean.) It's an AU where Dick Grayson ended up being fostered by Catwoman rather than Bruce, it's really terrific, and [info]cereta has been posting new stories practically every other day, with, I am assured, more soon to come. Go read! And to make things even more fun, she's letting others play too: [info]harriet_spy has written the story Next Friend, also set in this AU.



This story on the other hand is just a short missing-scene based on Batman Begins. I figure everyone's seen it by now, but if not, spoilers for the first half of the movie. Belated happy birthday, Ellen!

Climbing
Bruce Wayne/Henri Ducard, explicit.
1,094 words.
Many thanks to [info]cesperanza for quick beta!

"...the sweet as well as the bitter."

(Read the story)

eta to change to permanent link!

All feedback much appreciated!

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[info]elynross
2005-07-26 05:48 pm UTC (link)
...but better still was the panting, ragged edge to his breathing, the
half-clumsy sucking kisses pressed almost roughly to nape and shoulders and the arched curve of spine, and the low, shuddering--

Oh, yes! Better, indeed! I love that sign of lack of control in Ducard! And this whole thing is just wonderful, knowing what Bruce doesn't yet.

It really fits well with my perceptions of them, as well. Ducard's reactions at the end seemed more personal than they should, but I got no real sense that there was a particular romantic/relationship-type connection between them. I can see this kind of thing, though. And the details are great! The icicle-tea, and how Bruce is braced for a surprise attack, and!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! {{{Naomi}}} eeeeeeee!!!!

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[info]musesfool
2005-07-26 06:08 pm UTC (link)
Oh, this is beautiful.

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[info]ladyagnew
2005-07-26 06:16 pm UTC (link)
Gorgeous story, with surprisingly real-feeling physical details that almost made me want to like the movie. Thank you for the lovely intensity of it.

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[info]kalikahuntress
2005-07-26 07:21 pm UTC (link)
I really loved this and it fits perfectly with the movie characterization.

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[info]cereta
2005-07-26 07:31 pm UTC (link)
Oh, lovely story! Hot and just a little melancholy.

And thank you!

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[info]kimberlite
2005-07-26 07:39 pm UTC (link)
He led Bruce up the mountain, over the black rock and the killing knife-edge slopes of the ice fields,

Below the mists curled away and the dawn stained the ice fields riotous pink, and the sunlight poured golden onto his cold face, his cheeks, his lips, melting the gathered snow off his brows and lashes.

I loved how this stark glacial terrain is transformed into something so breathtaking.

Not peaceful; even now his face had not lost any of that fierce quality, but there was a gentling of the hawk-lines, a softening.

Nice setting for Ducard to melt a little and teach Bruce a different lesson.

Lovely!

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[info]sanj
2005-07-26 08:17 pm UTC (link)
Oh my god. Can I just carry your luggage?

This is beautiful, and the intensity of detail, of the things Bruce notices, because he does -- and that Ducard is the one to teach him this lesson about the difference between pleasure and anaesthesia... *sigh*

Wow, you rock. As usual.

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[info]ubixtiz
2005-07-26 08:33 pm UTC (link)
This is wonderful. Admirable clarity: Ducard and Bruce are visible in every part of this. Mmm.

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[info]kadymae
2005-07-26 09:41 pm UTC (link)
The incredible wealth of detail in this story not only vividly creates the time and place, but is so lush and sensual in its own right that it is a joy to read.

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[info]walksbyherself
2005-07-26 09:46 pm UTC (link)
Oh, this is poetry. There's no other word for it.

"Will you come to bed with me?"

I can hear him saying that, it's such a Ducard way to ask--so simple and direct. The clarity in that one line echoes through the whole piece.

Wow,
~Kat

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[info]tricksterquinn
2005-07-26 11:07 pm UTC (link)
Oooooooh....

This whole story... I could hear them, I could see them. Normally, I can't do either when reading fic.

Wow.

Thank you. That was amazing.

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[info]harriet_spy
2005-07-26 11:19 pm UTC (link)
Mmm, this is very nice, and obsoletes any desire I had to write my own, really.

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[info]elistaire
2005-07-27 01:50 am UTC (link)
Beautiful.

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[info]fearlessdiva
2005-07-27 01:52 am UTC (link)
Just what I've been craving. I like the contrast of the stark, hardness of Ducard's training methods with a bit of tender humanity. Lovely.

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[info]emyrys
2005-07-27 03:18 am UTC (link)
Thank you for this. It was perfect. Lovely & dangerous, just as I imagined their relationship would be.

Just what I've been waiting for since the movie.

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[info]snarkyducky
2005-07-27 05:27 am UTC (link)
gah. so. i'm speechless. i mean, just what does one say to a beautiful masterpiece of a painting?

thank you so much for sharing the brilliant gem.. O___O
♥

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[info]copernica3
2005-07-28 01:52 am UTC (link)
Lovely.

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[info]misspamela
2005-07-31 01:16 pm UTC (link)
Mmmm, lovely. Perfect tone and pacing.

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[info]temve
2005-08-02 04:55 pm UTC (link)
Oh, the imagery. Beautiful. And yes, those few sparse words Ducard utters are so perfectly in character I can totally hear his voice saying them.

Ice turning into tea must be one of the most primeval beverages in the world... *sigh* With just a hint of bitterness, the bitterness Bruce is about to discover when he finds out just who lay with him beside the fire that night.

Excellent fic! Care to join [info]batslash? Because damn, the world needs more brilliant Ducard!fic like yours.

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[info]switchknife
2005-08-05 02:49 pm UTC (link)
Oh, yes. The dawn-lit ice. The movement of their bodies, so liquid and sinuous. Beautiful.

*sighs wistfully and ponders*

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[info]miss_f
2005-08-05 09:37 pm UTC (link)
*basks in warm afterglow of the fire*
Wonderful and poetic.

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