(no subject)
Title: Ready yet?
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Bat-clan, Sups-clan, J'onn
Rating: PG (I guess)
Word count: ~4.800
Warnings: unbetaed (so point/or try to ignore)
Spoilers: it's a combo of The Batman, Justice League(animated) and an AU
Disclaimer: don't own them
It ended up pretty bad. T_T
Hope the prompt giver isn't too disappointed....
For the World's Finest Gift Exchange prompt F17 :
The Bat-family has kept to themselves, seldom partnering with any superhero except Superman. The Bat family do help the Justice League on occasion but only through Superman. But one fine day they need their help and contact them as Superman is the one in mortal danger. They work well together and Superman manages to convince Bruce to at least let the bat family be temporary members of the group, to call upon when help is needed.
Dick Grayson never helped found the Titans, nor did Tim meet up with any YJ members (till now that is). Jason Todd never dies and is known as the Black Hood. Nor does Kon....
The Bat-cave was silent, peaceful and not as empty as it should have been.
“You still haven’t learned how to knock, have you?” stated the cave’s owner, looking over his shoulder in to the semi-darkness behind him.
“With you knocking isn’t exactly needed.” answered another, deeper, voice coming from an out-of-thin-air materializing green skinned person.
“Why, hello J’onn. Again. The Leagues meeting was just yesterday, forgot to mention something at it?” said Batman, turning and looking up. “By the way” he continued with an amused tone “the ‘League’ still sounds like a ball club.”
“What, can’t a Martian come to visit his friend?” the other joked, bringing one hand in the air in a half shrug, as he flew down to stand in front of Bruce. “Would you have preferred ‘Justice Friends’? ‘Justice Lords’? ‘World’s Finest’?”
“I doubt this is a social visit.” Bruce retorted, ignoring the naming ‘jab’ for now.
“Well, I was hoping for a drink with a friend,” started J’onn lightly, “but I also wanted to talk,” he continued, tone becoming graver “about the Leagues decision … and yours.”
Batman just looked at him and then slowly nodded.
**
It was late evening by the time they entered a crowded café and sat at a far table, just like the first time they’ve meet. It had somehow became a tradition to meet every once in a while for a drink at some different place in Gotham, usually Bruce’s choice since he knew his way around the city best.
Up until now, J’onn had been pleased with a few cafés in the south part of the city, trilled by a pizza place in the middle city and downright ecstatic about the Chinese restaurant in the old city. The small restaurant on the west coast line was declared a fail never to be mentioned again (was J’onns pick after all and Bruce had warned him…)
“So … the meeting yesterday…” Bruce began around a glass of iced tea.
“It hadn’t gone as I’ve planed it.”
Bruce just nodded.
“You were supposed to be a part of the team ...” said J’onn, looking down at the table.
“But I’m not.”
“No. You’re not.” Confirmed J’onn and looked back up at his companion. “I don’t agree with the majority of the members voting you out. I also don’t agree with your declination.”
“I know.”
“Why? Why did you decline a membership within the league?”
Bruce looked to the side for a moment and took a sip of his drink. “Because I can’t be a part of it. Not at the moment.”
The Martian sighed. “I guess there’s no changing your decision, and as long as the other members don’t change their votes you can’t be a part of the team.”
“Yep.”
“We still need you though. More than 90% of the technology at the watch tower is Wayne industries technology; you know it better than anyone. The building itself is Wayne property ...” J’onn stopped for a moment there to gather his thoughts “… Furthermore, you’re one of the brightest minds I’ve ever known and a seasoned crime fighter, you’re actually been one longer than most of the other members, longer than me even…” he trailed off.
Silence lapsed over them.
“You know …” Bruce started, putting his glass down “… I may not be a part of the team, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t help when needed.”
J’onn smiled at that. “… I know who to call then.”
Now Bruce smiled too.
“By the way.” The serious part of the meeting was over, now it was just two friends having a drink on a hot summer night “The other day, I was talking to Superman…”
Bruce blinked. “The Man of Steal?”
“The very one.”
“Hmm. So?”
“He declined. Said he preferred to work alone.”
“The rumored Boy Scout not wanting to work in a group?”
“So he said.”
“Well, he is new to the job. When was his first appearance again?”
“Two years ago.” J’onn answered after a moment of thought.
“He probably hadn’t had the chance to work with someone yet... He’ll rethink his decision within a year or so…”
“Like you did?” J’onn asked teasing. Bruce just smirked.
**
**
The thought of yesterday still made him smile. It had started horrible, with Lois getting kidnapped and Lex mind-controlling him. For some reason he was like a magnet for mind-controlling megalomaniacs and his biggest fear was always that he would hurt someone while being under someone else’s control. Lois was safe now and Lex was in jail for his crimes, Clark hadn’t hurt anyone while under the mind-control either and that was a relief.
The day had ended well, thanks to the Dark Knight and his sidekick.
“You can’t leave without saying goodbye.”
Never before had he had the chance to work with someone else, neither had he wanted to. He had always thought that it was better to work alone, to not get someone else involved, they didn’t have anything in common and he had chosen this path on his own and he was, it seems, festinated to walk it alone. To walk this earth as the last of his kind, trying and failing to be like other humans.
It had taken him a while to realize that he was not the only person walking this path, that there were other people everywhere giving there all to make life for everyone a little better. Slowly the circle he had drown around himself had grown and he was now aware of others like him, others he could walk besides, others he could help and that could help him, others that could understand and accept him.
Just like Batman and Robin or better yet Bruce and Dick had accepted him.
“You can’t just leave! We always have cookies and hot-chocolate after a successful mission, and since you worked with us means you have to get some too.”
Clark had been just about to go away after apologizing for about fifteen minutes when Robin had started pulling on his cape and complaining (in anyone else it could have classified as whining but the boy was too much like his mentor) about having to get cookies with them. After the initial surprise of the big bad Batman and the Boy Wonder doing something like eating cookies and drinking hot-chocolate he looked to Batman to help free him from Robins grasp. The other wasn’t any help though, had just smirked at them amused.
“Don’t look at me. You’re Superman, you tell him ‘no’ yourself.”
So he had ended up at the Wayne manor, met Alfred and Batgirl, sat at the table with all of them, a plate with Alfred’s cookies and a cup of Bruce’s hot chocolate in front of him and participated in a lively conversation. For the first time in his life freely talking about himself with someone other than his parents.
It was very late - or very early in the morning (depending how you look at it) - by the time he got home and went to bed.
Only to wake up hours later to the phone rings and Bruce asking him if he had the time to come to the Justice Leagues Watchtower…
“Now tell me about this Justice Team of yours.”
“League. Justice League.” Corrected Batman, and then added as an afterthought to himself “Told the Martian it sounded like a ball club.”
“Ball club?” Asked Clark, clearly amused.
Bruce just waved his hand dismissively “Private joke. Explain it to you later if you want.”
“Anyway, this is the command center. Someone’s always stationed here.” He started explaining, moving past Clark towards the windows to look at the rising Sun “It’s time consuming, but the view is great.”
“Definitely.” Confirmed Clark, floating over to the window.
They stood there looking out into space for a while, not saying anything. It was quite relaxing for Clark to be there, with no sounds to hear except their heartbeats and some silent machinery humming in the background. He looked at Bruce, as golden Sun light made the vigilante glow like amber, and was unable to look away. Something else caught his attention a few moments later.
Bruce continued “Anyhow, as I’ve said, someone is always stationed here monitoring --” But was cut off by a worriedly sounding Clark.
“Did I hurt you?”
The Dark Knight blinked a few times, taken back, and furrowed his brows in question. “What?”
“Yesterday. I don’t remember what happened while I was controlled and … your breathing is somewhat irregular but it wasn’t before, and--”
Bruce cut him off “No, no you didn’t.”
“But--”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“Nothing? You’re walking around with cracked ribs!” Clark was a little frantic now. How had he not noticed this before? Or thought of it? Of course someone got hurt while he went renegade.
Bruce was unmoved though “I know that you’re supposed to use all that’s at your disposal to the maximum but using x-ray vision for this kinds of things is kind of … annoying …”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
Was he acting dumb on purpose? “Why didn’t you tell me that I’d hurt you?!”
“There wasn’t anything to tell Superman.” Bruce was getting annoyed now and it showed. “I wasn’t expecting to get out of that fight unbrused. Wounds heal. - Yes, Superman they do - Besides, I’ve been through worse.”
“Doubt that--”
“Don’t flatter yourself Kent or your strength. You’re not the only person on Earth who can lift a truck.”
A hand was on Clarks shoulder now, soothing and lightly guiding him back to stand on the floor. He hadn’t even noticed that he was floating, looming over Bruce slightly, trying and failing to intimidate the other instinctively.
Agitation gave way to shame.
“I’m sorry. I--”
“It’s fine. Really.” Reassuring again as Clark finally looked back at him.
“Sorry.” Clark repeated once again and then changed the subject. “So, you were saying…”
“Right. So, someone is always stationed here monitoring what happens on Earth…”
**
**
“That would be it for today. Good day to you all.” J’onn concluded, so closing the first Justice Leagues meeting.
The heroes got up one by one and started heading towards the exit, sounds filling the room as they chatted with each other. Only one was still sitting, elbows on the table and palms folded in front of his face, looking at the one chair that had remained empty during the whole meeting.
“It’s a pity.” J’onns voice from behind him startled Clark out of his musings. “Really could use his help around here.”
“Yeah.” Superman nodded in affirmation, glancing at the chair again and then back to J’onn and shrugged. “But what can you do about it…”
J’onn smiled “If that man is one thing then it’s stubborn,… but, maybe, you could try to change his mind…”
Clark shuck his head slightly and smiled ruefully “Already tried too. Actual, I hadn’t reacted very well when he told me.”
“What do you mean you’re not in the League?! Since we’ve first met you’ve been talking ‘the League this’, ‘the League that’ and you weren’t even a part of it?!? What are you doing in the Watchtower then?!”
Clark had never seen himself as a calm person; he was more temperalamental, passionate even a little impulsive but he didn’t usually lose control of himself, it seemed Batman was probably the only person he knew who could make him loose his cool … two times in five minutes.
“Trying to change his mind didn’t work at all. I even tried to talk to Robin, Batgirl and his friend but…”
“We agree with what he said.”
“We actually told him to not be a part of it. Don’t want him to get hurt.”
“It’s far of a daring undertaking, I don’t think master Bruce is the man for a job of that grand a scale. He is, after all, only a man.”
“…they don’t want him here either.”
J’onn just nodded “Their relicense is understandable… We still need him thought.”
“You know him from before?” Clark asked.
“Excuse me?” J’onn blinked, taken back the question.
“You seem to be very sure of Batman’s abilities, do you two known each other from before?” Clark clarified, a little bit reluctant to know the answer for some reason. Somehow, the thought of Bruce and J’onn being close seemed…unwanted.
The Martian smiled and went to sit down on a chair besides Clark.
“Let me tell you about how the Joining was defeated, and about how one man’s will to make a difference saved the Earth.”
**
**
**
Years later
For a person who spends his nights running around Gotham and fighting crime, Bruce was quite the early riser, getting away with little to no sleep for days. Always awake by six o’clock. Only on weekends and free days would he allow himself to sleep a little longer.
Every morning, Clark would awake to the feeling of warm fingers brushing his hair from his face, caressing his chick, a light kiss on his forehead and a whispering voice.
“Good morning, my Sun-child…”
And he would always put his palm over the others, blink his eyes open, smile at Bruce and answer back, “Morning, my Moon-child.”, and then kiss him.
Only this time he was cut off, before he could say anything, by a crash from downstairs. Followed by yelling.
“Why did you do that for?!”
“Me?! I didn’t do anything! You’re the one who let the other end go. Don’t go blaming me for your incompetence!”
“Guys-”
“Who are you calling incompetent Boy Blunder?!”
“Guys-”
“That would be you, Balky Hood.”
“The worlds heroes of tomorrow, ready, willing, able and insulting the living daylights out of each other every day of the week and twice on weekends…”
“What did you call me ‘Wingy?!”
“…humanity is doomed.”
“You heard me Hot Head!”
“How about I just take this and put it up in the living room…”
“Why you!”
“You do that fly boy.”
“Morning everyone! … Why are those two wrestling? … On the floor of the hall? This early in the day?”
“You don’t want to know…”
They both smiled and looked at each other. Their elder children were already up an about accompanied by Barbara and Kara. The two youngest would be coming into their room to hide from the commission downstairs right about…
“Dad?” came a voice from the door and two heads poked into the room.
… now.
Bruce raised on one elbow to better look at them. “Yes, Damien? Helena?”
The two just hoped onto the bed and snuggled between the two grown man.
Clark chuckled a little, turned on his side, one hand under his head the other going over the two children. “Hiding from Alfred again I see…”
Damien shuck his head “Nu-huh. Why ever would we do that?” Helena nodded her head in agreement with her brother.
Bruce smirked. “Because,” he leaned slightly over them and put a finger to the tip of Helena’s nose “you always do.” She just giggled at him.
There were footsteps nearing the door and the two children gasped in surprise and hid under the covers. “Shhh, he’s coming.”
Alfred knocked and opened the door. “Master Bruce, Master Clark, good morning.” He waited for a chore of ‘morning’s before he continued “the breakfast will be done shortly, might I suggest you start getting up.”
“We’ll be there in a few Alfred.”
Alfred nodded and turned to go out, the two kids under the covers giggled thinking that Alfred hadn’t noticed them. “And young masters Damian and Helena? Don’t forget to clean your teeth.” And he was out the door.
The kids pouted as they wiggled out from under the covers. “Aww. How did he notice?” Each looking to the parent closest to them for explanation.
Clark answered amusedly, bringing a hand to his chin and furrowing his brows in a mock thinking pose. “Well, I would have to say it was because you two don’t know how to hide...” They all knew that it wasn’t true, seeing as Damian and Helena were from the Bat part of the family and as such were experts at hiding (and a few other things), giving the Sups part of the family problems finding them (oddly enough the Bat part of the family never had problems finding them, but then again “Bats of a wing, always know everything” as Kon had once said). The two ten-year-olds liked playing little silly games with their parents every moment they could. All of the Bat kids did actually.
That was one of the things the Kryptonian part of the family found confusing about the Bat part of the family. For all the seriousness and angst spreading personas the Bats were overall … playful, lively and energetic. Dick has always been the prime example, the others not far behind. Bruce, strangely, not being an exception. Of course you first had to get close to the man, if you wanted to see it on a regular basis.
“Who, us?” Damian asked in mock incredulousness.
“That’s just mean Dad.” She said to Clark, feigning hurt, bringing one hand to her eye to wipe away an imaginary tear and sniffed. “Now we’re sad. I think we’ll stay here, in bad, the whole day… maybe it’ll make the pain go away.”
Bruce raised a brow at them. “Really now?”
They both turned to him and in perfect robotic unity simultaneously nodded their heads.
The oldest Wayne just let out a melodramatic sigh, “It can’t be helped then…”, and then smirked making the children tense knowing that a playful smiling Bruce meant trouble.
“I guess, my Love” he said reaching over them to put a hand behind Clark’s neck and tug him towards Bruce “we’ll have to do with an audience…” bringing him in closer for a kiss. Clark smirked at him, “I guess so …” and leaned in as the children ‘eep’ed, went under the sheets only to emerge on the other end and make a run for the door. An indignant “Parents!” was heard from Helena as Clark and Bruce watched them run away and laughed.
“Now where were we again?” asked Bruce as they looked at each other again.
“Hmm,” started Clark, “I would say that--” a palm rested on Bruce’s cheek “--we stopped right--” he pulled him in for a kiss “-here.”
**
The Bat-cave was alive. The two eldest Wayne kids - Dick and Jason - were sparing, with Conner as the referee, Tim and Cassandra were reading, Stephanie and the two youngest were playing with Krypto and Ace, Kara was helping Barbara and Bruce thinker with the computer station and Clark was getting ready to go to a League meeting.
Fastening his cape in the right place Clark got out of the changing room, took a step back as two barking dogs ran in front of him (one flying the other running) followed by a laughing Helena and Damien and then came to lean on the computer console besides a kneeling, electronic parts surrounded Bruce.
He smiled down at his lover as the other said something to Barbara pointing with his finger to some hardware part that was smoking for some reason. He looked around the cave, his smile growing wider as he looked at the family he had now.
Life was perfect.
Well…
He looked back at Bruce who was connecting some wires.
… Almost perfect.
Bruce, feeling Clarks stare, looked up at him after a moment, and raised an eyebrow as Clark just smiled.
“So, you ready to join the Justice League?” It was the same question the Kryptonians have been asking for years, always asked in the same way. “Or you Dick to join the Teen Titans?” asked Kara, still holding up a part of the console. Conner followed “Or you four to join the Young Justice?” looking at Jason, Tim, Cass and Stephanie one at a time. And the Bat-kids would always answer in the same way, always without missing a heartbeat and always negative to all three questions. Bruce would just look at Clark and say “You heard the answer.”
Clark just sighed “Well, I’ll be going now, can’t keep the League waiting.” and started saying good bye to the kids before walking towards the cave exit. Bruce got up, dusted his hands on his pants and went after him.
They were outside of the cave now, at the foot of the cliff on which Wayne manor rested. Sand beneath their feet, the waves braking on the cliff and the wind playing with their capes.
Superman turned to his companion. “I don’t understand why-“ but was cut off “Clark, don’t start.” Clark raised one hand up in a stop gesture as Bruce crossed his arms “Just let me finish.” He stopped after that waiting for Bruce to nod before continuing. “I don’t understand why you won’t join the League. I can understand why the kids won’t. But you’ve always wanted to be a part of it, so why? And please don’t give me the half reasons you always do.”
“I’ve never given you half reasons. All the reasons from before still stand and are still walid.”
“Yes, but -”
“But you seemed to have misunderstood one point.”
Clark blinked at that. “And what is that?”
“I have never wanted to be part of the Justice League. What I want and had always wanted is to protect that-” Bruce said waiving one hand over the water to Gotham “and that.” then pointed to the manor indicating their family. “Being in the league would have probably been a help.”
“Yes, -”
“But it hadn’t happened for a long list of reasons. And that’s fine.”
That line bothered Clark. While Bruce was quite understanding and very patient he was also a perfectionist/borderline-obsessive-compulsive, and him being ‘fine’ with something that didn’t go according to plan was worrying “How can you be fine with that?”
Bruce sighed and looked to the side for a moment, seemingly to gather his thoughts. “You know … Harvey once asked me where I was in such a hurry for. I’ve never felt content with just waiting around, always feeling like there is so much to do. But … now, I feel like I’m exactly where I want and need to be ...”
Silence fell upon them.
Then Bruce looked back at Clark “That’s something. Right?” And he sounded so weary and broken - as if he had spend eons explaining the same thing over and over again, always failing to get his point across - that Clark couldn’t do anything else but smile sadly and let it go. For now.
**
“Stay safe.” Bruce had said before Clark had flown into space to meet with the Leaguers. The same thing the Bats always seem to say to everyone they cared about the moment that person was going out of their sight. They were just territorial and protective like that. The Kryptonians and their friends usually just answer back with “Of course” or “You too”.
But they are superheroes, and as superheroes a minimum of one promise has to be broken during a work week (twice as much if you were on sick leave). Not that Clark had wanted to brake that promise in particular but being kidnapped by Darkside wasn’t something he had expected or agreed to.
‘It seems I’ll be sleeping on the sofa for a month.’
The evening had started good enough. The meeting was over and the group was just hanging out together when - a disturbance and some flashy lights later - Darkside had come via Boom tube to the Watchtower and was asking for help - of all things - and spewing some nonsense about Brainiac attacking and it being Clark’s responsibility to stop him. After being declined - twice - the second time he came he also kidnapped Clark.
If Clark had ever had doubts before now he knew for sure. Getting your genes extracted from you to make bodies for Brainiac hurt. Very much.
In retrospect, it hadn’t been such a good idea to go and fight Darkside on an exploding ship even if Kara and Kon were there to back him up.
It also hadn’t been a good idea to slam Batman against the nearest wall when he came to get them.
“Get out of here. Now!”
It should have registered as he scrawled down upon Bruce who was holding his shoulder. It, really, should have registered that he had just hit Bruce for no reason, the ship was going to explode any second, he had hit Bruce, they were all in danger and that he had hit Bruce. And if not to him it should have registered to either Kara or Kon. But it hadn’t and so the three of them had turned their back to Batman with the intention to get back to fighting Darkside … only to stop cold as they felt a murderous aura behind them.
They simultaneously turned around to face Batman who was standing right behind them, black shadow covered in a non-shadow area, white eyes flashing emptily and his cape swirling around him hauntingly in a inexistent wind. A real horror appearance. It was a Bat state that the Kryptonian part of the family had, lovingly (can you feel the sarcasm), dubbed Bat-mania and that promised unavoidable and impending doom to the one it was aimed at. It was aimed at them.
Kryptonians didn’t sweat much (those under the yellow sun even less) but right now Clark was surprised that they hadn’t flooded the hall yet.
“Umm, B-Bruce … Love, th-there’s really n-no need to go to that ex-extreme.” ‘Forget about sleeping on the couch, we’re soooo dead.’
The two kids were trembling and trying to hide behind him.
“Y-yeah Bruce w-w-we…” Kara trailed of as she tried to hide further behind Clark.
Kon flowed a moment later with a tiny, whimpering and scared “Please don’t kill us.”
The white eyes just narrowed to tiny slits and Clark gulped. ‘We’re dead.’
A moment later there was a booming noise and light as a Boom tube portal opened and Batman moved aside to watch them as they scrambled through the portal.
On the other side they found the forests of High Fathers planet, the rest of the Bat-clan and heroes running towards them.
Kon met them halfway, kneeling before Tim with fistful of black and yellow cape whimpering. “Help”
The others just stood there, baffled, looking at him.
“Wha…?” Said Nightwing and they all looked up to where a mad Batman was dragging an unconscious Orion with Clark and Kara meekly trailing after him desperately begging for forgiveness.
They looked back at Kon, Jason crossed his arms and asked. “What did you do?”
“WeWentToFightDarksideAndThenBatsCameAnd…” His hurried explanation trailed of as the Bats entered the stage of Bat-mania, all of them shadowy and their respective color glowing. Kon whimpered and flew away screaming. The other heroes took a step back, wary of the people who made Superboy and - when Kara turned around - Supergirl run in fright, not to mention make Superman look even more nervous.
J’onn just smiled. “So, we agree? Good addition to the group?” The league members just nodded, with a faint ‘Yeah’ being heard now and then.
The Bat-clan just looked at J’onn waiting expectedly.
J’onn looked back at them. “You willing to step in to the greater world? Join the League? Teen Titans? Young Justice?”
The Bats just scrawled at him and chore ‘No’.
Clark stepped forward at this point, raising one finger and facing the Bat children with Bruce just to the side of him “How about a part time membership.” Then squirmed and shrunk back as Bruce glared at him.
The Bat-clan looked at each other and then, after a moment, Oracles voice sounded in the communicators. “Agree.” The others followed, nodding one by one. Batman sealed the agreement. “Part time.”
J’onn just smiled wider.
Clark was pleased and covering under Batman’s glare.
The other members were nervously looking at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
**
It was the evening before Christmas and the Bat/Super family was having a grand fest. Ma Kent was helping Alfred in the kitchen. Pa Kent was playing with Helena and Damian. Dick, Jason, Tim and Kara putting up the last of decoration around the house, and the rest were arguing which movie they were going to watch.
Clark was standing in the doorway watching it all happen and smiling, waiting for his mate to come down and join them. And wondering what kind of punishment they were to get.
A moment later there was a hand around his shoulders and a whisper in his ear. “So what movie are we watching?”
He smiled and whispered back “Don’t know yet.”
Bruce just smirked and kissed him on the neck, doing the mind reading thing that all Bats seem to be blessed with. “Atonement comes later. For now … ”
Bruce untangled himself for him, took him by the hand…
“… it’s Christmas.”
… And pulled him in to the warm, light filled room.
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Bat-clan, Sups-clan, J'onn
Rating: PG (I guess)
Word count: ~4.800
Warnings: unbetaed (so point/or try to ignore)
Spoilers: it's a combo of The Batman, Justice League(animated) and an AU
Disclaimer: don't own them
It ended up pretty bad. T_T
Hope the prompt giver isn't too disappointed....
For the World's Finest Gift Exchange prompt F17 :
The Bat-family has kept to themselves, seldom partnering with any superhero except Superman. The Bat family do help the Justice League on occasion but only through Superman. But one fine day they need their help and contact them as Superman is the one in mortal danger. They work well together and Superman manages to convince Bruce to at least let the bat family be temporary members of the group, to call upon when help is needed.
Dick Grayson never helped found the Titans, nor did Tim meet up with any YJ members (till now that is). Jason Todd never dies and is known as the Black Hood. Nor does Kon....
The Bat-cave was silent, peaceful and not as empty as it should have been.
“You still haven’t learned how to knock, have you?” stated the cave’s owner, looking over his shoulder in to the semi-darkness behind him.
“With you knocking isn’t exactly needed.” answered another, deeper, voice coming from an out-of-thin-air materializing green skinned person.
“Why, hello J’onn. Again. The Leagues meeting was just yesterday, forgot to mention something at it?” said Batman, turning and looking up. “By the way” he continued with an amused tone “the ‘League’ still sounds like a ball club.”
“What, can’t a Martian come to visit his friend?” the other joked, bringing one hand in the air in a half shrug, as he flew down to stand in front of Bruce. “Would you have preferred ‘Justice Friends’? ‘Justice Lords’? ‘World’s Finest’?”
“I doubt this is a social visit.” Bruce retorted, ignoring the naming ‘jab’ for now.
“Well, I was hoping for a drink with a friend,” started J’onn lightly, “but I also wanted to talk,” he continued, tone becoming graver “about the Leagues decision … and yours.”
Batman just looked at him and then slowly nodded.
**
It was late evening by the time they entered a crowded café and sat at a far table, just like the first time they’ve meet. It had somehow became a tradition to meet every once in a while for a drink at some different place in Gotham, usually Bruce’s choice since he knew his way around the city best.
Up until now, J’onn had been pleased with a few cafés in the south part of the city, trilled by a pizza place in the middle city and downright ecstatic about the Chinese restaurant in the old city. The small restaurant on the west coast line was declared a fail never to be mentioned again (was J’onns pick after all and Bruce had warned him…)
“So … the meeting yesterday…” Bruce began around a glass of iced tea.
“It hadn’t gone as I’ve planed it.”
Bruce just nodded.
“You were supposed to be a part of the team ...” said J’onn, looking down at the table.
“But I’m not.”
“No. You’re not.” Confirmed J’onn and looked back up at his companion. “I don’t agree with the majority of the members voting you out. I also don’t agree with your declination.”
“I know.”
“Why? Why did you decline a membership within the league?”
Bruce looked to the side for a moment and took a sip of his drink. “Because I can’t be a part of it. Not at the moment.”
The Martian sighed. “I guess there’s no changing your decision, and as long as the other members don’t change their votes you can’t be a part of the team.”
“Yep.”
“We still need you though. More than 90% of the technology at the watch tower is Wayne industries technology; you know it better than anyone. The building itself is Wayne property ...” J’onn stopped for a moment there to gather his thoughts “… Furthermore, you’re one of the brightest minds I’ve ever known and a seasoned crime fighter, you’re actually been one longer than most of the other members, longer than me even…” he trailed off.
Silence lapsed over them.
“You know …” Bruce started, putting his glass down “… I may not be a part of the team, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t help when needed.”
J’onn smiled at that. “… I know who to call then.”
Now Bruce smiled too.
“By the way.” The serious part of the meeting was over, now it was just two friends having a drink on a hot summer night “The other day, I was talking to Superman…”
Bruce blinked. “The Man of Steal?”
“The very one.”
“Hmm. So?”
“He declined. Said he preferred to work alone.”
“The rumored Boy Scout not wanting to work in a group?”
“So he said.”
“Well, he is new to the job. When was his first appearance again?”
“Two years ago.” J’onn answered after a moment of thought.
“He probably hadn’t had the chance to work with someone yet... He’ll rethink his decision within a year or so…”
“Like you did?” J’onn asked teasing. Bruce just smirked.
**
**
The thought of yesterday still made him smile. It had started horrible, with Lois getting kidnapped and Lex mind-controlling him. For some reason he was like a magnet for mind-controlling megalomaniacs and his biggest fear was always that he would hurt someone while being under someone else’s control. Lois was safe now and Lex was in jail for his crimes, Clark hadn’t hurt anyone while under the mind-control either and that was a relief.
The day had ended well, thanks to the Dark Knight and his sidekick.
“You can’t leave without saying goodbye.”
Never before had he had the chance to work with someone else, neither had he wanted to. He had always thought that it was better to work alone, to not get someone else involved, they didn’t have anything in common and he had chosen this path on his own and he was, it seems, festinated to walk it alone. To walk this earth as the last of his kind, trying and failing to be like other humans.
It had taken him a while to realize that he was not the only person walking this path, that there were other people everywhere giving there all to make life for everyone a little better. Slowly the circle he had drown around himself had grown and he was now aware of others like him, others he could walk besides, others he could help and that could help him, others that could understand and accept him.
Just like Batman and Robin or better yet Bruce and Dick had accepted him.
“You can’t just leave! We always have cookies and hot-chocolate after a successful mission, and since you worked with us means you have to get some too.”
Clark had been just about to go away after apologizing for about fifteen minutes when Robin had started pulling on his cape and complaining (in anyone else it could have classified as whining but the boy was too much like his mentor) about having to get cookies with them. After the initial surprise of the big bad Batman and the Boy Wonder doing something like eating cookies and drinking hot-chocolate he looked to Batman to help free him from Robins grasp. The other wasn’t any help though, had just smirked at them amused.
“Don’t look at me. You’re Superman, you tell him ‘no’ yourself.”
So he had ended up at the Wayne manor, met Alfred and Batgirl, sat at the table with all of them, a plate with Alfred’s cookies and a cup of Bruce’s hot chocolate in front of him and participated in a lively conversation. For the first time in his life freely talking about himself with someone other than his parents.
It was very late - or very early in the morning (depending how you look at it) - by the time he got home and went to bed.
Only to wake up hours later to the phone rings and Bruce asking him if he had the time to come to the Justice Leagues Watchtower…
“Now tell me about this Justice Team of yours.”
“League. Justice League.” Corrected Batman, and then added as an afterthought to himself “Told the Martian it sounded like a ball club.”
“Ball club?” Asked Clark, clearly amused.
Bruce just waved his hand dismissively “Private joke. Explain it to you later if you want.”
“Anyway, this is the command center. Someone’s always stationed here.” He started explaining, moving past Clark towards the windows to look at the rising Sun “It’s time consuming, but the view is great.”
“Definitely.” Confirmed Clark, floating over to the window.
They stood there looking out into space for a while, not saying anything. It was quite relaxing for Clark to be there, with no sounds to hear except their heartbeats and some silent machinery humming in the background. He looked at Bruce, as golden Sun light made the vigilante glow like amber, and was unable to look away. Something else caught his attention a few moments later.
Bruce continued “Anyhow, as I’ve said, someone is always stationed here monitoring --” But was cut off by a worriedly sounding Clark.
“Did I hurt you?”
The Dark Knight blinked a few times, taken back, and furrowed his brows in question. “What?”
“Yesterday. I don’t remember what happened while I was controlled and … your breathing is somewhat irregular but it wasn’t before, and--”
Bruce cut him off “No, no you didn’t.”
“But--”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“Nothing? You’re walking around with cracked ribs!” Clark was a little frantic now. How had he not noticed this before? Or thought of it? Of course someone got hurt while he went renegade.
Bruce was unmoved though “I know that you’re supposed to use all that’s at your disposal to the maximum but using x-ray vision for this kinds of things is kind of … annoying …”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
Was he acting dumb on purpose? “Why didn’t you tell me that I’d hurt you?!”
“There wasn’t anything to tell Superman.” Bruce was getting annoyed now and it showed. “I wasn’t expecting to get out of that fight unbrused. Wounds heal. - Yes, Superman they do - Besides, I’ve been through worse.”
“Doubt that--”
“Don’t flatter yourself Kent or your strength. You’re not the only person on Earth who can lift a truck.”
A hand was on Clarks shoulder now, soothing and lightly guiding him back to stand on the floor. He hadn’t even noticed that he was floating, looming over Bruce slightly, trying and failing to intimidate the other instinctively.
Agitation gave way to shame.
“I’m sorry. I--”
“It’s fine. Really.” Reassuring again as Clark finally looked back at him.
“Sorry.” Clark repeated once again and then changed the subject. “So, you were saying…”
“Right. So, someone is always stationed here monitoring what happens on Earth…”
**
**
“That would be it for today. Good day to you all.” J’onn concluded, so closing the first Justice Leagues meeting.
The heroes got up one by one and started heading towards the exit, sounds filling the room as they chatted with each other. Only one was still sitting, elbows on the table and palms folded in front of his face, looking at the one chair that had remained empty during the whole meeting.
“It’s a pity.” J’onns voice from behind him startled Clark out of his musings. “Really could use his help around here.”
“Yeah.” Superman nodded in affirmation, glancing at the chair again and then back to J’onn and shrugged. “But what can you do about it…”
J’onn smiled “If that man is one thing then it’s stubborn,… but, maybe, you could try to change his mind…”
Clark shuck his head slightly and smiled ruefully “Already tried too. Actual, I hadn’t reacted very well when he told me.”
“What do you mean you’re not in the League?! Since we’ve first met you’ve been talking ‘the League this’, ‘the League that’ and you weren’t even a part of it?!? What are you doing in the Watchtower then?!”
Clark had never seen himself as a calm person; he was more temperalamental, passionate even a little impulsive but he didn’t usually lose control of himself, it seemed Batman was probably the only person he knew who could make him loose his cool … two times in five minutes.
“Trying to change his mind didn’t work at all. I even tried to talk to Robin, Batgirl and his friend but…”
“We agree with what he said.”
“We actually told him to not be a part of it. Don’t want him to get hurt.”
“It’s far of a daring undertaking, I don’t think master Bruce is the man for a job of that grand a scale. He is, after all, only a man.”
“…they don’t want him here either.”
J’onn just nodded “Their relicense is understandable… We still need him thought.”
“You know him from before?” Clark asked.
“Excuse me?” J’onn blinked, taken back the question.
“You seem to be very sure of Batman’s abilities, do you two known each other from before?” Clark clarified, a little bit reluctant to know the answer for some reason. Somehow, the thought of Bruce and J’onn being close seemed…unwanted.
The Martian smiled and went to sit down on a chair besides Clark.
“Let me tell you about how the Joining was defeated, and about how one man’s will to make a difference saved the Earth.”
**
**
**
Years later
For a person who spends his nights running around Gotham and fighting crime, Bruce was quite the early riser, getting away with little to no sleep for days. Always awake by six o’clock. Only on weekends and free days would he allow himself to sleep a little longer.
Every morning, Clark would awake to the feeling of warm fingers brushing his hair from his face, caressing his chick, a light kiss on his forehead and a whispering voice.
“Good morning, my Sun-child…”
And he would always put his palm over the others, blink his eyes open, smile at Bruce and answer back, “Morning, my Moon-child.”, and then kiss him.
Only this time he was cut off, before he could say anything, by a crash from downstairs. Followed by yelling.
“Why did you do that for?!”
“Me?! I didn’t do anything! You’re the one who let the other end go. Don’t go blaming me for your incompetence!”
“Guys-”
“Who are you calling incompetent Boy Blunder?!”
“Guys-”
“That would be you, Balky Hood.”
“The worlds heroes of tomorrow, ready, willing, able and insulting the living daylights out of each other every day of the week and twice on weekends…”
“What did you call me ‘Wingy?!”
“…humanity is doomed.”
“You heard me Hot Head!”
“How about I just take this and put it up in the living room…”
“Why you!”
“You do that fly boy.”
“Morning everyone! … Why are those two wrestling? … On the floor of the hall? This early in the day?”
“You don’t want to know…”
They both smiled and looked at each other. Their elder children were already up an about accompanied by Barbara and Kara. The two youngest would be coming into their room to hide from the commission downstairs right about…
“Dad?” came a voice from the door and two heads poked into the room.
… now.
Bruce raised on one elbow to better look at them. “Yes, Damien? Helena?”
The two just hoped onto the bed and snuggled between the two grown man.
Clark chuckled a little, turned on his side, one hand under his head the other going over the two children. “Hiding from Alfred again I see…”
Damien shuck his head “Nu-huh. Why ever would we do that?” Helena nodded her head in agreement with her brother.
Bruce smirked. “Because,” he leaned slightly over them and put a finger to the tip of Helena’s nose “you always do.” She just giggled at him.
There were footsteps nearing the door and the two children gasped in surprise and hid under the covers. “Shhh, he’s coming.”
Alfred knocked and opened the door. “Master Bruce, Master Clark, good morning.” He waited for a chore of ‘morning’s before he continued “the breakfast will be done shortly, might I suggest you start getting up.”
“We’ll be there in a few Alfred.”
Alfred nodded and turned to go out, the two kids under the covers giggled thinking that Alfred hadn’t noticed them. “And young masters Damian and Helena? Don’t forget to clean your teeth.” And he was out the door.
The kids pouted as they wiggled out from under the covers. “Aww. How did he notice?” Each looking to the parent closest to them for explanation.
Clark answered amusedly, bringing a hand to his chin and furrowing his brows in a mock thinking pose. “Well, I would have to say it was because you two don’t know how to hide...” They all knew that it wasn’t true, seeing as Damian and Helena were from the Bat part of the family and as such were experts at hiding (and a few other things), giving the Sups part of the family problems finding them (oddly enough the Bat part of the family never had problems finding them, but then again “Bats of a wing, always know everything” as Kon had once said). The two ten-year-olds liked playing little silly games with their parents every moment they could. All of the Bat kids did actually.
That was one of the things the Kryptonian part of the family found confusing about the Bat part of the family. For all the seriousness and angst spreading personas the Bats were overall … playful, lively and energetic. Dick has always been the prime example, the others not far behind. Bruce, strangely, not being an exception. Of course you first had to get close to the man, if you wanted to see it on a regular basis.
“Who, us?” Damian asked in mock incredulousness.
“That’s just mean Dad.” She said to Clark, feigning hurt, bringing one hand to her eye to wipe away an imaginary tear and sniffed. “Now we’re sad. I think we’ll stay here, in bad, the whole day… maybe it’ll make the pain go away.”
Bruce raised a brow at them. “Really now?”
They both turned to him and in perfect robotic unity simultaneously nodded their heads.
The oldest Wayne just let out a melodramatic sigh, “It can’t be helped then…”, and then smirked making the children tense knowing that a playful smiling Bruce meant trouble.
“I guess, my Love” he said reaching over them to put a hand behind Clark’s neck and tug him towards Bruce “we’ll have to do with an audience…” bringing him in closer for a kiss. Clark smirked at him, “I guess so …” and leaned in as the children ‘eep’ed, went under the sheets only to emerge on the other end and make a run for the door. An indignant “Parents!” was heard from Helena as Clark and Bruce watched them run away and laughed.
“Now where were we again?” asked Bruce as they looked at each other again.
“Hmm,” started Clark, “I would say that--” a palm rested on Bruce’s cheek “--we stopped right--” he pulled him in for a kiss “-here.”
**
The Bat-cave was alive. The two eldest Wayne kids - Dick and Jason - were sparing, with Conner as the referee, Tim and Cassandra were reading, Stephanie and the two youngest were playing with Krypto and Ace, Kara was helping Barbara and Bruce thinker with the computer station and Clark was getting ready to go to a League meeting.
Fastening his cape in the right place Clark got out of the changing room, took a step back as two barking dogs ran in front of him (one flying the other running) followed by a laughing Helena and Damien and then came to lean on the computer console besides a kneeling, electronic parts surrounded Bruce.
He smiled down at his lover as the other said something to Barbara pointing with his finger to some hardware part that was smoking for some reason. He looked around the cave, his smile growing wider as he looked at the family he had now.
Life was perfect.
Well…
He looked back at Bruce who was connecting some wires.
… Almost perfect.
Bruce, feeling Clarks stare, looked up at him after a moment, and raised an eyebrow as Clark just smiled.
“So, you ready to join the Justice League?” It was the same question the Kryptonians have been asking for years, always asked in the same way. “Or you Dick to join the Teen Titans?” asked Kara, still holding up a part of the console. Conner followed “Or you four to join the Young Justice?” looking at Jason, Tim, Cass and Stephanie one at a time. And the Bat-kids would always answer in the same way, always without missing a heartbeat and always negative to all three questions. Bruce would just look at Clark and say “You heard the answer.”
Clark just sighed “Well, I’ll be going now, can’t keep the League waiting.” and started saying good bye to the kids before walking towards the cave exit. Bruce got up, dusted his hands on his pants and went after him.
They were outside of the cave now, at the foot of the cliff on which Wayne manor rested. Sand beneath their feet, the waves braking on the cliff and the wind playing with their capes.
Superman turned to his companion. “I don’t understand why-“ but was cut off “Clark, don’t start.” Clark raised one hand up in a stop gesture as Bruce crossed his arms “Just let me finish.” He stopped after that waiting for Bruce to nod before continuing. “I don’t understand why you won’t join the League. I can understand why the kids won’t. But you’ve always wanted to be a part of it, so why? And please don’t give me the half reasons you always do.”
“I’ve never given you half reasons. All the reasons from before still stand and are still walid.”
“Yes, but -”
“But you seemed to have misunderstood one point.”
Clark blinked at that. “And what is that?”
“I have never wanted to be part of the Justice League. What I want and had always wanted is to protect that-” Bruce said waiving one hand over the water to Gotham “and that.” then pointed to the manor indicating their family. “Being in the league would have probably been a help.”
“Yes, -”
“But it hadn’t happened for a long list of reasons. And that’s fine.”
That line bothered Clark. While Bruce was quite understanding and very patient he was also a perfectionist/borderline-obsessive-compulsive, and him being ‘fine’ with something that didn’t go according to plan was worrying “How can you be fine with that?”
Bruce sighed and looked to the side for a moment, seemingly to gather his thoughts. “You know … Harvey once asked me where I was in such a hurry for. I’ve never felt content with just waiting around, always feeling like there is so much to do. But … now, I feel like I’m exactly where I want and need to be ...”
Silence fell upon them.
Then Bruce looked back at Clark “That’s something. Right?” And he sounded so weary and broken - as if he had spend eons explaining the same thing over and over again, always failing to get his point across - that Clark couldn’t do anything else but smile sadly and let it go. For now.
**
“Stay safe.” Bruce had said before Clark had flown into space to meet with the Leaguers. The same thing the Bats always seem to say to everyone they cared about the moment that person was going out of their sight. They were just territorial and protective like that. The Kryptonians and their friends usually just answer back with “Of course” or “You too”.
But they are superheroes, and as superheroes a minimum of one promise has to be broken during a work week (twice as much if you were on sick leave). Not that Clark had wanted to brake that promise in particular but being kidnapped by Darkside wasn’t something he had expected or agreed to.
‘It seems I’ll be sleeping on the sofa for a month.’
The evening had started good enough. The meeting was over and the group was just hanging out together when - a disturbance and some flashy lights later - Darkside had come via Boom tube to the Watchtower and was asking for help - of all things - and spewing some nonsense about Brainiac attacking and it being Clark’s responsibility to stop him. After being declined - twice - the second time he came he also kidnapped Clark.
If Clark had ever had doubts before now he knew for sure. Getting your genes extracted from you to make bodies for Brainiac hurt. Very much.
In retrospect, it hadn’t been such a good idea to go and fight Darkside on an exploding ship even if Kara and Kon were there to back him up.
It also hadn’t been a good idea to slam Batman against the nearest wall when he came to get them.
“Get out of here. Now!”
It should have registered as he scrawled down upon Bruce who was holding his shoulder. It, really, should have registered that he had just hit Bruce for no reason, the ship was going to explode any second, he had hit Bruce, they were all in danger and that he had hit Bruce. And if not to him it should have registered to either Kara or Kon. But it hadn’t and so the three of them had turned their back to Batman with the intention to get back to fighting Darkside … only to stop cold as they felt a murderous aura behind them.
They simultaneously turned around to face Batman who was standing right behind them, black shadow covered in a non-shadow area, white eyes flashing emptily and his cape swirling around him hauntingly in a inexistent wind. A real horror appearance. It was a Bat state that the Kryptonian part of the family had, lovingly (can you feel the sarcasm), dubbed Bat-mania and that promised unavoidable and impending doom to the one it was aimed at. It was aimed at them.
Kryptonians didn’t sweat much (those under the yellow sun even less) but right now Clark was surprised that they hadn’t flooded the hall yet.
“Umm, B-Bruce … Love, th-there’s really n-no need to go to that ex-extreme.” ‘Forget about sleeping on the couch, we’re soooo dead.’
The two kids were trembling and trying to hide behind him.
“Y-yeah Bruce w-w-we…” Kara trailed of as she tried to hide further behind Clark.
Kon flowed a moment later with a tiny, whimpering and scared “Please don’t kill us.”
The white eyes just narrowed to tiny slits and Clark gulped. ‘We’re dead.’
A moment later there was a booming noise and light as a Boom tube portal opened and Batman moved aside to watch them as they scrambled through the portal.
On the other side they found the forests of High Fathers planet, the rest of the Bat-clan and heroes running towards them.
Kon met them halfway, kneeling before Tim with fistful of black and yellow cape whimpering. “Help”
The others just stood there, baffled, looking at him.
“Wha…?” Said Nightwing and they all looked up to where a mad Batman was dragging an unconscious Orion with Clark and Kara meekly trailing after him desperately begging for forgiveness.
They looked back at Kon, Jason crossed his arms and asked. “What did you do?”
“WeWentToFightDarksideAndThenBatsCameAnd…” His hurried explanation trailed of as the Bats entered the stage of Bat-mania, all of them shadowy and their respective color glowing. Kon whimpered and flew away screaming. The other heroes took a step back, wary of the people who made Superboy and - when Kara turned around - Supergirl run in fright, not to mention make Superman look even more nervous.
J’onn just smiled. “So, we agree? Good addition to the group?” The league members just nodded, with a faint ‘Yeah’ being heard now and then.
The Bat-clan just looked at J’onn waiting expectedly.
J’onn looked back at them. “You willing to step in to the greater world? Join the League? Teen Titans? Young Justice?”
The Bats just scrawled at him and chore ‘No’.
Clark stepped forward at this point, raising one finger and facing the Bat children with Bruce just to the side of him “How about a part time membership.” Then squirmed and shrunk back as Bruce glared at him.
The Bat-clan looked at each other and then, after a moment, Oracles voice sounded in the communicators. “Agree.” The others followed, nodding one by one. Batman sealed the agreement. “Part time.”
J’onn just smiled wider.
Clark was pleased and covering under Batman’s glare.
The other members were nervously looking at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
**
It was the evening before Christmas and the Bat/Super family was having a grand fest. Ma Kent was helping Alfred in the kitchen. Pa Kent was playing with Helena and Damian. Dick, Jason, Tim and Kara putting up the last of decoration around the house, and the rest were arguing which movie they were going to watch.
Clark was standing in the doorway watching it all happen and smiling, waiting for his mate to come down and join them. And wondering what kind of punishment they were to get.
A moment later there was a hand around his shoulders and a whisper in his ear. “So what movie are we watching?”
He smiled and whispered back “Don’t know yet.”
Bruce just smirked and kissed him on the neck, doing the mind reading thing that all Bats seem to be blessed with. “Atonement comes later. For now … ”
Bruce untangled himself for him, took him by the hand…
“… it’s Christmas.”
… And pulled him in to the warm, light filled room.