Chapter Text
Metropolis, 1960
“Kent? Kent, where the hell are you?!” The Chief was up and about in the office today. That was unusual. “For Pete’s sake, where is that damn yokel?!”
Clark was actually on the large bronze statue that crowned the Daily Planet building, his legs dangling over the vast Metropolis skyline as his cape flapped gently in the evening wind. His ears easily picked up Perry’s ranting, however. “He’s up and about again. Guess he didn’t like my report on the new charities set up by the Wayne Foundation.”
“Well, considering it comes off more like a love letter, I’d say he has a point.” He never sat here alone. It was actually Lois’ idea to come up here in the first place, a wild thought that had slowly grown into a tradition for the two of them. “And while we’re on the subject of Mr. Wayne…”
Clark couldn’t help the warm laugh that bubbled forth from his gut. Even after all these years, Lois still knew how to steer the conversation in the direction she wanted it to go. “He’s doing fine. Dick, too.”
“Not that, Smallville.” She corrected, shooting him a knowing look. “I’m talking about your plan .”
Clark’s smile dampened slightly. “You mean my pipe dream? That’s never gonna work.” He wasn’t sure why he ever let the thought leave his mouth. Of course, he wanted to tell people. He wanted to shout from the roof of every building just how much he loved Bruce Wayne. But he couldn’t, not in the world as it was. Theirs was a love that had to be kept hidden from the piercing eyes of the world, for fear of that world crushing them underfoot. From this need for secrecy came his plan: tell the League instead. Their little group had only been a thing for less than a year, but he already trusted them far more than he ever had the government or his colleagues at the Planet. But that trust wasn’t entirely unconditional, not when he still hadn’t gotten to know members like Barry Allen, who could be as beholden to conservative opinions as any other member of law enforcement, or their newest ally Arthur Curry, whose beliefs and worldview still remained a mystery to him. Still, he had in some: from what J’onn had told him of the culture on Mars, relationships like his were viewed rather favorably, and then of course there was Diana. He couldn’t be certain, but he doubted someone from an island filled only by women would have a hard time accepting his and Bruce’s love.
“Pipe dream? Really?” Lois could never be said to shy away from the truth, especially when it was right in front of her. “I think you’re giving them too little credit. These people know you, Clark. Hell, a couple of them basically idolize you! Your secret’s safe with them, and you know it.” She elbowed him in the side. “So what’s this really about, then? C’mon, if I don’t get it out tonight, I’ll just wring it out of you tomorrow!”
Clark opened his mouth to speak, but a stray sound from afar upon his ears stole the words from his throat. “There’s a break-in downtown.” His tone was that of a spoken thought, surprising Lois with the sudden shift in topic. He blinked, shaking himself out of his momentary distraction. “Uh, sorry to duck out like this, Lois, but…”
She chuckled. “Saved by the crook, eh? Don’t worry, Smallville, I can wait.”
He thanked her briefly, before rocketing up into the clouds above the city. He pivoted and rocketed off, honing in on the sound of breaking glass and hushed footsteps in just a few seconds. They led him to a fancy apartment complex in New Troy, a window with a perfectly circular hole in it giving away the crime happening inside. Without a second of hesitation, Clark flew through the gap made by the burglar, confronting them.
“And here I thought I was being quiet.”
Clark stilled as he came face-to-face with the intruder. “Selina. Can’t say I expected to see you tonight.” He watched as she worked, crossing his arms with an unimpressed look on his face. “Might I ask what you’re doing in Metropolis?”
“Just fancied… a change of scenery, is all.” Selina reached through the hole she had cut in the glass case with her claws, her gloved fingers gripping the bejeweled ornament. “I love Gotham, but all that doom and gloom can start to wear a girl’s mood down, y’know?”
Clark nodded slightly. Every trip to Gotham was worth it in his mind, if for nothing other than the chance to be with Bruce for a night, but he’d be lying if he said the frequent low light never got to him. He was a creature of the sun, for better and for worse. “You should probably put that back.”
“Hmm?” Selina shot him a smirk, like he was joking with her. “Oh, this thing? I’m sure the esteemed Mr. Luthor’s fortune won’t suffer the loss of a single Faberge egg. Besides, if he didn’t want me to take it, he wouldn’t have put it on display, would he?”
Clark groaned. He knew that he should probably stop her, but given everything he’d gone through today, he figured that Luthor could just recoup his losses on some other expensive trinket. “Oh, for God’s sake… if anyone asks…”
“You weren’t here? Way ahead of you, Kal.” She was already seated on the rim of the window-hole, little more than a quick dive from being out of his hair entirely. She motioned to leave, but stopped just shy, turning her head slightly to look at him from the corner of his eye. “How is he? Our man?”
“He’s fine. In that special little Bruce way.” Under better circumstances, they’d have spent at least a few hours trading their favorite tidbits about the man they both cared for. But she knew what he meant by that, if the warm smile that crossed her face was anything to go by.
“Good to hear.” It was rare to see Selina lower the act at all. It gave Clark a small swell of pride in his chest to know that he was one of that select few that could pierce the veil she put up, who got to see the real Selina.
He was almost sad to see her go. From what Bruce had told him, she had that effect on a lot of people. “I was just talking with Lois, you know. Shall I tell her you said hi?”
“Heh. Don’t worry, Kal. I already have an appointment with the dear Ms. Lane.” He couldn’t help but laugh at her terrible coding. She didn’t find it that funny, if her pout was any good indication of her mood. “What? That’s a valid way to phrase it, isn’t it?”
He chuckled some more. “Twenty years ago, maybe! You make her sound like a shrink. Besides,” He gestured, laying his palm flat over the S. “It’s me, remember? No need for coding here.”
She groaned and rolled her eyes, but there was nothing sour in her voice. Rather, she almost seemed amused by the comment. “Fine. I have a date with my lady friend . Happy?”
“Incredibly so.” Clark smiled at her. “So, where to next? Star City, Monaco, London? Hell, I hear Badhnisia is nice this time of year!” He leaned against a nearby wall, folding his arms as he watched her.
“Oof, no! That place is way too humid for me to be wearing all that leather! And as for my next stomping grounds… well, that’s for me to know and you to learn later!” In one swift motion, Selina twisted her body and smoothly maneuvered herself through the hole, as though she were made of liquid rather than solid matter. “Still, if you wanna talk shop about our man, I’m sure you can seek me out!” She told him, the sentence capped with a usual playful wink. She threw him a quick mock salute, tensing her legs for a jump. “See you around, spaceman.” And with that, she was gone, falling down into the golden-spotted night of the city below, leaving Clark alone, the sole living thing among the hall of artifacts. After a quick survey, he hummed.
“This stuff should be in public.”