Chapter Text
Clark couldn’t believe it. He didn’t think his repeated asking and pestering had gotten though. He’d practically begged.
Well, thinking about it now, he might have bullied the man into coming.
But that was just because Batman was his friend! One of his best friends!
Clark just wanted to spend more time with him. Totally platonic of course. That’s why he asked Batman to come so many times.
Excuses of team bonding had rolled off his tongue, and then he told him that most of the team was intimidated by him which he was sure Batman man already knew. God he was just so smart.
And Clark was an idiot.
He should’ve just let him be.
Batman was clearly uncomfortable. He hadn’t moved from his seat, hadn’t touched a single drink. He had barely even spoken.
Clark shouldn’t be surprised really. He knows the man pretty well, well enough to know he wouldn’t do anything to compromise his abilities or lower his guard.
But oh how Clark wished he would. If he lowered his guard just a bit, just enough to realize he could trust him, maybe Clark would get to see the man beneath the cowl.
He’s seen glimpses in the way he comforts a child during their missions. Seen how carefully he makes each plan with consideration of all their teammates.
But it was too late now. Batman actually showed up to the gathering and Clark would just have to hope he didn’t hate every second of it.
“What about you Batman?” Hal called, pulling Clark out of his thoughts.
Clark started in anticipation as Batman simply glared at the man.
“You know,” Hal prodded, “Fuck, Marry, Kill?”
Oh my god they were all dead. Batman was gonna hate him forever for dragging him to this.
“Yeah,” Barry jumped in, tipsy enough to have lost the ability to read Batman’s glare, “Choices are between Pedro Pascal, Henry Cavil, and Brucie Wayne.”
Not for the first time, Clark wishes he could feel the burn of alcohol. Most of the team just had an enhanced metabolism so scientific concoctions could get them drunk, but Clark, Supermen, couldn’t. He was thankful for the most part, he held too much power to wield it carelessly, but sometimes he wished to feel just a little free. Not like he had the whole world counting on him.
And maybe it’d give him the courage to just come out and tell Batman how he felt instead of dragging him to team bonding nights.
Batman worked perfectly with everyone and he hated the whole getting to know each other. Everyone’s identity had come out but his. They’d revealed themselves to the team when they felt comfortable and Clark wished Batman would trust them enough.
He understood though. Clark had seen the city the man calls home. It makes sense that he didn’t trust easily.
But after everything they’d been though, after all the life and death situations-
“Kill Bruce Wayne,” Batman states loudly, pulling Clark from his thoughts violently.
He froze, stating at Batman in shock. Does the man he’s in love with his best friend hate his celebrity crush?
Doesn’t matter, what does matter is that Batman’s opening up? He answered at least? This had to be a good sign.
Except… he’s saying he’d kill Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne. The billionaire who donated millions to charities. The man who does everything he can to help anyone.
Then Hal mentioned why he would marry Bruce instead. It was a little crude but he couldn’t honestly say he hadn’t thought about it before.
“Have any of you,” Clark said, “Other than Oliver, met Bruce Wayne?”
He looked between them with a firm expression before continuing. “None of his picture do him justice. He is the most beautiful man you will ever see.”
That… wasn’t the direction Clark had intended to go. It was true, yes, very true, but he’d meant to say how kind the man was. Beautiful inside and out.
“Oooooooo does supes have a crush?” Hal teased.
Clark ignored the way his check heated slightly. “Coming from the man who wants to marry him so he can sleep with him whenever he wants?”
“Hey!”
“I was actually interpreting that as Hal being a gold digger. He put the money first in his reasonings,” Barry added, laughing at the man’s indignant squak.
“I just meant the money is an added bonus!”
“Bruce Wayne is a good man and you would use him for his money?” Clark asked, horrified
at the thought. Bruce deserved so much better.
“Well, technically, we’re all using him for his money,” Hal declares defensively, “He sponsors the Justice League.”
Barry bursts out laughing and Clark, well he hadn’t though about that. But if anything that should just prove to them how good of a man Bruce Wayne is.
“Oh my god,” Barry wheezed, “Bruce Wayne’s our sugar daddy.”
Hal erupted in laughter, joined quickly by their teammates.
“Oh my god he is,” Arthur whispered, frowning slightly.
Technically, yes, he was, but Clark didn’t quite like that phrasing. To him it sounded… odd. \
He didn’t comment though, just kept to himself because the team was having a good time, he didn’t want to ruin it.
Their laughter always brough a smile to his face, it was such a happy sound. Different today, good different, but different.
He looked towards the sound and froze. He went so still he stopped breathing all together because two seats down, sitting at the head of the table like usual, was Batman. Laughing.
He had a bright smile on his face as his laughter faded out, the last note ringing though Clarks mind.
Batman’s laugh was beautiful, but it was wrong because Batman doesn’t laugh.
“Oh come on,” Batman practically purred, leaning forward with exaggerated movements, “Say it again Barry. It was funny. But to think,” he paused, shrugging flippantly before lifting a hand to the edge of his cowl and pulling it back, “I really am your sugar daddy.”
Bruce Fucking Wayne.
Clark got his wish, Batman revealed his identity and it was none other than Bruce Fucking Wayne.
Bruce Wayne!
Clark’s flirted with him before. During an interview he-
He initiated it.
Batman flirted with him. Batman flirted with him. Batman flirted with him.
And- oh my god, his two crushes just became one person. His celebrity crush is actually one of his best friends.
He’s flirted with his best friend without even knowing it.
It should’ve been this monumental moment between them, and maybe to Bruce it was, but Clark had no idea.
How did he not recognize him?
His voice, his mannerism, his heartbeat?
Sure, they’d only interacted a handful of times, but how did he not see it?
He should’ve seen it.
How was he so blinded that he couldn’t recognize the man he loved?
.
.
.
He should stop.
He’s spiraling.
He’s- actually, he’s not breathing.
It’s fine, he doesn’t need to, he should focus.
Focus on… Bruce.