Chapter Text
Clark may have accidentally jumped the gun a little too soon. He had a plan. He knew what he wanted to say; the problem was not that. The problem was that Clark actually had no way of finding out where Batman was.
The only known spot the man went to that people knew of was two places. One was the spot Clark had first found him, but he was only known to go there on schedule once a year. The rest of the time was sporadic and random. He checked and found nothing. No Batman.
The other spot was Wayne Manor. Where it was told Batman lived. Going there would just be rude. If that was Batman’s home, then that would mean Clark was intruding, showing up to a place uninvited like that. He would never do that, and it would certainly not gain the man's favor.
So, he found himself flying around Gotham in hopes he would spot the Dark Knight, looking into every dark crevice, which was a lot, that he could find. Nothing…Just a dark void and no piercing white eyes staring him down.
He had been looking for nearly two hours now. The sun had fully set, purging the already dark city into an even darker night. The moon was lost behind clouds, leaving only the lights to light the chaotic city.
Clearly, Clark needed a new plan of action. Just looking and hoping to spot him was not the way to go about this. Listening for the slight breeze he got from the Bat those few nights ago would also be impossible with the already blowing breeze coming through and whistling into every corner it touched, echoing against cold brick.
Think, Clark. How do you find a Bat in such a large city? How did one find a shadow that wished not to be found?
He floated in the air as he thought. He could listen in on crime, seeing as Batman’s whole thing was stopping it, but one quick earshot gave him the sound of small crimes all over. All of which were already being handled by the police. Nothing that deemed fit for Batman’s attention in Clark’s mind.
He tried to think of other things that might help him find him when he noticed a bat fly past his head. It caught him by surprise, especially the size and color of it. New Jersey had only nine species of bats, none of which were that big, none of which were pure black like smoke and had piercing white eyes.
Clark gasped at the realization. Flying fast to catch up with the little guy that seemed to be going somewhere. Either unaware or uncaring of Clark following along with it.
As it flew, Clark noticed it stayed high, scanning with big ears and white eyes its surrounding area. Almost as if it was observing, taking notice of activity. What was it doing?
Maybe he could ask? He doubted it knew how to talk. Probably would just squeak at him, but even then it made no noise. Not even its wings made a noise. It simply sounded like a breeze. It had to be with Batman. There was no other explanation.
As he was thinking, he almost lost it when it suddenly dove down. His panic came fast as he quickly dove down after it. He could not lose it. This might be the only way he could find Batman. It might even lead him to Batman. He had to stay with it.
Luckily, he still had it, letting out a breath of relief when it stabilized and continued a simple flight over much shorter building tops. To even more of his luck, he noticed it flying for a certain rooftop where a giant shadowy form stood.
Batman! He smiled brightly at that, watching as the little bat he had been following flew into the bigger shadow and vanished. Was it a part of the other?
Before Clark could even open his mouth or touch down on the building, Batman was turning to face him. White eyes stared him down. Did the bat tell him he was there? Had it known he was following this whole time? He had so many questions. So many things he wanted to know about the other.
“Hi again.” He decided to say instead, watching those eyes narrow in on him. At least the other seemed to be more active and moving. That was an upgrade from the last time. Not just standing like a statue. “I just want to talk. Is that okay? You don’t need to talk back.” He explained, finally stepping foot onto the building, or at least the building edge. He did not want to overstep into the other’s space without a proper invite.
When those white eyes seemed to soften, and shoulders seemed to drift to a more relaxed position, Clark took that as an invite as he moved down to be more level; still keeping a distance.
Clark kept his attention on Batman. Watched for any sign that showed the other was getting uncomfortable. The last thing he wanted to do was make him uncomfortable or make him feel unsafe. “You know, we are a lot more alike than you think.” Clark finally said when his movement to move closer seemed not to scare the other off. He kept a good ten feet away from him still, despite wanting to get closer; he figured the other respected the space.
His words had earned him a raised eye from the Bat. A slight tilt of his head before his eyes narrowed while looking Clark up and down. He may not speak, but Clark still could easily tell what he was trying to portray with his actions alone. It made Clark smile. He wanted to chuckle at it. He found it…cute, but he kept back the laugh. He did not want to offend him.
“Well…I know…not completely.” Clark answered the other’s oblivious reaction. “I know I’m an alien and you’re…well, I’m not too sure yet, but we have similarities.” He continued to him; this time he noticed a sort of shift that said ‘get to the point’ on the other’s face. He was not sure how he got that. The man was simply nothing but black smoke and white eyes. Maybe it was some psychic power or magic the other had on him? Clark was not sure, but he was going to roll with it.
“We both care deeply for our respective cities. We both want nothing more than to save lives and bring good. Stop the bad that plagues each of our cities. We both don’t care for payment back on it. The lives we save are enough.” He decided to start it simple. The obvious thing that anyone with any common knowledge and sense could get by just looking at a few articles done about them. That was the look Batman gave him. “Right…okay…I’m getting there.” Clark chuckled.
“The thing we have in common. The one that, as far as I’m aware, no one else really has…we’re immortal.” Those words had Batman standing up tall, white eyes widening before confusion adorned his face. He had his attention! Yes! “Well, I’m sure there are other things we have in common too. I mean…we have an eternity together… right? Maybe we could get to know each other? Se-” He started to ramble on some, not even realizing Batman had moved till he suddenly felt something grab hold of his cape.
He jumped at the sudden touch, turning his head to the side fast to see Batman was now behind him and had hold of his cape. What? When did? He never even…He flushed as the other lifted it and examined his back. Watched a hand deploy from the depths of the cape and poke at his spine.
It sent a chill through him, feeling slightly exposed with those white eyes scanning over the entirety of his backside. “This um…this works too…seems like a good next step…” Clark chuckled with flushed cheeks, watching as Batman seemed content with his backside and moved to his front.
Clark felt his breath get caught at the hand that suddenly reached and poked at his chest, looking at the hand that was just as black and smoky as the rest of his body. Finger tips pointed at the end, and Clark was sure they were as sharp as they looked.
Yet, they were gentle while they traced the emblem cresting over his chest. Thank Rao, he did not need to breathe because he was still holding it in, scared to breathe on the man and scare him away.
He thought the finger on his chest would be good enough for the other, but clearly he was wrong when that hand and another appeared, suddenly cupping his face and pulling him down so their faces were level. Luckily, Clark was only about three inches taller, so it was not that big of a bend.
The direct skin contact had more chills go down his body. The hands on him were freezing to the touch. It felt like a gentle and chilly breeze was constantly being blown on his cheeks. It was weird and tingly. It was not horrible, though. The proximity of it all made his heart race in his chest. Batman’s face was mere inches from his own as those white eyes scanned over his features, tilting his head to the side as if to get a better angle on his features.
He watched as those eyes scanned through his hair, which even if black had a sort of rainbow translucency to it. Watched as his eyes moved to both ears, which pointed sharper than any human's ears would. Watched as piercing white and ever slight blue looked into his own vibrant blue ones. Watched as they moved down his freckled cheeks and arched nose to prominent dark lips.
The next actions caught him by surprise. A finger on each hand came to his lips and poked as if asking for entry. Clark was not exactly sure why he listened to it, but he did, as he opened his mouth wide, letting the fingers slip inside. He felt, no, knew, that this to Batman was more like an examination than it was anything else. The look in his eyes was one of pure need to research and wanting to gain knowledge.
So, Clark let those freezing fingers poke around at his teeth and press on his shaper than human canines. “Y-ye, tos…r…my teef.” He tried his best to say with a forced open mouth and fingers actively inside him.
What he did not expect to see when watching the man gaze at his features was a slit appear on Batman’s face right where a mouth would be. It opened and inside revealed shining white teeth. Each and every one was jagged and sharp. Though the main thing that caught his attention was Batman’s own canines. They were not just sharp. They were full-on fangs. One that resembled those of a big cat, deadly. The rest of his mouth was like everything else about him; a black void of nothing.
Of his entire body, all of it was pitch black besides piercing white eyes and now deadly-sharp teeth. “Wow…” He said, or at least attempted the best he could with fingers still keeping his own mouth wide open. Then the thought came. If Batman had a mouth, then he must know how to speak!
For now, he let Batman poke and prod at his mouth, standing upright when given the freedom of his mouth back. The cold chill of his touch still lingered around him. Clark was also sad to see that his mouth had once again vanished; Pure black smoke in its place once more.
“Find anything interesting?” He could not help but ask the other with a smile on his face, curious to what the other had thought after his little examination. The look he got in return confused him. Unsure if it was good or bad. He decided to go with good, watching as the man turned back around to move towards the spot he had previously been standing at as if he needed distance again.
He did not leave, though, and Clark saw no sign of the other wanting him to go, so he stayed. That also gave him more of an idea that Batman seemed not to be upset with what he possibly just found out about Clark in his little examination. “So…do you have a name? You know, besides Batman.” He asked. That got him to turn around again to face Clark. What shocked Clark was that the other nodded. He actually nodded!! That was a response! Even if not a verbal one. Clark was taking the win!
“Can I know?”
The man just stared at him.
Okay…so what? He had to guess? At least Clark seemed to unlock yes or no answers to questions.
“Okay, well, I know there are many theories. I’m sure you’re more than aware of those?”
That got him a nod.
“People are convinced your origin is that of the Wayne family due to your seeking presence around the manor and your appearance being so soon after the death of the family line.” Clark continued. That got him nothing…The man just stared at him. So no defiant yes or no…not helpful…Did that mean he was close? That he was far off?
What if Batman just lived in the manor because it just happened to be the one open place when he showed up, and it was secluded enough from the city to give him peace? It could be purely good timing on Batman’s part. An estate opening right when he needed it. It was…possible.
“Are you Thomas Wayne? That’s what all the documentaries suspect.” He continued to at least try again. Besides a narrowing of his eyes, he got no real answer. What did the narrowing of his eyes mean?!
“Bruce Wayne? That’s what my friend Jimmy thinks, at least.” Clark said to him, trying to remember what all Jimmy said. “He thinks after Bruce’s death his soul was brought back to avenge the murder of his parents from when he was a child,” He finally said, looking at the man and noticing those white eyes were wide. Even if only for a moment, before they turned to slits and he looked away. What did that mean?!
Clark was lost. What did these reactions mean? He pouted some at the thought… thinking. “I dunno… maybe you got nothing to do with the Waynes and just needed a place to stay.” Clark puffed some. Batman’s back stayed facing him.
“Maybe you have a pretty common name?” He asked, trying to think as he kept his eyes on the other to try and see if anything got a reaction as he started to say common names that were used around the time of Batman’s appearance. “John, Charles, William?" He kept naming, but nothing even stirred the Bat in the slightest.
“What about Richard?” He finally asked. That got a reaction. That got the Bat jolting up and looking his way with slitted eyes. Eyes full of anger, but also sorrow? Then it happened. The one thing he never thought would. At least not this soon. The other spoke…
“D-don’t…don’t say that name.” It came out so quiet. So painful. Barely heard, and it would not have been if Clark did not have super hearing. It sounded like a breeze. Simple and chilling. Bone-chilling to his very core.
He should be excited. Thrilled that the other spoke, but the tone he had. The pure pain that was in it? It had Clark’s blood running cold. He messed up…He messed up badly because clearly that name meant something to the other. Was it his name? Did it belong to someone the other had known and lost?
He could not ask. He did not dare to ask even if he could. “S-sorry, I-” He wanted to say, but before his very eyes the other vanished, blending into the night sky and dark shadows of Gotham. Before Clark could even finish any other word, the other was just gone…the sound of a breeze being the only thing left.
He messed up…He messed up bad. He hurt the other. Even if not physically, it was almost worse. That voice echoed in his mind. That voice was full of so much pain. Nice going, Clark…