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The tension was obvious.
The battle had been long and hard, the alien invasion of the week. They were fairing okay, better than some of their other fights, but that’s when the aliens pulled out their holy grail.
A weapon, a beam of some sort. It disintegrated anything it touched. They didn’t want to find out if it worked on humans, but they guessed it did.
They found out by accident that it didn’t work on Martians. They all breathed a sigh of relief when J’ohnn was unharmed. It almost got someone a few times, but it was dodged at the last moment, the beam was fast.
Then came the moment it was aimed at Batman. He didn’t move fast enough. It would have been over in seconds. He pulls his cape up as a shield, like it’s merely fire coming towards him. It won’t work, he knows that, but he won’t go just standing there like an idiot.
Nothing happens.
The sound of the beam disappears. He peeks, angry at what he sees. Superman. Crouched in front of him, back to the weapon. It didn’t hurt him, but he didn’t know that. None of them did. It was a guess, probably not even a thorough one.
He is furious. No one speaks on the ride back. Their briefing is short, they’re all exhausted. They zeta to the cave, Dick, Jason, and Tim are all there. They smile in greeting before frowning.
They can tell their father is mad, and Superman looks guilty behind him. It doesn’t take the world’s greatest detective to put the pieces together. Jason’s the one who dares to speak. “What’s got you extra cranky?”
If anything, the tension thickens. “Out.” Bruce’s tone leaves no arguments, and they know better by now, though Dick does send a sympathetic look toward the Kryptonian.
Once they leave, it’s silent. Clark can’t stand it. “Bruce, I’m-“
The man turns on his heel, “A hypocrite? Obviously.”
Clark looks confused, and Bruce crosses his arms. “You lecture me constantly about putting myself in front of people. Of putting myself deliberately in harm's way, and yet you go and do that?”
Clark knows what he did would make Bruce mad, but they both know he doesn’t regret it. “You were in danger.” Bruce’s hands tighten on his arms, and Clark can hear the Kevlar creak.
“I’m always in danger. So you are. It’s the job. We both know it’ll kill us one day.”
Clark huffs. “It doesn’t have to be today!” He can see Bruce’s lips thin.
“You act like you wouldn’t be mad if the situation were reversed!”
Clark shakes his head. “I know I would be, just like you are.”
Clark’s sure Bruce is going to end up bruising his own arms at this point. “I’m mad? No, I’m livid.” Clark can’t say anything before Bruce continues. “Why the hell would you think it was a good idea to do that?”
Clark bristles a little. “The beam-“
Bruce- no Batman, because the armour is still on - purposefully - cuts him off. “Hit J’ohnn, almost hit Diana and Jordan. I didn’t see you jumping in front of them.”
Clark is grasping at straws. “They’re not-“
Batman takes a step closer, arms dropping. “Not what? Vulnerable, helpless? Human?”
Clark finishes quietly. “You.”
Batman stares at him for a moment, and he tries not to squirm. “This is exactly why inter league relationships are a bad idea.”
He turns to walk away, and Clark reaches out. “No, I know you think that, but it wouldn’t matter.”
Batman stops. “Clark.”
It’s a warning, to leave it alone, but Clark’s never been one to listen to those warnings. “I’m not letting you end things because of this. I’d do it anyway, I wouldn’t let something happen to you. It’s not something I can stop. Ending our relationship won’t mean I’ll suddenly stop loving you.”
It takes Clark moments to realize what he said, what he admitted. He’s known for a while how he felt, but they’ve never said it out loud.
After minutes of silence, Clark tentatively speaks. “Bruce?”
“Don’t.”
The word is quiet, so quiet he’s sure he’s the only one who could have heard it. His back is still to Clark, his shoulders tense.
“Don’t say that.”
It sounds almost pained. Clark doesn’t understand. “Why? What’s so bad about it? It’s the truth.”
He sees Batman shake his head. “You can’t.”
Clark takes a step closer. “Can’t?”
Batman barely moves, but Clark can hear how his heart is racing. “You can’t love me.”
Clark is just a step behind now. “But I do.”
Batman turns, once again angry. “No. You can’t. Because everyone who loves me either leaves me, betrays me, or dies.”
Clark’s eyes are wide, he reaches out, unsure if it would be welcome. “Bruce.”
Batman shakes his head, “I can’t- I won’t let that happen. I can’t survive another one.”
It’s like the fight drains out of him, the anger gone, the following words a whisper. “Not from you.”
Clark’s chest aches at the words. “I won’t.”
The anger returns, “You won’t? What about today? What about next time?”
Clark’s mouth opens and shuts, he doesn’t have an answer. Bruce snorts at his silence. “Exactly.”
Clark doesn’t know if it’s his look of hurt, panic, or something else entirely, but Bruce removes the cowl, sighing. “Calm down, I’m not ending things.”
It’s almost like a vice has released his chest. He looks hopeful, “Really?”
Bruce gives him a pointed look. “Really. I may be mad as all hell at you, but I happen to be quite fond of you, too.”
Clark smiles, he knows it’s the closest Bruce can come right now to saying I love you.
Bruce is still a step away, it seems like farther to Clark. “This can’t keep happening. You can’t leave your post to protect me. What happens when you do, and someone else suffers because of it?”
Clark grabs a part of his cape, wringing it in his hands, needing to do something with them. “I don’t know. I know I shouldn’t, and I say I won’t, or I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything because I’ll break that promise.”
Bruce doesn’t look impressed but nods. “At least you can be honest about it.”
Clark shrugs. “I trust you, you know that. And I’ll stay where I’m supposed to be when you tell me, but if I see what I saw today, I will end up doing it again. I’m sorry.”
His eyes are off somewhere to the left, not wanting to see the disappointed look he’s sure to receive.
He hears a sigh and the rustle of a cape, though in the back of his mind, he notes he doesn’t hear a footstep and still wonders how it’s possible.
Bruce’s hand rests on his, stopping his nervous movements. He finally meets the other man’s gaze. He looks serious, but he can see the softening in places that means his anger is gone. “I know. And at some point, I’m sure to do the same, and I’ll be the hypocrite.”
Clark drops his cape to take Bruce’s hand. “Sounds like we’re a perfect match then.”
He gets a slight smirk, and he sees a fondness in Bruce’s eyes he wants to call love.
Clark grins, “I can make it up to you?”
Bruce steps closer, their noses almost touching. “Get me that good sushi from Japan, and we’ll talk.”
Clark closes the distance between them, his feet already lifting off the ground before the kiss ends. He pulls away, “Deal.”
Bruce smiles, squeezing his hands. “I’ll be in our room.” He winks before walking away, heading for the changing area.
Clark watches, his previous worry gone, replaced with anticipation. He flies out of the cave, turning towards his destination, a smile on his face.
They were going to have a good night.