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“I believe father made it clear that no metahumans are allowed in Gotham.”
“Your father also said he’d never stop wearing the Batman mantle.”
Damian sighed and turned off his coms with Dick, Jason, and Tim. He stood and turned behind - there stood Superman, Metropolis’ superhero, floating in place in his full costume. Damian understood from his father’s interactions that he had been close with Superman, otherwise known in his civilian identity as Clark Kent. The two were founding members of the Justice League and started the Teen Titans, in which all the Robins partook. Still, Bruce had been evasive a lot of the times he mentioned Clark, which had led Damian to assume that there was something more sensitive happening behind closed doors that even Bruce wouldn’t want him to know.
Now that Bruce was gone though, it seemed like Clark was reaching out.
“Why are you in my city? There is no life-ending threat that requires your presence.” Damian always kept himself as closed off as Bruce did in his Batman persona - it was one of the ways he was able to seamlessly transition into the role.
Clark’s feet touched down on the building, and it was clear that he hesitated before speaking. “I apologize for the loss of your father- disappearance, I mean. You know I was the last person he was in contact with.”
Damian grunted in acknowledgement, “Yes, he was in a private meeting with you in one of our soundproof meeting rooms. Apparently it was something so personal that no one else was allowed to listen in for any reason.”
Clark sighed. He then opened up, “I can only imagine how much you miss having him around.”
Damian was silent for a minute - he was taking in the information and deciding if it was okay to be vulnerable with a man that his father was close to but didn’t always trust. However, he trusted Jon, so he knew that he should trust Clark - even though Bruce would probably yell at him for being ‘too open’. “You have no idea. Waking up one day and having to assume the role of a parent AND the mantle of Batman…I didn’t sign up for those things, yet I am expected to do them the moment father stops.”
Clark took a step closer and hesitated again, “I miss Bruce as well…I haven’t said it enough, he was more than my colleague-”
Damian cut him off as he knelt down on the side of the roof, getting comfortable as he relaxed. “He was your best friend, wasn’t he? Father was your best man at your wedding, he is Jon and Kon’s godfather - I know you miss him more than just an acquaintance. You mean to tell me you miss him like someone closer than a friend, no?”
Clark chuckled and sat down besides Damian in a more comfortable position. “Well, yes. I’m surprised you knew about Konner and Jonathon’s situation - we didn’t tell many people about it, Lois and Bruce wanted secrecy about that when we were married. But no…I meant to say that your father and I were more than even that - more than even friends.”
Damian whipped his head to look at Clark, who was smiling sheepishly. THIS was something he did not know. Suspiciously, he asked, “Then what was the nature of your relationship?”
Clark answered him with a simple one word answer to gauge his reaction, “Romantic.”
Damian’s head spiraled immediately. Damian always found it odd that Bruce was so close to the alien despite telling his family to stay wary of him and his kids’ intentions. They spent quite a bit of time together outside of the Justice League under the guise of administrative work - how much of that had been a cover-up for their relationship? Just how long had the two felt romantically about the other and had to hide it from all of their children? Just how close were they really?
Clark continued as Damian took in the new information, “I understand if you’re confused, Bruce did his best to keep our relationship hidden. I’d be more surprised if you knew already.”
Damian’s voice got lower as he asked with dark seriousness, “So you’ve copulated with my father?”
Clark broke into laughter and waved him off, “No, it wasn’t like that! It was more like we were two single dads who were in love with each other and our company. I loved your dad and I loved having him around - sometimes it felt like we were already married.”
Damian had never lived in a 2-parent household - Bruce and Talia were never married and he had been raised by his mom and grandfather before living with Bruce. Jason was raised by a single mother, and Tim and Dick had lost both of their parents. Thinking back on how his father acted, Damian realized that he must’ve been somewhat lonely raising 4 boys alone. Perhaps Clark, another single vigilante dad with 2 boys of his own, was what he needed in order to be happy. Damian understood Bruce’s possible mindset: while Damian and Jon were adults, Tim, Kon, Jason, and Dick would probably benefit greatly from having two parents to care for them rather than one. At least, that’s what he assumed that Bruce would have thought.
Damian asked after a long pause, “So what do you hope to achieve by telling me the truth, Superman?”
Clark looked up at the moon and said, “I don’t expect you to give it to me, but my boys and I would like to spend some more time in Gotham with you and your siblings. We’re all well acquainted, but with Bruce’s no metahuman rule, I’ve avoided being in Gotham. I don’t need to tell my boys and your brothers the truth about your father and I - let them continue to think we’re really good friends, I’d leave that up to your discretion.”
Damian sighed, “Tt…how did father ever put up with you and your nauseating kindness?”
Clark laughed again, “I think that’s what drew him towards me in the first place.” With his piece said, Clark stood back up. “I’ll give you time to think it over, I know all the Bats enjoy being strategic and looking at every possibility. Good evening, Damian.” With that, Clark flew back towards Metropolis at a speed that was near impossible to see.
Damian continued to stay crouched on the building, digesting his thoughts and imagining how happy his father would have been with someone as happy and bubbly as Clark. Bruce wasn’t much of a smiler himself - in fact, Damian could count on his hands the number of times that he had seen Bruce crack a genuine smile. It seemed like the two balanced each other out - one was inquisitive and closed off while the other was trusting and open. They truly could make an amazing pair, given that Bruce opened up about his relationship with them.
Damian silently turned his coms back on.
“B, you there? You’ve been silent for more than 15.”
“I am here, Red. Page Nightwing and Robin - we need to have a family talk tonight.”
“Ouch…did something bad happen?”
“Actually, I have some news that could be potentially good. It’s about Father. I think it’s best that we all hear what I have to share.”
~~~
“-is what Superman told me before leaving Gotham.” Damian watched with bated breath as his brothers took in the same information as he had just received from Clark that evening. It seemed that his brothers were equally as confused, as they stayed silent for over a minute in thought.
Dick spoke first, “So…Superman was in love with Bruce?”
Right after him, Jason asked, “So they were fucking?”
Damian corrected them, “Clark stated that their relationship wasn’t physical, but they were in love with each other in some capacity - definitely enough that they were willing to hide their relationship from all of us.”
Tim seemed hesitant to speak up, and then asked, “Did he say that they were getting married or anything? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad for Bruce if that’s the case, but it’d…make things difficult between Kon and I.”
Damian rolled his eyes and said, “No, Clark said nothing about matrimony, just that they enjoyed each other’s company.”
Dick grinned widely and then asked, “So Superman is going to be our father figure?”
Damian paused and then spoke, “He wants to be - I am leaving it in your hands if you want Clark in our lives like we had Bruce.”
Jason spoke up next, “I think it’s great - Gotham can be a shithole to care for sometimes. It’d be nice to have extra help, and its not like he’s replacing you or Bruce.”
Tim looked at Dick and then said, “I can say that we have no complaints about Clark stepping in to help us out. I get to see Kon more often too, so I have no complaints.”
Dick ran forward and into Damian’s arms, saying, “We’ll have you, Bruce, and Clark - we’ll have three dad figures! The more the merrier!”
Damian got Dick down from his chest and then said, “I will contact Clark in Metropolis - I am sure he will be thrilled to have more sons to care for.”