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#1: After the first alien invasion
Clark could feel the ache deep in his bones. Everything hurt for the first time without being near kryptonite. He could also feel his skin itch with the faint residue of alien goo, mud, and dust. Even the bright colors of his costume were dulled with the layer of dirt and grime that had woven itself into the fabric.
The rest of their ragtag team did not look much better.
The black-haired woman was standing tall and Regal was leaning on one leg, as the other was already bandaged. The green man had a very obvious broken arm that had slung up in a green glow. The slim man in red looked mostly unharmed other than dirty, worn, and small tears in his suit. The others did not look much better.
The only exception was the shadow that stood next to the group. The one that had given orders like a general amid the chaos. Who saw the towering ships and pinpointed each weak spot.
He was the only one that still stood as tall, and so very still. His cape was still an oily black as if the event’s chaos had slid off of him.
36 hours the team had worked. Over eight hours of fighting the green matter ships that had destroyed a large part of the city, before there was not one present in the sky. They did not initially follow the demon’s command. Only following when the ships had crumbled after one blow did they pay attention.
Then after, the team silently followed the dark figure in rescue. Setting up a rescue area and bandaging the injured with silent efficiency, as the others searched and pulled the living out of rubble and carried them to a makeshift area.
The professional teams came in soon after and set up disaster zones, proper medical tents, and hazmat units, search and rescue, all being coordinated through the EOC.
The operations section chief had pulled every one of them out of the area once he had gotten a grasp of the scope incident. Someone in the fourth rotation had informed them that the initial people were still on the ground.
This is why they were all standing on top of a nearby building watching the sun rise in silence. They followed one after the other as they were each kicked out of the hazard zone, detoxed of alien goo, and sent away.
The joy of victory had long since passed and resigned tiredness had spread over them.
Superman forcibly squared his shoulders and turned to the woman next to him. Sticking his right hand out, “It was a pleasure to work with you, my name is Kal-El.” If anything his mother had taught him it was how to be polite, even when he felt strange to introduce himself.
“Diana” she smiled and took his hand. Her grip was strong and her voice even. “Diana Prince, also known as Wonder Woman, and it was a pleasure to have a worthy warrior fight by my side.”
This seemed to break the solemn mood as one by one the others introduced themselves.
“I'm the Flash, but you can call me Wally.” said the man in red with a shy wave.
“Green Lantern,” proclaimed one with the broken arm, smiling proudly.
“Green Arrow” stepped forward a blond man in green with a bow.
“J’onn, but also known as Martian Manhunter.” steps a human-shaped man with green skin and a red x across his chest.
“Aquaman,” said the gruff blond man in teal and orange.
It was nice to finally have a close view of other heroes he had seen pop up in the news cycle. It was even nicer to know that he had now worked with them. People that were similar to him, doing the same work.
Superman turned only to find the spot empty where the shadow had been there moments before. Superman frowned and looked around.
Wally sensed his confusion, “That was Batman, he is from Gotham, I thought he was a myth.” as if that explained everything, which in some ways it kinda did.
“Spooky Is a real piece of work,” added Lantern.
They all left soon after, one after the other. But Superman Had a feeling, right down to his Clark Kent Journalist toes, that he would meet each of them again. It opened a whole new possibility of heroes.
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#2: Dancing with Bruce Wayne
Two Weeks after the invasion, Superman was asked to be a guest at a fundraiser that was collecting money to rebuild the destroyed homes after the invasion. Metropolis and many surrounding cities including Gotham had major damage and we're eager to rebuild in the face of such an unprecedented tragedy. It was good to see so many banding together, and Kal hoped the momentum would last.
He showed up to many events, and put on a smile, hoping what he was doing made even the slightest difference. Superman knew there were many things even all his powers could not fix. This event was especially challenging to keep up a smile with its glitz and glam, crashing horribly with his midwestern practicality. He tried to play his part through the night as the same questions were asked over and over.
The rich flocked to him on all sides. The woman's perfume overwhelmed his senses and the chandeliers hurt his eyes.
“Superman, how strong are you?” a man asked this time asked.
“Superman what is it like to fly?” an older woman asked.
Some bolder people would ask, “You look so human, do you look human everywhere.” this usually would be followed by a wink or suggestive smile.
Most of the negative comments were not done to his face, but he could hear them anyway.
“Unnatural.” “Alien.” “too much power.” “Weapon.” Superman pretended he did not hear any of it.
An hour in, a familiar bald head, Lex Luther, joined the group that had circled Superman.
“Lex Luthor, CEO and founder of Luthor Co. But I'm sure you have been on earth long enough to have been familiar with the company.” Lex’s icy eyes did not match his smile or his handshake. “And I am not here to talk business.”
The group made a tittered sound. “Superman, but I'm sure you already knew.”
“Yeeess,” drawled Luther, looking up and down Superman’s body that frankly made his skin crawl.
Superman was suddenly distracted by a noise at the front doors where a large crowd had formed. Seeing that it was only a new arrival, fashionably late, and not something he needed to worry about he refocused on the group.
“Will you be donating tonight?” asked Superman to Luther. If there was one thing he had become aware of from this party it was the rich liked to flaunt their wealth.
“Yes, yes, my company has already signed the check,” Luther drawled, “this is a great time for new opportunities and growth in the face of this tragedy.” Luther paused and stared into Superman’s eyes, “humanity must stick together if we are to face the unknown.”
Superman shifted uncomfortably, looking away. Luther smiled, “Superman, are you going to stay in the Metropolis area and continue to rescue kittens.”
Before Superman could continue a loud man pushed his way into the group exclaiming, “Lexie, so good to see you.” He hugged Lex, and Kal had to bite his tongue to not laugh at Lexie’s expression.
Before Lex could properly compose himself back to a face of neutral face, the man was turning sparking eyes to him. The man was wearing a cream suit in comparison to everyone in black, his black hair was perfectly styled and the only flaw he could see was the dark circles under his eyes that were covered in makeup.
“You must be Superman!” the man smiled and extended a hand, “call me Brucie.”
Superman took the man’s hand and shook it and mentally prepared himself for more questions, however instead of letting go at the appropriate place, Brucie kept hold of his hand and stared into his eyes and asked as if it was the most normal thing, “would you like a dance.”
Superman looked around, “no one is dancing?”
“And what a shame that is.” Brucie started to pull him to an open space as if he had said yes. “Let me show you how earthlings have fun,” Brucie smiled cheekily as if there was a secret only they knew.
Bruce led them to where the band was playing and leaned to whisper to one of their ears before a folded note was placed on a stand. His movements were fluid as he joined Superman again, only now did he realize they both had the same height and were similarly built. The rhythm of the band picked up and Bruce clasped their right hands and locked their left forearms together and raped his left around his back. They started a simple four-step as twirled around the floor. They did this for a few minutes with Brucie whispering in a way that only Kal could here or see his lips move.
Superman was so close he could smell leather and oil on Brucie. After to few minutes, of them dancing the music picked up rhythm and Brucie gave him a teasing smirk spun them, and moved his hand to Superman's shoulder and neck forcing Superman’s hand on Brucie’s back. The same moves only quicker started with Brucie leaning into him with his leg going around or up his calf every fourth step. The twinkle never left his eyes as he whispered instructions on what moves to make. He made dancing feel like a natural language.
The dance ended and there was a handful of applause. The music started again and others started to join the impromptu dance floor. They shared another dance, moving in a controlled way to avoid bumping into anyone.
After Bucie led them through a double glass door into a large balcony. There were other men there smoking, but the fresh night air felt so good that for one moment he felt himself lift off the ground. Forcing himself to stay grounded, he looked over at his dance partner. He was quiet with his hands in his pockets looking at the skyline.
“Why did you ask me to dance?” the words tumbled out before he could stop them.
“Hmm… you are not the only one who needs rescuing out of a boring conversation.”
Superman felt his shoulders drop, “Was I that obvious.”
“No, but I would feel the same.” the statement said so blatantly, “besides now I can say that I have danced with Superman.” The cheeky smile was back.
They stood in silence for a few minutes. Before Brucie smiled and said, “See you around Superman,” and left.
It was only after that he realized that he never got Brucie’s last name and only the next day when the headlines broadcast “Bruce Wayne charmes Superman at a record-breaking fundraiser,” that he realized who he danced with.
What an unusual man though Kal.