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Superman knew Batman had Robins. He practically helped raise the first one, so of course he knew Robin as a suit, existed. Sure, he'd wondered where the pup's parents were, why they were so okay with their child leaping off rooftops and fighting villians three times his size. But, he also respected the whole "secret identity" bullshit, even if Batman did not. Unlike the brooding vigilante, Superman had manners.
But then the first Robin became "Nightwing" and somehow Batman produced a second Robin? This one was rougher around the edges, but still held that dazzling smile that would make any country-farm superhero weak in the knees. It took a minute for the second Robin to feel comfortable when around any hero besides Batman, but Superman found that if he asked what book the second Robin was reading, that kid opened up like a burst dam. A waterfall of words came pouring out his mouth, summaries, character sketches, analogies, the works.
Again, Superman had the occassional, niggling thought, "Where is this pup's parents?"
This pup was wicked smart and should be cozied up, surrounded by his books. Instead he was out with a brooding Bat, a territorial vigilante who snapped at Superman if he thought he was getting too close to his bird. Superman would never admit it, but seeing Batman get possessive over the pup…
Listen.
Sure, Superman had entertained the thought before. Who hadn't? Batman was strong, smart, and while not quite a hero, did everything he could to uphold justice. More often than not, their goals aligned, and sure, Superman may not know who was under the cowl, but whoever it was, had a nice, sharp jawline. And while Batman's scent patches kept his designation hidden, there was, without a doubt in his mind, that the vigilante was an alpha.
And seeing the way Batman treasured his Robins, oh, Superman knew he'd be so good with pups of his own.
It was a dangerous thought. One that really, shouldn't be entertained. So he tucked it away, kept it nice and safe on the back burner of his mind.
Then the second Robin died.
The toll was devastating.
Batman stopped showing up to league meetings. Not that anyone could blame him. Superman tried to go to Gotham once, tried to offer something, anything. A batarang bounced harmlessly off his chest, but he got the gist. He knew there was a possibility Batman may never forgive him for not letting him cross that line with the Joker, and every time he had that thought, his chest ached.
It was for that reason, he didn't let himself dwell on it. Instead, he took Lois Lane on a date.
Word of a third Robin reached him, months later. He was floored. The second Robin died in that suit, and yet another pup's parents were willing to let their child wear it?
Where the hell was Batman finding these people?
At least with the other teen vigilantes that had started cropping up, there were extenuating circumstances. A exiled princess from another planet, a boy who could turn into a beast, a girl with her devil of a father trapped in the jewel on her forehead. Still working the magic out on that one, but hey, as long as it was mananged. There were a few orphans, a clone he'd rather not talk about, and so on and so forth and don't even get him started on the goddamn speedsters.
His point still stands. Everyone in the younger groups either didn't have parents, or either was working with their parent/guardian, or in Blue Beetle's case, had parents who unhappily had to let him stay with the heroes while they figured out a way to safely remove the alien from his skin.
Yet, somehow, in one single city, Batman had not one, not two, but three sets of parents perfectly happy to let him take their pups villain-hunting.
Maybe he should re-think this "secret identity" respect.
It took a minute, but Batman eventually returned back to the watchtower, third Robin in tow. This Robin was quiet, but not in the untrusting way the second Robin had been. It was like his mind never turned off, he was always watching, always thinking, always…plotting. He stayed by Batman's side like a shadow, and it was unnerving, to see a child be so…still.
But then the third Robin opened his mouth and solved a case the entire league had struggled on, pointing at patterns no one had been able to put together. He quoted examples from that same meeting that helped him solve this case, and Batman had shot them all a look that could only be read in Bat-language, as a "shit-eating grin." Granted, only one corner of his very perfectly bowed lips had quirked up, but the sentiment remaind and oh, good, gods.
Batman being protective over his Robins was one thing.
Batman being smug over his bird? Batman practically bursting at the seams with pride over his Robin? Batman this close to jumping up and doing a jig, because his partner was so smart and he wanted all of them to know it?
Be still, Superman's heart.
"He was as still as a statue, Supes, what are on you on about?"
"This is why Batman doesn't take you seriously, Lantern. He was practically vibrating in his seat."
"What?"
Point of the matter was that damn back-burner thought. The one he kept pushing back, back, back—
was heating up like a goddamn inferno.
He ended things with Lois not a month later.
They'd been better as friends, anyhow. A sentiment they both agreed on.
The third Robin, much like the first, went on to lead a team of his own. Batman appeared more often. So did the occassional quirk of his lips, especially where his partner was concerned.
Superman started thinking of names for pups that didn't exist. Started daydreaming what it would be like, to see Batman go soft when holding his own pup. But what if his pup was their pup, what if Superman went out on a limb and entertained this, what if—
Lois Lane was pregnant.
And everything non-league related, was not only shoved away, but locked in a tiny little box that he'd never open.
While he and Lois would never be together romantically, he would be there for his pup.
When Jon was born, he ended up taking a step back from the league. He didn't step down, just took a sabbatical. Lois was his best friend, and this was their pup, and he'd never loved anything more than his pup. Everything else simply had to come second.
He'd never forgive himself if he dared let himself prioritize anything over his son.
Batman, included.
The 4th Robin was at his farm, playing with his son. Though the prickly pup would never dare call it that. No, according to him, they were training.
According to the bright smile on Jon's face? He was having the time of his life with his newfound friend.
Clark chuckled as the two darted around in the cornfield; the 4th Robin going on about "endurance cultivation" while Jon snuck up on him just long enough to—
"Tag!"
And the chase was on. Clark smiled over the brim of his coffee, leaning back in his rocking chair on the porch as he heard the sounds of the boys playing.
"And here I was, naively hoping your pup would be enough to tire that one out."
Clark did not choke at the sudden sound of Bruce Wayne's voice in his ear. No, he simply, swallowed too fast, his coffee went down the wrong pipe. Totally normal. Completely natural. Happens more often than he'd like to admit.
Once he got his coughing and spluttering under control, he lifted his head to greet his oldest friend.
Bruce quirked an amused eyebrow at him, a fond huff escaping his lips as he eased himself into the chair next to Clark. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"Coming from anyone else, I might actually believe that," Clark muttered.
Bruce laughed, a deep, rich sound that had Clark beaming in response. He couldn't help it. The alpha's laugh was contagious. To think, that this sound was once impossible to hear, and now he was being blessed with it, all for a bad joke.
How times change.
"Still wearing his mask, I see," Bruce sighed, shaking his head at his protege. While he had revealed himself some time ago to not just Clark, but the entire league, Robin had been stubborn about keeping himself hidden.
"Just don't go looking me up," Bruce had said, rolling his eyes at his partner's stubborness. And sure, Clark knew he didn't actually mean it, but something in him really didn't want to lose this Robin's trust. And if looking Bruce Wayne up was going to somehow reveal this fourth one's identity, then Clark would not. As it was, ever since Bruce had come out, he'd made sure all Bruce Wayne related media went to someone else. Not that much ever came his way anyway.
The scandals Bruce racked up, those were all for the gossip sheets.
He had to hand it to the billionaire. He played the two roles of brooding vigilante and ditzy rich man a bit too well.
But Clark had a streak going with the Robins. They all trusted and looked up to him. He would not jeopardize losing that with this one.
Even if he really wanted to google Bruce Wayne in the dead of night, if only to stare at him in a way he could never get away with when face-to-face with the man.
"Ah! Batman's here!" Jon crowed as he raced towards the pair of them, cheeks bright red, eyes bright with excitement. Clark let out a dramatic groan Jon launched his body at him, catching his pup around the middle, feeling his boy's laughter against his chest. "Hi, Mr. Batman!"
"Hey, Jon," Bruce said easily. "Remember, when we're here, and I'm not in the suit, it's Bruce."
"But Robin said—"
Before Jon could continue, the fourth Robin trudged up, scowling something fierce. Clark went to ask what was wrong, but Bruce beat him to it.
"Everything okay, kid?"
Robin scrunched up his nose. "I'm not a kid."
He was met with three identical droll stares. He simply crossed his arms and looked away.
"He's just mad that I won," Jon said smugly.
Robin's head whipped back towards them so fast, Clark was surprised he didn't hear anything crack. "You did not! You cheated!"
"I tagged you, and you couldn't tag me back. Therefore, I won!" Jon cheered, throwing his arms up in mock-celebration.
"Only because you used your super-speed! Of course I couldn't catch you! Father, you can't honestly think I'd lose to—"
Whatever Robin said next, Clark missed it all.
"Father?" he said, his voice sounding muffled.
Bruce shot him a quick glance. "You alright there, Clark?"
"Father?" he repeated, eyes darting between Bruce and the now-silent Robin.
Bruce frowned at him. "Yes?"
"Father?" he said again, his voice going shrill.
Slowly, Bruce stood up. "Clark, what's going on? You're acting strange. Is everything okay?"
Clark just stared, slack-jawed, unable to comprehend anything past—
"FATHER?!"
Green Lantern always knew he'd go out wearing the suit.
What he wasn't prepared for, was to go out on the floor of the watchtower, and Superman being the cause of his tragic demise.
"Oh my god, I can't breathe!" he wheezed, holding his ribs in place, doing his best to suck in what might be his last lungful of air.
Flash, to his credit, glanced down, but quickly looked away, for fear of joining him.
Coward.
"So, let me see if I understand this correctly," Batman said slowly.
Green Lantern noisily sucked in another breath.
"This whole time, all these years, you thought I was sitting down with Robin's parents and convincing them to let me take their pup crime-fighting?"
Oh, no, the small flame of hope that he might make it out alive—
it blew out with Green Lantern's next bellowed out laugh.
"Oh my god," he cackled, fists banging against the floor as he absolutely lost it for the third time in a row.
"Well," Superman said, the big guy absolutely cowed. "I might have been worried about a child neglect case or two?"
Oh god, he was never making it off this floor was he?
"Lantern, please," Wonder Woman sighed.
He tried. He really, really tried. But he propped himself up on his elbows, and one look at Superman's reddened cheeks and Batman's annoyed glower and he was gone.
From the way Flash's shoulders had started trembling, he had a feeling he was about to be joined on this lovely piece of floor.
"So, wait, Supes, I gotta know," Lantern said through his cackles. "When you learned he was a billionaire, did the thought ever cross your mind he was paying Robin's parents to let him take their pups out gallivanting?"
Superman's lips thinned into a single line.
Flash all but collapsed on top of him, covering his mouth with one hand.
"Stop," Flash whisper-giggled. "Please, I'm begging you."
Absolute tears shimmered in the Speedster's eyes.
Green Lantern pushed Flash's hand away. "But Flash," Lantern said, pure and unfiltered glee in his voice. "He actually believed Spooky was buying his sidekicks. That made more sense to him, than the thought that Spooky was a father! Surprise Supes, it's a boy!"
Flash howled, curled up on his side in fetal position, his entire body shaking as he laughed and laughed and laughed.
Wonder Woman let out a long, long sigh.
With the revelation that Batman had been a father all this time, Superman had another epiphany.
This time he had the good fortune to be in bed, with Jon staying over at Lois's for the night. So there was no worry of his pup overhearing him when he shot straight up, bedsheets pooling around his waist as he all but shouted, "Dam!? Who's the dam?!"
Lois sighed as she watched Clark pace back and forth, all hopes of having an early night dashed by her friend sending their son to his parents' farm while he paced a hole in her brand new carpet. While she knew Clark could take a minute every now and then to actually get to what was bugging him, she was tired, she was cranky, and she really hadn't been in the mood to deal with him tonight.
So sue her if she reached behind her and grabbed a squirt bottle reserved for her cat…and sometimes her son, and sprayed him.
"Wha-Lois!"
He looked so comically offended, it cheered her up.
So she sprayed him again.
"Sit down and talk," she barked.
He groaned, but ultimately plopped down on her loveseat, and she crossed her arms and leaned back against her couch cushions, one perfectly plucked eyebrow raised.
"What's the story, Kent?" she asked.
"Batman has pups," he said slowly, and she blinked.
"And?"
He flung his arms out. "What do you mean 'and?' Aren't you at least a little surprised? Batman, The Dark Knight, has pups. Multiple pups!"
Gosh, Lois thought not unkindly and not for the first time since she met Clark Kent. He's so lucky he's pretty.
"Clark," she said, leaning forwards, her elbows resting on her knees, her chin propped up on her knuckles.
"Lois," he echoed, mimicking her pose.
"No," she said. "I am not surprised that Batman, the first member of the Justice League to have a kid as their sidekick, is a father. He's had multiple Robins, and several other bat-named vigilantes in his city, all underage when they started. Honestly, if he wasn't a parent, I would have been alarmed no one thought to report him for being a weird adult who only works with children. And by no one, I mean the Leauge. Though apparently, you didn't think to question it? You, didn't think at one point that he could be their father and thought it was completely normal that someone like him, only worked with kids?"
She could see the gears turning in his head, the realization dawning on his face. "There it is, that sharp reporter wit that is good at catching the little details," she drawled, clapping her hands slowly.
"I just, it's just, he never, I mean he's so private, but like his kid, mutliple kids, I—"
"Holy shit, Kent, stop thinking so hard. You're gonna break. Why is this bugging you so badly? You have a superhero for a kid yourself. Why's it such a big deal that Batman's sidekicks are also his kids?"
"But no one else's sidekick is their own kid!" Clark honest-to-god, whines. "Wonder Girl is Wonder Woman's niece! Arsenal is, well, I mean, we'll circle back to that. But Impulse is only related to Flash because of time-travel shennanigans and Superboy…well you know!"
Lois huffed. "You know boy scout, you really shouldn't tell me so many details. I'm not bound by anything but my own moral compass to keep your secrets. Anyway, this still doesn't answer my question. Why does it matter so much to you that the Robins are Batman's pups, it's almost like you're…"
Her voice trailed off, eyes blowing wide as several things became very clear all at once.
"Oh my god."
"Don't," Clark groaned.
A vicious smile began to creep across her face. "Oh my god."
"Lois, please."
"Oh my god!" she squealed. Squealed. Because finally, finally, so many things were making sense. She pointed her finger at him. "You're jealous! You don't like that Batman has pups because you don't like that he's been with other people! You like Batman!"
Clark grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it, a muffled scream following.
"Oh this makes so much sense. You've always been a bit too obsessed with him, even way back when! You didn't like him at first, and then you were hurt when he didn't trust you, and then you tried to get his Robin, his pup to like you so he'd warm up to you, and oh my god, how many dates did we go on, where you managed to bring up Batman at any time, any place, and wow, that went right over my head. I'm gonna have to get better at this."
"Are you done?" Clark asked, not lifting his head from her pillow.
"Wait," she said, brows furrowing as her mind continued to spin. "But, that can't be all of it. You've been liking him for years, so sure you're a little jealous, but why almost ruin my carpet over it?"
"I did not!" he objected, lifting his head pensively. He did look over his shoulder just to check that he didn't actually damage her apartment.
"There's something else," she sang. "I know there is. We've already come this far. So you should just tell me."
He rolled his eyes and flopped back into his pillow.
"Cla-ark," she sang, scooting towards him so she could poke his arm.
Whatever he mumbled got lost in the cushion.
"C'mon boy scout, speak up. I can't hear you," she wheedled. "Clark, what's bugging you? I can keep poking you all night if I have to."
Lois Lane was many things, and one thing she was most known for, was her tenacity. Once she got her claws in something, she never let it go.
Something Clark knew all too well.
With a resigned sigh, he turned his head to look at her. "You're going to laugh."
"Yes I am. Spill."
"Well, if they're his pups, that means there's a dam."
"Uh-huh, I do believe that is how biology works, yes. We learned this in middle school, right? When a dam and a sire love each other very much…"
"I just…who's the dam? Who got to carry his pups? Do they even know how lucky they are?"
Lois paused. "What?"
Clark sat up, looking positvely miserable. "Lois, pay attention. You asked. Someone else got to carry Batman's pups and see him…"
"Naked?" she said, wholly unimpressed. "Yes, I do believe that's how pups are made."
"No," he whined. "They got to see him all soft and gooey with his pups, in ways I've barely seen glimpses of, and why couldn't it be me?"
With a dramatic wail, back into his pillow he went.
Lois sat very, very still, thinking of only two things.
Batman, according to Clark, was an alpha.
And so, was the pathetic kryptonian lump sitting not a foot away from her.
"Clark, what the ever-loving fuck are you talking about?"
Wonder Woman quite liked her team. She liked her job. She liked most things.
What she did not like?
Superman crashing out in the break room because his best-friend-turned-lover-turned-ex-turned-dam-turned-best-friend-again pointed out the very obvious fact that as an alpha, it was always going to be impossible for him to carry Batman's pups.
Superman was so caught up in his dismay, he didn't notice Wonder Woman quietly taking her leave. She shook her head at an incoming Red Robin, and he frowned.
"Where's your sire?"
Red Robin wrinkled his nose. "My what?"
"Batman," she sighed. "Where is Batman?"
"He's in the lab with Flash, but—"
"Good."
She stalked off, leaving Red Robin staring after her in complete bewilderment.
"What just happened?"
~~
"Batman," Wonder Woman said, and he glanced up at the odd dictation in her voice.
"Wonder Woman," he greeted. "Is everything okay?"
"I need you to follow me, please. Now."
Warily, he stepped away from a very confused Flash and followed the Amazonian out of the room and down the hall.
"Wonder Woman, what is this about?" he asked.
"I will clear the tower," she said in lieu of answer.
Instantly his guard went up. Red Robin was in the tower. His pup was in the tower.
"What's the status of the risk?" he asked, eyes darting around for his son.
"Depends," Wonder Woman said drily. "On whether or not you can fix him."
"Fix? Who am I fixing? Is this about Cyborg? Did he get hacked?"
"No."
They were nearing the break room, where a familiar red-and-blue caped hero paced. Batman's steps slowed.
Things had been weird with Superman ever since the man learned he was a father. Which, really, of all the hairbrained conspiracies—
What else would he be, if not a father to his birds?
"Wonder Woman, I am not so sure if this—"
She turned to him, a set glare on her face. "Fix him or so help me, I will sicc both Alfred Pennyworth and Lois Lane on the pair of you!"
For just that slight second of time, Batman's fairly certain he was possessed by Barry's speedforce.
Bruce stared as Clark continued to pace. He'd long since lowered his cowl, rubbing a tired hand over his eyes, before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"If you burn a hole in this carpet, I will make you pay for it."
Clark stopped. "I am not ruining any carpets! Why does everyone keeping saying that!"
"Your feet are smoking, Clark," Bruce sighed.
Clark immediately hovered a few inches off the ground, blowing cool air on his boots.
Awkward silence filled the room, and fuck, when was the last time Bruce had felt awkward around Clark?
"Listen—"
"I just—"
They paused, both staring at each other, before Clark held up his hand. "Please, let me."
Bruce nodded, and leaned back in his seat, arms folded over his chest as he gave the other an appraising look.
"I'm sorry I didn't think to ask you, who the Robins were to you. It is glaringly obvious, looking back on it, that they were your pups. There's no other logical explanation for them."
"I should think not, seeing as to this day, Nightwing still claims you're his second sire."
A pleased blush rose to Clark's cheeks at the thought of Nightwing telling everyone that he and Bruce were his sires.
"I am honored he thinks so highly of me," he said, feeling almost shy.
Sires. That's how Nightwing viewed the pair of them. He floated a few inches higher, unable to keep the smile off his face.
"You should say hi to him more often," Bruce said, noting the positive shift in Clark's mood. "He misses hanging out with you."
"I will," Clark said, before thinking better of it. "I mean, as long as it's okay of course, I wouldn't want to impose or anything, y'know?"
Bruce blinked at him. "Impose? Since when are you worried about imposing? You gave him his name, there's nothing to impose on?"
"Well, I mean, y'know," Clark said, his feet once more landing on the carpet. "I already spent so much of his childhood with him and you, I'm sure his dam doesn't want me monopolozing even more of his time."
Bruce frowned. "His dam? Clark, who do you think that is?"
"I don't know! You're so private with it, I just learned it's a family business!" Clark defended. "I-I-"
Huh. Who would be Nightwing's dam?
There was only one woman who popped up in Batman's life every now and then, but last Clark checked, Catwoman was an alpha. She couldn't be Nightwing's dam.
"Me, Clark," Bruce said incredelously. "Who else would it be, but me?"
Clark froze.
He didn't even blink, he just stared at the wall, unmoving; Bruce would be surprised if the man were even breathing.
"Clark what the hell?" he growled. "You know now that Nightwing and the Robins are my pups. Why would you think anyone else, would be their dam?"
Clark slowly, turned his head to face Bruce, eyes wide, mouth slack.
At this point, Bruce was starting to feel more than a little irritated. Why the hell was Clark acting like he'd just told the entire world his secret identity? Surely, Clark, his college-educated, superhero friend, who has a pup of his own, knows the birds and the bees.
"You?" Clark choked out. "You—dam—you?"
"Oh, fuck you," Bruce snarled, standing up. "I don't know what the hell it is you've been thinking if not the worst of me. When you're ready to start acting like my friend again, let me know."
He turned, anger churning in his gut when a strong but trembling hand wrapped around his wrist.
"Clark," he snapped, voice low in warning.
But then—
"You're…not an alpha?"
What.
One cup of tea and thirty minutes of agonizing silence later, Clark has a thought, not for the first time, that Lois Lane is right. He really is so lucky he's pretty.
Batman, Bruce Wayne, is not an alpha.
He is an omega, a proud dam of several pups, and for a dizzying couple of minutes, Clark can't stop picturing Bruce with a swollen belly, and wow, that is not something he should be thinking of right now, lest he end up mucking things up even more.
"Sire," he mumbled, realizing he now has a whole new problem to address. "Who's their sire?"
Bruce sighed long and hard, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Clark, how much do you actually know about my family?"
Batman has Robins.
His Robins are his pups.
His Robins are his sons.
But only one of them is his biological pup. Damian, Jon's best friend, is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al-Ghul, and from what little Bruce has to say about it, Clark can tell it wasn't a good relationship. And Talia certainly isn't in Damian's life at the moment, something Bruce has made sure of.
There is no hidden sire, no hidden dam, no hidden partner.
Simply an omega who saw children in need of a home, in need of a purpose, in need of a mother.
"So?" Bruce asked, holding his hands out. "Cards on the table, is there anything else, we should get cleared up while we're here?"
Yeah, Clark thought faintly, even as his mouth began to move without his permission.
"I love you."
Clark had not meant to say that.
Maybe ease into it? Bring up the idea that he's had a crush and that's why he's been so weird and stupid about, well, everything?
But before he can scrabble to fix this, before he can think of anything that might help get his foot out of his mouth, he caught sight of Bruce's expression.
Blue eyes are blown wide open in shock, eyebrows raised high enough to reach Bruce's hairline. But his lips, both corners of his perfect bow-shaped lips, were tilted up in a slight, beautiful smile.
"Yeah," Clark breathed, knowing Bruce needed to hear it again. "I really do love you."
And Bruce Wayne's face,
softened.