Flash Fiction Fills Take 58
a/n: The last of my March flash fiction, here for your enjoyment. This one's lighter fare compared to what I posted before. Hope it makes you laugh!
For mistress_pirate
Prompt: SuperBat, interview, Clark is given the chance of a lifetime
The envelope is sitting on his hall table, mixed in with a stack of mail he'd left there the day before. It hadn't come in the mail, however, and Clark only notices it because the envelope is such a dark grey and sealed with a very familiar symbol. One that has become synonymous with bad news for the criminal element of Gotham City.
However, since Clark is in Metropolis and not a criminal, what it means for him is a curiosity that has both his reporter's instincts and his hero's instincts standing up to say hello.
He ignores the bills and junk mail, tugging the envelope out of the stack. He examines it from all angles as he starts down the hallway toward his kitchen, half-heartedly tugging at his tie.
The envelope is innocuous. It has his name written on the front in a tight, no-nonsense script. A quick x-ray reveals no potentially deadly or incendiary substances within it. Not that the envelope is thick enough to conceal anything worrisome. Not that it could contain anything that might harm him.
Unless somehow the Batman has learned that Clark Kent is Superman and that Superman is susceptible to Kryptonite, a rather rare substance for Earth.
He wanders into the kitchen and slips a finger under the flap, opening it. A single piece of card stock paper slips into his hand. At the top it says “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE” which is a rather rude and abrupt declaration. But at the bottom, it adds, “You are cordially invited to interview with a select gathering of individuals of whom you share an interest.” It then gives a date, time, and address. It's signed with the symbol for The Batman.
Hmmm.
Well, that answers that.
The real question is: does he go? Which is actually a stupid question because the answer is: of course! Not only because the Batman is elusive and impossible to find, but because he's curious. What could the Batman possibly want? And what did he mean by “a select gathering of individuals?”
Clark supposes he'll have to find out.
At sunset, three days after he received the letter, Clark puts on his suit and takes off toward Gotham, heading for the Observatory. It is the tallest building in Gotham City and owned by the Wayne Foundation. It seems like an odd place to meet, but who is Superman to question the Batman's thought processes? He doesn't know the man at all. And sometimes, is hard-pressed to call him a superhero.
He looks down as he approaches, seeing a red blur streaking across the ground, and blinks in surprise. The Flash, too? Interesting.
Superman lands on the balcony of the Observatory and the door leading inward is already open for him. He can hear voices within, one of them obviously the Batman judging by the distorted nature of his vocals, and he recognizes Diana's and J'onn's voices. The Batman has been busy.
He lets himself in through the open doorway, stepping into a receiving room of sorts. A quick look around identifies half a dozen of Earth's most familiar costumed superheroes. The Flash. Wonder Woman. The Martian Manhunter. Green Lantern. And last but certainly not least, The Batman.
All conversation ceases as they all turn to look at them. And then Flash appears at his side with a grin and playful punch to his shoulder. They, at least, have met while Superman only knows of the others by their reputation.
“About time!” he says with a wince, shaking his hand. “For a man who's faster than a speeding bullet, you're the last to get here.”
Superman blinks. “I'm on time.” He glances up at the clock on the wall. “For a matter of fact, I'm early.” And arriving here only a minute behind the Flash is hardly late.
“Superman is right,” A voice interjects, smooth and silky as its owner slinks toward them like a pool of shadows. “He is precisely on time for his interview.”
Flash rolls his shoulders. “To be fair, everyone is slow to me.” He grins and then his eyes brighten. “Diana! My favorite Amazon!” He throws his arms out wide in glee and takes off in a, well, a flash.
“Interview,” Superman repeats in Flash's absence, resisting the urge to shiver at The Batman's proximity. Now that he is close, he can see that the Batman's costume isn't purely black, but also shades of grey. “For what exactly?”
The Batman gestures to the balcony, beyond the range of the other heroes talking amongst themselves nearby. “To join an elite group of individuals who will be tasked with protecting this planet.”
Try as he might, Superman can not see through The Batman's mask. He has no idea of this man's identity, though he had sussed out Superman's. Then again, Superman's disguise relied on people making assumptions about him on a personal level. He supposes a pair of glasses and a bumbling personality wouldn't fool The Batman.
To be fair, if it wasn't for him actively trying to prove otherwise to Lois, she probably would have figured it out a lot sooner, too.
“Are you trying to form some kind of superhero squad or something?” Superman asks as they emerge onto the balcony, sunset dipping fast toward night.
A cross between a scoff and a laugh emerges from the man next to him. “More like a network of talents. Between you and J'onn, it is startlingly clear that there are greater dangers than what exists on this planet alone. And there's no guarantee that any of us, on our own, can be an effective defense against said dangers.”
Superman crosses his arms. “So it's like a telephone tree?”
The Batman looks at him for a long moment and then his mouth crooks upward in something like a grin. “Yes, country boy. It's like a tree. Where we can call upon each other should we need some... assistance.”
He says the latter, Superman notices, with evident distaste. As though the very idea of calling for help is unpalatable to him. Then why bother arranging this? Unless he's doing it for everyone else's benefit.
“Alright. Sure. Sounds good to me.” Superman lowers his arms and grins, sticking out a hand. “Count me in.”
The Batman's lens covered gaze flicks to the offered hand as though giving it a long debate before he offers one of his own, the handshake firm and business-like. “Alright. Then we can get started.”
“Started?”
“You didn't think a handshake was all it took, did you?” The Batman tilts his head, his smirk widening as the handshake ends. “You still have an interview to pass.”
Superman blinks. “But I'm Superman.”
“Your point?”
He opens his mouth but no words emerge. What other explanation does he need? He's Superman. He saves people on an hourly basis? What further qualification could he possibly be lacking?
“I'm... Superman?”
“You said that already.” The Batman sounds as smug as a man can possibly sound. “Do you have anything else to offer?”
Superman splutters.
a/n: There were so many ways I could have taken this prompt. So many. I ended up with this one which is pretty amusing but if I can poke the muses, I might go back and do the more adult rated one still floating around in my head.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated. Flash Fic Friday has been postponed to April 17th, my schedule willing. :)
This entry was originally posted at http://dracoqueen22.dreamwidth.org/281208.html. Feel free to comment wherever you find most convenient.
For mistress_pirate
Prompt: SuperBat, interview, Clark is given the chance of a lifetime
The envelope is sitting on his hall table, mixed in with a stack of mail he'd left there the day before. It hadn't come in the mail, however, and Clark only notices it because the envelope is such a dark grey and sealed with a very familiar symbol. One that has become synonymous with bad news for the criminal element of Gotham City.
However, since Clark is in Metropolis and not a criminal, what it means for him is a curiosity that has both his reporter's instincts and his hero's instincts standing up to say hello.
He ignores the bills and junk mail, tugging the envelope out of the stack. He examines it from all angles as he starts down the hallway toward his kitchen, half-heartedly tugging at his tie.
The envelope is innocuous. It has his name written on the front in a tight, no-nonsense script. A quick x-ray reveals no potentially deadly or incendiary substances within it. Not that the envelope is thick enough to conceal anything worrisome. Not that it could contain anything that might harm him.
Unless somehow the Batman has learned that Clark Kent is Superman and that Superman is susceptible to Kryptonite, a rather rare substance for Earth.
He wanders into the kitchen and slips a finger under the flap, opening it. A single piece of card stock paper slips into his hand. At the top it says “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE” which is a rather rude and abrupt declaration. But at the bottom, it adds, “You are cordially invited to interview with a select gathering of individuals of whom you share an interest.” It then gives a date, time, and address. It's signed with the symbol for The Batman.
Hmmm.
Well, that answers that.
The real question is: does he go? Which is actually a stupid question because the answer is: of course! Not only because the Batman is elusive and impossible to find, but because he's curious. What could the Batman possibly want? And what did he mean by “a select gathering of individuals?”
Clark supposes he'll have to find out.
At sunset, three days after he received the letter, Clark puts on his suit and takes off toward Gotham, heading for the Observatory. It is the tallest building in Gotham City and owned by the Wayne Foundation. It seems like an odd place to meet, but who is Superman to question the Batman's thought processes? He doesn't know the man at all. And sometimes, is hard-pressed to call him a superhero.
He looks down as he approaches, seeing a red blur streaking across the ground, and blinks in surprise. The Flash, too? Interesting.
Superman lands on the balcony of the Observatory and the door leading inward is already open for him. He can hear voices within, one of them obviously the Batman judging by the distorted nature of his vocals, and he recognizes Diana's and J'onn's voices. The Batman has been busy.
He lets himself in through the open doorway, stepping into a receiving room of sorts. A quick look around identifies half a dozen of Earth's most familiar costumed superheroes. The Flash. Wonder Woman. The Martian Manhunter. Green Lantern. And last but certainly not least, The Batman.
All conversation ceases as they all turn to look at them. And then Flash appears at his side with a grin and playful punch to his shoulder. They, at least, have met while Superman only knows of the others by their reputation.
“About time!” he says with a wince, shaking his hand. “For a man who's faster than a speeding bullet, you're the last to get here.”
Superman blinks. “I'm on time.” He glances up at the clock on the wall. “For a matter of fact, I'm early.” And arriving here only a minute behind the Flash is hardly late.
“Superman is right,” A voice interjects, smooth and silky as its owner slinks toward them like a pool of shadows. “He is precisely on time for his interview.”
Flash rolls his shoulders. “To be fair, everyone is slow to me.” He grins and then his eyes brighten. “Diana! My favorite Amazon!” He throws his arms out wide in glee and takes off in a, well, a flash.
“Interview,” Superman repeats in Flash's absence, resisting the urge to shiver at The Batman's proximity. Now that he is close, he can see that the Batman's costume isn't purely black, but also shades of grey. “For what exactly?”
The Batman gestures to the balcony, beyond the range of the other heroes talking amongst themselves nearby. “To join an elite group of individuals who will be tasked with protecting this planet.”
Try as he might, Superman can not see through The Batman's mask. He has no idea of this man's identity, though he had sussed out Superman's. Then again, Superman's disguise relied on people making assumptions about him on a personal level. He supposes a pair of glasses and a bumbling personality wouldn't fool The Batman.
To be fair, if it wasn't for him actively trying to prove otherwise to Lois, she probably would have figured it out a lot sooner, too.
“Are you trying to form some kind of superhero squad or something?” Superman asks as they emerge onto the balcony, sunset dipping fast toward night.
A cross between a scoff and a laugh emerges from the man next to him. “More like a network of talents. Between you and J'onn, it is startlingly clear that there are greater dangers than what exists on this planet alone. And there's no guarantee that any of us, on our own, can be an effective defense against said dangers.”
Superman crosses his arms. “So it's like a telephone tree?”
The Batman looks at him for a long moment and then his mouth crooks upward in something like a grin. “Yes, country boy. It's like a tree. Where we can call upon each other should we need some... assistance.”
He says the latter, Superman notices, with evident distaste. As though the very idea of calling for help is unpalatable to him. Then why bother arranging this? Unless he's doing it for everyone else's benefit.
“Alright. Sure. Sounds good to me.” Superman lowers his arms and grins, sticking out a hand. “Count me in.”
The Batman's lens covered gaze flicks to the offered hand as though giving it a long debate before he offers one of his own, the handshake firm and business-like. “Alright. Then we can get started.”
“Started?”
“You didn't think a handshake was all it took, did you?” The Batman tilts his head, his smirk widening as the handshake ends. “You still have an interview to pass.”
Superman blinks. “But I'm Superman.”
“Your point?”
He opens his mouth but no words emerge. What other explanation does he need? He's Superman. He saves people on an hourly basis? What further qualification could he possibly be lacking?
“I'm... Superman?”
“You said that already.” The Batman sounds as smug as a man can possibly sound. “Do you have anything else to offer?”
Superman splutters.
a/n: There were so many ways I could have taken this prompt. So many. I ended up with this one which is pretty amusing but if I can poke the muses, I might go back and do the more adult rated one still floating around in my head.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated. Flash Fic Friday has been postponed to April 17th, my schedule willing. :)
This entry was originally posted at http://dracoqueen22.dreamwidth.org/281208.html. Feel free to comment wherever you find most convenient.