Fanfic: We are the same
Title: We are the same
Rating: PG
Characters: Bruce Wayne/Batman, Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane
Word Count: ~4,000 words
Notes: Written for the 2009 WFGE. Prompt F2: Bumbling clumsy reporter Clark Kent meets vapid, ignorant, playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne. Both somehow come to the realization of each other's real identities. Even better if it leads to romance/identity porn.
I couldn't quite get Clark to bumble, I'm sorry. I hope you still like it :) Title is taken from a Tragically Hip song with the same name.
"I hate these things," Clark muttered. "Remind me why I let you talk me into coming with you?" They were standing in the lobby of the Metropolis Grand Hotel where Lex Luthor was hosting a fundraiser for underpriviliged children. But Metropolis' high society'd use any excuse to party, Clark thought to himself as they pushed past women in expensive dresses and one tuxedoed man after the other. He had never felt this much out of place.
"Because I asked nicely," Lois replied, elbowing him in the side when he tugged on his tie for the seventh time. "Seriously, Clark, how often do you get the chance to mingle with the rich and famous? Just relax and try to have some fun for a change."
Clark glared. "I know fun, Lois, and this sure isn't it."
Lois just rolled her eyes. "Well, Clark, you're not in Kansas anymore. This is how we have fun in the big city!" With that, she strode towards the ballroom and quickly disappeared into the crowd. Clark considered following her, but in the end he headed for the buffet instead. Armed with a glass of orange juice and a tiny piece of bread, he finally entered the fray to find himself surrounded by idle chatter and gossip.
"Have you seen that dress on her?"
"Yes, I have to say I almost admire her - I wouldn't dare going out wearing something at least two sizes too small!"
"Did you get that promotion yet?"
"There's no way these are real."
"I heard she's sleeping with his lawyer."
Clark couldn't hear a single comment concerning the benefit. He doubted most of the people even knew why they were there. They'd signed their checks and that was all they needed to show they cared. Sometimes - He shook his head. He shouldn't brood like this. It was just that all this - the people and their money and the glamour - made him feel uncomfortable.
"Clark!" Interrupted in his thoughts, Clark turned around to see Lois waving at him. She was standing next to a tall man who had a glass of champagne in his hand and a very attractive blonde on his arm. Clark walked over to join them, and Lois motioned towards the man. "Clark, this is Bruce Wayne. Bruce, this is Clark Kent. We work together."
"Pleased to meet you," Clark said, offering his hand. After a brief, weak handshake and an insincere smile, the other man turned his attention back to Lois, obviously already forgetting Clark again.
"So you've never seen him?" Lois asked.
"Who? The Batman?" Wayne laughed. "I don't believe in ghost stories."
"You don't think he's real?" Lois wanted to know. Clark was as curious about the answer as she was - while he didn't exactly approve of Batman's methods, he was changing things for the better in Gotham, and it was odd to think that the people of his city wouldn't believe in the man who was making that difference. Then again, that was just the way Batman wanted it to be - this much he'd understood from the few times Superman had met him. He didn't want an adoring public, and he didn't want any friends. That, too, had become clear during their encounters.
Wayne raised his eyebrows. "You're saying you do?"
"I know someone who's met him," Lois replied. "And he isn't the kind of guy who'd be making things up."
"And who would that be? You don't seem like someone who's friends with criminals," Wayne said.
Lois smiled. "Oh, you should meet some of my contacts, Bruce. But no, it wasn't a criminal. It was Superman."
"You know Superman?" Wayne's blonde companion asked. "Oh wow. What's he like?"
Lois looked at her. "Well, you know, he's -"
"Super," Clark said. When everyone turned towards him, he gave an embarrassed cough. "What?" he asked.
"Where is he tonight?" Wayne wanted to know. "Superman, I mean."
"He's probably busy," Lois said.
"Too busy to care about the environment?" Wayne frowned. "That's too bad, I would have liked meeting him."
"Now, Bruce - I'm sure -" Lois started saying, but Clark interrupted her. "Children," he said.
Both Wayne and Lois looked at him. "What?" Wayne asked.
"The fundraiser. It's for underprivileged children, not the environment." Clark smiled his most guileless smile. There was a glint in Wayne's eyes as he shrugged.
"Well, children are part of the environment, aren't they? Besides, I could have sworn Cindy here," he patted his blonde companion on the arm, "told me this was for the environment. Dolphins or something. Anyway, no harm done, right?"
Clark shook his head, still smiling. "Of course not." He drained his glass. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get myself another drink."
"Make sure you don't overdo it!" Wayne called after him. Clark ignored him and proceeded to the buffet, glad to escape their conversation. He could hear Cindy's voice, asking, "Why would anyone dress up as a giant bat?", and while that was a valid question, he didn't want to hear her opinion on Batman or Wayne's thoughts on Superman. Or Lois' opinion on Wayne.
Clark lingered near the buffet a little while longer, but he kept having to move out of the waiters' way. He searched the crowd for Lois and saw her chatting with a reporter from the Gotham Gazette, Bruce Wayne nowhere in sight. He hesitated for a moment, but then the band Luthor had hired for the night started playing and Clark just didn't think he could watch Luthor and the rest of the upper crust congratulate themselves on their charity. He left the ballroom and, once in the lobby, walked up a staircase until he reached the first floor. There were fewer people there, but he kept walking, following a side corridor until he reached a glass door leading to a corner balcony. When he opened the door and quickly slipped outside, he was surprised to find he wasn't alone. Another man was standing at the railing, looking out at the night sky, hidden from view from anyone inside the house. Apparently, he wasn't the only one who needed a moment to themselves. He cleared his throat but bit back his greeting when the other man turned around. It was Bruce Wayne, but for a moment Clark almost didn't recognize him, so different did he look from the man he'd just met half an hour ago. Before he could think of anything to say, Wayne stepped towards him, smiling.
"Ah, Brent, it's you! I went to the bathroom, but I must have taken the wrong turn somewhere. I couldn't find my way back for the life of me!"
Clark frowned. Surely, Wayne couldn't be that stupid. He did smell alcohol on him, however, so it wasn't completely unlikely. But he couldn't shake off the impression that Wayne had been slipping on a mask just then. And Clark knew about masks.
"Er, you just follow that corridor, turn right and it should lead you back to the first landing," he told Wayne. He mustered the other man closely, trying to determine whether he was playing a part or not. Wayne frowned.
"Are you sure? I'd swear I already tried that... or was that somewhere else? These hotels all look alike, you know?"
Somehow, Clark doubted there were many hotels with the same layout as Metropolis' oldest hotel, but he didn't think that would make any difference to Wayne. Instead he said, "I suppose they would, after a while."
Wayne clapped him on the shoulder amiably. "They do, Grant, they do. Now, lead the way."
Clark sighed to himself, but complied. They hadn't reached the end of the corridor, however, when there was screaming from downstairs. The two men looked at each other in alarm.
"What was that?" Wayne asked.
"I don't know!" Clark used his x-ray vision to take a look at what was going on. It seemed like a small group of men had decided they were more deserving of the charity money than the children.
"I'm going downstairs," Clark said.
Wayne grabbed hold of his arm. "Are you insane, man? It's too dangerous - who knows what's happening in there!"
"Maybe I can help!" Clark told him.
Wayne shook his head. "No, I'm - I'm going back to my room and wait until all this is over, and you should, too. I'm sure Superman will take care of this - it's his city, after all."
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try doing whatever we can," Clark said. Wayne looked at him with an odd expression for a moment, but apparently decided he better try saving his hide as soon as possible instead of trying to persuade Clark to do the same. Before Clark could stop him, Wayne was already running away, moving surprisingly fast. Clark waited until he was out of sight, then quickly took off his suit. This looked like it was a job for Superman.
***
Bruce hurried up the stairs, taking three steps in his stride with ease. On the last landing, he hesitated for a moment, looking down at the lobby to check whether Kent actually was true to his word. But instead of the reporter, there was a red and blue blur, headed for the ballroom. Bruce noted that he didn't seem to have entered through the main entrance but rather from the direction he himself had come. Kent was still nowhere to be seen. Well, maybe he had decided to hide after all.
Bruce had been annoyed when the reporter had surprised him back then. He wasn't entirely used to playing this part yet - the smiling, stupid playboy no one would ever suspect of secretly dressing up as a bat to hunt down criminals. All those galas and balls and society events - whenever he attend one of them he realized how much he'd gotten used to spending his time in the dark. Everything was too bright.
The only reason he'd come to Metropolis had been to find out more about Superman. They'd met a few times during overlapping cases, and back when Superman had introduced himself to him. Batman had not made him feel particularly welcome. He simply wasn't sure whether he was trustworthy - he seemed too good to be true, and Bruce knew too much about facades to not try and look behind other's. So far he hadn't been too successful - when his conversation with Lois Lane had finally reached Superman, Kent had interrupted. Hopefully he would stay out of his way this time.
He entered his room and immediately locked the door from the inside before kneeling down to open his suitcase. There was a hidden compartment containing his other suit, and it didn't take him long to put it on. Practice did make perfect, after all. Batman opened the door to the balcony. When he had arrived at the hotel earlier, he had already determined that the fastest way down was to jump to the balcony at the north-eastern corner of the building, then use the pipes to climb to the ground. He made it there unnoticed, ten seconds under the time he'd previously calculated.
Batman ran along the wall, following a small pathway that led around the hotel around the back. He could have let Superman handle this, but he needed to know what was going on before he could decide what to do. He reached the ballroom windows and carefully looked inside.
In the time it had gotten him to arrive, Superman had disarmed four men who probably had attempted to make off with the nights' donations and some of the guests' jewelery. At this point, they were trussed up in the middle of the room, and Superman was standing in front of them with arms folded, wearing a stern expression. Batman couldn't hear what he was saying, but he could probably guess. He'd heard it before, after all. Just then he noticed that it hadn't been four men - it had been five. And the fifth gang member had found himself a hostage - he'd grabbed one of the women and was now holding a knife to her throat.
Batman could practically see Superman think - Superman was fast, but would he be fast enough to make sure the woman wasn't hurt? He couldn't use his heat vision for the same reason. Superman needed a distraction.
It was a good thing he was here. As Batman burst through the window, there were screams all around him. His foot connected with the back of the hostage-taker in the same moment Superman caught hold of the woman to pull her to safety. The thug landed on the floor with a thud. He scrambled around and tried to get up, but Batman stepped up next to him. He didn't have to say anything.
"Got any extra string?" Superman asked. "I'm afraid I'm all out." Batman looked up. Superman was standing on the other side of the man, smiling. The woman they'd saved had returned to the side of her boyfriend or husband and was apparently unharmed.
Without a comment, Batman opened one of the compartments in his utility belt and quickly handcuffed the would-be-robber. "I think you can handle it from here," he said.
He looked at Superman even as he was readying his grapple gun. He aimed it at one of the trees outside the hotel, then gave the other hero a short nod before disappearing back into the night.
***
Superman remained until the police arrived, making sure everyone of the guests was alright and answering Lois' questions. "Do you know what Batman was doing in Metropolis? Did you ask him for help?" she'd wanted to know. Clark was wondering this himself, but all he'd replied was, "I guess he just was in the neighborhood." And it had been a good thing he was, too. Finally, all the robbers were taken into custody, and he was able to leave. But he couldn't try and find Batman just yet - instead he returned to where he'd left his clothes, quickly dressed and got back to the ballroom, where Lois was already looking for him.
"Clark, where the hell have you been?" Taking in his rumpled suit and mussed up hair, she raised her eyebrows.
"I, er, was hiding," Clark told her.
"Hiding? Do you know what you've missed?" Lois wanted to know.
"Bruce Wayne told me to!" he protested. "When we heard the screaming, he said -"
"Bruce told you to hide?" Lois sounded sceptical. "Where is he now?"
"I think he's still hiding in his room," Clark said.
Lois rolled her eyes and sighed. "Men! C'mon, let's go, I have a story to write." As they were leaving the hotel, Clark asked, "So, uh, what exactly happened?"
"Superman and Batman happened!"
"Superman and Batman?"
"Yes - I was talking to Vicky Vale when..."
Clark was only half-listening to what Lois was telling him about the evening's events. Lois had a point - what had Batman been doing in Metropolis? And how had he known what was happening at the hotel? Batman didn't have super-hearing, and Superman doubted the Metropolis Grand Hotel was part of his routine patrol. He'd also noted that by the time Lois and he'd left, Wayne still hadn't reappeared from his room. That itself didn't have to mean anything - he could be as cowardly and stupid as he appeared, he could have been joined by Cindy, he could have fallen asleep - but Clark couldn't stop thinking about that moment on the balcony, that slip of the mask. It could all just be a coincidence, of course. Right.
After he had seen Lois home safely, Clark changed outfits again. He'd decided to return to the hotel - chances were that Batman had already left, but even if he had, well. He could try and find out what happened to Wayne, at least.
***
Batman stayed hidden until the police had come and gone. He'd debated returning to his suite, but there were too many people out and about even for him. To his surprise, Superman hadn't come after him. He knew he himself would have. Finally, when most of the guests had left and everything had quieted down, he made his way back up. He reached his room without being seen and exchanged the batsuit for a pair of pajama bottoms and a robe. Just a few moments after he had put the suit back into the suitcase, there was a knock.
At the balcony door.
Bruce turned around to find a familiar figure standing on the balcony. "Superman." Bruce's surprise wasn't feigned, even though his smile was. What could have brought Superman here? His cowl was lead-lined, and he knew for a fact that there were several Gothamites staying at the hotel. Besides, Batman could have been following a lead - criminals had a tendency to talk too much to each other, and someone in Gotham could have said something to the wrong person. There was no reason for Superman to think there was any connection between him and Batman.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne." Superman smiled at him.
"Er - may I ask what you are doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you - in fact, I was saying earlier that it was a pity you couldn't be at the ball, and then I missed all the ruckus downstairs.."
"I'm here because.. a friend of mine was worried about you," Superman said. "Since you all but disappeared after the robbery."
"Friend? What - oh, you mean Ms. Lane?" Bruce asked. Again, Superman smiled. For the first time since he'd met him, Bruce couldn't read him. It was - disconcerting.
"No, I mean Clark."
"Clark?" Bruce frowned. "Clark -"
"Clark Kent," Superman finished the sentence for him. "You met him earlier. On the balcony."
"Right! I remember him. He showed me how to get back to my room. I didn't know he was a friend of yours, too." Bruce walked over to the mini-bar. "Can I offer you like a drink?"
"No thanks. But do you mind if I come in?" Superman was still standing on the balcony.
"Of course, of course, just - make yourself at home. Well, as much at home as you can in a hotel!" Bruce exclaimed. His suitcase was lead-lined as well, he reminded himself. Still, it didn't make sense for Superman to want to talk to Bruce Wayne. Unless he knew that he was Batman and was going to use that knowledge against him, to make him stop doing things his way.
"Thanks, Mr. Wayne." Superman walked over to the couch and sat down. It was an odd sight, to say the least.
"Please, call me Bruce," he said as he sat down opposite him. There was an awkward pause. "So, did you manage to take care of the criminals?"
"I did," Superman nodded. "I had some help, though."
"Help?" Bruce's breathing was calm and controlled, as was his heart rate.
"Yes - from Batman, of all people!" Superman seemed amused.
Bruce raised his eyebrows. "Batman? What was he doing in Metropolis?"
"So you do believe in him after all," Superman said, almost to himself. Then, "I've been wondering that myself."
"Is that why you're here?" Bruce asked.
Superman got up from the couch. "No, as I said - I'm here because my friend was worried about you." He gave Bruce an unreadable look. "I'm sorry, I'm going to leave you in peace. I just - it was good Batman was here."
"That's - good," Bruce said slowly.
"Yes," Superman agreed. He walked back onto the balcony, but before he could leave an uncomfortably confused Bruce behind, he turned around. "I just have one more question," he said.
Bruce's face was blank. "Yes?"
***
"You are Batman," Clark thought. He looked at Bruce Wayne, who still wore an expression of perfect cluelessness. But Clark also noted his muscular build, which had to be the result of more than just a regular workout plan. He noted his extraordinary calm and his controlled motions, all which didn't quite fit with the image he tried to project. And Clark noted his one slip of the tongue - he hadn't questioned Batman's existence. Of course Bruce Wayne believed in the Batman.
Not that he could know it had been a slip of the tongue. After all, he'd been talking to Lois and Clark, and he had no reason to suspect Clark was in reality Superman. Or that anyone was in reality Superman.
He should probably leave now and try to figure out what to do next, Clark thought. But there was something he needed - well, wanted - to know. And here was someone who knew what it was like to be wearing a mask, in more than one way. So before flying off, he turned around.
"I just have one more question," he said.
"Yes?" Wayne - Bruce asked.
"Why do you think Batman doesn't trust Superman?" Clark wanted to know.
Bruce's expression remained calm. "Why would I know what Batman thinks?"
Clark shrugged. "Just - tell me what you think."
Bruce stood up from where he was sitting. He was frowning. Finally he said, "Why do you think you can trust Batman? If you do think that."
"Because he is a good man," Clark replied without hesitation.
"Even if you don't like this methods?" Bruce asked.
"He is a good man," Clark repeated. "And Gotham isn't Metropolis - I've come to realize that."
Bruce was silent for a moment. "Maybe Batman doesn't feel like he has any reason to trust you."
"Why?" Clark asked.
"Because - you're helping people but you're not one of us. You're not - you don't know what it's like to be human. What if one day you decide you don't want to use your powers to help people?" He met Superman's eyes and didn't look away. He didn't even blink.
"What could I do to convince him?" Clark wanted to know.
"Why is this so important to you?" Bruce sounded confused. "Why does it matter to you what Batman thinks?"
"Because I would like us to be friends." Now Superman was the one who didn't look away.
Bruce didn't reply. Clark hesitated. "What - what if it turned out I do know what it's like to be human? Do you think that would help?" Clark almost couldn't believe what he was saying. But he did want Batman to trust him, he did want them to be friends, and the thought of someone else knowing the truth about him held such a sense of relief for him he couldn't stop himself.
"What do you mean?" Bruce wanted to know. His entire posture had changed during this conversation - he seemed several inches taller and Clark doubted anyone could be blind enough to not see that this was an extraordinary man. It was obvious that he was now ready for whatever Superman was going to do - ready to defy him, if necessary, although Clark really wished he wouldn't think that.
So Superman did the one thing Batman didn't expect. He put his hand into the hidden pocket of his suit and pulled out a pair of glasses. He put them on, smoothed back his hair and took a few steps towards Bruce, holding out his hand. He took a a deep breath.
"Clark Kent."
There was a moment of silence. Finally, Bruce took his hand. His grip was firm as he replied, "I'm Batman."
~The End.~
(Or rather The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship, as they say.)
Rating: PG
Characters: Bruce Wayne/Batman, Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane
Word Count: ~4,000 words
Notes: Written for the 2009 WFGE. Prompt F2: Bumbling clumsy reporter Clark Kent meets vapid, ignorant, playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne. Both somehow come to the realization of each other's real identities. Even better if it leads to romance/identity porn.
I couldn't quite get Clark to bumble, I'm sorry. I hope you still like it :) Title is taken from a Tragically Hip song with the same name.
"I hate these things," Clark muttered. "Remind me why I let you talk me into coming with you?" They were standing in the lobby of the Metropolis Grand Hotel where Lex Luthor was hosting a fundraiser for underpriviliged children. But Metropolis' high society'd use any excuse to party, Clark thought to himself as they pushed past women in expensive dresses and one tuxedoed man after the other. He had never felt this much out of place.
"Because I asked nicely," Lois replied, elbowing him in the side when he tugged on his tie for the seventh time. "Seriously, Clark, how often do you get the chance to mingle with the rich and famous? Just relax and try to have some fun for a change."
Clark glared. "I know fun, Lois, and this sure isn't it."
Lois just rolled her eyes. "Well, Clark, you're not in Kansas anymore. This is how we have fun in the big city!" With that, she strode towards the ballroom and quickly disappeared into the crowd. Clark considered following her, but in the end he headed for the buffet instead. Armed with a glass of orange juice and a tiny piece of bread, he finally entered the fray to find himself surrounded by idle chatter and gossip.
"Have you seen that dress on her?"
"Yes, I have to say I almost admire her - I wouldn't dare going out wearing something at least two sizes too small!"
"Did you get that promotion yet?"
"There's no way these are real."
"I heard she's sleeping with his lawyer."
Clark couldn't hear a single comment concerning the benefit. He doubted most of the people even knew why they were there. They'd signed their checks and that was all they needed to show they cared. Sometimes - He shook his head. He shouldn't brood like this. It was just that all this - the people and their money and the glamour - made him feel uncomfortable.
"Clark!" Interrupted in his thoughts, Clark turned around to see Lois waving at him. She was standing next to a tall man who had a glass of champagne in his hand and a very attractive blonde on his arm. Clark walked over to join them, and Lois motioned towards the man. "Clark, this is Bruce Wayne. Bruce, this is Clark Kent. We work together."
"Pleased to meet you," Clark said, offering his hand. After a brief, weak handshake and an insincere smile, the other man turned his attention back to Lois, obviously already forgetting Clark again.
"So you've never seen him?" Lois asked.
"Who? The Batman?" Wayne laughed. "I don't believe in ghost stories."
"You don't think he's real?" Lois wanted to know. Clark was as curious about the answer as she was - while he didn't exactly approve of Batman's methods, he was changing things for the better in Gotham, and it was odd to think that the people of his city wouldn't believe in the man who was making that difference. Then again, that was just the way Batman wanted it to be - this much he'd understood from the few times Superman had met him. He didn't want an adoring public, and he didn't want any friends. That, too, had become clear during their encounters.
Wayne raised his eyebrows. "You're saying you do?"
"I know someone who's met him," Lois replied. "And he isn't the kind of guy who'd be making things up."
"And who would that be? You don't seem like someone who's friends with criminals," Wayne said.
Lois smiled. "Oh, you should meet some of my contacts, Bruce. But no, it wasn't a criminal. It was Superman."
"You know Superman?" Wayne's blonde companion asked. "Oh wow. What's he like?"
Lois looked at her. "Well, you know, he's -"
"Super," Clark said. When everyone turned towards him, he gave an embarrassed cough. "What?" he asked.
"Where is he tonight?" Wayne wanted to know. "Superman, I mean."
"He's probably busy," Lois said.
"Too busy to care about the environment?" Wayne frowned. "That's too bad, I would have liked meeting him."
"Now, Bruce - I'm sure -" Lois started saying, but Clark interrupted her. "Children," he said.
Both Wayne and Lois looked at him. "What?" Wayne asked.
"The fundraiser. It's for underprivileged children, not the environment." Clark smiled his most guileless smile. There was a glint in Wayne's eyes as he shrugged.
"Well, children are part of the environment, aren't they? Besides, I could have sworn Cindy here," he patted his blonde companion on the arm, "told me this was for the environment. Dolphins or something. Anyway, no harm done, right?"
Clark shook his head, still smiling. "Of course not." He drained his glass. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get myself another drink."
"Make sure you don't overdo it!" Wayne called after him. Clark ignored him and proceeded to the buffet, glad to escape their conversation. He could hear Cindy's voice, asking, "Why would anyone dress up as a giant bat?", and while that was a valid question, he didn't want to hear her opinion on Batman or Wayne's thoughts on Superman. Or Lois' opinion on Wayne.
Clark lingered near the buffet a little while longer, but he kept having to move out of the waiters' way. He searched the crowd for Lois and saw her chatting with a reporter from the Gotham Gazette, Bruce Wayne nowhere in sight. He hesitated for a moment, but then the band Luthor had hired for the night started playing and Clark just didn't think he could watch Luthor and the rest of the upper crust congratulate themselves on their charity. He left the ballroom and, once in the lobby, walked up a staircase until he reached the first floor. There were fewer people there, but he kept walking, following a side corridor until he reached a glass door leading to a corner balcony. When he opened the door and quickly slipped outside, he was surprised to find he wasn't alone. Another man was standing at the railing, looking out at the night sky, hidden from view from anyone inside the house. Apparently, he wasn't the only one who needed a moment to themselves. He cleared his throat but bit back his greeting when the other man turned around. It was Bruce Wayne, but for a moment Clark almost didn't recognize him, so different did he look from the man he'd just met half an hour ago. Before he could think of anything to say, Wayne stepped towards him, smiling.
"Ah, Brent, it's you! I went to the bathroom, but I must have taken the wrong turn somewhere. I couldn't find my way back for the life of me!"
Clark frowned. Surely, Wayne couldn't be that stupid. He did smell alcohol on him, however, so it wasn't completely unlikely. But he couldn't shake off the impression that Wayne had been slipping on a mask just then. And Clark knew about masks.
"Er, you just follow that corridor, turn right and it should lead you back to the first landing," he told Wayne. He mustered the other man closely, trying to determine whether he was playing a part or not. Wayne frowned.
"Are you sure? I'd swear I already tried that... or was that somewhere else? These hotels all look alike, you know?"
Somehow, Clark doubted there were many hotels with the same layout as Metropolis' oldest hotel, but he didn't think that would make any difference to Wayne. Instead he said, "I suppose they would, after a while."
Wayne clapped him on the shoulder amiably. "They do, Grant, they do. Now, lead the way."
Clark sighed to himself, but complied. They hadn't reached the end of the corridor, however, when there was screaming from downstairs. The two men looked at each other in alarm.
"What was that?" Wayne asked.
"I don't know!" Clark used his x-ray vision to take a look at what was going on. It seemed like a small group of men had decided they were more deserving of the charity money than the children.
"I'm going downstairs," Clark said.
Wayne grabbed hold of his arm. "Are you insane, man? It's too dangerous - who knows what's happening in there!"
"Maybe I can help!" Clark told him.
Wayne shook his head. "No, I'm - I'm going back to my room and wait until all this is over, and you should, too. I'm sure Superman will take care of this - it's his city, after all."
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try doing whatever we can," Clark said. Wayne looked at him with an odd expression for a moment, but apparently decided he better try saving his hide as soon as possible instead of trying to persuade Clark to do the same. Before Clark could stop him, Wayne was already running away, moving surprisingly fast. Clark waited until he was out of sight, then quickly took off his suit. This looked like it was a job for Superman.
***
Bruce hurried up the stairs, taking three steps in his stride with ease. On the last landing, he hesitated for a moment, looking down at the lobby to check whether Kent actually was true to his word. But instead of the reporter, there was a red and blue blur, headed for the ballroom. Bruce noted that he didn't seem to have entered through the main entrance but rather from the direction he himself had come. Kent was still nowhere to be seen. Well, maybe he had decided to hide after all.
Bruce had been annoyed when the reporter had surprised him back then. He wasn't entirely used to playing this part yet - the smiling, stupid playboy no one would ever suspect of secretly dressing up as a bat to hunt down criminals. All those galas and balls and society events - whenever he attend one of them he realized how much he'd gotten used to spending his time in the dark. Everything was too bright.
The only reason he'd come to Metropolis had been to find out more about Superman. They'd met a few times during overlapping cases, and back when Superman had introduced himself to him. Batman had not made him feel particularly welcome. He simply wasn't sure whether he was trustworthy - he seemed too good to be true, and Bruce knew too much about facades to not try and look behind other's. So far he hadn't been too successful - when his conversation with Lois Lane had finally reached Superman, Kent had interrupted. Hopefully he would stay out of his way this time.
He entered his room and immediately locked the door from the inside before kneeling down to open his suitcase. There was a hidden compartment containing his other suit, and it didn't take him long to put it on. Practice did make perfect, after all. Batman opened the door to the balcony. When he had arrived at the hotel earlier, he had already determined that the fastest way down was to jump to the balcony at the north-eastern corner of the building, then use the pipes to climb to the ground. He made it there unnoticed, ten seconds under the time he'd previously calculated.
Batman ran along the wall, following a small pathway that led around the hotel around the back. He could have let Superman handle this, but he needed to know what was going on before he could decide what to do. He reached the ballroom windows and carefully looked inside.
In the time it had gotten him to arrive, Superman had disarmed four men who probably had attempted to make off with the nights' donations and some of the guests' jewelery. At this point, they were trussed up in the middle of the room, and Superman was standing in front of them with arms folded, wearing a stern expression. Batman couldn't hear what he was saying, but he could probably guess. He'd heard it before, after all. Just then he noticed that it hadn't been four men - it had been five. And the fifth gang member had found himself a hostage - he'd grabbed one of the women and was now holding a knife to her throat.
Batman could practically see Superman think - Superman was fast, but would he be fast enough to make sure the woman wasn't hurt? He couldn't use his heat vision for the same reason. Superman needed a distraction.
It was a good thing he was here. As Batman burst through the window, there were screams all around him. His foot connected with the back of the hostage-taker in the same moment Superman caught hold of the woman to pull her to safety. The thug landed on the floor with a thud. He scrambled around and tried to get up, but Batman stepped up next to him. He didn't have to say anything.
"Got any extra string?" Superman asked. "I'm afraid I'm all out." Batman looked up. Superman was standing on the other side of the man, smiling. The woman they'd saved had returned to the side of her boyfriend or husband and was apparently unharmed.
Without a comment, Batman opened one of the compartments in his utility belt and quickly handcuffed the would-be-robber. "I think you can handle it from here," he said.
He looked at Superman even as he was readying his grapple gun. He aimed it at one of the trees outside the hotel, then gave the other hero a short nod before disappearing back into the night.
***
Superman remained until the police arrived, making sure everyone of the guests was alright and answering Lois' questions. "Do you know what Batman was doing in Metropolis? Did you ask him for help?" she'd wanted to know. Clark was wondering this himself, but all he'd replied was, "I guess he just was in the neighborhood." And it had been a good thing he was, too. Finally, all the robbers were taken into custody, and he was able to leave. But he couldn't try and find Batman just yet - instead he returned to where he'd left his clothes, quickly dressed and got back to the ballroom, where Lois was already looking for him.
"Clark, where the hell have you been?" Taking in his rumpled suit and mussed up hair, she raised her eyebrows.
"I, er, was hiding," Clark told her.
"Hiding? Do you know what you've missed?" Lois wanted to know.
"Bruce Wayne told me to!" he protested. "When we heard the screaming, he said -"
"Bruce told you to hide?" Lois sounded sceptical. "Where is he now?"
"I think he's still hiding in his room," Clark said.
Lois rolled her eyes and sighed. "Men! C'mon, let's go, I have a story to write." As they were leaving the hotel, Clark asked, "So, uh, what exactly happened?"
"Superman and Batman happened!"
"Superman and Batman?"
"Yes - I was talking to Vicky Vale when..."
Clark was only half-listening to what Lois was telling him about the evening's events. Lois had a point - what had Batman been doing in Metropolis? And how had he known what was happening at the hotel? Batman didn't have super-hearing, and Superman doubted the Metropolis Grand Hotel was part of his routine patrol. He'd also noted that by the time Lois and he'd left, Wayne still hadn't reappeared from his room. That itself didn't have to mean anything - he could be as cowardly and stupid as he appeared, he could have been joined by Cindy, he could have fallen asleep - but Clark couldn't stop thinking about that moment on the balcony, that slip of the mask. It could all just be a coincidence, of course. Right.
After he had seen Lois home safely, Clark changed outfits again. He'd decided to return to the hotel - chances were that Batman had already left, but even if he had, well. He could try and find out what happened to Wayne, at least.
***
Batman stayed hidden until the police had come and gone. He'd debated returning to his suite, but there were too many people out and about even for him. To his surprise, Superman hadn't come after him. He knew he himself would have. Finally, when most of the guests had left and everything had quieted down, he made his way back up. He reached his room without being seen and exchanged the batsuit for a pair of pajama bottoms and a robe. Just a few moments after he had put the suit back into the suitcase, there was a knock.
At the balcony door.
Bruce turned around to find a familiar figure standing on the balcony. "Superman." Bruce's surprise wasn't feigned, even though his smile was. What could have brought Superman here? His cowl was lead-lined, and he knew for a fact that there were several Gothamites staying at the hotel. Besides, Batman could have been following a lead - criminals had a tendency to talk too much to each other, and someone in Gotham could have said something to the wrong person. There was no reason for Superman to think there was any connection between him and Batman.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne." Superman smiled at him.
"Er - may I ask what you are doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you - in fact, I was saying earlier that it was a pity you couldn't be at the ball, and then I missed all the ruckus downstairs.."
"I'm here because.. a friend of mine was worried about you," Superman said. "Since you all but disappeared after the robbery."
"Friend? What - oh, you mean Ms. Lane?" Bruce asked. Again, Superman smiled. For the first time since he'd met him, Bruce couldn't read him. It was - disconcerting.
"No, I mean Clark."
"Clark?" Bruce frowned. "Clark -"
"Clark Kent," Superman finished the sentence for him. "You met him earlier. On the balcony."
"Right! I remember him. He showed me how to get back to my room. I didn't know he was a friend of yours, too." Bruce walked over to the mini-bar. "Can I offer you like a drink?"
"No thanks. But do you mind if I come in?" Superman was still standing on the balcony.
"Of course, of course, just - make yourself at home. Well, as much at home as you can in a hotel!" Bruce exclaimed. His suitcase was lead-lined as well, he reminded himself. Still, it didn't make sense for Superman to want to talk to Bruce Wayne. Unless he knew that he was Batman and was going to use that knowledge against him, to make him stop doing things his way.
"Thanks, Mr. Wayne." Superman walked over to the couch and sat down. It was an odd sight, to say the least.
"Please, call me Bruce," he said as he sat down opposite him. There was an awkward pause. "So, did you manage to take care of the criminals?"
"I did," Superman nodded. "I had some help, though."
"Help?" Bruce's breathing was calm and controlled, as was his heart rate.
"Yes - from Batman, of all people!" Superman seemed amused.
Bruce raised his eyebrows. "Batman? What was he doing in Metropolis?"
"So you do believe in him after all," Superman said, almost to himself. Then, "I've been wondering that myself."
"Is that why you're here?" Bruce asked.
Superman got up from the couch. "No, as I said - I'm here because my friend was worried about you." He gave Bruce an unreadable look. "I'm sorry, I'm going to leave you in peace. I just - it was good Batman was here."
"That's - good," Bruce said slowly.
"Yes," Superman agreed. He walked back onto the balcony, but before he could leave an uncomfortably confused Bruce behind, he turned around. "I just have one more question," he said.
Bruce's face was blank. "Yes?"
***
"You are Batman," Clark thought. He looked at Bruce Wayne, who still wore an expression of perfect cluelessness. But Clark also noted his muscular build, which had to be the result of more than just a regular workout plan. He noted his extraordinary calm and his controlled motions, all which didn't quite fit with the image he tried to project. And Clark noted his one slip of the tongue - he hadn't questioned Batman's existence. Of course Bruce Wayne believed in the Batman.
Not that he could know it had been a slip of the tongue. After all, he'd been talking to Lois and Clark, and he had no reason to suspect Clark was in reality Superman. Or that anyone was in reality Superman.
He should probably leave now and try to figure out what to do next, Clark thought. But there was something he needed - well, wanted - to know. And here was someone who knew what it was like to be wearing a mask, in more than one way. So before flying off, he turned around.
"I just have one more question," he said.
"Yes?" Wayne - Bruce asked.
"Why do you think Batman doesn't trust Superman?" Clark wanted to know.
Bruce's expression remained calm. "Why would I know what Batman thinks?"
Clark shrugged. "Just - tell me what you think."
Bruce stood up from where he was sitting. He was frowning. Finally he said, "Why do you think you can trust Batman? If you do think that."
"Because he is a good man," Clark replied without hesitation.
"Even if you don't like this methods?" Bruce asked.
"He is a good man," Clark repeated. "And Gotham isn't Metropolis - I've come to realize that."
Bruce was silent for a moment. "Maybe Batman doesn't feel like he has any reason to trust you."
"Why?" Clark asked.
"Because - you're helping people but you're not one of us. You're not - you don't know what it's like to be human. What if one day you decide you don't want to use your powers to help people?" He met Superman's eyes and didn't look away. He didn't even blink.
"What could I do to convince him?" Clark wanted to know.
"Why is this so important to you?" Bruce sounded confused. "Why does it matter to you what Batman thinks?"
"Because I would like us to be friends." Now Superman was the one who didn't look away.
Bruce didn't reply. Clark hesitated. "What - what if it turned out I do know what it's like to be human? Do you think that would help?" Clark almost couldn't believe what he was saying. But he did want Batman to trust him, he did want them to be friends, and the thought of someone else knowing the truth about him held such a sense of relief for him he couldn't stop himself.
"What do you mean?" Bruce wanted to know. His entire posture had changed during this conversation - he seemed several inches taller and Clark doubted anyone could be blind enough to not see that this was an extraordinary man. It was obvious that he was now ready for whatever Superman was going to do - ready to defy him, if necessary, although Clark really wished he wouldn't think that.
So Superman did the one thing Batman didn't expect. He put his hand into the hidden pocket of his suit and pulled out a pair of glasses. He put them on, smoothed back his hair and took a few steps towards Bruce, holding out his hand. He took a a deep breath.
"Clark Kent."
There was a moment of silence. Finally, Bruce took his hand. His grip was firm as he replied, "I'm Batman."
~The End.~
(Or rather The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship, as they say.)