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A strong night breeze blew through Clark’s hair, blowing it all around his face. His cape flapped hard in the wind behind him. The lights of Metropolis twinkled in the darkness of the night. Stars twinkled in the black expanse above.
These were some of Clark’s favorite moments of being able to be Superman, beyond actually being able to save people. He got to have a perspective of the city most people didn’t get to see and it was beautiful.
The sky was clear in Metropolis, but over the river in Gotham, clouds had gathered as per usual. The bat signal had beamed into the clouds for over an hour, but it switched off just as Clark was staring at it. Even Gotham was having a rather quiet night, considering.
His phone pinged. He settled down on top of them Daily Planet globe and checked his texts.
I know it’s 2 AM, Smallville, but I’m craving coffee. How about you? From Lois, of course.
Please go to bed, Lois, we can finish the story in the morning, Clark texted back.
Fine. Only because I love you, Smallville. Lois’s text pinged immediately. You should come to bed soon too, you big softie.
I will. Love you, too. You’re the best thing to ever come into my life, Clark texted back.
So says the man with about a thousand super friends. Good night, you giant dork.
Clark opened his mouth, wanting to object, but the sign off was clear that Lois did not want objections.
She was right. In addition to her, his amazing, hard-working, beautiful wife, he had a lot of really good friends too. He should tell them more often that he appreciated them.
For Clark, kind thoughts were kind actions. He was firing off a text to Bruce, who was undoubtedly still awake.
Hey, man, you’re a really amazing friend and I’m so glad we know each other. I love you!
He was in the middle of firing off similarly appreciative texts to the rest of the Justice League when Bruce’s reply came in.
You know you have a lot of people that care about you, right? You have made such a positive impact on the whole planet. So many people are alive right now who wouldn’t be if you weren’t here. And even if you didn’t have powers, the world is such a better place just by having Clark Kent in it.
Clark had such good friends. Aww, that’s such a sweet thing to say, Bruce. Thank you! You’re such a good friend. I always feel safe knowing the world is in your hands. 😊 He wouldn’t feel so comfortable letting himself relax and have nights where he could just be Clark Kent if he didn’t have such kind, helpful friends.
You are the glue that keeps the Justice League together. You are a strong leader and valued by many. Losing you would leave a hole that no one could fill.
Bruce was being uncharacteristically wordy and kind. Maybe he had been injured and Alfred had snuck him pain meds again.
That’s very kind of you. I’m not irreplaceable though. Clark sent the text and was still working out a subtle way to ask if Bruce was drugged and loopy when the phone screen went black and would not turn back on.
“Aw, shoot.” He had forgotten Lois had stolen his charger this afternoon and his phone battery was much lower than normal. Oh, well. He would enjoy himself up here for a few more minutes before he flew home to join Lois.
He was so focused on Lois’s car singalong on her drive home that the thunk of a grappling hook by his feet sent him just about jumping out of his skin.
Bruce was scrambling up the smooth globe of the Daily Planet, frantically heaving for breath. His heart hammered in away it only did when he was terrified and trying to hide it.
Clark settled back down from the several feet he was floating in due to his scare. “Bruce, what’s wrong?”
Bruce clambered up to the top of the globe and ran to him. “Thank God you’re still here.” His rough gloved hands patted Clark down. “Where are you keeping it?”
Clark jerked away from the hands invading his bubble. “Where am I keeping what?”
“The kryptonite! Is it in your belt? In that pocket in your cape?” Bruce grabbed Clark’s shoulders and stared into his eyes, a frantic light in his own usually stern eyes. “Whatever brought this on, it’s not worth giving in. You are so much more than your dark thoughts.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I have kryptonite?” Clark sniffed Bruce as best he could. No alcohol on his breath, but opioids didn’t have an odor, and neither did high fevers. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Kryptonite is one of the only things that can kill you,” Bruce said. “Tell me where you’re hiding it, Clark. It doesn’t have to come out of its lead shielding today. We can face tomorrow together.”
“Why would I be carrying something that can kill me in my cape pocket?” Clark scanned Bruce’s skeleton. No recent breaks, so probably not opioids. Must be a fever or the Scarecrow’s fear toxin or something.
“Why else would you text me that you loved me and appreciated having me as a friend at two in the morning unless you were trying to kill yourself?” Bruce asked.
“Why would I want to kill myself?” Clark asked, completely baffled. “I was just awake and I knew you would be too and I wanted to make sure you knew I appreciate your friendship!”
It wasn’t exactly subtle, but he managed to press the back of his hand to Bruce’s cheek.
No fever. Hmm.
Bruce smacked his hand away. “Don’t touch me.” Weariness weighed the lines of his body down. “So you aren’t going to hurt yourself?”
“Why would I?” What part of sharing compliments equaled depression?
Bruce slumped, the tension in his face draining and replaced with exhaustion. “Clark, normally when people text things like that in the middle of the night, it’s because they’re saying goodbye.”
“Oh, well, that’s sad. People shouldn’t wait until they’re dying to let their friends know they care about them,” Clark said.
“Clark, you just about scared the life out of me,” Bruce said.
“I’m sorry,” Clark said. “I didn’t mean to.” Darn it, he’d been trying to be kind and he’d just flubbed everything. No matter how hard he tried, he’d never seemed to quite get this being human thing down perfectly.
“No, no, don’t be,” Bruce said. “I should have known you were just happy. I’ve spent enough time around you by now.” His heart was still hammering loudly enough and he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.
“Did you race all the way over here?” Clark asked.
“Damn it, Clark, I thought you would kill yourself!” Bruce just about shouted.
Even though Clark knew Bruce wouldn’t like it, he had to scoop him up into a bear hug. “I’m so lucky you’re my friend.”
“Clark, put me down.” Bruce was grumpy but not in a way that meant he actually minded.
“Oh, sorry.” Clark settled Bruce back down on his feet.
“Why in God’s name did you stop answering my texts?” Bruce asked.
“My phone died,” Clark said. “Lois stole my charger this afternoon.”
Bruce snorted. “Of course.”
“Do you want to get ice cream or something? I feel bad dragging you all the way out here for nothing,” Clark said.
“Clark.” Bruce grabbed his shoulders and stared into his eyes. “Even though I was jumping to conclusions, this wasn’t for nothing. Something like this could never be for nothing.”
“You’re such a good friend, Bruce.” Clark smiled brightly at his best friend.
Bruce shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unable to look Clark in the eyes again.
“I’m still getting us ice cream,” Clark said. He ran off and was back in half a minute with three milkshakes (one to bring back to Lois because Clark valued his life).
Bruce let a tiny smile out. “You really are sunshine personified, aren’t you?”
Lois had once labeled Bruce his own personal raincloud. People frequently compared Clark to sunshine as if that made him more important than anyone else, but the world needed rainclouds just as much as it needed sunshine.
“Lois once said you are your own personal raincloud,” Clark said.
“Because I’m gloomy and depressing?” Bruce said.
Clark shrugged. “I like rain. Corn needs both rain and sun to grow.”
They sat down together on the globe and started in on their milkshakes.
“I’m glad the world still has Superman,” Bruce said quietly, the closest he would come to admitting he cared now that the perceived danger was over.
“I’m glad the world has Batman too,” Clark said.
And they sat on top of the Daily Planet globe and ate their ice cream together.