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So, the thing is, Barry’s not oblivious.
Well, that’s obvious, right? Noticing things is a huge part of his actual, non-superhero career.
Okay, so admittedly his job isn’t in the behavioral sciences or anything, but he notices things about people. It helps him put stuff together, come to the right conclusions, and sometimes it helps with the whole “superhero” thing too.
So, when there’s a shift in Clark and Bruce’s dynamic, he definitely notices.
It’s a cold night in Gotham. Partially due to normal weather patterns, but mostly because Weather Wizard has decided he’s going to camp out here and make a blizzard for whatever reason. Barry knows because he just tracked the guy halfway across the country.
He is probably going to miss dinner. Wally will be disappointed, and Iris is gonna be pissed, which he’s definitely not looking forward to dealing with.
But, duty calls, and duty has him calling Bruce to let him know he’s on his way, lest he get yelled at again. Barry still doesn’t know why he’s so territorial about Gotham, unless he’s just trying to keep everyone from catching the curse.
(Bruce keeps telling him there isn’t one, but how else do you explain… all of that?)
“Hey, Bats!” Barry calls as he comes to a stop just before a small pile of snow.
Bruce grunts.
“Cold night, huh?”
Bruce grunts again.
“... will you be alright?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine! Made some adjustments to the suit for inclement weather.”
“That’s good to hear,” another voice says. Barry’s eyebrows shoot up, looking up just in time to see Clark land. “I doubt Mrs. Flash would be happy to have her husband come home as a popsicle… again.”
“Uh, hey, Supes,” Barry says, glancing over at Bruce, who is… notably unbothered at Clark’s presence. “I… didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Oh, I was just in the area,” Clark says with a smile.
Barry furrows his brow.
“Like… in Metropolis?”
“Something like that.” Clark turns to Bruce. “Anyway, what’s the plan?”
“We’ll need to contain him. If you and Flash can create a wind tunnel around him, we should be able to…”
Barry’s eyes flicker over to Clark as Bruce explains the plan, blinking when he sees the… frankly soft look on Clark’s face.
Okay, well, it’s not like Clark’s glaring at Bruce all the time. They argue, sure, but Clark’s generally looking at him with a smile, or a serious expression when the situation warrants it, but this is… different. Honestly, if Barry had to describe it, he’s looking at him like he hung the moon.
Which is weird. Because that’s not how Clark looks at Bruce. If anything, it’s closer to how Bruce looks at Clark ohhhhhh.
Barry has to try very hard not to start vibrating with excitement. His hands inch for the pouch where he keeps his phone, but he knows that he can’t text the group yet; for one thing, Clark and Bruce don’t know about that chat, and while Bruce probably won’t care Clark might be sad at being excluded.
Even if it was for everyone’s sanity, because jeez.
“... got it?”
“Yep,” Barry says. “Wind tunnel, then you’ll jump in and knock him out.”
Bruce nods, then looks over at Clark.
“You too?”
“... hm?” Clark asks, blinking. “Oh, uh, yeah, wind tunnel. Got it.”
Bruce gives him a look that Barry can’t quite decipher. Clark grins, a little sheepish.
“Sorry. Got distracted.”
Bruce rolls his eyes.
“Just move, both of you.”
“You got it,” Clark says as he floats up a few inches in the air. “Race you, Barry?”
“Oh, you’re on.”
Everything goes off without a hitch, of course. Weather Wizard’s a hell of a pain, but he’s nothing compared to the might of two people with superpowers and Batman. It takes less than thirty minutes to have him knocked out in custody, likely to be extradited back to Central City soon enough.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Barry says as the police take Mardon away. He holds up a hand. “High five?”
Clark laughs, high fiving him. Barry grins, then holds out his hand to Bruce.
Bruce stares at him like he’s grown a second head.
“C’mon, man, we did good today!”
Bruce rolls his eyes, then high fives him- barely.
“Hell yeah.”
Clark smiles, that same soft look from before in his eyes. Barry’s kind of astonished- the man has it bad.
Which is good. Barry has watched this weird dance for like a year now, and that’s nothing in comparison to Diana’s two, or worse, Oliver, who has basically been there the whole time.
“Well, I should be going,” Clark says after a minute.
“Duty calls?” Barry asks.
“Something like that.” Probably Conner, then. “I’ll see you guys later!”
Clark takes off into the sky, and Barry glances over at Bruce, fully expecting to see him with that sad, longing look he gets whenever Clark leaves.
Except that’s not the look on his face at all.
Bruce isn’t even looking at him. He’s focused on his motorcycle, as if Clark wasn’t even there at all.
Barry’s stomach drops.
No. No way.
It can’t be, right?
Bruce wouldn’t just… get over Clark like that. Not after three years.
Right?
“Flash?”
Barry blinks, looking over at Bruce.
“Hm?”
“Shouldn’t you get back to Central City?”
“Oh, uh, yeah,” Barry says, swallowing down the questions burning at the back of his throat. “I’ll, uh… see you later!”
With that, Barry runs off, not stopping until he’s somewhere in Indiana to get his phone out and frantically text the group.
Hero Chat! (No S or B)
F: GUYS SOMETHING HAPPENED
WW: Flash, we have discussed your use of capslock previously
F: sorry, freaking out a little!!!
GA: What’s going on?
GL(J) has left the chat
GL(H) has added GL(J) to the chat
GL(H): Nice try
BC: lol
HG: Just got out of my meeting, what’s going on?
BC: oh hey, how did that go?
HG: Ugh, I don’t wanna talk about it. Fucking Lord and his fucking contract.
BC: @ GA do you think you and B could buy her and MT out?
GA: Not unless we start funding a competitor
GA: Actually, maybe I’ll talk to B about that
GA: Anyway, Flash, what’s up?
F: okay
F: so
F: weather wizard’s being an asshole, right? and he’s decided that his next target for assholery is gotham
F: so I go there to get him, cause he’s my rogue and he’s just gonna get sent back to central city anyway
F: and b’s there, but so is supes, which is weird but I guess maybe they were hanging out???
F: anyway we do the whole team up thing and take him down, and the whole time supes keeps looking over at b with this besotted expression???
HG: Oh shit
GL(H): okayitshappening.gif
BC: @ GL(H) why are you like this
GL(J): I ask myself that question every day
GA: fucking finally
HG: Terrific says it’s about damn time
BC: tell him to use the chat himself
HG: I tried. He categorically refuses
F: yeah but that’s not all!!!
F: the whole time, not ONCE did b do his usual broody-pining thing
F: like it was like the dude barely existed to him
BC: fuck
GL(H): god don’t tell me he finally got over him
F: idk but it kinda feels that way?
GA: I don’t buy it. B’s been head over heels for Supes for years, and they’ve been closer than ever since C came along
F: maybe that helped him get over it?
GA: How? You’ve seen him with C, I’m pretty sure he’s on the same level as Robin in terms of B’s affections
GA: if anything he’s probably more in love with Supes now
F: idk man all I know is what I saw
F: and what I saw was B barely giving Supes the time of day outside of coordinating attacks and stuff
GL(H): this is a fucking nightmare
WW: If it is indeed the case that B has gotten over his feelings for Kal-El, then it is a very unfortunate situation that Kal-El has discovered his own.
GA: I’m telling you it’s gotta be something else
GA: Maybe I should talk to B about it
BC: babe no offense but it absolutely should not be you
GA: Fair. WW?
WW: I will see what I can do. However, if the Flash is correct, then we must do as we have always done: stay out of it. Our intervention will not help the situation.
HG: yeah, but it sucks
WW: Indeed.
Bruce/ 05:02 AM
Found something you might be interested in. Meet me in the cave
Diana purses her lips, then slips her phone back into the pouch below her skirt.
She had not counted on Bruce summoning her so soon after Barry came to the group with his concerns. She had wanted more time to prepare to investigate; Kal-El has previously referred to trying to get any information out of Bruce that he is unwilling to share as “pulling teeth,” and she cannot disagree with that assessment.
However, needs must. And she must know if it is true, if only to prepare for the task of comforting Kal-El.
So, in the early morning, before the sun has even thought to begin rising, Diana flies to the Batcave.
(Bruce does not like that name. Kal-El, Dick, and more recently Jason seem quite fond of it, however.)
The train platform is quiet, as she flies in, not even a peep coming from the bats up above. There is no one here, which is surprising. She thinks about getting her phone out and texting Bruce again, but before she can the elevator arrives. The doors open with a small squeak, revealing-
Diana blinks.
“Bruce?”
“Good, you’re here,” he says, walking across the floor and over to his computer. “I found something on that shipment you said you lost track of. Got lost in Mannheim’s custody for a bit, but seems like it got out of it when his assets were seized.”
“Ah, that’s… very helpful.” Diana clears her throat.“Bruce… what are you wearing?”
Bruce looks up at her, brows furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, given how you have previously teased Kal-El for his taste in music, it does not make much sense for you to own or wear a Mighty Crabjoys t-shirt.” Diana tilts her head slightly. “Especially one that appears to be a size too big for you.”
Bruce blinks, then, to her surprise, turns a bright shade of red.
“I…” Bruce clears his throat, looking away. “Clark bought it for me. As a joke. Sometimes I wear it to sleep in.”
“Oh. That’s sweet- wait.” Diana frowns. “Why would Kal-El buy you something as a joke?”
“Hal dared him to. Hang on a minute while I pull this up.”
Diana hums, then slips her phone out of the pouch.
Sent/ 7:33 AM
Did you dare Kal-El to buy Bruce a joke gift? Something he knows Bruce would hate?
Hal/ 7:34 AM
No??? Why would I do that? He’d lecture me for like an hour
Sent/ 7:34 AM
Be realistic. He would just be quietly disappointed in you
Hal/ 7:35 AM
Okay, but that’s way worse
Diana hums, then puts her phone back in the pocket, then folds her arms across her chest and walks up behind Bruce.
“May I request clarity on something?”
“Sure,” Bruce says, not looking up from his computer.
“You stated that Kal-El gave you that shirt, after Hal dared him to.” She leans over a bit. “However, I have just texted Hal, and he stated he did no such thing.”
Bruce freezes.
“I… didn’t realize Hal was on Earth,” Bruce says slowly.
“Visiting some family,” Diana replies. “Bruce?”
“Mm.”
“Why did you lie to me?”
The back of Bruce’s neck reddens.
“I… well-!”
The elevator dings, the doors opening with a slight groan.
“Bruce, baby, come on, it’s so early- uh.”
Diana’s eyebrows rise. She rises up to a standing position, turns, and sure enough, there is Kal-El, standing in front of the elevator wearing Batman pajama pants and no shirt.
His face is bright red.
“Heyyyy, Diana,” he says a little weakly. “I… didn’t know you were here.”
“I guessed as much.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Since when do you refer to Bruce as ‘baby?’”
Somehow he reddens further.
“Um. Well. I.” He swallows, then glances at Bruce. “Any thoughts?”
Bruce sighs.
“Clark and I are together,” he explains. “I was half-asleep and grabbed whatever shirt I could find while coming down here- Clark’s shirt, as it turns out.”
“Aw,” Clark says, walking over to Bruce and standing next to him. “That’s cute.”
Bruce rolls his eyes.
“I see.” Diana can’t help the huge smile on her face. “I am thrilled for you both.”
She frowns.
“How long has this been happening, though?”
“Since January.”
“And you did not think to tell anyone?”
Clark clears his throat.
“I mean, we weren’t actively keeping it a secret or anything, it’s just… we wanted to keep it to ourselves for a little while, y’know? Get used to the whole thing before we share the news.”
“I see.” Diana hums. “I understand that, though I will say that the rest of the group has become concerned, considering what Barry said last night.”
Clark and Bruce both blink.
“Barry?”
“Barry noticed Clark looking, as he put it, rather besotted with you, Bruce.”
Bruce blinks, then looks up at Clark, who shrugs.
“I like watching you do Batman stuff.”
Bruce rolls his eyes.
“And people got excited over this?” He asks.
“Briefly. Then Barry told us that you did not look at Clark as you normally do, at which point we became concerned.”
Bruce flushes a bit as Clark frowns.
“What does that mean?”
“Whenever you leave a mission, Bruce looks at you with a rather longing expression,” Diana explains. “Or at least, he did.”
Clark frowns.
“... did everyone know except me?”
“Yes,” Diana and Bruce say at the same time.
Clark looks a little put out at that, and Diana chuckles.
“In any case, it caused quite a stir when we believed that you had gotten over your feelings for Kal-El.”
Bruce snorts.
“Unlikely.”
Clark perks up, lips spreading into a grin.
“Aw, darlin’, that’s sweet.”
He leans over and presses a kiss into Bruce’s hair. Bruce grunts, but the way he flushes and smiles just a little bit reveals his true feelings.
“In any case, as I said, I’m very happy for you. I am certain the others will be as well whenever you decide to inform them.”
Clark and Bruce exchange a look. Clark shrugs.
“I’m okay with it if you are.”
Bruce hums, then nods.
“Alright. You can tell them.”
Diana’s eyebrows rise.
“You’re certain?”
“Having this hanging over our heads would be distracting to say the least. Better to clear it up.” Bruce gives them a look. “Though I expect any secret group chats to be deleted after.”
Diana chuckles.
“You would have to speak with Dinah on that topic," she says. “And on that note, we should get back to work.”
Bruce nods, turning around in his chair. Soon enough, Diana has been briefed on the situation. She thanks him, then gets ready to go.
Before she does, she turns to look back, smiling when she sees Clark and Bruce looking at each other with pure affection in their eyes.
“Finally,” she murmurs to herself before taking off.
Hero Chat! (No S or B)
WW: B and Kal-El wished for me to inform you all that they are very happy together.
BC: wait what
GA: Oh thank god
GL(H): you tell me this right before we leave Earth???
F: I’m at work you can’t do this to me
HG: lol
HG: @ GL(J) you owe me five bucks
GL(J) has left the chat
HG has added GL(J) to the chat
HG: venmo me
GL(H): lol he just let out the biggest sigh
GL(J): I’m so glad we’re almost out of Earth’s orbit
HG: then you better venmo me fast
F: lol i think i have a new idea for a groupchat ;)