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Chapter Text

Everyone who believes in Batman knows who he is. A detective with a strong sense of justice who never seems to take a break, stoic and no nonsense but has a softer side? That’s commissioner Gordon alright. Good with victims? Check. Terrifying for criminals? Check. Experienced? Check.

Everyone knows how corrupt the police force is, would it surprise anyone if Gordon worked outside the law too? It's hardly unusual for a Gothom cop. At least he is trying to do good when he takes things into his own hands. He probably came to the same conclusion as so many gothamites before him, the system isn’t working. He's easily clever enough to keep such a secret. I

Everyone knows Batman is commissioner Gordon. Who else would he be, Bruce Wayne? Don’t be silly.

Why else would Gordon be the only police officer to “communicate” with the Batman? And always at the police station. Always on the roof when Gordon takes a 'smoke break'. Despite their supposed collaboration they’ve never been seen together. Batman always disappears before Gordon arrives. He never leaves notes for the police, like he’s afraid they’ll recognise his handwriting!

Why else would Gordon require so much caffeine to function, it helps him stay awake when working around the clock. And how else would Batman be able to refer people to the best jobs all the time? Obviously the police commissioner would know which homes and schools and businesses are good and law abiding. Clearly the commissioner has contacts there from inspections. That's how Batman gets criminals jobs and street kids homes.

It’s obvious, Batman is commissioner Gordon. Everyone knows it, including Superman.

Chapter Text

Superman

Clark was definitely nervous. Panicking might be more accurate. Today he was going to bite the bullet and confess to Batman. Superman has been crushing on his fellow superhero for a long time now and he's going to do something about it. He found out about Batman's identity while reporting on Bruce Wayne's charity gala a few weeks ago. He's worried Batman won't be happy about that but oh well, he can't unlearn it (and appparently everyone in Gothom knows who Batman is, explains why he doesn't want them in Gothom). He would never have thought that Batman worked for the GPD, it's no surprise his identity is well hidden outside of Gothom. He plans to confess to Batman the civilian and hope Batman is impressed with his investigating skills. But his confession has to be perfect. That's what led him here, standing in front on the mirror.

"I wanted to tell you that I love you - no that's too much" he sighs. Staring in the mirror the anxiety obvious on his face and in the flapping of his hands. "I know who you are. I wanted to tell you that I like you, I want to date you." That's better, short, simple and to the point. Clark knows that he has three points to make: he knows who Batman is, he has feelings for him, he wants to ne in a romantic relationship with Batman.

He has to be careful, he doesn't want to risk his friendship with Batman. He's his best friend after all. But then again Batman wouldn't have let him into his territory where he had to know that Superman would find his identity. Maybe, just maybe Batman had wanted Superman to find out his identity. That has to be true. B wouldn't be careless with his identity like that, he's too careful.

Batman is very careful, and cautious. But Superman has known him a long time. He's learnt to read the cute grunts and funny hums and huffs that he made. He could tell confusion from the tilt of his head. It was what he would have to rely on to figure out how to do this. It would be harder out of costume, without the cosmetics and masks and tech that Batman surely used to keep his identity concealed.

It was so exiting to be knowingly seeing Batman's full, undisguised face for the first time. He'll take in Batman's handsome features with no masks between them.

One more practice round, Clark decides, then he's flying over to confess. He knows Gordon is on shift now, he'll be going on a smoke break soon. That'll make the perfect oppertunity. It's a little strange, he muses to himself, that B smokes but then again Superman knows that B is tragically self destructive, and it does explain the gravelly voice.

- - -

Gothom looked as it always did, dark and somewhat grimy. Superman could see him now. Floating just over the roof, breathe in, breathe out. Superman cleared his throat. The commissioner looked at him, with a brief flash of confusion crossing his features he starts to speak "Superman -"

"I know who you are," Clark blurts out, panicking as he sees Gordon stiffen. "I thought you meant for me to find out, how long could my best friend keep this from me. - Not that I want you to be my best friend - not in a bad way" Gordon is frozen now, and Clark is lost without any clues to show him how B feels "I want to be more, I like you a lot, I want a relationship, like a romantic one," There, he said it. Not very clearly or as romantic as he had meant to but still.

Gordon was still frozen, shocked and reactionless. Superman was starting to fidget. "You don't have to answer right now" Gordon titled his head but said nothing. Superman took this as his sign to leave "I'm just gonna go". He blasted off back to Metropolis.

- Gordon -

Gordon needs coffee, unsuprisingly. He was taking a smoke break to calm down, but his head is spinning. And now Superman. That was weird. James didnt know what to think. Clearly he's more sleep deprived then he thought. It's time for more coffee and maybe a night off (if he can get it).

Chapter Text

- Batman -

Superman is acting weird. Bruce can think of no obvious reason for it, and yet it was happening. Superman had started monitor duty on day blushing and stuttering (and yes Bruce's heart broke a little that someone else had put that look on his crushes face) but after that whenever he and Batman saw each other his attitude had become gloomier and temper shorter. Batman bares the brunt of Superman's worsening mood. It seems that Superman is upset with Batman, though no one is quite sure why.

The two of them still have monitor duty together, and even if Superman seems to get frostier every time that happens, Bruce has made up his mind that he is going to confront Kal about his attitude. Actually, maybe that made it perfect. If Superman's attitude got worse after monitor duty, monitor duty must have something to do with it. Hopefully, Bruce will at least be able to holt the deterioration of his and Clark's relationship.

"Talk to me Kal," Bruce opened with, desperate to get his crush friend to tell him what was wrong. "Now you want to talk," Superman responded with "Not earlier, not when I try to tell you everything!"

Now Bruce was more confused. Kal hadn't told him anything, What was he on about? Kal and him had felt so disconnected recently, like they weren't on the same page anymore.

He misses that feeling. The sense that him and Clark are two sides of the same person, that he could just think at his best friend and he'd get it. And he and Kal could and would banter and show offal have fun. Bruce especially loved it when Clark showed off, even if he grumbled and complained he'd never get enough of watching Clark work. The way he flexed, his warm smile when he noticed his show was working, his laugh … Yeah, Bruce's down bad.

"Kal, I really don't know what you mean. You haven't talked to me in weeks. I've been asking you to talk to me, but you refuse," He is pleading now, desperate for Kal to tell him what was wrong. He wants to help, he wants to fix what he did wrong, whatever it was that caused Clark to turn from him surely he could fix it. "Oh I think I've talked enough," Clark responded, snappy and sullen "It's all on you now, reply or don't. I don' t care if you're mad that I figured out your secret identity -"

"Why would I be made about that?" Batman interrupted "I know yours, and I know that you're smart enough figure it out. Is that what this is about? I understand if knowing my identity changes how you see me but this seems like an extreme reaction to me,"

Superman paused for a moment, absorbing this new information. Then he continued "So, if you respect me and think I'm smart, surely you realise that I'm smart enough to not fall for that." With that, he turned away from Batman ending their conversation. He continued to ignore Batman for the rest of the shift.

Bruce was so confused. None of this made sense. When he got back to the Bat-cave, he poured over footage of every interaction with Clark that he can remember. He can't find the problem though. Bruce can't find a trigger that caused Clark's warm smiles to col and his eyes to dull when Batman is around.

Maybe it actually is something to do with his secret identity, despite what Superman said, Clark is known to dislike rich people, maybe Brice Wayne is just to stupid or rich or immoral for him to respect. Then again, he didn't have anything to say specifically about Bruce Wayne. Maybe he did something offensive at the gala itself? He thinks it over.

- At the gala -

Bruce Wayne is hosting a charity gala, it's supporting homeless people. He has invited many journalists to cover the event, and bring attention to the cause. Amongst theses journalists is Clark Kent. Bruce has invited him so Bruce and Clark could meet without the masks between them for the first time.

This was exiting for Bruce, getting to meet Clark face to face, flirt with him openly and watch him blush and stutter without worry of the danger. He's checked his outfit, his hair and he's ready. He's also late, though fashionably so.

Entering the event to rapt attention, he gives a brief speech to those attending about the importance of the cause, making sure that he throws in some stupid jokes and flirts to stay in line with his image. With that done, it's time to mingle.

He decided against heading straight for Clark, but found his attention continuously drifting back to Clark and unable to resist he decided to head over. Clark had been talking to Commissioner Gordon, probably asking about how the police are helping the cause. Always helping people, informing the public. He's so sweet.

He got Gordon's attention first, then Clark's. "Who's this new guy Gordon?" He asked, despite knowing the answer. "This is Clark Kent, an investigative journalist from Metropolis. He's been asking about the police's relationship with poor people, and Batman." Clever, and sweet that Clark wants to know more about him. "I think you know who I am," Bruce says, pleased when Clark nods. "I am the most famous man in Gotham after all," somewhat gloating, but he doesn't mind bragging on occasion, as a treat. "I think Batman may have you beaten," Clark responds, chuckling. "But I'm the one here with you, so I'll take the loss," What loss wouldn't he take for Clark, and watching the blush that spreads across his face.

He'd flirted with Clark all night. But while Clark blushed and stammered through his advances when they got to the end of the night it hadn't gone as Bruce had hoped. Clark had acted like Bruce was drunk for some reason. "Trust me, I'm not drunk - I'm just intoxicated by you." Clark's blushing response was so cute it had Bruce swooning internally, but his words "I'll ask someone to bring you some aspirin then, I'd hate to leave you with a hangover." Left something to be desired. The following "I'm sorry, but I'm interested in someone else" had broken Bruce's heart, though it was far from unexpected by that point.

Clark had decided against sticking around with him, instead arranging an interview with Gordon about the police. Clark always is relentless in his pursuit of justice and knowledge.

- Clark Kent -

Interviewing Gordon had been insightful. Gordon had told him all about how Batman had a much closer relationship with the common people, with their trust then the police did. Then Bruce Wayne of all people had come to join them. Clark supposed that it made sense, lots of people knew that Gordon had been one of the officers responding to the Wayne murders. Maybe that was what inspired Gordon to become Batman. He had found out about that when he interviewed Gothamites about Batman. He was glad he was able to arrange an interview where he would be able to find out more about Batman verse the police. Though Bruce Wayne's drunk flirting with him of all people it wasn't what he was here for, nor was Bruce the B that held his heart.

- Back with B (in the present) -

Maybe that was what he had done. Clark might be upset that Bruce got in the way of his interview of Gordon. That would explain why he was upset, though not why he was so flustered at first. It made sense though, Clark is annoyed that Bruce got in the way of his job, and got more and more annoyed as Bruce didn't apologise. That's it, though now he knows what e did wrong, how is he going to make it up to Clark?

Chapter Text

- Superman -

After being friends with someone for years you would think that they would be able to actually reject you to your face. The nerve of Batman to just ignore his confession, acting as if he hadn't even said anything! And then he asked if it was to do with his civilian identity. Why would that bother him? He had already patiently listened to him talk about how the people of Gothom viewed him and didn't like his job. Why would that not affect him until now?

The nerve of some people!

That is honestly the worst part. Despite everything, despite the rejection, being ignored and everything else Batman had put him through, Clark still likes him.

At least Batman had acknowledged that he is smart, there was a time when he wouldn't even have done that. Why did he fall or this guy again?

Well, Clark knows the answer to that. He fell for B because he's dedicated, kind and smart. He still is. Maybe that's what it is, B is so dedicated to his mission, his crime fighting that he is avoiding romance. Clark thinks he is trying to be kind, letting him down gently, but it isn't working.

However, that thought did calm Clark down somewhat. At least B was trying. Batman has always been known to be pretty terrible both with people skills and emotions. Breathing in and out he tried to calm down to settle himself.

They still had to work together after all and being at each others throats will only get in the way of saving people. They don't want anything bad to happen as the result of their argument, that would be horrid.

And it wasn't long before they had another mission together. In fact, it was only a week after their second argument talk that they were forced to work together again. They had an outer space mission to attend to, to be back up for Green Lanterns. Superman was somewhat fuzzy on the details, if he was honest. The only problem is that he does have to work with Batman again, admittedly before he felt ready, even if he knew that he had to for the benefit of innocents. Though he thinks that it being a space mission makes it worse, as he and B are stuck together in a small space for a long time.

That's alright, Clark can deal. He can work with B for a week or so. Or so he thought …

It started on the way over when B, Diana and him were going over the problems that led to the fight that they were being called to intervene in in hope that they would be able to negotiate a mutually beneficial treaty afterwards as the leaders of the Justice League. The problem seems to come from a disagreement over trade, as they both wanted to be in charge of the trading ships. Superman has commented "Everyone wants to be in charge, everyone wants us to tell them they're justified," and Batman had responded "Well, who wouldn't want a piece of us?" An unusually flirty thing for Batman to say.

Clark didn't know what to make of this. First B rejects him, now he's flirting with him? Wait a minute. Seriously! Did he just forget that or is he mocking Clark?

Honestly, B will never make sense to him. Like, it was one thing for B to be closer to him than normal that was to be expected when they had no space to be apart in. But this was another thing.

Maybe he just didn't notice the flirty connotations? It was not unlike Batman to not notice such a thing. He could have meant it differently, commenting on how much they always seem to have to do.

Oh well. Moving on.

But then it happened again.

After the fights and diplomacy they were all exhausted. Him and Batman were sitting together at a table, when he felt more then saw B relax against him. Was B asleep? He was. Batman had fallen asleep and was now leaning against his shoulder.

What should he do in this situation? Well, he knew what he was not going to do, and that was move away. He did still have feelings for B, and even if he didn't Batman was still his friend who didn't get enough sleep and he wanted B to be well rested. So he sits there, waiting for Batman to wake up.

His mind races as he sits there, he doesn't know what to make of this. He is blushing and his thoughts are scrambled by the proximity. He wants B closer, wishes that Batman would get this close while conscious. But at the same time, rage is swirling in his mind. No! Stupid brain, this is not the time to get distracted by warm fuzzy feelings. Once again, Batman was ignoring the fact that B had already rejected him! Why did B have to be like this, ignoring social norms and niceties to do what things like this. If only B would commit to a relationship with him, then this wouldn't be weird. Or at least he could stop avoiding giving him an answer, so Clark could know where he stands.

Clark is Superman, he can deal with Batman being weird.

When they got back to Earth things seemed to go back to normal, and Clark's anger cooled until he is just sad. He missed the feeling that he understood B, that they were close. It is a shame that Batman is not interested in him, and that Clark's feeling seem to be driving him away.

Back on Earth, the strange closeness that had temporarily grown between them on the ship had collapsed. Batman is drawing away from him again, losing the affection, the strange edge to his words and he has stopped standing as close to Clark, or sitting near him. Batman now instead chooses to sit between Diana and J'onn, ignoring Superman whenever he could get away with it.

It makes Superman feel lonely. B isn't talking to him, and it seems that almost everyone else is sideline with Batman.

Clark misses his best friend.