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Sometimes it truly, truly felt like he could never catch a break.
But signing up for the Superman job wasn't something he could necessarily clock out of. It became glaringly obvious when he got the alert that some kind of creature was unleashed in response to the pocket universe collapsing.
To make matters worse, the creature somehow asexually reproduced in the few hours of escape. The alien babies spread across multiple states, and it's mother nestled in Gotham City, New Jersey.
With Metropolis still reeling from the destruction, he was torn between staying and going.
But the size of the threat was something he wasn't sure the citizens of Gotham City could handle.
The threat would be managed if he stepped in.
He held Lois for a moment, and she looked at him before nodding with understanding. Even though he didn't need her permission to save lives, it was nice to know that she was in his corner with this. He gave her one last kiss before breaking through to the sky.
Gotham City. Familiar in name but not a place he had ever visited before.
As he flew overhead, he became steadily aware it wasn't exactly the ideal place to go for sightseeing. Maybe it was the particular lighting, as the moon was well on it's way to dominate the night sky, but the city looked almost hauntingly gothic in the shadows.
The name was definitely suiting.
A few passersby looked up and pointed at him, and he was pretty sure that he had missed a jab before he quickly flew by. Rude, but he didn't blame them. It was obvious he wasn't from around there.
When he touched down atop a building, he sent a quick message to the Justice Gang to check up.
Thankfully, an update quickly followed informing him that everything was under control and his pretty little head didn't need to worry about anything. Words by Guy Gardner.
"Superman," a low voice said from behind.
Clark quickly turned and squinted at the shadows. They shook in the dark before stepping out into the street lights, taking the form of a man.
"That's what they call me," he answered as he looked over the man, arms crossed. "And you are?"
He went quiet for a moment before rasping out a single sentence, "I'm Batman."
Clark raised an eyebrow at that.
Gotham City research wasn't a rabbit hole that he himself had fallen down. Jimmy was usually the one to bring it up, along with its cryptid. Clark had usually dismissed any projects on it (much to Jimmy's dismay) as venturing into the city looking for a myth that he was pretty sure was a tourist cash grab, wasn't the best idea.
But now, staring right ahead at the myth himself, Clark cringed at the idea of owing five bucks to both Jimmy and Lois.
How that woman always ended up correct while still being the biggest skeptic? The answer to that he will never know...
"Well, I guess we're acquainted now." Clark said.
Draped from head to toe in black and face concealed under a cowl with two bat-like ears, he definitely earned the title. Clark could barely see where the shadows began and ended. Journalism mind kicking in, he had to stop himself before asking for an interview.
With the way the man stood, head slightly turned up, he could see that the other was also carefully surveying him.
"Are you...sunburnt?" Batman asked.
Clark frowned for a second, caught off guard by the randomness and wondering what the bat meant by that. Then his skin itched, and he scratched his eyes before registering the question. "Oh, it's uh," he paused, unsure of how to answer without having to info dump on him. "I got lasered," he settled.
"Lasered."
"That's right."
Even with the dark cowl over his face, he could tell that the man was narrowing his eyes. He took a step forward and circled him. Even with the advantage of having superhuman strength, Clark felt like prey being sized up by a man-sized bat predator.
"Well, whoever sent you must not be aware that this city is already protected."
Clark scoffed, "You sure, dude? I mean, it wouldn't hurt to have a little help."
"We have everything under control." He glowered, cape dragging behind like ink soaking paper.
Before Clark could counter or ask who exactly 'we' was, the latter was answered for him.
And it came backflipping in like a miniature traffic cone.
The kid landed gracefully, jumping back with raised arms that reminded him of the way gymnasts landed tricks. His back was turned to Clark. Somehow, he got the impression that the boy didn't notice him. Which worried him as he stuck out like a blue sore thumb against Gotham's gloomy cityscape.
"B, I caught sight of the way the creature was heading.” The kid waved towards that direction. “It's around East of Chinatown, moving fast. Some thugs were taking advantage of it and robbing stores while the owners were distracted—“
"Robin." Batman interjected.
"I know, I know, I got a little distracted. But I got it all covered, B! Those thugs didn't even know what hit them until my shoe kicked their—!"
"—Robin." He said with a grumble. "Turn around."
Clark saw the way his shoulders tensed and fists balled in preparation to see what was behind. When he turned, Clark was met with a youthful face paired with a messy mop of hair. The white eyes retracted to two round ovals.
"Holy...Superman."
Batman took a step forward and pulled Robin closer to his cape.
Clark couldn't help but smirk at the sight. Something about the complete visual contrast made him laugh. The mental image of The Bat being a good babysitter wasn't quite coming to him yet—even if he barely knew the guy—and it also made him wonder just how Batman recruited Robin in the first place.
"You do seem a little more sunburnt than on TV, though." Robin frowned.
Ah, that was how.
He tried hard not to roll his eyes at the kid. "Listen," he said, directing it towards the boy as well as the man, "For the record, I didn't get sunburnt. I got lasered right in the eye while I was having a battle. Not sunburnt."
Robin nodded but then cocked his head to the side. "Why did the lasers make you look sunburnt, though?"
Clark desperately looked for a way to change the topic before something like #SuperSunburn began trending right next to #SuperShit. Not quite the reaction he was looking for after saving everyone.
"Sounds like we're heading towards Chinatown?"
Robin perked up at that, dimples appearing from his grin. But it was Batman's turn to speak now. "This is our territory. We know the city better than anyone. It'll be best if you leave before you cause any more trouble."
His mind blanked from a rebuttal as Batman's cape flapped with his back to him. Robin frowned apologetically and snuck a little wave goodbye before he stumbled after his mentor.
"Listen, I get it," Clark sighed.
Batman stopped in his tracks.
"You obviously care about this city a lot and want to protect it any way you can. I get it. But that thing won't be easy to take down without any help. I'll follow your lead and make sure to follow your rules."
He slowly turned around to face Clark.
Clark lowered his face and sighed again. “I just want to help."
Batman stepped toward him, each step hard against the rooftop's floor. He leaned in and narrowed his blue eyes into Clark's soul. "My lead," he eventually grunted out, leaning away.
Clark nodded in agreement.
Robin shot him a thumbs-up at the news.
He wasn't sure how well he would work alongside Batman. But his gut told him that he might find it easier to warm up to him than he originally thought. As he flew across Gotham with Batman and Robin slinging below, he hoped that his gut would end up right.