Chapter Text
Clack glances at his phone when it lights up on his desk. It’s a text from Dick.
Norms Diner. 12
Clark glances at the time in the bottom right of his screen, 11:45. The diner was a good thirty-minute drive from The Planet, nestled just between Gotham and Metropolis. It was one of their usual meetup spots when Bruce was driving either of them crazy, and they needed to vent to someone who knew every side of him.
Okay, see you there.
“Hey Lois, I’m going to grab Lunch if I’m not back in an hour, cover for me,” He says, grabbing his bag and holding his phone up, “emergency,” he says as an explanation when she shoots him a questioning look.
“An emergency emergency or a you know who emergency?” She asks in a mocking tone that she reserves only for when they are discussing a certain handsome billionaire, who Clark certainly did not have a crush on, no matter how much Lois insisted he did. Thank you very much.
“Dick didn’t say, just to meet up with him,” Clark says with a shrug.
“Go, I’ve got you if Perry asks.” She shoos him, and he’s off towards the roof, careful to check for anyone who may see him as he leaps to the sky.
- - -
“You’re late,” Dick says with a quirked brow as Clark shuffles into the booth across from him. They're nestled in the back corner per usual, Clark with his back to the front door, Dick gets antsy if he can't see the door. The diner is mostly empty except for a few people at the end of the counter furthest from them.
“It’s 11:59,” Clark deadpans, grabbing the menu that was sitting in front of him, mostly out of habit, as he already knew what he was going to order.
“That’s late by your usual standards… I hear getting old slows you down.” Dick muses, a sly grin breaks out across his face. Clark levels him with a “really?” look.
“I’m 30, not exactly knocking on death’s door.” Dick snorts at that.
“Aren’t you always at least standing on his porch? I mean, given your extracurricular activities.” Dick sends him a sheepish grin, wiggling his eyebrows. Clark lets out a long-suffering sigh.
“I’m leaving if you only dragged me here to make fun of my age.”
“It’s not. Making fun of you is just an added bonus." Dick glances at the menu as if he also isn't going to order the same thing he always does.
“Is everything okay with B?” Clark was nervous; he hadn’t heard from the man in a couple of weeks, which wasn’t too unusual but definitely unsettling given what he had been working on for the last month or so.
“B? Oh yeah, he’s fine, well…” Dick trails off.
“Okay, maybe not. He’s thrown himself fully into that thing he was working on. Haven’t talked to him in about a month. Between Brucie and,” Dick makes little wings with his hands, which causes Clark to chuckle. “He’s been pretty busy. He's drowning in his work, more so than usual. I'm honestly a little concerned. Something's got to give.” Dick says grimly.
Clark remembers the last time he spoke to Bruce, he was trying to build a relationship with a gang that had recently become a big name in the arms trade, which had been selling to Gotham's Socialites. He was posing as Brucie in hopes of learning who was funding it. Clark had voiced his opposition, but of course, Bruce just brushed him off. Clark opens his mouth to respond when the waitress, Tracy, approaches.
“You boys want your usual?” She asks with a warm smile, setting down their drinks.
“Yes, Please.” Clark smiles back at her, handing her the menus.
“It’ll be out in just a moment.” She walks back through two swinging doors that lead to the kitchen. Clark can hear her calling out their order to the kitchen staff.
“Anyways, what I really wanted to talk about is Wally. He asked me out, and I don’t know what to do. Bruce isn’t exactly helpful; he tells me I can’t date til I’m 40.” Dick whines. Clark sits up at this.
“Well, do you like him?”
“Wally? Yeah, I mean, he’s my best friend, of course, I like him. I just haven’t thought about him like that until now, and I-” Dick looks down at where his hands are fiddling with the straw wrapper. Clark had not been prepared to give relationship advice to a 16-year-old when Dick had texted him, but here he is.
“I think you should say yes. That’s the whole point of a date: going out with someone you like to see if it goes anywhere. You’re not signing a marriage certificate on the first date- well, with him, you never know, just don’t sign anything he gives you.” That gets a chuckle out of the teen. His shoulders have relaxed, and he meets Clark's gaze with a chuckle.
“You’re right, I’ll text him when we finish up.”
Tracy sets their food down, still wearing the same warm smile as before. “You’re a wonderful dad.” She says, addressing Clark.
“Oh, I’m not his-” Clark starts only to be cut off by Dick.
“Yeah, he is, I’m so lucky to have two great dads,” Dick says with a mischievous smile. Clark shoots him a brief glare before turning back to a very confused-looking Tracy.
“He’s adopted, it’s a recent development.” Hopefully, that not quite lie keeps her from calling the cops.
“Yeah, my real parents are dead,” Dick says matter-of-factly, causing Tracy to back away slowly, the soft smile she always wore slipping from her face. Clark face-palmed at that.
"Dick!" Clark scolds.
"You really shouldn't call your son that!" Tracy scolds, having stopped backing away when Clark spoke.
"No, that's his name!" Clark tries to defend himself over Dick's loud laughter.
"Well, his name is Richard, but his father and I call him Dick; it's a common nickname for Richard," Clark explains with a sigh.
"Right." Tracy fully turns away from the men and pushes through the doors to the kitchen.
"We're never coming back here again," Clark mumbles, which causes Dick to laugh louder.
"Whatever you say, big blue," Dick says through his laughter.
"I'm serious. Once we finish up here, I'm never coming back." Clark can feel his face burning with embarrassment.
- - -
The two finish their food quickly and make their way out of the diner.
"Same time next week?" Dick asks when they make it to his car.
"As long as it's not here, sure." That gets a laugh out of the teen.
"Sure, whatever you say. Love ya, Clark." Dick says, clapping Clark on the shoulder.
"Love you too, little bird." Clark pulls Dick into a hug before the two part ways.