Chapter Text
It would be easier, Bruce thinks, to be a villain. Not that the line between hero and villain hasn't been blurred time and time again in Gotham, but… well, anyone with a habit of roughing up innocent civilians doesn't have problems like this. This is just embarrassing.
Down below, the reporter crosses a street and makes his way towards the building Bruce is perched on. He's been following for almost an hour now, after ambushing Bruce for a quote outside the police station.
As used to reporters as Bruce is, there's something worrying about this situation. The man isn't stopping or even slowing, he's just been following, out in the open, like a persistence predator. He shouldn't even be able to find Batman! Batman hasn't been visible to the street for five blocks. But still, here comes the reporter, in his loose coat and crooked tie, hunching his broad shoulders, pushing his glasses up and angling his head… towards the bat on the rooftop. Towards Bruce.
He waves.
Honestly? Honestly?? That's it. Being followed covertly on rooftops is one thing, but this reporter is homing in on Bruce without regard for any stealth tactics. And this many red flags pique Bruce's curiosity.
He lands in the alley without making a sound.
Moments later, the reporter ducks into the alley from the street, smiling placidly and taking out his notebook again.
"You didn't answer me, before. Could I just ask my question?"
"You're following me."
"I was hoping to get a quote."
Bruce tries to loom, uses all his tricks to seem taller and wider and darker in the shadows, and the reporter looks… apologetic. Not cowed, just a bit awkward. He's still half a head taller than Bruce and probably one and a half times his weight, but he shrinks a little, placatingly.
"How are you triangulating my position."
"I’ll tell you if you'll go on record. Why Gotham?"
Bruce Stares.
"That is to say," says the reporter, with an embarrassed smile, "you could have picked any city to make your own. Why pick Gotham?"
"Who do you work for."
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Clark Kent, Daily Planet. Why Gotham?"
This is absurd.
In a fluid movement, Bruce handcuffs the man to a dumpster and makes his escape. It's a good part of town, a restaurant employee will hear him if he calls through the back door. From there it'll be a few hours to get that cuff off.
The night goes on. Bruce doesn’t see him again.
***
Clark makes it back to his hotel room in a tizzy, dumping the melted handcuffs in the little wastepaper basket by the door. It's stupid, it's objectively stupid to be doing this, he knows it's objectively stupid. He doesn't have time to do freelance work, let alone freelance work while he's busy with the big lead he's pursuing in Gotham. He just wants Batman to get the chance to meet Clark Kent. Even if he doesn't end up taking that chance, it's.
Well, it's stupid.
Maybe Clark is just a sucker for people who are sharp enough to cut him. Maybe he admires the competence required to be an unpowered hero. Maybe it was inevitable, between the arguments and the heat of battle, for his admiration to grow.
Clark looks forward to teaming up now, more than ever. He thinks about it every day.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Batman finds flaws in Superman. There's a selfish part of Clark that feels relieved when someone doesn't buy the hype. He wants- he needs to be loved, but constructive criticism is precious. Batman knows exactly how to end Clark's life, and on some level that is a welcome acknowledgement of fallibility. Of… humanity.
But Batman can’t see the rest of that humanity, the capes keep getting in the way.
So Clark lies awake at night thinking of the things he'd like to say outside of strict meetings on rooftops. He wishes their friendship wasn't stilted because of how perfect Superman has to be. He wishes Batman could share things with him. Batman is amazing, he's clever and capable and a smile from him is the most precious prize. He moves like a snake, fights like a dancer, plans like a villain. The two heroes work together perfectly in battle.
Out of battle, however, Batman is still cold. There's no real intimacy to their friendship as far as Clark can find, no vulnerability, no matter how hard Clark tries.
So if there’s a chance that Batman could meet Clark, the real Clark, and discover all the embarrassing, human idiosyncrasies that Superman can’t have, Clark needs to take it. He doesn’t even need Batman to connect him to Superman. Batman could hate him. He doesn’t care, he’s tired and he’s lonely and the one other hero who he trusts with his life doesn’t even know his name.
Batman doesn’t even know Clark is a person.
And maybe, just maybe, Batman might like him more this way. There has to be someone out there who likes Clark Kent more than Superman, right?
On some level, he knows it won't be true. But it's important to be an optimist. He has to try. Just one more time. If it’s a definitive no… he’ll leave it alone. forever.
***
Bruce should have known this would happen. Strange occurrences are never a one-off thing. They're never easy to resolve.
So here's the reporter (Kent, his name is Kent), sitting on the hood of the batmobile and swinging his legs. It's almost dawn, the sky is already lightening. Less than thirty six hours have passed since Kent’s first appearance. Bruce hasn't had time to sleep, let alone do meaningful research on the man.
"Hello!" Kent waves, "This time I tried to pick a spot where I wouldn't distract you!"
Bruce's patience is definitely being tested. He gets into the driver's side of the batmobile, slams the door behind him, and makes scathing eye contact with the man staring through the windshield.
You didn't answer my question yesterday, Kent continues in easy sign language. Gotham is your city, right? Why is Gotham your city? Why not start with an easier city?
Bruce glares.
Just the one question, signs Kent cheerfully.
Bruce glares.
What makes it your city? You could adopt any place.
Bruce dons a whole new flavour of glare. Kent just pushes his glasses up his nose with an anxious smile. Bruce can't find Kent's angle–is he a villain? An idiot? Is he actually confident that Batman won't hurt him, or is he trying to get hurt? And why is he so confident that Batman knows sign language?
On top of it all, the questions are… personal. Kent is definitely doing research. For whom?
Bruce starts the car. Kent keeps smiling that little smile, completely unfazed. He's absolutely certain that Bruce won't try to drive away while he's on the hood.
He's right.
They stay like that for almost five minutes.
Hm.
Bruce just wants to go home.
So, like a sleep deprived idiot, he signs, I won't abandon Gotham just because it needs the most help.
Fucking hell. That's the sort of thing Superman would say. Bruce must be getting soft, telling civilians that sort of thing.
Kent smiles and hops off the hood of the car in one fumbling movement. He begins to sign another question, but Bruce is already accelerating away. It's time to do some research.