Chapter Text
Clark Kent has been in love with Bruce Wayne for quite some time now. He interviewed the other man countless times and every time Perry send him out to take Bruce's statement at one of his galas, Clark wasn't complaining one bit.
Whenever the two men caught a quiet moment between official interviews, Clark learned new and very private informations about Bruce that could've been very very valuable if he'd decided to leak them and use them in his articles. But he could never bring himself to actually do it.
The whole office is acutely aware of the tension between the two and every time Jimmy and Lois lightly tease him about it, he can't say those accusations aren't exactly false, but he doesn't want them to get the satisfaction of being right, so he denies it wholeheartedly.
The only problem is that ever since the Justice League formed, him and Batman were on countless missions together and when things got out of hand, they got each other's back's. He trusted Batman, the man knew his way with technology and could know the weaknesses of opponents before the league even got to fight them. In return, whenever the Bat was in trouble and couldn't get away himself and needed backup, Superman was by his side sooner than anyone else. They were a team; inseparable.
It didn't take too long before Supe's realized that he started feeling attracted towards the hero dressed in black. But he knew Batman, better than anyone in fact, and had observed how he stood towards love. Batman didn't exactly despise it, but it was clear he didn't want anything to do with it. Whether it was affection between civilians on missions, or teammates at the watchtower; Superman noticed Batman's distance towards the subject and could even swear to see a slight hint of disgust on the Bat's face.
Nevertheless Clark tried to subtly hint his affection towards Batman, and to his surprise Bat's actually didn't reject it one bit.
It was unobtrusive when Clark brought the other coffee whenever they were staying longer at the watchtower to investigate, or offered to go on missions together and Clark could swear to notice Batman's heart rate increasing whenever they were especially near one another. Clark put it down as Batman just being anxious about the mission (which he has never been) and ignored it as best as possible.
Between missions and being Superman, he still had to interview and take statements of the rich and famous, including the infamous Bruce Wayne.
When Clark arrived at the gala, he immediately felt out of place, everything was grand, luxurious and expensive. He on the other hand was wearing his dorky glasses, an oversized brown suit and outworn shoes. He stepped inside, notebook in hand, ready to expose the greatest people of Gotham, but the only thing he, and everyone else in the room, could focus on was, of course, Bruce Wayne.
He stepped into the room like he owned it, full confidence shining out. He talk to multiple people, his smile not fading once.
When Clark finally managed to talk to his favorite billionaire, Bruce seems to relax slightly and his smile seems especially genuine.
„Ahh Mr. Kent! Good seeing you again, how's the job doing?" the man asked the reporter. Clark tried to sound casual but his true nature shined through. „Hello.. Mr Wayne." he nervously rubbed the back of his neck „The jobs doing fine… wish I could interview other superheroes than Superman for a change.“ He chucked softly and glanced into the other man's eyes and felt like he was in a trance, surrounded by the light blue of his eyes.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Bruce answered „Ah yes, heroes are hard to catch, aren't they?" He talked so effortlessly, it almost seemed like he had practiced this monologue. „Anyway, are you enjoying yourself, Mr. Kent? The location is gorgeous, isn't it?" The curly haired man hadn't even thought about the surrounding as much and only ever took a look around at the start. He became too distracted by the arrival of Bruce.
„Um… yeah" he looked around quickly „It's more glamorous than expected.“
Bruce just chuckled at that „Certainly.“ He placed his right hand onto Clark's forearm, Clark couldn't help but feel his face heat up vaguely.
"How about you? What is the head of Wayne Enterprises doing?" He pulled out a tape recorder to take the man's statement. He knew he could've just as easily used a notebook and write in that, but the thought of having a device that captured the sound of Bruce's voice made his stomach jump with joy.
Bruce didn't hesitate one moment before answering overly confident; Clark wished he had half of the confidence of the other man. He removed his hand from Clark's forearm and crossed his arms, a glass of champagne was still in his right hand.
„Well, you see“ he started with a rather serious expression „l've been busy keeping up with doing my own research and ordering multiple experiments surrounding the newly pocket universes Mr. Luther has discovered before destroying Metropolis.
In the meantime I have sponsored the science fairs of Gotham State University, to reassure the university can still please some science-enthusiasts who rarely ever get to have anything science related in school due to the lack of funds.“ he continues, his tone beginning to sound casual again. „But you know, I'm mainly focused on leading the company appropriately and trying not to mess up more than I have already in the past.“ He finished.
He continued to talk about business and added some statements abut his private live too. After Clark was satisfied with the short interview, he stopped recording and stuffed the recorder back in his messily packed bag.
Bruce looked at him with a slight smile, took another sip of the champagne in his hand and lowered his voice „So what do you say, Mr. Kent? Would you like to take our conversation somewhere more private?" Clark looked at the guests surrounding them nervously, as if to make sure they were unheard. Bruce looked at him expectantly, lifting one eyebrow briefly.
„Mr. Wayne…" the man in the brown suit started „I have a job to do here, I'm here to…interview." „Well, I know that. You did a fantastic job interviewing me. Don't you think you deserve a break?"
Clark swallowed „I have barely started, I only interviewed you, Sir“ He felt a hint of redness creep onto his face. „Such a shame, really" the other responded.
Clark felt his heart rate sped up and he had to suppress a smile „Well, I guess I could make a small break." With a satisfied smile Bruce took the other's hand and led them through the crowd into an unattended bedroom.