Hands (SuperBat)

26 Superman

Superman and Batman went out some more to fight crime. This time Batman was more careful to protect Superman from seeing anything blood related. Batman was able to help ease Superman into seeing blood as time went on.

Superman was still weary of blood at the moment. He came home with Bruce emotionally exhausted. He was fine physically. He sat on his bed with his flannel on. He looked down with his eyes off somewhere else.

Bruce was sitting on the window sill. He said, "Maybe Gotham is a bit too brutal for you."

Kal said, "Maybe. What do you suggest?"

"Metropolis," Bruce answered. "The only problem is that I have responsibilities in Gotham, and I can't come with you."

Kal nodded, "I understand. I'll have to go back eventually." He looked up at Bruce and smiled, "You've done so much for me."

"Of course," Bruce said. "I would do anything for you. You're my partner."

"So mushy," Kal laughed.

"Is that so bad?"

"Not at all." Kal got up and came over to Bruce. "I like mushy Batman." He looked at him for a second, then he said, "I like mushy Bruce too." He embraced him in a tight hug. He took a deep breath in and out. He let go of Bruce.

He sat back down on his bed. "It does worry me thinking about going back to Metropolis."

"What worries you?"

"Well," Kal explained. "I had a life there. They knew me as Clark, but for so long, I rejected that part of myself because it reminded me of all the pain I've went through. I felt exposed and guilty."

Bruce asked, "How do you feel now?"

"I still don't want to go back," Kal answered. "I'll be Superman for everyone's sakes, but I don't want to go back to living like Clark Kent."

Bruce nodded, "That's okay. I'm always here, no matter what. You're my partner." He added with an amused scoff, "You can even sleep in my bed."

"I need to get more comfortable before I do that... Sleeping in your bed, I mean."

"Fair enough," Bruce said. He could only assume that Kal was comfortable sleeping only on his bed, not someone else's. "I can always sleep on your bed."

Kal nodded. He finally asked, "Is it okay if I don't want to be Clark anymore?"

Bruce said, "I just want you to be you. Maybe you still have a part of yourself that is Clark, and that's okay. If not, that is okay as well."

"Can you keep calling me Kal?"

"Whatever you want. As long as it feels true to you."

Kal nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem," Bruce said. "When do you feel like going to Metropolis?"

"Maybe tomorrow," Kal answered. "I want to be a hero again, but I do want to continue living my life with you."

"And we can have that," Bruce said. "We just need to make sure that you wear an ear piece, so you can contact me in case of an incident."

Kal nodded. "Okay, that should help me feel a little better."

And so, the next day, Superman went out to Metropolis. He made sure to keep his ear out for whoever needed help. And to his surprise, most of the ones he saved, were happy that he was back. The ones who were not, harbored resentment or was angry he left in the first place. The positive words lifted him up, but the negative felt like stabs.