A Kryptonian's Fixation

Epilogue: Awkward Moments

Therapy with Harley was a mixture of amusement and trauma dumping. She was as professional as she was before her insanity, so she was very helpful. She kept what she knew about the other quiet, swiftly figuring out when the other was lying, especially Bruce.

Bruce was a mess of conflicting emotions, a lot of it being anger and despair. She could see why; he had genuinely gotten attached to the Man of Steel. She worked with him on that. One of the things being him getting back into the swing of things as Batman, and telling the full truth to his ward.

The Batman-ing was the easy part. Telling Dick and Alfred was another. The Butler could only look at him with sorrow and the boy looked torn between his own grief and pity for his new Dad. It was around then that he stopped calling Bruce Dad. It was like a knife twist in his back, but he let it go.

Clark was a mess with his thoughts. Ivy's spores had targeted the part of the brain that dealt with one's ability to monitor and control their emotions. Being Kryptonian had made the effect slower, but still damaging as now his more dark thoughts were easily read. He was embarrassed about that, to which Harley tried her best to get him to see reason. After all, everyone had problems like that.

She kept him from being Superman for a while more and had made him take the cure about once a month. The cure helped his brain process his emotions and thoughts better, and thankfully wasn't addictive. The time away from being Superman allowed Clark time to discuss what happened with Lois. She was supportive as always, being another ear for him to use.

In a blink of an eye, years had passed and the two had changed.

Bruce had adopted many more children, found out he had a blood son, and started dating Selene for a brief period before staying a single Dad with her giving him an extra set of hands. He was still the best Batman there was and his teaching style had changed and evolved with everything that was going on around him and his now large family.

Harley and Ivy started dating, bettering each other. Harley was still working for the Justice League as their therapist and was even recommended to help other criminals out of abusive relationships. Especially if they had powers their partner was just using them for. Ivy was still working for Wayne Industries, helping make plants that could grow in harsh environments like the dessert to help feed people. She also was there to help review any plans that involved plants or energy. Saved the billionaire lots of money and time from sleezy pigs trying to hide things with pretty words and fine print.

Clark finally was able to make his weekly visits with Harley to bi-monthly and had gotten a promotion at work. It was hard not to when he finally found the balance he needed to be both Superman and Clark Kent. His twisted thoughts weren't as loud or as aggressive either. He found out he had a clone, to which he definitely didn't take well, but fixed that into a brother sort of thing. Then he and Lois tried dating again, but it didn't work-- for different reasons this time. They did end up co-parenting an unplanned baby, both of them loving him very much.

Throughout all that time, Bruce and Clark did their best not to be alone for too long. It felt strange, a burning sensation underneath their skins. They still wanted each other, it was clear to them. Yet they refused to indulge in fear of hurting each other again. Of course, their longing glances and the way their hearts beat just a bit faster or how their voices naturally lowered when addressing the other, never got past the Young Leaguers.

They tried to ask Dick, he was there to see it all! He refused to tell, a sad look on his face as he would suddenly go mute. He didn't want to remember that nice time, not when it hurt Bruce so bad that calling him Dad made his eyes mist. The other Robins never noticed it, but he did.

Eventually, they just ignored it the best they could. They figured it was nothing... Till Damian showed them something his Mother had unearthed when she drugged Batman.

Let's just say they then understood why Dick wasn't so keen on sharing and why the two biggest superheroes were so awkward with each other.