THE CALLING

A friend, an enemy

Superman just hated how much of a control freak Batman was. Who the fudge does he think he is? Fine, he is their leader. He always comes up with the best plans. But that doesn't give him the power to just belittle anyone like that.

Superman and Batman never got along well. It all started the first day they met. Superman was trying to be nice and Batman was just proving time and time again how much of a prick he was. It eventually made Superman sick that the guy started getting on his nerves.

Superman would stop to check on civilians in the middle of a fight and Batman would go like, "Superman, if you're here to play the saviour, you can go back to saving kittens in Metropolis".

Like, can't he even reassure the scared people? Just because he can't manage to have human relationships doesn't mean anyone else can't have them either.

Chit-chats were forbidden in the watch tower. As a consequence,none of the heroes knew anything about each other other than their superhero names and what they could do.

And that's what Superman hated the most. They have been working together for almost two years and they should have been like family if it wasn't for that smug faced pointy ears.

Superman threw his head back as he sat relaxed on the couch im his small apartment room.

What a headache!

He jumped when someone rang the doorbell. He was still in his Superman suit.

Superman did a quick change of clothes and there he was, in his regular civilian clothes, as Clark Kent .

He walked to the door and ciewed through the door lens who was on the other side of the door. Just one look and a smile spread across his face .

He flung the door open and grinned at the man who stood in front of him in his custom tailored suit.

"Happy birthday, Kent" Bruce sang as he swayed inside Clark's apartment, holding a small gift box against the man's chest. Clark chuckled as he took the box into his hand. "Well,thank you!"

He was glad that he had someone like Bruce in his life- a best friend with whom he could chat with almost anything -- meaningful conversations that discussed the secrets of the universe to nonsense like why cheese popcorns were the best theatre snack.

Sure,he seemed kind of dumb sometimes,like every rich kid. But his time with Bruce was what he treasured the most. A time where he could be at peace, without someone like Batman ordering him around.

The name itself brought a frown upon his face. Even though it only lasted for a fraction of a second, Bruce noticed. "Hey, what's wrong, do you not like the color of the gift wrap?"

Clark rolled his eyes. "I was just thinking about someone. A prick from work"

Bruce whistled as he plopped down on the couch and mounted one of his legs on top of the other knee. "He must be real pain in the neck if Clark-boy calls him a prick", he mused.

"You bet" Clark heaved a sigh and sat down beside Bruce.

"Tell me about it". A smile played on Bruce's lips as he leaned his head back.

Clark rested his back on the arm-rest of the couch and waved a hand in the air. "There is this one guy at work. He is just too thick skulled and really hard to approach".

"Even for you?"

"Even for me" Clark nodded. "And he just keeps getting on my nerves. Sometimes I wish I could just snap him in two"

"Huh?" Bruce let out a chuckle and reached out to pat Clark's arm. "I hope you don't lose your composure, Clark"

"He's making me go crazy"

"Over him?" Bruce giggled and Clark rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up" he started pulling at the threads of his pants and Bruce let out a wheeze.

"Well, aren't you gonna open your gift?"

That's when Clark remembered. He grabbed the box and silently admired the neatly done wrap. He didn't feel like tearing it off. " I almost forgot".

Bruce rolled his eyes as he watched him unwrap and open the box to reveal a pendant.

It was a small metal figure of a blazing Sun that held an beautiful amber stone in the middle.

Clark gazed at it with glistening eyes. He looked up and saw Bruce watching him intently. " You like it?" He asked, a bit nervous.

"I love it, Bruce!" Clark exclaimed and threw his arms around Bruce, taking him by surprise. "Thank you", his voice was barely a whisper as he clung on to him.

Bruce couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips.