POSSESSION ; INJUSTICE SUPERBAT

Chapter 04

"Don't leave!" Tiny fingers grasped tightly on the fabric of Kal's cape. Diana had her hands on Bruce's hips. She tried to pull the boy from her lover as gently as possible, but it was impossible without being forceful. The child was persistent.

"Please!" Blue eyes filled with tears stared up at Kal. The pitiful gaze resembled an abandoned puppy, weakening the Kryptonian's determination. Guilt started to form within him at the thought of leaving Bruce alone by himself.

"I am sorry, Bruce." Kal crouched down. His hand tousled the child's hair. "It is an important meeting I must attend. I will try to come back as soon as possible. Be a good boy while I'm not around, okay?"

It had been nearly a month since Bruce's arrival. Kal enjoyed spending his time with the young boy. Bruce's existence was starting to grow on him.

If it were possible, he would have brought the child along to the convention. But he can't. The world couldn't know about Bruce's existence yet.

"O-Okay..." Bruce murmured. His fingers loosened their grip on Kal's cape. "Please come back safely. Please?"

"Always." Kal smiled. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead. "If you are scared, just call my name. I will come back as soon as possible. Okay?"

Once Kal calmed Bruce, he stood up. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked at Hal and Barry who stood in the doorway. "I will leave Bruce to your care then."

Bruce glanced timidly at the yellow Lantern once Kal was out of sight. "Go sit on the couch and shut up." Hal's instruction was curt and instant. The child bit his bottom lip and did as he was told.

Bruce did not tell Kal that he disliked being left alone. He couldn't tell the man that everyone aside from Kal made him felt uncomfortable.

Everyone's gazes were unfriendly; Bruce had noticed this since the beginning. From not soon after he'd arrived, the child had come to the conclusion that no one liked him here.

No one, except for Kal and the kind therapist who visited him every week.

Bruce wasn't a dumb kid. He knew how to take notice of the emotions on people's face. He knew that he wasn't welcome around here. The only reason everyone tolerated his existence was due to Kal.

With Kal out of his sight, Bruce felt uneasy. Anxiety filled his chest as he sat on the couch. At that moment, all Bruce wanted was to have Kal around.

He would not be a trouble to Kal.

He won't cry.

He won't even make a sound if Kal didn't want him to!

As long as Kal could bring him along, stay by his side,

He would never be a--

"What a nuisance," Hal sneered. "I don't know what the big guy is thinking. We've been keeping him alive for a month now. A month! He could have broken the child's neck with a single snap and everything would be done." The yellow Lantern shot a menacing glance at Bruce. The child's shoulders trembled upon noticing the gaze. "But now, we have been degraded into babysitters. What is going on with Superman?"

"Hal, you know the kid is listening," Barry warned lightly. He sat next to Bruce. Lifting a hand, he gently combed the child's hair. Bruce jerked up at the light touch. "Hey, don't be scared, buddy. We aren't going to hurt you."

Bruce sat quietly on the couch as the two worked on their paperwork. But as a child, his attention span was limited, and he couldn't help but fidget with his fingers. Every time he moved, he noticed the yellow Lantern's irritated glare at him. Still, he continued to pretend that he didn't notice the hateful gaze as he kept his face turned to the storybook.