aftermath

six

VI. meet me head-on

The saddest part is, it looks exactly like Clark. Something evil lurks in its eyes, and there's some stubble splashed across the jaw, but other than that, everything is all Kal-El.

Bruce screws his eyes shut.

Bruce observes his reflection for the first time since the Incident (that's what he's choosing to call it) in a mirrored aluminum wall stretching through the Watchtower. He once used this space for combat training, to analyze the visual form of his body when kicking out or throwing punches. He remembers hours fighting, releasing stress through sweat and throws.

"I remember you beating my ass in here all the time." Hal, of course, is nonchalant as ever. In his hand lies a half-eaten apple (God only knows where he got it from).

An immense, angry collection of scarlet and violet bruises are splattered over Bruce's left cheek, edging down onto his neck. A smaller one stands out right above his right eyebrow, and cuts litter various parts of his face.

The wounds look like he received them a mere minute ago.

"Let's go," he decides gruffly, pulling on the cowl.

Immediately, Hal throws the apple core away and encases the other superhero in an emerald bubble, shooting out of the tower ceiling as the plates elegantly unfold.

Behind them, they lock together again. Bruce and Hal reside in outer space, but not for long, because Hal starts toward the Earth at a speed that would make Darkseid nervous.

"A little too fast, Lantern?" Batman can barely get the words out while vibrating.

The Green Lantern waves an unconcerned hand and switches on his comm to directly voice Clark. "Hey, Supes, I'm on-planet and dealing with some trouble here... Knew you were just the man to call. Fly to" -he checks some coordinates- "6th and 7th Street in Metropolis, will ya?"

The reply comes back almost immediately. Clark sounds breathless, but in a strange way. There's a pause in between, almost like he's considering it. Then- "I'm on my way, Hal."

"Obvi. 6th and 7th... race you there!"

As they enter Earth's atmosphere, Jordan slows down indefinitely, and Batman finally gets the chance to glare. "Your choice of words never fail to irk me."

"Right back at you," and they're touching down onto the roof of a skyscraper. Batman steps out to feel the wind against him, caressing him even through the suit. It makes his cape flutter.

And not thirty seconds later, right after Hal says, "Beat him," under his breath, Superman is on the scene.

"I heard that," Kal-El tells Jordan, but then looks at the pair in confusion. "Why did you call me here? And why are you here, Bruce? I thought you needed help fighting some villains or something. Is something happening?"

"And that's my cue to leave," the Green Lantern flies up into the air before departing, "Gotta let the grown-ups conspire."

"Kal-El," Bruce steps forward, pushing the name out of his mouth, "We have to talk."