aftermath

twelve

XII. the neverending battle

Bruce had forgotten what it felt like to be uncomfortable, to be aware of someone's presence but unable to do anything about it. Sure, he could spend hours in impossible positions because of the training he had underwent.

Pain is just a trick of the mind.

But this knowing that endlessly tortured him, seemed to be the most uncomfortable thing of all. The blue eyes of Clark trailing after him, the sound of his words close in the comms, and sometimes the arm around him, flying him safely to the ground.

Bruce knows they are both just about to explode with unsaid words, and the scary thing is, he's not sure if he can even decipher his own thoughts. It's a muddle of Kal-El and love, and-

"You should talk to him."

He looks up, and there's nothing in his expression or movements that gives away his surprise. But Diana Prince reads people well, and she can especially see through her close comrade.

"Just right now," she continues, "You were thinking about it." Her voice is low and quiet, so the other League members don't pry. "Say what you must to each other. The League can't have its leaders in a broken state."

Slowly, Bruce looks into her eyes, the same color that mirror his. She has always carried an ethereal beauty, with her vivid costume and the silver headpiece glinting right above those fierce cerulean eyes. Out of the trinity, she has always had the brightest eyes.

"Is it that obvious?" He feels bone-tired, fatigued to the very tips of his feet. Diana shifts a little, and her black hair spills over one shoulder.

"No," she replies, and it's the truth. "But I know you two better than my own heart, at times. There is a great divide." Watchful gaze. The quirk of her lips. "Though you are both smart, and excellent at hiding your emotions. But Clark, I daresay, is worse."

"Wonder Woman! A little help here?" In the distance, the Flash struggles to contain a crowd of civilians attempting to push into the destruction of the scene they've just secured. Bruce narrows his eyes.

"I am needed. But please take into consideration, what I have said." With that, she turns and launches into the air.

It's been a week. One frightful week of this agonizing awareness, and one week since Clark watched the security footage and Bruce was angry and he pushed him away after his heart-

The barriers break. Confusion leaps up like a question in Batman's mind. Why are these people so desperate to come towards them? Unless...

He turns, then, and automatically locks eyes with Superman. Understanding sparks between them. For a moment, it feels like before, where they knew all of each other's thoughts and gestures and nobody was pushing anyone away.

Then Bruce almost scoffs to himself. When had things ever been not complicated between them?

But there were bigger issues at hand. The Flash looks alarmed, and Diana is angry but puzzled, as well. Batman opens up his comms. "The civilians aren't running towards us... They're running away from something. Open the rest of the barriers and let them cross through."

Understanding dawns on Barry's face, underneath the red mask. "Flash, help the people. As fast as you can." A grin, and then a blur of scarlet movement. Bruce switches to a more direct line. "Superman... come with me. To see what's frightened them."

Kal-El nods, and then they're both heading towards the crowds, diverging above the midst of people. He feels Clark at his shoulder before he even sees him.

A quiet voice. "Bruce, about last week-"

"This is hardly," Batman dodges a fleeing student, "the place, or time." His voice has an edge to it, and he immediately regrets saying it so harshly.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"No. No, I'm sorry, I..." Say what you must to each other. "We'll talk; I promise. Just after this."

Superman's expression changes from one of hurt and despair to relieved and something as close to happy as you can get during a life-threatening mission. His heart feels lighter, though. There's no doubt about that.

An explosion sounds in the distance- judging by the noise and smoke, Batman's bet is on a short-range bomb. He curses, and they speed up towards the inner city. There's something familiar glinting there, but he can't quite put his finger on what it is.

A few screams. Someone yells, "What is it?" The terror is a drastic contrast to the beautiful weather in Metropolis today. The sun shines, reflecting off the polished glass of skyscrapers, and the gold finish of...

"Luthor," Superman snarls, but disbelief widens his eyes. "Luthor's suit." It's a dizzying gold, different from the usual green. But that's not what catches them off guard.

It's the hideous creature parading next to Luthor.

And as they watch, it catches sight of Superman, and with a malicious smile twisting its face, the thing morphs, transforming in a smooth miracle, until it is a carbon copy of Kal-El. Everything from the flutter of the red cape to the black curl of hair resting atop his forehead, is exactly the same.

It laughs.

Bruce has never wanted to kill anything more.