Merlin-fics-and-falling-sticks78

All of the batkids: *watching him with the same self worth issues, all mini versions of himself.

Dick: You sound so mad about that

see tags for trigger warnings

Five years ago

Superman met Batman on the rooftop, just relieved that he was standing there. He got nervous, meeting him on rooftops these days.

Batman glanced at him and kept looking back over the city.

Superman walked closer to him, trying to read him for any signs of his emotional state.

"It's nice." He said, making Clark jump a little bit as he looked at him.

"In the daytime," he continued on and Clark smiled slightly as he came to stand beside him, looking out over Gotham too.

"Guess that's kind of new for you. Like this." He said and Bruce hummed, the slight smile slipping of his face as quickly as it had come.

"How are you?" Clark asked hesitantly and Bruce sighed.

"I have to be okay. There's a kid," he said trying to figure out how to explain.

"He's been, following us. Little paparazzi." He said with a slight smile and looked back over Gotham again.

"Since he was nine. Which is bad, for him. Not safe but... he noticed. That I'm trying to." He sighed. Just say it.

"My new suicide plan was to be sloppy on patrol so a thug would kill me." He said blankly, all at once, and turned away at the pained sigh that came from his friend.

"It almost worked. And he noticed, told Dick, Alfred um. He's trying to keep me alive, thinks it's his responsibility. I don't want that.

He's a kid. So I was hoping that you,"

"Yes, of course." Clark said cutting him off.

"Whatever you want."

Bruce looked and looked down, turning to him slightly.

"I don't." He sighed again. "I don't want to take up your attention. From your wife, your baby. This is all my fault. I'm sorry." He said. He hated asking this.

Superman reached out for him and he let himself be gently pulled into a hug, resting his head on Clark's shoulder.

"I've been waiting for you to ask. I didn't want to overstep. I-" Love you, Bruce. Dammit Clark why can't you just say that.

"I care about you and, I didn't want to see you gone. I'd miss you, I'm sorry I. It's a relief. To be able to take care of you." He said, stepping back and looking into Bruce's eyes.

They were wide-eyed and his heart broke a little bit as he noticed the tear tracks coming down from under his mask. He cradled his face to gently wipe them away and Bruce melted into his touch and slowly collapsed into his arms as Clark gathered him close.

'It's alright. It's alright." He said, rubbing his back and already thinking of plans.

"We'll get the Justice League to help you." He promised and Bruce sighed, shakily and hid his head in his shoulder.

"Sorry." What a waste of resources, he thought to himself as Clark shushed him and pressed a kiss to his head.

"It's alright."

They both froze as they realised what he had done and Clark laughed softly.

"Sorry," He said through a laugh "Dad mode."

Bruce laughed again, before resting his forehead more solidly on his shoulder.

They both knew what he was thinking about.

"I know. We're not going to forget him." He said quietly and closed his eyes as Bruce started to cry.

They sat down, on the edge of the roof as he sobbed into his hands. Every moment of Superman's time was precious, he knew that. But Superman just reached around and held him, arms around his shoulders, not letting him go.

Eventually the tears just stopped, like they knew they were useless. They wouldn't make it better.

He let his hands fall from his face and looked out over the horizon, the sun still coming up.

He wished Jason was here to see this too.

He wished he got to see all the horizons he deserved. All the thousands of new days a boy was owed. God, his son. His son.

“Thank you. You guys are the best parents. Did I ever say that?” Clark asked, hugging his mother and father. 

Martha laughed softly and hugged him back with a soft smile on her face. “Well you’re the best son.” 

“No but it’s true though. You could have… anyone else could have treated me terribly. Some parents hate their children because they’re a little bit different to them, or not how they wanted them to be. I came from space. I’m another species. And you loved me like your own.” He said and she tsked and cradled his face with a hand. 

“Hey. You are our own. You said it yourself, some parents hate their children and those aren’t parents. Takes more then blood to be family. Me and your father wanted a child and we were blessed with one. And we wouldn’t change a thing.” She nodded her head towards him as he covered her hand with his own, leaning closer with a smile. 

“Oh Mom.” 

“And your dad can’t even speak. Look at him.” she said and Clark laughed softly at Jonathon who was sniffing next to him. 

“Ah Pa.” He said, putting an arm around his shoulder as Jonathon patted his hand. 

“The perfect son.” He said as Clark teared up himself. 

“Ah Dad. You’re gonna get me started.” he said wiping at his eyes. 

“We love you Clark.” 

“I love you too.” 

“Were you… ever afraid of me?” He asked, afraid of the answer. Martha sighed and put down her tea towel, nodding at him. 

“Come here.” She sat down next to him and patted his knee with a nod. 

“Clark when we found you we knew good and well you might’t be human. And that was well with us. 

You were one thing, and that was ours. We choose you to be our son. And from that moment on, whatever happened happened as it was meant to. Live or die we knew we were your parents and we were happy to have you. You were a blessing. 

We were never scared of you. Not even for a moment. And when your personality came out? Oh, no. We knew you’d never hurt a fly. No, we were scared for you. Scared someone would take you away from us. Scared that, maybe you wouldn’t live as long as a human. Oh there are many things for a parent to be scared of. 

Being an alien just added a few more of those onto the list.” She said with a laugh and he smiled and leaned over. 

He sighed and looked up at the sky. 

“I was worried. That I’d hurt you guys by mistake. That maybe the species I was… was meant to hurt you.” 

“No. You showed yourself and the world. You are what you choose to be. And you choose to be a ray of sunshine. A hope for the world as you are for us. Look at you, Clark. Who could ever ask for a different son?” She asked and he went to hug her. 

“I’m what you made me.” 

“Well I don’t know how much of that is true but I’ll take a little credit.” She said and he laughed again. She sat back and considered him seriously. 

“But your good heart? That came from you. That’s all you, Clark.” She said and he just shook his head slightly at her.

“How dare you. This is my son. What would I have to be worried about?” He asked, bringing him up to his face and smiling at him. 

“Aw Dad.” Jarro said and Bruce held him close as he got up to leave. 

“Love you boy.” he said, carrying him out. He stopped at the door and whirled around. 

“Never say anything like that in earshot of him again.” He said with a patented bat glare before leaving with a swoop of his cape. 

Superman watched them go with a small smile. 

Maybe it was just about love. 

Bruce sat with his head on the table looking at Jarro who was walking around. Jarro came back to look at him and Batman blinked affectionately like looking at him with so much love in his heart.

“Hello Jarro.”

“Hi dad.” 

He held out a finger and smiled as Jarro put his two little arms on it and leaned forward. 

“Love you kiddo.” 

Stiff and awkward on the outside of the moment"

And I bite my tongue

I’m an aging wolf

Stiff and awkward on the outside of the moment"

And I bite my tongue

I’m an aging wolf