In which Batman accidentally took the medicine meant for a meta and had a really bad time
It was just a small cold. Sure he couldn't breathe through his nose, and could barely see from his eyes watering up, and everything that was him hurt but he could manage.
He was Batman. Crime stopped for nobody.
He coughed and reached for the cold medicine on the shelf, and poured out a small dose of it. This would work, he just needed enough to get through the day.
Then he'd back on the case. There had been two active cases in Gotham, and they were wrapping up a battle with the Justice League. A shit day. He just needed to turn in the paperwork of today's fight and then he could be back in Gotham, solving cases with Dick and Alfred.
He sighed to himself and took the cold medicine like a shot, putting the cap on the bottle.
He paused.
"Did you hear that?" Superman asked and Barry looked at him.
"I think you need to stop asking that." He said amused as Superman sat up looking confused.
"It's like someone fell."
"Fell?" Barry asked and Superman nodded.
"Yeah, slowly like they hit the counter and slid down it. Is everyone here?" He asked and looked around the table, before stopping, looking alarmed.
They all followed his gaze to Batman's chair as Superman stood up and looked towards the kitchen. He stared before his expression relaxed and he put a hand over his mouth stifling a laugh.
"Oh no." he said softly, getting up to leave still looking amused.
"What's wrong?" Oliver asked and Superman looked at him wryly.
"You know Batman was sick but pretending like he was fine? He took some medicine from the cabinet. He took the one for metas and it um. Knocked him out." He said, turning away to disguise his laugh as a cough as he left the room, most of the Justice League behind him.
"It's not gonna hurt him right?" Hal asked worriedly and Superman shook his head still fighting a smile.
"No he designed it so it won't hurt ordinary humans. It just has more of an effect, there he is."
He paused in the doorway with a sigh as they were greeted with the sight of the pile of black cape that was presumably Batman in the corner.
He picked him up and turned back to the rest of the league not making eye contact with anyone.
"We'll never mention this to him again." He said sincerely, still fighting to keep a straight face before flying to Batman's room.
"Alfred. Batman's not going to be in for a while." He said and heard Alfred still on the other end of the line.
"Why what's happened?" He asked and Superman cleared his throat.
"He took the cold medicine meant for metas by mistake and knocked himself out." He said and heard silence on the other end of the line. Followed by a long sigh.
"I'll wrap up his cases sir." Alfred replied in a deadpan voice on the other end of the line and Superman nodded.
"Ahem. Sounds good Alfred. Do you want me to bring him home?" He asked and he could almost hear Alfred dragging a hand down his face from the other end of the line.
"Yes you do that sir. Thank you." He said exasperated and hung up.
He helped Alfred wrestle him out of the batsuit, and picked him up to carry him upstairs.
"I'm getting much too old to carry him around." Alfred sniffed as Clark smiled at him and gathered the man into his arms, wearing the black undersuit he always wore under the batsuit.
He floated them up the stairs and walked in the hallway to his room, gently pushing open the door with his back.
He lifted the covers and placed him gently on the bed, pulling them back over him.
He stood back and shook his head fondly. "You idiot." He said gently watching his breath rise and fall.
He sat down in the chair beside the bed and watched him for a moment. You're so stupid. I love you.
He heard the door creak open and heard the sound of small feet hurrying over to the side of the bed. A head of black hair was the first thing he saw as Dick peeked over the edge of the bed frowning.
"What happened to him?" Dick asked and Clark smiled at him and sighed looking at Bruce.
"Well, he took some cold medicine to feel better and it was too strong. Plus he's tired. That's why you always read the directions before you take anything even when you're big. You should ask Alfred first because you're a kid." He added as Dick frowned and looked at him.
"Will he be okay?" He asked. His heart melted as he nodded.
"He'll be fine. He needed the sleep anyway." He said and Dick nodded and looked at him.
"Okay." He put his chin on his arms and frowned.
Clark shook his head at him helplessly. You're such a good kid, he thought to himself, his gaze drifting to Bruce.
We're lucky to have you.
Dick hummed, distressed and Clark tutted at him.
"I know you don't want to leave him on his own. Come on. He'll be better soon." He said, ruffling his hair as the kid came closer and rested his head on his arm.
"How about we keep an eye on him for ten minutes and then we go solve his cases for him as a surprise?" Clark asked.
"Cool." Dick said with a small yawn and Clark smiled down at him.
"Maybe you need a nap too." He said and Dick frowned seeing his point.
"Maybe." He said in a small voice as Clark laughed, and hugged him with one arm as Dick looked up.
"Come on. And maybe Alfred will let you have an ice cream for your work." He said smiling as he watched the kid's eyes light up. Dick started asking him about his favourite kinds of ice cream as Clark got up from the chair and guided him out of the room.
"Well that's a good question, oh, don't run kiddo!" He said gently as Dick dashed down to the staircase, with only one mission in mind and that mission that was ice cream.
He shook his head and looked back at Bruce fondly.
"Goodnight Bruce." He said and looked back to the stairs with a grimace as he chased after him, noticing that the kid was sliding down the stairrail.
