vengeance is the night

he tries to be. god, he tries.

it's just—why?

what made them do that? what made them decide he was better—more important, worth prioritizing—than finding a solution for all of krypton? why didn't they at least try?

kara had told him not all kryptonians were like his parents, had said she let him believe they were good because he wanted to believe it, and telling him otherwise would be—cruel.

clark doesn't hold it against her. he can't. not when it makes so much sense, even though it makes him feel all kinds of stupid and naive; the little boy who believed his parents could do no wrong.

his mind is a jumble of hurt and confusion every time he thnks about it, messy thoughts of “i’m glad my parents were outliers and most people on krypton weren’t like that” and “if my parents weren’t like that would they have even built a ship and sent me here? would i be alive?” and also “why did they have to be like that? why did they think they could decide my whole life for me? why would they think i’d want to hurt people?"

he knows what his pa said—how could he ever forget?—how he talked about clark's actions being important, more so than his parents' intentions and beliefs could ever be.

Full commissioned illustration for Classics But Make It Gay II, a queer anthology of recreated historical artworks.

Email [email protected] for commission requests!

[read on ao3]

Rating: T | 46k words, complete

DCU | Pairing: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne

Summary: When is the right time to tell someone you love them?

Bruce and Clark aren't together, but they could be. Bruce has thought about it. Clark has thought about it. But just as Clark decides to finally take the leap, he falls ill. It doesn't take long for Bruce to figure that out, except that Clark's not just sick.

Clark is dying. And in a bid to save his life, Bruce has to race against time in search of a cure.

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written for the @superbatbigbang2025, with art by the amazing @cricketsintheaudience! thank you so much to cricket and to my wonderful beta @unshatters-your-teacup, and thank you to the incredible mod team for putting together this event, it's been a joy <3

see the art here.