A Batman and Superman story.

Disclaimers: I claim no rights to any characters or settings used in this story. This is a fan made parody

:Rated: T

Slash/Friendship

Inside of a man, who the world knew as Bruce Wayne, many secrets where harbored. Some secrets where dark, ones that he would carry with him like a festering wound. Some of the untold truths, that would never pass his lips, where secrets he was honored and relived to have.

Those who spoke of batman would say the masked crusader was a mystery, a man of secrets. Few knew that Bruce Wayne harbored the secret that was The Batman. And also all of Batman's secrets. In this way he was even more complex of a person then Batman. Although it was hard to tell by the easy going air the rich playboy aura-ed off.

Of course Batman and Bruce Wayne where the same person. Don a different name and a new suit and that doesn't mean that the person is suddenly someone new. Regardless of what teenage magazines say. But sometimes Bruce had to wonder what was real and what was pretend.

While entertaining a guest during dinner he would wonder if he was enjoying himself or only playing the role his father left behind.

He wondered if he would enjoy this if his father was in the seat next to him, telling a bad joke with blue eyes sparkling.

He wondered if he should try to enjoy this or if he should remember that he couldn't get to close to anyone.

As Batman sometimes he wondered if he was pretending, or if he was truly as harsh as he let himself seem.

He wondered if he should be harsher, to make sure nobody forgot that they where fighting for something very real and very important.

He wondered if he shouldn't be a little softer to remind everyone what the thing they where fighting for was.

Inside of him he held people, groups, and even whole cities close to his heart. In a way that he would defend as the knight he had been titled as. With everything he had.

Inside of him he was also very cold, he had seen dark things. He was hurting but boo-hoo. So was the whole damn world. He didn't feel that babying anyone would solve anything or better prepare them.

Inside of him he was who he was. No matter what he was called he had grown, and as the boy that grew to be Bruce Wayne and the child that grew to be The Batman. He would never change, bow down, or waiver. Even if who he was, was himself pretending to be someone else.

This kind of thinking was the kind that drove Bruce Wayne's head around in circles when he had no problem, villain or person to fixate on. When that happened the one person on all of earth who ignored the lines between Bruce and Batman, would show up.

"Bruce," The greeting was cordial.

"Clark." Bruce acknowledged, never taking eye from his work computer screen.

The reporter and smooth talked his way up seventy-eight floors to make it to Bruce's office. He could have called Alfred, who would call Luscious, and tell him to let Clark in. But Clark liked to remind Bruce that he could come see him anytime he wanted. Even when he wasn't superman.

"I own the Daily Planet." Bruce said. Still barely acknowledging the Kryptonian.

"I know. Why are you bringing it up?"

"You're fired." Bruce said, and then took a drink from his tea.

"It's a good thing we're friends and I know you would never do that to one little reporter." Clark was unfazed and was taking the opportunity to go through the books Bruce kept in his office.

Bruce sighed; if someone had walked in at that moment they would have wondered where the smooth, sexy, casual business playboy had gone and who this matter of fact yet at-ease man was. It was a man few got to see.

Clark however, was thinking nothing of it. An interaction between two friends, any crises out of the way, they had time.

Bruce suspected that trying to take down and kill Superman with Kryptonite when they first met had somehow solidified in Clark's mind that Bruce wanted to be friends with him.

Like Bruce was somehow saving Clark. Like Batman was somehow doing it to save the man of steel himself. Bruce suspected that Clark had labeled them as equals that day. After all who can save Superman when Superman is out for the count?

Bruce still insisted he was trying to kill, not save, Clark. Mind controlled puppet that he had been.

"Are you finished yet?" Clark asked gently as he stuffed a book on business back where he found it.

"It's just past noon. Of course I'm not done working." Bruce gave up pretending he didn't know why Clark was here.

The day after they had met and Bruce had fought to stop Clark from reining destruction down on the world, Bruce had shown up in Metropolis. He had done it as a silent message that he didn't need X-Ray vision to know who Clark was. Clark had taken it to mean that Bruce wanted to eat dinner with him, bond as heroes. Bruce had acted, not as cheerful as Bruce Wayne, and not as Cold as Batman, but somewhere in between.

And that has become his unconscious personality when Clark frequently showed up for dinner. Bruce had argued that there was no value to Batman and Superman to have meetings. Clark had ignored this and told him friends should stay in touch.

And Clark really liked touch.

It had taken Bruce a few years to figure out why a lot of what Clark did, had to involve touching. A few straggler Kryptonians they had run into over the years, and some left over information from the doomed planet, and even some off handed comments from Martha Kent the year that Clark insisted Bruce stop by for Christmas. And everything was clear.

Kryptonians where a very prestigious people. They where also a very hands-on race. They liked skin on skin.

Naturally, it seemed, Clark was unconsciously more careful with other humans. He kept a friendly distance away.

But again, somewhere in his brain he had marked Bruce as an equal. Bruce suspected that subconsciously that meant Clark expected Bruce to be as invulnerable as he was. It also meant that all the suppressed urges for the contact his people craved, was taken out on Bruce.

Clark liked to touch Bruce.

A lot.

Like it solidified their friendship.

"Could you be done?" Clark had come over and Bruce almost expected it when Clark rested his large hand on Bruce's shoulder, leaning over to look at the Bat's work. Bruce remained stoic as Clark leaned over, his breast resting on Bruce's back. To Clark it was subconscious, trying to get as close as possible as he read Bruce's stock report.

"Are you here early so you can draw on your reporter's nose and snoop on Bruce Wayne?" Bruce asked dryly.

To anyone else it would have been a threatening demand.

Clark chuckled at Bruce's 'joke.'

"Course not, just took the day off for some fresh air!" Clark had straightened from lack of interest, but his forearm remained resting firmly on Bruce's broad shoulders. His other hand was on Bruce's arm, calmly trapping that arm on the arm rest as Clark seemed to ponder something.

Bruce knew that soon his friend-by-force would start trying to get him out of his clothes.

Small town farm boy, Smallville's own Clark Kent certainly didn't think of it like that. But as unaware as he was, he at some point always tried to get Bruce to offer more skin for Clark to touch. Clark was a man of great decency. He had the heart of the noblest Lion and was kind deep into the recesses of his soul.

But he was also a contact starved alien who had decided Bruce was the same as he was.

The subconscious echoes of Clark's brain told him that Bruce shouldn't be so conservative with his clothes. Clark hadn't picked up on his own desire to touch Bruce. And he hadn't realized that he wanted Bruce to wear less. He just seemed to know he thought Bruce looked wrong in formal wear.

Sometimes the man astounded even the great Batman with his brilliance. Sometimes Bruce couldn't believe how oblivious he was.

"Let's go out now Bruce, you need to learn to lighten up. We have time before dinner; we can get some fresh air! You can even take off your coat jacket for once."

There it was.

Clark was absently pulling on Bruce's collar as Bruce typed. Like he wanted his friend out of the jacket now.

If it had been anyone else.

Clark wandered off and Bruce had to close his eyes for a moment to adjust to the sunlight that Clark had just let in by opening the blinds.

Sometimes it was hard to remember the sun shown in Gotham.

Except when Clark showed up. It was hard not to find the meta-human out in the light.

Clark was back, the side of his hip now touching Bruce's arm.

Bruce knew that it would cause his friend more discontent if Bruce insisted on staying and finishing his work. Bruce considered it anyway.

"I have a play I'm attending tonight." Bruce said. Clark smiled, that was cue that they where leaving. There was a time, back around when they had formed the Justice League, that Clark would have walked to the door, eager to be gone. Barley waiting for Bruce.

Now Clark matched Bruce's steps. Walking stride for stride with his long firm legs, he was a little closer than he would be to anyone else. "You pick out this art yourself?" Ever interested in the world around him, Clark had paused to study a piece that portrayed a man in a suit and woman in a long flowing red dress, spinning around in an intertwined dance.

Bruce smiled a Bruce Wayne smile. But it was naturally genuine. Sometimes he forgot how well Superman knew him; at one time it had unnerved him. It had taken time to accept that Clark would never betray him. Now he accepted and even was pleased over the fact.

"Yes." Bruce admitted. "I chose many of them, my workers can only dream."

"As longs as it's not abstract, I hate when buildings put up bland meaningless splotches of gray and call it art."

Bruce frowned; his father had often snuck away from his responsibilities and swept Bruce up from his tutors so they could hit up a play or an Art museum. Bruce had been taught to look for the meaning in each piece, even abstract.

"Not all of abstract is just splotches."

Clark had shifted so his shoulder pressed into Bruce's "You would know." Clark coincided. Giving Bruce his way just when he wanted it.

It was one of the reasons Bruce allowed the pale friendship and Clarks unknowing caresses. Because Clark knew the man behind the mask. Cowl or no.

Bruce told Clark he would call Alfred and have him drive them to a nice place. Nice by Bruce's standards was six stars.

Clark told Bruce he was picking where they went for lunch and where they would also go for dinner,

Nice by Clark's standards was anyplace that had good pie.

Clark did however agree to the limo rides he loved so much.

"Flying is fantastic but if we're going to ride it may as well be in style. And I like seeing Alfred." Clark explained. Bruce smiled again.

Once they where in the Limo and tribute had been paid to Alfred, the knowing butler rolled up the separator between himself and the heroes.

Bruce and Clark where alone.

Normally when Clark or anyone got into a limo with another person, instinct and political politeness told the person that the should sit across from the other person.

But Clarks instincts where telling him he wanted to touch, to feel the warmth of another person.

He had absently jammed himself right next to Bruce. Sitting with their shoulders and legs touching. Clark telling Bruce a story about work. Bruce knew better than to move over. After a moment of talking animatedly Clark would end up scooting closer to Bruce.

The first time Bruce had found himself with his Kansas friend plastered to his side, Bruce had first subtly tried to move away. Clark had followed and then tucked his calf under Bruce's so he couldn't get away.

Clark had been completely involved in a phone call he was making at the time and hadn't even been aware that he had physically forced his friend to be near him.

"So by the time I remembered I had to find Lois and get her out of the building before the smoke got too thick to see through, she was no where to be found!" Clark threw his hands up. The story was amusing but the pure bewildered exasperation in Clarks voice just made it better. Superman would get the same tone whenever he tried to get some food only to find that, once again, Flash had eaten it all to save himself.

Like he had no idea what that other person was up too.

"Was she alright?" Bruce asked as he checked his watch. Knowing what he did of the woman, she had probably realized there had been nothing to benefit her and had left the scene for someone else (superman) to clean up.

Even Bruce had to admire her guts, brains and wit. But he already knew the flaw that would keep Clark from letting Superman, let Clark have his chance.

At first it seemed that Lois relied on nobody, her steadfast courage and determination driving her.

But

It did eventually become clear that she relied even more heavily on others than even the average person. Superman may have been her friend but she seemed to think that she herself was invulnerable.

Untouchable.

That was what had caught Clark's interest. He- just like everyone else- was looking for someone he could stand equal with. His Kryptonian instinct for contact driving him, under the surface of his emotions.

But she wasn't untouchable, and she ended up getting herself put into situations where her own mortality was overwhelming. And then she was saved, or counted on something to happen to free her.

The Kryptonian needed someone he could stand on equal ground with. Not a woman playing pretend.

That didn't stop the friendship of course and Bruce had been treated to more than a few Lois tales over the year. But the gleam Clark had as he talked about her faded to warmth.

That was when the touching began. When Clark unconsciously wanted to be close to a warm body.

The elder Kryptonian, Fail-Ra that Bruce had run into in the Devor section of the universe, had mentioned briefly that his people where very physical by nature. That a Kryptonian left without warmth or contact could actually start breaking down mentally, and that in its hay day Krypton had been a very…open minded planet.

Fail Ra had died saving most of the known universe, so Bruce thought it better not to mention him to Clark. But now the man was almost unconsciously begging Bruce to touch him, to let Clark touch him. And Bruce had no idea how far off this mental break-down could be.

Clark had spotted a mom and pop diner out the window and called to Alfred to stop the car.

"Here?" Bruce asked, resigned."

"Here." Clark beamed. Clark was continually operating on the assumption that Bruce was a big teddy bear that secretly loved all things good.

Bruce wanted a five star stake damnit.

He was Batman he deserved to eat what he wanted. Why did Clark always choose where they eat?

Clark had put his hand into Bruce's lower back and was guiding him in to the shop.

Damn

Once seated Bruce glanced half-heartedly over the menu while Clark browsed eagerly. Still talking.

"-And it was such good weather outside. Its nice in here too, you must be hot dressed so formally. Clark's eyes had zoomed in on the offended coat. "I'm fine." Bruce ignored him.

Until warm hands had pushed Bruce's menu aside and unbuttoned his jacket before Bruce knew what was happening.

"It's good for you." Clark said firmly. He was leaning over the table, almost desperately pushing the suit jacket off of Bruce's shoulders. Bruce's hesitated for just a moment before he slid the jacket off himself and hung it over the seat.

That was done and Clark relaxed so much that Bruce realized he hadn't realized how tense Clark had gotten.

This was bad. Bruce and seriously underestimated Clark's desire for human contact. He hadn't realized how much Clark's subconscious was driving him, pushing him for the skin he was starved for.

Not for the first time Bruce wondered if Clark could continue to ignore the parts of himself that should have been natural.

Would have been Natural if he had grown up on the world he really belonged to. IF he had grown up on Krypton he would have been just another person. The way Clark secretly wished he was.

He would have never been left wanting for touch, he would have been surrounded by people who all where as hand on as he was supposed to be, all wearing few clothes so there could always be contact.

All Clark had where human parents he loved so much but had to be so careful around, a Superman that the world relied on.

And Bruce.

Bruce had known this would come eventually. It was still offsetting.

"Let's order dessert with the meal, I hate having to wait." Clark was now able to focus on the menu. "Nothing washes a meal down better than Ice Cream." Brice let one of his personality traits show themselves and Clark grinned winningly.

The waitress was there with their drinks and Clark rattled off his order, ready to patiently wait for his meal. Bruce scanned the menu once more before reluctantly ordering as well.

Clark was amused by Bruce's unwilling order.

He was also bouncing his leg and eyeing Bruce's vest.

"Tell me, have you noticed something off about Diana?" Clark had settled back in his chair to make room for his jittering leg. Bruce wanted to raise his eye brow and something like that coming from a man who couldn't keep his attention off Bruce's vest for long.

Bruce considered for a moment. "She wanted to go with me to the play tonight." Clark's leg stopped bouncing. This was Bruce for- she came onto me and I refused in my Batman cold hearted way.

"But you said no?" Clark had to be sure. There was something in his eyes that glittered in a startling way. It wasn't threatening but Bruce understood that primal instinct told Clark that Diana wasn't equal to him and Bruce. And that she was in the way of the contact he craved more then perhaps Bruce even understood.

"She'll get over it." Bruce forced his voice to be uncaring as Clarks leg started to bounce again. The food arrived and Clark proceeded to eat his fry's and half of Bruce's salad. There was a time that Clark wouldn't have dared but now he thought little of it.

They made small talk and for a little bit they where two friends that had a secret only they shared. Then the waitress came back. Bruce hadn't noticed her much before but she was a red headed mid-twenty something. She looked tiered, no doubt working long hours to support herself through school or something. As she handed them their check she noticed Bruce observing her and she straightened, a smiled flashed on her face and she nodded to him warmly.

The splintering sound of the table got both Bruce's and the girl's attention. Clark was staring at the piece of table he held. For a moment Bruce and Clark looked at each other, both mentally working on a cover story and then the girl spoke up.

"Piece of junk, these tables are old. I knew they where trash but I didn't think they where this bad off. Guess my manager will have to get new ones now." She shook her head and then walked away. Probably to report to her manager.

Bruce had paid the bill by the time Clark had gathered himself.

The Gotham Knight needed to get his friend away from people.

Something had occurred to the brilliant blue eyed man. Kryptonians got contact from their whole species, having many flings and close friendships. The only person the primal part of Clark and really acknowledged as equal was Bruce.

He was Subconsciously relying on Bruce for all his contact. And for the first time, Clark seemed to realize something was wrong.

Bruce knew better than to put on his jacket and he carried it in his arms as Clark followed him slowly out of the shop and down the sidewalk. Alfred was waiting with the limo and Clark got in after Bruce with a quiet air. He didn't smutch himself next to Bruce.

He also didn't ask where they where going, for which Bruce was grateful and then rode back to the manor in quiet.

Bruce led Clark into his study. Clark seemed to be considering something, and after a moment he stepped forward to face Bruce.

This alarmed the Dark knight.

Ht had intended for the talk he had been avoiding to finally happen. Clark however was approaching him. For just a moment the confused man reached out.

And then he was gone.

Two days later when Batman and Superman ended up speaking on the current defense system of the watch tower, it was like Superman had repressed everything. Or rather, it would seem that way to anyone else. But not Batman. The Dark Knight watched as his friend would casually move closer during the lull in conversation and then catch himself and move away.

At first Batman's rules dictated that he leave the man alone to deal with his own issues. The problem was that this directly involved Batman.

The bigger problem was that it was killing Superman.

No that wasn't right.

It was driving him mad.

The confusion on the issue probably just made the desire Clark had for physical touch much much worse.

Bruce knew what he had to do. Rationally speaking the decision had been clear, even startlingly easy to make. Like there had never been another option.

Emotionally it was wearying.

Batman was awesome at suppressing stupid human emotions.

Superman found himself cornered at three in the morning during his patrol by a calm person dressed in heavy black with a cape that seemed to magnify his presence.

Batman would fix things.

Superman jammed his body against Batman's, his body fighting to consume, to gain as much contact as he had been craving for so long. Conscious or not.

He needed this; his legs trapped Batman between him. Thick muscles winding around Batman like Iron.

Batman was a wall, as unmovable as any human could be.

But for his friend he would soften.

Batman very very rarely allowed himself to be in a situation where he would be uncomfortable. This was one.

To be honest he had expected either complete rejection or deterioration into the closest two humans can get (Sex) That thought was uncomfortable on its own but Batman would handle it.

This he did not know how to handle.

He should have realized that even if Clark was physically and mentally desperate for human contact he was still a mushy gentle guy. Instead of running away or going for sex Clark had just wound himself around his equal and lay on the ground. And held Batman.

Batman really didn't like that.

Clark who was viceing the man, his arms hot and hard and unrelenting in the desperate need for human warmth.

"I didn't know humans where this warm." The Kryptonian had never really been able to embrace someone; he had to be gentle with his mother and father. With the humans he saved and the ones he worked with. He even had to be careful around his super powered co-workers.

Batman was his equal.

Even if only in his mind.

His body hardened against Batman's; pushing down unrelentingly as if to soak up all the warmth Batman could offer.

Batman's muscles strained, it was difficult to live up to the expectations of the brilliant, capable, unyieldingly faithful superman.

But Superman also knew and was accepting of all the weaknesses that nobody expected him to have. He was more of an adult than anyone in that way.

Batman slowly relaxed his muscles.

Superman relaxed his body in turn.

And they lay there, each moment of contact somehow slowly soothing the incessant craving of Kryptonian blood.

It wasn't a lover's embrace because there was no passion, nor was it a latching on regardless of the person involved.

It was between two friends.

And that was fine.

Two days later Clark Kent arrived at Bruce Wayne's manor and Bruce gave him quiet explanations of something Clark maybe should have already been told and maybe would have liked to be in denial about even longer.

Clark Kent wanted to touch, even as Bruce explained things to the serious eyes muscled man Clark was sitting closer than necessary, their knees bumping.

Bruce knew the next move was Clarks, a man who by the way was looking more refreshed than any of the justice league had seen him.

"I want to touch you." the admission was a surprise to Bruce. Clark looked into Bruce's eyes and searched them seriously.

Then he relaxed, he had found what he was looking for in the ice blue depths. Bruce was okay with this.

Bruce didn't know why he was, comradeship or friendship bound he supposed.

It was enough.

Clark moved his chair forward, positioning himself in-between Bruce's thighs.

He just wanted to touch.

Authors Note: Just a brief glimps into a life and could be of Bruce and Clark

If you want me to continue the story and bump the rating up to M (= inevitable) then just tell me so. If I get no reviews than I'll just leave it, it might not be that good so whatever.

Loven and Liven for reviews.

Throw me a bone.

:D