J'onn stood silently, watching like he always did, and the rest of the league argued viciously over the last mission. Clark and GL seemed like they were the most upset.
"That was the most... Just... god!" Clark cried in frustration. All of them glared at Flash.
"Guys! Look I'm sorry ok?" He pleaded to them; they all had a look of utter disgust. Except J'onn and Bruce. They didn't seem to show any expression at all. Flash
had failed to remember the most important part of the mission, and many people had died because of it.
"Sorry isn't enough flash! More than forty people died because of your...your...stupidity!" John screamed. GL never really yelled, but when he did, he meant serious
business.
"How was I supposed to know that ship was full of bombs?!" He retaliated.
"Common sense!" Wonder Woman shot at him. The flash cowered at her tone.
" And we told you specifically not to go into that ship!" Hawk girl cried. Flash took a deep breath, and was about to retaliate, then a blur of red and yellow flew past
all of them and the flash was gone.
"Goddamn him!" Clark huffed. J'onn sighed and sunk into the floor, avoiding more conflict. He wanted no part in this argument. Yes the flash had made a crucial
error, but anyone could have made that mistake. Even Superman. But that just wasn't an option. They always seemed to pick on flash. The rest of them, besides him
and Bruce, who stayed out of the really harsh arguments, always found a way to bring the poor speedster down. And even just recently, Clark had told the Bat he
wasn't always right.
"Then I won't say anything anymore. Fight your own goddamn battles than." Bruce had screamed in his head. J'onn heard it of course, and when Bruce looked at him
with pain in his eyes, he felt pity. Bruce and Clark were assumed to be the best friends on the team, always had each others back, like hawk girl and Wonder
Woman. Even flash and GL had each other to depend on. No one needed J'onn. And he was ok with that. He played his part, and that was all. But now, it was
Superman and GL. Flash had become more outcast than usual, and Bruce and himself had become more acquainted. J'onn and Bruce, they seemed to have each
others back, fight together and help each other the most now. It was very odd.
"Clark... He's really..." Bruce let out a frustrated grunt. J'onn hadn't even heard him enter his sleeping quarters.
"Bruce, when did you get here?" J'onn asked, sounding surprised.
"What? Did your martian senses not feel me coming?" Bruce actually cracked a smile at his own joke.
"Uh..Apparently not. I was...rather focused. I apologize."
J'onn said swiftly.
"Don't. It's Clark and John who should apologize. To flash. But Mr. high and mighty can't let the poor kid have a break. Anyone would have made that mistake. Even
him." Bruce said bitterly. J'onn smirked.
"I said the same thing not two minuets ago. What happened between you and Superman?" J'onn asked.
"He seems too be letting the power get to his head. He isn't the same Clark I was best friends with. He changed." Bruce said sadly.
"I am sorry..." J'onn quietly replied.
"Why? It's not your fault. If anything, I should be thanking you. You've always got my back, you don't think you're the most important part of the team, everyone is
equal to you, you always do the right thing, and I guess Clark does that too, but you're NOT a self-righteous bastard!" He yelled and punched J'onn's wall.
"Shit...I-ill fix that." Bruce said apologetically.
"No worries Batman. I understand. Clark has been rather frustrating lately. But thank you. I want too be a valuable part of this team. I know I'm not the favourite, I'm
"the space case", but even so, I find you all too be my new family. I won't lose anymore loved ones." J'onn said, his monotone voice cracking at the end.
"Well you're my favourite." Bruce said.
"Pardon?" J'onn sounded surprised. Had batman actually said that?
" you heard me. You're not a dick. You care about the team. I respect that." He said, and then left. J'onn shook his head and sat at his desk. This was rather
strange...
Bruce was pacing. Why had he said that? Why had caused him to blurt that out to J'onn? Thankfully he had been able to get away soon enough. Try to hide his
embarrassment. J'onn could never know. Bruce had to learn to control his thoughts around the martian. If he found out... Bruce didn't want to think about what
would happen.
"I'd turn out like flash. The outcast. Because Clark fucking Kent would never drop it or let it go if he found out..." He thought out loud. He didn't know why he felt like
he did. But since Clark and GL had been more chummy, he was becoming more outcast. He felt betrayed. But then J'onn seemed to be there when he
needed him. Protecting him, fighting with him, doing everything Superman wasn't. J'onn cared about him, something not a lot of people did. J'onn was like him.
Serious, emotionless, just trying to get the job done, and maybe that's what had drawn Bruce to him. He did not know, but it was something, and it was stronger
than he had ever thought it could be.
"I.. Can't hide this..can I?" He thought
". He's my friend... and even if he doesn't.. Agree... I doubt there will be a reason we can't work together. Unless... unless he leaves. But Diana wouldn't let him. She
knows he doesn't want to, I know that too. He wants to fit in and be loved, and we know he has that here, he just needs to be convinced..." Bruce said the last 6
words out loud..
"Convinced of what?" A deep voice came from behind him.
"Oh! Jesus J'onn." Bruce said, obviously embarrassed.
"Bat senses not feel me coming?" J'onn backfired and cracked a smile. Bruce did too.
"Touch ." He retorted.
"I came to make sure you're all right. You left rather suddenly and I wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed very...hmm...displeased..." J'onn told him,
no hesitation, just straight up.
"Oh. I'm fine." Bruce tried to bring back his short tone, sounding like he didn't care.
"This would not be the first time you've lied to me Bruce. I would like to know how you are. Please." J'onn said quietly, and Bruce was taken back by the please. He
never said please. Ever. He sighed and looked at J'onn.
"Read my mind. It's easier for both of us." Bruce said quickly. He thought of what he wanted to say to J'onn, how he felt. He could tell the martian was reading all
this now, so he went deeper. He thought of what he wanted J'onn to feel, have the happiness of a family and someone to love again. He knew what it was like to lose
loved ones, to feel alone. He wanted to love J'onn, and he wanted J'onn to know that, even If he didn't feel like, Bruce himself did, he was still a very much-loved
member of the team, especially by himself and Diana.
"I hope you can understand my feelings for you." Was the last thing Bruce thought. J'onn stopped reading, and the room became silent. Somewhere on the ship, a
motor kicked in and a very quiet, but still annoying humming could be heard in Bruce's quarters.