Warnings: A little language, a little violence, one major character death, and the occasional apocalypse
Note: Each part corresponds to a prompt on the stargateland bingo card. Their respective ages vary from part to part. Beware of possible spoilers through "Enemy at the Gate" and The Dark Knight. My portrayal of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor is loosely based off of the early seasons of Smallville but does not attempt to stick to Smallville canon in any way.
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate, Batman, Smallville, or "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy)."
8. Escape
Bruce doesn't come out and make an announcement or anything, but by the time they've been in hyperspace for two days everyone in the city knows that he's Batman. He thought about just letting Batman disappear—pretending that Gotham's protector never evacuated, maybe—except that right now people need hope and heroes more than ever. Even though Batman's sticking around, though, it just doesn't make sense for him to don the cape and mask anymore. Not now, and certainly not here. Not on Atlantis.
People here have a tendency to treat him with a mixture of caution and hero worship. Not the Stargate people, for the most part—the Air Force and Richard Woolsey and his people have been remarkably calm and competent throughout this process—but the evacuees. It would help if Gordon or Alfred were on Atlantis, but last he'd heard Gordon was on the Odyssey, and Alfred…
Well. The old Englishman is cleverer than any butler has a right to be. Bruce is sure that Alfred made it off the planet. Between thirty-six hyperspace-ready ships, Atlantis, and the Stargate, and with plenty of warning about the Zendark's plan to destroy Earth, almost 90% of the planet's population was safely evacuated.
Atlantis is filled to capacity, but Bruce keeps to his old nocturnal schedule, which means that he often finds himself eating powdered eggs alone at his favorite table on the balcony. Like tonight.
He's been gradually working his way through the Atlantis Expedition's mission reports since he was told that he'd been chosen to evacuate on Atlantis. He would think that the reports were fairy tales if he weren't sitting on Atlantis himself, watching the stars zip by. Right now he's using his tablet to read up on a Wraith that all of the expedition members, for reasons beyond Bruce's comprehension, refer to as "Todd."
"Mind if I join you?"
He looks up and feels his heart begin to pound at the sight of John Sheppard standing uncertainly on the other side of the table.
"John," he breathes before he can stop himself.
John smiles that crooked smile of his and spins the chair around so he can sit on it backwards, facing Bruce. "It's been a while," he says.
"A lifetime," Bruce agrees, because that's what it feels like.
How long has he imagined seeing John Sheppard again? Imagined how the other man would look, the life he would be leading sansBruce. Imagined having the opportunity to tell him how he really feels about him—has felt for him for what feels like forever.
He's seen John around the city, of course—whatever the official documentation might say about Richard Woolsey being in charge, the bureaucrat's not the one everyone is relying on, and John, probably sensing that, has been a visible presence since the evacuees arrived—but he's managed to keep his distance until tonight. It's not that he and John parted on bad terms the last time they saw each other, it's just that—well, it's been years. And last time, John broke his heart.
"So," Bruce says when the silence between them stretches on a bit too long. "Brigadier General? How'd that happen?"
"General O'Neill." John watches him through lazy eyes. "Thirty-eight ways to escape Earth and you end up on my ship. How'd thathappen?"
Bruce shrugs and leans back in his chair. "General O'Neill."
They share a smirk and it's almost like old times.
It's possible that in Bruce's imaginings about what a reunion between the two of them would be like he's dreamed that they would fall into bed with each other pretty much immediately. That isn't what happens. They make awkward small talk for only a few more minutes before John gets a funny look in his eye and then says, "Yeah, I'm on my way. Ronon, don't touch anything!"
Over the next weeks of their voyage, Bruce works hard to carve out a place for himself on Atlantis. If part of that involves trying to endear himself to John's friends, well, it only makes sense for him to try to familiarize himself with the most powerful people in the city. He spars with Ronon Dex, whose fierce loyalty to John he can't help but admire. He attends Teyla Emmagen's lectures on the history of the city and has tea with her twice. He doesn't even have to seek out Rodney McKay—the scientist made a beeline for Bruce as soon as he found out that Bruce is Batman, and has been embarrassingly impressed by Bruce ever since. McKay turns out to be an excellent source of information, though, so Bruce endures his hero worship with good grace.
The Earth fleet's destination is a planet whose existence was reported by an Ancient ship called the Destiny. Even with the modified hyperdrives on each ship it will take them well over two years to reach the planet. Bruce only hopes that when they arrive it turns out to be all that was promised.
The next time he talks to John, Bruce is on one of the peers, balancing on the edge and looking down.
"This is where I taught Rodney to swim," John says from behind him, apparently trusting that Bruce won't be taken by surprise and fall off. "The city's awesome when she flies, but she's at her most beautiful on water."
By the sound of his voice, Bruce estimates that John is standing about five feet behind him. He should turn around, but he doesn't. It's easier to talk to John when Bruce doesn't have to look him in the eye.
"I kept hoping you would call me," Bruce says.
"You know why I didn't."
Bruce laughs bitterly. "General John Sheppard. Too busy saving everyone else to let himself be happy."
John takes a few steps closer, puts his hand on Bruce's shoulder. His touch is electrifying, makes every atom of Bruce's being come alive.
"Ask me why General O'Neill assigned you to Atlantis," John murmurs.
Bruce turns slowly. He has to see John's face. "Why did General O'Neill assign me to Atlantis?" he asks, fighting to keep his voice steady.
"Because I asked him to," John says, and kisses him.
