I do not own Pet Rocks, Beanie Babies, or Webkinz. Oh- and I don't own Justice League either...
Superb!
Magnificent!
Brilliant!
None of the aforementioned critiques have been made. I am weeping.
Doctor Robert
Superman felt a hand pulling him up. He wiped his hand across his lip, and looked aghast as he saw crimson. He turned, anger flaring, to Batman.
"Who in the heck were those guys!?" He demanded. Batman looked deadly serious.
"I don't know. Us, except I seemed to be older then I am now." He shrugged, then picked up a small device. "However, we'll get them soon. According to this, they're making their way towards East Central."
"Then let's go!" Superman grumbled, hazel eyes still dangerously red. Batman glanced at the damage, and nodded.
"Follow me."
---
The building was five stories high, and painted a bright and obnoxious white that almost hurt Clark's eyes as he made his way forward, his mind scurrying over everything that was going on. Bruce, beside him, was stoic, and trying to hide the obvious fact that he was in pain and limping. Several times, Clark tried to assist him, but the stubborn man and his ego refused such help. The building they approached had a large sign, which proclaimed proudly,
Dr. Robert Brown, MD
"I guess this is him," Clark murmured to himself, walking toward the glass doors. Bruce replied in a curt nod, before he glanced over his shoulder. "Something wrong?" Clark asked. Bruce paused, before replying,
"I was just wondering when you and I would be coming."
"You think they'll find us?" Clark asked incredulously. The last time he had seen his younger self, he had been bleeding, and barely conscious. He had highly doubted the man would be tracking them, powerful Man of Steel, or not.
"Of course," Bruce replied. "It's just a matter of how long it will take." Acting as though this wasn't horribly distressing news, the billionaire nonchalantly pushed open the door, and ushered Clark in. A young, mousy woman with short-cut brown hair was behind a desk. She glanced up, red glasses framing light brown eyes and long lashes.
"Um, hi-, I mean, um, good afternoon, and welcome to Doctor Robert Brown's office. Do you have an appointment?" Clark glanced at Bruce, who had his 'Bruce Wayne' face on, with a charming grin and twinkling eyes. He inquired,
"So, the good doctor is in, is he?" She smiled, blushing slightly, and nodded. Even though Bruce Wayne was no longer twenty, he was still a handsome man, apparently.
"Um, yes, sir,"
"Come on, do I look like a 'sir'?" Bruce asked with a casual smile, as he leaned on her counter so she could see his face up close. There was no evidence of the fight earlier, or the pain in his leg, on his charming face. "Call me Bruce." She giggled.
"Okay, Bruce," She said, eyes bright, a broad grin on her face.
"And what can I call you?" Bruce asked, raising his eyebrows ever so slightly. The blush deepened, and the smile widened.
"Is that Bruce Wayne in my office?" Bruce and Clark spun quickly, to face a man with oily hair and a rather large beard. He had a smile on his face, and it curled and twisted on his face like a snake. He had small glasses that gleamed under the bright fluorescent lights, and the beady eyes beneath them were a cold blue. "What a pleasure. May I ask, though, what you require?" Bruce's smile even looked forced this time. The man held out a hand, which Bruce shook warily. "Dr. Robert Brown," The man said with what he must have perceived as a charming and disarming smile. "Everyone calls me Dr. Robert, though. Like the song." He smirked again.
"You know me," Bruce replied carefully. "And this is Mike Jason- an associate of mine."
"Any associate of Bruce Wayne's is a friend of mine," Said Dr. Brown with a smile that reminded Clark of a shark. He held out a hand for the reporter to take, which he shook, feeling uncomfortable. He forced a smile to his face.
"Nice to meet you," He lied. Dr. Robert's smile widened.
"As for you. May I ask what you gentlemen need?" Clark hesitated, and Bruce quickly picked up the slack.
"Well, I thought I might be interested in what you are doing, Dr. Brown," Curiosity shone in Dr. Robert's eyes, and he did not complain about the fact that Bruce did not call him Dr. Robert.
"Oh? In what way?"
"Well, as you know, Wayne Co. can fund many different areas of business. And, when I am interested in something, I will most certainly give donations." Dr. Robert perked.
"Well, I'm never one to impose, but we do need new equipment and a grant from one of the most successful businesses in America would certainly be appreciated." Clark hid a smirk. The man was hardly being subtle in his brown-nosing.
"It would be no imposition," Bruce replied, his voice sounding slightly strained. "I would love to discuss it in detail with you?"
"Of course...I have an appointment soon, but I am free now. I always have time for a man of your class and standards! What say we talk now?" Bruce nodded cheerfully.
"Mr. Jason?" Clark turned. There was something Bruce was trying to tell him, but he was no J'onn, and he didn't know what. "Please come," Bruce turned to Dr. Robert. "Mr. Jason is one of my most privileged friends- without him, I could hardly organize a grant donation," Dr. Robert's eyes turned sharp as he turned to Clark again.
"Is that so? Well, would either of you like a coffee? It's rather cold outside," Clark smirked at Bruce, who maintained the broad smile he had plastered on his face. Although Clark knew Bruce, and knew that the smile he wore was fake, it was still odd to see him wear it.
"That'd be great, Dr. Brown; thanks," Bruce said brightly. Dr. Robert smiled politely, then told the mousy girl behind the counter, who now looked abashed at having spoken without formality when she was supposed to simply greet and make appointments, to grab two coffees. She nodded hastily, and leaped from her chair to do the chore.
"Now, come into my office- Samantha will bring the coffees to us," He led them to a room, and, when they were seated and holding warm mugs of coffee in their hands, he said, "Now, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Jason, what can I do for you? It's not often one would come in and offer me grants!" His grin sent a shiver down Clark's spine. Bruce, however, kept a demeanor of warmth and ignorance.
"Well, I'm not a regular type of man, Dr. Brown- I pride myself on being different." He paused, then continued, "Now, in Gotham, I give only to the best and brightest, and I can only assume that is what I am doing here in Central?" Clark got the sense that Bruce was trying to tell him to do something. He listened carefully, as Dr. Robert nodded vigorously.
"Of course,"
"Good. Now I like to see things, difficult as it may be. I know that many places hide secrets behind an organizational front." Clark racked his mind, as he saw Bruce's eyes flicker to the right briefly. Dr. Robert didn't notice.
"Of course. I've heard there are some shady businesses in Gotham, and you're right to be wary." As he said this, Clark's eyes drifted to the right of the office, scanning it's occupants. A bookshelf, a filing cabinet, and a plant. He thought back to what Bruce had said (An Organizational Front), and he looked at the filing cabinet. Knowing that Bruce had meant for him to look inside, as he had said hidden secrets hid behind a front of organization, he used his X-ray vision, then looked at each page in succession, before finding John and Lindsey. Information sat on the pages, including a stamp that stated CLASSIFIED within the box asking for information as to why they attended the office. The address, however, leaped from above the box, and Clark quickly memorized it. He caught Bruce's eyes, and nodded slightly. Bruce understood quickly. His eyes found the clock.
"It's already that late!?" He exclaimed. He stood, and a flustered Dr. Robert did as well. Bruce held out his hand for him to shake, which he clasped. "I've got a meeting to get to soon- and, if I'm not mistaken, you said you had an appointment to get to, Dr. Brown. I won't hold you any longer- we'll be in touch." Without giving the Doctor another word, he stepped towards the door.
"Er- all right, Mr. Wayne- have a nice day," Dr. Robert's eyes shifted to Clark. "You too, Mr. Jason." Clark nodded, then followed Bruce.
--
The brisk air stung Bruce's cheeks, and the grin dripped away. The contempt and strong dislike of the man could be seen on his face, until he let it fall away as well. When his face had gone into unreadable indifference, he turned to Clark.
"And?"
"92494 Penny Lane," Clark replied, looking slightly surprised at the cold that intercepted him as he stepped outside.
"Good. Let's go, and get back home." There was slight hope in his voice that he hoped the boy scout hadn't detected; luckily, Clark still seemed shocked at the chills he had received. He smirked. "Cold?"
"Yea, I- Look out!" Bruce snapped around, and a strong kick pounded him in the face. He collapsed, and coughed up some blood. When he looked up, he saw someone he really didn't want to deal with right now.
"It was too much to hope for to just get out of here," He muttered. Batman smirked.
"Well, you didn't really think you could get away that easily, did you?"
"Not really," Bruce replied, shakily standing, and trying to ignore the pain shooting up his leg.
"Do you want to talk yet?" His younger self demanded.
"Do you want the entire universe to collapse on itself?"
"Is that a threat?" The cold voice challenged.
"No, it's a query," Bruce replied, smirking through his pain. Batman growled, which caused the smirk to grow. No wonder Flash loved to annoy him- he was really fun to annoy! Well, not fun, but it was kind of amusing.
"You better talk now. If you're clones, who made you? If you're not, who are you!?"
"I'm not a clone, and you know who I am, so there you go," Bruce replied with a shrug, ignoring the pain he received. He had gotten quite a beating earlier, and he hadn't recovered fully- as one could expect when a wall collapses on you, Batman or not.
"You're Bruce Wayne, are you?" The voice asked shrewdly.
"Prove it if I'm not," Bruce replied with a smile.
--
Clark stared in shock as Batman kicked Bruce Wayne square in the face, and moved to help him, before he was thrown powerfully into a building, which collapsed around him. His eyes opened slightly, only to see a fist, and then red. He shook off the pain as his vision returned, and he stumbled to his feet. Superman was coming towards him again, his fists raised. He blocked the next hit, and a few windows shattered.
"You want a rematch, eh?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"No- I want to know who you are, and what you want!"
"Try a new question- that one is getting pretty old!" They had been locked in hands, pushing against each other, but now, Clark squirmed out of his counterpart's grasp, then swung his fist back and forward, resulting in a loud crunch as he felt his fist collide with Superman's nose. He felt his own nose become slightly crooked, and he seethed- how could he fight when any injury he made would happen to him!? Superman stumbled back, grasping his broken nose in pain and shock. Clark ignored him, then flew to Batman. Bruce was on his feet now, a good sign, but he was also wobbling. Without bothering questioning him, or telling him he was coming, Clark wrapped his arms around his waist, and flew away. Bruce struggled in his grasp, though he was still weak, until he noticed it was Clark.
"You couldn't have asked?" He grumbled, sounding annoyed.
"What would you have said?" Clark retaliated. Bruce didn't reply, but pouted, as though being saved was something to be ashamed of.
"92494 Penny Lane, then?" He finally muttered. Clark nodded.
"Yea." He paused, then ventured, "Do we know where that is?"
"We passed it earlier, I remember."
"Where?"
"Turn right here, and keep going straight until I say something." There was a long pause until he told Clark to turn again. After ten minutes of flying, Clark asked,
"What are we going to tell them?" Instead of replying, Bruce said,
"Turn left." Clark saw a sign state,
Penny Ln.
They passed by house after house, until finally reaching 92494. Bruce stared at it for a while after Clark landed, then nodded briskly.
"I don't know what we'll say, but we'd better figure it out fast. Come on." He marched to the doorstep, and knocked.
---
Batman glared after the two men.
"I'm getting annoyed," Superman said, blood trickling below his nose. Batman nodded.
"Me, too. We'll get them." He glanced down at his device, and after a moment said, "I know where they are."
---
God. It's been, like, ten chapters and they're FINALLY at the house. Took them long enough... Please tell me what you think of it so far! Sorry for the short chap, but seriously, I don't throw a lot of long ones out, so...you know...there you go.
- Thanks, d, for the 'the' thing. Sorry about that! =)