The metropolis airport was, like most major airports, a hub of people coming and going. Some rushed to their terminal with only a carryon and others hustled to check their baggage, all while doing their best to stay on schedule. Hardly anyone noticed the billionaire and his, soon to be, wife walking hand in hand through the airport with no luggage at all. No one thought it odd that they would be in Metropolis and not their stylish offices in Gotham City. Or maybe it was just so odd, that people assumed it couldn't possibly be Bruce Wayne and Carly Rogers all the way from Gotham.
"You look nervous." Carly told Bruce as she clipped in her seatbelt. "Remember they're your friends. They like you. They'll want to help."
"Of course, they'll want to help." Bruce snorted as his fiancé started the car. "That's entirely what I'm worries about. The more public friends that we have, the more people we put at risk."
"I know you remember the conversation from yesterday about all of friends being bullet proof." She said.
"Not all of them. Not Lois, not Alfred and certainly not you or Dick. We have to be careful, Car. If anyone ever found out the truth about me..."
"How could that possibly happen? I am your best friend and even I couldn't figure it out." Carly lovingly tapped his knee before putting her hand back on the steering wheel. He knew she'd intended it to be comforting, but all it did was make him more uncomfortable. He'd though it would kill him to lose her when she was just his best friend, but as his wife? He couldn't even imagine what he would do if he lost her. She was his world now.
"I'm calling Clark." Was all he grumbled before dialing the reporter.
"Go for Kent." The Man of Steel answered his cellphone with a yawn. He peeked out of his cubicle to see if Lois was around. Since Bruce was calling him in the middle of the day, he would most likely need to make a hasty exit from the Planet's office. Lois could help, if only he could find her.
"Clark, it's Bruce. I hate to drop by on you unannounced…"
"Why do I have a feeling there's a 'but' at the tail end of that sentence?" Clark chuckled.
"but," Bruce rolled his eyes. Even when Clark was being nice he got under the billionaire's skin. Though it could have just been his natural dislike of asking someone for help. "Carly and I need to speak with you. We're in a car on the way to your apartment. Bring Lois."
"Okay, let me tie up a few things in the office first, I'll be right there." Clark hung up the phone and started looking for Lois. He found her, flipping through a stack of photos and frowning at each of them in disapproval. Excuses were made and both reporters made a swift exit from the office. From there it was only a matter of a few minutes before they landed at the balcony of their shared apartment. Roughly five minutes after that, Bruce and Carly were sitting at the kitchen table explaining their situation.
"This is real?" Clark repeated for what felt like the millionth time. Bruce groaned with frustration. If only he had a dollar for every time his friend had asked that. (Technically he did, but that was beside the point.) "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Clark pressed his palms against the edge of the table and pushed back his chair ever so slightly.
"It's just that a few days ago, the two of you weren't even talking, and now you're getting married?" Clark shook his head. "It's just a lot to process."
"You guys are friends with Amazonians, you know for sure there is life on other planets, he dresses like a giant bat," Carly jabbed a thumb in Bruce's direction. "But two lifelong friends' getting married is where you start to wonder what's going on?"
"Ooh shots fired in the residence of Mr. Clark Kent this afternoon." Lois said in her best reporter voice. "How ever will he recover?" Lois held out the spoon she'd been using to stir her coffee like it was a microphone.
"Alright, alright." Clark chuckled as he gently lowered Lois' hand out of his view. He looked back at Bruce with a smile. "You're one of my best friends and I want nothing but happiness for you. Happiness doesn't come easy in our line of work, so I can't think of any reason why Lois and I should not help you."
"How soon can we meet the boy, Richard?" Lois asked excitedly.
"As of right now, we're not even allowed to see him for more than a few hours a week." Bruce frowned.
"But maybe once they let Dick come and stay with us, we could invite the League? I'm sure Diana and J'onn and the others would love to meet him too. I know Clyde would die for a chance to come to the mansion." Carly said.
"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that." Bruce chuckled dryly. "How much time do you need before we can get going back to Gotham?" He asked Clark.
"Well I have to change!" Lois insisted. "I can't very well go to your wedding wearing white!" She motioned to her finely pressed shirt.
"I have a whole collection of dresses at the mansion." Carly remembered. "You can have one if you'd like. It's the least we can do after pulling you away from your lives for a whole day."
A/N: I'm just going to casually leave this new chapter here. :) And I want to once again thank all of you who have taken the time to read and review this story. I know my update schedule is really hectic, and you folks are amazing for sticking with me!