Clark had never spent much time in Wayne Manor. Even though he knew Bruce as much more than Batman, they were always in the Batcave - Bruce was always too busy to come up, working on another case, with hardly a moment to spare. But now, wandering through the dark and quiet halls of the manor, Clark wondered if there wasn't another reason.
The floorboards creaked beneath his shoes, loud even to normal, human ears, as he crept down some long forgotten hallway, remembered only by Alfred who must have been responsible for keeping the bucolic paintings and decorative vases clear of dust and cobwebs and for shining the gilded mirrors along the wall. Clark couldn't imagine that Bruce ever came up here.
The only reason it didn't all feel glaringly incongruous with the Dark Knight Clark had come to know, and his roost below was a distinct feeling of emptiness. The corridor was half in shadow in the early evening light - more than half where Clark's own shadow stretched behind him across the polished floorboards - and silent, even to Clark's super-hearing, except for his echoing footsteps. Clark wasn't lost, exactly - it was almost impossible to get lost when he could see through the walls if he looked hard enough - but he had a distinct feeling of having wandered from the beaten path.
Ever the intrepid reporter, he continued on, to an impressive doorway that was far from the most remarkable in Wayne manor, nestled between a pair of stilifes. He eked it open and peeked into a grand hall. Hardly any light filtered in from the windows in the corridor, leaving him to wander among shadowy silhouettes in the darkness. The whole room was lined with suits of armor, standing in an eternal silent vigil, some bearing swords, some with spears, and some with nothing in their curled hands. It was like a museum, but without all of the display cases, rows upon rows of ancient armor and weapons - and still more lined the walls. Clark had the distinct feeling that these were the real residents of the manor; he was only a visitor, Bruce only a temporary resident.
He knew Bruce lived a lonely life, but this brought it all into stark relief. Clark's little Metropolis apartment at least looked like someone lived there. He had pictures of his friends and family, mementos of the times they had shared, Jimmy's photos, books that Lois had forgotten last time she visited and had never gotten around to picking up. Bruce had portraits of strangers and empty suits of armor. No wonder he was so famously reclusive.
Clark almost didn't notice Bruce appear before he spoke, "It was only a matter of time." His voice was low and rough, no louder than necessary for Clark to hear. "What is it with reporters and the armory?" He was dressed down in a sleeveless undershirt and pants that looked like he hadn't bothered to change out of the lower half of the batsuit. Bruce made no move to get any closer, so Clark didn't press.
Clark shrugged. "What can I say, I know a good story when I smell one."
Bruce raised a pointed eyebrow, his arms already crossed over his chest. "Going for the gossip columns?"
"Not this time," Clark said with a smile, unable to keep the deadpan up for too long. "This is all off the record."
Bruce smirked. "Good."
Bruce watched Clark in silence, his blue eyes glinting in the dim light, his heartbeat just a shade faster than resting. He seemed to be evaluating Clark, as though he was still wondering what Clark made of his home.
"Come up here often?" Clark asked, more to keep the conversation going than anything else, though he could see a tunnel to the Batcave through the walls.
"No. Just when my guests get curious."
"Sorry," Clark said with a sheepish smile.
"Don't be. If anyone's welcome, you are."
"Thank you, Bruce, I know how much that means coming from you-"
Bruce cut him off with a wave. "Don't make me change my mind."
It was a joke - Clark was almost certain it was a joke, but he got the message, Bruce had said everything already, there was no reason to push. Instead, he just stepped forward, slow enough to give Bruce plenty of time to step out of the way, and when he didn't, casually draped his arm around Bruce's waist and let Bruce lead the way back to the Batcave.