A/N: Thank you so much for the review and compliment Batbabe!

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Alfred sat the last plate down on the table and dismissed himself back into the kitchen satisfied that everyone was okay.

"This looks great!" Lois smiled taking a bite of her salad, "This IS great."

Bruce smiled slightly cutting his steak.

Darrian nodded. "Yea, props to Freddy."

Clark nodded, agreeing. "So Bruce, how's business been?" He asked, for lack of something to say. He was getting slightly unnerved by the way Bruce's friend kept STARING at him. For Darrian's part, he was having a whale of a time, giving Clark snatches of heated looks. He had a plan... oh yes... he had a plan.

"Since the alien attacks and the Lex Luthor deal... it's been good, I guess." Bruce popped a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed slowly, it was taking every ounce of self control he had to keep from laughing at the looks Darrian was giving Clark.

Lois had also noticed this, she dabbed her mouth with her napkin to hide the grin.

"Gotham's a nice city." She said averting her eyes to Bruce.

"It has its' perks I guess."

Darrian looked confused at Bruce, while Clark seemed relieved that the small guy's attention was off him. "Alien attacks?" He asked incredulously. "You what?"

Bruce frowned slightly, "Long story... Remember the extremely dark cloudy day a few years back?"

Darrian thought. "I think so... o'course, I might've been in England at the time, so I prolly wouldn't have noticed any difference. " He joked.

"Yea well, that's when Earth was attacked by aliens."

Lois gave Bruce an incredulous look, "Does he-?"

"Yes, he knows I'm Batman." Bruce nodded.

Clark looked with confusion between Darrian and Bruce, before leaning back in his chair. "So... how do you guys know each other?" He asked, interested. "You must be pretty close to Bruce if he let you in on his little secret." Darrian smiled at Clark. "I'll let Bruce fill you in on that." he said, not sure what Bruce wanted revealed or what have you.

Bruce had stopped eating; his eyes had become transfixed on his plate.

"Bruce?" Lois whispered leaning across the table and nudged his arm.

Bruce blinked and scowled up at Clark, "He's a friend I've had since I was a boy." He answered darkly.

"Oh... " Clark noticed Bruce's dropped mood and felt guilty about bringing it up.

Darrian noticed this too, and decided to stir things up. "So, Lois. How long've you and Clark been going out for?"

"Almost three months." Lois answered tearing her eyes from Bruce; she'd have to find out what was wrong a little later.

Darrian cooed. "Awww... sweet." He gave Clark another look, flashing him a quick smirk. "How do you two know Bruce then?" Clark ducked his head, putting a forkful of food in his mouth and stubbornly waited for Lois to speak, not wanting any more of Darrian's attention on him than was absolutely necessary.

Lois frowned at Clark, "Well I met Bruce when he came to Metropolis," She smiled at the memory, "But I'm not sure how Superman here met him."

Bruce snorted softly shoving a fork full of food into his mouth.

Clark shrugged. "I met him the same time you did." He filled in, shifting as he felt Darrian's gaze boring back into him. "And then our alter egos met later..."

Bruce nodded, "But a certain someone had to 'cheat' to find out who I was." He glared at Clark an amused smirk pulling at his lips.

Darrian, on the edge of laughing, looked at Clark. "How's that?" Clark glared at Batman. "Bruce... " He said warningly. "It wasn't cheating."

"Yea right, using your X-ray vision to find out who Batman was isn't cheating." Bruce shook his head and took a sip of his water.

Lois turned to Clark raising her eyebrows, "I'd call that cheating." She smiled.

Clark made a face. "It was... utilizing my abilities.." He said edgily.

Darrian looked keenly at Superman. "X-ray vision?" He asked, with a tone of laughter in his voice.

"It's one of my powers." Clark explained.

Darrian looked confused. "Powers..." He looked at Bruce. "How come he has powers and you don't? Isn't there some kinda superman union that gives these things out or something?"

"Clark's an alien." Bruce explained glancing at Lois who was slowly eating her food.

Darrian gave them both a blank look. "Uh-huh." He said slowly. He turned to Lois. "And what about you? What's your big secret? You're really a mutant with superhuman powers too?" He asked, half joking.

"Yes." Lois answered seriously.

Bruce raised an eyebrow but kept his mouth shut, he wanted to see where this went.

Darrian made a shocked face, and then giggled. "Okay, what do you do?"

"I-"

"Oh come on Lois," Bruce chuckled interrupting her, "Give him a break. He already thinks we're all crazy."

"So? I'm just giving him another reason to think it." Lois smiled.

Darrian made a face of hurt. "Awwww... you were LYING to me? How could you... after all we've been through... " He pretended to sob. "I'm heartbroken." Clark rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." Lois rolled her eyes as well, "You sure pick up strange friends." She said to Bruce who smirked.

"I know."

"One, considering you're dating an alien and are friends with a guy who leads a secret double life as a crime fighter, I don't think you should be calling other people strange." Darrian laughed. "And secondly, I picked HIM up... you may not believe this with my youthful looks, but I am actually OLDER than he is." He said, winking at Clark.

"Really?" Lois raised an eyebrow and glanced at Bruce who was once again frowning.

"Yea... truly. Though you wouldn't know cause Brucie's WAY too serious." He cocked his head at Clark. "In fact... you two are kinda alike... sure you're not the same person. I mean, both being superheroes, both having the whole 'stone-face' thing going on...?" both in love with Lois Lane... although that's about to change if I have anything to do with it. He thought.

Bruce, being quite observant and knowing the way Darrian's mind worked (most of the time) could see the wheels turning in his head.

"I have reason to be serious." He grunted picking at his food.

Lois laughed, "But not at the moment you don't. Lighten up Brucie."

Clark watched Darrian as the other boy started trying to make Bruce smile. What's that guy up to? He thought feverishly. How well does Bruce know him.. He seems like bad news to me. At that moment, Darrian turned his head and their gazes locked. Something jolted in Clark and he couldn't look away. Luckily, Darrian turned his gaze before anyone could notice. Clark shook his head. What was that?

Bruce glared at Darrian, "Knock it off." He hissed the corner of his mouth twitching upward unconsciously.

Unfortunately for Clark, Lois 'had' noticed the eye contact and the look that had crossed Clark's face afterwards. She bit her lip to keep from frowning then turned her attention back to Bruce who was running his hand through his hair trying not to laugh.

Darrian subtly pouted at Bruce, then smiled, turning back to Clark. "So... do you have to work out to keep your great shape or is that just an alien thing?" He asked, faux innocently. Clark choked on a mouthful of drink.

Bruce shook his head and Lois laughed.

"You should see him work out! Whenever he has a spare moment it's straight to the gym!"

Darrian turned a heated look on Clark, which made the alien superhero shift uncomfortably in his seat. "I SHOULD see him work out, shouldn't I." He said, with a laugh to show he was joking to Lois, but still fixing Clark with that look.

Clark turned his face, flushing despite himself. "Well, I'm done." He announced, putting his cutlery down. "Alfred did you proud as usual Bruce."

Bruce nodded setting his napkin down on his plate. A moment later Alfred walked in and collected the plates.

"That was delicious Alfred!" Lois smiled as he took her plate.

"Thank you madam." Alfred smiled back.

Darrian had a problem with having one person clean up after another, but didn't show it. He grinned at Alfred. "Yea Fred, you should leave Brucie here and go see if you could get better pay as a chef." He giggled

"I wouldn't dream of it." Alfred said dryly as he left the room.

"Why don't we go into the Pool room?" Bruce asked standing up.

Darrian stood up and bounced off hyperactively. Clark waited for Lois and walked along beside her, his head down, trying to forget about Darrian's teasing.

Lois smiled leaning her head against Clark's arm.

Bruce walked behind them at a slow steady pace.

Clark distractedly smiled back at Lois, his mind deep in thought. Part of it was anger at Darrian for making him tailspin into this new land of confused feelings, and the other part was furiously thinking at Bruce where the hell did you pick this guy up? Darrian was perched on the pool table, swinging his legs under him like a big kid as the others came in. "Took you long enough." He greeted good-naturedly.

"Side of the road." Bruce grunted to Clark as he walked by.

Clark snorted, slightly unnerved that Bruce had picked up on what he'd been thinking, but not completely surprised.

Lois looked up at Clark slightly confused, "What?" She asked looking over at Bruce who was rounding up the balls.

Darrian, jumping off the table, gave the other two guys the same look Lois was giving them. "Yea... what? Why Do I have the feeling I just got insulted?"

Bruce shrugged, "Anyone up for a game?" He asked holding a pool stick up.

Lois shrugged picking up a stick, "Yea sure, why not?" She smiled looking over her shoulder at Clark, "You up for it big guy?"

Clark shook his head. "I'll sit this one out thanks." He said, taking a seat at the side so that he could watch the game. Darrian also declined to play, but, instead of going over to sit on his lap, as Clark had been fearing, went and sat a chair or two down from Clark, watching the table with interest. Clark glanced sideways at Darrian, who continued to ignore him, and Clark caught himself feeling slightly perturbed.

"Want to break?" Bruce asked setting the triangle down on the floor.

Lois nodded walking around the table to the white ball and lined up her shot. Striking the ball she sank three balls including the 8 ball.

"Luck." Bruce grunted.

Darrian laughed at Bruce. "She's gonna kick your ass Brucie." He crowed. Clark clapped his girlfriend, still watching Darrian to the side of him unconsciously.

Bruce scowled at the two as he re-racked the ball, "Bet you can't do that again." He smirked slightly dropping the triangle to the ground again.

Lois grinned chalking up her stick, "Bruce, Bruce, Bruce," She shook her head lining up her stick with the white ball and once again pocketed the eight ball, "I've played this game with my dad for years."

Bruce's jaw dropped slightly, composing himself he put his stick away, "Anyone up for darts?"

Darrian laughed, doubled over. "She totally annihilated you mate."

Clark gave Lois a congratulatory kiss. "Now you know why I never play against her Bruce." He chuckled.

Bruce snorted then smiled.

"Wanna try again?" Lois asked grinning.

"Against you? No thanks, I'd rather fight with Superman here that way I know I at least stand a chance at winning."

Clark bristled playfully. "Hey!"

Darrian tutted. "Oh come on Bruce... " Darrian sauntered over to Clark and grabbed a bicep. "LOOK at these things... he'd pulverize you." He said, stroking his hand down Clarks arm nonchalantly, making Clark shiver. Darrian winked conspiratorially at Bruce.

Bruce shook his head turning away, "You know I could." He smirked mischievously.

Lois rolled her eyes, "Oh look at you two, you're acting like... like little boys!"

Darrian went over and pinched Bruce's cheek like a fond aunt. "Awwww dey so cute." He mocked.

Clark was smiling, but discomfited by his feeling of... what... what was that? Jealousy?! It couldn't be. Clark mentally shook himself.

Bruce pulled away from Darrian shooting him an angry glare.

Lois laughed, "Aww!" She mocked him patting his arm, "Did he just hurt your ego?"

Bruce scowled unable to stop the blush from coloring his cheeks.

Darrian snorted. "Me? Make a dent in the huge orbiting planet he calls an ego? Not likely." He winked at Bruce to show that it was all in play.

"Hey!" Bruce lightened up and smiled a little, "It's not that big..."

"Sure it's not." Lois snickered.

Darrian sighed and walked over to Clark, reaching up to rest an elbow on the other man's shoulder. "You know it's huge." He said.

Clark jumped. "Wh-WHAT?"

Darrian backed up, looking confused. "Brucie's ego?" He laughed. "Stay on the page Clark."

Both Bruce and Lois gave Clark a worried stare.

"Darrian why don't you leave Clark alone for awhile, I think you've scarred him enough for one day..." Bruce said holding back a grin.

"Actually..." Clark looked at the clock. "We better go. We have work tomorrow." Darrian pouted. "Aw, that sucks. We were just having fun too." He said, giving Lois a mournful look.

Lois smiled, "Maybe you can come visit us sometime. You know, get Bruce out of this stuffy place and show him that there's life beyond Gotham."

"I know there's life beyond Gotham." Bruce grunted and Lois smiled up at him.

"Great then you know about Metropolis."

Bruce rolled his eyes.

Darrian cocked his head. "Sounds good... lemme think about it."

Clark moved away, taking Lois by the arm. "Shall we?"

"Bye you guys." She smiled waving to them as Clark led her out of the mansion.

Bruce raised his eyebrows, "You were hitting on Clark?" He asked turning to Darrian looking slightly amused.

Darrian sighed and flopped across the pool table. "Flirting and getting NO where. Bruce, you HAVE to help me..."

"You're on your own with that," Bruce grunted folding his arms over his chest, "There's no way I'm helping you get together with Clark."

Darrian turned. "Why not? You'll be helping you get together with Lois." He sang, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Bruce paused for a moment, "No..." He said again this time a little less sure of himself, "I couldn't do that to them."

Darrian sat on the floor. "Look... it's not like Clark wasn't showing any interest. If he was so in love with Lois, surely he wouldn't've spent all night looking at me. Would he?"

Bruce turned to Darrian raising an eyebrow.

Darrian looked up at Bruce. "What?"

"I didn't even noticed."

Darrian stuck his tongue out. "Seriously though..."

"Why are you so hell-bent on getting Clark?" Bruce frowned folding his arms over his chest.

Darrian shrugged. "I dunno. I want you to get with Lois? And it's been AGES since I had anyone. And, I dunno... I like him... instant magnetism or something."

"What happened to that one person you were dating for so long?"

Darrian thought hard. "Which person?"

Bruce rolled his eyes and shrugged, "Jack...? Wasn't his name Jack?"

Darrian's eyes widened and he laughed. "Oh YEA! Jack." He giggled. "Oh, no, that ended years back. He decided he was straight after all."

"Nice." Bruce commented dryly walking out into the hallway, "I have to start my patrol in about an hour," He frowned looking at his watch, "What are you going to do?"

Darrian sighed, shrugging. "Can't I come with?" He asked hopefully.

"No." Bruce shook his head.

Darrian pouted. "You're no fun."

"I know."

"Yea, yea, laugh it up laughing boy. What am I supposed to do all day? Well... evening."

"Read." Bruce said in deadly calm serious voice.

Darrian gave Bruce a dirty look. "I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that Bruce." He said. "Don't you have any clubs round here or something?"

Bruce gave him a stern steady look, "You sure you want to go do that?"

Darrian shrugged. "After our little dispatch I should be fine... until the guy sends some more morons down here, but that should take a few more months. I'll be cool Brucie."

Bruce's stare lingered for a moment longer, "Right. It's your life, you're older than 'me' I'm not gonna tell you what you can and can't do." He shrugged, "There's a new club opening 'Club Gotham' or something. Shouldn't be hard to find."

"Is it any good?" Darrian asked, pepping up.

"From what I've heard it's okay." Bruce smirked a little, "Been there once or twice myself."

"Bruce, you dark horse." Darrian smirked. "Think I'll be able to pick someone up there?" He asked shamelessly.

Bruce snorted, "What, giving up and Clark so easily?" He rolled his eyes, "Sure. I bet you can." He started for the clock.

"I'm not giving up." Darrian explained. "I'm just really lonely. Cold bed, you know how it goes." Darrian grinned wolfishly.

"Right." Bruce waved him off and disappeared down a set of stairs behind the clock, a moment later the passageway way closed off again by the large grandfather clock.

Darrian raised an eyebrow. "Well... that was weird."

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A/N: Please Review!!