When Clark had left, he never could have imagined what he would return to. The moment he set foot in the Watchtower he knew something was wrong. He could feel in the air the mood was sombre. Hal was the one who was waiting for him in the hangar.

"Welcome home, I take it all went well?" Hal attempted to smile as he greeted him, but it didn't reach his eyes. He looked exhausted, his eyes dull and his shoulders hunched.

"Yes," Clark replied, sceptically looking Hal up and down. "Is Bruce on a mission?" He asked, looking around for their usual welcome wagon. Hal flinched at that, ever so slightly, but Clark noticed. "What is it?" Clark asked, concern beginning to flood his senses.

"You better come with me." Hal turned and led him through the tower to the conference room. Sitting around the table was J'onn, Barry, Diana, and Arthur, all four of them looked as exhausted as Hal. And still no Bruce. Clark took his seat and waited as Hal reluctantly took his.

"What's going on? What happened while I was away?" Clark asked.

The other members exchanged glances with each other before J'onn started to speak. "Four days ago, there was an incident with an army of killer robots."

"Par for the course."

"Except these were self-replicating bots, for everyone we destroyed two more took its place. Bruce figured out that the only way to stop it was for someone to get on the inside and shut down whatever was replicating them." J'onn closed his eyes and took a breath before continuing. "Bruce got inside but discovered that he could cause it to explode, taking all the bots with it. He ordered everyone to retreat from the surrounding area and only then did he inform us that he wouldn't have time to get out."

"We tried to reason with him," Hal spoke up. "I could protect myself, surely Barry could outrun the explosion. But he wouldn't hear it."

"I tried to get him out," Barry said. "But I couldn't get through all the bots in time. I couldn't-" his voice caught in his throat. "I tried, I really tried, we all did. We went back for him. But there were too many bots between us and him." Barry stopped trying to fight the tears, letting them fall freely. "He's gone."

"No, no, no," Clark whispered, shaking his head. "You're lying."

Hal had placed his hand over Barry's comfortingly. "We wouldn't lie to you about this."

"You have to be, he's Bruce, he's Batman, he always pulls through." Clark pushed up from his chair and began pacing.

Barry looked at Clark. "You can hear our heartbeats, you know we aren't lying."

Clark looked at Diana, whose eyes were now also shining with tears. "Kal," her voice was tight as she attempted to keep a lid on her emotions. "Why would we lie about this?"

"You have to be." Clark slammed his fist down on the table, it split in two. "He can't be gone, he can't!" Clark tilted his head in a way they all knew meant he was listening for something. Clark fell to his knees, wrapping his arms tightly around his middle, a sob wracked through him. "NO!" He screamed.

Diana hugged him first, his head falling onto her shoulder. "I can't hear it." He whispered and it sounded so broken, so defeated. That it broke Diana's heart further. The others said nothing as they surrounded him too, and held him until the sobs lessened and he was able to speak again. "I should have been there if I was here-" Clark said.

"No." Arthur cut him off. "He knew you would think that, knew you would blame yourself. He told us to ensure you knew it wasn't your fault."

"He left you something," Diana said. "It's waiting in your quarters."

Hal spoke then, "You should take some time to process this before we do anything else. Then we'll discuss what happens next." With that, the five of them left.

Clark returned to his room, he'd passed other members on the way there, but couldn't even bring himself to greet them. He sat on his bed staring down at the letter that had been left on his bed. All he had to do now was open it. Eventually, he tore it open and unfolded the piece of paper within. He was greeted with Bruce's fancy handwriting.

Clark,

If you're reading this, then it probably means that I'm dead. And because I know you, I know you will be blaming yourself for that happening. But this is not your fault, this is the life we live, and these are the consequences of that. Please do not blame yourself for what I've done.

I'm writing this letter the night before you leave for New Genesis. I almost kissed you tonight, before you left. As a result of that, right now I'm feeling a lot of different things but I'm not very good at expressing my emotions out loud, so I figured I'd write them down and see if that works. So here goes. I love you, Clark. I've been in love with you for years. But I've been too damn cowardly to tell you because I have no idea if you feel the same. I guess I'll find out. Unless you're actually reading this, then it means I never got to tell you to your face. If that's the case, just know that I loved you, more than I've ever loved anyone before.

Yours truly,

Bruce.

Bruce had loved him too.

Bruce had almost kissed him the night before he left.

That was where his thoughts kept coming back to. He remembered that night. Bruce had called on him for backup and once they'd finished they spent the night at Wayne Manor, just talking. But there had been a moment, Clark had thought he had imagined it before. He'd been teasing Bruce about a recent outing he'd made as Brucie, and Bruce had laughed and all of a sudden they realised how close they were standing. Clark thought he had seen Bruce's eyes flick to his lips. Thought that just for a moment they were both leaning closer. But the moment had quickly passed and Clark had left then, making some excuse about getting some sleep when they both knew he didn't need sleep. He'd gone back to his apartment and laid awake, Bruce the only thing on his mind. In the morning he went up to the Watchtower, Bruce wasn't there but he'd left a message telling him good luck, and to be safe, and Clark had left, thinking he'd come back and Bruce would still be there.

They'd been in love with each other, and both were too afraid to admit it to the other. Maybe they would have eventually worked up the courage to confess. But Bruce was gone. He was dead. And now they'd never have the chance.

Clark found himself standing outside Wayne Manor. He didn't remember choosing to go there, and he was still in his suit, but since he was there he decided to knock on the door.

"Master Kent," Alfred greeted as he showed Clark in.

"Alfred, I am so sorry."

"Yes, well, since the day Master Bruce dawned the cape and cowl I've been dreading that call."

"If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know. I can't imagine how this is for you all."

"Well if that isn't the most utterly ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"Excuse me?"

"Master Kent, you are as much a part of this family as anyone, and if you think I am unaware of your feelings for Master Bruce you are greatly mistaken."

Clark hung his head, a wave of several emotions coursing through him. Of course, Alfred had known, there's nothing that man didn't know. "It's almost worse," Clark confessed. "Knowing that he felt the same. That we wasted all that time and now-" Clark cut himself off as he choked back a sob. "I'm sorry," he quickly wiped at his eyes, wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape. "I'm not here to talk about my grief, I'm here for you, all of you."

"Now, now, son, you have just as much a right to grieve as any of us."

"Thank you, Alfred." Clark walked over to the end of the entrance hall, whereupon a table sat a lit candle, behind which hung a mirror that was currently veiled. "Alav ha-shalom," Clark whispered.

"May peace be upon him," Alfred echoed.

Clark centred himself, gaining control over his emotions once more. "Now, where are the kids?"

"Right this way, sir."

When Clark and Alfred entered the room where the rest of the family was gathered there were more people there than Clark had expected. Dick was having a quiet conversation with Barbara, Wally, and Kory. Jason was over by the window with Roy and Kate. Cass was curled up on one of the sofas with Steph. Lucius was having tea with Jim and Silena. Luke Fox, Duke, Tim, and Conner were sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, all four sat in silence as they watched the flames.

"It's been very helpful that they have people to rely on," Alfred said, coming to stand beside Clark.

"Mhm," Clark agreed, but there was one person missing and that was concerning him. "What about Damian?"

Alfred sighed. "The young master has been the only one who has not stopped working, he patrols the city constantly, though there hasn't been any incident since the attack."

"Nothing at all?"

"It seems the death of the Batman has shaken even the Gotham criminals. Not even the Joker has attempted anything."

"That is-" Clark didn't get to finish his thought as he was cut off by the doors being thrown open.

"You!" Shouted Damian as he stormed into the room, dawning his robin costume bar the mask. "How dare you show your face here, alien!" That drew the attention of everyone in the room who up until that moment hadn't seemed to notice that Superman was amidst them.

"Supes," Dick was the first to speak up, breaking away from Wally, Barbara, and Kory to sidle up beside Clark.

"Dick, I'm so sorry for your loss." Clark wrapped him up in a hug.

"I wasn't finished talking to you," Damian announced, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "This is all your fault."

"Young master," Alfred warned. Just as Dick said, "Damian."

"My father is dead because of you."

"I-" Clark started.

"You are supposed to save people. But you didn't. You weren't even here."

Clark sunk down to one knee so he was eye level with Damian. "I wasn't, and you will never know how much that pains me, Damian."

"I don't care how much it pains you, alien, my father is dead because of you!" Damian's hands moved so quickly that only someone with superspeed could have seen them, and then there was a small knife pressed to Clark's throat. "Because of you," Damian repeated, his features twisted in rage. The knife bit into the skin of Clark's neck. Clark felt it pierce the skin, and a drop of blood dripped down his neck. That was when everyone else in the room realised that the blade had been infused with Kryptonite, Clark, of course, had known the second it had been drawn.

"What are you doing?" Dick hissed as Jason launched himself across the room and was at their side in a matter of seconds. The second robin had idolised Superman as much as the first had. Clark held up his hand which stopped Jason in his tracks, though Clark never broke eye contact with Damian.

"Damian," Clark said softly. "I loved your father, more than you could ever know, more than I've ever loved anyone."

Damian's scowl deepened but the blade of the knife was no longer pressed right against the skin of his neck; instead, hovering a few centimetres away. "Then why didn't you save him?" Damian's voice cracked on the last word, his anger fading to grief. "Why?!" The knife dropped to the floor and Damian's curled fist landed on Clark's chest. "You're Superman, you were supposed to save him!" Damian's fist continued to thump at Clark's chest, Clark let him. "He trusted you. You were supposed to have his back and you let him die."

"And I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for not being here. But I can't change the past. I can't bring him back."

That was when Damian's resolve cracked and the boy started to cry. "You were supposed to save him." Clark didn't hesitate to wrap the boy up in his arms.

"I know. I know," Clark muttered soothingly. Behind him he heard Dick mutter to Jason, "That's the first time he's cried." And Jason replied, "tough little bastard that one, outlasted me."

"I don't want him to be gone." Damian clung tightly to Clark.

"Neither do I." Clark's voice cracked, he could hear others in the room snuffling.

Eventually, Damian let go of Clark and stepped back. He bent down and picked up the knife. "I apologise for," he motioned to the small cut on Clark's neck. As soon as he placed the knife back in the lead-lined pouch on his belt, the cut started to heal.

"No permanent damage done." Clark swiped his finger over the cut, wiping away the little bit of blood that had dripped out.

"Father loved you as well."

"I, unfortunately, found that out too late."

"I did not approve, of course."

"Of course," Clark chuckled.

"He should not pollute his bloodline."

"That's your grandfather talking, Master Damian." Alfred made his disapproval evident.

"And they're two men," Jason added. "They can't have biological children together."

"There's that too." Clark smiled.

"Clar-...Superman," Dick quickly corrected, momentarily forgetting that people outside the family were in the room. "Take a walk with us." He inclined his head towards Jason.

"Yes," Clark replied and rose to his feet. Jason ruffled Damian's hair as he passed him, which earned an attempted sawt from Damian. Out of the room, they wove their way through the manor and out towards the private burial grounds.

"I'm sure you've been informed that the private funeral has already taken place," Dick said.

"Yes, and Diana mentioned a public memorial at the end of the week."

"On Friday, after the shiva," Jason supplied. Clark nodded. "Then," Jason sighed. "We have to decide who is going to take up the cowl."

"Already? It'll only have been just over a week."

"The Gotham criminals won't stay dormant for long, even they will get over the Batman's death and be back on their bullshit," Dick explained.

"They are going to ask you to weigh in on the decision."

"Why me?"

"You were as close to Bruce as any of us. Closer in some ways. It's only right you get to weigh in on it too."

"Are you forgetting the no metas in Gotham rule Bruce had?"

Jason again, "which he never enforced on you like he did the others."

Clark reluctantly had to agree with that. "And I suppose you two want to influence who I support."

"No," Dick said. As Jason said, "yes." The two glared at each other momentarily.

Clark arched an eyebrow, amused. "Who do you think it should be?"

"Tim," Dick answered. As Jason answered, "Cass." And then at the same time, "Really?" And again at the same time, "Yes."

"Neither of you think you should be the one to take up the cowl?"

"Red hood's whole thing is that he can do the things Batman can't, so I feel like that would be backtracking for me."

"And I spent so long trying to get out of his shadow..." Dick sighed. "Look, he was my dad, I loved him. But taking up the cowl is my worst nightmare."

Clark nodded in understanding. "Not considering anyone else?"

"Duke just got started as Signal, Damian is far too young, and Luke and Steph have their Batwing and Spoiler gigs that are working pretty well for them." Dick shrugged. "And honestly, Cass and Tim are the best options."

"As much as we are pained to admit it, Tim is the best detective out of all of us, he's the smartest. And Cass is the best fighter and has the most experience. It's ultimately deciding what is more essential to Batman, the detective part or the fighting part."

"I see, I will have to think on it."

"That's why we wanted to give you ample warning."

"We also thought you might want to visit." Dick motioned to the gravestones they had come to stand by.

"Mine's still here." Jason ran his hand across the headstone. Then came to kneel in front of Bruce's, no flowers were on the grave, but there were several stones set atop the headstone. "We didn't always get along," Jason said softly. "But just when things were good again, he's taken from us." Jason hung his head, slowly tracing his finger over the 'father' engraving. "I never doubted that he loved me, but I wonder if he felt like this when it was me?"

"Oh, Jason," Clark rested a hand on Jason's shoulder. "He did."

"But he isn't coming back. Not like I did, not like you did." He looked at Clark. "He's gone." His voice broke and a few tears rolled down his cheeks.

"He is." Clark's voice cracked and he was once again crying. He'd cried more this day than he'd ever cried before. Only Bruce could turn the man of steel into a blubbering mess.

"Not the both of you, you'll have me crying too." Dick sniffed as he sunk to his knees beside Jason. "Look what he's done to us." He smiled even though tears threatened to fall. "Insensitive bastard." That caused all of them to laugh softly. Dick and Jason both rose to their feet then, each placing a stone on the headstone.

"We'll give you some space," Jason said and then he and Dick made their way back towards the manor.

Clark looked back at the grave. "It hasn't even been a day for me yet, and I already miss you so much. I'd been waiting for you to be there, smug that you were right about the mission taking four weeks instead of two. Instead, I come back and you're gone. Saving the world again. We've had close calls before, but you always made it out. And I guess I'd convinced myself that it wouldn't happen to you. There you go proving me wrong again." He sighed. "You were the best man I've ever known. I don't think you believed it yourself, but you had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. I'm going to miss you every single day. Your snide remarks, your constant pestering how I never watch my six, how I'm reckless, your damn long and boring team briefings. I love you, Bruce, so much. I don't think I'll love anyone the way I love you. I'm sorry I was too stupid to see what was right in front of me. I'm sorry for not telling you how I feel. I'm sorry for not saving you. I'm trying not to blame myself, because I know that's not what you would want, but it's hard, Bruce. If I was here, was there with you all, you'd still be alive."

"You don't know that," a soft voice came from behind him. He startled, he should have heard them approach. He turned to see Cass standing behind him. "I apologise. I didn't mean to startle you, or eavesdrop on you."

"It's not your fault."

"Neither is what happened yours."

"It's hard not to blame myself."

"Your presence would likely not have changed what happened."

"I let him down."

"No, you did not. He would have wanted you to complete your mission above all else."

"You're right." Clark sighed, Bruce would have admonished him had he abandoned his mission in favour of assisting them. "How are you coping?"

"He was my father. He and Barbara saw the good in me when no one else did. He took me in, taught me how to read, how to speak, how to be more than the weapon they trained me to be. I miss him dearly and vow to uphold his legacy."

"Do you want to be the one to take up the cowl?"

"I believe it should be Tim. I do not believe I am ready, and I feel the mantle of Orphan is even more appropriate now." Clark reached out and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. Surprising him, she turned into him and hugged him.

The rest of the week passed in a blurry haze. He didn't eat and barely slept, not that he particularly needed to do those things, but the food usually tasted good and he liked to sleep. He spent way too much time obsessively re-reading Bruce's letter, so much that he could hear Bruce's voice saying the words as he read them. Various other members of the Justice League had attempted to call, but he'd declined them all. Only responded to J'onn's message about the memorial, that he would be in attendance and he would give a speech. The one thing that pulled him away from it long enough was a call from his mother. She'd stayed on the phone with him for who knows how long, just listening to him as he attempted to process his grief.

The morning of the memorial was the first time he'd showered since he'd gotten back, the first time he'd shaved or brushed his hair. Then he donned his black suit in lieu of the usual one and made his way to the Hall of Justice then. Upon his arrival, he found the other members of the Justice League had similarly donned toned-down versions of their suits.

Diana greeted him with a hug. "How are you holding up?"

"Honestly, not very well."

"I'm so sorry, Kal. If there's anything any of us can do, please just let us know." Clark nodded and attempted a smile that he didn't quite pull off. "Are you sure about the speech? If you don't think you're ready, I can do it for you."

"Thank you, Diana, but I think it has to be me. I knew him the longest and I'm the perceived leader of the Justice League, even if Bruce was the one actually running the show."

"And financing," Diana joked, attempting to lighten the mood. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was putting up a strong front Clark realised, probably trying to take the emotional burdens of the other founding members too.

"We all have you," Clark pointed out. "But who do you have to lean on?"

"I have people. Don't worry about me."

"It's time," J'onn announced. The founding members gathered around each other, then the seven...six of them made their way outside onto the steps of the HOJ. For as far as the (human) eye could see there were crowds of people. Clark was pretty sure he spotted every member of the Justice League and the Teen Titans and various other teams of heroes, most likely members of every paper, and packed with regular civilians. All there to pay homage to their fallen hero. Clark was scanning the crowd for a second time when he spotted something.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath. Diana seemed to have heard him anyway.

"What is it?"

"They chose here? Today?" Clark muttered before he lifted up into the air and soared over the top of the crowd.

"Superman! Where-" Diana didn't bother finishing her sentence before she flew after him.

"How dare you?" Clark warned as he landed in front of Harvey Dent, who wasn't alone.

"Wait," Harvey said as Diana landed beside Superman. But Superman had him by the collar before another word could pass his lips.

"No. This is-" Clark started but was interrupted by Cobblepot.

"Look, big guy, we aren't here to cause any trouble."

"Promise," Harvey wheezed and Clark realized he was holding the man too tightly and let him go. Harvey took a moment to catch his breath. "Listen, Superman, we're here the same reason as everyone else."

"And why am I supposed to believe you?"

"Bruce was my friend. We were more than friends at one point. But he never gave up on me."

"On any of us," Nygma added.

"He saved my wife," Fries said. "Covered all of the costs and then got me a job at Wayne Enterprises."

"He got me on the straight and narrow," Cobblepot confessed. "We're only here to pay our respects, you can let us do that can't you?"

Clark looked at each of them. "Alright, but if any of you try anything I swear-"

"We won't," Harvey promised. Clark nodded once, then he and Diana flew back towards the HOJ steps.

"I was worried there for a moment," Diana said. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes." Then he walked up to the podium. The other five founding members fell in line just to his left. Within moments silence fell over the crowd. "I would like to begin by thanking everyone for coming to pay their respects. Batman, or Bruce, as the world now knows, was a hero who through the sacrifice of his own life saved countless lives, possibly all of ours." Clark paused and scanned the crowd again. "I first met Batman twenty-three years ago. And we...we didn't like each other that much at first. But I ended up in a little bit of a bind, where I was stranded alone and without any powers or way of escape. And despite him not liking me one bit, he came to my rescue anyway. That was when I saw that behind the gruff exterior he was a good man, who wanted to save lives. Slowly we became friends. Eventually, the closest of friends." And slowly I found myself falling in love with him. Clark added silently.

"For quite some time it was just us two," Clark continued. "We didn't know anyone else that did what we did. That was until fifteen years ago an alien invasion brought us together with other heroes and we founded the Justice League. The Justice League has defended Earth since then and none of it would have been possible without Bruce. He was the moral centre of the Justice League, the sole human among aliens, demigods, and superpowered individuals, he kept us in check, kept us grounded in reality, and not to mention our source of funding. In a way, he was the best of us. He never hesitated to throw himself in the line of danger, never thought for a moment of putting himself above the lives of others. The world has lost a hero, the Justice League has lost a leader, but a family has lost a son and father, and we-" Clark motioned to the other founding members to his left, "-have lost a dear friend." Clark stepped away from the podium, the crowd remained silent save for those he could hear shedding tears. Clark himself was shocked that he had not shed some, it appeared this past week he had cried himself dry.

The rest of the memorial went off without a hitch and afterwards, Clark returned to Wayne Manor with the family. Where he stayed for tea and they all shared their favourite stories about Bruce.

They gave it another two weeks before they reconvened to decide who would take up the cowl.

"And we're sure Gotham needs a Batman?" Steph asked. "The world just lost him, will it not be jarring when someone else starts running around Gotham in the suit?"

"She does have a point," Clark agreed. "You all have your own established names."

"No," Damian piped up, he'd been silent up until this point. "Just as Superman is a symbol of hope for the world. Batman is a symbol of hope for the people of Gotham. And a warning to the criminals. They need to know that while the man might die, the idea lives on. Gotham needs a Batman."

Everyone was silent at that, taking a few moments to mull it over.

"He's right," Jason announced first, surprising everybody. Especially Damian.

"He's right?" Tim asked, making certain he'd heard Jason correctly.

"Yes," Jason sighed, as though admitting Damian was right was the worst thing in the world. "And we've narrowed our best options down to Cass or Tim. I say we should all vote now."

"I agree with Jason," Dick said.

"Everyone's full of surprises today." Steph grinned.

"Alright," Dick announced loudly as he clapped his hands together. "All in favour of Cass for Batman?"

Steph, Jason, and Duke raised their hands.

"All in favour of Tim for Batman?"

Dick, Damian, Luke, and Kate raised their hands.

Dick turned to look at Clark, Lucius, and Alfred. "Since Cass and Tim are abstaining. That leaves you three."

"Given everything I've talked about with both of them and what they think or want, my vote goes to Tim," Clark said.

"Alfred? Lucius?"

"Also Tim." Lucius nodded.

"Master Timothy," Alfred agreed.

"So you know," Cass spoke up as she turned to face Tim. "My vote would have gone to you as well." Tim smiled back at her.

"Alright then, unless there are any objections?" Dick looked to Duke, Steph, and Jason, who all shook their heads. Dick then looked to Tim with an extremely proud look on his face. "Congratulations, Tim, you are the Batman."