()

Clark opened his mouth to say something, only for Bruce to interrupt. "Don't."

He had quite an idea of what Clark was going to start lecturing him about and he really didn't deserve it. Not this time anyway.

The man-of-steel bristled. "Bruce, you practically caused him to wet his pants--"

"Not practically. Did."

Wonder Woman scooted away from the mysterious puddle. Which had appeared just seconds before Flash had disappeared. And was yellow. Ew.

Bruce let a satisfied smile hug his lips—but was wise enough to not turn it into a smirk. If that's how Flash felt about his smirk, he didn't even want to think about how Wonder Woman felt.

Or Green Lantern.

Because if Wonder Woman used lubrication in some of her mental schemes, that was...kind of hott.

But if Green Lantern used...lub...lubi...

He shuddered. Damn Flash for putting mental pictures in his head.

Flash's girly scream had been correct. He was going to die. Just as soon as Clark let him out of his eyesight for more than thirty seconds.

Oh. He was still talking.

Right. Pay attention to the lecture. He focused.

Puddle.

The thought entered his head so quickly, that he jerked physically. What the? Puddle?

Someone's thoughts. Not his. Whose?

So gross...puddle...

Clark started waving his hands around. He tried to look interested. Or at least like he was paying attention.

It's so...yellow...

Why were they so concerned about the damn puddle?

Why is it so yellow? Maybe he has an infection?

Bruce nodded. It was indeed, a bit too yellow. Clark, of course, took this to mean he was agreeing with whatever it was he was saying.

No...probably just lack of water...yeah...water...

And the thought died out there. He tuned back into Clark's rant.

"And then my ma' said to me--"

That is where he tuned back out of Clark's rant.

It's staring at me...

This thought was more...weaker? No...but...different. So it wasn't the same person.

Stupid puddle.

Then again, maybe it was.

Did it just blink? I think it did...

Bruce snorted. Puddles don't blink. Clark's face started turning red. He'd probably just unintentionally insulted the way he was raised but...

Puddle. Yellow yellow puddle. Staring back at meee...

He had slightly more important things to worry about right now.

Like the puddle thoughter...personer...person.

Had to find out who was thinking about the puddle. Bruce glanced at the other leaguer's eyes...

Only to blanch slightly. (Clark's voice took on a slightly apologetic tone..) They were all staring at the puddle. Not directly. Glancing out of the corner of their eyes, as if to look like they were paying attention to Clark...

When really they weren't.

Someone should clean it up. Right.

The thought was more brisk. But he was giving up on finding out who it was. Judging from how they kept glancing at it, the thoughts were coming from each of them. Great.

Seems kind of ...wrong... killing it though.

He let out a disgruntled sigh, which caused Clark's voice to raise in volume.

After all, it did blink at me.

Wait. So maybe it was just one person, and not--

Blinked at Hawk Girl too.

Crap. False alarm.

Someone was touching him. Oh. Clark. Clark was poking him. Which meant he was getting to the peak in his rant. Right. He really needed to focus right--

I'm not cleaning it up. Let Flash do it. It's his puddle.

Yes. He had to agree. However--

Then again, it's Flash. Chances of him cleaning it up are slim.

Just what he'd been about to say. Err...think... This voice was very--

It'll start growing mold soon. Then eyes. And legs. Then it'll start randomly attacking us in the middle of the night. And we'll all die. That's how the Justice League will end. Due to Flash's puddle.

Stupid. Very very stupid.

Death by puddle. Doesn't sound nearly as dramatic as it should.

Sad thing? The last thought was his. Clark's rant ended, and to his amazement, Hawk Girl nodded and started saying, "Superman has a point, Batman."

Oh she was not.

"You can't just..."

No way in hell was she going to join in on the lecture party when she just spent the majority of it thinking about Flash's puddle.

"Puddle. Yellow yellow puddle. Staring back at meee..." He said in deadpan voice, mentally smirking as all of them started to pale several shades.

Clark blinked at him, then looked towards the other leaguers, who were slowly backing out of the room (making sure to stay clear of the puddle). "What?"

Bruce leaned back into the pillows of the hospital bed, his ears just now starting to ring. The machines were off, and during the entire thing he had focused his hearing on Clark's heart beat. He was getting better but...

It wasn't nearly enough. And if the other Leaguer's thoughts were coming into his head, he really had a lot of work ahead of him until he could even think about going out as Batman. The idea of facing Joker and being able to hear all the loony things that went on in the clown's mind...

Well it wasn't a very pleasing one.

For now though...

"Do you want to know what they were thinking about while you were ranting?" Why not have a little revenge?

Clark stared at him, then back at the doorway, where the leaguers had stood not two seconds ago. Taking into consideration the idea of poking fun at them, and the fact that...

"Honestly? No."

"You sure?"

"...Positive."

Ignorance was bliss.

()