Thanks to Jonathan - For your enthusiasm and your friendship.
Clark could truly say it was something he'd never seen nor ever saw coming. He could only guess Bruce's experience, but Clark doubted he'd anticipated it either. Some might appreciate the magic of that, the magic of things and relationships changing, transforming, but he and Bruce were not men who enjoyed being caught off guard. They both went to great lengths to avoid it, actually. Bruce with his far-reaching networks of intelligence, threads and webs and vines reaching and extending ever outward. Clark – though he too relied on information – more relied on his physical senses, his superhuman, overwhelming ability to detect sound and sight.
They had grown closer over the years certainly. To the point where often only short comments were necessary for them to understand each other. Sometimes, simply a look or knowing glance would suffice, or the slightest tilting of the head or jutting of the chin.
And certainly they had started to gravitate towards each other. More often than not when they were gathered with their comrades, it would be Bruce Clark found himself standing next to, or sitting beside. Or in the heat of battle, when it came to that, though he of course trusted all of them, as they trusted him, he felt particularly assured if Bruce, or more accurately, Batman, in long black cape and menacing black mask was nearby.
It had not passed his notice that he was probably one of the few who felt this way. Batman's was not a presence that invited or welcomed company. Respect, admiration of his skill, fellowship with him, when it was required, but more often, Batman's gruffness, shortness with others, and frankly his intimidating nature did not set the stage for true feelings of friendship to transpire.
Even for Clark, it was perhaps a one-sided friendship, for it was Clark who often approached first, to stand closer together than was absolutely necessary, to make visits to Wayne Manor, specifically the cavernous lair beneath it, that were not absolutely necessary.
None of that was enough though, to explain what had happened. Though it was a rare case where Bruce had invited him to the Manor when it was not absolutely necessary, though still deeply appreciated.
Yet this was no ordinary visit. It was not a social call, or even to discuss business, though it did pertain to the aftermath of their shared business. More accurately, recuperating from the aftermath of their shared business.
Truly, the whole thing could be called cliché.
If they were different people, anyway.
Clark was having a difficult time seeing the humor in it at the moment.
And of course, Bruce saw no humor in it at all.
Would obliterate it from existence if he could.
Alas, that was beyond his power.
As a reporter though, Clark was curious, as to how this had unfolded. The sequence. The most obvious place to start was the reason he ended up at the Manor that night in the first place. That's where he would start, if it didn't involve him. If this was only a story he was reporting, that was removed from him, that was about people and places that didn't have great meaning to him.
Then he would work his way backwards from there.
So, that's where he would start.
And maybe then he would be able to determine: did he miss the signs? Signs that would have given him some forewarning they were heading this way? That the road was, or already had changed underneath them, and they had somehow failed to notice?