White elephant
Disappointment is not the reason keeps Clark from actively seeking out the Bats. Clark hates to admit he might sullen too long, but it’s only for the first couple of weeks, if not days.
There was a full-scale Arkham break out during the same period when Justice League falling apart. Who kidding. Even with all the backups, any sane man won’t make too far in that kind of insane. How Batman manages Gotham craziness is a mystery. The man himself is an enigma. But it’s undoubtedly possible even the Bats could be grievous injured and put out of commission for an extended period.
Clark was concerned when the first time he called Batman, but nobody answered. He understood the situation and he got other business to attend. Clark let it go.
Maybe that’s a mistake.
With each passing day and each non-answering call, Clark becomes worried. For so much Clark knows Batman, he is not somebody going down easily. There must be something equivalent to death to keep the Bats quiet so long.
If Batman died in an anonymous dark alley in his beloved city…… that’s ironic, isn’t it?
Clark pushes that thought, or any thoughts leading to that end, deep down in this mind. There is an unquenched itch of back of his mind all these times, demanding him to seek out the Bats, and to make sure and to protect. The unwavering burden of being a Pack leader to ensure all the pack members are safe and sound. Though Justice League is only a semi and unofficial pack.
Funny thing is, Clark never feels this strong need to guard and to protect when Batman is by his side. The urge slowly grows after he realizing the Bats is missing in action till it’s hard to ignore. Then, Superman needs to remind himself the Bats is never his pack member to begin with to protect.
Clark blames everything happening to serious and weird krypton poison he got in the crisis. Batman put up that plan at the first place, so he is undeniably responsible.
But that does not remove any nervous when Clark is about to find out what happened to the Bats.
There are multiple vigilantes associated with Batman in Gotham. No accurate intel, only rumors, bury under the urban legends of the Batman. Clark knows it’s true because he spots some of them while looking upon Gotham searching for the Bats or accidentally pick up couple of lines in the built-in comm of Batman’s cowl. Super hearing is sure be damned for consistently breaching others’ privacy. Diana probably shares some acknowledgement as Clark about Batman. She doesn’t say nothing but let Clark lead the way.
They fly across Gotham’s sky and descend near a skyscraper. Clark hears some signature hissing of grapple line close-by and leading them toward this place. Considering the dramatic factor the Bats would like to play the rooftop will be a perfect meeting place.
Not long after their arrive, a lean figure reveals himself on the edge of the rooftop, stealthy, and with mysterious grace.
It’s a young adult with dark hair and a domino mask covered his face. Dark spandex with striking blue pattern assembled like a bird, staring from his fingertips across his chest. The grapple gun is gone when Clark and Diana turned around to face him, giving a feeling like he has been standing at the edge of the roof this time all along and waiting.
“Superman.” He causally nods to Clark, and then to Diana. “Wonder Woman.”
No surprise by the sudden visit of Justice League, no excitement nor much nervousness. At least not the same nervous one would have facing two powerful beings.
He looks rigid, yes, and a little bit tired. Clark could smell stress rolling off from his pores if not for the heavy scent blocker the young man is wearing.
Good thing is he is not hostile.
Or not yet.
The way he is gauging Superman and Wonder Woman gives away a feeling of demanding. What he is after for is unclear at the moment. He is holding back, a lot, from dumping all the questions at them. Oh, so polite.
“We are wondering when you are going to drop by.” Another voice, a teenager boy, speaks up at the back, causing a jerk of neck from Clark and Diana.
Clark has to scan the surroundings to make sure if there are any more vigilantes hiding in the shadow or something. One day for sure Gotham residents are going to give Superman a heart attack.
Good news is he has checked it out. There is one more standing in the dark shadow and looks like going to jump into this conversation in any second. At least this one is also a young adult, or Clark really would like to have a talk about the recruiting child for vigilantism with Batman.
An angry young alpha. The more Clark scans him the more, he is sure. Even with a red mask covering most of his face this one somehow manages to give Clark a grumpy and sharp look. The streak white hair with a confusing aura makes him appears more mature than he is supposed to be. He has a red bat cross his chest, barely visible between his crossed arms and his unzipped jacket. This young man is violent to bones and ready to lash out with a blink of eyes.
“Please ignore him.” The blue one murmurs. “He has a long day, a long week, whatever, but he won’t bother us.” He raises his voice. “Anyway, I guess you coming here for talk.”
“I assume you are related to Batman.”
“My bad.” With a sloppy smile, he forces himself to a stance that looks more relaxed and welcome, though with Superman’s sight, Clark could tell more tension is building in that body. “Name’s Nightwing. There’s Robin.” Sluggish gesturing toward the red, yellow and green costume teenager perches on the other side.
Robin, the teenager who manages to speak to them earlier, responds with a cautious nod.
“Yes, we are with Batman.” Nightwing says. “It’s good to finally meet both of you.”
Clark notices Nightwing intentionally left the angry red hood one out. It’s not like Clark doesn’t have a hunch who he might be, but since that’s not what he is mainly after today, he does not pursue.
“Nice to meet you.” Clark politely replies, “All of you.”
Diana cuts to the point. “We are here to talk to Batman.”
All three vigilantes tense up at the drop of Diana’s words.
Silent, until Robin quietly and calculatedly speaks.
“I thought you are here to talk about Batman.”
The red gives a mocking huff at Robin’s response.
Clark is confused but calmly clarifies, “The last time Batman was seen by the League was twenty first of December, when he departed Watchtower and went back to Gotham. We called him multiple times from then and now but got no response. Therefore, we’re here to check upon him.”
“First of all, you are suggesting B is not working on some deep undercover job for League, right?”
Clutches her lasso, for both impression and habit, Diana squints Nightwing, “What you are implying?”
“And the second?” Clark steps forward and takes control of the situation. He would like to hear Nightwing out before burning the bridge.
“It might be true that the last time LEAGUE saw Batman was the twenty first of December, but for you, Superman, you rescued a civilian from a twisted time and dimension turbulence bubble and escorted him back to Gotham on December twenty seventh. I have an impression that you received this specific request directly from Batman and might he also provide you instruction about how to help.”
Alfred Pennyworth. Name of the Gotham civilian Robin talked about. The butler of infamous billionaire and playboy Bruce Wayne. The message Clark found out left out all the details about who was trapped only with the necessary information and instruction to make a successful rescue. Back then he simply assumed the identity of the victim was irrelevant or lost. But on second thought, it’s too clean to not be done on purpose.
Clark was nervous about he won’t make it on time because the entire League comm was so messed up that he still didn’t know when and how Batman left him this message. Only after talking with Pennyworth gave him some ideas about what’s happened. Pennyworth has a way of his words, which makes him the worst enemy of investigation and journalism. Even Superman couldn’t pull much useful from this overly polite English man. Guess that’s a requirement to successfully serve multiple decades for Wayne family so surprisingly with how many times Wayne embarrassed himself in public but there not yet a single scandal rising up inside of his house.
Clark saves people twenty-four seven, so he didn’t put much thought into this matter. Pennyworth is not so different from others. But thinking about it now, how did Pennyworth end up in a twisted time and dimension turbulence bubble in the first place? How did Batman know? Pennyworth must be linked to Batman, maybe important, since he tried to send out of message to Superman when the entire League’s comm was screwed and specifically asking to rescue this man even when he certainly knew it’s very possible this request may never reach its end. It’s a desperate measure in a desperate time.
He let Pennyworth walk away too easily, Clark thought, he was overwhelmed and didn’t want to think about it. But how could Clark predict Batman would go radio silent for so long?
Gotham Bat is used to being mysterious and solitary, but he is not unresponsive. Yeah, unless he thinks it’s totally bullshit or ridiculous he would skip and ghost. Whatever they are having now is beyond child play.
“Isn’t that the last time you see Batman?” Nightwing gingerly asks.
“No.” Clark denies, “I received his request through message. I have not seen him in person as the rest of the League.”
A pause, let his reply sinking into dead silent vigilantes. Then it’s Clark’s turn to question.
“Now, where’s Batman? When is your last time seeing him?”