Chapter Text
Bruce was one of the smartest men Clark had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Not only was he smart, but he was strong, kind and hardworking. The type of man that should be put on a pedestal as someone to look up to.
Instead, Bruce Wayne was reduced down to his looks. Admittedly, he was absolutely gorgeous, and Clark completely understood why Bruce felt the need for a public persona, but sometimes it left him saddened that the man would never be truly as appreciated as he should be.
Although, perhaps it was a good thing. It was bad enough having to share Bruce with the league, he could hardly imagine what it would be like if everyone knew how brilliant he was.
Clark felt quite smug that he was the first Super to have fostered a bond with Batman. The league wouldn’t even exist if he hadn’t developed a tentative friendship all those years ago. Of course Diana had a large hand in it as well, and Clark was incredibly grateful for all she did, but Diana wasn’t Bruce.
Nobody could ever come close to Bruce in Clark’s eyes. Not aliens, magicians or even Gods. Because part of what made Clark so enamoured was how human Bruce was. He had no powers, no magic or enhanced senses. He was just so dedicated, so hardworking and meticulous that he’d trained to become someone who could rival armies.
Despite this power he never once let it corrupt him. Even Clark had moments, often when dealing with cross country conflict and government officials that he wondered if maybe he should just use his power to take. Yet, Bruce stood strong despite it all. The only time he’d ever seen The Batman waver was when the man had just lost a son, and even then he’d managed to reign his grief in.
When Clark lost his parents, all those years ago, he’d felt such anger he’d had to isolate himself in the Fortress of Solitude, and his parents had passed simply from old age. He couldn’t imagine how he would have been able to restrain himself if there was someone directly responsible for their passing.
Even when Jason came back, angry and changed, Bruce refused to be shaken. It was heartbreaking to watch, and Clark had comforted the man on many of the nights that followed a confrontation between Batman and Red Hood. Clark had no clue how to help Bruce other than to comfort him, and to have the man in his arms - if only briefly in the form of a hug - was something Clark adored, even if he resented that Bruce was suffering. Bruce didn’t deserve to suffer. Yet, in spite of everything it seemed to be a constant theme in his life.
Although, things seemed to truly be looking up. Bruce and Jason had reconciled, and the family unit Bruce had built seemed to be bonding well together. Perhaps it helped that Bruce was an omega, a Den Mother who’s very scent called to his children as a form of comfort. He was grateful to be trusted enough to be introduced to the family, and welcomed - mostly - as a friend. Damian still seemed to have some reservations about him, but he got along well enough with Jon, and Bruce assured him that it wasn’t personal.
Clark loved watching Bruce interact with his children. Despite his insecurities, Bruce was a good mother. Clark himself struggled just with Jon, and he spent half his time with Lois. Clark couldn’t imagine being responsible for not one, but seven children all determined to fight crime.
Although, Clark supposed, Jason and Dick could no longer be considered children. Though that didn’t lessen Bruce’s motherhenning - in fact, if Dick was to be believed, it had somehow worsened once they’d moved out. Tim, despite having his own apartment, managed to escape the worst of it by still mostly living at the manor. Steph and Cass definitely got more leeway, though whether it was because Bruce was more indulgent with his daughters, or because they were closer with Barbara was up for debate.
Clark kept tabs on both Jason and Dick after they moved out, occasionally reaching out just for a chat. Jason was much less forthcoming, but Clark could tell he appreciated it. Bruce did too. Though he’d never ask for help, he had expressed that he was grateful that Clark looked out for them as well.
Clark couldn’t exactly explain that in a way, he saw them as his own children, because he wasn’t ready to explain that his inner alpha had already decided Bruce was theirs. He wasn’t ready to have that conversation with Bruce, and perhaps he never would be.
Kryptonians didn’t experience secondary genders the exact same way humans did. A mate was not someone you chose, but someone you imprinted on. A mate was someone who your very soul recognised as their other half. Once bonded, there would be no one else for the rest of your life.
Clark had thought that having lived on earth, he would never get to experience that feeling. He’d married Lois, another alpha and he did love her. They were happy, even having Jon together. Though something was missing, and he never realised what until he met Batman - and later Bruce Wayne. He had tried to continue with Lois, but in a way it had been a relief when she herself had admitted that she had fallen out of love. They were too different in some ways, and too alike in others, and whilst he would always consider her a close friend, she could not be his Mate.
Having felt the strike that set his soul alight upon meeting Batman had been unlike anything he’d ever experienced. It was as though he’d managed to swallow the sun and the light and warmth of it was radiating within him, solely dedicated only to the man in front of him. Yet Batman simply told him to leave his city.
He’d felt so lost those first few months, even more so upon the realisation that his Mate’s civilian identity was Bruce Wayne. A man as secretive as the Batman would surely resent knowing his secret had been discovered, so Clark kept quiet.
Even when they became friends, even when Bruce chose to reveal his identity to him, Clark kept quiet. He was so desperate for any crumb that Bruce was willing to give him, he would never dare ask for more and risk losing what he currently had.
Plus, it felt selfish in a way that Clark couldn’t fully stomach. Bruce was young and painfully human, whereas Clark had been around long enough that even in spite of his alien heritage he had begun to develop grey hairs.
It made him feel like a dirty old man any time he thought of Bruce, but he couldn’t help it. His soul was dedicated to the other man, and so all he could do was suffer in silence, hoping that he could survive when Bruce one day settled down with someone else.
He had been lucky so far - neither Selina nor Talia were in situations to settle down with Bruce, and whilst Clark resented the pain it had caused Bruce, he was grateful that he did not yet have to witness another alpha lay claim to his mate.
Although, the thought grated him daily. especially during meetings like this. He wasn’t stupid, he could clearly see that many of the league would fall over themselves at a chance to be with Bruce, and whilst he understood it he also hated it.
“Do you think he’d want more Pups, or do you think he’s done?” asked Hal, casually.
“I reckon he’d want more,” replied Oliver.
“Maybe if he had a Pup himself, he’d stop feeling the need to steal them off the street,” joked Barry.
“Boys,” scolded Diana, “this is not an appropriate way to talk about another League Member.”
Clark felt eternally grateful for Diana interrupting them, he was slowly going crazy listening to them talk about Bruce so casually.
“Surely you’ve thought of it as well Diana?” Asked Hal, “I mean to find out that only one of his brood was biologically his - and that he hadn’t even carried them himself - well, it does lead a man to fantasise.”
“And he’s such a good mum,” interrupted Barry.
“Indeed he is,” replied Diana, “but that does not give any of you the right to be talking about him in such an objectifying way.”
Clark found himself fighting back a blush. Whilst he would never discuss it openly, he found himself feeling equally scolded by Diana, having succumbed to such thoughts many times himself.
Thankfully any further conversation was interrupted by the sound of the Zeta Tube, and then the announcement that Batman was aboard the Watchtower.
Clark ignored the way the others perked up, and refused to acknowledge that he felt the same way.
“Batman,” greeted Diana with a smile.
“Wonder Woman,” Bruce nodded, “good to see that everyone is here early.“ he added, in lieu of greeting everyone else. Clark felt put out he didn’t get a named greeting, but then again he hadn’t spoken up. Before he could say anything, however, Barry approached Bruce.
“Wally made cookies, he asked me to pass them along,” Barry said with a smile, before producing a tupperware container with said cookies inside.
Bruce nodded, seeming pleased in the silent stoic way you would only notice after knowing him for so long, and accepted the tupperware.
“Send him my thanks,” he replied, opening the container to take out a cookie. He offered the container to the others, who all shook their heads.
It was an open secret that Bruce had a sweet tooth, and could never say no to anything sweet despite being otherwise meticulous with his diet. It had become somewhat of a guilty pleasure all the league indulged in, plying Bruce with sweet treats.
Clark felt put out that he wasn’t the one to be providing for Bruce, but there was now a rota in place for who brought in treats, due to an incident in which every member had brought in treats, leading to Bruce getting suspicious.
Other than that one incident however, Bruce was almost obtuse when it came to the league’s infatuation with him. It didn’t matter how overt anyone was with their affections, it completely went over his head. Clark would be grateful, if he didn’t feel so frustrated that he was in the same boat.
One particularly memorable occasion was when Hal had asked Bruce to ‘let him hit that’ and Bruce had offered to spar with him. Watching Hal get beaten into the ground had been satisfying to watch at first, except Hal also seemed to enjoy it and that killed any pleasure Clark had felt.
Sparring with Bruce was another thing that had to be rota’d after that. It was ridiculous, and Clark wasn’t jealous - except he was - it was just unfair. Clark - and admittedly Diana - were Bruce’s friends first, and they were the co-founders of the league, it was unfair that they were designated as much time as Barry or Arthur. Clark was at least grateful it was limited to the core members, he thinks he might have lost it if he had to start sharing Bruce’s time with Booster Gold.
This wasn’t to say that either of the rotas were exactly official - it wasn’t like Bruce himself was aware of them. It was more to prevent them from stepping on each other's toes as they all attempted to compete for the Bat’s affections.
Bruce being the only omega on the team probably didn’t help the situation. The rest of them were all alphas, excluding Jonn who was undesignated in gender. Unfortunately when it came to Bruce, they had begun to act a little bit like knotheads, puffing out their chests and chuffing at each other as they attempted to claim any part of Bruce that they could get.
Jonn had actually been the one to point it out, stating how fascinating it was to witness secondary genders boiled down to their base instincts. They’d all been rightfully embarrassed, and thus the rotas were born to prevent any more posturing over who got to next bring Bruce coffee.
“Right,” started Bruce, “if we could all be seated. Black Canary and Martian Manhunter are unable to be present, so they will have the meeting notes forwarded to them.”
The meeting wasn’t anything overly important as thankfully things had been quiet recently. Bruce was mostly just going over the rota - the official one that scheduled each of them in for monitor duty.
“So, that wraps that up, any questions?” Finished Bruce.
“What are you doing tonight?” Asked Oliver.
“Family dinner, now if you’ll excuse me.” With that, Bruce left without even glancing back.
Oliver let out a sigh, and Hal clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“I’d wish you better luck for next time, but honestly I’m hoping you continue to struggle.”
“As if you’re doing any better,” rebutted Oliver.
“Yeah, but one of us has known him for well over a decade - and that’s not me.”
“How you managed to know Bruce since you were kids and yet never managed to tap that really just shows your lack of game,” added Barry.
“I got married young!” Defender Oliver.
“And divorced young,” added Diana. Diana had developed a friendship with Dinah early, and thus was not above poking fun at Oliver in her place. Whilst the divorced couple were now on good terms, it had taken time for Dinah - and Diana by extension - to be friendly towards Oliver again.
“Ouch!” Oliver clutched his chest in mock hurt dramatically. “I expected the cruelty from Hal and Barry, but you Diana?”
“Simply stating the facts,” replied Diana, with a teasing smile, “I’ll see you all later.”
“I’ll be off as well,” Said Clark, waving farewell as he left Hal, Barry and Oliver to gossip.