GREAT NOW I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT.
Superman and Batman as Achilles and Patroclus
I was going to leave it at that. But was YOUR comment @occasionalauthoring 🫵🫵 that had me spiraling for this long. So here. A gift for you (See? You're not always an afterthought)
"Who cannot live up to the other's legend and dies because of it and who is driven insane by the loss until they themselves die?"
Achilles is Clark. Patroclus is Bruce. Why? Because. I. Said. So.
Ok, no. Hear me out. Honestly, their positions are interchangeable, but I want Bruce to die first I think it is more poetic for the quasi god to be on the semigod's place, you know?
Achilles who was meant for greatness. Achilles whose image was admired. Who wasn't a leader, but was followed anyway. Who was - rightfully so - overconfident on his own abilities. Who wore his emotions freely, loved life and challenges. Achilles and his destiny. Achilles and his rage. His loss. His pain. His death.
Patroclus who followed the shadows of greatness. Patroclus who was capable and brilliant. Who was an incredible warrior. Who knew how to lead, but didn't take charge unless necessary. Patroclus and his faith. Patroclus and his love. His selflessness. His sacrifice. His death.
Bruce always knew it wasn't his place. A mere human between god-like beings. The weak point among divinity. But he stood anyway.
And he was welcomed. He was acknowledged. Even if not liked by most, his abilities allowed him to mingle with them all. They genuinely searched for him for intel, for perspective, for help. He proudly stood side by side with them as equals, even to the point of considering some of them his closest friends.
So. When the time came and he had to make a choice, he chose the most logical and practical alternative. And he wasn't really a choice on his list of priorities.
Diana had joked about it exactly ONCE with Clark. She had told him how he and Bruce reminded her of a well-known tale of the Greeks. And Clark had paled. Because of course he knew the tale, and of course he knew it's ending. Diana had reassured him that their story would never come to that, if anything, him and Bruce just reminded her of them in concept, not in practicality.
But it was too late. Clark had already seen the pattern. So he kept his distance, mostly for fear of a future without his friend by his side, but also, because he was not supposed to feel that way for someone who wasn't his wife.
And then came the divorce. And then came Bruce's shoulder. And then he forgot to keep his distance.
He thought himself careful enough. Working his ways so he never had to put Bruce in the position of having to choose, because he knew the man. He knew the scars. The infuriating ways he always put himself in harm's way for the rest... But he couldn't always be careful. He wasn't truly an almighty god, after all.
So. When the time came and Bruce had to make a choice, he shouldn't have been so surprised when his love didn't choose himself.
The fallout was inevitable. And Kryptonian grief never translates well against humanity.
As time moved on, the others had to make the call. Clark's sins accumulated bigger than his grace, so they had to stop him.
Diana pierced his heart. They gave her that much grace. She begged them for the dignity of her friend. Who was once her friend. The trio. The trinity. The hope, the love, the justice. She kissed his forehead as the knife shone green against his chest.
He smiled at her when she asked for him to give Bruce her love.
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