Superbat identity reveal shenanigans where Bruce kept flirting with Clark as Bruce Wayne (both with Clark and Superman, and occasionally implying he knows that they're the same). And then eventually while Clark is rambling to Batman about this because besties he kinda,, gets caught by a comment Batman makes and uses his x-ray vision and oh. Oh.
Buttt, Bruce always acts so sweet and helpless with him, right? Tucking into his side and begging this big, strong man to just keep holding him, keep him safe <3 and Bruce Wayne, well, he doesn't have any powers! He's smart, sure (Clark has realized the ditzy himbim vibe is an act) but he's a guy, a normal human who keeps acting so very helpless and vulnerable. Like, he keeps doing the whole damsel in distress thing, just so Clark will keep holding him a little longer.
So, even now that Clark knows Batman is Bruce Wayne, he kinda processes it the opposite way? Instead of "strong man who is a competent fighter and amazing detective puts on an act as ditzy playboy" it's "this vulnerable, sweet man who needs my protection every time I see him has been pretending to be so much stronger than he is because he was scared". It's not Batman is Bruce Wayne, it's Bruce Wayne is Batman. And Clark goes kinda crazy about it.
He gets like, really overprotective and touchy. How many times has Bruce quietly asked him to just keep holding on? Clark isn't allowing that distance as heroes anymore. Bruce needs him. Needs to be protected. Kept safe. Sure, Bruce can handle himself, but he kept begging Clark to protect him - Clark isn't going to just stop. He's constantly got Bruce against his side, cape over Bruce's shoulders like a shield (it's kryptonian fabric, maybe it is). He's patting Bruce's shoulders and rubbing his arms and being so sweet and close.
Bruce is just a human, a human who has been pretending to be more, putting himself in danger because of a sense of duty. And he wouldn't even let Clark protect him, because he was scared of them finding out who he was. And Clark maybe understands a bit, because it's so hard for him to let someone like Bruce keep going out as a hero. Bruce is so fragile, so vulnerable, he doesn't even have powers like the rest of them, he's soft. Clark will let him be Batman, of course, but he's keeping a much closer eye out now. Bruce is just so precious, and Clark doesn't want him getting hurt.
(I. Have a thing about characters getting treated as softer, more dependent/vulnerable than they actually are... And I remember seeing a post about Clark who thinks humans are so cute and he wants to protect them all, because he's so much stronger and they're all so small and precious and squishy and vulnerable. He gets cuteness aggression about them. It's like wanting to protect a small, cute animal, y'know? And his teammates at least have powers like him! But then he finds out Bruce doesn't... Ahhhhh I love them.)
OMFG I have had this ask in my inbox for weeks. I just love this so fucking much.
And I'm so mad at myself that I didn't think of this before. This is eye opening for fucks sake.
Every superbat identity porn that I have read to date, it has always been Clark finding out that the himbo Bruce Wayne is Batman and that means he's strong and independent and untouchable.
I NEVER fucking considered that he could have ever interpreted it in the opposite way (you're a fucking genius and ily)
Clark finds out Batman is Bruce Wayne? And suddenly he can see all of their interactions playing in his mind. About Bruce took to tuck himself under Superman's arms when he was trying to "flirt" with him or how Bruce held on to him tightly like a scared child whenever Superman saved him from a near death experience. He remembers how soft Bruce actually is, how Clark can see the underlying want for love and protection Bruce has in his eyes.
And suddenly Batman is not an untouchable entity anymore, he's the soft, fragile human who unknowingly told Clark just how he had been pretending to seem stronger than he actually is. Clark knows no doubt that batman is not helpless, but he also knows how fragile and squishy humans are.
All of this makes Clark's head rush with a sudden bout of protectiveness for Bruce, he already loved the man before but now that he knows just how soft and human Batman is, everything is ten times more intense.
He's always hovering around Batman protectively, making sure he doesn't take unnecessary hits. He starts to leave his mark on him so that Bruce feels more comfortable like leaving his cape on Bruce's shoulders or modifying the batsuit with help of kryptonian tech to make it more sturdy.
He also stops pretending to not care about Bruce and takes everything in his own hands. He earns Bruce's trust slowly as if he's a skittish kitten and to Clark he really is akin to one, distrustful but sweet and it gives him a bad case of cuteness aggression, makes him want to protect Bruce and bubble wrap him. And he does wins Bruce's trust by using all the methods to befriend a stray kitten.
And suddenly he's at the manor every other day, managing Bruce's health and lifestyle. He starts courting Bruce without hesitation and makes Bruce understand how precious he is to Clark.
Ughh I love this soo much. IF you are gonna write this as a fic, I will do anything you want from beta reading to sobbing over this cute ass fic 😭🫠
theartofmadeline
romaincrisis
gracieabrams
origamiaround
vaporwave
dailybridgerton
germansingergirl
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