tushanshu | audio;

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[The post comes from Clark and Lois' suite, and the voice is unmistakably Clark Kent's. Superman is probably going to stay low for a while after Leslie's arrival.]

Clark Kent here.

I... know there's people handling a list of people who find themselves here to keep track of those who disappear, but now that we know that these incidents aren't going to be isolated maybe we should think of a quick way to check if people have been found after a disaster, or who's hurt or who hasn't been seen around for days?

The number of foreigners and arrivals is growing week by week so it's getting harder to keep track on everyone at once.

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No. That doesn't take into account the possibility of two people disappearing simultaneously. A daily check-in would be inefficient, given that so many people would forget or refuse to cooperate.

[He could just microchip all of them, damnit. But that's probably a little invasive even for him.]

I'm going to speak to the Emperor about it. I imagine she has the exact numbers. Whether or not she'd be willing to share them publicly is another thing entirely.

['Forget'. 'Refuse to cooperate'.]

We aren't keeping an invasive list of people, a day or two without checking wouldn't be too bad. And if someone refuses to cooperate it's their problem and it'd mean they don't care much if people know they are hurt, damaged or simply gone.

The exact number would be useful if you manage to get it out her. If you can't tell me, I'll try on the next audience.

[And then a pause.]

I also need your help for something else.

[Bruce makes a noise of assent. Clark reads his silences better than almost anyone alive, he has no need to spell things out for him.]

What is it?

Did you see a certain villain of my home-town paid us a visit?

[Bruce likes going straight to business... Kal makes things longer than they should be sometimes.]

[Oh, he gets the flattest look. Clark, that's like asking the sky if it's blue.]

Livewire. Hard to miss.

[He returns the flat look with a smile. There's probably some Pavlovian conditioning here but if Bruce has the time to be sarcastic, then Kal can relax. Everything will fine, he already has a plan.]

Not Lex-level of making me worry, but I still think we should do something. I could have made a suit like mine back at home in the fortress, but I lack both the tools and the material in here.

Think you could help?

[That look turns dry.]

I've been working on a prototype.

[Clark- Kal, is soon hovering nearer.]

Of course you have, there was no possible way you hadn't. Think I can help?

You could try staying out of the way.

[Which is code for 'come by and I'll think about it'. ... it's not a 'no', at least?]

[Kal doesn't even know why he expects anything else.]

It is my villain we're talking about, you know. And metahumans are kind of my thing. [But he's still smiling as he rolls his eyes] But fine, do it your way.

[Hmph. He smirks.]

We always do.

[He made the Batman smirk, hah]

Do you need data on her? I... think she's slightly different though. Like Lex was.

What do you have?

[Normally the answer would be 'no', but Bruce is still lacking a great deal of the equipment he's become so reliant on, and Clark does have X-Ray (and assorted others) vision.

It's not... terrible, to collaborate occasionally. But Clark is still one of the only people alive he'd do it with.]

A bit. [His eyes turn translucent blue as he shifts to x-ray vision, just to prove a point.]

I will write all down for you.

[Bruce lifts an eyebrow. Obviously, when Clark says 'I'll write it all down for you', Bruce expects that means right this instant. And so he's just going to wait for it.

(Impatiently).]

[Not-so-impatiently geez he's done in about a minute. Perks of still having super-speed, enjoy it while you can Clark.]

There. If I think of something else I'll tell you.

[He takes the paper without ceremony, looks it over once, committing the details to perfect memory, and then he drops it back on the table, crumpled. The message is clear: burn it.]

Hn. Anything else?

[The list is extensive to say the least. He might not be a bat but he has his own particular brand of paranoia, he notices most things. There's a list of known powers and possible multiverse variations Kal has been considering, a bit of her backstory and the differences Leslie pointed out during her first post, a bit of recap on the battles against her, some drawings and explanations of the suit Hamilton made for him that was later used for her...

And a lot of reminders that she's just mentally unstable because of the nature of her powers, at least in their universe. He tried to make them sound stand-offish but it's clear he doesn't want her hurt if possible.]

Not that I remember, but tell me if you need anything more specific.

I meant in general, Clark.

[He's got this Livewire thing on lock, don't you worry. Superhusbands know what's up.]

[He has to hold back a smile, he isn't laughing at Bruce. It's just amusing how down-to-business the man is.]

Then no, nothing else. Thanks for all your help Bruce, in this and everything else you always do for me. For us.

[Bruce scowls at him at the unexpected show of... emotion, that are so characteristic to Clark and so foreign to Bruce himself. He doesn't like the implication that they're closer than they should be, even if he accepts and understands that Clark is the closest thing he has - will ever have - to a brother.

His annoyance flairs, and he turns to leave.]

You can thank me by doing your job.

[And then he's gone.]

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