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[The image opens on Bruce Wayne at his finest. He's wearing (1) new suit designed by Favrielle, and he's looking pretty swank. Because Bruce Wayne. And Reasons.]

All right, Keeliai, I have a business opportunity to propose. As of right now, I'm relaunching Wayne Enterprises. For those of you who've never heard the name before, it's a multi-national business conglomerate with a focus on humanitarian aid and the like, based out of Gotham City back home.

Anyway. For the duration of my stay here, I'm looking to start in pharmaceuticals - I'm sure you've all noticed the kedan have never even heard of ibuprofen - and work our way up from there. Essentially, I'm looking to better the quality of life for everyone on Tu Vishan, foreigner and local alike.

If anyone's interested in working for me, or if you have experience in a pharmaceutical field, feel free to contact me over the network. We can arrange a meeting in person if you'd prefer. Confidentiality is guaranteed in either case. I'm paying twice the rates the kedan offer, and I've arranged it with the local authorities such that any time you work towards me counts towards your overall work 'obligation' [can you hear the finger quotes falling around that word] here in Keeliai.

Thanks for your time.

[ooc; tags will be sketchy, but I wanted to get this up and get the ball rolling on this plot before I poofed from the internet. <3]

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[It doesn't take long for a red and blue figure to land in your living room, Bruce. He was always careful to keep Bruce Wayne and Superman as away from each other as possible, but he'd been fast enough to make sure he wasn't seen. Plus the hole right on the roof of Bruce's house had made it rather easy for him to sneak in.]

You know, you should get that fixed up.

Later.

[It's pretty much a growl. He can guess at why Clark is here, and he's not in the mood for a lecture.]

I could do that, if you want me to. It'd take a minute.

[He takes a few steps closer. He doesn't know how to word this, so he simply goes with honesty because it's always (...or usually) the best answer.]

I heard about Tim.

[Is this irritated look the answer you were hoping for, Clark?

Probably not. But there it is anyway.]

I don't need a 'mysterious superhero' fixing Bruce Wayne's roof. Why do you think I've left it for the past few days?

[Though he's had local kedan contractors in to look at it, ultimately he'll fix it himself. He just has to pretend he's a clueless billionaire with nothing to hide for a while first. In the meantime, he's been working on all sorts of neat Bat-things to hide in the refurbished roof.

Of Tim, he says nothing.]

I would do the same for any of the foreigners or the Kedan, you know that. I'm not giving you preference, I simply happened to come by.

[He looks at the hole again, his lips turning into a frown.] And we should keep an eye on that Iron Man person. I don't think he's a bad guy, but he causes far too much damage.

[He goes back to look at Bruce] Don't think I didn't notice you avoiding the question, by the way. Is 'I don't want to talk about it' such a hard thing to say?

That's not my point. The less we associate publicly, the better.

[Batman and Superman? That's fine. Bruce and Clark? That's fine too. But it's when you start getting overlap that, with such a small community of foreigners, people begin to start picking up on strange alliances. Being recognizably from Gotham is bad enough.]

The man put a hole in my roof. He may not be a threat but he's damn well a hazard. What if he'd killed a civilian pulling this [fingerpoint to roof] stupid stunt? We need to do more than 'keep an eye on him'.

[Seriously the guy's worse than Ollie ever was before his little island sabbatical.]

Do I have to say it, Kent?

['you really should know better than to ask that question, bro.' But at the same time, it's not a rebuff. Not exactly. As difficult as it is to acknowledge, he knows that Clark is asking because he's worried. Because he cares. Losing Tim this way isn't the same as having him die, but it still hurts.]

[He will not roll his eyes he will not roll his eyes he really really really will not roll his eyes. And if he keeps telling himself that he might even start to believe it.]

B, he is a superhero in his world. He might be a little bit eccentric but he seemed like he truly cared. And he's smart, you have seen the suit.

[And yes, Kal got a glimpse at it and could probably tell Bruce some things but he won't tell if he doesn't ask. Bruce is powerful enough without being the Iron Bat or something like that.]

I don't think he would have let himself hurt anyone because of a little quarrel.

[And speaking of quarrels he still has to talk to Bruce about Steve, but he files that for later. Just like he pretends he never asked about the Tim issue, since Bruce seems to be so not in the mood.]

[Bruce snarls a little, and his voice drops an octave.]

You know who else has a suit like that? Luthor.

[STOP BEING SO TRUSTING, CLARK.]

'Eccentric genius' is a type we usually end up fighting against, Kent. In case you've forgotten.

[No, he's not taking himself out of that example. Look what happened when he ended up with Clark's powers. Bruce knows that he is potentially one of the greatest threats the League could face, if he goes rogue or is subject to brainwashing of some denomination.]

[He lets out a little growl at that because yes, Bruce, he had made that connection himself without your help thank you very much. But everything related to Lex is pain for Clark and he tried to ignore that trail of thought as soon as it appeared.]

We can't judge them all based on that. He's a hero in his world- Captain America trusts him.

[And if Steve trusts him, it's enough for Clark to give him a chance. And this is also an opening for Bruce to give his... opinion on the whole fight with him. But he knows he will not take it.

Because yes, he'd heard it. Not all of it, he isn't an eavesdropper, but enough to know it couldn't have ended nicely.]

[Nope not even feeling bad. Because Bruce is a jackass, you knew that when you signed onto this friendship, Clark.

His eyes narrow slightly when Clark mentions Rogers. Because yes, he knows exactly what Superman is doing and he doesn't exactly appreciate the subtle manipulation.]

You heard it. What do you think?

[Yeah sorry he'll be blunt about this.]

[Well, there they go. And Clark wasn't trying to manipulate you Bruce, he was simply giving you a chance to pretend nothing had happened and move on to other subjects. Not everyone uses subtlety as a tool of manipulation, surprisingly enough.

He braces himself because he gets the feeling this isn't a conversation that's going to end nicely, no matter how carefully he tries to word things.]

I think you were right, you know what my opinion on killing or even letting people die is. But I also understand that Steve isn't like us. He's a hero, yes, but he's also a soldier.

You can't expect a man who's seen the war first-hand to promise he'll never kill.

So you're of the opinion that I should teach him to be more efficient at it?

[You know him, Clark. He's naturally suspicious about everything and everyone.

Even Superman. Sometimes.]

We have seen war first-hand, Clark. We've both fought and bled and damn well died for our countries, our planets. Why should anyone else get a free pass to kill simply because of what they've seen? People are defined by the choices they make. Period. I won't say that the Second World War wasn't hell on Earth for those boys, but he isn't there now. He has a chance to change, and he isn't going to take it.

[... Bruce just. Presses a hand against his forehead and manages not to project complete irritation in Clark's general direction.

Because honestly, he's more angry at himself. For taking a chance and reaching out to someone against his better judgement and being proven wrong.]

For the love of- Bruce!

[It's the first sentence that startles him, because even know he knows Bruce likes pressing his buttons...]

Of course not. And if you don't want to train him that's fine, I'm not saying you should educate an army just because they didn't mean any harm. I'm not stupid, B.

[It's Clark's turn to run a hand through his hair, exasperated.]

But he's a good man, and he doesn't deserve the things you said to him. You should have handled things more nicely, that's what I'm saying. Don't train him, don't approve of his methods- but to put to put it bluntly, you were kind of an ass.

[GASP SWEARWORD]

[-- That startles a harsh laugh out of him.]

Being nice is your job, farm boy.

[He doesn't play that game, and Clark knows it. Batman has always been rougher around the edges by necessity. It's the difference between Gotham and Metropolis.]

Why is it always my job?

[The laugh had kind of upset him, he wasn't joking about this. But he knew better than to take whatever Bruce did when he was upset personally.]

He's not a bad man, and you know it. You don't have to train him if you're so sure he'd use that training to kill, but you can at least be less caustic about it instead of sending me to apologize as always.

You know why it's always your job.

[oops is he all up in Clark's face. Bruce is standing less than a few inches away from him, his expression perfectly Batman.]

I'm not sending you anywhere. This isn't some mess you have to clean up after, it's a disagreement between two individuals that frankly did not concern you in the least. The fact that you can't leave well enough alone has nothing to do with me, Clark.

['And everything to do with you'. He doesn't say it, but his intent is more than clear enough.]

[You would think than after years, decades of friendship Clark would get used to the expression and slowly lose his fear when Bruce is in Batman mode. But time has only made him all the more wary because he knows all he's able to do.]

Are we going to play the game where we pretend we aren't friends again? Because I'm not really in the mood. You know me, I'm not going to tell him anything you wouldn't want him to know. And I'm not going to lie to him.

But he's a good man and I admire him, and I want to at least let him know what's our angle.

Edited (I can words I swear) 2012-09-26 20:44 (UTC)

[Bruce is briefly silent, eyes narrowed, jaw tensed, and then he exhales in a sudden rush of frustration. Clark-- always knows just where to hit him.

He hates it, in a way. He hates having someone who knows him that well. But if it's going to be anyone, it might as well be someone who's practically invulnerable.

Bruce thinks of the piece of Kyptonite he has from Tim, and grits his teeth. Almost invulnerable.]

Don't throw that in my face, Kal.

[It's a warning as much as anything else, but there's also a complete sense of weariness to it. He doesn't want to argue about his friendship with Clark. He's well past the point of shying away from the word, but that just makes what Clark said hurt that much more.]

Fine. Talk to him. But I'm not sorry about how I spoke to him.

[Where Bruce exhales in frustration Clark exhales in pure relief at his words. Where Bruce shies away from their friendship Kal latches onto as if it was a burning iron he refused to let go.

Which is the reason why he refuses to let Bruce pretend he'd do anything to try to manipulate him, or that he'd talk for him if he didn't want him to. He's his friend and it's taken far too long for Bruce to accept the label, Clark can't help but tackle it upfront.]

You don't have to be sorry, Bruce. I told you I agree with you, and I'm not going to take back anything you said. It's not my place to do so.

I just want to make him understand, and I don't think that's so bad. Okay?

[He turns and stalks away from Clark, irritation and frustration in every line of his body.

But there's agreement there, too. If not outright then at least peripherally.]

Fine.

Good.

[He's long past taking that irritation personally. He just has a talent for pushing Bruce's buttons and with time he's learned when it's time to stop because he's bringing Bruce too close to the edge. Now is one of those times.]

I also wanted to... offer my help in this business you had in mind. You know my abilities and how to use the better than I do so just give me a call if needed.

[He hovers up.]

If you don't need anything else, I'll be off.

[Bruce watches his slight ascent with an unreadable expression.]

I was already factoring in your assistance. But--

['thank you'.]

Go home to Lois, Clark.

Edited (word tweak) 2012-09-29 17:44 (UTC)

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