Chapter Text
"Batman!" The muscled poster boy for traditional American Alpha, called Superman, hailed his best friend. He was pretty sure they were best friends. Most signs pointed to yes, he was the only member of the league Batman would stop for.
Like at this moment, Batman had stopped running away from the meeting and turned to look back at him. The scowl still on his face, but that was a permanent fixture.
"Yes."
Superman smiled - beamed - at the dark crusader. "The toxin case-," he started, ready to cajole his way in.
"We already discussed this. I'm taking care of it," Batman's snipped reply took Superman by surprise. Well, no, he was used to the surly attitude, but this time there was something stronger laced into the words. It was snippier than usual.
Beam still in place, he drifted a little closer, keeping a city boy level of polite distance. He'd figured at least that much out about Mr Dark-And-Broody, who was now standing square to him, back rigid, glaring. Superman wished he could smell him. Most superheroes masked their scent, it was a part of hiding an identity, but eliminating a social cue also created problems, misunderstandings.
"Yes, I was just- I wondered if you wanted some assistance. Not much going on in Metropolis at the moment, seems like a tough one."
"I can handle it." Clipped, and he had no idea why. They were far beyond territory squabbles; besides, he was sure he'd wormed his way into the man’s dark, walled heart.
So, he tried again, "I know you've got a lead with Bruce Wayne buying all those drugs, but I could keep the peace, make sure no one affected by the toxin gets hurt, if you'd like."
The scowl darkened, and Superman knew that was a bad sign.
"I. Can. Handle. it."
Ouch. He felt like a scolded child.
"Oh. I."
Batman didn’t let him finish. He turned away, door whooshing open and shut as he left without a word.
Superman stood there for a moment and signed. Not a strong Alpha moment for him, but Batman was the only one able to do that. He wasn't sure what ‘that’ was, but it drained all the pushy Alpha out of him. One a scowl, one well intoned sentence and he was at a loss for words.
Well, it didn't really matter, Batman would get the job done.
-
In the watchtower Superman sat back and watched the largest monitor as it played local Gotham news.
"The number of fear toxin victims is skyrocketing," a red haired woman reported from the screen, "shops are being ransacked and fights breaking out in the streets," a police siren sounded in the background, "the mayor is advising everyone to avoid public places until the culprit has been caught," more sirens as the woman glanced back nervously, "and at a time like this, everyone is asking 'what are the superheroes doing?'"
Superman switched off the monitor, frowning. It had been a week, and no word from Batman.
"Worried?"
He turned back to see the stunning amazon princess, Wonder Woman, behind him. One hip lent on the table as she watched him, smelling of confidence, and concern.
"Yes," he smiled, her familiar Alpha scent calming him in a way no other Alpha could. It was unique to her.
"Go talk to him."
A streak of red light as the Flash zipped in, "talk to him?" He snorted, "when does bats discussing anything with anyone?"
Superman stood immediately, "He does." He started, stopping himself, knowing he'd come on too strong. People got scared when he was too emotional.
The Flash didn't care.
He rolled his eyes, flopped down into a chair drawling, "suuuuure."
That tugged a smile at the corner of Superman's lip.
"He does," his tone softer, "we discuss plans at every meeting."
The Flash air quoted, "Discuss. I'd call that arguing."
Superman shook his head, body relaxing, "he's gotten better."
Flash rocked in his chair, hands behind his head, "Yeah? You going to discuss this case with him? Good luck. We all saw how he acted when you bought it up at the meeting," one hand pointed from his eyes to Superman's, "I thought he'd developed heat vision with the way he glared at you."
"He did?"
"It was a pointed stare," Wonder Woman interjected, one hand resting on Superman's arm, "go talk to him. Sometimes he needs a push to communicate."
He paused, felt the weight on his arm as she squeezed gently, then he smiled.
"You're right, I'll go," he flashed flash a wider grin, "discuss things with Batman."
Flash groaned, tipping his chair further back, "I don't want to know what gross stuff you two get up to."
-
Superman got to Gotham in seconds, which meant it was still night-time in the city, but Lady Luck was on his side. The bat signal shone bright in the sky, rippling on the clouds that hung ever-present over the city. Batman would be at the police station. His flying slowed; Superman concentrated his hearing on the station. Two familiar voices reached him.
"We've got to at least look at Wayne." Jim Gordon, the less familiar of the two.
"I've looked into it. It's not them," the familiarity of Batman’s gruff voice made him feel a little better, warmer, confident.
"What's the evidence?" A pause and deep breath, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't care if you got it illegally! I need something for the report. 'Batman says' isn't going to cut it."
Superman stopped. The confidence gone as his heart thudded.
"I can't give you anything."
"Then I have to investigate."
"You'll be wasting your time," his voice gravellier, annoyed.
"I don't have a choice."
Silence.
"Fuck."
The rustling of clothes, volume of footsteps, and solid thunk of a grappling hook told Superman Batman had left.
Superman hovered, two courses of action racing through his mind. One he could easily catch up with, but the other door was closing as Gordon walked towards the
warm interior of the police station. He closed the distance to the roof instantly.
"Mr Gordon."
"Jesus!" Gordon wheeled around, hand over his heart as he boggled at Superman, "is scaring people part of the job description?"
Superman stepped out of the shadows he hadn’t realised he was in, "sorry," he meant it as he raised his hands in peace, "I sometimes forget about human eyesight."
Gordon stamped on the cigarette he’d dropped in his surprise, muttering, "yeah, yeah."
"Are you okay?" Superman reached out a hand, but Gordon batted it away, and he let it fall. The man looked like he’d started an all coffee diet the twenty years ago and never stopped. He was glad the scare hadn’t done him in.
"Fine, just don't make a habit of it, please, for my health." Every trace of fear was gone from Gordon’s scent, which eased both their tension, "What can I help you with? Batman's gone."
"I heard your conversation."
"Ah. The old," he tapped his ear, "got something I can use? He's being more shut up than usual, which I didn't know was possible."
"No."
"Oh."
"But I wanted to ask about his, ah, 'shut up'ness."
"Tell you jack shit too?" Superman nodded. They stood in silence as Gordon watched the skyline. "Well...I've got a theory I don't like." He paused and Superman waited, "alright, he never interferes with Bruce. Wayne - you know of him, right? Bruce Wayne's had a tragic childhood, and he's an Omega to boot, so despite all his money I can't imagine he's had an easy adulthood,” a sigh, full of regret, “Anyway, my point, my point is a pretty, wealthy Omega in distress is hard to resist. Fuck. Half of Gotham's in love with its darling prince." He looked down, scratched his head and stropped.
Superman asked because it seemed so bizarre, "you think Batman's in love with him?"
"What?" His head snapped up, "No!" Relief washed through him, "I think he knows him and he's looking the other way because of it." The relief stopped cold, pooling into a small well of indignation.
"Batman would never look the other way from a crime."
"Whoa, big guy. I didn't mean that. I just-maybe he doesn't even know the crimes there. Maybe we need to point it out to him.” Something in Superman’s face made Gordon press on, voice hushing “look, I can get warrant for the Wayne house. I didn't want to, but it looks like I don't got a choice. If we find something, we might need your help to convince our local vigilante."
Superman closed his eyes, and listened out for Batman, and then Wayne manor. Nothing unusual other than an old man up unusually late. He felt a twinge of guilt for invading his privacy, until he realised he couldn’t hear the famous Omega.
“Any Gala’s on tonight?”
Gordon blinked, looked pointlessly in the direction of Wayne manor, and answered, “no, no trips either.”
Something was going on.
“Get the warrant. I’ll be there.”
“Alright,” Gordon started, head swivelling back to Superman, who was already gone, “for fucks sake. Why do they all do that?”