Again, so cute đ„č
Black Mercy
Pairing: Bruce Wayne x fem!JL!reader (Justice League Unlimited!Bruce)
Summary: When you and Bruce find Superman in the Fortress of Solitude, you encounter the Black Mercy. Bruce faces his heart's greatest desire, and you encourage him to find happiness.
Warnings: spoilers/rewrite for Justice League Unlimited 1x2 "For the Man Who Has Everything", fluff, canon-level violence and action
Word Count: 2.3k+ words
A/N: I'll say it again... this show is elite. I'll never shut up about the characterizations of Batman, Superman, and the Flash! But, also, his bat ears.
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âJâonn, when did Superman check in last?â you inquire.
Jâonn clicks the trackpad before him. The Watchtower has the most advanced technology of any place youâve ever seen, yet Jâonn has to navigate to the most recent communication reports to learn when he last heard Clarkâs voice.
âSeveral hours,â Jâonn answers with a frown. âHe traveled to his Fortress of Solitude to investigate a disturbance but hasnât reported since he arrived.â
âIâll try to contact him,â you tell Jâonn.
Bruce thought of everything when he designed and funded the Watchtower, and you navigate to your favorite private area. You occasionally wonder if he created such spots for people like you, the unpowered or easily overwhelmed. The Watchtower is big enough that you could go an entire day without seeing another member of the League; now, you crave that privacy to check on your friend.
âSuperman, come in,â you say into your small radio. âHello? ⊠Clark?â
The only response you get is a distant static. You bounce the radio between your hands and frown. Clark can handle himself, of course, but heâs also good about staying in touch. The hidden door beside you creaks open slowly before Bruce steps inside.
âI thought you may be here,â he murmurs. When he turns to face you, he asks, âWhatâs wrong?â
âClark isnât checking in. Jâonn hasnât heard from him in hours, and I canât reach him on comms,â you answer.
âWhere is he?â
âFortress of Solitude.â
âThen letâs go.â
You smile and take Bruceâs hand as he helps you to stand. He leads you through the empty hallways of the Watchtower, and you hope that when you get to Superman's hideout, it's just radio interference and nothing more. He steps onto the launch bay and presses a button on his utility belt to open the canopy of the batplane.
âCan I fly?â you ask.
âNo,â Bruce answers.
He flies in relative silence, and it isnât until he steers the plane into the freezing water surrounding the Fortress of Solitude that you decide to speak.
âThat was a nice turn,â you compliment. âYou usually scare me when you fly.â
âSorry,â Bruce replies shortly.
He levels the plane onto an ice bank and opens the canopy. When he sees a small box in your hand, he furrows his brows under the cowl. You lead the way through the icy cave and look around for any sign of Clark.
âIs that for his birthday?â Bruce asks.
âWhatâd you get him?â you reply.
âHeâs not the easiest person in the world to buy presents for.â Bruce lifts an envelope from his belt as he speaks.
âPlease tell me thatâs not a gift card.â
âItâs not⊠It's cash.â
You nod, and follow Bruce up the stairs into the heart of Supermanâs fortress.
âWhat do you get for the man who has everything?â Bruce adds before freezing.
You drop the gift box when you see Clark. Bruceâs arm stretches past you protectively as you look from a distance. Clark stands motionless with a large plant attached to his chest and wrapped around his shoulders and back.
âWhat is that?â you ask Bruce.
He walks down the steps to get a closer look, and you follow closely behind him.
âLooks like some kind of plant,â Bruce says. âSeems to be growing through his costume and into his body.â
You step to Bruceâs side and look at Clarkâs chest. Heâs breathing, barely, but thatâs enough of a promise that he can be saved from whatever this is. Clearly, someone was in the fortress, and Clark probably interrupted them. You will know where to start if you learn what he was investigating.
âLook around,â Bruce requests. âIâll see what I can find here.â
You leave his side as he shines a light in Clarkâs eyes. Bruce is well-versed in Kryptonian anatomy, so you trust him to decide whatâs best for Clark.
âPupils arenât responding in the slightest. He must be cut off from all sensation,â Bruce deduces.
âHow do we save someone who doesnât know weâre trying?â you inquire.
Bruce doesnât answer you but murmurs, âKent, where are you?â
âSo, it was a gift. Teleported here from some alien culture, some grateful world. Or someone wanting you to think they were grateful,â Bruce says to Clark.
âHow remarkable,â someone calls. Bruce stands quickly and sees Mongul as he finishes, âYou animals really are almost intelligent, arenât you? Thatâs exactly what happened.â
Mongul steps out of the shadows, and Bruce sees you unconscious in his hand. His jaw clenches, but he remains calm and focused. He canât save you or Clark if he loses a fight with Mongul.
âMongul,â Bruce greets.
âYou recognize me. Iâm flattered. I suppose Superman told you all about our previous encounter.â
âYou mean how he humiliated you?â Bruce taunts.
âA⊠jaundiced account. What inferior specimens he surrounds himself with.â Mongul raises you cruelly and says, âI took her down before she even knew I was there, and Iâll take this planet just as easily.â
You gesture with your hand to show Bruce youâre about to move and then swing your legs up. When they meet Mongulâs jaw, he tips back, and you fall to the cold floor.
âMaybe she knew more than you thought,â you say. âWe inferior specimens call it âplaying possum.ââ
You prepare to fight Mongul despite the unfairness of the fight. Before you can punch or be punched, however, Bruce jumps between you and Mongul.
âNo,â he demands.
âClearly the males on this world are the smart one,â Mongul muses. âHe wants to know about the plant. The Black Mercy is a telepathic species. It reads the heartâs desires and feeds the individual a totally convincing simulation of it.â
âSo, heâs dreaming?â Bruce clarifies.
âOh, far deeper than any dream. I wonder where he thinks he is⊠Sitting on a throne ruling the universe, all you human garbage fawning at his feet? More honest, donât you think than this pretense of being a selfless hero?â
âBruce, we canât take him,â you whisper as Mongul looks at Clark. âWhat are we supposed to do?â
âWe canât take him,â Bruce agrees. âBut we can take a plant.â
âNeed a distraction?â
âBe careful.â
You run toward Mongul and force him backward, away from Clark. He knocks you to the floor with ease, but where you lack size and power, you have mobility and agility. You maneuver away from him and run through an opening in the wall. As you hoped, he follows you.
Meanwhile, Bruce attempts to cut through the plant but fails.
âHeâll kill her, Clark,â Bruce tells Clark. âAnd then heâll kill us all. Shake it off. Come back to us⊠Please.â
Bruce told you to be careful, but youâre doing anything you can to keep Mongul away from him. You fire a Kryptonian weapon at him, but you and Bruce face similar luck as nothing works to help you. Youâre trapped in a losing fight, and Bruce canât get Clark back. You see another line of weapons and run into an adjoining room. Mongul follows you, and heâs loud enough that Bruce can locate you without seeing you.
âSheâs in the hall of weapons. That will buy her time, but not enough.â He grips Clarkâs shoulders and adds, âSheâs fighting for her life, Clark. Youâve got to fight too, Clark.â
The weapon goes cold, and you drop it before you realize how close you are to Mongul. Mogul wraps a hand around your shoulders and squeezes your neck before pushing you onto the floor.
âFirst, Iâll kill you and the Bat and then Iâll take this planet,â he says.
âYou wonât win,â you force out.
âOf course I will.â
Mongul lifts you from the ground before dropping you again, and you can only hope that Bruce is close to saving Clark. Once heâs back, you can be sure Mongul wonât win.
âYes, thatâs it,â Bruce says as he pulls the Black Mercy from Clarkâs chest. âFight it. Fight it.â
Bruce finally succeeds and removes the plant from Clark, but his victory is short-lived before it attaches to him instead.
âBatman!â you yell as Mongul throws you across the hall of weapons.
You struggle to push yourself to your feet, but a blue and red blur knocks Mongul off his feet before you can. While Clark pays Mongul back for everything he lost, you stumble through a hole in the wall to find Bruce. Itâs unimaginable - to lose your heartâs desire, but when you see Bruce smiling with the Black Mercy on his chest, you find the strength to keep moving.
âBruce,â you call, but itâs no more than a whimper.
You kneel before him and grip the sides of the plant. Pulling is pointless, but you need him back. Clark can undoubtedly handle Mongul alone, but Bruce needs your help now.
âBruce, fight for me. Come back to me,â you plead.
âBruce, I think itâs your turn.â
Bruce shakes his head and continues kissing you. The kids are making noise in the formal living room, but he ignores it. Not even the unmistakable sound of something breaking can draw Bruce away from you.
âBrucie,â you try again.
Talking against his lips doesn't work because his kisses are addictive. You finally raise your hands and push yourself away from Bruce. He smiles, and you know your happiness is evident on your face, too.
âYour kids are destroying the manor,â you remind him.Â
âWe can fix it. And theyâre our kids.â
âIâm happy,â you tell him.
âIÂ am too.â
Bruce brushes your hair back and watches your smile fall.
âBut itâs not real,â you whisper.
âIt can be,â Bruce promises.
He leans toward you, and you kiss his forehead before answering, âThen wake up and make it real.â
Bruce wakes and is harshly reminded of where he is as he falls backward. The Black Mercy is wrapping around your outstretched arms, and you grunt with effort as you force it away from your chest. Clark is still fighting Mongul, and each reference to his heartâs desire revives his fight and energy.
âBruce,â you call.
Bruce pushes your arms away from your face, and you roll toward a hole in the floor. Mongul is directly beneath you, and the Black Mercy falls away from you before landing on him. Clark sits back in relief as Mongul disappears into his heartâs desire.
âAre you okay?â Bruce asks.
You assure him that it's nothing more than bumps and bruises, and Bruce pulls a grappling hook from his belt. You wrap your arms around Bruce and cling to him as he lowers to Clarkâs side.
âThis was your birthday present,â you tell Clark as you pass him the battered box. âProbably broken now, butâŠâ
âDonât worry about it,â Clark says with a smile. He looks up at the Kryptonian statues above you and promises, âI wonât forget you.â
 âI wonder what heâs seeing,â you say, pointing toward Mongul. âSomething better than he deserves, Iâm sure.â
âYouâre the only one who didnât get a glimpse at your heartâs desire,â Clark points out. âMaybe I should get you a gift on the way back.â
You smile and pat his shoulder. âIâm sorry for whatever it is you lost. But Iâm glad you get to spend your birthday here.â
âI appreciate it. And who knows, maybe Iâll get my desire someday.â
âIÂ hope so.â
âHappy birthday,â Bruce says as he passes the envelope to Clark.
âThanks, Bruce,â Clark replies. âWhat do you say we got back to the Watchtower and let the Fortress rest for a while?â
You and Bruce agree, but Bruce waits beside you as Clark walks toward the hidden entrance. Heâll meet you back in space, but now youâre more interested in Bruceâs attention on you.
âIâm sorry,â you offer.
âI thought it would be about my parents. When Mongul explained it, I just assumed,â Bruce says.
âI think mine would have been a normal life. No need for superheroes or watchtowers⊠just domesticity and happiness with someone who I love and who loves me.â
âYou were there,â Bruce says quickly.
âOh,â you say, unsure of any other, more appropriate response. "Was it⊠you donât have to tell me.â
âIt felt so real, even though I knew it wasnât. Is it wrong that I wanted it to be?â
âOf course not.â
âClark canât get what he wanted, not if he was back at Krypton, but I could get mine with a single question. What makes me more worthy; after everything Iâve done?â
âBruce,â you say, drawing his attention when you lay a hand on his chest. âItâs not about that. If your desire is more achievable in this life, that has nothing to do with what you deserve. And youâre not a bad person, so stop punishing yourself.â
âYou told me I could make it real,â he murmurs.
âThen ask the question. You can leave it here with that plant, or you can do something for you this one time.â
âWe were in the manor,â Bruce begins. âAnd there were kids playing in the other room, and you looked so happy. I was happy again, and I havenât been happy in that house since I was eight years old.â
âThings can change,â you whisper.
âWould you- could we try?â Bruce asks.
âThe kids in the manor thing or the you and me thing?â you tease.
You lay your hands on Bruceâs shoulders and lean close to him. His hands hover above your waist before settling against the top of your hips.
âBoth?â he suggests.
âAlfred will be so happy to have company again,â you say before closing the distance and kissing Bruce.
His dreams are coming true, and yours are too. The fight never ends, but part of you is glad that the Black Mercy attached to Bruceâs chest and the version of you in his heart convinced him to take the next step.
âAlright, letâs go, Brucie,â you say as you pull back. âClarkâs going to get suspicious.â
âBrucie?â Bruce repeats. âYouâve never called me that before.â
âNew things, remember? Now, come on, we have a world to protect before you take me on a proper date.â
Bruce follows you as you walk back toward the batplane and shakes his head as he murmurs, âDoes this not count?â
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Hahaha, this was so funny, I really love this episode and the way you rewrote it is just chefs kiss. The john and reader's friendship is so fun and rhe banter is 10 on 10.
Crushes Aren't Just for Kids
Pairing: Bruce Wayne x fem!JL!reader (Justice League Unlimited!Bruce)
Summary: When all adults are banished from earth, you join Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern in a unique fight to save the world. Along the way, some hidden feelings are revealed.
Warnings: spoilers/rewrite for Justice League Unlimited 1x3 "Kid's Stuff", fluff, mention of beheading, canon-level violence and action
Word Count: 3.1k+ words
A/N: I can't tell you how many times I've watched this show because Kevin Conroy's Batman in the DCAU tv shows is unmatched (and the kids who did the voice acting in this episode did phenomenally). I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!đ€
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You are in a unique position for several reasons. Being one of the only human members of the Justice League, you find yourself pushing yourself to be the best you can and ensuring that you can keep up with your superpowered teammates. Plus, you are one of the only people who knew Bruce Wayne before you knew Batman, and no matter how much he denies it, you knew after one look that the man under the cowl was none other than your favorite billionaire. When you first arrived on the Watchtower with your fellow vigilante, you wondered if any of the superheroes (especially those who had unique mind powers) could tell that you wanted to be more than fellow crime fighters with Batman. If they did, no one said anything, so your secret crush has remained secret as it grows stronger.
âBats,â you warn as you duck away from Cheetahâs claws.
Bruce flips away from Deadshotâs line of fire before rushing up beside him. He punches under his jaw, and you watch as Deadshot lifts Bruce off the ground. Bruce throws a batarang, and you slide away from them as Deadshot falls to the floor.
âGuess thatâs a wrap,â Green Lantern says. At Bruceâs look, he adds, âSorry. Been hanging out with Flash too much.â
âI donât see how thatâs a bad thing,â you tease.
You look away from John and see three police officers entering the vault. A pink wave follows them inside, and your eyes widen when the officers disappear. Bruce pulls you to his side as John creates a forcefield with his ring, but it fails nearly as quickly as it appears.
When you open your eyes on a floating rock, youâre still tucked against Bruceâs side. You step back quickly and look around. Dozens of rocks surround you and each holds numerous people; adults only, you notice.
âIt was judgment day,â Copper exclaims, âand- and we got sent to the bad place. The bad place!â
âWhere else were you expecting to go?â you ask sarcastically.
âSnap out of it, Copper!â Cheetah demands as she slaps him.
âYeah, calm down,â John calls. âWeâre probably just in another dimension.â
âI donât see any children,â Bruce says.
âYou would be the one to notice,â you murmur. âItâs not a bad thing,â you add when he directs his bat glare at you.
âThatâs because a child is responsible,â a woman wearing a mask interjects as she hovers above you.
âMorgaine Le Fay,â Bruce greets, though heâs prepared to fight rather than exchange niceties and introductions.
âGreat, magic,â you mutter as you fall in line between Bruce and Diana.
âI mean you no harm,â Morgaine assures. âMy son Mordred has wrought this treachery. Banishing all adults to this shadow realm.â
âDo you think Flash is here?â you whisper to John.
â50/50,â he answers.
âAfter I spent millennia feeding him, bathing him, preparing him to be a king,â Morgaine continues. âWhere did I go wrong?â
âYouâre a sorceress. Canât you just undo his spell?â Diana asks.
âNo. Heâs got the amulet of first magic. Heâs too powerful. But if we all work togetherâŠâ
âYou want us to defeat your own son?â Bruce clarifies.
âSo donât trust me. Let him rule the world and all your children. Here we will stay. Forever.â
âBut what can we do? Weâre stuck here, arenât we?â Diana says.
âPlease donât say-â you begin.
âNot exactly,â Morgaine answers.
âThat,â you finish as your shoulders slump.
âThe spell only banishes adults.â
âI donât like where this is going,â you and John say together.
âItâs the only way,â Morgaine says.
âWe have to do it,â Clark announces.
John exhales deeply, and you step back to be at Bruceâs side again. Magic has never been your preferred battle, and as Morgaine directs her spell at you and everything turns green, you clutch Bruceâs cape in your hand.
When you arrive in Mordredâs amusement park-turned-kingdom, youâre ready to leave. Being turned into a kid again wasnât exactly on your superhero bingo card, and as a human, you donât bring much to the fight anyway.
âI hope this is temporary,â Bruce complains.
You look over at him and feel butterflies in your stomach. Despite de-aging, you still have a crush on Bruce, but it hits harder and faster. You tear your eyes away from him and try to calm your racing heart. Each moment you live as a kid, youâll start acting more like one.
âYou sound weird,â Clark says. âWhoa. So do I.â
Diana looks between Clark and John before straightening her shoulders. She towers over them and smiles. âI kind of like this.â
âWhy are you squinting?â you ask John.
Bruce, Clark, and Diana look over after you ask, and you drop your eyes to avoid looking at Bruce again.
âI wore glasses as a kid. Guess I need âem again,â John answers.
A pair of oversized green glasses appear on his face, and he jumps in surprise. Theyâre nothing like what adult John would create, and you stifle a laugh at the sight of them.
âI didnât even try to make these!â he exclaims.
Clark laughs as Bruce says, âI hope not.â
You pat Johnâs back as he focuses on making nicer glasses. Once heâs ready and Clark compliments his new look, Diana reminds you that youâre supposed to be looking for Mordred.
âBet the little punkâs in there,â Bruce says.
He points to the castle looming in the distance and begins running. You run behind him and watch as Diana, Clark, and John fly past you.
âItâs not a race,â Bruce grumbles.
He speeds up, but you keep your pace and make it to the castle all the same. Despite the earlier teasing about Johnâs glasses, none of you have mentioned any differences between the kid and adult versions of one another. Youâre thankful, though, because reliving your childhood is not your favorite pastime. When you enter the castle, you stay behind Bruce as he stands beside Diana.
âThe Justice Babies!â Mordred calls before laughing.
âWhat are you laughing at, precious?â Bruce asks.
âPrecious?â you repeat.
âYou,â Mordred answers. âMother sent you, didnât she?â
âMaybe she wanted a chance to have a normal kid,â you taunt.
âShe shouldnât send a boy to do a manâs job,â Mordred tells Bruce.
He grabs the amulet, and you watch as a young boyâs toys come to life. They grow until theyâre giant, and you stumble backward before running for cover. When Clark flies into one of them and is knocked to the floor, you begin questioning if it was truly a good idea to become kids to fight a boy with powerful magic.
âBruce, batarang,â you request.
He hands you one before running toward Mordred. You wait for one of the toys to run toward you before sliding between its legs.
âIâll make a laser cannon. No, a missile launcher,â John says above you. âOh! Oh, I know.â
âJust pick something!â you and Bruce yell together.
You dig the batarang into the back of the toyâs leg and roll to the side as it collapses to the ground before disappearing. Bruce and John take one out, while Clark disables the other with his laser vision.
When you hear Bruce grunting and see him dangling from his cape in the grip of the last toy, you gasp and run toward him. Diana beats you there and catches him.
âYou okay, tough guy?â she asks.
âLet go. Iâm fine,â Bruce demands as he struggles to get out of her hold.
His shoulders drop and his cape surrounds him as he sulks. You donât ask the same question Diana had but thank him for the batarang as he passes.
âThatâs not fair,â Mordred complains.
âGet him!â Bruce calls.
You run behind Diana and arenât surprised when youâre all encased in ice. Mordred is powerful, and you and your fellow âJustice Babiesâ seem to be forgetting that. When you fall into a dungeon and are freed from the ice, you scoot toward Bruce. One of the cells opens, and red eyes glow within. You clutch Bruceâs cape and watch as a small demon walks out.
âEtrigan?â Bruce asks.
He steps away from you, and his cape slips through your fingers. You stay behind Johnâs forcefield as Diana lifts Bruce out of the way of Etriganâs flame. Diana has been closer to Bruce during this mission than usual, and the butterflies in your stomach start causing more pain than happiness as you wonder if theyâve been hiding feelings for one another in the Watchtower, too.
âDonât hurt him!â Bruce yells as Clark pulls Etrigan away from you and John.
Etrigan bites Clarkâs arm, and he calls, âTell him that!â
âCâmere,â you tell Etrigan. You crouch to the floor and pull him into your arms. âStop!â
He calms down, and Diana helps Bruce up as Etrigan cries. You look at Bruce and shrug.
âHeâs just a baby,â Diana says.
âAnd he needs more than a hug,â John adds, waving his hand in front of his nose.
âNow, that is a job for Superman,â Bruce says.
Bruce takes Etrigan from your arms and passes him to Clark. When Bruce takes your hand to lead you out of the dungeon, you nearly trip over your own feet. Youâve never been more ready to grow up before, you think.
Mordredâs new kingdom is comprised mostly of children doing what they were never allowed to do before. When you walk through the paths surrounding what used to be the center of the park, you are surrounded by children doing dangerous stunts and breaking rules.
âYou two, knock that off!â Clark demands when he sees two boys playing with wooden swords.
âWhat are you gonna do? Youâre just a kid,â they taunt.
Clark shoots a laser between them and answers, âIâm the kid with laser beams coming out of his eyes.â
âThatâs just gonna scare them,â you interject before they run away screaming. âYou canât threaten kids the same way you threaten criminals.â
âThen what do we do?â John asks.
âTattle,â Diana answers. She flies to an elevated area and yells, âThatâs enough!â
Everyone freezes, and you find yourself reaching for Bruce.
âYou canât tell us what to do! Youâre not our mom!â someone replies.
âNo, but I promise you we will find all of your moms and Iâm gonna tell!â Diana answers.
âWell, what should we do?â
âGo outside and wait for your parents. Now!â Diana demands with a hand on her hip.
âMan, your girlfriend sure is bossy,â John tells Bruce.
âShut up,â he replies before leaving Johnâs side.
Those butterflies in your stomach become dead weight. You stall behind John, but he turns to look at you.
âYou like Bruce,â he accuses.
âWhat? No!â you answer too quickly. âWeâre friends.â
âMmhmm.â
John gestures for you to come with him, and you follow Bruce together. You know that John knows more than he ever lets on, and if anyone found out about your crush, you suppose you should be glad that itâs the one who can keep a secret. Better him than Wally.
âHeâs almost asleep,â Diana whispers as you look into Mordredâs hideout. âWe can take him.â
âIâll make a lawnmower and chew him up,â John suggests.
âA lawnmower?â you repeat incredulously. âWhy?â
âI say we get that amulet away from him first,â Bruce says. âWeâll split up and sneak behind him. Then Lantern can do his thing. But no mowers.â
âWhy?â John questions.
âBecause itâs stupid,â Clark answers.
âHeâll hear it, too,â you whisper with much more kindness than Clark.
âI guess Iâll go with Clark,â Diana says. âUnless I should go with you,â she tells Bruce.
âWhatever,â Bruce answers.
John sees your eyes drop and says, âClark can go alone. Iâll go with Diana.â
You appreciate it but shake your head because you donât want to be left alone with Bruce.
âWhatever,â Bruce repeats.
âGo,â John whispers.
You lead Bruce around the side of the cave, and John shakes his head as he watches you go.
âWhatâs with them?â Clark asks.
âReally?â Diana questions.
âMan, for somebody with fifty different kinds of vision you are so blind,â John responds.
âWhat?â
âIs that a claw?â you ask Bruce as John tries to get the amulet.
âUnfortunately,â he answers.
He may be young, but his sarcasm hasnât changed a bit. You lean against him when Johnâs claw wavers before disappearing. The amulet falls to Mordredâs chest, and Bruce moves you carefully as he calls, âGet the amulet!â
You join Bruce, Diana, Clark, and John in a failing attempt to hold Mordred down and take the amulet. He uses his magic to grow and throws Bruce and Diana off of him before standing. A young girl is standing nearby, and you take her hand to lead her to safety as the others fight Mordred.
âBats!â you yell, just as you had as an adult this morning.
Bruce looks back and sees the living gargoyle chasing him and John and directs John toward a small bridge.
âClose the door!â you yell as Bruce enters the castle.
Diana closes and locks the door behind him, and you listen to John come up with complicated plans to stop Mordred as Bruce thinks.
âForget it!â Bruce calls after John mentions giant handcuffs. âWeâve got to focus onâŠâ Bruceâs eyes lock with yours and he says, âNever mind what I just said. Weâll take care of everything else. Lantern, you go crazy.â
âWhat are you going to do?â you ask.
âItâs time for all of us to grow up,â Bruce answers.
He takes your hand before running toward another area of the kingdom. Your butterflies begin reviving, and you wonder if anything will be the same after this.
âGo!â he yells to Clark.
Clark pulls the amulet from Mordredâs neck while heâs distracted by John before tossing it to Bruce.
âThis is the most dangerous game of keep away Iâve ever played,â you yell as you take the amulet from Bruce and run it to Diana. Diana throws it to Etrigan, and you flinch when he bites into it. The wave of purple magic that escapes it is unsettling, but you donât take your eyes off Mordred.
âI already absorbed too much of the amuletâs power,â Mordred says as he stands.
He uses his magic to suspend all of you, and Etrigan, upside down in the air. He pulls a sword from a nearby stone, and it turns purple before reappearing as a curved blade.
âIâll take care of my kingly duty myself,â he declares.
âIs he really going to behead us in an amusement park?â you ask with your arms crossed over your chest.
âIâm scared,â the girl you helped earlier says. âI want my mommy.â
Mordred lowers his blade to say, âYou donât need a mommy. Youâre better off without one. Trust me.â
âOoh, mommy issues,â John muses. âThose ainât easy.â
The girl begins crying and Clark taunts, âSome king.â
âIâm not impressed,â Diana agrees.
âWhatâd you expect? Heâs a boy doing a manâs job,â Bruce finishes.
âYou donât know what itâs like being stuck as a kid,â Mordred says.
âSince youâve had all that power, you could have been a man anytime you wanted. I think youâre too chicken to grow up.â
âYep, big chicken. Thatâs what you are,â John agrees, flapping his arms like wings. âBock, bock.â
âFace it, precious,â Bruce continues. âYou like being a little mamaâs boy.â
âIâll show you!â Mordred yells. âIâll show you all.â
âSure, you will,â you agree with an eye roll.
âAnd when I am a true kind, Iâll start with the human!â Mordred adds, pointing to you.
Bruce looks at you, but you keep your eyes on Mordred as he spreads his arms and is surrounded by purple ribbons of magic. Etrigan claps as Mordredâs spell spreads, and he reappears as a man.
âIâm older than you now,â Mordred says as he turns to face you.
The magic released his spell, and you catch yourself as you fall from the air.
âYou sure are,â Bruce says.
Mordred disappears, banished by his own spell. As an adult, he couldnât stay, and now you can only wait until Morgaine does her part. Bruce steps to your side and you turn your face toward him.
âAre you okay?â he asks.
âYes,â you answer just before Morgaine appears.
âA bargain is a bargain,â she says as she waves her hand before you.
The spell is lifted, and you are an adult again in only a second. You hadnât prepared for the change in size however and are pressed against Bruceâs chest with the sudden growth. He makes no move to get space from you, though.
âMommy,â Etrigan coos at Diana.
She drops him and steps back. You chuckle at the scene and Diana looks at you with furrowed brows before smiling and rolling her eyes.
Morgaine opens a portal, and Bruce places a hand on your hip as he steps around you.
âWait,â he calls. âWhat happened to Mordred?â
âMy spell gave him eternal youth but now that heâs broken it all he has is eternal life,â she answers.
âCircumstances aside, it was kind of enjoyable to be a kid again,â Diana says.
You walk to Bruceâs side and watch the happy reunions of children with their parents.
âIâm sorry,â you offer softly.
âFor what?â he asks.
âYou just- you didnât get to be a kid like the rest of us.â
âPerhaps Diana was right. It wasnât completely unenjoyable.â
He turns toward you, and his arm is pressed to your shoulder.
âYouâre telling me the big, bad bat had a little bit of fun?â you tease.
âYou never talk about your childhood,â he deflects. âSo, Iâm sorry if this brought up bad memories.â
âJust dead butterflies,â you answer.
Bruce glares at you, but itâs the one unique to when heâs reading you.
âIs that why Lantern sent us off alone together?â
You look down as you nod.
âMy butterflies are alive and well, and happy to wait for you,â Bruce murmurs.
âButterflies or bats?â you ask.
âShould we be having this conversation in an amusement park?â
âYouâre right. Letâs go to Metropolis and make the cover of the Daily Planet so Clark has to write all about it.â
Bruce sighs, but he takes your hand as he leads you outside the amusement park. He presses a button on his utility belt and the Batmobile pulls up a moment later.
âBruce,â you say once youâre inside. âYou were a really cute kid.â
âYou were really bad at eye contact,â Bruce counters. âOr was that just with me?â
âI guess crushes arenât just for kids,â you muse.
âMaybe Diana will stop pestering me to ask you out now.â
You nod as you watch the road before you. It takes a moment, but you finally understand what Bruce just said.
âWhat?â
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