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Published:
2025-08-21
Completed:
2025-10-16
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48,198
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10/10
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World's Finest

Summary:

When Earth gets invited to a intergalactic summit, the League decides to send their representative. The catch?

The summit is for rulers and their spouses only.

Notes:

First time I'm writing fake relationship. I was never a big fan, but it seems fun with Superbat involved.

I only know Justice League from some old cartoon I watched as a kid, so sorry in advance for inaccuracies.

The number of chapters my change.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

The League gathered in the conference room in the Watchtower for their monthly meeting. Everyone except Diana and J’onn were already there, as it was these two’s turn to run the meeting.

Waiting for their arrival, Clark busied himself with drafting his next article for Daily Planet. He already got all of the interviews, he did all the research, all he needed to do now was to expose a bunch of inconsiderate businessmen that thought dumping the waste from their factory into a river, causing harm to both environment and people, was a good idea.

They were going to pay once he would be done with the article. And he had years of evidence to back it up.

The other League members found ways to pass the time too. Although focused on his writing, Clark caught scraps of conversation between Flash and Arrow, and Lantern and Aquaman. Cyborg dug in his arms, fixing whatever problem he was having with it, and next to him, Hawkgirl played Candy Crush on her phone.

The only one doing completely nothing, which was unusual, was Batman. Clark noticed he hadn't moved an inch for the last ten minutes since he arrived, silent and stoic as always.

His friend sat on Clark's right, always in his line of vision, so it wasn't hard to keep an eye on him, even by accident.

Clark would've been creeped out by Batman's stillness if he didn't know because of his heartbeat that The Dark Knight was napping.

He must've had a rough night and needed this rest if he fell asleep in the open like that, among other people who could endlessly tease him for it if they knew.

But they didn’t know, they had no way of knowing. Batman's cowl hid his closed eyes, he wasn't snoring, and due to his excessive training, he was able to stay completely straight and look awake despite not moving. 

If anything, he looked like he was just trying to creep everyone out with his mysterious act.

And it was working, because no one dared to question his stillness or joke about it, and so Batman was allowed to keep sleeping.

Good, Clark thought to himself, smiling around the tip of the pencil in his mouth. He deserves it.

When the door to the conference room slid open with a quiet hiss, Batman took a deep but barely audible breath, his heart speeding up slightly. Just like that, he was awake, his head turning to watch Diana and J’onn entering inside.

They stopped together at the head of the table, in front of a big screen that came to life with a click of a remote in Diana's hand.

Clark put away his notepad and pencil to give his teammates his sole attention.

“The Earth got invited to a summit between representatives of other planets from our galaxy,” Diana announced as the invitation written with alien runes appeared on the screen. “We need to send someone.”

“I assume one of us needs to go?” Cyborg asked.

“Two of us, actually,” J’onn corrected, walking around the table and handing out files with more details of the mission. “The invitation is for a leader of Earth and their spouse.”

Clark thanked J’onn for the file and looked into it, finding a copy of the invitation from the screen and basic information about the summit. It appeared to be a regular meeting, one that had been happening for centuries now, and progressively, there were more planets invited to join.

This time it was Earth.

“Don’t they know our planet isn’t exactly united under one ruler?” Hawkgirl asked without even checking the file.

“They assume the League is in charge and I decided to not correct them,” J’onn explained, returning to Diana's side. “They would still require our presence.”

“And you know how that would end if we would have to send one of the world leaders into space,” Diana added with a grimace. “No matter who we would pick, the others would not be happy, and we wouldn’t be able to go with them to keep them in line.”

Lantern raised an eyebrow in surprise. “No security? That’s a lot of trust they’re putting into this meeting.”

“Those meetings have been happening for centuries, everybody is respectful,” J’onn assured. “There were some tense situations in the past, but no assassinations."

“So far,” Aquaman mumbled, arms crossed over his chest.

“Just another reason to not send a regular human,” Diana decided.

Arrow leaned back into his chair with a grin, kicking up his legs onto the table. “Well, that’s it for me and Grumpy then.”

Batman looked up from his file and glared at him. “We’re not regular humans, Arrow.”

He actually sounded offended from the implication.

“Wait, you said it’s for spouses only,” Flash pointed out, looking at everyone at the table. “None of us is married! As far as I know. Certainly not to each other.”

Diana shrugged. “We would have to pretend.”

“We should send Lantern,” Cyborg suggested. “They probably know his pals.”

J’onn shook his head. “That would be disrespectful. Green Lanterns aren’t supposed to be political, and they’re seen more like soldiers. Sending one among the group of royalties and politicians would end badly."

Clark could see why. It would be a threat or a display of arrogance.

“Alright, I’ll do it,” Arrow sighed dramatically. “I’ll sacrifice myself and pretend to be married to Diana.” He sent her a charming smile. “I am rich, she’s a princess, we can pull off being royals together.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “How thoughtful of you,” she commented. “But I was thinking about sending Kal.”

Startled, Clark looked up from the file. All eyes except Batman's, were on him. “Me? Why me?”

“Yeah, he's a one-man army,” Hawkgirl pointed out. “Wouldn’t it be insulting too?”

“He’s not openly a member of the military squadron. He’s one of the League’s founding members. He knows alien languages,” J’onn listed the pros one by one. “And he’s Kryptonian, some of those other representatives are old enough to remember Krypton.” 

“From what I heard, you guys were invited in the past,” Diana added, looking directly at Clark.

Clark blinked in surprise. Krypton was invited before? He didn't see it in the files, but that made sense. Their civilization was well respected while it still existed, of course they would've been invited in the past.

He already knew a lot about his home planet and their culture thanks to Jor-El, but going to a meeting like that, talking with individuals that knew other Kryptonians, and hearing about those interactions, felt really tempting to Clark right now.

It was a good opportunity to listen to outside opinions about his place of origin. 

“And since Kal is the Last Son of Krypton, currently living on Earth, he would represent us the best,” J’onn concluded, smiling slightly at Clark.

“Makes sense,” Clark heard Batman's drawl from his right.

“Thank you, Batman.” Diana nodded in appreciation, even though Batman couldn't see it because he was still invested in the file. 

He was the only one, actually.

“Certainly more sense than sending Arrow,” Batman added after a beat.

“Hey!” Arrow protested.

Clark grinned when he noticed Batman's lips twitching just slightly in amusement. 

“So we gonna go together?” Clark asked Diana, returning his eyes to her.

She was an obvious choice. She had powers like him, she was a princess, and she was competent enough to act her part.

“I volunteer Bats,” Arrow grumbled, sulking in his chair and clearly looking to jab back at the Caped Crusader.

Instead of dismissing this idea with a stern look, Diana smiled widely. “That's a great idea. We were actually thinking about him with J’onn.”

“Wait, seriously?” Arrow gaped at her.

Clark tensed, feeling heat rushing up to his face.

Him? Pretending to be a couple with Batman? 

Oh boy.

That was a bad idea. An unbelievably bad idea. 

Pretending to be a couple with Diana would've been easy. She was his friend, and he felt comfortable being affectionate with her.

But how do you pretend to be in love with your best friend without making him realize you're actually not pretending?

He had a crush on Batman since their first encounter, and even before that. Clark was sure he felt the tug of fascination and attraction from the first, grainy photo of The Dark Knight he saw in the newspaper.

He told himself it was nothing serious. Batman was mysterious, dark, gloomy, and looked good in black, especially perched on rooftops, silently guarding his city. 

It was normal to be attracted to that. Clark was sure it would pass, especially as he continued with his life like that crush didn't exist and dated like normal.

It didn't pass. 

He began to know Batman better, with and without the cowl. They became friends, and Clark's crush evolved into full on love. 

And that love didn't plan to go away either.

Batman looked up as well, and Clark carefully and discretely watched for his reaction. But Batman's face was a perfect mask of stoicism like always.

“He's good with politics, it's a lot like running a company. He's a good strategist and he's pretty.” Diana smirked while she said that. “He could score us some sweet treaties.”

The room went quiet, and everyone stared at Batman, waiting for him to say ‘no’. Clark wouldn't blame him if he did, but part of him hoped he wouldn't.

He liked working solo with Batman.

Doing so while trying not to reveal his feelings would be a challenge, but one Clark was ready to face. 

Was it selfish of him to want to have a taste of what he could never have? Just for a little while?

“I will do it,” Batman said finally, sounding almost bored.

“Really?” Flash asked, surprised. “You gonna be Supes' wife?” he snickered, nudging smiling Lantern with an elbow.

Batman slowly turned his eyes to him. “His husband,” he corrected. “Don't be homophobic, Flash.”

The visible part of Flash’s face became as red as his suit. “I'm not! T-that was a joke!”

Batman ignored him. “Do we have the files of the nations that will be there?” he asked Diana. “So I can prepare?”

She nodded. “Yes, I will send them to you in a moment.”

“When will the summit be?” Batman asked next.

“In two Earth weeks,” J’onn answered.

“Great.” Batman stood up in one fluid movement. “Come on, Kal.”

“Huh?” he looked up in confusion. “Where?”

“We need to discuss our marriage,” Batman replied and headed to the door.

Clark forgot how to move for a second, but once he shook off the shock, he gathered his things and followed his friend, using a bit of his superspeed to catch up.

Hopefully, he didn't look too eager to follow. 

“Aww, Superman and Batman, sitting on a tree, kissing!” Flash sang after them.

Clark and Batman both stopped in the doorway. 

“Come on, Flash, you'll make him quit,” Clark warned, nervously glancing back at Batman.

“It takes more than a kindergarten level of teasing to make me quit,” Batman assured him, glaring at Flash and Lantern who seemed amused the most. “Besides, I’m not a quitter.”

“That’s him saying he will fight for your marriage no matter what, Big Blue!” Lantern joked.

“Oh, shut up,” Clark hissed, the tips of his ears burning.

When he turned away from the conference room and the laughter, Batman was already halfway through the hallway.

“B, wait up!” he called after him.

Batman didn't slow down, but Clark caught up to him anyway.

Together, they reached Batman's private lab, and its owner went straight to the computer to pick up the tablet laying on the desk. 

The files Diana was supposed to send him were already there, and Batman started reading.

Clark hovered slightly above the floor, peering over Batman's shoulder. 

“I should probably read those too, huh?” he asked.

“Ideally,” Batman answered, scrolling through the file of the first alien nation.

He didn't say anything else. Certainly not about their ‘marriage’. He probably only agreed to it for the sake of the League and wasn't happy about this mission.

Clark moved away, standing a few steps behind Batman to give him space. 

“Sooo,” he started carefully, noticing the smallest shift in Batman's posture that told him his friend was listening. “What do you want to discuss, exactly?”

“I thought we should make a contract.”

“A contract?” Clark repeated. 

“To list what you’re comfortable with while pretending to be married,” Batman elaborated, having no trouble keeping up with the conversation and reading at the same time.

“Me? What about you?” he asked, watching Batman with narrowed eyes.

“I’m used to doing things that are uncomfortable.”

Clark felt a twist in his stomach.

Batman said it so calmly and without care. As if his comfort didn't matter.

Maybe to some, but certainly not to Clark.

His palms curled into fists, itching to hit the person that made Batman think that way.

“Okay.” He didn't know what else to say. “You shouldn’t have to. But okay. So what should I write?”

“Anything you like,” Batman simply said. “Or don’t like, rather.”

Clark sighed. 

“B, I’m fine holding hands or kissing or whatever.” More than fine, he kept to himself, face tingling with the growing blush. Thankfully, Batman had his back to him. “We don’t need any contract unless you want one. But you can just tell me what you don’t want me to do, I’ll respect that.”

The last thing he would want to do during that mission was to hurt his friend. Especially by making him uncomfortable with touch. That seemed much worse and damaging than simply punching him.

Clark watched Batman angle his head slightly towards him.

“I know you will.” A beat of silence. “I trust you.”

Clark knew that, yet that knowledge didn't stop a warm flutter from occurring in his stomach. 

“No contract then,” he said, grinning.

“No contract,” Batman agreed.

“I’m sure we don’t even need to oversell it anyway,” Clark said and floated forward, sitting on the corner of Batman's desk. “Political gatherings are usually chill.”

“Except that one party on Horlom,” Batman reminded him and without looking up from the tablet, sat down as well, only in his chair. “They were having an orgy.”

Clark rubbed his neck awkwardly. “I forgot about that,” he murmured.

“You don’t forget.”

“Right.” Clark cleared his throat. He wished he could forget. Watching all those aliens going at it was not something he wanted to remember forever. “I’m sure it won’t be like that tho.”

Dating Batman for a mission he could handle without ending with a broken heart, hopefully. He was already a touchy guy, and Batman knew that they were both used to Clark's affection. Beside occasional kissing, it wasn’t going to be anything new between them in terms of PDA. Batman would only have to drop the scowl when hugged. 

Having sex with him though… Clark doubted he could come back from that. 

More importantly, he doubted he would be able to separate the physical act from his feelings. And lost in a moment of ecstasy, he could say one word too many.

Three words too many, to be exact.

“No, it won’t. Just a regular, boring political gathering.” Batman looked up with a rare smirk. “Maybe next time.”

Clark laughed. Batman making jokes about it made him think his friend wasn't forcing himself to do that mission after all.

“I assume we can’t go dressed like… us,” he pointed at both of them.

Batman hummed in agreement. “Probably not. We look too much like soldiers.”

And that was apparently bad. Clark could pass as non-threatening in his suit. But Batman with his cowl, gauntlet blades and utility belt, looked too much like a soldier.

And a deadly one at that.

And their suits didn't exactly match like spouses’ clothes should.

“I don’t know if any of Earth’s attire would fit either,” Batman admitted and stared thoughtfully at the empty computer screen. “Something traditional perhaps. Colorful. Maybe Slavic. Polish, Ukrainian. Something like that.”

Clark nodded. Those seemed like good options, elegant yet colorful, but not too flashy. Then again, they were going to meet with royalties, they should try to shine at least a little bit.

“We could wear Kryptonian robes,” he suggested.

He felt self-conscious about his idea when Batman looked at him silently.

“I have some in the Fortress,” Clark explained shyly. “We would have to make one for you too and we would be good to go.”

‘Or we could follow your idea’, was already at the tip of Clark's tongue as he waited for Batman's decision.

He was prepared to hear ‘no’. Because Kryptonian clothes were nothing like Batman's usual attire, be it his batsuit or civilian clothes. 

Too flashy, too attention-drawing.

But then Batman nodded. “Sounds good.”

Clark beamed at him, shooting up into the air. “Great! Come to the Fortress whenever, I’ll ask Jor-El to help us.”

Batman, already deeply invested back in reading, nodded in response.

It didn't falter Clark's smile even slightly.

“Send me those files later, I’ll read them too,” he told Batman and moved toward the exit. “I guess that’s it then?”

“For now.”

“Cool.” Clark licked his lips nervously. “See you at home, honey.”

Batman straightened up in his seat, clearly not looking at the tablet anymore. Clark panicked.

Shoot, shoot, shoot!

Why did he say that? Now he made Batman uncomfortable and for what? For a bit of indulgence before the mission even started.

Clark opened his mouth to apologize, but then, in the reflection in the monitor, he saw Batman smirking. 

Clark wanted to exhale a whole hurricane with how relieved he was that Batman took his words as a stupid joke. 

Instead, he just fled before he could say something even more stupid and headed straight to the Fortress.

Flying through the Arctic would help him cool off and get himself back together.