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Buzzfeed: Are Batman and Superman More Than Just Super Friends? This Post-Alien-Battle Moment Has Us Screaming 🫢💥❤️
It seems all anyone is talking about is the Justice League’s latest mission, driving the aliens from Metropolis, and don’t get us wrong, we love a good show of heroics (click here to see which heroes looked the hottest during the fight), but we have our eye on two specific heroes.
After the fight ended, one civilian managed to capture what was probably supposed to be a private moment between two of our favorite superheroes.
We all know rumors have been swirling about Superman and Batman, and you know we love a power couple, but personally, I’ve never put too much stock into them. That is, until I saw this video. It seems there might just be more going on than meets the eye.
In the video we can see Superman pull Batman into what I’m sure he thought was a secluded alley, before asking him something that I can only wish we could hear. Batman seems to nod back and let Superman examine the gash where one alien managed to get a good hit on him (more details here). I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen Batman acknowledge (or let anyone else acknowledge) an injury before.
Remember this iconic moment when Batman shook the mayor's hand with a bullet wound in his shoulder.
An even more incriminating detail you might not have caught is that once Superman grabbed Batman’s arm to pull him aside, he didn't let go until they headed back to help the cleanup.
This is a new side of the bat we’ve never seen before. Is this how the Batman is behind closed doors, or is there something more between these two?
Let me know what you think of this unlikely pair in the comments below.
Clark never looks forward to these meetings. Every time he opens his computer to see an email from [email protected], he has to just let out a deep sigh and resign himself to his fate.
“Dear Superman,
With some recent developments in the media, we’d like to have a chance to discuss our next moves as a team. We want to make sure that Superman is putting his best foot forward, to make sure he continues to be an inspiration for the world.
We have scheduled a meeting in the PR office for you and Batman on Sunday. Please check in at the front desk five minutes prior to the meeting time.
Best,
Justice League Public Relations Department”
Clark hates the passive aggressive wording of the email. As if that video of him and Bruce is making him less of an “inspiration for the world.” God, they’re so dramatic. And, “discuss our next moves as a team?” As if they don’t already have a script for his next public appearance.
As he sits in the waiting room with Bruce next to him, Clark can’t help but inwardly chuckle at the sight of Batman with his full cowl and armor, waiting to be reprimanded by Erica from the PR department. Bruce, of course, demands on keeping up his silent and broody persona, sitting silently with his back rigid as they wait. So Clark sits silently beside him, staring at the ceiling, listening to Erica tidy her desk before she welcomes them in.
Finally, he hears her stand up and walk over to the door, opening it and inviting them inside. They follow the blonde woman into her office, her heels clicking on the sleek floor as she gestures at the two chairs in front of her now pristinely organized desk.
Once everybody is seated once again, Erica clears her throat and settles her clasped hands on the desk in front of her.
“So,” she begins, “I can assume you both have seen the video of the two of you that was posted last week, correct?”
“Yes,” Clark says, trying to keep his voice friendly. He wants to get through this as quickly as possible.
Erica nods before beginning again, “And as I am sure you also know, it has sparked even more speculation on the nature of your relationship. Until now, it has mostly been “shipping” as they call it, but now people are starting to think you two are actually in a relationship. As you know, we cannot have people thinking you are together, so–”
“We are together.”
Erica is clearly surprised that Bruce interrupted her, staring at him for a moment before continuing, “Yes, well we cannot have the public know you are together. It is far too controversial, and as unfortunate as it is, many would stop supporting the League if they knew two of the leaders were… part of the LGBT community. It is imperative that our organization keeps the public’s support”
Clark can’t help but roll his eyes at this. They’ve had the conversation before and every time the excuse sounds weaker. He’ll still be able to save the world if homophobic people stop liking him. But PR is set on making the entire world like him, and he doesn’t feel like arguing.
“We are not going to address the situation unless somebody asks you about the video specifically. If somebody does ask, we have some talking points for you Superman,” she hands Clark a small folder then. “Batman, if you ever decide to talk to any press, we will do the same for you.”
Bruce gives a quiet grunt of acknowledgement, and Erica takes that as a sign to keep talking, “This video is not definitive evidence, but we don’t want to give them anymore. Please be more careful, we do not want to have a repeat of this situation.”
Bruce took this as a dismissal, abruptly standing up and exiting the room with a dramatic swish of his cape. Clark stood then, thanking Erica for her time and following Bruce out of the room, jealous of his ability to leave a conversation whenever he wants.
As Clark had expected, it was not a discussion of next moves, Erica already had everything planned out, and from the way Bruce walked away with a little more force in his steps than usual, Clark could tell that he wasn’t happy about the conversation either.
“Why don’t we just come out?”
Clark wishes he had a response for that, but he really doesn’t. He can’t help but think that having Superman be openly gay could only be a good thing. All Clark has really ever wanted to do with Superman is to help people and keeping his relationship a secret feels like he’s wasting an opportunity. He can’t imagine what it would be like if he grew up in a world with a queer superhero. Even if it didn’t change other peoples’ opinions, maybe he wouldn’t have hated himself so much.
After a moment of silence, Clark responds, “I really don’t have an answer for you.” Bruce raises his eyebrows at him as if he’s proved his point and continues his pacing across their bedroom, hands on his hips, occasionally lifting one to rake it through his hair.
“You’re really considering this aren’t you?” Clark asks. Internally, he’s glad that Bruce is. Clark’s been thinking about it pretty much since they got together 5 years ago, and feels vindicated knowing that Bruce is as well.
Bruce just keeps pacing, so Clark returns his attention to the article he’s reading. After a few minutes, Bruce abruptly stops and turns to him, “We need to do it.”
Clark isn’t at all surprised by the conviction with which he states it; once Bruce makes his mind up about something there’s no changing it. Clark also knows that Bruce said “need” for a reason. He’s not going to force Clark to come out, but he has decided that it’s the right thing to do and that’s not going to change, even if Clark says no.
Bruce just keeps staring at him, and Clark sets his laptop aside and lets him, knowing that he has more to say. And after a moment, he does, “Since that video was released, I’ve been watching people’s reactions and it would be wrong not to. If we don’t, it would be like we’re agreeing with the people who are saying that public figures like us should keep that hidden. And we’ll be able to help so many people by just coming out. Really it’s Superman who needs to come out, not Batman, but if we do it we should do it together.”
“I agree.”
“You do?” It’s said as less of a question and more of a statement.
Bruce moves across the room and sits down on the bed next to Clark, who sets his glasses on the bedside table and turns his head to look at him, “Yes, I honestly wish we’d done it sooner. You’re absolutely right, and I don’t care what PR says, only good can come from this.”
Bruce smiles and leans forward to press a soft kiss to Clark’s mouth before turning out his light and saying, “Goodnight, I love you.”
Clark follows suit, turning off his light, getting comfortable and whispering into the dark, “I love you too.”
When Clark gets home late from the Daily Planet the next day, after getting caught up in his article, it’s to an almost full kitchen table. Not entirely unheard of, but surprising for a random Wednesday night.
“Clark!” Dick calls waving from his seat next to the head of the table, from which Bruce gives him a pleading look, “We’re trying to figure out the best way for you and B to announce your relationship.” And suddenly Clark understands the look, and the full table.
“Oh? And what have you come up with?” Clark asks as he makes his way to the other seat next to Bruce, sending a smile to Damian on his other side who ignores him and goes back to eating his meal courtesy of Alfred, no doubt. Clark will break through to him one day.
Tim jumps in then, “Well, the obvious answer is to hold a press conference, and just announce it to a room full of reporters, right? But that’s boring, so we’re thinking some sort of public announcement, right? And that way no reporters can misconstrue anything, since everyone will see it. Now, the only time Batman and Superman are ever really seen in public together is during league missions, so we could take advantage of one, which would also make sure there’s lots of eyes on the two of you.”
“And we want lots of eyes on us?”
“Well yeah. If nobody's watching, then you can’t really come out to anyone.” Duke looks at him as if he’s stupid, then returns his focus to whatever competition he and Cass have going on at their end of the table. They seem to be just throwing bits of food at each other, but it also seems like Cass is winning somehow. Clark drags his eyes away and turns back to look at Bruce, expecting him to shut them down, say that they would host a press conference next week or something, but he just shrugs and says, “They’re right.”
Clark pauses to consider this. After their conversation last night, Clark had assumed that the press conference would be the route they went with. He might just be prejudiced, but Clark feels that speaking directly to the press would be the best way to control what is released. But perhaps Bruce and the kids were right, perhaps going directly to the people, cutting out the middleman, would be most effective. “So what did you have in mind?”
“Well that’s where it gets fun.” Dick says. “See, you two have an unprecedented opportunity to mess with people. People have always joked about Batman and Superman dating, but most people don’t really believe that, so if more videos like that one that just released are taken, maybe getting harder to deny little by little, can you imagine the chaos it would cause.”
“Okay but we’re not doing this to cause chaos, we’re doing this to help people.”
Clearly they were all going over this before Clark arrived, because they have a response ready for each of his rejections. Tim jumps in then, “And you will help people, eventually, but in the meantime, why not take this opportunity to put a little more funny into the world.”
Again, Clark considers this. It would be funny. I mean looking at the response from just the one video had entertained Bruce and him for hours. But then he remembers, “What about PR. They’re not going to let this happen. It’s going to be hard enough to convince them that we should be coming out at all.”
This time it’s Bruce who answers, “And what are they gonna do? I’m Batman.”
Half the table rolls their eyes at that, having heard the excuse a few too many times. But he was right, what could Erica really do to them?
“I guess we’re doing this, aren’t we?”