1Welcome to Superman: Metal Hopes! This is a sequel to Batman: Broken Knight, however, it is not necessary to read that before reading this, it is just recommended. Again, thank you to RRJG for proofreading! Also, I have started uploading Dawn of Destiny: A Let's Go Nuzlocke, so if anyone reading this likes Pokemon, or wants to give it a try, please read it! Finally, I am hoping to upload this once per week!
Enjoy!
"Lois, you're taking the Superman memorial story, Kent, Bruce Wayne gala. First gala in years. Don't screw this up," Perry White, the editor-in-chief shouted out into a room of employees. "Olsen, Troupe, you two get sports. Now get going!"
After he finished speaking, Perry White returned to his office while the employees he had named started getting up. These employees started grabbing their things and walking out.
"Hey Lois, any chance I could get the memorial?" one of the employees asked another as they were leaving.
"Smallville, as much as I would love to go to Wayne's gala," Lois responded with sarcasm in her voice as she smiled at the first person, Clark Kent, "the Superman story seems much more entertaining. All the gala would be is rich men hitting on me."
"Yeah, sorry, didn't think that through," Clark said sheepishly.
"I could tell. Have fun!" Lois stated, walking out of the building as another man walked up to Clark.
"So Clark, how's it going with Lois?" the new person taunted, smiling as he talked.
"Shut up. There's nothing going on between us. Just friends," Clark stated, trying to hide his blush.
"Mm-hm," the new person nodded, not believing Clark. "Don't worry Clark, I'm sure you'll get her someday."
"Seriously Jimmy? I have work to do," Clark stated, trying to ignore Jimmy Olsen.
"Don't worry buddy, I'll be right here once you return!" Jimmy shouted at Clark as he left, smirking.
After leaving the building, Clark got into one of the cars in the parking lot and started driving towards the neighboring city, Gotham. After arriving at the gala's location, he noticed that he was an hour early. Clark decided to spend his extra time exploring the city. After around forty-five of wandering, he arrived in a dark alley. As he walked through it, he heard a gruff voice behind him.
"Wallet, valuables, now. And I won't hurt you," a small, ragged-looking man with a gun said, pointing his gun at Clark.
"Whoa whoa whoa, just take it easy," Clark replied, putting his hands up. "There's no reason to fight."
"Take it easy? Have you seen this place? A goddamn bat patrolling the streets, and you tell me to take it easy? Now hurry up, before he finds us!" the man said, pointing his gun forward.
"Ok, just let me grab my wallet..." Clark said, pulling out his wallet. "You know, you don't have to do this. There are other ways."
"You're not from here, are you? Everyone's corrupt, the police, the government, hell, even the bartenders are corrupt. In this city, the only way to survive is to steal," the man said, with a mix of anger and fear in his voice.
"That's not true. There's always another way," Clark stated, pulling out some cash from his wallet. "Take this. It's enough to buy a ticket to Metropolis and to get a cheap hotel room. You can get a better job there, make some money, get a better life."
"Um... Well..." the thief said nervously, before grabbing the cash and running off, dropping the gun behind him, muttering a small thanks that only Clark would hear. Suddenly, Clark heard a rustling noise behind him.
"Thanks for not stepping in," Clark said to a black figure who had appeared behind him.
"I was tempted to," the figure said, with a lack of emotion.
"I heard you got a new sidekick," Clark stated, turning around.
"For a reporter, you heard late. And the mask is lined with lead, don't bother with x-ray vision," the figure stated, stepping out of the shadows.
"Batman."
"Clark."
"You know, you are the one person who can sneak up on me, even with my super-hearing," Clark replied.
"Don't you have a party to get to?" Batman said.
"How...?" Clark started, as Batman pulled out his grapple and shot it upward.
"I'm Batman," he responded, before grappling away.
"And they say I'M super," Clark said in disbelief, before walking away towards the gala.
After arriving at the gala, Clark tried to socialize with some of the guests, however, they all brushed him off as if he were a spec of dirt. After getting insulted by a group of women, Clark heard them whispering.
"What a plebian, trying to fit into our group," Clark heard one of them whisper to another.
"He probably just wants to get us in bed. Commoner," another said.
"Wait, what's that noise?"
"Oh my god it's Bruce Wayne!" one of them squealed in happiness.
"Come on! Let's go meet him! I bet he'll fall in love with me instantly!" another said as they ran over to the helicopter that just landed.
"Hypocrites," Clark muttered, then followed them over to the helicopter where someone was getting out of the helicopter with two women on his arms.
Once the man got out of the helicopter, he raised his glass, shouting intelligibly, even for Clark. After the man got down, he was immediately swarmed by a mob of guests, hiding him from view, forcing Clark to wait for his interview. After nearly an hour, Clark managed to find Bruce Wayne alone and started trying to interview him.
"Mr. Wayne, Clark Kent, Daily Planet. You disappeared from the public eye for two years. Why?" Clark asked, pulling out a voice recorder.
"Wait, Daily Planet... Do I own that?" Bruce said with a drunken tone to his voice.
"We're based in Metropolis, so I doubt it. And can you answer the question?" Clark said, getting back to his point.
"It was actually three years, and I I don't think I will, no," Bruce said, trying to get away.
"From the time you disappeared, the Batman became more and more violent. Is there any correlation?" Clark asked.
"You know, for a reporter, you're quite stubborn. Here in Gotham, the reporters give up in seconds," Bruce stated.
"Stop avoiding the question."
"You know, you shouldn't pry into things that don't concern you," Bruce said, his voice losing the drunken tone, and adopting an angry one.
"With all due respect, Mr. Wayne, it's my job to pry into other people's business," Clark said. "Is there any correlation between you and Batman?"
"Batman and I have been seen in the same place. Do you still believe we're the same?" Bruce said.
"I'm a reporter, I don't believe in coincidence," Clark stated as a drunk woman came over.
"Hey Brucey, there's someone you just have to meet," she stated.
"One minute, I'll be right there. Now, Mr. Kent, I believe this interview is over," Bruce said, taking the woman's arm and walking off.
"Hm..." Clark stated, looking at Bruce as he walked off.
After a bit of wandering around, Clark eventually stumbled upon a lone teenager sitting in the corner, sipping a non-alcoholic beverage. After walking up to him, Clark sat down next to the teenager.
"Hey, um, I don't think kids are allowed to be here," Clark stated.
"I have to be here, Alfred forced me to socialize," the teenager said, hitting some buttons on his phone.
"Um, whose kid are you?"
"I'm Bruce's new kid," the teenager said, still avoiding eye contact
"Um, what was it again?" Clark asked.
"Tim."
"So, what's it like living with Bruce Wayne?" Clark asked.
"Eh, it's fine. Not as glamorous as most people would expect," Tim said, looking away from his phone for half a second.
"What do you mean?" Clark asked.
"This is off the record, correct?" Tim asked as he actually looked away from the phone.
"Of course." Tim then put the phone down after the answer.
"Most people seem to think Bruce is constantly partying, buying expensive things, all that," Tim started, barely taking a breath. "I came from a much less privileged life, so I was used to what many people think as normal. Bruce's life doesn't really deviate from that."
After Tim finally took a breath, Clark asked "Could you explain what normal is?"
"Spending your time at home with your family, rarely buying things, stuff like that. I guess the main difference is that Bruce doesn't work."
"Do you know anything about why he quit working at Wayne Enterprises?"
After that question, Tim quickly stated "Again, off the record," before continuing.
"I'm not completely sure, but it was something about responsibilities."
"I can see that," Clark stated, looking over at Bruce, who was flirting at that moment.
"That isn't Bruce. He just disguises who he really is whenever someone else is around."
"Why?"
Tim took a breath before continuing. "I'm not fully sure. He just wants people to think he's a playboy billionaire for some reason. He still hasn't even told me why."
"Hm. Do you have any idea why?"
"Bruce has always kept secrets. It's just part of him," Tim sighed. "Just wondering, what's your opinion on the Superman?"
"I thought I was the reporter here," Clark joked.
"Eh. Just curious."
"Well, I believe he was a hero and left for a good reason," Clark stated.
"What reason?"
"I'm... not sure. That's just how I feel."
"Hm. Bruce is coming, probably coming to bring me home," Tim said, looking back at his phone.
"So... What ya two talking about over here?" Bruce said as he walked over, again his a drunken tone.
"Nothing. Are we heading back to the manor now?" Tim asked, keeping his eyes glued to his phone.
"Yep. C'mon Tim," Bruce said, walking off.
"C'ya, Clark," Tim said, following Bruce.
"I never told you my name..." Clark said, confused.
"It was on your nametag," Tim finished, walking out of sight.
Clark looked at the disappearing family until they disappeared from his sight.
"Weird Family," he muttered to himself.
Looking at his watch, he noticed the time: 10:21. Perry would want him back soon. He quickly excused himself from the gala, got in his car, and started the drive back to Metropolis.
