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It had been a long night for the Batfamily. Tim was no stranger to stress or sleep deprivation, they were his natural states of being, but even he was exhausted at this point. He was sitting next to the other three Birds in a nest down in the Batcave. That, in and of itself, was not out of the ordinary. The cave nest was the second most used one in the manor -the first being the one in Bruce's room, of course.
The unusual part of the evening -actually, Tim looked at his watch and it was closer to noon than midnight- was Bruce. He wasn't sure he should even call his father Bruce at the moment, he was pure Bat. The Bat was searching the cave extensively, as he'd been doing for hours now. Once he'd combed through everything, he'd restart, obviously looking for something.
Dick stood up, the movement drawing the Bat's gaze in an instant. Jason was pulling on the eldest's sweater to sit back down.
He's just going to growl at you, stop trying to get out.
If Tim was counting correctly, this was Dick's fifth attempt at leaving the nest. This try met a similar result as the last ones. Dick edged towards the side of the nest, B's wide eyes focused entirely on his son. As soon as the Bird reached out of the nest, the Bat was there, growling. It was clear that the Bat wanted everyone in the nest while he was searching, and he was not about to allow anyone to leave. He didn't leave again until Dick was back where he'd started away from the edge.
What is he looking for? He's never reacted to Fear Toxin this way before!
Dick seemed to be on the edge of tears, overwhelmed with frustration and exhaustion.
It is a newer strain, Grayson, we cannot be sure of its unique side effects, the little bird spoke from Jason's lap, hugging his bat plush. Tim knew they could be sure if he could just make it to the computer in the med bay. They'd started analysis as soon as they made it home with the unconscious Bat, and the results were sure to be done by now. Unfortunately, no one could get out of the nest to go look at them, so they were practically useless. Perhaps we should leave him be for now? Grayson's attempts so far have only seemed to disturb him more.
B finished another thorough search and began again. Damian was probably right. Tim wouldn't say that his dad was calm right now, but it was leagues better than when one of them tried leaving or stopping him.
What do you think he's looking for? He mused. No one was likely to get any sleep in the current predicament. Even if they couldn't do anything they could still speculate.
It can't be the antidote, we gave him a dose when we came in. Dick frowned. It seems the new strain is resistant to the antidote we have in stock.
Jason snorted , Yeah no kidding Dickface. We've been sitting here for hours while the big old bat searches the cave as if he doesn't have the location of every object in here memorized! Tim saw Jason fidgeting as he snapped at Dick. If they didn't figure things out soon, a fight was going to break loose and who knows how B would respond to that right now.
Maybe he can't remember things as well right now? I mean, he's not in the best state of mind. It's like he's just going off instinct, and that instinct is to find something. If we can figure out what it is and get it for him, maybe he'll calm down until the toxin wears off.
That's great Baby Bird, except even if we can find out what he wants it's not like he's going to let us get it for him .
Well, doing nothing is working amazingly so far! He bared his teeth at his older brother, who returned the gesture.
Imbeciles, you're stressing him out! Damian interrupted. Tim looked over to see the Bat obviously torn on returning to the nest to help and continuing his search.
B must think it's really valuable if he's as worried about it as he is about us.
Oh my god, we're idiots. Replacement, do you have a phone? Tim scoffed at the question, offended. Still, he pulled out a phone and handed it to Jason. You have every phone number known to man in here, yeah? He asked as he scrolled through the phone.
Shut up. Who are you calling, anyway? I don't think Scarecrow will give you an antidote, even if you ask politely. "Hi John, I know you poisoned our dad earlier tonight, do you think you could fix him for us? He's acting weird."
You shut up, I'm not calling Crane. Jason paused. Wait do you have all the rogues' phone numbers? Why???
Focus! Who're you calling??
What B is looking for Jason said cryptically. He was such a drama queen.
Clark had been having a pretty good day so far. Lois had picked him up as usual, and he had been ready five minutes early. The biggest emergencies he'd had to deal with so far had been three separate instances of cats in trees, only one of which Perry had noticed his absence during. Plus, Clark's latest article was well on its way to being finished, and he didn't think it was too bad.
He stood up and walked to the coffee machine, idly playing on his phone. The caffeine did nothing to him, but he'd gotten used to the taste and it was nice to stretch his legs every once in a while. Superman-ing didn't count. Clark leaned against the counter, savoring the flavor of bland coffee.
Just as he was about to start a conversation with Jimmy, who had just walked into the breakroom, Clark's phone rang. Despite being a sociable guy, this was a pretty rare event. Most of his friends worked at the Planet with him and had no reason to call his phone when they could walk five feet and talk in person. Ma and Pa knew his work hours and waited for the evenings and weekends to talk to him. That pretty much left superheroes, who would use the comms if it was an emergency. The League didn't make social calls too often. At least, Clark didn't, unless it was with Diana and she was more likely to just show up than call him.
The small screen showed an unknown number, which didn't help Clark at all. A Gotham area code was at the beginning of the string of numbers and the only people he knew from the city were the Bat family. Smiling apologetically at Jimmy, Clark slowly ran to the stairwell before using his actual speed to reach the roof. He couldn't imagine why anyone in the family would be calling him right now. Shouldn't they be asleep right now too? Dread started to creep into his system as he clicked the accept call button.
"Hello?" Clark prompted, hoping nothing bad had happened in the two rings it had taken for him to pick up. A chirp made its way through the speaker followed by,
"Clark?"
"Jason? What's up, buddy? Is everything okay?"
"It's B. Come to cave?" Clark had already risen off the ground.
"I'll be right there." He didn't need to hang up, as he was outside the cave a second later. "Are you able to let me in?" He'd never gone in this entrance alone before, either following the Bat in or using the front door. More chirps and chittering could be heard through the phone, slightly muffled.
"Wait. Tim." Ok, if Tim was working on letting him in he shouldn't have to wait long. He was proven right when less than ten seconds later the cave opened, allowing him to enter.
Clark practically teleported through the cave tunnels to the main area, he was flying so fast. He stopped short at the edge of the cave when he heard a low growling sound, opting to check out the scene in front of him. Scanning the area he saw all of the Birds in the cave's nest. No one seemed to have any apparent injuries so he looked at the source of the dark noise.
Bruce was half-crouched near the computer desk, eyes focused on Clark and fangs visible from across the room. The Bat had growled at him before, but always halfheartedly in annoyance or disagreement. The noise coming from him now was entirely new. He didn't think he'd been truly scared of anyone in the family since their first meetings, but the feeling was beginning to seep into his bones again now.
The Bat slowly made his way in between him and the nest, never taking his eyes off of Clark. Behind him, the Birds were chirping at each other. Clark had been working on understanding the complicated language of whistles and chirps, but he couldn't make out much of what was being said.
"Doesn't recognize you," Tim said.
"Fear gas," Jason helpfully added. Clark wasn't sure that knowing why Bruce was acting this way would help him fix the situation, but it made him feel a bit better about being growled at. At least B hadn't suddenly decided that he loathed him.
"Uh, I can see that. What should I do?"
"Don't Panic?" Dick asked.
"I don't feel great about that being a question." He knew Dick was right though. Panicking wouldn't help anyone, and would probably make things worse. He took a calming breath and turned his attention to the snarling Bat. The man was obviously trying to protect his kids from the person who had suddenly appeared in the cave. Clark felt like he was facing down a scared animal like the occasional ones he came across as Superman. The family did act pretty animalistic at times (evident by the literal nest the boys were sitting in. At least it was made of blankets and pillows as opposed to sticks).
Decision made, Clark slowly raised his hands palms facing the Bat. He tried making himself appear smaller, grateful he was Clark right now and not Superman. Something about the plaid and jeans made it easier for him versus the proud blue and red suit. The Bat was keeping his eyes on him, gaze occasionally darting around to room to make sure no one else had appeared to threaten his family.
"Hey, B. It's just Clark," he spoke gently. He smiled, hoping the Bat recognized the gesture as a friendly one, not one of aggression. He felt wrongfooted trying to calm his best friend down. Animals tended to like him and he was pretty good at befriending strays. Hopefully, B could also remember that he liked Clark. If not, one of them was bound to get injured, and since Bruce didn't have any kryptonite out now, it was likely to be the Bat.
Clark shuffled slowly toward Bruce, muttering "It's alright" as he moved. The Bat didn't attack, he was making the face he normally made when solving a particularly difficult puzzle. Normally, it was cute. Now, Clark didn't know what to think.
He managed to scoot a few feet closer when B's body language suddenly changed. The Bat straightened quickly and launched himself towards the super. Clark froze immediately, worried he was about to be attacked. He could feel himself being knocked to the ground, not wanting to hurt Bruce if he met the immovable object that Superman could make himself.
Instead of the growling and fighting he expected from the Bat, he could hear his purring. It was a sound he'd come to love, but it did surprise him a bit at the moment. He opened his eyes to see B's face above him. His teeth were still showing, but his lips were pulled back into a smile rather than a snarl.
The Bat scrambled up off of Clark and made him stand as well before herding him like a shepherd dog toward the nest. Clark was pretty confident that B could recognize him now, at least. When they made it to the nest, the boys had already made room for them. He felt a bit offended when Bruce quite literally pushed him into the nest, but he'd forgive it this once.
Clark moved with the boys as B pushed them as far into the middle of the nest as he could. He finally addressed the Birds again while watching their father circle the group.
"What's he doing?"
"Mini patrol," Dick giggled.
"Worried. Protecting," Jason clarified.
"Oh. Why did you call me?"
"He was looking."
"For me?" Dick hummed in agreement. Clark looked back up to Bruce, still making his way around the nest. It looked like he was going to do this until the gas wore off. B was scared, not that it was obvious by looking at him, and the people he was protecting were his sons and Clark. He felt a bit awed by the idea. B was his best friend, and he knew Bruce cared for him too, but never had it been so explicitly laid out in front of him before. Part of him needed someone to say it out loud, to make sure it was real. "Why me?"
The Birds looked at him confused. All three replied.
"Family."
"Tt. Obvious."
"Idiot."
He watched Bruce some more, listening to the rumbling content purr emanating from him. The repetitive motion of the Bat circling the group was calming. When the Birds decided Clark made the best bed -despite already being in one of the most comfortable nests in the manor-, their body heat finally dragged him into a shallow sleep.
Eventually, a movement to his side roused him. Barely awake, he recognized Bruce finally giving up his watch and settling in with the group. His family. The Fear toxin must have finally made its way out of his system. Clark grabbed the Bat from beside him and pulled him closer, drifting off again to the wonderful noise of purring.