Okay guys, first things first, this was a drunk idea and this first chapter was written while drunk. It's Batman/Superman bro-mance bro-time. The chapters will consist of Bats and Supes chatting and having a lot of back and forth, with some Clark and Lois and some Bruce and Diana in there too. Because OTP guys.

The training room was on lock down. Ever since the encounter with Darkseid and Clark letting loose on him, Bruce had demanded that Clark learn control. Bruce was adamant that control, mental stamina and sheer will-power would have allowed Clark to power through the agony matrix. Clark had seen Bruce do the same in several situations where his human body should have given out on him, he was willing to take the other mans advice.

Things had been quiet lately, especially with Luthor gone. However they were expecting a rise in crime rates and a power vacuum left by Lex. Clark had a blue ring on his finger. It stripped him of his powers, hence the training room lock down. Outside of this room, no one knew it existed and it stayed in a secure vault in the batcave, the only place Clark knew was fully secure. People had discovered the fortress in the part, but never the cave. He trusted Bruce to keep his secret.

Bruce knew something was bothering the man of steel, they had so far been through 8 weeks of training, Clark had picked up basic martial arts and physical fighting techniques easily with the help of Wildcat, the logical choice of fighting style for Clark was that of someone who a depowered Clark shared strength, stamina and build with.

Clark had taken to trained combat far better than Bruce had expected, so they moved on to mental control. They would sit and meditate. Clark needed Bruce's expertise in the technique to keep his mind from wandering. Helping him control himself and sort through his inner conflicts. One of which Bruce chose to bring up.

"Kent, somethings bothering you and its upsetting your meditation." Bruce invited the conversation, knowing that after previous weeks, Clark would feel compelled to share, one of his former masters had taught him that sharing inner conflicts with someone you trusted and could offer sound advice often helped with problems, Alfred was his confident. Bruce would be Clarks if necessary.

"I...I'm struggling with Lois." Clark opened his eyes, his arms slumped into his crossed legs along with his shoulders, his head looking slightly down and to his left, avoid eye contact with Batman. "It's so strange Bruce, since I told her about my identity, she can't seem to choose who she wants. One minute I'm Clark and she calls me Smallville and loves the farm boy in me, the next I'm Kal El, alien and last of a extinct species, then I'm Superman, her childish crush and hero of earth." He looked up. Bruce was as usual stoic, Clark almost wanted a physical reaction, a sympathetic sigh or shrug, but he knew better. Bruce would give him a logical answer and it would help him through. The other leaguers depended on Batman's superior intellect and tactical prowess, however Clark depended upon Bruce Wayne for times like these, the man who could naturally read people and solve social issues like these.

"That's because you're still not sure which of those you are." His voice was sincere, cutting home to the truth instantly. The factual statement of Clark's mindset was upsetting but he let Bruce continue. "To me, you're birth world is a legacy you carry out of respect and admiration. Superman is what you choose to be for the greater good, he is a mixing of Kal El and Clark. However at your heart, when your powers are gone or you feel helpless, you fall back on the Kent upbringing. Thats who you are. Clark Kent. You try harder with your journalism and expose's on subjects most people ignore than you have ever tried with sharing your Kryptonian heritage. Blood is blood, yet your mindset is nearly all human."

Clark was a little taken back, it was true, yet it wasn't. No one really ever asked about his Kryptonian heritage except Bruce. It was hard to account for why they hadn't and the thought suddenly sombered him. Did no one care about the dead planet which was originally his home? "Kent. You are a man out of his world, yet thoroughly apart of this one. Had you grown up on Krypton you would have had no powers, yet I still believe you would've been a hero there as well." This eased Clark slightly, Bruce had a point, he would still have helped people, any way he could, that was just who he was. The next words from Bruce's mouth helped Clark more than he would ever know.

"I consider Clark Kent my best friend, ally and brother. Lois fell in love with Clark before she knew he was Superman, before she knew Superman was Kal El and she will never love them like she loves Clark." Clark couldn't help but smile, he'd always known this at heart. His reply to Bruce was honest as always, and the smile that Bruce gave him back was a sign that his friend would never give up on him. "I guess, I always knew that Bruce, I just struggled with the guilt. Clark is me, thats who I am, but I felt guilt for feeling like being Clark at my core was ignoring the other parts of me. I'm Kal El, sure, but he's someone that never really got to live out his own life. Clark Kent is a living, breathing man. Even with all my extra's. I guess it really is nurture over nature huh?" He grinned at Bruce, feeling the weight lift from his shoulders. Bruce's smile faded and turned to a scowl. "Yes, yes it is."

Clark regretted his last words, that phrase for Bruce held a darker, more broken meaning. The death of his parents had forced the nuturing to cease and forced the birth of Batman, a knight of darkness. "Sorry Bruce." A moment or two passed, Batman merely nodding at Clarks apology. The friendship they had was uncommon, Batman normally ignored all the other metahumans, or had a snappy remark ready for them, but he knew with Superman it wasn't necessary, except for some situations.

"Hows things with Diana? Have you talked to her yet?"

"You're poor at meditation Kent."

"Back to last names, I'll get it out of you eventually Wayne."

With that, they resumed meditation, however Bruce had a nagging knot in his stomach that he wasn't getting out of this conversation.