Yay. Marrying someone...
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As Bruce and Dick stepped into the serene yet grand setting of the Metropolis chapel, the first thing they noticed was how familiar yet unexpectedly tense the atmosphere was. The place was filled with a mix of friendly faces and some less welcome ones, creating an air of anticipation that Dick could almost feel prickling on his skin.
The two hadn't made it very far into the chapel when a familiar, uncomfortably cheerful voice greeted them. "Oh, hey there, gentlemen! Quite a surprise to see the famous Bruce Wayne and his ward out here." Lex Luthor, dressed impeccably in a suit that screamed wealth and power, approached with his ever-present assistant, Mercy Graves, by his side. Lex's smile was wide, a bit too wide, like he was a predator that had spotted new prey.
Bruce maintained his usual public facade—a charming, somewhat aloof billionaire—masking any reaction to Lex's presence. "Why the long face?" Lex asked, studying Bruce intently. "You should be happy, Wayne. This is a day for celebration."
Bruce slipped into his easygoing persona, managing a smile. "Ah, sorry about that," he replied with a light chuckle. "It's just... the difference from Gotham. I'm so used to rain and gloom, you know?" His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp. Bruce made sure to subtly push Dick forward. "And let me introduce my son. He's not quite used to events like this yet."
Lex's eyes briefly flicked to Dick Grayson, who was doing his best to play the role of the shy but polite son. "Ah, so the infamous playboy Bruce Wayne has finally settled down?" Lex's grin widened, but his eyes were calculating. "What a loss for the bachelor world, truly," he said, before he and Mercy moved on to mingle with other guests.
Dick took a moment to process what he had just witnessed. He'd seen the footage of Lex during the press conference, where Lex had seemed on edge around Batman. But now, here he was, acting perfectly at ease with Bruce Wayne. That could only mean one thing: Lex Luthor had no idea that Bruce Wayne and Batman were one and the same. That realization made Dick's pulse quicken. He had to give credit to Bruce's mastery of his dual identities—he made it look effortless.
As Lex and Mercy walked away, Bruce subtly tapped the chapel doors in a seemingly random pattern. To anyone else, it was nothing more than a meaningless knock, but Dick's keen senses picked up on the pattern immediately. Morse code. It was a skill Bruce had drilled into him early on, and as Dick translated it, he realized what Bruce was communicating: "Lex Luthor has a big secret. Involves Metropolis. Be vigilant." Dick nodded imperceptibly, filing the message away in his mind.
The chapel itself was a marvel, its decor a seamless blend of elegance and cultural reverence. The white marble glowed under the soft sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows, which depicted scenes from Greek mythology and stories of the gods. Statues of Athena and other figures stood guard in corners, and delicate floral arrangements added bursts of color to the otherwise pristine space. Dick couldn't help but notice the subtle yet unmistakable touches of Wonder Woman. The ornate weaponry and the careful placement of Amazonian symbols told him that Diana had likely played a hand in the decoration.
As if on cue, Diana Prince appeared, dressed in a flowing white gown that highlighted her regal aura, though her expression was warm and inviting. "Ah, hello... Bruce Wayne," she greeted, catching herself before she almost called him by his true name. Her eyes twinkled slightly, betraying a bit of her amusement at the charade they all had to play in public. "Glad to see you here. I didn't expect you to come for such a casual occasion."
Bruce inclined his head. "How could I not? It's a day worth remembering," he replied smoothly, though Dick caught the flicker of sadness that crossed Bruce's eyes for a split second.
Dick took that moment to look up and read the large banner that was hanging over the altar, strung up with fresh white lilies and blue ribbons. The bold letters spelled it out clearly: "Marriage Ceremony of Clark Kent and Lois Lane." Dick's eyes widened with surprise, though a smile crept across his face. He had always known about the bond between Clark and Lois, but seeing it made official felt... right.
Diana noticed his reaction and smiled. "Yes, it's happening today. Clark finally convinced Lois to make an honest man out of him." There was a lightness in her voice, but her eyes were guarded. Even on this day, a day meant for happiness and unity, there were shadows lingering in the back of everyone's minds. The threats that loomed over Earth were never far from their thoughts.
Dick turned to Bruce, whose expression had softened, just for a moment, as he gazed at the banner. Even Batman needed reminders of hope. This marriage symbolized something more than love; it was a reminder of what they were all fighting for, a reminder of the human connections that made their struggle worthwhile.
"Bruce," Dick whispered, leaning closer. "Do you think they're safe here? With Lex around, I mean."
Bruce's eyes hardened again, his jaw setting. "We'll make sure they are," he replied, his voice carrying a promise, not just to Clark and Lois but to everyone who was part of this makeshift family of heroes.
...
As Bruce and Dick took their seats, Bruce caught the unmistakable scent of seawater mixed with the cologne of someone who had spent too long near the ocean. Turning his head, he found himself facing none other than Arthur Curry, the King of Atlantis, and his wife, Mera. Arthur, dressed in a tailored navy suit that looked as though it had never been worn before, gave a broad grin and raised a hand in greeting. Mera, dressed in an elegant emerald gown that shimmered like the waves, nodded politely.
"Ah, Bruce! Glad to see you here," Arthur said with his usual hearty demeanor, though his smile faltered slightly when he noticed Bruce's eyes narrowing. "And you brought your other son as well!" Arthur gestured to Dick, who raised an eyebrow, silently amused. Mera followed up with a graceful, "Salutations, Bruce Wayne," her voice flowing like the sea.
Dick, ever curious, leaned in and caught himself wondering if Mera actually had gills hidden somewhere beneath her regal composure. The thought made him grin, though he was wise enough to keep his questions to himself.
Bruce, however, kept his expression pleasant but let a hint of his usual dry humor bleed through. "Oh, it's you," he said, his tone light but with an edge of mockery. "I'm surprised you're still here, Arthur. It must take extraordinary courage to act as if you actually did something during the last crisis." His smile was sharp, clearly poking at Arthur's pride. Bruce was still a bit sore about how late Aquaman had been to the battle against Steppenwolf and Grayven, and while he understood the logistics, he couldn't resist the jab.
Arthur's smile stiffened, his ego stung. "…You could have just said you didn't want to talk," he grumbled, crossing his arms. Mera, meanwhile, chuckled softly, her laughter as melodic as the waves. "Don't worry, Bruce," she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "Arthur's pride often needs to be checked. It's an ongoing process." Arthur rolled his eyes but seemed to accept the hit with grace, albeit reluctantly.
Dick leaned closer to Bruce and whispered, "I thought this was supposed to be a peaceful event." Bruce gave him a look, one that said more than words ever could. Peaceful was relative, and in Bruce's world, it rarely lasted long.
In the dressing room, Clark Kent was pacing in circles, adjusting the cuffs of his tuxedo nervously. He was trying his best to resist the urge to use his x-ray vision to peek through the walls and see what Lois Lane was up to. It was taking all of his self-control, and he couldn't help but mutter, "Should I just take a peek? But that's bad luck…" He was, quite literally, torn between his desire to see Lois and the age-old tradition that a groom shouldn't see the bride before the wedding.
Clark's fingers twitched, and he debated with himself, feeling more nervous than he ever had facing off against alien warlords. But before he could decide, one of his groomsmen, Jimmy Olsen, burst in with his camera around his neck. "Whoa, CK, you look like you're about to have a meltdown," Jimmy said, his grin wide and teasing. "Relax! You've faced giant alien warlords; you can handle a wedding."
Clark managed a sheepish smile, though it didn't entirely dispel his nerves. "Thanks, Jimmy. But this is… different. Much more dangerous," he joked. It was true in a way. Fighting off intergalactic threats was one thing. Marrying the love of his life in front of friends and family was something else entirely.
Meanwhile, Lois Lane was in the bridal suite, surrounded by a sea of white fabric and a mountain of discarded dresses. Martha Kent handed her yet another gown, this time in soft pink, and Lois felt her patience waning. "Try this one, dear. I think Clark would prefer it," Martha said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lois sighed, exasperated but too fond of Clark's mother to complain too harshly. "Miss Kent… this is the 43rd dress we've tried. Can't we just pick one and move on? At this rate, the wedding will be over before I'm even ready," she said, voice tinged with mock desperation.
Martha's response was cheerful and unyielding. "Nonsense! You have to be perfect, Lois, and that means we have a few more to try on," she said with the stubbornness of a mother who wouldn't compromise on her son's wedding day. Even in her elder years, Martha Kent was as energetic and determined as ever.
Lois threw her hands up in mock defeat, but a smile played on her lips. "Okay, but if Clark starts flying around Metropolis thinking I got cold feet, it's on you," she joked, stepping into yet another dress.
Outside the chapel, Victor Stone sat on a bench, staring at his hands as they shifted from flesh-like camouflage to gleaming metal. The contrast between his two worlds, human and machine, was something he could never fully reconcile. Today, surrounded by happiness and love, the division felt more pronounced than ever. He watched as guests filtered in, families holding hands, friends laughing, and he couldn't help but feel disconnected.
Trying to suppress the growing ache in his heart, he leaned back, letting out a sigh. The idea of being here, at a wedding, celebrating the unity of two people, was bittersweet. It was a reminder of everything he felt he'd lost—or perhaps never truly had. The dream of marriage, of being loved for who he was and not what he had become, felt distant and unattainable.
"Maybe Dad's not the unfeeling machine here," he whispered to himself, the bitterness in his voice making the statement all the more painful. He remembered all the fights with his father, Silas Stone, about how emotionless and consumed by work Silas had always seemed. But maybe Victor had become the very thing he'd accused his father of being. Maybe he was the one who was closing himself off, building walls made of circuits and steel.
He didn't notice Barry Allen until the speedster appeared beside him in a blur of motion, a gust of wind rustling Victor's jacket. "Hey, Vic!" Barry said, flashing his trademark grin. "You okay, man? You look like you're brooding harder than Batman."
Victor managed a weak laugh, grateful for Barry's presence. "Yeah, just… thinking."
Barry plopped down beside him, leaning forward with an earnest look. "Well, stop thinking. This is supposed to be a happy occasion, right? Besides, you never know what the future holds. Maybe one day, you'll be the one tying the knot."
Victor scoffed but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. "Thanks, Barry. You always know how to make things sound better."
Barry clapped him on the shoulder. "That's what I'm here for. Now, c'mon. We've got a wedding to enjoy, and I heard there's some serious cake inside. Let's not waste any more time."
Victor stood up, feeling a little lighter, and followed Barry inside. Perhaps he couldn't shake the feeling of being different, but at least he wasn't alone. And sometimes, that was enough.
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[Auther: Well, that's it for DC now. Victor and Barry's conversation was a bit quick though... I might rewrite it later...]