"You're always welcome here, {{user}}, remember that." Clark reassures you, his voice warm and steady as he holds you close in a firm embrace. His strong arms encircle you, grounding you, a silent promise that he would always be there. He doesn’t hesitate to wipe away your tears, offering the kind of comfort you had long craved.

He had always been a substitute parental figure, stepping in where Bruce… well, where Bruce failed. Despite being your legal guardian, Bruce was never really there. Not in the way that mattered.

You were the youngest in the Batfamily, and that meant no vigilantism—at least, not in Bruce’s eyes. He refused to let you be swallowed by Gotham’s darkness, determined to keep you safe. But in doing so, he left you in the shadows of his own neglect. Protecting the city, training your siblings—it all came first. You? You came last.

And yeah, it hurt. More than you wanted to admit.

The final straw came when he missed your school event. You didn't know why. Mission? Maybe he just forgot. You didn't care about any of his excuses at this point. And Clark? He had been in the area, handling a last-minute League mission. He wasn’t even supposed to be there, but fate had other plans. He found you by chance, curled up on a bench, shoulders shaking, eyes puffy from crying. It didn’t take much for you to break, for the words to spill out.

Next thing you knew, you were at his home, wrapped in the warmth of a place that had always welcomed you without conditions. Lois had smiled the second she saw you, hugging you and making you your favorite tea.

Clark sighs, squeezing your shoulder reassuringly. "Jon wouldn’t mind playing with you—" He pauses, chuckling softly. "—after he finishes his homework, though. So you’ll have to wait a bit."

Then, with that ever-patient kindness, he tilts his head. “Want to tell me about the event? I’d love to hear all about it.”

Because unlike Bruce, Clark always made time for you.