So very random. Inspired by the end of John Byrne's 
"Generations" Elseworlds (first series). In the far future, the 
virtually immortal (via a Lazarus pit) Batman meets up 
with the virtually immortal (via his solar-powered 
physiology) Superman on a distant planet, both having left 
Earth centuries ago. 

Superman lives with the virtually immortal (via various 
magical effects) Lana Lang, who was obviously been 
inserted into the story to avoid the appearance of Kal and 
Bruce going off together to live happily forever after. 

Sheeyeah, *right.*

First segment setup and dialogue by John Byrne.



Terran calendar, 2919:

After two years of active searching, Bruce found Kal-El on 
a bleak distant planet. It seemed almost inevitable that they 
would meet again, even though it had been a thousand 
years since Kal left Earth to travel the galaxy. 

Three centuries ago, Bruce himself had left Earth simply 
because there was nothing left to *do* there. The peace and 
order he and Kal and the other heroes had fought for finally 
prevailed. Earth had become a paradise...and Bruce, 
frankly, found it altogether boring. He'd battled to bring it 
about, but wasn't made to live in it.

Kal had found the same thing on his travels through the 
galaxy. Between the resurgence of the Green Lantern Corps 
and the work of indigenous super-heroes everywhere, it 
was a time of unprecedented peace throughout known 
space. 

Kal had been delighted to see him, and moreover agreed 
with Bruce that the natural consequence of immortality 
was, by default, excruciating boredom. 

"So let's do something about it, Kal!" Bruce said, feeling a 
newly regained sense of purpose. "The universe is a big 
place! There must be worlds, systems, maybe whole 
galaxies out there that still need a couple of old warhorses 
like us!" 

"You...make an intriguing argument, Bruce." Kal was 
already tying his long mane of white hair back, as if in 
preparation for flight. "Only--it just wouldn't be the two of 
us...."

"What do you--" he started, and then a half-remembered 
voice came from above and behind him.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne. It's been a long time."

It *was* Lana Lang, flying down to greet him as naturally 
as she'd once walked across the Kansas cornfields. Magic 
had granted her longevity similar to that he and Kal 
enjoyed, and various metahuman powers as well. Three 
hundred years ago, she had tracked Kal across the galaxy. 
*Her* motive for doing so was obvious by the devotion in 
her eyes when she looked at him. Kal, evidently, returned 
her feelings. 

And she agreed with them both. "Like Bruce said, it's a big 
universe--there must be *somewhere* out there the three of 
us can get into trouble!"

So they did. 

***

Traveling with Kal and Lana was nearly its own reward. 



Over the long centuries, Bruce had become accustomed to 
solitude. In some ways, it had always been his natural state. 
Even in the midst of his extended, adopted family, the 
Batman had kept to himself. 

That tendency had grown even more pronounced since he 
left Earth. It was easy not to form attachments when you 
spent your life moving from planet to planet, stopping only 
to lend a hand when needed or to stock up on basic 
supplies. 

He'd never thought of himself as lonely. More to the point, 
especially pertinent at present, was his extreme suppression 
of his...libido. Earth was far distant, the women he had 
loved there now only dust. He had never been much 
interested in casual affairs, and now opportunities even for 
those were extremely limited. Most of the time, it didn't 
trouble him.

He was, after all, the master of sublimation.

But Lana, with her red-gold hair and easy laughter, 
reminded him of what he'd missed. She was casually 
affectionate, physically and emotionally, and he felt 
himself warming to her with unaccustomed speed. Lana 
had a knack for listening, accepting without judgment, and 
readily offering good sense when it was needed. She was a 
fine foil for he and Kal, who both had a tendency to 
become mired in their own thoughts. "Brooding," she 
would say, "isn't as productive as *doing.*"

Moreover, she smelled like Earth.

She was also Kal's *partner* in every way that mattered, 
and he could damn well keep his thoughts--and hands--to 
himself.

***


[begin cliche camping-on-cold-planet scene here]




"Well," Bruce said.

"Er," Kal said.

"She's technically correct," Bruce observed.

"Best not to argue," Kal agreed, and patted the ground next 
to him.

Bruce scooted nearer, carefully trying to avoid any 
impropriety. When he felt Kal's warmth against his back, 
he stopped, not wanting to press farther. "Okay?"

"Fine," Kal said, and shifted in close, the hard length of his 
body driving away the chill of the outside air.

Solar-powered physiology, Bruce thought. Of course he 
has...heat to spare.

A few minutes passed.

Parts of him were warmer than others, a part of his mind 
observed clinically. Like Kal's warm breath whispering 
past his ear. And the particularly heated bit of flesh 
pressing...pressing against his ass.

Perfectly natural physiological reaction, Bruce thought 
carefully.

A few moments passed. 

Doesn't mean a thing, Bruce thought decisively, his own 
comparable reaction notwithstanding.

Bruce said nothing.

Kal said nothing.

"Very cozy," Lana said cheerfully, reentering the tent, 
"don't move on my account." She slid under Bruce's arm, 
pressing her back against his chest so that they all three lay 
nestled together like spoons on their sides.

It seemed silly to resist such a comfortable arrangement.

When Kal reached over so that his arm hugged both Lana 
and Bruce even closer, that was comfortable too.

Bruce buried his nose in the clean fall of Lana's hair and 
slept.

***