A sharp gust of wind blew through the cave and suddenly Clark was sitting proud as can be in Batman's chair, wearing a crooked Santa Claus hat on top of his head. Bruce hardly blinked, not taking his eyes off the monitors. The Joker was at large again. Christmas Eve meant nothing to The Joker. That wasn't entirely true. The Joker would want to show a little Christmas spirit by blowing up Gotham's elite. Last year he kicked off the season by abducting Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock. If Bruce didn't find a pattern to this madness soon, lives could be lost.

"Come on B-Man it's Christmas!" Clark whined. "The Leaguers are all coming to my place for a smashing Christmas party!" Clark elbowed Bruce in the side teasingly. "There'll be gingerbread house competitions and Ma's famous eggnog," Clark implored.

"I can't," Bruce said curtly. "I'm working. Crime doesn't take holidays."

Superman scowled. "Criminals celebrate Christmas too," Clark pointed out. "I bet you even the Joker is celebrating with his loved ones," Clark's frown deepened. "Okay singular. Loved one," he amended.

Bruce sighed. Sometimes he forgot how different Clark's world was from his own. On most days, Superman simply had to cross his arms and talk down a wayward citizen of Metropolis, and more often than not, that technique worked. Here in Gotham there was no time for chatter. It was kill or be killed.

"You'd lose that bet," Batman grunted, not taking his eyes off the monitor showing every angle of Gotham.

"You know, one of these days you're going to work yourself to death," he laughs at his own joke.

"Hmm," Bruce growls, standing erect ready to pounce at a sudden notice. He knotted his fists together in frustration. Hopeless. How could two people hate each other so much, and know nothing about each other? There was no pattern to the madness. Try as he did, he couldn't pinpoint the Joker's next move.

Clark leaned forward eagerly, his scarlet cape sweeping the floor. "You should tag along," he encouraged. "Diana would be there Bruce," Clark wrinkled his eyebrows at Bruce suggestively.

"And I'm supposed to care because?" Bruce hisses, secretly hoping Clark would lose interest in his nonexistent social life, and fly out the way he came in. He really needed to tighten the security on the Batcave. Maybe install a blue kryptonite trap for his unwelcome little cuz.

"Well, she did say your voice is as good as Apollo's."

"That's not an endorsement. He's full of hot air."

"I know someone else who is full of hot air and sulks on rooftops," Clark raised one eyebrow at Bruce. "Come on man, one night with the fam isn't gonna kill you. You might enjoy yourself."

"I've got work to do."

"You're setting a bad example for Damian." He did not just go there. Bruce let out a frustrated sigh. "He practically sleeps in his Robin gear." Was that such a bad thing? Bruce taught Damian to always be vigilant and prepared for any outcome. He couldn't be like Jon and jump headlong into fire without analyzing the entire situation first. Damian was street smart, and that was exactly how it should be.

"Bruce Wayne does go out," Bruce points out. "Occasionally," he adds as an afterthought.

"You know, referring to yourself in third person is the first sign of insanity," Clark crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Bruce with a degree of worry.

"Don't you have some meta to catch or an extraterrestrial to knock into next week."

Clark spins out of his Superman gear, and relaxes back into the seat wearing an ugly Christmas sweater with a grumpy Batman wearing an elf's hat on it. Bruce's scowl deepens. Was there no end to this torment? Where did he even get such a sweater? Bruce thought Dick had bought all the corny Batman merchandise in Gotham.

"Sorry, Superman is off duty tonight." In an instant Clark is by Batman's side, peering over his shoulder. "What is so important you have to miss Christmas?" Clark's eyes narrow at the screen. Some footage of the Joker's last attack plays out on screen. "Oh, him again," Clark grumbles moodily. "You know B-man, I can do a quick scan of the city and find him. Easy as pie."

"No!" Bruce said much harsher than he meant to sound. The last thing he needed on his hands was a brainwashed Superman.

"No need to be mean," Clark said. "Just trying to help."

"This is one problem you cannot solve with brute force. Expect the unexpected when dealing with the Joker."

"Gee Bruce, I know that!"