Faintly amused, "We've been down here for a minute."

Bruce had nearly been surprised, too, when he caught sight of the clock on the edge of the security monitor. But it turns out that all his anguished silences and the surreal absorption of his journal has taken some hours; by the time they sort themselves out and pick up breakfast somewhere mundane, they won't even be first in line.

It'll give him time. Taking some painkillers, selecting a suitably civilian (but not socialite) outfit, getting in the car, finding a diner off the highway. Maybe sitting in the car and eating. Shoving a breakfast burrito at Clark's face. Looking at a shark. Contemplating the future and the-l-word.

"Besides, it'll be funny if you have to ditch me while I'm taking a picture of a seal, or something."