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Bruce claps as Clark finishes talking. He applauds as though he and Clark are two actors running lines for some Hollywood production. In an odd way, it's not far from the truth.

"It must be nice being the world's only perfect person, Clark. The world according Clark Kent has enough forgiveness for people who try to kill you on a regular basis and people who wouldn't hesitate to screw you over the moment in benefited them. And, of course, anyone who didn't end up with powers like yours or Jordan's is simply 'jealous' of their poor fortune." Bruce says, shaking his head at Clark as though he's talking to a slow child. Clark is like that, sometimes; so full of Midwestern morality and value that he can't believe the horrid things people do to each other, simply because they can.

"Unfortunately, Clark, some of us have to live in the real world with people like the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow and others. You never had to deal with people like them; if you did, it would break your faith in people a million times over. Lex Luthor rarely faces you on the one level you could completely outclass him in and it stymies you because, for all your power, you won't go after him for real. He knows, just like I do, that you'll never do what you have to to put him behind bars for good.

By the way, you want to know what /jealousy/ over being denied power you think you deserve is? /That/ man is the definition of the term." Bruce tells tells him, his voice growing colder and quieter in opposition of Clark's angry tone.

The comment about taking teenagers into combat is a barb he should have expected from Superman, but didn't. He mourns Jason's loss every day and wishes he'd had the foresight to push that young man away when he had the chance, rather than latching onto him to replace Dick, who'd also left him.

It only now dawned on him that many of the things that Clark was saying echoed the things that Dick said when he decided to end their partnership. Impossible standards, isolation, inflexibility...Dick had named all of Bruce's faults.

"Jordan's your mess to deal with now. He's a glory-hog, a showboat and he has issues with authority. I hope he's worth the trouble you purchased by taking him on." Bruce says.