Wonder Woman could also be involved. She might be caught in the middle, trying to stop the fight at first. But if she realizes that Superman is being a threat for some reason, she could side with Batman, or at least not interfere in Batman's attempt to defeat Superman.
Lois Lane is often a popular character. In fanfiction, she might play a crucial role in mediating between Batman and Superman or getting involved in their adventures in a more hands - on way, using her investigative journalism skills.
Alfred Pennyworth is quite popular too. He can offer his wisdom and support to Batman, and his interactions with Superman can be both humorous and heartwarming. He's like the glue that holds things together in the Batcave, and his presence can bring a sense of home to the story.
Lex Luthor is often an interesting character in such fanfictions. He might be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, fueling Batman's distrust of Superman. Another could be Alfred. His wisdom and influence on Batman can add depth to the story. He might try to talk Batman out of fighting Superman or help him in a more covert way. And then there's Wonder Woman. She could be caught in the middle, trying to mediate between the two or having her own motives for getting involved in their conflict.
Catwoman can also be a popular character. She could be in a love - triangle situation with Batman, and her thieving ways might put her at odds with the female Superman who stands for truth and justice. There could be some really interesting interactions between the three of them, like Catwoman trying to steal a valuable item that the female Superman is protecting, while Batman is caught in the middle, not sure who to side with at first.
Alfred is always a likely ally. His knowledge and experience can provide valuable support to Batman. Also, Oracle (Barbara Gordon) could be an important ally, using her hacking skills to disrupt any technology Superman might use or to gather information.
Lex Luthor. He's always looking for a way to take down Superman, and an apocalypse would be the perfect time for him to make his move. He could be using the chaos to build some sort of doomsday device or manipulate events to his advantage.
Darkseid is another option. His power and his desire to conquer Earth could bring Batman and Superman together. He could target both Metropolis and Gotham, and his presence would require the two heroes to combine their skills. Batman's strategic mind and Superman's brute strength would be needed to face this powerful foe.
Catwoman can also be a popular character. Her ambiguous moral standing and her relationship with Batman can create interesting sub - plots in the fanfiction. She might get involved in a scheme that involves both Superman and Batman, either as an ally or an adversary depending on the story.
Another plot could be that Batman discovers a new weakness of Superman. Perhaps it has something to do with a certain frequency or energy that Superman is vulnerable to. Batman then builds a device that emits this energy, and during their battle, he uses it to incapacitate Superman. This would be a unique take on the 'Batman defeats Superman' scenario.
Obviously, Batman and Superman are the most prominent. Their complex relationship, which is a mix of friendship, rivalry, and ideological differences, makes them central to any fanfiction in this universe. However, characters like Wonder Woman also often play important roles. In some fanfictions, she may be caught in the middle of the Batman - Superman conflict, trying to mediate or having her own stance on the events that unfold.