Chapter one

Conner

"So that's final," She said summing it up "Six weeks. No costumes, no gear and no self-inflicted missions."

I stifle a laugh When Black Canary pointedly looks at Robin. That kid has an internal compass for trouble and he just can't help but follow it.

"Take this time and make the most of it. You won't get many breaks like this when you're in the league. Believe me, I've had far too many dates ruined by an emergency call. Be teenagers while you still can, got it?"

Almost everyone is grinning with excitement. Artemis is gone before she thinks anyone has noticed. She walks around this place like she doesn't owe anyone anything. Not even a goodbye.

I know Kaldur will be back in Atalantis before the Sun is down and M'gann had been talking about visiting her family over dinner the other night.

-x-

"First chance I get I'm getting in that ship and headed home. Twelve sisters and you'd think I'd be glad to be away from them all. I guess you just can't help missing family, even the ones that get on your...Oh! I-I'm sorry." She sat back in her chair, eyes down. "That was insensitive. I didn't think..." She said. Her voice pleaded forgiveness.

Everyone on the team avoided the subject of Superman's relationship, and the lack thereof, with me and I hated it. I hated the pity I could hear in their voices every time the subject of family came up.

I put my fork down and drew in a deep breath.

"It's only been what, 9 months since the guys pulled me from that glass pod? But I already think of the team as my family. For now that's enough for me."

She smiled and cautiously put her hand over mine. A few months ago my Knuckles would've been white and shaking with anger.

"The world can have Superman, I don't need him to give my life meaning." I sensed the conversation was getting too serious for table talk. Forcing a smile I picked up my fork again. "Tell me about your Sisters. What're they like?"

And before long the previous conversation was forgotten as we both laughed hard at how she'd managed to get caught up helping her eldest sister in a cover up to keep her parents from discovering her wild night out with a rogue ex boyfriend.

-x-

The team is eagerly filing out of the main hall when I feel a slap on my back.

"Plans SB?" Robin says from behind his dark glasses. He tries to drape his arm across my shoulder like we're best of friends but he struggles with his height and gives up. I'm grateful for this. I'm not a big fan of physical contact being just 9 months old I still struggled to understand the overwhelming amount of social cues. The Genomes didn't push so many of these into my head.

"I don't know" I say, really thinking about it for the first time. "I guess I'm staying at Justice Mountain. Might hit the beach or work on my bike. Y'know? That kind of stuff" It's going to be a long summer with just myself for company.

"You're staying 'home'? Dude, you're here every day. Total waste of a good summer. I say take your bike and go on a road trip. At least that's what I'd do with a summer without adult supervision."

He lost a little of his enthusiasm at the mention of 'supervision'. It was obvious he was thinking of parental figures and my distinct lack of any. Just ignore it I tell myself.

"Black Canary will probably check in on me" I growl, trying to pass my annoyance off as though it's meant for our guardian. "What about you? No crime fighting for six weeks? You won't last."

"Ha, funny. The Bat's got some adventure thing planned in Africa but he's keeping it a surprise, I'm letting him keep it that way, haven't even hacked the computers at the bat cave. See?" He said looking proud of himself. "I'm already getting in the spirit."

"Yeah," I say, unconvinced. "But you hacked it a little. Otherwise how else would you know about the forced holiday before Black Canary announced it?"

He shrugged feigning innocence. "You got me there."

We both see Wally and Black Canary talking quietly. He doesn't look his usual hyper self. He's staring off to the side while she talks to him. She puts a hand on his shoulder and as if sensing my sudden interest in the scene before me my super hearing kicks in.

"-ive it some time. I've seen how your family care for you. They'll come around." She says.

He looks her in the eye and nods but anyone can see he doesn't believe in what she's been saying. He turns and heads down one of the corridors. I want to go straight to him...make him smile that stupid smile. It feels so wrong to see him this way.

Robin's waiting patiently as he watches me and I have to make an effort to stop frowning. "What'd you hear?"

"I didn't catch enough of what they were saying." I say honestly.

Robin looks down the corridor after Wally. I can already see Robin's detective brain working hard.

"Just leave this one alone." I warn him. "I think it's a family thing, it's none of our business." I suddenly get a taste of what it's like to be on the other side of the Don't-talk-about-family club.

He puts his hands up pretending the thought hadn't crossed his mind. "Gotcha big guy. Anyway I have some packing to do over at the cave." He nods in Wally's direction. "Keep me updated if you find out what's up with him, I'll keep my coms on."

I raise my eyebrow and just stare at him.

"Okay okay. Got it. Not our Business." He laughs, slaps my back again and walks off towards the portal.

"Have some fun ok?" He calls back. "You're too serious."

-x-

I'm just about to go after Wally when Black Canary calls me aside. Now's not a good time. "Can't it wait?" I have to catch up to Wally!

"Just listen," She says. And I do, but only because I respect her. She has a lot on her plate without us adding our teenage problems to it. I see what she's volunteered to do for us and I can't help but think how small she makes my joke of a father seem in comparison.

"Wally's having some trouble at home and I'm not sure how well he's handling it. I can't tell you what it's about. That's Wally's choice to share it if he wants to. Look, I'm not asking you to be his emotional baby sitter but could you just keep an eye on him?"

"I kinda guessed something wasn't right with him today. I was just about to ask hi-"

"Don't ask him about it." She says before I can finish. "He's feeling very vulnerable at the moment. A lot like you were when you first came to us."

Confused, angry and alone? The words just popped into my head but they fit the descriptions of my earlier self perfectly. She was giving me a big clue about what was happening but my naivety kept me from putting one and one together.

"I wasn't going to." I lie "He just ...looks like he shouldn't be alone right now."

The corner of her mouth curls up slightly, a knowing smile that I don't understand.

"What?" I ask.

Still smiling, shaking her head slightly, she relaxes her folded arms. "Apparently I didn't need to have this chat with you."

"I guess not." I say but I'm still trying to catch up in my head. What does she mean?

"You're a good Kid Conner, Have a good summer."

A minute passes by before I realise I'm standing there by myself. I'm still terrible at reading social cues. I finally decide she must think highly of my character and just leave it at that.

-x-

It takes me a while but I finally find him in the gym sitting on the belt of a treadmill. His face is beaded with sweat.

"Hey" I say softly as I kneel down to his level.

He jerks his thumb towards the machine not meeting my eyes. "Broke it."

The treadmill's in a pretty bad shape. He must've been going all out on it.

"That's nothing," I say jerking my head towards the few remaining shreds of a punching bag. "Broke it."

A smile starts on his face but he's still blankly looking at the ground. His mind is still on his troubles.

"This gym wasn't made to withstand the ups and downs of super teens like us was it?"

His smile is growing a little wider. I love that smile.

I stand up and hold out my hand. "I'll be your punching bag if you need one."

He takes my hand and pulls himself up. "Thanks but I'd rather punch concrete. It'd probably hurt a lot less."

"Suite yourself. Anyway... I was gonna do a movie slash pizza night. You wanna hang out?" I don't know why but I feel a sudden flush in my cheeks. M'gann and I do this every Thursday night, is it because I'm asking him? It suddenly occurs to me that we haven't spent much time together outside of missions.

"Dinah send you to look after me did she?" He says suspicious of me.

"Should she have?" I shake my head. I'm feeling a little stung by the accusation and a little embarrassed that I'm often so transparent. "Look. Come, don't come. It's your choice. I don't get to socialise much. I just thought I'd reach out. Y'know?"

Just as I'm about to leave he speaks up. "Hey, I'm Sorry." There's a pause as he struggles with what he wants to say. "I've got stuff going on. Not all of it good." He says finally.

I nod. "I guessed as much... so...is that a no...Or are you gonna join me?"

"You're not going to ask me about it?" He says surprised.

"Do you want me to?"

There's another pause.

"I get to choose the toppings then."

I smile. "All five hundred of them? Spread across just as many pizza's?"

"Naturally, I'll save you a slice." He laughs.

"Um...Wally? I'm here if you want talk. Also if you don't. I just want you to know. Alright?"

"Does that 'punching bag' offer still stand?" He says half serious.

I put my hands behind my back inviting him to give me his best shot.

He shakes his head and gives my shoulder a half hearted push and I stumble over trying to right myself. "Thanks." He says smiling. "Not yet."

A worried look passes over his freckled face. So out of place with his usual playfulness.

"I just have to get some clothes from home first. I'm staying for a few...Well I guess I'm staying here now."

He looks worried that I might start asking questions, like he had volunteered too much information too soon.

"We'll make the most of it, besides, M'gann makes for a lousy frat buddy anyway, and it'll be good for us. Want a ride to your place? We can pick up the Pizza on the way back."

"S-sure. Are we taking the sphere?"