Prompt: The team's in the middle of a covert mission/or in a very public place when they learn that Cadmus and/or The Light left a few Easter eggs in Superboy's head.
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Seven Steps (to Team Bonding)
7. A human's mental landscape is – as M'gann has found – confusing. It is a rush of sound, thoughts pulsing in time with a heartbeat; an avalanche of images, sights and dreams and memories; an ocean of feelings she needs to stay above or else drown in fear and joy and love and rage. Even without consciously trying – even consciously trying to stay out – she still sometimes gets lost in what the others feel.
A kryptonian's mental landscape is much the same, so far as she can tell. Superboy has always been so protective of his privacy that she's always worked extra hard to keep out of his head. Now she doesn't have a choice. With an apologetic whisper impossible to hear against the hurricane of thoughts –it'snotsobad icanhandlethis it'sm'gannicantrusther won'thurtthemagain –she dives in and forces herself to orient before she can get lost in the cascades of shame and guilt.
It'll be okay, she tries to tell him,tries to show him with her memories of the messages the others sent through her. It wasn't your fault. It doesn't help the guilt, and the shame gets worse.
She'll keep trying. And when she and Superboy get back, the others will help out too, and they'll be fine. They'll all be just fine.
6. Superboy doesn't look up as the door opens. If it's Superman, he doesn't want to know.
"Do you know what conditioned responses are?"
It's not, and somehow that hurts worse. He wants to know if the others are okay, but he can't ask, doesn't have the right.
"The others are fine," Batman says. Superboy doesn't need words to express his disbelief. "Most of them are fine," Batman amends. "Robin needs a few weeks to heal and M'gann's still unconscious. They'll be fine.
I'm here to tell you what the League decided. J'onn is going to be examining you for more... surprises." The words are... almost kind and they grate on Superboy's ears.
"I don't want anyone in my head," he says, finally, the first words he's spoken in hours/days/weeks. It's timeless in here. "But... I guess I deserve it."
Batman kneels to stare Superboy in the face. One hand grips Superboy's shoulder, cool leather against his skin where his t-shirt is torn. "This isn't a punishment, Superboy. It just needs to be done. Would you prefer M'gann?"
Superboy stays silent for a moment. "Yes," he whispers. Batman nods.
"No promises, but I'll see what I can do. Whoever it is, I'll have them look into unlocking your powers while they're at it."
He leaves and Superboy is alone again.
5. Superboy's fists clench where they rest on his knees. A Watchtower holding cell isn't the best place for a meeting, but Black Canary argued that the boy deserved not to have decisions be made over his head. Even if they are being made – quite literally – over his head. Not surprisingly, Red Tornado seconded her opinion. Not surprisingly, Superman raised objections – 'The Light already knows too much about our operations, and you want to give them more?' Not surprisingly, a lot of League members agree with him. Superboy waits impatiently in the cell.
It wasn't- he didn't mean to! He's not a spy. He's not dan- He's not a spy. He won't give The Light anything... knowingly. What happened was... he doesn't know. Superboy is... Out of control, Superman said to Batman as the cell door swung closed. Dangerous.
Superboy wishes he could say he remembers, but it's all a blur. He doesn't even know what he's done.
4. The movie theatre is a pile of rubble and electronics. The firefighters and police have long since cleared out, but Kaldur is still here, using magic that he hasn't needed in a long time to shift rocks three times his weight. Artemis works beside him. She has no magic, and she's not a meta, but she works with the townsfolk, looking for survivors.
Kaldur's left arm is broken. Artemis' nose and jaw are shattered and bloody. Neither of them bothered with the ambulances. They'll get help when the work's done.
Red Arrow shows up some hours later. Kaldur nods a greeting and thanks, but can't spare the breath to put it in words. Roy nods back.
When the work is done, Red Arrow sits with them on the sidewalk, strapping Kaldur's arm into a sling. "The others?" he asks.
"Wally broke his ankle," Kaldur tells him. "M'gann got knocked out. They're back at Mount Justice. Robin... might be out of surgery by now."
Red Arrow's eyes cut to where Artemis is pressing an icepack to the lower half of her face, silently asking how she came out relatively unscathed. With a broken jaw, she has no answer for him.
3. Robin's ribs crack under the pressure of Superboy's hands and the boy screams.
"Superboy! Stop!" Kaldur shouts, even though Superboy's eyes are blank, his expression lax. He throws Robin's body into the wall almost casually, before turning on Kid Flash – useless since Superboy dropped him from the roof. Wally's struggling to get up and stay up, his ankle unable to support his weight.
Twin beams of red burn gashes through the support beams above his head, and Artemis pales as she watches them fall. They freeze inches from crushing Kid Flash, and Superboy turns to fend of Kaldur's single water whip. It crashes uselessly against Superman's arm, and then wraps tight around the flesh.
Superboy arches and screams as lightning courses through his body.
Artemis' bow is back at the base and she's the worst martial artist they have, but she throws herself at Superboy like it's the end of the world.
Kaldur's electricity is gone too quickly, and Superboy's fist cracks into her face, knocking her off her feet. She hits the ground twenty feet away.
Superman! She hears M'gann call through the link. Help! Please! And then Superboy is on her, and Artemis forces herself to her feet again – and again, and again – waiting for help to arrive.
2. "... so where does the Scorpion King come in?"
"Later. I'm getting to that. ... thanks, man," Wally hands the concession stand cashier forty dollars, and starts handing food to Superboy – two extra large drinks, four extra large bags of popcorn. "So, the kid helps them into the city..." he begins, jerking his head towards the huge '2' sign. Superboy follows, not really paying attention because he's going to be watching the movie in a few minutes, and he's scanning the crowds for the others anyway.
The last thing he hears is "the viper – I think it's a viper, I could be wrong – the viper strikes –" and adrenaline surges through his body and his hands reach out and grab Wally. And then he's flying.
Kid Flash screams when Superboy lets him go.
1. Aqualad? When this is over can we go to the movies?
Need I remind you, that when this is over, we need to debrief?
But it's a Saturday! Nobody's got school tomorrow!
So?
So I can see the sign for the Miranda Cinema from here, and there's a midnight showing of The Scorpion King! It's a classic! The Rock's first movie – Superboy's gotta see it! His education won't be complete until he does!
Yeah, Aqualad. You wouldn't want to stand in the way of Superboy's normal-ification, would you?
Superboy frowns because he can hear Robin's smirk.
Guys, M'gann interrupts. Kobra's here. Headed your way, Robin.
Right. Surveil now, movie later, Robin says, like it's already decided.
Surveil? Artemis asks doubtfully.
Yeah. People who are on surveillance, like us, 'surveil'. I just thought of it two minutes ago. I've got a visual on Kobra. He's got the crates alright.
Tomorrow, Kaldur says suddenly. If there's no mission, we'll all go tomorrow. He suppresses a smile. We can call it team bonding.
