Its been awhile. Someone suggested to me forever ago to have Superman's reaction in here. Enjoy!
Superman wasn't thrilled when he was chosen to be the "den mother" for the team. He didn't have anything against the teens; he actually enjoyed most of their company. And of course being the Superman made him a big deal. He honestly never thought he would have the time for the job being one of the most powerful league members, but apparently they could do without him. Or at least Bruce claimed they could.
No doubt this was Bruce's doing. He alone was the one person who liked to constantly put Clark in check. He didn't mind, obviously. Superman was often amused at the drastic difference between Bruce Wayne and Batman. He didn't think there was a major change between Clark Kent and Superman. But it was hard to make a comparison between the two men. They were very different despite working alongside each other.
But if there was ever something Bruce did that made him upset, it was happening right now. Not every leaguer was assigned to this job. Bruce had picked him specifically for one reason and one reason only. So the kids could learn from him? Nope. Because he deserved a break? Not even close.
It was that damn clone.
Maybe it was hard for the dark knight to understand, but not everyone goes around with a troop of lost and discarded children following behind. He seems to think I'm somehow obligated to deal with him just because he's a clone of me, but I know damn well if there was a bat clone walking around he'd want it destroyed. Not that Clark wanted the boy destroyed. He just wanted….
Truth be told, he didn't know what he wanted to do about him.
Superman was partially hoping the boy would be too angry to see him here and avoid him. If Connor was doing the avoiding, Clark wouldn't have too. Either way, someone would be avoiding someone. It was hard for the Kryptonian to understand his own desire to keep his distance from the clone. Shouldn't he be overjoyed? Here was someone that he could potentially call his family, yet he wanted him as far away as possible.
Maybe Clark just wasn't cut out to be a father. No. I'm NOT his father. I owe him nothing.
After arriving via Zeta Tube, Superman wasted no time find ways to occupy himself. He was instantly greeted by Kid Flash and Robin who invited him to play video games. Clark wasn't normally one to engage in that type of thing, but he guessed Connor wouldn't be either and accepted the offer. He learned quickly that super strength won't win everything. Between Wally's ability to mash buttons at high speed or Robins technological know how (hacking), he was severely outmatched.
After losing several times in a row to both of the boys, Clark decided to spare himself the humiliation and find some other way to distract himself. He found Kaldur in the library and made small talk until the Atlantean challenged him to a game of chess. He was much more familiar with games like this and was able to last longer than he'd initially predicted. Aqualad was not as arrogant or boisterous as the other two boys and did not gloat about his victory. Instead he praised Superman's efforts and even offered some pointers.
Clark figured as long as he didn't stay in one spot for too long he wouldn't have to face Connor. Sure, he risked running into him, but he hoped the boy would hide in his room or somewhere else. As long as Clark managed to avoid his hiding place there'd be no problem. It would just be easier for the both of them. The boy clearly didn't want to see him either.
Or he's just stubborn. Like you.
Superman shook that thought away and made his way to the living room where he found Artemis and M'gann on the couch. They were watching some show about a hospital; Clark noticed it seemed to focus more on drama than the health of the patients. "Hey Superman! Wanna watch Shea's Physiology with us?" The perky martian girl greeted Clark with a wave and a cheeky smile. Artemis was less enthusiastic but she also turned to smile at the super hero. Part of Clark very much opposed accepting this offer, which is why he did.
After all, Superboy was probably thought very similar to him.
Stomaching the horrific program for as long as he could, Superman wandered elsewhere. While exiting the living room, he overheard Artemis whispering "I take bad any bad thing I've said about a man in tights." This was followed by an outburst of giggles from both girls. Superman couldn't help but smile. People are always forgetting about his super hearing.
Distracted by his thoughts, Clark casually strolled down the hall until he found himself in the training room. He was filled with dread to discover he wasn't alone. In the center of the room was the very construct he had been trying to avoid. Superman ducked back into the hall, mentally cursing at himself for not being more careful. The clone had probably seen him and was either going to confront him or storm off angrily. Either way, Bruce would probably hear about it and try and lecture him again.
Receiving no indication that he had been seen, Clark peered back into the room. Superboy was standing in the center of the training room talking to Black Canary. She was devoid of her jacket and Conner was shirtless; Clark could tell by their breathing that they must have just finished a rigorous training session. Feeling confident that neither one had seen him, Clark decided to stay and observe their conversation.
"You're showing major improvement Connor. You move surprisingly quick for someone so built." Clark watched in amusement as Connor's face showed an obvious blush. The boy scratched the back of head and muttered a thank you. Superman had never witnessed this kind of behavior from the clone. Looks like there was a difference between the two. Clark wasn't into blondes.
"When you're not busy with the team, maybe you can be my sidekick!" Dinah joked, "I'd feel a lot safer with a guy like you around." Clark marveled at how naturally sultry Black Canary's voice sounded. At least, he assumed it was natural. Was it on purpose? He couldn't see Dinah toying with the boy like that, and of course she couldn't be serious.
"Like you'd need my help! You already kick ass! Plus, I don't think one of your Canary Cries would go well with my super hearing." Connor was clearly still nervous as he spoke but was trying to play it cool. Clark couldn't stop himself from chuckling. He remembered his days of being flustered in front of girls. Sometimes he still felt that way when he was with Lois. That boy needs some serious tips on talking to women.
Clark's thoughts momentarily drifted to growing up on the Kent family farm. They'd taken him in and raised him as their own. They helped mold him into the man he was today. They helped make him a hero.
And in that moment, very briefly, Clark wondered if Connor needed that help too.
"I guess you're right. But my voice isn't always used as a weapon. I've been told I have beautiful singing voice." Clark was snapped out of his thoughts by Dinah's response. He turned his attention back to the pair. Dinah took a step closer to the boy and leaned to whisper in his ear. Superman was prepared, listening intently with his super hearing.
"But you already knew that, didn't you, Connor?"
At first, Clark didn't know what to make of this. The look of complete shock on Superboy's face didn't help him figure it out. Black Canary smiled almost mischievously at the boy.
What the hell is going on?
All three were startled when the Zeta Tube announced the arrival of Batman. Of course the dark knight would show up in person to make sure Clark was suffering. He decided to stay hidden until he could casually walk into the room (and with any luck, after superboy had exited). Connor still appeared nervous, but so did Dinah. He wasn't sure what to make of her comments from only moments ago, but she seemed more than startled by the arrival of Batman. She'd distanced herself from the boy too, taking two whole steps backwards.
Batman greeted the two of them and asked about Connors progress. Clark decided to waltz into the room in the middle of Dinah's report, seeing that Superboy made no move to leave. Neither adult turned to face him, but Connor obviously took notice. The boy's nervous expression was replaced with a scowl and he looked off into the distance. Right back at ya kid.
Black Canary finished updating Batman on Superboy's stats and greeted Superman. He could tell by the look in her eye that she was still nervous, possibly more so now that he was present. It was unlikely that she'd forgotten about his super hearing. Not that he could make sense of her cryptic remark to Superboy anyway. Bruce didn't waste time with saying hello and got right to the point. "Clark, perhaps you should help Connor train. I'm sure he could benefit from fighting someone as strong as he is."
Clark almost rolled his eyes but realized this most likely wasn't the best idea. He gave a noncommittal response and tried earnestly to change the subject. Black Canary didn't object to steering the conversation away from Superboy (what the hell is she hiding?) and Bruce seemed to give up. Connor had slipped out of the room without him noticing, which meant he hadn't stomped away. At least there wouldn't be any awkward scenes.
Eventually, Bruce dismissed Clark from his babysitting duties. Even with the mask and constant tone, he could feel an air of disappointment from the dark knight. Clark paid this no mind and was back in Metropolis before he knew it. He still couldn't make sense of the exchange he'd overheard between Black Canary and Superboy. He himself had never heard her sing before, and he knew that wasn't her profession.
But he did recall Green Arrow once mentioning she often sang in the shower...
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