YJ Christmas Count Down: 10
Title: Not So Alone
Genre: Family, Friendship
Superboy looked down at his feet, as he watched Barry literally dart over to Wally in five seconds flat. He was instantly hugging the younger speedster, scolding him about not being careful enough, fussing over his wounds, before going back to hugging him tightly.
Conner's fists clenched as he heard Wally explain that someone had found him, a James and a Len, then brought him to the Zeta-Tubes. He then watched as Wally held up a gift sheepishly and his uncle laugh loudly, before grabbing it and a couple seconds gave it back to Wally, with a it's fine. Then it went under the tree.
Conner felt tears threaten at his eyes, turning he ran out of the room, he felt jealousy and anger pumping through his veins. He had no family, no one.
Robin had Batman, M'gann had Martian Manhunter, Wally the Flash, Artemis Green Arrow, Kaldur even had a mom and his king, Conner he had no one. No one as Superboy, no one as Conner.
He had read the papers so many people had labeled him as Superman's son, everyone had started to accept that as the explanation, everyone, but the Man of Steel.
Conner ran into his room and slammed the door hard; he ignored the cracks that webbed up the doorframe and attacked the wall. Punching it hard, ignoring the dent that was left, another punch, a deeper hole, he repeated this until the wall broke.
There sitting on his bed cross legged, doing homework, was Robin, his eyes wide in surprise. He now had bits of dust in his hair, and soon a cocky grin appeared on his face.
"Geez Supey," he exclaimed. "If you wanted to say hi you could've just walked in through the door."
Conner blushed a deep scarlet and muttered a sorry, before he sulked back into his room. He stopped when he felt a small hand on his shoulder, turning he looked down at the younger superhero.
"What?" He growled and despite himself felt impressed when the Boy Wonder didn't even do so much as flinch.
"Are…are you okay? You don't look like you're feeling the aster? What's got you so whelmed?"
Conner couldn't help, but smile at the boy's word play; he had long ago come to enjoy it and often used it himself.
"Nothing Robin," he told the boy and shrugged him off, and before the boy could say anything was jumping out his window and whistling for Wolf and Sphere. If he needed anything right now it was a ride.
Later with Robin in Metropolis
The last thing the Man of Steel had expected to see at his door, or more like his window, was a very anger Robin.
"Robin what are you?" Superman never even got a chance to finish.
"Oh don't you what are you doing here me!" The boy yelled. "We're are here to talk about you."
Superman stumbled back in surprise, never had the Boy Wonder done this to him. Superman was practically the boy's uncle, and the boy treated him as such. Never had he blown up in his face.
"What did I—" He never got a chance to finish.
"It's what you haven't done Clark!" The youngest sidekick dropped onto the floor of the apartment and stood up to his full height, which in all honesty was only up to Superman's chest, but still. "Superboy is now completely whelmed by you ignoring him, and is so not feeling the aster!"
Clark blinked, he wasn't exactly sure what being covered in water and flowers had to do with this.(1)
"Do you even have any idea what his name is?" He was pulled out of his confusion, by Robin yelling at him loudly.
"Um…its…what I mean is….that…you see…."
Robin groaned loudly and slapped is forehead, "That's it; you are inviting him over for Christmas or at least pre-Christmas!"
Clark paled, "to Kansas?" He asked stupidly.
"No to Mars, of course to Kansas stupid!"
"But Dick, I can't just bring him over without telling anyone," he protested, to which Robin had a comeback ready.
"Why not?" He asked. "Batman told me one time you brought Martian Manhunter over without saying a word in advance."(2)
"But that's different!"
"How's that any different? He's green, Clark! Green! That didn't stop you! Come on! M'gann's going to be spending the holiday with her uncle; no one will be there with Supey! How would you feel?"
The Man of Steel fell silent, never had he ever felt so ashamed and stupid. Sighing he stood up.
"Do not walk away from me!" The boy yelled in his best parent voice. "Or I swear I will tie you down with kryptonite!"
Superman just laughed, "Okay Robin I'll invite Conner over for Christmas. Happy?"
Robin gave him a unsure glance, before saying, "I've got my eye on you." And jumping out the window left.
Later (again) With Superboy at the Cave….
Another punch, another kick, another grunt, another head butt, another crash, Superboy had been at this for hours. Riding Sphere had only made things worse, had only reminded him that the Man of Steel could fly while he needed Sphere to do so.
More kicks, more punches, more cries of anger. It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair! What had he ever done to Superman? From what he had heard the Man of Steel wasn't exactly born on Earth.
Finally he lost it and with a cry of anger punched the dummy hard enough to send it flying into the other wall where it promptly broke into pieces.
Sobbing slightly Conner sat down on an near-by bench and tried to forget about everything. About how everyone else had family, how Superman didn't want him, everything in his life was a jumbled up confused mess.
A throat cleared behind him and instantly Conner out of reflex threw a punch at what he thought was an attacker. He was amazed to find someone catch it in a gloved hand and then let it go.
"Superboy? I was wonder um you see…what I mean to say is…" The person began.
Conner just stared up in shock, it wasn't possible this must all be some sort of dream, there was no way Superman was actually talking to him right?
"Well would you?"
"Huh what?" Conner muttered coming out of his shock.
"Come celebrate Christmas with me and my family? You do know what Christmas is right?"
Conner nodded, the G-Gnomes had told him, finally he stuttered, "I mean yes, yes sir, I mean that would be great. I mean I don't want to be a bother." Conner stumbled over his words and to his amazement watched the Man of Steel smile and for once it didn't look forced or fake.
"You'll be no bother," He laughed. "Don't worry Ma and Pa will be happy to finally see you. Now why don't we start with the basics, while we fly there I heard you have an awesome bike."
Conner nodded proudly and grabbing Superman's hand like he was a five year old pulled him over to see babbling quickly. "His sorry her name is Sphere. She's great!"
Superman blinked, "She?"
Conner nodded, "Ya she! I know isn't it weird. Anyways my Earth name's Conner by the way. She can turn into other things besides a bike. One time she controlled this giant robot thing that went crazy on me, oh and you have to meet Wolf, he rocks! He used to try and kill me, but now we're good friends! Hey can I bring Wolf? He won't be a bother." Then he stopped for a moment to think. "Well as long as you guys don't have any meat out in the open, but he understands English well enough. No means no."
Superman stared at the clone in shock, he had forgotten how new Super-Conner was to the world. How exciting everything was to him. Shaking his head Clark smiled, "Clark." He told the boy. "Clark Kent. Oh course you can bring Wolf, as long as he doesn't eat the chickens."
Superboy stopped and blinked, "Kent that's my last name too!" He exclaimed loudly before the Man of Steel could ask he was talking again. "Chickens? Like those weird birds that peck the ground, don't we eat them anyways? M'gann cooked one a couple days ago, so why can't Wolf eat them?"
This time Superman couldn't stop himself, he laughed and it felt good. "I'll explain, for now let's go before Ma and Pa begin to think I'm a no show."
Later at the Kent's
Clark opened the door and proudly exclaimed, "Ma, Pa! I'm home and you'll never guess who I brought with me!"
The next moments of Conner's life were some of the best, carols, gifts, food, stories, embarrassing stories about Superman and as he watched Martha Kent aka his grandma chew out Clark about not telling them about Conner sooner, and then later was told good night and sent to bed he smiled.
A real smile that most the time only M'gann could force out of him.
Maybe, he thought as he fell asleep. Maybe I'm not so alone after all.
1) Actually the Whelm and Aster are real words. Whelm means to be engulfed something in water, while Aster is a type of flower. Weird right?
2) There is a Justice League episode where Clark brings J'onn to Kansas for Christmas.
What did you guys think? Hope you liked them both 11th one shall be up tonight and I'll finally be all caught up!
PLEASE REVIEW SO THAT THE SPEED FORCE MAY BE WITH YOU!