Chapter 3: Welcome to Existence

Conner's POV

"Let's see… You'll need a suit for special occasions. You'll need jeans and tops and underwear. Deodorant would be good. Shampoo. Shoes… Clark will probably want you to have those stupid glasses… We'll need to go to more than one store-" Lois rambled on and on as I walked beside her out to the parking lot of her apartment building.

"What are these things?" I asked as she paused.

"Oh. These are cars, sweetheart. You use them to get from one place to another."

"Why don't you just fly?"

"People can't fly. That's why we drive."

"Oh." I mumbled as I got inside one of them.

I gazed around at the interior as she said, "This is called a Tahoe."

I gave a slight nod as the thing started moving.

"Conner, why don't you tell me about you?"

"I am Superboy. I am Superman's clone."

She sighed, "So I've heard. Anything else?"

"I'm three months old."

She stared at me in shock before asking, "Do you remember being created?"

"No."

********Break********

"What is this place?"

"It's called a mall. You buy things from it."

"Oh." I mumbled as I walked beside her into the boy's department.

She started holding things up for me and asked if I liked them. I shrugged as she started grabbing handfuls of clothes before giving them to me and herding me over to a changing room.

"Try everything on and pick what you like."

"Conner, did everything fit okay?" Lois asked as I eventually came out of the room.

"Yes."

"Alright."

********Break********

Lois' POV

We eventually finished shopping and started to head back home. Conner pointed up at the sunroof as I looked up to see Superman briefly fly by.

"I want to be up there."

"Maybe one day you will be."

********Break*******

Clark's POV

"You gave him Chris' room!" I hissed as Lois just calmly stood there and looked at me.

"I did… We only have three bedrooms. Kara needs her own room for when she visits."

"Lois! What were you thinking! He's a clone!"

"It's not his fault, Clark. And I was being practical. He needs a room and we had one open and-"

"You have no right to replace Chris!"

"I would never replace our son… But, it's time we moved on. That was three years ago."

"Lois, I don't want that thing-"

"Bruce called. He needs you to bring Conner by in order for documentation and what not… And you will see to it that it will be done."

********Break********

Conner's POV

He remained silent the entire trip through something called a Zeta Tube. We eventually arrived at an enormous, dark, and scary place. Looking around I could see Batman seated at an overly large computer. I could also see someone lying on a bed with wires and tubes and casts covering his body. I could also see the boy that I had met earlier running through a course of some sort.

I followed Superman over to Batman.

"Name." the gruff voice stated.

"I am Superboy. I am Superman's clone."

"The name you want to be called."

"Lois said I am to be called Conner Joseph Kent." I replied as Superman stiffened slightly.

"Put your hand on this pad." He directed as I complied.

"You could be a little nicer." Some dark haired boy said as he walked past us carrying a bowl of something and medical supplies before stopping to smile at me. "Dick Grayson."

"I am Superboy. I am Superman's clone."

"Nice to meet you. If you'll excuse me, I have to feed my brother."

I watched as he walked over to the one on the bed. He spoke softly to his brother as he fed him through a tube. I looked away from them as I was asked more questions.

Eventually Robin came over to us and asked, "I finished the course. Can Conner come and play on the trapeze with me please? And then can-"

"Put the net up. Have Dick supervise you. Don't leave the cave."

"Okay." He replied before grabbing onto my hand as I just stared at him. "Come on."

I followed him as he paused to yell something at his brother who was changing bloody bandages.

"Who is that?" I asked as I gestured to the one on the bed.

"My brother, Jason. He's the second oldest… He was hurt really bad a few weeks ago… That's why I'm Robin now."

"He's dying?"

"No!" he cried. "He can't… He'll get better and he'll go back to being Robin and Dick will stay here and not go back to Bludhaven… everything will be okay again. He just has to get better first."

Clark's POV

"All of his paperwork is in order. I've created records and his identification. As far as anyone's concern goes, he's existed for twelve years." Bruce stated as he handed me a stack of paperwork, a birth certificate, and a social security card.

"Great." I mumbled.

"Clark, just give the boy a chance. What happened with Chris isn't your-"

"Don't say his name!"

"You tried to find him. He's gone."

"There's still a chance that-"

"Clark. I'm sorry. But you can't keep holding yourself responsible for-"

"You're one to talk. You hold yourself responsible for your parents' death. You hold yourself responsible for the fact that Jason nearly died and he still might die-" I began before he slammed his fist down on his desk.

He glared at me before growling, "Go home… And the next time you decide to have another child, make you sure it's with a woman."

********Break********

Conner's POV

"Did you want any more dinner, Conner?" Lois asked.

"No."

"Alright. Why don't you get a bath and go to bed."

"I don't know how to do that. I don't know what that is."

She looked stunned for a second before recovering. "Oh well… um… Clark will have to help you when he comes in."

"He doesn't like me. He won't help me."

"He's just hurting right now… It isn't your fault. He will get better. I promise."

"I don't believe you."

"You're going to have to believe in someone eventually." She replied as Clark literally unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped inside.

"Clark, your plate's in the microwave. I wasn't sure how long you'd be out."

"Thanks, Lois."

"When you're done eating… Conner needs your help with something."

*********Break********

"Pay attention. This is how you turn the water on. This is called shampoo. It goes in your hair. This is soap. It goes on your body-"

"What about the other stuff?" I asked, pointing to the other thousands of bottles in the shower.

"That would belong to Kara and Lois. I have no idea what that other stuff is. The only thing you need is shampoo and soap."

"Oh."

"Alright… Take your clothes off. Put them in the hamper. Get in the shower. Wash yourself and call me when you're done." He said before leaving.

I did as I was told.

He came back into the bathroom and immediately looked away from me.

"Next time… Put a towel on." he mumbled before moving closer with one in his hands.

I took it from him and dried myself off as he handed me underwear and pajamas.

"Put these on and get in bed." He instructed before reaching for the door.

"What's a bed?" I asked as he paused.

"It's what you sleep on… Get dressed."

I slipped on the underwear and pants and pulled the shirt on. I struggled with the buttons before he came over and buttoned the shirt. I then followed him into the room that Lois had assigned me.

"This is a bed. This is where you'll sleep." He said as he pulled back the layers of the fabric. "Get in."

I did as I was told. He pulled the sheets around me.

"This is softer than the pod… This is my first day not in it."

"Then you've had an interesting day."

"Superman-"

"Clark. You have to call me Clark when I'm not in uniform."

"Oh… Will I have to go back to the pod?"

He hesitated before replying, "No."

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