Hey remember how Batman beyond brushed off Superman was mind controlled for years?
The tie in comics isn't canon.
Will I stop putting Yj Conner in DCAU spots? Let's find out.
Endymion
Five years.
That's how much time the parasite had stolen from Clark according to the boy wearing Bruce's costume. The alien race had used him as a vessel to repopulate itself. To endanger his planet, his friends, his family.
It's all he can do to not wretch as he carried Bruce's prodigy to the fortress to rescue his comrades from the control, he helped put them other. The parasite's phantom touch wrapped around him, its violation of his mind, soul and body almost palpable.
But he is Superman.
There was a time for tears.
And it wasn't now.
The parasites on his friends are weaker than the one who infected him. Offspring that weren't as clever, as patient, as experienced. The smell of them burning under his heat vision brought him a sense of catharsis as he burned them off their faces while Batman chased after the infected Aquagirl in the waters below.
Barda, to no one's surprise was the first to bounce back as she joined him in fighting the invaders.
"Glad to have you back," she said with a wide smile. But he can't manage to do the same. He can't focus on anything at the moment but stopping the enemy that stole his life, breaking the stalactites of his fortress to stop them from escaping into the ocean outside.
The new Batman, a boy whose voice is even younger than Bruce's first Robin dragged an unconscious Aquagirl free from the waters. After several painfully long seconds she opened her eyes, Superman released a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
His teammates were safe and so were his friends' children.
Everyone was okay.
The rest of the league give him a wide berth while Kai-Ro with the help of his ring managed to capture everyone of the parasites on the surface and below into a construct filled with water.
He stared at the animal through a filter of green separating them at a loss for words.
The starfish shaped alien that he had always dismissed as weak and helpless managed to do what Darkseid himself couldn't. Dominate him utterly into a slave. Three times he had his agency stolen from a alien invader.
He had thought getting to his age, he had thought he grown past this. Past this weakness of being violated.
"Kal," Barda's voice said with concern, touching his arm in a show of support.
It's all he could do to not yank it away. A part of him wanted to yell how could they not know it was him. How could they confuse that beast—That he would never…
But it was unfair. The parasite used his memories, his mannerisms to mimic him exactly. He knew that and yet…
Barda and the children were waiting for him to say something. Something Superman should say and after several moments of silence, he made a game plan. "Let's go through the rooms. We don't want these things to have left other nasty surprises. Warhawk stay here with Green Lantern to make sure they don't escape."
Warhawk snapped to attention and nodded in agreement. Superman gestured for the rest of the group to follow him.
He doesn't know if he should be thankful that the creature did not find it fit to change the layout of his fortress. It made the search easier. But the taint of its presence lingered everywhere. Alienating him from his last sanctuary.
He guided his teammates to the main computer. The most obvious source of danger if there was one.
He opened the door to see his central monitor active and whirring loudly from activity. Information flashing rapidly on the screen. In the center of the room was a long tube. Floating in the tube was a figure.
A boy.
A boy with his face.
Clark felt another wave of nausea. And he doesn't hold himself back this time. Vomit spewed from him on the spot.
Barda leaned in to support him. While the others looked away.
"He cloned you?" Mareena clasped her hand over her mouth in horror.
Batman who has made his way to the computer had tapped several keys.
"Looks like he was a back up," said Batman. The new one just like the old one cut straight to the point. "If you got too old or…"he trailed off.
If he died.
A fresh wave of revulsion washed over him.
Bizarro had shocked him. But the clone had been deficient from the get go. There was a distance. Kara had spoken of her violation. Of how Hamilton had stolen her dna and created her adult clone, Galatea. But he had never laid eyes on the latter.
But the parasite used his own hands to create a replacement. Forced him to bring a child in this world as a weapon. To twist his legacy as the last kryptonian with a copy. To make a child that shouldn't exist.
"The parasite called it the Superboy. It's sixteen weeks old and it looked like it was teaching it. Math, science, literature, languages. Whatever it thought was useful. To make it more useful as a vessel."
Clark stared at the tube again. The Superboy. He echoed the word soundlessly. The creature had stolen one of his solar suits and wrapped the child in it. The boy was sixteen on his best day. Around the age of the new Batman. He slept peacefully, unaware of the dark purpose he was going to be used for.
"What do you want to do?" asked Barda.
A part of him wanted to smash the tube and pretend he never saw it. To run and never look back. Send it far into space and act like it never existed.
But that was unfair. The child in front as clear a victim as he was by the parasite. A victim. He repeated. Again and again. So his sense of Justice would overpower his sense of disgust.
He was the Superman.
He looked at his teammates injured and wounded from today's battle. And took it as a sign of mercy.
"We'll rest up for today." he said. "Our priority is getting rid of the parasites. We will deal with this," he said as he gestured to the tube, "tomorrow."
The other heroes nodded as they filed out of the building. As the new Batman was about to exit, Clark stopped him.
"After this we'll need to get more kryptonite from Bruce," he said. He didn't know what commands were in the child. If any. But better safe than sorry.
"Think he's fresh out," said Batman.
Clark gave him a wry expression.
"Don't worry. He always has more."
After Aquagirl boom tubed the creature and it's offspring back to their home world. Despite Warhawk and Big Barda's suggestion to send it to the sun far more appealing than he would like to admit. He fought his instinct and ordered its return home. He asked his team to keep watch of the fortress, of the animals, of the clone.
Barda offered to open another Boom tube but Clark rejected much to the new Batman's chagrin. The boy entered his damaged—that he damaged—bat plane and Clark lifted it into the sky to fly to Gotham himself.
The flight a useful excuse to get a chance to breathe away from everyone else
Five years. He repeated to himself. Was his apartment with Lois safe? His family farm? Had the creature sold it off as unnecessary? Abandon it? Or had he kept it to not raise any unnecessary attention onto itself? Clark had no idea. There could be nothing left of his civilian life. His last tethers to his life of Clark Kent erased. Because the parasite felt non need to pretend.
Clark went through dozens of possibilities each worse than the last. Again, he was reminded of his cousin. She had fallen asleep as her world ended before he had found her. How had she adapted so quickly to a new world? Her youth? He was too old too start again.
He couldn't lose another world again.
Shaking away the heavy thoughts he turned his attention to the passenger in his arms, Batman had apparently forgotten he had super hearing as he spoke to Bruce through the plane's communicator. He regaled Bruce eagerly of the past few hours. Bruce muttering affirmations at the right intervals. Clark could imagine the ghost of a smile on his lips as he listened to his protégé.
How long had it been since he saw his friend? The memory came unbidden. Lois' funeral. The dark knight had made a rare visit outside of Gotham to visit with the remnants of the league to support him.
They had barely spoken that night. He had been a wreck. And hadn't wanted to deal with anyone and brushed them aside. Bruce hadn't pushed to give him space and left as quickly as he came.
After what felt like a eternity they had arrived at Wayne Manor, the younger Batman eager to leave his grasp. Not that Superman blamed him.
They made there way to the bat cave where a lot displeased Bruce was sitting in his chair. Far older than the last time, Clark had seen him. Fragile.
The new Batman took of his mask. He was younger looking than Clark thought he'd be. Dark hair, and very familiar blue eyes. He quickly glanced at Bruce and Terry again.
"It's Terry," the new Batman confessed after noticing his gaze, stretching his hand out.
"Clark," he said, taking his hand. The boy in front of him saved his life. And for that he would be eternally grateful. "You saved the world son."
How long had it been since he had introduced himself? Even before the creature. He did not know.
The boy turned slightly pink at the praise. And Bruce cut in immediately.
"Go home, Hero," he said. "I need to talk to Clark, alone. Besides it's a school night."
Terry huffed. But listened to the command and after years. Earth's two oldest heroes stood alone together again.
"Mind controlled by a alien conquerer to take over the world. I didn't think kryptonians had mid life crisises. But here you are reliving your best hits."
Bruce's sense of humor was always biting. The dark knight never one to mince words. He had forgotten that.
But Clark couldn't bare to indulge it.
Bruce picking up on his mood. "I should have noticed," he said apologetic. "You were right in front of me."
Clark sighed loudly, collapsing into the ground. Just like Bruce to only have one chair for himself. "It's not your fault. It's that thing. It had access to my memories, it knew how to pretend." He was getting sick of telling people that. Even the world's greatest detective couldn't tell them apart when he was standing inches away. The thought pained him."Besides let's not pretend we've been best pals the past few years."
Clark cupped his head in his hands. The days of them fighting together felt like so long ago. Things had been simpler then. He never would have imagined it all ending like this.
Bruce had never recovered from what had happened to Tim at the hands of the Joker. The boy having had been captured during a league mission. He had been so focused o the larger picture he hadn't been able to see the storm brewing in his backyard, The dark knight had resigned from the league to spend his days exiled within Gotham's borders. Only leaving on the rarest circumstances. It was unspoken but Clark knew a part of him blamed the organization for keeping him away from his ward.
When Lois had passed, there had been no grand villain or tragic accident that took her. But her own body betraying her with sickness. So Clark had responded by diving head first into the league. Changing his uniform in mourning of her. He had needed something physical. Something tangible that he could beat compared to force that had taken his one true love. Larger, grander adventures kept would keep his mind busy from the empty place in his bed. The world always needed Superman.
Age, death, duty had taken them on different paths. It was natural. People drift apart. But Clark doubted he ever needed his friend more than now.
"I'm tired, Bruce." he confessed. "I'm so, so tired."
Bruce quickly ordered the kryptonian upstairs and into the kitchen gesturing him to sit on a nearby chair.
"I can't make a lot," he said, putting a kettle on the stove. "But even I can make tea."
Clark wondered if the night could get any odder. After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Bruce placed a hot cup of tea into his hands.
"What do you plan to do?" Bruce had never been a man to mince words. Action had always been what he was best at.
"I have no idea," Clark confessed, his fears pouring out like a faucet looking at the cop in his hands. Bruce was nothing if not a steel vault. "My life. I have no idea what it's done. How much more landmines I have to worry about. It was me for years. What's it done to my life? I know it had access to my memories. I know it could pretend well enough to fool everyone. I know that logically. But my heart doesn't feel the same. It's all I can do to not yell 'how could you not tell?' How can you ever think that thing is me?!"
He smashed the cup in his hands without noticing, the steaming hot liquid pouring through his fingers with ease.
"I know it's not fair," he said quietly.
Bruce replaced the cup soundlessly and asked simply, "Clark, what about this is fair? You had your life stolen. Your mercy thrown in your face. A parasite tried to destroy your legacy. It tried to have you murder your friends and their children. You think what? You should be worried about everyone else's feelings? Get off the cross, Clark."
"But I'm Superman…" he said not really believing his own words. "I have to be better."
"I'm not talking to Superman. I'm talking to Clark. What do you want?"
"I want to go back to my apartment. But what if it's not apartment anymore. What if it's—what if I'm all gone?"
"It is," Bruce said. "Your apartment. It's still there."
Clark's head snapped up and Bruce managed to look a little guilty. Turning away, Bruce said, "I've been keeping tabs on you. That thing kept your routine. The farm too."
Clark felt a load of tension drain from his body. Bruce's invasion of his privacy not even on his radar. His home was safe. He repeated the words to himself multiple times to make statement real. Lois was his safe. His parents were safe.
"Thank you."
They sit in silence for what felt like ages. Before the one thing Clark has momentarily managed to forget, reared it's ugly bead again.
"There's a boy now."
"The clone," Bruce clarified..
"Cadmus gave me the tech they used to clone Kara years ago. It was supposed sign of good faith," Clark explained. "I had forgotten I had even had it until the parasite used it. Rao, what am I supposed to do? They asked me to open it and I just grabbed the first excuse to keep him in there."
He had come here because he knew the boy was a threat. To get kryptonite. The boy was created to be the parasite's last weapon against the human race. He was dangerous! A part of him knew that. That the safe thing to do would be to send him to the Phantom zone. Maybe strand him on a different planet? Somewhere far away where he could no harm.
But that side warred with the part that's empathized with him. He was created by the parasite. But in comparison to Superman's hands, his were clean. He could be just another unwitting pawn. How could Clark be that unfair when he was given such mercy? Getting rid of him would be punishing him for the sins of his father.
Father. He had been avoiding that word That word felt harsh. He hadn't ever been able to conceive with Lois. Her fertility problems, a side effect of her years of dangerous reporting. And the closest thing he had to a child was floating in a test tube.
He had no idea what he wanted from the boy. What he wanted when that pod eventually opened. It'd be easier if he was a villain. Because if he wasn't…
It'd have been easier if he didn't exist to begin with…
"I have a clone," he said burying his face in his hands once more.
"Join the club."
Clark blinked once. Twice. As if to banish away the words he just heard. "what?"
"Let's not pretend, Clark," said Bruce. "I know you noticed when Terry took off his mask."
He did. How couldn't he? Those eyes. Those were Bruce's eyes staring at him.
"How?"
"Cadmus." Bruce said.
And that explained everything. The government group was nothing if not consistent.
"Does he—"
"No." Bruce cut off firmly. "His father is Warren McGinnis. That's who raised him. It's not my place to ruin it. Never bring it up."
The last sentence was more plea, than order.
"It's not the same," Bruce amended. "But at least you're not completely alone in the surprise teenage clone department."
"So got any advice?"
"Do whatever feels right."
"That's it?"
"You just got separated from a alien parasite. You don't need another person to tell you what to do."
Clark remembering the cup in his hand, finally took a sip of the drink in front of him. His super sense of taste immediately choking from the cloying surge of sugar that assaulted him.
"I-I thought you said you can make tea," he choked.
Bruce closed his eyes and took a long sip of the drink in front of him.
And Clark finally laughed.
Clark didn't sleep that night. Even when fatigue eventually claimed Bruce. The pod in his fortress a ticking time bomb getting closer to blow up what little remained his of his life.
The creeping dawn came with the speed of the Flash and Clark knew there was no more putting things off anymore.
Bruce naturally refused the journey back to his fortress. He could barely the handle the cold of the place in his peak. Much less his current age.
"If he turns out to not be maniac. You can drop by later," he said as he guided Clark to his back yard. "It'll probably be better to have a kid his age around with Terry."
Clark nodded. A lead case filled with some of Bruce's back up kryptonite now firmly in his hands. Not all of it. They both knew. Bruce would always have another cache somewhere waiting. It was just who he was.
They stand in silence for a beat, before Clark grabbed Bruce in a hug, surprising the other man. And for a brief moment, Clark was fifty years ago. Bruce sighed loudly at the contact before he awkwardly tapped his back.
Clark broke the hug and Bruce took a few steps back to regain his dignity from the embrace. He cleared his throat.
"You don't have be a stranger."
"Inviting me back?"
"No man is a island," Bruce said. "It took me far too long to understand that. And I'd like to see my best friend without a funeral or world ending threat once in a while…just don't make it a habit."
"Bruce."
"Hmm?"
"Thanks."
Before Clark knew it, he was back at the fortress. His team still where he had left them, surrounding the pod that was about to change his life forever. They were all rested and looking better than he had seen them hours ago.
But the air still heavy from the previous night. Not that Clark could blame them. The parasite had him nearly kill all of them for weeks. Mind control or not. He knew from experience those feelings didn't go away. Clark cleared his throat to get their attention.
"I'm sorry!"
"We're sorry!"
Clark blinked several times as he took in the apology in unison from his teammates.
"Kal," Barda asked exasperated, leading the charge of heroes. "What exactly do you think you have to apologize for?"
"I almost killed Micron? I almost killed all of you. What are you sorry for?"
Warhawk shook his head. "No. Everyone here knows that wasn't you. Called Micron last night to give him the heads up. He said to make sure you don't blame yourself. "
"We should have noticed sooner," said Kai-Ro, looking at his hand where his power ring rested. "'My ring is the most powerful weapon in the universe and it didn't notice.
"My motherbox wasn't any better," Barda said, shaking her precious piece of tech in disgust. "It should have."
Mareena closed the gap between them, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her gentleness all her mother's.
"We love you, Kal. We know you'd never hurt us. We're just sorry that we couldn't be there for you when you needed us."
The other heroes nodded in agreement. And Clark rapidly blinked the stinging feeling away. Before turning his attention to the sleeping child in front of them.
He floated to his main computer to shut off the pod. The screen changing to a bright one minute count down before the action took place.
"Everyone get ready," he ordered as he took his place back in front in the pod. The box of kryptonite practically burning in his hand. "But don't scare him," he added
The pod hissed open, filling the room with steam. The boy inside walked out of the tube awkwardly, obviously unfamiliar with his own body, Clark's solar suit far too big for him. Making him seem even smaller. Reminding Clark briefly of a calf he saw being born.
"Hello," Clark greeted gently. Shielding his comrades if the boy wanted to come to blows.
The boy doesn't respond. Instead focusing on opening and closing his hands. The experience far more interesting in his point of view than the room full of heroes.
After several moments, the boy finally acknowledged them and opened and closed his mouth. Clearing his throat, he said three words.
"I'm the Superboy."
It was a incredibly strange sensation to be near your own clone, Clark admitted. The boy—Superboy didn't show any sign of attacking his teammates. Or any form of malice. Thank Rao. The last thing he had wanted was to release a evil version of him into the world. Earth had dough enough evil kryptonians for a lifetime.
But that left Clark with a very different problem. There was now a sixteen year old he was suddenly responsible for.
And he wasn't very talkative.
Sending the rest of his team back to base now that they agreed Superboy wasn't a threat. He decided to give the boy a impromptu tour of his base. Damaged as it was. He doubted this was particularly interesting than it would be normally. But it was a start. And it seemed to mollify Superboy who stared at everything with with rapt attention. The one good thing about just being born it seemed was that Superboy was easy to impress.
They pass by the zoo and the animals react with loud cries of hunger. He had been in such a rush the day before. He had forgotten about them. They must have been starving. Turning his attention back to them. He guided the clone into the zoo.
The creatures growled, snorted and purred peacefully in his presence. And he realized the parasite had kept them animals fed. Sympathy? Clark didn't know.
Quickly zipping out to get their unique feed, Clark was going to start with the closest animal. A alien creature that was a mix between a bear and a rabbit that only ate greens by filling his bowl. He stepped into its enclosure and suddenly he was back five years ago. The parasite about to steal his life all over again. And he froze on the spot.
The bear-rabbit nudged him for its food. But Clark was immobile.
Superboy whose lifespan could only measured generously in hours took the bowl out of his hand. And placed it gently on the ground. The bear-rabbit huffed and started to eat. Superboy taking the opportunity to touch its thick fur. The bear rabbit lightly swiped at him. But was far more interested in it's meal.
Superboy touched his shoulder and guided him out the cell. And Clark could suddenly move again. Feeling weaker than he did being exposed to kryptonite.
"Thank you."
Superboy nodded.
The feeding of the bear-rabbit had quickly gotten the attention of the other animals. And their cries of hunger only increased in volume cutting into him.
Clark took a deep breath as he looked at what looked like the now innumerable number of cells in front of them.
"I can feed them for you," Superboy offered. Saying the longest sentence he said so far. "…If you want."
The offer only made Clark feel more pathetic. That someone born today could see right through him. But he pushed it aside.
Superboy was trying. Who was he to throw it away?
"That would be nice, Superboy."
Grabbing the animal's feed one by one, he handed it off to Superboy who went into each enclosure. Explaining what he knew about every animal inside and each of their preferences. Superboy taking the opportunity to play with each beast inside.
For a brief moment it's a welcome distraction.
"What's in that one?" Superboy asked, pointing to all too familiar cell. The parasite's cell was mockingly still open.
"Nothing." Clark said far too quickly. Pushing the boy past the place.
They managed to finish feeding the animals. Superboy nearly eaten, crushed and smothered in the process by the over eager fauna. Although it all bounced off the clone, happy to play with another animal.
They're about to leave the zoo, when Clark heard the tell tale rumbling of a stomach. He glanced through the cells to see what animal he had forgotten.
Superboy looked at his stomach bemused.
Oh.
Superboy hadn't eaten yet.
Clark had forgotten about that. He could go months without eating. But it has been different when he was younger.
And to make things worse, Superboy hadn't eaten ever. There definitely wasn't anything edible left in the fortress to make him.
"Let's get you a meal."
It was nightfall by the time, they had finally arrived in Wayne Manor. Terry was half already in his Batman suit, when they arrived in the bat cave.
It had taken longer than Clark had expected. Superboy had to get the hang of flying. Falling several times in the ice and snow in the process. Clark had offered to carry him But Superboy had been adamant to get his flight his down. Putting it above his pangs of hunger.
Clark didn't remember ever being that stubborn when he was Superboy's age.
"This is Superboy." He said introducing his clone to the two batmen.
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose as he took in the sight of the now soaking wet teenager.
"Terry," Bruce said.
"I think I have some spare clothes lying around," Terry said, picking up on the unspoken order. Pushing Superboy out of the room and up the stairs to main house."Let's get you out of these."
"He didn't eat," Clark said.
"I'll order something," Terry added. Leaving the duo alone again.
"So not a maniac, huh?" Bruce asked simply.
Terry had decided the best experience for Superboy would be a buffet. Turkey stood beside salmon and steak. Mashed potatoes next to garlic shrimp and Focaccia. Sweets of all kinds littered the area. Bruce's dining table was practically groaning from the weight of the food on the table.
"You went all out," Clark said thankful, taking a seat. The last thing he wanted was Superboy's first meal was something simple like a pizza.
"It wasn't my money," Terry said flippantly, popping a fruit tart into his mouth. He loaded up Superboy's plate with carbs of all sorts. The kryptonian clone busy playing with Bruce's dog.
"Of course," Bruce said, taking a seat. "And I assume you'll taking the left overs?"
"Of course." Terry said shamelessly. "I'm here on a school night after all. Mom needs a bribe."
Bruce rolled his eyes.
Superboy had changed out of his oversized solar suit. And into a black t-shirt and jeans loaned by Terry. Clark was taken aback by how normal Superboy suddenly looked. A far cry from the dangerous weapon, he'd thought he'd be.
Superboy who was in the middle of trying a baked potato dish for the first time, noticed his gaze.
"Something wrong?"
Clark shook his head and urged the boy to eat.
Terry carried the conversation throughout the dinner. Regaling the trio of silent heroes with the normalcy of his school life. He would occasionally bring up a past escapade where Bruce would brutally skewer with the truth.
"You're embarrassing me in front of the kryptonians," Terry hissed.
"Tragic."
"So got any plans?" Terry asked, refilling Superboy's now empty plate with assorted meats. "Like names perhaps. Or are we just going to go with Superboy."
Name. Today had been so busy. The idea hadn't even crossed Clark's mind. Of course Superboy needed a name. He was here to stay.
This was his normal now.
Superboy unaware of Clark's crisis turned his attention to Terry. "I'm Superboy," he pushed.
"You're going to need another name besides that," Terry said. "Trust me."
Superboy frowned. "Why?"
"I'm Batman," explained Terry gently. "But I can't be that all that time."
"I don't understand."
"Well, you see," Terry leaned in close to Superboy and stage whispered. "If you don't get one. You turn into that." He pointed roughly at Bruce who glowered at them.
That seemed to be enough to convince Superboy.
"I need a name." He agreed gravely.
Superboy ate his way into a food coma. Terry guiding him into a spare bedroom where he promptly passed out. The latter heartbroken when he learned just how much a kryptonian could consume. He put the remains of the feast—a fraction of what he thought it'd be in a doggy bag and headed home.
Bruce barely any better off, had retired for the night.
Leaving Clark alone for the first time in forever.
To Clark's credit.
He didn't run immediately.
He had made sure Superboy was deep asleep first before he had flown off.
That was the responsible thing to do.
The weight of the day pushing on Clark like a planet. Drove him straight out of Gotham and back into Metropolis. His city, a welcome sight.
He made his way to his apartment. Bruce's words notwithstanding, he needed to know what the parasite had done to his home. To their home.
A thick line of dust covered the home. The parasite deciding to only do the bare minimum of upkeep in his absence it seemed.
But at the moment, Clark couldn't find himself to care. Compared to the fortress, his home was unspoiled. Slipping out of his costume, he put on a dark blue suit. And he stopped being Superman. And finally, truly became Clark Kent again.
The costume in his hands now a symbol of the beast that over took him. He activated his heat vision and reduced it to cinders. The smell of burning fabric heavy in the air.
Lois remained everywhere in his apartment. And for that he was grateful. He entered his bedroom and lying down on their marital bed after what felt like eons. He took a photo of her off their nightstand—her eternally smiling on their honeymoon—and surrounded himself with her ghost and finally wept. Five years that beast kept him from remembering her. From honoring her. From loving her. It had stolen him from her.
Now it had used him as a stud to make a child to be its weapon. A child that was a permanent unwitting reminder of its crime. A strange, kind child that should have been hers. But was now just stuck dealing with him.
Kara had been easy in comparison. She had less expectations, less needs than Superboy would need. But even he had driven her off to find solace in the future.
How exactly was he supposed to take care of him? He didn't think of a name for him. He hadn't even thought of feeding him. The boy was hours old and was already comforting him instead of the other way around.
How had his parents been okay with raising a toddler from the stars? When he can't even deal with a teenager?
Clark cleaned his apartment. The action soothing as he reclaimed his home bit by bit. Finding his old red and blue costume stuffed into a corner in his closet without fanfare. Still fitting despite his impromptu burning of his newer one.
He turned his attention to the guest room at the end of the hall as well. It would be Superboy's room now. He knew. The boy deserved at least that much from him. The room had been long abandoned by him even before the parasite had taken over his life. Lois and he rarely had visitors after his parents passed. And it had turned nonexistent after she had. It had become a den of assorted items they collected over the years.
Thick boxes littered the room from decades of collection . And Clark patiently went through all of them. Clearing away the junk. And moving the rest elsewhere.
By the time he had made it to the closet, day was breaking. On the top shelf was a collection of books. Clark didn't recognize any of them. So they must have been Lois'.
He winced as he started looking the names. Understanding immediately why Lois had shoved them away. All of the titles were pregnancy and fertility related.
She must have shoved them in here when they had found out to not worry him. Shaking his head he started to trash them. It was not a reminder that he needed.
Buried furthest in the pile was a tiny white book.
And Clark almost laughed when he saw it.
It was a baby name book. Dated decades ago when they had just married and even older than the rest. When they had still been trying. Lois' scrawl written all over it. Circling names that she had liked.
He had never seen this before. He glanced through the names she had added notations too. Some were obvious. Like Jonathan. For the best dad in the world. Others like Alexander and Samuel had large X's written beside it. Not in a million years. She had written.
Clark gave a watery smile as he looked through her notes. And he finally decided on a name.
It was noon by the time he returned to Wayne Manor. It was quiet. Which was a good sign.
"Going back to the classics?" Bruce asked, noticing his old costume.
"It felt right," he said.
"I'll bet."
Walking into the foyer. He noticed something different from the previous night.
"D-Did you have Superboy clean your house?" He asked offended for the boy as he looked at the suddenly pristine manor.
"He offered to help Terry." Bruce said without a hint of guilt.
Superboy was sitting in the living room, holding a controller. Terry's beside him, explaining the game he was playing patiently. The boy more confused than entertained.
Acknowledging Clark's reappearance with a grunt while he killed a rather grotesque minion, it seemed he wasn't aware of Clark's abandonment.
"Superboy," he called, getting the boy's attention. Terry pausing the game for his benefit. Terry far more taken aback by his costume change than Bruce was. While Superboy remained nonplussed.
"What is it?"
"You wanted a name right?" He asked.
The boy cocked his head in interest.
"I was thinking Conner would be fitting," he said. Hoping the child liked it. It had been one the few names that appealed to Lois. That wasn't the name of a existing relative. And Superboy deserved at least a name that was his own. "Conner Kent."
"Conner Kent," he repeated testing the word. "That's mine?"
Clark nodded.
"So I won't look like him now," Super—Conner said pointing to Bruce. Terry snorting behind him. Bruce glaring daggers at both of the children.
Clark stifled a chuckle himself. Bruce had lots more kryptonite he reminded himself.
"Yes," Terry agreed.
That put Conner at ease.
"I'm Conner," he repeated again.
Bruce invited them for lunch, but Clark declined. Clark waved goodbye to the duo. the newly dubbed Conner mirroring him. Terry pushing his cell number on the other boy, who shoved it in his pocket.
"Where are we going?"
Clark looked at the child. The child created without his permission. He wasn't sure of anything. Of what would happen tomorrow or the day after. Or what new way he'll mess up while dealing with him. But this his new normal now. And after years alone. Maybe that wasn't so bad after all.
"We're going home."
End
