Conner learned several things from Stephanie, wildly out of order.

First was that Tim took Greta to homecoming, which baffled him more than anything because he hadn't thought they even spoke to each other. Cissie King-Jones won Homecoming Queen, but had a mental breakdown at the dance. Her date (a boy Conner had never met named Jackson Hyde who was apparently captain of the football team) was gay and maybe into Bart which resulted in Bart kissing Jaime, though that part Conner wasn't a hundred percent sure on because Stephanie had kept sidetracking. Cissie, it turned out, went home with Cassie, and they apparently knew each other from middle school. Jason Todd showed up with Kory Anders, a supermodel and ex-fiance of his older brother Dick Grayson which caused a fight with Tim, leaving Greta dateless. And finally:

"Cass asked me on a date! We're going to Freddy's on Friday!"

And with all that information swimming in his head, Conner's own ability to think straight veered horribly off course. He stayed up late, curled up by the window in his living room, and watched the lights of city below wink in and out of existence as people came and went throughout the night. Krypto curled up at his feet, snoring horribly.

And that was where the staff found him the next morning when they emerged from the service elevators with breakfast on a tray. Tired, and with a kink in his neck from where he had leant against the window frame, he stood slowly, and trudged back to his room.

After sweeping the place for more nanny cams and leaving his phone to charge, he sank into his tub and mentally prepared himself for the day ahead.

Lex spent the day practically giddy. Conner could tell because the man made several visits to Conner's wing of the house, and once he even caught him whistling, a habit he knew must have been from his time with Clark.

Conner skulked around the edges of whatever room he occupied, and tried to ignore the obvious air of something about to happen that poured off everyone in waves. The staff scurried in and out of the house like ants on fire and Conner continued to puzzle over what, exactly dinner would entail.

He found out at seven, when a staff member showed up to his room with a newly tailored designer suit.

Lex was holding his annual Tech Gala. The Gala was Lex's way of showing off his toys to the local billionaires and Conner had been barred from them when he started refusing to wear suits. He sighed and pulled on the one he had been handed, even as he listened to the explanation of where he was expected to be tonight.

"Lex would like to introduce you to his business partners," he was told.

He sighed. One more evening and then he could go home.

The main hall was so bright Conner has to squint as he entered the room. Bright white marble, a high ceiling full of crystalline lights, and gold and silver gleaming accents on everything, the main showroom floor of the Gala put a Disney princess ballroom to shame.

Everyone dressed to the nines, and Conner felt like the youngest person in the room. He'd never been one for being self conscious, and at a towering 6'1" he'd never found adults particularly intimidating, but in a room full of refined faces a narrowed eyes Conner ducked his head and tried not to make eye contact.

He wondered glumly if this was how Clark had lived out the last of his days at LexCorp. No wonder he left.

Lex stood across the floor. Every twenty feet or so was a new gadget in a glass display, and Lex liked to live demo the the stuff and take bids right in the middle of the crowd. Right now he stood over an advanced robotic dog like thing, the kind the the military probably would use to carry heavy equipment. It looked a bit freaky, but Lex was making to to tricks and agility tests for the crowd and Conner was sure there'd be a buyer before the night was over.

The worst part of the entire thing was, perhaps, until Lex called for dinner, the fact that Conner had absolutely no one to talk to. No one his age, anyways. And he didn't pay enough attention to tabloids to recognize any of the billionaires in the room. He stayed away from his phone as best he could because Lex would be watching he was sure, but how he would have killed for company.

He wondered if Bruce Wayne's kids had to put up with this bullshit.

"Are you ready for dinner tonight?"

Conner jumped.

Behind him stood a towering, severe looking man, with Clint Eastwood good looks. He had an incredibly grim, serious face, which didn't at all fit the private grin he flashed at Conner like he knew him. The man was considerably older, and Conner huffed, stuffed his hands into his pockets instead of shaking the offered one, and said, "And you are?"

"Bruce Wayne."

Conner did not splutter. "Conner-"

"Oh, I'm aware-"

"- Kent."

Bruce looked perplexed and Conner privately considered that a great victory. "Kent?"

"What of it?" And if Conner was being a little more antagonistic than usual tonight, well, that was his prerogative.

Bruce snatched a champagne flute off of the tray of a passing staff member, flashing the girl a smile before he returned his attention to Conner. His earlier surprise seemed to have vanished. For someone famous he seemed oddly normal in person. Having spent the last couple months making up stories about him and his kids' extravagant lives, Conner felt almost embarrassed to speak to him, but held it in for the sake of being obtuse.

"Nothing of it. Mr. Kent is a good man, anyone would be proud to carry his name I'm sure." And he spoke like Tim, which was surprising, but suddenly Conner felt almost endeared. Bruce was little stiff and way too formal, even as Conner felt sure he was trying to be casual. It was like no one had ever taught him how to relax. At least now he knew Tim wasn't born like that. And seeing it in Bruce, Conner could almost imagine Tim grown up, though he'd probably never be as tall. Also, the way Bruce spoke of Clark, he made it sound like he was praising Conner for the use of Clark's surname and Conner preened despite himself and found he like Bruce all the more for it.

"He's great," Conner agreed, too tired and too homesick for Clark's stupid breakfast and small talk to pretend to be cool, "I miss him."

Bruce nodded towards where Lex lead a group of finely dressed women around a display case full of model spacecraft for his deep space program. Lex waved his arms, as he explained, and to anyone who hadn't grown up watching the man practice his charismatic speeches to the mirror, it would have seemed like he was naturally exuberant. To Conner it all looked incredibly fake. He knew Lex probably personally hated most of the people in attendance.

"He mentioned you lived with Lex once." Bruce said. And It wasn't accusatory, but the tone implied Bruce either thought he knew more and wasn't saying, or had been told something more, and Conner sighed. He did not like explaining himself to strangers.

"I used to."

"We were told you would be joining us for dinner."

Conner shot him a look. "And?"

Bruce made a little noise, a low hum like he was thinking about something, and at last said. "Lex and Clark both speak very highly of you."

Bruce regarded him with a long, hard stare. His blue eyes were closer in color to Tim's than Jason's. The same steely edge of confidence ran through them both.

"Uh, thanks."

With that Bruce Wayne glided away to go mingle with the rest of the surely important guests, leaving Conner more worn out than he had realized as the lack of sleep from the night before began to have its effects.

Conner had suspected his night couldn't get worse than a stuffy suit and some weird huorderves when Bruce walked away. He had been mistaken.

Standing awkwardly in the middle of the whole charade (and not because she didn't belong, the woman was gorgeous and belonged wherever she damn well pleased) was a tall, elegant, black haired woman in an open back dress of the darkest violet. It shimmered in the crystalline light.

Her name was Lois Lane and despite himself Conner felt himself seething at the sight of her.

Lois had been the one to convince Clark Lex was a problem. Friendly, neighborhood, not at all scheming with ulterior motives Lois had been the one who got to keep her pedigree and job at the Daily Planet when Lex went apeshit while Clark had to leave.

The nerve of some fucking people.

She turned and when her eyes fell on him, she smiled and made her way through the crowd.

Conner felt the last bits of his good grace wither at her approach.

"Conner," she said, like they were friends or some shit, "You look just like Clark."

"And how could you know that? It's been almost ten years since you've seen him, hasn't it?"

Lois flinched visibly and her smile became unsteady. "It's been seven years."

He waited, and when she realized it would be up to her to keep the conversation going, she sighed and reached for her purse.

"Conner, I know you never liked me, but believe me when I say I never meant for you to get hurt. Lex Luthor is-" she stopped herself, eyes darting to where Lex and a group of women chatted at the end of the room, "-a snake in a designer suit. I'm glad Clark's ok. I'm glad you're ok. I was hoping you'd be here."

"Yeah?"

She smiled up at him, and despite the fact he had sworn not to fall for her pity stories years ago when Clark had insisted he still loved her, he could see for a minute why Clark loved her.

"I've been trying to get in touch with Clark I-"

"If he doesn't want to talk to you-"

"No, I, you don't understand." Fast enough that it must have been sleight of hand, Lois tucked something into his front breast pocket. "It's important . I don't care that he doesn't want to see me, he doesn't have to. Just give this to him."

And without another word she glided away into the crowd. Conner didn't see her for the rest of the night no matter how he strained his eyes, and though his curiosity burned, he kept from reaching for whatever she had given him.

Lex would be watching his every move, after all.

The room in which Lex held his private dinners, and played host to dozens of the world's most powerful people, was a fine, open air dining room with a large balcony the length of the room that looked over Metropolis. Conner could make out the brassy glow of the Daily Planet, which Lex bought the year before Clark left, and the dotted lights of what might have been the university. The room was unbearably cold, even in his stuffy suit, and the staff made no move to close the wide open doors as select guests from the party downstairs slowly meandered in.

Nightfall left the sky a deep indigo, and light pollution kept all but the strongest of stars from shining. The fluorescent white light haze from the city below and the dim light of a fireplace inside were the only light sources, leaving Conner in shadow at his corner of the balcony railing.

Conner had been lead in by one of the staff members before anyone else had arrived, and lurked on the balcony hoping to stay out of sight as long as humanly possible. Men in fancy black suits started lighting cigars, and ladies in fine silk gowns sipped champagne. Everyone spoke in a hushed murmur, the kind that happens before a theater show. Maybe twenty people had made their way upstairs now.

Bruce Wayne stepped off the elevator, accompanied by a staff member who quickly bowed and scuttled away. Bruce, unlike everyone else in the room, seemed incapable of carrying himself in a hushed or nervous manner. He walked, broad shoulders thrown back, like he owned the place, and the way people parted for him Conner suspected he pretty much did.

Bruce walked out to the balcony, seeming not to notice Conner at all, pulled out a cigarette and in a fashion much like Jason, lit it. It smelled like death, and Conner spoke before his brain caught up to his mouth.

"Does Jason know you smoke?"

Bruce's eyes shone with nothing but humor as they sparkled in the light of his cigarette and the city below.

"Smoking will kill you." Conner tried to cover up.

"Lot's of things could kill me. I'm surprised they haven't already," Bruce said, good naturedly. He looked around at the rest of the people on the floor and sighed a little, "Between you and me, it'd be preferable to what I'm sure will be an unbearable dinner."

He sounded painfully like Jason.

Conner bit his lip. Part of him wanted to believe this man, in his slick suit and no-nonsense manner. That in this world of untrustworthy billionaires Bruce Wayne was real. And a little voice in his head kept telling him something was fake. Maybe it was the paranoia of living with Lex, or the oddity of meeting someone he had been hearing about so much, but Conner felt like he was tripping up the stairs when it came to Bruce Wayne.

"I'm sure dinner will be fine," he said, feeling fake.

Bruce smiled. "I meant to say it earlier, but I got distracted," Conner doubted that, "Clark's a good friend of mine. If there's anything you need, say the word. I know my boys can be trouble."

"Good friends, huh?"

Bruce grinned, if anything, and yes, the family resemblance to Jason was becoming exceedingly clear, "The best. Now I believe we're about to be seated."

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Lex Luthor stepped onto the balcony in a bright white suit. "Let's get started."

Conner sat to the right of Luthor, and Bruce sat two chairs down. Other famous faces at the table he was introduced to in quick order were Oliver Queen and his wife Dinah, Ted Kord, Maxwell Lord, and Luke Fox.

Conner let the names and faces blur together, and grimaced at the number of men in the room. Something about the omnipresent boy's club nature of the table did not, he feel, bode well for dinner.

Lex started them all off amicably enough, with a toast, and introductions.

"This is my son, Conner. He's a junior in high school and, I expect, looking forward to graduation. I thought while he was here in town on tour of the MU campus I might introduce him to some of my long time friends. Conner?"

Conner nodded curtly. "Hello."

Lex smiled, "He's shy."

"I didn't realize you considered me a friend, Lex. I'm touched." Bruce said.

It was hard to tell with Bruce if it was a sarcastic barb or just a flat delivery, but Conner figured by the way Lex's smile turned imperceptibly more forced it could have been both.

Conner contented himself with pushing the food around on his plate and barely eating while Lex started talking.

Rich people spent a lot of time schmoozing, and this was no different. Anyone who wasn't anyone spent a lot of time telling Lex how great Conner looked, how proud he must be. Conner didn't miss the way they all asked after his school work and extracurriculars, like they were sizing him up.

"Does he play football?"

"He used to," Lex answered for him every time.

Further down the table, Bruce cleared his throat and grabbed his attention.

"Conner, this man right here," he gestured to the man between them, "Is Ted Kord. Ted, tell Conner about the time Michael convinced you to jump out of a plane?"

Looking terribly aghast, the average, slightly pudgy man between them spluttered, "Bruce."

But there was no denying Bruce Wayne anything, and soon Conner's night was made slightly more bearable by the addition of Ted Kord, a billionaire whose stories mostly involved harrowing tales of hijinks gone awry with his best friend Michael.

"I make gadgets," Kord told him eventually. "Smart watches, phones, radios, this really cool electronic kitchen multitool."

"Uh, cool?"

Ted immediately pulled out his phone to show them pictures, and Conner felt eternally grateful for the distraction.

As the last of the guests left for the evening, Conner felt a hand come down on his shoulder, and sighed. He looked up. Lex stared down at him.

"How did you enjoy dinner, Conner?"

"It was fine," Conner said, doing his best to lie through his teeth even as Lex looked less than convinced.

"Come with me."

Lex didn't wait up.

Lex's office had been a terrifying place when Conner was a child. Being called to the office meant he had inevitably done something to displease Lex. Had made a fool of himself or the family, or asked for the wrong thing at the wrong time, or had fallen behind in school. It was a small room, with a large mahogany desk and shelves lining the walls. It's windows made it so that during the day the sun shone behind Lex and guests had to squint to look at him. There was probably an analysis to be made on why Lex would arrange his room like that.

Lex sat in a tall backed office chair and Conner was left standing before him like he was still a child.

"Your grades are abysmal. What were you doing in Hawaii those few years, did you learn nothing from your tutors?"

Conner shrugged.

"With grades like this I doubt you'll be seeing the inside of a university for a long time. I expect significantly better." Lex grabbed a bottle of wine from under his desk and poured himself a drink. "With this sort of performance I've half a mind to pull you out of Gotham entirely."

"I don't want to go to college."

"Don't be ridiculous. You say that now but in a year-"

"What could I possibly learn at a university that I don't already know? Or that I want to do?"

Lex went deadly silent, and Conner knew he fucked up. He sipped his drink, and years of learning to dread Lex's anger had Conner clamming up.

Leaning forward, he spoke quietly, "Conner, in this house you will not interrupt me when I am speaking. Do not pretend you know what's best. The most you've ever accomplished was bumming around an island with a despicable deadbeat swindler and-"

Conner flared. No amount of childhood fear would let him ignore a slight against Roxy and her family. "Rex was an alright-"

"Rex Leech and his daughter are the reason our society is crumbling at the seams."

"Because you and all your rich friends are bastions of moral decency?"

Lex scowled. "I can see I won't convince you of anything tonight."

Conner huffed, crossing his arms and turning back towards the door.

"Improve your grades boy, or I'm bringing you home."

Conner bit his retort and stormed out.

Conner packed his bags and left the building without a word to any of the staff, Mercy, or Lex.

All things considered the night could have gone a lot worse.

He walked all the way to the nearest train station. Not because it was close, but because he didn't feel like using Lex's money to catch a cab and he'd rather die than go back and ask for a ride.

He arrived at the station by 11PM.

His train arrived twenty minutes later.