Green Mother Pt 2

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Arkham Asylum

July 20th

"Heya Pammy!" Watcha doing?" A cheerful voice called out much too close to her ear. She gave a yelp and a half-hearted glare as she turned to meet the blonde's unapologetic smile.

"How many times must I tell you not to do that."

"Just enough for it not to be enough. Now, what's this?" Even as she asked the questions the woman's finger was sliding the top paper into view.

"Harley," Pamela started firmly, hand slapping away her friends. "Don't touch that."

"Visitation papers?" The confusion was just as clear in her voice as her curiosity, "Are actually gonna to try to talk to your parent's again Pammy?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Though is she was honest, that might not have been too bad of an idea. As much as she loathed to admit it… No, no, she was not going to go down that path. She didn't need them when she was growing up and she didn't need them now.

"Then who's it for?"

"I rather not talk about it here Harl." The rec room was as crowded as usual and in a room filled with the criminally insane she would rather not risk an eavesdropper. Who knows what they would do with even the bare bits of this information, especially the so-called 'masterminds'.

"Aww, but this is the only time we can talk!" It was also the only place where Pamela could get a writing surface that wasn't covered in dirt. "C'mon, pwease Pammy." The pout she shot at the redhead was resolve crushing.

Even at that very moment, when she had had herself at her most determined, she felt herself on the edge of just blurting it out. To just tell her friend the miraculous news. That's what one was supposed to do when they had that kind of news… Right? Share it with you closest friend and blather on happily over it.

She chewed on her lip as she pondered and continued to resist to what Harley must have seen as the inevitable. But this was Arkham, home to insane metahumans and mad men she did not want anywhere near her son. No matter how 'invulnerable' her supposedly was.

"No." She said as firmly as she could as she hurriedly finished the paperwork, hunching over so Harley couldn't see her writing down the name Superboy.

If she was a bit honest with herself she felt more than a little silly filling out the forms she was. Pamela wasn't even sure if he would visit, but she wanted that little bit of hope. To keep the door open so that someday, maybe, hopefully, he would come.

"Aww, c'mon. Pwease, Pammy, Pwease?" Did she really have to bat her eyelashes like that?

"Harl, please." Her voice sounded pained even as she snapped at her friend loud enough to make the blonde flinch back and draw a guard's attention, "Not now."

"Okay, okay." Harley said with raised hands, "Whoever this is I'm guessin' they're important to you."

"He is." And she hoped she would be important to him too.

"Oooh, a he? And here I thought you swung the other way."

"Ugh."

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Mount Justice

July 21st

He liked Mount Justice.

It was large enough that he had a place to be alone even when it seemed to be milling with people. It wasn't quiet, things were never quiet for someone with his senses, but not being around people allowed him to… zone out better. To think clearer.

It would have been better if he could be outside but it was late and the sun was down. The outdoors didn't appeal to him as much without the sun. A sight he still felt amazed each time he experienced it.

And he knew it was because of more than just his Kryptonian abilities absorbing in the sunlight.

It meant freedom, or at least the promise of it.

He just didn't really know what to do with said freedom, or with himself. He knew what he was programmed to do. What he was conditioned. What he was made for. But he wasn't sure that's what he wanted to be.

He had power, great amounts of it, but he had no idea what to do with it.

… Maybe if he had some guidance. Someone to show him the way, to show him what he could be. How to use his powers for more than just smashing things.

He had hoped Superman could be that person for him, but the man hasn't come to talk to him yet. It hurt more than he would care to admit.

"Superboy, report to the Waterfall Lounge." Batman's voice buzzed irritably from the intercom unnecessarily. They should have known they could have just yelled anywhere in the building and would have heard them. Still, he complied, leaving his room with barely a huff.

When he arrived at the lounge he found not only Batman there waiting for him but Black Canary and the Flash.

"What's going on." Superboy all but demanded with crossed arms and squinted eyes. He still wasn't all that good at asking questions.

"Superboy," Black Canary started, her voice gentle as she gestured towards a chair. "Maybe you should take a seat."

He looked at the offered chair and then back to her before turning to the man he was sure would answer his question. "Why am I here."

Batman's face showed nothing but he gestured to the monitor on the wall, a gesture of his hand brought it to life with displays of medical reports and graphs. He recognized some of the data, mostly because it dealt with him.

From what he could tell the data was mostly lists of his biometric data during both his gestation period and his day-to-day life sign from once he was deemed to have grown enough. At first glance, it seemed like basic information but there had to be a reason they were showing him.

Batman noticing both his confusion and mounting annoyance calmly began to explain what it all meant. "After careful analysis of data retrieved from Cadmus we discovered that you are not Superman's clone, at least not entirely."

His arms came uncrossed, "What!?" That couldn't be right. He was Superman's clone. He was made to replace Superman if the time came… Or to defeat him if the worst happened. How could he do that if he wasn't the man's clone?

Undeterred by the outburst Batman continued, "According to their files the Cadmus team could not fully decipher, and therefore copy, Kryptonian DNA. In response they decided to fill in the missing sequences with material they had gathered from other Metahumans, one's that would complement the Kryptonian heritage… The Flash could explain the process more in depth for you if you would like"

Superboy flexed his fist as he continued to stand, almost wishing he had taken Canary's suggestion to take a seat before they broke the news to him. He shook his head, missing Flash's comment as he tried to straighten his mind.

"Who is it." His fist clenched with his throat, his mouth suddenly dry. Maybe this person could be what he was looking for. A guide, someone to show him just how to navigate the new world he felt suddenly tossed into. A helping hand to pull him up and keep him steady as he struggled to understand… everything.

Canary broke in before Batman could answer, "Superboy, before we tell you I want you to keep in mind that you are more than what your genetics make you." He stared at her with wide eyes, mind turning as he tried to imagine all the ways her words could be construed. Of why she would give him that sage piece of advice before the big reveal. "I also want you to keep in mind that she wants to meet you, she's willing to reach out if you are."

"Who is she." He wasn't trying to ask anymore, he wasn't even going to pretend to. He was demanding. They couldn't keep this from, they shouldn't, not even for a second more.

"Pamela Isley," Batman said, regarding the clone steadily as he let the name settle into his mind. "Better known as Poison Ivy, current resident at Arkham Asylum."

He felt numb.

AN:

People made the right request at the right time. Young Justice Season 3 is coming soon and I shall binge it when it comes. For now enjoy this and hopefully I'll have more of it soon… ish.