AUTHOR'S NOTE: Again, credit to gordios who has been allowing me to use her ideas for this fic. On a side note to the rest of my reviewers, thank you for taking the time to read my fics.

To those who don't like my fic, don't read it then. This IS a sequel to Crystal Prison. And it IS a fan fic. Anyone can take a stab at it. I just chose not to go the scenic route. Have a good day and (mostly) cake for everyone. Unless you don't like cake. In that case I would not mention it. But don't go out, get cake, and then no eat it. Because then what would be the point of buying the cake?

Chapter 5

There was little Bruce could do to help ease Connor's bad attitude. Krypto even whined and scratched at the boy's door to try and get him out. At dinner time Bruce quietly cleaned everything up. He left a plate of food out on a chair outside of the teen's door. Going into his own room to go to bed.

Krypto hopped up onto the end of Bruce's bed and curled up. His tail thumping excitedly as his master moved about the room. Getting dressed quietly Bruce climbed into bed and pulled the covers over himself. Settling down contentedly under the covers as he rolled over in bed. Falling asleep as he closed his unseeing eyes. The pillow cradling his head as his mind entered into a dream.

Bruce felt eerily as if he were falling. Around him the entire world wwas dark. When he reached out he felt a cold surface give beneath his fingertips. Reaching up he felt his own face. Then suddenly a burning in the back of his head again. Letting out a low groan he put a hand to his head. What was going on? Why did he hurt so badly?

"Master Bruce?"

Bruce blinked as suddenly the world around him came into clarity. He stared, blank faced at a well-dressed Alfred standing at the foot of his bed. Bruce's mouth suddenly went dry as he looked around at the spacious room. He had not seen this room for nearly six years.

"Alfred, where am I? Where's Superboy?" Bruce asked dumbfounded. He continued to reach up to touch his face. When he blinked the world went dark for as split second before shifting into the stark contrast of colors. Alfred frowned, his white whiskers moving perceptively at the question.

"Superboy, sir? I'm sure you mean Superman. Your friend is in Metropolis dealing with a new menace I hear. Something called the Parasite, a big purple man who absorbs energy. Nasty fellow." Alfred said as he walked around. Smartly snapping out his towel as he set breakfast down on the nightstand beside his young master.

"Alfred, where am I? And I can…I can see! When did I regain my sight? Where….what is this?" Bruce asked as he got up. He staggered out of bed and threw open his curtains. He squinted against the bright light flooding in, but refused to close them.

He blinked and suddenly night time had descended. Crouched on a rooftop Bruce could hear the distinct drip of a broken pipe off to his right. As he turned his head he heard the rustle of a cape. Then was struck with the sudden realization he wore his old cape and cowl. When he shifted he felt the movement down to his steel toed boots. Could feel the strength in his own limbs as he stood up to gaze over the side of the building.

When did this all come back to me? Is this a…miracle?

Bruce thought as the cars moved about below him. Normal people going to their destinations. Returning home from work, worried about paying bills, making dinner, and a slew of other everyday problems which had never occurred to the billionaire. For n moment he could do nothing but gape at how vast the world was. Drink in how much he had lost when his sight had gone. Why had he grown so used to living in the dark? When had it become the norm for him?

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Caught up in circles confusion -
Is nothing new
Flashback - warm nights -
Almost left behind
Suitcases of memories,
Time after -

Sometimes you picture me -
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said -
Then you say - go slow -
I fall behind -
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look - and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows - you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time -

If you're lost...

Bruce covered his ears when he heard the song being blasted from Connor's room. Reality came slamming back into him as for a second he panicked. He knew his eyes were open, but he could not see! Where was the light?

"Connor? CONNOR!" Bruce yelled in a sudden panic. He clawed at the floor as he staggered back up to his feet. Behind him he could hear Krypto barking only adding to the confusion. He felt his heart pick up when he heard a crash in the teen's room before the music was abruptly cut off. Then an iron like grip was pulling him away. Bruce fought against it his mind snapping back to being kicked relentlessly. Being hit repeatedly for the most minor of transgressions as he let out a sharp cry.

"Bruce, Bruce! Stop, you were about to fall down the stairs! It's me, okay? Bruce?" Connor said being careful not to hurt his flailing servant. Bruce's milky blue eyes were wide with panic as the man thrashed trying to get away. Only when Superboy pulled the man into his arms and held on tight to him did he hear the other's pounding heart beginning to slow. His servant's breath coming in ragged breaths as if he had just run a marathon.

"Connor?" Bruce said shakily. He could feel the pressure of the boy's strong embrace around him. Hardly two years old and it seemed the clone knew how to handle life better than he did at times.

"I'm sorry about the music this morning. I accidentally left the volume up to high after I took my headphones out. Are you okay?" Connor asked the panicked man. Bruce's blind eyes were wide with fright as the man breathed rapidly. Caught in the moment as he tried to understand how his sight had come to leave him once again. After a few minutes he began to calm down. His memory coming back to him of where he was and what had happened. Shakily he reached up and patted Connor's arm to indicate he was fine.

"I'm…okay. Just a bit shaken up. I thought the house was coming down." Bruce answered shakily. He patted the teen's arm still shaken. Taking a step back to extract himself from the other's embrace as he turned around. One hand groping for the rail as he slowly descended the stairs. His beating heart beginning to slow as Bruce began to regain control of his senses. Telling himself to just let it go. It had been nothing more than a dream.

Connor bit his bottom lip glancing at a whining Krypto. The dog sat down and began lifting his paw up at his friend. Giving the mutt a sad smile the boy knelt to give his friend and quick hug. Then got up and hurried downstairs after Bruce who had begun to move slowly about the kitchen. Taking out bacon and eggs as a pan began to heat up on the stove.

"Connor, go check on the chickens and the cows, would you? They need milking. Krypto, take the sheep out to pasture, please. They probably need to eat, the poor things." Bruce said tiredly.

He heard Krypto bark as the dog took off through the backdoor. Connor went after him bursting out of the back like a bat out of hell. Outside the sun had just barely begun to rise over the horizon. Already the birds had started up their morning ritual of chirping at the rising sun. As if trying to hold a conversation with it despite the fact its rays hardly pierced the sky. Shaking his head at the birds Connor headed towards the chicken coop. Snatching a bucket of feed on his way for them so he could get this chore done and over with.

"Chick, chick, chickies! Come here!" Superboy called as he hopped over the fence. From the chicken coop he heard the stirrings of the chickens. Then clucking as they began to scratch around coming out of the coop one at a time. Blinking owlishly in the morning light as they made their way down their small ramp.

He tossed the feed in growing arcs watching as the chickens began to eat. They had all been purchased by him and Bruce in town. Two of the chickens and an old rooster had been originally bought for Connor to kill for them to eat. However, when it came down to it the boy could not do the deed. At first it had seemed as if Bruce would have to chop off their heads. Yet when he had brought over one the old hens, one black and the other a copper red, his servant to had hesitated. At that point Connor had asked his servant since they were killing the chickens for food if they should hold a funeral service afterward in memory of them. At which point his servant had sighed and told Superboy they would just let the hens live.

"No point in blaming them for growing old, poor things." Bruce had said. He had picked up the red hen who clucked from time to time. Both were so tame they could be picked up and petted as if they were cats.

"I suppose if anyone asks we can justify letting them live by saying they keep out the bugs. I mean, it's not their fault they can't lay eggs anymore. Is it?" Connor asked when they put the hens back down in their home. Bruce had laughed softly shaking his head as the two hens went about their business. Completely oblivious to the fact they had almost ended up on the dinner table.

"I'll tell you one thing. We're terrible farmers if we can't even eat our own chickens. I bet right now our neighbors are ashamed of us." Bruce said with a tired sigh. Connor shrugged his shoulders, leaning on the gate as he gazed out over their small flock.

"I think I'd cry if you had to kill Rave and Penny."

"You named them?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing." Bruce had said with a quiet sigh. Later Superboy heard his servant laughing and wondered what was so funny about naming the animals they had spared. He wondered what he found so hilarious, but he said nothing on the matter. Instead going about his business as usual figuring it was some joke he could not get.

It took him no more than an hour to finish his chores. He milked the two cows quickly and put the milk in the cans. Being sure to put them in a cool corner of the barn for storage as he came back around. Entering the house just in time for Krypto to dash in when he opened the door. Panting as the hound immediately ran to bowl of food and began chowing down. As if he had been starving the entire time. Connor went to the sink to wash his hands just as Bruce set two plates on the table. One of them heaped with three times as much food as his was.

"Thanks, Bruce." Connor said happily. He wiped his hands clean on a kitchen towel before sitting down at the kitchen table. Happily digging into the food with relish. Bruce drank his coffee and ate his food slowly. Taking his time as if he had nothing more strenuous to do for the rest of the day.

"We're going to have to go into town today. Get you some new clothes for school." Bruce stated calmly. He sighed when he heard the clink of a fork against the plate stop abruptly. Imagining the boy staring at him dumbfounded at the announcement.

"I'm still going?" Connor asked shocked. He had thought the incident with the teens yesterday may have changed Bruce's mind. Instead his servant shook his head as he took another sip of his coffee.

"Yes, you need to socialize with other people. It's not healthy for you to stay cooped up here all day."

"You do that all the time and it hasn't hurt you."

"You're right, I do. And the reason I do that is because when I was your age, biologically speaking, I talked with others. Which gave me the skills I have today to be a recluse old man with his trusty hound. Isn't that right, Krypto?" Bruce said. The dog barked having already finished his food. Sitting by Connor's elbow with a thumping tail waiting for a food scrap to be tossed his way. Superboy scowled as he continued to eat the food suddenly tasting like sawdust to him.

"What about those guys? What do I do if I see them again?"

"Ignore them. They can't hurt you, Connor. Use your words and your head, not your fists. You're stronger than they are anyway. Just act more mature then they do." Bruce answered calmly. Connor frowned at those words wishing he didn't have to go.

"Did you talk to Mom about this?" Connor asked hoping for a loophole. Bruce sighed, shaking his head at the question.

"I already talked with Mercy on the matter, Connor. She agrees with me. Now, look…" Bruce said leaning across the table. Reaching out to grasp the boy's hands. Instead Connor pulled his hands off the table crossing his arms as he sat back in his chair. Glowering at the blind man who only sighed at the difficulty of talking with a teenager. His memory going back to when he had dealt with Dick when he had been living with him. He had been just as defiant was Superboy was now.

"The reason I'm pushing you to go to school is because you need a decent education. Now, when you graduate high school and go to college you're going to be faced with a choice. Either study for a career or make the decision to use your powers." Bruce explained with a wave of his hand. Connor frowned at the words as he considered his choices.

"Why can't I have both? I thought the entire Justice League had secret identities or something. You're saying I can't have one too?" Connor demanded. Bruce sighed, wishing the boy would just listen to him for once.

"I'm sure in the end you will. But Connor, you have to understand. They're good people, but they want you to fight for them for all the wrong reasons. I want you to be able to make your own decisions without anyone influencing you. Make your decisions based on your own terms, understand?" Bruce encouraged gently.

Connor stared stoically at his servant not quite sure how he felt. On one hand he knew Bruce was no doubt right. On the other he didn't want to have to acknowledge those things. In his mind he had long since made up his mind. Getting up from the table he grabbed his plate of food and went to the trash. Having suddenly lost his appetite as he dumped it into the trash.

When Bruce heard the back door slam again he could only shake his head. Getting up as well on shaky legs he went to wash the dishes. Eventually Krypto grew bored of staying inside and dashed out into the morning air. His tongue lolling out as the dog happily ran across the open fields. Making a beeline for his friend as he followed the familiar old scent. Completely oblivious to the incident which had happened inside between his two masters.

Outside Connor had retreated to the farthest corner of the farm. Sitting on top of the windmill as he gazed out over the English country side. Watching as the sun rose bathing the grass into a golden hue. Wondering if he should reach down would the grass truly be such a precious metal. On his knee the boy rolled an old baseball back and forth. He glanced down when he heard barking. Krypto wagged his tail happily as he began to rise from the ground. Coming to join Superboy on the ledge of the creaky windmill.

"Hey, boy." Connor said tiredly. When the dog landed on the ledge beside him Krypto laid down comfortable. Resting his head on the boy's lap as he whined pitifully. Shaking his head at the animal's needy ways he scratched Krytpo behind the ears. Tossing his ball in the air before catching it expertly.

His thoughts wandered back to Metropolis. He was half tempted to call his mother and ask her to take him back in. Connor knew the fiasco with his predecessor had yet to die down. Reports had been flooding in about the kryptonian. Tilting his head the boy tuned his head into the radio station. Flipping mental switches as he looked for a news station to tell him what was going on in the part of the world his mother lived in. He paused when he came to the Gotham City news station.

"Arkaham Asylum, where Superman is being housed for rehabilitation has been broken into. A man slaughter occurred just yesterday afternoon. Police are unsure of who has committed the crime at this time. Speculating it may have been a crazed vigilante who felt the justice system has not being doing its job. Such infamous figures such as the Joker were found dead on the premises. Beheaded, of all things."

"Authorities are unsure of how to proceed at this time. Chief of Police, Officer Gordon has released an official statement stating the police are 'looking into all leads'. Other than one witness whose name they will not disclose has been found alive. Rumors have it however this lone survivor is none other than Superman himself. Sustaining gunshots wounds to both legs and apparently a similar head injury where a bullet grazed him knocking him unconscious. Again, these facts are yet to be confirmed. But let us hope one of world's greatest heroes has come out of the tragedy alive. This is Vicky Vale, signing out. Now onto our next broadcast. Batman: An Urban Legend, Dead or Alive?"

Connor flipped the switch off in his head. His mouth pressed into a thin line at the news. Raising the ball he threw it as far as it would go. Krypto barked happily getting up and in the flicker of an eye dashed after it. Disappearing in a blur in order to fetch the wayward ball.