"Just who are we going to cut?" Robin asked his teammates while all of the lounged around Greg's family room, all of the contestants away on a wild goose chase of a mission that they had sent them on.

"Booster and Beetle?" Artemis offered while blowing some of her hair out her face.

She was seated comfortably on the couch with Kaldur and Roy on either of her side, arms crossed with a frown in place. She didn't want to cut anyone. But she also knew that all of these couples couldn't possibly be Conner's family. That would just be too difficult.

"They're awesome." Rocket said while shaking her head, floating in the air with her own arms crossed.

Zatanna nodded, "We couldn't possibly cut someone that gets Conner so perfectly."

Kid Flash threw his arms in exasperation, "Then we can't cut anyone out!"

The Team all looked at him with wide eyes, surprised at his outburst.

The speedster sighed softly while shaking his head, "Guys, there's not much we can do this time around. We cannot allow our personal feelings to get the best of us." With this he looked down at the papers before him and slammed his fist onto them. "This time we have to actually think with our brains!"

Silence reigned after his outburst while everyone in the room thought on what he said. After a minute or two, though, Green Arrow cleared his throat.

"Kid's right. Besides, we cannot keep all of these guys for much longer in the house. Like Zatanna warned, the longer here, the harder it will be to erase the memory when they are cut."

Kid Flash nodded at his words and looked at his friends, "It won't be easy, but this is for Conner. And we all want the best for him, don't we?"

The hesitant nods he got were enough to let him know that while they didn't completely agree with the idea, they knew it was about time they chose.

It was time to get serious.

"So? Who is getting eliminated?" Bane asked the children after they all shuffled in silently into the room.

Kid Flash looked at them with a his lips drawn into a tight frown, "It took us quite some time. And you guys didn't make it any easier on us. But after much deliberation, we have decided on the two teams that will continue to the final exam."

Now Red Hood stepped forward, bringing his arms down from their crossed position in front of his chest. "Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Poison Ivy, Bane, Vigilante, and Shado will all be leaving now."

The six people had their eyes wide after this, surprised to find they had been eliminated.

"It wasn't an easy choice, guys. But it had to be made." Green Arrow sighed softly, scratching at the back of his head. "Now, if you'd kindly follow Zatanna and I, we will began the memory erasing procedure."

Much to the Team's surprise, the six left without many objections, probably too shocked to actually put up a fight. But Bane was nice enough to hug Conner on the way out, telling him that even if he wasn't going to be his father, he would always be his uncle.

After the six were all gone, Deathstroke, Vixen, Guy Gardner and Ice all looked at the Team expectantly.

They honestly had no idea what to expect anymore, not after they had eliminated three people they all held in high regards.

"You may all be wondering why we chose you guys." Robin said as he cleared his throat, receiving a slightly confused nod from Guy.

"Well, it's really quite simple when you think about it." Red Arrow told them, beginning to explain. "Teenagers need reliability. Two villains as a parent wouldn't given him that, nor stability."

Now Kid Flash stepped up, "Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are pretty cool heroes, but we don't know them. We have no idea if they were sent here because of the League or because they want a kid... Besides, they seem to be too happy and friendly to actually be Superboy's parents."

And now Red Hood stepped forward, "And it legitimately hurt me to see Vigilante and Shado leave, seeing how they are perfect candidates... But you four are even better." And he finished by pulling a gun out. "Don't make us regret this choice."

Deathstroke quirked an eyebrow at the man he had come to know because of their jobs but Vixen only smirked at him. "Honey, believe me, you won't."

With this she offered Deathstroke her hand, "Guess we're in this together now, huh, partner?"

Deathstroke looked from her to her hand before nodding, "Partner."

Kid Flash smiled brightly at the interaction, making the four adults wonder how he made such a turn in emotions so fast, then began to speak.

"We already have your last test lined out. It is rather simple, if I may say so myself. But you most probably will find it extremely difficult."

Now Aqualad walked towards the four, glaring at all of them intently, "You now have the trust of my Team in your hands. You break it, I break you."

Deathstroke couldn't help but wonder what he had gotten himself into.

But Kid Flash continued speaking before he could completely regret what he had done.

"Now, if you'd kindly step outside-"

He seemed like he was about to say more, but a crash from the roof of the house stopped the red head completely. Immediately all the heroes reacted and took out their different weapons, aiming at the offender.

Once the dust had cleared and Deathstroke had a clear shot, the mercenary narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Superman? What are you doing here?"

The alien stopped glaring at Kid Flash to instead glare at Deathstroke, "Terminator. I cannot say I am surprised to see you here." But then the man turned to Kid Flash once more, ignoring the dangerous mercenary. "I should have known you were up to yet another thing, Kid Flash. Why is it that you insist on giving us reasons to not trust you?"

Kid Flash shrugged slightly, "Comes naturally I guess... Anyways, if you'd please, Superjerk, I need you to vacate the premises."

Superman only crossed his arms, clearly amused with the boy in front of him and ignoring all of the weapons trained on him.

"And why would I do that?" Then he gasped softly, "Oh! And, just so you know, the rest of the Justice League is on their way!"

Kid Flash frowned at him, and was about to jump on the Superjerk and use the Krypt-B-Gone spray on him, but someone beat him to the punch.

Deathstroke was suddenly standing before Superman, glaring at the alien. "I believe Kid Flash told you to leave. You are clearly not wanted here so- if I were you- I would get my ass out the door before you have team of teenagers attacking you."

The whole Team was stunned to find Deathstroke standing toe to toe with Superman, but none moved. They all wanted to see what would happen now.

Superman only scoffed at the mercenary, "Just what are you doing here, Terminator? I had no idea these kids had such dangerous friends."

Deathstroke shook his head, "Oh, I am not here to be a friend, Alien. I am here to become a teacher. A father, if you will."

Superman's cocky demeanor dropped as soon he heard those words and he grabbed at the front of the mercenary's shirt.

"Just what did you say?"

Deathstroke turned slightly to look at Superboy and at seeing the worried face of the boy, his resolve steeled. He didn't know the boy, but he knew that he wanted to get to know him. And maybe having Vixen as his partner in this would prove to be beneficial to both.

"I believe that what I said is easy enough to interpret. But I shall still elaborate." With this Deathstroke's demeanor also changed, from relaxed to tensed and dangerous, "Your time to disappoint Superboy is over. Your days of treating him like a doormat are gone. I am here to become that boy's father. And make him feel like a child is supposed to. Loved."

The punch that came from the alien was too fast for even the master mercenary to be able to dodge.

So, yeah. Please review.