Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any characters related to the show. Young Justice is owned by DC Comics parent company Warner Brothers. Discovery.

Mental Link

Failure. That was all Conner could think about regarding himself. He failed the genomorphs twice in gaining their freedom, and now their deaths are in their hands. Everyone was trying to comfort him, but he shut them out. He was sitting there on the couch, stewing in anger and rage. While stewing, Conner failed to notice the arrival of Batman and his request to the team to leave them alone for a private conversation. Before arriving at the cave, Batman has a full plate. Explaining to the league what had transpired at Cadmus was one thing. Explaining it to Red Arrow again was another thing. Roy was devastated when Bruce told him Speedy was dead.

Speedy's death has now encouraged Roy to do whatever it takes to take down the light. Black Canary had another thing on her mind other than Roy, specifically Conner. She was worried about him and what he could very well do. Bruce told her that he told Conner the truth about everything since lying wouldn't do him any good. Dinah was still fence regarding Conner. Conner was glad when everyone died during the botched training simulation, and he became Superman. Bruce informed her that Conner will seek help. For now, he needs to deal with a much bigger issue at hand. Bruce knew what Conner needed to do, and hopefully, it will get Superman off his back.

Bruce sat down next to Conner and looked at him.

"Conner, I know you're dealing with a lot right now. But right now, we must deal with another matter."

Conner looked at Bruce and knew what he was talking about, while Bruce noticed that in Conner's eyes was nothing but pure anger and rage.

"What do I do?"

"You need to tell Superman everything. You need to tell him the truth."

Conner looks at the dark knight and nods to his request. Hopefully, Superman can see it from his point of view regarding everything. He only took the shields to gain access to his full powers. He didn't know about the side effects. They walked up to the Zeta-Tube, about to head to the Fortress, before Bruce stopped him.

"I'll go first and inform him of your arrival. I'll signal when you can come."

As Batman walked into the Zeta-Tube, Conner stood there and was instantly transported into the Fortress. As he stepped out of the Zeta-Tube, he found Clark and Kelex talking the man of steel turned around, and both men just faced each other.

"Clark"

"Bruce"

"Superboy needs to tell you something. Do I have your permission to transport him here?"

"You have my permission."

"Is Kara going to attack him when he comes?"

"She won't."

Batman typed the commands into the Zeta-Tube and outcomes Superboy.

"Tell him"

"On Thanksgiving day, I was summoned to Washington DC by Lex Luthor. At the time, he claimed that Cadmus had created another Superman clone, so I went to investigate. I discovered that I was Cadmus' second attempt at cloning you. The first attempt resulted in my half-brother Match. He's exactly like me appearance-wise but feral. Luthor created him so that you could meet your match. Luthor said Kryptonian DNA proved too difficult to replicate, and the imperfect sequence made Match uncontrollable. So when they created me, they filled the gaps with human DNA so I would be stable. The human DNA came from Luthor."

Superman was shocked, but that still didn't stop him from pointing out the obvious, at least in his mind.

"Yet filling the gaps with human DNA has solved nothing. Dhabar and Smokey Mountains prove that you're starting to turn feral."

"That's because I took shields. Luthor gave me patches that suppress my Human DNA and give me access to all of your powers. The side effect is that become angrier and go into a berserker rage."

"You can still become a mindless killing machine. The shields may have started to degrade you."

"I've already tested his DNA. The shields haven't degraded him or anything. Assuming he hasn't kept on using them."

"Batman, he could still devolve. Luthor's involvement makes things worst. The man has done countless things in the name of destroying me. Creating a weapon solely means taking me down or replacing me tops the list."

Clark's mind was set, and Bruce knew it.

"Head back to the cave." Bruce Whispered.

Conner did as he was told. He wasn't angry he was distraught.

As the Zeta-Tube chimed, announcing Conner's departure, Batman turned and spoke venomously.

"I brought him here so that he may tell you the truth. To explain everything and to explain what happened in Dhabar and Smokey Mountains. I didn't realize you would demean him even more.

"Bruce, I will do whatever is necessary for everyone's safety, even killing the clone."

"If you haven't gotten it through your thick Kryptonian skull, he's just a kid. You can't just kill him because of a possibility."

"History is repeating itself. The clones on Krypton devolved into mindless killers. He's going through that right now. He's more dangerous since he has some of my powers. He could wreak havoc to god know who."

"My hope for this dialogue was to convince you not to see him as a threat anymore. I'm not here to ask you to be his mentor or anything; I want you and your cousin not to see him as a threat."

"Bruce, history is repeating itself. You, out of all people, would agree with my opinion.

"Your opinion involves the life of an individual, not a weapon as you view it."

"You and your cousin are to stay away from him. If he does turn, the team and I will handle the matter personally."

"Bruce, he's.."

"Nothing more, Clark. Besides, he trusts me to end his life if it came down to that versus you or anyone else."

Batman walks to the Zeta-Tube and is instantly transported back to the cave, where he can see the rest of the yet again comforting Conner.

Dick walked up to Bruce and told him what Conner told them earlier when he returned.

"Did Superman refer to Conner as a weapon?"

"Yes, yes, he did. I'm more concerned about Conner right now."

"Did you know that one of the genomorphs set the fire at Cadmus to lure us there so that we could free Conner so that he, in turn, can free them?"

"I didn't"

"He's blaming himself for their deaths. He failed them twice."

"I had no idea."

"Neither did we."

'That explains everything,' Bruce thought. Conner kept viewing himself as a failure. He was created to be Superman. Anyone who views Superman would see hope. He was the hope for all the genomorphs in Cadmus, and he failed them twice. He thought he secured their freedom the first time but discovered they barely gained anything. The second time he promised to gain their freedom. But the revelation of Luthor being the second donor and the reveal of Match distracted him long enough not to notice the pleas for help. Luthor and the Light used Conner. It explains the anger and rage in Conner's eyes. Bruce wouldn't be shocked or surprised if Conner now seeks revenge against Luthor. Seeing that he and Dick went through something similar, it was time to give Conner a lifeline.

Batman walked up to Conner with his hand on his should and asked.

"Come with me."

Conner looks up at him now wonders what Batman will do now. But he nods and follows him to the room Black Canary uses for therapy. Batman locks the door and tells Conner to sit in one of the chairs while he sits in another.

"Tell me what you're thinking about right now."

Conner was confused by Batman's behavior but still told him.

"I don't know what to think. All of them sacrificed their lives so that I could escape and can gain their freedom. But now it's in vain."

"You want to avenge them, don't you?"

Conner looks at Batman.

"I can see it in your eyes. The rage, the anger, all of it."

"When you tested my DNA, everyone else was heading to Cadmus. Artemis and I talked. She asked me why I was on a team other than Superman. I said it was the only thing I could ever do at the time. But now, all I want to do is to avenge their deaths and to stop anyone from ever being created only to serve as a weapon."

"Revenge is not the way."

"You don't know what I am feeling right now!"

"No, I do."

Batman removes his cowl in front of an indignant Conner, who is confused about why would Batman would remove his cowl and what it was supposed to mean.

"My name is Bruce Wayne. When I was eight years old, my parents were murdered in front of my eyes. I spent my life training to fight the same sort of criminals that took them from me."

"Why did you take off your cowl?"

"I took it off so that you can see with your own eyes what happens if you go down a path of vengeance. The reason why I took in Robin four years ago was so that he wouldn't turn into me, alone and traumatized."

"What happened to Robin?"

"You will have to ask him yourself. But Conner, I don't want you or anyone going down that path. I'm offering you what I offered Robin 4 years ago. The possibility of vengeance against Luthor and the Light will be next to none. But I can offer you training so that you can stop anyone from ever being created only to serve as a weapon. If you choose to accept it."

"What?"

"I'm offering to make you my protege and ward if you choose."

"What about Superman?"

"I've already dealt with him. It's your choice what path you want to take. You can go down a path of vengeance and try to avenge all the genomorphs' death which could result in your death or you being controlled against everyone, or you can be my protege so that no one will be created and serve as a weapon ever again."

Conner thought about Batman's offer. But what intrigued him more was Robin. Bruce mentioned that he took Robin in 4 years ago so he wouldn't turn into him. It struck Conner that something must've happened to his parents four years ago. Everyone on the team, one way or another, mentioned their parents except for Robin. Given what Bruce has said about his parents and the path he went down. He can only assume the worst for Robin.

"I accept your offer."

"I am letting you know here, and now nothing will be easy. You'll need to give me your best so that you can accomplish your goal."

Conner nods.

"We will start training tomorrow. In the meantime, get some rest, and you'll need it."

With that, Bruce puts his cowl back on and walks out of the therapy room with Conner behind him. Bruce walks back to the mission room and heads back to Gotham. Conner walks into the living room, still distraught at what has occurred. He just said yes to Batman to making him his protege and ward. But his thoughts were mellowed away at the sight of everyone.

"You good, Conner?" Wally asked

"I don't know. I want to be alone for a while."

Everyone nodded.

"If you need anything, my friend. We're one call away." Kaldur said.

"We changed out every light in the cave to full spectrum lights so that you can heal faster," M'gann commented.

Conner walks up to Artemis, making everyone curious about what he is doing.

"Artemis, thank you for making me question why I was on the team."

"Conner, I didn't know."

"Artemis, you made me question why I was here given everything that has happened. I've made my choice on what I want to do."

Artemis gave Conner a perplexed face.

"I'm not sure what that means."

"I wanted to thank you for making me think about everything. So that I can renounce anything related to Superman.

"I want to be my own person and make something of myself."

Conner rips off the Superman logo from his shirt.

"I'm no longer Superboy. Just Conner for now."

Conner walks out of the room to head back to his room to sleep for tomorrow's training session with Batman. Whatever he's going to put him through. He knows to get will give it his best. He has a reason now. While Conner left, everyone in the room was confused and now looking at Artemis, wondering what she had said to Conner.

"Why did you make him question why he was on the team?"

"It's not what you think, Wally. I asked him for a reason why he was on the team other than Superman. He doesn't need to be on the team to get Superman's attention or approval or anything from him. He only said it was the only thing he could do. He had no purpose, no goal beforehand. He does now."

"Well, that's quite obvious."

"I told him I chose to get out of the life my dad wanted to put me in. It inspired him to be someone else other than Superboy.

"It's good for Conner to find his identity. But his renouncement of Superman does make me wonder: What about Superman?" Kaldur asked.

"I'll ask Bats about that."

"Let's all get some rest. Given everything that has happened at Cadmus tonight, we will be needed to investigate further everything that has occurred." Kaldur commented

Everyone takes the Zeta-Tube and heads back to the respective cities while M'gann walks back to her room. While getting ready for bed, she decides to mentally check in on Conner.

"Conner? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, M'gann."

"Conner, please don't shut me out. I know you're going through something. I won't intrude, but if you need anything and need to say anything, just let me know, and we can talk."

"Thanks. M'gann."

"Conner, if you don't mind me asking? What did Batman say to you earlier?"

"He offered to make me his second protege."

M'gann was stunned at Batman's offer. But knowing Robin, maybe some of his charms have rubbed off of him and onto his mentor.

"I'm happy for you, Conner."

"Thanks, M'gann. Can we stop here? I want to get some sleep."

"Oh, sorry, I'll let you go back to sleep. Night."

"Good Night M'gann."

As everyone went home to catch some sleep, Dick wanted to know what would happen to Conner. After taking a detour in Gotham's Zeta-tube, Dick went up to Bruce and asked.

"What of Superman?"

"I ordered him and his cousin to stay away from Conner."

"Do you think he's going to stay away?"

"He will. I already told him Conner trusts me more with ending his life if it happens versus him."

"Conner renounced everything related to Superman."

"I'm aware."

"What did you say to him in the therapy room?"

"I offered to make him my second protege and ward. He accepted."

"So I'm getting a brother?"

"Yes. You're okay with that, right?"

"Feeling the aster. Conner needs this."

"Dick, When I looked into his eyes. I saw myself: the rage, the anger, the desire driven for vengeance. I saw myself in him as I saw in you. I don't want him to be like me."

"That is a noble desire, Master Bruce. If you are making young Mister Kent your ward, does this mean he will move into the manor and attend school in Gotham?" Alfred questioned.

"If he chooses, he will be enrolled with you and Artemis at Gotham Academy."

"Does that mean I get to tell everyone who I am?"

"You may."

Dick is excited, but his excitement turns when Bruce can see he has a devilish face on him.

"I'll wait to tell them later. I want to see the reaction on their faces."

"Speaking of faces, Conner will have to wear this to disguise his identity and to protect ours," Bruce commented as he held up a necklace with a blue stone.

"What's that?

"It's a glamor charm. It's an enchanted necklace that alters the physical appearance and voice of the wearer. I had Zatara make one before he became Doctor Fate."

"Master Bruce, did you inform Mister Conner regarding who you are and why he may need to disguise himself?"

Bruce looked at Dick, wondering if Conner even knew who he was. Slightly panicking, Bruce was getting ready to run to the Zeta-Tube and head back to the cave to tell Conner before Dick stopped him.

"Bruce, it's alright. Conner doesn't keep any mirror in his quarters. He rarely sees his face. He'll be fine with wearing the glamor charm. But I don't think he knows who you really are, but he'll understand."

"Let's do a quick patrol tonight."

As both Dick and Bruce got closer to the Batmobile. Bruce can only hope to accommodate Conner now that he's part of the family. Conner experienced a lot of adversity. Bruce hopes that adversity and experience will put him on a good path. Conner has a lot to learn. But then again, the Bats love a good challenge.

Authors Note: I hate midterms. I just took three on the same day in addition to working to support myself. College is fun. I hope everyone enjoys this story and enjoyed a small tidbit of Artemis and Conner's brother and sister relationship or the start of it. It frustrates me that the show talks about their brother-and-sister relationship, yet it hasn't been touched on. Speaking of which, I'm going to get a lot of hate for how I wrote Superman. My intentions weren't to make Superman a god in any way. I wanted to portray Superman as human and, like humans having a certain amount of bias and naïve on specific subjects. Batman in Young Justice was portrayed as a skilled crime fighter and a good father figure. As that father figure, he knew he must intervene before Conner did something outright disastrous. Bruce told Wonder Woman that he took Robin in so that he wouldn't become like Bruce, which is why he offered Conner the role of mentor and father figure. Bruce doesn't want Conner going down that pathway.