The Watchtower
(3 days later)
As Superboy slowly opened his eyes, he saw his friends standing by his bedside. They all breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that he was finally awake and that they were all safe and sound.
M'gann gasped, then smiled, "Hey, he is waking up!"
"Guys-" he speaks, only to start coughing. Three days unconscious can leave a person speechless and mouth dry.
Artemis hushed and grabbed his shoulder to push him back on the bed. "We're alright, Superboy. Rest."
"No. Water."
"Here," Kaldur passed him a cup of water.
Superboy took the cup and started drinking water in one big gulp. "More."
"I go get a doctor," Wally dashed out of the room to look for his doctor.
As Superboy drank another cup of water, Wally brought Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite to the room.
"Hello, Superboy. I am Mr. Terrific, and this is Dr. Mid-Nite," Mr. Terrific greeted. "We are the doctors who performed surgery on you. Another pair, Dr. Fate and Zatanna will also be arriving soon. Superman had to leave for a mission but will join us shortly."
Superboy looked at his friends, wondering why one of the most potent mysticism users would come to him. "Um, okay. Who is Zatanna?"
"Zatanna was the only mysticism user here to remove the toxic magic Klarion left in you," Kaldur replied. "She helps save your life, too."
"Yeah, she and Fate had been coming here to check up on you," Robin added. "In fear of you caught a hex or curse from Klarion."
Superboy glared a little at that name. That bastard had killed him. 'Payback will be a bitch once I get my hands on him!' As much as he wanted to kick Klarion's ass, he knew he needed to get his muscular back. The Boy of Steel nodded, "Okay."
"How are you feeling, Superboy?" Dr. Mid-Nite asked.
"Okay. Just a little cold."
"Hypothermia?" Dr. Mid-Nite suggested.
"Won't that be important?" Mr. Terrific disagreed. "Superboy had been under the solar lights for three days."
"However, we still lack understanding of the physiology and biology of a Kryptonian. Even with Superman's explanation, it remains a complex concept."
As the two Superheroes talk, Superboy starts to feel uncomfortable. It begins to remind him of Dr. Spence and Desmond, and it is starting to make him uncomfortable now.
"I feel fine now!" Superboy shouted with nervousness. "I am fine."
The team didn't need to be present to sense Superboy's nervousness around the doctors, but Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite respected the Kryptonian clone's wishes. Then, Dr. Fate and a woman entered the room. Superboy was surprised to see what Dr. Fate looked like, but the woman was dressed like one of those showgirls yet almost looked like Zatara with a top hat. The League seems to be hiding more members than what they are showing the world.
"Greeting everyone," Dr. Fate greeted, then noticed Superboy was finally awake. "Good, you're finally awake, Superboy."
The woman smiled, then waved, "Yeah, glad to see you're looking okay."
"Superboy, this is Zatanna, the woman that removed the Dark Magic," Robin introduces.
"Oh, thank you for saving me," Superboy said.
Dr. Fate stepped closer to the Boy of Steel, "If you don't mind, I want to check on your wound, Superboy."
Superboy nodded, then lifted his shirt to reveal the scar across his chest. The sight of the scar almost angered the young heroes, who wished they could get back at Klarion. However, they knew they needed to support Superboy during his recovery.
Dr. Fate places his hand on Superboy's scar. His eyes glow as he searches for magic, then he removes his hand, and his eyes stop glowing. "Impressive, Zatanna. I still sense no Chaos magic in him, not even a trace. Excellent work."
Zatanna smiled. "It was my first time doing a healing spell. I was so worried that I wouldn't get it right."
"Even so, you did an excellent job saving the child."
"Yeah, um, thank you," Superboy said.
Zatanna smiled, "No problem, handsome."
"Perhaps with more training, you would master this skill someday," Dr. Fate stated. "My wife and I would be happy to assist you."
"Really?" She asked in disbelief that Dr. Fate, one of the Lords of Order, was offering to assist her! With his teaching, her skills would be more than what her dad and books gave her! "I would be so graceful! Thank you!"
"No need; I am sure you know where the Tower of Fate is?"
Zatanna nodded with excitement.
"Very well. I must return to the Tower if I want to send you children back," he said, turning toward the Boy of Steel. "Get well soon, Superboy."
Superboy waved, "Yeah, thanks. Goodbye."
"Until next time, everyone. Farewell." A large-style golden ankh symbol appeared behind him. He stepped in, causing the ankh to disappear in a big white flash.
"Yeah, I should get going, too," Zatanna said as she waved goodbye to them. "See you guys later."
Once the adults left, Robin went to the window and darkened it, then locked the door. The Boy Wonder sighed, unsure if he was ready for this talk. "You die, Superboy," Robin looked down in saddest. "We all felt it."
Superboy looked down in shame. His actions had caused his friends so much pain. "I'm sorry."
"You die without having a name, knowing who your friends are, and exploring the world as a real boy instead of a hero!"
He reaches for his mask, shocking everyone, even Wally, as he pulls it off. The Boy Wonder was now crying again as everyone saw his blue eyes. He remembers crying this much since his birth parents died when he was 6. Nevertheless, Dick needs to do this, or something like this will happen again. He loves Bruce as his dad, but he needs to do this, or he won't have any relationships with other people, just like Selina would say to Bruce.
"Hey, my name is Richard Grayson, but everyone calls me Dick for short."
Superboy's eyes widen at this news. Robin had told him his real name! He trusted them with his real name! He smiled, "Nice to meet you, Dick."
Everyone started to smile as the friends bonded with each other.
Feeling a new confidence, M'gann transformed into her proper form, revealing she was a white Martian. Her friends appeared confused but not afraid or nervous, prompting her to explain, "In Mars, white Martians face discrimination and are often portrayed as dangerous and monstrous creatures." She then crossed her arms and looked down in shame. "I sometimes—no, I always hated this about myself! I try to be a Green Martian so people won't fear me. Or be seen as a monster."
Superboy grabbed her hand for support and smiled, "And I'm the clone of Superman created to kill or replace. So you didn't seem so bad to us, M'gann."
"Plus, you shouldn't let the history of what you or your people stop you," Dick added. "Take it from someone who sees Gotham's famous cat bugler as a mom."
M'gann's shape shifts back to her Miss Martian form; however, her skin is white this time instead of green. She is ready for the world to see her in her proper form for once. She smiles nervously, "Thank you guys."
Artemis looked ashamed and said, "I am not Green Arrow's niece. My parents are Sportmaster and Huntress, and my sister is Cheshire. I joined this program to break my family's legacy and use my skills for good. When I was a child, my mother gave me up to her 'nemesis,' Black Carney and Green Arrow, after she went to jail. I wanted to prevent myself by not becoming like them." Artemis growled as she spoke.
Wally couldn't help but stare at Artemis. Her coldness and hardness were likely due to her difficult home life. Being given up by her mother at such a young age would cause a lot of emotional turmoil for anyone, let alone a child.
'Find your little spitfire. One who won't let you get away with anything,' Kent Nelson's words echo in his head just now.
The words Kent said confused him at first. He always thought they were about M'gann, but now he realized they were meant for Artemis. She was his fiery and fierce partner, never letting him shy away from any bull. He slowly reached for Artemis' hand and squeezed it tenderly, looking deep into her eyes. She looked back at him, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity, but he knew what he felt and wanted now. He smiled as he gazed into her beautiful eyes and instantly knew he was falling in love with her.
Kaldur placed his hand on the archer's shoulder and smiled. "I also know what it's like to have an evil relative. I knew that my father was the Black Manta. Like you, I didn't let that dark part of my life bring me down either."
Artemis smiled, glad she wasn't the only one with terrible family members.
"Let's promise we will never keep secrets from one other, okay?" Superboy asked.
It was a beautiful moment when everyone came together and embraced the Boy of Steel. They had all shared their deepest fears and secrets, forming a bond beyond friendship—they were now a family, supporting and trusting each other.
Superboy looked around and then knew something was off. "Hey, where are Black Carney and Red Tornado? I still can't believe Superman is coming to see me, but I am surprised they are not here first."
Wally's face cringed, "Yeah, about that."
After half an hour of explaining, Superboy was sad and heartbroken. That another Superman had saved his life, not his Superman. Superboy sighed sadly, then looked down. "Of course, it would be too good to be true, huh?"
"Sorry, SB," Dick apologized as he sat beside him.
"Um, I don't know if this would make you better, but Superman looks sad as well," Megan added. "And felt very hurt that you are not his."
"However, he still gave his blood to save you, Superboy, knowing that you are a clone," Kaldur added, hoping his friend could understand that he wasn't the only one hurting there. This Superman honestly thought his clone, his son, was dying in front of him.
Superboy sighed sadly, "I'm tired. Can I be left alone and get more rest, guys? Please."
Although everyone's mind wasn't linked, they could tell how upset the Boy of Steel was about the news. However, like the good friends they were, they respected his wishes.
Dick nodded, "Okay, SB. We will let you get some rest."
Once when everyone left, Superboy lay back and stared at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. It wasn't Superman who saved him. It wasn't Superman who called him son! Maybe he should apologize to Superman and forget what happened. 'Yeah, that seems like a good idea,' Superboy sighed as he stood up, then sighed in defeat with his head hanging low, 'What the heck are you doing anyway?' He started to notice his outfit. It was a black suit with a silver S-shield on its chest. He remembered the first day of waking up in his white case with a red S-shield; honestly, he didn't like it. It supplied little yellow sun radiation for him while he was underground. However, this black suit makes him feel healed under the solar ray.
After getting directions from the staff and heroes, who were friendly and worried about his health, Superboy finally reached the Man of Steel's door. He was standing in front of Superman's door and was nervous. His friends told him what Superman did for him. He remembers calling the poor man 'Dad' because he thought he was dying! His parents welcomed him into the family! This Superman had saved him with his blood and called him his son! And what about that deal with that Goddess?!
'What could I say to him?!' He thought to himself. 'Maybe I should get away before he comes out.'
However, before Superboy can escape, the door slides open to reveal this world's Man of Steel in light blue pajama pants and a white t-shirt. He can see that Superman looks a lot like his father, Jor-El. He can also see scars like scratches or claw marks all over his arms. Superboy would've thought that Superman wouldn't need sleep or that his wounds would heal fully.
"Oh? What are you doing out here?" Superman asked in a concerned tone. It's something Superboy wasn't familiar with at all.
He cleared his throat and replied, "I wanted to thank you in person, sir. My friends told me that you gave me your blood. Um, thank you."
Clark keeps a straight face when Superboy calls him sir. He liked when Superboy called him 'Pa.' It felt right. 'I guess I can't call him son either.' He never wants to punch someone in the face so badly. And he didn't even meet the guy! Sure, Luthor and Darkseid pushed the limit, but the world's Superman is about to take that crown. He smiled, "That's no problem, Superboy. I was happy to help you and your friends."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Both looked down in silence and didn't know what to say now.
Clark cleared his throat, "You can call me Kal-El instead of Superman. What's your name?"
"Um, my name is Superboy."
"Wait, you don't have a name?"
"No, the League hasn't created an identity for me yet. They wanted to wait before I started school."
"Sorry," Clark said with a straight face, but inside, he raged like a bear. The poor kid had no name and would have to wait until school to get one. Clark wanted to punch Superman hard! And why didn't the kid have a name? He felt like he would go crazy being Superman every day. He needed to be Clark Kent, the human. He didn't understand how Superboy could do it. He glanced at the Boy of Steel and was reminded of Superboy's origin. 'But then again, this child's first few moments were as a hero for the Justice League,' Clark thought. He smiled and said, "Well, I hope you're ready for the nicknames. These guys might give you many of them, so get ready."
"Yeah, I guess." Superboy never saw the point of having a real name cause he was just the clone of Superman. A weapon. A failsafe. However, he wishes to have one now after having friends that make him feel normal. To feel closer to a natural person. He cleared his throat, "Um, I should get to my room before Artemis screams my ears off."
Clark laughed, "That sounds like something she would do."
"It's embarrassing." He looks away, embarrassed that he, the clone of Superman, needs one of his friends to tell him to relax.
"Hey, that's what having friends is for, Superboy. Wonder Woman and I would have to do that with Batman, too. We would have to block the doors and hide his gadgets so he could get his health up. Or I would dress as him."
Clark knows he is taking a risk by making that statement about Batman, even though he once dressed up as him! However, the limited information he received from the young team indicated that Batman is essential to Robin, himself, and the others. Batman serves as the team's primary leader for missions and part-time trainer. He, Black Canary, and Red Tornado provide guidance and motivation to Superboy, even though it should be Superman's responsibility.
"Really?" Superboy didn't know if he should be shocked or laugh at that news.
"Yeah, but don't tell him I said that," Superman led toward Superboy's ear and whispered. "Or I would be doing Monitor Duty for a whole month. He is like my older brother, so I must listen to him. Sometimes."
Superboy's innocent stare and face slowly become a little smile and laugh. Clark can see Superboy is shy and loner but shows loyalty and strong family ties, just like he saw from the young heroes. Clark had to admit that Superboy reminded him of a wolf just from his few minutes with the boy.
Robin- Dick would tell him and the others stories about how he, his siblings, Agent A, and Catwoman would've to trap Batman in the Cave cause of his injuries. However, to hear that the Man of Steel, one of the greatest heroes of all people, was dressing as the Dark Knight just so his 'brother' could rest was pretty affectionate. It reminds him of the relationship between him and Dick.
"Sure. Um, Robin would let us call Batman 'DaddyBat' behind his back. But I think he knows we call him that."
Clark almost felt a little jealous that Superboy called another man's dad. Again, it was not the poor boy's fault; it was because Batman, Black Canary, and Red Tornado mentored and cared for him and the other Young Justice members. He believes that every member of the Justice League, and even this future Justice League, could be involved in helping the next generation of heroes. Superman is to blame for all of this.
Again, he wanted to punch Superman in the face. However, he smiled at the boy, "Yeah, the World's Greatest Detective always knows something."
"Yes, Superman, I always do," Batman said, stepping out of the shadow.
"Batman," Superman greeted with a nod.
"Hey, Batman," Superboy greeted. This Batman had a dark, powerful aura around him. His Batman was scary, but still, he had this 'friendly' present. 'I guess this Batman doesn't have a Robin. Or maybe kids like in my world.'
"Superboy, your injury seems to heal well," Batman pointed out.
"Yeah, everyone thinks I would be fine under the Solar light within a day or two."
"Good." The Dark Knight turns back toward the Man of Steel. "We need to discuss our meeting now."
Clark knows that Bruce wanted to talk to him privately since they didn't have any meeting scheduled with anyone that day. He thought it might be about the children, but he wasn't sure. Perhaps Batman wanted to discuss how to handle them now that Superboy's health was improving, but Fate planned to send them back home once he was fully healed. However, he felt that it could be something else. Clark then nodded and said, "Sure." He turned to Superboy and apologized, "I'm sorry, Superboy. I need to get ready and go."
"No. No. No. I understand." Superboy wasn't used to this from Superman. He smiled, "Again, thank you."
"No problem, Superboy. Maybe later, your friends or I can take you to the Mess Hall if you aren't tired. We got some good food so far."
"Yeah, okay. I will see you later, Kal-El?"
Superman waved with a smile, "See you later."
As Superboy left, the duo stared at him until they couldn't see him.
"Nice kid," Batman stated.
"Yeah," Superman agreed. He doesn't understand why Superman didn't want Superboy. Those little moments with Superboy make Clark wish to get to know Superboy more! Maybe, just maybe, he should-
"You're making that look again," Batman interpreted his train of thought.
"What look?"
"That you are about to do something crazy. Again."
Clark looked toward Superboy again and couldn't help but wonder about the young hero. He didn't understand why Superman wouldn't want Superboy around. The boy didn't seem like a threat if the world's Batman trusted him around Robin and the other young heroes. Clark wondered if he should mentor the boy until they are sent back to their world or if he should do something more extreme for Superboy.
Clark sighed and said, "I don't know yet, Bruce. I just don't know."
"If you are going to do that, there is something you need to know about him."
Superman nodded as he let his best friend in so the two could speak privately.