Vox lounged back in a luxurious chair, the glow of a dozen screens reflecting off his angular, neon-lit face. He chuckled darkly, holding up a small, seemingly ordinary TV remote. It looked unassuming, but the bloodied and lifeless body of Control Freak sprawled on the floor told a different story.
"Well, well," Vox purred, his voice crackling like static, "if I'd known this little treasure was rotting in the hands of some basement-dwelling dork who still lived with his mommy, I would've paid Earth a visit ages ago."
He turned the remote over in his hands, admiring its design. "Who would've thought that a washed-up loser like him would stumble onto something this… game-changing?"
Vox pointed the remote at one of the many TVs lining the walls. A grainy clip from an old superhero cartoon played on the screen, showing a caped figure leaping into action. Vox's glowing grin widened as he pressed a button, and the figure began to shimmer and distort.
In the dimly lit war room of the House of Mystery, tension hung heavy in the air. Around the glowing sand table, a mix of humans, demons, and celestial beings examined the reports scattered before them. Loona, leaning against the table with her arms crossed, scrolled through a holographic display.
"Okay, I'm reading reports about ED-209 units from RoboCop, dragons from Game of Thrones, and… other movie goons. This is a nightmare lineup," Loona said, her usual sarcastic tone edged with unease.
Jonathan Kent, the young Superboy, leaned forward, scanning the reports. "Yeah, I know what this is. When I joined the Titans, they warned me about a villain named Control Freak. He had this crazy TV remote that could summon characters from shows or even trap people inside the TV world. But… this seems way bigger than him."
Loona sighed, her tail flicking in frustration. "Sadly, I don't think Control Freak's the mastermind here." She tapped a button on the console, bringing up a shadowy silhouette on the screen. The figure was unmistakably Vox, his neon-lit form towering over a massive, chaotic army of fictional creatures and villains.
Verosica, leaning back in her chair, raised an eyebrow. "Vox"
Superboy nodded grimly. "That's Vox? I've heard about him. If he's the one with Control Freak's remote, he's weaponized it in ways even Control Freak couldn't dream of. And judging by this army, he's already in overdrive."
Octavia, sitting quietly near the corner, finally spoke. "If he's pulling characters from TV, this could get out of hand fast. Entire worlds of chaos brought to life."
"Yeah, and the Justice League's busy on some intergalactic mission," Loona said, her frustration evident. "So, we're pretty much on our own here."
Jonathan smirked, pulling out a small device from his pocket. The sleek, black-and-gold communicator gleamed under the dim lights of the room and on it was a white T. "Not entirely on our own."
In the heart of Jump City, Vox stood in front of a massive electronics store window, the glow of countless TVs casting an eerie neon light across his angular, tech-inspired face. On the screens, a variety of demon designs from different TV shows flickered—a mix of laughable caricatures and exaggerated monstrosities. Vox tilted his head, unimpressed.
"Ugh, this is what people think of hell?" he muttered, tapping his metallic fingers against the remote he held. "Honestly, I don't know if they lack imagination or just taste."
Suddenly, the sharp crash of glass shattered the moment as a batarang sliced through one of the TVs, leaving it sparking and ruined. Vox froze, his digital eyes narrowing.
"Ah," he said, turning with a sly grin. "Looks like the Bat has finally arrived."
But as he turned, stepping away from the glowing screens, it wasn't Batman who emerged from the shadows of the alleyway. Instead, a smaller figure stepped into the light—a boy clad in red, green, and yellow, with a sharp, focused gaze and a katana strapped to his back.
"You're kidding me," Vox scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "I asked for a Bat, not a brat."
The boy stopped a few feet away, his cape billowing slightly in the breeze. He smirked, his emerald eyes glinting with confidence. "You're not the first to say that," Damian Wayne, the current Robin, replied coolly.
Vox let out a distorted, mechanical laugh, his neon-lit face glitching momentarily as he tilted his head at Robin. "Cute. Did Batman run out of babysitters, or did he actually think sending his sidekick was enough to stop me?"
Robin rolled his eyes, his stance calm and unwavering. "Keep talking, tin man. It's only going to make this more embarrassing for you."
Vox smirked and raised his remote. With the press of a button, five shadowy ninjas materialized from the surrounding TVs, their glowing red eyes locking onto Robin. "Let's see how cocky you are when you're outnumbered."
Without hesitation, Robin dashed forward, his movements swift and precise. He didn't even draw his sword—his fists and agility were enough. With a series of well-placed strikes and flips, the first four ninjas fell to the ground in a matter of seconds.
The last ninja lunged at him, but before Robin could deliver the final blow, a streak of blue and red zipped through the air. Jonathan Kent, Superboy, landed a punch that sent the ninja flying into a nearby wall.
Robin turned, glaring at Jonathan. "He was mine."
Jonathan smirked, crossing his arms as he hovered just above the ground. "Gotta be faster, Damian."
Robin rolled his eyes. "I'll remember that when I'm cleaning up your messes."
Vox growled, his digital form flickering with irritation. "You two think this is a game? I'll take you both down myself!"
But before he could make his move, he paused as a shadow fell over him. He turned to see an entire team of heroes emerging from the darkness.
Nightwing led the charge, his escrima sticks crackling with electricity. Cyborg powered up his arm cannon, while Conner Kent, Donna Troy, Kid Flash, Red Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Blue Beetle, Aqualad, and Ravager spread out, ready for battle.
"Guess you're not as scary as you thought," Robin quipped.
Before Vox could retort, more reinforcements arrived. Loona, Bee, Vortex, Verosica, Gigi, Russ, and Nifty appeared, each of them armed and ready to fight.
Vox sneered, clutching his remote tightly. "You won't win. You might have numbers, but I have control!" With that, he slammed his finger down on a button, causing the TVs around him to flash and hum ominously.
Nightwing stepped forward, raising his escrima sticks high. "Titans, GO!"
The battle erupted as the Titans and their allies charged forward, a clash of heroes and summoned foes filling the streets.
Before the battle could even start vox pushes a button and he titans were sent to the tv.
The group found themselves in a dimly lit room filled with bunk beds stacked haphazardly, the air thick with unease. Each bed had a number painted above it, and a single fluorescent light buzzed overhead. Everyone exchanged confused glances as they took in their surroundings.
"Um… guys, where are we?" Bee asked, her voice tinged with concern as she inspected the room.
"It looks like Vox used Control Freak's remote to drag us into a TV show," Red Robin said, scanning the area. "The real question is: which one?"
Before anyone could respond, Beast Boy's eyes went wide with panic, and he began pacing nervously. "Oh no, no, no! We're in Squid Game! This is bad—really, really bad!"
"Squid Game?" Vortex asked, tilting his head.
"A Korean death game horror thriller," Raven explained flatly, her tone as calm as ever.
"That's right, fuckers!" Vox's voice echoed through the room, and all eyes turned to a large screen mounted on one wall. His glitched-out image appeared, dressed in the iconic black trench coat and mask of the Front Man from Squid Game. He lifted the mask briefly to flash his signature distorted grin.
"Welcome to Squid Game: Hell Edition! I thought I'd spice things up for my little guests. You'll play the games, you'll follow the rules, and if you don't…" Vox paused, snapping his fingers as dramatic music played in the background. "Well, let's just say the consequences will be… shocking."
"Great," Nightwing muttered, crossing his arms. "Because we haven't had enough life-or-death situations today."
"You've gotta be kidding me," Starfire said, her fists clenching. "This is madness!"
Vox chuckled darkly. "Madness? No, no, no. This is entertainment! Now, suit up and get ready for the first game. Oh, and don't even think about using your powers or fancy tech. I've taken care of that little detail. You're on your own, heroes."
The screen went dark, leaving the group in an eerie silence.
"So… what's the first game?" Bee asked nervously, glancing around the room.
"If this is like the show, we're about to find out," Red Robin said grimly.
The sound of a loud buzzer made everyone jump, and the door to the room slid open, revealing a long, ominous hallway bathed in red light.
"Guess we don't have a choice," Vortex said, stepping forward.
"Stay together," Nightwing ordered, taking the lead as the group cautiously walked into the hallway. Behind them, the door slammed shut with a resounding clang.
Beast Boy's face turned pale as Vox's distorted voice echoed through the room again. "Well, it was going to be Red Light, Green Light," Vox said with mock disappointment, "but then I thought, why not spice things up a bit? Something with a little more… impact."
The doors creaked open, and the group was escorted out by the pink-suited soldiers into a twisting maze of brightly colored staircases, reminiscent of the ones from Squid Game. The vibrant colors and bizarre architecture made the scene even more unsettling. They were led through a series of passages until they emerged into an open arena—a dodgeball court, but something was clearly off.
"Dodgeball?" Kid Flash asked, tilting his head.
"Hell Edition," Vox declared with glee as his face appeared on a massive screen overlooking the court.
Before anyone could ask what he meant, several cannons suddenly emerged from the walls, swiveling toward the group. Without warning, they began firing oversized cannonballs at alarming speeds. The group scattered instantly, narrowly dodging the first barrage.
Kid Flash zipped out of the way in a blur of red and yellow. "Are you kidding me? This is insane!"
Connor Kent used his super-speed to dodge another incoming shot, the ball slamming into the ground and leaving a crater behind. "These things pack a punch!" he called out, his eyes scanning for a way to take out the cannons.
On the screen, Vox laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Oh, I love international TV! Heroes scrambling, explosions everywhere—this is going to break viewership records!"
"Guys, focus!" Nightwing shouted, flipping out of the path of another cannonball. He grabbed one of the balls mid-air, spinning to hurl it back at one of the cannons. It connected, causing the device to spark and short-circuit.
"That's one down!" he called.
Loona growled, leaping out of the way of a shot. "Why do I feel like this is some twisted version of gym class?"
Starfire's eyes flared with frustration as she glanced at the cannons. "We need to disable those weapons before they overwhelm us!"
Bee and Vortex nodded, taking cover as they devised a plan. Beast Boy, still in his human form, dodged another ball and muttered under his breath, "I hate dodgeball…"
Vox's voice cut in again. "Don't worry, kiddies, this game only gets harder! And by the way—there's no such thing as out of bounds!"
The walls began to close in slightly, narrowing the court and making it harder to avoid the cannonballs.
"Of course he'd pull this crap," Red Robin muttered, ducking behind a pillar for cover. "We've gotta take out those cannons now or we're toast!"
The group quickly huddled under cover, their eyes darting between the rapidly firing cannons.
Bee took to the air, dodging incoming cannonballs with precision as her wings buzzed. "I've got this!" she shouted, swooping down and snatching up four dodgeballs from the court. With expert aim, she hurled them one after another at the cannons. Each ball struck true, causing sparks to fly as two cannons short-circuited and went offline.
"That's two more down!" she called out, landing back on the ground with a triumphant grin.
Cyborg, taking advantage of the distraction Bee provided, loaded several dodgeballs into his sonic cannon. His mechanical arm whirred to life as he aimed at the remaining cannons.
"Time for some real firepower!" he shouted. "BOOYAH!"
The sonic blast launched the dodgeballs with incredible speed, slamming into three more cannons and reducing them to smoldering wrecks. The force of the impact sent bits of debris scattering across the court.
"Nice shot!" Nightwing called, flipping over an incoming cannonball and landing beside Cyborg.
"Always gotta bring the A-game," Cyborg replied with a grin, charging up for another blast.
Meanwhile, Kid Flash zipped around the court, distracting the remaining active cannons by darting back and forth in a blur. "Come on, you oversized popcorn machines! You can't hit what you can't catch!" he taunted, laughing as cannonballs sailed harmlessly past him.
Starfire hovered above the chaos, her eyes glowing green as she scanned the battlefield. "The cannons are weakening!" she announced. "Just a few more, and we'll have this under control!"
"Let's finish this!" Red Robin shouted, signaling to the others as the group prepared for one final coordinated strike against Vox's deadly dodgeball game.
They won the game and the continue to the next game and they see the exits is on elevated ground.
"the next game is a classic because the FLOOR IS LAVA!" Vox shouts and the heroes see lava being poured
Blue Beetle climbed onto a high shelf, his wings buzzing nervously as he scanned the chaotic dodgeball court. "Okay, this guy is officially insane," he muttered, watching as cannonballs continued to fire indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, Nifty darted across the court, her gleaming blade slashing through a swarm of robotic roaches that had been released onto the floor. She giggled, clearly enjoying herself, even in the midst of the danger. "Ooooh, so satisfying!" she chirped.
"Nifty, watch out!" Superboy shouted, swooping down just in time to grab her before she stepped too close to the edge, where molten lava bubbled ominously below. He carried her to a nearby support beam, placing her on safer ground.
"Thanks, big guy," Nifty said with a toothy grin, twirling her blade.
Before Superboy could respond, a loud crack echoed through the room as a warning shot grazed the beam they were perched on. Superboy's eyes narrowed as he looked up to see a camera drone hovering nearby.
"Nice try, Super Brat," Vox's voice crackled over the loudspeakers. His distorted laugh followed. "But let's not forget the rules! If you fly higher than the lava level, you'll get a kryptonite bullet straight to the skull. And trust me, I've got plenty of ammo!"
John clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration. "This guy's really starting to piss me off," he muttered, lowering himself carefully to avoid triggering another shot.
"Don't worry, kid. We'll take him down," Blue Beetle called from above, his suit already analyzing the cannons and finding weak points. "Just keep playing his game—for now."
The group exchanged tense glances, determination burning in their eyes as they prepared to outwit Vox's sadistic traps. The room echoed with the clang of cannonballs and the hiss of molten lava, a constant reminder of the stakes.
Loona's claws dug into the edge of a crumbling platform as she struggled to maintain her grip. The heat from the lava below was unbearable, and her footing was slipping. "Damn it!" she snarled, panic creeping into her voice.
Before she could fall, Connor swooped in with incredible speed, catching her just in time. He flew her to a nearby post, carefully staying within the height limit set by Vox's twisted rules.
Loona's heart raced, her tail flicking nervously as she looked at Connor. "Um… thanks," she muttered, trying to mask her relief.
"No problem," Connor replied with a reassuring smile, his grip steady as he set her down.
The group moved in unison, jumping, climbing, and dodging cannon fire. Those who could fly carried others to safety, while those on the ground relied on their agility and quick thinking.
Bee zipped through the air, using her speed to distract the cannons while Cyborg provided cover fire with his sonic cannon. Blue Beetle used his suit to scan for weak points in the structure, relaying information to the others.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they spotted an exit—a narrow door at the far end of the room, glowing faintly with a promise of safety.
"There it is!" Nightwing shouted, signaling for the group to move.
One by one, they leaped, flew, and scrambled toward the exit. Connor helped Loona again, carrying her over a particularly dangerous gap, while Kid Flash sped across the unstable platforms, clearing a path for the others.
As they reached the exit, the group tumbled into the next room, breathless but alive. Loona glanced at Connor, her ears flicking slightly. "I could've made it on my own, you know," she said, though her tone was softer than usual.
Connor smirked. "Sure you could've," he said with a wink.
The group huddled together, catching their breath after narrowly escaping Vox's latest trap. Sweat dripped from their brows, and the tension in the air was palpable.
"Okay, is everyone here?" Verosica asked, scanning the group.
"Wait… where's Raven?" Starfire asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"This cant be good." Donna said
Everyone exchanged worried glances, realizing the dark sorceress was missing.
In Vox's control room, the technomancer sat in his high-tech chair, surrounded by screens showing various angles of his elaborate death games. He smirked, enjoying the chaos he had unleashed.
"Ha! I'm gonna make sure those heroes screw up so badly they'll never recover," Vox chuckled, flipping switches and pressing buttons. "But wait… where's the goth chick? She was just there!"
Unbeknownst to him, the room grew unnaturally cold, and a heavy, ominous silence filled the air. The lights flickered, and Vox's grin faltered.
Behind him, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, piercing through the dim light.
"You really should've paid more attention, Vox," Raven's voice echoed, low and dangerous.
Vox spun around in his chair, his distorted face twisting in surprise and fear as he came face to face with Raven. Her hood was up, and her aura radiated dark energy, swirling like a storm ready to unleash its fury.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Vox stammered, trying to regain his composure.
Ravenq stepped closer, her voice calm but laced with menace. "You might control these games, but you don't control me. And now, you're going to regret underestimating us or to be precise UNDERESTIMATING ME"
Dark energy erupted from her hands, smashing every screen in Vox's control room. Sparks flew, and the once-bright monitors were now nothing but shattered glass and flickering static.
"The… the fuck are you?" Vox stammered, his voice trembling with fear as he backed away.
Raven's eyes glowed a piercing, demonic red as she removed her hood, revealing her full, terrifying presence. "I'm your worst nightmare," she said coldly.
Before Vox could react, Raven unleashed a wave of dark energy. The room distorted around her, and shadows twisted and writhed, forming an eldritch horror that loomed over him. Its monstrous, unearthly form seemed to defy logic, with tendrils and glowing eyes that stared directly into Vox's soul.
Vox fell to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. "No! This can't be real! You're—you're a monster!"
Raven leaned closer, her voice echoing with a chilling finality. "You're lucky I don't destroy you. But I'll settle for ending your little game."
Vox's distorted face twisted in terror as he fainted, collapsing onto the floor. The eldritch form faded as Raven regained her composure, her glowing eyes returning to normal. She raised her hood and looked around the control room, her expression cold and focused.
With a wave of her hand, she summoned her dark energy, locating the console's controls. She pressed the release button, and a bright flash of light filled the room.
In an instant, the rest of the group found themselves back in Jump City, blinking in confusion as they realized they were free.
"Wait… we're back?" Beast Boy said, looking around in disbelief.
"I don't know how we did it, but I'm not complaining," Cyborg said, scanning the area to confirm they were safe.
A moment later, Raven appeared in a swirl of shadows, her expression calm but firm.
"Raven!" Starfire exclaimed, rushing over to hug her.
"What happened?" Nightwing asked.
Raven crossed her arms. "Let's just say Vox won't be hosting any more games anytime soon."
The group exchanged glances, realizing Raven had single-handedly ended Vox's reign of terror.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Kid Flash muttered, earning a smirk from Raven.
"Let's head back," Nightwing said. "We've got work to do."
As they walked away, Raven allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Vox had learned the hard way that some things, and some people, were far beyond his control.
The group paused as they noticed Vox lying unconscious on the ground, twitching and muttering in his sleep, clearly trapped in a nightmarish terror. Everyone left the room, eager to move on from the ordeal, except for Beelzebub, who stayed behind.
Bee tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing as she observed Raven. Using her empathetic tasting ability, she sensed Raven's emotional state through the subtle energy radiating from her. The taste was bitter, cold, and hollow—almost emotionless—but with an unexpected undertone, like herbal tea: calming yet restrained.
"Raven, what the hell did you do to Vox?" Bee asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern. "Look, I know he's a total jackass, but… seriously, what did you do?"
Raven hesitated for a moment, her face impassive. But something about Bee's genuine curiosity made her relent. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Bee said, crossing her arms. "You can tell me anything. I'm not just a party queen, you know."
Raven sighed and finally spoke. "What do you know about the demon Trigon?"
Bee's confident expression faltered slightly as the name registered. "Trigon? As in the Trigon? One of the most powerful demons in the Wrath Ring? Overlord of destruction? People confuse him with Satan, but Satan's more like his distant cousin or something, right?"
Raven nodded. "And he's my father."
Bee blinked, the weight of Raven's words hitting her like a ton of bricks. "Oh…" she winced, realizing how heavy this revelation was. "That's… intense."
Raven continued, her voice calm but tinged with a quiet pain. "My mother… she joined a satanic cult when she was young. They worshiped Trigon, and she became his… chosen vessel. Nine months later, I was born."
Bee stayed quiet, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by genuine attentiveness.
"My mother escaped to a dimension called Azarath to keep me away from Trigon's influence," Raven explained. "But I was born with a piece of him inside me—a darkness I can't ever fully escape." She lowered her hood, revealing blue hair and the glowing red gem embedded in her forehead. "This gem is what keeps the demon part of me in check. Without it, Trigon could control me completely—or worse."
Bee's eyes widened as she leaned in slightly, inspecting the gem. "Damn, girl… that's heavy. And here I thought my family drama was bad." She paused, then added, "So… what you did to Vox… that was your dad's influence?"
Raven shook her head. "No. That was all me. I didn't use Trigon's power. I used my own. Vox thought he could scare me, control me, or break me. I showed him what true fear looks like. And now… he'll never underestimate me—or anyone else—again."
Bee let out a low whistle, impressed and slightly unnerved. "Okay, note to self: don't piss off the goth chick."
Raven smirked faintly, raising her hood again. "I wouldn't worry about it. You're… tolerable."
Bee grinned. "Aww, you do like me! But seriously, thanks for sharing that. I know it couldn't have been easy."
"It wasn't," Raven admitted. "But it's easier when someone actually listens."
Bee gave her a warm smile before turning to leave. "Well, come on, spooky. Let's catch up with the others. I'm sure they're already planning the next big disaster to deal with."
Raven nodded, her expression softening ever so slightly as she followed Bee out of the room. For the first time in a long while, she felt a bit lighter.
In Titans Tower, the group had settled in to relax after the chaos with Vox. Nifty darted around the room like a whirlwind, dusting, scrubbing, and picking up stray crumbs.
"Is she always this hyper?" Cyborg asked, watching her zip from corner to corner.
"We don't question it," Gigi said with a shrug, leaning against the couch.
Meanwhile, Loona sat near the corner, her eyes occasionally drifting toward Connor. Her tail betrayed her, wagging slightly whenever she glanced his way.
"No way!" Gigi exclaimed, catching the movement. "Are you crushing on Superboy?"
"What? No, I'm not!" Loona protested, her face flushing.
"Girl, you've got the same look you had with Vortex," Gigi teased, smirking.
"I mean… what do I even say?" Loona muttered, looking down.
"Just talk to him," Tim Drake, aka Red Robin, chimed in as he approached. "He might appreciate the company."
Loona raised an eyebrow. "Really? And what do you know about Connor?"
Tim leaned against the back of the couch, crossing his arms. "More than most. After Superman fought Doomsday and went into his revitalization period, Lex Luthor decided to create a clone—a mix of his DNA and Superman's. Put that in a lab, cook it for a while, and boom: you get Superboy."
"Wait, seriously? He's a clone?" Loona asked, her eyes widening.
Tim nodded. "Yep. Luthor tried to use him for his own agenda, but Connor broke free of that. Still, he's always had doubts about himself—whether he's more like Superman or Lex. It's something that's haunted him for a while."
Loona frowned, her ears lowering slightly. "I… didn't know that."
"And, uh, he's also had some… interesting fashion phases," Tim added with a grin, pulling up an old photo on his tablet. It showed Connor in his early days: leather jacket, shades, and an earring.
Loona couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, that's… something."
Tim smiled but turned serious again, glancing toward Connor, who was standing by the window, staring out at the city. "But seriously, Loona, he's a good guy. He just needs people to believe in him—and to remind him he's not defined by his DNA. If you want to talk to him, now's a good time."
Loona hesitated, then stood up. "Alright. But if this gets weird, I'm blaming you."
"Deal," Tim said, stepping aside to let her pass.
Loona took a deep breath, her tail flicking nervously, and approached Connor. As she got closer, she noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands were clenched at his sides.
"Hey," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Connor turned, surprised to see her. "Oh, hey, Loona. What's up?"
She shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Nothing much. Just figured… you might want some company."
Connor smiled faintly, the tension in his posture easing just a little. "Yeah. Thanks."
The two stood there in silence for a moment, the city lights reflecting in the glass, as Loona tried to find the right words to say.
"You know I'm a clone, right?" Connor asked suddenly, his voice quiet but tinged with vulnerability.
"Yeah, got the whole memo," Loona replied, trying to sound casual, though she could sense the weight behind his words.
Connor let out a dry chuckle, looking down at his hands. "For a second after I came out of that lab, Lex told me I was Superman 2.0. He spoiled me—public appearances, fancy gear, the whole thing. Hell, he wanted me to be LexCorp's Superman. Might as well have replaced the 'S' on my chest with an 'L.'" He sighed, his gaze distant. "That is… until I met Superman."
Loona tilted her head. "What happened when you met him?"
Connor's lips twitched into a faint smile, but his eyes were still shadowed. "He didn't look at me like I was some project or a tool. He saw me as a person. He gave me a chance when I wasn't sure I deserved one. I wanted to be like him, you know? To prove I wasn't just… Lex's experiment."
Loona crossed her arms, leaning slightly against the window. "Sounds like you've done a pretty good job of that."
Connor glanced at her, surprised. "You think so?"
She shrugged. "I mean, you're here, aren't you? You're fighting for people, risking your neck for strangers. That's not something a guy with a LexCorp logo would do."
Connor chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thanks, Loona. I don't think I've heard it put like that before."
"Yeah, well, don't let it go to your head," she said with a smirk, though her tail betrayed her again, wagging slightly.
Connor caught the movement and smiled. "You're not as scary as you pretend to be, you know."
Loona's ears flattened, and she huffed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Shut up, Superboy."
He laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to lighten the mood. "Alright, alright. Thanks for talking, though. It… helps."
"Anytime," Loona said, her tone softer now.
The two stood there a moment longer, the quiet between them no longer heavy but comfortable, as the city continued to buzz with life outside.