Previously…
They were all sitting on the beds. None of them were happy to be there, but at least they weren't in some dungeon. The Outlaws were not attacking them, but instead talked among themselves in whispers.
"Enough," Superboy said, "the sooner you tell us what you want, the sooner we can tell you to shove it up your-"
"Language!" laughed the Red Hood, "Sheesh, one would think the big blue would have taught you better."
"He does make a point Jason, are you going to finally going to tell us what is it that you want?" Tim asked.
"So we can tell you to shove it up the place where the sun doesn't shine," Kid Flash said crossing his arms.
"We want to help you getting a better perspective of yourselves before you start the operation of your little team," Arsenal said. "Nothing strenuous, you are just going to be placed in a fake reality and face a few things about yourselves. And you won't have to move an inch away from your beds."
"It can actually be quite fun," Starfire said with a smile as she checked on his bandages, "depending on what you get it could also be a nightmare."
"Did you really have to knock us out to do this?" Jaime asked as he rotated his shoulder. At once Starfire was at his side. They all had received minor injuries which had been tended by Starfire. None of them, unsurprisingly, had complained about her getting close to them.
"Just making you aware of your weaknesses in case you didn't know them," Arsenal said with a smirk. "It took us a while to figure out some of you, but it was all worth it."
"Why should we follow with this test of yours?" Tim asked as he rubbed his bruises.
"Don't think of it as a test, but a revelation. We went through it and believe me; it will change the way you see things," The Red Hood said with a faraway look.
"How does this work?" Superboy asked with a frown.
"Is hard to explain," Jason said before showing them a small cloth bag, "none of us is very knowledgeable on magic."
"So again, why should we follow with this?" Tim asked.
"Let me put it this way," Jason said with a sharp smile, "this will make you live your darkest and most hidden desires. You will love it, or maybe hate it depending on how soon or if you will realize is all fake. Still, you will wish it was all real. You will come to a point where you have to make a choice, the choice of being your real self. When that happens, you might be giving up your dream or decide to make it a reality; when that happens you will wake up."
"I hate to admit it, but I am curious," Kid Flash said lying back on the bed, "hit me with it."
"You are crazy," Blue said lying down too, "but I am also in."
"If any of us get hurt, I will make you pay," Superboy said lying down.
"How long will it last?" Tim asked lying down as well.
"It depends on each individual. Some last a few minutes, others hours, but rarely days," Arsenal said looking serious. He reminded them of his old self. He wondered how long Arsenal had been in that dream world.
Once they were all lying down Arsenal went to each one of them and placed some of the blue powder from the pouch on their faces. He started to feel sleepy.
"Where did you get this?" Tim asked as his vision began to blur.
"From the Sandman, of course," the Red Hood said with a chuckle. "I know his sister; Death, and said that as long as we use it for good things she would keep getting it for us as we need it."
"Leave it to you to make friends with Death itself," Superboy laughed sounding sleepy.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Jason said making them all have their eyes go wide for a moment, "you might also get glimpses of your future through it; nothing to worry about."
"Bastard," Tim said before the lights went out and they forgot they were dreaming.
(Now we continue to the chapter)
Becoming Superboy 25
Months had passed between his coming and goings to the Fortress of Solitude. Sometimes Kal El would teach him, other times he would go to the record room and watch history play out. He watched as the wars and victories of Krypton played before him. Still, he couldn't get a good grasp of who they were. They were proud, brave people, but there was something missing. Still, he learned about them and learned more about himself.
He watched the last war in Krypton. Then one that led to their demise. He watched the injustice played on the clones of Krypton. This took him days to stomach. He asked for a few days to grasp. Kal El had offered his input; he knew that what they had done was wrong, but so were the clones when they became brutal murderers and doomed the planet. It was a chain of hate he wanted to remain part of history, but not become part of their history. He refused his help and emerged himself in that part of Krypton's history, his history. He had not been the only one in this journey, but he would not end up like them. He would not become a monster because he had something they hadn't.
"Who are you?" Kal El asked placing his hand a crystal. They stood in the Hall of Records, the place where he had watched the beginning of the universe.
"Superboy, Conner Kent," he was all of them; the half clone of Superman, the youth in disguise.
"Now, tell your story," Kal El said placing a hand on his shoulder before offering him a trusting smile. When Kal left the room, he was plunged into that now familiar darkness, but he no longer feared it. He knew this was always the beginning.
"I was not born, I was made," he started holding the crystal firmly as the Hall of Records began to show his memories of the lab he was created on. He saw himself lying on the pot sleeping and wearing his old solar suit. "I was Project Kr, and I was created to replace Kal El was he to ever die or turn against humanity. However, before I was…"
Time passed by slowly, but he learned a long time ago this was natural for the room to do. He was glad because he had a lot to tell; his hardships, his trials, his life for the past two years. He spoke of his view of what happened on Earth. Of the incredible potential each one of them had. Of those who were but flesh and bone but still wore masks to protect others. He spoke of the dark side of humanity; of the sick and crazy; of the lost and afraid. He spoke of despair that drove the darkness onwards, but he spoke overall about their hope. What drove them forwards in the face of the impossible and when all odds were against them. How they persisted when everything was lost. He spoke of how they were worth saving.
He spoke of everything that went through his mind. Of love, of hate, of fraternity and friendship, of his beliefs, of where he had been and where he wanted to go, he spoke of what happened in Krypton with the clones; of what he thought and felt about it. When he finished, he placed the crystal on the wall, and it became part of the Hall of Records. He would add more to it later on, but for now he was content with what he had recorded. But overall he was happy because he was the first clone to ever enter his story in the Hall of Records.
When he left the Hall of Records, he listened to the quietness of the Fortress of Solitude and rejoiced in the serenity. It was as if a massive weight had been lifted off him. The anger was still there, but it was no more than a whisper. He walked down the hall and listened to his own steps and voice.
"When all is lost, nothing is lost, but when Hope is lost… All is lost… Hope is what keeps us alive," he finally understood why Hope was their shield.
"Through the falls and rises the primary element that keeps life going is hope," Kal El stood at the end of the hall. "Who are you?" Kal El asked again.
"Kon El," now that he had added his story to the Hall of Records, he was no longer without a home.
"Welcome to the House of El," he watched as his mentor walked up to him holding a Kryptonian crown. He bowed his head and felt as Kal El fit the crown onto his head. It was a black metal band that went around the forehead. Its center had the emblem of the House of El in red and black which rested between his brows. He lifted his head and saw his mentor giving him a proud smile. He too was wearing a crown but was of red and blue colors, "brother, I am proud of you, never forget that."
He was captured in a strong embrace, "is this part of the rite?"
"Nope," Kal El laughed before letting go of him.
"Then let's never speak about it," he said hoping his face wasn't red.
"If you say so," he laughed, "now, let's get going. The night is not over."
"We don't have to go ahead with the rest," the next part was meant to be a feast for all the members of the House of El, but with only the two of them it would be a very sorry excuse for a feast.
"Are you worried I will present you with a bride?" Kal El laughed. Had they really been in Krypton, he would be presented with a female chosen for him by The Master of the Gestation Chambers.
"Some traditions are better left dead," he said flinching just at the thought of it. Actually, he thought, he would probably never be allowed to stay in the same room alone with a female they had been in Krypton.
"Agreed," Kal El said, for his parents were of the few that ignored the tradition. Kal's mother came from a military family while his father came from one of scientists. They were meant to marry people who came from families in the same fields, but dire circumstances brought them together and they chose to remain together.
"They were incredible people, weren't they?" if it wasn't for Jor El and Lara Lor-Van they wouldn't be there.
"Yeah," Kal said as they reached the dining hall.
"SURPRISE!" the Team and League shouted almost making him jump out of his skin.
"They are like family, are they not?" Kal El said as he gave him a small push forwards, "welcome Kon El."
His friends, or at least most of them, had kept themselves from asking what he had been doing in the Fortress. He was happy they knew. A part of the rite was that he was to remain quiet about it for he was not allowed to receive help from others but his mentor. There was a feast laid on the table which they soon joined in.
"So, are you going to start wearing that?" Wally asked pointing at his crown, "Because if it is, it's cool." But, he didn't sound like he meant it.
"No, is only for important occasions and for the head of the House to wear whenever he sees fit," he said giving Kal a pointed look.
"That's too bad, I think it looks really nice," M'gann said glancing at it.
"Actually, I am glad I don't have to wear it all the time," Kon said touching the crest, "it doesn't go along with my usual uniform."
He listened to them talk and laugh. They knew this was important to him and made sure to show the appropriate interest, even though they didn't understand what it all meant.
"What does Kon El mean?" Artemis asked after Kal El called him by his chosen name.
"It means abomination of the house of El," he said calmly.
"What?" Artemis threw a look at Kal, who raised his hands as in saying not-my-choice.
"I chose it," he told them.
"Why would you choose something like that?" Wally asked.
"I am sure Kon El has a good reason to have chosen that name," Kaldur said, "and he will share it with us if he wishes to later. For now, let's enjoy the celebration. Coming to age doesn't happen more than once."
He was thankful for friends like Kaldur. He thought about telling them right then, but then again it wasn't an easy subject to speak of. They spent the rest of the night celebrating. He lost count the number of times he was congratulated. At that moment in his life, he couldn't ask for more.
888
He flew side by side with the Super Cycle. Tim and Bart had fallen asleep and Jaime seemed to be in conversation with his armor. He wished for at least one of them to say something. Though Tim was probably the one that had it the worst after seeing him wake up and attack Jason, he still didn't want to remember what he had seen. He was actually thankful Tim wanted them to stay to talk about their team. It just felt wrong to face Clark so soon. He still felt like he had betrayed him by wishing he was a father to him. The man cared for him as a brother, and that was more than enough.
He wondered if Tim understood they needed some time before going home. Well, that and talking about their team was long overdue and at the top of that have some fun in town. A few weeks ago had anyone asked him to go out, they would have had to drag him to do it, much like M'gann used to and how Lori did the previous week. Now, he wanted to enjoy being young.
He hated to admit it (and like hell he would ever tell Jason about it), but he was actually grateful for most of the experience. Not the part of Clark and Lois being his parents, but making him understand just because he was a clone it didn't mean he couldn't go out and have fun as a teenager. Yeah, he wouldn't get a childhood but he wasn't going to waste his first years brooding over it anymore. No matter what was ahead, he would enjoy life a little more. And why not even pick a pencil every once in a while a draw something? Or read a comic book? He liked reading, but there was so much he could explore.
"Do you really think some of that stuff will happen?" Blue asked now flying next to him, "Jason said we might have seen glimpses of our future."
"I wouldn't trust much of what that guy says," Superboy said but started to wonder the same. Was there some truth in those dreams?
"It could beeee!" Kid Flash said waking up from his nap with a stretch, "or we could make it real. Why? Did you see something interesting?"
"Sort of," Blue said in a quiet voice before he frowned and was silent for a moment before a tilted smile appeared on his face, "actually, there is a lot."
"Me too," Kid Flash said leaning forwards, "what about you?"
"A few things," Superboy admitted, "the rest are impossible."
"That's the thing about dreaming, right?" Kid Flash said with a sigh, "we can try our best, but we will always fall a little short, but is worth a try."
The San Francisco sea line came into view and he heard Blue gasp. It was a beautiful view, but it wasn't really that great.
"It's around here," Blue stopped in midair.
"What?" Kid Flash leaned even further in his seat, close to falling down. Interestingly enough, Tim remained sleeping. Though he didn't blame him for whatever his friends was dreaming, he could sense it was healing whatever damage the nightmare from before had done.
"The place where I saw our base," Blue flew ahead looking side to side as if searching for the perfect spot, "it was a tower sitting on a small island. It was shaped like a T." Blue stopped in the spot before flying higher, looked towards the city and then came back down with an excited smile, "this was the place."
"There is nothing here," Kid Flash said.
"I swear I saw it right here," Blue Beetle said spreading his arms wide.
"A T-shaped tower worked as our base of operations?" Superboy couldn't help sounding incredulous. That really seemed right out of a comic book.
"Why a T?" Kid Flash asked.
"I don't know," Blue's smile faded as he sighed.
"It didn't occur to you to ask?" Superboy had the urge to hit his friend on the back of the head. If he was right, and they had indeed seen glances of their future, they needed to talk about what they had seen. He saw Tim sit up and frown in confusion. He didn't blame him since they did stop in the middle of nowhere special. .
"I was sort of distracted with everything else…" Blue mumbled, "but Booster called us the Ts! Sooo, this might be one of those future related visions the Hood talked about."
"The Ts?" Superboy asked since it seemed too vague, but he recalled the comic he had found in his dream.
"Well, apparently T for Team," Kid Flash said and this made him wonder if he had a similar clue.
"I saw a comic book in my dream. It was the first clue I got," Superboy decided to tell them, "it was called Teen Team,"
"Ahh, no," Tim said before leading the Super Cycle to get closer to the sea, "but this is a good place."
"There is nothing here," Kid Flash said voicing what he thought.
"We wanted a place where people could see us, yet our enemies and the curious can't get close," Tim said with calmness before looking at Blue with a lopsided smile, "though I am not sure about the whole T-shaped tower."
"It was actually a cool place," Blue told them, "there were a bunch of kids training to be heroes, we were helping them, and we were also having fun."
"We were training others?" Superboy asked with a frown. Okay, he was no mentor or was ready to be one. Still, the idea was a good one. The League could only look after so many kids, and with the increasing number of Metas someone had to do something to make sure they didn't fall into the wrong path. Not long ago Blue and Kid Flash had worked together to free a large number of Metahumans captured by a mob boss. She had been looking to brainwash them and use them as her personal army. If they could offer a place for them to feel at peace and learn to control their powers, they would be able to defend themselves, if not cooperate to look after each other. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.
"We were like the Team, but yet we weren't," Blue said as a smile started to stretch on his face again. "It was a fun place. A safe place, we made sure those kids stayed out of trouble, taught them how to help others; be real heroes. Each one of them was so brave. When we went to fight the Reach together, we were like a force of nature to be reckoned with."
He liked the sound of that. There was no denying he was strong, but since he first came out of the League, he had been working in teams. It was part of his nature by then. They might not be as strong as their mentors, but together they could do anything. They had already proved this once when they went to Bart's time and defeated the Reach.
"We were Titans," Tim said before they all became silent for a moment. The Ts… that's what that meant! He wanted to laugh aloud but settled for a chuckle.
"Team Titans?" Kid Flash asked after a minute, but that didn't feel right.
"No, just Titans," Superboy said.
"I like it," Tim said, "do we all agree?"
"Just like that?" Blue asked.
"If we don't decide now, we are never going to agree on something," Tim said and he was right, besides it was a real name, "so what do you say?"
"It has a nice ring to it," he said without a pause.
"When there's trouble, who do you call?" Kid Flash said with a smirk, "You call the Titans!"
"Titans… Titans! I like it," Blue said.
"Then we are the Titans," Red Robin said.
And with that it was settled.
888
He could sense them way before any of them could see them. There was Nightwing's familiar presence, and Damian's hostile one waiting for them.
"Nightwing and Damian are waiting for us in your pad," he told Tim.
The youth nodded without breaking his silence. He wished, probably just like Tim, that they could find it hard to believe that Nightwing had kept his contact with the Red Hood a secret. However, after the events of a year and a half ago it was hardly a surprise. They were still friends and worked together when in the Team, but the trust they had built the five years before the event were lost. Though it was for the best of intentions, he had some well picked words for the man.
"I get Nightwing wants to check on us," Kid Flash said as he placed the camouflage around them, "but Damian?"
"Maybe he wants to get another shot at Tim," Blue said frowning and he didn't doubt it though he didn't believe Nightwing would allow Damian to actually hurt Tim. Then again, they didn't know this kid that well, just a version of him.
The Damian they knew was from Kid Flash's time. The man had locked up Blue and had planned to execute him among other things that made them distrust him. In the end, he became one of the leaders of the world. From what Kid Flash had seen the months he remained there, Damian was a very strict man, but not without fault. Sometimes he lacked heart when it came to communicating with others which usually led to the man being very alone.
They landed the Super Cycle on the roof before changing into civvies they had left there.
"Don't let your guard down," Tim told him, which almost made him chuckle. The one that should be careful was him. There was nothing a kid like Damian could do to him unless he had-.
"I thought you said Batman kept the Kryptonite under lock and key," he told his friend as they went down the stairs.
"He was trained by the League of Assassins, and personally by Talia and Rash Al Ghul," was all Tim needed to tell him to keep him on his toes.
When they entered the pad, they found Dick at the counter trying to get Damian to eat a slice of pizza.
"I swear you are going to love it," Dick said as the kid gave him a glare that could make almost all men shake on their feet.
"Do you have any idea what is in that?" Damian said before jumping off the tall stool and going to sit on the couch instead as he tugged at his clothes. He had to guess this was the first time the kid wore civvies; he used to do the same thing.
"Hey guys! I brought some-" Dick didn't get to finish as the next moment Tim had knocked him off the stool with one punch to the jaw.
"Peace offering? We figured," Bart said grabbing a slice.
"I guess I deserve that," Dick said getting up and rubbing his jaw. He could already see a bruise forming.
"You do deserve it," Tim said sitting on one of the stools, "what do you want?"
"Just to see how it had gone," Dick said sitting across from him.
"If it were just that, you could have just called," he knew his old friend was there for something else, and he was sure it had to do with the sulking pre-teen in the couch.
"That's starting to sound like a good idea," Dick said rubbing his jaw again.
"So, what is it?" Tim asked after a bite.
"Could you look after Damian until tomorrow? I have too much to do in Blüdhaven and Batman is away in a mission with the League," Dick said placing his hands together and bowed his head slightly. He knew this trick and he hoped Tim did too. "Please!"
"What about Alfred?" he knew Tim was finding it difficult to say no, but there was little chance they would be able to get anything done with Damian around.
"Do you really want him at the mercy of that kid?" Dick said throwing the child a wary look.
"I can hear you," Damian said glaring at all of them.
"We know," Tim and Dick said at the same time.
"Just until tomorrow, I already took all his weapons from him," Dick said.
"Ha!" Damian laughed, "someone with my skills doesn't require weapons to get the job done."
"Not helping!" Dick shouted at the kid and then everyone froze. He had thought it was a trick, but it seemed like the kid was really getting on his nerves, and it had only been one week.
"We are going to be busy," Tim said with a troubled frown. He knew that Dick was having a hard time, but they also had to start working on setting their base.
"Hitting downtown tonight!" shouted Bart before Jaime grabbed him in a headlock, "Gha! He is on mode!"
"I will teach you mode!" he was glad Jaime wrestled Bart into the ground, or he would have done it himself.
"That's great! You can show him how to have fun like a normal kid," Dick took his chances where he could and he didn't blame him. He was almost sure Bart didn't just slip. The kid probably had a soft spot for Damian since he knew him in his own time. Heck, he too understood the child, since though differently, but both had been raised to be weapons.
Almost all of them, including Damian, raised an eyebrow at Dick's statement about being normal.
"Alright, as normal as you guys can get," Dick said but Tim remained unmoved. "Seriously, the kid sets traps in the oddest of places, like oh I don't know; the toilet!"
"Is not my fault you lowered your guard Grayson," they saw the kid grin shamelessly.
"And he also sets surprise attacks on old men who just want to drink his afternoon tea, and me," Dick said looking ready to throw his hands in the air. He wondered where Batman was when all of this was going on.
Still, Tim remained unmoved by all they had heard. He had to give it to their leader; he could be coldblooded if he wanted.
"Alright," Dick sighed, "I will owe you one."
"You will owe all of us," getting Dick to owe you one wasn't easy and he wasn't missing on that.
"Fine, I owe all of you," the man said running a hand through his dark locks, "are we good?"
"Just one question," Bart said finally free of Jaime's grasp, "is he vaccinated?"
"Could you think before you speak!" Jaime said rubbing his temples.
"I can't promise I will return him in one piece," Tim said as Dick got to his feet.
"Fair enough," Dick said before getting another glare from Damian, "I am going to regret this, aren't I?" he asked the kid.
"When you least expect it," Damian said before Dick gave another long sigh and left.
Once the door was closed, they all turned to look at the kid that glared at them. Suddenly returning home didn't seem like such a bad idea.