AN UPDATE: Chapter revised and rewritten (RR)
Egging On
Summer days in Smallville were slow burning. There were not enough training or chores to fill out the hours. He ventured to town one afternoon. It was something he was doing more and more every time his mind got filled with too many thoughts, many of them which spiraled into chaos and dark places he believed he had long overcome. The street lights were dim amber and few in between, but this didn't stop the nightlife of the small town.
After a few weeks, the stares and the whispers were almost gone. There was a small bookstore he had taken a liking to. These little trips used to happen once every other week, but now he was coming at least twice a week. The bookstore owner waved at him the moment he came in.
"Already done with the last one?" Nathan Lewis, the owner, asked him with a pleased smile. The man was more used to teenagers coming in to check books for summer school reports; the shorter the better, and farmers looking for books to plant new types of crops which were to be expected.
He nodded, "I am looking for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce."
"Oh do I have a treat for you," Mr. Lewis went right around the counter and to one of his tallest shelves before pulling a hardcover copy. It wasn't the first edition, but second was good and it was in good state.
"I will take it," he said before Mr. Lewis rang his purchase, more than pleased to see that book go after five years of it sitting on the shelve.
Conner headed to the café to order a cup of coffee to go. Though he had improved his control, he still preferred to stay as far as possible from people. The Talon was one of the most popular places in town. Most of the youth gathered there to hang out. He had the feeling the décor hadn't changed since the eighties since every time he stepped in he felt transported back in time. When he got to the counter a cup was placed before him.
"I haven't-" he started to say to the man behind the counter, someone he realized he hadn't seen here before.
"Black, no sugar?" the tall blond man said with a raised eyebrow. He nodded before he started to pull out his wallet but was interrupted, "it's on the house, just tell Clark to drop by sometime to see his old friend Pete."
888
It wasn't the first time someone asked him to say hi or to ask Clark to visit, but there was something different about that man. The way his eyes studied him as if trying to see something else. As if he knew he was not who he claimed to be.
"Pete Ross?" Clark asked over the phone sounding pleasantly surprised.
"I guess," he didn't catch the last name.
"I didn't know he was back in Smallville. I guess he is helping his parents with the Talon," Clark said thoughtfully.
"Does he know?" he asked.
"I will go to town tomorrow," Clark said after a long silence.
He didn't question him further but after they were done talking he went back to the photo albums. He had been so concentrated on Clark he had barely noticed the other people surrounding him in the pictures. Unsurprisingly, a younger Pete Ross was in some of the pictures with Clark and a young red headed woman. The three of them seemed very close.
8888
Superman wondered if he was doing the right thing going into town so suddenly. He watched the home he grew up in through the Watchtower's cameras. He did this every once in a while to check on Conner without him knowing. He could call instead but didn't want him to think he didn't trust him. He probably had enough with Mrs. Lang dropping by so often.
"There is a new model from Wayne enterprises you might want to take a look into," Batman said behind him. He still couldn't understand how the man was able to sneak on him. He was looking at Conner as he tried to get his family's old tractor to work.
"I like my tractor," he said stubbornly. It wasn't the first time his friend brought this up.
"It's outdated," Batman said, "you have spent more in parts than what would cost you a new one."
"I like it," he repeated knowing it got on his nerves.
"Fine, how is he doing? Bored I imagine. There is no other way why he hasn't thrown that piece of junk as far as away as possible," Batman said with a smirk.
"He is making progress," Superman said proudly, "his control is getting better every day."
"Is he still collapsing from exhaustion afterward?" Batman asked with a smug smile
"Why do you ask if you already know?" Superman responded to which the bat only shrugged. "I am going to town tomorrow to see an old friend and check on him."
"You should give him more space," Batman told him.
"I am," Superman said.
"Right," the dark knight said turning around "and your cousin? You write for the news, couldn't you think of something better?"
And he was gone before Superman could think of a retort.
8888
M'gann stared at the endless void that was space as she brought the ship back from a mission. She allowed the Bioship to navigate on its own as she lost herself on the past few days. She knew Nightwing wanted to ask about her reaction back on the Kent farm. The issue was not that she didn't know what happened but that she did and it scared her. She didn't know if she was brave enough to tell him. Then she thought back to the countless times she felt his gaze on her as if hoping to find the answer to her indiscretion in the way she interacted with others or on her own. Good luck with that, she wished she could tell him about it by just looking at him so she wouldn't be fighting with herself like this.
She wished that at least he would approach her to ask her, but she knew Nightwing. He would not ask her if he thought it was related to her previous relation to Conner; if it was just that simple.
"Atomic wedgie!" she heard Kid Flash shout reenacting a recent feat on the 'bad guys', "eeeh!" and the he gave a shrill cry reenacting his victims suffering.
"I still can't believe you did that!" laughed Beast Boy as Blue shook his head in disbelieve. He had to save the kid from being torn to pieces by the Weather Wizard. Even the lamest of super villains had breaking points.
To make things even greater, she had been assigned to this mission with three rookies. Since Conner was gone and the rest of the Team was already on assignments she had no other choice. Finally making up her mind she decided to talk to Nightwing when they got back to the base.
As she walked through the quiet halls she realized it was hard to believe that only a few weeks ago almost everything that wasn't attached to the floors or walls had been floating about. Even some of the League and Team members had been at a loss when others had to bring them back to the ground. She walked trying to organize what she would tell Nightwing when she found him in the control room. She stopped when she heard laughing. Maybe she should wait until the next day. She didn't want to intrude.
She took a shaky breath and continued. She couldn't hold this anymore. When she entered the control room she saw Zatanna leaning on the control panel and Nightwing facing away from her.
"M'gann, you are back!" Zatanna said with a cheerful smile as M'gann tried to offer one of her own, but failed.
"I leave this in your capable hands," Nightwing said to Zatanna who gave him a mocking military salute.
Without the need to be told M'gann followed him into another hallway and towards one of the lounges usually used by the leaguers after a long day. There was a small table with two chairs sitting across from each other which they were fast to occupy. He stared directly at her as she kept her eyes on the small white table. From one moment to the next she would bite her lower lip wondering how she should start.
"Well?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"This is not easy," she said intertwining her fingers on her lap, "I don't know where to start"
"You make me wish I wasn't so curious," he said with a smirk, "is it that bad?"
"You remember what I told you about White Martians?" she thought it was the best way to start. He nodded, of course, he would remember, "I didn't go into detail back then why the White Martians were considered less than the Green Martians. Thousands of years ago our people were explorers and conquerors. The Green Martians were the minds, and the White Martians were the muscle. We spent so long time fighting that it became part of our nature, whether we want it or not."
"Even now," he said with a frown.
"Yes, even now," she said not able to look at him directly in the eye, "even though the wars are long over as we mature those instincts become stronger. Over time, most of us are able to control them, but every once in a while there is an outside source, which we can't control that awakens those instincts."
"And Conner is that outside source" he saw the fright in her eyes, "why?"
"I wish you could feel it," she said with a pained smile and shaking hands, just remembering made those instincts try to unravel inside her stomach like a thunderstorm, "his power is so raw. When I first sensed it here I thought we were being attacked. I was ready… I was ready to eliminate the threat at all cost" she said the last part with a frown since she couldn't fully understand it.
"You were willing to kill-" Nightwing started to ask her.
"But I didn't know it was him!" she said fast. She didn't want him for a moment to think that she would willingly hurt her friends, "when I realized it was him I was frightened. It's easy to hurt your enemies, but your friends…"
"So that back in the farm was you controlling yourself," he said more to himself than her. He didn't want to believe it was that bad but by looking at her troubled expression, he knew it was. Part of him wished this was more of an ex-lovers quarrel but as usual, with their line of work it was not "if he controls his powers…" he thought this had to be the source of the whole issue, "… if he controls his powers then you will be able to…"
"Not snap and tear his throat out?" she looked away from him.
"…be able to work together again" he completed before reaching for her hand and holding it in his, "we are part of a team, a great team and I want us all to remain like this as long as possible." He knew and the others messed up with M'gann and Conner the previous year. The last thing he wanted was to push them away any further.
"I don't know if I can," and by then the tears were running down her face. She was not just afraid of what she would do to him, but she was also afraid of what she might make Conner do. If she pushed him, she knew that raw power wouldn't be just for show.
"Just like I believe Conner will be able to control his powers, I also believe that you are not just instincts" he held her hand tighter hoping she would also believe in herself, "after all, you are the greatest telepath from Mars and that has ever touched Earth ground" and the small smile on her lips told him she would believe him and herself.
888
He was working on the tractor again when he heard Mrs. Lang's truck pull in front of the house. The old lady dropped by at least once a week with fruits and vegetables from her garden. He had tried to decline them at first but she wouldn't have it. He put on his shirt as he walked to the front of the house.
"Working on the tractor again?" she asked with a short laugh after seeing his grease-stained hands, "I swear Jonathan had a magic touch when it came to that old thing. No one else could fix it"
"I am starting to think that might be true," he said opening the door for her. It was mandatory that she had, at least, one cup of coffee with him and make sure he wasn't close to burning the house down.
After serving each other a cup he sat across from her.
"I heard you met Pete last night," she said before he gave her a surprised look, "news travels fast in small towns. He came back last week; sent his parents on a nice vacation for the remainder of the summer."
"Clark was surprised when I told him," and the fact that he didn't explain more to him worried him.
"He left Smallville to study law and right now he is a lobbyist in Washington. He is a good man; he always visits and helps his parents when he is on vacation," Mrs. Lang said with a faraway look.
"Were he and Clark good friends?" they had to be from the pictures he saw.
"Since I can remember," Mrs. Lang said "Clark was a fragile kid so he couldn't play often with the other kids, but Pete was able to get past that and still became friends with Clark and my Lana. Those three used to get into all sort of trouble."
He knew Clark wasn't allowed to play with the other kids because he might hurt them by accident. Still, he wondered if Pete Ross knew. And Lana, she had to be the redhead in the pictures.
"I just wish he had brought my grandson with him, but it was Lana's turn to look after him," Mrs. Lang sighed before she caught his curious stare "he and my daughter were married for a few years."
"I see," a picture started forming in his mind; two young men and a young woman who had grown close to each other over time; only one meant to be in her favors. It was a tragedy just asking to happen.
"It didn't take you long to figure it out, right?" Mrs. Lang said with another short laugh. It seemed she had gotten over this some time ago, but it was still very new to him. "Clark left Smallville first, pretty much pushing Lana into Pete's arms. Then the two of them left together for Washington, but whatever happened between the three of them got in the way."
Clark in a love triangle? He could barely believe it.
"They named my grandson Clark, Clark Peter Ross," the woman said and watched pleased with herself the shock on Conner's face.
"R-really?" he asked wondering what Clark had thought about that.
"I guess they thought it was a good idea at the time," Mrs. Lang said pulling from her purse the picture of a boy no more than five years old. He had the same blond hair as Pete Ross and bright smile, "he is a sweet child."
"Clark said he might be visiting," he didn't sense any bad intentions from Pete Ross the night before but he wondered how that would go.
"That would be nice though you shouldn't tell anyone else. I am sure there are some dunderheads who will start making bets," Mrs. Lang said with a slight roll of her eyes.
"So, it's no secret what happened between them," he asked.
"They have always been the source of talk because how could they not? Pete is a recognized lobbyist in DC, Clark a world renowned reporter, and my Lana; even if I say so myself is one of the best electrical engineers in the country," they probably were the examples parents always used to tell their kids they could do better; almost like legends.
8888
It was hard to lose Clark in any crowd. He didn't care what people said about the suit or the glasses, to him it was just impossible. He arrived on the last bus to town, at once catching the attention of everyone around him. Everyone who was on good terms with him, who was almost everyone, said hi to him or tried to stop him so they could talk to him. He couldn't help laughing a little at his expense.
"I have to go, maybe another time," Clark said escaping the clutches of a few women and hurrying to him. "Are you doing well?"
"We talked on the phone last night," he told him with a skeptical look.
"Right," Clark said before Conner realized he was looking straight at the Talon, "let's go.""
The Talon was busier than the night before with the baristas and waitresses all over the place. They spotted Pete Ross in the middle of the whole thing trying to keep something that resembled order. It took him a moment to spot them. His expression was one of a slight surprise but then became unreadable.
"Will be right with you," he called over before turning to one of the baristas, "Tanya, be so kind as to sit them in the private booth."
"Yes boss," the young woman said before hurrying to them, then she realized who they were, her cheeks turned red as Clark offered her a kind smile, "ehm, this way please."
"Do you want me to go?" he asked after they were led to a small booth at the back of the café. He had the feeling whatever they had to say would not be pretty.
"It's fine Conner," Clark said before asking him with a curious look, "someone told you something?"
"Mrs. Lang," he admitted before Clark sighed.
"She still sorts of resents me for leaving Smallville and Lana back then. She thinks if I had stayed Lana would have too," Clark said and Conner realized what the woman told him might have been too one-sided.
"So, there was something between you," he asked having difficulty looking at him straight in the eye. They never talked about stuff like this. It was more like, how did the mission go? Great, and so on.
"Very short lived," Clark admitted before the two of them sensed Pete Ross approaching them.
"Alright, explain," Pete said placing a tray with cups of coffee on the table and sitting across from them with crossed arms.
"What can I say, I have a bigger family than I thought," Clark said with a relaxed smile.
"That doesn't work with me, Clark. Kara, I understood. But he just looks too much like you, though a bit more on the gloomy side," Pete said giving the frowning Conner a curious look.
"I am not gloomy," he said in his defense.
"Pete does know about us as you can tell, but only you can tell him about yourself if you want," Clark said to him.
"I am his clone," he said taking one of the cups of coffee and trying to hide his embarrassment. He thought this was about their previous history, not him.
"Right," Pete laughed but when neither one of them joined him he looked back and forth between them, "wait, you are serious."
"Very," he said trying to enjoy his drink.
"Man, I know you said there was the chance that you couldn't have kids, but cloning yourself?" Pete said giving Clark a worried look.
It was entertaining to see Clark almost choke on his coffee. He opened his mouth trying to explain the truth but he beat him to it.
"He didn't make me. Someone else did without him knowing," he told Pete.
"Oh, that makes more sense," Pete said, though he didn't look convinced, "so he is like your…"
"Little brother," the two of them said at the same time.
"But to the world, your cousin," Pete said to which they both nodded "and I thought congress was crazy. So, what is the real reason you are here? Are we in some sort of danger?"
"I am learning to use my new abilities," he said making their cups of coffee lift off the table and then putting them down.
"Can you do that? It would have been a lot of help when the nights got busy here" Pete asked and Clark laughed.
"His abilities are different, we think it might be because he is also part human," Clark said.
"And it's more complicated, isn't it?" Pete said slightly exasperated. It seemed the man had seen his fair share of strange things.
"It always is with our kind," Clark said with a strained smile.
"Don't say it like that Clark; you know she didn't mean it," Pete said, a frown started to appear.
"But she was right," Clark said.
"I think I will go…" he said getting up. He didn't want to hear whatever followed.
"I take it back. He is a lot like you. Always running off when things get uncomfortable" Pete said with a smirk.
"Now how should I take that?" Clark said jokingly.
"Like a Kent," Pete said, "now there is something strange…"
He wished coffee among other things had an actual effect on them. He went to the counter to order something else and had well in mind to go outside and clear his mind from what he had heard. Still, even with the fresh air he couldn't.
"Heads up!" he heard someone shout after he saw the football flying towards his head. He caught it in one hand before facing the young men watching him with wide eyes. "Sorry man, I didn't see you there," one said as he hurried to Conner who tossed him the ball back "didn't hurt you, right?"
"I'll manage," he knew one of them threw it at him on purpose. They were kids maybe around sixteen to seventeen and with nothing better to do.
"Want to hang out with us?" one of them asked.
"Pass," he said wishing he was on a mission instead. Any mission would probably be better than this.
"Why? You aren't doing anything," the kid asked him with a glare.
"Probably thinks he is too good to hang out with us," one of his companions whispered.
"What a prick," another one said.
"I am waiting for Clark," he said giving a look back at the Talon. He hated having to explain himself but he didn't want to start a fight, especially since he still didn't have full control of his powers.
"What about tomorrow? We are having a party at James' place," the kid that threw the football at him said.
"Dude," one of the other two said not bothering to hide he didn't want him around.
"I don't think-" he started to say when the door to the Talon opened and Clark walked out.
"You should go," he said taking him by surprise, "it will be fun."
"Clark-" he started to say before Clark glanced at the kids, something else was going on, "fine."
"He-Hello Mr. Kent," the kids said.
"Clark is fine boys, say hi to your parents for me," Clark said before they started walking towards the truck parked not too far off.
"That didn't take long," he said as Clark placed his luggage on the back.
"Pete was just worried that you being here meant there was some type of danger and was curious about you," Clark said, "strange things have happened here, and not all necessarily related to me."
"Will you stay long?" he asked as he started the truck.
"Only until tomorrow, I would like to test how your strength is fairing," Clark said as they pulled out of the center of town.
"It doesn't feel much different," he said with a frown, "but what was that about? Why do you want me to go? You know I don't like parties."
"It has to do with an old legend about one of the founding families of the town. Kids usually dare each other to spend an hour alone in the woods," Clark explained
"Of course, they do," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"I did it too," Clark said before he glared at him, he set that one up, "either way Pete told me there have been sightings of something in the woods. I would usually not think much of it, but it has been fifty years since the last time this happened."
"And something happened back then," and it had to be exactly the year he stayed in Smallville.
"Some kids disappeared and were never found, and thus, we have a dare. Pete and I searched the whole length of the woods back when we were in high school but we never found any clue," Clark admitted with a frown.
"What about Lana?" he asked.
"Lana thought we were being stupid. At the end of that summer when we found nothing that was how we felt," Clark said before pausing for a long time, "I should have told you about them, I am sorry."
"It's fine," he said keeping his eyes on the road, "if you trust them so do I."
He couldn't demand from Clark all of his secrets because he had his own. The memory that kept coming back to him every night was still something he held tightly only to himself. He knew how it was to exist in the peacefulness of an empty world. There was no fear, no worries, just yourself and your scattered thoughts. That memory was the point where he lost all of that and started to become aware of who he was, what he was, and the many responsibilities and expectations which awaited him.
The following morning he woke up to the smell of breakfast. The last time he remembered waking up to such a smell was when he lived back in Mount Justice. When it was the weekend, M'gann would bring the breakfast to bed for the two of them. But this was different. The fresh air of the countryside mixed with the scent of food someone else was cooking made him bury his face in the pillow and want to sleep a while longer.
"Breakfast is ready!" Clark called before he remembered he had stayed on the couch even after Conner told him he could have his bed back.
He threw on some clothes on and went downstairs. He found Clark in the kitchen getting his usual cup of coffee. There were some quirks he knew were undeniably from Clark, but he absolutely didn't mind their obsession over having one or more cups of coffee every morning. It had absolutely no effect on them but they couldn't let it go. Not that they wanted to. He went to get some coffee too with a lazy good morning before sitting at the table where a plate of waffles awaited him.
"Mrs. Lang stopped earlier. She said I should tell you to not get into trouble when you go to the party," Clark said sitting down with a humorous smirk since it was he who was making him go.
"We are talking about probably most of the teenagers from around town, unsupervised and daring each other to go into the woods," he said pouring what M'gann used to call an unhealthy amount of syrup over the waffles.
"Don't forget the beer they are going to sneak through the back," Clark said before he gave him a questioning look. He said he had gone to those parties too back when he was in high school, "what can I say that I can't blame in peer pressure?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if they park a police car in front of the house," he said wondering if there was a chance for him to not go.
"Oh, they have tried, but the kids usually just move the party somewhere else. At least this way we know where they are," Clark said, "just in case you were thinking about calling them while there."
888
He was no stranger to training with Kal. When he first started he only found it infuriating. Every time he tested his strength against him the gap just became more noticeable. Over time, he learned to overcome it and accept it. He couldn't stop trains, but really, how often was that necessary? He could tear tanks and even airplanes apart. He could be hit by missiles and the worst that could happen was the loss of some of his clothes.
"C'mon Kon El," Kal said with a frown. His hands were clenched around his as he tried to push him back.
"I am trying," he said through gritted teeth. The first time they did this was to measure his strength, and he had hated it. He was putting everything he had and Clark didn't even move an inch. This was no different. From the corner of his eye, he saw a log fly and then hit Kal on the side.
"That's not fair," Kal said with a frown.
"Wasn't on purpose," he said with wide eyes before he had an idea. He shifted the ground under Clark's footing and made him step back, "that was."
"You are stronger," Clark said with raised eyebrows and flexing his hands.
"What are you talking about?" he wouldn't have moved an inch if he hadn't shifted the ground.
"You are, and I am not counting the cheating," Clark said as they started walking back through the fields.
"It's not cheating, its strategic advantage," he said.
"Keep telling yourself that."
888
The sun was already setting and the dreadful hour was arriving. He still had to drop Clark at the bus stop for appearances but knew it wouldn't buy him too much time.
"You are letting your hair grow?" Clark asked him as he brushed his hair back with his hand. He hadn't thought about it until then.
"Not much or next time Black Canary sees me she is going to try to cut it herself again," he had been tempted back then to just shave it but worried it would make him look too much like a certain egomaniac that preferred that look. Then, he noticed Clark watching him as they left the house, "What?"
"It's nice to see you go out without someone having to drag you," he said with a shrug.
"I am trying to see this as a mission, don't ruin it," he said with a short laugh, but then noticed Clark's serious expression.
"You miss it?" he asked him.
"I have been doing it for most of my life," he said and had the feeling it was the wrong thing to say because now he looked more worried. He couldn't stand him looking at him that way, "let's go, or you will miss your 'flight'."
The drive to the bus station was an uncomfortable one. Clark asked him to be careful and to call him if he needed anything. He said he would before he left to board the bus to Kansas City.
A whole hour passed and he didn't move from where he parked.
"We said we wouldn't have any more secrets," he started not knowing if Clark was listening to him, "so yeah, since I got here I have been wondering what it would've been like if I had an actual childhood, what type of kid I would have been or if I would have been happy growing up in a place like this. But you know what? It's stupid to think about things like that. Thinking of the 'would haves' is pointless. It's not going to change anything… but I still think about it. When I least expect it, those thoughts sneak into my head. Sometimes I wonder if I am going crazy or if it's just those Luthor genes showing their ugly bald heads; which I guess it's the same thing. The guy is nuts. Anyways, if you are listening know that even though things aren't great I am in an okay place. So, don't look at me that way, as if I didn't like my life."
He concentrated his hearing in the direction Clark had gone to but didn't hear a response. He also didn't call him but even if he did, what could he say?
888
He parked the truck in front of James Walker's house and immediately felt out of place. These kids were the same physical age as him, but he was nothing like them. He had been to parties like this back in high school and some when he started going to college. M'gann always dragged him to them, but no matter what they tried, he just couldn't quite fit in.
"You actually came," the kid he had come to know as James said sitting in front with a cup of what he was sure was not soda.
He shrugged, "I didn't have an excuse not to."
"Hilarious," the kid said though he didn't seem to find it too funny.
"And Clark told me about the dare," he added after a quick scan of the woods. Everything seemed normal.
"You up for it?" the kid asked standing up.
"Sure," yeah, because he liked wondering around the woods in the dark because of some stupid bet.
" Then c'mon!" he said leading him inside the house, it was so swamped with teenagers and loud music he had trouble moving towards the kitchen where they had a large board with names pinned to it, "add another name to the pool!"
"Him?" one of the girls attending it asked before he nodded. She pulled a piece of paper and seemed unsure of what to write.
"Conner Kent," he told her noticing a few empty kegs. She still seemed unsure in her drunken stupor before he took the paper from her and wrote his own name before placing it on the board.
"So, we are doing things a little different. It's supposed to be no more than an hour but we are betting whoever last the longest gets half of the lot," James said pointing at a jar filled to the brim with money.
"And the rest?" he asked curiously.
"Party stuff," James said as the back door opened and more kegs were brought in, "just relax in the meanwhile. There is some time left before it starts." James handed him a cup and left with his friends.
"What is that prick doing here?" one of the kids he saw James with the night before said when he finally spotted him. He met his glare with an indifferent one.
"Shut up Nelson, he entered the bet," James said before he dragged his friend back to the living room offering Conner a fake apologetic smile. He concentrated his hearing on the two of them.
"You are kidding, a city kid won't even last ten minutes," Nelson said disgustedly. The feeling was mutual.
"I know, I didn't tell him about the punishment for whoever lasted the least," James responded.
"Dude, that's awesome," Nelson laughed.
"So, you are in college?" Conner stopped listening to the two of them and realized the girls looking after the betting board was looking at him as if he was no better than prey.
"Yes," he responded.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" one of them asked with a suggestive smile.
"Oh Linda!" the other gasped in fake excitement.
"So…" Linda said walking towards him.
"I am not interested," he said turning around and walking into the living room.
The two girls were left gaping at him before they started throwing curses at him; nothing that he hadn't heard before.
"Man, you just turned down Linda?" James asked him.
"She doesn't know any better," he said trying to get out of the crowded house. He really hated crowded places.
"Oh right, I forgot you are older than us. Takes the thrill out of things, right?" James said following him with ease.
"Everything is about the same," he said finally getting out and no one got hurt. That was always good.
"Is that so…" James looked at him confused.
"Be it now or in twenty years, in the city or countryside, men and women they don't usually stray from what they know," he told James taking a sip from the cheap keg beer.
"I think you need to drink some more or maybe you had too much," James said drinking from his own cup.
He couldn't help to laugh since alcohol couldn't do anything to him. Not even anesthetics worked on him which made it a pain when he really got hurt.
"I will take that as being too much," James said with a tilted smile before leaving him alone.
He listened to the chatter of the house for any clue that him being there was worth it, but found it all too common and familiar to his own years in High School. In a way, it was comforting that things didn't change much as he remained the same. He sat on the front porch, a few people trying to make small talk with him, some trying to flirt, and all eventually leaving when they realized he wasn't interested.
"Well, you look miserable," he heard someone say before he turned his head a saw a red headed kid he hadn't seen before walk towards him from the side of the house.
"I don't like parties," he said as the kid looked cautiously towards the front door. He had the feeling he wasn't supposed to be there.
"Then why are you here?" the kid asked keeping his distance.
"For the same reason why I went to all others before," he said thinking of his friends and Clark.
"Hey who invited you freak!" he saw James and Nelson sneak behind the red headed kid.
"No one, you just happen to be on the site on my next research," the kid said as Nelson twisted his arm behind his back.
"Which is?" James asked with a sneer he couldn't hide. There was history between these two.
"To see how many Neanderthals go into the woods and how many come back out thinking they are now men," the red headed kid was either too brave or too stupid, he thought as Nelson twisted his arm further. The kid was no match for him with his skinny frame.
"You are-" James started to say.
"Make him go into the woods," he said standing up, towering over the three of them.
"What?" they all asked looking at him with a mix of confusion, shock, and anger.
"Make him go into the woods with the rest, and then maybe he will understand," he said as they released the kid who was trying very hard not to rub his shoulder.
"Understand what?" the red headed kid asked him.
"You will see," he told the red headed kid before looking at James and Nelson, "if you guys agree."
"I like the idea," James said after a moment.
"But James-" Nelson started to say.
"What do you choose Simon; we hang you from the flagpole again, or you take the bet," James asked his with a sneering smile.
"The bet," Simon responded right away.
"Then drink, you are going to need it," James shoved a drink into his hands before he and his lackey went back inside the house. He went back to sit on the porch. The kid sat next to him with the cup before he took a sip.
"Bleh," he stuck his tongue out before emptying the cup on the grass. Then he turned to look at him, "why did you do that? There is nothing special about going into the woods."
"For them, it is," he said thinking of how Clark recalled those memories fondly.
"You mean like a passage into adulthood?" Simon rolled his eyes at him.
"No, you will see," he said gaining a better understanding too.
The time finally arrived and he counted a total of seventeen kids who would participate including him.
"No teaming up and any of that stuff," Linda said pausing a moment to glare at him, "and the last one to return wins."
The moment he entered the tree line he felt something familiar, like a buzz that made his skin crawl. It was magic. He scanned the woods and soon saw the kids who had gone in all walk towards a single direction, their feet dragging and their stares empty.
"I can't believe is real," he heard before he noticed Simon was watching the rest through infrared binoculars.
"What is?" he said rushing to him.
"Where the hell did you come from!" the kid jumped back removing his binoculars.
"Simon, what's going on? Where are they going?" he asked trying to contain the shivers running through his back. Something felt very wrong.
"You mean you don't know? You are a Kent, aren't you?" Simon asked him passing a hand in front of his face.
"Kid-" he said and held his wrist to stop him.
"I will explain in the way, I know exactly where they are going," he said looking in the direction the rest were walking.
The kid started to run and he followed him closely. Though the kid was skinny he could move with ease through the woods, as if he knew them like the back of his hand.
"My grandpa told me the story when I was a little kid. He said Kents and Valentines are supposed to protect Smallville from them. I didn't believe it until I saw one of them a few nights ago. I don't think I ever ran that fast before in my life," Simon chuckled nervously.
"What did you see?" he asked, the buzz in his skin only increasing.
"A Hollow Man," he said after a moment of silence, and then he started to explain "back in 1871 Smallville when through a horrible scorching summer, with no rains over a month. People were really scared. Most of them were just settling, so they thought the land was cursed. However, they were kept calm thanks to the sheriff; Nate Kent and his deputy Albert Valentine. If it wasn't for them looting and chaos would have reigned, but they kept the peace with a firm but fair hand."
Simon looked back at him to make sure he was following. He gave him a nod of acknowledgment.
"All followed the rules for the exception of Eben Took and his family," Simon continued, "my grandpa told me Eben had once been a respected doctor in England until his bizarre practice and arcane studies led to the ruin of his reputation. The darkest rumors said that Eben even dabbled in Necromancy and Witchcraft and was forced from England and that's why he moved to Kansas in the 1840's. His family grew in that small farm, cutting themselves away from the rest of town."
"That's where we are going," he cursed internally for having left his communicator back in the house. He checked his cell phone and found he didn't even have a signal. He could use the help of Zatanna or anyone who dabbled in magic.
"Yeah, aren't you freaked out?" Simon asked him surprised.
"You remember who my cousin is?" he asked with a grim smile. He really should leave the kid behind, but he was sure he knew something that could help him.
"Right, so in some rare occasions Eben's kids would go into town and cause trouble," Simon said not emanating as much fear as before; good, he needed the kid to keep a cool head. "It was even worse during that summer. They terrorized and looted the town every chance they got. So, of course, they got on the bad side of the sheriff and his deputy. The last straw was when a boy from the Talbot family, James' family, disappeared playing in his own backyard. There were no clues as of what happened to the poor kid until thirteen days later they found his body in the swamp. He was murdered and mutilated, a bunch of strange symbols carved into his flesh. No one could figure out what happened with the exception of Nate Kent. He realized the kid wasn't mutilated, but operated on."
"Took…" he said clenching his fists. It went unsaid that could happen to those kids if they didn't find a way to stop it.
"Not to defend the guy, but even though there wasn't real proof the sheriff rounded up a mob that night and headed to the Took farm. Of course, they weren't welcomed nicely by Eben's inbred sons. Nate Kent wanted to end things peacefully, only asking for Eben but his sons wouldn't have it. They shot Albert Valentine and though it didn't kill him it set all of hell loose," Simon said with a flinch, as if in physical pain. He guessed he could also feel the magic in the air.
"Your grandfather knew all of this?" he asked wondering why the Kents didn't tell Clark about this.
"Some, and some came from the library," Simon told him, "but it isn't the end. The mob burned the Took farm. Most of the women and children ran away from the house but they couldn't find old Eben. Nate Kent figured out that the old man had to be hiding in an old concrete silo near the house. Once inside, he found it empty. He was a smart guy I guess. He didn't believe in the witchcraft and sorcery until he found a trapdoor inside." Simon said slowing down for a moment, his stamina starting to drain.
"What did he find?" he asked checking for the kids behind them. They were still a good distance away.
"I don't know," the kid almost came to a stop with a worried frown "Nate Kent didn't even tell his trusted deputy saying it was something no mortal soul should ever know and would take the burden with him to the grave. He had the old silo filled with dynamite and then blown to bits. Old Eben and thirteen of his grandchildren were never found. Then, some years later kids started to disappear into the woods always without leaving a trace. Then it started happening every fifty years. The Took cursed the Kents and Valentines according to my grandpa because they never took kids from our families so we usually ended up looking guilty. That's why we are not affected like them," Simon concluded.
"But I am not related to the Kents from here by blood," he said to Simon.
"Could have fooled me," the kid threw him a shaky smile before picking up his pace.
"Clark never said anything about this," he said when the end of the woods came to sight.
"So that's the reason you were there," Simon said as they reached the end, but stopped. Something in the air changed making it difficult to breathe.
"Pete Ross and Clark investigated these woods years ago but they never found anything. Pete was worried something was going on when he heard the rumors about the sighting. Clark asked me to look into it. I didn't think anything would happen," he said, his eyes never straying from the ruins of what used to be the old silo. There was an otherworldly glow to the place, and he was pretty sure that from the shadows they were being watched.
"Look," Simon said before they watched figures walk out of the shadows. The exact number of kids heading their way but they were not human. Their skin was like sand, their eyes empty. They were like ghouls dressed in overalls and large farming hats.
"You have to go back," he told Simon never losing sight of them.
"What? Why?" the kid glared at him.
"Try to keep the rest from reaching this point until I can get those things to stop," he said trying to sense anything that could help him, but the magic was disrupting his concentration.
"No offense, but you can't fight the whole lot of them," Simon said crossing his arms.
"I am not looking to fight them, just stop them from controlling the others but I won't be able to do that if they get here. We don't know how far their control goes," he said, since those things weren't really alive he could go all out on them, but the moments those kids reached them he would have to pull back.
"Oh man, just don't get killed, alright?" Simon said pulling out a rope from a backpack he was carrying before running back.
He waited a moment to make sure the kid didn't double back and then stepped out of the woods to face the creatures. They gave long sinister moans the moment they spotted him. It was nice to see he was considered a real member of the Kent family.
"Where is your boss" he demanded but only got more long blood chilling moans in response, "you asked for it."
He punched through the first one and broke him as if he was no better than wet paper. He was shocked for a second before turning around and punching another. Then, he spotted a wooden door on the ground that opened up. More of those things started to crawl out. He punched one after another and another. They were weak but numerous. He spotted a few going towards the woods, probably to stop Simon. He hated the feeling of it but he concentrated on all of the ones surrounding him before blowing them back. He struck the ones that had been headed into the woods. His senses were burning with the large number of them crawling out of the hole. He had to keep from using his new power as much as possible since it tired him fast.
He was sure hours had passed as his limbs grew tired of keeping them from the woods. Then, from one moment to the next, most of the creatures started towards the woods as if in desperation. He saw in the distance the sun rise and knew they couldn't stay. With the last of his strength, he concentrated on them and howled back just for long enough for the sun of the new day to hit them. He watched in horrified fascination as they disintegrated. He was a half-alien clone, but he was pretty sure that meant they were made of dark magic. He hurried to the place where the trap door was and found it gone.
With his hands on the ground, he concentrated on what was below but found no trace of the place where they came from. He hated magic.
"You are alive!" he heard Simon shout before seeing the kid run towards him, but stopping dead when he saw the piles of dust "what the hell happened?"
"They can't stand in the sunlight," he didn't need to know he had probably fought hundreds of those things, "where are the rest?"
"Tied up to a tree?" Simon said sheepishly, but when he gave him an acknowledging nod the kid relaxed, "so what now?"
"We let the professionals handle it," meaning he had to call Nightwing for backup.
"What? That's it? This is like the coolest thing that has ever happened to me," Simon snapped at him.
"It's too dangerous," he said wondering if the kid was crazy.
"Whatever," the kid said turning around and marching back into the woods.
He sighed before he too walked back. When they reached the rest of those who took the bet, they were already been untied by the sheriff and his deputies. None of them seemed to remember what happened but they didn't miss that Simon and Conner were missing.
"Not again," the old sheriff said remembering the last time this happened back when he was just a kid.
"What happened?" Simon asked faking surprise when they reached them.
"Same thing I want to ask you two," the sheriff said looking at Conner as if he was a ghost. He had heard he looked a lot like Clark, but the resemblance was incredible, "where were you two?"
"I am not sure," he started to say ignoring the look Simon was giving him, "one moment we were in the woods and the next we were standing in some old clearing."
The sheriff nodded at him with an incredulous smile, "too much like Clark," he said under his breath but Conner heard him just right. Still, the old sheriff didn't question him any further and then said to all the shocked kids, "listen the lot of you. Count yourselves lucky because kids have disappeared before around this place. You are not to go into the woods for the rest of the summer. Got it?"
There was a chorus of 'yes sir' from the kids.
"Then get moving, your parents are worried sick waiting for you at Talbot farm," the sheriff told them before some of the kids fidgeted but walked back nonetheless. "Wait you two," the sheriff said to him and Simon. "Do you two know what you are getting involved with?"
"I don't know what-" Simon started to say.
"I was a deputy back when I caught your cousin and Ross in these woods. They were lucky nothing happened to them because unlike them I saw someone walk into these woods and never come back, my older brother. When I was made sheriff my predecessor and your grandpa told me the story, Valentine. I know you two weren't affected," the sheriff said taking them by surprise.
"Sir, I-" Simon tried again to say something, but he placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. The sheriff gave a crooked smile at the two of them.
"Thanks for looking after them, but from this point on you are to stay out of it. There is going to be a very strict curfew put in place starting tonight," he told them.
"Understood," he replied hoping this would help.
"Okay…" Simon said more reluctantly.
"Now run along before I lock you up. I know you Simon and I bet you aren't too different from your cousin," the sheriff said before they walked back.
He had to cross town to get back to the Kent farm but decided to stop at the Talon for a well-deserved cup of coffee and something else. He found Pete Ross waiting for him at one of the small tables on the side. He gave him a raised eyebrow look before he went to sit across from him.
"No one went missing," he said with a pleased smile.
"But it isn't over," he told him before checking no one was listening to them and then telling him what happened.
"Clark and I had no idea the Kents and Valentines were involved. Who would have thought? I guess I was lucky nothing happened that year," Pete said with a slight shiver.
"I don't understand how come I wasn't affected. I am not really a-" he started to say before Pete raised his hand to stop him.
"To be a Kent," Pete said thoughtfully, "doesn't mean you must be related by blood. Since the town has a memory they have always led by example. Clark was taught the same values and he passed them on to you. That makes you a Kent in the eyes of whatever protects or lurks around this place."
"It isn't enough," he said with a pained smiled. He hated feeling useless, "I am calling some magic users."
"Be careful of who you call, we don't know if this curse could also affect them," Pete told him.
He left with plenty of complimentary coffee; he was starting to like Pete Ross. However, his mood turned for the worse when he got back to the farm. He found the whole front of the place covered in smashed eggs. This was the last thing he needed, he thought before he spotted one of the red drinking cups used at the party. He held his temper back worried the house would pay the price. He went in and got his communicator.
"Nightwing," he called before hearing a long yawn from the other end. It wasn't strange for him to go to bed with his communicator on.
"Do you know what time it is?" Nightwing said.
"I need your help with two problems," he told him before getting his full attention.
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OLD CHAPTER VERSION
Becoming Superboy 3
Jannet Lang couldn't help but to stare at the young man walking towards them as he put on a black shirt. It wasn't just the fact that he was very fit, but that he looked so much like Clark. The same bright blue eyes, dark hair, and strong jaw; it was like looking at a ghost from the past.
"You must be Conner, we are the Langs" Howard Lang approached the boy first as his wife carried a basket with fruits and vegetables from her garden.
"Nice to meet you," he said with a polite smile as he cleaned the grease from his hand on a towel before shaking Howard's hand, "Clark said you might come by. Would you like something to drink?"
"Maybe another day," Howard said glad to see the boy was actually very polite and hard working by the stains on his clothes. He was sure he was working on the old tractor Clark refused to let die, "we thought we might drop some greens in our way to town"
"Thanks" he said before Jannet handed him the basket, "please come by again. I would really like to hear how Clark was like when he lived here"
"Do we have some stories for you then," Jannet said with a smile before she and her husband left with a feeling of accomplishment.
Conner took the basket inside and grabbed a bright red apple before going back outside. He sat against the house's wall and ate the apple as he contemplated the old engine he had taken apart. He had taken it apart four times and put it back 3 and the darn thing still wouldn't work. He contemplated on replacing some of the parts but believed it would be mostly useless. Clark it seems had also tried that a few times and most of the parts were rather new.
He sighed wondering what he had missed back at the tower. He would much prefer a mission to this.
Back in the Watchtower Superman tried not to act surprised as he finally noticed Batman standing next to him as he used to Watchtower's cameras to check on Conner. He did this whenever he had the chance. He also called but tried not to do it as often as he would like to give him some space.
"There is a new model from Wayne enterprises that you might want to look into" the dark knight said looking as Conner started to place the engine back together. He had to give the kid props for the patience.
"I like my tractor," Superman said remembering how his pa would be able to fix it almost like magic.
"Is outdated" Batman pointed out. He was sure Clark had spent more than twice the amount of a new tractor in new pieces that were almost impossible to find at that point.
"I like it," he simply repeated adamantly.
"Fine, how is the boy? Bored I imagine" maybe that was what gave the boy patience to deal with that old piece of junk.
"He is making progress" Superman said proudly, "his control is getting better every day"
"Is he still collapsing afterwards?" he asked with a smug smile.
"Why do you ask if you already know?" he asked before Bruce actually shrugged. No one would believe him but he would always remember, "Maybe I should go see him"
"Sometimes you just need to give them space," Batman said turning around to leave, "and your cousin? You write for a news blog, couldn't you think of something better?" and then he was off before the man of steel could come up with a retort.
M'gann stared at the endless void that was space as she brought the ship back from a mission. She allowed the Bio-ship to navigate on its own as she lost herself on the past few days. She knew Nightwing wanted to ask about her reaction with Conner back in the Kent farm. The issue was not that she didn't know what happened but that she did and it scared her. She didn't know if she was brave enough to tell him. Then she thought back on the countless times she felt his gaze on her, as if hoping to find the answer to her indiscretion in the way she interacted with other or on her own. Good luck with that, she thought wishing he could actually tell with just looking at her so she wouldn't be fighting with herself like this.
She wished that at least he would approach her to ask her, but she knew Nightwing. He would not ask her if he thought it was related to her previous relation to Conner. If it was just that simple.
"Atomic wedgie!" she heard Kid Flash shout reenacting a recent feat on the 'bad guys', "eeeh!" and the he gave a shrill cry reenacting his victims suffering.
"I still can't believe you did that!" laughed Beast Boy as Blue shook his head in misbelieve. He had to save the kid from being torn to pieces by the Weather Wizard. Even the lamest of super villains had breaking points.
To make things even more… great, she had been assigned to this mission with three rookies to look after on her own. Since Conner was gone and the rest of the Team was already on assignments she had no other choice but to look after all three. Finally making up her mind she decided to talk to Nightwing when they got back to the base.
As she walked through he quiet halls she realized it was hard to believe that only a few days ago almost everything that wasn't attached to the floors or walls had been floating about. Even some of the league and team members had been at loss when others had to bring them back to the ground. She walked trying to organize what she would tell Nightwing when she found him in the control room. She stopped when she heard laughing. Maybe she should wait until the next day. She didn't want to intrude.
She took a shaky breath and continued. She couldn't hold this anymore. When she entered the control room she saw Zatanna leaning on the panel and Nightwing's back towards her.
"M'gann, you are back!" Zatanna said with a cheerful smile as M'gann tried to offer one of her own, but failed miserably.
"I leave this in your capable hands" Nightwing said to Zatanna who gave him a mocking military salute.
Without need to be told M'gann followed him into another hallway and towards one of the lounges usually used by the leaguers after a long day. There was a small table with two chairs sitting across from each other which they were fast to occupy. He stared directly at her as she kept her eyes on the small white table. From one moment to the next she would bite her lower lip wondering how she should start.
"Well?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"This is not easy," she said intertwining her fingers on her lap, "I don't know where to start"
"You make me wish I wasn't so curious" he said with a smirk, "I am not going to like this, am I?"
"You remember what I told you about White Martians?" she thought it was the best way to start. He nodded, of course he would remember, "I didn't go into detail back then why the White Martians were considered less than the Green Martians. Thousands of years ago our people were explorers and conquerors. The Green Martians were the minds, and the White Martians were the muscle. We spent so long time fighting that it became part of our nature, whether we want it or not"
"Even now," he said with a frown.
"Yes, even now" she said not able to look at him directly in the eye, "even though the wars are long over as we mature those instincts become stronger. Overtime most of us are able to control them, but every once in a while there is an outside source, which we can't control that awakens those instincts"
"And Conner is that outside source" he saw the fright in her eyes, "why?"
"I wish you could feel it" she said with a pained smile and shaking hands, just remembering made those instincts try to unravel inside her stomach like a thunderstorm, "his power is so great and raw. When I first sensed it here in the whole tower I thought we were being attacked. I was ready… I was ready to eliminate the threat at all cost" she said the last part with a frown, as if not understanding herself.
"You were willing to kill-?"
"But I didn't know it was him!" she said fast. She didn't want him for a moment to think that she would willingly hurt her friends, "when I realized it was him I was frightened. Is easy to hurt your enemies, but your friends…"
"So that back in the farm was you controlling yourself" he said more to himself than her. He didn't want to believe it was that bad but by looking at her troubled expression he knew it was. Part of him wished this was more of an ex-lovers quarrel but as usual with their line of work it was not "if he controls his powers…" he thought this had to be the source of the whole issue, "… if he controls his powers then you will be able to…"
"Not snap and tear his throat out?" she looked away from him.
"…be able to work together again" he completed before reaching for her hand and holding it on his, "we are part of a team, a great team and I want us all to remain like this as long as possible"
"I don't know if I can," and by then the tears were running down her face. She was not just afraid of what she would do to him, but she was also afraid of what she might make Conner do. If she pushed him, she knew that raw power wouldn't be just for show.
"Just like we believe Conner will be able to control his powers, we also believe that you are not just instincts" he held her hand tighter hoping she would also believe in herself, "after all, you are the greatest telepath from Mars and that has ever touched Earth ground" and the small smile on her lips told him she would believe him.
Back in Kansas, Superboy was dozing off after a long day of training. He was exhausted, which was a feeling he was starting to get used to. He held, or tried to keep holding 'The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway' but there was a point where he just left it lie on his chest as he tried to decide if he should go to bed or just sleep on that couch.
All thought of sleep was gone when he felt something not too far from him. He hadn't realized his power had set off on its own, not far but enough to tell him that about half a mile away there were two vehicles parking by the fields. He wondered if they needed help. Then this strange power of his told him this was not the reason, they were after something else. He tried to keep his thoughts calm. Somehow in this half asleep state he was able to control his powers a little better.
They were five boys and two girls which for some reason were crossing through the fields and not the main path towards the house. They ranged from the ages of fifteen to seventeen and were rather excited about what they were planning to do. Finally they made it to the edge of the fields and stopped there staring at the house. He felt their feelings ranging from excitement, fear, regret and so on. He wondered what they were up to and soon enough his power told him. He sensed two full baskets with eggs. He allowed his superior hearing to take range to have a better idea of what they wanted to do, though it wasn't that hard to guess.
"So, who goes first?"
"But the lights are on. What if he is awake?"
"What if he is? He can't take us all"
"Let's just see if he is awake?"
"You only came to check him out, didn't you?"
"What if I am? I heard he is cute"
"Let's just pick at the window, if he sees us so what"
He relaxed his features and closed his eyes completely. He was curious if they would continue even after they saw him. He felt two pairs of eyes pick into the living room.
"My mom says he looks a lot like his uncle. Never met the guy but I heard he is also a looker"
"The snub that became a reporter at that third rate sellout newspaper?"
"Not anymore. He left the Daily Planet and now is part of an independent news blog"
"Whatever"
Oh yes, the great change. He thought remembering how upset Clark had been when the Daily Planet had been bought and they started editing his stories leaving out the ugly things of the real world. He was proud of his mentor for not allowing them to censor his stories, though the pay wasn't as good as it used to. The two who went to check on him went back to the rest to inform they saw him sleeping. Maybe he had made a mistake by faking to be out of it because he knew that he had to do something now if he was to do something at all about the trite vandals.
"Here goes nothing," one said before throwing the first egg.
At that moment if felt very natural and he fought for the feeling to remain. He wrapped his mind around the egg and kept it from breaking when it hit the front door. It fell down to the porch where it rolled to a stop.
"What a-"
"You throw like a girl"
And then another egg was thrown, but this time towards the roof. Once again he wrapped his ability around the egg and directed it back to the head of who threw it.
"What the hell is wrong with these eggs" the kid sneered trying to clean the egg from his head.
"Who is there?" it was enough of games, two eggs were a coincidence but more than that would be suspicious. He stood at the door where he bent to pick up the egg, "are you freaking serious!" he gave his scariest shout which actually worked pretty well by the way he sensed a few of them freeze, "if you don't leave I will call the cops!"
He believed that would be enough to scare them off.
"Go ahead and call them! They will take a long time getting here and by then we will be done and gone!" one of them shouted before a few got their guts back.
"Do whatever you like but don't forget I warned you!" he called out before going back inside the house.
Should he really call the police? He didn't want to bring attention to himself, but he also didn't want to have to deal with them again. Maybe if he left them get away this one time they wouldn't come back. Then he heard the first egg smash against the house and sighed. He would do nothing for now, it was late and he was still tired from the day. He went to pick his book and then went to bed. As the minutes passed he continued to hear the eggs smash against the house before one hit a window and actually broke it. He heard a few shout in panic before they scurried away followed by the others who laughed at how cowardly he was.
That was the last drop.
"Nightwing?" it was way past midnight but he was pretty sure his friend was still up and about.
"Is everything okay?" why else would he call him at that ungodly hour, he was actually getting ready to sleep.
"I need you help with a problem"
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Notes:
1. I don't bash characters, even if I don't like them I will try to keep them in character as much as I can. True, I don't like Miss Martian but only because they didn't show all of her potential in the TV show. When she goes all White Martian psycho like in the comics but then… well I wouldn't want to spoil it but that is what I hope to bring to the table at one point (unless I have a change of heart).
2. I know almost nothing about farms or about living in a small town (I am from Mexico City), so whatever reference I make about small towns or people who live there should not be taken seriously. I admit I am very ignorant of that style of life, and worry a lot about writing something that might be considered offensive.
3. I am not making Superboy a wimp. Is very easy to beat your enemies with super strength when you know they can take it, but a bunch of wayward teens is something else.
I thank everyone who is following this story and those who just started and an additional thanks to those who leave a review. It is only because of you that I decided to continue with this story.