Young Justice Fanfic: Response to anon meme prompt
He sees Superman appear in his school yard. He's wearing a suit and has a tape recorder in hand, so Superboy assumes that Superman is there for a job. Only, Superman's heart is pounding quite hard for someone who is reporting on a revolutionary school for the arts and sciences. Superboy almost wonders what would have had happened if Superman came to his senses before Wonder Woman came into his life.
He had been lifting weights in his constant state of frustration that he had been in since leaving Cadmus. He knew facts, history, science, reading and writing, but nothing could have prepared him for human interaction or this frustration that was constantly mounting in his head making him angry that he just could not understand his own body and his emotions and the team. Nothing made sense. And of course, there was Superman. Superboy dropped the straps to the weight machine, making the weights clatter against one another.
"You know, that isn't good for the machine." She wore her star spangled uniform and her voice was sotto, not a reprimanding as it could have been.
"Yeah, I know," Superboy retorted.
"Dinah tells me that your martial arts are going well, but you seem to be holding back, and this is stunting you," Wonder Woman said. "I was wondering if you would like to train with someone who has super strength, like you." Superboy looked up at that. "I'm very well trained and have the gifts of many goddesses. You would not need to fear hurting me, Superboy."
"Would you really?" Superboy asked. A feeling was bubbling up inside him that had been in his chest since Superman had flown away from him the first time. The feeling that he was not worth the time of day.
"Of course," Wonder Woman said. "I've asked Black Canary and Batman if I may take you on a training trip. Now would be the most opportune time for both of us, as things are as...slow in my protectorate as they are on Mount Justice."
"What would I need?" Superboy asked. Wonder Woman smiles at him.
"All you will need, Superboy, is to make me a promise that you will talk to me. Tell me when something does not make sense; tell me when you are frustrated and angry. Together we will work these things out."
Superboy's tongue sticks to the bottom of his mouth, because he is not sure that he can do this for her. But he swallows, and takes his time, and nods.
"Yes, Wonder Woman, I will."
She takes him into the Rocky Mountains. It's late summer and they don't have a tent, the days get hot but the night melt into almost freezing temperatures. Wonder Woman brought with them wilderness clothes for both of them. She brought him trousers, a coat with a good lining that keeps him warm, and a shirt without an s-shield. Wonder Woman wears a white tunic and brown trousers, and insists it is all she needs.
The first things she teaches him are all about foraging in the forest. Superboy learns how to build a fire with nothing but his hands and the things around him. He learns very quickly it is always a bad idea to drink mountain water without boiling it first. He learns how to catch fish by patiently watching rivers and streams. She teaches him how to make and find shelters. Wonder Woman tells him that if the need arises, he will also learn how to kill predators. "But this is their land," she says. "We must respect that as well."
When he has learned how to take care of himself, and they have built a respectable camp together, Wonder Woman makes him run. No super powers, just good, old fashion running. Through the forest, up the nearest hill and then up the nearest mountain.
"Why am I doing this?" he asks on his third run. "I do not understand."
"There are some things that I cannot so much teach you as hope you will learn," she answers, running up the hill beside him. "This will help with that."
Wonder Woman does not tell him what it is he is supposed to be learning, but by the way she smiles when she says it, he knows she would not tell even if she felt she could.
When they are not running, Wonder Woman sits with her eyes closed and her legs cross and does not move for much time. Superboy does not understand how she can sit still for such a long time, but then thinks to the times he sits and watches the static on the TV. He doesn't like quiet time though, because he hates the thoughts that creep into his head.
"Why do you do it?" he asks one night when she is finished.
"It is one way that helps me find peace, and helps me resolve conflicts with myself." Superboy tries it a few times, but always ends up feeling restless, each time becoming shorter than the last.
Then one morning, he wakes before the sun and Wonder Woman. He feels so restless, he scratches out a note in the dirt, and goes running through the forest. He runs for miles, and does not stop running until he trips over a large log. He feels angry.
Why? asks a small part of himself. The log could not help being there. The anger dissolves. Superboy sits on the log, and looks up to see that the run has begun its run across the sky. He looks down at the roots of a tree he's uncovered by his run and trip. He looks at the tree, mighty and tall and thick around its trunk. What it must have survived to be that large. Superboy looked at the tree, and kept looking. He did not move, for his body had had the restlessness beaten from it. When twilight fell, he stood and began running back to their camp.
When he returns, Wonder Woman is tending the fire, and looks up at him, but does not speak.
"I'm angry," he says, "really, really angry, and I thought that was because he...he can't look at me, and I wanted something from him, something he didn't try to give me. But it's not. It's because I'm afraid that I will always be like this, always having people turn away from me because I'm not...because I'm not Superman, and I...I'm not good enough for him."
Wonder Woman take him in her arms, and Superboy does not even realize he's been crying until her shoulder gets so wet.
"Anger is often easier than fear, but today you have chosen a very brave path." She's smiling when she pulls away. "Now we can truly begin."
They still go for runs, but Wonder Woman has decided that it is time to integrate philosophy into those runs. She teaches him hand combat, the kind they would have used in Greek times. She even pulls out short swords from the invisible jet, and teaches him to throw a discus and javelin.
"It's a pity I could not take you to Themyscira," Wonder Woman tells him. "For then you could train against one hundred amazon warriors."
"That would be interesting," he says as he blocks her punch. "I would like to meet the women who raised you."
After many weeks, when the days are getting colder and short, Wonder Woman tells him that they will be leaving.
"There is something I wanted to ask you, though," she says, looking into the fire. "I am known as Diana Prince in my day to day life. But you do not yet have a name. Have you thought of what you would like to be called in civilian life?"
"A little," he admits.
"Have you chosen a name?"
"Conner," he admits. She smiles at him.
"I was wondering, then, if you might like to be called Conner Prince?" she asks. At first, he is not sure what she means, but then the thought comes to him, and he is almost overwhelmed by it, but smiles, and nods.
"Yes, I would like that very much."
Diana, as it turns out, is a rather successful business woman, and was able to take three weeks off due to a family emergency, and returns as the guardian of her sixteen-year-old nephew. She owns a spacious two bedroom apartment, the second bedroom of which now belongs to Conner. They spend the weekend painting it blue and buying him a wardrobe (courtesy of Batman, apparently). Diana also enrolls him school, which starts in a few weeks. She cooks a Greek dinner, and has Conner help so that she can teach him.
When he returns to Mount Justice while Diana goes to work, he feels like a completely different person. The team notices right away.
"DUDE!" Wally exclaims. "You're smiling! Welcome back!" Wally hugs him, and Conner hugs back, once he gets over the shock. "Dude, you give good hugs. Seriously, Rob, come hug him, he gives good hugs." The whole team is there and they each give him a hug, though M'gann blushes as she does.
"We made a welcome back cake," M'gann says. "Wally helped me mix the ingredients and then we all tried to decorate it, so it looks very...colorful." Colorful meant that the cake was covered in different splotches of colored icing. But it tasted good, and his friends quizzed him on all Wonder Woman had taught him while he was away, so he really did not mind.
"Must have been awesome, training with a kick ass Amazon," Artemis says, punching her fist into her hand. "I wish I could go the Themyscira and become an amazon." Black Canary finds them and announces that now that they've had their fill of cake, it's time to train. Everyone groans, but Conner volunteers first to give their stomachs time to recover.
"I want to go up against you," Robin says. "No worries though, I'm totally pro at dodging and I want to see what you've learned." Superboy smiles, and somehow, even with this new found confidence, Robin kicks his ass. From the floor, though, Superboy smiles.
"Best two out of three?" he asks. Robin grins back,
"Sweet!"
Between his days at Young Justice, and his nights at the Prince residence, Conner notices that Diana keeps an electric piano in the corner of the living room. One night, after work, she comes home and hands him a beginner’s guide to playing piano.
"What?" she asks. "You thought I didn't notice. Besides, you can take piano lessons at your new school, so you might as well start learning now."
"Thanks," he said, opening the book.
A day before they go to his school so that he can register for classes and take placement tests, Diana presents him with a pair of glasses and a small, jewelry case.
"You're different, Conner, even from your other members on the team. Their abilities and masks make them easier to hide."
"Mine do not," Conner fills in, putting on the glasses. A month ago, he would not have been able to say such a thing without feeling angry. "How do I look?"
"Very charming," she says as he opens the box. The blue arrow head makes him feel different. Not sick, but...is this what humans feel like. "It's blue kryptonite," Diana explains. "It won't make you sick, and long term exposure will not cause you harm, but it essentially renders you human. The case is lead lined, so if you ever need to go super, put it in there and you'll be fine." Conner puts it on, and relishes the vulnerability.
When he registers for classes, the school happily informs him that he will be able to dive right into his major areas of study and only have to take a few graduation requirements on the side. He picks business as one of his areas of study, and musical arts as the other. He signs up for classes in economics, business practices, leadership, piano, voice, theater, and then a few classes for his graduation requirements like history and higher level math and English. Conner almost puts down that he wants to take Greek, but Diana advises him otherwise.
"I can teach you Greek," she says. So he picks Mandarin.
His first day of school arrives, and though he feels hopelessly normal, he wonders if he'll be able to make it through the day. He finds himself staring up at the school, when he feels a pair of eyes on him. He turns to see a girl with sky blue eyes and brown hair pulled back into a pony tail studying him.
"You're new, aren't you?" she asks.
"Yeah." She thrusts out her hand,
"Eureka Jones, pleased to meet you."
"Conner Prince, nice to meet you too."
Eureka mentors him, but unlike Diana, she's wild. Everything about her was free and wide open, and her energy was everywhere. She was a guitarist and a singer who wanted to be a rock star and everyone thought she would make it (though she was also studying business to fall back on). She was ecstatic when Conner told her he was taking piano and voice and also helped him in music theory. She also introduced him to a lot of people in the school.
She takes him home to meet her family after two weeks of knowing him. Colonel Jones is just as loud in spirit as she is, boisterous and kind, and Eureka has his dark brown hair, but their eyes are not quite the same color blue. Maverick, her brother, though dark skinned, is affectionate and loves Keats, Byron and long range shooting. He banters with Col. about many things, though they are playful. Dr. Jones is a quiet man, whose aura hums just about his skin and he smiles at Conner. He and Maverick look just a like and when Conner goes home for the night, Dr. Jones says,
"Thank you."
"For what?" Conner asks.
"You understood that even though we are very different, and through many strange circumstances, we are family. You asked no questions. Thank you for that."
It is from him, Conner is sure, Eureka learned to know when people needed quiet, and she always knew when he needed silence, and would not even hum to interrupt his thoughts. She was smart, and driven, and Diana liked her instantly, so there was no getting rid of her.
But Conner liked the company she brought him.
One night after they left from the Jones' house, Diana tells him,
"You know I'll always love you no matter what choices you make, or who you are, right?"
"Yes," Conner says.
It's not until he catches himself checking out a guy that he realizes why she said that to him.
He marches right up to Eureka, who greets him cheerfully and introduces her boyfriend and friends who are visiting from Bellwood, before Conner asks,
"Did you tell Diana I was gay?" The visitors from Bellwood are not quite sure what to say to that, but Eureka keeps her cool,
"Sweetie, Diana's thought that you might be gay for a while. She asked my dad’s for advice, considering you know, they are gay and have been married for almost twenty years. We were all trying to give you space, so you could find out on your own, if you were gay or bisexual, or maybe we were reading you wrong and you really were straight. We wanted you to make your own discovery." Conner runs a hand through his hair and grunts. Eureka looks to her blonde boyfriend who nods, and before he can stop her, Eureka kisses him. It's not chaste, but there isn't any tongue either, but it just feels kind of gross.
He pulls away to tell her, "You're like my sister, that's just gross." Eureka shrugs.
"Well then, I'd find somebody to kiss who isn't like your brother or your sister. Or maybe you can just introspect and figure this out."
He goes to the team, because they've known him since he was technically born, but he's always felt that they were his friends not his brothers/sisters. And he knows for a fact that most Atlanteans like both sexes, Wally dated some guy named Piper, and Artemis and M'gann would be more than willing to help (Robin, fourteen though he may be is not included in his survey).
"I need your help with something," he says. "I...I have something to tell everyone that I'm not really sure about yet and--"
"Dudeyou'renotdyingareyou?" Wally asks in a rush.
"No!" Conner protests. "I just think I'm gay." Wally nods emphatically, and says,
"Oh, okay then." When Wally kisses him, Conner's first thought is that he should introduce them to Eureka, but on a second thought, that might be a bad idea for him. But, Conner kind of likes the kiss, even if it is Wally. "How'sat?" Wally asks.
"It was good," Conner replied. Artemis gives M'gann a shrug, and she shyly floats to Superboy, wrapping her arms around his neck before she kisses him. It's almost the same kiss Wally gave him, though a little slower, though Conner doesn't find himself enjoying it that much. M'gann pulls away just as shyly, but nods.
"I understand then," she says.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you," he replies, because recently he had begun to come aware of M'gann's crush. She shakes her head softly.
"Never be sorry for who you are," she tells him, and proceeds to give him a hug. And then everyone gives him a hug at once. Conner feels at peace.
So Conner goes to school. Weekends and the occasional week night are devoted to Young Justice and saving the world from various crises. He learns piano at a rate that surprises and gives joy to instructors. He tries out for the school musical and gets the part of the Baker in Into the Woods. He hangs out with his friends from school, and at random with his friends from the team. He's learning to cook. Conner feels human. He feels at peace.
One night, Diana's a little late getting home, so Conner starts dinner. He's almost finished when he hears her come in.
"I made Thai food!" he calls.
"How much?" she calls back.
"Enough for seconds and leftovers!" he replies.
"Oh, good," Diana says, coming into the kitchen, followed by a woman who was only slightly older, but looked very much like Diana. She takes him in and smiles kindly at him.
"Hello," she says, "I am Hippolyta."
"You're the queen of the amazons," Conner replies. She nods,
"You are correct."
"You are also letting the food get a little too cooked," Diana reminds him, causing Conner to turn back and rescue his food. He turns off the burners and dishes it out, arranging three plates, and Queen Hippolyta joins them at their small table.
"Diana tells me you are doing very well in school Conner, that your instructors sing your praises," Hippolyta says during the meal. "Do you enjoy your studies?"
"Very much so," Conner says. "I'm looking forward to getting some more challenging classes next semester and in my senior year."
"That is good; it is always good that we continue to challenge ourselves. I hear you will also be in a play?" she asks. "I hope to see it while I stay with you and Diana."
"Yes, it opens this week," he says. "I'm in dress rehearsals for the next two days before we open."
"I will look forward to seeing it," Hippolyta said. "Tomorrow I will be going to work with Diana for part of the day. Perhaps I could go to school with you the day after?"
"All right," Conner says, because what else do you say to the queen of the amazons?
Having Hippolyta follow him around is a little strange, because he has to introduce her as his grandmother, and he's so afraid that he's going to do something to offend her. But she wears her name badge at all times, is quiet and not easily offend, speaks gently with his professors while he does his work, and even participates in gym class.
"Okay kids, if Conner's grandmother can beat you in the mile, I think you all might be in trouble," the coach says. Everyone runs extra fast while Hippolyta takes a leisurely jog.
She's also really smart, and participates in some of the discussions, like in his History of Politics Class. But then again she is the queen of the amazons. His friends like her, because she's classy and Eureka even wants to be like her someday. The drama professor does not protest when she sits quietly for the dress rehearsal, though no one is really allowed in.
When they take a taxi back home, she says,
"Diana has asked if you may come and visit Themyscira over your summer break. I came to judge and see if you would be worthy of such an honor." Conner's eyes widen at the thought of being able to see the amazon island. "I have decided that you are should you be on your best behavior when training there."
"I, I will!" he declares. "Thank you Hippolyta." She smiles warmly at him.
"Child, I think you should call me, Gigia."
The play is fantastic, everyone does really well, and Conner feels like he can fly. So much so, he accidently lifts off back stage and has to remember himself before anyone notices.
"Dude!" Wally runs up to him the second he leaves the green room. "You totally should have told us you were going to be in a play before I got this thing in the mail telling me to come see you!" He hugs Conner before he hands him a small bouquet of flowers. "It's a performer thing. You'll be getting them all the time now."
Everyone is there. The Flash clan (including, strangely enough the Flash Rogues), Kaldur came with two of his friends from Atlantis, and Aquaman and Aquaman's wife, M'gann and the Martian Manhunter are present as well as Artemis and her mother, and a strange, short dark haired boy Superboy is fairly sure is Robin, and a dark haired man Diana is talking to who Superboy is sure is Batman. Why else would Bruce Wayne come to a high school play?
"Well done, Conner," Hippolyta hummed when she saw him. She embraces him, before letting Diana do the same.
"I am so proud of you," Diana tells him.
"Conner!" Conner looks up to see Col. and Dr. Jones with Eureka and Maverick.
"You have a big family," Dr. Jones says with a wink. He holds out a shoe box.
"It's not actual shoes," the Col. explained. "We just thought you might like something other than flowers."
Inside the box is a teddy bear, dressed in the boy version of a Wonder Woman outfit.
"It's a Wonder Bear!" Wally declares. "Mom, Dad, can I get a Flash bear?"
"For your birthday," says Wally's dad.
Diana and many of the other supers present look almost horrified at the Jones family, who do their best at playing innocent.
"Don't worry," Eureka says. "We're really good at keeping secrets."
"She is," Conner vouches. "I know absolutely nothing about that girl." That does not make the adults feel better.
Time goes on. He goes to school, he helps save the world, and Conner feels like he is a person now. He feels good. He visits the amazons and trains with them, and they all like him (but only after they hear that seeing them naked will not make him rise to the occasion). More powers begin to develop. He trains hard. He becomes stronger.
He gets a new shirt made. It's red, but it still has an s-shield on the back. But on the front, there is a golden wreath. When he shows it to Diana, she nearly cries, and hugs him tight.
When Black Canary catches him wearing it, she laughs and says,
"Just be glad I didn't take you as my side kick."
"I don't think I could pull off the fish nets," he replies.
Superman is at his school, as the reporter Clark Kent, doing a story on their innovative way of teaching. Conner, as one of the most prominent students in the school, has been asked to give him a tour. They are forced together, and Conner has been wondering how this would go for years. Clark Kent is asking questions with frequent regularity, which Conner answers easily as they continue on the tour.
"You're a senior now?" Clark asks.
"Yes, I'm seventeen, one of the youngest in my class, actually, but I was born in July, before the cutoff date," Conner explains. He sees Superman behind Clark's glasses wanting to ask some questions. Conner speaks, but quietly so only Superman can hear,
"I was really mad at you for a long time. Diana helped me realize that I was so mad and overcome it and realize what I was really afraid of."
"I've seen your new shirt," Clark admits. "They're wondering if you're our kid." Conner laughs.
"In a way, I kind of am. You are my father; you gave me my DNA and my own push into the world. But Diana is my mother. She raised me, taught me and loved me."
"I've spent a long time thinking about you," Clark tells him. "It's been over a year now, I know, but I..." He looks Conner in the eye. "I have no excuse for doing what I did to you. But I do have a reason. Being a Kryptonian is not easy. My father while he was only hologram and crystal put me through a great many trials. And I did not know if I could take such a new life and do the same thing to him. You are me, Conner, twenty years ago. But unlike me you had someone who could teach you control. That someone should have been me. In a way, though, I'm very glad it was Diana."
"We can't go back," Conner replies.
"No, but we can move forward," Clark says. "With yours and your mother's permission, I'd like to start taking you up to the Fortress of Solitude, and teach you more about your powers and your heritage."
"You made me wait over a year," Conner says.
"Honestly, I expect you to make me wait longer," Clark replies. "But, when you're ready, of course. When you want this. I'm no longer afraid I'll mess you up or do something terrible. Because well, you're already a strong confidant man. Thanks to Diana." Superman rests a hand on Conner's shoulder as Conner nods.
"Give me a while. Maybe not a year...but a while." Superman nods too and gives a little smile. Then, he squints at Conner and puts his hand against Conner's face.
"You...you got a tan?" Superman asks.
"When I was on Themyscira," Conner says. "I was in the sun all the time."
"Conner I hate to tell you this, but Kryptonian physiology does not allow a yellow sun to tan us. We absorb the radiation to create our powers and abilities," Superman says.
"What are you saying?" For the first time in a long time, Conner feels fear deep down in his heart.
"Call your mother," Clark tells him. "We need to go to watch tower to check something out." He squeezes Conner's shoulder. "It'll be all right."
And somehow, Conner believes him. But mostly, because he knows Diana will be right by his side.
OMAKE: Wonder Woman Takes Charge.
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow. Before her stood the team Young Justice. Many of them were squirming under her intense gaze, as she sized each and everyone of them up. Aqualad remained calm, however, so did Superboy. Actually, Superboy looked...put out for some reason.
Robin raised his hand.
"Yes, Robin?" Wonder Woman said.
"Um, where's Black Canary, ma'am?" Polite. Bruce has taught the child a thing or two.
"Black Canary was required to be on duty today," Wonder Woman answered. "Since I am not, I volunteered to take on your training for today. Now, which one of you can tell me what Black Canary normally has you do?"
When no one else moved, Aqualad slowly raised his hand. "Yes, Aqualad."
"Black Canary normally has us spar or run simulations, Wonder Woman. Then we receive feedback about our process and what we could have done better." Wonder Woman nodded.
"So, aside from your missions, you have nearly no practical application?" she asked. Aqualad frowned.
"I suppose that is one way of looking at it." Wonder Woman nods.
"All right then, today the six of you will help me patrol." The six of them stared for a moment before Kid Flash piped up,
"What?" Wonder Woman had the district feeling that this might be a long day. Superboy still did not say a word.
"You do know that's what the simulator is for, right?" Batman asked over the comm link. Wonder Woman rolled her eyes. "I saw that."
"Machines can only go so far. Besides, I will be with them and step in if it goes too far. You know that." Batman does not say anything for a moment before he adds,
"Make sure to have them back by six. Robin has a project to finish for school."
When she asked them how they should split up, the kids stared at her again, before trying to think of the answer.
"Teams of two?" M'Gann suggested. "Because there are six of us, and since we are in training and do not know what to expect we should not be alone."
"Good, but who will be paired with whom?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Well, Artemis and I shouldn't be together," Robin pointed out. "Neither should KF and I, and Kaldur and Superboy are both stronger than normal so they probably shouldn't be paired together either."
"Artemis shall be paired with M'gann, Superboy and Robin should go together, and I will partner with Kid Flash," Aqualad finished. Wonder Women nodded,
"Good decision. Now, Artemis, Miss Martian, you will head west. Kid Flash, Aqualad go South. Superboy and Robin, you head north and I will take the east. Check in over your comm links every five minutes. If you do not, I will assume something is wrong and come looking for you. Do you understand?" The six of them nodded, and she checked over all of them to make sure that they do understand. Superboy, through the whole ordeal remains stoic. "Good, dismissed. Radio and report back here when you are finished with your patrol and sweep."
"Yes Wonder Woman," they chorused. Except Superboy.
As Wonder Woman flew over the city She could not help but feel there was something wrong with the boy. Not because he was a clone, but because he was so unfeeling, so uncaring about what was going on around him. He did not even speak when spoken to. She wondered what he was like when he was alone with his team mates. Did he get along with them? Did he speak at all. Was he socialized?
Was he angry at Superman?
"Stupid question, Diana," she chastised herself. Of course he was angry at Superman. She was still angry at Superman for doing what he did and not contacting the boy. He was practically a baby, when you thought about it, and even if Cadmus had implanted knowledge in his head he still did not know about people. That was not something you could learn in a tube.
"Robin to Wonder Woman?" Panic lay under the boy wonder's voice.
"This is Wonder Woman."
"Robbery, 34th and Hampton, going South. It's Cheetah. Superboy and I are in pursuit."
"Rodger. Team, rondeveaux."
"Rodger!" called four other voices in her ear as she flew off, in search of Cheetah and the boys.
They were not hard to find, as Superboy shook the ground with each leap after Cheetah. She flew as fast as she could, but when she landed, Superboy already had a powerful grip on the villainess' shoulder, and Cheetah was howling in pain.
"I will do anything you want, just make him let go!" she declared. Wonder Woman grabbed Cheetah by her good arm, and commanded,
"Superboy, let her go." He obeyed, and looked like he had something to say, but the words were stuck in his mouth. A pair of hand cuffs were offered to her, and Wonder Woman thanked Robin for them. Her hands free, she examined the shoulder and was grateful not to find it crushed; Superboy had only dislocated it with his powerful squeeze.
She fixed her enemy's shoulder and handed the other woman off to the police, and turned to the team.
"You responded well enough," she said. "But strive each time to be faster. Have you finished your patrol of your sectors?"
"No Wonder Woman," the group chorused. Except Superboy.
"Then return to your posts." All of them nodded. Except for Superboy.
She was seething after she finally reached Batman, once all of the children had been returned home or to Mount Justice, of course.
"This is about the boy," said Batman.
"Of course it's about the boy!" she cried. "Why haven't you done something about this?" Batman stared her down.
"Because I cannot replace Superman."
"You are a good father. You could easily help him."
"So could have any one of the league members," Batman retorted. "They're waiting for Superman to get off his ass. I'm waiting for Superboy to see that he doesn't need Superman's approval."
"Everyone wants someone's approval, Bruce! Robin wants yours! Superboy is Superman's son, of course he looks up to him, of course he wants someone to love him! He's a child, but he barely ever even speaks!" She could not tell, but behind the cowl, she swore Batman raised an eyebrow at her. "I want to train him. I want..." Wonder Woman squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find out what she really did want. "I want to be to him, what you are for Robin." Batman stared her down again, but slowly nodded.
"Three weeks, make your move soon. He shouldn't be seperated from his team for too long."
The next day, Wonder Woman went to Mount Justice. She spoke to Dinah about Superboy, questioning the woman about his habits and anything that might uncover a little bit more about him.
"There's not much to say," Dinah surmised. That was what Wonder Woman had been afraid of. "He does need some help on his martial arts. He's getting better, but still holding back a little. Like he's afraid to hurt someone. He has trouble letting go."
"Thank you Dinah," she said. Dinah nodded.
"Treat him right, Diana. I think he really needs it." Diana nodded and left for the weights room, to locate her new charge. He was lifting what must have been several hundred pounds, when he let them slam down.
"You know," she said, "that isn't good for the weights."
He had been lifting weights in his constant state of frustration that he had been in since leaving Cadmus. He knew facts, history, science, reading and writing, but nothing could have prepared him for human interaction or this frustration that was constantly mounting in his head making him angry that he just could not understand his own body and his emotions and the team. Nothing made sense. And of course, there was Superman. Superboy dropped the straps to the weight machine, making the weights clatter against one another.
"You know, that isn't good for the machine." She wore her star spangled uniform and her voice was sotto, not a reprimanding as it could have been.
"Yeah, I know," Superboy retorted.
"Dinah tells me that your martial arts are going well, but you seem to be holding back, and this is stunting you," Wonder Woman said. "I was wondering if you would like to train with someone who has super strength, like you." Superboy looked up at that. "I'm very well trained and have the gifts of many goddesses. You would not need to fear hurting me, Superboy."
"Would you really?" Superboy asked. A feeling was bubbling up inside him that had been in his chest since Superman had flown away from him the first time. The feeling that he was not worth the time of day.
"Of course," Wonder Woman said. "I've asked Black Canary and Batman if I may take you on a training trip. Now would be the most opportune time for both of us, as things are as...slow in my protectorate as they are on Mount Justice."
"What would I need?" Superboy asked. Wonder Woman smiles at him.
"All you will need, Superboy, is to make me a promise that you will talk to me. Tell me when something does not make sense; tell me when you are frustrated and angry. Together we will work these things out."
Superboy's tongue sticks to the bottom of his mouth, because he is not sure that he can do this for her. But he swallows, and takes his time, and nods.
"Yes, Wonder Woman, I will."
She takes him into the Rocky Mountains. It's late summer and they don't have a tent, the days get hot but the night melt into almost freezing temperatures. Wonder Woman brought with them wilderness clothes for both of them. She brought him trousers, a coat with a good lining that keeps him warm, and a shirt without an s-shield. Wonder Woman wears a white tunic and brown trousers, and insists it is all she needs.
The first things she teaches him are all about foraging in the forest. Superboy learns how to build a fire with nothing but his hands and the things around him. He learns very quickly it is always a bad idea to drink mountain water without boiling it first. He learns how to catch fish by patiently watching rivers and streams. She teaches him how to make and find shelters. Wonder Woman tells him that if the need arises, he will also learn how to kill predators. "But this is their land," she says. "We must respect that as well."
When he has learned how to take care of himself, and they have built a respectable camp together, Wonder Woman makes him run. No super powers, just good, old fashion running. Through the forest, up the nearest hill and then up the nearest mountain.
"Why am I doing this?" he asks on his third run. "I do not understand."
"There are some things that I cannot so much teach you as hope you will learn," she answers, running up the hill beside him. "This will help with that."
Wonder Woman does not tell him what it is he is supposed to be learning, but by the way she smiles when she says it, he knows she would not tell even if she felt she could.
When they are not running, Wonder Woman sits with her eyes closed and her legs cross and does not move for much time. Superboy does not understand how she can sit still for such a long time, but then thinks to the times he sits and watches the static on the TV. He doesn't like quiet time though, because he hates the thoughts that creep into his head.
"Why do you do it?" he asks one night when she is finished.
"It is one way that helps me find peace, and helps me resolve conflicts with myself." Superboy tries it a few times, but always ends up feeling restless, each time becoming shorter than the last.
Then one morning, he wakes before the sun and Wonder Woman. He feels so restless, he scratches out a note in the dirt, and goes running through the forest. He runs for miles, and does not stop running until he trips over a large log. He feels angry.
Why? asks a small part of himself. The log could not help being there. The anger dissolves. Superboy sits on the log, and looks up to see that the run has begun its run across the sky. He looks down at the roots of a tree he's uncovered by his run and trip. He looks at the tree, mighty and tall and thick around its trunk. What it must have survived to be that large. Superboy looked at the tree, and kept looking. He did not move, for his body had had the restlessness beaten from it. When twilight fell, he stood and began running back to their camp.
When he returns, Wonder Woman is tending the fire, and looks up at him, but does not speak.
"I'm angry," he says, "really, really angry, and I thought that was because he...he can't look at me, and I wanted something from him, something he didn't try to give me. But it's not. It's because I'm afraid that I will always be like this, always having people turn away from me because I'm not...because I'm not Superman, and I...I'm not good enough for him."
Wonder Woman take him in her arms, and Superboy does not even realize he's been crying until her shoulder gets so wet.
"Anger is often easier than fear, but today you have chosen a very brave path." She's smiling when she pulls away. "Now we can truly begin."
They still go for runs, but Wonder Woman has decided that it is time to integrate philosophy into those runs. She teaches him hand combat, the kind they would have used in Greek times. She even pulls out short swords from the invisible jet, and teaches him to throw a discus and javelin.
"It's a pity I could not take you to Themyscira," Wonder Woman tells him. "For then you could train against one hundred amazon warriors."
"That would be interesting," he says as he blocks her punch. "I would like to meet the women who raised you."
After many weeks, when the days are getting colder and short, Wonder Woman tells him that they will be leaving.
"There is something I wanted to ask you, though," she says, looking into the fire. "I am known as Diana Prince in my day to day life. But you do not yet have a name. Have you thought of what you would like to be called in civilian life?"
"A little," he admits.
"Have you chosen a name?"
"Conner," he admits. She smiles at him.
"I was wondering, then, if you might like to be called Conner Prince?" she asks. At first, he is not sure what she means, but then the thought comes to him, and he is almost overwhelmed by it, but smiles, and nods.
"Yes, I would like that very much."
Diana, as it turns out, is a rather successful business woman, and was able to take three weeks off due to a family emergency, and returns as the guardian of her sixteen-year-old nephew. She owns a spacious two bedroom apartment, the second bedroom of which now belongs to Conner. They spend the weekend painting it blue and buying him a wardrobe (courtesy of Batman, apparently). Diana also enrolls him school, which starts in a few weeks. She cooks a Greek dinner, and has Conner help so that she can teach him.
When he returns to Mount Justice while Diana goes to work, he feels like a completely different person. The team notices right away.
"DUDE!" Wally exclaims. "You're smiling! Welcome back!" Wally hugs him, and Conner hugs back, once he gets over the shock. "Dude, you give good hugs. Seriously, Rob, come hug him, he gives good hugs." The whole team is there and they each give him a hug, though M'gann blushes as she does.
"We made a welcome back cake," M'gann says. "Wally helped me mix the ingredients and then we all tried to decorate it, so it looks very...colorful." Colorful meant that the cake was covered in different splotches of colored icing. But it tasted good, and his friends quizzed him on all Wonder Woman had taught him while he was away, so he really did not mind.
"Must have been awesome, training with a kick ass Amazon," Artemis says, punching her fist into her hand. "I wish I could go the Themyscira and become an amazon." Black Canary finds them and announces that now that they've had their fill of cake, it's time to train. Everyone groans, but Conner volunteers first to give their stomachs time to recover.
"I want to go up against you," Robin says. "No worries though, I'm totally pro at dodging and I want to see what you've learned." Superboy smiles, and somehow, even with this new found confidence, Robin kicks his ass. From the floor, though, Superboy smiles.
"Best two out of three?" he asks. Robin grins back,
"Sweet!"
Between his days at Young Justice, and his nights at the Prince residence, Conner notices that Diana keeps an electric piano in the corner of the living room. One night, after work, she comes home and hands him a beginner’s guide to playing piano.
"What?" she asks. "You thought I didn't notice. Besides, you can take piano lessons at your new school, so you might as well start learning now."
"Thanks," he said, opening the book.
A day before they go to his school so that he can register for classes and take placement tests, Diana presents him with a pair of glasses and a small, jewelry case.
"You're different, Conner, even from your other members on the team. Their abilities and masks make them easier to hide."
"Mine do not," Conner fills in, putting on the glasses. A month ago, he would not have been able to say such a thing without feeling angry. "How do I look?"
"Very charming," she says as he opens the box. The blue arrow head makes him feel different. Not sick, but...is this what humans feel like. "It's blue kryptonite," Diana explains. "It won't make you sick, and long term exposure will not cause you harm, but it essentially renders you human. The case is lead lined, so if you ever need to go super, put it in there and you'll be fine." Conner puts it on, and relishes the vulnerability.
When he registers for classes, the school happily informs him that he will be able to dive right into his major areas of study and only have to take a few graduation requirements on the side. He picks business as one of his areas of study, and musical arts as the other. He signs up for classes in economics, business practices, leadership, piano, voice, theater, and then a few classes for his graduation requirements like history and higher level math and English. Conner almost puts down that he wants to take Greek, but Diana advises him otherwise.
"I can teach you Greek," she says. So he picks Mandarin.
His first day of school arrives, and though he feels hopelessly normal, he wonders if he'll be able to make it through the day. He finds himself staring up at the school, when he feels a pair of eyes on him. He turns to see a girl with sky blue eyes and brown hair pulled back into a pony tail studying him.
"You're new, aren't you?" she asks.
"Yeah." She thrusts out her hand,
"Eureka Jones, pleased to meet you."
"Conner Prince, nice to meet you too."
Eureka mentors him, but unlike Diana, she's wild. Everything about her was free and wide open, and her energy was everywhere. She was a guitarist and a singer who wanted to be a rock star and everyone thought she would make it (though she was also studying business to fall back on). She was ecstatic when Conner told her he was taking piano and voice and also helped him in music theory. She also introduced him to a lot of people in the school.
She takes him home to meet her family after two weeks of knowing him. Colonel Jones is just as loud in spirit as she is, boisterous and kind, and Eureka has his dark brown hair, but their eyes are not quite the same color blue. Maverick, her brother, though dark skinned, is affectionate and loves Keats, Byron and long range shooting. He banters with Col. about many things, though they are playful. Dr. Jones is a quiet man, whose aura hums just about his skin and he smiles at Conner. He and Maverick look just a like and when Conner goes home for the night, Dr. Jones says,
"Thank you."
"For what?" Conner asks.
"You understood that even though we are very different, and through many strange circumstances, we are family. You asked no questions. Thank you for that."
It is from him, Conner is sure, Eureka learned to know when people needed quiet, and she always knew when he needed silence, and would not even hum to interrupt his thoughts. She was smart, and driven, and Diana liked her instantly, so there was no getting rid of her.
But Conner liked the company she brought him.
One night after they left from the Jones' house, Diana tells him,
"You know I'll always love you no matter what choices you make, or who you are, right?"
"Yes," Conner says.
It's not until he catches himself checking out a guy that he realizes why she said that to him.
He marches right up to Eureka, who greets him cheerfully and introduces her boyfriend and friends who are visiting from Bellwood, before Conner asks,
"Did you tell Diana I was gay?" The visitors from Bellwood are not quite sure what to say to that, but Eureka keeps her cool,
"Sweetie, Diana's thought that you might be gay for a while. She asked my dad’s for advice, considering you know, they are gay and have been married for almost twenty years. We were all trying to give you space, so you could find out on your own, if you were gay or bisexual, or maybe we were reading you wrong and you really were straight. We wanted you to make your own discovery." Conner runs a hand through his hair and grunts. Eureka looks to her blonde boyfriend who nods, and before he can stop her, Eureka kisses him. It's not chaste, but there isn't any tongue either, but it just feels kind of gross.
He pulls away to tell her, "You're like my sister, that's just gross." Eureka shrugs.
"Well then, I'd find somebody to kiss who isn't like your brother or your sister. Or maybe you can just introspect and figure this out."
He goes to the team, because they've known him since he was technically born, but he's always felt that they were his friends not his brothers/sisters. And he knows for a fact that most Atlanteans like both sexes, Wally dated some guy named Piper, and Artemis and M'gann would be more than willing to help (Robin, fourteen though he may be is not included in his survey).
"I need your help with something," he says. "I...I have something to tell everyone that I'm not really sure about yet and--"
"Dudeyou'renotdyingareyou?" Wally asks in a rush.
"No!" Conner protests. "I just think I'm gay." Wally nods emphatically, and says,
"Oh, okay then." When Wally kisses him, Conner's first thought is that he should introduce them to Eureka, but on a second thought, that might be a bad idea for him. But, Conner kind of likes the kiss, even if it is Wally. "How'sat?" Wally asks.
"It was good," Conner replied. Artemis gives M'gann a shrug, and she shyly floats to Superboy, wrapping her arms around his neck before she kisses him. It's almost the same kiss Wally gave him, though a little slower, though Conner doesn't find himself enjoying it that much. M'gann pulls away just as shyly, but nods.
"I understand then," she says.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you," he replies, because recently he had begun to come aware of M'gann's crush. She shakes her head softly.
"Never be sorry for who you are," she tells him, and proceeds to give him a hug. And then everyone gives him a hug at once. Conner feels at peace.
So Conner goes to school. Weekends and the occasional week night are devoted to Young Justice and saving the world from various crises. He learns piano at a rate that surprises and gives joy to instructors. He tries out for the school musical and gets the part of the Baker in Into the Woods. He hangs out with his friends from school, and at random with his friends from the team. He's learning to cook. Conner feels human. He feels at peace.
One night, Diana's a little late getting home, so Conner starts dinner. He's almost finished when he hears her come in.
"I made Thai food!" he calls.
"How much?" she calls back.
"Enough for seconds and leftovers!" he replies.
"Oh, good," Diana says, coming into the kitchen, followed by a woman who was only slightly older, but looked very much like Diana. She takes him in and smiles kindly at him.
"Hello," she says, "I am Hippolyta."
"You're the queen of the amazons," Conner replies. She nods,
"You are correct."
"You are also letting the food get a little too cooked," Diana reminds him, causing Conner to turn back and rescue his food. He turns off the burners and dishes it out, arranging three plates, and Queen Hippolyta joins them at their small table.
"Diana tells me you are doing very well in school Conner, that your instructors sing your praises," Hippolyta says during the meal. "Do you enjoy your studies?"
"Very much so," Conner says. "I'm looking forward to getting some more challenging classes next semester and in my senior year."
"That is good; it is always good that we continue to challenge ourselves. I hear you will also be in a play?" she asks. "I hope to see it while I stay with you and Diana."
"Yes, it opens this week," he says. "I'm in dress rehearsals for the next two days before we open."
"I will look forward to seeing it," Hippolyta said. "Tomorrow I will be going to work with Diana for part of the day. Perhaps I could go to school with you the day after?"
"All right," Conner says, because what else do you say to the queen of the amazons?
Having Hippolyta follow him around is a little strange, because he has to introduce her as his grandmother, and he's so afraid that he's going to do something to offend her. But she wears her name badge at all times, is quiet and not easily offend, speaks gently with his professors while he does his work, and even participates in gym class.
"Okay kids, if Conner's grandmother can beat you in the mile, I think you all might be in trouble," the coach says. Everyone runs extra fast while Hippolyta takes a leisurely jog.
She's also really smart, and participates in some of the discussions, like in his History of Politics Class. But then again she is the queen of the amazons. His friends like her, because she's classy and Eureka even wants to be like her someday. The drama professor does not protest when she sits quietly for the dress rehearsal, though no one is really allowed in.
When they take a taxi back home, she says,
"Diana has asked if you may come and visit Themyscira over your summer break. I came to judge and see if you would be worthy of such an honor." Conner's eyes widen at the thought of being able to see the amazon island. "I have decided that you are should you be on your best behavior when training there."
"I, I will!" he declares. "Thank you Hippolyta." She smiles warmly at him.
"Child, I think you should call me, Gigia."
The play is fantastic, everyone does really well, and Conner feels like he can fly. So much so, he accidently lifts off back stage and has to remember himself before anyone notices.
"Dude!" Wally runs up to him the second he leaves the green room. "You totally should have told us you were going to be in a play before I got this thing in the mail telling me to come see you!" He hugs Conner before he hands him a small bouquet of flowers. "It's a performer thing. You'll be getting them all the time now."
Everyone is there. The Flash clan (including, strangely enough the Flash Rogues), Kaldur came with two of his friends from Atlantis, and Aquaman and Aquaman's wife, M'gann and the Martian Manhunter are present as well as Artemis and her mother, and a strange, short dark haired boy Superboy is fairly sure is Robin, and a dark haired man Diana is talking to who Superboy is sure is Batman. Why else would Bruce Wayne come to a high school play?
"Well done, Conner," Hippolyta hummed when she saw him. She embraces him, before letting Diana do the same.
"I am so proud of you," Diana tells him.
"Conner!" Conner looks up to see Col. and Dr. Jones with Eureka and Maverick.
"You have a big family," Dr. Jones says with a wink. He holds out a shoe box.
"It's not actual shoes," the Col. explained. "We just thought you might like something other than flowers."
Inside the box is a teddy bear, dressed in the boy version of a Wonder Woman outfit.
"It's a Wonder Bear!" Wally declares. "Mom, Dad, can I get a Flash bear?"
"For your birthday," says Wally's dad.
Diana and many of the other supers present look almost horrified at the Jones family, who do their best at playing innocent.
"Don't worry," Eureka says. "We're really good at keeping secrets."
"She is," Conner vouches. "I know absolutely nothing about that girl." That does not make the adults feel better.
Time goes on. He goes to school, he helps save the world, and Conner feels like he is a person now. He feels good. He visits the amazons and trains with them, and they all like him (but only after they hear that seeing them naked will not make him rise to the occasion). More powers begin to develop. He trains hard. He becomes stronger.
He gets a new shirt made. It's red, but it still has an s-shield on the back. But on the front, there is a golden wreath. When he shows it to Diana, she nearly cries, and hugs him tight.
When Black Canary catches him wearing it, she laughs and says,
"Just be glad I didn't take you as my side kick."
"I don't think I could pull off the fish nets," he replies.
Superman is at his school, as the reporter Clark Kent, doing a story on their innovative way of teaching. Conner, as one of the most prominent students in the school, has been asked to give him a tour. They are forced together, and Conner has been wondering how this would go for years. Clark Kent is asking questions with frequent regularity, which Conner answers easily as they continue on the tour.
"You're a senior now?" Clark asks.
"Yes, I'm seventeen, one of the youngest in my class, actually, but I was born in July, before the cutoff date," Conner explains. He sees Superman behind Clark's glasses wanting to ask some questions. Conner speaks, but quietly so only Superman can hear,
"I was really mad at you for a long time. Diana helped me realize that I was so mad and overcome it and realize what I was really afraid of."
"I've seen your new shirt," Clark admits. "They're wondering if you're our kid." Conner laughs.
"In a way, I kind of am. You are my father; you gave me my DNA and my own push into the world. But Diana is my mother. She raised me, taught me and loved me."
"I've spent a long time thinking about you," Clark tells him. "It's been over a year now, I know, but I..." He looks Conner in the eye. "I have no excuse for doing what I did to you. But I do have a reason. Being a Kryptonian is not easy. My father while he was only hologram and crystal put me through a great many trials. And I did not know if I could take such a new life and do the same thing to him. You are me, Conner, twenty years ago. But unlike me you had someone who could teach you control. That someone should have been me. In a way, though, I'm very glad it was Diana."
"We can't go back," Conner replies.
"No, but we can move forward," Clark says. "With yours and your mother's permission, I'd like to start taking you up to the Fortress of Solitude, and teach you more about your powers and your heritage."
"You made me wait over a year," Conner says.
"Honestly, I expect you to make me wait longer," Clark replies. "But, when you're ready, of course. When you want this. I'm no longer afraid I'll mess you up or do something terrible. Because well, you're already a strong confidant man. Thanks to Diana." Superman rests a hand on Conner's shoulder as Conner nods.
"Give me a while. Maybe not a year...but a while." Superman nods too and gives a little smile. Then, he squints at Conner and puts his hand against Conner's face.
"You...you got a tan?" Superman asks.
"When I was on Themyscira," Conner says. "I was in the sun all the time."
"Conner I hate to tell you this, but Kryptonian physiology does not allow a yellow sun to tan us. We absorb the radiation to create our powers and abilities," Superman says.
"What are you saying?" For the first time in a long time, Conner feels fear deep down in his heart.
"Call your mother," Clark tells him. "We need to go to watch tower to check something out." He squeezes Conner's shoulder. "It'll be all right."
And somehow, Conner believes him. But mostly, because he knows Diana will be right by his side.
OMAKE: Wonder Woman Takes Charge.
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow. Before her stood the team Young Justice. Many of them were squirming under her intense gaze, as she sized each and everyone of them up. Aqualad remained calm, however, so did Superboy. Actually, Superboy looked...put out for some reason.
Robin raised his hand.
"Yes, Robin?" Wonder Woman said.
"Um, where's Black Canary, ma'am?" Polite. Bruce has taught the child a thing or two.
"Black Canary was required to be on duty today," Wonder Woman answered. "Since I am not, I volunteered to take on your training for today. Now, which one of you can tell me what Black Canary normally has you do?"
When no one else moved, Aqualad slowly raised his hand. "Yes, Aqualad."
"Black Canary normally has us spar or run simulations, Wonder Woman. Then we receive feedback about our process and what we could have done better." Wonder Woman nodded.
"So, aside from your missions, you have nearly no practical application?" she asked. Aqualad frowned.
"I suppose that is one way of looking at it." Wonder Woman nods.
"All right then, today the six of you will help me patrol." The six of them stared for a moment before Kid Flash piped up,
"What?" Wonder Woman had the district feeling that this might be a long day. Superboy still did not say a word.
"You do know that's what the simulator is for, right?" Batman asked over the comm link. Wonder Woman rolled her eyes. "I saw that."
"Machines can only go so far. Besides, I will be with them and step in if it goes too far. You know that." Batman does not say anything for a moment before he adds,
"Make sure to have them back by six. Robin has a project to finish for school."
When she asked them how they should split up, the kids stared at her again, before trying to think of the answer.
"Teams of two?" M'Gann suggested. "Because there are six of us, and since we are in training and do not know what to expect we should not be alone."
"Good, but who will be paired with whom?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Well, Artemis and I shouldn't be together," Robin pointed out. "Neither should KF and I, and Kaldur and Superboy are both stronger than normal so they probably shouldn't be paired together either."
"Artemis shall be paired with M'gann, Superboy and Robin should go together, and I will partner with Kid Flash," Aqualad finished. Wonder Women nodded,
"Good decision. Now, Artemis, Miss Martian, you will head west. Kid Flash, Aqualad go South. Superboy and Robin, you head north and I will take the east. Check in over your comm links every five minutes. If you do not, I will assume something is wrong and come looking for you. Do you understand?" The six of them nodded, and she checked over all of them to make sure that they do understand. Superboy, through the whole ordeal remains stoic. "Good, dismissed. Radio and report back here when you are finished with your patrol and sweep."
"Yes Wonder Woman," they chorused. Except Superboy.
As Wonder Woman flew over the city She could not help but feel there was something wrong with the boy. Not because he was a clone, but because he was so unfeeling, so uncaring about what was going on around him. He did not even speak when spoken to. She wondered what he was like when he was alone with his team mates. Did he get along with them? Did he speak at all. Was he socialized?
Was he angry at Superman?
"Stupid question, Diana," she chastised herself. Of course he was angry at Superman. She was still angry at Superman for doing what he did and not contacting the boy. He was practically a baby, when you thought about it, and even if Cadmus had implanted knowledge in his head he still did not know about people. That was not something you could learn in a tube.
"Robin to Wonder Woman?" Panic lay under the boy wonder's voice.
"This is Wonder Woman."
"Robbery, 34th and Hampton, going South. It's Cheetah. Superboy and I are in pursuit."
"Rodger. Team, rondeveaux."
"Rodger!" called four other voices in her ear as she flew off, in search of Cheetah and the boys.
They were not hard to find, as Superboy shook the ground with each leap after Cheetah. She flew as fast as she could, but when she landed, Superboy already had a powerful grip on the villainess' shoulder, and Cheetah was howling in pain.
"I will do anything you want, just make him let go!" she declared. Wonder Woman grabbed Cheetah by her good arm, and commanded,
"Superboy, let her go." He obeyed, and looked like he had something to say, but the words were stuck in his mouth. A pair of hand cuffs were offered to her, and Wonder Woman thanked Robin for them. Her hands free, she examined the shoulder and was grateful not to find it crushed; Superboy had only dislocated it with his powerful squeeze.
She fixed her enemy's shoulder and handed the other woman off to the police, and turned to the team.
"You responded well enough," she said. "But strive each time to be faster. Have you finished your patrol of your sectors?"
"No Wonder Woman," the group chorused. Except Superboy.
"Then return to your posts." All of them nodded. Except for Superboy.
She was seething after she finally reached Batman, once all of the children had been returned home or to Mount Justice, of course.
"This is about the boy," said Batman.
"Of course it's about the boy!" she cried. "Why haven't you done something about this?" Batman stared her down.
"Because I cannot replace Superman."
"You are a good father. You could easily help him."
"So could have any one of the league members," Batman retorted. "They're waiting for Superman to get off his ass. I'm waiting for Superboy to see that he doesn't need Superman's approval."
"Everyone wants someone's approval, Bruce! Robin wants yours! Superboy is Superman's son, of course he looks up to him, of course he wants someone to love him! He's a child, but he barely ever even speaks!" She could not tell, but behind the cowl, she swore Batman raised an eyebrow at her. "I want to train him. I want..." Wonder Woman squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find out what she really did want. "I want to be to him, what you are for Robin." Batman stared her down again, but slowly nodded.
"Three weeks, make your move soon. He shouldn't be seperated from his team for too long."
The next day, Wonder Woman went to Mount Justice. She spoke to Dinah about Superboy, questioning the woman about his habits and anything that might uncover a little bit more about him.
"There's not much to say," Dinah surmised. That was what Wonder Woman had been afraid of. "He does need some help on his martial arts. He's getting better, but still holding back a little. Like he's afraid to hurt someone. He has trouble letting go."
"Thank you Dinah," she said. Dinah nodded.
"Treat him right, Diana. I think he really needs it." Diana nodded and left for the weights room, to locate her new charge. He was lifting what must have been several hundred pounds, when he let them slam down.
"You know," she said, "that isn't good for the weights."