True to her word, Caitlin Fairchild treated him no better than a bodyguard. He drove them to the concert in his motorcycle all the while complaining why he didn't get a car instead. There was no way she didn't understand how amazing motorcycles were so he ignored her. They made it to the concert too early at her demand to get a good place. It was annoying because he knew they could have waited until the last minute and she would still have used him to get to the front of the concert. Even though the event hadn't started, she made him carry her on his shoulder and carelessly pulled his hair as it turned out she had a terrible equilibrium. He was just about to put her down and leave when the lights were dimmed and she held to his head no better than a frightened monkey.
"Don't drop me."
He resigned himself to staying until the bands took a break though he wasn't sure that would happen in this concert. He had gone to a few concerts with his friends at their insistence years back, but the set up was different. This was somewhat smaller and with a lot less space between bodies. He had seen the names of some of the bands in the way in but had no idea who they were and the clothing of those attending told him at least that it wasn't the usual music he listened to.
A fast electric beat started to play and people screamed with excitement as the lights became slightly brighter to reveal the band which consisted of two men. Definitely not the kind of music he listened to but not unbearable. As the beat started to pick up Catlin started to jump on his shoulder and pull his hair even harder. Thank Rao for invulnerability.
"Move like you have a soul," she told him as she kept jumping. He was the only one in the crowd that wasn't following the rhythm.
Workin' your fingers to the bone
Driving you mad and you should've known
Wrap it up baby I'm takin' you home,
Get off your throne
I want you alone
Take just a little bit of time
Just to make you feel right
Just enough to ease the bite
Hit the lights
You've got pressure dripping off your shoulders
Let me be the one to relieve it.
Lets get unprofessional
Don't you know it's gonna' feel much better with
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Just a little bit of
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Is what you need
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Just a little bit of
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Is what you need
Feeling the tension, feeling the stress
I've got a motion I wanna' confess
Looking so good when your hair is a mess
I'm tearing the buttons right off of your dress
(OH)
Working you overtime
I'm getting you over the line
I'm climbing your ladder and making you better
Cos' it's what you need
You've got pressure dripping off your shoulders
Let me be the one to relieve it.
Lets get unprofessional
Don't you know it's gonna' feel much better with
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Just a little bit of
(OH)
Just a little bit of
(AH)
Is what you need
"There might be hope for you!" she shouted as the next song started to play. He realized he was jumping up and down with the rest of the crowd. No group or DJ played more than two songs. Groups started throwing glow in the dark paint at those near the stage. It was the main reason why Caitlin wanted to be carried. He wished she would have warned him. The phosphorescent paint, the led lights, the laser shows, and the fast hearts were infectious. As the concert progressed he realized it wasn't really a concert but a rave, a really big one. He had heard of them but never thought he would be in one.
And let beat control your body
And let beat control your body
And let beat control your body
And let beat control your body
And let beat
And let beat
And let beat…
When the whole thing was over his hair was a mess sticking in all directions and stiff with paint, his feet actually hurt, and he couldn't stop his heart from beating at the rhythm of the songs he heard.
"You look like you discovered the world," Caitlin said laughing at his still shocked expression. "I am guessing that was your first."
"There was rock," he recognize some of the rhythms, but they were different in a way he couldn't describe.
"Repeat after me, progressive rock," she continued to laugh before telling him of the other types of music that were played. It was an event where different experimenting DJs and band came to test their rhythms. You could be listening to a one hit wonder or the next big thing. The whole thing had been a mesh of Progressive genres, House, trance, Balearic beat, Dubstep, Electronica and Electronic (though he didn't get the difference) and many others he had never heard of. He drove her back home and realized he had forgotten completely of the interview the next day. It was strange, but he actually felt relaxed.
When she started to get off the motorcycle their paint soaked clothes made the most horrible of sounds before they stared at each other shock then they laughed.
"So," she said after a moment, "does this mean the mysterious Conner Kent will take me out again?"
"Fine," he said simply.
"Oh, don't act like you are doing me a favor," she said punching his shoulder and getting another strange sound that got them laughing. "Break a leg tomorrow," she said before she walked into her building.
He didn't care that his clothes were ruined, or that it would be a pain to remove the paint from his motorcycle, he had a great time. After parking his motorcycle in the building's garage, his phone rang. He already knew who it was and answered, otherwise she might even show up at his door demanding for details.
"Hey Lori," he said casually.
"Don't 'Hey Lori,' me. Spill it," she demanded.
"I had a good time," he said with a verbal shrug.
"For a wannabe journalist you suck at reporting," she said with a sigh. "C'mon!" she begged, "I won't be able to sleep!"
"Lori," he sighed, "I really did have a great time and I am thankful that you told me about Caitlin-"
"But I am getting in the way, I get it," she said saddened doing one of her one-eighty mood swings.
"No," he said a little too fast. She had to be at her best tomorrow and making her upset could throw everything off. He rarely saw necessary to talk about himself, and didn't get why other people were so eager to spill everything out, "but it's something that's difficult for me to talk about."
"Oh, Ohh! Okay, I get it!" from her tone, she got a whole different idea. "Sorry! Well not sorry for you, but oh..."
"Lori!" he said exasperatedly.
"Don't worry! I won't ask again," she said before hanging up.
He looked at his phone as if it was his worst enemy before swallowing his pride and taking a picture of himself using the elevator's mirror wall. He didn't smile or pose. It was embarrassing enough he was taking the picture knowing it might be seen by the rest of his friends.
'Not what you think,' he typed on the message before sending it to Lori. Next thing she did was spam his phone with countless laughing faces. Then, she took his paint stained picture and added a caption 'this is me happy'. Befriend a Luthor, expect to be mocked. He made sure he didn't get the floors dirty with the glowing paint though he knew it would be an interesting sight until the floor got cleaned. When he opened his apartment door ready for a shower and met four pairs of shocked eyes, he knew his night was far from over.
"Give me a hug!" shouted Bart before rushing at him with open arms.
He forgot about these guys and agreeing to let them stay at their place for the night
"Don't say a word," he said giving them measured stare as he kept Bart from latching to him with his powers.
"We are not," Tim said trying not to laugh.
"What happened to you?" Jaime asked shocked more than anything. He was in the kitchen with Kara, probably helping with a late dinner.
"He went on a date," Kara said looking at him as if he was a stranger.
"Not what you expected?" Tim asked still trying not to laugh, but failing miserably.
888
It wasn't even the crack of dawn and the he was already up and going over the program for the interview. He was reading over Lori's questions when someone knocked on his door obnoxiously fast. Bart would regret it if he left a mark.
"Come in," he said as he packed all that he would need for the interview.
"You are up, crash. Look, we ate all your food last night. So, we are going to get more. Want to come?" Bart said finishing with a wide smile.
"Give me a minute," he said double checking he had all he would need.
"M'gann is here," Tim said appearing at the door.
He already knew she was there. He had sensed her a while ago. When entering the living room he found the mess from the night before gone. Actually, the place was cleaner than before. He spotted Jaime fretting over his reflection though his bug suit would hide him completely. M'gann was next to him trying to calm him down. She had taken her old human form. It made him want to grind his teeth and at the same time talk about the old times.
"You are early," he said before she turned around shocked. As if she hadn't known he was already there. Why did she try to hard to appear human? He thought she had already accepted the part of her that was a white Martian.
"Good morning to you too," she said with a sharp smile. Her canines were long. Maybe he was wrong. "I wanted to get an early start."
"Much appreciated M'gann," Tim said giving him a reproaching look. He didn't apologize. Tim didn't fully understand how their powers set them at edge when near one another.
"Great timing! We were just going out for breakfast," Bart said either not being able to read the mood or trying to diffuse it. With him, it could be either one.
He took them to a small dinner in the block. They all ordered but then looked like they lost their appetite for the exception of Bart. As they poked at their food, M'gann went over her copy of the questions for the interview. In rare occasions, she asked him for clarification. She knew his style even before he choose to become a journalist. She wanted to be a lawyer though he wondered if she would really practice it.
"Gart wanted to come," she said as they left the dinner, "he really wants to join you."
"Eventually, he will," Tim said "he just needs to be patient."
"Patient? That's like asking Bart to slow down when eating," Jaime said dragging his feet. It was easy to tell from the bags under his eyes and cranky temper that he didn't sleep much.
"Not crash hermano, I can totally slow down. I just choose not to," Bart said with fake pride.
"You know there is a reason why you and Flash are banned from all you can eat buffets, right?" Tim said which even got him to laugh. It was a story heard at least once every New Year's party when they tried to keep the speedster from eating everything in sight.
The anxiety over the group started to diffuse.
"Conner!" and they were all on their toes again. Lori was waving at them enthusiastically.
"I will see you at the studio," he told them before going to her.
"I still can't believe she has Luthor's genes," Jaime said, "she is hot and not in the evil way."
"I don't want to hear it," Tim said trying to pull Jaime and Bart away from staring.
"She is pretty," he heard M'gann say before he tuned them out.
"Who are they?" Lori asked trying to catch another look at them.
"Some friends who are visiting from out of town, ready?" he asked pulling her wondering mind from them.
"Never been more in my life," she said emanating anxiety. There was also some sadness.
"Everything will be okay," he told her as they walked towards the car The New Daily Planet had lent them.
"God, I must look terrible. How do you know?" she said with a tight-lipped smile, "nothing ever goes right."
"I just do," he said. In his short life, he knew things ever went as planned but there was always a way to turn them around.
"Conner Kent, are you being nice?" she asked teasingly, "Caitlin really did an impression on you, didn't she Picasso Boy?"
"No one will ever believe you," he said in his most serious tone. Lori almost died of laughter.
888
The studio was next to The New Daily Planet building. Outside the studio stood an immense crowd waiting for the young heroes which worried him. They were still hours away from the interview and he could see a lot more people arriving. At the edges standing like a pair of sore thumbs were Clark and Lois.
"Thank God," Lori said spotting them too and rushing towards them. He was sure Clark had been pampering Lori while helping her with her project. Now, the young woman stuck to him like a defenseless kitten.
"Wait," he told her, "look at them."
He didn't need to look. He could hear them clearly. They were arguing again about the choice Clark made to leave the Planet almost two years ago. Lois, who would be taking White's place, wanted Clark back as a reporter. She was offering him all the freedom he wanted in his articles.
"Say," Lori said with a frown, "have those two ever…"
"Never," he said immediately feeling guilt.
For a short while, Clark and Lois had been together, but because of him they both got their memories altered. NOWHERE, the real organization responsible for his creation was the one to do it. For some reason, there was a particular list of individuals who must not know the truth about his real origin and purpose, whatever they were. These people couldn't be killed, so they changed the memories that led to their discoveries. Luthor didn't remember he had been close to finding who they were or that at some point he believed to be his other genetic donor. Lois didn't remember finding their secret identities and joining him in his search and in the way falling completely for Clark. Clark also got his memories changed to match hers though he was not involved as deeply in his search.
He didn't doubt NOWHERE were the ones to block most of his memories when he was weakened from fighting H'El. His new powers protected him from new memories being planted just barely. When he got his memories back, he had recognized the ghostly touch of someone's psychic tampering who was not H'El. He hated NOWHERE knew who they were and could probably do this anytime they wanted. It made him realize he couldn't involve them again or anyone else. He knew it was selfish to ask but to protect Lois, he asked Clark to not tell her. He had given his big brother an idea of what happened but also told him to not get involved.
At the time, the only other person who knew was Tim and he had asked him to stop helping him after their last talk. He didn't want his memories altered, especially since he was leading the Titans. He was one of his two backup plans. If they got to him, Tim would remind him of the truth. If that failed, he had given Blue his memory stick which only his scarab had access to. Not that it would help much if he couldn't find a new lead. All his other leads ran dry in the past few days and it was maddening. Dr. Spence hadn't sent him any more messages or clues. He feared they had finally gotten to her.
He had investigated some of the names from the list and knew who most of them were. Still, he didn't get what the missing daughter of Clue Master (though the name was obnoxiously relevant) had to do with anything. Then there was Cassandra Cain, who turned out to be the latest member of the Bats. All he knew about her was that she didn't speak and had been trained by the League of Assassins. Some of the people in the list like Lois, Lori, and Iris West were reporters and had a connection to capes and him.
"Earth to Conner," he had spaced out as they made their way in and led into their dressing rooms, "are you even listening to me?"
"Sorry Ms. Lane," he said staring at her through the mirror. Her emotions and words from the day before came back to him. She wished he had never entered her life.
"I told you- never mind," she said looking away from him before fidgeting with her phone, "I am guessing you won't be joining the Planet after you graduate, right?"
"I don't know yet," it was true he hadn't made up his mind.
"Right," she said rolling her eyes at him. She didn't believe him. He didn't blame her. With what was going on with her and Clark, the rational thing to do would be not to get involved. "Your clothes are in the closet, get changed, the makeup artist will be here in a few minutes." And then she left.
"You are distracted," Miss Martian said becoming visible. She had been in the room for a few minutes.
"Read my mind," he said standing up though he knew that was now impossible.
"For someone who asked me a favor, you don't seem very thankful," she said as she started to shift to look like him wearing the clothes he was supposed to wear for the interview. The clothing was casual, something Lois and Cat agreed on. They wanted to emphasize in his and Lori's youth. This was not just about the Titans, but also their debut as reporters or fresh meat like Cat tended to call them.
"Sorry," he said before taking a deep breath, "I am just nervous."
"I won't change the questions, I promise," Miss Martian said rotating her neck and getting in persona. "I am morally superior to all of you," kind of getting into persona.
"I don't do that," he said with a twitching eyebrow.
"Perfect," she said sarcastically. Okay, that was closer.
"You saw Lori, she is also my friend," and the young reporter was very observant, so she would notice if he behaved differently.
"I know," she said with a shrug, "not someone I would have thought you would befriend, but she checks out."
"You checked her mind?" of course she would.
"Only briefly; she thinks you believe she is annoying and is worried that you won't be her friend anymore after the interview since the project would be over. It's sort of cute," Miss Martian said with a mischievous smile.
"Treat her the same way I used to treat you. That means to let her talk until she tires and just nod your head even if you are not listening," he returned as he took off his clothes to only leave behind his suit.
"Jerk," she said sitting in front of the vanity mirror, "now, get out of my dressing room; someone is coming to finally make me pretty," she said still wearing his face and voice.
"M'gann," he said before she looked up at him, "thanks." She nodded with a fleeting smile before he left.
He went to the roof of a building nearby to wait for the rest. Miss Martian would be doing the interview in his place so his identity wouldn't be found. He could have asked Martian Manhunter, but he wanted to heal his friendship with her as much as possible. Maybe it didn't seem that way at first glance, but he missed her as a friend.
"You wrote half of the questions. You shouldn't be so worried," Red Robin said landing the Super-cycle with the rest of their team on the roof.
"I am not," he lied, "get ready."
"Hey guess what? The Team invited the rest to watch the whole thing at the Watchtower's screening room!" Kid Flash said looking more nervous than him.
"They are probably trying to convince some of them to join them instead," Blue said crossing his arms.
"Or they could be convincing some of the Team to join us," Red Robin before Blue smirked.
"You knew," he said to their leader.
"I talked to some of them yesterday about it. They know what to do," Red Robin said confidently. It made him wonder exactly what went through his mind.
The time finally arrived for them to make their entrance. He scanned the area for any potent weapons before he and Blue flew ahead followed by Kid Flash and Red Robin in the Supercycle. At once cameras started shooting pictures and videos of them. They were no longer afraid he would fry them. They believed the risk was worth it. When close enough Kid and Red jumped off the Supercycle. Then the Super-cycle flew away to a place where it would be noticed. They landed at the entrance of the building where Cat and Lois were waiting for them. The two women competed to get a word out of them almost pushing each other out of the way.
"It's so crash to be here!" they let Kid Flash take over in their end, "I mean like how often do you get to get to meet two of the most beautiful women in the news! Selfie!" he said putting his arms around their shoulders before the cameras started shooting.
"It's a selfie only if you are the one taking the picture," Blue said with a sigh before the cameras turned his way. "Shoot," he said before Kid Flash snuck into the shot.
"Blue, I feel special!" Kid Flash shouted getting laughs from everyone.
"Yeah, because the speedster thing didn't do it before, right?" Blue said before more cameras started recording.
"What about you two?" Cat asked him and Red Robin who stood to the side.
"Waiting for those two to finish their ego trips before we can start ours," he said looking at his friends. It seemed Kid Flash had convinced to Blue to do some poses for the cameras.
"Ms. Grant, Ms. Lane," Red Robin said respectfully before turning to Blue and Kid Flash who made the crowd laugh again, "enough, we are on a schedule."
"Aww! So bossy" Kid Flash said with a pout, "let me just get everyone an autograph of yours truly!" It took him about five seconds to sign every signature book, picture, and forehead from the crowd.
"Thank you," Blue said as he joined them.
"Not fond of interviews?" Lois asked trying to stir a reaction from him though it was not one she expected.
"Not used to them," Blue responded somewhat embarrassed, "though some people are just naturals."
"That's me!" Kid Flash shouted raising his hand.
"We hadn't noticed. Calm down before you vibrate through the floor," he said to the speedster believing he might actually do it.
"Lead the way," Red Robin said calmly to the two seasoned reporters.
The two women still didn't know who Red Robin was and gave each other a questioning look before leading them through the studio to where the real interview would take place. All the while Red Robin fed them statistic about young Metas around the world, their increasing number, and involvement in the world. Kid Flash and Blue kept the crowds entertained while he smiled at anyone who took notice of him, who were more people than he would have liked. They finally made it to the side of the stage where the fans were kept from following and the cameras stopped.
"That wasn't so bad," Kid Flash said before he started shaking again.
"Dude, your feet!" Blue said before they noticed Bart had vibrated himself to his knees through the floor.
"I am fine, I am fine!" Kid Flash jumped before landing on the floor, "see?"
"Oh my gosh! It's them!" he heard Lori before they spotted her and Miss Martian shaped as him walking towards them.
"Ms. Luthor," he said politely to which she cringed, "Conner," he said in a more familiar tone.
"Ready Kon El, guys?" 'Conner' asked them.
"We better be. Kid Flash is close to a cardiac attack," Blue said bringing the hyperventilating Kid Flash a bottle of water. "Hombre, and I thought I was nervous."
"Hermano, I don't think I am going to make it," Kid said before he picked him up from the floor, "sorry!"
"The interview will start in ten minutes. There is a snack table that way," 'Conner' told them, "any questions?"
"No other than the ones we already agreed on," Red Robin said.
"Of course," Lori said with a nervous smile before they excused themselves. "My God, I thought I was going to faint," he heard Lori say to Miss Martian.
"They might be capes, but they are also children. Don't worry so much," Miss Martian transformed as he said to Lori.
"Don't call us kids," he called out to them before they both turned shocked. People really had short memories when it came to their enhanced hearing. He gave them a measured glare.
"Well, they are still younger than us," Miss Martian said awkwardly to the still shocked Lori before they left their sight.
"But my name is Kid Flash," Bart complained before looking worried, "am I out of the team?"
"No, you are just losing your mind," Blue told his friend before leading him to the snack table.
"I thought you were supposed to be the friendly one," Red Robin told him as they followed them.
"I am," he said with a shrug, "and I am also the protective and nurturing big brother of the group. You are our serious, cool headed and overly mature leader. Kid Flash is our lovable, funny, and careless goof. Blue is our shy, awkward and sincere wallflower."
"You have been thinking this for too long," Red said with a shake of his head, "We are never doing something like this again."
"Agreed," Kid Flash moaned between bites.
"Five minutes!" someone shouted.
"Remember, no talking over each other and try to be as serious as possible depending on the question. We already showed how relatable we are out there. Let's not turn this into a circus," Red Robin told them.
"Oh my God, what if someone recognizes me from school!" Blue said, running his hands down his face and looking for the nearest exit.
"No one can see your face," he reminded him.
"Right, right," Blue said, "sorry. We should have rehearsed, why didn't we rehearse?"
The call for two minutes was made before Lori and 'Conner' made their entrance.
"Wait! I thought we had two minutes!" Kid Flash said latching to him and looking at him with frightened eyes.
"For our entrance," he reminded him. He went over the schedule with them last night.
"Hi, I am Lori," said Lori in a cheerful voice.
"And I am Conner," said 'Conner' in a friendly but much serious tone.
"We are really happy for this special interview we are bringing you courtesy of ClarkCatropolis, and the New Daily Planet communications," Lori said as they made their way to the center of the stage.
"Without further ado, they are not kids, they are not the League," Miss Martian varied from the script. He sensed Lori become tense but kept on smiling, "here are the teen Titans!"
"That Martian," he said with gritted teeth as Kid Flash rushed to the stage as they had planned. He made multiple turns around the stage before stopping before the watching crowd and cameras.
"Hello world! I am Kid Flash!" Kid Flash went on to buy him some time to calm down, "I know I said Ms. Lane and Ms. Grant was some of the most beautiful women in the news, but Lori, you might just leave them in the dust. You are not my type," he said turning to 'Conner' lastly.
"Thank you?" 'Conner' said with a raised eyebrow while Lori blushed.
"Could be worse," Red Robin said breaking from his serious persona for a moment to laugh.
"Don't say that," Blue Beetle said taking a deep breath before opening his wings and flying into the stage getting gasps and cheers from the crowd. He waved awkwardly at the crowd before landing in front Lori and 'Conner'. He was about to introduce himself.
"This is my friend Blue Beetle, but we call him Blue," Kid Flash said getting in the way "great name, right?"
"Ese," Blue said slightly exasperated.
"Not crash, sorry!" Kid Flash said scratching the back of his head. The two of them went on to explain what 'crash' and 'mode' was. Well, Bart did the explaining too fast and Blue then had to do it again at a pace everyone could follow.
"I am next," he said before adopting his much practiced friendly smile before flying towards the stage. "You done?" he asked them, his smile becoming askew; dammit "Red is waiting."
"Here comes the mode," Kid Flash whispered to Blue indiscreetly.
"Enough of that you two," he said taking a more brotherly tone.
"Sorry," Blue said with a nervous smile.
"These two seem to give you trouble," 'Conner' said.
"Only in their nights off, they are very reliable otherwise," he said slightly defensive.
"He likes us, he really does," Kid Flash said trying to hug him, but he stopped him with his powers, "aww! One day!"
"Red Robin, correct?" 'Conner' asked surprising most of those in the stage when they realized he was already in the stage. He had spent enough time around Bats to know how to hide his shock.
"Let's start," Red Robin said taking the main seat in the stage on their side.
They all took their seats before Lori started with the interview.
"All of you seem so young-"
"Before you go on Ms. Luthor," Red Robin interrupted in an even tone. "The main reason we agreed to this interview is to make a statement."
"Promise we won't leave afterward," Kid Flash said looking at the cameras.
"We were associated to the League, but we decided it was time to modify our methods. We no longer answer to them and they will not make any statements in our behalf. The Titans was formed to reach to others to create a team where skills can be developed for the wellbeing of the world and the individuals living in it. We are not opponents of the League or the authorities, but we stand our ground as a single group willing to cooperate when needed," Red Robin kept an even tone through the whole thing, but he could sense he was shaking in the inside. The previous night he lost count of the times he practiced those words when he thought no one else was listening. It was ridiculous how they could face monsters every other day, but all of them seemed to be extremely uncomfortable around cameras.
Silence reined in the whole place for a moment.
"You may start your interview," Red Robin said still using a mask of calm before it became awkward.
"All of you are teenagers," 'Conner' pointed out, "do you really believe you are mature enough to lead a team separate from the League?"
"Age is irrelevant for us," he said giving them an intrigued look, as if their question was a strange one, "we don't act like everyday teenagers because we have experienced things everyday teenagers don't."
"Our circumstances and the lives we have chosen to live are not ordinary," Blue said with a stringed smile, "we had to grow up faster."
"I know we act like kids our age around you, but that's only because we are not in the field," Kid Flash said no longer smiling or talking too fast. "The League taught us, and we have learned through our own experience that doing things those our age do are also necessary for us to be at our best. Aside that everyone likes to have fun every once in a while."
"We have trained for years to govern our abilities and the skills essential for the job. We trained with the finest, but it's time for us to stand in our own and to instill on others as we were. We are here to tell you," Red Robin said no longer at the reporters but those watching beyond the cameras, "you are not alone and we understand. If you were made, born, turned, or choose to lead this life. We are here to help."
"So you are looking to provide help to other Metas," Lori said and he sensed she felt very disturbed by this idea, but he couldn't understand why.
"Yes and what has the League and others like them have taught us. Use your skills and powers for the benefits of others," he told her trying to get an insight of what she was thinking but Miss Martian pushed him back. He didn't understand why she was doing that.
"I know back stage you said not to call you kids, but you have to admit it sounds very farfetched that someone as young as you will be able to hold a team on your own," 'Conner' said taking a moment to look at each one of them.
"We are not saying it's going to be easy, we are bound to make mistakes just like everyone else. The League didn't start when they fought the Appellaxians, the Watchtower didn't just one day appear up there. It's a process of organization, development and revision that never stops," Red Robin said keeping calm. This was definitely something they hadn't counted coming from Miss Martian. They all knew this wasn't just about their team anymore. Garfield wanted in and she really wanted to know if they were serious about it. She just had such great timing to act on it.
"Are we going to be seeing more scenes like the ones you left in San Francisco when you took down the Escorpiones?" Lori asked.
"Quien todo lo quiere, todo lo pierde," (He who wants everything loses everything) Blue said with a bitter laugh.
"Heh," he heard Kid Flash laugh at the irony. Of course, they couldn't have everything and they knew it but it didn't mean it was easy to accept.
"I mean, ehm," Blue said rubbing the back of his head. In the watching audience, he could hear some people whispering about the fact that Blue had just spoken fluent Spanish.
"They just wanted to have fun," he said pulling him out of the awkward situation.
"They? All of us," Kid Flash laughed giving him a slight shove with his elbow.
"What do you mean?" Lori asked as the pieces started to fall together.
"Well, that's the same day we chose the name of our team and we thought about celebrating like 'kids' our age for once. So we took the night off to go to an underage club. We came across those guys by chance and well…" he said not hiding his embarrassment though he wanted to. He and the rest had debated about telling the truth. At the end, they had decided to give them a partial truth. No need for them to know they had trouble looking after one kid, even if it was Batman's kid.
"Being in our meant it was inevitable we would be making choices like that one. We could have walked away from confrontation and used a covert strategy, but I decided we needed to tackle the issue head on," Red Robin said implying his role as leader further.
"We are glad you did. We didn't find the kids until we already had started," Kid Flash said with a frown unable to hide how much the scene had disturbed him. "The moment we found them we knew we couldn't stop until we made sure there were no others in the same circumstance." Had they really just gone on because of Damian, or was it all them? Were the lies becoming their truth? It would have to be.
"It was a real word shaker for us," Blue said though he had already faced a warehouse filled with men and women slaughtered back in his hometown no long after his father got shot. "We no longer were doing covert missions where we rarely ever saw civilians."
"Stop being so blue, Blue" Kid Flash said leaning back on his chair, "we cleaned house."
"So you tried to be normal and ended up taking a whole drug organization. I don't know if to call that bad luck," 'Conner' said.
"So, you don't get the chance to do things like that often?" Lori asked unable to hide her curiosity.
"We have tried in other occasions, but always with similar results," Red Robin admitted.
"So, what do you actually do with your free time? Do you have any kind of hobbies?" Lori asked.
"Blue cooks," Kid Flash said getting more laughs.
"And you raid my kitchen every chance you get. I don't know where to hide the food anymore," Blue said with a sigh.
"You really like to cook?" Lori asked. What did people think were their hobbies? M'gann also liked to cook. Tim liked to watch horror movies. Kal El liked to try new foods. There were people like Bart who tried to learn about the 'normal' ways of people and working on impossible quantum physics formulas, but there weren't that many like him.
"Among other things," Kid Flash whispered loudly at Lori.
"Like?" she asked before Kid Flash whispered to her ear. Her eyes turned wide, "really?"
"Would you answer for yourself?" Blue said pulling Kid Flash back to sit down.
"And when he was a kid he wanted to be a dentist," Kid Flash said with a wide smile, "we need to get you a cavity themed villain for your birthday."
"And you wanted to be a wrestler," Blue muttered.
"Not just any wrestler! El Kid Flasho! I already got the mask," Kid Flash said pointing at his face. He couldn't help running a hand down his face. This time, he didn't have to fake the smile as Kid Flash stood up on his chair and raised his arms. Those watching in the studio went crazy. "And you are the Azul, my rival!"
"Dios mio¸ I knew I should have never shown you those videos," Blue said looking up at the sky for help. That was not an act.
"You are just…" Kid started to say before trying to put a headlock on him, "jealous because I…" of course he wasn't having much luck. He kept his face blank before yawning "would make a great…a little help?" he said to him dramatically.
"Okay," he said capturing him in a headlock easily.
"Not fair!" he started slapping his arm fast getting everyone to laugh at what was supposed to be a friendly picture. But he knew Kid Flash hated it. He hated being held down even during training. At first he had thought it was a speedster thing, but when he saw the fright in his eyes he was being reminded of something else. Something still haunted his dreams even after they went to save his time.
"What about you Superboy?" 'Conner' asked him.
Of course, Miss Martian knew what he liked to do in his free time besides reading but everything else was a clear give away of his other identity. He liked to take care of his red Indian Chief Chieftain motorcycle and go for rides even though he could fly. He liked reading old well written and world changing news articles. He also liked to fly to the Kent farm every once in a while to make sure the place didn't fall apart and tackle the issue of the tractor Clark refused to throw away.
"I have a dog," he said using the most innocent answer possible as he released Kid Flash.
"You mean Wolf? Wolf is a wolf" Blue said.
"You have a pet wolf?" Lori asked him shocked.
"A bad guy experimented on him so when we defeated him I took Wolf home with me. No one else had the time or strength to train him," and he was a lab rat just like him.
"You trained a mutated wolf?" Lori still couldn't get over her shock.
"He likes to pick up strays," Kid Flash said before showing them a picture of Wolf with them from a few months ago. He was just sitting surrounded by them.
"Aww!" said the crowd and he died a little inside. His wolf was not cute.
"What about you Red Robin?" 'Conner' asked.
"You don't want to know," Kid Flash said at once.
"But-" 'Conner' tried to insist.
"No," Red Robin said calmly.
"Alright?" 'Conner' backed out, but only because they just received the signal of one of the producers that they were going for a commercial pause, "we are not letting it go just like that folks. After the pause, we will keep asking those questions everyone has always wanted to ask." But not really because a lot of what people wanted to know was just too private.
"And we are off the air!" announced the producer before all of them for the exception of Red Robin sighed.
"I need food," Kid said leaving for the snack table.
"That wasn't so bad," Blue laughed nervously.
"I… I know we said we would stay away from any topic that might reveal who you are, but can I ask you something off the record?" Lori said after turning off her microphone.
"Depends," Blue said with a worried frown.
"Well, it's clear you are bilingual, so you are human, right?" she asked the question Blue hated the most.
"Yes," he said with a crooked smile.
"And your ethnicity…" she pushed further.
"Off the record?" Blue asked.
"Blue, you don't have to," Red Robin told him.
"It would be nice for people to stop thinking I am a soldier from the Reach," Blue said extending his hand face down towards Lori. Then he pulled his armor just slightly to reveal his tan flesh, "all mine." It was only a moment, but it was all Lori needed. A wide smile appeared on her face "off the record."
"Off the record," she said with a nod before getting up. "I am going to my dressing room, I will be right back."
"Be back in a moment," 'Conner' said before 'she' left to talk to Lois who was calling him over.
"Blue," he saw the armored young man's hand shake slightly.
"I am fine," he said clenching his hand, "she can't really do anything with that but confirm to the world I am human."
And he knew the next questions would go deeper into just how human they were. He would have to emphasize on his human half and lie about not knowing who his other donor was. Red had to be careful not to reveal just how mortal he was. Kid Flash had to try not to be as strange when it came to his lacking understanding about people. Blue would have to deal with the suspicion of some people about him not being human though that would be a lot easier now. He relaxed back on his chair. Red Robin was watching him and studying his reaction. He knew he didn't like this a lot less than him. As an aspiring reporter, he wanted to expose the truth, but as Superboy he had to keep some secrets. They had been manipulating the interview from about just every angle and it felt more like an act than anything.
To make matters worse, he just sensed someone that just spelled trouble. He told Red Robin he would be right back and went to look for the man.
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Lori walked as fast as possible towards her dressing room. She didn't really need to go, but she 'had' to go. She couldn't stand sitting in front of the capes for much longer. Everyone loved them, and she understood why. They were the next generation of heroes as much as she and Conner were the next generation of reporters. They were a lot charmer, funny, and open than the League about who they were and she knew it was all a lie. She could read it in the practice words and lack of negative language. No one was that nice. They were inserting truths but not giving it all away just like the Beetle only showed her his hand. She knew liars, one of the biggest one was in her family.
She sat in front of the vanity mirror and stared at herself. This was just the start of her career. She would play their game and afterward put everything behind her and build her career on her own accomplishments. Conner was probably the only friend she had in a very long time, but she regretted being so insistent about getting the interview. He had tried to warn her, but something changed and then he was all up for it. Had they told him something? Did he already know all of this was going on about them leaving the League's shadow? She didn't doubt it. He seemed so close and comfortable around them.
"Sweetie, I am so glad I found you," and to make things worse her uncle was there.
"Hello uncle," she turned around on her chair and smiled at him just as her mother told her.
"You look exhausted, are you sure you can keep going with this?" he said placing his hands on her shoulders and looking at her with eyes as green as hers.
"Yes uncle, I am still a little shocked, that's all. I never thought they could be kind of normal," she said placing a hand on one of his.
"Oh my dear child, you know that's a lie," she said giving her his usual condescending smile.
"I am not a child anymore," she said pushing his hand away. They had this conversation so many times she was sick and tired of it.
"I know, I know. You are a brave and strong young woman, but I just want you to know I will always be around if you need me," but he didn't really believe in her. He insisted she should do something else with her life, like learning the business or something more artistic so that her family name would push her career forwards. Reporters, they loved to peck at him like vultures, his exact words to her when he first learned of her choice.
"I can do this on my own," she said standing her ground. Had her father done the same before he disappeared? She didn't believe he left.
"No doubt, you are a Luthor after all," and her uncle had insisted she and her mother used that name instead so they would be protected. What a joke. All it had done through her life was separate her from everyone.
"Luthor, I didn't expect to see you here," and her savior was there. There was something so reassuring about Clark Kent that made her feel safe about what she was doing. He was never condescending to her and if he saw something could be improved he told her but didn't push his ideas on her. No wonder Conner was such a cool headed guy.
"Neither did I, since you left the Planet, Kent. I am surprised Edge hasn't called security on you," her uncle said trying to look down on Clark, but the humble reporter didn't even shake like most men did before her uncle. He was the kind of reporter she wanted to be.
"That man doesn't care for anything that doesn't make him richer," Clark said in that same calm tone she had heard Conner use many times before.
"Your words are as sharp in person as those you write. After knowing each other for long and you reporting on my company I am surprised we haven't sat to have a one on one chat," and the idea of her uncle being alone with Clark scared her. She feared he would be taken away from her life too. Knowing Conner, he would probably go after her uncle if that happened and then she would lose him too.
"Now, that would be pointless wouldn't it? Actions speak louder than words," Clark said with a polite smile that got on her uncle's nerves.
"Always less a displeasure than running across Ms. Lane," her uncle said with a sharp smile. "Well, I will be leaving my beloved niece in your care now. Like your nephew, I believe you will look after her," or else went unsaid.
"My cousin," Clark corrected, "and have no doubt I will."
After he was gone, she waited a moment before she could release her breath. Clark Kent laughed not meanly at her.
"God, I hate-" she started to say.
"He does care for you Lori," said the man that had just pretty much just called her uncle for what he was.
"How can you say that after all he has done?" she had read his articles on the strange businesses her uncle had over the years and how some things just didn't add up. It had cost her uncle literally millions to repair the damage. Yet, here was the man still standing when many others would have already given in into fear or bribery.
"Just like those kids are not all good, your uncle isn't all bad, though I wish-" what did this good to honest man see in someone like her uncle that she didn't? "Never mind, how are you feeling?"
"Better, they are very intimidating," she admitted.
"Part of what they do is in the image. I doubt they really behave like that. They probably are just as scared of you and Conner," and she had seen with her own eyes they were. Well, for the exception of Red Robin. That boy showed no emotion whatsoever.
"Any advice?" she asked him.
"Follow your instincts," he told her for the thousandth time since he had started mentoring her. He trusted her and this helped more than he could imagine. He didn't see just another Luthor to be cautious around. "I better go check on Conner. He might not show it, but he can be a worrywart," and then he was gone. She envied Conner so much for having a cousin like Clark. She applied some of her make up again before leaving the dressing room in a better mood.
"-killed?" she stopped where stood. Around the corner of the hall, she heard Superboy's voice.
"Afraid you will have to save me again? Besides, they are not after my life," she heard her uncle say.
"They were able to tamper with Superman's memories too; you know how dangerous they are better than anyone," someone did what? She covered her mouth to keep herself from bursting with questions.
"You are no match for them. Let me handle it. Tell me all you know on Dr. Spence. I can guarantee you that results will be delivered," her uncle was working with Superboy and it was related to the latest attack on his life? A shiver ran up her spine. She met him back on her uncle's building because he had been investigating the scene. How could she have overlooked that?!
"Just because we have a common enemy it doesn't mean I trust you, especially with her life," of course he wouldn't truth her uncle. She didn't blame him.
"For someone that's supposed to have my genes as well as the Boy Scout's you don't act like it," when she heard those words she had to lean against the wall. Her world was becoming twisted with so many secrets and lies. Her uncle was the dangerous person who made Superboy and carried his blood.
"Shut up," Superboy said with a sneer. He didn't want anyone to know. She didn't blame him, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.
"I bet it has been a torture for you to think you carried your hero's genes as much as those of his greatest adversary," her uncle said without shame, but there was more than simple mockery in his words. She heard another secret between the lines.
"You are playing with fire," Superboy said before taking a deep breath, "you are right, they won't kill you. They will just wipe your mind again, but next time I won't tell you anything."
"I know better than to trust your kind," the words were filled with so much poison she had to close her eyes to keep from tearing up. She had always hoped not everything about what was said about her uncle wasn't true. That he didn't just hate the capes because they were different. But now she was hearing it. She also heard her uncle walking away. God, she hoped she didn't cross paths again with him for at least a week after this.
"I am sorry you had to hear that," she jumped where she stood before she spotted Superboy floating on the corner of the hall.
"You knew-" of course he knew! He had super-hearing but why didn't he say anything?
"I had to try to get more information from him. I couldn't stop," whoever Dr. Spence was, he wanted to protect her.
"It's that why you don't like me?" she asked him the first thing that came to mind. He looked shocked, the first true emotion she had seen him show before he frowned.
"I don't dislike you. I simply don't like it when people place themselves in needless danger," he told her.
"Are we related?" she had to make sure.
"That's complicated," he said with a sigh.
"I am learning today that a lot of things are," she said walking back to her dressing room.
He didn't follow her and she was thankful for that. When she got back to the dressing room she found a beautiful basket with flowers and gifts on the small table. That had not been there before; she thought before she picked up a small black velvet box from the top of the basket and opened it. Inside was a beautiful gold ring with a precious stone on the center. She couldn't help to smile. It was simple and yet so beautiful. She put it on and it was a perfect fit. It made her world not feel as dark as she had felt a moment ago. She wasn't sure from who it was because there were no notes or anything that could give her a hint, but she would make sure they knew she was thankful for it.
The call was made that the break would be over in a few minutes. She rushed back to the stage where the Titans were already sitting and talking amiably with 'Conner'. She saw Clark give her a thumb up from the other side of the stage, but she also saw him flinch. He frowned as if he had a headache.
"Superboy?" she turned to see Blue Beetle hovering over the clone with a concerned expression. Superboy was clenching his teeth and glaring at her and 'Conner'.
"Ten, nine, eight…" the countdown started just as the glare became vicious as if she was no better than her uncle.
"Superboy, what's wrong?" Kid Flash asked losing his forced smile.
"Four… three…two," something was very wrong.
"Shut up," Superboy growled before he shouted "all of you shut up!"
The world became silent. They were back on the air and Superboy was looking at her as if he wanted to kill her.
"What is that?" 'Conner' shook her before she looked down at her hand. The red stone of her ring was shining for some reason. She looked up and saw Superboy was not glaring at her, but the ring.
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Next part in The Flight of the Blue Beetle 27, The Interview II