S U P E R B O Y

“I figured so. You’re the strong, silent type, so it’s fitting.” Excluding the times he’d seen Konnor go into his rages. Those were often… intense, to say the least. Cameron personally loved his own fair share of heated battles, but Konnor could be another matter entirely. He doubted he would ever forget the first time he saw the Superboy let loose. “Don’t be such a Dick, he tells me that enough. It’s gonna be great!” He grinned, nudging his side. “And if you don’t like it, no worries. I’ll just kick your butt. Again.”

  Strong? He didn’t know about that, though he said nothing. It was strange how the other talked about him, he wasn’t anything great and didn’t try to be. “I’m sure it will be fine, I tend to eat just about anything good or bad.” So to him, food was food, and people shouldn’t waste that. If he ever turned it down something was probably wrong with him. “You are making this sound like it’s going to be a weird yet enjoyable new experience.” 

“Aww, come on, Konnor!” Lips adorned with a small pout, Cameron looped a friendly arm over the other’s shoulders, giving him a small hug while beginning to lead him out of the park and towards the busy city street. It was midday so all around them was bustling with fellow parkgoers jogging or taking their kids to the playground, and just ahead through the widely-spaced trees was the line of stores, businesses, and apartments just across the car-filled street. “Look at how pretty the day is! Don’t be so grumpy, and besides, there’s nothing to figure out anyway. I just think you’re a cool person,” he tried to shrug, but found it a bit awkward since he still had his arm around Konnor. Clearing his throat, he let it fall. “I still can’t believe you want me to cook for you. Dick told me once I can take down more people with my spaghetti alone than by fighting them, but I don’t believe him. You won’t regret it!”

   He didn’t understand that logic so just nodded, it was going to be on his mind for a while and he may get lost in his own thoughts. He was adapting well, and normally only took him a few days to adjust. What he witnessed was very different than what Cameron was seeing. Crying kids, couple fighting, teams competing and more than likely going to fight at some point. Seeing the bad was easy, seeing the good that was difficult. He wished he could see it the way the other did. “I prefer rainy days-” He admitted, with a shrug. The feel of water hitting his face, the breeze, the soft grass between his toes were the things he enjoyed. It meant he was, deep down, real. “”You didn’t have to move your arm..” It was comforting, oddly enough. “I feel as though I’m going to regret this decision.” He liked food, and trying new things could be fun. “You can’t be that bad, right?” 

“Me? Homeless?” Azazel stopped himself from laughing at the man or image of man. An ounce of human blood was still either outweighed or overshadowed by the true nature of the beast. He just took another drag, shrugging his shoulders and tapped ashes onto the ground. The black boot grinding into the stones beneath them. “No. I’m too resourceful to be homeless but possibly could be in the future for me. Who knows?” Modesty was probably best. “I just needed some fresh air. Shits’ gotten real within a matter of a snap and click of someone’s finger. But I’ll gladly smoke my cigarette. Thankfully it doesn’t have that disgusting taste of chemical.” He blew out the smoke. “You not one of those guys waiting for another guy’s signal to shag, right? I don’t wanna be the reason for a stranger’s ‘Missed Opportunity’ blog post.” 

   So not homeless, just creepy and sitting like that. That explained a lot and told him to avoid the crazies at all cost. “Uh-huh, well you have fun with... That...” A brow rose, eyes roaming over the male as he smoked. He was always meeting new and very strange people, some you could read other’s you just couldn’t. Like this one, or why he was even talking to him. “Signal?” The only signals he knew about were batmans. “I’m not sure about some signal, but no I’m not looking for any. It’s simple, I was out for a run and that’s all.” 

‘’ Uh sure why not..’’ Raven was surprised he even offered, thinking he wanted to be alone and exercise alone.  I guess he could have the company. ‘’ Do you run a lot?’’ he asked 

   “Yeah, it tends to help clear my head and allows me to just focus on everything better.” He ran so much in those simulations that it became a part of him. When annoyed, angered, stressed he just ran and kept going. “I don’t really do it like most do to stay in shape or anything.” 

He saw the downward twitch of the other’s brows, the small frown his lips formed. Konnor actually looked confused… damn, had he touched a nerve? His eyes lowered, tracking the ball as his teammate moved it around and shrugging, unconcerned. “Like I said before… don’t worry about it,” he looked back up at him with a cheesy grin, foot easily swiping the ball back. He could only imagine Kon’s situation: the big guy himself was intimidating enough to talk to as it was at first, but being his surprise protogé? Damn. “I know… just give it time, okay? In the meantime, you have me! And that’s all you need, honestly. Now let’s get back to base so I can make you that lasagna.”

   “You telling me not to worry about it only makes me question it that much more, so you aren’t really helping here.” He sighed out, slowly getting lost in his own thoughts. None of it made sense, it should be easy for him. “Time does not fix everything, and you are jumping around the subject and question at hand. That only makes me curious as to why.” Was there something about himself he wasn’t aware of yet. What made him awesome in the other’s eyes? “Are you trying to distract me with food, because that’s not fair!”

Raven ran his fingers through his hair and pushed it back a little bit, putting strands of hair behind his ear.  So it wouldn’t fall out of place.  Just by looking at the young male, he looked like he had a lot of shit on his mind as well. ‘’ Uh maybe a mile or two.’’ He was estimating,  ‘’ Uh yeah I guess I wouldn’t mind a little push.’’

   Wasn’t that much further honestly to him it was nothing. Maybe he could run a little bit longer. “Mind if I join you?” Kon figured he may have to slow down, taking it a little easy for the guy. He wasn’t aware the guy might be able to keep up with him.

“You know, very few people trek out to this point at this time.” Azazel found himself drifting, sitting alongside the bushes and for once, a trail of smoke left his lips by way of a mild, methylated cigarette. One they said was purely organic and natural. Brown rolling paper made from hemp. Truly, these mortals had learned to try and avoid the inevitable. He just opted to enjoy himself along the way. There was even a subtle hint of licorice. Lovely touch. “Smoke?” He offered the cigarette, turning the butt of it outwards so it wasn’t as intimidatingly offensive. He was gathering as much of these parallel beings so whatever he could attain would be kept for later. He just knew that this man wasn’t the true visage of humanity. 

   “I’ve met very few people hiding out in bushes too, looks like we can add each other to the list.” He voiced, pausing mid-drink as he glanced at the male. Maybe that was his bed, homeless? Not that he cared, just someone else that heroes wanted to worry about. “No, I don’t smoke.” Not that it mattered, he figured it would do nothing to him and the habit was one he didn’t want to pick up. “I’m taking it you are homeless?” He had to ask, his curiosity got the best of him. 

Though he liked him as much as he did, Cameron was also all too aware of the sheer mystery revolving around Superboy’s very existence. It had never really bothered him, in fact it excited him to no end when someone as strong as (if not stronger than) himself joined the young team, and he instantly took a liking to Kon-El. But he had to remember to reign himself in from time to time, as Darryn always drilled into his head. One could never be too careful. “I never said that. Good to know you care so much about what I think of you, though,” he laughed. “Don’t worry, Kon. They’ll come around, I promise. You’re already such a big help.” Cameron’s kind words were quickly followed by a nice punch to the boy’s broad shoulder. “Ugh, you can never take a compliment. Just let me praise you for once, gods.”

   Why did he even care? Kon knew he shouldn’t care what any of them thought of him, he knew this was a job, a mission that kept him alive. So why? Why did he have these thoughts, wondering if they liked him if they trusted him? “ Yeah, and what do you think of me, besides being awesome for reasons I can’t explain.” He questioned, letting the ball move along the ground as he focused his attention on Cameron. “I’m not so sure they will, it’s hard talking to them to connect just like it’s hard talking to superman.” 

For Kory, finding new allies, new alien allies especially, had always been a treat for him. While he absolutely loved working with humans like Jason, Roy, and Dick, there was something refreshing meeting and working with people with superhuman abilities, alien abilities. So, when he’d met Kon-El, who was clearly related to superman in a way that wasn’t quite clear yet, he had been more than eager to welcome him in. It was refreshing being able to go on a run with someone who didn’t get exhausted after the first eight miles. “You’re not stopping, Kon-El, are you?” the Tamaranean chirped wit ha half smirk. “Don’t tell me I’ve worn you out already.”

   That had him thinking, did he get tired out? He assumed he could run out of energy if he pushed himself too far, but it’s not like he needed to eat, drink or even sleep. The sun often helped but he didn’t need that either since he couldn’t absorb it as easily. Shaking his head he finished taking another drink- A reaction? Was he blending in well with them. “Not even close- Just thinking was all.” He muttered before proceeding once more, bottle at his side while he caught up to the male. The more information he gathered the better, that included testing their limits. “If you think you can, try it.”

‘’ Yeah I guess….’’ Turning his head to look at the person who’s voice it was coming from.  ‘’ It would seem I just need jog a bit more to get back to where I was before.’’  Raven was nowhere near being out of shape, even though his heart was pounding in his chest.  Raven slowly stood up, putting his hands on his hips, breathing out.

   In shape, out of shape... Did it matter? Sooner or later they would all die, and now with everything wonky and merged it was going to be even more people in one place. “How much further do you think you will go?” Kon should be getting back, but honestly running just a little bit more would take his mind off everything else. “I wouldn’t push yourself too hard if you need to get back into things.” 

It was very rare that Raven had any time to do any form of exercise if it didn’t relate to doing some sort of job but I guess today he decided to have a little jog; He didn’t realize how long it has been since he’s done this, as his feet pounded on the ground, he had to stop for a minute to hold his breath. Raven was hunched over, breathing hard, his hands grabbing his knees.  ‘’ Shit…I feel like I’m out of shape.’’ Droplets of sweat dropped down, he used one of his hands to push his damp hair back.  

   “The way you are breathing it seems so, although your body would say otherwise.” He looked the male over, it seemed no matter how in shape someone looked it was possible not all actually had been. He’s noticed looks seem to matter to most people in this world, so he shouldn’t be surprised.

“Oh, nothing you should concern yourself about. Just school and some, uh… projects.” Cameron was being unnecessarily cheeky, playing up his current few missions more than was necessary with his little smirk. They were secret for a reason, but it was always so fun to tease the other boy. His smirk was soon replaced with a genuine smile, however, a reflection of his pride for the other. “Good, I’m glad. Better safe than sorry,” he praised him, tossing the soccer ball at him. “I was just making a dumb pun about your name and, uh, how awesome you are. Don’t worry about it.”

   “Concerned, not really..” He was an honest guy to a point- “But curious, maybe. What, don’t trust me enough yet?” He questioned, brows furrowing. “I understand, I’m still.. New, a lot of them probably don’t fully trust me.” Welcoming was one thing, trust was another. So he just smiled, looking over the other. “Awesome I am? I don’t think I’m that awesome or even close.” He caught the ball almost instantly, eyes rising to the males.

“Oh, yeah?” He grinned, easing up a bit. He was always grateful for Konnor’s willingness to try pretty much anything; though it always did hurt his heart some when he remembered exactly why he was like that. “Maybe I will, if I have the time. I’ve just been so busy lately, y’know,” he shrugged, exaggerating really. He’d drop nearly everything he was doing if his teammate wanted to spend time with him. “What about you? Been busy being so super?”

   “Busy with what?” A brow rose, curious how the other was indeed so busy. He didn’t know, he had his own things going on and yet still maintained this facade. It didn’t show but the word super had him cursing mentally. It was still hard to accept and when people acknowledged that it made it harder. “Not really, I’ve been keeping it low profile. Don’t want to push myself too much.” Losing control would not look good on him, killing people accidentally would not be good for him either. “Why, should I be busy being... Super?”