A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

A Story From Yesterday

The Justice League wake up early. The day before, they and Superboy had planned to meet up in the Hall of Justice to discuss what they wanted to do next and who they wanted to go to for extra assistance, if anyone.

Superman isn't surprised when he's told he had zoned out when that talk was happening. He'd been much too occupied commiting the boy's facial features to his memory (the boy who isn't his son, or sidekick or family because Kal-El belongs to a different time, a different world).

(A lonelier world.)

They all sit down to eat breakfast in the Watchtower's kitchen. For a moment, only the scraping of utensils against ceramic can be heard. Diana is the first to break the silence.

"Kal, are you going to be alright with Superboy around?" Her voice is kind, like she's approaching a spooked animal instead of a grown man. At first, Superman wants to bristle at the tone, remind her that he is a person and not a feral stray with a bite risk (because alien isn't the same as animal, isn't inherently dangerous). And then, he recognises her tone as the same one she uses on civilians who are frightened and deflates.

"I will be. This is my first time meeting another kryptonian and... I plan to make the most of it," Superman spoons some cereal into his mouth. Green Lantern drops his buttered toast back onto his plate and looks at Kal with a sombre expression.

"I hate to ask this but are you sure that's a good idea, Supes? Like you said, it's unlikely you'll meet a counterpart of the boy in our world. Wouldn't bonding with him and then not being able to see him again hurt?"

"It will but I think it'll be worth the pain. I can't just avoid him and honestly? I don't want to. For as long as we'll be here, I may as well be on friendly terms with Kon," Superman gently smiles into his cereal. "I'm happy for this universe's version of me. Kon seems like a great kid."

"He does," Martian Manhunter nods. "Although something seems off to me."

"What do you mean? You think the kid is up to something?" Hawkgirl stabs at an egg with her fork.

"Not up to something but..." he hums. "You are all aware of my passive ability to sense emotions? Especially the strong ones?"

Nods from all around the table.

"When he saw Superman, I didn't sense any of the emotions you'd expect from seeing a family member again after a long time. His feelings were surprisingly harsh," Martain Mahunter stares down at his pancakes. He thinks of how brittle the boy's emotional state had felt, fragile as the finest of cobwebs. "I suspect that maybe there is currently a tension between Superboy and his Superman. It would explain his immediate assumption that you had come back because you didn't trust him."

"Oh..." Superman blinks."That's...not great, admittedly, but I think it'll be fine. I'm sure whatever argument he and my counterpart got into was minor. It can't possibly affect us getting home."

"Wait!" Flash calls out. "Maybe that's what Superboy meant about his name. If he and his Superman had a fallout, maybe he feels like Superman wouldn't want him using the name 'El' anymore." Diana looks up from her bacon and then starts to speak.

"You mean he feels as though he doesn't deserve to be seen as part of the House of El?" Diana's face bunches up slightly at the nose. "Maybe you're right, Kal. Talk to the boy. While you may not be responsible for his apparent upset, you may be able to help ease his worries until his Kal is back."

Kal nods, more intent than ever to form a bond with the young Kon.

Cutlery scrapes against bowls and plates as the Justice League finish their breakfast. The clock strikes ten.