Another Super?!

Talks and Decisions

Dinner tonight was spicy chicken ramen with grilled cheese, one of my favorites. We were about halfway done eating when I felt the atmosphere change.

My mouth was full of noodles when I noticed Mom and Dad giving me a look that said we needed to talk. So I finished chewing my food and put my fork down, "what's up?"

Dad spoke up first, "about earlier, with the Team; I'm not going to pry but I do want to know why you wanted time to think."

"You've been asking about joining the Team since you heard what it was," Mom spoke up, "and now that you actually have what you were asking for you're not sure if you still want to?"

I looked at my lap, "they seemed nice but they already have a Super, what if they don't want me? And what if they were only nice because it was the first time they had met me? What if-"

"You could ask 'what if's' all night," Mom interrupted my rant, "but you won't know for sure until you actually get out of your own head, put on your big girl pants, and give it a shot." Having said her piece, Mom's attention returned to her meal.

Dad looked at me, "Lois is right Ali; you're not going to get anywhere if all you're doing is worrying. Look, I'll make you a deal," this piked my interest, "try being on the Team for two missions, if you don't like it or feel like you aren't fitting in tell me and you can quit; we'll go back to the way things are now, or you can even hang up the cape if you want." He raised his hand to stop my coming outburst, "I'm just giving you options Ali. We'll cross that bridge if we get to it."

I looked back down, lost in thought. It wasn't long, however, before something came to me. "When the Team was here earlier, you seemed unusually tense around them, or rather around Superboy," I noticed his flinch and pressed on, "did he do something to you?" Nothing. "Did you do something to him?" Still nothing. "... you haven't been ignoring him have you?" Flinch. Bingo. "Why?"

He turned his head away from me and I could see Mom smirking at my 'reporter persona' as she calls it. "It's complicated Ali, his situation is-"

"The exact same as mine," I finished. Dad gave me a confused expression so I elaborated, "strongest man on the planet is your father-"

"I'm not his father."

"Objectively, as the source of at least half of his genetic code you are, in fact, his father. But we can bench that for later. Anyway, with someone that powerful to look up to he sometimes feels like living up to your legacy is an impossible task. But because he bears the crest he feels he doesn't have much other choice. And with you pushing him away he feels like he's failed before he's given the chance to start, and because he's so young he doesn't know how to handle those feelings. But that could all be resolved if you just do what you do best and reach out your hand to him."

Dad simply stared at me as I picked up my fork and continued eating my dinner. "... When did you get so wise?"

Taking a moment to pause I decided to answer, "I just know how he feels," I shrugged. "Because it's the same way I feel when I see people look at you with nothing but hope and wondrous awe on their faces and I wonder: 'will I be able to get there someday?' 'Will I be able to inspire hope just by showing up?'"

He reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze in reassurance. "You'll get there, if that's what you want. Eventually you'll get there." I smiled and we spent the rest of dinner chatting about less serious topics, such as school and normal work. Mom tried to embarrass me by asking about any cute boys at school, but I shut that down by saying I didn't want to lie so I'd only date someone who was already a part of the hero side of my life.

It was my night to do the dishes, and unlike Dad I don't use my speed to finish fast; I actually like doing menial tasks like this as it helps me to get out of my own head and really think. I came up with a few questions that I wanted answers to before I made my final decision, so I waved to Dad who was sitting on the couch with Mom. "If I join the Team would I have to stop all other hero activity?"

He turned and shook his head, "no. Batman still has Robin do patrols almost every night, and Wally helps Barry out when he can after school."

"Which one would take priority though: individual hero work or Team missions?"

"That one is largely up to you, but we can call for an 'all hands on deck' mission that automatically takes priority. The Team also meets at least once a day for training purposes."

I hesitated but decided to ask, "if I join can you do something too?"

That really caught Dad's attention and he turned his body to face me, "what kind of something?"

"Can you, once a week for an hour at least, help Superboy like you've been helping me? At least for as long as I'm on the Team?"

He looked down in thought, probably replaying our earlier conversation in his head; along with any other similar conversations he's had. He waited so long to answer that I had finished the dishes and was opening my bedroom door when I heard, "... I think I can pull that off." I smiled nodded, but didn't turn around.

"Goodnight guys," I told them before closing my door and getting ready for bed. Looking at the still open case with my suit I decided to sleep on it and give them my decision in the morning. I packed up the case and replaced the false panel before changing into my pajamas and climbing into bed. I must have been more tired than I realized because as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out like a light.

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Next Day

I woke up feeling refreshed as ever and confident about my decision. After getting dressed and doing my hair I walked out into the living room for breakfast.

I didn't have school today as it was a Saturday so I could just do my own thing. I grabbed a bowl a spoon and some cereal and sat down. Before I started eating I turned to Dad and said, "I made a decision."

"Oh? Mind sharing or are you going to keep us in the dark?" Mom asked with a smile as if she already knew my answer. What am I saying of course she does, she's Lois Freaking Lane-Kent. It's harder to hide things from her in this house than it is to hide things from Batman, which I actually succeeded at once.

I looked the two of them dead in the eyes and opened my mouth, "I...."

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That's a wrap for this one. Next published chapter should be my other YJ story. As always comment on errors, let me know your thoughts, and BBFN!