A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

The Future Tastes Of Poison

Kal hears the footsteps before he hears the light knock on the kitchen doorway. He turns around on his stool and isn't remotely surprised to see Kid Flash standing there.

"The kitchen is a communal area, Kid - at least it is in our universe. You really don't have to knock," Green Lantern says, standing and dusting himself off. Flash soon follows and hops up to his feet.

"Neither is the common room," Kid Flash walks forward and sits on the counter. Lantern sits back down, curiously looking at Kid.

"We left because you and Kon were having a conversation we thought you wouldn't want us to be privy to. What's your excuse?" Hawkgirl asks. She's put her elbows on the counter beside Kid and is looking up at him.

"I didn't know if you were talking about something private and all that, so I thought it was best to be sure," he picks at his gloves. "I wouldn't normally talk to you all alone like this - I was telling Kon off for that earlier, after all - but I needed to talk to you and Kon... wouldn't be happy with what I'm saying, I don't think so anyway."

Flash leans towards Kid slightly, apparently thinking the same thing Kal is. The birds and Kon himself haven't been very forthcoming about what's going on with the young Superboy and yet here Kid Flash is without any of the same discretion.

"Thanks for giving me and Kon privacy earlier, we probably should've moved our discussion elsewhere but..." Kid Flash wrings his hands. "It's been difficult, you know? Having a new member has been hard for us Teen Titans and sometimes, we don't really know how to handle certain conversations and stuff," Kid waves his hands defensively and his boots lightly hit the counters underside. "It's not because we don't care - we do - it's just that it's hard understanding him and that's not his fault at all, it's just... he's so different compared to well, everyone..."

Different. It's shockingly odd to hear Kid Flash utter that word. Kon doesn't seem to be the only alien on the team - there's a Miss Martian, after all - and these people would obviously be vaguely familiar with Krytonians (this universe's Superman and apparently whoever Bizarro is) so what would be different? Kal can't really come up with an answer.

"Usually, we can move conversations from one place to another but he just doesn't do that. He takes it as an opportunity to not have that discussion or maybe he just gets uncomfortable but either way, it kind of means we have to take those moments as we get them so he doesn't go closing himself up again.

So, what I'm trying to say is thank you for your understanding and sorry if we made you feel awkward," Kid Flash smiles and pushes himself off of the counter, seeming lighter after having spoken to them.

Kal thinks he hates himself - his alternate self, that is. Whatever life Kon has led with the other him has left the poor child with behaviours even other children find baffling. How bad must he be? Why is this Superman still a part of the Justice League?

"Wait. Kon's a new member?" Flash looks over at his teammates and then back at Kid.

"Uh, yeah? Obviously?" Kid Flash chuckles. "He's been a Teen Titan for a little less than two months now. Anyways, what do you lot think of watching a movie with me and Kon? It'll be fun while we wait for everyone else to get back," he smiles and walks off, not waiting for the Justice League to follow.

Kal looks over at the rest of his team and mouths,'two months?'

They helplessly shrug.

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Stepping out of Luthor's building is a relief, Wonder Woman thinks. There's only so long you can stay in a maze of sterile grey-ish hallways until it becomes unsettling and from the way Martian Manhunter's shoulders relax upon exiting, she can only assume the feeling is mutual.