A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

A Present Dinner

Dinner begins with gathering in the kitchen. Everyone comes in groups of twos or more; Batman and Martian Manhunter, Superman and Wonder Woman, Batman's present and future protégés, Hawkgirl and Flash and Lantern...

They walk by each other, tap at each other for attention, chat loudly and it just... works. It's bizarre how natural them all buzzing around the kitchen feels.

The Justice League has never had to use the kitchen back at their Hall of Justice. They even went out of their way to avoid it at times, mumbled made-up plans to excuse having to eat with their teammates because they thought it would be awkward - like a dinner function at work. Instead they bob in and out of each other with ease and switch tasks simply.

It's enjoyable.

Red Hood and Robin only really interact with their brothers and Batman but that's fine. Besides, Nightwing doesn't seem to have an issue bouncing around between the Justice League, helping a little with everything.

Everyone's head turns when there's a knock at the door frame. Kid Flash stands beside a blurry eyed Kon who's wrapped in Superman's cape. There's a palpable tension between a lot of the League members, remembering the argument from earlier.

Then Kid waves and Robin waves back and the tension releases like a stubborn valve.

Everyone goes back to what they're doing and the kitchen fills back up with the sound of knifes against wooden cutting boards and spoons against pots and the shuffling of feet.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kal can see Kid Flash go straight for Flash. He chuckles and goes back to minding his pot of stew, and turning down the heat slightly.

The rich smell of beef is in the air and there's some oxo stuck to the inside of the pot and oddly enough, it feels like home. Like if he closed his eyes, Kal would be back on that farm in Kansas with his ma peering over his shoulder and humming approval while pa munched on some of the fatty leftover beef.

A hand tugs at the elbow of his suit. Looking over his shoulder, Kal sees Kon stood there. The boy's hair is a mess, sticking up oddly on one side.

Kal will never question ma's fussing again because in this moment, he entirely understands the urge to run his hands through scruffy hair to flatten it down into being presentable. He doesn't, of course. It would be rude to do that to a kid that's not his (even if Kon is technically his by whatever adoption/mentorship alternate Superman has going on with the kid).

"Did you need something?" He asks. Kon looks up at him and pulls lightly at the cape like a shy bird flapping his wings. Kal waits patiently, giving the boy time to answer. And then Kon huffs as though Kal is being difficult.

"This is your cape," Kon says simply. Kal nods and Kon huffs again. "Take it. This is me giving it back to you."

Kal looks at his cape swaddling Kon's shoulders and shrugs. "I don't need it at the moment and besides, it would get in the way of cooking. How about you wear it for now and keep it safe for me?"

Kon stares at Kal for a long moment, expressionless. Kal can hear the bubbling pot behind him and breathing of everyone in the room and, shockingly, his own heartbeat.

He knows the human heart is split into a left and a right section, both pumping individually to create that dual ba-bum. When hearing his own heart though...

It beats like the clop of horse's hooves against the ground.

Mercifully, he's spared any time to freak out by Kon breaking the impromptu staring contest and speaking.

"Okay then... I'm going to wash my hands and help my friends with..." Kon looks over at Robin and Kid, watching as the pair drive knifes into the center of the crust of a loaf of bread. "Whatever they're doing."