Red Arrow x Reader

Ch. 2

Time runs short. You must awaken. Awaken now!

You gasped and opened your eyes, frantically trying to take in your surroundings. You were in some kind of pod, both wrists were cuffed so you couldn't free yourself. KF, Robin, and Aqualad were in pods like yours just to your left and a boy wearing Superman's symbol on his outfit stood guard, watching your every move. "G-guys? What's going on? What happened?" You questioned the others, trying to understand how all four of you managed to get captured. The three boys filled you in on what they'd just been through and discovered and you explained what happened when you arrived. All the while, Superboy just stood guard, seemingly staring into your souls.

"What? What do you want? Quit staring. You're creeping me out," Kid shouted after a while.

"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?" Robin said.

"Yeah, I'd rather not get zapped with heat vision today," you added.

"We only sought to help you-" Aqualad started

"-Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us. How's that for grat-" Kid interjected.

"- Kid, stop. Don't want to get fried, remember?" You cut your younger brother off before he could continue.

"I believe our new friend is not in full control of his actions," Aqualad continued.

"Wha-what if - what if I wasn't?" Superboy asked.

"He can talk?" KF asked back.

"Yes, he can," Superboy growled.

We all turned to shoot looks at Kid. "Not like I said, 'it',"

"The genomorphs taught you telepathically," Aqualad said, looking back to Superboy.

"They taught me much. I can read, write. I know the names of things," Superboy replied.

"But have you seen them? Have they ever actually let you see the sky or the sun?" Robin inquired.

"Images are implanted in my mind, but no. I have not seen them," Superboy answered.

"Do you know what you are, who you are?" Aqualad asked.

"I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from the Light," Superboy replied.

The four of you shared worried looks. Something tells me 'the Light' isn't a metaphor for 'the good guy side', you thought to yourself. Aqualad was the first to speak "To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration, but like Superman, you deserve a life of your own beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus,"

"I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!" Superboy shouted, getting angry.

"Your home is a test tube, we can show you the sun," Robin interjected.

"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight," if you weren't locked up in a pod you'd elbow your brother for that.

"Not the point, KF. But we can show you the moon," you added. "We can introduce you to Superman,"

Superboy seemed to consider this for a moment, but the moment was short lived as a scientist entered. That must be Desmond, you thought to yourself. "No, they can't. They'll be otherwise occupied. Activate the cloning process,"

"Pass," Robin said "Batcave's crowded enough," if you weren't about to be cloned, you'd laugh at that.

"And get the weapon back in its pod!" Desmond shouted angrily.