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Chapter Text

PART ONE: SUPERDAD

AUGUST

Conner

SATURDAY, 10:00PM, CADMUS LABS

“D… De…”

”You’ve got it,” the woman smiles. “Remember, sound it out.”

”De…s…troy.”

”Good,” she coos, reaching over and grabbing a strawberry. “Here. For your hard work.”

”What’s going on now?” Nightwing whispers.

”Sh!” Conner hisses. “She might hear you.”

”But I can’t see,” he pouts.

”Silence,” Batman grumbles.

”Pee… Peep…”

”Don’t push yourself too much,” the woman tells her subject, standing from the seat. Conner watches through a slit in the wall. “You’ve done enough for one day.”

”But—“ It’s the first coherence word the subject has said.

”Hush, it’s time for you to rest.”

Conner listens to the shuffling in the small room, turning so his ear is pressed to the wall. He hears the clicking of high heels against the floor, the relaxed sigh that leaves the subject’s mouth. The way the subject’s heartbeat slows just enough, alerting him that it’s now asleep.

”Any minute now,” he whispers.

”Are we sure Supes shouldn’t be here for this?” Dick asks, starting to stretch.

”Yes,” Conner and Batman say at the same time.

Because when Conner got out of CADMUS, Clark had been… awkward, to say the least. Shocked. Uncomfortable. Upset, even.

So, when Bruce—Batman—came to him and Dick with rumors of a second clone, they decided it’d be best to leave Superman in the dark. At least until they figured out whether or not there was any truth to this whole ‘second clone’ thing.

”Alright, the subject’s alone,” Conner whispers, pushing off of the wall. “Ready?”

”Always,” Dick grins, grabbing his escrima sticks.

Batman gives a curt nod.

So, the three men leave the room they’d been stowed away in for the past hour, and sneak into the one with all of the pods. The one that causes Conner’s throat to tighten.

The clone is on display in the center of the room, floating in the viscous fluid of the pod as if it were a womb. The clone, a girl, is connected to wires, her eyes closed, resembling a peaceful sleep. Conner knows the truth, though; that inside the pod, everything is black.

”This is the clone?” he whispers, confused why she doesn’t look like him and Clark.

”Yes,” Batman grumbles.

”Alright, let’s get her out and go,” Nightwing says, stepping up to the glass.

”Wait,” Batman says, “it might trigger an alarm. Let’s be smart about this.”

”If we wait any longer, we risk her waking up and going feral. I remember how Superboy was.”

Dick’s hands press gently up against the glass before either Conner or the hero can call out. As if he touched the clone’s flesh, her eyes shoot open.

Thanks a lot, Dick.

The girl’s fist flies forward, connecting with the glass, cracking the cold surface. Fluid leaks from the gashes like a bloody wound.

Dick stumbles backward as Bruce readies himself for the fight.

The second punch lands, her fist breaking through the glass, but it doesn’t cut her wrist. She doesn’t bleed. It’s enough to cause a rift through the entire pod, though, the door crumbling to thousands of little pieces, the clear liquid flooding to the ground in a giant wave.

The girl, a young woman, reaches up to pull off the wires stuck to her neck, her back. She kicks her legs out to disconnect the ones on the lower half of her body.

”Does she… look familiar to any of you?” Dick asks.

”This is not the time,” Batman replies tersely.

”No, seriously. Look at her.”

Conner turns his head to study the girl’s face. She doesn’t look like Superman, that’s for sure. Her hair is weird, chunky stripes alternating between black and blonde, almost like a skunk. Her eyes are the same, clear blue as his, but that’s the extent of the similarities.

”Hell,” Batman swears under his breath. “This might be worse than we thought.”

”What do you mean?” Conner asks as the girl steps down onto the grated floor. Her head turns slowly, wide eyes connecting with his.

The two stare at each other.

”S… Su… per,” she struggles.

Conner doesn’t know what to say. Even if he did, his mouth runs dry and his tongue seems to choke him.

Batman takes a step toward her, hands raised defensively, trying not to startle the girl.

Her head snaps in his direction, and her glare returns.

”Batman get down!” Conner yells as the girl’s eyes begin glowing red. Lunging quickly, moving at the fastest speed he can, his arms wrap around the girl’s shoulders and he tackles her to the ground.

The lasers shoot from her eyes before anyone can stop them, cutting through the wall and up into the ceiling.

”Su… per… m…n,” she weakly tries as her blue irises return, a terrified glint causing Conner’s heart to clench. He remembers the fear, the anger, the terror. He remembers it all.

Why she’s unable to speak clearly, he doesn’t know. These are questions to be asked later.

Batman quickly moves over to where Conner and the girl are laid on the floor. She thrashes against his hold, much stronger than he is. Something about the fluid must be amplifying her powers. That must be it.

The dark knight presses a rag up against her mouth and nose. Through the fabric, she lets out a shrill, feral scream.

”Guys, we should really get going,” Dick says from the entrance of the room.

”Thank you, captain obvious,” Conner says through gritted teeth, squeezing the girl’s arms against her sides.

It only takes a few more seconds before her struggle lessens. Before her eyes roll back in her head, and she slumps against Conner’s hold.

”Let’s go,” Batman says, standing.

“What was that stuff?” Dick asks.

”None of your concern.”

It’s a good enough answer for him.

Conner adjusts the girl, the clone, and hauls her up over his shoulder. The superhero walks to one of the exterior walls, places an explosive, and they take cover before it detonates.

The three leap out into the night, landing on the soft field outside of CADMUS. Running to the Batmobile as an alarm sounds out around the property, Conner practically throws the girl in the backseat before climbing in after her. Dick takes shotgun while Batman drives, peeling out of the trees where the car took cover and speeding out into the dark streets.

”We’re going to Mount Justice,” the older man grumbles. “I’ll call Clark.”

”Oh so now we’re calling Superman?” Dick asks sarcastically.

”Yes,” Batman says.

Turning around in the passenger seat, the former sidekick takes in the sleeping clone. Conner does as well, noting how docile she looks while unconscious.

”So, why is this worse than we thought? She’s so… normal looking. Not all beefed up like Superboy.”

”Shut up, Dick.”

“Conner is a half-human, half-kryptonian clone,” Batman explains. “I… I’ll have to send a sample of her DNA over to STAR Labs to confirm, but… It seems as though this clone is entirely kryptonian.”

”How is that possible?” Conner asks. “They’d need a full sample of Clark’s DNA.”

”Or, they were able to secure a second strain of kryptonian DNA to fill in the missing sequences.”

”But there aren’t any…” his voice trails off.

”Yes, there’s one,” Batman says lightly. “Clark’s cousin—your cousin. Kara Danvers.”

This is news to Conner. His whole life he’d been told that the others had been wiped out. That Superman, Clark, was the last to live of the Kryptonians.

”Does—“

”He does,” the bat interrupts. “We decided to keep Kara a secret, considering Lex’s affinity for cloning. Suppose word’s gotten out.”

Conner looks back at the sleeping girl. Half-Clark, half-Kara. Genetically engineered to be yet another weapon. Someone who could potentially take out Superman and Superboy.

Great.

”So, we take her to Mount Justice, then what?” Dick asks. “You heard her, she can barely speak. Who knows what else we’ll have to do to catch her mind up to her body.”

Batman doesn’t answer.

A small snore comes forth from the girl’s throat. She turns, adjusting herself so that her temple’s pressed to the window.

”I wonder if they named her,” Conner says softly.

”I doubt it,” Dick scoffs. “Maybe M’gann can name this one, too. Does Megan have a best friend in that show?”

”Shut up,” Conner glares. Dick laughs in the passenger seat. “We just don’t know how long they’ve had her out. They might’ve already started programming her.”

”It’s clear they have,” Batman says, taking a sharp turn. “Her reaction to seeing you was much less violent than her reaction to seeing us.”

”She thought I was Superman.”

Batman nods. “She saw you as an ally, and us as an enemy. We need to run tests, study her.”

”Gonna be hard to get her to unlearn whatever they’ve taught,” Dick says.

”Maybe. But not impossible.”

Chapter Text

Clark

SUNDAY, 4:00AM, MOUNT JUSTICE

The girl is tied to a chair, chin pressed to her chest as she sleeps. Clark feels an odd wave of deja vu sweep over his body. Maybe it’s because the girl has Kara’s face, or maybe it’s because he’s stood in front of oh so many villains before, tied up in the same way.

They can’t use kryptonite to weaken her without it effecting Conner and him as well, so they take their chances restraining the girl through the chains Bruce brought, and brute strength. He really hopes it’s enough.

”So?” Nightwing asks, looking between Clark and the girl.

”I’d be surprised if her DNA doesn’t come from Kara,” Clark sighs. Besides the thick streaks of black hair breaking through the blonde, there’s no denying that this clone was spliced from his cousin.

”We’ll get the results back tomorrow,” Bruce grumbles, mask pulled low over his eyes.

Clark shrugs. It isn’t really necessary.

”She should be waking up soon,” Conner says.

The girl fidgets in the chair, pulling lightly against her restraints as the sleep drought wears off.

”Then I guess we should get ready,” Clark says with a small frown.

Bruce plants a comforting hand on his shoulder before turning and making his way to the observation room. Nightwing reluctantly follows, eying the girl closely.

Clark and Conner remain alone in the room, waiting for her to come to. Bruce mentioned her adverse reaction to seeing him, and how she’d been gentler with his brother. The first clone.

After another minute, the girl lifts her head and squeezes her eyes tightly, harsh blinks helping her wake herself up. She groans, the sound seeming so, utterly human.

When her eyes open and adjust to the scene before her, she tries to speak.

”S’per… mn?”

Clark’s brows furrow.

”She’s trying to say Superman,” Conner whispers softly.

The girl hears, though, and starts to nod hastily. But, when she realizes there are two of them, her face scrunches in confusion. Eyes flickering between them both, she pulls against the chains.

”Why?” she asks, looking down at the restraints.

”For your safety,” Clark answers easily.

”Saf… tee?”

”Safety,” he repeats. Taking a step over to the girl, he squats down so that he’s lower than her. Body language is important to humans, and even though she isn’t one, he wants her to know she won’t be harmed by him. “Do you have a name?”

The girl tilts her head, resembling a lost puppy. Sighing, Clark puts a hand on his chest.

”Superman,” he says.

”Superman,” the girl repeats, more confidently now.

Then, Clark motions to his brother.

”Superboy.”

”Super… boy?” she asks.

Clark nods. “Mhm. Superman, Superboy. Clark,” he motions to himself. “Conner.” He motions to the other.

”Clerk… Con-ner.”

Close enough.

”Do you have a name?” he asks again, hoping she understands this time.

The girl looks between the two men before nodding.

”Superman.”

”No,” Clark sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose lightly. “I’m Superman. Who are you?”

”I’m…” her voice trails, and her brows knit together tightly. It’s clearly difficult for her, trying to think. Trying to pull a name out of thin air. “Con-ner.”

”Okay, so, no name,” Conner frowns.

”That’s okay,” Clark says lightly, trying not to frustrate the girl too much. It wouldn’t be good if she snapped now. Before any progress is made. “Can you tell us what CADMUS was doing with you?”

At this, the girl nods quickly. “Doc… tor. Doctor.”

”They’re doctors?”

She nods again.

”Were they hurting you?”

”No,” she says clearly. “Doctors… help.”

Clark swallows the lump in his throat. Shooting a glance at Conner, the man nods and stands before making his way out to the observation room.

”Fruit?” the girl asks suddenly.

”What?”

”Fruit?”

”You want fruit?”

”Red berry,” she nods.

”Red… berry?”

What the frick is a red berry?

“They were giving her strawberries,” Bruce’s voice floats through the speakers. Before Clark can respond, the girl is thrashing against her restraints.

”Ba-man,” she gasps with wide eyes.

”Yes, Batman,” Clark nods, watching her. The confirmation doesn’t seem to help. The chains rattle against the chair as she tries to break free. Her strength hasn’t completely returned, though, so she isn’t able to. “What’s wrong?”

”Batman,” she repeats. “Kill Batman. De… stroy… Batman.”

”No,” Clark says sternly, standing from the ground. “No, Batman is our friend.”

”No.”

”Yes. Batman is our friend.”

”Superman, stop!” Conner yells over the speaker. “We don’t know her trig—“

Before he can finish, the girl tears her arm through the first of her bindings. Clark’s eyes widen because she does have the strength to break through the bindings, and he prepares himself to grab her. With the speaker still on, Nightwing’s laugh echoes through the chamber.

”This isn’t funny, Dick,” Conner snaps.

”Hey, it’s okay,” Clark tries. “Calm down. It’s okay.”

But the girl isn’t listening. Words try to push forth from her mouth, but fail. The confusion, fear, frustration, and innate rage cause her to start screeching. Feral yells and cries flying out of her chest as she breaks through the second of her restraints.

She moves faster than Clark expected her to. With her arms free, she rips away the chains around her waist and feet, standing from the chair, lunging at the door leading to the observation room.

Clark turns and flies at her, grabbing her by the back of her CADMUS-issued shirt, pulling her body back into his. He wraps his arms around her torso, locking her arms by her side.

”No!” she screams. “No! No! Dad! No! Dad, no!”

The word makes his knees weak.

Dad? 

What sick joke is Lex playing? What messed up prank is this?

The girl struggles in his grip, legs flailing, kicking roughly against Clark’s knees and shins as he turns and starts walking her back to the chair.

”No!” she fights. “Dad! Kill Batman! No! Please!”

”We are not killing Batman,” he huffs. “Batman is good. Batman is our friend.”

”No! Doctor say Batman evil,” she frantically says, head turning to look up at him. Her eyes are wide, like a deer caught in the headlights.

”Lied,” he says simply, hoping she’ll understand. “Doctors lied.”

”No,” she argues, shaking her head.

Walking behind the chair, Clark lowers the girl down so that she sits. He plants his hands on her shoulders to hold her down as Conner runs in with a new set of chains. At the sight of them, she starts to shriek once more.

Conner slows his run, stopping just before the chair.

”What are you doing?” Clark asks. “Get her tied up.”

”Wait,” Conner says, holding up a hand. He squats down in front of the flailing, screaming girl. “Hey. Hey!”

Upon hearing his voice, the girl calms enough for Clark to adjust his grip.

”No chains?” he asks.

”No chains,” she repeats, nodding, trying to scramble away from him. There’s nowhere to go, though, so the fight is pointless.

”No chains? No killing Batman.”

The girl is taken aback. Shocked, even. How could they not want to kill Batman?

Seems like they discovered her programming.

Her eyes flicker between Conner and the chains, and finally, hesitantly, she relents. Her body relaxes under Clark’s grip, and she finally stops hyperventilating.

Then, she looks back at Superman.

”Fruit?”

Clark sighs, picking his hands up off of her shoulders. He’s slowly piecing together what exactly they did to her. Obedience equals fruit.

”Yeah,” he nods. “We can get you fruit.”

Looking up to where the observation room is hidden behind glass, he shakes his head.

What he’s discovered so far: Lex programmed the clone of his cousin to want to kill Batman. Lex programmed the girl to see him as her father.

This isn’t about taking Superman down. It isn’t about taking him out completely.

Lex Luthor is playing frickin’ mind games, this time.

“I’ll go get some strawberries, I guess,” Conner sighs as he stands.

”Red berry?” the girl gasps with a smile.

Conner gives her a tight-lipped grin. Something made of pity, frustration, and recognition. Looking up at Clark, he frowns.

”Whatever they did to her… it’s not what they were doing to me.”

”You think?” Dick’s voice echoes through the speakers.

Clark and Conner’s eyes widen, and the girl begins to scream again.

Chapter Text

Dick

THURSDAY, 2:00PM, MOUNT JUSTICE

She sits in the room, waiting for him to come in. He watches her through the glass with a raised brow. Curious to see what she does.

The girl looks around the room, her leg bouncing nervously.

”Dad?” she asks after a minute.

”Better go in,” Bruce sighs. “Don’t want to agitate her.”

Dick nods, turning and making his way around the corner to where the door is. Neither of them wear their suits today. Since Batman & co. are a threat, they opt for their street clothes this time.

Opening the door, he smiles at the girl who still hasn’t been named.

”Hi,” he smiles. “I’m Dick. It’s nice to meet you.”

”Hi,” she says softly, nervous.

”Did Conner tell you I was coming?” he asks, grabbing the other chair and pulling it to sit across from her. He sets down the bag he brought with him, and she eyes it for a moment. Then, she shakes her head. “I’m here to help with your speech.”

”Speech?” she asks, unsure.

”Talking,” he says, pointing to his mouth. “Words.”

She nods slowly, skeptically.

Dick reaches down and ruffles through his bag. When he feels the smooth cover of the book, he pulls it out and holds it up for her to see.

Her reaction is unexpected. Frowning, she crosses her arms over her chest.

”For baby,” she says.

He laughs, hard. Because yeah. He brought an ‘ages 2-4’ book, thinking it might be easiest for her to comprehend.

”Words hard,” she says, glaring at him. “Not st… stupid.”

Oh, so that she knows. But god forbid they call a strawberry a strawberry.

”Okay, well, try to read it,” he says, passing the book over. “Out loud.”

She snatches the book quickly from his hands, scowling. Flipping it open to the first page, she glares at the words with her finger placed beneath.

”The cat… laid… d-own… down, and he… t-took a nap.”

”So, you can read, but you can’t speak?” Dick asks, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

The girl rolls her eyes.

”Trying,” she says.

”I know you are,” he nods. “Just trying to figure out how that works.”

She clenches her jaw and huffs, looking up at the ceiling. Dick gives her the time to figure out what she wants to say.

”Year one, I read,” she finally speaks. “Read books and mag… magazines. Read news. Batman bad.”

”You read about Batman being bad?” he asks, trying to clarify.

An angry look flashes across her face. “Yes.”

”What else?”

”I read about… N-Nightwing being… bad. And Robin bad, too.”

Dick frowns, gaze shooting to the mirror he knows Bruce is watching through. Clearing his throat, he nods a bit.

”So, they made you read, but didn’t try to make you speak at all?”

“Yes.”

”Did you read anything else besides them being bad?” he asks.

”Mhm,” she nods. “Superman good. My dad good.”

”Yes, Superman is good,” he agrees.

Dick bites his tongue, trying not to laugh. Clark’s been fucking stressed since finding out about her considering him her father. Lex is such an asshole.

”You do understand, though, that Batman, Nightwing, and Robin are good too, right?”

She shrugs.

”Dad and Conner say, but… do not know.”

”Maybe you should meet them,” he suggests. “Talk to them, ask questions.”

”No,” she says quickly. “They would not like.”

”Your questions?”

She nods.

”Like what?”

The girl closes herself off, looking away from Dick and shrinking in on herself. Shaking her head, she says,

”Do not know you.”

”Would you rather tell Conner?” he asks, leaning back in his chair.

She sighs. “No.”

”Then ask me.”

She considers the offer for a moment, chewing on her lip nervously. Then, she sits straight once more and lets out a breath.

”If they are good… why Joker alive?”

The question makes Dick’s jaw drop. He was not expecting that to be the opening line.

”Because Batman doesn’t kill people,” he responds.

”But Joker kill people.”

”Which makes him bad.”

”Joker kill Robin, right?”

A breath huffs from Dick’s nose, the headache setting in. Again, this is not what he was expecting when she said she had questions.

”Yes,” he says through gritted teeth.

”Batman not sad?” she asks. “Not angry? Not want to… av-avenge his fr… friend?”

“Maybe you should ask him,” Dick says, because he can’t answer that. “But… killing someone out of revenge does not make it justified. It’s still murder.”

”Murder is bad,” she says softly, nodding.

”You understand?”

”Yes.”

”Good,” he says, relieved. “So, do you think you could meet them? Talk to them for yourself? Not, y’know, try to kill them?”

”Maybe,” she frowns. “But not soon. Do not want to see them now.”

”That’s fair. You need time.”

”Time,” she agrees.

Dick gives her a small smile, and she returns it. Then, looking down at the book in her lap, she grimaces.

”Take away. Get better book.”

He chuckles, grabbing it from her and putting it back in his bag. Then, she asks,

”What name?”

”Mine?”

”Yes.”

”Dick,” he says. “It’s short for Richard.”

Her brows furrow, not following. He shrugs, a smile tugging at his lips.

”Yeah, I’m not sure how it works either.”

”Dick is… short R-Rich… Richard?”

”Yep,” he nods.

She considers this, head tilted to the side.

”What… my name?”

”I don’t know,” he says honestly. “The doctors didn’t give you one. So, that means you get to pick.”

”Superman,” she grins, perking up.

Dick laughs, but shakes his head. “Nah, that’s not good. Conner’s girlfriend, M’gann, she can help you look.”

”Girlfriend?”

”Yeah. You know, dating. Romance. Love.”

Her mouth rounds into an ‘o’ and she nods. “Love… Yes.”

”She’s my friend, too.”

”But, no love?”

”Right,” he nods. She does as well, big arcs of her head as she pieces things together.

”So, M-M’gann… she help with my name?”

”Yes.”

”Do you help?”

”If you want me to.”

She shrugs. “Only know you and Conner.”

”Fair,” he says, starting to stand. “Do you wanna go now, or wait?”

”Go where?”

”To see M’gann and Conner.”

”Fruit?”

”Yeah, we can get some on the way,” he says. “You’ll love grocery stores.”

”Gro… Grocery?” she asks, standing from her chair, following him from the room quickly.

”They have more fruit than you can imagine, Superclone.”

”More fruit?” she grins, eyes wide.

”Tons.”

As he turns the corner, Bruce eyes him skeptically, unsure if this is a good idea. When she sees him, she stops. Dick turns around, and points at the man.

”This is Bruce,” he says. “He’s like my dad, kinda. It’s confusing.”

The girl visibly relaxes, and gives him a small smile. “Bruce. Hello.”

”Hi,” he says lightly. Then, he turns to Dick with narrowed eyes. “Watch her.”

”I hear you,” she says. “I am okay.”

Bruce bites back a smile, gaze flickering back to her.

”Just like your father,” he says. “Always listening in.”

The girl beams with pride, being compared to the man she was trained to adore. If only Clark were here to see. He’d have a fucking panic attack.

Chapter Text

Conner

THURSDAY, 5:00PM, CONNER AND M’GANN’S HOUSE

“So, she needs help with her name?” M’gann repeats, looking over in the direction of the kitchen.

”Yep,” Dick nods, looking over as well. He frowns. “Hey, you don’t have to eat the core, you know.”

The girl looks up from the table and nods. “I know. Apple core good, though.”

”You martians and your weird tastes,” he sighs, turning back to the couple on the couch.

M’gann stands and makes her way from the sitting room to the kitchen. Conner stands, following her in, and Dick isn’t far behind.

”When I was choosing a name, I watched tv shows and movies to think of them,” his girlfriend says. “Is there any name you’ve heard that you like?”

The girl sets down the rest of the apple core on her plate and swallows the bite.

”No.”

M’gann purses her lips and sighs.

”Well, your… other DNA part, her name is Kara,” Conner says. “What about Kayla?”

”Really?” Dick deadpans. “So the family would be Clark, Conner, Kara, and Kayla?”

”What do you recommend?”

”Why don’t we look up baby names?” M’gann cuts in before the two start bickering. “We can read them out, see if she likes any.”

”Ivy,” the girl offers. “Ivy is good.”

”As in Poison Ivy?” Dick asks.

She nods.

”Yeah, no. I’m vetoing that one.”

“Well, at least she wants to be named after a good guy,” M’gann tries. “Even if her perception’s a bit skewed.”

”A bit?” Conner asks.

”What about Haley?” Dick suggests.

”You’re not naming her after your dog.”

“Okay, here,” M’gann says, reading off of her phone. “If you like one, stop me okay? Allison, Ally, Ashley…”

It takes too long for her to land on a name the girl seems interested in.

”Lanie,” she repeats softly. “I like that.”

”You like Lanie?” Conner repeats, brow raising.

”Aw, that’s cute!” M’gann grins, nodding. “I love it!”

“Lanie Kent?”

”Lane Kent,” the girl says with a smile. “Yes. My name.”

”Lanie or Lane?” Dick asks, clarifying.

”Both.”

Conner tries not to roll his eyes. Neither M’gann or Dick catch it, but he does. It’s part of her programming, of course she’d like Lane of all names. Lex most definitely programmed her to have a soft spot for Clark’s best friend, the reporter who always interviews Superman.

“Which do you prefer?” Dick asks, still trying to get it settled.

Conner answers for her. “Lane. She’s Lane Kent.”

”Yes,” she grins, nodding. “I am Lane Kent.”

“I’ll call Clark,” he sighs, standing from his seat. Before anyone can respond, he leaves the kitchen and heads upstairs toward his bedroom. Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he dials the number and listens to the rings as he shuts the door.

He knows she can hear, but that’s the least of his problems.

”Conner?” Clark answers. “Any news?”

”Yeah, she picked out a name. Lane Kent.”

He doesn’t respond for a minute. Then, he asks, “She picked it?”

”Yup.”

”Great,” Clark groans. “Okay, well… I guess I’ll visit soon.”

When Conner returns to the kitchen, Lane is picking at the inside of an orange. She looks up at him expectantly.

”That was dad?”

”Yeah,” he says. “He said he’ll come see you soon.”

”Okay good.”

”Lane, do you want to stay for dinner?” M’gann asks.

”More fruit?”

”No, I’m making spaghetti.”

”What is spaghetti?”

”Oh, can I stay?” Dick asks, smiling. “Spaghetti’s my favorite. It’s noodles, tomato sauce, and meat.”

Lane’s ears perk up, and she nods. “I like tomato.”

”Sure, there’s more than enough,” M’gann says to Dick. “Okay, great! I’ll start getting it together.”

When Lane reaches for the carton of strawberries, Dick gently grabs her wrist and shakes his head.

”You’ll ruin your appetite.”

”But I am hungry?”

”Yeah, but if you eat more fruit, you can’t have spaghetti.”

”Why not?”

”Because you’ll get full,” he offers.

”Full?”

So, the next ten minutes are spent explaining exactly what full means. It takes Conner way too long to realize she doesn’t know what it means because she’s never been full before.

The realization causes a blinding fury to fill his body, and he needs to take a step outside to breathe. Standing on the patio, looking up at the moon, he steadies himself.

”You okay?” Dick asks, coming out after him.

He shrugs.

”It’s hard to talk about, knowing she can hear.”

”Yeah, I know what you mean,” his friend sighs, stepping beside him. “She’s out now. She’ll be okay.”

”I know. Doesn’t really help, knowing she spent two years there.”

Dick nods, looking up at the dark sky. Neither of them speak again, allowing the still night to consume them. Conner overhears Lane and M’gann talking in the kitchen.

“Is Conner okay?” Lane asks.

”Yeah, he just needs air,” M’gann says.

”Why?”

”Well, life can be overwhelming sometimes. It’s easier to breathe, when the space is bigger.”

”Oh! Space, yes… Space is good.”

”Sometimes,” M’gann agrees. “Everything’s done. Can you go get Conner and Dick?”

”Yes,” Lane says, heading toward the door. It slides open slowly, and she steps out. “M’gann is done. Ready to eat?”

The two turn to look at her over their shoulders and nod. But, when they go inside, Lane doesn’t follow.

”You coming?” Conner asks.

”Space,” she mutters before sucking in a breath. Then, she nods. “Yes… easier.”

Dick frowns. “Here, I’ll stay with her.”

Conner nods, turning and heading to the table, sitting down next to M’gann. She grabs his hand and offers him a smile.

”She just needs time to adjust. She’ll be okay,” her voice rings in his mind.

”I know… How was she?”

”Good. You worry too much.”

”I don’t think you’re worried enough.”

”As long as we don’t tell her Dick is Nightwing, she’ll be okay.”

”Do you want to leave?” Dick asks softly.

”No, I am okay,” Lane responds. “M’gann said Conner gets air. I am trying.”

”What else do you wanna try?”

”What else is there?”

”Loads of things,” he says. “Like… swimming.”

”Swimming?”

”Yeah, or going to a park.”

”I… do not understand,” Lane says softly.

”It’s okay. We’ll show you,” Dick responds.

”Conner,” M’gann frowns. ”Let them be.”

”I need to make sure she doesn’t do anything.”

”She won’t.”

”But—“

”Are you making sure she won’t do anything, or Dick?”

”… Well I wasn’t, but now I am.”

”Conner!”

Lane slides the door open and smiles, Dick following closely behind.

”Spaghetti smells good,” she says, walking over and sitting next to Conner. “Thank you, M’gann.”

”You’re welcome,” his girlfriend says.

The four of them eat, continuing to explain different concepts and things to Lane. Her speech is already starting to get better, after the short time with them all, and it makes Conner feel a bit less nervous about everything.

She’s acclimating quickly, all things considered, though her grudges against Batman and the others are still holding strong. Hopefully it won’t take much longer to break her from those impulses.

Chapter Text

Clark

FRIDAY, 6:00PM, WAYNE MANOR

“Why does this keep happening?” Clark sighs, listening to Bruce’s drumming heartbeat.

”Because Lex Luthor’s sense of humor sucks,” the man grumbles beneath him. The words cause his chest to vibrate, and the tension in Clark’s shoulders seems to lessen.

He plants a hand on Bruce’s chest, thumb running softly over the thatch of black hair.

”She calls me dad,” he frowns. “She calls herself Lane. She wants to kill you.”

”I don’t think that’s so bad. Her calling you dad, that is. I’m not thrilled about her wanting me dead.”

”I always imagined myself being a dad, but it’s… weird. Right? A genetically engineered, young woman, calling me her father after being raised in a lab.”

”You’ve accepted Conner as your brother.”

”Yeah, not my son,” Clark says, pulling his head up to look at Bruce. The man offers a small smile. “I don’t know what she expects.”

”CADMUS set the bar pretty low, so… You can only go up from here.”

”That’s not funny.”

Bruce sighs, tightening his grip around Clark’s waist. “Whatever boundaries you want to set, pick them out soon. Before you confuse her more.”

”Lex is a frickin’ lunatic,” Clark grumbles.

”Then don’t let his plan work. Embrace her, train her. Set things straight… Don’t let him get under your skin.”

Bruce places a hand on Clark’s cheek, and he leans into the touch.

”You’re not… upset?”

”Why would I be?” the billionaire asks lightly. “I have Dick, and Tim. Cass, Duke, Stephanie. Jason… They don’t call me dad, but it’s not so different.”

”I don’t think taking in a ward is really my style.”

”But having a child is.”

So, yeah, maybe it is. Maybe Clark wouldn’t mind having a kid, someone to care for, someone who expects the best from him. Maybe it’d give him higher standards to raise to.

But… He figured he’d have a family in the traditional sense of the word. Marry Bruce and adopt, if that could even be considered traditional.

Sighing, groaning, he rolls over onto his back. Staring up at the ceiling, he tries to picture it. A life where Lane is his daughter. Where he comes home to his apartment after a long day, and she’s there on the couch, waiting for him. Where Bruce comes over for dinner, and she’s with them. Where she cries to him about whatever problems young women go through, where she goes to Lois for answers Clark can’t give, where she turns his life completely upside down.

Ma and Pa would be excited. They’d like her, treat her like a real grandchild. They would be good to her, and kind.

He doesn’t know how old Lane is, but she looks too old to be disguised as a high schooler, so he couldn’t send her off to a boarding school or something. It would be his job, caring for her, aiding her in life.

”What will she think when she finds out about us?”

The question leaves him before he can stop himself.

Bruce rolls onto his side and threads his fingers through Clark’s curls.

”We’ll work on her opinion of me. When Dick talked to her, she seemed open to the idea, so hopefully it won’t take long.”

”Hopefully it won’t take long,” Clark repeats, scoffing a bit. “Seems to be the catchphrase when it comes to her.”

”She’d do better with you there.”

”I know,” he frowns.

But he can’t bring himself to go. He said he’d visit her, but hasn’t been able to get himself to fly to Mount Justice.

”We can go together,” Bruce suggests. “She was fine with me outside of the suit.”

Clark nods once, curt. Still so, completely unsure about the whole thing. Having called off work for the week, taking out some of his PTO to try to better understand the current situation.

The clone wants to be his daughter.

Fricking heck.

Chapter Text

Dick

SATURDAY, 3:00PM, MOUNT JUSTICE

Dick lands the dismount, feet hitting the carpeted floor, then looks over at Lane. She’s studying his movements, watching intently, trying to memorize the routine.

”Think you can do that?” he asks, standing straight. He moves to where his water bottle is set and takes a sip to cool off.

”I think so,” Lane nods, making her way to the first set of bars.

”No powers,” he adds quickly.

“I do not think I can turn them off, but I will try.”

Dick watches as she goes through the movements on the bars. Albeit, a little clumsy, but not bad. When she lands, she stumbles forward a bit, but catches herself easily.

”So? Was that good?” she asks, sucking in heavy breaths.

”Yeah,” he smiles. “Great.”

”Dick,” Conner says through the mind link. “Can I talk to you?”

He tells Lane he’ll be right back and makes his way across the room, stepping out into the hall. She continues working through the routine on the bars.

Conner’s alone in the hall, M’gann somewhere else in the base.

”Yeah, what’s up?” Dick asks.

“What are you doing?”

”What do you mean?”

”I mean, you’re spending a lot of time with Lane.”

”So?”

”So, have you told her you’re Nightwing yet?”

”No. Does it matter?”

”Of course it matters! Imagine what she’ll feel like when she finds out. Betrayed at best.”

”She won’t—“

”You’re lying to her, Dick.”

”I’m not lying,” he says out loud. He’s just… omitting the truth for the greater good. “But fine. I’ll tell her. Not yet, though.”

”When?”

”Soon.”

”Are you prepared for her reaction?” Conner asks, brow raised. “Expect the worst.”

”We’re cool. It’ll be fine.”

”Will it?”

Dick groans, rolling his eyes. “Yes, it will be. Relax, Con.”

”Conner?” Lane’s voice rings through the gym. She’s at the door before they can say anything else. “Why are you here?”

”Came to say hi,” he says.

”Oh. Well, M’gann is okay?”

”Why wouldn’t she be?”

”You are worried about telling her something, no? Sorry, I am still getting used to not listening in,” she says, definitely not sorry about it.

”It’s nothing,” Dick says.

”Hey, Lane, can I ask you something?” Conner asks.

”Yes, you can,” she smiles.

”How… How are you feeling about Batman?”

Her smile falls. “Why? Is he here?”

”No, he’s not.”

”Oh, okay good,” she says. “I still do not trust him.”

”What about Nightwing?”

Lane grimaces, turning away and walking back into the gym. Dick follows, his curiosity getting the best of him.

”What’s wrong with Nightwing?” he asks.

”Batman’s lapdog,” she grumbles.

Conner laughs annoyingly behind him. Dick flips him off behind his back.

”He’s not a lapdog,” he scoffs.

”He does what Batman says,” she shrugs, leaping up onto one of the beams. Balancing, she walks across. “I do not know… He is suspicious.”

”Suspicious?”

”Yes,” she nods.

”How?”

The question seems to stump her. Brows knitting tightly in a scowl, she shrugs before doing a front flip and landing easily back on the beam.

”I am not sure,” she finally says. “Conner says there are things I was taught that are wrong… Maybe it is wrong.”

”You know,” Dick starts, jumping up on the beam with her. “A lot of people say I’m like Nightwing.”

”Why? Do they not like you?”

He frowns when the gym is filled with Conner’s laugh yet again.

”No,” he deadpans. “Our personalities. If you like talking to me, maybe you’ll enjoy talking to him.”

Lane shrugs, turning quickly so that she’s no longer facing him.

”Maybe. Maybe not.”

He sighs, turning to Conner. Superboy gives him a smug smile, then from across the room he asks, “Lane, if Superman told you to trust Nightwing and Batman, shouldn’t you?”

She turns to him and hops off the beam. “I trust my dad, but he might be blind to the truth.”

”Is there anything we could say to convince you?” Dick asks, grabbing her attention. “How can we get you to trust us?”

“I do trust you,” she says, frustration growing. “Why do you not trust me?”

”Lane, you were subject to CADMUS experimentation,” Conner says lightly, crossing to her.

”What I read was real.”

”What you read was the lowest of Batman’s career. Did you read about all of the people he’s saved? About the bad guys he’s arrested and put in Arkham?”

”No,” she says softly.

”Will that help?” Dick asks. “If we get you more to read, will it help you understand?”

Lane’s auditory processing needs work. She’s not used to receiving information this way, at least not so quickly. Something visual might help her rationalize everything a bit more.

”I do not know,” she says, sinking down to the floor. Laying on her back, staring up at the bright lights, she sucks in a breath. “Think I need space.”

”Do you want to go outside?” he asks, hopping down to the mats.

She sits up and nods. “Yes. Air. That will be good.”

Conner lets the two of them go. Dick leads her out to the hallway, through a door, up some stairs, and then finally outside. A small opening on the side of the mountain, overlooking the sea.

Lane stands next to him, looking over the side, turning her eyes up to the clouds. She sucks in a deep breath and closes her lids, letting the breeze hit her face and blow through her hair.

”When will my dad come?” she asks.

”I don’t know,” he says. “Conner told him to come. Bruce, too.”

”Your dad?” Opening her eyes, she turns to him.

”Sure,” he nods. Trying to explain the difference between a son and a ward seems unproductive, at the moment.

”Why?”

”They’re… good friends.”

”With love?” she asks, voice light, thoughtful.

”Yes,” he admits.

”Is that why he won’t come? He thinks I will be… sad? Because of Bruce?”

”Not sad,” Dick sighs. “Confused, maybe.”

”Love is confusing?”

”Most of the time, yeah.”

”Why?”

”Because feelings are confusing. Sometimes others have opinions… Sometimes you feel something for someone you shouldn’t.”

”Why should you not?” she wonders, looking back out at the sea. “I thought love was always good.”

”Not always.”

”When is it not?”

The example leaves his mouth before he can second guess himself. Before he can remind himself not to be a complete idiot.

”What if Nightwing loved you?”

Lane’s head whips to face him, eyes wide.

”This is a joke,” she says.

”A hypothetical,” he corrects.

”Nightwing would not love me,” she says firmly. “So, it does not matter.”

”What if he did, though? It would be confusing, right? Because you… you don’t like him.”

”He does not know me.”

”That, too,” he says, smile spreading across his face before he can stop it. “Let’s say, you and Nightwing meet, and he loves you. It’s confusing.”

”Yes,” she admits, nodding. Frowning. “It would be confusing…”

”Then, what if you meet Nightwing, and you love him?”

Lane doesn’t let this question surprise her. Instead, she stares out at the ocean with a small look of indignation. Like the water has personally scorned her.

”Is that what dad feels for Bruce?”

”No.”

”Then why does it matter?” she asks.

”It matters to me,” he says lightly.

She takes another deep breath, trying not to become overwhelmed by the questions Dick’s asking. He supposes it’s not fair to probe like this, when she doesn’t know who she’s talking to. Still, he does.

”If I love Nightwing, then maybe I am also bad,” she finally says.

It causes something like ache to fill Dick’s body. Not a sharp pain, but dull. Like when he falls from the rings and lands on his back, and the air is pushed forcefully from his lungs.

”Nightwing isn’t bad,” he tries for the hundredth time.

”I do not need love to know confusion.”

”Lane…” his voice trails, and he frowns. But, Dick supposes it’s fair. “We’ll figure it out.”

”I would like to feel normal.”

”What do you feel, now?”

”Lost,” she says. “I have a name, but… I still do not know who I am. Conner says I was… programmed, but it makes me feel like a robot when he does.”

”You were just taught wrong,” he says lightly, nudging her with his elbow. She turns to him and smiles. “We’ll get ya sorted.”

Chapter Text

Clark

SUNDAY, 11:00AM, MOUNT JUSTICE

The clone… the girl… Lane, stands in front of him with a smile. Dick is next to her, as Bruce is next to Clark. She is the only one grinning.

”What now?” she asks expectantly.

Yes, that is the question. What now?

“I like your name,” he says awkwardly. “It’s… very pretty.”

”Thank you. It is a good name,” she agrees. “Clark is also a good name.”

He can’t help the smile that breaks through his anxiety, a light, surprised laugh leaving him. “Thank you.”

”So, Lane, are you hungry?” Bruce asks, much better at this than Clark is.

She looks at Dick, as if he knows the answer, and he raises his brow.

”Are you?”

”I… am.”

”What do you want to eat?” Bruce asks, grabbing her attention. She considers her options.

”Spaghetti?”

”M’gann made it for her last week, it’s all she’s wanted to eat since,” Dick chuckles.

”Have you tried pizza?” Clark asks her.

Her brows furrow, and she’s back to looking like a lost puppy. Like Kara, if she never learned about the red suns and harbored an inexperience of life.

”Pizza?” Lane repeats, the word foreign to her.

”It’s like spaghetti, but flat and round,” Dick tries.

She shrugs. “I need to see.”

He nods, as if it makes sense. Is it supposed to? Clark already feels so behind, so lost. He’s missed so much of her short life, and yet Dick Grayson’s been able to bond with her. Make sense of her awkward, clunky phrasings.

”Here, my driver can take us somewhere,” Bruce says, motioning for them to follow.

”A driver to get pizza? You’re spoiling us,” Dick jokes, making Bruce roll his eyes.

Lane looks between them, confused. Just as lost as Clark seems to be. So, he slows his pace to walk next to her.

”I heard you read a lot.”

”Yes,” she says. “I like to read.”

“Did you ever read anything by the Daily Planet?” he asks.

”Yes!” she grins, turning to him excitedly. “Of course. I read everything you write.”

”You do?” A rock of guilt settles heavily in his stomach.

”Yes. Clark Kent is my favorite reporter.”

”Anyone else?” he asks.

”Mm,” she hums, thinking. “There are others. Lois Lane is smart.”

”She is,” Clark agrees. “Would you like to meet her?”

Lane’s eyes light up, and she nods. “Is she your friend?”

”My best friend.”

”But… with no love?”

”With a lot of love,” he corrects.

Dick turns around, wincing a bit. “Actually… no. With no love.”

”What do you mean?” Clark asks, brows furrowing.

”Well, Lois is a friend the way Bruce is your friend?” Lane asks, making his eyes widen. “Or is she your friend in a different way?”

”Wha—“

”It is incredibly tricky explaining the nuances of romance and friendship to someone who has experienced neither,” Dick says. “Sorry.”

”Oh,” is Clark’s smart response.

Bruce turns around with a small smile. “Lois is his friend. Not in the way I’m his friend.”

Lane nods, understanding.

”Bruce, you and Lane go ahead. I need to speak to Dick, for a moment,” Clark says, stopping. Lane looks at him nervously, but nods and follows Bruce from the command room of Mount Justice. Once they portal out of the room, Clark turns to Dick with a frown. “You get her.”

”What?”

”You’re able to understand what she’s saying.”

”Yeah? Of course I am.”

”How?”

Dick’s brows furrow, and he shakes his head. “I’ve spent every free day I have with her since breaking her out of CADMUS. How do you think?”

”How do you do it?”

”Clark—“

”Please.”

The young man considers his plea. As he does, Clark wonders when the boy he used to know grew up. When did Robin end, and Nightwing begin? Obviously Clark had been there for the transition, had heard all about it from Bruce, but… It’s been so long since he’s actually spent time with the kid. And now, said kid is the one helping Lane learn to live outside of her pod. Glaring back at Clark as if it’s his fault for the whole mess.

Finally, Dick nods.

”For the first year of her life, all she did was read paper clippings about Superman being a good guy, and Batman being a bad guy. No one tried to talk to her until recently,” he says.

”So she can read, and she can comprehend…” Clark starts.

”She just has trouble speaking,” Dick finishes. “There are concepts that are foreign to her, too. So, when she doesn’t understand what you’re saying, you have to show her what you’re talking about.”

”Or simplify it.”

He understands a bit more now. Friendship with love is a romance. Friendship without love is just friendship. Lane still doesn’t understand loving someone platonically, which might be a point of confusion later, but it’s the least of Clark’s worries.

”Exactly,” Dick nods. “I recommend spending time with her, if you’re really interested in getting to know her.”

As he speaks, he walks backward to where the portal is.

”If you don’t, though,” he continues. “It’s best if you leave her alone. Don’t hurt her more.”

Which is precisely what Clark’s been trying to do. Not hurt Lane. But it is so easy to hurt someone when they have expectations of you.

”You coming?” Dick asks, breaking him from his thoughts.

Nodding, Clark moves across the room to the portal, stepping up next to the young man. Bruce’s ward… son… ish… person.

Yeah, and they wanna lecture me about family.

Clark frickin’ hates using Bruce’s driver. He shifts around the seat uncomfortably, grey suit suddenly much too tight, feeling like the world’s most awkward wannabe billionaire, all while being stared at by Bruce and Lane.

”Is it okay?” she asks.

”Clark grew up on a farm,” Bruce explains. “He’s not used to expensive things.”

”What is a farm?”

The three men all try to explain, words overlapping the other, making Lane’s eyes widen. They stop, realize what they’re doing, and Clark gives her the simplest explanation he can think of.

“So, you do not like a lot of money?”

”No, I do not,” Clark confirms, shooting a look at Bruce. The man smiles and turns to look out the window.

”Do you like the grocery store?” she asks, attempting to continue the conversation.

”I… do you like the grocery store?”

”Yes,” she nods. “There is so much food.”

”When did you go?”

”The other day, with Dick.”

”Did you get anything?”

”Yeah,” Dick grunts, cutting in. “I’m sending you an invoice for the ten pounds of fruit I bought.”

”Oh, yes, the fruit was very nice,” Lane nods. “But… what is an in voice?”

When they pull up closer to the pizza place, Clark nearly leaps from the car, waving for Lane to follow after him. She grins and does.

”Are we walking?” she asks as she climbs from the car. Bruce shoots him a cheeky grin that causes a blush to settle over his cheeks.

”Yes,” he says after clearing his throat. “We’ll get a table for us while they’re parking.”

As they walk down the street, she takes in the different sights of the tall buildings and hundreds of people milling about. At least she finally blends in, wearing something other than the CADMUS uniform.

”How are you?” she asks, not bothering to look at him.

”I’m…” How is he? Confused. Lost. Unsure. Self-doubting and self-deprecating. “Good.”

”That is good,” Lane smiles.

”How are you?” he asks.

”I am also good,” she says, finally turning to him. “Can I ask you a question?”

”Shoot.”

”Shoot?”

Clark nearly hits himself in the head. “Yeah, you can ask me a question.”

”Dick says families do not always live together. Is that true?”

”Yes,” he nods. “My Ma and Pa don’t live in Metropolis with me. They live in Smallville. Most children don’t live with their parents, once they become adults.”

”Oh,” she says, voice laced with something between sadness and disappointment.

”Does that make you upset?”

”Not upset, exactly. I do not know how to say it…” she frowns. “I… I wish I had more time.”

”More time? To do what?”

”To have been a family.”

This is when Clark’s world shatters.