Curious Boy 5

The piercingly delicate aquarius eyes of the thirteen year old crime fighter were transfixed in a gaze at the clone of Superman. He felt it; a strange bodily sensation which soaked through his skin and made the thin hairs on his arms prickle. His eyes glazed over the small boy's body; the slight muscular build and vibrant smile as a white light glowed about him that fueled Superboy's bodily desires…and the clone had to wonder did he truly love the boy for who he was or was it only the face that attracted him.
"Robin…" he mumbled.
"Who's 'Robin'?", a young voice asked.
Conner's eyes fluttered open as the images dissipated. It was morning and the sun was out. As he exhaled however, his steamy breath could be seen. It was cold. His eyes moved to Luna's face. Seeing more clearly now, he saw detailed features of her. Their eyes met.
"Hey."
Luna smiled in greeting as she held on to the branches within the thicket of the tree the pair had slept in. Her amber eyes were bright, her dark raven hair mangled, tangled and oily from lack of care. Her new name was perfect for her rounded and pale face which resembled that of the moon. There were strokes of pink dashed across her cheeks as the icy temperatures took its toll.
"Where's my jacket?" Conner asked.
"It's on you."
"No…" He peeled the warm leather jacket off of his chest and wrapped it around Luna's body.
"It's freezing out here. I don't need it."
"But you look really cold too."
Nonsense, he was the man of steel…the man of steel's clone. He could live with the elements.
"It's alright Luna, you need it more," Conner said brushing a hair out of her eyes. He never felt a more fuzzy feeling in his life.
"You're really nice."
Conner felt a pang of something hit him. He gave a fake laugh and smoke escaped from his mouth. Nice. Creep.
"Most people don't think so."

The slick black motorcycle waited next to the bench Conner had left it. He was surprised no one had stolen it in the dead clear of last night. His scarlet streaked helmet hung on the left handlebar with his midnight gloves inside.
"That's yours?" Luna exclaimed.
"Yep, she's mine."
"It's a 'she'? What's her name?"
"Oh." Conner himself didn't know why humans gave objects names much less a gender. He had simply taken to the trend to be more human and less of a science experiment.
"It's a figure of speech?" the teen inquired.
The small girl cocked her head to the side. "I don't get it," she said peering at the bike.
The teenager thought to himself for a moment.
"Me neither."
There was a stillness in the air but the streets were bustling with life. Conner turned away from the scene as his mind wondered about the team. He had left his communicator at home. Were they all worrying for him? He didn't even want to think about them and oddly enough not think about Robin. He felt something tug at his navy shirt.
"What's wrong?" Luna asked.
The clone blinked and then gave the girl a soft pat on the head. No one was more important now.
"Nothing," he said, "I'll take you for a ride."
"You ride this thing?!" Luna cried flabbergasted.
"Hahaha," Conner's first actual laugh, "yeah, come on!"

The loud rumbling of the motorcycle beast echoed down the city streets.
"Don't be afraid. It's alright-I got you."
"Okay…" Luna whispered. She pressed her helmeted head closer to his tough body with trembling hands. Maneuvering through the streets, Conner tried to veer in between two cars only to be cut off and honked at. His tires screeched to a halt as he cursed at himself. Luna shrieked and clenched tighter to the point where it was difficult for the steel protector to breath.
The boy of steel gripped the handle bars and sat in that moment as the cars and buses around them sped past.
"It's alright Luna," his voice spoke gently.
Luna's amber eyes met his electric neptune as she peeked out from beneath the fabric of his shirt. "Just hold on a bit longer okay? We're almost there."
"Where are we going?"
A gurgling sound croaked from Luna and Conner's stomach in unison.
"You hungry?"
"Starving!" Luna chirped.
"Okay. I got a nice place." And it seemed all the fear and anger from before had dissipated.

Pipes Café was a cheap eatery but it had a certain antique richness about it. The floors of wood, the signature, autographed surfboards hanging about, and the aqua blue painted walls made Conner feel like he was sitting at the shores of his headquarters. There was a waft of the smells of cooked pancakes and garlic; an interestingly delicious smelling combination. He and his new friend stood in line surrounded by white plastic chairs on the wood plank patio which overlooked a side street. The café, separate from the heavy movement and sound of the city, brought peace to little Luna.
"What do ya like Luna? Order anything."
"What are 'waffles'?", the girl asked as she glanced at the menu.
"Uhhh…I think it's some sort of cake. I know it tastes good," Conner said inquiringly.
Luna smiled excitedly. "I'll take it!"
"Good." The teen glanced down at the smaller girl who still wore his leather jacket. There was a sudden pressure in his chest as he continued to stare at her. He blinked to himself in alarm and glanced around at the framed photos on the walls to distract himself. Whatever it was that he was feeling for Luna, it was not something he completely understood. And what was more interesting is he hadn't thought about Robin the whole rest of the day. The cashier called for the next client to come to the register and with a swift glance at the menu board, Conner ordered a platter of eggs and hash browns.
"Here you are, you two," the waitress said politely as she set the paper plates on the table.
Luna's eyes bulged in awe at the sweet smelling waffles which steamed before her as the white vapors of moisture and heat evaporated into thin air. Instantly, she grabbed the food with her two paws and pounced like a wildly excited kitten playing with a new toy.
"Luna, hey," the boy of steel said in mild shock. Luna stopped mid-claw with half a waffle stuffed into her left cheek. "You put syrup on it, you know? And you eat it with this," he said handing over the plastic fork.
The small dirtied girl glanced at the utensil with curiosity. Conner couldn't help but smirk at how interesting her reactions were to everything; their instant companionship, his motorcycle, waffles, a plastic fork, and his kindness which surprised even him. And at this, the clone realized that the little girl he had befriended was truly homeless. She seemed to possess a certain knowledge about things; she was eccentric, and naïve. As he observed Luna fiddle with the fork, he could only wonder where she had come from, how she had survived in the city and retained her purity.  
"Syrup? That's supposed to make the waffles sweet, right?"
"Yeah, you just pour it all over…like that, see?" Another child a distance away streaked the dewing syrup over the cake. As the child ate, a sliver of sugary liquid slithered down the chin and who could only be assumed as the father sitting nearby, wiped it away with a warm smile on his face. And when Conner turned to look at Luna to see if she had understood, all he saw was a dazed expression painted across her face. Her eyes looked more sunken than ever, her face ever grey. The teen boy knew that face all too well. He had seen it before. All he had to do was look at his reflection.

"That was super yummy, Conner. Thank you for giving me food." the girl said.
The boy's chest clenched and he looked at her as the icy wind blew their hair. "No problem, kid. For you," he breathed, "anything."
"There you are!" an all too familiar voice hollered.
"Artemis…"
"The teams worried about you-M'gann is freaking out!" The archer gave a quick glance to his friend with a questioning gaze. "Who's the kid?"
"Her name is Luna." Conner said instantly flaring in a quiet anger. He didn't know why.
"Oh…interesting." she murmured quietly. If the boy's vision wasn't superb, he wouldn't have noticed the tingle of red which was peppered across the blonde's cheeks. She must have been searching for a while.
"Who is she Conner?" Luna asked breaking the teenager's focus.
"No one-I mean-she's a friend. Her name is Ar..." But he stopped himself. He didn't know a thing about Artemis other than her super hero name but there was no way he could reveal that. "Call her 'Archer'." Quick save.
"So…are you coming back or what? I heard…something happened. Aqualad is worried too, you know."
Breaking his gaze away from Artemis, he glanced quickly to Luna. He could not bear to leave her as a sudden wave of compassion overwhelmed him. He knew that loneliness with which she felt and he refused to leave her and with these frigid temperatures, he wouldn't dare. He was a super hero and he was saving this girl from a horrible life of hardship she didn't deserve.
"She's coming with me.", Conner said.
The archer clad in a brown leather coat allowed her eyes to glaze over the child causing Luna to shift uncomfortably and draw close to the teen boy.
"Another one huh?"
"Can't I keep her? I can't leave her-I won't."
"I don't know…check in with the leader when we get home."
"Home? You're leaving?" Luna cried, eyes shining.
"You're staying with me Luna." Conner ordered and at that, Artemis flashed another questioning look at the boy.
"But I…I might cause problems." the girl said doubtfully.
"She's got that right." the archer shot back.
"No you won't," Conner said gently before quickly shooting Artemis an angry glare. "You'll cause problems more…if you're alone."
"And that makes no sense-" Artemis interjected.
"Artemis-"
"Okay- sheesh! Can we go already? I'm freezing my butt off out here!"
The boy of steel turned to Luna, set his firm hands upon her fragile shoulders and gave her the most wonderful smile on earth.

"We're back!" Artemis hollered.
M'gann was in the kitchen concocting yet another horrible batch of cookies and as soon as the trio entered Kid Flash zoomed across the room in a split second. Aqaulad in a blue sweater jacket which brought out his ice green eyes had a face of relief and a soft smile, while Robin remained nowhere to be found.
"Thank goodness you're alright Conner! Ohhh~ we were so worried!" M'gann cried as her face instantly lit up. Her eyes shifted with a hyper tension and shifted instantly to the small girl clutching Superboy's shirt.
"Who's this little sweety pie huh?" KF hollered almost crying out what everyone was thinking.
"Yes who is this girl?" the Atlantian asked.
Luna gripped tightly to Superboy as each new stranger came into view and everyone gave a warm smile though they were perplexed at first. It seemed that all that had happened the day before had been erased and forgotten.
"Luna, it's okay." Superboy coaxed gently.
She bobbed her head up and down quickly and broke away from him,
"My name is Luna. Pleased to meet you." she said confidently.
"She is adorable Conner! Where did you find her?" M'gann asked excitedly.
"Come on sweet cheeks, that don't matter. Let's just make the little lady feel at home." the speedster said.
M'gann was practically jumping up and down. "Oh-hello Megan! You can help me with the cookies Luna, come on." Grabbing Luna's hand and with a quick glance at Superboy, the little girl ran off with Kid Flash and M'gann. And Superboy smiled.
"I've never seen you so happy before." Artemis commented, arms crossed.
"Yes, it is interesting to see a smile on your face." Aqualad said.
"She's important to me."
"I understand that Superboy…but how are you going to tell this little girl who you are? There is no way you can let her go now-"
"Like I ever would-"
"I understand. You are very attached to this child and it would be wrong of me to demand you take her back to where you found her."
"You can't be serious." Artemis cried out.
Aqaulad gave a curt nod. "I am very serious. The child, "Luna" was it, is a child. And we are heroes. I cannot let a small girl such as this, who needs our assistance, go without aid."
Artemis gave a huffed sigh of frustration while Superboy gave a great sigh of relief.
"So I can keep her?"
The Atlantian smiled kindly and nodded. His eyes were glowing…which seemed strange for Superboy to notice. It must be the sweater jacket. "You may keep her, under one condition…"
"Yeah?"
"She stays here at all times under our supervision. We will all work to make sure she is comfortable here." the leader said firmly.
"Aqualad…Kaldur you can't be serious. What about Batman? What about the League?" the archer pressed.
"I will deal with what they have to say and I will keep you informed Superboy." He looked straight back at the boy of steel; the pale green eyes were telling him something.
"Okay. Thanks Kaldur." Conner said as the pair exchanged a handshake while Artemis stormed off with a fiery temper.
"What's wrong with her?"
"More importantly what is the matter between you and Robin?" the leader asked, now that they were alone.
Conner stared at the ground as the feelings shut away within him began to escape through the cracks of his heart. "Nothing happened." he growled as his defenses came up.
"And you and I both know that is a lie."
The jet black haired boy could not answer. What could he say? "Yep I'm in love with the kid, Robin, not sure whether I want to kiss him, hug him, masturbate with him or pin him down and stare at his beauty and get "turned on" all day long." There was no way he could confess that knowing the boy of steel himself didn't know what he was feeling.
"Superboy…Conner…" Aqualad said as he rested a firm hand upon his shoulder. "Robin is in his room. Whatever it is that occurred, I would like for you to resolve it quickly in order to avoid any complications for a mission that may arise." The Atlantian's white green eyes were pleading and the Kryptonian clone could not find the strength to pry away.
"Okay."
Aqualad gave a curt nod of approval. "Thank you my friend.", and he walked away gracefully to tend to Luna.
Superboy glanced at her laughing face quickly before heading down the halls to the little bird's room. Luna's face still fresh in mind, he took note to remember to provide her with fresh clothes and a nice hot shower. He had suddenly turned from a tough bad ass super hero to a compassionate caregiver. He didn't quite understand and didn't know how to identify himself. But one thing was for sure. He felt a connection with Luna; the sense of loneliness and abandonment she felt was all too similar to his own emotions which flowed within him. But with Robin's room door nearing with every foot step the teen took, he had to ask himself again, who did he love? Did he love Robin? Did he love Luna? Did he love the team? He did not know but he was curious to find out.