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[center][h1][b][u][color=RoyalBlue]GIFTS[/color][/u][/b][/h1]
[h2][b]Chapter 2[/b][/h2][/center][hr]

[b][i]The Fortress
Somewhere in the Arctic Circle
July 16th, 2013[/i][/b]

[color=Teal]"So,"[/color] Conner says, his hands in his pockets as he looks around at the vaulted crystalline ceilings and morphing liquid-geo displays, [color=Teal]"This is the Fortress, huh?  Kara never let me in here while you were gone-- she said it's because she's worried I might have some Cadmus sleeper-program left in me, but I think she just does it to tease me."[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore,"[/color] I say as I enter in a sequence of gestures at one of the many computer terminals.  After a moment, the swirling nanite cloud forms into a slim pentagonal key with the El family crest at the head, and I pluck it from the cloud and hand it to him.  [color=RoyalBlue]"Your very own command key.  Now you've got full access to everything the Fortress and Kelex can do, just like Kara and me."[/color]

Conner eyes the key, then gives me a skeptical look, but ultimately takes it and puts it in his jeans pocket.

[color=Teal]"This is still really weird,"[/color] he says, looking downward.  [color=Teal]"Not coming to the Fortress, I mean, just.....this whole thing, it's......I don't really know how to deal with it."[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"I know how you feel,"[/color] I say, trying to put a hand on his shoulder, but he walks away before I can.

[color=Teal]"You really don't,"[/color] he mutters as he walks off, down the winding corridors towards the Interstellar Zoo.

[color=Aqua]"Don't mind him, he's always like that,"[/color] says Kara, flitting through the air as she greets me.  [color=Aqua]"Everything with him is always so grim and so serious.  I've been telling him he needs to start dating; it'd do him a world of good.  Maybe see if Batgirl's seeing anyone?  Or if Wonder Woman knows any Amazons who are looking for--ooh!  I know!  That Raven girl from the Titans!  She's always all 'ohhh, look at me, I'm so dark and misunderstood, isn't that coooool,' she'd be [i]perfect[/i] for--"[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"You know he's got super-hearing like us, right?"[/color]

[color=Aqua]"Pffft, I say that to his face all the time,"[/color] she shrugs it off.

[color=RoyalBlue]"Still, I'd appreciate it if you'd go easy on him,"[/color] I say, taking a sterner tone, [color=RoyalBlue]"He's having a tough time getting used to, you know......the situation."[/color]

[color=Aqua]"Okayyy, fine,"[/color] she relents.  [color=Aqua]"Speaking of, how are [i]you[/i] doing?"[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"Oh, you know,"[/color] I shrug, [color=RoyalBlue]"about as well as someone [i]can[/i] be doing, given everything that's happened while I was.....away."[/color]

Kara raises an eyebrow.

[color=Aqua]"You're saying that like you went on vacation,"[/color] she says.  [color=Aqua]"You were [i]dead[/i], Kal.  I was supposed to look after you, help raise you, and by the time I came to Earth you'd already lived out your life.  I only knew about you through stories, hearing the members of the Justice League talk about you, seeing your statue in Heroes' Park.  Now you're [i]back[/i], and you've been acting like you'd just stepped out for a long lunch or something."[/color]

I sigh.

[color=RoyalBlue]"Honestly?  I've just been trying not to think about it,"[/color] I admit.  [color=RoyalBlue]"The world's changed so much since Doomsday.  And not just the 'tights and fights' part of my life.  Lois is having a hard time with all of this.  And I'll be honest, it's not easy for me to get my head around it, either.  So for now, I think it's best if I just focus on the job and let everything sort itself out."[/color]

[color=Aqua]"Well, if you ever need an ear, I'm always here, cousin,"[/color] she says, opening her arms wide.  [color=Aqua]"Hugs?"[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"Okay, but-[/color]

[color=Aqua]"Huuuugs!"[/color] she exclaims, squeezing me with enough force to crush a mountain.

[color=RoyalBlue]"Nnngh!....Kara.....can't breathe--"[/color]

[color=Aqua]"Oh!  Ogmigosh, sorry!"[/color] she gasps.  [color=Aqua]"I got a little carried away there."[/color]

[color=Teal]"Not to break up the touching moment here,"[/color] says Conner, re-entering the main hall, [color=Teal]"but that Kelex computer just told me there's a pretty massive storm approaching Thailand.  Do we wanna, I dunno, go help people or something?"[/color]

[color=Aqua]"You're right!  We should go save people together!  It'll be awwwwe-sommmme!"[/color] She exclaims, zipping out of the Fortress's main entrance and into the open air.  Before I go, Conner grabs my arm.

[color=Teal]"Hey, um, Superman,"[/color] he says.  [color=Teal]"God, I don't even know what to call you.  I mean, are you like, my dad now?  My big brother?  Or--"[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"Let's start with Clark,"[/color] I say with a slight chuckle.

[color=Teal]"Right, right, um, Clark,"[/color] he nods.  [color=Teal]"I know everyone's going through a weird time right now, and maybe I'm not the best about dealing with it.  I just wanted to say, y'know.....thanks.  For being cool with, y'know....with me."[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]"Don't worry about it, Conner,"[/color] I say.  [color=RoyalBlue]"I don't where you came from, or what Cadmus or ARGUS or anyone else wanted you to do.  You're family now, and whatever you decide you want to do, whoever you decide to be, I've got your back."[/color]

That may actually be the first time I've ever seen him smile.

[color=RoyalBlue]"Now come on,"[/color] I say, giving him a pat on the back.  [color=RoyalBlue]"We've got a force of nature to fight.  You up for it?"[/color]

[color=Teal]"I'm always ready,"[/color] he says, cracking his knuckles.

I take to the skies, and look down to see Conner bounding across the frozen plains, taking a half-mile or more with every stride.

Things are strange these days, everything's so uncertain.  But it's times like this where having people who are there for you means the world.  My second lease on life was a gift, to be sure, but having a family to share my life with this time.....that's a whole other gift entirely.