Superboy

Superboy whistled (badly and off-key) as he finished buttoning his shirt. Tonight was the big date with Cassie. He grinned as he grabbed the small velvet box off his nightstand. He opened it and looked at the small gold circle it contained. A promise ring.

"Cas," he said, "Tonight's going to be one you'll never forget." He turned back to his closet and started rummaging for a necktie.

A videotape lay on his desk, covered by an accidental shift of one of the piles of junk. "Surprise!" was all that the label said.

Superboy? a voice in his head asked.

Hey, Dub, he replied. How're you feeling?

Much better. Doctor Serling says that I began recovering about the same time the Saturn Girl clone was destroyed. Apparently Donovan had engineered her to interfere with my mind and `take me out of the picture,' so to speak.

Good to hear. Is everything set?

Yes. I have managed to set up the arboretum as you requested. May I assume that you have something special planned for this evening?

Superboy grinned. Dub, you can see right through me.

Perhaps the fact that I am a telepath is somehow related to that.

Maybe. Hey, Dub, since you're in my head anyway, where's my red S tie?

Superboy heard a telepathic sigh. Top drawer of your dresser, right on top of the- You know, you'll go blind if you keep reading that sort of thing.

That's enough! Thanks, Dub! Superboy quickly broke the connection. He pulled open the drawer and smiled as he retrieved the necktie. He started whistling again as he began to tie it.

Tenzil Kem shot Dubbilex a funny look as Dubbilex started chuckling. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Nothing," a smiling Dubbilex replied. "Just commenting on Superboy's choice in literature."

"Huh," Tenzil said.

"Tenzil, please never ask a telepath to keep up with your clothing. You never know what he'll reply with."

Tenzil shot Dubbilex a funny look. "Whatever you say."

Dubbilex looked around at the arboretum. The small garden area was set up according to Superboy's specifications. The grassy area had two chairs placed side by side. Roses surrounded the scene. Candles sat, ready to be lit.

"So when do we set this all off, anyway?" Tenzil asked.

"Superboy will contact me when they're leaving the restaurant. When they return here, this is where they'll be heading."

"Pretty romantic," Tenzil commented.

"Indeed," Dubbilex said. "I believe that he does have something special planned for tonight."

"Mom, it's him!" Cassie Sandsmark ran down the steps as her mother reached for the doorknob.

"Are you sure?" Helena asked. "He's on time for once."

"Mom," Cassie said.

Helena smiled as she opened the door.

"Hi, Ms. Sandsmark," Superboy said. "Is Cassie here?"

"Hi, Connor," Helena replied. "Cassie! Your date's here!"

"MOM!" Cassie yelled as she stepped out from behind her. "I'm right here!" Cassie walked out onto the porch.

"You kids have fun," Helena said. "And don't forget your curfew."

"Got it," Cassie said.

Helena chuckled as she closed the door. "Now I know why Mom did that to me," she said.

"Your mom feeling okay?" Superboy asked as the two lifted off into flight.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "She's just having a weird day," she replied.

"Man," Superboy said. "Can you imagine what a weird day would have been like for Cissie's mom?"

The two laughed as they flew into the city.

Lian Harper smiled as she looked around the room. "This is mine, Daddy?"

Roy Harper beamed. "Yeah, honey. It's all yours for when I'm working here."

Lian's mouth turned down into a pout. "No window," she said.

"Well, we're underground. That's why. Like in a cave."

"Oooh!" Lian said.

"Come on," Roy said. "We'll just leave your suitcase here and I'll introduce you to everybody."

"Can I meet Superboy?" Lian asked.

"Maybe in about ten years," Roy said as he led her out.

Smoke swirled behind them and a pale figure stepped out. It reached out and ran its finger along the contours of Lian's face in a photo of her and Roy she had left on the bed.

"Yes," it said softly. "You will do perfectly, my child."

Cassie smiled as the waiter deposited their desserts in front of them. So far the evening had gone perfectly.

"This is wonderful," she said as she took a bite of the ice cream.

"Thanks," Superboy said. "I want it to be perfect."

"Why?" Cassie asked.

Superboy shrugged. "We just haven't gotten to do anything like this for a long time. Seems like every time we do anything together some nutcase or monster's involved."

Cassie smiled. "You've got a point."

"So I just decided I wanted to do something special to make it up to you."

Cassie could feel her eyes beginning to water. "Oh, Connor. You're too sweet to me. Now you're going to make me cry."

"Hey, Cas, don't go all Tammy Faye Bakker on me. Here." He handed her a glass of water.

She sipped it slowly, alternating with eating her dessert.

She doesn't have any idea! Superboy thought, grinning on the inside. This is gonna be great!

Okay, Dub! We're on our way back!

"And that is our cue," Dubbilex said, nudging Tenzil.

"I wasn't asleep!" Tenzil protested, opening his eyes and yawning. "I was just... Umm."

"Resting your eyes?" Dubbilex asked. "Believe me, I've heard that one before."

"Great," Tenzil said, pulling a small stick of wood out of his pocket and munching on it."

"Tenzil, that's not how you light the matches," Dubbilex said.

"I like the sulfur," Tenzil replied. "Tastes minty."

"Give me the matches." Dubbilex started lighting the candles. A moment later, Tenzil grabbed a lit one and began to help him.

Cassie gasped as they entered the arboretum. "Nice, eh?" Superboy asked. She didn't even have to turn to see the grin on his face.

"It's beautiful," she said. Superboy walked her to her chair. She looked around. The normal lights were out, leaving the room in darkness, apart from the flickering candles. Roses were everywhere, filling the room with their scent.

Superboy snapped his fingers. "I forgot something in my room. Let me run and grab it and I'll be right back." He walked out, leaving Cassie to gape at the darkness.

Superboy smiled as he flipped the light on in his room. "Now where did I leave that thing?" he asked no one. He stepped over to his desk and started rummaging through piles of junk. "What's this?" he asked as his fingers hit something hard and plastic. He pulled out the videotape.

"Surprise?" he asked. "That's Cassie's writing!" He grinned as he pushed the tape into his VCR. With the other he picked up the velvet box, which had been revealed in another pile of junk's falling. "I wonder what sort of surprise our naughty girl has for me. Well, just a peek..."

The tape sprung up on the screen. It appeared to be a shot of an apartment. Superboy frowned as he recognized the voices.

Robin: I still can't believe he called you jealous.

Wonder Girl: I know he didn't mean it, but it still hurts to see that he still has a connection with those other girls.

Tim pulled his mask off put his hand on her knee.

Robin: What about you? Did you ever have someone before Connor? You know, someone you were in love with?

Wonder Girl: No. Connor's the first person I've been in love... with...I should be used to how he acts. I almost wish he’d be more like you. I’ve known you both for years now and you’re the most considerate man I know.

Superboy's jaw dropped as the two started kissing.

The picture was crystal clear and revealed everything as Cassie threw Tim onto the bed.

Robin: Are you sure you want to do this?

Superboy started shaking as he watched Cassie rip Tim's shirt off.

His hand formed a fist, crushing the ring and the box together.

His eyes started watering as he saw what the couple heavily making out on the screen.

With a scream, he threw the crushed ring through the screen of the television.

Outside, Roy and Lian paused. "Daddy, what was that?" Lian asked.

Roy's jaw set as he opened a broom closet and hurried Lian inside. "I don't know, sweetheart. Stay here while I check it out." Lian nodded. Roy rustled her hair and closed the door.

"That sounded like it came from Superboy's room," he said. Roy hurried to the door and knocked. "Connor? You okay in there?" Roy was thrown backward as the door exploded.

Roy landed on the floor. Rubbing the knot on the back of his head that the wall had left, he looked up. Superboy stood there, a look of pure hatred on his face. Tears of fury streamed down his cheeks. "Connor?" he asked.

"I'll kill him," Superboy said. "I'LL KILL HIM!" Screaming, Superboy crashed through the complex. There was only one thought in his mind. He wanted to get his hands on Robin.

Next Issue: Lian's been kidnapped! But can Roy get Superboy to help after the fallout from his run-in with the Titans?

Previous Issue | Next Issue