The most disconcerting thing to the league was how well the kids were taking this. Barring the initial confusion (which is fair), they'd been shockingly lighthearted. Even when they were being interrogated by the biggest heroes in the world, they showed nothing beyond confusion and minor discomfort. Since being reunited the six of them had clambered into a sort of doggy pile on the floor.
They weren't talking, Diana noticed, they just looked at each other and gestured and occasionally burst into giggles.

"What are they doing?" Clark asked, eyes glued on the Clone. who had his arms crossed tightly, tucked between two of his friends.

"They're talking." J'onn replied from somewhere behind them. "In a non-literal sense."

"What do you mean?"

"Ms. Martian has created a mind link for them, probably for privacy."

"What are they saying?"

"...Ms. Martian is... more powerful than I anticipated... "

No one said anything for a while. There was an unspoken truth floating silently between the heroes: there was something up with these kids.

'What's up, big guy?' Artemis made sure Conner saw her hand before patting his chest, so as not to spook him.

'Does this happen to have something to do with your interrogation with Superman?' Dick asked.

'With superman?' Kaldur demanded, eyes flared. 'Conner, what happened?'

'Hey lay off him, K, you know that clown always upsets Supey.' Wally checked his nails theatrically. 'Besides, I noticed you were in pretty bad spirits when they brought you out here...'

'What? Kaldur?' M'gann asked, surprised. 'What happened?'

'It--'

'And don't you DARE say that it's nothing!'

'He just criticized my authority.' Kaldur shifted uncomfortably. 'he-- king Orin-- implied that I'm too gentle and effeminate to lead.'

'He WHAT?' Wally demanded, unsure of how anyone on earth could argue that their leader was too gentle to do his job. They clearly hadn't seen how brutal Kaldur was when they didn't wear their jackets outside.

Artemis was practically frothing at the mouth, glaring holes through the league members in the corner, trying to spot the offending man. 'where is he?!'

'SHH!' Robin nudged her, jerking his head at the approaching figure. 'Look who's heading our way...'

Diana struck out in their direction, only to be met with the kids nudging each other, and the oldest scrambling upright.

"Excuse me, do you know when we'll be able to return to our earth?"

"I'm afraid I can't help you there." She replied gently. "But I promise we'll get you home as soon as we can contact Doctor Fate. In the mean time, is there anything you need?"

"Your dad's going to be SO mad at us..." The Blonde girl, Artemis, grumbled.

"Oh, you KNOW dad's still going to pin it on the team," Robin explained. "he uses blame to cope with his lack of control."

"Rough." Wally's younger counterpart called. "No wonder you go rogue every mission."

"Where would we be if I never went rogue, Wally?" He clicked his tongue, pretending to snap his fingers. "That's right, seal your lips."

"I take it they weren't forthcoming with information." Bruce said.

"Well, they started psychoanalyzing each other, as well as calling you his dad several times." The circle filled with icy silence.

"I'm guessing this is an issue because they didn't call you his mom?" Oliver received a sharp elbow in the ribs by his girlfriend, who'd had more than enough for what was supposed to be a chill night.

"Shh." Dinah said tightly, not amused by the quickly increasing discomfort between the founding members.

"Maybe we should offer them a place to sleep." Clark remarked awkwardly. "It's pretty late, and they're just kids."

"They're like fourteen, I'm sure they pull tons of late nights." Wally disagreed theatrically, talking fast and loud, and ignoring his coworkers' non-hr-approved glares at each other. "I was practically nocturnal between ages thirteen and twenty!"

"But should we really be encouraging that?" Diana gave the Bat an abrasive look, daring him; she was signaling in every conceivable way that if he was okay with letting these children stay up all night, she was never talking to him again.

Bruce, evidentially, understood. "We'll find a room for them to sleep in."

"Shouldn't there be two rooms?" Oliver asked. "Boys and girls?"

"Well there's six of them, so maybe three rooms?" Dinah added.

"Separated genders?"

"What does it matter?" She asked, exasperated. "What do you think is going to happen, and why does it worry you?"

"So... I'll go move the kids into one of our holding quarters then..." Wally announced, judging the energy of the group. "...Okay, I'll just go do that now..." He left quickly.

"Hey guys, I'm guessing you're pretty tired--"

"HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS SINCE WE LAST SPOKE." The younger Wally interrupted, pouncing on the hero. "So, this basically confirms that the many worlds theory of quantum mechanics, so these changes that we've observed are just the beginning! Billions of Electrons may be positioned just slightly differently than on our world, and we would never know, right?

"Uh, yeah." Wally said, shocked. "I guess so."

"But there's no way to tell, since by definition of the observer effect, merely regarding it changes it's properties, so we have to be uncertain, and can never truly define all the ways are universes are different!" The kid paused for breath and reeled, staggering back a little. He looked pale and clammy.

"Where did you take the emergency bag we were carrying?" Aqualad asked, shooting forwards to support the younger teen, lowering him onto a sofa.

"We took it for screening." Wally replied. "We... didn't know if we could trust you yet."

"That bag has Kid Flash's emergency sugar!" Robin exclaimed.

"Oh, shoot! Uhh--" Wally winced. "Okay, One second! I'll get you something from the vending machine!"
The machine was frustratingly slow, not responding to his speed, especially since he was trying to get multiple items. Finally, after what must have been almost thirty seconds, he screeched back into the room. "Here! Eat!"

Wally's younger self tore open a pack of gummy bears and poured the entire thing in his mouth, hardly chewing. "Ugh, man." He grunted. "Thanks, you're a life saver!"

"When's the last time you ate? You almost passed out!"

"I had a snack around 10..." He hiccupped, downing candy like medicine.

"How long have you been a flash? You're starving yourself!" Wally snapped.

"Since I was thirteen, for your information." The kid said, mouth full. "And I wouldn't be starving myself if you guys hadn't taken my emergency snacks!"

"Thirteen?!"

"Hey, I'm Thirteen, thank you very much!" Robin said. "and Aqualad started his military service at Twelve!"

"And Superboy's not even one-year-old!" Ms. Martian added, not exactly on topic, but eager to hype up her friend.

"How did you..." Wally gestured at his doppelganger. "At thirteen?!"

"Oh, I found you-- I mean, Uncle Barry's notes about the accident that made him the Flash, then I just recreated it!"

"And blew up your parents garage."

"I really regret telling you that." The kid sighed. "and technically, it was a charge of electricity that blew up the garage."

"Wait, what?!" Wally gaped.

"Did you have something you wanted to tell us?" Artemis asked. "I'm all for dragging Wally, but it's late and I we had to skip the afterschool nap!"

"Oh, right. I was just coming to let you know we've scrounged up a couple rooms for you to sleep in." Wally explained, desperately wanting to ask about the shared afterschool nap thing. "One for boys, one for girls."

"Are you kidding?" Robin exclaimed. "We're not splitting up!"

"We only need one room, Thank you." Aqualad replied suspiciously. "We'll take turns sleeping."

"If you say so." Wally shrugged. He couldn't really blame them, but he was surprised by how non-excited kid flash and the other teen boys were about sharing a room with the girls... Wally would have died from excitement if that happened to him at 15. "This way, then."

Begrudgingly, the teens followed him towards the hall, when suddenly their chatter went silent. Turning around, Wally saw the arrow kid glaring into the crowd of heroes huddling around the control boards.

"You!" Artemis stood sharply. "So you're the aquaman in this world? You're pretty catty to be berating Kaldur like that!"

"Artemis..." The boy in question hissed.

"No! Okay, this may be their world, but why should that let him treat you like dirt! You're a respectable hero, and who's this poser?" She demanded, jabbing the king in his chest.

Orin grabbed her wrist and twisted her away. "Listen, little girl,"

"Wha--WHAT?!"

"DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!" Superboy made a violent lunge forwards.

The younger Wally agreed, gripping the clone's shoulder. "She's from downtown Gotham, she'll kill you."

"She's really nice though, once you get to know her!" The martian child added.

"You listen here, carpet-sucker! You don't talk to me like that and you DON'T talk to Kaldur like that! I'll break your ribs!" She made a swipe at Aquaman, only for her leader to hold her back, one arm still braced against the clone. "And so what if he's girlypop? Girlypop demands RESPECT!" Artemis snapped, daring the league to refute her claims.

"Artemis!" the older teen hissed, mortified.

"Aqualad is the hottest, nicest, and smartest person I know! Including myself!" Wally explained, adding the last bit as if it would really put things into perspective for them.

"And if you don't know how to treat him, he'll find someone better!"

Ms. Martian, possibly a bit over excited, threw in their two cents. "You're not even the real Aquaman!"

"Enough." Batman silenced the room. "Flash, take them to their quarters."

Wally Sr. nodded, and with J'onn's help, the heroes herded their furious guests from the room.

"I need to talk to him..." Clark said, watching the kid's definitively non-human features furled in an unsatisfied pout . "Canary, would you mind... He seems to like you, and he's been... shy with me."

"Clark..." She squeezed his arm. "No." She smiled. "He's your kid. I'd love to help, but if he has a connection to the alternate version of me, he's just going to feel devastated and unsafe when I can't fulfill that roll; you saw what happened earlier when he charged me."

"You're right."

Dinah smiled at him. "You're good with kids, I'm sure you'll make him feel at home."

"Thanks for your confidence."

"I'll be here if he asks for me, but I'm sure you'll do great."

'Ms. Martian?'

'hi!' She called over the mind link, as though it was perfectly normal. J'onn had never had someone in this atmosphere greet him so casually, rather than being shocked or frightened. 'What's the matter?'

'You're not what you tell people.'

'uh huh.' They replied lightly.

'You aren't the same kind of Martian.'

The child didn't respond at first, pace hesitating as she walked. 'I do't usually tell people.'

'why?'

'For safety.' They turned and gave J'onn a quick look over the shoulder.

'You aren't a criminal?'

'No, but... I'm a white Martian.'

'white martian?' He repeated back, trying not to let images of the Imperium cloud his mind. 'what do you look like without shifting?'

The teen slowed down, letting their friends pass in front of them. Once the others were a few metres ahead, she turned to face him, their muscles and tendons shifting, growing, veiny markings shot out as her joints popped and snapped; their arms stretched into quadrupedal front legs

'Is this enough?' They asked, likely unable to speak, considering the shape of her jaw.

J'onn could not say he recognized the species, it wasn't Imperium at least, and he could sense she was being truthful.

"Meg, keep up!" The younger Flash called, glancing over his shoulder at them. "Also, do you know that you've gone white?" He asked casually, as if reminding his friend to tie their shoe.

"They can go white whenever she wants to." The kryptonian clone replied sharply. "It's their choice."

"That it is, big guy, it's just a rare sight."

The younger martian twisted back into a humanoid form. Blushing dark green, they hurried to catch up with her friends.

"You should unshift more often." The young Vietnamese girl told them. "Like, I know you're more comfortable like this, but your other form is really cute."

"Alright, here we are." Flash told them. "Make yourselves at home, we'll try and find you some food."

The children thanked the men and entered as a group, squeezing through the doorframe.

Bidding them good rest the league members began to leave, J'onn pausing briefly to telegraph one last message. 'I don't see you to be any threat. It is a pleasent surprise to meet another martian.'

'oh, it's okay...' They paused uncomfortably. 'also, I should warn you, Aqualad says that he'll hurt you if you make me feel unsafe.'

'I will keep the warning in mind.'

Clark found his opening by bringing the kids food. It was just some bits and pieces assembled from the fridge, but it would do. The teenagers seemed to be making themselves at home like a pack of feral animals: trampling and tearing up their holding room until it resembled a late sleepover or a nest.

"Food?" Little Wally asked eagerly. "I'm dying!"

Aqualad didn't stop his friend from feasting, but kept an icy eye on Clark. "Superman."

He was taken aback an inch, but brushed it off; after what he saw earlier, it seemed like the experience with this league hadn't been perfect for their guests. "I hoped I might continue my talk with Superboy."

The boy sunk back a little, analyzing him.

"It's okay Supes, we're here for you." Robin promised.

Oliver's kid, Artemis, agreed. "We'll kick his shins in if he crosses a line."

Silently, Superboy nodded; eyes still holding Clark tightly.

"Great." Clark smiled at him, trying to help the child relax. "So, Superboy, what's your real name?"

"You didn't tell him?" The Martain child asked.

"I didn't want him to know." The boy crossed his arms, glancing at Clark in concern. "Superman doesn't deserve to know."

"It's not the same Superman, Con."

"Con?"

"Conner." Wally clarified.

"You told him!" The boy cried.

"My bad."

"I hate you!"

Wally sighed good-naturedly and sat back with a patient smile.

"Conner Kent...?" Clark asked. The boy nodded. "Alright, now--"

"How did you know?" He interrupted.

"Know what?"

"That my last name is Kent?"

"Superboy, wait until he's finished talking, please." Aqualad replied, patting the boy's arm tiredly, though he sent Clark a dubious look.

"Again, parent or guardian?" As soon as he spoke, the room turned cold. Desperate to hear the answer he wanted, Clark pushed on, turning his question to the more open Aqualad. "Me? It's me, right?"

The frigid silence took over again, six pairs of eyes stabbing at him. Superboy-- Conner-- seemed to shrink, shoulders beginning to shudder.

"Just put down Red Tornado." Robin said sharply.

"Tornado?"

"JUST put it down!" Artemis scowled.

Clark did, a sick feeling curling in his stomach. Was he dead in their universe? The tension in the room was oppressive. Conner looked like he was barely holding himself back.

"Red Tornado... Explain that for me."

"OH, well..." The little Wally interrupted. "He's an android, created by an evil scientist, but he proved himself as a hero..."

"...Red is our den mother." Ms. martian explained. "He keeps me and superboy company."

"Den mother..." Clark repeated, noting it down. "To the both of you?"

"To all of us, but Superboy and Ms. Martian live in the same Justice League hide out," Aqualad explained. "Red Tornado is located right over them, to study them and ensure they make it home from school."

"Why don't you live with me?" Clark burst out before he could stop himself.
The silence became thick and oppressive, muffling the sound, putting everything in slow motion as Superboy--Conner-- stood, not meeting his eyes, and turned to flee the room. Clark stood sharply, stomach lagging behind the rest of them "With your Superman, I mean--"

"Leave him alone!" Oliver's kid leapt up, shoving him in the chest, which only resulted in her stumbling backwards into her friends.

Conner made his way to the bathroom door and, when it didn't open for him, began slamming the wall.

"Now look what you've done!" Kid Wally scolded.

"Did I do something? What's wrong?" Clark stood quickly, hurrying to help him. The kid staggered away, tripping over his feet and toppling to the floor. He backed into the corner. "Conner?"

"Because he hates me!" The clone wrapped his arms around his knees defensively. "because I'm a monster!" Conner cupped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide.

"A-- a monster? Who would call you a monster?" Clark repeated, paralyzed with shock. Had he done anything to make this boy think he was lesser? Oh no, Oh no, he called him 'the cadmus clone' when he first saw him. "I don't think you're a monster!" He backpedaled quickly, being fully hit by the brunt of the realization: Superboy didn't dislike him because he was a different Superman, it's because he was superman.

Superboy gave a defensive glance up at him, trying to extinguish the spark of hope in his face. What had he seen? Clark wanted to crawl into those flat blue eyes and see his life. He wanted to know this other superman, what he'd done, and how he'd treated the poor shaking child in front of him.

"Go away." Conner forced out, scowling as hard as he could, baring his teeth like Wolf did, through the effect was heavily dampened by a pathetic crack of his voice. He arched his back and glared up, ready to fight this predator with everything he had. "GO AWAY!" he repeated, frightening even himself.

"You should leave." Aqualad was at his arm, shocking Clark. His teal eyes were sharp like daggers. If his assumption was correct, then Clark couldn't blame him; the kids were standing up for each other, he admired that.

"I'll give you space." He conceded. "Superboy, if you want to talk to me, then I want to talk to you. Wonderwoman will be by to check on you, Goodnight." He forced a weak smile at the child, and left them to regroup. As much as he wanted to scoop the boy up in a hug, the boy wouldn't benefit. He clearly needed his friends right now, and if Clark had seen what he'd seen, he was sure he'd understand the reaction. He'd keep an eye out for the teens and help where he could.

He hoped Superboy would warm up to him.