View source for 2012-02-06 - It's Not Hogwart's

{{Logsummary|
Title=It's Not Hogwart's
|Summary=Kinetic begins to understand the tests before him, and that he is not alone.
|Who=[[Batman]], [[Superman]], [[Kinetic]]
|Date=02-06-2012
|Where=The Watchtower
|}}

The hallways of the Watchtower are not exactly teeming with life at this hour of the evening, yet there is plenty of people still moving around the hallways. At one of the junctures between the Command and Habitat wings, Superman is speaking with a technician dressed in a white coat. The Man of Steel's arms are folded over his chest, and there is a grave expression on his face as he listens to the man talking to him.

The conversation lasts only a few minutes at the best, and ends when Superman places a hand on the tech's shoulder and ushers him off with both an apology for keeping him late, and a thank you. And with the technician dispatched back home, Superman turns and starts walking in the direction of the cafeteria.


Wandering out of the cafeteria is Kinetic, the newest young hero to work at defending Metropolis. Earier in the evening, Batman brought him up to the Watchtower after they both encountered Ember and left him in the cafeteria. He got a bit of food, tried to talk to some people, but couldnt work up the nerve. Now the costumed teen is trying to think of where Batman might have gone off to. "Okay...I'm in space and have no idea how to get back..." he mutters, peering out a window.


"It's easy. We put you back on a teleporter and send you back to Metropolis." The decidedly grim voice comes from Superman, suddenly standing just behind Kinetic, arms once more folded over his chest, hiding the 'S' emblem of his costume. Hello, Kinetic. "I understand that Batman brought you with him because he thought you had the potential to get yourself hurt."


Kinetic jumps as Superman enters his awareness field, spinning around quickly. He blinks at th S a moment then looks up at Superman. "I don't know why he brought me up here..."


"From the little Batman told me, you were interfering with League business. He brought you up here with another whom we are also keeping under observation," Superman speaks to the young hero, his clear blue eyes scrutinizing the young would-be hero. "What's your name, young man?"
There's not exactly a chill to Superman's voice as he speaks, but there is a business-like quality to it that brooks no nonsense.


"What?" Kinetic stares a moment. "What business was I getting in the way of? He's the one who dropped out of nowhere and I just stayed back while he went after that woman," he frowns. "I'm Kinetic," he replies with a nod. He's a little nervous but he's really trying not to show it.


"That's my business." Batman notes, crossing back down the corridor from around a corner that no one's likely to have seen him turn. He's midway there with an even, smooth stride, when he speaks the simple words. "The boy's a telekinetic." He tells Superman, "Seems to be relatively strong, by the ease with which he flies. Decent reflexes with it, no need for a warm up period." Yes, he knows Kinetic is right there. "Next to untrained, says he's staying safe by only targetting thugs and small timers. Who never work for anyone more dangerous." Yes, the last part may be sarcasm; and not part of what Ethan actually said.


Somehow, Superman doesn't look surprised to see Batman pop up in the middle of the conversation with the young hero. His head simply turns to the side at the words, and he nods slightly to Batman's description of the young man's powers and abilities. His blue eyes turn back to look at Kinetic again, and his eyebrows rise slightly in silent question.


Kinetic frowns even deeper as Batman appears. It just gets worse as Batman talks about him like he's not even there. "Hey! I didn't say that. I said I'm sticking with the thugs and stuff to work on getting better at this stuff," he says. When Superman looks back at him, Kinetic just looks a little lost. He doesn't know what question is being asked.


A vague sort of gesture acknowledges Kinetic's words with a wave of gauntletted hand beneath the cape, "If you prefer." the Dark Knight doesn't seem to feel it makes any appreciable difference at all, which is likely to sit great as well with the would-be teen hero. Then, he turns focus to Superman anew. "See? We could tell him to stop, but when do they ever stop? He'll just try to be more covert, dividing his attention even more, and getting himself killed. Or others." Plural. Batman's apparently been here before, or at least thinks he has. He holds any suggestions on solutions to this problem, for the moment.


Superman actually pays attention to Kinetic's argument of his own words before turning his head just slightly to listen to Batman as well when he is addressed. "I see," the Man of Steel agrees as he turns back to Kinetic. "How long have you been at this, young man?"


"Would you please stop treating me like I already screwed up before I even had a chance to try?" Kin groans. He tenses at the talk of trying to get him to stop. When asked that question by Superman, the telekinetic teen rubs the back of his neck. "I only started doing hero stuff a few days ago."


"Success and failure are often decided in the first moves we make." Batman intones simply, evenly. "Within our understanding of what lies ahead. I'd rather correct course early, than wait for enough blood to prove it to you." It's calm and matter of fact, at that. There's nothing personal in the Caped Crusader's attitude; or at least nothing personal /to Kinetic/. "You need to learn what you're doing, before you start trying to do it alone. That part's not up for debate."


"He's not wrong," says Superman, adding his own comment to the tail end of Batman's words. "Sooner or later, what drives you to be a hero in trying to stop petty theft will put you in a situation beyond your experience." One hand comes away from his folded arms as he talks, his eyes focused on Kinetic right now. "Or do you think you could idly sit by when you feel you could help?" There is a brief pause after his question, only to be followed up by another. "You're starting down what is often a very dangerous road. Do you know what you're getting into?"


"So you can see the future?" Kinetic asks, that frown going nowhere. "And where exactly am I supposed to learn any of it? They don't offer a superhero elective at school," he sighs. "Of course I wouldn't. If there were people I could help, I'd give it my all to keep 'em safe," he says. He sighs when danger is brought up again. "I know its dangerous."


"Better than you can." The Dark Knight retorts, just as evenly, just as certainly. He sort of nods along with Kinetic's replies, as if each and every word of it just reinforces exactly the point he's trying to make. "We've got experience, data, expertise, and results in our dossiers. You can either continue to act like an obstinate child, who wants to believe we're wrong, or you can factor what we're trying to teach you into where you go from here, and see things outside black or white." The Batman shakes his cowled head, and steps off to one side, "If you think you'll be fine on your current course, that no one will be hurt, then get out of here; but if someone besides -you- pays the price, I'll be there to collect. If you -want- to learn, and survive, maybe you're talking to the right people. I don't have time to argue about it, so decide."


The Man of Steel simply remains silent, allowing Batman to say his peace instead as his arms return to a folded position over his chest. He doesn't soften the Batman's words with his own, only that he simply watches Kinetic quietly, Superman's own attitude a shade or five less harsh and judgemental than Batman's for all that he is still serious.


Batman's ultimatum lingers in the hallway for a long minute before Superman interjects a shade more understandingly; definately the softer touch of the two. "You think you understand the danger in front of you, but you don't. Not yet, young man." Superman glances back at Batman before turning his eyes to Kinetic once more, "We can't tell you to stop being a hero. But it's your choice whether you choose to listen to experience or not." Gee, Kal. Patronizing much?


Kinetic states at Batman as he speaks. He bristles visibly at the ultimatum, not liking the implied threat. Of course as Batman goes on, Kinetic blinks. He pinches the bridge of his nose and mutters something about a headache. "If you're offering training, you could have tried not being such a jerk about it," he sighs. Looking up at Superman, he frowns uncertainly. "You are offering training, right?"


"I could have done a lot of things." Batman murmurs in that deep, intense voice. "It's a waste of all our time if you can't get past your own certainty. You can't teach anyone what they already think they know." It's reasonable enough, really; but that doesn't stop him from remaining a prick. Someone's got to be. Sure isn't going to be the big squishy Teddy Bear of Steel. "I'm sure we can find someone who'll work with you, keep you safe, show you some of what you need to know. Better than the alternative." The Dark Knight notes more directly.


"Not directly with the League just yet," Superman adds on top of Batman's recommendation. "We can provide you with a League mentor or two who know how to teach you the ropes." He looks over in Batman's direction for just a moment before looking back to the young man, "There are a number of other young heroes out there who can serve as your peers to train with, and to learn from. We will probably put you in contact with them, first."


Kinetic just shoots Batman a look. Shaking his head, he looks back to Superman. "Yeah...I don't think someone's who's only been doing this for four days is League material," he says, running a hand through his hair. "Other young heroes? Like Robin, Static, and Speedy?" he guesses, going with the names he knows from online.


Rather than react to Kinetic's clear disapproval, Batman just returns Superman's glance, and then nods once. "Contact the Titans, I'll speak to Robin." He suggests of the Man of Steel. In this instance, the Dark Knight even sticks around for input, arms folded within his black cape as he shifts his stance partly back towards the direction of his initial approach.


"Possibly," replies Superman to Kinetic without committing any direct contact with specific people, nodding back to the Dark Knight. "It will depend on who has time to work with you." He uncrosses his arms now, reaching out a hand for Kinetic's shoulder and guiding the young man towards the teleportation chambers, a clear sign that Batman is now free to go. "We will give you a communicator for the time being so you can be reached when they are ready. It is otherwise for emergency purposes only."

Before sending Kinetic back home to Metropolis, Superman does indeed live up to his word, imparting a League communicator to Kinetic (though it is the same one all trainees get), along with admonitions of what trouble to keep out of while he is training.