#quertynerd97

[suzukiblu]

Ko-fi thank-you sentences for quietellen, @qwertynerd97, and K; Billy adopts Conner and it actually goes pretty good! 

“Cool!” Billy says, beaming at Superboy. He considers if the house rules conversation should be next, but probably the “no” conversation needs to come before that, but–

Actually, wait. Before any of that–

“So, um, what do you wanna do about your name?” he asks curiously, tilting his head. They need something to give Batman to put on Superboy’s civilian paperwork, obviously. Superboy–stills, then looks uncomfortable, and Billy tries not to frown. 

“Do I have to be Marvel Boy now?” Superboy mutters, looking at the floor. Billy blinks, startled by the question. 

“Well, I don’t think you have to,” he says, not quite sure how to approach the tight look on Superboy’s face. “I mean, you’re not magic, that might be confusing for people. But you can if you want?” 

“. . . no,” Superboy says, not lifting his eyes from the floor. “Being Superboy is–fine."

Billy doesn’t know if that’s a real “no” or not, for obvious reasons, but he figures they can work that out later. Hero names are easy to change, after all. And even a civilian name they can come up with a reason to change if they need to, obviously. And that one’s the real concern right now anyway, since Batman needs to finish the paperwork and also Billy just needs something not a hero name to call him. And the team will too, he figures.

“Okay, cool, then you just need a real name!” Billy says firmly, smiling encouragingly at Superboy, who finally looks back up. He looks skeptical. 

“You mean a civilian alias for that paperwork you were talking about?” he asks. 

“Well, yeah, but also just for having?” Billy says with a shrug. “Like, so people can call you it.” 

“People already call me Superboy,” Superboy says with a frown, folding his arms. 

“Yeah, but when you're not Superboy and stuff,” Billy explains, because maybe Superboy doesn’t really understand that that’s a thing, considering his life experience so far and all. Which–why would he, after all? “Like, I'm not always Captain Marvel. Er. Although don't tell anyone that either, please, 'cause I think the Justice League kind of thinks I am? And like . . . I'd rather they all just keep thinking that, honestly, it's just way more convenient that way.” 

“Uh . . . okay?” Superboy says, looking puzzled. “So I need an alias for . . . pretending to be a civilian, then.” 

“Yeah,” Billy says, figuring “for when you are a civilian” might be a little too confusing right now. “For when you’re off-duty, you know?” 

“The only names I know already belong to other people,” Superboy says with a deepening frown, which makes sense, Billy thinks. Probably Cadmus didn’t upload too many unattached names into Superboy’s head, and for the past couple of days he’s probably only been hearing names that belong to the people he’s been meeting. “And I barely even know any last names at all.” 

"Oh! Well, that one’s easy, your last name can be Batson," Billy tells him helpfully, smiling encouragingly at him again. At least that part’s easy, yeah. "I let Batman just make something up for the paperwork and stuff because I didn’t wanna tell him my real name, but Batson is my last name, so it’d be nice if that was your last name too." 

". . . what?" Superboy asks in bemusement, just staring at him again. “Why are you telling me your real last name if you didn't even tell Batman?"

"I mean, it's your name too now," Billy says reasonably. "Of course I'm gonna tell you your name." 

Superboy stares blankly at him. 

". . . the fake one is 'Rocky Morgan', though," Billy supplies in the awkward-feeling silence, a little sheepish again. "My fake one, I mean. So your paperwork is all gonna say 'Morgan' too." 

"'Rocky Morgan'?" Superboy repeats, wrinkling his nose. 

"The last time Batman went undercover he told us all to call him 'Matches Malone' so I'm pretty sure I got off lucky," Billy says with a shrug. He doesn't really know where Batman gets his fake names, but maybe he just likes being creative? 

". . . yeah, I think you did," Superboy agrees, making a face.

#quietellen #quertynerd97 #k #long post #wip: billy adopts conner and it actually goes pretty good!