Take Your Kid To Work Day (Open)

Participants: Booster Gold, Open
Open/Closed: Open
Location(s): The floating Watchtower in space!
Time of Day: Is there time in space?
Weather: Is there weather in a space station?
Summary: Booster Gold takes his adopted Daxamite daughter to the Justice League's Watchtower for a tour of the place.

~~~

"You can't take her to the Watchtower Michael!"

"Like Hell I can't"

"People don't even know you took in a kid, what will they say if they see her?!"

"They'll probably say 'Aw, Michael, who is this little cutie? What's her name?'"

"That's not what I meant"

"And I don't care, Rip. Rani's been stuck in our base since she came to our time. You wont let her go to school because she's a Daxamite, you wont let her have friends...it's not fair to her"


The exchange of words between Michael and Rip had been going on for a good few minutes in their base in Arizona. The two were loud, but not obnoxiously so. The base was large enough that Rani and Michelle weren't hearing the argument. Booster had been planning on taking Rani, the little alien girl from Daxamite he saved on a mission in the future, to the Watchtower for awhile now. He had talked to her about it too and she had seemed very excited, but things always came up to interrupt their plans. But today was different. Michael had made sure of it. Nothing was stopping him from taking the little alien to the space station.

Having left the room, Rip still berating him as he did so, Michael found his sister Michelle with Rani. Rani rushed over to Michael, who scooped her up and nodded to his sister.

"You think Wonder Woman will be there?"

"Maybe. Maybe you'll get to meet my good friend Martian Manhunter!"


"What about Batman!?"

"No, absolutely not"

"What's wrong if she meets Batman, Michael?"

"That guy adopts kids like they're trading cards. He's not allowed to meet Rani"

"Michael, I still don't think it's a good idea to take Rani to the Watchtower. People aren't supposed to know what you're doing behind the scenes and having Rani around could raise a lot of questions"

"Good thing no one on the League believes anything I tell them then, Rip"

With a few more words spoken between the group, Michael and Rani were soon enveloped in a blinding white light before they shifted through time and space to arrive at the Watchtower the exact moment they left Arizona. "Now don't just go running off, I doubt I could keep up with you"
Tentatively putting Rani onto the space stations floor, the little girl quickly grabbed Michael's hand and let out a small wow. Leading them forward, Michael glanced around, eyes shifting curiously. The Watchtower was oddly quiet. "Huh...it's quiet. Hopefully someone is around at least"

As the blond spoke, he felt his arm being tugged forward. "Oh, careful Rani. Remember you're on Earth so the yellow sun makes you really strong. Please don't rip my arm out of its socket"
Rani stopped tugged as hard as she had been and pointed ahead to the mess hall.

"What do you all eat when your up here? Do you grow food up here?"

"Y'know what, I'm not sure if we do or not...but there's usually always something yummy to eat, let's go check out what's on the menu today"

Clark rubbed his chin, his eyes half squinted as he peered at the slate paneling of one of many of the Watchtower's walls. Shallow moments passed before Superman ever blinked, and ultimately lowered his hand from his chin. The Man of Steel stepped back, his eyes diverting from the wall and falling onto the Watchtower worker that stood at his side with a creased brow. 

"Yep," Superman breathed a soft sigh as he closed his eyes softly and offered a defeated shrug.

"The capacitor's blown." 

The Watchtower worker looked at Superman with an exasperated expression, but suddenly felt aware of his own face and slapped a hand to his forehead. A few of the designated workers on the satellite space station had been working on maintenance for a while before one of them finally decided it would probably benefit them greatly to have someone with X-ray vision take a look and definitively identify the issue they were trying to fix. The worker was irritated and annoyed because he had already figured it was the capacitor, and now having confirmation really did nothing but make it clear to him that he had bothered Superman for no reason.

"Is that...an easy fix?" Clark really didn't understand a lot of what went into keeping the Watchtower operational, he was realizing that now. It seemed Bruce, J'onn, and Terrific were the ones who commonly knew what issues caused what problems and how to rectify them. While Superman might have known some basic things, a bit more than the average everyday Joe, he knew very much so that he couldn't repair anything in the Watchtower - unless they had a wing with tractors that he didn't know about.

"Uh...kinda? We just need some parts and then everything'll be right as rain." The worker felt awkward, he wondered if Superman had a power that notified him when others were being extra awkward - and that just made the awkwardness triple. "Uh, thanks Supes-Superman! I uh....gotta go order that part."

Before Clark could add anything more to the man he was already hurriedly shuffling off down the hall away from the wall the two of them surveyed. Superman quirked a brow at the strange exchange but wrote it off as the worker just being busy. As he was already right in front of the Watchtower's cafeteria Superman supposed it wold be a good idea to grab a quick lunch.

Superman entered the mess hall with his red cape swishing about behind him. A few of the new candidates of hero stared at him in awe, while those who'd worked a good degree closer to the Man of Steel simply spared him a glance before returning to what they were doing/eat. Superman himself found his steely blue eyes settling on a set of individuals he was least expecting to see - Booster Gold and a child. Good Rao, Superman hoped the child wasn't Booster's.

"Booster," Superman called out as he approached the future hero and, the young girl with him. "Here for Guy's Chili? They finally added it to the menu." Superman smiled before turning his blue-eyed gaze onto Rani. "Who do we have here?"

Michael Jon Carter

The Mess Hall had a few more bodies in it than Michael had been expecting. No one he really knew though, and not many who would give him the time of day given his reputation. It was strange, something Michael still hadn't fully came to terms with. He was a her, he was The Greatest Hero You've Never Heard Of, but despite everything good he had ever done, he was still labeled as a shallow loser only in it for the fame and fortune. It was all just a cover though. Michael didn't care about the fame and fortune, not anymore at least, but the others couldn't know about that. They couldn't know he was saving time, space, and the multiverse behind the scenes.

It really sucked.

As the thoughts pierced Michael's mind, a very very familiar voice caught his ear. Booster's mind winced for a very brief second. If he was being honest, outside of Batman, the last person he'd want to meet with Rani was Clark. He wanted the Daxamite to meet heroes, and no one was more of a hero than Superman, but despite all of the mans glowing qualities, he was a bit of a self righteous dick. And the worst part about that, was the fact that since Superman was the hero, you couldn't just tell him that. Though, to be fair to Clark, Michael was sure that his self righteousness wasn't meant to come off in the manner it did, the man was genuinely one of the best people on Earth, but he was a bit high and mighty.

"Oh hey Big Blue" Booster responded, looking down to Rani as Clark pointed her out. The Daxamite wore an awe-inspired look upon her face before tugging at Michael's arm like she had before. "Ah! Hey, hey, remember Rani, yellow Sun" Michael stated quickly before scooping up the young girl. "You mean Guy's attempt at one upping GA's chili? Nah, even Guy's is too hot for me. This, uh, this is Rani by the way. A little Daxamite from the 31st-...She's a Daxamite" Michael had paused briefly, his words were already going to raise more questions, he was sure of it. Sure Clark knew Michael was from the future, but Booster wasn't sure if he had figured out Michael jumped time whenever he needed to. The mentioning of him having a Daxamite may have brought on enough questions already, but the mentioning of the 31st century may have brought more.

"That's Superman!" Rani exclaimed, after allowing her adoptive father speak, pointing right at Superman. "He's taller than you said he was. He looks the same height as you, not shorter"

"Uh, slight embellishment, makes for a better story. I think that's what journalists say" Was that maybe a slight dig at Clark's profession? Maybe. Probably. But Michael knew Clark's stories were always right on the nose, never padded. It was kind of annoying, honestly, especially when the stories were about him, as few and far between as those stories may have been.

"I, uh...brought Rani here to meet some heroes" Michael really hadn't thought any of this through. How was he going to explain literally anything about this?

"Mikey told me you took his cape from him. Could you give him it back? I don't think he'd use it, but he mentions it a lot"

Superman gave Booster a firm handshake and a nod of his head, he was genuinely happy to see the man. Booster Gold was a complicated case of a hero. He was aloof and often times a total goofball, but Superman had witnessed some truly great things from the time traveler and Kal knew that Booster deserved the same respect as any hero. Anyone dedicating their life to helping others and risking their own in the process was a person of great stature in Superman's eyes, Booster was no different just because he sought out sponsors and did infomercials. 

When Rani pointed up at the Kryptonian Superman offered a smile. He kept it tucked in the back of his mind that Michael had commented that the girl was of Daxam. The Daxamites were essentially a sister race to the Kryptonians, Superman had worked closely with a number of them ( Mon-El mostly) so he had come to know what Daxamites were like quite well. What Superman also knew was that Daxam had suffered a number of terrible events and the Daxamites as a people weren't in the best state. This little girl though looked happy and resilient to whatever horrors the universe could throw at her. 

Clark's eyes were back on Booster when Rani revealed just a taste of the sort of things he had been filling her head up with. Superman wasn't sure if a girl who gained powers under the Earth's yellow sun was best left in the care of Booster Gold, no matter how much of a hero Superman thought he was. Was she his child? Where was she staying, with Booster? There were too many questions flying through Superman's head, all raising red flags faster than a speeding bullet. The issues or thought he had on this situation would have to be tabled and discussed later, for now Superman just took a knee so that he was closer to Rani's height.

"Rani, that's a pretty name, wanna know a secret? It's the boots." The Man of Steel winked to the young Daxamite.

Mikey. Kal would be lying if he said that wasn't the cutest thing he'd heard.

"Tell you what, Rani. You promise to keep Mikey outta trouble and I'll promise to return his cape. Deal?" Superman raised his pinky to the girl intent on making this a pinky promise. Of course he and Booster both knew he hadn't stolen anything from him but this was better than making a fool of Booster in front of the girl he had brought to Bring Your Child to Work Day.

Michael Jon Carter

As the three conversed and Rani spoke up, Michael could feel Clark's gaze. As humble-as-apple-pie as Clark was, the man would judge you. And Booster could feel the judgement in his gaze. Even if he wasn't glaring, even if the eyes didn't linger for too long, Michael had known Clark long enough and well enough. While many would say that Bruce or Diana probably knew Clark the best, Michael had idolized this man as he had grown up. He idolized him even when he first came to this time period. He knew the man inside and out. And he knew what every look he ever received from him meant.

Clark had bent down to be closer to the same height and talked directly to the young girl. "Oh, Mikey does that too" The young girls eyes went from looking directly at Clark, to around him and to his boots, to finally Michael and his boots.

"That is so very much not true"

"Yeah-huh!"

Michael watched carefully as Clark talked, he and Rani discussing Michael's old cape. Honestly he didn't even want to wear the cape anymore, but he wanted back on the principle of the thing! And as the two continued to talk, Rani looked back between the two adults. "Oh, so you're never gonna give him back his cape. That's really mean, he's trying really hard to stay outta trouble! Not his fault I get him into it" Even though Rani had only been with Michael and the Carter family for less than a year, the girl had latched onto Michael wholeheartedly. To her, Michael was her dad now. To her, he was the greatest hero she'd ever met. Any issues that arrived were because of her, in her mind, but Booster was always there to save her.

"Mikey I gotta go to the bathroom" The young Daxamite had tugged on Michael's hand, and the blond hero looked between her and Clark.

"Just over there Rani. I'll be right outside when you're done. Remember to wash your hands" Directing the little girl to the bathrooms attached to the dining room, he waited outside of it. His eyes darted to Clark and he let out a sigh. His head hung briefly before looking back up to the other. "Alright, let's hear it. Let's hear how I'm unfit to be a parental figure. Let's hear how you think I'm going to endanger this girl. Let's hear all the little judgmental BS you want to throw in my face Mr. High-and-mighty"

Why did it have to be Clark? Arguably, in Booster's mind at least, the person who would berate him the most. Whether Clark would or not wasn't up for debate in Michael's mind. To Michael, it was inevitable. Out of all the Leaguers, from Michael's own perception, Clark would chastise him the most. So he would bring it up. He would bring it up so the Big Blue Boyscout would have to talk about it. No humming and hahing, no light jabs, no backhanded comments; Michael would make him talk to him.

Rani was sweet, like most kids were, but also like most kids she was impressionable. The things Michael said to her clearly stuck and became law in a way for her. Clark couldn't decide how bad that was. Michael was a good man, better than most knew or would give him credit for, but at the same time he was also very...unconventional. Far be it from Clark to tell the other man how to live his life, but when a child was involved, well then things were different. It didn't seem Booster was putting Rani under any training to be a sidekick - like many Leaguers seemed to fall into doing - but his life as a hero would still bring possible danger to her. Especially considering his hectic life as a time traveler, the large responsibility Booster shouldered with maintaining and correcting the timeline. As the girl left them to make a stop in the restroom Clark could not help thinking Michael may have been taking too much onto his plate.

He stood as Rani disappeared in the Watchtower restroom, his soft blue eyes falling on Booster in a reflective sort of way. There was so much that hang on Booster Gold's psyche, and he was never the type to admit it or tend to those things in a healthy way. If Superman questioned if he felt like this was something he could handle, Michael would assuredly say 'yes' and ignore the challenges. 

Clark let the words fly from Booster's mouth, his judgement as undamaging to the Man of Steel as gunfire. Clark knew his reputation, people thought he was always scrutinizing them, thought he would cast judgment and belittle the tiniest hint of imperfection. The S on his chest made many see him as above human problems. It bothered him on a level but much less now than it did in the past. He had come to understand this point of view from others and he realized it wasn't right for him to feel attacked or angered that they all looked at him as someone who judged their every move, all Superman could do was extend a hand and make them understand that was not who he was. He wasn't perfect and he wasn't above any failings just like everyone else. Clark was still a man.

"I have my apprehensions, Booster, that I won't hide. But there is no judgment, no BS, no condescension. I only have one question, and you need not answer me but I want you to consider it always and answer it to yourself."

Superman hoped Booster understood what he meant. The question meant to trivialize Michael's well meaning or to pin him in a corner or make him feel judged. Superman knew that he personally couldn't answer the question and he did not want Michael to answer out of spite or frustration. He wanted Michael to answer truthfully, and often it was much easier for others to admit the truth to themselves first.

"Is Rani safe with you?" His voice had been kept low, barely over a whisper. Rani was a Daxamite after all, he did not want her innate superhearing picking up on this conversation.

It was a loaded question, it encompassed a lot of different variables and Superman wanted Booster to consider all of them. The question hang in the air between them and Superman said nothing else. Rani sound came bouncing back out of the restroom and returned to her guardian's side. 

"So, Rani, has Mikey given you a tour yet?" Superman smiled brightly.

Michael Jon Carter

Michael really needed to get out of his anti-Clark funk he had found himself in over the recent years. Clark really didn't deserve it. The man was, undoubtedly, the greatest hero of all time; history said so. But a few bad encounters and Michael was willing to throw all of that out. For what? Some personal grudge about a cape? A long help resentment for being overshadowed? For seeing a side of Clark he didn't show others? Why should that last part even matter, Michael did that all the time to everyone. He had to though. Was that the difference for Michael? Was that enough to treat Clark with such contentment?

His thoughts were washed away as Clark seemingly took his berating, and as soon as he could see the other talking, the blond moved slightly from the bathroom. Before Clark could even whisper his words, Michael's mind flashed with a reminder about the Daxamite hearing and how the two would need to speak quietly. As the words fell though, Michael's thought-filled expression dampened and turned into a narrow-eyed scowl. "Was Kara safe when Darkseid took her?" Michael's words had snapped out of his mouth before his brain could think. The blonds' mind had went defensive nearly immediately and it resulted in probably a very uncalled for response. He had built up in his mind so quickly that this whole discussion was Clark vs him, when really it was not that. Clark did have the best intentions at heart, at all times, but Michael was seemingly so blindly by pettiness that he was quicker to react than to think.

Michael's expression softened relatively quickly however and he blinked a few times rapidly before hanging his head. "I'm...sorry Clark, that was uncalled for. I-" Michael knew that Kara's Darkseid brainwashing was a sore spot and a large personal failing for Clark, but the man went above and beyond to get her back and keep her safe. But that was the point of what he was saying, right? If even Superman could make a mistake in helping raise someone, surely a fraud from the future could, and probably would, too. "I get what you mean Blue, I do but...I think I need Rani as much as she needs me. And there's nothing I wouldn't do to keep her safe" Michael's head continued to hang low, a small shake coming to it as his mind raced with how he had just treated Clark. Michael could be petty all he wanted to Clark, but that didn't mean he had to treat him with so much disrespect.

Michael's head quickly perked up and a smile laced itself across his face when he could hear water running, a sign Rani would be out of the bathroom soon enough. She didn't need to see him doubting himself and beating himself up internally, and if there was one thing Michael was good at, it was hiding his true feelings. A beaming smile and an upright and tall posture mirrored the pose of Clark, a sudden and quick departure from what Clark would have seen mere seconds ago.

As Rani bound out of the bathroom, Michael scooped her up and shot a quirked-up eyebrow at Clark before shaking his head. "Nononono, you don't get to call me Mikey" A finger wagged at Clark as Rani shook her head.

"We just got here, so no. Mikey couldn't answer if you grow your own food up here? Do you?"

"Let's grab you a sandwich or something first kiddo and then you can ask Uncle Blue all the questions I can't answer; so, like, all of your questions"

The words that came out of Michael's mouth were honestly shocking, and they were certainly hurtful. Each word carried the weight of a quintillion tons and they were unloaded on Clark with the utmost ease, like they were words that had been longing to be freed from Booster's lips for quit some time. Superman was floored and unsure of what to say next. He had never before been taken aback and silenced by words hurled at him from Booster Gold. He had took all the light jabs and teasing in good conscious, knowing the territory well with how he was raised and how people perceived Superman as the yokel good boy. Clark could take those slings as effectively as he took gunfire. But Booster went low and he went personal. The true problem though was that Clark couldn't decide if he had deserved it or not.

How dare he sit there looking down on Booster questioning him in this way - the very thing he swore to himself he was not doing. But he was, wasn't he? Michael was a hero just the same as any other member of the League, he saved lives constantly, and for Clark to question if he was capable of saving a life that was clearly close to him? Clark felt inch high. He had no right to speak to Booster in that way and he had no right to be hurt by Booster throwing his own words right back at him. Clark's jaws clenched, he felt disappointment wash over him and quickly he lifted a hand to stop the other hero.

"No, let me apologize. I...there's no excuse for me questioning your capability to keep a loved one safe, and for that I am truly sorry."

Clark liked to think people never stopped growing as people and he himself was no different. He could still make mistakes and he could very much still learn from them. This was a chance to learn and grow.

The dour moment did not overstay its unwelcomeness though and things were quickly sunny once more as Rani took up the air between the two men. Clark's vibrant smile returned and he merely offered Mikey's protest a shrug. Mikey was definitely his new nickname now. "Hm, let's see." Clark rubbed his chin as he hovered along side Booster and Rani, accompanying them as they went to find some suitable sustenance for the young girl. "I believe the Atom has helped in developing a process to grow enough food here to accommodate each member of the League even given the Watchtower's limited space. The ins and outs of that, I'm afraid, even I can't answer."

For all the praise Superman always got for being the greatest hero on Earth because of all of his alien powers, he was still human. Michael knew this. Superman, no, Clark Kent, could not be everywhere all the time. He couldn't save everyone. He couldn't watch over everyone. And that probably ate at him more than anything else; despite all of his powers, not everyone was always safe. Michael's quick judgement and defensiveness had made a snap decision to target that, to exploit the most human aspect of his colleague. All because he couldn't take judgement from someone he perceived to always be doing so.

But Clark apologized to him. Michael was the one to receive a sorry; a sorry he really didn't feel he deserved. "We'll argue over who gets to apologize more later" Michael quickly quipped under his breathe, before uttering a smaller sorry.

The two quickly put aside their adult squabbles as Rani reentered the picture, the group of them finding some sandwich wedges and a table to sit at. "That'd be the new Atom, right? Ryan? Or did Ray finish everything before...y'know?" Michael couldn't count high enough to know how many legacy heroes their were. Batman had like 14 people who could take over for him when he finally passed on, Ted never had Jaime, but Jaime picked up where Ted left off, Clark had a few Super-Kids flying around, there were too many Arrow spawns, and too many others. As for Ray and Ryan, it was one of the legacies where Booster actually had worked more with the newer version than the original. He knew Ray in a more off the cuff manner, but had actively worked with Ryan a few times. The less said about Ryan's ex who tried to play the two off of each other, the better.

"Is Wonder Woman as strong as everyone says? Mikey says she could beat you up easily but you're a Kryptonian, right? You're really strong. I think Mikey just has a crush on Wonder Woman" Rani once more began to expose the little things Michael had said around her. Whether or not Booster ever compared the Big Threes strengths, words probably had escaped his mouth that may have insinuated these things.

"Oh, hey, hey! No Rani. I have never said that I have a crush on Wonder Woman. Don't go spreading rumours like that!" Michael quickly went to cover up his tracks but Rani just giggled and looked back to Big Blue.

"Have you ever fought her? You guys train right? Who won? I bet you did Superman!"