In response to a prompt on LiveJournal. Heres the prompt.

Superboy observes Batman and Robin in an intimate moment (how much he sees up to anon), and thinks that must be the reason Superman hasn't paid him much attention. So he decides to come on to Superman in hopes of getting the man to value him. Superman is shocked.

(would like Superman finding out where Superboy got the idea from)

Trigger- I didn't indicate any ages, but it could be considered underage and adult relations.

BatmanXRobin

SuperboyXSuperman? Sorta, but not really.

Nothing explicit, but there are so many things implied.

XOXO

It started the day he got his x-ray vision.

There had been an ache behind his eyes, sharp and persistent. He had been frustrated after concluding that this was just another of his many flaws. Just another way he wasn't like Superman.

Then the ache had manifested, stinging and burning as his vision flashed. Suddenly Wally was but a skeleton lounging on the couch, his organs moving and pulsing within. Superboy had promptly fallen out of his seat, only to find that when he got up his vision had returned to normal.

He had blinked, multiple times, and rubbed at his eyes with the backs of his hands. When it flashed again, he found himself gazing at the floor. Through his hands.

The pain forgotten, with fear and adrenaline in its place, Superboy had stumbled to his feet and had made a beeline for his small room, his vision flashing over and over along the way. The burning looks of concern from his teammates made his skin itch as he fled.

Once enclosed and alone in his room Superboy had taken several deep breaths, trying to slow his racing heart. Then he had waited, for how long he wasn't sure. He stood, immobile, staring blankly ahead as his vision switched itself on its own will. When Kaldur's concerned voice had drifted through the door, Superboy had ignored it and continued to wait. Again, his leader had come to inquire about his health, but once again Superboy had paid him no mind.

When his vision finally settled, minutes or perhaps hours later, Superboy had let out a long sigh.

Then, he figured, if Superman could fully control his vision, Superboy should also learn.

So Superboy had stood there, flexing the muscles in his eyes to try to activate his new vision. It had taken several tries, but his vision had flashed once more to the dark contrasting X-Ray. He had observed the immediate area around him, seeing through and into the walls. Piping and electrical wires crossed through the stone, and when he concentrated just the tiniest bit, he saw into the room adjacent to his.

There, he saw Artemas lying on her bed, a book in her hands and her eyes moving along the words in a repetitive motion. Another small flew and suddenly she was organs and muscles, veins pulsing grotesquely into her heart and acid tearing away at food in her stomach.

Superboy almost gagged at the sight, and averted his eyes with haste. After a few quick breaths he looked in the opposite direction. Empty rooms greeted him. Nothing particularly of interest. Kaldur's room, neat and organized. Wally's across the hall, filled with clothes and empty food packages littering the floor.

Superboy concentrated harder, trying to see further.

Suddenly he was staring at Batman and Robin. He was about to avert his eyes to avoid another disturbing view of their gastric systems until something about the image made him pause.

The Boy Wonder, small and fragile in his civilian clothes, was cradled in Caped Crusaders lap. The backs of the boy's knees were tucked around the man's thigh and his shoulder rested against the older's chest. Batman's right arm was wrapped around the boy completely, giving support but still leaving his hand free.

Curious, Superboy observed further. He was startled to find a brutal looking gash slowly healing along his teammates arm. The fresh scar tissue was red and puffy, contrasting sharply with Robin's skin tone. The mark was slowly disappearing behind fresh bandages as Batman applied them to his protégé's wound. Cotton swabs and used gauze lay on the desk in front of them, and Superboy realized they were in Robin's room.

The Dark Knight's face had an expression he couldn't place, while Robin's eyes were half lidded with what appeared to be exhaustion and a warm smile on his lips.

When the bandaged were completely secure, Batman placed the materials down and stood, his arms curling around Robin's back and under his knees. As soon as he was completely up though, Robin scrambled in his mentor's arms, shifting until he had his arms wrapped tight around Batman's neck and his legs latched on around the other's torso. Superboy wondered briefly if his teammate really thought Batman would be so careless as to drop him. That is, until he saw the tired grin on the boy's face that just made his confusion flare stronger.

Superboy felt jealousy and anger boil in his gut. How did Robin get Batman to acknowledge him? Get him to care like this? Was it because he was so vulnerable? So breakable? Did he have to be small, and fragile, and human to gain Superman's attention? Sorrow clenched his throat, making it tight.

Batman gently carried his charge to the bed then sat upon the edge. Robin buried his head into his mentor's neck as armor clad arms softly tried to pry him away. He saw the boy's jaw move as he mumbled something into the other. Batman replied, his voice so soft that when even Superboy concentrated he still couldn't hear it with his super-hearing.

Apparently, his words did the trick because the next moment the Boy Wonder was scrambling under the covers with a grin on his face, and his cheeks flushed. Then Batman leaned down and pulled off his protégé's sunglasses to set them on the nightstand. Superboy felt his eyes widen, and a gasp escape his throat. Blue, so vivid and pure. Like the sky he couldn't reach. Like the man he couldn't be.

He was pulled from his thoughts when his eyes registered more movement. Batman drew close to the boy until his lips just barely brushed Robin's. Superboy felt his breath leave him once more. Then Robin was leaning forward, molding their lips together as his eyes rested shut. Gentle, yet passion lurked beneath, ready to burst forth if given the chance.

When they drew apart, Robin's face burned red and he brought the blanket up to cover his shy grin. Batman chuckled, and pressed his lips to the boy's forehead, lingering there a moment as if contemplating doing something more before drawing back.

Then he stood and his fingers gingerly brushed Robin's hair from his face. The younger nuzzled his hand, prompting the Dark Knight to lean down and rest his lips against the boy's cheek. Then Batman smiled and whispered a few words to him. Robin's reply was muffled, but his eyes radiated warmth. Batman stayed only a few seconds more before leaving the room, his cape fluttering behind him gracefully.

That was when Superboy finally let his vision return to normal and stared at his wall in confusion.

XOXO

It was a month later when it finally hit him.

Superboy had learned several things while in Cadmus. Spanish, the periodic table, Quantum theories on the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to Kryptonite. Knowledge that wasn't entirely useless, but it wasn't the knowledge he was interested in.

He wanted to know how to earn Superman's acknowledgement. Unfortunately, Cadmus hadn't thought it relevant or useful. Cadmus hadn't taught him how to gain Superman's approval.

But Robin had.

Over the past four weeks, Superboy had been using his newfound ability to observe the interactions of the Gotham protectors. He had concluded three things about this strange ritual the two participated in.

1: It always took place behind closed doors.

Superboy figured this must be because it was something only mentors and protégés did, without any outside interference. He hadn't seen any of the others doing anything similar with their mentors, but then again, he never really saw them interact for very long. Batman was around multiple times for various things, while the others usually only stuck around long enough to check up on things. It was completely plausible that all of the other members of Young Justice also did this with their mentors.

2: It always involved the touching of lips somewhere.

Every time he had caught the two of them performing the ritual, there was always lips touched somewhere. Usually Batman's on Robin somewhere, the most often on his lips, and quite a few on the forehead. Once he had seen the Dark Knight even push aside his partner's hoodie and then proceed to ravish the boy's neck. Superboy hadn't really understood that, but Robin had gone crimson and let out a breathy sigh before exposing more of his neck to his mentor.

Then other times it wouldn't be just lips. Once he had seen their mouths open and their tongues invading one another. He had panicked, thinking that they would suffocate, until he pushed his vision a bit farther and saw that they weren't in any danger. This tongue invasion seemed to be intense, though, because it left them (Robin mostly) breathless and panting. He wondered if somehow this was a form of training. Perhaps endurance?

3: When one uttered the word "Stop", the ritual ceased.

Superboy wasn't quite sure what they were stopping for, but he guessed it had something to do with being in pain or exhausted. Three times Robin had asked his mentor to stop, and once Batman had asked his protégé to. Robin had been breathless, flushed, and squirming uncomfortably each time. Immediately, Batman had backed off, inquiring about his wellbeing, and once reassured, would leave after pressing his lips gently to the other's forehead. The first time this happened, Robin had looked fearful with tears shining in his eyes and Superboy wondered what just what had happened. The boy had stammered out apologies, until he was promptly hushed by the older male. Then Batman had told him sternly, "We do this on your terms." Then he had smiled (something he did only in front of Robin) and had gently wiped the tears away.

After that Robin had seemed more confident when asking to stop the ritual. As if those six words meant the world to him. Superboy just wished he knew what they meant.

It was a strange occurrence indeed when Batman had asked to stop. There hadn't really been any touching of lips except for a short, quick peck to the Dark Knight's cheek as Robin settled into his lap to observe whatever he was analyzing on his computer. Batman had pushed his cowl back earlier, letting it pool around his neck (a sight Superboy was quickly becoming accustomed to) and his lips were pulled into a thin line of concentration. It had been after about 15 minutes when Robin had gotten bored. So he had squirmed in Batman's lap, ducking and moving as if he were avoiding an invisible enemy. Then he had taken the batarangs from his mentor's belt, and proceeded to lodge them into the wall behind the two. Batman had glared momentarily, but otherwise left the other alone to concentrate on his work.

It was when Robin got bored once more that he started fiddling with the various pieces of his mentor's armor. He had unclasped the others cape, and let it flutter to the ground. Then he started fiddling with Batman's utility belt. The Boy Wonder straddled the older man's thighs, facing forward and giving the golden belt all his attention. Deft little fingers tugged and pulled at the many compartments, opening and closing pouches and raiding them for their goods. It was then that Batman had first tensed up, apparently without Robin noticing. Superboy watched, wondering if his teammate was unintentionally causing the older man pain by his actions. When Robin moved his fingers to wrap around the belt, searching for its release button, Batman's hands had grasped at the arms of the chair tightly. Still, Robin took no notice and continued to fiddle with the belt.

Robin's hands pushed and pulled, trying to find the hidden clasps, as he unwittingly brushed arms along Batman's crotch and thighs. "That's enough of that, I think" Batman had bit out, breathing harshly through his nostrils as he grabbed the boy's arms just above the wrists. Robin looked up perplexed and disgruntled at the interruption.

"What, scared I'll find the keys to the Bat-mobile?" The younger one replied with a grin. Then he had scooted closer, pushing his body close to Batman's as he hugged him. When Robin's knees got caught in the hole of the armrest, he wiggled his lithe body trying to free himself. Batman inhaled unsteadily. The hands of his mentor on his shoulders stilled him though and he looked up at him in annoyance. "Wha-"

Batman's hands pushed the boy down, making him sit flush against him. A moment of silence, then Robin's face lit like a torch. His ears tinged pink and he let a nervous laugh escape his lips. Superboy didn't understand, but continued observing in confusion. "Ready to stop now?" Batman inquired, his voice husky, but amused. Robin made a clipped sound of agreement, then lifted himself out of his mentor's lap, as if by touching him he could catch a fatal disease. A nervous laugh again resounded through the air, and then the door was closing with one less person in the room.

Superboy still wasn't quite sure when exactly one was supposed to say stop. He actually did understand why they were saying stop in the first place. Perhaps this ritual created some sort of mental bond that was overwhelming. Perhaps if there was too much physical contact, then the meaning of the ritual would be lost. They always did seem to paw and pull at each other's clothing, yet only cowls and masks had been removed. Maybe it had something to do with how much saliva had inadvertently gotten onto skin.

Superboy really would like to learn more. What if he made a mistake and Superman became angry with him? What if he was overwhelmed by the mental bond (if there even was one)? What if he didn't say stop when he was supposed to?

Superboy was far from confident about the whole ordeal, but he figured he'd have a few more months to learn before he saw Superman in person again.

He had been wrong. Two days after Superboy's epiphany, Superman had come by Mount Justice.

Anxiety had rushed through him, nearly cutting off his air supply and sending his stomach swirling. To say he was nervous was an understatement.

Red Tornado and Black Canary were debriefing his DNA donor about the last mission that the team had been on. Both Artemas and Robin had sustained injuries that had required a leave of absence for a while. Apparently, the Metropolis hero had wanted to get the exact details.

Then before he knew what was happening, Megan had rushed off to salvage her cooking, Black Canary had gone off to check up on Robin and Artemis, and Red Tornado had gone into the communications room to contact Batman.

Silence filled the room, and it crushed Superboy with its intensity. He felt small and meek and fragile. He wasn't ready to do this. He didn't even fully know what 'this' was. His heart was beating erratically, as he shot glances toward the other.

But when was another chance like this going to come up?

Superboy inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. Then he strode forward, walking towards his older counterpart. The older man glanced at his approaching form. The look of reluctance to be in his mere presence formed on his face. As if Superboy wasn't a clone but instead a demon possessed replica of him.

Superboy almost lost his nerve when Superman turned fully towards him. He was by far superior, his muscles filled out with age and his presence dominating. The hair just above his forehead had his signature curl that Superboy had just given up trying to replicate. His eyes were the same as his, but humbled by wisdom the clone would never have. He wished they weren't blue like Robin's. He wished he knew what he was doing.

Superboy stopped in front of Superman, the distance between them small but it felt like miles. He opened his mouth to speak, trying to remember if there was a significant phrase that started the ritual. His mind drew a blank. There had never been any reoccurring words that were spoken to initiate it. It just seemed to be an understood event. Tongue dry, he swallowed and looked at his feet.

Usually Batman initiated the physical contact. Or at least, he always went half way and waited for Robin to go the other half. Was it like this in all cases? Was he supposed to wait for Superman to start it? Did the older Kryptonian even know that he was making an effort to start a ritual between them? He shifted his feet uncomfortably, his pulse pounding in his ears. He would wait just in case. His eyes drifted back to identical ones.

Superman looked unnerved. "…Uh, is there something you needed, Superboy?" The man scratched his neck, and seemed to want to look anywhere but at his clone.

Superboy remembered when Batman had asked Robin that about a week ago. He had been confident and slightly sarcastic, unlike the alien before him. Robin had not given a verbal reply. He had just quickly pressed his lips against his mentor's and then grinned like a madman. Was he supposed to do something similar? Would that be right?

Doubt and insecurity had been his captors for so long. He had fumbled through so far alone, but he had been so lost along the way. Superboy wasn't even sure if he was still on the path he had started wit. And here was Superman, his one true guide. His escape. His mentor. His father.

Superman wouldn't hesitate. So Superboy wouldn't either.

The clone lurched forward, and Superman's face contorted in surprise. Then their lips were melded together, their noses pressed awkwardly together, and their pulses racing.

It was bliss for one short second as Superboy heard their matching heartbeats. Heard the flow of blood through their matching veins.

Then there was pain as a fist collided with his chest and he was smashed into the wall on the other side of the room. Superboy's ears rang, and he barely felt when his body slid to the ground with several rocks from the cavern wall. His vision spun, and there were three stunned Supermen standing across the room, their fists still raised. They all had looks of horror on their faces. He vaguely wondered if that was because he did the ritual wrong, or because he was afraid of Batman scolding him for making such a mess in the common room.

A cough shuddered through his body, and suddenly his mouth was filled with blood and it was overflowing onto the floor. He thought it looked like Superman's cape, and he blinked at it in his daze trying to figure out if the cape was fluttering or flowing majestically to the ground.

Someone screamed, and then he felt an arm rolling him onto his back. Pain shot through his chest and he cried out a bloody gurgle. He heard his name being repeated, and then yelling from across the room. Everything was distorted, as if he were underwater. He really just wanted whoever was screeching in his ears to shut the hell up. The next thing he knew, darkness was closing in on him and he knew that he had failed.

XOXO

When Superboy woke up, he heard an obnoxious, repetitive beep. He promptly threw his pillow with excess force in its direction. He heard it impact, then felt something ripped off of his chest. The next thing he knew, it was blaring continuously.

Deciding he was too tired to deal with it, Superboy curled up, covered his ears, and tried to grasp the fleeing edges of slumber. Except then feet against linoleum had come pounding closer. It sounded almost like a gallop, except the horse would have to be mentally retarded or severely injured. Superboy almost wanted to laugh at the thought, and that left him stumped. It wasn't amusing at all. There was absolutely nothing humorous about a dying, retarded horse. But still he felt the feather sensation of laughter wanting to bubble up from his stomach.

Then the door slid open and the running feet stilled. Superboy almost sighed with relief as silence once again settled into the room (except of course the loathsome machine that he had already blocked out).

"It seems the transfusion worked well enough." Batman's voice crept through the room, and Superboy really wanted to tell the man to shut up. Didn't he have work to do? An image of the Dark Knight diligently working at a computer terminal came to mind. Usually the only thing that could tear him away from it was a crisis of some kind, or his grinning protégé. Superboy's thoughts paused. Robin. Batman. Ritual.

And then suddenly he remembered his botched attempt to initiate the same interactions with the older Kryptonian. All at once, his eyes shot open and his pulse was pounding loudly in his ears. His throat constricted with emotion he couldn't identify, and he felt his eyes sting as his vision was blurred by unshed tears. He sat up sharply, only to freeze when his eyes landed on a blue clad form next to Batman.

Superman took a step forward, his hand outstretched and the clone felt like he would suffocate. His muscles tensed, ready to flee. Was his punishment not over yet?

Then he paused, his eyes roaming over Superboy's form and drew back, his face contorted with guilt. His withdrawal made the tightening in the clones throat ease up.

"Easy, Superboy. We aren't going to hurt you." The Dark Knight said slowly as he approached from where the machine had been knocked over. It now lay silent and cracked, the pillow lying next to it. Glove glad fingers found the pulse on his wrist, then felt along the vein in his arm. "You appear to be completely healed. Just to be sure, I'd like to run a chest x-ray to see if your rib is in a similar state."

"Don't bother. Its healed." Superman cut in from the sidelines, his voice, usually so confident and strong, was subdued instead. Batman's lips pulled back into a thin line, and he released his arm.

"In that case, I think it best if we clear up this misunderstanding now, before it becomes even worse." Batman said as he crossed his arms and gave a pointed look at both of them. Superboy felt relief wash through him knowing that the Dark Knight was taking charge of the situation. At least then he could clarify the whole thing for Superboy, now that he could confront someone on instructing him in the ritual.

Superman cleared his throat awkwardly. "I completely overreacted, and I'm sorry. I should have realized that you hadn't been taught the basics of human interaction." There was an uncomfortable silence, and the Kryptonian scratched the back of his head. So he had started the ritual wrong after all. Words were spilling out of the clone's mouth before he could think about them.

"Sorry, I- I thought that that was how I, we, start the ritual. I wasn't sure if I should, or if you should and I didn't mean to mess up and-"

"Whoa, slow down. Ritual? Superboy it's called a kiss. You aren't supposed to do that." At his clone's look of confusion and a pointed glare from Batman, he quickly went on. "What I mean to say is, well, you're not supposed to do that with another boy. You can't kiss them, especially if you don't have their permission. Uh… and you're me. We can't do that. It's unethical. "

Wait, what? This didn't make sense at all. Neither Batman nor Robin were females. Was it different for Kryptonians?

His confusion must have been evident on his face, because Batman heaved a sigh and took over.

"What Superman means to say is that a kiss should only be shared between two people who are romantically involved. Society frowns upon same sex relationships, but it's not wrong to kiss another male. What is wrong, is that you kissed Superman." The Dark Knight's voice was calm, contrasting sharply with both the super's rushed panicked ones.

Now Superboy wasn't quite sure at all if they were talking about the same thing. This was not going the way he had seen it in his head.

"Superman is basically your parental figure. Your mentor. It's considered wrong to seek out a relationship with him. A kiss expresses emotions such as love, or lust. By all standards, he is the adult in the situation. It's a criminal felony to involve ones-self in a relationship with someone under the age of eighteen. If you two kiss, he could go to jail."

Superboy's eyes widened, in confusion and alarm. He didn't understand why a ritual like the kiss could lead to incarceration. Why was it wrong? Was it just because he was under eighteen? Did these laws apply to everyone, and if so, was Batman an exception to the laws?

"But what about Robin?" The clone blurted out. Both league member's gave him confused looks. Then Batman's mouth moved into a thin line.

"It's legal to kiss Robin, but that doesn't mean you should. You're only supposed to kiss the people you want to marry." Superman chimed in, trying to diffuse the sudden tension in the air. Kiss Robin? No, he didn't want to start this whole confusing ritual with the Boy Wonder.

"What? No, I mean why doesn't Batman go to jail? Is it only Kryptonians that aren't allowed to do this with younger people." Suddenly, Batman was tense all over, and Superboy wondered if this wasn't something they were supposed to talk about out loud.

Superman just look absolutely baffled. "No, it's a human law. Batman abides by it to."

Superboy furrowed his brows. "Do mentors and their partners kiss?" Superman looked alarmed again.

"No, that's wrong on so many levels. The mentor would be taking advantage of their partner. Superboy, we've been over this." Perhaps they were talking about different things then. Was it still considered a kiss if tongue was involved? What about nuzzling. Was that kissing too?

"….What exactly is a kiss?" Superman sighed loudly, and rubbed his palm against his face.

"A kiss is what you did to me. You pushed our lips together. There are a bunch of different types of kisses, but that one isn't one you should be doing with me."

"So, there is a type I'm supposed to do with you?" Superman shifted his feet, his eyes flitting to Batman's rigid back.

"Well, maybe. I kiss on the cheek wouldn't really be wrong, but it's still a bit weird." Superboy contemplated this. They weren't talking about different things. At least not entirely. He glanced to Batman, only to see a heated glare aimed his way.

"Then why does Batman do it?" It was the obvious question. This crash course through human interactions had all started with Superboy's accidental observation of the Dark Knight and his protégé.

"Why does Batman do what?" The black gloves of the vigilante were clenched into fists, and Superboy heard his pulse increase slightly.

"Kiss Robin." Immediately the room was quiet.

"What? Superboy, Batman and Robin don't kiss. Robins like a son to Batman." So apparently this was something that the other's didn't know. Did this mean that his other teammates didn't participate in similar rituals with their mentors?

"Yes they do. I've seen them." Batman remained silent, and Superman gave an exasperated sigh.

"Superboy, I'm sure you just saw wrong. I highly doubt tha-"

"Yes they do." Superboy interrupted, anger seeping into his voice when the other questioned it as if he was lying. " They kiss. Robin sits in his lap and they kiss on lips and tongues and necks." Why was this so hard for the other alien to fathom?

Superman looked between Batman's tense shoulders and his clone's adamant gaze. Doubt seeped into his face. "No Im sure you just saw-"

"I looked through the walls. I saw them and was…curious. So I watched them." Superman's face was slowly starting to contort. Shock and horror and disgust. But for once it wasn't aimed at the super-powered teen. His gaze was directed instead to the back of Batman's head.

"Get your rest." The Dark Knight's voice was clipped, and Superboy could hear the barely contained anger. Batman spun to face the blue Boy Scout, his eyes hard and his jaw clenched. "We need to talk. Now." Then he stalked out of the room, his cape fluttering behind him and Superman hot on his heels. Already he could hear the alien inquiring with anger and disbelief of the validity of his clone's claims.

Then the door slid shut, leaving Superboy alone to process all the newfound information.

END

Hope you guys enjoyed. Let me know what you think. =D