After the excitement finally died down, everyone drifted back to their routines.
Conner and M'gann settled into the kitchen to bake cookies, laughter and the scent of sugar filling the air, while Match returned to the couch to resume watching his movie—Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. Joseph smirked faintly. Good taste, Wally.
Today, he had gained a brother. Two, actually—because the brother of his brother was his brother too. And as the oldest, it was his responsibility to look out for his juniors.
If S.T.A.R. Labs couldn't find a solution to Match's cellular instability within the next month, Joseph would take matters into his own hands and fix him himself. It wouldn't be the first time he'd pulled a new ability out of nowhere, and if the League questioned him afterward, they'd simply have to accept whatever explanation he came up with. Everyone in this business had their secrets, after all.
He'd already hacked into S.T.A.R. Labs' files and seen the disturbing truth for himself—Match's body would eventually begin developing tumors and breaking down if left untreated. That was not something Joseph intended to allow.
He would help Conner too. He'd noticed the half-Kryptonian wince slightly after Match's bear hug ended. For someone of Kryptonian descent, Conner's strength was still far below his potential—it was disappointing, almost sad, how limited his powers remained. Joseph would fix that as well.
And speaking of making others stronger, Joseph turned to Kori, reached for her hand, and gave a small, conspiratorial smile. "I wanted to do something with you," he said.
**
When they entered an empty room in the living quarters, Kori closed the door softly behind them. Excitement and nervous energy stirred inside her chest.
"We can't," she whispered, her voice half-serious, half-teasing. "What if the others hear us?"
"Did you say something?" Joseph asked as a golden Boom Tube shimmered open beside him.
"Oh," Kori said, trying to hide her disappointment as she realized what he meant.
"Cool, right?" he said aloud, then switched to telepathy so the others couldn't overhear.
[Perks of having the world's most advanced AI. I got my hands on the Brain's Fatherbox and let Nova have some fun with it. Now I can open Boom Tubes, heal, create forcefields, cloak my energy signature, and I will never run out of energy.]
Kori crossed her arms and mock-pouted. [That's not fair. You could barely hold your own against me in training before, but now you're getting stronger and leaving me behind.]
[I'd never leave you behind,] Joseph said seriously. [That's actually why I wanted to bring you somewhere.] He extended his hand again.
She took it, their fingers interlocking. Together, they stepped through the Boom Tube.
Immediately, Kori felt it—the flood of solar energy surrounding her, radiant and overwhelming. It poured over her skin, through her veins, igniting every cell until she felt light itself coursing through her. The euphoria made her gasp softly as Earth came into view in front of them, glowing blue and white, half its size compared to how the moon appeared from the surface.
Before her stretched the Solar System in all its brilliance—Mars burning red in the distance, Jupiter's storms swirling like marble, Saturn's rings shimmering faintly. She didn't dare look behind her at the sun; she could feel its intensity without needing to see it. Doing so might burn her retinas due to its sheer brilliance.
Still, the sight before her was...
[Beautiful,] Kori and Joseph said at the same time.
Kori had meant the Solar System—but when she turned, she saw Joseph looking straight at her.
[You've always been beautiful, but here… you look like a goddess of fire,] Joseph said softly, awe coloring his voice. Her hair danced in zero gravity, glowing like living flame. The warmth of his words made her feel more radiant than the sunlight bathing her.
[And now, I have something for you.] Joseph summoned a glowing green gem into his hand and shared its knowledge directly with her mind.
It was a Nanode, a device capable of reweaving nanomolecular fibers into specialized combat attire, fully responsive to her movements. Joseph had embedded Nth metal for resilience and integrated Cadmus solar suit tech to help her absorb sunlight even underground. It could also store outfit templates, allowing her to switch between casual wear and her suit at will, and even functioned as a communicator.
Understanding how it worked, Kori placed the gem on her chest. A soft holographic projection unfolded in front of her, allowing her to design her new suit. Within seconds, her torn, battle-worn outfit morphed into something sleek and new—a deep-purple, form-fitting bodysuit trimmed with white, complete with long gloves, high-cut legs, and the green gem still gleaming at her chest.
[Do you like it?] Joseph asked.
[Thank you,] Kori said, her voice trembling slightly. [So much. For everything. You're always giving, and I'm always receiving. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve any of this… or you.]
She'd found friends in the Team, family among the Amazons and Diana, and a home on Earth—all because of him. She had never felt so loved.
Joseph moved closer and placed a hand over hers. [If anyone deserves the world, it's you. You've survived enslavement by your own sister, endured pain and loss most couldn't bear, yet you still find the strength to inspire hope. You saved me in that arena too, Kori. Please… never forget that.]
He pulled her into a hug. The warmth radiating from his body was comforting—almost divine. They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the quiet hum of solar light.
Finally, Kori pulled back, studying him closely. [Tell me what really happened. I know you well enough to know you're hiding something.]
Joseph hesitated, then met her gaze with solemn honesty. [I killed Desaad. He was Apokolips's chief torturer. A sadist. He said he was going to kill you—so I did him in first.]
Kori was silent for a while. Years in the Gordanian arena had hardened her spirit but left deep scars. She had been forced to kill others, most of who simply wanted to live, for the entertainment of wicked people.
After coming to Earth, she had sworn to embrace hope, to live by compassion instead of bloodshed like her mentor Diana had taught her. But Desaad… Desaad was no innocent. Some souls could not be saved.
So she wrapped her arms around him again, wordless but full of understanding.
Joseph spoke again after a while. [It must've been hard for you—leaving your home and risking your life for Earth. If you want, I can bring you to Tamaran.]
Kori smiled into his shoulder. [You think you can get rid of me that easily?] she teased. [My sister may have stolen my throne, but Tamaran doesn't need me there now. If I returned, I'd only cause more conflict. She wanted the crown more than she wanted her family—so she can have it. Earth is my home now.]
Joseph nodded, his expression soft. They held each other for a long while, the silence between them more intimate than words. The soreness from her earlier battle faded entirely as the solar energy empowered her cells.
Then Joseph smirked faintly. [By the way, what did you think I was going to do when I brought you to the room?]
Kori smirked right back. Earthlings were so prudish. His teasing was adorable.
She slid her hand lower, watching his eyes widen in surprise before pulling him in and kissing him deeply.
[You know what I was thinking.]