A/N: This one was started while I was waiting to watch Image. I finished it after the big reveal to include some SuperMartian. It was originally just some introspective/self-loathing M'gann.
Summers in Happy Harbour are filled with stifling, sticky heat, and cool breezes associated with the East Coast of the United States. It's usually during this season that M'gann is most greatful for living in a cave. The cool rock is a comforting shelter. It reminds her of the caverns of Mars. Heat reminds her of fire.
Still, Earth is beautiful. M'gann frequently finds herself taking walks in the surrounding woodlands. Sometimes Conner or Wolf joins her, but more likely than not her boyfriend will find something else to do.
A part of her feels insecure that he doesn't want to spend time with her. The rational part says that they cohabitate and solitary time is good for both of them.
Today, the land breeze is cool and ruffles her hair in a manner that she knows should feel good. She has done research on sensations that humans find comforting or pleasurable. Her field work has been so far inconclusive.
Her walk takes her to a small clearing that she knows is a part of a hiking trail open to the public. Being alone is good in some ways. She doesn't have to try so hard to maintain her "Martian" appearance. As she settles against a long for a nap, her eyes unfocus and re-shape. Small, red, and beetle-like. A movement in the grass catches her attention.
She shifts her weight to look at the movement. It is a small insect. Slender and pale green, it has two long, hooked arms with a pair of claw-like fingers at the end. Immediately, M'gann is fascinated. Gently, she picks the critter up. It's cleaning itself by slipping its fingers into its mouth and dragging them along its body. Bulging black eyes look at her curiously, unsure if she is foliage or predator. The beast seems mostly unconcerned with her prescence.
M'gann is elated. There are beings on Earth that look like her.
She starts babbling away to it in Martian. She knows that it probably lacks the process for basic thought, let alone understanding of speech, but she feels as if it is her kindred spirit.
The sun is setting and the bug has long since scuttled off. M'gann is changed. She feels rejuvenated. She can't wait to tell Conner all about her new friend.
"Sounds like a Chinese Mantis." Wally says over inhaling his dinner.
"Didn't think you'd be interested in bugs, M'gann." Said Artemis, "At least not this one," she eyes Wally.
"Aren't Martians classified as hyper-intelligent insectoids?" Dick adds.
She knows she shouldn't glare at the boy just because of his cleverness, but she feels her cheeks grow hot.
"Can you pass the sweet potatoes, Conner?"
"Sure thing."
Their fingers brush as he passes the dish. M'gann feels a rush of electricity and shoots Conner 'the look'. She bites her lip and lowers her lashes. The desire effect is achieved because he averts his gaze and shifts in his seat.
"Actually, I'm curious about that too, M'gann." Wally says over the lull.
"Are Martians mammals? I've never thought about it before, but I've never seen you bleeding. You were able to perform a transfusion with Garfield. So you can genetically be compatible with humans. That doesn't necessarily mean that you're warm blooded. I mean, look at platypuses. They lactate through their skin and have live birth, but are cold-blooded and lay eggs."
"Ew." Artemis grunts.
"I thought the proper pluralization was platypi." Dick interjects.
M'gann lowers her head in an attempt to make herself appear smaller.
"Stop treating her like something under a microscope, Wally. Can't you see you're making her uncomfortable?" Artemis prickles, coming to her rescue.
M'gann excuses herself from the table. Her plate has different portions than the others. Martians dislike bitter things like leefy greens, or the savory taste of meat. Indeed, they have a large preference for sweets.
Something common among insects.
She's been trying to wean herself on to more common Earth foods. The first time she ate cheese she threw up for hours. Uncle J'onn told her that lactose intolerance was common among humans as well as other species.
"We are not meant to consume milk at our age. It is supposed to be for infants."
M'gann wouldn't know. Martians do not lactate. They're big, creepy bug monsters.
She's a big, creepy bug monster.
And she hates herself.
"I like the way you look."
Her eyes snap open to find Conner leaning against the doorway. He holds up a baggie of mini-Oreos as a peace offering. Her Kryptonite.
"I know I shouldn't get so sensitive about it because at least they're not treating me like some kind of monster it's just-"
"Not the way you see yourself."
Either they spend too much time together or the mind linking has them reading each other's thoughts.
"It would be like asking a man who was born a woman what his menstrual cycle was like." She sniffles.
"Wally tells me I'm supposed to be grossed out by everything in that sentence."
M'gann snorts and accidentally inhales an Oreo. She sputters a moment before shifting her throat to redirect the passage. Conner's hand is warm as he pats her back. It stays there after she recovers.
"You should meet my family." Conner says.
"I've met Superman, Conner."
"He's not- He didn't always raise me an accept me. That's what family's all about, right? My real family is you guys... but I also have the Genomorphs at Cadmus. They loved me and accepted me before I accepted myself. I just thought that... we were watching that show the other night and the boy brings his girlfriend over to meet his parents. Can't we be like that?"
M'gann searches Conner's face. His eyes are duller at night and his mouth in a cute frown. She smiles and headbutts him gently.
"Ow." He thinks with a pout.
"Don't be a baby."
She bites at his mouth and they both taste like Oreos and yams. M'gann relishes in the sweetness.
"Thanks, Conner."
"Don't thank me until you've met them."
