A/N: Alright Chapter four is finally done. Fair warning this chapter fells a little boring to me, mostly just filler in my mind but hopefully it is enjoyable. Also the normal guy who reviews my story and fixes errors moved recently so I had to get someone knew. Tell me if you notice more mistakes than usual.
"Ladies and Gentleman, we are experiencing some minor turbulence. Please fasten your seatbelts." Said a stewardess into the small microphone that ran through out the airplane. Conner thought this was rather redundant considering there was only ten people on this flight and eight of them were in first class. He quickly obliged however and continued to look out the small airline window, darkness consumed everything he could see. It was fifteen minutes to midnight as his flight flew silently over the Atlantic ocean towards his home in the United States.
Having been the lone survivor of a vicious ambush, Conner was taken in for questioning. He was placed into a small room with a table and two chairs, one on each side of the table. After fifteen minutes of waiting in silence the door finally opened and stepped in a two star general with a lieutenant quick in toe. Conner quickly jumped to the position of attention.
"Have a seat young man." The general said. "I'm General McDaine, I'll be doing your debriefing."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir." Conner responded as he looked at the officer. The general was an older man who appeared to be in his late fifties. He was beginning to go bald on the top of head, and had a large white mustache.
"The pleasure is mine." General McDaine said lighting a large cigar, raising a small leather pack with two more towards Conner. "Want one?"
"No thank you, sir. I don't smoke." Conner said.
"Alright lets get to it, what happened out there?"
"My unit was sent off to investigate a local village that was rumored to have been seized by the enemy. On our way we were intercepted by a small group armed with R.P.G.'s who opened fire destroying the convoy. Me and several others survived and fought back." Conner said lying about the last part, not wanting his secret to get out.
"I see, I see." The general said turning to the lieutenant standing in the corner of the room. "You get that?"
"Yes sir. I'll add more details later to make it more believable." Said the lieutenant. She was a tall blond girl with her hair pulled back into a bun, since entering the room she had been writing on a clipboard.
"If you don't mind me asking sir, but what exactly is she doing?" Conner asked, bringing the general's attention back to him.
"Writing down the story we are going to give to the press. And now that we got that out of the way, why don't you tell us the real story. Super Boy." The general smiled as he placed a recording device down on the table.
Conner was shocked, he hadn't told anyone about his alternate identity, outside of the team and league of course. "How do you know about that?" He questioned standing up getting into a defensive stance.
"Sit back down, boy. We've known since day one." The general said between puffs of his cigar. "Well, a select few of us know, such as myself and Lieutenant Sanders here."
"How did you find out?" Conner said as he slowly sat back down.
"Didn't you find it weird in basic when they drew your blood that the needle actually went in?"
"Yea I was freaking out the needle would bend and I would be discovered."
"Supers have been around for decades now, so it is only natural that ways to cancel out powers would be invented. I don't know if your familiar with Belle Reve Penitentiary, but they have developed collars that neutralize super villains powers. We just took the same technology and made a room that does the same thing. Got to say we were quite shocked when kryptonian DNA popped up in our system."
"How did you know it was kryptonian?"
"You think with how long the man of steel has been around the government wouldn't be able to get a blood sample."
"I didn't think the big man could bleed."
"Neither did we til it happened, but that's not important. What is important is what really happened out there. So start talking."
Conner began to explain what happened in great detail. Everything from the ambush, to the mutation, to the helicopters, and even gathering the bodies. The general sat quietly listening intently, only to stop every once in a while to ask a question or two. At the end of Conner's story, which felt more like a confession to him, the general just laid back in his chair, finishing off his cigar.
"We lost a lot of good soldiers out there." The general said finally breaking the silence.
"Yes we did, sir." Conner concurred. "I've been with that unit for a year an a half now. We've lost men and women before, but to have everyone gone except for me. It's just hard to believe. They were all like family to me."
"That's what the military does," The general said stamping out his cigar butt. "We are just a large mixing pot, in war things such as race, sex, and religion don't matter. That's what makes our military so strong, we are families created from a group of random strangers setting our differences aside. And to lose a bond as strong as that can cause a man to go hollow. I've seen it before."
"What should I do then, sir?" Conner said in a flat tone.
"Go home and rest for a while." Said the general as he waved an arm towards the lieutenant. She approached the general pulling a small packet of papers off the clipboard and handed it to the general. He turned back to Conner placing the papers down in front of the young private. "These are orders to transfer you to a reserve unit back near your home town. "We think it would be best if you took some time off from active duty. In a year or so if you want to go active again, I'll personally sign your papers. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Conner said standing to salute the general. The general returned the salute.
"Sanders!" The general turned to the young lady.
"Yes, sir?"
"Take private Kent here up to his barracks so he can get his gear. Then put him on the next flight back to the states."
"Understood! Come on private, get a move on." She gestured Conner towards the door.
"Yes, Ma'am." Conner replied quickly moving through the open door.
The walk up to the barracks was long and awkward. The lieutenant was silent and ignored the fact that Conner even existed, he could have just walked off in some random direction and she probably would have never known. They exited the headquarters building into the deserts heat, the temperature was easily in the one-twenties. After twenty minutes of walking they finally reached the front of the large two story building that once housed his unit.
Silence greeted them as the entered the building. The empty halls seemed to haunt Conner, he had spent so much time here. Many good times were spent in this building, it had housed him for almost six months now. He pressed on past the front desk making his way to a small stair case, climbing up he entered the first door on his left. He flipped the light switch as he entered the large room that he was assign along with twenty-nine other soldiers.
"You have fifteen minutes to pack your things and feel free to change into civilian clothes." The lieutenant said as she pulled out her cell phone. "Your plane to Happy Harbor leaves in an hour, don't want to be late do you?"
"No ma'am." Conner said running to his bunk and wall locker. Good thing for him he had always been a minimalist so packing was quick and easy, one duffle bag was enough to contain all his items.
The lieutenant stood outside the bay door, leaning up against the wall playing on her smart phone. Ten minutes had passed when Conner exited out of the room, she jumped slightly at the swiftness in which he finished. He stood there in a simple pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt; however, he still wore his tan army boots and a pair of black fingerless gloves. Duffle bag hung over his shoulder.
"I'm ready, ma'am." He said in monotone.
"Alright, lets hurry up and get you to the airport." She said shoving her phone back into her pocket."
"Yes, ma'am." He said, turning back he studied the room one last time. Letting out a low sigh he flipped the lights off and followed the officer. They made there way back out of the barracks to where a cab now set. The driver, upon seeing the two people exit the building, hopped out of the car and hurried to open the trunk. Conner through his bag in and jumped in the back seat. The driver quickly exchanged a few words with the lieutenant then returned to his seat. With that the cab quickly sped off towards the airport.
Arriving at the airport Conner found a soldier in an air force uniform holding a sign with his name on it. The soldier took him past all the customs and security checks straight to the plane. As he walked through the plane's door, he was greeted by a stewardess who directed him to his seat. He passed the first class section, where eight people sat quietly waiting for departure. He sat in the first empty seat he came across, which was pretty easy considering there was only one other person on the plane not in first class.
"Hello, this is your captain speaking." The plane's intercom system came to life. "The flight to Happy Harbor, Rhode Island is about to depart. This flight is scheduled to take sixteen hours; however, we have a good tail wind so hopefully we should arrive a little earlier. Please keep your seat belts fasten until the we have finished ascending. Thank you and enjoy your flight."
"I hope you enjoyed your flight." Said the stewardess to Conner as he passed her to get out of the plane. He quickly smiled towards the girl before making his way up the long hallway to the airports waiting lounge. He slung his duffle bag onto his back, silently thanking them for letting him take it on the plane with him. He hated waited at the luggage return. Walking out towards the exit he froze, something wasn't right.
Taking a deep breath in through his nose he recognized a familiar smell, sea water. No, not just sea water, what else. Atlantean! Conner's eyes quickly began to scan the lobby with his infrared vision, quickly finding what he was looking for. Standing off next to the exit doors stood three individuals, one who's body temperature was slightly lower than every other person in the room. Blinking Conner returned his normal sight to find Kaldur, Nightwing, and Garfield waiting in civilian clothes buy the front door.
He quickly ducked behind one of the many support pillars that held up the buildings roof. Looking around the corner he was relieved to see that none of them had noticed him. When Conner left the team it wasn't exactly on the best of terms, and frankly he didn't feel like talking to the old group just yet. Knowing Nightwing, once the news of the ambush got out, he probably hacked the armies network and found what Conners orders were and most likely when his flight was.
He needed to get out of the airport unseen, there had to be an alternate exit somewhere. Scanning the room he realize that this would be rather troublesome, considering it was only one a.m. and the airport was practically deserted. Feeling slightly defeated he turned around and leaned up against the support beam letting out a deep sigh. Ten feet in front of him, he saw a security guard talking to an elderly couple. The couple looked straight out of a western movie, the man wearing a large brown cowboy hat and old duster trench coat. An idea popped into his head, using what he thought of as Batman's greatest power.
"Excuse me." Conner said approaching the three individuals.
"What can we do you for, sonny?" The old cowboy said directing his attention from the security guard to the young man.
"Well, sir." Conner said looking the man up and down. "I was wondering if you would be willing to sale me your coat and hat for three hundred dollars." Digging into his pocket he produced the money. The old mans eyes went big as he looked from Conner to the three bills in his hand back to Conner.
"What heavens for?" The cowboy said still quite shocked.
"See those three men next to the exit?" Conner made a slight gesture towards his old comrades.
"What about them?" Said the security guard.
"They are old acquaintances of mine, and I prefer not to run into them today." Conner said as his hand re-entered his pocket pulling out two more bills. "Which is why I am offering you two hundred dollars if you can distract them long enough for me get past them without getting caught. So do we have a deal?" The security guard and the cowboy exchanged looks for a second then back to the man with the money in front of them.
"That was his flight number they just announced, wasn't it?" Garfield asked in an anticipating voice. "Shouldn't he have shown up by now?"
"Have patience, he should be out any minute." Kaldur responded to the younger team member.
"Yeah, he's probably in the bathroom after a flight that long." Chuckled Nightwing.
"But what if we miss him?" Garfield continued with his bombardment of questions that he had been asking for the past two hours they had been waiting.
"How could we miss him? His outer appearance can't change, and there are three of us watching out for him." Nightwing argued back.
"Someones coming." Kaldur said drawing the other two's attention to a lone security guard approaching them.
"Excuse me, gentlemen." The security guard said as he reached the three off duty heroes. "You three wouldn't happen to be waiting for a young man with short black hair and blue eyes, would you?" The threes ears perked up on the description.
"Yes we are, do you know where he is?" Said Nightwing. The security guard turned and pointed towards a bathroom sign across the lobby.
"He is in that bathroom, said it was urgent and asked me to retrieve you three for him." The security guard said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Kaldur said digging into his pocket pulling out a five dollar bill giving it to the guard. "A tip for helping us. Come on guys lets go see out friend."
"Oh, thank you sir. You're so generous." Said the guard with a smile. As the three began to make there way across the lobby towards the bathroom, Garfield turned around to wave to the guard once more when he saw a man wearing a large western duster and a cowboy hat that covered his face.
"Wow, a real cowboy. Guys look a real cowboy." Garfield turned trying to get his two companions attention.
"That's cool." Nightwing said not turning around to look.
"Come on you're not even looking." The young member pressed on, turning back around to catch one last glimpse before the man was out the door. "Ah man, you guys missed him."
"Damn that was close." Conner said to himself as he let out a deep breath. He pushed up his newly acquired hat so he could see a bit better, it was a cool night. A whistle caused him to freeze up, thinking that he had been caught. He turned slowly to be relieved at the sight of a man leaning on the hood of a taxi.
"Need a ride buddy?" The cabby called out to him.
"You have no idea." Conner said moving quickly over to the car, practically throwing his duffle and himself inside.
"Where to, buddy?" The cabby asked getting into the driver seat.
"To the nearest hotel."
"Can do, buddy. Can do." The car began to move out into the town. Conner began to relax in the back seat, looking casually out the window at the sleeping town. Happy Harbor seemed to be a ghost town this late at night, street lamps being the only real light source around.
A glowing sign reading 'Tony's Bar & Grill' caught Conner's eye as they drove down the deserted streets. His stomach began to growl at the thought of food. In the last fifteen hours the only thing he had eaten was some crappy airline food, and he had been craving a real hamburger for months now.
"Hey, change of plans." He called up to the driver. "Stop up at that bar, I want to get a bite to eat."
"No problem." He replied pulling up to the front door. Conner paid the man then hopped out, giving a small wave telling the driver to go ahead and leave. Opening the door released the strong smell of a working grill and alcohol. Entering he found the place to be smaller than he was expecting, the building consisted of a small bar that could hold up to nine people and maybe six small tables behind that. The majority of the space in the building was used to house two pool tables and a dart board. Soft music played in the background from an old, well kept, jute box. The sound of billiard balls clashing.
All the tables were taken by small groups of people of varies ages, leaving the bar almost baron save a couple making out at one end. Conner to a seat at the opposite end of the couple and waited for the bartender to approach him.
"Good evening young man, what can I get for ya?" The bartender said as he wiped down the bar with a rag.
"Can I get a cheese burger with a side of fries?" Conner said while eyeing the large selection of alcohol on the wall behind the bartender. "And a rum and coke." Conner never was a big drinker, the only times he had ever had alcohol before was when members of his squad had snuck some into the barracks; however, a glass sounded extremely good right now.
"I'll have to see some identification first, but I think oblige." Conner reached into his back pocket grabbing his wallet, then producing his military I.D. The bartender grabbed it from him looking it over. "Alright, looks like your good. Your food will be out in about ten minutes, until then heres your drink." Conner returned the card back to his wallet then his pants. He had lied about his age to get into the military, giving him an extra few years so he could participate in such pleasures such as drinking.
He began to chug the glass placed in front of him, enjoying the burning sensation as it ran down his throat. Because of his powers he always had a fast metabolism, making it extremely hard for him to get drunk. As he drank the last of his beverage he heard the sound of foot steps approaching him. He quickly set the glass down and turned to see the familiar face of a certain blonde girl he knew.
"Holy shit!" She said in a shocked tone. "Conner is that you?"
"Hey Artemis." Conner responded sheepishly.
"Oh my god!" She yelled as she flung her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. "Where the hell have you been for the past two years? I've missed the hell out of you." He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the hug.
"I missed you too." He responded letting her go, smelling alcohol heavy on her breath. She released his neck and slide onto the barstool next to his. "I joined the army a while back, been across the sea fighting a war. What about you? What are you doing in Happy Harbor?"
"I moved here from Gotham about a year ago. I wanted to be closer to Wally's family to help them out." Depression sounded in her voice as she trailed off at the last part. Conner reached up placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I miss him too, Artemis." He said in his most reassuring voice. A tear began to roll down her cheek but she quickly whipped it away.
"So either I'm drunk or you look older than I remember." She said trying to change the subject.
"Well you might be drunk but I do look older, I'm physically twenty-one now." He said waving to the bartender for another round.
"How is that even possible?" Artemis said with a look of both confusion and curiosity. "I thought your outer appearance couldn't change? Do I see the traces of facial hair?"
"It couldn't!" He smiled as he took another drink. "Nine months ago my squad and me came into contact with a deranged scientist by the name of John Starr. He had invented an hour glass that could control time, and of course what does he do with it? Becomes a villain and starts calling himself Commander Time." Artemis giggled at the name. "Anyway we come across this man during one of our missions and became engaged in combat. One of my comrades got a lucky shot off and hit his hour glass, causing it to explode. Everything the wave hit physically aged five years, including me somehow. It unlocked something inside of me and now I externally age as well. Although more slowly, like one year for every three or something like that."
"That's quite the story. So how long have you been home? Are you on leave or something?"
Conner took in a deep breath then let out a long sigh. "Not exactly, my last unit got wiped out, so I'm getting transferred to a local reserve unit we have around here. I actually just got off the plane about thirty minutes ago."
"I'm so sorry." Artemis said placing her hand on his.
"Don't be." He said turning to her with a pained smile, gripping her hand softly. "They died with their boots on in the line of duty, and I know they wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Have you seen the team since you got back?"
"No, and I don't plan on seeing them for a while either. I have to many things to sort out and I don't need them butting into my personal life."
"I know that feeling." She said as she began to stare blankly at the drink placed in front of her by the bartender. A mischievous grin slowly spread across her face as she looked up at him with the glass in her hand. "You know, we should celebrate you coming home."
"I don't want a party or anything, Artemis." He said with a dull expression on his face.
"Then how about just me and you celebrate by drowning our sorrows away?" She said. Conner sat there for a second thinking about the offer, why not? He certainly had enough sorrows to drown.
"Alright lets do it!" He said with a light grin. "Bartender! Get me a bottle of your strongest alcohol and another drink for my old friend here."
"Be right up." Said the old man quickly following out the order he had just received. He placed a large bottle of Bacardi 151 and refilled Artemis's glass. The two grabbed there there drinks and raised the high into the air.
"Here is to old friends..." Artemis began.
"...And to fallen comrades." Conner finished as they clanged their glasses together. Artemis downed her glass slamming it back down on the counter, releasing a sigh of satisfaction. Looking up she became shocked as she watched as Conner continue to chug down the whole bottle of vodka til it was empty.
"Holy shit, boy." Don't forget to breath." Said the bartender as he placed Conner's order of food on the counter. "If you keep drinking like that I'll have to cut you off."
Conner smirked slightly as he grabbed a fry of his plate. "Sorry about that, it's just really hard for me to get drunk. So what do you say, can I get another bottle?"
"Only if you promise to tone it down." The bartender said grabbing another bottle down off the shelf behind him.
"I promise." Conner said as he began to eat his meal. When he finished the two began their personal celebration, drinking deep into the night. About three the bartender yelled 'last call' to prepare to shut down the bar. By this point Conner had a good buzz and Artemis was having trouble standing, let alone walking. He secured his duffle bag on his back then helped her to her feet. Stumbling she quickly wrapped her arm over his shoulder, leaning on him for support.
"Got a bit more wasted than I thought I would." Artemis said looking up at the man holding her up, her face glowing a deep shade of red. "So what do you say soldier boy? Care to walk a beautiful women home?"
"Be my pleasure." He said, a slight blush spreading across his face, making his way to the front door. As they stepped out into the night a cool breeze hit them, slightly sobering them up. "Alright, which way?" Artemis raised her head and scanned her surroundings, with her free arm she pointed down the street to their left.
"Five blocks that way, then turn right for another three and it is the apartments on the right. Room thirty-three." Artemis said with a slight slur of her words. He followed her directions and they quickly made it to a small, three story apartment building, painted a light shade of blue.
"This the place?" Conner said bringing Artemis's attention to the building they stood in front of.
"Yep that's it, my place is on the third floor. Watch your step tho, some of the stairs are broken."
"Not a problem." He said as he scooped her up to hold her bridal style. Shocked she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, just in time for him to leap from the ground. Expertly landing on the third floor, he slowly began to set her down but her grip only tightened. "You can let go now." He said in a soothing voice.
"Geez, warn a girl before you go around leaping buildings." She said looking up at him, gazing into his deep blue eyes as they took on a guilty expression. Her feet slowly made their way to the ground as her arms slide down from around his neck to gently rest on his chest. She never lost eye contact but she could feel the hardened muscles underneath his light shirt and coat.
"Sorry Artemis. I didn't mean to scare you." He responded in an embarrassed tone, bringing her back to reality. Her face turning into deeper shade of red than the alcohol had already made it.
"You didn't scare me. You just, surprised me that's all." She said as she looked away from him to hide her face. "Come on lets go inside, it's cold out here."
Conner had landed directly in front of her door. They stood there for a few minutes in the cold as Artemis fumbled with the keys, refusing to let him help til she finally dropped them and he was able to retrieve them before her. He quickly unlocked the door and let her step inside.
"Well, I'll see you around then." Conner said turning to leave, but a small hand grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?" Artemis said a little concerned. "Do you even have a place to stay?"
"I was just going to stay at one of the local motels for a few days, or at least until I can get a place of my own."
"Screw that, you can stay here." She said tugging him to come inside. He tried to argue but she wouldn't take no for an answer. He entered her small home to be greeted by a wall of warm air. The apartment consisted of a large room that functioned as a kitchen, dining room, and living room combination. At the opposite end of the room were two doors both slightly cocked open, revealing a small bathroom and a bedroom.
"Nice place you got here." He said as he dropped his duffle bag in a corner next to the door.
"Thanks." She smiled, lazily kicking off her shoes onto a rubber mat up against the wall. "I just had the carpets cleaned so be sure to take off your boots."
"Yea not a problem." Quickly undoing his laces he placed his tan combat boots next to her shoes.
"I don't have a spare bed, but you can crash on the couch. I'll go get you a blanket and pillow." She turned to go her room, but due to the fact she was still extremely drunk, she tripped over her own feet. She closed her eyes and braced for impact with the floor, but it never came. She opened her eyes to see that Conner had quickly moved up and wrapped his arm around her waist preventing her from falling. Their faces only inches apart, she could feel her face beginning to heat up.
"Tell you what. How about we put you to bed, and I'll find the blanket and pillow myself?" Conner said calmly as he helped her back to her feet. Reluctantly she agreed to his proposal and let him carry her to her room. She relished the feeling of her body pressed up against his as he carried her, it had been so long since she felt the embrace of man. His scent filling her nose as she held onto him for support, a musky smell but a pleasant one. She was saddened a little as they made it to her bedroom door, knowing that soon they would part.
He made it to the foot of her bed and put her down, a small lamp on her night stand was the only source of light in the room. She quickly unbuckled her belt letting her pants drop down to the floor revealing a pair of silky white legs. She kicked the jeans away and turned around to see Conner staring at her, face a deep shade of red.
"Night," Conner said quickly as he turned towards the door. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Conner wait!" Artemis said before he could take a step towards the door. He turned back to see what she needed, but was taken by surprise as two arms wrapped themselves around his neck. She pulled herself up his large frame and firmly planted her lips on his, trying to kiss him as passionately as she could. His eyes widened as he took a step backwards, hitting his leg on the base of her bed. Off balanced he fell back onto the soft mattress with Artemis trying her best not to let the kiss break.
He laid there shocked for a second as she continued to kiss him before felling a warm liquid fall onto his cheeks. He looked down slightly at Artemis's closed eyes, tears had began to flow out. She broke the kiss and slowly lifted herself up off the soldier.
"I'm sorry, Conner. I..." She began but was quickly cut off as he reached up, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back down into a hug. Tears began to stream out of her eyes now as she tightened herself into his embrace.
"It's OK, let it all out." Conner said as comforting as he could. "Everything will be alright." He laid there with her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair trying to comfort her, as she continued to drench his shirt with tears. After ten minutes he slowly began to sit up. Artemis released her grip and looked up at him, her eyes and cheeks stained red from all the crying.
"Where are you going?" She asked, her face full of fear and depression, tears continuing to fall.
"Don't worry." Conner smiled, trying to give her reassurance. He took off his old duster and drenched t-shirt, tossing them off the side of the bed. Then lifted her up and slide them higher on the bed so their heads rested on her pillows. He pulled her back up against him. "I'm not going anywhere."
He laid awake for another hour as she let out all her pent up sadness, until she slowly fell into a soft sleep. He waited until he was sure she was asleep then turned over to turn the lamp off. Before he pulled the switch a small heart shaped picture frame caught his eye, the picture inside was of Wally with a shocked look on his face as Artemis kissed his cheek.
"We miss you, buddy." Conner said, a slight pain in his throat. He quickly turned off the light and rolled back over, pulling a blanket over the sleeping blonde and himself.
A/N: Please leave a review, comment, or even ideas. I'm still up for suggestions of couples. If anything confused anyone feel free to ask questions. And just a little background. When I first started watching young justice I thought the whole Conner and Megan thing was... for lack of a better word, cute. However, when Artemis was introduced I thought that her and Conner would have made a better couple. There attitudes just seemed to fit together better to me than Miss Martian and Super Boy. Then the love interest between Artemis and Kid Flash began to form and that quickly became, in my opinion, the strongest relationship in the show. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and watch out for chapter five and other stories I am writing.