A/N: So, depending on how you look at it, this is sort of the start of the season 2 plot. (Chronologically, the story is still a year from the start of the Season 2 events in-universe.) Anyways, enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!
[September 2014]
The silence and stillness of the early morning lulled Connor into a trance. Everything from the cushion he was sitting on to the early morning sunlight on his skin melted away. There was nothing but his breathing. The stress of life was gone for several minutes and he didn't have to worry about a single thing. Until Mia's alarm went off. The high-pitched beeping was his cue to end his morning meditation, so he sighed quietly and stood. From the top bunk, Mia moaned and rolled over as he went over to his dresser and hit the button on the top of the clock. He grabbed his school clothes from his dresser, then slipped out of their bedroom. The quiet sounds of Roy making breakfast carried from the kitchen as Connor went into the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Mia groaned again as she hauled herself out of bed and stretched. She rubbed her tired eyes and yawned. 'Stupid nightmare,' she thought irritably as she grabbed her school clothes. 'Why does school have to start so early?' As much as she was enjoying school, it'd be nice to sleep in a little. 'Oh well, can't complain or Roy will try to stop me from becoming a vigilante.' So, she just grumbled silently to herself and sat in the hall outside the bathroom. Thankfully, she only had to wait a few minutes before Connor emerged and she could shower.
Connor went back to the bedroom and ran a hairbrush through his hair quickly before he grabbed his backpack. A quick check told him his homework and school issue laptop were in there, then he went to the kitchen. As he walked through the living room, he saw that Jade was already awake. She caught Connor's eye as he walked past, but he looked away quickly.
"Morning, Connor," Roy said as he set a plate of scrambled eggs in front him.
"Morning," Connor replied as he got a glass of milk before sitting down. "Is she… Is Jade any better?"
Roy hesitated for a second. "The swelling has gone down a bit, but the infection isn't gone yet." It had been a week since he'd discovered the infection that had set upon Jade's stab wounds. As much as Roy had blamed himself for not cleaning the wounds properly, Jade had blamed the filthy knives of her attackers and her own attempts to stem the bleeding with her hands. Either way, it had extended her healing time.
"Oh…"
"Jade's not going to hurt you, Connor. I-"
"I know, you promised she wouldn't hurt me or Mia. But she's a murderer, Roy. She's killed people before and that's… It scares me."
"That doesn't make her a bad person, Connor." Roy picked up Jade's breakfast and brought it into the living room. "Here." He set the plate down on the coffee table with some orange juice and a few pills.
"Thanks," Jade replied. She sat cross-legged on the couch, leaning heavily on the back and trying to ignore the pain stabbing at her abdomen.
"You know…you don't have to eat out here by yourself."
"I'd prefer it. Besides, I'd probably just make your kiddies so nervous they wouldn't eat anything." Jade nodded her head toward the kitchen. "Go on, hero."
Roy nodded, then stood and went back to the kitchen. When he walked in Mia was already there, showered and eating her breakfast. "Morning, Mia."
"Morning," Mia mumbled.
"Do you guys want me to drop you off at school, or-"
"We can walk, right, Connor?"
"Yeah, we can walk," Connor agreed.
"Ok. Just be careful," Roy told them. It was encouraging to him that the two teens were close enough that they liked doing something as mundane as walking to school together. 'Even if is mundane, it's good for them to enjoy these kinds of things. It gives them some bonding time.'
"Did you know they have an archery team at school?" Mia asked.
"I did and no, you two can't join it.'
"Why not?! You wanted us to think about doing some extracurricular activities and we could literally be the best…besides this 6th grader, I heard about, apparently, she's the best shot on the middle school team."
"Answer's still no, Mia."
"Lame."
Mia and Connor finished their breakfasts, then disappeared to the bathroom to brush their teeth. While they were doing that, Roy did the dishes, then checked on Jade. "Will you be ok by yourself?" he asked her.
"Always am," Jade replied. "Not much else to do besides sleep off the infection and read." She nodded at the book he gave her to occupy herself with.
"Ok. I'll come check on you again around lunchtime and give you some more pills."
"See you then, I guess." Jade laid down on the couch and tried to relax.
Roy watched her for a moment before he got his things together to leave. By the time he had his bag and keys, Connor and Mia were at the. "Did you grab lunch money?" he asked.
"Yeah!" both teens answered.
"Ok. Be careful. Come to the Cave right after school."
"We will," Connor said as they left. "Bye!"
"Later, Roy!" Mia called. The two were soon walking down the street to their school. "Do you ever think about how weird it is we have to wear the same clothes to school?"
"Its a uniform, Mia. All the kids have to wear them."
"I know, but it's still weird. Like we're in some kind of…educational army."
Connor snorted. "Sure…" This new school was an improvement over his old one due to the smaller student body. Granted, the middle schoolers here seemed to be just as rambunctious, but at least there was less of them. It was easier to deal with, even if he still only wanted to get in, learn, and get out.
"We're eating lunch together again?"
"If you want to."
"Good." They walked in silence for another 20 minutes before they reached the school and walked through an archway into a large courtyard. To their left was the wing of the building dedicated to the Elementary school students, Grades K through 5. In front of them was the middle school building, grades 6 through 8; and to their right, the high school building, grades 9 through 12. Connor and Mia walked across the busy courtyard where the high school students usually hung out before school started, and went through the middle school building to the yard behind it. It was the length of the building and stretched to the road. It was mostly asphalt, with a third of it covers by grass where a soccer game was being held. Connor sat on the ground, back against the school building, just out of the way of a basketball game. He looked over to the left, where he could see a corner of the elementary school playground. He pulled a book out of his bags and read.
While Connor was sitting and reading, Mia wandered around the yard. It'd been so long since she'd been in school that the first couple of weeks back were still…weird. All these kids, all her own age, were so…different from her. At least she assumed so since she couldn't really tell if any of them had been prostitutes just by looking. A few people she recognized from summer school waved to her and she waved back. 'At least everyone seems to be pretty nice,' she thought. 'And…no one knows my past. I can just be Mia.' It was a weird feeling that she had a clean slate to work with. 'Can't get too comfortable though. I still have to stay vigilant. In case things go bad.' Her gaze wandered over to Connor, who was still reading.
A girl in their shared history class approached him and tapped his shoulder. The two appeared to talk for a minute before she gestured at the yard, most likely asking Connor to come do something with her. Connor just shook his head though. The girl said something else, probably trying to convince him, but he still shook his head, so the girl walked off. Mia frowned as Connor went back to his book. 'He could've at least gone with her,' she thought as she kept walking. 'What's her name…Hannah. She's a nice girl and seems pretty smart.' A small smile crept up Mia's face. 'I wonder if Connor likes her? Maybe that's why he didn't want to go with her.' It was definitely something to talk about at lunch. The bell rang and she followed everyone toward the doors into the building.
— —
The morning was relatively slow for Roy's private detective business. He didn't get any new clients but spent the morning going over his cases, figuring out what he'd established so far. 'I can probably spend the afternoon in the city running down some of these leads.' A potentially cheating husband and a runaway teenage girl were at the top of his list. He was neck-deep in evidence when his phone went off.
Kaldur: Can I come see you this afternoon?
Roy: Sure, we can have lunch if you want
Kaldur: No, it is ok. I do not want to distract you from your work. It will be quick
Roy: Is everything ok?
Kaldur: I am physically well, my love. There has been…a development I wish to inform you of
Roy: …ok. Meet me at my office at 1 pm.
Kaldur: Until then
As he looked over the quick exchange, Roy's stomach flip-flopped a little. 'What does Kal need to talk about?' he wondered as he picked up a file. 'Maybe there's some kind of problem with the Team. Or Dick and Barbara…' The second thought made his chest clench a little. Worry that something could be wrong with his siblings plagued Roy as he tried to go back to work. 'It might not be Barbara,' he thought as he re-read his missing person's case, not comprehending anything he was reading. 'We don't talk all the time, but I've been on a better basis with her for the past 18 months compared to Dick.' Granted, it'd been a few months since he'd last spoken to her because of how busy he'd been with Mia and Connor. 'But if something drastic happened, she'd tell me.' Which left Dick.
The idea that anything could've happened to his younger brother, no matter the distance between them for the last year, terrified Roy. Eventually, he had to sigh and throw his file onto the desk. 'I need to calm down,' he thought, rubbing the heel of his palms into his eyes. 'I need to calm down. If something was seriously wrong- If Dick was seriously inured or- Kal wouldn't be so calm. I mean…he sounds a little freaked, but he would be a lot more concerned if something was really wrong.' He closed his eyes and started counting in his head as he breathed. Inhale—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Hold—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Exhale—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Roy repeated this until his heart rate was slower and the jumpy feeling under his skin was slower. Some of the anxiety persisted, but it was manageable enough he was able to take an inventory of the evidence for his cases and figure out what he was doing when he headed into the city that afternoon.
By the time it was noon, Roy's worry was simmering and he went home to make lunch for himself and Jade. Since she'd come to stay with him a couple weeks prior, Roy had made a habit of going back to his apartment to eat lunch so he could check on her. When he walked in, Jade was in the same place where he'd left her, laying on the couch, reading a book. "Having fun?" Roy asked.
"I think this is the longest I've ever spent laying anywhere," Jade replied, a hint of anyone in her voice.
"You've never been injured like this before?"
"Not like this. God, I must be getting sloppy."
Roy gave her a small smile as he passed into the kitchen. "Maybe you just had a bad night."
"I don't have bad nights."
"Guess you do now."
"Don't think I can't get you from this couch, hero!"
Roy laughed as he walked into the kitchen and fixed lunch for both of them. Once he had sandwiches and chips on tow plates, the grabbed the pills Jade would need, and balanced everything between his hands and arms. "Here," he said as he set the plates and cups down, then handed her the pills. "Looks like I finally found the medicine to fight this infection."
"You're quite the pharmacist to get a hold of these kinds of antibiotics."
"Don't use that tone. I know a physician in Gotham who got these for me."
"Mhm… You can tell me the truth, hero. I won't give up your secrets."
"Why don't you eat your lunch?"
Jade smiled and placed her plate in front of her on the couch. She took a few bites, then picked up the book she'd been reading. "You know…I've secretly always wanted to read these."
Roy glanced up and smiled when he saw the Harry Potter book in her hand. "Why didn't you?"
"There isn't much time for free reading when your income depends on the number of people you can kill in a week. Besides, I only have like…an 8th or 9th-grade education, so I just kind of figured books aren't my thing."
"Books can be everyone's thing. Reading was how I stayed sane once I was in Gotham and forced to stay hidden from Green Arrow all the time."
"Well, if there's one good thing about this…fiasco, I can enjoy some simple pleasures in life."
"When you finish the books, I'll show you the movies."
"How do you know I'll finish them all?"
Roy nodded his head at the book. "You've made it through the first two and a half in 9 days. You'll make it through the rest no problem."
"If this was what Batman placated you with, I can see why you're so in love with this idea of a normal life."
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"I think it's cute. You're like a puppy chasing his tail."
Roy frowned. "…I'm not sure if I should be offended by that."
Jade shrugged. "I couldn't care less if you're offended."
"Good to know." They lapsed into silence for the rest of their lunch. Despite being from opposite ends of the justice spectrum, after several days of eating together, the two sat in companionable silence. When Roy finished, the took their dishes and put them in the kitchen. "Will you be ok for the rest of the day?"
"I'm more than capable, hero."
"Right. See you tonight." Roy left, glancing back to see Jade was once again laying down as he left. Excitement pooled in his stomach a bit as he walked back to his office. 'Ka's going to be here soon. I haven't seen him in…a couple weeks. He had those missions with Aquaman and I've had teenagers and assassins dividing my attention.' Even if it seemed like his boyfriend had something important to talk to him about, just the prospect of seeing him after being apart for so long excited Roy. 'I can't wait to see him.' He didn't have to wait long, because as soon as he walked in, someone knocked on the back door. Roy grinned inexplicably and practically ran to the back room. He opened the door and took a moment to survey Kaldur. "You look tired."
"Good to see you too," Kaldur replied, trying hard to smile. Too hard. Roy could see it was forced and tried to clamp down on the rising anxiety inside himself.
"What's going on?" Roy asked as Kaldur walked in and he closed the door.
Kaldur glanced around, almost suspiciously. "Is it safe to talk here?"
"It is, but if this conversation is…sensitive, we can go somewhere more private."
"I'd appreciate that."
"Ok." Roy went over to the entrance to the Arrow Cave and opened it. The two descended the stairs and when Roy turned around to look was Kaldur. 'What's going on?"
"You know I have spent the last month on missions with Aquaman. We were attempting to dismally Black Manta's forces. It was a success but…"
"But…"
Kaldur sighed quietly and hung his head a little. "On our last mission…I was captured by Black Manta's forces."
"What?! You were captured?!" Worry and frustration that he was just now hearing this flooded Roy. He put a hand on Kaldur's arm, eyes searching him for injury. "Are you-"
"I am fine. They did not hurt me…a lot. I was a little roughed up, but not severely injured. The men brought me to Black Manta."
"What did he want?"
Kaldur swallowed. "He just started talking— monologuing— telling me how ridiculous it was that followed my king. How I was a fool and brainwashed. I told him I was not brainwashed for following my king and protecting my home and family. That was when he told me that while I protected my family, I was betraying them as well. When I asked what he meant, he claimed that fighting with Aquaman made me a traitor to my human blood. I- I feared that he knew who my parents were. And I was right."
"Black Manta knows your family?!"
"I wish it were that simple." Kaldur looked at the ground for a long moment, then looked back at Roy. "Black Manta told me…"
"Kal, whatever it is, you can tell me."
"…Black Manta is my father."
"W- What? But… I thought your dad's name was Calvin?"
Kaldur shook his head sadly. "According to Manta, Calvin was one of his men who was meant to infiltrate Atlantis with the help of my mother— Black Manta's lover."
Roy stared at him open-mouthed for a few seconds. "But… Black Manta is lying, right? Why would you believe anything he says?!"
"I did not at first. I believed it was a lie meant to make me doubt my king and parents. But…when Aquaman showed up to rescue me, Manta told him to be honest about who my father was and to stop lying as a way to control me. I expected my king to deny that he would do anything of the sort…but he said nothing. For a few seconds, he even looked…guilty. Like he had been caught doing something wrong. Black Manta got away, but Aquaman was more concerned with helping me. I asked him why he did not deny Black Manta's claims he simply said we should return home. I was concerned he would not tell me the truth, so I confronted him and demanded he be honest. That was when he told me that it would not be right for him to tell me and that I should talk to my parents."
"…And?"
Kaldur's face fell even more. "When I confronted them…my parents confessed to having lied to me. Clavin Durham is not, and has never been my father. Black Manta is."
"Oh my God… What did you say?!"
"I- I did not say much. I asked if Annex Orin knew and my mother said they informed him when I became Aqualad."
"So your parents and Aquaman-"
"Have lied to me for years. Yes."
"Oh my God…" There didn't feel like a more appropriate phrase. "What happened after that?"
"I swam off. I left Shayeris and got to the surface as soon as possible."
"You ran away?"
"I had to! I'm so… Roy, my parents lied to me for my whole life about who I am! My entire partnership with Aquaman has been tainted by this lie they fed me! My parents never even told me they had ever worked for Black Manta! My enemy was more honest with me than my own family and mentor!"
'Yeah…I can see why that might be freaking him out.' Roy slid his hand down to entangle his fingers with Kaldur's. "What're you going to do now?"
Kaldur sighed heavily. "I do not know. I have spoken to Aquaman briefly over the comm and requested a reprieve from my duties."
"You're quitting being Aqualad?"
"For a short time. I am also stepping back from the Team. Nightwing is taking over as leader."
"For how long?"
"I do not know. I just… I need some time and space to think. To figure this out on my own."
A question burned at Roy's mind, but the idea of asking it sent cold fear down his body. He knew he had to ask though. There was no way around it. "What about us?"
"I am afraid I will not be around as much. I really just need space to think. It does not mean I do not love you, Roy, because I do. You are my world and-"
Roy silenced him by stepping forward and kissing him on the lips. The two stood there for a few seconds, kissing, before Roy slowly pulled away. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere. Take as much time as you need. I'll still be here when you get back."
Kaldur smiled and cupped the side of Roy's face gently with his hand. "How am I so lucky to have someone as wonderful as you, my love?"
"I promise, it's nothing more than you deserve." They kissed again, this time more passionately and longer before they broke apart again. "Can you promise me something?"
"Anything."
"Promise me that if you need help, if you get in over your head or just need someone, swear that you will come back to Star or contact me."
"Of course I will. There is no one I would rather contact."
"Good." They kissed again and Roy inhaled deeply through his nose; trying to commit the saltwater smell of Kaldur's skin to memory. When they pulled apart, they spent a few seconds in silence with their foreheads touching.
"I should go."
"Ok." Something in Roy's chest ached at letting Kaldur leave, not knowing when they would see or talk to each other again, but he knew he had to. His boyfriend's whole world had suffered a seismic shift. For someone as dedicated to protecting his home and serving Aquaman as Kaldur was, Roy knew this was nothing short of a full betrayal in his eyes. 'Kal needs some time to figure things out. And if I love him, then I can't deny him that.' So, as hard as it was, he nodded and stepped back, leaving his fingers still gently entwined with Kaldur's. "Promise you'll come back?"
"I promise. I will be here for you; always."
— —
Lunchtime at Star City Charter Academy Middle School was a little chaotic. There was only one cafeteria for the entire school, so all three middle school grades shared one lunch period. As such, there was a certain…controlled chaos to all of it. For Mia, it was kind of exciting. Middle school was an experience. She sat in a chair in the corner of the room with her lunch and waited for Connor. He showed up about 5 minutes later, looking at a lot less excited about this than Mia did. "Having a good day?" she asked.
Connor shrugged. "Same as ever I guess.," he replied as he put his chicken nuggets on Mia's tray and took the pears, green beans, and half her mashed potatoes. "We have a project on world religions for social studies."
"Do we? Ugh! I don't know anything about religion. What're you doing it on?"
"Buddhism. Duh."
"Oh, right. Guess I'll do that too." Mia watched him for a few seconds as he ate. "Why'd you blow off that girl before first bell?"
"You mean Alyssa? She wanted to go over our Algebra notes together before the quiz today."
"And you said no?"
"I said I didn't want to."
"Why?"
Connor frowned. "Why what?"
'Why didn't you want to?"
"Because I just didn't. What're you, practicing interrogation techniques or something?"
Mia rolled her eyes and played with a chicken nugget. "You're so weird-"
"Hey, Mia," a blonde girl said as she approached their table with a tray.
"Oh, hey, Cissie."
"Can I join you guys?"
"Sure." Mia pointed her chicken nugget at Cassie as sat down next to Connor. "Cissie, Connor. Connor, Cissie. She's in my math and English classes."
"Nice to meet you," Connor said.
"You too. Are you guys siblings or something?"
Mia grinned mischievously. "Twins."
Connor almost snorted out his milk. "Mia!" He looked at Cissie. "We're not twins. We're foster siblings."
"Sure you are," Cissie replied. Connor sighed and put his head down while the girls high-fived. "Mia, are you doing anything during the free period?"
"Not really, why?" Mia asked.
"Can you help me with the writing assignment? My dad was working all night."
"Sure! It's actually not that hard."
"What about me?" Connor asked.
"You're not in our English class."
"No, I mean…we usually hang out during free period."
"You'll be fine, go hang out with your friends or something."
"…Fine." Connor looked down and quietly finished his lunch. When they were done, Mia and Cissie left for the library, leaving Connor alone to sit outside. The schoolyard was filled with students running around, so he sat by the wall again. 'Friends,' he scoffed. 'I don't need friends. School is just a chore I have to get through. No one can make me enjoy it.' At least the day was halfway over. Then he had a patrol to look forward to that night. A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Another boy with black hair was drawing with chalk on the tar. He was so focused on it that he didn't even notice Connor watching. Only when he reached for another color a minute later did he notice the staring. He looked up and Connor caught a glimpse of his bright green eyes before he looked away. There was a moment of awkward silence before the boy went back to his chalk drawing.
A weird…fluttery feeling tingled in Connor's chest and stomach. He pulled his legs to his chest and put his head down on his knees. 'I don't need friends,' he thought. 'I don't need them. I'm fine. I'm doing fine.'
