CHAPTER 40

GRAYSON RESIDENCE

Dick pulled a shirt on right before fixing his hair in the mirror. He rubbed Brucely's head the dog enthusiastically licked his palm.

"Oh come on" Dick wiped his hand on his pants, he entered the living room where Wally was packing his backpack.

"Hey babe I have to get to class dinner at my place tonight?" Wally smiled putting the bag on.

"Yeah did you get your essay done?" Dick asked a mischievous smirk on his face.

"Barely you know what you did" Wally playfully shoved his partner. Wally remembered Dick's suggestive wardrobe last night and his special set

" You're lucky I can speed type or else you'd be in trouble" Wally wrapped his arms around Dick's waist.

"Than punish me, make sure I don't do it again" Dick wraps his arms around Wally's neck laying his forehead on Wally's.

"Naughty boy you're trying to make me late" Wally pecked Dick's lips smiling at him.

"I'll see you tonight" He sped off out of Bludhaven and towards California.

JONES RESIDENCE

M'gann was asleep soundly on the couch, Conner stared down at her remembering last night.

FLASHBACK 5 NIGHTS AGO

"We need to talk" Conner entered the apartment, M'gann closed the door she stared at the ground trying to avoid eye contact.

"What happened? Zatanna and Billy were down Mal and Karen could have been killed by Despero and you could have stopped it does this have anything to do with your mental showdown with Kaldur?" Conner asked causing M'gann to flinch.

"M'gann whatever happened Kaldur killed Artemis it's done he's not worth another thought" Conner clenched his fist remembering Artemis's body lying there on the beach blood staining her uniform.

"He didn't kill her" She choked out trying to hold back sobs.

"What?" Conner raised an eyebrow.

"I thought he killed her so I attacked his mind I gave it everything I had I tore it apart and I saw he didn't kill Artemis, he didn't betray the team he is working undercover to infiltrate the light Artemis is alive in disguise as Tigress and only Dick and Wally know ...well now so do we" Conner grinded his teeth trying to process the information. He hasn't felt this level of rage in such a long time his family were keeping secrets. Devastating secrets from him and M'gann Kaldur the man he idolized the man he ended up loathing was actually helping from the shadows. Tigress that girl he flung into the ceiling of the Reach ship was Artemis. The whole time Nightwing and Kid Flash knew and said nothing.

"Even if he didn't want to tell the others they didn't tell us? We are part of the original team" Conner half screamed.

"You were right I have been abusing my telepathy this is my fault I didn't think about the consequences Conner I am so sorry for trying to tamper with your thoughts" M'gann walked over to him hugging him tightly. He hesitantly hugged her back. They stayed like this for a few moments her amber eyes meeting his blue ones. She leaned up kissing him softly, his eyes widened he pulled back shaking his head.

"You should get some rest M'gann I'll take the floor" Conner exited the room.

"Right" She sighed.

FLASHBACK OVER

Conner heard his phone beep he pulled it out of his pocket.

"Good morning how was your night?" Conner sighed reading that text.

"Stressful hey when you're free I need to talk to you about something" Conner typed back quickly.

"Sounds like a break up talk you sick of me already?" Conner scoffed at that message.

"Never, just please" Conner typed desperately.

"Yeah of course I'll see you at HQ" Tim responded to the text.

IVY TOWN

Jaime pulled his pants on eyes never leaving the ground. Atom and Bumblebee delivers the horrible news the scarab will never leave my back as long as I'm alive.

The door opened, Bart peeked in averting his gaze as he saw Jaime's shirtless form.

"Sorry I was um just coming to check on you" He closed the door behind him.

"Bart I don't know what to do if this thing stays I become a monster but if I get rid of it I die how is that fair" Jaime pulled on his hoodie plopping down in a chair.

"That's why I'm here to make sure you don't turn into a monster Jaime as long as I'm around nothing will" Bart started

"STOP!" Bart gasped his eyes wide he had never heard Jaime yell with such anger.

"You don't know that, Bart the Reach already captured me yeah you saved me but you can't protect me forever how do you know I won't become the Blue Beetle that enslaves humanity" Jaime growled out looking away. Bart sighed taking a few cautious steps towards Jaime.

"Don't" Jaime warned as Bart touched his shoulder.

"Well if you do than what would suck" Bart tried to joke.

"Glad you think this is funny" Jaime shoved Bart's arm off his shoulder.

"Oh lighten up will you I actually lived through all of it" Bart glared.

"Than why are you still talking to me? Why are you around me? Why!?" Jaime yelled at Bart, the young teen sped up to Jaime forcing his lips onto the hispanic boys. Jaime's eyes widened at the sudden burst of affection. Bart held Jaime's head in place with his hands on either side of his face.

Bart pulled back a look of pure rage on his face.

"I tried to hate you everything you did everything you will do I want to hate you but then I met you, so don't talk to me about complicated oh I'm going to become a dictator well I'm falling for that dictator and I'm freaking the fuck out" Bart exited the room slamming the door. Jaime stood their touching his lips softly a rush of emotions washed over him.

HEADQUARTERS BLUDHAVEN

"Conner" Robin smiled seeing the boy of steel. Conner smirked grabbing hold of his hand.

"It's been a few days what's up?" Robin asked they walked towards the door of the warehouse.

"I wanted to talk to you before the rest of the team got here because well I don't want to lie to you ever" Conner sighed.

"Your falling for M'gann again?" Tim said in a weak voice.

"What? No of course not but this talk does have something to do with her I needed to talk to her a few nights ago about what happened with Despero she was upset I tried to calm her down and she kissed me" Tim stared at Conner pulling back. His hurt blue eyes hidden behind the white of his mask.

"I see and did you?" Tim waved his hand wanting him to continue.

"I didn't kiss her back but I was shocked I didn't exactly pull away either" Conner kicked himself.

"And the last few days where have you been? Her place?" Robin's eyes widen at the guilt on his face.

"So you and your ex kiss than sleep in the same house while you're texting me a bunch of lovey stuff" Tim clenched his fist.

"I was on the floor I swear" Conner tried to make it better.

"Yeah okay" Robin noticed Beast Boy, Lagoon Boy, Miss Martian and Arsenal started to enter the base.

"Well looks like we have work to do" Robin tried to walk away but Conner grabbed his wrist firmly.

"I know you're mad but can we talk about this please" Superboy pulled Tim's hand towards his mouth kissing it.

"Just stop please" Tim pulled his hand back walking away.

Nightwing entered the cave followed by Impulse and Blue Beetle.

Nightwing turned on the TV which had G Gordon Godfrey talking about the new partnership between Lex Luthor and the Reach.

"Alright team a group of you will be investigating LexCorp Farms since we know what happens in the future thanks to Impulse it's important that we keep an eye on them now more than ever Robin you will lead this mission" Nightwing assigned his successor.

"Blue Beetle you will also be on this mission" Nightwing informed.

"Bad idea what if the scarab takes control?" Jaime asked him worried.

"It has had plenty of chances and hasn't" Jaime rolled his eyes as Khaji da agreed with him.

"If Blue's going I'm going" Impulse said proudly. Blue Beetle's eyes widened noticing hints of tension in Bart's smile.

"I figured as much, Arsenal you're the fourth man but no weapons that can't be hidden under civies" Nightwing instructed him.

"Why are we meeting here? In this run down warehouse Instead of the Watchtower" Roy clenched his fist.

"Watchtower is for League members and Senior members of the team you don't qualify" Dick said snarkily.

"Glad we understand each other" Roy glared at him.

"Alright team get dressed we leave in 10" Robin instructed.

"Are we gonna talk about it?" Jaime asked Bart.

"About what? My crush pfft I kissed you, you didn't like it and that's okay you're honest with yourself it's crash you've got alot on your plate I get it no mode here ya know what I mean big blue? Anyway I should start getting ready for that mission so" Jaime's face plate retracted he leaned down planting his lips onto Bart's.

"You talk too much" Jaimed breathed out as they separated. Bart stood there a smile on his face green eyes lighting up.

"Crash" He giggled to himself.

UPSTAIRS

Conner walks by a room and hear's Tim whispers the word fuck. He opens the door to see him in his boxers.

"YOU COULD KNOCK!" Tim pulled the cape from his costume on the floor to cover himself.

"Woah I'm sorry I was just checking on you" Conner choked out.

"Well you see I'm fine so can you go now?" Tim demanded.

"I always knew you were fine" Conner chuckled.

"OUT!" Tim glared at him.

"Fine I will if you tell me what you're actually feeling" Conner smirks closing the door.

"We are not doing this right now" Tim glared daggers at the half kryptonians head.

"I think we are you know I have no issue staring at you like this all day" Conner crossed his arms.

"Fuck you Kon" Tim dropped the cape before pulling on his shirt and jeans. He pulled on a jacket seeing in the mirror that Conner was watching him.

"Fine, I'm angry that you stayed with her for days without telling me I'm mad that she kissed you and I'm mad that you're acting like it's no big deal. It was stupid to want a relationship with you so experiment over alright? Let's just pretend this never happened" Before he could finish his sentence Tim was slammed against the wall a pair of lips on his neck.

"KON!" He called out surprised by the motion, he couldn't help but let out soft moans at the biting and sucking.

"Stop" He gasped Conner pulled back snarling.

"You are not an experiment I was only trying to be her friend but that's it you're who I want and I hope this proves it" Conner smirked mischievously.

Tim's eyes widen once he sees the red mark on his pale neck quickly turning purple.

"Have a good mission" Superboy exited leaving Tim bewildered.