For this chapter I'm taking/filling a request prompt from Red Valentino which was "What if Saph did have an actual relationship with Jr. before he became a criminal?"

So back when I first read that, which, by date of the request, was July 31st, this is what came to mind with it.

Cameron Mahkent (Icicle Jr.) attends Keystone High School with Wally and Saph. After showing a mutual interest in one another, Saph and Cameron begin dating. However as time goes on Saph learns that Cameron's father is involved with criminal activity. This leads to a complicated confrontation where Saph wants to help his boyfriend, but ultimately may have his heart broken when Cameron thinks he has to leave and follow his father in the life of evil.

Chapter Rating: Soft M/Hard T

Warnings: Angst, and alluding to sexual situations

Notes of importance for this AU

-Saph's parents know of and accept Saph's powers and abilities

-Wally and Saph learned of one another's powers after Wally's stint in the hospital to gain his own.

-Wally and Saph are best friends and after Wally/Robin/Aqualad infiltrated Cadmus and formed the team with Superboy, Saph was officially invited to join them in the line of heroic duty, which he accepted.

-The main events of Season 1 never went down as The Light didn't put their plans into action yet.

-This is basically a condensed version of what I could have done, so if it feels like things jump around fast, then that's most likely the case since I wanted to keep this as a one shot.

Saph POV

As I walked through the doors of Keystone High School I quickly removed my billowing and bright scarf as I left the frigid winter weather of a Central City behind and gladly embraced the heated halls of the school. Beside me was my best friend and partner in 'crime,' Wally West, who was busily texting our other friend, and his girlfriend, Artemis Crock.

"How lame is it that we have to be here on Valentine's Day?" Wally complained, looking up from his phone for the first time since entering the school.

"Well it is a Monday, and therefore still a school day Wally," I said as I led the way over to our lockers, "And despite what we do, I don't think your parents would be happy with you taking the day off just to spend it with Artemis, so buck up."

"You're just jealous that I have someone I want to spend the day with and you don't!" Wally said before sticking out his tongue like the mature teenager he was.

"Oh I have someone I wanted to spend my day with," I said as I popped the lock off my locker to collect my books, "My bed. He was soooo nice and toasty this morning and made me feel juuuuussst right."

"I'm sure Artemis could make me feel juuuuussst right, right about now," Wally said before getting a glazed over look on his face.

"Ew," I said as I deposited my scarf inside my locker before closing it, "Straight people are so weird."

"Oh come on," Wally replied as he snapped out of his daze, "Don't tell me you wouldn't like to have a boyfriend, especially on today of all days."

"Just because I'm not dating anyone on Valentine's Day doesn't mean that I will never date anyone, nor am I incapable of being…..dated," I said as Wally opened his locker and began placing his belongings inside and swapping them out for books, "And if I haven't wanted a boyfriend as recently as yesterday, why should today change how I feel?"

"I guess all of that is true, buuuuuttt…." Wally drawled on before stopping as he pulled a half eaten granola bar out of his locker and gave it a few sniffs before proceeding to chuck the rest of it in his mouth.

"How long has that thing been in there?" I said, trying not to gag, "And what do you mean by that? Do you know something I don't? Never mind, I already know the answer, it's no."

"Will you shut up? It still tastes fine to me" Wally responded, mouth full of granola, "And for your information, it just so happens that I overheard a little birdie talking the other day about asking you out today!"

"What?" I responded, immediately rising from my position leant against the lockers, "You're kidding? Who the hell is dumb enough to try and pull a stunt like that today, of all days, and with me no less?!"

"Cameron Mahkent," Wally said cockily as he flung his locker shut.

"What?!" I asked, my heart suddenly skipping a beat.

"Oh ho, ho, look who suddenly seems interested! But yup! I heard him talking about it with some friends in class just last Friday," Wally said, grinning smugly at me with his arms crossed, "And speak of the devil, here he comes now."

I spun around to follow Wally's line of sight and immediately spotted a nervous looking Cameron walking his way towards Wally and me. With my heart now fluttering much quicker than normal, I turned around to give Wally a look of distress and help, but found that my best slash traitor of a friend was already walking away, phone back out as he whistled a tune.

I was about to run and flee right after the redhead when a call of my name had me cemented in place before I could even take two steps. "Hey Saph!"

Trying not to crack or fumble under pressure, I put my best, but still probably nervous, smile on my face before turning around to find Cameron standing right in front of me, "Hi Cameron," I said, hoping my voice didn't waver, "How are you this morning?"

Where did I start with Cameron Mahkent? Cameron was probably, in all honesty, the nicest, sweetest, somewhat goofy, and most genuine guy in all of Keystone High School. He wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, in fact he probably struggled to make it in the box, but for what he lacked in brains he made up with in just absolute serene positivity and kindness. Ask anyone around here and most students wouldn't have a single bad thing to say about Cameron. There were those exceptions though who liked to tease him for being held back a grade when he was younger, making him a year older than the rest of our grade level, but even when those mean enough to voice those comments, did as such, there were twice as many people around them ready to let them have it right back. Aside from being a ray of sunshine and happiness personified, Cameron was also quite the handsome boy if I was being honest. His hair always seemed to be perfectly shaped, his eyes the brightest and most beautiful shade of blue I had ever seen besides my own, and to top it off, had a smile that could light up the darkest of rooms.

I didn't know what it was, but something about me must have drawn Cameron's attention, because from the first time I met him all the way back in middle school, whenever I wasn't with Wally, Cameron just gravitated all around me. I hadn't been the most popular kid in school when I was younger, but when Cameron was around me for a long enough period of time he seemed to have an effect on the way people saw me and over time my circle of friends expanded from just him and Wally. In return for such unexpected kindness and friendship I was always the first one to help Cameron in class with assignments or the first to help tutor him to make sure he passed his tests with marks I knew he was capable of receiving.

Most importantly however, I may or may not have developed a crush on dear Cameron at the beginning of Freshmen Year, a fact that only Wally, who I told in the strictest of confidences, and I knew. So now, knowing that Cameron may be standing in front of me, asking me to be his Valentine or whatever, (which, ugh, how fucking corny, being asked out on Valentine's Day?) made my heart skip every other beat.

"I'm good," Cameron said with a nervous smile, snapping me out of my trip down memory lane, "Well, maybe, I guess that depends on what I have to ask you….and what you say."

"Um, okay?" I responded, not sure what else to say, while also half tempted to look all around me to look for people filming the exchange in secret in case this was an elaborate prank or something.

"Well you see….we've been friends for a while dude…..and I was wondering if maybe, you know, I mean…..would you…..you see…..I…would you like….maybe…..wanna be…..my valentine?" Cameron finally asked after pausing and stuttering through his words.

I couldn't help but sputter out a laugh at the poor boy's nerves which I immediately regretted as a heavy blush spread across his complexion while his shaky smile turned into a sad frown. "Cameron," I began, "I…..I wasn't expecting this."

"I totally get if you don't feel the same way dude!" Cameron quickly said, "I just thought…..I thought I'd at least ask….cause you know…..I've sorta liked you from the moment I met you."

I couldn't help but secretly swoon on the inside and practically keel over at how cute Cameron was being right now, but kept it together so that I could let Cameron know the truth. "Only sorta like me?" I asked, egging him on, "I don't know Cam, should I really be someone's valentine when they only 'sorta' like me?"

"I didn't mean that!" Cameron quickly cried placing a hand on my shoulder, "I like you like you, not just sorta! I like you a lot actually."

"Oh," I said, trailing my fingers across the hand on my shoulder, "I guess it's a good thing that I like you too then."

"You….you do?" Cameron asked, all of his nerves melting away in favor of that bright, booming smile of his, "So you'll be-"

I silenced Cameron's question and promptly answered it by leaning up and forward to place a kiss on his lips. To say he was shocked would be an understatement given how for the first ten seconds he failed to respond, but thankfully after that he returned the kiss with vigor and moved both of his hands to my hips, pulling me against him as he deepened the kiss.

"Alright, alright, break it up, break it up!" Wally announced as he reemerged from who knows where, "If I'm not making out with my girlfriend right now then you're not making out with your boyfriend Saph!"

"But Wally," I mocked as I broke apart from Cameron, "It's Valentine's Day!"

Wally merely grumbled in response before once again walking off and disappearing to wherever he had gone before.

"He called me your boyfriend," Cameron said, as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me, "Am I?"

"I guess we'll have to wait and find out."

Following the completely cheesy, ridiculous, stupid, and yet, still romantic first kiss between Cameron and me on Valentine's Day, things between the two of us definitely took off.

To say that I was on cloud nine in the weeks following the start of my relationship with Cameron would be perfectly apt because now that I was actually with the boy I had been crushing on for over a year and a half, life couldn't seem to get any better. It was heavenly being able to walk down the halls of Keystone while my hand was linked with Cameron's, and a stupid kind of fun to try and steal glances at one another during class.

I also learned after a month of dating Cameron that I also really enjoyed making out with him for hours upon hours on my bed, cuddled up together. Despite being a rather sweet and kind boy for the entire time that I knew him, when we were alone Cameron had a surprisingly dominant nature to him that led to him pinning me against the mattress while he laid claim to my mouth over, and over, and over again. Nothing could compare to feeling his mouth on mine while I ran my hands up and down his bare arms courtesy of the tank-tops he always seemed to wear. I didn't think I could ever grow tired of it and lived for the moments afterward where he'd hold me close in his arms while we rested comfortably and peacefully alone in my room.

There were quite a few bright spots about the new relationship and I was so thrilled that even Wally's teasing that came with being my best friend, was easily dealt with because I knew that Cameron felt the same way about me as I did about him.

However the relationship wasn't always just a garden of roses though, with the bright spots also came the dark ones. Throughout the beginning of the relationship as I got closer to Cameron I began to feel like he was keeping secrets or keeping part of himself still closed off. I knew my hunch and feelings were correct because throughout my time knowing him through middle school up until now, I had never really seen Cameron outside of school. Now, obviously I did, because he'd frequently come over to my house after school or go with me into the heart of Central City for food or fun, but before that, when we weren't dating, it was rare to see him outside of just school, and not once did I ever find out where he had lived.

That changed during our final week of Sophomore year though when he shakily told me one afternoon in my bed that he'd like to show me his home. I could tell right away that this was big for him, opening up like this, because Cameron definitely felt like he was hiding something. "I can't wait," I had told him, coming up behind him to soothingly rub my hands up and down his back, "It'll be nice to see, and meet your parents as well.

If Cameron bristled and tensed up at the mention of his parents I didn't pay too much mind; he didn't say anything about them so I figured that if his parents were actually a problem, now was not the time to press on it. Instead I just pulled him back down on the bed with me and held him while softly stroking his hair.

The day to go to Cameron's home finally came and I knew that it definitely was a big deal for him as he quietly led me down through the streets of Central City. We eventually stopped in front of an interesting apartment complex before he started climbing the steps inside. I quickly followed after him and up another two flights of stairs before we finally stopped in front of a door that Cameron quickly unlocked and stepped inside of. Following him in I expected to maybe hear the hustle and bustle of someone inside, but was slightly surprised when I was met with complete silence aside from Cameron's own shuffling.

"Your parents aren't home?" I asked as I took off my shoes and looked around.

Cameron once again tensed up before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the main living room slash kitchen area and back towards what I assumed would be his room. Once inside he turned and shut the door before leading us to his bed.

As I looked at Cameron I could tell he was trying his best to gather his confidence and words so he didn't stumble over himself when speaking. "Saph….the reason you don't see…..the reason I've never let anyone come over here until you is…..I don't….I don't really have parents," Cameron said.

"Cam?" I asked, stunned at the revelation as well as checking to make sure the boy who suddenly went silent was okay.

"I never knew my mom," Cameron said, "And my dad…he's rarely ever around. I mean I see the guy just enough to know that he's still alive and get the money he gives me to pay for food and rent for this place, but…sometimes I'll go weeks without seeing him. I would maybe reach out to other family, because I hate being alone sometimes….but there's no one that I know of."

I said nothing and instead slowly pulled my boyfriend into a hug and started rubbing his back while he rested his chin on my shoulder. "I don't know why I've been so afraid of people finding out," Cameron said, "Maybe because I didn't want them thinking I was super lonely and only being nice to fill some kind of hole left by my parents, but I think I've always just been nice and looking for affection from others because there's none here…..you know dude?"

"I know Cam, I know," I said as I rubbed his back, feeling so incredibly sad and sorry for the boy. It was clear to me now that Cameron did put on the warmest and kindest of faces because of his home life. I could tell that because he received no love here, in the place he was supposed to call home, his own sense of self worth probably took hits all the time and he wanted to be as kind to others as he was so that people probably wouldn't feel as sad as he was. Someone as sweet and kind as him didn't deserve what could probably be crippling levels of loneliness.

"Thank you for being here Saph," Cameron said, "There's no one I'd share this with."

"I feel the same."

Instead of saying anything else Cameron pulled away from his spot resting on my shoulder and looked at me with watery eyes before leaning in for a soft and gentle kiss. From there things progressed and eventually I gave myself to Cameron for the first time, letting him take and use whatever he needed. It had felt so wonderful as he held me down and thrust himself inside of me again and again, and I knew, after that day, our relationship was definitely taken to a new, much more meaningful place.

Following the jump in intimacy in my relationship with Cameron, school ended and summer break was upon us. I was currently enjoying the weeks upon weeks of freedom by spending my night away from Central City, instead, hanging out at Mount Justice with my friends. M'gann had been adamant about us having a sleep over at some point and Robin and Wally had been all for it, producing an army of sleeping bags that had been laid out in front of the cave's giant big screen television while Artemis, Conner and I all worked on producing a giant collection of bowls containing every kind of snack and junk food available. Kaldur had just arrived to join us as M'gann took out several homemade pizzas from the ovens in the kitchen.

"Greetings friends," Kaldur said warmly as he walked over to join us, "I hope I have not missed any of the fun."

"No man, we're just getting started," Wally said as he plopped down onto one of the heavily padded sleeping bags, one arm reaching for a bowl of chips while the other reached for Artemis, who gladly let herself be pulled against Wally's side.

"What do you guys wanna watch?" Robin asked as he produced a giant pile of DVDs, "I brought every genre I could think of."

"The movie will have to wait," Red Tornado said as his voice suddenly sounded throughout the cave, "There is an attack in downtown Central City taking place right now and Flash has requested Kid Flash and Cascade's assistance."

"I get why he's calling for me, even though he could probably handle anyone in Central on his own" Wally called back into the air, "But why Saph?"

"Flash has reported numerous ice users as taking part in the attack and heist," Red Tornado's voice explained, "And Cascade has been deemed useful in apprehending the criminals."

Wally and I shared an interested glance before we were standing from our spots and running off to get changed, "We'll be back in no time," Wally said, "Go ahead and start without us and you'll see our faces again before you know it!"

"If you say so!" Artemis called back with a smile.

Wally and I had quickly changed into our uniforms before taking the Zeta-Tubes back to Central City. From there I had hopped on Wally's back and he sped off to the designated coordinates that had been provided by Red Tornado.

When we arrived we found that the attack slash heist was happening at a bank and that Flash had his hands full, dealing with an entire mafia's worth of goons, doing his best to quickly detain each and every one of them. The problem, it seemed though, was the pounding assault of ice that was coming from inside the bank.

"You help your uncle and I'll start on the ice users," I said as Wally lowered me to the ground.

"Sounds good to me," Wally said with a grin before speeding off.

I didn't even try to follow him with my eyes and instead started running up the steps of the bank, deflecting and pushing back against the walls of ice being fired off from within. I had made it to just about the top of the steps to the entrance when I was able to spot who exactly the ice villains were; Captain Cold, Killer Frost, and one older looking man who I didn't recognize.

"Ice the brat!" the older man had said, and suddenly all the attention that had been focused on keeping Flash and law enforcement out was now on me.

Cold and Frost both quickly took aim at me and were firing twin blasts of ice straight for my position. Unfortunately for them, my control over ice wasn't ended after it left its source, and so I was able to use my powers to send the twin beams of cold back around at the villains. Cold hadn't seemed to expect that and was promptly caught in the blast, quickly being entombed in a pillar of ice. Frost however, was quicker on her feet, and was able to dodge the reflected ice at the last second before she sent another blast right at me. Once again though, I was just as quick as she was and was using my will to change the beam of ice into a wave of water that I sent right back at her.

"What's that gonna do?" Frost arrogantly called as she made no move to dodge, instead holding up her hand to freeze the oncoming water, "Splash me?"

"Something like that," I muttered as I refroze the water as it was hurtling at her.

I could see from my spot how her eyes widened, realizing that she didn't have enough time to dodge, and trying to freeze ice would literally be pointless. Instead all Frost could do was hold her arms up in front of her face and scream as the large block of ice slammed into her and knocked her out.

I looked up after Frost let out a groan and laid still on the floor of the bank, only to find the third man suddenly gone.

"Nice work kid," someone said behind me.

I spun around to find a grinning Flash who was surveying the scene before us before Wally joined us as he zipped inside. "That went a lot quicker than I expected," Wally said as he brushed his gloves off on his sides.

"It's not over," I said, turning back around, "One of them is missing."

"Missing?" Flash asked.

"He must have slipped away while I was fighting with Cold and Frost," I said, "I didn't even recognize him."

"What did he look like?" Flash asked as he zipped around the room to most likely try and find any trace of the man.

"Tall, gray-silver hair, Caucasian," I said, "Definitely had the whole ring leader vibe to him."

"I'll see what I can find of him then," Flash said as he stopped back in front of his nephew and me, "An entire crime posse and three ice villains was a bit much, but I'm sure I can handle one ice baddie on my own."

"You sure?" Wally asked, "I mean we're already here, we could help!"

"Nah it's alright kid," Flash said, "Law enforcement's already rounding up everyone from outside, so I just need you two to stick around here until they come and collect Cold and Frost while I go after this third, mystery guy. After that, feel free to head back to Mount Justice."

"You got it," Wally said before his uncle was giving us a grin and salute before speeding out of the bank.

"Think he'll find him?" I asked Wally as I started walking over to Frost's still unconscious form.

"Of course he will," Wally said, as he gently kicked a small, but still decently sized chunk of ice around the floor, "Would you expect any less?"

"I thought you said he'd find him!" I said into my phone as I continued walking downtown. It was currently the day after the attempted heist by the ice villains, and according to Wally, his uncle had yet to find the mystery man, even with the aid of security cameras.

"This guy is better at not being found than we thought I guess," Wally said back, "He'll be caught though, I mean his entire organization was busted last night, what can he hope to do without them, right?"

"I sure hope so," I said as I entered Cameron's apartment building, "I just have a bad feeling about him though."

"Where are you now?" Wally asked.

"I just got to Cameron's place," I said.

"Say no more," Wally laughed over the phone, "Call me later and I'll tell you if I hear anything new on this end."

"Alright, sounds good," I said as I reached the correct floor, "Talk to you later, bye."

I hung up my phone right after and pocketed the device just as I was able to reach out and knock thrice on the familiar wooden door. After no more than ten seconds, the door was being pulled open to reveal a beaming Cameron. Instead of spending time on a greeting though, my wonderful boyfriend reached forward to pull me into his home before shutting the door behind us.

"Missed you last night," Cameron said as he held my face in his hands before leaning in for a kiss.

"Is that so," I said when he pulled away, pecking his way down my neck, "Seems like you're getting more and more attached."

"You know it babe," Cameron said as he surprised me by picking me up in his arms, "I think I'm getting addicted."

"Why don't you show me how badly then," I said, giggling as he spun us around.

"Oh I will," Cameron said as he started making his way back towards his room.

However, before we could make it there, a loud and intense pounding at the door had us stopping. "Open up Jr.!" a gruff, male voice shouted from the other side of the door.

"Crap, it's my dad," Cameron said as he set me down on the ground, his mood having visibly deflated.

"Should I hide or something?" I asked, unsure if my presence here would be welcomed, because I mean, I hadn't even met the man yet, and wow, Cameron's father was really here.

"No….no I think you should be fine," Cameron told me as he went over to the door, all while the pounding continued.

"It's about time," the man said as soon as Cameron opened the door, "Get out of the way."

At first I was expecting Cameron's father to maybe be a disheveled looking man who maybe smoked or drank too much, and thus with those addictions came the attitude problem, but even those expectations couldn't prepare me for the shock I received when I laid my eyes upon the tall man with gray-silver hair…..the man from last night.

"And just who the hell is this?" Cameron's father asked as my boyfriend shut the door and fell into position next to him.

"Oh this, this is my boyfriend Saph," Cameron said, suddenly sounding nervous over his father's less than inviting tone, "Saph, this is my dad."

"Pleased to meet you," I said, hoping that my total and overwhelming shock wasn't readable on my face.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Cameron's father spoke, "Beat it though kid! I need to have a word with Jr. here."

"Dad!" Cameron cried, "You can't just kick him out like that, not after you just met him!"

"Can it Jr.!" the man yelled, "Or did you forget who puts this roof over your head?"

Sensing the escalating tension, I decided that it would be best if I just followed the man's order and left, besides, I had to tell the team….right? Cameron was my boyfriend….but I was morally obligated to tell someone, anyone, that I had found last night's mystery ring leader….wasn't I?

"Call me later, okay?" I said as I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around Cameron in a hug, one that he softly returned. I wasn't done though and leaned in against him to whisper in his ear, "And don't be afraid to ask me for any help, at all."

I didn't want to see what his reaction would be, or how his father would react if he heard me, but as I stepped out of the apartment and started making my way down the flight of stairs, I was left thinking more about Cameron's safety instead of rushing to tell anyone.

Still unsure of what to do, or if I should really tell anyone, I spent more time avoiding the subject or my moral duty by going home to collect my uniform, onyx belt, and eye-visor, stashing all of them in one of my regular bags, before slowly making my way back downtown towards the Zeta-Tube.

As I slowly put one foot in front of the other though I began to wonder how Cameron would react to his father's potential arrest. Would he think I had anything to do with it? He shouldn't, I mean, he had no idea about my powers or my connection to the Justice League…..but if he knew what his father got up to….and he had to have some idea…..he could maybe think that I had ratted his father out or something. As I continued on walking I began to lean more towards telling someone, and soon, because now was their chance to get Cameron's father….and Cameron, I decided, had to have known about his dad's criminal activity. Yes, he was able to handle his father's great absence in his life, but with handling it had to come with wondering just why his father wasn't around, which meant he eventually had to have gotten answers. If that were true then Cameron had to be okay with his father going down…..no….that wasn't true….because if that were really the case then why wouldn't he have turned his father over already…..and even if his father was doing bad things in the world…..I don't think I could expect Cameron himself to turn over his only family.

I let out a sigh as I started reaching around in my pocket for my phone as I came to a decision. The fact of the matter was that no matter how much I loved Cameron…I still had a responsibility, a team I pledged loyalty to long before my feelings for Cameron developed. As I felt my fingers touch the top of my phone, my hand immediately jerked out of my pocket when I heard the familiar shrill cry of sirens.

I tried to locate the direction in which the noise was coming from, but didn't have to put much work in as I saw two police vehicles come rolling down the street. Against my better judgment I tightened the straps of my bag and immediately started giving chase to the vehicles, wondering where exactly they'd lead me. I knew there was no way I could keep up with them, but I knew that as long as I kept the flashing lights in my sights, with or without the help of the power in my eyes, I could maybe still catch up after some time.

As I continued to run though, I began to get a sick feeling in my gut, one that only intensified as I began to realize just where the vehicles had been headed; The Central City Police Department. As I reached the block before where the building was located I ducked into an alley and immediately began pulling my clothes off and my uniform on. I deposited my regular clothes into my bag and swapped them out for my eye-visor and belt before stashing the bag behind a pile of old boxes. Now, fully disguised and with my breath back after the somewhat blistering run, I stepped back out of the alley and started running for the building.

I didn't pay any real attention to any of the onlookers as they parted and made way for my arrival, and instead focused on the reality that if more and more police vehicles were headed back to the department with their lights on, at top speeds, whatever was going on inside, was not good. I thought that maybe it would be a wise idea to phone the League for backup, even if it was just Wally, but if my horrible hunch was right, I didn't know if I was ready to get anyone else involved.

I broke across the street and was flying through the doors of the department and was sliding to a halt at the scene that was waiting for me. Ice, ice was covering nearly every available surface of the department foyer, and several officers and employees were frozen in place, completely unmoving. I looked around for a phone, and when I found that they were all frozen, along with the employees behind them, I decided that calling for backup would have to wait, especially if the assailants were still in the building.

I ran to the back of the department and paused once again when I found more and more officers frozen to spots on the wall, their chairs, or even in the middle of reaching for their weapons. However, I was shaken out of my shock as I heard what sounded like gun fire sound from deeper in the building, the place where I suspected the holding cells to be.

Not sparing any more time I continued in my haste to find the people responsible for this. Ultimately I found the source when I slid to a halt as I rounded a corner and came to find Cameron's father aiming a gun of his own at a lone remaining officer, effectively freezing her to the bars of an empty cell.

"You've got more company!" someone said to my right, causing me to turn and find Captain Cold still contained in a cell, watching the events unfold from within.

The man from last night, the man I now knew to be Cameron's father, slowly spun around on his heel and stared me down with a wicked grin on his face. "So, the brat from last night decided to come and show his face again."

"That's right," I said, hoping to sound confident, "And this time you won't be getting away."

"What chance do you have kid?" Cameron's father declared, "You're all alone."

"I was alone when I took out Cold and Frost," I said, "And you'll be no problem either, that is, if you don't run away again."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that brat," the man said as the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard, "You see, this time I have something that was absent last night."

"And what's that?" I asked, already using my powers to pull some of the ice off the walls.

"Me," a horrifyingly familiar voice said, stepping around the corner.

I felt my heart drop as before me now, was Cameron, except like I had never seen him before. Flanked by a now free Frost on his side, Cameron was now covered in ice, almost as if it were acting like an armor for him, and if the sight wasn't heart breaking enough, the fact that Cameron was here, here with his father, breaking out criminals certainly was.

"You handle the justice brat while Frost and I get Cold out of here," Cameron's father said.

"Whatever you say Dad," Cameron said before he let out a mighty cry and was shooting some sort of ice beam at me.

Still shocked by the sight of my boyfriend, covered in pounds of ice no less, all I could do was dodge the blast and try and focus myself on the fact that I was currently being attacked. I stepped back further and further as I used my powers to redirect the ice into the already covered walls, and tried to find some sort of fight response in my being. I failed to do so though because I couldn't get past the fact that my boyfriend was unknowingly attacking me right now, unknowingly trying to put me on ice.

It seemed that being ignorant to my identity was working in Cameron's favor as far as the fight went though, because as I was solely focused on deflecting and dodging the attacks, Cameron grew more and more determined to try and nail me. It wasn't until I saw the most ferocious, despicable grin on Cameron's face that seemed so out of place on his being, even when covered in ice, did my guard slip enough for Cameron to send a blast my way that managed to encase my right arm in cast of ice.

I clutched at my arm and the ice in a state of now chilling pain and began to work on removing the material with my own powers, but realized that as Cameron raised his arm up again to fire another icy blast, I wouldn't be able to free my arm and defend myself in time. Knowing that my options were now limited, I did the only thing I could think of.

"Cameron don't!" I cried, using my left arm to reach up and remove my visor.

The reaction was instantaneous, and not only was Cameron lowering his arm, the feral look he had been sporting on his face was now replaced with one of shock and confusion. "Saph?" he weakly called.

I didn't respond and instead the two of us were left staring at one another, simply huffing as we tried to catch our breath. "Cam….what are you doing?" I softly inquired.

"Saph…..this….I…what are-"

"JR.!" Cameron's father called out from somewhere behind us, "We've got what we came for, let's go!"

Cameron turned back to face me after listening to his father's message and seemingly began to debate whether to fall his father's order, or stay standing here with me. It seemed like the wrong option was winning out, because after the first few tears started falling from his eyes, Cameron slowly started to turn around and follow his father out from wherever he was.

"Cameron don't," I said again, stepping forward after him, still in total shock of what was happening, "Don't do this!"

My words seemed to get to the boy as he was suddenly stopping, but after another minute he was moving again without so much as a response or look back, and was leaving me alone, in total bewilderment over what had just happened and had been revealed.

Too stunned to do much of anything, I had simply stood there in the police department long after the ice villains left and until Flash and Wally had shown up, looking for answers. I told them I had seen and heard the sirens and followed them back to the department and how upon discovery of the man from last night, who had been trying to bust out his cohorts, had tried to unsuccessfully apprehend them.

Rather than be upset with my failure in calling for backup, Flash and Wally both seemed to notice my shocked and spaced out state of mind. I think they may have attributed it to the fact that I had been partially frozen and so while Flash called in some assistance to help free all of the frozen officers, Wally helped talk me down enough so I could regain focus to use my powers to free myself before I joined in on the efforts to free the police officers.

After a couple of hours everyone was free from their icy confinements and I was free to head home. However, I couldn't bring myself to go home yet, and after changing back into my clothes in the alley while Wally kept watch, I asked my best friend to whisk me over to Cameron's place so I could relax with him there. Wally had questioned me on how I had seen the sirens if I had been at Cameron's like I had told him, but I lied and told him that Cameron had had some things to take care of and asked me to come back later.

Wally had seemed to buy it, or at least accept the lie for now given my still abnormal state of mind, and afterwards was speeding off and away. Once I was sure that he was gone I stepped inside the apartment complex and slowly made my way upstairs, my hear thundering in my chest with each step I climbed. After what seemed like an eternity I had stopped in front of Cameron's door, my whole body a mess of nerves. I was trembling with fear at this point over what may or may not be waiting for me behind the door, but eventually gathered enough courage to raise my fist and knock twice on the wood.

Once I took my fist away the waiting began, but after the first thirty seconds of no response and no approaching footsteps being heard, I began to panic and worry that my fears were in fact reality. I reached forward for the handle to the door, and as I expected, I was able to twist it open. As I pushed the door slowly open I raised my guard as I stepped inside the familiar inhabitance. "Cameron?" I called out, hoping, praying, that I'd hear a response.

It seemed like that wasn't going to be the case though because as the seconds ticked by, nothing but silence seemed to accompany me. I looked around frantically and quickly noted that all of the furniture was still present, but accepted that the real answer would be with what may, or may not be in Cameron's room. Stepping forward I made my way to the room I had come to know so well and pushed the door open.

Immediately my heart sank and shattered. None of the obvious furniture of the room was gone, but I quickly noted that most, if not all, of Cameron's personal and sentimental items were gone. From his more preferred articles of clothing from his closet, to gifts I had gotten him, to even photos of the two of us…..they were all gone.

I couldn't help but sink to my knees and feel the first few tears from the shock and sense of betrayal and hurt bubble to the surface of my eyes, and shortly after began to cry over the horrible revelation that my boyfriend, the person I had loved, was not only evil, but now gone from my life as well.

It was once I knew for certain that Cameron was gone that I finally told the team and the League what I knew. I knew that any hope of Cameron's return was dashed when I tried calling him and finally received an automated message that the number I had dialed was no longer in service.

The team had understood, and although there was frustration from some members of the League, eventually everyone understood that I had only found out that same day as the ice villain break out, and was unsure what to do at the time, seeing that the criminal in question had been my boyfriend's father. My loyalty towards the Justice League was only reaffirmed when it was ultimately remembered that I had tried to apprehend Cameron and his father, even if I hadn't told anyone immediately.

With questions and concerns over my loyalty and allegiances cleared up, I was free to spend the remaining months of my summer vacation in a downward spiral. Wally and the rest of the team had done the best that they could to try and console me, but the fact was that I had to deal with the reality that my most meaningful relationship was now over and that it had been with someone who was ultimately choosing evil.

I spent countless nights wondering if there had been anything I could have done or said to prevent Cameron from doing what he did or making the choice that he had. I wondered if I should have told him that I loved him more often, I wondered what would have been different if I had gone after him that day in the department, and I wondered if it had been difficult to just up and leave me so easily and without so much as a goodbye.

Months passed, things went on as normally as they could, and eventually Wally and I were heading back to school. Cameron's disappearance from school had been a hot topic for the first month into the new year, but eventually people just forgot about him and any mentions of him slowly died down. As for me, I carried on in this sort of haze, trying my best to focus on my family, my friends, my classes, and the occasional mission here and there.

Things like that continued on into the fall of that year and I currently found myself suited up with the rest of the team, just lounging around in Mount Justice after a particularly brutal training session with Black Canary. I was about ready to call it quits for the day and leave Wally behind so he could spend some time alone with Artemis when Red Tornado's familiar voice was sounding out throughout the cave.

"Attention team," the android spoke, "There is currently an attack happening in Gotham City. Given Batman's absence due to other League responsibilities, he has requested that the seven of you go and apprehend the criminals."

"Can't wait," Wally groaned as Artemis pulled him to his feet.

"Where exactly is the attack?" M'gann asked.

"Getting the coordinates now!" Robin said as he started jogging over to the Zeta-Tubes, "Let's not waste any time."

One by one the rest of the team followed its youngest member towards our means out of the cave and into the dark city streets of Gotham. Thankfully the location in question wasn't too far from the Zeta-Tube location and upon arrival, we discovered that the location under attack was, surprise, surprise, a bank. I guess it made sense though, I mean, most villains knew better than to start shit for no reason given they'd most likely end up in prison, so if they did make an attack on the public, it was more than likely always for money or something else of value.

"Split up," Aqualad said as the seven of us made our way inside Gotham's large, first bank, "And link us up M'gann."

"Already covered," the martian girl replied.

"Do we know who's responsible?" Superboy asked.

"Info from Red Tornado says it's Mister Freeze," Robin said as our group started splitting apart, each of us following separate trails of chaos and ice, "But he's not alone."

"Great, ice villains," Wally spoke, "The last time we had to deal with them was…...oh..."

Suddenly the link felt incredibly quiet, and even though I was running through the grand halls of the bank alone, I knew that if the others could be looking at me right now, they would be. "Just take anyone and everyone down," I said, "No one gets away this time."

"Agreed," Aqualad said, "Robin and I are engaging in combat with Mister Freeze now."

"Artemis and I've got Captain Cold," Wally spoke.

"Superboy and I just found Killer Frost," M'gann said.

"Which leaves….." I said, rounding a corner and sliding to a stop as I spotted a form I hadn't seen in months, shooting ice all around the room at civilians, "Cameron!"

At the sound of his name, Cameron was stopping in his assault of ice and turning towards me, a small frown present on his face. "Well look who it is," Cameron said as he started marching towards me, "I had a feeling you'd show up."

"That's quite the tone to be taking with the boyfriend you just up and left in the blink of an eye," I responded while also opening my belt with my visor to take out all of the water for my using, "Especially given how long it's been since we last saw one another."

"Oh please," Cameron said as he started firing his first few beams of ice at me, "Don't pretend like you ever cared! Like you weren't using me!"

"Using you!?" I cried as I quickly deflected his ice attacks before launching blasts of both ice and water back at him, "What's that supposed to mean!?"

Cameron was unable to dodge all of my attacks and hit the floor after a comet of ice nailed him in the chest. Cameron let out a growl as he was rolling onto his side and pushing himself back up to his feet. "Don't play stupid with me! After I told my dad about you he told me all about how you must have been using me to get closer to him to take him down!"

"WHAT!?" I practically screamed.

"How could you even think to do that to me? After I opened up to you!" Cameron cried, as he started forming spear after spear of ice to chuck at me, "I thought you loved me!"

"I did love you Cameron," I said as I dodged half of the spears before simply transforming the others back into water before they could impale me, "I still might!"

"NO!" Cameron roared viciously, launching several more ice spears at me, "My dad said-"

"So that was that, you just had one talk with your dad and you were so quick to throw me away and leave!?" I yelled at him after dodging his attacks, "Maybe I did go after your dad, but your dad is NOT a good man Cameron!"

"So, what, am I not a good person either?" Cameron yelled back at me.

"You are Cameron!" I cried at him, "And that's what's making this whole thing so heart breaking….the fact that you believe his lies over my honest feelings and word. I didn't even know who your dad was when I first met you! Do you think this was some long, drawn out plot to get to him? Do you really think that little of me!?"

"He told me though….told me during and after that day in Central City," Cameron said, his voice taking on a much more melancholy tone, "Told me how you must be working for the Justice League and how you'd come after him…..after me…how you left me no choice but to leave and start working with him more than I ever had."

"This isn't who or what you have to be though Cameron," I said while taking my first few steps towards the boy, "You don't have to follow your dad blindly into crime just because he's your dad. When we started dating I never once had the thought in my mind of who your dad was or to use you to get to him; none of that! He's lying to you and manipulating you because he knows that the people I'm involved with won't stand for what he's doing. I mean, look around Cameron, you're helping rob a bank…what about that seems good or right? The boy I knew growing up would never harm innocent people!"

"Well what am I supposed to do?" Cameron cried as I got closer and closer to him, "He's my dad! He's the only family I have! And what he does, I do!"

"You have me!" I cried reaching forward to suddenly embrace Cameron's icy form, "You still have me if you want me! And I can help you! Just let me help you Cameron!"

Cameron seemed shocked by the touch but it was like the contact between us was suddenly clearing away a fog over his mind, like the skies were parting for the first time in months. "Saph…."

"You don't have to do this Cameron…..this isn't you," I said as I ran my hands down his icy casing, "You…you left so, so fast…when I first saw you there in Central City's Police Department I was so shocked…..I had no idea what to do or say…..and then afterward, after the fight, once I cleared my head and calmed down I went straight back to your apartment because I had to talk to you, to try and figure everything out…..but you were already gone...gone before we could even process what the fuck had happened."

"I….I thought…..my dad told me….." Cameron said, his icy arms coming up around me, "I really thought you were just using me…..that everything you said was a lie….to hurt me...during my time with you everything just seemed so perfect and too good to be true...and so when my dad told me that...its like my worst fears were finally being revealed as true..."

"I would never use you, and I would never want to hurt you" I said, pulling away from the hug to look at him, "Ever."

"I….I don't know…don't know what to do," Cameron said, "Saph….you have to know…..you do know that I was confused…..I mean….he's my dad! I couldn't just say no or think...I'm so sorry."

"I understand completely Cameron," I said leaning up to kiss him. "You don't have to explain anything or come to an understanding right now…but you have to know that I'd never want to use or hurt you, I only want what's best for you, and if that means showing you that your dad is a lying and manipulating criminal…..I'm sorry, but I won't let someone I love be led astray and away from me."

"Saph…I…NO!" Cameron cried.

Before I could even ask what his outburst was about, I suddenly felt immeasurable pain as I felt something pierce my abdomen and impale me. It's like all feeling in my body suddenly left me and all I could do was look down to find one of Cameron's previously discarded ice spears now sticking out of my chest, probably just missing my heart given how I wasn't already dead.

As I coughed up a mouthful of blood, specks escaping between my teeth and splattering on Cameron's icy face, I realized that I probably wasn't far off from death anyway. I let out a deep, wet groan as blood continued to pour out of not only the wound but my mouth as well, before I started to collapse to the ground.

"NO!" I managed to hear Cameron cry again as he managed to catch me before I slammed into the ground, "NO, NO, NO, NO!"

"Wrap it up Jr." I heard another voice say from above me…..Cameron's dad? I wasn't sure, everything felt weird now…..like everything was getting darker and colder.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" I think I heard Cameron shout, "WHY!"

"Freeze, Cold and Frost have all been captured," the other voice said from above me, "We need to leave! I'll find you at the rendezvous point."

After that I very faintly heard the sound of running footsteps leaving the area, but at this point it was harder to hear anything as I grew colder and colder.

"Saph!" Cameron's voice said from above me as he removed my visor and gently maneuvered my body to an angle so that I was staring up at him, "Saph can you hear me? Listen to me babe, you're going to be okay!"

I couldn't do much except nod as the immense chilling pain continued to spread and my blood continued to leak, and deep down, knew in my heart, or what was left of it after the impalement that is, that there was nothing that could be done for me.

"SAPH!" I heard a new voice suddenly call out from somewhere…...everything sounded so distant at this point now…was that Wally? Ah yes, it was Wally, I could tell that it was him as the faces of all my team members suddenly appeared above me.

"Cameron…." I said, gathering the last of my strength while staring back up at the boy I loved who was now sobbing his heart out, "Be good….I…..love you….."

And then I shut my eyes.

So yeah, I don't know if anyone was expecting that, but I thought I'd just go for it. I still feel like this was really quick and some parts, like the end, moved really fast, even though the overall length was longer than what I was expecting, but hey, it happens, and like I said, I wanted this to just be kept a one shot, so even if it moved fast in some places, I still think I got the general feel and plot that I wanted, across.

Feel free to point out any errors there may be. I wanted to get this up before I head to class today since it's been a little bit since I updated this or SE, so in my haste I'm sure I missed some corrections.

Feel free to leave a request for an idea you may have, but other than that, thanks for reading.