'So you see Conner, all of these moment that we've had together as a team, have really brought us together as a family too'. M'gann said gently, placing her hand on the larger boy's arm.
'We all like to hang out and stuff, Supes, you know? Part of what makes us really great!' Wally exclaimed, finishing with a victorious trophy pose that made everyone roll their eyes at the speedster.
'However, it is not only the happy moments that make us a family, but also the... tougher ones' Kaldur intervened hesitantly, cautious to disrupt the joyful atmosphere. 'Which is why we also chose memories, although much smaller ones, in which we have bonded as a family through the more difficult situations'.
'Because that's what families do, Supey,' Robin told the clone, gesturing to the small group, 'we're there for each other through all the troubles that we have to face, however scary, embarrassing or stupid they might be'.
The clone nodded slowly, beginning to form an understanding of what the term 'family' actually meant. It pleased him that he would no longer have to depend on the cold neglect of Superman to provide all of the family love that he desired so badly. A gentle tap on his shoulder from M'gann, brought him back to attention.
'These memories are more like small snippets of memories from each of us. Some are quite distressing, but I hope this will show you how strong a bond we've formed over the time we've spent together' the martian trailed off quietly, before focussing her mind to begin the memories once more. For a moment, there was only darkness, and Conner began to wonder if, perhaps, something had gone wrong. However, before he had time to question the possibility further, he was overwhelmed with a number of emotions and experiences, each of which touched a nerve deep inside of him. One that he only experience when his family was involved.
Kid Flash was lying on the ground, fists clenched in the damp soil, his back arched in pain as he cried in agony. The team surrounded him, horrified by the terrible wound on his leg, which Artemis and Kaldur were attempting to stop from bleeding. Artemis was pleading desperately for Wally to 'just hang on', shaking his shoulders every few moments as if to force him to remain awake. Alive.
Interestingly, Roy was present in this mission, but had been painfully forced away from his red-headed friend to care for the youngest of the team, who was not coping well with the situation. Robin was pulled tightly against Red Arrow's chest, bawling his eyes out as he stared, terrified at his best friend. The thought of losing someone so close to him again was petrifying.
A strained voice broke the silence.
"Conner, see to M'gann. She needs your love, not you brutality or want for revenge" Aqualad ordered sternly, although his face showed his desire for vengeance just as clearly as the clone's did.
The clone moved towards the shaking martian, and wrapped his arms around her weeping form. His protective presence immediately soothed the girl, who composed herself enough to try once more to contact the league.
A terrified scream shattered the still, silence of the night, leading to several pairs of stomping feet come tearing down to corridor of the cave. The door to the youngest member's bedroom was smashed open by a worried Conner before the entire team piled into the hacker's room to see the boy sitting up on his bed, with his legs pulled up to his chest, sobbing hysterically.
Wally, the most experienced at dealing with such situations, was the first to react, speeding over to the Boy Wonder, to sit next to him on the bed and wrap an arm around his shoulder. The team glanced at each other in concern, everyone being aware of the content of the hacker's dreams having been forced to soothe him on a number of occasions in the past.
Kaldur approached next, kneeling down in front of the frightened child, who looked so much smaller than he normally did. The leader gently placed his hands on the boy's knees before repeating calming, reassurances to the acrobat.
Both M'gann and Artemis followed their motherly instincts, rushing over to the youngest to pat his head, stroke his hair, hold his hand.
And Conner, always the protecter of the team. The big brother. Stood watchfully by the door, ensuring there was no danger threatening his family when they appeared so vulnerable.
Kaldur sat alone at the kitchen table, shoulders slumped, as he sighed unhappily. He had recently returned from Atlantis and had yet to speak a word to any of the team, but his body language made his depression clear to all who observed the leader.
Conner, never having been on to 'beat around the bush' approached the Atlantian from the doorway. Glancing over the older boy's shoulder to look at the photo of an attractive female he held, the clone placed a heavy hand on the leader's shoulder. Kaldur looked up, surprised at the clone's presence, let alone the concern in his eyes.
"There are always other fish in the sea. No pun intended". were the only words the larger boy spoke, but they served to lighten the older boy's heart, causing him to chuckle lightly at the clone.
"I'm so ugly! So hideous! It's why I wanted to leave Mars in the first place. Nobody wanted me there, and nobody will want me here either! I don't even know how you can stand to look at me, I'm jus- " But the martian's criticisms of herself were abruptly cut short by a quick kiss on the cheek from a certain clone of Superman.
Artemis was angry. No, furious. Not only had she let her team down by missing an easy shot during the mission, but she'd let her sister, Cheshire, catch her off guard too, easily knocking her down.
Letting out a yell of fury and frustration, the archer kicked her bow across the floor of the cave, before clenching her fists and turning to punch a hole in the wall. Or at least, to leave a dent in it. However, a large hand wrapped around her arm stopped her from completing her task. Looking back into the calm eyes of the clone, Artemis ripped her arm free from the stronger being, who merely answered her glare with a few short words.
"When I'm angry, it helps me to spar" he suggested, before turning to walk back towards the training room and despite the less than kind looks she shot at him, the archer soon followed Superboy out of the room.
Conner roared angrily as he smashed his fists against the walls of the container for what seemed like the millionth time. Cursing his inability to be as strong as Superman, to be Superman, the clone tried desperately to tear open the strong material of the cylinder which held both Kid Flash and Robin trapped inside, drowning in the water that filled their prison to the very top.
Superboy was not going to stand by and watch his family be taken away from him. This stupid container held nothing against the need he felt to ensure his friends made it out of this one okay.
The team, plus Red Arrow, were returning from an exhausting mission, which, in all honesty, had been a disaster. The baddies had got away, their covert positions had been lost and civilians had been seriously injured. The signs of failure were clear from the dragging feet and lack of conversation. Not even Kaldur could pretend to be at all optimistic about the mission.
"Team, get some rest.I expect Batman will wish for us to report to him in the morning" the Atlantian ordered quietly, supporting an injured Artemis to the med-bay.
Roy soon followed the leader, heading instead towards the corridor containing the bedrooms of the young team members. In his capable arms he held a sleeping Robin, who sported a nasty bump on his head. The elder boy looked behind him periodically to ensure that his other brother, Wally, was following him to the bedrooms. Although seemingly cold on the outside, the elder archer was always one to care for his brothers.
Watching the others leave, Conner and M'gann looked to each other before walking over to the couch together. Both knew that sleep would not come easy this night, but were reassured that at least neither of them would be alone.
Okay, here's the next little bit. Really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy reading it too! :) xxx