Connor rested his chin on his hand in annoyance as M'Gann tried to make some form of conversation. His elbow balanced on the wooden table inside the dimly lit Lorenzo's.

"So, what're you thinking of getting?" M'Gann began, trying to break the silence between them, "I was thinking of getting the chicken parmesan, but the portions are always so big here, so I might just get a salad..."

Connor stared at her for a moment, then his eyes glanced at the menu. He picked one of the two from the side of the table, and skimmed through it. He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Why not you choose?" he asked, "I've never been here before so I don't know what to get."

M'Gann blinked.

"Oh Mars," she thought, "Oh Mars! Oh Mars!"

She hid behind the menu, trying to think of a plan. Should she order a large dish for them to share? Or would that seem to forward of her? Perhaps she could get an appetizer, but then again she did not exactly have an unlimited budget. Her eyes squeezed shut.

"Why is it that food can be so pivotal in a romantic relationship?" her thoughts were practically screaming, "Not that this is a relationship yet, but still!"

She slowly peeked over the menu, her eyes glowing orbs of excitement. In front of her, Connor gazed at her blankly. She noticed every aspect of him: The grey jacket that hung loosely from his shoulders that she had convinced him to put on back at the cave; the black t-shirt that lacked the 'S' insignia; his ebony hair and bright, blue eyes. His eyebrows furrowed, and a frown came over his face.

"Are you okay?" he demanded, as he was perplexed by M'Gann's odd behavior, "'Cause you're not making much sense."

"Oh, well, I'm just not sure what to get!" M'Gann stopped herself from nearly apologizing. She felt as if she was dripping in sweat from her own anxiety. Connor kept his detached front. He sighed.

"Why not we just get that chicken thing you were talking about? We can share it, I guess."

M'Gann wanted to faint. Her culinary romance techniques had officially worked, and she didn't even have to ask if they could share a meal.

"That's perfect!" she exclaimed, however she quieted down when she realized just how loud she truly had exclaimed, "I mean, um, we can definitely do that!"

"Yeah," Connor remarked, "If that idiot waiter ever comes 'round again..."

"There's no need to get upset, Connor. I'm sure it's just because the restaurant's busy."

Connor raised an eyebrow, looking around the nearly vacant establishment.

"Sure," he grumbled, crossing his arms, "He's definitely busy."

"Alright," M'Gann relented, "So maybe the service here is kinda a bust. But I swear their food is to die for."

M'Gann gave a weak smile, trying to find some optimism in the situation. Connor averted his stare, and focused on the city light outside from a nearby window. The silent tension had taken over once more.

Good job on that one, M'Gann thought with disappointment, Now he probably thinks you're a nervous wreck.

Connor pointed towards the window.

"The lights look...nice," he mentioned. M'Gann noticed a light blush across his cheeks.

"They sure are," M'Gann agreed. She paused for a moment and met Connor's eyes.

"Do you want to see them?" M'Gann asked. Connor's eyes widened inquisitively.

"What're we gonna get for dinner, though?" he questioned, "I thought you were set on this place."

"Well," M'Gann sighed, "I guess this place isn't that great after all. I mean, we're not even getting service. We can just pick up something on the way. A drive through's pretty quick, so maybe we can go there."

Connor stood up.

"Well, I guess we're ditching this place."

"I guess we are," M'Gann smiled as they walked out of the restaurant together. The pair strolled along the board walk of Happy Harbor, admiring the lights that shone brilliantly against the stars above. Connor himself seemed particularly invested, keeping his eyes glued to the lights ahead. M'Gann was just glad to see that he appeared, for the most part, happy.

"So," M'Gann said, "Do you usually go star gazing? Or, city gazing, I suppose?"

Connor was silent for a moment. His mind turning, trying to craft a response.

"No," he stated bluntly, "It's just..."

"It's just what?" M'Gann pried. She was more curious than ever. Although they had been friends for nearly six and a half months, she would have been the first to admit that she barely knew anything about the mysterious Superboy.

"It's just," Connor mumbled, then, with more confidence, "It's just that when I was at Kadmus, I was in a tube all my life. All I got was images of things." His head turned, staring into the city beyond.

"I never got to see things like this in the flesh. And even though I've seen it before on missions, I never really got the chance to just look at the stuff."

M'Gann locked her arms behind her back. She looked at Connor, the boy she thought she knew.

"You know," she started, "That's a lot to say, coming from you."

In a split second, she wished she had taken her words back when she saw the scowl on Connor's face.

"So what?" he glared, "Do you just think that just 'cause I don't talk a lot means I'm some idiot, or something?"

"What are you talking about, Connor?" M'Gann stopped walking and faced Connor. She was beyond confused.

"You said 'That's a lot, coming from you,'" he raised his voice, "So did you think I was just some quiet clone? That I didn't think for myself?"

"No, Connor," M'Gann cried, "It's just you don't talk too much, is all. I was just a little surprised that you bothered talking to me like that."

"So do you not want me telling you things?" Connor clenched his fists.

"No! I'm just saying that I was surprised. I'm sorry, okay?" M'Gann looked down.

"I just..." she trailed off, "I was just a little confused is all. You didn't need to get upset!"

"So what if I get angry?" Connor yelled, "Aren't I allowed to do that? Can't I-"

"Will you stop it?!" M'Gann screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her heart was racing. The night had just shifted from a decent start to a horrible end. Connor hands softened. He had never seen M'Gann cry, and had never expected that it would be because of him.

"I just wanted to do something fun," M'Gann huffed, "And the moment I say something that you find a little bit offensive, you just go off on me! Am I just supposed to walk on egg shells?"

Connor grimaced. He had really done it this time. His temper had gotten the better of him, and he exploded at the person he considered a close friend to the point where she was sobbing. He sighed, digging his hands into his pockets.

"I ruined it," he said aloud, regret apparent on his face, "I'm a complete idiot."

"What?" M'Gann sniffled. She was shaking. Connor repeated himself.

"I ruined it. I wrecked your night 'cause I was being a sensitive moron. And...I'm sorry that I did that..." He paused for a moment, trying to find what was the right thing to say. He started again, knowing what was needed for the situation.

"I'm sorry I was being a jerk."

M'Gann was speechless. Before, Connor would yell and then storm off. Never before had he actually apologized. Her eyes shifted to the ground. Connor reached out, and placed a wide hand across her cheek. She blinked in surprise. She shut her eyes as Connor moved his hand across her petite face and under her both her eyes.

"Um," he stammered, "You're face was a little wet."

"It's because I was crying," M'Gann said, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her knit jacket. For a moment, there was a quiet that filled the air, but it was not necessarily an awkward silence. This silence between them, it was a silence that settled, one that grew upon the pair. Connor closed his eyes, and for the first time, broke the silence that had began.

"When people cry, it's 'cause they're sad, right?"

M'Gann laughed softly at the young clone's question.

"Yeah," she smiled, a bittersweet feeling washing over her, "Thinking they're sad is usually a good guess."

And in that moment, time felt as if it had slowed to a crawl. Connor opened his arms in front of her. He held them up, just slightly below his chest, and wrapped them around M'Gann. He embraced her, holding her against his chest tightly. M'Gann's eyes widened in shock. She tried to look up, but all she ended up doing was rub her cheek against the cotton of his shirt.

"Um, Connor," she whispered, "What are you doing?"

"I'm hugging you."

"I can see that," M'Gann said, "But why?"

"Because I've heard that most people usually like being hugged when they're sad."

M'Gann laughed, her body quivering against Connor's. She wrapped her hands around him, squeezing him tightly. He looked down at her, a small smile across his face.

"You are crushing me," he stated.

"I know," M'Gann giggled, "It's because you're squeezing me to death."

"Sorry," Connor quickly released his death grip, "I'm kinda new to this."

"How can you be new to hugs?" M'Gann asked, a look of utter confusion on her face. She managed to look at Connor now that she wasn't pressed so tightly against him. He ran his fingers through her red hair. He spoke up.

"It's because this is my first one."

Mifune chewed on the toothpick stuck in between his teeth. He looked down at the city below his perch. Sitting on the tops of buildings had become such a bore for him. He stared below, seeing the two that Arachne was after. He quickly pulled out his cellphone and made a call. The receiver beeped several times. He waited, standing up from the edge of whatever building that had taken his fancy. He raised an eyebrow as he watched the pair below him. It seemed that they were embracing each other. With his other hand he grabbed a pair of binoculars to see more clearly. These two were most definitely his targets.

"Tch," he scoffed, "Love birds."

"Hello?" he heard Arachne through the receiver.

"Hey," he said, "I think I found the two you were looking for."

"Did you engage?"

"No." Mifune stuffed his binoculars back into his coat pocket.

"Good," Arachne cooed, "For now, just keep an eye on them. Attacking them wouldn't do much good, now would it?"

"No it wouldn't," Mifune replied. Arachne gave a coy laugh.

"You always were the quiet one, weren't you?" she exclaimed. Mifune shrugged.

"There's not much to talk about, really."

"Well," Arachne's voice echoed against the poor reception, "Just keep your eyes on them. If we're lucky, they might tell us more than we even needed. Call me if you get any more updates."

"Roger that," Mifune hung up the phone and sat down once more with his knees close to his chest, his feet hanging slightly over the edge. He squinted, seeing the pair begin to leave the board walk.

So, he thought to himself, The Superboy and Martian are just some teens.

Mifune placed his hand on the handle of the katana in his waistband. He stared at the two as they walked off into the distance.

Not that it mattered anyway, he thought, Soon enough, they'll tell me everything I need to know. And when that happens...

Well, I just hope they know how to fight for their lives.