Scene 42 - Confession

Superboy and Ember walked beside Nightwing as they discussed about the Reach drinks Lexcorp was producing. At such close proximity to Dick, it was difficult not to bring up the secret of Aqualad's undercover mission within The Light but the couple had already made an agreement with Miss Martian to keep things under wraps and pretend that they didn't know anything. Based on their experience with the mole situation back when the Team started, Conner said it would be best to wait for their leader to tell them the truth instead of a direct confrontation. Nightwing probably had his reasons why he kept it a secret and even though it was a bad choice, they still had to respect his decisions as the Team's leader.

The trio was about to decide which team members they should send for the next reconnaissance mission when a distress call from Lagoon Boy interrupted them, "Lagoon Boy to Team, we're under attack at the Chicago Zeta Tube. Requesting back up."

Nightwing looked up at the couple and knew he was silently asking them to join in, "Acknowledged. We're three minutes from the nearest tube but we're on our way."

Wordlessly, Conner and Brianna began moving, it was a non-verbal response that they accepted the rescue mission. A pity they did not have their vehicles with them and the boys ran while Ember flew to the nearest tube. She was a little ahead of them so she entered the transporter first but the brunette was greeted a cloud of dust and coughed when she appeared on the other side. To her dismay, she saw a Manta Flyer pulling away and knew she wouldn't be able to catch up to it. She looked around and saw Lagoon Boy unconscious under a pile of rubble. Dick and Conner arrived as she slowly assessed the items pinning the Atlantean down.

"He's alive and unconscious but he's trapped under those items," The pyro said as she flew up to get a better view. All three of them devised a quick plan to remove the debris and when most of it was pulled away, Brianna grimaced at the odd angle of La'gaan's leg.

Nightwing proceeded to give instructions, "I'll make a splint. After that, Superboy will carry his torso. Ember, you'll support the splint and his uninjured leg." The couple nodded and gingerly carried the Atlantean to a hospital for medical attention.

What they weren't expecting was his outburst when he woke up in the treatment ward, "Where's M'gann?!" He attempted to sit up but Nightwing gently pushed him down as he looked over at the couple and Brianna shook her head, indicating that she didn't see the Martian, "She was gone when we got there."

The young Atlantean frowned and tried to sit up again, "Neptune's Beard, let go of me! I got to save M'gann!"

Both Conner and Dick then proceeded to pin him down to the bed as he struggled to leave the room. "La'gaan calm down! There's nothing you can do for her in your condition!" Nightwing said sternly.

Lagoon Boy stopped shifting in his bed and looked over to Superboy with a hateful look, "Then what about him? Why isn't he rescuing her?! I know you dumped her but do you really hate her that much?!"

His words made Conner snap, "You have no idea what I feel for her!" Somehow that passionate expression made Brianna a little weary and she took a step back to observe the argument.

La'gaan was incensed and said bitterly, "You're right, because I would never abandon her to Kaldur and his flunkies! Because that's who took her! Aquatraitor's personal ninja cow, Tigress!"

So, Artemis was still doing well and she took M'gann away. Did the blonde do it as a last ditch attempt to salvage Kaldur from his vegetative state? Brianna thought to herself and was interrupted by Dick making a confession, "Enough! I'm not supposed to tell you, to tell anyone, but Aqualad is not a traitor."

Finally, he was telling them the truth and she crossed her arms, doing her best to steel her temper but pretending to be listening attentively.

Confused, Lagoon Boy attempted to correct his leader, "What are you talking about? He killed Artemis!"

Superboy mirrored Brianna's behaviour too and quietly allowed Nightwing to make his speech. The teen sat down on the chair, a little defeated. "No, he didn't. Aqualad has been on a deep cover mission for months, infiltrating Black Manta's troops, the Light, and the Reach. We faked Artemis's death. She's alive. In fact, Artemis is Tigress. She kidnapped Miss Martian, there has to be a good reason," The ex-acrobat glanced over at the brunette a few times but her expression was unreadable.

La'gaan was shocked at the revelation and began to regret showing animosity towards his former idol. Then he questioned Dick's decision and Conner defended him, "No, Nightwing's our leader, we put our trust in him. I'm sure he didn't keep this from us, from all of us, without having his reasons."

The Boy of Steel glanced over at La'gaan suspiciously and Dick decided the Atlantean shouldn't be agitated further given his injury, "Look, we will figure this out, together. In the meantime, get some rest. We can talk more about this at a later date when you're healed."

The trio then left the room and walked down the corridor as Nightwing said to the couple, "Thanks for backing me up in there."

Brianna paused in her steps and looked at the boy furiously, "We already knew. I thought you were my friend, Dick. How could you keep this from me?!"

Nightwing was taken aback, "Wait, both of you knew? Why didn't you say anything?"

Conner stepped in and retorted, "You don't leave a guy a lot of options, you have no idea what your secrets have done to us!"

The teenager's eyes widened under his mask, "What does that-"

The half-Kryptonian interrupted and begun to reply, "M'gann believed Kaldur killed Artemis, so when she found him on the Reach ship, she fried his brain. That's gonna be why Artemis grabbed her, to try and save Kaldur's broken mind but M'gann doesn't know how to do that! So Manta might just kill her and kill Tigress if she blows her cover trying to save her. And we'll have lost all three of them because you thought it was a bad idea to share!"

Dick was left stunned and he tried to form a proper sentence, "I… We were just-"

It was Brianna's turn to interrupt him, "Save it. M'gann showed us Kaldur's memories. While I can see the reasons why both of you hid the truth from us, I'm not pleased even though you tried to talk him into keeping me in the loop. For the sake of the Team, I'll hold out my anger until all of this undercover work and invasion is over. Unfortunately, that means I'll have to begrudgingly follow your orders. I'm sorry Dick but I have lost my trust in you."

With that, the brunette turned away from him and walked off with Conner to leave the stifling hospital.

The trip to the junk yard was a quiet one as both of them were still seething in anger from Dick's confession. Their temper slowly faded but there was still a lot on Brianna's mind. As they reached near the Zeta tube, she stopped in front of the shed and turned towards Superboy, "I know it's awkward to ask this but, what are your feelings for M'gann?"

Conner looked at her oddly, "I care for her."

Ember probed gently, "I care for her too, Conner. Do you still harbour romantic feelings towards her though?"

Her boyfriend reached down to hold her hand, "I'm in a relationship with you, Brianna. Don't say things like that."

Brianna sighed and slipped her hand from his grasp, "Please be honest with me and stop skirting around the issue. I'm not going to cry or scream." She looked into his blue eyes and sincerely hoped he would answer the question.

There was silence and Conner took a step backwards to rub his head, "I guess I still do… She was the first girl to ever love me."

The brunette then laid a hand on his shoulder, "Thank you for telling me the truth, Conner. When M'gann returns, both of you should have a heart to heart talk. It would be best if we broke up… It'll be unfair to me if you're still pining after someone else. Plus, it seems I still have to settle unfinished business with Kaldur…"

Superboy laid a hand on top of hers, "Brianna, I want you to know that what I shared and felt for you, they were real and I really enjoyed our time together."

The brunette nodded and whispered, "I know but I think we got together because both of us were lonely. Since we've been friends for so long, we were comfortable in each other's presence that we mistook companionship for love…"

He sighed, "I suppose so. We did have a lot of fun, didn't we?"

Brianna smiled, "Yes. Thanks for being a good sport about this."

Both of them traded smiles and ended up in a handshake.

"You still have to show me the best eats around the US though," Conner joked, attempting to lighten up the mood of their break up.

Ember chuckled heartily, "Alright. We'll have to ask the others if they want to join us."

This was the second break up for both of them to experience and surprisingly, the atmosphere was rather calm and mature. The young adults then bid each other farewell and went their separate ways.

For Conner, he looked forward to even things out once and for all and for Brianna, she would have to bide her time by pre-occupying herself with missions and hope that her future confrontation with Kaldur would be civil.

Author's Note: Season 2 episode briefly covered in this chapter, "The Fix".

And the most anticipated breakup has happened. They weren't as emotionally invested with each other like their last relationship so no crying or screaming were done.

To Eszra: Aww, don't tempt me. I've already finished writing the story.

To keller75863548274483: There will be other ways to fix Kaldur's mind. ;)

To Molly Grace 16: Thanks! ^_^

To piggythelaw: Thank you. =)