Conner had been living in Metropolis for a couple of months. The city took some getting used to but he was glad he stayed. Superman, Clark, was helping him figure some things out. It wasn't easy but they were getting to know each other.
They had been walking around a park for quite some time before Clark broke the silence.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"What?"
"Um, something my mom would say."
Conner furrowed his brow. "Right. I remember."
Clark looked confused for a moment before he realized. "I keep forgetting about that…it's all still pretty awkward."
Conner looked down at his feet. "Sorry."
Clark noticed his reaction. "No it's not bad, just still new." He paused for bit. "You seem pretty distracted today."
He noticed Conner smile as they continued their walk. He knew that smile, wore it on his own face from time to time when he thought of Lois. "How's Blackfire…um Komand'r…which name should I use?"
"Blackfire is fine." Conner enjoyed reserving Komand'r for himself.
"So, how is she doing?"
"I'm sure she's doing well as queen. It'll help that she knows what it's like to be treated as less than, you know. She'll look out for the people that truly need it."
Less than. It stung Clark to hear Conner say it so casually. Introducing Conner to Kara did not go as planned. She told him he was nothing but a clone and would never be a true member of the house of El. It hurt Conner to be rejected by his own kind and it hurt Clark to hear her speak so callously. It was chilling and worrisome. She was the only one of them to actually experience kryptonian culture but that was no excuse for her behavior. It was an issue he quickly addressed and would continue to do so if she stepped out of line. It made building a relationship with Conner even more important.
Clark smiled. "You seem proud of Blackfire."
"I am. She didn't want to leave but her responsibility…she did what was right for her people."
"It was noble of her to go."
"Yeah." Conner stared off into the distance as they continued their walk.
"There's still something."
Conner sighed. "I miss her."
"Of course you do. I bet she misses you too."
"It's just…I haven't even spoken to her since she left. It's just hard."
Clark grew concerned. "It seems to bother you more today than it usually does. Did something happen."
Conner stopped walking and stared off. "There's a, this kind of pull."
Clark arched his eyebrow. "A pull?"
"Yeah. It's…new."
"Can you elaborate?"
"No."
"Come on Conner, seriously, could you please be a bit more specific."
"I can't because I don't know what it is. Honestly it's like…like I can feel her. Like she's right here but still so far away. I don't know."
Clark took a deep breath and released. "Your relationship was…um…interrupted, but it seems that it was, is pretty strong…powerful. You said Krypto led her to you when you were poisoned."
"Yeah, he did."
"Why not any of the other Titans? Why her?"
Conner shrugged. "I never thought about it."
Clark placed his hand on Conner's shoulder. "You two are obviously drawn to each other. There is literally a lot of space between you now, but that's something you can figure out."
"You really think so."
Clark laughed. "Everything about you should be absolutely impossible, but here you are. You should barely be able to compete with me but you hold your own. Imagine, ten, twenty, thirty years from now, you'll be unstoppable." Conner laughed. "Plus the epigenetic memory thing, not even I saw that coming. Your intellect, I must admit is quite impressive. And the struggle with your other DNA, let's just say I know you're working on it every day. You are capable of doing great things Conner. Never doubt yourself."
Conner was surprised. Clark had never shown such concern or expressed such kind words to him before. "Thank you Clark."
"You're welcome. So are we flying or what?"
"Race ya." With that Conner flew off with incredible speed.
Clark smiled and followed.
Two weeks had gone by since his conversation with Clark. Conner sat at the desk in his room staring at his computer screen as frustration started to surface. Two weeks of isolation and constant work. He never left his apartment unless it was absolutely necessary, and that was usually just for essential supplies.
Clark and the Titans expressed their concern but Conner refused to inform them of his activities. He didn't want them to derail him. He would simply reply that he was fine.
Two weeks and now all he could do was wait. Wait and watch. He was worried. He had done the calculations so many times, but what if he was off. Hours passed and nothing happened. All the calculations, all the prep and nothing. Just a blank screen.
He worked so hard to establish communication with Tamaran and failed miserably. He was dejected and out of ideas. He laid down finally allowing his body and brain to rest only to be overcome with feelings of inadequacy. He felt this way before when Hank died, and again when Dick caught him off guard with the kryptonite. It was a feeling he did not want to encounter again but here it was.
His eyes began to well as he focused on his current failure. He was never going to see her again, he was sure of it.
"One can never be sure of anything…with few exceptions."
Conner bolted out of bed as he heard the voice and ran to the screen just as Komand'r came into view, she was beautiful. "It…it worked?"
She smiled. "Of course it worked, because of you." She released a deep sigh. "I've missed you."
To see her face, hear her voice, he was beside himself. "I've missed you too, so much."
"I know." She winked and grinned a grin she reserved for him.
"How does it feel to be back on Tamaran?"
"There have been challenges. I'm not accustomed to being treated so kindly, to being welcomed. It's foreign to me."
It frustrated him to hear how they treated her in the past.
She continued. "Enough about Tamaran for now. I'm more interested in how you're doing, how you're feeling. I know you've been through a lot."
He furrowed his brow. "How do you know that?"
She shrugged. "I'm guessing the same way you knew how to find me."
He was confused but didn't care about the how. He just cared about her. He found her, he was talking to her. It worked.
He told her about the events that occurred early on in Metropolis. About his weakness to magic, how vulnerable he felt. He told her about meeting Lex Luthor, then watching him die, how he lost his way and let the Titans down.
It pained her to hear the regret in his voice. She listened intently and offered comfort that was well received. She never wanted him to feel that lost again, that lonely again.
They spoke all through the night about everything that they had experienced since her departure. The conversation continued until the time came for her to oversee a council meeting.
He was reluctant to end the communication. "When will I see you again?"
"Tonight." She said it as if it were a normal occurrence.
He smiled widely. "Really?"
"Of course. Every day."
"Every day?" He grinned. He hadn't expected that from her.
"Unless you rather not."
"No, no, no. Every day works. So tonight then."
She smiled. "Tonight."