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"Random Subject Prompts"
Chapter 005: Superboy/Conner Kent
Anime/TV Show: Young Justice
Prompt: Kryptonite/Weak in the Knees
Chapter Warning: minor violence, and a short scene of two stubborn individuals butting heads
RSP*RSP*RSP
She was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen, which was saying something, because he'd been surrounded by beautiful women since he'd joined the Justice League in order to be somewhat closer to Superman. All of the female members were powerful, independent, stunning, and deadly.
But she – Kagome Higurashi – outshone all of them.
At least, to him, she did.
Their initial meeting was on his first day of school. He hadn't wanted to attend, finding it pointless and a waste of his time, but the moment his eyes had connected with hers, his world had shifted on its axis. It was the most peculiar thing.
His heart had started hammering within his chest. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, not even if he tried. His palms had started sweating.
And he'd gone utterly weak in the knees.
Conner had never experienced such a reaction before, especially not when staring at another. For a vague moment, he'd thought he was getting sick – which was impossible. But no. It was because of Kagome Higurashi. She had brought out all of those new feelings without a single word. All it took was one look.
One look and he was a goner.
KH*CK*KH*CK
It took a while – and a lot of embarrassing fumbling on his part – but he had managed to get the girl. Between missions, training, and nosy teammates, Conner was surprised Kagome had even accepted one date with him. But one date had turned into two, then three, then he was escorting her home every day he wasn't busy, and by the seventh date, he felt confident and secure in the relationship.
Until he'd had to reveal his true identity.
It was the weekend, and Conner had managed to snag a few hours to see Kagome. The League members were still unsure about his control – especially his anger management issues – but even they could see that being around the raven haired beauty was good for him. Thus, he was allowed more time outside of the Young Justice headquarters, and without escorts (chaperones).
They had been eating lunch at a café Kagome favored, talking and laughing.
Then hell had broken loose when, across the street, the front of a bank blew up. Conner had reacted instantly, knocking Kagome down to the ground, and covering her with his own body.
As screams and sheer panic erupted on the streets, everyone running and trying to call the police department for help, Conner slowly sat up, sharp blue eyes scanning and making sure the robbers didn't get away. From underneath him, Kagome coughed to clear the smoke from her lungs.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
She waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, I'm fine," she assured. Amethyst orbs carefully took in the destruction and chaos flaring around them. "What happened?"
"Looks like someone is robbing the bank," he answered, frowning. It was his duty to stop the bad guys, but what about Kagome? He couldn't leave her right in the middle of things. That would be irresponsible, not to mention dangerous.
Before more could be said, gun shots rang out, a line of bullets spraying in random directions.
"Shit!" He could immediately tell they were about to get hit, so he did the only thing he could.
Conner covered Kagome with his body again, acting as a shield. It wasn't like bullets could hurt him and his only thoughts were on protecting his girlfriend. She was his number one priority at that moment.
"Conner," she called out, concerned. When his body twitched as he was struck, tears filled her eyes, but he refused to move. His clothes were being shredded from the holes, but he had more important things to worry about.
Like coming up with a perfect explanation as to why he wasn't injured or filled with new holes when this was over.
When the shots abruptly stopped, Conner looked over his shoulder to see what was happening. He blinked, confused and surprised, when he saw the robbers were struggling with their guns. Said weapons were, oddly enough, glowing pink. What…?
"Go and stop them," Kagome said, strangely calm.
His attention snapped back to her, eyes widening when he saw her own eyes were glowing the same pink as the guns. What was going on? Was she doing that?
"Kagome," he started, but was cut off.
"Go and stop them before they get away, Conner," she repeated. Her lips quirked into a small smile. "I guess we're going to have a long conversation when this is over, huh?"
He blinked, then felt a smirk spread across his face. "Yeah, looks like it. Stay here." With that, he easily jumped to his feet, confidently stepping forward to take care of the criminals. Kagome's display of power had left him oddly energized and a little weak in the knees. It was the strangest feeling, but he was starting to be familiar with it when dealing with her.
Maybe this was what falling in love felt like?
KH*CK*KH*CK
Their biggest argument happened when Conner found out Kagome had been offered a position with Young Justice. What made it worse was that Superman had been the one to approach her.
Conner had always known how fiery her temper could be, how stubborn and hardheaded she was. They were qualities he had found attractive, mostly because he'd needed someone emotionally strong in order to handle his own short temper and argumentative personality. When he pushed, she pushed back just as hard if not harder.
Right now, however, he wished she would just give in and listen to him. Just follow his orders for once in her life. Couldn't she see he was just trying to protect her?
"I don't understand why you're so against this," Kagome exclaimed, cheeks flushed with anger and from yelling for the past two hours. Thankfully, they were in the room he'd been given at the Young Justice headquarters. If not, everyone for miles around would've heard the couple.
Conner tried his best to reign in his temper, but it wasn't doing any good. "And I don't understand why you can't just listen to me for once," he yelled back. "I don't want you joining Young Justice, Kagome. It's as simple as that."
"It's not simple at all, Conner," she spat, eyes narrowing. "If Superman thinks I can do this – that I'll be an asset to the team – then I'm going to do it. You act as though I don't have any training or experience. Has it occurred to you that I can even spar with you without getting seriously hurt? I'm not defenseless!" Not anymore. Journeying around the Warring States Era of Japan had made sure of that, as she'd told him (and the others) countless times.
She missed the adventure. She missed her old friends, her second family. Joining Young Justice would be a good way of memorializing everything she'd been taught and learned. Being a normal teenager just wasn't enough anymore.
Conner slashed a hand through the air. "That's different, and you know it. Sparring and real combat isn't anything alike. You could get seriously hurt."
"It's not like I'm going out there alone," she argued. "That's why we're a team. We have others who will watch our backs, like how we would watch theirs."
He released a gusty breath, exasperated and frustrated with her. "I said no, and that's final, Kagome," he said firmly, eyes the hardest she'd ever seen, especially when looking at her. "You can't join Young Justice. I won't let you."
Tears were starting to sting her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The entire conversation was so frustrating. It was almost like dealing with Inuyasha all over again. Wasn't she good enough? Wasn't she good enough to stand by Conner's side and fight with him?
"You haven't even given me a chance to prove myself," she said softly, bottom lip trembling.
He shook his head, not wanting to meet her eyes right then. He knew if he did, at that moment, he'd cave. When it came to Kagome, Conner would do anything for her. She was his ultimate weakness. If anything were to happen to her… No. He refused to think about that. It wasn't going to happen. He'd been doing his best to keep her safe, then this had to happen.
Kagome sat heavily on his bed, head bowed. Her hands clenched onto the fabric of her skirt until her knuckles turned white. There wasn't a point in joining the team if Conner didn't want her around. They wouldn't be able to work together, and that would put a strain on the team dynamic. Someone could end up getting seriously hurt because of that.
Shoulders shaking, she let the tears loose, trailing hot paths down her cheeks, to drip onto her hands. She was such an idiot, thinking she could stay by Conner's side.
When she sniffled, Conner tensed, the anger draining from him, knowing he'd just made his girlfriend cry. Shit. He felt like such a jackass. He hadn't meant for things to go this far. Fixing the situation, however, would mean letting her join Young Justice. He'd been so sure that he would be okay with stopping her by any means necessary, but at what cost?
Sighing, he slowly walked towards her. When she didn't move – didn't acknowledge his presence – he flinched.
"Kagome," he gently said. When she turned her head away, he sighed again. Easily lifting her, he took her previous seat, and settled her into his lap. When she still refused to look at him, he nuzzled the area where her shoulder and neck met, breathing in her sweet scent, as his arms wrapped securely around her waist. Gods, she was so tiny compared to him. It would be so easy to hurt her. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry."
"Why won't you let me join the team?" she whispered.
"I don't want you to get hurt. Don't you know that it would destroy me if anything happened to you?" he answered, equally soft.
Kagome finally looked at him, eyes wet with tears. Even this upset, Conner still found her the most beautiful girl in the world. "Then, wouldn't it be better if I fought by your side? We could watch each other's backs."
"I'm a bit more… immune to certain things than you are," he dryly pointed out.
Her chin lifted arrogantly, a trait she may have picked up from him. "I can form barriers around both of us."
Conner leaned forward enough to press a kiss against said chin. His lips twitched into a small smirk. Gods above, he adored her. "You know I'm still against this, right? There's no way you're leaving my sight whenever we go out on a mission." He touched his forehead to hers, eyes locked. "I'm going to be stuck to you like white on rice. I hope you're ready to be really annoyed."
Her smile came back, every breathtaking inch of it. "As if you don't do that already," she teased. "So, you're really okay with it? With me joining Young Justice with you?"
"Not… completely," he told her honestly. He cupped her cheek, enjoying the silky texture against his hand. "But I'd rather be able to stay by your side – to protect you – rather than us fighting and being mad at each other."
"You won't regret this, Conner, I promise."
He scoffed. "We'll see about that." Flipping their positions so that she was sprawled out on his bed, he hovered over her as his gaze softened. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Kagome."
"Conner…"
He cut her off by slanting his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply and with every emotion he felt for her. He knew the answer to his statement, had known it since the very beginning. He wouldn't be able to go on without her. It wouldn't be just a 'crash and burn.' He would lose himself to the sheer grief. It drove him crazy just thinking about it.
As he pulled their clothes off, their touches and kisses becoming more passionate and heated, Conner was certain of one thing:
Kagome was his Kryptonite.
KH*CK*KH*CK
Time Skip – 5 Years Later
He was glaring holes into her, but Kagome didn't care. She just wouldn't look at Conner, like she always did when she got injured during a mission. Besides, it had been to save him, so why was he so mad? It didn't matter that he would've walked away without a hitch – it was the principle of the matter.
If she could take a hit meant for him – or for any of their other teammates – then she would. She wasn't a teenager anymore. She was an adult, therefore, could make her own decisions.
Kagome placed a hand over her ribs, pain pulsing throughout her body. Luckily, she could tell nothing was broken, but she suspected her ribs were cracked. Bandaging it would be a little problematic, but she'd dressed injuries that were far worse.
"You should head to the infirmary and get that looked at," Nightwing said, concerned. "That was a pretty nasty hit you took."
She nodded, grimacing. "Yeah," she agreed, "I'll do that. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Kagome slowly but steadily made her way to the infirmary. When she got inside, she immediately went to the cabinet that held the supplies she needed. And pouted.
"Why would someone put the bandages so high up?" she muttered bitterly to herself. "They know I'm short, I bet that's why. Yeah, make fun of the short, Asian girl… Jerks." Now what? She'd have to find a stool or something to stand on.
"I got it," Conner's voice suddenly said, easily reaching up, thus caging her between his body and the cabinet, to retrieve the necessary items.
Kagome huffed. "I bet you're the one who put it there to begin with."
"So what if I did?" he replied, still obviously annoyed with her. When he got the supplies, he held it, refusing to hand it over.
"What are you even doing in here?" she snapped. She didn't turn to face him. Watching his reflection through the glass was more than enough.
Conner sighed. Over the years, his anger management issues had gotten better, but a part of him would always have a short fuse when it came to Kagome, especially when criminals decided to kidnap her or otherwise target her in any way. Their latest mission had been a good example. After she'd taken the hit meant for him, was sent flying several feet before crashing, he'd seen red. It had taken everything in him to stop from outright beating her attacker to death.
"You know why. Now, let me see your injury. We should wrap it before it gets worse."
Kagome hunched her shoulders defensively. "I can do it myself," she mumbled.
"Don't be stubborn, Kagome. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."
Her cheeks heated in embarrassment, and she whipped around to finally face him. "W-Who said anything about getting n-naked?" she sputtered. She would've slapped him on the chest for the comment if her ribs weren't so sore. Besides, it wasn't like he would actually feel it. Stupid mini-Man of Steel.
Conner smirked arrogantly – and damn her heart for fluttering at the handsome expression. "It got you to face me, didn't it?"
Faster than she expected, he easily shifted and moved her body to his liking, shedding her top off, and quickly bandaging her ribs, and all without causing her the slightest twinge of agony. What the hell? When had he learned to do all of that? She sure as hell hadn't taught him, considering he barely got injured like the rest of the team.
"Hey," she protested when his hands started checking her for other injuries. Or, rather, his hands started traveling to more intimate areas. "W-What are you doing, Conner? Someone could walk in at any moment."
He scoffed, "Like that's stopped us before."
"And look where that's gotten us," she retorted, cheeks flaming the hottest they had ever been in a while. "Megan still can't look me in the eye. And I swear every time I see her, Black Canary gives me this look, like she did when she caught us the first time all over again."
Conner rolled his eyes, but stopped his ministrations. It wasn't like he was actually going to make love to her right then. Her ribs were cracked, for Christ's sake. "Megan won't look you in the eye, because she's Megan," he said, like it should be obvious. "And Black Canary is a closet pervert. You're the only one just figuring that out." He didn't actually have proof about the latter, but he had his theories.
Kagome's mouth dropped open in shock. "I can't believe you just said that."
He brushed the current subject away, focusing on something much more important. "Whatever. Can't you just thank me for helping you?" His expression turned pinched, shoulders tensing. "You did, after all, take a hit meat for me – as misguided as that was, by the way."
Her nose scrunched up cutely. "And can't you just thank me for taking that hit meant for you? As misguided as that wasn't, by the way."
"… Thank you." He touched his forehead to hers, staring into her eyes. "I love you," he softly said. Watching her fly through the air like that had zapped him of his strength, leaving him weak in the knees. Having her there, standing in front of him, reassured him that everything was going to be okay. That she was okay. But that didn't mean he wouldn't worry, wouldn't try harder to protect her.
She was, after all, his Kryptonite.
Kagome smiled, eyes softening with affection. "And thank you for bandaging me," she replied. "I love you, too, Conner. So much."
He smirked. "I know." Easily lifting her into his arms, he started walking out of the infirmary. "Let's go back to our room."
"Whatever my dear fiancé wants," she giggled, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.
Conner snorted, though his lips twitched into an affectionate smile. "When has that ever been true?"
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