The cool, sterile lights of Mount Justice's kitchen provided a gentle contrast to the warmth shared between two young heroes sitting side by side. The Justice League's covert headquarters was normally a place of business, filled with the quiet hum of technology and the distant echoes of a world that needed saving. But tonight, it was just Conner and you-two young people enjoying a moment of normalcy in a life that was anything but.
Conner sat at the kitchen counter, his usual stoic expression softened by the simple pleasure of eating ice cream. His broad shoulders, typically tensed from the weight of responsibility, were relaxed for once. His black T-shirt, the one with the iconic red Superman symbol, stretched over his muscled frame as he leaned forward slightly, scooping another bite of vanilla ice cream from the bowl in front of him. You watched him with a smile, your own bowl of chocolate ice cream nearly forgotten as you took in the rare sight of Conner letting his guard down.
The two of you had spent countless nights together like this, finding solace in each other's company amidst the chaos of your lives as young heroes. It wasn't easy-juggling missions, training, and the constant danger that came with being part of the Team-but moments like these made it all worthwhile. Moments where it was just the two of you, no missions, no threats, just Conner and you sharing something sweet and simple.
"How can you eat vanilla when there's literally every other flavor?" you teased, nudging him playfully with your elbow. Conner shrugged, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I like vanilla," he said simply, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement. "It's... reliable."
You couldn't help but laugh at that. Conner was reliable, in his own way. A pillar of strength, always there when you needed him, even if he didn't always know how to express his emotions. But that was okay. You had come to understand him, to read the subtle changes in his expression, the way his blue eyes softened when he looked at you, the way his lips twitched into a barely-there smile when he found something funny, even if he didn't always laugh out loud.
"You're so predictable, Kent," you said with a grin, taking another spoonful of your chocolate ice cream. "But I guess that's why I like you."
Conner's gaze flicked up to meet yours, something unspoken passing between you in that moment. His eyes lingered on you, searching, as if he was trying to find the right words to respond. He wasn't always good with words, especially when it came to feelings, but you didn't need words to know what he was thinking. It was there, in the way he looked at you, in the way he leaned just a little closer, his shoulder brushing against yours.
"Yeah?" he said finally, his voice low and almost hesitant, as if he was afraid of breaking the fragile connection between you. "I like you too."
The simplicity of his words, the sincerity behind them, made your heart skip a beat. There was something so genuine about Conner, something that made you feel safe and cherished in a way you hadn't felt with anyone else. You knew he wasn't the type to say things he didn't mean, and the fact that he said it at all made it all the more special.
For a few moments, the two of you sat in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's presence. The kitchen around you was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the refrigerator and the soft clink of your spoons against the bowls. It was peaceful, almost serene, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of Mount Justice.
You were about to take another bite of your ice cream when you noticed something that made you pause. There, on the tip of Conner's nose, was a small smudge of vanilla ice cream. It was such a small thing, almost insignificant, but the sight of it made you smile. Conner, the strong and stoic Superboy, sitting there with ice cream on his nose without even realizing it. It was such a rare, human moment that you couldn't help but laugh.
Conner looked up at you, puzzled by your sudden laughter. "What?" he asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"You've got a little something..." you said, gesturing to your own nose to show him where the ice cream was. "Right there."
He frowned slightly, going cross-eyed as he tried to look at the tip of his own nose, which only made you laugh harder. The corners of his mouth twitched upward in response, a reluctant smile forming as he watched you laugh. He reached up to wipe his nose, but you stopped him, gently catching his wrist.
"Wait, let me," you said, still smiling as you reached forward with your other hand. Slowly, carefully, you wiped the smudge of ice cream from his nose with your thumb, your touch lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. His skin was warm beneath your fingertips, a contrast to the cold ice cream.
When you pulled back, Conner was looking at you in that way he did sometimes, his blue eyes soft and intense all at once, like he was seeing you for the first time. Your breath hitched slightly at the way he was looking at you, so open and vulnerable, as if he was silently asking you for something, though he didn't know how to ask for it.
You felt your heart beating faster, a rush of warmth spreading through you. The playful mood from before had shifted into something deeper, something that made your pulse quicken and your stomach flutter with anticipation. It was as if the world around you had faded away, leaving just the two of you in this quiet, intimate moment.
Without really thinking about it, you leaned in closer, your gaze flicking down to Conner's lips for just a fraction of a second before returning to his eyes. His expression softened even more, his own gaze dipping briefly to your lips in response. The unspoken question hung in the air between you, waiting for an answer.
You didn't give yourself time to overthink it. You just acted, closing the small distance between you and pressing your lips to his in a soft, gentle kiss. The taste of vanilla ice cream lingered on his lips, sweet and cool against your own. For a moment, everything else disappeared-there was no Team, no missions, no danger, just the warmth of Conner's lips on yours, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your hand as it rested on his chest.
Conner kissed you back just as softly, his movements tentative at first, as if he was afraid of doing something wrong. But when he felt you respond, felt the way you melted into him, he seemed to relax, his hand coming up to cup the side of your face, his thumb brushing lightly against your cheek.
The kiss was slow and tender, a gentle exploration of something new, something neither of you had dared to acknowledge until now. When you finally pulled back, both of you were slightly breathless, your foreheads resting against each other as you took a moment to just breathe.
Conner's eyes fluttered open, and you saw a mixture of surprise, wonder, and something else-something deeper-reflected in his gaze. He looked at you like you were the most important person in the world, like he couldn't quite believe what had just happened but didn't want it to end.
"Wow," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile magic of the moment.
You smiled, your heart swelling with affection for the boy who had somehow become so much more than just a teammate, so much more than just a friend. "Yeah," you agreed softly, your fingers brushing against his as they rested on the counter. "Wow."
For a while, neither of you said anything more. You just sat there, close enough to feel the warmth of each other's presence, a comfortable silence settling over you. Eventually, Conner reached for his spoon again, a small, almost shy smile playing on his lips as he took another bite of his ice cream.
"Still think vanilla's boring?" he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
You laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Maybe not," you admitted, giving him a playful nudge. "But I still think you need to try more flavours."
Conner chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "As long as you're there to share them with me," he said, his tone soft and sincere.
You felt your heart skip a beat at his words, and you couldn't help but smile. "Deal," you said, reaching for your own spoon.
.
