.....
After a string of wild tiger attacks, it gave them a clue as to why dealing with when it came to Cadmus, they all looked to Aria for answers. She knew that it was going to come up eventually but she was hoping g she'd have time to stop them or even help Clark before having to talk about it.
"What exactly is Cadmus?" Dawn asked the blonde
"It's a military op that experiments on aliens and other different species, Clark and I have been trying to stop them for years," Aria explained to the group
"What would they take Conner for?" Donna asked looking at her
"Years ago, they took me and made me solar flare so they could use blood to create a virus that would've killed millions but we managed to get an antidote out so if it's anything like that then it could be worse," Aria explained some more
They had gotten a hit that they were downtown at the carnival which caused them to suit up and rush down there, Rachel was getting Gar back and the others were getting Conner back. Aria gave him a sad look since she saw that they had to brainwash him to hurt people and to give in to his Luthor side.
"Any ideas?" Dawn asked looking between the group
"Hey, Conner," Aria spoke getting his attention
"That's your idea? Hey, Conner?" Donna scolded the woman
"Conner, talk to me, what's going on?" Aria asked as she came closer to him
"Aria, I don't think that he's going to respond," Hank stated to the blonde
"Conner, we're family and we can help you, just tell us how," Aria pleaded with sad eyes
"Perfect timing, things are getting super fucking ugly out here," Hank remarked as Dick showed up
"You're not gonna make fun of my suit?" Dick asked the man
"I just did," Hank joked as they hugged
"I've missed this," Dick spoke as they all hugged
"We have a very angry Superboy, do you have thoughts?" Dawn asked the man
"Other than yelling, Hey, Conner, yeah but we need Rachel," Dick stated making Aria go and hug him
"Good to have you back," Aria mumbled as he hugged her back
"We're here," Rachel stated as she ran up to them
"Dick, it should be me, I'm the only connection to his good side he has left," Aria stated with pleading eyes
Dick nodded before they went to go try his plan, Aria opened her eyes to see a dark room with Conner laying curled up in a ball against the cold brick on the floor, she sighed and walked up to him before taking his hand to help him know she was there
"Fight this, Conner, I don't know what they're doing to you but you're going to be okay and you're not alone anymore and you gotta fight for your soul," Aria encouraged the man
"Her voice, she tells me what to do and I can't make it stop," Conner explained with a sob
"What is she telling you to do? Conner? Tell me how I can help you," Aria pleaded with him
"I can't" Conner whined before she paused
"You once asked me if I even think back at everything that I lost and asked myself if this job is worth it and I said it comes with the job but there is nowhere else I'd rather be than here with you at this moment," Aria comforted making him look at her
"You mean that?" Conner questioned as his voice cracked
"Yeah, you're more like my little brother and I love you," Aria stated with matching tears
"I can't find the light," Conner spoke with teary eyes
"Find the light," Aria mumbled before starting to break the brick causing it to break
Conner had looked at the light and then back at her with a smile as he soaked in the sun, they opened their eyes to see everyone around them. Aria walked up and gave him a hug which he accepted before he looked over to see Dick smiling. Donna had ended up dying to save Dawn from a falling tower which led Bruce Wayne to visit them and once he had left, Dick walked into Aria's room.
"So, instead of Supergirl and Robin, I was thinking of Supergirl and Nightwing," Dick spoke making her chuckle
"Supergirl and Nightwing, it is then," Aria agreed with a smile
"You did a good job bringing Conner back," Dick spoke as he plopped down on her bed
"It turns out that he needed some reassurance," Aria admitted looking at him
"And how are you?" Dick asked causing her to sigh
"I'm better than I was when we first came back here," Aria stated making him nod
"Thank you for never doubting me when it came to the Titans," Dick added in support
"One bad memory shouldn't hold us back from helping people," Aria reminded before he paused
"I'll let you get back to reading," Dick spoke as he stood up
"I didn't mean it when I said that it would've been better if we never meant," Aria stated making him pause
"I know," Dick spoke looking at her
"Well, the first bit about your infuriating male ego, that part I meant but the second part about us not being a match, I didn't mean that," Aria stated as she walked up to him
"That means that you loved me," Dick stated watching her
"I still do," Aria admitted making him smile
"That means nothing is stopping us," Dick spoke as she nodded her head
"Nope, nothing is stopping us," Aria stated in a soft tone
Dick chuckled before kissing her, she wrapped her arms around his neck as they kissed. She had started to feel silly for carrying around a little crush for the past five years but she was glad to know that he felt the same way about her.
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