Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice.

A/N: This is it; last chapter. Please enjoy and thank you all for reading this fic and leaving your comments and critiques. After this, I plan to go back and continue Necklace of Teeth.

Xxxx

Love-making was not one of the things that the G-gnomes taught Conner about. They taught him about fucking, about one-night stands, about the heart-break that's sure to come, about what a woman feels like and what a man feels like; they taught him what it would feel like when someone wrapped their hand around his dick or put their tongue in his mouth; they taught him about the pleasure of an orgasm and what it feels like to dominate to be in control.

They did not teach him about being flat on his back with his legs spread; they did not teach him about Kaldur's careful deft fingers as they move and prepare him; they did not teach him about Kaldur's language and how beautiful it would sound in his ear as Kaldur kissed him and licked him; they did not teach him about feeling vulnerable but safe; they did not teach him about what love would feel like as it blossomed in his chest.

Kaldur is slow with him, but instead of feeling tedious, it felt right. Kaldur presses and bites hard enough to give Conner a spark of welcomed pain before he kisses or licks it away, leaving a steady throb of ache in Conner's belly.

"You're beautiful," Kaldur whispers in his ear, and for once, Conner believes it.

When Kaldur slips inside Conner, like he's always belonged there, Conner's eyes burn with tears and the darkness behind his eyelids is streaked with red lightning bolts. His breath hitches and jolts in his lungs, and there's pressure building at the base of his spine and spreading through his limbs as Kaldur moves, hips jerking with careful thrusts until he finally builds a steady rhythm.

His breath is hot against Conner's neck as he whispers lovely promises:

"I'll be with you forever and ever. I'll give you the sea and the sky; I'll give you everything you've ever wanted and more; I'll never let you go." As if to prove his metal, Kaldur wraps his arms around Conner and presses them together, Conner's aching red cock trapped between their bellies. Conner makes a small noise and rolls his hips back to meet Kaldur's thrusts. There are stars exploding behind his eyelids, brilliant and white and perfect.

"I love you." Conner says and even though the words feel strange and awkward in his mouth, they still send warmth throughout his veins.

Kaldur smiles against his neck and his voice is full of conviction. "I love you, too."

For once in his short life, Conner doesn't feel like a stranger in his life, and when his orgams crashes over him, he lets out a sound that sounds like a cross between a sigh of relief and a noise of pure, unadulterated joy.

. . . .

"Will you dress up for me?"

Conner rolls so that his head comes to rest on Kaldur's shoulder while the other absently traces Kryptonian symbols on his chest. "Hmm?"

"Will you dress up for me?"

"I will for you."

"But for the others?"

"I—I don't know."

Kaldur takes a hold of Conner's hand in a lax grip and kisses his wrist. "You know we all care for you."

"I know, but I just want it to be for you."

"How do you mean?"

"Only you and Dick know who I am; who I really am, and I'd like to keep it like that for now."

Kaldur's brows furrow in confusion. "I'm still unsure of why you would want to hide it from the others, Conner."

Conner searches his brain for a moment and carefully forms the words on his tongue before he replies. "It's because, as of right now, I only trust you and Dick with this. I just want it to be you two who see who I really am."

And jealousy must be as plain as day on Kaldur's face because Conner smiles, and a chuckle vibrates his frame as he slides on top of Kaldur, skin still damp with sweat. He kisses him, slow and soft laced with a little hesitance.

Conner smirks against Kaldur's ear. "That being said, you're the only one I want inside me, touching me, loving me. Just you and only you."

Kaldur captures his lips and Conner swallows his doubts.

. . . .

Dick smiles at them when he sees them together and blows Conner a kiss.

It's enough and Kaldur gives a slow nod of his head while Conner mimicks his action.

It's alright, this secret between all three of them because while Conner is still very much an enigma to himself, his bones have finally settled in his frame, and even though he doesn't wear his women's clothing outside of his alone time with dick or Kaldur, he wears makeup: a soft eyeshadow, a smear of lipstick, a bit of blush or perfume. He's allowing the others to see glimpses of himself—of the Conner Kent Cadmus tried to bury beneath a symbol and a name.

When Conner steps out into the sunlight with his teammates as they head to M'gann's ship, he smiles, and for the first time what feels like a lifetime, it feels right on his face.