Fifteen: Breaking and Fixing
Myself, Hal and John began destroying the underground basement of a cottage in the middle of a Wisconsin forest. Upstairs, Doctor Fate and Siren were expanding the cottage itself, into a proper house.
"This is going to take forever," I sigh heavily, dispersing the wrecking ball I had created with my ring. We now stood in a dimly lit, ginormous hole.
"I'm sure the builders from the Planet Beltoro will be here soon. Maybe we should deepen it some more," John suggests. I sigh and create a massive jack hammer.
"At what point were we converted from heroes to demolition men?" Hal complains.
"Not a man," I mumble, taking out a whole floor's worth of dirt. I open a portal and send it away.
"Where are you moving all of this mud and dirt by the way?" John asks, floating mid-air beside me. I grin and tell him not to worry, mentally picturing Klarion's mansion being absolutely covered in brown muck.
"Anywhere that won't touch my hair," I say. John looks at me in confusion.
"You never cared about that before," he says.
"Don't you remember? I have that shoot today. Cliff's new company XXO."
"When did you decide to take part?"
"Yesterday."
He looks at me wearily for a moment. I ignore it and portal out more dirt that Hal destroys. "Should you not have consulted Richard first?" He asks.
"Yes but I cant, can I?" I snap immediately, scaring myself. I sigh and lower my hands. "I'm sorry," I say.
Slowly, I have begun to accept that maybe things will always be this way. Maybe he will never get his memories back; maybe he will never have the moments we share, like I do.
I have tried and tried to decode the stupid vague message the 'mother' sent me. Why couldn't she just say 'oh here, this is what you need to do', and send me on my way?
"Aqualad to Hana," my com beeps in my ear.
"Go ahead."
"Could you please report to the warehouse, I need to speak with you."
"Of course."
I bid Hal and John goodbye, before leaving the basement (or hole) through a portal. It weakens me considerably, but I deep down hope that it hurts Midnight.
Outside of the warehouse is where I end up. I walk through the door to see Kaldur talking with Batman. Both turn and stare at me.
"Where is everyone?" I ask quietly.
"In the Watchtower."
"And you need me because?"
The two look at each other, before Bruce walks closer, speaking in a calm tone.
"You have been absent from the team for quite sometime. Do you plan on coming back? Be reminded, your duties as a Green Lantern may be more straining than what they were."
I frown at both of them. "Of course I'm coming back. Things have just been... you know."
"Of course. But I have something else to ask," Kaldur says, his expression changing. He walks close to me, which worries me more than you'd think.
"I want you to take over my position in leading the team."
His words do not sink in for a while, until something clicks. "Wait, your position?... You mean-"
"During your unconscious time, Nightwing resigned from the team to take up his own crime fighting in Blüdhaven, and to gather his thoughts after losing Wally. He put me in charge."
"And you're leaving because?"
He smiles, "after my time away from Atlantis, I would like to return. Plus, there are many loose ends within Black Manta's organization, that I would like to tie up."
I stare in surprise at the two of them for a moment, before bursting. "Why me!? I've lead only a couple of missions over the past few years! All of them with you and Nightwing by my side!"
"Why are you so worried? Have you forgotten what you've been through? That you're a Green Lantern?"
... Oh. Right. That.
I take a deep breath and sit on the couch. "The Team is nothing without you guys. What about M'gann or Conner?"
"Neither are as qualified as you. Not willing."
I'm not willing either, I want to say. But how weak does that sound?
My ring begins a beeping pattern. A phone call going from my mobile, to my ring. Why is everyone trying to contact me? I answer. "Hana. Where are you? You're late!" Cliff shrills through the speaker.
"Oh God the photoshoot!" I blurt. I am sprinting to the zeta-tubes and receding my uniform within seconds, leaving Aqualad and Bats without an answer.
~
The first set of photos take over seven hours to do. I have so far starred in one hundred and four pieces, which means multiple make-up and hair styles.
It was those photos, along with Cleo's and Bailey's, that would be put on the XXO website. They were basic pieces with white backdrops.
The second set it for advertisements. These are to go around the XXO stores, and to advertise in general.
I noticed that most of the workload had been piled on me, which I honestly did not enjoy. Never the less, I was folded into dresses, jumpsuits, lingerie and swimwear, made to pose with different props.
By the time were were finished, after twelve hours in the studio, it was 11pm. I changed from my last costume back into the clothes I came in.
"How's Richard?" Cleo asks.
"Good," I answer shortly, pulling my shoes on.
"Just good?"
"Yeah, I mean, we're good. Great."
Cleo and Bailey give each other a look they must have hoped I did not see. I should probably try and fix that.
"He's actually dealing with some business in Blüdhaven this weekend," I say, hoping that my words have diminished any of their thoughts.
I'm not lying. It's why he has not been around; Bruce thought it would be good if we were apart, so he sent Dick to attend some conference in Blüdhaven.
It must work, because the two of them light up. "When does he get back?"
"Tomorrow," I lie, because I have no idea. "Just my pets and I tonight. But I am exhausted; so I'll see you girls later, alright?" I smile.
They nod and wave goodbye. I leave the dressing room to find Cliff and say goodbye. I spot him at the elevator doors, fawning over someone standing there.
I know that body. When Cliff moves, I see him. Dick stands there, in a jacket and jeans, staring at me. "Look who came to pick you up Hana!" Cliff sings, looking at him like a piece of meat to go on a platter.
"Hi," I say quietly.
"Hey," he replies. His smile makes me feel better.
I grin at Cliff. "I'll see you next time," I tell him cheerfully, holding my arms out for a hug. He does so, before leaving the two of us.
The elevator opens. The two of us walk in silently.
"I still don't know what to do," I blurt out, "but I'm trying," I add.
"I guess that's all we can do," he says, looking at me.
My arms tighten around my jacket, which is in my arms. "Not that I'm ungrateful, but what are you doing here?" I ask lightly, smiling at him.
"I needed to talk to you, before you got back to the manor."
"Oh," I say, looking away. "What is it?"
He doesn't say anything when the elevator door opens to the empty ground floor. The streets of Gotham are pitch black outside.
I release my coat but it is taken away from me. I look at Dick, who opens the jacket. I somewhat nervously put my arms through, before pulling the wool tight around me. Despite being summer, it's raining lightly.
"I wanted to apologize for not asking you about leaving the team," he begins.
"It's okay. It will always be up to you. Besides, I took this job without asking you."
He laughs, which sort of dispels any tension. We climb into the car in a nice silence. When he pulls the car out, I bring up something that has been worrying me.
"I realize, I haven't even asked; how are you, since what happened to Wally?"
He smiles slightly and stares at the road ahead. "I'm getting past is, sort of. He'll always be a big part of my life. I'm sure you know that.... But this break from the team. It should help. I just miss him, that's all."
I reach over and take hole of his right hand, which rests behind the gears. He looks at me and smiles. It makes me the happiest I have been over the last month.
"I wish I knew how to get your memories back," I whisper tiredly, resting my cheek against the back of my seat. His thumb brushes over mine gently.
"Do we have one in particularly special memory, like you do with everyone else?" He asks me. I glance down with a sigh at our hands.
"We do. So many. There's not just one."
I find I'm to tied to talk, by the time we are back at the manor. I yawn like crazy as we walk through the empty, quiet house.
It was quiet. The TV in Daph's room is on, plus I hear her and Jaime laughing.
The first door we reach is the room I have been sleeping in. I walk in to see Alfred has removed the medical equipment.
"Well, goodnight, Hana," Dick says from the doorway. I turn around and he begins to leave, but I do not think before I speak.
"Dick, wait!" I say, louder than I had meant. He reappears. "Would you...maybe...sleep with me tonight? It's just...I'm worried about nightmares."
Okay that last part may have been a lie. I just want to be near him. "Of course," he finally says, before going off to his room, I assume to get changed.
I myself throw on a singlet and some shorts. I make sure the pets are okay and remove my ring, before climbing into bed.
Under my pillow I find my phone. I had three missed calls, all from Misty, and one text from Conner. 'We hope you're okay', he says. I think he means M'gann.
They are lucky to be together. To be aware of everything that they have been through. I'm nearly jealous. Nearly.
I am snapped from my thoughts when the blanket moves. I tuck my phone away and smile at Dick, who reaches over and turns the lamp off, leaving the giant room in darkness and moonlight.
"Tell me about your childhood," he suddenly whispers. I am taken aback by the question. Why does he want to know about that? Not exactly a Disney Fairytale.
Nevertheless, I begin telling him about Lana, my Mother, being home-schooled, etc. As I speak, I begin to realise that maybe this is his way of preparing; maybe he does suspect that he will not get his memories back. He is setting himself up again so that we have a chance of being what we were before.
"Anyway, none of that matters," I admit, when I get to the point when we met. "I've found that my only important memories are with you, and the team."
"Why is that?" He whispers.
"It's where my happiest times have been," I answer after a while.
"I suppose. But isn't every memory important? Matched with every... I don't know, emotion?" He says. I blink in surprise. I had never thought of it that way.
"Every memory... I guess. Although I could do without some; fear of Conner when we first met. Some of M'gann's more annoying moments. Getting snappy with Artemis because she does it first. Wanting to slap Daphne for being over-confident. I could do without the memories that made me feel that way."
We are both silent for a while, facing each other. I am almost asleep when he speaks again.
"Are there any memories of me that you could do without?"
I open my eyes again. I guess there were times I have regret for; him finding out the truth when we were kids, his realizing of my care for Klarion.
"No. Everyone single one of my memories with you are important," I answer, yawning.
... Wait.
This time, when my eyes snap open I sit up too. What was the gift Mary and John Grayson had given me?
"When all is lost it is the most important memories we share with the one we love, that help us find our way again."
The mother said the answer to getting Dick's memories back is within my gifts. I repeat this information to Dick when he sits up.
"I can't bring your memories back like everyone else's, because there isn't just one special moment to do it! Your mother told me as one of my gifts that my most important memories with the one I love will help me find my way again - my way back to you! What's been holding me back is choosing which memory; but that's just it!"
He switches the lamp on, his eyes never leaving me.
"Every memory with you is an important memory. There isn't just one, and if there was- it's you in general!"
~
I MISSED YOU! IT'S BEEN A WHILE!
I missed you all very much. I had a lot going on, but I'm back! I turned 16 over that time by the way xD Happy birthday to me ^^
A longer than usual chapter, but I definitely enjoyed writing it xD Perhaps a bit unedited but I will get to it.
Please check out my newest YJ fanfiction, Perfection Is A Prize! It's on Tim Drake.
Stay magical, love you all!
-Kaido
PS: I do not own Young Justice.
PPS: GUYS GUYS GUYS I AM NOW FULLY IN LOVE WITH BLUE BEETLE X IMPULSE! LONG ONE-SHOT COMING SOON!
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