Fire and Lightning (Book One) [Young Justice fanfic]

Chapter Twenty-Four- Remembering

October 23, 2010. 20:04.

Mount Justice. 

~~Emma~~

I didn't want to talk about it.

I didn't want to remember what was going on, I wanted to put a smile on my face and pretend it never happened. That's what I always did.

This time it was different, Bruce said.

This time I watched my friends die, he said, as if I couldn't comprehend that chaotic "failsafe" simulation on my own.

"Emma, I know you've been traumatized, but please, talk to me."

I sat in the waterfall room with Black Canary. It's soundproof walls made it the ideal place for a private conversation.

"Can...Can I..."

"What is it?" Dinah leaned forward in her seat.

I squeezed my arm. "Can we please do this later?"

Canary sighed. "Emma, then when are we going to be able to talk about this? I'm here to help, but I can't do that if you won't let me."

"Maybe I don't want any help." I mumbled, bringing my legs closer to my chest.

"This isn't like you, Emma. I know you don't shut people out." Dinah begged.

I was persistent. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Alright, how about I start, then?" Dinah suggested. I shrugged and she pushed ahead.

"You watched Artemis die, protected most of the team from Wildfire's reaction with your wings-" Even though it was a simulation, my back still felt a little tender. 

"You watched Willow die, and were brought out of shock by your younger brother, and after watching several American troops die, you tried to save Aqualad, but died yourself."

I continued staring at the floor. "I...I didn't want to lose him too. When...when I saw Willow die, I was half-expecting it. I saw...all I could see were my parents, John, Aunt Kayla, just...just lying so still."

Dinah leaned forward and took my hand. "I lost my sister, the previous Black Canary, a few years ago. Around the same time you lost your family, actually."

Sister. I heard Willow's angry voice in the back of my mind. I'd just wanted to help. I couldn't lose her again.

"...All I can say about that is...it gets better, Emma. It really does." Dinah finished with whatever she'd been talking about.

"Can I go now?" I practically begged her. "I just want to take a nap. With Justice."

Dinah sighed. "We can talk later." She agreed at last. I was out the door before she could change her mind.

My eyes squeezed shut to block the tears as I gasped for breath, leaning against the wall across the hall. A nap sounded really good about right then.

"Dragonfire?"

No, not now. I didn't need another thing to worry about. I didn't need any more confusion at the moment. And when he was there, there wasn't anything more confusing in my life.

"Dragonfire, what is wrong?" I felt Kaldur put his hand over mine.

Well, what did he think was wrong? We'd watched each other die. Our whole team died, for crying out loud!

"Do you need someone to talk to?" He asked. 

I almost shook my head no, but then I remembered what I promised him.