Behind the Smile ~ Bart Allen

Mirrors ~ Extra

           

"Now Bart, I want you to look into the mirror," Black Canary said, placing a hand on Bart Allen's shoulder. He stood in front of a full length mirror that could touch every detail of his exterior. Bart looked into it briefly before looking away again. "So...what do you see?" she asked.

"Myself," Bart replied.

Black Canary sighed, "Yes, but what do you see in yourself when you look at the mirror?"

"...I see..." Bart thought for a moment, but ended with a shrug.

"It might help if you look at yourself..."

Bart did as he was told, "...I still don't know..."

"How about we try it another way, look in the mirror and come up with some positive attributes you like about yourself," Black Canary answered.

Bart tried to think of a good one as fast as he could, which was pretty fast, so she wouldn't bug him about it anymore. "Uh...I'm a good..." Bart started, "runner...?"

Black Canary's face morphed into concern, "is that all you see good?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Bart stated shrugging.

"Well," She replied, her face softening, "By the end of your time with me in these sessions, that'll change. You'll soon realize how amazing you are. How talented and handsome you are."

Bart shook his head, "that is highly unlikely."

"How so?"

Bart sighed and looked away from his reflection, recoiling in disgust, "I know I don't deserve to think highly of myself or anyone else to..."

"Why not?" Black Canary asked, confusion etched on her face.

"Because of everything I've done and how pathetic I am..."

"You aren't pathetic Bart and you've done nothing wrong..."

"Uh huh. You don't know what I've done or anything."

"You're right," Black Canary said, placing her hands on her hips, "I don't. From what I've seen, though, you are brave and helpful, not pathetic. You save lives."

"No I don't," Bart explained, scrunching his eyebrows into a sorrowful look, "I take them."

Black Canary was shocked, "...You don't take lives..."

Bart nodded, blinking back wet tears that threatened to fall, "I'm a murderer." He glanced at his reflection once more with a look full of hate, which was directed towards himself.

Black Canary still wore a shocked expression and gestured Bart to sit down in the chair across from the mirror. Bart sat down and Black Canary followed across from him."Bart...what happened to your parents?"

Bart was taken aback by that question, "W-what do you mean?"

"You never talk about them," Black Canary explained in a soft and soothing way.

"My parents..." Bart whispered, looking down. When he looked back up his face was red and puffy from the silent tears he spilled, "I don't know..."

"No, I think you do."

Bart sighed, "I killed them."

Black Canary bit her lip, "Please explain..."

"Well..." Bart replied, "They left to fight and never came back..."

"How does that make you a killer, Bart?"

"I could've stopped them from leaving."

Black Canary shook her head, "Not really. How young were you?"