Spark (Young Justice Fanfiction) COMPLETED :)

I'm Trying to Be Nicer, So?

BROOKDALE
March 20; 06:12 EDT

Alya sat in her bed, having arrived in her dorm not only two hours ago. Alya has yet to fall asleep fearing that she wouldn't be able to stay asleep. Her mind kept on going back to Artemis. Alya's eyes drifted to Sam, her roommate was sound asleep, having no idea what had happened that night. Sam and Alya didn't have the best relationship, some would say that the two girls hated each other, always have since the first day of school last year. Some would say that the two have a mutual dislike and respect for each other, but Alya knew that it was the latter. For the first time in Alya's life, she wanted to talk to someone, she wants to tell someone how she was feeling, Alya tried calling Marie, several times. But it was like the older Jordan was avoiding her calls. Alya thought about being stupid and even calling Hal's phone and leaving a lengthy voice message, but she didn't want to be stupid. Alya even considered calling Carol, but Alya didn't want to disturb her uncle's girlfriend this early in the morning. Alya racked her brain, trying to figure out who wouldn't mind her waking them. And only one person came to her mind.

"Not that I'm complaining...but why are we up at what, sixty-thirty on a Sunday morning?" James Black questioned Alya, as he walks up to her. Alya had been waiting for him in the courtyard since she had called him asking if they could talk in person.

Alya raised her head, looking at him. James quickly noticed the tears threatening to slip from her eyes as she takes a shaky breath, James opened his mouth to ask if she was okay, but she was already speaking. "I--I, I just saw someone die..." Her voice was weak and small. It was almost like it wasn't her own, Alya doesn't come off as weak, she was a strong and proud girl, who didn't stutter, who always knew what to say. "It happened so fast... I was helping take down missiles."

"Cool," James said quickly, before clearing his throat just as fast. "Sorry."

"Marie was up there was with me too, but when Aqualad came out of the water, she quickly left my side and went down to fight," Alya told him, wiping her eyes, looking away from James not wanting him to see her cry. "And then I don't even remember what happened, all I really remember is Aqualad knocking Marie and Nightwing to the side, I panicked. I teleported to Marie's side, as Artemis fought him. I didn't even think of fighting him, it wasn't an option in my mind. B-but maybe if I had h-help--" Alya lets out of soft sob, James looked at Alya with sad eyes as he listens to every word that Alya was telling him. "Maybe Artemis wouldn't have died." Alya closes her eyes, as the image of Artemis's dead body flashes in her mind.

"Or you would have." James retorts, stuffing his hands in his pocket, he took at sit next to Alya, who was sitting on top of the table.

"I know it only just happened... but all I see is her body," Alya tells him. "Everyone is mourning... all of them are together. They all have someone to talk to about this. But I'm such a jerk, I ruin any chance of them being my friends, and I'm all alone... with this guilt eating me up. What's the point of being a hero... if you can't save people? What's the point of being a hero if you can't even save yourself. Artemis was a hero and she didn't even save herself. A better hero than me, how am I going to protect myself and the others around me." Alya opened her eyes, she turned her head to James, looking into his hazel eyes. "What's the point of being a hero if you're just going to turn bad. Aqualad was a hero... a good one, one of the best... and he's the one who killed her. A friend. He was once her friend... her teammate. How could he just do that." Alya looked away from him and at her hands where she saw lightning dancing at her fingertips. "I'm not a good person... at least that's what everyone tells me. Sam, Dylan, Aidan... and if Elle could get more than two words... I'm sure she would tell me the same. The team, my uncle, Marie... they all act like I have a big redemption ahead of me like I'm some supervillain."