AN: This is just an idea I had in my head for a while. It's just a really short one shot about my baby Artemis and all her angst. It's based on Jesse's speech from Breaking Bad, episode "Problem Dog." It's on youtube, so please go check it out. :) I hope you enjoy, sorry for the shortness!
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice or Breaking Bad. God, I wish I did.
This whole thing is about self acceptance. Knowing that my friends love me, that I've saved innocent people, and that I've persevered through so much should be enough to be proud. But I'll never be proud, I'll never be able to stand up and say I'm a good person, or that I deserve a happy existence like everyone else. My friends always tell me I'm not like my family, that they'll always care for me. It makes me smile, even if I don't believe it. I love my friends with all the pieces of my heart I have left. I'll always have those fond memories to hang onto. Playing pranks on Wally with Rob, shopping with Zatanna in Manhattan, spending time with M'Gann.
M'Gann.
The name that I loved to roll off my tongue everyday. The name of the person who never doubted or pushed me aside for a second. Then, there was Aqualad. All those long sparing matches and knowing smiles that were exchanged between us. Truly, he was like an older brother. As was Conner, in a way. I never really felt the need to bond with him when I first joined the team. I just flirted with him because it was a fun idea at the time. But, that was before a few months back. I remember the storm outside raging on as I read a book on the couch. I had been aware of him staring at me for a good five minutes, but I figured he'd talk when he was ready.
"Can you dance?" he asked me suddenly. I was taken aback, but when he further explained, I found myself trying to decide between a smile and a glare. I was glad he loved M'Gann so much that he would want to make her Winter Formal a good experience. It still hurt that the beautiful martian girl had found love somewhere else, but she was in good hands it seemed. I stayed up hours teaching that boy just how to sway back and forth. I'm pretty sure I pulled my hair out a couple times too. At the end of the day, seeing my two friends come home in a good mood was satisfying. Though, I'd never admit to it.
My friends trusted me with their lives on a regular basis, and I made sure never to get lazy or disappoint them. Even after I sabotaged the mission in New Orleans, they still came around. Hell, even Kid Idiot came around. When they found out my origins, who my parents were, they said it didn't matter.
But it does matter. My family has hurt and killed so many people, I was raised to hurt and kill so many people. I was born to be like them, and it could happen at any time in any place. But is that alright? No matter how many lies I tell or how many people I hurt, I just go to bed and move on? Do I accept? What a load of shit. Black Canary would say to have some confidence, Wally would say I don't need to be so insecure. Why not? There's no reason why I shouldn't be. I'll always be daddy's little girl. As much as I don't want to be, no one can take that away from me. But hey, this whole thing is about self acceptance right? I accept what I am, and I accept that until I turn to the dark side, I will love and protect my family no matter what. My real family. Wally, Robin, Zatanna, all of them. I'll always fight for them, no one else. I accept that.