Disclaimer:
I don't own YJ that belongs to DC. The song "Open Wounds" is a song by Skillet and belongs to them and their producers.
Batman looked down at Robin. He nudged the boy and Robin looked up.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah…I was just a little worried," the Boy Wonder muttered. "Kid Flash can't walk in a straight line."
"Kid'll get better," Batman said. "He just got a concussion, and he's ankle is sprained. It could have been much worse."
Robin nodded and said, "What happened earlier? When you and the others were captured…Flash mentioned a girl."
"Yes we met a girl," he said.
"What did she look like?"
"I don't know. I never saw her face. Her voice was distinct however," Batman said. "I'd know her if I ever heard her speak. Now Robin, I want you to do some research for me. Take Aqualad, Superboy, and Artemis. I want Artemis away from Kid Flash, and Miss M seems determined to help take care of him. Superboy's wanted to get out for a while now."
"All right, I'll go get them," Robin said walking away.
The kids dressed in civvies and started off to the library. Robin looked at Kaldur and said, "We're looking for this symbol. It was on her suit. It looked like this."
He held out a piece of paper that had a lotus, anemone, a petunia flower, and chestnut leaf on it.
"Flowers," Conner said.
"It's just flowers and a tree leaf," Artemis stated plainly. "So?"
"Flowers have meanings, and I'm positive chestnut has one too," Robin said. "We've gotta find out how this reflects the girl."
"Flowers have meanings?" Superboy asked.
"Yes," Robin said. "Anemone for example means refusal, forsaken, abandonment. She's been or feels refused, she has been or feels forsaken, and she has or feels abandoned."
Kaldur took a book from one of the shelves. He leafed through the pages before pausing. He looked at the picture and pointed to the petunia.
"Petunia, anger and resentment," he said. "She feels anger and resentment toward the one who forsaken her?"
"It makes sense," Robin said. "Now what about the lotus and chestnut?"
"Lotus….mystery and truth," Kaldur said. "And chestnut means independence….and injustice."
"There is a mystery…but she must know the truth," Artemis said. "Maybe she was abandon or betrayed, or has faced injustice."
"Which would cause her to feel anger or resentment," Conner started.
"To the people who did it to her," Kaldur finished.
Robin nodded and said, "We found the meanings. We should write them down and tell the League our theory about our new ally."
"How are you sure she's an ally?" Artemis demanded.
"Why else would she have helped?" Robin said. "They never asked for it, so why should she care?"
"Because she doesn't want them to feel the wrath of injustice?" Conner asked.
The other teens just stared at the clone for a moment. Robin heard a humming sound and something about it caught his attention. He walked over to the sound. There was a girl sitting there, quietly singing.
Robin went to talk to her when he felt himself go sideways. The next thing he knew she was there faster than Wally'd be and THAT is saying SOMETHING. Her eyes weren't on him. They were glaring up. He looked up and saw a boy around seventeen staring at them.
"That's my girl pipsqueak. Back off," he said.
"You fuck off," the girl returned. "Quit pushing people into things Dan!"
She had a vice grip on his arm as she led him away. She looked back at him and said, "Oh, I'm really sorry! That ass doesn't know when to stop! I'm Renee."
"Robin," he said. "That's what my friends call me."
"Okay Robin," she said. "Are those your friends over there?"
Kaldur was staring at them. Artemis was glaring at the kids who'd pushed Robin. Conner was being restrained by Kaldur, who Conner didn't want to hurt. Renee just gave them a smile and they seemed to relax considerably. Kaldur held out a hand and she took it.
"I'm Renee. Sorry about that," she apologized.
"No need to worry," Kaldur said. "Robin was not hurt."
"Well….I'll see you guys later….I've got to go," Renee said reluctantly.
She turned away from them, her dark hair swinging behind her. Robin just stared after her. Artemis said, "Bi-polar much?"
Robin shot her an icy glare and Artemis was quick to defend herself.
"Hey lover boy! She went from happy, to guilty, to wanting to run away faster than Conner," the blonde archer said.
"I resent that remark," Conner said, a tad hurt.
"Maybe we should get back…" Kaldur suggested. "Robin what's wrong?"
"Renee…I swear she looks familiar to me…and she's hurt…so why is she running away from us?" the words fell out faster than Robin could stop them.
"What'd you mean?" Artemis demanded. "She looked fine to me."
"She was wearing makeup…but I saw her shoulder. It's bruised and has a nasty cut on it," Robin said.
"Why would she hide it?"
"I dunno child abuse case anyone?" Robin said. "I'm gonna look more into this Renee girl."
"He likes her," Artemis whispered to Kaldur.
"Do that on your own time," he said. "Let's get back."
In the dark with the music on
Wishing I was somewhere else
Taking all your anger out on me
Somebody help
Pangari stood alone in her world. She stood without friends, without family. She simply existed. Not that it mattered if she didn't. She waited for it.
The pain.
The sting.
The burn.
It was nothing new to her. She would crawl up and wait it out. She could take it. After all, she'd been taking this for over three years.
I would rather rot alone
Then spend a minute with you
I'm gone, I'm gone
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
He kept at it. He kept hitting her. It hurt, but she'd live….maybe. Tears poured down her cheeks as she curled up and waited for the end. She was a jumbled up, tangled up mess. Her world was crumbling at the seams, and no one seemed to notice. Renee was gone, replaced with Mercy. Mercy was crying while Renee sat back disgusted. Kaie was furious and wanted Mercy to step aside so she could beat him.
It was HIS fault she was like this. It was HIS fault Pangari hid herself away. It was HIS fault she could never come out! It was his fault that they were falling apart.
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
Open wounds
He said he loved her over and over. It was wrong, but he still said it. When he beat her, he reminded her of the lowly little freak she was. Fraternizing with the enemy….WAS EVERYONE THE GODDAMNED ENEMY?
Why wasn't she allowed to talk to the other kids? Why wasn't she allowed to go outside without him? She yearned for something…..
Freedom.
Downstairs the enemy sleeps
Leaving the TV on
Watching all the dreams
We had turn into static
Doesn't matter what I do
Nothings gonna change
I'm never good enough
What happened? He used to be a great man. She used to ADMIRE him. He screams about lack of respect when he's slowly beating that out of her. How can she respect him? He's a fallen hero, a new villain, yet to be unveiled. Her breaths became short. Dear lord above if you can her me save me from this accursed nightmare!
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
WHY? WHY? WHY? Why was EVERYTHING falling apart! She longed for a safe spot, one where she could be sheltered from him, one where she wouldn't be hurt by him anymore. The dizzying blackness never looked so good before.
Tell me why you broke me down
And betrayed my trust in you
I'm not giving up, giving in
When will this war end?
When will it end?
When she was dead…No…When they were dead. She cursed her mind, her head. Pangari cursed Mercy, cursed Kaie, and cursed Renee. They were not real. THEY WERE NOT REAL! He'd invented them to pull her back…to make her a willing victim. She screamed and tried to wrench herself free.
"LET ME GO!" she howled curling up into a fetal position.
"No," the voice said. "I love you too much to let you go. You will stay with me."
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
Mercy whispered kind words to her, Kaie told her she was weak and needed to fight him, and Renee simply told her she was doing fine and to just hold out a little longer. Damn them! Why didn't they just leave her alone? She wanted to be alone. Renee left, and so did Kaie…all of them left except Mercy. Mercy sat with her, her words as soft as silk. Pangari let it all go. The pain, the fear, the sadness, everything! She just let go.
She could vaguely hear Mercy's voice. Mercy finished the song for Pangari.
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
How could you, how could you
How could you, how could you
All I ever wanted to be was you
All you ever gave me were open wounds