I do not know why my stories are so dark lately but here it is.
P.S. I am still working on my other stories for those who are reading it.
I do not own Young Justice or its characters.
Please do not forget to comment etc…
***FLASHBACK – Entire Chapter ***
Today is the day.
The Atlantean Army Corps was coming to Shayeris today to round up the new volunteers. They wore the special insignia that signified they were here for the 11 year olds.
11 was the youngest you could be and join the army. We would not see real battle for quite some time, but we would learn the history of Atlantis and how to become good soldiers, generals, patrollers, and royal bodyguards. Those of us not inclined to defend would learn science and healing in body, mind, and spirit.
My mother and father were not well off. I always wanted to study magic at an academy, but we could not afford it. The army was cheaper and if I worked hard enough I could earn a grant that would allow me to study the Arts free of charge.
My mother, Sha'lain'a, was a great sorceress. I know she always had the greatest desire to train me in The Arts herself, but that was one of her conditions.
In order for her to stay in Atlantis after the rebellion, she was not allowed to practice any heavy magic. By default, she was not allowed to teach me. And she did not, teach me any spells that is, but she did give me tips on how to make them more powerful, more potent, and more exact. How to breathe, where to find the best materials, and ways to increase focus.
In order to make a living, she would sell healing potions. They did not require magic, as much as they did the correct ingredients. We weren't desolate, but we relied heavily upon on her income.
It was hard enough for darkened Atlanteans to find work, yet alone a full human.
You have to understand. To most Atlanteans, the Sun is considered a myth. We are so deep underwater that most had never saw it in person. We never saw stars either. Atlanteans that look like my mother and myself are considered cursed by the Sun's kiss. My step father explained to me about the sun and the effects it can have on skin.
My step-father Calvin was a good man. He was allowed to stay with my mother in exchange for ditching the rebellion and handing over information. They never talk about it, but I got the feeling that he would not be safe on the surface world. I know he misses it. It was not unusual for him to enthrall me with stories of street vendors, drive-ins, hot food, and the strangest of them all, showers!
There were creatures that stood under a shower of water in order to clean themselves. I secretly wanted to try one. Standing in dry air only to get clean by being sprayed with a limited amount of water. Strange indeed.
Mother would tell me I had a knack for magic, that it was literally flowing through me. When I showed interest in The Arts, many were concerned that I would follow after my mother and take up the Dark Arts. So when I enlisted in the army, there were many who were already wary of me. The other children did not take to me either.
Orientation went by quickly. Too quickly for some. They were sent home. If you did not pass the orientation exams, you were not allowed to stay. You were always welcomed to come back in a year. Most did.
I got a perfect score. From then on we were separated by scores into classes. Naturally that put me in the top of my classes. It also made me a target. Your level was never permanent though. It changed depending on your progress.
We were tested in everything from strength, tactics, creativity, to leadership, adaptability, and the ability to battle stress. Some of the things we were not outright tested in were stealth, ambition, loyalty, and self-preservation.
Our files were pretty thick from just a few weeks of exams, reports, and instructor's remarks. As things went further along, our numbers dropped from over 2,000 to slightly under 800.
I was never the best at making friends. The army was no different. No one was overtly hostile towards me, but I got strange looks, and people were not keen on conversing with me.
I did not mind. After all, one of the tenants of the army was strength in isolation. I believe this is what garnered my instructor's attention. I was taken into the guide's hall and the headmaster was waiting for me.
He was a big man. Seemingly hardened by battle.
"Kaldur'ahm of Shayeris. Have a seat."
I was nervous. I knew I wasn't in trouble, but I was worried that I would be told to try and make other's acquaintance. Too much separation was not a good thing.
"Your file has been brought to my attention many times since your arrival."
I waited with baited breath.
"It says here you are interested in magic, but willing to be a soldier. I've looked over your results and you are progressing admirably. My concern is this: you score high in the ability to lead, but low in ambition. Why do you think that is?"
I took a few moments to gather my thoughts. I had no desire to be remembered as the youth who stumbled over his words.
"Because I aim to be a soldier Great Elder. I have no designs on becoming a general. A soldier's duty is to follow, and a general's to lead."
He raised a brow.
"Very well put. Here is what we are suggesting to you. Your next courses will be geared toward a General's position. You will be tested and tried in battle simulations, advanced tactics, ethics, and civic responsibility."
I was not sure how to respond and told him as such.
"Young soldier, you will have a promising career in the military. Maybe even a royal guard for Annex Orin. And if you should exceed there, you could surely train in the Royal Academy of the Arts. There is no greater honor for a student of Sorcery."
"I would be honored Great Elder."
When I got back to my room, which I shared with 19 others, I was quickly surrounded. It was very different for me. I was not used to having so many people vying for my attention.
"So what did he want?"
"Are you being sent home?"
"Do not be stupid. He is at the top of our class."
"If he is being sent home, then I have no hope of ever graduating."
"Are you being promoted?"
I was bombarded with question after question. Most were answered by other people. They finally calmed down enough to actually listen.
"I am not being sent home. I was told that my work load would slightly increase. Nothing more."
I could tell they did not fully believe me, but no one was close enough to me to push the issue. They had to take my word for it.
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For the next two weeks I felt like I was getting little to no sleep. From the time we were required to eat to the time we were required to sleep, I was working. I had my normal work on top of my advanced classes.
I had papers, lectures, field training, debate, ethics, and meditation.
It was lonely.
I had no comrades and my work isolated me further from the others. The only thing that changed was the level of respect I got. People respected me from a distance, but no one was friendly to me.
It only made me have to work harder to keep that respect. It was a heavy burden to bear.
I was grateful for our break. We all got to go home if we chose to.
Shayeris had not changed. I guess 7 months is not enough for real change.
My parents were as supportive as ever. But I came bearing good news.
"The army has taken charge of my expenses."
They were both shocked. The army had only ever chosen 4 soldiers before me to finance their education so soon into training.
We went out to celebrate. It was a buffet style restaurant. You go into a small separate room and your table is filled with seafood. You eat right off of the table. It is messy, and yet stimulating all the same.
My stay was not very long. My parent's seemed disheartened that I had not acquired any friends. They were proud of my accomplishments, but they did not want me to be alone so much. Even at home I had no real friends. I knew a few of the neighbors' children, and they came by to ask me about the army, but that was that. I had not met Tula or Garth until my final year in the army.
When I got back to base, I was surprised to find how much I missed home. I was fine that morning. I guess seeing all of the other youths running around sharing stories, complaining about their old friends who seemed so childish now, whining about their nagging parents, and bragging about their new gifts got to me.
I had no one to do any of those things with, and it hurt.
My countenance had fallen. I found myself going through the motions.
It took a week for everything to fall back into place. The class was down to 517. Some people went home and decided to stay. Being separated from your family at such a young age is hard to do. Not everyone is capable of sticking it out.
After winning a grant to continue in the army my parents had one less thing to worry about. They sent me letters quite often. They got me through many hard times.
Battle Simulations.
Battle simulations were the hardest things I ever had to do. They were not meant to be won, just to be learned from. It was difficult to grasp that I was improving when all I got was criticism from my instructors.
I was really down about it. My superiors took notice and sent me to the mind healers.
I stayed there for 3 days and was taught ways to cope with constructive criticism. I was reminded several times that I was improving, that each battle was testing something different. It was not about winning, but learning how to make the best of all situations and adapting to changes. It gave my instructors a peek into my head about how I would handle a real life battle.
With that knowledge, deep meditation, and a much needed break, I was back to my daily program.
I went back to battle stimulations and poured myself into my studies with new vigor. It was around my 8th month into the army that things really took a turn for the worse.
It became apparent that I was not going to make any friends. Everyone was already sectioned into groups. The best I could do was study groups and briefs with my team after a mock battle, a debate, or a lecture.
It was not the same as having friends, but at least I was interacting with my peers.
I started to stand out more and more to my instructors and trainers. The instructors were called by their respective titles and names. The trainers however, were simply given numbers and titles. Such as Debate Formalities Trainer 672. We never knew their names, and more importantly were they came from.
It helped keep things unbiased by eliminating the commonality of home towns and the like.
A few trainers began to take me under their wing. I thought this would breed resentment in my peers, but it had not. They had all assumed I was being trained for a General position and that all the attention was a part of my work load.
It was not.
I should have noticed things were off. The trainers were attempting to fill the friend position, not one of a mentor. I knew they should not be fraternizing with me on such a personal level but I was so tired of being alone.
Debate Formalities Trainer 672, Morality of Ethics Trainer 323, History of Atlantean Military Trainer 401, and Diplomatic Public Speaking Trainer 111 really spent a lot of time with me.
They gave me inside information on what the army was looking for if I wanted to advance, I received extra tutelage in their subjects after class, I got personalized help in my studies, and they would sneak me in treats from the trainer's mess hall.
I was basking in their attention. I wanted to be included in things outside of my work and they were filling that need.
We got so familiar with each other that they broke one of the most important rules and told me their names.
Kordax of Tritonian, Arion of Poseidonis, Dardanus of Merma, and Topo of Dyss.
I could see why it was a rule to keep your name to yourself. I was wary of Topo since I learned he was from Dyss. Shayeris and Dyss had a civil war for 7 years over territorial rights. Annex Orin claimed Shayeris the victor. I thought he would hold a grudge against me, but he assured me he would not. He was an open minded man who did not hold a child responsible for the foolishness of adults.
I felt comfortable with them and they took advantage of it.
Dardanus was the most forthcoming. He told me that he wanted to go over one of my essays over the Battle of Tyton from the era of Mermaids, and why my outlook was too narrow to blame the people of Octopi for the majority of the battle.
This was not unusual. I required little sleep and was more than eager to learn of our history.
When I got there we went over my paper. Halfway through arguing my side Dardanus slid awfully close to me. He laid his hand on my shoulder and talked to me about the finer points of politics and financial sway over the crown. I was uncomfortable for a short while but he seemed engrossed in teaching me.
I forgot about the hand.
Until he rubbed against my gills.
I hated when people tried to touch my gills. It was uncommon for non animal like Atlanteans to have gills. People saw them and wanted to touch them to see if they were real. It was an extremely popular fad to have fake gills tattooed on.
I pushed away from him and stood up.
"Please refrain from doing that."
He was quick to apologize and insisted that his hand had slipped. That it was an accident. I believed him. Like an idiot I believed him. He talked with his hands and often got animated about his subject. It was not hard to believe that he got caught up in his story.
I sat back down.
He did not put his hand back on my shoulder or neck, but they somehow found their way to my knee. It was a platonic touch to be sure, but it felt heavy.
The conversation was stiff even though he attempted to revive it. I wanted to leave but did not know how to without seeming rude.
I was not really listening anymore, but the sudden hand on my crotch shook me out of it.
Before I could move away he was upon me. He was kissing my gills and rubbing himself against me.
My heart clenched in fear. My throat closed up. I stayed still.
"Shhh. Durahm. This will not hurt. I do not endeavor to hurt you. I would never."
His hand slipped into my uniform and tears came to my eyes. His hand was on my most private of parts. My parents gave me this talk. About good touches and bad ones. They told me I could tell them anything. Never to be ashamed to ask for help. To say no. Even though I knew all of this, I did nothing. I was frozen in fear.
"Beautiful."
He looked even more wild now. Atlantean's do not typically have tear ducts. It was rare to see someone cry. I found my voice.
"Elder Dardanus. Please stop. I do not want this."
"You will learn to. Do not deny me this Durahm. Accept my gift please."
He kept rubbing me and seemed frustrated when nothing happened.
"That is okay. It will happen later. You will learn to love this. You are just too tense right now. Try to relax."
I tried to push him off of me but he had me pinned and was much heavier than me.
"Such beautiful skin. So dark. So soft. Do not cry."
He started grunting and stopped rubbing against me.
"See. That did not hurt. It did not. You are fine. Stop with the tears now."
He was hugging me awkwardly and I attempted to run.
He tightened his grip.
"Durahm you must not overreact. Did I hurt you?"
Durahm alone means my heart. It is why people tell me Kaldur instead. I was confused. I was not in physical pain, but my heart was heavy.
I shook my head no.
"Exactly. I only did this because I thought you would enjoy it too. You seem so lonely. I know how it is. I had a hard time making friends when I was your age too. I just wanted to show you that someone cared. Okay?"
I was not so sure I believed him, but he sounded so sincere. And truthfully I was not in any pain. I was more startled than anything.
"I did not like it. Can we refrain from doing that again?"
I wanted so badly for things to return to normal, but in my heart I knew they would not.
Dardanus merely looked at me.
Before I knew it his lips were on mine. I stood still. Waiting to be let go.
"You will learn to like it Durahm."
Before I could say anything else the door opened.