Interaction Of Shattered Minds
Chapter 2: Deliberation
"We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it."
As the first rays of morning sun exposed themselves from the line of the horizon, Bart Allen found himself mesmerized by this ordinary and so unappreciated ever-day miracle of nature. He never actually stroked himself as a hopeless romantic but the reddish orange of a burning yellow sun captivated young man's eyes for more then a second and for the fastest man on the planet it was saying something.
Bart shook his head as the footsteps announced the presence of the only other Justice League member in the tower.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't the one that escaped my webs and ran of to be Mrs. Metal-Man!"
Chloe smiled at her friend before replying:
"Although you will always be my one and only true love, Bart, a girl has to pay the bills."
Flash chuckled. He's always liked Chloe for her ability to erupt sarcasm that was not hurtful, the lack of toxic in it. Though this particular trait of her character transpired with one Victor Stone materializing in her life.
"You seem troubled." The blonde stated, turning to type a password on one of the computers.
"Really?" Her opponent responded with raising a brow. "No…no. I was just thinking…I didn't see Oliver or Mia at the party though I saw her yesterday while her morning jog to make sure they both know about the celebration."
Chloe fought the urge to voice the fact that Bart was more appalled by Mia's absence then the one of her Mentor or that he seemed to know what was on the young apprentice's schedule. He seemed conflicted enough.
"Yesterday…" She finally started with a sigh. "Was ten years since Ollie's parents died."
The man beside her produced a barely audible 'oh'.
"So, I guess, Mia just stayed to offer him some comfort."
Bart nodded, once again retrieving to his thoughts.
"But I'd really appreciate it if you'd call by their place and check on them later." Watchtower looked up at her teammate, the tiniest glint in her greenish eyes.
Bart was withdrawn from his brain working the same moment: "Absolutely, no problem."
Mia woke up to find herself tucked in her own bed in Oliver Queen's house. For a split second she let herself believe that last night was just another dream, an illusion her mind manufactured while covered by blackness. That was however short-lived. The young woman's eyes registered some bruises on her arms, bitemarks as she inspected her body further.
She bit her lip as the demonstration of their night of comfort and sin took place in her mind. His hot mouth biting on her collarbone, her nails leaving long red lines on his back, his tempting seductive sucking on her ear-lobe, her soft whisper of his name in the end…
Yes, they made it through the night, he made it through the night. Now the question was how would they make it through the rest of their life?
Mia fell back down on the bed and closed her eyes. There was no point to try and guess about the future.
One. Two. Three.
Three arrows hit three different targets: red, green and yellow cups. The three alike objects smashed with intervals of seconds. The next target was the fly…
"Is it how you humans fight your frustration?" Oliver heard to a strangely comforting voice of a Martian.
The blond hesitated for a moment but spared a life of the unsuspecting creature.
"Probably." He turned to his teammate. "What are you doing here?"
"Well…" John took a step to the right and appeared to make a half-circle around Oliver, debating with what to say to the archer. "You don't show up at your friends' engagement party and considering the dreadfulness of yesterday I can relate but the next day you wake up early, take your privet jet, come to your family estate a couple of miles away from Star City and practice archery in the barn…what does that tell you?"
Oliver looked down and shook his head slightly, indicating that he wouldn't be able to produce a tolerable excuse or explanation.
"I feel your mind clouded by the confusion, sadness and quilt, my friend." The older man's words were sliced with unmistakable solace. "You are in the labyrinth of your own doubts and fears which only you can overcome with your inner strength."
By this time John came to stand in front of Green Arrow, putting on of his hands on his shoulder:
"And we, your family, will do anything to help you when you need us to."
Oliver seemed to digest the words over and over before he finally looked up in the eyes of the alien.
"I think my actions, my stupidity could have cost me a friend yesterday…a person I really care about." He chuckled bitterly. "I do that quiet often, you know…regret after doing something foolish…and I'm really afraid that in the end I'll be left with nothing…"
John squeezed the young man's hand tighter:
"Look at the sky, Oliver: that is for you. Look at each person's face as you pass them on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you. There are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing."
The deep meaning of the words cut through Oliver's very soul it seemed. A million different pieces were finding their way in the confusing unstable puzzle called "Oliver Queen's Life". He still didn't know where to go with the burdens he was carrying but it felt like a kickoff, a point from where he could stat counting anew. The Martian's next words sounded very far away but the blond caught on fast.
"And as for the people who care for you, they will wait until you find the right way and when you do, they'll forgive you for the mistakes you committed while searching for it and won't hold them against you."
The other man could just nod, excepting the wisdom of his friend.
John gave Oliver's shoulder one last squeeze and proceeded to leave the barn but not before turning to the man with a bow: "Come back home when you are ready, Oliver. Don't underestimate your family. We can surprise you."
Next second he was gone.
She was stressed. He wasn't anywhere in sight. She failed to help him overcome his grief and possibly disconcerted him even more. Most of all, she shook the foundations of their friendship and the result of this shake was still to be found out. All of that plus the nagging memories of her father's words coming back to her (she could swear to hear his "complete looser" and "waste" much more clearly in the back of her head) and continuing migraine and muscle-ache. Mia concluded one thing: she could evidently label herself as broken.
The brunette huffed and entered the secret room behind the clock to proceed to the right far corner where her favorite and the most recent choice of weapon awaited her. Two titanium sai (Oliver's gift after he realized how good she's become with the weapon) seemed to be staring back at the young woman from under the glass cabinet. She opened it slowly, sliding both arms to touch the munitions. Mia traced her small finger along one of the sai, completely mesmerized by it, than took it out…
A small noise…a pure reflex…and the Japanese blade hit the opposite wall. Right on Bart Allen's eye-level.
For a couple moments there was nothing but an intense stare between the two heroes in the room.
"Bart!" Mia finally cried in a harsh whisper. "I could of killed you!"
The young man let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That's pretty much the truth."
Mia closed her eyes and breathed out…just breathed. When she opened her eyes again, Bart was standing mare inches away from her.
"I'm worried about you." He stated with his eyes full of concern.
Mia gaped at the man in front of her. Bart Allen the biggest jokester, the most unserious person she's ever known was telling her that he was worried about her and was saying it with the most sincere eyes…what was wrong with the picture?
"Ah…"
"I know you're not led to believe that I can be more then a farce. And I admit I never gave a reason to think otherwise. But you are…" He stopped but his eyes didn't leave hers. "When I'm with you I don't feel like running anymore."
This stunned Mia like nothing else. Like a Chinese Wall had fallen, like a Niagara Falls dried…Bart's running was like the unstoppable force of nature and he was standing in front of her in flash and blood, giving her the keys to switch off the accelerator.
"Don't say anything." He said although by the look of it she wouldn't be able to. "Just think about it."
Bart's hand pulled itself to her face but froze in the air a few inches away from the flawless skin of her cheek. He traced the air, sculpturing the form of her face with it. With a blink of an eye Flash was gone.
Mia stood still in the weapon room of Green Arrow's house for a long time. When she finally made it to her room the bouquet of chamomiles was laying peacefully on her bed.
