A/N: Hey guys! Well, let's get our mail over with before starting the new chapter.
patattack: Yeah, I know that chapter was a little confusing and I don't know if this one is going to answer a whole lot of questions either... Sorry about that! *rubs head while awkwardly smiling*
Zatanna Carrile: I think this might be my favorite reader ever!
Anyway, let's get this show on the road! I don't own YJ, just anything pertaining to my OC... and all coincidences are just coincidences!
There's a beat of tense silence.
"What happened in there?" Kid Flash repeats.
I take a few seconds to phrase my response.
"Something terrible," I say hoarsely.
"Miss M said there were some complications," Robin says.
I level my gaze at him. "You could say there were… problems," I reply, my eyes dropping away from his blank mask.
"Are you going to tell us what happened or not?" Superboy asks gruffly. Miss Martian whispers something to him and I watch closely, seeing his annoyance and agitation. But I can also see something, feel something more to his attitude. It's almost like he's uncomfortable.
"He means to ask if you will please tell us what happened," Aqualad says politely, giving Superboy a quiet reprimanding look.
"I can. But, Miss Martian," I look at her, "could you please tell everyone first?" Her apprehensive expression spurs me on. "Please…" I pause, a hint of desperation in my voice, "I need a little bit of time to collect myself. I need to figure out what happened. You can ask me whatever you want after you explain."
We look at each other, Miss Martian's hesitancy and my pleading expression silently warring with each other. And then she caves.
Miss Martian nods and all attention focuses on her as they close ranks. I listen for a moment to her quiet murmuring, occasionally being interrupted by a question from one of the others. A soft sigh escapes me as I decide to get up, realizing I must have fallen off the couch during my psychic escapade. Concrete isn't exactly comfortable.
I pop my feet under me, sitting in a crouched position before slowly rising. My arms pinwheel as my knees wobble and I begin to lose my balance. As I fall over a hand grabs my bicep, steadying me. I look to see Kid Flash reaching over to grab my other arm before helping me sit down on the couch and releasing his grip.
"Thank you." I mumble, "It's seems my coordination is temporarily on the fritz."
"No prob. Just try not to face plant the floor anymore 'kay?" he replies with a flippant smile.
"Shouldn't you be listening to Miss Martian?" I ask.
There's a puff of air as Kid Flash disappears along with the trash can before reappearing with an accompanying gust and a glass of water. He sits down next to me, handing me the water. I mutter another 'thank you' as he answers my question.
"I just kind of figured I'd learn all the important stuff later." He shrugs. "Plus, I can just ask the team to fill me in if I miss something."
"Oh."
There's a pause as I take drink from the glass. The water running down my throat is a welcome relief for a dry mouth I didn't realize I had had until now. I close my eyes in appreciation and something resembling a purr comes from deep within my chest.
"Could I ask you a question?" I ask, eyelids still shut.
"Sure," Kid Flash replies. I open my eyes and look at him seriously, a new fear surfacing to choke my calm.
"What will happen to me now?" It comes out as a nearly inaudible question, but it hangs between us like an obtrusive blockage.
Uncertainty clouds his face and I can't help but feel a tad bit distressed as he answers, "I don't know… that's kind of the League's decision." Kid Flash rubs the back of his head and I bite my lip.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" he says suddenly.
"Um, alright." My nervousness is forgotten momentarily as I wait for his question.
"Why are you wearing my sweatshirt?"
That simple question completely throws me off. I laugh, quiet giggles shaking my shoulders, and it takes me a moment to remember why I was wearing it in the first place. But the answer I come up with just makes me laugh even harder and my skin blush a light pink with embarrassment.
"Well," I say slowly, "when I woke up, I sort of didn't have clothes appropriate for… well, anything really."
"O-oh!" Kid Flash stutters, his face getting exceptionally red. Almost the same shade as his hair.
"So, I grabbed your sweatshirt, seeing as it was the only thing close by."
My giggles peter out and Kid Flash starts to return to his regular color. We sit there in relative quiet, listening to the question and answer conversation of the others. I wonder how much Miss Martian has told them about. What questions have they asked? What will they ask me? I dread what I'll have to explain.
"Hey." I feel someone poke me and I look over at Kid Flash, his finger poised near my arm.
"I've been trying to get your attention. You seem distracted," he says, a smirk on his face.
"Oh, sorry. I just got a little bit lost in thought for a moment," I reply, smiling sheepishly.
"So, you didn't hear me ask, did you?"
"Uh, no. Sorry."
Kid Flash leans forward in anticipation. "Did you find out what your name is?"
I pause for a moment, searching through the snippets of memory I had obtained, but there's nothing containing my name. I shake my head in reply.
"Oh." Kid Flash seems almost disappointed, his smile slipping before he brightens slightly again. "I guess you can get a new name for now. At least until you remember your old one."
"Yeah, I guess I could. But how could I ever name myself?" I frown. "I have the feeling that I would end up giving myself a ridiculous name."
"That could happen." Kid Flash laughs, "Maybe we can help you think up a name."
A smile warms my sullen expression. "That would be nice."
A soft but asserting cough pauses our conversation and we both look toward Aqualad and his small, grim group.
"I apologize for interrupting," Aqualad says, "but we would like to ask you some questions now. If that is alright." He gives me a look that says it's my decision, but that the topic wouldn't be avoided.
I nod, replying, "What would you like to ask?"
First, they ask me about what happened when we entered my mindscape and the events leading up to crossing over into my stockpile of repressed memories. I suppose it's to compare Miss Martian and I's stories, making sure that I don't lie, that they have all the details or some such other reason. But then they get to the part I was dreading to explain.
"What did you find out from your memories?" Robin asks.
In that moment I could feel the anticipation coming off of everyone in waves, the expectation almost tangible in the air. I pause, thinking about where it would be easiest to start. Miss Martian gives me an encouraging look and I decide to start with where I suspect I'm from.
"I don't think I'm was born on this planet."
Sorry this chapter doesn't explain too much, but there should be more in the next one. You know, gotta keep my chapter lengths sort of consistent... plus I love stupidly placed cliff hangers. *smiles evilly*
