Chapter 10: All, but One (part 2)
With Roy….
Roy stared out at the crowd before him, his face empty of all emotions except confusion, fear, and grief. His hands handcuffed tightly to a table, as he listened to a tall mean looking man speak.
"Roy Harper aka Red Arrow is here by declared to stand trial…"
Everyone's eyes held the same emotion, hate, hate for him.
"For the murder of Wally West aka Kid Flash…"
Robin wouldn't make eye contact unless it was to glare at him. The whites of his mask were so thin that Roy could almost see the blue eyes underneath. That's when he realized that right then and there Robin wasn't just Robin, he was also Dick Grayson, an orphan who watched his parents die. The boy who couldn't bear to lose anyone else, how he had promised never to hurt the boy and apparently Roy had broken that promise in the worse way. By killing Robin's best friend, by killing his little brother in all, but blood.
"The amount of evidence as you can see is a mile high and the results of this man's sentence are inevitable…"
Green Arrow with his arm now bandaged with a red stained cloth, The anger was clear in his eyes, but from working with him so long Roy could see past that. He saw the disappointment, the betrayal, and hurt, all of the emotions that were rolled into his eyes, hidden under the blanket of anger.
"He has attacked the Justice League and their side—excuse me partners and resisted arrest adding to his charges…"
Artemis just kept throwing him smirks, over Green Arrow's shoulder, through her crocodile tears. The fact drops fell from her cheeks and laughter that passed off as sobs shook her body as her grey eyes gleamed with amusement and content.
"This man is an unfit hero and has in no doubt turned villain on all of us…"
Flash was raving mad as Batman held him back, fighting against the older man's grip as he tried to pummel Roy to the ground, to smash him, to kill him. The playful, jokester, he had once called Uncle Barry no longer existed. He had been overtaken by grief and anger, by the want for revenge, by the want to kill his nephew's killer. Roy might've laughed when he saw Batman knock Flash out, if Batman hadn't looked like he wanted to come over and tear Roy apart piece by piece himself.
"He has betrayed all of us…"
The whites of the man's mask matched Robin's and Roy knew that he no longer had the man's trust. Batman, Bruce Wayne, however different they may seem both shared one quality. Once he labeled you as a trusty worthy ally and friend, you stayed that way, he gave you the benefit of the doubt, believed that you could be trusted. Roy had broken that trust and had helped get rid of the small amount of trust Bruce had. Be him Batman or Bruce Wayne.
"He was given a gift and like so many others has chosen to use it for evil, for selfish, purposes…."
If there was one person who he didn't see disgust in their eyes it was Black Canary, she had been crying, it was written all over her face, but through that she saw hope. She had seen the way Roy had panicked, how he had been scared for Wally, for his brother, but she didn't say anything, she didn't do anything, because in her book he was still guilty, becausewhen you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth, and so Roy was guilty.
"For this we declare you Roy Harper a threat to this people and declare you…"
Kaldur, M'gann, and Superboy all refused to make eye contact. Kaldur looked distraught, betrayed. M'gann was crying into Superboy's chest while the other glared at Roy, silently begging that his heat vision would kick in so that he could fry the red head into nothing.
" …guilty as charged…"
"No! Please I promise you I didn't do it!" Roy was crying now as he fought against his chains, the man ignored him and continued.
"You shall be sent to prison right away, for your life sentence, you will have no chance as parole…."
"No! Please," he sobbed as Batman came up to him and roughly started to drag him away.
"….This court is meeting is concluded…."
"I swear I didn't do it!" He cried loudly sobbing. Adreniline once again kicked in and kicking Batman in the chest flipped off him and made a dash at Green Arrow who instantly backed away.
"Please! Ollie! You've got to help me! I swear I didn't do it please! Believe me! I'm begging you please—" He was cut off as a sharp kick meant his stomach and he went flying, dazed he looked around.
It hadn't been Robin, or Kaldur they wouldn't have kicked that hard, if it had been Superboy or Flash he wouldn't be alive, Batman unconscious at the least, Ollie and Black Canary would never lay a finger on him no matter the cause, so that left one person.
Groggily he looked up into a pair of amused grey eyes.
"Well Roy Boy, I guess I won," she said smirking as she lifted him up by his collar. "You tried everything you could to protect your pathetic friends and you just weren't good enough." She hissed at him, her eyes glinting with madness. "But before I let you go I'll let you in on a little secret." Leaning into his ear she whispered softly, "I killed Baywatch."
"Why?" Roy cried as he thrashed. "Let me go!"
"Because I was bored, goodnight," and with that a fist came down on him and everything went black before changing into blinding white.
"Roy?" A soft voice spoke and he looked up into soft worried blue eyes.
"Dinah—" he started to say as he sat up, but was instantly stopped by tight metal cuffs. Instantly, instinctively, he panicked. "I swear I didn't do it!" He cried loudly fighting against his new chains. Where had they brought him? Why wouldn't anyone believe him? "I didn't kill him!"
"Roy please—" Black Canary tried to say to the boy, but he was too busy fighting against the bonds that held him.
"Let me go! Please! It wasn't me! Ollie! Ollie! Help! Tell them it wasn't me! Tell them it wasn't me!" He screamed tears rocketing from his eyes as he still lived out his nightmare, fueled by fake memories and guilt.
"Roy, calm—"
"Don't tell me to be calm! I swear it wasn't me! It was Artemis!" Roy was breaking down, the last of his emotional walls crumbling to rubble, inside him. "Ollie!"
Black Canary watched as the boy's wrists began to bleed and biting her lip pushed him down. "Stop it! Roy you're hurting yourself!"
"Let me go!" He screamed thrashing against her grip. "Stop trying to hurt me! I didn't do anything!"
Black Canary felt tears pricking at her eyes, but before she could say anything a soft voice entered the room.
"Roy?" Both people froze to look at the figured that had entered the room. His eyes were blood shot and his cheeks tear streaked. His voice was hopeful and guilty. "Roy, what's wrong?"
Roy looked up at the man who had just entered the room, "I didn't do it." He sobbed as he looked up at him, his eyes begging for the older man's forgiveness. "I swear I didn't kill him."
"Roy, shhhh, calm down," the man walked slowly over to the bed Roy was laying in and undid his chains. "I'm not going anywhere, I don't think you killed anyone."
"But you told me that I killed him," Roy whimpered and curled in on himself. "You told me that I killed Wally, everyone hated me, and everyone thought I was traitor. I'm not I promise." The boy's walls no longer existed the rubble that had once been the broken remains had been washed away by his fear and tears.
He was no longer, Red Arrow, the tough superhero and first sidekick, no partner, to go solo. He wasn't even Speedy the self-proclaimed Batman in a Green Arrow themed costume. No, now he was Roy Harper, a young boy who had lost both his parents, who had been told that he wouldn't amount to anything. Who had been bullied and picked on by everyone, who had longed to be a hero, only to grow up being called a fool.
The boy that Ollie thought had so long ago had disappeared, the boy Ollie thought had stormed out when his partner had left him standing in the Hall of Justice.
"I believe you," Ollie said quickly, and stared at the boy, with the over protectiveness of any father.
Roy peaked out from his ball and looked at Ollie, "Really?" It came out soft and scared as if he would say no.
"Of course," with that Ollie found himself pulled into a tight hug.
"Thank you," the red head whispered. "Thank you for not letting them take me."
Ollie awkwardly hugged the boy back before clearing his throat and saying, "Roy what you just experienced wasn't real I promise you. No one's going to come and take you away."
"Huh?" The red head pulled out of the hug and blushing, tried to regain what little pride he still had, drying his tears quickly and sitting up straight and tall. "What do you mean?"
"Fear—" Ollie started, but was cut off.
"Gas," Roy finished for him and grimaced. "I hate that stuff; I don't know how Robin deals with it."
Green Arrow chuckled softly as he tried to regain some pride of his own and then an awkward silence began, before Black Canary cut in.
"As long as you two are done with your Kodak moment we should go check on Artemis."
Green Arrow arched an eyebrow, "my dead Black Canary did you just make a joke?"
He watched as she grimaced slightly and gave the one word answer, "Flash." The previous terror has started to die down and they all chuckled softly.
Because of this no one noticed how Roy tensed at the name Artemis, how he flinched and his eyes widened, before all of it disappeared. The walls had been rebuilt, this time with more support, with more bricks. He was determined to never let them fall again, to never appear weak again to the one man he truly looked up to. Not that he would ever admit it.
Getting up stiffly Roy began to walk towards Artemis room.
He entered to her screaming loudly and struggling against her cuffs, she looked so much how he would imagine he had looked moments before. "Stop! I didn't kill him I promise! I didn't!"
He watched as her mother flinched and tried to calm her down muttering to her softly.
"Please! I didn't do it! I swear!" She kept screaming tears racing down her cheeks before finally she calmed down enough to be released and was pulled into a tight hug.
She killed someone too, he thought. She watched someone die.
Suddenly Roy felt like he was intruding and he shuffled nervously as he watched explanations pour from the older women's lips.
"So," he heard Artemis sob softly, hiccupping slightly. "Where's GA?"
"Currently? He is out cold outside Red Arrow's room." He heard her mom chuckle softly and he wondered if he had honestly caused the blond haired man that much pain.
"How?"
"BC, with my own arrow," Roy turned to see his former mentor blushing and rubbing the back of his neck before heading over to Artemis. "Glad you're okay. You and Roy gave me good scare, trust me."
"Roy?" He noticed how her voice rose and she scooted back like she was afraid. "He's here?"
"What you scared of me Blondie?" He chuckled smirking at the younger archer, but he didn't mean it. Right now he was too empty inside to laugh honestly. He wasn't like Flash he couldn't bounce back from a trauma with a smile.
"Who me of you? Why would I? After all in order to replace you I'd have to be able to beat you up right?" Her voice quivered slightly and he could still sense the fear.
Roy rolled his eyes, and tried to appear traught, as Robin would say. "Whatever Blondie." He paused and tried to get the courage to ask the question on his mind. "So who'd—" He cleared his throat and scooted from foot to foot. "Who'd you kill?"
He watched as Artemis winced and curled in on herself, nervously muttering, "Wally." She didn't see Roy's eyes widen at this comment. "I mean I didn't kill him, da-Sportsmaster did."
She must like him after all, he thought and chuckled to himself wondering if he should tell the speedster.
"Me too. I mean they said I killed Wally, but….but I didn't someone else killed him." He paused for a moment wondering whether or not he should tell the young archer she had killed Wally, deciding against it he whispered, "…I never found out who." He choked on a sobbed laugh and tried to let his normal nonchalant smirk slip onto his face. "Never thought I say it Blondie, but looks likes we have something in common."
"And that is?" He watched her ask arching an eyebrow as she started to untangle herself from the sheets around her. Her eyes confused behind her green mask.
"We both can't stand a certain speedster, but we also can't stand to lose him," Roy was trying to be serious, but whenever one was talking about said speedster you could never be serious and despite himself he found a smile plaster onto his face. "After all if he was gone who else are we going to blame for our mistakes."
He watched Artemis giggle and he had to blink, opening his mouth he was about to say he didn't know Miss. I Can't Take A Joke could giggle, but was interrupted by a sudden panicked screaming.
"It's not working! He's not waking up!" He jumped as a scream, Flash's scream, a scream that you almost never heard from the speedster rang out.
He changed panicked looks with Artemis and both rocketed out of the room with adrenaline fueled quickness, that could give Wally a run for his money, but Roy wasn't thinking about that. Currently he only had one thought going through his head.
You better not die, because if you do Robin is going to kill me….not to mention Flash
Of course deep down Roy cared about the younger yellow blur he always hung around, not that he would ever admit it, but him, Wally, and Robin were brothers. Brothers in all, but blood, they were family. A really messed up, emotional, crazy family, and at this thought Roy couldn't help, but smirk. That is until he saw the young speedster thrashing in bed screaming out nonsense.
So there we have go ol' special Roy who gets a chapter all to himself XD So what did you think as good as the rest? Better? Tell me!
Up Next: All, but One (Part 3)
"Why did you kill us Wally? Why weren't you fast enough?" Her voice was hallow and emotionless and Wally felt guilt stab him like a knife.
"I-I tried! I-I'm sorry I tried!"
"You were a horrible sidekick Wally," Wally choked on nothing, but air as Flash materialized besides Artemis.
"You could've saved us why didn't you?"
"Uncle Barry I—"
"Don't you Uncle Barry me! We all died and it's all your fault!" His uncle yelled at him and Wally flinched backing up against a wall. "I'm ashamed to call you my family." He hissed.
That's right you'll get your Wally angst! (one guess on who the her is XD) Anyways Zatanna will also appear in this chapter.
REVIEW REPLIES
Irenerb: I'm still debating about that, but I think they will get together, instead of Wally denial
Batmanfan2400: I'm not a liar I promise! Also what do you mean by hold a death grip?
Adoglover5: Oh nose! O.o Anyways I'm glad you liked them and ya neither did I until I used Wiki to learn more about Zatanna, glad you liked the chapter!
Dextra2: Lol I wouldn't have Arty kill Wally in a fic ever XD maybe a one shot but never a full fic sorry, but you did just give me an awesome plot bunny idea XD
Mixxi: Glad you like it and just keep reading we'll see Wally soon!
Nighttimedryd: Thanks! I like Roy's and Arty's reactions too :D Anyways enjoy the upcoming chapters!
YoungJustice101: *face palms and hands you another tissue box* Glad you liked the chapter!
YJ-Lover: Wow….you're actually right, well partially….each one is about half right, you'll see soon enough.
LyndseyRyder12: You're partially right about Wally XD but that's all I'll say. Anyways ENJOY!
AdenaWolf: Um…um *hands you paper bag* Breath in breath out, don't hyperventilate bad things will happen XD
Asdf: :D Glad you like it!
Spitfirechick: Don't worry about Wally, he'll be emotionally scarred, but fine….um that came out wrong…
Celestialstarynight: Yes, Roy's a liar XD But oh well :D It was for a good cause!
Candi711: Lol you'll just have to read and find out
ShenanigansKid: Glad you like it!
SheWolfQueen: Glad you like the story enough to slap yourself XD
LooLoo Lightwood: Thanks glad you like it! Also ya the Roy and Arty friendship I liked writing
Rowanfall: Lol yep I just had to let good ol' Alfie cameo XD Anyways don't cry he'll watch up….sooner or later…anyways glad you like the whole Arty killing Wally hallucination, because it was a spur of the moment thing XD I actually thought of it while lying in bed….weird right?
RazorsAreNotRoses: (I like your penname XD) Anyways next chapter you'll see why he's not waking up
FudoTwin17: Don't worry he'll wake up…sooner or later…also glad you Luv it XD
WOLF MASTER: Don't worry spitfire there shall be!
PLEASE REVIEW YOU GUYS! If you do I'll give you a box of tissues because you'll probably need them XD