Author's Notes: Hey guys, it's Logan GC and this is chapter 11 of A New Destiny. First off, I want to say sorry to ZXEclipse. When I wrote chapter 10, I mistook you for another author. I hope you forgive me, your advice really is helpful. As for gps3, yes, I am aiming for a love triangle between Galen, Artemis, and Wally. As for the reviews for chapter 10, wow guys! I didn't know you liked that chapter very much, thanks! This chapter deals with the aftermath of chapter 10, especially how it affects Galen and M'gann. So this chapter is short, but I will try to upload the next one on Monday. Anyways, here is chapter 11.
Chapter 11: Hurt and Comfort
Mount Justice October 16th 1830 hours
It's been two hours since the 'exercise', but the aftermath had its toll. M'gann was in her room during the time, crying her eyes out. Even though her friends, even Connor, attempted to comfort her, she demanded that she wanted to be left alone. The rest of the Team couldn't blame her; the amount of guilt that she feels must be unbearable. As for Galen, the Team couldn't make how he was coping. Even after the older heroes left the Team out of respect, Galen hasn't moved one inch from his position. What troubled the young heroes, including Artemis, was that Galen kept sitting in that exact same spot in the mission room, his face glued to the floor with a frown as he seems unresponsive to his friends. Galen didn't even eat, drink, go the bathroom, nothing.
To make sure Galen was still alive, Wally waved his hand in front of Galen's face. The Force-user didn't so much as blink in response. After failing to get his attention, Wally seemed stumped and turned to his friends and asked. "Huh, it's been two hours and he's still like that. Should we call a doctor or something?" The speedster asked in mild amusement. Kaldur and Artemis sent stern glares at Wally, warning him now is not the time to be a smartass.
Artemis couldn't bear having to see Galen like this. After knowing him for the past few weeks, Galen has proven himself to the Team, saved most of them, and is capable of extreme power. But know, he looks… broken. Of all the things she could describe him, broken was not one of those things. But here he is, Galen looking at the floor endlessly while wearing that small frown on his face, not facing his friends. Artemis also noticed there were dry tear stains on his cheeks to accompany his sad features. The archer was shocked; she had no idea the 'exercise' would affect Galen this much. Based on what Kaldur told her privately, after her 'death', Galen was almost thrown off the deep end. The Atlantean also told her that the Force-user was increasingly angry and, even though it was a simulation, what he did to those drones was ruthless.
Robin and Kaldur tried to talk to Galen, but the Force-user didn't respond. Their only option was to wait until the shock left him completely, which from the looks of things will probably be a while. Having enough of Galen's misery, Artemis asks quietly to her leader "Kaldur, what do we do?"
Kaldur shook his head. "I am uncertain. I believe the best choice is to leave both Galen and M'gann to themselves." The Atlantean suggests considerably. Artemis nods but did not agree with Kaldur. She wanted to talk to Galen, that whatever happened was not his fault. However, trying to talk to him now is like talking to a wall. The rest of the Team wasn't quick to judge though. The simulation kept them quiet too, creating an eerie silence throughout the Cave. Even though it wasn't real, everything felt real; every failure, every loss, every death. Robin stared down the corridor to M'gann's room, remembering that Connor is attempting to comfort the Martian. The Boy Wonder looked from the corridor to Kaldur.
"Connor's trying to calm Megan." Robin stated, hoping to enlighten his friends. He then looked at Galen, who still did not respond. Robin frowned; knowing what is was like after something terrible happened to him. Galen's face mirrored Robin's when his parents died at Haley's Circus. He hoped he would never see that face on someone else.
Kaldur nodded as the uncomfortable silence settled in again. Thinking of it as his cue, Wally steps closer to Artemis. "So, uh, how you're feeling?" The speedster asks awkwardly, while rubbing the back of his neck.
Artemis raised an eyebrow. Why does he care? The archer thought to herself before answering his question. "I'm fine." She replied curtly before gazing to Galen. "He isn't though." She adds softly.
Wally almost grew red in rage. He put her through a coma, and she STILL likes him as a friend?! Wally thought angrily to himself as a frown formed on his face. Composing himself, Wally took a deep breath and replied. "You do realize that he is the reason you were in a coma. Not to mention all of us too."
Artemis turned to Wally, anger building on her face. "He didn't know that would happen." The archer replied, almost raising her voice. "And besides, it wasn't just his fault, it was M'gann's too." Artemis responded to Galen's defense.
Wally seemed offended and narrowed his eyes at the blonde archer. "Yeah well, at least M'gann apologized. What did Galen do? Right, he just stares at the floor all day, not bothering to talk. That's real apologizing." The speedster replied sarcastically in which Artemis' anger increased.
Their conversation brought the attention of Kaldur and Robin, in which the two glanced nervously at each other. Robin knew from the beginning that KF had a crush on Artemis, even though he didn't show it. Judging from how Wally reacted to her 'death', he clearly liked her. It is also clear that Artemis does not return the favor. Robin knew that Artemis liked Galen; ever since he came here, Robin observed how Artemis became more attached to him as days passed by. And it is clear that whatever this 'date' was (Robin knew it was a date. Artemis may be a good liar, but Robin was trained by Batman. He could spot a lie a mile away) that M'gann mentioned when they were chasing Tornado, something special must have happened between them. Robin internally sighed when he realized that he would be the one to tell Wally that Artemis is not into him. Kaldur must be thinking the same thing as the two of them looked back to Wally and Artemis.
The archer stared back at Wally, her rage building. "I don't know what's your problem with Galen! He says nice things about you, which I don't know why, and you always have to be jerk to him!" Artemis responded with anger to the point of almost shouting. Wally looked back shocked at her outburst before anger crossed his face. Before a full-blown argument would ensue, Connor returns with a frown on his face.
Wanting to lighten the sudden tense atmosphere, Kaldur asks politely to Connor "How is M'gann?"
Connor gave a disapproving grunt before replying "I tried to talk to her. She said she wants to be left alone." He paused before continuing quietly "Not that I blame her."
Galen, who was quiet, now finally looked up to see the sadness of his friends faces. Even though he was unresponsive, he heard everything they said and was glad that Artemis backed him up. The archer also brought up another point; why is Wally acting aggressive towards him? Did Galen offend him in some way or is that Wally still does not trust him? Galen couldn't blame Wally for his behavior, especially after this. Wanting to help his friends, Galen finally spoke up that woke him from his self-pity. "I'll talk to her."
The rest of the Team looked back at Galen with questioning looks. "What?" Robin asked.
Galen picked his face up and looked at his friends. "I said I'll talk to her." Most of the Team sent warm smiles that Galen finally spoke. Artemis' smile seems to brighten the most, which Galen sent a small smile back. Wally, however, crossed his arms and remarked "Well, look whose back to the land of the living." After that quip, Artemis elbowed him in the ribs as a warning. Galen sent a grateful look to the archer in the archer gave a small smile in return. The Force-user stood up and began walking towards M'gann's room.
"Wait." Connor requested. "M'gann wants to be left alone."
Galen looks back at the Kryptonian. "She'll talk to me. I was equally responsible for this mess." He said reassuringly to his friend. And with that, he began walking towards M'gann's room. Wanting to talk to Galen privately, Artemis followed him, and when they were far from the others in the mission room, she pulled the Force-user aside in the shadows. "Artemis, what are you-?" He began but was interrupted by the archer.
"I just want to talk." Artemis replied, facing each other. Her dark brown eyes met Galen's light brown ones, as she examined his face. Even after he finally snapped out of his guilt, shame was still clear on his face. "Galen, what's wrong?" She asked.
The Force-user hesitated, looking down at his feet meekly. "I-I almost killed you." He replied quietly. Artemis' eyes widened. Is that why he didn't look at her? The guilt must be killing him. Artemis thought she picked Galen's chin, lifting his head up so that she could see his eyes.
"You didn't know." Artemis said. "M'gann didn't know. It wasn't your fault."
Galen shook his head. "Yes, it was. I sensed something was wrong about the whole thing. I knew it felt wrong, but after you…" He paused before continuing. "Even if it was fake, I almost put you into a coma." He finished quietly.
Artemis was getting annoyed at his self-pity. "Galen, I told you it wasn't your fault. Stop doing this to yourself." She responded curtly, not wanting to lecture him. She looks at Galen's face and notices a slight change on his features. "What's wrong now?" She asks.
Galen looks at Artemis. "During the… 'exercise', after you—'died', I felt so angry. When I was fighting the invaders, my rage increased my power and I wanted nothing more than to destroy every last one of them. I felt that angry because I never got to…" He paused and Artemis noticed he began fidgeting. "Got to…" He repeated before she noticed a slight blush appeared on his face.
Artemis still was confused. "Got to?" She asked, wanting to know what. The answer she received was not she expected; Galen leaned over and kissed her. Instantly, Artemis' eyes flashed in shock as Galen's kiss became more passionate. Wanting more, Artemis closed her eyes and kissed back, increasing the passion as a current warmness flowed through her. In all of her life, Artemis never felt this feeling before, this amount of love. The two kissed until the need for air ended it. Before it was Galen blushing, now Artemis is the one whose face began turning red. Her mind has been turned into mush by the experience and tried to formulate a proper sentence. "What... Why… How?" Was all she asked at a now grinning Galen.
"I never got to do that." Galen finished his sentence who he seemed to smile at the blushing archer. Galen takes her hand and says "I promise to talk later, but for now, there is someone else who is suffering." He replies and before he continues toward M'gann's room, he kisses her again on her forehead, leaving a stunned Artemis to recollect her thoughts.
Galen approaches M'gann's room door. He didn't require his senses to know that she was crying from the opposite side. Being polite, Galen knocked on her door. "Go away, please." The Martian girl replied through choked sobs.
Galen knocked on the door again and answered "Megan, its Galen. Please open your door." He requested politely. After receiving no word, Galen began to turn to leave. However, M'gann opened her door as she looked at the other telepath, sniffling her tears. Galen sighs and asks "May I come in?"
M'gann nodded as the two entered her room. Galen notices the heavily-tear stained pillow and felt that same way. Both telepaths sat on her bed, creating an uncomfortable silence. Wanting to break the silence, Galen said "Megan, it's not your fault."
The Martian girl turned to the Force-user and replied. "Of course it's my fault! I was the one who put Artemis, Connor, and the others into a coma! I mean I—"She began to yell off her guilt but was silenced when Galen interrupted.
"It wasn't your fault entirely. I was mine too." He corrected, not wanting Megan to handle the guilt all alone. M'gann seemed relieved by his words and stopped sniffling. After a quiet moment, Galen continued "It was my fault because I knew the whole thing felt wrong. Everything; the invasion, the mission, the deaths." He added but his voice dropped significantly after 'deaths'. He continued "I knew that it wasn't real, but my emotions took over when Artemis…" He stopped not wanting to say that she died. M'gann looked at Galen now, her eyes with the same amount of pain he felt.
"You love her, don't you?" M'gann asked in which Galen began to smile.
"Yeah, I do." He replies before giving a small chuckle. His smile must have brightened her attitude, because M'gann began to smile as well. Galen looks at her with seriousness before continuing "When I first came here, I was scared and I had no idea who I was. I felt so… lost. But you, and Connor, and everyone else gave me a home, gave me friends and most of all, gave me a family." Galen responded with complete happiness and honesty in which M'gann's smile seem to enlarge. The Martian hugged the Force-user, in which he returned the favor. After the hug ended, M'gann responded sincerely "Thank you."
Galen smiled and gave a short nod. "I should be the one thanking you. You and everyone else gave me something more than I could ever wish for." He responded, now knowing that M'gann felt better. "I'll tell you what. How about all of us go out for some pizza." He suggested which the Martian girl nodded happily.
"Pizza sounds good to me." M'gann replied, her eyes clear from her tears. Galen looks back happy as the two walk back to the others, ready to go out.
Other Notes: Well guys, that ends chapter 11. I know it was short, but I felt like I should write this chapter because I wanted to show that Galen is becoming more of a friend. Speaking of which, Galen and Artemis shared their first kiss! How did you guys think of it? Was it too soon? Please tell me, and about the rest of the chapter. I hoped it was good so please comment, rate, and review! This is Logan GC signing off and have a nice day.