Chapter Twenty-Five - Family Issues, Part I

I should have posted this before, but my mind was really bad, and I could not do anything.

This would be a single chapter, but at the time of writing it was too big, so I will divide it into two parts. First chapter of the year, it was difficult but I was able to write.

It did not take much to know the kids were confused. They looked at each other, then looked at John and Rex, after all, the whole scene was with their parents. The two boys did not want to believe what they had just witnessed. John imagined that his parents were beginning to approach, but apparently he was wrong. And Rex could not even think that his father did that to his mother.

Shayera turned away from the Green Lantern, ready to explain herself, not knowing how. However, contrary to what she had expected, Rex's fury did not come to her. Confused, the boy looked from his father to Shayera, and then to John. Even if the boy was not to blame, it was his mother, which only increased the anger he felt a few years ago.

"And I almost considered you a friend again." He said, and won the confused looks of his friends around. He continued, all the restrained anger leaving. "It should be family. Your mother taught you how ..."

John shoved Rex, so confused that he could not keep himself calm as he wished.

"Don't talk about my mother!" He shouted. "Your problem is with me, not with her. You can talk about me, you can try to humiliate me, but you don t talk about her or my sisters!"

"Or what?"

John laughed and stayed on his back. Without a second thought, he turned and punched Rex. He wanted to do that for so long, and everything he's been through in recent months, along with the scene he's just witnessed, has pushed him to the limit. Rex fell because of the violence of the punch he took, and soon John was coming upon him, however, Jason stopped his friend.

"It's not worth it, dude."

Rex laughed as he wiped the stream of blood from the corner of his mouth, and stood up.

"That's it, dude, it's not worth it. We all know how bad your mother is."

Jason held on tightly, while John wanted to beat Rex in every way. It was full, and that was the last straw. Kira and Terry had to hold Rex because he also wanted a fight. Martha stepped between John and Rex, and in the meantime the confusion had already gained many curious glances from the other leaguers.

"John!" Martha was serious. "Go away, please."

The redhead still tried to pull away, advancing toward Rex, and Jason had a hard time keeping him in place. Martha has never seen her friend so angry before. John tried to be calm at all times, but she knew he did not like being talked about by her mother, and Rex had crossed the line.

"John!"

He heard her name scream once more, and in the blind fury he recognized Lily and Martha's voice. He stared at the two girls, breathing, trying to calm down. Jason released him, and John turned his back, making his way through the group and casting glances at Martha and Rex as he walked away. When the friend was no longer in his field of vision, Martha finally turned to Rex. She pushed him away, and the boy staggered, but she stood.

"What's on your mind?" She shouted.

"He was-" He tried to justify himself, but Martha interrupted him.

"You're so stupid you didn't realize that John spent the last year trying to apologize to you. And I'm already tired of your quarrels with him." She came closer. "If you mess with him again, you'll see me."

"I'm not afraid of your father." He returned.

"You should be afraid of me."

She left, clearing the way and heading in the direction John was.

"I've never said anything, but if you get close to John again, or even to Li, you'll see me too." Jason said as he went on his way. He did not see Lily in the crowd, so he decided to look for her.

"You got bad, huh, Rex."

Terry bumped into Rex, also leaving. Honey just shook her head, not agreeing with his attitudes. Little by little, the guys were leaving.

"Are they all on his side?" He gestured.

Kira opened her mouth to speak, but gave up.

"There's nothing to see here." She dispersed those still in the hall, who were gradually leaving, leaving only Shayera.

"I guess I'm lost. What happened to them?"

The Martian girl turned to her aunt.

"That girl, Katy, was dating Rex, but she was playing John too. Rex thought it was John's fault, and they fought. The two of them went to the hospital. Rex gained a deadly hatred for John, and John got really bad at it all. He was going to ask Martha to date him, but it never happened. And that's been over a year. I thought with the whole time travel thing they were overcoming it, but it seems I was wrong."

Shayera looked incredulous at Kira.

"All this about a girl?" Shayera asked.

"Until the Trojan War began because of a woman. You should know it yourself, aren't you, Auntie Shay?"

The direct indirect picked up hard. Kira was right, however, the center was not her.

Shayera found her son in the training room. The door closed behind her, and John remained the same.

"Will you teach me a lesson, Mom?" His fist went through the punching bag with which he had fought for some time. The sand dripped to the floor.

"It's not my style. How about fighting with me? So you relax and don't end up with our stuff."

John shrugged. At the same time it was her fault, it was not. At least he was cooling his head. His mother knew him very well ...

Shayera laughed with John as the boy told them about their family. He told a little of his childhood, his sisters, and everything else he had not told before. They had long since stopped fighting, and the boy spoke only a little more of the family. John was lying down, and she was sitting, watching her son. He noticed the look and returned it with a smile.

"Our family seems pretty unbalanced." She said, after hearing many of John's epic stories, especially when he was little.

"We're crazy, you need to see. But we love you and Daddy."

"I'm sure you do." She smiled thoughtfully.

John looked a little more serious, and looked at his mother.

"Why did you never tell us that you dated Uncle John?"

"How will I know?" She returned. "I'm not exactly your mother yet."

"It's not your best excuse. But you must have your reasons."

"I guess someday we'll have the answer." Shayera rested her chin on one hand. "You like her, don't you? Martha?"

"What hurt me the most is that she went to talk to Rex."

"Only to say he was an idiot, and that she would kill him if he came near you again." Shayera said. "A little bird told me about you two."

"Kiwi?"

"Kira. Why don't you tell Martha how you feel?"

John looked from his mother to the ceiling. He let out a sad sigh.

"Maybe the day you admit that you like Daddy."

"I never said I didn't like him."

"But you don't admit you like, either. May it's a family problem."

Shayera opened her mouth to speak, but Martha appeared in the doorway, begging silent to enter. The redhead nodded and stood.

"Let me deal with Wally. You and Martha need to talk."

John looked at his mother and saw Martha at the door. He stared back at the ceiling as he heard the girl's footsteps approaching him.

"John." Her voice softer now. "I'm sorry, I-"

"All right, Martha. Really."

"If everything's all right, why don't you look at me?"

His blue eyes rested on hers.

"I think I deserve it."

"Stop blaming yourself, John. People who care about you know the truth, the rest doesn't matter." She paused. "What are you trying to prove?"

He had countless answers to that question. Prove that he did not always act on impulse. Prove that he could be faithful to someone. To prove he was better than some said. However, staring at Martha, the answer screamed in his mind.

"That I'm good enough for you."

"You already are."

She touched his face. Martha bent over him, her black hair rubbing against his skin. Soon, her soft lips were against his. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. For the first time in a long time, he accepted the contact without reluctance. He wanted her for so long, and he was a fool to keep her away.

They parted for a breath, and caught one smiling at the other. John felt as if a huge weight was being pulled from his back, and he finally got the girl he loved. He had loved her for so long that he did not even know how it began, but from the first time he saw her, he felt something and only increased as time passed.

They kissed again, and in a moment of daring, Martha found herself climbing into his lap. But John stopped her.

"What are you doing?"

"We've waited a lifetime for this, John. I don't want to wait any longer."

"Someone can come and see us." He argued.

"Then it's good to go fast ..."

Martha kissed his neck. It was as if every sleeping part of her body woke up under the girl's touches. She did not have to ask for a second time ...

"That was ... wow!"

"A lot! The girls were right about you."

"There's only one girl I want to be with."

Martha chuckled against John's chest. She liked the feel of his skin against hers, especially the thin layer of sweat that covered them. They were still lying on the mat, trying to calm their breathing. John's shirt was thrown somewhere in the room, and Martha's clothes were wrinkled, and they were happy, very happy.

She smoothed the tattoo he had on his ribs, and felt his body twitch with her touches. She traced words on his skin, hoping he would understand what she was writing.

"I hope no one have watching the camera recordings." She laughed, finally thinking about what they had just done. John joined her.

"I have no problem exposing myself, but I hope they have not seen you." He pressed his hand to his forehead, giggling louder. "I'm a dead man. Uncle Bruce's gonna kill me."

"I protect you, my angel."

He found her lips in a new kiss. Oh, that was good. Now she knew why Lily and Jason never separated. Being with the one you love makes your chest vibrate with a new emotion. John pulled her against him, holding Martha in his embrace.

"I love you ..."