Broken
Chapter One: Impact
Disclaimer: Yes, I still don't own Justice League. Though it's not like I've got enough money worth suing for anyway. ^^; And as a note, things said in between apostrophes 'like this' are thoughts. Kay? Kay!
~*~*~*
The words rang through John's mind, repeating in an endless cycle. 'Never again...never?' He stood as still as a statue. All because of him. All because he -
"You're..not serious, are you?" Flash's voice was unsteady, a weak smile on his face. "You're just pulling our chains, right? I mean, I know it was bad, but...but..." His voice trailed off into nothing at J'onn's piercing gaze. He bit the inside of his cheek as he looked downwards. It was stupid to hope it had been a joke. J'onn wouldn't joke about something like this.
J'onn just shook his head slightly. "I am sorry. I did all I could, but they were too devastated by the blast." He stepped out of the cold metal doorway. "She is still unconscious, but if you wish, you may see her now. I must go inform the others of what has happened." The offer was open to both, but intended more for John's comfort than anything. Of all the emotions that hung heavy in the air, the Green Lantern's guilt was the most potent. At Flash's mute half-nod, he walked off and out of sight.
John's mind raced. Should he go? Could he go? He remembered how he'd felt the last time he's seen Hawkgirl in a hospital bed, how the sight had saddened him, how angry he'd become, how he'd wanted nothing more at that moment than to rip their future selves to shreds. This time, he was the one to blame. The only one to blame.
"Come on." Flash's words snapped him from his train of thought. Traces of anger still lingered in his voice, but less so than before. "We'll both go."
His own voice came out just barely audible. "Thanks..." He didn't deserve to see her. But he couldn't just abandon her. His boots suddenly felt heavier than lead as he followed Flash into the medical bay.
The steady beeping of the heart monitor greeted his ears as he entered. A sound that was eerily familiar (too many of them had ended up in here for one reason or another). There, in the third bed from the right, she lay. Her mask hadn't been removed, the same unspoken rule of the League still holding true.
The sight of the assorted wires and tubes that encircled her body sent a cold chill down Flash's spine. One tube to replace lost blood, another for an IV, another for air to be forced in. He'd never been a fan of hospitals. He could see the edge of her bandages poking out from the edge of the white sheet J'onn must have covered her with. But the most noticeable thing of all wasn't any of those things.
There it was, plain as day -- her wings were gone. Any small shred of hope he'd held that this would all turn out to be some weird super villian induced illusion or a weird nightmare from some expired junk food he'd accidentally wolfed down was crushed. His anger swelled as John walked towards her, kneeling beside her bed, but was gone again in an instant as the Lantern clasped one of her pale hands in his own.
John couldn't help but notice her hand was cold. Cold like a corpse. He gritted his teeth, holding her hand just that much more tightly. No. It was just because the room was cold, that was all. She would survive.
But as what cost? He'd gotten to know Hawkgirl more and more over the last few months. She liked the sensation of striking someone down with that mace of hers. She liked loud, rambunctious music. She could always surprise him by saying something deep and meaningful out of the blue. She was caring. She had a secret love for chocolate. And more than anything, she loved to fly. Now he'd taken it away from her.
A lump rose in his throat. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't go away. "I'm sorry..." Sorry wouldn't cut it. It wouldn't be nearly enough. "I'm so sorry..." His voice cracked, and the dam broke. He buried his face into the edge of her pure white sheet, shaking.
He barely noticed Flash's tentative hand resting on his shoulder. It didn't offer him any comfort, but didn't push it away either. Flash had forgiven him...but Hawkgirl never would.
Chapter One: Impact
Disclaimer: Yes, I still don't own Justice League. Though it's not like I've got enough money worth suing for anyway. ^^; And as a note, things said in between apostrophes 'like this' are thoughts. Kay? Kay!
~*~*~*
The words rang through John's mind, repeating in an endless cycle. 'Never again...never?' He stood as still as a statue. All because of him. All because he -
"You're..not serious, are you?" Flash's voice was unsteady, a weak smile on his face. "You're just pulling our chains, right? I mean, I know it was bad, but...but..." His voice trailed off into nothing at J'onn's piercing gaze. He bit the inside of his cheek as he looked downwards. It was stupid to hope it had been a joke. J'onn wouldn't joke about something like this.
J'onn just shook his head slightly. "I am sorry. I did all I could, but they were too devastated by the blast." He stepped out of the cold metal doorway. "She is still unconscious, but if you wish, you may see her now. I must go inform the others of what has happened." The offer was open to both, but intended more for John's comfort than anything. Of all the emotions that hung heavy in the air, the Green Lantern's guilt was the most potent. At Flash's mute half-nod, he walked off and out of sight.
John's mind raced. Should he go? Could he go? He remembered how he'd felt the last time he's seen Hawkgirl in a hospital bed, how the sight had saddened him, how angry he'd become, how he'd wanted nothing more at that moment than to rip their future selves to shreds. This time, he was the one to blame. The only one to blame.
"Come on." Flash's words snapped him from his train of thought. Traces of anger still lingered in his voice, but less so than before. "We'll both go."
His own voice came out just barely audible. "Thanks..." He didn't deserve to see her. But he couldn't just abandon her. His boots suddenly felt heavier than lead as he followed Flash into the medical bay.
The steady beeping of the heart monitor greeted his ears as he entered. A sound that was eerily familiar (too many of them had ended up in here for one reason or another). There, in the third bed from the right, she lay. Her mask hadn't been removed, the same unspoken rule of the League still holding true.
The sight of the assorted wires and tubes that encircled her body sent a cold chill down Flash's spine. One tube to replace lost blood, another for an IV, another for air to be forced in. He'd never been a fan of hospitals. He could see the edge of her bandages poking out from the edge of the white sheet J'onn must have covered her with. But the most noticeable thing of all wasn't any of those things.
There it was, plain as day -- her wings were gone. Any small shred of hope he'd held that this would all turn out to be some weird super villian induced illusion or a weird nightmare from some expired junk food he'd accidentally wolfed down was crushed. His anger swelled as John walked towards her, kneeling beside her bed, but was gone again in an instant as the Lantern clasped one of her pale hands in his own.
John couldn't help but notice her hand was cold. Cold like a corpse. He gritted his teeth, holding her hand just that much more tightly. No. It was just because the room was cold, that was all. She would survive.
But as what cost? He'd gotten to know Hawkgirl more and more over the last few months. She liked the sensation of striking someone down with that mace of hers. She liked loud, rambunctious music. She could always surprise him by saying something deep and meaningful out of the blue. She was caring. She had a secret love for chocolate. And more than anything, she loved to fly. Now he'd taken it away from her.
A lump rose in his throat. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't go away. "I'm sorry..." Sorry wouldn't cut it. It wouldn't be nearly enough. "I'm so sorry..." His voice cracked, and the dam broke. He buried his face into the edge of her pure white sheet, shaking.
He barely noticed Flash's tentative hand resting on his shoulder. It didn't offer him any comfort, but didn't push it away either. Flash had forgiven him...but Hawkgirl never would.