Disclaimer:
I don't own YJ that belongs to DC. The song "Open Wounds" is a song by Skillet and belongs to them and their producers.
Note: Thoughts are italicized and underlined.
In the dark with the music on
Wishing I was somewhere else
Taking all your anger out on me
Somebody help
She was bent over him. God….God….GET UP! GET UP NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE ON ME HERE!
For the first time she felt alone. A stare was boring a hole into her back. She turned to face a set of blue eyes.
"You're a coward."
"I-I-I-Y-Y-You don't know what it's like!"
"To be unloved? Sure I do."
"That's not what I meant!"
"To be injured in a fight? So what."
Jessamyn and Conner were locked in a fierce gaze. Jess's eyes watered and she hissed, "At least Superman doesn't HIT you."
Conner opened his mouth but closed it. Was he mad at her for leading some psycho here? Yeah. Was he mad because people got hurt? Yeah. But…why did she say that?
"Superman may not be fond of you…but at least he isn't around you all the time and treats you like a vermin he's forced to live with! AT LEAST SUPERMAN DOESN'T BEAT YOU UP ON A REGULAR BASIS!"
Jess stood up, tears streaming down her face.
"I didn't ask to be involved with that psycho! I didn't ask for him to hit me, to touch me in ways I didn't like. I didn't call him and ask him to take Megan and Wally, SO LAY OFF!"
The ended their conversation right there. Conner didn't say another word to Jess, choosing to ignore her. Kaldur looked at Jess as she miserably attempted to patch up Robin's head. She looked terribly irked at the whole thing. The girl stood up and blinked once. She looked at Kaldur and said, "I'm going after them. Take care of Robin."
I would rather rot alone
Then spend a minute with you
I'm gone, I'm gone
"No."
"Yes."
"You can't go back there!"
"If I don't he'll kill Megan and Wally."
Jess stared at the Atlantian teen. Kaldur looked back at her, slightly concerned for his new friend's safety. Jess turned away from Kaldur. She walked out of the door, her head slightly bent, her eyes dark.
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
Her eyes showed just how far she was gone. Jess threw away her overwhelming fears. He hurt Robin. He took Wally…and Megan. How could she have let this happen to her? He abused her since she was ten years old. She'd feared him since she was ten years old! But she survived. She was still a human being. She still felt, she still can.
But this human was now bent on murder. Her eyes swirled with conflicting emotions, but rage was the most present.
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
Open wounds
She was supposed to be his apprentice! He had been cold from the start, but she never expected this. Why had she left Renee? Wait…RENEE! She could remember Renee! Her older sister, her guide, her protector for all these years…
He said it all the time…I love you. Did he mean it? Hell no. She had allowed him to beat her senseless. She'd allowed it to get to the point of no return. Now she had something to return for… Robin... Conner... Kaldur… Artemis.
She had to save Wally and Megan. She just HAD TO. There was no running away now. The Runaway was asking for his ass kicked or worse.
Downstairs the enemy sleeps
Leaving the TV on
Watching all the dreams
We had turn into static
Doesn't matter what I do
Nothings gonna change
I'm never good enough
Jess could not remember a time Scotty was ever kind to her. She couldn't fathom why he did it either. It's not like she ever hurt him or threatened him with death. You're not Jessamyn anymore. You're Pangari. You're a superhero! You're going to save them. Anyone there, no matter the costs!
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
Pangari was fast on her feet. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she pushed herself harder.
"Keep going Pani! You're doing great!"
Pani? Only one person ever called her Pani…Jackson…the original Runaway…Scotty's old mentor. It was so clear to her now. Scotty had killed Jackson. He'd taken Renee and her away. Her brown eyes narrowed as she broke her run.
Tell me why you broke me down
And betrayed my trust in you
I'm not giving up, giving in
When will this war end?
When will it end?
She thought about it harder. She needed to find the building…
What if he'd moved?
No.
He thinks he killed the only person aside from her who knows about it. He doesn't think she'll come after him. He was wrong.
It was one thing to hurt her…it was an entirely other thing to harm someone else.
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
Pangari looked around and smiled. She was at Westbrook Ridge, only five blocks from the place. The brunette pulled her black mask over her face and took off.
"Don't worry Megan…Wally. I'm coming…."
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
He could barely open his eyes. He heard her cries of pain…the scolding of one man to another.
"You shouldn't have done that boyo."
"Sorry."
"You're lucky it didn't kill her."
"Are we?"
How could you, how could you
How could you, how could you
All I ever wanted to be was you
All you ever gave me were open wounds
He closed his eyes again, unable to keep them open. He now understood her fear, her pain. He'd been here barely three hours and it was like he was dropped into hell itself.