Redefining Hero A Roy Harper Story

The real Roy Harper wakes up after three years and he's got a lot of catching up to do in a world that's strange and familiar at the same time. And he's not the only one that has to adjust. Time may have stopped, but the world has moved on. A different kind of journey that takes place for a hero that was given the short end of life and how he picks up, falters and ultimately discovers who he is a person.

A story of rediscovery in six parts.

Part 2 of 6: "Catching Up"

Words: 3,190
Notes: A big THANK YOU to all those who reviewed and added this story to their alerts/subscriptions. It truly warms my heart to know that people are enjoying this.

A quick note on this chapter: I don't think it's as serious or as dark as the first chapter was. There's a lot of foreshadowing, I believe, but this is a bit more light-hearted. I promise that will definitely change next chapter.

WARNING: Mild spoiler for "Young Justice: Invasion". It just mentions a character at the end who will appear on second season.

Disclaimer: See Part one!

His shot is off by 3 mm. That doesn't' seem like much, but it is. Before, his shot was, at most, 0.001 mm off. Before, he could string and shoot without any hesitation. Before, he could confidently say he was a Master Archer. Before, he was Speedy. Before, he was Roy Harper. Before, he knew who and what he was.

Now, he doesn't know anything at all, not even himself.

He knew that this wouldn't be easy. But he knew that he would try anyway. It was, literally, relearning everything Brave Bow had taught him, everything he had learned while his parents were alive, before they died, before his first mentor died and before Ollie found him. And while there are many frustrations involved in this, there is also a sense of relaxation in relearning. Roy finds that he is forced to revisit his roots and remember his past, remember the path he had to take to arrive at the spot he is right now.

The issue is that he draws with his right hand and his right has lost the connectivity that hit had when it was flesh. Metal lacks what can never be replaced or recreated. To overcome that, Roy knows that it's a simple idea of 'mind over matter'. He's having issues with that as well.

Surprisingly enough, it's Hal Jordan who helps him find a different outlet.

The Green Lantern of Sector 2814 (or one of them, really) drops by to pick Roy up as Hal Jordan. He throws a jacket at the young adult and tells him to get dressed; they're leaving in five minutes. Roy complies because he doesn't think he can handle another day of disappointment. Patience is something he has yet to develop and if he fails at regaining that expert marksmanship he once had with the bow, then his patience will snap.

"Where are we going?" Roy asks as Hal drives. He doesn't recognize the scenery or the streets that they're passing by, but…then again, it has been a while since he's been in this city. He shouldn't really be surprised that he doesn't recognize the streets.

"You'll see." Is the cryptic answer.

Roy knows better than to push Hal on this topic, so he occupies himself with his arm as he invariably does whenever he needs something to do. He flexes the fingers, rotates the joints, and just watches with utter fascination as it works. Even after having it for a while, it still feels weird to have the attached limb. It's a part of him, but at the same time, it's not.

Hal notices his musings. "Something wrong with the arm?"

"Besides the fact that it's not my arm?" It sounds bitterer than he intended and Hal's raised eyebrow confirms that. He fumbles for a recovery. "It's not that I'm ungrateful for the arm; it works like I need it to, but," he traces the odd ridges of the arm, the metal cool even now, "it's not the same. It's not…" He trials off and Hal doesn't say anything. He can't.

Because no one else understands.

At least, they arrive at a shooting ranger, and Hal throws Roy a grin. "I figure you might was well try a new weapon. Ever try shooting a gun?"

Roy gives Hal an 'are you kidding me?' look. "I can shoot an arrow from 200 meters with a 3mm margin of error with this arm. How hard can shooting a gun be?"

"You'd be surprised." Hal's fighter pilot smile is back and Roy finds that he's itching to prove the Lantern wrong.

They put on goggles, ear plugs, and ear muffs when they're shown into the inner area of the range. Both shooters are using the same gun. The weapon is foreign to Roy, the feeling of this metal different than the material his custom bow is made of, but it feels…familiar. It feels right, like the first time he was given his current weapon of choice. There are no true words to describe it, but the gun feels like it belongs in his hands.

For Roy, there's no difficulty in lining up his shot and pulling the trigger. It comes almost natural to him to use the weapon. When he and Hal call forward their targets, Hal is impressed. The Green Lantern lets out a low whistle as he survey's Roy's target. Each bullet has been lodged into the center of the target; almost all of them have overlapped. Unlike Hal's target, where the bullet holes are every which way.

When Roy comments on that, Hal only has one thing to say in his defense. "Hey, I'm a better shot with my ring and better flier with my girl."

"Your girl?"

"My plane?"

Roy nods once, but can't help the grin on his face. It was a good idea for him to join Hal. He really does need this escape. But confusion is on his face as his Uncle Hal hands him another gun that's loaded and they set up another target.

"What are you-?"

"Just shut up and shoot Roy." Hal grins.

They put on their protective gear once more and Hal stays be Roy's side this time as the young man begins to shoot off the round. It's the same as before for Roy. The gun feels natural, like a bow. There's no pure connection between the bullets like there is with an arrow, but the feeling is the same. And he can't explain it; he sees the target and knows he will hit his mark as many times as he needs to.

Because this time, he knows that he's not 3mm off. And he feels like he's 15 again.

When the target pulls forward, it's the same as before: perfect shots. Roy takes off his protective gear, but keeps the gun in his hands, a small smile on his face as Hal begins to comment on his marksmanship.

"I don't think you're just an expert archer anymore, Roy." Hal's grin mirrors his own.

He's not going to give up on his bow and arrow, but he thinks he's found a different outlet to use.

This is the first time that Hal and Ollie's arguments have reached this level. Sure, he's heard them argue and fight before, have seen them exchange blows and words, but this is a first for Roy . Because their yells are reaching alarming decibels and they've brought out their arrows and the power ring with intent to kill, it seems like. And unlike past altercations between them, this has reached a point, where, if not correctly resolved, could cause a permanent rift between two long time friends.

And Roy knows that he's at fault.

He and Dinah sit in a room adjacent to the one that Ollie and Hal are tearing up. Through the walls, which are no means thin, he hears their conversation. His knuckles are white from being clenched so tightly and even Dinah's hand on his back does nothing to soother his nerves. He's starts to regret letting Hal talk to Ollie about his new found ability. It sounded so simple when Hal explains it to him on the way back from the range: tell Ollie that he wants to train in weapons, not strictly bow and arrow.

"He'll understand." Hal assures. Famous last words.

"HE IS NOT USING A GUN!" Ollie yells. There's the sound of punches landing, another round of blows exchanged and some more yells, muffled by the grunts of pain and exertion of fighting.

"AND WHY THE HELL NOT, OLLIE? HE'S GOOD WITH THAT WEAPON AND I BET HE CAN BE EVEN BETTER IF YOU. GAVE. HIM. A CHANCE!" Each word of that last sentence is punctuated by a small blast from Hal's power ring and Roy digs his nails deeper into his palms, drawing blood. The house shakes from the fight and he wishes he'd never gone with Hal in the first place now. "He's got the potential to be a weapons master and you won't let him. Why?"

"He's fine with what he's got! Those….those weapons you want him to try out? Those are mercenary." The Emerald Archer's hiss comes out as a yell as well and there's a small explosion, presumably one of his trick arrows.

There's a small silence and it's not good. Roy feels the tension curling in the air. Something's building and it's in Hal because it's his turn to yell and dig deeper into Roy 's guilt. Dinah's hand curls into his shirt and her nails dig into his skin, but he says nothing. The pain is a good reminder of the reality he's in right now.

"Fine?" Hal laughs, and the sound sends shivers down everyone's back. "FINE? He's not fine! OPEN YOUR GODDAMN EYES OLLIE!" There's a small scuffle as Hal presumably tackles Ollie and a moment later, they burst through the door, rolling and wrestling with each other as they try to get punches in on the other. Hal ends up sitting on Ollie. "Stop being stupid!"

"Guys." Roy tries to cut in, but Hal and Ollie's voices overlap with each other, drowning out the archer they're arguing about. "Guys…" He tries again with the same results, except it seems that they've gotten louder, maybe in an attempt to drown him out altogether.

Dinah clears her throat and stands. Taking a deep breath, she screams, "BOYS!" her pitch escalating rapidly to hit her famed Canary Scream, the high sound causing the two to break up and cover their ears in an effort to protect their valued hearing. "Roy has something to say." She announces casually.

Roy shoots her a grateful look, though his ears aren't as grateful. "Ollie," his blue eyes lock with his mentor's green ones, "I'm siding with Hal on this. I want to learn to expand this…talent."

Ollie looks betrayed as he stands with some help from Hal. He's bleeding and his lip is cut. A black eye is starting to form around his left eye, but Roy sees his emotions clearly. "You're an archer, Roy. What you're talking about is like….like…like what Deathstroke (1) does."

"I'm not going to turn out like that." Roy deadpans.

"But you've got your arm back! You've been practicing your archery!" Ollie implores. "You-"

"Ollie." His voice is quiet as he cuts the Emerald Archer off. This is hurting them both as much as it hurts Dinah and Hal. But they need to address this illusion they've been hiding behind; this Roy Harper is not the same one that was kidnapped three years ago and they need to realize that. It's time to face reality. "Ollie…do you think I want to give up that ability? Would you rather that I mourn over the loss of an ability that I can never fully regain or develop a new talent that I've discovered?"

There's silence and Ollie struggles with Roy's words. "Would it help if I said that I believe you can do it?"

There are soft, hurting smiles all around and Roy shakes his head. "Not really. And I can't do it." The admission kills a part of him. "Not anymore. The arm can string, but my mark's off." Roy's aware that he's shaking softly, but he keeps his eyes on the ground, glaring holes into the floor. "I can't be the Roy Harper you remember anymore."

There's a quiet silence as the truth of his words seeps into them. Their rose colored glasses have finally come off and it's harder to accept the world behind the color than any of them want to admit.

"I haven't been that Roy for three years. I need something different, Ollie, just like the world I'm living in."

"But it's the same!" Ollie protests.

Roy shakes his head. "We are the same, but you that everything's different, too. And I need that something different. If that means giving up the bow and arrow as my primary weapons, then so be it." He looks at his surrogate father with a sad smile. "I'm not going to forget what you taught me, what Brave Bow taught me." Roy takes a deep breath. "But I can't be just an archer anymore, Ollie. I just…can't." He finishes lamely.

Ollie's face is as broken as Roy feels, but there is an understanding in his eyes. It will take time for the Emerald Archer to completely accept Roy's choice, but he understands and that's the first step.

And that's all Roy asks for.

Ollie comes by Roy's room three days later and tells him he gets it. And then he tells Roy that his training with Dinah will begin the next day. This is new to Roy and he asks why Dinah is teaching him.

"My pretty bird's got a lot of martial arts knowledge and there's a style she can teach you that I can't." Ollie says with a wink. Things are starting to slowly get back to normal.

Understandably, Roy's more than apprehensive when he arrives at the training room the next day. Dinah is all smiles as she beckons him to their training mat. Roy's fear grows a bit more. He's had Dinah previously as a teacher and she's been one of his teachers these past couple months. But he's heard stories and seen her in action. Of course he's worried.

"The style you're going to be learning is called Moo Gi Gong (2). For what you're planning to do, it'll be the perfect style." She tells him and her smile is one that makes Roy even more worried.

But he nods as he realizes this is going to take everything he has.

It's a good thing he's willing to give that much.

The next few months are grueling. He experiences odd spasms with his arm, which Atom and Red Tornado have classified as a notion known as 'phantom limb'. But Roy refuses to let it deter him. In fact, he uses it as an excuse to train harder, a weakness he needs to overcome, to push more, and to give more.

Along with lessons from Canary, he's been training in various other weapons. That is, anything and everything he can get his hands on, that anyone in the League can find for him to use. His affinity isn't just for guns. Boomerangs, snipers, an electrified bolo….there hasn't been a weapon Roy hasn't been able to use. And when they say that anything can be made into a lethal weapon, they mean anything. Because for Roy, that phrase has never been truer.

Before he knows it, he's turning 19. Well, he and his clone are. Odd as it may be, they throw a joint birthday party and invite the Young Justice and the Justice League. It's a costumed party and Roy manages to pull together a costume but not a name. They just introduce him as "Speedy" because not everyone knows that Red Arrow is his clone. But the atmosphere is still awkward and there is tension everywhere. While some try to dispel it, it hangs in the air. And Roy, despite being the 'original', feels like he's the odd one out. After all, he's the one who's been gone for the last couple of years.

Roy sighs to himself as he watches the other mingle. It isn't long before Aqualad, Robin and Kid Flash are by his side. Even their presence is a small comfort because even his three friends aren't who he recalls. Even they have moved on. And it's time Roy accepts that.

"Any reason you're not enjoying your own party?" Robin asks.

"Yeah. I mean, you're missing out on meeting some great people!" Kid Flash exclaims. "And some great food." He adds almost as an afterthought, bringing small smiles to the group's faces.

Aqualad places a hand on Roy's shoulders. "What's truly bothering you?"

Around these three, Roy knows he isn't afraid of being judged. So he scratches the back of his head and attempts to look sheepish; a foolish gesture around these three because they can see through the guise and straight to his insecurities.

"It…it just doesn't feel like this party is any bit mine." He finally confesses. "I mean, the last three years, this has become his life, his Justice League, his friends in a Young Justice that was founded partly for him. I feel like I'm the clone."

"Dude! Don't ever think that way!" Kid Flash's face is offended, but in the way that only a best friend can pull off. Which means that it's offending and understanding at the same time.

"Yeah, Roy. He may by your clone, but he's not you." Robin assures.

"Your fears are natural, Roy, but," Aqualad's smile softens, "you must have more faith in your friends and family. Though there are two of you, realize that we can distinguish between you and we do understand the differences. You have not been replaced."

Three sets of eyes are on Aqualad and a beat of silence passes before Roy snorts and smirks. "When did you get so smart, fish boy?" He teases with a slug to the Atlantean's arm.

"Someone in the team had to be." He chuckles.

"HEY!" Kid Flash and Robin protest.

And just like that, some of Roy's fears are quelled. Not all, naturally, but a good amount of them. But he makes up his mind in that instant. He's not an archer anymore and it feels odd to choose a name that will confine him to one weapon. He needs a new name. A different identity. A new start.

"Hey." Kid Flash grabs their attention and is elbowing Robin multiple times in the ribs. "Um, Wonder Woman's coming this way." He whispers.

"But we've already met Wonder Girl!" Robin says.

"Just. Act. Calm." Aqualad advises.

Wonder Woman's not alone. There are two other females with her. Roy recognizes the blond one, the shortest of the three, as Cassie, Wonder Girl, who's joined the Young Justice. From what he's heard, she's a bit of a handful. It's the raven haired young woman who's unfamiliar, though she strongly resembles Wonder Woman.

The trio of females reaches them. "Hello boys. I know you're familiar with Cassandra, our newest Wonder Girl." Wonder Woman says by way of introduction. The blond crosses her arm and huffs.

Kid Flash sputters. "Wait, newest? You mean there's an old one?"

The two raven haired females exchange a smirk while Cass rolls her eyes.

"I wouldn't say I'm old." The unfamiliar female laughs. She steps forward, dressed in a halter top and pants, both of which are black and shine like the night sky. Her wrist bands are the same as Wonder Woman's and Wonder Girl's and her belt and boots are all silver like the bands. Even her earrings are the same shade and where Wonder Woman's are in the shape of stars, hers are in the shape of crescent moons.

But it's her smile that catches Roy's attention.

She holds out a hand. "I'm the 'old' Wonder Girl. I'm known as Troia now." Her eyes lock with Roy's. "But you can call me Donna. Donna Troy."

(1): Deathstroke. Aka Slade Wilson. A prominent assassin/mercenary who has managed to elude capture. Think DC's version of a bad Captain America and a lesser version of Marvel's "Deadpool".

He's the main villain in Teen Titans: Slade. That was probably a better explanation, yeah? :D

(2): Moo Gi Gong: A weapons-based Korean martial art. It is actually 1/4 of the combat systems comprising the Hwa Rang Do martial art, focussing primarily on the mastery of external objects as weapons.Practitioners of Moo Gi Gong must master 108 different types of weaponry within 20 different categories. Mastery of the 108 weapons of Moo Gi Gong improves one's ability to improvise weapons and (more commonly) predict weapon usage by opponents. (taken from the DC Wikia Page)

Ending notes: For those of you who know Donna, don't worry, I'm not planning anything major for her yet. She's just there to placate me as she's not the Wonder Girl in YJ from what I've heard. Oh and those who know what Roy's planning to do next, congratulations! And those who know Roy's history in the comics, that other person will show up. Yes, that's a hint/spoiler thing. Whatever you'd like to call it.

Review?

.chary