Chapter 7: Letters in Locked Boxes

Days were blurs. I knew, someplace at some time, that something like this was going to happen. I was stone cold, and I had run into a woman in a mask with a large smile. She called herself Cheshire. She was actually pretty nice, despite the slightly creepy mask. Cheshire said that I should join the League of Shadows. I refused, and I knew there would be consequences. I was a rogue variable, something that no one could contain or hold, an unstable chemical compound waiting to blow up in someone's face. I lay on the ground in regular clothes, the cardigan covering my distinctive tattoo and my bracelets tucked away in my bag. It was raining outside. I had run to a place that was dark, and shadows were cast across the night. The shadows seemed to writhe beneath my feet when I walked between buildings. The eyes of the night burnt holes in my back, whispering evil words in my ear, I broke into a run. I tried to flee from the voices.

I was wrong about being on the run. There is nothing fun about it. I could never stay in one spot for a long time. I soon went to the city where not a soul would recognize me. It was rather rundown, but I did not mind, I was extremely pale among all of these people, but I soon blended in fine enough, since I worked. Anyone who worked was one to be revered, especially a girl who lived alone, in the small house up the street. Cabin would have been a more accurate word. I ran the small library in my free time; organizing books and keeping records as people brought theirs in, saying they were collecting dust. I had to wear shirts with shorter sleeves to make sure my skin would darken over time, and I would blend in, when I arrived, I was too distinctive, the pale, skinny as all-get-out, raven child who ran into town, literally and set up shop in a cabin at the end of the street.

It was a one-track town. Work in the adjacent fields or the town, pay your dues and spend whatever free time you can harbor with your family. To say the least, I could only do a few of those. I was fine with it though. Ironically, I repaired clocks and other various machines here. There were a lot of clocks lying around the town, and although I did not exactly find clocks the most entertaining items in this universe, I would fix them, and everything else brought to me. Half of the time, that was what I did, sat on the ground in front of my house, and worked as my fingers blistered and the sun darkened my skin. It was work, pure and simple, no manipulation, just myself and a box of gears. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

Until it all went to the dogs. Everything, all that I worked for, the library, my business, all ripped to shreds the second they placed a foot into the city limits. I was a fool to think that I could stay away forever. It was just another Saturday, sitting on the pavement in front of a slab of concrete that served as my table. Several kids were on their knees, watching me work, asking what this and that was. Everything was normal. Then they stepped up onto my driveway. I ignored them as I finished the work I had out and sent the children home, then directed them out back, where we could not be seen. It was the Justice League. In disguise, of course, they could not afford to draw attention to themselves. That was when I snapped. I spent the greater part of my year running from them, and the thought actually slipped into their head that I would simply waltz back into the fold, no questions asked from me. Taking a deep breath, I finally just let it all out at them, and while doing this, I most definitely scared the crap out of the rescue party they sent.

"Why are you here? Do you not understand that I was running away from you? I am not so easily manipulated anymore, I am no longer a scared little girl. I know what I'm supposed to do in situations such as these. You cannot hurt me any longer, do you understand me? I am not going with you, and I would like you to get off my property after I am done ripping you a new one. I hope that you get the damage that you have done to my family. Melanie is dead. Titania is dead. They are all dead. And that is because of you. They are dead because you dragged me out of my home, and someone had to pay, and it sure as heck wasn't going to be me, so it had to be them. It had to be Melanie and Titania. And I saw their bodies on the ground, I saw them, and you come here. You have the audacity to show your faces to me. TO ME! I hope you feel sorry for you did. I hope that guilt weighs on your soul until you are begging me for forgiveness. And let me tell you, that I may say that I forgive you, but in my heart, I know that there is no forgiveness for murderers like you! And if you ever think to come back here, I will make sure that none of you make it back out in one piece. Now get off my property. Get off my property and never come back. If you do, then every word that I have said will come true, even if I have to rip you apart with my bare hands." I looked them in the eyes and said one final thing, "Go, before I change my mind and you do not make it out of here with all of your body parts."

I left and did not bother to look back at their faces, which had gone slack-jawed and wide-eyed. I went into my house and slammed the door behind me. I was left with my books, the ones that have never steered me wrong.

There was a small knock at my door. M'Gann stood outside of it, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Once I opened the door, she took a small step back, holding up her hands in a gesture of surrender.

"I heard you earlier, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, and here is some of your stuff from the mountain. All of us also contributed something to remember us by, even if you don't want to. I am so sorry, Amazon, we all are."

And she left, she turned away and left. I was left holding a duffle bag and staring at the assembled members of the Team. They all looked sad, but more than that, they seemed to be disappointed because of something.

I slammed my door shut again, rattling the structure of the building and knocking over furniture, and slid to the floor, hoping that none of them saw the tears that began to fall. I felt my shoulders shake and my face screw up as they continued to fall.

I brushed them away with the heel of my hand before walking to the sink and scrubbing my hands and face clean of sweat and oil. I looked at my reflection in the small mirror I owned, and pushed my hair from my face, carefully inspecting my sunburn, and coating the reddened patches of skin in green aloe gel that brought an immediate sigh from my lips. I picked up the familiar duffel bag that I had dropped on the floor, and it opened to reveal every article of clothing that I had owned in my previous bedroom. I placed each folded item into my dresser, and was forced to hang some on the jacket pegs that were pushed into grooves beside the door. At the bottom, were my bracelets, which I shoved into my nightstand without hesitation, trying to avoid the runes etched into them. Then at the bottom, there was an envelope and six boxes of varying sizes. I opened the envelope and looked to see the contents. Six envelopes of different colors were inside. I began with the one that was painfully obvious to be M'Gann's. It was a rather bright shade of pink that hurt my eyes after looking at it for too long. I opened it and read the bubbly script that decorated crisp white paper.

Dear Amazon,

I do not quite know what to say. After you left, everything seemed a little sadder, but because we are told to, we carry on. We miss you back at the Cave, and if you ever reconsider the hero business, there is a place for you here, and if not here exactly, then you can have a home with me. I gave you a recipe for several kinds of baked goods (cookies are included, do not fear), and your camera. I know how much you enjoyed it. There is an extra memory card inside, with pictures of the Team, in case you are ever feeling lonely, or want to yell at us for some reason, but do not want to hurt our feelings. My mental range does not go so far as to reach you, but if we are ever in the area, we will let you know. An Amazon can always be used on our missions.

Love,

M'gann M'orzz

I opened her gift, and found exactly what she said would be there, and set it aside, settling into my frayed chair and propping my feet up on a stack of uncatalogued books.

Amazon,

I wish you the best of luck in your new life. I know that you do not want contact with us, and the Justice League has cut all ties with you after what has occurred between you and the organization. Let me or anyone else in the Team know, and we will not hesitate in aiding you, whether it be monetary or any other sort of support, I will do my best to assist in any manner that I can. Please enjoy the gift I have given to you, I was informed that many people like these sorts of things, I, myself, have taken pleasure in it as well.

Sincerely,

Kαλδυρ'αμ

I opened his gift carefully to find something I never expected from Kaldur, several small plush toys, a robin, turtle, squirrel, tigress, black bear, and a puppy with a bow around their neck. I smiled and laid them on top of my bookshelf, cradling the robin in my arms as I read the next note.

Amazon,

I do not know what to say to you. Really, for once in my life, I have no words to say. Which is saying something because you have spent five minutes around me, and know I have a certain inability to shut up. I am sure you have had your fill of apologies, so I am going to add another to the ever-growing pile. I am sorry about Melanie and Titania. If they were anything like you, then they were wonderful people. I understand your reasons, and I do not blame you. Eat some pie for me, if you could.

Wally West

Opening his gift, I found my hero outfit, folded neatly with a belt and Kevlar sewn into the layers of fabric. I placed the garments in a crate beneath my bed, placing my bracelets into it as well. I locked it tightly and placed the key inside the squirrel stuffed animal. I hid Wally's gift inside of his "spirit animal" as I had dubbed them,

Amazon,

You have absolutely no idea how angry I am with you at this moment. We deserved an explanation from you, not an APB from the feds. I am not saying that I do not get it, but, you need to get your priorities in order. Whose side are you on? Are you even fighting for anything anymore? What will it take for us to get some sort of response from you?

I get that you don't want to answer, but truly, Amazon. Please put yourself in my boots. I do not truly know what is going on inside of your head, all I receive is a new report and a speech from Batman to stay away from you, that you are to be left alone, and if any contact is to be made, it is to be overseen by one of them. Yes, I am not excited about you leaving. But we are stifling. Sometimes I can just hear their thoughts "Justice, justice, justice. It can only be reached through incarceration and the avoidance of threats and murdering people. Angst, angst, angst." I can hear you chuckling just writing this.

You told me that you were never a child. So, I decided to get you a piece of my twisted childhood, something that I held on to, use it well.

Come back soon or I will flay you alive,

Yes, I actually know how to do that,

Artemis Crock

I pulled a copy of Alice in Wonderland from the gift box. It was wrapped up in a green cloth, which I immediately tied around my head, knotting it at the base of my skull. It went to my nightstand. Only one letter remained.

Amazon,

I know you have a reason. I'm not going to lecture you, as I am sure Artemis already has. I could feel the lecture radiating off of her in waves. She thinks that you and her are not that different, and she is not wrong. You both never want to be seen as weak by anyone, especially those who are closest to you, not necessarily in an emotional fashion, but in proximity. I get it. I was like that for so long. So, I understand half of it. The other half is the supposed guilt, the feeling that it is all your fault, that is completely false. Whatever happened is not your fault, do you understand me? It is not your fault.

Now that that is out of the way, I will leave you be, if you ever need me, I will be in Gotham, just go to Commissioner Gordon and tell him that I sent you, and if you must, show him the attached letter that will get you past him if he won't let you call me.

Good luck, Amazon,

Robin

I opened his gift carefully, and saw a book on clocks. I could have attacked him in that moment, but when I cracked the book open, I saw a different title, Grimm's Fairy Tales. I laid it on my nightstand with Alice in Wonderland. I carefully folded the notes back into their respective envelopes before locking them into the box and sewing the squirrel back together. Some of the best-kept secrets are kept by those who talk too much.

I continued through my life there. It was a good one, and I lived happily for a long while.

Until they returned.

Author's Note: Hello my lovelies! Long time no write, eh? Let me tell you, I officially dislike school, but I was able to set it aside for a while in order to finish this chapter.

Disclaimer: (Just for kicks): I do not own Young Justice, only the lovely Amazon, who does not really like me right now because her fate is rather indefinite. *Dodges several throwing knives*

Excuse me for a moment… "AMAZON! No throwing knives until I get back to writing you!"

"But, Reborn…"

"You heard me, young lady."

Sorry about that… Teenagers. So, um, the next chapter is indefinite, it has yet to be started, so, I am sure you all are thrilled about this. Thank you all for reading and reviewing, I love you more than me words can express.

Tell your friends (if you possess any interested in Young Justice), and review please, I will give you cookies (::) - That is a horrible representation of a cookie, if you could not already tell. God bless all of you, and have a wonderful indefinite amount of time!