DCU Aquaman #25 Valentine's Day Special (N.E.M.O Rising)

"Father!"

 

 

Smack. The head hits the floor, rolling like a bowling ball. His arms and body are still twitching, his eyelids blinking one last time. I stare into his lifeless eyes, seeing it all.

 

 

Lies. A story. Make believe.

 

 

"Good riddance, no one likes a liar."

 

 

My head tilted up, seeing a mirror. I am holding a sword, dripping in Atlantean blood. A liars blood.

 

 

Good riddance.

 

 

Knock, knock

 

 

Jackson's head shot up, eyes wide open. The sword at his bedside is already drawn, aimed in front of him. Sweeping his room, he sees no one is present.

 

 

Knock, knock

 

 

"Jackson? It's Jackie. Can we talk?"

 

 

Jackie? Oh. I'm at N.E.M.O. I had forgotten.

 

 

"I'll be there in a moment." He calls back, sliding his legs off the bed. Jackson's room here is plain, only his equipment decorating it. His father had told him not to worry about such a feeble thing, that they wouldn't be staying. It kind of hurts him knowing this, but it must be done.

 

 

Dropping to the floor, he slides his shoes on and makes his way to the door. His clothes are still his pajamas, but it doesn't cross his mind. Opening the door, he sees it also didn't bother the girl standing outside. Jackie is wearing a tank top and shorts, her hair in a short ponytail.

 

 

"Hello Jackie. What's the matter?" His voice is still groggy from waking up only moments ago, but the sincerity is still present. "Oh, it's nothing major. I was just hoping we could go talk." She was lying through her teeth, he could tell easily. It was something his father had taught him. He gives her a nod, as they begin walking into the hallway.

 

 

The walk is completely silent. Both of the teenagers aren't speaking. There is a dread in Jackson's stomach, he knows something is wrong. He knows that she needs help.

 

 

I want to help, she's my friend, but I don't know how. It hurts to feel like this.

 

 

The pair arrives at the overhang, that's what they've been calling it the past few months anyways. They both sit down, their legs hanging off the balcony. No one was currently training, leaving them in complete and still silence.

 

 

"So what's it like?" Jackie initiated. "Being born of two different worlds?"

 

 

Jackson looked down, his eyes filled with the pain and memories of the past. "It isn't too special, really." He sighed as he looked up to her. "I am honestly weaker because of it. My Xebelion blood is suppressed by my human side. I can still manipulate water and such, but not to the level of other purebloods."

 

 

"Still," Jackie smiled, "it must be cool to be someone who is on both sides of the coin."

 

 

"Yeah well, it isn't always the best. I was made fun of quite a lot because I was always so much weaker than my classmates. So much so that I had to be moved into private lessons from the queen. I never felt like anyone got me. I always was an outcast, not having a mother, my fa…" He caught himself, "caregiver... being best friends with the King. Everyone thought I was just some kind of spoiled heir. I just wanted people to talk with. Be friends with."

 

 

"I… I feel the same way." She looks down now, the same way Jackson had a moment ago. "During normal school, I was pushed aside because of my lack of social skills. I couldn't make friends when I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to speak to someone that hadn't spoken first… but no one ever did."

 

 

As Jackson was about to speak, he noticed something he hadn't before. Running up Jackie's arms were bruises, on her shoulders looked like hand prints. The sight froze him, he stopped talking, stopped breathing.

 

 

They were fresh, maybe an hour old.

 

 

Jackie was confused, "Jackson? Are you ok?" His eyes met hers, he knew pain. He had felt it, but hers was different. Her eyes looked like they were so tired, ready for the pain to end.

 

 

"I'm glad you're here." He explained. He needed to help her, but he just. He didn't know how to. "I feel like you understand me, on a level that no one else does. Someone that I've needed for a long…"

 

 

His sentence is interrupted by something soft pressing against his lips. His were eyes locked onto Jackie pressing her lips against his, with his cheeks flaring with red. All he could do was sit there before she pulled away, realizing he wasn't kissing back.

 

 

"Jackie…"

 

 

"Jackson I… I'm sorry, I…" she looked away, realizing he didn't reciprocate what she felt. "Jackie I don't… feel *that way* about you." He empathized *that way*, trying to help her understand.

 

 

All she did was nod, eyes burned into the floor. She looked as if she was shot with a revolver, straight through the heart.

 

 

"I-it isn't you- or that I don't like you per say… I think you are really pretty. I just- I don't… like girls."

 

 

"Oh."

 

 

"I'm- I'm sorry, Jackie. I-"

 

 

She stood up slowly. He could see a tear run down her cheek as she turned. She started to walk away at a quick pace. "Wait Jackie! Jackie!" He called. He called again, standing, but she didn't turn her head, she only moved faster. It hurt him more than anything else had.

 

 

His first friend. The only person to ever talk to him about something other than his father or his Atlantean side. She was the first person he has cared for that wasn't a family member, or fake family member.

 

 

And he hurt her.

Done