"Okaeri."
Ahh, so my motivation has been pretty nonexistent for the past year or more, and unfortunately I can't seem to keep my concentration long enough to finish even a short story-or update my blog regularly, oops. It's a mixture of hopelessness and procrastination, a sense of why bother? because life is one big struggle just to survive the daily grind. However, I do at least keep trying as the months come and go, and have started a bunch of stories to keep writing and let my ideas out.
Remember the theme challenge I had attempted? Yeah, neither do I. (;;) But the following I did in response to Prompt #27: Welcome Home, using the idea of Tye Longshadow, with his new girlfriend Asami, returning home after the Invasion in YJ S2. I'm ashamed to say I stalled out only a few paragraphs shy of finishing, but I felt like I was merely vomiting words onto the page, no real plotted substance. It was sorta my way to bring in Paco (Jaime Reyes' best friend from the Blue Beetle comics) with Tye (Jaime's best friend in the cartoon). Still, I would like to be able to finish it soon, pending this damn writer's block, so I can finally, finally update my AO3 and FanFiction drabble collection.
Okaeri
a Young Justice: Invasion fan fiction
With a sudden panic, he realized he couldn't breathe. Or rather, he had been too consumed by an odd paranoia that his lungs simply slowed to a contemplative pace. And now his chest tightened and he was feeling, quite out of the blue, the world caving in on him. Why the hell was he so worried?
"Hey," Tye said too quickly, "could you stop the cab? We'll get out here."
"No problem, kid." The taxi carelessly eased to the roadside. "Fare's the same either way."
Nodding, Tye dug the small bills from his pocket, all the while sensing Asami's questioning eyes on him. She had this way about her, a strong charisma, which always felt so... intense. He didn't know if it was her own personality, or some Japanese cultural thing, but everything she did was with a serious gusto, a professional precision. Everything, even if it was just a look. With her excelling grasp on English, he was sure he'd be grilled.
Indeed, as they left the confines of the service car for the open, dry air of the El Paso East sidewalk, she asked directly: "What?"
"What, what?" he asked back, shrugging for a more casual response. But it was hard to keep up that front. Still, here outside... Why do I still feel breathless?
Since they had no bags-running away and getting kidnapped by aliens will do that for one's travels, lighten the load-he stuffed his hands into his hoodie pouch-pocket and started off towards the projects. Sam stepped into pace with him, and although he hoped she'd sight-see, he wasn't off the hook yet; her polychromatic gaze never wavered from his face, and Tye knew soon he would start squirming. He found it hard to hide things from her.
And she managed to surprise him every time, almost knowing his thoughts before he spoke them. "Nervous? To see okāsan again, after all through?" Her face held the strident firmness he was used to in somber conversations, but her eyes were sympathetic and warm, telling him it was okay.
"No, I-" He exhaled so deeply it became a sigh. "I don't know what I am."
The honesty came out sounding lost, he plainly heard it himself, hating it. When he asked Sam to come home with him, it was an offer to help her start anew, a stranger in a strange land sort of deal. It wasn't to have someone for him to lean on. Dammit, he was just going home. Like returning from school, he said in his mind, over and over again.
Yet... it didn't feel like home anymore. It wasn't the same; he was not the same. And he still wasn't so sure it was for the better.
"No way! Tye?!"
The familiar voice called out excitedly, giving him only seconds to register before the equally familiar bear hug engulfed him out of nowhere. Tye managed to rasp out a stunned, and slightly squished, greeting. "Oh, hey, Paco."
As soon as he was set back down, Paco rattled off, "Dude! Dude? Dude, where you been?! It's been forever since you disappeared on us."
Tye couldn't help but smile at the overzealous, almost childlike questioning on his friend's face, the slight bobbing on the balls of his feet in anticipation of some details. He also felt a slight mix of relief and apprehension, pleased to find an excuse to stall, but wary of what exactly he should say. Tye knew as soon as school started there'd be rumors flying, and he didn't figure on explaining himself to anyone-that is, not until being face-to-face with a close friend.
"Yeah," he said, trying to sound flippant, "I just needed to get away for a bit."
The other's face fell into a more serious countenance, and the heavy look wasn't one normally seen on Paco Testas. "You and Brenda, man..." His voice trailed off rather shamefully. But to enunciate his meaning one fist smacked into the other's open palm, though it was a weak display, knowing there was nothing to hit. And not his place. "Damn."
"Forget it. How's things been?"
"Which things? I'd like to say same old, but esé, you might'a left at just the right time. Been more to worry about in El Paso these days besides the usual gang bangers and kiddie cartels." Suddenly Paco's dark eyes lit up. "Oh, did you know? Maurice got busted for hocking bootlegs!"
Tye's first reaction was a bitterly satisfied laugh, and the wicked, self-righteous smirk stayed on his lips as he said, "Heh! Serves that asshole right. Anything for fast cash and free rides." And then he wondered hopefully: "So he's in jail?"
"Tch, nah. If cops actually put people in jail for video piracy, everyone on the Internet would be in orange jumpsuits. Got nailed with a big fine, though, and he even lost his job."
A wash of vindication swept over Tye like a wave hitting shore, and the staggering impact of it felt good. As much as he wanted to dwell on the elation, long over-due, it was quickly replaced with concern. If something came back to his mother...
"How'd he get busted?"
"Well, no one knows for sure, but Jaime let something slip afterwards, and I think..." Paco now mimicked Tye's evil grin. "Hey, you know Jaime. He's always got our backs, no matter what."
No matter what? There used to be a time when Tye would trust his deepest, darkest secrets with Jaime Reyes, his best friend. But now... Again, it was a tragic reminder of just how much things had changed in his life, remembering the forced imprisonment, and the following mind-control and betrayal of the Reach's Blue Beetle.
But it's over now, he tried to convince himself. I'm home, and through it all we came out on top. Full circle, nothing is different.
Yet the awkwardness was still there, still building. Because he was different, Jaime was different, and now he knew.
"But your Mom, dude." The worry sparked anew when Paco brought up his family, but it was replaced with a quick shock and a strange sort of pride when the other continued, "She kicked Maurice out. Guess she wasn't gonna get stuck paying his dues no more."
Tye was unaware his jaw dropped. "Really?" The thought of his mother standing up for herself for once, because of what Jaime did to Maurice to get back at him on Tye's behalf... Life suddenly turned upside-down for him again. This news, however, felt better.
Paco smiled, understanding his look. "Really. I think you running out rattled her senses. How 'bout that?"
He had a hard time believing it. Tye turned to Asami, needing quite suddenly to hear her opinion, just to see the support again on her face. And it was then that her presence became The Thing.
"Oh! Well hello there!"
Paco pulled a typical Paco move and all but pushed Tye aside, extending a beefy hand at Sam with one of his brightest, charming smiles. Unfortunately for Paco, his charming was so overbearingly strong it tended to come off creepy. Tye impishly grinned at Sam over the other's broad shoulder, giving her a suggestion of how to handle his friend.
As was her way, Asami immediately took the offered hand with an affable smile. "Hello," she chimed, catching Tye's look with wide eyes; he knew by the twinkling in her gaze she was ready for the glaring spotlight.
"And who might you be, La Asiático Chica?"
"Don't talk your Spanglish to my girlfriend, Francisco. You failed that class, remember?"
Immediately Asami beamed, and Tye felt his face flush. It was the first time he openly referred to her as his girl. Paco's expression became one of immense interest and teasing innuendo.
As if sensing the possible embarrassment coming, Sam saved Tye by saying quite emphatically, "Hajimemashite. Koizumi Asami desu. Soshite, watashi wa jissai ni La Japonésa shite imasu."
Paco's eyebrows shot to his clipped hairline. All flirting and boastful jokes died on Paco's lips, and Tye had to cover his mouth from laughing out loud at the sheer stupid bafflement that overcame him. His friend's mouth dropped open. Then it snapped closed as he tried formulating a decent response, but fell again, making him look like a poor fish out of water.
"Um, hi," was all he could finally say, still holding her hand in a stand-still shake.
"This is Sam," Tye introduced, sparing him from further brain damage.
Paco nodded, and slowly the joshing, devilishly thrilled grin spread back across his face. "You go to Japan, Tye?"
"No, she came here." Sam smiled, but there was a certain discreetness to her good-natured look, something hiding the darker truth hidden in his brief words.
"Ahh, shit dude! I think I need to run away for awhile. Coming back to a new life with a new language and a new girl on your arm!" His beefy arm angled to jab Tye in the ribs with his elbow, playfully happy for his friend.
"Oomph-" Playful or not, the elbow cracked him a good one, and Tye joked back, "Please do go. Far, far away."
"Also we should go," Sam said softly.
"Yeah." The prickling sensation came over his nerves once more, but this time he had another reason to feel nervous. "I really need to see... things, for myself."
Paco lifted a fist as a show of victory. "Household without Maurice, esé."
"Yeah, that." Disbelief still slathered his tone, despite the die-hard truth in his friend's knowledge. Life without Maurice-a new beginning with his mother and a new life with Asami? It was hard to believe it anything more than his childhood wishful thinking.
Sam laid a reassuring hand on his arm, giving him a slight squeeze to help him off. But as they moved passed Paco, the other teen suddenly grabbed Tye by the shoulder, his grip hard in disturbed shock.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Tye, your eyes, bro?!"
"What?"
"They're... blue! Like, bright baby blue."
Tye threw his hand off. "My eyes were always blue."
The features of Paco's face screwed up in a classic look of "Are you serious?" and Tye knew his lie would never hold water, not with a friend he knew since they were little kids. Paco glanced from Asami's heterochromia to Tye's altered monochromatic eyes.
"Well, you know, I'm not one to stare into another dude's eyes, and I may not understand science, but I ain't that dumb, either. I know those gettin' it on genes don't work like that." A bit of sympathy mixed into his voice when he asked next, in all earnestness, "What happened to you guys?"
Tye met Sam's eyes for a lingering moment, and finally he sighed. "Ask Jaime."
* * *
Everything will be okay, she told herself over and over again. It's just like he's coming home from school. Don't make it a big deal, Shelly. You know he hates to feel coddled.
But for Shelly Longshadow, it was a big deal. She had a lot to prove to her son, prove things had changed for the better. It felt like a lifetime she had to make up for, she knew it all along; she just hadn't accepted it-Shelly didn't want to accept the fact Maurice was an abusive, selfish asshole and he was overstepping his bounds. Worse, he was ruining her life-their life, hers and Tye's-and she was ignorantly allowing him. It wasn't only about being a better mother, it was about standing up for herself, for them both.
All this time, she realized, that was what scared her the most. She didn't consider herself a noble woman, least of all someone courageous. It was easier letting someone else take her hand and lead. Even if that someone else was painfully crushing her hand in his grip the entire way. It was easier to give in to misery.
Then everything with the Reach, her son's kidnapping-it made her wake up from the long, trance-like nightmare. Because Maurice seemed more interested in Tye.
She was terrified of breaking up with Maurice, but somehow it was more terrifying reaching out to her child and telling him. She thought Tye wouldn't trust her, think Maurice was still manipulating her for some reason.
"What do I say...?"
To be finished hopefully...
Remember the theme challenge I had attempted? Yeah, neither do I. (;;) But the following I did in response to Prompt #27: Welcome Home, using the idea of Tye Longshadow, with his new girlfriend Asami, returning home after the Invasion in YJ S2. I'm ashamed to say I stalled out only a few paragraphs shy of finishing, but I felt like I was merely vomiting words onto the page, no real plotted substance. It was sorta my way to bring in Paco (Jaime Reyes' best friend from the Blue Beetle comics) with Tye (Jaime's best friend in the cartoon). Still, I would like to be able to finish it soon, pending this damn writer's block, so I can finally, finally update my AO3 and FanFiction drabble collection.
Okaeri
a Young Justice: Invasion fan fiction
With a sudden panic, he realized he couldn't breathe. Or rather, he had been too consumed by an odd paranoia that his lungs simply slowed to a contemplative pace. And now his chest tightened and he was feeling, quite out of the blue, the world caving in on him. Why the hell was he so worried?
"Hey," Tye said too quickly, "could you stop the cab? We'll get out here."
"No problem, kid." The taxi carelessly eased to the roadside. "Fare's the same either way."
Nodding, Tye dug the small bills from his pocket, all the while sensing Asami's questioning eyes on him. She had this way about her, a strong charisma, which always felt so... intense. He didn't know if it was her own personality, or some Japanese cultural thing, but everything she did was with a serious gusto, a professional precision. Everything, even if it was just a look. With her excelling grasp on English, he was sure he'd be grilled.
Indeed, as they left the confines of the service car for the open, dry air of the El Paso East sidewalk, she asked directly: "What?"
"What, what?" he asked back, shrugging for a more casual response. But it was hard to keep up that front. Still, here outside... Why do I still feel breathless?
Since they had no bags-running away and getting kidnapped by aliens will do that for one's travels, lighten the load-he stuffed his hands into his hoodie pouch-pocket and started off towards the projects. Sam stepped into pace with him, and although he hoped she'd sight-see, he wasn't off the hook yet; her polychromatic gaze never wavered from his face, and Tye knew soon he would start squirming. He found it hard to hide things from her.
And she managed to surprise him every time, almost knowing his thoughts before he spoke them. "Nervous? To see okāsan again, after all through?" Her face held the strident firmness he was used to in somber conversations, but her eyes were sympathetic and warm, telling him it was okay.
"No, I-" He exhaled so deeply it became a sigh. "I don't know what I am."
The honesty came out sounding lost, he plainly heard it himself, hating it. When he asked Sam to come home with him, it was an offer to help her start anew, a stranger in a strange land sort of deal. It wasn't to have someone for him to lean on. Dammit, he was just going home. Like returning from school, he said in his mind, over and over again.
Yet... it didn't feel like home anymore. It wasn't the same; he was not the same. And he still wasn't so sure it was for the better.
"No way! Tye?!"
The familiar voice called out excitedly, giving him only seconds to register before the equally familiar bear hug engulfed him out of nowhere. Tye managed to rasp out a stunned, and slightly squished, greeting. "Oh, hey, Paco."
As soon as he was set back down, Paco rattled off, "Dude! Dude? Dude, where you been?! It's been forever since you disappeared on us."
Tye couldn't help but smile at the overzealous, almost childlike questioning on his friend's face, the slight bobbing on the balls of his feet in anticipation of some details. He also felt a slight mix of relief and apprehension, pleased to find an excuse to stall, but wary of what exactly he should say. Tye knew as soon as school started there'd be rumors flying, and he didn't figure on explaining himself to anyone-that is, not until being face-to-face with a close friend.
"Yeah," he said, trying to sound flippant, "I just needed to get away for a bit."
The other's face fell into a more serious countenance, and the heavy look wasn't one normally seen on Paco Testas. "You and Brenda, man..." His voice trailed off rather shamefully. But to enunciate his meaning one fist smacked into the other's open palm, though it was a weak display, knowing there was nothing to hit. And not his place. "Damn."
"Forget it. How's things been?"
"Which things? I'd like to say same old, but esé, you might'a left at just the right time. Been more to worry about in El Paso these days besides the usual gang bangers and kiddie cartels." Suddenly Paco's dark eyes lit up. "Oh, did you know? Maurice got busted for hocking bootlegs!"
Tye's first reaction was a bitterly satisfied laugh, and the wicked, self-righteous smirk stayed on his lips as he said, "Heh! Serves that asshole right. Anything for fast cash and free rides." And then he wondered hopefully: "So he's in jail?"
"Tch, nah. If cops actually put people in jail for video piracy, everyone on the Internet would be in orange jumpsuits. Got nailed with a big fine, though, and he even lost his job."
A wash of vindication swept over Tye like a wave hitting shore, and the staggering impact of it felt good. As much as he wanted to dwell on the elation, long over-due, it was quickly replaced with concern. If something came back to his mother...
"How'd he get busted?"
"Well, no one knows for sure, but Jaime let something slip afterwards, and I think..." Paco now mimicked Tye's evil grin. "Hey, you know Jaime. He's always got our backs, no matter what."
No matter what? There used to be a time when Tye would trust his deepest, darkest secrets with Jaime Reyes, his best friend. But now... Again, it was a tragic reminder of just how much things had changed in his life, remembering the forced imprisonment, and the following mind-control and betrayal of the Reach's Blue Beetle.
But it's over now, he tried to convince himself. I'm home, and through it all we came out on top. Full circle, nothing is different.
Yet the awkwardness was still there, still building. Because he was different, Jaime was different, and now he knew.
"But your Mom, dude." The worry sparked anew when Paco brought up his family, but it was replaced with a quick shock and a strange sort of pride when the other continued, "She kicked Maurice out. Guess she wasn't gonna get stuck paying his dues no more."
Tye was unaware his jaw dropped. "Really?" The thought of his mother standing up for herself for once, because of what Jaime did to Maurice to get back at him on Tye's behalf... Life suddenly turned upside-down for him again. This news, however, felt better.
Paco smiled, understanding his look. "Really. I think you running out rattled her senses. How 'bout that?"
He had a hard time believing it. Tye turned to Asami, needing quite suddenly to hear her opinion, just to see the support again on her face. And it was then that her presence became The Thing.
"Oh! Well hello there!"
Paco pulled a typical Paco move and all but pushed Tye aside, extending a beefy hand at Sam with one of his brightest, charming smiles. Unfortunately for Paco, his charming was so overbearingly strong it tended to come off creepy. Tye impishly grinned at Sam over the other's broad shoulder, giving her a suggestion of how to handle his friend.
As was her way, Asami immediately took the offered hand with an affable smile. "Hello," she chimed, catching Tye's look with wide eyes; he knew by the twinkling in her gaze she was ready for the glaring spotlight.
"And who might you be, La Asiático Chica?"
"Don't talk your Spanglish to my girlfriend, Francisco. You failed that class, remember?"
Immediately Asami beamed, and Tye felt his face flush. It was the first time he openly referred to her as his girl. Paco's expression became one of immense interest and teasing innuendo.
As if sensing the possible embarrassment coming, Sam saved Tye by saying quite emphatically, "Hajimemashite. Koizumi Asami desu. Soshite, watashi wa jissai ni La Japonésa shite imasu."
Paco's eyebrows shot to his clipped hairline. All flirting and boastful jokes died on Paco's lips, and Tye had to cover his mouth from laughing out loud at the sheer stupid bafflement that overcame him. His friend's mouth dropped open. Then it snapped closed as he tried formulating a decent response, but fell again, making him look like a poor fish out of water.
"Um, hi," was all he could finally say, still holding her hand in a stand-still shake.
"This is Sam," Tye introduced, sparing him from further brain damage.
Paco nodded, and slowly the joshing, devilishly thrilled grin spread back across his face. "You go to Japan, Tye?"
"No, she came here." Sam smiled, but there was a certain discreetness to her good-natured look, something hiding the darker truth hidden in his brief words.
"Ahh, shit dude! I think I need to run away for awhile. Coming back to a new life with a new language and a new girl on your arm!" His beefy arm angled to jab Tye in the ribs with his elbow, playfully happy for his friend.
"Oomph-" Playful or not, the elbow cracked him a good one, and Tye joked back, "Please do go. Far, far away."
"Also we should go," Sam said softly.
"Yeah." The prickling sensation came over his nerves once more, but this time he had another reason to feel nervous. "I really need to see... things, for myself."
Paco lifted a fist as a show of victory. "Household without Maurice, esé."
"Yeah, that." Disbelief still slathered his tone, despite the die-hard truth in his friend's knowledge. Life without Maurice-a new beginning with his mother and a new life with Asami? It was hard to believe it anything more than his childhood wishful thinking.
Sam laid a reassuring hand on his arm, giving him a slight squeeze to help him off. But as they moved passed Paco, the other teen suddenly grabbed Tye by the shoulder, his grip hard in disturbed shock.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Tye, your eyes, bro?!"
"What?"
"They're... blue! Like, bright baby blue."
Tye threw his hand off. "My eyes were always blue."
The features of Paco's face screwed up in a classic look of "Are you serious?" and Tye knew his lie would never hold water, not with a friend he knew since they were little kids. Paco glanced from Asami's heterochromia to Tye's altered monochromatic eyes.
"Well, you know, I'm not one to stare into another dude's eyes, and I may not understand science, but I ain't that dumb, either. I know those gettin' it on genes don't work like that." A bit of sympathy mixed into his voice when he asked next, in all earnestness, "What happened to you guys?"
Tye met Sam's eyes for a lingering moment, and finally he sighed. "Ask Jaime."
* * *
Everything will be okay, she told herself over and over again. It's just like he's coming home from school. Don't make it a big deal, Shelly. You know he hates to feel coddled.
But for Shelly Longshadow, it was a big deal. She had a lot to prove to her son, prove things had changed for the better. It felt like a lifetime she had to make up for, she knew it all along; she just hadn't accepted it-Shelly didn't want to accept the fact Maurice was an abusive, selfish asshole and he was overstepping his bounds. Worse, he was ruining her life-their life, hers and Tye's-and she was ignorantly allowing him. It wasn't only about being a better mother, it was about standing up for herself, for them both.
All this time, she realized, that was what scared her the most. She didn't consider herself a noble woman, least of all someone courageous. It was easier letting someone else take her hand and lead. Even if that someone else was painfully crushing her hand in his grip the entire way. It was easier to give in to misery.
Then everything with the Reach, her son's kidnapping-it made her wake up from the long, trance-like nightmare. Because Maurice seemed more interested in Tye.
She was terrified of breaking up with Maurice, but somehow it was more terrifying reaching out to her child and telling him. She thought Tye wouldn't trust her, think Maurice was still manipulating her for some reason.
"What do I say...?"
To be finished hopefully...