This happens after "Alone Again"

Supersonic sat in his bed, hugging his knees as he looked around his room. As he'd been doing lately he kept the lights off, so he was surrounded by darkness. While you'd think if you were scared witless most of the time you would stay out of the dark, he felt that being in the dark it'd be easier for him to say that all the visions he'd see were merely the darkness playing tricks on him. Vicious wasn't really there, there was no alley, Duo wasn't looking at him with a face full of fear...it was just a room. Not that it helped too much, it was easily taking it's toll on the speedster. Super'd had very little sleep, he knew what awaited him if he did. He'd even gone as far as to morph away his eyelids, wasn't like he necessarily needed to blink, his eyes couldn't dry out, they were energy.

"Yo! Super! You're there, right?" Super almost fell out bed as he heard Electro's voice from his wrist controller. "No. The communicator that's always on my wrist has suddenly come off for some unknown reason. This is a recording." Marx didn't mean to sound quite so sarcastic, but right now he really wasn't in the mood for stupid questions. "Ha ha. Just thought you might want to know how things are going." "Did she find Sano yet?" "Er...yeah..didn't turn out quite as well as we thought though..." "...what's wrong?" "I kinda...told her you were worried about her." A pause and an annoyed sigh was heard on Super's end. "What part of don't mention me at all was unclear? Let me guess, she thinks the only reason you're there is so I can keep tabs on her." The silence he heard from Electro was enough to answer the question. "Look...just stay up there okay? Watch over her, if she doesn't want you there cloak yourself, whatever, just protect her. I'm sure her and Sano will be fine." "Sure thing."

"Oh, and Electro..one more thing. Don't call me anymore with any updates, we don't want Duo's annoyance being justified now do we?" "Um...Marx? Are you okay?" There was pretty long silence before Super finally answered his cycle. "I programmed your intelligence, so you're a pretty smart cycle. Why don't you tell me. Do you think I'm okay?" "...I'll...take that as a rhetorical question..." "As I said...smart cycle. Now go." Once more the room was deafeningly quiet, but that's how Super had gotten accustomed to. Of course it never stayed quiet for long, soon enough he'd began hearing the sickening thuds of fist and boot to flesh, the sounds of bones breaking and rupturing skin, the sounds of a certain brown and red haired girl screaming in fear. He was getting tired of this, night after night of the same torment. It was like he was caught in his own personal Hell with no hope of escape.

But he made this Hell for himself. He was the one who took it upon himself to kill Lister. He was the one responsible for Lister's transformation into Vicious. He was the one who almost killed his best friend in a fit of blind rage, that was all him. Super could see what Duo meant all the times she said she only brought her friends pain, but he knew that wasn't true, and even though he knew it wasn't true for himself either, it didn't help the way he felt. He didn't want to feel this pain anymore...he just wanted peace...actual quiet...to be able to go to sleep and not be taunted by the same nightmares he faced now when he was awake. That wasn't going to happen anytime soon, and he knew it.

With a defeated sigh, Super finally got up from the bed and made his way out of the room. It felt like it have been far too long since his mind had been preoccupied with what his next prank would be, he yearned for those days to return with all his being. He hated being like this. Looking over at the rooms as he passed them, Marx read Secret's name. Upon reading it he began to get flashes of what he saw when he first went in. The sight of Vicious undoing Greta's pants...if Super had been even a few minutes later... Marx shook his head trying to drive the thoughts out at least for now. Sitting down at the main computer console Super's mind began to drift.

How important was he really? Even in his own dimension, there were so many heroes he probably wasn't even missed. He'd been in this dimension for a good couple of months now, did they even realize he was gone for so long? And in this dimension, he'd been a member of two other teams so far, The Teen Titans and Young Justice. In the Titans, Superboy and Wonder Girl covered the strength, even Cyborg covered that pretty well. Kid Flash was the speedster, along with having the knowledge of an entire library in his head. What did Super really bring to them? His morphing, that was all, even his electric blasts were nothing compared to Cassie's. It was the freakin lightning from Zeus! And Raven's abilities to be honest made up for any morphing the speedster could do...on that team he was redundant.

And then there was Young Justice, the newly formed team. Just a few days ago he'd run into the Ray while he was in a mall trying to think of something else besides his problems in vain. Ray agreed to join the new team, he was much faster than the morphing speedster. At maximum speed, Super might be able to go light, for Ray it was probably no big thing. On this team he didn't even have the morphing advantage. Secret's morphing abilities were much more advanced, what Super added to this team mainly was his strength and toughness. Looking up, Super found himself looking at the main computer screen. "Computer...could you get me the closest possible address for CM3?" "Searching...CM3...cross/ref...Captain Marvel Jr..." He had no idea why he was doing this. He'd come up with something he actually did add for the team, and he's searching for someone else who'd be able to fill that requirement? But the more he searched himself, he knew why. He wanted to make sure the team would be fine without him...

As soon as the computer found an address, Super began typing the invitation. He wasn't sure at all if this was the right thing to do. Not so much the invitation as...the reasoning behind it. But he couldn't take this anymore. He wasn't thinking that nobody would miss him in the slightest. Good or not, he had made friends in his time here..just not many close ones, only Greta and Duo. They were more than enough though, he wouldn't have traded his time with either of them for anything. But Greta...she had someone she cared about deeply already, he was betting she'd enjoy watching the remaining Disney movies with Robin than with him anyway. And Duo...he thought back to what he said when she tried to kill herself. "...Is that what you really want?....For me to be by your grave every day blaming myself for you not being here?" He knew that the same could be said in this situation. But he didn't think she would in his case...at least not for long. He hurt her, and not just the physical injuries, but even those were gruesome. Super knew she might mourn some, but Sano would be there to help her though the tough times, he didn't know much about the guy but from what he did know, he was a good person. If she happened to miss him too much, Electro would still be watching over her. Sure it wasn't him exactly but...she'd be fine. He found himself thinking the same thing everyone who ponders this option thinks...'It's better this way..'

Finishing the letter, he clicked the send button, almost immediatly the automated computer spoke up. "Supersonic. You didn't put any information for the sender." But the speedster never heard the message, he was already outside of the HQ, flying anywhere, everywhere, just trying to fly away from himself. He wondered if he should have left a letter, a note explaining why. But the more he thought about it, it was a stupid idea. What was he going to say? He was too weak? He couldn't bear the pressure he put on himself because of his stupidity? That he just gave up? While these were all true, they were hardly last letter material. He just hoped Duo didn't blame herself for this. Though what exactly was "this"? Death in this dimension as well as countless others was an abstract term. People died everyday, but off the top of his head he could name four other friends of his who'd died and been brought back. While reading up on this dimension he heard that the entire JLA had died and been brought back at on point. Super, himself had died before and been brought back, ironically by his future best friend's hand. For all he knew, this wouldn't be the end, and all of his friends would be yelling at him for doing something so stupid. But he knew it was stupid, he agreed with them, it didn't change anything though.

Super had been flying around randomly, or not so much randomly as just wherever he felt the urge to go. He was flying completely on instinct, making it all the more poetic when he began to recognize his surroundings. Flipping over as he flew, Super looked up to the sky, at the same place he saw Duo falling and hitting the water. The fear he felt was immeasurable when he thought he was too late. Thinking of that, doubt began to cross the speedster's mind. Maybe this wasn't the way, surely he could tell Greta or maybe one of the other teen heroes he had regular contact with, hell maybe even Cissie about what he was going through. Dropping his hand down, Super felt the top of the water as it ran past his hand. He looked at the wake of his trail, almost hypnotized by it. Would anyone he told really understand him? Or just see him as an unstable teenager whose having suicidal thoughts...just because it's true doesn't mean he wants to be seen that way.

The trail of water began getting bigger and bigger as Super's hand went further into the water. He was so tired, and to be honest if you asked him when the last time it was he ate he wouldn't be able to give you an answer. He'd been in his room almost nonstop, only leaving when the nightmares he was seeing and at times feeling both when he was awake and when he was rarely asleep just became too overwhelming. But he wouldn't have to worry about them anymore would he? Looking back up to the sky, he wondered once more if he was doing the right thing. "If...I'm completely wrong in this...give me a sign..." Super found himself whispering, not so much to God as to anyone who would have cared if he died, anything......But nothing was forthcoming, Super found himself with at slight smile on his face as he felt more justified. The water trail only got bigger as Super let more and more of himself sink under the water.

Supersonic closed his eyes for the first time that week as he submerged in the water. It was almost relaxing, but on cue as soon as his eyes were closed for a little while he saw the foot about to come down on his head. The speedster's eyes shot open as he looked at his surroundings. It was beautiful, he found himself wondering how many people really get to see this. The tranquility of the sea, the feeling of the water as he slightly tugged him in multiple directions, the fish that made the peaceful place they're home, free of all worries. He didn't belong here, he knew that.

Marx began to submerge deeper into the water, ignoring his lungs' need for new oxygen. Slowly the calm, beautiful surroundings began to fade away into the darkness as Super got further down. Before he knew it that's all there was, reminiscent of the darkness he surrounded himself with inside his room. This was where it could finally end, he'd be able to rest in peace. While part of him was happy, another part of him wanted to cry. For all he knew he might have been crying already, it's hard to tell when you're at the floor of the sea. Super could see no reason to fight it any longer, his chest was heaving as it tried repeatedly to inhale, this time he granted it's wish. 'Goodbye everyone...I'm sorry I wasn't stronger...' Super found himself thinking as he lungs began to burn as they continued the desperate search for air, but there wasn't any to be found. Finally...it was over.

Or at least he thought it was. There was one thing Super hadn't counted for. It wasn't the first time his morphing powers had worked independently on instinct but this was ridiculous. He'd actually morphed gills! No matter how many times he morphed them away, as soon as he began to suffocate again they'd come right back. After trying for a half hour, Super took that to be the 'sign' he'd previously asked for as he gave a defeated sigh. He didn't really know what to do now, he hadn't planned to be alive now. "I guess I should get out of here..." With that, Super finally found his way out of the water and for the second time that night he just flew.

He could feel the wind whipping at his soaking wet clothes , which because of the speed he was travelling at didn't stay wet for too long. Whether he'd been successful or not was irrelovent. He tried to kill himself, if it wasn't for his powers he would have. "Stupid morphing.." Super mumbled under his breath. Death apparently wasn't an option, but for now he didn't want to go back to the HQ either. So he just flew aimlessly, losing himself into his surroundings. It was becoming almost a relief, there was only him and the wind, but like all good things for the speedster lately, it wasn't meant to last.

The screaming started again, but this time there were sirens as well. It soon triggered that this wasn't Duo's fearful pleas, but something below. He knew full well in the condition he was in, superheroing wasn't the wisest option. So why did he fly down towards the flaming house? Super had enough stuff on his mind, the last thing he needed was more guilt because of someone he chose not to save, besides, the scream might not have been Duo's but it reminded him enough of her. As he got closer to the house he could see a woman hysterically trying to get back into it, though various firemen were holding her back. It didn't take long for him to put it together, especially listening to her screams. Her daughter was still inside. Super let out a sigh as he flew inside the building until he could hear the coughing. Following the sound before the first cough was even finished, he found himself standing in front of the girl. "Give me your hand." The sudden appearance of the speedster seemed to scare the girl more than the fire did.

"Kid, we don't have time for this. Give me your hand." The flames were starting to surround Super but the only casualty was his hoodie thanks to his invulnerability. The shock was apparently too much for the little girl so Super simply picked her up and took her out the back. He was going through the motions but to be honest he felt like he could have cared less one way or the other, and that scared him. "Are...are you Superman?" Super gave the girl a look of utter annoyance. "You're...kidding right? Do I look anywhere near old enough to be Superman?" The girl merely cocked her head to the side in confusion. "*sigh* No I'm not Superman." "Superboy?" "...no..." "...Super anything?" Rolling his eyes, Super let out a groan. "Sonic..." If he didn't know any better he'd think that the girl's eyes were literally sparkling. "I've never heard of you befoe Mr. Sonic. Do you know Superman?"

Marx stared at the little girl blankly, he really didn't need this. "Kid, your mother's looking for you in the front of the house. She cares about you, enjoy it while you can." Super started to take flight before he felt the girl tugging at what was left of his shirt. "It must be so cool being a superhero. I want to be one when I grow up." It took all of Super's energy not to growl at this little girl. He knew she didn't mean any harm, but the last thing he needed right now was someone clinging to him. "Kid...you don't want that. Trust me..." "Are you feeling okay Mr. Sonic?" He wanted to leave, he really did, this was accomplishing nothing, but the question alone almost made him laugh. "I tried to kill myself about 10 minutes ago, so I'd say not." "My mommy said heroes don't kill." A smirk appeared on Marx's face as he looked down at the girl. "Guess I'm not that good of a hero then huh?" With that, Super was gone, trying once more to think about anything but his life. Why was it that the harder he tried the harsher he was introduced to it again?

"GET AWAY FROM ME! PLEASE!" Super's head quickly turned to where he heard the scream to see a man chasing a woman...into an alley. Of all the places, an alley... Super let out a defeated sigh. He just wanted some peace and quiet, he wanted to have some time where he wasn't tortured with the past. This was really starting to piss him off.

Marx found himself taking a deep breath. He'd already found out the hard way what happens when he gets too angry and gets into a fight, he didn't want that happening again. Once again, it crossed his mind to just leave this matter to the police, but the woman's second scream made the decision for him. Leaving a blur behind him, Super made his way into the alley. The man had the woman pinned to the wall with a gun trailing down her shirt. "I'm going to give you one warning...and one only. I'm in a very bad mood today. Leave the lady alone." In reality Super didn't think that threat would work, unless you're widely known it never does, and to be honest even then sometimes it doesn't.

"Heh, and who the hell are you? Why don't you just go on your little way boy, we grownups have things to discuss..." Shrugging off the superhero, the man turned his attention back on his victim. Surprisingly enough, Super wasn't offended by how the mugger was treating him. If the guy's going to be really stupid why should Super mind? In the blink of an eye Super was standing right next to the mugger, fist already pulled back. Realizing what just happened, the man turned his gun on the speedster and fired three shots. It would have been child's play for him to dodge those but he didn't feel like it, he merely let the bullets hit and then bounce off of him. Since his shirt was in terrible shape he actually did feel the bullets on his skin, but it caused him no pain. "Who...who are you?"

'I'm getting really tired of answering that question..' The speedster found himself thinking as he kept his blank expression, looking at the man. "I'm nobody, and I warned you." With that the speedster planted a punch dead center of the man's face breaking his nose. With a swift knee to the gut the would be attacker was on the floor. Super might have continued the beating, not minding that he was taking his frustrations out on someone less capable of defending themself if he hadn't heard the whimper. But the whimpering wasn't coming from the man, but the victim. He searched, and he searched hard, but Marx couldn't feel any sympathy whatsoever for her. "..What are you still doing here?" Super growled at the lady before she finally took off out of the alley, not so much screaming as with her face full of terror.

Striking the attacker without any warning, the speedster wrapped his hands around the man's throat. "You just had to chase her into an alley didn't you? Do you have any idea how much I really hate alleys lately?" His dislike for alleys wasn't purely because of the memories and experiences he had with Vicious, it was also in an alley where Duo momentarily slipped into darkness and killed him. In one alley he was killed and the other beaten within an inch of his life, put those together and you get and instant hostility for all alleys. Super tightened his grip, showing that if he wanted to, snapping the guy's neck wouldn't be too difficult. "Here's the deal. You can turn yourself in, you can go home and go to sleep for all I care, I just want you out of my face. And trust me, you better hope that I never see you doing anything remotely like this again." Loosening his grip on the guy's neck, he fell to the ground before scrambling up and running the opposite way the girl had gone.

'I bet heroes aren't supposed to let the bad guy go either. I'm on a roll' The speedster thought as he looked at the retreating for of the hopefully retired mugger. It had become increasingly obvious that peace was not something he was going to find this night. If he'd face the torture no matter what he did, he might as well do it on his bed. Leaving behind the sirens he heard in the distance, Marx made his way back to the Hawaii HQ. "Home sweet home." Super sarcastically commented to himself as he took the familiar spot and position on his bed.

Surely enough, no less than a minute later the sounds began making themselves known again. The punches, the familiar grunts...his grunts, the sound of his head splattering and reforming just to have it happen again. Looking up, Super saw Vicious, clear as day watching over him with an amused smirk. Burying his face into his knees, Marx tried in vain to drive out the image, as he always did, but the images never quite got the hang of listening to him. "Just go away...please...I'm so tired of this, I just...want to sleep...is it so much to ask? Is it!?" But after being pulled by the tatters of his shirt and being punched clear across the room, Super's eyes tried to refocus on his attacker. The blow snapped him out of it... "I must say you little maggot, I'm just flattered that you're just so fixated on me. But trust me when I say I'm not one of your little delusions."

Marx's heart almost lept from his chest. This just wasn't fair! He was tortured by Lister when he was asleep and awake and he still didn't think that was enough... Super was expecting his eyes to go wide in fear, to barely keep from setting the whole HQ on fire because of his flaming tears. But as with the others he'd met today, there was nothing. It was like with the suicide attempt, he had killed all of his other feelings. Keeping his postion on the floor, Super looked into Lister's eyes, his face blank, his eyes waning with sleep deprivation. "What do you want Lister?" The demon's ugly yellow teeth, seemed to glisten and contrast with the darkness of the room as they were made visible with his smirk. "You know what I want."

He wasn't going to fight Lister back, there was no point in it anymore. He could fight his hardest to his heart's content and still be thrown around like a disobedient pet. "Break me, beat me, kill me...I honestly don't care anymore. Just do it and get the f**k out." Part of him welcomed this, a final freedom, he no longer cared about the pain, his life was full of it, that's what he really wanted to escape from. He just wanted freedom.

"I think we both know that I'm not going to kill you...at least right now." Vicious stated matter of factly as he leaned against the wall, the creepy smile still on his face as he looked down at the speedster. Of course he wasn't going to kill him, as far as danger goes Super was probably one of the safest people in the world. He wanted to die, and Vicious knew this, it's not nearly as much fun to kill someone when you know you're accomplishing they're wish. "Then why are you here? I have no problem with giving you a reason to kill me."

Vicious's smile only got bigger. He could almost feel the pain coming off of the speedster, it was intoxicating. "Keep that up and I'll have to break your legs again. Or better yet I'll find my masterpiece...she's in a lot of pain at the moment but I could always make it more...attack that little psychic she's with..." For the first time in awhile, emotion laced Super's face. But even then, he knew he was no match for Vicious, especially in his state of mind. "...just tell me what you want..." "Good boy. Believe it or not I simply came to congratulate you." Super raised his eyebrow slightly, having Vicious this close to him with no violent action anywhere in sight was just...off...it was making him more paranoid than if he was beating the crap out of him.

"Here I was thinking I'd have to keep a close eye on her. That you and your friends would try to destroy what I've done. But then you go and add to it, making her even more beautiful than before. You actually hurt her more than I did, I was watching. Was even going to interfere that very day, instead I watched as you decimated her within an inch of her sanity. It was glorious! I don't even think I need to watch her as closely anymore. I'll just leave her in your care." Lister put his hand on Super's shoulder, like a father giving his son approval. Merely his touch sent a shiver through Marx's body. "I had you figured all wrong. What a great team we make." Vicious's laughter boomed throughout the room as he finally teleported out.

Super was now left alone in the quiet room trembling. He honestly thought this day couldn't get any worse. And he was proven wrong...big time. Vicious was proud of him...Vicious...proud...of him...it just didn't sound right all together in a sentence. He'd advanced Lister's "masterpiece" of pain personified, not Lister, him. The part of his shoulder that Lister touched hurt him infinitely more than the blow that landed him across the room. It was like a stain that was burning him that he knew he'd never be able to clean off. Lister had left Super in her care because he'd only cause her more pain...more pain than Lister could cause himself.

His breathing began to become more eratic as he found himself hugging his knees trying to fight back the sobs. He really had become like Lister...even Lister himself realized it. Super couldn't successfully kill himself, he couldn't superhero...what was he supposed to do? The same thing he'd done every night. Stay alone in his room...in the dark...in his own private Hell. Later that night he'd eventually fall asleep, his dreams were much worst than his delusions. It was one of the reasons that he always forced himself to stay awake, even though the lack of sleep forced his fears through regardless.

This dream was by far the worst. He was in the training room again, beating down Duo. Beating her mercilessly, no matter how much she begged him to stop. And behind him was Lister, egging him on, telling him what a good job he was doing, how much he was adding to his masterpiece, his wonderful art. Supersonic would wake up screaming that night, to find that section of his room in shambles due to his thrashing. But he didn't care about the room, once again he morphed away his eyelids and stared hopelessly into the darkness. He knew it would come to get him, but he knew he didn't deserve the peace he was seeking previously that day. This was it, the nightly torture, the darkness was his reward.

It had been a several weeks since she had left...

Left to the wilderness of Siberia, to find a friend who had lost himself in the ripples of grief, from pains from the past...and at the same time she left a friend, to wallow in his own sorrow...

She had been back only a day; the ivory skin of her face had a renewed, healthy glow despite the startlingly vibrant bruise that laced her cheek from a severe blow. Even the pain of her back had diminished slightly, it was still a tapestry of blemishes and bruises, only skimming the path to physical recovery due to new attacks on her back and heavens refusal to absolve her of the pain of rejecting their wings, but sleep had done wonders for her soul.

For with resting the mind and body it made the word that little bit more manageable...she couldn't thank Sano enough for all he had done for her, cradling her as she slept and reassuring her when she woke. Their friendship had grown root to a new level, rivalling the intensity of her friendship with Marxy...or what was their friendship...

Maybe that's why she was outside his room, staring at the door in undecided anguish, the discoloured grey giving no comfort as she debated and contemplated in herself. Her bandaged hand rising to knock on the door only to drop limply to her side as doubt rose its ugly head and fear manifested in her heart like a digestible worm, gnawing at her insides and her face grew pale as vomit lurched into her throat to be bitten back viciously.

Being with Sano, in such solitude, where they shared their pain and grievances and offered each other the opportunity of remorse and grief...she had begun to let herself heal. She was far from the finished product...but she had renewed strength from the telepath and she had returned the favour...but with each passing moment in the comforting presence guilt had made itself known...

She had slept a peaceful night, but what of Supersonic...her deeply new friendship with Sano made her miss the broken friendship she had with Marxy all the more...

Sano had helped her, perhaps now she could help Marxy. She had pressurised him too much, being her best friend, her crutch was a suicide mission...she needed too much support to be held up by one person alone, now she had more than one person who she trusted with the full depth of her pain and vulnerability.

Steadying her quickly fraying nerves Duo raised her hand to knock gingerly on the door...

Her hand connecting with the cold steel of her door caused her to gasp loudly as images flooded her, she had deliberately shut off her aura reading powers...not wanting to feel any hostility that would turn her away...but the speedster could always filter through, no matter how hard she tried...

But she felt no hostility, she felt no anger...she felt something so much worse and it made her stomach churn violently, electrical vibes seared through her body causing her the shudder violently, her loose red laced chestnut hair swayed about her...

She could feel fear on an un-comprehendible level, deep, raw and gnawing at the psyche, twisting and eating away to consume until all the is left is a hollow casket...

She could feel Marxy dying spiritually, emotionally, and mentally...

"MARXY!!!" Duo cried out as she grabbed a hold of the looked door, pummelling it furiously to get inside, her heart hammering like a thousand war drums in her ears. The pain in her body died away, her intense focus and determination dwarfing it as she ripped through the door, smashing it open!

The light from the hallway illuminated a stretch of his room, landing on the bed that was in disarray, the sheet a mangled mess strewn half on the floor, leading her frazzled sights to the decimated room, the speedster belongings scattered about the place, various persona items busted and broken.

She stood in the doorway, her eyes flared wide as they grew accustom the darkness...and she finally saw him, curled into a ball on the floor amidst his broken belongings...his eyes wide and hollow, seemingly too big...

And the guilt flared to gargantuan proportions and the escapism she had sort in Siberia with Sano seemed like a travesty, snatching away from her the small ounce of peace she had received...and for a selfish moment she wished she hadn't left, that she had stayed in the quiet solitude with the telepath...

"Marxy..." she whispered painfully...

Supersonic jumped with each banging of the door. He didn't even see that someone was knocking on the door. It was only Lister stomping repeatedly on his head. His delusions seemed to alternate between him and Duo being the victim. But the one contant was that now whenever Duo was the victim, it was always him that was the attacker, him that was the killer.

A hiss came from the speedster's lips as the door slammed open and a ray of light forced itself into the room. It had been a couple of days since he had left the room and he hadn't budged from that spot since then, he'd even gotten slightly smaller since he hadn't been eating. A shadow began to form in the ray of light that had suddenly appeared from the doorway. It was distorted as shadows usually were, but he could make out the shape. Looking up, Super saw the form of Duo, though because of the light behind her it looked as black as the shadow below it. It had to be another delusion, it had to be. Duo wouldn't come to see him, he drove her away, she was scared of him.

That meant that he was going to hurt her soon. He'd invisioned it countless times, the screams were already starting to get louder. "...no...go away...go away...please...I don't want to hurt you anymore...please..." His voice was barely a whisper, he didn't want to do this anymore. He was tired of seeing his best friend beaten more than he saw her normal, it was just too much. Super began to unconsciously rock back and forth slightly. "...no more...just let me die...please..."

"...no...go away...go away...please...I don't want to hurt you anymore...please... ...no more...just let me die...please..."

If the soft tissue of her heart could shred and rip there and then it would have for she could have sworn that her soul shattered with empathy and sorrow intertwined.

He was smaller than before she had left, his hoddie hanging off his gauntish frame, his coco coloured skin seeming several shades paler in the faint light as he rocked back and forth muttering to himself...he was neglecting his health, and much worse his sanity...

Suddenly the fear that had been engrained in her seemed insignificant almost... she had been hurt and had run away in fear...she couldn't have dreamt nor contemplated that Marxy would deteriorate to this degree...he was more afraid of himself than she was of him...

Even though he was cowering from her, begging her to leave for his sanity and her own safety...she couldn't, she could only edge closer...each step an eternity in the making, the gap being breached...

She was on her knees next to him, her arms encircling his undernourished frame, pulling him against her and cradling him comfortingly. "I'm not going anywhere Marxy, it's me, it's Duo. I'm right here...I'm right here." She whispered soothingly to him.

He fought it at first. He didn't see why she'd touch him, he'd hurt her so many times, he wanted her to go. But so far this wasn't like his usual delusions. Duo felt like she was really there, but then again it felt like she was really there the other times as well. Maybe he was asleep, it always seemed even that much worse in his dreams. She seemed so reassuring, but it was only a matter of time. The pain was inevitable, whether it was his or hers...it was going to happen soon. He didn't want to hurt her again, but he could never stop it.

"I'm not going anywhere Marxy, it's me, it's Duo. I'm right here...I'm right here."

"...Duo?" Maybe she was there, maybe she wasn't. But he didn't care anymore, he returned the embrace, trembling in fear of what he'd eventually do. "I'm so tired...but it's what I deserve right? You said it yourself, I'm like him...I only hurt you...I'm sorry...I swear I didn't mean to..." Reality, delusions, nightmares, they all seemed to roll into one, but there were no voices, no screams. It wasn't peace, but whatever it was he was going to hold onto Duo for all his worth. He wasn't sure how long this would last but it was more than he'd gotten since Duo left. "..you're really here aren't you?"

"...Duo?"

She bit back the yelp that almost escaped her as he suddenly returned the embrace, and to both her shame and dismay she was still afraid of him...

His hands clutched her tightly, she saw his hands curled in her clothing, pallid fists, clenched so tightly that they shook...her breath caught tightly in her throat...those fists had hurt her, ripped into her limp frame mercilessly...the last time she had seen those hands they had been drenched in blood...her blood...

"I'm so tired...but it's what I deserve right? You said it yourself, I'm like him...I only hurt you...I'm sorry...I swear I didn't mean to..."

Duo had seen other realms, the depth and breath of Hell in all if fire and brimstone glory, the majestic precedence of heavenly beings, she had felt the pain of torturous advances and the happiness laced in an angel's touch...but never had she felt such monstrous, vicious agony of the soul or such heart felt relief all at once.

For in her best friends disorientated state there was only sincerity...and the true depth of his pain and regret was more than evident in his neglected state, he never wanted to lay a finger on her again, or see her if it gave the slightest chance of him hurting her...and it was destroying him inside...

She had never felt so privileged to have him as a friend, and with that knowledge she had never felt so shamed and guilt ridden...

"..you're really here aren't you?"

"Yes Marxy..." she moved slightly to caress his cheek, something she had been too afraid to do before, she stroked his cheek and let the warmth sink into him. "I'm here Marxy, I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time in a long time a genuine smile graced Marx's features. A smile of happiness, not one laced with hurt has he'd given from time to time. He was actually happy. If this was a delusion or a dream, he wasn't going to wake up, but something told him this was really happening. Super wasn't completely at peace, he wasn't sure if he ever would be, at the line of work he was in it was hard to say. Though he never saw it as work until recently, but he felt that attitude would begin to fade as well.

Supersonic's grip on Duo began to loosen little by little. He was still exhausted, part of him was still terrified of what he would see as he went to sleep. Those dreams always felt so real, having them on a constant basis began to make the speedster even doubt what reality was anymore. The main reason he was even sure that Duo was really there was because it hadn't been following the usual pattern, it was something new. At least for now the torture had begun to slow down, he was in control again.

"..thank you..." His voice had even risen above a whisper, but it was the last thing he said before sleep claimed him. Part of him might have been scared, but he could deal with it knowing that Duo would be there for him when he woke up. His worrying seemed to be moot as he didn't have nightmares that night. It was as if Duo's soul reading ability was temporarily his for just that night, there were no dreams good or bad, it was just...a sense that things would be okay. He'd wake up from time to time to find Duo still holding him which let him go immediately back to sleep. It helped him get a grasp on reality, he now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was there, that they were still friends.

While in the back of his mind he wasn't sure if she'd truly forgiven him or not it was no longer important. She came back to him, they're friendship went beyond the fear they both had. He wasn't sure what awaited him the next day, but he did know that whatever it was, he'd be able to face it now. Slowly but surely, he would eventually get his life back, it really would be okay.

Duo gently cradled the sleeping speedster in her arms, watching with endearing fascination as a calm encased him and his eyelids morphed back, she couldn't remember a time when she had seen him so vulnerable...and it was humbling...

Duo rose, shifting Marxy's weight so she rested him on his bed, without letting go she scrambled onto the mattress with her, her arms still locked about him she pulled him as close as she possibly could, letting her warmth flow through him. With one hand she grabbed a hold of the blankets and wrapped them about the two friends.

Every now and again Marxy stir, his embered eyes momentarily opening, illuminating her face and for a fraction in time he would gaze at her through sleep clogged eyes and then resume to his slumber.

Duo swallowed the lump in her throat, a lump of emotion from so many trials and tribulations...neither were close to recovery, but they were starting, and both would be there for one another, now and forever...because that's what best friends do.