Funeral for a Friend

It wasn’t too long after the original battle that word started spreading about a funeral or memorial. Jonah wasn’t really part of the social ecosystem yet but even he heard talk of a large event to memorialize the fallen heroes. It must be strange, he thought. On the civilian side you hear one day that the super beings that you look up to are dead, fallible, and you aren’t allowed to know why, not really. Then on the other side the heroes can’t grieve or mourn like normal people. Their lives are split in two. As heroes they must maintain their public façade of power and respectability. Their true faces can’t express their sorrow unless let slip the mask they wear.

The atmosphere on the watchtower was grim. The elation of victory abated quickly, only leaving a certain emptiness. Survivors guilt. Jonah understood to some extent. His powers and his new position existed because of somebody else's ****. Because he abandoned his post. Even though he was **** to fight, he didn’t feel good about it. Being around all the heroes of this universe didn’t help. They all seemed so ... good. Better than he was.

Down on earth proper the Justice League had a public-facing base of operations. A hall of justice built in the Neo-Classical style. It resembled the Pantheon more than any administrative building. It was here that the common people would celebrate and worship their heroes. It was here that they would be buried.

Jonah was less invited than swept up in the energy of the events. There, in the dark glow of twilight and candles he saw the entire superhero community gathered. All in one place, he realized how many of them there were. Not just the Justice League but national groups, and groups of younger heroes.

Trying his best to honor the dead Jonah learned the names of those who died. Blue Beetle, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, and Sideways. They would leave big shoes to fill. The Justice League would be ****, weaker. The tugging guilt grew heavier in Jonah. He would do something to earn his new place, and enjoy his new life as fully as possible.