NIghtwing knew that Kaldur was going to react like this. He stifled the urge to just walk away as they strode out of the elevator, Kaldur interrupting his thought as he said quickly
"This is no time for you to resign" NIghtwing stopped before turning to face him directly, a small frown on his face
"I'm not resigning. Just taking a leave of absence. Besides if you need help, Barbara is more than ready to step up" He turned briefly to look at the redhead standing by at a control unit, scanning through maps. Kaldur turned to stare at her too, nodding more to himself as he replied
"Agreed but Dick," NIghtwing turned away to look at the floor causing Kaldur to look at him, breaking his own speech as he looked at the grief barely contained on his friends face
"I need a break Kaldur. You, Me, Wally, we founded this team. Without him" He broke away, grief at losing his friend still strained his voice. Kaldur sighed, he too was suffering at the loss of Wally. Someone who had looked out for him over the years and become more family to him than friends.
"I understand" He couldn't face continuing the conversation, it was clear that NIghtwing had made up his mind and nothing he could say was going to change it. He just prayed that the time away would do his friend some good, maybe he could find peace with what had happened.
*/*/*
NIghtwing stuck to the shadows as he watched the watchtower be handed over to the team. However his mind was not on what he was observing in front of him but on what had just occurred between himself and Deathstroke. The older man leaning in and hissing in his ear,
"I know about her and them. I'm going for them next" NIghtwing froze for a second at the statement. He instantly knew who and what the older man had meant by that and for a second his mind flashed back to Her, their last interaction and the pain he had felt as he had to walk away. He could almost feel the sneer of the man above him before he began to once again fight back and gain the upper hand.
NIghtwing was pulled back into reality as Kaldur began to give orders to the team about the next mission into the Reach. He smiled as he said quietly to himself
"Business as usual" He turned away and grabbed a small bag of his supplies, though he knew he would need to stop in Bludhaven for the rest. After that, he would have a bit of a drive to get to the west coast, or Jump City to be more specific.
