I fell into the darkness, so darkness I became

by Haley Hanson

He'd lied to them, hurt them on a personal level. His actions had been unethical, incorrigible even. It didn't matter that he'd saved the world, their world. All that mattered was that they had a scapegoat on which to blame their pain. Nightwing could shoulder their resentment, swallow their distrust. And he'd do so with a smile. Or so they thought. /Post Invasion/

1. Prelude

Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. -Friedrich Nietzsche

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I've walked in the shadow of the bat. I knew a darkness so fraught with agony and despair that I strived to be the light, a beacon of hope for you to follow. I thought I'd be the example, proof that one can rise above the hell in which we live.

I failed.

The shadows I so carefully treaded engulfed me. My body ached so terribly that I gave in to despair. The pedestal on which you placed me, on which I placed my self—it was a ledge of fatal height. I've fallen into the darkness, or rather I was pushed. By you, by me…it doesn't truly matter who had the final hand in it.

I'm not writing this letter to blame you, or to give reason for my actions. The time for explanation has long since passed. I'm writing this for closure, to beg the forgiveness I never received. So forgive me father for I have murdered, forgive me friends for I have lied. I'm sorry it ended this way, but I didn't have the strength to say goodbye. I doubt such a meek word would have meant much anyway.

Don't search for me –where I've gone you cannot follow.

-Dick Grayson.

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AN: This is going to be a series, the muse just wouldn't leave me alone. In later chapters there may or may not be subtle dabs of slash. Honestly I could care less if you approve of it or not, but sending me PM about how I'm going to hell for even mentioning the possibility of it...yea that's not ok guys. Anyway- I'll give you a couple of guiding points, that hopefully don't give away all that much. This story is set after "Invasion" and therefor is somewhat AU, cause you know "Invasion" isn't over yet even if we do have to wait till JANUARY! Certain ideas and characters will be pulled from various comics and arcs for later chapters. Most notably Dick Grayson is Nightwing no more, this will be explained around chapter 3 or so :) Till next time, much love -Haley.