*Ok, I haven't written much and this is only my second fan fiction. Please don't be too harsh xP

After a long day of exhausting detective work, Nightwing got out of costume and headed to a local bar. Dick was only 18, but being in such good physical condition, he could easily pass for 21. Either way, he was the adopted son of Bruce Wayne. A fake ID wasn't too hard to get a hold of.

Dick wasn't big on drinking, but stress had been getting the better of him. With the invasion going on, there was little to no time to relax. That wasn't all that was getting to him though.

Dick took a seat at the counter in an almost empty bar. With the exception of a lone drinker in the far side of the room and a few guys playing pool, there was only Dick and the bartender.

"Give me a double please." Dick asked nicely. The old bartender gave him a large glass and neglected to ask for an ID. It was so late in the evening, he probably wouldn't have even cared if he knew the boy was 18. He took slow sips of his drink and started to feel the buzz. His face grew more flushed with each sip he took. Dick was finally loosening up.

"Did you guys hear about Red Arrow? Last night he took down those bank robbers with just a few shots!" a voice said behind him.

Dick turned to see the drunk men playing pool.

"Please! With a bow anyone could do that. Just take an arrow and boom it's done." the man imitated an archer. Dick winced. Archers. That was the last thing he wanted to hear about. After all, it was an archer that took his best friend away from him. Wally's angry voice echoed in his head.

"I'm worried about Artemis! Terrified for her! And YOU put her right into his hands!"

Dick felt his heart briefly skip a beat and asked the bartender to open a tab. He had never seen his best friend so angry before. Dick took a large gulp of his third drink and it burned his throat.

"Why does he care so much about that damn archer." he mumbled to himself. Dick and Wally were best friends even before they formed the team. So why is it when one girl gets in his head, he becomes hers and hers alone? Dick clenched his empty glass. He could easily break it in his fingers. Wally and him used to always be together. Beating bad guys, joking around, that was the life. The past five years drained all of that away.

"Everything alright kid?" The bartender asked. Dick looked up and noticed the man was gesturing to the boy's trembling hand.

"Everything's swell!" Dick said loudly. In his drunkenness he lost his temper as well as his manners. He took a second to breathe. "Sorry, may I have another one of these?" He shook the single ice cube in his cup. The old man sighed.

"Last one sir. Then I'm afraid I'll have to cut you off." he handed him his final drink. Dick glanced at the liquid and stirred it with a straw.

"Look I'm sorry you lost all of your souvenirs!"

"Are you serious? I don't care about that junk!"

That horrible day remained on repeat in Dick's mind. His blood was boiling now. Dick had to blow off some steam before he began threatening the bartender. He chugged the whole drink in one gulp and walked angrily out of the bar. The night air was cold against his heated skin. It was probably 3 am by then. Dick walked on the sidewalk with an angry expression. He needed to get home, now. Only when he tried to walk faster did he realize how completely intoxicated he was. He began to sway side to side. This is pointless. I can't go home like this.

Dick spotted the nearest alley and stumbled towards it. He lay down on the cold cement and felt a drop rain on his face. Rain. Perfect. Dick tried to get to his feet but fell back down again. It began to pour. In defeat, he curled up and let himself get drenched. Who would care anyways? If I died in an alleyway? Everyone is already in mourning because of Artemis's "death." Sometimes, Dick wished she really was killed. Then he'd have his best friend back. Kid Flash.

Dick thought process was cruel and unmerciful when he was this wasted. Rain had soaked through all of his clothes at this point. Dick was cold, drenched, and completely miserable. As rain drops drowned his face, warm tears clashed with them. Dick was breaking down. The loud downpour of the rain covered the teenager's loud sobs. Dick couldn't identify this horrible feeling inside of him. Was it guilt? Or frustration? He was such a mess.

"Dick?" a voice asked behind him. The voice was familiar. Terrifyingly familiar.

Dick turned to see his best friend, a red umbrella in hand, standing in above him with a dumbfounded expression.