Note: ((Written for Tumblr user fighter1357, who I credit for the idea. Hope you enjoy~)) [Revised 10/10/13]
I was right there, watching them run around, creating a vortex, and saving the world. Something was wrong. As I looked up I saw Wally getting struck with lightning of some sort...not that I could track the speedsters much, but even I could tell he was lagging bad. Just then Jaime mentioned something about "ceasing". My heart rate accelerated as nerves filled me. I was rarely ever nervous. But this time, I was scared. If Wally... Another lightning strike. Before I realized it, I jumped off the Sphere. "Nightwing-" someone called, I didn't care.
"WALLY!"
It all slowed down. I was running faster than I had ever ran before. This time though, I wasn't running for my life, but for the life of my best friend, my brother, my teammate. Strangely it felt like running in a dream. Every step was weighted down by something invisible that I couldn't shake off. My suit was insulated but I still felt the chill of the arctic. The snow began to seep into my boots as my footsteps pounded against it and my breath went up in puffs through the freezing air. I was seconds away. I couldn't even see him, but somehow I knew he was the one running on the outside. "Wally!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs. Something yellow slowed down, but the lightning wasn't so relenting. It delayed him just enough for me to reach out and grab him. Or...more I slammed into him. We both tumbled out of the vortex as it finally closed off.
For a moment we both lay there panting in the snow. A moment later Wally jumped to his feet. "What were you thinking!?" He asked, exasperated. I wanted to grin, but suddenly I couldn't answer. Not just that, I couldn't move. I lay there in the snow, something burning on my back. The world spun around me, causing me to blink as I tried to situate myself. "Dick?" Something was wrong with his voice. It was distant and ambient, almost like he was speaking in a tunnel. I tried to speak but it came out in a mumble that even I couldn't understand. I was so tired...and I could feel my body beginning to respond to the pain. The snow froze against my face, causing a bit of a burn. Every effort to move only made the piercing sting in my muscles worse. Was it because of how fast I ran? One wouldn't have thought so. A burn like that..it must have been the lightning.
Moments later I realized people had begun to panic around me. Being that I could no longer respond, I simply closed my eyes. By the time I had opened my eyes again the Team had moved me back to the Sphere. I saw Wally and a few others' mouths moving, as if in speech. A part of me was glad I couldn't hear what they were saying. I could imagine it wasn't necessarily pleasant and they were probably assuming my stupidity for throwing myself into a situation like I did. Mentally I shrugged at it, though even trying to register what was going on hurt. The burning began to get worse and I flinched, my first movement since I'd been transferred to the Biosphere. I guess I scared someone since out of the corner of my eye I saw someone jump afterwards. That's what I assumed anyways.
I was placed in an emptier area of M'gann's Bioship, the floor against my head bringing a sharp burst of pain. I moaned, reflexively curling over into a ball on the floor. I imagine they were trying to get me to a hospital. Normally I would have protested, however, this time something told me I desperately needed medical attention. Although, I underestimated the severity of the wound and and thought the doctors would probably give me a salve of some sort. It was just the lightning shock. The painkiller I'd receive would help and I'd be all right. Then my mind began to quiet to my efforts to assure myself... and I realized I wasn't going to make it to the hospital in time. Accepting this, I closed my eyes and let the pain come over me.
Wally soon walked over, knelt down to my level and shook his head. I already knew he thought I was an idiot for going after him. Still, he knew as well as I that my actions had saved him. His expression changed as he squeezed my shoulder in an effort to show comfort and support. Though the gesture was gently done, it still sent a shock of pain up my arm and I winced reflexively, sucking air in through my teeth. As he pulled back I watched him mouth a "sorry" and I regretted not being to help my reaction. Against my will memories began to flood in. We'd started this team together. Me, him, and Kaldur. I couldn't help but feel sorrowed.
I still remembered that geeky grin when we first met. I wasn't completely whelmed at meeting another kid hero, a tiny bit nervous sure, but more cocky than anything. Back then, I had been in the business longer, naturally, he knew nothing. That changed quickly. Of course he wasn't as experienced and at times it showed. He was always tripping over everything... Even so, Wally changed everything for me. He was the first person I'd ever given my identity to. The first real friend I'd had since, well, since my parents had died. Eventually, he became my best friend. Starting this Team only brought us closer. Now, he was my brother.
My leading of the Team so closely after losing Robin, only to lose Aquagirl not long after, hardened me. I know I had changed. So did he. Although, we remained supportive to each other, eventually leading up to me letting him and Artemis take their leave, it strained things. When we argued inside the Hall of Justice, I know I lost a part of myself. At first I didn't want him on the inside of my and Kaldur's master plan because I knew he'd cause me to rethink things. He'd question my objectivity, like best friends do. It wasn't something I could afford; I thought he'd hold me back. I was wrong. Where Kaldur couldn't be, Wally needed to be in order to keep me in check.
It was all so stupid as I looked back on it. M'gann told me I needed to forgive myself of my mistakes, yet somehow I knew that I might never get over it. The mistakes were made, but the Invasion was over. We'd won. Saving Wally had made me feel at least a little better. Of course, he'd never forgive me. But in that moment I felt needed. In a time when I most doubted myself, the action had made my time as a hero feel worth while. From the time I'd joined Bruce's side till now, life had never had life seemed so short. Really, when it came down to it, all that had really mattered was family. Bruce of course wouldn't forgive himself for not being there, and it left an ache in my heart knowing it. Still, he'd accept that I hadn't died in vain. My greatest mission was to be there for my friends when they needed it. It gave me closure now. My job was finally finished.
I seemed to come back to reality and looking up, saw that a few others had gathered around me. Someone had their hand on my forehead, but I could barely feel it. Their grave expressions told me that they too now understood that I was going. Wally looked like he was about to give. I didn't want them to see me like this, I had to do something to make it better. They should have been celebrating the victory, not mourning over me. I tried to move again but at this point, even blinking hurt. How long had it been since we'd left? 10 minutes? 10 hours? An angry tear slid down my face as my vision blurred. Everything screamed inside me but I found the tenacity to sit up ...only to fall forward on top of them. They embraced me.
"You didn't have to save me." Wally said. Finally I could hear again, though his words were muffled as he spoke against my shoulder. Someone else was sniffling (probably one of the girls). As I tried to look around at the tangled arms around me I began to count them off -Kaldur, Artemis, M'gann, Conner, Wally, Tim- and I realized just how much I truly loved these people. "Hey," I croaked somehow. The words felt like knives piercing into my throat, but I had to say them. "Someone...make cookies... after this. We need to...celebrate...this..." Their arms only got tighter around me. "Snickerdoodles, right?" I heard M'gann say a moment later. A few people laughed, I tried to grin. It was getting harder to speak, harder to breathe. "Asterous." I managed to say.
"Don't leave us, man." Wally managed to say. He sounded so strong, but I knew he was barely holding herself together. My body was shutting down, I could feel it. My eyelids were falling, my brain screamed. My body felt like it was lit on fire (which, it practically had been). I looked up into Tim's eyes -the ones behind his mask-, straining to speak. "T-tell Br..uce...tell him..." Tim shook his head. "Don't say it. Don't you dare say it, Dick." A last smile came to my lips. "We're out of cereal." More sobs, more laughter. It was all I knew they could do at this point. If anything, I was glad I was going out surrounded by family. A few tears escaped my eyes from behind my own mask...and I let myself go.
I still watch them from up here. They really made snickerdoodles and left them by my memorial. All I have to say is that they smelled amazing.
I still miss them.
But I'll never forget.
The End.