Like I said in the summary, It' been a year since Wally has died. There might be some grammar mistakes, I double check but you never know. The next chapter will be up soon and I hope you guys enjoy it!

This is just disturbing. Dick thinks as he jumps down from an unsual high building. He did not like having meetings with his "family" espiacially if that part of the family was supposed to be dead. Arms in the air, momentarly, Dick Grayson let's himself free fall. He loved the feeling of the cold air going through his hair and making his cheeks go red. He also liked the feeling of being so close to death. If he just let himself free fall a bit more then he's suppose to, splat, that would be the end for Nightwing.

Taking in a deep breath, he takes his grappling hook and shoots. Maybe some other time. He smirks. The thought was indeed tempting but Wally would be so mad if he would do something so irresponsible. Even if the reason was to be with him. But Dick doubts that the speedster would ever understand his reasons. He grits his teeth and pulls himself up, let's himself fly. Just like the good old days when he actually enjoyed doing multiple backflips while landing on an omnious roof top. Just for the sake of simplicity, today, he only does two backflips and lands. He straightens up. Recognizing the familiar mask observing him from a distance, he rolls his eyes. Even if no one could see him, the former boy wonder actually rolled his eyes quite often.

"What do you want Jason?" he snaps. Like he said, Dick didn't really enjoy speaking with people that came back from the dead. They all only reminded him of Wally and the worst thing about that was he got hopefull. Hopefull that maybe, just maybe he would come back.

"You're annoying as always Nightwing." he says and chuckles. "Don't be alarmed. Just wanted to tell you that a storm is brewing."

"What storm?" Dick raises an eyebrow. What was the black sheep of the family mumbling about this time.

"The best part about this storm," Jason continues without giving him an answer. "This storm is raising from your little kitty justice leaugue."

Before Jason can even bat an eye, Dick takes action. He throws two smoke bombs, gaining cover he slams Jason in to the wall. He squints his eyes. Jason wasn't doing anything. That was odd. The red masked man usually didn't take such things kindly. Between heavy breaths Dick asks again.

"What. Storm."

"I'll only say one thing: R'as al ghul."

And like that Grayson finds himself on the hard ground, all of the breath was knocked out from his lungs. A heaviness pressing against his chest, he caughs. With little consciousness that he had left, Dick could figure out that the heaviness was Jason. How the hell could Dick be so god damn careless. This was Jason Todd they were talking about. He wasn't going to just sit there and give Dick answers. He caughs as he tries to breath in some air. He tries to move his hands, maybe he could force the heavier man off. But when he does try a sharp pain shots out. Jason was holding and twisting his wrists. In a quite painfull matter, if he must add.

Eyes wide, he comes across Jason's emerald green eyes. When the hell did he take his mask off and why? He stops thinking when Jason's breath ghosts over his face.

"I go places where you heroes don't Dick." he hisses. "And I've seen a member your little gang there. Making deals. Risky deals."

"They can take care of themselves." Dick spits out, anger overflowing from his voice. He was out. He didn't want to go back. He was tired of trying to be the ideal hero everyone expected from him. Besides, his way of handling things was much more efficient then the team or the leaugue. Jason scowls as he squizes Dick's wrists harder. There would be deep purple bruises there tomorrow. Not wanting to make a sound he bites his lip.

"I know you're hurting Nightwing," Jason says lowering his voice. "But I wouldn't be here if it wasn't urgent. This deal strikes too close to home."

"Then just tell-"

It took only about a minute when Dick realizes he was talking to nothing. He should've paid more attention. He gets up and puts his hand on his chest. Jason did quite the number on him. But why? What was he trying to warn him about? What kind of deal would hit too close to home? His mind wonders to Tim. They haven't been talking. Not after Bruce told a confused Tim not to. He hoped the teen Robin was alright. Dick checked on him from a far as much as he could. He checked on all of them. His methods were questionable by Batman standarts but he still believed he was on the right path. He was just going a little berserk.

His lips twist in to a smile as he jumps off of the building. They were a weird little bunch. All of them hated eachother, appearently. But if things got bad he knows somewhere in the shadows one of the bats were watching. Even if Bruce was angry with him, he knew that the man understood his pain. He had lost family and many many friends. But Wally had been the last straw. Wind whistling in his ears, he let's out a low laugh.

Who knew Wally was the one keeping him sane all this time?

When he lands, he groans. He should really have a talk with Jason about not "accidentally" breaking his ribs. He didn't even mention the pain in his wrists. So not cool. He wants Dick to watch out and in order to get the message across he injures him. What a load of crap.

"Help!"

Taking Jason off of his mind, Dick runs towards the cry for help. Taking his escrima sticks in each hand, he sees an olderly woman and a couple of low grade thiefs. Dick smiles. What better way there was to let out some steam. When the thiefs see him they let go of the old woman's purse and start running. Wise choice, he thinks contemplenting them. It was good that some poeple knew were they stood. He chases them in to an abonded alley. Dick smirks. He knows these streets better then anyone. There was no way out of here. Well, except for the wonderfull release of death.

"We- We surreder!" thief one blurts out.

"Yeah let us go Nightwing! Take us to the cops!" thief two shouts. He was trying to sound though but Dick could hear the man's voice tremble.

"Come on guys, where's the fun in that?" Dick mocks them.

He would give them to the police, but later. Now, he just needed to let himself go. Let out some steam. He needed to think. Nightwing lifts one stick and with all his strenght he hits thief two square on the jaw,dislocating it. Thief two faints immedietly and Dick can't help be a little heart broken. They were no more good villians in Blüdheaven anymore. Well, that absolutely sucked. Turning his gaze on number one, he sees that the man is crying. Now, that was just pathetic. He lifts the man by his collar and shoves him in to the wall. The man screams.

"Please!" he begs. "Let us go! Aren't you suppose to be one of the good guys!"

"Ever heard of chaotic good?"

"Stop!"

Dick's eyes widen. He feels the speeding arrow brush against his hair. Before the arrow can pierce through his hand Dick let's the thief's collar go. The man falls to the ground with a crash. Taking advantage of Nightwing's shock he gathers thief two and quickly leaves the alley. Dick clenches his teeth. Why the hell was she here? This was probabaly another intervention about Nightwing's new methods. He rolls his shoulders, takes in a deep breath and turns around.

"Tigeress." Dick greets his former temamate.

"Nightwing." she says achnologing his afforts to be polite. "We need to talk."

"If this is about-"

"No." Tigeress interrupts him. Lifting her hands, she points out towards the alley. That now, Dick notices, smells like piss. "And this is the kind of talk I prefer not make in a disgusting alley."

His first kill was after Wally's death. In this line of work, most villians had mocked him for not killing in the past. That it was a weakness. They also told him the first kill was always the hardest.

They were wrong.

When Dick killed for the first time, he knew what he was doing. He knew what would happen to him. He also knew he woudln't be able to stop. After leaving the team he looked fine but he wasn't. It was all just an act. But he didn't have to act to a bunch of crminals. He could be as true as he wanted. As murdoures as he wanted. Hell, after the things he done eve the Joker seemed to be slightly off put by Nightwings methods of getting what he wanted.

People still called him a hero. Those people didn't know what Dick had done to save people. He hadn't gave up that bit of his job. He liked saving people. Like the old lady today. The only problem was, well according to Bruce, was that he had no more mercy in his heart. Bruce and Dick had a huge argument when Bruce found out Dick had killed. The older man told him that Wally wouldn't want this and Dick had punched him. At that time he didn't want to hear his name. Fortunetly for him, Bruce didn't say anything. In the morning Dick had packed his bags and left. There still was rare moments where Batman and Nightwing's roads crossed paths. They never talked. They didn't need to anyway. They both were accustomed with eachother in a way that they didn't need to communicate.

Artemis takes off her mask and puts it on the table. She sits on the couch in a way that anyone else would think that this was a friendly meet up.

It wasn't.

Dick doesn't do the same. He goes to the kitchen, gets two glasses and a bottle. Putting one of the glasses in front of Artemis, he pours the hard liquor. Dick does the same to his glass and gulps down a large amount. He pours some more, sitting across her, he hears her snort.

"I was hoping this would be a conversation were you actually stay sober."

"Don't push it Artemis."

Artemis lifts both of her hands in a sign of defeat and leans against the couch. Appreciating the comfortable pillows she hums.

"You do have a nice place up here Dick."

He frowns and stays silent. Dick wants this meeting to be over with. True, Artemis was one of the rare people in his life that didn't judge him. At least not about the way he had treated his enemies. They both had been a wreck since Wally died. The only difference was Dick had left the team but Artemis had joined it. Of course, as the annoying know it all Dick that he was, he hadn't show the same respect that Artemis had showed him. He had accused her about not honoring Wally's wishes. Of course, everyone thought that Nightwing's overreaction was because of his best friend's death, not that the man he loves died. Dick had a feeling that Artemis knew about that. Later on he had apologized to the archer. Artemis shrugged and told him that she understood. That was all. They never talked since.

She sighs at Dick's silence and leans foward. Resting her arms on her knees, she looks Dick right in the eye. Like that would change anything.

"We need your help."

"For what?"

"R'as al ghul has stolen some serum from star labs. The league thinks it's for making super soldiers. In this case, super assasins."

A chill runs down Dick's spine and he takes another sip. Jason's words were echoing in his head. There were people making deals underground and somehow R'as al gul was involved. He wouldn't give this knowledge to Artemis, of course. Even if the storm was brewing inside the team he wanted no part of it. With the most cocky voice he could muster, he asks.

"And you need me why?"

"Our sources says that he's in Blüdhaven. You're the most knowledgeble."

Dick couldn't argue with that. He knew his city well. As he thinks about a way to get himself out of this situation a certein father figure comes to his mind.

"Batman wouldn't want me on the team." he says like that should be the end of this discussion. He knows he's wrong when Artemis sneers.

"On the contrary, he wants you to help us."

Dick raises his eyebrows. That's weird. It's not like they would be in complete loss if he didn't help them. Why would Bruce want him to- Dick let's out a low growl. Bruce probably thought this would be the kind of mission where Nightwing could save his soul. No one got it. Maybe he didn't want to be saved. Maybe he liked being cracked in the head. Maybe this was the only way he could cope with losing the man he loved. Understanding something like that shouldn't be this hard. He needed to let lose. Needed to be free. He didn't want to be tied up by moral codes. He liked to give criminals what they deserved. Jason and him were similiar in that way. They both decided to play the anti heroes.

"Should I take that inhumane growl as a yes or is that my que to leave?"

What the hell. Dick thinks. If things got hairy he could just let himself out.

"Fine, I'll help you. But only this one time."

Dick only hopes that he wouldn't end up regretting this decision. He didn't even know how he would act in front of the team. Who knew what they had heard about the fallen Nightwing. At least he could keep a close eye on Tim. Plus, he could also figure out what this "storm" was. He observes Artemis. She look satisfied. She nods and takes her mask. In a swift motion she becomes Tigeress again.

"Tomorrow at nine o'clock. Be there."

Dick raises an eyebrow. He wants to ask where they would be meeting but he just figures it would be at the headquarters. Without saying anything else she leaves. Dick leans back and groans. What was he getting himself into? Tomorrow was going to be hell. Everything was going to remind him of Wally. Even seeing Artemis had made his heart ache.

"Why," he mutters. "Why did you have to leave me?"

When he feels his eyes tearing up, he stands and decides to go to sleep. He bends over to pick up his now empty glass, Dick reaches out to get Artemis's glass too. He wrinkles his nose with annoyance when he realizes that her drink was left untouched.

"Now, that's just rude." he complains but picks it up anyway.

Wally's face suddenly comes to his mind. The redhead is smiling. He would've wanted Dick to smile to.

And so he does.

Thank you for reading and your thoughts are much appreciated ^^