Another Shot.
Summary: He took a shot for Star's disappearance. Another for each failed mission. One for each death. And a few more for the lonely eterenity ahead. Based on 'How long is forever?'
Alright while this is based off the episode 'How long is forever?', it differs greatly to the point where its only loosely based off the episode. While the basics are there and once Star gets here it starts where the episode starts, it does differ greatly if only for the fact that its going to be very dark and some characters (like probably Nightwing in the present time since like the summary suggests, I made him an alcholic) will be kinda outa character and not really like they were in the episode (hint hint Nightwing.). And I did give a boost to the time that Star disappeared, in the original episode it was only 20 years but I changed it to 40 years, you'll see why as the story goes on. And yes there is going to be allot of angst from all the Titans and there will be quite a few main character deaths, so if you're really against that please don't read.
Chapter one.
-Present time, 38 hours before Starfire's returns-
Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, sat ontop of his mentor's grave stone vigilant as ever staring off into the empty tomorrow dark lines corrupting his vision of the dead graveyard as the wind picked up behind him blowing his long ebony hair askew. He watched silently as the gate flapped vilonletly, loud bangs inturrputing the silence. Creaking hidges complaining loudly making Dick's headache rise. Slowly he drew a pure silver flask with his name engraved in the bottom from his leather jacket's pocket.
"Here's to you, Bruce," he said quiety glancing down to his mentor's name pausing the flask's opening at his lips as he added silently,"And all the good you did for our home..."
Truthfully, Gotham hadn't changed. It was a hellhole before Batman came and it was a hellhole now. The only real difference was the psychos overflowing Arkham who escaped what seemed like nightly. Though one could argue that since the Joker died, things have gotten a tad bit calmer. Or I have deluded myself into hoping that atleast...
"Getting yourself so drunk you can barely see straight will not bring him back," the older yet still as firm as ever voice of Babera Gordon called from just outside the graveyard.
"You know," Dick said taking another chug from the flask staring up into the smog filled sky with a small window to the stars,"I haven't gotten that messed up in awhile. I think my body is adapting to the poison...you think maybe in another few years I should turn to drugs?"
Babera rolled her eyes not wanting to know if her only friend left was joking or not,"You really want to tell the chief of police that you're thinking of turning to drugs?"
"I could always wait till you're dead you know," he said not bothering to look down from the sky,"You're about to turn fifty eight, old woman. And after you croak I can do whatever I want with my body that won't die anyway."
"Who are you calling old?" she snared hands on her hips breathing a grey hair from out of her line of sight,"You're only a year younger then me."
"According to that waiter the other night you're my grandmother," Dick said with a chuckle; he loved pushing her buttons. It was the only thing in this world worth while anymore...
"If I was your grandmother I would have raised you to respect your elders," she snapped walking over to the grave and frowning when she realized she didn't have a flower to lay in respect. But at least she wasn't disturbing the grave sight by louging on its marker like some people she knew, she scoffed to the thought. In a few more years it would be her grave he probably would be shooting up on just to piss her soul off.
"Do you think its possible to bring people back from the dead?" he asked out of the blue, casuall as ever, head still pointed skywards.
"Its possible as anything else but you already knew that," Babera responded just as calmly taking the flask from him and taking a long swig figuring it was going to be a long night, but then again, wasn't ever night a long night in Gotham?
Dick chuckled taking the flask back from his friend taking a swig from it himself, "Do you think any of them would like it if I brought them back?"
"No, you know as well as I do they want to left in peace," Barbera responded firmly looking to the 'young' man who kept his eyes skyward. She wondered how many times she had already had this same conversantion with him but it never seemed to stick with him.
"Bruce might appreciate it to become Batman once more," he said making Barbera sigh. She hated nights like this. The nights where she could practically hear his thoughts blaming him for the deaths he thought he had caused.
"You're Gotham's protector now and you said it yourself along time ago...he always wanted to pass the mantle onto you. Let it go, Dick. Just let it go. Maybe Bruce is happier where is now. Lord knows he was never that happy on earth..."
Dick took another drink and opened his mouth to argue but she instantly stopped the arguments with a change in subject.
"You're leaving tomorrow morning?" she asked looking towards him and he finally let his head fall; bright blue eyes bearing into her as he nodded.
"I need to make sure no one killed themselves in Jump," he said slowly taking in Babs's frail features fully for the first time realizing he was soon going to be alone. One of the last friends he had speaking terms (and wasn't well...dead) with was soon going to be Bruce's roomate. He took another long swig of his poison to that thought.
"Their not going to fall over dead if Nightwing doesn't come to check up on them," Babs said looking away from him once more as that look of regrett settled on his still young as ever features.
"I thought that about allott of people," he grumbled looking skywards once more surpressing the memories,"But when I wasn't there to help them when they needed me. They-"
She could tell he still couldn't say the word. Saying it was as bad as admitting he couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. Sighing she grabbed his hand giving it a comforting squeeze bringing his attention to her once more.
"Don't forget Gotham needs you as well," she said softly squeezing his hand tighter,"And so do Jason and Damien and even...me. You have an obligation to keep us alive till our exporation date too you know."
He responded with a firm squeeze silently vowing not to allow anything to happen to them either. The last couple of people he cared about...he squeezed his eyes shut. He wouldn't allow them to die as painfully and violently as the others. That was a promise he would do anything to keep.
"You could always reconcile with them," she said finally releasing his hand taking a step away from the grave.
"Its not that easy after all that's happened," Dick grumbled, "But maybe your right...maybe I'll try to reconcile this time around..."
"If it will get you to stop agnsting all the time," she said glancing over her shoulder with a smirk across her lips watching his awkward smile spring to life.
"Hey Babs..."
"No," she said curtly turning away from him walking back to the gates of the cemetary calling over her shoulder,"Immortallity is only fun for those who still have youth left."
"How about the fountain of youth then?" he tried smiling not actually sure if that existed. Maybe he would consider looking for it, he did have all eternity to do whatever he wanted...
"And be as bitter as you for the rest of time? I don't think so." With that she left leaving Dick alone with his long dead mentor. He watched her leave, an empty feeling began growing inside him that he couldn't place. As the wind began to pick up, he could only imagine what the rest of eternity would be like with the only familiar face left being Slade. He shook the thought away looking down to his mentor's grave.
"Bruce," he said softly his voice overshouded by the blazing wind gradually picking up,"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for every thing." He took another long swig finishing off the tequilia taking another long look into the empty tomorrow ahead of him. After a few more minutes he hopped off the grave stone and paused to stare at. The wind shoving his hair once more into his line of sight but he'd read the words graved into the stone enough times to know what it said even with his hair blocking his vision.
He turned to leave pausing once more at the entry of the graveyard to call over his shoulder,"Bruce, if you meet Star in the afterlife could ya tell her I'm sorry I couldn't save her from whatever fate happened to her?"
He sighed under his breath squeezing his fists as he felt his familiar anger and regrett about not being able to protect her. About not being able to help them. Not being able to save the long list of casulaties. Not being able to save himself from Slade...
He snarled desciding he could use another shot of anything...
.
.
.
In the shadows of an alley way, a dark figure chuckled lowly watching the boy he called appentice walk into a dirty bar in the bad side of town where the bar tender already had three shots lined up for him. He conisidered taking off his mask and joining him but descided he didn't want to fight with him tonight. He supposed he could wait for the boy to turn on his own accord. After all, they had all eternity to play this game of cat and mouse.
...(end of Chapter one)...
Just to throw it out there, I'm not sure if Barbera Gordon became a police chief in the comic canon. I know for a fact she did in Batman Beyond so I'm going to go with it...if only for the fact that I love badass old women who lead the police (blame Legend of Korra's awsome Lynne Beifong for that obsession). And yes, Nightwing is an immortal who happens to be an alcholic in this story. I wasn't joking when I said it was only loosly based off the episode. I know what your thinking: Oh, Necro13! How could you let something like this happen? Wasn't Nightwing the only one who was kinda happy in the episode? And if you're going to change things you better have a good excuse to make things like this!
My answer: You'll have to wait, dear reader. I'll explain everything as best as I can. And, why would I make Dick Grayson's future happy? He's my favorite character and as my favorite character, he's going to be tortured! Cause that's the kinda fan girl I am! -evil grin-.
AND...don't forget to review.