All he felt was numbness. It was not due to the harsh, cold wind blowing through his black, silky fringe. He could feel a million pricks on his hands as he balled them into fists. The sound of his leather gloves wrinkling up was the only thing he could hear. Everything was muffled in his ears as he stared blankly at the snow a few steps before him. Cold and emptiness was all he felt.
Grayson was too busy realizing what he had happened. He could not take the view of the blonde dressed in green, knees on the floor, hands buried her face. Her weeps of pain broke Grayson on a whole new level he did not know existed. M'gann was on the snow beside her, providing comfort for the shattered girl. Everyone else that was there was just providing sympathy for Artemis. Everyone's faces were full of pain and sorrow.
Everyone failed to realize there was someone else that was hurting more than her. Only Aqualad and Connor saw Nightwing's ashen face as he turned his face away from the painful scene that was staring right at his face. The once strong man, was torn apart by the recent events that occurred. He was broken glass. Still shimmering in views of most, but slowly cracking over time.
He barely realized that his team member had placed an assuring hand on his shoulders; in an attempt to coax him out of his painful trance. He felt his blood go cold at the mention of his name.
"Nightwing?" Aqualad softly mentioned when he realized the 18-year-old go frozen in his spot. Aqualad could only turn his head back to Connor in worry when Dick failed to react.
Nightwing white slates of hid domino mask closed slightly as he furrowed his brows in pain and anger. Anger at was at himself.
Grayson was not supposed to show any emotions during a mission. He was not supposed to be left speechless. He was supposed to show a brave front for his team. Nightwing was supposed better than that.
Or was he?
Was he really the hero he wanted himself to become? When he could not even protect the closest people he so dearly loved, from harm? When all he felt was how broken his heart was. The person he so dearly trusted and cared for. The one that stayed by his side when he made tough decisions. When Bruce turned his back. When he was facing hardships. When he was happy. He was always there.
And yet, his body was not even there for him to mourn. Not a single hint that the ginger speedster was there except the circular tracks that lay embedded on the milky-white snow.
Wally West was gone.
His best friend was gone.
