Mount Justice, December 20th, Midnight
Dick stared up at the hologram. Tula's face smiled softly back down to him. He could remember their last conversation.
"So, ever going to ask Barbra out, for good?" She flipped over a black clad somebody. A water whip downed the fighter. Nightwing slide tackled another fighter's knees.
"It depends." He laughed. This was easy. Talking to Tula was simple. There were no head games, no trying to outsmart anyone, no competition. Even if it did get boring sometimes.
"Nightwing, Tula! Another wave of these bastards are coming! Be careful, and don't let them pass you!" Kaldur's voice over the comms was strained. Everyone was nervous about this mission, even Nightwing and Tula.
Nightwing and Tula had to defend the docks of Cancun. There was reasonable suspicion that they were facing the dreaded Black Manta, but no one knew yet for sure.
As predicted, a second wave of the black, metal clad warriors flooded the docks. Luckily the civilians had all made it out and were being kept away from the deadly battle.
A kilometer from the longest dock, a black dome rose from the water. Tula gasped and Nightwing felt his heart grow heavy.
"It's Black Manta." She hissed. Nightwing saw the fear on her face. "We have to get Kaldur out of here!" She turned to head into the warehouses housing the science gear and technology that was to be shipped to Hong Kong.
"We all have to get out of here!" Nightwing shot back, grabbing her arm. "And no one will if we don't slow these bastards!" Nightwing insisted. He jumped from behind the tire they hid behind and started an attack anew. Tula followed him.
"You don't get it!" Tula explained, between puffs of breath. "Black Manta is Kaldur's father! He'll kidnap Kaldur and force him to work for him!" Tula snarled as she landed a water mace right in the breast plate of one of the oncoming soldiers, sending him flying back into a few others. None got up.
"Really?" Nightwing pulled Tula behind a dry docked sailboat. Nightwing could hear a few of there teammates helping to keep back the tide, a few hundred meters behind them. Both Nightwing and Tula were breathing heavily. Tula nodded. Nightwing mused.
"We have confirmed that the Light is working with Black Manta, that's why we can't let him get this technology no matter what. But, what if we placed a spy on his ship?" Tula slapped Nightwing.
"You would force someone to face their biggest shame!" She sounded appalled. Nightwing flipped around the boat and they were engaged in battle once more.
"We have no idea what the Light is up to; we need to get information somehow." Tula, using the water magic, sent a large number of the aggressors back, flying into the water; she turned to glare at Nightwing.
"You think he could just walk over there? That isn't suspicious at all." She growled, silently agreeing with what Nightwing had said. If they could plant Kaldur, they could get who knows how much information.
"He would need a reason to switch teams." Nightwing agreed, facing the recovered crowd that was approaching. The twelve fighters were wary though. Nightwing could here a 'good job guys!' over the radio.
"You or me?" Tula asked. Nightwing felt his heart rate skip a beat.
"Me!" He turned to face her. "If you got hurt, or anything, he might…" Nightwing stopped, his weapons even lowering slightly. He could hear a worried Jason over the line. Tula answered the worried calls, not looking art Nightwing. Nightwing got ready to fight again.
"Don't." Nightwing begged, sliding between to fighters, and bashing the backs of their heads.
"We can fake it. Right here, right now." She shouted over the pained wails of fallen fighters. Tula winced as a laser burned her skin. She healed it almost instantly with a water bandage. Nightwing himself was covered in bruises and tiny burns from the lasers.
"Tula." The last fighter fell. The two stood, surrounded by the injured. A loud thunk hit the docks. Tula and Nightwing looked. Black Manta himself stood on the docks. Tula turned to Nightwing.
"You fight him. I'll go and destroy the boat. I'll fake my death; make a big explosion or something. You tell Kaldur…" She trailed off. Black Manta was approaching slowly.
"You think dying by his father will make him join his father?"
"We have orders to stop Black Manta no matter what. He'll blame the King," Tula looked pained just to say that, "and the League through the King for being so focused on the enemy."
"There will be fighters in the water, and they can whip the water around just like you!" Nightwing argued. Tula nodded.
"Knock 'em dead, land lubber." Tula said, running diagonally towards the water. Black Manta turned, raising a laser to shoot her. Nightwing whipped out a wing-ding and threw it. Black Manta hissed as his hand was struck, the shot going wide. Nightwing charged the man.
Nightwing rarely had a fight as difficult. He could barely focus, and Black Manta knew how to fight. An explosion shook the dock. Black Manta threw Nightwing into the water and dove off the dock towards his ship.
"Tula! Tula! Tula!" Nightwing screamed. Water burned his throat as an injured arm could barely hold him above water. Nightwing forced a rebreather out of his belt and dove down. He couldn't see in the darkness of the ocean. He saw a couple bodies, and some shrapnel. He felt a pull that he could barely fight as the giant ship sunk beneath the waves and began to sail away. For just a second, Nightwing saw the size of the ship, and the almost comically small damage his had on one side of the hull.
Nightwing swam around until water began slipping through his rebreather, it wasn't meant for deep salt water. His arms burned and he was shivering from the cold. He had to know if their impromptu plan had worked. Tula had to be alive.
Finally, a flash of red caught Nightwing's eye. He swam towards it, trying not to cough as salt water burned his throat. Something bumped Nightwing's leg. Nightwing saw the hazy red of the water. He got closer and felt another bump. This time he saw the shark. And Tula.
She was pinned under a broken piece of dock. The wood had impaled her side and a boat's blown off anchor had pinned her down. Her chest wasn't moving. Nightwing would never know how, but he got her to the surface. A crowd of his teammates were there. Nightwing had been tackled by Jason almost immediately and given his little brother cape to huddle under. Tula didn't move.
She had never moved again, Dick remembered. Jason had died a little less than two months later. Dick had never felt more like a failure than then. He had never told Kaldur the plan he had made with Tula. He had never told his old teammate how it had gone wrong, either. Somehow Nightwing had told Kaldur about his father, and how Kaldur could help in his grief. Dick had gotten quite a few bruises that week. And yet, he got a card for Jason's death from Kaldur as well as the first report. The team didn't find out about Kaldur's 'betrayal' until about a year after that when Tim was Robin.
Dick closed his eyes at the painful memories. Tula just smiled her soft smile.
Hands wrapped themselves around Dick's waist. Dick's frown softened into a smile.
"Good evening, Donna." He said. Donna smiled up at her boyfriend.
"Spending too much time down here makes you too melancholy." Donna accused. Dick nodded. Donna squeezed him.
"So, we need to talk, you say?" Dick asked. Donna nodded.
"First, will you be at the Christmas/winter celebration party?" Donna asked. Dick shook his head. The cowl rubbed his neck in away he never liked. Donna's star filled black suit captured even the low hologram light, lighting her up like a goddess.
"Joker has threatened to do something on Christmas Eve. I have to keep Jason from trying to kill him. I have to keep Damian from trying to kill Jason. I was hoping to convince Tim to come back, finally. And maybe have tea with Alfred, and say hey to Barbra without enticing a five hour fight. So, the same as last year, I guess." Donna frowned.
"You love parties, though." She said quietly. Dick nodded.
"I'll make it up to you." Dick promised. Donna sighed.
"Dick, we've been together, how long?" Donna asked. Dick thought.
"Uh, non-stop? Three years." Donna nodded.
"I love you." She said.
"I love you too!" Dick replied, turning to face the Amazon.
"You say it so casually. I know you mean it… but…" Donna trailed off. Dick frowned.
"Are you trying to dump me?" Dick asked. Donna gave a sly smile.
"I just thought we'd be more by now, but I'm starting to think that will never happen." Donna admitted.
"Donna! People have dated for decades before getting married! And do you really think Diana would let you marry me?" Dick joked, but a glance in Donna's eyes told him.
"Dick. I won't lie. I definitely saved you from suicide, or accidental death by lack of caring for yourself since Bruce died, but you've healed now. I've felt this last year, we've just been really good friends. I mean, when was the last time we had sex?" Dick turned away slightly.
"Donna, if you want to…"
"I don't. That's what I mean. I love you Richard. But I like how we are now. I like this codependency, but the not actual dependency we have. I just want you to know, I'm here for you. Always." Donna was smiling. Dick took a step back. "Dick?"
"You're defiantly an Amazon, Donna. I wouldn't have you any other way." Dick told her. Donna nodded.
"I'll call tonight, ok?" Donna told him. Dick nodded. Donna kissed his cheek.
"Love you. "Dick told her.
"Love you too, sweet ass." She told him. Dick smirked. Donna left and Dick turned back to Tula. After six years of trying, Dick had gotten Garth to come home, to return to the League. Tim had also helped the last two years.
"I never said thank you." Dick told the hologram. After a moment in silence, he left.
Wayne Co. Building, December 13th, 10:00pm
Kate was waiting for Batman. She turned to face him as the cape ruffled into the silent winter air. A blanket of snow had fallen over Gotham, and the city was beautiful for once. Tomorrow the snow would be black with pollution, until the next snowfall. IT would become a battle between the constantly falling snow and the pollution from the city. Lately the pollution was going down, thanks a lot in part by Wayne Co.
"Well, honey?" Kate's voice was low for a woman's. Low and seductive, but full of authority. She demanded answers and she got them.
"I found the pits, if that's what you're asking. It was hard as hell, and that Ra's hasn't noticed me is a miracle." Batman could barely hide his groan of frustration. Kate smiled.
"Well, I have Timmy-boy's location, if you want to visit him. He left the Titans last week to do something about his little project. He's in Vancouver right now. Batman frowned, deeper. Vancouver was where one of the smaller Lazarus Pits was. Dick only knew that because he had been hunting down the Lazarus pits. He knew of four. Two were on the American continents and two on the Asian continent.
"We're using the one in south America, if you're wondering." Dick said. It had the least activity, and Ra's didn't have anyone posted there to guard it. Batman didn't rub exhaustion from his eyes, but Dick mentally did.
"We're heading out, tomorrow, right?" Kate asked. Batman gave a sharp nod.
"Robin, Spoiler, and Black Bat are taking care of Gotham. Red Robin should still be busy with the Teen Titans, and Red Hood has no reason to follow me. Damian thinks I'm going on a Wayne Co. Business trip." Dick droned out. He hadn't slept for three days, organizing the trip. There would be a business trip, but it was only a day long. Dick had the week scheduled out. IF anyone checked they would see it right away, but glancing over, the flux would be unnoticeable. Basically, if any of the bats checked it out, he was screwed, but anyone else was tricked. But what reason would anyone have to check?
"I've never spent Christmas outside the USA." Kate commented. Batman shook his head.
"We'll be back before Christmas. At least you will be. I hope I ma, because of Joker's threat."
"He's still in Arkham, what can he do?" Kate asked. Batman gave her a look. The vibrant red head laughed. "Ok, I get it. He can do a lot." The two sat in silence, watching the snow.
"If this works, he'll be back." Kate said. Dick nodded.
"I… don't know if this is right. It's just, everyone needs him so much. I'm not even half of Bruce." Dick's Batman persona slipped. Kate didn't look at him.
"I disagree. You are twice the man Bruce is, you just don't want to hurt the memory you have of him. Dick, you realize, you are the only one who remembers him from before?" Kate meant before Jason. Dick didn't answer. Kate continued. "Bruce, he… he barely recognizes anyone, and yet he still compliments you. He remembers the before as well. You are really the only one who he ever got to cherish. You've known him longer than anyone."
"Superman and Wonder Woman knew him longer." Dick pointed out. Kate gave a wry smile.
"I highly doubt Bruce ever cuddled with Clark and Diana, well, maybe Diana…" Dick smirked.
"Ok, I get your point. I just don't get where you're going with it." Kate tilted her head.
"Hmm. Neither do I. I want his self pitying, self righteous, self deprecating, perfectionist ass back. But I don't want him to change. I want your sacred memories of him to still be within reach for you." Dick was silent. Kate looked at him, her eyes soft for once.
"When he comes back, what will you do with the poser?" Kate asked. Dick sighed. The guy had disappeared on an Amazon trip, but the press hadn't heard. Dick knew Selina had gone with him. He didn't really need to know the details now that Selina was back and he wasn't.
"I think he's been taken care of." Kate smiled.
"Sleep tight, big scary bat!" She leapt off the roof building and disappeared as the snow began to fall again.
Sorry for the hiatus. I just went through personal issues.
Also, time skips. Never explained or wanted, but necessary.
Please review.
Love,
Burning Bright