Chapter 7
Hi!
I just want to say, if you want an Owls arc, it is building up! Don't worry! The Owl arc is my second favorite arc in the DC Universe.
Speaking about DC, I'm just borrowing their characters; I don't own the Watchtower or anything.
NOT TOO IMPOARTANT- I'm really sorry, but Annabel(Annabelle, or Annabell, I noticed I kept changing how I spelled her name, sorry) is 17, almost 18.
Watchtower, April 22nd, 6:45 pm
Superman was watching the computers trying to keep himself from boring holes in the screen with his laser eyes. Even though a year and some had gone by since the Invasion, Godfrey hadn't stopped his torrent of insults and attempts to slander the Justice League. Finally, Clark just turned off the news, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Damn, wish he would just zip it right?" Gar said, walking up, his face grim. Recently, Gar had been diagnosed P.T.S, which wasn't to surprising. His family had died, then his new family had been torn apart, and after fighting for years, it seemed like one of his greatest admirations had abandoned them. Clark sighed and patted Gar on the head.
"Happy Birthday."[1] Clark said. Gar turned when the news automatically turned itself on. This of course meant something really big was happening, so many more people ran into the room.
"Alright, I'm Kathy Kat, Here in Bludhaven. For the first time in months, the Mayor is allowing a live newsfeed from Bludhaven's street! I'm here in our copter watching the streets. You can see that the streets are in rather poor shape, with recent bombings, and rise in gun fights, and the new gang, BB, is declaring itself in possession of Bludhaven. But what of Bludhaven's self-proclaimed saviors?"
The helicopter landed, and soon Kathy Kat was interviewing a pedestrian.
"Please tell us your thoughts on Nightwing." Her face was eager. The person she had stopped was a young woman pushing a baby carriage.
"Nightwing? Him?" Kathy nodded. Tears built up in the woman's eyes. "He, he is the most wonderful thing to happen to this city! I don't care what the BB says! I've been saved by him! Just yesterday, someone tried to snatch my baby! The man ran and Nightwing appeared right in front of him, and one punch, the guy was out. He grabbed the baby before the thug could fall on her and gave returned my baby to me, he even smiled. But he didn't say anything!" The woman looked heartbroken.
"He didn't say anything? Nightwing is famous for cheesy, super romantic-"
"Everyone here knows." An older man stepped up now. A small crowd had gathered. They all looked sad.
"Excuse me?"
"When I say 'Nightwing gets around,' I mean he has been in every part of the city and polite to everyone who talks to him. He keeps his fights out of the open so we can't seem them, and he even stops to help someone getting mugged. Police don't, not here. We have to defend for ourselves…" The man was cut off as a gunshot echoed through the air and the man fell, creating a pool of blood.
"Daddy!" A 12 year old girl screamed. People scattered, but the young woman didn't she snarled.
"The police didn't do anything when my building got blown up! Only my tenant who's only in train'n did anythin'! You bastards only care about yourself!" The woman yelled.
"Karen!" A black body tackled the woman out of the way as a rain of bullets came down. The black body flipped back and pushed the cart to the woman named Karen. Kathy Kat squealed. The camera was shaking as the camera man dodged as well and headed towards the copter.
"Nightwing!" Nightwing grabbed her and basically threw her into the helicopter. He threw down a smoke bomb, and then helped the cameraman into the helicopter as well.
"Get out" he said. His image was distorted in the smoke. The cameraman somehow kept the camera on Nightwing's figure. Bullets pinged off the helicopter. Nightwing looked over his shoulder. He turned back and spoke quickly.
"Get out, don't land in Bludhaven, you'll never get out. This is our plea for help."
"Our?" Kathy asked.
"Bludhaven isn't my city, it's the people's city, and I'm one of her people." Nightwing said, his glare was burning through his mask. The smoke cleared and you could see scratches, bruises, and his costume was slightly ratty. He must not have taken it off for days. As Nightwing turned to go, Kathy grabbed him and kissed him.
"For luck." She said. Nightwing shrugged, threw another gas pellet down and disappeared into the smoke. The helicopter flew up, clearing the smoke. You could see men, and maybe a woman or two, in the clearing firing at a black form flipping around. A couple guys in dark blue had surrounded the black clothed guys. They were firing, but it was evident they didn't care if they hit Nightwing. The helicopter filmed another minute before the pilot wheeled out, knowing they had enough gas to just make it to a news base a few miles out of Bludhaven. The camera man kept filming.
"All those poor people!" The pilot exclaimed. Kathy nodded and sighed sadly. Suddenly, Kathy gasped.
"Fly faster!" She shouted. The pilot tried to protest and explain this would use more gas, but stopped when he saw what Kathy was pointing to. A man on a roof near them had a large gun, pointed right at the helicopter.
"What the hell is that bastard thinking?" The camera man asked/shouted. Kathy gasped as she watched the gun getting centered.
Just as Kathy screamed, a black form flew up over the raised edge of the roof and tackled the gunman. The helicopter flew by, the camera man focusing on Nightwing and the gunman as they grappled. The helicopter was past tge building and almost out of the city.
"He didn't abandon us!" Gar breathed. A lot of stress dropped from his shoulders. He had thought Nightwing had been avoiding the team, and hated the feeling of someone just leaving without explanation. It probably had to do with how his dad left his family and when his mom died.
"Did you see that cut of his shoulder?" Conner asked. He always felt a little protective of Richard. Artemis nodded. Suddenly her comm. buzzed. Artemis didn't notice it in the chaos of the TV, which quickly pulled out of Bludhaven.
Later that day, Artemis would pull out her comm. and be confused at the blinking message light. She would open it. She would be shocked at what she would find, watch the message twice then grab Wally and they would race to Mount Justice and everyone would watch it together. In the message, Nightwing's face showed, but he was constantly checking over his shoulder. He seemed to notice he was connected and curled in towards the screen a little tighter and spoke rapidly.
"I have a compromised situation here. The BB gang has announced they are closing off the city, they mayor and family is dead, and the commissioner here is a bastard. It appears the Invasion didn't clear up as nicely as we thought, some of The Light transmissions stuff is going on in the streets of Gotham, some of the juice crap and such is being traded. I need back up asap. Annabel is…" Nightwing swallowed hard, "dead." He finished, then looked over his shoulder. A large bulbous shape started charging for towards Nightwing. Nightwing sucked in his breath and quickly turned back to the comm., "Tarantula isn't quite… Shit!" Nightwing had to dodge, but he was a little late with his evasive maneuver. The new camera angle showed the narrow alley Nightwing had been hiding in and the crowd of people in the streets. Nightwing was soon out in the open.
"Don't kill the kid in tights!" some BB gang member shouted. "The Boss wants him!" Bullets were flying, and Nightwing was jumping around so much the camera recorded nothing but a blur. They witnessed a black blur, heard a grunt, and saw some red just before the camera and recorded shut down.
"The message must have sent when it was ended." Batman said. J'hn and M'gan felt a heavy wave of guilt and worry from Batman.
"He said a compromised situation." Robin noted.
"Punk let someone get his I.D." Red Hood growled.
"Who the hell is Tarantula?" Wally muttered, with a few grumbles of agreement answering him.
"He isn't perfect." Cassie said sheepishly. The glares she got for her innocent comment made her visibly flinch. She hadn't been around for the argument, and didn't even know it had happened; same with Gar, Jamie, L'gann and Bart.
"We need to get a team there stat. "Clark announced. Everyone turned to Batman.
"Well, Batman?" Oracle, who was always on screen from her hideout in Gotham demanded. She was pissed at Bruce and Dick, but no one had been able to talk to Dick for over a week.
Why are you all mad at me? Didn't Dick say some nasty things too? Do you think I don't feel guilty? Do you think I don't regret what I did? Don't you guys realize I want him to come home; I want to hold him in my arms and beg forgiveness! DON'T ANY OF YOU REALIZE THIS HURTS ME TOO? I'm not perfect; he helps me all the time, now he won't talk to me! Damn you all, I just want to say I'm sorry.
Bruce's thoughts were so raw and unexpected that the Martians audibly gasped. A few glances turned towards them. Batman just gave a curt nod.
"We should get team there stat. I feel it is too late to stop whatever The Light planned, but maybe we can lessen the damage." Superman said, knowing Bruce wouldn't say anything yet. It had taken years, but Clark could tell now when Bruce need to compose himself as Batman, and this was one of those times.
City Limits of Bludhaven, April 23, 3:45 am
Flash, Conner, Cassie, and Robin appeared at the edges of Bludhaven early in the morning. The city was silent as the group jumped over roof tops of Gotham's sister city.
"It's like nothing happen." Cassie said noting the nightlife.
"No, look, the people are constantly checking the roofs. They're looking for something." Robin pointed out
"We should find Nightwing's hideout." Flash said.
"Well, we know one of his places exploded, how many do you think he has?
"Um, no idea."
"Hush!" Conner snapped. He had heard something. The group fell silent. Conner listened to the conversation that had caught his attention.
"I think they're all done now. Yeah, the Doctor is dead. All the evidence points to Nightwing." Pause, "Yes I'm sure." Pause, "he even ran off with the Tarantula bitch." Pause, "Well, I don't have any pictures, but I was on the steps when the gun went off. I looked on the roof and he was standing there, and the Doctor fell off the building." Pause, "Well, Tarantula was there as well. And, well, Nightwing wasn't really carrying a gun; he looked scared as hell though. I ran out right after that." Pause, "well, it could have been Tarantula…" a gun shot echoed, and the man on the phone was lying in the alley beneath the heroes, blood splattered on the wall. The group sat in horror. Conner took a deep breath and focused.
A man stepped out of a car on the other side of the street, he closed his flip phone. The man huffed in amusement.
"Like my sister could ever have shot the bastard. Nightwing, when I find you…" the man huffed again, and went back into the car which drove away.
"What did you learn, Conner?' Flash asked.
"Nightwing may or may not have shot someone."
Bludhaven, April 22, -8 pm.
Nightwing groaned as Tarantula pulled the bandages a little tighter. When she tied off the bandage, Nightwing pulled his top up. His left arm was in a splint from being shot at.
"You're not going tonight." Tarantula said. Nightwing chuckled hollowly.
"I have to. Otherwise, too many could be killed." Catalina didn't say how she knew how to get out and already had a plan, but she thought she'd act out the first part of her plan first.
"Catalina, the people are really restless, it makes me feel restless as well. Did something happen on the outskirts of the city?" Nightwing rubbed his eyes. Catalina hid her smile. Of course Nightwing didn't know about large trading rings yet. Catalina had to turn her back on Nightwing so he wouldn't see her smile.
Catalina glanced at Nightwing over her shoulder, glad the chore of picking up medical supplies allowed her to not look directly at the other vigilante. Nightwing was slouching from grief and exhaustion. Exhaustion because for the past week, Nightwing had been doing extra hours, about 6 pm to 6 am, then Officer Grayson had to work three 3 hour shifts to cover from the sudden loss of cops in Bludhaven, even though he wasn't supposed to take official shifts until he was inducted into the force, which wasn't supposed to happen for another year, when Dick would finish his Master's degrees. Richard Grayson was warn out to the bone, but he couldn't sleep. At least, he thought he couldn't. All the worst attacks had happened when Nightwing wasn't on duty.
Not only did the BB gang attack when Nightwing was away, they hit areas where Nightwing frequented, and places where people were friendly with Officer Grayson. The courts where the middle school boys tried to be cool and smoke had been bombed right after school hours, when it was most populated and eight kids had died with a dozen more injured. The prostitute house where Nightwing often stopped rapes was suddenly overrun with lust filled maniacs just before opening. By the time Nightwing had gotten there, all the women were screaming in pain from the sadistic treatments they had just endured. When Officer Grayson went to stop a grocery robbery, the robber didn't even try to bargain, he just made it rain bullets for almost two minutes. Grayson had tackled the man down as he reloaded, but the owner, two workers, and a young boy were already dead.
Most recently had been Karen's death. The building manger that had just lost her building had adopted a child that had become an orphan in the explosion. In the latest firefight, she had been cornered despite Nightwing's best efforts and killed, the orphan baby's crying silenced with a blow to its head. Nightwing, trying to save her, had taken a good blow to the midsection, and then the men fled. Nightwing himself had to make a quick get-away because the police were trying to shoot him. Nightwing did know that the police thought Nightwing was working with the BB, and he couldn't help but blame Investigator Flores. He knew the Investigator was Catalina's brother, but he was also pretty sure the two had had a fight and were working against each other. This was causing Nightwing's head to spin because, in his mind, both Catalina and the Investigator were trying to do the right thing, even though they were against each other.
Nightwing was thinking about this while sipping water. Catalina was thinking that the ploy to exhaust Nightwing and push him to the edge of sanity was working. Little sleep, little self nourishment, and a whole lot of grief were really quick at making people start losing it.
"Sleep." Catalina ordered, knowing Nightwing wouldn't. He truly couldn't by now. He truly thought, even if it was only subconsciously, that if he rested, someone he cared about would be hurt.
As Catalina expected, Nightwing shook his head.
"Then, we leave in thirty minutes." Tarantula started packing her stuff. She noticed Nightwing stand and start doing the same. Tarantula also notice Nightwing packed a lot less wing-dings and flash bombs then usual. She wasn't surprised he was running low. How long had it been since he had gone to Batman for some? Nightwing didn't have the time to make his own, and Alfred (though Tarantula didn't know this detail) usually made extras just for Nightwing. Nightwing hadn't even sent a message to his family since his fight with Bruce.
They finished packing and headed out.
Bludhaven, Old Banking Buisness in East Wing, 9:45 pm
Nightwing and Tarantula sneaked into a third story window, by passing the guards on the ground floor. They kept close, and they kept quiet. They soon approached a room with guards.
"I'll take them out." Tarantula breathed. Nightwing glared at her.
"Don't kill." He said. Tarantula rolled her eyes. "Every man you don't kill, my trust in you rises." Nightwing promised. Tarantula smiled, and wasn't surprised when Nightwing burst into the room with her. Between the two of them, the 10 men were out in just a minute and a half. No one was dead.
"I'm impressed." Nightwing admitted. Tarantula put her hand on his arm, but just then an alarm sounded. Nightwing whipped around looking for what could have set it off. Tarantula threw the button that had alerted the guard station they were in position on the ground.
"Run." Nightwing said. Tarantula was the one to lead them though. She purposely ran them into traps set by guards.
"Damn, they must have been expecting us somehow!" Nightwing shouted, throwing an assailant over his head. Tarantula nodded, copying Nightwing's move with another goon.
Soon, there were too many thugs and the spider and bird fled up. After running up six stories of stairs, Nightwing dropped a small bomb on the steps. He threw an electrified wing-ding at the bomb, and the combined power took out the staircase, and making the metal spark and glow red.
"That should hold them momentarily." Nightwing breathed, backing up until he exited the building and was on the roof. He didn't hear Tarantula and whirled in surprise to see a familiar foe and Tarantula lying prone on the ground.
"Tarantula!" He called, but he wisely didn't charge. He focused his eyes on the bulbous man on the roof.
"You?" He asked in surprise. The man laughed a much too deep voice.
"Yes, surprised? I guess, we haven't really seen each other in about seven years, maybe a glimpse or so, but just recently have I repaired myself!" Dr. Desmond stepped forward. His face was still tinted blue, but he was only half the sized the Blockbuster formula had made him. His hair was stringy and gray. His face was slightly feral, but his body was mostly human.
"I should have know, Doctor." Nightwing sneered, reaching for his eskirma sticks and not finding them.
"Looking for these?" Desmond held up the twin weapons and pressed the button that made the eskirma sticks spark. Rain began to sprinkle. Desmond looked up in mild surprise.
"How appropriate for your demise!" As Desmond's face contorted into anger, Nightwing tackled him. Desmond was much stronger though, and easily parried Nightwing's blows. Nightwing stopped worrying about how his eskirma sticks, which Desmond was using poorly, had gotten into Desmond's hands.
The two grappled, parried and fought for what felt like hours. Nightwing was noticing how weak his body was. Desmond threw down the weapons and just began beating on Nightwing. The two were stopped suddenly when a crack echoed through the mostly silent night. Desmond screamed in agony and grabbed his shoulder where a bullet wound was leaking blood. He looked at the person holding the gun in utter shock.
"You, you were working for me!" Desmond cried. Nightwing stopped and stared at Tarantula, who merely took aim at Desmond's forehead.
"I have my reasons." She said, glancing at Nightwing. Unfortunately, her mask didn't have white covers light Nightwing's, so her eye movement was obvious. Desomnd threw back his head and laughed.
"I should have known! A woman is fickle eh? You just fell for his tight suit and charming smile, right? I guess it is expected. I should have hired someone else." Desmond laughed. Nightwing stared at Tarantula in hurt. No one moved because she still had her gun trained on Desmond.
"You, you were a double agent?" He asked his head spinning. Tarantula looked guilty.
"Wrong! A triple if you must. I'm on your side!" Tarantula said, getting ready to squeeze the trigger. Nightwing's eyes widened in realization and he leapt in front of Desmond. Tarantula barely stopped her finger from firing.
"Move Nightwing!" She shouted. Nightwing stood his ground.
"Tarantula, we don't kill!" He tried to reason, keeping his voice calm. She scoffed.
"Richard! Be reasonable! He doesn't care about that! The people don't care about your morals, they want to be freed! Didn't you know this town is suffocated from this man's trading rings? Desmond was planning of destroying the city! He was going to kill everyone! He won't stop if you pity him! Desmond will keep killing!"
"That is why we'll put him Blackgate." Nightwing said, putting his arms up in surrender to calm Tarantula. Tarantula's eyes bugged in rage. How could Nightwing be so clueless?
"Dick, he'll just escape again! Who do you think targeted your friends? He knows who you are! He'll target everyone! Bruce, Barbra, Wally, your old team, me!" Catalina cried. Nightwing stuttered over his next words,
"We don't kill." He said, but he sounded unconvinced.
"He killed Annabel. He killed Carmen. Desmond caused Jonas to kill himself and Davy as well. Desmond has been ordering all the bombings and robberies. He knows you, and he'll only use your identity to destroy you! Haven't you noticed?" Tarantula shouted, cocking the gun. Nightwing paused. Desmond's eyes widened in fear and Nightwing stole a glance at him.
"You…did that?" Nightwing's voice was hollow, barely air passing his lips. Tarantula walked right up to Nightwing and ripped off his mask.
"He doesn't care about whether or not you wear the mask. He just wants you torture everyone around you until you crack!" Tarantula spoke directly into Nightwing's face. He blinked his eyes unfocused and his mind racing.
Desmond, he… everyone…
No! Killing him is wrong!
He would only keep killing!
But not killing someone takes more strength!
That was just Bruce's excuse! He was scared to take out the really dangerous guys! Remember Jason! Bruce wouldn't kill Joker so Tim is suffering!
But… we don't kill…kill…don't kill….kill him! Don't kill him! Don't Kill Him, Kill him!
JUST SHUT Up! Nightwing looked back at Blockbuster, who was edging away. Tarantula saw Nightwing's eyes and felt a stir of excitement run through her body. She loved those eyes, so confused, broken, abandoned, struggling, weak, unprotected…
"You… should…" Nightwing didn't finish his sentence as he took a hesitant step. Tarantula raised the gun.
"One more step." Desmond's eyes widened and he started to shout something, but Nightwing took a large step determinately and the gun cracked the silence of the night once more. Desmond slammed into the edge of the ceiling and rolled backwards, blood leaving a trail from a small hole in his head.
Nightwing started to shake. His legs collapsed and his breath came in tiny gasps. Tarantula ran to him.
"You did it!" She said happily. "You killed him! You saved everyone!" But she saw he wasn't well at all.
"I killed…." Nightwing couldn't move, and could barely breathe. Tarantula kissed him deeply, and felt him try to push her off.
"Hush. Yes, you killed him, it's ok. You did well. Killing him was the right thing." She took a knife and slit the fabric of Nightwing's suit down the middle. She herself was in a haze. Dick's gasps for help and comfort had her so turned on, Catalina shivered. The rain was cool and had made their suits slick.
"No!" Dick protested weakly, his eyes darting and his hands on Catalina's shoulders as she ran her tongue up and down his body. Catalina silenced him with a kiss, and began kissing a trail down.
"No. "Nightwing groaned, and then his breath hitched. Catalina smiled into her work. "Please." He begged. Catalina took that as a sign to keep going. She couldn't' see the world around her. To Catalina, who was in pure ecstasy, this was her best fantasy. He removed her own clothing and almost screamed in pleasure as she joined herself with Dick. She couldn't' see his tears; hear his begging, she just felt her own bliss.
Dick was in shock, utter shock. His body had betrayed him. His mind raged war upon itself. Was what he had done right, or wrong? Was what he was doing now right or wrong? The clear lines he had lived by his whole life were now erased. He cried, not knowing anything. He cried for the one person who could help him, but his words were blocked out by the person on top of him. Dick could only just close his eyes and let himself fall into the chaos that was his mind.
Gotham, Wayne Manner, 11:09 pm
Tim woke to voices. He was used to this somewhat by now. When he had first woken up, the voices were scary and made him scream. Recently, they had been quite and almost unintelligible.
Within a few minutes however, the voices stopped. Tim sat up in shock.
"They're gone!" He shouted in joy. Alfred and Bruce, followed by Dr. Fate and Dr. Leslie gave him a curious look.
"The voices, they're gone!" Tim said. He was so happy. Tim looked around, shocked baffled by the white walls. Where was he? The door opened, and Bruce Wayne, with Dr. Leslie, J'hn, and Dr. Fate walked in. Tim hunched and back away quickly, his head pounding with pain.
Dr. Fate had done his best to erase the dark magic that had been flooding Tim's systems, and J'hn and done his best to repair Tim's consciousness. M'gan had helped too, but some damage couldn't be fixed by them. Tim had suffered hallucinations, audible and visual, and had understood that he was losing his ability to recognize reality, to control himself. But he was safe now. That bastard had left his body…how? Though Tim could think, he couldn't remember. He looked to Bruce.
"What did I do?" he asked. Bruce just walked over and sat on the bed and put an arm around Tim. Dr. Fate approached the bed as well.
Dr. Fate muttered a few words over Tim and stepped back.
"I cannot feel any dark magic, or confusion from him." Tim smiled and tried to get up. Dr. Leslie helped him.
"Take it slow Timmy, this kind of injury, the mental kind; it can come back sometimes, like a relapse. Be patient and take your time." Soon, after a physical examination, the doctor left.
Bruce surprised Tim with a hug. Tim just stood a little stiffly.
"Bruce, I'm fine now." Tim assured him. Bruce pulled away and nodded slowly.
"Tim, I was just scared that I'd lost someone again." Bruce said honestly. Bruce was surprised how true this statement was ands how good it felt to tell someone. Tim smiled and patted Bruce's arm.
"Bruce, none of us would really leave you; I mean Jason returned from the dead." Tim said.
"Damn right I did." Jason growled from the doorway. Silena, Alfred, Helena, Damian and Stephanie were there also. Tim walked right up to Stephanie and kissed her. He for once didn't feel the fingers of shadows grab at him as he walked.
"Gosh, at least tell us to leave first!" Helena exclaimed. She huffed and left slightly in anger. Tim smirked, but was panting slightly, as his body was still extremely weak.
"This reunion is somewhat lacking." Silena noted. Silence descended around the family as everyone fixed Bruce with a stare.
"I'm going to contact Dick right away. And... I'll… I'll ask him to come home. "Bruce said in a low voice. The other Batfamily members smiled softly.
"How did you guys find me?" Tim asked as he was eased, with Staphanie's help, back onto the bed.
"Well, Joker is still Joker. We followed that trail and found you in an abandoned funhouse. We stopped Joker and then we saved you." Stephanie said. Tim knew she was leaving out details, but didn't push. He Looked around.
"Why is Dick not here?" Tim asked. The group looked around at each other.
"Richard and I had a disagreement." Bruce supplied. Tim scoffed.
"Seems so. I hope he gets here soon, I'm exhausted." Tim blinked wearily. The landline rang once, but before Alfred could pick it up, the ringing stopped. A second later, Helena ran up with a phone.
"It's on speaker." She said.
"Thank you Helena." Bruce said. "Hello?"
"Bruce, it's Dinah. Artemis just came in with something about Nightwing. We need you here right away."
"Alright, I'll be there is a second." Bruce gave Tim a little hug and then left the room.
"I'll stay with Tim." Stephanie announced. Everyone else nodded and left as well, except for Selina.
"I'll stay too, eh bird-bait?" Selina teased Tim. The young man smiled and was soon asleep. Though he didn't twitch, or cry out, he was plagued with nightmares, ad would be for years to come of the acts he had committed as Joker.
Mount Justice -11:45pm
The group finished watching Artemis's message.
"The message must have sent when it was ended." Batman said. J'hn and M'gan felt a heavy wave of guilt and worry from Batman.
"He said a compromised situation." Robin noted.
"Punk let someone get his I.D." Red Hood growled.
"Who the hell is Tarantula?" Wally muttered, with a few grumbles of agreement answering him.
"He isn't perfect." Cassie said sheepishly. The glares she got for her innocent comment made her visibly flinch. She hadn't been around for the argument, and didn't even know it had happened; same with Gar, Jamie, L'gann and Bart.
"We need to get a team there stat. "Clark announced. Everyone turned to Batman.
"Well, Batman?" Oracle, who was always on screen from her hideout in Gotham demanded. She was pissed at Bruce and Dick, but no one had been able to talk to Dick for over a week.
Why are you all mad at me? Didn't Dick say some nasty things too? Do you think I don't feel guilty? Do you think I don't regret what I did? Don't you guys realize I want him to come home; I want to hold him in my arms and beg forgiveness! DON'T ANY OF YOU REALIZE THIS HURTS ME TOO? I'm not perfect; he helps me all the time, now he won't talk to me! Damn you all, I just want to say I'm sorry.
Bruce's thoughts were so raw and unexpected that the Martians audibly gasped. A few glances turned towards them. Batman just gave a curt nod.
"We should get team there stat. I feel it is too late to stop whatever The Light planned, but maybe we can lessen the damage." Superman said, knowing Bruce wouldn't say anything yet. It had taken years, but Clark could tell now when Bruce need to compose himself as Batman, and this was one of those times.
After the team left, some of the older Leaguers gathered together.
"Bruce, what do we do?" Diana asked. Murmurs of others from Diana's side could be heard through the phone.
"We find Richard first."
Dah! Dah! duuuum!
[1] – Are there listed birthdays for Bart and the other YJ heroes?
Well, Please review!
Love Burning Bright
