Watchtower

August 19th, 09:33 AM

Tigress entered the room to find Nightwing dozing in a chair beside Robin's bed. Guilt twisted through Tigress, as she once more relived that moment when everything she had felt shattered. All the anger had melted as she realized the irrationality of it, and was replaced by a sort of pathetic gratitude to Robin for preventing her from accomplishing what she'd set out to do.

Nightwing was guilt-wracked enough, without her piling on more. That much was evidenced by his refusal to even fight her. Even now, his sleep seemed troubled, though Tigress had entered quietly enough not to wake him, he still shifted and turned his head, whispering something she couldn't hear.

Tigress moved to lean on the wall, feeling suddenly weak. It had taken this long to convince herself to even come and see Robin. Covered in blankets as he was, the horrible side wound she had inflicted was hidden, and it was just as well. Even as it was, bitter tears came to her eyes, as they had the moment she was set free. Her eyes turned to Nightwing, who she had tried to kill such a short time ago. And what had he done right after she stabbed his brother?. He had come to her side, held her, comforted her.

She was not accustomed to accepting help, or to needing it. But she had then and, as confirmation of the leader inside him, Nightwing had provided that without hesitation or judgment.

As though suddenly aware of her eyes on him, Nightwing woke with a jerk. He blinked at her, then averted his gaze. The pain in his eyes was equal to hers, she knew. She had loved Wally as only a soul mate can love its other half. But she was not the only one. Wally had been Nightwing's best friend, and sometimes his only supporter. They had shared perhaps a stronger and more mysterious bond than even the bats shared with one another. Their affection and trust had run deep since before Tigress had ever even met either of them.

It had been Kaldur, Nightwing and Kid Flash who started this... this still unnamed thing they so often called simply "the team", because no single or string of words had ever managed to encompass exactly what their feelings for it were. It was nothing like the Justice League, yet it was somehow a part of that greater whole. It was the same mission, the same motivations, the same methods. And yet it was separate, wholly apart, its own entity, with its own life somehow.

"It wasn't your fault," Nightwing said quietly, glancing briefly at the unconscious Robin.

"Nor yours,"

Nightwing looked up sharply, and saw clearly that Tigress did not mean Robin. She was speaking of Wally, whom they had both loved deeply in their own, very different ways. One as a mate, the other as a brother and comrade.

He looked away again, shifting uncomfortably, perhaps because of the leg wound, but more likely because of the compassionate look in Tigress' eyes. Nightwing was only too ready to put the entire weight of the world on his shoulders, as any leader would. Years ago, Tigress now recalled, during a training exercise gone wrong, he had proven that, though he loved his team and would die for them, he was also willing to let them all die, to sacrifice every one of them for the mission. That was the true proof of his leadership qualities. He would die for them, kill for them, just as they all would for each other. But he could also accept that he must sacrifice them in order to do that which they had pledged their lives to do. To save the world.

"How do you think he knew?," Tigress touched the bandage on her neck briefly.

"I'm more surprised that I didn't see it," Nightwing replied "we've seen those slugs before. They attach themselves to someone, feeding off their grief, replacing it with anger. Often misdirected,"

"As it was in this case," Tigress stated firmly.

Nightwing didn't look as though he agreed, but did not attempt to argue with her. For him, there seemed no right answer. He did not agree, but it did not seem right to fight her. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

"They sit on your throat," Nightwing said "and there's a visible lump. All you have to do is cut it. Any idea where you got it?,"

"Not really. As you might imagine, the last two months have been a bit of a blur for me. I don't even know where I've been most of the time,"

"What will you do now?," Nightwing asked hollowly.

"I think it's time I came home," Tigress said "this is where I belong. And where you belong too,"

"I...," Nightwing trailed off, shaking his head, unable to finish the thought.

Looking at him, it seemed to Tigress that he was broken, shattered, just waiting for a harsh wind to blow him away, feeling it would be a relief when that happened. He was not the person she remembered, so strong and confident, ready for anything. He was gaunt and his eyes were haunted. If the time undercover had been hard for her and Kaldur, it had proven to be Hell for Nightwing. He had suffered for them, as well as suffering the accusations and fury of his team. Going on when, time after time, his plan which had seemed so simple prepared to shake itself apart. And then for it all to be finally over, only to have the final crushing blow dealt with the death of Kid Flash...

"Do you think it's fair to Kaldur?," Tigress asked suddenly "putting him in this position?. Not long ago, they all thought he was the enemy. Megan fried his brain thinking he'd killed me. Sure they know he was undercover, now. But can you imagine what it's done to them?,"

"They do what they have to. Adapting to change is what they do best," Nightwing told her.

"What about Kaldur?. Don't you think he's tired too?. He never wanted to be leader, but he agreed to it, until you were ready. If you've proven anything in the last two years, it's that you are ready,"

"I nearly destroyed this team. I was arrogant and overconfident," Nightwing said "I was wrong, and I betrayed you all in lying and asking more of you than I ever should have. I can't stay,"

He rose and limped towards the doorway. Kaldur appeared and blocked the way before he got there.

"And what of Robin?," he'd obviously heard at least part of the conversation "it is difficult for him. In your absence, the others see you in him, and expect more of him than he can possibly give,"

"He's proven how much he can give," Nightwing whispered, moving to brush past Kaldur.

A soft voice, one achingly familiar to him, stopped Nightwing in his tracks.

"Please stay," Robin pleaded "I'm tired, brother,"

Nightwing turned, and their eyes met, eyes so alike, yet so very different. Within both was the darkness of the night, the terrible burden of being creatures born of tragedy and raised by Batman. Unlike one another in personality, yet bound not by blood, but by something still stronger. Something more than training, more than shared experience. The very fabric of their being forged in flame to make them the children of Batman, standing alone among millions, for they were something different, not in species or kind, but within their spirits themselves.

Nightwing bent his head in assent.

For his brother, he would stay.

Watchtower

August 22nd, 11:50 AM

"I've got just one question," Superboy said.

The senior members of the team, plus Robin, were gathered around in one of the seating areas, strewn about on couches and chairs in various positions of repose. Robin was half lying down on his side in one chair, to accommodate his healing side. Nightwing was leaning back in another chair, one leg on a footstool. The others had chosen various poses of comfort.

"About what?," Nightwing asked nonchalantly, though his eyes suggested he knew the question, as well as the answer to it.

"How did you know Nightwing and Tigress were fighting?,"

The question, fired at Robin, seemed to have gone over his head, for he did not answer at first. He sat looking deeply contemplative, and at first seemed disinclined to answer. Superboy looked vaguely irritated, but didn't ask again.

At long last, Robin answered.

"Kaldur, when you said that the vision was from Nightwing, you were wrong," Robin said quietly, as if ashamed to have to contradict such a respected member of the team.

Kaldur took the information quietly, but his eyes were suddenly alive with interest.

"Nightwing didn't want my help," he continued, his voice growing stronger as he went on "and Tigress certainly didn't want me to interfere,"

"True, but how could you know that?," Tigress wanted to know.

"Because the one who sent the visions knew, and told me. About the fight, about what was going on in both your heads. It was... too much, too fast... at first,"

"Who was it?," Superboy pressed again.

Robin seemed to withdraw into himself, as if the information was somehow sacred and should remain secret. As if, by giving voice to it, he would destroy it and it would be as though nothing had ever happened. As if it would turn back time to that moment when everything had changed, so that Robin would never know of the fight, and Nightwing would not be spared.

"The same one who tried to get my attention and couldn't," Nightwing responded, subtly giving Robin more time to collect himself.

Superboy turned impatient eyes on Nightwing, who gazed back steadily but gave nothing further. The mysterious nature of the bats infuriated Superboy, their obsession with secrets had nearly killed Megan, not to mention put countless others in jeopardy.

Once, Nightwing would have flinched away from Superboy's look. But for the sake of Robin, for Kaldur and Tigress and, most of all, Wally, he did not now. He gazed steadily at his old friend and occasional adversary, giving nothing away in his expression, and not averting his eyes. At last, it was Superboy who looked away.

Superboy was inwardly glad that he could not hold Nightwing's gaze. It meant the leader he had come to begrudgingly respect was beginning to come back. It would take time, and there would always be more upheaval around the corner. But with Nightwing at the helm, the team could handle anything.

"So who was it?," Tigress asked, returning focus to Robin, who appeared to have gathered himself.

"The one who cared most for you both, and could not bear to see you destroy one another," he replied finally, quietly "the one who loved you more than anything in the world. Wally West,"

Robin could not explain the how to them, and was greatly relieved when none of them asked, each having their own private belief. It might be a ghost, perhaps an echo, or maybe Wally had not been destroyed, but rather become a kind of energy. In any case, it was clear he was still with them, doing everything he could for the team in its time of need.

So few could have saved them, Robin reflected. So few had the right to interfere with what Nightwing and Tigress did. Who else besides Wally could have stood between them?. Who else could grant them both redemption?. Who else had the right?.

A/N: The author would now like to point out that the slug creatures were a work of their imagination and have no basis in reality, even the comic book kind.

Additionally the author would like to admit that part 1 of Re is actually the combination of three unrelated stories and wasn't written with a part 2 in mind. That didn't stop the next five parts of the story from being written.

The author would also like to thank all those that took the time to read the story (and those who were excited enough to write reviews as well) and sincerely hopes you had as much fun reading as the author had writing the story. Thank you kindly and goodnight, everybody.