A/N: Okay, okay. I know. I'M SORRY. I'm terrible, I know. UGH. I was supposed to post this chapter yesterday, but life got in the way and unfortunately I couldn't. BUT you're getting it now so you still got 2 chapters this week. I know. I'm a BIG FAT LIAR.
I'M A PHONY. A BIG FAT PHONY. (Family Guy reference)
On another note, you guys know that I'm in a band, right? Most of you do, but to those of you who didn't know: Hey! I'm in a band!
You guys should TOTALLY go on Facebook and 'like' our band page! If you go to the search bar on Facebook and type in 'The Resistance Rocks', you SHOULD find us. Ours has a black and white picture of a girl (me, haha) and 3 dudes. One of the dudes has a killer mustache.
If you do end up finding your way there and hitting that 'like' button, make sure to post on the page and let us know that you came from FanFiction! If you do, we'll send you a FREE copy of our EP "2015"!
Alrighty, now that my shameless plug is out of the way, on with chapter 11!
Disclaimer: COME ON, THEY KNOW I OWN NOTHING.
WARNING: Mostly T, some M. I warned you a while ago. You know the drill.
Chapter 11
Nightwing
No.
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.
All I could see was black. Raven had unleashed hell on the two fucks that were robbing the building we were in. Mar'i was clutching my leg, shaking slightly. I could feel her tiny starbolts burning the fabric in my uniform, but I didn't care. She couldn't control the unfamiliar fury that was bottled up inside her.
I knew this was a bad idea. I knew something bad was going to happen.
That fucker shot at my daughter. He tried to fucking kill her.
But he shot my wife instead.
My wife.
Starfire.
I looked around frantically, not being able to see a damn thing. Everything was black. I couldn't see her, couldn't feel her.
"Starfire!?" I yelled out into the nothingness.
No reply.
"Daddy?" Mar'i called.
I rested my hand on the top of her head.
"I'm here, sweetheart," I said.
Her grip on my leg tightened.
"Where's Mommy?" She asked.
I fought to control myself. My teeth clenched and a shaky sigh escaped my lips.
I had to be strong for her.
"I don't know, honey," I admitted.
There was a long pause before she spoke again.
"Is she dead?" She asked quietly.
My heart ripped in half at her words. I struggled to stay standing. I almost fell to my knees and broke down then and there.
My Starfire. She had survived so much. The beatings of the aliens that kidnapped her. Slade torturing her all those years ago. Giving birth to our daughter.
And now this.
I took a deep breath.
"No, sweetheart, of course not," I said. "Mommy will be fine."
I heard her sniffle and her shaky voice answered me.
"Promise?"
I wanted to hunt down the fucker who shot my wife. I wanted to make him pay for hurting her. I wanted to kill him for making my daughter cry.
So much rage. It consumed me, swallowed me whole. I couldn't control it much longer.
I needed to see Starfire.
"I promise," I vowed to Mar'i, running my fingers through her hair gently.
Then, the world came rushing back.
We were in Titans Tower, a place I hadn't been to in what seemed like forever. I recognized the infirmary instantly.
I saw Mar'i holding on to me, fear and sadness overwhelming her eyes.
I saw Raven, her eyes glowing white, chanting her famous words.
Then I saw her.
"Oh my God," I whispered.
She was lying on the bed in the center of the room, her eyes open and looking around frantically. She didn't look scared, more like she was looking for something.
She was covered in blood.
"Mommy," Mar'i breathed beside me.
Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the need to get my daughter out of the room. She didn't need to see this. I didn't want her to see Starfire like this.
"Raven," I choked out.
Raven stopped chanting and her eyes faded back to normal. She nodded and walked over to us, reaching out her hand for Mar'i to take.
"Come on, sweetie," she said.
Mar'i looked between Starfire, Raven, and I silently.
"Go ahead," I encouraged her, nudging her into Raven's arms.
"But..." She said.
"Hey," I said, kneeling down to her level. "I'll have Raven bring you back in as soon as Mommy's feeling better."
She looked up to Raven, who put on her best fake smile and nodded.
"Okay," she agreed.
I pulled her into a hug, not ever wanting to let her go.
"I love you," I said.
"I love you too, Daddy."
Tears came to my eyes as I watched Raven walk her out of the infirmary.
I took a deep, shaky breath and turned to Starfire.
She was soaked in blood. Her uniform, her arms, her face. Everything. She had a blank expression on her face. It fucking killed me to see her like this.
"Jesus, baby," I said, taking her hand in mine.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Raven has healed the wound. I am undamaged."
"Undamaged?" I scoffed. "Starfire, you're covered in blood. You almost died."
"But I did not," she countered.
I sighed.
"Starfire."
"I am fine, my love. Do not worry."
"Star, our daughter was shot at tonight. You had no choice but to take her place."
She opened her eyes to look at me.
"I know," she whispered.
I squeezed her hand.
"You shouldn't have had to take her place, Star. She shouldn't have been there with us."
"That is not true," she argued.
"Starfire..."
"She is ready," she said. "She is. She must be prepared for this."
"Prepared to see her mother get shot?" I asked, trying to be soft. "Star, no little girl should have to be prepared for that."
"She saw me take a bullet for her," she said. "I would do it again in a heartbeat. It does not matter her age. I would put myself in harms way for her even if she was 40."
"I know that," I said.
"She is not an ordinary little girl."
"I know that, too, baby, but she's still a little girl."
She sighed, sitting up on the bed.
"No, you don't," I said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You need to rest."
"I am fine," she said.
"I don't believe you," I whispered, kissing her hand.
"You do not have to worry about me, Richard," she murmured.
"Star, I almost lost you today," I said, holding back my tears. "I...we almost lost you. My biggest fear in this world is losing you. Every time we go on patrol, I have to worry about you getting hurt."
She looked at me, sadness coloring her eyes.
"I just don't know what I would have done if I would have lost you," I said.
"Oh, my love," she said, placing a hand on my cheek. "I am not going anywhere."
I kissed her then, a long and passionate kiss. I wanted to show her just how much she meant to me in that kiss. I wanted her to know that I'd do anything in this world to make sure she and our daughter were safe.
She was right, in the end I knew that. Our daughter was ready for this, and, as fucked up as it was, Starfire and I possibly getting hurt was part of the job. My wife was so incredibly brave for taking a bullet for our little girl. I wouldn't have expected anything less.
And I knew we would both continue to protect her for as long as we lived.
A/N: AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! Sorry I was late. I know. I'm terrible.
I hope you liked it! Let me know what you thought of it in a review!
Thanks for reading! Love you all!
Love,
Sierra
