For The First Time

by McKnight 2.0

After an eight year relationship, Richard/ Nightwing broke up with Starfire, saying he was no longer in love with her. Unable to handle being on the same planet as him, Starfire fled to Tameran. Five years later she returns to Earth and soon runs into her love and ex-boyfriend, which causes a chain of events to unfold that could lead them back together.

12. Hope

Chapter Twelve - Hope

Tuesday, July 24th 10:00 PM - Deep Space

Starfire's POV

The warm water of my bathroom shower runs down my back as I sit in the floor of said shower, my knees up to my chest and my face buried in my hands. The water of the shower mixes with the raining tears from my eyes as they drip off of me, splashing insignificantly to the floor.

Every sob feels like a spear through my chest, every memory of him, a dagger through my heart. I wish he was here. I wish he would wrap his arms around me and tell me everything was going to be okay. I would settle for one more kiss, one more touch, one more breathless assurance that he would be waiting for me at X'hal's gate. Just hearing him say that he loved me once more would give me the strength to do this, to live on, but I know one more is to much to ask for.

"Why did you leave me? Why did you go? Could you not see, could you not feel that I was alive? That I needed you? That I still need you?" I pause allowing myself a few rough sobs. "I love you so much. You shall never truly know how much you mean to me and I cannot even begin to express it."

More sobs come, my entire body shaking with each one. In a last, desperate resort, I bow my head and pray. "X'hal please, if you can hear me, I do not ask for much, but please, return Richard to me. He is so much more than just my chosen. When I first came to this planet it was he who took care of me, it was he who became my best friend, he who comforted me when the mares of night came, he who I fell so deeply in love with. He is everything to me, absolutely everything."

"I know you must be busy and have many more things to worry about than a lost love of a single Tameranian, but... if you can just give him back, even for only a moment, so that I may tell him good-bye and that I love him, then that would be acceptable. Just give me one more chance, one more moment with him, so that I know he is the okay," I beg, hoping, praying that my pleas are not falling on deaf ears, and that somewhere, X'hal or any other spiritual entity is listening and will give me the only thing that I truly desire, Richard, if only for a moment.

Tuesday, July 24th 10:00 PM - Deep Space

Wally's POV

You know, it's odd how things work out. One second the world is spinning and everything is okay, but then the next second comes, the world stops, your best friend, a man who you'd give your life for without hesitation, is gone, taken away from you by a fiery explosion, leaving you in tears.

I know, men aren't supposed to cry, aren't supposed to show how they feel, especially not superheroes. No, we're supposed to be the very definition of strength, emotional and physical, but I don't expect anyone to understand, anyone to know what I'm going through. I've known the guy since I was eleven. We met not long after the Justice league formed and clicked instantly.

We used to piss speedy off, always pulling pranks on him and all. It was just us three back then, me, him, and Roy. Uncle Barry called us the three musketeers and it actually felt like that. We did everything together. Though Dick was the youngest of us, he obviously took the leadership roll. It's just who he was, a born leader, able to think under pressure and always put the team first.

Putting the team first actually resulted in him friend zoning the love of his life for an entire two years. I used to tease him so much about him and Starfire, and of course at first he would dismiss it and say they were only friends, but I knew, everyone knew. Just by the look in their eyes when they traded glances, you could tell they were meant for each other.

I always found it hilarious how he would deny he had a crush on her, but Starfire was so upfront about her feelings for him. When we would hang out together, you know, go to the mall or something, she would actually growl at any girl who tried to talk to him and I don't mean quietly.

They changed so much since then. I mean, after Tokyo they became inseparable, always together, always holding hands, always touching. I swear, we called him Romeo for a year straight. He frowned, but I think he really liked it. Then there was that New Years' party where Roy got a little to touchy-feely with Starfire when they were dancing and Nightwing went off, ended up kicking Roy's ass. I haven't seen a lot of Roy in the last five years or so, but that's a story for another day I suppose.

Years later, here we are. Starfire's pregnant with Dick's kid, just like I always knew she would one day be. The only problem is that Dick isn't here anymore. This isn't how things are supposed to be, this isn't how life was supposed to go. The saying 'everything happens for a reason' is total bullshit. There's no reason for this, none at all. He didn't deserve to die and if it's true that this is all apart of some grand design by a God who is watching over us, then I don't want anything to do with that God. He took my best friend from me, so he can go fuck himself.

Am I angry? Damn right I'm angry. Just another stage of loss.

I feel Jinx's arms wrap around me and feel her head rest on my shoulder. "Baby, come to bed," she pleas

I turn slightly from where I sit on the foot of our bed, so that I can see her eyes. "Nah, I just need to think a little more."

She gives me a sympathetic look and runs one of her hands through my hair. "You barely have said anything all day and I know you're hurting, I'm hurting too, but beating yourself up about this isn't going to bring him back. He went out a hero, he did exactly what he should have done."

I rocket to my feet and slice my hands through the air. "No, he should have called for back-up! I could have been there in five seconds, I could have saved him!"

She stands up and places one of her hands on each of my shoulders, her eyes now stern. "No, you couldn't have Wally. If you were there, he may not have set off the bomb, but you two wouldn't have had a chance. There were to many. You both would have died in vain."

My eyes begin to water, knowing everything she is saying is right. "He's my best friend. It... it hurts so much. He didn't do anything to deserve this, Starfire didn't deserve to have him ripped away from her, his kid didn't do anything to deserve not having father."

"I know, baby," she whispers into my ear as I lay my head on her shoulder. "I know."

Tuesday, July 24th 10:00 PM - Deep Space

Raven's POV

I levitate above me and my husband's bed, trying to calm my emotions, which are a little of everywhere at this point. Gar is in the common room with Vic, giving me some time to myself. He understands that I need it right now. Starfire, my best friend, has just suffered a terrible tragedy, while Dick, a man who I consider my brother, just died in an unthinkable way, leaving everyone in shambles.

Though things look incredibly bleak right now, hope isn't lost. Not yet. Not completely. Vic is right, there is a very slim chance to save him, but it won't be easy. We can't just send anyone after him. Whoever goes is going to have to have a strong emotional connection with him, which limits are options greatly. Myself and Starfire are instantly ruled out. She's pregnant and therefore would be risking not only her life, but the life of her child and I can't go because if Trigon got his hands on me, then things would not be good to say the least.

We're really only left with a few options. Wally, of course being his best friend, is the first person that comes to my mind, but Bruce, Babs, and Tim could also be capable candidates, but getting someone there is relatively easy compared to what comes next. It would be impossible to know what we're looking for before heading in. Though hell, as it's known on Earth, can be accessed through the physical world, it's a spiritual place, just like Heaven or the realm of X'hal are, meaning that laws of the physical world don't apply any longer. Literally anything could happen.

The only people who even know of this plan are Vic, Gar, Bruce, and myself. We decided it would be best to keep things quite until we arrived at the tower and discussed this with everyone. I'm going to inform Starfire about it tomorrow. She deserves to know. Besides, I don't think it would be a good idea to hit her with in a room full of crowded people. Her emotions are to unpredictable right now.

I'm not sure how she is going to react to it, but time will tell. I fear that I'm going to get her hopes and if the plan fails, it will be like losing him all over again. Starfire has the thickest skin of anyone I have ever met, but I don't think even she could take losing him twice in a row. She's reaching her breaking point as it is and I don't think she can take much more... I know I can't.

To be honest, when I first met Robin, I may have had the slightest of crushes on him, but I knew he was Starfire's from the moment she kissed him. It was hard to not like him, he was the only one I could really talk to for my first year in the tower, and then he risks his life by journeying into the depths of hell for the lone purpose of saving me, so yeah he was kind of hot to me at the time, but as time passed, I saw him as more of a brother, especially when Gar started to mature, which took it's time, but it was obviously worth the wait.

I guess my point is that losing him is like losing family. We were so close for so many years and after Starfire returned, we were really starting to build our bond again, but all that got flushed down the proverbial toilet in the blink of an eye.

...I miss him. I miss that cocky smirk, the way he takes an hour to do his hair, how dedicated he is, his loyalty to his friends, and the fact that he was willing to risk his life, give everything up, for his star. He was one of the greatest people I have had the pleasure of knowing, so yeah I'm going to cry, I'm going mourn, I'm going to reflect, and once again, I'm going to miss him.

Tears begin to fall from my eyes and I lose my concentration, falling onto the bed and burying my face in a pillow, no longer caring about being strong. Sometimes allowing yourself to be weak, if only for a moment, is a true sign of inner strength.

Tuesday, 24th 1:00 PM - Deep Space

Bruce' POV

I sit in the cockpit of the Bat Plane, looking down at a picture of Dick, Tim, Damian, Helina, Selina, Alfred, and I, mainly focusing my attention on my oldest son. Regret is the main thing that I'm feeling at this point. I just feel as if I could have been so much more of a father to him, could have treated him so much better, could have just been so much more, but now it's to late.

I never even told him I loved him, not once. Did he even know? Did he know that he was pride? My joy? I adopted him when he was nine and at first, he was just a kid living in my house that I felt empathy for, but then are relationship slowly evolved. I became his mentor and that's all we were for so many years, not to say that I didn't grow to care about him during that time. When he was eighteen, he made the move to Nightwing and became my equal and then when Starfire left and he went into depression, desperately needing a father, something I had never really been, I finally woke up and realized that he needed me, that I needed him.

He was no longer my adopted ward. No, he became my son, regardless of blood, regardless of last names. He was and forever will my first born child and I let him down. I made so many mistakes in my life, but not telling him that I loved him every time we spoke is one that I will never be able to get over, never be able to overcome or put behind me.

I still have a faint bit of hope that this plan of his friends will work and if it does, if they can bring him back, I'll make sure that I tell what I should have told him a long time ago.

"I love you, my son."

Wednesday, July 25th 6:00 PM - Deep Space

3rd Person POV

Raven stood in front of Starfire's door, trying to figure out a way to convince her to let her in. Thanks to running the thrusters at full power for the entire journey back, they would be arriving on Earth tomorrow, which meant one thing. It was time to talk with Starfire about her and Vic's plan to send someone to hell after an essence of Richard's spirit. Raven being the only one Starfire might possibly let in, was the obvious answer to who would inform her of it, but getting an audience with the brokenhearted alien was a task easier said than done.

She still had yet to emerge from her room, all meals having to be left at her door. Sometimes they would vanish inside, other times they would just sit there, going untouched. Raven knew what she was going through, she was having a hard time not feeling every bit of it. Wally was inconsolable at this point, Tim could blow up at any second, everyone was hurting, but Starfire? What Starfire was going through just couldn't be described with any type of words.

To much had happened to her to quickly. The horror that Karras inflicted on her, followed by loosing the love of her life, it was a life times worth of pain. For anyone losing your mate is beyond tragic, but for a Tameranian, it was like loosing a limb. He was apart of her, engrained into her very soul. He was her smile, the brightness in her eyes, the reason she loved waking up in the morning. Since the reunion, Starfire had been happier than Raven could ever remember, but to have that ripped away from her so swiftly, so thoroughly, it was a fate worse than death.

Raven hesitantly knocked on the door before awaiting a response. She was able to hear a few sniffles, signaling Starfire was still crying, which was really no surprise. "Go away please. I am not hungry, I do not wish to engage in conversation, and I do not require assistance of any kind," came Starfire's uneven voice from behind to door.

Raven sighed. "Starfire, it's me. I know you don't want to see anyone right now, but we have something that needs to be discussed before we get back to the tower."

"There is nothing that requires my input. Now please, I wish to be left alone until we arrive on Earth," she returned in almost a pleading tone. She knew she would eventually have to face the world, but she had decided that she was going to put that off as long as possible. She didn't want to hear people ask her how she was doing or tell her it was going to be okay. She had just lost a man she loved more than a human could ever even begin to comprehend, only to find out that she was pregnant with his child shortly there after, a child that would never get to meet their dad, never get to share a birthday or a Christmas with him, never get to be tucked in and read a bed time story by him at night, while she watched with a smile from the doorway. How did they think she was doing?

"Either you let me in or I phase through the door. Either way, we're having a conversation," she retorted definitely.

There was a momentary pause before Raven heard the door unlock, followed by the sound of Starfire retreating back to her bed. Raven opened the door and walked inside, and what she found didn't surprise her, but it hurt her no less. Starfire was a wreck and that was putting it nicely. Her hair looked like it had been hit by a hurricane and her eyes were extremely bloodshot, no doubt from the constant crying and lack of sleep. Her skin was never pale, but it definitely had lost some of it's shine and her normally bright features were completely gone, replaced by an expression that could only be described as endless, unrelenting depression.

Raven, realizing she was starring, shook her head before offering her a sad smile and walking over to the bed to sit beside her, gently placing her hand over Starfire's. "I would ask how you were doing, but that would be a pointless question, wouldn't it?"

Starfire wiped her eyes, using the edge of one of her blankets before focusing on Raven. "Yes, it would. Now please, what do you require of me?"

It did come out as rude, but Raven understood what she was going through, so she made no comment on it. "I need to talk to you about something, but you have to promise that you won't overreact to whatever I say." Raven had decided she was going to be straight up with her, that way she could assure that Starfire wouldn't get her hopes up to high."

Starfire raised one of her small eyebrows. "What are you speaking of?"

Raven glanced away briefly pondering how to begin before turning her eyes back to her friend. "A few days ago, me and Vic were talking and we agree... There may be a way to save Dick."

Starfire's eyes suddenly became as wide as saucers as she tried to comprehend the words Raven just said, even playing them over and over again in her mind, just to make sure she heard them correctly. Once she made sure she indeed had, a small flicker of joy came to life within her, which quickly burst into a blazing fire that spread rapidly through her body. "How?!," she shouted desperately, her hands now squeezing all the blood out of Raven's shoulders.

Raven carefully removed Starfire's shaking hands before her shoulders were crushed. "Relax, I said to not overreact."

Starfire took a deep breath, but her eyes remained impossibly wide and her entire body was still shaking. "Please Raven, I must know this plan. If there is a way to save my chosen, then I am willing to go to any lengths to accomplish this," Starfire spoke quickly, Raven having to replay it in her head a couple of times to actually understand her.

"Don't get your hopes up," she eased. "The odds of this working are very low, but it's worth a shot. You remember when Robin went to hell to save me, right?"

"Yes, quite clearly. I..." Starfire paused, realization washing over. "We are going to hell?... Richard is in hell?!," she blurted. "No, it cannot be." Starfire refused to believe it. He was supposed to be waiting for her at X'hal's gates, not burning in some pit of fire.

Raven raised her hands to calm Starfire. "Yes, a part of his spiritual self is there, but so is everybody's. We all have a dark side, anger, fears, regrets, inner demons." She motioned to herself. "Some of us are demons and we don't have a choice, but to end up there when it's all said and done. Parts of him could very well be in heaven or at X'hal's gate, but there is some bit of him in hell and all I need is apart of him to bring him back."

"Then I shall go retrieve him, and you shall bring him back, and we shall have our child, and get married, and be a happy family," Starfire spoke with new-found hope, sounding very rational to her own self, but exhibited what Raven would describe as child like enthusiasm to down right naivety.

"Star, it's not that easy and you nor I can go," Raven began.

"Yes Raven, I must!," Starfire insisted in a teary-eyed yell. "It is because of me he risked his life, that he is gone. I have to do the same for him, I have to save him. I need him Raven, just as I need water, sun light, or food. If there is truly a way, then I have to try, I will give up anything to have him back, anything. He is my world and no one can stop me from going!"

Raven sighed and looked down at her stomach, finding Starfire instinctively rubbing a hand over it. "No, we can't stop you, but we shouldn't have to. Whoever goes has no guarantee that they'll come back and you have more than just yourself to worry about."

Starfire glanced down at her stomach and bit down on her bottom lip, knowing she was right as usual. Raven was probably the only one on the ship who was even thinking anywhere near rationally at this point. "But if it is not me to go, then who shall? Who is going to bring him back to me?"

"We're going to discuss all of that as a group when we get back to the tower. Whoever it is has to have a strong emotional connection with him. The more his spirit resists us, the harder hell itself will make it on whoever goes after him. We're really only down to four candidates, Bruce, Babs, Tim and Wally. They're the only ones who can do this, since both you and I are ruled out."

Starfire thought over the options for a moment. You could never go wrong with Batman, because after all, he's Batman, which was an official synonym for badass. Babs was great, but she wasn't to high on him being saved by another woman. She had seen to many movies where one protagonist saved the other from certain death and a kiss was shared at the end. That wasn't happening. Tim didn't seem to stable the last time she saw him and Richard always told her that losing your cool in battle was the quickest way to die. The last thing anyone needed was another casualty. Wally was a safe choice. He would do anything for Richard just as she would.

Starfire nodded, a slight smile crossing her face. For the first time in days, she felt a spark of hope inside of her, nothing more than a faint light in the distance, but it was something, something to keep her going just a little longer. Hope was all she had.

Thursday, July 26th 10:00 AM - Solar System

Cyborg stood at the ship's controls, watching from the thick windows as Pluto passed by. They were finally in their own star system and would be entering Earth's atmosphere in around two hours. He was glad to be back, but it just felt wrong returning without Nightwing, his friend and leader for years now.

At the thought of him, Vic's fist slightly clenched at his side. Damn, he missed him, everyone did. Some were just more open about their emotions than others. Wally, Gar, and Starfire didn't give a damn about crying in front of anyone and everyone, but the rest of the group was a little more reclusive about when they showed emotion, preferring to be alone.

Cyborg seemed to be handling the loss of his friend rather well, but that was just his exterior. On the inside, he was shambles, just as he knew everyone was. He really felt bad for Starfire in particular. Although no one outside of Raven knew what happened to her on Tameran, that didn't matter. She had just lost a man that she had been in love since she was fifteen. He once thought it was just puppy love between them, but the truth was, they were soul mates, destined to be together since birth.

He was so happy when they got back together. Everyone was really. Starfire smiled a little brighter than normal and she had that extra bounce in her step and Richard seemed to be back to his old self, hanging out with the guys, with Babs, going to events on occasion. Things were going so well, then this had to happen. It made no sense, not to him anyway. Why would life make everything so well, just to once again tear it apart? No, it certainly made no sense.

All he could do was hope. That's all anyone could do at this point.

His attention was grabbed when the hologram screen in front of him flashed on. "Incoming transmission from Earth," the feminine robotic voice informed.

Cyborg raised an eyebrow, wondering who it could be, but didn't waste any time thinking it over. "Accept transmission."

The next thing he knew, Bee's face appeared on the screen, an army of heroes and former heroes behind her, everyone from the entire Justice League, to ex-heroes such as Argent, Hotspot, Pantha, Tempest, and even an ex-villain like Cheshire, who happened to be the sister of Artemis and the mother of Roy Harper's child, so she was fairly familiar with the team.

It wouldn't even be difficult to believe that somewhere is a dark warehouse that Deathstroke himself was watching via spy cam, after all, like Batman, Deathstroke knew everything and he really couldn't be classified as a villain. Criminal? Absolutely. Villain? Depends on perception.

"Baby, you're okay!," Bee exclaimed breathlessly, earning odd looks from some of the people behind her, but she couldn't care any less. The moment she found out that not only had Starfire been captured, but Cyborg along with a small force of Titans, a few retired heroes, and three other Justice League members went after her, she had been going crazy with worry for the man she loved and her friends.

Though she had only been aware of the mission for a couple of days, she managed to gather up a large force of ex-Titans, which curiously didn't include her husband, and get to the Watch Tower via the Zeta tubes at Titans east's tower, her plan being to attempt to contact them and if that didn't work she was coming out of retirement to unleash hell of Tameran like it had never been unleashed before.

Cyborg rubbed the back of his head as he examined the scene in front of him. Normally he would have smiled at her for openly displaying her affection, but he just didn't have it in him, not now anyway. He knew he had some news to deliver that would hurt everyone in that room, if only a little. "Yeah, I suppose. What's going on there behind you?," he motioned to all the people.

"We were coming after y'all. I can't believe you ran off to another planet without me. Is everyone okay? Is Star safe?," Bee questioned rapidly. Vic looked down at the ground for a long moment, which made everyone looking on very uneasy. Something was clearly wrong. "...Vic?," she said hesitantly, her features sombering and her heart beginning to beat a little faster in her chest.

"...We retrieved Starfire, but... not everyone who went is coming back."

Bee's mouth fell slightly open and as did everyone behind her, mentors already worrying that their protégé had been the one to fall. "...Who?," Bee asked breathlessly.

"Nightwing... he's gone. He sacrificed himself in an explosion that took out most of their forces, Karras included," Cyborg replied, his voice being a far cry from it's usual booming loudness.

Their was a brief moment of silence from the other end, everyone trading wide-eyed glances, that demonstrated their shock and disbelief. Nightwing couldn't be gone. It just wasn't possible. He was untouchable, a God among men to the younger heroes. Zatanna was the one who broke the silence. "No... he can't be gone," she exclaimed, rushing up to Bee's side.

"Zee, I'm sorry, but... he's dead," he said, nearly chocking on the words. When Zatanna burst into tears, Dr. Fate stepped up to lead her off screen, the father inside of him coming out. Zatanna and Richard had been friends for over ten years, so her reaction was understandable.

Superman looked around the room, finding everyone completely speechless. Though Richard only associated with a few members of the Justice League outside of missions and the rest were just his father's friends to him, they all had known him since he was a child and had the highest level of respect for him, so it was clear that they were in pain to hear such news.

Swallowing hard, the new leader of the Justice League stepped up. "How's Bruce?"

"Don't really know, but I guess he is doing as well as can be expected after losing your first son," Cyborg responded before taking control of the situation. Superman may now be at the head of the Justice League, but this was still his mission to lead and the mission wasn't over. "I want everyone's attention. We will be arriving at the Titans west's tower in approximately two hours. From there we're going to commence a plan that will be a last ditch effort to save Nightwing. If anyone cares to show up, you'll be briefed on the full situation then."

He glanced at a teary-eyed Bee and gave the closest thing he could to a smile and mouthed 'I love you'. There would be time for his own personal issues later. He had a friend to save and a mission to lead. "Cyborg out."

Thursday, July 26th 12:00 PM - Titan's Tower

3rd person POV

The Justice League ship landed on the roof of the tower, followed shortly by the Bat Plane, each member of the prospective ships knowing what was coming when they unloaded. Cyborg had informed everyone shortly before landing that a briefing was scheduled to take place upon their arrival at the tower. Most assumed that it was just to summarize the mission and say a final good-bye to Nightwing, so they didn't question it. Cyborg wouldn't have given them any further details anyway.

When the heroes exited their ships, no one was overly surprised to find every single member of the Justice League standing their, along with many former Titans, lead by Bee. It was the ultimate sign of respect for their lost ally, friend, and leader.

No words were said for a moment, both sides just staring at each other, reading the pain in each other's eyes. Normally this would be the time when Flash would break the silence, but he just continued to walk past everyone, heading trough roof's door with any words further than a voice command to unlock the door. He didn't care for casual conversation at the moment. The only one who followed him was Jinx, who was beyond worried at this point.

That pretty much summed up the situation better than any words could. If Wally, the most social person in the history of human existence was quite, then it was obvious just how bad the situation actually was. Superman was the first to step forward, everyone else following. Mentors talked with their protégés, hearing their sides of the story, Superman talked with Batman, while the rest of the Bat Family huddled together behind him, not having much of anything to say to anyone, especially Oracle and Red Robin, who just appeared to be vacant, lost in their own thoughts. Bee and Cyborg shared a hug and a lingering kiss, which everyone was to busy engaging in their own conversations to notice.

Starfire stayed behind Raven, Beast Boy, and Wonder Woman, not wanting to be seen or talked to. Cyborg once again took control of the situation after he and Bee's lips parted. "Listen, the briefing will be taking place in the common room. If you want to know what's going on, then get down there. Socializing can wait, this mission isn't over yet," he said, his voice the very definition of commanding.

Though Cyborg wasn't one of the Justice League's main leaders, no one questioned his authority in this situation and all began to head down stairs, lead by none other than Batman, who was all business at this point, his one and only focus being to save his son.

When they entered the common room, where Flash and Jinx already sat, everyone settled in, most choosing to stand, being to upset to sit still. Cyborg and Raven walked to the center of the room and prepared to brief everyone, Cyborg speaking first. "Thank you all for coming. This mission resulted in the loss of a great man." Everyone's eyes sombered even further at this. "But all hope isn't lost yet."

He paused, studying everyone's eyes before continuing. "As most of you, if not all of you know, when Trigon took over the world, Robin went to hell for Raven, his goal being to save her, which he accomplished, not only resulting in Earth's salvation, but Raven being resurrected."

Flash stood up, now interested in the topic of conversation. "What are you getting at? You're saying there might be a way to save Dick? Because that's what it sounds like and if that's it then I'm all for it."

"Wait," Oracle interjected, speaking for the first time in days. "Dick's not in hell. I don't care how he went out. He was to good of a man, done to many good things to be in hell."

Raven raised her hand to calm the emotional girl. "Apart of all of us goes to hell when we die. Our spirit that goes on to Heaven," she glanced at Starfire, who was hiding behind Beast Boy and Wonder Woman. "Or X'hal's realm is pure, so therefore our impurities, fears, anger, regrets, have to end up somewhere. We don't have access to Heaven, but we can get to hell."

"Will someone answer my fucking question?!," Flash yelled, becoming angry with the dancing topics. "Can we save my best friend? Fuck the details of this shit! Just tell me!," he demanded, shrugging off Jinx's hand on his shoulder. It was very uncharacteristic of him to become angry, but it was understandable.

"There's a slim chance," Cyborg began. "But we have to find someone to go."

"I'll go," Superboy spoke up with no hesitation, fearing nothing hell had to offer, which would be quite naïve if he had even the slightest idea of the horror's that hell could produce.

"If he goes, so do I," Ms. Martian seconded.

"As will I," Aqualad added in, followed by every single member of the Titans. They had balls, Cyborg would give them that.

"It's not that simple," Raven silenced them. "Whoever goes has to have a strong emotional connection with him. His mind is going to warped and he won't be thinking clearly. The more his spirit resists you, the more hell itself will. Remember this is a spiritual place and therefore, the laws of reality don't apply there. Anything can happen and you're liable to see terrible, gruesome things... There's no guarantee whoever goes will ever come back, regardless if they find an essence of Dick's spirit or not." It wasn't the best sells pitch, but she wanted anyone who volunteered to know what they were getting into ahead of time.

Flash disappeared briefly, returning seconds later with an extra large bottle of sun block and an already open power bar. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this!," he exclaimed, the hope and determination feeling him putting him in a much better mood. At least enough to be positive. If he was going to do this, he was going to have to do it his way, which meant making stupid jokes that were really meant to keep himself calm more than to amuse anyone else.

"Baby, are you sure?," Jinx questioned, the concern clear in her voice. She couldn't handle losing Wally.

He turned to face her, removing his mask to reveal the most serious gleam in his eyes that she had ever seen out of him. "He's my best friend, Jinxy. If there is anything I can do to save him, then I have to try, I have to give it everything I have."

Red tornado stepped up, the heavy clanking of his metal feet getting everyone's attention. "If the goal is finding someone who is emotionally close to him, then would it not be logical to send his mate?," he questioned, looking from Starfire to Cyborg and Raven.

"No," Batman quickly interjected. "She is carrying my son's child, the last piece of him. That isn't worth risking."

Everyone who wasn't already aware of the fact that she was pregnant turned to Starfire with wide-eyes, making her grab onto both Wonder Woman's and Beast Boy's hands as she shied behind them.

"You're pregnant?!," Bee exclaimed, to which Starfire just gave a timid nod and smile in response.

Batman, ignoring the insignificant commotion, continued. "I'll be going as well."

"Me too," Oracle spoke up.

"And me," Red Robin added.

Batman turned to them and shook his head. "You two are both too emotionally unstable to come. You'll make mistakes and that won't help anyone." They glanced at each other before both were forced to reluctantly nod. You didn't argue with Batman and both knew if Bruce had anything to say about it, Dick would be brought back.

Flash zipped up to Batman's side, putting his arm around the older man's shoulders. "No offence Grandpa Bats, but you're not exactly ideal. I mean, don't you have like your AARP card or something?"

Batman shrugged his arm before turning to face him with the bat glare. "I may not be in my prime, but I assure you, I'm driven like I never have been before. Is a quick sparring match necessary to prove that to you?"

Flash just gave him a sheepish smile before wiping the nonexistent dust off Batman's chest. "No, I'll take your word for it." He then quickly turned to face everyone, holding up the bottle of sun block. "So, which one of you lucky lady wants to rub this all over my naked body?"

Everyone traded questioning glances, while Jinx frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Only Wally could joke when staring down the bottomless pit of fire and tortured souls know as hell... at least they hoped he was joking.

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Next chapter: Batman and Flash go to hell, shit gets real quickly, Starfire becomes a nervous wreck and her pregnancy hormones kick in making her completely irrational, and a very emotional scene. Remember to leave a review for a speedy update. I'm pretty busy all this coming week, so I could take my time.