The Bird that flew the coop
He does not yell, he raged against their mentor. The man that they had helped and then in turn taken them in. Taught them everything they needed to know to survive Gotham's worst, and Roy found he could no longer trust or follow him.
No, more like he could trust him to a point, but after what had happened to his sister...
"How could you?" Blue eyes darkened with pure unadulterated rage, "How could you sit there and not go after him? After what he's done to her?"
"Killing him will not solve-"
"It would have solved EVERYTHING!" He cannot take this. He...can't. All he could see is Artemis- as Shrikes- and her body nearly broken because of that manic. That vile, death-worshipping psychopath dressed as a hideous clown. "No one would have to go through that pain. No one! And you aren't.. you don't even want to kill him? No.. no, you're the great Batman that's never killed anyone. Maybe, if you did- just this one- no one would have to suffer or die!"
"Enough, Roy." Bruce could only watch the seventeen year old who then turned away from him. "Killing him won't make Artemis better or help anyone. It would just mean you would-"
"Shut up, Bruce." Roy was shaking. Artemis had been out for two weeks after that incident and Roy had searched high and low for that sick piece of shit, only to find that even in Arkham, he was in a level that even Roy couldn't access with all the skills he's been taught.
But then again, maybe that was by design on Bruce's part?
It hurt, to think this but ...
"I can't deal with this." He said suddenly and left the room.
Facing her was worse. Roy was thankful that the others were asleep right now, otherwise it would've been worse. He hated to leave them like this- he really did. After all, who would look after them all when he's gone?
But, he reasoned to himself that there was no choice in the matter. Bruce and his ridiciouls ideals were going to get them all killed. Someone had to be out there. Someone had to do this.
However, looking down at his fifteen year old sister-her birthday had recently been celebrated almost three days ago- he could feel his resolve melt just a little. She'd been crying, he could tell because of the slight puffiness around her eyes. She always did try to act tougher than she really was and this was no exception.
"Don't go, please." He really hated to hear that tone in her voice. That same tone he heard when she was delirous with fever and calling out for a sister he's never met. "What about the others? What about our friends? And.."
"I'll be nearby." He doesn't resist the urge to pull her close and hug her tightly, "I'm always going to look out for you, so you got to look out for the others. Don't think of this as me leaving. I'm not leaving you- any of you- just this house. Just..him."
"I'm alright, Roy. The Joker-"
"You could've died, Artemis." He pulled back and looked at her, "I don't want to see them in that position either. I don't want to see anyone in that position. If Bruce isn't going to make this city safer by really getting rid of those bastards, then I will."
Artemis worried her lopwer lip for a moment before she nods slowly, even though she didn't want him to go.
"Just stay right here, Artemis." She recalled the last time her sister had said that to her, "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
Her sister never came back.
She feared he wouldn't either even as he slipped away from her and picked up his things to leave the Wayne Manor.
Covering her mouth, she tried to stifle any sounds that would come out long after his car disappeared out of the gate. Behind her, two solemn men watched.
Both with very different feelings of regret.