AN: I'm back! And I'm finally free! Yes, I handed in that final thesis. Thank you to everyone for being so patient and supportive! :D

Time to take part in life again - like a normal person - which means writing obsessively long fanfiction – like a normal person of course.

And oh dear. This chapter is super-angsty. And believe me when I say a chapter is angsty, then a chapter is *angsty*.

WillowBlueBird: Schön, dass dir das Wiedersehen von Nightwing und Jason gefallen hat! Die beiden Brüder endlich wieder vereint – wenn auch leider nur für kurz. Wally und Slade sind in diesem Kapitel. Also mal sehen, ob sich deine Hoffnungen erfüllen! ;)

akashadowcat: Sorry, for leaving you on that cliffhanger. It's the evil author in me. But don't worry, that cliffhanger gets resolved today. You're welcome! Thank you for leaving such a nice comment. :D

23. Tigress

Tigress looked down at Nightwing. He stared up at her in terror. Rarely, had Tigress seen him so terrified. But Tigress knew that she couldn't trust anything coming from him even if it seemed genuine. After all he had deceived the League and the Team for more than a year. Nightwing would say anything to get out of this.

Tigress crouched in front of him and ripped off his clawed gloves. Looking at them made her feel sick. Those claws had killed Wally. And now they were coated in blood again. Tigress knew that this was someone else's. Nightwing had long washed his claws off Wally's blood. But knowing was different than feeling.

Tigress threw the gloves into the water. She breathed in relief once she had gotten rid of them.

Tigress steeled her features. She had to do this for Wally.

"I won't let you backstab me", Tigress said, "You showed your true colors."

"Artemis", Nightwing rasped out, "You make mistake."

"This is the best thing I've done in weeks."

Another helicopter flew off over their heads. The Light was evacuating.

Nightwing tensed at the sight: "The mountain about blow. Luthor have bomb."

"You're lying."

"I not."

"Why would you tell me this? You should be happy at your master blowing me up."

"I want you safe, Artemis. You my best friend."

Tigress felt rage flare up in her. She tightened her grip around the Court knife in her hand and stabbed it into his palm. Nightwing jolted in pain.

"Don't lie to me again. You don't get to pull the 'friend-card' with me – not after what you did."

Nightwing bit his lip: "You have right be angry, but you need listen to me: I not evil. I undercover in Light. Wally not dead. I pretend kill him. I need you leave this island for be safe."

Artemis – no Tigress – frowned. His story was outrageous… and convenient. It was the perfect story to keep Tigress off his back long enough to backstab her. It was like the vulnerable act that Nightwing had put on before he had murdered Wally in cold blood.

And Wally was dead. Tigress wouldn't let him play with her hopes. She had been there. She had seen it with her own eyes.

Nightwing's eyes glistened behind the goggles. He looked so genuine. Like her friend who always wanted the best for her, who understood her like no one else. But Tigress knew that this friend didn't exist.

Tigress needed to end this now, but she had a final question that she needed answered: "He was the best of us. How could you do this to him?"

"You right", Nightwing said, "He the best of us and I not know what he see in me. I not deserve him. But I never betray him. Wally alive."

Another flash of anger. Tigress twisted the knife in his palm. Nightwing groaned as black blood coated the blade.

"STOP LYING", she screamed.

Nightwing was about to open his mouth again, but Tigress smashed her fist into his face. She felt his nose crunch. It was a satisfying feeling but too short for her taste.

Tigress wanted more. He deserved to suffer more.

"What I need do for get you off this island, Artemis?", he said.

"There is nothing you can do. Only I can end this."

Nightwing's eyes widened, as if he had an idea: "I want avoid this before. But you have phone, Artemis? You need call him."

Artemis froze. The idea of calling Wally – hearing his voice - was tempting. A convenient solution to this nightmare. But this couldn't be right? Artemis had mourned for months. If one phone call could solve this, why hadn't it happened already?

What Nightwing was implying was unthinkable. If Wally was alive, that would mean that he had made them mourn for nothing – that he had made Artemis mourn for nothing. Wally had stood by while Artemis had lost herself in despair.

No. That wasn't her best friend. He wouldn't do that to her. Nightwing was lying. He was poking into Artemis' weaknesses and using them to manipulate her.

But what if Nightwing was right? What if she killed him and it turned out that he had been telling the truth? She would have killed her friend over one phone call never made.

Artemis pressed her hands to her head. Her thoughts were racing, and she felt herself go into stupor. She didn't know what to do anymore.

"Three things you can see, Artemis", Nightwing said.

Artemis soaked in a deep breath. She tried to focus on her surroundings again. Pull herself out of her despair.

"Sea, mountain, clouds", she felt short of breath – as if she had just run a marathon.

"Very good", Nightwing's voice was soft, "Three things you can hear."

"Waves, leaves, wind."

"Three things you can feel?"

"Sand-"

Artemis broke off. Why was he helping her? Was this a ruse?

"Two other things you can feel, Artemis", his voice became more insistent.

Artemis shook her head and continued. Whatever his motives for helping her were, it did help.

"Better?", Nightwing asked after he had led her through this multiple times.

"Yes", Artemis lowered her head in shame.

She had come here to kill him. Instead, she was the vulnerable one now.

Nightwing smiled. He looked like her friend.

"Artemis, you remember when you cheer me up after first fight with Wally?"

Artemis had no words left. So, she simply nodded.

"I remember you tell me that we need break everything up in small steps. That small steps more difficult for us than other people. And we need celebrate every small step because it big achievement for us", he tilted his head, "I remember lot. It help me lot when I feel o-ver-whel-med. It make me feel whelmed again."

"Whelmed is not a word", Artemis said.

It was instinct. Bickering with him. Teasing him.

"You know I not good with words, Artie", he smiled at her.

"I know."

Even after all this, he was still struggling with speaking. It was the only thing Artemis could be sure about when it came to him.

"This not you, Artemis. I know how many small steps you take for redeem yourself. Small steps for years. It very impressive. You my inspiration, Artemis."

Artemis scoffed: "I shouldn't be anyone's inspiration."

Not when she had thrown all her principles over-board after she had lost Wally. He had been her rock in many ways.

"But you are. And I believe in you. I believe you not throw away all your small steps because of me. And Wally not want you throw away your small steps, too."

"He's dead. He doesn't want anything anymore. Loving us got him killed."

Nightwing had killed Wally. But Artemis was to blame, too. If she hadn't broken up with Wally. If she had just worked a little bit more on their relationship and held on to this beautiful person that deserved to live.

Nightwing raised his injured hand. It trembled from exhaustion and pain. He put it onto Artemis'. Artemis froze at his touch. It was cold. Unwelcome – she told herself. But so comforting at the same time.

"Wally see good in both of us", Nightwing chuckled, "Even when we hate ourselves. And we hate ourselves lot."

Artemis stayed quiet. She couldn't deny it. Her first instinct after Wally's death had been to fall back into old patterns of self-loathing.

"We're poison", Artemis said.

"You not poison, Artemis", Nightwing looked sad, "You just have very bad day."

"Months of only bad days."

She could hear scuffling. Nightwing made an exhausted noise as he dragged himself towards Artemis. Artemis froze as Nightwing sank against her.

She had messed up. She expected the killing blow. But it never came.

"I miss you so much, Artie", he said.

"Stop manipulating me", Artemis' voice was full of sorrow instead of rage now.

"You have phone?"

"You're playing with me. And the worst is, I'm letting you."

"I not", Nightwing said, "I sorry for how much I hurt you, Artemis. You deserve know truth."

Artemis didn't know what to believe anymore. With trembling hands, she pulled out the satellite phone she had brought to this mission.

"Call number", Nightwing told her a string of numbers.

Artemis dialed on autopilot. She mechanically put the phone against her ear.

The other side picked up almost immediately: "Babe, is that you? I haven't heard from you in forever."

Artemis bit down on her lip. It felt like a Deja-vu. Wally had talked to her like this years ago when they had still been dating. It sounded like him. But it couldn't be him right? Artemis didn't want to believe it and at the same time she needed to believe it so desperately.

"I- It's me", Artemis' voice was shaking.

"Artemis?", Wally sounded like he couldn't believe it.

"Wally", Nightwing's tried to sit up, but he lacked the strength.

"You need come to island and get Artemis to safe. Not be see."

"Where are you?", Wally sounded alarmed, "What happened?"

"It… complicated", Nightwing said, "And we not have time."

"I'm coming", Wally sounded like he was hurrying.

"You are alive", Artemis' brain felt overloaded.

"Alive and well", Wally said, "We faked my death."

"So, Nightwing is not evil?", Artemis looked down at Nightwing whose weight was increasingly dropping against her side.

"No", Wally said, "He's still the same self-sacrificing idiot that we both love."

"I hear that, Wally", Nightwing said, "Not nice."

"How can I know it's really you? That this is not a trick?"

"Artie", Wally sounded like he was running, "Do you remember when we woke up during that mission in Bialya without memories? You believed your father set you up to kill me. Oh and you called me your ninja boyfriend."

Artemis froze. It had been a private moment between them. And Artemis doubted that Wally would tell his current boyfriend about that. It was unlikely that Nightwing had set any of this up. And how could he have? It was true. Wally was alive.

Wally was alive.

Artemis didn't know what to feel anymore. Relief? Happiness? Anger? She felt everything and nothing at once. She couldn't deal with any of this anymore.

"You need tell him where island is", Nightwing said.

Artemis told him the coordinates.

"I'm on my way", Wally said.

Nightwing tensed suddenly.

Artemis could hear a voice coming out of his earpiece: "Bomb set to blow."

With a last burst of energy, Nightwing threw himself against Artemis. They tumbled over the edge of a rock formation.

Artemis was pushed down into the water. The cold punched some of the breath out of her lungs. Something slammed into her, and Artemis lost consciousness.

Wally raced to the other side of the world as quickly as he could – crossing the water. He had never run so fast. Artemis knew. And Nightwing was with her. Wally didn't know what they had done to end up together on a remote island. It frightened him.

He had been terrified for Nightwing for weeks now. Every day, Wally might get a call from Bruce that Nightwing had been killed. Or even worse: Luthor could make Nightwing vanish if he found out. Wally would never find him again. He would never find out what had happened to him.

The possibility of this happening while Wally was blissfully unaware in college was horrific. It made Wally itch to get back into the game. But he knew that he would regret it. He had left the game for a reason. Still, it tore him apart to know that Nightwing was in the eye of the storm where any wrong step could lead to him getting torn apart.

Wally looked down at his wriest computer. It told him that he had almost reached the targeted coordinates. He could see the smoke coming out of the destroyed mountain from afar. The forest was burning.

And there was no sign of Nightwing and Artemis. Oh God. What if they were dead?

Nightwing was tough but even a Talon wouldn't survive the full force of an explosion. And Artemis… She was amazing but she was only human.

Wally raced around the island. Looking for any signs of two of the most important people in his life.

He halted when he noticed something floating in the water. Someone. Wally stopped. He vibrated his feet to stay on top of the water. Wally recognized Artemis' long blonde hair. He gripped her arm and pulled her out the water. Wally brought her to the edge of the beach where only a few burned rocks were scattered.

"Artemis?", Wally screamed.

She turned her head to the side, coughing up water.

"You are alive", Artemis sounded like she couldn't believe it.

"I am."

It felt like a relief. Not having to pretend anymore in front of her.

"Nightwing?", Artemis sounded panicked, "You need to get Nightwing."

"On it", Wally raced back onto the water.

He searched for Nightwing near the place where he had found Artemis. Wally spotted him in an alcove. His body was strewn over a rock. The rock was glistening with black blood. Wally hurried towards him and picked him up.

"Wally?", Nightwing mumbled.

He sounded barely conscious. His head sank forward against Wally's shoulder. It was the closest they had been in months.

"I'm here, Babe", Wally carried Nightwing to the beach.

He set him down carefully. His body felt as cold as a corpse.

"Oh God", Artemis had sat up.

She still looked shaken but mostly unharmed. Her gaze was directed at Nightwing.

Only now did Wally notice that half of Nightwing's face was burned off. Nightwing wheezed when pressure was put on his back. Large parts of Nightwing's suit were burned into his skin.

"What happened?", Wally felt panic rise in him.

"He shielded me from the explosion", Artemis looked down at Nightwing.

She told him the whole story. With each sentence, Artemis' tone was growing more neutral. She was slipping into mission-mode.

Wally listened in disbelief. He had known that Nightwing's undercover mission was dangerous, but this was far past dangerous. This was a suicide mission.

"We not have time", Nightwing spoke quietly, "They not can know you here."

"Are you serious?", Wally's fear gave rise to anger, "You both almost died. You're lucky to get out of here alive. And you are already talking about the mission?"

"You need leave with Artemis, Wally", Nightwing said, "And we need pretend that I kill Artemis, too."

Wally ran a hand through his hair. This was insane. All of this was insane.

"Are you on a suicide mission?", Wally asked.

Nightwing tensed.

"Wally", Artemis' voice was a warning.

"No", Wally said, "I've been going along with this for long enough. You are destroying yourself and I can't watch this."

"I do it for save people", Nightwing tried to sit up, but his arms broke down under him.

He whimpered as his burned back hit the ground.

"You know what this looks like to me? Like some elaborate self-punishment."

"Wally, please", Nightwing tried to sit up, only to break down again.

"You stop moving", Wally put a hand on Nightwing's shoulder to stop his weak attempts at getting up, "I did my best to always be understanding. And it wasn't easy, but I wanted to give you what you need even if it was difficult."

"I know that I difficult, Wally", frustration creeped into Nightwing's voice.

At least, he had stopped trying to get up. Wally couldn't watch his pained attempts anymore.

"You are making it difficult. Do you know how hard it is to love someone who hates themselves so much?"

"I not hate- Well, I do. But it not important", Nightwing said.

"Not important?", Wally tore at his hair, "I love you. I tried to love you enough for both of us, but I can't. I can't compensate for all that hate you have for yourself."

"I not know you feel like this", Nightwing looked ashamed, "I sorry. I mess up."

"And you are hating yourself again."

Nightwing glared at him: "You maybe not notice before, but I screw up. I poison to everyone around me."

"You aren't poison."

"Everyone hate me, and I not blame them because I hate myself most", Nightwing's voice was spiteful despite his growing weakness.

He could barely keep his eyes open.

"Joke's on me then for loving you", Wally couldn't help it.

It slipped out. Wally didn't want to fight with Nightwing. Not ever. Especially not like this. But Wally was stressed. They were all stressed. And so, things slipped out that Wally had been ignoring for a long time.

It was hard to constantly play the supportive boyfriend. And Wally knew he had signed up for that. Nightwing had hesitated in the beginning. Warned him about exactly this. And Wally had reassured him that things would be fine. But Wally couldn't keep building someone up who was so insistent on tearing himself down.

"I not know why you even bother", tears were running down Nightwing's cheeks.

And Wally felt terrible suddenly. Here he was, kicking Nightwing while he was down. Wally couldn't see Nightwing sad. He always felt a need to cheer him up with a joke or a hug. But Wally was too tired – too hurt - to show affection now.

It hadn't been the right time to say these things. But they had needed to be said.

"This mission isn't good for you", Wally said, "I'm bringing you home."

"Wally", Nightwing's voice was weak, "I not-"

He broke off – his head falling to the side. Nightwing was unconscious – at least for now.

Wally picked Nightwing's limp body up. He was heavy like this. A deadweight dripping with ocean water.

"What are you doing?", Artemis asked.

"He doesn't need this mission. He needs help."

Artemis bit her lip: "He does need help. But you can't take him away from this. He wouldn't want it."

"I don't care what he wants. At least not on this. I'm doing this to protect him."

"Did you also not tell me about this mission to protect me?", Artemis sounded as if she was holding back a lot of anger herself.

"We did it to protect his cover and to keep you out of it. I didn't like doing it. It was his idea. Everything was his idea. He is quite the schemer if he wants to be."

"So, you did it to protect me."

"It's more complicated than that, Artie."

"And for him it's more complicated, too."

"Why are you defending him?", Wally asked, "You should be the first one to want an end to this mission."

Artemis took a deep breath: "Believe me. I'm pissed off at both of you. But I saw how unhappy he was in the League. They tied his hands behind his back and didn't do anything to help him. They put him into the perfect position to play the villain. Doesn't surprise me that Nightwing took it."

"He's not a villain. It's destroying him."

"It destroyed him, too, when the League treated him like a bomb waiting to explode. At least, he can do something in the position he is currently in. The busted operation in Qurac? The leaked Intergang-meeting? Getting the League to come to this summit? It was all him, wasn't it?"

"It was."

"He already saved hundreds of Talons."

"It's enough, Artie."

"Not for him. Not when he can do more. You need to allow him to finish this mission on his own terms."

"Even if it kills him?"

"He needs it. Like you said: He hates himself. Maybe he needs this to wipe the slate clean."

"And if it makes him spiral even more? I want him happy and alive, Artie."

"You might keep him alive by taking him away now, but he won't be happy. Do you think Nightwing can just sit by while Talons are being trafficked?"

Wally glared at Artemis: "Is this supposed to tell me something?"

"I'm not criticizing you, Wally. You made your decision to get out of the life and it was the right one for you. Nightwing respected that. And now you need to respect his decision to go through with this mission. You know him. He doesn't even know what a life without a mission is. I know because I don't either."

"Maybe he should learn it. He shouldn't tie his worth to being useful."

"You're right. But he should realize it himself. You can't take this decision away from him – even if you want to for his sake."

Wally squinted his eyes shut. Artemis was right. Nightwing would never forgive Wally if Wally took this decision away from him. Wally always left Nightwing a choice. Their relationship had always been like that.

The speedster sighed. He carefully put Nightwing's limb body into the shallow water. Enough to leave him secure on the beach but not too much to make it suspicious. Wally kneeled down into the sand and lightly kissed Nightwing's forehead. It gave him some peace of mind. At least the illusion for a moment that everything was okay.

Artemis wiped their footprints. She was in mission-mode now for a battle that had never been hers. Nightwing and Wally had attempted to keep her out of it.

Maybe it had been a mistake. Artemis wasn't one to sit back. Of course, she had gotten herself sucked into this mission by her own actions. And now she was as deep into it as Wally was.

Artemis climbed onto Wally's back. He gave her a piggyback-ride over the sea back to Fawcett.

Wally had no choice but to bring Artemis into his dorm room. She would need to hide out here until Batman came to get her a better accommodation. Wally hoped Batman would come quickly because he wasn't eager to explain this situation to his roommate.

Artemis shook her head: "You were in college this whole time?"

"Yep", Wally's voice was muted, "No one cared to look."

Artemis' face fell. She looked hurt.

"You can take a shower and get some sleep", Wally gave her a stack of his clothes.

Artemis took them. She went to the bathroom without another word.

Wally's chest felt heavy. Artemis was pissed at them – rightfully so. Their secrecy had made her life a living hell these past months.

And Nightwing was pissed at Wally, too. This had been the worst fight they had ever had. A fight Wally had been stupid enough to start it with Nightwing half-dead on a beach.

Wally hated this mission. He hated that Nightwing had ever decided to embark on it. It had left Wally in a constant state of fear and guilt because he had to hide from his loved ones.

Wally took out his burner phone and texted Batman:

"I have a friend who is hanging out with me. We need to meet."

No response. Wally's foot tapped impatiently. He changed his clothes before his roommate saw him in his stealth Kid Flash-suit.

Artemis left the bathroom. She sat down on Wally's bed.

A key turned in the lock.

Wally sighed. Perfect. At least they were both out of costume now. That was easier to explain than having two superheroes in a dorm room.

Josh – Wally's roommate – entered with a back of groceries in his hand. His eyes widened when he saw Artemis.

"I didn't expect you to have a visitor, Wally", Josh smirked.

He had been trying to set Wally up with people for months now despite Wally's insistence that Wally had a boyfriend. It felt so inconsequential now after Wally had gotten a glimpse of the high-stakes situations that Nightwing had been maneuvering for months now.

"Quit staring, Josh. She's a friend", Wally said.

"Sure", Josh grinned, "Isn't that your shirt, Wally?"

Wally stayed quiet. What could he say to that? He knew how it looked.

Josh looked triumphant: "I knew that you made your mysterious boyfriend up. You're a total nerd, West. I don't even know how you managed to score-"

Artemis cleared her throat: "I'm in the room."

Josh grew flustered under Artemis' sharp gaze.

"And I would appreciate it if you could shut up now. I went through a bad break-up and Wally is nice enough to let me stay here for a night. Oh, and his boyfriend is real. I know him."

Josh's face fell. Wally laughed despite his emotional turmoil. Seeing Artemis give someone a well-deserved, verbal lashing was always entertaining. He had missed this.

"I'm sorry", Josh said, "I didn't mean to offend you."

"You walked into that, Josh", Wally said.

"I did", he laughed.

Artemis smirked. She seemed to have calmed down at bit. Or she was tired enough.

"I'll forgive you if you are quiet for the next few hours", Artemis laid down on Wally's bed.

"Sure", Josh looked more than a bit dumbstruck.

Artemis turned to the wall and was soon asleep. Wally shrugged. She deserved a nice rest until Batman came to solve this mess. He sat down at his desk to work on his physics exercises.

His mind was too restless to do calculations though. What had he been thinking? Leaving Nightwing dead on that beach for Luthor to pick him up again. How could he go back to his college life with that knowledge? How could he have ever started his college life with Nightwing in constant danger?

"I still don't believe your boyfriend is real", Josh's voice was hushed to not wake the dragon in the form of a very tired Artemis.

"He's a very busy ninja", Wally couldn't keep a tinge of bitterness out of his voice.

"Sure, West", Josh shook his head.

Wally patted his pencil on the paper. He fought against the urge to run back to that island and take Nightwing back.

Nightwing would hate him for this though. Wally would just be another in a long line of people who took agency away from him. The speedster looked at Artemis' sleeping form. She had always shared an understanding with Nightwing that even eluded Wally.

He needed to trust her on this even if it tore him apart. Nightwing would make it back home. And once he got back home, they would fix this somehow.

Bruce landed the plane in the Batcave. He hefted Deathstroke's unconscious body onto a gurney making sure to restrain him and put an inhibitor collar on him. Deathstroke had betrayed Nightwing. He could potentially blow Nightwing's cover by turning up somewhere alive. Bruce would make sure that Deathstroke didn't leave this cave until Nightwing had finished his mission.

Alfred approached Bruce. He halted at the sight of Deathstroke.

"Can you tend to his wounds?", Bruce asked.

"Sure, Master Bruce. May I inquire what Deathstroke is doing here?"

Deathstroke stirred on the gurney.

"Later, Alfred", Bruce turned to the mercenary.

Deathstroke groaned. He tugged at his restraints as he looked around the Cave.

"How nice of you to shelter me, Wayne", Deathstroke's voice was rough.

Bruce punched him in the face: "That was for betraying my son."

"For a moment, I thought he would kill me."

"He is better than that", Bruce couldn't keep the pride out of his voice.

"You ruined him, Wayne. Do you see the game Nightwing is playing? He could be a supervillain. I never expected a Talon to be such a capable manipulator. So much potential wasted on what? Being a street vigilante? Saving old ladies from muggers?"

Deathstroke's voice dripped with derision.

"Doing good in the world is never a waste", Bruce said.

"You are such an idealist, Batman. Everyone calls you cynical, but I can see right through you."

Bruce crossed his arms: "You'll stay here until Nightwing's mission is finished. Then, you'll go to Belle Reve."

"He's on his own now. It could very well end with his dead body."

"He isn't alone. He'll always have me, and I trust him."

"That's a different tune from the last time we talked."

"People can change, Deathstroke. You should try it someday", Batman glowered down at the mercenary, "And you stay away from Nightwing. If I even catch you talking to him, I will-"

Deathstroke scoffed: "You didn't change that much after all."

Alfred approached Deathstroke with a med kit: "You better keep that mouth shut while I patch you up, Mr. Wilson."

Deathstroke scoffed. Alfred ignored him and sprayed some disinfectant on Deathstroke's eye wound. Deathstroke tensed.

Yep. Alfred had this handled.

"I need to do some post-mission briefing", Batman went to the zeta-tube and arrived at the Watchtower.

The hallways were flurrying with activity. The whole League was here and in disarray after the fight. Batman noticed the gazes clinging to him – looking for guidance. He ignored them as he strode towards the meeting room.

Wonder Woman stood in front of the holoscreen with a handful other Leaguers grouped around her. They hadn't even bothered taking their usual seats. Too much desperate energy was hanging in the air.

"How is Superman?", Batman asked.

"In surgery", Hawkwoman answered.

"The bullet narrowly missed his heart", Ollie looked pale, "Doctors say he has a fighting chance."

"Which is a miracle considering that our least favorite little psychopath was the shooter", Hal Jordan said.

Wonder Woman sighed. She looked exhausted. Blood clung to her costume. Probably Clark's. She had been the one to fly him to get medical attention.

Wonder Woman turned to the holoscreen. It showed all the players in the Light that they knew of. She put red Xs over the faces of the Brain and Manta.

"At least, the mission wasn't a complete failure", Wonder Woman said, "We caught the Brain and Manta. They are held here in Watchtower cells until the government gets them to face trial."

Wonder Woman put the word ally under Jason's face: "And we still have a mole within the Light in Red Hood."

"No one wants to talk about the psychopath in the room?", Hal said.

Diana sighed again. She put a red X over Deathstroke's face and pulled his image to the side. Deathstroke was eliminated now – at least the League believed so. Then, Diana pulled Nightwing's image to Deathstroke's former place which was titled 'Enforcer'.

"Nightwing is our most wanted now", Wonder Woman said, "He has proven that he won't hesitate to kill his old allies."

"That's nicely worded, Princess. He has proven that he won't hesitate to kill his boyfriend, his own mentor and the man he got his name from", Hal sounded bitter.

He put his finger onto the holoscreen and changed Nightwing's name into Talon.

"Hal", Diana scolded him.

"What? It's what we are all thinking. He proved today that Supes never meant anything to him. None of us meant anything to him. Not even his old buddy Deathstroke. That thing is a traitor to its core."

"We still don't need to dehumanize him", Wonder Woman said.

"He left his humanity at the door."

"His humanity was tortured out of him", Wonder Woman said, "No matter how corrupted he is now, he started as a frightened child."

Bruce couldn't help but be proud of Diana. She had lost so much in these last month, but she was still holding on to her ideals.

The door opened. Black Canary entered. Bruce was shocked by how distraught she looked. Ash was clinging to her costume.

"We combed the mountain for survivors", Canary said, "None we could find. We found some stuff at a beach though and a small, hidden boat."

"We had another person on the island?", Hawkwoman asked.

Canary dropped a singed green bow onto the conference room table.

"This belongs to Artemis", Ollie's eyes widened.

He looked terrified.

Canary squeezed her eyes shut and took out a knife with a golden handle. It was drenched in black blood. The knife cluttered onto the table next to the bow.

"Oh God", Ollie said, "Don't tell me-"

"We didn't find a body but that doesn't mean anything", Dinah covered her face with her hands.

"Artemis went after Nightwing", Hawkwoman said, "The boat must have been hers."

"She didn't leave the island, Ollie", Dinah broke down into sobs.

"I'm sure she's fine", Ollie sounded like he was in denial, "Maybe you just didn't find her."

"We combed the whole island. Zatanna used magic to search it for any presence of human life", Dinah sounded desperate.

"That doesn't mean anything", Ollie said, "Artemis is strong. She-"

"Wally was strong, too", Dinah slumped into her seat.

Hawkwoman approached her to comfort her, but Dinah shoved Shayera's hand off her shoulder.

Wonder Woman shook her head. She looked too exhausted to deal with any more of this.

"Update me if Clark's condition changes", she told Hal, "I need a moment to gather myself."

"Sure, Princess", Hal sounded like he was desperately trying to keep up his bravado.

He kept glaring at Nightwing's picture: "That little traitor is so dead."

"Hal", Diana glared at him.

She sounded like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"He killed Wally, Artemis and Superman is fighting for his life. Because of him, Flash took indefinite leave from the League. We get weaker with everyone we lose. How much will we allow him to take from us?"

"We aren't sure yet about Artemis. I'll search the island myself", Bruce said.

Diana shook her head in sorrow. She left the conference room without another word.

Hal scoffed: "I didn't expect that you needed to hear this but be realistic: Artemis is dead. If that monster wanted to kill her, he did."

"I'll search the island", Bruce's voice was stern.

He knew that he wouldn't find anything. Whatever had happened with Artemis, Nightwing must have been forced to improvise. But Batman would search to keep up pretenses and declare Artemis dead after his unsuccessful search. He didn't even need to plant evidence anymore. Nightwing and Artemis had taken care of it.

Bruce left the conference room. On his way out, his phone buzzed with an anonymous message. Bruce read it with a frown.

It must be Wally – however he was involved in this. Bruce deleted the message. He would make a visit to Fawcett to get the whole story and then he would continue tinkering with the mind control device.

After weeks of tinkering, the solution felt like it was at Batman's fingertips. He was about to break the hold the device had on its victims.

Diana sighed as she entered the small cave on Themyscira. It was silent. Exactly what she needed after these stressful months.

Diana held her breath when she reached the Well of Souls. She hoped to see its magical waters disturbed. To see a figure crawling out of it. If anyone could be reborn as an Amazon, it had to be Artemis Crock.

But the glittering surface was undisturbed. Peaceful. The Well hadn't seen a new Amazon emerge in decades. Nubia had been their most recent sister to join them.

Diana spent a long time staring at the water. Contemplating whether it was a good or bad thing that no new Amazon had been born today. Maybe it meant that Artemis was still alive. Or it meant that her soul had moved on to the afterlife without receiving a second chance in this realm.

Quiet steps approached Diana. She recognized the thoughtful stride as Nubia's.

"I expected you here, Diana", Nubia said, "Hippolyta told me about Artemis. I am very sorry for your loss. The last months have been cruel to our children."

Diana turned to Nubia: "I hope she is still alive. She is a fighter."

"Are we talking about Artemis or Donna here?", Nubia asked.

"Both", Diana lowered her gaze down at the Well, "I was hoping to see Donna re-emerge out of these waters. Irrational, right?"

It was irrational. A dead Amazon could not be reborn out of the Well. It only granted this chance to the abused women of men's world who had been killed so violently.

Artemis could fit the bill. Donna didn't.

"Irrational maybe but I'd rather call it hopeful", Nubia said.

"I've been hoping for months. I feel my hope tiring", Diana said, "But I can't give up fighting for Donna."

"The Well works in mysterious ways", Nubia said, "Maybe it will bring us a miracle again."

"Like you were one, my dear sister?", Diana asked.

Nubia smiled: "You have always been a flatterer, Diana."

Nightwing jerked up. His body still felt aflame. He was lying on a gurney in a sterile room. A man in a labcoat stood at a table on the other side of the room. He turned around when he recognized that Nightwing was awake. Nightwing could see his body tense. This stranger was afraid of him.

Nightwing looked down on himself. The uniform he was wearing was new. Simple black without the orange or gold highlights. Luthor must have had it made for Nightwing.

"You are at Lexcorp", the man in the labcoat said, "We collected you from that beach."

Nightwing tilted his head. The man shrank back and reached for his earpiece.

"Boss, your Talon is awake again."

"…"

"No. It's not healed completely. It still has some burn marks."

"…"

"Of course, Boss", the man said.

He turned to Nightwing: "The boss is on his way."

Nightwing stood up. He folded his hands behind his back. His skin was still burning. But it was less intense than before. Nightwing could feel his skin stitching itself back together as his cheek twitched. The man watched in horror.

Nightwing was glad for it. He was too exhausted for any complex interactions. Wally had left him after all. Artemis must have convinced him. Nightwing would need to thank her.

And Wally- Nightwing couldn't think about Wally. It hurt too much. Nightwing wasn't allowed to show pain. Not here. It would get him killed.

This time, there was no one to cover for him anymore. Slade was out of the game. And he had only covered for Nightwing if it suited him anyway.

The metal door opened and Luthor strode in. He took Nightwing in with his cold gaze.

"It survived", Luthor said, "Good. Would be a waste to lose it after my plan worked out so beautifully. Report, Talon."

"Hold League off. Shoot Superman with Kryptonite bullet in chest-"

Luthor's mouth twitched in delight.

"-run when Grandmaster order. Artemis confront me. She get me. We fight. Keep her busy until explosion. Explosion kill her."

Luthor's face lit up even more: "Artemis is dead? My team could find no trace of her body."

"Explosion throw in water. Bad injured", Nightwing said, "Dead."

Luthor frowned, putting on his scheming face: "Artemis is dead. Another one of these little nuisances down and Superman potentially, too."

"Don't forget Deathstroke and Kid Flash, Boss", the man said.

"Yes, I have achieved much these past weeks", Luthor praised himself.

He turned to Nightwing and pushed something into his hands. Clawed gloves.

Nightwing put them on. He hated Luthor with his whole being, but the gloves felt good. They made his fingertips feel less empty. A little solace in the growing despair that Nightwing felt.

Luthor grinned, "This will only be the beginning with my army progressing so nicely and my puppet-enforcer in place. Follow me to my office, Talon."

"Yes, Grandmaster", Nightwing said.

Luthor walked forward, his back turned to Nightwing. At least, the mission was going well.

Everything else in his life? His friends? His relationship with Wally? His family? A flaming disaster. Maybe it had been stupid anyway of a Talon to think that he could have anything but the mission.

Presumptuous, the Cobb-voice in his head said. Nightwing hated it.

Nightwing had chosen this mission. He would sacrifice everything to save the Titans and the Talons. It was the first path he had chosen for himself and Nightwing would bear the consequences.

He would fix all the other parts of his life after this. The mission came first.

AN: Nightwing is not doing well – like everyone in this chapter. :/ Did I deliver on the angst? I wanted to write a cute Birdflash-scene of Wally coming to the rescue but then they just started fighting? Consider this my formal apology.

At least, Artemis' soul is saved! I missed writing nice Nightwing & Artemis friendship moments. It's complicated at the moment but these two still love each other.

Also, Nightwing is amassing quite the (fake) body count. Wally, Deathstroke, Artemis, potentially Superman. He's killed more heroes than the Light has together. In a just world, this would get him some respect as enforcer. :,(