Hey guys, I am extremely sorry for the wait, but I have a reason! I took one of you guys' suggestions and re-read and edited my previous chapters. It's just minor edits, nothing major. Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed and please do so again. As you know, italics is personal thought and bold italics is electronic communication. I do not own DC Comics or any of their characters. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Last Time:
"Has anyone heard from Superman and Superboy?" Batman asked as he lead the gnome to where Richard was.
Behind him Robin and Red Hood were bickering. The younger refusing to be carried while the older didn't give him a choice and picked him up bridal style.
"I'm not Connor, but you're just going to have to deal." Red Hood growled.
"What does that mean?!" Robin exclaimed and increased his efforts.
"No. We hoped they were already here or were helping you." Wonder Woman answered Batman.
"Haven't heard from them either." Batman said, ignoring his bickering sons as they passed.
The gnomes eyes stopped glowing and it processed. It attempted to run away and escape but Miss Martian telekinetically levitated it to a holding cell. Batman nodded to her and went to tend to his sons. Richard met him in the doorway. The detective looked depressed.
"Why am I here?" He asked quietly.
"I'll explain later." Batman said as he went over the examining table were Robin and Red Hood were.
Martian Manhunter came in and, with Batman's okay, tended to Robins wound. The few deep punctures needed stitches. Red Hood walked over the Nightwing. He put a hand on the detective's shoulder.
"We're going to figure this all out. Just you watch." Red Hood said, determined.
It was then that Aqualad rushed in.
"You need to see this. Now."
Everything was happening all at once. Nightwing was feeling extremely overwhelmed with the situation looming over him. What am I going to do? His stare flitted over to Red Hood and Batman. They were already making plans to avoid this, but Nightwing wasn't sure there was a way around this. I have to do it. For them. He squeezed his eyes shut and recalled the past few minutes.
Richard rushed after Aqualad, Batman, and Red Hood. The four of them barged into the main communications room to see Deathstroke's masked face on the large screen. Richard's stomach dropped and his heart jumped to his throat and his blood started rushing. This isn't good. Deathstroke was saying something.
"Hello Justice League. You have something we want, and we have something you want." He said with a heard grin.
The camera switched over to the two unconscious, chained, bathed in kryptonite light kryptonians. Superman and Superboy had matching bruises and Richard swore he saw something or someone hiding in the shadows. I'll have to check that out. The camera switched back the Deathstroke.
"We, the Light, want our birdie back. He is not yours even if was meant to be. By know, you already know what his function is. So, let's cut to the chase. Give us, what do you call him? Ah, Nightwing, and we'll deliver Superman and Superboy back to you, unharmed. We'll meet in three hours at the Lexcorp building in Star City. Failure to deliver the boy will result in some very painful treatment of the kryptonians. I wonder how kryptonians react to dark matter testing." Deathstroke demanded.
The video cut off and tense silence engulfed the room. Leading back to where Richard was before. Everything was happening all at once. Nightwing was feeling extremely overwhelmed with the situation looming over him. What am I going to do? His stare flitted over to Red Hood and Batman. They were already making plans to avoid this, but Nightwing wasn't sure there was a way around this. I have to do it. For them. I'm not worth it. Richard went up to the two bats.
"Stop." He said quietly.
The two kept planning and arguing.
"There has to be a way!" Red Hood shouted.
"Stop." Nightwing said more forcefully, but not enough.
"What if we set up a perimeter?" Batman asked.
"Stop." Some of the members near Nightwing heard him and looked at him with wide eyes.
"We could always show up but not with Nightwing." Red Hood suggested.
"Stop!" Nightwing yelled.
Red Hood and Batman looked at him. All of the heroes in the room look at him, wide eyed in disbelief. I'm not worth this!
"What?" Red Hood asked.
"Stop." He pleaded.
"What do you mean 'stop'?! Are you thinking about going to them?!" Red Hood exclaimed.
"Of course I do! Two superpowered heroes for one cop gone novice vigilante?! That's a no brainer!" Richard reasoned.
"No, no way! You're family, and like it or not, we're making sure you and the Light don't mix." Red Hood growled.
"I'm not worth it!" Richard shouted.
"Why do you think that?!" Red Hood snarled. "Everytime! It's always that you're not worth it or good enough! You're beyond worth it! Beyond good enough!" Red Hood exclaimed.
"That's not the point! I'm going!" Nightwing growled.
"No!" Red Hood yelled.
"Yes!" Nightwing exclaimed.
Red Hood's fist tightened at his side.
"No fucking way." He growled, low and dangerous.
"Yes, I am." Nightwing got in his face.
"No, you're not." Red Hood grounded out.
"Yes, he is." Batgirl interrupted.
Nightwing looked at Batgirl, shocked. He was slightly hurt, but he was glad someone saw it his way. Red Hood spewed profanities at Batgirl. She glared at him. Shit, she's not done.
"He's going, just not alone." She cleared.
"What do you mean?" Black Canary asked from the crowd.
Batgirl smirked at the heroine.
"Who do we know can shrink into something small and is capable of handling themselves in battle?" She smirked.
All heads turned to Beat Boy.
"Oh great." He sighed.
"So here's the plan: Beat Boy will hide in Nightwing's clothes. When Nightwing gets close to whoever is coming from the Light, presumably Deathstroke, Beast Boy can turn into something large and wreak havoc. During that time, we can move in and capture the Light members and Superman and Superboy." Batgirl said, proud of herself.
She made eye contact with Red Hood.
"Not useless after all, huh?" She sassed.
"Sounds like a plan." Wonder Woman nodded with a smile.
The situation was looking hopeful.
Nightwing, Red Hood, Beast Boy, Batman, and Batgirl landed at the meeting site with the League following. The Lexcorp building towered over them. Superman and Superboy were in pods at the other end of the clearing. Guarding the pods were Bialyan soldiers, their queen stood in front of the group with Deathstroke, Ra's Al Ghul, and a Talon. Shit, a talon and the Head of the Dragon. Nightwing looked around for Talia. He felt a little disappointed as he didn't see her.
"Beast Boy get into position." Nightwing muttered.
The green boy shrunk into a little, green ladybug and hid in the escrima sticks attached to Nightwing's back holsters. Nightwing waited a second for the boy to get settles before getting out of the Batwing. He landed softly onto the fresh, green grass.
"You ready?" Batman asked.
Nightwing looked at the villains in front of him. He noticed things he hadn't before. The way Queen Bee's hair looked silky soft, Ra's Al Ghul's fit physique, Deathstroke's calculating blue eye. He looked away from them. Batman had a hidden worry in his eye. Red Hood's muscles were tensed. Batgirl looked carefree, but he could see her tight features. He thought of Robin, how smart he was. He thought of Gordon, old, should-be-retired Gordon. He was a good He forced himself to now and looked around. The air was fresh and clean. The grass beneath his feet was soft and alive. A soft breeze blew through the trees. Their green leafs and brown branches swayed with it. The sky was crossing into a deeper blue as midnight approached. The stars shone brightly as they forever freckled the sky. The moon was full and white against the dark night sky. Nightwing could see the craters and realized everything was beautiful. I need to stop. Nightwing forced himself to pay attention to now.
"I'm ready." Nightwing confirmed.
He gave a small smile to Batman and Red Hood.
"Everything will be fine." He said.
They didn't look convinced. Nightwing took a deep breath and stepped toward the villains across the clearing. He made sure to make eye contact.