Chapter 2
Well how was the last story? I forgot to explain my asterisk and [2] in the last chapter….
that sentence had a lot of h's in it!
[2]- isn't is weird how time just passes in these cartoons? You watch for five minutes, and in the dialogue they are all like, 'it's been hours!'
Yup, that's all I have to say, or is it?
I know I'm putting this up while I'm working on like two other stories, but the more I do, the more inspiration I get!
I DON'T OWN YJ! And also, thank you jasmine nightshade who is helping me with this story!
Please enjoy!
Barbra was walking with Artemis through the Watchtower. The two girls were going to meet Megan in the kitchen for some tea. The girls walked in laughing when Megan shushed them.
"Hush! You'll wake him!" She whisper-yelled. Barbra and Artemis looked at Megan in confusion, then they saw Nightwing sitting at the counter.
"Oh." Artemis giggled softly. "We should so mess-up his hair. You know, dye it pink or spray silly string in it."
"His hair is wet."
"Sounds like dyeing it would be easy then."
"What ever, but what is by his hand?"
"A mug of coffee. It seems he was trying to not fall asleep." Megan whispered. Just then Wally zoomed.
"Wally!" Artemis said happily.
"Half the league is in the camera room watching Nightwing." Wally said, snickering.
"Oh god, he is going to be so pissed!" Artemis giggled, trying not to wake Nightwing up.
"Why would he not want to sleep though?" Megan asked. Barbara had a slightly worried look on her face.
"How much sleep did he get last night?"
"Well, he was on the computer from about three am to six am."
"He didn't get to bed until midnight. I know because I saw him in the weight room, which reminds me…" Megan was lost in her thoughts.
"Well, he shouldn't sleep out here with his hair wet." Barbra said.
"I'll carry him!" said a new voice. It was Cassie. Nightwing shifted in his sleep. Wally frowned.
"Guys, I think we should wake him up."
"Why?"
"Did you see him twitch?" Everyone watched him. Then, as if someone had pressed play, his breathing accelerated. He began to sweat, a fact obvious when he didn't wear a shirt. He still had his mask, but you could see his eyebrows twitch.
"We should really wake him up." Wally said, not trying to keep his voice down. Nightwing's body began to twitch, it looked as if he was trying to move, but couldn't.
"You shouldn't wake a person during a nightmare, they get violent!" Artemis warned. Wally shook off his girlfriend's concern, and with Barbra, approached Nightwing.
"Wake up!" Barbra said loudly. Nightwing shifted, hyperventilating. Wally was worried. He could see his friend's lips moving rapidly. Robin raced into the room seconds later.
"Nightwing!" he yelled. Every turned to look at him.
"Forgive," Robin whispered. The others in the room looked at him in confusion. "Nightwing! Help! Joker!" Robin yelled loudly. Nightwing jerked up, eyes open enough that the whites of his mask widened. He jumped up, flipped over t he counter and looked around whipping his head back and forth.
"Ce naiba era că pentru!"
What the hell was that for!
He yelled. Robin seemed to shrink. Nightwing was still breathing heavily, his arms trembled, and sweat made his forehead shine.
"What did he say?" Cassie asked. Nightwing glared at her.
"Ceea ce face să crezi că tu chiar poate răcni de ceva fel de real ca asta?"
What make you think you can just yell something as real as that?
Nightwing seemed to deflate. Robin looked up.
"Um, Wing? English?" Wally said. Nightwing jerked his head to the side.
"Engleză?" Nightwing paused for a minute. "Sorry." He said finally. He released a heavy breath. "Everyone, get to bed." He snapped. "You never know when you might be needed. He grabbed his coffee and downed it.
"Well, what about you?" Barbra asked. Nightwing began to wash his mug.
"Later."
"Later what?"
"I'll sleep later!" Nightwing snapped. Barbra rolled her eyes. Wally and Artemis dragged Robin and Cassie out of the way.
"Why are we leaving?" Cassie asked.
"Lover's spat." Artemis answered.
"But Wing and Babs aren't dating." Robin said.
"She said lover's, not couple." Wally said. Robin's jaw dropped. Wally and Artemis dragged their prisoners to the camera room where Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John), Flash, Green Arrow, Red Arrow, Superboy, Kaldur, Megan, L'gann, and Zatanna were waiting.
"Good thing the Camera room is so big." Muttered Robin. Just then Batman walked in.
"Oh crap." Robin muttered to Wally. Everyone focused on the camera for the kitchen. Flash actually made it so that it was on the biggest screen and was the only screen anyone could watch. Superman turned on the volume.
"You are not sleeping enough!" Barbra was yelling.
"Yes I am! Why are you all in my business?" Nightwing shot back, his voice more controlled.
"Why are you even wet?"
"I took a shower! Why are you so nosy?"
"Why didn't you dry off? Why didn't you go to your room.?"
"I did. I did! Let me out of the kitchen!" Barbra was blocking Nightwing's exit.
"Not until you admit you need sleep!" Nightwing just turned around and headed towards the other exit. Barbra ran around him and blocked his path.
"Weren't you the one who said I needed to get to my room?"
"Like you ever use it!"
"Now how would you know that?" While Barbra was flustered, Nightwing turned and ran to the first exit again. The people watching were snickering.
"How would she know?" L'gann asked. Barbra saw what Nightwing was doing and jumped after him. She tackled him into the wall.
"Really? You're going to wake everyone up! You are really a hypocrite." Nightwing said, pushing her off him. Barbra backed off but still stood in his way.
"One, these walls are sound proof, two, I just want to know why you are trying to avoid sleeping!" Barbra seemed really frustrated.
"Ok, I'll tell you." Nightwing said, seeming to give up the fight. Everyone leaned in to hear. Nightwing leaned closer to Barbra. She turned her head so her ear was closer to his mouth. Nightwing gave an evil smile that everyone watching saw.
"Oh Barbra." Artemis shook her head sadly. Nightwing grabbed Barbra face, turned it, and kissed her deeply. Her eyes were wide and everyone watching reacted violently.
Most of the mentors said something along the lines of "What! No! When?" the teammates reactions were more like "No Fair!" the girls, and "Score!" boys. Batman just frowned.
Barbra was still for a second then she closed her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Nightwing's neck. The people watching saw Nightwing smiled in the kiss. Nightwing pulled back after a minute.
"Not here." He whispered into her ear. The microphones picked up the seductive whisper.
"Don't kid yourself." Barbra said back, as if she hadn't just been making out with Nightwing.
"Go Girls!" Black Canary, Zatanna, Artemis, and Cassie shouted. Wonder Woman smiled. Batman frowned.
Nightwing shrugged.
"Put on a good show, didn't we?" He said. Barbra, who had been leaning into Nightwing's chest jerked back.
"You dick!" She yelled shoving Nightwing into the wall as she stomped off.
"Watch what you say! Kids are watching!" Nightwing called, laughing. He shook his head and left the kitchen. Barry turned on all the cameras and the group in the room watched the not-couple go their separate ways. Nightwing stopped after a minute and put a little dot on the wall.
"Oh no." Robin said. Just then all the cameras blinked for a minute and just showed the hallways, empty, all the cameras, except Barbra was still seen as she went into her room and slammed the door.
"How many cameras were infected?" Batman said. Then Nightwing showed up in the doorway.
"Enjoy the show?" He asked. He made half the people in the room jump.
"Nightwing!" Green Arrow said, needlessly. Nightwing was leaning against the doorway smiling. Somehow his mask matched his gray sweat pants and shirtlessness. Just then, a cloth was thrown over Nightwing's head. Batman strode past Nightwing.
"Put a shirt on." He said then disappeared. Nightwing scoffed, scowled and left the room.
"Just type the override code for the cameras." Nightwing called.
Nightwing was in his room now. He held his head between his hands staring at the bottle in his hands. He shook his head.
Don't… a sensible part of him said. But really, how could he not.
It helps me sleep. That is what everyone wants me to do!
But what if you don't wake up?
Just one more time… and only half the amount.
That could still kill you!
Just half as much, I have to wean my self off!
Ask for help!
I can do this on my own!
No! Help, talk to Batman! He will help you, that is what fathers do!
He isn't my father! My father is dead! Nightwing stood up and ripped the lid off the bottle. He dug out two pills. He swallowed them before he could talk himself out of it.
You said you would take only half as much as usual…
Nightwing shook his head as the pill began to take effect.
You idiot… He heard a voice that sounded suspiciously like Barbra. He shook his head. He fell into bed.
Sleep, I'm going to sleep… His eyes closed.
Dick looked left and right. He was shivering in anticipation.
What am I waiting for? He asked himself.
Nothing. I'm not waiting. I'm shivering like crazy. It isn't cold, it's hot! Nightwing was hyperventilating again. He began to sweat. His heartbeat was racing. He couldn't stop his muscles from shaking. He looked around for help.
"Help!" he yelled as loud as he could. A figure stepped out of the shadows.
"I am here." The cool voice was so full of love that Nightwing felt tears build up in his eyes. The figure stepped out into the light. Nightwing noticed he was in the middle of the street. The figure reached out to him. He was frozen to the spot. His mother was in front of him, but his heart pounded in fear. Her face was only half there. The other half was rotting and maggots were seen crawling on and underneath the skin. He acrobatic uniform was torn and showed flesh falling out. Nightwing almost puked when he saw half of his mother's thigh just fall off as if it were gloppy pudding. He was shaking so hard.
I'm asleep, that is what matters! This isn't real! I'm asleep! Dick felt bile in his throat. The woman was right in front of him. He could smell her usual lavender perfume mixed with rotting flesh. So sour he had to fight down another wave of nausea. He hugged him. He still wasn't wearing a shirt, and felt her soft flesh against his chest. Her skin rubbed off against him. He was shaking so violently, more flesh was just fell off.
"Get off!" Dick said, his voice high and wheezy.
"My little Robin doesn't want his mommy any more? Oh Dickie… Oh my precious Dickie! You can't leave me! You can't!" Nightwing wing felt pressure on his neck. "Never, we can just stay like this, just like this…" The pressure was harder, Dick couldn't breathe.
"No" he wheezed. Just as he blacked out Nightwing shot up in bed. He took huge gaps of breath. He was sweating heavily.
"Damn, I really need another shower." He said, taking deep, rapid breaths. "I need to stop taking those pills. He noticed he still held the bottle in a death grip. His knuckles had blood running down them onto his fingers. He had gripped the bottle so tightly he had opened the scabs.
"If I worked out more, I could exhaust myself more, then I would just fall asleep.: He told himself. He check his clock. He had only been asleep for an hour. He shook his head. Each room had a small bathroom with a shower and toilet. Dick ripped off his clothes and stood in the shower. The showers didn't have sound proof walls, made it bad for plumbing. The shower was on high, cold.
The icy water woke Dick up completely. He just let the water hit him. He shivered. He turned the water warmer, and finished his shower. He turned the water off and laughed when he checked his clock again. He taken an hour long shower.
"Great." He said. He left his room, and headed off to the computer room again. He sat down and checked crime rate, first in Bludhaven, then every other city he knew the name of. Six hours later, in was six am. Dick still stared at the computer screen. His sunglasses were next to him, and his face was bare. He heard a gasp behind him, and quickly threw on the glasses. He then turned to meet who had walked in on him. It was Hawk Woman.
"You should be in bed." She said. Dick laughed.
"This late? No, people should be awake by now." Dick laughed. He turned back to the computer.
"Why are you checking the crime rates in Thon Hotel Alta, Finland?" she asked, leaning over the young hero.
"I'm bored."
"How many cities have you checked?"
"Four-thousand-six-hundred and four." Dick answered. Hawk Woman put her hand on Dick's forehead.
"Well, no fever, so you are just crazy." She said lightly. Dick laughed with her. She walked out. Dick sighed. His head hurt. He turned back to the computer.
"Nightwing." A deep voice called. Nightwing spun around to face Superman.
"I have a mission, and I think you should be there." Superman looked at the computer.
"Why are you looking at the crime rate in Smallville?"
"Well, one I'm bored, two it is the smallest town in U.S.A, and third smallest town in the world." Dick canceled the program he was on and stood up. "So, a mission?"
"Alright, I'm going to read everybody who is going on this mission off this list." Nightwing called to the YJ members. The Roys were there too.
"Why are we here?" Roy asked, gesturing to himself and Roy.
"Cause you names are on this list." Nightwing said, not looking up. Roy rolled his eyes.
"Ok, I'm saying your name once, so listen up! Blue Beetle, Impulse, Superboy, Miss Martian, Batgirl, Bumblebee, Beast Boy, Aqualad, Lagoon Boy, Robin, Cassie, Red Arrow, Arsenal, Kid Flash, Artemis, and myself." Nightwing dropped the paper and sighed.
"What was with the full names?" Jaime asked.
"I said I would read your names off the paper, that is how your names were written." Nightwing said, stifling a yawn. "Ok…" he was cut off when Cassis tackled him in a hug.
"I'm so happy! Does this mean you're going to help me with my combat training? Yeah!" Cassie was floating three feet off the ground and squeezing Nightwing.
"Cassie… air… too…tight…air." Nightwing choked out. Megan felt a serious flash of disgust for just on second. She was shocked because the feeling came with a very disturbing picture. It lasted only a fraction of a second, but Megan was worried. It was the second sign.
"Cassie! Put me down!" Nightwing was squirming, his arms pinned to his side. His team was giggling.
"Ok." Cassie said sadly, just dropping him. He landed perfectly of course.
"Team, let's move."
Dick was packing his bag. The 'mission' was really a training exercise. Nightwing hadn't told the team that, since part of the exercise was to test their honesty. If they found a problem, and were coming up with evidence to show Nightwing, who knew there was going to be nothing, they would lose points. If they couldn't help themselves during an emergency, one Nightwing had designed, no one would get hurt, they lost more points. The teen with the most points left, would get a special prize not even Nightwing knew what it would be. He threw in briefs, then grabbed his bottle of pills. He stopped. He knew he shouldn't bring these.
The pills were mostly sleeping pills. Inside the pill, a tiny amount of powder was captured. This powder cause hallucinations, was highly addictive, and the source of Nightwing's problems. He sighed, and put them in his belt. Like he would really sleep anyway. He couldn't fall asleep without the pills, but the pills made him unable to stay asleep either.
Ask for help… that is what a good leader would do.
A good leader doesn't ask for help.
Where did you get these pills anyway?
Honestly.
Finding pills in your room isn't 'honest.'
Shut up.
You know this is wrong. Get Help!
I don't need it.
You're addicted, admit it.
I'm fine.
Your team needs you at your best.
I work out for that.
You're working yourself to death! Sleep is just as important as anything, you barely eat! You only drink coffee and water. That isn't substance!
I'M FINE!
Help yourself to help your team! Ask for help!
I AM FINE!
Dick threw on his pack. He was a good leader. He was strong. He slammed his door, ending the argument. Jaime saw Nightwing exit his room angrily.
"What the heck? What is wrong with my Lider?" He asked himself out loud. He shrugged and got ready for the three day long stake out. He ignored the third sign.
Well?
Please review.
Lider - leader in Spanish
I hope I didn't miss anything…
Also, this Breathing series has nothing to do with any of my other stories. Well this is the sequel to Breathing Easy, of course. I guess Breathing Easy makes references to Jokes on You, but for the most part, the series in unconnected.
Please Review!
Love,
Burning Bright