The land after a disaster is barren. There is no signs of life, there is no nothing. The world seems to slow down when you realize this. When you realize you are the only thing breathing within a mile of this desolate place.

Wally's heart stopped when he saw the explosion. He was a mere hundred feet away. He should've made it. Jason was too young, and he'd already died once. The speedster bit his lip. Dick wouldn't take Jason's second death well, not when he'd taken the first one so hard. Wally could still remember how he found out.

He'd been so furious that Bruce hadn't called, so furious that he had to find out from the new kid on the Titans after he'd hacked the Batcomputer.

He let a 14 year old kid get beaten to death by a clown, and he couldn't even pick up a god damn phone!

Wally cringed, looking around once more. Maybe the anti-hero had made it out alive.

He was surrounded by nothing but ash. The entire warehouse had turned to ash. The dusty substance rained from the night sky, settling like warm snow on the dark fabric of Kid Flash's stealth uniform. Behind the ash, there was nothing. Nothing but dreary land and the voice of the dead. Wally hesitantly stepped through the ash dunes as he searched the premises for any body parts, or possibly a barely-alive body. He found that buried in the ash were small chunks of building.

How does Gotham even have any buildings left? Wally wondered to himself.

"Wally!" the speedster turned, hearing shouting and the roar of bikes being pushed too hard. Nightwing drove his cycle and almost dropped it when he ran towards his best friend. The only thing keeping him back was the red head gingerly straddling an arm on the back of the seat. He helped Barbara off the cycle and rushed her over to the speedster just as Tim arrived with Artemis in tow.

Dick dropped Batgirl's hand in favor of hurrying to Wally's side. "Did you see him get out? Is Jay okay?" He looked around, the whites in his mask searching frantically for his brother.

"I haven't seen him yet," Wally said, his voice small and sad. He didn't meet Dick's gaze when he felt it turn on him, instead choosing to stare at the ground. "But I haven't been here long enough to search everywhere thoroughly." His seemingly hopeful offer was empty, and everyone knew it but Dick.

But Dick needed to believe. He wouldn't take the assumption that there was no way Jason made it out as confirmation. He had to believe that Jason was alive, at least until they had solid proof stating otherwise.

The flutter of happiness flashed in Dick's too tired features and he didn't wait for the others to begin searching. Wally watched him go until he felt a fragile hand on his shoulder.

His head turned to meet the cool blue gaze of Barbara Gordon. Her cowl was on, but he could still see the sadness in her eyes. He could still see the question formed behind her closed lips and he hated the answer he had to give.

Wally closed his eyes and shook his head no.

No. There was no possible way Jason made it out.

Wally had arrived in time to see the explosion. If Jason had made it out, even at the last second, Wally would've seen him.

Jason Todd was dead.

Barbara squeezed Wally's shoulder in a brief moment of sadness, closing her eyes and holding back what Wally assumed were tears. He almost embraced her, but she looked back up at him and nodded, her gaze easily freezing him with the sheer sadness he saw behind the beautiful color. She trembled a bit against the crisp wind, biting her lower lip and going back to tell Tim and Artemis.

********************************LINE BREAKER!********************************

Night time was so dark. Sometimes that was good, but sometimes you need a light to see in the dark. Sometimes you can trip and fall on your way to where you're going if you can't see, so someone at the end of the tunnel has to turn on a light until you get there. Sometimes, however, it's better to leave that light off.

This madness had to end. The Joker deal was done, they could all carry on now. Dick had saved everyone. Jason still had to be alive.

He had to be.

There was no blood here, no body remains. There was nothing but ash and chunks of surviving building. Jason must've gotten out.

Dick dug through the ash as he walked, using his hands to reach where his feet could not. He covered more ground that way. His search method was relatively thorough as well. Sure, he might've missed a small spot or two, but not anywhere near where a body would fit. He was combing through the ash as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Jay was out there, he just needed to be found.

He heard the others talking a few yards to his left. He didn't care though. He had to find Jason. He had to take Jason home and take care of him and at least pretend they were a normal family for just one night. He just wanted to pretend that his every decision didn't get everyone he loved killed. Just for one night.

"Dick," Tim said, suddenly standing beside him. The pile of ash Dick had dug up went all the way up to Tim's thighs, and Dick almost laughed at how small the boy looked. But the garments Tim held in his hands kept the elder's mouth clamped shut tight.

A small piece of red fabric hung limply in Tim's hand. It was torn at the edges and one white lens was missing. The threads that hung from the torn areas were singed to almost black. In his other hand Robin held a larger piece of fabric. At one time, this was probably a pricey leather jacket that Dick's younger brother had stolen. But now it was a charred, lifeless piece of garbage. There were knife wounds in the sleeves and blood stains oozing around them. The jacket was charred beyond redemption, the once shiny smooth surface remaining crusty and dull. The most noticeable flaw, however, was the gaping hole that went straight through the left breast of the jacket and continued through the back.

Tim looked down at the ash surrounding his legs. "I'm sorry," he said. "I found it in a giant pile of blood."

Shaky hands reached out and touched first the mask, then the jacket. He pulled the ruined leather from his brother's hands, pulling back the collar.

The inscribing was old and hard to see before, but now it was nearly impossible though it was definitely still there. Jason had told Dick about it once. After he'd stolen it, someone thought they recognized it. So he took a pocket knife and carved into the collar, making it impossible to identify the jacket as anyone's but his own.

J.P.T.

Tears stung Dick's eyes, but he blinked them away. "No," he said. Tim looked up at his brother, grief stinging behind his own mask. Nightwing kept repeating the word, as though saying it enough times would make it true. "No. No. No. No. No."

Unsure of what to do, Tim grabbed Nightwing and pulled him into the strongest hug he could muster. But, surprisingly, the eldest Robin pulled out of the hug. He seemed angry, and Tim didn't understand at first.

"I don't want your hug," Dick spat. "I want you to help me find Jay." He turned his head around, realizing he had gained the attention of the others. "He's here! I know he is! We just have to find him!"

The others remained silent, looking almost guilty. Why did they look guilty? If Jason was dead, it was his fault. He broke the deal. He should be punished.

But Jason wasn't dead. Jason was here, he just needed to be found.

Nightwing held up the leather jacket's corpse, fisting the crusted fabric in his shaking hands. "You think this is proof that he died in the explosion? You think this is enough?! It only proves that Jason got out! Obviously the jacket got stuck on something and he took it off just before the fire." His friend's looked at him with sadness and pity in their hearts.

Why would they look at him like that? Jason wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead. If Jason was dead then that means everything that had happened wasn't worth it. It had all been for nothing.

"Dick," Tim said, gently laying his hand on Dick's trembling shoulder. "Dick, we need to go home. You need rest."

Dick shook his head. "No, I have to find Jay. I can't let him die again!" he turned and began searching again, though a creeping voice in his heart whispered into his head. It whispered dark words that clouded his judgment with fear and anxiety. His vision blurred around the tears. When had he started crying? Why was he even crying? Jason was okay. He was buried here somewhere, but he was okay. Dick just had to find him…

"Nightwing." It was a feminine voice, but still husky and commanding. Dick turned to see Artemis and Barbara standing before him. "Let's go home. It's been a long night."

Nightwing shook his head once more. "No, he's here. I just-"

"Dick, he was strapped down to a chair in the middle of the building. Even if he had managed to get out of that, he didn't make it out. I would've seen a heat signature." Wally said gravely.

Dick met his best friends' gazes with water lining his lashes. He didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it.

"I… He had to…"

"He didn't." Wally said firmly. He seemed so sure. Wally wouldn't sound like that unless he knew. But maybe he just thought he knew. Maybe Jason went out the back way…

Suddenly, all Dick's hopes were turned to grief. The ache in his chest soon filled his eyes in the form of stinging tears. But soon, that turned to a burning hot rage. It burned his skin as it flowed through his veins and pumped adrenaline through his body. He was getting amped up, ready for a fight.

Joker will pay…

"I'm not going home." Dick growled around the lump of tension forming in his throat. He could hear protests, but he couldn't bring himself to care. When he felt a hand on his shoulder he swung around, grabbing the wrist with an iron grip and glaring into the grey eyes of the hand's owner with his lips curled back in a snarl.

Artemis gasped in surprise at Dick's reaction, her eyes widening for a brief moment before she pulled herself out of the wrist lock.

"Dude!" Wally shouted.

Dick closed his eyes. He couldn't let this go. He couldn't let Joker get away with this one. Not again. He would not take his brother from him again.

Opening his mouth to allow a ferocious scream out, Dick punched a crater into the metal of a telephone pole. "Leave me alone." He grumbled before grappling off alone. The others stared at his fleeting figure for a moment as it landed atop a building and continued running.

Tim stepped towards the running shadow, reaching towards his own grapple. A firm hand on his shoulder, however, halted him.

"No, Tim." Barbara said sadly. "Let him go."

********************************LINE BREAKER!********************************

Red.

It seemed everything was red.

The lenses of his mask had turned to a blinding rage, only allowing Nightwing to see images of Jason, broke and begging for help. He could just imagine his brother desperately trying to escape. Dick could've been there. Had he just given the cure to Joker instead of trying to bargain with him . . .

No.

Dick would not blame himself for the monstrosities this man has committed. Not again.

Jason's death – both of them – were Joker's fault. Not Dick's, not Bruce's. Joker's.

He ran and ran, not really knowing where he was going or what he was looking for. He was looking for Joker. Joker would pay. But how would he find Joker? He had no leads, no evidence trail. Nothing. He could start at the abandoned amusement park where the exchange had taken place, but if Joker had any sense – which Dick was almost certain he did, at least a little – he would've already vacated the premise. Going back there was pointless.

But he still ran.

He ran until his feet ached and his lungs burned for oxygen. He ran until his eyesight was no longer red. He ran until he nearly collapsed onto a building from exhaustion.

He sat on the ledge, his entire body quivering. Nightwing closed his eyes tightly. The images were coming now. Jay, broken and beaten on the floor of some warehouse. He didn't know how loved he was. He didn't know that, despite any hostilities, he was still a part of their family. All had been forgiven. He was missed. He would be missed.

Jason…

Tears stung Dick's eyes. They burned his lashes and cut his cheeks as they slipped away. He sniffled a bit, trying to staunch the flow of water when a feminine, yet dominant, voice interrupted his moment of mourning.

"Are you Nightwing?" she asked. Dick looked up, the remaining tears in his eyes obstructing his vision. He saw a floating figure, who appeared to have fire coming out of her head. She had orange skin and luminescent green eyes. She hovered gently above the rooftop for a moment before gently landing. Nightwing seemed confused.

His vision still clearing, he remained silent until another form appeared from over the ledge of the rooftop next to her. This one had shaggy, dull hair and wore a red tank top.

"Yeah, that's Dick." He said, climbing over the ledge. Nightwing knew that voice…

He squinted his eyes, rubbing them through the mask. "Roy?" he asked.

"In the flesh," the archer responded. Dick's eyes were clear of tears (though not clear of evidence they'd been there) and he could see them now.

The girl, one whom he'd seen a file on before but couldn't remember her name, was taller than Roy. She dressed in a purple outfit. It was very similar to a one-piece swimming suit. It cupped her breasts and almost pushed them up slightly. Then a part of the fabric moved down her abdomen and acted as a bikini. Her boots (also purple) were high heeled and when up to her knees. She had long hair. Long, flaming hair. It seemed to flow around her body and provided a natural lighting and reeked of heat. But it did not flow gracefully as most women's hair did.

She was truly beautiful.

But why was she here? And why was she with Roy?

Roy, sensing his friend's confusion, stepped forward and gestured to his 'friend'. "Dick, this is Kory. She is an alien princess." He said. The girl in question stepped forward.

"I am Koriand'r, the second daughter of Tamaran." She said defiantly. Then her thorny voice turned smooth and gentle. "We are looking for a friend of ours. He said he would be here, with you." She glanced around before fixating her glowing eyes back on Nightwing. They roamed up and down, as though checking him out and then settling on his face once more. "You look similar to him. Are you related?"

Roy moved to his friend's side, patting her shoulder and hurriedly explaining to her whatever she was confused about. "Dick and Jason are adopted brothers, yes. Not blood though."

Suddenly, Dick grew angry.

"Family doesn't end in blood, Roy." He growled defensively. He stood up as though preparing to fight, but he knew it wouldn't come to that. "You guys are looking for Jay?"

Roy and Kory nodded. "He left a while ago and said he was meeting up with you. But we kind of need him at home, we have our own issues that need his assistance." Roy said, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

"I thought you were going to try to take care of Other Roy?" Dick said. "When did you and Jason and Kory start up a little club?" He flicked his wrist in a disrespectful way towards the glowing girl, still weary of her existence near him.

Roy hissed through his teeth at the mention of the original Roy. After Dick kicked him off the Team, he didn't really know what happened to him. He knew he joined the other kids Luthor created, but that was about it. He hadn't had the time to keep up on what happened with the Arrow Family drama.

"Roy didn't want my help." He explained. Dick almost laughed, but he restrained himself. "And anyway, have you seen Jason? We kind of miss him."

Dick's face soured, though he didn't not mean for it to. "Jason is believed to be deceased." He said bitterly.

Kory gasped at this news. Her hand instantly flew to her mouth and she made this strangled sound, as though choking on the air she was breathing. "How can this be?" she asked, almost angrily.

Dick looked surprised at her anger. She almost seemed to be directing it towards him, when in truth he did nothing wrong. He didn't murder Jason. He didn't torture him. He didn't even believe Jason was truly gone. "Joker blew up a warehouse. It is believed Jason was locked inside, and we found his jacket and mask in the wreckage." He said.

Kory lightened visibly at this news. "But no body was found?" she exclaimed. She looked at Roy, as though looking for confirmation of her hopes that Jason was in fact still alive. Dick lightened slightly as well.

"No, there was no body." He replied cautiously. These two seemed interested in the possibility that Jason Todd was still alive.

"So he could still be alive?" Roy asked, holding out his hand as though waiting to receive an answer. The archer looked hopeful, as did the alien. The two exchanged gazes, Kory's more excited than Roy's. Two pairs of hopeful green eyes met masked blue ones in search of a lost comrade.

Dick didn't know what to say. Should he tell them his own beliefs in hopes that maybe, on some chance, his brother was still alive and these two could help him find him? Or should he tell them that the odds were stacked against Jason's life, and that he was most likely dead?

"Yes," Dick said slowly. "Technically he could still be alive."

Roy sensed his friend's hesitation, picking up on a hunch. "Do you think he's still alive, Dick?"

That made him uneasy. The fact that Roy just threw around his name while in costume when, since the age of nine, all he'd been taught was that his name should taste sour on his tongue when the mask came on. No names on the field. No excuses. Dick's identity could expose the rest of the Bat Family, and that made his name a liability. Roy either didn't know or didn't care. Maybe the way Jason ran his team (Jason had to be in charge. He was a Bat) no one cared about secret identities. Maybe that's why Roy didn't wear a mask anymore.

"Come on." Dick said. "Let's discuss this somewhere more… private."

Without waiting for a reply, he back flipped over the rooftop ledge and flew towards the ground. He knew Roy followed, as an arrow soared past his body a few feet to the right with a line attached, closely followed by the archer himself. Kory's glowing hair gave her away as she flew beside the boys. Dick smirked at both of them before firing his grapple to the tallest building and following the rope. Roy, in a true Arrow fashion, cut his line and reached for another arrow. Kory, however, interrupted this by simply picking him up and carrying him.

And Dick laughed as he switched directions once more.

********************************LINE BREAKER!********************************

Everything was grey.

Except the sky. The sky was a dark black with small smudges of grey. Why was everything so grey? Grey and snowy. Small flurries of grey fell onto his face, gently clouding his nostrils and stinging his eyes. The flurries were hot, but they soothed his skin against the bitter air.

There was no sound. Where even was he? Why was he just laying down, staring into the sky? How did he get here?

He felt like he was floating on a cloud, the soft tendrils of the sky wrapping around his bare body. That was a better question. Why was he naked? Was he even fully naked?

What happened?

Instead of sound he had a high pitched ringing in his ears, and it bounced around his skull painfully in the form of a migraine. He slowly sucked in through his mouth and forced it out quickly through his nose. The flurries that clogged his nostrils moved, but there was a sharp pain in his torso that burned and stabbed. He felt his mouth open, and he tried to make noise, but all he heard was the high pitched ringing. He realized his throat was painfully dry and even if he had made a noise, it would've been near inaudible.

Now that he thought about it, everything seemed to hurt. What was going on?

He moved his hand to soothe the pain, but that hurt as well. He felt his joints pop and crack angrily with his movements. At the first sight of his hand while it was raised above his body, he noticed the flurries had smeared together with an oozing liquid to make his skin a dreary black shade. Just now he was noticing that it stung a great deal, and there was nothing he could do to stop the stinging in his flesh.

Some skin was not even there, instead a pale red and pink area on his forearm remained. He had skin there before, hadn't he? He was almost certain he did. Why wouldn't he have had skin there before? He didn't recall being deformed previously. But that obviously leads to the question of why he now lacked the skin he was sure he had once had.

The ringing was now becoming horribly annoying, and he wasn't sure he could bear it much more. He thought it was dying down, or perhaps he was just becoming used to it. Other sounds were becoming slightly more obvious now.

He could hear shuffling, but only a bit. It was impossible to pinpoint a location. For some reason, he was terrified to move. He worried that by moving he could cause himself further pain, and since he had opened his eyes in this grey landscape the pain in his body had only increased.

However, something in him told him to roll over and further observe his surroundings. After all, the entire world could not have turned grey while he slept, could it?

Every ounce of energy he had left he used in pulling his weight sideways. He gasped in pain, but that's all he could manage. The weight he pushed onto his shoulder as he rolled made him feel as though his bones were collapsing within his body. As he slowly moved onto his chest, the weight moved and it crushed his ribs and burned his skin.

His eye sight, he now realized, was spotty. He could make out blurry figures moving and interacting several yards away. Now that he was looking at something other than the black and grey colors he had awoken too, he noticed that the black he had previously assumed was sky was probably spots in his vision where he simply couldn't see. Perhaps he had somehow damaged his eyes.

The blurry figures he noticed now appeared to be angry with each other. One was holding another, one flailed his arms about at that, one held two lumps of cloth, and one slumped a ways off from the rest.

Perhaps these people knew what was going on. There was nothing he could do to move himself closer. His body had begun to fight him with simply remaining conscious, and he wasn't prepared to start the battle of moving once more. Opening his mouth, he began huffing small parts of air out. He was unsure if these huffs were successful in making sounds, but he continued trying.

As time went on, he gathered enough spit in his mouth to swallow and somewhat clear his throat. But the figures were disappearing into the distance. As they moved away, all he managed to do in protest was gasp out a feeble, "Wait. . ."

*******************************LINE BREAKER********************************

Alrighty, here's that epilogue I promised forever ago.

There are a lot of reasons I couldn't and didn't update, but I feel like that would be rude to feed you excuses so just accept that I'm really horribly terribly completely sorry and let's move on.

Please review, tell me what you think. Again I'm super sorry for making you wait forever. : (

REVIEW ANSWERS!

GwenuitHolland: Oh my gosh thank you! And if you have uploaded that story you were talking about in your review (which was almost a year ago and I'm seriously so sorry) then I would absolutely love to read it! Now that I've remembered my FanFiction password I plan to be a lot more active, so I'll check your page and see if you've uploaded something and I'll tell you what I think :)

53: Sorry it took so long to let you know!

IcyWhiteParadise: I'm not sure if you've been stalking me this whole time, but I appreciate you telling me I can write! It means a lot :)

Alright. As usual,

REVIEW!

~Charlie~