Disclaimer- I don't own Young Justice.

Chapter 14

"It all started five thousand years ago in a land far, far away-"

Kid Flash interrupted Dick. "Okay, are you explaining things to us or telling us a bed time story?"

Dick rolled his eyes. "I'm explaining things to you."

"Then why say it started five thousand years ago? You're only like twelve," Artemis commented from her spot on Oliver's couch.

Dick flashed a glare at Artemis. "I'm thirteen, not twelve!"

"Then why are you so short?" M'gann asked innocently, having no idea how much Dick hated when people mentioned his height.

Placing his hand on Dick's shoulder, Bruce stood up. "Enough. You asked for answers so let him speak."

"Wait a minute. I have a question," Black Canary spoke up, a slight frown on her face.

Bruce suppressed a sigh. " Yes?"

"If this truly start five thousand years ago, then why is Dick involved? He's only a child," Black Canary said, her frown deepening with confusion.

Dick smirked. "I just love how you guys forget that vampires live longer than humans."

"Then how old are you?" Black Canary asked, curious.

"I could ask you the same question but that would be rude, now wouldn't it?" Dick replied, his smirk now faded a little.

"Ah, come on Rob! Can't you just tell us already? I'm dying to know!" Kid Flash said, flashing his puppy eyes.

"Fine . . . I'm five thousand years old," Dick answered, clearly bored of this already.

Silence followed Dick's words, filling the empty space in Oliver giant living room. Mouths hung open, shocked beyond measure. Dick was five thousand years old? And yet he acted like a child . . .

"My mind set was a thirteen-year-old's when I was . . . changed so that's why I don't act like I'm ancient," Dick said, answering their unspoken question.

"You guys better get used to Dick peeking into your minds. He just LOVES to do that," Roy said, muttering the last part.

Superman frowned at Dick's words. "Wait. When you were changed? You weren't the first vampire?"

Everyone's (except Bruce, Oliver and Roy) heads snapped to look at Dick who had stiffened at the question.

"No . . . I wasn't," Dick answered, his smirk vanishing from his face.

"Then who was?" Aqualad asked.

Dick remained silent, his eyes locked on the window and the cities lights in the distance. He never wanted to speak of that man again. Not since the day that . . . monster had robbed him of his humanity, his heart . . .

And his family.

But his friends deserved an explanation before he wiped their memories of him and Roy . . . Yes, they at least deserved that. After all, they had made him feel human again and made him forget that he would have to leave them. Oh, that was wonderful times. Just like the times he had with Bruce and Alfred, making that dark home light again.

But now those times were only memories, memories that would eventually fade away into nothing but little fragments and pieces.

But those fragments and pieces would always stay with him, would always be a part of him.

And that was enough for him . . . No, that would never be enough for him but he would take what he could get.

Because that was all life had to offer him now seeing as it hated him for denying the law of all living things.

The law of death.

" . . . Lucifer."

A/N- Don't you love the cliffhanger? Please review! This was published on 2-13-12 with the length of 657 words.