Thank you for reading, as always I appreciate constructive criticism, just and I'd like to see what I can improve on as a writer.
**Disclaimer: I do not own any of the locations or songs within this story, Young Justice and its characters such as Dick Grayson and Zatanna Zatara are strictly property of Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Songs that are being sung are not owned by me either, but are written and performed by Jesse McCartney, voice actor of Dick Grayson on Young Justice.
Chapter 5: Unbroken
Zatanna was in hers and Dick's apartment, in their bed, sleeping and dreaming. She and Dick were holding hands, in the kitchen of Mount Justice. Laughing, smiling. Dick smiled at her, and he stood up, Wally and Artemis looked at him, and gave him reassuring smile. Wally winked quickly, and then Dick looked back at Zatanna, giving her a quick smirk, then turning and saying, "Everyone! May I have your attention please?" He asked in a soft but firm tone.
The Team looked at him all smiling as well, but respectfully silent. Dick looked at her again, "Zatanna, I love you so much, more than anything in the universe, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He paused as he got down on one knee and pulled out a golden engagement ring. "Zatanna Zatara, will you marry me?" He asked her; a nervous smile crossed his face.
She looked at him, her hands cupped in front of her face, and tears of joy were in her eyes as she stood up, "Yes! Yes, absolutely yes; yes, with all of my heart." He smiled and embraced her, and gave her a long passionate kiss. She put her arms around her neck, and the Team smiled. They all looked at the happy couple and said, "Congratulations!"
Another scene went off in her head. In a chapel, she was being walked down the aisle by her father, whose hair was graying with age. He handed her off to Dick who was standing on the altar, hands folded in his face; smiling at her. Her veil was still over her face as her father, giving her a reassuring smile.
Her heart raced as she walked up the stairs onto the altar where the priest was waiting for her so they could begin the ceremony. She took her place on the stage, and the priest said, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony."
The ceremony took some time, but finally they reached the end, "If anyone disagrees, please speak now, or forever hold your peace. Alright then, we shall continue. Richard, do you take Zatanna to be your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do." Dick smiled a wide grin on his face. "And do you, Zatanna, take Richard to be your lawfully wedded husband?" "I do." She responded to him. "Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss the bride."
Dick moved in, and Zatanna did the same. They met in the middle, a warm embrace followed as their lips made contact, a soft kiss, full of passion. They pulled away and exchanged an "I love you" He picked her up, holding her by her legs and her back, her arms wrapped around his neck. They watched as people clapped, they smiled to their respective parents and all of their friends.
Time sped up again; she was in the hospital bed, holding her babies, her twin girls, Dick holding her hand. Then it sped up, the girls were running around the house, each a mirror of their parents. And she was holding another baby, a boy. She and Dick kissed as they watched T.V. with their boy, and the girls had cuddled up with them.
The next scene was he and Zatanna fighting side by side, a whole wave of dark figures in front of them, Artemis and Wally at their side. They fought off their enemies with ease, but one stood up, a detonator in his hand. Dick looked at Zatanna, fear evident in his blue eyes, "I love you Zatanna." He looked at Wally quickly, "Wally, you know what to do."
Wally grabbed hold of Artemis and Zatanna and at his top speed ran away from the scene. Dick charged in with incredible agility, attempting to buy as much time as possible for them. Wally, Artemis and Zatanna were quite clear of the area, and Wally was about to rush in again to get Dick, but then they saw the fire engulf the area. A loud explosion heard as they watched helplessly. "NO! DICK!" they cried out helplessly.
A final image, Dick in his costume without his signature domino mask looked at her, his cerulean blue eyes blazing, he reached out to her, a white light was engulfing his; his body was fading and their arms were reaching toward one another. "Dick, don't leave me, she said." As his body quickly faded away, "I love you, Zatanna, never forget it. Promise me that will you?" His body fading from existence quickly, he was completely gone; all there was now was stillness. "I promise you Dick." Tears falling from her face, she fell to the ground sobbing.
Zatanna woke up quickly and sat up in her bed, "Dick, I had the worst dream ever just now, it was…" Her speech stopped as she looked over to see the bed was empty next to her. Tears gathered their way into her eyes as she fell back into her spot on the bed again, her eyes already red from crying earlier, she thought to herself and said, "I just can't believe he's gone; it's been almost three days." She sobbed in her pillow.
Artemis, who had been staying with her, along with Wally, for the past couple of nights came into the room and put her arm around Zatanna. "It's going to be alright, everything's going to be alright." "It's my fault he's gone, Artemis, I could have stopped him." "It wasn't your fault; he saved thousands of lives with his sacrifice, he couldn't have known there would be a bomb." "But he couldn't save himself, I never said goodbye to him. I-" She started to cry again, her voice cracked. "It's alright; everything's going to be alright." Artemis said trying to comfort her. "You need to sleep Zatanna, we've got a hard day tomorrow." The thought of Dick's funeral made her cry even more.
The funeral precession ended, as everyone stood in the Wayne Family graveyard, next to Thomas and Martha Wayne's gravestone it said 'Richard "Dick" John Grayson, "Loving son, hero, and friend. He was the bravest of us all." December 1, 1997- February 17, 2015, his trademark Nightwing symbol engraved on the stone. The Team, the League, and friends had gathered all to see the funeral of Nightwing, to mourn the loss of their friend and leader.
Zatanna stood there, tears in her eyes; she blamed herself for his death. Bruce as well blamed himself for not being there to help; he was holding Diana with him, and standing next to the family butler, Alfred Pennyworth, whose own eyes were red, as the tears ran down his face.
He looked at the gravestone, "I failed you, Master Richard, I should have convinced you to leave the life behind, such as Master Bruce should have done long ago, but Gotham needed you, the world needed you and it still does." He looked over to Bruce, "Hopefully this will convince you to quit the life of the hero, I've buried enough members of the Wayne Family to know, I don't want to have to bury another" Alfred cried, Bruce brought his arm around him.
"Now that Dick is gone, Gotham needs me now more than ever, our enemies will know we're vulnerable." Tim, Barbara, Artemis and Wally stood there helping their friends and mentors as they too grieved for Dick. Tim kneeled in front of the gravestone, "Dick, you know there's so much I had to say to you, so much time we had ahead of us, and all I know is, you are, and always will be, my big brother, and my hero." He struggled to hold back his tears, and Barbara put her arms around him, "Everything will be alright, Tim, we'll get through this."
Artemis held onto Zatanna and Wally as they both cried their eyes out, their heartache was evident as every tear dripped out. Wally had just lost his best friend; they had been through so much together. Zatanna had also lost her best friend, her boyfriend, her lover, the man that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She held the Eskrima sticks she had given to him for Valentine's Day in her hands, holding them close to her.
Dick woke up, a white light shone in his face; the spirit who had taken him looked at him and said, "Welcome Richard Grayson, I am the Spectre." Dick sat up; he was in an extravagant place, "Where am I?" Dick said curiously. "Why you're in heaven of course, but you don't belong here, friend."
"Wait, so I have to go to the other place?" "No, it's not your time yet friend, but your life seems to be in distress. Your friends are in mourning, but you are not truly dead, you are here. Before the explosion took you, I took your mind, body and soul here." "This Court of Owls will be destroyed soon, but your friends cannot do it without you, for now we must wait until they make their move on them before I can return you to the Earth. For now you must enjoy the company of fallen heroes and people here.
Five familiar faces appeared in the light, the faces of his family. "Hello Dick." The smiling face of his mother said, "I'm glad to see you, your father and I are very proud of you." "Yes Dick, we are, and so are your aunt, uncle, and cousin." John Grayson said. "We've watched you here from above, but we're not here to welcome you, not yet. You have your whole life ahead of you; son, you and Zatanna have your whole lives ahead of you."
Zatanna now alone stood in front of Dick's grave stone, she fell to her knees sobbing, her heart full of sorrow, and she spoke to his gravestone, "I'm sorry Dick. I shouldn't have gotten upset with you, not over that. Now you're gone forever, and it's my fault. Now that you're gone, there's still so much I wanted to say to you. I never even got the chance to tell you how much I love you, how much I…" Her words were cut short as a transmission came in from Bruce, "Zatanna, it's time."
Bruce, the Team, the League, Wally, Artemis and the rest of the Batman family were aboard the Javelin, and the Bio-Ship. They were sitting ready to take on the remnants of the Talons, and the Court of Owls. Azrael looked out of the ship and said, "There it is, their hideout is in a cave, just under Blackgate Penitentiary, according to Ra's Al Ghul. It looks as if The League of Shadows is already here."
He was right, there were Shadows engaged in battle with the Talons, and some of the mutant human/owl creatures as well that they had dubbed "The Owls". They smiled at one another, and Batman said "For Nightwing." The rest of them repeated, "For Nightwing."
Bruce landed the Javelin as Miss Martian did the same for the Bio-Ship, the Team and The League walked out joining the struggling Shadows in their battle against the Court of Owls. Bruce, Zatanna, and the Batman family travelled in while the Team and the League fought off the owls and Talons. Superman took down the owls and Talons with ease.
They entered the cave under Blackgate the final hideout for the Court of Owls to see that Ra's Al Ghul, Deathstroke, Hook, and Black Spider among other Shadows were fighting the Court, along with the Talon's another battle raged on with the Shadows and Talons, Diana and Cassie entered as well fighting off the Talons and Owls.
Ra's fought the Grand Justice, Bruce quickly jumped into the fight, only vengeance ringing through his head, and Dick's name. The battle was fierce, punches being blocked and thrown, weapons clashing; death and destruction rang out in the Court of Owl's last refuge.
"Richard Grayson, it is time for your return home. Your team needs you, with retribution in their hearts and minds, it has clouded their judgment, and they will surely make mistakes that wouldn't be made if you hadn't disappeared from their lives. The belief in your death has even clouded the mind of Superman; his wrath will obliterate the Earth, similar to what happened to the Justice Lords. You cannot allow this to happen." The Spectre said to Dick. "Yeah, kid, you should probably get going." Deadman said, smiling.
"Thank you, Spectre, and you too Mr. Brand." Dick said respectfully, his family looked at him and his father said, "We're very proud of you son, I'm glad you got to see us. Come back and visit us sometime." He said jokingly. "Goodbye." Dick smiled, tears filling his eyes. "Ah-ah, no, Grayson, no crying in Heaven, the Boss doesn't allow it." Deadman laughed. The Spectre spoke again, "Take my hand Richard. I'm taking you home now." Dick took his hand and the vision of his family and Boston Brand disappeared.
A flash of divine light came in the midst of the battle, all had paused to look and see, and the Owls themselves were blinded by the light, and entered a state of panic. Much to their surprise out of the white light stepped a man in a black leotard suit with a blue bird in the center with messy hair and a stylized black domino mask. "Dick!" Wally cried out. "Grayson, but how? He died in the explosion, I know it." The Grand Justice said aloud. "Hah! Grayson's back, well I always knew we couldn't kill him." Ra's Al Ghul said smiling.
He drove his sword through the Grand Justice as he wasn't looking. "Well now that's over with… it's time to finish off the rest of the Court. Zatanna looked at Dick in awe, he looked back, and through his mask he shot her a wink. "Can't get rid of me that easily, everyone." He smiled. Zatanna smiled at him, her eyes filled with tears, and he looked at her again. He walked over to her, and he gave her a kiss wrapping his arms around her waist, assuring her the moment wasn't just a dream. "I'm sorry for leaving you like that." He said to her sweetly, she looked at him, her eyes still tear filled. "Here, your sticks."
She said, her voice trembling, his embrace warmed her body and handed him his Escrima sticks. She now knew that he was real and standing next to her. "Thank you, Zee; I was hoping you still had those." He said teasingly. He turned around, letting go of her waist. He looked at Bruce and smiled, "Well, as nice as this reunion has been, it's time we finish this."
Dick began to fight, like no one had ever seen before, his agility and deftness was astonishing. He jumped up and began the fight with the Court, the large fight had continued. "The only way to beat the Talon's is to kill them, they're not human, and neither is the Owl Swarm. The Court; well we'll leave them with the League of Shadows when this is over." Dick fought back to back with Zatanna, taking down Owl, and Talon with each swing or spell. The fight had turned for the better, the judgment of Dick's friends no longer clouded by the spirit of vengeance.
After a few minutes, the battle was over, Talons, and the Owls lay dead on the floor, the Court had been knocked out and restrained, besides the Grand Justice, who had been killed by Ra's Al Ghul. "Well, Grayson, this concludes our business; a deal is a deal. But know this; we will not be friends the next time we meet." Ra's said smiling, "We were never friends, Ra's, but the temporary alliance was a pleasure." Dick replied, a smirk on his face. "We leave the Court's fate yours decide, Ra's."
"They will receive the Light's judgment after I bring them before the Council, Farewell Grayson." Ra's and the League of Shadows disappeared in a puff of smoke, along with the court. Zatanna ran to him, "I'm so sorry Dick, I was upset with you, I was so afraid I lost you…" He shushed her, "Hush, it's alright, you're not alone. I'm here now."
Bruce came up to him, "Welcome back, Dick." He put his hand on his shoulder, "It's good to be back, Bruce." Dick said, smiling looking down at his girlfriend, holding her close to him. Dick said hello to all of his friends and teammates, he gave them all hugs and handshakes, and assuring them he'd be here to stay. They all gathered around him wondering how he had lived throughout all of that.
Dick began "Well, when the explosion went off, a ghost came and took me away, it was the Spectre, and he carried me off to heaven. I even saw my family up there. I stayed there for the time being, it only felt like minutes, but it was days for you guys. I admit it was a little odd watching my own funeral, I didn't like it."
"However, I must admit I'm whelmed by all the attention." He smiled and held on to Zatanna. He kissed her on the forehead. She looked up at him, "Never leave me, please, Dick?" He looked down into her eyes, admiring their beauty "I'll never leave you, Zee, never again."
They spent the night at Wayne Manor, talking with Bruce, Diana, Alfred, Tim, Wally and Artemis. "So umm, about the gravestone in the back, yeah I think we should probably get rid of that." Zatanna, Bruce and the others laughed at this.
Soon after the couple retired to Dick's room, they talked about all the stuff that had happened while he was gone. They expressed their love for one another, and apologized to one another for being upset over such a small thing. "One little fight doesn't change how I feel about you, I'll always love you, and I'll always care about you."
Dick said, the sweet, gentle tone in his voice only tenderizing the moment "Dick, I have a sincere question for you." Zatanna said, "I know you love me, not as in a person who will always hold a special place in your heart, but a kind of love as in forever." "I do, and someday I hope we can be married and have children together."
Zatanna let out a sigh of relief, "Do you think we'll ever leave this life behind and start our own together?" "We'll just have to find out for ourselves, won't we?" He replied mischievously. He gave her a kiss, and they climbed in the bed. Dick brought her close to him and whispered in her ear, "You know I made a visit to heaven and back, and none of the angels there were as beautiful as you."
She blushed as he finished his sentence; he kissed her on the cheek, holding her tight. "Well, I have the best boyfriend ever." She said to him, looking him in the eyes. "How would you know? I'm the only boyfriend you ever had." He said teasingly.
"How would you know, Dick, I could have had a bunch of boyfriends before we dated?" A confused and slightly nervous look crossed his face, knowing that the last statement was true. Zatanna laughed, "I'm kidding!" Dick let out a sigh of relief at hearing this. "Or am I?" She said to him again.
Dick turned his head away this time. "Oh lighten up, babe; you know you're my number one, my first, in everything." She said as she put her hand on the right side of his face bringing his face to look her in the eyes again.
"You know, those few moments I thought I was going to die really left me regretting only one thing. Leaving you behind, alone and the thought of being without you was something I couldn't think." Dick said staring into her beautiful cyan blue eyes. "I thought I lost you forever, I was so lost without you." "When I said forever, I meant every day for the rest of our lives, and even the next life."
Their faces now only inches apart, he moved in and pressed his lips against hers. She quickly accepted and kissed back. They pulled away, "Well, you know, now that I think about it, the funeral was weird, knowing that you're still alive. Thinking about your funeral is a little weird."
They laughed, and not too soon after they were asleep, under the sheet, their legs entwined with one another, holding on to each other as if they'd never let go of one another. They both were truly at peace sleeping together, just the thought that the other was with them was enough for them to keep going.
Too much? I'd like to see your opinions, and idea's for the next few chapters. Thank you for reading anyway! :) RxR it means a lot to me. You guys are awesome.