I.- A Storm Is Coming

Dick Grayson

It's been a year.

One full year since my best friend died saving the world. Today is 4th of July, most occasion an American holiday. But no, to me, it is the worst day of the year. Wally, my partner, the only one who kept me sane and going, was gone. Stupid aliens and stupid Light that had to make sure that I lose everything. I could bear it when Wally left the Team, but not that he left this world. Because he left me, forsaken.

So I was sure I could pull through, feel the aster and hide the pain after a while. I decided to take a temporal "leave of absence" from the Team after the Reach Invasion, but now… I don't think I can ever be a hero again. How can I save the world when I can't even save myself? I could take it when Tula died, but Wally… now I know how Kaldur felt when he lost the love of his life. I also lost a part of me when my big brother decided to run to his death.

I don't think I can forgive Wally. Why didn't he stop?

That is the question that plagues me every night as I enter a bar or cantina to have a drink. That's what's left of me. A struggling alcoholic. A struggling failure. I've been coped in Blüdhaven for a year, not even daring to look at my Nightwing uniform. I'm not Nightwing anymore. I'm just… Dick Grayson, failed hero and struggling police officer.

The Team has been off world for weeks now, struggling to fight the Light's new ally, a massive alien conqueror named Darkseid form Apokolips. To be honest, I don't care anymore. I mean, I care for them, all of them… it would kill me if one of them died… but if the world dies, it's not my problem. Not anymore. I lost the right to call myself a hero when I exchanged my eskrima sticks for a beer bottle.

So here I am, in a bar, wearing torn jeans and a red t-shirt, wearing my shades. I don't want the world to see my eyes, they are as lost as me. So I just grab another glass of whisky and pour it down. This was going to be another night where I wonder how could things go so wrong.

"Dick…"

I heard a voice call my name. I turned around and found Roy looking at me with a concerned look. He had found me, as he usually does. Roy Harper, my other older brother, on of the four people I just can't bear losing. Tim, Bruce and Alfred being the other three. Maybe Artemis and Barbara too. I don't know, I just know I don't know how to love them if I don't love myself anymore.

Roy, the former Red Arrow, looked at me worriedly. "Not again, Dickie…"

"What can I tell you, Roy?" I said as I looked down, not daring to look at him. "Now I know how you felt when you were looking for Speedy. How do I make this pain go away?"

Roy sighed and sat in the stool beside me. "I don't know, but what I know is that you need to stop. I know it's consuming you, Wally was not only your best friend… he was kind of your older brother… and he was my brother too. The three of us were a team and I know it's hard to let him go… but Dick, you're losing yourself…"

"I already lost myself," I answered, closing my eyes in pain. "I don't know who I am anymore…"

"Drowning inside a bottle is not going to help you find that answer," said Roy as he removed the glass from my grasp and smiled at me. He was always a good friend, a responsible support. Now that he is being Lian's father instead of a hero, he's much more… warm. He's even forgiving me for being such a fuck-up lately.

I looked up at him. "Hmm… can I… crash at your place tonight? I don't feel like being alone…"

Roy smiled at me and nodded. "Sure, kid. Just go straight to bed though, you're tired and I don't want you to make a mess and wake up Lian…"

"Daddy Roy," I said with a chuckle, "fits you."

My friend placed an arm around me, half hugging me. I needed that. "Let's go home, Dickie…"

I paid the tab and we made our way to the Roy's car, ready to go to his home. I was afraid, I've been having a bad feeling from time to time. Like a storm that is coming.

And every time this happened, I couldn't help but feel guilt over my greatest failure, the one I don't want to think about often, but creeps into my mind. The first reason that makes me lose my mind.

Jason.

Jason Todd

The time had come.

My return to Gotham City was as overwhelming as I thought. I've been hidden for so long, trying to train my body and train my soul. To be stronger, to be unforgiving, to be powerful. To control this rage that was slowly consuming me. The League of Shadows was kind enough to give me sanctuary for a while, but now I need to return to my genesis. I may not be Robin anymore… but I am surely going to become something more.

Something meaningful.

I was standing on top a building at Wayne Enterprises, my "father's" company. It was poetic.

I had craved my uniform, it was a body suit with a red bat, symbol of my past an my future as Gotham's reckoning. A jacket to go, two guns and the most important part of it. The one that would define me as a symbol of order in this wretched city. A red helmet.

A remembrance to my killer's past, and his grim future.

Jason Todd was no longer a sidekick, he was no longer a slave. He was no longer Robin. From now on, I would be called upon the name of those who terrorized Gotham before.

I'm the Red Hood.

I put the helmet on my head, the red symbol of the hood. And I look down, trying to see where to start.

Then I hear a scream. A woman.

Typical Gotham, making it obvious it needs help.

I rush forward, ready for some action.

Jason Todd was back to the game.

Tim Drake

The Team was having so much of a difficulty trying to defeat Vandal Savage and the Light. His new ally, Darkseid, was planning another invasion and we were going mad trying to stop him. Kaldur was beating his head trying to find a way to stop that invasion. I, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the amount of time we've been spending on space and the Watchtower.

Cassie and I were in the memorial room, watching Wally's hologram.

I sighed. If only the speedster knew how much we missed him. How his death destroyed Dick. I looked around, trying to come to terms with everything that had happened in the last year. Yes, we broke the Light in half, yes, we stopped the Reach. But the cost was too high.

My idol, my hero, was in pain and I could not take it away.

"If only Wally hadn't died…" began Cassie sadly as she looked down.

Then, another two figures appeared. Tigress, the former Artemis, and the new Kid Flash, Bart Allen, who gave up being Impulse to honor his cousin. They both had it pretty hard. I mean, Artemis had been Wally's five year girlfriend and partner, and Bart had learned so much from Wally in so little time. These two, along with Dick and Roy were the most hurt. Not to mention Flash.

"If Wally hadn't died, we would be dead… all of us," said Tigress as she walked towards us and placed a hand over Cassie's shoulder. "I know there would be no mankind if it wasn't for Wally. And for that, we must honor his sacrifice…"

Cassie looked down. "How can you cope with him not being here?"

Kid Flash sighed. "We cope. It pains us, but we try to honor him."

I knew how that felt.

I looked just a few meters way where I found another hologram, Robin II, Jason Todd, my adoptive brother. He had died too, not long ago, and I was trying so hard to honor him as well. That's why I took the mantle of Robin, to honor my fallen brother and support.

Unconsciously, I walked towards Jason's memorial, letting go of Cassie's hand.

She, as well as Tigress and Kid Flash, looked at me worriedly. I didn't care, I just walked towards the memorial and looked up as I would often do. Was I good enough to fill Jason's shoes?

"Tim… are you okay?" asked my girlfriend as she looked at me with a concerned look.

"I will be, Cass…" I answered, but I was not completely sure.

Tigress looked at us. "When you're done, Aqualad wants to debrief us. Seems we have a new ally too."

"Really?" asked Cassie excited.

Kid Flash nodded. "Yeah, some kind of alien princess who wants to see Darkseid destroyed too! Her name is Koriand'r. I know, it's a mouthful! We like to call her Starfire."

I nodded. I needed to focus on the task at hand and try to forget the past. But I knew it. A storm was coming.

Damian al Ghul

I was standing in the Main Chamber of Nanda Parbat, looking at Grandfather. It's been a while since I've seen him so anxious. Not since his resurrection one year ago he's been like that. A lot has happened in the past times and it was hard to understand.

My grandfather, Ra's al Ghul, was killed by the Black Beetle in the Summit at the Reach Invasion. Of course, Ubu brought him here and we resurrected him with the Lazarus Pit. But that death experience changed my mentor and idol. Ra's al Ghul was different.

He was… bitter.

He deserted the Light, in order to fulfill a new agenda I was not happy about. He wanted to purify the world, one civilization at a time, rather than just… people. It scared me. And let me tell you, I am NOT easily scared.

So I was watching my grandfather, anxious for his answers.

"We're going to destroy Gotham," said Grandfather as he looked upon us with fiery eyes. "Our destiny as the League of Shadows is to cleanse the world. We shall start with its vilest and most corrupt city…"

My mother was with me, and she looked outraged. "Father, you can't just kill millions of lives…"

"I can and I will," said Grandfather as he looked back. "I've made… arrangements. It will happen soon…"

"My beloved will never let you fulfill your plans," said Mother as she shouted in anger. I knew who her beloved was, my father, my biological progenitor. The man they called… the Batman.

"If the Detective wants to stop us, so be it…" said Grandfather as he looked down. "After what happened to Jason, I promised myself to not interfere again with him. But things have changed… the invasion… the Light… my death… I now see the truth…"

I frowned. "Grandfather, please… you can't do it!"

"Stand down, Damian," said Grandfather and he looked at me with disapproval. "I'm going to cleanse Gotham from vermin. And not even the Batman can stop me from achieving this goal. I have forged a new alliance… and it will see that our attempts on Gotham are not wasted…"

"And alliance?" asked Mother, surprised. "With whom?"

"A society that works in Gotham's shadows. They call themselves… the Court of Owls…" said Grandfather and looked down, thoughtful. "It will happen, Talia, Damian… it will happen…"

Mother looked at me and then at Grandfather. She looked defiant. "Sorry, Father… but I can't follow you down that path. Homicide and Assassinations… they are a necessary evil. But Genocide… that's different…"

"Talia…" said Grandfather, unsure. "I'm sorry, my Daughter, but if you will not share my Destiny, then you will have to leave Nanda Parbat. As an exile…"

"Suit yourself," said Mother and glared at Grandfather. I was surprised, shocked. I knew my place was with my mother… but leaving the League of Shadows? I was supposed to be the Heir to the Demon. It was my legacy.

With that, Mother grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

Once we were outside the Main Chamber, I looked at Mother, confused. "Mother… where are we going?"

"Gotham…" said my mother with a decided look. "I'm going to stop the League of Shadows and the Court of Owls… but I need your help, Damian. It's time you meet your Father…"

Yes, a storm was coming…