Sorry for the delay! Here is chapter two!

II- It All Brings Me Back To Gotham

Tim Drake

I was walking to the Watchtower's meeting room, kind of overwhelmed. I had made my decision. I needed to be there for my family, and I needed to find who I am. Ever since Wally died and Cassie revealed she wanted to be with me because 'life was too short', I realized something. I didn't know who I was. For such a long time I thought I was Robin, Boy Wonder, but I'm not. I'm not Timothy Drake either. I'm just some sort of person walking between personas.

Maybe I should start trying to piece all those parts of my soul, and I needed to return to Gotham for that. For such a long time, a year, I thought I belonged with the Team, even Batman let me stay in the Light pursuit instead of being his partner. But that changed. I needed to go back to Gotham, to help Batman, to be there for my mourning older brother… and to find myself.

The door opened and I walked in. I found Aqualad typing something in his holocomputer. He heard the door opened and turned to me. "Oh, Robin. Good to see you, I was just about to summon the Team for our meeting with the Tamarans, the princess Starfire is going to share with us their intelligence on Darkseid."

I grimaced. "Yeah, about that… Aqualad…I… need to tell you something…"

"Yes?" asked Aqualad concerned, his face softening. "Is everything okay, my friend?"

"Yes and no…" I began with a sigh and looked down. "You see. We've all been grieving for Wally… in our own way. But you know Artemis and Dick took it harder than anybody else. Artemis is embracing Tigress in order to let go of him… but Dick… he's lost and he doesn't have anything to hold on to. He needs his family, and that's why I'm requesting for your permission… to go back to Earth and… check on him for a couple of days…"

Aqualad looked at me and frowned slightly. "That is not all… I can see it in your eyes, Tim… there is something else bothering you…"

I sat down in a chair close to him, putting my elbows to on my thighs and looking down. "You're right. I may be homesick, I may be grieving still… but there is something I can't piece together. I just… I don't think I'm Robin anymore."

"What do you mean?" asked Aqualad.

I closed my eyes. "I don't know. I just don't feel comfortable with… this… anymore. I need to find myself, Kaldur, I need to go back to Gotham and find my strength again…"

Then, to my surprise, Aqualad smiled and put his hand over my shoulder. "I know what you mean. I've felt lost too, so many times, when I first came to the Surface, when Tula died, when I found out about Black Manta being my father… when I was forced to hurt the Team in the undercover mission…"

"Yes, I know you know…" I said and smiled sadly. "You know what is like to see yourself in the mirror and not… not finding your true face…"

"It's awful," said a new female voice in the room, I turned back and saw that Tigress was there, looking at me fondly.

I raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been there?"

"I'm a ninja girl, just like you. I know how to keep quiet," said Tigress and walked forward. "To be honest, I'm tempted to go with you. I haven't seen my mom in months and I know Dick may need a friendly hand too."

Aqualad looked at both of us. "Then why don't you go?"

Tigress raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Savage's alliance with Darkseid is proving to be a handful."

"We'll manage, Starfire and the Tamarans will aid us," said Aqualad and smiled at us. "Besides, you two need a break… maybe you can get into Dick's head… and you can all comfort each other. We're teammates… but we're also friends. And that's what friends do…"

I exchanged a smile with Artemis. "So, I guess we're taking the Zeta Tube to Gotham?"

Artemis smiled. "Race you there, Boy Blunder…"

Jason Todd

I was rushing to the streets, until I found my perp.

He was threatening a woman with his knife, and she was scared. This man, ragged clothes and beard, probably wanted to rape her. I wouldn't allow that. Not in my city. I looked at him through my mask. "Let her go, creep…"

"And who are you supposed to be?" asked the man, while the woman struggled to break free. "Oh, the symbol… are you a Batman fan?"

I frowned. "Trust me, I'm anything but a Batman fan. However, I do believe in keeping your past close… Now, leave the girl or I will be force to put you down…"

The man smirked. "Oh, so you want to play rough…"

Suddenly, I heard a noise. I turned around and saw that from several alleys, men with similar attire were coming closer to me with knives and guns. I frowned, although he couldn't see it underneath my helmet. "Oh, so you have a gang. I was wondering if this would be interesting, it sure will…"

With malice, the man's knife traveled to the girls jugular. "So, last chance, Batboy, leave and we won't have to use you as punching bag…"

One of those creeps approached me with a crowbar.

I hate crowbars.

Without thinking much, I rushed forward and with extreme agility, I kicked the man in the face, making the knife drop and the girl fall back. She stood up and started to run away, screaming loudly. Okay, now that she's out of harms way, I can kick their asses.

I jumped acrobatically and used both my legs to knock down two of those gangers, while I used my guns to shoot at them in the elbows and in the legs, to incapacitate them. They grunted in pain, but I didn't care. Their blood started to pave the ground, and the leader who was threatening the woman lunged forward to me with his knife.

He tried to punch me, but I evaded it. However, he headbutted me and despite being wearing a red helmet, he managed to take my gun from me. He pointed it at me while the rest of the gang members rushed at me with knives.

Once again, I jumped high and did a spin in the air, punching and taking down a few of them.

The leader aimed at me. "You don't see? We're way too many for you…"

I looked down. "If you think I'm backing down… you have no idea who you messed with."

He shot at me, but the bullet hit my Kevlar and I used all my strength to fight the force of the bullet. I was trained by Batman in the ways of the mind, while Ra's al Ghul trained my body to endure pain. I was practically a member of the Batfamily and the League of Shadows, albeit unofficial on both. But I knew how to fight and defend myself.

I knew how to kick ass.

The man was surprised when I grabbed his arm and folded it until it broke. He yelled and stepped back.

I kicked him in the stomach and took my gun back. "Never try to fight me again, because I will do more than break your arm…"

Suddenly, a small arrow was shot from the distance and hit my hand, making me drop the gun.

I looked up and turned around.

All the gang members started to flee in fear as they saw me take down their leader, but the new figure that appeared was… interesting.

It was a teenager, probably sixteen or seventeen, close to my age. He was wearing a red and black suit, my colors. He had a domino mask and shaved hair with the trace of it growing slowly. What was most interesting was that he wasn't holding a bow or anything. It was a mechanical arm with a crossbow attached. He was aiming at me.

"Stand down, whoever you are…" said the voice, which was familiar.

The man looked at me in fear as I aimed at him with my other gun. I turned briefly to the young man with the bionic arm. "Who are you? Why do you care about what happens to this scum?"

"He's scum, yes, but you don't have to kill him," said the other guy.

"I do, he's vermin poisoning this city…" I answered, and looked at the cowardly gang leader. "Don't tell me you're another idealist hero who is afraid of doing what is right… for the people."

The bio-guy walked closer, still aiming. "I'm not a hero like those you know. I used to be… but I'm not. But I cannot condone killing without any personal reason at all."

I thought for a moment and turned to the scumbag. I lowered my gun and kicked him in the stomach. "Go. Thank him for saving your pathetic life. If ever see you again… you'll be sorry in Hell…"

The man started to scramble away.

I turned to the bionic-guy and looked stared at him curiously, although he didn't know.

"Who are you?" asked the bionic-guy. He lowered his arm and looked at me with curiosity. "I've never seen you before…"

"I'm a ghost," I answered as I started to put my guns away. "I used to be someone in this city. Someone important. But who I was is not of relevance anymore. What matters is who I am today. I'm the Red Hood…"

"The Red Hood, huh?" said the bionic man with a smirk. "I like that. Sounds mysterious."

Then it hit me, he was really familiar and I now knew why. I nodded my head at him. "You look a lot like Red Arrow…just… younger…"

He frowned. "Oh, so you've met my clone."

"Your clone?" I asked, quite surprised. "So you're the real Roy Harper? The one the Light took and kept on ice?"

He frowned, deeper. "Okay, who are you and how do you know me?"

Slowly, my hands travelled to my helmet and I removed it, revealing my face. He didn't know me, of course, we never met. But this guy had some interesting history and vibe on him. I felt I could trust him. "I know more about you than you can imagine. I can't tell you my real name… but you'll find out soon enough. When the time is right."

"I see, you like mystery," said Original-Roy as he smirked. "You're not a member of the Team, right?"

"I was… for a while…" I said with some bitterness. "But that was time long past, around the time you were stored on ice. Anyway… I have to go, Roy…"

He looked interested. "Can I tag along? I was on my way to Taos when I saw you. I was just passing through Gotham. But I could stay here… get to know you better. You're a vigilante and I can't trust you to go around by yourself…"

I laughed.

He grimaced. "What's so funny?"

"You're not tagging along because you want to make sure I don't kill anybody," I said with a cackle. "You just want a friend. I can see it in your eyes. You're not the Speedy you were. You have issues. Mentor issues with GA I suppose? Your clone? You're bitter and you want someone to hang out with…"

"Shut up," said Original-Roy as he crossed his arms. "Look, you just look like the kind of guy who gets me."

I smiled. "Fine, you can tag along. I'm in need of a sidekick anyway…"

"I'm not a sidekick! Not anymore!" exclaimed the shaved guy with annoyance.

"Sure, Roy…" I said with a snicker. "I know. I can see it. You're trying to be your own man. Like me… so come on, I have plans…"

He nodded with a slight smile. "Yeah, just don't call me Roy. I'm not Roy Harper anymore. I let my clone keep my name, for he's been living my life for the last nine years. The world thinks he's Roy Harper, so let's keep it that way. I'm just a ghost… like you…"

"So," I began with curiosity. "How should I call you then?"

"Arsenal."

"Come on my little Robin," said Mary Grayson as she urged her seven year old son to jump towards the trapeze. "There is a net, nothing will happen if you fall. Come on my little bird, don't be afraid…"

Dick Grayson sighed, trying to gather courage. "I won't be afraid, Mamica…"

With confidence, despite the fear, Dick Grayson jumped and grabbed the trapeze and flew.

He flew.

For the first time in his life, he felt alive. He was just a young boy, but now he was flying.

He was a Flying Grayson.

With glee, he let go and flipped in the air, landing on the net. He jumped with a smile on his face. "Mamica, Tati! I did it!"

John Grayson walked towards him and grabbed him on his arms. "That's so wonderful, mica pasare…"

"I flew!" exclaimed Dick Grayson happily.

"You did, mica pasare," said Mary Grayson as she approached him and kissed him.

Then Mr. Haly walked towards him with a smile. "How a glorious moment! I've never seen a boy your age fly like that…"

"Thanks Mr. Haly!" said Dick Grayson happily.

Mr. Haly placed a hand over the little boy's shoulder. "Maybe one day you'll be chosen…"

"Chosen?" asked John Grayson confused.

"To be an owl…" said Mr. Haly cryptically. "To be… the Owl…"

The Flying Graysons exchanged looks confused.

Mr. Haly laughed. "You'll know what I mean, one day. Just heed my words, you've got a true bird there…"

Dick Grayson

I woke up in my bed.

I was confused. I didn't remember having dreams so vivid before, memories. It was strange. I reclined up and saw the clock. It was late. I bet Roy would kill me if I call him at this time. The phone would wake up Lian and then he would behead me. Meh, I don't need him. I just need to clear my head.

Standing up from bed, wearing my flannel pajamas, I looked though the window's apartment. I had a clear view of Blüdhaven, the city that became mine after I became Nightwing. Truth was, the city didn't need me anymore. In the last year it had become a more peaceful place.

Besides, I couldn't be Nightwing anymore. Not since Wally died. That part of me was gone.

I sighed and looked at my phone, it was beeping. My inbox. I had messages.

Walking groggily and heavily, I placed the button.

I had two new messages. The first one started. "Hey Dick, it's Bruce. I know it's been tough… the last year. Losing Kid… Wally… to the Reach was something that disturbed you deeply. But I want to tell you that I'm worried about you, that I care, and that you should come home… to Wayne Manor… for a few days. It would be great to see you. Alfred and I… we miss you. You never call, you never email, I know by Roy that you're having a tough time… so please… let me, your father, help you…"

My eyes watered a bit. After what happened with Deathstroke, when I became Nightwing, Bruce started to show me more affection. He really did love me. I guess he was right, I needed help and he was going to help me.

Then the second message started to sound. "Hello Dick, it's me, Tim. I know I haven't been the best little brother… with this invasion and the Light and Wally… dying… we haven't been close lately. So Artemis and I are going back to Gotham for a few weeks. I would love to see you. I know you're pained and suffering, but I can help you… if you let me. Hope you pass by Wayne Manor for a couple of days. I'll be so happy to see you, I love you big bro, you're my hero."

That was it. I looked down with my eyes watered. I needed to go back to Gotham. It would help me.

So tomorrow, I would go back to the city where I lost and found myself.

Damian al Ghul

Mother and I made it.

We were in Gotham City. Our boat had delivered us safely from Nanda Parbat. I was kind of nervous. Would my Grandfather pursue his desire to cleanse the city even if his daughter and grandson are there? I don't know. There were many things I didn't know about Ra's al Ghul. He's a changed man, after his latest resurrection.

"Did you notice, Damian?" asked Mother as we walked into the pier, in the night, in our assassin garbs.

"Sorry, Mother, I did not," I said apologetically. "What is it?"

"We've are being followed. By League of Shadows," said Mother with a frown as we walked towards the streets. "Seems my father sent you aunt, Nyssa, so spy on us."

"Aunt Nyssa is here too?" I asked, surprised. "That means Grandfather does care about us."

"He does, Damian, but he's not seeing right," said Mother as we walked towards the shadows. "We need to save him from his obsession. I will leave you with your father… and then I'll distract Nyssa so you can help your father stop this madness."

I scoffed. "Do you think Father will accept me?"

My mother smiled. "He will. He's stubborn, but he would not give his back to his own biological son. Let's go, time to meet him and his sons…"

I smirked at that. "I hope their training is good. I've seen Todd's training. I wonder if Grayson's and Drake's will be as good. To be honest, I'm excited to meet them for the first time…"

With that, we merged with the shadows.