Nightwing: Heartless

Part 23: Patrol

Dick needed to clear his head. He had 'killed' Artemis this week and hadn't been able to sleep since. He knew she wasn't dead, just undercover and in constant danger. Plus he was lying to the entire Team and had Wally breathing down his neck because he was going crazy with worry. It was draining. Had it really only been a month since they had sat around together eating pasta?

To make it worse, Dick had avoided Willa the last few days. He could feel her concern, could tell it hurt when he didn't stay long or made an excuse why he had to leave. She was biting her tongue, somehow knowing he needed space, but he knew her patience wouldn't last. He wished he could tell her it wasn't her fault, she was perfect, but he knew if he opened his mouth it would all come pouring out. He wanted to curl up in her lap and tell her the whole story. Which is why he had to avoid her until he cleared his head on his own. He knew getting into a relationship would be dangerous, he just hadn't expected to want to tell her everything so quickly. He was logical, and the logical thing to do would be to cut it off before he slipped up, or stopped wanting to cover up. And yet... it would hurt her, and the last thing Dick wanted was to hurt Will. He wanted to make her laugh and hear about her day, which is why he had to stay away for a little bit.

A night on patrol always helped, the fresh air, the feeling of swinging through the city. He landed on a roof and took in the sights and sound of his city. Screams erupted to his left, behind an abandoned church. Nightwing dove off the roof, searching for the cause.

Three teenagers were running for their lives, chased by a hulking figure partially hidden by the night. Nightwing couldn't tell much about the assailant except he was dangerous. It grabbed the kid closest and clamped a hand over his mouth. That was his cue.

Nightwing swung down, connecting his feet to the man's chest and sending him flying back, dropping the teenager. The kid scrambled up, not needing Nightwing to tell him to run. What Nightwing initially thought was a large man stood up and into the light. It definitely wasn't a man, wasn't even human. It kind of looked like Blue Beetle, except he was black and huge, much more menacing.

"You let my meat get away," it growled. Was it a cannibal?

"I don't know where you're from, but here on Earth, we don't eat children," Nightwing quipped and tensed for a fight. "I'd be happy to direct you to the nearest McDonalds."

"Cute," then he lunged, but Nightwing was fast. He spun out of the way and threw a volley of explosives. The alien flew backwards from the force but didn't seem affected. If anything, it just made him angry. He raised his arm and turned it into a gun of some sort.

Nightwing dove to the side to avoid the blast, rolling in between the alien's legs and popping up with his staff, landing a blow to the knee and the head before the alien turned around. But he was faster than Nightwing had expected from someone his size. He caught Nightwing's staff and wrenched it from his hands, flinging Nightwing's body to the right then snapping it.

Uh-oh, Nightwing thought before jumping to catch the fire escape ladder above him. He used the momentum and wrapped his legs around the alien's neck, activating the electric shocks in his gloves and pressing them on the meat head's face. He growled and made to grab Nightwing but Nightwing twisted down, pulling the Black Beetle down with him.

The beetle roared and reached for Nightwing. A ring shot from his hand but Nightwing ducked. He watched the black ring stick in the brick behind him. It was just like Blue Beetle's. He made a note to ask Jaime about it later.

"You're as aggravating as they said."

"They?" Nightwing asked as he threw more explosives in the beetle's face, using the distraction to blend into the night.

The beetle laughed and looked around, "Earth's heroes will fall, but you," he turned his eyes to where Nightwing jumped from and caught his throat, catching Nightwing off guard. He must have some sort of night vision. The alien pulled Nightwing closer until he could smell the monster's breath. "You will suffer," he slammed Nightwing against the wall.

Nightwing swung his legs and kicked off Beetle's chest, escaping his grasp. "Care to elaborate?" Nightwing coughed, this thing had quite a grip.

"How do you slay a beast," he hand transformed into a ray gun again and fired, narrowly missing Nightwing, "you rip out its heart!" He lunged forward and caught Nightwing's foot, slamming him into the ground with a force that shook Nightwing's teeth.

He rolled to his feet, a little slower than before. "So you're going to rip my heart out? I'm touched." He pulled out his escrima sticks. He couldn't overpower the beast but everyone had pressure points. He just had to find them before he got crushed. He launched a series of short attacks on Beetle, hitting joints fast and hard.

"Your enemies will crush your spirit and body, then watch the League crumble as you beg for death," he landed a punch square on Nightwing's chest, knocking the wind out of him as he hit the ground. The beetle kicked him while he was down, sending him into the nearest wall. His ribs would feel that later. Nightwing had to retreat. He couldn't overpower this monster; he had given the kids enough time to get to safety. Plus this talk of killing him was killing the mood.

"The way they talk of you, I thought you'd be more of a challenge," the monster growled and aimed his ray gun again, but missing again. Nightwing turned the ends of his escrima sticks electric, driving them into the alien's neck, hearing him roar again, falling forward. Nightwing took the opportunity and jumped off his back into the air, launching his grapple and swinging onto a rooftop to catch his breath. Where did these guys come from? He thought as he looked over the edge but only saw an empty alley. It was gone.

"That sucked," Nightwing said as he held his side.