Nightwing: Heartless

Part 40: Telling the Team

The Team clapped for M'gann as she walked onto the main floor of the WatchTower from the zeta tube. She blushed but smiled at her fellow heroes, giving Nightwing a hug. I know this was you.

I owed you.

She laughed when Beast Boy slammed into her, squeezing her tight, "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Impulse zoomed around, making Dick's head spin until he landed right in front of M'gann, "metooweweregoingcrazyIcan'tbelieveyouwereonManta'sshipandgotawayareyouokay-" Nightwing placed a hand on his shoulder, shutting him up, not like anyone could keep up anyway.

"I am going to crush Aqualad's skull," Wonder Girl said and slammed a fist into her open hand. The sentiment was shared throughout the Team.

Nightwing exchanged a look with M'gann and SuperBoy before stepping forward, commanding the floor without saying a word. He could feel all their eyes on him, waiting to hear the plan of attack. "Aqualad isn't our enemy." He raised his hand to silence the surge of conversation. "He's been in deep cover this whole time. Kid Flash, Artemis, and I have been communicating with him, trying to gain intel on Black Manta and the Light."

"Artemis?" Batgirl asked.

Nightwing nodded, "we faked her death. Aqualad needed to prove himself, and we needed another operative inside."

"You son of a bitch," Batgirl muttered under her breath.

"How could you do that to us?" Blue Beetle called from the back. Agreements sifted through the members. Nightwing let it happen.

"It was the wrong choice, and I'm sorry," he said when the noise calmed down, "I did what I thought was right, and kept the truth from all of you, but it was a mistake. I should have trusted all of you. I should have leaned on my Team."

M'gann stepped forward. Superboy did the same on his other side, a show of solidarity. "Nightwing made mistakes, but he did what he thought was right to protect Aqualad and Artemis. And he'll never do it again," Superboy said the last part to Nightwing, who nodded, in apology and agreement.

Bumblebee sighed, a hand on her hip, "you get one major screw up, Nightwing, and this is it. Got it, leader?" When Nightwing nodded again, Karen smiled, "good." The tension in the room broke, with the other members following Bumblebee's lead and accepting Nightwing's apology, as well as the truth. The sting of his betrayal was eased by the revelation Artemis was alive and Aqualad wasn't a traitor.

When everyone had filtered out, Nightwing gestured to Miss Martian and SuperBoy to follow him to a monitor. "Do you remember that woman from the beginning of the year?" They both nodded, cringing at the memory of the team of Shadows who had a weapon against each of them. Nightwing pulled an image of the same woman, dressed in red, sword at her side, from a few days ago in Hong Kong. "Her name is Lady Shiva," Nightwing explained, "she's a ghost, barely any record of her."

"Then how do you know who she is?" SuperBoy asked.

"Ra's al ghoul's private records. She trains the League of Shadows. Best of the best. She's credited with more kills than any Shadow in history."

SuperBoy whistled, "and now we're on her radar."

"Maybe not all of us..." M'gann looked sideways at Nightwing, "she was pretty focused on you, Dick. We were taken out so she could kill you."

"I know. What I don't know is why."

"I'm afraid it gets worse," M'gann started, "when I was putting Kaldur back together, I could feel another presence, just out of my psychic range, but when I was leaving I got a better feel. Whoever it was was filled with hate. And I think it was at you."

Nightwing crossed his arms, processing, "you don't have a name?"

"I'm afraid not. You've made too many enemies."

SuperBoy snorted at the joke and exchanged a look with Miss M. They seemed to be getting along quite well since M'gann had escaped Black Manta. Dick sighed, shutting off the monitor. With no more information, it would have to be tabled. There were too many questions and not enough answers, but he couldn't do anything about that now.

"Why don't you two go get something to eat?" Nightwing offered.

"Do you want to come?"

"I'm good. You guys have fun."

He watched them walk out together, probably a little closer than normal friends.