Nightwing: Heartless

Part 68: Conclusion

Willa sat on her kitchen island and ate a bag of chips as her superhero friends lifted her boxes to the moving van downstairs. M'gann waved as she lifted five boxes with her mind. Connor followed her with two more boxes that probably weighed nothing to him. He shot her a wink and followed M'gann. Kaldur, quietly lifted more boxes. Willa was warming up to him, she had even explained his tattoos and magic made her uneasy because of General Osanos. He understood immediately and answered all her questions about Atlantis. Artemis followed him with only one box.

Dick walked around the corner and leaned on the island behind him, beside her. "You sure about this?"

Willa nodded, "Boston College will accept all my transfer credits and somehow I got a Wayne Enterprise full scholarship to cover all my expenses." She shot him a grin. "It'll do me good to get out of Gotham anyway."

Dick turned around and rocked back on his heels before looking at her, "would it be wrong to ask you to stay?"

"You wouldn't."

"But if I did?"

"It wouldn't be good for either of us."

Dick puffed out a breath of air and ran a hand through his hair. He knew she was right. She had to leave. Dick, Gotham, they both had too much history, too much pain in it for her to be here, at least for the time being. She surveyed the empty apartment that had never really felt like home.

"Are you going to be okay?" Dick asked, restraining himself from touching her.

Willa paused, thinking over the question. "I'm not going to pretend I'm okay yet," she started, "but I will be. Maybe my wrist can finally heal properly." They both laughed. "I'll be okay," she said again, quiter, more for herself. She wasn't back to who she was before she was taken, and she didn't think she'd ever be that girl again, not fully, but she wasn't the shell of herself either. She would be okay. She would be a different version of herself, but she would heal, with her scars, and eventually be okay.

Dick ran a hand through his hair again and Willa fought to not run her hand through his black tangles. She would miss seeing him do that. "If you ever need anything, just say the word."

"I know," she smiled sadly at him. They both knew it was time. The van was packed and his friends waited for them downstairs, giving them time to say goodbye privately.

"Will-"

"Dick-"

They both looked away, blushing, and laughed awkwardly. There was so much to say but neither knew how to say it. "I don't know what my life would be if we didn't..." she swallowed, "but for what it's worth, in spite of everything that happened, you were my first love. Always will be."

She held his gaze. Now he did take her hands. Loosely, leaving her free to pull them away. But she didn't. "All the ways I saw us playing out, I never say this one." He looked at their joined hands, though they no longer intertwined their fingers. "I'm so-"

"I know." She brushed stray hair away from his eyes, "but it's time for me to go."

"I know."

Willa hopped off the island and swayed a bit. It was one of the 'lasting effects' of repeated blows to her head when she was in captivity. She would have to check her balance now, especially when jumping or moving too quickly. Dick saw it coming and steadied her.

She held onto his arms, not wanting to let go yet. "You know I love you." There. She said it. The sadness in Dick's eyes lessened.

"I wish it could have worked out differently."

"But you'll be okay."

"You will too."

Then they walked down together. Willa hugged Kaldur, Connor, M'gann, and Artemis. The three girls hugged again, tears in M'gann's eyes. "Your mind will heal," she whispered in Willa's ear then held her at arms length, "but if you ever need help, or want to forget anything, let me know." Willa nodded gratefully and hugged her again.

Then it was just Dick left. They grinned at each other and Willa wrapped her arms around his waist, relishing the feel of how he hugged her. They broke apart too soon, still holding each other and exchanged one last sad smile, both knowing this was the right decision.

"Don't be too much of a dick while I'm gone," she teased.

Dick threw his head back and laughed, "wow, I've never heard that one."

"Really?"

"No."

Willa laughed and separated herself from Dick's arms. "I'll see you around, Grayson."

"Bye, Will."

Then she hopped in the passenger side and nodded at Clark to start the car. She didn't look back.