Deck of Cards Series: Love is A Deck Of Cards

News

Amber stood next to Nightwing out in the main room of Mount Justice as the two were surrounded by a tense atmosphere.

Amber was staring calmly at Nightwing as she let out a breath digesting the information Nightwing had told her.

~A few moments before

Amber was in the kitchen preparing Yin and Yang's meal for the day. Placing the chopped up pieces of raw meat on a flat board, but stopped when she spotted Nightwing come in.

Coming into the kitchen Nightwing looked at Amber with a tense look, as he called for her attention.

"Amber."

Amber glanced up at Nightwing as she hummed in reply telling him she was listening, continuing to place the meat on the board.

"There's something you need to know." Nightwing's voice came out hesitant, almost nervous as he spoke.

Amber on the other hand wondered what the news could be. Amber had just gotten back from running some errands and was now working to feed Yin and Yang.

Amber let out a quiet reply to continue as she finished up Yin and Yang's food.

"Go on, I'm listening." But despite her saying that Amber almost missed Nightwing's next words.

When he spoke his words came out as a blur to Amber, as she stopped all movement to look up at Nightwing.

"I'm sorry could you say that again, I didn't seem to hear you."

Nightwing's expression twisted into a sorrowful look as he walked up to Amber to stand right in front of her. He looked down at her with a guilt he couldn't quite place. Nightwing placed a hand on Amber's shoulders as he repeated his words.

"Amber, Artemis is dead."

Amber's eyes widened slightly as she stared at Nightwing looking for the smallest sign of a lie. But Amber didn't find one.

"Who?" Her voice coming out calm, but underneath it was as though she waiting to hear the name to get justice for Artemis.

Nightwing examined Amber before telling who was the killer behind Atemis's death.

"Kaldur. Kaldur killed Artemis."

Amber closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Opening her eyes, Amber's eyes flashed a dangerous red before returning to her natural corn blue eyes. 

With a simple "I see." Amber turned back to what she was doing.

The only acknowledgment Nightwing got after was a silence filled with the sounds of a knife cutting.

Nightwing became unsure of Amber's reaction not expecting her to be so calm about the news. But when he got a closer look at Amber he could see the slightest shake in her arm.

Underneath Nightwing's mask his eyes widened. He then moved his gaze to see Amber's face. His gaze eventually landed on her eyes, and what he saw baffled him.

Amber's eyes that were filled with a beautiful gleam in them were now dull, as if the news of Artemis death was just a means to an end for her.

Nightwing took off his mask, placing it on the counter as he grabbed Amber's arm and gently tugged her to look at him.

When Amber's body was facing him he placed both hands on either side of Amber's face gently holding her lifting her face up so that they were eye to eye.

While Nightwing looked at Amber's dull eyes he felt like there was a whirl of emotions going on behind them. Staring at them it felt like he was looking at the soul of someone who was used to death, someone who had grown accustomed to losing. And while Nightwing knew that Artemis was actually alive it hurt him to see his friend look like this. It made him want to just tell her that Artemis is alive, and that everything was fine. But the mission had to take priority so Nightwing pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he looked at Amber trying to find the words to comfort her.  "Amber I,"