Too Many Risks

"I wasn't jealous!"

~"Hurricane"~ - by Halsey

●~ Nightwing's PoV ~●

    I sighed as I walked out of the Infirmary. Alright, so Acacia's left our- her- twins to take care of some "unfinished business". What a great way to wake a person up. No good morning, just a '' I'm leaving our kids with you and leaving the Team ''. I shook my head slightly. I have no clue what I ever saw in her all those years ago. Must've been the red hair, I thought as I walked down one of the halls to find Jackson and Stella wandering around, calling out for their mother. She didn't even tell them she was leaving? I thought scornfully as I approached my kids. Stella squeaked at the sight of me and hid behind her twin brother. I knealed down on one knee infront of Jackson and Stella so that I didn't seem so threateningly tall. They didn't know me very well in a father-way, so I needed them to get used to me.

   "Hey, there," I gently greeted them. Jackson narrowed his eyes at me the way that Batman does usually and I tried not to laugh at how cute it looked on my son.

   "Where's our momma?" Jackson demanded, rather sternly of me as he stood face to face with me. I sat back on my knees and pinched the bridge of my nose slightly. There's the dreaded question..How am I going to explain that their mother basically just disowned them? I took a deep breath and sighed.

   "Acacia- your mom left," I began tentatively. Stella's and Jackson's eyes widened in despair, so I quickly explained soothingly, "She-she said she needed to take care of some errands and didn't want her angels getting hurt. So she trusted me with you two! Don't worry, you'll be fine here-"

   "Why can't Zackie watch us! We want Zackie!" Stella whined in protest, crossing her arms and plopping herself in the floor with a discontented scowl at me. I bit my inner lip, preventing myself from lecturing her on the fact that "Zackie" wasn't her father. Nor was he a good person for my children- my own flesh and blood- to be around.

   "Zack, left with your mom. They won't be back for a while..." I murmured softly as Jackson stopped looking at me with that impatient frown of his. I took a small breath before speaking again, "There's...something I need to tell you guys..." I tentatively began. Jackson and Stella looked confused and they sat down in front of me, looking attentive.

   "I'm your dad...and Acacia and I aren't together anymore, so your mom thought it was time that I start to get to know you both. She's giving you to me for a little while so she can take care of some important things with Zack.." I finished, and waited for them to scream at me in protest. They didn't. Instead they simply looked curious.

  "Does momma still love us?" Stella said in her small little voice as she walked over to me, putting a shaky hand tentatively on my cheek. I looked up at her abruptly, our gazes locking. Her eyes looked exactly like her mother's. 

  "Yes, she loves you both very much! She doesn't want you two getting hurt while she's doing errands," I assured them. Stella smiled, her face brightening, and looked content with my answer.

  "Do you love us?" Jackson suddenly broke in, getting infront of his twin. I smirked softly at him. He looked so much like me. I reached out and tusseled his hair and he laughed.

  "Of course, you rascals. I'll always love you guys. And I'm sure Deanna will, too." I chuckled as Jackson and Stella tackle-hugged me. They both drew away from me slightly.

   "Who's 'Deanna' ?" Jackson questioned as I got up slightly.

   "She's his girlyfriend!" Stella interjected with a grin, "Mommy told us about De."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Your mom told you two about De? What did she say?..." I was almost afraid to ask that question.

  "She said De was a nice person," Stella chirped, smiling at me as she put her hands in my hair. I blinked at her in disbelief.

  "She did, did she?" I asked as Jackson stood up.

  "Yeah." Stella yawned as she plopped back down on the ground, "I'm bored now...Can we go out and play?" She complained. Jackson nodded in agreement and pouted. I smirked at them and stood up.

"Not right now-" before I can finish my sentence De and Kenzie walked into the cave with Bella and Alana. Instantly Stella and Jackson hopped to their feet and ran to meet the other youngsters. De looked around as though searching for someone or something. I smirked. She'd be glad Acacia was gone.

"Where's 'Cacia.." De said cautiously as I walked toward her and kissed her cheek.

"She left, I'm in charge of Stella and Jackson. Oh, and Zack's gone, too." I explained to her as her eyes gleamed with pleasure.

  "Oh, thank god, she's gone!" Deanna sighed in relief as she hugged me tightly. I smirked, raising an eyebrow at her as I put my hands on my hips while she put Bella down on the floor to visit with my twins.

  "You were jealous of Acacia being here~" I chuckled knowingly as De grinned sheepishly at me in response.

  "Jealous? Pft, I wasn't jealous!" Deanna laughed off my accusation, "You're my boyfriend! Why would I be jealous? Heheh, especially since she just up and left then all the sudden pops up out of thin air and tries to steal you from-" She stops as I looked at her unamusedly. She coughs and looks away abrupty, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at the floor, "I wasn't jealous, ok?!" She grumbled. I smirked softly, taking her chin gently in my left hand.

  "De...you're a bad liar, you know that..?" I murmured softly as she reluctantly looked up into my face. She huffed and blushed bright vermillian.

  "I know...Ugh, yes, I was jealous," She admitted. I smiled softly and pulled her into my arms.

  "There was no reason for you to be jealous, babe, I have you and that's all I need..." I murmured softly, pulling her in for a sweet kiss. Deanna giggles softly and it makes me smile to hear that laugh of hers as our hands intertwine.

  "I love you." We both whispered.

  "Awwww!!! The love birds made up?" Jason scoffed with fake amusement. I looked over at Jason and shot him a death glare which he merely waved off.

  "So the wicked witch of the witch is gone with her evil henchman? Good riddance, I almost killed that Zack douche bag 3 times before today." Jason smirked as Zaria cuddled up to him, leading him to the kitchen. I rolled my eyes.

  "Watch the language, Todd!~" De singsang as she rubbed my chest affectionately while leaning into my touch.

  "Don't tell me what to do, shortcake!~" Jay retorted, as he and Zaria left the room. I laughed at that and De pouted at me.

   "I'm not short!" She huffed, pouting like a child. I smiled lovingly at her and put a hand on her waist.

   "Come on, babe, I'll make you feel better," She giggled at my suave way of distracting her as we went to my room.

★★★★★★   TO BE CONTINUED  ★★★★★★★★