Maxi is back, again, and Nightwing has gone back to his dimension, forgotten until the end. Kurt's still dead and deciet lies around every corner.
Book 1- Clone(an x-men fanfic)
Book 2- Gryphon
It's raining in Bludhaven, and I can barely make out the bright blue bird on a distant roof top. He's hurt, what if I don't make it in time? What if this horrible, torturous sentence was given to me to watch him die?
Some cruel joke this was, thanks Luthor. His name sends shudders down my spine and I continue to run, even as my own wounds prevent me from my full speed.
The rooftop is so close now, I can see the rain dripping from his hair. He's still breathing, albeit weakly, I have to make it in time. I jump on to the ledge of the building and trip on my way towards his almost broken body.
"Dick, please say something." I say desperately, he groans and shifts his body weight, all the while coughing up hemorrhage. I place my hands on his chest and start to heal him.
He's ok.
~~~~Nightwing's POV~~~~
I'm not dying anymore, I'm... actually healing. Maxi.
"You're here, how did you get here?" She looks tired and scarred, especially her right cheek. A flower-like scar adorns her and I lift my fingertips up to it.
"What happened-" She cuts me off.
"A boom tube brought me here, but you're ok now, right?" I nod my head and relief washes over her face. But there's something else there too.
"Are you ok, you look... sad."
"I'm fine." She almost forces a smile.
"Let's head back to the cave, I know where a zeta port is." She's not walking that fast, she looks worried, her brow is creased. I grab a hold of her hand.
"Maxine, something's wrong, what happened?" She looks up and sighs.
"When I healed you earlier, I couldn't heal the poison." I look at her eyes and they're almost tearing up.
"So I still have it in me?"
"No, I transferred it from you to me." She stumbles forward and I catch her. No, I just got her back I'm not going to lose her again.
"Hey, just hang in there, we're almost to the zeta tube."
"I can't," she coughs and tries to sit up, "I can't go that far..." More coughing interrupts her sentence.
"I have to tell you something, it's about..." She loses her breath, her eyes widen and I can tell it's difficult to regain it.
"Her name is Elanor, and his is... Sam." I don't understand, who is she talking about?
"Maxi, what do you mean?" She's fading and we're so close to the port.
"I'm sorry you..." She pauses, "you can't come with me this time." I understand what she's talking about, but I won't accept it.
"You're not going anywhere except the infirmary at Mt. Justice." She smiles weakly and starts to shiver. Her wings hang limply at her side, one at an odd angle, and her hair is damp around her face.
"I missed you, I didn't go a day without thinking about you." I say to her, I can feel her breathing start to slow down, I place two fingers under her jawline and feel her pulse follow in suit.
"Hey try to stay awake, I know it's hard, but you're strong, you can make it." She starts to breathe heavier and at first I think it's because it's easier for her, but then I realize that it's just gotten harder. She's hyperventilating.
I'm not going to let you die, again. I just have to go faster.
"Maxi, you have to try, please..." We've reached the zeta beam and it announces our names as we end up in the cave. Impulse runs over and doesn't say anything for once, something's wrong. She's gone limp in my arms and I lay her down on the stone floor.
She's gone.
So far away, I couldn't come this time.
"Nightwing, I... what happened, why are you here?" Aqualad says and walks in the room. More follow him in.
"Maxine, she saved me, she... she's gone." The faces above me are a mixture of sorrow and confusion.
"Who's Maxine?" Gar says and I look up.
"She was an old friend," Babs comes over and places a hand on my shoulder.
~~~~~~Part 2 of Parting Ways~~~~~~
Maxine's body is so light in my hands as I carry her to the coffin Batman had gotten. I place her on the silver cloth lining the bottom and see her face. I never thought I would see her without a smile, but I guess pain happened too much for me to see it again.
Her dress gets caught on the edge of the box, the sound of paper catches my attention and I reach into a pocket and pull out a letter. The words make me tear up.
Dick,
I had never felt more upset when I found out you were gone. I didn't know what to do, but then I had other things to take care of and there was another little surprise, named Eleanor and Sam. I hope that you'll be able to see them one day. I'm glad you and Babs are together now, I can only wish you two the best. I know you'll probably never get this message, but it's the thought that counts, right?
Love, Maxine
Why couldn't I just go faster, maybe I could've actually saved her! I bang my fist on the table that the coffin is on and run my hand through my hair.
"Dick." I turn around and see Bruce walk through the doorway.
"Yeah Bruce?" His face, that usually is an emotionless slate under the mask, is full of grief.
"I'm sorry, that she had to go so soon." His hand lands on my shoulder and I look down, trying to hide the tears that had been threatening to drop since yesterday morning.
"I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for letting this happen." I say, my voice dripping with remorse.
"This wasn't you, and you know that." He's right.
"The only question is; who was it?"
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