Dagger

XII

*Phoebe*

My heart leapt into my throat. It was Bruce. He's here, I'm here. The closest thing I've ever had to having a dad is standing right infront of me after so long.

"Phoebe." He muttered. Shock sprung through my body. He wasn't angry, he wasn't sad. Bruce sounded relieved, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

I walked towards him, only making a few silent steps before he sprints to me and embraces me in a hug.

"Bats..." But there wasnt a doubt in my mind he didn't hear it because it was so quiet. The word leaves my lips and realization strikes me for real this time. I'm home.

I can see Alfred and Wally and Barry and Bruce and Richard... Richard, where is he? I need to see him. He can't be gone, he loved this lifestyle too much.

Thinking about him made me remember my ring. Digging into my pocket I pull out the scratched silver, placing it delicately on my finger after Bruce releases me from the hug.

Before I even blink, I wrapped in someone else's arms, this time they're more slender and crumbs lay on one of the sleeves. Barry.

"I'm glad to see you're okay, kiddo." He whispers to me and his embrace on me tightens lightly.

All I assume knew of my broken ribs because even though that hugged me tightly, they both were careful to not hurt me.

I pull away and wipe a stray tear that had run down my face. Even after so long, I still hate crying infront of other people.

I stare at Bruce through his mask, almost silently asking where Richard was.

"They should be bac-" Bats begins but at that moment, the zeta tube activates, reading off a handful of people.

First through was a few people I didn't recognize.

Wonder Girl
Beast Boy
Blue Beetle
Impulse

Then, in walked those I would know in less than a heart beat.

Zatanna
Miss Martian
Aqualad
Super Boy

And Robin, but this wasn't my Robin, he was different.

Nightwing.

In walked a man, messy hair and a crooked grin as he laughed. This was my Robin.

Each one of them froze as they saw me and I them. The first few had puzzled looks on their faces, but the rest looked just as shocked as I felt.

I don't know why I was suprised to see them but it was okay, because I was seeing them after I was convinced I never would again.

My eyes made contact with everyone's before finding the pair hidden by a mask that had no effect on me.

I could see his face as plain as day. The light blue, determined eyes. Even though he was fully grown, he held a boyish complexion thanks to his wonderfully messy hair.

If his gaze wasn't enough to prove who he was, the symbol on his new suit gave it away as plain as day. His suit was grey and the chest held my favorite shade of blue, along with the symbol of my ring.

I pushed past Bruce and Barry ran to him as he ran to me, meeting me half way.

He picked me up effortlessly and spun me around once before we both fell to our knees, holding onto one another like the other would turn to dust in our grip.

"Richard I'm so sorry. I-I'm s-so sorry.." My voice was just at a whisper, the words coming out strained from me containing my need to cry from joy.

His left arm stayed wrapped around my waist and his right hand held the side of my face tenderly.

Richard placed a kiss on my temple and I rested my forehead against his shoulder. I took in his scent and the warmth of his embrace, never wanting to let go.

"I never stopped looking. I would never stop looking." Hearing his voice sent a shiver down my spine as well as calmed me. His voice had changed while I was away and damn.

His grip on my tightened and I flinched at the pain in my ribs.

Richard looked me over to check if I was okay and I nod as he mutters a soft apology.

"So uh... should we.. should we go? Or..." An adolescent voice sounded, bringing me back to the reality of what's going on around me. 

I awkwardly pull away and stand up with the help of Richard. Even after standing Richard keeps his arms wrapped around me from behind.

"Beast Boy, Impulse, Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle. You four come with us, we want to hear your mission summaries." Black Canary speaks up, dragging the newbies, Flash, and Bats away into another room.

I break from Richard's grip, and sprint to one of the many I called my family. Connor.

"H-How are you here? I remember the fight but Meghan said the witch destroyed your conscience." Connor asks, and I pull away.

"What? What fight? What witch?" I ask, my voice still slightly strangled from lack of use.

"You.. you don't remember?" Zatanna asks, her face struck with worry.

I shake my head lightly.

She looks as if she's trying to figure something out and looks to Grayson.

"Pull up the camera footage. She needs to know." Zatanna persists, earning a denying from Richard.

"She needs to know!" Zatanna persists and a couple of the others step in agreement with her.

"No, she can't handle it right now, she's only just woken up." Aqualad steps in, taking side with Richard, and Connor mimics his action.

"Whether it's now or later won't make a difference! It going to be hard either way." Meghan steps in, obviously annoyed. For such a sweet person, she never really liked me and I never understood that.

"Meghan, maby they're right, she just woke up not too long ago." Robin persists.

"Oh for God's sake I'll do it myself." Meghan rolls her eyes before they light up green and images go flashing through my mind at the speed of light.

I saw everything from me breaking the vase and getting possessed to everything in between getting where I am now.

I hurt them. I tried to hurt them. I've killed people. I've done so much harm.

Pain pulses through my head making me cry out. It hurts so badly I want to die and everything in me is telling me break my own neck just so it'll end.

I dig my nails into my skull in hopes that I can get to the source of my vibrating mind but it only makes me hurt more.

My knees give out the comes that awful screech from earlier. The scream that I've never heard before, the scream that shakes the room around me.

I hear faint yelling from various voices but I can't pick them out.

After a moment of listening to the muffled shouts, the pain stops. Quick and suddenly, it's gone.

I try to stand on my own but my knees give way and I go tumbling to the ground before a hands grab me, holding me in place.

"Please." I sob, my hands shaking as they are lowered away from my head and placed on the floor so I can try and stable myself.  "I-I c-c-c-can't do th-that a-again.."

I voice fades with the world, and black takes my senses.