This Is My Future

Chapter 7

Artemis P.O.V

He flashed a smile and I knew it. "Robin..." I stated with a nod.

"Need something?" He asked ignoring my shocked stare. He looked at my arms, "...maybe a sling?"

I nodded, still staring. He nodded back and stood up, walking to a big metal first aid box.

I followed Future Robin and watched him as he rummaged around in the box.

He kept muttering 'no' as he grabbed wrong objects. "There we go," he sighed pulling out a dark green sling.

I looked at him as he gently put the sling around my arm and clipped the strap behind my neck.

"Thank you...Robin..." I said. I was getting annoyed with myself because my shock wouldn't subside.

"No problem," he shrugged. "...and it's Nightwing."

"Nightwing, eh? Sounds pretty badass," I said flicking my eyebrows.

He snorted and rubbed my head, "Thanks Arty."

I watched him walk back to the computer. I combed my fingers through my hair noticing my hair tie was gone, my hair was down and a little damp.

"How long was I out?" I asked, filling the silence in the room.

He started typing on the computer. "Uhh...four hours?" He guessed.

"Four hours!?" My voice echoed through the room.

Nightwing was unfazed, "Four, maybe five." He opened a file.

"Why so long?" I asked walking to him.

"You lost so much blood that I had to sedate you to keep your heart rate at a safe level...and fix your arm."

I nodded and looked the sling, "How'd you know how to fix it?"

"I didn't."

"Then...how did you fix it?" I asked skeptically.

"An old friend of mine served as a surgeon in the war," he said. "I video called him and he walked me through the process of putting the bone back in place and closing the torn skin."

"Well..." I sighed, "I guess I'm not shooting any arrows for a while..."

He nodded, staring at the computer.

Robin groaned from his bed and I looked at him. Nightwing continued examining the computer file, grabbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Has Robin woken up at all?" I asked.

"No," he responded as he began typing.

"Did you sedate him too?"

He shook his head, "No, he probably has a concussion."

I pursed my lips, "Will he be okay?"

"Well he's obviously not dead," he said bluntly.

I frowned at Nightwing, "Did you become blunt or are you just a dick?"

He shrugged, "It is my name."

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Dick," he said and finally turned to look at me. "That's my name."

I was silent.

"Well, technically it's my nickname because my full name is Richard."

"Richard?"

"Yup," He nodded. "Richard John Grayson."

"Dick Grayson..." I breathed, my shock returning.

He smiled, "Told you we'd laugh about that picture someday." He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at the computer.

I looked at the oversized screen. That stupid picture, that that little Freshmen dork took of us in the Gotham Academy courtyard on my first day of school was blown up giant, and the wallpaper of the computer.

I looked back at him. I stared at him a long minute, then said, "I'm going to kill you."

He chuckled.

"Why didn't you tell me when we started going to school together?" I asked defensively.

"Batman's rule," he said. "It wasn't my choice. Honestly, if it was my choice, I would've told you the moment you joined the team, I've always trusted you." He shrugged.

I nodded, a faint smile growing on my face. My smile fell though, "Wait...does that mean...Bruce Wayne is Batman?"

He smirked, "Sorry that's classified."

"So...yes."

"Yeah," he nodded.

The computer screen started flashing red. Nightwing turned back around and typed into the computer. He stopped and growled.

"I'll be back," he grunted standing up.

"What!?" I yelped, "You can't leave!"

He walked away and I followed him into a new room with a black and blue two-door four-seat Mercedes with black tinted, bulletproof windows, and a black and blue motorcycle.

"What if someone shows up!? I can't protect myself or Robin! Not with my arm like this anyways!" I ranted following him to the motorcycle.

"Don't worry," he sighed securing a shiny black helmet with two blue stripes down the center. "This base is safe. No one can get in without access from me."

"But- But-"

"Artemis," he said and knelt down to be eye level with me. He pushed the black helmet visor up and put his hands on my shoulders, "You guys are safe...no one, especially not an idiot like Victor Zsasz, can get in here. Okay?"

I sighed, but nodded, "Okay..."

He straightened up, "There's a box next to the computer with new clothes for Robin in it. Your guys' clothes were gross. With your injuries I had to cut you out of them so no wounds would get infected." He flicked the visor back down.

I nodded, blushing, now understanding why I only had a sheet while passed out. I watched him as he threw one long leg over the cycle seat.

"Wait..." I said.

"What's up?" He stopped himself from turning the cycle on.

"What kind of injuries did Robin get?" I asked.

He shrugged, "A few bruises and maybe a concussion. Why?"

I furrowed my brows in confusion, "Before I blacked out...I heard Zsasz stab someone, repeatedly."

He nodded. "He stabbed me," he said. "He was about to stab Robin in the chest, but I jumped on him and Zsasz kept stabbing my back, trying to kill me."

"Oh my god...are you all right?"

"Sore," he said. He turned the cycle key and the engine roared to life. He shouted over the engine noise, "But I'm feeling the aster!"