This Is My Future

Chapter 34

Dick's P.O.V

"It is nice to see you too, my friend," Kaldur said in his cool tone, flicking the lamp on.

I scrunched my eyes and blinked against the sudden light.

"Nice try with the trip down memory lane," I said tossing the picture at him. "But it's not going to work."

He sighed catching the picture. "I had hoped it would make you reconsider your decision at the least," he admitted.

"Kaldur...please, just stop," I sighed. "The Team didn't do anything, it's Bruce."

"Dick, please, do not let a temporary problem make such a big decision for you."

"I'm not!" I snapped defensively.

"Dick..."

"It's my decision," I growled. "I'm not letting a stupid fight persuade me...How stupid do you think I am!?"

"Dick, I do not believe you are stupid and there is no reason to yell," he said calmly. "You do not wish to wake Timothy do you?"

I rolled my eyes, "I almost, intentionally, broke his arm while he was asleep and he didn't even flinch."

He raised a brow at me.

"I was barely awake when he showed up; give me a break," I spat.

"I will give you a break," he said crossing his arms. "But you will not give me a resignation."

I bit my lip in frustration. "First you say you'll respect me, no matter my choice," I gritted through my teeth. "Then you're trying to make my decision for me."

"Dick, I am not trying to make your decision. I am only trying to show you what you will miss, and possibly lose, if you quit the Team."

"You're quitting the Team?"

I stiffened and turned to look at the staircase that led to the second floor of the apartment. Artemis stood there on the third stair up. She was wearing a tank top and booty shorts, her usual sleepwear on mildly warm nights. She looked at me with complete shock.

"Go back to bed Arty," I said. "We'll talk about it in the morning."

"Sorry dad but no," she spat crossing her arms.

"Artemis?" Kaldur asked.

Arty's eyes drifted to Kaldur and she smiled faintly, "Hey Kaldur."

"You were freed?"

She shook her head, "Dick shot me."

He nodded faintly with a raised eyebrow.

"Anyway," Arty said, jumping off the stairs and walking to us. "You're quitting the Team?"

"I..." I sighed, "I've been considering it..."

"What? Why?" She asked grabbing my arm. I didn't respond lowering my head.

"He feels he has failed the Team ever since the incident with Wally," Kaldur said.

Arty slapped my arm, "Don't think that."

"And he believes that he has and will betray the Team."

"You've never betrayed the Team, Little Birdy," Arty sighed.

I sighed, "Kaldur...please leave."

"Will you think of reconsidering?" He crossed his arms.

"Fine," I spat.

"Thank you," he sighed heading for the window. "Goodnight, my friends."

"Tell the others I said, 'Hi'," I sighed.

He nodded opening the window, "Will do."

He closed the window and jumped off the escape.

"Twenty bucks says we find him dead on the sidewalk tomorrow morning," Arty joked.

I rolled my eyes. I yanked the bird-a-rang out of the window and put it away in the box. I walked to the closet and tucked the box away in the far back of the top shelf.

"Not gonna put it on display?" Arty asked.

"What's the point...its from my past, I don't need it."

"Everyone needs a past," she said. "If there was no past, then where would the future come from?"

I sighed and closed the closet, "Go to bed."

I headed for my room as she climbed the stairs.

"Night Little Birdy."

I sighed, "Night kitty."

I walked into my room to see Tim curled up on the bed. He whimpered.

I furrowed my brows and walked to him. He whimpered again. I grabbed his shoulder and shook him gently.

He gasped and his eyes snapped open.

"You okay, Baby Bird?" I asked. He seemed to look me over before he nodded faintly.

He shifted over and I got in the bed. "What's wrong, Timmy?" I asked noticing him staring at me.

"My dream..." He said simply.

"What about it?"

He shook his head and moved closer to me. I wrapped my arm around my little brother. He rested his head in the crook of my shoulder soon falling back to sleep. I opened the drawer on my nightstand and pulled out my laptop. I opened it and looked at the Gotham news.

After an hour of nothing new, I searched for any news on time travelers. I read through the articles, but found nothing of use.

"This is gonna take longer than I thought..."