Nightwing: Heroes

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

**Authors note: PLEASE READ! Should I name my chapters instead of just putting Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc? Please comment your answers!**

I slowly turned around, my head slightly hung in dissapointment that I was caught. Artemis stood leaning against the edge of the hallway behind me, her finger resting underneath one of the many lightswitches. "And so the boy-wonder returns," she said unenthusiastically, turning the lights back off and making her way down the stairs as I stood there in silence, watching her.

"Artemis..." I began, not sure what I thought I was going to say. She ignored me, continuing to make her way towards the kitchen as I followed quietly behind her, my mind racing, unable to think of how I could explain myself. "Artemis..." I began, "I'm so sorry for abandoning you. The past two days I haven't been thinking clearly. Aqual...Kaldur's death affected me more than I thought. I know that's no excuse for abandoning you, or Robin. Because I know it had to have hurt you guys too."

She stayed silent for a moment, her back turned to me as she watched her popcorn pop in the microwave. Then after a few minutes, she turned around. "Yeah it hurt. He was my friend, and I had to watch him die," she began in a low voice, being careful not to wake Robin, "I was hurting, and not even a few minutes after it had happened you left. The one person I expected to be there for me, to comfort me, left without saying a word. Without even looking back."

I was at a loss for words. I couldn't even look her in the eyes. "Artemis I...everything that happened...I wasn't thinking clearly. I blamed myself, and I didn't want any more of my friends getting hurt...I didn't want YOU to get hurt." I looked up at her, her eyes wet on the verge of tears. "And I know that's no excuse. But please Artemis...you have to forgive me."

She turned back around from pulling her bag of popcorn from the microwave, raising her eyebrow. "I'm sorry, I think you're confused. I don't HAVE to do anything,"she said, leaving the kitchen and going into the large living room. I didn't know why, but I was persistent, and followed her again. "That...that's not what I meant Artemis..."

She stayed silent and turned on the large HD television that hung on the wall. I walked in front of her, blocking her view and looked at her. "Artemis...there has to be something I can do to make it up to you, whatever it is, I'll do it if it means getting you back." I was on my knees now, my face inches away from hers as we stared into each others' eyes, both of us silent.

"I'm going to need time Nightwing. I just don't know if I can fully trust you again." I was speechless, unable to respond. She looked around the room, her eyes sparkling with water, as she stood up and slowly walked to the entryway. "Dick I can't be here right now. I need time alone...to process things, I need to think. To clear my head. And I can't do that constantly being around you.

She picked up a small suitcase and a backpack leaning against the wall that I hadn't noticed before. Without looking back she left the room, and a few seconds later I heard the front doors open and close, a sign that she had officially left. So many things were racing through my mind. Will I ever see her again? If so, how long? Will we ever be together again?

But I was so tired not even after a few minutes of me standing in the dark room, the only light being from the massive television and the only sounds being the quiet volume of the show playing, I collapsed onto the couch. Popcorn spilled everywhere covering the floor, but I didn't even notice. Then I slowly slipped into a deep sleep.

**What happens next is divided into two separate stories: one from the next chapter and on, the other (from Artemis' point of view) in another book I've written titled 'From Archer To Tiger'. Don't forget to vote! - Nightwing.**