Renewal (Young Justice Fanfic)

Renewal (Young Justice)

His throat felt dry.

Dick Grayson let his tongue glide over the roof of his mouth to moisten his mouth, so he could manage to speak. One free hand reached up, tugging at his necktie wishing the anxiety would simply melt away. Despite the carefully laid plans, something stood the chance of going wrong. For the sake of Wally and Artemis, things couldn't go wrong.

"Why? Why did you have to go and die?"

"It's not as if I wanted to go and die NW. You know I didn't."

The oldest of Bruce Wayne's wards cleared his throat, his fingers dipping into his pocket for the velvet box. A slip of paper lay next to the box in his pocket with the carefully written instructions. Dick's lips pushed together, attempting to blink back the tears. "First off, I don't want to do this. Second, I'm still currently on hiatus."

"Oh, please tell me that my death isn't going to prevent you coming back to the team?"

"Maybe, just maybe it will."

"Oh..." Wally's voice let out one of those usual sighs. "At least, could you do this for me and Artemis? I had this planned out, long before – well, that happened."

"Yup. I will. After all, you're my best friend. My only friend. Wish I could find what you and Artemis have – had, whatever."

"Give yourself a chance dude."

"This so isn't going to work. I'm so not going to be feeling the aster when this is done."

"It's so going to work, dude."

"I hate you, you know. I really hate you right now, for everything."

At that point, Dick no longer heard Wally's voice, yet he still felt sweaty. Everything, after all, needed to go right, and the young man found his eyes snapping shut, hiding his bright blue eyes from sight. A quick tug and he left his apartment, heading to the Zeta tube in Gotham, quickly flicking his sunglasses over his eyes. The fingers of his one hand crossed behind his back, and he waited, clearing his throat every so often hoping the unsavoriness wouldn't notice him before Artemis got there, but also hoping she would show.

He didn't blame her if she didn't.

"Dick?"

His head darted up, his throat tightening. "Hi, Artemis. Long time no see."

"This is, you know, kind of awkward." The female took a deep breath. "I mean, Valentine's Day, of all days Grayson? I'm still not over Wally, and you..."

"So, you haven't moved on?" Dick took a deep breath. "We should get going. Gotham's not exactly..."

"Grayson..." Artemis let out a sigh. "Didn't I you hear me? I'm not over Wally. I'm not going." The older female turned, only Dick reached out to grab her wrist. "Let go, Grayson, else I'll take off your arm despite the fact we're friends. I appreciate the fact you looked through his stuff despite the fact I couldn't, but..."

"Wait. Listen." Dick took a deep breath, pulling the paper out to read. He felt his throat tighten painfully. His voice began to waver. "He didn't exactly..."

Artemis turned, still slightly irritated. "Grayson..." Her eyes caught sight of the paper. "Wait, what is that?"

"His plan. But..." Dick let go of her wrist. "Artemis, I..." He looked at the ground. "Let me do this? He had this day plan for you, but you're not the only one. You're not the only one..."

The blond-haired Eurasian female leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Okay. I've honestly missed you, you disappearing off like you did. Everyone misses you."