To Save A Shadow ( A Young Justice/ Dick Grayson story) *COMPLETED*

08

(Edited)

      My eyes dart up and down. It was pitch black out tonight and I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't sleep so I took a night out for patrol but somehow ended up here. Outside his house.

I need some advice from him.

I walk up and knock. Ring the doorbell. Then viciously bang on the door. Finally someone opens up. It was a girl. She has the same features as David but I thought he didn't have a daughter.

She rubs some sleep from her eyes and gives me a glare before looking me up and down. I had on a pair of sweats and an oversized sweatshirt. I looked homeless.

"Uh is David here?" I ask and the girl gives me a look.

"Who are you?" She asks bitterly standing straight and I purse my lips

"A friend, a good friend" she shakes her head

"Yeah well where were you when he got Cancer? Lung Cancer! Where were you when he died two days ago?" She snaps and I widen my eyes

"W-What?" She slams the door and tears fill my eyes. I turn around and rip off my sweats and hoodie. I throw my mask back on and grapple hook up the side of a building.

Running across buildings and leaping across rooftops. I land on a building and twist my foot. I let out a wince and tumble to the ground. I lift up my ankle to my chest and cradled it. Small cries and sobs escape my lips as I lean against the wall. Why did he leave me. After I came to live on the streets he was the one who helped me and took on the father figure role.

(Flashback)

My eyes dart from one guy to the other. Both in threatening stances.

"she is a child still" David snaps at the large man and the man eyes me

" She can be put to work" He snaps and soon enough David snaps and attacks the guy. They dance around each other and finally David sends a final kick to the side of his head. He goes down and David grabs my arm pulling me away. We end up in front of a house.

"Where are we?" I ask my voice so small.

"This is the place you are gonna live for a while. I will make sure you know how to defend yourself" he says opening the door and letting me in. I slowly walk in and he leads me up a few flights of stairs. I follow silently till we get to an apartment. It was big and he lead me towards the back. An old run down room with a beat up mattress, a single pillow and a blanket. I look blandly around as he turns to me.

"This is your new home, I want to help you because I feel like you deserve it I want you to be able to bring justice to those you deserve it" I look up at him.

"Really? Why me? I am not a superhero" He smiles down like my father used to and puts a hand on my shoulder

"You don't need to have powers to be a hero Arianna" I nod and he smiles

"Alright we begin training tomorrow. I will come find you" I nod and he leaves. I felt alone in this room. I felt like a small fraction of something bigger.

*

After training with David for a long time I was faster, stronger, more agile. I was trained like an assassin. Cause from what I learned. David is an ex assassin. He taught me a lot of things but most of all he taught me to love again, as cheesy and sappy as it sounds. I lost all faith in people until David. He taught me emotions.......he had to leave eventually something about his house and mortgage. He said he would be back but I don't know when.

I look in the mirror and sigh.

"It's me versus the world....... again" I whisper to myself and turn around looking out my window.

(End Flashback)

My ankle was throbbing and I was still crying when he found me. He landed on the building with a quiet thud.

"Arianna? I followed your tracker in the communicator" He says and sits next to me.

"Are you Ok?" I was still semi mad at him for leaving me but he was here now. I shake my head weakly and he wraps his arms around me. The cold stopping and his warmth surrounded me. I cry in his arms.

Eventually I stop and we get up. He inspects my ankle and ends up wrapping it. He shoots a line to a building and wraps his arm around my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck as we soar through the air. We finally end up at the Zeta Tube.

We get back to the cave and Robin helps bring me to my room. I change and emerge from the bathroom. Robin was still standing there in his suit. I sit down and he gives me a look. I shake my head not wanting to talk about it.

"Listen.....Arianna. I am sorry I left you" I shake my head again

"It is whatever now.......let's just forget about it" He nods and leaves. I lay my head back and fall asleep.