Always Traught Part II

Meant to Be

He didn't move as her fist came in contact with his jaw. He allowed for the force to knock him down against the rooftop and into a puddle. He deserved it. He deserved it for letting Wally die. He deserved it for sending her undercover.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Were the first words to come out of her mouth. She fell down onto to roof and pulled his body into a embrace. Her touched immediately caused her to freeze, "I'm so sorry, Dick."

Dick gently placed his hands on her back and held her, "It-It's okay, Artemis."

"No it's not. Nothing's okay," She cried into his shoulder, "I punched you. I hurt you," She continued to cry, but he didn't say anything. He did not tell her about how much he thought he deserved it.

Guilt continued to batter him for weeks. After losing Wally, Dick couldn't face anyone. So he took the path that felt like the only right answer. He left. It felt like he had been forced into a corner to think about what he had done. When he closed his eyes he saw Wally pushing him into the chair after the cave exploded. He heard him yelling at him about how he had put Artemis into Kaldur's hands. Then he saw the sight of the reach device closing up and it falling into the soft snow. He saw Artemis fall to her knees from sudden grief. He heard her sobs. And Dick had only himself to blame.

Dick sighed against her, "Artemis, I did this. All of this is my fault," Artemis shook her head furiously and grabbed onto the pieces of armor on his back.

"Don't say that."

"When I close my eyes I see him. And all the guilt just sinks to my gut. It never leaves," He took another deep breath. Tears started to gather in his eyes and his vision started to blur because of it, "No matter how hard I try, it's there. All I want is to go back and stop all of this. I wish I never sent you undercover. I wish I said sorry and saved my best friend."

"It's just not you're fault. Whoever the hell makes this sick game is responsible," Artemis let go of him and wiped her face with her wet sleeves, "Because that's what is. It's all some sick twisted shit. It's not fair to call it your fault."

"I don't know anymore," Dick started to cry. He tried to hold the tears back, but they started flow. The loss of his friend, a man he considered a brother, was painful. It was beyond that, even. Holding it back felt like a dam ready to break. And once it broke, there was no holding back.

The raven haired teen grabbed Artemis this time. He held her close to his body and cried into her grey hoodie. Her whole body was wet from the rain. It was pouring down on both of them, but it felt appropriate.

As he cried into her, she cried into him. There was nothing happy about the situation, not even the happy memories of Wally. It was only the loss of a soulmate. It was the loss of Wally West.

And it felt like a gaping hole never meant to be filled.

A/N: This is really short and I'm sorry. :( super long one coming up soon