Getting to know you

The team becomes protective

The team didn't get protective of many things. They were protective of their mentors, each other, but not much else. When Nightwing came into the picture, they quickly became protective of him. Whether it came to the field, or just normal training, they were right behind him.

So when the League suggested another mind simulation, the team swore to protect the newest member. Nightwing had experience with the simulators before, ones the Court used as training. Wally was worried it might trigger something in Dick, but reluctantly allowed it.

As soon as the simulation started, Wally grabbed Dick's hand. Dick flashed him a grateful smile, squeezing lightly. They were in the watchtower, the League nowhere in sight. "Wow. Not how I expected an empty watchtower to be." Dick whispered to Wally. "Me neither. It's weird without the League." Wally whispered back.

"Alright. The mission is to find the captive and free him. Spread out and find him." Aqualad instructed. "I don't think so. To start the mission, you need a captive." A voice rang out. Doors slammed over every exit point, making Dick jump. The heroes backed into a group, making a circle around Nightwing.

Something grabbed Dick's shoulder and yanked him away from Wally. Another arm looped over his chest, trying to pin him against the body. Using his arms, Nightwing pushed the strange man's arms up and delivered an elbow to his side. Nightwing was quickly let go, and Wally led him away from the would-be abductor.

"Are you alright?" Aqualad asked. "Fine. He didn't hurt me." Nightwing replied, noticing how the team was positioned. A protective stance, glances being made in his direction. They were trying to protect him.

"Now, why would I hurt him? That's no fun." A voice hissed in Dick's ear, sending a shiver down his spine. He never experienced anything like this in the Court's simulators. Wally pulled Dick away and punched the man. He had to be teleporting, there was no way he could be getting around that fast without Wally or Bart seeing him. Dick would be able to see him as well. He'd surprised the League with his ability to identify a speedster while they were running, even without the costumes. He could see their faces.

"I don't like this." Dick whispered to Wally, grabbing his hand again. "It's only a simulator. We're ok, we're going to be fine." Wally whispered back, rubbing his thumb over the back of Dick's hand. "I still don't like this." Dick sounded, should he dare, scared? "Do you need to back out?" Wally asked. Dick shook his head.

The third time the super powered man attacked, they couldn't stop him. He separated Dick from Wally and teleported, getting away as quickly as possible. Dick's head spun as they teleported, his body going limp. When it stopped, Dick nearly threw up.

The teleporting kidnapper slapped chains around Dick's wrists, the chains connecting to the wall. Dick tugged on them weakly, knowing they wouldn't give. They had to find him. The man looked at him once more before disappearing. Dick recognized the room he was in.

It was one of the cells for metahumans, which meant he wasn't escaping with brute strength. Dick laid down on the bench, hoping his headache would g away. He knew he was safe, he wasn't going to be hurt. Uncle J'ohnn was there if anything happened.

Wally was panicking. He knew it was a simulator, but Dick being taken triggered some very unpleasant memories of being without the acrobatic bird. Like with Markus, or when he got too cold. Something had been endangering his love, and Wally had absolutely gone crazy. The other heroes often had to sedate the younger speedster when Dick was gone.

"The plan remains the same. Spread out, find Nightwing, don't get caught in the process. Watch out for the criminal, he may try to take more of us." Aqualad instructed, mentally cursing himself. Why didn't he tell Kid to get Nightwing out? Phase the both of them through the door? It was obvious after the second time that the criminal had been going after Nightwing.

The team slowly disbanded, besides Aqualad and Wally. "Do you want me to come with you?" Kaldur asked. "Would you?" "Of course. He is special to us, and I fear you may not go far without panicking." Wally chuckled. "True. He's special to me, Kal. And I'm constantly scared he's going to be taken away. He's already been taken twice. A third time, even in a simulator? My mind is screaming at me to get him back."

Kaldur smiled. He was happy to see Wally had moved on from the female archer. Kaldur always felt the two weren't right for each other, but never said anything about it. If they wanted to be together, that was their business. But he couldn't help the feeling that came over him when they broke up. A feeling of 'I'm right, you're wrong'. He still never said anything.

Kaldur and Wally ended up at the cells. Hey, if you have a prisoner, why not a cell to keep him in? The regular cells seemed empty, no sound or shapes to be seen. So they headed to the meta cells, made after the particle accelerator broke and they ran out of space to put the rogue meta-humans.

Wally found Dick napping in one of the cells. He and Kaldur opened the door, then Wally slipped in. "Wing. C'mon, Wing, wake up!" Dick cracked his eyes open. "Hey, Walls. I'm good." Wally sighed and hugged Dick. "Don't you dare scare me like that again." "No promises."

Wally held the door open as Kaldur cut the chains, just to make sure it didn't close. If it closed, they were locked in. Dick stood up wobbly, head slightly spinning. "Are you alright?" Kaldur asked. "Teleporting took a lot out of me. Heads just spinning." "Let's take it easy. We need to regroup with the team. Can you walk?" Kaldur asked, one hand on Dick's arm. "I think so. May need a support."

Kaldur slung Dick's arm around his neck, helping him stand. Dick followed with a hazy mind, eyesight blurring. His strength seemed to be sapping, slowly dripping out of him. Wally slung Dick's other arm around his shoulders, watching him with concern.

The team met up in the monitor room, all cautious. Dick was sitting against the wall, head in his hands. His head spun with every move of the watchtower. Wally was sitting next to him, a hand on his thigh to let Dick know he was there. Sweat was dripping down the side of Dick's face, his shoulders heaving with the breaths he took.

M'gann knelt down next to Dick. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She put her hands on the side of his head, trying to figure out what was going on. Wally grabbed one of Dick's hands, gently rubbing his thumb on the back of it. Dick gently squeezed Wally's hand, trying to hold back whimpers.

The team slowly sat around Nightwing, watching for the man while glancing to see if he was ok. M'gann frowned. "Mental sickness. It must have happened when you were teleported. You'll be fine, but you need to take it easy." Dick nodded. "Why isn't there simulation ending?" Wally asked. "Because we haven't finished the mission."