Getting to know you

Hallucinations

It had been three days since the disastrous simulator, and Dick was no better. He slept all day, barely waking to eat and drink. He had nightmares, and he would hallucinate. Wally could only stand by, feeling helpless every second of the day.

Dick was in his mind. He knew this well. He'd seen it before. He walked through the halls, white robes clinging to his body. There was the door that led to the night his parents died. The door that led to his first love being killed. The door that showed his Master beating him.

But there was the door that led to his mother. The door that led to Bruce. The door that led to Wally. The doors that led to his friends and family. That made him feel as if his family was in there with him.

The fourth day, Dick hallucinated. He'd been in his mind, watching memories, when it all flickered away. He was surrounded by sky, stars twinkling at him. It was stunning.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I see why you call yourself Nightwing. Honoring the sky whilst also honoring us." A voice spoke. Dick twirled around to see…himself. But as a Talon. "No. Nightwing is to honor Mami. You know her." Dick growled. His white robes melted into his Nightwing suit.

"All I know is a woman who abandoned me. A woman who gave birth to me, and nothing more. A man who helped create me, but abandoned me as well. I know of the Court, who raised me. I know of Grandfather, who stands beside me. I know of the stars, who laugh at me while they shine, as if they're perfect. But you," Talon chuckled. "I don't know you."

"You know me perfectly well." Nightwing said. "No, I don't. I don't know this traitor. I don't know the man that killed our grandfather! I don't know this man at all. But you know me. How sad." Talon pulled out knives. "No, I don't know you. All I see is a fool." Nightwing shot back, pulling out his escrima.

"You are the fool. The Court wants a better world!" "The Court wants to rule the world! They're so caught up in their own world they couldn't even see the broken shards of a child they were trying to make into a soldier. Or do you need to revisit the past?" Talon and Nightwing circled each other, the stars shining angrily. They could feel the tension between the two forms.

"I know the past well. I know that the Court saved me from ruin." "The Court bought us from Tony Zucco, who killed our parents! If it hadn't been for him, we would've had a family. If it wasn't for the Court, we would've been adopted by Bruce! Who would have cared for us, given us a home, trained us without nearly killing us." The stars whispered, waiting excitedly. It was about to happen.

"Then prove it. Prove Bruce Wayne trained you better than the Court." Talon snarled as he leapt at Nightwing. Nightwing dodged the strikes, using his acrobatics and training from Bruce. Talon chased after him, a smile splitting his face.

"Come on, fight! Quit running away, and face your destiny!" Talon laughed. "I have faced my destiny. And you're not in it!" Nightwing cried, sending harsh jabs to Talon's face and torso. The Owl was pushed back, getting close to the edge.

Talon took one too many steps back, and started to fall. He managed to grab onto the edge, his knives falling into the abyss below. Nightwing walked up to him calmly, sheathing his own weapons.

"Well? Kill me!" Talon snarled. Nightwing shook his head. "No. I was taught mercy." Instead of letting Talon drop, Nightwing pulled him up. "Why would you do that?" Talon asked, gulping." "Because I'm you, and you're me. Apart, we're too easily beaten. Too easily hurt. Together? No one can stop us." Nightwing held out his hand.

Talon looked at it like it was something alien. The stars whispered once again, buzzing excitedly. It was happening! "One time offer. Take it, or leave it." Nightwing said. Talon sighed before grabbing Nightwing's hand. "Together."