Readers POV

"You could have been seriously hurt."

"That was reckless. You could have been killed"

"You need to stop worrying about us and more for yourself"

These were words I heard on a daily basis as I got patched and stitched up from head to toes.

I'm Nightingale, one of the bats.

The most selfless at that.

And I was currently being lectured about how I should or shouldn't have done something on patrol while Alfred or Agent A as we called him patched me up.

In all honestly these words came to deaf ears as I continued to put my life on the line for my family.

Truth is I'd taken more bullets and injuries than all these guys combined and half them weren't aimed for me.

For Jason, Dick, Tim, Bruce. For anyone in my family. I'd do anything to keep them from harm.

And especially Damian.

Like most of the bats I wasn't exactly blood related to the Wayne family.

Even so I loved my brothers like a caring sibling. However I saw Damian much differently.

I saw him as the first love of my life.

But, he may be even worse when it comes to reacting to my sacrifices.

Foolish, Idiotic, Stubborn, an Imbecile.

All those names and many more are what I've been called by him.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed by the others but they believe a death wish is waiting for them should that argue with him. A few warnings and a scold her a there is what they say to him and not much more.

But even so... I risk myself for them day and night because I don't want to see them hurt, emotionally, and especially physically.

"There you are Ms. (l/n). Take it easy now lest you want the stitches pulled from taking that bullet for Master Bruce."

Looking at my right shoulder and side I saw the familiar white wrappings with the red stain that have always littered my body from time to time.

Nodding to Alfred I slid off the table to go to my room. Bruce had finished his lecture halfway through my time in the medbay so I was free to go with the promise that I'd be resting in bed for the night.

Walking over to the elevator I had removed what parts of my suit I hadn't pulled off yet and set them in the cave hamper leaving me only in my sports bra and shorts.

It didn't bother me, showing my scars and all. But it got some pitying looks or faces of guilt from my family.

I only told them it was fine and comforted them should they begin getting too emotional.

Stepping out of the grandfather clock I was met with a hug from non other than Dick as he buried his face in my left shoulder avoiding my right that was bandaged.

"(Y/n) why did you do it? You could have been hurt worse than usual tonight."

I let out a breath and started signing to him.

Yes, I'm mute. But not like I don't have the ability to talk but rather I don't enjoy it entirely. I save my voice for what I believe matters.

~Dick you know why~

Dick was the only one I trusted to know the inner meaning of why I do this and thankfully after I long discussion he swore never to tell.

He's also the only one besides Bruce to hear my voice.

He sighed he knew I was too stubborn to sway.

He only gave me a kiss on the forehead and a good night before leaving the office to head to bed.

I stayed there before sighing and began walking to my room avoiding everyone as I was too tired to honestly work as a human being right now.

Opening and closing the door to my dimly lit room my feet padded over to the bed. I hopped up making sure not to pull my stitches and get another lecture and laid back.

I could shower in the morning. Right now I just needed some rest.

Staring at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity I reached up to my neck and grabbed the silver chain in hand.

Tracing it down I found the oval shaped locket and squeezed it in my palm as I let out a tired breath.

Opening it I gazed down at the picture in the dim light to see the outline of a couple and a third figure of a child tears pricked at my eyes but I willed them not to escape further.

Shutting the locket in my fist I let out a shudder breath.

"I won't let it happen again....not to this one..."

I kissed my knuckles gently before resting my fist on my chest as I let fatigue envelope me and drift off.

"How did I get struck with an imbecile like you?"

I rolled my eyes at the comment he made but watched as crates of weapons and Bane Venom were being hauled outside to be loaded to onto ships and taken somewhere.

It had been a few weeks since my lecture with bruce and I had since healed. And now have been partnered with Damian on a Bane case.

Bruce had us take it and I had researched and done a little interrogating and found his next supplies shipment was here at the docks.

"Hurry it up! Before the Batman and his little Ninos find us!!"

Bane was growing impatient and very paranoid. No doubt hating being out in the open.

"Funny how he thinks we don't already know..." Damian commented.

I rolled my eyes pointed to the far side of the warehouse. Damian caught what I was hinting at and swiftly disappeared to take up his position.

Going to the closest side of the warehouse, I made my way onto the catwalk and gazed down at the thugs below where more activity was.

Damian joined me at the center of the catwalk. Exchanging nods I took a couple smoke pellets and ran to one side of the walk while he ran off to the other.

A smoke pellet was dropped and the thugs started to panic.

"Where is he?!" "It's the bats!!" "The Batman's here!!!"

I smirked at the confusion as more thugs and minions ran in from outside to investigate.

Waiting for all of them to get in I dropped my own set of pellets forcing them to huddle near the center of the building like herded cattle.

Taking their confusion to my advantage I jumping down I started picking off the thugs one by one.

I heard Spanish curses and Bane trying to leave through the catwalk but was intercepted by Damian as he left the minions. I growled as I saw them begin to fight before getting back to my own battle.

Cocky idiot!

Picking off the thugs the fight grew lesser and lesser as the thugs started dropping like flies.

My main objective was to get to Damian before he got hurt.

Sucker punching the last guy I left the majority to gather the unconscious and get away were GCPD would be waiting nearby to handle them.

I grappled up and landed on the catwalk they were on.

I was to the back of Bane and saw his venom tube vulnerable open in the base of his head.

Pulling out a dagger I walked behind him as to not alert him till the fighting stopped and he turned around holding Damian by the hood.

He dangled his unconscious form in his right hand and held a detonator in his left.

"Halt Chica, or this place goes up in smoke with Robin in it."

I froze I knew I couldn't advance without risking Damian's life.

And he knew this.

He smirked and jerked Damian a bit.

"Your little bird boy..."

He said before gesturing to the detonator.

"Or the trigger to the explosives in the warehouse..."

If I went for the trigger he'd drop Damian and there is no telling if he'd survive the fall to the ground. I know I can't.

But if I went for Damian there is a low chance I'd survive the explosion.

Me being me, I thought to long and let time slip.

"Clock just hit zero chica."

He dropped Damian.

Stabbing the dagger between the grates of the catwalk I swung down from my pivot point and grabbed his right forearm with my left hand while my right hand had a death grip on my blade.

"You really are dumb..."

I looked up and my eyes grew wide as he pressed the trigger causing the building to shake violently.

I grunted quietly as the heat and vibrations made me slip from the handle.

The blade dislodged and we were free falling till my grapple caught the catwalk.

The blade came flying down and grazed my cheek before cutting Damian's shoulder startling him awake.

"GAH!"

Another explosion happened as I heard him grunt as the explosion shook him.

I squinted my eyes as I searched through the smoke a way out for him and maybe even me. I couldn't reach the ground in time as the concrete was caving and the explosion at forced some of the crate to catch or explode.

Another wave of explosive detonated before my eyes widened and focused on the window in front of me leading out to the docks and water.

My mind raced as I tried forming a plan but I was shocked out of it as Damian began yelling.

"This is your fault (L/n)!"

I tensed and looked down at his angry expression bewildered..

"If you hadn't searched the perimeter for explosives than this wouldn't have happened!! Or if you had simply made sure the trigger was inactive!! Instead you thought it good to just go like this?! I'm disappointed, It's sad father brought a mute of all things to the manor just to be no help whatsoever!"

He was assuming things. Thinking I had any idea there were explosives surrounding the building. Thinking I was going to let him Die.

None of the comments really affected me until I heard the last one.

The last comment made something in me snap.

"FINE!!!"

He looked at me in surprise.

"CALL ME STUBBORN, AN IDIOT, AND IMBECILE!!!! I DON'T CARE!!! I SACRIFICE MYSELF FOR THE FAMILY I HAVE LEFT!!! I DO THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!! ALL OF YOU!!"

I choked as tears came down my face as my tone turned quiet.

"The family I actually have a chance to protect...."

He looked at me wide eyed as I smiled.

"And for the love of my life......I'm sorry..."

Another explosion sounded and forced us to wing violently.

I grunted as the heat and smoke made my eyes sting before I used the momentum to swing him towards the window.

Time seemed to slow as he looked at me with a look of shock.

My hand was still outstretched from my swing and he seemed to be trying to reach out for me again.

Another explosion from behind me forced him out the window. The glass shattering as his back hit it.

Every seemed to grow silent. I smiled and closed my eyes as the flames and explosions crept closer to the live ammo cases.

"I've cheated death one too many times.... and now it's collect its dues..... Goodbye..."

My voice was lost to the uproar just as the fire touched the cases.

Immediately my body was hugged in black.

Damian's POV

I screamed out to her as I was forced through the window.

I watched in horror as the explosives went off and the last thing I could see of her was her smile as fire and smoke consumed her.

There was no guarantee she would survive.

I hadn't meant to get mad. I was frustrated with my weakness and inability to act.

I was mad I couldn't act and show her the feeling I had for her but could never express.

Being I was taught emotion was weakness but sometimes it makes us stronger.

Tears invaded my vision as I hit the icy cold waters and resurfaced as fast as I could.

The blade had left a large cut in my arm and stung terribly, but I could only push the feeling away as I started swimming towards the dock.

I stared in shock as the warehouse walls and windows cracked and shattered.

I screamed her name in a panic and jumped onto the dock and ran to what remained of the warehouse as parts of the building fell down causing smaller crashes and explosions.

Running into the blaze I searched for the familiar black cape.

"(Y/N)!!!!!!(Y/N)!!!!!!(Y/N) WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!"

As more of the roof collapsed I saw the limp body.

The (h/c) hair on her head was stained a crimson red and the black fabric of the suit the same way.

"(Y/N)!!!"

I ran towards the body and picked her up so she was sitting up.

Removing my glove I felt for a pulse, a breath, a sign she was alive.

"...no..."

I clenched my hands as I picked up her battered body.

The fire was the least of my worries as I walked out of what remained of the building.

I felt a dampness on my cheeks as I walked.

I shrugged off the mask as I walked, her right arm resting on her stomach, the other dangled limply at her side, small stream of blood running down her arm.

Her legs were draped over my right arm as her head rolled back limp, though I could still make out the cuts on her forehead and cheeks.

Before I knew it I felt the cold air of Gotham surround the still warm body.

Settling down on the concrete I sat on my knees and reached down and took her hand.

Tears continued to pour down as I reached up with shaky hands and activated the comms.

"T-the docks... She... She's not breathing..."

My hand fell to my side as I didn't wait for a reply.

My shoulders shook with sobs as I looked to the shake and yelled out into the night.

My pain.

My frustration.

My sorrow.

I let it all out.

But even that wasn't enough.

I stayed there for what seemed like hours.

Emotionless, numb, and dead.

I didn't even move as the squeal of tires and the roar of the Batmobile came to my ears and stopped at the docks.

Hearing gasps I looked up to see the rest of the family there, staring in shock.

I looked at them....tears streamed down my face.

"H-help...."

The words shocked them as well as the tears. But nonetheless I sat in the Batmobile racing to the cave.

The hours blurred by and I didn't come to my senses until I was sitting next to her right side and held her hand in my own.

I had my knees up to my chest and my remaining arm around my shins to keep them in place. With father and Grayson behind me.

The silence was thick in the room only to be interrupted when a small beep came from the heart monitor.

It was all that sounded in the room she owned in the manor.

"Grayson... father... what happened to her family?" I asked in a broken the remembering back to her words.

There was silence till Grayson spoke.

"They died, she was 4 at the time and watched as the were shot in front of her. They owed some money to bad people and her home was burned to ash. She was stuck on the streets till Bruce found her defending herself against a few muggers."

There was a pause before I spoke.

"Is that why she risks so much for us?"

Father was the one to respond.

"Damian she didn't want us to face the same fate she wanted to prevent."

I nodded and looked back at her pale form.

They took the hint and left.

After I had felt certain they were out of ear shot I spoke.

I spoke from the heart.

"..... I'm sorry.... I hadn't known you felt that you needed to protect us.... to protect me.... I hadn't noticed the feelings were mutual... till you were confined to your bed in the manor tied to life support...."

A tear slid down my cheeks as I stood up and looked down at her pale face  

"Just wake up....for me..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There will be part two to this. I just wanted to ask.

Anyone want a part two to Stutters?

Till my next update then Little Bats!