It's been a few days since Dick has gotten the news and to everyone's surprise, those that know, he has basically gone back to normal.

His attitude is the same if not more cheerful.

Although he has clearly gotten skinnier within that week and nearly all color has drained from his body.

He can't train anymore though, as within the first few days he's noticed he gets out of breath a lot.

He's also been having more frequent coughing fits.

To those who are unaware of the truth, he has claimed he just has a nasty bug.

But to those that know... it just makes them feel worse.

And those that know, mainly Wally, have continuously asked him when he's going to OK any type of treatment, after all the sooner he starts then the quicker he'll heal.

Or at least that's what they've said. But he knows better than that.

But either way he has no time to think about that, not right now.

He's waiting on a squad to come back from a mission, Aqualad is temporarily with the Justice League, and he's tracking their positions from the monitor.

It's nothing too serious, just a little suspicious activity, and they should be done soon.

Maybe we'll finally have an actual recon mission... without hostile physical contact.

"Recognized: Kid Flash B-03"

Nightwing sighed and leaned back in the chair, not looking forward to Wally's pestering of treatment options. It's already bad enough with Tim, every single time he decides to visit his little brother in the med-bay...

Yes, he knows they're being annoying because they care but...

It's infuriating.

"Hey Dick!"

"Hello, Wally."

Dick turns the chair so he's now facing the speedster.

He's in uniform but his cowl's down, a big, and somewhat cautious, smile playing on his face.

"Are you doing okay?"

Dick gives him a blank look.

"Uh... I mean how's your pain?"

Like I'm getting stabbed in the chest.

Well, that's what he wanted to say.

And it would be the truth. But the last thing he wants is for people to be hovering over him more than they already are.

Instead, he turns halfway back to the monitoring station and picks up a bottle of pain meds and turns back around to his friend.

"As long as I take these, it's bearable."

Really Dick? It still feels like someone is trying to rake your lungs!

"You know..."

Wally's smile was now gone, concern was now swimming in his eyes.

"That 'mask' of yours stopped working on me three months after we first met."

Dick's facade faltered as his mask lenses crinkled a little.

He turned back around and set the bottle back on the desk, returning his attention back to his work.

"You're in pain, bad pain. Aren't you?"

Dick didn't turn back around.

"I'm fine Wally."

"That's a load of crap and you know it!"

Woah...

He couldn't help but wince. He hasn't heard that much rage from him since...

He slowly turned back around, expecting to see Wally about to explode.

But instead his facial expression was desperate, pleading.

"Dick... you gotta start treatment. It increases the chances of survival--"

"Not by much."

"But at least it gives you a fighting chance! For God's sake, you're eighteen--"

A slight wheeze interrupted Wally's rambling.

He finally focused enough to look down at his friend, his head was bent and it looked like he was fighting another coughing fit.

"Dick?"

Wally moved to put a hand on his shoulder but Dick gently swatted it away quickly.

"I'm o-okay!"

The fit only lasted a few seconds this time, and Dick rubbed his chest and cleared his throat a few times in order to talk again.

"I know I'm eighteen. And you know what? I'm okay with that."

"Wha--"

"Mission complete Nightwing, we're on our way back."

Dick smiled for a moment before getting up.

"I'm not afraid Wally. Not anymore. You're safe and you're home. Kaldur's back as leader, and Batman and the other League members have been cleared. Tim and Babs will be fine with him, and the world is safe."

He started walking towards the door into the main area, to get ready for debriefing, when Wally grabbed him by the shoulder.

His face was now panic-stricken, and Dick immediately felt guilty and regretful for causing that.

He just... had to speak his mind.

"I'm sorry Walls. But I just--"

"What are you trying to say?! Are you giving up?!"

Dick opened his mouth before quickly closing it again.

He glanced at Wally's hand on his shoulder before gently removing it with his own hand.

"All I'm saying Wally, is that I'm not afraid of death. As far as I'm concerned... my work is done."

Then he quickly walked out of the room without another word, leaving a shocked Wally alone.