-Dick's POV-

I called Barbara. She picked up on the first ring, however, she was talking to someone in the background as she did. Finally turning her attention back to me, Barb favored me with a peppy sounding voice, "Hey Dick. What's up?"

I was half relieved and half disappointed that I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. "Nothing much. Just seeing how you are," I said, playing with my badge. I had returned to my job. As expected, Amy awarded my absence with a boring traffic patrol job. 

"That's nice. I'm good. The Team is trying to get back on track and Kaldur wanted me to ask if you're interested," Barbara explained, getting straight to business. I chuckled. 

"I don't know. I'm kinda busy with the whole--"

"Red Hood thing," Barbara interrupted, "Yeah, I know."

I would've felt guilty for bringing up the exact thing we broke up over, but I actually laughed. Barbs did too. "I'm that predictable?"

"For sure." I could hear her smile. It made me joyous. That was the thing with Barbara and I. Every time we broke up, we would just revert to being the best friends we were before we got together. No matter how nasty the break was, we always found our way back to each other. It was the most constant thing in my life and I think we both appreciated that.

"I got two tickets for the next Rogues' game if you're interested," I asked.

Barbara said something to someone in the background. From what I could tell, the voice sounded like Luke Fox. We had broken up almost a week ago and Barbara hadn't gone off and dated him yet, but it was inevitable. The younger part of me was heartbroken over it, but the older part of me was yearning over someone else. 

"I'll be there," she typed something on her computer, "I'll catch you later, Dick."

"See ya, Babs." I clicked the phone off, feeling happier. Knowing that Barbara was content and not angry at me was doing wonders for relieving any left over pain I had over our break up. 

At the time, I had refused to believe what Barbara was telling me. I was sure that I was over Athena and that my obsession was just work related. The moment that I almost beat Red Hood to death was an eye opening moment for me. I knew deep inside me that I wasn't over her. And when Barb spoke my inner fears aloud, I plugged my ears and sang la la la. I stubbornly turned away from what I knew I needed to hear.

When I watched that video -- that landmark of a video -- I knew I no longer could deny myself the emotional honesty I was so accustomed to. All my life, I had been emotionally open. I put all my feelings out into the world and was very comfortable with them. Unlike other orphans like Bruce or Jason, I didn't close myself off when my parents' tragic deaths occurred. In fact, talking to Bruce and Alfred was what saved me. 

Finally understanding the truth behind Athena and I's tragedy was exactly what I needed. I had been telling myself that I didn't care for her because of the horrible thing she did. I couldn't love her because I hated her so much. But, when I saw that that whole heartbreak was a lie, I finally understood my own heart. I did care. And now I could openly see that. 

Since then, I had accepted that fact. I knew that Athena was in love with Jason now, the tortured orphan who I had known since we were both kids. Despite that knowledge, my heart still craved her. I didn't deny myself that love this time. I let it flow through me like venom. I had accepted my undying feelings for someone who had given up on me. Now I knew how Athena must've felt. Everyday, I wanted to beat myself senseless for causing her that kind of hurt. Past me was my worst enemy.

Last night, I had seen her. Her and Jason's connection was obvious and strong. Their brains seemed to be on the same plane, always thinking and doing the same thing. There was a time when we were like that. 

It was hard seeing Athena but it was even harder seeing Jason. I hadn't believed Bruce when he told me he had fought Red Hood and found the truth. I remembered Alfred's face, how he was on the verge of tears. Even my own were watery. The young, destructive kid we all knew was back for the dead. As far as I knew, Bruce still didn't understand how. I think that lack of knowledge was killing him, but I couldn't care less. My insides were twisted with guilt.

When Jason was killed, we all blamed ourselves. I had spent a whole night in Kory's arms, crying. I couldn't bare to talk or even look at Bruce. I didn't return to Wayne Manor until a month after his funeral. When I did, Bruce had grown out his beard and was colder than I had ever seen him. Alfred continuously suggested therapy, but it was rejected every single time. 

Jason was my brother. I wanted to see him grow out of his rebellious phase and into the great, young man I knew he would. He was two years younger, but seemed years older. He was angry at me most of the time after convincing himself that I was Bruce's favorite. Some sinister jealously had wedged itself into Jason's mind, driving a wall between us as he grew older and older. I had always regretted not trying harder to show him that Bruce always favored him with a father like fierceness. 

Now that he was back, it was like a living reminder of my own insecurities. Seeing him made me realize that I couldn't save everyone. I couldn't even imagine what it was like for Bruce. After all, Bruce blamed himself even more than the rest of us did. 

After my shift, I slipped on some street clothes and hit the streets of Gotham for the first time in awhile. Work and Nightwing business had kept me busy.

Fall was in full swing. Halloween decorations and fall colors flooded every single shop surface. The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon swirled all throughout the streets, almost covering the distinctive smell of burnt tires and gasoline. Gotham didn't have many trees in the city, but the few skinny ones were either red, yellow, or orange, contrasting with the gray buildings. 

Suddenly craving a cinnamon latte and a slice of pumpkin bread, I jogged to Gotham's best cafe. It was located right on the border between the Narrows and the upper end. I had always loved Steamin' n' Screamin' even as a boy. When the circus visited Gotham, my poor parents would buy me a one cent hot chocolate. That was the magical thing about Steamin' n' Screamin'. They had low prices for the poor citizens to get warm drinks during Gotham's bitter winters. The owner's -- Joe Coffee, yes that was his real name, and yes, it had been passed down for generations -- father had been a well respected Gotham villain, known for leading Gotham's underworld into its second Golden Age before Batman showed up. Because of his blood, Gotham's scum and criminals would often drop their violence and enjoy black coffee like civilized people. They would also donate thousands of dollars to keep the best coffee joint in Gotham running.

I pushed the door open, smiling at Joe. "Hey Dick," he greeted, "whatcha here for?" 

"Good afternoon, Joe," I immediately pushed a one hundred dollar bill into the tip jar, "One Sin-a-Man Latte and a Slice of Halloween please." I read the cheesy names off the chalk board above Joe's head. Joe's six year old daughter wrote most of the names, with Joe's sixteen year old son filling in the rest.

"Coming right up," Joe smiled, whisking off to make my order.

Monday's afternoons weren't as busy as Monday mornings, but there were still several people sitting at tables. I recognized a couple people as drug dealers Bruce and I had tabs on, but, because Steamin' n' Screamin' was such a peaceful place, I let them slide. 

When my order was ready, I grabbed my coffee and pumpkin bread and sat at the back table facing the window. Cars and people rushed by, not really seeing each other. That was Gotham, though. No one really appreciated each other until a tragedy happened. Lucky for us, tragedies happened almost every day. 

As I sucked the whipped cream off of my latte, I mindlessly looked out the window. Sunset was approaching, casting the sky in a soft blue light. People walked past the window. I waved, making several younger and older women blush. I waved at a girl who passed by, but she didn't see me and walked inside the cafe.

I followed her shape with my eyes as she approached the counter. Joe grinned widely, rushing forward to wrap her in a hug. She giggled, hugging him back while they traded dialogue like old friends. I still hadn't seen her face, but she seemed familiar.

Grabbing her coffee, she walked away. I saw a flash of her face. Of course it was Athena.

I quickly got to my feet, rushing to stop her from leaving. I grabbed her arm, making her spill a little of her coffee. Her eyes connected with mine. There was no resentment in them. I was making progress.

"Dick," she said, my name slipping from her lips like the sweetest honey, "nice to see you again."

I knew it was just a common greeting, but part of me knew that she meant what she said. "Can we talk? Please?" When Athena rolled her eyes and tried to pull away, I kept her steady. "I know I've been an asshole, but can we just sit down over the best coffee in the world and just...talk? Like normal people?"

A giggle. A soft smile. She was warming up. "Just one coffee," Athena agreed, "I kind of have places to be."

I tried to expel the image of Jason out of my head. No doubt she was racing back to him. Although, she did only have one coffee in her hand...

I led her back to my table, offering her a bite of my pumpkin bread. She eyed me suspiciously. "No poison?" The fact that she thought I was still mad at her pained me. I shook my head. Slowly and cautiously, she picked up the slice, sinking her teeth into it. A satisfied and oh-so-adorable moan of delight escaped her lips. 

"Joe makes the best sweet bread," Theeny stated, taking another bite. Within seconds, she had devoured my entire snack. "Oh, um, sorry." I wasn't even mad. I was just glad she was sitting there with me, giving me a single second out of her day. I didn't deserve it.

"Athena, I saw your video--"

"Dick, I don't want to do this," Athena sighed, sipping her coffee, "I don't want you to come to me with any new found realizations and start blaming me or whatever. I'm far too busy."

"I wasn't going to--"

"You know what, I actually have to be going. I'll see you. Bye--"

I grabbed her wrist before she could stand up. I looked up. All my vulnerability and desperation shown through my eyes. As she looked back, I could tell I had stunned her. "Athena, please?" I asked, my voice high and sharp, "I'll buy you all the pumpkin bread in here if you stay."

She bit her lip, looking away at the door. She stayed put. With a smirk, she said, "That better be a promise."

I chuckled. "Of course. Now, can I please speak?"

She opened her mouth to say something, before closing it and nodding for me to continue.

"Like I was saying, I saw your video. I am so sorry that I judged you so harshly. I should've trusted you and I'm so sorry I didn't. It will forever be my greatest regret," I sighed, trying to hold back my declarations of love. She didn't need to hear that.

"I now understand why you did what you did. Ra's Al Ghul has my identity, and yes that is threatening, but I wish you would've told me," I put my hand up to stop her from interrupting, "but I understand why you didn't. I would've done the exact same thing. And I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Truly. I will spend every single day of my life trying to show you that."

She was quiet. Then, a genuine giggle came out of her. "Don't try so hard," Athena teased, "Start with buying me another slice of bread." Doing what she said, I quickly placed two new slices before us.

"I know we have our differences in how Gotham should be ran right now," I said, "and I know it's not my place to speak, but Jason is dangerous. I knew him before all this and I'm telling you."

Her face shifted into a slightly annoyed confusion. "Dick, you don't even know him." She was defensive and starting to get angry. But, she needed to hear it.

"I know, I know. I'm just warning you. You protected me, so I'm protecting you," I reached forward, laying my hand on top of hers, "just be careful. Do what you want, but just be careful."

"I am," she replied, her voice still stern. She didn't take her hand away, though. I couldn't help but blush as electric energy jolted along my entire spine. 

"I know it might be a long shot..." I started, suddenly timid, "...but can we maybe be friends again? I'm so sick and tired of hating you. Its been eating me alive."

A smile appeared on her lovely lips. "Yeah, I think we can. As long as you start trusting me and not jumping to your own conclusions."

"Deal."

And just like that, the storm had cleared. A cloud of hate and anger had just been blown away. We were on the same page. I no longer hated her for doing something I didn't understand and she no longer resented me for not understanding. We were back to being...people. No longer enemies, no longer rivals, no longer that person that we used to know. We were people who knew each other a while ago and bonded over similar things. We were...friends.

I let her leave, but not before buying her one last slice of pumpkin bread. She waved and took a cab. 

I would be lying if a part of me still didn't ache over the fact that she had truly moved on from me. When I looked into her eyes, I could see that all hints of love for me were replaced with something else. Someone else. 

Jason now would be the one to tell her jokes and take her out. He would now be the one to receive her kisses and steal her hugs. Jason would be the one to fight alongside her and spar with her. He would be the one to patch up her wounds and be patched up by her. 

I was no longer that guy. Jason was. I had to accept that.

I accepted my own irrelevance like someone would accept death. It was painful and scary, but inevitable. I knew I would love Athena until that day that I died, no matter who she loved. I would just have to go day after day, managing to live with her in my heart, but not at my side. That would be my life.

Loving Athena would never be something I could outgrow or outrun.

And I accepted that.

Finally.

~~~~~~~Surprise! Another one! I have so much homework to do but instead, I decided to put this chapter into existence because I just felt so inspired. Everyone knows fall isn't my favorite season, but I'm kinda appreciating it more and more. It isn't summer, but it still has good qualities. Songs: Two Ghosts - Harry Styles. Somebody Else - The 1975. ~~~~~~~~~~