-Athena's POV-

I took a running start and launched my foot into one of the many punching bags I had. It swung back violently, forcing me to duck before hitting another punch. Once again, it swung out of my range. I rolled my eyes and spun around, my ankle hitting the bag very hard. The bag rolled back, snapping the chain that held it and falling to the floor. I swaggered over to the broken bag, tossed it over my shoulder, and put it with the stack of other punching bags that fell off.

It had been nearly a month since my identity had been revealed. All I ever really could do during the day was train. For the majority of the day, I worked on techniques and made sure all my skills were still refined. With the spike in training, I had gotten stronger to the point of where I was almost in the same physical condition I was on Honor Island. I made a mental note to get a three hundred pound punching bag instead of the 150 pound ones I kept breaking.

"Search complete," my computer alerted, snapping my attention away from the beam of wood I was destroying with my katana. I sat down in front of my computer and opened up the file.

Recently, I had decided to start doing what was probably more hero work than anything else. I occasionally took out Black Sharks members -- the ones Batman hadn't tracked down and tried to bait me with -- but I mostly was keeping tabs on the people who I had known. The more I had been forced to think of my past, the more names that came to my mind. I had trained with bad people and glazed over even worse people. Through my time, I had met evil people but I ignored them. Now, it was my time to erase them.

Matter of fact, getting rid of people from my past was much more of a bigger decision than just going after bad people I worked with. I had decided to sever all ties I ever had in my past. Of course I would finish my mission, but not for Ra's Al Ghul, for my parents. Then, I would leave that whole life in the past. My time in Gotham -- even if it had been just a year -- gave me more clarity than almost ten years as an assassin. I was anxious to leave my past behind. I knew it wouldn't be easy to tell Ra's I didn't want to be with the League of Assassins anymore, but I knew I would have to try.

I slipped on my Nightingale costume and risked going into Gotham during the day. Dick would be busy on the Team, Tim would be at school, and Bruce at work -- but I wasn't scared of them. I was more scared that Alfred would track me down. Even though I knew Dick wouldn't forgive me, that didn't mean that the Bat Family wasn't hard at work trying to track me down. Any potential targets I wanted to go after, Batman would round them up and put them in a monitored custody area. There were motion-tracking cameras littered around Gotham designed to pick up my specific body movements. Not to mention, Bruce hung out on the top floor of Wayne Tower. The giant windows gave him access to all of Gotham so I couldn't travel via grapple during the day. However, when night came, it was surprisingly easier to escape. My costume was designed for stealth during the night and the Family was too busy doing work to be looking for me.

My motorcycle rode through Gotham, far too quickly for any cameras to pick up my body. My target -- a weapon maker named Johnny who provided guns to Honor Island -- was taking a vacation in the outskirts of Gotham. He was always on the down-low which meant the Bat wouldn't even know he was here. Apparently, he was going to make a deal with Black Mask. I was going to stop it.

I climbed the side of a nearby building and peered into a pair of binoculars. Black Mask sat at his desk, Johnny displaying all his new gear. There were bombs on the desk with bodyguards holding long sniper guns. Smirking, I reached for my sniper. When my fingers met air, I realized I had forgotten to bring it. Shit, I thought, looks like I'm taking him to the cops.

I swung over to the building and hid behind the metal edge on the window. Out of my utility belt, I plucked out a tiny grenade and attached it to the window. It exploded, causing rubble and smoke to temporarily blind everyone inside.

"Motherfucker! Why am I always getting attacked!" Black Mask called out in anger, shooting a couple of blinded shots. I smirked to myself and grabbed Johnny. "Hey! I need him! Nightingale!" Black Mask reached for my boot before I jumped out of the window. I waved at him sarcastically, causing him to glare.

When we got down onto the street, I put handcuffs on Johnny and we rode to the GCPD building together. I kicked open the doors and dragged a kicking Johnny into the building. Everyone went quiet. I strode through, opened up a temporary cell, and tossed Johnny in.

"Nightingale? Where have you been?" Jim Gordon asked, stepping up to me. I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer.

"This Johnny, I don't know his last name. He is a massive weapon making and dealer who has a lot of people turning their heads when he walks in. Even the Bat wouldn't know he entered Gotham until all the criminals had brand new weapons. All the evidence you need to arrest him is in this folder," I tugged out a file I had printed from my computer and placed it on a nearby desk, "he has people in powerful places, so don't let anyone come in here and steal him back."

Before anyone could object, I dashed out of the office and onto my motorcycle. As I drove back to my base, my earpiece started to get staticy. Considering I only had the best gear, I thought it as suspicious and used my computer to trace the bad signal. When my computer picked up on the location of the hacker, the static disappeared.

"Master Vic?" Alfred's old voice came in through my earpiece. "It's you! Where have you been?" I sighed through my nose and reached up to pluck the com out. But, Alfred's sadly hopeful tone made me think otherwise.

"It's Athena, remember? And you shouldn't care where I have been," I tried to force bitterness into my voice, but it just wouldn't stick.

"We have all been worried for you and desperately searching, Nightingale. Even now I cannot get a track on you."

Ignoring the fact that he couldn't find me, I asked, "Everyone? I am fairly certain Dick has not been searching for me."

Alfred was silent. I knew he wouldn't lie to me. "Master Vi- Athena, Dick is just angry. I know he is worried. Tim has been missing you dearly, as have I. Bruce would welcome you back to Wayne Manor so you can explain your side of the story if you come back," Alfred said. I could hear his smile.

I took a deep breath. "No."

"Athena-"

"No." I tugged out my com and tossed it into the street. A car smashed it. I drove my bike around Gotham quickly, disabling all the cameras in the Slums. I quickly hid inside my base and dimmed down all of my electronics. I had to make sure that Alfred wouldn't track me. The fact that I even talked to him was a bad idea.

After several more hours of training, I crashed in my hammock. I slept like an insomniac. My eyes were heavy, but all I could think of was Dick's haunting face. I hadn't seen him for weeks. It was like I was experiencing withdraw. I was used to seeing Dick everyday, kissing him everyday. Now I didn't even see him.

I woke up to a continued knock on my door. I expected it to be some door-to-door salesman, so I didn't answer. But, the knock kept going. It wouldn't stop. I waited for an hour. It wouldn't go away. Grunting in frustration, I tugged my door open. It smacked against the frame with a loud snap. Who was standing there was equally as surprising as it was heart warming.

Kaldur's hand was frozen in the knocking position as if he was prepared to knock on my forehead. He dropped his hand and smiled at me. It reminded me of the brief time when I had a crush on Kaldur.

"Athena," he spoke softly, "it has been awhile." He went in to hug me, but I backed up into my base. His hurt flashed across his face before dispelling into determination. I went to close the door, but he held it open.

"What do you want? Did you finally come to arrest me?" I kept him from coming into my safe house.

"You know I never believed you were a bad person, Athena. But, I want you to come with me to Atlantis." Kaldur extended his webbed hand out to me. I glanced down at it and shook my head.

"If you haven't noticed, I don't have gills and I am not on your team anymore."

"Athena, as a friend, I want to show you something. But, I can force you to come with me if you do not want to be civil."

I glared. "Try it, fish boy." I reached over my shoulder and grabbed a katana off my back. Kaldur's eyes wandered to the shiny weapon. He gulped and stepped back.

"I'm sorry for threatening you. Please, Athena, you are my friend. Please come with me," Kaldur sounded sincere. His gray eyes stared into mine intently. I gave in, stepping into his space. I closed the door behind me and allowed him to grab my hand.

"Don't get any ideas about trying to arrest me while I'm under the water. You know I can swim fast," I hopped on my bike, handing him a rarely-used helmet.

When we arrived at the coast, I grabbed a small breathing device all Team members -- except the aquatic ones -- receive. It worked like an oxygen mask, except you slip it on over your mouth and it converts water to oxygen while you swim. Everyone is required to learn how to use it. Lucky for me, being friends with Kaldur for almost year meant we went swimming a lot.

Kaldur grabbed my hand and pulled me down under the waves. I wiggled my hand from his grasp and swam behind him. With urgency, he gripped my wrist.

"I can swim faster than you," he said, his words barely audible in the water. Kaldur kicked his feet quickly and we propelled through the water. I tried to keep my eyes forward, but I always loved the water. I looked around at all the sea life we swam through.

Eventually, we came to a stop. I looked down to see the brilliant city of Atlantis below me. I had never seen it in person before. It was just like how Kaldur described it; it was an underwater kingdom. The buildings shimmered as light from the surface cut through the water. Colorful coral and sea plants decorated the area. Atlanteans swam to and fro, not even knowing we had arrived.

Kaldur dived down and I followed. We went into the town, swimming past sunken Atlantean statues. People looked at me weird for brief seconds before smiling fondly at Kaldur. I admired the beautiful architecture and how the whole city seemed to glow.

"This way," Kaldur led me toward a large, round building on a ledge. It had a wide open area in front of it with beautiful gates around the drop. Kids scattered from the building, so I assumed whatever class they were in just got out. I followed Kaldur as we swam into the building.

A woman with red hair and green Atlantean armor hugged Kaldur as we entered. I recognized her as Queen Mera. I was told she taught water magic, so I assumed we were in the school.

"Kaldur, it is great to see you. But why have you brought Nightingale?" Her eyes shifted to me briefly. Compared to other members of the Justice League, her reaction was nice. She didn't seem afraid or angry at me like most of the people I had seen.

"I would like to discuss things in private with her," Kaldur said boldly, "I believe that she isn't as bad as everyone is making her out to be."

Mera smiled. "I agree. Well, I will leave then." Mera winked at me, making me blush. I looked at Kaldur, but immediately felt guilty. Dick's blue eyes seemed to follow me everywhere I went, even if he wasn't here.

"I think Mera thinks you are here to actually talk and not interrogate me," I said, swimming to stand beside Kaldur.

"I am here to talk. Do not pretend to be smarter than you actually are, water lily," Kaldur had a pained sound to his voice as he stared at the statue in front of him. There was a little water statue that seemed to be made out of stained glass. It was of a curling wave with bolts of blue running through it. There were objects littered on it -- like gifts. I realized carved into the glass was the name Tula.

I glanced over at Kaldur. His face was stone. "I know what it is like to be ashamed of your past. I know what you are feeling," Kaldur spoke softly.

"Kaldur, you don't have to-"

"Shh. I am trying to help you as well as myself. You are only person I will ever tell this to." The desperate look in his eyes silenced me.

"I loved Tula since I was a child. I wanted more than anything for her to love me back, and I thought she had. When she told me she didn't, I resented her. I knew in my heart it wasn't her fault or that big of a deal, but I still hated her for it. I let my jealousy blind my love for her, even if it was love for her as a friend," Kaldur took a deep breath, "when she joined the team, we were forced to work together, but we were never friends again. Not like how it was before. When she was killed, I felt very guilty. I spent all my days feeling like I didn't belong on the Team and that her death was my fault. I regretted all the hate I had for her. I almost didn't come back..."

Kaldur let out a soft sob. I grabbed his hand. I felt bad for him. After all, you can't cry underwater.

"I-I have done bad things before too. I try to hide the fact that I was angry at her, try to forgive that mistake. The past is in the past, I tell myself that everyday. And I learned from my mistakes. Which is why I don't believe that you are as bad as Donna made you out to be. I do not want to be angry at someone I care for and I don't want to lose you either," Kaldur looked up from the wave statue to stare at me. His lips rested in a frown. I reached out and pushed the corners of his mouth into a smile. He chuckled, causing me to smile as well. I let him hug me and I hugged back.

"Thank you for telling me that," I said into his ear, "and believing in me. You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for."

"You are not alone, water lily," Kaldur grinned. The nickname wasn't new, but he hadn't used it for awhile.

"Neither are you, hyacinth." We smiled at each other and swam through Atlantis.

After exploring the town, Kaldur insisted I stay to have dinner with the royal family. I agreed, only because I had nothing better to do and cameras didn't watch me underwater.

The dining hall was gigantic. Mera and Aquaman sat down already with a couple of other royal subjects scattered at the table. Kaldur and I sat down, enjoying the fresh catch.

"So, Nightingale," Aquaman started, "will you be coming to Atlantis often?" He wiggled his eyebrows, making me blush again.

"If Aqualad wants to train here, sure. Unfortunately, Arthur, me and Kaldur are as platonic as it comes." Aqualad nodded agreement. Mera shook her head in disappointment. "However, Kaldur is definitely one hell of a catch."

Laughs broke out around the table with Kaldur choking on his food. "Excuse me, my king, I have no idea where my manners have gone."

Arthur was still laughing. "Oh, please, Kaldur. Lighten up!"

For a couple more hours, we enjoyed trading stories back and forth and telling jokes. At one point, we all had a group sparring tournament. It was boys versus girls. Mera and Kaldur used their water weapons with Arthur and I using Atlantean weapons. I used Kaldur's gifted knife. After the first battle, we switched to magic versus non-magic. We sparred for a while until eventually I told them I had to return to the surface after my mask got damaged.

We said our goodbyes and Kaldur swam me back to the coast of Gotham Harbor. I smiled as his wet skin glistened in the moonlight. "I truly had fun with you, Kaldur. I can't wait till you get a girlfriend and take her there with you. It would be truly romantic."

"Athena, I have better things to worry about than a relationship," he jokingly punched my shoulder, "speaking of better things, I have something to ask you."

"Despite what Mera and Arthur want, I will not marry you."

Kaldur rolled his eyes. "I'd rather marry a blobfish," I gasped and he smirked, "I want you back on the Team."

I thought on it for a second. Most of the people on the Team hated me or didn't trust me. All the people who did trust me, I had turned my back on them and disappeared. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Nobody but you trusts me. I don't want to be on a team where nobody likes me."

"Since when have you cared about what other people think of you?"

I stopped. "Kaldur, do they actually want me back?"

He nodded. "You're more important than you think you are, Athena."

Could I go back? Was it even an option? I wanted to, I wanted to go back so bad. I loved being a part of something that wasn't sinister and I had lots of friends I was itching to see again. But, then there were the people who would glare at me. People like Donna, or Dick...

"I don't know, Aqualad..."

"Just say yes. It is effective immediately. I have to get back to Atlantis. Just be there tomorrow in the morning and we'll pick things back up again," Kaldur squeezed my hand before diving back into the water.

I rode home as quickly as my bike would allow. I basically passed out in my hammock. I skipped training and went straight to a good night's sleep. I actually slept.

In the morning, I went straight to Gotham zeta-tube hidden in an old phone booth. I took repeated deep breaths and tried to prepare myself. But, then I stopped. I realized I had nothing to prove. I knew who I was and I knew what I did. I didn't need people to believe in me unless they actually knew me. I didn't even need to hear Grayson's opinion on me, or even care for it. He didn't know me, at least not anymore.

Where had all my confidence gone?

I walked out from the zeta portal with my chin raised high and a saunter in my walk. I strode through the building to the missions room. When I entered, I felt all the eyes of my teammates lock on me.

I saw Artemis's eyes. She was pissed I hadn't talked to her. I saw Tim's smile. I saw Roy's relieved, yet trying-to-act-tough look. And I saw Dick. His lips were pressed into a sneer and his eyes were staring right at me.

~~~I don't know what to say, guys. I am so so so so so so sorry I haven't been updating. A lot of authors are going back to school, myself included. I just don't have time. My motivation for writing has also been plummeting. I know you guys who compliment and ask for updates are probably really disappointed in me for not updating, and I'm sorry. I'm not gonna make promises I can't keep so I'll just say I will be trying to update when I can. This book is almost over and I want to do the whole series so bad, but idk if I will have enough willpower for that. This book is already taking so much effort to just update. But I will finish this one! I swear! Please, don't hate me guys. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow if you aren't already!~~~