a/n: lowkey hate this chapter so consider it a filler because updates will start slowing down due to classes and work.

buttttt... who wants another Young Justice fic after this one?
because i may or may not have one already in the works 👀

"Alpha Squad, I'm heading into the alien ship. Are you aboard?"

"Affirmative. We're in some kind of docking bay. We have a visual on the new aliens, a.k.a. the Krolotean's competitor... a.k.a. the Light's Partner."

"We've got company." I said after Barbara. "Aqualad's here. If he makes us, we're over."

"Stay whelmed. He won't be looking for you. Just don't attract attention." Dick ordered. "You're all still in the pods?"

"Yeah, and I've got eyes on Lagoon Boy, currently unconscious."

"I've got eyes on... Shimmer!?" Tim exclaimed and I widened my eyes. "Plus four civilians and all the teens we came with... Blue's unaccounted for."

"Nightwing, do we move? Escaping could trigger response." Barbara called out.

"Make your move before all of you need saving too. And be careful! No setting stuff on fire, Domino."

"Aww, you're ruining all my fun, birdie."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"Link's down! I'm going in."

"SB, wait!" I called out but was held back by Tim.

"We need to go!"

"You two get out and tell my bird I'll be there soon. I think something's wrong with Miss M." I ordered and whistled, immediately hearing one back from Dick from the Bioship.

Running after Connor, we were both immediately sent flying to the ground by Black Beetle.

"Apologies, meat. But no one goes anywhere." He smirked, sealing us in as I noticed Artemis running towards us but was locked out.

Oh, shit.

"Listen, uh, Black Beetle. You're totally outnumbered. Open those doors now and we'll go easy on you." Cassie said, immediately helping me stand.

"You will go easy on me?" He laughed.

"Time to get traught and feel the mode everyone!" I yelled and Tim rushed to my side. "Wondergirl, get me up there."

Cassie picked me up with ease and threw me to Black Beetle's back. Before he could grab me, Tim threw a disk that I shot with the static gun, causing to temporarily electrocute him, long enough for Connor to get a few hits in.

"Okay, Robin. Assess and redirect. What are his weak points?" I asked, dodging a hit. "Faster, Robin!"

"Uhh... the face!"

"Good boy. And why the face?"

"Because it temporarily blinds him!"

"Right you are, baby wing. Now start throwing and I'll shoot."

"Domino, what's going on!?" Dick yelled through the comms and I winced.

"I'm currently executing my own plan!"

"Domino, for the love of God! What's going on!? Why is the psychic link down!?"

"We think something happened to Miss M but we're sealed in. We're fighting Black Beetle and Shimmer."

"Link's back on." Megan said and I saw Connor sigh in relief.

"Robin's down!" Barbara called out and I turned to see Tim on the ground unconscious and being covered by Cassie.

"Oh, that's it! Nobody messes with my birds but me! And nobody hurts a Robin!" I yelled and increased the frequency of the static gun and pulled out the crowbar.

"Don't do anything stupid, Domino!" Dick begged.

Too late.

Connor and Cassie swung me on top of Black Beetle's back and I shot the gun at his temple, latching the crowbar to the armor.

It's a fucking miracle this things hasn't snapped in half since I started using it.

"Heads up, boss!" Cassie smirked and kicked him across the face while Connor landed an uppercut.

"Wait, Domino look out!" Connor exclaimed, just as Black Beetle managed to grab and throw me to a wall back first.

"That's... gonna hurt in the morning." I groaned and lowered my head, trying to catch my breath when a loud thud was heard.

"Superboy and Domino are down. It's just Batgirl and me now." Cassie said.

"I'm here. Just trying to stand." I sighed, crawling towards Tim's unconscious body and shielded him as best as I could.

"What did you do to her!?" Cassie yelled and I looked up to see Megan halfway through the door.

"Shifted the density of the door. Wasn't quite prepared for that, was she?" Black Beetle smirked. "But don't be jealous. I can put you halfway through the door too. Halfway... The hard way."

He started banging Cassie's body against the door until she lost consciousness. I barely managed to stand up when Barbara shielded me from a hit by Shimmer.

"Just Domino and I, Nightwing!"

"Beast Boy, try to get those doors opened!" Dick ordered at the exact moment Jaime opened the doors.

"Blue, Beastie, Impulse!" I grinned and Bart ran to give me a light hug. "Our boys are okay, Nightwing!"

"Glad to hear it. Now get on board!"

I picked up Tim's body with ease, ignoring the excruciating pain on my back and ran up to the Bioship.

"Is he alright?" Dick asked and I nodded. "And you?"

"Bumps and bruises, I'll be fine."

"Stay here until we get the rest, okay?" He begged and pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

"Fine. But only because someone needs to watch over the baby wing, not because my back hurts."

"Whatever you say, babe."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"How's your back?"

"Nothing I haven't experienced before... Just have to avoid a lot of movement for a few days at most. I'll live, Megan." I assured and finished wrapping my bruises. "You seem distraught. What's going on?"

"You knew Artemis was alive and you didn't tell me." She said and I tensed.

"How did you-"

"I... may or may not have entered Kaldur's mind and saw everything."

"Can I explain or are you going to yell at me first?" I sighed and packed up the first aid kit.

"I'll let you explain."

"Kaldur is taking down the Light from the inside while we attack from the outside. He has no intentions in joining Manta, despite what everyone thinks. With the intel he gives us, we're able to attack. He kidnapped La'gaan because he was about to be killed, same with Impulse and Beetle. I can't explain the bombing in the Cave because I was unconscious when it happened. Everything is explained on a hard drive Dick has that Kaldur gave him during the invasion in the Cave."

"And Artemis?"

"Kaldur needed a right hand and he suggested it be someone we trusted... it was going to be me initially, but Dick had a really bad panic attack because of reasons and Artemis stepped up instead. The reason she looks different is because of a glamour charm Zatanna made but she didn't know what it was for... the Light didn't trust Kaldur, so he had to 'kill' Artemis to prove his loyalty. Today's mission was supposed to be a simple extraction with both of them overseeing things from the outside and keeping the Light away from us, but we still don't know where Black Beetle came from."

"Why didn't you two tell us?" Megan asked with tears in her eyes.

"Because then none of you would play the part. You'd take it easy and then the Light will end all of us... right now, all I ask is that you trust Dick's judgment with everything going on. It's taking a toll on him and with Bruce gone, we still have-"

"Babe, have you seen the cowl!?" Dick called out and walked inside our bedroom, half dressed in the Batman suit. "Oh, hey Megan."

"Dick, you don't have-"

"Might as well. I've got the build and the boots give me the height. Babs and Katie are taking over, I'll just stick to the side." He frowned as I passed him the cowl. "You got the keys to the car?"

"In the tray by the stairs." I sighed and kissed his cheek. "We could always send out the hologram and I'll drive for a bit and-"

"Alfred called and said it's chaos in North Gotham. We need the Bat." He shrugged and put on the cowl before walking away. "You can spend the night, Miss M... I'll be out till dawn."

"Dick, you don't have to do this." I begged and tried to pull him back, but he was already out the door.

"I'll buy breakfast... I'm already late for his usual patrol."

"Be safe, please. I love you." I called out and he smiled sadly before closing the door. "I'm gonna kill Bruce when he comes back, I swear."

"Is it bad he's covering for the big bad Bat?" Megan asked and I sighed, hearing the computer announce that Dick used the Zeta Tube.

"One of the reasons we left Gotham was to get away from him and his stupid legacy... make a name for ourselves. Hence why I changed the logo and Dick changed his entire alias... We stayed in Blüdhaven for Tim and Alfred but we were considering leaving the state... But no matter where we go or what we do, we can't get away from him. I love my dad to pieces, but I don't necessarily love the Batman all the time, y'know?"

"Bruce doesn't seem like Dad of the year most times."

"It's lonely being a child soldier. And this whole year has got Dick slowly going on a spiral in trying to not become Bruce, but needing to be the leader the Team needs... which causes him to make decisions like the ones he's been making this past year."

"Then why don't you take over to give him a small break, Mae?" She offered.

"Why do you think I'm co-leading this Team? If I don't do it, he'll become the next Batman!" I exclaimed and rubbed my eyes in frustration. "Look, I'm sorry we didn't tell any of you what was going on. But things on the other side of the fence aren't as pretty as everyone thinks... It was necessary that all you played your parts and if we had you guys think that Kaldur really joined the Light-"

"We wouldn't hesitate when he's been holding back the entire time!" Megan realized and I nodded. "I'm sorry about all of this, Mae. It must suck having to deal with all of this."

"After this is over, I'm taking a long vacation to Fiji and forget this past year ever happened." I said and we both laughed. "Plus, we're also dealing with a new threat in Gotham who pops up whenever they feel like it, whoever it is. So everything keeps on piling up on top of my classes and Wayne Enterprises shit."

"You two need a night off from everything."

"Hence why I'm talking about going to Fiji when this is over. Nothing but sandy beaches and no responsibilities for whoever long I see fit."

"I say a week. You can't be away from your family for too long." Megan smirked and I laughed. "Hey, we haven't had a sleepover in two years!"

"I'll make the popcorn and you pick the movie. Meet me back here in twenty minutes!"

"Deal!"