CHAPTER 27

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[Dinah Lance POV]

Batman led Oliver and me to a room adjacent to where Dick and David were, leaving them in the caring hands of Alfred, who was changing their IV fluids.

"Dinah, I understand how you feel. But you shouldn't let your feelings cloud who you are," Batman said as soon as we entered the room, in a non-confrontational tone.

"She has the right to feel however she wants to feel. Bruce," Oliver growled, crossing his arms.

"I know," Batman agreed. "But I also know Dinah's not one to hold a grudge."

"I'm not," I said, staring at Batman, trying to muster the right words to continue. "But this is my baby brother Bruce. I'd kill for him; I'd die for him... And your protégé almost killed him."

Batman didn't answer right away. Remaining silent for a couple of seconds before speaking. "I know. I know what Dick did was beyond reckless, there are simply no words to begin to describe what he did... I know, I know all too well. And I'll see to it that he remembers it. But don't blame him, blame me."

I stared at him for a couple of seconds, my mind clouded with worry, anger, and pain. David was all I had, all that was left from our family, and today I had almost lost him, I had almost lost the person I was supposed to protect, I had almost lost an irreplaceable part of my world. "Bruce, I already do. I just need time not to associate that feeling with Dick."

Batman nodded. "That's all I ask."

I didn't know if I would ever forgive them.

Right now, I was thinking, speaking, and acting out of anger. Emotions ruling my every move.

Perhaps one day, I would be able to see past what could've happened, perhaps when all of this is over, I won't be mad at them. Right now, however, I couldn't bring myself to forgive them.

Not without hearing David's take on all of this.

"Why is David taking so long to wake up?" Oliver asked, snapping me out of my train of thought.

"He sustained more injuries than Robin, considerably more," Batman answered without missing a beat. "Be that as it may, most of his injuries have already healed, thanks to his healing factor. However, his mind is taking longer to put itself back together."

"Is that normal?" Oliver asked before I could.

"Yes, J'onn explained in careful detail before leaving how the process worked, and how it was slower the first time. In short, his mind is going through the process slowly, making sure each piece is where it should be." Batman replied.

I sighed in relief. Psychic powers, who would've thought that?

Just how much are you going to grow, baby bro?

"He also explained how after today David's mind would be a nearly unreachable fortress, at least in his own words. Apparently, the nature of his psychic powers it's mainly defensive in nature, giving him an unnaturally strong mental shield against all means of mental alteration," Batman added, giving Oliver a USB. "There's more information on the USB. J'onn took the time to write some documents that he thought could help him, or you, understand the nature of his new power."

Oliver nodded, before taking the USB and putting it in his pocket.

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[David Lance POV]

I woke up to see Alfred in front of me. Who, upon seeing me awake smiled.

"Master David," Alfred greeted gently.

I smiled, waving at him. Physically I felt fine, a bit tired maybe, but otherwise, I felt fine, that was if you didn't count my state of mind, but I wasn't going to let that ruin my victory today.

Stretching my body, I surveyed the room, spotting Robin a few feet away from me, staring at me, a clear emotion on his face. Guilt.

~It wasn't your fault,~ I signed, giving him my best smile. There was no reason for him to feel like I did.

Robin said nothing at this, tears filling his eyes before he ducked under the covers of his bed, making me sigh. Did he really feel that bad? It hadn't been his fault The Joker had been there, or that we hadn't noticed the virus.

That's part of the job. Dealing with the unexpected, with the unwanted.

Batman had trusted us with this mission, thinking us capable of dealing with the situation, unfortunately for us what had awaited us there was beyond our level of expertise.

Be that as it may, we had done our best. And ultimately against all odds, we had succeeded, with nothing but mental scars to tell the tale.

I suppose he feels guilty for suggesting a mission, instead of simply staying in the house, as we had originally planned.

"David!"

Dinah was here.

I need to pretend everything it's okay.

These feelings will go away with time, time heals everything.

I just need to pretend they don't exist.

~Hey,~ I smiled at her, faintly, as she rushed to my side, hugging me tightly. ~You should see the other guy.~ I smiled, winking at her.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Dinah smiled, hugging me softly, almost as if scared of breaking me.

I smiled, hugging her back. Everything would be okay, I had won. I had survived, now I simply had to deal with the aftermath.

"How are you feeling kid?" Oliver asked, coming into view with a tired smile.

~Fine,~ I signed with a quick nod. ~Tired more than anything to be honest…~

I was fine. I was alive. That's all it mattered.

HaHaHaHaHaHaHAhAHahaHaHahA!

I…

"Lying to me," Dinah chuckled, giving me a kiss on the forehead. "I guess you are in the age of doing so…"

~What?~ I smiled, tilting my head.

"I heard that… laugh," Dinah muttered, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder that had started shaking.

Had I laughed?

Was the virus still in my system?

~I didn't laugh!~ I replied in a hurry, my hands barely managing to make the signs to convey my message.

"You didn't…" Dinah nodded, hugging me tightly.

"Your mind did, kid," Oliver added, with a worried look.