When he left the Watchtower, he subconsciously typed in the coordinates for the Batcave. And now there he was, blankly staring around the damp, dark cave, feeling like a total stranger in the place. It had been awhile since he had been back in the cave. He would have never come back to the cave but the world was constantly out to get him, it seems. He had already been living in a small apartment in the outskirts of Bludhaven and even gotten a job as a police officer in that city. Heck, Nightwing had already blossomed a relationship with the police department since he was helping them clean out the streets of evil-doers. However, he had to force himself to come back to the Batcave to take his role as Batman while Bruce was off world.

Fuck the world.

Sighing softly, he made a beeline to one of the chairs situated near the series of large computers and electronic that laid around the cave. With his weak, trembling hands, he removed his black domino mask. He felt pure euphoria as he peeled away the sticky mask from the rims of his sullen eyes. Switching from Nightwing to Dick Grayson again. In a moment, the mask was carelessly flung to the table, barely clinging onto the table as half of it was dangling at the edge.

His body had gone past its limit, mentally. After the events that had occurred, he realized that his life was so repetitive. Night after night, he removed his domino mask from crime-fighting. At this lowest point of his life, he wondered why he was still doing this dig. He had ignored Bruce's words that 'this life will eat through the souls of the good.' Finally, through his breaking point, he agreed to it. It ruined everything good in his life. The life had mercilessly taken away his normal life at having friends, relationships and a family, from the poor boy. But what could he expect? The world treated him like he was the villain no matter how much good he made. They took his parents, and they took this current parent too, and now Wally?

Dick took a sharp intake of breath as buried his hands in his hair and leaned his elbows on the table. He closed his eyes as he was painfully reminded that Wally was still gone. The stillness and quiet in the air of the cave made him really comprehend that his best friend was still gone.

"You're in my chair", an ominous voice echoed throughout the cave.

Dick didn't need to swivel the chair around to see who's voice it was from. What he was confused about was why he failed to hear the sound of the zeta tube or even the rumble of the Batmobile. Was he so into his own thoughts that he failed to reconnect to the world?

Without moving in his original position, he returned an answer, "It wasn't your chair while you were off-world. I had to sit here and do your god-damn bloody work while you were gone."

No answer.

Dick huffed. Typical Bruce. Not one to say even a thank you for the work he had done for that bastard.

This silence is killing me with Bruce around, Dick thought to himself.

"I accidentally typed in the coordinates to the cave. You won't be seeing me in this place again in a long time."

Still no answer.

Angry, he placed weight back on his feet and stood up from the chair. Stretching his arms out, he turned around and walked away from the Bat computer. His eyes locked to the figure standing near him, but the man had not done the same. His eyes were focused somewhere else, anywhere else but the teen. Dick swallowed his saliva and walked past the man in the direction of the stairs leading back to the manor. He had brushed passed the man, and there was not even a slight indication that the man was giving notice that he was there.

Without turning around, he continued to walk towards the stairs. One foot up the stairs, Bruce talked once more.

"Why did you quit the team."

His hand tightened on the stair railing.

"That's the first thing you ask me after you haven't seen me in months? Are you fucking serious right now? Don't make me tell you why, I can see through your bullshit. You already know why."

"I have yet to hear the answer from you."

"GOD, Bruce! Wally died, is that not enough justification for you?"

"Everyone will suffer loss. You know it when Jason died."

Dick knew the hidden message. Bruce was disappointed by his eldest son. Ever since they had quarreled a year ago, their relationship was never mended. He has moved out of the manor after he finally had the last straw at Bruce.

His departure was not received well by Alfred nor Tim. The butler would continuously call almost every week to check on his supposedly 'grandson'. He even insisted for Dick to come back to live in the manor, or at least visit. However, he couldn't bring himself back to the manor when Bruce was around. Well, until he needed to put on the cowl for Batman during the whole time of the invasion. And he still felt like he didn't belong there.

"Don't bring Jason into this," Dick growled.

"I don't care if I seem weak in your face. I've never wanted to become who you are. Ever since the start of the invasion, my actions felt like I was shadowing yours. Ive been trying to protect the team the entire time and yet I still don't feel like ive won,"

"But you knew your actions were justified."

"Fuck off about it being justified! Wally wasn't part of the plan and yet we lost him."

"Losing a comrade does not mean you can quit you job. This job doesn't pay. You knew very well what you were dealing with when you decided to join this life. And now you want to quit?"

A pang of guilt bombarded him. He felt as if his heart could stop at any moment. Dick slumped slightly and he put his weight on the stair railing. His heart wanted to beat out of his chest and he felt his legs wobble slightly.

Bruce noticed a slight change in demeanor and stepped forward to help, however, a wave of Dick's hand made him stop.

Dick's voice was laced with venom as he spat, "Don't. Don't come near me".

Shaking off the feeling, he quickly paced up the stairs, wanting to place a good distance from his guardian. All he wanted was someone to understand. He wouldn't expect Bruce to understand, considering his emotionless personality. And yet, the blue-eyed boy only wished the man would comfort him.

As he walked away from the cave, his heart broke a little more, adding on to the many cracks that laced his heart. Little did he know that Tim Drake had been watching the entire time, behind the Batmobile.