Hey everybody! Don't hate me! Just enjoy! lol

MeechieNikole

I had done something right.

Or, at least that's what it felt like. It wasn't a win but I had caught Cane off guard.

There was something victorious about that. I no longer felt lost in this dark abyss where my own life wasn't, in fact, my own. I had made a huge difference. And now, Cane was on the defense. This whole week had been... amazing. My missions are much more fun than before, I enjoy my friends, but not without mourning the loss of Phil. Herman seemed to be getting much better with maintaining his old powers. I would see the old Herman everyday and that made me hopeful.

"You gonna eat that?" Herman stared at the last piece of pizza in the coffee table.

I smiled over at him and shook my head.

"Go ahead.

" "Sweet!" Herman hissed as he snatch the slice up.

We were in the common room watching t.v. after a long training session. It was obvious that Herman was getting his strength and humor back. I watched as he scarfed down the pizza in two bites. He then licked his fingers and winked at me.

"Tastiest pizza ever. Even better than Hawking's Pizzeria!" He declared.

I laughed but shook my head.

"Not even close. Hawking's cannot be duplicated." I smirked.

"You cannot compare this cheesy goodness to Hawking's Pizzeria! I mean it does have memories but... I mean come on!"

I laughed and nodded.

"It was pretty good." I smiled over at him and he smiled back at me.

It was pretty amazing how fast our relationship had grown in the past few days. Herman had taken really well to his powers and he was even getting close to some of the crew. But his closeness to me could not be compared.

"You know I'm going to have to leave at some point." I took in his statement and thought carefully about my next words. Herman was a dear friend, I wasn't sure if I was ready for him to leave.

"You can leave when you're ready." I said surely.

"But that's just it, I don' think I'll ever be ready." He stopped and looked at me. I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, look at what an adventure this has been! Of course there were a fair share of cuts and bruises-"

"Herman, you were beaten to a bloody pulp and had shock therapy to force your memories back." I cut in.

"Ahhh same thing. I mean, I've gotten my power back and handled-"

"Barely"

"-I've made some new friends, have you hung out with Impulse? The guy is hilarious! I've met Superman! THE Superman... and I got you back."

The last part was very short and small compared to his enthused voice before.

I turned back to the t.v.

"Of course you got me, we're friends forever, Herman." He snorted,

"Friends." I didn't reply to this outburst, instead I tried to focus on whatever was going on on the tv.

"I gave in you know..." He started,

"When Cane came and threatened Penelope, it didn't mean as much as when he said he had you. That's when I willingly gave in." I swallowed.

"You love Penelope-"

"I love you, Leila." He cut me off.

I couldn't help but look right in his eyes.

"Don't get me wrong. Penelope... she is... amazing. But... I had forgotten how much you meant to me." His voice sounded as if he was running across an epiphany. I looked away, diverted my eyes to any place but his own.

"I know that you have feelings for Nightwing and I know he has feelings for you. But how far do they go?" He questioned.

I gave in and looked at him again.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Nightwing can love you behind closed doors, but what about in front of the world. Where everyone can see-"

"It's more complicated than that."

"No it's not, Leila," He scooted closer to me on the couch, his voice much more intense, "M'gann and Conner did it! Heck Green Arrow and Black Canary did it. So what makes Nightwing so different?!"

I stopped to think about this. Herman didn't understand. H-He didn't know Nightwing like I did.

"I know you, Leila. Better than you think. You yearn not to only be loved in the darkness but to have love that all can see. A love that the guy is unafraid to show. I know about your insecurities about Nightwing and Batgirl. But me? Leila I've loved you fiercely all my life! Since we were kids! Why would I ever hide it?"

He touched my face and massaged my cheek with his thumb. He had hit my weakness. I was insecure about the fact that I stayed hidden and that Batgirl and Nightwing went on constant missions together. It rocked me. And what Herman was offering... was stability. But I loved Nightwing... right?

"You're not gonna want to be in the shadows for the rest of your life, Leila." He whispered so softly.

I closed me eyes and tried to think... to process what Herman was saying and what was in my heart. I was confused... beyond confused. I was lost. I felt his lips press onto mine and his hands snake around my waist. I tried to make sense of what was going on. His lips felt similar to Nightwing's but more rugged. And the dizziness I felt when Nightwing kissed wasn't like this, this was rushed and confusing. I allowed my lips to heat up until Herman flinched away.

"Ouch." He chuckled rubbing his lips. I scooted as far from him on the couch as I possibly could.

"That wasn't fair."

"Maybe not. But it let me know that not only do you have feelings for me, but you have doubts about Nightwing. And I can live with that." He kissed my forehead, and left the common room. I stayed seated and stared into space.

"What have you done, Leila." I whispered to myself.

The combat training field looked somewhat the same as it had when I had first been in there. There were more lights though. This level for Herman was much lower than what they had put for mine.

"Now, this is to see how well you do with team mates." Nightwing called out as his voice echoed all over the room.

Batgirl, Miss Martian, Impulse, and Superboy were also in the field with us.

"Let's get it going, Mal!" Nightwing called up. Without much time, there was a small rumble from the ground beneath us. Herman, who was standing next to me, spoke lowly.

"Thought any more on my offer." He asked I looked around and everyone else was watching their backs for the source of the rumble.

"It wasn't an offer. More like a demand. And no, I haven't." I hissed.

Herman smiled. "You have. I can tell." He jerked his hands out and electricity danced around his fingers.

"I've been thinking of ways to crush you with different types of rocks." I said looking in every direction.

"Ha! Ok. But you're thinking about me." I looked over at him and glared but he smiled at me and winked.

"Could you foc-" but my sentence was stopped short as Herman knocked me out of the way of a flying boulder. We landed side by side.

"Way to focus, Element." He smiled.

"Thanks." I huffed as he helped me up.

We watched as everyone went in to fight the huge android. I noticed Nightwing and Batgirl doing some duo maneuvers.

"You gonna stand there or fight?" Herman asked running towards the action. I rolled my eyes and ran right behind him. I jumped up as high as I could and threw fireballs at the robot but it flicked me away. I crashed into the wall. I sat up only to see that Batgirl had fallen beside me.

"You all right?" I asked helping her up.

"Oh yea. Live for this." She smiled and me and we both ran up to give it another try. Suddenly Batgirl was swipe away by a quick force. I looked over to my left and there was Nightwing. He had knocked Batgirl down for some reason... He spoke to her quick and she simply pointed to me. Nightwing turned to me and a look of shock and horror ran through his face.

"Element!" I heard Herman shouted.

It took me a second to process that Nightwing didn't knock Batgirl down, he knocked her out of the way. Almost on time, a powerful pain struck me and I could feel that I was no longer on my feet. A sharp pain rose up my head and my lungs like they were bursting as I screamed painfully.

"Stop the training, Mal!" Nightwing boomed.

I felt a numbness set all over my body.

"Leila!" Superboy's voice was the closest to me but I didn't want to open my eyes.

"Leila, please be alright. Leila I'm so sorry, I didn't see you. I would've-" Nightwing's voice was panicked and overwhelmed.

"What the hell was that?" Herman shouted. I finally opened my eyes to see a crowd of people hovering above me.

"I'm fine." I coughed out as blood dripped down my mouth.

"I'm going to get Dr. Fort." M'gann flew out of the field.

"I didn't see her... I saw Batgirl... but I didn't see-" Nightwing seemed somewhat dazed.

"Oh sure you didn't." Herman growled at Nightwing.

Nightwing looked up at him angry, but guilty. Herman pushed himself to the front and picked me up bridal style.

"I've got you." He hushed me.

I shook my head.

"I can walk." I insisted.

"But Leila-"

"Put me down!" I urged.

Herman reluctantly set me down.

I stood for about two seconds until I felt myself losing balance. Superboy caught me and picked me up this time.

"I had her!" Herman demanded.

"Superboy's good." I reassured him.

I allowed Superboy to take me to the ward. After hours of treatment and medicine, I was finally released but with a week leave from any activities. I went immediately to the training room to let everyone know. But instead of training, I walked in on a fight... between Herman and Nightwing. I walked in and everyone was standing around them with nervous looks on their faces.

"I didn't see her!" Nightwing said darkly.

"How could you not see her?! She was right next to Batgirl."

"I-I wasn't paying attention." He mumbled lowly. I stepped in between Superboy and Miss Martian as the two went at it.

"Right. And now, she's hurt or worse. Psh like you care for her at all." Herman turned to leave.

"Don't you dare question my motives to this team!"

"Ha!" Herman whirled around, "I wasn't even talking about the damn team! I was talking about you and Leila's relationship. Or lack there of."

Some gasped in response. Nightwing's mouth opened slightly. "Oh! Were people not supposed to know about it? Cause you clearly did a good job of hiding it." I instinctively stepped foreward.

"Herman! Stop!" I ordered.

He turned to me somewhat relieved.

"Leila! Thank goodness. Tell them! Tell them all about how he may rock at the hero business but needs a little help on his personal life."

"What are you trying to prove!" I shouted angrily.

"That I love you more than he does!" Herman begged.

I looked at Nightwing and he was looking at me. I shook my head.

"I can't deal." I mumbled turning to leave, but Herman gripped my hand.

"Tell them! Tell Nightwing how hurt you feel when you have to hide in the bedrooms and private places! Tell him about him and batgirl!"

"Wait... what?" Batgirl chimed in, "I've got nothing to do with it."

"You've got everything to do with it!" Herman brought me forward. I just looked at them both shaking my head.

"Leila..." Nightwing stared. "Leila, Leila, Leila. I've loved her for years no hiding no secrets."

"Shut up!" Nightwing growled under his breath.

"Make me." Herman sized up to Nightwing.

"Stop!" I shouted loudly "I just got out of the freakin hospital and I still get kind of dizzy if I focus for to long so can we not do this now!" I begged, feeling my head pounding.

"Sure..." Herman said, turning back to me. But, he instantly turned back to Nightwing. "By the way, I'd be careful of how you treat her. I wouldn't want to lose lips like hers. They're amazingly soft."

Nightwing didn't hesitate to punch him directly in the nose.

It was over. In an instant, Nightwing was on top of Herman, punching the crap out of him. Herman reached for Nightwing's leg and shocked him until he fell off.

I just watch in complete shock as Mal and Conner separated the two.

"You have no idea how I feel about her!" Nightwing shouted as Conner took him away.

"Yeah, I can tell by the way you let that droid knock the shit out of her!" Herman shouted.

They both left from separate doors. After the noise subsided, all eyes were on me.

"You... and... Nightwing?" Beast Boy asked somewhat shocked and hurt. I didn't speak, I didn't know what to say. I allowed the tears to flow down my face. I didn't speak to or look at anyone. I left the room and went up to my bedroom and hid under my blankets.