Two Broken Brothers (YOUNG JUSTICE AU)

Chapter I:

A/N: So yeah, in honor of this month being Pride Month, this is a book I've been secretly working on for a long time, and am FINALLY releasing for reads now. To all my friends, followers, or readers who read this, and are a part of the colorful and special LGBTQ community, I support you with my all! Love is love, you guys, and if that's not the message, it should be. So please, enjoy this book!

It was as if everything in my world stopped spinning out of control the minute I heard my best friend, Wally's, cry for help from his com. Immediately, I swooped into action with my grapple and came down to the ground, just outside of a burning apartment building. Smoke was everywhere and for a brief second, I was hallucinating because of how thick it was on the outside, but the amount of smoke didn't matter. I pressed my com, and said, "Wally, stay with me! You've got to stay strong! I'm coming in!" The ginger speedster of my best friend yelped, "Dick, you got to get everyone out. I-I can't move. I t-think I'm stuck in a room, and the door's blocked by debris. You got to get Artemis out, now! She ran in with me, and I don't know where she is!" I felt a small tear fall down my cheek, then I put on my brave face, and rushed into the smoky, hot, flaming tongues of fire. A firefighter called to me, and demanded, "You need to stay out! Let us handle the situation! No one else is allowed in, not even heroes. We can't risk anymore.", but that didn't stop me at all. I was Nightwing, of course, and from being on the Team, I knew a thing or two about disobeying orders. I rushed into the building, holding a piece of cloth over my mouth and nose, and began to crawl around the destruction of the building, looking for Artemis and Wally.

I found Artemis in a small room on the second floor, a few minutes later, where she was cradling a small, scared girl with dark black hair and grey eyes that were shaking. When I came up to her, Artemis coughed, and said, "Nightwing, I found Lela here. We have to get her out, then I can help you look for more people. Have you heard anything from Wally yet?" I looked at the blonde archer, and said, attempting to use a firm voice, "No, you both get out. Save yourself. I'll find Wally, and make sure he's fine. I'm sure he's fine. I mean, he's the one with super speed." Immediately, I used my arm, and smashed the window open close to the two girls. I grabbed Artemis' shoulders, and ordered her to jump to the ground, and get away as quick as possible. She tried to refuse, but I just pushed her out anyway. As I watched her fall to the ground, and land safely on a luckily placed mattress, I began to try to get ahold of Wally, but he wasn't picking up. Fear penetrating to the edges of my mind, I knew it was worse than Joker's repeated beatings. 

I ran from the room, just in time, before the rubble collapsed in front of the door. I said, "Well, that's lucky. I guess I won't be going back in there." Thankfully, the hallway was clear of fire and smoke, for a while, anyway. I treaded down the hall, trying to be as agile as I could, so I wouldn't cause something to fall. When I came to the end, I noticed a piece of Wally's yellow and red suit hanging from an exposed nail. I grimaced, and stepped carefully into the room, and noticed my best friend lying unconscious under a pile of metal rubble, with a rather large piece of metal digging into his left leg, or rather, into his left knee. Rushing over to his body, I shakily cried, "Walls, please wake up. Artemis is okay, but you need to be, too. You're my best friend; I can't lose you." Looking at the metal in his leg, I noticed it had already done so much nerve and muscle damage, and there wasn't anything I could physically do to save it, but maybe someone else could.

As the fire got closer to us, it was time to decide. Either I could die with my best friend, or I could get him out. Making a decision, that I knew I was going to regret later, and he was going to be angry about, I pulled out the metal, and blood started pooling under him. I removed the cloth from over my face, and used it to put pressure on the leg, hoping to slow down the bleeding. It helped, but it wasn't going to be enough to save the leg. I picked up Wally bridal style, his most hated hold, and carefully maneuvered us out of the building. When we got out, Artemis rushed over. She looked up at me, her grey eyes pooling with tears. She didn't say a word, but I knew what she was thinking. Quickly, a mobile cot rolled over to us, and one of the EMTs helped me put the injured ginger on the cot. As I watched them roll Wally's body away to an ambulance, and drive away, Artemis asked, coming up to me, "He's going to be okay, right?" I replied, staring the archer in her eyes, "I don't know, Artemis. I just don't know."

Flash ran up to Artemis and I, and asked, "Where's my nephew? Nightwing, where is Wally?" I said glumly, "Flash, the fire caused too much damage. When I found Wally, his leg was impaled with a piece of metal. He's going to the hospital..." In a blink, the scarlet speedster was off, racing after the ambulance. I frowned, then told Artemis, "I'm sorry about all of this. Now your boyfriend is hurt, and it's all my fault for thinking we could do this mission, just the three of us: the golden trio." Artemis replied strongly, though I could easily sense she was about to break, "It's okay, Nightwing. I know you were just trying to be a hero...like you always do. I just wish things could have come out better than this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head over to the hospital, to make sure I'm there, when Wally wakes up. You should too." The blonde walked away, and I felt crushed. It felt like a heavy ton weight was put on my usually uplifted shoulders, and it hurt like heck.

A/N: So that about does it for the first chapter you all! I hope you enjoyed, and if you did, be sure to vote, comment, and share to anyone you think would be interested in this plot! Also, before you come at me, saying this isn't LGBTQ material, just wait. It starts out with Spitfire, but turns into Birdflash as time, and arguments occur. I promise... And as usual, until I can update next, stay whelmed, and feel the aster!