After Damian sacrifices himself for Lorri, she is unable to locate his corpse after the battle. She finds Dick's corpse instead, and ventures to the League of Assassins, where she will shape her own destiny from the ashes of her love.
☀︎︎
"Damian!" You screamed as he shoved you into the water.
Voices began to ring in your ears as your body drifted into the blackness of the deep water, the crushing weight stilling you.
"Justice, not vengeance."
"Who are you seeing, then? The animal?!"
"Run, Black Bird!"
"It's okay, Lorri."
"She's at peace."
"I'm going to stop Jason from killing the Joker because I love him."
"Grace is dead, and you are the next Black Bird."
"Grace would be proud."
"I love you, Lorri."
It felt like you were under water for hours before you began to claw your way to the surface, violently thrashing your arms and legs. You screamed, but there was no sound. Flashes of Damian's dead body rained in on your mind as something pulled you deeper under water, into the darkness of the unknown, into your subconscious. Something whispered "let go", and you silently screamed again, writhing your body as hands began to clasp around you, dragging you only deeper down.
You awoke in your bed, immediately sitting up and gasping for air. There was no water. There were no hands.
There was no Damian.
"Lady Lorrietta?" Someone called from behind your door. "Night terrors plague you again?"
You wiped your eyes, flopping back down into the sheets. You looked out your balcony to see the first few peaks of the sun over the mountain tops, the snow glistening. It was almost morning.
"No, Shiva." You replied, wiping your eyes. "Just regrets."
"I see." She muttered. "Shall I leave you?"
"No, no." You groaned. "I'll join the men, today."
"Very well." She finished, and her footsteps filled your ears before disappearing.
You reluctantly got out of bed, dressing in your uniform.
It had the League of Assassins spice, with the skirt that only covered the front part of your waist and backside, much like Shiva's, only black, and knee high boots. Gold decorations traced the outfit, and a red cape to top it all off.
It was an al Ghul's traditional style.
You slowly made your way out of your room, being greeted by a maid. She offered you morning tea, which you politely declined, and made your way to the training grounds.
Shiva was already there, along with the men bright and early. She welcomed you.
"It is good to see you, my lady."
"Thank you, Shiva." You smiled, before looking out upon the men. "The painting of Damian did not escape my notice."
Near your room, there was a wall of paintings of previous al Ghuls. There was even one of Talia. Recently, one had been hung up if Damian.
"It's beautiful."
Shiva let out a sigh of relief.
"He would have rather ruled by your side, my lady." She said, turning to you. "I do not doubt for a second he would in fact leave this all behind for you."
You paused, turning back to the mountain scape before you.
"He would leave such beauty for only a girl?" You mused. "I, for one, only came back here for the Lazarus Pit."
"Ah, I remember." Shiva laughed. "We thought you were here to kill us off." She paused. "I'm sorry it didn't work."
You shook your head. "It didn't work with Jason, either."
You looked to your feet.
"Ra's al Ghul tried to revive one of my older brothers with the Lazarus Pit, and it cost him his sanity. He raced back to Gotham, plotting revenge for my father and his own lover." You sighed. "I was small, then. Almost a new born. It was disturbing. Someone I had loved for so long had suddenly disappeared, and five years later, he was back."
Shiva stayed silent.
"My sister, his lover, Estella-"
"Your brother and sister were in love?!" Shiva cried, and you whipped around to her.
"No, no!" You laughed at the misunderstanding. "We were all taken in by my adoptive father."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's quite alright." You assured her, before continuing. "As I was saying, Estella had gone rouge. She had abandoned the Black Bird name and my next eldest sister, Rachel, was next in line. In fact, she had just put on the suit a month ago. I believe I was six, maybe seven. He appeared, and claimed he wanted to clean up the streets of Gotham. He and my father had a stand off, and he disappeared once again, as did Estella. I only pray they were happy together."
Shiva looked to you.
"You don't think..."
"Oh, no. I'm sure they're dead." You replied, unbothered. "I was lucky to survive."
You chuckled at the thought.
"When the Lazarus Pit failed me, I wanted to run away. But, I couldn't let this all die. I couldn't let Damian's legacy go to waste." You sighed.
••
"Jason!" You cried, running over to him.
"Hey, lil' bird." He smiled, hugging you tightly.
"How cute." Constantine scoffed.
"Lorri..." Raven began, before collapsing. Clark caught her just in time.
"Jesus.." You muttered. "I hate you." You turned to Clark. "But I love her."
You looked at your feet. "Get inside before I change my mind and kill you."
Everyone followed you into the temple, and you led them into an infirmary. Shiva and Clark tended to Raven while Constantine and the ugly goblin creatures drank their hearts out. You talked with Jason in the doorway.
"I thought you were dead." You muttered, arms crossed.
"Me too." He smiled. "I bet you're not worried. You guys got a life time supply of Lazarus."
"You know better than anyone what it does to the mind." You whispered.
Silence fell.
"I lost Estella." He said finally.
"I figured." You whispered. "Tim and Rachel?"
"Long dead."
You sighed. "We're a dying breed, you and I. In fact, you're very well the last of us. I can't even find what was left of my costume after the war."
Jason looked down. "It's okay." He said. "I know you're tired."
You sighed again. "I used it on Dick."
Jason visually saddened. "He turn out like me? I was awful at first, but I got it under control. I'm fine, now."
"He's worse." You replied. "He tears meat off the bone like an animal. Can't even speak. When he does, it's about Kori. Sometimes Damian."
Jason looked to you. "Did Bruce ever tell you?"
"That Grace was actually my mom?" You asked, a slight chuckle in your voice. "Yeah. Right before the war."
"No, I mean..." He looked around. "Your father."
You shrugged. "Figured it was Roy Harper. I know they had something going on."
☾
"She what?!" You cried, flipping the table.
The team stared at you in shock, along with the Justice League. You had been having some sort of dinner. A get together of some kind.
"Grace made us swear not to tell you, Lorri." Dick said in Bruce's defense.
"What the hell is happening?" Shazam asked.
"Grace was a lot of things." Red Arrow cut in. "She..."
"She didn't want me!" You yelled to him. "How do you know?!"
"Because I'm your father!" Red Arrow yelled back. "We were young. She was 17, I was 18...
W-we didn't know what to do!"
Dick visibly tensed. Damian quirked a brow in his direction.
"Oh, so you two were just fuckin' around and then I popped out of nowhere?!"
"No, Lorrietta, Grace was with Dick-"
"Oh, so she was with Dick when she was pregnant with me?"
Red Arrow paused, as if he had been lied to and just realized it.
"You're not my fuckin' dad, Arrow. You're story isn't straight. And even if you are, where the fuck were you when she died?! You just dumped me onto Bruce?!"
Arrow was at a loss for words.
"I'm done." You said, turning on your heel. "I'm fuckin' done."
☾
You grimaced at the memory. The more you thought about it over the years, Arrow was the most likely person to be your father. Grace had dated him for a couple of years before getting back with Dick.
"That asswipe isn't your father, Lorri. You look nothing like him." Jason deadpanned.
"Then who is my dad?"
"Dick."
☾
"I'm sorry." An elderly woman said to you, wiping your tears, before leaving you alone in front of the gravestone.
Bruce had been grieving for a while, and you were yet to forgive him for just walking away from her.
"Lorri." Dick began, placing a hand on your shoulder.
"Sometimes..." he looked out from under his umbrella into the pouring rain. "Sometimes, the people we love keep things from us, and by the time they are ready to tell us, they're dead."
You looked at the mud beneath your feet.
"Sometimes, the people we love loved us just as much, and they just want to protect us from the secrets they take to their grave."
"What do you want, Grayson?" You spat.
"When you find out what Grace never told you, keep what I just said in mind."
At the mention of her name, you broke down, collapsing onto her grave, and kneeling in front of the gravestone.
Grace Victoria Wayne. Beloved daughter, sister, and friend.
Might as well have added "mother".
"Hey, kid. Wanna blow some shit up?"
☾
You stared at the wall. It all made sense now. How Nightwing had been in your life constantly. Those little moments he had taken to spend time with you. How close you two had been.
"It just clicked?" Jason asked.
"Yeah."
Raven took her time explaining that Lois Lane had a plan to save the world. You could give a rat's ass whether you lived or died. You just wanted to keep the league alive.
You visited Dick before leaving.
The heavy metal door swung open, and you slowly stepped in.
"Dick?" You asked.
The man whipped around to you, grunting and growling.
"Dick, it's me." You smile, gently outstretching your hand while crouching down to his level.
He sniffs your hand, as if it's a piece of unfamiliar meat, before looking up to meet your eyes.
"Lorri."
The word comes out in a grumble, as if a dog were trying to speak English, as if he's forgotten his native language.
"Yeah." You smile, tears welling up in your eyes. "Dad."
He somehow understands, scooting closer to you. He sniffs your shoulder, before leaning on it.
"Lorri." He says again.
You place your palm on his back, and rub it gently.
"Lorri." He repeats your name over and over again, like it's the only word he can remember. Like it's the last way to communicate with you. Like he has a million things to tell you, but simply can't.
"Lorri!" He says it this time with his voice breaking.
"It's okay." You whisper. "You're okay."
He sobs into your shoulder. He's so confused, so lost. Who even is he? Where is he? It's far too much for him to process.
"Dick... Dad, I promise, when all this is over, we'll spend time together, okay?"
He continued to cry into your clothes, stuttering out your name again.
"Stay!" He yelled, looking up.
"Dad, I cant. I have to fight, okay? You stay here, where you're safe. Damian would have wanted me to protect you, and so would Kori."
At the mention of his dead brother and lover, he breaks down again, hitting the floor. You stand.
"I'll be back, okay?"
••
"I probably should have shown you this sooner." Shiva began. "I originally planned on giving it to you as a gift when our vision for a better world was completed."
You both briskly walked to the armory, the "guests" following behind.
"It's what's left of your original suit."
Shiva pushed open the door, and you gaped.
Your mask was still intact, as was your suit. It was like Shiva's battle outfit in some ways. The long front and back, flashing your bare legs. The neckline was still high, and the slit on your chest stretched from arm to arm. The slit, along with the whole outfit, had the traditional al Ghul gold lining along the black leather.
You sighed. "Did I always look like such a prostitute?"
"Yep!" Jason replied. "Now try it on!"
You chuckled, taking the new and improved costume and slipping it on.
"Oooo, gurl!" Jason cheered. "Work it!"
••
"Stop it, Clark!" Cyborg demanded. "I'm fully integrated. There's not enough left of me to ever leave this place."
"I'm sorry." You said.
Jason had his arm wrapped around your shoulder.
"Thank you, but that's not important. Batman regained consciousness a while ago, so Robin took over."
You gasped. "Damian's alive?!"
You heard a grunt, and turned to watch Bruce's body slide toward you.
"Batman!" Jason and you both yelled, crouching over him. He was barely alive.
"Damian is alive and well." A familiar voice called. "Thanks to his lord and master, Darkseid."
"Damian?" You called, looking up, and he exited the shadows.
"Damn..." Jason muttered. "The fuck happened to Demon Spawn?"
"I knew Clark would return one day." He mused, crossing his arms. "It was inevitable. But I never thought you would be part of a lost cause, Black Bird."
"I thought you were dead." You said, standing. "I mourned you, love. I kept the league alive in your memory."
Damian scoffed. "How pathetic. I was dragged and forced into that fool's home." He pointed to Bruce. "He made me soft, ruined me. But you..." he took a step forward. "You, beloved." The word rolled of his tongue with sarcasm. "Oh, you destroyed me. You held me back. You stopped me from achieving my greatness. And when I turned to The Court of Owls for a second chance, you ruined that, as well."
Shiva gaped in shock. That was not her leader.
"I wanted to keep you safe!" You exclaimed, voice breaking as you took your own step closer. "I never meant to hurt you!"
"Lorri, that's not Damian!" Raven yelled, but it fell upon deaf ears.
"Oh, and then I fell in love." He drawled out the word, stepping even closer. "With Raven. She would have been my queen. We would ruled the league together. But, no. You ruined that, too."
"Damian..." you whimpered out, tears beginning to spill from under your mask. "I love you."
"That is your flaw." He finished.
You gasped, and Raven screamed. Damian stabbed you through the heart. You looking into his eyes, and something inside of him snapped. He suddenly grabbed your waist, and fell to the ground with you.
"Lorri?" He asked, shocked.
You opened your mouth to speak, but choked instead.
"Lorri!" He screamed, grabbing your head. "Breathe, beloved!"
Your eyes were empty. Your breathing stopped. Your mouth fell open.
"You killed her!" Jason screamed.
☦︎︎
Lorri.
Lorri.
Lorri?
You looked down at your hands. They were callused and scarred. You looked back up to fields and fields of endless wildflowers.
"Lorri." Someone called.
You stepped forward, and saw a woman.
"Grace?" You asked.
Your white dress fluttered as you ran across the field, stopping behind her. Her long hair was blowing in the light breeze, and her own dress hung around her knees as she held them to her chest.
She turned to you, her haunting eyes smiling with joy.
"Lorri."
"Grace?" You asked again, voice breaking.
"Sit with me."
You quickly obliged, moving to cross your legs next to her.
"I never told you that you were my daughter because it would be dangerous."
"I know." You responded.
"And, if Roy found out you weren't his, he might have killed Dick. So we all just kept it mellow."
"What did you ever see in him? Or, both of them?"
She pondered for a moment.
"I found Roy drinking away his soul in a bar one night. It was right after he found out he was a clone of the real Speedy. His hair had grown long and unruly and he had not shaven in several days. He vented to me, probably because I was a familiar face. He confessed that he had slept with Cheshire, an assassin, and that she was nine months pregnant with his daughter. I comforted him. I told him that it would be okay, and that the young girl would be safe. I was lying. Two weeks later, we track down Cheshire. We pried the girl from our hands, and I vowed to help raise her with Roy. She soon died of salmonella. Roy mourned, and I pitied him. We were together for some time, until I caught him sleeping around with Cheshire behind my back. I went back to Dick, and we dated for a while until I was pregnant. By then Roy wanted me back and I had to concoct the whole 'I'm pregnant with your daughter' story. You needed a father. That was my main priority. Of course, until Dick found out he was your real father. And then, I died."
You sighed.
"Dick said that you both agreed on being friends."
"A lie to throw you off our trail. We did love each other. I'm happy he has Kori, now. I'm glad he's happy."
"Lorri!" Someone else called.
You looked behind, and smiled.
Tim, Rachel, and Estella.
"I like to think I've taken good care of them." Grace smiled. "How they've missed you, though."
"Lorri!" Rachel cried, tears in her eyes as she tripped over her own white dress, crashing into you. "Oh, Lorri!"
You laughed. "Hi, Rachel."
Estella scoffed. "You died that quickly?" She smirked.
"You died first!" You chuckled.
"How did you go?" Rachel asked, sitting back on her haunches.
"Damian." Tim cut in. "He killed you, didn't he?"
You looked down. "Yeah."
Tim sighed. "I'm so sorry, Lorri. That must have been awful."
"It's fine, dude." You smiled, before standing and throwing your arm over your older brother. "I'm just glad I get to see you all again."
"I'm afraid not for much longer." Grace stood.
You looked down as your body began to fade. Tim stepped back, shock evident on his face.
"What's happening?" You asked.
"Raven's bringing you back." Grace smiled. "Your time on Earth is not yet done, and I'm sure Damian misses you terribly."
You sighed.
"Hey," Tim began. "Think before you act. I love you, sis."
"And remember!" Rachel cut in. "Protect those who you love. Spread kindness!"
"Tell Jason I say hi, and that I love him." Ella smiled. You gave her a nod.
"Lorri." Grace began. "Take care of Dick and Roy for me, okay? They both love you like a daughter."
You smiled, and your eyes closed.
☦︎︎
You gasped, eyes shooting open.
"Lorri!" Raven cried.
"Raven." You gaped at her outfit. "I always knew you looked good in white." You flirted, biting your lip playfully.
She laughed, tears still running down her cheeks.
"My lady!" Shiva exclaimed, running to you. "You're alive!"
"Yes, Shiva." You smiled, sitting up.
Your heartfelt moment was cut short as the entire place began to rumble.
"Trigon is winning!" Raven yelled in a panic. "We have to go, now!"
"Lorri!" You heard Jason yell. "Get your ass in this boom tube before you die again!"
You had no time to question anything as both girls ran through the boom tube with you.
••
Dick rested in your lap, watching the sunset just over the water. Jason sat next to you on the grass, his head on top of yours as he rested peacefully. He had enjoyed the message from Ella. Batman was up and running again, discussing things with the current leaguers. Damian sat next to you.
You began before he could.
"I have longed for your presence far too long to even comprehend to the utter stupidity you are about to mention."
Damian scoffed.
"Remind you of someone?" You asked, a slight chuckle in your voice.
"That night... in the manor. Before I went off to the monks." He mused. "I remember."
You watched the sun silently.
"I know you didn't mean it, Damian." You smiled.
He turned to you, tears in his eyes.
Damian al Ghul Wayne was crying.
He hiccuped, and the tears began to fall. Jason began to cry as well, tears wetting your hair. If you strained your ears, you could hear Dick's quiet sobs.
"We'll be okay." You said, your own eyes glossing over as the Flash began to run on the water. "I love you, Damian al Ghul Wayne."
He grabbed you by the back of the neck, yanking you in as he kissed you passionately.
Maybe next time would be different.