[BATMAN] Wounded Birds, part 4

Wounded Birds, a Batman fanfic by Raberba girl [rough draft]

Part 4 (Damian)

 

What happened...? Something happened.... Something--

 

That sound. What is that sound? It's important, and it's familiar.

 

"Damian?"

 

BATS. It's the sound of bats squeaking and rustling-- This is the Batcave, I'm home, they found me-- What took them so lo--!

 

I can't move. I don't think I have many clothes on, which might be why a blanket's been thrown over me; underneath, restraints have me pinned to the surgical table I'm lying on. "WHY AM I TIED DOWN?!" A warm weight on my chest abruptly vanishes - Alfred, startled into fleeing. Alfred, my cat, I really am back...!

 

"Whoa-- Hey, kid, calm down; it's just a precaution." It's Todd, flipping his book facedown with one hand as he pats me in an insufferably condescending way with the other. He raises his voice to call across the cave. "Bruuuuuce, he's awake."

 

"I know." Father is approaching, with Drake hurrying to catch up.

 

"Get me out of this!"

 

"Damian, last time we saw you, you were trying to kill us all," Drake points out.

 

Todd adds with a smirk, "Nice job on your dad."

 

"The implant?" I demand.

 

Drake nods toward the Batcomputer, where they were likely analyzing the wretched thing. "I disabled it when we captured you. We extracted it about half an hour ago."

 

The force of my relief surprises me - my head drops back against the table, and the breath leaves my lungs in a deep exhale. Now that I'm paying attention, I can sense the bandage on my neck.

 

Father tugs aside the blanket, and my bare skin bunches into gooseflesh at the touch of cool air. He reaches for the restraints, but then pauses. "You're not going to attack us if we let you up, are you?"

 

"No! Get me out!" As soon as I'm free, I haul myself off the table. I'm surprised at how weak I feel, and grateful when Drake takes hold of my shoulder to steady me. Then I feel something warm and heavy press against my legs, and I sink to the floor after all. "Titus." I'm nearly crying as he licks my face and paws at me, I have hide my eyes in his fur. "Titus, I missed you...."

 

When I have myself under control again, I start climbing to my feet. Father grasps my arm near the shoulder and hauls me upright as if I weigh nothing. A warm robe descends over my shoulders, and a familiar voice says, "Here we are, sir."

 

I look up into one of the faces I missed most. "Pennyworth."

 

He returns the embrace, his arms encircling me as one hand rests on my hair. "It is certainly good to see you again, Master Damian."

 

"Of course it's Alfred who gets the hug," Todd chuckles.

 

I take a step back and look around, feeling shaky with an emotion that takes me a while to identify because I haven't felt it in so long: happiness. I still have one arm around Pennyworth and my other hand resting on Titus's head; only one thing...is....

 

The happiness fades. "Where's Grayson?"

 

The last thing I wanted in response to that question is silence.

 

"Where is Grayson?" I don't like the looks on their faces, they shouldn't look like that, surely they couldn't be stupid enough, cruel enough, to have--!

 

"Damian," Father says, "we don't know where Dick is. We saw the opportunity to catch you, so we seized it. We're getting Dick next."

 

"Where is he?" Drake asks softly.

 

I can't believe this. "YOU LEFT GRAYSON IN THAT HELLHOLE WITHOUT ME?!?!"

 

"Damian--"

 

I throw off the robe, march over to the uniform storage unit, and yank out the first Robin costume that comes to hand.

 

"Damian, just stop for a minute and listen. We are going back for Dick, but you have to sit down first and tell us--"

 

"There's no time." These pants don't fit anymore...! I want to scream and hit them, but that would be singularly unsatisfying. I have to squirm back out of them (they're even harder to peel off than they were to pull on), hurl them away, and smash a random box instead. "Where's my Talon outfit?!"

 

"Master Damian, if I may suggest...." Pennyworth's calm voice soothes my panic a little. He shows me the compartments where larger sizes of my Robin uniform are stored - apparently he anticipated my physical growth long before I was captured by the Court of Owls. Even in the midst of my terror for Grayson, I'm distracted a little by admiration for Pennyworth's unerring dependability.

 

"Damian, we'll go after him together. Calm down and come over to the computer for a minute...."

 

I tune out their voices, focusing instead on getting dressed and integrating the few useful items from my Talon getup into my Robin arsenal. ...It feels...strange to be Robin again. Good, but strange. I don't feel like the same person I was before.

 

I check my sword and then re-sheathe it - my real sword, not the ones I had to make do with as a Talon. I'm ready now. Father's still babbling, so I interrupt. "Follow me if you want, I don't care, but I need to get my brother back, and I'm leaving now." My cloak swirls in a satisfying way as I turn and stalk toward the vehicles. It's shorter and lighter than my Owl cloak - I missed being Robin.

 

"Wait up, kid." Todd jogs to my side and matches my pace. He's not trying to stop me, he'll follow my lead, and he might even be mildly useful.

 

I pause for just a second when I realize that my motorcycle is not with the others, and neither is Nightwing's. I don't have time for outrage, and Todd will probably throw a fit if I steal his bike right in front of his eyes, so I swing myself onto Red Robin's instead.

 

"Hey! Damian!"

 

"Find another way to keep up!" I shout to Drake over my shoulder, then start the engine and take off. Red Hood is on my heels; a few minutes later, the Batmobile glides up beside us.

 

Father's voice comes through the comm in my uniform. "We need a plan."

 

"I have a plan: retrieve Grayson and slaughter any Owls who get in our way."

 

"No killing, Robin."

 

It takes a great effort to resist the urge to smash my bike into the Batmobile and drive a sword through the windshield. "I WILL SPILL AS MUCH BLOOD AS IS NEEDED TO GET GRAYSON BACK."

 

Father bursts out of the car and tackles me before I can draw my sword. I did manage to trigger a gauntlet blade, but it fails to penetrate Batman's suit, and then we hit the ground. There's a struggle; I manage to get in one good punch and one lackluster one before Batman subdues me. I still kick and writhe and scream, furious that he's interfering with my mission. "Let me GO!"

 

"Your judgment's been compromised. Give us the information, then go back to the cave; Red Robin and Red Hood and I will bring Nightwing home."

 

"NO! NO! LET ME GO! GRAYSON! I NEED TO GET GRAYSON! LET ME GO!!! I'LL KILL YOU...!"

 

I'm hoarse, and even though I'm still trying to shout, my voice is not cooperating well. My body is shifting as someone pulls me away from Batman; I struggle, but I feel weak. It's Red Robin who's holding me now as he and Red Hood argue with Batman. Did I...did I lose a minute or two...?

 

"Robin?"

 

I tear off both our masks and hold Drake's head tight with both hands so I can growl into his face, "Get out of my way."

 

He says, quietly and calmly, "We are not in your way. We're with you, Robin, and we're going to get Nightwing back." He sets his hand over mine. "Let us help you."

 

"Don't worry, kid," Red Hood speaks up. "If they hold you back, I'll shoot whoever you ask me to."

 

"No, you won't," Batman growls.

 

"Yes, I will, because that's my job," Red Hood snaps, then hisses something I can't hear that makes Batman turn his head aside and not respond.

 

My grip on Drake loosens. Even if Batman stops me, Red Hood is on my side.... He'll do what needs to be done.

 

"It's all right, Robin." Drake tugs my hands down. He picks up our masks, puts his back on, and holds mine out to me. "Our chances are better together than if you just charge in alone."

 

"You don't know the Owls like I do." I jump to my feet and turn to Father. I have to make him understand. "You don't even know him anymore. After what they did to him - what they made him do, you understand? He's not your precious, perfect Nightwing anymore."

 

"It doesn't matter. We're still bringing him home," Father says.

 

"That's not the point! I'm saying he's damaged, he's sick, you have to understand that! If you treat him the same as before and you hurt him, I'll never forgive you!"

 

"Tell us, then." Red Robin sets a hand on my shoulder. "What did they do to him? How bad is it?"

 

"It's bad. He has episodes - if you push him too far, he goes away in his mind and he won't come back until he thinks it's safe. Not when it is safe, but when he thinks it's safe. You'll see him and he'll smile and laugh, but don't you dare let that fool you because the smallest thing can set him off again and you have to be careful! If you're cruel to him, he can't take it anymore! Don't make him be strong, because he's not-- he's-- he's surviving. He's not living anymore, he's just surviving, you see?!"

 

"...I understand," Father says quietly.

 

I'm surprised to hear in his voice that he really does. "So...so, then, we have to go!"

 

"Give me your sword first."

 

Rage flares up. I rip the sword out of its sheath and lunge at Father with it, I try to kill him, and I only stop when Red Robin shouts at me that the longer we fight here, the longer we'll take to find Grayson. As I'm standing there, torn between two desperate urges, Batman jerks the sword out of my hands and throws it into the Batmobile.

 

Then he seizes my face in his hand and studies me closely. He frowns. "Robin...you didn't escape unscathed, either, did you."

 

Panic wells up in me. He's right, but if he thinks I'm unfit and forces me to stay home, I'm going to lose my mind. I need to be on the rescue mission. ...The only way he'll allow me to do that now is if I pretend to be a good boy and play by his rules. "Father, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I won't kill anyone, I promise. Please. You can keep my sword, you can take all my weapons if you want. Just...just let me come. I'm all right."

 

All three of them exchange looks. I'm terrified they'll decide to make me stay behind, but at last, Father nods. "Red Robin, take the bike. Robin, get in the Batmobile."

 

I seethe at the loss of control, but I'm doing this for Grayson. This is just like with the Owls, I have to put on a performance and make sacrifices in order to protect Grayson. I get in the car and am glad when we finally start moving again.

 

"Where are we going, Robin?"

 

I tell him the address of Grayson's apartment, but then there's nothing left for me to do until we get there. I can almost feel myself starting to go mad, so...I sing under my breath. Choruses and snatches of lyrics that stuck in my memory, Grayson's songs that he would sing to keep himself from going crazy, too. As quiet as I try to be, I'm sure Father still notices, but he says nothing.

 

As soon as the car starts slowing near our destination, I leap out and rush to Grayson's quarters. I burst through the door--

 

The place is empty. It's not simply a lack of Grayson's presence; it's clean - trash gone, surfaces scrubbed, personal effects removed. Ready for a new occupant.

 

They took my brother away.

 

My stomach lurches; I drop to my knees and cough twice; the second cough brings vomit with it. Tears and snot come leaking out of my face, I'm sobbing by the time Red Robin kneels down beside me and sets a hand on my back. "Robin...."

 

"He's gone...he's gone, they took him, he's gone...!" My hand is shaking as I wipe my mouth. While I was safe at home, so happy to find myself free and surrounded by family, armed men were bursting into this room. Grabbing my brother, frightening him, hurting him; dragging him away, crushing him. Killing him while he was all alone and wondering where I was, why I didn't come to save him. I didn't come in time...I wasn't here when he needed me-- "This is all YOUR FAULT!!" I fling myself at Father and strike my fists against him. He stumbles a little, but doesn't fight back. "You took me away from him! He needed me! He needed me to protect him but I wasn't here and they killed him, you took me but you left him behind! You left him here! I hate you! He's dead and it's your fault!!"

 

Red Hood drags me back. "Kid. Kid, hey, hey, Robin, calm down. Calm down, tell me why you think he's dead."

 

"Because he's NOT HERE!" As I stand there screaming explanations at him, Batman and Red Robin comb the place for clues. Strangely, I do calm down somewhat as I speak, until I'm sitting exhausted on the couch with Red Hood's arm around me as he comes up with yet another reason why my assumption could be wrong. "...or they could've just figured we were coming and moved him to a different location. They know he still makes a good hostage." He jostles my shoulder encouragingly. "And, hey, even if he is just a dead body now, we can always chuck him into a Lazarus pit - problem solved."

 

"I do not appreciate your endless resurrection jokes," I growl, but I do feel a little better. Maybe I was too quick to jump to conclusions.... Grayson's death is a real possibility, but there are a number of reasons why the Court might choose to continue keeping him alive. Either way, I need to start tracking him down immediately, and there's a flash drive hidden in my own Talon quarters that will expedite the process.

 

I stand up. "Red Robin, I'm taking your bike again."

 

To be continued....

 

A/N: For some reason, I started writing this chapter almost as if it was dragon perspective. *sweatdrop* Had to start over again from scratch.

 

Bonus scene (because I can't think where to fit it in the main story) - Batman and the boys break into some kind of Owl control room.

 

When I catch up, it puts me on guard to find all three of them standing motionless. Then I notice what has so captured their attention: a wall of screens, all playing recordings of either Grayson being tortured or me ending lives.

 

I can't bear to look at the ones of Grayson, and the ones of me...look a lot worse than I remember. I can't tolerate those, either; they make me sick.

 

Red Robin turns to me, his expression horrified. Red Hood, I can tell more from his body language than his masked face, looks at me more sympathetically. Batman is still watching the screens, and doesn't move when I step up beside him. "...Guess you won't want me calling myself Robin anymore," I venture, wondering if I should just pull off the badge on my chest right this moment.

 

"How many people did you kill?" he asks tightly.

 

"Why? Does my punishment depend on what the number is? Because I lost count, anyw--"

 

He seizes me, and I'm frightened until I realize that the crushing hold is an embrace, and that what he's whispering furiously into my hair are curses against the Court.

 

"Father...I'm sorry...I didn't want to, but I--"

 

He kneels so that his fierce gaze is almost level with my face. "I want to break the people who did this to you, Robin."

 

I can't answer, because suddenly I'm on the verge of tears.