A/N: I know that I haven't updated this in like forever, but I tell myself that I never really abandon any story. I just let them sit until I'm ready to play with it again. Standard disclaimers apply and the direction of this story is about to change... drastically from the episode that it is based upon.
In the back of my mind it occurred to me that maybe he wouldn't come for me. Maybe he couldn't. Batman was after all just a man. There were limits even to what he could do. Despite the fact that I understood this it still left a bitter taste in the back of my throat.
My head jerked up at the sound of footsteps coming in my direction. Multiple footsteps. One set was light and sure; the other was heavy and lumbering. A leader and a follower. Perhaps a master and a servant. I flicked my closed eyes back and forth behind my blindfold, wishing that I could see what was about to happen to me. Maybe this was the end for me.
I set my jaw and tried to ignore my guts turning to jelly beneath my red tunic. If I was going to die; then I wasn't going to go whimpering like a beaten pup.
The footsteps stopped in front of me. I could hear the big one breathing like an ox. I imagined his nostrils flaring in and out like a beast. I hoped that I wouldn't have to face him soon; I could almost feel the muscle mass standing next to me.
Fingers snapped and I heard the big guy move towards me. I flinched at the feel of cold steel against my forearms. The bonds around my arms, securing me to the pillar jerked and I heard the sound of ropes giving in to sharp pressure. I fell forward as the ropes dropped to the floor. As I tried to move to free myself I realized that my hands were still tightly bound behind me, but I was no longer tethered to the stone pillar. I felt the big guys hands clamp down on my middle as he moved to lift me up. I grunted as he slung me roughly over his shoulder, almost as if carrying a person this way was a normal act.
I didn't struggle with him. I had no desire to have my rib cage crushed to a pulp. I felt my head flop as he moved. I was weak. I hadn't eaten in nearly four days from the feel of my stomach. Someone had been kind enough to regularly let me sip juice and see to it that I didn't wet myself. If I was going to be killed I didn't see the point in making sure that I didn't die from dehydration. I didn't see the point in not letting me sit there in my own fluids. But then again I wasn't a criminal, and no matter how much I studied them I'd never fully grasp why they acted as they did.
Sand. We were traveling in sand now. I could feel the big guy compensating for my extra weight and the tricky terrain. He shifted me on his shoulder and I cringed slightly. For a second I thought he meant to dump me to the ground. Tied like this I wouldn't be able to defend myself.
My ears picked up the sound of a car engine running. I felt the big guy shift me again, this time he moved me off his shoulder and set me in the running car. I felt someone get in beside me. The Master, by the way the car didn't bend beneath the weight.
The car interior was cold compared to outside. I shivered involuntarily; I could feel the bare skin on my arms prickling. I sat and listened to the thrum of the car engine. The car bent under the weight of the big guy as he took the driver's seat.
I turned my head at the sound of ice clinking into crystal. The person next to me was pouring himself a drink. I licked my lips and longed for clean ice water. I stiffened as the cold rim of a glass touched my lips. I could smell the liquid inside was not water. It smelled like a strong dark tea. I wanted to turn my head away from the offering, but I was so thirsty. I relaxed my jaw and drank. The bitter herbal taste hit my tongue and I nearly choked. After I had taken a few small sips the drink was taken away and all I heard was the rumbling of the car as we left.
I let my head rest against the window as I felt even weaker than before. I could feel my fingers trembling beneath my green gloves. Maybe it was just fear and fatigue taking their toll on me. Maybe it was the tea I had drank that was affecting me. My eyes were already closed beneath the blindfold when nothingness took me.
TBC!
