4
Dick Greyson stared at the words on the page, not really reading whatever book he held in his hands. His mind kept wandering off into space. Sometimes thinking about random thoughts but mostly thinking about… her.
Her taunts, her laughter, her sinister smile, and the stupid name she'd made up! Birdie, he was Robin, not some bird!
Dick shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He didn't need to worry about her anymore.
She was locked away in Arkham, she couldn't hurt him anymore. He took a deep breath and let it out shakily. He inhaled and exhaled slowly a few more times, remembering that Alison had said that it helped.
He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and glancing around the room he was in. The grandfather clock silently tick tocked on the wall on the far corner by the bookshelves. The random papers on the small desk by the open windows fluttered from the slight breeze that blew through it, making soft swishing sounds. The couches around the room casted dark shadows onto the floor from the sun barely peeling through the windows.
Dick's eyes went back to his book, trying to concentrate on the words. But eyes kept jumping all over the pages and the teen gave up, throwing the book beside him on the couch and stood up. He wavered a bit, forgetting that he only had one good leg. He swayed as he tried to regain his balance. He placed his right hand on the arm of the sofa to steady himself and reached for his crutches, awkwardly putting them under his arms.
He stood there for a moment, wondering what to do next. Looking at the clock he figured it was about an hour before Mike came. An hour of time to kill, what should he do in the meantime? His stomach answered for him. He cracked a small grin. Dick hobbled out of the room and made his way to the kitchen, wishing Alfred was here.
The older butler had gone into Gotham a little earlier, having to buy some things. He said he would be back in a few hours, in time for supper, which is the same time Bruce would be coming home. Bruce had been a little hesitant to leave Dick all alone, but Dick assured him that he was fine and Mike would be coming soon anyway. After further persuading, Bruce reluctantly agreed and left to fix some problem at Wayne Industries. Sometimes Dick wished Bruce didn't own Wayne Industries. Bruce always seemed to be working.
At least he worked a little less since… Psycho.
Dick shuddered.
Even though she was in Arkham, Dick still couldn't shake her off his mind. He was reminded of her everywhere. He couldn't take a drink of water without remembering how she teased him with the same liquid when he was thirsty. Whenever he sat in a chair, he had to check himself to make sure he wasn't tied up. He couldn't hold even a butter knife without shaking. He grimaced every time he saw his reflection. He'd had a panic attack when he'd gotten a papercut, of all things. He'd taken one look at the tiny silver of blood and just lost it.
He was an absolute mess.
Dick walked down the silent hallway. He stumbled, but caught himself from falling flat on his face. He was grateful that nobody was here to see it. He sighed and continued padding down the quiet hallway.
Almost too quiet.
He stopped and listened, hearing nothing but the ticking of a clock and creaking of the manor. An odd contrast to the usual noises of Alfred cooking or Bruce working in the Bat Cave. Dick glanced around, feeling like something was wrong. When he saw nothing, he shrugged and hobbled on.
He entered the kitchen and looked for anything to snack on. While he stared around the room, the nagging feeling that something wasn't right continued. The boy wonder shook his head, trying to erase the thought from his head. But the feeling stayed.
Dick glanced about the kitchen, attempting to decipher what was wrong.
Then he heard it, a knock on the front door. Dick jumped a little at the unexpected noise, then reprimanded himself for being so startled. It was just Mike banging on the door. Wait.
Confusion swept over the teen and he glanced at a clock on the wall. That was weird, Mike wasn't supposed to get here for another hour. Maybe Mike got the times wrong, wouldn't be the first time. Dick grinned as he recalled the time Mike had come over a day too soon. Or it could be Bruce or Alfred, though he didn't know why they didn't just come in, it was their house after all.
The knock sounded again and Dick sighed and hobbled out of the kitchen. He walked down the hallways to the front door. Whoever it was knocking was certainly persistent. He entered the foyer and reached for the doorknob, rolling his eyes as the person knocked again. Hadn't they ever heard of patience?
He turned the knob and swung the door open.
"You could've just wa-" he cut his complain off as soon as he saw the person standing in the doorway. His heart stopped short and his brain froze in a panic. He stared at the woman in front of him, his body frozen in fear and shock. All thoughts flew from his mind as his jaw dropped at the sight.
Because, standing before him, grinning manically from ear to ear, was none other than Psycho.
Her bright blue eyes bore into his scared ones, drinking up the fear for all it was worth. Her smile widened and she burst out into excited laughter. Dick flinched at familiar sound, his brain slowly starting to work again.
Psychos' giggles died down and tears weld up in her eyes. "Oh Birdie!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around Dick in a giant bear hug. "I've missed you so much!"
Dick recovered from his shock and jerked out of the embrace, pushing the woman roughly away from him. His crutches fell to the ground and Dick stumbled backwards, barely keeping himself upright, putting most of his weight onto the non-casted leg.
Psycho, who had also stumble backwards due to the shove, gasped as she steadied herself. She met Dicks' eyes and took a step toward him, her smile returning.
"Get away from me!" Dick screamed at her and took a careful step back, wobbling a little on his unbalanced legs.
Psycho looked slightly taken aback by his remark. She took another step towards the young boy, who stepped away from her in return. "Birdie," she whispered. "Are you not happy to see me?" she looked genuinely confused, why was her little Birdie scared?
"No, I'm not! H-how are you even here? You're s-supposed to be in Arkham!" Dicks' heart now thudded against his chest, he backed up as Psycho moved towards him.
"I escaped," she said simply. "Now we can be together again!"
Dick shook his head. This couldn't be happening, this had to be a dream. He closed his eyes, he'd wake up any time now. Any time now.
"Oh, my poor Birdie," Psychos' voice was nearer now and the Boy Wonder flew open and he shrieked at how close the blond woman had gotten. She was a foot away from him and getting closer. Dick tried to quickly back up, but tripped over his feet and fell onto the floor. Psycho chuckled softly and glided closer to him, Dick scrambled away from her.
"Don't be scared. I got you," Psycho comforted.
Dicks' back pressed up against a wall and Psycho towered over him. His breathing was coming in gasps. Psycho squatted down next to him, her hand moved up to comb through his hair, but Dick slapped it away.
Psycho inhaled sharply, looked at her hand, and then turned her penetrating gaze to her Birdie. "Don't. Do. That." Her soft sweet voice was gone, replaced with a cold, angry one.
Dick swallowed and held his breath, not daring to move a muscle.
The psychotic woman stared at him with the cold expression on her face, then smiled sweetly. She slowly brought her right hand to Dicks' hair again, and when he tried to push it away, she grabbed his wrist tightly with her other hand. The boy flinched at the touch and tried yanking his hand away, but the insane woman's grasp was too strong. He tried using his other hand to pry the feminine fingers off but she only held on tighter.
Psycho smiled and brushed her fingers through his dark hair lovingly and Dick froze at the familiar gesture. He stopped moving, and Psycho continued to stroke his hair. Her fingers sent shivers down Dicks' spine. Images of her hurting him then brushing her hand through his hair, flashed through his brain.
Dick felt a sob tear through his throat and he could do nothing to stop it. Psycho giggled. Her little Birdie was just so fascinating.
"Oh Birdie," she soothed. "It'll be alright. You're with me now!"
Dick shuddered as another sob found its way out his mouth. "P-please," he begged. "Go away!"
Psycho nodded her head. "Of course!"
Dick felt pathetic relief wash over him. She was going to leave him alone!
"But you're coming with me!" she said cheerfully and Dicks' heart plummeted into his stomach.
Psycho gave his head one last ruffle then released her hands from his hair and wrist. Dick jerked his hands to his chest as soon as she'd let go. They were shaking terribly. His eyes watched Psycho as she took a backpack Dick didn't even know she was wearing off her shoulders and began to rummage through it. The boy scanned the room around him. To his right was the open door and to his left was the hallway. He debated which direction he should go in. If he went right he could grab his crutches and maybe make a run for it, though it seemed unlikely with his foot.
If he went left, he might be able to lose Psycho in the large mansion, or at least find a phone. He liked the second option better. He braced himself for making a dash for the hallway. He'd have one chance. Psycho was muttering to herself as she searched for whatever it was that she was looking for. It was now or never.
With much more energy than he thought he had, Dick leaped up and raced down the hall, not giving a shit as his leg protested.
Psycho, caught completely off guard by the sudden movement, shrieked and jumped in surprise. When she saw her Birdie quickly limping away, she sighed and leapt up herself, now clutching whatever she was searching for. She tore after her Birdie.
Dick raced down the hallway with surprising speed and took a sharp right. He ran to the dining room, knowing that it was the closest place with a phone. His casted foot clunked on the wood floor and he could hear Psychos' high heels running after him. He turned another right and smiled when he saw the door to the dining room. He was going to make it!
He stumbled, caught himself, and then sprinted forward… only to be yanked backwards by the back of his T-shirt. He gave a shout of surprise as he was thrown in the opposite direction and landed on his back, hard. The wind was knocked out of him and he struggled to sit up.
A shadow was cast over him and Psychos' furious face loomed above him. Dick tried to scramble away, but Psycho had other plans. She Jumped on top of the young teenager, straddling his legs and pressed her left forearm upon Dicks' throat, pinning him down. She put pressure onto her arm, cutting off the black haired boys' air. Dick bucked and squirmed under Psycho, trying to get the maniac off of him. The woman only laughed at his antics.
She rose her right hand in the air and Dick saw a syringe clutched in her palm. His eyes widened and he tried jerking out of Psychos' hold harder. It didn't even faze her and she brought the syringe to Dicks' neck.
"Sweet dreams, Birdie," she whispered before plunging the syringe into his neck and emptying the contents into his bloodstream. She yanked the syringe out and got off her Birdie and Dick attempted to get up and run away. But his movements were sluggish and Dick felt himself getting sleepier and sleepier. His vision was starting to blur and his body was getting heavy. His eyelids started the involuntarily start to close. He just wanted to sleep.
"Yes, my little Birdie," a voice encouraged. "Sleep."
No! He tried to keep his eyes open but it was impossible. He felt himself slump to the floor. His brain was getting fuzzier by the second and it was hard to think straight. After one final failed attempted, his eyes closed and Dick felt himself falling into a deep sleep.
Mwahahahahahaaaaaaa I'm so evil! But can we at least take a minute to admire how Psycho ran in high heels! I can barely stand up in them! Wonder how she does it!