Taste the Rain
Chapter 10
"Saving people feels a lot better than killing them, huh?"
"Baaaatman! Baaaaaaaaatman! Watch me, watch me", I said excitedly, leaping around him. Batman chuckled and ruffled my hair.
"Alright kiddo, go ahead, I wanna see it." I clambered up the ladder and backflipped off, twisting in midair and landing lightly on the ground. "Nice job", Batman replied, smiling broadly at me. "I didn't know you were working on back flips kiddo. When'd you perfect that?"
"Yesterday while you were at work."
"Well, you are getting good at all this, now aren't you? You're just about a proper Robin now, I'd say." I giggled. Ever since our disagreement regarding my conduct with Harrison, we had sort of been on guard with each other, our exchanges rendered somewhat awkward and strained.
Finally, however, I had sort of thought of a way to make up, perfecting something he'd been trying to teach me for a while, and I hoped that might smooth things over. I didn't think it would bother me as much, us being on pins and needles with each other, but I had so badly craved having an easy relationship again, I had figured out a plan to fix the whole situation. Judging by the light in his eyes as he gazed at me, I figured that, perhaps it might have worked.
Just then, I heard the police scanner in the batmobile crackle to life. Batman strode swiftly over to the car and turned it up. "Hostage situation on fourth, we need backup, I repeat, we need backup."
"Time for work", Batman said, opening the door to the car. I hopped in next to him. "Lets go", Batman said, revving the engine. I nodded, smiling. "So", he started as we careened across the city, "how many thugs are you gonna take out today? Not just in general though, under a minute."
"Four", I replied proudly, "I did three last time." Mentally, I gave a sigh of pleasure. Challenging me was an effort on his part to also smooth things over. He wanted to put all our disagreements behind us. I appreciated that greatly.
"Hey, come on kid, shoot higher than that, I wanna see five." I grinned.
"Maybe, either way, they ain't gonna know what hit 'em."
"Don't take on more than you can handle though", he cautioned.
"You're so overprotective", I moaned, "I'll be fine." He tapped my nose affectionately.
"I just don't wanna loose ya Blue Jay. Unfortunately for you, I care way too much, otherwise, I wouldn't be the way I am." I rolled my eyes and we parked the car a little ways from the hostage building. I bounded out of the car at Batman's heels and we slunk through the shadows, surveying the scene and trying to ascertain exactly what was going on.
It was then, as I was crouching nimbly beside Batman, that I noticed the Commissioner among the other officers, looking very frazzled and talking with a frantic looking couple. That was a bit strange, since these sorts of things were normally too mundane for the Commissioner to attend to. "Batman", I whispered, tugging on his cape.
He looked down at me and I pointed towards the Commissioner. Batman's eyes narrowed and darkened. "I wonder what's up", he murmured.
"Want me to go ask?"
"Make an entrance", he replied, eyes glittering. I snickered and scrambled up the rooftop after he gave me a boost. Clambering over the shingles, I made a flying leap and landed on a light pole, it's curved top arching over the crowd below. Attaching a bat rope to the harness built into my Robin tunic, I lowered myself down over the people, upside down like a spider, right behind the Commissioner's head.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity the good lord had given me, I quietly rasped, "Commissioner." The Commissioner literally jumped three feet and turned around.
"Robin", he growled.
I giggled frantically, which totally ruined the scary effect I had been going for and said, "I got you good."
"This isn't a time to joke", the frantic man who had been speaking with the Gordon growled, his piggy eyes glaring at me.
"What's the sitch?" I asked, flipping over onto my feet.
"My son", the woman wailed, "they've got my son."
"Who?" I asked.
"Insurgents from Fishbarlampia have captured the son of the Ambassador from the country and are holding him hostage in there", Gordon replied. "Is your mentor here?" I nodded.
"He's skulking probably." I turned to the woman. "Don't worry ma'am, we'll get your son out safe." The woman just stared at me.
"How old are you?" I rolled my eyes and scrambled back up the lamppost and into the night.
"Did you get all that?" I asked the shadowy corner.
"Yes", the voice growled, "lets go." I grinned and bounded after him.
"Can I ride on your shoulders?" I asked playfully. He raised his eyebrows at me and I figured he would say no. But then, a moment later, he grabbed my arm and swung me up on his back. I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck.
We scaled the building, me clinging to his cape as we climbed and feeling a lot better about things than I had since the argument. Stopping on the rooftop, he crouched down so I could climb off and together, we gazed down through the window. Batman sucked in his breath.
There, below us, surrounding a tiny child, were about ten large, beefy men. Circling around the room were even more of them, perhaps another ten. I gazed at Batman, waiting for him to make a plan. Batman surveyed the people below, calculating.
"Alright kiddo, here's the plan. Priority is that little one so I want you to focus on getting him out." I gazed at him, irritation on my face.
"Why don't you save the kid?" I moaned, "I don't want to. I wanna fight the goons."
"Robin", Batman said gently, facing me, "I need you to do this for me. I'm going to draw off the goons, but we need to get the child out. If they find out someone is trying to save the boy, they will not hesitate to kill him. Please do this for me."
"You just think I'm going to try to kill again", I growled.
"No", Batman replied, "I don't. I trust you Robin. You will get the chance to fight, but this little one needs you now. This is what we do Robin, we save lives."
"Fine", I agreed reluctantly, "I'll save the kid, even if he is just some stupid rich boy who probably deserves all of this."
"Thank you", Batman replied, cupping my face. He leaned in close and whispered, "I know you won't fail me." I gave a sigh and nodded. Then, we turned back to the window.
"Grab the kid and get back to the police", Batman murmured.
"As soon as he has police protection, get back here and help me round these guys up." I nodded, already planning the fastest route out of the building. Batman planted three bombs at strategic places on the glass and then counted to three. The glass shattered inward and we were through in an instant. Batman was taking men down the moment he hit the ground, leaving me to sprint frantically towards the kid.
The guards were still in shock by the time I reached the little boy, who was sobbing, lying gagged and bound on the ground. I grabbed him and raced away. As soon as he was slung under my arm, his crying became even more frantic. "Kid", I growled, "quit it."
Then, three of the thugs dove at me. I dodged all three, hauling that stupid little kid along with me, and vaulted towards the door. Instantly, four of the men were in my way. I knew I could fight off four guys, but not with a little kid in my arms. Giving a sigh, I turned tail. I would have to find another way out.
By now, Batman was totally engaged in the men he was fighting and the kid was bawling his eyes out, sobbing like someone had died or something. That someone was going to be him if I didn't get him out soon. He was such a tiny thing and couldn't have been more than two or three. I felt for him a little, but he was making so much noise, I didn't really care all that much.
Two thugs leapt at me, but I jumped and scrambled up some boxes so I could have the higher ground. I heard loud shouts in a language I didn't understand, but got the gist of it. These guys had control of the whole building. Batman had his hands full.
Giving a groan, I surveyed the parameter. Three men were already clambering up the boxes to reach me. I had to get out of this mad house, dump the kid, and help Batman. Finally, I spied the covering for an air vent. It was not far from my position and I figured I would be able to get to it rather easily.
Deciding the vents were my best bet right now, I dodged a few bullets and slithered through the grate just as a knife flew through the air and embedded itself in the wall right where I had been, quivering and glinting in the cheap lights. This place was getting crazy.
I shoved the kid ahead of me, since I couldn't carry him while I was crawling, and kept us at a pretty good pace, searching diligently for a way out. But, that kid just kept crying and crying. Finally, I could take it no longer. I sat down, tugged the kid over and ripped the gag off.
"Shut up", I growled, "do you wanna to live or not brat?" The boy just kept sobbing, though more quietly now.
"I'm scared", he whimpered, "I want my mommy." That hit me a little bit and I felt guilty for having treated him so roughly when he was clearly terrified, but I needed to get this situation under control. "Ropes hurt", he cried.
"Alright", I said smoothly, keeping my voice level, "if I untie you, will you stop crying?" The kid nodded slowly, cheeks tear stained, and turned awkwardly so I could unbind his hands and feet. They were tied ridiculously tight and his wrists and ankles were raw and bloody from the bonds. I hissed in commiseration when I saw them. Why did they bind a little kid like this? It wasn't like he was going to be able to get away even if they didn't tie him up. Jerks.
"Alright kid", I said gently, "let me wrap those up for you." I ripped up my cape and bound him, taking my time so I could be gentle. He had stopped crying and now just sat, trembling as I worked on him. "What's your name?" I asked, realizing I still didn't know.
"Gidon", he replied, "My mommy calls me Gid."
"My name's Robin", I replied, "I don't have a mom, but Batman usually just calls me Robin."
"Is Batman your dad?" Gid asked. I shook my head.
"But he's my best friend."
"That's so cool", he whispered.
"I know", I replied, grinning.
"How old are you?"
"I'm three", he said proudly, holding up three fingers, "I'm a big boy."
"I'm eleven", I said, "you're pretty brave for a three year old." He smiled at me, a really funny looking smile because his two front teeth were missing. I snorted. "What happened to your teeth?"
"I fell down the stairs", he replied, clearly excited to tell the story, "knocked 'em both out. Then, I swallowed one, and the other one is in a jar in my room, but mommy doesn't know about it. She thinks I swallowed 'em both." I giggled. Just then, shouts erupted from one of the grates below us, along with the sounds of a fight. Batman must have been moving through the building rather quickly.
Gid gave a sob. "I'm scared Robin", he whimpered, clambering up onto my lap.
"Don't worry", I replied, stroking his hair, "I'll protect you."
"Come on, we gotta go." I scooted along vent, doing my best to hold Gid and keep up a decent pace all at the same time. Finally, I noticed before me a room that looked fairly empty. There was no way I would be able to find my way out of the building without getting down to the ground level.
"Alright Gid", I whispered, "here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna go down into that room with you and then we're gonna get out of here. Sound good?" Gid nodded, nuzzling my shoulder. I smiled and stroked his hair. This kid was really starting to grow on me.
I slowly lifted the grate and dropped to the floor, my boots making barely a whisper. Gid clung more tightly to me. The room was completely empty with the darkness surrounding us. Gid trembled. "I don't like the dark Robin."
"Me neither", I replied, "but we'll be ok, don't worry." Wrapping my arms around the boy a little more tightly, I slowly crept through the halls, trying my best to stay quiet. Sliding smoothly from the room, I figured I was home free, at least mostly.
That idea, however, was proved incorrect a moment later when I was suddenly surrounded by grinning thugs, large yellow teeth bared as they closed around me. Gid started to shake like a leaf, burying his head in my chest and I suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness. I had nowhere to run. I had to fight.
Leaping upwards, I kicked one of the men in the face and backflipped over him. But, my flip was a little off with the extra weight and I rolled slightly, trying to recover without hurting Gid. "It's alright kiddo", I whispered, trying too soothe him about as much as I was trying to soothe myself. I had no idea how Batman always leapt around and did his outstanding acrobatics while still holding onto me.
I darted down the hall, those men following me and swiftly gaining. I knew at that moment I wasn't going to make it out. I wasn't going to be able to outrun those people. Rounding a corner, I noticed a door. It looked like some sort of closet. Perhaps I could hide in there. It was my only choice.
I skidding to a halt in front of the door and slid inside, closing it tightly. Breathing heavily in the dark, I cradled Gid close. "Robin", a voice behind me rasped, and a flashlight flickered to life. I jumped a foot and Gid started sobbing.
"Shh", I whispered, stroking his hair, "it's ok, it's just Batman. He's not going to hurt us." I turned to Batman angrily. "Would you mind not freaking out the kid? He's already scared enough." Batman gazed at me, eyebrows raised, but said nothing about my new found protectiveness.
"This is much bigger than I thought", he began, his voice smooth and level, "I'm afraid you're going to have trouble getting out of here. I think we're going to have to fight our way out together. How about you give me the boy and we'll see about escaping." Batman reached out to take Gid from me, but the moment his hands touched he child, Gid started wailing again.
"No", he whimpered, "I wanna stay with Robin." Batman gazed at him and at me, surprised. Then, he knelt down.
"It's alright kiddo, Robin'll be right here next to me the whole time. We just want to get you out of here." Gid shook his head.
"No."
"Look", I said, "he's freaked out enough. Why don't I hang out here where it's safe and you see what you can do about cutting us a path through?" Batman looked at me, surprised.
"You're giving up your chance to fight thugs?" I shrugged and stroked the boy's hair.
"He needs me."
"Fine", Batman agreed, "that sounds like a better plan anyway. Stay safe." He ran a hand through my hair, messaging my shoulder for a moment. There was something in his eyes that I hadn't seen before, but I didn't have time to contemplate what it could be because a moment later, he was gone and I was left alone in the darkness with Gid.
And surprisingly, I didn't mind a bit. For a few minutes, we listened to the sounds of battle outside the door as they slowly faded into the distance. There was but a moment of silence before, suddenly, the door swung open and Gid was dragged from my arms.
"Gidon", I screamed, leaping up. Sobbing frantically, Gid swung from the grasp of one of the largest thugs I'd ever seen. "Give him back", I roared. The thug laughed.
"Sure kid" Then, he punched me. I went flying backwards and hit the wall of the closet, my vision swimming. "Go home boy wonder", the thug laughed, "you're out of your league." With that, he started to carry Gid away. Slowly, I picked myself up, swaying back and forth. But, I was not going to quit, not with Gid's little voice ringing in my ears.
Practically tripping over myself, I rushed as fast as I could after that man, feeling anger burning in my gut. I kicked the guy in the back of the leg and he crumpled to one side. Leaping over his head, I grabbed Gid and, without looking back, rushed off. That giant thug was behind me in a second, stumbling and roaring. But, I didn't think about him.
"It's ok Gid", I muttered under my breath as I rushed down the hall, "you'll be ok. I'm getting you out now." Just when I thought my lungs were about to burst, I noticed a door. It had to lead out, it just had to. Sliding to a halt, I threw open the door and rolled though. Immediately, thirty guns trained on my form. Then, I felt safe.
"Easy guys, easy", I cautioned, "I got the kid, look it's me Robin, here's the boy."
"My baby", the Ambassador woman screamed, rushing up to me.
"Mommy", Gid cried, reaching out for his mother. The woman grabbed her son and held him close, sobbing and cuddling him.
"Ohh, you're safe", she gasped, "you're safe. Ohh thank you so much." Suddenly, I was wrapped up in her embrace as well, being smashed to her breast.
"You're welcome", I mumbled, stifled by her arms. As soon as the police realized the boy was safe, they flooded the building. I, however, had no intention of going back to join Batman. I knew he was probably doing fine. I just couldn't tear my eyes from the happy scene, that mother and father cuddling their little one. There was the feeling bubbling inside of me, something I'd never really felt before.
After a few moments more, I happened to glance up into the shadows by the rooftops. The slight shift in the darkness told me Batman was waiting for me. But, I had one more thing I had to do before I went to join him. "Bye Gid", I said, going up to him. He wiggled out of his mother's embrace and leapt into my arms.
"Bye bye Robin, thanks for saving me!" I grinned and hugged him.
"See you around kid." With that, I leapt up the building, climbing to where Batman was crouching. He was grinning at me and as soon as I made it up to him, he grabbed me, dragging me into his arms.
"I'm so proud of you kiddo", he said happily, holding me tightly, "you did such a good job." I grinned at him.
"It was weird, but I actually enjoyed saving that kid. I mean, I didn't want to originally but, it felt good, I guess." I smiled at him.
"Saving people feels a lot better than killing them, huh?"
"Yea, I guess", I muttered good naturedly. He laughed.
"Lets go see about some more thugs. I heard there was a robbery supposed to go down tonight. Interested?"
"Yea", I exclaimed, darting back to the car. He laughed at me. Thinking about it as I rode in the batmobile, flying across the city, I decided that maybe I did enjoy saving people. It certainly was one of the better perks of the job.