5 days earlier post apocalypse..
There was a lot of chitter chatting coming towards the Wayne Mansion, Bruce opened the door and had a forced smile as he invited his guests in.
Aflred welcomed them too with a glass of the finest wine in Gotham,some wealthy women shot Bruce a flirtatious gaze, but Bruce shrugged a bit,Of Richard was alright then he would have had a chat with of of these lovely ladies since being Batman won't hold him off on the dating market,he wants to have a loving wife in the future and maybe she's kind hearted enough to be a mother figure for Richard but he's so saddened that Richard is still blind,despit with the contact lenses his eyes still didn't get any relief from the burn and throbs that Scarecrows venom causes.
Richard couldn't be at the party right now, his eyes started to hurt and Bruce told him that he'll check up on him after a handful of hours has passed.
he couldn't cancel the charity evening,the money will be used to fund treatment for all kinds of illnesses so that parents don't have to be afraid of being able to fund or pay for tower high medical bills.
The lightbulb died off in Richards room so Bruce gave him a nightlight that could compensate for it until the shops open tomorrow.
The night seemed to go as planned but Bruce's thoughts remained with Richard, Alfred came to offer Bruce something but didn't feel like taking any samples or even Alfred's British staples.
Alfred asked If Bruce wants to join him on the balcony,he did so and both of them sat down watching the moon that was almost turning full.
"Bruce I know you are still troubled about what happened with master Richard," Alfred said,
"Its not just that,It's that..maybe I was wrong," Bruce said,
"I shouldn't have revealed that.." Bruce paused and looked behind him to see if there's anyone entering the balcony.
"I'm the Batman" Bruce continued.
"I thought I shouldn't have kept it a secret and it was the right thing to do,maybe if I didn't then this wouldn't have happened" Bruce said.
"At times I regret telling him,but he's so skilled and agile that I never thought bad things could happen to him since I've taught him well" Bruce said. "But he jumped in front of me when Scare crow was ready to finish me off..and before I could move Scarecrow got him..."
Alfred remained calm, he also believes that Richard shouldn't be fighting crime right now even under the Batmans wing.
"I was afraid that this would happen,but even if you didn't tell him he would have found out about you,whenever he would ask where you were there was a hint that he didn't believe my excuses anymore and that there is something else going on.
And would have picked up the mantle of Robin without your influence since his main motive was to find his parents killer.
Bruce gave a careful nod," Have done the right thing Alfred?" Adopting him? What if it would have been better if I'd.." Bruce exhaled a bit saddened,he has grown to love Richard and can't imagine this mansion to be without his pitter-patter of his small feet and high spirited expressions.
Alfred placed a comforting hand on Bruce shoulder,
Bruce watched his oldest companion tiredly and lost.
"Maybe I should have pulled some strings,so that Haly would be Richards guardian and I would be keeping an eye on him from a distance...open a scolarship for him to pick any education he wants,"
"Bruce enough" Alfred said,it was heartbreaking seeing Bruce dwell in guilt,
"Haly is too old to look after Richard,you did the right thing by not letting Richard grow up alone,all you ever done for him was out of kindness" Alfred said.
"Make him resign from fighting crime beside you, but sending him away wont keep Richard safe and it never will" Alfred said.
"I'm not sending him away,..but there is one thing I should have done a while ago" Bruce said.
"His days as Robin are over..,He broke the oath I will have a word with him about this soon" Bruce said. Alfred didn't protest because the feeling was mutual.
They have come to an agreement that this was for the best,maybe when he leaves the house he can start his own detective career but under his roof it will never happen.
-/-
It was a long night,most of the guests were already heading home,Alfred offered that Hellman entertain the guests while he can hit the sack early. Bruce left his coat at the hatstand and went up to the stairs,
He assumed Richard is already asleep and decided to see him tomorrow,the floor squeaked as he walked down the large hall,and when he went on his way to his bedroom he thought he could hear a whimper,it seemed like a Plea for help and Bruce went after the sound, "Babs this isn't funny." He heard Richards muffed voice,he thought he called out to him and decided to see if he's ok and went on his way to Richards room,
he rotated the door knob and stepped in,he noticed Richard hid underneath the covers,it looked like he had a nightmare.
One hand could be seen poking out of the covers to instinctively reach towards the nightstand lamp,but then tucked his arm back right away when Bruce made the floor croak as he came towards the bed.
"Richard?" Bruce spoke gently. "It's Bruce.."
"..Is everything all right?" Bruce asked wanting to pull the covers away but ceased when Richard moved away from him,
"Bruce please help I'm scared" Richard cried.
"Dick I'm here," Bruce said and turned on the light before he could, "You're having a nightmare" Bruce said and moved the covers away and him and Richard were face to face,Richard looked at him terrified like he saw a ghost.
"Don't be scared you are safe," Bruce said he kept his short distance to let Richard get over the shock.
"Bruce no!" Richard said in disabelief, Bruce backed away a bit, it seems like Richard is afraid of someone, could the strange dream be about him?
Bruce came closer to him and wanted to pick him up so that he can calm down,"I'm not here to hurt you,whatever you dreamed about is not real" Bruce said fatherly reaching out to cup his face but then a lamp got swung towards him,before he could block the attack it already hit him against the temple.
"Aaah! What the hell?" Bruce demanded angry,his desire to comfort him changed into teaching him a lesson in respect,but Richard taught him a lesson in letting his guard down instead and loaded up one leg to give a hard kick to the groin,
He didn't expect such a vile violating attack and he grovels on his knees in pain,"What the hell is wrong with you!" Bruce roared,Richard didn't respond as he swiftly picked up a chair and smacked him with it,Bruce hissed when Robin assaulted him with a wooden chair, "Richard stop!"But once again Richard didn't respond,
"it's me!" Bruce yelled but then he almost felt himself slip out of conciousness.
warm blood dripped down his face and Bruce tried to get up,then Robin placed a knee to keep him steady on the ground,he went limp and Richard was scared to come off him or he might get up and attack.
Bruce's shirt was torned from the back and Richard pulled the fabric apart.
When Bruce gained some of his composure he found himself laying flat on his stomach on the Ice cold flood as Richard tied his wrists up with the shreds.
"What the hell are you doing"!? Bruce yelled in pain.
"Untie me or you'll be in deep trouble!" Bruce ordered struggling but Richard took steps back instead of obeying.
"Forgive me Bruce,I'll do anything to reverse the infection." Richard said.
"What?.." Bruce said realizing something. Scarecrows venom..it must have done something to his brain,just like with that man on the building.
"Dick please you have to listen,Scarecrow poisoned you.."
Richard seems to become frightened fled from him towards the exit without looking back,
"No!" Bruce yelled after him trying to get free. "Richard it's me!"
"You have to snap out it" Bruce wished he could he could hear him,
Richard wait come back!.." Bruce tried one more time,but Richard closed the door,
Bruce managed to rip some cracks into the restrains Richard created.
and managed to free himself with efforts he got up and stumbled towards the door knob.
Richard barricaded the door with something heavy, "Damnit!" Richard!" Bruce called out and used his weight to try and force the door vase blocking his way didn't budge much,his bruises stung and blood dropped from his forehead to the ground but kept was worried about Alfred,or anyone that could get in Richards way.
Scarecrows venom must have created an alternate reality for Richard where he sees his Allies as monsters.
Alfred said good night to the remaining guests who were ready to leave,and some women asked If Alfred wanted to give Bruce their number,they have been waiting around and Alfred didn't no let them roam around the mansion to find him in case they stumble upon the batcave.
Alfred did wondered why Bruce hasn't come down yet but he assumes that he's taking care of Richard.
Alfred made his way down the hall,he felt watched and froze in his tracks,he listened closely but nothing was there and continiued moving.
Alfred took something to feast on from the kitchen and remained seated near a inbuild fire pit,he heard a door open and looked up from the paper he was reading.
A timid Richard was behind the door but Alfred didn't see anyone come in.
Alfred felt a bit alarmed but went to check anyway but with a fire pit stick clutched in one hand.
"Oh Master dick" Alfred sighed relieved, "I thought there was an intruder,but why are you in your...
"Come on!" Robin said standing his ground Alfred could see a bataraang.
"What is the meaning of this?" Alfred tried to shield himself when Robin threw it.
It hit Alfred agains the shoulder and Robin flung himself at him,within seconds Alfred laid on the ground.
Alfred tried to break free when Robin tied him up, "Master Dick if this is a joke then it's not funny!, You better cease this nonsense and untie me right this instant or else!" Alfred barked but Robin remained shivering.
"I'm Sorry Alfred, I'll get to the bottom of this" Robin said.
"You won't have a bottom to sit on if you don't do as I say right now" Alfred responded back but then Alfred had a close look,his eyes seemed grey like a blind kid would have,that stare seems so blank...
"Oh dear!" Alfred said as his posh English accent returned.
"Robin, please..you have to snap out of this," Alfred spoke up finally realizing that this is not what it seems.
they both looked around when a bang was heard.
"Richard!" Bruce's voice echoed as the door broke.
Robin trembled and made his escape.
"No! Richard don't go! Bruce can help you! We all can" Alfred but his plea fell on deaf ears as Richard left the mansion without looking back.
Bruce came from the stairs Richard was already gone including all the remaining guests and hopefully Richard didn't kill off Alfred,his mind raced with worry as he called for his friend.
Alfred felt the warm blood pour of of his shoulder,his whole arm went numb and managed to turn on his side,"Bruce!" Alfred called out when he heard him shout again.
"I'm here" Bruce heard Alfred he became alarmed,the tone in aLfreds voice hinted that he's not out of harm and rushed to where he heard his friend.
"Alfred! Where are you?" Bruce yelled back alarmed
"In the living room," Bruce looked at its direction and took another sprint.
Bruce rushed in and scanned the area,near the table he could see Alfred's feet.
he was distraught seeing Alfred bleeding on the floor and grabbed a knife to cut him free and placed Alfred on a sitting down position.
Bruce placed his glasses correctly on his face and wanted to move Alfred's hand away from his injured shoulder.
"Let me see" Bruce ordered gentle when Alfred didn't let go.
"It's only a scratch, are you all right as well?" Alfred wondered noticing critical bruises on Bruce's temple and body that was unclad from the waist up.
"I'm more worried about you friend, now please cooperate" Bruce tugging his hand away and could see a splash of blood growing bigger where the culprit of the injury was.
a large part of the Batarang was dugged in his flesh,Bruce's tore a small hole in Alfreds sleeve and held on to the titanium.
"Its going to hurt now remain still" Bruce said,Alfred was a trooper and remained calm as possible when Bruce pulled it out.
It bled more and Bruce put pressure on the wound, "We need to get this stitched, come on" With that Bruce draped Alfred's arm over his shoulder and aided him towards the Batcave.
Alfred got treated and came back to the Batcave after changing into a spare suit,Bruce remained flushed onto the screen,his annoyance grew since Richard got rid of all the tracking devices on his untility belt.
"I need to find a way to capture him', Bruce said to Alfred. Scarecrows first victim committed suicide and Bruce's heart pounded with worry,
"Indeed" Alfred said, "But what the devil has gotten into him?"
"Scarecrows venom.." Bruce said,
"Richard is hallucinating and in order to stop him I must find an antidote" Bruce said having a gut feeling that catching Richard won't be very easy and studied the contact lenses that Richard wore,he took a swab and Scarecrows venom has remained around the pupils of the contacts.
And the Batcomputer analyzed it,there was indeed traces of Scarecrows venom left behind,you couldn't see it with the naked eye but with the Batcomputer it looks like a bright green glowing smudge.
When the analysis was done it confirmed Bruce's suspicion, Richard has been drugged,and the hallucinations could last for weeks.
Bruce was worried about Richard,
Many innocent civilians will get killed and If Richard end up in juvenile Arkam then he won't be able to get him out of there,
he cant let this happen,
"Alfred, When Richard was younger I told him to head to the Gotham police station if he ever gets lost,I have a gut feeling that I'll find him there" Bruce said,placing the cowl over his face.
The Batmobile roared before Bruce leaped inside from the roof,without any word change Alfred watched him leave from the secret entrance,Seconds after Bruce left the Bat signal appeared on the screen.
Hopefully Commisioner Gordon can help,Alfred wished he could do something,If only he didn't no let Richard caught him off guard,he used to be a veteran in Vietnam and now he's an old man who got outsmarted so easily.
maybe he needs to step up his game,instead of allowing himself to get old like that,there are people out there who are in better health and shape than he is and he is almost just as old as them.
He wants to be able to look after Richard better,but most importantly a better ally to the Batman,