Taste the Rain

Chapter 19

"I've got your back Jay, on patrol and right here."

"Settle down", Batman growled. I rolled my eyes and reluctantly sat down.

"I can't help it", I snapped, "it's cold."

"Deal with it", Batman replied, "you chose to come out tonight."

"I didn't know it'd be this damn cold", I muttered, rubbing my arms, "how long 'till that guy comes out?"

"Robin", Batman snarled, "You are really getting on my nerves."

"Too bad", I replied, "I'm here."

"And I can send you home this fast", he growled, snapping his fingers an inch from my nose. I gave a snort and turned away from him. I was bored, cold and this pimp was taking much to long to come out and rendezvous with the hooker below us. Unfortunately for me, being Robin wasn't all thrills.

I was just about to start complaining again when Batman grabbed my shoulder, pulling me roughly over. He pointed with one dark finger down at the shadows across the street. There I noticed a slight movement. Our pimp had come back. Slowly, I lowered myself to my belly next to Batman, peering over at the pimp as he slowly picked his way through the shadows and across the street.

The girl looked really nervous all of the sudden. I empathized. Now, normally pimps like Joey McCall were small beans for us but this particular pimp happened to be wanted for child molestation and murder, along with being a pimp. Batman had very little tolerance for people who hurt kids, something I'd noticed since I'd started working with him.

Perhaps it was simply the disgust at someone who could hurt something so vulnerable and helpless as a small child. The eight year old in him, watching his parents get killed, knew very well what it felt like to be a feeble child. I did too, but in entirely different ways.

McCall finally made it into the open street. Cast in moonlight, he cut an eerie figure and I felt a shiver go down my spine. But, the anticipation was swiftly becoming too much to handle. Finally, unable to take it any longer, I leapt off the roof. "Robin!" Batman snarled, but I was already on the streets in front of McCall.

"Please run", I toyed, eyes narrowing, "I really wanna hurt you."

"Eat metal kid", McCall yelled, and pulled out his gun. The hooker girl screamed and ducked for cover just as the shots rang out. I effectively dodged and was after him in a moment. I could hear Batman's heavy steps behind me, but he paused.

The girl had been hit by a stray bullet and was on the ground, eyes wide and throat gurgling as Batman attended to her. I felt pretty guilty about that but the best thing I could do for her now was to catch McCall. I could no longer expect Batman's back up, but I didn't need it. I was Robin, the boy wonder.

McCall surged ahead, running straight for Precott Bridge, a sagging structure that hung rather low over the thinnest part of one of the eastern Gotham rivers. I put on an extra burst of speed, intending to catch him before he made it there. But, it was in vain for a moment later, he was rushing onto the bridge.

At the middle, he turned tail suddenly, pointing the gun again. "One move little birdie", he hissed, "and you get a stomach full of lead." I skidded to a halt atop the bridge, which creaked and groaned beneath my feet, and faced the man, swiftly going through my options. What I didn't notice, however, was the way the bridge was complaining loudly.

The wood, rotted and weak already, simply couldn't handle my weight. Suddenly, the boards beneath my feet gave a loud crack and snapped, sending me sprawling into the harbor below. I gave a squeal and sank like a stone, flailing and screaming and wheeling my arms. Batman, who had just grabbed McCall and slapped a pair of cuffs on him, turned to me, looking pretty angry.

"Just swim to shore Robin and lets go. We'll talk in the car." But, I could barely lift my head to answer him. It kept going under.

"Batman help!" I screamed, terrified and out of breath.

"Robin, quit fooling around. Come on." And then, my head went under. I tried to breathe and found water rushing down my lungs. Darkness surrounded me and then I was drowning in it. Terror pumping though my veins and lungs screaming for air, I sunk down into the deep, feeling my self slip away.

Suddenly, a hand closed around my collar, hauling me out from the inky black and the cold. Batman was there, dragging me from the icy grip of the water. I clung tightly to Batman's chest, coughing and sputtering and holding on to him like a mollusk on a rock. Unable to help myself, I sobbed quietly, trembling in his arms and leaning heavily against him. "It's alright", Batman soothed, treading water and holding tightly to me, "You're safe, I've got you."

"I…I can't swim Bruce", I whimpered softly. Batman nodded, pressing his lips to my forehead.

"That's a bit of a problem, huh kid?"

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"Hey Jason", I heard a voice call. Looking up from my book, I noticed Dick in the doorway. He was wearing a pair of swim trunks and a grin. I could tell something was going on that I wasn't going to like one bit.

"What's up?" I asked warily.

"I'm gonna teach you how to swim kiddo."

"Yea", I said with a laugh, "that's not happening, no."

"Come on, you have to learn. Bruce can't be worried about you drowning or nothing."

"I don't even have a swimsuit", I said sassily, figuring that would end all this silliness about me swimming.

"Got you covered", Dick replied cheerfully, holding up a pair of trunks.

"Bruce is gonna teach me", I said desperately.

"Bruce isn't back for a few days. Why don't I teach you and we surprise him?"

"'Cause that's a stupid idea", I replied, "now I'm going to read."

"Nah ah", Dick said, and snatched up my book.

"Hey", I snapped, "give that back."

"Not 'till you come with me and learn how to swim."

"No", I moaned.

"Come on", Dick replied, "It'll be fun." I gave a sigh.

"You're not gonna give that back 'till I get down to the pool, huh?" Dick shook his head and tossed me the swimsuit.

"I'll be waiting for you." Winter is not the best time for swimming, which is why it was unfortunate for me that Bruce had an indoor pool. I would have preferred it if I'd had something as simple as cold for an excuse not to get in the water. Walking into the room that contained the pool, I beheld Dick, treading water and grinning. His strokes were effortless and smooth, practically graceful, but then again, it seemed everything did was graceful.

"Come on kiddo, get in." I cautiously approached the shallow end and put a toe in. The water was not unbearably cold, but it still had a slight chill to it. Dick waded up to me and held out his hands. "Come on", he said. I reluctantly grasped his outstretched arms and allowed him to lead me in to about my waist.

"Alright", I said, letting go, "I think that's enough for one day. You got me into the water."

"Nope", Dick said, "we're gonna go a little more, come on." He took me out to where the water lapped around my chest before I flatly refused to go any further. "Come on", Dick pleaded, "just a little more. I want you to get to where your feet can't touch the ground."

"What!" I cried, "I can't swim, remember. I'm gonna drown."

"No you're not", Dick replied, "I'm here. Don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone", I replied darkly, glaring at him.

"Well, trust me. Come on." He opened his arms. "I'll carry you the rest of the way out." I moved a ways towards him and allowed him to scoop me up. I wrapped my arms and legs tightly around him, pressing myself to him. He smiled and put his arms around me, waiting until I felt secure before continuing out into the water. "Now", Dick said, "first things first. Let's tread some water. That's what you ought to learn first anyway, so you can at least keep your head up until Bruce can throw you a line or something. I'm going to hold you out a little ways and then I'm going to let you go. When I do, I want you to kick your legs and move your arms like this."

He demonstrated all the proper movements as I clung to him, watching and committing to memory everything he did and said. "Now, if you just stay calm, you'll be fine. Ready to go?" He looked down at me expectantly. I nodded, not wanting him to think I was scared which, of course, I was. "Alright", he said, "lets go." I slowly let go of him and allowed him to move me out into the water. He held me up, his hands just below my armpits and then let go.

For a moment, everything was fine and I was ok. But, the next second, I was again unable to keep myself above water. Forgetting everything he'd told me about swimming, I panicked, flailing and churning. Dick had grabbed me in an instant but I continued to struggle. "Jason", he said, his voice even and calm, "just relax, its ok, I got you."

Slowly, I quieted and he pulled me close, allowing me to latch onto him again. His arms were around me, stroking my wet hair and patting my back. "It's alright Jason, you're ok. I promise you, I'm not going to let you drown. I'm right here and as long as that's true, nothing is going to happen to you."

"Promise?" I asked softly, releasing him slightly so I could lean back in his arms. He nodded solemnly.

"I've got your back Jay, on patrol and right here." I gave a sigh.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked softly.

"Anything", he replied, eyes placid and forthright.

"You won't tell Bruce." He shook his head. "I'm scared of the water", I replied softly, "I was so terrified, drowning there in the darkness. If you weren't forcing me, I wouldn't go near the water ever again."

"It's ok to be scared kiddo. It's not that big of a deal. With all that goes on in our line of work, it's perfectly normal to be afraid."

"Bruce thought I was faking though. He doesn't think it's ok for me to be scared."

"You kidding me? Jason, he doesn't care. He's probably just so relieved you didn't die down there, which is why he'll be so excited to see you swimming when he gets back. Now, do you trust me not to let you drown?" I wanted to say yes, but I just wasn't sure. I had been truthful when I'd told him I didn't trust anyone, anyone but Bruce that is, and Alfred I suppose. Could I let Dick into that selective circle?

Slowly, I nodded. He beamed at me and said, "How's about I swim around with you for a while and we get you used to the water. Sound good?" I nodded and he started around the pool, going deep enough so that even he was treading water. But, I found that, surprisingly, I wasn't afraid. He was there and he wouldn't let anything happen to me. I knew that for sure.

"You know", Dick said, "When I was like nine, Bruce found out I didn't know how to ride a bike. Now, it's not a skill a kid really, really needs to learn but it was one Bruce wanted me to know so I had to. I was scared to death but he promised me he wouldn't let go of that bike until I was ready. So, I just had to trust that he wouldn't." I smiled at him.

"I learned how to ride a bike pretty early. They're useful when you gotta get away from the cops." Dick smirked.

"I imagine so. Swimming wouldn't have been something you would have had to do though, huh?" I shook my head. "We should hang out more Jay, that'd be fun." I nodded, because Dick was pretty cool and I was really grateful at how patient he was being.

"Ready to try again?" I reluctantly nodded and allowed him to release me.