So I always intended to take the story here. So please don't throw potatoes at me…. :(
Previously on Things Change
Jason goes searching to see if he can find anything on Dick Grayson.
Dick gets sent a mission that takes him back to Gotham.
oh and WARNINGS of attempted suicide. Its forewarned in the section its mentioned in later on.
Anyways on with the Show!
Chapter 28: Skin Deep
The Batmobile pulled into the cave and screeched to a stop. An angry Robin leapt out as soon as he could, "I had to take him down!"
Batman quickly exited the car as well and stopped Jason from leaving by standing in front of him. "You shattered his collar bone!" Batman's baritone voice sung through out the cave.
Jason lent against the side of the Batmobile trying to shrug off the argument. "He's a drug dealing pimp, I didn't think I had to prop up some pillows before I took him out."
"We needed him. He would have talked but you put him into shock" Batman said through clenched teeth. He wasn't angry at Jason per say, he was angry that now the only valuable lead on the case was a stuttering mess who could barely say his own name; but he was a little disappointed with his son.
Jason's body language slumped a little in defeat from Batman's comment. "Sorry. That was dumb." The younger boy knew he had screwed up, but he didn't really regret what he had done to that douchebag, Jason had seen the record of the pimp he had beaten up and it showed he was a far cry from any sort of a good person.
With that thought Jay straightened up and slipped past Bruce, "But he deserved it".
Bruce exhaled loudly. "Jason you can't fight crime by becoming a criminal. You need to control yourself in the field."
A humourless laugh escaped Jason as he continued on walking away from Bruce, with no intention of staying in the same room as the man, but mumbled under his breath, "This coming from the Dark Knight of Gotham."
Bruce decided to ignore that last comment even though he heard it with perfect clarity, "Jason don't walk away. We need to discuss this. You've been becoming more violent and dangerous to everyone. You're too aggressive."
Jason spun around so sick of the lectures, "At least I let things out Bruce! I might blow up sometimes and shatter a few collar bones but at least you know how I'm feeling. Not everyone can pout away in a cave full of bats!"
"Jason we're getting off topic." Batman growled, but Jason came right back with a remark, "I don't care! I mean this is what Robin is for me. A chance to beat up the bad guys! Sorry I can't be like your golden boy and just want to protect the innocent bystanders."
Batman snapped back, "Don't bring Dick into this." There were a few buttons you never pushed for Bruce, and those were: one) the death of his parents, two) insulting Alfred, three) come after or harm any of his sons and four) don't mention Dick. That last one was still very much an open would for Bruce, but Jason wanted to wind Batman up. Wanted to get under his skin, so he just pushed further.
"It's always about boy wonder, but guess what Bruce I'm not Dick fucking Grayson!"
The smaller boy got the reaction he wanted from Bruce. "No one ever asked you to be him. You are the only one with a problem with Richard." Batman practically growled. That was the thing about Batman, you should never be scared when he yells, you should be scared when he growls and you should be running out of the country when he's silent.
"You have a habit of pointing fingers Jason and placing the blame on others. You can never take responsibilities for your own actions. You're wrong, no one could ever met your expectations. You're always waiting for them to slip up, but I've been fighting for you every step of the way."
Jason didn't like how true the words were, he ignored how close to home they hit, so he did the 'logical' thing. He lashed out. "You're wrong! You never wanted me here otherwise why would you still be looking for that bastard!"
Bruce paused, seeming confused for a second. Jay quickly stalked over to the Bat computer and brought up a personal file on the death of Dick Grayson. Except it wasn't about how his death was certain, it was every conspiracy theory and plausible explanation of how they boy wonder could still be alive. Police reports, weather charts, crime scene photos, forensics and every news report surrounding the event all theorising one thing: how Richard Grayson could be alive instead of dead.
Batman was seething. Those files where buried deep in the computer. So deep in fact that Jason should never have found them. They were personal for Bruce
"See! You trying to resurrect a dead son cause the one in front of you isn't good enough." Jason exclaimed throwing his arms in the air in frustration and anger.
"Jason you have no right to be…"
"To be what Bruce! You're pining over your DEAD son because I'm not good enough to replace him!"
"No, its because I failed him!" Batman actually shouted. "He died because I pushed him away and I took too much from him. He died alone. Thinking he had no one and I'm the reason for that!" Batman clenched his fists to try and make sure he didn't lash out.
"But there was no body. If there's no body death isn't certain and if there is even a one percent chance that he's still alive, I owe it to him to find him." Batman sucked a deep breath in after his explanation, bottled emotions slipping to the surface.
A heavy silence descended between the pair and Jason couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. He knew he had pushed Bats too far. He knew Bruce never expected him to be Dick, but god he was so angry he just wanted Batman to feel the same, for some sick twisted self satisfaction. But Jason was still too wound up from his own insecurities and out of control feelings to resolve the situation.
In the strongest voice he could summon, he spoke, "Well guess what Batty, theres no bloody master plan. No evil society or mad man scheming away. No riddle or question needing to be solved. Sometimes bad shit just happens. Dick Grayson fucking died! and he's never coming back."
Jason stormed off, climbed onto his Robin cycle, revved the engine and left. Batman knew he should have followed but he just needed a little time to cool off. They both did.
A shadow was leaping across the rooftops. Occasionally flipping or adding an extra bit of flair into a leap or jump. The teenager just wanted to feel the wind through his hair. Pushing himself to do more dangerous tumbles or moves. It gave him an adrenaline rush, made him feel alive. For a brief moment anyway.
His master didn't like how much of a daredevil his apprentice had become but he was completing jobs efficiently and without compliant so Deathstroke didn't push the issue as hard as he could. His apprentice allowed some leniency on certain things.
The young Renegade was just coming back from extracting some information from a target. Since the teenager had completed the job so quickly he did have some time to loiter around before making his way back to the haunt which was a few states over. About a three hour drive for Dick. However the dark haired boy didn't want to stay in this city too long. He needed to leave it quickly.
Only one place set his teeth on edge and that was his home city Gotham. Dick hadn't had to come back since the Jonathan Matthews 'assassination'. He hadn't actually been in America that much this last year. He had mostly been in Europe settling jobs for mob bosses, a little time in Japan and also Africa. Where ever his Master needed him, he went without compliant.
He had gained a lot of freedom over he past year and Renegade could now effectively lock everything that made him Dick Grayson behind that door in his mind. He made his mind pretty impenetrable. If he was to describe it as a mind palace he would say it was a castle made of circles: the outer, inner and central. Each layer had more walls and defences then the last and there buried in the middle, locked behind that door was Dick Grayson. The boy who couldn't handle becoming what he had to. The 15 year old version of himself who was quick with the comebacks and had endless optimism, locked away inside of his own mind, for his own protection.
After the midnight haired boy had done that he was an empty shell, but then Renegade persona had started to form.
Slade believed it was a fully fledged, dedicated person and apprentice however Dick knew, really in his heart, that it was only a mask. A frail mask that could be swept away from just being in Gotham for too long. This city that held so many memories, emotions and people he cared about in it that could open the door in his mind and let Dick surface again and let his conscious, that tiny little voice in his head, turn from mute to full volume.
But one thing gave that mask the stability and strength it needed to remain in place and it was Dick's moral to save people. It sounds weird because Dick was a killer now. He had just come back from hurting someone - and 'hurting' isn't even the right word to use to describe what he had just done. However from living, suffering and learning from Slade in the past three years, Dick knew the damage Slade could do was far greater then what his apprentice could ever achieve.
Dick could never stop Slade, he had tried so many times but Slade always did whatever he wanted.
So there was no fighting him. Heather had shown Dick that Slade would kill more people in more horrific ways if he didn't fall under Slade's control. Dick used to be determined not to cross that line, avoid getting blood on his hands. But he ended up with so much more blood on his hands then he ever thought possible.
Renegade had killed people, but that was nothing compared with the number of people Dick had allowed to have been killed due to his stubbiness and arrogance.
The lesser evil was to become Renegade then allowing more people to suffer. The dark haired had tried every other route to make sure he never became what he was now, but really the only way for him to save some lives was to push every teaching, guilt, memory, past experience down and lock it being that door in his mind. Thinking about this now Dick couldn't help but let his mind wander back and when he really solidified this idea.
AN. Flash Back. Please Skip This Flash Back If Your Easily Triggered. Its Basically A Reminder To Why You Should Hate Slade And That He Is Super Evil And Dick Did Try Everything to Escape Him Without Allowing Himself To Hurt Others.
It had been 2 weeks since Heather's death. Dick's failed starvation tactic and his submission to becoming Slade's Apprentice.
But Dick was in a walking dream, actually more of a walking nightmare. Because ever time he wasn't numb from all the overwhelming emotions crashing down on his system, all he could think about was Heather. The girl with soft brown hair that had been mattered with her own blood. Those hazel eyes, that had small yellow flecks in them, that Dick had only seen full of fear. He could feel her laboured, painful breathing and the snapping of her bones as he broke her neck. He could hear was her voice plaguing his every other thought. "Then you're just as evil as the other man" echoing through his head.
Dick believed he was going mad with grief, guilt and shame and he didn't think he could go another minute let alone a day.
It was a rare occasion today. Slade was leaving him alone for most of day due to a contract. Little did Dick know that he was being watched by a man in three piece suit who was a life long friend of Slade's. But the small boy didn't know that. He thought he was all alone, locked in the building with no where to go.
He was in the training room, left to do his usually training regimes. A handful of throwing knifes had been left out for practice but nothing more lethal was left in the room. Dick walked over to table and picked up one of the sharp blades. He twirled it in his hand for a minute, letting his mind clear. 'yeah… I'm happy with this decision…' he thought.
He pressed the knife's edge to his wrist and then drew down towards his elbow. The pain was sharp and instant but Dick found it meditating. Justified. He repeated the motion on his other arm.
Then Dick went back to his training, running, fighting and anything else that made his blood pump round. He didn't have the luxury of bleeding out in a bath and Dick wanted to make sure he never came back.
He pushed past the dizziness and the pain growing in his arms. Continued to move his weakening and heavy muscles until he finally collapsed and could no longer hold his head up. Letting the blackness great him. For the last time.
But it wasn't the last time.
Dick was welcomed back to the land of the living with that evil white light. His eyes blinked away tears; due to the brightness of the light or because of the overwhelming emotion crashing down on him he didn't know.
He was strapped to a metal chair. Ankles secured to each leg, wrists attached to the arms, chest restrained to the back and neck secured as well. All with leather straps. Dick glanced down not being able to move his head much and saw his arms bandaged tightly with white cloth.
"No," Dick whispered to himself. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. This was meant to be his punishment. His escape. He had long given up any idea of walking through that red door that had teased him since his arrival.
Soon a voice, slick and smooth, sent wave of terror down Dick's skin. "Apprentice, I'm very disappointed in you."
Slade moved into Dick's line of version and slowly approached the boy. When he was right in front of Dick he placed both hands on the arm rests, his face inches away from Dick's.
The boy didn't move. Didn't talk. Didn't breath. He had failed and that meant punishment, Dick had no clue what that might entail but Slade now knew how to motivate Dick after Heather.
Slade searched his apprentice's face and then sighed after a moment. "I thought we had made real progress Apprentice, but it seems I need to sway you from such foolish ideas."
The mercenary finally left Dick's personal space and moved to the side, still in Dick's vision though. Slade held up his computer gauntlet and activated a huge screen directly in front of Dick. It displayed several camera viewpoints of a mall. Under further inspection Dick could see it was the Keystone City Mall. Dick had actually been there once.
People were wandering in and out of stalls, all ages and types of people. All looking happy. But Dick felt frozen because Slade showing this could mean nothing good.
Dick tried to shift in his chair but all he did was irritate his skin due to the tightness of the straps around his limbs.
"As punishment for your disloyalty Apprentice, I think I will kill a significant number of people in this building today."
"What?" Dick finally spoke, fear creeping into his voice. His eyes widening as he studied the video feed before him. Watching all these innocent people in front of him.
"I've placed a bomb in the centre of the building." Forever one for the dramatics, Slade pulled out a device that had a red shiny button on top and Dick knew this wasn't a ploy, it was real and he would push it.
"No please Master, please. I'm sorry I promise I won't do anything like this again."
Slade looked at the boy struggling before him as he begged for forgiveness. "I don't know Apprentice. How can I be sure your word is true?"
"I'll do anything you want" the boy pleaded.
Deathstroke assumed his position in front of the oxen haired boy again, blocking the view of the screens, "Then swear to me Apprentice. In your own words that you will never betray, leave or argue with me. You will be the loyal Apprentice Renegade."
Dick sucked in a deep breath, but he didn't need to really think this choice through. He looked into that cold metal eye, "I will never betray you and I will follow every order you give me. I promise I will always be loyal to my Master. My life and death belongs to you."
The words felt like acid, but Dick put away his pride, he begged and promised his life away in the hopes of saving others.
Slade observed the broken boy before him and after a moment of nervous waiting he finally nodded his head. "I accept your pledge of loyalty Renegade."
He moved to the side and headed to the door just next the computer screens. Dick's eyes followed him every step. But before Slade left he turned around and spoke, "But to make sure you stay true to your words…" and before Dick could let the words sink in the video feed of the mall erupted in a spectacle of orange, yellows and red flames. Grey smoke blocking some of the video feeds. Camera's outside of the mall capturing people running and screaming away from the building complex.
"No!" Dick yelled. Thrashing into his chair not caring that the leather restraint around his neck was digging in and drawing blood. Dick watched the chaos on the screen and knew it was all because of him. Because he had tried to take his own life. Tears streamed down his face as he watched the chaos unfold.
"If you try what you did again Richard, I will make this look merciful."
With that Slade left. After an hour Deathstroke finally switched off the computers showing the horror of the explosion back to the usual black screens.
A day later Slade finally came back and Dick… He had started to build those mental walls in his head. He had started to stuff everything that made Dick him behind a door. Because that was the only way he was going to survive this. By becoming Renegade with the purpose of saving as many people as he could, cause now he knew he could never be able to save them all.
The cost of failure was now far too steep to risk rebellion. Dick Grayson wasn't dead as Slade liked to believe, he was just safely tucked away, believing he could do nothing to change his situation or avoid who he was turning into.
And after that day, Dick knew there was no escape from Slade.
However what Dick never had considered happening, was that a boy with similar black hair, green eyes and a red shirt would somehow creep beneath his skin. That younger boy had slipped past his mental defences and had toed the door open, just a little, to where Dick Grayson lay.
That door to all his feelings, guilt, consciousness was cracked open. Just a sliver, but it was enough for Dick not following every order Slade gave.
Renegade hadn't assassinated Jonathan Matthews like he was told to do. He had placed the bullet two inches higher then he was supposed to and that gave the politician a fighting chance to live. Dick had sent an email warning the police that if he wasn't declared dead and stayed that way he and his family would be targeted. And by some miracle Slade never found out. It was a small act but they continued, just small tiny acts like that. E.g. Not killing Cheshire like Slade had taught him to do. Not even touching SportsMaster, but instead leaving him trapped in the vault. Letting the some of those bodyguards that worked for Villarreal live. Not all of the shots he had fired that night were lethal.
It didn't make up for all the evils Dick had done in Renegade's name, he didn't give himself a little pat on the back or do a happy dance cause 'yay I only maimed a person today'. But it just showed Dick wasn't as lost as the dark haired boy had believed.
Jason, the boy Dick had met and sent on his way to Batman, had opened that door in his mind just slightly. However it would take something big to bust it wide open. To cause a rebellion like that would take something devastating and drastic for the Renegade persona to fall away so all that was left was Richard. A spark of deep emotion to awaken Dick Grayson.
The midnight haired boy had kept track Jason since they had met. He knew that younger boy had been adopted by Bruce and had taken up the Robin mantle. It hurt slightly, the thought that he was being replaced but the majority of Dick was happy. Happy that the boy had a better life and that Bruce, the man who had given him everything, was happy as well now.
Renegade's wandering mind and concentration from jumping rooftops was broken when a bright light suddenly exploded to his left. The apprentice swivelled round and saw a huge explosion of fire and debris. Dick knew that sound and look of that flame. A bomb had just gone off. He knew he probably shouldn't stick around but there was some sort of sinking feeling in his stomach. A feeling of dread creeping along his skin that made his feet move towards the explosion.
Soon he was flying across the rooftops in Gotham as such a high speed he looked like a blur.
When he arrived at the site he was struck with the memories of the footage of the mall, but he tried pushing them aside so he could figure out what had happened here.
Renegade didn't see any one around so he leapt down to the ground and walked towards the destroyed building. There wasn't much left of the building but Dick's eyes caught onto a bloody crow bar on the ground. He didn't pick it up but with the pattens of blood on it he was pretty sure he knew what it had been used for. The teenager looked around until his eyes landed on a door. He decided to flip it over.
On the other side, in green, messy writing was the message. "Are Robin's fire proof?"
Dick stomach dropped. He stumbled backwards not wanting to think about what that meant but... he had to know. And really that message could only mean one thing. Dick had to know what happened here to Robin. To Jason. To that little kid he met in a coffee shop.
Thinking about where would be a good place to start, Dick went towards the police department. It was a good thing he was in his full Renegade kit for it gave him the stealth and movability he needed. Once he was close enough, he used the ledges on the side of the building to climb up until he was outside of the Commissioners office's window, glad and scared that Batman seemed to be nowhere in sight.
He peered through the window and saw that the Commissioner was on the phone. Thanking the heavens that he now had a hollow computer Dick quickly hacked the signal and sent the phones connection through his head set so he could listen in.
"How bad was he Leslie?" The commissioner asked.
"It wasn't peaceful Commissioner. He was half beaten to death with a blunt instrument but the explosion…. Batman brought him in and called me to see if there was any lurking hope but …. I think he knew he was just being desperate."
"Crap… crap…so it true?" Commissioner asked the doctor.
Her voice sounding sad and tired, Leslie didn't like her commanding self, "Yes…its true..." her voice broke, "Robin's dead."
Dick's heart stopped, his breathing froze, he almost slipped from hid perch.
A moment of silence fell, until Gordon spoke again. "Why are you telling me this Leslie? I'm glad to be in the loop but you've never contacted me before. I knew you worked with Batman but we've never talked about it."
"Because Batman just lost Robin and Joker's out there. From what I saw of him its looks like this night's far from over."
"Care to be less cryptic?"
"Look just try and keep the streets clear and keep your men away from Joker. Away from Batman. I'm praying to Gods he wont do something stupid, but… you didn't see that look in his eyes. If there ever was a night for Batman to be spilling blood… it would be tonight."
Dick had heard enough. He moved from his spot and onto the roof; Cutting out the connection from the phone conversation but making sure he was still on the police band wave.
He leapt across the rooftops until he was a few buildings away. He sucked the cold air into his lungs and then hunched over, hands on knees head between legs. He was shaking and tears started to leek from his eyes. Dick, not caring at the moment, ripped his mask off that covered his eyes and lower face and let it fall to the ground.
A million and one thoughts running through his head. Robin was dead, but more importantly Jason was dead. The boy that had somehow without realising it made Dick wake a little. That boy who was brave enough to go car jacking from the freakin Batmobile, who protected his neighbours and who was stupid or determined enough to steal from mob members. A boy who was brave and caring and didn't like bullies.
Dick sat on the floor and let all his thoughts, feelings and everything else swirl around in his head like a whirlpool. Memories of that boy, the brief news he had heard of him being Robin when Dick had the opportunity to find them, the announcement of his adoption to Bruce Wayne.
But now he was gone… because of a fucking clown in a purple suit.
Then a thought became very clear in Dick's mind. Batman would be after him. Batman would be hunting the Joker right now. Bruce would never let anything like this go unpunished, he had just lost a son… again. But how far would he go?
Dick didn't know. He didn't even know what Bruce was like after his supposed 'death'. All he did know was that he sure as hell wasn't going to let Batman become a killer. Not like him.
So the black haired boy snatched up his mask and placed it back on his face and set out across the city, determined to find either Batman or Joker, which ever he crossed paths with first.
Renegade was perched on a rooftop listening into the police band radio, waiting. The city was too big to search by himself and there were too many places to hide. So he had to wait and hope.
Luckily his patience paid off.
A scratchy voice came over the police radio, "Siting of Joker near Warehouse district B. Commands needed over."
Soon the voice of Gordon came on, "Do not engage. I repeat do not engage. All police are ordered to stay clear from area."
Dick disconnected his headset from the link, he had all the information he needed. Luckily the area Joker was in was pretty deserted at this time of night so civilians wouldn't be a problem, but what was his next step? His first instinct was to burst in and stop what ever madness was occurring but that quickly got blown out of the water when common sense was applied to that plan.
Dick was dressed as a mercenary, with an array of knives, guns and two katana swords on his back not to mention he supporting colours of Deathstroke. Batman would immediately take him out and if he was in the rage Dick knew he would be taken out in an instant. The dark haired teenager was a really good fighter. Definitely someone to be feared but he wasn't Batman's level. Or Slade's for that matter. Not without a significant advantage and Dick was not prepared to use a gun on his former mentor.
Another option was that Dick could strip his mask, loss all of his weapons and maybe he could shock Bruce enough to stop him. But would Bruce even recognise him after three years? It wasn't a lot of time but it was a lifetime for Dick. He had changed a lot. Bruce may even think he was a hallucination. Grief and anger were powerful things.
Trying to think what he could do, Dick suddenly saw what street he was on. He was two blocks away from a certain burglar. Maybe the only person that could stop or persuade Batman from doing something he'ld never forgive himself for.
Dick ran into an alley, leapt onto a garbage bin and sprang to a fire escape ladder. He quickly ascended then started gliding across the roof tops until he was on the right building. He skilfully scaled down the wall until he was at the right window. He briefly considered just doing the civil thing and knock on her door but time wasn't really with him. If he had heard that police transmission then Batman definitely had and he was either there or about to be.
So rather ungraceful he smashed the window with the butt of his gun and climbed into the apartment. He was currently standing in her bedroom but she was not there. Quickly moving to the kitchen Dick found the dark haired and burning eyes women he was looking for. Who was currently holding a butchers knife. 'Little cliche' Dick thought to himself.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I need your help…" Dick stated.
The unmasked Catwomen cocked her hip, her hair swinging with the movement slightly, "Honey, you don't break into my apartment then ask for my help." Selina's dark eyes looked slightly down, "Especially not with a gun" she added icily.
"Fine" the dark haired boy replied. He unholstered his gun and held it up in the air. He popped out the clip to show her it was full, clicked it back into place and tossed it towards her. She caught it gracefully with her other hand. "Now you have a gun to my head" he said.
"Then you can leave quickly." Selina threatened, aiming the gun at his head.
"Not till I've said what I've had to."
Selina tilted her head, her eyes unsubtly studying him up and down. After a second they widened with recognition, "And why should I listen to a mercenary who follows Slade." Dick was slightly surprised she had heard of him. As if she was able to read his mind she said "Yes, I know who you are. I wouldn't be good at my job if I didn't know who's a threat or who's not. Now why should I listen to a mercenary?" she asked again.
"Cause I'm not here for me and I'm not here for Deathstroke."
Selina eye's seemed to be calculating, but she slowly nodded her head telling him to continue speaking. "Did you hear about the explosion?" Dick asked.
"I saw it" she replied.
"Robin died in it"
"Crap" Selina lowered her gun, seemly shocked by the news. She looked at Renegade again, "And?" she asked.
"Joker's in Warehouse District B, I need you to stop Batman from killing him" Dick said deadpan, not letting his emotions getting the better of him.
"From the sounds of things Joker deserves everything thats coming for him." Selina spat, venom lacing her words.
"But Batman doesn't." Dick stated. "If he goes through with it, it'll kill him… and you know that."
Selina moved forward and lent her hands against her kitchen table, looking like to was dissecting the person in front of her. "And why do you care? What do you get out of it."
"Nothing."
With that Dick left the way he came, knowing there was no way to convince the burglar any further or extracting a deal out of her. Selina didn't like to deal with people like him and if the news of what had happened to Robin didn't motivate her into action then nothing would.
Dick only travelled to the building opposite, waiting to see if Selina would do it. He wasn't disappointed. A few minutes later he saw Selina slip out in all her Catwomen glory and swiftly move to where he told her to go.
He followed but left a safe distance behind her, wanting to make sure she didn't notice him. They soon arrived at the warehouse where Joker was and that was confirmed when they heard creepy laughter and something breaking.
Catwomen slipped in through a window, and Dick positioned himself outside one of the top windows. He couldn't hear anything particularly well but he could see the whole space inside. He could see the three figures there and if Selina failed, Dick would have no choice but to step in.
"God I hope Batman doesn't kill me tonight."
Selina slipped into the warehouse and it was just in time. Joker had his ridiculous laugh continuously echoing in the empty warehouse. He seemed to have something wrapped around his torso pinning his arms to his side. A thin wire of sorts. One of his eyes was swollen shut and blood was dribbling down his lip but it all just added to the psychotic clown look. The only thing holding him up was a fist clenching around his collar keeping him in place as the other hand rained down on Joker again and again and again.
"BATMAN STOP!" Selina yelled. Batman stopped his assault but he didn't face Catwomen, he only shifted his head so Selina was now in his peripheral vision.
A gravelly voice rumbled out, "Leave". It sent shivers down Selina's spine and elected a giggling fit from Joker.
"I'm not leaving till I know you what you're doing."
"I'm doing what need's to be done." Batman responded, his full focus was now back on the clown currently bleeding in front of him.
Selina didn't dare approach, not wanting to spur him to do something so she continued talking. "You can't do it Batman."
"We've all thought about it." Batman spoke with a clenched jaw, his eyes burning into Joker's chalk white face, "Hundreds... he has killed hundreds, millions he has terrorised and tonight… tonight he's just beaten a boy, a son, so he was unrecognisable and then left him locked in a room and blew it up. That sort of evil can't go unpunished."
Batman dragged Joker closer to his face, "He deserves to be subjected to every torture he's dealt out. His rain of terror ends… tonight."
A sickening sweet smile came across the purple clown's face, "Oh Batman… kinky."
The dark Knight threw him to the floor and sent a crushing kick to Joker's chest, resulting in the beaten man to cough up blood but the ever present smile stayed in place. Victory gleaming in his eyes.
"Batman stop! Robin wouldn't want this! You'll change into the man they never wanted. Someone he wouldn't recognise."
Finally Batman turned and fully faced Selina and for the first time ever since she had known him, she took a step back due to the fury, rage and anger radiating off of him. But she quickly covered her fear with her arrogant domineer springing up in defence. She squared up to her opponent.
"Don't you dare mention Robin Catwomen" Batman practically hissed out. Selina threw her hands up in the air, "Thats why you're doing this! Joker's been a lunatic for years but he finally succeeded in killing a Robin tonight… thats what's pushed you over the edge, so this is everything to do with Robin!"
"Catwomen. Leave. Now" Batman's baritone voice seemed to be ricocheting off the walls.
"I'm not going to let you become the monster you fight against. You do this and he wins! Everything you've worked for will be gone in a single night. A single bad day."
"A single bad day…" Batman growled out, "I've had more then my fair share of bad days."
Selina walked forward cautiously approaching the wounded, dangerous animal Batman was right now. But she still left a gap between them. "Yes, you have but those days defined you into the man you are now, don't let this day define you into something you'll hate. You'll be disgusted with yourself!"
Batman casted his eyes down and Selina had hoped she had gotten through to him, but when his dark, blue eyes met hers again, those eyes reminding her of thunderclouds, her heart clenched just a little. "I don't care. Joker dies tonight."
Joker, still tied up on the floor, let out a little giggle "This is turning out better then I had hoped"
"SHUT UP JOKER!" Both Batman and Catwomen yelled.
Selina using this slight distraction ran and somersaulted over Batman's head so she was in-between Joker and Batman. "You can't do this."
"You would do this if you've lost what I had. For a second time." Batman whispered this but the underlining threatening tone he had used for the whole exchange was still there.
Selina didn't flinch from his eye contact, "Yes I would. I'd smash his deranged brains in without guilt or remorse," she said with brutal honestly "but, I don't have a conscious like you do. You do this and where do you stop? You won't be protecting Gotham anymore you'll be the one terrorising it."
Batman eyes looked down into Joker and a fury blazed in them, "I lost one son because of the actions and results his bullet caused and now I've lost another son because he succeeded in killing him himself this time. That monster used Robin's vulnerability as bait and destroyed him." Bruce's eyes locked back with Selina's, "I won't let that happen again. I let him go too many times and I've paid the price for that. Never again."
Batman swept closer but Selina blocked his path, knowing full well she may be punched because of her action but luckily for her he stopped moving forward. Instead casting his bat glare onto her, "Move out of my way." He demanded.
Selina had to think quick here. She knew this was her last chance to get through to him. So she spoke the first words that landed on her tongue, "What does Robin represent?" She asked. Batman's face remained deadpanned but Selina didn't fail to notice the clenching of his fists.
"He represents hope and trustworthy figure. But he's so much more. Batman makes bad men fear and think twice. You can kill this clown tonight and maybe that will save lives. You'll hold the ultimate power over Gotham because everyone will know how far you'll be willing to go. But everyone will fear you. You won't provide comfort to the city. You'll just be the nightmare everyone cowers from. You'll become the thing you destroyed and then who's won."
"Robin kept you from doing that. He provided the light to your darkness, that hope to your fear. But he's not here any longer…." Selina stopped for a moment her eyes slightly watering up, but she never broke eye contact, "and I'm so sorry for that…. but you have to carry that hope now. Don't become a monster. Be a Robin for once."
Batman didn't move at all. A thick silence descending. Joker waiting with eager eyes. Selina didn't doubt if he could, the clown would be eating popcorn right now. But when Batman still didn't respond the thief, very gingerly, placed a light hand on Batman's upper arm, "Go home. Grieve and recollect. Let me deal with Joker for tonight."
Selina really thought Batman would just shove her aside and then she knew she could do nothing more. She may be able to outrun Batman but she couldn't stand up in a fight with him.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. But the moment finally ended when Batman turned and started to walk away.
Joker's eyes widened, "Batman… where are you going! No… come on… you said you should destroy me… Batty… you can't leave…. I'm the one who fried your little pet bird."
But with all his jibs, insults and anything Joker could spur out, Batman just kept on walking. Selina turned round and sent a heel to Joker's head which cracked against a stone behind him finally sending him into silence. She pulled out her phone to call the police so they could collect their psycho.
But Batman kept on walking. He walked out into the cold night air and then to his trustily Batmobile. He drove home and didn't look back until he reached his sanctuary. Only then did he break down. In the darkness and seclusion of the Batcave, the place he always hide himself away in.
Joker was collected later on and Selina went home but didn't sleep that night, the events of the night reeling through her mind in speeded up motion. Forgetting, for tonight, of an assassin that had warned her of the danger.
No one noticed the black cladded figure against the side of the building. No one noticed the ever watchful gaze observing everything. From the conformation to Batman leaving. The police approaching then reseeding. An unconscious clown dragged back to the asylum. The now tired thief taking herself home.
No one saw the figure straighten up once everyone had left. Him disembark across town until he came to a black motorcycle. He fired up the engine and set his way back to Deathstroke's safe house.
But if anyone had see him. If they had been able to seen past those masked eyes and peer into the deep blue… they would no longer see the cold calculating stare of Renegade. They'ld see a fire, passion and consciousness that belonged, and only belonged to a Richard Dick Grayson.
Turns out Gotham did what he feared. It had slammed that locked door of Richard Grayson wide open and he couldn't let himself be controlled anymore.
Well…. maybe it wasn't Gotham. Maybe it was the death of the boy with midnight hair, green eyes who wore a red shirt. The boy who reminded Dick, who he really was.
