Chapter 28: Fear
Dick's POV
Hands bound tightly behind me; ankles tied as well. Fabric pulled tightly around my head, gagging me. Knees are pulled into my chest. I opened my eyes to see my dimly lit prison. We're stuffed inside a … crate? It's cramped and dark in here.
Jason was beginning to stir beside me. We had been kidnapped seconds after the school bell rang. We were grabbed and forced into a car. I can't remember what happened after that.
Jason's eyes opened slowly, only to widen in fear and alarm when he became aware of our situation. I shifted slightly and allowed his head to rest on the crook of my neck, resting my head against his, letting him know that I was there. It was the only source of comfort I could offer him. For now. At least until I figured a way to get us out.
I pulled against my restraints in vain. I stopped as I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. The next minute the lid to our prison was pried away, revealing Jonathan Crane. The Scarecrow.
"Hello boys. I see we're awake. Daddy hasn't paid the ransom yet. Looks like we're going to have to convince him. Let's start with Daddy's baby boy." he said darkly as his bony hand reached straight for Jason.
No one touches my baby brother. No one.
Jason's POV
I shrank against Dick as Scarecrow reached for me. Before he could touch me, Dick kicked his legs up, successfully pinning Scarecrow's hand against the side of the crate. I heard the Scarecrow give a cry of pain as Dick's feet crushed his hand against the box, breaking his right hand.
One of the Scarecrow's goons arrived and wrestled Dick out of the crate as I was left alone. I started to panic. I was alone. They were going to kill Dickie. They're gonna kill me next. I want my daddy. I want Dickie. I want-
Dick's heart stopping, pain filled scream took me from my thoughts. They were hurting him. My fear is now replaced with anger. No one touches my big brother. No one.
I struggled against my restraints. I have to get out of here. I have to help him. I searched the small prison for a way out. My eyes landed on the tip of an old nail protruding from the corner of the crate. Hold on, Dickie I'm coming.
As soon as I was free, I silently lifted the lid and peered out. I was shocked by what I saw. I had never seen Dick cry before. Never. He's not supposed to. He's older, stronger, and smarter. Dick doesn't cry. Ever.
I couldn't move. I don't know what's going on. I don't know if he's okay or hurt. I don't know what happened. I don't know what to do. I've never been in this position before. Dick always knows what to do and say. I don't.
My brother is strapped to a chair, screaming, crying, and shouting in another language. The Scarecrow is wearing a weird looking sack over his head, looming over Dickie and laughing. I watch as the monster takes out a phone and presses it against Dick's face.
I noiselessly climbed out of the crate and crept towards the monster's goon. I can do this… I can't do this. I'm just kid. I'm only trained in basic self-defense. They're gonna kill us. We're gonna die. I stopped moving when I spied a Taser sticking out of his back pocket. Sometimes pickpocketing skills come in handy.
*******Break********
Bruce's POV
I can feel my heart clench as I hear my child crying and screaming. I know what's happening. I haven't made the drop yet and it's too early for Batman to be out. The Scarecrow has given my child his fear toxin. He's torturing my little boy.
Dick's crying becomes softer as the Scarecrow's voice is projected over the phone line. "Listen very carefully. You haven't made the drop yet-"
"I'm on my way, now. I have the money just leave my boys alone." I plead.
"Well, your belatedness has cost me a dose of my toxin. And you will pay extra for it or I'll- Stop that brat!" he suddenly screamed.
My heart nearly flat lined as I heard the Scarecrow suddenly screaming in pain and fear and Jason shouting that he is going to kill anyone who touched his big brother.
"Jason!" I shouted over the line.
"Daddy?" I suddenly heard the upset voice of my baby come over the line as he began to cry.
"Jason, don't cry... Are you hurt?" I calmly asked.
"Nno. Bbut, Dickie is." He sniffled.
"Okay, just hold on. I'm coming to get you. Can you tell me where you are?" I asked calmly.
"I… I don't know." He sobbed, obviously distressed.
"Describe to me what kind of a place you're in."
"Kkinda dark. There's a bunch of cccrates. I-"
"Are you in a warehouse?" I interrupt.
"I tthink sso.
"Look at the walls, Jason. Is there a number or a-"
"P-43… Daddy, he's hurt. I… I don't know what to do. He wwon't stop ccrying and sshaking and ssscreaming in some llanguage." Jason sobbed.
"It's okay. I'm almost there. Just calm down, son. I'm coming." I soothed.
********Break*******
Jason's POV
"Lasa pe fratele meu mai mic du-te! Nu-i face rău! Tati, ajută-mă!" Dick screamed, drowning out Bruce's voice from the phone.
I dont understand why he keeps screaming jiberish. Its scareing me not knowing what to do for him. I reach out and take his hand.
"Dont cry, Dickie. Its okay... I wont let them hurt you anymore." I whisper.
"Jason!"
I turn to see Bruce running towards us. He pauses when he notices the scarecrow crying in the corner. Okay, I kinda electrocuted him and injected him with his own toxin, but he had hurt Dick.
Bruce pulls a syringe from his coat pocket and injects Dick with it before taking Dick into his arms and cradling him against his chest.
"Shhhh. Acesta este mergi la fie în regulă." Bruce whispers, while carrying him out of the warehouse.
"What about them?" I ask, stepping over the Scarecrow's henchman.
"I've already called the police." He replies darkly before laying Dick down in the back seat.
"Is he gonna be okay? What is he saying?" I ask as I watch Dick cry and speak to Bruce in another language.
"He's speaking Romanian. His first language. He'll be okay." Bruce replies softly.
Dick's Romanian? I never knew.
"What is he saying? What does he see?" I ask.
"Get in the car." Bruce orders, completely ignoring my question.
********Break********
Bruce's POV
"Daddy?" Dick calls out, concealing the hidden fear in his voice.
"I'm right here, Dickie." I reply, reaching out to smooth his hair back. "It's okay. You're safe now."
"What happened?"
"You were drugged with Scarecrow's fear toxin. Jason took him out."
Dick looked up at me in shock as he hugged Jason, who was currently curled up asleep beside him, tighter. "Jason took out the Scarecrow?" he asked in shock.
"He did. He tasered him and injected him with his own fear toxin… Dick, are you alright?"
"I am now… Did they hurt Jay?"
"No. Actually, I think they were more afraid of Jason than he was of them… Did they hurt you?"
"Only a little… I saw my parents fall again and then you fell and Jason fell and everyone I care about fell. There was nothing I could do."
"It wasn't real, chum. I'm not going anywhere."
His eyes met mine. "Are you disappointed in me for getting scared?"
"No, son. We're all afraid of something."
Dick shook his head. "You're not afraid of anything."
"I'm afraid of losing you. I am afraid of losing Jason. I'm afraid of losing Alfred."
"We're not going anywhere."
"Then, I have nothing to worry about and neither do you."
A small smile crept across his face. "I guess you're right; especially since we have Jason to take out the Scarecrow for us."
I'm going to start adding chapters where the boys are a little older soon. Chapters 39, 43, and 45 from Big Bird, Little Wing, Baby Bird, and Mini Bat should have been published to this story. (I accidently uploaded them to the wrong story, but check them out and tell me what you think)
