Ch.18: Beginning of the End

Danny, eyes red and teary, rocked himself in the farthest corner of his cell. His orange jumpsuit hung off his thin frame, getting bigger every day he didn't eat. His huge eyes stared ahead blankly at the cement wall unbelieving. Anxiety churned in his stomach unforgiving-ly and he was sure he was going to start sobbing any minute.

All the sudden, his still body lurched forward and began to frantically try to get the cuff off. The inhibitor bracelet refused to budge from its place of his wrist, locked into his skin. Danny pulled at them fruitlessly, ignoring the way his skin ached in protest and occasionally tore.

Danny tried rewiring it, tearing it off, anything but the cuff remained locked to his skin. He tried smashing it but it didn't give way. Finally, he put the skin under his wrist to the sharp edge of his cot and began scraping it against. His skin began tearing instantly under the strain. Danny continued on, ignoring his pain in an attempt to survive.

Blood began caking the pointy edge of the cot and the liquid fell to the floor, splattering and staining the cement. He continued trying, eventually tearing muscle and hitting bone in a vain attempt to slash his own hand off.

Danny was so busy trying to get the inhibitor off, he didn't notice the door open and one of the guard peek in. He yelled a loud curse and raced forward, pulling the teen away from the cot and screaming "What the heck are you doing, Kid?! That is nasty!"

Danny lashed out at the guard, his intent to kill and escape, but others quickly rushed in to subdue the riled teen and to help their startled comrade.

The need to survive quickly left the teen once he was pinned to the ground by a couple of older, stronger guards, leaving him feeling helpless. He occasionally arched his back in a vain attempt to try and escape. The teen found it useless though and he caved again.

Some medics came by and, after sedating the stressed teen, wrapped his wrist with gauze. They grimaced at how deep Danny managed to get before anyone found out.

Once the medics were done, one of the sympathetic guards picked the youth up and placed him on his cot. Danny remained motionless as a blanket was draped over his body before the guards and medics filed out of the room, vowing to pay closer attention to the desperate teen, not willingly to relive the scare they had just received.

Danny slept for a few hours before he awoke again. Dull blue eyes scanned his surroundings before he recognized his place and whimpered pathetically, a couple of tears falling from his eyes. He sat up, stomach churning horrendously, and grabbed his injured wrist. Only half-caring, he tried to take the bracelet apart again.

Just as before, it didn't work.

The teen ripped the bloody gauze off his wrist and plopped onto the ground beside his cot again. Halfheartedly, Danny began sawing his hand off again at half the pace he had been going before. Teary blue eyes watched blankly, not sure of what to do other than that.

He still couldn't believe the events that had happened the month before.

Danny, creator of the Dark-Net and half-ghost teen, had finally been caught.

After beating Zebulon to a pulp with the Dark Knight, the Crime Trio had fled the scene. They had decided to split up, making tracking them harder. Sam and Tucker had hijacked two helicopters. Danny went about to hijack one for himself when he found himself surrounded by a bunch of American troops. He fought back as best he could but he couldn't escape so many soldiers with the inhibitor bracelet still stuck to his wrist.

Danny later found out that Zebulon had set them up. He had used his knowledge of the Dark-Net and Danny's identity to strike a deal with the government: Zebulon would draw the teen into a trap and, in exchange, he got a full pardon for his crimes.

The trial process had gone by rather quickly because Danny was "a crafty escape artists and cold-blooded killer". The government wanted the teen's fate decided as quickly as possible, knowing his danger level, and made time for him on an irregular schedule.

The media had yet to find about his "creator of the Dark-Net" status, as the government did not want too much alarm to rise. Most people only knew that Danny was an assassin that was tech-savvy. Very tech-savvy.

On a few dozen murder charges and some other charges Danny didn't know of, he was put on death row. His lethal injection was scheduled for the next day.

Which was why he was so desperate to get out.

Danny continued to half-heartedly try and cut his hand off. He was making no progress though and there was only a small, dull throb in his wrist. Only a couple drops of blood dripped to the floor, staining the concrete again. Danny hardly noticed it.

The door opened and Danny half-expected a bunch of medics and guards to rush in and stop him. Much to his mild surprise, only one pair of footsteps entered the room with the door closing behind them. The click-clack sound of the guest's boots got closer to Danny, who didn't look up at his visitor. There was a rustle of clothing and a gloved hand grabbed his injured one and stopped it from hitting the cot's sharp corner again. The dull throb remained though.

"That's not exactly a smart idea."

"I'm going to die tomorrow anyways. I don't see a point." Danny responded and tugged at his wrist. "The medics didn't even put on antiseptic. They don't care either."

The visitor didn't reply but he did wrap the gauze around the teen's wrist. He made the knot tight and Danny just shook his head and rolled his eyes at the display Batman just gave him.

The two sat in silence for awhile before Batman said "I meant to come before this."

Danny shrugged, not all that concerned before he moved over the wall and sat against it. He gestured for the Dark Knight to join him and sit beside him. "It's fine. I didn't think you'd come anyways so this is kind of a surprise to me."

Batman moved over to the offered spot and leaned against the wall. Danny took the adult's hand and put it in his lap, playing with the glove's loose material and the appendages hanging off the adult's palm.

"Did anyone bother to visit?" Batman asked.

"Yes, actually. My parents and my sister." Danny answered, nodding.

"And..?"

"My parents cried the entire time while I gave them a look. Jazz tried to understand why I did some of the things I did but I didn't exactly offer any pleasing answers, now did I?" Danny replied, feeling along all the ridges of the Dark Knight's glove.

"Pleasant." Batman sarcastically commented.

Danny nodded sarcastically back, still mesmerized by the adult's glove he held. Batman watched Danny play around with his costume before he asked "Are you having fun?"

"I don't feel as crappy as I did before so I'm going to say yes. This is almost therapeutic." Danny stated, even though he lacked any emotion on his face.

Batman watched his facial expression for a minute or two before he whispered "How are you?"

Danny chose not to answer immediately, content to focus solely on his visitor's glove and play with a few loose strands of fabric. The little strips of string were twirled around the teen's finger before being released and spun again, over and over. Though the thread did not stay curled, Danny continued to try and make it curly.

"I'm terrified."

Batman was not surprised by the response. Any person in their right mind would be terrified of dying while strapped to a bed and being injected full of drugs and chemicals. The Dark Knight wondered if Danny's parents or sister would show up to watch. He knew others were ready to watch the young teen die.

Danny took his attention away from the thread around the glove and began tracing the different ridges again. It cured the boredom that had revolved around him for the past week and some before that. He hadn't been out of his cell (willingly) in a long time. Once he heard he was going to die, he just stopped caring.

The Dark Knight, not liking the silence for once, dug into his belt and pulled something out. He put it in Danny's line of view and got a strange look from the teen. "What?"

"Why do you have a lollipop on you?"

Batman shrugged. "I thought you might want it."

Danny stared at the treat, wondered if he should take it before deciding that a cavity wouldn't have time to manifest before he died. The teen snatched the orange treat, peeled off the wrapper, and popped it in his mouth, content to go back and play with Batman's glove while he twisted the orange ball in his mouth.

"Do you know where Sam and Tuck are?" Danny asked. He was just curious. The teen had made them promise that if he ever got caught, they'd stay away and not bother to bust him out. Danny didn't want them caught like he was. He was very happy they hadn't tried to spring him from prison.

Batman, hesitantly, nodded. "I know vaguely. Tucker's trying to change the court's mind anonymously."

"And Sam?"

"… She begged me to come here a few hours ago."

"Are you sure that was Sam? I've never, ever seen her beg for anything since I've known her." Danny asked suspiciously.

"It was her." Batman stated sullenly. Danny gazed at the Dark Knight with his blue stare before he finally nodded. His eyes fell back down to the gloved hand in his lap, which he was having fun playing with, taking in the feeling of the presence beside him.

"You know I had a lot of mentors…" Danny stated and got a nod from Batman. "…but you didn't know that most of them gave up on me and sent me away."

The Dark Knight stared at Danny questioningly. "But… You're a genius. Why would they..?"

"It wasn't cause I was dumb. Or that I didn't get what they were teaching. They let me go cause I was a little brat." Danny explained, looking at his visitor from the corner of his eyes. "I put viruses on their computers that took forever to get rid of. I called them names that are banned in some countries. I got them arrested for a couple things…"

"Sounds like you…" Batman mumbled.

Danny hummed in confirmation before saying "Calculator put up with me the longest… I did so much crap to him and he kept me around for so long… I never found out why. There was one other…Clockwork…that I really liked. He couldn't teach me too much because his…bosses…were a bunch of tight-wads that never let you live down anything. I didn't stay with him as long as I would've liked but there was no point in staying if I wasn't learning anything."

Batman watched as Danny debated with himself if he should say more. It took a minute before he decided that he could.

"They were the closest paternal figures I ever had…"

Batman nodded, seeing how they could be.

"You were even closer."

The Dark Knight lifted his eyes from the glove in Danny's hand to his face, shock written clear across it. Danny flicked his eyes up as well and shrugged. "No matter the crap I put you through, you kept coming back and trying to help. You were always just… There."

Batman shook his head slowly. "So why did you..?"

"…abandon you? It was because you were always there. Everyone I looked up to got rid of me eventually. Sooner or later, you would too. So I ditched you first." Danny explained.

"We could've worked something out."

"I didn't know that before... But it's a little too late for patching things up now, huh?" Danny asked, letting his eyes fall back down to where Batman's hand rested in his lap. He picked it up and held it to his chest, running his fingers over the fabric again.

"I thought we were patching things up quite nicely." Batman commented.

Danny hummed. "We were, kinda. A temporary truce every once in awhile isn't exactly a healing balm."

"No. But it was working."

"True."

The two sat in silence again, content with companionable silence that had enveloped them. Danny continued to hold the Dark Knight's hand to himself and he asked "When do you need to leave?"

"Why?" Batman asked.

"Cause I don't want you to go." Danny answered emotionlessly.

Batman contemplated the answer before he responded "I'll be here till you go to sleep."

"I hope you know I haven't been doing a lot of sleeping lately."

"Yeah… I heard about that."

"Really? Who would tell you that?"

"Your prison file."

Superman watched as Batman worked furiously on the computer, trying to do something the Man of Steel didn't quite understand. But Batman's work was just confusing like that. It almost never made sense to anyone unless the Dark Knight decided to tell you why and for what.

"I haven't seen you work this hard in a long time, Batman." Superman commented good-naturedly as he walked up behind the Dark Knight.

"Go away."

Superman's smile instantly dropped. "Have I told you how wonderful you are before?"

"No."

"Good. There's a reason for that."

Batman rolled his eyes before responding "I'm working on something important. Leave me alone."

"What are you working on?" Superman asked, completely ignoring the Dark Knight's last statement, which earned him a very heated Bat-Glare. "Come on, Bruce. Just tell me."

"I'm working on a deal with someone."

"What's the deal for and who are you talking with?"

Batman rubbed his head, mumbling "I'd rather be shot with heat vision than suffer through this."

"Bruce, just tell me already."

"Look Kent, I've got a time limit and I need to work. So I would appreciate it if you just go. Away." Batman snapped at him before trying to become re-involved in what he was doing. Superman watched him work; pondering what could make the Dark Knight so edgy in the first place. His brain popped recent news coverage in his face.

"…is it about that kid on death row?"

Batman paused before replying "The kid is the one you met in Las Vegas a year or so ago."

"Thought he looked familiar." Superman mumbled.

Batman nodded in acknowledgment. "Disregarding everything he's done, I still see his potential. Granted, it's dampened because he's currently depressed but if someone were just to give him a chance and let him prove that he can do good too…"

"I get it, Bruce." Superman assured.

Batman remained quiet for a moment before getting back to work hurriedly.

Superman began walking away but said a loud "Good luck."

Batman nodded in acknowledgement again.

I hope this was like a slap in the face. *thumbs up*

Thanks to these people for favoriting and/or following: ShadowPillow, Zangoules, K1tB1kyuu, Terfa, Maxcron, Twin Kats, Shadowsong14, Oyote,

Reviews:

Poohbearmorris: Time to be nice, you say... ... ... ... I'm not going to say anything after this chapter.

Scheffelman: ...yeah...especially after that little event...

Roselin: I'm glad you enjoyed! I love mending time, don't you? XD

Guest of Honor: ...you happy now? I owe you nothing because I agreed to nothing. *evil smile*

Tigergirl1723: I love bonding! And they're bonding all right...

Bibbledoo: His life is definitely complicated. XD If that were to happen, we would all die.

Anime Hotty Lover. 18: I love puzzles~! XDDDD

Grava: Yep! It's so interesting! ;D

Guest(1): Thanks so much! :D

16ckelman: ...*opens mouth*...*closes mouth*...*opens mouth*...*closes mouth*...*walks away*

The Keeper of Worlds: XD She's fun and peppy alright.

KuriMaster13: XD Good job for figuring it out! Especially since I made that very last minute!

Ninuhuju: *nods* Good. That was the point. ...not so easy now, is it? *smiles nervously*

YumiStar: Yup. It kinda sucks for him though.

KainVixenheim: Yeah, it took forever. -.-' XD Glad you enjoyed!

Shadow: I never read the Percy Jackson series. Hm. :D I got all the stories from my huge book on mythology. It's got over 300 hundred pages of that stuff.

Sarra Torrens: Thank you, thank you!

Eirena Gaia: XD Glad you enjoying so much! Does it seem easy now?

SweetyKinz: :DDDDDDDDD DUDE. YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW. You're seriously one of the best writers too and I'm so happy we're friends! :DDDDD