AN: I'm excited for this chapter!
Candy: Yes! Dick is such a great brother. He put everything on the line for Damian! Let's hope he doesn't lose everything for it... Bruce screwed up indeed but in his defence he's trying at this point so that's something.
Summer314: I'm very happy to be back and this story is gonna get finished! I have ideas... We're going to see how the mission goes this chapter. A lot of things are happening. :)
12. Mission
The flight towards Nanda Parbat was tense. Bruce could feel the tension between the Birds that Stephanie's little stowaway-stunt had caused. Barbara was unusually quiet over the comms. Too enraged to keep up her unaffected Oracle-persona.
Barbara's anger surprised Bruce. Oracle had always been protective of her Batgirls. She had had no issue telling Bruce when he went too far – especially with Cassandra because she had issues with speaking for herself.
Bruce suspected it came with being the originator of the mantle. Dick had also been protective over his little brothers – the Robins that came after him. But now Barbara was downright paranoid unwilling to give Steph any leeway at all.
Something had changed and Bruce suspected it had something to do with Barbara's accident. The Joker couldn't have done it in this timeline. Batman hadn't been there so he wouldn't have felt the compulsion to use the Gordons in his mind games.
Barbara had been injured in a different way. Maybe out as Batgirl? It would make sense. She hadn't had any backup – no one to show her the finer details of being a vigilante. Starting out on her own, Batgirl had never been Batman's sidekick. Bruce didn't Barbara's capability but being a vigilante your own without any backup or sufficient resources was bound to get you in trouble. Batman would never have survived without Alfred, his Robins, the Batgirls, the JLA… A long list of people who ensured Batman could go out each night. A safety net as Dick would say.
Or used to say – Bruce thought of the coffin in the back of the plane. His boy was dead. Bruce hadn't forgotten it. It always lingered in the back of his mind.
"We're close to Nanda Parbat", Black Canary said.
She was piloting the plane with Huntress. Bruce didn't trust his current body with the lives of half his family and the Birds.
Bruce went into the back of the plane to change. His costume was stored beside Dick's coffin. Jason was sitting beside it as if he was guarding it. One hand on the lid. Bruce was glad that the coffin was closed. Dick's body had suffered in the last few days. His skin had become ashen and the blood had drained from his lips. He looked muted. Dead.
Jason was muttering quietly, as if he was talking to Dick's corpse. Bruce's throat felt dry. He focused on putting on his costume. It was bulkier and thicker than his usual Batman-armour. Lucius didn't have the experience yet of crafting dozens of Batsuits. But it was also thicker to give Bruce more protection and power. Usually, Bruce would object to having his body be encased by this much armour as it hampered his mobility. But this body could barely move anyway and it needed all the protection it could get.
Jason looked at him, sceptical: "I hope this works because you look ridiculous."
"Lucius designed it for a costume party", Bruce said, "I needed a cover story."
Jason shook his head: "This is crazy."
"You haven't seen anything yet."
"I've seen enough", Jason looked down at the coffin.
Bruce felt himself fall quiet.
"We're close to Nanda Parbat", Black Canary said, "We're landing on the other side of the island so they don't see us coming."
"Shouldn't someone stay back?", Jason asked, "Make sure the plane is ready if we need to run?"
"We need all the fighters we have", Bruce said, "And Oracle can remotely pilot the plane if we need to make a quick escape."
"I'd rather not because I don't have a piloting license", Oracle said over the comms, "And I doubt that the three hours of sparse explanations Huntress gave me will be enough to get one."
"Come on, Oracle", Steph said, "It will be fun."
"This is not a game, Spoiler. Apparently, you haven't understood that yet because then you would have listened to me."
"Ouch", Selina muttered.
"Whatever", Steph said, "I'm coming with you. I'm not staying in this plane."
Oracle seemed to know that it was a lost cause: "You are staying with Canary. You stick with her and listen to every order she gives you. Do you understand me, Spoiler?"
"Yes, Ma'am", Steph rolled her eyes.
"Landing in two minutes", Huntress said, "Ready yourselves."
Bruce felt tense while the plane landed. They were risking a lot, but the reward could be a lot greater.
"A small warning", Bruce turned to Jason, "Dick could a bit aggressive after he comes out of the Pit."
"I thought there were no side effects?", Jason's hand was still on the lid of the coffin.
Bruce's throat felt dry: "Just watch out when he comes out."
"Wait, wait. How much rage are we talking about here? The murderous kind? Stop being so cryptic."
"He could try to attack us. But it shouldn't be too bad. The Pit only enhances what was there before."
Jason didn't look reassured by this at all: "Nice of you to tell me this early."
"Would it have changed anything?"
"Just tell me if this deadly rage-thing is permanent."
Bruce thought about his version of Jason. It had been bad before it had gotten better. But it had gotten better. And Dick wasn't that angry of a person. Well, most of the times. He usually bottled everything up and exploded when it got bad. The smashed Grandfather clock could attest to this. But these were outliers. Dick was mostly a level-headed person. They would be fine.
"It's not", Bruce said, "It's short-lived."
Maybe Bruce was bending the truth a tiiiinyyy bit. He just had to trust that they would be fine.
Jason looked relieved: "We just need to hold him down somehow to calm him down."
"I have tranquilizer darts", Bruce said.
"Geez", Jason shook his head, "I'm definitely believing the vigilante thing now."
The plane landed. Jason opened the lid of the coffin. Bruce averted his eyes. He couldn't see it. Not again.
"He doesn't look like Sleeping Beauty anymore", Jason said.
"I'll take his feet", Bruce leaned forward, thankful for the hydraulics Lucius had built into his suit.
They did most of the heavy lifting. Bruce hated that he had to rely on tricks like these because they greatly hampered the mobility of his arms.
"I'm impressed", Jason said, "You put on some muscle in the last three days. Did you take steroids?"
"All Lucius", Bruce said, "Brucie's body is still nearly useless."
"Make sense. I was already jealous of your gym routine."
"Focus, people", Oracle said – though Bruce suspected that she meant Stephanie with people, "Do you have the flash-drive, Catwoman?"
"What do you take me for, Oracle? A beginner."
Steph scoffed: "She only thinks of me like that."
Oracle ignored Steph's comment: "Insert it in the League's computers so I can assist you. Good luck with the mission."
"I'm so sorry, Bro", Jason told Dick's lifeless body as they carried him through the jungle.
The groups divided each other. Jason and Wayne went to the Pit while the Birds went towards the compound. They crouched in a forest. Dozens of guards walked around it. All dressed in completely black garbs that covered their bodies. Perfect for their purposes. Now, they just needed to get them close.
"We need to get at least two here", Dinah said.
"I have a plan", Huntress pulled out her crossbow.
She shot it without warning at the ground. The bolt embedded itself in the earth between the feet of two guards. They looked down. Seemingly confused by the bolt. Their gazes turned towards the forest.
"This is risky, Huntress", Dinah said, "What if they alert the others?"
"Chill", Huntress said, "They are gonna check it out first. I know my ninjas."
Dinah shook her head. Selina shrugged. She climbed up on one of the trees. Crouching on a branch. Waiting to strike. The rest of the Birds huddled deeper into the underbuilt of the forest.
The two guards briefly gave one of the other ninjas a heads up. Then, they raised their katanas and walked towards the forest.
"What is going on?", Oracle asked.
No one answered her. Selina used her whip and slung it around one of the ninja's throats. It silenced his screams. Selina dropped down on him and took him out with a tranquilizer. Canary made quick work of the other one with one of her infamous kicks.
"Huntress just recklessly endangered us", Dinah glared at Helena, "Not that it is anything new."
"It worked out, didn't it?", Huntress was already putting on the assassin's robe.
Selina did the same. The outfit wasn't necessarily flattering but you couldn't see Selina's face anyway. So, no one would link her with this fashion atrocity.
Huntress and Selina exited the forest. Selina did her best to mirror the assassin's walk. It would work out in the dark. They had started their assault in the night for a reason.
One of the ninjas said something to them in Arabic. Huntress answered in a deep voice. The ninja nodded. He turned away. Uninterested.
They stood outside for a while, keeping up appearances. Selina was about to get bored but then Huntress indicated to follow her inside. She said something quick to the guard at the entrance. The man nodded and let them in. Selina had to leave it to Huntress. She made a pretty good ninja. And without Helena's Arabic skills they would already have been discovered.
They entered the compound. The hallways were stony, but the old look could be treacherous. Selina could see the metal lines in the walls where high-tech doors could shut them in. Oracle could give them a major advantage if she managed to hack into the security system.
Selina and Huntress walked towards the wing with the offices, paying no attention to the assassins that crossed their paths. If one of them watched them with suspicion, Huntress told them something in Arabic that made them look away. It must be pretty intimidating from their reactions.
They reached one of the offices. Selina checked the lock. She would be able to open it. It was only a question of time.
"Do your thing, Catwoman", Huntress said, "I'll make sure no one disturbs us."
"No killing", Oracle said over the comms.
"Sure", Huntress couldn't keep the annoyed tone out of her voice.
Selina got to work. She could hear muffled yelling behind her. Huntress was pressing a cloth onto the ninja's mouth. It was stained in chloroform making the ninja go down.
Selina kept picking the lock. She grinned when she heard a small click.
"We're in", Selina said.
"Finally", Huntress dragged one of the restrained ninjas into the room.
She had taken out three while Selina had been occupied. Selina went to the computer turning it on.
"Don't you want to help?", Huntress was still dealing with the bodies.
"I'll let you handle that one", Selina grinned at her.
Huntress rolled her eyes and dragged the second body into the office. Meanwhile, Selina pulled out the flash-drive and put it into the computer.
"It's in, Oracle", Selina said, "Anything else?"
"That's all", Oracle said, "I should have it hacked in a few minutes. Get Damian and get out of there. How is Beta doing?"
Jason and Bruce were currently crouching behind a huge rock watching the ninjas that guarded the Pit. They stood at the entrance of a cave. It was consisted of a dark tunnel with stony walls. The ground was uneven and ragged with rocks. It looked mystical. Jason could believe that a magical swimming pool was at the end of that tunnel.
"We have to take them out", Jason took out his gun and equipped it with a silencer, "I can take them from here. No one will hear."
Bruce bit his lip. Usually, these two guards wouldn't be a problem for Batman. He would drop down behind them and take them by surprise. But he wouldn't withstand a fight with them. Not in his condition and his suit felt too heavy to sneak around in. But he was Batman. Batman never killed.
"We are sneaking up behind them. Take them by surprise. Tranquilize them."
Jason frowned at Bruce: "I'm not keen on fighting fucking ninjas. Just let me take the shot."
"We. Don't. Kill", Bruce gave Jason a tranquilizer.
Jason looked like he wanted to argue. But then he looked down at Dick who was lying at their feet. The way through the jungle had taken a toll on Dick's body. Flies were crawling over him. Jason swatted them away.
Again, Bruce noted how undignified this was. What was he doing to his son? Dragging him through the jungle on a dangerous mission. Letting him lie on the ground. But it was too late to question his behaviour. He needed to act now. They didn't have time to argue.
"Fine. Do it your way. But you better chuck me into that swimming pool, too, if one of them slices my head off."
"Promise", Bruce felt queasy at the possibility.
"I'll take the left one", Jason sneaked away through the forest.
Soon, Bruce couldn't see him anymore. Bruce snuck to the other side. He could hear every step he made. Too heavy on the ground. Bruce tried to walk more quietly but he found that he couldn't. His feet couldn't execute what his mind wanted them to do.
Jason crouched behind a tree near his ninja. Waiting for Bruce to catch up. Bruce hid behind a tree himself.
He whispered: "Ready."
It was faint enough for Jason to pick it up on his comm. Bruce and Jason both came up behind their ninjas. Jason hit the tranquilizer in his ninja's neck. He went down. Bruce raised his hand. But his ninja tensed as if he had heard Bruce behind him. He swung around and punched the tranquilizer out of Bruce's hand. Bruce hit him in the face but it barely faced assassin. He raised his katana ready to decapitate Bruce.
A muffled shot rang out. The ninja looked down at his chest where a dark spot spread over his chest. He collapsed. Jason stood behind him, gun raised. Bruce froze. For a split second, he wasn't in the jungle anymore. He was in Crime alley, the cold Gotham breeze rushing around his head as two shots rang out. His world swimming in tears as he felt the warm blood of his parents on his hands. Such a senseless crime. So sense-
Jason slapped Bruce in the face: "Snap out of it. We don't have time."
The ninja was still writhing on the floor. Reaching for something in his garb. Jason shot him in the head. He went down.
"You killed this man, Jason", Bruce looked at the ninja in disbelief.
"He would have killed you. You can thank me later by the way. We need to get Dick."
Jason hurried back behind the rock to get the body.
"Now, Brucie", Jason said into the comm.
Bruce crouched down and felt for the man's pulse. There was nothing anymore. He was dead. Jason had sealed it with the headshot. A cold-blooded execution.
Jason strode towards him. He gripped Bruce by the biceps pulling him towards Dick's body.
"You better get a damn grip", Jason hissed, "That damn no-kill rule of yours? It doesn't apply anymore. Maybe you were skilled enough to uphold it at one point. But you aren't anymore. We are lucky to make it out of here. And if we want to make it out of here, we gotta fight quick and dirty."
Bruce didn't know how to respond. The man's blood was staining Bruce's gloves. It seemed to seep through the fabric and into his skin. A reminder that Bruce had failed.
Jason huffed in annoyance and picked up Dick's body under his arms: "I won't let you ruin this for me. He died for your brat. And I'll fix it myself if I must. He was never supposed to die."
He was never supposed to die. Jason didn't know what he caused inside Bruce with these words – because they were true. Dick was only dead because of Bruce's meddling. He was supposed to be in Blüdhaven right now. Running over rooftops and flying in a way only Nightwing could. Bruce had screwed it up but he would fix it again. So, he helped Jason with carrying the body.
"I'm sorry, Jason", Bruce said.
"Whatever, Old Man", Jason said, "Let's just chug him in there and get done with it."
"How are you doing, Beta?", Oracle said.
"We are in the Cave", Jason said, "Took out the guards at the entrance. One dead. One unconscious."
Oracle stayed quiet.
"What? No one wants to scold me for killing that bastard?"
"The Birds of Prey don't kill. You aren't a Bird."
It was strange for Barbara to have this liberal stance on killing. Bruce's Oracle would have never accepted killing on her missions. But maybe all his allies were more liberal with their codes without Bruce to brand the no-kill rule into their training.
"Fair enough", Jason muttered.
The cave-wall glowed green. A reflection of the Pit. They were close. After another few steps, they reached a wide room with the Pit in the middle. The opportunity that promised to erase all of Bruce's mistakes. It was so close.
"Let's chug him in", Jason said.
Bruce nodded. Together, they heaved Dick's body into the Pit. The green goo swallowed his corpse whole. Soon, the surface of the pool was smooth again.
Jason crouched at the edge of the pool not daring to touch it: "What now?"
"We wait", Bruce said, "And we prepare for an unpleasant awakening."
"We threw him into the Pit", Jason informed the Birds over the comms, "We are waiting for him to go zombie on us."
Oracle hummed in agreement: "The mission is going well. Alpha successfully inserted the flash-drive and are on their way to Damian. I'm almost- I'm in. I can control the League's security system now and I can see into their files."
Bruce felt a heaviness in his chest lift. It would be fine. His sons were on the way to becoming okay again. Bruce's meddling hadn't caused irreparable damage.
"Anything interesting?"
Oracle was silent for a moment. Bruce tensed.
"The League has a new prisoner", Oracle said, "Cassandra Cain."
Bruce's breath hitched. His daughter was here in the hands of the enemy. The League could kill her or – what would be even worse for Cass – make her kill. It would destroy Bruce's empathetic daughter.
"We need to get her", Bruce said.
He could hear Oracle frantically typing: "She's in a cell deep underground."
"Can Beta get her, too?", Bruce asked.
"We should be able to", Selina said, "As long as no one discovers us while we get Damian."
"Wayne", Bruce barely registered Jason's voice.
He was too focused on the fact that they could save three of his children today if everything worked out. And he could lose four if everything went terribly.
"BRUCE", Jason screamed.
Bruce looked up. Something inside the Pit was moving. Someone. The Pit was bubbling with life. A life it had given.
Dick broke out of the water. He buckled over as he vomited out pit water and a brown mush that Bruce didn't want to identify. But he was alive. He was moving. Bruce smiled as he watched his son.
"Hey, Dick", Bruce spoke quietly, "Everything is okay, son."
Dick looked up. He stared at Bruce with glowing green eyes. It made Bruce shiver. Bruce raised his hands indicating to Dick that he was no threat. Dick looked pale. Sickly. The Pit gave his skin a green hue. A white streak was in his hair similar to Jason's.
"Everything is okay", Bruce held out his hand to Dick.
He wanted to touch his son. Pull him into one of those embraces Dick had always loved. Dick reached for Bruce's hand. For a moment, everything was okay. A calmness flowed through Bruce. The knowledge that everything would be all right.
Then, Dick's face twisted up into an expression of pure agony, confusion, and - most of all - rage. Dick pulled Bruce into the water. The suit was heavy, threatening to pull Bruce down. Dick lunged forward, snarling. He put his hands around Bruce's throat. Squeezing.
Bruce kicked and writhed. He ripped on Dick's hands. But his grip didn't budge. Bruce felt the air leave him. Felt himself panic.
Until a bullet hit the water next to them. Dick swung around, loosening his grip on Bruce. His pupils raced through the room, looking for his attacker. Jason stood on the edge of the pool with his gun, his hands shaky.
"Dick", Jason said softly, "I know this must be scary but-"
Dick had always been quick and agile. But the pool seemed to have supercharged him. He jumped out of the pool, hitting Jason in the stomach. Jason stumbled back but he kept his gun.
"Don't make me do this", Jason screamed.
Dick kicked the gun out of Jason's hand. Jason fell back.
"You know me", Jason raised his hands as well, "You recognize me-"
Dick punched Jason in the face. Bruce could hear a sickening crunch as Jason fell to the ground. Dick flipped over his body. He swayed a bit. Stopping just for a moment. Dick held his head as if he was in pain.
Bruce hurried to get out of the pool. He felt like the suit was a metal weight that was pulling him down.
Dick shook his head, ripping himself out of his stasis. He hurried towards the exit. There was something animalistic about his movements. His natural agility twisted into something unnatural.
"DICK", Bruce screamed, "Stay with us. Everything is fine. We are here to save you."
Dick ignored him. Caught up in a whirlwind of pit madness. He hurried towards the stony corridor that led to the exit of the Cave. In otherwise total silence, Bruce could hear Dick's desperate breaths. The way his feet scurried over the floor in desperate search for an exit.
Bruce reached the edge of the pool. Jason pulled him out, his nose bloody. Dick must have broken it.
But they didn't care. They followed Dick. Bruce heard desperate screams outside. Almost inhuman. It made Bruce shiver. Dick was encircled by a row of ninjas. They had recognized him. He punched them in pure madness, flipping over the katanas they tried to hit him with.
"Shit", Jason turned to Bruce, "You call that a little bit angry? He's going full Jackie-Chan on them."
Bruce spoke into his comm: "We have a problem. Dick escaped. They know we are here."
"Second problem", Canary said, "I lost Spoiler. She must have slipped away."
"How could that happen?", Oracle sounded enraged.
"I was distracted by the resurrected madman who is fighting ten ninjas in front of my eyes. You didn't tell us about these side effects, Wayne."
Bruce was too tense to feel guilty. This had gone sour quickly.
Selina had picked the lock of Damian's room when the shouting outside started.
"What is going on?", Huntress said.
"I think they know we are here", Selina ripped open the door.
Damian was inside, lying on his bed. He perked up when he saw them.
"No arguing, kid", Selina pulled him by the arm, "We have to get out of here."
Damian didn't protest. He simply ran after them.
"You came for me?", Damian sounded surprised.
"Your father missed you, kid. He loves you."
"Can we spare the sentimentalities for later?", Huntress raised her crossbow readying herself for the barrage of ninjas that would inevitably greet them.
Selina listened to the exchange on the comms. This explained the commotion.
"Get out there Beta", Oracle said, "We need to get to the jet immediately."
"Cassandra Cain is here", Damian protested, "We need to free her. I owe her."
"What about Cain? And Spoiler?", Selina asked.
She didn't like the idea of leaving a teenager in the hands of the League. Her time in the Birds must have made her soft. Five years ago, Selina would have never risked her life for anyone else like this. Cats got out when they could.
"We don't have time to save Cain and Spoiler made her decision. We have to hope she makes it back whatever she is doing", Oracle said, "Focus on getting out of there alive."
"Oracle", Selina protested.
"I'm not losing my whole team. Do you understand, Catwoman?", Oracle's voice was clear – controlled. She only got like this when she was barely holding it together.
"Understood", Selina said, "We are getting out and to the jet."
"NO", Damian stopped running, "I'm not leaving Cain behind. She is not dying for me. I'm not letting more people die for me."
Selina picked him up: "I'm sorry."
Damian writhed and kicked. He even tried to bite her. But Selina dragged him through the hallways. She had had worse.
Selina could hear footsteps coming closer. They were being ambushed. Soon, they would be discovered.
Huntress shot a ninja directly into the heart. Apparently, she had abandoned her no-killing rule with growing danger. Selina couldn't bring herself to care. She pulled out her whip, readying herself as ninjas came at them from both sides. They were encircled.
Even Damian stopped struggling. He took a katana from the floor that had slipped out of the hand of the dead ninja.
"Ready to fight?", Huntress said.
Selina nodded. She hoped they would make it out of here.
Deep underground, Stephanie Brown was running for her life. She hid behind an expensive vase to stay undetected from a ninja. He ran past her, distracted by the general commotion.
Steph couldn't have waited outside. She had to do something. The chaos had been the perfect opportunity to sneak into the compound.
"Spoiler", Oracle sounded desperate, "Answer me. What is your status? Are you alive?"
Stephanie's stomach twisted but she stayed quiet. She had to focus if she wanted to reach the cells and free Cassandra Cain. She would prove her worth to the Birds and to Oracle.
"You lied to us, Wayne", Oracle said.
"I'm sorry."
"If I lose my team because of you, I will make you pay."
The exchange made Stephanie shudder. Oracle was serious and Wayne had just gotten on her bad side.
AN: So, Dick is alive again! Yay. I missed him. The question is if he came back all whole or if he brought some extra baggage… ;)
And wow. Bruce just managed to piss everyone off. Oracle would worry me the most tbh. She could make all that money vanish in a second.