A/N: The setting for this is "Fine Finny Fiends", episode 33 from season 1 of Batman 1966. Credit for that goes to Sheldon Stark, who wrote the script. The Dynamic Duo got out of their 'dire' situation too easily, so here's something that makes more sense to me (as if anything made any 'real' sense in that amazing show!). :-) Thanks for reading! :)


Penguin's newest trap was ingenious. A vacuum tank with a gigantic reversing bellows that was slowly sucking the air out of the room. The bright balloons surrounding the restrained bodies of Batman and Robin began popping, one by one. Each one led the Dynamic Duo closer to their deaths. They were doomed, unless they could figure out some way to breathe without oxygen.

Batman watched the villain and his henchmen through the small window in the door. They were laughing as they watched the oxygen-level indicator slowly go from 'full' to 'enough for all' and all the way down to 'butterfly'. With one last cackle, Penguin led his crew out of the room as the indicator slipped to 'no air at all'.

"Robin," Batman said hoarsely, "are you with me, chum?"

There was no response. The Caped Crusader glanced at his fourteen-year-old partner and was dismayed to see the blue eyes closed and his chin on his chest. Batman couldn't tell if that chest was rising and falling, but he did know that he needed to get them out of here as soon as possible.

Batman had been working on getting the Bat-knife out of his utility belt, and his perseverance was finally rewarded when it slid into his palm. He began sawing at the restraints binding him to the upright table, but it took him almost two minutes to get through all of them. Three minutes was his record for holding his breath, but he didn't stop to look at his Bat-watch.

Reaching into his utility belt again, Batman grabbed his vial of Bat-oxygen and emptied it into his lungs via his mouth. Dropping the vial, he began working on Robin's restraints. The fact that the Boy Wonder's chest was not moving did not escape his notice.

Finally, the bonds fell apart, and Robin dropped limply into Batman's waiting arms. The man picked him up and turned toward the locked door. He kicked, hard, and the door burst open into an empty room. Batman quickly stepped out and laid Robin on the floor.

"Robin, breathe," he commanded. "Come on, chum, breathe."

No movement from any part of the boy's body, so Batman began attempting to revive him the old-fashioned way. Thirty chest compressions, two breaths, check for breathing. Nothing, so he repeated the actions. Then he did it again. And again.

"Don't do this, Robin, don't let Penguin win!"

Another thirty compressions and two breaths. Still nothing.

"I am not giving up and my arms are getting tired so I need you to wake up. Stop being lazy, open your eyes, breathe!"

Thirty compressions, two breaths. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

It had been nearly four minutes since Batman had begun CPR, and Robin hadn't reacted at all. Batman dropped his head, despair filling his chest. Two breaths. Nothing.

"Robin, come on, chum, don't do this to me. I need you to come back to me. I need you. Please, Robin."

Thirty compressions, two breaths, and…

A reaction!

A tiny gasp, followed by a full-blown coughing fit. Robin's chest spasmed and his eyes flew open. Batman almost jumped up to do the Batusi, but restrained himself because, well, he was Batman.

"That's it, chum, breathe."

Robin's light-blue eyes were full of confusion, and a little bit of fear. The expression on Batman's face worried him, but he couldn't remember anything that had happened. Where were they, and which villain were they chasing?

Batman knew that expression.

"It's okay, Robin, I'll tell you everything when we get to the Batcave. The important thing is that we're alive, and I have a plan to catch that rogue bird."

"Peng…"

Robin couldn't get the word out, but Batman confirmed his guess with a nod.

"Are you ready to go, or do you need a little more rest?"

Silently, the Boy Wonder pushed himself up to sitting, then Batman helped him to his feet. Robin swayed slightly, but righted himself and began walking.

"Exit is this way, chum," Batman said with an inaudible chuckle.

He shouldn't be laughing, his young partner had basically just come back from the dead, but the boy was walking straight back into the vacuum tank. Batman gently grabbed Robin's shoulders and turned him around.

The Boy Wonder grinned up at his partner sheepishly, and was rewarded with a slight smirk.

"You're exhausted, Robin, let's go home."

"Thanks for…not…giving up," the fourteen-year-old murmured.

"I'm Batman, I don't know the meaning of the phrase 'give up'."

Robin rolled his eyes and internally laughed. He should have anticipated that answer. Batman was, after all, Batman.

THE END