Wandering In the Winter Light:
By: The BatThing
Before he had even finished the sentence he was lurched towards the small girl, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her towards him. "Angie, lets talk!"
The girl shrieked, and then went limp, and Nightwing caught her, his expression was confusion.
"Angie?"
The small girl's eyes flew open, and she gasped, her eyes were pure white.
"G…"
Angie jerked away and began to transform into something… she formed, her lips turning to a wide grin.
Nightwing stepped away, shocked by what he was seeing. "What is this?" The girl had become a cat, and it seemed impossible to believe. The boy simply stood with shock. "This isn't possible."
Batgirl slammed into the woman, knocking her off of Robin. She launched into the air and kicked the woman in the chin, knocking her back. "I think mommy is in trouble now."
Robin scurried to his feet, and nodded. "Thanks."
The woman raised her head and eyed the two before her. "You both are intruding on something that should not be messed with."
"Tell me about it…" Robin snapped as he crossed his arms across his chest and licked his lips.
"I am… my husband will kill you, so I suggest you… run…"
Batgirl looked at Robin, amused by the woman's comment. "You are breaking the law, and we have a job… we need to turn you in."
"You need to mind your own business!" The woman shrieked, throwing herself at Batgirl, knocking her to the ground and throwing her fist out, catching Batgirl in the jaw. "FOOLS!"
Batgirl took the hit, and then pushed both legs into the woman's gut, knocking her off. "Get," she started, as she got to her feet in hast, "off."
The woman followed Batgirl's lead and rose to her feet, yet before she could make an attack a brilliant light flooded into the room, and she fell to her knees. "Oh Master Clarion!"
"Clarion?" Batgirl repeated in question, shunning the light from her eyes and turning. "What the…"
Robin lurched forward. "Its…. HIM!"
A boy entered the room. "Angie, come to me."
Angie, who had taken the form of a cat, leapt into the air and purred as she licked her nose, going into his arms.
"I never loose." Clarion hissed, petting the animal in his arms. "Never, never…" His words seemed to be directed to each person in the room, even the woman who was still on her knees. "I thought you all would know such a thing!"
"Master Clarion, forgive me!" She told him with a thick stutter. "Am I not your own friend who helped you w-when you needed it the most?"
The boy laughed, stroking the cat in his arms. "Tinkle you poor fool, you poor, poor fool… where is he?"
Tinkle got to her feet. "He captured him; the Batman is in his possession as we speak."
Nightwing pushed forward. "Where is HE!?"
"Your Batman?" Clarion sneered. "He will be coming soon enough… it is about time he learned that I am not someone who can be defeated!"
Robin shook his head. "You are not Clarion! He was taken by Mr. Blood and imprisoned!"
"So I remember, and you were the one who came along, who helped him!" Clarion snapped in mock anger. He moved forward, and lashed his hand out smacking the other boy. "Any more questions?"
Robin jerked his head back. "You are-."
Angie leapt from her master's arms and attacked Robin, biting him and tearing at his skin, yet as she did Tarpon came to the boy's defense, attacking her.
"Oh Tarpon!" Clarion hissed as he watched the two cats fight each other. "Tinkle, go to your daughters aid!"
The woman nodded, and began to transform, turning into her cat form.
"NO!" Robin screamed, grabbing the cat. "Leave 'em alone!"
Tinkle scratched the boy across the face, ripping his mask off, shredding it, then dodging to Tarpon, and joining the fight.
Nightwing shook his head and was about to move forward in protest, yet the doors burst open and he stepped backwards, seeing Duane and… "Bruce!"
Batman's cowl was pulled back and his eyes were hazed, blank. Duane smiled in pride as he moved towards Clarion. "Bruce Wayne, none other that the billionaire playboy!"
Clarion eyed the figure and smiled. "One would never think such a thought… Mr. Wayne…" He looked at the three partners. "Kill them."
Batgirl licked her lips, watching as Bruce moved towards them. "Nightwing?"
"I am THINKING!" The older boy growled, moving backwards.
"I-I have an idea." Robin let out, his eyes fixed on the ground where his mask lay, torn and useless.
"Yeah?"
Batgirl gasped as Bruce flung forward at them. "NIGHTWING!"
Nightwing shoved the girl back and brought his leg up, hitting the man in the gut. "Sorry…. Tim, get out and take your plan! DO SOMETHING!"
The boy nodded, chewing his lower lip. He turned and ran out of the room, leaving Batgirl and Nightwing with blank expressions.
"Some, ufff… Plan!" Nightwing yelled as Batman began franticly attacking the young man. "What do you think he is doing?"
Batgirl watched as Tinkle came at her. "I hope he has something good… I really hope he has something good!"
Tim slid down the hall, letting the bottom of his shoes scream in protest against the hard floor. He kneeled down, and pulled out a small phone from his belt, breathing deeply. He yanked off a glove and began to punch in numbers, struggling with his memory.
He pushed the phone to his ear, and waited.
Once a ring…
Nothing…
Twice a ring…
Nothing…
"Come on!" The boy hissed in a small cry of help to the phone.
CLICK "Hello?"
"Mr. Jason Blood?"
There was a pause. "Um, yes this is Blood speaking, and who is this?"
Tim's mouth turned into a smile. "Mr. Blood, this is Tim Drake speaking, and I need your help!"
"You don't say…"
Tim proceeded to explain the situation to a somewhat surprised Jason Blood. There was a short spell of silence, then an answer. "I'll be there in a second."
"Hurry."
Click
Nightwing finger the small flashlight as he ducked low to the floor. It was becoming more and more difficult, so he found, to get the light in his partners eyes. Duane was becoming much smarter evidently.
Bruce managed to grab a handful of Nightwing's hair and pull the young man toward him, his fist coiled and ready to be launched.
"Bruce!"
The large man paused at the voice and turned to see Tim running at him. Nothing registered in his mind other than this was someone else he had to fight. He released his fist, knocking Nightwing back brutally and then turned to the younger boy running toward him.
Tim knew perfectly well that Nightwing needed to get to the man's eyes before anything could change, and Tim planned to give his friend an opening. He allowed Bruce to snatch him up, lifting him off the ground and above his head, ready to throw into the wall. But instead of fighting it Tim allowed the action to take place, figuring that it would be best. With all of Bruce's attention on him Nightwing could easily carry out the saving act.
He found himself being tossed around much like a doll, but truly felt much of nothing. All he could think about was that this was Bruce, and Bruce would never do anything to really hurt him. In all his life there was only one person he trusted more than any other being. And that was Bruce Wayne.
"Robin, what are you doing?! Fight him you idiot!"
It was Nightwing.
Tim sat up and shook his head, stars cycling in his head. "Uhh? Nightwing, where are you?" Then something hit him across his face, something much like a baseball bat.
There was the noise of struggle, and then silence.
"Nightwing? Batgirl?!" Tim gasped at the darkness that filled his eyesight. "Guys, I can't see anything, guys?!"
There was the sound of someone approaching him, and Tim felt himself being lifted up.
"Bruce?" The boy whimpered as he struggled to make the figure out. He was becoming slightly frantic. He was blind! He couldn't see anything! There was nothing to do now than just let what was happening happen it seemed.
To be conitnued...