Commitment (Part Four)
By TheLostMaximoff
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. R/R.
The Scarecrow had been watching the attempted armored car robbery and he liked what he saw. He did not follow the duo back to wherever they had gone. No, he had his own agenda. He had to stock up on the second dose.
"Such wonderful delights," muttered Scarecrow to himself as he opened the folds of his coat and began loading the inside pockets with spray cans. He was giddy now, almost whistling a tune to himself as he loaded the spray mechanisms on his wrists that were concealed by his costume. The curtain was rising, the orchestra beginning the prelude. He would move this night closer and closer to crescendo and then when the time was right he would end it.
"First Batgirl," said Scarecrow to himself, "She'll be the first to scream." He finished stocking up and then raced off into the night. He would find Batgirl and he would make her suffer. Then once he was done with her, he would move onto Robin.
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She felt like punching something. Where was a criminal when you really needed one? Batgirl perched on a rooftop and sulked. She didn't know who to be mad at. She couldn't make herself be mad at Tim. She had tried and it didn't last that long. Cass sighed. She was stupid for saying what she had said. Robin had shared something with Spoiler, something with Steph, that she could only dream of. What right did she have to expect him to move at her pace? But Cass knew she was right. She knew it without a doubt. He did love her, and he was the stupid one for being too scared to admit it. So why was Cass the one feeling so bad now?
"I hate . . . boys," mumbled Batgirl. She sighed and realized that she had to find him and talk to him. But then the weird paranoia began creeping up on her again. What if he was still mad? What if she hadn't been right all along? No, she knew she was right. Cass was always right about these things.
"Don't be stupid . . . this time, Tim," muttered Batgirl as she began to swing back in the direction of Tim's apartment. It was then, however, that she noticed something. Someone was standing on a building top and the someone looked very out of place. Batgirl veered towards the building and landed on the roof.
"Should have . . . known," muttered Batgirl. She recognized the figure from the pictures she had seen in Bruce's files. Scarecrow, a lunatic who was obsessed with fear.
"I know it's you," said Batgirl, "Scarecrow . . . big boogeyman. What do you . . . want here?" Scarecrow said nothing. Indeed, he seemed to not even acknowledge Batgirl's presence and continued keeping his back to her. Batgirl moved closer, slowly. She remembered what Robin had been going on about earlier. Chemicals, drugs, fear. He had done something to them and it had made them do things to each other.
"Face me," ordered Batgirl. She was close to being in striking distance. The strange thing was that she couldn't read him. Cass wondered if it was because of the fear. She felt it even now and the closer she got to him, the more nervous she became.
"Face you?" The voice was low and slightly whimsical. It made Batgirl even more nervous.
"You did something . . . to me and Robin," stated Batgirl shakily, "It ends now."
"Dear child," sneered Scarecrow as he suddenly whirled around and shot out his foot at Batgirl's head, "I've only just started having fun with you." Batgirl moved to duck but Scarecrow's heel still grazed the side of her head, knocking her a little silly.
"I wonder how you feel now," said Scarecrow as Batgirl shook her head to clear it, "Have you started shaking yet? Sweating perhaps?" He relished this. The girl was in his world now and they were playing the game by his rules.
"I'm not . . . afraid," replied Batgirl as she hit Scarecrow in the face. The straw cushioned most of the blow. Crane didn't feel enough of it to be fazed very much. He brought his right leg up and delivered a very quick kick to Batgirl's stomach. Cass should've seen it coming. She couldn't focus with the fear. Batgirl tried to remember what she knew about Crane style. Lots of kicks, that was the main offense. Cass had to watch his feet in particular.
"I wonder something," said Scarecrow as he suddenly backhanded Batgirl, "How loudly can you scream?" Crane went for her jaw this time. Batgirl grabbed Scarecrow's foot before the kick could connect.
"This ends," stated Batgirl as she leg-whipped Scarecrow and sent him to the ground. That should've put his leg in some pain, enough for Batgirl to try and get it together. Had she been on her game, Cass would've probably broken at least his ankle if not his whole leg. Batgirl blinked and shook her head, trying to make the involuntary shaking in her body subsided. She had to focus.
"If only that could be true," mused Scarecrow as he returned to his feet, "Can you really end me, little girl? Do please come and try." Scarecrow came at her again. Batgirl ducked a punch and then felt his foot collide with her jaw. That hurt, really hurt. She wasn't used to actually getting hit. Batgirl's legs were trembling but she punched right back at him. Cass knew this had to end quickly. She began pressing the advantage, hitting Scarecrow again. This felt good for her, she was winning now. Batgirl tackled Scarecrow to the ground and punched him again. She marveled at how he was just like her punching bag in that she didn't need to hold back since he was padded. But if he was like the punching bag then that meant he could turn into . . .. Batgirl raised her fist to strike but halted. She couldn't follow through, not when she saw Tim beneath her.
"Those shots were free," giggled Scarecrow as he put his hands in front of his face. Gas spurted out from his palms, right into Batgirl's face. Cass coughed and kicked herself backwards. She couldn't see anything but noxious vapor. It was consuming her, swallowing her whole.
"Perhaps you'll provide some amusement," said Scarecrow disdainfully as he emptied both canisters at Batgirl. Crane looked up and noticed that someone was coming. The Dark Knight's faithful squire was coming to rescue his lady in distress. Scarecrow decided to take his leave. The gas alone would do Batgirl in and with the dose he had given her she wouldn't be able to tell up from down let alone friend from foe.
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Batgirl couldn't see anything but fog and it scared the hell out of her. If she couldn't see then she couldn't read anything. She was useless. Cass tried finding her way out of the cloud. There were things in the fog, nightmare creatures. They clawed at her and she tried to fight them off but couldn't see them clearly enough.
"Crane," hissed Batgirl as she saw the figure through the fog. Cass pounced on him, taking him down with ease. She reached for his throat. That was how she had killed before. She had ripped a man's throat out with her bare hands when she was nine, she could certainly do it now.
"Do it," said a voice. The creatures in the fog urged her on. Batgirl had to kill Scarecrow. She had to end the nightmare. The demons told her, promised her, it would all go away if she did.
"Do it, do it, do it," chanted the voices. Batgirl tried to stop shaking. She was so afraid. She had to do it, she had no other choice. But then just like before, Scarecrow suddenly became Robin.
"Do it, do it, do it." The demons were so persistent but Batgirl couldn't appease them even if she knew it was still Crane and not Robin. She couldn't . . . not Tim. Cass pulled her hands away but she felt something come with them. There was . . . blood on her hands. There was so much blood, like a red tide washing over her and engulfing her. Batgirl knew she had killed again. She swore she never would. She promised everyone she would be a good girl.
"Liar, liar, liar," accused the demons. Batgirl began crying now. Why did she always have to be so stupid?
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Robin knew the second he hit the rooftop that something was wrong. In the blink of an eye, Batgirl had tackled him, pinned him, and was about to choke him out. Not exactly the warmest welcome Tim Drake had ever received. Robin quickly deduced that Cass must've ran into Scarecrow. Tim made a mental note to completely rip Crane apart if he could pry himself loose from Batgirl's vice-like grip.
"Batgirl," choked Robin, "It's Robin. Can you see me?" The grip on his throat tightened and he tried to struggle free. Robin stared at Batgirl's face, completely hidden behind her mask. Tim knew he only had one shot at this and he prayed that it would work. He wiggled his hands free and peeled back Batgirl's mask. Tim was amazed at the change as Cass snapped out of it or at least appeared to. Batgirl drew back but then looked more frightened. Robin saw her stare at her hands. Oh God, she couldn't have been reliving that.
"Sorry," pleaded Batgirl, "Accident . . . sorry, Tim . . . don't be dead . . . it was accident." Cass was hysterical now, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Cass," said Robin softly as he gripped her, "I'm okay, kid. Look at me. You have to see me." Batgirl shook her head in horror as she kept crying and staring at her hands.
"Cass, say something," pleaded Robin as he shook her, "C'mon, sweetie, snap out of it. C'mon, I'm okay." Robin hugged her tightly, doing everything he could to try and bring Batgirl out of the hallucinatory fog she was in. Nothing worked. Cass kept crying and staring at her hands with a look of absolute horror on her face.
"Hang with me," pleaded Robin as he cradled Batgirl in his arms. She was going to die if he didn't do something. Too much exposure to Crane's toxin would kill someone. He had to get help. Robin was scared out of his mind at this point. All the antidotes he had wouldn't work on this new toxin. He had to get Bruce here.
"Cass," whispered Tim as he kissed her forehead, "I swear to God I'm not letting you die."
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Robin had done two things as soon as he returned to his apartment. The first thing he did was lay Cass on the couch and wrap her in a blanket from the bed. The second thing was to try getting in touch with Bruce.
"C'mon," muttered Robin impatiently. His com-link was currently patched into a special phone line, one that could go directly to Wayne Manor and wouldn't be traced. Only those who were "in the family" could use the line and it was only for emergencies which Robin knew this qualified as.
"Yes?" asked Alfred as he picked up the phone.
"It's Tim," stated Robin, "I need Bruce to come over here now."
"I'm sorry, Master Timothy," replied Alfred, "He's currently out working on something with the Justice League." Robin felt like breaking something or throwing up. Right now he didn't care which came first.
"Alfred, this is serious," explained Robin as he looked over to where Cass was curled into a little ball and shaking, "Scarecrow's in town and he hit Cass with something. I don't even know what it is but it's not like the usual stuff he uses."
"I shall get in touch with Master Bruce immediately," stated Alfred, "After that, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thank you," replied Robin, "I'm not . . . I'm not well enough to handle this. The compound was in two parts and I . . . I think I got the first dose of it but not both like she did."
"I'll be there as soon as possible," repeated Alfred, "Take care of her until I arrive." Robin nodded and turned off the com. He went back over to the couch.
"Cass, you have to be okay," whispered Tim as he cradled her in his arms. He knew she couldn't hear him. She just kept mumbling "sorry" over and over again.
"It's my fault," whispered Robin, "Please don't be sorry for doing what you did."
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Alfred arrived quickly but, for Robin, nothing could happen fast enough.
"How is she?" asked Alfred as he looked at Robin. Tim looked like a wreck. Alfred could only remember seeing him like this a few times and those usually involved the death of someone close to him.
"I gave her a shot of the usual antitoxin," explained Robin, "It slows this new stuff down but that's about it. She . . . she recognized me once for a couple of seconds."
"I called the League," explained Alfred, "I left a message with Superman. Master Bruce was otherwise engaged but I have no doubt he'll receive the message as soon as possible."
"We need his tox lab," stated Robin, "The one I have isn't as good."
"We'll make do," assured Alfred as he looked over at Cass. The poor girl was still shaking. There wasn't a chance she would last the night.
"What we need is the antidote," stated Robin as he got up and moved to the window.
"Master Timothy, where do you think you're going?" asked Alfred.
"I'm going to find Crane," replied Robin, "Give her the antitoxin and pray it slows the poison down long enough for me to get back with the cure."
"And what if you end up sharing Miss Cassandra's fate?" asked Alfred.
"That's a risk worth taking," replied Robin, "She's a girl worth dying for." Tim knew he only had one chance at this. He also knew there was the large possibility of not coming back. He didn't care.
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It had taken a couple of shakedowns from some of his informants but Robin had found Scarecrow's new residence. Word on the street was that someone had contracted Crane but no one was willing to say who. Robin figured he could sort out that little detail later.
"Go time," whispered Robin as he crashed through the skylight and entered the warehouse. The place looked empty. There was a small workspace over in one corner. An amateur chemistry lab was set up there and Robin didn't even want to think about what was in those beakers. Other than that, the warehouse was mostly empty save for some old and decrepit machinery that still remained as a testament to the building's former life.
"Come out, Crane," ordered Robin, "I know you're in here and I'm through playing games tonight." Robin scanned the room. He didn't see any signs of Scarecrow.
"Has she died yet?" The question echoed off the walls, the voice seeming to come from everywhere.
"Not if I can help it," replied Robin. He would tear this whole building down if it meant finding Scarecrow and getting an antidote. Robin began cautiously creeping around the warehouse. He couldn't deny he was afraid. But fear, it seemed, was no stranger to Tim Drake these days and he wouldn't let anyone else see it in him.
"Boo!" Robin turned and felt a foot collide with his jaw. He took the blow and backed up, going straight for his bo staff.
"Are you scared of me yet?" asked Scarecrow, "I'm sure you got enough of the first dose of my new toxin." Robin steadied his nerves and jabbed Crane in the gut with his staff.
"I want an antidote," stated Robin as he hit Scarecrow in the side of the head with his staff, "I'm going to get it from you one way or the other."
"My, my, so forceful these days," said Scarecrow as he kicked Robin in the face, "You almost sound like Batman." That comment only served to get Tim angrier.
"You know, it's people like you that really make me hate doing this," stated Robin as he hit Scarecrow in the jaw again, "Average crooks, no problem. They know when enough is enough. But maniacs like you always have to push things." Robin blocked another incoming kick with his staff and managed to knock Crane's other leg out from under him.
"The antidote. Now," ordered Robin. He wasn't in the mood for any more games tonight.
"Where's the fun in that?" asked Scarecrow as he rolled away from Robin and regained his footing, "I used two whole canisters of perfectly good terror toxin on Batgirl. It would be a shame if she lived."
"You make me sick," spat Robin as he suddenly tackled Scarecrow and began pummeling him, "It never ends with you people. You just keep pushing and pushing and it makes me sick. Sick. Sick. Sick." He kept hitting Crane over and over again, pinning down the villain's arms and taking out his main offense. It felt good. Robin was actually enjoying beating this man senseless. But it wasn't just Scarecrow that Tim was knocking the hell out of. It was Scarecrow. It was Captain Boomerang. It was Black Mask. It was anybody and everybody who had contributed to making Tim Drake's life the nightmare it was today and, right now, Tim really enjoyed beating them for a change. His hand went back but didn't connect. He was sick, almost as sick as the people he fought against. Tim knew he wasn't supposed to enjoy hurting other people no matter how much they deserved it. It wouldn't bring back Steph or his father. It wouldn't do anything but make everything worse.
"Why do you pause?" asked Scarecrow, "Are you afraid to slay me?" Robin looked into the eyeholes of the gaudy mask his foe wore and saw something. Jonathan Crane wasn't even afraid to die.
"Why do you want to die?" asked Robin, "Do you fear living?"
"Touché, Robin," replied Scarecrow with a malicious grin, "Perhaps in the end we all fear living." Crane had plans, big plans. It wasn't about the money or retirement. Jonathan Crane was weary, weary beyond all help. He had wanted to die, to let the final curtain fall on this night and on his illustrious career. He feared becoming old, forgotten, a ghost. He feared being a man who had outlived his time, whose days of glory were far behind him. So he had accepted this job as his swan song but the act was not finished yet. A final scene was still required.
"Gimme the antidote and I'll let you live," stated Robin.
"A poor bargain for a man who wants to die," replied Scarecrow as his knee came up and connected with Robin's stomach. Tim let out a rush of air and rolled over onto his back.
"You know what's funny about fear?" asked Scarecrow as he checked the spray mechanisms on his wrists to make sure they still worked, "Certain animals have such unusual reactions to it. One would expect them to cower, to run and hide in fear. But some animals fight back when they're afraid."
"You're a sick man, Crane," stated Robin as he made it to his hands and knees. Scarecrow kicked him in the stomach again.
"So the question I beg you to answer, dear boy, is simply this," said Scarecrow as he readied his sprayers, "What kind of animal are you, Robin?" Tim knew what was coming but he couldn't help it. Scarecrow grabbed Robin by the collar and hoisted him to his feet, shoving the atomizer in Tim's face and letting the teenage hero get a nice, healthy dose of terror. Crane had seen some of Robin's anger. He knew that Batgirl couldn't have put him out of his misery. No, she wasn't the type of animal that would turn fear into rage. But Robin was different. Perhaps this play would end tonight after all.
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Robin coughed and sputtered as he felt himself suddenly deposited on the ground. His vision was swimming and he could feel his heart rate going up. Tim shook his head and tried to tell himself it wasn't real. Whatever he saw, whatever he felt, none of it was real.
"End me," ordered a voice. Robin looked up and saw Scarecrow. Only, it wasn't always Scarecrow. It kept changing. Sometimes it was Captain Boomerang, sometimes it was Black Mask, and sometimes it was some other Gotham rogue. But no matter who it was, it kept saying the same thing. End me. The voice rang in Robin's ears. He was the only person who could stop this. It was always him. Everyone was always counting on Tim Drake.
"End me," snarled Scarecrow as he kicked Robin in the head. Tim's nerves were shot, his body shaking. But everyone was counting on him and no matter how afraid he was of Scarecrow, or whoever the villain of the hour happened to be, he was more afraid of letting everyone else down. For that purpose, he fought on.
"You better check those sprayers again," said Robin as he grabbed Crane's foot and tripped him, "Whatever you gave me isn't going to work." Scarecrow got back to his feet only to have Robin's fist collide with his jaw.
"I'll make it work," snarled Scarecrow as he kicked Robin in the face, "I'll finish with you and go after Batgirl again. I'll kill them all."
"I won't let you," stated Robin as he gave Crane another shot in the jaw, "This ends tonight, Crane."
"Batgirl promised me the same," taunted Scarecrow as he kicked Robin in the stomach and then smashed his palm into Tim's jaw, "Will you succeed where she failed?"
"I'll give it a good try," retorted Robin as he kicked Scarecrow in the knee a few times, trying to cripple Crane's offense. His head was clear for what felt like the first time in ages.
"C'mon, boy," jeered Scarecrow, "Show me teeth, show me claws. Come show me that you're not afraid of a harmless scarecrow like me." He could see it in the way Robin moved. The boy was good at showing others he wasn't scared. That fear, the fear of letting others see his emotions, would be his undoing.
"I'm not afraid of you," stated Robin as he hit Scarecrow in the face again and took Crane down, "You and all your kind can take whatever you want from me but I'm not afraid of you."
"Convince yourself that," said Scarecrow as he took more blows to his face, "I can see the fear in you. Prove me wrong."
"I'm. Not. Afraid," said Robin as he continued to pummel his adversary. But with every blow and proclamation, Tim only felt more afraid. He was always afraid of letting what was inside him show. He was always afraid of letting everyone else down by admitting his fear. He couldn't stop. He couldn't be afraid. He had to prove to everyone else that he could cut it.
"I'm not afraid!" screamed Robin. He kept hitting Scarecrow over and over again, trying to beat down the fear with every punch. He barely even registered what he was doing. All he noticed was the mechanical motion of his arm pumping like a piston and the sound of his hand hitting Crane. He couldn't stop, he couldn't be afraid. He had to fight, had to prove himself. He couldn't stop now.
"What?" asked Robin as he felt someone suddenly grab his hand before it could go down for another blow. Tim suddenly realized how tired he was and let himself fall forward, his body being held by someone and gently laid on the ground.
"Steph?" asked Robin as he stared up at Stephanie Brown's face, "You're . . .dead."
"Ssssh," whispered Steph, "I know, Tim, but someone had to stop you before you made a terrible mistake. Just rest now, it's alright."
"But I have to . . . have to save Cass . . . have to prove I'm not afraid," explained Tim weakly. He tried to figured this out. Was this another hallucination? He thought the fear gas hadn't affected him. How was he seeing Steph if it hadn't affected him? Tim tried to get up and felt her hands gently push him down again.
"You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Tim Drake," stated Steph, "Not one single thing." Her touch somehow made everything feel okay again.
"I miss you," whispered Robin. Steph smiled and kissed him on the forehead.
"You're cute when you're determined," said Steph, "You had nothing to do with me dying, Tim. Don't blame yourself for my mistake."
"It's hard," explained Robin. He was aware of the encroaching blackness but was too tired to fight it. He was so tired that he couldn't even move.
"Let Cass help you," said Steph, "Let go for me, Tim. Let go and move on."
"I love you," whispered Robin as his eyes closed and he faded into unconsciousness.
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Silence permeated the warehouse, settling over everything as the two combatants remained motionless and lying on the floor. A shadow suddenly entered the room and moved towards the two figures. The famed Dark Knight of Gotham City crouched down and checked Robin's pulse. It was shallow but still there. Batman knew he had to find the antidote.
"You're lucky," muttered Batman as he looked at Scarecrow, "I probably wouldn't have stopped." The Caped Crusader then said nothing as he moved to the chemical lab and began to find an antidote.