Chapter Ten-Corpus
"Terry! Have you found her?" Rachel asked anxiously.
"Corpus has her," Terry spat.
"What?"
"He has Robin," Terry repeated. "He said she came willingly."
"No," Rachel said in disbelief. "She's just lost. Corpus can't have our child."
"But he does," Terry said sadly.
"Where are you?"
"Corner of G Street and Seventh Avenue."
"I'll be right there," Rachel promised.
"No, baby. You don't have any powers, remember?"
"I have a feeling they're going to be back," she replied.
"Fine," Terry said. "Be here soon."
"Will do."
Rachel got to the Batcave as fast as she could. Not knowing where Bruce kept the display case keys, she punched through the glass.
"Ow," she muttered as she pulled her hand out. Her knuckles were bleeding but she could care less. Her only concern was for her daughter.
She quickly changed into her uniform. Standing in the middle of the Batcave, she pictured herself, Terry, and Robin together again: as a family.
Slowly, Rachel rose a few inches off the ground…higher…she could fly after all. She eagerly set off to meet Terry.
"Firewing returns," he said as she caught up with him.
"We have a little bird to rescue," Rachel said.
She got into the car and Terry sped off to the coordinates Terry had sent.
…With Robin…
The toddler was now wearing a light blue princess dress, complete with matching tiara and scepter. Robin was dancing around the bedroom, singing a song she'd made up.
'Mr. Fluffers' was watching her intently, occasionally jotting down notes.
Terry and Rachel made a loud entrance on the ground floor.
"Who dat?" Robin asked fearfully.
"Friends," Mr. Fluffers said quickly. "Stay here, Princess."
He got up, crossed the room to the door and left, turning a key in the lock.
Robin sat down on her bed and began to cry. "I wanna go home."
…With our Villain and Heroes…
"I see you do love your daughter after all. Too bad I've convinced her otherwise," Corpus sneered.
"Where is she?" Terry demanded.
"Safe and perfectly happy…just as my princess should be."
"Why are you doing this?" Rachel queried.
"Ah the mother returns as Wingfire to save her baby. How touching," Corpus mocked.
"It's Firewing," she spat. "Give me my daughter back or I'll make you."
"Is that a threat?"
"You bet your life it is," Rachel replied.
"Don't you want to know why, Rachel and Terry? I believe it was asked by our dear feathered friend," Corpus said calmly.
"Start talking," Terry growled, steeping closer.
"Temper, Mr. McGinnis."
"How do you know who we are?" Rachel inquired.
"I know everything, Miss Grayson."
"I suggest you just tell me why you took my daughter and how you know who we are," Terry seethed.
"Shall we start at the beginning? You are still familiar with the Jokerz, yes?"
"How could we forget?" Terry asked dryly.
"They took their orders from me. They were to bring you to me, Terry. Then you came along, Rachel, therefore destroying any chances of the imbeciles I'd hired capturing Terry. Judging from the way Firewing was always in Batman's arms on the news, I deduced you were close.
"It became an obsession, discovering who you were. I wanted to tear you apart mentally; make you tick. I myself followed you home one evening to Wayne Manor. Once I realized your destination, I did a bit of research. Who would be going to visit Bruce Wayne in the middle of the night? Only Ms. Rachel Grayson, his granddaughter, and Mr. Terry McGinnis, his personal assistant.
"Upon discovering your identities, I watched the two of you closely. You were romantically involved, that was clear. Then you made your fatal mistake with Miss Tan, Terry, causing Rachel to go to Kansas. A contact of mine kept tabs on Rachel and informed me six months later that she'd had a baby. Then I had you."
"You couldn't know I'd be back," Rachel pointed out.
"Robin would be curious about her father sooner or later," Corpus said simply. "You would have been back eventually."
"But how did you know Robin wouldn't find us when we tried to figure out clues?"
"I sent her the nightmare, knowing you'd try to unravel the mystery. She'd never find the Batcave."
"But she did," Terry said slowly. "The first time I met her was in the cave."
"Do you expect a two year old to remember the way, much less to think that's where her beloved Mommy and Daddy were?"
"You couldn't know Bruce's front door would be unlocked," Rachel said quietly.
"I unlocked it. Telekinesis is a useful talent."
"You have telekinesis?"
"I have powers that you couldn't dream about, Terry," Corpus replied scathingly. "Mind powers: Sending nightmares to my enemies, omens, telekinesis, and telepathy."
"So you're just another take over the world third class villain?"
"I am anything but third class. I do wish to take over the world, make it a place of my domain. Those with sharp minds will be trained in my own powers and those who are weak will be our slaves. And I have to start with ridding Gotham of you two. Now we will fight. Winner lives and claims your daughter. She has an extraordinary mind, you know."
"Winner lives…loser dies?" Terry and Rachel asked in unison.
"Precisely," Corpus said. "No powers, Miss Grayson."
He moved towards her, cupping her face in his hand. She brushed it away.
"Very well."
He struck, kicking Terry in his stomach. Rachel quickly punched him and Corpus turned away from Terry. Villain and heroine fought fiercely. It took all of her self-control not to hit him with her eyebeams.
Corpus had no chance against the enraged parents. Before long, Terry had Corpus's arms pinned behind his back, Rachel kicking him repeatedly. He slumped down, unconscious.
"Is he dead?"
"I don't think so."
For good measure, Rachel kicked his face again.
"That should do it," Terry said gently, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Let's bring Robin home."
Rachel nodded. "Let's tie him up."
After securing the prisoner, the two removed their masks and ventured upstairs via a corner staircase.
The floor they ascended to was completely different from the warehouse-like ground floor.
"Where-"
"Shh," Rachel hissed. "I hear crying."
Indeed, Robin sobs had increased loudly. Rachel moved towards the noise, stopping in front of a door marked "Princess."
"Robin?"
Robin's tears subsided. "Mommy?
"Stand as far away from the door as you can," Terry instructed. He steadied himself, and then kicked it down.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Robin cried happily. Terry swept up his daughter in one fluid motion and the three shared a group hug.
"What has Mommy told you about strangers?" Rachel demanded after a moment.
"H-He said you didn't love me," Robin whimpered.
"Of course we love you. You're our baby girl."
"I know. But you not der and I scared…"
"It's OK. We're gonna take you home."
Rachel brought a now sleeping Robin back to Bruce's while Terry waited for the police.
After Robin was tucked in, Rachel gathered their things and the…suitcases.
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Queenie