Hey boys and girls, this is rated M for a reason. Dark themes and such, just a reminder.
Chapter Fourteen - Hell on Earth
Dick's ears were ringing louder than they ever had before, they never tell you how much louder and explosion is whenever it's that close. He opened his eyes but everything was spinning. Where was Raven? His eyes scanned over the entire scene. She was right next to him, right? Where'd she go? He began to panic, he tried to stand but fell right back down, spitting the top of his forehead open. His blood dripped down onto the cracked marble floor.
Dick needed to find her, he couldn't think straight. He reached into his pocket, his phone was shattered, he tried his communicator. He pulled it out and saw two messages from Cyborg.
'Please help.'
'Roof.'
Dick widened his eyes, this was his fault. A strong hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Dick looked into the eyes of his father, his suit was torn and bits and pieces of small rubble covered him, his jet black hair was ruffled and sweat and blood ran down his forehead along his cheek, dripping off of his chin. Bruce's mouth moved but Dick didn't hear a word.
"I can't find her." he muttered, fear thick in his voice.
A barrage of emotions fluttered across his father's face - fear, concern, and finally an unparalleled, unyielding anger. Anger like he hadn't felt since that night in the alleyway all those years ago. He gritted his teeth together, grinding them and Bruce Wayne died and the only thing left was the Batman.
"Bruce... is... is she-?"
"No." He growled, the animal in him barked, his eyes narrowing looking into his son's eyes, "I will not allow it." the Batman would let no one under his care fall into harms way. Especially her, he wouldn't let his son lose what he valued most.
"What do we do?" he looked down at the communicator, showing the messages to his father.
"Go to the roof." he barked the order to his son, his solider, "I'll find her."
Boom
The explosion was fainter than the first, the two bats looked through the gaping hole that had been left in Wayne Tower. The explosion had hit something just outside of Gotham - to the far east. Dick and Bruce both widened their eyes, terrified. Arkham Asylum.
"May the Lord above help us all." a voice prayed quietly from behind the two. They looked behind them to see Alfred standing there with his sleeves rolled up and a pair of medical gloves equipped.
"What are you doing here?" Bruce demanded, "It's not safe. You need to leave."
Alfred stared down the man that he'd raised since he was just a boy, the man he'd watched grow into the Batman, the man that had rivaled Gods, and the old butler didn't flinch. "I will not."
"Alfred it isn't safe for you here," Dick added, softer.
He looked between the two men, "I made the vow to serve this family." his voice was strong and demanding, "All of it's members. If Miss Rachel is missing then I won't be leaving here without her."
"Alf-"
"No!" he barked, "Listen here Bruce Wayne," his eyes flicked over to Dick, "both of you - Gotham is burning and needs you. You made a vow to protect this city. I intend to honor mine and if you are the men that I raised you to be then you will get off your asses and save it."
Bruce thought on it for only a moment before turning to Dick, "Roof. Now." he demanded, "I'm going to Arkham."
"I don't have a suit."
"27th floor there's fake panel on the western wall." he pulled out a card from his jacket pocket and put it in his hand and with that he turned to leave.
Dick looked at the card for a moment, then looking to Alfred, "Save her."
Alfred looked at him, his eyes hardened and determined, "I swear to you. Now go."
Steam rolled off the display case as the false wall moved revealing the suit. Dick's heart pounded. It's exactly like he'd imagined. Bruce must've worked on it for months.
It was made exactly to his measurements, the black padded leather covered his entire frame, head to toe. The belt clicked around his waist, it was slimmer than the one he'd always worn, he'd be faster, more agile. No cape, he'd hated that thing since the first day he'd become the Batman's side cape. He'd lost count the amount of times he'd landed on the damned thing. The mask was the same as his Robin costume, suction cups sticking around his eyes and the white lenses to hide his identity. Along his arms were blue streaks that followed along the entire length, slinking past his shoulders, making the wings of the bird symbol in the center of his chest.
Nightwing.
Snow fell lightly on the roof of Wayne tower, the biting cold of the wind blew past him, but Nightwing didn't feel anything. He was numb. His heart was racing, thumping loudly against his chest. He felt nothing as he walked closer.
With each step he felt the rage bubbling in his chest, building as he moved closer and closer.
He took a step. "Robin?" his weak voice called out.
Nightwing couldn't bring himself to speak, he tried but his throat was closed shut.
Another step, "Is that... is that you?"
Another step, "I'm so sorry... I tried..." he cried, "We thought it was you..."
Nightwing pulled Cyborg's beaten and broken robotic body, the light in his non-organic eye was out and tears were in the other. Victor closed his eye, "I tried..." he repeated, he was broken. I'm going to kill who did this to you, Nightwing thought to himself, shaking with a fury he'd never felt before. He closed his eyes and hugged his friend.
"I should've never left." Nightwing whispered to his friend.
Cyborg opened his eye, looking at Nightwing, "It was my fault." he muttered, "It was your brother..." his weak voice trailed off.
Nightwing widened his eyes, looking at Cyborg, "What...?" his voice was lost on him, "What did you say?"
"He was dressed like you..." his voice broke as he explained, "I let my guard down... Please, Robin... you have to save them."
Nightwing didn't speak for a moment, his mind racing at a million miles a second, "Who...?" he was terrified to ask. He knew the answer.
"Titans..."
Nightwing gently rested his friend on the ground, "I need you to hold on." Cyborg weakly nodded. Nightwing rose to his feet and touched the comms system in his ear, "Oracle."
Only a few seconds went by before he got an answer, "Dick! Thank God you're okay." Barbra's voice answered, relieved.
"I need EMTs at the roof of Wayne Tower and I need them to bring Cyborg to Star Labs in Central City. He's badly damaged and they're the only ones that can save him." He ordered, looking back at Cyborg, struggling in pain.
"Gotham airspace is shutdown and all the city's helicopters are busy." she answered quickly, the typing of a keyboard audible.
"Dammit!" he yelled, his voice echoing into the night, "Don't go anywhere, I'm gonna need you." he switched frequencies, "Barry how far are you from Gotham?"
"I'm never far from anything," The Flash answered on the other line.
"Roof of Wayne Tower. A member of my team is in critical condition."
A streak of red and yellow lightning appeared before the two of them. The Flash's eyes flickered immediately to Cyborg, a look of horror flashed across, "Jesus what the hell happened?" he walked over, picking him up into his arms.
"I need you to take him to Star Labs or his dad in Detroit." he ignored the question.
Flash nodded, "Do you need me to contact the League?"
Nightwing's eyes flared in anger, "This is my team, Barry." he roared, "I will handle it. I need you to save him. Now!"
Flash took off without another word. Nightwing pressed his comms once more, "Oracle. In each one of the Titan's suits, I've installed a tracker. I need you to locate them for me." He wasn't asking.
A few moments of silence before she came in, "Got 'em." she responded, "Let's see. B-02 is headed, whoa they're moving fast. Can't get a location."
Nightwing huffed, it was Cyborg, "They're taken care of."
"B-03 is in the Botanical Gardens, B-04 is in... Park Row, Crime Alley..." her voice trailed off, "And it looks like B-05 is at Wayne Manor."
A weight lifted off his chest. He thanked every higher power known to man. She was safe. Beast Boy was the Botanical Gardens and Starfire was in Crime Alley. He took a deep breath as he walked to edge of the building. At some point the calm, fluffy snow had turned into a vicious hail storm. He jumped.
He closed his eyes as felt his body free-fall, his hair whipping in the hair. He shot out his grappling hook, embedding itself into one of the nearby buildings. He knew this city would consume him, it always had, there was no point in denying it any longer. He regretted ever bringing Raven to this damned place, he regretted ever meeting her, he regretted ever meeting any of them. They would've been safer far far away from here. He'd been selfish. He wouldn't let his mistakes kill his friends.
He would save them. He had to save them, then they would never see him again.
He sprinted across the roof tops, he was close. Crime Alley was only a few blocks away now, he would save her. He had to.
His comms buzzed in his reach, he reached up and answered it, "What is it?"
"Barry said there's something going on in Gotham. Do you need assistance?" it was J'onn.
Nightwing groaned in frustration, damn that speedster, "I'm fine and busy. Ask Batman."
"I could not get in touch with him."
"That's because we're busy." he snapped, "Nightwing out." he ended the transmission as he jumped down off the building, onto the fire escape. He climbed down as quickly as he possibly could, then jumping down into the very same place that his adoptive-grandparents had died all those years ago. It was dark, it was always dark in Gotham. He scanned all around him, he saw nothing.
He heard a small whimpering voice in the darkness and saw Kori's bright green eyes sparkling in the darkness. He slowly walked over to her, "Starfire?" he asked cautiously, "Are you okay?"
"Come no closer." Her voice was weak and he could see she was trembling, there was blood on her fists. Nightwing smiled, she never was one to go down without a fight.
"Hey, it's okay. It's Robin. I'm here."
Her eyes lit into green flames, "Robin would never do such a thing!" she screamed, "He would not hurt me!" she lunged at Nightwing, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him up into the air, "What have you done to him!"
Nightwing couldn't breathe, he tried to pull her fingers off of his neck, but she was stronger than him tenfold. He struggled for breath, "Star... it's me." he peeped out out through her grip.
She threw him against the wall, the bricks crumbling around him. He held back a scream in agony through gritted teeth, "Star, wait-"
"Do not call me that!" she screamed, the fire in her eyes subsiding, but the rage in her eyes was all still there. He studied her eyes closely, green - like they always were, but... bloodshot? He'd noticed a puncture would in her forearm. He widened his eyes as she continued, "You are a monster! You have his voice but you are a monster!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
He groaned as he stood up, slipping a vial out of his belt and pulling the top off of it. She stood at a ready position, but she stayed a few feet away. She was afraid. Nightwing's eyes softened, "Whatever you're seeing isn't real Starfire, it's me, Robin." he explained, "When we first met - we kissed, it's how you learned English." he smiled as she slightly lowered her defenses, "You've been my best friend ever since I left Gotham. I trust you with my life and right now, I'm asking you to please trust me and drink this." he held out the vial.
"I did trust you... you then attacked us."
A grim look overcame Nightwing's face, "That wasn't me Star." he pleaded, then he reached up and peeled his mask off, "Richard Grayson is my real name. Drink this and you'll see."
She extended her hand and then stopped, hesitating for a moment, then taking it from Dick's hand and downing the whole vial. She blinked a few times, she held her hand to her head. Starfire looked up at him and ran to embrace him, "It is you."
He hugged her tightly as the two of them fell to their knees, Starfire wept as he held her in his arms, "I'm not going anywhere Star."
"I knew you would not hurt us... I knew you would not." she muttered, "Where are the others?"
"Cyborg is being taken care of and I'm going after Beast Boy." he explained.
The two of them got to their feet as Nightwing put his mask back on, she looked worried, "I shall come with you."
He shook his head, "There's a big mansion on the North End of Gotham, it's on a hill. Raven and a nice old man is there, I need you to go there and wait for me. The Titans are under attack and I need to know that you're safe."
She paused for a moment, hesitant, "How will I know you are safe?"
He smirked, "C'mon Star, you know me - I always run toward the danger."
Starfire frowned, "Rob- Richard, please be careful."
Nightwing sighed and nodded, "Take care of Rae and make sure she doesn't try and follow me."
He never liked the Botanical Gardens. For some reason, Diana loved flowers - they were always around the house since Bruce's bank account was endless. Dick never like it, make his allergies act up. I guess that's why Poison Ivy was always his least favorite of Bruce's rogues to face. He flipped through the window, glass shattering around him.
He knew the smell - roses, sunflowers, along with vines that were overgrown and over-sized. Nightwing used to feel bad for Pamela, for what happened to her and what she became. Not anymore, she'd crossed the line. No one took his friends from him.
There was a feint green and pinkish smoke that floated around, mixing with the air. Nightwing scanned the area, the fog impaired his vision. He began to walk forward into the gardens - the plants were all mutated and overgrown. The wood was rotted and dilapidated, but he could feel something underneath his feet - supporting the wood. Roots from underground maybe?
His thoughts disappeared as his eyes met with Beast Boy's, he was shirtless with cuts and bruises all over his body. Two vines were wrapped around his wrists, hanging him from a wall.
"Gar?" Nightwing choked out, "What did she do to you?"
Beast Boy looked up at him, a pink haze surrounding his normally bright and happy green eyes, sweat dripping off his forehead and it looked like he'd been crying. It took a moment before Beast Boy recognized him, "Robin?" he moaned out, it was hard for him to even speak.
Nightwing was shaking with a furious rage, but he bottled it in - Beast Boy didn't need that right now, "Yeah..." his voice trailed away, "I'm here. I'm gonna get you down."
"Don't." Beast Boy said firmly before Nightwing could even take a step forward, "I deserve this."
Nightwing widened his eyes as he looked down at the youngest member of his team, "What...?" he asked after a pause.
"I believe you heard him just fine, Boy Wonder." Posion Ivy's voice came from behind him. Nightwing spun around on his tows, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. Ivy walked her way closer to him, slinking her sultry way over here like every time he'd faced her before. Her eyes wondered all over the former Caped Crusaders, she bit her bottom lip with envy, "Although I'm not sure that name suits you anymore. Does this delicious new costume come with a name?"
"Nightwing." He growled through his teeth, he knew not to get close. He needed to wait for an opportunity, until he back was turned.
"Exotic." she purred, "I love it." she looked him up and down one more, though she seemed much more interested in what was below the waist, "Oh, yes, I do love this new costume. It certainly shows off all of you... desirable areas quite well."
"What did you do to him?" He needed to distract her, throw her off her game.
Ivy frowned as she stopped in her tracks and flicked her eyes over to Beast Boy, "Him?" she shrugged, "I did nothing besides give him what he wanted."
Nightwing said nothing but just glared at her.
She smiled, walking closer, "He wanted to repent for his sins." she looked back to Beast Boy, "Tell the nice man, darling."
"It was all my fault." Gar said, struggling to get the words out, Nightwing looked back at him in horror as he continued, "I didn't protect them. I watched them all go down. He was so fast - he knew how to take all of us down... and I did nothing." His voice spat with venom in the last word.
Nightwing took a step toward his friend, "It wasn't your fault Gar - none of this was." he tried.
Beast Boy didn't even acknowledge him, "I deserve this. I need to be punished. Robin - please leave."
"Oh no, no, no - that won't do at all." Ivy's voice spoke, Nightwing whipped his head back around to see her wicked smile, "We were instructed not to harm you, but what I've got in mind," she chuckled to herself, "Trust me - it'll be the opposite of harm." she licked her lips.
Nightwing took a step back, "So you're working for someone?" He'd suspected the man that was posing as his brother.
She chuckled, "World's Greatest Detective Jr." she teased.
"Who is it?" he look another step back.
"The devil." she was practically on top of him, their noses only a few inches away, "And he's all dressed in red." Before Nightwing could react, Ivy's lips had trapped his and her tongue had invaded his mouth. The tongue turned into some sort of vine and it lathered some vile liquid all across the inside of his cheeks. She backed away with a wicked and excited look in her eye.
Nightwing coughed violently, grabbing his own throat with both of his hands, "What did you do to me?"
"Made you mine." she smiled, "Struggle all you like. I love a fighter."
Nightwing shook violently for a moment or two, before standing up - the emotion gone from his face. She walked right up to him, running her hands along his chest and down to his abdomen, feeling every indention and every muscle. She looked up at him, "Who do you belong to?"
"You, Mistress." his voice was monotone, devoid of all emotion.
She smiled, "Very good." she looked him up and down, "I suppose I should go tell Hood that we were successful." she paused with a smirk, "Then again, we could always enjoy ourselves first. Which do you prefer?"
"I live to please you, Mistress."
She chuckled, "I'll bet you do. This is going to be fantastic." she grabbed him by the hand and turned to go to somewhere more secluded. Before she could react, Nightwing grabbed her by the arm and flipped her, smacking her into the ground.
She widened her eyes as he stood over her with a smirk, "I'm afraid my heart belongs to one woman, Ivy."
She sighed, "A shame. I'll just have to kill you. What a waste." she shook her head.
Nightwing snorted, kicking her across the jaw, knocking her out in one swift blow. "Doubt it." he retorted as he walked away from her unconscious body.
"Rob?" Beast Boy moaned out as his body smacking against the floor, the vines releasing them from their grasp.
He ran over to him, taking a knee next to his friend, "Gar. Are you okay? Can you move?"
Beast Boy looked up at him, squinting, a haze over his eyes, "I dig the new threads," he snickered weakly, quivering weakly.
Nightwing gave him a sad smile, after everything he'd been through - he was still there, he was Beast Boy, "Can you stand?"
He seethed a bit in pain as he tried to move, "My leg," he groaned looking down at where the fake Jason had shot him a few days prior.
"It's okay." He pulled Beast Boy to his feet, putting his arm around his shoulders, "I'll help. Don't push yourself."
"Where are the others?" He asked through gritted teeth, "Are they...?" His voice was weak, from the pain and the crippling fear.
Nightwing and Beast Boy started their way slowly to the exit, he was careful not to put his weight on the injured leg, "They're okay, Gar." Nightwing said in a calm, controlled voice, "Star and Rae are with a friend of mine, we're going there now."
Beast Boy's spine seized and a look of terror passed through his eyes, "Cybrog? Is he okay?" he asked quickly, wincing at the pain that passed through his entire body, but it didn't matter to him - he needed to know that his best friend was safe, "He tried to stop yo-" he cut himself off, "The guy that attacked us." he added quietly.
A dark expression came to Nightwing's face, "He's okay. Cybrog is with a friend of mine." He explained grimly, "He's a member of the League." he added.
Beast Boy nodded in silence his face deep in thought, mixed with the fear and regret he was dealing with. Beast Boy was tough, Nightwing always knew that, this just confirmed everything again. Nightwing kicked open the door, breaking the lock. The hail began to beat down on the pair. Beast Boy looked up at him, he opened his mouth to speak then closing it back quickly.
"It wasn't me." Nightwing said, still looking straight ahead.
"I know." Beast Boy confirmed quietly, looking down to the ground.
"The Titans are my family." His voice was deep and rough and angry. He sounded more like Batman than himself. He looked over at Beast Boy, regret practically oozing from his voice, "I'm sorry."
He looked up at Nightwing, the man he saw as his older brother. A member of the only family he'd ever known. He nodded and looked away.
"Oracle." Nightwing called.
"Here." Barbra answered through his comms, "Have you talked to Batman?"
"I need my bike sent to my location." He ignored her question.
A few seconds of silence passed, aside from the clacking of the keyboard, "It's on route. ETA three minutes."
He was a bit confused, his bike was in Jump City, definitely not three minutes. He didn't have time to worry about it, all he cared about right now was making sure that all of his friends were safe.
He clicked his comms, changing the frequency, "Flash I need a status update on Cyborg." he demanded. Beast Boy looked over at him, eagerly awaiting any news.
"He's still in critical condition." Flash answered, quick as always, "This tech is unlike anything we've ever seen. The tech in his body is molded to a mother-box. GL is on his way with Silas Stone and some tech that can repair him, shouldn't be too much longer now."
"Good. Keep me updated." he looked over at Beast Boy with a disarming smile, "He'll be okay, don't worry."
"I've got the League on high alert. I don't know if Batman told you, but you're one of us now." Flash continued, "Superman and Wonder Woman are off world, but all of us - Me, John, Shiera, J'onn, Arthur. We can be there, we can help. Just say the word."
"I've got it, Flash. This is my city, my team, my mistakes, and I will fix it." he barked.
Flash scoffed, "You sound just like him."
Nightwing ignored the comment as he heard the roaring of his bike, zooming toward the pair of them, "I've got to go. Keep me posted."
"Will do. Nightwing out."
Nightwing ended the transmission. Beast Boy looked up at him, "Nightwing, huh?"
He nodded, "I'm nineteen, BB. Would've been odd to keep this whole 'Robin' thing going into my twenties." he remarked, a weak smile playing at his lips.
Gar smiled through the pain, "I like it. It suits you."
Nightwing didn't respond as the bike rolled up next to them, but it wasn't the R-Cycle. It was bigger, louder, and a deep black with a blue streak running along both sides.
"Whoa," Beast Boy marveled, "Merry Christmas to you, huh?"
Nightwing helped Beast Boy onto the bike first, he winced quietly in pain. Nightwing got on behind him, wrapping one arm around his torso and using the other to grip the handle bar, he revved the engine before speeding off into the night. Nightwing zoomed through the streets at the max speed, weaving through the traffic masterfully as he made his way toward Wayne Manor.
'Raven?' He tried to reach out to her as they drove.
He got no response, complete and utter gut-wrenching silence.
He felt the pieces of his heart tearing away, 'I'm so sorry I got you mixed up in all this.' Even the voice in his head sounded shaky, he thought back to the last thing he remembered before the building fell on them.
'I love you too, Beautiful.' he confessed.
'Please. I need you to know that... Please, be okay.'
It was all his fault. She hated him, Nightwing knew, she had to. He didn't blame her.
He did too.