Chapter Twenty-One - Betrayal
One Week Later
Dick felt sweat dripping down his forehead, sliding down his body, and finally dropping down onto the ground twenty feet below. He huffed, the muscles in his upper arms straining to their absolute maximum, holding his entire body up on the gymnast equipment in the gym room of Wayne Manor. His body was finally beginning to get back to a hundred percent.
Sometimes his wrist would give him an odd pain, but he could live with that.
"I'd suggest a net, Master Dick." Alfred called out from the ground.
Dick gave a slight smile, "I'm a professional, Alfred." he let go of the bars, dropping to the ground with a flip and landing perfectly on his feet. Dick grabbed the towel from the loyal butler, "Never needed one."
"Of course, Master Dick." He nodded, a small smirk playing at the butler's lips, "Never one for caution."
"Any news?" He asked, whipping away the perspiration from his face.
The pair walked out of the gym together as Dick grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head, "None, I'm afraid. The Joker has been uncharacteristically quiet since your run in with you."
Dick frowned as he set the grandfather clock to the appropriate time, "Bane?"
Alfred shook his head as he followed him down into the Batcave, "Not since his escape."
Dick paused, approaching the Bat-Computer, "Jason?" he asked quietly.
Alfred frowned, "None, sir."
Dick was silent, typing on the keyboard. Clicking a few different screens, "It's been almost three weeks, Alfred." he continued his typing.
"You've done well, Master Dick. Taking down five high profile criminals in such a small time." Alfred paused with a smile, "Bruce would be proud."
"Don't talk like he's dead." Dick growled.
"Sir-"
"I want you to notify the media," Dick began, cutting Alfred off, "Dick Grayson will be joining Bruce Wayne in Cambodia for a while." Dick moved away from the computer, stretching out his limbs.
Alfred's frown deepened, "You're leaving Gotham?"
Dick nodded, "Ra's tore this family apart." he began to walk toward the stair case, "I'm going after him."
"Sir, I must protest-"
"There's no one else who'll do it, Al." he sighed, "This my responsibility. My family. My mission."
"No, it isn't." Alfred spoke strongly, "You've worked so hard, Master Dick. You need rest. You need to talk to the Titans." he paused, "They're your family too."
Dick pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'm going Alfred." he stated quietly, turning away from him. He paused in his steps, "Alfred?"
"Yes sir?"
"I'd like you to help me write my will, before I go."
Four Days Later
Dick rubbed his hands together, pulling his jacket closer to him and he trudged his way through the snow. He had no idea how the cold never affected Bruce. Truth be told, his adoptive father never felt much of anything.
It had been days since the plane had landed near Nanda Parbat. He should've packed more food. He was hungry and cold. Really cold. He was only wearing a padded tunic along with a light over-shirt and thick jacket. It was traditional of those who'd gone to visit the Demon. At least, that's what Bruce had told him. He'd never made this trip and Bruce had only left a vague set of vague directions on the Bat-Computer.
Though Dick's determination never faltered. He was dead set on killing the son of a bitch who'd done this to Jason. To his family. They might just bring him back, but Dick would kill the bastard as many times as it took.
Dick wasn't sure what he would do, when he returned home. Bane needed to be stopped and Joker was still out there, but there was also Jason. He needed to find his brother, he hoped that part of the man that he'd known was still in there. He hoped that Bruce was still alive.
Then again, hope had never gotten him far, had it?
He felt guilt and remorse ever second of every day for what he'd done to the Titans. To Raven. He'd never love another, after her. He knew that, but it was safer if she was away from him. He couldn't stand to see another he loved dying because of him. There had been so many. His parents, Jason, nearly Barbra, and Bru-
He stopped himself mid-thought. He didn't have the time for his mind to wonder. He looked up, he had arrived.
The Temple of the Demon.
"You should tell him."
Raven looked up from her book, glaring at Beast Boy. They'd become closer over the last few days, "We've talked about this." the stress in her voice was audible.
Beast Boy gave a small frown, "I know... I know what happened between you two wasn't right. Hell, what happened between all of us and Dick wasn't right, but I mean..." he paused for a moment, his eyes searching for her, "It's his kid."
"It's mine." she corrected, a fire lit in her eyes.
Beast Boy held his hands up, "I'm just saying, if it were me," he began.
"It's not."
Beast Boy sighed, "It's your choice, Rae. I'm with you a hundred percent."
She appreciated it. She didn't voice her emotions to the team very often, not even him, but she valued all of their friendships. Except Kid Flash. She knew he was lying to them, she couldn't prove it, but something was off. He'd disappear for hours without explanation. She could see straight through him, she didn't trust him.
Cyborg and the rest of the team walked in through the door. Cyborg holding two boxes of pizza in between his hands, with a big smile on his face. Kid Flash and Starfire walked behind him. Starfire had a small grin, but oddly enough the speedster had a look of - concern, maybe? A grimace? It was odd to see without the usual smile. Raven eyed him closely, but he didn't notice - he looked nervous. Worried.
"We brought home dinner." Cyborg announced.
Wally glanced down at his phone several times. Barely even paying any attention to the members of the group.
Cyborg laid down the pizzas on the counter, "Get it while it's hot." he chuckled, grabbing one for himself.
Beast Boy stood, walking toward the kitchen, though stopping midway and glancing at Raven, "Coming?" he asked hopefully.
Raven nodded silently, rising to her feet as she walked over to the rest of the group, a few paces behind Beast Boy. Her eyes, flicking back to the red headed speedster every few seconds.
Team gathered around to eat, save for Wally who was looking down at his phone a few feet away from the rest of them. Beast Boy chomped down on the two slices of greasy cheesy goodness that he'd grabbed, "How was the parade?" he questioned though a full mouth of pizza.
Starfire's face beamed, "It was glorious!" she cheered.
Cyborg chuckled, "It was pretty cool. They had balloons of all of us," he smiled, "Well except, KF." he glanced back to look at Wally, "You hungry, man?"
At that moment, Wally's phone began to vibrate, he looked up at all of them, "No. Sorry - gotta take this." he zoomed off down the hallway.
The group stood in stunned silence for a moment, Beast Boy finally breaking it, "He acting weird to anyone else?"
"Very." Raven noted quietly, her eyes flicked back over to the group, "I'll be back."
They gave her a questioning look.
"Bathroom." She answered, floating down the hallway. As soon as she slipped into the darkness, she headed toward Wally's room, his door was lock. Strange. She held her ear to the door and quieted her breathing as she listened in closely.
"Look, just calm down." Wally's muffled voice cooed. There was a pause, "Just tell me what happened." another pause, she couldn't hear whoever he was speaking to on the phone. This pause was longer, seemed to go on forever, "Holy shit..." Wally breathed slowly, he sounded scared, "I... I don't think I can handle him by myself, Al."
Raven widened her eyes. No, it couldn't be true.
"Well where is he?" Wally demand, a quick pause, "Why in the Hell is he over there?" he hissed. Another short pause, "Oh." he replied softly, "Look, Al... I'll need help. Serious help." another pause, sightly longer, "What about the team? I know he doesn't want them in Gotham, but-"
Raven had heard enough, she forced the door open - Wally jumped and looked at her with fear in his eyes, "Raven!" he exclaimed.
Her eyes were overcome with black as she floated just above the ground, raising her hand. Wally floated off the ground, dropping his phone in the process. "Liar!" she hissed, venom in her voice.
Wally tried to vibrate out of it, but to no avail. He looked at her, terrified, "Look - just let me explain." he begged.
The rest of the team came to check out the commotion, Cyborg stepped in front of her with a glare in his eyes, "What in Hell's going on here?" he demanded.
Raven didn't look at their leader, just keeping her eyes trained on the speedster, "He's a rat." she growled, "He's working for him."
"For who?" Their friendly, brotherly, gentle Cyborg was gone. Their team leader demanded to know what was going on.
"For Dick!" she screamed, "He's been spying on us and reporting back to Dick!"
Cyborg looked back at Wally, his eyes searching, "Please tell me this isn't true."
The speedster's face softened, "He's my friend..."
All of the Titans faces fell in disappointment, sadness, betrayal. Except for Raven's, her face lighting in even more rage.
An expression of guilt over came him, but it didn't last for long, "Look..." he sighed, "This isn't what's important right now-"
"What could be more important than this?" Raven demanded, stepping past Cyborg and flaring her eyes into Wally's.
"Miss Rachel?" a voice asked from the floor. Raven looked down to see Wally's phone lying on the ground. Her eyes softened as she dropped Wally to the ground with a smack, she put the phone to her ear.
"Alfred?" she asked softly, she couldn't believe this kind old man knew he was spying on them.
"I'm sorry Miss Rachel, but..." his voice trailed off, "Gotham is in danger."
This chapter sucks and it's short, but I'm sick and brain dead from writing like twelve papers for finals. Next will be better hopefully.