AN) I'm so sorry for radio silence! Basketball is finally over, so I actually have time to DO things and it's so weird. I've watched a lot of Netflix though, Parks and Rec is amazing! Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to someone very special. They're going through a rough time now, and I promised an update. I want you all to know that you're amazing, beautiful, valid, strong, special and I couldn't be where I am today without you.
There was a soft beeping from his left. Richard groaned softly, his head feeling like it had been filled with concrete. His hand twitched slightly, limbs stretching. He was horizontal, a thin sheet covering him. Richard was able to move, not tied down. He carefully opened his eyes, prepared for the onset of insane onset of bright light. He blinked, sitting up carefully.
"Oh my gosh." A tiny voice broke the silence, Richard was surprised at the…joy it had. He turned to his left. Blinking in surprise at the skinny auburn haired kid sitting in a chair beside his bed.
His first thought was to attack, he had been kidnapped by his enemies and he needed to get away. But the kid's jaw was slightly slacked, stretched into a tiny smile. The best course of action was to play along, act friendly but confused and find out where he exactly was.
"Can I help you?" He asked. The kid looked surprised.
"I didn't know you were British."
"Lived there for a few years."
"Cool! You're so cool…I-I mean I'm Bart." Richard nodded slightly, confused at how flustered Bart was. Bart's face froze for a second, he groaned and slammed is hands against his face. "Darn it! I wasn't supposed to tell you that! Nightwing's gonna kill me."
"Nightwing? The vigilante?"
"Yes, don't tell him I told you. Please, sir."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "Sir? Really? Kid's bonkers."
"Alright, alright. I won't say anything." Headache, he ran a hand across his forehead. "Look, where am I?
"Some place safe, I promise."
Did he think he needed rescued? He was an assassin, his master was one of the most men on Earth. He needed no rescue.
"Why are you here?"
"Well…Kid Flash and Artemis had to go to school, and the bats went back to their cave. I think Aqualad and Miss Martian are getting a room prepared for you. No one knows about Superboy. And to be honest I'm not going to ask him." Bart laughed slightly, fading off as Richard stared at him. He coughed, shifting slightly.
"So," Richard swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I'll be leaving."
Bart jumped to his feet. "You can't leave!"
"Sorry kid, I have a mission to complete."
"Well…I won't let you leave." He crossed his arms, Bart's height reaching up to his chin.
"I love how you think you can stop me. It's actually quite adorable."
"Grayson please—"
"How the heaven do you know my name?"
Bart froze, looking up at him. "You're famous!"
Richard gritted his teeth, he had heard enough. He was leaving. He would swim back to Oldham if he had too. He stepped forward, Bart pushing against him.
"Get out of my way."
"No!"
Richard rolled his eyes, taking a step back—and kicking Bart in the face. The kid stumbled back, Richard pushing him to the ground as blood spurted from his nose.
He rammed against the door, sprinting through the hall. His weapons and comm were gone, so he would be using hand to hand while trying to blast his way out of here. Fantastic.
He skidded to a halt as he came across a living room. Five heads swivled to look at him. Four kids maybe his age and the super clone.
"Screw me." Richard groaned, turned on his heel and ran. A loud shout came from behind him and footsteps started chasing him. "Why me?" He sighed.
There. Air vent. His go-to hiding spot for hide-and-seek with Scott. Scrambled into the tunnel he let the grate drop, moving as quickly as he could on all fours. He was just the right size.
Breakline
Connor shouted for the other's to follow Dick, to catch him. They didn't know why, but instinctively did as they were told. He ran for the computer, bringing up the Watchtower and screaming out his message.
"Dick is up and running all over Mt. Justice!" Wonder Woman blinked on screen, surprised. "We need back up now!"
"We're coming." She barely got the words out before Connor ended the call. He turned, racing off in the direction Dick had run. He changed courses slightly, remembering who had been with him last. Bart. Bart probably hadn't let Dick just walk out, so the speedster was probably hurt in some way. Or tied up.
He threw the medical room's door open, scanning for Bart. There he was, laying on the ground with blood covering his chest.
"Hey," Connor dropped to a knee beside him, noticing the blood was coming from his nose, "Bart are you okay?" He helped him sit up, Bart tenderly touching his nose and wincing.
"I just got kicked by my idol." He sounded stuffy. A small smile covered his face. "I feel great!"
"Come on. We got to find him." Connor pulled him to his feet.
"He's in the vents." Bart shrugged at Connor's look. "Dick Grayson is famous for hiding in the vents."
Connor nodded, taking off again. Dick was probably panicking, not sure where he was. It hurt, that he didn't remember the Cave, or that they loved him. He didn't remember that he, Connor, cared so much about him. Dick attacked him, he had tried to run away from them. Dickie had cried, he had thrashed around and cried. As he had when he was little and had nightmares, but he was awake, and with them. Connor was scared, he was scared that they had lost Dick forever. He didn't want to lose his little brother.
"What is going on?" Kaldur called out, Megan flying along next to him.
"Dick's loose! Check the vents." Connor grunted, running towards a grate.
Kaldur followed suit, both freezing as they heard a rumbling. Looking up, a thin body fell on top of them. All three boys screamed, Dick trying to jump up and get away, but Kaldur grabbed his legs and Connor wrapped his arms around his waist. Megan threw herself on top of him, pinning him down. It was a strange pile of body limbs, not very dignified at all. Dick was slippery, he thrashed around, but Connor's hold and weight kept him down.
Wrestling on the ground Dick kicked them both in the face, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you, you barbaric fools!"
Breakline
Dinah looked at the boy from the other side of the glass. He was still in his uniform, a sight that horrified everyone. He had been kicking and screaming the whole way time. They had to lock him in the interrogation room, for his own good.
The older members of the team were there, as was most of the League and the Batboys. They couldn't reach Hal. He wasn't answering his comm. They had tried his cell and home phone but no response. John Steward and Kyle Rayner didn't know where he was, and he didn't answer his ring when they called.
Dick glared through the window, not seeing them but knowing they were there. J'onn was with him, trying to get through mentally. Dinah jumped as Dick began laughing.
"Can't get through? You won't win this time." He snarled, evil mirth glowing in his eyes. J'onn stood.
"I hope Richard, that in time you will be able to see your enemy."
"Easy when it's right in front of you."
They shifted, as J'onn joined them. "He is unreachable. He pushes harder and harder with ever attempt."
"Maybe I could try?" Megan offered.
"No." Connor grunted. "If your uncle can't do it without hurting him, you can't either." Megan tensed, glaring right back at him.
She sighed, "I'll try." She crossed in front of J'onn, gently pressing the code to unlock the door. "Maybe I can speak with him."
She closed the door softly, turning to face the teenager staring at her. He was so big, compared to the last time she had seen him. His face was fuller, he had filled out a bit with muscle. His eyes were hard, angrily looking at hers. But he didn't look cold, no—the gentle little eight-year-old she knew was still there. But he was locked deep inside.
"Hello Richard." She smiled softly. He nodded.
"Black Canary."
"How're you feeling?" He shrugged, Dinah brushing hair behind her ears. "Would you mind doing an exercise for me?" He looked at her, indifferent. "I'm going to say a word, and you say the first thing that comes to mind. Alright?"
"Why not?"
She paused for a moment, trying to find the right word. Start with something simple.
"Cooking?"
"Chore."
"Job?"
"Contract."
"Perfection?"
"Expectation."
Dinah wasn't liking these answers. She wanted him to remember who he had been before.
"Running?"
"Training."
"Friend?"
"Neighbor." She couldn't help but notice the soft smile on his face.
"Leader?"
"Master." Dinah cringed slightly, his voice so final. Another word, something he enjoyed.
"Music?"
"Privilege."
"Captain?" He paused, Dinah knowing what he wanted to say. "Richard, what do you think when I say captain?"
"…America." He smiled again, eyes dancing with temporary light. She laughed, happy to know he still thought of comics. That part wasn't gone.
"Winter?"
"Soldier."
"Assassin?" She expected the Black Widow answer, but with a smug look he provided the opposite.
"Me."
"Richard…that really isn't you."
"Master wishes I be his assassin, I must obey." He spoke smoothly, he believed what he said. Truly believed it, he wasn't reciting lines.
"You can't really mean that."
"How hard is it for you people to understand?" She raised her eyebrows as his accent changed. "I'm not your…your nephew or brother or friend or anything of the like! I need nothing you offer! I don't need you snooping in my mind, trying to change things!" He was shouting, quaking in anger. "I know what you did," Dick hissed, "Master doesn't lie as you do. You won't turn me against my master again!"
"Dick, we have never lied to you."
"You just did." He spat. "You brainwashed me to make me your puppet."
"That's what Slade did to you." She was begging.
"And you go about speaking falsehoods of my master!" He was red in the face, screaming at the top of his lungs. "You are liars and betrayers! I thought you cared but you didn't!"
"We care about you," She slipped from her chair, kneeling before him, cautiously stoking his cheek. Trying to get him to calm down, "we care very much."
He tensed at her touch, Dinah pausing slightly. "Get away from me." Dick's voice was low and bitter. "Don't touch me, woman!" He spat. Dinah pulled back, nodding slightly.
"You'll see little one, we can be trusted." She stood, her little bird seething.
"I'll never trust you! Never! I'll die before I care for you!" They hurt more than gunshots. Dinah froze, hands ready to unlock the door.
"And you'll see, we care so much we'd die for you even now."
"Then you're a fool."
"Maybe."
She leaned against the door, Diana placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You did everything you could, sister."
"It wasn't enough." She sighed, standing straight.
"He's only been here a day, it will take time."
Barry shook his head. "You heard him Di, he doesn't trust us at all."
"He doesn't remember us." Kaldur shook his head. "I'm certain he will come around." Connor scoffed. "I believe he will."
"It's been years."
"And we have our Guppy back. Do you not believe in him?" They faced each other, Connor looking ready for a fight. Aquaman placed a hand on his protégé's shoulder.
"We can find our Guppy again."
"He doesn't trust us!" Barry shouted again. "I'm sorry guys, but if he won't talk to Dinah and J'onn can't get through what can we do?"
"Hal—"
"Last time they met Dick stabbed him twice, broke his leg and stole his ring. I don't think he likes him."
"I think I know someone who can help." Red Robin raised his hand slightly, slowly turning from them and activating his earpiece. "Titans, I think I have a new mission."
AN) So, I hope you like! I turned in my script today, I have one more draft after this so it's almost over! I hope to update soon, but musical only was ten rehearsals left. I hope you all have a fantastic week and I'll see you next time dearies!