Helping a Hero

Ch. 5- A Cry for Help

A/N: Okay, so let me just say this. I am so, so, so, so sorry. That break wasn't supposed to last that long. It was a combination of school work, stress, and a very messed up sleeping schedule. Apparently, I'm nocturnal and I can't fix my schedule so I'm just going to have to get used to being irritable and mean to other people cause I can't go to sleep until four in the morning and get woke up at nine. But that's okay I'll just use the hours where I'm contemplating existence while staring at the ceiling to write on this story and that should work out a whole lot better than what is going on now. Did I mention I'm sorry? Well, I am. Seriously.

Batman's POV: 1:05 AM, Warehouse District

"Sir, one of the Justice League is attempting to contact you." Alfred's very familiar accent drifted over the communicator with no obvious infliction in his tone.

"Which one?" I asked while ushering Robin closer to me after he unhooked his holo-glove from the computer standing underneath the screen with the still unknown variable.

"It is the Flash, sir. Should I patch him through?" Alfred asked.

"Patch him through." I answered, annoyed just by the thought of Flash.

Less than a second later, Flash's exuberant yelling and panicked voice flooded over the communicator in a stream of incoherent words that blended together.

"Bats,oh,thankGod,wewereabletocontactyou!There'sbeenabreachattheWatchtower,andthere'sthisvideothathascomethroughfromthesekidsandtheyrethreateningtoreleasealotofinformationifwedon'tfindthey'refriendandIcalledeverybodyforameeting—."

"Flash, slow down, take a breath and repeat what you just said. Slowly." I interrupt Flash's incoherent babbling.

"Okay," Flash says and takes a deep breath before starting over, much slower than he would like to, "There's been a breach at the Watchtower."

"When?" I practically growl at the man on the other end of the line.

"Exactly two minutes and thirty-three seconds ago. I've contacted the original seven members of the League, because there was this video that camethroughand—." He stops himself, "Sorry."

"The video that came though is a bunch of kids that are threatening us with some information that we don't want to be public."

"What type of information, exactly?" My eyes cut to the screen of our temporary informant, a sudden suspicion forming in the back of my mind. I subtly motion for Robin to come and stand beside me.

"Everything—secret identities, home addresses, phone numbers, public and private records, weaknesses and strengths—anything and everything that we don't want out. They've got proof, and they're holding it over us." He tells me panic setting back in over his voice.

"Did they say what they want?" I bite out angrily. How would someone get all of that information unless they had been planning this for months? There had to be something to connect this with. A new player in the game, asking for help, and now the League being threatened. It could be a coincidence, except for the fact that I don't believe in coincidences.

"They want help finding someone. His name is Phantom." I turn towards the informant on the screen, and narrow my eyes, mouth set in a grim line. My suspicions have been confirmed.

"I'll be there in thirty minutes. Do not let any other League members see the video until I get there."

Phantom P.O.V.: 7:20 AM, Compound, Room 219

This is hell.

My knees bend under the pressure and my shoulders are sore from the strain.

…

I wish they would let me rest. Even if it were only for just a moment.

…

Just a moment. I'm so tired.

…

It's always more, more, more. Always just a bit more.

…

Can't they see me? Knees shaking, shoulders aching, teeth clenched, and sweat beading down my face from the burden weighing me down.

The only thing keeping me from falling on my knees and just letting this great weight crush me is stubbornness.

Pure, undiluted stubbornness. A will stronger than steel. It's what has kept me—is keeping me alive.

It is this this stubbornness that has me setting my shoulders, and locking my knees. It is this stubbornness that has me raise the great burden higher over my head and glare defiantly ahead of me. I think of my family and my friends as another bead of sweat rolls down to my chin.

I will not die today.

…

Another pound is added to my burden. I grit my teeth harder.

I will not die today.

This is hell, but I will not die today.

Batman P.O.V: 1:20, Batmobile

I looked to the left where my partner was sitting in the passenger side. He was slumped over, with his head propped up with his hand staring out the window, completely used to what most would call my "suicidal" driving.

"I'm sorry," a small voice to my left interrupted my musings on how most would have an outright heart attack if in Robin's current position.

"You have nothing to apologize for," I responded gently, automatically. I understood exactly what he was apologizing for. He argued with me while we were out and in front of an informant that is now our only lead. Under different circumstances it could have gotten us both killed.

"I know your upset with me and I'm sorry. I just felt like this is important, like this is the right thing to do. I…I just wanted to do the right thing and…to make you proud."

I slammed on breaks and turned my head sharply to look at Dick. This is a bit more important than a nearing catastrophe at the moment.

"Listen…," I've always been horrible at expressing myself, "I will always be proud of you, even when we argue." I ran his statement through my head again, hesitated, and then added, "Also I'm not upset with you so get that thought out of your head."

"You aren't?" He looked at me with the start of a grin on his face.

"No, I'm not." Does he really care that much about my approval?

"You mean it?" He grinned his thousand-watt smile and it felt like my soul was finally seeing the light once again. He was the only one able to get me to feel like smiling when everything could literally being falling down around us.

"Yes." I reaffirm once again, just to keep that smile on his face for a few minutes longer.

I silently start the Batmobile and start driving again. We sat in silence for five minutes until a very strong British accent broke the silence.

"Sir, the Justice League is calling again should I put them through?"

Great, what now?

"Which one?" I ask. I really don't want to talk to Barry again, he's too much of a child and I've already told him that I would be there in a little bit.

"It is Superman, sir." Oh, God, no, not the oaf in blue tights.

"Is it an emergency?" I really don't want to deal with him right now. Robin will go all fanboy again. Well, maybe not, considering Clark's recent treatment of his clone, Conner.

I sigh, "Never mind, patch him through."

"Yes, Clark?" I growl at him because, really, I told them that I would be up there to help remedy the situation soon.

"Batman, did you hear about what happened?" Clark's usually boisterous voice was dark as he started speaking.

"Of course I did." There short and sweet and he can leave me alone for right now.

"They're threatening us." Or not. "All of us, including you. They know who both you and Robin are, Batman."

"Well then, we'll find Phantom and see why he is important enough to have the entire Justice League rain down on their heads." I respond knowing that I couldn't become worried or angry because those feeling would only slow me down. "I have a few leads that I will discuss at the meeting in…five minutes." I look over at Robin to see that he is scrolling through his holo-glove at an alarming rate, with a signal on the upper right portion of the screen going off. "I'm bringing Robin with me."

"But I thought—." I cut off communications with Clark to see that Robin is looking up from his glove, staring at me in confusion, even though the screen continually flashed as if in warning.

"What happened to your glove?" I ask him.

"My back-door protocol picked up a bug." He said looking back down at the screen and goes back to typing rapidly.

"Meaning, someone tried hacking into my files…and from the looks of it they succeeded."

A/N: Again I am so, so sorry for not updating sooner and will try to have the monthly updates back on schedule. I plan on updating every first Saturday of each month. And if I'm late you all have my full permission to message me and nag as much as you please until I do update...seriously.

Published: 7/4/16