Forever Robin
By
AJ
Part 4
Bruce woke up from a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest, his eyes wide from fight. The dream had been far more frightening that he had ever experienced. He dreamed that he was utterly alone, and once again buried alive in a sheet of ice. Being in a sheet of ice wasn't so much the problem, but being totally alone with no one to care for or someone to care for him was absolutely terrifying. It had always been his worse nightmare, to die alone. He almost raced down stairs to see if it was true, that everyone was gone. Then a voice reached his ears, a voice he had not heard since he was a child. It was melodic and soothing.
"Bruce, everything will be all right. There is nothing to fear," the voice said faintly. "It's not time."
"Mother?"
Something brushed his face despite the fact that nothing was there. It was gentle, like a caress. Then the scent of perfume reached his nose. It was his mother's favorite, the one called No. 5, but that was impossible. His mother and his father had been dead since he was eight years old. And yet, somehow he felt her comforting presence.
"It's all right Bruce, the nightmare has ended.
Bruce turned toward the voice. "Mother, what are you doing here?" She looked exactly as he remembered her.
"Here, where else would I be?"
"But you're . . . you're . . . The words would not come.
"Your father and I have always been with you. And you have given us grandsons," Martha Wayne turned her head and another shadowy figure appeared.
"Damian," Bruce exclaimed, but he was not the only one who appeared. "Jason, Tim."
"We will always be with you," the three boys repeated Martha's words.
"Bruce?" Dick Grayson came in at that moment, his eyes growing wide at what he saw. A woman sat next to Bruce, but the most astounding sight were the three who stood in the corner. One of the three broke from the group and approached the astounded aerialist. What was even more astounding was that he could see right through them. He almost took a step back when the figure halted as if not wanting to frighten him further.
The ghostly figure of Jason Todd spoke. "I understand now, Brother," Jason said. He held a gentle smile, one that had not been on the young man's face since he was a teen. "Take care of him. Batman is going to need Robin."
"Can't you stay?" Dick said with anguish.
"We'll be around. You just won't see us," Tim said.
"Look after Father, Grayson," Damian said. Damian had never gotten used to calling him by his first name, but what Dick realized was that Damian didn't say MY father. It was as if he was finally acknowledging Dick's right to be Bruce's son as well.
Dick watched as Jason moved back to his other Brothers. Then Martha approached him.
"I am pleased that Bruce took you in. He has found his soul's brother, besides a son. And I bring a message. 'We are proud of you, little Robin,'" and Martha placed her hand on Dick's chest, just as his Mother used to do. "We will always be in here, no matter what."
With those last words, the four ghostly figures faded out of existence.
"Did that really happen?" Dick continued to stare at the empty corner. "Holy apparitions."
"You haven't said one of those exclamations in a long time, Old Chum," Bruce said with a sideways grin.
"And you haven't said that to me in a long time either," Dick said with a smile. "Looks like we're just two of a kind, but why now? What brought them here?"
"What brought you back?"
"You," Dick replied, "And this . . ." Dick handed the notice about Bruce Wayne's demise dated three days ago.
The look on Bruce's face was one of confusion.
"Alfred called me as well as Barbara and Commissioner Gordon." Dick explained. "He found you in your study. You were . . . you were cold to the tough. Ice cold. There . . . there wasn't even a . . . a heart beat." Tears formed in Dick's eyes. He always had a hard tine not showing his emotions, especially where Bruce was concerned. That was how they differed. "I . . . I almost didn't . . . find you . . ."
"Dick . . ." Bruce leapt out of the bed and held his son close. "You did find me, that's what matters. You have always been there when it counted, even when we didn't see eye to eye. You were my anchor when I was lost. Be my anchor."
Tears fell freely then. "Always, Bruce. Always."
"Then let's get to work."
"To the bat cave?" Dick asked.
Bruce nodded and they both rushed from Bruce's room and down to the study. Bruce flipped the head of the bust open to reveal the hidden switch used to open the hidden door. The bookcase along the far wall slid aside revealing two poles.
"I haven't used this entrance for a long time," Dick said.
"Time is at the essence, my friend," Bruce replied.
As they slip down the poles, Bruce hit the quick-change switch. Batman and Robin emerged. Though Batman gave Robin a curious look.
"Aren't you a little too old to be wearing that?"
Dick looked at the uniform that he slipped on. The cape was much longer, the one that he wore when he was in college. "Still fits."
"What happened to Nightwing?"
"Bludhaven doesn't need him right now," Robin answered. "Batman needs Robin."
Batman nodded not questioning his partner on his choice of dress further. "So, tell me what you know."
Robin stated by explaining about the frozen digital clocks. "I found your watch in the casket. I did an analysis on it. Nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact that it's digital."
"And coupled with my 'sudden demise,' we still don't' know who is behind this."
"I went through our crime files and the only two possible culprits I came up with are the Clock King and Time Controller," Robin stated. "Both haven't been heard from in years. I was going to check on the Clock King first. I believe he is still in prison. As for Time Controller . . ."
"There's nothing to worry about him," Batman said. "He's on our side, but he disappeared soon after I helped him. That was over thirty years ago."
"We still don't know who's responsible." Robin stated.
"Maybe we do. And I think you hit on the major clue."
"Me?"
"Frozen."
Robin's eyes behind his mask grew wide. "Holy ice burgs, it can't be. Mr. Zero? We haven't dealt with him in years either. What gives? And why go after you Bruce? He usually needs proximity to use any freezing weapons."
"I don't think he's after Bruce Wayne, though he's always wanted cold hard cash to finance his research on reviving his wife. Did Alfred check to see if anything was stolen?"
"No," Robin replied. "We were concentrating on what we thought was your death. Why go to all that trouble to cause all the digital clocks to freeze and not all the rest? But the main question should be how did he do it?"
"A good question, Robin, one that does need answering. For now, we better go talk to the Commissioner and see if anyone else has suffered Bruce Wayne's fate."
"Maybe I should go talk to her. It's going to be quite a shock. You know . . ."
"No, I think we both should go. She'll find out soon enough."
Robin nodded his agreement and they raced to the batmobile. Robin could not but feel nostalgic for the old style nuclear powered vehicle with the domed windshields. That vehicle was one sweet ride. He hated the ones that looked like armored tanks. He understood their purpose and they did offer more protection, but they just weren't his style. Maybe he should have dressed as Nightwing for this one, but he could not help feeling that Batman needed Robin, and he did make a vow that he would be Robin forever. He just hoped it wasn't a hasty decision on his part.
Continues with Part 5