CHAPTER 16
As they walked away from the Street of the Lotuses, it began to rain heavily. Dick could feel his feet sinking into the gooey mud. Rufus, who had shoes, fared better. Dick kept a lookout for the generous lady with the food stall, but her stand was empty, as were all the other food sellers they passed. The rain had driven them in if the coming darkness hadn't.
Doggedly, he led Rufus toward the ruined part of the city as it got darker and darker. Finally, he spotted the little house they'd chosen as a hide out. There was no evidence that it was occupied from the outside. It was supposed to be that way, but Dick still worried. Motioning for Rufus to be silent, he tapped on the door, then opened it to find Batman in a defensive stance next to the fire. "It's okay, Batman," Dick said, coming into the house. "It's just me. And I found Rufus!" he said, pulling Rufus in behind him.
Batman looked surprised but gestured towards the fire and eased himself back down. "Well, come on in and get dry." He nodded at Rufus too. Both boys huddled near the flames.
"Is there any food?" Dick asked. "I couldn't afford anything and I didn't make any money today."
Batman smiled and rummaged in the basket. "There's chicken broth in the pan and here's the rest of the bread. It's stale but it'll soften if you dunk it in the soup. I figured the easiest way to keep the chicken from spoiling was to keep it simmering. Help yourselves."
Dick emptied the money out of his begging can, as did Rufus and they dug in. It wasn't until he had eaten everything left that Dick looked guiltily at Batman. "Batman, I'm so sorry. We took it all and didn't leave any for you!"
"It's okay, Dick," Batman said, smiling affectionately at the boy. "I had something earlier. You two have been hiking around the city; you needed it more than I did." His gaze sharpened when he saw Dick's bare feet. "You dumped the boots?" At Dick's nod, he said, "Let's take a look. You were out all day and your feet won't have had time to toughen up."
Dick shrugged and stuck his feet in Batman's lap. Batman carefully examined them for cuts or wounds. Finally, he said, "You're doing okay, but be careful. Out here an injury can get infected very easily." Knowing the truth of that, Dick nodded.
"I'll be careful, Batman," he said, pulling his feet back under him as he sat on the floor.
Rufus, watching the attention paid to Dick Grayson, felt something sour inside him. He felt that somehow these two had something that he'd never known, and Batman wasn't even Dick's father! Why was it that Dick managed to charm everyone he met? The sourness expanded into something like burning envy.
Batman turned to Rufus. "So, Rufus, we had heard that you were dead. How is it that you survived? How did you get away?"
Rufus retold the same tale he'd given Dick and Batman nodded as he recounted it. "So, they aren't looking for you at all?" Batman asked, voice even but eyes sharp.
"No, sir," Rufus replied. "As a cripple, I wasn't worth much there anyway. The customers didn't like me, except for the ones Lee sent..." He paused, averting his face briefly.
"And Lee just let you go? After all the trouble he went to having you shipped in from America?" Batman asked.
"I dunno what Lee was thinking," Rufus said, blushing red. "But he never wanted to see me again after I tried to kill him. Besides, I heard that he got a new Robin, one he really really likes. He has no interest in me, not even to torture me anymore." Rufus finished the last of his bread, though he'd lost all his hunger. "Dick tells me you were sent here to rescue him. So where's Robin? I don't see him around anywhere."
"Robin's at home," Batman said flatly. "He's in school. He doesn't participate in all my cases."
"Just as well," Rufus said, eyes burning. "I'd never bring a kid I cared about to a hell-hole like this."
Batman's expression didn't change, but Dick could see that the comment bothered him.
"I've lived in Gotham all my life but I've never seen you before, Batman," Rufus continued. "It's really cool to meet you...So, how come you're here to rescue Dick but you didn't come to rescue me? I live in Gotham, just like he does. I even go to the same school. Why is Dick more important than I was?" He gave a bitter little laugh. "I know. Stupid question, huh? Why should you care about me when my own folks didn't." He scrubbed at his cheek and turned his head away. "Sorry. I know it's not your fault. Bruce Wayne is a pretty powerful guy and I'm sure he sent you." Although his face was averted, they could see the tears in his eyes. "Hey, I gotta pee. I'll be outside for a minute. Be right back." Before Batman or Dick could say anything, Rufus slipped out of the door, moving fast for a kid on a crutch.
Dick got up to follow him out, but Batman shook his head and laid a restraining hand on Dick's arm. "I think he needs a moment alone...God knows, I do." Batman closed his eyes and wondered how he could possibly answer Rufus' question. How do you tell a horribly abused fourteen year old that you can't save everyone? How do you explain why the rich kid gets a rescue but the average kid doesn't? And why this rich kid got a rescue...?
"Batman..." Dick began, but Batman cut him off.
"He's right, Dick," Batman said, rubbing his tired face with both hands. "He's right. You did come first, and you know why that is, but it isn't something I can explain to Rufus. Damn that Lee! Rufus deserved a rescue just as much as you did! And so did all the other children Lee has destroyed. But I'm just one man and I can only stretch so far..." He went quiet.
Outside the hut, Rufus moved a few feet away and removed the transmitter from his pocket. He hit the 'on' button and made the call. Harrison answered immediately.
"You have him?"
"Him and Batman," Rufus said, wiping his eyes and runny nose, but he kept his voice steady. Now both Batman and Dick would get what was coming to them. He was going home! "They're holed up in a half-burned out house in the wastelands. Here's how you find it..." Finally he ended," And you're gonna take me back to America, right?"
"Right," said Harrison. "You'll be flying with us. Pick a city, any city and you'll go there with some startup money."
"Not Gotham," Rufus said.
"Fine by us. Why dontcha try San Francisco or Berkeley? They take all kinds there," Harrison gave a snort and signed off.
Rufus pocketed the transmitter and went back into the hut. Batman and Dick Grayson both watched as he took his place next to the small fire.
"Still rainy?" Dick ventured, finally.
"No, it's stopped. The moon is out," Rufus said. He held out his hands to warm them in the chill night. "Dick says he's looking for some grocer to get you out of the country. You do know that this person is as likely to sell you out as help you. Nobody does favors for anyone in this country. At least, that's what I've noticed..."
Batman watched the firelight on the boy's face, so much like Dick's, they could be brothers, and his heart ached. How many times had this boy been betrayed? First by his own parents, then the people running the school, by Lee and his underlings. And last, by Batman himself. He was responsible for this. He'd known for years what Lee was and he'd never done anything to bring that monster down. He had the resources, the international contacts; he could have put pressure on Lee. And then the pipeline of children from Gotham, his own city! Going to Lee by way of that damned school. Those lost children were his responsibility...
"Rufus," Batman said slowly. "I owe you an apology."
Rufus' eyes opened wide. The Bat was apologizing to him? "What?"
"You deserved a rescue just as much as Dick did. It's true, I came here at Bruce Wayne's request, but my mission is to serve all the people of Gotham, not just the well-connected ones. I'm truly sorry about what you went through and if there's any help I can give you now, you have it."
Rufus just sat and stared, nonplussed. He searched Batman's face for a long time, then said, "You really mean that."
Batman sighed. "Rufus, I do. You're right. You shouldn't have had to go through what you did. I wasn't there for you, but I'm here now. Let me help."
"Um..." Rufus' eyes got wild. "I need to tell you something..."
But before he was able to say anything, they heard the sound of a jeep pulling up outside and feet running toward the house. Batman lurched upright, facing the door as it was broken down my multiple soldiers with guns.
Batman had moved to block the door, shouting at Dick, "Get out of here! Run!" He met Dick's eyes as he threw his first punch. "Get out of the country!" When Dick hesitated, Batman shouted louder, "That's an order!"
Dick, looking stricken, pulled a protesting Rufus toward the back of the hut. There was a small hole in the wall. Too small for a man, but the right size for a boy. Or two. He slithered through and tugged Rufus behind him. Rufus fell to the ground outside the house; he had forgotten his crutch. Dick grabbed him under an armpit and all but dragged him away into the darkness.
Behind them, the sound of blows followed them into the night. And then there was silence. The soldiers left the house and searched the area, but Dick and Rufus hid on the sloping roof of a neighboring building, where the soldiers wouldn't look. Lying there, Dick watched as they dragged an unconscious Batman from the house. He looked at his friend. Rufus was silent, in shock, he supposed. But then, Rufus hadn't had the training Robin had.
The soldiers fanned out and searched all night while the boys clung to the building and faded back into the shadows. Rufus said nothing, but wondered at Dick's unexpected skills. Finally, he could stand it no more and pulled Dick away from the roof's edge. "Dick, we gotta talk," he whispered.
Dick followed him into the deeper shadows. "Don't whisper," he murmured. "They can hear the hissing noises you make. Just talk very softly."
"Dick, this is all my fault," Rufus said, pulling the transmitter from his pocket, he handed it to Dick. "They offered me a deal. Give you up and Lee lets me go home." He looked away at his friend's stricken face. "I went outside and made the call. That's why they're here."
Angry, Dick pried the back off the transmitter, breaking a couple of fingernails in the process and removed the power source, then took apart the machinery inside. He hefted the remaining box in his hand and looked like he wanted to throw it with all his might, but restrained himself. It might give their position away more than it already had. "They can't track us by GPS now," he said, turning to Rufus. "So. Are you gonna shout now for the soldiers to come take me?"
Rufus shook his head. "Dick...no...All I want...have ever wanted was to go home." His face crumpled and tears began to stream from his eyes. "All I've dreamed about is getting away from here...They made the offer...I had to take it. And I was jealous...you've got a rich father who actually cares about you. And here you are, your Dad gets Batman, of all people, out here to rescue you! And what did I get? Nothing! I was just so mad..I went out and made the call. And then...and then Batman apologizes to me. To me! I'm nobody, nobody to him, anyway. I was about to tell him, warn him when they came and we had to get out." He crouched down, hands covering his head. "Dick, I am so sorry! I'm sorry! I wish I could take it back, but I can't. I was so stupid!"
Dick sat in silence, holding the remains of the transmitter. What would Batman do? Time to start thinking like Robin. "We've got to get out of here. If they tracked us with the transmitter, they'll be combing this area for days. We have to get out and back into the city."
Rufus looked up. "You mean, you'll take me with you? You still trust me?"
Dick glared at his erstwhile friend. "Not really, but I can't leave you here. Will you still help me find my contact out of here?"
Rufus nodded vigorously. "Yes. I can. I will." He was about to tell Dick about the store with the paper flowers but something stopped him. He felt terrible about his betrayal and no longer wanted to give him up to Lee. But he still was afraid to trust. If he told Dick where the store was, what was to stop him from leaving Rufus behind and taking the road out himself? Rufus had already botched Lee's deal. This was his only chance home and he had to make sure that Dick took him along too.
After moonset, the two boys made their way off the roof and moved from shadow to shadow. Even burdened with Rufus, Dick was amazingly fast and good at finding cover. He seemed to know how to disappear from plain sight in a way that Rufus was beginning to find almost magical. They both stopped to rest after they left the last jeep behind.
"Man, how did you learn that?" Rufus asked when they were clear of the search area.
"Learn what?" Dick asked, scanning the area for more soldiers.
"How to disappear like that," Rufus said. "I didn't think anybody could do that except maybe Navy Seals or spies or metas or something."
Dick relaxed and grinned, his teeth shining in the dark. "I read a lot of detective books, I guess. I don't know, I guess it must come naturally." He took a last look around. "You ready? Let's go."