Chapter 10
Jason's POV
Opening my eyes, I see that I'm still lying in the filthy street of Crime Alley. My eyes widen when I recognize the Batmobile parked directly in front of me.
I climb to my feet as a twelve year old silently approaches the vehicle. He shakily lights a cigarette to calm his nerves before beginning his work. The Batman. The boy is about to rip off Batman.
Soon, the gutsy kid starts taking the tires off one by one, unaware of the fact that he's being watched. The kid starts laughing as he thinks he's going to get away with it. The boy is unaware of the fact that the Batman is standing directly behind him, watching his every move.
The boy's tools fall to the ground as he notices a giant shadow leaning over him. Shock is briefly seen on his face as he whirls around to find the bat behind him. He puts on a brave face to mask his fear as the figure snarls at him.
"Name." The bat growls.
"Bruce Wayne." He answers quickly.
A brief smile flashes across the face of the bat as a small chuckle escapes his lips. The smile disappears as the kid draws a knife from his pocket and holds it in a defense stance. He then proceeds to back away slowly before taking off as the figure gives him a head start before following.
Seconds later, the bat has returned with the kid's arm held firmly in his grasp. The boy is then instructed to put the tires back on. Seeing he has no choice, he does as he is told.
Once he has finished, Batman asks for his name again. This time he receives the right name of the boy. Then the questions follow: How old are you? Where do you live? Where are your parents?
Seeing that the boy is homeless and alone, Batman offers to take the child to a foster care system as a look of horror flashes across the boy's face. He will never go back. Nothing can make him go back.
The Dark Knight listens to the child's story emotionlessly, but on the inside he's horrified. He can see the darkness in the boy. He hopes he can change it as he orders the boy to get into the car.
The boy complies as he sees no escape. He's afraid. He's heard the rumors. The Batman is really a vampire. He can't help but wonder if the figure will kill him or save him.
The scene shifts from the alley into the cave at the manor. I watch as my fifteen year old self staggers down the stairs coughing as Batman waits for him. The sick teen changes into his costume at the pace of dead lice. Batman knows he's too sick to go out, but he won't say anything. The teen is old enough to decide for himself.
Soon, Alfred orders the Robin back to bed after throwing a glare to Batman that could shame his own. Batman sighs as the teen and the butler retreat up the stairs. Soon, the cowl and cape are removed as he shadows them.
Following them, I come to find the teen asleep against the only father he's ever really had. I swallow as the Bat smiles down at the kid before pulling the fallen blanket around the boy's shoulders.
I turn away from my favorite memory and hastily retreat to the cave as a few loose tears slip down my face. He never loved me. Never. He let me die. He did nothing to avenge me. Nothing.
Reentering the cave, I can see the two screaming at each other. This is the last time they will ever see each other again. The stupid kid is about to make the biggest mistake of his life. He's going to give up everything to find his real mother; the bitch who sold her own child to the Joker. The Batman is going to lose a child he never cared for. I am about to die. I am about to die believing he will save me. But, no one's coming. No one cares. I am about to die alone.
I freeze at the empty spot in the cave where my costume is stored. My memory of his greatest failure isn't here yet. But, soon this empty spot will be filled. It will be filled by the symbol of my existence, my life, my-
My life? I was told to retrieve an object from my past. He wants my costume, but why? Oh shit, the damn thing is in the Batcave, where Dick is.
Tim's POV
"Master, he is headed towards Wayne Manor. The Gypsy and the child are there. Should we remove the threat?" one of his servants asks upon entering the room.
Oh my God! What if they hurt Dick and Damian?
"No. They shouldn't be a problem. However, if they become a threat, bring them to me." The master replied before turning to look down at me. "Besides, the boy looks like he could use some company."
"Very well, shall we get the warehouse ready?" the servant asked.
"No. There's been a change of plans. We do the grave first."
"So you don't want us to bury the kid anymore?" he asks.
My eyes grow wide at his comment. They're going to bury me alive in Jason's coffin?
"No. I have a better plan for him. Take the boy to the warehouse."
Warehouse? I swallow as the skull approaches me with a blindfold and a syringe. This really sucks.