So um, at this moment, I think only 2 people have guessed who the bad guy is! I've heard 3 other guesses, which were Tony Zucco, Slade, and Joker. But guys, I mean, Joker? I've already done 3 stories with him! haha well, we're just gonna have to find out now!
Your Faithful "Come What May"
I stared in shock at the man towering over me. Now that he was closer, I could clearly make out his costume; it looked like an owl! His mask had large, blue eyes, a yellow beak, and yellow strands that went over his head, making him look like an owl. He wore all black and had a brown strap going from his shoulder to his side, loaded with knives. He also had knives on either hip, and two machetes strapped to his back.
"How did you-"
"How did I know your name?" he asked. "That your mother's name was Mary, and today is the 6 year anniversary of her death?" He kneeled down in front of me and grabbed my face in one of his gloves hands, "I know everything about you, Richard. You should have been-"
I lifted myself onto my arms and kicked him square in the chest, sending him flying back before he could finish. "Been what?" I asked.
He chuckled quietly, and I motioned for the others not to attack, "You've been trained well, Boy Wonder. But you're still vulnerable. You can still be directed towards your true destiny."
"What true destiny?" I questioned, but he dropped a smoke bomb and was nowhere to be seen.
The last thing he said was "Tell Batman that the Court of Owls will have their way," as he vanished through the smoke.
"We could have taken him," Conner said.
"No, we couldn't have," I said, looking at Mary's lifeless body. "He was able to hit her twice from his point up there, throwing knives. Besides; he knew who I am. I hate to say it, but… we need to call Batman."
When we reached the Mountain, we told Red Tornado about the mysterious man, and he agreed that calling Batman was the best course of action.
I pulled up the webcam and dialed up the Watch Tower. The call was immediately answered by Batman, who seemed none-too happy to be hearing from me so soon.
"What's the problem?" he asked, straight to the point, as usual.
"We have a situation here," I told him. "We were attacked-"
"I'll be right over."
A few minutes later, the Zeta Tubes were announcing the arrival of Batman. He glared at me when he saw my lack of sunglasses, then started looking me over, not seeming to care that the other three heroes were watching in amazement. "What happened?"
"We went out for a little bit and this guy in a weird owl costume attacked us. He said to tell you that the Court of Owls would-"
Bruce spun on his heels and walked to the Zeta Tubes, so I ran after him, "Bruce, where are you going?"
He stopped and sighed, obviously not wanting to answer my question.
"What's the Court of Owls?" I asked quietly.
"I had a run in with them after you became Robin, when I had you resign after the accident with Two-Face."
"What happened?"
"They wanted you," he said. "They wanted Dick Grayson."
I stared at him in shock, "Why would they want Dick Grayson?"
"The man who contacted me; his name was William Cobb. He told me that you belong to the Court of Owls. When I refused to give you to them, he said that he would be back. Didn't say when, just that he would."
"I'll tell him I don't want to go with him, then," I said. "They can't make me!"
"Dick, these people can do whatever the hell they want. They have sources, know people."
"They killed a woman, Bruce," I said. "We can't let them keep doing this."
"They were trying to prove a point to you," Bruce warned. "They want to scare you into obedience."
I weighed my options and realized that they really weren't going to leave me alone so easily. "Bruce, what if they kill you?" I asked, fear sinking in. "What about Tim, and Babs?"
"We'll figure something out," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder, obviously not wanting to get too close.
"Bruce, I saw this guy hit a woman dead in the face from a rooftop! He could kill you."
"Their training could kill you," Bruce said. "The things they put people through are inhumane."
"But if I don't die, then you will! Wally will die… Babs will die."
"Barbara and Wally can handle themselves. I can handle myself, Dick, you know that."
"I can't lose you, too," I said. Nothing else was said; nothing had to be as Bruce wrapped his strong, muscled arms around my body.
The small gesture spoke more than we could ever verbalize. It showed the worried father side of him. I realized how much I was going to miss this not living at the manor, but I reminded myself that Tim needed him more than I did.
"You should get back to Tim," I finally said, breaking the silence. "I'll be fine here."
Bruce looked me over quietly, "If anything happens, if you get any more messages from the Court of Owls, call me. Call the League, anyone. We're all here for you."
I nodded, "I'll be sure to call if anything happens, don't worry. Besides, I have M'gann and Conner with me, and they're the powerhouses of the team." I smiled at him as if it would make him feel better about the situation.
He smiled back, "The rest of the team will be here tomorrow for training."
Bruce turned and left through one of the zeta tubes, leaving me by myself. I stood there for a minute, watching as the light in the tunnel faded.
I went back to my room and lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling, not focusing on anything in particular. My brain kept bouncing back from any train of thought I had, receding into the state between sleep and awake, where nothing made sense. Nothing mattered.
The only thought that actually stuck was about the Court of Owls. What if Bruce failed? What if they killed him? I wouldn't let that happen. If it got too close to that point, I would give myself to them.
I got up and pulled my backpack from my closet and put two pairs of jeans and two sweatshirts in it. I then snuck quietly from my room and made my way to the kitchen. I opened up one of the cabinets and found some protein bars. I picked up my water bottle from the counter and returned to my room, placing them in the bag. I was ready to leave if I had to.
I picked up one of my books for school and began reading. Even with a group of assassins after me, I still had to keep up my grades. Welcome to the life of a teenage superhero.
A week passed before I heard from Bruce, I would see him at school every day, going to pick up Tim, but not Friday. Tim came to me in a panic, instead, at the end of the day.
"Dick, Dick!" he screamed, running to me before I left with Artemis, who also knew my identity now.
"What is it, Tim?" I asked him, holding a hand to pause Artemis.
"Alfred just called. Bruce, he-"
"He what, Tim?" I demanded, grabbing his small arms before I could stop myself.
"He was attacked, just this morning, in his office. They left a note."
"What was the note about?"
Tim looked at me blankly for a minute and tears began streaming down his face, "You," he said sadly. "They want you."