Hey guys, as promised, another three chapters for today.
Robin cursed Gotham. It was snowing now, and even the bad guys hadn't taken a break. He'd stopped three muggings, two robberies, and six would be rapes. It was true; Gotham was the infected wound on the earth that refused to be cleaned. Work would never stop.
Exhausted, he sat on the corner of a roof. He really needed to warm back up. He could hardly feel his hands and his feet, and he was sure his fever had come back. He looked at a nearby closed shop. Minimal security, considering the times. It would at least be a little warmer in there than out in the snow. Deciding it was worth it, he carefully climbed down a fire escape, accidently slipping halfway down and landing flat on his back on the pavement.
Dick laid in the snow for a minute, trying to catch his breath. The wind had been knocked out of him and wasn't in a huge rush to get back up. It was rather comfortable on his back. He was tired and cold. His minute of rest was over and he scrambled back up onto his feet.
The shop was easily hacked and Dick let himself in. It truly was warmer, albeit the still less than satisfactory temperature. He spent the next twenty minutes trying to find the heating system, and another five minutes trying to figure out how to turn it on.
His head felt fuzzy and he wasn't exactly feeling the best. His nose was completely plugged, he could hear his heartbeat in his ears and no matter what he did or how high he turned the temperature, he couldn't get warm. Deciding napping was the best option; he curled up near the heater and allowed himself to slip into blissful unconsciousness.
Tim nudged Jason, pointing to a small shop with fogged up windows. Jason smirked and together they trudged through the accumulating snow. There were indents in the snow, most likely once tracks. Someone was definitely hiding in there. The door had a closed sign, but Jason pushed it open regardless. If Robin had broken in, there was no sense in being cautious.
It was pitch black, but warmth immediately hit them and a collective sigh of relief filled them. Tim scrunched his nose, trying to put feeling back into it. Jason felt the walls for a light switch. Once found, the boys immediately shut their eyes against the offending light. A small groan was heard from behind the counter.
Once Tim's eyes adjusted, he peered over the counter and found the boy they were trying to track down. Robin was curled up next to the heater, now pulling his cape over his eyes to shield them. Jason went around the counter and lightly kicked Robin.
"Found ya."
Robin pulled his cape back down and squinted. It took the Boy Wonder a minute to recognize Jason, and once he did he groaned again and hit his head against the heater.
"Not feeling the aster right now," he said, "not at all."
"What?" Tim frowned. He didn't even have a clue to what that meant.
"Listen Goldie, it's really fricking cold outside. Alfred's worried about you, and we want some answers. So you're coming with us."
"We know you're a time traveler." Tim added. "Besides, Alfred has hot chocolate waiting for us. Did he make that for you in your time?"
Robin didn't answer. He slowly registered what the two boys were saying and bolted straight up onto his feet, swaying when all of the blood drained from his head. He caught himself and frowned at the two staring at him as if he was a lost puppy.
"Can't go back."
"Why?" Tim hopped over the counter. "You aren't going to do any harm by just spending a night or two. We already figured out everything. Dad's not going to turn superhero just 'cause you're around."
Jason elbowed Tim and hissed at him to shut up. "You don't have a choice anymore, Golden Boy."
Robin barked out a laugh when Jason whipped out a knife. It was pretty rugged looking, but Robin had faced off against so much worse.
"I lived on the streets too. I'm not an amateur." Jason snapped at him. "I'm not afraid to get you back for earlier, either."
"A knife?" Robin rasped out. "You seriously think a knife will convince me to go? I've faced off against the worst of Gotham's scum."
The door opened and a particularly dark figure entered, flipping a coin. "Well, well. What have we got here?"
Robin sneered. Just when he'd thought this Gotham didn't have anyone to worry about. In comes Two Face, as ugly as ever.
"Two Face." Robin pulled Tim back behind him, the slightly older boy scowling. Jason turned and took a defensive stance.
"What's this? Three boys having a slumber party? Nice pajamas, kid." Two Face. "What are you doing out so late? Bed time was hours ago."
"Utility Belt, engage." Immediately the utility belt activated, opening pockets for Robin to easily access. "We were just heading home. I imagine you weren't."
"You've got a smart mouth. Let's flip and see if you get a bullet to the brain or to the heart."
Two Face flipped his coin and before it fell into his hand, the sound of metal slicing metal cut through the air. To Two Face's right, a birdarang pinned his coin to the wall of the shop. Robin smirked, several more in hand.
"Listen, I could take you out, or you could leave." Robin leapt up onto the counter. "These guys really need to go home, and I'd rather not take a trip down to Gotham PD dragging your sorry butt. So really, save us both the trouble and get out."
Two Face sneered, drawing his pistol and cocking it. "You're dead, kid."
Robin sighed. "So not whelmed right now."
The pistol was fired and Robin was in action. He flipped and kicked, knocking Two Face through the glass door and out into the snow. Quickly turning to the other two, he started barking out orders.
"Get down for now, and as soon as I cuff him, run around the corner. He's bound to have some back up around here. I'll fly us out in a minute."
Tim did as told, but peeked over the top of the counter to watch. Jason scowled, but reluctantly followed his brother's lead. He was also curious to watch Robin work. Dick turned back to Two Face and avoided three more bullets to the head, countering with two birdarang's to Two Face's right hand. One knocking the gun away, and the other embedding itself into the flesh of his hand.
Two Face let out a yowl and a snarl before Robin's fist met his face a few times. The fight was over and he motioned for Jason and Tim to move as he pulled the unconscious man's wrists together behind him and locked them into bat shaped handcuffs.
Sure enough, Dick was right. Three cronies were trudging through the snow, each drawing guns. Backing away from his catch of the night, Robin met the other boys around the corner.
"How are we supposed to get out of here?" Tim asked, keeping his eyes on Two Face's still form in the snow.
"We fly." Robin answered, pulling out his grappling hook. "I'm going to need you to hold on my waist. Don't let go."
Unsure, Tim hesitantly did as asked. Jason took a step back, refusing outright.
"It's fly or die." Robin snapped. "Seriously, we're running out of time."
The grunts of the cronies was getting closer and reluctantly Jason grabbed hold. Shooting the grappling hook, all three boys were pulled through the air as Robin maneuvered them in between buildings and up onto the roof of a building several blocks away. It would be some time before Two Face's cronies would even get close enough to see them.
The landing wasn't as graceful as the flight, and because of the added weight, Robin nearly was shy of the rooftop. All three were thrown across the snow covered roof. Tim was the first to recover, shaking and struggling with something to say. He noticed Robin a couple of feet away and went to check on him.
"Son of a bitch!" Jason groaned, holding his hip. "What the hell just happened?"
"Jay, he's not waking up! I think he might have hit his head." Tim shook the boy's prone body. "Not good."
"What?"
"His head is bleeding. How are we supposed to get off this roof?" Tim reached into his pocket. "I'm calling Dad."
"Shit! What if Dad runs into Two Face? Warn him."
Tim impatiently waited for their father to pick up the phone. "Dad! Listen, stay where you are. Jay and I found him. It's a long story and we've got a couple of problems—no we're okay. Well, he's got a head wound and—no! Dad, listen, we ran into Two Face. We need you to take to the north and stay away from the south. We're on a roof near…"
"The signs are all covered with snow." Jason looked for some kind of landmark. "I think we're on an apartment building. We're really high up."
"We're on an apartment building roof." Tim relayed. "Uh… we'll tell you how when we get home. Hey wait. Jay, is that Wayne Tech?"
Jason squinted. "Yeah. We're next to Wayne Tech."
"We're next to Wayne Tech. Hurry. It's really cold and I can't get this wound to stop bleeding." Tim hissed at the gash along Robin's temple. "Bye Dad."
"He alive, Timmy?" Jason plopped next to his brother in the snow. "Damn, it's bleeding good. Don't worry too much though. Head wounds bleed a lot. It's just how it goes."
"He's shivering." Tim eyed Robin, especially curious about his utility belt. Reaching for it, his hand was slapped away by Jason. "What was that for?"
"Last time I tried that I got shocked. Don't touch it." Jason shifted and winced. "Damn it. My hip hurts."
"I hit my ribs pretty good, but I think I'm okay. It only hurts if I move a certain way."
"This kid is dangerous. He took out Two Face in under a minute. No way is a kid that good."
"If Dad was a superhero too, I bet he was better. That's really scary to think about."
Jason didn't say anything, and it was silent until the door to the roof was opened ten minutes later and a very worried Bruce Wayne ushered them inside, scooping up Robin. Once back at Wayne Manor, the boys were patched up. At four in the morning, nearly all of the occupants of Wayne Manor went to bed. Bruce sat next to the unconscious Robin sleeping in his bed, and Alfred kept him company.
"This boy is the biggest mystery in the world Alfred. Just when I think I have him figured out, more questions arise."
"We can't force him to stay, you know."
"I know, but we can't just let him go out there and freeze to death. He's still sick."
"Yes, that fever of his is running on the high side." Alfred gently placed his hand on Dick's forehead. "I imagine it will take more than an evening's rest to recover from this."
"If anything, we can use his injury as an excuse."
"You mean to tell him he only has to stay until he is healed and in that time frame manage to persuade him to stay for good."
"It couldn't hurt. He's still a kid."
"Yes, that's what worries me. Sir, I have seen many things, but a child facing off against dark and very dangerous criminals have me baffled." Alfred sighed. "This boy is going to get more than a concussion and fever at this rate. He's going to get himself killed."
Bruce opened his mouth to say something and shut it again.
"What is it?" Alfred raised an eyebrow. "I know that look. You disagree with me."
"To a degree." Bruce admitted. "From the way Jason and Tim told me about how he took down Two Face, I'm not so sure he's being reckless. He died when saving me and my parents, but then it seemed like he was taken off guard; whereas now he was very much focused and in control of the situation."
"Even so, sir, he is a child."
"It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Who could possibly allow a child out onto the streets at night? How young was he when he started? He can't have just started."
"Honestly, Master Bruce, I have a feeling it was you." Alfred sighed, "I will turn in for the night. Please don't push yourself. You have three meetings tomorrow regarding Wayne Tech."
"Thank you, Alfred."