{the despondent talon}

-Let misery hide itself in silence, otherwise it becomes treason-

He was in a haze of ice. There were white, fluffy flakes falling all around him, fluttering in swirling gust of red wind that blew burnt, icy mist into his eyes. He could not see, and he could not feel, and the world felt like it was shattering in half as it glittered and hissed, cold and unforgiving as winter's grasp. When he breathed, he felt knives in his throat. He felt a chill in his bones. And he spun, his body stretching and bending, feeling light and feathery as he moved.

"Hello?" he called, moving into the white abyss. He felt weary and scared, and is body was fluttering in the wind. His voice ricocheted back at him. White wavered, and red swirled, and he breathed in blood and exhaled smoke. The world was a series of wisps, snow and blood beating at him, piercing his skin. He coughed, and stumbled, feeling like someone was trying to tear out his bones, claws and blades prodding through his muscle and skin, ripping him up and casting him off.

The ice was caking to him. And he was bleeding. He felt it, he felt the wounds, and he was dizzy with death, and red, and white. The world was whirling. And he screamed, failing against the wind, and falling upward into the air. His limbs flailed and froze, ice clinging to them and snapping. He screamed louder, and he breathed, his mist of breath red and swirling like crystallized droplets of blood.

He slammed against the ground, and he felt it shatter. The ground cracked up, and it spit needles of ice at him, slicing through his skin and sending him into a shaky, convulsing mess. Help, he thought wildly, falling into a chasm of white. He felt as though the world had disappeared, and now he was spiraling into a void if ice and blood. He breathed, and he screamed, and he felt the world collapse around him.

He awoke with a jolt. The world was just as cold as he thought it had been, but it wasn't quite as white. He felt numb, but there was a creeping sting that told him he was injured. There was a stream of pale light fluttering through the crack in a window to his left, and it was then that he realized that there were ropes chafing his wrists and ankles, and binding his arms to his chest. His mask was missing, and there was a cold, unforgiving draft that sliced against his bare cheeks.

"He's awake," a soft, strangely thick voice said. Talon's mind went wild trying to register the odd accent. A child, he thought. He hated when he had to deal with children. It made him feel like a monster.

"What?" another voice squeaked, a girl. She had a higher voice, and it was sweeter and more childish.

"He's awake," repeated the accented voice. Talon felt soft footsteps against unrefined wood, but he did not hear them, which struck him as odd. Usually his hearing picked up even the softest of footsteps. Talon blinked as a small, skinny hand grabbed him by the hair and yanked him upright. It was a child, to be sure, a skinny child in a mismatch of layers. His clothing was distinctly eastern in origin, and as Talon observed him, he found himself linking the clothing to the middle east, perhaps. The boy's skin, however, was very pale, almost sickly sallow, and his hair was thin and fine and white as snow. It looked fluffy and soft too, which made Dick remember a snowfall from years and years ago. Dad, come on, it's a snowman, duh! He swallowed, and he looked away from the boy's face. He was wearing dark tinted glasses.

"Welcome to the Rabbit Hole," the white haired boy said, his voice smooth as honey and thick as a blanket of snow. His accent wasn't recognizable. It was a pool, a mixture of different tongues choking in the boy's throat. He didn't seem to know which voice to use, and so he used an amalgamation.

"You know, we're kind of running out of room for strays," said another boy, his voice higher, and clearer. He was taller than the white haired boy, and he wore less layers. His hair was bright red, and his face was faintly freckled. He also wore a lazy smile, as if he didn't have a care in the world. Dick was jealous. "So like, how many assassins can we fit in this place before Batman bursts in?"

"Batman's away, Col'," the girl said, coming into view. She was the shortest, and the one who appeared the youngest. She had big brown eyes, and a curious gaze, and a small smile. "Looks like it's up to us to clean up Gotham, huh?"

"You know," the redhead said, flipping a strap in the air and catching it. Talon stared, and with wide eyes he realized it was his belt full of knives. "I was thinking exactly the same thing."

"So what do we do with him?" the girl asked, peering at Talon closely. Talon watched her every move, and he gritted his teeth. Children. Children were his weakness, and he knew it. He could kill them. He knew he had the ability to. But Talon was weak and cold, and he could feel his wounds. They felt fatal.

"I can kill him for you," the white haired boy said. Talon focused his attention on him. He was lithe, that was clear, and he was probably very fast. Dangerous. Talon wondered if it was true. Kill me, then, Talon thought. Try it, and maybe I'll stay dead.

"Um, no!" the other two gasped in unison. They glanced at each other, and the girl shook her head. "Ghost, we don't do that. We give people chances to prove themselves."

"That is idiotic and childish," the white haired boy sighed. "It will get you killed before it helps anyone, you imbeciles."

"You're wrong, Ghost," the redhead said. "We gave you a chance, and you didn't disappoint."

"Tt. I merely was taking a precaution," Ghost huffed, glaring down at Talon. "It had nothing to do with you."

"And that's why you're still here," the redhead said, smirking down at Ghost. "Disregarding the information we gave you about Jason Todd to stay with us." Talon looked at the boy sharply, and stared for a few moments. Jason Todd, he thought. They know something about Jason Todd. Perhaps the children could be of use. The thought made him straighten up. Yes, that was it. There was no need to kill them.

Ghost visibly went rigid, and he looked at the redhead sharply, rage contorted his features. "Don't test me, you ingrate," Ghost spat, his arm whipping out. Talon watched as the tiny boy pointed a kunai at the redhead's face, the tip of it brushing the child's nose. "I am only still here because I need to know his purpose!"

"Sure you are," said the redhead, unfazed by the blade pointing at his nose.

"Colin—" the girl gasped, looking between the two boys frantically. "Maybe you shouldn't provoke him."

"You should listen to her," Ghost said, raising his head high. "She is much more sensible than you. Which is saying something."

The girl looked at Ghost sharply, and she scowled, placing her hands on her hip. "Don't you test me, ghost boy," she said, her voice sharp and accusing. "Stop being a total jerkface already, it's getting old! You're like, part of the team now, okay? You don't need to be all aloof and angry, it's just a waste of time!"

"You don't know anything," Ghost sneered. "And I'm not part of your team."

"You're totally part of the team," Colin said, smiling broadly as Ghost lowered his arm.

"Do not make me hurt you, Colin."

"Call me Abuse," Colin said, sticking his hands in the pockets of his bright red hoodie. He glanced at Talon, and frowned. "For right now, anyway."

"Abuse," Ghost repeated. He looked to the girl, and he scowled. "Do you have an alias too?"

"Um, no, actually." She said. She looked thoughtful for a moment, and she beamed. "But I can make one up!"

"You do that," Ghost said, turning back to Talon. "Now. What to do with you."

Talon cocked his head. He felt naked without his mask, and very vulnerable. But what could children do that he hadn't tried? "Maybe," Talon said, his voice very hoarse. It felt like glass slipping from his throat, but he ignored it. "Maybe we can help each other."

Ghost raised an eyebrow, and he saw that it was saw pale that it could barely be seen. Colin and the girl peered at Talon curiously, and the girl grinned broadly. "We're really lucky that the bad guys we collect are reasonable," she chirped. She glanced at Ghost, and her smile half fell. "Well, for the most part."

"I would say lucky," Colin said, frowning down at Talon. "More like we seem to attract a lot of danger."

"And why," Ghost said, tilting his head, "would we help you?"

"Jason Todd," Talon said, blinking as Ghost yanked at his hair. It was then that Dick realized it hadn't been cut in a while. It fell across his forehead in a mass of unruly spikes. He watched Ghost snap to attention, his interest obviously perking up. "I want him. You know something about him."

"Oh my god, what is with this dude?" Colin asked, his eyes widening. "Who drew the target on the poor guy's head, the president?"

"You want Jason Todd," Ghost said. "Why?"

Talon had to be tentative. These were children after all. But then, lying would not get him anywhere, and he knew it. And obviously the boy seemed to have no qualms on killing. That bothered him. Children shouldn't be this way, he thought sadly. Children should have a chance to live.

"I want to kill him," Talon said.

"Surprise," Colin muttered, rolling his eyes.

Ghost stood silently for a short while, his pouting lips pressing together thinly. Talon watched him, staring up into the tinted lenses of his glasses. The boy looked pensive, and that was enough for Talon. I thoughtful child could be trapped. And not murdered. Talon was relying too much on hope, and that was growing to be an issue. But he had no wish to harm the children. They seemed… sweet.

"I want to kill him as well," said Ghost, raising his arm. He pointed the kunai's tip at Talon, and he could feel it grazing his throat. "I need to be the one to do it."

"Why?" Talon asked, tilting his chin up high. The world was so cold, he felt sickened and weak and uncertain of how much more he could take.

"That is none of your business." Ghost jerked his hand, and Talon felt the slim point of the kunai slice through his jugular. It was a biting pain, cold as the winter's kiss, and Talon gurgled as he choked on his own blood, and slumped forward into a pool of it. The last thing he heard before darkness settled was the sound of children shrieking.

He awoke as if from a shivering pool of dark, coagulated water, and the first thing he heard was shouting.

"— so unbelievable! I mean, how can you trust this kid after that?!" New voice. Feminine, but coarse and bristly. Talon opened his eyes, and he saw nothing but a wooden floor below him, which was dark and shadowy. It was now, apparently, night time. That was troubling.

"They still seem to trust you," a voice said— Ghost. Talon's head was swimming, and the pain jolting through his body was near unbearable, but he did recognize the voice. He did remember. That was a shame. But Talon could feel warmth stretching through the room, and he closed his eyes as he smelled the vapors of smoke. A fire. A fire was what he needed to heal properly. Just a little more warmth…

"I'm not an assassin!" the harsh voice cried.

"Not yet," Ghost replied, his voice as cold and sharp as the winds outside. "But your father works for the League of Shadows. He is training you to follow in his footsteps. In the end, you will be no better than me, so spare me your disgust. Do you think he was any better? That man is a killer too. I saw it in his eyes. He is a monster, same as me, and none of your squabbling will change that!"

"You're right," the girl snapped. "You are a monster. You're just a sad little monster, and you don't care about anything or anyone! Why don't you go run back to the Shadows and leave us alone!"

"Artemis, stop!" a soft voice cried. The little girl from before, likely. "She didn't mean it, Ghost, I swear— wait, where are you going?"

"To hell, hopefully," the harsh girl, Artemis said. "Thanks for the mess. Hope Batman gets you."

"You should run," Ghost said. "If you have no wish to join the Shadows, then you should run."

"It's not that simple."

"Then you are weak," Ghost hissed. "You're a spineless little girl. The Shadows wouldn't even want you. Surely someone so cowardly—"

There was shuffling, and Talon could hear the struggle. He could feel it. The ground shook as a body hit the ground, and the younger girl's shriek filled the room.

"Stop!" the girl cried. "Stop fighting!"

"I told you!" Ghost snarled. "You're weak!"

"Get off her, Ghost!" Colin gasped. The struggle sounded like nothing more than a small scuffle, but even so, Dick bolted up straight. That's enough, he thought, slipping out of the bonds he had loosened before the Ghost had slit his throat. He saw that there were four children now, all relatively small and all twisted together. They were grunting and gasping, soft shrieks as punches flew. Dick shed the ropes, setting them aside and rising carefully to his feet. His throat had just about healed, and the rest of his wounds were closing as well. The warmth from the fire gave him strength. And he bolted forward, his eyes on the back of the Ghost, who was struggling against Colin and the younger girl.

Dick wrapped his arms around the boy's abdomen and yanked him upward, whirling him away. The boy fought wildly, his voice a screech in Dick's ears. But Dick was much stronger, and he squeezed the boy until his flailing stopped. He grappled at Dick's arms, making weak noises of objection, his head twisting to look up.

"I killed you!" Ghost cried.

"If only." Dick released him, only to spin him around and pin his arms to his sides. The boy bared his teeth at Dick, and jumped up, his feet slamming against Dick's chest.

"Let me go!" Ghost shouted, kicking wildly. "This time I'll make sure you stay dead!"

"I'll let you if you apologize," Dick said, squeezing the boy's biceps until he gasped.

"What?"

"Apologize." Dick released him, and the Ghost flipped off him, landing on his feet in a defensive stance. "To her. The girl you hurt."

"He didn't hurt me."

Talon turned around, and he froze as his eyes settled on the girl's face. She was watching him with a strange sort of fascination in her expression. Her face was slimmer than he remembered, but she'd grown up quite a bit since then. Her eyes were the same, though. Naturally curious and sharp, narrowed at his face, and the color of dark ash.

He stood up straight, and he looked at the other children. They were both staring at him incredulously, and the younger girl was swatting Colin's arm, her mouth agape as she stared at Dick. The Ghost was staring at Dick too, a scowl on his lump little lips.

"You remember me," Artemis said suddenly. Dick stared at her, and he took a step back. That seemed to be enough for her. Her eyes widened, and she looked furious and confused and awed all at once. "You suck, you know that? I mean, it's not at the top of my list of traumatizing experiences, but damn, it got close. I was six!"

"Artemis, you know this guy?" Colin asked, his wide eyes moving to the blonde girl's face.

"He's only been the subject of my nightmares for years," Artemis said bitterly.

"And you were so upset when he was dead," Ghost sneered.

"Shut up." Artemis glared at the small boy, and she folded her arms across her chest. "You both suck."

"Suck what?" Ghost asked, his sneer turning into a grimace. "What does that even mean?"

"God," Artemis said, staring at him blankly. "You've been living under a rock your entire life, haven't you?"

"Artemis who is this guy?" Colin asked, pointing at Dick.

Artemis stared at Dick, her eyes narrowing. He stared right back, and he had to wonder what had happened after they had met the first time. Her father is an assassin, Dick thought. That explains why no one ever came looking for me.

Artemis turned to Colin, straightening up considerably. She was taller than the boy, but not by very much. "He's the Talon," she said. Dick stared at her, and he exhaled, looking away. "He almost killed me once after I tried to help him."

"Almost," Dick said, his voice soft. "But I didn't."

Artemis shook her head in disbelief, glaring at him with such fervor that he could almost feel her hatred. "Who cares?" she snapped. "You're still awful."

"I don't want to hurt you," Dick said, feeling desperate. He sounded desperate too. He might have even looked desperate. "I don't… I don't want to hurt anyone."

"And yet…" Artemis glared at him, but he ignored it. He looked to Colin, and he took a deep breath. He had to entreat with these children. He had to cater to their pity if he wanted to keep them alive.

"You're the Talon," Colin said, staring at him with widening eyes. "Like… from the rhyme?"

"Oh yeah, that's the one," Artemis said, scowling.

"Rhyme?" Ghost asked, walking carefully away from Dick, back to the youngest girl's side. Dick sighed, wondering when his life had turned into a creepy little rhyme that children were told to scare them.

"Oh, right, you're not from here," the younger girl said. "It's a nursery rhyme. Everyone knows it. Um… Beware the court of owls, that watches all the time. Ruling Gotham from a shadow perch, behind granite and lime."

Colin picked up quickly, reciting the poem easily, as if it had been on his mind all along. "They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed." The trio looked at each other, and they finished the horrible poem in unison. "Speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the talon for your head."

Dick looked away, feeling sad and awkward and unsure. Children, he thought, closing his eyes. Why does it always have to be children. Dick didn't know if he'd be able to kill them now if he tried. Even the Ghost seemed to have gone very quiet, the words sinking in, and the eerie silence stretched over them. They all stared at each other, and Dick found himself sinking to his knees, the words scorching themselves into the walls of his mind. Speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the talon for your head.

"Is… is he okay?" whispered the younger girl urgently. "Artemis?"

"He's still hurt," Artemis said. "I don't know. What should we do with him?"

"If what you say is true," Ghost said, his voice very quiet. "We should dispose of him before he tells his… Court."

"I won't," Dick whispered, hugging himself. He felt shaky and cold, and younger than he'd felt in years. The children were reminding him that he was still human. And he felt like a child, like a boy who had been through hell and forced to become something he wasn't, and he felt tears in his eyes. "I promise I won't. I promise, I…" Dick choked on his words, and stared ahead of him, feeling a little dead on the inside, as he pressed his hand to his mouth to stifle a scream.

"Pathetic," Ghost spat.

Dick closed his eyes, and he shook his head. He had no idea what to do, and he felt like his entire world was crashing down on his head, and he couldn't function. Thoughts were churning in his mind, bursting into flame and then dispersing, and he couldn't focus because he was so tired of everything and being no one and nothing, and he missed being who he'd been before, he missed the happy boy who loved to fly and laugh and run and talk. He missed the child he'd lost to the Court of Owls, and he couldn't bear it if he was the one to wipe another child from the world.

"Hey," a soft voice said. Dick opened his eyes, and it was the younger girl who stood before him, the one who was thus far nameless. She was staring at him with worry in her eyes, and her hand extended out to him. "Don't cry, Talon. It's okay."

Dick lifted a shaky hand to his cheek, and he pulled it away to find his glove glistening. His entire body was trembling, and he could hear his own breathing, shallow and ragged. "Please step away from me," he murmured, curling into himself. He stared at her as her hand fell, as did her face, and she took a step back.

"You said we could help each other," Ghost said, observing him with a raised head. "I still want to kill Jason Todd."

"What is your fixation with Jason Todd?" Artemis asked him, her eyes narrowing.

"It's personal." Ghost shrugged. He looked back to Dick, and he tilted his head. "However, I would not object to having some… assistance getting to him."

"You can kill Jason Todd," Dick said softly. Saying it made his heart hurt, and he took a deep breath as the four children looked at each other with varying expressions.

"We're not helping you with that, dude," Colin told Ghost. "Sorry."

"I did not expect your hospitality to grace me that far." Ghost sniffed, and he fiddled with the red scarf around his neck, turning his face away.

"You don't have to do it," the younger girl said, looking at Ghost with eyes so big and bright, she looked almost like a little beacon. "We can find a place for you here. You don't have to kill people."

"You misunderstand," Ghost said. "I have no wish to kill anyone but Jason Todd. That is what I came here for."

"But why?" Artemis asked, exasperated. "The guy's been through enough in his life, just let him be, you little demon."

"I said it was personal."

"Have you ever even met the dude?" Artemis asked, her eyes widening. "No. I don't think you have. So why is it so personal?"

"Artemis…" Colin said, resting a hand on the girl's arm.

"I'm serious!" Artemis snapped. "I don't get it! Why is this so damn important?"

"Because!" Ghost snapped right back, his teeth baring at the girl. "Because— because it's not fair!"

"What isn't fair?" Colin asked stepping closer to Ghost. "Come on, Ghost, talk to us."

"No!" Ghost covered his face with his hands, and he shook his head profusely. "No, no, no!"

Dick stood up. The boy was shaking, and he was angry and distraught, and Dick knew the feeling. He stepped closer to the child, and then closer still. Colin and Artemis looked at him, and backed away as he neared Ghost, their mouths parting as Dick pressed his hand to the boy's fluffy white hair. And the boy jerked away, looking horrified.

"Don't—!" he snarled.

"Come," Dick said, offering him his hand. "Please."

Ghost looked at him, his mouth agape for a moment. He turned his head to look at the trio, and Dick saw them shaking their heads. No, they were trying to say. Don't do it, don't do it! But Dick knew the temptation was too much for the child. And reluctantly, Ghost took Dick's hand.

"I get to kill Jason Todd," Ghost told him, his voice quiet.

"Yes," Dick said, watching as the boy dragged him toward a busted staircase, pulling him down the steps. The fire was on the lower floor, and Dick wondered if they knew how dangerous it was unsupervised. There was a massive black dog lying by the door, and it perked up as Ghost passed by. Ghost paused at the door, and looked back. Dick did too.

The three children were standing at the foot of the stairway, huddled very close together and watching them go with expressions of horror and sadness. The younger girl whose name Dick had never learned waved at them. "Bye, Ghost," she called.

"Goodbye," Ghost said softly, staring at them for a very long moment. He opened his mouth, and his lips trembled for a moment of uncertainty. And then the boy shoved his hood up, spinning around, and h stepped out the door, his cloak fluttering behind him.

Dick had stolen his things back at the last moment, when he'd remembered he'd lost them. As he followed the boy, he strapped his belt back on across his chest. He felt something stalking behind them, and he turned to realize the dog had followed them, padding softly at Dick's back.

"Is this your dog?" Dick asked, looking at the small boy. Ghost was going very slowly now, as if he was afraid to step forward. He looked down sharply as the dog nuzzled his hand, and he jumped a little.

"No, he…" The Ghost looked confused. "I don't know."

"He likes you," Dick observed, stepping up beside the boy and the dog. The boy seemed to be feeling the dog's dark fur, running his hands across it gingerly. It was twilight, and foggy, the night drawing closer and closer with every misty breath.

"He… has an owner." Ghost fingered at the collar, but did not bend to read it.

"Maybe you should bring him back," Dick told the boy, resting his own hand on the dog's head. Dick was surprised when it nuzzled his hand as well. Dogs don't usually like me, Dick though. So why do you? "When this is all over, you should find his owner."

Ghost sighed, and he turned away. "Perhaps," he said quietly. For a few minutes they walked like this, creeping in the shadows of the nearing night. The dark was coming fast, and Dick had not a plan in the world on how to find Jason Todd. But as weak as he was, the night was young. And he was ready for it all to end. "So we are in agreement about Todd," Ghost said.

"Yes." They walked nearly side by side, with a large black dog between them. "You and I will find him. You will kill him." Dick took a deep breath, and looked down at the white haired boy. "And then you will kill me."

Ghost looked up at him, his mouth opening, and then closing. He looked very confused, and he stopped altogether for a moment. And then he snapped his head away, scowling at the ground.

"Fine," Ghost said quietly. "I'll kill both of you."


Note: I love writing the Rabbit Hole kids, because they give no shits about anything. Oh, you're an assassin? WE'VE GOT LOADS OF ASSASSINS COME ON IN.

They're all still p shitty tho.

Um, yeah, Victor Hugo and what not.