Chpt. XXXVIII: Redemption

Dick ran across the rooftops of the Gotham City skyline, towards the bright lights. He had to get to City Hall. Fast.

Dick leaped, flew, glided, & fell over & around & above the buildings, making his way back to the Batman. He needed to secure the area before Nolan Drake could make his attack. But if Dick had the chance, & he was face to face with Nolan, he would do it. Dick would make Nolan pay for what he did to those 14 people that died in the first attack, & the children injured in the school explosion. He would make Nolan pay for what he did to Cheyenne in Chinatown. He would make Nolan pay for what he did to Cullen Harper. Dick was going to kill Nolan Drake.

As he zipped through the rooftops, his thoughts were clouded with the advice given to him by Bruce, Jim, & Barbara. He shouldn't succumb to the darkness in him. He shouldn't kill Nolan in cold blood.

But would he be given a choice?

Bruce told Dick that vengeance doesn't bring back the dead. He was right about that. But...Dick wasn't trying to bring back the dead. He was trying to put down a monster.

Suddenly, he heard the Mayor's voice boom across a few city block. Dick cringed. The State of the City Address was starting.

Dick started to book it, running faster than he had ever tried before. As he ran, he could feel his feet stomping on the concrete of the rooftops. He wished his feet didn't have to bare those obnoxious boots.

Finally, after making his way across two more buildings, he found himself peering over what looked like most of the city's elite community observing the front of the City Hall. Mayor Quincy Sharp was already at the podium, welcoming the guests. Dick sighed. He had to be on high alert, now.

"Nice of you to drop by, Robin," Bruce said over Dick's earpiece.

Dick glanced up & around to try & spot him. He managed to squint his eyes close enough to see the Batman, looming over the event from a building across from Dick. The Batman looked terrifying in the darkness from afar. Dick pressed his earpiece to speak. "I was caught up with other matters, Batman."

"Did you at least find anything?" Bruce asked.

"Well, I found that car," Dick started to explain. "It was parked outside an apartment that Drake was living in. I managed to steal files from his computer setup over there. We may find anything else he might've been planning aside from this."

Bruce didn't respond. Dick watched as the Batman continued to stare down into City Hall. Dick sighed. He wanted Bruce to be impressed, to some degree. Dick cleared his throat & spoke again. "Nolan Drake kidnapped a child."

Dick saw the Batman glance up at Dick. "What?" Bruce asked.

Dick took a deep breath. "There was a guy in the apartment. Some dude. I think it was Drake's lover. It was a little weird, but...Nolan was hiding a kid in his closet as a prisoner. I think he sexually abused the boy."

Bruce stayed silent for a moment. Dick felt awful. He wish he hadn't said it. Bringing it up again made Dick's stomach churn. He was disgusted & heartbroken by the heinous crime. Finally, Bruce spoke. "Where is the boy now?"

"I had a friend notify Jim Gordon to pick the kid up. He's safe, now."

Dick watched as the Batman stood up slowly at his post. "Good job, Robin."

Dick felt a faint smile rise over his face, but slowly fade away again. The job wasn't done. Dick stood up, staring down into the crowd. "Any suspicious activity?"

"No," Bruce said. "Although, we may need to split up & divide our focus. We have no idea where Nolan would be setting off his the gas. I have a feeling it may be done from within the crowd, seeing as he normally sets off his attacks inside of a large crowd, where it's harder to see."

Dick nodded. He surveyed the crowd, looking out for any of Drake's thugs. However, he got distracted by two armed officers carrying a large crate down the street, aside from the crowd. The two carried the crate down the sidewalk, & turned down into an alley.

"Do you think that Nolan Drake may have some cops in his pocket?" Dick asked.

"Like, dirty cops?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah. I just saw two carrying a crate down an alleyway," Dick explained.

Bruce sighed. "It may very well just be merchandise for Mayor Sharp to give to the mass. Focus on the crowd."

"You said to divide our focus, right?" Dick asked. "I'll follow the cops & see if they check out, & you focus on the crowd."

Dick watched Bruce carefully to see his opinion. He nodded from across the block. "Alright, Robin. But hurry, & be careful."

Dick nodded & quickly scurried off towards the left of the building, attempting to make his way around the city block, towards the alleyway. Dick ran fast, avoiding detection from anyone on the ground below. He sped off fast over the ledges of the buildings, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Eventually, he found himself standing over the alley where he saw the two cops disappearing off into.

Dick peered down into the alley, surveying his descension route. Dick sighed & took a few steps back. He could easily leap from the fire escape, then go downwards, but it would be a lot easier to go straight down.

Dick ran forward, stepping off from the edge of the building, then free-falling straight down into the alley. The impact of his feet landing didn't hurt his feet or ankles, thanks to the boots' shock resistant design. Dick stood up & followed the trail that the cops took. Dick did his best to make no noise, hoping to hear any suspicious activities from the cops over the loud noise of the event going on down the street.

As Dick approached a large metal door leading into an abandoned building, a streak of red emerged from the door & attacked Dick. Dick fell back, feeling a metal rod connect to his skull. As he landed roughly on his back, he saw a boy with a red bandana around his forehead standing over him. With one swift stomp on his face, Dick was knocked out.

Dick began to stir awake again, regaining his senses. He felt his hands handcuffed in front of him, & his feet tied with a tight thick rope. Dick was leaning against a wall when he managed to fully observe his surroundings.

To his right, there was a chair in the middle of the cramped room. There was a woman tied up to the chair with a bag placed over her head. To the right of her was a balcony overlooking the State of the City address. To Dick's left was one doorway, where the young boy that attacked Dick stood. His red bandana was now lowered across his mouth, & he wore a black hoodie & baggy jeans. He held an assault rifle in his hands.

Dick stared at the young boy, trying to place where he had seen him before. Dick couldn't help but feel that he knew him from somewhere.

The boy noticed Dick staring. He turned to the door & opened it slightly, speaking to someone outside. The boy turned back to guard the door, where a young cop, a teenaged mercenary, & Nolan Drake entered. Nolan Drake turned to the young boy with the bandana & nodded. The boy shut the door behind them & continued to stand guard.

The cop & the mercenary stood by the balcony as Nolan Drake approached Dick. Dick did his best to keep a stern & still face as Nolan got closer. Nolan cleared his throat. "Well, this is new," he said softly.

Dick raised an eyebrow. Nolan turned back to the men by the balcony. "I mean, we haven't caught one of these clowns, yet! I would rather catch the Bat, but, hell, this is pretty cool too. A vigilante boy hasn't been tortured yet, so, there's one off the bucket list." Nolan turned back to Dick. He glanced up & down Dick's outfit. "What's the 'R' for, kid?"

Dick spit in Nolan Drake's face. "Rape-repellent," Dick growled.

Nolan Drake wiped his face & scoffed. "Wow, what a wild accusation there, kid!"

Dick shook his head. "I went by your apartment," Dick began to explain, in a low & disguised voice. "I found the boy."

Nolan stared down at Dick. He shook his head slowly. "You can have him," he muttered. "I'm through with him."

"Yeah, you fucking slaughtered that kid," Dick spat back.

"I do not care!" Nolan roared down at Dick. "Whatever! It's who I am, and you can not make me feel bad for it!"

The room grew silent. Even the large presence outside seemed to simmer down into silence.

"He was just a kid, Nolan," Dick said softly.

Nolan Drake stared down at Dick with a cold, but somewhat guilty look. "So was I," he muttered softly. Nolan turned to the boy in the bandana. "Any word on where Grayson is?" he asked.

"Not yet, no," the boy replied.

Nolan turned back to the girl in the chair & removed the bag over her head, revealing Barbara's red hair & beautiful pale face. Instead of pretty blue eyes, her eyes were bloodshot red. Dick's heart broke in the sheer thought of her eyes being red from either lack of sleep, or excessive crying, or both.

Nolan leaned towards Barbara. "Tell me, sugar tits, where do you think Dick Grayson could POSSIBLY be right now?"

Barbara shook her head frantically. "I have no idea! I haven't seen him in a really long time!"

Nolan Drake rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, I remember your story. Please spare me the details of your sexual escapade with the punk."

Barbara stared Nolan down with a ferocious look. "You're going to pay for this," she hissed.

Nolan let out an exaggerated laugh. "For what, kidnapping a cop's daughter? I plan on it, sweetie! I'm just WAITING for Dick Grayson to pop up & play hero for another night!"

Barbara shook her head, clenching her chin. "You're going to hell for all that you've done, & for whatever else you have planned for Dick & the city."

Nolan Drake grinned, glancing at the men around the room. "What's our motto, boys?"

"Hell is home!" chanted Nolan & the three other goons in the room. Barbara stared in terror as Nolan let out a maniacal laugh & exited the room, leaving her alone with the boy in the bandana & the fake cop & merc by the balcony.

Dick acted quickly. He brought his handcuffed hands up towards his waist & removed a blade from his utility belt. He began sawing at his tied up feet, eventually freeing his feet. He glanced up at the bandana boy, who was staring off into space, not paying attention. Dick glanced towards the two men at the balcony, who were both preoccupied with the scene occurring outside.

Dick scanned his belt to see which of his blades were the ones laced with chloroform. Dick wasn't sure. He sighed & slid out another blade & held the two in both hands, which were still handcuffed. He held his hands back, attempting to sling them towards the two on the balcony. Dick caught sight of Barbara, staring at Dick with a raised eyebrow. Dick stared back &, partially from an instinct to show off & also be somewhat flirtatious, he winked at her, then swung his wrists. The blades flew straight into the skulls of the two men, knocking them out.

"Hey!" the young boy by the door cried as Dick lunged towards him & covered his mouth with his hands. In that exact moment, Dick felt the rifle barrel pressed up against his chest.

"Okay," Dick said softly. "Look, if you put your gun down right now, I promise I won't snap your neck right now. And I know you saw how fast I got here. You know I'm faster than your trigger finger."

The boy stared at Dick with a cold stare. He muttered something underneath Dick's hand. Dick raised an eyebrow & slid his hand down, removing the bandana from the boy's mouth & pressing his hand against his throat. "You're not faster than my pipe swing," the boy bragged.

Dick shook his head. "Don't make me hurt you," Dick pleaded. "You're just a kid."

The boy scoffed softly. "Yeah, you apparently have a soft spot for those, don't you?"

Dick swiftly brought his knee up into the boy's gut, causing him to drop his weapon. Dick kicked the rifle back, away from the boy, & head butted him. Dick tossed the boy to his right, standing over his delirious body.

Dick made his way towards Barbara & knelt down. He took out a Batarang & began sawing at the rope that tied her ankles & wrists to the chair. Dick glanced up at Barbara, but quickly looked away. He didn't want her to recognize him.

As Dick freed Barbara's limbs, Barbara let out a sigh of relief & dropped down in front of Dick & hugged him. "Thank you so much," she breathed.

Dick held her tight for a moment. He was just grateful that she was alright now & wasn't hurt. For a second, he forgot that he was Robin, & quickly let go of Barbara. "Alright," he said in a low, disguised voice. "I'm going to clear a path out of here for you to escape. When you do, go find Jim Gordon & tell him that Nolan Drake may have a neurotoxin in place to be released among to the crowd. Have him bring backup from the station down here, because some of his officers he has in place now are working with Drake."

"Oh my god," Barbara gasped.

Dick stood up, & just as he fully rose up, he felt an arm close around Dick's neck & another pulling his head back. Dick rotated, getting a good feel of the body weight of the boy who had just attacked him. He was very light. Dick grabbed a hold of the boy's arm & flipped him over Dick's body, throwing him against the wooden chair. Luckily, Barbara moved out of the way in time before the chair was smashed by the wood.

The boy rose back up to throw another punch at Dick, but Dick side stepped, dodging the punch, then brought his leg up to the boy's stomach. The boy doubled back, then swung his leg back around, attempting to hit Dick's head. Dick backed up, dodging that kick as well, & lunged forward with a punch. It connected to the boy's nose, breaking it. Blood began to ooze down his face.

Dick pushed the boy up against the wall, holding him up by his collar. "Where is the gas?" Dick asked.

The boy shook his head. "I'm not outing Drake, man," he said, with blood dripping down his mouth & teeth.

Dick brought his fist up & punched the wall beside the boy's head, causing the boy to scream. "Don't make me ask again!"

At this point, the boy began shaking his head in fear. "I...I…"

Dick punched the wall once more. "The gas!" he growled.

"He'll kill me, man!" the boy cried.

Dick stared at the boy, his hand still raised back for a third punch. He slowly dropped his hand to his side. He sighed. "What's your name, kid?"

The boy stared up at Dick, with an eyebrow raised. "What?" he asked.

Dick's grip on the boy's collar loosened. "Your name, man. You got one?"

The boy nodded softly. "Jason. Jason Todd."

Dick suddenly remembered where he recognized the boy. He was driving Nolan Drake that night out of the Iceberg Lounge. "Was that your Dodge that you were driving Drake in the other night?" he asked.

Jason Todd's face shifted. "What? How do you…?"

Dick leaned in close. "I'm everywhere, dude. I know it's your father's car too."

Jason's eyebrows furrowed. "Don't you fucking-"

"It's a nice Dodge, man."

Jason's eyes widened, as Dick caught him off guard. "Oh...uh, thanks. I guess."

Dick glanced back at Barbara, who sat on the floor, watching the two in fear. Dick turned back to Jason. "How long have you been with Nolan Drake?"

Jason thought about his answer, but eventually shrugged. "I don't know. A while."

Dick nodded. "You were in the Underground too, right?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah. I was there."

"So you know what Drake would do down there, right?"

"Yeah, Jason said. "It's how it was. 'Hell is home.'"

Dick shook his head. "Do you honestly believe that?"

Jason sighed. "It's not any better than what's been happening topside, now, is it?"

Dick bit his lip. He hung his head & let go of Jason's collar. "I used to think like you, man. I used to think that Gotham was irredeemable. All of the hell that the city goes through, all of the crime & corruption & darkness, it all made me feel like nothing was left for me here."

Jason nodded slowly. He looked into Dick's eyes. "Did that change for you?"

Dick looked up at Jason. He scoffed with a smirk. "Yeah. I decided to stick around & do what no one else would do for my city. I decided to help save it & make a difference."

Jason stared at Dick. "Like a superhero, huh?"

Dick shrugged. He took a few steps back, & brought his hands to his neck & stretched, showing his armor off slightly. "Nah, man, I'm just a kid in a costume. But that doesn't make me any less qualified to save a few lives."

Jason stared at Dick, eying him up & down. Jason glanced at Barbara, who was shifting focus between Dick & Jason. She eventually reached for the dropped rifle & held it at her side. Dick & Jason turned to Barbara. "What are we going to do?"

Dick turned to Jason, who glanced between Dick & the door. "The most I can do it probably get you out of the building. I don't know where the gas is."

"That's fine," Dick said.

Jason turned to Barbara & held his hand out. "I'm gonna need that," he said with a sly grin.

"Oh," Barbara said, forgetting she held his weapon in his hand. She glanced to Dick. "So, Shining Knight, what do I have to protect myself?"

Dick grinned. "You have me," he said, pulling his staff from his back & extending it to its full length.

Barbara got behind Dick as he followed Jason to the door, rifle in hand. Jason slowly opened the door & walked out casually. Jason began shooting men down one end of the hall. Dick grabbed Barbara's hand & began running down the end of the hall opposite of where Jason was. Barbara followed behind Dick & just as soon as men began shooting at the two, Dick twisted the staff, activating a large metallic shield. The shield extended all around the staff, protecting Dick & Barbara from the shower of bullets.

Dick pushed forward, knocking one goon off of his feet, then shoving the edge of the shield against the goon's neck, making him fall over. Dick reached in his utility belt & grasped another Batarang, quickly tossing it down the hall. It stabbed another shooter's neck, causing him to reach for his neck in agony. Dick removed the shielding around his staff, then swung the staff around, connecting the metal rod to the man's skull. The man's head hit the wall, then his body crumpled to the ground.

Dick turned to Barbara. "Are you alright?" he asked her.

Barbara stared at the bodies, then slowly looked up at Dick. "Yeah…" she said softly.

Dick's heart ached. He didn't want Barbara to see him this way. He didn't wish for her to see the cold ruthlessness that Dick was capable of once he donned a mask. It was easier to be detached from the guilt of his actions this way...but not with Barbara witnessing it.

Dick looked down the hall, seeing Jason fighting off men down the other end. Jason shouted, "Go!" to Dick & Barbara. Dick grunted. He couldn't leave this boy alone to perish.

Dick turned to Barbara. "You think you can manage to find Jim Gordon from here?"

Barbara nodded. "Yeah, I think I can."

Dick nodded. He disconnected the staff, creating two smaller rods. He handed one to Barbara. "Use this if you have to," he said. Dick pointed to one end of the rod. "This side of the staff has an electrical pulse that emits from it if you twist it wrong." Barbara stared at Dick confusedly. Dick sighed. "Basically, it electrocutes things. Don't be on that end when it does."

Barbara stared at Dick. "Who are you?" she asked. "I feel like I know you."

Dick's heart skipped a beat. He gave Barbara a weak smile. "Maybe after all of this is over...I'll tell you."

With that, Dick ran down the end of the hall towards Jason, nightstick in hand, & swung at an armed goon. Dick knocked the man down, then deflected a punch from another man. Dick noticed Jason dropping his weapon to fight off men coming from Dick's back. Dick connected the short staff to a man's head, shocking the man's skull. The man's fried head sizzled as he fell to the ground. Dick dodged a quick jab to the face swiftly, then spun around to bring his leg up for a kick to the man's head. The man doubled over, but suddenly reached for his gun & shot Dick in the chest. Dick fell to the ground, gasping for air. Jason ran over Dick & tackled the goon. Dick glanced down his chest, oddly not feeling that much of a pain. The bullet was indented into his armor, but hadn't pierced it. Dick's armor was, in fact, bulletproof. Dick's armor saved him.

Dick rose up, watching Jason beat on the man. He threw punch after punch, completely wailing on the man. Blood splattered from the man's face, all over Jason's fist. Dick suddenly thought of the Cage in Old Gotham.

"Jason, get off!" Dick roared, reaching for Jason's arm. Dick pulled Jason off of the man & threw him back. Dick looked down at the goon. His face was bloody & bruised all over. Dick shook his head. "You could have killed him," Dick said softly.

Dick glanced up at the other end of the hall. Barbara had luckily left before she could see that. Dick turned to Jason, who was breathing heavily. He was heaving his chest. "Maybe he should die," he murmured.

Dick shook his head. He took a step close to Jason & leaned in, close enough for Jason to hear. "Only one person deserves to die tonight, & he's outside," Dick whispered under his breath.