I know I haven't updated this story in a while but I had writer's block and focusing on my other story. This is part of Batman the Animated series episode The Forgotten. I hope you like it as much as I do.
Thanks and enjoy.
LaurenHardy13
I don't own Batman
"Your help means a lot to us, Bruce." Bruce's friend Perkins said.
"And what you do means a lot to this city." Bruce responded
"I only wish we could do more." Perkins said setting his box down.
"Hold on we've got a straggler." Bruce said turning around. After a few seconds Dick Grayson-Wayne came in the door carrying a box.
"I'm sorry daddy. This box is really heavy."
"It's ok." Bruce said taking the box from Dick and setting it on the table.
"I'm really getting worried about my customers Bruce." Perkins said handing Bruce a potato peeler.
"Thanks, what do you mean?"
"I can't prove it, but I'm positive people are disappearing: transients, regulars, old faces I miss seeing. Then about a month ago, a volunteer, Dan Riley disappeared. I'm telling you something's wrong."
"Have you talked to the police?" Bruce asked.
"Of course I have, but the police have their hands full. And homeless people disappearing aren't big news."
"That's not fair." Dick said.
"I agree with you there Dick. Maybe Batman will find him."
"Well I'd love to help more but I did promise Alfred Dick would be home before supper." Bruce said.
"That's ok, you both have done enough."
"Bye bye Mr. Perkins."
"Goodbye Dick. Bye Bruce."
"Dick how would you like to take a stroll tonight? It'll be good Robin training." Bruce asked when they were in the car.
"Yeah!"
"Alright, we'll have to go undercover though."
"Ok" As soon as they got back to the manor, Bruce and Dick got in their disguise.
"So how do I look?" Bruce asked in his deep voice. Bruce was wearing a gold shirt with a tan jacket. He also had put make-up on his face and dyed his hair white to make him look older. There also was a black cap.
"You look funny Daddy."
"Alright, your turn;" Dick had on a white shirt, a green jacket, and a gray cap. Bruce had spray painted Dick's hair brown and put make-up on him.
"This is a lot of work just to go training."
"No one can recognize who you are Dick."
"But you will right?"
"Of course. I put everything on you." As soon as they were ready, the two headed into Gotham. Bruce and Dick walked down an ally of Gotham. "Keep up James we're almost there."
"Coming." James (Dick) said taking his father's hand. Suddenly as they were walking through an ally, a black dog came out of the blue. He looked at the two and started licking Dick's hand making him laugh. Suddenly two men came through the smoke. Bruce pushed Dick behind him.
"Hey buddy, you looking for a job?" One asked.
"Maybe. What kind of job?" Bruce asked in his deep voice.
"Oh you'll like it. It's long term employment." One of the men tried to punch Bruce who just backed out of the way clutching Dick. The men kept trying to punch Bruce but he just ducked of got out of the way. Suddenly one guy knocked himself out. The last guy tried to punch Bruce again but knocked himself in a box. Dick started laughing and looked at the dog barking. Little did the two know someone sneaking up behind him.
"Come on Ja…" Suddenly Bruce was knocked out.
"DADDY! DADDY WAKE UP!" Dick shouted shaking him. The man then knocked Dick out and the black dog ran away.
"Hey Riley." Bruce heard someone say. He opened his eyes with his head pounding."Oh boy." He said and realized his foot was chained up.
"Hey stranger." A red head short man said.
"You ok?" A black man asked.
"I think so. Where am I?"
"Opinions differ but we all agree. It ain't Miami." The red head said.
"Don't mind him. Every chain gang has a comedian. I'm Dan Riley and he's Salvo Smith." Riley said.
"What's your name pal?" Bruce got wide eyed.
"I don't know."
"Oh, well we were hoping you could tell us his name." Salvo said pointing to the bottom bunk. Sleeping on the bottom bunk was a little brown haired boy no older than seven.
"I…I don't know him either. Do you know him?"
"Wouldn't have asked ya if we knew; He came in with you and this is no place for a little boy like that." Bruce stared at the boy trying to remember if he knew him. Suddenly the little boy started moaning. He opened his eyes and looked around. "Hey there kid." Salvo said to the boy. The boy got wide eyed and jumped off the bed followed by a back flip to avoid stepping on anyone. Suddenly Dan grabbed the boy and brought the struggling boy back to the bed.
"Hey easy kid, we ain't gonna hurt you. You don't want to go outside until we're called or you'll meet some nasty dogs."
"Sorry if we scared you." Salvo said.
"S'okay." The boy said.
"So what's your name kid?" The boy suddenly burst into tears.
"Hey hey don't cry kid." Bruce felt a pain in his heart when the boy cried.
"Please don't cry. We just want to know your name so we don't have to call you kid all the time." Bruce said.
"But…I don't know my name."
"That's ok. I think I'll call you…Acrobat. That was a pretty impressive flip." Dan said.
"Thank you." Dick said. Suddenly a man with a shotgun came in.
"Alright you lazy scum! Get up!" He shouted and unlocked anyone in chains.
"Come on you two. Let's go." Salvo said. Bruce took Acrobat's hand and left the cabin. Everyone went to a feeding station.
"What is this?" Bruce asked.
"If it's moving it's a rat, if it's not moving it's a cooked rat."
"Eww." Acrobat said.
"Why aren't these lowlifes working?" A fat man in a white suit said.
"They have to eat sir."
"I have to eat! They have to work. From now on they'll bring me twice the gold ore. Understand?!"
"Yes sir. We've recruited some new men…"
"Shut up!" The man said knocking him down. All of a sudden he started walking towards the group. Dick hid behind Bruce who stood in front of him protectively.
"You bums better start busting butt, or you'll all end up like…him" The man said pointing to a red head. Two workers grabbed him and tossed him into a box. His screaming made Dick flinch, which made Bruce hold on to Dick tightly. "Now get to work or you'll all roast!" He said finishing up his chicken.
Bruce, Acrobat, and the others went to the get mine carts and head into the mines. Bruce was pushing his when he noticed Acrobat trying to push a cart.
"Hurry up kid. Be a man and push."
"I-I can't. It's too heavy."
"Push or else you're going in the box."
"WAIT! It's really heavy for him. He can go down with me. He'll be able to get the gold that I normally couldn't reach. Please." The man thought about it.
"True, with those little hands he could get way more then you slow pokes could. Alright take him down, but if he doesn't make the boss happy he's going in the box." Dick flinched and ran to Bruce.
"Yes sir. Alright in you go." Bruce said putting Dick in the mine cart and started pushing to the elevator. Dick went to the front of the cart and held on to the cart. Going in the elevator, Bruce pushed the button that took the two down underground. When they got underground Dan and Salvo were already looking for gold. Dan carried a big, heavy rock and was about to put it in when he noticed Acrobat in the cart. Putting the rock down, he went to take Acrobat out of the cart.
"Whoa there Acrobat, you don't want to be in there when I put this rock in." He said.
"That rock is almost as big as me!" Dick said. Dan smiled and put Acrobat on the ground.
"So how you holding up?" He asked Bruce
"Ok I guess"
"Remember anything yet?"
"I'm beginning to wonder if I ever will."
"Hey you can't give up hope. Down here it's all we've got to hand on to."
"I guess you're right. So what brought you guys here?"
"I was one of Gotham City's unemployed, now I've got a job; Lucky me. Salvo said with sarcasm.
"I was a steamfitter at the Gotham Navy yard. Two nights a week I did volunteer work at the Dock Street Rescue Mission. One night I was getting into my car when two guys jumped me. I end up here!" Dan said slamming a rock in the cart. "My family must be going out of their minds."
"Rescue Mission." Bruce said. It sounded like it was important somehow. All of a sudden the roof began to shake and beams started coming down.
"Cave-in!" Salvo shouted. Everyone dived out of the way. When the smoke cleared, Bruce pushed a beam of the way. Dan pushed a rock out of the way.
"You ok?" Bruce asked. Dan looked around and looked for Salvo.
"Where's Salvo and Acrobat?"
"I'm over here, taking five."
"Hang on man we'll get you out!" Dan said going over to Salvo.
"Take your time, it's the first break I've had all day."
"Does this sort of thing happen often?" Bruce asked trying to get Salvo out of the rocks.
"Too often."
"Where's Acrobat?!"
"Help me! I'm stuck!"
"Hang on." Bruce said and started to make his way towards the boy. Bruce started moving the rocks and grabbed Acrobat into a hug who was crying.
"It's ok. I'm here now, it's ok."
"Those people at the center will never hurt you again baby. It's ok."
'Do I know him?' Bruce asked himself.
"Acrobat! Are you ok?" Dan asked coming over. He nodded and rested his head on Bruce's shoulder.
"Come on you three, let's get out of here." Salvo said.
Bruce walked through a room full of funhouse mirrors He kept walking until he saw a man who looked like him laughing hysterically. Suddenly he turned into a clown in a purple suit. He grabbed him and started falling. Then he was dressed in a suit walking down empty streets. He walked to a building called Dock Street Rescue Mission. Then he saw Acrobat in what looked like a circus uniform that was ripped in several places. Bruce ran to the boy and realized how dirty he was. His little eyes pleaded for Bruce to rescue him. Bruce took of his jacket and placed it around Acrobat. As he did this, Acrobat closed his eyes and Bruce started crying.
"NO!" Bruce screamed and jerked up from his bed. He jumped out of bed and released his breath when he saw Acrobat fast asleep sucking his thump.
"You ok? You remember anything?" Dan said waking up.
"Yes." He said and looked at the small boy. "Acrobat is very important in my life." (Heavy on the very)
"You know what, I'm gonna make a promise."
"What?"
"As soon as I get out of here, I'm gonna track down Acrobat's Mother and Father. I'm sure they're terribly worried about him."
"Yeah." Bruce said and got back in bed.
The next day, Bruce and the others were forced to mine the rocks to look for gold while the fat man ate all day. "I've never seen such lazy scum." He said and looked at his workers. "Who let this little boy in here? It's no wonder we're not getting any work done. THROW HIM IN THE BOX!
"NO! Bruce, Dan and Salvo screamed.
"Please you'll kill him." Bruce said.
"He's just a kid." Dan said.
"That's the idea. Get him!" Bruce grabbed Dick and pushed him behind him.
"Don't you dare touch him." Bruce said. Bruce and the others then began fighting with the henchmen. No matter what, there was no way any of these men would ever touch Acrobat. Then five other men came and tackled them to the ground.
"You don't want him in the Box? How about you join him!" The man said and they all were grabbed and put in the box. Right away they already started sweating.
"Those were some impressive moves back there." Dan said.
"You did pretty well yourself."
"Maybe you used to be some kind of fighter."
"I don't know. I just don't know." Bruce said becoming frustrated with himself. Then they heard Acrobat crying.
"Hey don't cry Acrobat We'll make it. And when we get out of here, I'll find your family. You'll be with your Mom and Dad again. "Do you remember anything about your family? Who am I looking for kiddo?"
"I…I don't remember. I can't!"
"Hang on Acrobat, we'll make it. Remember, we can't lose hope."
"I'm scared. I want daddy! Daddy!"
Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
Suddenly Bruce remembered who Acrobat was. He was his son. His little boy who he adopted after his parents died. Then Bruce remembered that his parents died as well and that's how he became Batman. Bruce opened his eyes after remembering and heard Acrobat crying.
"Don't cry Dick. I'm getting us out of here." Riley then started crying about his family. "Riley, you've got to pull it together. We're getting out of here!" Bruce then kicked the box open with one kick. "Keep Dick awake while I get help."
"Dick?" Bruce didn't stay to explain. He ran for his life while the fat man's guards chased him into Box Canyon. Bruce kept running paying no mind to the dogs. When he came to a dead end, he didn't stop; He just started climbing. He knew Salvo, Riley, and Dick were counting on him. When he got to the top, he just kept running. Suddenly he heard a plane come behind him and ducked down just to time. Then he realized it was the Bat-plane and Alfred was driving.
"Son of a gun." He said laughing that Alfred was flying a plane. Alfred got out looking extremely dizzy.
"I clam this land…for Spain." Alfred said and put his face in the dirt. (Something he would yell at Dick for) Finally he looked up to see Bruce walking towards him. "Master Bruce!" He said excitedly. Bruce gave Alfred a quick nudge and rested his head.
Back at the camp
"Hurry up with that gravy!" The fat man said. He was stuffing himself with a table full of food. "If those fools let that prisoner escape, I'll eat them alive." He said.
"A bat! A giant bat! Horrible!" A worker said.
"What Bat?"
"Right here." Batman said coming in carrying his henchmen.
"Batman." The man said. Batman tossed the henchmen towards the table knocking him over. He grabbed a gun and started shooting. "After him! $1,000 to anyone to bag that bat!" He yelled. They chased him into the mines where he took each of the men out one by one. Suddenly the fat man killed the lights. He then escaped up to the elevator. "No! Leave me alone!" He said and dropped his lantern causing a fire.
"We've got to get out of here." Batman said.
"Stop. We'll be killed." Batman said and threw the man down a water slide landing in a river.
"Don't let me drown!" He shouted and went underwater just as the mine exploded. Batman dived and pulled him up.
"When you taste the prison food, you'll wish I had." Batman said. When he got to shore he tied him up and ran to the three boxes.
"Dick! Hang on!" he said and opened the box with an unconscious Dick. He sat Dick down and opened the second box with Riley unconscious. "Wake up Riley." He said. Then the police arrived who Batman called before coming back here. Two cops came over to the three. "These two are dehydrated and over-heating."
The two were taken to the hospital and released the next day.
"Come on Dickie wake up." Bruce said.
"Huh?" Dick said mumbling. Dick opened his eyes to see Bruce back to normal with his black hair and brown jacket.
"Are you ok?"
"D-daddy?" Bruce smiled causing Dick to launch at his father into a hug. "I was so scared. I couldn't remember anything. I tried to but…"
"Easy Dick, you just had amnesia that's all. I had it too. But you're alright now."
"W-where's Riley and Salvo?"
"They're getting checked out." Bruce said.
Riley was reunited with his wife and son and the rest of the prisoners were set free. When the two were released, they met up back at The Dock Street Rescue Mission.
"It's not a palace but you can stay at our place until you get back on your feet." Riley told Salvo with his wife and son holding him tight.
"Thanks Riley, maybe this time I'll get a job that actually pays." He said causing the others to laugh.
"Hey Acrobat, starting tomorrow I'm going to try and look for your Mom and Dad."
"There's no need for that. You already have." Bruce said.
"What?"
"Are we ready Master Bruce?" Alfred asked opening up the door.
"Master Bruce?" Salvo and Riley said confused.
"Bruce Wayne, WayneTech Enterprises. This is my son Richard Grayson-Wayne. You know if you like a job, I can probably help." Bruce said holding Dick's hand and walking towards the car.
"Hit me Riley." Salvo said.
"Hit you? Why?"
"Maybe I'll lose my memory and wake up a millionaire too."
Well what'd you think? I thought Dick fit perfectly in this. I really like btas and are willing to write more if you want me to. If you want Tim from season two, Tim will be the older brother. I'm thinking of adding the episode The Underwellers in Richard Grayson's Story. Don't forget to review.
LaurenHardy13
