Chapter 12: Hunting My Family's Killer Part 3
As dusk started to fall upon Gotham Harbor, Dick sat exhausted from his search. For hours he snuck through every building, shack, ship, and tent but unfortunately found nothing that helped him find Tony Zucco. So he took a short break to catch his breath, but also because he felt discouraged. Despite all his training and skills he was unable to find the man who literally destroyed his family, making the poor little boy feel like a disappointment and a failure to his beloved deceased parents and his daddy who'd put so much effort into his training.
However after a while of sitting, Dick heard voices coming closer to where he was causing the boy to panic and hide in a roll of thick long rope. Seconds after he did so a group of men in black fedoras and trench coats walked by and up to a metal warehouse door. Curious and having a hunch as to who these men were Dick sneakily and stealthily made his way from the spot he was in to one where he had a closer and better look at the men. There he waited patiently till one of the men came up to the door and did a special little knock. Almost immediately the door cracked open slightly for a deep voice to speak up.
"Identify yourself bub." The deep voice borderline demanded.
"I'd be careful with the people you use that time with bozo, you never know who they might be." The front man said as he raised his head and fully exposed his face.
Immediately the deep voice gasped and responded in a very nervous and intimidated fashion.
"Tony Zucco sir! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, come on in we're waiting for you Mr. Zucco!"
At the mention of the name Dick's blood began to boil and his ears rang with the sounds of rage and grief. There he was the man who killed his family and made him an orphan to begin with. Dick watched carefully as Tony Zucco and all his goons walked into the warehouse and disappeared. But before the last henchman went through the door Dick sneakily threw a tiny bird-a-rang with a tracker on it at him, which immediately attached to his long trench coat. Knowing this was his moment at last Dick got out his suit and found a place to change, then headed off to make his family's killer pay for his crimes.
In the Ventilation System
Knowing no other way to sneakily get into the warehouse Dick decided to go through the vents. He was very small so it was easy to fit through them but they were very dusty and cold making him shiver and quietly sneeze. Nonetheless he persevered and followed the tracking device to where it led. This went on for about an hour until at last it went still, in which almost immediately Dick heard voices. He looked forward and saw a light where the sound was coming from. Crawling ever so quietly Dick eventually found himself above a vent opening and looking down upon a meeting of the mobsters.
As Dick looked down from up above he watched as Zucco made his way into a plush leather chair on a raised platform. Immediately he noticed how all the men in the room had an intense look of fear in their eyes, all looking afraid to even breathe. For what seemed like hours there was a moment of silence as Tony Zucco lightly twirled a knife in his hands, till he at last spoke up.
"So, I hear that some of you have been complaining about me to the boss." Zucco said with an accusatory tone.
It was then two of the other mobsters, with large bruises on their necks, froze up.
"Would anyone like to fess up to that!" Zucco yelled as he then threw the knife he was twirling into the group of men.
All of them quickly dodged, causing the knife to hit the wall behind them with a loud thud. This was nothing new as Tony Zucco was prone to erratic actions such as this. So wanting to spare their fellow brothers the two mobsters that had tried to tell the boss the other night if their concerns stepped forward.
"Ah so it was you two, I should have guessed."
"We meant no offense Zucco! We only thought.." One mobster tried to explain, before he was struck in the shoulder with a knife thrown at him by Tony.
"I don't want your excuses Russo, so I'm gonna hurt you and your numbskull in crime just a little bit. After all, what's that phrase kids like to use… oh yes, snitches get stitches." Tony Zucco said with a disconcerting smile as he then threw the other knife right into the other mobster's right thigh.
"Damn it!" The other mobsters cried out in pain.
"Oh you two think those hurt well just you wait, I'm just getting started!" Zucco said as he slid off his trench coat, rolled up his sleeves, and pulled out six more knives.
"No!"
Everyone in the room froze as they heard a high pitched voice call out to them. They prepared themselves more as they heard scuffling coming from the roof of the warehouse. It was then that Robin descended from the roof via grappling hook and landed safely to the ground in his fighting stance. Another moment of silence ensued only to be followed by a boisterous uproar of laughter.
"Oh how scary, I need my wittwe bwanky to save me!" One mobster taunted.
"I never knew kindergartners could be so intimidating, I'm shaking in my boots!" Another joked.
"I thought Batman was scary but baby bat is making me faint with terror!" One mobster chortled.
For a few minutes the taunting and laughing continued making Robin even angrier. So he ran up to one of the mobsters, jumped up high, and roundhouse kicked him in the face. Immediately the man was knocked out with his nose totally broken and blood gushing from it. Once again there was silence before all the mobsters got out their weapons and came at Robin. Some of them shot at him with their various types of guns, others charged at him with knives, and some even with brass knuckles.
However Robin dodged all of the bullets, and sucker punched those who came at him physically. Some managed to put up a decent fight but Robin always came out victorious. He had trained hard for this very day and he was determined to come out on top no matter the obstacle. The fight went on for several minutes before they were all on the ground, Robin huffing and puffing as he catched his breath, only Tony Zucco left standing.
"I always knew those goons were useless fools, but I didn't know they were this weak. Beaten by a puny little kindergarten, a sidekick no less, how pathetic. But now it's just me and you kid, and let me warn you I won't be so easy." Tony Zucco said as he prepared himself.
Without a single word Robin charged for Tony punched him square in the face. This caused Zucco to teeter a bit but ultimately stable himself on his feet.
"Wow kid you do have a killer punch for such a little boy. Now let's see if you can take it back!" Zucco said as he first punched Robin in the face as well.
Robin fell back but immediately popped up on his feet to go after Zucco again. This time Zucco gave Robin a nice little slice on his arm making him grunt. The cut stung a little but Robin pushed it off and got out a birdarang to defend himself. From there the two went at it using a mix of hand to hand combat and their weapons. Throughout the fight both saw they were evenly matched, for as Zucco would go for a slice or a stab, rarely landing them, Robin would use his acrobatic skills to get out of the way. But as Robin would try to counter Zucco managed to dodge and use his knives for defense.
For half an hour the two went back and forth until Zucco tossed a knife at Robin's cape and managed to pin him to a wall. As soon as he hit the wall Robin was acting like a wild animal as he tried to rip his cape out, all while hanging over two feet off the ground. Curious as to what motivated the little boy's ungodly fury, and finding something oddly familiar about him he decided to ask him a few questions.
"You know I find it interesting that you came here without Batman, little bird, is that because he doesn't even know you're here?" Tony Zucco asked as he walked forward, all while flipping a knife in one hand.
"Let me down!" Robin shrieked as he hung.
"For such a little boy you have quite the righteous temper, is it possible we've met before. Have I killed someone close too you?" Tony asked wickedly as he crouched down and reached out to stroke the little boy's face.
"Yous kill my mama an tati!" Robin screamed as he tried to punch Zucco in the face.
However he missed and Zucco got back up on his feet.
"Killed your mama an tati? Little boy I…" Tony started to laugh before a memory came to his head.
Suddenly the little boy's acrobatics and his fury made complete sense, and he realized who he was.
"You're Dick Grayson of the Flying Graysons aren't you?" Tony asked as realization filled his eyes.
Immediately Dick froze and his heart sunk as he realized his true identity had been unwittingly discovered.
"I remember your parents death, oh how could I forget it was one of my favorites! The sound of the trapeze cords snapping and your parents bones cracking, it was pure extacy! I smile every time I remember the head line, Mobster kills circus legends, hundreds left in tears and heartbreak! And now much to my luck the very person unneeded to finish the job appears right before me. Say night night little one, prepare to see your mama and tati!" Zucco said with revolting glee as he prepared to murder Dick.
All the while as this was explained Dick hung their froze in absolute shock. The way the man so gruesomely and heartlessly described his parents death and the joy it brought him, made his blood boil. As the mobster came closer it only became worse and worse till Dick was consumed with flaming rage!
"You will pay!" Dick bellowed with raging fire and tears in his eyes.
Immediately with great strength Dick tore his cape from the knife and lunged with his birdarang ready to kill Tony Zucco and make him pay for his crimes. However before he could get even two feet close to Zucco, Dick was punched square in the face again by said killer and flew head first into the wall behind him. Upon impact Dick hit the place where he had still had
recovering head trauma causing excruciating pain to shoot throughout his entire body. With a great thud the poor little boy fell to the floor sobbing, his hands holding his throbbing head as if to try and suppress the indescribable pain he was feeling.
"Oh I'm sorry, did that hurt, do you need me to come kiss it better." Tony taunted with a cruel chuckle.
Dick tried to be brave, wanting to fight back, but he was so exhausted and the pain was positively unbearable.
"Then again what good is it gonna do, you're gonna be dead soon anyways."
It was then Dick froze once more as the reality of his situation truly hit him. He was going to die, he was going to die a painful agonizing death and not get to see his precious and beloved daddy, Alfred, Ace, or any of his newly gained friends and family ever again. With tear filled eyes he looked up as if to beg mercy from Tony Zucco, only to be greeted with merciless and insanity driven eyes. Not wanting to die like a coward in his last seconds, he decided to leave the world like his mama, tati, and daddy did and would, with bravery. So Dick closed his little eyes and accepted his fate with dignity.
"Sorry to have to end your life so short little bird, but I hate to leave unfinished business. And I'm afraid daddybat's not coming to save you, so goodbye Dick Grayson prepare to meet your maker." Tony said cruelly as he readied his knife to stab the poor defeated protégé.
But then before Zucco could even move a centimeter closer, a loud crash of glass breaking and an absolute battering ram of force knocked him out of the way. Still afraid but very curious Dick peaked his eyes open and felt his heart soar with what he saw. There was his daddy clad in his Batman suit, cape waving in the breeze, there to defend him.
"Daddy!" Dick cried out, once more eyes full of tears only these were happy tears.
"What do you know speak of the devil and he shall appear. I see you've finally found me after all this searching. Though I think you must be losing that detective edge of yours seeing as your little protégé found me first." Tony Zucco taunted.
"You'll see plenty of edge Zucco, *whistle* Ace!" Batman called out.
Almost immediately a large masked German Shepherd bounded through the broken window, landing close to Batman and growling ferociously at Zucco.
"Ace!" Dick cried out now feeling even more safe.
"A dog really Batman, first children now dogs, what's next cows?" Zucco asked sarcastically.
"The dog's not for you. Ace, protect the baby!" Batman commanded.
On que Ace got mere feet from Dick and got in his protective stance to make it clear no one was to come near the little boy behind him.
"I wouldn't go near that dog unless you want to be lunch meat." Batman warned.
"Dually noted, I guess it's just you and me then bats." Zucco said as he prepared his knives.
"You're on." Batman accepted.
For a moment that seemed like forever the two circled each other neither making a move. Dick watching in pure anxiety as the scene reminded him of something that would be in his nightmares, the ones where his daddy died. The silence went on for a few minutes before Zucco tried to take a cheap shot at him stabbing him in the leg. Batman luckily noticed and dodged hitting the mobster with a hard punch to the back in return. Zucco groaned but went for a more fatal stab to the chest only to have it countered by batarang.
From there the two got into a sort of knife fight going at each other with great speed and fury. It seemed like either could win the fight as they back and forthed one another's moves, neither missing a step. That was until with strength and speed only a parent with an endangered child could muster Batman nicked one of Zucco's knives out of his hands. Then with the rest of his speed he forced the other knife out of Zucco's hand and entered him in hand to hand combat.
At first it wasn't going too bad of a fight both seemingly equally matched, but as they fought Batman's punches and kicks got stronger and stronger. Eventually it went from a fight to a total smack down as Batman hurt Tony Zucco more and more. With each punch more bones cracked and wounds opened on Zucco's arms, legs, and face. This went on until Zucco fell to his knees with a black eye on his face and coughing out blood.
"You really are a monster like they say." Zucco rasped out barely.
"No Zucco, the real monster is you!" Batman declared as he then punched Zucco as hard as possible in the head.
With a great thud Zucco landed on the ground unconscious from the sheer force of Batman's fist. For a moment all was quiet as Batman stood there catching his breath, his shoulders heaving up and down heavily. But then without a warning Batman turned around and stormed over towards Dick. Immediately Dick's previous feelings of relief turned into that of pure guilt, knowing he was in big trouble for disobeying his father and putting himself in such great danger.
"You are in big trouble mr and I mean big!" Bruce growled as he reached down to grab Dick.
Dick braced himself prepared for the punishment of a lifetime, but then much to his surprise he felt himself drawn to his father's chest and heard the sound of his tears.
"You'll be lucky if I don't ground you till you're eighteen little man! You scared me half to death." Bruce sobbed as he broke down into tears of relief.
"I'm…I'm….I'm sorry daddy! I didn mean ta…." Dick barely made out as he sobbed profusely, wanting nothing more than his father's forgiveness.
For a while the two just sobbed together, both relieved and overjoyed to see each other again. Eventually after much comforting and cooing both Bruce and Dick were reduced back to sniffling but with relieved closed smiles on their faces.
"I missed you daddy." Dick sniffled happily as he touched his forehead to his fathers.
"I missed you too baby." Bruce said with a large smile on his face.
Without a warning Bruce clutched Dick tightly and bent over to shower his son in kisses and snuggles, so relieved his precious treasure was safe and back in his arms. Dick giggled profusely, feeling his feelings of guilt and sadness melt away with the simple display of his daddy's affection. After he was finished Bruce lifted his son back up and just held him close taking in his sweet smell and baby soft skin and hair. However he then quickly realized Dick was aggressively shivering and wrapped his long Kevlar cape around his tiny body.
"Let's go home baby." Bruce said soothingly as he rocked his cold and tired little baby.
Dick merely nodded and rested his head on his fathers shoulder, bringing a close to a very long and hard day.
The Next Day
Sarah was cooking up some pasta for her family, her daughter's family was coming over so she made sure to make her favorite, fettuccine alfredo. As she did so she had the local news playing at the moment she was just waiting for the pasta to cook, when mail came through the mail slot in her door. Figuring she had some time she quickly picked it up and sorted through it. As she did she found mostly junk mail until a white envelope with fine gold embroidery with "To Sarah" in fancy calligraphy grabbed her attention. Curious what was inside Sarah took the mail over to the counter and slowly opened the envelope. Out of it came a wonderfully written letter that read.
Dear Mrs. Sarah,
I am writing to you to express my gratitude for ensuring my son's safety. I did a bit of research on you and it has come to my attention that your husband was a police officer and passed away recently from trying to save citizens in a local shooting. Now while no amount of money can ease your grief or make up for his loss, a pain I am all too aware of. As an expression of my gratitude for your husbands great service and sacrifice and your kindness to my family, I wish to make a donation to help support you and your family as relief from the numerous expenses of your husband's funeral and a fund for whatever you may please. If you ever are in need or trouble don't be afraid to call.
You're eternally grateful friend,
Bruce Wayne
For a moment Sarah was entirely stunned, was this a joke or was this genuine letter. She then noticed the check underneath and her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she saw the amount written, $1,000,000. She looked frantically at the check, even noticed the signature of Bruce Wayne, and couldn't suspend her disbelief. This had to be a scam right there was no way this could be real. It was then the TV caught her attention making her look up from the check.
"Infamous mobster and convict, Tony Zucco was detained last night at Gotham Harbor by a combined effort of the Gotham Police Department and hero's Batman and Robin. Wanted for being a higher up of an organized crime unit, grand scale theft, kidnap, arson, and several accounts of murder and homicide he will likely be tried and imprisoned within the week." The female anchor reported.
"Though some suspect he may be spending his sentence in Gotham's Arkham Asylum due to deranged claims of whom the cause of capture were. We have a clip taken by our field crew last night, roll last night." A male anchor requested.
Suddenly a clip of a tumultuous crowd of news reports appeared as police dragged a struggling and beaten up Tony Zucco into the police station.
"I know who the boy wonder is! He's the one who beat me up like this, it's Dick Grayson!"
"Shut up Zucco blaming little kids isn't gonna get you out of paying for your crimes." Commissioner Gordon told the amoral criminal.
"No I swear it's true you have to believe me! That kids crazy, he tried to kill me!" Zucco managed to yell out before he was forced into the police station.
The clip then ended there, turning back to the male anchor who was previously speaking.
"As you can see from the clip Tony Zucco tried to blame his capture and subsequent attempted "murder" on the five year old adopted son of Bruce Wayne and previous victim of Zucco's crimes Dick Grayson Wayne…"
A picture of Dick and Bruce appeared on the screen making Sarah drop her letter as she saw it was none other than the little boy she walked with yesterday. She also realized the concerned father was in fact the one and only Bruce Wayne.
"Zucco tried to sue Bruce Wayne for bodily damages claimed to be done by his son, but was rejected by Mr. Wayne's lawyers who planned to sue for unwarranted defamation. I have to Wanda in all my years of anchoring, I don't think I've ever heard of a convict trying to sue and blame a child for bodily harm."
"Certainly news to me Dave but as they say there's a first time for everything…"
As the news anchors continued to speak, Sarah couldn't help but smile. It had been a month since her beloved husband's death and she had been struggling to pay off his funeral and her other expenses. Her kids offered to help but she knew they had their own things to pay for and she didn't want to burden them. Now she could pay them all off and provide something for her family to help them and bring them closer together.
"Thank you Bruce Wayne you truly are the most kind hearted man and loving father." Sarah said as she hugged the letter and check to her chest.
It was then the door to her apartment opened and a woman and her husband, who was carrying a little 18 month old girl dressed in a cute white sweater and pink tutu.
"Mom we're here!" The woman announced, a diaper bag draped across her shoulder.
"Oh come in dear, I actually have something I'd love to talk to you about." Sarah said hiding the letter in her sweater pocket.
"What that mom?" The woman asked curiously.
"What do you think about a family vacation to the Bahamas?"
Sarah and her husband had always wanted take their family there, it was where they got married. Now thanks to the kindness of Bruce Wayne that dram could be fulfilled, which while her husband couldn't be there she knew he was smiling down in heaven that they were able to now go all together as a family.