Chapter 19
"Sir, I have made a deal with William Cobb, the current Talon leader." Deathstroke states, meeting with the Light.
"Are you insane?" Savage asks.
"Probably." Deathstroke answers. "Our deal is that I will train Richard Grayson and in return he will leave Richard alone until he's ready. That should give us time to find a way to destroy the Court of Owls."
"You want to train Richard?" Savage asks.
"I do. He may be a child, but I witnessed how capable he is. He took on more than a dozen Talons single handed, literally, his right hand is broken. Imagine how powerful he could be under proper guidance and training." Deathstroke pleads his case.
"Seems like a plausible idea." Ra's Al Ghul states.
"I am against it myself." Savage states. "If his abilities are discovered, the Justice League may want to recruit him into that Junior Justice League. It's clear they will use children to do their dirty work. It truly is deplorable…"
"I don't think that will be a problem." Luthor states. "Surely Bruce Wayne knows this boy's capabilities, and he provided funds to Batman. It would stand to reason that if he approved of young Grayson becoming part of the Justice League, he'd have let Batman take him under his wing."
"Which would mean Bruce would not allow Deathstroke to train." Queen Bee states.
"I asked him already, he refused me immediately." Deathstroke states. "Though I plan to ask the child as well, if you'll allow me, and I have a plan on how to do that."
"Of course, you do…" Savage states. "What of the rest of you?"
"It doesn't seem like too bad of an idea." Ocean-Master states. "Let Deathstroke train the boy. He could be used for our own means later on."
"Who cares if some kid learns to kick butt?" Klarion comments.
"Perhaps a hidden repertoire of young members of the Light could be a benefit." The Brain states.
"So, you think Richard could be the start of something more?" Savage questions.
"Now that's an excellent idea. We train more, those with the aptitude for combat." Ra's states. "Create an antithesis to the Junior Justice League."
"And young Richard could lead them." Luthor states. "He has the intellect to be a real leader in my observations of the boy over the years. He takes charge when necessary, he keeps near perfect grades, he's responsible."
"Hey! I'm older than this Grayson kid, why can't I be leader of the little lights?" Klarion asks.
"Mrow." Teekl states plainly.
"I'm not too immature!" Klarion argues, crossing his arms, pouting, as the inventor of pouty.
"It seems we have an agreement at least in allowing Deathstroke to train young Grayson." Luthor states. "We can discuss the possibility of recruiting more young blood to our cause at a later date."
"Not all of you." Deathstroke states, looking at Vandal. "You hesitate, Savage."
"If we induct children, then we are no better than the Justice League. The goal is to remove the Justice League so the world's natural evolution continues." Vandal explains.
"This wouldn't be like that Junior Justice League, it would be training youths to defend themselves in the world these Super Heroes have made." Deathstroke reasons. "Though I know that's not all that bothers you. You dislike the thought of me training Richard specifically. Why is that?" Vandal says nothing.
"I believe he bonded with the boy when he was here." Queen Bee comments. "I must admit, he is a lovely child."
"Bond has nothing to do with it considering he's been training his daughter since she could crawl." Deathstroke mentions.
"There is a difference between my training and yours, Deathstroke." Vandal remarks. It's unseen, but Deathstroke's eye narrows.
"Think of it this way, if I train him, he can better defend himself against capture should the Court come for him again. In case we can't find a way to be rid of the Court of Owls. Then you wouldn't have to worry about him falling prey to them and losing your pawn." Deathstroke explains.
"You make a fair point…" Savage states. "Fine, I'll agree, but I will be keeping an eye on things."
Results of the blood test are inconclusive, they don't know the chemicals he's been injected with but they suspect they have to do with brain alteration given last night's sleepwalking episode. According to Bruce, Dick has never sleepwalked before, but he doesn't know if Dick used to at a younger point since he adopted him at the age of nine, so there's only one option to find out while Dick is out of commission.
"Hello, this is Bruce Wayne, I would like to speak to Richard Grayson." Bruce says into the phone.
"Just a moment, sir. Can you verify his date of birth for me?" The receptionist asks.
"June third, nineteen-sixty-six." Bruce answers. "Patient ID 005435687915."
"Alright sir, just a moment while I patch you to his room." The receptionist says. There's a brief hold, music playing. Then a voice.
"Hello, hello?" The voice says.
"Rick? It's Bruce." Bruce starts.
"Brucie! Good to hear from you. How are things?" Rick asks.
"Well, I won't sugarcoat them. Dick is in the hospital again." Bruce answers.
"… What happened…? Is he ok? Wait, of course he's not ok, he's in the hospital… Is he stable?" Rick asks.
"Physically, yes. Mentally, we're not sure." Bruce answers. "He does have a concussion, but it's not terrible." He hears Rick sigh.
"I wish I could be there…" Rick says softly.
"I know you do… And I'm really sorry you can't." Bruce says. Wally starts to wake up, he props himself up to look at Bruce. He's standing by the window, looking out at the grey sky while he's on the phone. "I do have a question, about Dick's childhood."
"Shoot." Rick says.
"Did he ever sleepwalk as a child?" Bruce asks.
"Not that I recall. He's always been a pretty sound sleeper. Even an earthquake couldn't wake that boy. I know because it happened. We were in California, massive earthquake. Dick? As sound as could be." Rick states. Bruce smiles a bit.
"Interesting to know. I figured he didn't, but I figured if anyone knew, it'd be you." Bruce says.
"Makes sense. How are you holding up?" Rick asks.
"I've been better, that's for sure, but I'm holding it together, for Dick's sake. His friend Wally is helping a lot." Bruce mentions. Wally smiles a little, but it quickly falls as he looks at Dick. He's very much asleep.
"Good… I know it's hard, man, but I'm glad he has someone. I know John and Mary would be happy as well." Rick says quietly.
"Thank you, that means a lot." Bruce says. "I sometimes wonder if I'm doing right by him, but I am trying."
"From one father to another, it's never easy raising a child, all you can do is your best. But sometimes it seems like our best isn't good enough… So long as you try, you're doing better than some parents out there." Rick explains.
"Thank you… Rick… I'll keep you updated on Dick's condition." Bruce says.
"Please do. Thank you for letting me know. I'm praying for the little guy. I'm praying for you too. You're going to be ok." Rick assures. They say their farewells and hang up. Bruce looks back at Wally and Dick, seeing Wally's awake.
"No change I'm assuming." Bruce mentions. Wally shakes his head, nuzzling Dick's head, eyes closed.
"I want him back…" Wally says. "I want to see him smile again… Hear him laugh, make jokes, butcher the English language… I miss him…"
"I miss him too. But I'm sure he'll be alright." Bruce says. He starts walking toward the door. "I'm going to talk to the head nurse. Keep an eye on him, ok?"
"Don't even need to ask…" Wally says. Bruce nods in acknowledgement and leaves the room.
In Dick's dreams, he's stuck in that damn maze. Wandering around, constantly lost, constantly hearing voices. He isn't sure how much time has passed, but it feels like he's been here forever. He hears that laugh again… He finds himself at a dead end again. He doesn't even have the strength to react anymore, just sigh. He turns around, then freezes, seeing a shadow at the end of the hall. The shadow approaches at impossible speed and seemingly moves through him. His eyes widen and he starts shaking.
"Stop…" Dick mumbles. "Please…" Tears form in his eyes, quickly spilling down his cheeks. He suddenly feels like he can't breathe.
"Aww… Poor Dickie…" A voice calls, just as echoey as ever. "So scared, so alone… If only you gave in, if only you joined them… They could have been your new family. You'd be appreciated, loved. Not treated like some pawn. A tool… A means to an end…" The dark figure appears behind him, wrapping their arms around him. "You still could you know? Be one with us? You'd just have to give in. Let go." The dark figure lowers one of their hands down to his heart. It starts racing with anxiety. He tries to take a deep breath, but it still feels like there isn't any air is entering his lungs. It's like he's breathing, but his lungs are empty. Dick closes his eyes tight. "Join us… Become the Gray Son, Grayson." The dark figure comes around in front of him. "Open your eyes…"
Dick does open his eyes, and he sees himself staring back, like he's looking in a mirror of a mirror of himself. The other him smiles wide. Dick wants to move, to get away, but he's still frozen. He can't turn from those eyes… those cursed golden eyes… the marble skin…
"Don't you want your family, Dick?" The darkness asks, smiling widely. More arms wrap around him, bigger, stronger arms.
"Be one with us, Richard. You belong to us." William…
"No…" Dick can finally speak. "Please no… I just… Wanna go home…" He can hear William laugh.
"You are home…" William says darkly.
"No!" Dick screams, breaking himself free, running through the Talon version of himself and tries running down the hall, but it seems to go on forever. He runs fast and hard but seems to be getting nowhere.
"You can't run from your destiny, Richard. You will be a Talon, fighting it will only prolong your suffering." William's voice calls from the darkness behind him that's creeping after him, trying to catch up. It engulfs him, but he keeps running. Steadily, his body grows heavy. Heavier and heavier until he's forced to the ground.
"Dick!" Wally calls, getting off the bed as his best friend starts seizing. "Someone help!" He screams, bolting to the doorway. "He's seizing!" Nurses rush in immediately. As does Bruce. A nurse has them stand back, keeping them back, telling them to keep calm. Another nurse places padding on the guard rails and a third lowers the bed so it's flat. The second nurse times the seizure.
"Forty-five seconds." The nurse calls after a moment. Black veins creep up his skin again, up his neck. The harder he seizes, the more the veins grow, starting to overtake his ashen face. "Sixty-seconds."
"Come on, Dick… Please…" Bruce says softly, brow knit in concern.
"What's happening to him?" One of the nurses asks, gesturing to the veins.
"I've never seen that before…" Another nurse mentions.
"Little robin…" His mother…? Dick opens his eyes, seeing a figure before him. A beautiful woman with long fiery red hair that seems to glow in the darkness, moderately tan skin, and dazzling green eyes. She smiles and kneels beside him, placing the back of her fingers on his forehead… "You're free, baby bird… It's time to wake up now. Your family is waiting for you." He nods a little, closing his eyes again.
"Ninety seconds." The timing nurse says. The seizing slows down until it stops. Two nurses turn Dick onto his side, tilting his head up slightly and bringing his leg forward so it lies next to the other one. He soon starts dry heaving, like he's about to throw up, which occurs not a moment later. What's most concerning is that it's black and shiny like oil… Though the veins on his face dissipate and his skin returns to normal. He coughs, taking a sharp deep breath in before coughing again. He shakes terribly… Breathing heavily and shakily as if he's been holding his breath. The nurses get to work cleaning up and changing his sheets to keep everything clean, disposing of the ruined sheets. Bruce and Wally are finally allowed back over.
"Wake up, little robin." The voice of his mother says. Dick starts to open his eyes, just as Bruce is placing the back of his fingers gently on his forehead. He closes his eyes a bit tight for a moment and opens them again, trying to keep them open.
"Bruce…" Dick says softly, his voice barely above a whisper, blinking slowly.
"I'm here." Bruce says. "You're going to be ok…"
"Ok…" Dick says quietly. Wally reaches and takes his hand. Dick looks at him, smiling a little.
"Hey…" Wally says, smiling a little back.
"Hey…" Dick says back.
"Welcome back." Bruce says. Dick smiles a little and tries to move, tries to sit up, but he feels so weak. He hates feeling so vulnerable and helpless… "Just relax, you'll be fine."
"M not hallucinating…?" Dick asks quietly.
"No, you're not. This is real." Bruce answers. He brushes his hand across Dick's forehead, brushing his hair out of his face.
"Can you prove it…? Tell me… Something… Anything…" Dick requests. Bruce thinks a moment, trying to think of how he can prove it.
"I've suspected for a while you have a fear of spiders. You often tense up when there's one nearby." Bruce says. Dick closes his eyes, and curls up a bit, still on his side.
"Thank God…" He mumbles. "I'm actually free…" Wally gives his hand a gentle squeeze.
"And you'll be home before you know it…" Wally says softly.
"I am home…" Dick mumbles. "God that was really corny…" He opens his eyes and looks at Wally.
"Yes, it was." Wally agrees, laughing a little. "But you're a very corny kid."
"Says the guy with the corny pick-up lines…" Dick teases.
"Hey, I bet they'd work on you!" Wally comments.
"Doubt it…" Dick mumbles.
"Are you robin?" He asks, grabbing his chin and leans in close. "Because you've flown into my heart." Wally says, trying to be seductive. Dick glares, moving his head away from his hand, but there is a tiny blush on his cheeks.
"I hate you…" Dick mutters.
"Love you too, buddy!" Wally states playfully, smiling widely. He brushes his hand gently on the side of Dick's head. "I do love you…" Wally repeats. "And I'm… still… just… so sorry…" He sighs a little. "I… kind of overheard you and Kaldur…" He admits. "I thought I was making the right choice, for your sake, but I've regretted it more than I've regretted anything…" Dick closes his eyes. "I'd understand if you never wanted to date me… I really messed up…"
"…I… I still want to try…" Dick says, opening his eyes, looking up at Wally. "If you're sure you want to…" Wally smiles softly.
"I'd love to." Wally says.
"Just one thing…" Bruce starts, he looks down at Wally. Wally looks up at him, so does Dick. "You ever hurt my boy and you will hurt. A lot. Keep that in mind."
"Bruce…" Dick reprimands.
"Noted…" Wally says nervously.