Chapter 15

"You swore you would protect my son from the Court!" Bruce snaps, looking at a monitor where members of the Light are shown.

"We are working on a plan of rescue, Mr. Wayne." Luthor states.

"They're a secret society! Even Batman hasn't tracked them down!" Bruce snaps more, glaring into the camera.

"But he doesn't have Chaos on his side. You do." Luthor states calmly.

"That little monster once made all the kids disappear!" Bruce reminds him.

"I'm not a monster, I'm just exotic!" Klarion snaps.

"Mrow." Teekl meows.

"Eccentric! He knew I meant Eccentric!" The Witch Boy corrects.

"Way to instill confidence…" Bruce mutters, rubbing his brow.

"Just try to calm down, Mr. Wayne." Queen Bee says.

"Oh, calm down?! Are any of you parents?! How would you feel if it was your kid missing?!" Bruce shouts, slamming his hand on his desk.

"I am a parent. I have two daughters alive right now, but I have had many children. My two daughters are all I have left." Vandal says. "It's a pain you never get over, but I promise you, it won't come to that. We will find Richard and bring him back to you. Though you must leave Batman out of this."

"You have twenty-four hours to find him or I will call Batman, do you understand me…?" Bruce mutters. Without hearing an answer, he leaves the meeting, stands up, taking a deep breath in, letting it out.

"Are you sure we can trust them to help us find Dick?" Wally asks.

"I don't trust them in the slightest, but we know nothing about the Court of Owls. This is our best chance without involving Batman and blowing my cover with the Light." Bruce states. "But they have twenty-four hours… I just pray it's not too late."

"We have a tracker on him, we could find him, save him." Wally states. "You don't have to go through them…"

"Wally, you're still recovering, Artemis is injured." Bruce mentions.

"What about the rest of the team… There's still Conner, M'gann, Kaldur… Rocket, Zatanna! Not to mention the League. We can do a full-frontal assault and bring him back…" Wally says, tears falling down his cheeks. Bruce steps over and places a hand on his shoulder.

"This is simply the way it has to be… If I call upon the League, The Light may suspect I'm Batman or to be working with him, and they'll kill Dick." Bruce explains. Wally closes his eyes, clenching his fists.

"It's all my fault… I… I took him from here… I brought him out into the open, he was vulnerable because of me…" Wally says. "I just… Wanted to tell him I'm sorry for hurting him…"

"The Court of Owls are the ones at fault. They're the ones who took Dick. If they didn't exist, this wouldn't be a problem." Bruce tells him. "But they exist, I can't deny that anymore… But I know Dick wouldn't blame you, nor would he want you to blame yourself." Wally curls in a bit.

"I'll never forgive myself… Maybe he and I shouldn't be together… I only ever cause him pain…" Wally says quietly.

"Funny… he said the same thing to me once too. When he was in the hospital, he felt terrible that you and Roy got hurt, he thought he was a curse because bad things keep happening." Bruce mentions. Wally opens his eyes.

"No… He… He's one of the best things that ever happened to me. If I didn't have him, my world would be so much darker…" Wally states.

"Tell me, how do you think Dick would react hearing you talk like you were, blaming yourself?" Bruce asks.

"Probably yell at me to cut it out…" Wally admits.

"How you feel about Dick is likely how he feels about you. You wouldn't blame him, he wouldn't blame you, so why blame yourself?" Bruce asks. Wally looks down, staring at the floor, shoulders trembling.

"There's nothing I can do to help him… If I could just help him…" Wally trails off.

"The Court of Owls wants Dick alive, they'd kill you, what use would you be to him dead?" Bruce reasons.

"They'll turn him into whatever those things are… A Talon… He could be lost to us forever…" Wally says.

"Could be, but he won't be. He's strong, Wally. Remember that."

"But even the strongest men have their weaknesses. And it's obvious Dick is ours…" Wally comments. Bruce sighs.

"You're right about that… But he's also our strength. We fight harder because of him." Bruce explains.

In the labyrinth, Dick opens his eyes, blinking slowly as he tries to remember where he is. It comes back to him and he sits up with a jolt, looking around. He's on the podium again, at the very beginning. He curses at himself, hitting the podium with a balled-up fist. He swings his legs off and gets to his feet, walking toward the Owl Statues and through the passageway. Like before, he has a choice, turn right or go straight. But the paths change, so maybe if he goes straight again, it'll be different. But what if it is exactly like before and he just ends up at a dead end?

There's suddenly an ear-piercing screech, making him flinch and cover his ears, eyes snapping shut tight. He turns right, making a choice, hoping that'll make the screeching stop. Which it does. He lowers his hands and continues on, ducking under a spike wall. He can't remember if that was there before or not, but he doesn't care, he has to keep moving. He comes to an intersection, looking between the choices. Then there's the screeching again, somehow louder this time. He yells in pain, covering his ears. He staggers forward, going straight. He finds himself at the fountain again. He steps up to it, looking at the water, but he thinks against drinking it this time.

He steps away from the fountain and heads to the left before the screeching happens again. He comes to a new large room, but it's just a big empty room, no passages. He huffs and turns around, heading back the way he came, only to find it blocked by a wall as he rounds the corner. He stops suddenly, looking up the wall. He growls in frustration and punches it. He yelps in pain, holding his right hand to himself. He probably broke his hand worse than it was before... He closes his eyes tight.

"Calm down… Losing your mind is what they want. You have to keep your head." He sighs, opening his eyes and turning around and walking back to the large chamber, only to be met with another wall. His eyes widen. "Oh, come on!" He shouts. He shakes his head and turns back around in hopes maybe somehow there's a way out that way all of a sudden, but when he turns, he sees a black mass has been standing behind him. He shouts in surprise and falls back. He closes his eyes as he falls, catching himself on his arms. He opens his eyes and looks up, the shadow is gone. Then he hears laughter. He gets back to his feet and continues on, not letting the laughter or the voices get to him. And yes, the voices started again.

"Lost cause…"

"Just die already…"

"He won't make it…"

"He should just give up…"

A dizzy spell comes over him and he stumbles into the wall, keeping himself up. He closes his eyes, centering himself and gets back up. He starts singing to himself, his mother's lullaby, trying to keep himself calm.

"Little robin." That sounded like his mother's voice… But he won't be fooled, his mom is dead. But how did it know her nickname for him…? He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"It's not her… It's not her!" Dick tells himself. His next step makes his heart almost stop as he feels nothing beneath his foot. He opens his eyes, startled and just barely stops himself in time from falling into a depthless pit. He looks down, suddenly feeling a wave of vertigo come over him as he stares into the darkness.

"One step, baby bird…" His mom's voice says.

"We'll be together again." His… His father's voice…

"Don't you want to be with us, Dick?" His aunt Karla…

"All it is is one step." He hears an actual voice this time, it's echoey, but he looks up, seeing what looks like his cousin on the other side, he's smiling, holding his arms out.

"Johnny…" Dick mumbles.

"Join us. And you'll fly forever." Johnny says, holding one foot out over the pit.

"John, don't!" Dick shouts. Johnny laughs and places his foot back, turning.

"You're right, this is much better." Johnny says, then jumps back.

"No!" Dick shouts, reaching for him, but he's too out of reach. All he can do is watch as his cousin disappears in darkness.

"You failed to save him…"

"Just like that day…"

"You lost everything…"

"Because you're a weak, scared little boy…"

"If you really love them… Jump…"

"Join them…"

"Join us, little robin…"

His heart is beating like crazy, breathing heavily from shock. It'd be quick… Relatively painless… He'd get out of here, finally out of here. He can prevent his grandfather from getting what he wants. But… he… He has to hold on… For his family, his friends… For Wally.

"KF… There's something I need to tell you… I can't… I can't keep secrets from you. You're my best friend and I trust you…" Dick remembers saying as he removes the mask from his face, showing his stormy blue eyes to his best friend, smiling. "My name is Richard Grayson. I grew up in Haly's Traveling Circus and on April First, two thousand and six, my family died. Batman took me in, and I've been fighting crime ever since."

"You didn't have to tell me, man. I get why you have to keep secrets. But I'm glad you told me. Now I just know more about you that I didn't before." He remembers Kid Flash saying, placing a hand on his shoulder. He remembers Wally pulling him into a hug. "And I'm glad you trust me." The feeling of being in his best friend's arms… In Wally's arms… It makes his heart start to race… Hugging him back. He was about twelve years old…

"Wall…" Dick mumbles. "You've always been supportive of me… And always kept me in check… You wouldn't give up… And neither will I… I'll make it back to you." He steps back, taking as many steps back as he can and then runs, running as fast as he can and jumps off. He flies through the air, landing on the other side, almost not making it, but he forces himself forward, falling to the ground in front of him, laughing. "Wally, I did it!" He says happily, getting up and turning around, looking back at his accomplishment, but the pit is gone. Instead, there's steps going down to a small fountain, more steps going left or right. He just glares before rolling his eyes. "I hate this place…" He turns back around and keeps going. "When I get back, you are getting all the snuggles and kisses I can give. We're going to eat a lot of food and watch movies all night, and in the morning, Alfred will make waffles."

He continues trapsing through the maze, taking turn after turn, crawling under spikes, avoiding spinning spike pillars. He finds a new room with dart traps and manages to get through that without getting hit, showing off some of his acrobatics and smooth moves. He's perked up a lot as he feels like he's actually getting through this, that he'll get out and be reunited with Wally and Bruce.

"You know what I find funny, Walls? Walls, just… Walls. Like if you have a box, and you take out a wall of the box, the top is still standing. Take out another wall, still standing, but not that great, but still standing. And then, remove a third wall, the top will fall down. And I think that's just a good metaphor for our Team. We're just a bunch of walls. What are we supporting? I got no idea, but we're walls! If you take away only one wall, we're not as strong, so we gotta stick together." He rambles. He looks down a hall that he's passing by, seeing a door at the end. He smiles and starts running down to it. But it seems like the more he runs, the farther it gets. "Oh no you don't!" He shouts, running harder.

Again, the door seemingly pushes back further and further. Eventually, he runs into it, ramming towards it with his arm, but… it disappears in a plume of smoke and he can't stop himself in time from falling into a large room where the floor is covered in water. He pops his head out of the brackish water, struggling to swim because of his heavy jacket and school uniform blazer. He slides them off his arms and reaches up, grabbing the ledge and tries to pull himself up. He's nearly up and out when he feels something grab his legs and pull him down with a shout.

He tries to reach for whatever has hold of him, but he feels something else grab one arm, then the other, pulling them back. He squirms and twists, trying to break free. He opens his eyes, seeing light shimmering but he sinks further and further, away from the light.

"No… No!" He screams in his head, fighting harder to break free. Whatever has him won't let up, won't let go. He can't hold his breath for much longer… He fights more desperately. Before long, he tries to take a gasp of air, but only takes in water. He coughs, but only takes in more water as he gasps for air. "I can't die here…" Suddenly, he's pulled out of the water, he gasps and then starts coughing. He's pulled onto the platform and turned onto his side. He coughs up a lot of water, feeling like he'll throw up with how hard he's coughing. He breathes heavily, looking up at the one who saved him… A Talon… "Y-You…?" He questions, coughing.

"Of course." It's his grandfather. He takes off his owl hood and kneels down in front of him. He looks so much like his dad and his uncle Rick, but his eyes… they're gold… and his skin is so pale, with black marbling his skin… "You're doing well, son." He says, placing a hand on Dick's shoulder. He smiles at him, the smile seeming so eerie and disturbing.

"Why…? Why did you save me? You're the one who put me in here!" Dick questions, going into another coughing fit. The Talon continues to smile, then pulls him into a hug. Dick struggles in his hold, though he can't do much as he's still weak from nearly drowning and just… everything. He stops struggling rather quickly, just letting the murderous psychopath hold him. He doesn't have much choice.

"We have to test you, push your limits, see how strong the fight is within you. We're impressed so far, which is why they allowed me to pull you out." He explains. He rubs Dick's arm and pulls away, cupping his face. "Keep going, keep fighting. I'm so proud of you." Dick just glares death at him, still breathing heavily.

"And what if… I don't? What if I just die and you'll never have me!?" Dick shouts questioningly. The talon removes his hands, touching his own chin.

"Then we will have to find someone else. I seem to recall hearing of a young boy at the circus that night. A little boy much like you, eyes bright and excited. I hear he has potential. Very smart, strong, all he needs is some training and he'd be perfect. Sure, he's not of my blood, but you don't need to be a descendant to be a talon. Timothy Drake would do well as the Gray Son of Gotham, I'm sure."

"Timothy Drake…" Dick's eyes widen, remembering that night. A little boy… he met a little boy just before the start of the show, he was a big fan of the Flying Graysons, had been waiting almost a year to see them when they got back to Gotham. His dad lifted the boy up and put him on Dick and Johnny's shoulders so they could all take a picture together… The boy had brought a camera with him… "This show will be dedicated to you, Timmy. I hope you enjoy it!" He remembers the boy's eyes shimmering with happiness.

"By that look, I'm guessing you remember him." The Talon states. Dick looks up at him, clenching his fists, brow knitting in anger. Dick shouts and strikes at the Talon's face. Though the Talon just smirks, grabbing his fist with his hand, which hurts so bad, but Dick is too angry. The man laughs, a little maniacally. "Pushed your buttons, huh?" He squeezes Dick's hand harshly, bending his wrist back and then twists, very hard. Dick screams in pain as his hand is broken even more, his wrist probably too, maybe even dislocated. "Remember what's at stake, Richard. It doesn't have to be you." His grandfather lets it go and his arm drops to the floor limply. His whole arm feels to be in agony. he can't move it or his fingers…

"You bastard…" Dick growls, eyes closed tight, bringing his left arm up, gripping his right, trembling not only from pain, but from anger. "You touch him, and I'll kill you…"

"Good luck with that, son." The Talon says, placing a hand on his head. Dick smacks it off with his left arm. "Typical, help a kid out with anything and they're always so ungrateful." His grandfather stands up. "My name is William Cobb by the way, and the mother of my child was Amelia Crowne. In case you die, figured you might want to know the names of your ancestors." With that, he turns around. Dick lifts his head, watching William leave. Dick grabs his right arm, lifting it, hissing in pain as his hand hangs limply. Dick looks back in the water, trying to find his jackets, but they're too far into the water and he doesn't want to go back in there… He'll just have to order a new blazer when he gets out of here, and buy a new jacket.

He takes off his tie and unknots it. It's a struggle, but he manages to use it as a makeshift wrap for his wrist, it's not much, but it's something… He stands up shakily, walking back the way he came. To his left, it's just a wall now, so he turns to his right, going back the way he came. He starts singing to himself again to keep calm. He stumbles into the wall, resting there for just a moment. He's breathing heavily, his vision is blurring… He coughs, sliding down the wall, sinking to his knees. It's suddenly getting harder to stay awake, but he tries forcing the issue, trying to get back up, but his body is going numb again. His eyes start to close, he can't move… can't stay awake… His head slumps forward, falling unconscious.