A/n: Okay, right, we're back. Let's see where this goes.
He didn't understand. He'd been so close. But… destroying the clock didn't work…
He backed into the wall, sliding down to the floor.
He couldn't breathe.
What if this was his life now? Cursed to relive the same six minutes over and over again forever. The six minutes in which he loses everything, he knows exactly how he loses them, and yet can do nothing to stop it.
"I'm going after him."
Dick let Jason go. What was the point in stopping him, when it wouldn't change anything? There was no escape, even for him. He couldn't even use death as an escape because he'd only just come back again, he'd already tried.
Why was he the one to remember? Why couldn't it be Tim? Tim would be able to figure out how to stop this, probably. Or maybe even Jason, he'd know how to prioritise better because he was better with knowing what to sacrifice. Batman would be the best of both worlds, Robin faster and more ruthless. But it wasn't them.
Their fates were reliant on him.
Stupid Dick Grayson.
"Red Robin, watch out!"
The explosion.
"Hood… Robin, no!"
"Father! Nightwing, hel- "
Dick just closed his eyes and blocked it all out.
If only it were one of the others… if only the others…
His eyes flew open as he came up with an idea. The others might not be able to remember, but that didn't mean they couldn't help him. He could still use his family's expertise…
"You're next, pretty boy," one of the men growled, pointing at Nightwing. The other goons raised their guns and aimed at Dick. He just stared right back.
0:10… 0:09…
"About that…"
"Fire on my mark!"
0:04… 0:03..
"See ya."
"Fire!"
0:02… 0:01…
6:00…
He'd go to Jason first. Last time had been sheer luck that Jason decided to listen to Dick and stay. He couldn't afford to rely on luck anymore. He hated arguing with any of his brothers but this was necessary. The hard part had been continuing the argument as the others died behind them, but at least it showed Jason how important this was even if he was horrified. Eventually, Dick got what he needed.
One job down.
0:01… 6:00
Batman and Robin were the best at assessing the situation, assessing their enemy's weakness. Dick needed a way to save time - even if time was all he had - so he needed to know who to prioritise taking out.
Job two done. Now for the hard bit.
0:01… 6:00
Tim's bit would take a few loops, Dick knew this going in. That's why he saved it for last. The first loop he used to explain the situation to Tim for the purpose of figuring out a way to carry the information Tim would tell him from one loop to a next for Tim to read the next time. It was confusing, and Tim himself had been confused, but he'd managed to figure and understand what Dick had probably gone through. He'd barely had enough time to create a program to keep future Tims updated and give Dick his computer, hoping it would carry over to the next loop before-
0:01… 6:00
It went better from there. Dick would quickly go up to Tim, ignoring everything else, give a quick summary and give Tim the six minutes to figure out how the clock worked and how to stop it, recording everything on the program the first Tim had made. After the six minutes was up, he'd do it again: beeline for Tim, give him the program to update him on his progress, record the new progress, time loop, repeat.
0:01… 6:00. 0:01… 6:00
Over and over again until Tim finally figured it out.
0:01…
Dick steeled himself to do this for the last time.
6:00
The clock is placed.
"I'm going after him," Red Hood says, right on cue.
"What could I say to get you to stay, Jay? Right now, what would stop you going after him?"
"Names," Jason had warned. "And what the fuck are you on about? We're losing time!"
"No, it doesn't matter. What would make you listen to me no matter what? What can I say?"
"No, stay Little Wing. Cover them for me."
"I don't know! There's nothing specific, I guess. My stupid ass listens to your stupid ass if you ask me to do anything for you anyway!" Jason admitted.
Red Hood paused, locked eyes with Dick and nodded.
As Red Hood turned his guns on the men surrounding Batman and Robin, moving to shoot the ones near Red Robin too if they got too close. That took care of the extras. Now for Dick to focus on the ones who mattered.
He'd already thrown his escrima to knock out the guy behind Tim, so that was dealt with. He moved quickly to tackle the guy going for Damian, ignoring his dislocated shoulder. There wasn't time for proper form to avoid injuring it, so he just grit his teeth when he reached out to grab Robin. This time, when Batman kneeled down, Dick took the calculated risk of not doing anything. He trusted Jason to take care of it.
Bang.
"Go."
Dick got up, nodding quickly at Jason in acknowledgement before checking the clock.
4:14… 4:13
Ahead of schedule.
"Duck in nine seconds," he relayed to Batman and Robin before going towards Tim.
Same drill. Dodge this guy, roll to avoid the punch, pick up the cartridge from the stray gun and toss it low to Red Hood so he could have new bullets and duck at the right time.
Bang, bang. The two guys around Tim are down.
As Dick takes care of the gun being aimed at his brother's head, he shoves the small flash drive that has the information on how to disable the clock into Tim's hand. Confused but determined, Red Robin twists out of the headlock and plugs the drive into his wrist computer, catching up on the situation.
Now came the bit that would suck. This wasn't unfamiliar territory anymore. This had happened before, and Dick was prepared.
"Stay there until you've read it all," Dick ordered Tim, who was already engrossed in the contents of the drive.
Dick checks the clock.
1:59… 1:58… 1:57…
No time to let his guard down. One of the goons rush him and he uses the guy's momentum to send him crashing into another, taking care of them both.
"Done," Tim announces, eyes taking on that calculating and determined glint in his eyes.
Too early.
"Wait," Nightwing tells him, holding out an arm to keep his brother in place.
Bang!
There.
Dick moves to block the bullet from reaching the clock and makes sure he falls into the goon that's heading into the pedestal, knocking him off course.
"Nightwing!" Tim freezes.
0:49… 0:48…
"Now, Tim, do it now," Dick gasps. The two brother's eyes meet, and Dick's desperation must be showing in his face because Tim purses his lips, and nods, immediately going to the clock.
Even lying on the ground, putting pressure on the bullet wound in his side with his one good arm, Dick doesn't let his guard down. He doesn't watch what Tim is doing, too focused on making sure nothing else goes wrong.
Batman and Robin are finally cutting down the number of goons around them with the help of Red Hood, who keeps glancing nervously at the flames still burning through the doorway he would have gone through if Dick hadn't stopped him. Most of the other men are more interested in the other three than Red Robin at this point, so Dick doesn't have to worry about much else except for the countdown.
"Almost…," Tim grunts.
Dick watches the numbers nervously. He has faith in Tim and his abilities, but he can't help but wonder if there was anything he could have done better, something to get Tim more time to make sure this will work because if he's telling himself the truth… he doesn't think he has it in him to try this again.
It's now or never.
0:05… 0:04… 0:03…
Dick wants to squeeze his eyes shut so he doesn't have to see it reach zero again, but at the same time, he's terrified to open them and see six minutes.
0:02… 0:01…
0:01…
A/n: Haha, okay that's the fic. I left it a little open because I wanted to just finish it but I think you guys know what happened. I wasn't intending at all for this to be a multi-chapter fic, but I'm really happy with it and I hope you guys enjoyed it too. Will I do another chapter? Possibly. Probably if you guys remind me, but it definitely won't be until I finish all of Whumptober (even if it is November…)
Anyway, stay safe, take care of yourselves and see ya soon!
- CrowofArcadiaOaks