Sorry this is late. On my end, fanfiction didn't wanna work, but here's the chapter. I'm trying to get on AO3 in hopes of posting this story on there, but I'll probably start from the beginning again. If you feel there's any changes that should be made before I post this story on there, either PM me or leave a review and I will definitely consider it. Anyway, enjoy chapter 9.
Chapter 9
"This is bad… This is really bad…" Wally mutters as he paces, though he should be resting. "Vandal Savage? The Vandal Savage has Dick?"
"For the last time, yes, Wally. That's what Bruce said." Artemis says.
"Do you not realize how bad this is?!" Wally snaps. "We have no idea what he's doing to him! What end game he has that involves Dick!" He's so riled he starts coughing. Artemis makes him sit down.
"Will you calm down? You're going to rip your stitches!" Artemis snaps. Wally bends forward, arms resting on his legs, looking down.
"I can't lose him, again, Artemis…" Wally says. "He's my best friend… He means more to me than anything, anyone…"
"… Even me…?" Artemis asks. Wally looks up at her, eyes wide, he looks back down again.
"I don't know… I… I mean… I… I like you… I really like you…" Wally starts to explain. Artemis kneels on one leg so they're more level. "You're smart, you keep me in check, you're great. You do have some insecurities, but who doesn't? Especially at our age." He shakes his head. "I'll admit, I developed feelings for you I didn't think I ever could… But…"
"Why is there always a but…?" Artemis questions, though she's clearly teasing. Wally smiles a bit, but then the smile falls.
"I dunno… I mean… I'll admit, I kind of want to be with you… But… It almost… feels like a betrayal to Dick… That if I chose you, I would hurt him…" Wally explains.
"I'll admit, I've had feeling for you for a while, but I'm not going to tell you one way or the other how you should feel." Artemis says. She places a hand on his shoulder, which prompts him to look at her. "Take your time for your heart to decide. No matter what, you have my support and the support of the team. We all love you Wally, and we want you to be happy." He leans in and hugs her.
"Thank you, Artemis… Thank you so much…" Wally says softly. She hugs him back. Roy watched their whole interaction, rolling his eyes, glancing at Conner who's just staring blankly, arms crossed. M'gann watches the two, if they were in an anime, her eyes would be hearts.
"Aww!" She coos. Zatanna raises an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm whelmed." Zatanna states. Zatanna notices Kaldur standing by the window, she walks over to him. "What's on your mind?"
"I'm trying to think of how we can get Dick back…" Kaldur says. "The bioship is a no-go as Sportsmaster can pick up on Martian camouflage, he might be there."
"We might not be able to help, Kaldur… We might just… Have to leave this to the League." Zatanna says. "I'm worried too though. I can't imagine what he's going through right now. Either of them."
Bruce stares off in the Batcave, waiting, rather impatiently.
"How do I look?" Clark asks. Bruce looks over at Clark, dressed in Batman's suit. Bruce stands up and helps make a few adjustments, then pulls the cowl over his head to really sell it.
"It should fool them. Let me hear your voice?" Bruce asks.
"I feel kind of awkward…" Clark admits.
"You look awkward." Bruce comments. "But remember, this is for Dick. I don't want to go alone, but if I bring Superman, they may be suspicious. What better way to keep my identity than for Batman to be at my side?" Bruce states, straightening out the cape.
"They might figure it out, I have a good five inches on you, maybe more." Clark mentions.
"We have that risk, yes, but when haven't we gotten ourselves out of a bind. There's no one else I'd rather have by my side to rescue my son." Bruce admits. Clark smiles a bit. "Now, give me your best Batman impression." Clark clears his throat.
"I'm Batman." Clark says, trying to make his voice deeper.
"You have to make it seem more natural, it just sounds like you're forcing your voice lower." Bruce says.
"That's what you sound like!" Clark comments.
"Just try it again." Bruce says. Clark sighs.
"I'm Batman." He didn't make his voice go as deep this time.
"It's more like, I'm Batman." Bruce says, doing his voice when he's in costume. "Ok?"
"I'm Batman." Clark tries again.
"Better. Much better. It'll have to do. Now, to the Batmobile, Rob- er… Batman…" Bruce catches himself. He exhales through his nose, looking away. Clark places a hand on Bruce's shoulder.
"However this goes down, the end result is bringing Dick back. I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens." Clark assures. Bruce nods, then realization dawns on him.
"We need a Robin." Bruce states.
"Martian Manhunter!" Clark suggests.
"Exactly what I was thinking. I'll call him." Bruce says. He types on the Batcomputer, contacting the Watchtower. Wonder Woman answers.
"Yes?" She asks, taking notice of both Bruce and Batman in the same shot, but she figures out quickly who's under the cowl.
"Is Martian Manhunter available?" Bruce asks.
"He should be. I'll let him know you want to speak with him." Diana says, leaving the console. Soon enough, J'onn comes to the console.
"Yes, Batman? And… Batman?" J'onn asks.
"How soon can you get here?" Bruce asks.
"Momentarily." J'onn states. As he said, it doesn't take long for J'onn to show up. "What do you two need?"
"I need you to shapeshift to look like Robin." Bruce says. "Clark is standing in as Batman, but we realized Batman is not without his Robin for important missions such as this."
"Should be doable." With that Martian Manhunter morphs himself to look like Robin, shrinking down even to reach his height. "How's that?" J'onn says, mimicking Robin's voice as well.
"Kind of scary…" Clark comments.
"Remember, no powers, neither of you. For this to work, they have to really believe you're Batman and Robin. We don't have powers, obviously." Bruce mentions.
"Stay whelmed, B." J'onn says, mimicking Robin still. He crosses his arms, smiling widely.
"How do you have his mannerisms so perfect?" Clark asks.
"Miss Martian shares a lot of memories with me about the team." J'onn says. "Mostly it's a lot back-wording, like traught, whelmed, aster, and turbed. Though I could go on. The kid's weird. I blame Bruce."
"He's got a point." Clark comments.
"Let's just go." Bruce states, walking to the batmobile. Clark and J'onn follow, getting into the front like Batman and Robin would, driving off. Bruce stares out the window as they leave. "Hold on, Dick. We're coming for you."
"I am establishing a telepathic link between the three of us and will do the same for Dick when we get there." J'onn says, it's in his normal voice. "We will not need to worry about Psimon, he is still down after his last run in with M'gann."
"I apologize for saying this, but M'gann's power is a bit terrifying. All that untapped potential." Clark speaks telepathically. "No doubt Mister Contingency-Plan has a contingency plan for that."
"Aim for Super Boy." Bruce states.
"That's not funny…" Clark comments.
"So, you suddenly care for the boy, Clark?" Bruce mentions. There's not a word from the Kryptonian, basically confirming Bruce's words. "He would be elated to know that. You should show him that care. He is related to you, regardless of how he came about. He can't help that he's here, but he's here. Don't punish him simply for existing. It's clear he wants you in his life."
"It's too complicated…" Clark states.
"Not really, you're just hard-headed and stubborn. You're more alike than you realize." Bruce mentions. Again, Clark says nothing. They're in silence up until they approach the rendezvous point, which takes an hour or more. The Batmobile pulls aside. Clark is the first one out, followed by J'onn, then Bruce. Vandal has a hand on Dick's shoulder. The boy tries not to react to seeing himself and two Bruce's leaving the car.
"Bruce!" Dick shouts, wanting to run to him. Queen Bee places a hand on Dick's shoulder.
"Be still." She says softly. Dick stands still, doing as told.
"I see you brought friends, Mr. Wayne." Vandal states.
"I see you've done the same." Bruce says. "What do you want? You gave no terms for this meet-up."
"You speak so coldly, Mr. Wayne. I simply offer you the chance of a lifetime. Renounce your financial support of Batman and turn to the Light. Together, we can ensure a brighter future for Gotham and in return, we will keep Richard safe from the Court of Owls. You do know why they want him, don't you?"
"Clark, Batman doesn't believe in the Court of Owls' existence." Bruce says telepathically.
"Seems more like you wish to extort Mr. Wayne, offering protection from a fictional enemy." Clark states, lowering his voice to be more like Batman's.
"How about this?" Queen Bee starts, she grabs both of Dick's shoulders, leaning down so her head is next to his. Dick has a far-off look in his eyes, indicating his enthrallment. "Don't do as we say, and I will have to order sweet Richard here to jump into the river. If the fall doesn't kill him, the cold will." She threatens, standing straight and gently strokes and plays with Dick's hair. "Go on, Richard, stand by the ledge." As ordered, Dick walks over to the ledge, climbing over the railing and stands on the other side.
"No!" Bruce shouts, panic in his eyes.
"Snap out of it." J'onn connects with Dick telepathically.
"Had a feeling that was you, Martian Manhunter. Don't worry, she didn't enthrall me. I'm in complete control of my actions." Dick responds.
"Come now, he is just a child, Queen Bee. Are you truly that heartless?" Clark questions.
"Who ever said I had a heart?" Queen Bee taunts, then laughs. "Richard, stand on the railing, like a balance beam at the circus." Dick obeys, climbing onto the railing again, but balancing on top of it this time, his feet are protected by slip resistant socks from the hospital. But the stakes are getting higher… "Oh my, what if he falls?"
"How do we want to play this, Bruce?" Clark asks telepathically.
"I will concede, you pretend to be angry and leave. I will find a way back home with Dick." Bruce says.
"That's stupid… What will you do as Batman after that?!" Clark questions. "If Bruce Wayne withdraws financial support of Batman, that will cause problems in Gotham if Batman can't 'buy new equipment.'"
"Tick tock, Mr. Wayne." Queen Bee states. "Richard, can you do a handstand? I would very much like to see that."
"I can." Dick says, doing a handstand, balancing on the railing on his hands, parting his legs in a way to keep the hospital gown up, but the railing is extremely cold, and they feel like they're burning his skin. He winces at the pain, unsure how long he can keep this up, doesn't help that his right hand is still broken despite the healing he received. He fights the pain the best he can and tries not to show said pain.
"My, what an acrobat!" Queen Bee taunts.
"I'll deal with that problem later, right now, Dick's safety is our number one priority." Bruce says. "And Bruce Wayne will do anything for his son…"
"I really hope you know what you're doing, Bruce." Clark says.
"Fine…" Bruce says. "You win. I just want my son back."
"Bruce, you cannot be serious. Vandal and Queen Bee are evil! I can protect your family." Clark states as Batman.
"But that doesn't save Dick now…" Bruce says.
"What if I grapple him?" Clark asks telepathically.
"You're untrained, you might just hit him off."
"Final answer, Mr. Wayne?" Queen Bee asks. Bruce can see out of the corner of his eye that Dick's arms are very noticeably shaking.
"Bruce, you're obviously not thinking clearly. If you do this, and don't follow through with their demands, if they find even an inkling that you're 'helping' Batman, they may take Dick away again, or possibly kill him. Wayne Manor isn't exactly hard to find. You'll be on edge the entire time." Clark reasons telepathically.
"That crossed my mind…" Bruce states.
"So much hesitation, clearly you don't care about Richard that much." Queen Bee states. She turns her head. "Oh Richard."
"Stop!" Bruce shouts, putting his hands up.
"Well? What is your answer?" She asks.
"To live and fight another day…" Bruce thinks. "We have a deal. Just let Dick go." Bruce walks towards Savage and Queen Bee, offering his hand, Vandal takes it, shaking hands with him, smiling.
"Richard, you can get off now. Come over here, will you?" Queen Bee orders. Dick lowers his legs and mentally prepares himself for removing his hands, they feel stuck. Sure enough, they are. He very slowly and carefully peels his hands off the railing, leaving tiny thin pieces of skin behind. He winces, eyes snapping shut for a moment, but he climbs down and starts walking over.
"You're bastards, you know that…?" Bruce states.
"Sticks and stones, my dear." Queen Bee says, gently stroking Bruce's cheek, there's a slight twitch of his brow. "Now…" She leans into his ear. "You are free to go, both of you. And know the Light will be watching." Bruce nods. "And Richard." She lowers a bit so she's at his eye level. "You be good, ok?" She says with a smile, lightly tapping his nose with her finger.
"You bet, Miz'Bee." Dick says happily, smiling back adorably, swaying ever so slightly.
"I'll miss you." She says, giving him a hug. "I'll be sure to visit you every so often to see how you're doing." She states, more as a warning. Dick hugs her back.
"Robin, we're leaving." Clark says. Queen Bee lets Dick go.
"But, Batman…" J'onn says quietly, mimicking Dick's voice.
"Bruce Wayne has made his bed, now he must lie in it." With that, Clark climbs into the Batmobile. J'onn hesitates, but then climbs in next to Clark, driving away. Vandal climbs into his vehicle with Queen Bee and they leave, leaving Bruce and Dick in the middle of the bridge. Bruce notices Dick is trembling, making him take off his coat, placing it around Dick's shoulders. Bruce then kneels down so they're more eyelevel.
"Are you ok?" Bruce asks. Dick lifts his hands up, palms showing, they're blistered and bits of the top layer of his skin is missing, causing cuts in his skin that are bleeding. Bruce takes his hands and looks them over, they're very red and blistering, the tips starting to swell. "Looks like frostbite… I'm sorry it took so long, we kept arguing… But that doesn't make it right, and I'm really sorry."
"I'll be ok…" Dick says quietly. "M-Might just be a while b'fore I can rlly'use my hands…" The longer he talks, the more strained his voice, and his speech is a bit slurred. He coughs, his throat is burning from the cold.
"You can't be in the cold much longer…" Bruce says, feeling Dick's forehead then drops down to his cheek. "You're so cold…"
"'ll be ok…" Dick mumbles. Bruce lifts Dick up, he's still so small and light, he basically weighs nothing in Bruce's arms.
"Clark, J'onn, are you still nearby?" Bruce calls telepathically. They might be too far, or… "I know you're probably mad at me, but Dick is hypothermic, he won't make it."
"We will be there soon." J'onn says.
"Thank you." He says, holding Dick close, starting to shiver.
"Bruce… why'dy-you do that…?" Dick asks softly.
"I couldn't lose you…" Bruce says. "I'll figure it out. I am the world's greatest detective after all."
"Mmm…" Dick hums, it's obvious he's fading.
"Stay awake, ok? Stay awake." Bruce says, shaking him. "Hey…" Bruce calls, shaking him more.
"Hmm…?" Dick hums, stirring.
"Come on, stay awake…" Bruce says. The Batmobile pulls up and stops so they can get in. Bruce climbs in the back, setting Dick beside him, but pulls him close. "He's fading, fast, we have to get him to a hospital."
"There's a hospital not far from here, we passed it as we were leaving." Clark says.
"Good." Bruce says. He makes Dick curl up in a ball to help warm him up. The heaters in the batmobile are at full blast. As said, it isn't long before they reach the hospital. Upon reaching it, Bruce climbs out of the back.
"Bruce, we'll be back, ok?" Clark says. Bruce nods and takes Dick out of the car, carrying him into the hospital as he's passed out.
"I need help! He's really cold! I think he's hypothermic! He won't wake up!" Bruce shouts. Medical staff come over, checking the small boy. Someone brings over a gurney and has Bruce set Dick down.
"We'll take it from here, sir." The nurse says. "What's his name and date of birth?"
"Richard Grayson, twelve, one, ninety-six." Bruce answers. The nurse nods and they take Dick away to one of the small rooms they have in the ER. Bruce sits down. He knows Dick will be ok. He's faced worse than hypothermia, but to almost lose him again in the span of a week…? This is becoming a very scary trend. More than that, what exactly did they do to him…? He didn't seem hurt, he seemed much better than before.
"Sir?" A nurse says, stepping over. "We had a few questions." She says, sitting beside him. "He's already in a hospital gown, why is that?"
"He was kidnapped from the hospital up in Happy Harbor. I met with his kidnappers and got him back, but by the time I got him back, he was very hypothermic." Bruce explains.
"Ok. What was he in the hospital for up in Happy Harbor."
"He was attacked while at a Christmas party, he was stabbed in the heart, right lung, and right hand." Bruce explains.
"Ok. We'll take a look." She says. She looks up and sees one of her fellow nurses looking at her, nodding. She smiles and stands up. "We have everything set up to warm him, would you like to see him?"
"Of course." Bruce says. The nurse smiles and leads him to Dick's ER room.
"By the way, what's your relation to the patient?" She asks.
"Legal Guardian, Bruce Wayne." Bruce answers.
"Ok! All is set then. Here you go." She says, gesturing to the curtained room. Bruce enters and sees Dick covered with several blankets, an oxygen mask on his face and an IV. Bruce steps beside him, seeing his hands are bandaged. Rather than take his hand, Bruce settles for gently stroke Dick's head, trying to sooth them both. "I can see you're both really close. He kept mumbling for you."
"We gave each other something we lost, that being family. I lost my parents when I was little, as did he. It's why I took him in. We both witnessed our parents' deaths. I knew that if anyone would understand him, I would." Bruce explains. "I could help him in a way no one else could."
"That's really sweet." The nurse says. "I wish you the best, Mr. Wayne. I'll see about having the x-rays done." With that, she walks away.
"Thank you." Bruce calls after her. He looks back down at Dick. It isn't long before the boy opens his eyes, looking up at Bruce.
"Bruce…" Dick mumbles.
"Hey… I'm here…" Bruce says.
"M sorry…" Dick says.
"What are you sorry for?" Bruce asks. "I'm the one who should be sorry… I couldn't keep you safe…"
"M sorry because you were put in a position to side with the Light… If… I… wasn't… If I didn't matter to you… Then…" Dick starts crying. "People I love keep getting hurt… Wally… Roy… they could h-have died because they were trying t… to protect me…"
"Hey…" Bruce says softly.
"I-I'm just… a curse…" Dick mumbles. "M the reason bad stuff happens t'good people…"
"Hey. It's not your fault. You can't stop us from loving you. And having you in our lives makes it so much better. I can't imagine my life without you, and I never want to." Bruce says. "Think of all the good you've done, that you can do, all because you're you. Hero or not, you're a good soul, never forget that. Never forget how much we need you, ok?" Dick nods a little, but he turns away, still crying. He closes his eyes, trying to stop the tears, but he continues to sniffle and sob softly.
"I don't wanna be alone again…" Dick finally says.
"Neither do I…" Bruce says, stroking the side of Dick's head. "You're not allowed to leave me behind… Ever… understand?"
"Yes, sir…" Dick says softly.
"Good…" Bruce says softly, leaning down and kissing his head. Dick looks over at him, smiling ever so slightly.