Chapter Five:
Tiger And The Bipolar Assassin
Tiger didn't know what to make of the situation he found himself in. On one hand this was the family that still accepted Dick. The ones who welcomed him home while the others essentially shunned him. On the other hand this was his family. A family that Tiger was meeting for the first time and he already felt he failed some secret test, if the daggers being thrown in his direction was anything to go by, he'd failed miserably. It was almost unnerving the intensity that Damian was glaring at him.
"Dami, stop that." Dick chided again as he noticed the glare. They had just finished putting the groceries away and Tiger was already over analyzing every move he'd made upon entering his own home. The first view he'd had of the child was with those daggers shooting at him. From the moment he'd stepped inside to their current situation of dinner prep. Tiger couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Richard." Came the petulant response as the daggers changed into a more neutral gaze.
"Go speak with your family Grayson, I can handle dinner." Tiger couldn't help but say as he watched Damian from the corner of his eye. Near immediately there was a soft smile on the boy's face. Stranger yet it was directed at Tiger.
"You sure? I can easily fix up the vegetables." Tiger swatted at Dicks hands as he reached for the cucumber.
"Positive. They'll be leaving tomorrow, spend as much time as you can with them." After shooing Dick out of the kitchen Tiger felt he could finally relax. Damian's gaze was no longer fixed on him so making dinner turned towards a more relaxing affair. A simple vegtable stirfry since Damain was adverse to meats.
It was as Tiger was dicing up the vegetables that he about threw the knife at Damian. Dick had told him how he'd grown up as the heir to the League of Assassins. How it had taken a significant amount of effort to get the kid to be, well, a kid. So when Damian was right beside him scowling, it wasn't too much of a stretch for Tiger to jerk in surprise.
"How do you know Richard?" Tiger couldn't help but stare at the question. He assumed it would have been a rather obvious answer.
"We met in Spyral." Tiger couldn't help the bland tone as the words left his mouth. Old Spyral was a nightmare and a half but it was where they had met.
"Are you not still with this 'Spyral'?" Damian quaried, his eyes pinched with restrained hostility.
"Yes and no. The old Spyral is gone. It took quite the effort to make it what it is today. I doubt we could have done it without Grayson and his connections." Tiger explained as he tossed the veggies into a pan. He glanced down at Damian then. His brow was creased in thought and Tiger couldn't suppress the chuckle. With a quick ruffle of Damian's hair he pushed him back towards the living room. "If you ask I'm sure he'll share some stories with you."
It was as Tiger was pulling down a set of plates that the old Butler had decided it was his turn to interrogate him. Honestly speaking Tiger didn't mind so much. The man gave off a homely aura and it relaxed him more than he'd care to admit. It was almost like the cozy feelings he got from Apollo's door.
"I trust that you will give me nothing to worry about. He's like a grandson and I will allow him no more suffering." Tiger almost cringed at the tone of Alfreds voice. All semblance of homely warmth was gone. It wasn't harsh per say but there was an undertone that implied a threat.
"We have been partners through the mess of Spyral. Through untold horrors and secrets. I wish him as much harm as you. However as much as I would prevent him harm, I cannot prevent him from seeing his family. Even when they send him home bruised and battered." Tiger could feel his brow pinch as a glare settled over his features. As he turned his eyes onto the butler he almost felt sorry for the older man. The raw grief and yet protective stance were warring with one another. "Do NOT presume to tell me what is best for him when he comes home distraught and broken. I've put him together once and while I will do it again there will be casualties this time."
"I did not mean. . . I apologize for my presumptions. I was only trying to look out for him." Tiger's glare wilted under the forlorn expression crossing the butler's features.
"I understand. However please keep in mind I've patched him up from Bruce's whims on more than one occasion. I'm not keen to meet the man who beat Dick into submission." There was a harsh silence then only broken by the silent clink as plates hit the table.
"What did you say?" Came a choked out question. Tiger froze a moment then before placing the final dish on the table.
"If Grayson has not seen fit to tell you the truth of things I will not be the one to break that silence. Though I'm sure you've seen the signs and know, at least partially, the truth." The click of silverware seemed to break Alfred from his inner thoughts. With a dip of his head and whispered thanks he rejoined the others on the couch.
Tiger knew Richard had been watching. Maybe not with his normal focus but he had been watching. So Tiger wasn't surprised when he saw his shoulders tense as Alfred sat on the couch. However as nothing happened, and Alfred just sipped at a cup of tea with a warm smile, Richard relaxed.
It wasn't until after dinner had been put up and the dishes washed that Tiger noticed a prickly feeling on the back of his neck. He knew what it was of course. The intense stares and confused and sometimes angry glances over dinner had clued him into the small assassin's turbulent emotions. The butler was another story however. The man refused to even glance at Tiger. Instead he focused all attention onto Richard. almost as if gauging his reactions albeit subtly. Tiger knew Richard had noticed the strange looks. A conversation was going to be had once the mini deathglare assassin was tucked into bed.
So as he watched Richard coo over the adorably tired child Tiger sank into the couch to wait for his imminent return and subsequent conversation. It was then he felt the prickling grow more irritating as Richard turned the corner at the top of the stairs.
"Would you elaborate for me about what you said earlier?" Alfred's somber voice intoned. The weary look adorning his features as the cup of tea cooled in his hands had Tiger faltering.
"I will not break the trust he has in me just to alleviate your conscience. If you must know, ask him. He may attempt to divert the conversation but he won't lie to you." Tiger said as he stared at the frown coating the butler's chin. "I however will not allow him to visit Gotham alone. That is, should he even desire to go."
Silence fell then and Tiger could see the tears threatening to fall from the old man's eyes. It was to an extent heartbreaking, yet he couldn't help the man. He couldn't bring himself to comfort the one person who should've been able to step up and stop Bruce. To stop Richard's family from scarring him like they had. Tiger didn't hate the man but he couldn't find it in himself to comfort him in this situation.
It was the silent creak of the stairs that had Tiger looking up at Richard's figure. He could feel the tension leave his neck and allowed a small smile to grace his lips. That was all the que Richard needed to finish descending the stairs. He'd beelined for the kitchen and Tiger already knew a cup of hot cocoa was about to be made.
In moments Tiger was on his feet and across the room placing a firm hand against Richards shoulder. He grabbed the cup already filled with cocoa powder and proceeded to push him towards the couch. He could feel the hesitance in his steps. The war he was waging against his emotions to sit and face the conversation he must've known was coming.
"Go Richard, I'll get your cocoa ready. Extra marshmallows, I promise." With that Tiger could feel the acceptance as he pushed forward. Turning back around to the cup awaiting his attention Tiger felt himself smile. It was a soft white glass with the picture of an orange tabby looking at a blue jay. The meaning had been clear when Richard had brought it back from a mission.
Setting the pot on the stove to boil water, Tiger set aside another teapot for the butler. No doubt they would need it by the end of the night. turning to the cupboard he pulled down the half eaten bag of mini marshmallows and a clear glass container with his own mixed tea blend. It had taken a lot of trial and error to get the blend just right but now he could safely assuage any impending nightmares. Richard of course hated the stuff.
"My boy. . . " The slight quiver to the older man's voice resounded in the awkward silence.
"Don't Alfred." Richard's voice clipped out. "It wasn't your fault and it certainly wasn't your actions." He continued after a pause. Tiger pressed the hot cup of cocoa into his hands and sat back with his own steeped cup of tea. It would help him control the anger that was going to be ignited with this story.
"May I ask what happened? Between yourself and Bruce at least?" Tiger felt as Richard tensed up beside him at the name.
"No." It was a firm denial. It was not a subject Richard wanted to bring up again so soon. "However, I will not be going back to Gotham. If you or Dami want to come see me that's one thing. The others. . . I can't Alfred." Tiger could hear the slight tremble in Dick's voice and placed a comforting hand on his back.
"I can't without thinking you will justify it Alfred. I would rather suffer the unknown than live with the knowledge that I will never be enough for you or Bruce or the others to change." Tiger could feel the controlled flexing and relaxing of Dick's back as he tried to quell his rising emotions. There was a long drawn out moment of silence only broken as Tiger filled and placed a cup of tea in front of Alfred.
"It helps with the nerves." Tiger said emotionlessly as the silence stretched on. Alfread's brow was creased in worrying thought and Richard had turned his gaze out the darkened window.
"Sometimes Family does things we dont='t agree with. Reprehensible things Alfread. Things we could hate them for but we don't. We choose to rise above and love them anyway simply because they're family. This is not one of those things. This isn't something I can just bounce back from with a laugh and perfectly timed joke. He hurt me more than you could ever know." Tiger kept his hand running soothing circles along Richards back as he sought some form of closure from the grandfatherly figure.
"I love you Alfred. You're like my grandfather and I wouldn't change that for the world. I love you so i won't tell you because i wouldn't have you condemn the man you love as a son. But please. don't ask me about this. Don't ask me to go running back to those people. I won't come out of it alive Alfred." Tiger knew without looking that there were tears being shed between the two. It was a private moment but he wasn't about to leave his partner to crumble alone.
"I'm so sorry my boy." Alfred spoke out barely
above a whisper. "I'm sorry that you're suffering to protect me when it should be the other way around." A more comfortable silence hung in the air then. Only the light sounds of tea and a single hot cocoa being drunk broke the now calmed air. with the final click of a glass being placed on the coffee table Alfred stood.
"I shall see you in the morning for breakfast. Should Master Tiger permit it I would appreciate it if I may serve breakfast for you once more?" TIger could still detect a slight quiver to Alfreads voice as he relayed his request and gave a firm nod in response.
"This is as much his home as it is mine. Feel free to use whatever you like." Tiger said with a slight encouraging smile.
"Goodnight grandpa." Dick said after Alfred was halfway up the stairs and quite obviously out of hearing distance.
Tiger stirred and opened his eyes to the still darkness of his room. There was a light tapping noise toward the foot of his bed which had roused him from his sleep. He knew Dick would just knock if not barge in so the light clinking taps could only be someone else. Someone Tiger was still trying to figure out.
With quiet movements he was out of bed and standing in front of his door. At the next pause in the tapping Tiger yanked open his door and looked down at the guilty figure. It was Damian of course, crouched down and covered in the fluffy duck blanket Richard had insisted on putting in his room.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing?" Tiger asked with a light glare at the younger. There was a muffled shuffle as the blanket fell off Damians shoulders and sharp eyes met his own.
"I'm not nearly as unobservant as the others. So I expect you to be forthcoming in what has happened to Richard." Maybe it was the petulant way he had his lip stuck out slightly. Or maybe it was just his genuine worry over Richard but Tiger couldn't help but find the scene adorable. Something he would keep secret and take to his grave lest Dick taunt him with it.
"What makes you ask if something has happened? You saw him at dinner did you not?" Tiger pressed in an attempt to garner how much the boy knew. He wouldn't give away the shadows that Haunted Dick but he wouldn't stop the tiny tikes assassin from reaping some form of revenge on his behalf.
"I heard you and the butler talking in the kitchen. Richard thought I was thoroughly engrossed in a wild cat documentary." Came a whispered response followed by a miniscule roll of the eyes.
"Just because you haven't seen the violence wrought by the horde of bats you live with does not mean it hasn't occurred. Be it by physical force or emotional trauma. Well, both have transpired. A heavy debt is owed to Richard by the bats. I hope you understand that this is all I will divulge to you. You and Alfred are always welcome as long as Richard desires it. The rest best stay in Gotham." Tiger stated as his ire at the other bats roiled and grew. A shaky nod was all the answer he received
"I will find out any needed details at home." Tiger watched as a stoic dedication took over the boy's shoulders. It was refreshing to see one of them willing to tell the others when they were in the wrong. "Thank you Tiger. Have a good night." Damian stated with slight hesitation on Tiger's name. He felt himself smiling at the moment as Damian turned to go back to bed. So pleased with the possible vengeance Tiger felt he could ignore the black tanto peeking out from the duck blanket as Damian walked away.
It was as he was closing the bedroom door that a buzzing sound rang in his ears. A tap to his hypnos device and a message was being relayed. A frown marred his face as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This better be worth it Evergreen." Tiger growled out.
"Where is he?!" A crack rang out within the room. Bouncing off the rusted metal walls and dancing between the hanging chains with malicious glee. Silence was the only answer to the violently asked question. An aggravated growl followed before the slam of a metal door.
A weak sigh left a dark figure dangling from the chains. White hair bled red from abuse and the right shoulder hung awkwardly in the chains. A musty iron scent hung in the air with a foreboding aura.
"Come on kid, I can't hang on much longer here." a gruff whisper came out unbidden to the silence. d