Chapter 12. Dick: Further Interrogation

Dick

With Duke leaving the room, the atmosphere became frigid. Had Mr. Freeze escaped Arkham again? It felt like ice was creeping across the room, picking up the pace once Duke left.

That's what I like about Duke, he was a light to this family who was in love with the dark. It's fitting, because of his personality and abilities.

{We classify them as Meta-Humans or Metas for short, basically people who have enhanced abilities that received their powers either through experimentation or through blood relatives. Some examples would be my best friend Wally West, and his uncle Barry Allen. Both Barry and Wally recreated experiments that caused them to be hit by lightning and become the fastest people alive. Aliens don't count as Metas. Like Superman or his family.}

Anyway, Duke has the ability to manipulate light and shadow. Using it to disguise himself easily. He also sees into the future… by about ten minutes at most. Bruce has always disliked Metas, refusing to have anyone with enhanced abilities, including Superman, into his city. He refuses their help, so Duke being apart of our family does demonstrate progress on Bruce's part.

The tension in the air was humid and thick, though frost covered the walls. A storm was approaching, on the edge of a gale. Nothing but enraged words, and a downpour would come to our family. Though there's always the eye of the storm, some hope. But once the eye passes, the storm hits twice as hard. Jason collapsed back into his seat; his hand covered his face. My little brother was not in the mood to talk anymore, utterly exhausted from recounting the horrific past. The only sunlight, hope, in the room was the truth that was being spoken. No hesitation, no lies, the only wait was due to glares, which made the frost spread like cobwebs across the once joyful room.

The weight of Jason's words hit my heart. Abigail was treated as a weapon? Possibly abused worse than Cass or Damian? Cass who wasn't allowed to speak, but instead learned how to communicate through body language. Cass, who didn't speak till she was 15. Cass and Damian, who were trained as assassins from the day they could walk? Damian, who was taught loving someone made you weak? Damian, who would rather insult you and fall on a blade instead of asking for a hug? Damian, who was taught that he always must be perfect?

But not having a name… how? How could anyone live like that? How could Daniel live like that? How could Abigail?

I looked around the room, everyone seemed to be having similar thoughts to mine. Except for Daniel and B. Daniel was glaring at the hardwood, just letting the places of information fall into place, connecting the final dots to complete this story. Bruce? Bruce was glaring at Daniel and Jason. Right now, Bruce wasn't the man who offered me a home after my parent's murder. Or the man who took in an eleven-year-old Jason in from the streets, the man who gave Tim a home after his seeing his neglectful parents' bodies in his former home, the man who gave Stephiane a chance to redeem her family name, the man who gave Cass a chance to learn to speak, the man who provided Duke a home after his parents were forceable over-dosed by Joker's toxin, or the man who accepted his son assassin Damian. That he still had time to teach his son the good in the world. No Bruce was not acting like any of those men in the past.

Today, Bruce is acting entirely as Batman, and not being a diplomatic Batman either. Did Bruce's diplomacy only come from Alfred? Typically, when Bruce questions people, aka interrogates, he keeps a mask of indifference on. The only change in that mask is glaring harder at certain pieces of information. Currently, Bruce decided to take the bad cop persona, instead of the indifferent cop.

I guess that makes me the good cop. Maybe I should break the ice, before we get to more sensitive topics. "Well, this sure explains a lot from the past." I grinned slightly at my Robin, then towards Tim.

Daniel frowned. "What do you mean? Explains what?"

Daniel was still tense. He clearly has trust issues, considering what Damian and himself recounted, I can't exactly blame him. Our whole family has trust issues. Well, Duke doesn't, neither did Alfred. Daniel relaxed when he had some information about us. It wasn't just him revealing the past, it allowed for the spotlight to go onto someone else for a while. Hopefully I can give him enough time to collect his thoughts again.

Tim frowned, "Are you talking about that DNA test I found not long after the gremlin came here?"

"TT, then Slade's ex wife sent it to father trying to make me believe Slade was truly my father. The ruse only was effective for a maximum of 48 hours." Damian explained.

Daniel sent a confused look to his 'brother'. "Story? And can only one person please explain?"

Tim coughed into his fist. "Considering I found the information out; I'll give the part of the story I contributed to." Tim sat up fully, finally putting his empty mug on the table. Looking Daniel right in the eye. "Damian officially became a part of our family at ten. But he came here for a short visit when he was eight. I was still Robin at that time. Bat brought him to the cave; I was honestly excited to have a little brother. Then –"

"My reflexes kicked in. Mother ingrained the fact in my head that I must inherit the Robin mantel. My task was supposed to be to only eliminate Grayson. Todd, the Red Hood, was supposed to eliminate Drake, obviously you can see for yourself that didn't work." Damian explained. His explanation still made me cringe. I'm just thankful that Little D gave me a chance to show him the good in the world before he followed his mother's orders like a mindless soldier.

Daniel raised an eyebrow in question, turning his attention to Tim. "You sure you didn't get thrown in a pit? From the rumors about Red Hood's early days alone I would have thought the only people to stand in Hood's way would be Batman or Superman. Possibly the Justice League if Batman ever let outsiders into his city."

I frowned, looking over to my little brother. Well, little in age. Considering the fact that Jason was several inches taller and had ruffly 30 or more pounds of muscle than me. Jason was glaring at the table, no doubt still lost in his traumatic past. Usually, these instances he would be thinking about Joker, the man who murdered him at 13. Joker hitting Jason with a crowbar, then letting him die in a warehouse explosion. I knew how to get him out of those thoughts, by acting silly and getting him to yell at me. At least it was better than him being stuck in the past. Now though? I couldn't tell when he was in the past, getting the distinct impression some idiotic actions would not be able to bring my brother out of his dark past at the moment. For now, Jason has to fight his past torments on his own, despite how much I wanted to protect him.

Tim snickered. "No, I didn't get thrown in the pit. I am actually one of the people in this family who hasn't been in the pit. Or technically died. However, there was a short period of time when I was forced to work for your grandfather. My spleen was removed and there was about three minutes I truly thought I had been in the pit."

I shudder at Tim's words. Seeing Jason on pit rage was bad enough. Tim on Lazarus induced pit rage? That would be a nightmare. The Lazarus pit brings out the worst in a person and enhances time five. Jason was bent on revenge, taking up the name Red Hood, controlling the criminal element of the city by doing what Batman refuses to do, and to get some sense of justice for his death. If Tim was ever to go to the pit, … well it wouldn't be good, especially with his intelligence. He would turn cynical, wouldn't trust a single person, and would likely become the most feared vigilante in history. Yes, even more than Batman or Red Hood.

"Back on track. Mother sent me to learn from father at eight. I saw Drake as a threat, so I attempted to decapitate Drake." Damian summarized.

"Yeah, well I'm glad that didn't go according to plan." Tim rubbed his neck self-consciously. "Not long after that Talia took Damian back. I began doing research, I wanted to prove that Damian wasn't related to this family at all. I found an alternate DNA profile saying that Slade Wilson was Damian's father instead."

That incident was a nightmare. Damian had disappeared for less than a week. Leaving a note saying something like 'I am going to go live with my real father.' I'm glad that Bruce and Slade were able to work that mess out. I still despise Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke. The most lethal contract assassin in the world. Although he is not above being paid off to not kill an assignment. One blue eye, the other is shot out (by his ex-wife), white hair, an expert with any weapon, prefers firearms and swords. When he was a teenager, he joined the military, Slade was drafted to be a part of scientific experimentation. Creating a super soldier.

"Which was disproven." Damian assured.

"That alternate document was probably you. We just didn't know it." Tim looked at Daniel meaningfully.

"TT, at the time I thought mother had just planted it for a failsafe incase a contract was ever put on my head." Damian explained. I could tell he was still slightly guilty for not following the lead in the first place.

"Apparently, you didn't consider that your own mother would put a bounty on your head." Jason said flatly. Still lost in his own thoughts.

Daniel frowned, obviously a thought occurred to him. I caught Barbara's eye. I had a pretty good idea what was going to come out of his mouth, and Barbara was having similar thoughts. Daniel was probably going to accuse us of abandoning him. Somewhere along the lines, 'You had evidence I was alive for almost seven years? And you didn't look into it?' To be quite honest we'd deserve it.

The question that came out of Daniel's mouth was, "Were there other files?"

Tim frowned. "What do you mean?"

"When you discovered my DNA profile, did you find other files similar to mine?" Daniel asked again, mumbling to himself, refusing to look anyone in the eye.

"No, why?" Tim questioned.

Daniel grabbed a taco in front of him, obviously trying to avoid this part of the conversation. Tim looks over to me for help. See, Tim knows I know Damian the best. Heck, Tim preaches it. Tim was asking what he should do, because Tim doesn't completely want to start off on the wrong foot like he and Damian did.

I looked at Daniel again, studying him closely. He is still guarded but, I could tell he wasn't completely done with answering questions yet. Perhaps we can go back to the point of the files later.

I tapped a message in Morse code on my knee. Change Topic. He Will Still Answer Questions But Change Topic.

Tim nodded and picked the conversation back up again, looking over to Daniel. "Damian said that Abigail is blind yet can hear through echolocation. What did Ras do to her?"

Daniel sighed, placing his head in his hand. "Before I explain that, I need to explain what led to that." Daniel combed his arctic-white hair through his fingers. Shutting his emerald, green eyes tight, and his left foot began bouncing out of nerves. "Abby wasn't born blind. Jason tried to save Abby, obviously that failed."

Daniel stopped himself, attempting to formulate what he should say next. Pinching his lips, eyebrows furrowed just a couple of centimeters from touching each other.

Jason grunted, though I am sure he was just awoken from his own thoughts. He looked at Daniel, protectiveness and sympathy radiating from him.

The white-haired boy put his hand on the back of his neck. "There were two other clones of Damian. And at least one of Abby herself. Ras allowed the four to… train together? I'm not completely sure why he let that happen. Dean, David, and Ruby. From what Ab's has told me, well more like described in her own way, they managed to run away at some point."

Stephanie looked at Daniel with sympathy. Seeing how hard it was to describe the part of Abigail's past that he hadn't been a part of. Her blonde hair pulled over her right shoulder, as if she was trying to provide a curtain between herself and the family portrait above the mantal. Feeling the 'Look' from Alfred's painted face. "That's why she saved you. Because you remind her of her other brothers."

Daniel nodded. Hand dropping to his lap, strands of his near shoulder length hair falling in front of his face like feathers. "Yeah. The first time they ran away, they came across a photo booth. Ab's still has the old picture. In the pic Abby looks about five, Ruby was probably six. Dean and David looked about eight."

Tim started, "What does this-"

Daniel ignored him, lost in recounted memory, all the while relaying his words to his feet. "Abby said that Dean was taller than David. His hair looked like fire, stronger. Apparently, he was more impulsive, loud, and very protective of Abby and Ruby. David had hair like the earth or tree bark, listened, fast learner. He planned things. Yes, he was protective, but he wasn't impulsive. Ruby was in-between. Ruby did think things through, but a bit impulsive. For Ruby, it was difficult for her to voice her emotions. Instead, she did little things to show she cared. Hair like the sun. Also defensive with her words."

A silence hung in the air, Tim asked again, "What does this have to do with Abigail's sight?"

Daniel stared Tim in the eyes. Living emerald forest green vs detective cold crystal blue. Two young men both determined, one in facts the other in defending his sister. "Everything. I'm sure you noticed how I described them."

I nodded. "Yeah, fire red. Earth brown. Sun blonde."

"That's how Abby described them to me. She really doesn't know colors. The only color she knows by name is green." Daniel said, glancing over at me.

Barbara spoke. "You said Abigail was five while Ruby was six. Yet Ruby is a clone of Abigail."

Daniel turned to her. "I also said that Abby has been to the pit's innumerable times. Which caused her to look younger. My best guess is that she is at least two years younger."

Bruce growled. "You still didn't answer the question why do these other adolescent's matter? Or the reason you dare, to address them before the sight of Talia's daughter?" Bruce's voice was mellow. However, the underlining hint of steely anger couldn't be missed. A set of determination demanding every bone in your body.

Talia's daughter, not Abigail, and surely not Daniel's sister. Nothing, absolutely nothing but contempt for the girl who wasn't even present. Daniel was calmer than before, but those words sparked his hatred. Daniel's teeth clenched and he balled his fists uselessly.

Babs intervened before harsh words could be thrown around. "B, Daniel did answer Tim's question. He said everything."

"THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER!" Bruce nearly screamed.

Daniel was on his feet, eyes ignited with fury and contempt, fists clenched. Jason followed Daniel's actions, standing next to the boy in case things turned physical. Telling Bruce which side he was taking.

"The reason I brought them up?! Because they shaped Abby who is she is today! Jason gave Abby her name. They gave her a family. A family which was caught by Ras! Ras didn't know Jason had given Abby a name!" Daniel laughed. The fire was still in his eyes, but he took a step back. Enjoying the moment of irony. His voice was dripping in sarcasm when he spoke again.

"The Demon's Head. Ras Al Ghul. The man who knew everything. The man who had ears and eyes in every city of the world! The man who could have you killed if you so much said a bad thing about him. Didn't know his most lethal weapon, his secret weapon. Had been given a name. He didn't know that his other "Grandchildren" could possibly learn what a real family means. That they would teach his little secret weapon about family."

Again, Daniel laughed. This time it sounded hollow and distant. The type of laugh that comes out when you are so emotionally bombarded you can't do anything else. "To Ras these were flaws. Her name, family, everything wholesome she had been taught. For punishment, he threw Abby down in a cave. Chained, no light, no food, the only water coming from the cave itself. Just for having a real name." Daniel breathed heavily.

Stephanie was on the edge of her seat. Looking horror struck at the punishment Ras had implemented on his own blood. Her mouth slightly open, distress filling her eyes, her hand was playing with her hair just to ground herself to reality.

I had a similar expression to Stephanie's. My hands clenching the armrest beside me, gritting my teeth. Continuously sending glances to Barbara and Damian. A dam broke in my head, cursing out Ras Al Ghul in Romanian.

Tim had his back against the arm of the couch, feet towards Daniel. He was attempting to adopt a similar look to Bruce, trying shut down all emotions. However, Tim couldn't quite disassociate himself from Daniel's testimony. Worry crept into his eyes, glancing at our baby brother and Daniel, and recalling the trembling girl who had left the room, with Cass and Duke in tow.

Barbara was tense, shoulders set, her hand making her way to her pocket. Probably to warn Cass, but she wasn't taking her eyes off Bruce. Glasses glinting, trying to gage the best course of action and how much more information should be revealed in this time frame.

Jason kept eyeing Bruce waiting for the elder to jump to his feet, waiting for any action that was more than minuscule from Bruce. His jaw was strained, holding back the river of curses he wanted to unleash upon Bruce, green becoming prominent in his teal eyes. Ready to protect Daniel if the need arises.

Damian was tense. He kept petting his Great Dane, Titus, for a distraction. His emerald eyes, matching Daniel's in color, were lost in the past. As if Damian was recalling his own version of these events.

Bruce was glaring at Daniel. Not letting his thoughts show to anyone, as if he was a robot. I couldn't see his tells for guilt. No absolutely no guilt for what he had heard Daniel say, no guilt for pushing him to say it. Bruce, just because this involves Ras does not mean you can act like you don't have a heart. I ached for the old butler. Alfred would have put Bruce in his place already. If Alfred was here, Bruce wouldn't be this closed off.

The amount of detail Daniel gave, and the reasoning as to why such actions were performed was unnerving. Everything seemed to be linked together.

Daniel took another step back. Ensuring the distance between himself and Bruce. His lids fell over his livid vivid green eyes. Fists clenching as if he should have had weapons in his hands, or he was preparing to throw a punch at Bruce's face. "He left her down there till she was absolutely blind, probably longer than was necessary. At some point Ras injected Abby with something, I DON'T KNOW WHAT. Neither does Abby, so don't ask. He didn't exactly give us the luxury of knowing what torment he was going to do to us." Daniel caught his breath, attempting to steel himself for the next part.

"What did it do to her?" I asked gently. His green eyes caught mine. Man, he looks so much like Damian. Even the expressions on his face. They were exactly the same on Damian when he was telling me his secrets when he was my Robin, and I was his Batman.

His eyes remained locked on mine, apparently finding some comfort in my eyes. Perhaps not comfort, but maybe for some reason I was able to keep him grounded to reality. "It caused her sight to change. She can't see color. She sees through sound, using echolocation. And it did something to her voice, she has a scream that will leave your ears ringing. She can shatter glass with her voice and leave people temporarily deaf. The first time she did it to me, it was an accident, but I couldn't hear for hours."

Tim is right, she is literally a human bat.

Barbara spoke up, asking gently, "Daniel, what happen to Abby's other brothers and sister?"

Daniel's eyes shut tight, trying to block something out of his mind. He mumbled something, I frowned. I saw the words 'escape, mountains, captured' on his lips. I bit my lip before speaking. "The four of them, I am assuming after Abigail's sight was changed, managed to escape to the mountains, but they were captured again?" I let my assumption hang in the air.

Daniel turned his head away from me. Jason put is hand on Daniel's shoulder. He stiffened, but didn't attack, a plus in my book.

Jason spoke for Daniel. "Daniel explained this part earlier. What you said was right, except for one part Dick."

I frowned. "What did I miss?"

As I spoke Jason gestured for Daniel to sit down, which he did after a moment of hesitation, still glaring at his feet. Jason continued. "Abigail was captured. The others were killed." Jason closed his eyes, letting some of his tension melt off of him as he breathed, then he sat down himself.

Bruce was about to speak again, no doubt something to make the situation worse, but Damian glared at him from his spot across the room.

Steph coughed into her hand. "So, Daniel, how did you and Abigail get to Gotham? And what exactly happened for you to meet Damian? Damian said you were stabbed? By whom?" Thank goodness for Steph's short attention span, and her ability to still pick up on details.

Daniel looked up, his eyes losing some of their fire that previously occupied them. He drummed his left hand on his leg, the pattern made it appear as if he was counting to himself. "Abby and I stowed away on a cargo ship in Spain about a month ago. The ship itself arrived yesterday, but there were a lot more guards than I was expecting. So, we had to wait till night to even attempt getting off. We just managed to get off the dock, when we were caught."

"What was the name of the cargo ship?" Bruce asked icily. Obviously wanting to verify if said ship docked yesterday, and to go over the security footage later.

"The MCS Tessa." Daniel supplied, refusing to even look in B's direction.

I frowned. I knew that the MCS Tessa was coming, I was working on the case with Jason. But it wasn't supposed to be in for another week. Something about storms delaying her voyage. There was a dispute about who owned the ship though. Black Mask or Two Face. The two were about to go to war over the matter.

"Do you know who caught you?" Babs asked. Trying to keep her expression neutral. The mask may have fooled Daniel, however everyone else in the room knew she was hiding her curiosity. Wanting a new case, and where she could provide aid.

"A fat, weird bird looking man in a black suit and a piece of glass in one eye, the other an eyepatch. Carrying an umbrella and wearing a top hat." Daniel described.

"Penguin?" Jason growled.

Penguin? The description is dead on to Penguin, since Jason as the Red Hood was the one to shoot his eye out. (Due to the fact it was Penguin's fault that Jay's dad was chucked in prison in the first place.) It wasn't Penguin's ship though why would he get involved with Two Face and Black Mask. Unless… he wanted a war. Penguin is a crooked businessman, and an opportunist and is currently desperate to get his empire back. A wicked combination in Gotham. He would take whatever was in the shipment, and both sides would accuse the other. No one would think Penguin would be capable of doing this because Red Hood toppled his empire, took it over for himself, and left Penguin with only one working eye. This is how Penguin wanted to get back in the game. Pit two sworn enemies against each other and reap the spoils of war.

Daniel frowned. "I've never seen a penguin before. Isn't that a bird who can't fly?"

"TT, yes. Oswald Cobblepot adopted the name penguin in his youth, due to his looks appearing similar to the bird. An insult to all the penguins of the world. From your description it sounds like Cobblepot." Damian explained. A light in his eyes, wanting to teach his 'twin' about the birds themselves, but he managed to restrain himself.

Daniel shrugged. "If you say so. I wanted to fight but he had at least 20 hired hands, all with guns. I had no desire to die by a firing squad again. Somehow the weird bird guy, caught Abby using her as a hostage."

His breath caught; his next sentence came out shakily, slight terror was embroidered in his voice. "I have heard what happens to girls in Gotham, I wasn't letting that happen to my sister. I traded most of our weapons so he would let her go. But the man still stabbed me, then Abby got free. I think she broke the guy's nose, and she grabbed our bags and helped me. His thugs must have been following us. I collapsed before we reached the alley, Abby dragged me the rest of the way. That's when Damian intervened."

Bruce growled out, "That ship isn't due for another week! Penguin does not own the ship, so you couldn't have met him last night! So how exactly did you get to Gotham?!"

"B, if you take the time to put your own feelings aside, like an actual detective, you could see the game Penguin is trying to play." I spoke up.

Bruce stood, glaring at Daniel. Nothing but ill feelings towards the boy. How are you not seeing your own son within Daniel, B? Daniel's telling the truth!

Jason got to his feet for a third time. Keeping Daniel behind him. His unspoken statement loud and clear, 'this boy along with his sister are under my protection'.

Bruce began yelling. "This child has told nothing but lies! Obviously, Slade's associates found him and the girl and has sent them to gain information!"

Bruce continued shouting, Daniel looked ready to protest, but I caught his eye. I shook my head, mouthing 'Not now. Let us handle it.'

He didn't look happy at my words, but he gritted his teeth and clenched his hands around the couch. Forcing himself to stay where he was.

'Ping'. My phone, as did many other phones in the room, went off. I glanced at Bruce, making sure he was occupied in his rant, then I looked down at my phone.

(Golden Boy – Dick, Jay B – Jason, Mad Scientist – Tim, Blades – Damian, PPP – Stephanie, Hacker – Barbara, Light – Duke, B Bat – Cass.)

B Bat: Abigail is in the library, 3rd floor. She is letting Duke come up. ONLY. The only other person allowed to come is Daniel.

At least it seems Cass is making some progress with Abigail. I quickly silenced my phone then shot a message in the group chat.

Golden Boy: how is she with you?

B Bat: ok. Animals help. Kitty loves her.

Bruce turned his back on Daniel, facing me. I honestly lost track of his rant for the last five minutes. Had it been five minutes?

Bruce started at me, "You are so naïve to trust them! Just giving them the benefit of the doubt because he looks like Damian! You can't wash the blood off an assassin's hands!"

Oh, you're playing that card? I spoke, "B, you are acting unreasonably. How on earth did you even get on this topic?!"

Bruce continued to rant paying no attention to my words. I saw Jason discreetly pass his phone to Daniel who was trying to look at the messages himself. Daniel did send a message himself, absorbed in the digital conversation.

I looked back at my own phone to see what I had missed.

Blades: understood. Do you think the dogs would be too much?

Light: I already have Ace. Would Titus be too much?

B Bat: for now, yes.

Jay B: has she eaten anything?

B Bat: not yet.

Jay B: Daniel here. Can you see if you can get her to eat?

B Bat: will try, won't push.

I smiled, at least someone was making progress with these kids. Alfred the cat likes Abigail, Damian can work with her that way at least.

Hacker: don't let her come here. B is on a rampage.

Rampage is an understatement.

Mad Scientist: agreed. We will let you know when he is better or away.

That means it's going to be a couple of hours till then, it's the middle of February, it's already 5:30. Bruce will probably be heading out at 7.

PPP: if B goes on for another hour, I might just have to join you if I'm allowed to.

You and me both Steph. You and me both.

Light: reaching the 3rd floor now.

I turn off my phone, listening to Bruce's rant. At least he is talking.