Whumptober 2021

#2) Silence is Golden, Duct Tape is Silver- Bruce and Dick

Prompt #2- Talking is overrated. Dick is 11.

These guys were professionals, which was good and bad. Good because they'd be less likely to accidentally shoot him. Bad because these ropes were tight. With his wrists wrenched behind his back his shoulders hurt. Even if he was Robin- which right now he had to be helpless Dick Grayson- he'd have to work at getting himself free. Groaning, Dick leaned his head against the wall.

"Shut up kid." Thug #1 loomed a good six feet above him, stepping closer than really necessary to deliver his order.

Unfortunately Dick never had been one to listen. He rolled his eyes. "Do you know how much more paranoid Bruce is going to be after this? I haven't been able to get him to let me go anywhere outside the manor in almost two months thanks to some of Riddler's goons trying to make a quick buck on me. But nooooo you had to go and be rude the first time I could even go to the library someone has to ruin because of course-" A quick kick to the ribs cut off Dick's rant. He let out a wheeze of pain and slumped harder against the wall.

"I said shut up."

"Jeez you... don't have to be... mean about it." His head whipped sideways, the sting of Thug #1's slap coming seconds later.

Ringing echoed in Dick's ears, muffling the sounds of yelling. He blinked hard against black spots filling his vision to see another thug jabbing a finger at Thug #1.

"-Boss doesn't want the goods damaged."

'Oh great, I've been downgraded to 'goods'. Not like I'm a human or anything.' Dick groaned again.

"The kid won't keep his trap shut." Another jab came at his side.

"Deal with it differently."

'Oooh I'm goods and an it. Really feeling the love here.'

"Shut. Up!"

Huh, apparently he'd said that out loud. Oops.

"You can watch him then!"

Thug #1 stormed out of the room with Thug #2 watching him go. Maybe Thug #1 was new, or maybe he just had something against kids. Thug #2 turned to Dick. Even though Dick could only see the man's eyes behind his ski mask, a cold feeling settled in his stomach at the glare those eyes delivered.

"Your reputation precedes you."

What the heck was that supposed to mean? "Do you bad guys get together and talk about your exploits?"

Thug #2 stood still for a moment but Dick saw him tense. Dick barely had time to think, 'Oh great,' before the man's large hand shot around his neck. Dick let out a yelp that cut off into a wheeze.

"Just because our Boss would prefer to keep you in one piece doesn't mean we have to." The matter of fact way Thug #2 spoke scared Dick more than Thug #1's anger. "You will sit still, and you will sit quiet, or your pseudo father will get you back piece by piece." Thug #2 slammed Dick's head against the wall hard enough for him to see stars.

He let go over Dick's throat. Without the- however unwelcome- support Dick slumped over on the floor, gasping for air. A scoff came from above him, but Dick shoved down the angry words bubbling on his tongue. Robin could take a hit and make a quip, Dick just had his clocked cleaned and needed to be sufficiently cowed. So instead he struggled upright to a sitting position. Dick glared at Thug #2's feet.

"Glad to know we've reached an understanding. To make sure you get it-" a ripping noise, the all too familiar sound of duct tape, came seconds before the sticky torture device slammed into his mouth.

Dick closed his eyes, forcing deep breaths in through his nose. He still had air getting in, he was not suffocating- no matter what his fight or flight response might think.

'Come on B. Where are you?' It felt like it had been hours since the abduction, but Dick acknowledged he didn't exactly have the best way to keep time... especially now that his vision had gone a little fuzzy and his thoughts muddled.

Really, Bruce had enough paranoia that he might have even microchipped Dick at this point. If that happened Dick would give Bruce a chewing out... after he got home.

Dick leaned his head against the wall, turning it slightly to the side to avoid aggravating the growing goose egg. Why did criminals continue to go after him to get to Bruce? They never got the money or demands they wanted. Batman, and occasionally Superman if needed, saw to that. It didn't seem to stop these scumbags though.

As if on cue another kick hit Dick's thigh. He lolled his head to the side, glaring up at Thug #2. A flash accosted his vision. Just what his concussed head wanted. Dick squeezed his eyes shut. Footsteps walked away from him. Either they already were in communication with Bruce who wanted proof of life, or they were preparing to send it to him with their demands. The thug's earlier comment about 'goods' came back to Dick's mind.

He knew Bruce didn't think of him that way. Bruce took him in, gave him Robin and a purpose... but what if Bruce got tired of having to keep rescuing Dick? That kind of started their relationship. Getting kidnapped every other month (or week in a bad month) wore Dick down so it had to with Bruce too-

CRASH!

The building shook. Dick's heart leapt in his chest. Thug #2 pulled a gun out, his arm moving towards Dick. Before the nozzle reached him a batarang clipped the man's hand. Spitting out a curse Thug #2 turned to face the Batman. A single punch to the temple sent Thug #2 crashing to the floor.

Dick shuddered with relief, his body sagging against the wall. With Bruce here everything would be okay.

Batman swept a quick eye around the room before bounding across it in two steps. He knelt next to Dick and gently pulled the tape off the boy's face. Dick grimaced, his lips still stinging when Bruce finished. A batarang made quick work of the ropes. A small hiss escaped Dick's lips when he tried to bring his arms in front of his body.

"Are you hurt?" The Batman gravel had the 'Bruce worried' tone bleeding into it.

The sound wrapped around Dick like a blanket. Or maybe that was Batman's cape. Dick leaned into Bruce's chest. "Just a couple bruises." Batman stared down at Dick, his eyes hidden behind the cowl lenses but still carried the weight of 'yeah right.' Sighing Dick conceded, "They did knock my head a couple times, but I don't think I lost consciousness at all."

"You don't think."

Dick bit back a groan. Alfred was definitely going to prep the CT machine before the Batmobile returned to the cave. "I'm fine B. I promise." But if he sagged more heavily into Bruce's arms, well, Bruce just tightened his own grip.

"I'm ready to go home now."

Without further comment Bruce picked Dick up. Dick let himself relax completely. Here with Bruce he was completely safe.