When Worlds Collide

39) TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

A/N: there is a trigger warning on this chapter, I will put a brief summary at the end. Also, tis long

Nico expected to wake up in a hospital. He never liked hospitals, but he really preferred them to where he was. He couldn't fully look around considering he was tired up and most humans would probably still be unconscious after whatever drug they used on them, but demigod metabolism was no joke.

He cracked his eye open, trying to see as much as he could before anyone noticed. As he looked around he saw Piper's eyes flutterer open for a moment before he slightly shook his head, hoping she understood what he meant. Thankfully the girl closed her eyes again, pretending to be unconscious.

He was on his stomach in a cinderblock room, so he couldn't see if the others were also in the room, he just had to hope they were okay until the bats could find him.

He heard a door creak open and quickly shut his eyes, silently praying that they didn't notice.

"When will they wake up?" A corse voice said.

"In a few hours, sir. They injested quite a bit of-"

"Grab one of them. Let's see if pain will wake them up any faster."

Nico knew that what he was about to do was stupid, but apparently he was making a habit of being a dumbass in hostage situations. He let out a groan, pretending to be waking up as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He waited a moment before he acted as if he only then realized where he was and began to pull on his ropes.

"Where am I?" He said in a panicked voice. He saw Piper's jaw clinch slighting, but thankfully she kept her eyes closed and continued her charade. "What's happening?"

A cruel laugh came from the doorway as Nico finally turned his head to look at who was there. Thankfully he saw the others, quickly scanning them to make sure they looked both okay and unconscious. He was glad to see that they seemed fine, though less glad to realized who else was there.

"Looks like someone didn't get enough tranquilizer," the man in a suit said as he strode over to Nico, crouching down in front of him. "Hello little Wayne. I am an... old friend of your father. I was going to save you for last, but when opportunity knocks..."

The man stood up before looking to his henchman that still stood by the door. "Grab him. Let's see what type of sounds this one makes."

He turned to walk away, but passed before facing him again, taking Nico by surprise when a swift kick connects with his gut. Nico let out a groan as he curled in on himself, but he was picked up by the henchman and dragged from the room before he could even regain his breath. Right before the door closes, cutting him off from his friends, he made eye contact with Piper and shook his head slightly— silently begged her to just wait for Bruce to show up.

Nico was thrown into the center of the room before his bindings were cut, rather poorly he had to admit considering it felt like the knife cut him just as much as it did the rope. The demigod sat up slowly, cautiously glancing at the man: Black Mask, if his guess was right (it was a pretty safe guess considering he was wearing a black mask that looked like a skull).

"Hmm, didn't even flinch at the cuts," the man said, a sick tone of pleasure in his voice. "You'll be fun."

Nico kept his mouth shut, knowing no good would come from him speaking his mind at that moment. He heard the sound of chains from behind him, but as he turned to look, he was punched square in the nose. A sick crack echoed in the large room as he let out a groan, blood now flowing down his face.

He felt the henchman putting what felt like metal rings around his wrists, but the after effects of whatever it was that knocked him out were still in effect and his eyes were watering from his broken nose. He didn't care if he was in cuffs or something. He just needed to focus on waiting for Bruce.