This Is My Future

Chapter 37

Dick's P.O.V

I had a good view of Tim from my place in the rafters. Robin was hiding by Blockbuster's henchmen. Tigress was in the far corner. I had Artemis stay outside in the car, despite her protests I got her to stay; Blockbuster was too dangerous for a fifteen year old with a broken arm.

Tim was in a cage; he didn't have his bowstaff, his belt, his shoes, his gloves, or his mask. Robin had freaked out over Blockbuster possibly knowing who Tim was. It didn't help when I told him Blockbuster found out who I was a long time ago.

Tim had an already forming black eye, a split bottom lip, a wildly bleeding gash on his forehead, and a welt on his temple. He was pacing restless in the cage like an angered animal.

His pants had holes burned into them at the knees and his palms were singed. When he turned away from my angle and paced the opposite direction I notice the bottom of his feet were burned and blistered.

"So...still not going to speak Timothy?" Blockbuster snarled.

"Why would I?" Tim said, sounding amused. "Things just started getting fun."

Blockbuster kicked the cage and it flipped sending Tim tumbling inside. He had obviously done this at least twice, because the door was now facing the floor.

Tim got onto his hands and knees and stood up, stumbling.

"Where is Nightwing's base!" Blockbuster demanded approaching the cage.

Tim snorted, "I already told you. I don't know."

Blockbuster was silent a minute glaring down into the cage at Tim. "Turn it up," he said calmly turning around. "Let's say...one thousand volts."

I heard an electric humming and almost instantly Tim yowled in pain. He dropped to his knees screaming and fell forward onto his hands. He forced his head up and glared at Blockbuster as his body shuttered with the electric current.

Blockbuster held up his hand and the humming stopped.

Tim slumped down, panting. "That...all...you got...asshole?" He spat, puffing out breaths.

"No," Blockbuster hummed. "But I need you alive."

"For what? Nightwing doesn't give a damn about me," he lied forcing himself to his feet. I knew what Tim was doing, he knows I love him, but he was trying to trick Blockbuster and if Blockbuster believed Tim; he'd kill him.

"You're on my last nerve, boy."

"Go to hell," Tim muttered.

I gotta admit, Tim is really surprising me with the swearing.

Blockbuster kicked the cage again and the door faced him. Tim landed on the floor of the cage and didn't move, closing his eyes.

"If Nightwing, as you said, 'doesn't give a damn'," Blockbuster said in a sly tone. "Then why would he go out of his way just to save you?"

Tim didn't respond. I jumped down from the rafter. Blockbuster grinned at me, "Hello Dick."

"Release Robin," I commanded.

"I don't know," Blockbuster laughed. "Kid, kind of grew on me." He looked at Tim who wasn't moving.

My eyes narrowed, "You're going to pay."

"I'm so frightened," he said flatly.

"You should be!" Tigress shouted.

Blockbuster spun around to face her, earning a bolt to the chest. He laughed and yanked the bolt out, "You think a tiny arrow is going to stop me? You must be drunk or something."

Tigress smiled, "Never touched alcohol; never plan to."

I heard gunfire behind me; I turned to see Robin fighting off multiple henchmen.

I hate the kid, but I had to help. I grabbed my escrima sticks and ran at them, swinging and hitting everyone, including Robin; first time was an accident, second time was for no reason, I just wanted to.

A henchman went to hit me. I crossed my escrima sticks behind his neck and swung him down, bringing my knee up. He went limp and fell to the floor. I spun around whacking someone against the temple, they fell.

I heard a crash.

I wheeled around; Blockbuster was nowhere to be found. I noticed Robin and Tigress running towards the back of the building, where Tim and the cage were. Blockbuster must have thrown the cage; it was in pieces, exposed wires were sparking. Tigress picked up Tim and hugged him to her chest.

I ran to them, "Is he okay?"

"His body's in shock," Tigress said.

"No pun?" Robin asked. I glared at him.

Tigress stood up holding Tim, "We have to get him out of here."

I nodded.

"We all have to get out of here..." Robin said, he was pointing at a crate near a sparking piece of cage.

I looked at it. My eyes widened at a sticker, Warning: Combustible; may explode.

"Out! Now!" I commanded. Tigress turned on her heel and ran. Robin followed.

I ran after them. I stopped noticing the henchmen. I looked from the crate, to the men, to the exit which was a good distance away; running calculations in my head.

Crate is only starting to mark; about fourty-five seconds from burning. Twenty-one men; two men at a time; ten-plus trips. Four-point-five seconds for each pair...no time for final man.

"Gotta try," I told myself. I ran back to the pile and threw two unconscious men over my shoulders, I ran for the exit making it outside in exactly four-point-five seconds.

You forgot to factor in running time! You idiot! Gotta run in faster!

I threw the men in the street and ran back inside.

"Nightwing!" Tigress yelled, "What are you doing!?"

I ignored her, running as fast as I could. I grabbed two men and ran out.

"Dick! Stop!" Tigress yelled as I ran back in.

I did this until the last man was left in the building. I ran back inside still ignoring Tigress, she wasn't even yelling anymore she was just plain screaming until her lungs were empty; she'd breathe, then do it again.

I looked around. The last man had crawled away, not towards the exit. I was puffing out breaths as my lungs burned, feeling as if they were about to collapse. I ran towards the man and offered my hand, he didn't take it.

"Burn...in...hell," I heard him cough. He flicked open a lighter in his hand and lit it.

"No!"

He threw it at the crate. I covered my face in time for the explosion, the force threw me against the far wall, far from the exit.

My ears were ringing and everything spun. I stumbled to my feet, I was aware enough to know that the building was on fire.

I dazedly looked at the man, I walked towards him swaying with dizziness. I looked at the far exit as it blurred and refocused. I heard the old metal of the building groan from the fire. Approaching the man I panted, wiping sweat off my forehead. I grabbed him and threw him across my shoulders, causing myself to stumble.

I caught myself and ran towards the exit, stumbling like crazy.

Halfway through the building, I heard something past the ringing in my ears; a loud metallic snapping sound from above.

Within five seconds I shrieked in agony when a large piece of metal fell on top of me. I panted and tried squirming out, but failed. Sweat ran down my face, the heated metal was burning through my suit.

My eyes began to close, my mind drifting. I layed my head on the heated concrete floor and gave into the pain.

I closed my eyes completely and everything went dark.