A Dark Secret

Chapter 17

The blackness that had covered by brain like a thick blanket, for what felt like an eternity, was slowly beginning to lift. Some people jump back to consciousness incredibly fast...I'd seen Robin do that before. He would lay, eyes closed, still and lifeless on a medical bed, until suddenly those incredibly blue eyes would snap open and he would be up and away like he had been awake the whole time.

I took my time. Part of me just didn't feel well, and I didn't want to wake up. Feeling was coming back to me and I felt sick and hurt all over. But the other part of me was terrified. I was terrified that I would wake up in that basement again, terrified that my Dad might be there, terrified that Robin might be hurt, and terrified that maybe Robin had decided to leave me. Because who would want a super-powered friend who fought evil day and night, but couldn't stand up to his own father?

As feeling returned to me, the pain and sicky feeling increased, until it was a loud throbbing all over me. I wanted to go back to sleep, to slip back into unconsciousness. I didn't want to wake up in that room. I was afraid to open my eyes.

But soon I became aware of a small warmth in my hand, one that hadn't been there before. I also became aware that whatever I was laying on was very soft. But...how? I didn't have anything soft in that cellar. Where was I?

For what felt like hours, but was actually a couple of minutes, I debated whether or not I should open my eyes. Finally, the curious side of me won, and my eyes slowly opened, taking their sweet time to actually focus on anything. When they did, I was awarded a harsh, blinding white light. It only helped to increase my headache. I groaned loudly, turning my head to the right, away from the lights only to focus on...

The sleeping form of my best friend. He was seated in a chair beside my bed that I had been sleeping on, his head laying on the bed beside my face, his hand in mine, bangs messy, and empty coffee cups scattered around him. My groan must have woken him up, cause his eyes blinked open slowly and he lifted his head slightly.

"Wally?" He whispered relief and concern flooding his voice. Realising that I was awake and not unconscious, his head snapped up, a smile crossing his features.

Robin's POV

I smiled in delight, my head snapping up.

"Wally!" I yelled, leaning over to hug him, but freezing at his reaction. Wally tensed up, moving a hand in front of his face and squeezing his eyes shut, turning his head away from me.

"No...please no..." He whispered in fear. Concern filled my gut. Stupid, it's not like he's going to bounce back after something like this. Ever heard of PTSD dummy? I mentally scolded myself. I slowly and gently cupped his face, which was sweaty but cold at the same time. I began to stroke his cheek softly and already some of the tension was beginning to fade from his body.

"It's ok Wally. You're alright. It's me, Dick. You're safe now, I'm not going to hurt you. Nobody will remember my promise? I kept it. You're ok." I murmured to him. Wally's gaze traveled up to meet mine.

"Robin?" He asked, tears glistening in his beautiful green eyes.

"Yeah," I replied, smiling at him. He drew himself closer to me and began to sob. I held him close, rubbing his back and murmuring soft words of comfort to him. He clutched my shirt tightly as if I might fade away or dissolve into nothing.

"You...you ar-you don't h-hate me?" he asked.

"Never," I reassured him. He let out a small, shaky laugh. And that's when I realized that everything was going to be ok.