Traumatised

Someone Save Me!

The bullet skimmed past his ear and embedded itself into the ground behind him, as a solid black forced knocked Bane to the side. For a moment, Dick could do nothing but stare ahead. He was alive. How was he alive? Then his mind began to catch up with reality. The black force was Batman.

Batman had come for him.

Bruce had come to save him.

Batman punched Bane across the face several times, causing the brutes already broken nose to bleed profusely. As he brought his hand down to punch him again, Bane caught the dark knight's hand and threw him to the side. Batman rolled and brought himself back onto his knees. But Bane had done the same, grabbing his gun in the process. He once again pointed the barrel at the young hero, Dick's breath caught in his throat.

The next thing he knew he was swallowed in darkness, his ears ringing from a second shot. Solid arms were wrapped around him, they drew him close, protecting him from the bullet. As the echo of the shot died away, Batman manoeuvred himself to face Bane, whilst keeping Dick (for the most part) covered by the bulletproof cape.

'It's funny.' Said Bane, pointing the gun at them once again. 'I never would have taken Bruce Wayne for the bleeding-heart kind.'

Dick flinched violently as the shot rang out. Curling himself into Batman's armoured chest. But the cry of pain did not come from his father, but from Bane himself. Peeking out from under the cape, Dick saw Bane had been brought to his knees, blood pouring from his thigh. He went to pick up his gun again, but the click of another gun resonated behind him.

'Don't even think about it.' Said Slade as both he and Joey had their guns trained on the Mexican drug lord.

'Really Wilson? Working with the Batman. How low you've sunk.' Bane spat, gritting his teeth through the pain.

'I'm not working with him.' Said Slade.

'Then why?' Growled Bane.

Slade stepped forward, pushing Bane onto his side with his boot. 'You kidnapped my son, Bane.'

'He was protecting the brat!'

At the mention of him, Dick shrank further into the cape.

'Who my son chooses to befriend is none of your concern. And frankly, what you did to that boy was disgusting and breaks every code of honour, even amongst thieves.'

The laugh that came from Bane's lips was so twisted it rivalled the Joker. 'Are you really going to shoot me because I violated the Boy Wonder, Deathstroke.'

'I have every reason to shoot you. You hurt my son. But I'll let the boy you hurt more decide. What do you say, Dick, should I let him live?'

They all looked over to him. All eyes focused on what he decided. Dick looked over at the being who had stripped him of his innocence, his virginity, his dignity. How much pain that man had caused him, how much pain that man had caused others. Dick knew he would never feel the same as he did before Bane's attack. He knew there would always be that darkness inside him. The memory of his rape would always haunt him. Killing Bane would not take away the nightmares or the feeling of disgust. But at least he would be certain he would never do it again.

He looked away, once again curling into Batman's armour.

'I want to go home.' He whispered. Instantly, Batman rose from the ground, bringing Dick up with him. He walked back towards the hanger. As he passed Slade, he paused.

'It's for the best.' Slade said quietly. 'He knows who you are. He has no honour, Dick would never be safe.'

Bruce nodded slowly. 'I know.'