Getting to know you

I'm not letting you go

"What?" Dick paled. He hadn't heard the name Tony Zucco in a long time. But it always filled him with fear, made his marrow shake in his bones. Wally wrapped his arms around Dick's waist and pulled him closer. He could see this was bad already. He just got over meeting the team, and Bruce was springing this on him?

Bruce walked up to Dick and grabbed his hands. "Dick, Tony-" "Don't! Don't say his name." Dick covered his ears, ripping his hands from Bruce's. Bruce put his hands on Dick's shoulders. "Dick, I need you to listen. I won't say his name, ok? But you need to listen to my words."

Dick shook his head. "No, no, not again, not again, this can't be happening." "Dick, I need you to listen. I know you hate him, but you need to hear what I'm saying." Bruce cupped Dick's face. Wally nuzzled into Dick's neck. "It's ok, babe. You're safe."

"No, no, I'll never be safe. Not with him free." Dick was beginning to cry, hyperventilating. It was too much. His family's murderer was free. "Calm down, Dickie. He doesn't know you're here. He doesn't know where you are. You are safe. He won't be free for long." Bruce reassured Dick, giving Wally a certain look. A look Wally rarely saw. A look of worry.

Dick sank to the ground, still huddled in Wally's arms. Instead of covering his ears, he was holding his head as all the painful memories fought to remind him how much this monster had taken from him. The other Waynes were quick to join the hug. To create a barrier and protect the damaged Wayne.

Wally curled around Dick, giving him a place to hide. "He will never touch you again, Dickie. He will never hurt you." Wally whispered, running his fingers through Dick's hair. "He'll take you. All of you. I'll be alone again." Dick sobbed. "No, he won't. I said he will never hurt you again, and I mean it. He will never hurt you again. He will never take us, you will never be alone again."

Dick hid his face in Wally's shoulder, sobs turning to wails. He couldn't do this. It was too much, Zucco was coming, coming for him, and Wally, and Bruce, and Alfred, and Tim and Jason and Damian. He was coming to take Dick's world away again, leaving him in blood soaked clothes from his attempt to deceive himself, to prove he still had his family.

Bruce looked at Damian. "Get a sedative, now. Dick, can you hear me, Chum?" Dick was too lost in his panic to realize someone was talking to him. The waves crashed over him, pulling him in until he drowned from the fear. Damian came back with a syringe, watching his brother. He had never known Grayson to act like this.

Bruce injected about five milliliters into Dick's neck. Dick slowly went slack, still holding onto consciousness. Bruce cupped the side of Dick's face. "Dickie? Can you hear me?" Dick slowly nodded.

"Ok. I need you to listen. Yes, he escaped. But he only escaped ten minutes ago, and the police are still hot on his trail. I needed to get you home in case the police lost him. If they do, I want you to go to the watchtower, and stay there until we catch him, ok? Wally can go with you, if you want, and the League will be more than happy to house you there. I need you to be ready."

Dick nodded. His mind still screamed in terror at the thought of that man, but he couldn't act upon it. Wally shifted Dick so he laid bridal style before picking him up. "Where do you want us to stay?" "Here is fine. If they lose him, take the both of you and go to the watchtower. I'll explain things to the League." Bruce instructed.

Wally sat in the seat at the computer and helped Dick get comfortable. Both watched the screen, waiting to see if Zucco was caught, or lost. Dick was getting lost in the forced calm, torn between panicking and letting the others take care of him. Wally often had to snap his fingers in front of Dick's face for him to respond, or even hear Wally.  Bruce was standing behind the chair, watching for anything that would tip the scales of favor.

It came eventually, but not how any of them wanted. Zucco had escaped. "Wally, take Dick to the watchtower. You both should have some clothes there. And if not, call me or one of the others, and we'll retrieve it." Bruce instructed. Wally picked the ebony up again, the younger lost in his own world. Wally kissed his forehead. "Let's get you to bed."

Wally carried Dick into the watchtower, waiting for the surge of overprotective aunts and uncles. It didn't take long for them to find the tired ebony. "What happened?" Clark panicked slightly. If Bruce didn't know his eldest was injured…

"A mob boss escaped. Bruce wants Dick here until he's been caught." Wally made it clear that he would tell them later. "Does he need a room?" Diana asked. She was worried for her nephew. "I'll take him to mine, then he can choose if he wants another room." Wally explained.

The Leaguers allowed Wally to pass and carry Dick to his room. "Dickie? You with me?" Wally asked. Dick didn't answer. He was lost, and would need time before he came back. Wally sighed as he laid Dick on the bed. "I love you, Dick. I'll never let you go."