The Musicians (Damian Wayne x reader)

89. Sober

~~~Your point of view~~~
       You stood outside the doors of the abandoned hospital and pushed the large doors open to be greeted with a horrifying sight. You had strapped the knife to your back under your shirt as a last resort, but you were certain that there wouldn't be any point in trying to beat the hoards of henchmen taking up the disgusting old lobby. They all turned to look at you at the sound of the door creaking open. "Where is Wolf?" You growled. A familiar face stepped forward. You staggered back in surprise. The man was clearly your father, but he had cleaned up. His hair wasn't wild, his uniform was tidy, and most surprisingly he didn't hold a bottle in either of his hands. Had Mr. Wayne been right? Was he sober? You couldn't tell as your father approached you due to the foul smells that occupied the lobby.
       "(Y/n) ," your father stepped closer until he was right in front of you. You moved to back away, but he pulled you into a hug.
       "What the h*ll is wrong with you? You haven't hugged me since Mom died," you stood as still as possible and didn't return the hug.
       "I know, but I've made a deal with the Joker. We're both safe as long as we follow him," Your father looked to you with hope in his eyes. There was certainly a brightness you hadn't seen in a long time, but people rarely changed. You knew that. You wouldn't be fooled. This was the man that had come home every evening and beat you with the alcohol bottles he finished. This was the man that no matter how hard you tried to take care of him was never there for you. This was the man who no matter how well you did in school or training you were never good enough for. This was the man that had been the reason for your mom's death and had possessed the guts to blame you for it.
       "Don't be foolish. The Joker doesn't keep his deals. His decisions depend on his mood. As for my safety," you sighed as your father finally backed away. "My safety is of little importance. I'm here to ensure Wolf's safety. What happens to me is irrelevant." You could see the hurt in your father's eyes as though he had truly intended to start over. Even if you wanted to start over, you would never do it under the Joker's control. "Take me to Joker." Your father nodded and gestured for you to follow him. He led you down a dirty hallway. You could tell the walls used to be a pristine white but were now smothered in dried blood and grime.
       "So you really care about Adrien Wolf?" he asked. Was he seriously trying to make conversation at a time like this? "Personally I think he's kind of a pretty boy but whatever makes you happy darling."
       "I'm not dating Wolf," you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "I'm dating Damian Wayne."
       "Really?" Your father seemed genuinely surprised. "You've appeared in far more papers with the Wolf boy."
       "Don't believe everything the papers say," you mumbled, irritated with the topic of conversation. "Wait." You stopped momentarily in the hallway. "How do you even afford the newspaper? You never read it before."
       "I wanted to keep up on what you were doing. It was the easiest way. I can easily afford the paper now that I'm not spending every last penny on drinks," he responded uncomfortably. The two of you continued down the corridor.
       "Oh," you murmured softly. "Have you visited mom?"
       "Every month, right after you leave," he responded. Your heart softened. You'd never seen him at the cemetery. You already missed the boys. You had loved when your family had been whole when you were little, but you had an amazing family now. You wouldn't trade it for anything, even if your father was proving to hold up. You reached an operating room and your heart dropped. "They haven't done anything yet."
       "Yet?" You glared at him before pushing the door open.
       "Ah (Y/n)! How nice of you to join us! I love your new look!" The Joker cackled as your father moved to stand next to him. "Thank you Victor." Harley watched you enter with surprise but forced a sick smile. You remembered how she had sent your note to the boys when you were captured the first time. You weren't certain you could count on her help for a second time. Adrien was strapped down to a hospital bed between you and them. He was staring at you with shock.
       "I'm here. Let him go. You said if I showed up within the two hours he'd be safe." You pressed. Joker grinned wickedly. "You made a deal with my father for my safety. You also made a deal with me for Adrien's safety. Show him you hold up your end of the deals you make." You kept a poker face and clenched your hands into fists until it became painful for your nails to dig into your palms. It was the only thing you could do to prevent any show of how terrified you were. The Joker was a truly disturbing man with his green hair and pale skin littered with various horrifying tattoos.
       "Very well," Joker snarled and gestured for Harley to unlock Adrien. You helped him out of the cuffs that bound him down and he leaned on you for support. You were glad that you brought extra clothes because his were absolutely destroyed. The outfit he had worn to take you out to dinner was covered in dirt and rips. You were scared to see more. "Now for your end. You're not allowed to leave. You have no one to call for help. You're going to work for me now. I won't harm Wolf if you follow my instructions." Adrien looked at you in horror.
       "Fine," you nodded with determination. You'd simply have to get Adrien out before you had to go back to school so no one would get suspicious. You didn't have long. "What's my first task?"
       "Oh, I don't have anything for you yet. For now you'll be staying in the lovely suite known as a hospital room," Joker smiled. Harley bounced over to you with her hammer flung over her shoulder.
       "Puddin told me where to put ya! Follow the leader!" she cheered. You followed her out of the room with Adrien's arm over your shoulder to support him.
       "You better be able to walk," you told him. "I will not give you a piggy back ride." His once bright smile let out a hollow chuckle as he frowned. His lips were horribly chapped and his voice was scratchy.
       "Thanks for coming. I was scared you'd leave me with that creep. How are you even tangled up in all this?" He whispered huskily.
       "I'll explain later," you told him and he nodded. The three of you were now clearly alone in the hall. "Hey Harley, how's Joker treating you?" She spun around to walk backward with a prominent smile on her face.
       "Mistah J isn't awful," she shrugged.
       "Come on Harley," you threw her a friendly smile. "You gotta talk to someone sometime." You knew what a toxic relationship was. After all you had spent a majority of your life facing the abuse of your father.
       "I've been bettah, but I can help him (Y/n)!" she pressed, but she seemed like she was trying to convince herself more than you.
       "Oh Harley," you sighed, readjusting a confused Adrien on your shoulders. "You know as well as I do that the likelihood of it happening is small. I know you love him, but sometimes it's best to let go."
       "You said you let go didn't ya? You're here though. You're right where Mistah J and your pops want ya," she pointed out.
       "It's a fair point," you admitted, "but I'm not here to reconcile with my dad. I'm here for Wolf."
       "Ya know you're real lucky," she sighed. "You have so much love in your life." She stopped outside a room and opened it up.
       "Thank you Harley," you nodded to her. "I am really lucky, but don't forget you can still find someone to care about you too. Someone who will care for you more than you can imagine." She nodded sadly.
       "I haveta lock ya in now," she informed you with a frown.
       "I know," you nodded and brought Adrien into the room with you. There was a circular table, a chair, and a bed. All of the furniture looked incredibly dusty but unused which was good for the two of you. "Bye Harley." You waved to the best of your ability as she shut the door and looked at you once more through the door window before leaving. You inspected the room. You opened the only other door in the room to find a bathroom that looked relatively clean but mainly due to its lack of use. You tested the faucet for water which miraculously sputtered on. Next, you checked the cabinet to find bottles of alcohol for sterilizing equipment and other medical supplies that you didn't recognize.
       "Do you want to explain now?" Adrien was sitting on the chair in his ragged clothing. You walked to the bed and pulled the sheets off and placed them in a large plastic bin in the bathroom. You filled the bin with soap and water from the shower.
       "Victor is my dad. He worked for the Riddler after my mom died when I was younger. As a result I ended up working for the Riddler until I was rescued by Batman and Robin. Then I moved in with the Wayne family. At some point my dad started working for the Joker. Now they're using you to get to me," you responded.
       "I'm sorry about your mom," Adrien looked away.
       "It's alright. It happened a long time ago," you sighed. "Take off what's left of your shirt. I have to check for injuries. Plus I've got clothes that I hope will fit you." Adrien pulled off his tattered shirt to reveal a few scrapes and bruises, probably from being kidnapped. You opened your first aid kit and cleaned the scrapes. Adrien grit his teeth as you applied the alcohol soaked pad. You couldn't do much for the bruises with your resources, but they'd eventually go away. You tossed over Tim's clothes which somehow fit Adrien. Despite being a Gotham vigilante, Tim's muscles weren't as defined as the rest of the Wayne family's or Adrien's. The clothes fit Adrien well enough but seemed to be a little snug where he was most muscular. You took the mattress off the hospital bed and set it by the window before turning the bed to serve as an emergency makeshift barrier. Next, you peaked out the window. You definitely wouldn't be leaving through the window. It was several stories up without adequate holds for your hands or feet, and even if you were able to escape, Adrien probably wouldn't be able to. You flopped down onto the mattress and leaned against the wall.
       "Are you and Harley friends?" Adrien asked, sitting down next to you. He had cleaned his face so the dirt wasn't as prominent, but a frown was still stuck on his lips.
       "Not exactly," you answered. "We're always on opposing sides, but we bond over our unfortunate circumstances when we do cross paths."
       "Oh," he nodded. "We aren't getting out of here are we?" He held his head against his knees and curled up.
      "Don't lose your faith in me so fast Wolf," you tried to give him an encouraging smile. "I'm more capable than you think." He lifted his head to give you a doubtful look.
       "Have you seen the situation we're in?" he mumbled hopelessly. The scene made your heart ache. Adrien was the brightest, most cheerful person you knew. He was an absolute ray of sunshine, but he looked like he'd absolutely given up. You removed the gun from your holster and practiced loading it and unloading it in your lap. It was beyond you why they didn't have you remove any of your weapons, but you were glad they didn't.
       "I've been in worse. I've been trained for combat by a villain since I was in first grade. I was tortured by my teacher until I was rescued by Batman and Robin. I trained with Batman for years after. I was kidnapped in January with no one by my side and no clue if anyone would find me. I saved the Gotham vigilantes a few weeks after. At least we're here together," you smirked in Adrien's direction. You had easily reloaded the gun in your lap and he was gaping at it. "Still lacking faith in me?"
"Harley said you were lucky. I think I'm the lucky one to have a badass queen for a friend," he flashed a smile. You tossed a small tub of Vaseline towards him for his cracking lips, earning a chuckle from your disheartened friend.
"Plus I have a secret weapon," you winked in his direction and pulled out the keychain from when you served the Riddler.
"A keychain?" Adrien raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, you'll get it later," you laughed before stuffing it back into your pocket. "I have a few rules for survival in this situation though." Adrien's expression turned serious and he nodded. "We take sleeping shifts. Only one of us sleeps at a time, and if we hear anyone coming, we wake each other up. If you're alone and I have to leave for any reason, don't fall asleep. If they give you anything to drink or eat, don't take it. It could be poisoned or drugged. I have water and packaged food in my bag. If you get hurt, you let me take care of it, no one else. And no matter what happens remember I've got your back. Got it?" Adrien smiled. "If you lose hope in a place like this they've already won. I won't let that happen."
"I get it," he assured you. You smiled at him.
"Great," you sighed, looking at the ring on your left hand. "I'll be back in no time."
"You guys still together?" Adrien asked.
"Yeah," you smiled slightly. "He wasn't happy about me leaving, but he knows my history. He knows I have to save you."
"Well I think I need to thank him," Adrien grumbled. "He did let you come here and risk your life."
"I would have come anyway," you shrugged.
"Really?" Adrien asked and you nodded with a smile.
"I couldn't leave one of my closest friends hanging could I?" You laughed out loud.
"It's good to hear you laugh," he admitted. "I mean your laugh is much different than Harley's or the Joker's. It's more comforting."
"Glad I could help. Do they still have your phone? Not that it matters, there's no signal on this side of Gotham anyway," you shrugged.
"They still have it," he responded.
"I'll get it back," you said aloud, mainly to help yourself remember. "I'll take first watch. Try to get some sleep. I'll be right here." Adrien looked like he wanted to protest. You couldn't argue with that. He had just been exposed to one of the most disturbing people in all of Gotham, probably even the world. "It's ok. I'm here even if you wake up from nightmares. Don't worry. I had them for weeks after I was kidnapped. I still get them. Almost everyone in Gotham does." Adrien seemed somewhat reassured and laid down next to you on the mattress. You kept your eyes on the door and listened for any possible approaching sound.