Alcatraz breakout, cont.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Robin's figured out who was behind the Alcatraz breakout and gave assistance to the most dangerous metahuman prisoners. Mammoth and Shimmer.

Where there's one, there's the other, and both are tied to Dr. Light. The question is if they're still here gloating, or if they're long gone. Nightwing glances down at the small device in his hand that shows his daughter's condition.

It's worsening.

Fingers close over it once more, a new and cold determination taking hold.

"Nightwing to all Titans. Mammoth and Shimmer are behind this breakout, and we've got reason to believe they're still here. We find them, it's a short hop to find Light. Omen - do your thing. Flush these pieces of filth out."

Comments

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Eyes screwed shut against the scouring sting of the remaining acid, he can't answer coherently. Not while he's got a fistful of bulkhead, body rigid with the strain. He manages a hoarse grunt instead.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"You can yell at me now." Her voice is softer now.

To be honest, it is professionalism that keeps her from appologizing to him for this.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

It's done. He relaxes finally, going limp on the bunk. He turns his face away from her for a few moments, then slowly opens his eyes again, pushing himself back up into a sitting position.

How.... how are the others?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"You're the worst off. I have to look at Gar when I'm done here. Jesse's sleeping. Everyone else seems to be okay." Carefully, she starts working on his hands.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He's distant and unresponsive as he stares down at his battered knuckles.

Good.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

She doesn't know what to say.

Carefully, she works on his hands, doing her best to stay detached but he's more than detached enough for the both of them.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

The wedding band on his left hand wasn't spared the mess; coated in his own blood.

Half of his brain is at war with the other. Outwardly, he seems merely stoic or dispassionate.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Carefully, she's cleaning his hands. She takes special care of cleaning the wedding band. The wounds are cleaned and bandaged and taken care of to the best of her ability.

"Can I help?"

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He looks up, blue eyes blinking at her in mild confusion for a moment. He isn't sure what he can say. 'Make me feel like less of a shitty human being for breaking Batman's back'? 'Stop my daughter from dying from some engineered disease'? 'Tell me I'm fit to lead this team'? Nothing seems appropriate to ask - or fair. And he can't seem to snap himself out of it.

I'll be okay.

The look in his eyes says otherwise.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"You're not okay. You're not okay and everyone can see it. You're broken and I don't know the first thing about healing this kind of broken."

She pauses and manages to finish without her voice catching. "I'm sorry."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

The last time he felt like this was... close to three years ago. When Blockbuster tried to break him, and damned near succeeded. He didn't think he'd ever get this low again.

He hates being wrong.

His head bows.

No. I'm sorry. I let you all down.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"You can't let anyone down by being human. You feel so very deeply..." She has to stop there for a moment, pulling a breath.

"It's why everyone loves you so much. Because you..."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

No. I'm supposed to be better than this.

He stares at his knees, not really seeing them.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Better than what? Better than worried about your daughter? Better than furious about what that sick bastard did to us? We've been used and violated and children put in danger."

She pauses. "The only people who say what you just said are people who are held to standards that are higher than anyone sane can expect."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He looks up, then, the ghost of a wry smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

And you'd know a lot about that, right?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Yes."

There is a small smile on her face in return.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He's supposed to be held to a higher standard. He's the leader, right? Leaders don't fall apart in the middle of a mission.

He leans back against the bulkhead, not for the first time wondering what the hell is going on on the Watchtower.

See if we can get a status update from the League.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette leans in and carefully making sure she doesn't touch him where he's hurt and kisses his temple lightly.

"I'll go check."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He looks up at her.

Thanks, Bette.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"That's what I'm here for."

Maybe. Sometimes. When the day is good.