The Truth āļøš¦
Chapter 9
10. Trapping Batman
Location: Gotham rooftops, in motion. Time: 00:06 Weather: Well, itās Gotham. We all know what the weatherās like.
Bruce and Dick run through the city, leaping between rooftops in the rain while chasing a group of tech-savvy criminals. Every punch, every maneuver, is synchronizedābut Dick has a plan of his own and activates it at the least expected moment: mid-jump between skyscrapers.
Dick: Hey, B, can we talk for a second?
Bruce: Not in the middle of a mission, Dick.
It isnāt the first time Dick tries this kind of plan. Bruce isnāt surprised.
Dick: Yes, we can. Theyāre not that good.
Bruce frowns just before flipping to land and keep running.
Dick: Itās about Clark.
Bruce dodges an electric shot and replies in a low voice:
Bruce: What about Clark?
Dick: Wellā¦ that. Thereās something. Alone time, silences that donāt bother youāthey jump and land on the criminals, the fighting begins, but Dick finds gaps to make their eyes meet and keep talkingāthe full package, you know.
Bruce clenches his jaw and throws a punch less firm than he should. It doesnāt matter; it is still brutal, but the thief doesnāt go unconsciousājust down.
His whole being screams to deny everything.
Whatever ties his tongue is stronger than all his willpower.
It is frustrating. So frustrating that anger twists and tightens his throat.
His hoarse voice hides it.
Bruce: I donāt want to talk about it.
Dick: Oh, come on, B. Why not? Itās obvious. Say it and itāll be easier. Iāll help you focus it.
The knot in his throat tightens. He doesnāt understand why Dick is being soā¦ cruel. Dick is never cruel.
Bruce canāt understand that Dick isnāt making a big deal out of something soā¦ terrible.
He decides to shorten it and say it aloud. Sometimes with Dick, it is better this way: give him what he wants, satisfy him, and move on.
Bruce still doesnāt understand, but he knows that if he had done it when he left being Robin, they would have spent less time apart.
So he gives in, even though saying it aloud is far more painful than the electric shock that tenses every muscle from a thug.
Bruce: Itāsā¦ not right.
Another thief reaches him, this time with a direct punch to the jaw. Not ideal, but it feels better than the heart he has just ripped from his chest by saying that.
It isnāt right to feel anything for Clark, his friend. It isā¦ a disgusting betrayal of their friendship.
Dick: What?
Bruce even turns toward him, letting another shock hit him because the boy sounds so bewildered that he thinks he has been attacked from behind.
Angry, Bruce approaches the heavy electroshock thug and rips the gun from his hands. He tries to dent it with his fingers, but it is tough, and he feels a bit off after confessing.
Dick: Right? B, what the hell are you saying?
Frustrated with reality, the conversation, and the unbreakable device, Batman pulls three chain gadgets from his belt, throws them, activates them, and suddenly all three criminals are stuck together, tied up.
Bruce: Thatās it. Call Gordon.
Without looking at Dick, he begins walking toward the roofās edge.
Dickās steps pound behind him, slipping on the rain to intercept him just as he readies the grapnel.
Dick: Hey, hey, heyā¦ No. No. What do you mean, B? Right?
Bruce truly doesnāt understand what Dick wants. He is his boy. He canāt want him to hurt. And he is upset.
And worried.
And Bruce canāt lie to him and say everything is fine.
Bruce: Iām sorry.
Dick: For what?!
The criminals are behind, far away and in the rain. If he whispersā¦ maybe Dick wonāt hear and will let him goā¦
He licks his lips and finds a hold above Dickās arm. If the boy lowers it a bit, he can leave as soon as he speaks.
Bruce: Iām sorryā¦ for betraying our friendship andā¦
Dick: B!
Bruce: ā¦wanting him in the wrong way.
The shockāor terror, because those wide eyes of Dick look terrifiedāmakes Dickās arms drop, giving Bruce the space to launch the grapnel and let himself be pulled away.
As he races through the void, rain soaking him, he wants to think it washes him cleanābut he knows it doesnāt, because the stain remains inside.
To be Continued...
